"Antibiotic" Salad

Remember Abby's first cooking show a few months ago? Abby got her very first piece of fan mail last week and a lovely birthday gift filled with cooking goodies from a dear friend. The gift was amazingly thoughtful and a perfect gift for our little kitchen enthusiast.  Thanks Em!

With her new Rachael Ray (kids) cookbook in hand, Abby was eager to find a new recipe to make for her next show. She chose a salad. Rachael Ray's Bite Size Antipast-Salad. The first time Abby made a video, it was spontaneous and unrehearsed. I was planning on videotaping her while she mixed up a little salad, but Abby had other ideas for this episode. This time, Abby insisted on practicing multiple times before I was even allowed to turn the camera on and even suggested we take "commercial breaks", so we she could practice some more. Abby likes to know what is going to happen and prepare herself. She also tends to be a bit of a perfectionist. This time, as we were gathering our ingredients, Abby kept practicing the name of her recipe. She was determined to get it right, but was having a hard time remembering all the words. 

When her daddy walked into the room and asked what she was making, she confidently told him she was making "Antibiotic Salad".  I wish I had caught that on tape! Before taping, she talked to me about what she wanted to include and then tried to memorize every word. I encouraged her to just let it come out naturally, but she insisted that she memorize it because she was afraid she'd forget to thank Miss Emily. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f45SWsNGroQ

Look at how proud she is for remembering the recipe name!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-cn6EKCYEU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw1pNLxXD94

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6XBtn4I1G8

Thank you Miss Emily! We love you! 

Stay tuned for Abby's next episode. She wants to use the stove next time and make ABC soup. This should be interesting! :) 

A Snow Day in the Life

Winter is starting to wear on all of us New Yorkers a bit, but we can't act like we are surprised by it. The winter slump happens every year, usually a few weeks into the new year after everyone is done enjoying the snow and sweater season (because it is fun and exciting in the beginning). It settles in sometime around mid February when we are cold and beginning to feel cooped up inside. We start running out of things to do (especially with small children) and start to long for warm spring days and fresh green grass. People start complaining on Facebook about why they would ever choose to live in New York and make empty threats to move to Florida tomorrow. It lasts for four weeks or so until that one surprise, unseasonably warm day happens (50 degrees). Then, everyone starts opening their windows and putting on shorts because it suddenly feels like we are in the tropics. And it happens. We taste spring and fall in love with all things new again.

It makes me laugh when I think about it, but like all the normal rhythms of life, this is one I take comfort in. I love New York and I love all of the seasons. This is my normal and I love it. I'm not complaining. That being said....two snowed in days in two weeks...we ARE feeling cooped up and ready for spring, but choosing to be thankful and enjoy it. 

Here are some highlights from our snow days. 

18 inches in 24 hours

all bundled up 

Everyone seems to be concerned about how hungry these hippos are. Ella seems to think they are thirsty too! 

Ella's dinner party

helping Mommy with coupons

trying new hairstyles and loving that she has enough hair to braid

two little horses...

and their rider. 

yummy soup 

singing her songs 

Abby loves to sit and learn. She did this for over an hour while Ella played with her Little People.  

board games. playing in the snow. learning. staying in jammies all day. crafts. warm soup for lunch. movies under a cozy blanket with popcorn. hours of playtime with little people and the dollhouse. morning bath time that feels like "pool" time. sing-a-longs. hair salon. coupon cutting. chores. hot chocolate. cupcake baking.

Winter slump, we are choosing to make the most of you. Spring, we can't wait to see you again!

Ella: 19 months

19 months old 

What's new? 

• Your new favorite words (in addition to all variations of "my", "me" and "mine") are "no" and "more". Just in case anyone had any question, you are a full blown toddler! You are also forming two to three word sentences. Your words have become much more pronounced and we are really enjoying hearing you express yourself so clearly. 
• I have to make sure all sweet things are out of view if I don't intend on giving them to you at that moment. If you even spot a box that resembles a dessert of any kind, you go bananas, shouting, "eat...my...mine...ahhh....peeese...eat...keeekeeeee...dandy....MAMAMAMAMA....MINE!!"In other words, we spell the words "cookie", "chocolate" and "candy" in our house the same way you spell "P-A-R-K" and "go O-U-T" around a dog. You would think I bribe you with chocolate or something...that only happened once...maybe twice if you include last week when I needed you to sit still at the photo studio (#dontjudgeimhuman). Who could forget the time I introduced you to your first taste of chocolate and your first cupcake in the same day? Total delight. 
• You love playing dollhouse, mommies, kitchen, little people and doctor. You love watching Doc McStuffins, Sesame Street and Barney. 
• You love going "bye" and beg us to take you "bye". If you've been cooped up in the house all day,  you start yelling "bye" and banging on the coat closet door. 
• Winter has set in and so has getting sick about once a month. Boo. 
• You make it clear that there are just sometimes when you NEED your Daddy. 
• You love helping me take care of Baby Joseph. 
• You love to pray at the dinner table and always initiate "Cheers" multiple times throughout the meal. 
• You love all things citrus and vinegar. You also don't seem to mind spicy. You can eat lemons wedges like they are apples. You love oranges, pickles and olives, which is funny because I craved all of those things when I was pregnant with you. 

You are friendly, snuggly, opinionated, hilarious and sweet as ever! We adore you, little one! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxIYzylOyaE&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qov94mExQx4&feature=youtu.be

Seussical

One day as I was driving home, I noticed a sign for a local middle school's musical production of Seussical Jr.. Joe and I agreed that Abby would love seeing the show and would most likely be inspired by the acting of the young actors and actresses. On top of that, the musical mostly focuses on one of Abby's favorite Dr. Seuss characters, Horton the Elephant. So, the following weekend we decided on a Saturday afternoon Mommy & Abby date.

Abby was so excited. She wouldn't nap for fear I would leave without her and insisted on wearing her sparkly, fancy silver shoes for the special occasion.  We even brought Horton along with us thinking he would really appreciate seeing his people! 

To top it all off, we even got to meet up with some of our friends last minute, which made intermission extra fun for the girls.

Jayden, Peyton and Abby

silly faces

Abby paid attention the entire show. She honestly loved every minute of it. It didn't matter to her (or Horton) that the boy who played Horton did not resemble an elephant at all. She was so captivated by the story line and of course the singing and dancing. She laughed when they made jokes and kept asking me if all of the people knew each other in real life!

During the show's finale, Abby looked up at me and said, "Thank you so much for bringing me, Mommy. This was the best!"

After the show, we went into the gym for the obligatory bake sale cupcake. I was proud to introduce Abby to that special school tradition. She was already excited to get in there for her sweet treat, but she had no idea ALL of the actors and actresses would be in there greeting people. It was like taking her to Hollywood. She was starstruck by 12-year-old Horton and the little girl who played the Cat in the Hat!

What a great afternoon with my girl!

Snapshots: Life Lately

There are some winter days when my girls play together for hours and seem to have no need for me because their imaginations are flowing freely and they've got lots of games to play. Other days are I have two clingy girls who are not satisfied unless they are both on my lap and wrapped all around me. Then, there are those winter days when one little girl is cranky and wanting to be held, but only wants her sister to hold her.

The girls can't hold in their excitement in the evening when their Daddy is done with work. They squeal. They jump up and down. They shout his name and run into his arms. They wait for that hug all day long! Then, they want to spend as much time with him as they can before bedtime. There is nothing like it and my heart overflows when I see it. I love these three so much.

The girls love Thursdays and Fridays when baby Joseph is here with us. We have a fun little song we sing to him every morning after his mom leaves and before we take him out of his carrier.

                                                                                        Not only do the girls love to sing to him, but they fight over the chance to see who can make him smile. They've also started including him in story time.

Abby and Ella both want to do everything they can to help and just love being around him. Every now and then, Ella likes to remind us that she is in fact still the baby of the house. Some mornings she puts on Joseph's hat and sits in his car seat until we notice her. Other days she just takes out his changing pad and lays on it while yelling at me that she has a stinky!

Mama! Tinky! 

It's always a sweet surprise getting a package in the mail from Nagymama! Look at these adorable sweater dresses my grandmother sent for the girls.

Sometimes you wake up in the morning and it just takes a minute to get moving...

So much going on in this picture that makes me want to slow down time. Hanging out in her bean bag chair, legs crossed, dress up heels on, chewing gum, headphones on listening to music on the iPod and singing along. Thankful that she still asks me to listen to music on the "EarPods". Please know I will not correct her unless absolutely necessary.

You can find Ella at any given time with one of her "guys" in hand and stuck in some random place. In this case, it is Donald and she is stuck in her book bin.

For Abby's birthday, one of her sweet little guy friends, Matthew, gave her this plush rose. Ummm...my child LOVES this rose. She needs it to go to sleep every night and my child does not really attach to things she NEEDS to sleep with. There's something about my four year old needing to sleep with her rose every night that makes me smile. Well played Matthew. (just kidding...I just think she likes the flower and her friend...I'm the one projecting teenage implications on it. I hope she stays sweet and romantically innocent forEVER!)

Long winter days call for good movie afternoons snuggled up under the blankets with a good snack.

Or snuggled up under blankets while reading. As long as there are lots of blankets and snacks we can get through any long winter day! 

In our house Abby Cadabby and Minnie are BFFs! Not only do they ride around in their convertible together, but there are grapes and cheese in their picnic basket.

Last Friday night, we decided to get out of the house as a family after a long week. We headed over to the mall for a family fun night scavenger hunt hosted by the local radio station. After we finished the hunt and were waiting around for the answers, the girls helped themselves to the little stage that was set up. My girls can't resist the chance to dance to loud music...then you give them a stage...they went to town!

The scavenger hunt was followed by dinner and some frozen yogurt! 

We are always excited by visitors, but especially when it is one of our former students who has graduated and we haven't seen in months! We were thrilled to have the chance to spend some time with Nina last week.

Like mother like daughter? Sing it girl!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHS3cVdoaNs&feature=youtu.be

Ella LOVES her Sesame Street guys! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLAGxLJm6as&feature=youtu.be

Can you tell who her favorites are? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWmsmXDXYvo&feature=youtu.be

Rare occasion when you find Ella has kept a bow in her hair! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuCBbgkCpFg&feature=youtu.be

Playing hairdresser...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og3v0DQIOqo&feature=youtu.be

Kicking the Habit

She insisted on the brightest, "most beautiful" pink there was!

About a year and a half ago, Abby became a nail biter. We weren't really sure why, but it didn't take long for it to become a bad habit. As a result, I stopped painting her little fingernails, because I didn't want her to eat off her nail polish.

Abby loves having her nails and toes painted, so this year I challenged her to try not biting her nails for a month. I told her if she didn't bite her nails until her birthday, I would take her to get a big girl manicure at the nail salon. Sweet girl doesn't take challenges lightly. She is also quite the perfectionist and can be really hard on herself (even when others aren't), so I had to talk her through her own devastated tears the few times she slipped and started to nibble.

Besides those few instances, she really didn't bite her nails for a month. Her nails had actually grown so long that they needed to be clipped (that never happens), which was total cause for celebration. We are so proud of Abby for overcoming something that wasn't easy for her. I think they say it takes three weeks to break a habit and I believe it. She is still not biting!

Abby informed me that she loves getting manicures, but does not love the part when they push her cuticles back. 

Hamming it up and chatting away with everyone at the salon.

excited about the final product...

...and really proud of herself. 

As we were driving home from the salon, Abby let me know how excited she was to choose another color next week when we come to get another manicure. I gently let little girlfriend down and told her we would not be getting professional manicures every week like she was hoping, but we'd be sticking to special occasions or a summertime treat.  Until then, we will start doing manicures at home again....because when you are four, manicures at home with Mommy are even more fun....right? {wink wink}

Celebrating with the Fam

We concluded Abby's birthday weekend festivities with a family celebration. It was complete with lots of food, beautiful cakes and lots of laughs with a whole bunch of people we love. Who was here? Grammy, G-Diddy, Uncle Brad, Aunt Alex, Aunt Cyncy, Papa, Uncle Cory, Grandma and Casey. We had a great time together! 

I love my four year old. 

early morning snuggles with Uncle Brad and Aunt Alex before the party

hanging with G-Didds

Papa arrived with a yummy appetizer surprise for all of us to enjoy. Shrimp and pineapple wrapped in bacon and coated with teriyaki...yes please! 

This gem happens when Papa holds the button on the iPhone and takes 300 pictures in five seconds. 

my mom and I

still riding out the birthday high

Ella napped through the beginning of the party and took some time waking up slowly on Grammy's shoulder. Sweet moments.

both grandmas

Abby tried to trick us all and make us think she was napping in the middle of the party...yeah right.

Time to open some gifts! 

She was excited that Uncle Cory loaded up one of his old iPods with some of her favorite songs and gave her cute Hello Kitty headphones to go with it. The best part: She calls them her Earpods. Yes. Earpods. And I will not correct her until absolutely necessary! Stay little as long as possible, my girl.

'

The gorgeous cake Nagymama ordered for Abby's birthday. It was so beautiful that no one wanted to cut into it! 

Our family friend who made the cake also sent a mini one for Ella. 

'

For me?!?!

Ella's day was made when Grandma took her to the side and gave her this Barney. Ella loves her Barney. We had been searching for a Barney high and low over the Christmas season, but couldn't find him anywhere....until now! Surprise! 

our family

Papa and Bells (who can't look at the camera because she is captivated by Nina)

I love my littlest girl!

Thanks to our whole family (near and far) for making Abby's birthday memorable. It was a great weekend. We love you all! 

On Monday, we were pretty wiped out. but glad for some time quality time with Aunt Cyncy before she headed out of town. 

Thanks for making the long trip, Aunt Cyncy! Love you!