Noodles

Jason and I have made homemade noodles for several years now for Thanksgiving. It took us quite a while to perfect but we've got a system down now. We enjoy doing it together. I had originally done it by myself (maybe once) but it was too much cutting for me without help. My grandma gave us a pasta maker a few years ago so now we don't even have to cut them...just roll the dough through the pasta maker.

Today I was making the dough before Jason got home since it takes a couple hours. I had just added more flour to my dough and then left the room for a few minutes. When I came back in the room this is what I found...


Karla had watched me lift the bowl (my dough was under it), add flour and work it into the dough. So she climbed up on the chair spooned flour onto the table and was busy "making noodles." So much for clean clothes...

I hadn't really planned on her being part of the noodle making process. I thought Jason and I would work on it right after she was in bed. But I decided since she had such interest that she should help us this year. I don't think we've ever had so much fun making noodles! Karla LOVED helping. She was jumping up and down because she was so excited to turn the crank on the pasta maker. She stayed focused for the entire project...even reminding me to stay on task when I got a little side-tracked. She knew just how many times to turn the crank before pulling the noodles out. Jason and I really thought she was entertaining. We each had a job and it went smoothly. Of course I pulled out the camera!



Yes, we were all covered in flour when we were done! We are all very excited to eat the noodles tomorrow!

On an unrelated note...How many 3 year olds do you know that will eat (or at least try several bites of) fish, yam and corn for dinner?? That is what Karla ate tonight!


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Meet Dora and Wake Up Santa

At a local mall last night they had "meet Dora and help wake up Santa" night. Not sure we'll ever do that again but at least we can say we did something that crazy now.

I don't know that the mall anticipated such a crowd. Anyway, kids could "meet" Dora (who looked a little creepy) and then Dora, Mrs. Claus and the elves woke Santa up so he could get ready for Christmas. They actually rolled Santa out on a bed fast asleep. The kids had to yell and ring jingle bells (and say "here we go Steelers") to wake him up! Jason and Karla had a view from the second floor (I was in line holding our place) during the show. Karla really liked waking up Santa.

There were several times during our wait to meet Dora that Jason and I thought we should just leave because it was pretty ridiculous BUT it was all worth it to see how excited Karla was. I don't think I've ever seen her quite like that before....and yes it brought tears to my eyes. .....maybe part of the reason I had tears in my eyes was because I was so relieved to be out of the line and able to go outside to get cooled off...hmmmm. No, it was REALLY great to know we did something that made her so excited. :)

Do I really get to meet Dora?

Oh my! I can't believe it!!

This is awesome!

It was worth the 2+ hours in line to see the look on Karla's face when she "met" Dora (for all 30 seconds). :)

Karla also really liked the "Long Lady" as she calls her. She was actually a queen. Karla calls her the long lady though. She was really impressed with her.

After nearly 3 hours of standing around/waiting we made it to Santa (the line for him was actually short)! Karla was afraid but we managed a picture. She told us on the way home that she would see him again and not be scared. So maybe we'll go see him again before Christmas.

Party Weekend (part 2)

I left off with Sunday morning. Man, I wish my mom had been here this morning when Karla got up so I could have slept in! :)

Anyway, last Sunday felt like Christmas morning. Mammy and Pappy were here before 9am....so Karla opened her cards and presents. Again, I think I was more excited than she was about the presents, she was very excited about all the attention from Grandma, Mammy, and Pappy though.

People weren't really supposed to bring presents to the party...we had said on the invitation to bring change (pennies, nickels, dimes, etc) to fill up a "treasure chest" to start a bank account for Karla. But, some people brought gifts anyway - which is fine. I just don't want anyone to feel bad if they didn't bring a gift. We just wanted to celebrate with everyone :) I had wanted to do the change rather than gifts because people have been so generous since Karla came home, well, for the past 3 years really. Maybe that is how it is when you have kids...just now thought of that! :)

So Karla got several nice gifts and she spent the morning playing and Jason and I got to talk and watch her play.

Then our company left and the 3 of us took a nap. I think I slept for 2 hours and Karla slept for 2 1/2 hours! It was wonderful! Then we had a nice quiet evening together.

There were probably other things I wanted to mention but now that it has been a week ago...it is harder to remember.



Other highlights from the week:

The three of us went to the Children's Museum on Wednesday. It was a lot of fun. I'm sure we could have spent the entire day there but Karla was exhausted by 1 and fell asleep as soon as we put her in the car. She was almost asleep on Jason's shoulder when we were walking out to the car!

Here is a picture of Karla painting at the museum's studio. For more pictures check the flickr site.


*It has been so sunny out. Karla and I have gone out everyday for at least a little while. We do have some outdoor toys but all she wants to do is RUN. We run down around a cul-de-sac and then around our house a few times. We pretend a witch or the big bad wolf is chasing us. Yes, my neighbors probably have a good laugh but oh well. I do run down the side walk saying "watch out! Here comes the wolf!" or pretending to carry the wolf or some other character Karla imagines. After running we usually swing for a while - I mean Karla swings while I push her "higher and higher". Maybe this is why I'm so tired at night...

*Karla has had what I like to call fantastic tantrums this week. Maybe she knows she is 3 now and decided to stir things up a bit more.

*One day when we were outside she saw the next door neighbor girl outside. She said "Mommy, that is my friend. You stay here." She walked down the sidewalk and made sure I wasn't following her. She didn't want me along when she was talking to her friend!

*I'm having trouble with my wrist still...since February. Finally went to orthopedic doctor this week and am to wear a splint all the time until I go to have an MRI in about 2 weeks. The x-rays were okay except a gap between two bones was slightly larger than expected...which would indicate a problem with a specific ligament.

*We went to church tonight for a spaghetti dinner. We left Oso at church!!!!! Didn't realize it until we got home and we're all tired. Karla's in bed right now and Jason and i are hoping we are not in for the worst night ever. I just didn't think Jason should drive back when we'll be there again in 12 hours. I might be kicking myself in a few hours...I hope not!

Hey....leave me comments! :) I saw that people viewed the party pictures...so I know someone must be reading my ramblings...besides Rachel, Jess and Sara. :)

Happy 3rd Birthday Karla!!

We finally got to celebrate Karla's birthday together, as a family, AT HOME. Jason took today off (actually last Fri through this Wednesday). We stayed home all day except to go to lunch at Chik Fil A. This morning we all got up and Karla opened her presents from Jason and me. I had picked 3 things out for her not knowing Jason had planned to get her something too. So, for the second time this week it felt like Christmas morning! She got 3 Veggie Tale DVDs (Jason is trying to get Karla to like something other than Dora and Barbie), a new pair of "princess shoes" (her other ones broke from so much use), a little Ariel Polly Pocket, and a Snow White doll with horse. We played with her new things all day and watched some Veggie Tales. This evening Grammy and Pap-Pap came over for dinner (leftover tacos from the party) and cake. We had a whole 1/2 sheet cake leftover too! Tomorrow we are going to the Children's Museum as our last "birthday event".

I finished the Steelers skirt pictured above a while ago but just finished the shirt last night while watching the game. I'm glad Karla likes skirts because they are pretty easy to make!

I couldn't pick just one favorite photo from today so here is another little slide show and then a look back at previous years. I think I'm about done comparing this year to last year...we'll see. :)

Two Years Old:

One Year Old:

7 Days Old:

Party Weekend (part 1)

I wanted to blog about the party (weekend). May have to finish later but I'll do what I can now. It all started last Friday. :) Uncle Kevin came home from DC Thursday night just to help out on Friday. So he babysat Karla in the morning while Jason and I ran around getting the food for the party. After Karla's nap the 4 of us went to the church to start setting up. We had to stack chairs and set up tables - a job I was thankful the two guys could do...and not me. :) Then Kevin took us out to dinner - that was a nice treat after a busy day! Karla had a great day because she got lots of "Tio Kevin" time.

Saturday morning the grandparents arrived at our house at 10am and we immediately left for the church to continue with the preparations. Karla and I stayed until after 12:15 and then I brought her home to eat lunch and take a nap. Meanwhile, Jason and his parents and my mom were working hard at the church to prepare the food. I really had NO idea it would take so long. I thought we'd all be able to relax during nap time. Nope. Karla and I got to the church 15 minutes before the party started and the decorations and food were ready and looked great. THANK YOU SO MUCH Grammy, Grandma, Pap-Pap, and Jason!!!! The party wouldn't have been a success without you! These 4 (plus others) were amazing. They helped to refill food, etc. during the party and cleaned up afterwards.

My dad had the important job Saturday night of driving some special guests home. So by the time my mom finished helping clean up, she was too tired to drive herself home to Ohio. So she spent the night at our house. Two of my grandparents spent the night in a hotel nearby so I told them to come over Sunday morning and we'd have Karla open her gifts then - everyone was way too tired Saturday night to open any gifts and we'd already decided we weren't going to get up and go to church the next day. Sunday morning was great! My mom got up with Karla so that Jason and I could sleep some more...of course I was still so wound up I wasn't able to fall back asleep but I think Jason got a few extra z's.

to be continued....

Party!

We had a great, fun party for Karla on Saturday! We had about 78 people including many babies and toddlers. We don't plan to have a huge party like that every year but wanted to do it this year as kind of a birthday party and welcome home party. We didn't have a BIG welcome home party last year because of Karla being in the hospital and us adjusting to being a family of three. So this year we went all out! More details as I have time this week. Here is a link to some pictures. I'll add more sometime this week too. Tomorrow is Karla's actual birthday so I'm off to wrap some gifts!

One Year

Karla's been on U.S. soil for ONE YEAR today. She took her first plane ride, met her grandparents, some friends, and Tio Kevin, Tio Ryan, Tia Brenda and Tio Russ ONE YEAR ago today. Jason and I carried her into her bedroom for the first time and were bursting with joy as she looked around and then said "hola" to each and every stuffed animal on a shelf in her room. We watched her explore the house, taking everything in. We knew things would never be the same...and it was a GOOD feeling.

">