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

Halloween 2012

This year for Halloween we dressed up as 

1. Izzy, from Jake and the Neverland Pirates

2. Alice in Wonderland

3. A Tulip Pixie Fairy

We trick or treated with our friends around the neighborhood and met up with next door neighbors for chili and hot dogs before hand. After ward we went to Sallie's house for s'mores. 

Allie, is just now understanding that her name is Allison too. But what I think is hilarious, is that she picked her costume, because she thinks the character shares her same name. She thinks it's "Allison Wonderland." If you say it fast enough, "Alice in Wonderland" does sound exactly like that. She had a shirt that I got her and Ava to wear in Disney with Alice on it and ever since then she's become quite partial to that movie. 

Audrey's favorite show of the week is Jake and the Neverland Pirates. She was pretty excited to see Jake when we were in Disney and decided weeks and weeks ago she wanted to be Izzy, the girl pirate from the show. Our little addition to the outfit? We added her Flynn Rider satchel from last years Rapunzel party to carry her gold de bloom. 

Ava, well, she wore the outfit that the other three wore their first Halloween. I did look for other outfits and without spending a fortune couldn't find much that I liked. Besides, this way, I have a comparison photo. Except when I went to get Ava's photo by herself her sisters photo bombed the picture.

they were just not cooperating today. they were already in a sugar coma.

Her father gave her a laffy taffy right as I said let's go outside for pictures. 

tuckered out little tulip fairy

Audrey and her friend Sallie

The Mommas in the Hood. Val dressed up like an 80's girl. The rest of us, did not. Me, JoAnn, Val, Kristine & Jessica

Lily and Audrey at the end of the night

Sarah

Trick or Treat Cupcakes

The girls and I made trick or treat cupcakes this afternoon for Halloween. They happened to be gluten free and dairy free, so we shared them with one of the girls' friends who just found out she has a dairy allergy. I'm trying to perfect GF DF cupcakes for Audrey's birthday party that's coming up. Today for the frosting I substituted Earth Balance butter for the butter in a standard buttercream frosting. It tasted good, but the cupcakes had to stay in the refrigerator or they got a little runny. Time for plan B. The cake was just a mix. The idea of these cupcakes is to add candy to the top. We used sprinkles, skittles and suckers.

baker 1

baker 2

trying to spread on the frosting proved to be too difficult

she liked piping it on much better!

Baker number 3, still too young to stand on a stool and help was wandering the island from the ground level, waiting for someone to drop something that she could scoop up and eat. She was particularly interested in the step stool we had out that day.

Audrey's cupcake. Since she would soon be 5, she felt the need to add 5 suckers to her cupcake. 

Sarah