November deserves many posts, but I have not gotten to them yet. I will. In the meantime, please enjoy this. Liam does this dance whenever he gets really excited and also when asked to. Enjoy.
29 November 2011
10 October 2011
Mmmmm.... cookies.
It turns out that Alex "isn't a big fan" of chocolate chip cookies. He prefers them with lots of add-ins like nuts, and other bits of things. So, when Alex made a quick trip to Utah a couple weeks ago, I went ahead and had a Chocolate Chip Cookie-Off with some friends.
Each entry, and there were many, was rated on flavor, texture, chip-to-cookie ratio, and appearance. I must admit, I am a big fan of chocolate chip cookies and eating lots of them was a wonderful way to spend an evening!
The spread.
Ellie and Abby contemplating their ratings.
Nico contemplating his.
At some point, Nico turned to me and said, "Mom, I don't want to eat any more cookies." It turns out Miles felt the same way and off they went to play legos and playmobils instead.
All the contenders.
The winner turned out to be Alton Brown's "The Chewy." Mmmm... Good stuff!
Thank you to all the various Merceds and nee Merceds for a wonderful evening!
Each entry, and there were many, was rated on flavor, texture, chip-to-cookie ratio, and appearance. I must admit, I am a big fan of chocolate chip cookies and eating lots of them was a wonderful way to spend an evening!
The spread.
Ellie and Abby contemplating their ratings.
Nico contemplating his.
At some point, Nico turned to me and said, "Mom, I don't want to eat any more cookies." It turns out Miles felt the same way and off they went to play legos and playmobils instead.
All the contenders.
The winner turned out to be Alton Brown's "The Chewy." Mmmm... Good stuff!
Thank you to all the various Merceds and nee Merceds for a wonderful evening!
06 October 2011
Onwards and Upwards: Part 1.
Anders = Upwards
Every morning, one of the first things I do is lay (lie?) all the chairs in my house on their side. Here's why:
Every morning, one of the first things I do is lay (lie?) all the chairs in my house on their side. Here's why:
27 September 2011
21 September 2011
It has begun.
School that is.
Actually it began a week and a half ago, but I'm just now getting around to this post.
Most years, I'm really sad to see my kids go off to school. I was still a little sad this year, but it was VERY apparent that Ellie and Nico needed a new project in life. And what better project than school.
Ellie started 3rd grade this year. At first she was disappointed she didn't get the teacher she wanted, but once she started, that has all changed. She loves her teacher. Ellie says she makes things fun. After meeting her at meet the teacher night, I can confirm it would indeed be fun to be in her class. Here's hoping it is still fun come June.
Nico started kindergarten. Yup, that's right, he's in school for real. Alex and I were a little apprehensive to see how he would do. However, our worries seem to have been needless (thus far), as he LOVES school. LOVES it. He gets excited to go. He comes home off the bus cheery. He's in his element. He did, however, ask me yesterday when he was going to learn something at school. I attempted to explain to him that sometimes the most important things we learn in kindergarten are how to be a student and how to be around other people. I think he was hoping for calculus.
And now, here is what you really came to this blog for... pictures!
Actually it began a week and a half ago, but I'm just now getting around to this post.
Most years, I'm really sad to see my kids go off to school. I was still a little sad this year, but it was VERY apparent that Ellie and Nico needed a new project in life. And what better project than school.
Ellie started 3rd grade this year. At first she was disappointed she didn't get the teacher she wanted, but once she started, that has all changed. She loves her teacher. Ellie says she makes things fun. After meeting her at meet the teacher night, I can confirm it would indeed be fun to be in her class. Here's hoping it is still fun come June.
Nico started kindergarten. Yup, that's right, he's in school for real. Alex and I were a little apprehensive to see how he would do. However, our worries seem to have been needless (thus far), as he LOVES school. LOVES it. He gets excited to go. He comes home off the bus cheery. He's in his element. He did, however, ask me yesterday when he was going to learn something at school. I attempted to explain to him that sometimes the most important things we learn in kindergarten are how to be a student and how to be around other people. I think he was hoping for calculus.
And now, here is what you really came to this blog for... pictures!
06 September 2011
Happiness is a green monkey.
Shortly before I left Utah, my mom gave Nico and Ellie green monkey stuffed animals. "Great," I thought, "something else to pack." Ellie and Nico however, really liked them, so I didn't even try to leave them behind as I did certain other plush toys (ahem LaRayne!).
Upon arrival in NY, the monkeys were happily slept with and were the animals of the moment for Ellie and Nico for a little while. Perhaps Anders saw the older kids carrying them around or perhaps it was the monkey itself. I don't know. All I know is that Anders got hooked. He carried it around all the time. He cuddled with it. He saw it in the swing once and climbed in to be with it. He laughed with it. He loved it. So much so, that we told Ellie she should consider giving her monkey to Anders, since in this case, possession was 10 10ths of the law. She graciously did give up her stuffed animal and Anders happily continued on with his monkey shenanigans.
Enter Liam. Liam is a bully. Liam routinely steals everything Anders has. If Anders has a toy, Liam takes it. If Anders has food on his tray, Liam takes it. If Anders has a binky, Liam takes it. Even if Liam already has his own binky, or food, or toy. Liam is a taker. Needless to say, Liam took the green monkey. Over. And over. And over. Anders was very sad.
All was not lost however, since there were two green monkeys about. Thus both babies happily tote around a green monkey. Nico even gave his monkey to Liam. Ellie and Nico are awesome big siblings.
Anyway, all this to explain why this is often the scene in our house:
Having learned super parenting skills from several friends, I asked my mom to get me a couple "back up monkeys" should one be lost, destroyed, or what not. They should arrive shortly. I simply do not want a Mino or Kiki incident on my hands in a few months.
Upon arrival in NY, the monkeys were happily slept with and were the animals of the moment for Ellie and Nico for a little while. Perhaps Anders saw the older kids carrying them around or perhaps it was the monkey itself. I don't know. All I know is that Anders got hooked. He carried it around all the time. He cuddled with it. He saw it in the swing once and climbed in to be with it. He laughed with it. He loved it. So much so, that we told Ellie she should consider giving her monkey to Anders, since in this case, possession was 10 10ths of the law. She graciously did give up her stuffed animal and Anders happily continued on with his monkey shenanigans.
Enter Liam. Liam is a bully. Liam routinely steals everything Anders has. If Anders has a toy, Liam takes it. If Anders has food on his tray, Liam takes it. If Anders has a binky, Liam takes it. Even if Liam already has his own binky, or food, or toy. Liam is a taker. Needless to say, Liam took the green monkey. Over. And over. And over. Anders was very sad.
All was not lost however, since there were two green monkeys about. Thus both babies happily tote around a green monkey. Nico even gave his monkey to Liam. Ellie and Nico are awesome big siblings.
Anyway, all this to explain why this is often the scene in our house:
Having learned super parenting skills from several friends, I asked my mom to get me a couple "back up monkeys" should one be lost, destroyed, or what not. They should arrive shortly. I simply do not want a Mino or Kiki incident on my hands in a few months.
05 September 2011
Guess who Ellie and Nico have discovered...
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