FOOD!

I print off new recipes all the time, then never try them.  To help myself, & you out, I've decided to start a new blog.   When I try a new recipe or create one, I'll share it! 
http://www.tastebudsandbrainbuds.blogspot.com/

29 for the rest of my life

29.... That's how old you stay for the rest of your life right?  Good thing we spent the whole long weekend celebrating!  

It started Thursday - Fred's been wanting to take the snowmobiles out.  I think it's been a few years because of Tad & schooling.  Tad would run away when Fred started them because they were loud.  When we tried to put him on one he cried.  (When dad sat with him he was fine.)  Gma watched Tad while Fred & I went to Monte Cristo to play.  It was a gorgeous day and it was nice to be out. 

Friday was my actual birthday.  Daddy took Tad with him shopping for my birthday present and I had 2 glorious hours of peaceful scrapbooking!  When they got home it was time to bake a cake.  Tad loves to stand on a chair to help.  Evidently he already knows you need to taste things throughout the whole process. 
I've decided I don't have a favorite flavor- I just like to try a new flavor each year.  This year was Strawberry.

While the cake baked, Tad was supposed to take a nap - he refused.  I wanted to take him to the pool to play, so I let him get away with it.
He loved the water and all the kids.  Fred & I are pansies.  The water was freezing! And I hate the kid area where they constantly have water spraying or dripping.  It was fun to watch Tad but we lasted only an hour or less. 

Fred & I went out for some great Mexian at La Puente for dinner and had cake and ice cream with Tad.

Saturday I went out shopping with my sisters.  Then they went bowling with us.  It was Tad's first time and of course he wanted to follow the ball down the lane.  It was league day and they warned us we might get kicked off.  On frame 6 of our second game we got kicked off - but they gave us coupons for a free game---- good deal!!!

Aunt Lauralee helping Tad

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with Daddy.  Maybe the best part of the whole weekend is that Fred finished putting the new engine in my car!   Yippeee!!! And can I just say he's a genius?!  There was another part that would have cost $400 for the shop to replace- we got the part from a junkyard and he put it in himself for a grand total of $37!

The final excitement of the weekend was Tad's new trick.... I couldn't find him, because he's learned to climb in the tub by himself. 

Weird that all the things I wanted to do for my birthday were things that I thought would be fun for Tad---- and at the same time the best gift was time to myself.  Looks like I'll be spending the next year STILL trying to find a balance. 

Happy Helper....but are we happy he's helping?

 First, Valentine's day.   We had a Fantastic brunch outing.  Tad was wonderful, stacking the coffee creamer and drinking his water.  (He'd pretend to pour the creamer in his water---- no idea where he learned that!)   He even tried some of our cinnamon roll & toast.  I put grape jelly on his toast and he licked it off.  :}  It was SO nice to be out and not have to have his diaper bag of toys..... I love Tad growing up!

In Nursery on Sunday the leaders let the kids decorate cookies for their families.  While the other kids devoured their cookies, Tad wouldn't touch his.  I finally got him to taste it later.  He ate the bumps off the top of the heart and that's it!  He also practiced his licking (not sure if I like this new skill). 

 Daddy has been working on my car and Tad is in HEAVEN every time I let him go outside.  Fred's a good sport about letting Tad play with his tools - except Tad usually "NEEDS" the one that daddy is using.  We give him other tools and tell him to fix the snowmobiles.   When we get out of the truck he has to walk through the carport looking for Daddy.  It's so fun to watch him idolize his dad-- hopefully he always likes helping dad fix things and will learn a lot!   We're going to have to get him some more grungy clothes because he's not afraid of dirt and grease at all----grrr!

Tad absolutely loves being outside and we're excited for spring!  We've learned we need to shut our gate though - the other day I saw Tad in the road!   SCARY!!!   (The truck was parked out there and I think he was just going to it.  I have a new appreciation for neighborhood speed limits!)

 Since it was so windy outside today I made Tad come back inside with me.  He probably would've stayed out there longer, but I was cold and had things to do.  Tad decided he needed to help.......
So he helped me do dishes.  Then got his chair to help me make lunch.  Last night he put the broccoli in the pan as I cut off pieces.  Today, he decided to taste the raw potatoes..... at least he's willing to try things, texture is not as big of an issue lately, yippeee!

Tad's latest quirk is whenever you ask him a question he says "uh-uh".  Even if you know the answer is yes- occassionally he'll nod as he says it.   The first day Fred experienced it he said it felt like opposite day.   It came on fast, hopefully it's a phase that will leave just as fast.  

What's up dude?



 What a busy couple of weeks!   I was almost over my fear of Tad jumping out of his crib again when I saw him lift his leg like he was going to climb out.   We've been moving around furniture so that we can put his new mattress in his room, it's just going to be awhile still.


We surprised my mom and repainted her hallway and back bathroom.  Tad did amazing at staying out of the way!  I, however, ended up with a nasty burn on my forearm when I painted down and hit it on the bare lightbulb! (Dad got a matching one an hour later!)

 One day Tad decided to dump all of his snacks onto his little chair - I was just grateful it was the chair instead of the floor.  :}

He loves these little chairs (and table) that I got at a garage sale for $5!! He pushes them all over the front room.  His latest thing is to put them in front of the couch, side by side and try to sit on both of them.   He's also discovered a pair of sunglasses. 



Can you believe he has an ear infection?

Tad finally got his first ear infection.   Being a good parent I waited 4 days to take him in.   I refuse to take full blame.  The first day he was really emotional, crying everytime I told him "no".  I figured he was just teething because he also had a fever and runny nose (and I'm expecting all his molars to pop through any day now).  The next day he was fine - back to being happy and jumping around.  Day 3 - he was a little emotional, a little fever again.  Still not pulling on his ears only crying when we laid him down.  Day 4 - Fred said we should probably take him in. (My mom had told me I should on day one - but....)  I was skeptical because he was back to bouncing off the walls.  The doctor took a quick look, told us he did a good job, they were both fiery red.

I took this picture of him after his doctor's appointment.  I hadn't given him his antibiotics yet and he was still this happy.   After one dose of the antibiotics you could tell he felt even better!  And, he loves to take his medicine - yippeee!   (Doesn't he also look so big?!)

The only thing I don't have a picture of is his temper tantrums.  I'll try to get one, but a picture won't do it justice - it's a complete flop on the ground.  Hilarious! - Fred & I just walk away. 

One last note - a disgusting one.   Tad learned he can play in the water in the toilets.  He doesn't do it at our house - just Nannie & Pompa's.  We were over for the Superbowl and I heard Tad in the bathroom.  I went to check and his hand was wet.  A few minutes after I'd washed his hands with lots of soap, he runs through the kitchen to the other bathroom and shuts the door.  Before I could get to him he'd "gone fishing" again!  This kid loves water - unfortunately, that's DISGUSTING!

I bought him a little swimming pool for $2!  HURRY SUMMER!