Thanksgiving with Grammy!

It had been 1 year since we saw Grammy in person. 1 year people!! So, we were very excited for her arrival in Oklahoma for the Thanksgiving holiday!! 

We threw Grammy right into the fun! We had her teach Ballerina how to make her amazing cranberry sauce for our Thanksgiving day dinner. It was a great success. Brian and I also learned that Ballerina is much more capable of helping in the kitchen than we give her credit for!

We have the old school grinder out and everything!! 
Ballerina was a big fan of putting the cranberries in the grinder.

She also got to crank the thing! (With a little help from Daddy, of course)

On Thanksgiving Day, we got up early and headed to Ardmore. We even missed the parade. Oh well... no way Ballerina would have watched it for too long!

I love the way my mother decorates her tables! 

 I had a small photo shoot with Ballerina once we arrived and changed into our "party clothes". If only I could get her to sit still without snackies!

As the day went on Ballerina got a little over-stimulated by the huge group of people in Tutu's House. So... she took Millie for a walk with Daddy and Grammy. 

 Or maybe, Millie took her for a walk. Not sure!

We had a wonderful time with Grammy! We cannot wait for her to come back for a super long visit when Baby Brother arrives!! 

-Whitney

One and a Half! What?!

Somehow my little Ballerina has become an 18 month old! 

I am not sure how this happened. I swear we just celebrated her 1st birthday!!

Anywho...

I didn't really take pics but got of few at her Drs appt. 

Learning about the fish tank.

Reading. Obviously she is a genius.

Just posing while we continue to wait.

Ballerina was NOT happy about shots that day. Mommy is not going to the 2 year appt. without Daddy in tow. Way to crazy. 

-Whitney

Granpa Visits!!

Grandpa Brown drove from Florida to visit! 

Ballerina had a great time hanging for a few days with her Grandpa. 

Daddy & Grandpa walking the Ballerina. She likes to hold hands on walks.

It was gameday. She wanted to climb on tailgate set ups.

Crazy girl.

She loves playing on campus.

Not sure we should teach her to ride dogs.

We had a great time with Grandpa Brown. So happy he got a chance to see how big Ballerina has gotten since his last visit! 

-Whitney

Halloween Festivities

Well, I am not one to really buy a crazy costume for a child that cannot even eat candy... So Ballerina wore an old dance costume to all of her fun little events. 

First we had costume day at gymnastics.

Modeling at home before class.

Attempting to get a group picture of her class.

One more try. Little Super -Woman was the only kid behaving.

Learning to jump with her ball. 

Then a few days later, we had a Halloween Party at daycare. I was unable to attend because I had to teach dance and Daddy had to work. So, Tutu went instead. So happy she got pics of the fun for me!

And yes, I think my sugar-free baby ate her weight in sugar that day. 

Juice boxes that look like Mummys! Fun!

Apples, marshmellows and peanut butter. So freakin' cute!

Ballerina having a hershey's kiss. No more telling her they are for big kids only I guess.

Playing games.

No we did not go trick or treating. I figure that would just be mean since I don't allow her to eat any candy. However, if she asks me next year... I am all for it. 

-Whitney

The Little Gymnast

My little Ballerina Brown started Gymnastics at Bart Connors in Norman this June.

She LOVES it!! 

A few pics for fun!!

Ballerina listening like a big girl.

So fun getting when they blow up this thing!!

Playing around the house before Gymnastics one day.

She was mesmerized by the big girls working on floor routines this day.

Crawling through the tunnel is SO MUCH FUN!

There are more gymnastics updates to come! Ballerina LOVES it!

-Whitney

Long Time... No Blog. Oops!!

Oopsy! I must have been very busy these days! (Or the last 6 months!)

So... 

I will play catch up the next week and get back on track. 

Then, hopefully, things will be in order for me to get back to blogging!!

Here is what we did on the Fourth of July!

Ballerina got all cute for her first 4th at Daycare...

 

Mommy decorated the stroller for Ballerina to walk in her first parade!

 

We spent the morning with Ballerina and our favorite God-Family at the Brookhaven Parade.

 We then went to a pool party and we all crashed well before any fireworks display! 

Hope you all had a great Fourth!!

-Whitney

Date Night at Cheeca!

On June 4, 2011 Brian and I were married in the most beautiful place ever. 

Cheeca Lodge and Spa in Islamorada, Florida.

It is my happy place. 

And thank you to my amazing parents, we got a date night while on vacay a few weeks ago! They kept Ballerina in Key Largo while we spent a night at Cheeca!

We did take the Ballerina to lunch at Cheeca with us however.

She had lobster from my sandwich and loved it!! I mean, what are we getting ourselves into with a 1 year old lobster eater!!??

It was raining on our first day there. So sad, I really wanted some great pics of the family on the beach. 

But... we at least got a shot of us semi on the beach.

It may have been raining but that didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves! 

The next morning we took a walk on the beach where we had our reception. 

And then... the sun came out!! Yay!!

A little bit of grown up pool time before heading back to Key Largo to hug on our baby!!

-Whitney 

Butternut Squash Risotto

As a dance teacher, I work nights. Not all night and not every night but enough that I need to have things in my recipe arsenal that are easy for Brian (or a babysitter) to heat up and give the Ballerina for dinner when I am busy. 

Lucky for us, she is not a very picky eater. Yet. 

She loves almost all meats, cheese, and most fruits & vegetables. 

As with most risotto recipes it can be a bit time consuming but Ballerina loves this and it lasts the entire week! 

Ingredients

1 small butternut squash

1/2 a white onion- finely chopped

1/4 cup apple juice

1 cup aborio rice

3 cups chicken broth- unsalted

2 tablespoons butter

In a large saucepan, melt the 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Then add the rice and onion. 

Once the onion is translucent, add your butternut squash. 

Lower the heat and cook for 5 minutes.

While that cooks add your 1/4 cup apple juice to 3 cups chicken broth.

Slowly add broth mix to your rice. Stirring as you add. 

(I normally add one ladle full every 1 minute) 

Once all the broth has been added, cover and cook for 20-25 minutes.

Until all liquid is absorbed. 

Feel free to add shredded parmesen cheese in the last few minutes. (We don't because I never have any around!)

I normally put ours directly into a plastic tub and serve small bowls to Ballerina throughout the week. 

It makes plenty!! 

Happy Cooking!

-Whitney