Katy at 5 months

She still smiles all the time

learned to roll from front to back and back to front (look out world)

chews on everything

might be teething

giggles especially at James

is looking more and more like a combination of James and Anna

Can't sit up yet but is working on it

loves her swing 

loves to be in the sling (as long as she can see out)

Needs to see what is going on (especially when nursing)

Melts your heart

is a good sleeper

endlessly entertains us all

is such a sweet soul

Sometimes

Sometimes I forget how old she is. She seems so much older. We hold such grown up conversations. She is growing up so fast. She is so smart and funny. She always surprises me.

But then on nights like tonight when:
~She climbs up unto the dresser and gets into her big sisters lip gloss and uses it as lotion...and makes herself look like the joker.
~Drags a Rubbermaid container out of the closet (when I'm in the other room nursing) and uses it as a stool so she can squeeze/eat a tube of tooth paste.
~Closes her bedroom door, locks it and turns on the fan to poop in her pants. When I try to enter she tells me to go away because she isn't finished yet.
~Finds poop on her blanket because she put it there. (so nasty)
~Cries because I need to wash her blankie.
~Gets out of bed fifty times (Oh why, oh why, can't she be like the other kids and just GO TO SLEEP...Oh and yes I just had to stop typing because Claire got out of bed again. She told me that she wanted to "watch Ice Age the Dinosaurs." What in the world!)
~Has one hundred excuses at bedtime, "I'm thirsty." "I need my tissue." "I need to go potty." and the list goes on.
~Tells me that she wants diapers for Christmas.

And then I remember...

She is still only two! It's a good thing she is so cute. :) When she looks at me with those pretty blue eyes and says, "mommy hold you." I pick her up and she folds herself in my arms and I sigh! Oh I love you sweet girl...even if I am wondering if you are too old to put back into a crib. {grin!}

Putting up the tree

My beautiful bunch

I know I'm pretty biased but I think I am very blessed to be their mom! :)

It feels like fall

It is finally starting to feel like fall here. So in honor of cooler weather I made soup.  I tried a new recipe tonight and the family LOVED it. I thought I would share it with you. 

Creamy chicken and wild rice soup

• 2 stocks of celery chopped
• Half of a red onion (or any onion) chopped
• 2 large carrots sliced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 cooked, boneless chicken breast halves, shredded
• 1 (4.5 ounce) package quick cooking long grain and wild rice with seasoning packet
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup milk

In a large pot saute the carrots, celery, and onion in olive oil over medium heat.  Cook until tender.  Add chicken broth, water and chicken. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice (and seasoning packet). Cover and remove from heat.

In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and flour. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.  Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by tablespoons, to form a roux. Whisk in cream and milk, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. 

Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes. 

I hope you enjoy!  Next recipe I am going to share is for {easy} homemade bread.  I got the recipe during our scratch cooking class. Oh I still need to do a post on our simple living time.  That is coming soon.  I promise. :)

Back to the land of technology and electricity

It's been a long two weeks but we made it. We survived our simple living class...where we had to go without any electrical appliances and make every food item from scratch.  I can't wait to write more about it but for now just wanted to let you all know that we are back online. I will be back soon to tell you all about it.

Until later...