Silly Girl!

It was bed time and the girls were all getting ready for bed. Emerson decided she would sleep in Cookie's kennel. She squealed "Night-night" and ran off to claim her spot. She held the door shut, so her sisters could not get in.

She would fling the door open and just laugh!

Rob and the girls could not get her out without her kicking and screaming.

They would pull her out and she would crawl right back in.

We finally got her to come out by offering her a second teeth brushing session. Yes, my girls might be the only kids that actually beg to brush their teeth. I will tell them if they don't hurry and get on their PJ's they will run out of time and won't GET to brush their teeth. Out of fear of "the sugar bugs" they move quickly. Hopefully, it will last forever!

Go Panthers!

What a great Day! My sister came over after church to watch the girls so Rob and I could get out for some much needed adult time. It's always fun to go to the game, tailgate, hang out with friends and watch the Panthers. Even better when they win! The weather was perfect. Cool Fall jacket weather. Thanks Aunt Aly!

Panthers 30- Saints 7

Recipe

Hello...might be nice if I gave the recipe.

I followed it exactly because that's just what I do (I blame it on my chemistry background). Next time I might step out of the box and use spinach in the ricotta filling instead of parsley. It was delicious the way it is, I just love spinach. Enjoy!

Black Bean Lasagna

No boil Lasagna noodles

2 cups reduced fat Monterey Jack cheese

Sauce:

1 med onion, chopped

1 clove of garlic, chopped (I used minced from a jar)

1 cup water

2 cans(15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can(14.5 oz) whole tomatoes, with juice

2 cans(6 oz) tomato paste

Saute onions and garlic until tender. Add water, tomatoes (break up with spoon),tomato paste and beans. Simmer uncovered for 15 mins stirring occasionally.

Filling:

1 container(15 oz) fat free Ricotta

1/2 cup reduced fat Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup egg product or 4 egg whites

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional, I did use it)

Mix well.

Heat oven to 350

Layer noodles, 1/3 of sauce, 1/3 of ricotta mixture, 1/3 of Monterey Jack cheese in 9x13 baking dish.

Bake 30-35 min. Let stand 15 before serving.

What's for Dinner

Black Bean Lasagna So yummy and so easy! Don't be fooled by the number of ingredients. My sister's friend, Laura gave me the recipe and I tried it out last night. Big hit! Will definitely make it again. It tasted great and is low fat and full of protein

Love Pumpkin

I do love pumpkins! I love this one because my daughter Landon painted it in Kindergarten.

I just can't stop loving this one! Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is so good, but so bad! It's wrecking my diet. Well worth a longer workout on the treadmill!

Yummmm!
(and I don't normally drink coffee)

Hiding

This is toddler hiding at it's best! When I called her name she said,"shhh, Mommy...I hi-ning". Maybe she's helping the cheese hide from the crackers?

Is it too much to ask that she dust the blinds while under there?

Smell the Roses

I know there are a lot Martha Stewart watchers out there and I'm no exception. My head is full of projects I've seen and I'm going to do, but never get around to. I finally broke down and attempted to make the gorgeous coffee filter roses that Cassie Chappell created. It was actually very simple and even more rewarding. Tracing and cutting out the petals took the longest and was boring busy work. The first rose is the one I have pictured and it is not perfect. My outer petals are too long so they flop. But hey, roses aren't perfect in nature anyway. :)

SUPPLIES

The supplies were very affordable Less than a total of $10 to make more than I could ever want. 400 cone coffee filters from Costco for 3.75 (you need 8 for each rose) A pack 30 green wires for .88, A roll of the sticky/stretch floral tape for .88 both from Walmart. Rose colored Van Gogh water color paint for 2.75 at local craft store. The other things I had on hand include: pencil, scissors, paint brush, and bamboo skewer to roll the edges. I printed the templates from Martha (yes, we are first name:)).

It was a great project! I can't wait to try other colors ( maybe orchids). It was so much fun. My 14 year old niece, Morgan even made one. I think they will make perfect decorations for Emerson's 2nd birthday party in November. We should all take more time to stop and smell the roses, or in this case make roses!

2 min

Yesterday, I went to brush my teeth before I walked out the door to head to Target. Emerson was in the kitchen playing fridge farm so I thought it was the perfect time. Emerson LOVES the fridge. The ice/water dispenser is pure magic for her and lucky for me has a lock button. I have started tying the fridge doors closed with a ribbon so she can't get in. She likes to take all the things out of the door and has even been known to climb up and sit on the shelves. Today she learned to untie. It was just a matter of time. Mustard was her choice and painting was the game! Mommy was not thrilled with her art and she can't understand why.

Crocs and pants. (good thing they are the cheap-o $3 knock offs)

Yes, that is sidewalk chalk art. (Thanks, Connor for opening the new holders before school)

She managed to paint the remote.

Her it-wasn't-me look. Hmmm my sister's are at school, this is a tricky one.

I'll blame Cookie, since she has mustard on her too! Poor puppy. Yellow mustard is a pain to clean off of white puppy fur.

She was much happier to be bathed and headed to Target. I guess sneaking off to brush my teeth for 2 minutes was just 2 minutes, too long.

HARVEST!

I got the best gift from The Preppy Engineer!

She gave me so many wonderful goodies for the Fall Swap that Preppy Mama organized.

I love everything! I hear Starbucks calling my name.

It was beautifully wrapped and adorned with grosgrain.

What a perfect start to my weekend. Thank you Preppy Engineer!

Lunch

Emerson waiting for lunch time

Emerson and Olivia

Emerson and her cousin Maddi having lunch.

Connor and Emerson sharing a kiss.

Landon, Connor and Emerson


Cousin Miles with Emerson and Landon

I made a school lunch visit. Emerson and I ate with her sisters and cousins today. With 6 at the same school I thought it was best to make a day of it instead of a week. Long day from 10:45-1:45. And we missed one cousin for a nap.

Cousins

Cousins Summer 2005 (9 out of 10, Emerson was not born, yet)
Spring 2007

I have 4 neices and 2 nephews.The ages are 14, 12, 12, 10, 9, 8, 8, 7, 5, and almost 2.
My 4 daughters are the youngest.



On at least 1 day a week I have all 10 at my house afterschool. Yes, 10! That's two more than Kate Gosslin. I have often thought of J&K+8 and how they frequently refer to their life with 2 sets of multiples as a challenge and I would agree it's a zoo. However, I think it's the # of kids not the fact they are multiples that is overwhelming. Once they were out of diapers she gets the avdantage of multiples. It would be much easier if on Tuesdays, I only had to keep 2 age groups entertained instead of 8 different ages. Well, and a camera crew to help watch over them when they run off!

Little Picasso

When I heard Emerson singing in her bed I knew nap time was over. I just had no idea she was creating a masterpeice. I know from the photo it looks to be something far worse than brown marker. I admit that on many occasions I have been greeted by a naked poop covered toddler. Today, (thank goodness) she was naked, but poop free. I hope Crayola is still washable after a few hours since I have the feeling she had art class before nap time. Very Fall of her to choose a brown marker.

We Love Fairies!

Olivia lost her 3rd tooth! For this we are very thankful since she was starting to look like Nanny Mcphee. Teeth should never be horizontal. Last night we were visited by the beloved Tooth Fairy! Livie was showered with quarters and fairy dust, (complete with a trail that kept my little fairies busy all morning)!

What a way to start the day!

B-Ball

Emerson might follow in daddy's footsteps and play basketball.



She loved rolling and bouncing the ball. She even had some good moves for a 22 month old. It's a shame Coach K doesn't coach girls, we might have a future Blue Devil on our hands. Go Duke!

Spray Food

I was a skeptic of the spray pancake batter, but my friends I was wrong. The Batter Blaster really delivered. Organic spray food, who knew! My girls loved it. Not that pancakes are hard to make, but it was fun and very neat. Just shake,spray and flip. They wanted tiny pancakes and it was simple. The plate is actually a salad plate and each little pancake is about the size of a quarter. Adorable! Top with whipped cream and you have the perfect spray meal.

Bones

Today, Landon handed in her first project as a 3rd grader. She had to make and label a skeleton. Being a Biology nerd, I loved this assignment. I was a bit surprised that she would be memorizing bones at 8, since I never knew my kneecap was a patella until well into Middle school. The days of learning to color and cut, tying our shoes and napping on mats in Kindergarten is a thing of the past. I should have known 3rd grade advanced, too.

Landon decided to use pipe cleaners and straws to build her skeleton friend, Skelly. She quickly noticed the hands would be huge if she made each finger, so she opted to draw every tiny bone on a piece of index card and just attach it to Skelly. She needed to show every detail and spent many hours getting each one perfect. I was so proud of her. It looks great!

A Halloween themed project was perfect for Fall. Skelly will make a great addition to our decorations!

3 Down

It was a very exciting weekend. After many hours working with Daddy, we now have 3 training wheel free bike riders (Or 2 wheeler riders as Connor proudly calls herself).

To get some good practice time, we went to the track to master our skills without fear of cars. No fewer than 20 laps later it is official. I now have thighs of steel (I wish) and a wonderful farmers tan to prove it.

I was very proud of the girls for riding so long. It might have had a little to do with the fuss I made while trying to fit 3 bikes, 3 helmets and a stroller in the back of the Mini, and something about this being a trial run, since these ladies can't make the 1/2 mi block ride in the neighborhood with out quitting. I think it might also help not having my helpful voice directing bike flow, like at home.

We even had fun playing with sidewalk chalk. They were very excited to know their cousins saw their art on Monday at school. Landon was sure to add her last name for clarity, in case they thought it was another Landon, Olivia, Connor and Emerson.

Olivia was the last to decide 2 wheels were better than 4.


Connor loves riding her 2-wheeler.


Landon, the old pro, enjoyed teaching her sisters tricks.

It was great to see how independent they are getting.

I'm the only thing holding Emerson back from joining her sisters in the wind. She tries to ride the "big" bikes and doesn't see reaching the peddles as factor. Until those little legs grow she is stuck in the stroller just along for the ride.

Wonderful Wednesday

For almost 9 years, once a week my best friend comes over to visit, gossip, watch TV and above all, play Aunt. We met in college 15 years ago and have been wonderful friends every since.



This week we went to Mama Fu's for great food and a million balloon sculptures. My girls had a blast goofing off. We left with 2 pink poodles, 3 swords, 4 crowns, 3 hearts and a lady bug. Just a few more things to keep away from the puppy.

We love Fall

Connor came home wearing this cute fall crown of leaves she made at school today.

Happy Fall!

This is what we did instead of napping today (dark circles to prove it). Fabulous Fall has arrived! Emerson was very excited to see pumpkins. She wanted the whole cart full of them. We are glad for sweater weather!

Only my Livie!

Olivia: Mom, did you know if Emma swallows a calipitter(caterpillar) she would burp a butterfly?


Me: Oh wow, let's not feed her any to find out?


Olivia: I'll try, but it would be neat to see!

She is clearly still pitching her theory of "uncontrollable" burps, to get the no-sodas-until-they-learn-control, freeze lifted. A+ for effort. If only she put this much thought into quietly burping.

Greek for a day!

Almost every year for the past 25 years I have gone to the annual Greek Festival to enjoy wonderful food and rich culture. I had a childhood friend who is Greek and she influenced my love for Greek food. We would watch her little sister dance for hours dressed from head to toe while we sampled every thing in site. She could pronounce things and always had a connection to get the best food.

I'm a Scotch-Irish-German-Irish with a touch of Indian, normal American Christian girl. Product of the American melting pot to say the least. We did not have a strong ethnic ties or "pure" blood line and I really admired her tight knit Greek community. The fact they had awesome food was definitely a bonus. She did love to come over and eat my mom's southern cooking (which is a heritage all its own). I wanted to be Greek and she wanted to be a normal American. (Rent, My big Fat Greek Wedding if you need a visual. It's so true and hilarious!)

I took my girls and for one more day, pretended to be Greek and had a blast visiting old friends and sharing their rich culture and mouth watering food.

Spanakopita, Greek salads loaded with olives and feta, souvlaki, and loukoumades, the most delicious donut holes covered in honey, cinnamon and powdered sugar. It was bliss. Not for the diet, gained 3 lbs! Double time on the treadmill for the next few weeks. :(

The girls loved the "guard" because he had a real sword. They kept saying, "He's real mom not an actor, REAL!" They loved Greece and want to go back next week when Daddy gets home.

My Little Tea Pot

This is Emerson singing "I'm a little tea pot" with her sisters. She is a bit confused with the "pour me out part" and "roll em up" from Pat-a-Cake. I can understand why since Connor sings it "when I get all boiled up, just tip me out." I guess she is tipped over.

Fitting that she has on her tea pot dress.

She is such a character and keeps us laughing.

Wow!

I have been slammed for the last month. Getting geared up for uniforms and all that the new school year brings still makes my head ache. We started on the 25th and have been racing around ever since. I'll post first day of school pictures and labor day pictures as soon as I get a break to upload pictures.