Why can't it be Spring?

I have become very excited about cooking over the past few weeks and months.  My new favorite blog is Our Best Bites which features the most amazing recipes and cooking tips AND I recently got their new cookbook to test out as well.  I made this last night:

I have learned so much about cooking, but a bi-product of that is that I am also less and less able to withstand bad cooking.  Once you know how things are supposed to smell, look and taste, it's hard to eat them when they're dry, burnt, underseasoned, overseasoned, and just plain bad.  I guess I can live with this new hardship if it means that 80% of the time I am eating better.  :)

Other news:  last night I went to bed at 10:30, woke up at 1am with Clara, 2am with Bowe who was sick, 3-5am slept in Bowe's bed, 6:30 with Clara, 6:45 with Ava who had a fever, and up for the day at 7am with Clara.  I am surprisingly chipper given the rough night I had.  Ava has strep again, Bowe has a cold, and Clara is already on antibiotics for an ear infection.  I feel like we are single handedly keeping the pharmacy in business.  Oh!  I just can't wait until Spring!  The warm air, sunshine, and fresh air blow the germs away.  I know that's not technically accurate, but it sure feels right. 

Here are some pictures from the last 2 months.

I'm trying to remind myself to take pictures of all three kids together whenever possible.  Ava is the best at pictures.  She looks right at the camera and smiles like a champ.  The other two . . . not so good.

During February break we went to Perinton recreation center and swam.  It was Clara's first time in the water.  She was so excited and very brave considering it was so loud and crowded there.  I was worried about having the camera out so I don't have any pictures of the other kids. 

You may have seen this posted on my facebook.  These are pictures of the kids all at 6 months old.  It's Bowe on the left, then Clara on top and Ava on bottom.

My candlelight dinner on Valentine's Day.  We stayed in.  It was just easier.  Plus, I love cooking new recipes and making my family eat it.

Then this hilarious video happened.  
I'm thinking America's Funniest Videos $10,000 winner.  Then again, they have a bad track record of picking lame videos as the finalists.

I think Clara is adorable, but she tends to make really weird faces and open her eyes super wide.  I have to say, these pictures don't really capture her true nature.  I have also been busy making obscenely large flower headbands for her to wear.  She handles it like a champ.

A night with my sister's family.  These kids are crazy!

Miss Clara is now sitting up all by herself!  She is catching up to her older brother and sister as fast as she can!

We had a little hat fashion show. 

Here's Ava at 6 months wearing the same hat.

Back to Clara

Here's Ava again!

We pulled Ava out of school to go to the Strong Museum of Play for the day.  This was Clara's first trip and our first time back in 9 months.  It was fun.  Notice the red cheeks in Ava and Bowe.  They get so sweaty when they run around and play there.  I never remember to put t-shirts on them!

Clara didn't sleep the whole time.  This was her expression for the last half hour before we left.  Clara and I were waiting for Todd, Ava and Bowe on the carousel.  We voted her the MVP for the day because she is so patient and calm.

We stopped for Mexican that was not satisfying at ALL.  I miss the Mexican food of the West.  Why is it so hard to make good Mexican in NY?  I guess I'll just have to make my own.

Ava got strep again so she missed her St. Patrick's day party at school.  We had green dinner to make up for it.  This was actually, my 11th annual green-breakfast-for-dinner event.  I started it in college with a few lovely ladies.  Green pancakes, green eggs, green orange juice, & green beans.  I didn't attempt to dye the sausage or syrup.  Maybe next year . . .

Hawkins Home Video Pick:

Here's a video to capture Clara's essence of cuteness.