Chicken What?

The week before last was our first offical field trip..ever...in the Michael Family. Isabelle's preschool class went to the Pumpkin Patch in town. It was frigid, but Grandma Margie and Grace went with us and everybody was a trooper and simply happy that it wasn't raining!

We had fun with her little class, riding the slide in the hay barn, picking out pumpkings, going on a hay ride, and eating fresh donuts and cider, and seeing the animals. Consequently, an interesting conversation followed the chicken sighting.

Mommy: Isabelle see those chicken's there?
Isabelle: (Standing RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CHICKENS...REALLY...16 INCHES FROM HER FACE) What? What chickens?
M: Right there.
I: Blank stare
M: Right there, baby. Those birds. Those are chickens.
I: Blank stare
M: You know how much you love chicken nuggets? Those are chicken nuggets!
I: Blank stare
M: Chicken, Isabelle! Chickens..do you see them?
I: Where?

We just weren't making a connection. I started worrying about her eyes then. But, I thought I'd better take it down a notch before I started traumatizing some poor three year old and their beloved Happy Meal.

Our Magic Pumpkin

Recently I read a really cool Autumn Idea that I thought we'd do with the kids. I went to the store and bought a pumpkin a few days ago. I hid it and brought out a little seed (actually a cardomen seed!). I told Isabelle it was a magic pumpkin seed and will grow a big pumpkin in a little time. So we went outside, planted our seed and she went down for a nap. While she was asleep I put the pumpkin out where the seed was buried. Seeing as she is three, I didn't have to worry about the obvious flaws with the deceit. Like...why is the stem cut, why is the seed still buried...etc. etc.

When she got up from her nap and went out to look it was pure magic on her face when she saw her pumpkin. She was sooo excited! Luckily, she didn't ask to plant another one, since I had only bought one pumpkin!!

Can you Tell?

One is Grace @ 12 months and one is Isabelle @ 12 months.

The Upside to H1N1

As I mentioned in a previous post, my kids went to thier Oma and Opa's house for a?!
few days since my sitter came down with H1N1. After she got it last week, about three kids have followed suit..so we just thought, why risk it when the Grandparents are always happy to have them?

So my Dad came down and got them and left Monday late afternoon. They left and I was home...alone. With no kids..no work. Nothing. I took a leisurly shower..I even shaved my legs. Pure luxury. Then I laid down and read a book. Wow. Soon Cornad came home early because of a dentist appointment. He had several shots of novicane that hadn't worn off. Not wanting to go back to the office drooling, he just decided to take the afternoon off. He napped too.

After a couple blissful hours of deep sleep, we got up and cleaned the house for a showing we had that evening. Then we went off to a mantinee movie and dinner at the Olive Garden. I LOVE my kids and we talked about them non stop the whole night. But Man, it was a REAL vacation day and soooo restful. Thank you Oma and Opa...and H1N1!

Ridin' Train

I love Fall and have been wanting to make sure that we take advantage of of season with the kids. So....last weekend we decided to take the Hocking Valley Scenic Train. It was so nice to spend the day with my parents and Grandma and the kids. And it was...well...I guess it was fun. I think the kids were a bit too young and most of the time we spent trying to reign them in. On the other hand, I thought "scenic" was a strong word. It was "scenic" in an Appalachain poverty kind of way. I also heard that they have a Polar Express train around Christmas where kids come in thier PJ's and even the hobo comes around and makes an appearance. Maybe when the kids are a bit older??

Quilting

I have been really really wanting to learn how to quilt for a long time. I could take a class at Jo-Ann's but I really wanted to learn from Grandma Margie! Unfortunelty, her schedule is always so packed we have put it off for years! But good news is that she came to our house last week to spend a few days (just in time, as our babysitter came down with H1N1!) and I coerced her into teaching me to quilt. Here is a picture of our purely hand-made baby quilt. It's just pieced together here, but I almost have the front fully sewed together!


Of course, Conrad quickly got on line to see the "going price" for such a work of art. He was happy to announce that Grandma and I could get about $150 for our labor of love. Whaaa? All of those hours for $150 bucks?? I don't think so. He also asked me if he thought we could get a little sweat shop of children in India together to create quilts. We could advertise, "Lovingly handmade by children." Hmmmm...I'm thinking no.

Happy Birthday Grace

October 7, 2008 Grace entered the world at 3:05 p.m weighing 7.7 pounds and 21 inches long. Since that day she has been the light of our lives! We couldn't ask for a more pleasant or happy baby. She has been walking since 10 1/2 months and she says "Bye Bye" and "Hi!" (whenever she says "hi" she holds her elbow to her ear and her hand behind her like she's holding a phone) She sleeps beautifully and makes lots of bubbly baby talking noises. Just thinking about her makes me smile. We love you Grace Christine...more than words can express!


Grace 10/7/08


Grace 10/7/09

Grace's Birthday Party

Wow! We had such a great time at Grace's 1st Birthday party. In true Indian fashion we had a big party and got to celebrate with tons of friends and family! We have, in the past, had birthday parties at my parents house since it's usually family up north who join us and it's so much more convienient for them. But it's also a lot of work for my mom (who SAYS she loves it..but still!)


We had Indian food and Pizza (for the less adventuruous eaters and kids). I also Martha Stewart-ed it up with Lady Bug cupcakes and Dark chocolate Cupcakes...yum! I have to say that I was pretty proud of these cupcakes and the hours of rolling little fondant balls to make bugs paid off!

For the kids we decorated our own sippy cups, had tatoos and a few other crafts, as well as a game and a bouncy to play in. I had made little favor bags of toys and the highlight (ah-em) was the little birdie whistle each child got. I need to say to all of the parents of guest(again) thanks for coming and I'm sorry about the whistle!


Grace ran around and chased the kids the best she could! She had a blast and didn't really know what to think about all of the presents. Honestly, I'm not sure who's playing with them more..Isabelle or Grace. Grace patiently waits her turn as Isabelle comendeers her toy box. I'm sure Isabelle thinks they are her's...and Grace thinks they are Isabelle's too!

(p.s I don't have that many great pictures. I only took a few before the party started..but then was too busy. Someone else (who shall remain nameless: Honey. Took pictures but forgot to OPEN THE FLASH so everything is blurry. p.p.s SEND PICS TO ME IF YOU HAVE THEM!)

September, in Review

It has been a busy and crazy few weeks here in our world. Some good, some not so good. In spite of our ups and downs, our kids have kept growing and kept us busy! I have to tell you that there is nothing in the world like snuggling with my baby as she drifts off to sleep. There is something about her that makes my cares just slip away and leaves contentment and thankfulness in it's place.


While we are on the topic of Grace...she will be a year old in a few days! I can't believe it! We are very excited to celebrate her birthday in true Indian fashion..with a big party!! Well..not "Indian big" (which would be 300-400 people) but American big anyway!

Isabelle started preschool at the beginning of the month and she loves it. Granted, the first couple of weeks the teacher had to wretch her screaming from my arms as a line of parents waited behind me. *sigh* But she seemed to turn a corner, all of the sudden, and she's fine with being dropped off at preschool, and at the sitters, and (miracle of miracles) at Sunday School! Which she has historically hated!

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4

Missing our Kids

Our babysitter is on vacation this week, so we had to make some alternative arrangements for childcare for a few days. So we went to my mom and dad's for Labor Day and then left Grace and Isabelle there with them and Grandma for the week. They put Grace's pack and play up at my Grandma's house and she slept over there at night. Although she got Gram up quite a bit earlier than she's used to rising, I think she enjoyed the early morning cuddle with Grace. There's nothing like sweet smiley Gracey in the morning! Gram said she felt like Sarah in the Bible, who enjoyed a baby in her old age.

Conrad and I have been enjoying much sleep and relaxing evening doing absolutely nothing. I have even been taking a cooking sabatical! But, after an hour or so in the evenings, we look at each other with a what-are-we-supposed-to-do-now look? Boy, do we miss our girls and are already counting the hours until Thursday!

Grace the Gallant

Grace is so brave. She isn’t even 11 months old and she is walking. Granted, she doesn’t walk all the time, mostly, she walks when it’s inconvenient to crawl. But she is hilarious. On Monday, my friend Kim came over with her two boys and the four kids played outside. Grace and Kim’s youngest, Aaron are two days apart and they are in daycare together so they are used to playing together. One takes off, and the other one follows close behind. It’s so funny to see these two little baby behinds chugging along. Our babysitters told me that they take turns stealing binky’s from the other’s mouth and laughing when the other cries. She is still the sweetest and most easy going baby. Every night as I lay her in her crib and she puts her babywise self to bed, I thank God. Because it was not her Babywise drop-out parents that made her this way!

Our Big Girl

Isabelle is starting Preschool on Friday. Last Friday we went to meet her teachers and get used to her classroom. We like her teachers and think she’s going to have fun at school. I was a bit late signing her up because..well…she was two and I certainly wasn’t thinking about school! So I could only get her into the Friday class. So she goes one day a week for two hours. I think she’ll have fun…and I’m trying to not be too dramatic about the whole preschool thing..but I WAS the only parent with a camera during “meet the teacher.” Oh well.

Innovation Tuesday

My dad planted a big garden this year, in honor of my granddad…who loved to garden. I told him if he did it I would can the goods. I don’t think I knew what I was getting into as he planted 14 tomatoe plants! So canning I did! So far, I’ve gotten two bushels of tomatoes that I made into salsa and simple diced tomatoes. I hear several more bushels are on there way! Eeesh. I’m thinking of trying my hand at spegetti sauce too.

I have also had a burst of creative energy recently (as is typical for me!) and went about trying to organize some aspects of the Michael household. One dilemma we have is that Isabelle is a constant grazer. She never eats a full meal but snacks all the time. I hear most toddlers are this way? Anyway, she can open the fridge and rummage through for her own snacks and she also pulls a chair up to the pantry and goes through it looking for her favorite treats. Any kinds of real “treats” we have kept on top of the fridge (where we consequently keep EVERYTHING we want to keep away from Isabelle).

I read this idea on some blog (that I would really like to give credit to, but can’t find the source!) of keeping designated snack bins for your toddler. So I bought a bunch of healthy snacks, sorted them into little snack size bags and put one in the fridge and one in the pantry. Isabelle LOVES carrying around those little snack bags of treats! So far it’s worked like a charm AND she’s eating more veggies!

Another dilemma we were having was getting a semi healthy breakfast for Conrad and I on the days we both work. The kids eat at the sitters, but I was mostly eating peanut butter on frozen waffles and conrad ate toast. So I also read (on another un-credited blog) this idea: Combine, eggs, milk, (I use) cooked , crispy crumbled turkey bacon, and cheese. Line muffin pan with muffin tins or aluminum foil, and fill with egg mixture, bake in the oven for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees. I froze them in the freezer and take them out one at a time and microwave it. Eat on a toasted English muffin. Yum!

Wordless Wednesday

The Week of Poison Control

Last week was an exciting week of ingesting odd non-food items. I caught Grace with a mouth full of dirt from my one and only house plant. I wasn’t sure I was seeing what I saw, but sure enough, her little fist was full of dirt too. She didn’t want to let go of it either! I swooped in, took her to the bathroom and (literally) dug dirt out from between her clinched teeth and washed her mouth out. Needless to say, she was not a happy camper…but neither was I!
Then a few days later, I was packing the kids bags to go on a trip and left the room for just a moment. I came back and Isabelle had rummaged around and found Grace’s baby Motrin. She unscrewed the baby proof lid and was chugging it as I walked in the room.
I now have Poison Control on speed dial.

A Visit to Olivia's

Last week Isabelle and I decided to take a little mini vacation. We left Grace with my parents and Grandma, and we left Daddy at home and we took a trip to visit my friend’s Mike and Cara in Michigan. They have three kids, the youngest is Olivia. Olivia, like Isabelle, is three. Olivia, like Isabelle, is a drama queen. They took turns melting down. When I returned after one of Isabelle’s “moments”, I would find Cara and Mike smirking and guffawing at the table. “What are you smirking about?” Cara answered, “We're just glad when it’s someone else’s kid.” My thoughts exactly.


But we had so much fun hanging out, going to Lake Michigan, and TALKING. Cara and I love to talk. Maybe more than most. Every night we stayed up late yakking about life and arguing about politics! Her dad, a true Greek, even jumped into the argument. We nearly woke up the whole house. Her family is a loud greek family, while mine is your run of the mill loud hillbilly family.


I think the highlight of the week was watching Isabelle and Olivia, dressed up in Cara and her sister’s old ballet costumes. Olivia’s most favorite video of all times is Mama Mia. She knows all of the words to all of the songs…and the motions! So she got Isabelle involved and they danced their little hearts out to Abba.

Isabelle's Moments of the Week

Yesterday, I put Isabelle in the bathtub, after I had taken Grace out. I was changing Grace in the other room, when I noticed Isabelle was having a conversation with herself. I missed the beginning, but I caught the end. She responded to some unknown question with, “Because I’m a lady. That’s why!”



Isabelle was giving me a run for my money, as I tried to put her to bed last week while Conrad was out of town. After about an hour, I was (as my sister would say) ready to trade her in for a big screen TV. I was exhausted by the time she calmed down to sleep. As she started to drift off to sleep, she turned to me and said, “I love you, Mama.” Followed by, “Can I snuggle with you?” and wrapped herself up in my arms.

Isabelle: through the years

The day Isabelle was born


Isabelle @ 1 year


Isabelle @ 2 years


Isabelle @ 3 years

Three

Wow! I can't believe Isabelle turned three years old on Saturday! We had a party for her on, complete with waterslide, pinata, and cone head sundae's. Of course, thanks much in part to my mom! Thanks Oma!


My mom even invited Doreen, the dog (the "sister" of Rovercomer, if you are familiar with the Willie George sunday school curriculum) Isabelle loves Doreen and when she rang the doorbell, Isabelle jumped up, gave her a hug and said, "I hoped you would come to my party!"

Not to pat my own back, but one kid said, "This is the best party ever!" hmmm....where to go from here? I feel like we've kind of peeked in the party giving arena. OR, it could have been the massive blow up slide and the inordinate amounts of sugar. Doesn't take much to have the best party ever, when your three.