Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

So we braved the cold wind on Saturday and went to the pumpkin patch to grab us some pumpkins. We knew this was our last chance since Bryan is on call next week. It was not a warm day, and so we bundled up the best we could and climbed aboard. Julia thought it was very exciting. Audrey thought the bumpy hay ride was very soothing-she fell asleep rather quickly.

We are TOTAL suckers and let Julia go on the pony ride. I don't know if you realize Julia's love for ponies. This one was dubbed Pinky Pie (suprising). She thought it was the greatest thing ever. I guess once in a while you have to spoil just a little bit.
The corn maze. Julia loved it until it wasn't ending and then she became a bit concerned. It didn't take us long to find our way to the field of pumpkins.
You cannot imagine how heavy those pumpkins are. It only allows you to make a face of complete agony. I don't know how she carried on. I think she dropped it five seconds after the picture was taken.

Audrey got a pumpkin as well. I didn't put her through the intense torture of having to lift the pumpkin. We saved that for Julia.
Here we are riding off with our pick. Julia was going Cinderella style.

And the Award Goes to....

Who knew. I guess there is an award going around that looks suspiciously like a tag...hmmm... well in order to receive this great award I have to give one word answers to the questions below. Now I just have to grab a thesaurus so I look smart. I like to use as long of words as I possibly can so I appear smarter than I really am. Anyways...thank you Kiki for this fabulous award and I hope you know that I really do love your blog. Oh, and I'm supposed to "nominate" seven people at the end of this so...get ready.

The questions are as follows:

1. Where is your cell phone? satchel (fancy word for purse)
2. Where is your significant other? hospital (working not being worked on)
3. Your hair color? streaky
4. Your mother? friend
5. Your father? jocular

6. Your favorite thing? people (people I love, not people that annoy me. This one word thing is limiting)
7. Your dream last night? vivid (I am a very vivid dreamer. Every morning I could tell you about my crazy dreams)
8. Your dream/goal? vacation
9. The room you're in? family
10. Your hobby? piano
11. Your fear? inadequacy
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? RICH (ha ha)
13. Where were you last night? partying (like the neighbors I yelled at, 2:30AM that's right)
14. What you're not? patient

15. One of your wish-list items? camera
16. Where you grew up? Wyoming
17. The last thing you did? laundry
18. What are you wearing? turquoise
19. Your TV? awesome
20. Your pet? Sloopy (the fish)
21. Your computer? time-consuming
22. Your mood? excited
23. Missing someone? always
24. Your car? rodeo
25. Something you're not wearing? socks
26. Favorite store? Target
27. Your summer? baby
28. Love someone? desperately
29. Your favorite color? peach
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? today (I'm not usually a crier but I watched some stupid movie)

Seven people:

1. Amber

2. Meg

3. Tara

4. Sara

5. Jody

6. Natalie

7. Rachel

Birthday Park

For Julia's birthday we went to the park to celebrate with friends. We made Halloween cupcakes to share and let the kids run and play to their heart's content.
We couldn't get the candles to light, but the cupcakes made up for it.
I caught some pictures with some of her friends (Julia and Nessy.) I wish I would have caught more of her friends, but getting them to keep still isn't an easy task. It was a serious struggle to get these few shots. Thank you to all of her friends (and my friends) that came to celebrate with us. We often reflect on how blessed we are here in Ohio to have so many wonderful people around us. You made Julia's birthday very special.
Julia and Jansen. Jansen loved the orange cupcakes.
Julia and Cohen. What sweet smiles.
Julia and Aliciana. Thanks again every one!

The Birthday Joy

When we asked Julia if she wanted cake first or presents, what do you think she chose?
Of course she needed a crown, necklace, earrings, ring and gloves to go with her Sleeping Beauty dress. She actually requested each of those items specifically.
The main event! Her new castle for all the princess and prince joy a little girl can imagine.
And even though the castle included a normal proportioned prince and princess, Aurora still needed to check it out with her large headed prince. I'm kind of surprised his giant head fit through the door.
Cake time!

For the first time ever, I actually attempted a "theme" cake. If you can't tell, it is a castle. I asked one of my piano students what they thought it was. After a bit of thought, he decided it looked like a castle. Success! All that mattered was that Julia kept telling me how beautiful it was. And it honestly was easy to put together.

During the cake creation she was anxious to chomp down on the sugar cone. Soon after this picture she remembered that she DOES NOT like frosting so we replaced the cake with...ice cream. This did not hold her attention for more than five minutes and then it was back to the castle and all the imaginings of a now three year old.

Here's a video of the cake moment. She did great blowing the candles out, though I did think for a moment she was going to bolt. She looked a little nervous while we were singing to her, but in the end she pulled through.

I'm Not 2 Anymore, I'm 3!

It was three years ago that my life was changed forever and I became a mother for the first time. I'll never forget the first time I saw her sweet little face and how I fell in love with her instantly. It was two years ago that my baby turned one. She was just learning to walk and could say a few words, her favorite being "Julia."
It was one year ago that my little girl (no longer a baby) turned 2. She was starting to sing songs and loved to learn her letters.
Now I have a big three year old. Where did the time go!? Now Julia is telling me what she learned in preschool, playing house and learning things so fast I can hardly keep up. Three years ago was most certainly one of the happiest days of my life. I never knew motherhood could be so fulfilling. I love every challenging, rewarding and happy moment this child brings me and I thank Heavenly Father every day for sending such a sweet little girl to me.
J- for the JOY she brings our family each and every day. Her smile and sense of humor would light up any room and we find ourselves laughing at her constantly. She truly brings such happiness to our home.

U- For the UNIQUE person she is. I love that she is energetic and wild and loves to go and romp with the boys. I also love that she is very much a girly girl that loves princesses and ponies.

L- For the LOVING person she is. I am blessed with kisses and hugs all day long. She also loves her little sister very much. Julia was made to be a big sister. Julia has a kind way about her and loves to be surrounded by friends.

I- For how IMAGINATIVE she is. I could watch her play with her toys all day long. Whether Cinderella and Belle are practicing going potty or the prince is taking Aurora to the park-it never grows old. I hope she always has such a vivid imagination.

A- For the ANGEL she's been in our family. There isn't anyone I would want to spend my days with more than her (and Audrey too of course!). I love you so much Julia. Happy Birthday sweetheart!

Apples to Apples

This past Saturday we went apple picking. Bryan finally had the day off and the weather was amazing. We had such a great time and the apples are so yummy.
Julia picking her apples. I think that she probably eight 1/8 of about six apples while we were there. She'd take a few bites and then throw it on the ground in search of another. We had to talk about not being wasteful and eating the entire apple. She was just so excited for the picking.
It was such a beautiful day.

There were so many apples all over the ground. I believe it is from the giant wind storm we had a few weeks ago.


Julia taking a bite out of a green apple. I had to take this picture because last year I took the exact same picture. Julia is turning three this week and I guess I am feeling nostalgic. I can't believe how big she has gotten. Now we have a huge bag full of juicy, crunchy apples and I am just itching to make some apple crisp.

Girls At Play

A mom and her girls at home all day long and this is what you get...
Let me tell you to get them in these outfits with their hair fixed, sitting still and smiling at the same time...priceless.
We decided to whip out the pigtails. I was very hesitant because she seems so little but if you've got the hair, you do it.
Julia wore this tutu all day long even to the store. She is a princess and you don't mess with a princess's beauty routine or wardrobe.
My new best friend. The 7 dollar exersaucer I bought at a garage sale for Julia still gives me those precious moments of occupying a baby while I get stuff done. Best 7 dollars spent hands down.
Meet Aurora and her prince. I don't know why this makes me laugh so hard. Maybe it's the massive proportion differences. I keep thinking the prince is going to say, "I will CRUSH you with my giant head!" But when you're desperate for a prince you resort to the Fisher Price Father that came with the dolly house. I don't think Aurora is complaining with that hulking stud of a giant man.

And here are all the princesses snug in their castle. You see which princess got the bed. Jasmine and Snow White have to make due with the floor.
Poor Cinderella was sent to sleep in the bathtub. Not only that, but also next to the giant cat. Cinderella can never catch a break.

Ahhh, her silly play keeps a smile on my face.

Nail Biter

Is it common for a two almost three year old to already be a nail biter? Julia bites her nails down to the nub. I haven't had to whip out the nail clippers for YEARS. So we had a talk about how princesses do not bite their nails. Bryan (an avid nail biter, I wonder where she gets it from) suggested that we paint her nails. So we had a little nail painting party and painted our nails and toes a beautiful shade of brownish red. (Yes I have even caught her trying to bite her toe nails, very lady like.)

At the end of the day I checked to see if Julia had made any progress. I discovered that not only had she continued the nail biting but most of the fingernail polish was gone as well. Julia's solution: "Next time paint my nails pink." That will certainly solve the problem, thank you for the advice. It's the pink nail polish that does the trick.

Rice Cereal Here We Come

I remember the very day Julia turned four months I was so excited and gave her rice cereal that very night. I was so excited for each new milestone, and seeing her get bigger. With Audrey this has totally changed. I tried putting off rice cereal. Giving rice cereal means that she's growing up and I have learned with Julia that they grow up way too fast. I feel like it is all just slipping away too quickly and it kind of breaks my heart. But, we had three blow outs in one day and I thought rice might bind things a bit and save me a bit of laundry (too much information, I know.) So we decided it was time to admit that our little baby is growing up.Does she like it?

I think so! It was a complete success. She LOVED it.
This is the face that completely makes my day. I now know why Julia is in her face all day. Because I am in her face all day. I just can't kiss her enough.

Do you think they look mischievious? Um, I think so! At the tender age of nearly three, Julia's got more boyfriends than she can keep up with. It looks like I am in some trouble when she becomes a teenager! Or if she's anything like me, there will be no trouble. We had so much fun watching the football game with our good friends the Yeates. Ethan is such a good friend to Julia and we are sad to think next year they will be in Cleaveland. Buckeye season is always my favorite time of year, and these two couldn't look any cuter in their little outfits.
Speaking of game day. I am always looking for new recipe ideas and a friend of mine (thanks Kandice) had this website on her blog. It is great for getting ideas and simplifying your weekly grocery list. Well I found a recipe for BBQ cups and made them last night. Dinner was started and on the table in about twenty minutes and Bryan loved it. they would also make a GREAT game day snack for your guests. So I thought some of you out there may be a bit like me, and like a really fast and yummy dinner.

BBQ Cups

1 can refridgerator biscuits (I used the jumbo reduced fat ones, yes I know I'm healthy)
BBQ sauce
Meat (I used 2/3 lb of ground beef but this would be a great use of left over roast or chicken)
shredded cheese
Muffin tin

Open can of biscuits (this is always a SCARY task. I am always scared of the exploding can). Take biscuits and press them down in the un greased muffin tins. I pressed pretty good, so they came up over the edges a bit. Brown your meat and add approx. 1/2 cup BBQ sauce or as much/little as you want. Spoon the meat inside the biscuits. Add a little cheese on top. Bake 400 degrees for about twelve minutes and you have this...
I know it looks like a professional photographer took this picture (or not.) They look so pretty when they come out and are so yummy (despite the photo skills.) You should try them!

Also while I'm talking food. This last Saturday I made a trip to Kuhlwein's Farm Market. It is located off of Alton Darby, near Renner road (1859 Walker Road.) I don't have a garden so I try and stop by for fresh produce every so often. The tomatoes, green beans and zuchinni were the best I've ever had! I don't usually like tomatoes on salad, but I couldn't get enough. I am always a fan of supporting local farmer markets, so if you get a chance you should go. They also have pumpkin picking for a reasonable price with the hay ride. It is SO close you should take advantage (that is if you live in Ohio, otherwise disregard this message.)