Reasons We Loved 2010: Wednesday Playdates

Whether it's been a big planned event or a spur of the moment, spontaneous trip, Violet and I have LOVED and very much enjoyed our Wednesdays off together this year. What has made our Wednesdays even sweeter has been the fun friends we have gotten to share our days with. We've been to Disneyland, a bird farm, several parks, a few malls, Bass Pro Shop and back to Disneyland on Playdates! I am so thankful for the willingness of Violet's friends mom's to make our playdates a priority and to work around my limited schedule. Violet has been blessed by some special little ladies and one handsome young man as her first "besties."

Hope is one of Violet's newer friends from church. They love to go to "D" together, and talk about "Toodles" from their favorite TV show. Violet is always thankful for an invitation to go play with all of the toys in Hope's fun playroom. These girls are so sweet together and very concerned about each other when one gets upset when they are playing. Violet's starting call her friend "Hopey" and asks about her EVERY DAY. This morning when we pulled into the church parking lot, Violet started clapping and yelled "YAY, HOPEY!!!!"

At the bird farm - V kept saying "Burds Loud!"

Trying to keep playing even though they are both clearly exhausted!

Abigail - "Abba" or "Abby" depending on Violet's mood - is another friend from church. She is about 6 months younger than Violet, but boy can she ever keep up! She calls Violet "Vi" and is always trying to kiss her friend! Violet and Abigail have AT LEAST 3 identical clothing items -- and we've never been shopping together. They are both very busy little girls and bring out the "sillies" in one another. When they are together, they have to be able to see each other at all times....otherwise you start hearing "Vi? Vi? VI?! VI VI VI VI!?!" and "ABBY WHERE AH YOU?" This morning in church the congregation was praying for Abigail's family as they only have one Sunday left before they move to Florida (don't get me started on that topic). The whole time her family was on the platform Abigail kept pointing and yelling "Vi! Vi!" and Violet would was pointing and saying "Abby uppa der!"

Digging in the Pretend City garden

Working on sharing...

When we are really lucky, all three of the girls (and their lucky families) have gotten to go do things together. Violet seriously thinks that she is in heavens when that happens. No. REALLY. It's in these moments I see how God has created us to be social creatures. I haven't taught her to want to spend time with her friends -- she is just that way.

All Dressed up....with lots of places to go! Trick or Treating in the Village

All lined up in their strollers at that Happy Place!

Their first (and LAST) time on a "quad" together...

Our church's Thanksgiving Feast.

Violet has also enjoyed her time with some of our dear college friends' little man, Elias. She quickly dubbed him "Ly-Ly" which is about the cutest thing ever when she says it. Violet isn't just in love with him though, it's the whole family! Almost every time his name comes up she asks about his Mommy, Daddy and doggie all by name! Elias is a SUPER crawler -- like Speedy Gonzalez fast. Violet thinks that it is so great and funny that he can keep up with her on all fours that by the end of a visit, she's crawling too. Giggling the whole way. And she already knows that it's just going to get even better -- she talks about "Ly-Ly's Bruder" who we can't wait to meet this spring!

Violet's and Ly-Ly's first dance

Checking out his cool toys...

Sigh....I feel so very thankful and content seeing a year of fun and friendship in review. So many fun pictures, fun memories and wonderful friends. Yes, indeed, our Wednesday Playdates were something that we LOVED about 2010...and are looking forward to many more of in 2011.

Oh, and agood Playdate will always leave you exhausted!

Reasons We Loved 2010: Violet Turned 1!

My "Baby" is quickly becoming a true "Big Girl." I can't believe how much she's changed this year...and yet is still the same sweet, lovey girl. She started walking on New Year's Day, turned 1 in February, began naming people other then Robbie and I by April, learned the magic of "pleeeees" over the summer, got her first haircut 2 weeks ago and is talking in full sentences now! Yesterday she told Robbie:

"D Duck need gasses, see unner wahder."

Um.....excuse me? Wasn't it just yesterday that your first consistent word was "Humma" for Momma?

To be honest, the actual turning one wasn't as significant as it could have (and perhaps should have) been. I was in a fog. Still deeply depressed over Jessica's absence. It was supposed to have been a grand 30th/1st combined birthday for Violet and her Auntie. So I made about 10 pounds of lasagna and iced cupcake after cupcake, and wrote thank you notes for all of V's wonderful gifts... and missed so much of what was going on. Really going ON with my sweet girl.

I am so thankful that the "turning 1" wasn't a day. It has been a whole year. 364 opportunities for me to wake up, remember my sister and focus on my child. To teach her the things that her Auntie would want her to know. To watch the tiny, daily changes that add up to the development of a sweet, usually kind, curious, intelligent toddler.

I'm looking forward to February 28th, 2011. What fun for Violet to "turn" 2! But more, I'm looking forward to the naps together, park trips, playdates, dance parties, conversations and lessons to be learned March 1 forward as she becomes a 2-year-old.

On her 1st birthday************Last Week

Look at the face: so different, and yet the same.

2010 Christmas Card

So, I am VERY happy with the way that my Christmas cards from Shutterfly turned out! And I DID get my code for 50 free cards. I LOVE SHUTTERFLY!!!

Love 2010 Christmas Card

Turn your photos into personalized Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

It's sure gone...

She had always wanted to share her healthy, wavy, beautiful, waist length hair. She remembered what it was like to have it thin and fall out and feel stared out. She never got to have that opportunity to share.


In honor of my sweet sister and her truly luxurious, gorgeous hair... One year after my last hair cut. One year since she was able to tell me how proud she would have been.

Ready to be mailed to Locks of Love.

I love you SEEZTER!

"Flying" toward Christmas...

Remember Violet's too, TOO cute birth announcements? I loved them. Maybe I'm biased, but I thought that the baby was too cute and I wanted a card design as cute as she was. I'd had these grandiose ideas that I'd make the announcements.....hahahaha. Can you tell that I wasn't a Mommy yet?!? Then I found these. AHHHHH. Life saver! Since then, I've been wanting to use Shutterfly again, hoping to make a Violet themed calendar or thinking about her 2nd birthday party invites...

Well then I realized: what am I waiting for?!?! I can make Christmas cards!!! Ok, call me dense, but just remember that I've only done one Christmas card in our 8 years of marriage. And that one was printed on my home computer -- NOT my best idea. So this time "Hi-Ho Hi-Ho it's off to Shutterfly I go...." I love the Holiday card layouts! With so many cards, the design is highlighted, but with this one it's all about the photo! Yay! This card puts the photo front and center too... So, so many cute choices. And best of all, Shutterfly is currently offering free cards to customers who share their favorite cards with friends through their blogs! Are you interested too? I'm happy to share the link!

P.S. Thanks Courtney for sharing!!!

Change...

I have a job interview in the morning.

I'm preparing my head to accept God's plan, whatever that may be, as it is unveiled in the next few weeks. But, I'm praying. Praying for a change. Praying for a chance to do something that I love in an environment where I am supported in doing it. Praying for change to do fewer hours of it and spend more hours with my Violet. Praying for me to put my best self forward tomorrow. Praying that I will be accepting of God's plan, whatever that may be.

A VERY Full Day

Yesterday marked the first flex day since Robbie has resumed teaching. I was a little unsure of what we would do with ourselves as the "Baby" that I would play with on days off in April has grown into a very "Big Girl" now! I am so thankful for a wonderful, kind, loving, thoughtful husband who cleaned the entire house on Tuesday so that Violet and I could just focus on playing and spending time together.

Ready to "go-go," with her "Purch" safely in her lap.

We started off at the Bass Pro Shop at Victoria Gardens.... I know, a little odd, but a great, fun, free place for kids to hang out! I was far from the only parent of a pre-schooler there, hanging out, looking at fish and definitely NOT buying outdoor equipment!

In front of the big fish "wall"

A bearded fish coming straight for us!

Great excitement that she can push the buttons herself now.

After a little over an hour of check out the fish, "gup-gups" (deer), "cow" (moose) and climbing the giant staircase 3 times, we decided to head over to the Paul Biane library at the Victoria Garden's cultural center. If you have kids, this is a must see!

The children's area is huge, wonderfully fun and comfortable, and fully stocked with board books, young readers, movies and CDs.

What a great environment to encourage reading!

There was also an area with educational toys, which Violet loved!

When the eye rubbing reached an excessive level, we headed home for lunch (which was a success) and nap time (which, well, wasn't). After laying down together for an hour, I accepted that the 5 minute snooze that Violet caught on the way home from the library was all we were going to get and gave up! We broke out the new chalk that Violet was gifted from our dear friends Melaine and Jeremy:

Smile-Seal of Approval

My Picasso

To finalize the deal, marking this as Violet's favorite day ever, we met V's best little buddy "Ly-Ly" at the park for some swinging and tottering time!

"Momma, I like today!"

"Teeter-Totter, Teeter-Totter..."

I'm not sure who was more worn out at the end of the day! I do know though, that I'm loving this "active" stage with V and look forward to finding lots of free, fun and friend-filled things for us to do every-other week when that blessed "flex day" makes its welcome appearance!

Violet Speak 4.0

These are the words used daily and regularly. She'll repeat just about anything and is picking up words hourly now!

Cwap - used appropriately as a "swear" word. Oops.
Puppy
Come
Watch
Work
Shit (Sit)
Chane (Change)
Wet
Dan (Dance)
Purch (Purse)
Train
Sock
Jumpa (Jump)
Shlip (Flip)
Han (Hand)
Haruh (Hair)
Chair
Cam-ah (Camera)
Shrow (Throw)
Sorry
Side (Outside)
House
Chuhch (Church)
Pan-oh (Piano)
Showw-showw (Shower)
Shoap-shoap (Soap)
Towel
Rin (Rinse)
Brrrr
Cole (Cold)
Hotch (Hot)
Geh-choo! (Get You!)
Jim Jim (Jeremy heehee. She smiles before she says it 'cause she knows we're gonna laugh!)
MICKEY!!!!! (Miko, the Husky next door)

And now Violet puts words together too....

Come Mama dan! (Come Mama, Dance)
Mama go work?
Dipe-dipe beruh wet. (Bear's diaper is wet.)
Chane Ly-Ly? (Change Eli?)

The Year of the Wedding

2010 should be added to the Chinese calendar as "The Year of the Wedding." Ok, maybe not. And how did I end up with NO pictures from Janelle and Allen's wedding?

July 10th: Julianna and Al Castro

August 7th: Mindy and Brent Richard

August 20th: "Nana" and "How" Hughes

My First Visit to Disneyland!

We love Disneyland. Let's just get that out of the way. I know, I know, but it's true. It's been a happy place for us, with good memories and fun times spent there with friends that we love. But when our passes expired, I was 35 weeks pregnant and it did make sense to get new ones. But thanks to a very generous gift from Gramma and Grampa, Violet got to experience Disneyland for the first time! Being the obnoxious parent that I am, I took her to get a "First Visit" pin. She didn't wear it for long, but since then she'll ask for it here at home and keep holding to her shirt and wondering why it doesn't stick! Robbie had to put it on her on Thursday morning before she would eat breakfast!


No surprise, Violet's favorites were the:

"Gup-Gups" (see previous blog post for interpretation)

"Gumgo"

I think that Small World was a little overwhelming for her!

Violet was also really excited that friends from church met us there with their little girl Abigail. V kept calling her "Abba" and would become very concerned when her friend was out of her sight. They loved playing together in Goofy's Playhouse playground.


The girls trying to hug... later a hug resulted in a big crash, but they still loved each other!

As if I needed any more convincing that Disneyland is a great place, we had a wonderfully positive dining experience. I also order my burgers sans bun, with extra lettuce. This has served well in avoiding the gluten problems and I've come to enjoy my burger this way. Well, Robbie was at the counter waiting for our food for forever and when he came to the table my burger was IN A BUN! He quickly tells me that the chef had come out and asked if we wanted the burger without a bun or without gluten -- because they carry gluten-free buns! NO WHERE that I've been has had gluten-free buns! What a treat! And now I know that a quick stop in City Hall in Main Street and I can get a full listing of all of the gluten-free offerings in the park.

What a fun day we had... Violet will still tell you all about the Gups and Gumgo and is so excited to go see her friend "Abba" at church tomorrow. And we are looking for to many a flex day at Disney in the coming year. :-)

Violet Speak v3.0

buh-bye
nigh-nigh
pi-oh (pillow)
bed
blan (blankie)
pray
luh loo (love you)
ow
cup
lid (a favorite word!)
puh-puh (puppy)
gup-gup (giddyup, which also mean 'horse')
ticky-ticky-ticky (tickle, tickle, tickle)
Gumgo (Dumbo)
dip dip (anything to dip food into ketsup, ranch, etc)
dep dep (diaper or in our house "dipe dipe")
shurt (shirt)
pan (pants)
pauy (potty)
shwee (sweep, she's obsessed with the Swiffer)
by (bike)
zoom zoom (what we do in the bike)
hep (help)
DD (DVD)

Now all grandparents can be pleased! Joining Gramma and Nana:
Grampa
How (Hal, my mom's soon-to-be husband)

She's also loving to try our friend's names:
Ly (Eli)
Aba (Abigail)
Hi-y (Heidi)

The fourth "G"

So I thought that I was being cute and kitschy when I decided to make the Gillam blog about:
Growing
Going Green
Goofing Off
I now realize that there will be one more "G" that will pop up frequently here and that is the topic of all things "Gluten-Free!" For those who don't know, gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, and is a frequent allergen for many folks -- including me! Gluten containing ingredients are found in almost EVERYTHING, so being truly gluten-free is no easy task!

Ever since I read about BBQ pizza on one of my favorite blogs, I've been really excited to give it a try! I finally made the opportunity this weekend when our friends, Melaine and Jeremy, came for dinner with their baby, Elias. I used the same recipe that I usually do for pizza crust, but doubled it:

1 T dry yeast
2/3 c. rice flour
1/2 c. tapioca flour
2 T dry milk powder
2 t xanthan gum
1/2 t salt
1 t unflavored gelatin powder
1 t Italian seasoning
2/3 c warm water
1/2 t sugar
1 t olive oil
1 t cider vinegar
(from my fave gluten-free cook book)


After the double batch of dough was made, I cut it into 8 sections and then began to form the pizza crusts. This dough, as are most pre-baked gluten free recipes, is very sticky! Gluten-free flours tend to be drier then wheat, so extra moisture is usually in the recipe to create a delicious final product. I was concerned about the stickiness, so used a generous dusting of rice flour on wax paper as my surface to press and stretch the crusts.


I eventually learned that once they were formed, I didn't need to keep the crust on the wax paper to keep them from sticking. YAY, because I didn't feel that all of the wax paper going in the trash was in congruence with my "green" philosophies...


I then simply follow Linda's instructions as outlined in the blog mentioned above:

Grilled the crusts directly on the grill on one side.

Look at the pretty grill marks on the half grilled crusts! When "decorating" the crust, make sure to put the toppings on the grilled side!


Pop the topped pizzas back on the grill, with the lid closed to help melt the cheese:


And Voila!


Wish that I had thought to take photos of my happy 'customers!' The next day, the other 4 crusts were enjoyed with our wonderful neighbors, Al and Julianna Castro. Next time, I plan to triple (or even more) the dough and try freezing the crusts after the first side is grilled. Hoping that this will make meals on those "difficult" night a little easier and help us avoid the drive-thru!