Picture Day

Today was picture day at Audrey's preschool. So naturally, she woke up with a scab on her left cheek, that she picked right before we left, causing it to bleed so much she had to wear a band-aid. On her face. On picture day. Not ideal.

I opted to take a few quick shots--less than 5 minutes--before we left that morning. If for nothing else, to capture the outfit she wore in case her pictures at school didn't turn out. Hopefully we can get a full 4 year old session in before her birthday, if her cheek and the skin around her mouth has heeled. She's begun licking her lips and around the sides of her mouth, making it red and causing it to break out. It started right after school began last month. I believe there are other kids in her class that do this, Audrey sees them, and repeats the behavior. Which for her ultra sensitive, porcelain skin, is problematic.

But such is life. I could photoshop it out, but why? This is how she looked on picture day when she was 4. Positively beautiful. And the fact the Hello-Kitty Band-aid matched her outfit, was a plus.

that is a toy car in her hand that Uncle Ben had given her the weekend before. 

both girls before Audrey went to school. Whenever Audrey poses, Allie is right there with her. 

Sarah

A Friends Baby Reveal Party

Our friends, Thad and Kristine are expecting their 3rd baby. To find out whether it was a boy or girl, they decided to throw a party in which everyone would find out together when they cut into the cake. The sonogram tech wrote the gender on a piece of paper, sealed it in an envelope and the cake decorator made a cake, colored pink or blue. This one was colored pink!

A great idea, a fun party and they are thrilled to soon have three girls.

Miss Allie (photo taken by my friend, Lindsay)

(photo taken by Lindsay)

A yummy cupcake

Audrey and her friend, Julia

Sarah

Anything you can do, I can do better.......

Sarah

It's coming.....

Tonight we walked around the neighborhood and personally invited friends to Audrey's 4th Birthday Party! Can I believe my baby girl will be 4? Absolutely not. A Rapunzel party is in the works. There are lots and lots of ideas on the internet for this type of party. I think every little girl turning 3 or 4 in the country had this as a theme this year. Today it was time to hand out invitations and mail those not in walking distance. Audrey will be having two parties; One for family and one for friends at different times, on the same day. We are super exited!

Sarah

A little perspective

Oh yes, that's permanent marker all over her legs, sweater and new shirt.

I felt like crying today. And I did a little. Sometimes I just need to be reminded of how good I have it. I began the day overwhelmed and stressed and then I became friends with a very old friend on FB. After reading his status updates from the past month and visiting his daughters caring bridge website my perspective changed. Catching up on their life threw my dirty floor and vomit smelling couch into perspective. The raisins stuck to my kitchen floor suddenly didn't matter, and the dirty dishes in the sink, stacked up like the jobs on my to-do list seemed trivial. These said things do tend to stress me out, but I can't imagine one day in the life of him or his wife and what they endure everyday.

The fact I'm juggling too many plates seems pathetically selfish. After all, I'm in control of those plates and how many I choose to balance.  When I think about how big my girls are getting, and the little one coming to join the party in February, my mind starts to overload a bit. But I'm so thankful for their overall health (despite the coughing, mucus and occasional vomiting of the past few weeks. These things will pass).


This fall, I'll be honest, we've been more busy than I anticipated, and now that we're in the thick of it, busier than I'd like to be. There is a simple solution. Do less. I'm learning the ever so complicated lesson of saying, "no." Turning down opportunities and only taking on those that will benefit my family. Hopefully by the first of the year, I've learned this lesson.





Sarahand charge more.

A trip to the Farm

Allie and Daddy

Harvest season wouldn't be complete without a trip to the farm. Audrey is freakishly afraid of riding in the combine and will tell you for hours upon even leaving the house that she doesn't want to ride in it. She actually won't even get out of the van, for fear that she'll somehow be forced into the big loud machine.

Allie, on the other hand, loves it.

Since Audrey hadn't been feeling well for day or so, it worked out well for her to stay in the van and  talk (and talk and talk) with Grandma. They told stories, had snacks and picked an ear of corn for both her and Allie to keep.

Today we traveled to my family's old farm. We sold it back in 2005 to Jeremy's family and a few other buyers. This is nice for me as I get to ride in the combine, and roam around the property and show my girls where I used to live. Since Audrey hadn't been feeling well for day or so, it worked out well for her to stay in the van and  talk (and talk and talk) with Grandma. They told stories, had snacks and picked an ear of corn for both her and Allie to keep.

It's still a little surreal even though my Grandpa hasn't farmed the land in over twenty years and my family hasn't lived in the house for six, to help harvest the fields my Grandpa farmed for years. As I watch the corn vanish and bounce along in the albeit comfy combine and look out the window to see in the distance the house I grew up in, I can't help but wonder how life was when my Grandpa farmed this very row of corn. And for a few short weeks, sometimes days, in the fall and spring,  I think about someday moving back out to the farm, building a huge mouse-proof house on the hill with a porch swing that overlooks acres and acres of corn and beans and maybe getting an animal or two. And then I'm reminded that I'm waaaay too much of a city girl to ever do that. So I will be content with visits to the farm. And leave it at that.

watching the corn with Daddy

from inside the combine

all done

holding her ear of corn Grandma picked for her

the view from the field looking back at the farmhouse

Sarah

Rapunzel arrives

Audrey has been sick. Nothing like a little Disney magic to make a little girl feel better. Her Rapunzel dress I ordered for Halloween and her birthday party arrived today. Fever and all, she made her way downstairs to open the box and try it on. Suddenly, she felt a little better. Perhaps that golden hair is magical after all.

Sarah

Oktoberfest

Our first Oktoberfest party. A German party with German bier, food, Lederhosen and some college football thrown in. I learned some new recipes, Jeremy's brother brewed a special Oktoberfest beer for us and we invited our friends. It was a success, considering it was our first attempt, and this party omitted the annual Backyard Tailgate Party that we've hosted for years. I didn't get a lot of pictures taken. It's hard being the host, the chef and the photographer. We grilled German bratwurst along with dinner that I did not get a picture of.

the signage telling all about the German beer.

We ordered special mugs

this was the free mug to anyone who wore Lederhosen

our appetizer buffet. Not sure I got a picture with all the food on there

We wrote the menu in German. Gotta be as authentic as possible!

My niece Ellie, handmade her Lederhosen outfit that she wore. And yes, she got a mug

sausage balls

Bavarian like pretzels with German mustard for dipping

I followed an authentic German recipe for this dip. It actually used German beer in it. I fancied it up by displaying it in the cabbage. 

Audrey's favorite part of the evening was the punch

Apple Cider Punch. it ended up being too hot for Apple Cider so we opted for a sparkling punch instead

This was an early shot, before many people arrived. This was the first party in which we entertained using the new pergola we built in June.

Jeremy and his brother playing the this beer game. By the end of the night, all the guys were standing in a circle holding their mugs out to see who could hold it there the longest. 12 minutes was the winner. 

German potato salad is hot and vinegar based, not mayo based. 

German Chocolate Cake, which surprisingly originated in the United States, not Germany

Apple Pie Bars with cream cheese frosting

Homemade Caramel Corn

Allie. No, my children did not wear Lederhosen, but we may have to work on that for next year!

the invitation

Sarah