Snow Day(s)!

The second snow storm has arrived - and may or may not be done.  I couldn't tell you, our cable is out and the wireless we mooch from our neighbors is sketchy at best (so I'm typing really fast).  Plus the power surges from the heavy snow that is taking out power lines throughout town are not helping.  I'm hoping we keep our heat!  My DC is actually closed due to the snow and ice that we have gotten and it's me plus 3 as Tim is planning to escape from to work once we dig out.

So here are a couple of photos from the first snow day.

Abigail and Megan after multiple snow angels and snow ball fights

Getting the sled working.  Had to make a path for it.

The Bovee family came out on Sunday since we had a little more snow than them and Betsy, BJ, Abby, Megan, and Theo made a nice snow family and did some sledding.  They went out to the farm and also did some 4-wheeling and tractor rides.  Owen, Emma, and I stayed home to nap, play, and cook.

Theo and Megan were the dedicated ones.  Theo REALLY likes to eat snow.  Megan was making snow babies, they are her favorite.

No photos from the snow day today as all we have done is shoveled.

Thank goodness, the cable just came back on.....

The Megan Celebration

Birthdays never seem to be a one day event with our family - they are more like a 4 day extravaganza with multiple celebrations, at least 3 cakes, and lots of FUN.

After their 3rd birthday I do not throw any organized parties anymore.  Just my decision and they are handling it.  So Megan got to pick a friend to have over for a sleepover on Saturday night.  She chose "Emma my best friend."

In addition to going out to eat for pizza at Shakespears and playing at Bonker's we did some crafts and made friendship bracelets.  The girls were all good at church and at brunch so the crafts were an extra special treat.

The girls had a good time with it - and I probably only have about 15 beads on the floor that rolled away that I can't find.

Emma feeding Emma - we thought that was a little funny.
Unfortunately we had to return "Emma my best friend" on Sunday.  Everyone wanted to keep playing but naps were very much in order.  After sleepovers, everyone is tired, including the parents!

Then the actual birthday day was upon us.

The distribution of cupcakes for preschool and daycare.  Hello Kitty was our choice this time.

Then there were finally presents after dinner at Lone Star (Megan's choice because she likes the "rollies").  Belle, Minnie Mouse, and Tinkerbell items were all in the mix.  There was a happy 4 year old who didn't want to go to bed.

Just chewing on a plate (that should be in the kitchen downstairs) watching Megan open presents.

Frank trying to be sneaky and get a bottle in.  Emma was too distracted by all the activity so he eventually had to pick her up.

Megan had a wonderful day and didn't want to go to bed since we had to open all of her toys.  Finally at 9:30 we booted them both to bed.  She received some wonderful gifts and cards and is going to start working on her thank you cards tonight......after she picks up her toys.

Happy Birthday Megan

Four years ago our family of 3 became Schmidt, party of 4.
Megan Rae joined us, looking much like her sister.....

Then the spiky bleach blonde hair came in, her need for her "paci", and many new things for us to adjust to that we didn't get with the first.  To say Megan keeps us on our toes is an understatement.  She is fearless in almost all aspects - and we have to keep an eye on her.  She will be that sneaky middle child - but we love her all the more for it.  She is still one of my best snugglers.

All she wanted for her birthday (and has for the last year) is this polka dot ice cream cake purse.  We celebrated a little early on the weekend (and will again tonight).  Of course, she didn't like the cake, she's not my sweet tooth kid.

She also keeps us entertained with her "Meganisms" - and this morning her quote was:
"Mom, yesterday I was so tired of being 3, it's a good thing I am 4 today."
She just tells it like it is.

Happy Birthday Meggers!

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day from the Schmidt girls.

This was my morning photo from Tim as I am traveling for work.  Miss these girls!!

Emma's first Valentines Day.

Avocad-No

Avocados were my next attempt at baby food for Emma.  Something fresh you could just smush up sounded like a good plan to me.

We only bought 2 of them and I only cut one open not knowing how Emma would appreciate them.  She didn't like bananas so I was anticipating some issues.  So I removed the seed and scraped out the goods and smushed it up in a bowl.

It wasn't that smooth so I put it in the Magic Bullet and added some water/formula to smooth it out and it looked better.

Survey:
Emma:  Took about 3-4 bites and wasn't sure, then wouldn't eat any more
Megan:  NOOOOO!
Abby: Can we plant the seed?
Tim:  I think we should give the other one away.
Ann:  I'm glad we only bought two.

But we tried it and that is the point of it.
Anyone want an extra avocado??

Corn Smoothie and Other Tidbits

Friday night included another dip into the baby food making process.  Corn.  First of all - for any of you that know me corn is by far my favorite vegetable and pretty much the only one I eat (apparently you can't count Ketchup as a vegetable).  So I was happy to finally make it for Emma.

I just cooked the corn normally like it says on the package.  This was a bag of frozen Great Value corn ($.98!!).

Dumped the whole thing into the blender (water and all) and blended it to the liquify button and got this lovely yellow smoothie.  I might add that it smelled good too.

1 bag of corn made all this goodness for $.98!  So almost a savings of $13!  Penny pinching happiness for me.  I quickly made up the other bag (for some daycare supply) and called it a night.  Clean up and all it took probably 30 minutes.

And yes, Emma is smiling while she was eating the corn.  Mouth was wide open ready for more so I think she liked it.  If Tim didn't feed her fast enough (because he was trying to eat his own dinner) she would smack the top of the high chair demanding more.  Mixed it up with sweet potatoes too and she loved it.
Survey says:
Emma:  more, more, more!  She either really loves it, or just likes eating in general - toss up there.
Megan:  "Um, no thank you.  Can I have regular corn?"
Abigail:  "Smells good."
Tim:  "Tastes like corn."
Ann:  I love corn, but it definitely is a weird texture as a smoothie!

Unfortunately I will be out of town for Valentine's Day so I am working to get all the kids stuff in line and ready to go for Tim to handle on his own (first time ever with 3, keep your fingers crossed).  At Abigail's school you can actually still bring in homemade baked goods so she asked and I said yes - Valentine's Day molasses cookies - why not?  I can't take credit for helping with the decorating.  Abby and Megan did this with their babysitter last night while Tim and I had an early Valentine's Day date since I'll be out of town.  They did a great job, and yes, they have been sampled and taste very good.

And my Emma - 7 months already and growing so quickly!

• Sits up and plays without any issues now.  Still will tumble over every now and then, but no crying now.
• Crawling backwards, and will rock and act like she'll go forwards, but not yet.
• Is starting to sleep on her stomach every now and then.  First kid that doesn't do that regularly as a baby.
• 7 teeth (4 on the top and 3 on the bottom)
• Chews everything!
• Bites and pulls on clothes (sleeves)
• Loves to pull hair - be ware!
• Hates socks, will pull them off and chew them.
• Still shoving her in some 6-9 month clothes, but is pretty much in 9-12 month
• 20 pounds
• Drinks water out of a sippy cup really well!
• Is very mobile now and getting into her sisters things that they leave on the ground - future destruction near....
• Smiles every time she sees Tim, still loves his beard
• I have no beard, but she still grabs at my chin
• Loves to be around her sisters and laughs at them all the time
• Still takes 2 naps a day
• Sleeps from 830-630 during the week - longer on weekends.
• Still looks like Abby 2.0

It amazes me how quickly she grows and learns things.  Even though she is the 3rd, it's new every time.

Making Pears

After fighting the funk for a couple of days I decided it was time to get off my butt and do something with those pears that have been sitting in my fridge for over a week...

This was 5 of the 10 I used.  Not knowing how large of a batch it would make I thought I would start with just half.

I had Googled to see if you could use an Apple Peeler/Corer on pears and it said you could - and they were mistaken.  That did not work out at all.  Pears don't fit that well to start with, then once it reaches the peeler it just falls off the prongs.  Never made it to the corer part.  So I reverted back to the good ol' potatoe peeler and apple corer.

Note to self next time:  peeled pears are slippery!  Gracie ended up getting a few slices.
Then I just cut them up and put them in the pot (no water added) and cooked them on med low (4 on the dial) for about 15-20 minutes and stirred every now and then.  They eventually came to a boil and had accumulated a lot of liquid when cooking.  Dumped the whole thing in the blender and it blended up smoothly.

Survey says:
Ann:  sweeter than apples and smoother
Abby:  "Can I have some too?"
Megan:  "I just want some applesauce."
Emma:  Mouth was open wide for all the bites, I think she likes it better than apples
Tim:  "You didn't leave any more met to try?"

So a bad of 10 pears made about 50 1 oz servings in addition to 3 2 oz serving containers.  I have misplaced the receipt in all my organization - which means it's probably been shredded but I think it was less than $6 for the bag, it came from Sam's Club.

Now that we have gotten through the main starters I will be adding Avocado, Corn, and Zucchini to the mix.  Plus have to bring back some favorites.   Tim has a request for more butternut squash and that mixes well with everything.

Currently February

Currently February

Watching: Last Man Standing - LOVE THAT SHOW!

Reading:  So Easy Baby Food: A Personalized Guide to Making Baby Food At Home, 2nd Edition - Joan Ahlers

Listening:  Nothing...Silence is golden

Making:  Baby Pears

Feeling: Exhausted - catching up from being sick.  Who knew sleeping all day could make you more tired.

Planing:  Megan birthday sleepover, and Valentines treats

Loving:  Watching Emma learn how to crawl - just goes in reverse for now.

The Tooth Fairy Must Have Us On Speed dial....

Another day and another lost tooth at the Schmidt house.  Abigail has now lost her 6th tooth!  Both on the top are gone and we now refer to her as "Toothless".

Megan also says she is a vampire now since she just has her incisors - and this picture doesn't really help much.  She's getting used to eating on the sides.  Unfortunately I don't see the new teeth yet.....

The story of the lost tooth goes something like this......"Mom, I was wrestling with Carter and he headbutted my tooth out.  I thought I swallowed it because we couldn't find it.  Blood tastes funny.  Then we found it by the TV."

Nonetheless the Tooth Fairy delivered yet another $1 gold coin.  Both the her Tooth Fairy Pillow and her coins are going to Show and Tell today for Kindergarten.

At least she won't show me how wiggly it is anymore....gives me the creeps.