We All Scream for Ice Cream

Grandparents are good for so many things, like teaching my kids how to politely ask for ice cream:



Thanks, Grandma Alice!

© Trippin' Mama 2010

Will Technological Wonders Never Cease

Yesterday morning as I was getting the boys ready for breakfast, I heard the very distinctive tone of a Skype call coming in. It was my mom.

And it was the first video call she's ever done. (Well, by herself anyway. Jeff hooked up the webcam and gave her and my dad a couple lessons when he traveled through there a week ago. Yet another reason why he's the WBH.)

We've been doing video calls with Jeff's parents for a while, but my folks just got broadband access, so it's finally an option with them. While it's not the same as seeing everyone in person, it's a nice option when you live far away and frequent visits just aren't possible.

What's even more impressive is that my mom is 78 and my dad is 83. Just proves that you are never too old to learn something new, doesn't it?

It wasn't that long ago that none of this technology existed. When Jeff and I were living in different towns when we were first dating, we wrote letters. Yes, letters. On paper. Sent through the mail with a stamp. We called occasionally, but long-distance was expensive, so we didn't talk frequently.

Now, I call my sisters on my cell phone and since we all have the same provider, we don't even use any minutes to chat. Or I send a quick text. Or I send email.

Jeff and I were email and computer chat pioneers back in the early 90s when we were going to college in two different states. I remember sitting in the university library at a VDT (video data terminal, for those of you too young to remember those days). It was a black screen with green text, and Jeff and I could "chat" back and forth.

By the time we were seniors, email had come along, sort of. I remember going deep into the basement of the education building where the computer science geeks were to sign up for an email address. It wasn't a standard thing back then. We had really advanced by then, and could "dial-up" to send email from our apartments, instead of going to the library.

The fact that letter writing is a dying art is a whole different post. (I do still write and send real letters from time to time.) As much as I cherish the letters I have from my husband, my parents, and my grandmother, I have to say that anything that can bring together grandparents and grandchildren who live hundreds of miles apart is something to be celebrated.

© Trippin' Mama 2010

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Ernie

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. Amelia devoted a considerable amount of time to making Grandpa Ernie a birthday present, which we will wrap and present with appropriate seriousness when he comes to visit in a couple weeks.

Last night as Amelia and I were snuggling up at bedtime she told me how she wants to make cupcakes for Grandpa's birthday when he comes. (Any excuse to make cupcakes!)

Amelia and Grandpa Ernie

Pretty soon Amelia said, "At my next birthday I'm going to be four, Mom!" Yes, dear, I know, and I'm trying not to think about it.

Then she asked, "How old will Daddy be at his next birthday?" I told her Daddy would be 39.

Then she asked how old Grandpa Ernie was "at this birthday." I told her that he turned 83.

Amelia thought about that for a minute. Then she said, "Mom, when I grow up I want to be...what number is Grandpa Ernie?"

"Eighty-three," I replied.

Amelia said, "Yeah. I want to be 83 when I grow up. That's a lot!"

It sure is!

Happy birthday, Dad. Hope it was a good one. Amelia can't wait to help you celebrate with cupcakes. 

© Trippin' Mama 2010

Splashing Around At Christmas

Whew! I'm back. The presents are all unwrapped, the pieces scattered hither and yon already. Christmas dinner is in the oven, and my expert potato masher is standing by to help. So now it's time for to me to catch up here quick.

Our Christmas started early this week when Grandma and Grandpa D. and Uncle Jacob came to visit. We took the kiddos to an indoor water park where everyone had a blast! The boys and Amelia showed much more stamina than the rest of us.

Sam, Amelia, Isaac and Alex

Everyone loves the water, so we had a blast with the kids. Sam freaked out when we first got there, but I think it was the noise, not the water, that bothered him.

Amelia - Love those "wobble goggles!"

Sam looks waterlogged already.

Isaac checks out the water.

Alex goes for the big splash.

Of course we had to open a few presents before the grandparents and Uncle Jacob headed back to the Frozen North. Amelia thought that opening presents early was the best idea EVER. She is now in My Little Pony heaven, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa.

Jeff and I, however, find ourselves desperately cramming for the ongoing My Little Pony quiz: "What's this one's name?" "Which one is Toolaroola?" "What color is Sweetie Belle?" I had college classes that were easier than this.

The boys are enjoying their new toys, too. We enjoy that we haven't had to create a cheat sheet for ourselves to answer their questions!

As for the story of today's Christmas celebration, well it will have to wait. Right now Amelia and I have potatoes to mash.

Hope you had a very merry Christmas!

Christy

Water Parks and Breakfast Casseroles

So what do water parks and breakfast casseroles have to do with each other? Not much, really, it's just that I had planned a completely different post full of pictures from our afternoon playing at the indoor water park with Grandma and Grandpa D. and Uncle Jacob.

But, I left the camera at the hotel, so that post will have to wait. At least the camera still works, unlike the cell phone I dropped in my apron pocket yesterday...and then washed. UGH.

So, in lieu of fun pictures of everyone splashing around, here's what's for brunch at my house tomorrow before we celebrate an early Christmas with the grands and Uncle Jacob. (Amelia, by the way, thinks celebrating more than once is the best idea EVER.)

This is my all-time favorite breakfast casserole. I love that the potato crowns never get mushy like bread sometimes can. And don't skip the mustard, even if you don't think you like mustard. Trust me, it's what puts this over the top. Here's the recipe:

Ham and Potato Strata
1/2 package potato crowns (think flat tater tots)
1 16-oz package frozen cut broccoli
1 cup chopped ham
8 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. ground mustard
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Grease a 13x9" baking dish. Arrange frozen broccoli evenly over bottom, and sprinkle evenly with ham.

Cover with a layer of potato crowns.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs, milk and mustard until smooth. Please don't skip the mustard, I beg you! It's what makes the dish, and I say that as someone who doesn't really like mustard. If you don't have ground mustard, you can substitute 1 tablespoon of prepared mustard. Pour egg mixture evenly over the potato mix in your baking dish.

Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Uncover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Perfect by itself! Add a little fresh fruit and coffee cake or muffins, and you've got a very nice brunch fit for celebrating the holidays with family and friends or just for treating yourself.

Tomorrow, pictures of the water bugs. In the meantime, enjoy!

Fun with Grandma Alice

Everyone's having fun with Grandma Alice in the house. Yesterday she and Amelia made cookies before Amelia even got out of her jammies.

Grandma Alice and Amelia make chocolate chip cookies. Yum!

I'm pretty sure Amelia was taste-testing the chocolate chips before she even had breakfast. She helped count and measure everything and got to push the cookie dough off the spoon onto the pan. The best part of that job was licking the cookie dough off her fingers between every cookie!

Later that day, Amelia was busily playing stickers while we were tending to Sam and Isaac. Turns out she was playing stickers with Alex.

Or perhaps I should say ON Alex...

Amelia and Alex play stickers.

Let's take a closer look...

I guess the lack of hair makes Alex's head a pretty good palette for stickers. Sorry little buddy!

Everyone's gotten plenty of holding time, but Grandma Alice says the boys are so heavy now that she's not coming back until they can walk. I'm not sure that will be easier!

Isaac hangs out with Grandma Alice during supper.

We are getting awfully close to an announcement about crawling. I'll keep you in suspense on who might be the first to make the big move!

Amelia's Big Day

Today Amelia went to the zoo with Mom & Dad while Grandpa D. watched the boys. It was a little chilly out, but we had a great time. I think the last time we went was last summer when I was about 30 weeks pregnant with the boys. It was much easier to get around this time!

Amelia & Daddy together at the zoo.

The dolphin show is always a favorite, as are the penguins. Today we also saw the lions pretty close, and a rooster that was crowing. Amelia did NOT like the rooster. She was scared and wanted to leave as fast as possible. As we went from one exhibit to the next, Amelia kept saying, "I want to see more animals." I think we saw almost all of them!

After her nap, Amelia got to color with her new markers. She colored the Christmas ornament that Grandma Alice and Grandpa Ernie gave her. I'm sure it isn't intentional that it looks like this little house is on fire.

Amelia's Christmas ornament, March 2009. Almost 3 years old.

Then we all got ready to go to church. Amelia looked so cute in her dress that Grandma D. and Aunt Allie picked out. She refused to wear the little sweater that came with it, but I did talk her into tights. When Jeff saw this picture all he could say was, "I'm in so much trouble." Yes, he is. And so am I!

Amelia strikes a pose in her new dress. Thanks, Grandma D. & Aunt Allie!

This was the first time we took the boys to church other than for their baptismal ceremony. They were so good! Isaac fussed a little on his way to sleep, and Sam fussed a little before church started, but all three slept almost the entire time. I think they were trying to lull us into a false sense of security. I still haven't figured out how we can take all four kids without a third set of hands, but it was nice to all go to church as a family.

Sam, Isaac, Alex and Amelia.

Grandpa D., Alex, Jeff, Isaac, Amelia and Sam.

When Grandpa D. was on the phone with Grandma D. tonight talking about his flight home tomorrow, I was in the background shouting, "You can't have him back!" It's always so nice to have family visit, and the boys are growing so fast that they are like whole new kids if you haven't seen them in a couple of months.

We'll have more family visiting soon. We're looking forward to seeing Allie at the end of the month and Susie in May. They'll be amazed at how things have changed around here!

Grandpa D. Comes to Visit

Grandpa D. flew in late last night for a visit. He unpacked all kinds of clothes for the kids from his suitcase. For a minute I was worried that he didn't have room for any clothes of his own, but I guess when you're bringing gifts for four kids, it adds up.

Here are the boys in the new duds Grandma D. and Aunt Allie picked out.

Alex, Sam and Isaac showing off their new clothes.

Amelia got a super cute spring dress that I'm sure she'll be thrilled to model for us. Stand by for those photos later.