Snack Time

Anika found a recipe for Applesauce Muffins on the Nick Jr website she printed off and requested that we make today. They are just about done baking and are smelling rather delicious!

Here's the recipe:

2 c all-purpose flour
3/4 c sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 lg egg, lightly beaten
1 c unsweetened applesauce
1/2 c butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease of line 12 cup muffin pan.
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in medium bowl. Whisk to blend.
3. Add egg, applesauce and melted butter. Stir until just blended. Spoon into prepared pan.
4. Bake until puffed and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-20 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and cool 5 minutes. Invert and cool completely.


Ok, so they are done and they are really tasty. Anika talked me into putting frosting on hers saying that, because they are in liners, they are cupcakes and they have to have frosting. Oh, and because she is wearing a shirt with a great big cupcake on the front, she also needs frosting on her muffin so it will match the cupcake on her shirt.

It's been a fun afternoon. Olivia put up a sign in our front window that says "The Yummy Shop." I'm on call until 7 PM tonight at work, but it doesn't look like I'll have to go in - KNOCK ON WOOD! Now it is time to get ready for dance class!

The Answer to "What's for Lunch?"

Olivia says to me, "Mom, you're not going to fix us lunch today. WE are going to fix YOU lunch!" Right on!

Olivia prepared a bowl of vanilla yogurt with a side of red grapes and a glass of cold Chai tea.

Anika put butter, plums, milk, Pepsi, and some grapes into a pan. Then I helped her warm it up on the stove. She was very excited about her conconction. Olivia whipspered to me a few times "Mom, I don't think that will taste very good."

We warmed it up a bit and melted the butter. We tasted it, well, Anika and I tasted it. It was kind of like sweet, fruity butter. I thought it would taste worse than it did, but Anika decided it wasn't worthy of eating (or drinking). I took pictures I will try to post later.

Taxes

Well, this is the first time we have waited this long to do our taxes. Usually, I have them done in mid February. They are finally done and, once again, we get a refund from Federal which we have to use to pay the State! I'm so disgusted!

Dang! Two Great Concerts Two Nights Apart!!

It was announced a few days ago that Harry Connick, Jr will be playing here on June 5. Sounds like fun, I love Harry Connick, Jr. Then, today, just in the last few hours, it was announced that John Mayer will be playing at the same venue on June 3! If they were six months apart, I could go to both, but since they are TWO DAYS apart, I guess we can only go to one and it'll have to be John Mayer. I got Mark the "Continuum" CD for Christmas; it is really good! Olivia is asking to go, she likes his music too. I don't know how that will go over when we tell her that her and Anika can't go! :(

Maybe she'll like a shirt? Then again, their tickets would be about as much as two stinkin' shirts. We'll have to think about this one a bit more.

Another Milestone

Olivia was eating a slice of pizza yesterday when she noticed her front tooth hurt when she took a bite. She thought it might be loose so she wiggled it and, sure enough, it's LOOSE! She is now obsessed with wiggling it and reports that it is loose enough this morning to wiggle with her tongue. I'm not sure how long it will be before it falls out, but I'll post a picture as soon as it does!

I can't mention Olivia without mentioning Anika. She says the funniest things. The other night at dinner I told her she had to finish her milk because she poured it herself. She whispered in my ear "Mommy, sometimes you're pretty and sometimes you are a dirt bag. And sometimes you are a pretty dirt bag." Anika says she heard the word "dirt bag" on the movie "Over the Hedge," but Mark and I both know where she REALLY heard it: Grandpa. I told my Dad and he knew right away where she heard it. I told him Anika didn't give him up, but that Mark and I knew better!

Ultrasound Picture

I added a picture of Baby Bennett's face from the ultrasound. The baby kind of looks like a creature from out space, don't you think? The left to right with the chin on the right. You can see the mouth right above the chin; the dark area on the left is the brain.

About My Day Yesterday

Well, it was the day of my 20 week ultrasound. The kids are on Spring Break so I thought it would be fun for them to go to the ultrasound and doctor appointment with Mark and me. My doctor is really great and I was excited for the girls to meet him. It didn't really turn out like I envisioned.

The kids were bored at the ultrasound and the doctor was doing a C-Section so we didn't even get to see him. The ultrasound tech was not the friendliest person and seemed kind of bored herself. I brought a VHS tape to record the ultrasound as I did with the girls. She offered to burn me a CD instead. When I got home and watched it, I discovered about 60 seconds, if that, worth of the 10-15 minute ultrasound. Luckily, I called her and explained that I didn't get what I thought I was getting (as in a video of the whole ultrasound). She offered to have me come back in and video tape another u/s for me. NICE! Then I was on hold for 19 minutes waiting to schedule the appointment. I know it was 19 minutes because I have a timer on my phone. I finally asked that someone call me back to schedule, but they never did. Frustrating! I know they are busy, but COME ON!

Other than the kids being bored, the ultrasound was great! The baby is measuring right where he/she is supposed to be and we saw everything we were supposed to see as in a 4 chamber heart, 3 vessel cord, stomach, brain, no cleft lip or palate, etc. And we didn't see what we didn't want to see as in boy or girl parts. We will truly be surprised at the birth. I was worried about "accidentally" seeing something, but we didn't!

Another reason I was bummed about not seeing the doctor is because I've been having horrible pain in my pelvic bones and I can hardly walk at times. The nurse says my hormones have caused my pelvic ligaments and bones to relax and thus are separating making it painful to walk. So, physical therapy it is for me. I did some further research on the net, of course. Symphysis pubis dysfunction is the name for it, I guess. I am really hoping it just goes away. I invested in a lovely maternity belt and will be getting some support hose to wear to work so my circulation doesn't suffer when I am standing for 8 hours! How old am I? I certainly don't feel 34 right now! More like 74.

I did have a proud moment at the mall yesterday when I went out to purchase my stylin' maternity belt. I drove around the parking lot for several minutes looking for a spot that wasn't on the other side of town. I really didn't want to walk too far because I am in pain and it is far enough inside the mall to the Motherhood store. Finally , I get to a spot that isn't particularly close, but it'll do. Someone is ready to back out and I will take their spot. But wait, here comes someone behind me as I am backing up to let the other person out. I stop, she doesn't. I motion for her to back up and point to the spot where the car is leaving. She stares at me and doesn't budge. Now the person backing up can't get out. If I drive away, I lose the spot and the lady behind be gets it. I motion again. Stone cold stare. OK lady, you are NOT going to get my spot. I do some fancy maneuvering and am able to get my spot! Ha Ha!

I have been wanting to get a pedestal for my front loading washer and my dryer so I don't have to sit on the floor when I load and unload laundry. However, it seems that I have to special order it now because they "deleted" the pedestal for my set as they are 4 1/2 years old. HUH?
I waited on hold for 10 minutes for them to tell me they would have to call me back with "availability and pricing" information. It's a good thing I am a very patient person (except when I want a good parking spot)!

Today should be better. The sun is out. I am doing laundry and grocery shopping. Maybe I'll get good news about my laundry pedestal. Honestly, it would make my day!