A disclaimer
No children were harmed in the making of this video.
Yes it’s dark. Don’t worry, all you need are your ears. Watch that volume.
They were in separate bedrooms after several warnings that they would, indeed be separated.
The doors are not locked.
This happens at least three times a week.
I love bedtime.
Tonight I attended my very first open house as a parent of a kindergartener. Why am I SO OLD?!
Kit, of course, *had* to come. I laughed so hard when some guy bumped the stroller and said, “Oh I’m sorry!” and leaned over to touch her on the head and then stopped when he realized she was made of plastic.
Diva had to wear baseball attire for a dance they were doing and I kept thinking, “I have no older boys! Where am I supposed to find a baseball shirt??” Then I realized I had this little gem in the drawer. Nee Nee had saved it all these years. Isn’t that just adorbs??
Diva with some of her BF’s.
Check out that outfit!
She showed me her garden and what she planted. “Yeah but it’s dead.” Poor girl takes after her mom.
She had to periodically give Kit some meds. I don’t know. Don’t ask.
Showing me Hairy the Hermit. It’s supposed to have grass for hair. Yeah that’s not growing either.
It was pretty windy and cold outside despite the previous days being in the 80’s and 90’s. Poor Munchkin had a raging fever last night. She’s probably had one in her entire life so it definitely worried me. Today she is perfectly fine. Whatever it was, it’s gone. Thank goodness. (her lips aren’t blue because of the cold. she ate a blue snow cone. I’m not *that* terrible of a parent.)
G-man had a good time too.
Summer is almost here! Yikes! Wasn’t it just Christmas???
Last week KC and I were able to escape the heat to relax in…well…an even hotter place. Palm Springs. We left the girls in the very capable hands of Nee Nee and Grandma and off we went. And besides this one lone picture of G-Man chillin on the hotel bed, I took ZERO pictures. That’s right. I went into full vacay mode. The pool was literally right outside our double doors so I left the babe sleeping in his crib and snuggled up with my kindle and got totally fried. So awesome.
In other news, my other babies are growing!!
We had to invest in some chicken wire because we have several obnoxious little bunnies just patiently waiting for those tomatoes to fully ripen before chowing down. I can’t tell you how excited I am to make my homemade guacamole with fresh from the garden ingredients!
One of the best things about having an early spring baby is that I get to chomp on squishy, chubby, yummy baby legs aaalll summer long.
After a bit of research and self experimentation I’ve decided to become gluten-free. I know, it’s all the rage, right? I came to this decision based mostly on some studies that gluten has a negative effect on thyroid disorders, essentially making them worse. Not to mention that when I eat wheat products, I hate the way I feel afterward. Just gross.
But that meant I had to give up baked goods. How depressing is that?? And me? Cookie Addict? C’mon, there is NO way!
I once made zucchini bread with gluten-free flour. It was this kind. And let me tell you. It was nasty. Positively disgusting. I thought, “What in the H? People eat this crap??” That was 8 months ago.
Today I tried again. This time with my beloved chocolate chip cookies. And this time I use this flour. (Mixed it myself). The result? Soooo good! Sure, it’s not exactly the same, but I’ll take it. I fed them to my kids and my husband and they had no clue. They gobbled them up. And I’m pretty sure if you came to my house and partook, you’d be clueless too.
I bought a book on gluten-free baking, one with glowing reviews. The chocolate chip cookie recipe is from that book. Gluten-Free Baking Classics by Annalise G. Roberts.
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease 2 large baking sheets.
Whisk together flour mix, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum in a small bowl.
Beat together shortening (1 cup) and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture until just incorporated, then stir in chips and walnuts if using.
Drop heaping teaspoons of dough 2 inches apart onto baking sheets.
Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until golden, 9 to 15 minutes. Let stand 1 minute, then transfer cookies to a rack to cool and continue making cookies using cooled baking sheets.
So here I go, embarking upon my gluten-free journey. If you have some tips, please share them. Recipes? Even better.
I am six days shy of three months. I am the apple of my sisters’ eye and my mom loves to kiss me all day long. I still wake up a couple times to eat at night because gosh darnit it’s my favorite thing to do in the whole world! It’s okay though because my mom tells people I’m such a mellow baby. I rarely fuss and cry and I enjoy hanging out, helping my mom make dinner or watching basketball with my dad (the Clippers are my favorite.)
I love to smile and am working on my giggling. My big sister, Diva likes to carry me around but I’m pretty sure I’m getting to be too heavy for her. She changed my diaper the other day. Mom is going to train her well and then she can change my diapers lots!
I still spit up and am starting to become a drool monster. It’s okay though because I love love love my bath time.
Anyway, I love being a baby. It’s the best.
I look at this picture and think, “Dang, I have three kids!” and then I remember three kids is EIGHT kids less than what my mom had and my sense of self importance quickly evaporates.
On Sunday we blessed the little laddy. It was a beautiful blessing and I know G-man will be a wonderful man, husband, father, just like his dad. For now though, he’s a pretty awesome baby.
These men have been friends since…what, kindergarten? One of the many things I love about KC is his long lasting friendships and every one of those friends are really good men. I can only hope G-man will surround himself with great people who will influence him in a positive way.
