Daily Rumpus

Happy valentine's day...raincheck

2012-02-14T19:12:00.000-06:00

Brad had to get into work super early this morning and four out of five of us are on antibiotic (June was diagnosed with her first ear infection today) resulting in a not-so-celebratory crew, so our family valentine plans were thwarted. We decided to push our family celebration to Saturday (the big girls still had plenty of candy and celebrating at school) with our usual pancakes. I actually can't wait for a lazy Saturday pancake feast - we've even purchased the red velvet pancake ingredients. In the meantime, I noticed several "love"lies in our normal, sick, crazy, non-valentine-celebrating-kind-of-day, even while feeding June.

Having (and tripping over) a ball

2012-02-13T11:23:00.000-06:00

We finished up our valentines over the weekend. Lila's classmates will have a ball with these fun little treats that I found here - she helped me pack the bouncy balls, trace her name and color the notes. And even though the laundry is overflowing, I've been tripping over toys all morning and the sink is full, I still found time to go back and add the missing apostrophe to each and every valentine. Because I am certainly not a clean freak. But, a grammar freak? Well, maybe just a little.

Stuck in the middle with you

2012-02-09T20:15:00.000-06:00

One moment she's helping Grace count by 2's and the next she's on the floor sucking her thumb and spooning with June. It's both beautifully enchanting and somewhat terrifying as I watch her find her place somewhere in the middle.

Soaking in some rays

2012-02-07T19:51:00.000-06:00

My friend Regine affectionately calls this "the potted plant stage" - wherein they are old enough to sit (mostly) unattended but they are not yet mobile. And so she sits in her potted space, planted with toys and lovies with which she chooses and inspects and teethes and plays until she's ready to be picked and held again.

It's just another manic monday

2012-02-06T19:57:00.001-06:00

oh-weo.

For crayon out loud

2012-02-03T19:43:00.000-06:00

Grace requested that we make crayon heart valentine necklaces for her class again this year (since she is at a new school). For the past week, w'e've been busy peeling, breaking and cooking crayons. I still haven't decided if we'll do them for Lila's class again because it turns out peeling crayons is quite tedious, for crayon out loud.

Deny the groundhog

2012-02-02T12:29:00.003-06:00

Happy Groundhog day! It looks like six more weeks of winter, but if winter looks like today in Nashville (64 degrees and sunny), I'll take it. I managed to pick up some gummy worms after seeing Groundhog grub on etsy for the girls. And Brad and I are planning a stay-in date night where we feed the girls and put them to bed and then enjoy a fun dinner, wine and dessert all by ourselves!

Grace made the pictured groundhog with some hearts that Nana sent - based on a similar project she did at school. I heart him.

Apparently my doctor voice is not so good

2012-02-01T21:27:00.000-06:00

While clipping Lila's nails this afternoon:

Lila: Hey mom, pretend that you're a doctor.

me: Okay. Dr. Sarah here - I'm preforming a very intricate surgery on the patient's nails.

Lila: Mom, is that your doctor voice?

me: yup.

Lila: Actually, maybe you should just be a mommy.

The dirty door

2012-01-31T20:09:00.000-06:00

Brad asked me not to post this picture because it reveals how dirty our back door is - but I couldn't resist. June is watching her big sisters play outside. She doesn't seem to mind the dirty door.

3D

2012-01-30T19:32:00.000-06:00

A couple weeks ago I took Grace and Lila to see Beauty and the Beast 3D. In the beginning, Lila announced (very loudly in the theater) mom, it's kind of bubbly! And Grace loves her 3D glasses and wears them out and about a lot because they are just like sunglasses except everything is 3D!

A cooking club: Taste the rainbow

2012-01-25T19:48:00.000-06:00

Monday night I made an Asian-flavored quinoa salad and despite some trepidations at first, it ended up being rainbow-licious. So much so, that I made it again last night. Not only is it super tasty (both girls devoured it too) but it looks really fresh and pretty and colorful. And it's easy and healthy to boot. I've always read that a healthy meal should look like a rainbow on your plate...and this meal did that, literally. In fact, the girls and I went through the ROY G BIV color spectrum at the dinner table and we found everything except blue...so we ate a few blueberries for good measure. The recipe was adapted from weight watchers online (and is only 6 points per serving, incase you're interested).

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

3/4 cup uncooked quinoa

1 tbsp rice wine vinegar *

2 tbsp orange marmalade*

2 tsp dark sesame oil*

1 tbsp ginger root, minced*

1 tsp kosher salt*

1 cup uncooked sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup shredded red cabbage

1 small sweet red pepper, thinly sliced

3 tbsp. cilantro, chopped

2 tbsp uncooked scallions, thinly sliced

1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted (we didn't have these, so I left them out)

*We did not have orange marmalade, so instead of the dressing ingredients, I used about 3 tbsp of a pre-made orange chicken sauce.

In a small saucepan, combine broth and quinoa' bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, to make dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, marmalade, oil, ginger and salt; set aside. After quinoa has cooked for 10 minutes, toss in snap peas to partially steam them; cover and simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in carrots, cabbage, peppers and dressing; mix to thoroughly combine. Garnish with cilantro, scallions and sesame seeds. Serve warm, room temperature or chilled. (Yields about 1 heaping cup per serving).

June bug: seven months

2012-01-24T19:34:00.000-06:00

Her lone tooth is still coming in which is making her miserable. But despite the teething, she laughs and squeals constantly. And best of all, she gives those sweet, baby, drooly, open-mouth kisses all day long. And I'll take them...all day long.

See June at one, two, three, four, five and six months.

Happy year of the dragon

2012-01-23T19:53:00.000-06:00

Brad was born in the year of the dragon. I think that means he's in for a good one.

On presence and parties

2012-01-21T13:25:00.000-06:00

When Brad and I got married, it rained just before our (outside) ceremony. It poured actually. I started to get anxious and so my dad opened a bottle of champagne for me and my bridesmaids to wait it out. My dad is the most sentimental of us all and as we sipped our champagne, he got teary and told me not to worry, the rain would pass...and it was just my sister, Mary, making her presence known. Eventually, the rain did pass and we had a pretty great party.

Several years later, my little brother Brendon got married at the farm and again, it poured just before the ceremony. Again, my dad got teary and proclaimed that it was Mary. And again, it passed and a great party ensued.

Today would have been my mom and dad's 46th wedding anniversary. Of course, it is raining here today. It also rained before and during his memorial service in July and on his birthday in December. I think you know where I'm going with this...but I'm pretty sure Bubba is making his presence known...and that he and Mary are having a pretty great party up there today.

*My amazing community and friends here in Nashville had a bench put up in memory of Bubba at the park and community center down the street. Bubba took the girls to that park nearly every time he came to visit. The bench was just recently put up and, appropriately, this morning I saw it for the first time. Words cannot describe what an amazing gesture this is for me and my family. Thank you, again, to my wonderful Nashville community.

**Please keep my mom in your thoughts today - this is definitely a particularly tough one for her.

Show and tell

2012-01-20T19:17:00.001-06:00

I've gathered from conversations this afternoon that it went something like this:

This is a puzzle box that Pops - my grandfather - made me. It is made of wood and has three shapes inside...a square, a circle and a triangle.

An heirloom, no doubt - both the box and the awesomeness it held for kindergarten show and tell.

Frog food

2012-01-19T20:41:00.000-06:00

Our little horn playing frog who sits atop the piano did not come with food in his mouth. A little mouse must have fed him recently. I guess he was hungry.

Favorite things: Rock-a-bye

2012-01-18T20:46:00.000-06:00

Remember my favorite things posts from a couple years ago? Well, I think I'll do them again from time to time. And today seems like a good time...since my newest niece came into the world this morning. All three Wilson brothers now have a baby within seven months. Now, seven cousins in all. Lucky seven.

A couple of months ago we sent the cradle that my father-in-law (Pops) made up to Pittsburgh for this new baby. Pops made the cradle himself, before Brad and I were married. And it was brought to us just before the arrival of Grace - their first grandchild. All three of my girls rocked in it and slept in it for their first months. And as bittersweet as it was to pass it on (since June is our last), we are overjoyed to welcome another baby into this family of ours.

Tonight as I think about my sister-in-law attempting to sleep and nurse and rest on this first night of her new life, I find myself looking at June and I am hardly able to remember what it was like to hold her in the hospital that first day and night. I remember the first moment she was laid on my chest - vividly - but everything else is a haze. And today she is babbling and smiling and eating and (kind of) sleeping. Of course, she still loves to rock. But, oh, those first days. And tonight as Rosemary soaks in those first days, I feel connected to family and babies and beauty, somehow.

So we said goodbye to the cradle for this new baby (and her big sister to play with). And we can't wait to say hello to our sweet niece. Congratulations Brent, Rosemary and Marielle! May you have many sweet rock-a-byes with both of your beautiful girls in the days and weeks ahead.

Yawn

2012-01-17T20:08:00.001-06:00

Like all of our girls, June adores her puppy. Although, it looks like Lucy is getting bored with all of this little girl love and adoration.

Bowl-o-rama

2012-01-16T20:18:00.000-06:00

Tonight we are finishing up a long, lovely, lazy weekend that culminated with our first family bowling adventure this afternoon. Honestly, I hate bowling - but it was totally my idea, so June and I happily kept score and cheered our adorable bowlers on. And it was actually quite magical.

The June fairy and other rumpusings

2012-01-13T13:31:00.001-06:00

The June fairy is like the tooth fairy except that she doesn't take teeth (she just sprouts them), she has a tendency to bite and drool and she is addicted to baby orajel - thanks to those painful sprouting teeth. But who's to say the tooth fairy doesn't do these things too?

And some other things:

Aunt Lori sent us all things fairy for Christmas this year (which we are totally smitten with) including this super adorable shirt (and tutu) for June with precious little fairy wings on the back.

The picture of the June fairy was taken with my iphone hipstomatic app - my latest photography crush.

Loving this and this post written by moms and sent to me by good (mom) friends (thanks Emily and Regine).

Happy Friday - we're enjoying a snow day with not a flake of snow on the ground. Ahh, only Nashville.

Nip and chomp

2012-01-12T16:11:00.000-06:00

Somebody has a first tooth poking through. Thankfully, Brad discovered it as she gnawed on his finger, but I'm sure I'll get my fair share of chomps soon (not necessarily on my finger though - ouch).

Thank goodness

2012-01-11T21:25:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I look at her - the way she stands or smirks or rolls her eyes - and I think, oh my god, is she already thirteen?? And then she spends an hour leading the family in the hokey pokey and I remember that no - thank goodness - she is still only five.

Something old, something new

2012-01-10T20:33:00.000-06:00

I've been catching myself saying "no" a lot lately. So, we're trying something new around here - rewarding the girls for the good stuff with (old) marbles. They each have a jar (that they decorated) and they get a marble for doing good things - like cleaning a mess, being nice to a sister or friend, going to bed without a fight, etc., etc. Once they've accumulated ten, they get a dollar to spend - or save. We just started, but so far so good.

Rollin'

2012-01-09T19:34:00.000-06:00

Even her ankles have rolls.

Independence

2012-01-05T20:41:00.002-06:00

She wouldn't let me take her picture until she made it across a small creek...all by herself. Just like her big sister. I was nervous....she was nervous and talking herself into it. Finally she posed for this picture and I think that grin says it all.

A cooking club: Soup's on

2012-01-04T20:21:00.000-06:00

I'm on a soup kick. Now that the weather is getting colder, I crave soup. A couple weeks ago, I made this vegetable and ground beef barley soup (a weight watchers recipe from my mother-in-law) and froze a bunch. It gets better every time we eat it. And, this week, we've also made French onion and golden potato leek soup. If you have any delicious (diet friendly) soup recipes, please share. In the meantime, I'm going to soup on.

Vegetable and ground beef barley soup:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. 93% lean ground beef

6 cups water

3 beef bouillon cubes

2 cups sliced carrots ( or bag frozen small whole carrots )

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped onion

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped celery

1/2 cup red pepper, chopped

28 oz. can red gold tomatoes, cut up & undrained

1/4 cup ketchup

8 oz. can tomato sauce

3/4 cup uncooked barley

1 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

2 bay leaves

Brown ground beef. Drain & remove fat. Put all ingredients in a large pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat & cook for about an hour ( until carrots & celery are tender).

2012 in cliché

2012-01-03T13:42:00.000-06:00

I've started 2012 doing all the things you are supposed (or not supposed) to do in the new year - I've committed to 100 days of exercise, I'm joining weight watchers this week, Brad and I updated and re-vamped our budget this weekend (at mint.com - I highly recommend) and yesterday we sorted, purged and organized over half a dozen boxes of baby (and little girl) clothes and toys. I feel like a new years cliché - ticking off all of the top new years resolutions, one by one. All I have left is to quit smoking (easy, since I don't) and the drinking thing - yeah, well, that's not happening.

(Photo is of Lila banging pots and pans during our make-shift new year at 8:30 pm last Saturday.)

2011: Lost and found

2011-12-31T10:10:00.001-06:00

For me, 2011 will be remembered as the year I lost my dad...and the year I found my June. My dad's favorite song was Amazing Grace and a bluegrass version was sung at his memorial service. "...how sweet the sound...I was lost but now I'm found." Happy 2012.

See New Years posts from 2009 and 2010.

Discoveries

2011-12-30T16:42:00.000-06:00

My mom and I took a walk on Christmas eve along our local greenway and discovered that several of the trees were decorated with orange slices and pinecone bird feeders. It was such a sweet discovery. I think I may put a similar activity on our to-do list next year (or some year) during the holiday season.

Latkas, latkas, good to eat

2011-12-28T11:09:00.001-06:00

Today marks the last day of Hanukkah (last night was the final night). For the last couple of years, we've made a tradition of reading the children's book "Latkas, Latkas Good to eat, a Chanukah story" to the girls and talking a bit about the Jewish holiday. Then, we cook up some latkas for dinner. The book has an easy recipe included at the end of the story (below). We did this last Friday. In the story, a magical pan cooks up latkas for a family, but things go awry and latkas start piling up and spilling out the door. Last Friday, I unintentionally peeled and shredded an entire bag of potatoes (5 lbs.) so we nearly had latkas spilling out our door too. But we ate them all and had happy bellies. Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends!

Latkas:

Ingredients:

3 large potatoes

2 eggs

1/4 c finely chopped onion

1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

3 tbsp. flour

vegetable oil

Peel the potatoes and rinse them in cold water. Grate very fine. Place the grated potatoes in a colander and run cold water over them. (This will keep the potatoes from turning dark). Using your hands, squeeze out all the water. In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add onion, parsley, salt, pepper and flour. Stir. Add grated potatoes and mix well. Heat a small amount of oil to sizzling in a large frying pan. Drop pancake mixture by the soup-spoonful into oil and flatten slightly. Cook until golden brown underneath, turn and cook on the other side until browned. Eat while tender but crisp! Latkas are traditionally served with applesauce and/or sour cream.

Taking it down

2011-12-27T15:28:00.000-06:00

One last smooch and the mistletoe came down...along with everything else.

June bug: six months

2011-12-26T19:03:00.000-06:00

On Christmas eve, we prepared for the arrival of Santa and celebrated June's six months with lots of chubby cheek kissing under the mistletoe and several rounds of happy birthday. Man, time is flying. Hope you all had a good holiday!

See June at one, two, three, four and five months.

Our glass menagerie

2011-12-23T11:19:00.000-06:00

Last summer I bought Brad a glass blowing class. On Monday night, he made this ornament. I love it. I hope with our wild and crazy Christmas little girl menagerie, it survives.

A Christmas miracle

2011-12-20T08:55:00.000-06:00

Saturday evening my mom took us on our annual trip to the Opryland hotel and to see the Radio City Rockettes. And for the first time ever - one of the Wilson girls actually sat on Santa's lap. In fact, she ran to him and hugged him with open arms and a smile from ear to ear. She is still talking about it. (Grace observed nervously - and contentedly - from the sidelines.)

Summer of 69

2011-12-15T07:58:00.000-06:00

Today would have been my dad's 70th birthday. When I was Grace's age, I thought 70 was so old. Today, I can't believe how young he was taken from me.

Evidence

2011-12-14T17:38:00.000-06:00

Grace and Lila never believe me when I tell them that they once sucked their toes too.

Christmas carmel corn for the car

2011-12-13T21:26:00.000-06:00

Terrible alliteration, I know. But the carmel corn is definitely not terrible. It is addictive. We gave everyone their own brown paper lunch bag and put a couple handfuls in. The recipe came from Real Simple:

Ingredients

nonstick cooking spray

3 tablespoons canola oil

1/4 cup popcorn kernels

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

1. Heat oven to 300° F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with the cooking spray.

2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the popcorn kernels, cover, and cook, shaking the saucepan constantly once the kernels begin to pop, until there is a 2- to 3-second interval between pops, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

3. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture bubbles and lightens in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the vanilla and salt. Pour over the cooked popcorn and, with a rubber spatula, toss to coat.

4. Spread the popcorn mixture on the prepared baking sheet and bake, tossing once, until deep amber, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven, toss, and let cool on the baking sheet. (The popcorn will crisp as it cools.)

Dreamy traditions

2011-12-13T12:12:00.000-06:00

We've started a new tradition around here... on Saturday night, we gave the girls their new Christmas jammies (usually saved for Christmas Eve), Brad made carmel corn and I made hot chocolate and taught the girls how to drink it out of our travel mugs. Then, we piled into the car, blasted the Christmas music and drove around looking at lights. The girls loved the preparations and the fact that they got to drink hot chocolate and popcorn in the car. And then once we got going, June was asleep in 5 minutes, Grace in 10 and Lila...well...Lila stayed awake with us, of course. It was dreamy - from start to finish. We'll definitely do it again next year. Heck, and maybe next weekend too.

Stay tuned for the carmel corn recipe later today.

Five and a half

2011-12-12T08:32:00.000-06:00

She announced that it was her half birthday today. And after I made my habitual sad face for these sorts of comments and told her to "please, stop growing up" she told me not to worry, that she would still cuddle with me. Even when she was in college.

Shout out: My stationery goddess

2011-12-08T20:21:00.001-06:00

My friend Karen designed June's (and Lila's) birth announcement. This year, she also designed our Christmas card which hasn't arrived just yet - but I've seen the pdf and I'm over the moon with how it turned out. If you ever need stationery that is truly unique - Karen is your girl.

Dum-dum-da-dum (and giveaway winner)

2011-12-06T19:59:00.000-06:00

Our bride arrived this weekend and she is beautiful.

Red Gold Giveaway winner is #5 Darcey - I think I'll have visions of sugarplums and Buche de Noel this year! Thanks for playing.

Tis the season for a Red Gold tomato giveaway

2011-12-02T14:15:00.000-06:00

Growing up, my mom deemed Christmas a children's holiday and so for our Christmas meal we would always have one of our favorites - most often it was her homemade lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs. (Don't worry...Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Years and Easter were all about the grown ups). I haven't completely adopted this tradition just yet, but when the girls are older I may keep it going. During my mom's last visit in October, she made copious amounts of meatballs (with Lila's help) for my family to eat and freeze and eat again. We just finished them this week. We've eaten a lot of meatballs...and they are still my all-time favorite. And, of course, she used Red Gold tomatoes to make them - the Tuttorosso variety.

So just in time for the holidays, Red Gold has offered another tomato package giveaway. All you have to do is comment on this post and tell me your favorite holiday food - with tomatoes or not. I'll choose a random comment Monday night (via random.org) and announce the winner next Tuesday and then Red Gold will send you a package of Red Gold products to use for all of your holiday meals.

Name that tune

2011-12-01T19:57:00.000-06:00

It means no worries for the rest of your days..It's a problem free...and lots of peas...

Gratuitous baby pictures

2011-11-30T20:03:00.000-06:00

I've been taking a lot of pictures of her lately. I hope you don't mind.

Thankful

2011-11-29T16:21:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving was a little emotional this year - the first without my dad - but I've got a lot to be thankful for.

June bug: five months

2011-11-28T15:51:00.000-06:00

Our little turkey turned five months old on Thanksgiving day. We are so thankful for her. And then we ate her up.

See June at one, two, three and four months.

Movember

2011-11-21T16:26:00.000-06:00

Just because we are a house full of girls (dog included) doesn't mean we can't do a little Movember shout out to our number one man (aka daddy) with a little bubbly handle bar mustache action...

McDrooly and other rumpusings

2011-11-18T16:00:00.001-06:00

June drools a lot. She drools when she smiles and when she's on her stomach. She drools all over her clothes and all over me when I carry her. It's a good thing she's so darn cute, otherwise I might have to trade her in for one of those non-drooly babies.

And some other things:

Remember the Tomato Bowl? Well, I'm teaming up with Red pack tomatoes again to do a few posts and another giveaway in the next month, so be on the lookout.

Several of my friends have recently told me of their anxieties about traveling with young kids this holiday season. I found this idea which I think is pretty brilliant.

I took care of most of my holiday shopping for nieces and nephews before my in-laws came in last weekend - not having to mail things is such a good motivator! So now I'm pondering gifts for my girls. And also how to keep it simple. My mom was always good at this. Here's a great post I read recently about how to keep in the santa reigns.

My girls

2011-11-17T21:06:00.000-06:00

My mom was around for part of the day last weekend while my in-laws were in town. And suddenly I found myself completely surrounded by my favorite girls.

Already playing the santa card

2011-11-16T20:17:00.000-06:00

Last night, Brad was working late and the older girls were tired and arguing and June was fussy, so finally I was all "girls, you know who's coming soon, right? Santa is coming and he is watching you. And he won't bring you toys and presents unless you're nice to each other." And Lila was all "oh, don't worry mom, we'll be nice to Santa." And I explained that that wasn't enough. And then they merrily played together for nearly an hour. Of course, every 20 minutes or so, Lila would yell down from the top of the stairs, "Hey mom, is Santa here yet?"

Classic

2011-11-15T13:27:00.000-06:00

And this is the "silly shot" from yesterday's photo shoot. A classic, no doubt.

Entourage

2011-11-14T19:47:00.000-06:00

Nana and Pops drove in from PIttsburgh for the weekend and it was pretty fantastic. This morning - after a family photo shoot - everyone walked Grace to school (well, except me and June). I think Grace was loving her kindergarten entourage.

So let's see, if Grace is Vince, Lila must be Turtle, Brad is "E", Pops is Drama - actually, in this picture June looks more like Drama...

Neener-neener

2011-11-11T13:47:00.001-06:00

We have a busy weekend ahead which started this morning when all the Wilson girls headed to the dentist. Both Lila and Grace have cavities this time around - Lila's 1st, Grace's 6th. I'm completely stumped on why my children have such atrocious dental health. Grace has been brushing and flossing since she was at least three and Lila, since birth, it seems. I'm also stumped by how much it costs to fill baby teeth. But, thankfully, June is still smiling...probably because she was the only one who didn't have any cavities! Neener-neener.

Standard attire

2011-11-10T13:56:00.000-06:00

Grace attends our neighborhood public school and the metro schools in Nashville require a dress code/uniform called "standard attire." Girls are required to wear a solid kacky or navy jumper, skirt, shorts or pants and a solid colored collared shirt. I. Love. it. Grace is very particular about her clothes (she only wears the jumpers or skirts) and in preschool it could take us over half an hour (of complete insanity) to agree on an outfit (she is so my daughter as my mom reminds me that I was exactly the same). But with uniforms, she just rotates through them throughout the week with minimal protest. My personal favorite is this navy jumper - she prefers the skirts. And bonus, she can wear any tights she wants, so I'm constantly on the look out for fun tights...and as long as we pick them out the night before, the mornings are mostly seamless. Now, if I could just get Lila dressed in the morning with minimal protest, maybe I could actually change June's clothes a little more often.

Busted

2011-11-09T19:47:00.000-06:00

Yesterday afternoon the girls and I met up with my good friend Kathleen and her beautiful daughter Molly. Then, today, June and I ran into Kathleen and Molly at a local consignment sale. As I pulled June out of her stroller, I sheepishly admitted to Kathleen that June was still in the same outfit as yesterday.

Oh, the perils of being the third child - not only does she have to endure all of her big sister's hand-me-downs, but her momma hardly even gets around to changing those hand-me-downs.

Daddy had a little lamb

2011-11-08T19:19:00.000-06:00

whose fleece was white as snow.

Parent bracelets

2011-11-07T09:09:00.000-06:00

Saturday morning we took the girls to a family festival where, among other things, there were a bunch of craft projects. We had a blast - even though some of the activities were a little old for my girls. They adored the idea of making these friendship bracelets. But they didn't adore the dexterity required to complete them. So Brad and I have "caught" each other working on them all weekend. But we've also both admitted that the process is very relaxing. I think when they're done we should give them to each other.

Octopus slacks

2011-11-03T21:26:00.000-05:00

Bamma (my mom) was the mystery reader for Grace's kindergarten class today. She read Polkabats and Octopus Slacks which is one of our current favorites.

Where's Waldo?

2011-11-01T20:32:00.000-05:00

The Halloween crew involved a couple of repeats from last year and a few new kids in town.

Lemonade for vampires

2011-10-31T13:49:00.000-05:00

Brad wanted to use the scarecrow and Grace's lemonade stand for Halloween decor (we're particularly efficient around here lately) and so we decided to create a ~~blood~~ strawberry lemonade stand for vampires. Grace took a little persuasion, but then she really got into it - she made the "for vampires" sign (with my help) and put spiders on the counter for extra scariness. She also brought out pumpkins to accessorize. Brad made the "red lemonade" with paint (so they couldn't drink it) and I purposed that the scarecrow/vampire look like he had just had a glass himself.

Some neighbors walked by and thought it was a real lemonade stand. They got all nervous and said they didn't have any money on them. Clearly, they didn't get it. Oh well.

Later, Grace decided she didn't like all of the blood references. Inside, she came to me and firmly said "mom, I don't think you and daddy should choose what to do with my lemonade stand. Because it was my birthday present. I don't like the blood. Or the vampire stuff." She was very grown up about the whole thing. So we took all of the red lemonade and the "for vampires" sign down. And now we have a giant lemonade stand with a giant scarecrow in our front yard. Happy Halloween! Hope you have a bloody good time tonight.

Creepy crawly deliciousness

2011-10-31T08:38:00.000-05:00

Two years ago, we made these barbie zombie cupcakes, last year we did mummies and this year we went with creepy crawly spider webs. I may have to poll you next year for some new (easy) ideas if I'm going to keep this up. Happy Halloween.

*Look out for a post revealing Brad's scary decorating project which turned out to be kind of a bust - but not before a picture was taken, of course!

Ghostly garland

2011-10-30T14:36:00.001-05:00

I've been kind of a slacker this year on the Halloween stuff (and the blog posts, it seems) - so this weekend, I'm trying to make up for it a bit. On Friday afternoon, while the girls and I all nurtured colds, we decided to make tissue ghosts with our kleenex. And we turned them into a pretty adorable ghost garland (don't worry, ~~mostly~~ only clean tissues were used for these ghosts.)

This project reminded me of a joke my niece Anna taught me:

Q: How do you make a tissue dance?

A: Put a little boogie in it.

Also, Brad is trying to pick up my slack with a pretty great/creepy Halloween project too - so if he actually pulls it off, I'll be sure to share it with you soon.

Scare-who?

2011-10-26T19:23:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks ago Brad took the older girls to Cheekwood (our local botanical gardens) where for the month of October they have different themed scarecrows throughout the gardens. The girls loved it. So did Brad. So much, when they returned that afternoon, they created their own scarecrow for our garden. In case you can't tell, he is a chef. The next morning, Brad took out the garbage and when he came back in, he revealed that he forgot about the scarecrow and it scared the sh*t out of him. And, I must admit, every time I walk outside, I too am startled by the giant scarecrow hovering in our garden.

I'm not sure it has scared any crows away...but it has certainly done its work on us.

A cooking club: Tis' the season - pumpkin cookies

2011-10-25T17:59:00.000-05:00

Brad made pumpkin cookies over the weekend and thank goodness we brought most of them to a neighborhood party because I can't stop eating them. The recipe is from Brad's grandmother and Nana (Brad's mom) sent us this picture of the original hand-written recipe. I wonder if my girls will be able to read (and write) cursive when they grow up.

Ingredients:

1 cup shortening

1 cup pumpkin

2 cups flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup raisins

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream shortening, sugar and pumpkin. Add eggs and mix well. Add sifted dry ingredients and raisins. Drop from spoon onto cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.

Frosting (I added more milk to the frosting so that I could pour it on easily.):

3 tbsp. butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 tsp. vanilla

4 tsp. milk

1 cup powdered sugar

Cook butter, milk and brown sugar until dissolved and cool. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Spread on warm cookies.

June bug: Four months

2011-10-24T12:21:00.000-05:00

She is our June bug, our June-June, our JB, Junie B, Little Jim, June Mary-Mary, Little bug or bugger. But whatever you call her, she's 4-months today and cute as a (June) bug!

See June at one, two and three months.

Snuggle time

2011-10-21T09:54:00.000-05:00

Big sis is off to her last day of theatre camp (more on that later) while my two babes get some Friday morning snuggle time.

Seconds

2011-10-19T20:39:00.000-05:00

We took another quick trip to the farm last weekend where the seconds (Lila and Anna) spent most of the afternoon pretending under the quilt. Reason 1,256 why we love our cousins...and the farm.

Let the good times roll

2011-10-18T20:58:00.000-05:00

June is doing all kinds of fancy baby things these days - last night she rolled over. Now, every time I put her down she rolls over. Gone are the days of putting her on my bed while I write a blog or go to the bathroom or drink a glass of wine (just kidding, she's always in my lap when I drink a glass of wine). Good times.

Freckle face

2011-10-14T17:04:00.000-05:00

This summer, Lila got a little bunch of freckles on each cheek. They almost look like someone took a paint brush and meticulously dotted them on. If you ask, she'll tell you they're from her daddy. They are beautiful...and I hope she always thinks so...but I doubt she will. In the meantime, I'll keep telling her.

Playing hard to get

2011-10-12T17:13:00.000-05:00

After several weeks of failed attempts, I've finally captured a few big smiles from our little chatterbox this week too.

He said, she said

2011-10-11T13:26:00.000-05:00

June said "da-da" this morning, according to Brad. Actually I heard it too.

Attack of the killer...

2011-10-10T09:10:00.000-05:00

Turns out October is the month for a killer tomato crop around here - we can't seem to eat them fast enough. However, we've also been attacked by Fall colds and fevers and coughs (Grace is home sick today with all of the above). Here's hoping lycopene is the magic cure.

Jinx

2011-10-05T19:22:00.000-05:00

My friend Darcey gave June this t-shirt. She never really barfed much until I put it on her - and then within an hour of putting it on, she spit up 3 times. Thanks Darcey! (It does compliment those adorable thigh rolls, though, don't you think?)

Spider condo

2011-10-04T20:47:00.001-05:00

It started out just cutting and pasting Halloween paper. It ended up as a spider condo. She insisted on a chimney...and pumpkins outside. And also that daddy take it to work. And so this morning he did.

William said and other kindergardenings

2011-09-30T15:29:00.000-05:00

As September comes to an end, so do Grace's trepidations about Kindergarten. These days she skips to school, adores her teacher and knows all of her fellow classmates by first and last name. Here are some of my favorite entries on her calendar this month:

Sept. 7 - me: what was your favorite thing today? Grace: Going to school!

Sept. 12 - Grace: A veterinarian is coming on Wednesday. me: what will you ask her? Grace: If she's ever taken care of a koala.

Sept. 15 - Picked flowers for the crossing guards and your teacher (on the way to school).

Sept. 19 - "William said he ate a rotten apple and a rotten egg - and he liked them."

Sept. 20 - First field trip to the fire station and the post office (you walked).

Sept. 22 - "William said he has a cast on his arm because he got bit by a shark."

Bubba: Things he wasn't so good at (that most people probably knew)

2011-09-29T12:17:00.000-05:00

The last list was so much fun, I thought we'd try it again...

1. Cooking - I mentioned before that he couldn't cook a thing - except fish. Once - after he retired and was home much more - he tried to make pasta and decided to use taco seasoning in the sauce. We all teased him so much that he didn't make many cooking attempts after that.

2. Anything handy - Although he totally thought he was handy. But he wasn't.

3. Keeping a secret - He was pathetic at this - which made for a few awkward social occasions, to say the least.

4. Hearing - Finally, a few years ago, he got hearing aids. Some of the miscommunications along the way - due to his inability to hear or stubbornness about getting those hearing aids - were hysterical.

Man, I miss him.

From above

2011-09-28T12:57:00.000-05:00

Another sweet shot from above. I wonder if this is my dad's view these days.

Life lessons

2011-09-27T14:09:00.000-05:00

I took at least a dozen pictures of the girls from above. None of them turned out the way I wanted - but there is something I love about each one just the same.

Mother hens

2011-09-26T16:24:00.000-05:00

We went to the farm this weekend to hang with my mom and my childhood friend Jen and her mom, Kramer (in town from Chicago). And they were my mother hens. Taking care of me and my girls like they were their own. Because they are. Even when Kramer got sick of June's crying at the dinner table and swooped over to pick her up, bawking "stop crying baby!" and miraculously, she did. And then fell asleep nestled in her Kramer's arms.

June bug: Three months

2011-09-25T20:42:00.000-05:00

Yesterday June turned three months old. She's following her big sister's lead and turning into a delicious chubster - full of rolls and dimples and 10-pound cheeks. We took her to the farm over the weekend to celebrate the big "three months" with friends and a little bubbly. Oh yes, she got to partake in some bubbly - one way or another.

See June at one month and two months.

Cute or creepy?

2011-09-22T19:42:00.000-05:00

Remember these barbie zombie cupcakes from a couple years ago? Well, I recently discovered that Grace had found the bodies that went with those arms and used them to decorate our latest cupcake creations. She thinks they are totally cute. I think they are totally creepy. I'm sure this isn't the last time we will disagree on taste.

A cooking club: Because who doesn't like cheesecake?

2011-09-21T13:09:00.000-05:00

I am actually cooking a bit more these days, but nothing particularly blog worthy. Although, I thought I'd share another "no cook" afternoon snack find: graham cracker, cream cheese and fruit sandwiches. I saw this in a magazine recently with fresh berries (can't seem to find a link) - we didn't have any fresh berries handy, so I mixed a few tablespoons of Trader Joe's reduced sugar raspberry preserves with a block of reduced fat cream cheese (until light and fluffy) and spread in-between two graham crackers. I made about a dozen sandwiches and wrapped the leftovers individually (in saran wrap) and froze them. Occasionally, I'll stick them in the girl's lunches too. They taste a bit like cheesecake, but with less sugar - and c'mon, who doesn't like cheesecake?

Job posting

2011-09-20T10:45:00.000-05:00

I want - no need - someone to come to our house and clip June's teeny, tiny adorable fingernails. The last two (and only) times I've attempted this, I have cut her - resulting in days of wallowing in mommy guilt because I made my baby bleed. So I'm not doing it anymore. Please apply for this job before June gets confused for Edward Scissorhands because of all of the scratches on her little face. I'll pay you in beer...and sweet baby coos.

Floating

2011-09-16T12:45:00.000-05:00

Life with three is definitely pretty crazy these days, but we seem to be floating along okay.

Two of my bugs

2011-09-15T21:35:00.000-05:00

My cuddle bug (Lila) and my June bug clearly go together quite well.

She's a maniac

2011-09-14T21:15:00.000-05:00

Maniac on the floor. And she's dancing like she never has before.

Kindergarten parents

2011-09-13T20:28:00.000-05:00

I attended my first ever PTO meeting tonight. Wait, don't laugh just yet. Brad attended his first ever Elementary school garden club meeting last week. Okay, now you can laugh.

Bubba: Things he was good at (that most people may not have known)

2011-09-08T20:36:00.000-05:00

1. Whistling - He was an amazing whistler until he developed bell's palsy in his face several years ago. Coincidentally, I'm a terrible whistler and didn't even learn until recently.

2. Ballroom dancing - His mom (my grandmother, Grace) made him and his siblings take dance lessons as kids. He was graceful and he could lead anyone. When I danced with him, I felt elegant and beautiful. And I loved to watch him dance with my mom.

3. Hosting a party - Whether it was St. Patrick's day, a UT tailgate or my wedding - Bubba knew how to host a throw down better than anyone.

4. Remembering travel spots - He traveled all over the world for work (and pleasure) and anytime I went somewhere he would tell me about all of the hotels, restaurants and sights he visited - including what streets they were on, what he ordered for dinner (even thirty years ago) and maybe even the name of the concierge.

5. Catching, cleaning and frying fish at the farm - Bubba could not cook a thing...except fish. My all-time favorite meal at the farm was a Bubba fish fry.

6. Telling a story - Okay, so I think everybody knows this one, but he was an amazing storyteller. A master at the art of exaggeration. And I totally got this from him.

7. Rocking a baby - When I was in 5th grade, my best friend's mom had a baby. I remember vividly that my dad would try to be the one to pick me up from sleepovers and play dates - just so that he could hold and rock the baby. I've written before about how he held Grace and I remember Lila (and Sam and Anna) falling asleep on his belly more times than I can count. And of course, he briefly held June too. He loved his babies.

I have to stop because I could go on and on (and on) with this list - I would love other perspectives on things he was good at, so please share more in the comments.

Labor day

2011-09-07T21:20:00.000-05:00

Somebody wore themselves out over the long holiday weekend. Nothing like my mom "labored" 36 years ago, for me. Maybe the rockin' birthday celebration is what wore our little June bug out.

The middle child

2011-09-06T20:32:00.001-05:00

Not so much hubbub around Lila's first day of preschool today. But she did great. And she looked pretty cute to boot.

A dimple shot

2011-09-03T08:01:00.002-05:00

Grace is notorious for her curls, Lila for her lashes and now I think June for her dimples.

Lila-delic

2011-08-31T22:37:00.001-05:00

Monday I took Lila (and June) to our local art museum. I decided to take Lila through the Andy Warhol exhibit because of the colors and some familiarity of the images. In the middle of the exhibit , there was a room partitioned off with heavy, black velvet curtains and inside was about a dozen large, silver helium balloons floating and falling, mirrors, and a screen playing modern dancers performing with similar balloons. Lila. loved. it. We went back in three times, at her insistence. I took this picture with my very non-tech cell phone. And I had to bribe her out of the room to go home. She's totally into the psychedelic.

A cooking club: with no cooking at all

2011-08-30T21:15:00.000-05:00

I'm not cooking a whole lot these days for obvious reasons. But I have been receiving emails (some spam and some questions in earnest) asking about everything from postpartum fitness (yikes) to craft projects to kids snack ideas. One of our occasional snacks is GORP (Granola, Oats, Raisins, Peanuts) - and we use whatever we have available in the pantry. Yesterday, Grace requested some with m&m's and so in a big bowl I threw together cashews, granola cereal, raisins, marshmallows and m&m's. We've been eating it for two days. But - even better than marshmallows and m&m's - is hearing Grace and Lila try to say the word "GORP."

2 months down, forever to go

2011-08-29T20:20:00.000-05:00

Today marks two months since we lost my dad. Everyone tells me it will get easier with time. Part of me doesn't want it to.

The good, the bad and the kindergarten

2011-08-26T12:58:00.001-05:00

My sister-in-law, Rosemary, sent me this link to a post about preparing for Kindergarten. One recommendation is to use a calendar to “journal” about the school year by having your child tell you her favorite thing from the day, and write it on the calendar. I've decided to do this for Grace except I don't always write her favorite thing - sometimes I write the bad stuff too - just so that we can look back at this time in her life and laugh (or cry). I picked up the perfect calendar last weekend and below are some of the entries:

Aug. 10 (at Kindergarten orientation): Mom, kindergarten has Fancy Nancy!
Aug. 12: Mom, I hate to tell you this, but I don't like kindergarten.
Aug. 17: me: What was you favorite thing today? Grace: Nap time.
Aug. 24: Elizabeth picked me to help her pick-up chairs. You're suppose to pick a friend and she picked ME!

June bug: Two months

2011-08-24T14:33:00.000-05:00

Oh my, how this month has flown. We're getting into a routine with our little June - she's sleeping better at night - as much as 7 hours a stretch. And also starting to smile more. She is definitely a southern girl as she loves to be outside, even with our scorching summer temperatures. She also has some pretty fierce gas. Often, so fierce that it wakes her up from a nap. Oh yes, I just shared that with you on the internet. And I'm only comfortable sharing it because she totally gets it from her dad.

See June at one month.

Walk this way

2011-08-23T13:40:00.000-05:00

Ever since I gave birth to Grace - it seems - Brad has been talking about walking her to Kindergarten. So now he is doing just that. And I can't tell you how much they both love it. Brad had to adjust his work schedule a bit, but it is worth every minute to watch them walking down the street together in the morning.

Black magic

2011-08-22T09:22:00.001-05:00

Last week was a doozy - Grace completed her first week of Kindergarten while Brad was out of town for work; Lila was home with me and June was learning how to sleep through the night...or not. By the time Brad returned home Friday night, I was overly sleep deprived and utterly worn out. But pretty proud of myself too, simply for surviving as a single parent. Brad came home with a peace offering - a black magic cake from my all-time favorite bakery in Chattanooga, The Bread Basket (which is owned and run by one of my BFF's parents and brother). He also took all three girls out so that I could sleep in and take naps all weekend. Cake and sleep - that's definitely magic to me.

Baby kissing

2011-08-18T20:57:00.001-05:00

Lila doesn't start her preschool program until September, so now that Grace is in school five days a week, Lila, June and I have been living it up during the day. Which means inordinate amounts of baby kissing, really.

Even fuzzy

2011-08-17T20:02:00.000-05:00

Lila took this picture today and - even fuzzy - I kind of love it.