Fun at Home

My children are my usual photo subjects and this post is no exception. My mom gave H these pajamas and I thought they were so cute; I couldn't wait for him to be big enough to fit into them. I thought they were huge and that it would be Christmas before they fit him. They fit just fine now!

I realize that most of the pictures on my blog are of L and H because I tend to take the pictures in the morning when K and L are at school. Since L is home with us two days a week, she gets her picture taken, too. I'll try to get more pics of K up soon.

As I write this, H is in his rocker chair and chatting up a storm. He's just started this in the last week or so. Not that he wasn't talking earlier but this is almost non-stop. He just chatters!

Happy Birthday, Mod Girl!

I just wanted to wish my dear friend, Mod Girl, a happy birthday. I have known her since we were in kindergarten and we have been through a lot together. She has always been a wonderful encourager and faithful prayer warrior for whatever the need. So check out Mod Girl's blog and wish her a happy birthday!

Friday Family Fun

Ever since school started, we've been having Friday Family Fun night. This is, typically, pizza and a movie. While this wouldn't thrill most of you, it's such fun for the girls and S and I have fun with them. We rent a movie that all of us will watch (which isn't always easy) and we have pizza.

But the pizza we eat is no ordinary pizza. Instead of ordering from a chain, we make our own, which makes the night even more fun. The girls get to make their own pizzas (K, cheese and mushroom, L, plain cheese) and S and I get to be creative.

This week, I created what I think is my new favorite pizza. We start with store-bought crusts that actually taste very good. My pizza had goat cheese, caramelized onions, fresh mushrooms, fresh basil (from our herb garden), and fresh mozzarella. Yum! For those of you who need meat on your pizza, try adding a little prosciutto. S did that and it was really yummy.

I encourage all of you to get in the kitchen with your kids. We have a great time together and there are plenty of things that both K and L can do to help. I have vivid memories of my mom letting me help her in the kitchen and I think that's why I like to cook today. And let them help clean up, too!

Lemon Ricotta Cookies

The other day as I was feeding H, I was watching the Food Network and, more specifically, Everyday Italian with Giada DeLaurentiis. She is, frankly, too skinny to be a good chef but everything of hers that I've ever made has been delicious (I'd just like to insert a shout-out to Michelle who loves her, too). And she has the best lifestyle ever, jetting off to Italy and the Mediterranean whenever she feels like it. Must be nice. She made some wonderful Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze. They looked so good, a really good cookie for spring. However, it's not spring. It's technically fall but since it still pretty much feels like summer around here, I decided I didn't care that it wasn't the season for these cookies and made them anyway.

You really must try this recipe. It is a wonderful, light cookie and it is so easy to make. I will warn you that they are addictive and could possibly add to your waistline but they are delicious. And when I say light, I mean they aren't heavy, as in dark chocolate, but light in flavor, hence the lemon. I will say that I take absolutely no credit for these cookies. Don't blame me if you become addicted, too.

H is Five Months Old!

I'm really having a hard time believing that he's already five months old. This is going by way too fast. He's such a fun baby right now, very easy going, only complaining when there are real issues, i.e., hunger, dirty diaper, etc. It's hard to get him to smile for the camera so you'll just have to trust me that he really does smile a bunch, especially for his sisters. I'm also learning that a major difference between boys and girls is the amount of despair involved when there is both hunger and sleepiness. It's not a good combo for anyone, really, but the boy must have his food and his sleep. There's no doubt about that.

I have no idea how much he weighs right now but I know he's put on a little bit since the last time we were at the doctor's. He has finally outgrown his 3-month clothing and is on to bigger and better things. And he is beginning to enjoy his excer-saucer, thanks to some wonderful friends. I didn't have one for the girls and didn't really want to buy one for just one child. Thanks Kristie and Karina, for letting us borrow yours. It's a huge help. His favorite part is the mirror!

Finally, a smile!

Conversations

I'm having a rough time this week with S gone for the third week in a row and there's no end in sight at the moment. I have more to say on this subject but it's late and I really want to make sure my words are clear. In the meantime, I had a conversation with K tonight that I really wanted to share.

Shortly after I put the girls in bed, I sat down in my room and just started to cry. I prayed for God to provide someone to talk to. K poked her head out of her room and this is pretty much how the conversation went:

"Mommy? Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not."
"What do you need?"
"I just need a hug."
"Well, I can give you a hug. Can I come give you a hug?" So she came and sat in my lap and gave me a hug. I continued to cry.
"I miss Daddy a whole bunch, Mommy."
"I do, too. It's hard for Mommy when he's not here."
"Well, your kids love you an awful lot and so does Daddy." That was exactly what she said.

That made even more tears fall.

Rub-A-Dub

When L was a baby, a friend of mine gave me this wonderful Tummy Tub. It is the best, hands down, tub for babies. I wouldn't use it for newborns but once my kids are old enough to hold their heads up, it is the best thing in the world. It looks like a large bucket with a rubber ring at the base to prevent skidding.

Tonight was H's first experience with the Tummy Tub and he loved it. The girls were more than eager to help so I let them take some pictures. This was the first time that H had a smile on his face during bath time. The girls were doing their best to help and what helped the most was that they were entertaining him. He kept smiling at them and really enjoying himself.

(A bit of a disclaimer: S hates this tub. I don't know why but he can't stand it but he's out of town this week and I will use what I like. Oh, and what H prefers, too.)

H enjoying bath time

All smiles and bubbles

This is the picture K took (notice H is standing in the tub, something that made me a bit nervous)

This is the picture L took (she's not much of a photographer but she's only 3)