The Family Ware

Pillowcase Dress #2

2012-02-17T14:59:00.000-06:00

The most recent trip to our favorite thrift store yielded a super-soft vintage cotton pillowcase (did I mention it was 49 cents?), and a really sweet light green sweater (99 cents... yes!) that, while piled on top of each other in our shopping cart, looked like they belonged together. How does one pair a pillowcase with a toddler sweater? Why, make a second attempt at a pillowcase dress, of course! So I did.

I took a few tips from this site, but after the first few cuts, went off on my own tangent, and then ended up sewing skinny elastic into the neckline and eliminating buttons and ribbons and the like all together. Then I started feeling saucy, and made my very first attempt at pockets, too!

Finally, with the leftovers, a little dress for her AbbeyBaby, and voila! Pillowcase dress #2, plus thrifted sweater = Audrey's new outfit for $1.50!

Maybe some day I'll try making her something from real, plain fabric and a pattern... what a novel, intimidating thought... but at least until then I have thrifted pillowcases! *sigh*

Heart Day

2012-02-14T13:47:00.001-06:00

Hoping everyone found something loved to celebrate today, and that the celebrations linger for you through your days. Happy St. Valentine's Feast Day (to figure out exactly where our romantic traditions for this seemingly arbitrary holiday come from, check out this web site, or do your own search for the history of why we do what we do!).

Right Now

2012-02-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

Suddenly noticing how much my babies are growing

Baby games...

...blended seamlessly with toddler games

Another chance to use the fireplace

With a sudden, chilly blast of winter weather, we are enjoying a more intense focus on the home, and a chance to give some neglected spaces and projects the attention they deserve. Stay warm on this Monday the Thirteenth!

Henny Spaghetti

2012-02-11T20:03:00.002-06:00

Hoping everyone is having a great weekend... we are... a great, messy weekend!

Chocolate for Dinner

2012-02-09T17:39:00.001-06:00

A growing tradition for me and the kiddos is to have breakfast for dinner when Daddy's not home to eat with us. More specifically, pancakes for dinner. If it were up to me, quite frankly, pancakes would have their own food group. They are one of my all-time favorite foods. I have a master recipe I follow most of the time, but tonight we went a little wild and made chocolate pancakes. I didn't use much of a recipe, so I wanted to jump on here and jot it all down before I forgot... we'll be wanting these again real soon!

Chocolate Pancakes

1/2 C rye flour

1/2 C whole wheat pastry flour

1/4 C buckwheat flour

1/4 C coconut flour*

~1/4 C cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 C fat-free milk

1 C light sour cream

2 generous TBS honey

2 large eggs

2 TBS melted coconut oil*

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat pan/griddle to 350 degrees (medium heat). Mix dry in large bowl, wet in smaller bowl, and add wet to dry, stirring just until combined (lumps are OK). Lightly spray hot griddle with non-stick spray, then *carefully* wipe it off with a clean, dry wash cloth. Pour batter in 1/4-C scoops onto griddle, cook until bubbles form, pop, and remain (they don't get filled in immediately), and flip. Cook about 60 more seconds, then remove to a plate and cover til all batter used. Serve warm with butter! (if I weren't serving these to my Littles, I would have added dark chocolate chips, too, because that would have been AWESOME)

These turn out very light, with a soft, cake-like center that is almost creamy, but not in a gross under-cooked sense of the word. They're amazing. I hope you try them... we will certainly be trying them again! This recipe made about 16 or 18 pancakes.

*Note: if you don't have coconut flour, or you're not interested in trying it, you can just leave it out and reduce the milk to 1 cup. Also, if you don't have coconut oil or want to avoid it because of it's strong flavor, you can sub any other oil- veg, canola, melted butter... just don't do olive oil!

So Far This Week...

2012-02-09T13:16:00.000-06:00

So far this week, we have...

...made homemade chicken stock twice, once in a dish with tasty results, and the second time with a dish that will definitely need tweaking for next time.

...cooked and baked even more with coconut oil (easily my newest culinary obsession... seriously, this stuff is amazing).

...played outside, despite the chill (because we all know the chill in these parts is a fickle thing).

...schemed even more about the other, more neglected flower bed between the porch and the house (hello, fruit-bearing landscaping!).

...taken a trip to the thrift store with fruitful and frugal results, including a couple new books, some discarded hand-made wooden toys, and an adorable vintage pillowcase that has already become Audrey's latest- and best so far, I do declare- pillowcase dress (details coming!).

...given in to the spring cleaning urge, just a tiny little bit, and started reorganizing a few things here and there.

...cast off long-overdue projects, and cast on projects even more overdue (I really hope I can finish this hat before Henny outgrows it!).

...made a little more progress in shaping up the garden beds for a few more of the earliest seeds and bulbs.

...finally caught Baby Bubba on video jamming out to some Gillian Welch!

It has been a full week, and it's still just Thursday! We also find ourselves, amidst the simultaneous projects and play, looking forward to what the weekend holds. Hoping your days have been full and fulfilling so far this week, too.

Time Spent in the Garden Space

2012-02-07T07:51:00.000-06:00

I am so thankful that Henry's naps still span a substantial amount of time.

Despite the return of quasi-normal weather for this time and these parts, I'm still feeling that getup and go when I look out on our garden beds... honestly, not all of them are sleeping like they should be, and because our seasons were so willy-nilly, I didn't winter any of the beds in the hopes that I could squeeze just one more carrot, bunch of chard, or head of lettuce out of 'em. Knowing that they were denied the attention they deserved brings up a little guilt with my longing glances out the kitchen windows, too.

SO, bright and early, we wrapped up in grubby layers and dug in!

Over the weekend, I had procured a half-yard of compost from our most lovely local nursery (our compost bin only produces about enough compost for 1/4 of the garden every six months or so, so we supplement).

There's nothing better than looking out on the dull grayish-brown of a winter garden and seeing rich black piles of compost resting tantalizingly on top. Well, it might be second to the look of a garden that's actually full of growing things... but it's a close second.

Now... what to do with all this good stuff? Why, mix it in and plant stuff in it, of course! In our area, we can start planting things like onion bulbs, beets, and carrots as early as February. I know it seems early, but we moved quickly last year, too, and didn't regret it for a second with how fiercely and intensely summer set upon us!

Aaaaaand that's where the morning found us yesterday- before Henny's early nap was even half over, we were shoveling, hoeing, and poking "littletiny baby onions (as Audrey says)" and beet seeds into the ground. We were also-

- learning about the seasons

- learning about the life cycles of grub worms (sigh)

- listening to and identifying bird calls

- working on following directions and cooperation

- talking about the difference between morning, afternoon, and evening as we watched the sun come up over the hills around our house

Oh, how we love our garden space, and the time spent together in it!

Right Now

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

Dinners with veggies from the backyard... still

Early morning Bubby-Sissy stories

Henny's recent obsession with feeding himself at the highchair and with the bottle

Blurry dinnertime chases

This weekend went by in it's own blur, but it was precious, despite its speed of passing. As we launch into the week, we welcome a little more appropriate seasonal weather, and another chance to slow down and savor these sweet little moments- the perfect antidote to the swiftness of flying time. Happy Monday.

Welcome to the Sandbox!

2012-02-03T07:57:00.001-06:00

This unusually warm winter has kept a pressing issue at the forefronts of our minds and the top of the to-do list: the upstairs air conditioner. In the late summer, it went kaput, and even through the stuffy early autumn we had to struggle to put sweaty babies to bed with stale air stagnant between their walls.

It was finally time to do something about it. Quite frankly, we have already replaced almost everything that could be replaced on the darned thing, but the big, heavy, hard-to-reach part actually inside- up in the attic- was what was left, and that's what was marked to go. The guys who came to do the swap were hard at work from about 9:30am to almost 5pm, but when they drove away, everything was fixed. Hallelujah!

The challenge for me throughout the day was to keep the babies both contained and entertained without the playroom (the center of the repair work), the use of anything in their rooms (including their beds, buh), or any baby gates. These restrictions led to some out-of-the-box thinking, which led to some in-the-box playtime... and Henny's first taste of sand!

The 45 minutes spent digging, squishing, and tasting- bleh- resulted in another 30 minutes in the bathtub for both kiddos, but that was fine for this Mama; thank you sand box and bathtub for keeping my babies entertained and contained! I'm sure we'll have to repeat this adventure many more times in the future, even if the playroom and baby gates can once again be used. Welcome to the sandbox, Henny!

Welcome, February!

2012-02-01T20:17:00.001-06:00

Happy February First.

*sigh*

Right Now

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

...girl time. With Little Brother always around, it's hard to remember what it was like to have girl time, just Mama and Audrey. When the opportunity rolls around to get out as a twosome, we savor it like one might savor, say, a tall gourmet hot chocolate with extra whipped cream. May we all begin our week with something to savor. Happy Monday.

In The Grip

2012-01-27T17:09:00.003-06:00

I have really been in the grip of a major sewing whim lately... today was project number... um... I dunno... four? A carrier for Big Sister and her oh-so-important babies, from a thrifted pink and purple polka-dot cotton sheet! The whole time I was at the sewing machine, she was hovering over my shoulder, asking, "Is my carrier for my babies ready yet, Mama?" It really took me about an hour to put together, start to finish, if you don't count the extra time added by my remedial skills when it comes to hand-sewing snaps. Anyho, once I presented the finished product to AudreyMama (as she calls herself), there was much excitement... it was quite well received, and with much enthusiasm (whew).

It has been hard to spot her without it ever since. I would call that a success (pattern from Creative Play for Your Toddler: Steiner Waldorf Expertise and Toy Projects, 2-4s, by Christopher Clouder).

Garden Basket Bag

2012-01-24T15:30:00.000-06:00

While surfing the wide plethora of garden harvest baskets and balking at the cost of them, I came across this article and was totally inspired. What was even more inspiring was the fact that I had exactly everything I needed to make a first attempt at my version without spending a penny!

The pattern in the article has you make cutouts so the handle loops are part of the basket fabric... all one piece. However, I thought it would be more fun (and eliminate a bit of error) if straps were actually added to rectangles instead. So that's "MY version."

Step one: procure rustic wooden handles

Step two: let the girl child, and recipient of the first garden basket bag, choose her fabric. Sew together two rectangles of her color choice, right sides in, leaving space to turn out.

Step three: close flap and continue seam all the way around the rectangle, so you in effect have double-sewn all the edges. Then do the same thing to smaller rectangles, which will become the handle loops.

Step four: pin loops at narrow ends of larger 'basket' rectangle, pinning carefully after measuring that the loops can in fact accommodate the chosen rustic wooden handles! Sew in place.

Step five: insert wooden handles, fill with stuffed animals (or veggies, if it's not off season!), and enjoy!

For Henny's, I used one big loop on each side because upon finding the right branches, he'll have more of a longer, curved handle. I folded the corners of his loops almost as you would fold wrapping paper on a fancy gift, to keep the edges from poking out and fraying.

Aaaaaaaaand for mine, I used a dish towel (from Ikea, actually), and chose sticks slightly smaller than the width of the towel, so it would bunch up a bit and be a little more parachutey, so to speak...

These were so incredibly easy, even for a novice like myself. Can you imagine the fabric combinations? The possible handle materials? The veggies that will fill them up? I can't wait!

Right Now

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

All-comsuming, child-occupying, big and fluffy bubble baths

80-degree days in late January

Dual sibling bath time

We start this week feeling very blessed, and hope the same for everyone. Happy Monday.

Getting Out

2012-01-17T14:12:00.002-06:00

This morning, I was feeling saucy. Saucy, and a little cooped up. I also had a gift card burning a hole in my pocket. What's one to do but take the kiddos out to lunch? Yes.

All the sweet retirees out at this early lunch hour were beside themselves with my beautiful, well-behaved babies, and I can't blame them... so was I. For a maiden trip with two in tow, I couldn't have wished for better.

Stickers

2012-01-17T14:06:00.000-06:00

Thanks, Mom. AUDREY loves her stickers. Yes, she sure does. Thanks.

Right Now

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

...fresh, running water, the guys who worked their tails off to restore it, and the renewed appreciation for such a basic, vital thing so taken for granted. As the week starts, may we all have open eyes towards the things we forget to see, but without which we would truly be lost.

Last Year... and A Little Farther Back

2012-01-15T08:12:00.001-06:00

This morning- after quite a night, I must say- I find myself needing a little reminder of how things were last year... and a little farther back. This need is coming from the hiccups of early sleep training that we'd all but forgotten once Audrey finally, finally started having regular, long, peaceful nights.

Henry has been her opposite in almost every way, and in his wee infancy, one of those opposites was how easily he fell asleep, anywhere, and under almost any circumstance. I invested a little hope in that trait... hope that it would stick with him... hope that he'd get the hang of long and peaceful nights quicker and easier than his sister. *sigh*

Though I'm not quick to commit to throwing all that hope away quite yet, it has become apparent that he is- in fact- a normal 9-month-old, and from that normalcy is coming these 'hiccups' that we were all too quick to forget once Sissy got past them.

Truly, now that I make an effort, I can remember so, so many interrupted, long, crying nights, on in to Audrey's second year, even. I can also remember many a brief, unsatisfying nap sprinkled in between. However, I guess I should feel reassured, seeing how it was oh-so-easy to forget it all when the effort finally paid off. I need to remember that while I'm at it.

I find myself drawn to this blog time and time again, referencing it in times of need (or desperation, or bewilderment, or exhaustion...), then using it to help me figure out the issue du jour, then ultimately forgetting it... ahem... It is a great aid for those of us on the sleep-training battlefield (taken with a grain of salt, of course, and being careful not to read it like an end-all, be-all how-to!). It also helps me reframe what sleep deprivation can muddle and remember that this too shall pass... and of course, it does. It passes. I need to remember that this morning.

Oh, Henny, thank you for giving me a new appreciation for a few things I was taking for granted... and for greeting me with a smile every morning, no matter what the night looked like. You are worth it all.

Christmas Corals

2012-01-13T14:36:00.002-06:00

This week, a very carefully selected, very carefully packed, much anticipated box arrived at our door.

It contained fifteen- fifteen!- new less-than-dime-sized fragments of soft corals for our salt water aquarium. Honestly, I got a little caught up in their beauty and some good old fashioned excitement when ordering them, and only thought about exactly where they would go in the tank after I clicked the 'complete transaction' button... but ah, c'est la vie! It was a fun problem to have.

(some of them look closer to each other than they actually are, due to the camera angle)

I can't help but take attendance of all the colorful little guys in their new home every time I walk by the aquarium, and I can't wait to watch them all start to grow, multiply, and cover up those gosh-darned ugly ceramic plugs they come attached to!

It's pretty amazing... and maybe, just maybe, if everything takes hold and thrives, we can try for another fish... again...

Space to Grow

2012-01-10T14:10:00.000-06:00

As I watched Henry and Audrey play together this morning, it occurred to me- Audrey is old enough to start retaining some of her childhood memories... memories that she is making now. I can remember things from as far back as around 2 years old... will she? What kinds of things have happened to her in her long three years that will stick with her for the next ten, twenty, thirty? Will the majority of the things that stick be good memories? Happy ones? (Will her recent trip to the dentist be an event she remembers because of the anxiety and stress... or will that just be my memory of it?)

THEN I started to wonder- am I doing enough to make her childhood memorable? Henry's? Do they have enough going on in their lives to create that formula for joyful, happy, peaceful experiences that will last them on in to the more rigid adult years? To be honest, this morning wasn't the first time these questions have wandered through my mind. I actually wonder about the quality and worthiness of the environment I've created for them all the time. It's what drew me to the book, Simplicity Parenting, by Kim John Payne, M.Ed., and all three of Amanda Blake Soule's books (and her blog, for that matter).

I've always been uncomfortable (for my family, anyway) with "lots," meaning lots of noise, lots and lots of toys, lots of activities, lots of destinations, lots and lots and lots. I really, truly believe in the motto, "Less is More," and I haven't been let down by it... at least, so far. Truthfully, my biggest parenting insecurities include worrying that we might be a little too minimalistic, and that we might need to amp up, say, the out-of-home activities a little... then I remind myself that my oldest is only three, and there will be ample opportunity for that soon. Very soon.

For now, though, I have settled on a bit of a conclusion, if you will, to my rambling worries about creating a memorable childhood for my Littles. I have decided that my focus needs to be not on specific opportunities to create individual memories, but on the vibe of the childhood experience, and what they will be able to build on the foundation created therein. Creating specific, lasting, single memories can be reserved for those special events and activities that will come along to spice things up here and there. As for the day-to-day stuff, I think my job- for now- is to provide the basic ingredients, and let them cook up the dish du jour... it has been working for us so far...

Besides, there is something to be said about the freedom that comes from an uncluttered, unscheduled, natural space to grow, both literally and figuratively. With these two, their presence seems to take up all the room in the world, and they deserve nothing less than the freedom to fill it with whatever they can dream up.

Right Now

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

...the explosion of motion around here, and all the getting-in-to-ness that it brings! May your Monday begin with an explosion of motion, in the best sense of it! Happy Monday!

Apple Pie

2012-01-08T07:56:00.002-06:00

Apple pie. Actually, double-crust sauteed apple pie, to be exact. I got the inspiration from this book, however the actual recipe is completely ours. So thanks for the idea, Michael Romano... here's my version:

Double-Crust Sauteed Apple Pie

Two batches of our Master Crust recipe, chilled

7 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (we used a combo of Granny Smith and Johnny Gold)

2 TBS butter, cut in to pieces

~1/4 C orange honey

1 TBS cinnamon

juice from 1/2 lemon

pinch of salt

~2 tsp flour

1/4 C natural, unsweetened apple sauce

Make crusts, wrap in plastic wrap, and allow to chill in the fridge. In the meantime, prepare filling:

Peel, core, and slice apples and dump into large pot. Add cubed butter, pinch of salt, honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon, and saute gently over medium-low heat until some of the apples begin to break down (there should be a lot of juice). Sprinkle flour over juicy apples and stir to combine. Cook a few minutes more, or until the flour has thickened up the apple juice. Add apple sauce, and remove from heat.

Roll out crusts, and fit one to a deep-dish pie plate. Add apple filling, and top with second crust. Crimp edges and poke a few holes in the top for steam to vent. Pop in oven on rack set in the bottom third of the oven (if your pie dish is shallow, put pie on a cookie sheet in case the juices bubble over). Bake for about 45 mins, or until the top crust is browned around the edges and the middle of the top crust is cooked through and flaky. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!

After some reading and research, I have become convinced that it is way more important to reduce the sugar in one's diet vs. the fat. Especially since our bodies need fat (well, certain kinds, and in moderation, but still!), and our bodies have a hard time processing large doses of sugar. I also find that it's way easier to cut down on refined sugars without noticing... but try to take the fat out of something, and it's a whole new ball game! (need more convincing? check out this book)

Anyho, that's my short explanation for why there's no sugar in my pie recipe... and honestly, I mean, honestly, you'll never know... especially if you try it with the recommended serving of ice cream. Hey, I said I try to reduce our sugar intake...

The gobblers around these parts haven't seemed to care! Hooray for an ol' American classic, and the good company it keeps!

...And It Begins

2012-01-06T14:21:00.000-06:00

This unseasonably warm January has me out in the sunshine, books open, wheels turning...

Notice the cracker crumbs all over me...

...and with this tantalizing, teasing feeling of spring, we find ourselves wandering the mostly-sleeping garden beds with longing in our fingers and dormant dust between our toes. Oh, what will these beds gift us this season? More carrots? Definitely. Turnips? Maybe... corn? I hope so! Radishes? Um, maybe not as many THIS time around! Did you know there were so many beautiful, enviable varieties of beans? And oh, the lettuces and herbs!

I think, through the cold winter weather (should it ever choose to present itself!), the planning of the lush and all-too-brief spring garden is almost as much fun as the planting and the harvesting! Especially with websites such as this one, this one, and this one- even when the weather gets back to being winter, this gal is going to be plotting and planning that sunny spring garden plot!

Right Now

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

Daddy-Daughter morning tea

Our crawling Bubby!

Watching

On the very, very first Monday, let us not dwell on the implications of this warm weather for the rest of the Mondays to come, but instead let us revel in it. Happy Monday!

Cheers!

2012-01-01T21:15:00.000-06:00

Today, we casually took down the Christmas decorations, saving the tree for last and reverently packing away all the ornamental treasures that have 'lived' on its boughs through the holiday. I almost felt like telling the tree, "Thank you," as we untangled the last strand of lights and lifted it through the back door and back into the sun and breeze. Such a beautiful tragedy that this tree grew up from just a seedling to be cut down, closed up in a stale space, decked in sparkling splendor for barely a month, and then disrobed and tossed to the curb.

Our tree rests on the back porch as I write this, and it feels right to simply let it be for just a bit, out there in the natural world, upright and stoic and as it was before the holidays took it. It is almost dead, but it will see just a few more sunsets without a window blocking its view before it completely dries up and crumbles away.

For our New Year, we grilled out, ate together in the fading natural light, and toasted the past, the present, and the future.

"Cheers!" ...with sparkling pear juice

Though it's hard not to feel a little sentimental as the sparkle and color of the holidays are packed up, stored away, and tossed out (after all, that's basically what the natural world is doing in the season, too), it's also inspiring... for in the absence of the festive clutter, there is a blank slate in the starkness, and that is truly inspiring. Cheers.

Thinking of the Year

2011-12-31T21:19:00.001-06:00

It's the last day of the year... well, it's the last evening, anyway. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and I still have yet to close all the windows. The sun set in a blaze of fuchsia, orange, and turquoise, and even as the last few rosy hues faded from the sky, the birds were still singing their odes to the close of the year.

Our house is still decked in Christmas accessories, but this year, I don't feel the urgency to purge them immediately as the calendar turns. We see our evergreen in a new light this time around, and appreciate it's reminder of the green to come as Spring draws closer and closer.

I'm in a thoughtful mood as I sit and see the old year out. The promise of the new, the uncharted, the promising, and the unknown is almost tangible in the atmosphere tonight. Even the stars seem a little more sparkly, a little closer, like they too want to absorb as much as they can of this last day.

In actuality, it is an arbitrary day, another day in the course. But something ingrained in us all, something primitive and ancient, senses the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one, and we all hold our breaths and close our eyes as we reach the pinnacle and gather the momentum we need to burst into the next rotation. It is a process that demands a pause, a little suspense, and a touch of respect. An arbitrary day that is by all means quite significant. After all, without milestones, how would we ever justify the reframing, recalibrating, and refreshing that seems so necessary as we forge ahead into the unknown?

I have gone many years without a New Years' Resolution, but I feel like that tradition might deserve a little consideration, perhaps, if looked at in a different light. I do not intend to start this coming year with a list of goals that conjure up an oppressive sense of obligation and guilt. I do, however, intend to meditate (for lack of a better word) on what I expect out of myself and my circumstances in the next oncoming seasonal cycle. I also will give equal thought to the circumstances that brought me to this point.

"Those who cannot remember the past

are condemned to repeat it."

~George Santayana

So on this, the last day of the year, I sit back, breathe in the fresh air floating through my house, listen to the sounds of the atmosphere winding down, and think back on the past... because on the border between the years, what lies on each side is equally important to me. Happy New Year.

Henny's First

2011-12-28T21:26:00.000-06:00

Henny's first trip to the park today... a beautiful success.

Right Now

2011-12-26T14:59:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

...Christmas, and all it's giving, loving, feasting, and merry-making. We are in recovery mode now, and with a gray day to keep us all slow-moving and home, we're doing great. Happy Winter.

Christmas, We Are Ready!

2011-12-22T20:49:00.000-06:00

It goes without saying that this week has been consumed by preparations- preparations for our first Solstice celebration, preparations for four big holiday meals, preparations for the gift exchanges we'll be wrapped up in (ahahaa, ahem), and preparations for the travel and the nights away from home that come with all the festivities.

I could lament the process, but I'm pretty sure everyone is going through the same thing, so I'll just comfort myself with the feeling of standing on common ground...

With all the flurry and fuss going on around us, it would be all-too-easy to actually loose track of what's going on around us...

...and that's why we chose to celebrate the Winter Solstice this year. I could really work your ear (or in this instance, your eyes) with details about the 'why' behind Solstice celebrations, but instead, I'll just recommend this book and encourage anyone whose parenting style gravitates toward the Waldorf-esque to look in to the traditions around this time of year that so many of us take for granted, or maybe have even forgotten the origins of...? It really awakens a fresh appreciation for the things we now so immediately associate with Christmas.

After reading and researching for months about Solstice celebrations, we decided that for our family, a celebration to bring us together, connect us to our natural environment, slow us all down at the climax of the seasonal rush, and give us one more day of magic and wonder was the ticket (it's actually a little overwhelming to see the different ways people- past and present- celebrate the Winter Solstice, once you start looking!). For our first Solstice, that meant greenery, a feast, a fire, lots of candlelight, and a few gifts for the babes. It was beautiful, and just what we needed to kick off this merry marathon.

Preparing our Solstice Feast

Our Solstice Bag, made from fabric scraps, holder of Solstice Jammies and- this year- a new book

Oh, the lists, the piles, the packing, the prepping! It took most of the week, but now I can say: Christmas, we are ready!

In order to be truly present in the oncoming holiday whirlwind,

I will be wishing all a Merry Christmas,

and will be back in this space again on Monday!

Merry Christmas!

Right Now

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

How naturally and easily my babies play by themselves and with each other

Reminding myself that, despite the holiday rush, it is still autumn... at least for a few more days

Taking moments to breathe and just be

I've been reflecting on this crazy time of year recently, and I've been chewing on a persistent, tantalizing thought: Maybe one of the reasons why some people find themselves out-of-sorts around the holidays is because civilized society on the whole has become out-of-sorts with the rhythm of the natural world around them. As the earth seems to slow down, turn inward, and begin preparations for the cold slumber of winter, the commercial world around us seems to ramp up, become more hectic and chaotic, and starts slamming us with BUYBUYBUYBAKETRAVELSOCIALIZE!

To keep pace with our neighbors, we pack more and more into our schedules, despite our internal calendars telling us to slow down, find peace, and move slowly through our days. I think this internal discord can play a big part in an empty, let-down feeling after the holidays and celebrations pass. Almost like you've been cheated out of something, and you almost feel... jaded? Bummed? Spent? All might be true if all of your energy has been spent beating out a forced rhythm against the natural pace around you.

Something I've also found to be true about myself: the more I pack into the holiday rush (planning, prepping, doing), the faster it seems to go by, and the more abruptly and profoundly I feel it's absence in the aftermath. Sadly, that's part of adulthood, and maybe that's why our childhood memories seem to know no time, and memories of recent seem to have been made in the blink of an eye.

As I chew this over, I'm also consistently drawn to a simple conclusion (it is easier said than done, but worth saying multiple times): the effort spent in slowing down, clearing mental schedules, and focusing on a few moments daily, to feel present amidst it all, is well worth it.

And so on this, the beginning of Christmas week, may we all redirect just a wee bit of that frantic energy into a moment here or there that can be soaked up and remembered in childhood time, and treasured always. Happy Monday.

It Has Begun...

2011-12-17T20:38:00.001-06:00

This weekend, in my kitchen, the Holiday Baking began... and we had fun.

Right Now

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

Beautiful weather

Our Bubby and his oh-so-closeness

Community kisses

Here at the gateway of the year,

may we strive to make good cheer.

In our revels shall joy abound,

and sorrow be cast underground.

-Caitlin Matthews: Sun Still; Sun Return

Upon beginning the last full week before Christmas, may we all make an effort to feel our feet on the ground, hear the birds and the wind and the crackling fires, smell the evergreens and the woodsmoke and the fruits of holiday baking, taste even the simplest of fares, and feel more within each day than just the looming climax of the season. Omnia tempus habent! (There is time for everything!)

ElmoBaby's Christmas Dress

2011-12-08T12:32:00.001-06:00

This morning when Audrey woke up and came out of her room, she was holding her beloved ElmoBaby doll (which is a baby doll and not actually an Elmo) in one hand, and the ugly, pilled, pink-and-purple outfit it came in in the other hand.

"ElmoBaby is naked, Mama, will you help me put this back on?"

I stood there looking at it for a sec, then decided no, no I would not help her put it back on. After breakfast, we were going to make her something new to wear. What self-respecting baby named Elmo would be caught wearing such an unsightly jumpsuit? Well, ahem... anyway... So we ate breakfast, put Brother down for his morning nap, and hauled out the fabric scraps and sewing machine. Of all the different colors and patterns Audrey dug through, she landed on a sparkly Christmas print, and from there it was Mama's job to figure out exactly how to make a very wee dress that was both cute and sturdy enough to last through multiple attempts and dressing and undressing.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that little dress (and britches, once we figured out they were oh-so-necessary) took Henry's entire nap time. However, I think both ElmoBaby and her 'Mama' were both pleased in the end.

While I was making the tiny seams and hems, Audrey dug out those fuzzy pom-poms you see on the front, took them over to ElmoBaby, and said, "ElmoBaby, doyaant fuzzy balls on your dress? Oh, OK... Mama, ElmoBaby wants these, too." Mmm-hmm. So the pom-poms made it onto the dress too.

I should also mention that once ElmoBaby was dressed in her new attire and Mama was beginning to clean up the sewing setup, Audrey came over and said, "ElmoBaby needs shoes and a Christmas hat, too!" Um, no, no she doesn't. "Audrey, would you like pancakes for lunch?" Maybe another day, girlchild. Maybe.

Morning Nap Time

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Some mornings, we wake up, eat breakfast, and...

...play Candy Landy. It's the perfect way to spend Little Brother's morning nap, and a sweet way to start the day.

Some Mores

2011-12-06T20:12:00.001-06:00

This week, we've been a little off... we (or I guess I should say I) spend the whole summer pining for this cool weather... thinking of all the things we'll do when our feet don't burn walking on anything the sun has touched... but then we get an arctic blast that takes our temps from the 70's to the 30's, and suddenly everyone wants to be back inside! It's funny, really- I have a to-do list that could quite possibly rival Santa's this time of year, but how quickly it is forgotten when the wind is howling and the fire is crackling!

Yes, I can easily think of 101 things I should do with this time spent fireside in the early dark of late autumn, but when there are two kiddos to consider when spending that time, one activity jumps up to the top of the list: S'mores!

When I told Audrey that we would make S'mores after dinner, she really didn't seem understand the implication, but she steered the conversation to the post-meal activity every chance she got. "Mama, yawanna get ready for Some Mores?" Then, "Let's get things we need for Some Mores... yawanna get Some Mores stuff out?" And shortly after, "Henny wants Some Mores, too, Mama, don't you think we should?" I'm not sure if she remembers her first encounter with the fireside treat, but it was obvious I'd peaked her interest, don't you think?

It didn't take long for her to not only make her own sweet sandwich, but inhale it, then launch into the makings of a second. In her excitement, though, she did not forget her Little Brother, and for each bite she took, she pinched off a piece, handed it to me, and said, "Here, Mama, share this with Brother." Love.

It was a good night for forgetting the to-do list. It was a good night for shrugging off the crummies (oh, so many crummies) sprinkling everything between the fireplace and the coffee table... and it was a good night for S'mores. In fact, I think we may all need Some More very soon.

Homemade Pizza

2011-12-05T17:34:00.001-06:00

To do homemade pizza right, you need three things: good cheese, a good crust recipe, and weather cool enough to justify the oven cranked up to 475 degrees. Today, we had all of the above, and the appetite to boot, so guess what we made for dinner?

It's amazing what kinds of things come up when you're making pizza with a three-year-old...
-"Sometimes big girls like olive oil on their pizzas."
-"Mama, you can have seventeen olips (olives) and I can have seven. No six. Because I want two."
-"We can make pizzas because when it's cold outside Henny doesn't want to go to a restaurant."
-"Mama, doyaant to make a pizza for Leeloo Shneeloo? She doesn't like leftovers."

Tonight we made pizza, tomorrow, we'll probably make something else. I am blessed with a sidekick who likes to do everything I do, and I take full advantage of it. I know she's learning life lessons and developing her own culinary skills... it doesn't hurt that I'm getting memories to last forever at the same time... and I hope she is, too...

...I can at least rest assured that she's getting some good pizza out of the whole thing. And a little pride, confidence, and investment in her dinner.

*Our crust recipes come from this book, which also provides the recipes for 99% of the bread we make

Right Now

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

Winter weather (hello, December!)

The cozy Christmas nooks that are expanding throughout the house

The awakening Christmas wonder in my three-year-old

This week, we kick off the first full week of December with frost, chill, and (gasp!) snow flurries in the forecast... what a perfect way to embrace our Elving and truly feel like Christmas is coming! Wishing all a happy first December Monday!

Lingering in the Fleeting

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show. ~Andrew Wyeth

Elving

2011-11-29T13:49:00.001-06:00

I am always bitten by the holiday bug somewhere around June or July, when the heat forces us inward like a blizzard would do in the more northern states... When the bug bites, it usually results in a list (or two) of pretty ambitious projects, started in the hot summer months while promises of crisp breezes, wassail, and Christmas music linger in my mind.

This year, my focus and enthusiasm for said holiday lists did not fizzle out as the summer wore on and on (and on and on), and we've actually accomplished many of those little projects through our creative process that we now refer to as 'Elving,' thanks to this much-loved blog.

Now the Elving has taken hold of us all, and oh my, are we looking forward to sharing our treasures!

Right Now

2011-11-28T12:57:00.001-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

...the arrival of Christmastime. Wishing you some seasonal spirit as we move into the last month of the year!

Thankful.

2011-11-25T19:45:00.001-06:00

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you,"

that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart

Today, we are full... full of love, full of thankfulness, full of giggles and stories and lingering holiday excitement... and full of amazing home cooking. Tomorrow, we'll turn our attention back to our home, and perhaps deck a few halls. For now, though, we enjoy the darkness, the quiet, and the peace of the Day After. Happy Thanksgiving.

Right Now

2011-11-21T07:03:00.001-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

...preparations. Hoping this Thanksgiving week is full of busy preparations, family, friends, and thankful hearts. Happy Monday!

Weekend Waffles

2011-11-19T09:46:00.001-06:00

I have blogged about making waffles to kick off our weekends several times, and yet I've never shared our recipe... how mean! This weekend we repeated our Weekend Waffle tradition, and to rectify the teaser blogs past, here it is:

Weekend Waffles

we started with this recipe, then changed it up to suit our taste

1 C low-fat or fat-free milk

1 C sour cream OR 1 C fat-free greek-style yogurt

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3 TBS melted butter
~1/4 C good honey

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 C unbleached all-purpose flour

1 C whole-wheat pastry flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat waffle iron. Combine all wet ingredients, and combine dry separately, then add wet to dry and mix until just blended. Pour into waffle iron (grease if there is concern of sticking) in amount recommended by waffle iron directions and cook according to waffle iron settings. We serve them immediately with butter and powdered sugar, but they also freeze perfectly in a single layer in air-tight freezer bags... just break in to fourths and pop in the toaster to reheat!

These are awesome and guilt-free! We love them... Audrey calls them "brunch waffles," who knows why... but no matter when you make them, they will definitely be crowd pleasers!

Happy weekending!

These Goofballs

2011-11-19T08:09:00.001-06:00

These goofballs of mine... every day, they do something that cracks me up, surprises me, makes me smile, and shows me a little glimpse of their developing personalities, so distinct and different from one anther already.

These goofballs... in their innocence they are so beautiful and sincere, so earnest and loving, so open.

These goofballs... so trying at times, and so simple and genuine so many other times.

These goofballs... so ingrained and melded into my heart, it's hard to remember what I was before them.

These goofballs of mine...

Last Year...

2011-11-16T20:41:00.001-06:00

Last year at this time (to the day, actually), my little girl fit inside this wagon, with this other wagon.

Also, last year at this time, we still hadn't named Little Brother, we hadn't even started Christmas shopping, we were experiencing very similar freakishly warm weather, and we were preparing for all that comes with the holidays.

This year, much has changed, and I treasure it all the more after being reminded of exactly how much has actually changed.

It's amazing what can change in one year... and it boggles the mind what might be different the next.

Sick

2011-11-16T20:01:00.001-06:00

There is a bug amongst us. Well, to be more specific, there is a bug with Audrey. We all are very regimented about sleeping in our own beds, but being sick is the exception, and so around midnight last night a very hot and tired girlchild made her way down the stairs in my arms and into Mama and Daddy's bed. There she remained, getting up about every hour or so to work through whatever settled on her. When morning broke, so did her fever, and I awoke to little feet dug into my back and a tired Little One hogging my pillow.

Our day today revolved around keeping this child- who cannot help but move, make noise, and go go go- still and resting. We pulled out the juice, the hot soup and special easy-on-the-tummy foods, the Christmas books (her favorites since about August), the slippers and hoodies, and the remote (since phasing out most TV, we have enjoyed being able to put on an episode of Sesame Street and it be a novelty and something that feels special... for now, anyway).

She truly has seemed to recover completely, but she is also notorious for lapsing back into sickness after bedtime, so in writing this as she settles in for the night, I am painfully aware of the possibility that we haven't seen the end of this... yet...

For now, though, it is nice to breathe a sigh of relief, soak up those rare cuddly moments with our Miss Independent, and head off to bed early to rest up for a possible repeat of quite a hectic night.

Despite how terrible it always is when your child is sick, I can't help but be incredibly thankful that this is happening now and not next week. So thankful. So bring on the late nights and extra laundry... and let's get this out of the way!

Right Now

2011-11-14T06:37:00.001-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

...coffee on the back porch. Some of us still haven't adjusted to the time change, but at least waking this early allows for some calm and collection before the bebes fill the house with their happy morning energy. Wishing you some calm and collection to start this week, too... or maybe just some happy morning energy.

Autumn Is Here

2011-11-11T06:48:00.001-06:00

I had an 'Ah-Ha' moment last year around the holidays: the only way to really feel present in this whirlwind time is to be in the moment (as frequently as possible). For me, that requires a conscious slow-down, which sometimes requires more effort than the planning and going that we do day-to-day.

This afternoon offered the perfect opportunity to practice this methodology. It's something I would like to be able to do naturally, frequently, and without much thought. For now, though, it requires purposeful action... and the rewards are sunlight, breath, and an afternoon that felt paused in time. So worth it.

Autumn is here, and so are we. We are here.

Right Now

2011-11-07T08:08:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm loving...

New books

Playing outside with my Monster

The season's first fire in the fireplace

Oh, November, slow down just a little bit and let us savor you more! Happy third-to-last-Monday-before-Thanksgiving!

Loss

2011-11-06T14:28:00.001-06:00

When the weatherman assures you that frost won't reach your area, maybe cover up your plants anyway, just in case. *sigh* Bummer.

We're Ready

2011-11-01T08:06:00.000-05:00

It's November. Finally. My favorite month. Despite our warm days, humid breezes, and only brief cold snaps (so far!), my internal calendar has started whispering that it's time to slow down, turn inward, and begin enjoying the beauty and home-focus that comes with this season... fireplaces, sleeping garden beds, extra feathers and fur on our backyard visitors, soup, jackets, blankets, dark mornings and dark evenings... we're ready.

Right Now

2011-10-31T21:46:00.000-05:00

Right now, I'm loving...

...Halloween. Boo.

My First...

2011-10-30T08:42:00.000-05:00

Because our trip to the pumpkin patch left me with far more pumpkin than is required for a pie, we decided to celebrate our pumpkiny day with an attempt at pumpkin soup for dinner! I did a little reconnaissance on my favorite foodie web sites, but all the recipes that came up for 'pumpkin soup' either required too fancy of ingredients for my usual stand-by supplies, or they leaned towards a sweet soup, with apple, cinnamon, etc., and neither direction was one I wanted to take. SO I turned from the computer, donned my apron, and put together my own version... and it was good! And here's the kicker: I actually took notes as I made it, in the hopes that it would be good and we'd want to make it again. Do you know what that means? I can also share it!

My First Pumpkin Soup

1 medium sugar pie pumpkin, halved, seeded, and roasted

2 large carrots, peeled and chopped

1 large onion, chopped

2 small potatoes, peeled and chopped

2 cloves garlic, smashed

olive oil

salt

broth (either veggie or chicken)

shot of bourbon

approx. 1 cup shredded munster cheese

approx. 1 TBS corn starch

pinch of nutmeg

pinch of paprika

1 tsp(ish) chili powder

black pepper and cayenne pepper for garnish

crusty bread

In a large pot, saute chopped veggies and garlic cloves in olive oil and a pinch of salt until veggies start to soften and caramelize. Deglaze with bourbon, then add broth, enough to cover veggies by about an inch. Simmer on med/hi until veggies are tender enough to smash with the back of a spoon. Add nutmeg, paprika, and chili powder. Toss shredded cheese with corn starch. Scoop roasted pumpkin out of shells and add to veggies and broth. In batches (being very careful, and using a towel as a lid to prevent pressure buildup explosions), puree veggies in batches in a blender until very smooth. Pour puree back in to pot and bring back up to heat, probably on medium. Slowly add cheese by the handful, stirring until completely melted between each addition. Once cheese had been completely incorporated, turn off the heat and serve immediately, garnishing with some freshly ground black pepper and a sprinkle of cayenne, if desired. *this makes a huge batch of soup, but all the ingredients freeze well, so I'm assuming ~~the soup itself will freeze well too~~, and most of my leftovers are sitting in the freezer as I type this!
**I have since thawed and reheated said leftovers, and the soup did NOT freeze well due to the cheese in the recipe. The dairy broke, making the texture curdled and coarse. After much work, I was able to get the texture back to it's creamy consistency, but would NOT add cheese to the portion being frozen in the future. Leave the cheese out, freeze, then add cheese to soup as you reheat. Problem solved.

This soup turned out to be a great first attempt at a recipe that I'd always wanted to try, but could never find. I hope you try- and enjoy- My First Pumpkin Soup!

The Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-29T15:35:00.001-05:00

A fast-becoming-favorite seasonal event that enhances our most anticipated time of year is the return of the local pumpkin patch and petting zoo. Our first trip was last year for Audrey's second birthday, and it made enough of an impression that she would randomly bring it up months later. Of course, when That Time rolled around again, we had to pack up and go... though we did cut it close this year, making it on to the grounds of the autumnal fair on the next-to-last day their gates were open! However, the weather was perfect, the kiddos in great spirits, and the animals more than amicable... and this year, our now-three-year-old was much more bold around the furry and the feathered...

We so love this new tradition, perfect for really, fully welcoming the fall... and also perfect for embracing every opportunity for another seasonal favorite... pumpkin pie! Happy weekending!

Gramps

2011-10-27T07:44:00.001-05:00

In our family, we have a Mimmy, a Pappy, a Nanny, a Granddaddy, a Grammy, and a Gramps. They are all beloved, doting, patient pals for our little people, and they all visit as frequently as they can... and at every visit, they are thoroughly and lovingly soaked up to the fullest. This week, we got to hang out with Gramps on his birthday, and of course, it was all about the kiddos.

We are so blessed to have such amazing mentors, helpers, guiders, and friends who just can't get enough of us, the grandbabies, or the granddog. So blessed.

Moose Muffins

2011-10-26T09:41:00.000-05:00

Our most anticipated bedtime tradition around these parts is the reading of a choice bedtime story, chosen by the Little Miss. It is what she looks forward to above bath time, the exciting nights when Mama lets her brush her own teeth, and even the tuck-in stuff. Oh, story time, the best way to end a day.

Recently, we have been reading (over and over and over again) If You Give a Moose a Muffin. It has become somewhat of an expectation once pj's are donned and hair is dry. The result is thoughts of muffins lingering through the night and popping up around breakfast time. When Sister wakes up with "Moose Muffins" on the brain, there is only one thing to do... make 'em.

"Moose Muffins"

adapted from a recipe from Grandma Greiner

1 C unbleached all-purpose flour

3/4 C whole-wheat pastry flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg, beaten

1/4 C honey

1 C fat free milk

1/4 C canola or vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a muffin tin with a 12-muffin capacity. Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl, and wet in a larger bowl, then add dry to wet and mix until just combined (if cooking with a toddler who loves to stir, this may be a challenge...). At this point, we'll also stir in any add-ins we desire... today we added the zest of one lemon, and about 1/2 C frozen blueberries... yum!

Scoop into muffin tins, filling about 3/4 full, and bake for about 20 mins, or until edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. These will be so moist you won't even need butter, but they are great with plain butter, honey butter, honey cinnamon butter, or blackberry jam if you're being true to the story :)

There is no better way to start a day than cooking with your kiddo while discussing books. And eating fresh muffins, of course.

Right Now

2011-10-24T20:50:00.000-05:00

Right now, I'm loving...

My brave, caped strep-positive toddler

Morning fog

"Just Because" flowers from the hubs

Celebrations for a fellow chocoholic

In beginning this last full week of October, may you find something to celebrate, too. Happy Monday!

I Have a Three-Year-Old.

2011-10-17T20:55:00.003-05:00

Holy cow, I have a three-year-old. I woke up to that fact this morning. In fact, I woke up to that fact this morning at almost the exact time three years ago that the ball was set rolling. It would be easy for me to wallow in nostalgia today, revisiting posts like this and this, but instead, let's just focus on the wonder that was a Birthday Weekend and a Birthday Proper, shall we? This Mama needs no more wallowing over how fast time flies!

We celebrated Audrey's birthday Saturday, October 15th, for the sake of traveling and working family. We had a late afternoon celebration, which commenced right after nap time. Audrey got to get up, put on her birthday crown, and come down the stairs to the magical appearance of balloons, presents, and family!

We cut straight to the best part- opening up all those beautiful, colorful packages. She's still a novice when it comes to ripping off that paper, but what a fun skill to practice! By Christmas, this chick will be a pro.

Once all was revealed, it was hard to peel her away from her treasures to eat dinner... OK, if I'm being honest, it was impossible to peel her away. In fact, I was quite unsuccessful. What I'm trying to say is... well, this birthday girl didn't eat dinner. Unless you consider 3 slices of cake dinner. (and the Mother-of-the-Year award goes to....... ME!)

Aaah well. Once a year can't hurt much, right?

Ahem.

By bath time Saturday night, this birthday girl (and her little brother) needed a bath, stat! To the tub she went, with some fantastic new bath toys, and she splashed away the last few hours of her Party Day.

Sunday morning, she woke up and said, "My birthday party is over." Aww. Though I can't feel too sorry for her... she got to spend the whole day with Daddy, unpacking and playing with some really cool stuff. Thank you to everyone whose love and generosity made the party and the day after as magical and special as it was.

On Audrey's actual birthday, she kicked it off with a bang, and slept in past 9:30am. Go girl! We then put on some of her favorite tunes (right now she likes the soulful sounds of Gillian Welch's new album, The Harrow and the Harvest, particularly because of the banjo and harmonica), and got a special breakfast ready to go...

We then got dressed (she picked the pillowcase dress I made for her, aww), and we spent the day playing with- and finding places for- all her new toys.

Around lunch time, we received a surprise in the mail- a perfectly timed gift from Grandma Bette and Grandpa Ross...

...and Henry particularly enjoyed the card. We had a special lunch of black beans and rice, Cheeze-Its, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream (her requests). Then it was off to a nap, and a few errands after that.

After nap time, Audrey helped make her birthday cupcakes... OK, I know that sounds cruel, but she wanted to! She has always loved helping in the kitchen, and on this, the day of my daughter's birthday, I could not refuse.

The result? Lemon cupcakes with black raspberry preserve filling and white chocolate cream cheese frosting... and sprinkles. Yellow cake, yellow sprinkles. Very important.

The afternoon found us outside, walking around the surviving fall garden, peeking at the tantalizing possibilities, and enjoying the breeze.

After Daddy got home and dinner was served, it was time to open the Mama and Daddy gifts, saved for her real birthday...

A Mama-knit scarf, just her size

A doctors' kit, complete with sound-emitting beeper, cell phone, and stethoscope

We served the cupcakes, sang happy birthday, and whisked Little Brother off to the bath tub. Just before the Birthday Girl herself landed in the tub, she logged some quality Daddy time, playing Doctor Audrey with her new gear.

Happy birthday, Audrey Grace. We are so much better for having you.

Right Now

2011-10-17T10:07:00.001-05:00

Right now, I'm loving...

My now-three-year-old

Autumn light

Pumpkin seeds

Walks

This week, we celebrate the rhythm of our family, and the changes that keep time with that rhythm. Hoping there is change to celebrate in your week, too.

Some Mornings

2011-10-13T08:53:00.003-05:00

Some mornings start before the sun comes up.

Some mornings belie a peaceful night.

Some mornings see nothing started before the coffee pot...

...and some mornings, all you can do is make oatmeal and welcome the chance to start all over again.

Right Now

2011-10-10T08:29:00.001-05:00

Right now, I'm loving...

6-Month-Old curiosity

Evening stillness

Furry calmness

The beauty in unwelcome garden destroyers

Toddler boldness

Right now, we are loving being outside, taking in the slow transition into this most beloved season, and just being, together. Wishing you a wonderful place to be this week, too.

Walk

2011-10-08T21:04:00.002-05:00

This evening, we took a walk.

It was Henry's first time in the Big Stroller, and Audrey's first family walk on her tricycle.

The evening was mild...

Our pace was relaxed...

The breeze was gentle...

And we were refreshed.

It was a great evening for a walk.

Not Just a Dream...

2011-10-06T07:59:00.000-05:00

Last night, I dreamed that I went to get Henry up in the morning, and he was about 8 years old, lying in his crib. Not to be melodramatic, but it sure does seem like he's growing fast enough for that to be possible..... well, OK, maybe not exactly like the dream, but seriously, this kid will be 6 months old tomorrow and he's wearing 12 month pajamas and eating us out of house and home. Is this what having a boy means? Holy cow!

His official checkup will be coming up soon, and I'm nervous that we'll find out he has exceeded the weight limits of his infant car seat... it's possible, people! What a strange Yin and Yang he and his sister are. I mean, Sister weighed just over 17 pounds until she was almost 18 months old, and I'm sure he's closing on 20 pounds right now.

When I was about ten years old, I have a very clear memory of my mom telling me- in response to me complaining that something anticipated was too far away- that when you're a kid, time seems to pass by very slowly, and the older you get, the faster it seems to pass. I remember thinking, that doesn't make sense. Oh, how I've realized how right she was... is!

Unfortunately, she didn't follow her observation with a solution to make it slow down. The only thing I've found that works is trying with all your might to live in the moment as much as you can (and my oh my is this easier said than done). When I stop thinking and worrying and planning for the hour or day or weekend coming up, and just be with my kiddos in their moment, my time melds with their time like some Peter Pan effect, and the day seems to hold so much more quality.

Naturally, this can't happen all the time (that's what being a grown-up does to ya, aw), but I look for the chance to make it happen as frequently as I can, hopefully with camera handy. That way, as my dream reveals itself in my reality, I can save and savor these little people at every opportunity.

Right Now

2011-10-03T21:08:00.001-05:00

Right now, I'm loving...

Slow, peaceful weekend mornings with my sweet loves, robes, chilly breezes, and fresh muffins. That's the kind of peace that can take you right on through a crazy, busy Monday. Wishing you peace to start your first October week, too.

Last Year

2011-10-01T07:59:00.001-05:00

I couldn't resist another brief trip down memory lane on this, the first day of October. Last year on October first, we were...

Expecting, but not showing... yet

Enjoying the earlier evening light

Playing in the still-green grass

Inspecting flowers that were still alive in the garden

Enjoying bath time with only one grubby baby in the tub

It was a good October first... and it has left this Mama wondering what will be in store for us this October first, with all that has changed in such a brief year. One thing we do know is this: the changes that have happened over the past year promise that things will just keep getting better and better.

Happy October first!

Rocks

2011-09-30T21:11:00.000-05:00

As we all know, making something forbidden to a child makes it just that much more appealing. Especially if the forbidden person/place/thing is something they see every day. I submit for your consideration: The Rocks.

We have a creek of sorts that runs through our property, existing mainly because we live in a gully, and the water from land and road runoff is channeled right through the thick of our yard. There is a pipe that aids in controlling the direction of the water, but most of the creek has been carved by good ol' Texas rains.

In the deepest part of the creek, it's probably over five feet... that is, when there's water in it... the depth mostly due to erosion from forceful water pouring from the pipe that directs it our way. When it's dry, it's a shady, weedy, cavernous bowl full of stinging plants and bugs and who-knows-what. Either way, it's a place that toddlers don't belong. Naturally, it's the place in our yard our toddler most dearly wants to explore.

The large rocks around the steepest edge of the opening were placed there when we first moved here, relocated from the front yard (they were in an odd, haphazard Stonehenge kind of formation near the driveway and the front part of this 'creek').

It was easy to see the danger of this water feature (ha ha) once kids became part of this picture, and so a rule had to be made: Don't Go Past The Tree Without Mama. So on mornings when we venture outside, a certain little girl will walk up to the young oak tree that marks the No-Go Zone, stand there wistfully for a moment, then turn back to me and say (quite seriously, I might add), 'Mama, Henny wants to sit on the rocks!'

Occasionally, that might be quite true...

I must admit, I get it... these rocks are pretty cool... they're full of fossils and bits of ancient creatures and things, and the steepness you feel when sitting on their ledges is dangerous and exciting. When there's water in the bowl, there's usually fish and crayfish and frogs and snakes, and right now there are some amazing cattails. I'm sure when this brave girl and her plucky sidekick are bigger, they will spend hours in it's muddy or dry depths, carving out their own Secret Places... but for now, they have to be satisfied with a chaperoned and brief visit, comprised mostly of sitting and peeking. Still, there's something to be said about these Rocks.

Right Now

2011-09-26T08:16:00.000-05:00

Right now, I'm loving...

Autumnal decorations

Autumnal onesies

Autumnal weather

This week, we wholeheartedly embrace autumn (and welcome October towards the end... oh my!), and the wonders that come with it. Happy Fall.

An Autumn Welcome

2011-09-24T16:02:00.001-05:00

We've spent the last week and a half or so talking about the way the seasons change, what signs accompany each change, and which season was imminently approaching. We've been talking about holidays, too. One of the things that really sunk in to my Little Sponge was the shapes of cookie cutters that correspond to the seasons and/or holidays. In our discussions about summer and fall, Mama promised that the first day of autumn would bring leaf- and pumpkin-shaped cookies. You know what? That little girl did not forget that promise. So when that first official day rolled around, you better believe we cracked out the butter, butter, sugar, flour, and butter, and we went to town! (we used our favorite sugar cookie recipe, found here)

I wanted to include a picture of her eating one of these colorful confections, but she was gobbling them up too fast to get a clear picture!

We had a good time cutting out acorns, leaves, and pumpkins, and when we were done, this Sister was well on her way to making fall her favorite season... just like her Mama.

Good Bye, Summer... Hello, Fall!

2011-09-22T12:50:00.002-05:00

On the last official day of summer, you'd think our daily activities would look like this...

...but not on this official last day of summer. Mother Nature seems to be attempting a reconciliation for the terrible summer she put us through with a cool, overcast, windy autumnal day. Like a promise that there's still goodness to be had in outdoor play and open windows, this most welcome change has us believing in seasons again, and has steered our day into activities more like these:

With the first calendar day of autumn not scheduled to arrive until tomorrow, we shrug our shoulders, thank our lucky stars, and turn our air conditioners off. Good bye summer... hello fall!

Join us in celebrating the changing seasons with...

Simple Sweet Potato Pie

2 medium sweet potatoes, baked & pureed

2 eggs

1/2 C half & half or heavy cream

1/2 C brown sugar

pinch o'salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ginger

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp vanilla (+ or -)

Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Add to slightly-baked pie shell of your choosing, and bake in 350-degree oven for 30 minutes or until center is set. Cool to room temp or chill before serving. Serve with whipped cream.

Our Master Pie Crust Recipe

1 1/2 C unbleached all-purpose flour

pinch of salt

5 TBS very cold butter

1/2 C very cold Crisco

ice water

Right Now

2011-09-19T10:28:00.002-05:00

Right now, I'm loving...

Mornings outside

Fresh garden sprouts

Morning Daddy-Henry time

This weekend, we were reminded of our love and commitment to partner, family, and life together. What a beautiful way to stand strong and welcome yet another week. Happy Monday!

Living Like It's Autumn

2011-09-14T07:28:00.000-05:00

That brief "cold" front we had last week kicked us in the pants, right out the door. After a long summer of hibernating in dark, stale, air-conditioned spaces, we were craving... needing... the space to stretch out and breathe again. Breathe in the fresh air. Breathe in the smell of dry grass, faint smoke, still-hot sunshine, and- dare I say it?- the ever-so-slight hint of autumnal crispness in the breeze.

We need the space we are so cruelly deprived of while we're busy setting those daytime high temperature records. So when our footsteps are drawn out the back door by low to mid-80's (at least until lunchtime), we grab a blanket, something portable for breakfast, and we soak it all up.

As expected, we went right back up into record-breaking heat, but hopefully this time it will be short-lived and we can really settle in to living like it's autumn. It is, after all, my favorite season.

Last Year

2011-09-13T08:07:00.002-05:00

Last year on this day, I took this picture of our backyard (I can't believe our grass was still that green). It has been so long since I've enjoyed a view like this. What am amazing force nature is, and what beauty there is in all her moods and faces. However, it sure would be nice if she'd lighten up a bit and remind us all of what it's like to wake up on a rainy morning and look out on a peacefully gray autumnal landscape, for a change.

This year, I woke to my crispy grass, tip-toed out to turn on the sprinkler in the garden, and said a silent prayer for rain. Here's hoping, anyway.

This Weekend

2011-09-12T08:06:00.000-05:00

This weekend was full. Full in a satisfying, connecting, centering kind of way. Full in a now-I'm-ready-for-the-week kind of way. Full in a great way. This weekend, we...

...celebrated a certain birthday (33!)
...hunted, gathered, created, and made tokens of love for the Birthday Boy
...played in sun, dirt, sand, and grass
...went out!
...ate beautiful food with friends
...rested
...came together as a family to teach self-control, compassion, and obedience

We had a full weekend, and we wouldn't have changed a thing. We're ready, mid-September! What do you have in store for us?

Right Now

2011-09-12T07:49:00.000-05:00

Right now, I'm loving...

A promising start to an autumn garden

Mornings, and afternoons, spent soaking up beautiful weather

Sweet furry friendship

Baby kisses

Morning Daddy-daughter time

A sweet little guy, slowly learning to sleep when not on his tummy

Cattails

There were many things to love this weekend. What a great start to another September week. Happy Monday!

Picnic Table

2011-09-09T08:48:00.000-05:00

When hibernating during the long summer months- watching things roast, bake, and fry in one's backyard- it's easy to hunker down in one's air-conditioned kitchen and get lost in images of happy families gathered around outdoor dining areas, enjoying their summer evenings with cool breezes, corn-on-the-cob, and fireflies. How lovely for them.

For us, the window of opportunity for moments like that open ever-so-slightly somewhere between October and November, then again around April-May-ish. A slight window indeed to take advantage of not-too-windy, not-too-cold, not-too-hot outdoor dining opportunity. But oh, did I dream about it.

My dreaming must have evolved into thinking out loud, because when my birthday rolled around, I was presented with a hand-made, picture-perfect cedar picnic table. Sadly, at the time of reception, it was about, oh, 110 degrees outside, so all we could do was look longingly at it through the kitchen windows as we sat around our breakfast table. However, at the beginning of September, we were graced with a quick "cold" front that took our temps down about 20 degrees, allowing for a few days of outdoor breakfasts and lunches.

Oh, Texas weather, how we love-hate thee. But eating outside? Pure love.

Of course, a picnic table can be so many other things, besides just a picnic table. When I was a kid, our picnic table was one of my favorite things to play with/on/in, and I feel like ours might carry on that tradition. It's a good thing, too, since the window of opportunity for using it to eat on is so slim around these parts. However, when everything clicks, a sunny, breezy lunch on those strong cedar planks is everything we've been dreaming of (sans fireflies).

Take That, Wascally Wabbits!

2011-09-07T07:22:00.000-05:00

Oh, those furry foes, those cute, fuzzy vermin that- upon sighting them for the very first time, caused such excitement- now cause such anxiety, are bested! Yes! Bested, you might ask? Oh yes. By a crafty Hubby and father-in-law, as a matter-of-fact. The rabbit fence, my friends, is now encircling our humble plantings, and I must say, things are looking up!

Thank you, three-day weekend and crafty, handy helpers! Perhaps a fall garden is actually within reach this year...

Did someone say photo montage? OK!

Despite over-100-degree temps one day, and 40-mph wind gusts another day, these guys put up a very sturdy, subtle, effective fence that will last, look nice, and most importantly keep those furry jerks out of our garden for years to come. Now, we can plan and plant without a care!

Well, almost without a care. Happy slightly-cooler-weather gardening!

A Belated Right Now

2011-09-07T06:55:00.000-05:00

This past three-day weekend threw me off my rhythm, but right now, I'm loving...

...all the peace, excitement, love, work, food, fellowship, and promise that comes from a perfect Labor Day weekend. Here's hoping yours was just as great! Happy.... well, Wednesday!

Little Mr. Man

2011-09-02T20:14:00.003-05:00

I thought it apt to write an ode to this 21-week-old person who has so thoroughly settled in to his roles as Son, Little Brother, Baby of the Family, and Awesomeness.

It has been an amazing privilege to get to know this little guy day by day as he grows and reveals his sweet, loving personality. What a lucky family we are. So, without further adieu, an Ode to Henny-B, in the form of the Top Ten Things I Love About Henry... So Far.

10. His sweet, loving, happy disposition, which he demonstrates every morning as he happily lays awake in bed, waiting for Mama to come pick him up. As soon as I come in to his line of sight, I am always, always greeted with the biggest toothless grin you can imagine.

9. His amazing growth spurts. Seriously, this kid is uncharted territory for me, as we all know, since Sister weighed what he weighs now when she was 14 months old!

8. The loving expressions that almost always dwell in his eyes and on his face. The best faces come from watching Sister do... well, almost anything.

7. His clumsy hand-eye coordination, and the things he reaches for. Among my favorites: Sister's feet, my hair, the cat, and books. All with the intent of getting them in to his mouth.

6. His babbling, which sounds like he's trying ever-so-hard to say real words. Also, the sincere, earnest expression that goes along with it.

5. How content he is, as long as he feels like he's not alone.

4. How gassy he is. (hey, I never said all the things I love about him right now are all poetic)

3. His nightly bath time performances as Henny Flatley, Lord of the Bath.

2. His rolls, and rolls, and rolls, and rolls...

1. How perfectly he completed our family, and how he truly made us feel like our cups runneth over.

A close-up as Henry attempts to gum the camera

This list will be ever-changing, with each version finding a soft spot in my heart. We can't wait to see what he has in store for us... Oh, Henry, you are truly an amazing Little Mr. Man.

We Do What We Can

2011-08-29T13:07:00.000-05:00

When it's the last weekend in August and daytime high records are still being broken, the grass is so dry it sticks like splinters in your feet, and your air conditioner runs all day non-stop (yet the house remains a couple degrees warmer than desired), all you can do is take the sprinkler to the backyard and make the best of it. We do what we can.

Right Now

2011-08-29T12:55:00.004-05:00

Right now, I'm loving...

New milestones

Collapsible tunnels

Amazing bath stuff gifted from a dear friend...

...and the amazing baths they make

This week has started off on a cloudy, sixteen-one-hundredths-of-an-inch-of-rain note, and as August draws to a close and September kicks off, we can only hope this week holds many more signs of summer beginning its retreat!

Day Is Done

2011-08-25T20:33:00.000-05:00

Fading light dims the sight

And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright

From afar drawing nigh

Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun

From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky

All is well, safely rest;

God is nigh.

Then goodnight, peaceful night;

Till the light of the dawn shineth bright

God is near, do not fear,

Friend, good night.

'Taps' adapted lyrics by Horace Lorenzo Trim

Right Now

2011-08-22T11:51:00.000-05:00

Right now, I'm loving...

The results of a Sunday afternoon spent baking

A new book almost daily in the mail...

...and the inspiration they bring with them

A tough little girl who will play outside, even when (at 7pm) it's over 100 degrees

As this week opens with the first day of school for so many, we plod on with our every-day, and rejoice in the simple stuff that comes from being Home. May your week hold surprises and beauty in the changes and the things that remain the same, and may everyone still gather, in the end, at Home. Happy Monday.

Hold Tight

2011-08-21T13:09:00.000-05:00

This summer has flown by faster than any I remember so far. Not necessarily a bad thing in terms of the weather... I mean, honestly, who would be sad to start coming back down in to the low 100's, or 90's for that matter?

It is, however, hard to accept in terms of the passage of time, which I know I wax poetic about quite frequently. However, with friends and family sending children away to various levels of school for the first time tomorrow, it really rings home how golden and fleeting these innocent, early years are with my own babies. I can still remember the first day at each new school I attended throughout my scholastic career, and my first night alone in the dorms as a college freshman still feels like yesterday.

I remember excitement, I remember anxiety, I remember fear, panic, and the intoxicating feeling of freedom... and I also remember how quickly all those feelings leveled out and things settled in to the new 'normal' of a new school year.

I can only imagine how hard it will be to be on the parenting end of those feelings in the all-too-near future. Thankfully, though, I still have a few beautiful, precious years left before paths start to diverge from the congruent family path we're plodding, and with every sunset, then sunrise, I vow to make the most of them.

I will enjoy the present. I will treasure every phase, stage, and milestone. I will look forward to the future, and be thankful for the past. I will learn from the hard stuff. I will learn from the easy stuff. My parents I will appreciate more with every hurtle, and my babies I will hold tight.

Before and After

2011-08-18T15:14:00.000-05:00

We have salvaged yet another childhood handmade keepsake from my parents' storage... today, it's the step my dad built me when I was very small to enable me to wash my hands at the bathroom sink. In it's glory days, it was hunter green and very solid. When I got my hands back on it, it was a plethora of colors and stains, and though still pretty solid, had a few nicks and notches missing.

Before the heat of the day descended, my trusty helper and I gathered bucket, rags, brushes, and paint, and set out to restore this handy-dandy booster.

Step one: find some shade, then give everything a good sandin' (the little pink step mysteriously appeared in our garage at some point this summer, we're not sure where it came from... Gramps and Grammy?).

Step two: wash away the dust, grime, and cobwebs (as best you can).

Step three: give everything a good coat of a super-concealing primer.

Step four: let primer dry, take girlchild inside, get boychild up from "nap," feed everyone, play a little, put both Littles down for a nap, go back outside, debate over final paint color, settle on a warm dark gray, paint, sweat, let paint dry, go back outside again, realize that the shade has moved away, move everything back into the shade, sand to transform into shabby-chic, wipe down again, bring back inside, and add felt footies...

...and, ta-da! A two-step booster for a Little Miss to use when the counter is too full or messy to allow for a whole Audrey to sit upon it.

The verdict?

Love.