Summer Fun!

I CAN NOT believe it is July already!  (I also can't believe I haven't blogged since April.... Sorry about that....)  Logan's June schedule kept me very busy!  Between open gym at the local gymnastics studios, library time, Parents As Teachers playgroup, and trips to the pool, Logan and I are worn out! (Nap insurance!) We have also spent a great deal of time working on the lawn and garden, playing in the little pool, taking walks in the stroller and rides in the wagon, watching Elmo and Barney, and dancing in the living room.  Believe me, there is rarely a dull moment when Logan is around! Here are some pictures and video of our summer so far. (Most of these pictures and videos are from my cell phone so I apologize for the quality.)

Filling up the pool......

Logan wants to put everything in the pool. His truck, balls, plant stands, etc......

Riding into the sprinkler......

(He quickly abandons the truck and runs away laughing once the water hits him!)

Filthy dirty after "helping" me plant new peonies.....

Taking a wagon ride with a grumpy little guy one evening.....

(We have to take a ride up to mailbox every day!)

Dancing to Stevie Wonder on Oprah's Finale.....

(He has to dance to this quite frequently!)

These Better Help!

Last May was the beginning of the end for us. At 9 months, Logan got his first ear infection. Since last May, we have had one month, November, ear infection free. He has had 2 rounds of Amoxicillin, 2 doses of Omnicef before a head to toe rash quickly told us he was allergic, and 7 rounds of Augmentin. Honestly, Logan lived in his swing for months because the poor guy couldn't lay down!  At his 18 month appointment, we finally asked his doctor for an ENT refferal. She, of course, thought it was a good idea and sent them an email right there. Logan went to the ENT office that week and with one look in each ear, the doctor suggested ear tubes (which we kind of figured he would). We set up an appointed to have them inserted 2 weeks from the appointment, Logan failed both hearing tests, received some financial information (or course), and we left.

Fast forward 2 weeks...Logan had to be at the Surgical Center by 7:15 AM. By 8:10, we were called back into a little curtained room where we waited for a surgical room to open. While we were there, Logan got into his little hospital gown........

......unhappily watched Dora the Explorer while trying to change the channel to Elmo.....

.......and inspected every inch of the hospital bed.......

By 8:20, Logan's anesthesiologist and doctor came into our little curtained room, answered our last minute questions, and took him away. The "who are these guys and where are they taking me" look was heartbreaking! Brian and I then went back out to the waiting room and by 8:35 a nurse came out and called us back to a conference room. Logan's doctor came in a few minutes later, chatted with us about the procedure, and handed us some ear drops. Brian and I had to wait just a few more minutes and then another nurse came and took us to Logan's recovery room. Oh boy, oh boy......  What a nightmare! I hope to never see my child like that again!  He was NOT HAPPY! Oh boy, oh boy..... 

When I first went in there, he was screaming bloody murder and fighting 2 nurses who were trying to calm him down. When I got in there and sat down with him, he calmed down. 

Until he saw "Dad-da".... and then this happened....

......until I gave him to "Dad-da" and then they spent the next 10-15 like this.....

......of course Brian didn't complain a bit!!

After about 35 minutes, Tylenol, peach yogurt bites, water, and a little Jungle Junction, we were good to head home!

It took him a little while that day to get back to his running/climbing self, but so far everything has been fine! He spent a lot of time in the back yard this weekend....

....and ate us out of house and home! Here he is scarfing down pancakes in his Elmo jammies....

We have high hopes for these ear tubes!  It may be a coincidence, but since Wednesday, Logan has gone from saying "na-na" to "na-na-na" (banana). I don't know, but I am guessing it is because he can actually hear the first syllable!!  I can't wait to see how the rest of his speech develops after this!

A New Favorite

A friend recently introduced me to my new favorite meal--Bierocks! I loved them so much I've made them twice in the past two weeks!  The great part about these bierocks is they are super simple (blame Sandra Lee...)!  They are so wonderful I had to share! 

I browned 1 pound of beef with a small onion, pepper, and garlic salt in the skillet. In the sauce pan, I melted a half stick of butter and wilted 3 cups of fresh shredded cabbage on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes. (The recipe called for 2 cups, but I like a little extra.) After both were done, I mixed them together.

The first time I made these bierocks I used a loaf of Rhodes bread, but this time I decided to use individual Rhodes dinner rolls and it worked ssoo much better!  I had to roll each one out individually of course, but I didn't mind. I had my handy dandy Pampered Chef roller!

After I rolled out the dinner roll, I put 2-3 T. of the meat and cabbage mixture in the dough. My friend added a little Velveeta to each bierock and it tasted delicious so I did the same. (Can you really go wrong with Velveeta?) Then, I pulled each edge to the middle and placed it on a greased cookie sheet.

I only set out 16 rolls to rise, but had enough mixture left for 2 more bierocks. (Don't they look nice all lined up on the pan?)  I baked them at 350 for 15 minutes, took them out and buttered the tops, and then baked them for 5 more minutes.

They turned out as perfect as I knew they would! I wish I had the better camera out so you could see just how perfect they looked inside!  You will just have to try them out for yourself! 

Because I know that all posts are better with pictures of Logan, here is a picture of him playing in snow for the first time a couple of weeks ago. He refused to take his pacifier out, but he enjoyed himself. (You'll notice the broom in the background...Katy wouldn't go outside unless I swept her a path...)

Here is a quick video of Logan making his elephant sound. You have to listen closely or you might miss it! He doesn't "perform" very often so I am glad I caught it!

Good Morning, Katy!

All right, all right....   I know, I know....

There are mornings where Katy is the first one out the bedroom door to get Logan out of bed. There are other mornings when Logan attacks wakes up Katy. Sometimes he will try and play peek-a-boo with her and gently lift up her blanket and other times he will just plop right on top of her. Sometimes Katy will leave her bed for a minute and Logan will lay down in her spot.   Logan will just lay there and wait for her to return knowing she will want it back. Logan thinks he is pretty funny!  Katy is actually pretty tolerant of Logan in the mornings and will play along.  It is funny to watch their interactions in the morning. Here are a few pictures where Logan is waking up Katy.......

 Logan was nice to Katy this morning.  He layed down and then pulled the blanket off of her.....

Can you feel the love??

How about now??

Poor Katy.......