Picky Eaters

I remember being a picky eater as a kid. And to some degree I still am. I don't eat things that I can't pronounce, or smell or look gross. However, a lot of what I hated to eat as a kid, I enjoy eating now or I'm just to lazy to pick out the stuff I don't like i.e. tomatoes in a taco. The girls, though, are extremely picky eaters. The only fruit Tatyana will eat is a banana. Abigail won't eat a potato in any form- mashed, chip, french fry, etc. They all hate candy, chocolate or dessert that has something in it such as caramel, coconut or whatever. And not one of them will eat condiments -on anything. Well except Abigail will eat ranch but only with chicken nuggets.
I have tried every trick in the book. I even bought Deceptively Delicious and that didn't work. It was more work for me. I've begged, pleaded, awarded and made the girls go to bed hungry. I have lost every battle.
Olivia is more willing to try something new IF her sisters haven't tried it and stated that it was gross or that they didn't like it. Tess on the other hand is a major foodie and will eat and try anything. I pray every day that she won't be influenced by her big sisters. We are working hard to make sure that the girls keep their opinions to themselves and to not make facial expressions when eating so that Tess will continue to eat anything and everything.
A few weeks ago, we had the girls try a Toaster Strudel. Mind you, when we were growing up Toaster Strudels were a delicacy and we rarely ever had them. The girls were so disgusted by them. Two of the three were in tears because we made them try the "nastiest food ever." What's wrong with these children? Things that would be the "nastiest food ever" when I was a kid was kidney beans, peas, fish, you know typical things a kid hates. Not Toaster Strudels and definitely not any thing with sugar in it.
Today I bought giant creme puffs as a little victory dessert and other than licking off the chocolate topping, the girls wouldn't touch them. No matter how much I told them it was pretty much the same as a donut.
I do have to say though that the girls finally decided that cooked carrots aren't so bad and they rarely complain about eating them. The newest protested food is black beans. Which happens to be Tess' favorite. We will keep trying them and one day about 6 months from now the girls will probably willingly eat them but until then, its an ongoing battle.
We keep telling the girls that one day the food is going to run out and they will have to eat whatever we have or can find. But I don't think they can comprehend that.
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Abby-girl

My mini me. Abigail is so much like me. A few good friends, shy and yet talkative. My favorite quality about Abigail is that she doesn't care at all what other people think of her. She just does her own thing. And its great. Wish I could learn that.

Abigail was an easy baby. Then from about 2 to 8, she was very difficult. I think in the beginning it was because of her speech delay and being frustrated all the time because she couldn't communicate. Then it just lingered on for a few more years. Believe it or not, she attempted to runaway when she was seven. She made it out her bedroom window before I caught her and then I chased her around the apartment complex. I was 9 when I attempted to runaway but I didn't even make it out of my bedroom door and I had packed a suitcase. Abigail had nothing. Boy am I glad that is over. I'm sure she will give me a hard time as a teenager but maybe, just maybe, she won't. Now Abigail is our "go with the flow" kid and for the most part, happy and loving. That attitude pops up from time to time but it happens less and less.
Abigail does pretty well in school but doesn't particularly like school. She, too, enjoys being with her friends and participating in the non-academic classes. Abigail loves to read books but they have to capture her attention right away. Then trying to get her to put the book down... well that's another story.
Abigail loves to sleep in and could sleep in until noon every single day if I would let her. But I'm a meanie and if I'm not sleeping, no body is. Unless of course, you are under the age of 5 and not in kindergarten or if you are sick.
Abigail really loves music and would love to be a singer when she gets older. Or a police officer. Such completely different careers but she could really do either of those if she really wanted to. Abigail is such a great helper, loving and very sweet. She can not wait until she is older. I am constantly being reminded that she will be 11 soon (not that soon) and then 12 and so on. She wants to drive and get a job and get married and have kids. And I'm just sitting here telling her to "be 10" for as long as possible. Though I don't think its working.

Tatyana

Tatyana. I'm not sure if she's the most like me or the complete opposite of me. She does really well in school and is a pretty well-behaved girl. She loves to be the center of attention and make people laugh, which does not come from me at all. Tatyana is a morning person and the only one of our children who can happily function on less than 10 hours of sleep. Tatyana is very girly and more of a swimmer or dancer rather than an sports athlete. I should mention here that she is quite the little video-gamer too. She loves vegetables and hates fruit, except for bananas. Tatyana is very mature for her age and understands a lot. We would leave Tatyana in charge but then Abigail would have a fit. Plus Tatyana doesn't like the responsibility. In school, she takes care of everyone. She will play with the kids who don't have friends or who get picked on. She will walk with another student to the nurse if they get hurt. And she welcomes any new kid in her class with open arms. When I decided to give Abigail "The Talk", Tatyana insisted on being included. I told her she should wait a few years but she just wouldn't budge. So after some thought, I talked with both girls and well Tatyana plans to never date or marry anyone. Ever. Nor does she want to have any kids. Although if Tatyana has any questions in that department, she is totally comfortable asking me. Tatyana's favorite television show is "Friends" because one of the character's names is Phoebe and Tatyana's best friend's name is Phoebe. Currently, Tatyana has taken on being the one with the attitude. Its been hard to adjust to because she has been so easy going with everything and we never thought that she would have an attitude. But alas, she is my child and I probably had one of the worst attitude problems as a child. We're just hoping hers is a short-lived phase. Tatyana has a very strong testimony of the gospel and loves church. We love that Tatyana has a spunky personality and can make us all laugh by just being herself. The above picture was probably the first time I didn't have to take 10 pictures just to get a normal picture. She always, always makes goofy faces.