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