Tumbling Tot

Hurray for Tumbling! Annabelle has been in a tumbling class for a few weeks now and we are having a great time. Mike took the morning off yesterday to attend with her and she loved it. I wasn't sure when I signed up for tumbling what exactly "tumbling" class would entail, it is pretty much a gymnastics class for toddlers. We streach at the beginning of the class, practice summersaults, bear crawl and hopping. The remainder of the class is spent running through different obstacle courses that are set up around the gym.

Happy Halloween

I know I'm a little early, but with Halloween being in the middle of the week we had to do some pre-Halloween celebrating over the weekend.
My mom made Annabelle this dress, the loops over her arms attach to the wings on the back.
My mom brought us this pumpkin from her garden. I have a second one I'd like to get cooked up and in the freezer for future use. We all helped to create our jack o lantern this year. Annabelle wanted star eyes & Mike and I designed the rest of it. Lucky for me Mike didn't mind carving it and I like cleaning out all the goop.I think Annabelle's favorite part was helping me to separate all the seeds. I tried a new recipe for the seeds this year that I found on allrecipes.com . You make them essentially them the traditional way you just coat them with this mixture:
1 1/2 tablespoons margarine, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds
They were delicious. I only used 1 cup of pumpkin seeds with this proportion of other ingredients and it came out flavorful but not overpowering.

Birthday Bliss

I feel like "The Birthday" this year was as exciting as any major holiday. We had soo much fun! In the morning we went to tumbling and play group. Both are a fairly new part of our schedule, Annabelle refers to her tumbling class as "my school, Annabelle's school" and further clarifies "not daddy's school". She loves it and I love that she is learning to follow structured play, turn taking, following directions, waiting in line and all of that.

Later our friend Sara took us out to lunch at the MOA cafe, it was so delicious. We couldn't park too close so Annabelle and Sara's son Benny had to walk quite a bit before we got there. For a while they were holding hands and Annabelle kept telling Benny (who has been 2 for 5 months now) "Benny I'm 2, I turned 2 Benny! Benny you're 2, you're 2 too!" She was so excited she just kept holding his hand and repeating herself. Benny didn't really seem to care, as soon as they reached the side walk he dropped her hand and announced "ALL DONE!"

Mike came home early from school and took the night off of work. After opening presents we went to the mall to play on "the big playground" and out to eat. We swung by to see some friends before having cake with Adam & Trudy.




It was so fun to spoil Annabelle a bit and to spend THE WHOLE evening with Mike! By the time cake was done Anna needed a bath - while she was playing with her toys in the tub she looked up and me and said "Mom, let's be friends". I have no idea where she learned the phrase but it was so sweet and funny. I laughed so hard. I think she was trying to ask me to play with her.

"The Birthday" was wonderful and I feel like we get to celebrate all over again next week with my Mom when my family comes out!

Happy Birthday Grandma

Happy Birthday!

On this historic day for women in my family, Annabelle, Mike and I would like to extend a very happy Birthday to my Mom! On October 11th 23 years ago, my Mom celebrated her 23rd birthday with choclate cake and the greatest gift of all (her only daughter). I don't think she would have ever suspected that my daughter too would celebrate her birthday with us!
This picture was taken a few days after Annabelle and I came home from the hospital. My mom came out to Provo to take care of us and to celebrate "The Birthday". My mom came out last year as well. Each year she has made me my favorite: Cheesecake! Each year however her disdain for my gas oven has grown. We look forward to her visit next week, and a cheesecake if there is enough time and patience.
Although I planned to be induced on my birthday Annabelle brought me a few suprises of her own. Annabelle saved me labor pains and made arrangements for a quick and painless delivery, an emergency c-section. What a girl! We are excited for the big day tomorrow, streamers, cake, friends and hopefully not too many of those terrible 2's tantrums that seem to be more and more evident these days.