Thursday, February 19, 2009
I am not a morning person
I put orange juice in my coffee this morning. Eric was rather sad that I then took his 2nd cup of coffee away.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Lemon Larabar Skillet Recipe
Juniper came up with a recipe for a Lemony Cashew Cookie Larabar Skillet. Crumble about a 1/3 of the Larabar into the skillet, squeeze some fresh lemon over the lot (after sucking on it to make sure the juice is just right), stir and then shove into your mommy's mouth. Not even 2 and she's already working on her first recipe.
Gymnastics
Bruce had his big show at gymnastics last month and I'm finally getting around to putting the photos up. The improvements have been amazing and the folks at the Little Gym have been really great about working with Bruce whereas other places in town were far less patient.
The kids form a little train while moving from one activity station to the next. Usually the instructor holds Bruce's hands but I guess Bruce felt the need to hold as many girls as possible this time.
Deedee helped Bruce get up onto the beam. He can almost do it by himself.
Then Deedee had to help Juniper. She was so excited to get to go in and try out all the neat equipment that Bruce uses.
Bruce and all the other showing off their little medals.
Not gymnastics but the snow came soon after and this was a cute photo. The next photo of the windmill is also really neat. I like the way it was framed by the trees. Mom took them both.
The kids form a little train while moving from one activity station to the next. Usually the instructor holds Bruce's hands but I guess Bruce felt the need to hold as many girls as possible this time.
Deedee helped Bruce get up onto the beam. He can almost do it by himself.
Then Deedee had to help Juniper. She was so excited to get to go in and try out all the neat equipment that Bruce uses.
Bruce and all the other showing off their little medals.
Not gymnastics but the snow came soon after and this was a cute photo. The next photo of the windmill is also really neat. I like the way it was framed by the trees. Mom took them both.
Trip to the Zoo
Starting toward the end of the outing ... All 5 piled onto the nursing lioness including the two 1 1/2 year olds. Just as I snapped the photo Juniper took a tumble and slid down onto her back. Nothing hurt but her pride (hee hee).
We're off to see the wizard ... Annie was kind enough to hold Juniper's hand (the boys refused).
I've been trying for almost two years now to get a decent picture of the two kids together where wasn't crying, punching his sister, or pulling her brother's hair. Juney is a champion hair puller. She actually threw Bruce down onto the floor the other day. Anyway, I'm still trying but I'm getting closer.
Queen Juniper May ...
At 12 o'clock: Juniper, A, Bruce, and SuperBoy. SuperGirl was still adjusting to her surroundings and chose not to pose in the chair just yet.
We're off to see the wizard ... Annie was kind enough to hold Juniper's hand (the boys refused).
I've been trying for almost two years now to get a decent picture of the two kids together where wasn't crying, punching his sister, or pulling her brother's hair. Juney is a champion hair puller. She actually threw Bruce down onto the floor the other day. Anyway, I'm still trying but I'm getting closer.
Queen Juniper May ...
At 12 o'clock: Juniper, A, Bruce, and SuperBoy. SuperGirl was still adjusting to her surroundings and chose not to pose in the chair just yet.
My Little Tree Hugger
Bruce informed me yesterday that I needed to turn the hose off because I was, "wasting water."
On another note ... Juney and Eric were looking at Bruce's baby pictures last night and Bruce came over to look too. Eric said he became real quiet & withdrawn. When Eric asked what was wrong Bruce said he didn't want to go there again. The first few pages of pictures were of Bruce in the hospital the first 5 weeks after he was born. Eric asked him if he didn't want to go back to the hospital. Bruce said yes and that it scared him. What is really noteable is that not only did Bruce comment on not wanting to go back to the scary hospital but it was also the first time he acknowledged a baby picture of himself. He's always insisted any baby photos were not him.
On another note ... Juney and Eric were looking at Bruce's baby pictures last night and Bruce came over to look too. Eric said he became real quiet & withdrawn. When Eric asked what was wrong Bruce said he didn't want to go there again. The first few pages of pictures were of Bruce in the hospital the first 5 weeks after he was born. Eric asked him if he didn't want to go back to the hospital. Bruce said yes and that it scared him. What is really noteable is that not only did Bruce comment on not wanting to go back to the scary hospital but it was also the first time he acknowledged a baby picture of himself. He's always insisted any baby photos were not him.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
My Funny Little Valentine
Went to a party last night! Little boy puked on the floor! I've got the Valentine's Blues!
Bruce seems fine now. We've no idea what happened. Too much sugar, excitement, spinning in circles ....??? Brand new wood floors too. It is amazing how adults largely get stunned into immobility when a child pukes. You can tell who has kids by how quick they move when they hear "the sound." One poor dad (Eric was holding Bruce) got his arm puked on while trying to reign in the mess.
On a funnier note. While we were loading the kid's into the jeep, the bell of the Catholic Church around the corner began to ring 8 o'clock (I love church bells ... one of the things I truly miss from living in Mexico). Bruce stopped. Hunched over into his I'm so excited hunch. Then said, "I hear it. I hear the bell. It's the North Pole." He was so happy. Then on our way to the farm we passed the very well lit up cement plant in Tijeras. Me and my big mouth said, "Look at the all the lights Bruce. Is it the North Pole?" He waits a minute and then shouts, "STOP." Mind you we'd told him earlier in the drive to shout stop if he needed to throw-up again so I immediately hit the brakes and pulled over (same spot where the poor police officer was killed a few years ago). Bruce said, "Stop stop stop. We need to go to the North Pole." Eric wasn't impressed with me :) When we got to the farm house Bruce asked his Nonnie where the Christmas Tree was!
For the last 2-3 days Bruce has been going on and on about his Christmas-Birthday party. I kept trying to explain it was a Valentine's party he would be going to at school. After school Friday he finally let me know that it was "Christmas-Birthday-Valentines Day) :)
Bruce seems fine now. We've no idea what happened. Too much sugar, excitement, spinning in circles ....??? Brand new wood floors too. It is amazing how adults largely get stunned into immobility when a child pukes. You can tell who has kids by how quick they move when they hear "the sound." One poor dad (Eric was holding Bruce) got his arm puked on while trying to reign in the mess.
On a funnier note. While we were loading the kid's into the jeep, the bell of the Catholic Church around the corner began to ring 8 o'clock (I love church bells ... one of the things I truly miss from living in Mexico). Bruce stopped. Hunched over into his I'm so excited hunch. Then said, "I hear it. I hear the bell. It's the North Pole." He was so happy. Then on our way to the farm we passed the very well lit up cement plant in Tijeras. Me and my big mouth said, "Look at the all the lights Bruce. Is it the North Pole?" He waits a minute and then shouts, "STOP." Mind you we'd told him earlier in the drive to shout stop if he needed to throw-up again so I immediately hit the brakes and pulled over (same spot where the poor police officer was killed a few years ago). Bruce said, "Stop stop stop. We need to go to the North Pole." Eric wasn't impressed with me :) When we got to the farm house Bruce asked his Nonnie where the Christmas Tree was!
For the last 2-3 days Bruce has been going on and on about his Christmas-Birthday party. I kept trying to explain it was a Valentine's party he would be going to at school. After school Friday he finally let me know that it was "Christmas-Birthday-Valentines Day) :)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Frogs & Valentines
How's that title for random. We're getting Bruce ready for V Day, making valentines, chocolate flower lollies (didn't have heart molds left at Michael's), and making heart shaped cokies. Kids got a real kick out of making the chocolate lollies. Juniper ate (stole) an enormous amount of white chocolate! BTW, white chocolate doesn't melt as nice as semisweet, even if it is Ghiradelli's. Next time I'll try making my own candy fondant for the parts that need color. 
I was so proud of how Bruce wrapped each lollie almost by himself. He also stirred the chocolate while it melted and put all the little sticks in. Juney gobbled up anything not nailed down.
Juney and Bruce made valentines to send to their grandparents in Florida. 15 minutes of relative fun and sanity amidst a sea of insanity yesterday morning. I was really impressed with how well Bruce did. I gave him 2 sheets of paper to made cards. He picked the red one for his grandpa and the pink one for grandma (no suggestion from me). He decorated grandma's with a procession of ladybug stickers because, "Grandma likes ladybugs." On Grandpa's we signed his name with stickers and he put them on in the correct order although sometimes a letter was upside down. On Grandma's I wrote his name for him and he had a total cow when we got to the E (he did write the U himself). I tried it big, little, on different paper, in a different location but no matter what I did it was wrong and he wouldn't do it himself. I wrote his teacher about it and she said they were starting to dabble with handwriting but so far they'd only done F, but they were going to do E that day and she described the language they used to cue how to draw the letter. After school I tried using their language for the E. Bruce got very upset and said I did it wrong. He took the pen and drew an F and said "G is for fish" :) and THEN drew an E and said "E is for elephant." I guess he wanted me to end his name with an F instead of an E :)
Yesterday evening while I was on one of my very rare MNOs, Gillian and Bruce made valentines for his class party on Friday. They were sooo cute. Gilly showed him how to fold paper and cut out a heart and he did about half of them (you can tell because they are cut with a series of straight lines to make the heart). She then stenciled the other childrens' names on each card and drew some hearts. Bruce then traced each child's name inside the stencilled letters and colored in the hearts. They also used torn paper to glue on 3D flowers on the front. Gilly is so clever! I was so impressed by what she was able to get Bruce to do and how lovely they came out.
I made a checklist (w/ little boxes and everything) so Bruce could keep track of the 3 things he needed to make for the V day party Friday. He was so excited to check off the valentines and lollies. All that is left are the heart shaped cookies or brownies (haven't decided on which to do yet - maybe both) but think we'll save those for Thursday.
Now for the fish. The tank is finally completely stocked & up to: 1 tadpole, 2 Amano shrimp, 1 albino bristlenose pleco, 1 betta, 5 green neons, 3 harlequin rasboras, and way too many snails (they breed like rabbits). I tried to get a picture of the tadpole's little hind legs growing in (2nd photo). See if you can spot them. The first photo shows the 2 shrimp on a rock and a few of the neons.
I was so proud of how Bruce wrapped each lollie almost by himself. He also stirred the chocolate while it melted and put all the little sticks in. Juney gobbled up anything not nailed down.
Juney and Bruce made valentines to send to their grandparents in Florida. 15 minutes of relative fun and sanity amidst a sea of insanity yesterday morning. I was really impressed with how well Bruce did. I gave him 2 sheets of paper to made cards. He picked the red one for his grandpa and the pink one for grandma (no suggestion from me). He decorated grandma's with a procession of ladybug stickers because, "Grandma likes ladybugs." On Grandpa's we signed his name with stickers and he put them on in the correct order although sometimes a letter was upside down. On Grandma's I wrote his name for him and he had a total cow when we got to the E (he did write the U himself). I tried it big, little, on different paper, in a different location but no matter what I did it was wrong and he wouldn't do it himself. I wrote his teacher about it and she said they were starting to dabble with handwriting but so far they'd only done F, but they were going to do E that day and she described the language they used to cue how to draw the letter. After school I tried using their language for the E. Bruce got very upset and said I did it wrong. He took the pen and drew an F and said "G is for fish" :) and THEN drew an E and said "E is for elephant." I guess he wanted me to end his name with an F instead of an E :)
Yesterday evening while I was on one of my very rare MNOs, Gillian and Bruce made valentines for his class party on Friday. They were sooo cute. Gilly showed him how to fold paper and cut out a heart and he did about half of them (you can tell because they are cut with a series of straight lines to make the heart). She then stenciled the other childrens' names on each card and drew some hearts. Bruce then traced each child's name inside the stencilled letters and colored in the hearts. They also used torn paper to glue on 3D flowers on the front. Gilly is so clever! I was so impressed by what she was able to get Bruce to do and how lovely they came out.
I made a checklist (w/ little boxes and everything) so Bruce could keep track of the 3 things he needed to make for the V day party Friday. He was so excited to check off the valentines and lollies. All that is left are the heart shaped cookies or brownies (haven't decided on which to do yet - maybe both) but think we'll save those for Thursday.Now for the fish. The tank is finally completely stocked & up to: 1 tadpole, 2 Amano shrimp, 1 albino bristlenose pleco, 1 betta, 5 green neons, 3 harlequin rasboras, and way too many snails (they breed like rabbits). I tried to get a picture of the tadpole's little hind legs growing in (2nd photo). See if you can spot them. The first photo shows the 2 shrimp on a rock and a few of the neons.
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