Drop One Off, Pick One Up (219:365)

The last few times Scott has gone on conference trips, my mom has been able to come out and "replace" him. She has even been able to plan her flights to line right up with his, so I literally drop him off and pick her up at the same exact time. 

We did another airport swap today. 

Dee is soooo excited for her grandma to be here.

Goose was terrified of her, but soon got over it.

For dinner, Goose ate her first broccoli trees and strawberry chunks. She LOVED it. She is at the point right now where she eats more than Dee at just about every meal. She can really pack it in, even weighing in at only the 25% for her age.

I am about to start a reading program with Dee. Per my friend Anna's recommendation, I bought the book Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, and am working my way through the introduction. I never read intros, I just don't have the patience, but I'm so glad I'm taking the time to do so here. It explains a lot of really important aspects to the program that are key to Dee's comprehension of it all.

I think we will start the program tomorrow. I am so excited about it!

Date Night (184:365)

We met up with some friends in Omaha for dinner at Bonefish Grill. 

I tried Chilean Sea Bass for the first time.

It was good, but not amazing.

Our friends at Wolf fish which was described as an "ugly fish that eats lobster for dinner", so, that one sounded a little too scary for my taste buds. And I just googled "wolf fish". GAG! Just about made me scream. Videos of one eating a crab about made me loose it. I think I will stick with my wimpy fish, thank you. 
Eeesh.

After dinner, Scott and I went to Old Navy and got our growing preschooler some cute clearance size 5 shirts. Then we came home to find that our babysitter had done a wonderful job and had the kids in bed on time and happy! Couldn't ask for more.

Ladies Weekend (183:365)

Today was part 1 of the rockin' mommy party.

We celebrated 3 birthdays, as well as a brief vacation from motherly duties, by shopping till we dropped, eating out in fancy places where kids are not welcome, doing cartwheels down the hotel hallway, and laughing until we cried.

We are all crafty moms, or are aspiring to be such, therefore most gifts for the b-day girls were homemade. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of what others gave, but I do have pics of what I made.

Hairpins made from vintage cabochons.

Rosette hairpin, button hairpin and hair tie.

Fabric wrapped headband with a gold filigree and rose cabochon.

What have you made for someone lately?

Snow Day (179:365)

We played in the snow for the first time this year. We got around 6 inches, so we were obligated to have fun in it. It was nice and fluffy and perfect for snow angels.

We also used out recycling bin lid as a sled.

Wee!

Goose seemed to enjoy her first snow play and Dee and I had a good time out alone in the snow. We played in the playground and took the scariest slide ride of my life. It was a little like that scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when he rides the sled down the hill and it takes off like a rocket. Frozen slides do the same thing. Just a heads up...

I about lost my cookies.

Goose's First Birthday Party! (177:365)

We had a lot of fun having a baby party today. We played with balloons (yes, I let babies play with balloons...supervised), watched Baby Einstein, ate Goldfish crackers and watched Goose poke a timid finger into her giant cupcake. 

 

It was all very cute. I love kid parties! 

Goose's First Movie in the Theater (155:365)

Today we tried something new.

All four of us went to a movie in the theater.

I was a little bit worried about how well Goose would do, but she's a snuggler, so she did very well considering her age. Dee is the one that ran around the theater. She was on her seat edge for the first half, then slowly her patience ran out and she ran off.

Overall it was a good experience and we all enjoyed Tangled. 

Even Scott. 

He laughed it up!

We'll have to try it again soon!

Goose Meets Santa (149:365)

We had a church Christmas party tonight, 

and Santa made an appearance. 

Dee actually sat on his lap and hugged him tight! Last year she was terrified, so I'm excited with her progress.

Goose sat on his lap for about 10 second before she lost it.

My friend Anna was taking pictures so I let her cry for a minute because it was so cute. Is that bad? She'll thank me later for the cute pictures.

Goose's First Swim (147:365)

Me and the little ladies went swimming today.

Dee is a fish. She's taken a swimming survival type class

(see here) and can just kick around and jump off the edge just fine. Sometimes her lack of fear is scary, but I'm so glad she loves the water.

It was Goose's first time ever.

She clung to me like a baby monkey for the first 

10 minutes (which was adorable!).

Then I started saying, "Ready, go!", and then 

dunking us to our shoulders.

She started to smile a bit.

Then I crossed the pool, back and forth, laying her on her back, kind of swaying her side to side. She kept one little bug-feeler leg up in the air for a while, then eventually relaxed and just enjoyed gliding around on her back. 

It was so cute!

Hopefully she'll turn out to be a little fish 

just like her big sister.

Then, while we were showering off, she kept poking Dee in the belly button. She'd take her right pointer and zoom it into Dee's button with a totally straight face, like she was a serious belly button scientist, while Dee and I just laughed and laughed because 

it was so strange.

I've got me a couple of goof balls. 

I sure love my babies!


BTW - Don't forget about the Holiday Craft Fair tomorrow (Thursday) from 5pm - 9pm at Scott Middle School. Hope to see you there!

Cheese is Life (138:365)

Went to visit some friends today and afterward we all had a mom and kid lunch at Godfather's Pizza.

I told Scott and he made me smuggle him some pizza in my purse.

I know.

Anyway, while eating we decided that "cheese is life". 

Why? 

Because it is the perfect snack.

Because it goes with almost anything.

Because it is salty or creamy and delicious.

Why not?

Ask Scott why not.

He's lame about cheese.

Missing out on one of the wonders of the world. That's what I say.

Roller Skating like it was 1989 (112:365)

Now, I'm not positive, because I have a TERRIBLE memory, but I don't think I've roller skated at a roller rink since the 80's. Tonight our church youth group went skating for our weekly activity. As a leader, I felt a little goofy and afraid that I would break my arm or something in front of everyone.

I was a bit shaky the first couple of times around the rink, but then I got my "skate legs" back and rocked it grown up style. I dodged kids that were dropping like flies in front of me, stared at the weirdo's that probably live at the rink, and felt bad for the people who worked there.

Yeah, I think skating is just as nerdy as it was the last time I went, but it was also just as fun. 

And, they didn't do a snowball, so there was no awkward hugging of the carpeted wall.

Ode to Adrianne and Cream Sauce (102:365)

Do you ever daydream about a meal once had and never forgotten?

I often reminisce about one such meal my friend Adrianne made me shortly after she returned from her church mission to Italy.

Peas...

Noodles...

Salty Ham...

Cream Sauce...

Parmesan Cheese...

If your mouth isn't watering right now than your taste buds must be broken.

The recipe for the cream sauce is from my trusty Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.





Then I just cut up some lunch meat ham and cooked some peas, them fried them up with some cooked spaghetti noodles, then put some cream sauce and a little parmesan cheese in the pot and mixed it up until palatable perfection was achieved.

Oh baby.


It was delightful.