x-rays and baptisms

Today Audrey got her first x-rays and our family got to witness two private baptisms at church during small group. Two men in our small group and two fathers of our girls' friends got baptized tonight at church. I am really glad that Audrey and Allie got to witness that. We had been talking about baptism all week.

Audrey has been complaining about her ankle hurting for a few weeks now, and everytime I think about taking her somewhere for it, it miraculously gets better. I think she twisted it or fell doing gymnastics, either at the gym or here in the family room. Tonight, after her afternoon nap, she couldn't even walk on it. This morning, at church, she could barely bare weight on it and Jeremy had to carry her out to the car. When she couldn't walk after her nap we decided to take her to prompt care, vs the ER since it was a Sunday night. The x-rays didn't show a break according to the Dr. I plan to take her to an orthopedic Dr. in the morning.

In the waiting room she was so upset that she might miss the baptisms!

She was a little afraid of the x-ray machine.

She cried a little

I believe her ankle hurts really bad. At small group she didn't run around or play with any of the kids. At one point, her and Gabrielle were hopping on one leg together. And before long three or four of them had "broken legs" So sweet of her friends to make her feel included, even though she couldn't walk or run like the others.

I am hoping this isn't a big deal. Im sort of afraid it might be.




Sarah

Our Thanksgiving, 2012

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving. It's the weekend before Thanksgiving and normally we make our own turkey, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and the rest of the fixings the day before the national holiday. But this year Jeremy wanted to smoke the turkey in his meat smoker. 

Our menu today consisted of:

Smoked turkey
gluten free/dairy free mashed potatoes and gravy (see notes below)
cranberry sauce
citrus spiced green beans
pumpkin pie
pumpkin bars, gluten free/dairy free

As we have more children, we continue to make our favorites every year...like mashed potatoes. You can't have T-giving without mashed potatoes and gravy. But we've had to simplify a little. For instance, my favorite pumpkin pie EVER was entitled: Pumpkin Pie with maple whipped cream and sugared pecans. And it took about that long to make. This year, we had my standard gluten free pumpkin pie. No whipped cream, no sugared pecans. That way, I wasn't tempted to eat dairy and get sick. Jeremy doesn't like whipped cream anyway. I personally don't understand not liking whipped cream on pie. 

Everyone had to say what they were thankful for before we ate.
Audrey: my preschool friends
Allie: gymnastics
Jeremy: my family
Sarah: my girls. (and my amazing husband, of course)

My favorite part of the meal was when Allie wanted to eat the leg of the turkey. So, Jeremy cut it off for her and she ate it, just like a viking, and just like a caveman. Audrey, sitting right next to her, preferred to eat her turkey with a fork. This afternoon I sent the girls out to play while I baked pumpkin pies because it was unseasonably warm. Audrey danced around the patio, pretended to sing for an audience while Allie made it her mission to dig up all the garlic Jeremy planted a few weeks ago in the garden. She loves to play in dirt. 

Ava wasn't her self today. She's either cutting teeth or has a small bug. She's just been really fussy all day, but she was happy to watch us eat dinner while she snacked on her sweet potato puffs.

The girls and I made these little turkey place cards today. 

carving the turkey. I don't fancy up my turkey like the commercials. Jeremy smoked it this year, so there wasn't much in the form of garnish. Look at how Allie is licking her lips!

potatoes and chives, gluten free, dairy free. cranberry sauce. 

Sarah

Ballerina Morning Out

Audrey's friend, Lily, gave her a ballerina morning out/play date at a new dance studio in town for her 5th birthday. Today, Lily, Audrey, Sallie and Julia all went dressed in their pink tutus. They were so cute. And don't get me started about how they will all start kindergarten in the fall. Nope, it's just not possible. They will stay our cute little girls who play barbies, swing on the swings and learn to ride their bikes on the sidewalks in front of our houses FOREVER. End of story.

Audrey had a great time today. She said they had a tea party and drank apple juice, ate muffins and apples, danced with bells on their ankles with rain sticks and afterward they all went to McDonald's. Thanks Lily for the great birthday present!

Sarah

Oh seriously now

Today the stars were just not aligning.

For instance. Today, Audrey had a make-up gymnastics lesson at 4. At literally 3:49 we were all sitting in the family room, the girls relaxing with a snack and watching a show while I gave Ava a bottle when Audrey said, "Mom. What about gymnastics???" I reached for my phone for the time. Eek! "Let's go girls, get in the car!" The car with no gas, mind you. On fumes we made it to gymnastics and I pulled up to the front door, let Audrey out, made sure she got inside, waved at her teacher and told her I'd be right back. and took the littles across the street to the gas station. everyone in town was getting gas at that  time. when it was our turn, I realized I left my wallet at home. seriously universe. my bloating and upset stomach for the last 5 months combined with the existing celiac disease that makes holidays and life in general plain hard, little stuff, like, forgetting my wallet when I'm unsure the van would make it the 5 miles home, tends to stress me. To end this story, I texted Jeremy and he was able to drop off the credit card in less than 2 minutes. One problem solved.

the girls now were asleep in the car. I did think, I'd just stay in the van until the end of class and let them sleep...but I really wanted to see Audrey in this particular class. So we trooped into the gym, Ava in her car seat stroller and Allie on my hip. It takes coordination to carry a thirty five pound toddler  and push a cheap stroller frame and open the door and turn the corner, etc. So much so that I didn't even care Allie hadn't put on shoes. 

Hoping the stars align more tomorrow.






Sarah

Audrey's Family Birthday Party

Today after Audrey's friend party we invited family over to celebrate. A little less structured and themed, although all the food served was inspired by Strawberry Shortcake and her friends. Audrey got some really neat gifts, including a Hello Kitty microphone on a stand that plays music while you sing and a dance mat that again, plays music and a matching microphone. Barbies, Strawberry Shortcake, a doll bed, a Doc McStuffins doll and lots of arts and crafts.

On the menu today:

Strawberry Streusel Shortcake (brown sugar shortbread stacked between layers of lightly sweetened whipped cream and fresh strawberries)

Lemon Bars

Mini Blueberry Muffins

Flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce

The kids decorated cupcakes like we did at her friend party this morning. Audrey opted out of everyone singing and blowing out candles.

It was a really warm day so in between parties Allie snuck outside as people were leaving, which is why she's not wearing shoes. 

decorating and eating cupcakes

Audrey loves sprinkles

I had really terrible lighting for all the food photos, but here are a few for the scrapbook.

strawberry shortcake 

blueberry muffins. gluten free dairy free. 

lemon bars. first time recipe and oh so good. 

Happy Birthday Audrey!


Sarah

Audrey's 5 year old Interview

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?  Pink and purple

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?  A Doctor

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL? Giraffes and kitties

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE? school

WHAT DOES DADDY DO AT WORK? he makes money for us for food, drinks and toys.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? McDonald's hamburgers

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? Lalaloopsy

IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE? Disney World

HOW OLD ARE YOU? 5

WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND? Clara

WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO GO? Target and also school......and Disney

WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO LEARN ABOUT? letter and numbers

WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF YOUR BIRTHDAY? getting toys and seeing my friends

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WITH THE FAMILY? play the Wii

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? Playing with Daddy

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW?  Strawberry Shortcake, My Little Pony, Sophie the First

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? My favorite book is my Valentine Pinkalicious book

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TOY?  Dream Lite and Doc McStuffins

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST FOOD? pancakes and waffles

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG? "I'm not ready to be a princess"--from Sophia the First.

THE SNACK I COULD LIVE ON IS: goldfish

MY FAVORITE SEASON: spring so I can jump on the trampoline.



Sarah

Audrey's Birthday

Birthdays are kinda a big deal around here.

We sing and blow out candles at breakfast, lunch and supper.

We try to have the birthday persons favorite foods.

We throw parties.

We celebrate our kids everyday, of course, and try to make them feel as special and loved as possible in the chaos that is our everyday. But we believe it's good to kick it up a notch for their actual birthdays. It doesn't have to be expensive gifts or a huge expensive party, as long as they have fun and they feel loved and know we are celebrating them because we love that they are in our lives.

Since today is Wednesday and Audrey's party isn't until Saturday, we asked the grandparents to come up, have supper, have cake to make her day a little extra special. It was nice to do this and I'm sure we'll do it again. When the whole family is here it's not as intimate and low key as when it's just us and grandparents. But first, Audrey celebrated her birthday at school this morning and handed out Strawberry Shortcake pencils to all her classmates. Her class made her a special card.

For her birthday, Audrey requested a chocolate cake with pink icing decorated like a strawberry shortcake village. I had a plan and that plan fell through. I don't know what it is with me and cakes this year! Man! So, we made cupcakes instead. The icing was dairy free, so my mom could eat it and I could eat it. The almond icing mixed with the chocolate was delicious. And apparently Audrey thought so because while I was busy making dinner, she snuck into the dining room and asked if she could have some strawberries. I said yes, as there was a bowl of them on the table. Later, I came in and saw she'd eaten the strawberries off the top of the cupcakes, and helped herself to two cupcakes too! Little stinker.

For supper we had calzones with dipping sauce. Some with veggies, some with sausage and pepperoni, some without cheese and some with.

We got Audrey a guitar as she loves anything rock star this year and she's been asking for one for awhile. Grandmother and Grandpa got her a doll bed for her babies complete with little doll bedding. Grandma and Grandpa S. got her a Dream Lite and Doc McStuffins doll. She was thrilled with all her presents.

breakfast. 

Like I said, they get to pick their favorite foods, and she really wanted Fruity Pebbles cereal.
We never get this anymore, so it was a treat. 

As much as she hates blowing out candles, she will do it when it's just us.

make a wish!

twirling around on the front porch as I was getting ready to take her picture before school 

showing what she was taking to school to celebrate: SS pencils and napkins

Allie and Ava got Audrey crayons and a My Little Pony coloring book. 

we had to celebrate in Strawberry Shortcake style with tablecloth, napkins and plates for dessert. 

Audrey was getting a little nervous here as we were all staring at her and singing

I decided to try the movie feature on my SLR camera so I missed the blowing out of the candle picture.



Sarah

Life as of late

Something cute that Allie did today: 

While putting a DVD into the blu ray player, wearing only her diaper, Allie was seen rubbing the DVD on her stomach, to clean it off before putting it in the player--exactly how daddy does it to clean it off. Only daddy wears a shirt.

My life as of late:

Allie has starting taking gymnastics and she's so fun to watch. She's the youngest one in the class, but she might be the strongest. She's solid, energetic and she is coordinated. She listens to the teacher, follows directions and improves every week. Just this week she did a mean forward roll. She's happy to go every week and Audrey often asks to go and watch her.

Audrey has begun saying stupid crap. The kind of stuff that makes her sound like a snotty girl. And it's not even that bad, it's just when she says it and how she says it. She's so influenced by others. She's only 4 and she's got the attitude and pouty lip and says stuff like, "Duh...rude." Which by the way she's taught to  two year Allie, and when she says it, I can't help but laugh, because she doesn't use it in the right context AT ALL. It's hilarious. When Audrey uses it....I don't laugh so much.

I had to visit the primary doctor the other day for pink eye. And I had to take all three girls. For some reason, out of the clear blue of sky Audrey says, in front of the nurse, while I try and gently move her out of the way, "Don't touch me! And yanks her arm away from me. She follows it up with "I don't want you to touch me!" Well that was lovely. I mean, when did she transform into a moody teenager ? All the while Allie is climbing on everything in the 2x2 office, touching the trash before I can grab her away from it, opening the drawers of the exam table and Ava is REALLY tired of being in her car seat. I asked Audrey later in quite a stern tone, why she said that to me in front of the Dr and she said it was because she didn't want to get pink eye. Well, now that made sense.....she's scared to death of pink eye, now that Allie and I have both had it. Still though, the attitude. Ugh.

Ava? Well she's just adorable.

Sarah