Choices

Nicole is one smart little cookie.  I know all moms think that about their kids...but I'm right :-)

She thinks a lot and reasons through things way better than me!  Lately, I've been trying to teach her that really, she chooses how her day is going to play out.  The other day started out not so great, so about 8:30am, we had a conversation like this....

Me: Nicole, I want to have a good day today, do you?
Nicole: Um, yes
Me: Ok, well...it hasn't started out very well, has it?
Nicole: No
Me: Nicole, I want you to understand that you can choose what today is like.  You can choose to obey mommy and we  will have a really fun day, or you can choose to disobey me, and our day won't be fun because you will be getting disciplined a lot.  It's your choice, what do you want?
Nicole: I want to obey and have fun.

So...that was our converstion the other day.  Well, today in the car, this was how it went.

Nicole: Mommy, I want some chocolate milk when we get home.

Me: Um, I'm not sure...maybe.

Nicole: Ok, well, mommy....you have a choice.  Either you give me chocolate milk and I will be happy....OR....you don't give me chocolate milk, and I will be sad.  What do you want?  Do you want me to be happy or sad?  It's your choice.

I couldn't help it...I just started to laugh!

Friends are Friends Forever

Last week, I got to hang out with two of my oldest bestest friends AND their children who are all about the same age as mine! I don't even remember when I met Jessica, we played little league together way way way back when...and spent a lot of time together our senior year of high school when we both decided to go out for the softball team after not playing for like 5 years.  We made the team (I think because it was a brand new school and they were desperate....but we did great), so we have a lot of fun memories together.  I met Elisa in 10th grade I believe, and I didn't like her at first....mostly because she was that "perfect" girl...you know, funny, cute, smart....but then, we started getting to know each other better (make that, I started to get to know her) and decided she was pretty cool:-)

So, Jessica, Elisa and I went to church together, went to a brand new high school together our senior year, Jess & I played ball together, Elisa & I were on the student council together, we graduated 3 in row together at the top of our class, we all became teachers, and we had our first daughters within 3 weeks of each other.  I mean...come on...that's pretty cool, right?

So, last week, we were able to visit (Elisa lives a few hours a way, so we don't get to see much of her).  Here are our adorable kids

Nicole (3), Hannah (almost 2), Ashlyn (3), Addie (3), Aleyea (1)

The girls all played so well together this time.  As they get older, they are remembering each other and playing together more instead of by themselves.

Here is Nate and Nathan.  Elisa's son was born on Nicole's birthday last year...so he'll be 1 in June.  He was a big baby...well over 10lbs when he was born!  Elisa is a petite girl, but she did it :-)

Already rough housing...I love it

We are hoping that next time we get together, the three of us can go out by ourselves and have a "normal" conversation.  However, I love that our lives have been so similar in so many ways.  I know that even I don't see these girls for a long time, we can pick up right where we left off.  I'm thankful for friends like that.

Update on Nathan

Nathan just may be (right now...today...I don't know what tomorrow will bring), my most laid back baby yet.  Yes, he cries....Yes, he get's mad....but he's also full of smiles and laughs.  It's pretty easy to make him stop crying, just look at him and make a funny noise (ok, or feed him).  But, this little boy just LOVES to laugh.  He likes to play with balls (yay!!!).  He sucks on his fingers, on his thumb and on his paci...but most of the time just for fun.  He'll fall asleep with a paci in his mouth maybe 50% of the time.  The other times, he'll spit it out and suck on his finger, or nothing at all.

He likes to watch TV, especially baseball.

He especially likes to wear eye black while watching baseball.

He LOVES his sisters.  Hannah and Nicole both can make him laugh and are always loving on him, or trying to anyway, sometimes it may not come across as love:-)  He will totally chill out laying on the floor both on his tummy and on his back.

He is finally capable of riding in his car seat.  The ability to keep a paci in his mouth has helped, but he also is fine without it a lot of the time.  This is a HUGE change from even a month ago, when he would scream the E.N.T.I.R.E time in the car, now he just cries sometimes.

Nathan can roll over from his tummy to his back.  He's close to rolling from his back to tummy, but I don't think he really cares either way.

Nathan still does not like to eat food.  It's the most horrible part of his day if I decide to give it another go.  I've only tried that yucky oatmeal and applesauce.  I think I might try some peas soon....maybe he doesn't like sweets (so sad if that's the truth).

Nate adores his daddy and nearly lept out of my arms to him yesterday when he came home from work.

He's simply a pretty cool little baby.  He loves to be held and simply melts in your arms, but he also likes to be in the middle of the action.  I feel like the most important person in the world when he looks at me, so I'm going to simply enjoy that feeling, because I know all too soon it will pass and he'll think I'm an annoying meddling mother who won't let him get a motorcycle :-)

I love my Nate.  I love to look at him, to feel him breathe.  I love to tickle him and kiss his little neck where it makes him laugh.  I love listen to him talk and watch him swat and kick at balls.  I find that I am enjoying him more than I did the girls.  I think I spend less time with him than I did with them (mostly because I think I wipe little butts all day long, at least that what it seems like right now).  But, the undivided, quality time I get with him is priceless.  I just adore this little boy!

Strawberry Freezer Jam

I have found this great blog written by two women with tons and tons of yummy, every day kind of people recipes.  I like to cook and try new recipes, but I often don't because the recipes are so extravagant, or you can't find an ingredient they use in the store on a regular basis.  That's not how these girls cook.  The recipes and crafts they share are perfect for our family.  PLUS...they almost always include pictures of the cooking process and the final product, which I LOVE!  I often don't cook the recipes in my cookbooks because I can't see what it looks like.   A lot of the recipes they share are originals, but there are some from other sources. 

In fact, tonight I'm cooking  Bacon wrapped chicken Terriaki skewers and Lime-Cilantro rice with pineapple with Caramelized Green Beans.  Hmmm...that sounds ambitious for a Friday night.  Maybe we'll have this dinner tomorrow night when I have Jeremy home to help (and since I forgot to buy chicken today at the store).

So...instead, tonight we'll have Stuffed Pizza Rolls.   I'd like to also try their recipe for Fudgy Mint Brownies, Sweet Potato Fries, and Coconut Chicken....to name a few.  What on their site looks yummy to you???

So, yesterday, the kids and I decided to try making Strawberry Freezer Jam, which I found on their site.  It was simple, and has resulted in some yummy fresh jam.  The recipe I used does have a lot of sugar.  I think later this week, I'm going to make more with the lower sugar recipe and see how it goes (and maybe add blueberries...what do you think?).  But, with strawberries so cheap right now....I can make enough jelly for the year for the price it costs for two or three jars at the store.  And, it was easy and kid friendly.

We just got done washing the strawberries.  Now, I will be cutting the tops, Hannah will be dropping the cut strawberries in the bag, and Nicole will be holding the bag open.

We are mashing the berries by hand because I don't have a potato masher.  I think next time though, I may use the blender.  I don't particularly like having chunks in my jelly.  But, this worked, and was a lot of fun for the girls.  We really got our hand yucky.

Pouring in the sugar and mixing it up.  

The containers I bought were to big.  Today I just purchased little 9 oz containers that will be better for next time.  I didn't want to fill them all the way up because they were so big.  Next time I'm expecting to get 5 or 6 smaller containers.

Today at lunch, we made PB&J with our fresh jam.  It was really good...but really sweet too.  I wish I had some fresh home made bread to put on top (Teri???)

My mommy friends out there...you really need to try to cook with your kids...at least on occasion.  It is messy and slower, but it's a great learning experience. 

What is this???? An Answer

The other day, I posted this picture and asked you to guess what it was.

One person guessed lights from church, one verbally told me she thought it was the fizz or bubbles in a Dr. Pepper...one even had the guts to ask if I was pregnant (NO!!!!).

So....what is it?


It's a glimpse of the impromptu fun we had the other night. 

Yep....we were, yet again, playing in the water.  The sun was going down, the light was pretty cool...and Jeremy couldn't resist trying to get some "cool" shots.

Um....seriously....that tongue is not touching Hannah...it just looks like it is! hahaha.  Gross!!!

Watch out Hannah...it's coming.................

B.L.A.S.T

That'll teach you not to spray water in my face! hehehehe

Easter 2010

This year, we hosted Easter dinner at our house.  Jeremy wanted to make Baby Back Ribs for everyone. 

We had my parents, Jeremy's parents and Granny, my Grandpa and Dolores, Janet, and a young man from the college ministry, Mike.  It was a full house.  I'm thankful it wasn't raining!  My dad even let us borrow a big gazebo tent to help shade the backyard...it was a life saver!

I think we had a good dinner, with WAY to much food.  I'm pretty sure everyone had a nice time.  My dear little Hannah never stopped eating, from the moment she saw food, until the moment she went to bed.  It was quite a site!

More pictures from the little Easter Egg Hunt

Hannah and Nicole with their Grammy and Yaya.  These two love their grandmas!!!

Nate...just chillin.

Grandpa hanging out with Hannah...notice the food in her hand.

Sweet...and I'm sure sticky...kisses

Nate Dawg chillin wit his homie

Great-Grandpa with three of his great-grandchildren.

My dad (Papa) and the kids with Great-Grandpa

Mom and I in the kitchen

A glimpse

More to come....

He Is Risen!!!!

One f my favorite parts of Easter is when, on Sunday morning, someone says to you, "He is risen!!"  and then I get to reply back, "He is risen indeed!!!"

I have some very specific memories of Easter growing up that I want to share.

The church I went to growing up was fairly small...at least in relation to the church we go to now.  I would say that we pretty much knew everyone in the congregation.  Maybe I'm wrong, but from my child eyes, that's the way it seemed.  Each Easter our church would have a sunrise service, outside in the parking lot/field area.  Each family would bring a breakfast dish to share after the service.  The pastor would preach outside, and my favorite part always took place.  Peggy and Sue would sing, "He's Alive" I loved to hear them sing the song and simply looked forward to it each year.  I loved having the church service outside and I loved looking forward to playing and eating afterwards.  Even today, I feel like I need to listen to "He's Alive" each Easter Sunday, but the tape with them singing is long gone.  It's the song of Jesus' resurrection from Peter's perspective.  I'm quite certain this church no longer does the outside sunrise service, and I'm positive Peggy and Sue no longer sing.  But, it is a memory etched in my mind from my childhood that I will not soon forget. 

Like many people, we always dyed hard boiled eggs to hide and find.  However, one year it went awry and to this day it is something our family talks about.  Several months after Easter...I mean, like deep into the summer, maybe longer, my mom was sitting in the living room and started commenting on a gross smell she had just wift.  Later, we discovered the smell...an unfound Easter Egg that had rotted.  It was so horrible, that we had to throw away the couch!!!  Needless to say, we never dyed eggs again after that, just used those plastic ones.  And, today, our family of 5 hides the eggs outside, just in case one is forgotten again.

I feel like, yet again, I've failed by kids.  I want so badly to have traditions, to have holidays that my children look forward to and remember...but it's simply not easy with three very little ones.  I have all the stuff...18 eggs, Easter egg dye, stickers and basket....but, we have not yet dyed our Easter eggs, and it looks like there will be no time today to do it either.  The good thing is, they don't really know any better, yet.  Next  year though...I HAVE to do it (I WANT to do it).  We wanted to do resurrection cookies with them...but didn't get home in time enough before bed last night.  I wanted to talk more about the story of Christ and teach them better about what this day symbolized, I wanted to burn this day into their minds...but I'm pretty sure I didn't.  Not this year anyway.  However, they did get an Easter basket this year...from us.  And I'm excited about that.  They are simple, some robins eggs and jelly beans scattered in the grass.  A giant chocolate bunny, and a new Bible.  But, I think they'll be excited when they wake up and see their goodies.

We are having everyone over to our house today for Baby Back Ribs....I sure hope we cook them well!!!!

Have an enjoyable Easter and remember.....HE IS RISEN!!!!

What is this????

What do you think this is a picture of?

Time with Mimi

My grandma, the kids' great- grandma, Mimi, just left to go back up to Ohio earlier this week.  She's been down for a little over a month, since a few days before Justin's wedding.  We have had a nice visit.  I wanted to share a few pictures from the day before she left.