6 months!?!?

At 6 months, you:

LOVE cereal, applesauce & squash. Can't wait to try more things!
Will now take a bottle if you have to, but still not from mommy.
Roll all over the place.
Laugh out loud.
Sleep in your crib - sometimes (but rarely) through the night.
Love to read (and chew on) books.
Put everything in your mouth.
Are a happy, easy going baby!

6 month stats:
Weight: 12lbs 15oz (less than 3rd %tile)
Height: 25 1/2 inches (30th %tile)

Winter Day Activities

This weekend was full of fun holiday activities.

The boys made cinnamon applesauce ornaments.
1 c cinnamon
1 T ground cloves
1 T nutmeg
1 T allspice
1 T ginger
3/4 c applesauce

Combine first 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Add applesauce & stir to combine. Work mixture with hands 2-3 minutes until dough is smooth. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters. Using straw or pencil, make small hole in top of ornament. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 150 degrees for 1 hour. Remove from cookie sheet & bake on oven racks for another hour & a half. (I didn't do this...I just flipped them).


The 2nd project was making Aaron's Grandma Flossie's caramels. They turned out tasty!


The 3rd activity was snow painting. Squirt bottle + water + food coloring. Paint the snow! Of course, like most children, my boys couldn't just paint the snow. They also squirted the dog & each other, despite being told not to. Oh well :)

Invisible Woman

A friend sent this to me in an email. It's good...take the time to watch it. Although moms don't receive a lot of accolades for all the work they do...their work doesn't go unnoticed.

Random Stuff

Zoe is quickly approaching eating baby food...sniff, sniff. I bought FFA fruit this year & made applesauce today!


Our chickens are turning out to be big time producers! I do a lot of baking...and Aaron eats eggs almost every morning for breakfast & we still have this many! Check out the ginormous one & itty bitty one in the front.


Zoe woke up with her first case of bed head. I'm so excited...it's growing & I can't wait until it's long enough to do stuff with & hope she'll let me like all my good nieces do.


SNOW drift. Our dog got stuck in one of them today & I had to rescue him.


SNOW ice cream...for breakfast. Yum.
1 gallon snow + 1 c white sugar + 1 T vanilla. Then gradually add 2 cups of milk until desired consistency is reached. (I had to use more milk).

Traveling Book Salesman

I have been a fan of Usborne books for a long time & after a lot of thought, I decided it made sense for me to become a consultant! Their books are heavy duty & have a lot of neat & fun features. I have purchased many of their books over the years & they remain favorites of my boys!

I LOVE books. I LOVE to read. And I think it will be a fun way to earn a little money! So this is my plug - I'd love to help you earn some free books by hosting an in-house or online party! They have a great hostess reward program! And since I'm new, if you book a party by March 1st & have a $250 show w/1 booking, you get DOUBLE the hostess rewards - so double the free books!

I'll be doing my first showing at a local Holiday Open House on the 11th. I can't wait!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Some GREAT and not so great things:

GREAT - Wonderful time with family. Boys enjoyed their cousins, aunts & uncles & grandparents. Even had some out of town relatives visiting that we weren't expecting!


NOT so great - My Grandma Lulu was in the hospital, so she & my Grandpa Jack weren't able to join us. They usually host Thanksgiving & prepare the turkey & dressing. My parents & aunt & uncle stepped up & filled in. It was disappointing that they were unable to be there though & sad that she is not feeling well :(

GREAT - Food was excellent at both places. We even pulled off my Grandma's stuffing in her absence.

NOT so great - I burnt my arm while baking the rolls...but they were still tasty.


GREAT - We enjoyed a lot of outside time at Aaron's parents & took a few walks, hopefully burning off some of that turkey and dressing :)

NOT so great - I lost one of my diamond earrings while there...and am hoping it turns up.

GREAT - We enjoyed a fun card game of "Oh Hell" with Aaron's brothers, wife & friend. The grandparents entertained the grandkids so we could accomplish this :) Thanks :)

GREAT - Zoe started sleeping in a crib while we were at Aaron's parents & we have been on a roll ever since! We've had a couple rough nights but she's doing well.

GREAT - I got to stock up on my favorite candles at the Holiday Show in Falls City, NE.

NOT so great - My friends, the Carpenters, moved while we were gone. I'm grieving...another one of my great friends is over an hour away, which isn't far, but it just isn't the same!!!!!!!!!

GREAT - Cloverton
was in concert at our church. The vocalists were part of the Praise Band I was in while in Manhattan. They provided an evening full of wonderful worship music & we really enjoyed visiting with the band & their wives during our meals!



NOT so great - My house is a mess after being gone Thursday - Saturday, dumping our bags Saturday evening when we returned & then being gone all day yesterday & this morning. I really should be cleaning/picking up right now instead of blogging.... :)

GREAT - My birthday present that Aaron ordered finally came in. I love it!


All over - a LOT more GREATS than not so greats :) A fun family weekend!

5 Months

5 months old today!

At 5 months you:

*Are starting to nap better in your crib, but still take cat naps.
*Have a cute little laugh & squeal.
*Learned to blow raspberries.
*Mastered rolling from back to tummy.
*Are happy the majority of the time!

You are our sweet, sweet little girl & we love you to pieces!

3.17.10

In 4 months, we & 3 other couples will be crashing at this place:

and enjoying these views:


and enjoying these activities:


Park City, Utah...we can't wait to see you!

Broken Promises

I love this commercial...and wish it would have come out BEFORE we bought a new computer with Windows Vista. A few months ago we upgraded our computer and in an attempt to save a little money, I bought a Dell instead of a Mac, which I really wanted... I'm really wishing I would have splurged - I would have saved ourselves (and my brother, Cole who has been trying to fix it) a lot of problems!

Hands & Feet

A good friend of mine gave me this frame kit as a baby gift when Brecken was born. I'm so glad she did - I love looking at how small his handprint & footprint were & am amazed at how much they have grown! I was very excited that the company has continued to carry the frame (although a little different) & purchased one for Leighton when he was a baby. When I found out I was expecting again, I quickly got online to purchase another one. At the time, the company didn't carry them & I was really sad I wouldn't have one for our 3rd child! I searched on ebay & still couldn't find one. Several months later, I received a catalog from the company & they had them again! Phew... We just got the prints from Zoe's 3 month photo shoot with In Full Bloom Photography, so the frame is complete now :) Maybe I should go ahead and order another one JUST IN CASE we decide to have a 4th...

4 Months

Zoe is 4 months old!

Stats
11lbs 14oz (15th %)
24 1/2 in (63rd %)

What a difference there is between boys & girls in size! Leighton was 14lbs 14oz & 27" long at 4 months & Brecken was 15lbs 8oz & 27 3/4in long!

At 4 months - you roll over occasionally, sleep through the night occasionally, STILL won't take a bottle, laugh at your brothers, smile at everyone who talks to you, suck on your fingers & bottom lip when you sleep, are happy the majority of the time & a joy to us all!

4 Years...

Happy Birthday Brecken! Where have the past 4 years gone? I'm so happy that I have 2 more years at home with you before you start kindergarten...but I'm also sad about how fast those 2 years will go.

Just a few of the things that I love about you...
*You are my little helper! You help me with Zoe & Leighton, the dog, cooking - whatever I ask - you are willing to go to work.
*You have a wonderful imagination. I love to listen to your stories & ideas.
*You get excited when I pick you up from Sunday School or preschool - running to me for a hug & saying, Mommy!!!
*You LOVE your baby sister & like to hold her & make her laugh.
*You love you baby brother too...even though you fight with him. You always miss him if he's not with us.
*You like to snuggle on the couch.
*You sing in the shower, mostly Jesus songs :)
*You are your daddy's little sidekick - love to see you together - working, wrestling & playing!

Happy 4th birthday (and thanks for sharing today with your little sister as she gets baptized)!

Volcanoes

Make the volcano Poke a hole Add baking soda Pour vinegar in & watch it flow

Siblings?

Rainy Day Activity

Shake it up!
(1T rubbing alcohol, pasta, few drops of food coloring)

Watch it dry!

String it!

We have a necklace!

Snuggle Time

I'm not really ready for cold weather, but I LOVE footie pajamas & something about them just says Snuggle Time!

Prayers Please!

Please keep our dear friends, the Carpenters, in your prayers. Brian & Courtney are expecting a baby girl & recently discovered that due to complications, the pregnancy is high risk.

Specific prayers:
*Praise to God that Courtney is healthy & the baby is developing on target!
*Guidance for Brian & Courtney & the doctors in deciding when to bring this baby into the world.
*Strength & peace of mind for the family as they await the arrival of Lila
*That baby Lila is developing as quickly as possible & that she will be a strong little fighter if she has to come early!

Dinner Grace

Aaron has always said our prayer before meals. I'm so thankful for the example he is setting by doing this. Although Aaron continues to say his prayer, the boys each want to say 'their' prayer now too. This is the prayer that our nieces have said for many years up at Aaron's parents house.

"I fold my hands, I bow my head, to thank you Lord, for this good bread. Amen."

Brecken's has evolved into including 'My Girls' (his cousins). Leighton's sometimes comes out as, "I fold my hands, I bump my head"...which is true a lot of time :) Here is a video of them both saying their prayer a few nights ago.

3 Months!

Happy 3 months Zoe!

*You have the most contagious little smile
*You laugh when mommy gets your sugar
*You clasp your hands like you're praying
*You attempt to roll over - grinding your face into the floor
*You get up once at night to eat, but sometimes sleep all night
*You still won't take a bottle
*You suck on your bottom lip when you are sleeping

You are such a sweet little thing. I can't imagine life without you :)

Bumbo Babes

I broke out the Bumbo for Zoe to start using. Here is a pic of all three kids in it at about the same age.

Preschool

Brecken started preschool a couple weeks ago. He is loving it & Leighton is adjusting pretty well to having big brother gone for a couple hours.

Eating breakfast...


First day of school pic...


Hanging up his backpack...

Chillin' in Chicago

Zoe, Aaron & I spent a wonderful weekend in Chicago with Aaron's high school/college buddies. All three couples have new babies, so the babies enjoyed each other while the older siblings stayed home & had fun with grandparents!

Day 1: Chicago Style pizza for lunch, followed by a mid-afternoon stroll down Michigan Avenue, followed by an evening of grilling on their terrace that overlooked Lake Michigan & the harbor.


Day 2: We slept until 10:00...don't remember the last time we did that! Our hostess fixed us a tasty breakfast & then the moms did a Segway Tour of Chicago while the dads & babies hung out. The moms took a turn with the babies, while the dads hit Millennium Park - played frisbee & relaxed at a sports bar.

Day 2 - Evening: We cleaned up & while the babies were well taken care of by sitters, we adults went to Rebar for a drink & tasty appetizer.

We then went to Topolobampo for dinner. The majority of us ordered this:



The whole crew: Kara, Chris & Isaac, Tiffany, Zoe & Aaron, Jill, Kali & Jace


Thanks for a wonderful weekend guys!!!