There are no words...

Aunt D's took took this picture of Anna Cate yesterday. 

What can I say?  This one will definitely be saved for a Sweet 16 party or rehearsal dinner one day.

Valentine's Day

We aren't big celebrators of Valentine's Day around here, but Anna Cate and I did give Will a little book on making sushi.  So for fun on Saturday, we had a family sushi night and learned how to make it in our own kitchen.  

Who knew it was such an involved process?  I think we used almost every plate and dish we own and it took about two hours from start to finish, but we all three enjoyed our time together in the kitchen learning something new.  Anna Cate even learned to say "sushi" (although it sounds more like "shu shu" when she says it.)

  

For added festivities, she wore a little Japanese costume that used to be my sisters and wore a little eye makeup to complete her ensemble.  

We couldn't let her stand in her usual spot at the counter to help us prepare it since we were working with raw fish, but she quickly found entertainment at the kitchen sink washing dishes.  

Who knew washing dishes could be so exciting!?!  She was thoroughly entertained for about an hour.  

Will did a fantastic job rolling our sushi.  He made Spicy Tuna rolls for himself and California rolls for me since I can't have raw fish. 

The finished results!  They didn't look too far off from what you order in a restaurant and they tasted exactly the same!  We'll be doing this a lot more often now that we've learned how! :)

Anna Cate was even brave enough to try a bite and she loved it!  She kept asking for more, but I don't know the rules about raw fish and toddlers, so she had to stick with her chicken.   

Sunny Days are Here Again

Yay for warmer weather!  I know it isn't here to stay, but last week's sunny warm days were such a needed break from the gray skies that have seemed to hang around here lately.  We literally spent AS MUCH time as we could out in our yard enjoying it while it lasted.  

AC loves riding her car around the yard, picking up sticks to put in the back.  Silar loves to sneak up behind her and grab them out of the pile she has accumulated.  It is quite humorous to watch these two as neither tire from their little "game." 

"Silly Silar"

Little Helper

This is what your dinner table looks like when you have a 1 1/2 year old set the table. She actually did a great job!  She even knew to put the forks on the napkins without me having to say anything at all!  I hand her each plate, fork, napkin and tell her who it is for and she knows just where to place it.  We have done this the past several nights and it has now become our evening routine when I'm fixing supper.  

What a little stinker!  

She is so proud of herself.  :)

Cabin Fever

We are so ready for spring around here!  I can't wait for the weather to warm up and our grass to turn green so we can spend some time outside in the sunshine!  I think Anna Cate and I both have cabin fever.  We've had a lot of dress up parties and she has been baking up a storm of cookies and tea in her play kitchen.   I've tried to keep her entertained with some fun and different activities.  

"Sprinkle Art" 

She loves sticking the sprinkles into the glue and this keeps her busy for about 20 minutes. ;)

Baking a cake for Daddy.  

 I turned my back for 30 seconds to put the cake pans in the oven and she just helped herself to a wooden spoon from the drawer and started eating the batter.  What did I expect?