November 23rd, 2011

The day before Thanksgiving I had a big ol’ list of things to get done to hit the road to Kansas City.  So WWJD (that’s what would Jenny do)?  Add “get xmas card pictures done” to it.  After spinning I changed the girls into their Christmas Dresses, fixed their hair, and drove to the Botanical Gardens (2nd time this week).  The girls had fun and even let me do pictures outside without coats on in chilly weather.  They soldiered through and over Thanksgiving break we actually got the Christmas card created and done.

 

I was happy we got ‘er done and banged it out.  This is the first time I’ve ever done a Christmas Card in their actual Christmas dresses, progressive concept.

November 21st, 2011

Today is Sydney’s official birthday.  It was a Monday.  Lauren’s class had a field trip to the Botanical Gardens.  The field trip was to learn all about seeds.

The first part was a classroom style format learning about seeds, how they are spread out to the world, where they are located on plants, different kinds, etc.  It was quite interesting, even for a 36.5 year old.

See, look at all that seed learning.

Then all the kids got to plant basil seeds.  Sad to report, ours have not sprouted…4 weeks later.  I asked Lauren to go check them just now to be sure.  She said there’s no sprouts and everyone in her class has said theirs sprouted.  Awesome.

We then headed out with a tour guide in small groups to look for seeds around the garden.

The world’s largest seed, the double coconut seed.  Hopefully that trivia will come in handy. 

After the field trip was over, Lauren’s class headed to a playground for a picnic.  It was a little chilly, so Sydney and I decided to go to the restaurant at the garden for lunch and headed home.

Sydney is a puzzle girl and received a nice assortment from her birthday.  She was excited to do this floor puzzle.

Done.

So we continued with our normal Monday night activities.  Sydney has dance class at 5-6 pm, then Lauren has PSR at 6:30.  I pack Lauren’s dinner and she eats it at the dance studio and then we work on her schoolwork.  After Sydney and I dropped Lauren off at PSR, Sydney asked me, “Is it reeeeally my birthday TODAY?”  I said yes.  Her response was, “well we really didn’t do any birthday things today.”  She was right, but I explained how she had a birthday celebration in her classroom last week, we just ended a weekend of much birthday to do, and she brought treats to her dance class to celebrate.  “But toooooday is my birthday.”  Trent and I planned on doing cake and had another birthday present to give her that evening.  I hoped that was birthday festive enough for her.

Thankfully it was.

November 20th, 2011

My baby is 4 years old.  How did that happen? 

My earliest memories are when I was 4 and I was walking in a parking lot with my very pregnant mom.  She had a flowy print shirt on which I thought was very fancy.  Then I remember sitting on our couch and my mom would let me feel her belly when the baby kicked.   I also remember staying at my Grandparent’s house while my mom was in the hospital after she had Julie.  Specifically I was playing under my Grandma’s dining room table, very 4 year old-ish thing to do.  I really don’t remember Julie as a newborn at our house.  Apparently she didn’t sleep too well and cried a bit, but I don’t remember this because I was probably sleeping or playing.  Two things come to mind when thinking about my earliest memories.  First is I can’t believe Sydney is at the age where she might remember current events when she’s an adult.  Second is, holy crap, she might remember stuff I don’t necessarily want her to remember!

We had a hard time figuring out Sydney’s party.  November is not a month you can host outside.  For Sydney’s 2nd and 3rd birthday we had parties at our house, so this year we wanted to invite more people and a venue other than our home.  We ended up having a ice cream and cake party at Fitz's Root Beer in University City.  My dad also hired a balloon artist and face painter that was hugely popular with the kids. 

The birthday girl getting her balloon animal, Rapunzel.

Kid table.

They also had various arcade style games the kids could play.

Smiley fries for the kids.  We also had root beer, beer, and munchies for the adults.

No sugar or sweets at this party.  Nope. None.

They asked the facepainter for tiger faces!

All the cousins at the party!

The grandparents with the birthday girl.  They were all a big help at the party.  It took a village!

That evening we watched Sydney open her gifts.  She got so many thoughtful and generous gifts.  Her last gift she opened was her American Girl doll, Kanani, and some different accessories to keep her Kanani fashionable.  As I am typing this Sydney is playing in a fort of pillows with Kanani and a stuffed horse (Bull’s Eye to be exact). 

Happy Happy 4th birthday Sydney!

November 18th, 2011

Sydney was invited to 2 birthday parties and I needed to get the birthday girls’ gifts.  The first party was a girl in Sydney’s preschool class, Mia.  It was going to be at Chuck E Cheese with Mia, Sydney, and one other girl.  Mia’s mom is really nice and also works out at our Y the same time I do, so Sydney and Mia play in the child watch center there together on days they don’t have school.  The second party was for a good friend’s daughter, Graysen.  Her party was a Rapunzel themed party at their home.  Lauren, Sydney, and I went to Toys R Us to search out the perfect gift for the 4 year olds.  Graysen was easy, I got a Flynn Rider Disney Doll (and crossed my fingers she didn’t already have one). 

So one down, one to go.  I asked Sydney what kind of things Mia likes.  Sydney told me Mia likes Barbies.  Okay, easy enough.  I scan the Barbie aisle for a new and/or different Barbie to avoid getting something Mia already has.  I see a Barbie where it also comes with a dog, food container, water bowl, etc.  Oh fun, I thought, a Barbie where she takes care of her dog.  That’s interactive and Mia’s other Barbies can help take care of the dog too. 

So we bought the gifts, went home, and I put them on the counter to wrap.  A couple hours later when I was making dinner, I glanced at the box again.  Oh boy did I misunderstand this toy.

I saw the first picture with the dog eating the treat….but not the second or third.  I purchased a Poop and Scoop Barbie for Mia!!  Reeeeaally Mattel?!!  Sydney’s first birthday party from her class this year and I get this as our gift.  I guess I began cursing talking to myself because both Lauren and Sydney came into the kitchen wanting to see what was going on and I told them this Barbie’s special chore.  Simultaneously they both said “Ooooooh mom, I want one too!!!”

At spinning the next morning I told the story and a mom laughed and said, “Yeah, Amber has that Barbie and absolutely loves it.  The worst part is you eventually end up loosing all the poop and then you’ll  have a child wanting you to buy a poop refill.” 

So I was the mom that presented the birthday girl with not only a pooping dog, but one that will eventually run out of poop and cause her lack of poop sadness.  At the party (and yes, I thought about returning it, but just couldn’t fit in another errand before the party) I told my backstory before Mia opened her gift (with a gift receipt heavily taped on the box) and the other moms graciously laughed. 

Yesterday I got this thank you note in the mail:

This is my first thank you for poop.

November 15th, 2011

Sydney and I had a play date scheduled.  More of a play date for me than Sydney.  We were going to go to a friends house to check out their farm veggie garden and chickens.  They have quite the setup.  It’s unreal.  They have 15 raised beds.  Here’s a picture they posted on facebook late this summer to give you a general idea.

Keep in mind you only see about 8 of the 15 beds…and 9 chickens.  So Margaret, who is the main force of this operation, gave me a grand tour while Sydney played with her oldest son, Auggie.  Mainly she accosted their chickens trying to “hold” them.  Margaret was showing me different veggies and herbs she has growing for her fall crop and sent me home with a bag of assorted delicious greens.

I had planned on making a new recipe from Cooking Light for dinner.  It’s a cream style sauce baked pasta.  I wanted to try it because instead of cream or lots of cheese, you puree cottage cheese as the main component of the sauce. 

Here’s the recipe.

I decided to add the greens to the boiling pasta.

While boiling the pasta, the sauce comes together in minutes.

Combine and baked.  Easy breezy lemon squeezy.

It was delicious!  A good friend had a baby last week and a couple of us are visiting and bringing over dinner.  I decided this would be my contribution.  Of course I won’t have all the fun different kind of greens from Margaret’s garden, so a bag of baby spinach will have to suffice.