Weekend Happenings at the Kids Expo

Hannah riding "Roy"

Hannah looking a little uneasy. She probably gets this from me. I've never been a huge fan of horses, probably because they are so much bigger than me. Whenever I get around them I'm afraid they'll bite me or step on me. I was ok with these ponies.

going down the huge inflatable slide with Ryan

I can't believe Hannah enjoyed the petting zoo so much- she practically chased around these goats!

touching some chickens and a bunny

riding in the caboose

the train conductor looked like he was having a lot of fun

too cool for school

Valentine Fun

When you have a child that wakes up when it's still dark outside, this is what you get for breakfast on Valentine's Day...... heart-shaped cold cereal with pink milk. In the morning we took Hannah to the Children's Museum which has a lot of really fun things for kids to explore:

Hannah went grocery shopping

made a deep-dish pizza

made a valentine

planted a garden

ate some Pirate's Booty

During Hannah's nap I baked off three kinds of mini cupcakes- red velvet, coconut, and cinnamon toast. Then we ended the day with "The Little Mermaid." When we were watching the movie on my bed Hannah leaned over to me, gave me a huge hug and a smile and said, "Mom, it's so fun to watch a movie with you." Thanks Bosco.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hannah and Brewer had fun today baking and decorating Valentine's Day cupcakes. Of course, more frosting and candies went into the mouth than on the cupcakes!

"decorating"

this is so fun

mixing the strawberry cupcake batter

The Squirrel Whisperer

The other day Hannah and I were out playing at the park (yes, it's been 70 degrees here!) and I noticed she was crouching down on the ground doing something. I went over to see what she was up to and I see a squirrel about 5 feet away from her. I asked her what she was doing. Her reply- "I'm teaching the squirrel to say milk".....and then she shows me the sign language for milk. She then turned around to the squirrel, did the sign, and said "milk, milk." Hmmmmm......a possible future career? What made it even more strange is that she never uses this sign with me. We have a baby sign language book and I've done the signs with her, but she rarely uses them. Another example of the amazing things that kids pick up on.

Weekend Cooking

If you had spent the weekend with us you could've played Rockband, driven up to the mountains in search of snow to play in, and eaten this:

Brown Butter Pistachio Financier with Saffron Ice Cream, Strawberry Puree, and Pistachio Dust

Baked Blintzes with Fresh Blueberry Sauce

Going to Pre-school

What?!!!!

My little baby had her first day of pre-school and is potty trained. She's growing up so fast! It's funny because I've been thinking about this a lot lately. When Hannah was only a few days old I remember sitting on my bed, holding her and crying, and thinking "she's growing up so fast!" I can blame this on my crazy hormones at the time, but I've since talked with lots of other moms who've had the same experience. Your baby just changes so fast in those first few months and now I look back 2 1/2 years later and think "wow, she really has grown up so fast!"

Hannah all grown up- what is this look she has? A melancholy ship's captain?

At the Portland zoo

Goonie-face

Hannah right now:

1. has now graduated from saying "Seepy-eye booty" to "Sleeping Beauty"- I think that she held onto that one for a while because it got so many laughs

2. can be bribed to do anything for fruit snacks (not so unusual)

3. when I ask her what she wants to do for the day, she will usually respond "Go to Barnes & Noble or Tattered Cover"- she can't get enough books!

4. she likes to tell me what she dreams about- usually lizards and frogs

A recent conversation:

Me: Hannah, what do you want for breakfast?

Hannah: Cereal, with blueberries.....and some yogurt.....and a vitamin....and some chocolate milk. That's four things and that's enough.

Another one-this time during potty training

Me: Hannah, did you go yet?

Hannah: No Mommy. The poops are not coming.

Me: Where are they?

Hannah: They went to the post office.

Me, thinking: Of course