I love how tactile Fall is around here. I suppose Summer is a bit the same - grass and sand between your toes, the smell of outdoor grilling, humid evenings and sun-warmed kid bodies... But my favorite is Fall. It feels so precious. Every day there are fewer leaves on the trees and so it makes me want to look a little longer and try to remember just how glorious that one maple down the block is today -- because by this time next week it will be a mass of naked branches.
Yesterday morning we walked to school in 37 degrees with a little extra pep in our step (so chilly!!!) and today we met our friends for a trudge through the forest preserve to rustle the leaves, gather sticks and rocks, and see the amazing foliage glittering above our heads. Why didn't we take a photo of our intrepid explorers?! I guess we were caught up chatting and gathering and enjoying, and that is a good thing. I'll have to depend on my memory for that one.
We have a mandatory Rest Time in our house every afternoon. I instituted it when Christopher dropped his afternoon nap at 2.5 years old. It was a considerable amount of work to put in place at the time, but now we all just expect it. (And perhaps secretly look forward to it!) Today I'm having my rest time in the sun room with bare arms and bare feet. The sun is low, warm, amber and autumnal. There's a buttercup squash smeared in butter, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice in the oven. Two tired boy bodies are playing in their respective spaces, and the cutest baby girl in the whole wide world is upstairs sleeping. This is a day I want to remember in February when it's brutally cold and in 10, 20, 30 years when they're all big and busy with their own exciting lives.
These days with three little ones at home... The days are full. They're sometimes overwhelming and sometimes infuriating. They're always interesting and often comical. These days are fleeting in the bigger picture. I am trying my best to remember the big stuff and the little stuff.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
The truth about Fall
HA HA HA!!! (Click the link!)
We're knee-high in fall leaves around here, and just last weekend I swapped all but two short-sleeved shirts for long-sleeved options. I even washed an armful of wool sweaters. Just preparing for the inevitable!
The boys often have a hard time coming straight in from preschool for lunchtime (unless they're absolutely starving), so they frequently spend a little time winding down in the backyard pushing trucks and dirt, scooping buckets of rainwater (sorry, Californians), or raking the freshly fallen leaves! Christopher likes to create many small piles and count how many there are, but of course. Colin likes to mow right through the carefully created piles, but of course.
In all sincerity, they are a fantastic pair and on days when they've both been to school in the mornings, it's obvious how much they like to reconvene and play together in the familiarity of home. It occurred to me yesterday, as I watched them raking and negotiating over piles and division of labor, that by the time raking leaves has lost its novelty, they'll be close to shoveling piles of snow!
If there's one thing I've learned in my five short years of little kid parenting, it's that a healthy dose of Outside Manual Labor is both healthy and necessary. It's even better if I get myself suited up and head out there with them. Look for Evelyn bundled up in the Kelty backpack this winter... she'll be shoveling and tossing a few snowballs, too!
We're knee-high in fall leaves around here, and just last weekend I swapped all but two short-sleeved shirts for long-sleeved options. I even washed an armful of wool sweaters. Just preparing for the inevitable!
The boys often have a hard time coming straight in from preschool for lunchtime (unless they're absolutely starving), so they frequently spend a little time winding down in the backyard pushing trucks and dirt, scooping buckets of rainwater (sorry, Californians), or raking the freshly fallen leaves! Christopher likes to create many small piles and count how many there are, but of course. Colin likes to mow right through the carefully created piles, but of course.
In all sincerity, they are a fantastic pair and on days when they've both been to school in the mornings, it's obvious how much they like to reconvene and play together in the familiarity of home. It occurred to me yesterday, as I watched them raking and negotiating over piles and division of labor, that by the time raking leaves has lost its novelty, they'll be close to shoveling piles of snow!
If there's one thing I've learned in my five short years of little kid parenting, it's that a healthy dose of Outside Manual Labor is both healthy and necessary. It's even better if I get myself suited up and head out there with them. Look for Evelyn bundled up in the Kelty backpack this winter... she'll be shoveling and tossing a few snowballs, too!
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Links
Just dropping in with two video links that I'd like to share...
Our home from 2004 to 2007. Sometimes we *really* miss it. Other times, we're happy to be back in the USA. But mostly, when we see pictures or take trips down memory lane, enough time has passed that we feel nostalgia and gratitude for our years in Copenhagen.
This video from PBS is so lovely. How gorgeous is this woman?! Birth and cooking. Cooking for birth. Birthing and cake. Wish I'd had the recipe 6 months ago! Never fear, I wasn't cake-less!!! Mike and the boys made Evelyn a Birth Day Cake which we enjoyed with one of our midwives the day after she was born. It was delicious and so is she!
Our home from 2004 to 2007. Sometimes we *really* miss it. Other times, we're happy to be back in the USA. But mostly, when we see pictures or take trips down memory lane, enough time has passed that we feel nostalgia and gratitude for our years in Copenhagen.
This video from PBS is so lovely. How gorgeous is this woman?! Birth and cooking. Cooking for birth. Birthing and cake. Wish I'd had the recipe 6 months ago! Never fear, I wasn't cake-less!!! Mike and the boys made Evelyn a Birth Day Cake which we enjoyed with one of our midwives the day after she was born. It was delicious and so is she!
Friday, September 19, 2014
Moms and babes benefit from MIT Hackathon
This is so cool!
A symposium of parents, scientists, industry reps and medical personnel convening with the intention of helping the breast pump NOT SUCK. :)
http://breastpump.media.mit.edu/
A symposium of parents, scientists, industry reps and medical personnel convening with the intention of helping the breast pump NOT SUCK. :)
http://breastpump.media.mit.edu/
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Slow fade
Yesterday afternoon the boys played for 1-1/2 hours in the backyard scooping buckets and frontloader-fulls of mucky rainwater left behind by a storm that poured on us for over 6 hours earlier in the day. They had on long-sleeves with shorts, hats to shield their eyes and rain boots for the post-storm terrain. It was a lovely 75 degrees and the sun eventually peeked out for a cameo as the afternoon wore on.
This morning, we woke to 50 degrees with a real feel temp of
46 thanks to the breeze weaving through the trees! It seems that fall has made
its first appearance. After 36 autumns in various places on the globe, I know
that the first fall glimpse never stays for long. It’s a teaser for wool coats
and leather shoes, tights and corduroy pants, apple pies and spiced chai. The
weather always returns to the 70s for a few more days – or hotter! We picked apples in late September last year in 80 degrees! –
and a few more tomatoes can be vine-ripened to red before I reluctantly tear
them out of the ground heavy with dozens of green bulbs that will never be
eaten. (Maybe I should try a green tomato chutney or fried green tomatoes
someday?!)
And still…
The sun is noticeably lower in the sky by 4pm, coating
everything in a warm, caramel color. And the sun’s warmth is only found by
standing directly in its rays – you’ll need another layer if you step into the
shade! The sky is almost pitch black by 7:30pm, so the kids have started to
notice that “it’s really dark outside” by bedtime. Their jammies are long-sleeved
and long-legged. Socks and slippers are worn around the house.
The garden has started to come out in chunks. The green
beans are entirely out of the ground – I saved
a few dried pods to see if we can reproduce our finest bushes next summer –
and a few tomato plants lost to late blight have come out, as well. The heat
isn’t scalding enough for the basil, so we’ll take those out this weekend and I’ll
whizz up some pesto. No doubt I’ll have to scout the farmer’s market for a few
bunches to round out the batch.
The change in season has predictably helped spark a renewed
interest in cooking! My summer of grain salads was delicious, but we don’t need
any more tabbouleh for a while – though I would like to try sorghum and
amaranth sometime soon! Today I made the simplest carrot soup and pureed it
into velvety deliciousness. I’m ready for butternut squash, pumpkin, roasted
dinners, slow cooker concoctions, fall greens, canning applesauce, and
unabashed use of the oven thanks to falling temperatures.
The new school year and our new preschool are both going so,
so well. The kids are tired and happy. The teachers are wonderful, warm and
confident. We get to walk! We’re seeing lots of neighbors every day and we’re scrunching
our toes deeper into the sand of our little community. It’s good.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Mary Poppins Quits
I just discovered the site Funny or Die and... well, it's pretty funny. To me, at least.
Watch Mary Poppins blow off the children as she quits for being so grossly underpaid.
Modern Office with Mad Men's Christina Hendricks is pretty fantastic, too!
Watch Mary Poppins blow off the children as she quits for being so grossly underpaid.
Modern Office with Mad Men's Christina Hendricks is pretty fantastic, too!
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Lately
Latest grain salads:
MORE tabbouleh (great dinner-filler for our vacation last week)
Quinoa-Tuna-Corn Salad
And a walk down memory lane as I got lost in the digital archives of our lives BC... everything from sound files of recitals I did in Europe to videos like this from atop the Eiffel Tower while 6 months pregnant with Christopher... ahhh, beautiful Paris. Je ne regrette rien. No regrets! Those years are all selfishly ours, and ours alone.
I love how we still look back spontaneously and I think we always will, "Hey! Do you remember sitting along the river in Galway munching on that amazing hot cross bun?" "Yeah, that was awesome." Or, "Remember hiking down from the Schilthorn in the pouring rain and dodging the cows?" "Yep, and remember the huge pot of fondue we ate afterwards?"
What a delicious, lovely chapter of life.
MORE tabbouleh (great dinner-filler for our vacation last week)
Quinoa-Tuna-Corn Salad
And a walk down memory lane as I got lost in the digital archives of our lives BC... everything from sound files of recitals I did in Europe to videos like this from atop the Eiffel Tower while 6 months pregnant with Christopher... ahhh, beautiful Paris. Je ne regrette rien. No regrets! Those years are all selfishly ours, and ours alone.
I love how we still look back spontaneously and I think we always will, "Hey! Do you remember sitting along the river in Galway munching on that amazing hot cross bun?" "Yeah, that was awesome." Or, "Remember hiking down from the Schilthorn in the pouring rain and dodging the cows?" "Yep, and remember the huge pot of fondue we ate afterwards?"
What a delicious, lovely chapter of life.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Up High Selfie
Check out it: All three of my yahoos are quiet in their dim, cool rooms right now... the littlest ones are sleeping and the biggest one has a head cold so he's laying down with his eyes closed for a while.
Seriously - I am Super Woman! I need someone to give me a palm-stinging high five!
WHERE IS SOMEONE TO HIGH FIVE ME?!
Nevermind. The baby just woke up.
Seriously - I am Super Woman! I need someone to give me a palm-stinging high five!
WHERE IS SOMEONE TO HIGH FIVE ME?!
Nevermind. The baby just woke up.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Squirrels
Effing Squirrels!
I am a pacifist of the worst kind, but squirrels and bunnies in my garden make me reconsider just how strongly I'd like to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights...
I am a pacifist of the worst kind, but squirrels and bunnies in my garden make me reconsider just how strongly I'd like to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights...
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Sweet summer with Three Under Five
We're in the thick of summer's best, it seems. Today I picked a hydrangea bloom that is about 12" in diameter. No joke. It's pretty stunning.
The boys regularly strip down for backyard water play in the splash pool and the water table. They end the day smelling of sunscreen, sweat and dirt as we prod them into warm, sudsy bathwater. Their eyelids are droopy during bedtime stories and we know they are sound asleep before we've made our evening cups of tea.
Colin is "turning 3!" and sings the spelling of his name to anyone who asks, "who are you?" We attended a 2 year old story time at the library today and he sat for the full 30 minutes on the rug, participating and attentively watching the librarian as she worked her way through several songs, finger plays and books. He is also relishing any new big boy tasks that he can manage. He dressed himself today after we came in from splashing in the backyard. I noticed that he ran out to join us for stories with his shorts a little twisted and his legs looking a bit uncomfortable... he'd put both legs into one side of his shorts! I tried to not laugh out loud and helped him unbind his legs... his shirt was also on backwards, but I decided we'd leave that one for another time.
Christopher is attending summer camp at his preschool and loves playing with the high school boys who are counselors for his class. What a treat to have older *boys* to play with at the park and during all of their camp activities. He runs and jumps and swings from the monkey bars exactly like a monkey. He comes home with a new scrape or bruise (or two) every day and is so happy doing what he loves... moving! It dawned on me this past weekend that perhaps Christopher will grow up and become a parkour practioner. At times, it seems as if he's already doing so.
Evelyn is continuing to blossom and reveal what a treat she is to all of us. We all love to chat with her and make her smile and she has shown us how much she loves being in the middle of our family's daily bedlam. Today she fell asleep for both of her naps on the living room rug while we read and played close by. I happened to notice she wasn't reaching for her toys and peered over her shoulder to see her fingers in her mouth with her other arm flung over her head... eyes gently closed and snoozing contentedly.
Evelyn's two first teeth are on their way up, but we know this only because she gnaws on anything she can clumsily guide to her tiny mouth. Does she cry and fuss about it? Amazingly, no... and a few weeks ago at just 2.5 months, she started sleeping 9-10 hours straight at night. Wonder Girl.
This past weekend we celebrated the Fourth of July in high Evanstonian style. We joined the morning games with our neighbors at the park. Favorites include the watermelon and pie eating contests (only in America, no?!), the Penny Scramble and the Egg Toss. Because, really, who doesn't like to see someone chuck a raw egg 100+ yards at another person who attempts to catch it?! Christopher got a 2nd place ribbon for kicking the soccer ball a lengthy distance - his delight and surprise was better than anything else. ("Why do I get a ribbon?") We walked down to the parade in the early afternoon and joined our neighbors to take in the numerous bands and local floats for everything from the public library to the SPCA to fracking! We rounded out the viewing with a stop by Hartigan's Ice Cream Shoppe. The rest of the weekend was equally wonderful with drinks at the neighbors' while the kids played too late and two birthday parties.. and about 6 slices of cake between Christopher and Colin.
As I'm writing this, the air is balmy and I'm hearing the first cicadas of the summer. Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll see a firefly or two when it gets a bit darker.
**Summer Salads**
Two weeks ago: Rice Salad with Kale and Pesto (recipe uses pasta, I used white and brown rice)
Last week: Ina Garten's Tabbouleh
This week: Farro Salad with Asparagus and Parmesan
The boys regularly strip down for backyard water play in the splash pool and the water table. They end the day smelling of sunscreen, sweat and dirt as we prod them into warm, sudsy bathwater. Their eyelids are droopy during bedtime stories and we know they are sound asleep before we've made our evening cups of tea.
Colin is "turning 3!" and sings the spelling of his name to anyone who asks, "who are you?" We attended a 2 year old story time at the library today and he sat for the full 30 minutes on the rug, participating and attentively watching the librarian as she worked her way through several songs, finger plays and books. He is also relishing any new big boy tasks that he can manage. He dressed himself today after we came in from splashing in the backyard. I noticed that he ran out to join us for stories with his shorts a little twisted and his legs looking a bit uncomfortable... he'd put both legs into one side of his shorts! I tried to not laugh out loud and helped him unbind his legs... his shirt was also on backwards, but I decided we'd leave that one for another time.
Christopher is attending summer camp at his preschool and loves playing with the high school boys who are counselors for his class. What a treat to have older *boys* to play with at the park and during all of their camp activities. He runs and jumps and swings from the monkey bars exactly like a monkey. He comes home with a new scrape or bruise (or two) every day and is so happy doing what he loves... moving! It dawned on me this past weekend that perhaps Christopher will grow up and become a parkour practioner. At times, it seems as if he's already doing so.
Evelyn is continuing to blossom and reveal what a treat she is to all of us. We all love to chat with her and make her smile and she has shown us how much she loves being in the middle of our family's daily bedlam. Today she fell asleep for both of her naps on the living room rug while we read and played close by. I happened to notice she wasn't reaching for her toys and peered over her shoulder to see her fingers in her mouth with her other arm flung over her head... eyes gently closed and snoozing contentedly.
Evelyn's two first teeth are on their way up, but we know this only because she gnaws on anything she can clumsily guide to her tiny mouth. Does she cry and fuss about it? Amazingly, no... and a few weeks ago at just 2.5 months, she started sleeping 9-10 hours straight at night. Wonder Girl.
This past weekend we celebrated the Fourth of July in high Evanstonian style. We joined the morning games with our neighbors at the park. Favorites include the watermelon and pie eating contests (only in America, no?!), the Penny Scramble and the Egg Toss. Because, really, who doesn't like to see someone chuck a raw egg 100+ yards at another person who attempts to catch it?! Christopher got a 2nd place ribbon for kicking the soccer ball a lengthy distance - his delight and surprise was better than anything else. ("Why do I get a ribbon?") We walked down to the parade in the early afternoon and joined our neighbors to take in the numerous bands and local floats for everything from the public library to the SPCA to fracking! We rounded out the viewing with a stop by Hartigan's Ice Cream Shoppe. The rest of the weekend was equally wonderful with drinks at the neighbors' while the kids played too late and two birthday parties.. and about 6 slices of cake between Christopher and Colin.
As I'm writing this, the air is balmy and I'm hearing the first cicadas of the summer. Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll see a firefly or two when it gets a bit darker.
**Summer Salads**
Two weeks ago: Rice Salad with Kale and Pesto (recipe uses pasta, I used white and brown rice)
Last week: Ina Garten's Tabbouleh
This week: Farro Salad with Asparagus and Parmesan
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Artichokes and Bobas
Quinoa Salad with Artichoke Hearts and Parsley
I'm making this tomorrow - it's a little more hands-on time than I like to give something during the week, but I really want to try it. Fingers crossed the nap time/rest time gods agree to indulge me with 3 children quiet at the same time. Bwahahahahah!!!
Two words: Boba Air
Bobas?! What is this strange euphemism she's using now?!
Nope, it's a type of baby carrier. Well, not necessarily a type, but rather a manufacturer. They make carriers similar to our favorite Ergo, but have come out with a newer model that is nylon and ultra-compact and zips into itself like one of those extra bags you bring with you on a trip for things you might buy along the way. Evelyn is almost big enough to be worn with her legs out on the sides (instead of folded under her bum like a frog), so I bought myself one of these carriers for travel and for keeping in the car. She still likes to snuggle in for a snooze while grocery shopping or while at the park with her brothers, so I look forward to using it with her!
I'm making this tomorrow - it's a little more hands-on time than I like to give something during the week, but I really want to try it. Fingers crossed the nap time/rest time gods agree to indulge me with 3 children quiet at the same time. Bwahahahahah!!!
Two words: Boba Air
Bobas?! What is this strange euphemism she's using now?!
Nope, it's a type of baby carrier. Well, not necessarily a type, but rather a manufacturer. They make carriers similar to our favorite Ergo, but have come out with a newer model that is nylon and ultra-compact and zips into itself like one of those extra bags you bring with you on a trip for things you might buy along the way. Evelyn is almost big enough to be worn with her legs out on the sides (instead of folded under her bum like a frog), so I bought myself one of these carriers for travel and for keeping in the car. She still likes to snuggle in for a snooze while grocery shopping or while at the park with her brothers, so I look forward to using it with her!
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Summer of Salads :: Mid June
I've continued my summer of salads challenge and we are continuing to enjoy each new recipe.
Over the last week we had a Summer Barley Salad from Cooking Light's website. Barley has the most deliciously chewy texture, almost like an al dente pasta! The sweetness of corn and substantive addition of edamame made for a delicious salad.
This afternoon I made a classic Tabbouleh salad. This is one of my favorites because of how little it requires from outside the garden, especially as the summer progresses. By the time it's high-August, I can make tabbouleh almost entirely from the vegetable beds (tomatoes, cukes, mint, parsley). Someday, when I live in a more, Mediterranean climate (you know - when Mike and I finally buy that dilapidated Tuscan villa and rehab it Eat, Pray, Love-style), I'll also be able to pluck a lemon from my backyard orchard. Hell, I'll be cold-pressing my own olive oil, too.
Today reminded me of all the wonderful things that June brings before the summer swelter sets in...
Beach trips, swimming classes, perfect-strawberry-selecting at the farmer's market and visiting with our favorite vendors while deliberating final additions to the garden, a picnic outside for lunch (wherein we decimated a full quart of the aforementioned strawberries), gardening and watering and pruning back the faded glory of the peony bushes...
Happy June Weekend.
Over the last week we had a Summer Barley Salad from Cooking Light's website. Barley has the most deliciously chewy texture, almost like an al dente pasta! The sweetness of corn and substantive addition of edamame made for a delicious salad.
This afternoon I made a classic Tabbouleh salad. This is one of my favorites because of how little it requires from outside the garden, especially as the summer progresses. By the time it's high-August, I can make tabbouleh almost entirely from the vegetable beds (tomatoes, cukes, mint, parsley). Someday, when I live in a more, Mediterranean climate (you know - when Mike and I finally buy that dilapidated Tuscan villa and rehab it Eat, Pray, Love-style), I'll also be able to pluck a lemon from my backyard orchard. Hell, I'll be cold-pressing my own olive oil, too.
Today reminded me of all the wonderful things that June brings before the summer swelter sets in...
Beach trips, swimming classes, perfect-strawberry-selecting at the farmer's market and visiting with our favorite vendors while deliberating final additions to the garden, a picnic outside for lunch (wherein we decimated a full quart of the aforementioned strawberries), gardening and watering and pruning back the faded glory of the peony bushes...
Happy June Weekend.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Overheard
Christopher: When I'm 53, I'm going to buy a house in San Francisco and join Grandma Mary and Grandpa Mike's family.
I hope there's room for the rest of us to visit! :)
Colin: Because dogs like grass. And giraffes eat leaves and kitty cats say meow.
Oooookay.
Love the things they say. I need to write them down more often.
I hope there's room for the rest of us to visit! :)
Colin: Because dogs like grass. And giraffes eat leaves and kitty cats say meow.
Oooookay.
Love the things they say. I need to write them down more often.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Summer salads
I've declared this the summer of whole grain salads for both health and ease. A way to not join in with as much of the PB&J that is constantly flying around here and to help make a more adult lunch readily available.
One of the best things I've discovered is that Trader Joe's sells several whole grains (barley, farro, bulgar) in small bags that are perfectly sized for these salads. Or, visit Whole a Foods and buy in bulk for higher quality and selection and a lower price... Can't wait until our new Whole Foods goes in down the street!
In short: combine cooked grains with a leafy green that can stand up for a few days (kale, chard, spinach), add herbs, a crumbly cheese, a light dressing, maybe a little dried fruit and some nuts... Voila! I err in the side of lots of greens and a smaller amount of grains than the recipes usually list and also try to cut down on the sugar included in many of the dressing recipes.
Last week I started with a Kale and Wild Rice Salad. I made several modifications and it was delicious.
Today I needed to use up another bunch of kale and found this recipe for a Farro and Kale Salad that also uses mint and feta. The planter of mint in our backyard is going strong, so more mojitos and this salad are on the menu for the weekend. Maybe I can make peppermint ice cream with the big kids next weekend...
One of the best things I've discovered is that Trader Joe's sells several whole grains (barley, farro, bulgar) in small bags that are perfectly sized for these salads. Or, visit Whole a Foods and buy in bulk for higher quality and selection and a lower price... Can't wait until our new Whole Foods goes in down the street!
In short: combine cooked grains with a leafy green that can stand up for a few days (kale, chard, spinach), add herbs, a crumbly cheese, a light dressing, maybe a little dried fruit and some nuts... Voila! I err in the side of lots of greens and a smaller amount of grains than the recipes usually list and also try to cut down on the sugar included in many of the dressing recipes.
Last week I started with a Kale and Wild Rice Salad. I made several modifications and it was delicious.
Today I needed to use up another bunch of kale and found this recipe for a Farro and Kale Salad that also uses mint and feta. The planter of mint in our backyard is going strong, so more mojitos and this salad are on the menu for the weekend. Maybe I can make peppermint ice cream with the big kids next weekend...
Friday, May 23, 2014
Best laid plans
I am getting carried away with all of the wonderful springy things that are possible for the upcoming long weekend... we have huge mountains of mulch and planting mix sitting in climbable piles on our parkways. Delivered by a big dump truck earlier today, we will be hauling it by the wheelbarrow-ful around the front, back, and side yards to pretty up and ready up our perennial and vegetable beds.
I want to pull weeds and plant vegetable starts (my seedlings are crap and I'm giving myself a pass this year after trying to grow seedlings during the first month of having a newborn and traveling with 3 kids to California for a week).
I want to slowly trawl the aisles of the farmer's market and peruse heirloom vegetable starts and maybe buy some rhubarb. I've never cooked with it before and would like to try these.
I want to plant some flowers and maybe a rose bush or two and find a resting place for something special for Colin. (See #3.)
I want to feel the sand between my toes for the first time at our gorgeous city beaches, opening for the season starting tomorrow!
I want to watch my big kids swim like fish at their beloved swim lessons.
I want to enjoy a warm, late-spring evening with a glass of wine or a mojito in hand.
I want to hang out with my baby on a quilt in the shade of our freshly leafed-out backyard trees.
I want to scrub our picnic table and our windows and our screens and air out the house and then have popsicles or homemade ice cream under the umbrella with the warm air nuzzling our bare toes and shoulders. And maybe grill dinner in the company of our wonderful neighbors.
I want to walk to the park in our beautiful neighborhood.
I want to play with fabric and yarn and read my newly borrowed library books:
Modern Quilt Perspectives
Wise Craft
I'll be lucky if 2 of those things happen. Okay, maybe 3 since it's a long weekend. But, it'll still be amazing.
I want to pull weeds and plant vegetable starts (my seedlings are crap and I'm giving myself a pass this year after trying to grow seedlings during the first month of having a newborn and traveling with 3 kids to California for a week).
I want to slowly trawl the aisles of the farmer's market and peruse heirloom vegetable starts and maybe buy some rhubarb. I've never cooked with it before and would like to try these.
I want to plant some flowers and maybe a rose bush or two and find a resting place for something special for Colin. (See #3.)
I want to feel the sand between my toes for the first time at our gorgeous city beaches, opening for the season starting tomorrow!
I want to watch my big kids swim like fish at their beloved swim lessons.
I want to enjoy a warm, late-spring evening with a glass of wine or a mojito in hand.
I want to hang out with my baby on a quilt in the shade of our freshly leafed-out backyard trees.
I want to scrub our picnic table and our windows and our screens and air out the house and then have popsicles or homemade ice cream under the umbrella with the warm air nuzzling our bare toes and shoulders. And maybe grill dinner in the company of our wonderful neighbors.
I want to walk to the park in our beautiful neighborhood.
I want to play with fabric and yarn and read my newly borrowed library books:
Modern Quilt Perspectives
Wise Craft
I'll be lucky if 2 of those things happen. Okay, maybe 3 since it's a long weekend. But, it'll still be amazing.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Blooming
Evelyn came into our lives on April 3 and her arrival seemed to herald the arrival of spring and therefore: Growth! She was born on a very notable day for my extended family; my maternal grandparents both passed away on April 3rd, 28 years apart from each other. My grandmother's first cousin was named Evelyn and thus there is a gentle nod to the connection of our Evelyn's birth with that particular line of her ancestry. Plus... we just love the name!
The story of her arrival is unique and special and perhaps I'll share it in more detail another time. However, by the time we were all tucked back into our beds that evening, it seemed as if she had been with us for quite some time - on that Thursday morning she slipped into the fabric of our family seamlessly. If I could sum up the magnificence of birthing a child at home, it would be that exact sentiment. The baby is born amidst a family that is present and celebratory, a team of wonder-working women support and assist the mother and baby, then proceed to put everything back in its place... and then, they magically and respectfully disappear... the family is left to dote on the new baby in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. Wonderful!... but really, indescribable.
For the past 5 weeks, we've all watched Evelyn bloom and have each done a bit of blooming ourselves, as well! The two big brothers have each found their own special way of being with her and have been stretching out in their new roles as oldest- and newly-minted- Big Brothers. With a third child in the mix, I'm learning to further divvy up my attention throughout the day. Every time I take a lengthened moment with one of them, I can tangibly feel them grow as I squeeze them. It's bittersweet. Mike is husband/father/professor extraordinaire, managing to show up for all of us who are asking for his time and attention. We are both like multi-tasking octopuses these days balancing at least one child with another task. As a fellow mom of three told me this past winter, "You switch from man-to-man to a zone defense." Well said.
We had enormously generous help from out of town in the first few weeks (thank you!) and now we are happily Just Us Five. With a third kiddo, the house is getting a littler grimier, dinners are more slapped together, and my yen for a truly quiet rest time/nap time tends to verge on that of Desperation...
But, tonight, as the sun was low in the sky at the end of a lovely mid-spring 70-degree Saturday, I was barefoot in the kitchen loading the dishwasher and admiring the daffodils dotting the edges of the backyard lawn. The boys were driving trucks and Mike was gathering up the various piles of mud/popsicle-smeared clothing from around the house. Evelyn was contentedly mesmerized by long shadows on the cabinet doors and "Uptown Girl" came on the stereo. Christopher and I jacked up the volume and all five of us had an impromptu dance party through the house.
As I watched the sparkling smiles on my family's faces (and wide-eyed look of wonder/confusion on Evelyn's), it struck me: I am so happy. It's a happy that I've just started to experience. It's entirely unlike the light, unencumbered happiness of a 20-something out and about, traipsing around the world for the first time. It's a heavy, full happiness of knowing how precious each of these lives are... my four special people.
The story of her arrival is unique and special and perhaps I'll share it in more detail another time. However, by the time we were all tucked back into our beds that evening, it seemed as if she had been with us for quite some time - on that Thursday morning she slipped into the fabric of our family seamlessly. If I could sum up the magnificence of birthing a child at home, it would be that exact sentiment. The baby is born amidst a family that is present and celebratory, a team of wonder-working women support and assist the mother and baby, then proceed to put everything back in its place... and then, they magically and respectfully disappear... the family is left to dote on the new baby in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. Wonderful!... but really, indescribable.
For the past 5 weeks, we've all watched Evelyn bloom and have each done a bit of blooming ourselves, as well! The two big brothers have each found their own special way of being with her and have been stretching out in their new roles as oldest- and newly-minted- Big Brothers. With a third child in the mix, I'm learning to further divvy up my attention throughout the day. Every time I take a lengthened moment with one of them, I can tangibly feel them grow as I squeeze them. It's bittersweet. Mike is husband/father/professor extraordinaire, managing to show up for all of us who are asking for his time and attention. We are both like multi-tasking octopuses these days balancing at least one child with another task. As a fellow mom of three told me this past winter, "You switch from man-to-man to a zone defense." Well said.
We had enormously generous help from out of town in the first few weeks (thank you!) and now we are happily Just Us Five. With a third kiddo, the house is getting a littler grimier, dinners are more slapped together, and my yen for a truly quiet rest time/nap time tends to verge on that of Desperation...
But, tonight, as the sun was low in the sky at the end of a lovely mid-spring 70-degree Saturday, I was barefoot in the kitchen loading the dishwasher and admiring the daffodils dotting the edges of the backyard lawn. The boys were driving trucks and Mike was gathering up the various piles of mud/popsicle-smeared clothing from around the house. Evelyn was contentedly mesmerized by long shadows on the cabinet doors and "Uptown Girl" came on the stereo. Christopher and I jacked up the volume and all five of us had an impromptu dance party through the house.
As I watched the sparkling smiles on my family's faces (and wide-eyed look of wonder/confusion on Evelyn's), it struck me: I am so happy. It's a happy that I've just started to experience. It's entirely unlike the light, unencumbered happiness of a 20-something out and about, traipsing around the world for the first time. It's a heavy, full happiness of knowing how precious each of these lives are... my four special people.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Three things
1. Yesterday at 4pm I noticed that the sun coming in the back of the house was streaming in at a spring/summer-angle. There's a noticeable change in the slant of the light during the afternoons in the warmer months and yesterday was the first day we felt it while getting dinner ready. Daylight savings will mess with that for a few weeks in late March, but by April I should be squinting due to piercing sunlight again. Hurray for that.
2. Christopher noticed the first spring robin today. We were bidding a lovely new babysitter adieu and he exclaimed, "Look! There's a robin!" Sure enough, there was a fat, little robin perched on one of our front shrubs. We will only see more as the days go by. Yippee!
3. My brother and his lovely fiancee created the most darling little girl who was welcomed to the world this past weekend. We can't stop thinking about the three of them and can't wait to meet her in person. It's so exciting to have my brother cross over to the other side that is Parenthood. This is the good stuff, people.
2. Christopher noticed the first spring robin today. We were bidding a lovely new babysitter adieu and he exclaimed, "Look! There's a robin!" Sure enough, there was a fat, little robin perched on one of our front shrubs. We will only see more as the days go by. Yippee!
3. My brother and his lovely fiancee created the most darling little girl who was welcomed to the world this past weekend. We can't stop thinking about the three of them and can't wait to meet her in person. It's so exciting to have my brother cross over to the other side that is Parenthood. This is the good stuff, people.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Mid-February
See that picture on the blog banner up there? The one that looks like a winter wonderland? That was, magically, December 26th of 2012. I snapped that with my phone while on a long lakeside tromp through the white stuff with a dear girlfriend here in town.
That's also what it looks like outside today. The difference being that it's still furiously coming down (and isn't supposed to stop until after dark) and it's February 17th. My, what an enormous difference those 7 little weeks make in the face of a beautiful snowstorm. I wish that I could say I still find it ethereally gorgeous at this point in winter, but that's the nature of living where there are vast changes between seasons. By mid-February, one certainly marvels at the falling snow, but instead of reveling in it... one copes (though the younger set seems to feel otherwise, which is amazing - how can I reclaim that?).
The tricky part of mid-winter is that I probably should try to revel in it a bit more, because soon enough it will be 95 degrees and humid. I'll break out in a sweat by merely carrying a watering can across the yard from the rain barrel to the vegetable beds. My feet will be bare and I'll have the minimum amount of clothing possible on my body. The kids will likely be cavorting through the sprinkler completely naked. Then we will sit down for popsicles and think... wouldn't it be fun to make a snowman right now?!
So, on this no-school holiday while the house is quiet for naps and rest time, I'm racking my brain for ideas. We had a partially normal morning with Christopher guesting at Colin's playschool class and a sizeable trip to the grocery store. We will need both the kitchen and our playthings to help us ward off the crazies in the last few hours of the day. Maybe we'll create some paperbag puppets. Or, I'll break out the power tools and finally hang up that new rack of hooks for the dress up corner. I just took a stick of butter and an egg out of the fridge (we have chocolate chips - never weather a winter storm chip-less!). The pot of soup for dinner is done: tonight we're having Potato Leek.
There's just a little over one month left in this winter. (Yes, yes... we often get freak snowfalls through spring and the temperatures only climb out of freezing. Sadly, spring does not mean 70 degrees and sunny!) But this is what mid-winter does mean: It's garden planning time. It's the time to make any root veggie recipes that haven't been fully explored. It's the time to use the oven at will since that's the last appliance I'll want to use come summertime. It's the time to break out any art/crafting supplies or ideas that I've been hoarding. And it's time for a new knitting project!
That's also what it looks like outside today. The difference being that it's still furiously coming down (and isn't supposed to stop until after dark) and it's February 17th. My, what an enormous difference those 7 little weeks make in the face of a beautiful snowstorm. I wish that I could say I still find it ethereally gorgeous at this point in winter, but that's the nature of living where there are vast changes between seasons. By mid-February, one certainly marvels at the falling snow, but instead of reveling in it... one copes (though the younger set seems to feel otherwise, which is amazing - how can I reclaim that?).
The tricky part of mid-winter is that I probably should try to revel in it a bit more, because soon enough it will be 95 degrees and humid. I'll break out in a sweat by merely carrying a watering can across the yard from the rain barrel to the vegetable beds. My feet will be bare and I'll have the minimum amount of clothing possible on my body. The kids will likely be cavorting through the sprinkler completely naked. Then we will sit down for popsicles and think... wouldn't it be fun to make a snowman right now?!
So, on this no-school holiday while the house is quiet for naps and rest time, I'm racking my brain for ideas. We had a partially normal morning with Christopher guesting at Colin's playschool class and a sizeable trip to the grocery store. We will need both the kitchen and our playthings to help us ward off the crazies in the last few hours of the day. Maybe we'll create some paperbag puppets. Or, I'll break out the power tools and finally hang up that new rack of hooks for the dress up corner. I just took a stick of butter and an egg out of the fridge (we have chocolate chips - never weather a winter storm chip-less!). The pot of soup for dinner is done: tonight we're having Potato Leek.
There's just a little over one month left in this winter. (Yes, yes... we often get freak snowfalls through spring and the temperatures only climb out of freezing. Sadly, spring does not mean 70 degrees and sunny!) But this is what mid-winter does mean: It's garden planning time. It's the time to make any root veggie recipes that haven't been fully explored. It's the time to use the oven at will since that's the last appliance I'll want to use come summertime. It's the time to break out any art/crafting supplies or ideas that I've been hoarding. And it's time for a new knitting project!
This is a picture of The Icicle House a few blocks away from us.
Aren't those icicles impressive? It's going to look even better tomorrow morning after all of this snow!
Friday, February 14, 2014
Valentine
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone out there. You are loved.
In short order, the love of my life will be home after an extra-long day of work. He's my most favorite person in the whole world, you know. He's written me a Valentine's Day poem every single year for the last 18 years. (I had to count that up twice just to be sure!) I loved this year's edition. :)
After almost 18 full years together, 2+ kids, graduate school, a mortgage and minivan, various jobs and homes made all over the world... we still laugh with each other. We make decisions together. We are each other's biggest supporter and fiercest defender. He is the most important person in the world to me and I to him. The most important.
Our children are spectacularly lovely and we spend much of our time striving to provide for their happiness and well-being. We made them and obviously, we think they're pretty great.
But, ultimately, at the end of the day, it's about the two of us. And we're pretty darn good together.
In short order, the love of my life will be home after an extra-long day of work. He's my most favorite person in the whole world, you know. He's written me a Valentine's Day poem every single year for the last 18 years. (I had to count that up twice just to be sure!) I loved this year's edition. :)
After almost 18 full years together, 2+ kids, graduate school, a mortgage and minivan, various jobs and homes made all over the world... we still laugh with each other. We make decisions together. We are each other's biggest supporter and fiercest defender. He is the most important person in the world to me and I to him. The most important.
Our children are spectacularly lovely and we spend much of our time striving to provide for their happiness and well-being. We made them and obviously, we think they're pretty great.
But, ultimately, at the end of the day, it's about the two of us. And we're pretty darn good together.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Fleming's Anthem
Seriously. All of the press about Renee Fleming's super-human abilities and amazingly daring choice to sing without a backup track!!! is just funny. It was the only 2:03 minutes of the Superbowl that I watched yesterday and I was so proud to see the art form I love included in the show.
The commentator who remarked, "Best I've heard it sung," immediately after she finished, made me audibly respond, "Damn straight." And then, "Duh, of course."
Look. Pop artists are great and have a (big) place in today's music marketplace. But. Classical singers are trained singers! She made it look easy because, well... singing evenly and well-supported and healthfully over two octaves (amateurs always forget that about our anthem and screw themselves by starting too high) is EASY for a classical singer of Fleming's calibur and experience. She could have easily sung it several steps higher, in fact. And she looked good, too! No eyes squinting shut to squeeze out notes that are difficult, no sign of performance anxiety, no jaw shaking and tongue wiggling. Just gorgeous, healthy singing. And, trust me... it was easy.
The commentator who remarked, "Best I've heard it sung," immediately after she finished, made me audibly respond, "Damn straight." And then, "Duh, of course."
Look. Pop artists are great and have a (big) place in today's music marketplace. But. Classical singers are trained singers! She made it look easy because, well... singing evenly and well-supported and healthfully over two octaves (amateurs always forget that about our anthem and screw themselves by starting too high) is EASY for a classical singer of Fleming's calibur and experience. She could have easily sung it several steps higher, in fact. And she looked good, too! No eyes squinting shut to squeeze out notes that are difficult, no sign of performance anxiety, no jaw shaking and tongue wiggling. Just gorgeous, healthy singing. And, trust me... it was easy.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Dih-duhr
That's what Colin has called Christopher ever since he could call him by name. However, over the weekend he perfected "Christopher" and it sounds like he'll be leaving the nickname "Dih-duhr" behind pretty soon. In the heat of an argument or when he breathlessly wants his older brother's attention, he falls back on the old pronunciation... but I think Dih-duhr's days are numbered.
The second Colin-ism I have to jot down has to do with his love for hiding. After he's finished dinner and the remaining three of us are at the table eating or talking, he'll come over to the side of the table and pull a scarf over his head. He'll stand there patiently (visibly grinning through the transparent fabric) waiting for someone to say, "Where's Colin?" Then he whips the scarf off of his head abracadabra-style and joyously exclaims, "THERE ME ARE!"
** I should note that we are not fans of baby talk... in our household, it's on the same level as nails running down a chalkboard. That said, there have been a handful of mispronunciations during the kids' speech development that we have found to be pretty darn cute. But does that count as baby talk? Probably not. I'd define baby talk as something non-babies do when they're talking down to babies and young children. **
The second Colin-ism I have to jot down has to do with his love for hiding. After he's finished dinner and the remaining three of us are at the table eating or talking, he'll come over to the side of the table and pull a scarf over his head. He'll stand there patiently (visibly grinning through the transparent fabric) waiting for someone to say, "Where's Colin?" Then he whips the scarf off of his head abracadabra-style and joyously exclaims, "THERE ME ARE!"
** I should note that we are not fans of baby talk... in our household, it's on the same level as nails running down a chalkboard. That said, there have been a handful of mispronunciations during the kids' speech development that we have found to be pretty darn cute. But does that count as baby talk? Probably not. I'd define baby talk as something non-babies do when they're talking down to babies and young children. **
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Polar vortexing
By midday on Sunday, it became clear that none of us were going to be going anywhere, anytime soon. The gusting winds alongside light, steady snowfall made it impossible to keep the sidewalks and streets clear and we could almost feel the temperature steadily dropping throughout the afternoon from inside the house.
So, with classes cancelled for all of us on Monday and Tuesday, we tried to make the best of it. We set up desk space for Mike where he'd be undisturbed by our play/work noise. He also put the finishing touches on the basement carpet tiling job, bringing the playroom to a new level of comfy for all of us. I sorted through my stockpiled assortment of art supplies and books and indoor activities and made a list of things that we could do to keep ourselves busy. Christopher and I made one last run to the grocery store (a good call since the kids have both eaten their weight in clementines - seriously, I think Colin had 8 today). And then we called it Good.
The coldest day was yesterday with piercingly gorgeous sunshine and not a single cloud in sight to insulate us from the frigid temperature and icy winds. The roads were almost completely silent and I was glad to see that because driving would have been incredibly dangerous. There were lights on in our neighbors' houses, but no one ventured out except for those taking their dogs out for 3 minute pit stops. You would think we'd have the worst case of cabin fever imaginable by now but, thankfully, we've been fine. Occupied with activity, fed with good food, and snug in our beds at night.
We made warm food: veggie soup, corn chowder, leftover tamales and toasted bagels for lunches, and tuna casserole, lentil soup and oatmeal-buttermilk muffins for dinners. And many, many cups of hot tea.
Earlier today during our lunch break, Mike announced, "it's zero degrees!" What a welcome heat wave after -15 yesterday morning with the windchill at -37. There are a few cars out on the road today, and a couple of brave neighbors shoveling their walks now that the danger of frostbite seems to have passed.
Tomorrow will hardly be warm with a high temperature of 12F, but it will feel so good to step outside and breathe the air... (Not too deeply! Frozen nose hairs are still entirely possible.) I have one little boy who has been asking to go back to preschool for 2 weeks now and another who, though unable to verbalize those same sentiments, but will be absolutely thrilled to boogie with his favorite music teacher in the morning.
I'm amazed and grateful that throughout these 2+ days, we have had uninterrupted internet service for news and entertainment and work connectivity. We have had plenty of running water for baths and diaper washing and cooking. And, our trusty furnace has been working almost non-stop to keep us snug and warm. There's a lot to be thankful for and nothing to take for granted.
So, what exactly did we do? Thanks to the internet, we had lots of options! Here are some of the things we did to keep ourselves occupied:
Cereal Box Race Car Tracks
Playing with party balloons in the basement
Throw boiling water into the air and watch it vaporize (Mike and I were so into this one. It was *awesome*)
Play Doh, Play Doh, and more Play Doh
Colored Ice Water Balloons
Book Swap and Toy Swap (that means changing up what's available for play with items we have in storage)
The next time we are caught in a polar vortex (!), I'm totally going to try one of these things:
Making a Frozen T-Shirt
Frozen Banana Hammer
Snow Cones/Slushies with real snow
Blow Ice Bubbles
If it's going to be as cold as you-know-what, you might as well embrace it, right?!
So, with classes cancelled for all of us on Monday and Tuesday, we tried to make the best of it. We set up desk space for Mike where he'd be undisturbed by our play/work noise. He also put the finishing touches on the basement carpet tiling job, bringing the playroom to a new level of comfy for all of us. I sorted through my stockpiled assortment of art supplies and books and indoor activities and made a list of things that we could do to keep ourselves busy. Christopher and I made one last run to the grocery store (a good call since the kids have both eaten their weight in clementines - seriously, I think Colin had 8 today). And then we called it Good.
The coldest day was yesterday with piercingly gorgeous sunshine and not a single cloud in sight to insulate us from the frigid temperature and icy winds. The roads were almost completely silent and I was glad to see that because driving would have been incredibly dangerous. There were lights on in our neighbors' houses, but no one ventured out except for those taking their dogs out for 3 minute pit stops. You would think we'd have the worst case of cabin fever imaginable by now but, thankfully, we've been fine. Occupied with activity, fed with good food, and snug in our beds at night.
We made warm food: veggie soup, corn chowder, leftover tamales and toasted bagels for lunches, and tuna casserole, lentil soup and oatmeal-buttermilk muffins for dinners. And many, many cups of hot tea.
Earlier today during our lunch break, Mike announced, "it's zero degrees!" What a welcome heat wave after -15 yesterday morning with the windchill at -37. There are a few cars out on the road today, and a couple of brave neighbors shoveling their walks now that the danger of frostbite seems to have passed.
Tomorrow will hardly be warm with a high temperature of 12F, but it will feel so good to step outside and breathe the air... (Not too deeply! Frozen nose hairs are still entirely possible.) I have one little boy who has been asking to go back to preschool for 2 weeks now and another who, though unable to verbalize those same sentiments, but will be absolutely thrilled to boogie with his favorite music teacher in the morning.
I'm amazed and grateful that throughout these 2+ days, we have had uninterrupted internet service for news and entertainment and work connectivity. We have had plenty of running water for baths and diaper washing and cooking. And, our trusty furnace has been working almost non-stop to keep us snug and warm. There's a lot to be thankful for and nothing to take for granted.
So, what exactly did we do? Thanks to the internet, we had lots of options! Here are some of the things we did to keep ourselves occupied:
Cereal Box Race Car Tracks
Playing with party balloons in the basement
Throw boiling water into the air and watch it vaporize (Mike and I were so into this one. It was *awesome*)
Play Doh, Play Doh, and more Play Doh
Colored Ice Water Balloons
Book Swap and Toy Swap (that means changing up what's available for play with items we have in storage)
The next time we are caught in a polar vortex (!), I'm totally going to try one of these things:
Making a Frozen T-Shirt
Frozen Banana Hammer
Snow Cones/Slushies with real snow
Blow Ice Bubbles
If it's going to be as cold as you-know-what, you might as well embrace it, right?!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
The view from 2014
Well... so far, so good! We like 2014.
It's a bit snowy. A LOT snowy, actually. It started last night and hasn't stopped all day. It's not heavy snow, but more like the fake stuff you see littered around the department store trees at this time of year. Light, airy and perfectly white. It's supposed to continue through the night.
We shoveled a bit this morning just to get out of the house and tromp around in the white stuff for a while. We ventured over to the school to slide down the little slope and were told repeatedly by the kids, "Again! Again!" They're going to love the big hills at our local park this weekend. It'll be packed, but fun!
There was hot apple cider, a little Rose Parade watching, and a little bit of cabin fever, to be honest. But, we were saved by the enormous stack of fresh books picked out at the library yesterday morning and by the company of our neighbors this afternoon. An impromptu glass of wine and a last minute Gingerbread Cake fit the bill perfectly.
The kids had lights out on the late side tonight with all of the excitement of visiting friends to play with, so they should sleep like rocks. We've lit a fire and are a bit weary of the projected highs for early next week. (Does -4 qualify as a "high"? We have toughened up after our years here and in Boston, but that is definitely extreme!)
Welcome, 2014. So far, you're snowy, but nice. Looking forward to see what else you have in store. To our friends and family: we hope it's a good one for you. A gentle year with a few well-timed, but unexpected thrills.
It's a bit snowy. A LOT snowy, actually. It started last night and hasn't stopped all day. It's not heavy snow, but more like the fake stuff you see littered around the department store trees at this time of year. Light, airy and perfectly white. It's supposed to continue through the night.
We shoveled a bit this morning just to get out of the house and tromp around in the white stuff for a while. We ventured over to the school to slide down the little slope and were told repeatedly by the kids, "Again! Again!" They're going to love the big hills at our local park this weekend. It'll be packed, but fun!
There was hot apple cider, a little Rose Parade watching, and a little bit of cabin fever, to be honest. But, we were saved by the enormous stack of fresh books picked out at the library yesterday morning and by the company of our neighbors this afternoon. An impromptu glass of wine and a last minute Gingerbread Cake fit the bill perfectly.
The kids had lights out on the late side tonight with all of the excitement of visiting friends to play with, so they should sleep like rocks. We've lit a fire and are a bit weary of the projected highs for early next week. (Does -4 qualify as a "high"? We have toughened up after our years here and in Boston, but that is definitely extreme!)
Welcome, 2014. So far, you're snowy, but nice. Looking forward to see what else you have in store. To our friends and family: we hope it's a good one for you. A gentle year with a few well-timed, but unexpected thrills.
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