Our Thankful Tree

Last year we hung a turkey in our kitchen and filled him with feathers of thanks throughout the month of November. We had such a great time counting our blessings with that turkey last year and he ended up looking pretty darn cool.

We wanted to do something different this year so I asked Sweet P what she wanted to put up instead of a turkey.

Sweet P: "A cat."
Me: "Umm."
(pause)
Me: "How about a tree?"
Sweet P: "Yeah! A tree!"
Me: "We can do thankful leaves! And you can color them!" (because I could not think of anything we could add to a cat!)
Sweet P (upon hearing the words "you can color them"): "OK!"

I suppose we could have done whiskers or something, but I totally wasn't expecting cat. I wasn't expecting tree either, but hey. So our Thankful Tree came about. I found a leaf template online, arranged it in Word and printed it out. She colored 2 sheets and used water colors on the others (those are my favs!). I cut out the branches and she helped me assemble it with a glue stick.

Each day (at breakfast, lunch OR dinner), we each say something for which we are thankful (and sometimes we answer for Sprout).

Beary gets mentioned pretty much every day and each day I remind her that Beary's name is already on the tree, and she picks something/someone else.

My favorite moment from the tree was one morning when I asked what she was thankful for and she said, "Mama!" I told her I was thankful for her too, and then she added, "And Sprout!" I know I should have just written both on a leaf and been done with it, but I said, "Do you want to pick one for today and we can do the other tomorrow? Do you want to do mommy or Sprout today?" And much to my surprise and delight, she didn't pick me. She picked her brother.

Do you have a thankful tree, turkey or other blessing counter?

Making Memories: Apple Orchard

Snow Play

We had our first snow fall last Wednesday and my girl was all about playing in it! The first thing she said after she saw it was "Want to go outside?" I piled on her layers and the sweet Farmer took her out to play in the snow while I stayed inside with Baby Brother (I'd say I stayed in where it was warm, but we lost power that day until 2:30pm).

Isn't she the cutest?!

Awesome.

That word defines our trip in so many ways. There were in fact some very awesome times, but there were also a few times when we said, "awesome" and didn't mean it at all.

Like when we clogged the toilet at our friend, Paul's house (who let us stay in his fabulous guest house). Or when we went into Urban Outfitters to get change for the meter on UT campus and I suddenly had to pee (real bad). My only option was a nasty port-a-potty out back where there was a band playing (did I mention it was South by Southwest in Austin?) and drinks flowing. It was all fine and dandy until a boy (I say boy because no way was he over 21) said to myself and my (beautiful, I might add) sisters, "Go get some free alcohol. It might make you prettier." Ummmm. Really? Auntie Rosita glared at him and told him he was about to get punched in the face, while I said, "Too bad it wouldn't help you." Nice? No, but I wasn't in a nice mood at that point. I had to pee and was being called ugly. He said some choice words and walked away.

But the most "awesome" event of the trip wasn't even part of the trip itself, but part of our flight home. On our 2nd leg, the turbulence was TERRIBLE because of the sweet tornado watch in Omaha (lovely, eh?). Luckily, Sweet P and I had a row all to ourselves. This made what happened a bit easier to, err, swallow.

Let me interject here to say I do NOT have a stomach of steel. I don't even think it's made of wood. And while I love roller coasters, I really shouldn't ride them because it seldom ends well.

Can you see where this is going?

I'd already gagged on the way up, but what happened on the way down was even worse. I felt my stomach turn as we hit bump after bump, so I did what any person who was obeying the fasten seat belt sign and unwilling to drag a 23 month old into a tee-ninsy bathroom. I tossed my cookies (or pretzels) not once, not twice, not three times, but FOUR times in a barf bag (is there a nicer name for those things?). Something I've never done in my 30 years of life.

I was mortified and saying prayers that no one was witnessing this disgusting display (no one, of course, but my poor daughter). Poor Sweet P says to me, "Mama sad? Help you?" No baby, you can't help me. I just said, "It's okay" as I wiped my mouth with a baby wipe. Could there be anything more disgusting than vomiting in a plastic bag on an airplane? I think not.

That aside, we had a great time with Gammie and the aunties. We got to see lots of friends and family, celebrated Auntie Kannon and Gammie's birthdays and played outside A LOT! And as sad as it was to leave family and 80 degree weather (to come home to 45 degrees), it was nice to get home to our sweet Farmer and daddy. And since Sweet P turns 2 in May, that'll be our last flight for awhile (I hope).

Some pics from the trip:

With Auntie Kannon and Kannon (she's named after Auntie Kannon!) in Auntie K's sports bras

Examining RoRo's beads

Reading from cousin Noah's book

With Gammie at Kerbey Lane

The Girls!

How was your Spring Break?

Snow Day

Not that we got a snow day, it was just finally warm enough for us to actually play in the snow. It'd been in the single digits or teens for a week or so until this week hit. And hurray for 30 degree weather!

Really?! Who says that?! Oh right, people who live in Iowa.

So we piled on our snow gear and played out in the backyard. There was a tiny hill where the Farmer has piled all of the snow from our drive so we all took turns going down on our disc sled. It was little, but oh so fun!

Her snow boots are too big so any time she bent over in the snow she'd get stuck and we'd have to help her out a bit.

The Farmer and I couldn't resist joining in the fun.

The Perfect Fall Day

Today was the perfect day for pumpkin carving. And apple cider. And pancakes. And, and and. The Farmer was home this morning so I cooked up some oatmeal pancakes for us. Sweet P had some muffins, she's not eating much these days since she has bronchitis (yep, my poor sweet bun).

We gobbled those oatmeal pancakes down with mugs of apple cider from Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge, IA. Love that place and their cider and their honeycrisp apples AND their apple cider donuts! After breakfast we headed out for some pumpkin carving! (with pumpkins from the farm). As you can see Sweet P was in on the action.

I had hoped this would be a great sensory activity for her, but she wasn't the least bit interested in touching the pumpkin with her hands. The only time she did was when the Farmer was picking out the seeds (for roasting) and I asked her if she could help and she picked up a piece of pumpkin and plopped it in the bowl. Oh well, maybe next time.

Yours truly carved that pumpkin and I have to say that with that little tool of the Farmer's it was the easiest pumpkin I've ever carved! And it doesn't look half bad. I'm a traditional jack'o'lantern kinda gal, nothing fancy. And yes, that is an ice cream scoop we're using!

After Sweet P's nap, I made oyster crackers snackers and pumpkin seed/date cakes. But you'll have to wait another day or two for those. And we finished the day with Potato Leek soup (more on that soon, too). Now Sweet P is in bed and the Farmer is at the Drake soccer game (go Bulldogs!).

What fall crafts or activities did you do today?

Support your neighborhood entrepreneurs

My college friend, Teenie, visited us over the weekend. We filled our days with fun, summer activities, including visiting a lemonade stand. Here's how it went:

"Hey! Look, they're selling lemonade. Let's stop."

Rolling down the window as we stopped at the lemonade stand being run by what appeared to be 4 little boys.

Me: "Are you guys selling lemonade?"

"Yeah! You've gotta try this, though." As he holds up a half-empty Gatorade bottle.

Me: "What is it?"

"Half lemonade/half Gatorade."

Hmmmm, skeptical.

Me: "Ok! How much is it?

"$1!"

$1!!!!!???? What happened to 25-50cents? Inflation?

Me: "Ok, Give us 2!"

"Ummmm, we don't have enough left."

Me: "Ok, how bout one of those and one regular lemonade."

As I look at the full pitcher of yellow lemonade. Somehow I get handed a glass of pink. Not sure where it came from.

I hand them my 2 dollars and say, "Are you guys all brothers?"

"Nooooo."

Me: "Friends, then?"

"Yeaaaahhh."

I thank them and we drive away.

Teenie: "Um. I think that one with the long hair was a girl."

Me: "What!? Really?" Gosh, I hope not.

And even though the Gatorade was little more than watered down Gatorade and I said something that may have been extremely embarrassing, I'm still glad we stopped. And hope they made more than our 2$.

Support your neighborhood entrepreneurs!

Do the Zoo

Did you know that Minneapolis has a free zoo?! It's called Como Zoo and definitely better than a few of the non-free zoos I've been to. Uncle Ian went with us and Sweet P had a fabulous time! So if you're ever in Minneapolis, go! It's free! Really.

Sweet P is obsessed with birds so she was a wee bit excited when the first thing we saw were pink flamingos.

She may not have been as excited about the orangutans as I was, but she definitely liked the gorilla. As you can see:

And just for fun, here's a pic of our little family and one of Sweet P and Uncle Ian (her Godfather).

Making Memories Monday

This is actually from last Monday, but I can't believe it's already been a week so I'm posting it today. Have you ever seen such a cutie patootie? She's hammin' it up for Auntie K during dinner time. Love her!

The Reason I Love Summer Saturdays

High above the crowds on Auntie K's shoulders

I love the Des Moines Downtown Farmer's Market. We don't even buy any produce anymore because we grow our own, but I love the atmosphere and the people watching. And now that Sweet P is 1, I love it even more because she LOVES dogs. And everyone knows there are plenty of dogs at the DTFM.

My first time this year was with my family last weekend. I have to admit the raspberry whole wheat cinnamon roll wasn't as fabulous as I remembered so it might be time to find a new favorite.

Gammie tried a pupusa (can't go wrong there) and I thought maybe I should start getting one of those. But then I remembered that was the Farmer's poison (and he's funny about ordering the same thing).

Auntie Rosita had french toast and I only contemplated that for a second before I remembered how much I dislike soggy bread.

Sweet P can't wait to try kettle corn, can you tell? We bought two large bags and one was gone before the day was over.

So I'm on a mission to find a new breakfast favorite at the Farmer's Market. In 2008 it was breakfast burritos, last year it was raspberry whole wheat cinnamon rolls. What will this year bring? I guess I'll just have to go again next weekend to find out! And while we won't be participating at the DTFM, we will hopefully be making our first farmer's market debut this year...I'll keep you posted.

One More Night

Whew, even Sweet P's worn out from packing

After tonight (which I'm not really counting), we'll have ONE MORE NIGHT! in the apartment. Can you tell I'm excited?

What I'm not excited about are the shin splints I'm currently suffering from since we live on the 3rd floor of an apartment bldg with no elevator. Doesn't moving out sound like fun? Oh it is, it is. It takes me 30 minutes to pack the car with a load and about 5 to unload it at the house...why? Oh. Yep. Stairs. But I'm not complaining. Really. I'm just so doggone excited about getting out of here that I shouldn't even be talking about those stairs. I also have to remember that we decided to save money and do it ourselves so I need to just settle down.

If I had some pictures, I'd show you how desolate our apartment is. But I haven't really been up to par in the picture taking area (remember?) and I get reprimanded by Gammie on a regular basis ("Where are my pictures of Sweet P?"). I know you're reading this mom, so there you have it. Plus, there's a pic of her up top.

Also, if I haven't mentioned it, Sweet P's first real word is BALL. She says ball for just about everything, because if you think about it...there's a lot that resembles a ball. Like onions, apples, balloons...you name it. It's a ball to Sweet P. She amazes me that she can find a ball in ANY store.

Tomorrow night I'll post a super fun post about what went on that same night a year ago. It'll be the last post from the apartment. And then we'll be MIA for awhile as we set up shop in our new home and get around to setting up the good ole internet.

Shout out: To Auntie Rosita who had her first open house tonight! I haven't heard how it went yet, but I'm sure it was fabulous. If you haven't checked out her work, you should! I'm not just saying that because she's my sister, either.

Making Memories Monday