Math Test FAIL

Emmaline brought home a math test today  - it was marked that she got two wrong.

Anyone see the same problem I saw?

Rating:  9 Fireballs

Liliana

I had one of those experiences with Liliana the other morning where she got out of bed and she was suddenly a foot taller and two years older.  I hate it when that happens - they literally grow in the night.  I snapped a photo of her.  I also have a random story to go along with it. 

On Friday night we got the kids Burger King for dinner in order to congratulate Emmaline for getting good grades.  Liliana, who is getting very thoughtful in her prayers, said the blessing over the food:

"Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for our day. Thank you that Daddy went to Burger King.  Please bless the food."

I don't know why, but it struck us as funny that she specifically thanked that we went to Burger King.

Anyway - here she is!

Rating:  4 Lollipops

Report Cards and School Photos

We had Parent/Teacher Conference today and I am pleased to say that Emmaline is doing great in school.  Her teacher said she is a happy child who is friendly to everyone.  She is doing well in all her subjects.  One thing I do for Emmaline is once a week I try to pack her a lunch that matches whatever the school lunch kids are eating.  Her teacher actually brought it up and said how happy it makes Emmaline to be like all the other kids and how excited she gets about it!  That made me glad that Emmaline is appreciating the effort!

A month ago when it was school picture time, Emmaline insisted that she wanted to look "special" for her photos.  I didn't know until the night before that "special" meant she wanted to wear a tiara.  With much deliberation, we decided - Why not???  So here is my girl - captured forever exactly as she was in first grade.  I think the scraped up chin gives it a little something extra too.

Rating:  5 Lollipops

4 (kids) x 6 (months)

I was digging through the family archives and came up with photos of all the kids at 6 months.  When Lincoln was born, I thought he was another Liliana - but now I'm thinking he is more like Idgie!  What do you think?  Idgie apparently wasn't a happy child at 6 months though because I couldn't find anything of her smiling!

Top: Emmaline, Liliana

Bottom:  Idgie, Lincoln

Rating:  4 Lollipops

The Weekend

So we had a busy weekend and I took a few photos of miscellaneous things that I will now share!

On Friday we headed out to the Fall Festival (part of the CSA that we belong to).  We harvested about 200lbs of veggies (more on that once I'm done dealing with it all!) The girls had a blast digging in the dirt.  I felt like a real pioneer type woman with Lincoln in a sling on my back while I dug beets out of the dirt.  We went so late in the day that by the time we were done harvesting, all the fun stuff was closed.  So on Saturday we headed back to do all of that stuff.  I didn't take many pictures but here is the family riding the Tractor Train:

We also finally got new carseats for Lil and Idgie and moved Lincoln up to a convertible.  Idgie is now forward facing and we can fit all three carseats in the back row together! 

Then on Sunday the girls were all wearing new dresses so we had to take a picture of that too:

Rating:  4 Lollipops

Square One

This morning Emmaline got hives around her lips when she drank milk.  We were so close!!!!   Her allergist said to go back to milk in baked goods and test that at home to make sure that her new exposure to milk won't cause her to regress on that point as well.  We'll call after the weekend and figure out where to head next.  They are small and hard to see in the photo - but they are there.
*sigh*

Rating:  5 Fireballs

Lincoln - 6 months old

Well our Mr. Magoo is 6 months old today! 

Lincoln is such a sweet heart.  Right now he loves to grab anything and hold on tight.  Toys are okay but much preferred are noses or his sister's hair (little brothers are so pesky!).  He is still blowing raspberries all the time and loves to be tickled.  He adores his sisters but seems to have a special love for Liliana who adores playing with him and giving him oodles and oodles of attention. 

The outfit he is wearing in these pictures is quite special.  When we were told Emmaline was a boy originally, we went out and bought it.  It also has an adorable sweater and mittens that go with it.  That poor little outfit has been waiting for 6 years to be worn and finally there is a little boy to put it on! 

Lincoln has his 6 month well-child check yesterday.  His current stats are:

Weight - 14 lbs 7 oz (5%)
Height - 26 1/4 inches (50%)
Head - 17 1/2 inches (75%)

The doctor was concern about his little body and big head but I assured her that we had another child just like that (Emmaline) - huge noggin and itty bitty body! 

Rating:  5 Lollipops

Dairy!!!

I can't even begin to express the excitement in our house!

One year ago, Emmaline challenged dairy and failed instantly.   Then in January, we challenged milk in a baked good and she passed that! 

Well today we challenged milk again and she PASSED!  She tolerated 1/2 cup of plain old milk.  So for the next week we are approved to give her that amount of milk each day.  Then after that, the sky is the limit.  Milk, yogurt, cheese, cream cheese, butter, sour cream, etc etc!  It's a glorious day.  The whole way home Emmaline and I made a list of all the things she could try.  The top of her list was Cheese Pizza!

Rating: 10 Milk Duds

Party, Party, Party

There is a scene in the TV show Growing Pains, toward the end of the series, where Chrissy is mad she has to go to bed and all the older kids get to stay up.  There is a part where she imagines that everyone is having fun but her, and she stomps down the stairs and yells at everyone, "Wait until Chrissy goes to bed, then party, party, party!"

It reminded me of what our family did this morning.

This morning AJ was staying home from work but took Emmaline to school anyway as he usually does.   When he got home, we were sitting around chatting and suddenly I had a brilliant idea - we should go to breakfast!  It is something we never get to do simply because either:
1) mornings are hectic
2) AJ has to get to work
3) Emmaline has to go to school
4) Emmaline is allergic to breakfast things like dairy and eggs

I realized that only two of the four things was true this morning - Emmaline had to go to school and she still has food allergies.  And as luck would have it, that is perfect for the rest of us! 

Within ten minutes of the idea, we were in the car and pulling out of the garage.  We went to a restaurant called The Egg and I and enjoyed every bite.  Lil and Idige had already had breakfast once so this was second breakfast for them.  They didn't eat much but still had fun. 

Just don't go telling Emmaline about it.  It's the type of thing childhood scars are made out of.

Rating:  4 Eggs

The reason to have kids

Sometimes when there is a lot of fighting over toys and chairs and books and games and who gets to make what noise or who gets to use which bathroom or go up the stairs first or open the door or shut the door or which color of plate or cup they get - you forget why you brought these children into existence in the first place.
Then one day you peek outside to check on them and they remind you exactly why you love them to pieces.

Rating:  3 Lollipops