Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday the girls and I took Grandmother and Grandpa to the pumpkin patch. It was a little frigid but without the cool air, the hot apple cider wouldn't have tasted so good. Audrey enjoyed an apple doughnut--the only way I could get her out of the sandbox and away from the little corn bins. Audrey still refuses to ride the train but she loves the little white houses. The Market, the Post Office and a House, I think are the three and she could have played in those all day.  Allie hung out with Grandpa and they walked and observed the action. There's a lot to see and do at Rader Family Farms! So glad it's close by!

my dear sweet Audrey. can't believe she's almost 3!

me and my girls! love them!!!

audrey trying to lasso the horns (a few feet in front of her)

Allie 9 months, Audrey 2.5 years

Audrey and Allie with Grandmother and Grandpa

Sarah

First Steps

Allie took her first real steps September 22 while visiting friends. 9 months and 6 days! While I was helping her walk around the room, she let go of my hand and  took a step with her left and then her right. She did it again while we were there and has several times since. Is she walking across the floor yet? No, but she's getting faster and sturdier as she cruises the furniture, and the cabinets, and the walls, and me. I am a very proud mama. Go Allie! I didn't have my camera last week, but these are pretty recent.

snacking on puffs. cruising works up an appetite!

coming to get me!

going from coffee table to toy chest

Sarah

Dressing Ladybug

I love this little girl.

Audrey has a large stuffed ladybug her Grandma made her last year for her birthday. Audrey decided she wanted to be Cinderella for Halloween. After trying on her costume to ensure it fit and getting glitter EVERYWHERE...... Tangent: why does anything Disney Princess have to explode glitter when you just look at it!? She tried on her little blue dress  and I had to vacuum afterward. Glitter everywhere.  Our phones can check email, surf the web, and video conference with Japan, but we can't figure out how to make glitter pretty but not shed!? maybe that's how I'll make my million dollars. So anyway, we had to put little Cinderella's dress up until October 31st in an effort to save the glitter. After all, what's a princess dress without a little bling?
.......She decided to dress up ladybug. But I had just told her we were going to put up her mess of a dress until Halloween. And she whined, "but I  have to use that dress for Ladybug!" Ugh. So I got out the much too expensive (and much cuter in my opinion) dress from her Uncle's wedding, her tiara, my "glass slippers/heels" and pearls. She had a ball glitzing up her stuffed friend. She even wanted me to take a picture. So, of course, I did. Why do I have glass slippers like Cinderella? Well, that's story for another day.

Sarah

First Day of Kindermusik

This semester the girls have Kindermusik on Mondays at the same time (in lieu of making two trips, on two different days and getting two different sitters). Since I can't be in two places at once, no matter how hard I try, my mom is filling in. We alternate classes every other week, so I get to spend time with both girls.

Me and the girls

The girls and Grandmother

Sarah

messes

Why is it that lately, I only clean up messes?  I can't keep up with demand around here. I think that when you're in this stage of motherhood, caring for toddlers and infants,  the job "mother" takes on the primary task of cleaning and controlling the mess. Aside from loving your children, of course.  I mean marker on the couch, crushed bunny crackers in the carpet, leaking sippy cups, a sack of potatoes causing traffic to stop in the kitchen, vomit, poop, pee on the floor, neatly folded laundry now unfolded on the floor, stickers on my dining room furniture and adorning the walls and the obstacle course that is my formal foyer/playroom.

I have all the job security in the world.





Sarah

Rockin' Eggplant Parmesan

So, I've been in a rut. A fruit and vegetable rut. I buy the same produce week after week at the store. Why? Not sure really.  I was recently inspired to get back to buying organic produce when necessary (dirty dozen/clean 15) and eat more fruits and veggies. Fruits and veggies are naturally gluten free and they won't make me any fatter. What's not to love? So, as the buyer of all things consumed I made it my mission to try different veggies and fruits  and to learn new ways to eat my old favorites. My first mission: eggplant.

I knew what eggplant looked like, but had never bought one, tasted one or cooked with it. I knew Biaggis had eggplant parmesan and that my mother-in-law loved it. That was it. Eggplant is really pretty! A little hard to peel but slices just like a potato or squash. An added bonus? It's high in fiber! My favorite part was going to the market with my daughters. They are learning right along with me. So week one, check! I tackled a new vegetable. I can now say I've tried eggplant and I successfully made a delicious pan of Gluten Free Eggplant Parmesan that my husband raved about. Whoo hoo! He didn't even complain that it was vegetarian! Audrey ate it even though she told me she didn't like it, but she says that about every meal I put in front of her lately. 

I breaded and baked the eggplant first and then layered it with the spaghetti sauce and cheeses and baked it again. Served it over spaghetti with extra sauce on the side. 

ingredients: 

2 eggplants peeled and sliced into paper thin slices. (I probably could have just used 1)

Ener-G gluten free breadcrumbs 

dried basil

4-6 cups mozzarella cheese

1 wedge fresh grated parmesan cheese

2 jars spaghetti/marinara sauce (I used Classico Tomato and Basil)

2-3 eggs and a splash of milk

beat eggs and add milk. combine breadcrumbs and add 1/4 cup dried basil. peel and slice eggplant. Dip slices of eggplant in egg wash and then breadcrumbs. bake for 10 minutes at 350. In a 9x13" pan pour spaghetti sauce to cover. layer with eggplant and cheeses. Repeat layers ending with cheeses. Sprinkle with more basil. Bake 350 for 30 minutes. serve over spaghetti.

Sarah

Allie's First Combine Ride

On Monday we went to visit Grandpa, Mike and Grandma on the farm. Audrey chose not to ride in the combine again this year so she sat alongside the field and talked with Grandma. At 9 months Allie is still pretty easy going. About one round was all she could sit still for though. She wanted to explore the inside of that combine! Obviously I didn't let her. Our trip to the farm was spontaneous so she wasn't really dressed for it as she was barely dressed at all! I tried to get some pictures from inside the combine; nearly impossible. At one point Allie grabbed the steering wheel and was "helping" Daddy drive. When she wasn't grabbing the wheel or the door, she was grabbing my camera.

Our view from inside the combine. Allie is on my lap.

We are happy to have the opportunity to visit our family farms  every fall. Often times Jeremy will go out and help at least one day or weekend a year, more if they need it. He's almost giddy driving the combine. He's a farm boy at heart!

daddy and his girls on the farm

Audrey takes a little more after me. I wasn't as hands on as Jeremy growing up. Although I grew up on a farm, most of my experience was at a distance. Audrey thought watching the combine was fun and she enjoyed seeing the corn transfer from the wagon to the bins. But she was anxious to get back to her princess car up at the house. Driving home that night Audrey asked if the cows eat the corn, why do they take the corn out of the field? Why don't they just leave it there for them to eat? Pretty brilliant for a 2 year old I thought! What a teachable moment! Jeremy had to call and tell Grandpa about that one.

This is what Grandma wrote in response to hearing Audrey's question:


"I told Dad about Audrey's suggestion for much better farm efficiency.  He thought that was so cute and funny!  That smart little girl never stops thinking, does she!  You can just see the wheels turning.  She and I had a great conversation while you guys and Allie were taking your round.  Mike was tickled at her too.  She really does have astounding ideas and what an imagination!!  What a joy!!  We hope everyone enjoyed the farm visit.  I know it was kind of loud and "chaffy".  But it's the best place on earth!! " 

Audrey, Allie and Grandma
Audrey is holding the ear of corn Grandma picked for her

Audrey sitting with Grandma watching us in the combine

Jeremy predicted that next year he bets Allie is right there riding alongside him again, but the jury is still out on if Audrey will ever get back in a combine. Regardless, she shows interest in the farm and couldn't wait to read her tractor book with Jeremy when they got home.

Sarah

Audrey Prays

Tonight when going to bed, Audrey prayed out loud all by herself! I'm pretty excited about this.  I always ask if she wants to pray, but she's always said "no mommy, you do it." But tonight, she said, "Dear God thank you for the flowers on my wall and for mommy and for Bitty and my book" So proud of her and so delighted that her relationship with God is already starting to grow.

Audrey asked for her Bible last night. I reminded her it didn't have pictures in it and she said that was ok. When Jeremy went back upstairs to close windows he said she was sitting in her bed, reading her little pink Bible out loud to her babies. Precious!



Sarah

Audrey's Surgery

She rested on two pillows in a big white hospital bed too big for her two year old body.  Dressed in her bright yellow pajamas given her by the Children's Hospital and groggy from the medicine they gave her to calm down, she clutched her baby doll with both arms as they wheeled her down the hall. I heard the nurse say, "let's take a ride lady." My eyes followed her hot pink hair bonnet as my body turned towards the waiting room.  I had picked out the one with cupcakes on it. 

Audrey loves cupcakes.  

I had a flashback to the first time nurses wheeled her away from me, less than 48 hours after her birth. She was screaming that time and there was nothing I could do but agonizingly wait and pray and cry until they brought her back.  The circumstances are much less frightening today and I don't cry. 

Dear God please watch over my little girl

Send angels to protect her and guide the doctors hands
Let the medicine keep her asleep until the procedure is over.

We wait.

She's a Mover

  Happy 9 month birthday to my little girl. 

Allie is officially crawling. She pushes with one leg while tucking the other. It's not traditional by any means, but it works. SHE IS EVERYWHERE and into everything. She cruises on furniture and is smooth in her transition from standing to sitting. She can pull up on almost anything. She's been cruising for awhile now but just this past week she's rolling over more and has combined all her moves.  WHICH MEANS she can get across the room in no time flat. The other night, while entertaining my family for my mom's birthday, we bowed our heads to pray and by "amen" she had pulled up to Audrey's table and was snacking on her food. We've started to gate the house (oh I hate stepping over chairs, which is what we're using until we can find some big enough) Now she stands at the chairs, tries to move them with both arms and whines until you come and let her out.  Just today she's taken an interest in climbing. She'll try to climb up the stairs or over stuffed animals. It's quite humorous at this point. One thing is for certain, she does not like to be alone. Wherever Audrey is, she'll move to get there. And if I'm cooking supper and I put her in the playroom, I'll see her crawling around the corner about the time I return. Yesterday, when moving plastic tubs around in our basement I screamed as I dropped one. She made a noise and started crawling towards me and it's as if she was saying, "Don't worry mom, I'm coming!"

I don't know her weight or other stats as we go for her checkup next week, but I'm fairly certain just by looking at her adorable thighs (I do love them) that she's somewhere in the 90th percentile. 

Allie is over jared baby food. She likes to feed herself and hates pureed anything. But if I take carrots out of my soup, she'll eat those right up. 

This past week when she had a cold she started sleeping on her belly. She seems to prefer that. And finally, (knock on wood) she is sleeping through more nights than she gets up. 

I thought her outfit was cute yesterday so I snapped a few pictures last night when we were outside. Normally she has a huge smile as she's a very happy baby but she was much too interested in the mulch and the neighbor kids to pay attention to me! 

Look at those thighs. 

Standing at this tree last night was the most she stood still all day

Sarah

Family Reunion

For 51 years my mom's family has been meeting in the same park on roughly the same Sunday every September. This park has more playground equipment than I've ever seen in one place. As kids we loved playing on all the jungle gyms and the HUGE slide.  I can't believe a lot of the equipment (including that slide) it is still there. When I realized Audrey had gone up this slide my heart nearly skipped a beat. Obviously she was not in my care  for that (thanks Daddy and Grandpa). Once she figures something out, she's fearless.  There wasn't anything she didn't want to try. Now, if we can just get her to ride in the combine this year.........

It's a two hour trip down and we planned it so Allie would sleep. That was the only thing that went right that morning. Honestly, I can't believe we made it there.  On the way down I started a list of all the "wrong" things that happened that morning and I stopped at 15. More than once I said to Jeremy: the moon isn't lining up right for us today.  Here are a few items that made the list

1.  I let Audrey out of her gate (to her room) and sent her to Allie's room while I went to the bathroom. In the two minutes I was there (if that) she managed to poop in her diaper and then proceed to take it off (she's so independent these days) and lay it on the floor (ick). When she sat down to take off her pajama pants with her poop covered butt, she got it all over Allie's carpet. So I scrub and scrub (not wanting to use my new magic microfiber cloths on poop). I then have to give her a bath. Which puts us a little behind schedule.

2. Can't find Allie's knee socks, which really, make her outfit. She looked a little silly without them.

3. Allie falls in the living room and hits her head, and then she drops a ceramic coaster on her foot.

4. The lid to the puffs pops off as I toss them into the car spilling organic banana $4.50 puffs everywhere.

5. Our cooler for the day is apparently not water proof as we find water all over the counter. We have to change coolers.

5.  We were nearly out of formula, which meant we needed to stop at Sams on the way down. Because of course, they don't open until 10, and we were on the road at 8:30. While at Sams, Audrey had to poop. No problem, we packed her froggy (her little potty seat). Problem was,  froggy doesn't dump out quite as cleanly when you're on 5 tsp of Miralax a day. Punting for a minute on what to do, Jeremy dumps some water in it. As I swirl the water around the tiny bowl trying to clean it out some splashes out and lands on my hand and my shoe. utterly grossed out I sanitize my hands at least three times. My shoes will have to fend for themselves. ick! ick! ick!

 When I saw Audrey on the slide, with the morning we'd had, I just knew something horrific was going to transpire. Luckily, it did not.

heading up

almost there

weeeeeeee

since he was up there he either had to slide down or go back down the 100 steps

this slide is seriously old

riding the horses with grandpa

audrey loves swings. and she loved this "ride"

climbing the rock wall 

impromptu family picture. with all that was happening that morning, I let Audrey dress herself. 

coming down a less scary slide

The best Queso (via the guys at our tailgate party)

Here it is if your mouth is still begging for more

1 pound velvetta
4 oz cream cheese
1 can Rotel
1 pound College Hills Meat sausage

Tortilla Chips

It's that easy folks!




Sarah

Queen of the castle

Jeremy: " Audrey, who is in charge here?"
Audrey: "I am!"
Me: "Well, there-in lies the problem!"

The situation: There have been times, like the other night, that Audrey refuses to eat what I make for supper. I know that when she is hungry, she will eat.  I refuse to make her mac and cheese for every meal.  Getting a child to eat their supper. One of the hidden challenges of being a parent.

ugh. It's such a fine line.  We want her to try everything and if she doesn't like it, she doesn't have to finish it. Even that is a struggle sometimes. She often tells me when I'm slaving in the kitchen "I don't like what you're making Mommy." Prepping me I guess for the mealtime battle and stating her position up front makes her think she's got an edge?

Jeremy's question came after several low pressure attempts for her to try her meat and potatoes at supper. We finally got her to put a bite of meat in her mouth. she gagged. ugh.

At least she ate the fruit and veggies.

If she was stating that she was in charge of her eating, then good. I want her to feel like she's in charge of what she does with her body. I fear however, that her answer to who was in charge was in fact how she truly views the world.

Sarah

First Pumpkin Pie of the Season

first pumpkin pie of 2010

I love fall. I love the tastes, the smells, the colors and a nice warm cardigan. I was once a farm girl and by farm girl I mean I grew up in a very old and drafty farm house on my Grandpa's farm. I never milked cows or fed the pigs. We didn't have them. I've never operated a combine although I have ridden in several. And although I've driven a tractor it was primarily for recreational purposes. But I lived right in the middle of harvest. There was no escaping the farm during the fall. Our house was surrounded on three sides by corn and bean fields and countless nights I fell asleep to the sound of the dryer on the grain bins. I can still smell the freshly harvested corn  as I walked up the hill to our house everyday after school. The rumbling of the tractors and the roar of the combine all take me back to fall on the farm.

Fall: Harvest. Hot apple cider and caramel corn. Pumpkin bars. The spicy sweet aroma of pumpkin bread in the oven. crunchy leaves on the ground. a harvested field. chili.  Hot apple crisp. wiener roasts. hay rack rides. football. pork chops. photo shoots. And of course, Pumpkin Pie.

Jeremy loves pumpkin pie. I never liked it growing up (pass the chocolate pie please!) so I made it a mission to make a better pumpkin pie. And yes, as of 2006, it's gluten free. I am still not a huge pumpkin pie fan, but i have to say mine is pretty yum-o! I substitute ice cream for the evaporated milk and add sweetened whipped cream (not cool whip).  I've found if you add enough whipped cream to pumpkin pie, it's really not that bad! Jeremy prefers his plain, no cool whip or fancy maple whipped cream or candied pecans. Just pie.

I found out yesterday that there is a pumpkin shortage and we won't be getting any more pumpkin around here for three more weeks. So this is our first pumpkin pie of the season and our last for awhile.

check out all that flour on the counter

audrey stirring her own pie crust

all that flour kept her busy while I rolled out the crust and mixed up the pie

Sarah

Audrey

She's so stinkin cute!

Sarah