My Little Baker

About every six weeks or so, it becomes my turn to make a dessert for the lunch program at Samantha's school.  Even though she does not partake in the lunch program (she only goes to school for half-days), it is something that I enjoy doing.  It was my turn this Friday, so Sophia and I set to work making out usual cupcakes for the students.  (While we can choose to do any dessert, I prefer cupcakes because they are fun to decorate around the corresponding holidays). 

 

The look on her face just cracks me up; she knows just how to make the cupcakes and insists on doing as much of it by herself as she can.

The plan was to decorate the tops of the cupcakes with a bird's nest, complete with malted eggs.  I would have liked some slightly smaller eggs, but we had to make do.

Separating the eggs by color -- a wonderful pre-school activity:

Sophia's personal favorite job is lining all of the trays with cupcake papers:

Mixing the batter to make sure all of it is combined perfectly:

It's important to check the progress frequently.  Usually I opt to just let her look through the door, but she insisted on having a closer look.

While the cupcakes were baking, we used the opportunity to practice a few pre-school activities:

(The pre-school activities are something that Sophia and I work on almost every morning while Sam is at school and Jack is napping.  She is getting so much better with them and often begs me to work on them with her.  I have found that she is very good at association right now (i.e. "Find 'J' for Jack or 'K' for Karen" when she has a whole string of letters to choose from), and struggles with being shown only one letter and asked what it is.  We have plenty of time to work on this before she actually starts school in the Fall, but I am taking advantage of our time together to keep enforcing the ideas early).

Our final masterpieces, all ready to be transported to school tomorrow morning -- yup, someone had to sample the frosting and a malted egg (the proof is on her lips!).

Samantha's Spring Play

On Friday night, we went as a family to see Sam perform in her Spring Play at school.  The kids had been practicing for two weeks -- lots of songs with the cutest little cat costumes.  It was all that I heard about for the whole last week ... where I was to drop her off, what time we had to be there, what she was to wear, and how she was going to get her face painted.

I have to admit that my patience did run a little thin during dinner the night of the event.  I finally had to (very sternly) inform her that I was aware of the schedule and that there was no way that we were going to miss anything.  She was SO excited!

Steve and I decided that it would be best to take two vehicles.  He would take her to school and arrive at 6:30 pm.  I would follow later with Sophia and Jack, arriving just a few minutes before 7.  Steve saved us some seats and that way the little kids (Sophia and Jack did not get too antsy).  Looking back, this was a good plan because we ended up not getting home until 9 pm -- way past their bedtimes!

The Spring Play that was performed was called "The Villan of Venice."  It had an Italian background, obviously ...  And I was amazed at the number of songs that Sam had memorized for the production.  She did so well!

My little cat with her Italian moustache:

Posing for Momma:

Jack did great.  He got a little antsy in the last 10 minutes (having sat in his car seat and then on our laps for an hour and a half).  Steve took him to the back of the auditorium and the change in scenery did wonders for him. 

It was a wonderful night to spend as a family and I am so glad that we were able to partake.  Great job, Samantha!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It was kind of a rushed day yesterday -- lots to do and a short amount of time to do it in.  Regardless, the kids managed to celebrate in their festive shirts! 

Jack's first St. Patrick's Day:

(If you look closely, you can see some of his dark, furry hair starting to grow and a couple of those pesky five teeth that he has already!)

Showing Momma what a big boy he is ...

A picture of my three kids all together -- they look tired because I snapped this picture right before their naptime.  After all of our running around in the morning, the kids were almost begging for a nap; frankly, I could have used one too.  But, I volunteered to sub for a lecture class that night and needed naptime to prepare for it.

Now, if Spring would just get here soon ...

Jack is Ten Months Old

Jack is ten months old today -- on St. Patrick's Day!  Only one more "first" holiday after this for him ... Easter.  And then another milestone, his first birthday.

(The bribing has already started ... a few Cheerios were necessary for the photo shoot!)

I took Jack and Sophia to the doctor for their well-child check-up last week.  Sophia has grown 4.5" in the last year!  She is starting to look so tall to me.  Both of my girls are above average in height.  How is that possible?!

Jack now weighs 16 lbs 10 oz, and while he has definitely gained weight in the last three months (since our last doctor's visit), his weight gain has started to slow down a bit.  This happens whenever babies start to become more active; more stretching, reaching, flailing, etc.  While the doctor is not too concerned because he hasn't lost weight, we would like to see him continue to put on more pounds.  So, Jack started on organic whole milk yogurt (I was waiting for the doctor's approval on this) and he loves it!  Suffice to say, he will eat a whole carton in one meal if I let him.  He is also getting more milk (from my freezer supply) in his sippee cup at every meal.  He can drink 4 ounces with each meal, in addition to nursing 4-5 times a day.

We have also noticed that Jack has started to show a preference for some food items now.  Don't get me wrong -- that boy will eat just about anything (green beans need to be mixed in his yogurt if he is ever going to ingest those, though).  But, if you line up a row of alternating Cheerios and baby goldfish crackers, he will purposefully pick through the line-up and eat all of the goldfish crackers!  If, in his mind, he is done eating a particular food with a meal, he will clamp his mouth shut and not allow you to put it in there if he sees it heading toward him on the spoon/fork.  It's hilarious. 

Jack has four teeth now; two on the bottom and two on the top.  Thank goodness that other top tooth came in because my little man was starting to look like a semi-toothless beaver!

Jack has started to show such an interest in his toys this month.  If he is full and his diaper is fresh, he will sit and entertain himself for a good 30 minutes.  As long as he has an assortment of toys, he will go through each one, playing with it for a few minutes before discarding it and moving onto another one. 

His sisters can get him to wear just about anything!  I turned around one day and saw this ...

(Although I do cringe whenever I see this headband.  Sophia received that last summer on the fateful day that she stuck a blue bead up her nose and I spent a good portion of my day in the pediatrics emergency room.  I never want to go through that again!)

Jack has also began to pay attention to books.  He will sit on my lap and flip through the pages non-stop, pausing to "touch and feel" various things.  Sometimes he will do it on his accord.  I just love this stage!

Jack alternates with his bath, sometimes in the sink and sometimes in the tub.  The sink is easier because he will sit there more easily and I don't have to worry about him slipping.  The splashing has gotten a bit out of hand lately though ... My kitchen windows need a good washing from the soap residue that is all over them!

Now that the weather is starting to get more tolerable (well, there were a couple of snow days last week -- in March!), Jack has gotten away with not needing to wear his snowsuit every time that we go out.  So, he has been able to start sporting his tennis shoes.  He looks so grown-up with them on!

Jack's personality is so laid-back and he seems to just go with the flow.  He is easy to figure out as long as his basic needs are all met.  He sticks to a pretty good schedule and only fusses when he has a dirty diaper or he is tired/bored. 

I love that he will eat just about anything.  It makes trips out to restaurants so easy for me -- I pack a few things for him to eat and then he just grazes off of my plate.  I can't wait to see what this summer has in store for us ...

The New Toy

After much consideration, Steve decided to invest in a "new toy" -- a quad.  We will get a lot of use out of it, hauling wood from the woods behind us, riding it around the neighborhood and out onto the frozen lake.  We can even take trips down to the beach on it (multiple trips because of limited space on it, but still fun). 

 

Once it was delivered and ready to use, the girls begged to go for rides.  Naturally, Steve was willing (as long as they were bundled up and promised me that they wouldn't stay out too long ... it was downright cold that night).

 

Sam went first, and I hear that she has a heavy finger!  That's right, Steve let her drive!  She's hooked on it now.

 

Sophia got to go for a (shorter) ride, as well.  She loved it too.  (Please ignore the mess of a garage).

Today, Steve took me for a spin.  I have to admit, it was quite fun.  We went around the neighborhood and then out onto the very frozen lake.  It would have been more enjoyable if the wind wasn't blowing so hard and the temperature outside was greater than 17 degrees!  C'mon Spring!

Min's Baby Shower

I had the pleasure of hosting my little sister's baby shower at my house this last weekend.  As soon as she announced that she was pregnant (around Thanksgiving last year), I told her that I would be planning/hosting her shower.  I love doing parties and this one was very special for me.

Her and her husband have chosen to be surprised on the gender of the baby (which is due the end of May).  Her nursery bedding and color scheme are yellow and gray chevron with elephants, so I wanted to incorporate that into the shower invitations/thank you notes/decorations, etc.  In the end, I am pretty pleased with how everything turned out.

My girls helped me make a diaper cake for her.  We spent an entire morning rolling diapers and then I arranged them into a four-tier design and wrapped it with gray chevron ribbon.  I attached an elephant pacifier to the top that she can use for the baby (if her baby likes pacifiers -- none of my kids cared for them).

The dessert table:

It has become a tradition for the last several parties that I decorate the picture that hangs in that part of my dining room.  My mom helped me and we used various odds and ends and created a cute, color-coordinated backdrop.

Aunt Chris graciously offered to make the cheesecakes and her famous chocolate covered pretzels and candy (keeping with the yellow theme).  I made mini cupcakes and decorated them with yellow frosting and a little edible, silver chocolate candy.

The tables were covered with other goodies -- lemon bars, peanuts (elephants love peanuts!), chocolate-covered raisins, animal cracker dip and lemon drop candies.

The mantle was decorated with an adorable elephant lovey blanket for the baby that I found online -- so soft and so cuddly, along with some beautiful bows crafted by my mom and a sonogram picture of the baby.

I am obsessed with making these hanging tissue pom-poms.  They are so easy (and so cheap) to make.  I have promised myself to hold off on them for a while though ... Not every party needs pom poms!

My sister suggested a baked potato bar and I thought that it was a fabulous idea!  I baked the potatoes in the oven and then set up various toppings for them.  We also had salad and fruit.  Just the perfect little meal for a group of ladies!

(I printed the labels on my printer and my mom helped me embellish them with these little punched-out elephants).

The gifts for one loved little baby:

I found this incredible little handmade caddy basket online and used it to hold the party favors for the guests.  Afterwards, Min was able to take it home so that she can use it in her nursery.  The inside is even gray chevron material!

 

Sophia assigned herself the task of passing out the tins of mints to all of the guests!

Another print that I printed from my computer and framed for the nursery.

My sister with my "babies:"

She received so many nice gifts and my girls were happy to help her with the unwrapping, of course.  I can't wait to meet my new little niece or nephew!

Sophia's First Trip To The Dentist

Samantha has been going to the dentist for a year now.  You would think that she is a complete expert with the way that she explained every last detail to her sister prior to our appointment this last week.  Sophia really wasn't too sure about the whole thing; in fact, she burst into tears (typical for her) as soon as we were called back into our room. 

 

It took some coaxing on my end to finally get her to sit in the chair and RELAX.  Our hygenist was so nice (the same one that we had last time) and put Sophia's (unnecessary) fears to rest.   

 

Counting all of her teeth:

Getting her teeth cleaned.  She got a great report!  Yippee!

Both of the girls and myself had appointments back-to-back-to-back that day.  While I was getting my teeth cleaned, the girls checked out their goody bags and it was the timers that completely made their day.  Two pink timers for brushing their teeth ...

Our next appointments are in 6 months and we have two girls that are excited to go back.  I couldn't be more grateful!

Mid-Week Randoms

We added a sofa and love seat to our seating area in the finished basement and the girls absolutely love being down there to watch their shows.  They cuddle in with their robes and a blanket before bedtime to watch one show and wind down for the night.

 

There are usually a few stuffed animals and dolls involved, as well.

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A few weeks ago, Samantha's school did a "Spirit Week," where each day had a different theme.  One of the days was "Wacky Day" and the students were encouraged to wear crazy clothes and do their hair in wild styles. 

I did Sam's hair with a whole bunch of little pony tails all over her head.

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It's rare that I get a picture of just Steve and me, but Samantha was willing to snap one of us and I jumped on the opportunity.  I think that she did really well with centering and not cutting our heads off.  I may just hire her ...

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Samantha lined up all of her babies on the bench one day and insisted that I take a picture.  (The subjects of the photo were not too cooperative).

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Samantha has started reading in school, and she is getting pretty skilled at it.  She even reads with expression, paying close attention to exclamation points.  One night before bed, she wanted to read the bedtime story from one of her books from school.  Sophia was totally transfixed.

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We have a huge pile of snow at the end of our driveway, by the garage.  We have gotten record-setting snowfalls and cold temperatures this winter, but the girls don't seem to mind one bit.  I think that they are going to miss this snow hill once it FINALLY melts ...

Jack doesn't even mind the cold that much.  He will gladly sit outside with us for a few minutes while the girls are playing.  (Most of the time, I just send the girls out to play -- where I can see them -- and Jack and I stay inside ... by the fire!).

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Grandpa got Sophia a whole bucket of sand toys for her birthday.  It was a wonderful idea and the girls are going to love playing with them in the sand this summer.  In the meantime, Sam bundled up and headed out with her sister to use them ... in the snow!

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Can we just take a minute and smile over this cuteness? 

Sophia loves her rain boots that she got for her birthday so much that I can barely get her to take them off for bed, or for anything else really.  The morning after her birthday, she cam downstairs sporting this look -- pajamas, princess jewelry and rain boots.  At least they all matched.  Purple is one of her favorite colors ...!

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One night, I suggested that we go pick up some Chinese food for dinner.  We rarely, if ever, do this.  But I was feeling lazy and we needed to get out of the house.  We put the kids in the van (in their pajamas -- an early bath night) and ran to pick up the food.  Once we got back home, Steve showed Sam how to use chopsticks.  She actually did pretty well with them.

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