Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving we were privileged to have my cousin Celeste and her husband Richard and their baby Ellia over for the weekend. They just moved to Iowa City over the summer and are now our closest relatives, 7 hours away! I really enjoyed visiting with Celeste, since it's hard to visit a lot with any one relative at our family reunions, which are only every two years. It was also nice to get to know Richard and baby Ellia, who is 8 months old. The kids also had a great time with them. Karissa decided from the start that Celeste was her favorite cuddle buddy.

Everyone loved playing with Ellia. She especially loved playing with all the toys we have around here and being with all the commotion of kids.

Besides eating our delicious dinner, which I think Jason's turkey was his best, most moist one yet, we played lots of fun games, watched some videos of Celeste and I long ago, watched holiday videos, went to the Botanical Gardens to see the Christmas trees, Richard helped Jason put up Christmas lights, we watched football, had a surprise visit from our good friend Brad, and just enjoyed relaxing and being together. It was a great start to the holiday season!

PB and J

None of my three kids will even touch a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Karissa used to eat peanut butter and honey, but has recently decided that she doesn't even like that anymore. The one time I accidentally put jelly on it, she had a hissy fit because there was "red stuff" on it. Victoria ate one once, but she wasn't even two yet, so she doesn't remember it. Of course Austin wants nothing to do with them either, but he's still young, so it's fine.

Now, you may think, why do you even care? I don't care that much. It just makes me laugh that yesterday Victoria and Karissa went to a birthday party and both came back with a beautifully shaped, butterfly, PB and J and neither one had a bite out if it! When I asked them if they could just try it, Karissa said, "No way! It has red stuff on it!" Victoria took the tiniest bite and scowled, like it was poisoned. I ate one. It was like a dessert! Of course this one had crunchy peanut butter and strawberry jam and was on white bread, without the crust (a kid's dream!), so no wonder it was like a dessert! I don't think it matters that I buy organic jam and peanut butter, both of which are just as delicious, and serve it on whole wheat, my kids just don't like PB and J! It's a shame, though, since it's like the easiest and cheapest lunch out there!

Austin update:
This week he started saying "Uh-oh" and thank you, which sounds more like "Da dooo", but he says it when I tell him to say "thank you". He's so sweet!

"Big" Moments

The other day as we were leaving to go somewhere, I opened the van and told Karissa and Austin to get in. When I came out, Austin was happily sitting in Victoria's booster seat. I said, "Wow! Look at you Big Boy!" and he said, "Big Boy!" Of course then I had to ruin the moment by removing him from the booster and put him into his own car seat. Needless to say, he was objecting very strongly as I strapped him into the seat.

Recently, Karissa informed me that she is now a grown-up. She also asked me when she will become a mom. I told her in a least 20 years, but she said 6 years. Scary!

On Wednesday, as Victoria was getting dressed for her birthday pictures and was frantically rummaging through her clothes, she said, "I have nothing to wear!" I never thought I would hear my 6-year-old say that, especially someone with as many clothes as she has! Check out her collection.

PantsShirts (they can't even fit in the drawer!)
Skirts and sweaters Dresses

Karissa's tights are on the right, Victoria's on the left

Obviously, she is not hurting for clothes. Of course she has more shirts in her drawer now that it's getting cooler since she likes to wear the short-sleeves over the long-sleeves. Clothes are often a battle around here since Victoria and Karissa changes their outfits at least 3 times a day and leave the clothes on the floor. And, as any teenager, I mean 6-year-old, would be, she won't wear any of the suggestions I make! Oh, the life!

17 Months

Austin is now 17 months, believe it or not. Some of the things he does now that have stood out most to me are:

- he says "bye" to Victoria and her friend when they go to school and to Jason when he leaves

- he repeats most easy words or sounds he hears his sisters or me say (including screaming)

- he says "cheese" when he sees the camera and drops everything to come smile at it

- he loves to dance, especially to the song "16 Minutes" from High School Musical 3

- he loves to follow Yoda, the cat, around

- he loves trains and Victoria's zhu-zhu pet

- he always grabs his shoes to go outside and wants to go out all the time

- he loves to close the garage door and do anything else to "help" me by pushing buttons, closing doors, stirring, or cleaning

- he eats his food quickly, then gets down to play, as opposed to playing while eating, like his sisters do

- he loves being held by his dad, when he's around!

- he loves to drink water, probably more than milk

- he got into the "Dracula" laugh with all the Halloween sounds (I have it on video below. Sorry about the lines in the film, my camera has been having problems lately! Also, the lighting is bad b/c I didn't think about turning all the lights on during his good moment.)