License to Drive

After having the 4 wheeler for two months, last night she just sat down and took off.  She needs to work on steering, though.

First Haircut

Last Sunday Avery got her first haircut. 

I've talked about the mullet many times before, and it was only getting worse.  We could, and did, chuckle about it, but at the end of the day, it was looking scraggly.  The final straw was one evening I picked her up at daycare and when I walked in she looked like a ragamuffin child.  And it wasn't just the dirty pants from playing outside, the filthy shirt with two meals (plus snack) worth of food (I see the bibs lying on the table, do they not use them?), or the one shoe-and one shoe only-because she insists on taking one off.  It was the mullet.  Papa Angel offered to give her a trim and we relented.   She was so good and just sat there like a pro. 

What's happening here?

Hey, this isn't bad.

Just a little off the back

I feel like a new woman!

Look, I can run my fingers through it!

Valentine's Day 2011

Rob and I decided not to go out to eat for Valentine's Day, opting to relax at home and cook something delicious.  We made Rachsel Ray Venetian Shrimp and Scallops.  So good!!  For dessert I made Cooking Light Double Chocolate Cupcakes.  The recipe is from a Cooking Light book I have.  It's similar but not exactly the same as the recipe found here.  They looked pretty but were a little dry.  I let Avery lick the spoon, resulting in the pictures from yesterday.

Rob gave me a very pretty birthstone ring from Olive Bungalow.  The artist handcrafts and designs each piece of jewelry.  The pieces are customizable and very reasonably priced.  This one is yellow topaz (both Rob and my birthstone) with a hammered silver band.  Perhaps I'll receive one with Avery's birthstone (emerald) sometime (*cough* Mother's Day *cough*) soon. 

We had a great Valentine's Day!

Busted

Huh?  Chocolate?

Hmmmmmmm........Let me think....

Noooooo.  Why do you ask?

Applesauce Bars

Last Wednesday we found ourselves snowed-in again.  Being snowed-in makes me want to bake something, and I had everything for these Mott's Apple Sauce Energy Bars.  These were pretty good!!  They are wholesome enough for Avery to have for breakfast and sweet enough to have for dessert.  For the dried fruit, I used raisins. 

Mott's Apple Sauce Energy Bars

3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal 1 cup flour 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes 1 cup dried fruit bits 2/3 cup brown sugar 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda ½ cup melted butter, cooled 1 cup Mott's Natural Apple Sauce 1 egg Preheat oven 350° F. Combine oats, flour, coconut, fruit bits, brown sugar, cinnamon and baking soda in large mixing bowl. In separate bowl, mix together melted butter, apple sauce and egg. Stir apple sauce mixture into dry ingredients until just combined. Spread mixture into lightly greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Bake 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool before cutting into squares. Makes 24 servings. Nutrition Information Per Serving: 150 calories; 6 g fat; 20 mg cholesterol; 105 mg sodium; 24 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 3 g protein

Sledding

We had to take advantage of all the snow and take Avery sledding for the first time.  Rob tried to find a sled before the blizzard hit but didn't have much luck.  Saturday I was determined to take her sledding somehow, so we headed out to the small hill by our neighborhood pool with the plastic lid to an over-sized plastic storage container.  It worked well for Avery, but then a neighbor offered his sled, so Rob was able to go with her.  She actually really liked it! 

Groundhog Day Blizzard 2011

It started early Tuesday, February 1st.  By the time it was all over, Owasso had about 19 inches and Tulsa about 14 inches, record snowfall for the area. 

Rob and I worked as necessary from the house Tuesday through Thursday.  Avery was pretty easily occupied with the help of Barbey (Barney), Blues Clues, reading, coloring, playing on the iphone, and wreaking havoc on the house in general.

We sat on the 4 wheeler and considered actually pushing the power button

We watched Dad shovel snow

We made messes

We went outside.  We would not let go of the snack.

Side note: the hat, coat, and snowsuit are all size 6-12 from last winter and they still fit.  Score!

Standing in the middle of 145th

Her mittens wouldn't stay on.  We improvised.

Avery has a new habit of taking her pajamas off.  Woke up 3 mornings in a row to a naked baby.  She was apparently oblivious to the negative temperatures outside.

We're back at work today, but I have to admit I didn't mind being snowed in.  I am really craving Target though.  Must.go.tonight.


Lots of videos at
http://www.youtube.com/user/oumonique