Cate's Cooking Club: Nightfrog and Pearls Optional

Cate loves to cook. Since she no longer takes a nap, Cate now wants to cook something every afternoon while Timmy sleeps. Sometimes we make cookies.

Today we made our favorite Ghirardelli brownies. In her nightfrog. This is Cate's first nightgown and since it has frogs on it, she got a little bit confused and started calling it her nightfrog. Now all nightgowns are nightfrogs.

Then we moved on to making dinner...at 2:30 in the afternoon. It gets the job done. We made this new recipe. We were pretty happy with it. It is hard for Cate to help with dinner because it involves a lot of chopping and working with knives which she truly believes she is ready for. So we usually settle for me chopping the veggies or whatever and her counting them and putting them into a bowl. This is a totally unnecessary step, but efficiency is not king in our afternoon cooking club.

When we were just about finished, Timmy started making some noise in his crib. Cate said, "Mama, I think it makes sense when you have a girl and a boy to leave the boy in his crib. All day long. It just makes sense." And with that, Cooking Club was done. Who knows what we'll whip up tomorrow!

The Move, Phase I

This past weekend, we moved out of our house and Cate, Timmy and I moved into my parents' house until we find a house in Phoenix. I don't think that any move is fun but this weekend was a disaster. The storage people underestimated how much space we would need to fit all of our stuff and the packers and movers did a terrible job. After they left, everywhere we looked we found cabinets that had not been emptied, clothes in the closets and a slew of coke cans and water bottles that they just threw on the ground. A mess, a really huge mess. So we thought that we would just be cleaning an empty house on Sunday, but we were actually finishing their job, figuring out what else we could give away and hauling tons of extra stuff to my parents' house. We got it done and the renters moved in the next morning. I am so glad that that part is done.

It is strange to rent your house out. When you sell a house, you fix things up, do the best you can and then after you close, you wash your hands of it. You are done. When you become the landlord, it is kind of like having strange, unknown, very long term house guests. You want them to be happy, to like the house and you hold your breath when their name comes up on the caller id, wondering what they have found that is wrong, or what quirk of a 60 year old house you forgot to mention during the walkthrough.

So now we are settling in here. I bought some new, exciting toys for C&T and plan to take them out as needed. Even though my parents have a lot of toys, they are not in their usual routine and seem less able to occupy themselves for any length of time.

So today we played with some fresh play-doh and new tools. Timmy might have eaten a little bit of it while I wasn't looking. In the past, all he did was eat it, so this is progress.

We also loaded up on new library books last week, which Cate LOVES. One of her favorites is, "No more Cookies," which is about one cookie obsessed little girl. At the end, this little girl's mother offers to make frozen chocolate dipped bananas with sprinkles. It seemed easy enough, so after a trip to the store for sprinkles, Cate and I worked on this during Timmy's nap.

We saved these for after dinner and both C&T loved them. I think that Timmy was silent for 10 minutes while he worked on eating his banana. Cate kept asking him, "T, do you like these? Do you like the sprinkles? I made these for you."

Ice Cream Cones

It has been a crazy week. It is Friday and I think that our movers/packers are finally nailed down for next week on Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise known as the 11th hour. We hand over the keys Monday morning. It is taking all of my will to suppress the major freak out that threatens to bubble over.

Luckily, I have Cate and Timmy. To them it is just another week for playing, sleeping, running around and reading stories. If I were alone, I would obsess all day long over what I could be doing to prepare for the move. Instead, we play and dance to Taylor Swift and negotiate over how much juice is too much as usual.

Yesterday Auntie Jenn came over and we had strawberry cones outside after bath time. Cate danced on the back step and Timmy managed his cone all on his own for the first time (i.e. he didn't try to eat it from the bottom up). Tim is on his way home from Phoenix as I type for what will be our last weekend in our house. I'm sure that C&T won't let us make it all about work and moving.

House Hunters

I love that show. We watch it all the time and it looks so easy and like so much fun. You go to a few houses, one is clearly the best, you both agree and that's it...you have a new house.

I went to Phoenix this weekend for three days (the longest I have ever been away from Cate and Timmy) to look for a house. I got back on the plane yesterday with nothing settled, nothing certain. I thought, well, I will just go back in a month or so and look again. Then the plane landed and I had a message that our house had rented to a nice family with no pets for our full asking price. Awesome news. We have less than two weeks to be out.

I am trying to think of just one task at a time and not let all of the details seep into my brain and overwhelm me.

So this morning, before our new renter came to sign the paperwork, I had two snuggle bugs. After we made breakfast, I asked Cate what she wanted to do. She said, "Could you please just get back in your bed and snuggle with me?" So I got back in with her and then Timmy and Timmy's cars and we just hung out for awhile. Then the snuggling inevitably turned to wrestling (Timmy's idea) and hide and seek (Cate's idea). Whenever you ask Timmy to give someone a kiss, he plants one right on their mouth as seen below.

Timmy's idea of a nice way to wake up. Sleep sack on, cheerios in hand, watching "Cars."

So I hope that in the next few weeks I will be posting a picture of our new house...

Water Desensitization Training: Day Two

There are no pictures of day one, in case you are wondering, because there was too much yelling going on.

We are moving to Phoenix. A place where you must be in the water in the summertime to survive. I have two kids who really don't even like the water in the bathtub very much.

Last summer, Cate would not get in the wading pool or even in her baby pool in our backyard. When we visited Phoenix in June, I thought that they might like a splash pad/sprinkler park because they would not be immersed. Nope. They would not go near it.

So when I found out that our community pool, which is right behind our house, is having an hour of free swim for toddlers three days a week, I knew that we would be there.

On Day One of training, they lasted only 30 minutes but both spent some time in the pool.

On Day Two, I was armed with new pool toys, which helped. I managed to get Cate to not only touch the waterfall, but to go through it with me. Of course, once through the waterfall and on the other side, she was yelling, "I'm wet, I'm wet!" Then she insisted on getting her towel and having her hair dried as much as possible. She is a real adventurer. She did ultimately get back in and play in the water.

Timmy was most interested in playing with his new Lightning McQueen car on the edge of the pool...no waterfall for him, which surprises me, but he hasn't had much exposure to water.

So if you are looking for us in the late afternoon, we will be at the baby pool, making baby steps toward having fun in the water.

A Family Visit and Navy Pier

Last weekend my uncle Neil and cousin Cara came from Delaware for a visit. It was so great of them to take the time to come and get to know Cate and Timmy. They were great about playing with the kids and working on the always important task of wearing them out before bedtime.

On Saturday we trekked downtown to check out Navy Pier. Timmy stayed behind, but I thought that Cate would be able to handle the excursion. She did. Kind of. It was pretty hot and crowded, but we had a good time eating Mexican food, watching the boats (the race to Mackinaw Island started that day) and riding on the Ferris wheel.

The rest of the weekend we just hung out, cooked out and chilled out in the air conditioning to escape the insane humidity.

Timmy's First Haircut

We have been putting it off for quite awhile. Who would want to cut these curls?

Finally, after he began to look a bit unkempt, we bit the bullet and got Timmy's hair trimmed.

He did not like it one bit, but he looks as adorable as ever. He still has curls; they are just a little bit less wild.

A Full Weekend

We had a great Fourth of July weekend. Tim is home from Phoenix for 10 days! That is so exciting just on its own. We started the festivities with Tim's family when Nana Diane came to visit for the weekend and she and Uncle Rusty grilled out for us on Saturday. It was super super hot and humid, but it cooled off somewhat for dinner and we just hung out and had fun. Cate and Timmy took turns riding on her new Barbie big wheel from Nana and they played a little bit in the baby pool.

After church on Sunday where we got to hear the David Crowder Band in concert (we are going to miss our church so much!) we had another cookout with Mimi, Pop, Jenn and the Beneshes.

On Monday we headed over for an afternoon with good friends. Below is a picture of the real Elizabeth, but she doubles as Cate's imaginary friend. It was the most relaxing family BBQ situation we've had since having two kids. Timmy napped and the girls just played and played. A glimpse into the future, I hope?!

On Monday night we got ready for s'mores and fireworks in the park. We let C&T stay up for fireworks. Cate loved it, but Timmy couldn't quite make it through the whole show. They both slept until 9:30 this morning....Happy Anniversary to us!

Celebrating Three with Daddy

We continued to celebrate Cate's birthday this weekend with a trip to the zoo and a pink pizza party. Cate was not totally in love with the zoo because she was worried about the animals getting out. She didn't want to get out of the stroller at first, but eventually warmed up. We packed a lunch and ate at the zoo and then came home for a quick rest. Well...the boys took a rest, but the girls went to pick up the cake, balloons and a few miscellaneous items.

Cate loved her Pinkalicious cake and was one exhausted three year old by the time bedtime rolled around.

Our big gift for the birthday girl was a new dollhouse. She has one that someone gave us and that she really loves to play with, but I thought she might like something a little bit bigger and newer. We didn't give it to her until after church on Sunday because by the time we were done eating on Saturday, she needed to get to bed. Luckily, at three, she is not yet aware that this is not how birthdays are usually done.

So here they are ready for church, both donning the best of the Old Navy clearance rack, Cate in her new pink headband from Uncle Rusty.

After church and lunch, Timmy went down for a nap and Cate got to open her dollhouse. In a sign of things to come from her 16 year old self, Cate took one good look at the dollhouse and said, "Mommy, this is so much cooler than my other dollhouse."

Cate's Third Birthday Date

Our little Cate is three years old today. She is such a big girl. We decided that this year, in the midst of the insanity that is our lives, we would do a few fun activities with Cate, things that we could do as a family that we knew she would enjoy. Tim will not be home until late tonight, so we are spreading her birthday fun out over today and tomorrow.

This morning Auntie Jenn came over to hang out with Timmy so that Cate and I could go on a date and paint some pottery. She love love loves to paint and fuss with projects, so I thought that I would just let her decide what to paint and which colors to use. Luckily she was easily guided away from the intricate horse that first caught her eye and was happy to paint a plaque and put her handprint on it.

She chose all light pinks and purples for the base and painted her hand a dark pink for the handprint. After we finished, we walked over to the fountain in downtown Arlington Heights, ran around and played on a new playground.

I finally coaxed her into leaving with the promise of a swing through Panera for her favorite bagel (asiago cheese) and lunch for Jenn, TT and Mimi. Tomorrow we are planning to go to the zoo and have pizza, gifts, and a very special cake for our pink loving girl!

Expressions

There are a few expressions that I do not care for.

1. It is what it is. (i.e. there is nothing you can do about it)

2. We have a lot going on right now. (I have been saying this for two years...I am sick of it.)

3. The New Normal

These expressions come up frequently and the new normal is my least favorite. I mean, who really wants a new normal, right? The new normal means that your old comfortable, worn in way of doing things is coming to an end and it is time to learn a new way, adjust and change. This move is reminding me of how much I like to be comfortable, to be familiar in my surroundings and to be safe. It's too bad that being comfortable isn't really a main goal of life.

We decided that Cate, Timmy and I would join Tim in Phoenix for 10 days so that we could all be together and so that I could get another look at this city that will eventually be home. It was not an easy two weeks. The kids and I were all sick (2 trips to urgent care), they were jet lagged and not sure of their new surroundings.

The good news is that we have great friends in Phoenix. Dan and Jamie opened up their house and, more importantly, their toys to us showed us around town, watched our kids so that we could look at neighborhoods, and answered a million questions about the city. I really can not imagine moving to a new city and not knowing a soul. This is a hard move for us but having old friends there is making it manageable. We were supposed to meet up with Sari and her little Elliot, but C&T were just too sick, so we'll have to catch up with them next time.

The Scottsdale train museum. Cate and Timmy love trains so they had a great time, although it was quite toasty that morning.

Norah's backyard pool. It is amazing that Cate actually got in the pool. She is very unsure of the water but it was a pretty small pool so I think she felt safe. Timmy waited to get the girls out of the pool so that he could get in on his own and stretch his long legs out.

Cate at our apartment pool. Did she get in the water in the 105 degree heat? Nope. But she did kick and splash on the side which is something. I see some major boot camp swimming lessons coming our way. I hope that Tim will be in charge of taking them to those.