We still have snow!

When the weather is mild and we get out for a few minutes I'll chop away at this mound of snow. There is about 16 inches of slushy icy snow, and underneath that about 4 inches of solid ice. Soon this slope will be a green and grassy and full of life again, the girls and I enjoyed catching and inspecting all the critters we found on this busy little hill, snakes, snails and salamanders.

Edie loves the swing! It's a little muddy on this side of the house but it was nice out and this is the first time Edie was on her new swing. I think we'll be spending allot of time here this summer!

Taste Test

Edie's birthday is coming and I wanted to try a couple natural cake mixes to find something that would be tasty enough to serve. I saw these mixes in the organic section of the grocery store. MeMe picked them up for us to try. So the girls and I made cupcakes and delivered them for taste testing.
They came out pretty good. One box yielded 12 cupcakes. They were moist and had great flavor. They were egg, nut and diary free.
I like to frost my cupcakes in the middle. You can pick them up with your hands bite in and not get a nose full of frosting. I found a little frosting goes a long way. The girls liked it and Edie loved it.

We did unfortunately have a small setback after Edie indulged in a new sweet treat. She broke out in an all over body rash. I took her to the docs and they said what she had was presenting as a food allergy, because of her already strict diet it would be a good idea for her to have some testing done for potential allergies. UGH. Poor Edie

Yup, they are in there.

The girls anxiously waiting for their cupcakes.

Edie: Quirk #4: Jungle Book Baby Crawl

Quick recap, redundant colon, fangs, caterpillar crawl.

Now you can add gorilla crawl to her quirks.

While getting the girls ready for thier bathes we had the twins in big girl pants and Edie in a diaper waiting thier turn.

To our surprise we found Edie coming down the hall crawling/walking like this. When her legs are bare she does not like her knees to touch the floor. As soon as she hits the rug she used her knees again.

The Twins

I love this picture of Aubrey. She is shaking her head at me saying,'yeah,yeah, yeah'. Convincing me to take her picture.
Here is Reagan striking a pose at the dinner table,

this was the calm before the storm of fevers hit.

We're Feeling Better

There is the smile we know and love.

Two more smiles trying to surface.

GERMS.....

We are currently battling a virus at our little house in the woods. Pictures right now are not pretty. As soon as everyone is up and feeling better we will have allot to post. In the mean time bare with me as I post randoms and oldies.

Edie started out first with a high fever and fussiness, she had and ear, nose and eye infection. Then within 24 hours Reagan came down with the same symptoms...Yup, you guessed it, it's Aubrey's' turn, she isn't complaining about ears, but she too is congested and has sniffles.

Curious George, apple juice, Gatorade, chicken broth and pops are getting us by. They seem to do really well during the day, then 50'clock rolls around and it's just chaos and meltdowns.

By the end of the week we should be back to our regular ...

chaos .... and... meltdowns.

Spring? Where are you?

Sad Cedar

We got a beautiful dusting of snow on Saturday night.

Earlier I had written about the cedar in the front garden. The deer had stripped this one down to well, almost nothing, here she is...so sad.

Laundry Day

Edie helping me with the laundry. She loves to pull everything off the couch and laugh as I say NO sternly. Actually she doesn't just laugh, she flat out chuckles!

Pictures Through a Doll House Window

I love the title of this overdue blog!

I think I need to write a book about Irish Triplets!

Here is Reagan before the double ear infection and102 fever. Let me tell you, it was just a few short hours before she went from this to being exhausted in my arms in the doctors office as they confirmed her ailments. Ugh. Check off Edie and Reagan in the sick column and keep your fingers crossed for...

Aubrey. Yes! yes, she stuck her head through the doll house to make Mommy laugh, then she came to the other side of the camera and said, 'I wanna see silly me! I no sick, '
I know it's blurry, my camera at times leaves something to be desired in these action, spur of the moment grab your camera shots. But, I thought this would give you all a good idea of the teething Edie has been going through. With the fever, restlessness, ear, nose, eye infection she has been battling she keeps a her smile and tries to keep up with her sisters. Temps got into the 60's today and I put their doll house just outside of the safe confinements of our living room. The screened in porch that I vacuumed just before the last snow storm (that gave us almost 13 inches) opened up a whole new world to the girls.

Fresh air, (change the air) keep them where I could see and hear them. Spring of 07' went into effect. The gentle sounds of birds chirping, children sharing and laughing, brought me and my camera to the porch. We had a great time!
I affectionately named Edie, baby desrtucto...her sisters now try to call her that at she clears out the dining room scene the twins set up and act out pretend play scenarios in the doll house.

The Victims

My poor, poor American Red Cedars have been stripped to a stark stalk. I have two, one on each corner of the house anchoring the aesthetics of our quaint cape in the middle of the woods. The bottom 4 feet of these evergreens are a delicious treat for a herd of savage beasts that have been feasting in my yard over the last 5 weeks.

Another victim that may bounce back a bit easier than it's green friends.

Breaks my heart to see this. Ugh. We bought our house in 04' (9months later the twins were born). We had a heavy winter that year, lots of cold temps and snow. That year our trees were stripped. It has taken these trees, 3 yrs to grow almost back, only to be ... ravaged again. I'm not sure if they'll come back this time.

Prevention: I think it's too late, but try as I may. I cut 8 (oh my Gosh!!) inches off my hair on Monday. I spent a good part of my afternoon sprinkling strands of hair on the ornamental trees. Well we'll see... I'll keep you 'posted'.

Notice in both Red Cedars the only thing left are my Robin nests. Hope fully there will be enough coverage for them to feel safe this spring. We have watched them lay their eggs and hatch and fly away for the last three years.

The Savage Beast!

This is the hoof print of the savage beast that has stripped these innnocent trees to a stalk of nakedness.

Reagan asked me earlier.

"mommy, piggy in the snow?"

Aren't We Cute

This is the new me! My stylist called it a sophisticated ...30...

I actually love it!. I really thought I would wake in the morning and burst into tears, but I still liked it. Wash and go, forget the hair pretties, half a bottle of conditioner and oh did I forget to mention I've had the last hair style since I was 15.

Yup, sorry my blond, blue eyed sisters...I've been faking my blond highlights, I'm surprised you couldn't tell by the 5 inches of almost black roots that have suddenly sprung from my head. Oh yeah, they were also peppered with white gnarly nasty greys that suddenly started taking over my locks. I knew it was time for change when Aubrey looked at me and said, "Mama, you have white hair?'

So I came home after my appointment and Reagan in her mousy, sweet voice comes up to me and hugs my leg with toddler ferocity, then looks up me, steps back and puts her hands on her cheeks and says..."OOOoohhhh Mommy,...you look pretty, you geta haya cut?' Then Aubrey pipes in..'Mama, you go to the beauty parlor?, OOOoooohh '

I knew it had to be good if my biggest fans approved.

My Turn

Since my sisters have posted recipes or commented on their cooking abilities I thought I would jump on the band wagon and post one our family favorites. We could easily eat this every night, the girls LOVE it and it's super easy to make.

It's our version of a white pizza, and get this it's almost fat free.

This is how I make it, (also great on the grill in the summer.)

One FF(fat free) Lavash bread, spread onto it a generous layer of FF ranch dressing, place this on a cookie sheet or pizza stone. Bake at 350 for 10 min, or until the bread begins to firm.

While this baking, pound and dice one boneless skinless chicken breast.

In a skillet, add 2 Tb spoons of olive oil and cook chicken at high heat to brown and cook through. I like fresh broccoli for this recipe (the frozen has to much water it'll make the bread soggy) Simply take kitchen shears and snip off the tender florets and the tender part of the stalk, same size as the chicken.

Add this to the chicken and cook till tender.

Now take the lavash bread out of the oven and sprinkle it with an even layer of the chicken/brocc mixture. Top with FF mozzarella cheese and return to the oven for 12 min.

Yum Yo, Aubrey likes to say.

You could adjust the recipe however you like we like this one because it's filling, balanced and almost FF.

Enjoy

Edies Photo Face

Evertime I take the camera out lately to snap a picture Edie makes this face. I LOVE IT, and wanted to share it with all of you.

For the love of Cauliflower

A new treat that Edie baby loves!!

Cauliflower, steamed and chpped. If you have the ability to zoom in check out the two new, NEW front teeth. Yup they are in there!.

Don't worry Grammy B

it's a fake frog, and Edie LOVES IT!!!! We'll be sure to introduce it to you before you find it in the toy box this summer.

Well where did it go?

Dexterity, need I say more?

How old are you?

Look at those cheeks!

She is standing, being brave with one hand!!

Oh where, oh where has my baby Edie gone?

Daddy and his girls.....

I love, LOVE the look on Reagan's' face. She is like...take the picture Mommy!.

As you can see his hands easily can hold the tiny frame of his middle child.

For some reason he thought he would entertain the trio as I prepared him late, very late dinner. Notice Ray has her taggy in tow! And Edie has her precious pipe. Aubrey,...you are your fathers daughter!!

Me and My Babies Montage

Aubrey and Mommy.

She is to Dang smart for a two year old!

Reagan and Mommy

My mini me head to toe, temerment and personality, sense of humor.

Edie Baby and Mommy

What a love! For those of you that have been blessed by this child's presence you have witnessed, and felt this tiny, unconditional love.

For example, at the Blarney Breakfast on Thursday she innocently rested her warm cheek in cousin Sues hand. It was her speechless way of saying I Love You.

Stay sweet my love.

My attempt at a family picture for Todd

.............need I say more?

Everything turned out OK!!

Happy Edie Baby
Sad Edie Baby

This was hard for me to post. My heart just broke when I was going back through these pictures. In one of her tiny soft hands (that you CAN NOT see) is a pipe (to most of you: better known as a soothing device a pacifier a nuk or a binkie)

Well, Edie's sister (Reagan) quickly saw her little sister distracted and yanked it from her tiny little hand.

I was just firing off shots trying to capture the elusive fangs that resided in this tiny little ten month old mouth. This sad, very sad picture came up on the camera. As soon...AS SOON as Reagan heard how upset Edie was she returned the pipe, not only to her little sister but right into her crying mouth.

Edie again resumed her title as worlds happiest baby.

PHEW....

Top of the Mornin' to Ya

Happy St. Patrick's Day

New Found Freedom

I had to let the twins 'cry it out' today.

Yikes!!

I haven't had to do that since they were about 10 months old. Gosh that was hard. But I survived and again regained my position. While the twins were in their room realizing it isn't always fun to be in their rooms Edie and I enjoyed the 70 degree weather on the porch. She was so excited to roam free without her sisters, and be able to come and go through a door way that wasn't gated or locked.

Eventually, Yes, the girls settled down and Edie and I rocked in Daddy's chair, she too fell asleep a bit more innocently than her big sisters. I brought her upstairs and tucked her in her crib, peeled Reagan off the floor and and put her in her bed. Aubrey was half in half out of her bed, so I tucked her into comfy bed too.

Ahhh all is quiet, I survived...Thanks mom for hearing me out and giving me great advice!!

Crunching, Crunching, melting

Edie enjoying her new snacks. She has a crunchy freeze dried strawberry stuck to her nose and she is picking up and devouring some peas.
I can not post enough smiling Edie pictures. If you can zoom in you'll see that front tooth has broke through. She is currently working on the other one, which has been causing her a lot of discomfort and restless nights. She wakes, and puts on her smiling face! What a happy baby!

It's finger food time for Edie. Yes, she loves fresh fruits and veggies but some things she just can't crunch into a messy pulp and smear all over her face and hands. Gerber makes these melting snacks but they are rice and flour based. Then I found these Graduates mini fruits, they melt easily but our choices were apples and bananas. She can't have bananas so we were limited and she loved them. There had to be something else out there...

Finger Foods

There were choices I just needed to find them...what to do, what to do.....Certified Organic Just Tomatoes Company.How excited am I to find these crunchy, melt in your mouth snacks? I went into a health food store today. I was looking for vegan finger foods for Edie. To my delight I found THEM! finger foods for Edie baby! Not only are they organic but there is ABSOLUTELY nothing added to them.

Check out the labels of the snacks you or kids enjoy, they are usually enriched wheat or flour based. There are not many vegan choices in the regular grocery stores. Problem solved ...for now...
Here are some examples of her new snacking goodies. They are freeze dried fruits and vegetables. The benefit of freeze dried is they literally melt in your mouth. She now has a crunchy snack choice of peas, apricots, strawberries, and a mixed veggies, they are packed with natural goodness and again NOTHING added.

I know what your thinking....yuck....
To tell you the truth the strawberries and apricots burst with flavor once they hit your tongue, then they just melt away. The peas and corn snacks are an acquired taste. These also melt quickly. If you've ever had the crunchy fried peas form Harry and Davids you would like these too.
Well let me finish by telling you she is so excited to have new snacks (and it's a lot easier to tote around than minced fruits that don't last long in a backpack.)

Check this company out at http://www.justtomatoes.com/.

Because she is so cute

Reagan

....Eight for a Playdate.......

No I didn't count wrong.

Aubrey, Reagan, Edie, Lucy, Sofie, Sonny,Grace and Owen.

Edie was army crawling on the floor. What a great play date! Erica, we had a great time, again thank you for having us over.

HUGS....

Three of a kind