Claire also made up her own version of hopscotch to play on the back patio
While I was putting the groceries away she stole a tomato, sprinkled pepper on it, and ate it like an apple
And this is what we saw in the backyard before heading up to bed
Friday, August 13, 2010
For the birds
We took another field trip to the craft store today, and this time Claire picked out a little wooden birdhouse. (She also picked out a pair of size 15 knitting needles, a knitting frame, a cupcake-making kit, and a bag of tootsie pops, but we only brought the birdhouse home.) It was the perfect painting project for us this afternoon.
Claire also made up her own version of hopscotch to play on the back patio
While I was putting the groceries away she stole a tomato, sprinkled pepper on it, and ate it like an apple
And this is what we saw in the backyard before heading up to bed
Claire also made up her own version of hopscotch to play on the back patio
While I was putting the groceries away she stole a tomato, sprinkled pepper on it, and ate it like an apple
And this is what we saw in the backyard before heading up to bed
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Bedheads
A rare moment where Claire stood still long enough to have her picture taken (as soon as this was snapped, she dove back down onto the bed to snuggle Arden some more)
There's no such thing as Bedhead when your hair is this short (even if there were, who would notice it beyond a smile this bright?)
I love my girls :)
There's no such thing as Bedhead when your hair is this short (even if there were, who would notice it beyond a smile this bright?)
I love my girls :)
The windows needed washing, anyway
Today we stayed in our pajamas all day. Ok, we've done that a lot this summer, so today wasn't out of the ordinary in that regard. What set today apart was that we painted the windows.
A few days ago we took a field trip to a craft store because the cord cleat for Claire's bedroom blinds snapped in half, and it's been really irritating trying to wind the cord around a tiny little screw each morning. Of course, I can't visit a craft store without walking up and down every single aisle, and while we were doing this Claire happened to find the perfect tube of bright pink paint. It was just the size for her little 2.5 year old hand to grasp, and she was being so patient with my wandering that I told her we could get it. I hesitated at first upon noticing that it was window paint, but then I realized how fun it might be to paint on the windows...and I was right:
Tengo Bingo!
Cleanup wasn't too bad; it came off pretty easily with water and then I followed that up with vinegar to eliminate the water spots. The windows had been covered with sticky little hand prints so they needed a washing, anyway.
I have another project that's calling me back to the craft store tomorrow...I wonder what else we'll find while we're there?
A few days ago we took a field trip to a craft store because the cord cleat for Claire's bedroom blinds snapped in half, and it's been really irritating trying to wind the cord around a tiny little screw each morning. Of course, I can't visit a craft store without walking up and down every single aisle, and while we were doing this Claire happened to find the perfect tube of bright pink paint. It was just the size for her little 2.5 year old hand to grasp, and she was being so patient with my wandering that I told her we could get it. I hesitated at first upon noticing that it was window paint, but then I realized how fun it might be to paint on the windows...and I was right:
Tengo Bingo!
Cleanup wasn't too bad; it came off pretty easily with water and then I followed that up with vinegar to eliminate the water spots. The windows had been covered with sticky little hand prints so they needed a washing, anyway.
I have another project that's calling me back to the craft store tomorrow...I wonder what else we'll find while we're there?
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Probiotic Pickles
After reading this post my mouth was watering for pickles. And not only are lacto-fermented pickles tasty, but they are loaded with health benefits.
“The proliferation of lactobacilli in fermented vegetables enhances their digestibility and increases vitamin levels. These beneficial organisms produce numerous helpful enzymes as well as antibiotic and anti carcinogenic substances. Their main by-product, lactic acid, not only keeps vegetables and fruits in a state of perfect preservation but also promotes the growth of healthy flora throughout the intestine.” – Sally Fallon, co-author of Nourishing Traditions (Here is more interesting info if you're interested.)
While picking up groceries at the co-op last night I saw organic pickling cucumbers, so I grabbed some along with the spices called for in the recipe at the link above (so thankful for my new smart phone! It was easy finding this recipe while standing in the produce department.)
After getting the girls down for their afternoon nap I got to work. Maybe "work" isn't the right word, because it was actually super easy and fun - kind of a cross between making a cake from a boxed mix and playing Tetris. Seriously.
I had bought the 10 or so dry spices in bulk, so each was in its own little baggie and required dumping into a bowl (out of the 5+ cups it made, the recipe only calls for 2 Tbs per 4lbs of cukes.) In another bowl I mixed the salt and water together for the brine. And then after washing the pickling cucumbers and cutting up an onion came the fun part: packing them into the Pickl-It jars Tetris-style.
I had enough cucumbers to fill four 1.5 liter jars so I adjusted the rest of the recipe accordingly, and before I knew it the jars were filled.
"Really? That's it?" I thought to myself. "That was sure easy!"
Now for the most difficult part of this whole process...waiting until they're done :)
“The proliferation of lactobacilli in fermented vegetables enhances their digestibility and increases vitamin levels. These beneficial organisms produce numerous helpful enzymes as well as antibiotic and anti carcinogenic substances. Their main by-product, lactic acid, not only keeps vegetables and fruits in a state of perfect preservation but also promotes the growth of healthy flora throughout the intestine.” – Sally Fallon, co-author of Nourishing Traditions (Here is more interesting info if you're interested.)
While picking up groceries at the co-op last night I saw organic pickling cucumbers, so I grabbed some along with the spices called for in the recipe at the link above (so thankful for my new smart phone! It was easy finding this recipe while standing in the produce department.)
After getting the girls down for their afternoon nap I got to work. Maybe "work" isn't the right word, because it was actually super easy and fun - kind of a cross between making a cake from a boxed mix and playing Tetris. Seriously.
I had bought the 10 or so dry spices in bulk, so each was in its own little baggie and required dumping into a bowl (out of the 5+ cups it made, the recipe only calls for 2 Tbs per 4lbs of cukes.) In another bowl I mixed the salt and water together for the brine. And then after washing the pickling cucumbers and cutting up an onion came the fun part: packing them into the Pickl-It jars Tetris-style.
I had enough cucumbers to fill four 1.5 liter jars so I adjusted the rest of the recipe accordingly, and before I knew it the jars were filled.
"Really? That's it?" I thought to myself. "That was sure easy!"
Now for the most difficult part of this whole process...waiting until they're done :)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
One of those days
Have you ever had one of those days? The kind where you keep finding yourself sighing and saying, "are you kidding me?" because it's just one thing after another?
The day started out fine, with plans to bake a crumb cake, meet a group of friends at a park in the morning, and meet up with another friend to hit a farmer's market in the afternoon.
So after getting out of bed at 5:30 I took the girls downstairs to get started on breakfast and preparing for the day. Yesterday morning I had mixed up the dough for the crumb cake - made with sourdough starter - and covered it with a dish towel for the 24 hour ferment/rise. When I pulled the towel off this morning I noticed something moving...a little bug running along the surface. Figuring he probably wasn't traveling alone and feeling really grossed out I threw the dough away, bummed because I was wasting it and wouldn't have the tasty treat for breakfast. "Oh well," I thought, "we have vanilla yogurt, homemade granola with walnuts, and fresh strawberries and blueberries; that sounds really good!" So we ate that.
After breakfast I tended to the chicken stock that had been simmering on the stove all night. I carefully took all of the pieces out of the liquid, and separated the meat from the bones (a tedious process, but oh so worth it! I love making chicken salad, enchiladas, and other meals from the meat, and the stock always comes in handy while cooking.) I packed a picnic lunch, got myself and Claire ready, and somehow it was almost 9:00.
The plan was to leave at 9, so I nursed Arden and then laid her down on my bed so I could throw my hair into a ponytail. As soon as I did she started projectile spitting up - it was as if she had a hose in her mouth, turned on high, spewing a steady stream of liquid. This is unusual for Arden, so I was a little alarmed. I grabbed her to keep her upright, and it kept flowing. In all it must have been 2 or 2.5 cups of breastmilk (how did she get that much in there in the first place?!) that drenched her, me, and the bed. I quickly mopped it up and changed her outfit and diaper. We were 30 minutes late to the park, which isn't a huge deal, but it certainly wasn't a relaxing morning, either.
We had fun with our friends, but when we got home I saw the bowl of chicken sitting on the table. I had forgotten to put it in the fridge before leaving, and it sat out for 6 hours. (*sigh*) After dumping it in the garbage, Claire refused to nap. I could tell she was exhausted, in fact she could barely keep her eyes open, but she did everything she could to keep her body moving to avoid sleep. I was wiped out and had really been looking forward to the break (and bummed that my streak was over - for the last 5 or so weeks I had been getting both girls to nap at the same time!) Later when we got to the farmer's market I realized that I had forgotten my sling for Arden at home. By the way this day is going I guess I'm lucky I didn't forget Arden!
When I was going through the mail I came across a letter from the insurance company regarding my settlement. Directions on the form include signing it in front of a notary - this is extremely frustrating because I just spent 45 minutes at the bank YESTERDAY having the form for Arden's birth certificate notarized.
And there's even more, but I'm tired of complaining and I realize that these are minor things to be complaining about in the first place.
Can this day just be over, please?
The day started out fine, with plans to bake a crumb cake, meet a group of friends at a park in the morning, and meet up with another friend to hit a farmer's market in the afternoon.
So after getting out of bed at 5:30 I took the girls downstairs to get started on breakfast and preparing for the day. Yesterday morning I had mixed up the dough for the crumb cake - made with sourdough starter - and covered it with a dish towel for the 24 hour ferment/rise. When I pulled the towel off this morning I noticed something moving...a little bug running along the surface. Figuring he probably wasn't traveling alone and feeling really grossed out I threw the dough away, bummed because I was wasting it and wouldn't have the tasty treat for breakfast. "Oh well," I thought, "we have vanilla yogurt, homemade granola with walnuts, and fresh strawberries and blueberries; that sounds really good!" So we ate that.
After breakfast I tended to the chicken stock that had been simmering on the stove all night. I carefully took all of the pieces out of the liquid, and separated the meat from the bones (a tedious process, but oh so worth it! I love making chicken salad, enchiladas, and other meals from the meat, and the stock always comes in handy while cooking.) I packed a picnic lunch, got myself and Claire ready, and somehow it was almost 9:00.
The plan was to leave at 9, so I nursed Arden and then laid her down on my bed so I could throw my hair into a ponytail. As soon as I did she started projectile spitting up - it was as if she had a hose in her mouth, turned on high, spewing a steady stream of liquid. This is unusual for Arden, so I was a little alarmed. I grabbed her to keep her upright, and it kept flowing. In all it must have been 2 or 2.5 cups of breastmilk (how did she get that much in there in the first place?!) that drenched her, me, and the bed. I quickly mopped it up and changed her outfit and diaper. We were 30 minutes late to the park, which isn't a huge deal, but it certainly wasn't a relaxing morning, either.
We had fun with our friends, but when we got home I saw the bowl of chicken sitting on the table. I had forgotten to put it in the fridge before leaving, and it sat out for 6 hours. (*sigh*) After dumping it in the garbage, Claire refused to nap. I could tell she was exhausted, in fact she could barely keep her eyes open, but she did everything she could to keep her body moving to avoid sleep. I was wiped out and had really been looking forward to the break (and bummed that my streak was over - for the last 5 or so weeks I had been getting both girls to nap at the same time!) Later when we got to the farmer's market I realized that I had forgotten my sling for Arden at home. By the way this day is going I guess I'm lucky I didn't forget Arden!
When I was going through the mail I came across a letter from the insurance company regarding my settlement. Directions on the form include signing it in front of a notary - this is extremely frustrating because I just spent 45 minutes at the bank YESTERDAY having the form for Arden's birth certificate notarized.
And there's even more, but I'm tired of complaining and I realize that these are minor things to be complaining about in the first place.
Can this day just be over, please?
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Front porch fun
We need to get this girl a sandbox or a sand table.
This morning Mark commented on our pathetic-looking geraniums which have been denied water since...well, since my mom planted them a few months ago. (Sorry, mom!) They've gotten a little rain here and there, but are mostly protected from it up on the porch. Unfortunately, they are not protected from the intense afternoon sun...you do the math. I'm usually outnumbered by kids and have a million other things to do, so I took advantage of Mark's help and grabbed a watering can.
Claire followed me outside and started playing with a hose nozzle that was lying near the outdoor faucet, so I left the front door open after I was done watering. We were all still in pajamas, but she was having so much fun walking up and down the porch, pretending to water the plants. And then she started coming inside to her play kitchen, "filling up" the nozzle with water and bringing it back out to the plants. I got involved in other projects and when I peeked out to check on her a few minutes later she was digging in the dirt with one of her measuring spoons.
Funny how as parents we learn to...um, adjust our expectations and tolerances. I appreciate neat and tidy surroundings, but when kids are having fun I've learned to just let the mess go. Instead of worrying about the piles of dirt growing on the front porch I wondered if it was toxic Miracle Gro brand potting soil or the new organic stuff Mark had picked up this spring (pretty sure it was the organic stuff.)
Soon Claire's tools also included her little ceramic teapot (which, sadly, broke when she dropped it on the concrete) and she was having full conversations with an imaginary friend, going back and forth between the planters and her play kitchen. It was so cute, I just had to snap some pictures. Oh, and notice her favorite yellow pajamas - from two different sets - and her "ballet" shoes which she insists on wearing all day, every day. She also has her favorite aqua socks on, but you can't see them in this picture.
These poor geraniums! I will try to water them more often now that I'm up and around.
While I was outside with her she also ventured out to the big planter in the front yard for some exploration. (Check out her lovely aqua socks!)
When I was done taking pictures outside I headed in to vacuum. Claire followed because she loves to pretend with her little wooden ball popper thingy. Here she is vacuuming. What a big helper! :)
This morning Mark commented on our pathetic-looking geraniums which have been denied water since...well, since my mom planted them a few months ago. (Sorry, mom!) They've gotten a little rain here and there, but are mostly protected from it up on the porch. Unfortunately, they are not protected from the intense afternoon sun...you do the math. I'm usually outnumbered by kids and have a million other things to do, so I took advantage of Mark's help and grabbed a watering can.
Claire followed me outside and started playing with a hose nozzle that was lying near the outdoor faucet, so I left the front door open after I was done watering. We were all still in pajamas, but she was having so much fun walking up and down the porch, pretending to water the plants. And then she started coming inside to her play kitchen, "filling up" the nozzle with water and bringing it back out to the plants. I got involved in other projects and when I peeked out to check on her a few minutes later she was digging in the dirt with one of her measuring spoons.
Funny how as parents we learn to...um, adjust our expectations and tolerances. I appreciate neat and tidy surroundings, but when kids are having fun I've learned to just let the mess go. Instead of worrying about the piles of dirt growing on the front porch I wondered if it was toxic Miracle Gro brand potting soil or the new organic stuff Mark had picked up this spring (pretty sure it was the organic stuff.)
Soon Claire's tools also included her little ceramic teapot (which, sadly, broke when she dropped it on the concrete) and she was having full conversations with an imaginary friend, going back and forth between the planters and her play kitchen. It was so cute, I just had to snap some pictures. Oh, and notice her favorite yellow pajamas - from two different sets - and her "ballet" shoes which she insists on wearing all day, every day. She also has her favorite aqua socks on, but you can't see them in this picture.
These poor geraniums! I will try to water them more often now that I'm up and around.
While I was outside with her she also ventured out to the big planter in the front yard for some exploration. (Check out her lovely aqua socks!)
When I was done taking pictures outside I headed in to vacuum. Claire followed because she loves to pretend with her little wooden ball popper thingy. Here she is vacuuming. What a big helper! :)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Fun with cherries
I love this time of year, when berries and cherries are in season, and well-stocked at the market. For today's afternoon snack I washed a bunch of cherries, and cut the pit out of the ones for Claire. She was happily eating her halved cherries while I tended to Arden when I saw her slip away; I walked in the direction she had run and noticed a pink swirl on the wall around her eye level and knew she must be in a creative mood.
"Claire?" I called. She reappeared.
"Please don't smear your cherries on the wall, ok? Cherries are only for eating, not drawing." I tried to hide a smile, realizing how ridiculous my request sounded.
She ran and hid underneath her little table, so I followed and knelt down to peek under the table. I wanted her to know that I wasn't mad, but I was serious about not drawing on the walls with food. When I looked under the table I was met with a big grin surrounded by a pink-swirled face.
"No cleaning the walls with cherries?" she asked innocently.
"No, no cleaning the walls OR drawing on our faces and hair with cherries, please." Guess who's getting a bath tonight? At least it's better than permanent marker...
"Claire?" I called. She reappeared.
"Please don't smear your cherries on the wall, ok? Cherries are only for eating, not drawing." I tried to hide a smile, realizing how ridiculous my request sounded.
She ran and hid underneath her little table, so I followed and knelt down to peek under the table. I wanted her to know that I wasn't mad, but I was serious about not drawing on the walls with food. When I looked under the table I was met with a big grin surrounded by a pink-swirled face.
"No cleaning the walls with cherries?" she asked innocently.
"No, no cleaning the walls OR drawing on our faces and hair with cherries, please." Guess who's getting a bath tonight? At least it's better than permanent marker...
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