Spreading the love...

We love the Valentine season, not necessarily for the romantic pressures to do something amazing as a couple/for each other but more for the chance to show people we care about that we love them lots! Once we made Valentine's Day about family lovin' and a little bit of service, it really took the romantical pressure off - phew!

Monday for FHE we made THE BEST sugar cookies. I love this recipe. You can't go wrong. Anyway, we rolled, waited while they baked and cooled, iced, and delivered a plate to our next door neighbors. They are very sweet people who don't have any kids or family close and struggle with health issues and we are trying to be better friends and neighbors.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

1 c. butter
1 c. sour cream
1/2 t. salt
2 eggs
1 t. baking soda
1 t. vanilla
2 T. baking powder
1 1/2 c. sugar
5 c. flour

Cream butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla. Add sifted dry ingredients, blend and add sour cream last. Divide dough in two and flatten into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for a couple of hours. Roll out on a floured surface and cut with cookie cutters. Avoid over working the dough. Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes depending on the thickness you make the cookies. Better underdone than overdone, of course! This is a very soft, fluffy sugar cookie. Make a homemade butter cream and, well, heaven.

Class Valentines...always a dilemma. Do we buy a cheap box of character cards that the kids love and make it easy? A candy that has room to write to your love? Make something fun? I always lean towards making something fun even if it means more work and mess. Well, we found the coolest idea in our new Ranger Rick magazine for a pink pipe cleaner and pink cardstock heart flamingo. It was darling but too expensive to implement for the entire class - I couldn't find packs of plain pink "chenille sticks" as they are called these days. I would have to buy gobs of packs of multi color and that was not happening. We had talked about another idea after I read on Design Mom that one of her children made bookmarks. I thought it was a super good fit for the kiddos this year because Lindsay's teacher is right now pushing chapter books for the kids that have not quite made that transition yet. So, I had stacks and stacks of Valentine hued scraps leftover from this project and so we went to work.

Lindsay's bookmarks. So cute. She had a lot of fun creating color combos.

Caroline's preschool bookmarks. She tailored them to each child!

I had stacks of brown bookmark sized scraps (leftover from our 2005 Christmas card!) and we designed a plan with all the scraps. Lindsay decided that we should not make the boys pink and red (duh) so we went blue/brown/green theme. The girls were definitely girly - pink, brown, red. And not to be left out, Caroline made her own bookmarks for the preschool kiddos. She had a lot of fun doing the big kid project! We printed a little label that says "I ♥ to read" that went on each bookmark. They signed the back and we glued a Dove chocolate heart to the back.

Sick Baby Kate Monday night...watching the cookie making

Baby Kate has had a rough week! She started a fever Saturday night and I fully expected a couple days to run its course so I wasn't too concerned. Finally Tuesday, when she was vomiting, slept all day for 7 hours without waking and when I woke her she had a fever of nearly 105 and was listless, we went to urgent care. Turns out the high fever and all the trimmings were a Kidney infection. Who'd a thunk? So, now she is on antibiotics and had a follow-up today. Looks like this could be an indication of something a bit bigger, like possibly Urinary Reflux, so we have another follow-up in a week and we will be going for some tests - a kidney ultrasound and a dye test to check out her plumbing. But, she is on the mend...

Friday after school Caroline sharing her Valentine's loot with Kate!

Not to be left out, Mommy made some Valentine's for a couple of special people, like the sisters I visit teach and a friend who has a Valentine birthday. I made my favorite cupcakes and attempted my own version of fancy cupcakes, a la the cupcake craze that has swept our nation! Love this recipe: Darn Good Chocolate Cake (a triple chocolate cake that I like to make as cupcakes - yields about 3 dozen, this time I made two doz. and a heart shape cake for our family dinner tomorrow.) Iced it with pale pink butter cream/cream cheese frosting and just a dash of sprinkles. I found these darling silver boxes at Dollar Tree that fits two cupcakes nicely. Tie with a pretty ribbon and tag...so sweet!

Anyway, we have plans for tomorrow and the weekend - a whole lotta family fun!

I C A N N O T wait!!

Welcome little one!

My Baby Sister Meghan had baby #3 this morning!

William Phinehas Mitchell

Born February 11, 2009 4:36am
7 lb 13 oz 21 1/2 inches long ( I think that is what she told me)

She had her first contraction at Midnight and almost didn't make it to the hospital, it was snowy and icy, got there at a 3:45am, dilated to a 10, and the doc arrived just in time to catch. Good thing she was preparing for a no drug birth because there was no time!

Will joins big sisters Siobhan (3) and Audrey (1.5). We are so thrilled for your little family.

Better late than never...

I have been wanting to post about these special holiday dates for the girls and finally got it done. My Dad and Debbie wanted to spend some extra special time with each of the grand kids at Christmas time and the kiddos had so much fun!

First of all, they babysat for us when Steve and I went to the fancy pants Christmas gala/holiday party for his work. Debbie and Grandpa came with all the makings for sugar cookie mania! I think we came home to what seemed like 100 cookies iced and decorated and sprinkled - they were so yummy and I know the girls had a blast!

Next, Lindsay was invited to attend a production of the Nutcracker Ballet with Grandpa and Debbie. It was quite fitting - Lindsay had been learning about the Nutcracker in music at school and was really into it. (Surprised they can actually teach a Christmas themed story like that in public school.) She got to dress up and chose how I did her hair (a side ponytail with a large black flower clip.) Grandpa came to pick up his date and we got a picture of them in front of the Christmas tree. I am really glad Lindsay got to attend the ballet after learning about the Nutcracker - and the concept of a ballet - the story, the composer, the choreography. She had a memorable time.

Caroline was invited to go to the Phoenix Zoo for Zoo Lights. This is always a lot of fun to attend and it is usually bordering on being chilly which is a novelty for us Arizona desert dwellers. Caroline got to wear a real coat and I think it may have been sprinkling so she was excited to bring her Tinkerbell umbrella. One of the things that is always so fun to watch is the trees that light up and are choreographed to music. Afterward Grandpa took her to Baskin Robbins for ice cream. Seriously, who wouldn't want a date night to end with ice cream? Consquently when pressed for an answer, the trip to 31 flavors was her favorite part of the night. You go girl!

Thanks Dad and Debbie for spending such a fun night babysitting and making cookies and for the special date nights with the big girls. Memories to treasure, for sure!

9 months - an interview

Kate wrapped up in her ducky towel last night after her bath. I made this towel when I was preggo with Lindsay. If I was making it now, it would be totally different but we have a lot of history with this little guy! We have a song that we sing when we wrap up the girls in this ducky towel, inspired by Baby Bear on Sesame Street year ago: "She's a ducky, she's a girl, She's a ducky, she's a girl! Do you know who she is? She's da da ta da...Ducky Girl!"

My cute sister in law Jeannie occasionally interviews her children for her blog and it is such a cute insight into their personality and soul so I thought I would start doing it occasionally.

We shall start with Kate, as today she is 9 months old.

Mama: Baby Kate, thanks for letting me interview you today for the blog.

Baby Kate: Sure. Anything for you, Mama!

Mama: What are you eating for breakfast?

Bake Kate: Cheerios, cream of wheat, and crumbs on my high chair from last night's dinner.

Mama: That's embarrassing. Any teeth?

Baby Kate: None.

Mama: Nice - late teeth just like your sisters. What are you wearing?

Baby Kate: A hot pink Baby Gap long sleeve onsie and butterfly jeans from Cousin Cozette. Mama, I think this onsie top is getting too small.

Mama: OK. We will change it after breakfast. I wouldn't want it tugging and pulling weird. Speaking of clothes, do you have a favorite outfit?

Babe Kate: Well, the other day you put me in a really pretty lilac colored Naartje tunic top and some dark Old Navy jeans. Everyone raved all day long and I liked that so, yeah, I really liked that one.

Mama: What is your favorite thing to do at home?

Baby Kate: Honestly, I love it when I get to go outside and play. The sun, the breeze - it make me so happy.

Mama: We should do that more often. I know you sisters like to take you outside to play. What are your feelings about your hair?

Baby Kate: It is nice and has lightened up a lot since I was born and has some pretty curls. It is in my eyes a lot and I secretly wish you would just cut my bangs but I have heard your theory that we just grow out the bangs from the get go - that is what you did with my big sisters. They have killer hair, so if that is what it takes, then, would you just please put a flower clip in it more often to keep it out of my eyes?

Mama: Yes sweetheart. I will try to do better.

Mama: Do you have a favorite blankie?

Baby Kate: Oh yes I do! It is a fuzzy pink chenille that you/I received as a gift from the Relief Society. My eyes bug out when I see it and I nuzzle my face into it and it settles me right down and makes me happy. When I sleep I pull it up and snuggle it near my face. You keep trying to push this other blankie on me - a brown and pink ruffled minky number and while it is quite lovely, it just doesn't do it for me.

Mama: I made that brown and pink one. Oh well. Let's talk spit-up...

Baby Kate: (Giggles...)

Mama: I'm Serious! What's up with it?

Baby Kate: I'm sorry. I can't help it. If it makes you feel any better, I only spit up on those I love! If I could stop, I would. All you people complain about it all the time.

Mama: Any new tricks I need to be ready for?

Baby Kate: I can "give you a five". I can't crawl yet but I am starting to push my belly off the ground and can roll around a bit to reach stuff (by the way, thanks for rescuing me when I got myself stuck under the table in the corner at Auntie Molly's house) so you might want to watch out...

Mama: Noted - I will watch out. let's just say that Mama isn't too sad that you aren't too mobile yet. So, your braces on your feet and legs. Give me your thoughts...

Baby Kate: They aren't so bad. I mean, they make cool noises when I clap them together and you did make them so pretty with ribbon straps and all so they are OK. As soon as those things come off though, I love to play with my feet and suck my toes! But then I see you coming at me with socks and I know it is time to put them back on. That is when I cry and kick my feet and make it kind of hard for you to put them back on. But then I am a good girl and rarely kick them off.

Mama: How do you show me you love me?

Baby Kate: I stroke your face when you nurse me and look at you and smile.

Mama: I will take the smiles but would like you to refine your stroking my face skills because it is more like clawing my face.

Baby Kate: I will try. I just love that time we get to snuggle together. It's the best.

Mama: I know - my favorite times of the day! Thank you, Baby Kate, for taking time with me. I love you more than you will ever know. Now, "give me a five" and a sloppy kiss!

Photo courtesy of Caroline, taken while I was finishing up the "interview."

A letter...

(I got a bucket full of these little, I mean, huge babies...)

Dear Mary,

You know I would have made your primary flier for you without a bribe. But the cookies sure do help me get through the week!

Love,

A Grand Re-Launch...and a Linky Party

Many of you know that Molly and I have dabbled in another blog, sitting off on my sidebar called "Tuesdays with Molly." We get together and craft, cook, can, bake, eat junk, whatever. It usually happens on a Tuesday, hence the name. We took some time off to focus on the holidays, Molly's move, travel, etc. Anyway...we finally have a few new posts up over there and are totally back in the saddle again. We also linked up a post to a Linky Party hosted by Wendy at The Shabby Nest. Wendy's blog is one I follow and am always so inspired. When she decided to host a blog party with ideas about taming kid clutter, I knew I had at least a couple tricks my sleeve (only a couple - I will be reading others ideas to learn some more tricks) that were worthy to share.

Happy Ground Hog's Day!

Tricked ya!!! A whole bunch of apologies for the family anxiously awaiting more posts about our Christmas trip and apologies to friends saying "another Christmas post...it's February 2nd - jeesh!". I was in a post-Christmas funk and was unmotivated and then got busy on other stuff, and well, you know how that goes. But I am trying to get it together again...



Where we last left off...

Loaded up and waiting to check in while Daddy parks in Long term parking.
Happy travelers one and all.

The first of many happy reunions to come! Kayleigh and Bobby (aka Everett, his given name) came with Grandpa and their dad Brad to pick us up at the sprawling Columbia, SC airport. (Not so sprawling - kinda down home - the waiting areas have white rockers!) We spent the next hour realizing that our bags and car seats did not join us on the connection from Atlanta to Columbia. Doh! This is the 3rd time we have not had our bags in the several years we have traveled to SC. Just when I get complacent and neglect to pack a change of clothes for everyone and drag the carseats thru the airport to gate check them... We got loaner carseats and all our stuff was delivered by 6pm the next night.

Christmas Numero Tres. Spoiled these kids are!!! Books and doll outfits and journals and toys. Thank you thank you thank you everyone!

The Brethren went to a Bowl Game. The Meineke Car Care Bowl, to be exact, in Charlotte, NC. UNC Tarheels (Steve's beloved team) lost by one point to West Virginia. So sad. But, they had a great time eating hot dogs and nachos and big sodas and that sort of thing.

Happy Reunions! Aunt Barbara, Uncle John, and Mary-Faith arrived just as we got home from church. We just love being together so much!

This is how the kids slept most of the week. I think this was at about 11am or something. Can you keep count as to how many photos you see with Lindsay wearing her flannel Christmas jammies???

Pretty much a common site at Grandma and Grandpa Simpson's home. Eating. And being silly. I hope Grandpa Bill owns stock in Publix. He keeps them in business during a family visit! Thanks, Grandpa, for catering to their every whim...from suckers to dorritos to cheetos to waffles to bacon to orange drink to soda to strawberry popsicles to gushers to the key lime pie...oh, the list goes on and on...the endless need for napkins and paper plates and paper towels...

And lets not forget Grandma Shirley and the loaves and loaves of her famous sour dough bread she bakes and freezes leading up to a family get together. And the cocount cake and fudge (both with and without nuts) and chocolate chip cookies and black walnut cake...we have a nightly ritual - the desserts come out run down the center of the dining room table and we are supposed to have at it. And we do!!! Thank you!!!

Aunt Jeannie got the kids these great white boards and they played with them all week long - making signs for their various games and antics - stores, boutiques, restaurants, etc.

One evening the Daddy's and kiddos sat around the kitchen table telling battle stories - stories of their scars and the drama in the event of the accident that caused said scars. It was so funny - Steve asked if I had anything to add - then I reminded him that my c-section scars trump them all.

Off and on I worked on a cute little lady bug hat I started knitting over 3 years ago and finally got finished...except for the spots - it was a crochet technique that I need to learn better. But Kate was happy to model - the black antenna are flipped toward the back in this picture but it is so cute!


One afternoon we went to this lovely park along the river next to some bridge. I know it is a famous river and bridge - my civil war history is a little rusty, though! We picked up Bojanges chicken for a late lunch/early dinner picnic and had a great time. I would sit and eat biscuits next to that river any day!

We were close to downtown Columbia so we went to see the state capital building and the grounds. We had our "Rocky" moment running up the stairs - it was quite a jaunt!

But then the kids noticed that we were right by the Columbia ABC affiliate's news studio with a window to the world a la the Today Show. So we all took off to check out the studio and watch the 6 o'clock news. This is everyone jumping up and down outside the window.

Then, the most amazing thing happened. Alicia and Anderson waved us in and we were invited in through the side door of the studio. They were all incredibly gracious to us as the kids (and us adults) got to indulge our curiosity about the inside of a television news studio. And do you want to know what the most impressive thing is? How unimpressive a news studio actually is! It is small, the walls are lined with cubicles and small desks, the sports guy stood in the corner to anchor the news, one camera guy sprinted from camera to camera, and Anderson Burns did the news in his socks! It was all quite fun. (Anderson is the weekend guy filling in for Daniel who was gone for the night but Anderson is totall our guy.) They let us stay while they finished the broadcast and then gave a shout out to all of us. The kids were so excited but I think were a little disappointed we couldn't go home and watch the live broadcast again. Oh well. They left the studio singing "We're famous! We're famous!" over and over again.

The Simpson's from Columbia, Atlanta, and Phoenix, AZ in the studio with Alicia Barnes and Anderson Burns

The funniest back and forth blogging has happened with Anderson (Andy) and Jeannie about our family visit and blogging about it. You can read about it
Here on Jeannie's blog
Here on Andy's blog
and Here again on Jeannie's blog!

Everyone has one...a picture of their Girl's Night Out to see Twilight. Jeannie finally read Twilight and we went to see it together. I am so glad I waited until that trip to see it - there were no crowds (we were 2 of 6 people in the theater) and I got to see it with Jeannie. $9 ticket and $5 soda later, we enjoyed the movie more than we both thought we would!

I often joke with my family that the church would not be true if it weren't for church basketball. I mean, why do they build our chapels with a basketball gym? We (I mean the Dads, Everett, and the rest of the big kids) needed to get out of the house and going to play basketball often fit the bill. The night I went, we pulled up and saw several cars outside. So, Steve went in to check it out to see if the gym was available. He came out a little discouraged saying that it seemed a large group/family was pretty settled in playing volleyball. Well, Steve's dad, also known as President Simpson went in to check it out. Some how, we were then able to share the gym and played half court basketball! (They offered to share the gym with President Simpson, Steve, well, they didn't offer to share the gym with him!) The night was not without injuries - rug burns (seriously, who thought carpeted gyms were a good idea?) and bruised feelings about teams. I played for a while carrying Caroline on my back because she was upset about teams. The kids also had fun putting on their own version of High School Musical on the stage. Such little hams!

New Year's Eve. The brethren had football going on three different TV's it seemed. We made cinnamon breadsticks with lots of icing for dipping. Then the kids and Daddy's braved the cold and light sparklers - only two of them got burned - Lindsay on her hand and Uncle Brad on his foot. What's with the dads not wearing shoes? Caroline sulked on the stairs because everyone was being too loud shouting "Happy New Year!" outside. Now, don't think she was too tired from staying up until midnight. Midnight was child's play compared to the up until 2am shedule they were keeping all week!

A craft for the girls and mamas. Grandma Shirley helped me sponsor a craft day (and night and day) for the kids. We decided to make altered letters - spelling a nickname, innitials, whatever. We cut and glued and modge-podged and decorated letters and left a mighty fine mess. I hear Grandma's dining room recovered but I am so thankful to her for letting the mess happen - we had so much fun!

Now, not to leave out Everett, I made him a "little something" to hang up in his room - a mini tag banner that honors his nickname and says "Bobby Rocks".

Just a few more pictures from the week. Little Cozette making a big mess with the pillows, out for pizza, a carousel ride, grandpa with both little blue eyed babies, and the crazies in a photo booth at the mall.

Thank you, Bill and Shirley, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, for making these trips possible and for helping us build memories to last. We value and treasure the time we spend together as the whole (or most of) the Simpson Clan.