Gymnastics

Adelyn had her token one class this summer.  She loves the gymnastics class....and she loves the girls in her gymnastics class.  I had signed her up for T-ball because you do it with parents and I thought that would be fun for her.  Then I saw that gymnastics only had one class this summer because Darla was (finally!) retiring.  This momma doesn't do 2 classes at the same time.  Waaaayyyy too much running around.  She was also supposed to be in the 9:00, beginners, class.  This momma also doesn't do that early.  We tried last year and it just didn't work.  We were late every day.  So I signed her up for the 10:00.  She was a little hesitant on doing some of the stuff.  They did a lot of walking by themselves on the higher bars and that isn't her forte.  She got a lot better by the end of the week.

Stretching before class.

Surprisingly, they all do as they are told..

Walking across the beam

Jumping off

She will gladly do the lower one by herself.  #herfather'sdaughter

Alllll done!  Yay:)

Strawberry Pickin

I went strawberry picking with some friends and Adelyn was so sad that she couldn't come with.  I told her we would go again and I would take her with.  The farmer's that we get our meat and eggs from offered to let me pick in their garden because they had way too many.  I promptly accepted and thought that would be a good place to take Adelyn.  We could take our time and nobody else would bug us.

Pretty girl:):)

Yum.

Love my little lady.

Such a fun time.  I brought some strawberries to Eric's parents and canned strawberry jam.  That was a first for me and it tastes sooooo much better!  I'll have to continue to can my jam:)

B and J::2.5 years

2.5 years have blown by like the wind.  The days can feel soooooo long but the weeks/months/years are just flying by.

Brecken::

-weigh 30lbs 9ozs, 60th percentile

-36in tall, 46th percentile

-head circumference is in the 69th percentile

-size 7 shoe

-2/3T clothes.  A lot of your pants and shorts are still 24month/2T but shirts are mostly 3.

-sleep great.  2/3 hours nap and 11ish hours at night.

-still have to sleep with blankie and "neigh" (neigh is a horse, in case you missed that)

-are our crazy little man.  Constantly on the move.   Constantly.

-knows some colors

-can count to 13

-LOVES to color

-LOVES to read

-LOVES his Momma.  Will occasionally wake in the middle of the night "because I missed my Mommy."

-if you see a big kid do something you HAVE to try it and, generally, succeed

-loves to eat.  Carbs/sugar/fruit are his favorite.  Imagine that, they are, kinda, one and the same.

-always asks to go outside.

-always asks to play in the basement

-doesn't have a ton of interest in the TV.  But loves Dinosaur Train and Mary Poppins.

-talks a lot.  

-still is obsessed with *his* train track and *his* gator.  News flash::when you have siblings nothing is realllly *yours*

-is in a reallllllly annoying whiny stage.  I hear this is common with boys but I pray it's done soon.  I can do crying, I can do happy, whiny is utterly annoying.  We just work on "asking the right way."

-thinks he's pretty hot stuff if he gets to watch me cook or help me cook

-loves to go swimming and will jump right in, all the way under.

-is one crazy boy.  But I think I've already mentioned that.

I had a funny sayings section on Adelyn's 2.5 year post.  I have started some with Joelle but I think Brecken is JUST starting to develop that part of his personality.  He talks a ton and some things are funny.  But he definitely doesn't remember to make funny comments or remember odd things.  He just pokes you with his fork and giggles.  Because that is hilarious.

 I did conduct a little interview with them and I think some of their responses were funny;)

Interview::

Name:: Becken

Age::3

Color::Green

Favorite Food::Monkey Bananas

What food don't you like::Yucky kind

Favorite Animal:: I don't know. 

What makes you sad ::No cry

Makes you happy::I don't know....ME!

Favorite Book:: Tis.  (I love to laugh)
(Princess stickers are cool.  Especially when your big sister gladly shares her treasures with you.  FYI)


Adelyn at 2.5 years

 Joelle::

-32lbs 9ozs, 86th percentile

-38in, 95th percentile

head circumference is in the 72% percentile

-size 7 or 8 shoe

-3T clothes

-LOVES to sleep. 2/3 hour nap.  12-13 hours at night.  If someone had told me you would be my best sleeper when you were an infant I would have laughed in their face.

-still have to sleep with pig and blankie.  HAVE to have your "corn-ah" (corner).  It's gray from constant rubbing.

-are an excellent pee-er.  It must be a Fitzgerald girl thing.  It is CERTAINLY not a boy thing.  Both of the girls have been exceptionally good at peeing out of their diapers.

-know almost all of your colors.

-your mind is like a vault.  If you are told something you can repeat it days or weeks later.  You remember every.thing.

-make the bestest sad face ever.  I can not get it on camera for the life of me.  It's the most random things that make you burst into tears/your sad face but it is killer every time.  The phrase "you could sit on your lip" was invented because of you.

-LOVE to eat.  Love, love, love, love to eat.  The list of what you don't like is incredibly small.  Chocolate is pretty much the only thing I can think of right now..  Not a huge fan of sweets.  The only one that you really love is ice cream or fruit.

-love babies.  Real, fake, imaginary.  Doesn't matter.  If you see a baby, you are drawn.

-You are soooo full of giggles.

-You are, also, soooooooooooooo full of sass.  My word.  The amount of sass in you is unbelievable.  I think you got all of my, my dad's, Eric's dad's and Eric's stubbornness in one child.

-You say " 'scuse me!" all the time if someone is talking and you want to get a word in.  So polite and so cute.

-for being evaluated for speech 6 months ago, you sure communicate amazingly well now.  Unbelievable the strides you have made.  Every thing you say has to be perfectly enunciated too.

-wouldn't mind sitting in front of the TV all day.  Dinosaur Train and Mary Poppins are current favorites.  You also love TinkerBell and Finding Nemo.  Anything remotely scary sends you running from the room in a burst of tears.

Some funny things::

“let’s hit the road, Jack!”

after changing B’s diaper he told me he didn’t want to throw away his diaper.  J said she would throw them away.  I changed J’s diaper.

“Will you throw these away for me?”

“Nooooooooooooope.  Was just kiddin!”

Joelle's Interview::

Name::Jojo

Age::2

Favorite Color::Purple

Favorite Food:Mac and Cheese

What food don't you like::Gross. I don't a know.

Favorite animal::I love kitty cats.

What makes you sad::(Making sad face) I don't know.  Brecken does.

What makes you happy::Love youuuuuuuuuuu!

Favorite book::Princess book 

Oh.my.word.  I LOVE this picture.  I think it's my favorite picture of them together, yet.  B HAD to have his arm around her.  Such a sweet little man.

Adelyn wanted to take turns "holding" them.  I think she missed the memo they are nearly the same size as her..;)

B wanted nothing to do with looking at me and smiling.  The girls, however, had a blast.

Silly faces...and sullen ones.

Love them with my whole heart.

17 Kids..!

Whoa.  No one died or was harmed in any way.  Be impressed.

17 kids.  6 mommas.  You do the math.

Alyson brought her three; Henry, Loretta and Fiona

Joy has two; William and Sawyer.  William is apparently missing from all my pictures..

Tiff has two; Sophia and Charlie

Rachael has three; Kaylee, Kaleb and Keegan.  They brought two friends; Audrey and John

Lindsey has three but left sweet baby Honor at home; Aria and Scarlett

And my three.

First off:: this was my morning.  I was taking a shower and, while stepping out, I realized I hadn't heard from B in a while.  The girls?  Not an issue.  Brecken?  There is bound to be trouble.  Right as I was wondering about him, I heard a clackety clack from the pantry.  I quick got my clothes on and investigated.  I almost cried.  Crisco.  Allllll over my pantry.  This picture does it NO justice.  He thinks he's pretty cool.  Normally I make my kids help clean up their messes.  Not this one.  We left it for Daddy.

We had so much fun playing with our friends today!  We played upstairs for a while, played downstairs and even got to play outside for a bit, with no rain!  Adelyn, per usual, got a bit overwhelmed when everybody started pouring in.  She went upstairs for a couple minutes so I went to get her.  Then she warmed up ;)  Brecken had issues sharing.  He thoroughly enjoys taking toys from people just to get a reaction out of them.  He does it to Adelyn and Joelle all day long.  He decided to extend his pleasantness to his friends today.  They didn't appreciate it.  Joelle LOVED the babies.  I'm pretty sure she held Keegan countless times and had to "kiss him" every time he left the vicinity.  That little lady loves her some baby but, boy, is she gonna have a hard time when we have another.   As far as she's concerned SHE'S the baby.  And she even tells us that.  "Me Momma's baby."  I totally encourage it. 

Aria, Scarlett and Sawyer enjoying lunch.  We had quesadillas, fruit, raisins and chips.

On the left:: Kaleb, Kalee, John, William is MIA and Joelle.

The right:: Audrey, Adelyn, Brecken and Sophia.

Charlie, Henry, Loretta and Momma Al

The adorable little babies.  Fiona and Keegan.  Fiona was trying to nab herself a boyfriend;)

Spring CSA

We signed up for a spring CSA this year.  It was our first time doing a CSA and I was a little nervous because some people said a full share is an overwhelming amount of vegetables.  I wasn't afraid to can some or freeze them, so I didn't let that deter me.  I have scoured the internet for quite a few places.  I had already signed up for a summer CSA with Groundswell when I stumbled upon Crisp Country Acres from someone's blog.  I was enthralled with their website.  There are TONS of recipes, how to store veggies, an online farm stand (so you can pick up extras) and many other bonuses.

Pardon the crappy quality of some pictures...I used my cell phone to take some of them.

First week::

salad greens, basil, red skin potatoes, carrots, parsnips, celery root, radishes and onions

Never had::

Celery Root.  Used half in some soup (yummy) and the other half is in the freezer.  Also, radishes.  We used a CCA recipe for stove top radishes and everyone LOVED them.

 

 Second week::

salad greens, frozen blueberries, swiss chard, sprouts, red skin potatoes and cilantro

Never had::

Swiss Chard.  Very similar to spinach.  Pureed this batch in my enchilada sauce and week 7's we ate in an egg dish.  Both excellent.

 Third week (we left for Mackinac right after I picked this up.  Hence, no picture)::

Asparagus, radishes, salad greens, spinach, beets, carrots and onions

Never had::

Beets.  First time I botched how I cooked them.  Eric and Adelyn were the only ones who would eat them.  2nd time I peeled them, diced and boiled.  Then made a brown sugar/oj/butter reduction and poured over the top.  Everyone ate them except Brecken.

Fourth week::

Asparagus, greens, kale, green onions, red skin potatoes, arugula and parsnips

5th week::

Asparagus, lettuce, red radishes, green onions, rhubarb, carrots and beets

6th week::

Asparagus, Salad Greens, Spinach, Herbs, Red Skin Potatoes, Green Onions and Carrots

Week 7::

Asparagus, Salad Greens, Spinach, Cilantro, Swiss Chard, Rhubarb, Radishes and Tomato

The only thing I have in my freezer (aka::not ate) is half a celery root and lots of green onions.  I have refused to waste or throw anything away.   We have LOVED having a CSA.  We have ate WAY more veggies than we normally eat.  We have also tried new ones and found some we love.  CCA gives you the option of trading one veggie each week and although I was tempted when I found out we were having beets, I didn't.  I can't keep saying I don't like things when I've never tried them.  It's a trait I refuse to pass on to my children.

Kitchen Re-do

When we moved into our house, our kitchen was not my favorite place.  I love how "big" it is but the counters were heinous.  I loathed the blue counters, the wood edge, the metal strip running along the counter top...etc.  It is such a costly thing to have done we have put it off for a loooooong time.  Finally I decided I couldn't take it anymore and we devoted our tax returns to our kitchen re-model.  FINALLY.

Before..

Before..

A good close up of the heinous blue.  So I can never forget.

After!!!  Hallelujah.  Beautiful.  Amazing.  Love it.  It took about 2 weeks from start to finish because there are so many different processes for the tile.  At one point, I don't remember if it was after laminate or after the tile, Adelyn walked in from outside and said "Oohhh Mister Chris does such a nice job decorating!"  Chris was working in the bathroom and I could hear him snickering in there ;)

Brecken broke in the laminate for us (big surprise).  Chris had it all laid out, the first day, on the garage.  We took off for the day and I let B outside with strict instructions to walk around.  He starts barreling towards the car and I hear Chris say "Hey buddy...!"  Too late.  He ran across the laminate with his shoes on.  I told Chris "what's a counter top without a few scratches?"  Oh well..

Can NOT believe the difference.  LOVE them.

Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park

We headed to Boulder Ridge with a bunch of friends today.  Joy, William and Sawyer got to ride with us because their car was in the shop.  Steph, Griffin and Brynn, Tiff, Sophia and Charlie, Rachael, Kaylee, Kaleb and Keegan, Joy, Tiff/Joy's mom, Rachel, Ben, Timothy and Solomon, and Alyson, Al's dad, Henry and Loretta came.  We had SOOO much fun.  All of the kids did surprisingly well.  Nobody pitched a fit and nobody was (terribly) mean.  That's success in my book. 

 Kaleb, Joelle and Kaylee looking at the animals.  Brecken being a wild ape and hanging on the ropes.

 Brecken and Kaleb checking out the lemurs

We started the trip all peaceful like.  Then this happened.  I took Adelyn to the bathroom.  I thought she put her sunglasses in my purse.  Turns out she put them in my back pocket.  When I went to pull my pants down, to go to the bathroom, they fell in.  Into the toilet in which she had already urinated in.  She.flipped.out.  Probably because she thought I wouldn't get them.  Oh you should have heard her wail. I'm pretty sure she traumatized Henry...who was trying to do his business in peace. I wanted to get a picture of her crying by the toilet..as every good mother does....."Nooooooooooooo!"  I had to go REALLLLLY bad, so I left her in there, went and did my business in another stall, ran to the front to grab a glove, came back and fished them out.  I bathed them in soap, twice, and then gave them back.  Luckily this was the only "highlight" of our trip.

Joelle holding and kissing a baby chick.

We need to get this girl some chickens.  Seriously.  Too bad she will have to wait until we move to the country.  She wanted to go back to hold them only 325 times.

She loooooved the birds this year.  She hasn't liked them, previously, so it was fun to see her enjoy them.

Little B enjoyed running around, waving his stick and traumatizing the birds.

Rachael's teaching a bird how to text.                                     B in a rare moment of kindness

Charlie looooooved the birds;)

Clearly, Sophia did too;)

Pretty lady.                                                                       This is how B felt about the bird on his stick;)

 

Tiff with a bird in her hair!  Yikes.

William only wanted "one bird at a time!"

Eric informed me she looks like the crazy bird lady here.

This is how Joelle felt about the birds.  She refused to hold the stick if it had a bird on it.  REFUSED.

And then one landed in her hair.  She flipped out.

Sophia, Adelyn and Rachel on the safari ride.  Yes, this is the best one.

Pretty girls on the bear.

Charlie has it right.  He SHOULD be afraid for his life;)

Griffin and William on top of the spider.  Some pretty cool dudes!

Alli the Alligator

Feeding the baby antelope crackers.  Joelle LOVED the petting zoo.

Two sets of twins 6 months apart.  Sooooo cute!

Kaylee and Joelle.  Two little cuties:)

Rachel and Joelle

I'm pretty sure something is wrong with this picture...

Don't tell Sawyer.  But I think he has a bird on his hat.

This was a common theme in the bird house, the second time around.  Poor Griffin would be surrounded by birds, feeding them, and Brecken would come along and swipe at them with his stick.

Last one of my pretty girl holding the birds.  She has come so far, with the birds, in the past year!

Such a fun time.  Always worth the drive!  All of our friends loved it too.