Jewel or drool

A while back we were driving in the car. Gabriella said something about a jewel. Josiah was sitting behind her and asked her
"Did you say jewel or drool."

"I said jewel like a gem, not drool like on your chin," she replied.

Smoothies

We have smoothies twice a week now and I used to sneak spinach into the kids smoothies when they weren't looking. Now they help me add a handful or two when we make them.

This morning Josiah asked if we could have one with just spinach and cabbage for St. Patrick's day and skip the fruit. We have compromised on extra spinach and just banana so it can be really green. One of us is very excited.

A new driver's license

Gabriella and I went to renew my driver's license today before our trip out east. We went there right as it opened and got through in about an hour. Gabriella was well behaved and entertaining for the crowd of others waiting and they were kind enough to give her a coloring book and crayons and her own clipboard.

It all went smoothly until the picture. It took seven attempts to get a photo that the computer software would accept. At first I smiled with my lips touching. The computer said my mouth was open. We tried again. I wiped off my lipstick. We tried again. Okay, I won't smile. Click. It says your eyes are shut. They weren't. I don't smile, use my stern teacher mouth and try to open my eyes wider. Click. It says too much of my forehead is covered. I tuck it behind my ears on both sides. Click! The kicker, "The computer says that the length of is exceeded by 20%.... Let me see if I can override it. No. Tilt your chin down and will see if that angle will shorten the length of your head..... " Click! "There we got it!"

For the next five years I get to carry a picture of myself with my stern teacher face and a double chin. Perhaps computers shouldn't be in charge of everything.

;)

Teenager

Yesterday we were walking out of school after volunteering in Josiah's class. Gabriella unzips her jacket halfway, pulls it down so her hands are covered and it is pulled down below her shoulders.

"Look, I am being a teenager Mom."

Oh dear.

Gabriella-isms

A few of my favorite Gabriella words:

Bookmark:
"Mom, can you hold me up to the mirror so I can see the bookmark (birthmark) in the mirror?"

Bow tie:
"Mom, where is my bow tie shirt (tie-dye) from Grandma> I can't find it anywhere!"

Octopus:
"When my baby sister is born she can sleep in my room and I can sleep in the octopus (office). No baby sister is coming- she just wishes!

Up sleeves:
"Can you help me find the pink shirt with the up sleeves (short sleeves) with the down sleeves (long sleeves) under it?"

Bag Pie Stew

Josiah loves to create new dishes and has being a chef as one of his career choice favorites. This one he was sharing on the drive home, and asked if we could make it for our "bednight snack."

Josiah's Bag Pie Stew:

"Put all the leftovers from the refrigerator in an oval bowl. Put in one drop of mustard, one drop of ketchup, and one cup of salsa for spice. Next put it in the oven for one minute. Take it out, and voila!"

I suggested we make smoothies instead.;)

Mommy is in trouble

I spent the weekend organizing and putting away the trees, the stockings, and the nativities. Each time Gabriella saw me in action, she started putting things back "where they belong." Now she is asking where I put the tree. I explained that it was put away until next Christmas. She asks where and says "Put it back mom! Put it back. I am not doing loving it yet!" And then the kicker...."Where is baby Jesus? Mommy, I can't find my baby Jesus!"

Horse barn

 
 
Many thanks to Anna for passing her beautiful horse barn onto Gabriella this Christmas. It is just gorgeous and we are all having so much fun playing with it!

Josiah and his buddies

 

Happy New Year!

 
 
 
 
 
 

We spent a lovely New Years Eve with our neighbors. We enjoyed a nice meal out, a trip to the ice rink, and some dessert and bubbly afterward. It was so much fun to see how the boys continue to improve in their skating, and how much team effort it took to get Gabriella around the rink a few times on her skates. She loves it and keeps asking to go back. We ended the evening with a very very late movie with our cuddly kids, and slumber party with the boys. It was a great way to start the new year!

On New Years day, Ben and I were up by 9:00, but the others slept until nearly 11:00.

Gabriella said that today we should play "tired" at Grandma's and all bring our pajamas. Perhaps keeping a 2 year old up all night is not a good idea, but she was oh so snugly all through the movie, and so wanted to be us for our "party".

This morning I also made the most unattractive batch of pancakes ever. A license plate for Ben, an Atlantis key for Josiah, a kitty for Gabriella and a KT + LT for Kevin. Sweet, but ugly. I did the usual squirt style to make the shapes but added blue food coloring for the contrast to one of the bottles. It made a sickly blue-green color that food should not be made.

But to make my morning, Josiah said "When you grow up Mom, I know just what you should be, a designer. A designer of all kinds of creative things!" I love that I am not all grown up yet, and that my ugly pancakes are only ugly to me. Love my kids!

We spent the rest of New Years day at Grandpa and Grandma Millen's playing board games and snacking. Gabriella took a power nap at her request ;)

Frosting the Snowman

 
Gabriella has been singing "Frosting the Snowman" this winter. Everytime she sang it, it made me want to bake. When I saw this cookie pan on clearnace, I just had to pick it up. We had so much fun making and decorating this little guy, and no one had to bundle up and go outside!

Teske Family Christmas

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

We spent the day after Christmas at Grandpa and Grandpa Teske's house. Another fun day of family time and great food. David and Kari joined us for a while via skype, and we took turns passing around lovely Lida. Tyler and Kevin took the girls out for some snow fun as well. What a blessing to have such fun cousins to play with and family that lives close and technology to make the ones far away seem closer.

Christmas Day with the Millens

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

We were blessed to spend a relaxing Christmas with the Millen family eating, gifting, playing and watching movies. It was a lovely relaxing day and the kids loved spending another day in their new pajamas. Thank you for a wonderful day!

Christmas with our family of five

 
 
 
 
 

 
We celebrated our family Christmas on Christmas Eve day. We awoke to picture perfect snow out the window and a yummy quiche and bread braid the kids helped me bake. It was so relaxing to have a day at home to open gifts, play with new toys and be together. We ended our day with a candle light service at E-free. These photos are from Christmas morning after Santa left a gift for each child and filled the stockings. The boys were thrilled with their legos and jumped right into building after a bit of play in Gabriella's puppet theater. Gabriella decided to wear her new tutu and match her monkey for Christmas morning.

Asleep with the lights on

My dear girl loves to put her brothers to bed and say prayers with them. She loves to pass out her late night hugs and kisses. She loves rocking, bedtimes songs, her "goodnight light" and a fresh cup of water on her pillow. She needs her bunnies, her blanket, her other quilt, and getting tucked in just right. She does not like to actually go to sleep...

Lately she finds many reasons to come back out of her room. Getting it just right might take a few more trips in and visits with extra hugs and kisses and trips to the bathroom. And as stern as I may try to be, Gabriella in her nightgown running down the hall yelling, "I have so many more hugs for you!" is hard to resist. Other times though she lets me go through her routine, and then a few minutes after I leave and she shuts the door, turns the lights on and plays. It is these times that she is most quiet, and then there is less of a battle to get her to bed.

I just went and peeked at my little sunshine all cuddled under her blankets, holding her bunnies, eyes squeezed tight to block out the overhead light. So sweetie, you sneak in a little extra play time and I will turn out the light for you after you tuck yourself back in. 4th night in the last two weeks little one, but so thankful you are so sound asleep.