cute words

Jordan: "elvibator" (elevator)

Nathan (until a couple of years ago): "scaplode" (explode)

Zach (and Jordan corrects him every time, it's so funny): "liberry" (library)

Mychael had some cute ones, too, but he's long since outgrown them so I can harldly remember, except an airplane was a "heppy," and when he was less than two he would ask us to "rubby arm," which meant to rub his arm before he went to sleep.

Snow Tubing at Jonas Ridge

baby shower for Kit

Meagan, Anne, and I had a baby shower for Kit this past weekend, it was so much fun. We had lots of laughs, some of it at the expense of my best friend, Andra (thanks for being a good sport about it, girl!)...most of it to do with breast feeding/breast leaking, etc., definitely a girls-only topic! I'm just glad Kit didn't pee her pants laughing like that, hee-hee, that would have been embarrassing.

Happy Valentine's Day

Our kitty left us a Valentine on our front porch. I know it's gross, but it's also very sweet, if you think about it, an animal leaving it's owners a love offering!

Paul Sr.

Only American Chopper fans will know what this was all about...

science museum

Mychael and Nathan are currently in a LEGO class at the science museum where they are learning to make things using gears, and then hooking them up to battery packs. It's been a great learning experience, incorporating simple machines with something they already love, and they've been coming home with all kinds of ideas of things to make. I think Mychael will be ready for the next step up, which is their LEGO robotics class, so I may try to get him into that in the fall, possibly (the summer classes are every day, too much driving for me). Zach will take a four-week class starting in March, and at first he said he didn't want to do it because he wouldn't know anyone, but since he's seen what goes on in the boys' class he can't wait for his to start.

Anyway, when we were there this past week, the tigers were very active and right up close, as you can see in the picture. It was funny trying to explain to Zach and Jordan that the tiger is a cousin to our fluffy little kitty at home, they just couldn't see how that was possible. Then, when we were in the wallaby exhibit, a huge air force plane flew overhead and made so much noise that the frightened wallabies were all huddled by the exit. The volunteer assisted us in petting them, they were so sweet, it was a wonderful treat for us! Incidentally, that same plane circled overhead for over an hour, and the volunteer told me it is the sort of plane that accompanies Air Force One, and it carries the President's limo and all that stuff. So, Obama may have been in the area on Wednesday!

and she's only four...

The other night Jordan was lying in my bed with me, and she had been quiet and still for several minutes when she asked me, "Mommy, who am I going to marry?" She had really been giving this some deep thought, too. I could've squeezed her to death at that point, she's just beyond precious at times...so I just said to her that she would marry someone wonderful one day. Then she said, in a distraught manner, "But, mommy, I want to marry daddy!" I about cried.

our favorite cookies

I used to bake chocolate chip cookies about once a week prior to Zach's diagnosis, and that's just one of many things that has changed since diabetes entered our lives. I'm always looking for low-carb, but great tasting treats for us (we keep a bag of Dove dark chocolate candy in the cabinet at all times, which is our dessert most nights, and occasionally during the day...just a taste, not enough to send his blood sugar through the roof, but I think it helps him to feel like he can still have something really good). This is a variation on peanut butter cookies I've made in the past. If you use regular peanut butter, leave out the salt, and maybe cut the brown sugar back a bit more (although if you don't have to watch sugar, use however much sugar you want!). I made these for our home group last night and they raved about them, so I thought I'd post the recipe:

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup of natural peanut butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda (can omit, but they do rise up a bit more with it)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Mix well, drop in small spoonfuls, bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes. I mash them down a little when they come out, makes them chewier. Makes 20-24 cookies, only 11 g of carbs each, if you make 20 cookies, I usually make them a little smaller to make 24, and consider them to have only 9 g of carbs.

I'm a little teapot

I just had to post this, if nothing else for my own record of all the cute saying and doings of my kids...

For 3 days in a row, Jordan has literally asked me to tip her over and pour her out. She comes up to me with her left hand on her hip, and her right arm and hand out like a spout, and so I grab her by the "handle" and tip her over. She just giggles and giggles and then runs off to play. How cute is that?

and more....

I thought I posted these, too...

Jordan's birthday breakfast

Since today is her actual birthday, we decided to meet Jon's parents at our favorite breakfast place, Mimi's Cafe. We were a rowdy bunch, me having had too much caffeine, and Jon's dad having had too much sugar (he said at one point that he felt like he could take a bite out of the table, it was so funny!), but it sure was a fun time. Jon's parents got her the Rose Petal marketplace, and a great V-Tech learning system. After chocolate chip pancakes and eggs, the waitress brought her a piece of cake with a candle and we sang...

Jordan's party pics

I had a little party for Jordan with family and my best friend's kids...everybody came over in the morning and the kids more or less entertained themselves with LEGOS and guys (the boys), and all things "girl" (stuffed animals, Barbies, makeup, Littlest Pet Shop, My Little Pony, tea party). I love watching the little boys set up guys on the basement stairs where they have battles with each other. The cutest was when we found Jordan with a foot up on her little table in her room with 2 1/2 year old Joy painting her toenails for her. Then she did her fingers with better coordination than I have! Jordan had a Tinkerbell cake (only because they didn't have a Jasmine one). She got lots of wonderful gifts, including money, the Tinkerbell movie, play makeup, a little doll and horse, a Fur Real pet from Grandma (Tumbles the rollover pup), some Littlest Pets, My Little Pony stuff, Barbie clothes, and a puzzle.

I can hardly believe that she is four, and she's pretty grown up for a 4 year old. Sometimes I feel like she's a mini-me, complete with getting super emotional when tired, and her love of animals, stuffed or real. She loves horses, too, no surprise there since I was horse crazy from age 5 to 13. She does this really cute thing with her mouth when she's concentrating, which I'm pretty sure she picked up from me, too (it looks cuter on her), and oh my gosh, does she have my body...no shoulders, sort of long torso, somewhat athletic looking. I just love how she is so interested in me and what I do, whether it's in the kitchen or if I'm folding clothes, she wants to be right there. She likes to wear clothes similar to mine, as well...the other night after I'd already put PJ's on her and had changed into mine (my shirt was pink) she insisted on wearing her "hot pink" shirt to sleep in so she'd be like me. Do I eat it up? You betcha.

a couple more pictures of Zach...