Weekend Review

This was a great weekend.  (Well, in my opinion.)  Saturday was picture day.  Ellie is 14 months and Madison is a little past 3 years old.  I know you are “supposed” take pictures at milestones (i.e. 1 year, 15 months, 3 years, etc), but that hasn’t been the tradition here.  We do it when we get to it!  (That may be my new motto!  Whoa, I am in a quirky mood right now; watch out!)  Anyway… It actually went really well.  Our pictures were at 9:15am.  Ellie cooperated; Madison cooperated; and Jeremy and I were pleased.  Here are a few of our favorites:

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When we got home, Tara and Grace came over for lunch and to play a little before nap time.  I miss Tara and the time we spent walking and talking in Columbus, so it is so nice when we can connect back here.  I am lucky that her family lives in the area we moved to!  I have no pictures, but the girls seemed to have fun in princess dresses, with shopping carts, and a little arguing about whose is whose.  That is three-year-olds for you.

The girls took good afternoon naps, while I hung out here, and Jeremy picked up a few things at the store.  During their nap, I had a phone call from my Ashland friend, Laura.  She said she and her family were in our town… just down the street!  We met them there shortly after the call and invited them to come play a little at our house.  Teagan and Madison played Dora house for most of the time they were here.  Teagan is MUCH better at that than I am!  It was a day of friends visiting, and it was so good!

Sunday we played with friends in the church nursery since we had nursery duty.  Afterwards we went to Jeremy’s parent’s house.  Jeremy’s sister, Jen, is in town for a few days, and we wanted to spend some time with her.  There were a few other extended family members that joined us for lunch as well – David, Marianne, Erin, and Kristen.  After naps, we went outside to play for awhile.  The day was PERFECT -  sunshine, breezy, warm.  It was everything that I look forward to because we have a winter here.  (I do like winter, too, but the changing seasons make everything more exciting.)  Madison ran in her dress and barefeet bringing back a feeling of freedom I think she had forgotten – or maybe tries to relive every day in our house in dresses and no socks.

    

Madison said Jen is so fun. I love playing with Jen!

    

Ellie discovered things she wouldn’t have remember from last year.  We touched the grass. 

We piled rocks. 

  

We took laps (her walking, holding my hand) around the house.  We gave wagon rides. 

And she tried walking all by herself. She was so proud!

It was a good day. 

Joy

I will write more later, but I just wanted to leave you with two images from our Sunday…

   

Dog-tired

So, Madison has decided to set her internal clock somewhere around 6:20ish.  I think it is a little eary personally for a three-year-old.  I know others would beg to differ.  Regardless, I am on a mission to reprogram her.  I have been reading online about what other people have tried, and this is what I cam up with 1) move her bed time up just a little, 2) shorten her nap, 3) move her nap a little earlier in the afternoon, or 4) maybe she no longer needs a nap. 

As an attempt to test #4 (or because there were no other appointment times), I scheduled her a haircut for 2:30 yesterday.  We are getting the girls pictures taken this Saturday, and I thought her hair could probably benefit from a trim.  I took Ellie over to my dad’s house for a nap.  Madison and I went to the Dollar store to spend some of her birthday money – a little mommy-daughter date.  She purchased a new (fake) Barbie and some real (kid’s) makeup.  Then, we had her hair cut.  It is shorter, but it still feels long to her.  It looks a bit thicker, and I think it will look better for the pictures.  We then picked up frostys for my dad and her to share.  She kept going and going. 

On the way home from my parent’s house (a distance of about 10 minutes), she fell dead asleep.  I mean she was so asleep that I unstrapped her and carried her rag doll body in to the couch.  I set her down and she said, “I want something to drink.”  By the time I got Ellie inside and filled her glass of milk, this is what I found…

I let her nap for about 20 minutes like that before attempting to wake her up.  I rarely have had to work that hard to wake her up.  Yep, I think my little girl still needs her nap.  I’ll have to test the other three ideas out. 

One more for fun

The girls are playing together more nowadays.  Madison can either be loving – putting her arm around Ellie, kissing her – or not so loving – pushing her out of the way, dumping water on her face in the tub.  Either way, they are amusing to watch interact and grow together.  Here they were coloring today:

  

  

Thick and Chewy Double Chocolate Cookies

So, I was inspired to post about the pinterest pins that I try.  I figure if I am pinning something to my boards, it is worth trying.  Well, I apply this to any food related items.  I pin many kids ideas, crafts, and household ideas that never get looked at much.  There are a few of those I’ve tried, too – such as the colored bubbles and easy cleaning tip for George Foreman grills.  This weekend, I tried a recipe for Thick and Chewy Double Chocolate Cookies (could the name be any longer?).  As I made them, I questioned whether I would keep the recipe.  It requires melting down semi-sweet Baker’s chocolate squares in the microwave, which is an extra step and an extra dirty dish.  Also, I rarely have that on hand, so I would have to buy it special.  I made only a half recipe because I had only bought one box of the Baker’s chocolate, and the full recipe requires two (which I didn’t realize).  You also have to let the dough set for about 30 minutes to get fudgy.  All that said, this are fantastic for a serious chocolate craving.  I also decided they would be good with peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips in them instead of the semi-sweet chips, depending on your craving.  So, I would say this one is a keeper.  Here is the link for anyone wanting a new chocolate cookie recipe. 

All Dressed Up For Church

We got all dressed up on Sunday.  Madison in her Christmas dress that she loves to wear – thank goodness it is washable!  She gave a silly face:

Ellie got decked out in Madison’s Easter outfit from two years ago.  I would have taken one with her standing in her sparkly shoes, but she was not letting me put her down.  Instead, I balanced her on my legs and got a pretty good smile:

I may try to post a bit more later, but if not, have a great Monday night!

Land of the Living

It has been a long time. (Do I start every blog that way??)  I have a valid excuse for at least some of it.  Ellie and I came down with some kind of cold.  Within four days, hers had progressed to an ear infection.  (Side note: I learned from the doctor that the reason so many kids get ear infections is the tube in the ears that drains fluid is horizontal.  As we age, the tubes begin slanting downward to drain better.  Just so you know…)  She is now on medication.  Mine had left me stuffy in my head, ears, and throat, voiceless (or mostly), red, watery eyes, and miserable!  I went to the doctor; he said it was a cold.  I figure that was not worth whatever I will end up paying!  I am finally on the mend.  I can talk, and I can breathe.  I am back among the living!

In the meantime, we played Dora house.  Both girls LOVE it.  Madison can imagine all kinds of things happening.  Ellie just knows she should hold a character and say (as loudly as possible) “HI!”  while pounding it on the floor of the house.  It is wonderful.  It requires little dialogue from me, but I am needed nonetheless.

Always  time for beauty in this house, Madison has said, “I am going to fancy me up, Mommy”  And this is the end product:

 

Ellie is never one to be left out.  She has been able to string necklaces on herself for quite some time.  She has a little more trouble with the rings, and she must need her tongue to help concentrate.  This is the end product (sometimes there is even more bling if you can believe it!):

   

Madison made sure to include me in the fancy-ing up time as well.  You can’t see the clips as well in my hair because 1) it was a self photo, and 2) many are in the back.  I am pretty sure there were at least 10 because Ellie was helping, too.

We have also had a few picnics/tea parties.  I try to plan them around snack times so we have a good reason to eat for real.  This was the latest.  Madison was helping Ellie with her food, not usually necessary, but entertaining.

  

We also were busy visiting people.  It was great fun, but it was good to finally be home for a bit.  Here is the run down…

• Tuesday – over to make new friends with Gretta (age 3) and her twin sisters (age 9 months)
• Wednesday – girls to Grandma and Papa Yoh’s
• Thursday – over to visit with Grandpa Ediger
• Friday – over to play with Hannah, Naomi, Miriam, and Isaac
• Saturday – over to play with Sam, Lilli, Maggie, Analeia, and Judah
• Sunday – church and Sunday school
• Monday – over to play with Landen and Cale (Ellie went to the doctor)
• Tuesday – over to Grandma and Grandpa DeeDee’s
• Wednesday – girls to Grandma and Papa Yoh’s
• Thursday – stayed home
• Today (Friday) – errands and home

That is why I haven’t blogged as well.  I have been recovering during nap time from all the morning excitement.  It was so much fun to have so many playdates.  The girls enjoyed it, and I enjoyed the chance to connect with others.  Until next time, and hopefully, sooner than last time…..