I HATE HIGHCHAIRS

I just want to say that high chairs are, in my opinion, the biggest waste of money! I hate the stupid graco giant POS that took up almost our entire tiny trailer kitchen. I hated cleaning the thing more than the chair itself. There are tons of tiny nooks and cranies that Avery managed to get goo lodged into and I have had it! I am done. So I bought her a booster seat. Why didn't any expirienced moms out there warn me of this. Maybe they did, but no one made me listen! So, for those you who have yet to purchase a high chair...DON'T DO IT! Don't get all baby crap crazy and buy one or register for one. It is a waste of money and they are IMPOSSIBLE to clean. All you need is a booster seat!

It is so much easier to clean and takes up no more space than a chair at the table. You can even put it in the dishwasher! Then, when the babies are tall enough to reach the table you can stop using the tray and the back is even removable. It also folds up nicely so you can take it with you if you needed it.

Why did we fall into the highchair trap? I don't know! Live and learn.

Avery's First Bling

It was 1 year ago today that my mom and I took Avery to Body Piercing Unlimited in Anchorage, AK and subjected Avery to her first piercings. We actually had to talk the piercer into doing it. I really wanted it done by a piercer rather than take her to a jewelry store and have her ears pierced with a piercing gun. The piercer did a wonderful job and I absolutely love her gold hoops that were put in. Avery is terrible at the doctors office because of shots, so you can only imagine how traumatic this event was. I think she stopped screaming about 10 minutes after the gal was done and I managed to keep it together. They healed so fast, she has never messed with them and she gets compliments all the time on her earrings. I will totally do it again if we have another girl and can find a place that will do it, but maybe next time my mom can take her to get them done while I wait in the car ;)

what i have tried to get Avery to eat today...

• cinnamon raisin english muffin
• cup of milk
• chocolate milk
  
• juice box
• blueberries
• raspberries
• melon
• cream cheese danish
• craisins
• raisins
• corn chex
• chicken nuggets
• french fries
• string cheese
• granola bar
• nutragrain bar
• cheese its
• cashews
• pretzel
• some veggies (peas, corn and carrots)
• a banana
  

All she has actually eaten has been a handful of blueberries, about 2 oz of milk, a juice box, a couple of craisins, 2 chicken nuggets and 1 fry. This has been going on for a few days now and is really tiring! I am trying spaghetti o's for dinner. Hopefully, she does not throw them in my face. I am really tired of having food thrown at me that then quickly escalates to a toddler throwing a tantrum. I know...IT'S A PHASE, but in Sam's words, "How long does this phase last?"

Avery enjoying some Thanksgiving dinner. The sparkling apple cider and cornbread were her favorites.

If you are wondering what I have been up too, I have been baking. 'Tis the season", right? Not all have been a success. First, I made brownies last week and forgot to add the water. Totally my fault, but sometimes it is hard to concentrate when you have a 2 1/4 foot tall little monster following you around and screaming at you for attention. Real fun! So yeah, I forgot the water and they were DRY! So dry that it hurt your jaw to chew them! Don't worry though, we made sure to eat all of them. Round # 2 of the brownie adventure was much better. Then, I tried fudge. I bought regular condensed milk rather than sweetened condensed milk. I thought, "oh no big deal". It is a big deal! Now I have a ton of chocolate goo that is not setting 24 hours later. BOO! But, the toffee I made is EXCELLENT! It sounds a little complicated, but really is easy and I did not use a candy thermometer.

White Chocolate Almond Toffee

• 1 cup unsalted butter, cut up
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 cup finely chopped almonds
• 12 ounces white chocolate chips
  

1. Line a 15x10x1" jelly-roll pan with non-stick foil,or spray regular foil with non-stick spray. In medium saucepan; heat butter, sugar, corn syrup, and 2 tbsp water. Heat over medium heat to melt butter. Increase heat to med-high and insert candy thermometer.
2. Cook mixture about 12 minutes until golden brown and temp reaches 300°F DO NOT STIR. Remove from heat and remove thermometer. Carefully stir in 1c. chopped almonds.
3. Quickly pour toffee onto prepared pan and spread to edges. Let stand in pan on a wire rack for 30mins.
4. Melt half of the chocolate in microwave on High for 45 seconds. Stir to smooth. Spread over top of cooled toffee. Refrigerate 20 minutes until firm.
5. Once bar is firm, flip over onto a piece of wax paper; remove foil. Microwave remaining chocolate on High 45 seconds and stir to smooth. Spread over toffee bar; sprinkle with remaining 1/4c. almonds. Use wax paper to slide toffee bar back onto baking pan. Refrigerate 20 more minutes.
6. Once chocolate is firm, break bar into 2.5" pieces. Store airtight at room temperature up to 1 month.

Our mini table top tree. Aka The Trailer Tree.

We tried to go see Santa yesterday, but Avery projectile vomited all over a restaurant and herself right before we had been planning on going. She was not sick, but kinda choked and had some OJ for the first time. Oooops. It smelt pretty horrible, but she is fine. She has been EXTRA grumpy lately. She cut tooth # 11. She has a total of 9 more teeth until she is completely finished teething. 1 incisor, 4 canines and 4 2 year molars. She has also come up with some new dance moves. I have been trying to get a video uploaded to FB, but our internet connection is VERY slow. We do not have much planned for the holidays as Sam is on call through Christmas. Sam's Mom and Step Dad are coming to visit for a couple days near Christmas and we are going to dinner Christmas day with some friends, but that is about it. The countdown to our Alaska trip has begun. T-48 days!

Turkey Leftovers?

Sam and I made some yummy soup with some of our turkey leftovers! It is SPICY and DELISH!

Tex Mex Turkey Soup

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 poblano chopped
  
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 4 cups water
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup salsa
• 4 cups shredded cooked turkey
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 3 chicken bouillon cubes
• 1 (14 ounce) can black beans, rinsed, drained
• 2 cups frozen corn
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add minced onions and peppers and cook until onions begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin and oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
2. Stir in water, tomato soup, diced tomatoes, salsa, shredded turkey, parsley and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes or until bouillon cubes dissolve. Add black beans, corn, sour cream and cilantro. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Serve soup with crushed tortilla chips, chopped green onion, shredded cheese and additional cilantro and sour cream.

14 months!

I cannot believe Avery is already 2 months into her 2nd year, but she is and she is definitely a toddler!
Newest Accomplishments:

• Walking and just about running.
• She has 10 teeth (4 upper incisors, 2 lower central incisors, 4 molars and working on the 2 lower lateral incisors) Then we have all 4 canines and 4 two year molars until we are done with the darn teeth, but who's counting...
  
• She signs please, all done, more and food
• She can say dog, cat, toe, mama (rarely) and dada
• She imitates yelling at the dogs, talking on the phone and talking emphatically with her hands
• Understands just about anything I ask her do, but she is very stubborn and often defies me.
• She is using a fork

I can't really think of anything else right this moment. But, she learns something new everyday!

As of recently Avery has become OBSESSED with books. Seriously, she gets a book and brings it to me. She begins this AWFUL screeching if I don't immediately sit down, let her crawl into my lap and start reading to her. I think I read her at least 25 books yesterday before I said enough and let her throw an all out tantrum. I am happy she is excited about reading, but geez! Her favorites seem to be the books written by Sandra Boynton. Not sure why, but I find myself reading the three we have by her over and over.

It has started getting chilly here at night and it has cooled off to a perfect temperature during the day. I love my jackets and it is officially jacket weather. Avery has also been sporting some pretty awesome jackets herself. Her new favorites are her 2 ponchos made by her Kooka! They are too cute!

A Horrific Halloween

It was an action packed weekend for the Smith crew. Saturday, Avery and I headed south to ABQ and attended the ZooBoo with the Westons. I am glad we went and we had fun, but it was literally a zoo. There were thousands of people there and it was beyond packed. The poor animals had to put up with some idiots yelling at them and we saw some jerk kick a bird. Avery and Olivia had fun and I love hanging with Jan, Donald and Miss O. We headed back to the house where Sam, Avery and myself quickly got dressed up to attend a sweet 16 mocktail party up in Eldorado. There was lots of yummy food and Avery had a blast watching the teenagers while Daddy stuffed his face with all the yummy food. It was a GREAT party idea and I might steal it for Miss Avery when she is much much older. Then it was Sunday, HALLOWEEN! We packed up the car, dogs, baby and ourselves and drove northeast to Toas for the day. We had a delish lunch @ Graham's Grille and walked around the downtown area. All the shop owners were dressed up in costume and the plaza was decorated for Halloween. We then took the dogs and Avery to Kit Carson Park. The dogs got to run off leash and Avery had lots of fun playing at the playground. She went down the slide all by herself! (it was a slide for small kiddos) The park is also home to a historic cemetery, the place where Kit Carson is actually buried. Avery took a detour and wandered into the cemetery, a little dare devil already! It was a beautiful drive and a great way to celebrate Halloween. It was a perfect day!

the snotty smiths

Sam brought home a serious cold from Fort Collins. Now we are all snotty and sneezing up a storm. It started with a wicked sore throat and terrible headache and body aches. I am 98% sure I had either the worst sinus headache known to man or it turned into my first migraine. If it was not a migraine I am completely taken aback by those who suffer from them. I put Avery down to bed early because I was dizzy, nauseous and thought my head was going to pop. Now Avery and I are snotty and sneezing while Sam's has progressed to coughing up crap. Avery seems much more content today with the snottiness, but the sore throat was hard on her. I had a had time getting her to eat anything for 2 days. On top of teething the past few days have been a real joy :) On top of it all, Sam worked nearly 30 hours this weekend, but gets tomorrow and Wednesday off. YEY!

Avery and I are excited for this weekend! We are heading south to ABQ to attend the Zoo BOO with the Weston fam! Then it is Halloween on Sunday! Avery has her "moo" down pat and is going to be the best little cow ever!

Happy Birthday Sonny!

I meant to post this yesterday. Happy Birthday to the very best brother you could ask for. We miss you and cannot wait to see you this winter!