12 for 12 December

Well, I did it!  I finished up the year, and I can't say I enjoyed it much. Maybe one day, I will look back and appreciate a monthly peek into my day to day life in 2013. I mean, hopefully, right?  

Here is what Sparky, the elf on a shelf, in my classroom was up to on the 12th. 

I have a "man" cold. I don't know how else to explain the fact that I am taking this cold so hard, except that I have grown soft and wimpy. 

Quinn likes to pretend that cartoons are her real life friends. Lately, it is Megamort.  He is a bad guy from one of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes, also known in the Mickey Mouse world as Mortimer Mouse. She is obsessed with these adventures she wants to go on with Megamort. Here is a text Ali sent me while she was watching Q before preschool on the 12th. 

Speaking of colds, my class is doing an experiment with potatoes and germ spreading. So far, the results are leading to wash your hands with soap and water. Hand sanitizer doesn't seem to be cutting it. 

Before I left school, Sparky took an "elfie". I thought it was hilarious. The kids, not as much, when they saw it the next day. 

On the 11th, I gave Q some fun peppermint soap in the tub, only to discover she had rubbed it furiously all over her face and mouth. It was bad. (It is also what Ali was referencing in her text.) she was rashy and blotchy. I couldn't tell if it was an allergic reaction or just irritation at first.  

Here is how she looked post bath on the 11th. 

And on the 12th

That night we went to my mom's house to make Christmas treats. I passed on the actual baking.  :-(  I didn't feel well, and didn't want to spread germs. Everyone else had fun baking. 

My dad fell asleep. Sitting up. Legs crossed in a classic Carlson position. 

Here is my mom's original elf on the shelf from the 50's or 60's. 

 

Quinn 3.5

Dearest Quinn, 

Today you turned 3 and a half years old, a fact that slipped my mind until I was putting you to bed. Oh well. I will try harder to remember and do something special next year. Aunt Ali reminded me I shouldn't feel too bad since we already celebrated your birthday, your due date, and your homecoming.  But I love half birthdays and can't believe I spaced it. 

Can I tell you how much dad and I just adore you?  Three and a half rocks!  You are hilarious, sweet, pretty well behaved, and full of life. If you would only start using the potty on a consistent basis, you would be practically perfect. I am absolutely loving this phase of development you are in, but seriously, potty training has to happen soon!  :-) 

Snapshot of Quinn at 3.5 years old- 

You weigh between 25 and 26 pounds, and are over 36 inches tall.  I think you may be growing because you are sleeping more than usual, and eating more than usual. I am sure soon enough you will resume your hummingbird ways and eat and sleep just enough to keep you going. 

You go to preschool twice a week. You love your teachers and have learned so much. You are working on becoming a better listener.

You spend the rest of the week at your Grandma Denie's or Titi's house. You love going both places and have so much fun. 

You are playing indoor soccer. You like that too.  You never kick the ball except in the warm up, but you run like 400 laps per game. 

Your cousin Alice is your best friend. You love playing with her more than anything. Last week you requested to have a tea party with her. It looked like so much fun! 

You love to do art projects. 

You love to read and play with letters.  You can count to 20, and can recognize most of your numbers. 

You can spell your first and last name. Although, sometimes you like to add an extra n or 15 to Quinn. 

You can text. Your fine motor skills aren't quite ready for writing, but you can sound out words with help and text messages to people. 

Your favorite show is Mickey Mouse right now. 

You love Piper, but you really love Hazel. She is probably your other best friend. 

You love to play little tricks and jokes. 

You love to sing, and know lots of songs. 

Your favorite food is probably meat. Or candy. Or peanut butter. But you would say it is spaghetti and meatballs. 

You are smart and witty. 

Your little voice is finally getting louder. 

You can be a total maniac at times.  And you wear us out. But we wouldn't have it any other way. 

You don't really mind time out.

You love to take a bath, and often stay in so long, we have to add more hot water. 

You seriously are the best.  We love you so much!  I can't believe the next letter I write to you will be for your fourth birthday!  

Loves!

Mommy and Daddy. 

12 for 12 (October)

I suck at 12 for 12. It fell on a busy and fun Saturday, and I still didn't manage to get very many interesting photos.  Oh well, here's to capturing our real life each month. 

1. I lost another pound this week!  Ya-hoo!

2.  Our little family headed to the gluten free expo.  It was so crowded. There were so many good booths and samples, but it was hard to get to any of them. Hopefully, it is in a bigger space next year. 

3. and 4.  Quinn met some princesses and was feeling a little nervous.  

5. and 6. Dalan and Quinn waiting for Quinn's turn in the bounce house. 

7.  Quinn met a friend in the bounce house. She is so friendly.

8.  We found all the summer clothes at Kmart on super clearance. I scored 5 tank tops and 3 dresses for ten bucks. 

9.  Quinn makes animals and other shapes out of her chips. It is her favorite game. 

10.  Dalan and I headed to the Utah game. 

11.  I heard a man and woman "doing it" in the handicap stall in the ladies room.  Then I was going to take a picture of their feet under the stall, but the dude ran out. The woman stayed to wash her hands. I did get a creeper photo of their post-coital embrace in the walkway. 

12.  UTAH WINS!!!!

12 for 12 (August)

Quinn woke up at 5 am this morning. She fell back to sleep around 7:30. I had planned to get up around 8:00 and leave by 8:30. I ended up pushing it back to an 8:30 wake up time for me and I let Q sleep until the last minute. We were out the door at nine.  She was a beast when she woke up. 

We picked up Scout and Hazel to doggy daycare. Quinn usually loves the dogs. She was not amused. 

Next, Quinn and I went to my classroom and worked for a couple of hours. Quinn was cranky, but eventually came around. I can't believe I officially go back to work on Thursday. Then, it was time to run some errands.  Lots of car photos today. 

Quinn got an ice cream cone. 

Dalan and Quinn play Legos every day. They used to build birds. Now they build mega-birds! 

Piper relaxed. 

I dropped a chair on my foot after dinner. 

(This is exciting stuff!) 

Quinn are some chocolate chips. 

Quinn and I made key lime tarts that are dairy free, gluten free, and egg free. The crust/filling tasted good while I was making it. We'll see tomorrow after they are frozen. 

Quinn wore some pajamas that are too small on top. The bottoms fit nicely. The top is way too small. 

After Q went to bed, I fried up some bananas as a snack. Yum! 

12 for 12 (July) (I remembered!)

1.  Quinn woke up at 3 am. I finally have in and brought her downstairs at 6 am. I asked her why she wasn't tired, and said, "I am just happy." She also ate some chocolate chips for breakfast because I didn't want to argue. Parenting. 

2. She fell back asleep at 1015 with just her head against by body. We were playing kitty, and I was giving her scratches. 

3.  I put her in her bed, and jumped in the shower, and Dalan went in and slept with her. It was so sweet. 

4.  She woke up, only to fall asleep again. We surrounded her with technology. 

5.  Next we headed to Trader Joe's. We let Q have a mini cart. She was a maniac. She had no intention of steering it, and was throwing food into faster than we could stop her.

6.  We headed to a bakery that specializes in allergen free goods called City Cakes. Everything is dairy free, and then they have gluten free and vegan things on top of that. Dalan ate his first donut in more than 6 months. 

7.  Dalan and Quinn posing with their treats. 

8.  Quinn got a cupcake. And really only wanted the frosting. 

9.  Quinn slept over at Ali and McKay's and went to Build a Bear for the first time. Dalan and I are homemade Indian food and then went mini- golfing. 

10.  We were so proud that we both only took two tries to get the ball in the hole. Double deuces!

 

11.  Then Dalan got a hole in one!!!!

12.  And we finished up the night up at the batting cages. 

12 for 12 (on June 20....whoopsie!)

So, um, I forgot to do my 12 for 12 in June. I suck. I know it is just some silly thing that I just committed myself to, but I hate not finishing things. So, here are 12 photos from June 20.  Only 8 days late.  

Morning cartoons and snuggles...

Quinn started her first solo (not mommy and me) gymnastics class. She did really well. 

Then we ate lunch at the park...

 

Then she yelled at me "I don't like it" when I turned up the music in the car. 

We then went to the farm, and bought some meat. We also went out and gave the animals we will eventually be eating a pat. 

And ran some other errands. We got Quinn a pool so she doesn't swim in the water table that belongs at my mom's....

I wore my new hat...

Quinn played some more until it was just too chilly....

Then we ate dinner, Quinn peed on the floor, and we ran more errands. We then went back outside for a bit. 

We came in and looked at the turtle. 

And Quinn took a bath.