Kids in the Bath

I love me some kids in the bath!

Sledding

Today we took the family (and Kate's boyfriend Brandon) sledding at Snoqualmie Summit. We woke up at 6:00, were in the car by 7:15 with lunches packed and on our way. The sledding session runs from 9-11 and we arrived shortly before 9:00 am, to 41degree weather and rain. Lots of rain. At first it wasn't too bad, but it really picked up and we were ready to head out after an hour. I am happy to report that the kids really didn't whine too much, and Georgia gets the best trooper award since she wasn't wearing a jacket met for any kind of rain. She was soaked straight through her shirt and barely complained.

Jon and I both went down the runs twice and alternated turns so the person left behind could watch Augie. The runs aren't recommended for those under three and I didn't want to take any chances with his little brain and neck on the slopes.

Georgia says that she liked going down with me the best because I don't go too fast. She thought that Dad goes way too fast and it's too scary to go with him. Theo was the surprise of the day since he is usually a cautious child. He giggled on the run and wanted to go for more. We totally look forward to returning next year or even this year (if my mom is up and we can leave Augie with her) if the weather is good and we can play some more in the snow.

I didn't get any pictures of the actual sledding because, as you can imagine, juggling three kids in a downpour and standing in line for the runs didn't leave any extra hands for the camera. The pictures are from when we first arrived and saw the snow.

Happy Birthday Jon

Happy 37th birthday to my hardworking and loving husband! Wishing you all the best this year and I hope the massage and special breakfast of cinnamon rolls and sausage started your day off right!

Jon began his birthday by getting out the remote controlled cars my dad had bought Kate and playing with the children. He, I, and Georgia had a blast racing them around the driveway and~shhh~crashing into one another. After playtime, I dropped him off for a massage and went to pick up his white cake with butter cream icing.

We came home and had leftovers for lunch, let the refrigerator repairman in, and took a walk to the neighbors to visit. Around 3 pm we celebrated with candles and cake and Jon opened presents. He received fire pit forks for our campfire from Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Steve, movie tickets and popcorn money from Aunt Jane, a Starbucks card from Uncle Brian, movie tickets from Kate, and a shirt, ski hat, and golf credits from our family.

This evening we went out to happy hour (YAY team!) with our, Andy and Sam, and Brian. Jon is hoping for a movie tonight to cap off his day of fun!

Happy birthday to my loving husband who works so hard to take care of us! We love you very, very, much!

Playtime

Theo and Georgia playing with his new remote control construction center. They were laughing and having such a good time together, I couldn't resist pulling out the camera and taking a picture of them in action.

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Merry Christmas

We all had a wonderful Christmas morning, waking at 5:45 with Augie and 7:00 with the others. Interestingly, Georgia was the last one up! I had predicted she would be the first one, especially since everyone went to bed at 7 pm the night before.

Georgia says her best gift was the tail wagging and barking dog. Theo's was his construction set, and Augie liked the playdoh sets, his laptop, and the Marbleworks marble run. Kate was surprised by her laptop and relieved to finally get the car garbage bag that she has been hoping for.

Kate was very creative giving her brothers and sister presents. She gifted her old Build a Bear outfits to Georgia and helped her dress all of her animals with them. She also put together a sensory table and filled a large tub with 25 pounds of rice. She put items like funnels, measuring cups, and small animals in it for the kids to dig up and play with. It is a huge mess, but the kids love it and it is good for them. The kids have all played with it multiple times today.

Jon surprised me with Cavalia tickets for Georgia and I. Cavalia is a sort of acrobatic show on horses and is supposed to be very grand. In addition to these, he also bought me photography lessons and the buttercrock I had been hoping for.

We gave Jon ski goggles, a rain suit, and a massage. I think his and my best gift were the pictures that Georgia drew for us and Kate had framed. I love catching Georgia's take on our family through her drawings. My picture is of her, I, and Starr~complete with Starr's pee and poo in a pile. Jon's picture was of our whole family, including Daisy the pony.

For breakfast we enjoyed Brian's coffeecake and Kate insisted on lox and bagels with fresh fruit. It took us three hours to open presents and afterwards we played board games with the kids, watched a Christmas Story, and snacked on leftover Cioppino.

Jon made a dinner of prime rib, green beans, rolls, green salad, field roast (for Kate), and sauteed asparagus. We have two kinds of pies for dessert~pumpkin and pecan. I can say that we are positively stuffed!

We had a wonderful Christmas with Aunt Jane, Uncle Brian, and the kids. It was cozy, we ate well, and the kids had more than what they needed. We are blessed in this life!

The Tree

As Brian said, "Wow~That's alot of presents!"

I do believe there is a construction set remote control dump truck, barking dog, and a roaring ambulance waiting to be unleashed at 7:00 AM tomorrow morning. Let the games begin!

Christmas Eve

I like traditions and we continued in ours by eating cioppino for Christmas Eve dinner. Thankfully Aunt Jane and Uncle Brian were over to share in it and help cook with the kids. Brian supervised the kids cutting mushrooms and making the salad while Aunt Jane and Augie cut up the onions for the stew. It was delicious and truly felt like the best Christmas Eve supper~it only took an hour to prepare and always feels decadent with all of the fish, clams, shrimp, scallops, and crab in it.

For dessert we enjoyed gingerbread Guiness bundt cake with homemade whipped cream, courtesy of Brian. It had just the right amount of sweet and savory with the gingerbread and was to die for!

After dinner and dessert we bathed the kids, did the third load of dishes for the day, and let the kids open one present each. They chose to open the cute Wynn backpacks that Aunt Nani and Uncle Greg sent them from Vegas. Inside Georgia's pink backpack she received a playdoh cake decorating kit. Inside Theo's blue backpack he found a playdoh pizza making kit. Both kids love playdoh and truly we can't have enough playdoh in stock around here. Augie received a Wynn bib and happily helped his brother and sister create their playdoh food.

Kids were in bed by 7:00 pm after reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Uncle Brian and Dad. By the time we went to bed Santa had arrived and put many gifts under the tree, the table was set for Christmas morning, and the garbage and dishes were taken care of. Yay team!

Now time to relax and watch the kids open their presents. It truly is an honor being their parent and tomorrow should be pure joy~with a few meltdowns thrown in, of course!

Christmas Eve Dinner

Cioppino (serves 12-14)
55 minutes to make

Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups white wine
1 1/2 pounds large shrimp - peeled and deveined
1 1/2 pounds bay scallops
18 small clams
18 mussels, cleaned and debearded
1 1/2 cups crabmeat
1 1/2 pounds cod fillets, cubed


Directions
1. Over medium-low heat melt butter in a large stockpot, add onions, garlic and parsley. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally until onions are soft.
2. Add tomatoes to the pot (break them into chunks as you add them). Add chicken broth, bay leaves, basil, thyme, oregano, water and wine. Mix well. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
3. Stir in the shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and crabmeat. Stir in fish, if desired. Bring to boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer 5 to 7 minutes until clams open. Ladle soup into bowls and serve with warm, crusty bread!

Games

I asked the kids what they wanted to do this evening and offered up activities like going to look at Christmas lights or taking a flashlight walk. When I suggested board games they went crazy with excitement, and even Augie squealed and ran over to the bookcase to grab his favorite game.

I am inclined to think playing board games is becoming a lost pastime, similar to letter writing or cursive. Computers and screens seem to dominate so much of our culture. I try and make a conscious effort to sit around and play a board game with the kids at least 3-5 times a week. Tonight we played Share a Berry, a spelling game, Zimbo's, Treasure Trot, and a matching game. Theo's favorite was the lacing game Share a Berry and Georgia liked to play all of them except Share a Berry. Augie mostly just likes to steal the pieces and run off with them.

Augie and Underware

I have officially given in to the young man named Augustus. Many times a day he succeeds in taking off his diaper and pulling down his pants. He then proceeds to run naked through the house, looking for either his Baby Bjorn potty or trying to climb on a big toilet. Today I asked him if he wanted to wear underwear and he was pretty happy about that. I don't know how long it will last, but he is quite proud of himself and no accidents so far.

This is a picture of him after he scooted his blue chair over to a light switch and watched the magic happen as he turned on and off the lights, again and again.

*Edited to add~as I was typing he came to me crying because he had peed in his underwear.

Lonely Playdoh

I made playdoh tonight. I made playdoh by myself. I had hoped to make playdoh during our playdate today but one rotten apple spoiled that activity (a child who did not want to make playdoh, called everyone 'poopy' and was rough and pushed). Thankfully the aforementioned apple was not one of our offspring. I saved the craft and decided to get to it after dinner.

Tonight I brought out the supplies, gathered the children, and began mixing playdoh ingredients at 6:30 pm. The children had just pulled up their chairs to watch when Jon walked in and said, "Okay kids it's time to go." Go where? Awwww, library story time starts at 7:00 and Jon wanted them to go and do the Christmas craft. I sense a Christmas gift coming on...

So, low and behold, my glamorous life had me stirring playdoh on the stove until my arm felt like it was going to fall off. All by myself. Here is my creation of lemon scented purple playdoh. Tomorrow I think the kids and I will try again and make another color with the cherry Kool-aid packets I bought for this purpose.

The playdoh I made looks a bit greyish, like an old brain, so I would advise not using the purple and trying for a brighter color like green or blue.

Recipe for Playdoh colored with Kool-aid:
2 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsps cream of tartar
2 cup water
2 tbsp of vegetable oil
1 package of Kool-aid

*Mix Kool-aid and water on the stove until dissolved
*Add all other ingredients and cook 5-10 minutes more over medium
*Add essential oils to scent the dough

Kids Terror

This is the mess I came out to after trying to lay down for an hour nap this week. I have been a bit under the weather and was hoping to kick my cold with some extra sleep~dare I say reduce my stress? Ha! Georgia and Theo call this typical construction/destruction "building forts." Augie had nothing to do with it since he was sleeping in his crib.

They are shortening my life span, I would bet on it.

Augie on the Toilet

Augie continues to pee on the toilet when he is reminded or when he sees other people using the bathroom. I can't believe that at 21 months old he is so with it. The fact that he has the physical coordination, the desire to mimic, and the control of his body, astounds me.

He is an equal opportunity user and goes on either the big toilet with an insert or in the Baby Bjorn.

Georgia's Recital

Georgia had her 'low key' winter ballet recital this weekend. We didn't buy costumes and instead the girls wore their pink leotards and tights from class. Their dance teacher, Miss Betty, provided little red and white Santa skirts and they looked festive but not extravagant. Georgia did really well; remembering most of her steps but refusing to look at the audience. She says that she enjoys being on the stage but she always appears shy. I am hoping that she will outgrow this and one day I might see a smile and wave from her on stage.

The song she had to learn and sing was hilariously odd! The girls wore white fleece muffs on their hands and sang the following My Muff and I song~
"When the wind goes puff puff puff
It's time for me to wear my muff.
It keeps my hands so nice and warm
even in a winter storm.
When I'm gliding through the snow
doing all the steps I know.
I feel so good I want to try to dance, my muff and I.
When the wind goes puff puff puff
It's time for me to wear my muff.

Ella is Georgia's best friend from class and we have known her since she was a newborn in our PEP's group together. The picture above is Georgia and Ella posing together backstage.

Georgia loved receiving her huge bouquet of flowers and immediately asked to carry them out to the lobby. She also wants to keep them only in her room, little lady appreciates some flowers! The flowers are so large because I had forgotten to order her a child sized bouquet and so we stopped by a roadside flower seller on our way out of town. Not bad for $20 in mid December!

Cookies

Our neighbors (George and Kristen) brought us a plate of cookies today. I absolutely love having thoughtful, considerate, generous, and friendly neighbors! We hit the lottery on our street!

Carriage Ride

Our neighboring shopping center offered free horse carriage rides and so we jumped in the car, braved the 35 degree weather, and went. We had much fun and I can safely say that Georgia enjoyed it the most, with my mom and I coming in close behind her on the enthusiasm meter. This was Theo's first horse ride since he has thus far refused to ride or sit on any of our horses.

Garden

Who would have thought that I would be posting about gardening and its bounty in December, amidst 30 degree temperatures. Jon dug this beauty up out of our garden today. We don't use any pesticides or fertilizers, so the size of this beet is incredible! I wouldn't expect to find something of this size organically grown. Maybe its size is due to all the help the chickens have been giving it while scratching in the garden.

Having beets, steak, and rice for dinner tonight!

Georgia's Style

Georgia came down dressed for school complete with multi colored beads and tens of hair bows in her hair. I asked her to look in the mirror at her hair to make sure that was the look she was going for. She did, and was very satisfied with her ahh, hmm, display.

According to her she received many positive comments on her hair creation from her friends. I love this independent, stylish, streak she has (even if it occasionally embarrasses me)!

Blue Eggs

We gave up a few things when we moved out of the city. Namely, great restaurants being at the top of the list. We traded our close proximity to parks for our own park with much upkeep, weeds, and animal dung. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

There is a certain 'high' and rush of excitement to find your hens laying eggs for the first time. It almost seems like recapturing the feeling of finding your Easter basket or waking to discover presents under the tree. Who knew that such a tiny little thing, an ordinary egg, could provide such a cause for celebration.

Our newest hens, the ones we raised from chicks this summer, are starting to lay. This is newsworthy because last year we didn't get our first egg until January 17th. It is a thrill for us to see those first few blue eggs~from Gallop and Trot~and a speckled brown one from Sunny. I don't have pictures of the speckled one because Georgia decided she wanted to eat that egg for lunch yesterday.

What a marvel, a wonder, from just one little egg.