Couple of Cuties Part III

My cuties getting into the Christmas spirit at Mimi & Papaw's house

Now that Mimi has decorated for Christmas, the countdown has begun for our own holiday home-trimming. Just a few more days! Of course, with all this warm weather, it's hard to imagine my favorite wintry holiday is just around the corner. Oh, well, I'm still going to drive Erik crazy by playing as much Christmas music as I possibly can for the next month or so.

Raising a Picky Eater

Each week, I try to make one new food item for my family to taste-test. Most of the time, unfortunately, someone functions as a critic and gives it the thumbs-down. Believe me, living with two picky eaters isn’t always a pleasure. At least Hudson is still in the stage where everything that he can put in his mouth, chew, and swallow is AWESOME. It’ll take him a few years before he reaches the point where he can provide running commentary on what he doesn’t like, what he won’t try, and what you shouldn’t even bother mentioning at the dinner table.

Which brings me to Erik and Ava. Erik isn’t picky so much as he likes what he likes, and he rarely tries anything new. If I stuck to a regime of about five selected meals, I’d be golden in his eyes. Which I did for the first couple of years of marriage, but then the inner cook in me opened wide her mouth and SCREAMED. With Ava, as a toddler, she loved trying new things. Some she liked, some she didn’t, but the journey of discovery was a fun one for her.

Now not so much.

Each day, I offer enticing foods. I suggest. I provide. I persuade. I ask politely. I toughen my voice. I offer again. I sample it myself. I demand. I pop the tabletop with my fist. I argue.

Sometimes, I even convince my daughter to try a bite. Maybe two. Is mealtime a battlefield in other families? A few months of this pattern and I’ve come to realize how easy we had it during the toddler years. Yes, despite repeated warnings about those toddler years, they were actually just peachy in the eating department. For a few blissful weeks, Ava’s favorite food was even asparagus. I DO NOT LIE! My child adored asparagus. Can you even imagine? Then the preschool years hit us smack in the face, and suddenly my three-year-old refuses to eat as often as she nibbles.

One night, Erik even found himself battling Ava about eating her French fries. At one point, he glanced over at me and asked, “How many kids have to be ordered to eat French fries?!?” Apparently, OURS.

Then we drew new battle lines. If she didn’t finish most of her plate of food, we would save said plate for when she inevitably became hungry at a later time. No snacks would be issued; instead, we would reheat her meal and she could eat that. This worked for awhile, but eventually she just stopped asking for a snack. Which means she ate NOTHING for that evening.

And the pattern continues.

Of course, I recently saw a ray of hope. On Saturday morning, Erik fulfilled my love of fast food and drove through Grandy’s to get biscuits and gravy for us. For some reason, he returned with a large order for me, and although I hugely enjoyed the fatty, unhealthy wonderfulness of it all, I was unable to eat a large portion of food. I sighed heavily and leaned back in my chair to breathe. It was then I realized Ava was studying me closely.

Ava: What’s wrong?

Lori: Nothing—I’m wonderfully full.

Ava: But you didn’t finish your biscuits and gravy. There’s a bunch left on your plate.

Lori: Yeah, I know.

Ava: Well, you know what that means, Mom. If you get hungry later, you have to eat those biscuits and gravy. I guess Daddy will just have to reheat them for you.

Oh, the joys of raising a picky eater! Check back later for recipe posts where I share some food that dazzled my picky eaters, and some that did not.

Christmas Stroll

This weekend, for the fifth year, I attended the Huntingburg Christmas Stroll with my mother. One of my favorite holiday traditions, the stroll is touted as a Victorian Christmas experience in a charming, turn-of-the-century, and historic downtown area. To me, it's simply a fun way to herald the holiday season. Plus spend time with my mom! (Not that I don't see her practically every day anyway, but this was her birthday week, so it was even more special. Happy Birthday, Mom!) In fact, the stroll lasted all weekend with a plethora of activities. Oh, a brief run-down? I thought you'd never ask!

1. Friday night we kicked off the stroll by eating at Fat 'n' Sassy's restaurant. Delicious! This wonderful meal was followed by the Home Tour. Luckily, all the homes this year were within walking distance of Fourth Street, so it was quick and easy. Two of them were local businesses, which was interesting, but I still preferred the two private homes that were included on the tour. Mom and I both got some great decorating ideas from them.

2. We also partook of the shopping opportunities, although neither one of us spent much money. Personally, I already own so many Christmas decorations that it's difficult to justify another holiday purchase, at least in the decorating department. But I bought a few gifts, at least.

3. On Sunday, we had pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Chase Studio. Ava had already picked out her red Christmas dress, and Hudson wore an adorable little ski outfit. Both were excited about meeting the royal couple of Christmas (this was the third time for Ava), and although Hudson didn't smile, at least he looked at the camera! And he didn't cry! Hopefully they will turn out well.

4. Lastly, after Santa pics, our crew ended the stroll with a horse-drawn carriage ride. We in the Smith family have gotten pretty close the older couple that runs the carriage rides, plus their horses. They come for every major event on Fourth Street, and of course we ride every time as well. This particular time was Hudson's first ride, however, and he seemed to enjoy it as well. Of course, he spent most of the time playing with the reindeer toy that Santa had given him, but my motherly instincts tell me we've added another little fan of the Huntingburg Christmas Stroll to our family.

Well, I've rambled enough about the stroll. On to the holiday season!

A Halloween Conversation

Well, I’m late in posting this little nugget from our Halloween repertoire, but I believe it is well worth it. Our scene: the kitchen table at my parents' house during their Halloween party. Everyone (mainly adults) is dressed in costume, stuffing their faces from Halloween-themed plates, surrounded by Halloween decorations. Understandably, we’re on the topic of fright, sharing stories about alarming things that have happened to us recently.

Karen: You wouldn’t believe what happened to me in the store today….

She proceeds to tell a story about a strange man who followed her through the aisles, making rather unusual remarks and causing her to worry about her subsequent trip to the parking lot.

Lori: Speaking of scary people, you won’t believe who was on my porch this evening….

She relates an incident about a neighbor on her front porch, making eerie sounds in the dark and causing some amount of alarm.

Briefly, the conversation lulls at this point as everyone chews their food and considers the stories at hand. Then—out of nowhere—comes a dramatic little voice to fill the void, serious and thoughtful and ready to share its own story. Mind you, this is the only child at the table.

Ava: This one time, I was at my sister’s house, and there was a HUGE SNAKE there. It was a REALLY HUGE SNAKE. We were chasing it, trying to catch it, but it was SO HUGE. We just kept trying and trying and trying. And then we finally got it.

Jenny: Wow! A HUGE SNAKE! Then what did you do?

Ava: We ate it.

I’m not sure what impressed me more: the fact that she was trying to participate in a very adult-like conversation, the fact that she came up with this story out of the blue, or the fact that she told it in such a theatrical manner. I suppose it’s one of those situations where you just had to be there. But take it from those of us who were there: PRICELESS!

P.S. On a side note, I feel compelled to inform everyone that many of Ava's fictional stories begin with the phrase This one time at my sister's house.... I'm quite certain you'll be hearing that little opener again sometime. Poor child, her mother only provided her with an adorable baby brother, so out of necessity she had to create a pretend sister with whom to have adventures. There's nothing else to say, except PRICELESS!

Baby Chloe

Congratulations to Nick and April on their beautiful baby girl, Chloe Evelyn, who arrived on November 11th! We're so excited to add another little one to the next generation of our extended family. Plus, Ava and Hudson have been anxious to have a playmate at our family functions. Enjoy the journey of parenthood!

Five Months

At five months, Hudson has mastered holding up his head, rolling over, sitting up (with assistance), performing a slow army crawl, protecting himself from his sister, patting loved ones, and executing an awkward, Tarzan-like wave.

Up next? Becoming a Baby Mozart, of course!

Halloween Pics

Hudson & Ava in costume

(His face is red from nonstop antics)

(Her mouth is chocolately from constant nibbling)

The girls in costume

Sorry about the close-ups. Apparently I forgot to get any decent shots of the full costumes. Chalk it up to having too much fun, I guess. Also, Erik respectfully declined from being included on the blog in his costume. Am I disappointed? Of course. Do I understand why? Of course.