Louise is Two!

I have no idea how this happened, how my baby turned two.  I told her over and over, whispered in her ear countless times that she was not allowed to grow up, commanded her to stay small and baby as long as she could.  Ah, but they rarely listen, do they?

Really the growing is wonderful.  Our sweet Louise talks in full sentences, sings all the live long day, dances and jumps, runs and climbs, draws and draws with tidy little marks.  She is so independent and joyful and sweet.  Her sister and she disappear countless times in a day just to play on their own, make mischief and wonder and fun.  I'm not needed so much anymore, except of course for those morning " Mama, mama, I love you mama" snuggles and those "lay down mama, read books and sings songs" goodnights.  It's so wonderful to see my little lady emerging.

We got to celebrate our sweet Louise turning two over and over again, one of the perks to an end of summer birthday I suppose.  First in Minnesota with Aunties and Uncles and Grammy and Pop, Nana and Grandpa Dan too. Then here in our home with good friends and sun, and then again with just us 5 (yes Auntie Sonya too).  Each celebration was special and simple and good.  In the end it's all about this little one of ours and her growing up and reveling in the wonder of a whole new year.

For Louise's friend party I wanted to keep it simple and all about the things my girl loves most, so Eggs and Elephants it was!  I planned a few simple activities (felt elephant masks and flower arranging), lots of food and fun (egg cupcakes, fruit wands, popcorn trail mix, and a few rounds of toddler musical chairs), kept the decorations simple (punching balloons and fan flowers hung from our laundry line).  We had a blast!

I FINALLY made a birthday crown for Louise, something I've been wanting to do with both girls for quite some time now.  It really was so simple and quick and I love that I can just keep adding a star each year to mark her age and the elastic should work forever!

On her actual birthday we woke up us four and showered our dumpling with treasures.  Ainsley was desperate to be first.  She and I had worked hard on her gift and it was delightful to see her so excited to share her gift.

After a few gifts and pancakes we dolled up and loaded up heading off to Cantigny Gardens and a diner lunch out in Wheaton.  As we sang along merrily to Mr Rogers in the car the skies opened up and the rain did not let up, so we revamped and spent the morning perusing books at Barnes and Nobel, then dashed to the Cheesecake Factory in a full out downpour for birthday lunch.  We had such fun despite the rain.

Louise trying some of Ian's coke, those bubbles are so silly

After good naps and cheesecake snack we continued the celebration, opening the rest of the gifts and delighting in it all.

these poly dot markers were a big hit

Dinner was mac and cheese and hot dogs, OF COURSE, per Louise's request.  I made homemade, much to Ian's chagrin, but I just can't pass up the opportunity to make fancy mac and cheese.

cake time!

What a fun week of celebrating we've had.  Now we're enjoying our one day of calm until playschool starts for my little girl tomorrow.  I can hardly believe it!

The Calm

A post to come so soon on sweet Louise's second birthday (well really birthday(s), so much celebrating!) but first a note on this calm.

This calm that has come with the clouds and rain.  This calm that has snuck it's way in before the real hustle and bustle.  This calm that knows we need it, after so many tumultuous weeks behind us and so much change ahead.  We're drinking it in.

So in between the new parent meetings, teacher home visits, and first day jitters we're calm.  We're snuggling longer in the mornings while we still can, letting jammies stay on longer than they should, planning nothing other than time with each other.  I'm so thankful for this calm right now.  And hoping and praying that all the change to come is good and easy for us all.

End of Summer

We got in yesterday afternoon after a solid 8 hour drive.  Ian insisted I call him, letting him know when we were close so he could greet us.  We dove into our boy's arms and relished in the togetherness that has been so fleeting this summer.  It's been hard, it conitnues to be hard, but boy does it make those moments shine.

This morning I awoke before them all.  So rested from sleeping in my own bed.  I made a cup of cinamon vanilla tea, too smitten to be annoyed that Ian forgot to replenish the coffee (ok, maybe a LITTLE annoyed :o).  Once the girls and Ian arose we went about our normal morning ritual, Ian left promplty at 7:45 and us girls stirred up the oatmeal.  We watched as the throngs of children paraded to school, sparkling backpacks and bulging school sacks in hand.  

It's fall, well almost.  Still, time to reflect on summer, this long hard wonderful summer.  I must admit, I'm nostalgic already.  This fall and coming year brings so many changes for our little family.  I'm taking a moment now just to relish in what has been.

The weather at the cabin was cooler this past trip, but marvelous all the same.  The girls didn't mind the chill in the water and the wild woods and crackling fires made up for any clouds.

::my sweet swimming Louise::

::to prove I wore a swimsuit too a bit!::

::the beautiful woods::

::exploring::

::keeping warm::

::knitting, a fire, and anne shirley, perfection::

::Ainsley always managed to creep over to Louise's bed, my heart melted every night::

::Grammy story time::

::having fun with Auntie Jooj::

::Itasca County Fair::

::mid day fire and knitting, can I spend every nap time this way?::

On this trip I tried the girls in the same room for the first time.  It was a wild success.  Ainsley was the perfect tiny mother singing Louise to sleep and egging her on in mischief.  I nearly always found them curled up next to each other in the same bed when I went in to kiss them goodnight.  Ah my big girls, such friends those two are turning out to be.

On this trip we made lots of fires.  Fires indoors and out, for s'more-ing and for warmth.  It got down to the 40s some night and it was beyond delightful to need those extra sweaters and socks I packed just in case.

On this trip I knit like a madwoman.  I'm determined to finish Louise's sweater for her birthday on Sunday...with a few other last minute project musts we'll see what gets done!

On this trip I forgot books. Not for the girls, oh no, but for me.  So I scrounged around the old cabin and found a few Reader's Digest Condensed books...oh man, I forgot how great those are and how WEIRD Stepford Wives is.  Amazing.

On this trip we ventured south to the Itasca County Fair.  After missing the state fair in MN for 4 straight years that corn dog couldn't have tasted better.  We took Louise on her first rides (she's a BIG fan) and Auntie Jooj took Ainsley on her first big girl ride (eh, not so much).  We saw tons of cute animals and enjoyed the general spirit of fun.

On this trip we took many walks, picked wildflowers and the few raspberries that we could find.  We splashed and drove boats, snuggled in the cool mornings and spent one dark rainy day watching all our old favorite shows (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Anne of Green Gables).

On this trip I was reminded so much of the trips we used to take as children.  It felt slower and easier than past trips.  Perhaps it's that my girls continue to grow so and don't need me every minute for every little thing.  I see years and years ahead for us, enjoying this place.  I just hope Ian can come next time, and I know he hopes too.

What a great way to end the summer.

Meal Plan:: 8-22

As stressful as it can be to come home after a long trip and have SO much to do, it can be equally thrilling (yes thrilling) to have the chance to revamp and restart, in the food department too of course.  After a solid week of eating yummy indulgent food I wanted nothing to do with my rich comfort food standbys...soooo, now what?  After scouring a few of my favorite "healthy" websites and magazines I'm excited for a week filled with some amazing fresh meals.  Ah, end of summer bounty...you are good to us.

Breakfasts::
Oatmeal with maple pumpkin butter, raisins and cinnamon
Liberte yogurt (if you haven't tried this stuff you simply must, it's divine)
Eggs! (for Louise's birthday of course!)

Lunches::
TJs Organic Creamy Tomato Soup
Lentil Vegetable Soup
Hummus with Late July Tortilla Chips (the best!) and cherry tomatoes

Dinners::
Asian Chicken Dumpling Soup with Ginger and Spinach
Chicken Sausage and Summer Squash saute
TJs mini pizzas
Ina Garten's Mac and Cheese and Hebrew National hot dogs (Louise's birthday dinner request)

I only planned 4 night because, well, it's already Wednesday and you KNOW there's going to be lots of birthday leftovers. I'm really excited about the treats we're making for Louise's birthday!

grocery total :: $185

LOTS of pantry staples needed to be replenished after our trip as well as all those party goodies.  Not too shabby!

Tiny Treasures

Summer has turned into a bit of a treasure hunt around here.  It's been incredible.

After the start of sale season and the BIG find, things tapered a bit.  We had no real need for much.  I felt set with most gifts needed immeditately and the girls are swimming in summer clothes.

Then the annual book fair commenced and well, we just can't pass that up.

We went with both girls in tow, a feat in itself.  But our little bookworms made theselves right at home amongst the overflowing boxes and excited patrons.  We left when the girls had had enough, got ice cream and came home.  But I was just getting started.  I couldn't NOT go back knowing all the treasures that still had to be found.  So I left the girls with Ian and did a little late night scouring.  Oh boy.

I found so many amazing paperbacks, which I actually prefer to hardback in most cases, those little house ones are the new favorites

Elisa Kleven treasures, far and away my favorite illustrator and on the top of my children's author list, I was THRILLED with these finds, especially that hardback of the Paper Princess, Ainsley spilled water on her copy and it was rather devastating.  Her book B is for Bethlehem is my FAVORITE Christmas book.  Check her out.

Helme Heine, Mem Fox, Roxaboxen, Grandfather Twilight and Mary Ann Hoberman.  Hoberman's beautifully rhymed books are some of our new favorites.  Her book The Seven Silly Eaters is high on  Ainsley's birthday list.

books for Ainsley, three Angelina's, two Jesse Bear's and Dance, Tanya

Holiday reading finds...Bear Noel and Room on the Broom are the BEST!  Oh, and the Jolly Christmas postman too.

Some scores for Louise's birthday, we have the Little Duck book and it's one of her favorites.

I put one bag of books right on the shelves and saved the rest for gifts.  I can't wait!

This week I also did a bit of traditional birthday shopping.  After our wonderful afternoon at the beach in Winnetka my Aunt drove me by the cute local toy store and I lept out to browse while the girls snoozed in the back.  I am so excited about what I found for Louise!

Funshine, a cooperative game I've never heard  of but it looks wonderful and games are her favorites! Puzzles too so I got a jumbo floor puzzle of the earth by Mud Puppy, they make wonderful toys, and of course some new blocks, these ones are to enhance all that train town play that goes on in our house.  Very very exciting.

So after all this bounty and the thrill of the find I was ready to be done, a bit tuckered to be honest.  Then, when packing for Minnesota yesterday I decided to have Ainsley try on all her long sleeves and pants to see what still fit for winter.  Um, NOTHING! save for two pairs of pants.  NOTHING!!!! I nervously chuckled "oh boy Ainsley, we're in big trouble."  She of course was thrilled.  "I'm growing so big mama! I'm SO BIG!!!!!"  Oh goodness yes, but now what?  So we spent the next hour scouring the basement for fabric for new pants for Ainsley.  While the girls napped I made her two new pairs out of old yoga pants of mine.  Then this morning I rushed down the block to hit a big block sale and stumbled upon a woman getting rid of boxes and boxes of her daughters' 4T clothes.  Two bags and $8 later my girl is stocked for fall.  Ah, the beauty of treasure hunting.

while the footie jammies, fun shirts and leggings were much appreciated she hasn't taken this 25 cent dress off all day.  I had to.  I knew it had Ainsley written all over it. (we'd just gotten back from the pool and she was playing her preschool game on the ipad, clearly miffed mom wanted a photo, ah my girl)

Perhaps it's a good thing sale season is winding down.  This treasure hunting is a bit addicting.  Any great finds of yours this summer?  Happy hunting!

To Be Simple

I'm up before the brood this morning, loving waking up at my own time lately.  This morning is cooler and dark and rainy.  I love it.

Really I've loved this week.  The only real pressing to dos have been fun, sewing and scheming for Louise's second birthday, laundering in preparation for our last summer hurrah up at the cabin next week.  All good things.

I'm really trying to savor these last weeks of summer, for as much as I love fall it can be a tricky time of year.  There is always so much CHANGE in fall.  In schedules, in rhythm, in weather.  I realize this year that school and activity changes are what really fuel that tricky fire and I've been anxious about it for some time now, but focusing on all the good and growth it's going to bring for us all has helped immensely.  I'm ready and excited.

It helps so much to have the girls in programs I'm ecstatic about.  Louise will be away from me for the first time two small mornings a week, cared for by Miss Sheila herself at the cute park district schoolhouse just up the road from us.  I attended her orientation last night and all the admins remembered me, asked after Ainsley, were delighted that little Louise would be joining them this fall. So strange and wonderful to be a veteran this year.

And Ainsley?  Well, we all know how much I hoped and yearned after Pilgrim and she's in and so excited.  Every farmer's market Saturday we wave hello to her school and she's already planning out her first day outfit and packing her backpack (she's like her mama that way, always prepared).

And me?  Why, I'm already salivating over the brief free time.  At first perhaps just to linger outside playschool, out of sight but close.  Then I may just go for a jogging stroller free run in the MIDDLE of the day.  Perhaps I'll meet other child-free friends for coffee. Perhaps I'll bring my knitting and a homemade latte and sit in the sun on a  bench, quietly.  Ah.

It is in these preparations for life that I find so much simple joy.  In the stacking of clean summer duds for lake fun, in the scheming of my little one's second birthday (eggs and elephants it is this year, her two favorites in the whole world), in the easy pattern and yarn choices for fall sweaters for the the girls and me (yes me, it's time I have my own new handmade sweater), in the stocking of the freezer for my boy (because one can only live off of cereal and hamburgers for so long).

This morning I am thankful for this quiet house.  For STRONG french press coffee (whoops!) and clouds and rain.  I am thankful for the steady comforting work of home, for my sweet helpful girls, my hardworking boy, and that I'm here, enjoying it all.

A happy Wednesday to you all!