We Can Make Our OWN Breakfast

Oh My. This Saturday morning was less than ordinary. Woody and I spent significant parts of the night putting Ingrid back to sleep. There was a lot of passing hands as we took turns getting out of bed to tend to her noctural needs or crys.

Needless to say we were quite tired when our older two children woke up. They were kind enough to turn on the TV and "try" not to come in our room too often. We "tried" to keep our eyes closed but it's hard when two girls are standing over you wondering outloud if we were still sleeping.

So it was even less ordinary for the girls to decide to get their own breakfast (sans Milk) and for Morgan to get everything set of for Annika.

It's My Party

Today was a seemingly normal workday. I dropped Morgan off at school. Woody took Annika to preschool.

Little did I know Woody had a birthday dinner planned. Woody and Ingrid went to AJ's for stuffed cornish hen ingredients, star fruit, horned melon and ingredients for TWO eggplant recipes. He spent the better part of the afternoon creating a delicious dinner that was marvelous!

It was a great birthday dinner and a wonderful surprise. (That and the new Wüstof professional kitchen knife set!)

Work Surprises

Some days I may be sitting at work, or come back to my desk after a meeting only to find a simple e-mail from Woody with a few pictures attached that were captured moments before. It's a great feeling to see some of the pics. Others just make me laugh and wonder, "what's going on at home." Still others just show the simple fun that makes kids special.

Annika's Sleep Patterns

We described some of this phenomenon before, but once again, when we went to check on our sleeping girls we found Annika had contorted herself into the oddest sleeping position. My back aches from the view! So, of course, we decided to photograph another night of Annika sleeping. We are truly starting a great collection, beginning from some of her crib sleeping!

St.Valentine's Greetings

Cozy new sweaters from Grandma greeted our daughters for Valentine's Day. Luckily the weather cooperated and it was cool enough to wear them, if only for one day. Morgan spent part of the day re-reading the school valentine's greetings.

We went attic shopping and found this cute GAP long sleeved heart t-shirt for Ingrid.

The Move

This week concluded our musical rooms move game with the girls. Ingrid has "graduated" out of the master bedroom and has joined Annika. More significantly, and with a bit of sadness, we have completed the transformation of the home office into a new bedroom for Morgan. That means, everything from the home office had to find a new home - with significant give-aways including our beloved custom fitted corner desk.





We painted Morgan's room a soothing fairy light green with HOKUS curtains from IKEA and a rose rug. The room looks fabulous. We still have a few details to finish so the reveal pictures will have to wait.





As part of the preparation, we really went out of our way to prepare Morgan for her new room for herself. Annika kept walking in the new room saying, "Dis is nice. I like this. Hook at this." while pointing out the new things. Morgan's bed was in pieces in the living room. We said this will be Morgan's room. Annika replied no, she has a room and pointed to her shared room. We tried to explain that Ingrid was moving in. No, Annika thought she should have the new green room and that it was silly to say it was only Morgan's. We should have listened.





Annika's bed was moved to a different wall in her old room. With that change, and the addition of Ingrid's dresser, Annika was satisfied for the moment that she too had a new room. We disassembled the crib and moved it in as a final step. Annika frowned. We thought she was excited about her new roommate or perhaps she really thought she was getting her own room. We tried to explain the benefits of sharing with Ingrid. Annika still frowned. We thought she'd get over it. Someday, you too, may have your own room. We should have listened.





We put the girls in their "new" bed locations and marveled at the gained space in the master suite and settled in. A few hours later, Woody went to check on the little girls. Ingrid was in her crib, but we couldn't find Annika.





I think the picture shows what we should have listened to. Annika has never spent a night without Morgan. We found her curled up using the rug as a blanket, sharing the room, with Morgan.

Ingrid's Milestone

Today we celebrated TWO milestones with Ingrid.

She now can roll from her back to her stomach, using a 90 degree turn pivot move. Way to go Ingrid!

We also started rice cereal today.

It surely has been an extraordinary day!!

Annika's 1st Annual Valentine's Art Party

Today was Annika's Valentine's party with some of her neighborhood friends. We kept the gathering small for our first year as a "test balloon" for future annual parties, similar to Morgan's Christmas Cookie Party. Annika was up at dawn, jumping with excitement. Woody and I were out decorating the backyard the night before the party and we continued right up until the start. Woody's mom was here to take care of Ingrid so we could focus on our guests. We had to take special care for our lunch menu - one of the guest has a severe peanut allergy.

That made our focus switch from homemade heart shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Little Debby heart shaped snack cakes to meat sandwiches and prepackaged foods. The girls didn't mind, as long as they could eat under the "sparkly heart" tree.

For activities, we had tempra paints set up on arrival. Mom, the brilliant sewing extraordinare, created aprons for the girls. They were fabulous and everyone was surprised by the gift.

The girls created painting masterpieces, made picture frames with foam decorations for their parents. Woody took individual pictures of the girls and printed them in time to include them in their frames as a memento of te party.

Morgan was a great helper and stepped up to help serve and be the gopher.

All in all, it was a super success and I have already started on some ideas for next year's party.

Multi-taskers

Harmony came out to see the girls this week. For Ingrid it means time to ride around in the podaegi. Here's Harmony, the multi-tasker, carrying Ingrid and providing computer support for Annika.

Dad is also a multi-tasker, peeling fruit and providing entertainment by wearing Annika's apron.

My Odd Sleepers

Not necessarily with this post, but sometime we will put together an anthrology or exhibition of photographs of our sleeping child, Annika. She can fall asleep on a dime and balance herself at the same time. Therefore, it's even rarer that we capture sleeping photos of all three of our girls that are post worthy - but here's tonight's noctural lullaby time for all to see...

Roll Baby Roll

It's cause for celebration. Ingrid started rolling from her stomach to her back! We even captured some of it on video. You go girl!!!