One year ago
Too bad I can't blame my current cankles on pregnancy....
I really need to do something about that *sigh*
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
11 months
Avonlea turned 11 months old yesterday! Holy smokes! My baby is going to be a year old in less than a month. *tear* I'm so not ready for this!
So, what's Avonlea up to these days?
--has two bottom teeth
--pulling herself up and cruising around the furniture
--will walk holding both or one of our hands
--eat just about anything, favorites this month are blueberries, melon, chicken, quinoa.
--sleeping mostly through the night, waking about once per night
--drinking 6-8 oz bottles, averaging 28-40 oz per day
--on a pretty good nap routine, morning nap for 1.5-2 hours and afternoon nap for 1.5-3 hours
--wearing size 4 diaper and 18 month clothes
Little miss is into EVERYTHING these days! Nothing is safe from her. Her hair is so thick now and growing so fast. My sister says she has Justin Beiber hair! Ha! Its kind of in the in between stage where it so fine that it doesn't really hold any clips, but it hangs over her ears and close to her eyes. I attempt to give her a comb over after her bath, but it just goes back in her face by morning.
She still smiles all the time and she draws alot of attention to herself when we are out. She loves her brothers, especially Peytonn! If I am holding her and he walks by, she flings herself toward him. He adores her just as much!
I can't believe my baby is going to be one soon! She's growing up too fast!!
--has two bottom teeth
--pulling herself up and cruising around the furniture
--will walk holding both or one of our hands
--eat just about anything, favorites this month are blueberries, melon, chicken, quinoa.
--sleeping mostly through the night, waking about once per night
--drinking 6-8 oz bottles, averaging 28-40 oz per day
--on a pretty good nap routine, morning nap for 1.5-2 hours and afternoon nap for 1.5-3 hours
--wearing size 4 diaper and 18 month clothes
She still smiles all the time and she draws alot of attention to herself when we are out. She loves her brothers, especially Peytonn! If I am holding her and he walks by, she flings herself toward him. He adores her just as much!
I can't believe my baby is going to be one soon! She's growing up too fast!!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Dinner!
Its 1:25pm, whose thinking about dinner? No one? Well, I am! I know I'll have 3 hungry kiddos by the time we get home tonight and I better have an idea of what's on the menu. Peytonn always asks me on the way home what we are having for dinner. I was reading my blog roll today and came across this Chili Cheese Beef N Mac and I thought the kids would really enjoy it. Plus, it looked quick and easy.
Now, I'm not a huge fan of Hamburger Helper for two reasons: 1.) the nutritional value (or lack thereof!) and 2.) I just dont really like the taste. Now, I do have a box of Hamburger Helper in my pantry, but I'm pretty sure it is expired and been there for years. I think I cut the Box Top off of it and never saw the thing again! But this has all things that my children love and it will be easier to control the ingredients in it. For example, low sodium beef broth, organic ingredients, and the ability to sneak in some veggies. Today is our harvest basket day so depending on what veggies we receive, I will pair this with something from our basket. Maybe a salad or some broccoli from our garden.
Plus, it does look pretty good from the picture. I'm sure the kids will eat it. UPDATE!! Made this and it was yummy!! The boys both cleaned their plates and Avonlea ate two toddler sized bowls worth. I quite enjoyed it myself! I made it as written but added some diced green pepper as well. Very quick and easy!
Now, I'm not a huge fan of Hamburger Helper for two reasons: 1.) the nutritional value (or lack thereof!) and 2.) I just dont really like the taste. Now, I do have a box of Hamburger Helper in my pantry, but I'm pretty sure it is expired and been there for years. I think I cut the Box Top off of it and never saw the thing again! But this has all things that my children love and it will be easier to control the ingredients in it. For example, low sodium beef broth, organic ingredients, and the ability to sneak in some veggies. Today is our harvest basket day so depending on what veggies we receive, I will pair this with something from our basket. Maybe a salad or some broccoli from our garden.
Plus, it does look pretty good from the picture. I'm sure the kids will eat it. UPDATE!! Made this and it was yummy!! The boys both cleaned their plates and Avonlea ate two toddler sized bowls worth. I quite enjoyed it myself! I made it as written but added some diced green pepper as well. Very quick and easy!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Here, there and everywhere!
This past weekend we traveled the 6 hours to Nashville, TN to visit my sister-in-law, brother-in-law and our niece and nephew. It was my nieces 6th birthday! I can't even believe that she is 6 years old!
We had a great time! Emma had her birthday party on Saturday at the community center park. Then we were supposed to swim in their indoor pool. Unfortunately, a kid had diarrhea in the pool during swim lessons, so they had to close the pool. We had several crying children! We decided to go back to the hotel and swim in the pool there. The kids loved it!! We spent several hours swimming.
Then we got dressed and drove into Nashville to eat dinner and walk around Opry Mills Mall. Which is huge!! They have a Vera Bradley outlet store there and I scored a nice bag.
I love the color, purple is one of my favorites! Its enough space to carry diapers/wipes, extra outfit and the outside pockets are great for cups/snacks. Love it! Not huge at all.
Now, what is going on here? Well, we've decided to put our house up for sale. We've lived in it for about 4 1/2 years. Our plan has always been to move out to the country to raise our children. We have rented a storage unit and are starting to clear out the house and the garage of miscellaneous stuff that we don't need right now.
Yesterday, we went to look at a place in the country. It's about a 45 minute drive from where we live now, but only about 30 minutes to the north end of Indy. Which works out great for us! It has 2.5 acres, a 4 bedroom farm house, an apple orchard, and an above ground pool. Its on a quiet road out in the middle of no where. Sounds absolutely perfect! :) But we need to sell our house first. :( Please say a little prayer and cross your fingers that we sell our house quickly! Ideally, we would like to move before school starts again. Hopefully we can make that happen!
We had a great time! Emma had her birthday party on Saturday at the community center park. Then we were supposed to swim in their indoor pool. Unfortunately, a kid had diarrhea in the pool during swim lessons, so they had to close the pool. We had several crying children! We decided to go back to the hotel and swim in the pool there. The kids loved it!! We spent several hours swimming.
Then we got dressed and drove into Nashville to eat dinner and walk around Opry Mills Mall. Which is huge!! They have a Vera Bradley outlet store there and I scored a nice bag.
Now, what is going on here? Well, we've decided to put our house up for sale. We've lived in it for about 4 1/2 years. Our plan has always been to move out to the country to raise our children. We have rented a storage unit and are starting to clear out the house and the garage of miscellaneous stuff that we don't need right now.
Yesterday, we went to look at a place in the country. It's about a 45 minute drive from where we live now, but only about 30 minutes to the north end of Indy. Which works out great for us! It has 2.5 acres, a 4 bedroom farm house, an apple orchard, and an above ground pool. Its on a quiet road out in the middle of no where. Sounds absolutely perfect! :) But we need to sell our house first. :( Please say a little prayer and cross your fingers that we sell our house quickly! Ideally, we would like to move before school starts again. Hopefully we can make that happen!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Summer reading
I have always loved to read and waaaay back in the day, I was a huge fan of the Oprah Book Club. I read many of the books that she recommended and I enjoyed them. Fast foward to today, three children and a full time job later, and let's just say that reading time is often lost to sleep, children, or chores.
However, I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas and I have been trying to put it to good use. I figured this was the excuse I needed to get back in the reading habit. I love getting lost in characters and stories. But I am also notorious for starting several books at once and then grasping on to one and finishing only that one. I'm trying to be better about that.
Even if you're not into all that kinky stuff, I think you will really enjoy these books, the relationships and the story. The story just keeps you guessing and wanting to know more. I have bags under my eyes! Miss I go to bed at 9pm just cant seem to put these down!
Before I started reading Fifty Shades, I also read this book, the Secret Holocaust Diaries. It was also very good! Some of the story is a little gory, but that is to be expected. Although, I have to say, this is more of a memoir about Nonna's life than just about the goriness of the Holocaust. I am someone who loves to learn about history and completely immerse myself in it. After reading this book, I downloaded Auschwitz by Miklos Nyiszli, which is much more gory. It is actually about a concentration camp. But again, I'm notorious for starting several books at once. I started this right before I downloaded Fifty Shades, and well, you see which book took over. But I fully intend to finish Auschwitz as well.
Some other books that I've downloaded, but haven't finished yet are:
--Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
--Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Father Robert Barron
--The Everything Grow Your Own Vegetables Book
....and a few cook books.
All in all, I'm loving my Kindle!
Go now, go get that Fifty Shades of Grey, I promise you won't regret it!!
However, I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas and I have been trying to put it to good use. I figured this was the excuse I needed to get back in the reading habit. I love getting lost in characters and stories. But I am also notorious for starting several books at once and then grasping on to one and finishing only that one. I'm trying to be better about that.
Growing Up Amish was the first book that I read from start to finish. I have always had a fascination with the Amish and this book gave great insight into Ira Wagler's life and the decisions that he made. Living in Indiana for my entire life with Amish communities not far away, it was nice to learn a little bit more about this "secretive" community. There's something inspiring to me about a cultural inside our cultural that has continued all of these years virtually untouched by the outside world. I recommend this book if you are looking for a light read and want some more insight into the Amish world.
I want to preface this with, I'm not huge into all the hyped up movies, books, etc out there. I have never read the Twilight series or the Hunger Games. I saw the first Twilight movie months after it came out and I really wasn't all that impressed. Its just not my cup of tea. I was really hesitant to even buy this book because of all the hype about it. I read the summary and decided to just buy the first book, Fifty Shades of Grey, in the trilogy and go from there. Well, let me just tell you, you might as well go ahead and purchase the trilogy! I started the first book and it was ok. It started to get to the "good" part and I was a little put off by it at first. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about it. I let the book rest for a few days. Then I went back and I just couldn't put it down. I was staying up until midnight (GASP!) almost every night just reading away. I could really take or leave all the "good" parts, but I am really intrigued by the characters, Ana and Christian. I love reading about their relationship, but frankly, its anything but "normal." Or maybe it is, who knows, I'm pretty "vanilla" myself. Ha!
But I have to say, the first book stops abruptly. It really makes you want to know more, know what happens. I finished the first book and immediately downloaded the second, Fifty Shades Darker, to find out what happens. I just can't put them down!
Some other books that I've downloaded, but haven't finished yet are:
--Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
--Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Father Robert Barron
--The Everything Grow Your Own Vegetables Book
....and a few cook books.
All in all, I'm loving my Kindle!
Go now, go get that Fifty Shades of Grey, I promise you won't regret it!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)