Baking Cookies

Tonight while we were baking Christmas cookies, Colvin asked if there
were "tasties" in them.

Yup, lots of tasties Colvin.

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Colvin prays

Ryan's School

Ryan's school had a demonstration day today where we get to see what
he does at school.

Here he is showing Colvin how to polish glass.

Reading with namo @ wild rumpus

School

This is my favorite art work Ryan has brought home from school. Of course, he insists on giving it away to some friends :(

He passed!

Dan was studying hard throughout the entire month of October (his birthday month) for the Series 7. I was sad that we weren't able to celebrate like u would have wanted, but he passed right before his birthday and we couldn't be more proud. Great job daddy!

It happened

I have been waiting for the moment when one of my kids will stick something into an orifice on their body and it would get stuck. Tonight was the night. I was cooking dinner and the kids were busying themselves with little projects around the house...lately they have not been too interested in playing with their toys so Ryan was using the stud finder and Colvin was dumping tic tacs all over the floor and putting them back into their rightful container one at a time (I'm sure you see where this is going). Right as dinner is about ready, she comes to me sobbing saying that her nose hurts. She tells me she put one up there, but I look and don't see anything so I figure it fell out but that some of the cinnamon flavoring rubbed off into her nose and it's probably burning. I rinse her off and she claims it feels better so we sit down to eat. About halfway through dinner she pulls a tic tac (about 1/3 of it's original size) out of her nose and gives it to me. That's one fresh smelling nostril she has now! At least she stuck something up there that dissolves...otherwise, the broccoli/pea/etc would still be up there!! My kids are trained well that they aren't allowed to eat candy, but I never said anything about keeping it out of their nose/ears/etc. Guess that's my fault!

Cupcakes

Today Ryan was excited that I washed his "cupcakes" (he told me this while patting his chest). I could not figure out what he was talking about. He got me with it again...waffle shirts.

Muffin Top

Tonight Ryan yells down to me from his bedroom, "Mom. I can't find any more muffin tops."

My initial thought, "What?! Why on earth would my skinny little bean pole of a child be searching for rolls of fat spilling out over the top of his jeans? I've never been able to keep his pants from falling off of his skinny butt."

He patiently explains further and I realize he is actually talking about a waffle shirt! Hilarious.

Ryan swimming

He has come a LONG way in his lessons this month!

She loves trying on shoes

Old maybe

This is what Colvin calls old navy. The kids can't get enough of these people!

And done

Colvin just finished her fourth day straight of keeping her pants dry! We went to Target two days ago and she picked out some Dora underpants which she's worn for 2 days. She's been doing great!!

Ryan has been dry at night for a couple weeks now. A friend of mine said her doc friend told her to pull the pull-up once your kid is dry 3 nights in a row. I was nervous, but did it. It worked! I guess if you keep putting pull-ups on them when they are able to hold it then subconsciously they will just know they have a back-up in place and go in their pants.

All of this is super exciting for us b/c I decided to do cloth diapers for the baby and bought a bunch recently so I am using the large ones for Colvin during naps and night right now. Meaning...no more buying diapers!!!! Yay!

I feel like I'm on vacation...

Sigh

Swimming on 10/5

Weather is hot-in the 80's today!!

Fight song

Sharing a room

This is the first night Ryan and Colvin are sharing a room. We moved Colvin into ry's room early to see how it would go and give us time to settle into it before the baby gets here. So far so good. Guess we'll see for real in the morning!

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Uncle T and aunt Colleen babysit!

Car trip to chicago for ND wkend

I made power bars with cacao on top for the trip and Colvin LOVED them. Dan and I loved the peace that we got thanks to movies on the iPad!

Colvin's first ND game

It was a rough one! We dragged the kids all over campus in the heat and then they evacuated the stadium just as the half time show was about to start (what most likely would have been the highlight for Colvin). Kids were troupers. Unfortunately this was the only picture we got in the stadium.

Abuse

Poor grandma comes to visit and the kids just use and abuse her. She's such a great sport!

Happy birthday little man!

He's 4!!

Ding ding ding!

Missy got it!! The "wash" post pictured a load that got washed with a frigging diaper!! Have you done this Missy? What a mess! Diaper shreds and those little beads EVERYWHERE! What is even more frustrating is that it's the first load of wash I had attempted in about 3 weeks b/c I've been out of commission with my "morning" sickness. Ah hell.

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Pregnant cravings

I whipped up eggs Benedict this morning for the first time ever b/c I had a major craving. We are due with cooley #3 in Jan!

Wash

Any guesses as to what went terribly wrong with this load of wash?

Breakfast

Oatmeal, 2 raw egg yokes, maple syrup and a touch of cinnamon

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My 88 Year Old Grandmother Jetskis

Lego Kidsfest - Look at all those Legos

Ryan's Hair

Colvin goes crazy...

Everytime one of the grandparents or aunts and uncles comes over. She gets so excited and does a happy dance. It's the cutest thing.

A rainy walk

The weather was so bad for awhile there that we tried to embrace it and took a walk with the kids in the rain.

Homemade goldfish

Thanks to "smitten kitchen"! These are so good!!!!

Boobies

Made these for some pregnant mama friends and they turned out delish! Gluten free to boot!!

Ryan's people are getting better!

Colvin goes down to dance alone!

I couldn't believe she went w/o ry ry...that's how much she loves to dance!

Older siblings are great

I used to be the workhorse...now Ryan can share some of that...love it! And Colvin could honestly not care less that she is hardly moving. Great nap for ry ry that day!!

Apparently my phone got hijacked

I'm pretty sure Ryan took this picture

After the storm

We got about 14". It's still snowing but is almost done. It's nice to
have the day off so we can go sledding.

I think this will go on record as the snowiest winter in MN history.

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And it starts

Right before we get 18" of snow.

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Winter puddles

Dan gave me a beautiful 40 degree day for valentine's day.

Look closely at the hat and small flowers

All of a sudden something just clicked for Ryan. He's REALLY good at coloring and loves it. He asks to color first thing when he wakes up every morning.

Sledding

Today was a gorgeous day...a true minnesotan might say it was balmy. As a result we spent much of it outside. It was amazing and absolutely what I have been needing!!

Sick

We have been sick 5 times this winter with pretty substantial bugs each time...I'm so ready for spring!

My gym

Quinoa Porridge

I made this for the kids this morning and they LOVED it. Ate every last bit of it and were begging for more! Always exciting when I find something that is a hit and very healthy...especially considering they have been ganging up on me lately on all fronts. They have both been sick since Thursday with fever/colds.
Quinoa porridge:
~1T coconut oil
~1T butter (pastured)
¾ cup sprouted quinoa
1 cup water
~¼ t cinnamon
handful of raisins
handful of frozen blueberries
pastured cream or milk
Melt butter in coconut oil over medium heat in small saucepan. Toast quinoa for about a minute. Add water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low for 9 minutes. Add raisins, cinnamon and blueberries. Simmer for another minute. Put in the magic bullet (or food processor) and grind with cream to desired taste and consistency (or you don’t have to blend, but the kids LOVED it blended).
*toasted pumpkin seeds would be a good addition

Chopper bites the dust

Finished product

Christmas cookies