No Posts!

No posts can only mean one thing! No good news! lol

Well, not really, but the kids and I have been taking turns being sick since the last weekend in January. (Mostly me, but the kids started it!) I haven't been to church on Wednesday night for two weeks now. 1st week the kids, 2nd week me . . . Oy vey! Will it be this way every time I start school??

Okay, on to more positive news. Well, ummmmm . . .

Callie's birthday month. Need to make invites still. Valentine's Day. Celebrating tonight because this weekend is my girl's weekend (as long as I feel better) and I have a meet on Valentine's.

Gabriel's started a funny new game. Every time he hears the clink of a jar, he comes running because he thinks we're getting a paci out for him. And when he sees that we've gotten a paci out for him, he comes giggling and running as if we've just said the funniest thing or offered him the best dessert in the world. I'll have to capture it. It's hilarious.

Callie's doing very well at school. Her pencil grip is almost perfected! :) Makes me very happy because I've been fighting the "fist grip" since we started! She drew very well today too.

Oh and yes. Everyone's sharing recipes lately, so I thought I'd share a very easy dessert for two just in time for Valentine's Day.

Blackberry Cobbler for Two

1 Tablespoon butter

1/4 cup self-rising flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup milk

Dash of vanilla extract (optional)

14 blackberries (or any seasonal fruit that goes well in cobbler)

Preheat oven to 350

Divide butter and melt in 2 ramekins. Mix flour, sugar, milk, and vanilla. Divide batter evenly and pour into the ramekins over melted butter. Do not mix!

Drop berries over batter. Do not mix!

Bake until crust rises over berries and is browned, about 30 minutes.

Serve hot with vanilla ice cream.

Voila! The perfect end to your Valentine's Day with your sweetie.

Hope you have a great weekend!

God bless you and yours.

The Season has Started!

Scholastic Bowl season has started! I don't think I realized how much a commitment 2 days a week for a couple hours would throw the rest of the week into chaos! Sometimes it seems like I'm running around doing so much, but have so little to show for it. But I've managed to keep up fairly well, I think.

Of course it doesn't help that our kitchen is in complete disarray thanks to the "small" remodel. The other side of that coin is that the kids haven't had their normal full access to the house, and the gate has caused some headaches in and of itself. It doesn't seem to matter what they're doing before the gate goes up, perfectly happy playing with their toys or looking out the windows. They have two full rooms to play in behind the gate: a living room pretty much devoid of obstacles and a play room filled (and I do mean FILLED!) with toys of all shapes, sizes, songs, games, and dances. None of that seems to matter when they hear the gate click into place. All Gabe seems to want at that moment is to play in the kitchen and he stands at the gate and screams the most heart-aching screams and cries and tears flow down his face. Callie, on the other hand, does not cry, but she doesn't help either. She tends to stand at the gate and tell me about things that we forgot to do, in hopes that she might be able to cross over the barrier. Or sometimes she just plays at the gate, with the gate. Which wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that she's not helping to distract Gabe . . .

Gabriel typically is a very happy, very curious little boy. His latest trick is to mimic knock knock jokes.

Gabe: (Pumping his fist in the air as if he's knocking) Knock, knock.

Mommy: Who's there?

Gabe: (nonsense babble)

Mommy: (nonsense babble) who?

Gabe: (nonsense babble then bursts out with laughter)

It's pretty funny. I hope to upload a video of it soon.

Callie is working on school. I've decided to take a 2 weeks on, 1 week off approach. I think it will help as there are some days it just doesn't fit into the schedule, so it will help us fit in all the lessons. And also, it won't overwhelm her. Of course, I practice things we've been learning throughout the day every day, just not in the more formal "school" setting. She's taken to it rather quickly and seems to like most of what we do. We had a little problem last week, but I'm hoping we're over it. :) Fingers crossed.

Callie is looking forward to her birthday soon. We are apparently having a "monkeys jumping on the bed" party. I think I can handle the monkeys part, it's the jumping on the bed part that I'm having trouble figuring out. I was trying to figure out if I could get/rent a small gym sized trampoline for some games?? I don't know. She is pretty set on this theme so we'll figure something out.

Anyway, things are busy, but it's better than being bored. Callie and Gabe are looking forward to extra time with Mimi and Granny Great when Mommy goes to work. Hoping you are having a great start to your new year!

God bless you and yours this week!

Happy New Year's!

Gabriel decided to try on Daddy's hat.

Callie helping take down the Christmas decorations outside.

Gabriel is a corn loving boy! He started hugging the bowl as soon as he tasted it!

I've decided it must be a genetic thing. Males must have this built in need to take their pants off once in their house.

Callie and her balloon. She insisted on taking it outside and then was very upset when it flew away . . . Lesson learned? Probably not.

So our Christmas was wonderful, New Year's was a rocking good time. Ok, not really, Philip painted and I worked on lesson plans for starting preschool. I'm sure most of you have seen on facebook that Callie & I have started working on different skills and knowledge that she will need when she goes into kindergarten. She's doing really well so far (we're on day 2!). We're focusing a lot on writing because she knows most of her letters and numbers by sight. So far, we've had a couple of "I can't do it" moments, but I try to remain calm and patient and we work through it.

We're excited about what 2012 holds for us! We looked back on 2011 and finally felt settled in our life. 2010 was a crazy year of remodeling and organizing and trips and Gabe! 2011 found us more settled and definitely more organized! (Great relief to me and my OCD!!)

Anyway, we're off to a great start in 2012! Hoping you and yours are feeling the same. God bless as we embark on this new year together!

Callie's Interview about Daddy

Callie's Interview about Daddy – Age 3

1. What is something daddy always says to you? You do exercise

2. What makes daddy happy? I stay dry.

3. What makes daddy sad? The cat walks backwards

4. What does your daddy do to make you laugh? You make funny faces.

5. What was your daddy like as a child? You were a boy

6. How old is your daddy? Five

7. How tall is your daddy? Four Feet

8. What is his favorite thing to do? Wash the dishes

9. What does your daddy do when you're not around? You sleep

10. If your daddy becomes famous, what will it be for? Weatherman

11. What is your daddy really good at? Doing tricks

12. What is your daddy not very good at? Hammering

13. What does your daddy do for his job? Work with computers

14. What is your daddy's favorite food? Oatmeal

15. What makes you proud of your daddy? When you help me pick up toys

16. If your daddy was a cartoon character, who would he be? Fireman Sam

17. What do you and your daddy do together? Play tea party

18. How are you and your daddy the same? We jump up and down

19. How are you and your daddy different? Your hair is shorter than mine

20. How do you know your daddy loves you? We play games

21. Where is your daddy's favorite place to go? To work

Picture update

Callie playing bags at Martin Bros. John Deere. She was really good at it!
Gabe's not so sure about this Santa Claus thing. But he'll take the sucker! :)
Playing with the big machinery. I've never seen Gabriel so happy at a store. He was walking around, shrieking with joy at all the different toys. It was really, really funny!

Callie FINALLY sat on Santa Claus's lap! It took almost 4 years, but she finally talked to him and told him what she wanted for Christmas. She had a lot of fun.

I don't know if you can tell , but this one's going in! She got it on the first one.


Gabe didn't enjoy the shaving cream in the bath tub as must as Callie did. He was a little nervous about having stuff floating in the bathtub with him.

The shaving cream snowmen turned into paint the whole wall. Callie had a lot of fun.


The beginning of the snowman.

Callie enjoying watching the guys putting up with Christmas lights. It was cold!

Callie and Santa!

Christmas Decorations on our table.

Front Stairs Decorated.

Another view of the table.

All Philip's work on the house with the lights.

Santa's elves were quite busy! 5 packages, over a hundred cards! Whew! Love Christmas so much! (And no, that's not sarcasm!!)

We've had a busy week again this week! And it will probably be busy until April . . . . because as soon as the holidays are over, the Scholastic Bowl season starts up!

Here's to a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to all! God bless you and yours during this time of family togetherness. :)

18 months check up and more!

Gabriel's 18 month appointment was yesterday. He is doing so well! Our appointment was at 11:30, but we didn't see the doctor until after 12:00. We're trying to find a new doctor because the family doctor who we were seeing has changed offices, and it was not a good move. The past 4 times I went I waited over 4 1/2 hours, he came in and saw whatever the problem was, gave a quick recommendation and ran out because he was so behind, and the office staff might be sitting on tacks all day the way they act when you call to make an appointment or ask a question. You know how annoying it is to be transferred to numerous people to get one question answered because no one wants to do their job? Yeah, it's been a mess over there.

So, anyway, we are trying a different clinic in Peoria. The first doctor I went to there was awful. She was sarcastic and rude, arrogant and acted like every thing I said was a tall tale. And then man-handled Gabe into a crying fit -- he had not cried during a doctor exam since his 3 month exam. Not impressed, but I thought maybe I would give one of the other doctors a try before I gave up. The doctor I went to this time, SUPER impressive.

The stats: 32 inches tall (45th%), 25 pounds 13 ounces (50th%), and I forget the exact head circumference, but it was the 75th% . . . :)

The doctor was very patient with Gabriel, believed what I was saying, examined him nicely, handing him the instruments he was going to use and let him play with them first to get used to them . . . all in all (other than the lateness factor), I was impressed. He also offered up some advice about sibling relations when I mentioned Callie that I had not heard before, but I will probably tried because it sounded like a good idea! I'm taking Callie for the first time for her 4 year appointment in a couple months, and Gabriel back for his 2 year appointment in June. We'll see how those go as far as the wait before I make final judgement as to whether or not we've found our new doctor.

Callie enjoyed the office as well. They have a salt water aquarium with lots of different sea creatures. They also have projectors pointed at the floor that the kids can interact with. It's obviously a pretty nice facility and the office staff has been very pleasant to deal with as well. We'll see!

Callie has been very into shapes lately. This morning, she was playing with my square bottle opening gripper and folding into different shapes. "Look, mommy, it's a diamond! Now it's a square! Now it's a rectangle!" She is very into animals as well and can give you many different statistics, including what kind of tracks animals make. She's very excited about Christmas this year and we FINALLY got her to sit on Santa Claus's lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas! This year, she wants a clock for her wall. Santa found a very special one that matches her room extremely well! --Gabriel did not want to see Santa up close, although he did say "hi" and "bye" and take a sucker from him.--

We've been having some "independence" issues with Callie every once in a while, but for the most part, our home runs pretty smoothly. I've even been making a little bit more time for myself, trying to have a girl's night with a friend once a month. Other "me" news . . . I've been working really hard to get things organized around here, with a family binder, a menu binder, and a kid's activities & crafts binder, plus, of course, my daily schedule. Things have been flowing nicely lately, hopefully we can keep it up! Some things have been slightly interrupted lately because Philip and I have been busy little elves working on gifts for family and friends and Christmas cards! Finally got most of that done so we'll be back on track for our Christmas party on Sunday! Lots of fun!

Philip . . . hmmm . . . yes, he's here. He's working and exercising and working on home projects. I feel like I write the same thing about him every time I post!! hahaha I'll have to tell him to post an update all about him one day so he doesn't feel left out. :)

Well, I guess that's about all that's going on here. I'll try to post some pictures soon of Callie on Santa's lap, but I don't have time today. We'll see if I can fit it in later this week. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until next Tuesday!

Hope you are well! Have fun with your holiday plans! God bless you and yours.

Christmas Pictures & Activities

Callie and Gabriel have been having lots of fun with our activity advent calender! This is Callie helping to make salt dough ornaments. Gabriel didn't really understand that not everything made in the kitchen is made to be eaten.


Mixing, mixing the dough.

Callie has really been into the Christmas spirit this year. This is her dressed as Mary.

Gabriel turns 18 months right in time for us to combine the trip to the photographer. Here are a couple of the outtakes. He loves his teddy.

And here he is running out of the shot. This was the best smiling shot all day, but a little motion blurred . . .

This was a pretty good smiling out of both of the kids for Christmas cards. But Callie kept looking out the door at all the commotion of the busy, busy front of the store.

Must we always have a crazy face photo? :)

Here's another outtake of our family photos, it was pretty good except Gabriel turned away. He was done with photos by this time so we just made the best of what we had! :)