Monday, June 28, 2010

Princess Kaitlyn's Kitchen

Last year I started telling 'Princess Kaitlyn' stories to Kaitlyn, which typically start... "Once upon a time there was a princess name Kaitlyn who lived in a beautiful castle by an enchanted forest, a magical lake and a fantastically fun playground. Princess Kaitlyn (continued three paragraphs down)...

As it turns out, Kaitlyn loves these stories and now asks for them on a regular basis. Sometimes, they are all fictional, but other times Kaitlyn asks for a Princess Kaitlyn story to mimic real life and describe a good event or a bad event (like losing a privilege for not listening).

Now that Madelyn has joined our family and Kaitlyn has to share her time with mommy and daddy, mommy started Princess Kaitlyn's kitchen since Kaitlyn always wants to help us cook in the kitchen. Each week this summer, I hope for 'Princess Kaitlyn' and mommy to make a fun dish in the kitchen. This entry highlights our first adventure.

...loved waking up to the rays of sunshine that filled her room with bright, happy colors. This morning Kaitlyn saw red, orange and yellow shining through her windows and on her walls. Princess Kaitlyn climbed out of her cozy princess bed, put on her fuzzy monkey slippers, and walked down the castle corridor to the kitchen. As she entered the room, princess Kaitlyn happily declared "I want my breakfast to reflect the sunshiny colors that filled my room. Let's make a sunrise fruit salad mommy!"

Princess Kaitlyn's Sunrise Fruit Salad

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 Watermelon
  • 1/2 Cantaloupe
  • 1 Pineapple
  • 1 can Mandarin oranges plus some of the juice
  • Future addition: 1/2 honeydew
Equipment:
  • Butter knife
  • Melon baller
  • Sharp knife (for mommy's only)
  • Cutting board
  • Container



Princess Kaitlyn ready to make her salad with a melon baller.

After mommy cut the watermelon in half, Princess Kaitlyn starting scooping balls out.

Mommy cut the pineapple in chunks for the salad while Princess Kaitlyn worked hard.


Scooping the cantaloupe into the fruit salad.


Dumping in some juice.

Slicing some watermelon with a butter knife. Princess Kaitlyn wanted different shapes.



The fruits of our labor...mandarin oranges added w/ about half of the juice in the can.


Princess Kaitlyn stirring her salad.

Viola - Princess Kaitlyn's Sunrise Fruit Salad!
Nothing beats fresh fruit salad during these hot, sunny days in the south - 0h, I mean in Princess Kaitlyn's Kingdom. Next time, we might make some homemade whipped cream with vanilla and add some honeydew for a splash of green.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

More Madelyn...

Here are some more photos of Madelyn and her first couple weeks at home...


Grandma Linda and Maddie


Daddy and his girls. Kaitlyn likes to hold Madelyn while she's sleeping. Kaitlyn is a very helpful big sister. She also likes to help us give Maddie her baths.

After Grandma Linda left, Grandpa (Pa) Mark came to help out and visit.


Happy Birthday Pa!!

Of course Kaitlyn asked Pa to help blow out his candles.


Kaitlyn and her baby sister during a little tummy time.

Pa Mark with his two granddaughters. It's a little hard to get a good smile from Kaitlyn these days. She'd rather make faces at us.


Cute picture of our girls!

Pa Mark with a very sleeping Madelyn.


Silly Kaitlyn...her orange smile!

Family visiting Maddie... Cousins Cris and Peggy (cousin Dave not pictured). Thanks for coming for a visit and bringing us a yummy dinner!!!

Kaitlyn pretending to lay down like Maddie.

Out like a light (photo from today).

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Welcome Madelyn!

On our way to the hospital Monday morning...
Welcome Madelyn Leigh!!

First bath

Meet daddy sweet girl!

It's mommy!

Kaitlyn and Grandma Linda snuck up to the hospital for a quick visit the night Madelyn was born. Kaitlyn was the official 'toe' counter.

From three to four!

Meet Grandma Linda Madelyn! You have more grandparents anxious to meet you!!

Catching some zzz's shortly after birth.

More sleeping...

Kaitlyn getting ready to hold Madelyn for the first time at home.

Kaitlyn's a gentle and sweet big sister!


Extra photos...
Silly hair day at school today...