a fresh new look!

The blog needed a face lift. What do you all think? I'm a big fan of it, but it won't hurt my feelings if you aren't.

bonus points

Here's what I woke up to this morning....and starbucks! What a great hubby. He let me sleep in, which is almost unheard of b/c he goes to bed so late. Then he took the girls to Starbucks in their jammies and then bought flowers. Ahhhhh.....bliss. Loving the hubby!

helping to answer prayer

an update of sorts on pukefest, Lily likes to throw up once or twice a day. So let's see, how many days has she thrown up, count um...1,2, 3, 4 days people! I do my laundry once a week, needless to say, I've done a load everyday since Friday.

Anywho, this gave me a good chuckle tonight at bedtime.

E: "where's little mick?" (her Mickey Mouse figure)
K: "in the car."
E: "can you go get him?"
K: "no. What do you want to pray for tonight?"
E: "pray for little mick not to be in the car.
Dear Jesus, I pray for little mick not be in the car and give him peace, amen"

I walked out and got little mick and we talked about answered prayer. I'm hoping she wasn't manipulating me, but if she was, I'm going to give her props for being smart at 2 1/2 yrs old.

here's some fun pics

Easter

for laughs

Cocoa party

Eloise found mamas lipstick

Pukefest 2008

It's becoming an annual event in our house, or should I say bi-yearly.

I've been knee deep in vomit since Friday and I'm done. Does anyone else have that smell in their nose for days?

Friday it was me. Thankfully no puking. That night Eloise. Sunday night Dave. This was horrible. He must have thrown up 20 times. And if you know Dave, he gives 100% of himself to things and vomitting is no exception. He was so loud I thought our neighbors would wake up. The Lawrence family can attest to this, we brought Ahl-bola to their house in August. Later that night, Lily goes down. Once and she's done. Monday night, again. Tuesday afternoon, again. She chose to spread hers out over 3 days.

So after laundering all towels, blankets, a few crib sheets (I threw one set away b/c I didn't have it in me), carseat covers and lots of jammies, I'm tired and I just want someone to come deep clean my house. I'm so overwhelmed now with my yard, my house and even my car. I'm so tempted to hire someone but I just don't know if I could justify it. Where is my mother?

Bodily fluids don't make me queasy, they make the process longer. If a child poops, it's generally contained to one area, when a child throws up, it's EVERYWHERE! And it takes 2 loads of laundry to get the smell out.

Here's the cherry on top. Tonight, after a long session in the car with the girls screaming, eloise wanted to sit in my car in the garage and "drive". (the garage door is closed and the key is no where near the car - that's for you safety kate) She tells me she has to go potty, which lately means she already has. Yep, she peed in my seat. SERIOUSLY! One more thing to wash?

I know I'm complaining, but sometimes a mama just has to let it out.

Fresh pair of kicks

Every sick months to a year I treat myself to a new pair of black shoes. Always black. Because really, is there a need for any other color? They are not fancy, just everyday-live-in-them-could-walk-through-Europe-in-them shoes.

I always buy my shoes at Nordstrom. Sounds snotty, but it's not. I just believe in the quality, customer service, and a fantastic return policy Nordstrom has to offer. And I don't buy alot of shoes so when I do, I want quality. I had my eye of a few lately and took them for a walk aroudn the store. This pair won out. Hands down the most comfortable. I LOVE them!

Here they are - the Keens Sienna Mary Jane in Black













Cheers to those who love new (black) shoes!

Just Right

So pukefest has entered our house again. Of course, through Eloise. I'm starting to think that a)the Lord is using her puke-capades to teach me more about him, b) I'm cursed, or, c) there is something wrong with her immune system. I think she got it from me, but I never had vomit. However, I have learned that if anyone within a mile radius of her has some sort of sickness that could involve vomiting, she will get it.

Anyway, following this sickness there is often diarrhea. She is now potty trained and today she wanted to go poop. She asked us to leave the bathroom and go sit on the couch. We were in the kitchen and this is what follows:

me: "Eloise, is your poopoo runny?"
E: "no"
me: "is your poopoo hard?"
E: "No...It's just right."
us laughing
E: "WOW! That's alot of poop."

Five Faves

Most every mama I talk to is stuck in those 5 meals they always feed their kids. I know I am. It's hard to break out and try something new. I'm always worried Eloise won't eat. Lily pretty much inhales everything I set in front of her. So I thought of sharing mine, in hopes of inspiring others, showing my girls what they ate for 5 years straight, and inheriting some ideas from other mama's.

Here are the Ahl family top 5:

1. Black Bean and Rice Quesadilla's or just in a bowl
   
2. Garden Burger's
   
3. French toast (Deceptively Delicious) with either pumpkin, applesauce, banana or sweet potato
4. Mac and Cheese with Black Beans and chicken sausage from Costco
   
5. Grilled Cheese
6. Peanut butter and Honey with Yogurt Dips (plain yogurt with honey or agave nectar)

okay there were six, but grilled cheese is a given.

Here are a few staples we always have on hand:

1. plain yogurt
2. honey or agave nectar
3. black beans - the girls go through 1/2 of the can in a meal!
   
4. stretch island fruit from Costco\dried mango from Trader Joes
5. penne pasta - we call them little tunnels and if cut, can be placed on finger's
   
6. olives - can't be without olives
7. bananas
8. apples
9. pickles
10. string cheese
    

I wish I had that cool linking tool where we could all list and see each other's, but I don't. I'd love to know what your top 5 faves for kid food are. Maybe we can all acquire something new.
Today, I hit the jackpot with a new one. Don't get too excited. There are no hidden veggies and there's a good chance the ingredients aren't organic or wholesome, but there is alot of room for additions to make up for that shortfall.
The meal today:
Reduced fat crescent rolls (the kind in the tube - this is the not so good part) filled with turkey. Eloise ate 2! She does not like meat, so it helped to get a little extra protein.

I'm not the best at getting my kids to eat, but I'm always on the look out for new ideas.

Blog-envy

I started into this venture of blogging just intending to send off a few pictures to family and friends at a distance and to make sure I was recording daily life with the girls.

It's time to get refocused on that, for me. I have been spending way to much time looking at other blogs wishing I could write as well, look as good, and be more creative. I have so many things I would love to blog about but I'm always worried about perceptions. It's a weird thing having others read your thoughts and daily happenings.

Weird post, but I had to write this as a reminder to myself.

Walking, but not yet talking

Lily has been taking more steps everyday. It's been interesting to watch her development weighed against Eloise's. They are such opposites. Eloise walked at 10 months and was sprinting by 12. She was talking by 8 months and had over 50 words at a year. Lily has maybe 2 words and is more observant and hesitant. Makes sense with walking b/c she's often pushed down by her sister once she gets a good stride going. Tonight we had a dance party listening to Veggies Tales Rocks to the 70's (Dave's favorite). She performed her new skill...and a few other's.

Cookies

I'm sure that this recipe isn't new. And I'm almost positive thousands of people know about it, but it's new to me. I tried it out the other day on a whim and it worked. And they are only 1 pt a piece if you are doing WW.

First one:
1 box spice cake mix
1/3 cup canned pumpkin
2 eggs

beat until combined
Drop teaspoonful onto greased cookie sheet
Bake 375 for 6-7 minutes
makes 48

Second:
1 box white cake mix
1/3 cup applesauce
2 eggs

Same directions as above


I have a 2 tsp. cookie scoop that works great. I prefer the spice ones but all we had was a white cake mix so i figured applesauce would taste better than pumpkin. But who knows maybe the pumpkin would have been good with a little pumpkin pie spice. hmmm....the possibilities are endless. Enjoy!

Teaching your child to run

Eloise runs like Phoebe on Friends. I'm not kidding. Anyone who has ever seen Eloise run, knows what I'm talking about. She flails her arms and her legs whip out to the side. And she looks to the side when she runs or walks. We frequently say, "Look up" (meaning look straight ahead) this results in her looking up to the sky.

How do you teach your child to run properly? Or do you just leave this topic alone and hope that they will outgrow this hilarious looking stride or hope they don't turn out for the track team. I'm thinking this lack of coordination has more to do with her extremely fast growth in height than it does her true running skills

On the same token, how do you teach them to pay attention when they are walking. Eloise has a knack for running into walls, people at the mall, tables, you name it, she runs into it. It's exhausting having to pay attention for 2 of us. I need some ideas.

In Memoriam

I was born and raised in a small suburb just south of Seattle. I attended the same grade school, jr. high school and high school. There is a group of girls, 5 of us or so, that did just the same. We played baseball together, some of them played basketball and soccer. Our parents attended all of our games and held parties at their homes. Three of us have our birthday's within a week of each other and celebrated our 30th b-day with our parents, our spouses and kids. So fun.

Upon entering college we decided to room together. Two here, two there, 1 here. Then our sophomore and junior year, we merged and became one big happy family of girls. We cried together, laughed together, got in trouble together, and grew into women together. We've been mad at each other and learned how to reconcile. We are like sister's. There are long stint's of time when we are apart, but we are never far from one another's minds. And always a phone call away.

We were witnesses at each other's weddings and present shortly after the birth's of our children. And now, sadly, present at our parent's funeral's. Just one year ago, one friend lost her father to cancer. This weekend, one lost her mother to cancer. The sad, sad part of this recent passing, not just that it was a mother, but that it was the mother/daughter relationship that was strongest. They looked alike, talked alike, and understood one another better than anyone else.

Her mom developed breast cancer a little over a year ago. She was declared cancer free this December, but in late January it returned with a vengeance. She died on February 26. You can read her journal here.

The memorial service brought to the surface a range of feelings. First, so sad for my friend to no longer have a mother here on earth. She has a 4 yr old and 10 month old. A mother is so helpful and essential during these young years. Second, how evident it was that the Lord was her rock and she always wanted everyone to know that this experience was designed to make her stronger and not to be taken away quickly. Third, that I have a huge responsibility as a mom to pass onto my children a healthy loving relationship. And that for them to learn what it looks like to love me as their mother, I have to model love to my mother. Affection with my family is not my strong point, but I intend to make strides towards learning how to do this better with the Lord leading me each day. Last, her relationship with her husband. What brought me to tears the most, was watching her husband look so lost. That he was now without his other half. He no longer knew what to do in life. ehhh, tears welling right now.

It was incredible to see a woman this young die. As dear friends we talked about how this just isn't right. We shouldn't be losing our parents now. And sadly, some talked of how they expect to get cancer. They just hope it's the right kind. The kind that is curable. Isn't that sad. I don't know what is going to take me down, but I do know that I want to praise the Lord doing it. This woman did. You knew without a doubt, the Lord was her guide.

Please pray for her daughter and my dear friend Stephanie. There is a giant hole in her heart. She has lost her closest companion and her faithful friend.

Got it, Love it!

enough said.

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT HAS ARRIVED!

The bank pulled through. I checked this morning at 7 a.m. and thought I might vomit just typing in my password to the online banking. I closed my eyes and prayed that if it wasn't there I would be calm and collected. I opened my eyes and there it was. The numbers I've been waiting to see since Monday. I can get my van! (I feel like this previous statement should be something more exciting, like a BMW or something. Nope, just a beautiful picture of efficiency for moms....the mini van.)

I was dead set against mini-vans until this year. While growing up, my best friend Michelle's parent's had 2 mini-vans at the same time. Her dad was a drug rep. We both swore we would NEVER drive one. They were so uncool. Well, she got hers 4 months ago and now I'm getting mine. Humility, what a funny thing.

I would like to note that the Lord has used this time to teach me to stop and play with my girls, to focus on them and learn how to balance play and work. I now trust my ability to stay home and not go insane. I have set up several crafts for Eloise and look forward to planning them more often

About to go postal on the bank

Frustration is mounting as we speak. Most of you know my deep, deep desire to get a mini-van. The opinions are split, some like them, some don't. I LOVE THEM! My friend Breeze and I traveled to Idaho (with our infants) for our friend's wedding. The rental car company blessed us with a spacious, wonderful van. It was so convenient. We were able to nurse without having to worry about the '50 year old woman, i can't believe you are doing that in public' stares and men feeling uncomfortable at the possible thought of seeing boobs. We could change diapers, hop in the back when a child was screaming, and strew our luggage everywhere. It was GREAT!

Fast forward to last Friday. I've been looking on craigslist for months. We wanted to pay cash for our van so I knew I had to be quick on the e-mail when I saw one listed. Our tax return went through and the massive search began. I found one and we drove it on friday. "I'll take it!" We dropped a deposit and set up plans to have our mechanic check it out. I instantly moved money from an online bank into our local bank so that monday after everything checked out I could get a cashier's check.

Well...........apparently the 2 to 3 business day rule is literal and has a time constraint. I did it too late on friday so that didn't count as a business day. Monday did. Here I sit on Tuesday night still not seeing this money in my checking account. I'm about to lose it. Oh, forgot to mention this minor detail. WE SOLD MY CAR! Yep, I'm stuck at home. Anyone who knows me, knows that at 3:30, the girls and I are out of the house. I dream all day of what errand I get to do from 3:30 - 5:30. Quite often it's the mall (I love that place). Two days in a row I have been home. Last night was fabulous. My friend Jodi and her kids came over for dinner. It was a great excuse to stay in. Tonight however, an entirely different story.
A quick breakdown: Lots of screaming, Eloise threw up all over the floor (reflux, not flu), Lily fell in the bath, Eloise jumped on Lily's head and then proceeded to throw the most ginormous trantrum when I went to put her to bed. And this is all on top of the crappy naps they both had today.

I can't tell you how many times Dave or I have checked online or called to see if our money has gone through. I even asked the lady over the phone if she had any control over how fast the money went through. Nope! All done by computers. Seriously, these computer's are going to be the death of us.

If this doesn't go through tomorrow, I'm pretty worried about what Dave is going to do to the sweet people at the bank. He's not known for his patience. This weekend the fire alarm was beeping well after he had taken the battery out. He has fought with this fire alarm before. After losing his cool, in a calm, fatherly way as to not disturb the children, he took the offending item down, walked out to the garage and proceeded to destroy it with a hammer. For all you safety conscious people, we have 4 other alarms in the same vicinity and our house is quite small. No need to worry. (I'd like to note here that Dave is not a violent man. You will not be hearing about some crazy lunatic in the bank on the 5 o'clock news. I promise.)

To the online transfer approval computer: "I WANT MY VAN!"

here's a pic

new favorite

I know I just posted yesterday, but I've found this fantastic blog thanks to my friend Angela. (she's addicted to moneysavingmom) This woman is able to articulate my thoughts PERFECTLY. It's like she stepped inside my head and wrote a few of my posts on her blog but did a way better job. I hope you like it, but I know it might not be for everyone.

sidenote: I'm not entirely convinced that this is the best template for the blog. When I switched over I lost everything and had to restart. I would move back, but I'm afraid of losing it all again. what do ya'll think?

the best outfit to cook in

We just bought these new fabulous sunglasses for Eloise. She LOVES her sunglasses. And that cute apron was made by my mom a few weeks ago. I am learning to be patient and let her "help" me cook. It often results in a big mess and a much longer time frame than I had imagined. But it's all about teaching.