Summer fun

We love to play with our friends, Miss Katie, Jack and baby Ford. I really need to get some pictures of the big boys, but since they usually go off and play with the "big kid toys" by themselves, I usually only end up with pictures of the babies. And they are usually blurry because they are moving so fast, or I am (to chase one of them).

Lily and Ford playing nicely. Sort of...

 

We also love to play outside in the summer. But basically only before 10 am, because after that, it is scorching hot. 

 

Just like brother

Ferocious Babe

And her sidekick, Riley

 

 


No more kisses, Babe!

Very concerned about the trash truck

 

 



New camera= more pictures :)

Found a FANTASTIC deal on a (used) camera on Craigslist! Oh how I love to buy used things on Craigslist. What did I do before it...?

Anyway... it is a few years old, but definitely an upgrade compared to what I have had before. I have been playing with it for the last few days, but I'm still working out the kinks. So, please excuse any terrible colors/contrast/brightness etc. errors :)

*I still have a few leftover pictures on my phone. And since they are so stinking cute, I just can't leave them out!*

One of the highlights of Wade's summer was a tour of Krispy Kreme Donuts! He got to go in the kitchen where they make them and then make his own chocolate dipped sprinkled masterpiece. So much fun!

 

 

Quick trip to the park after the donut tour! 

 

Wade decided to "teach" Lily how to plant beans one day. He was such a good teacher, very patient and so proud when she did what he asked her to. And to give her credit, she was a very good learner, watching him and imitating exactly what he was showing her. Such a cute little moment :)

 

 

15 month doctors appointment went well. Even if it was about 2 months late. Sigh. She's 31 inches (75%) and 23 lbs (?%)



Paci smile!

Cheese!

I have a sword, a maxi pad and I'm on my truck. Let's roll.

Ready for anything with some screws, a pair of gloves, a blanket on her head and a tutu.

 

And brother is climbing the walls. Literally.

 

Putting a diaper on the baby

Evil-eye

 

Of course Spiderman wears boots in Texas

Paleo continued

We are trying to enforce our new lifestyle on our unsuspecting kids as well. And by we, I mean me. Mark has sort of given up Paleo, he really didn't like the substitutions and alterations to his stand-by foods. I, on the other hand, like experimenting. Although, I must warn you NOT to use tapioca flour to bread anything. Ever. Ew.

Anyway, we started to notice that pretty much all of Wade's meals were sugar-laden. Either with straight sugars, or carbs. So we are drastically cutting them back. It's tough, because I have created a monster who only eats very few, very specific foods. Chicken nuggets, a couple types of sandwiches and hot dogs are the main staples. He's good with fruits and will eat a few veggies. And pancakes. Always, pancakes. So, we are forcing him to eat the grilled or baked chicken I make for us instead of making him separate chicken nuggets. He has to eat the steak or pulled pork we have instead of me making him a completely different meal. We are also adding more sides. A fruit and veggie every meal (well, usually no veggies for breakfast, because I think that's just weird), plus some extra meats/proteins as well. Some days, he's so nervous about eating the main course, he'll eat all his fruits and veggies just to buy him time. Could be worse :) Like I said, it's tough, but I think it will be good for him in the long run. Plus I am hoping it might help with his sleep habits. Just sayin.

A few new recipes I have tried and LOVE are:

Paleo pancakes. These are BY FAR, the best I've made. They use eggs (of course), greek yogurt (so I guess they are Primal by definition, not Paleo), and flax seed among other things. I add vanilla, cinnamon and blueberries. I use agave syrup, which I have heard lately might not be the best choice...(?) I make a batch once a week for Lily and I, we can usually eat them twice before I run out. She loves them and will usually inhale two in a sitting.

 

 

I also used those little easy egg microwave "breads" for pulled pork sliders. YUM!

I made zucchini pizza things for lunch the other day and they were fantastic. Got a little greasy from the pepperoni, but still good.

Hello there!

How have you been? It seems to be getting busier and busier around here! I have no excuses for not blogging though, unless you count exhaustion and lack of sleep as a valid excuse ;)

Little girl has FINALLY gotten in all those pesky teeth- HOORAY! I hope that means more sleeping for both her and I. Wade on the other hand, was doing so well sleeping in his own bed at night. He had earned 2 (or was it 3?) TMNT toys for staying in his bed for 7 nights a piece. Then we upped the challenge to "you can't come into Mommy & Daddy's room to ask for a hug, snack, drink of water, to tell me that you need to be walked back to your room because the kitchen is scary, or that your feet are tired." In general, he needed to sleep in his bed for 5 nights, and 4 of them he needed to stay in his room all night as well. That's when things fell apart. He completely gave up and so did I. I can't take him back to his room if he is throwing a fit because he'll wake up his sister. Plus, I just HATE having him cry in his bed at night. Oh, and his night terrors terrify me more than they do him. He only has them occasionally, but more so if he's stressed. Sigh. So he's back to sleeping in his little bed on our floor. Most nights I don't even know he's in there, so if nothing else, it's more sleep (for me) than before. I keep reminding myself that he won't be in high school sleeping on our floor. One day he will wake up and say, "I'm too old for this, good night. Oh, and no more girl kisses, Mom." Thanks Nene :)

Lazy day

Daddy & his babies

Other than that... Lily is like a grown up little lady. With attitude. She is HILARIOUS! She has faces like you wouldn't believe and loves to entertain everyone with her antics. Especially her brother, who finds her hilarious also.

 

 

Doing a little light reading in her big chair

 

She also talks a lot. Mostly you cannot understand the words, but she has inflection in her voice that lets you know if she wants whatever it is sort of, really wants it, or NEEDS IT NOW! She can say coherently- Daddy, Mama, baby, Babe, ball, bye-bye, more; She can say incoherently (in that language that only we can understand)- bird, Wade (sounds like Bade), hi, bug; She can sign- more, please, milk, all done (sometimes she does the sign for food and she's learning thirsty); She makes the noises for- a cow, a pig, a sheep, a horse and a truck/car. And she loves to give kisses. To her brother. To Mama's coffee cup. To random stranger's shoes she sees at the pool. Trying to reign her in...

Kisses for Mama's coffee

 

Kisses for Brother

 

Kisses!

 

Oh, and my camera is broken. Again. Which is why these pictures are all random tints and colors, I took them with my phone. Going to try to finally get a nice one that will last soon. My goal is to have it before Wade starts school. Which is another thing we've got going on. School! He needed Ninja Turtle everything, which I finally found (except the lunch box is a weird shape and doesn't fit regular Tupperware containers :/). We go to an orientation in the next few weeks and he starts the beginning of September. Can't really believe it, such a grown up kid.

So tough when Pooh Bear is in the wash