Happy valentines day!

We had a quiet valentines day. I worked and John had daddy duty, so we are celebrating tonight. I managed to catch a picture of all 3 kids yesterday is the morning chaos, but it is on my other camera.

We ate asparagus and gruyere ravioli with marinara sauce. The ravioli had a red pepper stripe, so they were very festive for the occasion. John made these totally over the top cookies. They were chocolate chip cookies sandwiches with cookie dough in between. Over the top.


Yesterday morning, I invented Valentines day oatmeal. Largely because my kids needed to eat breakfast and they were cooperating. I needed to get to work and get kids to their various schools and sitter. Luckily the mention of very special oatmeal did the trick. If you'd like to make something (very) sweet for your sweeties, here's what you do:

Ingredients;
1 packet of oatmeal (1/2 cup?)
Water
1 tablespoon chocolate chips
1-2 tablespoons dried fruit (I like cherries)
Milk
1/2 a packet of hot chocolate mix

Directions
1. Pour oatmeal into bowl. Put water over oatmeal so you can swish it around. It should be more oatmeal than water, but make it so you like it.

2. Cook in the microwave about 1 minute.

3. Pour half of a hot chocolate packet into bowl

4. Put in other toppings (dried fruit, chocolate chip)

5. Add a splash of milk, maybe 1/4 cup?

6. Stir and serve to your sweetheart/ kiddo!

Enjoy these silly pictures of the bean. She is in constant motion these days and not all that easy to grab a picture of!

Mamamamama

Gemma has started full force babbling in the last few weeks. I'm starting to fully realize our home is not going to be quiet for many, many years.

Here is the one I've been waiting for: Mamama!

Such a sweet, sweet sound to my heart. Before we had kids, I always worried the milestones would be less exciting after the first baby. And Gemma, if you're reading this someday- it was just as exciting and sweet as when both William and Amelia said it for the first time. Your sweet babyhood is appreciated and enjoyed. It is from a different perspective, but we certainly are cherishing every moment of you.

She might not get it, but my girls got this

William came blazing in the door going 100 miles an hour. Shoes, jacket, book bag dumped by the door.

He hits the bathroom first, calling Amelia as he washes his hands. They really are best friends. They miss each other all day, especially Mondays.

William: Amelia! Let me show you a new game I made up! (Snort! It is a big advantage to have a sister who believes EVERYTHING you say.). It is called paper, rock....

Daddy: scissors?

William (surprised face) how did you know?

Daddy: oh, just a guess

William: (attempts to halfway explain game to Amelia). Ok! Let's play! Hold your hands out... Say "paper, rock, scissors"

Amelia: ok!

William: hey! What did you make with your hands?

Amelia: guns. I made guns. I can shoot your scissors.*

William: A- M E L I A**

Amelia: (grins). What?

William: you cannot have guns. It is paper, rock, scissors!

Amelia: okay

--attempting another round results in abandoning the game as neither understands well enough to continue--

John attempts a instruction session

Neither is interested enough to keep it going and the game is abandoned.

*I debated getting all up in arms about the gun reference and worrying about markers for future violence, etc and the social norms that allow her to have knowledge of guns, etc. instead, I decided to be entertained by the creativity of my 3 year trying to out maneuver her brother. And succeeding in my opinion.

**when William is upset or frustrated with Amelia, he spells out her name. Kind of like using her full name, William style. It cracks me up.
Sent from my iPhone

Make Lemonade

I was driving William to school with the girls in the car several weeks ago.

William: You have to be careful - we have to drive the speed limit.
Mama: Yes, I am driving the speed limit, but we have to hurry a little so we aren't late for school.
William: Drive the speed limit.  That sign says "Speed Limit 25"
Mama: Yes, it does.
Amelia: NO!  It is not speed limit.
William: Yes it is.  Diaper head.
Amelia: NO! It says Speed Lemon.
William: No Amelia!  It says Speed LIMIT Amelia!  Sound it out!
Amelia: No! It is Speed Lemon.  I can't sound it out because I can't see the sign.  I know it says Speed Lemon because that is what Mama says.  Speed Lemon.
William: (in exasperation) AMELIA!  It says SPEED LIMIT!

(arguing continues)

(and continues)

(and continues)

until we finally get to school.  It might have the longest 8 minute car ride of my life.

Tooth Fairy Update

So, I put a whole dollar under William's pillow last night as he requested. 

This morning, he came running in to my room with his dollar in hand, eyes wide.

William: The tooth fairy came!
Mama: What?
William: The tooth fairy came and left me a whole dollar - that is 100! cents!
Mama: The tooth fairy brought that?
William: YES!  I guess the tooth fairy IS real!

---------

What do you say to that?

Goodbye shark tooth

We aren't sad to see you go!

William finally lost his 2nd tooth tonight. It was just barely hanging on...there was a lot of dramatics, but we finally got it out. I think we are all glad.

This conversation cracks me up:

Mama: so, do you want to put the tooth under your pillow so the tooth fairy can come

William: no. The tooth fairy is not real.

Mama: ohh?

William: I still want money. YOU can put the money under my pillow. You are the tooth fairy anyway.

Mama: huh. You are sure you don't want....

William: YES. No tooth fairy. YOU put some money in my room. A lot of money.

Okay, then. Done.

Giggles

William isn't the only one who makes our baby laugh so hard she can hardly stand.....