Duck Fat!

Today was a very fun family day.  Started out kind of rough and we didn't make it to church.  We all went in town to get some groceries and a couple things at the farmer's market. A few weeks ago, a man selling poultry told Chris that he could get close to 70 dollars a pound for duck fat!  Chris had bought half a duck from him and was very excited to roast it, and began researching the best way.  Duck confit calls for cooking it in actual duck fat which we did not have.  I just ended up putting it into a pan and roasting it. It did produce a good amount of fat.  I've never heard Chris gush so much about a meal. He kept exhorting the children to eat more and more of the duck and surprisingly, Jude took a couple bones and ate them clean!  I've never seen him do that.  All the children seemed very happy after the duck meal!  Vanda arrived just in time to eat with us, and of course she is totally into any kind of farm fresh roasted meat.  Then everyone went out to work in our little veggie patch. Vanda brought circular fences to enclose the tomato plants and a few zucchini plants.  Tristan was pretty fussy off and on from not being able to nap, but he had lots of fun digging in garden.  Right after I had put him down for a nap, Petra went in his room, climbed in his crib and sat there reading a book as he screamed face down from being woke up!  Silly girl! Now I am making black bean "brownies" from my Trim Healthy Mama plan in preparation for the National Zoo tomorrow.

Loving life with three

It is definitely more stressful with three, but I am so glad we had a third child!! Little Tristan is really starting to run, but with such a weaving back and forth in his toddler- like way.  He is so intent on play and following older brother and sister and doing just what they do.  Sometimes I fear we have a super strong clique in this house! Jude and Petra will run up to the "friends" room for hours and play 'mater and McQueen." At times they greatly struggle to have Tristan in there with them. I pray often that they will include him more and more. They still see him as a "baby" at least half of the time. 
May 2013
 Jude:
    *still loves construction toys, books, and videos (trucks, dump trucks, etc.)
    *loves to read books with mommy and is learning letters, enjoys books on tapes, and favorite video is "Lots and Lots of Trucks"
    * Plays in the sandbox with siblings or alone for long periods of time
     *loves to run around the whole property with Petra, starting to climb trees
     *learning to play T-ball!
     * very affectionate; often says in the middle of the day "mommy, I like ya" or "mommy I love you"
    *has been very picky with food but really starting to eat more variety -still loves avocados and bread
    *loves going to the library, to Awana (but misses the old Awana where he could play with toys more), loves preschool and going to playgrounds.  often asks in the morning, "where are we going today?"

PETRA:

   * loves Princess books and dolls. Ariel is her favorite and often changes into her Ariel costume.
   *very attached to friends, especially Taylor Jo and Ester. Prays for friends and dinner prayer and always asks to go to their home
   *Just started a dance class at a Sandy Spring ballet studio!  She is so excited and is wearing leotard all the time!
   *Loves to read books with mommy and knows all letters, very eager to read and a more willing student with reading lessons at home
   *loves going to preschool and Awana, not too excited for Sunday School each week, but becomes more cheerful once there ( I think it's because there are less toys than last years class and it is not always the same friends in there)
   *pretty good eater, loves many vegetables, hummus, guacamole, most meats, yogurt and ALL berries- they will be devoured in  a heartbeat.  Vanda just planted raspberries in back yard!
   *loves to sing and dance all over the house all day- even when there is no music on. dances to country and classical music , preschool states she is great at music class and always knows the words
   *Fiercely devoted to twin Jude but is affectionate to Tristan and making room in her world for him more and more
   *loves to play outside but will often just go back inside while everyone else is out and keep herself busy with dolls and stuff

TRISTAN
  *loves mommy and daddy and siblings and is a total 1 year old JOY
   * throws self on floor on back with legs up in the air if he can't get his way! ha ha
   *wants to be outside as much as possible- digging in sandbox, helping daddy treat evergreens with hollytone fertilizer, playhouse, and general exploring
   *loves books and really starting to speak, can repeat back almost any word or phrase, using 2 word phrases now "daddy work" "daddy home" "mommy go"
   *loves most foods and has been completely feeding himself for months
   *starting to stay in his Sunday school class finally- without crying
   *loves "happy pills"- an omega 3 supplement Chris gives him