History Museum

On Wednesday the kids and I went with Grandpa and Grandma to the National Museum of American History. We started with one of my favorite exhibits, Julia Child's kitchen. Chris and I had that same toaster oven for a long time before it finally gave out. Another one of my favorite exhibits is the First Ladies exhibit. The kids didn't like either of these exhibits but we made it through them okay. Below is Mary Todd Lincoln's dress. Wow, she had a narrow waist! My absolute favorite exhibit on Wednesday was the Star-Spangled Banner. It is a photography-free area so we didn't get any pictures of it.

The kids were interested in the exhibit about the men who invented saccharine. The liked the life-like figures. I didn't take but one picture on Wednesday. My father-in-law takes wonderful pictures and it was just easier to copy his memory card. He took several cute pictures of Lydia while they waited for me to get snacks.Both kids really liked the transportion section. They especially liked the touch-screens. We skipped the kids lab area because it was crowded and Lydia is probably a little young for it. Plus they didn't know what they were missing and they did enjoy the transportation wing of the museum. Our family voted to keep the penny by dropping several pennies into the "Yes" container. If I had taken the time to look at the museum's website, I probably would have tried to see the Holidays on Display exhibit. Maybe next time.

This would be an excellent photo of Dianna and me if there wasn't an extra face in it. Of course, I am making a horrible expression in the picture without the extra person.

We were at the museum for 3 1/2 or 4 hours on Wednesday. I am glad we were able to go and I think we all had a good time. We left the museum at 5:00. There was no traffic leaving DC on Wednesday evening! I don't think very many people went to work the day before Thanksgiving. We met Chris (who did go to work) at one of the kids' favorite restaurants.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thankful Trees

I hope to continue the tradition of doing Thankful Trees with the kids. We did them last year for the first time.

Lydia:
Daddy
Mommy
Wesley (followed by a lot of "write my name! Write my name!"
Blanket
Simba and my moose
My kitchen
My books
The playground

Wesley:
Platypus
My birthday
Mommy
Daddy
Lydia
Grandma and Grandpa
Nana and Pawpaw
Hunter
My Bike

Thanksgiving - Friend Making Monday

It is Friend Making Monday and Amber has asked questions all about Thanksgiving. If you want to participate go here.

1. Turkey or Ham? I prefer ham but I am cooking turkey.
2. Favorite side dish? My mom's sweet potato dish. I posted the recipe last year.
3. Favorite dessert? Pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake.
4. Black Friday: Are you going or not? One my favorite holiday tradition is going to the mall at 6:00 on Black Friday. I will be ready to leave at 11:00 when the mall really gets crowded.
5. If so, what's on the top of your list? I will be looking for some clothes for myself on Black Friday but mostly I will be looking for Christmas presents for my family.
6. Going out of town or staying close to home? Chris' parents will arrive at our house on Tuesday. We are all excited to see them.
7. Hosting or helping? I am hosting but my mother-in-law will be helping. Chris will also help me.
8. Name one family tradition at Thanksgiving. I do thankful trees with the kids. I plan on asking everyone at the table what they are most thankful for this year.
9. What do you do after dinner? We need an after dinner tradition. Over the weekend, we will decorate for Christmas.
10. What are you most thankful for this year? We are so blessed. I am most thankful that God is faithful.

Not Ever Again

A dear friend gave me some suggestions for fall crafts. I wasn't planning on doing the handprints on the pumpkins, but I walked into Target on November 1 and the plastic pumpkins were half price. I bought two of them and I also bought finger paint. When I got out the finger paint one afternoon, Lydia immediately said, "I don't want to finger paint." Well, it didn't work anyway and I had to contact my friend and ask what kind of paint to use. Yes, I am so bad at craft projects I had to be told to use tempera paint. I used the washable kind.

Wesley was very happy to put the paint on his hands for the hand prints. Lydia didn't want to do it so I bribed her with chocolate chips. She cooperated and seemed happy enough to do it but as I was washing her hands, she said, "I don't want to finger paint ever again!"

"Do You Remember The Turtle..."

On Monday, the kids and I went to a local nature center with some of our friends. I missed the turn and had to turn around. As we were driving back toward the nature center Wesley asked, "Mommy, do you remember the turtle that pooped as he was walking across the floor? Did you know turtles have green poop?"

Isn't amazing what little kids remember? We went to the nature center in April with MOPS and they did a little program for us and the kids got to pet snakes, frogs, and turtles. It was raining for most of our visit in April so we missed out on the cool playground.
I love playgrounds. Blame it on my job or maybe it's because of my childhood and the many fond memories of the playgrounds at the local schools and community college. The playground at the nature center did not disappoint. It has a lot of climbing things which is what I loved about it.

Weslye tried out the fireman's pole.

Walking on this chain was challenging for Wesley even when he was holding on to the rail.

I was surprised but this scared him.

Lydia did some climbing also.

Here she is hanging before going down the slide. Under this platform are some little benches that the kids enjoyed playing on.

After playing for a little while we went down the nature center and looked at the animals. Wesley and Lydia both asked to go downstairs to the classroom where they got to touch the animals last spring. We will have to try to do that again sometime.

The area around the center is really pretty. The two older girls thought it was stinky so they were holding their noses when I took this picture. The rest of us didn't really smell anything.

It was a fun morning and I am looking forward to going back.

Bike Riding Over the Fallen Leaves

After naptime we have been going outside to play. I have to take the double jogger with me because Lydia usually won't walk home and sometimes I have to carry Wesley's bike also.

On Sunday during Lydia's nap, Wesley and I went out to get our exercise. He rode his bike and I walked. This probably won't work for much longer; as he gets better at riding his bike, I won't be able to keep up with him. I was surprised that my legs were tired after only walking for about two miles.

He has gotten very good at pushing his bike up the big hill in our neighborhood. After the big crash in October he has been afraid to go too fast down and has refused to try to ride down the big hill. Normally I put the bike on the double jogging stroller but on Sunday I carried it down the hill for him. He did ride down the last little bit.

I am so thankful for the park in the middle of our neighborhood. There is at least 1/2 mile of flat bike path and Wesley loves riding on it. (He has gotten pretty good at riding up a slight incline.)

The park is also very pretty. I love the mild weather. I wouldn't mind winter if it didn't get any colder than it was Sunday and Monday this week.

Recipe - Friend Making Monday

Amber had a great idea for Friend Making Monday. She asked for favorite fall recipes. I can't wait to get some new ideas for dinner time. If you want to join in, go here.

My mother-in-law gave me this recipe. It is an oldie but goody from Southern Living. I modified it a little to make it easier for me as I don’t take the time to make my own chicken broth.

I will often double or triple this recipe and give one pot pie to a new mom and freeze one (without the crust on it) for my family. My kids and husband love this recipe.

Chicken Pot Pie

2 chicken breast, cooked and cubed ( I usually put salt and pepper on the chicken and broil it)
1 can of chicken broth
1 tablespoon of butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 small potato, peeled and chopped
½ cup frozen peas
½ cup all purpose flour
1 cup half and half
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon of pepper
½ (15 oz) package refrigerated piecrusts

Melt butter in a large skillet and add onion, carrots, celery, potato, and peas. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add flour, stirring until smooth. Gradually add chicken broth and half and half. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Stir in chopped chicken, salt, and pepper. Pour into a lightly greased 11 X 7 inch baking dish.

Spread pie crust over the mixture (you can be all fancy with this, but I just put it on there and make sure the pie crust covers everything). Cut slits in top to allow steam to escape.

Bake at 400° for 20 minutes, and then cover with foil and bake another 10 minutes until golden brown.

Homemade Bagels

I made homemade bagels! And they were delicious..the second time I made them! Check out the story here.

Trying to Keep Her Awake

Today Lydia had swim lessons and then went to a birthday party. On the way home I decided to go buy high gluten flour. When were a few minutes away from the store, I realized Lydia was very sleepy. I remember one of my friends said that she gave her girls lollipops to keep them awake in the car. I got a lollipop from the secret stash and passed it to her. She seemed happy enough to get it but when I looked back, this is what I saw. Within a minute or so, she took the lollipop out of her mouth and just held it.

Lydia slept in my arms while I was in the store. One of the employees helped me with the flour. He scooped it out of the bulk bin while explaining to me why "gluten is so bad for everyone." Of course, Lydia woke up as soon as put her back in her car seat.

Lunch Date

Today the kids had preschool but Chris was off from work. Chris and I spent the morning together and had lunch at Wildfire. We split the calamari and chopped salad. Both items were delicious. Too bad there aren't more federal holidays during the week when the kids have school.
I am thankful for such a wonderful husband. He constantly shows his love for me and the kids.

I am also thankful for all the Veterans who served and are serving so we can experience freedom.

Why Can't It Always Be Warm in November?

Yesterday was a wonderful November day. I wish every November day would be a warm 72 degrees. To celebrate the day, we played outside with friends.
Yes, this little almost-one-year old was also able to play outside. He crawled around and munched on some mulch. He also loved going down the slide.

My kids loved this thing that spun around.

Wesley had fun climbing the rock wall.

A couple of things surprised me yesterday. One Wesley made it across the monkey bars a couple of times. Two, when he didn't make it all the way across in one try, he got very upset. Lately, Chris and I have seen him very upset when he can't do something. Often what he is trying to do is a hard skill that takes practice but if he can't do it, he gets very frustrated. Thankfully, he keeps trying which brings me to the third thing that surprised me. He kept trying to master the monkey bars. The two playgrounds were very new and the monkey bars weren't very far off the ground which made me feel like a broken arm was less likely (or maybe it was just a foolish hope).

On the second playground, the rings moved which made it harder, but he went all the way across once. He kept trying but it was very hard.

I really liked both of these playgrounds and the kids had fun playing.

Wesley and Taryn could do these steps by themselves.

Lydia didn't take a nap on the way home like I hoped so ended up without a nap. Soon after we got home, we went out in our neighborhood. Lydia ran away from us and kept going until I sprinted to catch up with her. Thank God there isn't a lot of traffic in our neighborhood because she was like Frosty the Snowman as she barely paused moment when she heard me shout, "Stop!" Ugghhh!

I need to take my D-SLR out in the late afternoons so I can get some good pictures of the deer herd in our neighborhood. I didn't take any pictures at the playground but on the way home we saw this little snake.

Too bad it is going to be cold tomorrow.

Obstacle Courses

Lydia and Wesley really enjoy their gymnastic classes. Here are some videos of Lydia on one of the obstacles. Everyone loves the trampoline.

Rope swing

This how Lydia kicks sometimes when she doesn't want me to carry her.

The rings

Here is one part of the "floor" obstacle course.

Wii Friends

Wesley and Ainsley enjoyed playing the Wii together. We should probably have family game night more often.

Bowling Preschool Style

On Monday we went bowling MOPS. We went to Ft. Belvoir because they have such a nice non-smoking facility.

Lydia had been saying for two days that she wanted to use a pink ball. The thrill wore off after about four frames and she was ready to stop.
The kids used the ramps most of the time.
Wesley prefered the taller ramp.
A couple of the moms bowled but most of just watched the kids. I realized the last time that my kids just wanted their turn; they didn't want to wait for me to bowl.
The kids had fun playing in between their turns.
Lydia liked drying her hair.
Wesley and another little girl bowled a second game but they did get a little tired before the end.

After bowling we had pizza for lunch. It is really good pizza and it is only $12 for a large one topping pizza. It was a fun morning. A bit chaotic but most events with preschoolers are a little chaotic.

Halloween Night

Last night I took the kids out trick or treating. It rained on us once and we got soaked but it stopped as soon as we came home to get the umbrellas. At least it wasn't cold. I remember going out as a kid and being so cold on Halloween.

Not everyone in our neighborhood participated in trick or treating. I tried to go to everyone's house (on our side of the neighborhood) who was participating. I wanted to say hello to them (and invite the moms to join the neighborhood moms group) and I was also hoping that if enough kids went to their houses, they would participate next year also.

The kids were fascinated by this neighbor's eye patch.
Everything was large at one neighbor's house. Their Saint Bernard was dressed like a ballerina and they were handing out full sized candy bars.

There was one super scary house. The kids made it up to the door and got their treats. They both agreed that didn't want to go back. But, today that is the house they keep talking about it. They like the idea of it today.

One of our neighbors dresses up like the Cat in the Hat every year. She is so much fun!

She had a lot of decorations including these cute little ghosts in the her flower box. Wesley told her how much he liked the tiny pumpkin in front of the house.

Another neighbor had this guy at the bottom of her stairs.

Lydia's scariest moment of the night came when she turned around from getting candy at one house and saw this guy (the Scream) behind her. She did warm up to him as went to several houses with him and his family. He turned out to be a really nice boy.

At one point Lydia told me, "I don't need anymore candy." She was really tired and wanted to go home and eat the candy she had. Thankfully I only had to carry her very briefly last night.

When we got home, she immediately found a lollipop she wanted and climbed in her highchair to eat it. She asked me to take this picture of her with the lollipop in her check.

What was Chris doing in between handing out candy to the kids? He was doing puzzles. He complained that his neck was hurting when we got home.

One of our neighbors gave out some really cool treats. Wesley got a gummy finger and he couldn't wait to eat it.

Lydia got gummy brains. She gobbled them right up.

After getting a little sugar rush, Lydia did some dancing to the Halloween music.