A tale of two loves and one CRAZY day!

Elle feeding her doll, we call her "dee", a cheerio.

Elle feeding her doll with her new tea set :-) Lots of tea parties yet to come...

As a child I was a tomboy who LOVED her dolls and shopping. Go figure, I would catch frogs, climb trees, and tear around on my bike, and then turn around and go play with my dolls :-) I still have all of my dolls and my doll cradle. They are primarily the only toys that I saved from my childhood. I am surprisingly happy and proud to say that Elle suddenly has my love of dolls. We walked in the LEGO store (notice my love of dolls is equaled my Bernhard's love of LEGOS) on our way to Chicago and Elle found the only corner in the store with stuffed animals and dolls, sat down and giggled with glee. The fact that we were surrounded by bright colored legos did not seem to occur her. She carries around her little dolls, feeds them, sleeps with them, tries to give them baths etc.

Now, my other love, is, "da, ta, daaaa," SHOPPING. I do believe that I inherited a love of shopping, more specifically bargain shopping, from my mom. When we walk into a store we don't even notice whats in the entrance of the store, we veer straight to the back, the s-a-l-e racks. Whenever all of my female family members would convene, we would storm the mall and shop all day. I loved it, and still do....however, my shopping has changed a bit.... Rarely do I step foot into a "me" store. I now get excited about sales and clearance racks at Gymboree and Hanna Andersson :-) All you moms out there in cyberspace should understand!!! Now whenever I hold out some clothing for Elle she giggles and runs to hug it. She LOVES shoes. Enough said.

Sooooooo, this leads me to today. My glorious day in Chicago that turned out to be, shall we say a wild goose chase! I had decided that I would have a fun day with Elle. My agenda was:

1) Go to Gymboree I had a $25 gymbuck to spend at Gymboree (the sale started Thurs. and today is Friday...help...burning hole...in my...pocket...must spend...)!

2)Go to Lincoln Park Zoo

3)Go to American Girl Place (help, I fear delving into this expensive obsession...Bernhard actually told me to watch my pocket book! He has NEVER said that before :-0 (note, bargain shopper...American Girl Dolls, not bargains...)

While getting directions to Gymboree, Elle fell off the chair backwards next to the concierge desk. The entire Holiday Inn lobby fell to an instant hush as Elle inhaled deeply and let out a blood curdling cry. Poor dear. Everyone tried to help. Someone brought her ice and a box of Rice Crispies. The Rice Crispies did it :-) She wouldn't let me put the ice on, but the box of cereal sure helped to ease the pain! Me being the determined soul that I am, continued on with my plan for the day. After I wiped Elle's tears and she had some advil, we hopped in the car and drove the 2.34 miles to the store. She was asleep before we left the parking lot. I was paranoid about a concussion, so I was thankful that when she woke up in the store she seemed ok and her pupils were reactive. Anyway, so once we were in the teeny, tiny, city store, I discovered that 15 other Chicago moms with their toddlers were all in Gymboree too!!!!!! AND, there was NOTHING left in her size in the store. Not on the clearance rack OR in the new stuff. Go figure! We left. Better selection on-line. I'll order while she's taking her nap :-) Always thinking ahead.

Well after the morning trauma, I decided to scratch the zoo. After lunch and a nap, (her, not me. I shopped on-line in the comforts of our Holiday Inn room) I was determined to still have fun. So, I decided that we would walk the 1.5 miles to the American Girl Doll Place (I'm sure as much for me as for her...hee, hee). After 35 minutes of walking in high heel boots (all fashion here girls...hah!!) and lugging the stroller up and down steps, we arrived to read "Store closed while we move to a new location." SHUT UP! You. have. got. to. be. kidding me!!!!!! "Ok, calm down Sarah. Have a sense of humor. Let's find Build-a-Bear. That will be fun." Again, I ask you, does Elle really have a clue? No, not yet. Check back with me in a year... At this point, she truly has no idea what she missed. All she knows is that she did a LOT of people watching from her stroller :-) Well, we set off to find Build a Bear, but it was the other direction, away from the hotel. I really did not want to walk even FARTHER. So, we set off to find some dinner. By now it is almost 6, and Elle had been signing "more" to eat for the past 30 minutes or so. I almost settled for Chipotle, but thought, no I can find something better. Just then, Rain Forest Cafe! I wondered if she would be able to eat with all the stimulation, but she loved it. Absolutely loved it. She ate like she hadn't eaten in a week and she was mesmerized by the animals, and even the guy dressed up like a tree frog (phew, her first experience with that). Well, we didn't get to the actual zoo, but we got to eat in a pseudo rainforest surrounded by fish, waterfalls, thunderstorms, fake animals, and lots of other kids mesmerized by the same things.

Now, finally, with aching feet we were on our way back to the hotel. For all Elle knows, we went for a long walk and then ate dinner at a crazy zoo. So, the saying goes, the best laid plans slip right through our hands... My plans did a complete somersault right onto the floor! Oh well, the key to sanity is being able to see the humor behind it all. Vaguely reminiscent of our honeymoon. VERY LOOOOONG story, and a seriously long post in itself!! Keep laughing and save your sanity my friends!

By the way, all of you folks reading this in cyberspace, leave me a comment if you are reading my infrequent, but sincere blogging. I'd really love to know who is lurking out there :-) Thanks!!!!!!!!

Super, Super Easy Mac-n-Cheese

FOODY FRIDAY

SUPER EASY ONE POT MAC-N-CHEESE

Okay, I can't remember where I learned this technique, but I have been making this quick and easy meal for the last year (I want to say that it was from Alton Brown from the Food Network). My daughter eats this up and doesn't know the difference! I always have frozen peas on hand, so even if I don't have canned tuna, I'll still add the peas.

Favorite pasta (I use Barilla Smart Pasta, Rotini) as much as you need
Favorite cheese
Approx. 1 T. all purpose flour
milk
canned tuna or chicken (optional)
frozen peas (optional)

Cook your pasta as normal and drain. Sprinkle pasta with flour, just so it covers the top with a thin coating. Shred cheese over pasta and pour in a little bit of milk (1-2 T. or so) to make it creamy. Now, to make it well rounded you can do what I do. Stir in canned tuna or chicken or left over chicken if you have it and some frozen peas. You may have to add a bit more milk if it starts to get too thick.

Don't worry, the flour helps the cheese melt well and to keep it from getting gloopy!!

Enjoy :-0

By George, She Gets IT!!

All of a sudden she gets it. We are now stunned once again at how much little Miss Elle understands. It shouldn't be that much of a surprise that she is learning, but each time she shows her understanding I find my jaw dropping.

Most recent jaw dropping experiences:

I made the comment to my Mother-in-Law that Elle's lovey, (stinky, pink, dolly she sleeps with and wipes milk off of her face with...ew...) "needs a bath." Elle grabbed her lovey and disappeared. I followed her, and much to my surprise, she had put it in the bathroom next to the bathtub!!!! Well, she doesn't know that Lovey actually gets a wild ride in the washing machine:-) Nothing gets by her!

Elle uses sign language to communicate (along with her few words), so its common for people to ask what is she saying/signing?? So, last night, Elle's Grandma asked "what is she saying?" Bernhard said that she had to her hands together to pray before dinner. She had just begun to put her hands together to pray. This was the first time that she initiated praying. Tears came to my eyes.

Elle and Isaac sharing the Lego bucket

Last week I babysat Isaac, Jenny's little boy. He and Elle played together and shared toys, then Isaac took a nap in Elle's pack-n-play. After the Wilson clan left (after a great day together of playing and eating), I realized that they had forgotten Isaac's lovey and nuk. Elle was walking around with them and I told her "those are Isaac's lets put them on the table." Later on she took them off the table and disappeared with them. I found them later on. She had put them in the pack-n-play:-)

Isaac brushing Elle's hair

Elle has learned to finally make a kissing sound with her lips when she kisses (say goodbye to the open mouth kiss...) and to give REAL hugs. Today in the grocery store she was constantly reaching her arms around me to hug me from her seat in the cart. Mommy was a puddle on the floor...

And finally, we attended our first ECFE class (Early Childhood Family Ed. is a great program in Minnesota where parents and their kids, ages birth-5, can attend pre-school type classes with the parents. The parents then have a parenting type class and social time while the kids are alone with the teacher). Elle was sooo social (really, I'm not surprised). It was just great to see her interact with other kids her age and other adults. Since she is not in daycare, and does not go to a big nursery at church her true interaction with kids in large groups is minimal. She certainly didn't show it this week. She showed her teacher her "signs" and read lots of books.

Learning is truly amazing. I feel so blessed that I am able to stay home with her and that I get to watch her learn all of these little, but oh so important things :-)

BLT Pasta Salad

F~O~O~D!!!!!

WELCOME TO FOODY FRIDAY!

Ok, so I have been wanting to participate in Foody Friday and link to my dear friend Jenny's Foody Friday blogs for a LOOOONG time :-) Finally I am getting 'round to it. So, her theme for the week is Quicky and Healthy. I'm not so sure bacon qualifies as being healthy, but I tend to buy nitrate free bacon and it is sure yummy and healthier for us.

I threw this meal together this week when I was loaded down with fresh tomatoes and had leftover bacon on hand, and was desperately craving BLT's. Elle isn't quite able to eat a sandwich yet, so this is what came flying out of my kitchen.

BLT Pasta

6 (or so) slices of bacon
5-6 Roma tomatoes or 2-3 large tomatoes, seeded
1/2 lb. of pasta (we use Smart Pasta Rotini--yummy and good for you too)
Lettuce
Fresh parsley
1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
Olive oil
Apple cider vinegar
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 a small onion
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Fry bacon while water is boiling for the pasta. Once bacon is crispy, set it aside on paper towels. Reserve about 1 tsp (or less or more) of bacon fat in the pan. Add about 1 T of olive oil to pan and about 2-3 T. of vinegar. Scrape up burned on bits of bacon and then add minced garlic. Saute until fragrant and sweet smelling. The vinegar will reduce down and there will be a couple of tablespoons of sauce in the pan. Add the drained pasta to the pan and sauce and mix well.

2. Once well mixed, put pasta into a large serving bowl. Chop tomatoes and add to pasta (the more the better). Add torn lettuce (I think arugula would even work, but romaine sounds the best to me since it is crisp), diced onions, and crumbled bacon. Sprinkle a handful of shredded cheddar cheese and fresh parsley.
ENJOY :-0

P.S. When I made it the other day, I discovered that our lettuce had frozen in our too cold refrigerator, so there was no "L" present in our BLT pasta, but it was still yumm-o!!!

God Bless the Harvest

The Bounty

Growing up throughout my childhood, one of my favorite summer "activity" was helping/watching my mom's garden grow...peas, beans, carrots... Mary, Mary, quite contrary... So, when I "grew-up" I was eager to have my own garden. When I finally had a house in Rochester, NY, I slaved to dig up the ground and plant a garden myself. Yes, I did it all myself. The neighborhood had been a brick yard in the 1800's and so with each shovel-full of dirt, came bricks.

Anyways, so after Elle was born and we moved to the Twin Cities, I couldn't find the energy within myself to plant another garden. My next best option, a CSA (community supported agriculture). My dear friend Jenny and I decided to share a garden share for the season. Each week we pick up our huge bag of veggies and then we split them. We have had napa cabbage, kale, swiss chard, carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini and lots more. Also, we got to go to the farm (in Prairie Farm, WI) and work for a day, picking veggies and loading the bags. Then we delivered them to the pick up site. Jenny and I took her 3 kiddos and had so much fun. The kids got to help pick, pet the dogs and the horses, and SEE where their food comes from and how it grows! Recently I heard a story about a kid who was surprised when they went to pick strawberries that they didn't go to the store!! More kids need to be a part of growing and picking vegetables. I really feel that it helps grow a true love of eating healthy!

Ok, so the mangoes didn't come from WI. Jenny got a great deal at
Costco, so we split the mango bounty!

The Master Gardener

Watch out flowers and herbs, here comes Elle to "water" you. You better be strong and don't bend to her "love" and "care!"

Where's the water Mom???

Smash go the herbs!



A job well done!!

The toddler walks away very proud of her ability to water mom's herbs...now onto the flowers!

My first baby

So, I'm sure many of you have pets. Some of these are either just run of the mill animals who may live primarily outside or are self-sufficient, and are definitely 2nd rung; OR they are your "first" babies, who sleep in your beds, are called "baby," travel with you, get first rate medical care (possibly better than your own), and eat gourmet meals... the list embarrassingly goes on... So, it goes without saying that when I first became prego, I was concerned with how Bailey would take it :) Yes, indeed, I was concerned about our dear, orange Maine Coon cat Sibelius (Bailey for short). To make a long story short....he became aggressive....started peeing in house....called in a behaviorist (didn't work btw).... Discovered pheromones related to prego hormones....Vet. said "let him outside. He can survive without claws"....it worked!!! Phewwww!! Well, there is actually more to be said about Bailey. After baby, cat did great, we moved, cat did not do great. Started peeing....now, he is taking phenylbarbitol....cat is doing great again. Pheww, again!! What we don't do for our "first babies." My brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first in November. Their "first baby," Lola, (a German Shorthair) is in for a big surprise!

Ok, now that the cat Hx (history, that is) has been duly explained. Let me show my dire excitement!
They have become friends (well, sort of anyways)!!! This morning Elle and I were reading books on the couch, when Bailey desperately wanted love too. Sooooo, he jumped up and took his spot on my lap. Elle giggled with glee and while he purred and kneaded my chest, she leaned over and with her full weight (a whole 20.15 lbs) hugged him. He didn't flinch. He just purred on. She proceeded to pet him (gently I might add) and giggle at him. He purred on. What a beautiful morning.

All is well in the Scully world. Currently Bailey is outside ruffing up the local wildlife, without claws. Yeah for animals being able to be outside.