Trick-or-Treat

Happy Halloween!

Katelyn, M.D.

Vanessa, The Lion

Releasing the inner artist

We had my family over last night for a pumpkin carving extravaganza. There were little pumpkins and big ones, home-grown ones and store bought ones. There were traditional jack-o-lantern ideas, ones gathered from magazines and some that came from the pure artist genius inside. In total, we carved 9 pumpkins. I know it's not Halloween yet and I am posting Halloween pictures early, but I figure tomorrow night I'll be excited to share pictures of the girls in their costumes.

Breaking News! 3 Year Old Becomes Proud Mommy of 23 Babies…Fish Babies That Is

As told by Katelyn…

My Papa took me to the fish store last week to buy some new fish for a larger tank he had gotten me for my room. We came home with 3: one black female Molly, one yellow male Molly, and one yellow Balloon-Molly (who we didn’t know was a female or male). I love my new tank; it’s larger than my last one, much quieter and all my fish seem to get along well.

I went into my room today to see how my new fish were doing. Mommy saw me staring at the tank and asked me what I was looking at. Our conversation went something like this…

Mommy: What are you looking at?

Katelyn: The baby fish. (Mommy comes over to the tank to take a look.)

M: Where is she?

K: Down there.

M: OMG!!!! BILL!!!

Mommy quickly noticed that there was a teeny-tiny fish resting on the rocks at the bottom of the tank. Then she quickly looked up to see that the Balloon-Molly fish, who is now apparently a FEMALE, was giving birth. And then, right then…the black female ATE one of the babies…right before our eyes! And then the yellow-male ATE ANOTHER ONE!

M: BILL!!!! QUICK! GET THE FISH NET! GET A BOWL OF WATER! THEY’RE EATING THE BABIES!

I started to run around after my Mommy and Daddy in all of the excitement, yelling along with them…hey, they were my fish after all, and why couldn't’t I join in on the excitement? Luckily, we were able to scoop out the other two big fish before they had any more baby-snacks.
So for the next 30 minutes, Mommy, Daddy and I were glued to my fish tank and watched this amazing process. It was so cool to see that many baby fish come from the mommy fish’s tummy.
But now, we had 23 baby fish that could not be in the same tank as the adult fish…so off to the aquarium store we went! $150 later we were back home with a new tank set up in Vanessa’s room, the new home to the three adult Molly fish.

Mommy keeps telling me that I saved all of my baby fish, because if I hadn’t notice the teeny-tiny baby amongst the rocks, perhaps none would have survived.

Aren't they cute? (I'll try to take some better pictures for you tomorrow, but it's hard because they are SO tiny.)

It's OK

This morning, as almost all mornings are around here, was hectic and a flurry of commotion. "Hurry up, get your shoes on!" "Pay attention - let me get your hair done!" "Let's go NOW!" "MOVE!"

I was planning to take the girls over to Pottery Barn Kids sing-along and then on the way home make a few pit-stops. I wanted to get out, get my errands done and get home before we have afternoon melt downs go on. Not that they actually sing-along or dance or even really notice the entertainer. But we go for the fun of being packed into the back of the store with 50 other moms and kids. Oh, and to check out all of the really cool stuff that store has. Who needs a park? Take you kids to a PBK store and let them run free! My girls made a B-line for the dolls and strollers, which by the time we left the store, the strollers had probably added 100 miles on their wheels. I get so excited about being in that store, looking at the great ideas and fabulous accessories. But I was very good today and didn't buy anything, although almost purchased a new doll and stroller as Vanessa had escaped the front door and was running away from the store. Really, she saw me watching her and turned towards the door and just started running...pushing baby doll in stroller!

Anyways, as I was saying, this morning as like most mornings go here...late. I try to be on time, but we are always 5, ok maybe 10, minutes late to everything. I was rushing around and, after getting the girls in the car, started to drive away. But wait! I think I forgot to close the front door! U-Turn. Nope, its closed and locked. Ok, mental note...brain is out to lunch for the day. Ok, back on the road driving.

All of a sudden I hear a little voice from behind me..."Mommy, it's ok if we are late. Sometimes, people are just late. We'll get there."

Ok. Reality check from my three-year-old. It's going to be a great day.

Try Something New

I’m going to try something new here…I am going to start investigating some new recipes. A while back, a dear friend made us some tasty noodles. We ALL loved the dish. I have never even tried making noodles like this, would have never combined the ingredients before, and would have been too fearful to step into a new realm of cooking. But I asked for the recipe and that got me thinking…I have my few favorite recipes and I know my friends do too. I have my style of cooking and they have theirs. At my fingertips, I have the perfect cookbook; all from friends and family who can vouch that it is a good recipe (not something that “looks tasty” from a cookbook and often produces the complete opposite results), actually has been made by a real human being (not a professional chef), is delightfully tasty (and hopefully easy to prepare) and, of course, is something that your family will eat it.

I have posted, in the right-hand side-bar, my new found recipe. Periodically, I will post new recipes for you to try. But, I need your help. E-mail me your favorite recipe so that I can share it with others or as you try something new, let me know about it. I am just beginning to learn how to be creative in the kitchen and could use all the help I can get.

Good Parenting 101

"Who's that barking?"

"The neighbor's dogs."

"What are they called?"

" Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest."

(Note: They bark constantly and after talking to the owners numerous time and reporting it to the city (yes, we're the mean neighbors), they continue to give us the line "they are puppies and you cannot control them." Even at 11pm? How about 2:30am? How about now? Apparently, these dogs have some special eternal powers, because they continue to be puppies year after year, even after several years goes by. Thank GOD they are moving in January!)

Einstein was indeed brilliant, both in actions and words

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds..."

Reality Check

"Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death." (James F. Byrnes)

Matter of fact

You know you have little girls in the home when you have an ENTIRE laundry load of PINK clothes!