Birthday Girls

We had a fun weekend in Des Moines last weekend with all Birnbaums celebrating Grammy's 60th birthday. Jillian enjoyed a pre-birthday celebration as well while we were together, since hers is right around the corner. Here is a quick photographic rundown of the fun we had....

We headed out to a local farm for a little fall fun. It was warm, but windy, so A snuggled close to Aunt Mal

J got a birds-eye view, thanks to Uncle John

Cousin Jack found fun at the sight of this rather large pumpkin

Time to feed the goats! Daddy showed Jillian how to get the food to the goats up top.

She loved feeding them from her hand the best

Jillian's first time on a pony. We all got a good laugh at the wild child sitting on a horse named Wild Thing

Time for the first official pony ride! J rode a horse named, Sandy while cousin Jack rode another.

Exploring the large loft full of dried flowers

After lunch at Grammy and Grandad's and naps all-around, we headed out to Rube's Steakhouse to celebrate Grammy's big milestone. Jillian sampled Grammy's party wear.

A group shot (sans Baby Jack who was in the highchair next to Aunt Meggie, and Adrienne, who was sleeping in her stroller)

Daddy and Uncle D working their magic at the grill

After dinner, we arrived home for a surprise mini (or Minnie!) celebration for Jillian

Thanks, Grams, for the yummy Minnie Mouse cake!

Jillian might be my mini-me, but Adrienne is certainly looking like a mini-Matt. I found the resemblance striking in this picture!

Showing off her strong legs

Jillian received some fun dress-up clothing from Aunt Mal and Uncle John, and she had to model it immediately

I love this shot of my dad and A

A Sunday morning shot of Grammy and Grandad and their grandchildren

Adrienne enjoyed hanging out in this booster seat while Grammy worked on Sunday lunch. It won't be long before she sits there to try some cereal for the first time!

Need a good laugh? Check out Daddy and Uncle D in mine and Aunt Meggie's high school letter jackets that G & G recently found in some old boxes

Still fits with plenty of room! Can't believe we used to buy our jackets so large.

What a wonderful family-filled weekend we had. Jillian apparently had so much fun that she didn't want to be home. She melted down immediately when we arrived, and had lots of tears at bedtime because she wanted to be at Grammy and Grandad's. I think she might almost be ready for her first solo visit!

Time Out & On A Roll

Two noteworthy events of the last two days:

1. Jillian's teacher informed me that she received her first time out at preschool. She apparently was pulling aggressively on a friend's arm during clean up time in effort to get her to help with the task. I find it interesting that Jillian did not share this with us, particularly since she almost always tells us she gets in trouble at school when she truly does not! Hmmm....

2.  Adrienne can now officially roll from back to tummy (she's able to get her arm out from under her without difficulty now), and from tummy to back. She is fast, and rolled completely off her activity mat yesterday in a matter of minutes. She is only 3 months and 5 days old, people!  This skill emerged a solid 6 weeks before it did in a motorically-advanced Jillian. We. Are. In. Trouble.

Dad and Me

Jillian's preschool hosted a "Dad and Me Sports Night" this evening, and Matt made sure he was home in time to take accompany her. Dads and kids were asked to wear sports attire in support of their favorite team, and they had time to tour classrooms, enjoy slushies and snack mix, and play sport-themed games in the gym. Matt and Jillian had a great time. I asked Matt if he ran into anyone he knew and he said he saw a couple other dads, but quickly added, "Jillian knows everyone, and everyone knows her. She's like a little celebrity. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. ".  Hmm.....I intended to send the camera with them, but of course forgot, so here are a couple of shots of the father/daughter duo before leaving. As you will see, Jillian didn't feel these pictures were necessary.

First Pie

As you might have guessed, Jillian and I planned to make an apple pie with the apples we picked yesterday. It was actually her idea (not sure why she was so into the idea of making one), but I was thrilled at the suggestion. Pie making holds a great deal of sentiment for me, and so many of my memories with and of my Grammy lie in that activity. I am so thankful that I asked her to teach me the art, and never pick up my rolling pin without thinking of her. Though I no longer need to read the recipe for her crust, I still get out the recipe card that she gave me. It is covered in her unmistakable writing, and ends with a note of encouragement: "Do not give up. Making a pie is a labor of love. Try, try again!" She is right. And so begins my task of passing on this tradition to my daughter.....

Checking out the bottom crust after we put it in the pan. Jillian is wearing her apron, which was my mom's as a child. It was embroidered by my grandma and says "October" (both J and my mom have October birthdays)

Making sure it is just right

Spreading out the apples in the pan

Trying to dust the cinnamon/sugar/nutmeg mixture off her hands

Time to roll out the top crust. This girl is a natural with the rolling pin.

Getting some help from mom (please ignore my disheveled appearance. I have a baby, remember?)

My apron might make you giggle, but the smock holds sentimental value as well. It was Grammy's and I always wear it when making a pie. I like to think of it as "channeling my inner Edna"

Brushing on the milk before the last sprinkling of sugar. I had to oversee this step carefully, she nearly poured the entire cup of milk over the pie as I was fetching the pastry brush.

Ready for the oven!

Betty Crocker's got nothing on us

Fresh out of the oven. I love how every pie looks different when it is complete. This one definitely reflects the gusto Jillian brought to the task...big patches of extra sugar, gaps in the fragile crust from rough handling, and haphazard decorative venting slits. It was just perfect.

 

 

Jillian was beyond excited to try this pie. So excited, in fact, that she could not fall asleep at nap time. After dinner we presented her with a piece a la mode.

The verdict? She wouldn't touch it! We could not convince her to try it. It apparently didn't look as she imagined it. Either that or she is too young to understand the physical changes that occur when something is baked. Oh well, more for me! I'm sure it won't be long before she discovers the delicacy of a great piece of homemade pie.

Apple Core

We went to the apple orchard today, or as Jillian insists, the "apple core". It was a lovely, cool morning, perfect for a family adventure of the Fall variety. To start things off, we all enjoyed a warm homemade doughnut followed by a walk through the corn maze. Jillian collected all the stamps in the maze and got a prize (a plastic spider ring that she will not keep out of her mouth. Yes, I took it away)

Next it was time to get what we came for--lots of delicious apples. We picked Haralson and cortland varieties, and purchased a bag of our favorite eating variety, the honeycrisp. Jillian must have remembered her apple picking skills from last year, as she picked some beauties like an old pro.

We have big plans for the apples we picked....stay tuned!