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| Lily, 3 years |
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| Lily and Audrey, being silly |
30 July 2011
Sweet Lily
Earlier this month I had a little photo shoot with Lily, an adorable neighbor girl, who my girls love. During the photo shoot, Audrey kept asking me to take pictures of her. Near the end I had her pose with Lily for one or two. Audrey loves to play with Lily, who lives down the street. They are the same age. You know you see someone a lot when Allie, who doesn't say much, if anything at all, has added "Lily" to her vocabulary. It sounds like this: "La-La." She will point her out in pictures and just yesterday I asked the girls what they did while I was at the store. Audrey said they played outside with Daddy and then Allie said, "La-La." And that was right. They had walked down to see Lily while I was gone.
25 July 2011
Family Pizza/Movie night
Family pizza and movie night has changed in the seven years that Jeremy and I have been married. We used to eat our pizza in front of the TV. It used to include wine.....ah, again, one of these days. Then it changed to gluten free homemade pizza. Then, we had kids and pizza movie night ceased to exist for awhile. Weeks before Allie was born Jeremy looked over at me one Saturday night, as we both sat on opposite couches and Audrey on a blanket on the floor, all peacefully enjoying our pizza and watching a movie, he mentioned this was probably the only time that we'd have this event back again for 3 more years. And he was more or less right. Recently we began trying to incorporate a movie into pizza night again. We eat our pizza at the table, and even though we had a brief period of time where we found a gluten free pizza that could be delivered, I'd decided it was too much risk at this point to bring a regular pizza into the house too. So, with our homemade pizza we eat at the table. Then, the girls both sit on a blanket with their little bowls of popcorn and sometimes candy and we watch a family movie. Almost always animated, G rated, Disney film.
It's not quiet. It's quite interrupted, but that's what life is right now.
Sarah
It's not quiet. It's quite interrupted, but that's what life is right now.
Sarah
Allie's new trick
Allie started swinging on her belly this July. She still likes the baby swing but prefers her independence on the swing set. And I'm ok with that.
24 July 2011
Stephen's Cookout
Our next door neighbors had a cookout tonight. Burgers, Hot Dogs, fresh food from the garden and potluck sides. It was the classic all American thing to do in July. I took my chocolate mousse for dessert. It's one of the best culinary secrets I learned as a Pampered Chef consultant, more than eight years ago.
The girls played princess, the boys fought with swords. After dinner the Dads took the boys (and one girl) top play baseball at a nearby park. It's no secret that if two or more little girls are gathered together, they will find the dress up clothes and transport themselves to a magical place. And sure enough, they did.
Sarah
The girls played princess, the boys fought with swords. After dinner the Dads took the boys (and one girl) top play baseball at a nearby park. It's no secret that if two or more little girls are gathered together, they will find the dress up clothes and transport themselves to a magical place. And sure enough, they did.
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| the girls, (and Hayden) in their dress-up outfits. |
Sarah
Bridal Shower
My cousin Mary is getting married. So the girls and I were invited to her bridal shower today. Audrey couldn't wrap her head around the idea of a bridal "shower," at first. She didn't understand what it was and thought the whole time that she would open presents and then go get married, all, today. And she kept asking who the Prince was. When I explained that the wedding was another day but that today she got to open presents, she began calling it a birthday party. She was excited about going nonetheless because there would be cake. And punch. She then thought maybe she should wear her Sleeping Beauty dress-up gown because it would be a fancy place where just girls were invited. But she changed her mind at the last minute on that. She did however take her new princess lunchbox that has a carrying strap like a purse, and for all intents and purposes could be, indeed, a purse (that keeps things cold). It was stuffed to the max with her essentials, which included a Hello Kitty notepad and her new washable markers.
As I sat there admiring some of the gifts my cousin was unwrapping I was reminded how fast 7 years went and how outdated most of my gifts are today. I'm thinking that it should be mandatory that at 10 years you get to register again and have a reception to celebrate. A good idea, no?
Sadly we had to leave early to get to a neighborhood cookout so I didn't get any pictures of the girls and me with Mary. But I got a few of the gift opening and of Allie, eating her chocolate covered strawberry with determination.
Sarah
As I sat there admiring some of the gifts my cousin was unwrapping I was reminded how fast 7 years went and how outdated most of my gifts are today. I'm thinking that it should be mandatory that at 10 years you get to register again and have a reception to celebrate. A good idea, no?
Sadly we had to leave early to get to a neighborhood cookout so I didn't get any pictures of the girls and me with Mary. But I got a few of the gift opening and of Allie, eating her chocolate covered strawberry with determination.
Sarah
23 July 2011
Slip n Slide
We went shopping for a slip and slide last night. We almost bought a pool (a real one). But, alas we did not. This morning the girls (Jeremy really wanted to too) broke it in in the 110 degrees that was our morning. It was hot.
Audrey knew exactly what to do. Allie though, wiped out a few times on her bottom before realizing that running down the Slip n Slide wasn't the best way. When we showed her what to do, she'd crawl down the plastic run way until she reached the little pool at the end, the sprinklers hitting the top of her head the whole way.
The girls loved it. I took pictures and went inside to cool off. Then, Jeremy came to the door and said, "You've got to come see what your daughter's come up with." Audrey talked Jeremy into putting the Slip n Slide at the bottom of her swing-set slide so when she'd slide down, she'd hit the Slip n Slide and zip to the end in no time. You just had to see it. I got more video than pictures of that one.
I'd say, not a bad $7 investment!
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| The slide and water set-up. It's like Allie's saying, "There is no way on earth I'm trying that." |
22 July 2011
Snow cones!
Tonight we went to see cousin Ellie play softball. It was HOT! Late July and a heat wave mandated snow cones for the girls during the game.
Sarah
Sarah
17 July 2011
sisters
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| Audrey 3.5 Allie 1.5 |
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| So sweet of Audrey, not so sweet of Allie.... "Get off of me, Sister" |
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| "Allie, want to hold my hand?" obviously. not. |
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| sweet girls |
"Mom! You have boobs on your dress!"
This experience happened last week when I was clothes shopping with the girls...
The double stroller no longer interested Audrey as we approached her section of Bergner's. She begged to get out. My 3 1/2 year old now shops in the 4-6x girls area that is connected to the size 7-16 section by the underwear and training bras. I maneuver our truck of a double stroller through the skinny aisles on our way to the checkout, knocking down at least 5 packages of princess underwear and trying to keep Allie from pulling off anything within her reach, and dropping it on the floor, causing me to run over it. Audrey is beside me, carrying her princess nightgown we scored on clearance. As soon as we make it to the main aisle, where the check out is, Audrey looks down and proclaims, "Mom! You have boobs on your dress!" I look down and sure enough, a little padded size negative A bra was hanging from the ruffles of my sun dress by it's hanger. Quickly assessing the situation and trying not to burst out laughing, I nonchalantly pulled it off and hung it next to a display of shoes to my left. I pretended the three older ladies waiting in line didn't hear her and quickly diverted the conversation to the cute Crocs hanging by the checkout.
Sarah
The double stroller no longer interested Audrey as we approached her section of Bergner's. She begged to get out. My 3 1/2 year old now shops in the 4-6x girls area that is connected to the size 7-16 section by the underwear and training bras. I maneuver our truck of a double stroller through the skinny aisles on our way to the checkout, knocking down at least 5 packages of princess underwear and trying to keep Allie from pulling off anything within her reach, and dropping it on the floor, causing me to run over it. Audrey is beside me, carrying her princess nightgown we scored on clearance. As soon as we make it to the main aisle, where the check out is, Audrey looks down and proclaims, "Mom! You have boobs on your dress!" I look down and sure enough, a little padded size negative A bra was hanging from the ruffles of my sun dress by it's hanger. Quickly assessing the situation and trying not to burst out laughing, I nonchalantly pulled it off and hung it next to a display of shoes to my left. I pretended the three older ladies waiting in line didn't hear her and quickly diverted the conversation to the cute Crocs hanging by the checkout.
Sarah
12 July 2011
an impatient gardener
I am what my husband likes to call an impatient gardener. JUST BECAUSE I picked this semi-red tomato this afternoon. I'm new at this gardening thing, remember? I'm sorry, but after weeks and weeks of looking at green tomatoes, I got a little excited at the first tint of red. And today, this is all there was to harvest. And yes, I check daily. One green bell pepper and one unripe roma tomato.
Allie's First Haircut
Allie, almost 19 months old, got her first haircut today. I held out as long as I could, not wanting to give her bangs in fear it would look choppy or I don't know.....stupid in a few months. But, since the girl would pull out whatever bow, barrette or rubber-band you put in her hair, she was nearly blinded by her own hair. Enough was enough.
She did awesome. She sat on the little booster by herself, didn't cry and only reached for me once or twice. Sara, my stylist cut her hair and we agreed to leave the cute little curls in the back alone. She cut conservative bangs and Audrey held the envelope where Sara placed Allie's first hair cutting. Five to ten minutes later she was done. Allie even let her use the hair dryer a little bit.
Audrey got her hair cut today too. Just a trim, as she's growing it out like Rapunzel. (of course). She shaped it a little around her face and cut off the dead ends. Audrey sat there like such a big girl, not crying or being shy. She loves getting her hair cut and asked me as soon as we left if she could get her hair cut again! A ring pop was her prize for being so good.
Sarah
She did awesome. She sat on the little booster by herself, didn't cry and only reached for me once or twice. Sara, my stylist cut her hair and we agreed to leave the cute little curls in the back alone. She cut conservative bangs and Audrey held the envelope where Sara placed Allie's first hair cutting. Five to ten minutes later she was done. Allie even let her use the hair dryer a little bit.
Audrey got her hair cut today too. Just a trim, as she's growing it out like Rapunzel. (of course). She shaped it a little around her face and cut off the dead ends. Audrey sat there like such a big girl, not crying or being shy. She loves getting her hair cut and asked me as soon as we left if she could get her hair cut again! A ring pop was her prize for being so good.
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| before |
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| after |
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| after |
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| Allie's first haircut |
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| Audrey's getting so grown up |
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| Audrey after. only an inch or so was cut off |
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| after |
Sarah
When I grow up
Today on the way to gymnastics, I mention to Audrey I can't believe she'll go to preschool in the fall. And I can't, or don't want to. I'm not sure why it's so hard for me/us to decide where she'll spend 2-3 days and roughly 8 hours a week. Regardless, this is how our conversation went:
me: Audrey, Mommy is kinda sad you'll start preschool in the fall, you're getting so big!
Audrey: But Mom, I'll come back
me: Well, you better! What do you think you'll learn at preschool?
Audrey: Um, how to write my name.
me: what else?
Audrey: play, write my name, play on those swings they have...
(and then somehow we got to talking about how old her other friends are and what grade they will be in)
Audrey: What's my number Mom?
me: You're in preschool honey. You don't have a number until you get to first grade.
Audrey: and then what happens after first grade.
me: second grade, then third grade, etc... until you graduate high school, and then you go to college.
Audrey: I'm not gonna go to college.
me: No? Why not
Audrey: Just cause I'm not.
me: Well college is where you learn what you're gonna do for a job, Auds. Do you know what you'd like to do when you grow up?
Audrey: Write my name.
Here's hoping preschool teaches her how to write her name, or else she's gonna be pretty disappointed! (I will say that we've been working on letters and writing them for awhile. She does pretty good with the letters in her name, so just doesn't put them in the right order yet)
More so than learning her letters, I'd rather her just play with other kids and learn how to interact on a daily basis with kids other than her sister. I think she'll learn a lot about herself and that will help her form relationships in life. And we'll continue to work on her letters at home.
me: Audrey, Mommy is kinda sad you'll start preschool in the fall, you're getting so big!
Audrey: But Mom, I'll come back
me: Well, you better! What do you think you'll learn at preschool?
Audrey: Um, how to write my name.
me: what else?
Audrey: play, write my name, play on those swings they have...
(and then somehow we got to talking about how old her other friends are and what grade they will be in)
Audrey: What's my number Mom?
me: You're in preschool honey. You don't have a number until you get to first grade.
Audrey: and then what happens after first grade.
me: second grade, then third grade, etc... until you graduate high school, and then you go to college.
Audrey: I'm not gonna go to college.
me: No? Why not
Audrey: Just cause I'm not.
me: Well college is where you learn what you're gonna do for a job, Auds. Do you know what you'd like to do when you grow up?
Audrey: Write my name.
Here's hoping preschool teaches her how to write her name, or else she's gonna be pretty disappointed! (I will say that we've been working on letters and writing them for awhile. She does pretty good with the letters in her name, so just doesn't put them in the right order yet)
More so than learning her letters, I'd rather her just play with other kids and learn how to interact on a daily basis with kids other than her sister. I think she'll learn a lot about herself and that will help her form relationships in life. And we'll continue to work on her letters at home.
4th of July
Every year my husband mopes because we don't have big plans for the 4th of July. And every year I remind him you have to make big plans for a major holiday more than 2 days in advance.
Growing up my family always went to my Uncle's pond for a family reunion on the 4th. And at night, we rarely went anywhere to see fireworks outside the banks of our farm yard where we'd sit in our lawn chairs and watch the local displays from a distance. Jeremy had traditions too that included joining others for a festival and fireworks.
There is no festival here and my reunion no longer exists. So it seems we need a new 4th of July tradition. Last year we went to Indy on the 4th and after the zoo and a nice meal were too tired to watch fireworks and headed home.
This year, I found a few local things to do, including a parade and fireworks. I figured with naps in between and grilling out for supper, we could call ourselves American. Especially if we ate apple pie.
We went to a local parade, caught lots of candy, got burnt, saw 150 antique tractors and came home. Audrey then went to play at Avery's house in the sprinkler. Grandmother and Grandpa came by to tell us about their bicycling vacation and we visited on the new pergola-patio. Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and Brats, Watermelon and Brownies is how we celebrated before heading to the fireworks. (2 kids under 4= no apple pie)
Again, a local firework show in which we didn't have to fight lines of traffic for hours was perfect. After all, it was only a 50/50 chance that Audrey would even last 5 minutes. She hates loud noises. And all afternoon she was too scared to come outside while the neighbors were shooting off ground fireworks. We were pleasantly surprised that by the time we got to he park, spread out our blanket and got out our kettle corn she was excited to see the fireworks and not bothered at all by the noise. She even clapped. It was nice. Just the four of us.
and yes, I'm really mad I didn't get a picture of all four of us at any point this weekend. my goal for the fall...
Sarah
Growing up my family always went to my Uncle's pond for a family reunion on the 4th. And at night, we rarely went anywhere to see fireworks outside the banks of our farm yard where we'd sit in our lawn chairs and watch the local displays from a distance. Jeremy had traditions too that included joining others for a festival and fireworks.
There is no festival here and my reunion no longer exists. So it seems we need a new 4th of July tradition. Last year we went to Indy on the 4th and after the zoo and a nice meal were too tired to watch fireworks and headed home.
This year, I found a few local things to do, including a parade and fireworks. I figured with naps in between and grilling out for supper, we could call ourselves American. Especially if we ate apple pie.
We went to a local parade, caught lots of candy, got burnt, saw 150 antique tractors and came home. Audrey then went to play at Avery's house in the sprinkler. Grandmother and Grandpa came by to tell us about their bicycling vacation and we visited on the new pergola-patio. Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and Brats, Watermelon and Brownies is how we celebrated before heading to the fireworks. (2 kids under 4= no apple pie)
Again, a local firework show in which we didn't have to fight lines of traffic for hours was perfect. After all, it was only a 50/50 chance that Audrey would even last 5 minutes. She hates loud noises. And all afternoon she was too scared to come outside while the neighbors were shooting off ground fireworks. We were pleasantly surprised that by the time we got to he park, spread out our blanket and got out our kettle corn she was excited to see the fireworks and not bothered at all by the noise. She even clapped. It was nice. Just the four of us.
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| waiting for the parade to start |
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| Auds and Allie |
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| Audrey and Daddy at the fireworks show |
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| our happy Allie |
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| feeding Daddy popcorn |
and yes, I'm really mad I didn't get a picture of all four of us at any point this weekend. my goal for the fall...
Sarah
11 July 2011
Popsicles
What's summertime fun without popsicles?? This day was so hot, that just sitting outside doing nothing I sweat through my shirt. Gross. Hot and hard to breathe muggy.
Sarah
Garden update
The cilantro died. The beetles attacked the basil and cilantro pretty heavily and when I tried to organically get rid of the bugs with dish soap, garlic, cayenne pepper and water, it killed the rest of the cilantro plant. So I'm going to have buckets of tomatoes and no cilantro to make salsa. Figures.
Our peppers showed promise early but the tomatoes took over and shaded them, therefore we have one, maybe two pepper plants that are producing. Jeremy's cayenne pepper plant has quite a few on it, but we have no idea what to do with them.
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| cherry tomato plant |
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| mint |
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| more tomatoes |
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| roma tomatoes (I think) |
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| our lone green pepper plant, that according to Jeremy is supposed to be a yellow pepper plant..... |
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| cayenne peppers |
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| parsley (it grew back after the rabbits initially got it) |
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| basil |
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| our poor cilantro |
Sarah
06 July 2011
My new favorite summertime treat
I LOVE THESE! They are all natural and gluten free! Really, the gluten free sold me, honestly, but I love that they aren't loaded in high fructose corn syrup or food dyes. So I can eat them and not feel guilty about giving them to my kids! They come in a dozen or more flavors. The girls like Pomegranate, but my latest obsession is Lemonade. Will I still make my own homemade popsicles this summer? It's looking less and less likely.
No, I will. I bought the molds and all and it's a cheap, fun activity with the kids. But in the meantime, these fruit bars are standing in quite nicely.
Sarah
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