Taylor Tuesday

Jolly old Saint Nicholas,
lean your ear this way!
Don't you tell a single soul
what I'm going to say:
Christmas Eve is coming soon;
now, you dear old man
Whisper what you'll bring to me;
tell me if you can.

Dos

Well… dos and a month to be more exact.  Our Lizzie turned two last month and while I’ve been making notes about what she’s been up to, I never sat down and actually blogged about it.  Hopefully she won’t hold this against me when she’s 14 and full of teenage fun!  Bear in mind that I wrote this post almost as a letter to Lizzie for her baby books that I create. 

Oh Miss Elizabeth!  You are the funny, feisty, snuggly, spunk of our family.  You may be little(only 26 pounds) but you are FULL of life and energy!  I often feel like a rookie mom with you and I love how you have introduced me to another way of being a Mom.  While this isn’t always fun, I love that you aren’t just like your sister and have carved out your own path.  You are lovingly referred to as: Lil’ Bit, Lizzie, Elizabeth, Busy Lizzie, my little monkey(you love to climb and cling to me when I carry you), baby girl, and Lizbear.  Taylor loves to call you all kind of sweet names, but Sweetie has to be her most used.  Taylor would love on you all day if you would let her, unfortunately you only allow it for 15 sec intervals a few times a day.  I started working on teaching you to say ‘two’ and hold up two fingers a few weeks before your birthday.  You decided that Mommy’s way wasn’t as much fun and promptly reply “Dos” whenever asked your age and hold up your index finger and thumb.  Love it!  Our family is so entertained by this and you never fail when asked.

 

You are the eternal grazer.  You would snack all day if I would allow it, but then what would I do with you during mealtime?  Sometimes you shock us by eating 6 bowls of cereal or 3 servings of mac-n-cheese, but most the time you eat a few items from your plate and then request a popsicle.  You haven’t quite grasped the concept that we don’t eat dessert after breakfast, but I like your thinking.  You will request ice cream sometimes as dessert, but would much rather have a popsicle.  You love french fries, chicken nuggets, cheese, grapes, apples(without the skin), any kind of fruit snacks but always ask for Nemo ones, yogurt melts, pasta, ground beef from taco soup/taco dip(you call it ‘meat’ and LOVE it but won’t eat it unless you think it’s coming from my plate/bowl), cheetos, fried okra, candy(especially sweetarts or suckers), the center part of oreo cookies, and any kind of popsicle.

 

Lately you have become quite the coloring enthusiast and you often want them out after we finish meals at the table.  You love stickers and I think you enjoy pulling them off as much as you do putting them on the paper.  Most of your art projects that have glued/stickered items are bare because you pulled the parts back off after it was finished.  Too bad you won’t use the paper again! 

Lizzie started preschool this fall and while I was a bit nervous, she is loving it.  We still have a fun mornings where she clings to me as we get closer to the building and a few tears as I leave, but her teachers are amazing and she is fine within minutes.  She is so proud of the art work she does, is learning more songs, sings the ABCs as she does any motion like washing her hands(even if it’s while playing with her yogurt) and knows most of the song, knows the names of all her classmates, and I love seeing her happy face when I pick her up.  I have enjoyed a few hours to get some stuff done kid-free but can’t wait to pick them up each afternoon.  I knew going in that getting Lizzie to eat her lunch was a lost cause, but for some reason she finds it fun to eat what’s left on the way home.  Whatever works!

 

Lizzie didn’t take long to find her own groove in our dance parties and often cracks us up with her wiggles and shakes.  The kid has moves!  She even dances to the short songs on commercials and runs for her tutu each time so that she is properly dressed to dance.  Lizzie is very picky about her music and always has a song request in the car.  Some favorites are We Are(from Ice Age), Let It Grow(from Lorax), Tick Tok, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, anything Imagine Dragons, and anything by Martina McBride.  She can be quite the little stinker to get in a carseat when she is tired and will fight me like crazy.  Both of us are sweaty and crying by the end of it and for some reason a good Enya, Jack Johnson, or Sarah McLaughlin song can bring you back to a calm state.  Thank God for a well stocked Ipod and a kid who likes good music!

 

We often joke that Lizzie is way too smart for her own good.  She was unzipping zippers at 9 months old, climbing on the kitchen table at a year old, required us to baby-proof items that Taylor still doesn’t mess with, and now she can count to ten.  I wish I could take credit for this and say that I worked hard at teaching her counting with cute flash cards, but I think it comes from all the hours spent playing hide-n-seek with Taylor.  Now how do I turn potty training into a fun game???

 

I worried that since Taylor is constantly talking that Lizzie wouldn’t be able to get a word in, but that is not true.  She amazes us with her speech until she decides to scream to get our attention.  Common phrases heard coming from you: luv you, luv your guts, me too, shoes on outside, mommy sit down color, mommy play this?, I get Taylor, pick-e me up, this way(once picked up she directs you which way to go), and cheers(like with glasses).

Favorites books: Go Dog Go, Cinderella, Pajama Time, Little Blue Truck, Are You My Mother?, anything in the Llama Llama series, He Bear She Bear, One Fish Two Fish, and Buzy Bear

Favorite movies/tv shows: Bubbie Guppies, Wall-E, Finding Nemo, Doc McStuffins, Mickey Mouse, My Little Pony, and Handy Manny

 

You love to give big hugs at the most random times like the grocery store and at the dinner table, but I will take them anytime you give them out.  Plus you generally follow up with big kisses and I know these won’t last forever.  Please don’t grow out of this phase too quickly and let me love on you for many years to come!  I don’t love that you get up at the crack of dawn, but love seeing your happy face greeting me each morning.  Just learn to sleep a little closer to when my alarm goes off.  I love you sweet girl and can’t wait to keep watching your personality bloom.

Love, Mom

elizabethursday

Nothing makes an owie on your forehead better than a Strawberry Shortcake bandaid from your sister, swinging, and some cool sunglasses.

taylor tuesday

Don’t you know it’s much easier to color inside a box when you have it on your head?

elizabethursday

Watch out Harry Potter… Lizzie has taken broom riding to a whole new level!

Taylor Tuesday

Maybe I should go ahead and just state that these might not go out on time for the rest of the year because I will be too busy playing with the kids than working on the computer.  Plus I have to remember to stop and take photos sometimes. 

I did remember to take photos the other day and captured Taylor playing on the slide.  This slide was so much fun she came out the bottom sideways and feet in the air.  Where is the adult size one?

elizabethursday

Just another day around the house practicing our light saber skills.  At least she followed OSHA’s rules of wearing safety goggles.

Knitting Update

I have actually been knitting since completing my sweater in September.  I actually have a pile of completed knitting projects, but kept putting off taking pictures.  These projects required me to be in the pictures and I hate being in the pictures.  I feel like such a nerd.  But I figured these knitted pieces deserved to make it out of my closet before winter ended, so here are the newest additions to my Etsy store. 

I knitted a version of this cowl for myself this summer and then decided to knit a few more colors when I needed a break from my sweater.  The gray really shows off the zig zag pattern.  

  

I have a request to see this in a green and love the way it turned out.  I almost didn’t post this cowl after I did my lime green/navy outfit love the other day.  This is more of an olive green but would still look great with navy.  I am now on the hunt for a lime green yarn so make one in a brighter color for the spring. 

 

I had Chris take the pictures and it made me laugh when I went through them.  He knew I was wanting pictures of the cowls, but still took full body shots.  His explanation was that I could crop them later.  Good thing we have the ability to crop because I do NOT want you to see the slouchy yoga pants that I was rocking that day.  Baby hats are so much easier to photograph since I have a sweet friend that lets me use her baby as my model(and takes the pictures for me).  Anyone want to be my model next time? 

Taylor Tuesday

Two months of practice.  Two months of trying her hardest.  Two months of Tuesdays and Saturdays with Daddy as her coach.  Two months of cheering her on while trying to keep Lizzie from running on the field.  Best two months and we can’t wait to do it again in a few months!

Sister Saturday

Not sure how, but I ended up one lucky Momma with these two crazy cuties!

ps. Taylor was being a unicorn and I have no clue what Lizzie was doing.

Applesauce Raisin Chews

A couple weeks ago I listed a few of my favorite things and under the scoop I talked about a messy but good cookie.  I promise I didn’t forget about you and you won’t forget about this yummy cookie recipe.  I doubled the recipe because I was making them for Taylor’s soccer snack and wanted to make sure there were plenty for me at home.  Plus you need enough for sampling while the others are cooking.  Isn’t that the perk of being the cookie maker??? 

Guess what.. I even took some fancy phone pictures of the process for you too. 

Applesauce Raisin Chews

• 1 c margarine, softened
• 1 c brown sugar
• 1 c applesauce
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 c flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 ½ c quick or old fashioned oats
• 1 c raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat margarine and sugar until creamy. Add applesauce, egg, and vanilla; beat well. Gradually add combined flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix well. Stir in oats and raisins.

(see why I need the scoop to get this gooey mess out)

Drop by rounded tablespoonful's onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 11 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cook 1 minute on cookies sheet. Remove to wire rack; cool. Store covered at room temperature.

 

I apologize for the ‘I was taking pictures at midnight’ lighting but I wanted you to see that these cookies turn out like.  They are messy looking but very yummy. 

elizabethursday

“Help Momma, help!  Get. Me. Down!”

Taylor Tuesday

I know I’m a day late but it’s really hard to believe it’s already Wednesday and I’m having a hard time picking a picture that you haven’t already seen after all the Halloween pictures posted lately.  But I do have a cute one for you.

I must-ache you a question.  Can you see my milk mustache?

Halloween/Trick-or-treating

As luck would have it the girls had their preschool parades on different days, so I needed a fun outfit for them to wear on the day they watched the parade.  My mother-in-law is starting to make fun shirts(more to come on that soon) and these haunted house shirts were just right.  Taylor tends to go for this pose lately and Lizzie… well Lizzie thought she was playing hide-n-seek with me.  At least she’s looking at the camera.  Lizzie is wearing a skirt that I made.  Yes that does mean I have been sewing, took a few pictures, and will post about that soon too.

  

The preschool parade is where the kids walk around the circle drive twice.  Lizzie lucked out and got to be pulled in a wagon the entire time.  Life as an almost 2 year old is rough!  Taylor wanted to be Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony so Lizzie is her sidekick, Spike the dragon. 

  

Don’t ask me what part of a purple dress and crown reminds you of this pony, but I think I did pretty good making Lizzie look like Spike.

 

Somewhere in our attic is a tub containing some of our Halloween décor, including our 8’ wide blow up spider. Chris thought the yard looked a little lonely without the spider so he got up a 8’ tall ghost.  Lizzie fell in love with the ghost and named him Spooky.  She informs us anytime he falls over, has to check on him every morning/after nap, and runs to to greet him when getting in/out of the car.  “I see Spooky” has become a common phrase from Lizzie.  Chris then got us another spider, but this one has a head that moves from side to side.  He has become known as Creepy.  We might become “that house” with Halloween decorations up until Christmas since I’m not sure I can bear a sad Lizzie without Spooky and Creepy.

    

Lizzie, aka Spike, attacking Creepy with her flashlight.

My little trick-or-treaters.  The best part of Lizzie’s outfit is her tail.  After putting off sewing her outfit for weeks, someone posted this link a few days before Halloween and Pinterest became my saving grace.  Several houses busted out laughing when Lizzie would turn to walk away.  The tail is probably as big as she is and I convinced her to wear it by telling her that no one would give her candy unless she wore it.  I know I’m a bad Mommy, but the tail was worth it. 

  

Over the past few days I have heard lots of talk about what to do with all the candy our kids get.  Not only did  my girls get more candy than they need(even after I take my Mommy tax out), we ended up with only one trick-or-treater and tons of our own candy left.  My brother and sister-in-law told me about the Halloween Fairy a few years ago and it has been the best.  Kids are to pick out a certain number(think counting skills here) of pieces from their bag and then leave the rest for the Halloween Fairy.  The Fairy takes all the given candy to share with kids who weren’t able to go trick-or-treating and leaves your kids a surprise.  The Fairy left our girls the new Tinkerbelle movie.  For some reason, my husband all the sudden had a bucket of candy arrive on his desk November 1st too.  Hmmm… wonder how that happened and gladly it keeps me from eating anymore of the candy!