Hump Day Nuggets: Game On

Ahh that down day.  Turns out we ALL needed it.  It was like a normal not in the midst of holiday chaos day.  It was slow and fun and relatively easy.  We had yummy fish and chips for dinner, bathed and played.  Ian and I snuggled down on the couch to resume our new favorite show (Breaking Bad!) This morning the girls slept in, like WAY in.  Ian and I woke a whole hour before them and just enjoyed our quiet house, two cups of coffee and each other.  I can't remember how long it's been since we've had that.  Wait, how old is Ainsley? :o)

This morning was amazing. I felt ready to tackle all that needed to be done, excitement for the trip ahead renews.  I made calls and wrote emails, folded clean laundry and diapers, and the errands, oh the errands.  

I totally have this erranding with two down right?  Louise in the back pack, Ainsley in the cart or stroller.  Only lately the groove has switched.  Louise is NOT content to be contained in any way, and neither is Ainsley.  She insists on walking with me and despite strict rules about running away from mama down long isles, she can't be trusted.  I now feel like I'm going into battle even for the simplest errand.  Ahh.  The simple erranding days of yore are gone, or are they?

Cue playschool.  I'm starting to learn to take advantage of that hour and a half twice a week without my biggest girl.  Louise snoozes while I drive and we get things done in record time.  This morning we made three stops, then I cruised around town while she caught some zzz's in back.  We strolled around town, I got a gingerbread latte from a little patisserie I've been dying to try, Louise happily kicked her feet the whole way.  I felt so free and efficient.  

I used to have such mixed feelings about being away from Ainsley.  I really had guilt about putting her in playschool, wondering how much it was just because I needed that time versus her.  Turns out we're both benefiting.  I get to feel sane for an hour and a half and she gets to rule the roost with her little pals.  She walked out of class today holding her friend Sophie's hand.  My heart melted.

So we're good.  Really good.  In the midst of this special celebratory time of year we're still us, in our groove, getting things done and having so much fun.  I'm really looking forward to winter.

Nuggets::

Dressing up like it's warmer than it is is the new staple in our house.  Ainsley LOVES going through our bin of summer stuff while playing and now Louise pulls at her close desperate to dress up with her.  Last night I indulged and my two dumplings ran around in swim suits. It was pretty darn cute, even if I had a hard time convincing Ainsley that Louise needed to keep her diaper on, she REALLY wanted her to be "nakey underneath like me mama, Louise is a BIG girl." Not that big yet Ainsley girl.

 ::Ainsley lugged that fully packed swimsuit up and down our hallway all evening.  Traveling between her "apartment" and Louise's (they're bedrooms).  "Oh my Louise!  What a lovely apartment you have.  I'll have to come visit soon." WHERE does she learn to talk like that?  I love it.::

 Nuggets::
I plan to do a whole post about the amazing books we're finding at the library.  I just renewed a bunch of winter ones that I'm excited to take to MN with us.  Snuggling and reading is one our favorite things to do in those late afternoon hours.  This one is Amelia Bedilia, with an accompanying read along CD.  Definitely one of Ainsley's new favorites.

Nuggets:: This morning we visited my grandma up north a bit for a little mini Christmas lunch and hello.  The girls are so in love and I love getting to have their great grandparents so close so the can know and love them like I do.  I got all of my grandma's old christmas cookie recipes (from her mom, my great grandma B) and I can't WAIT to try them.  You know me and new cookie recipes!

So we're off.  This trip seems so calm and effortless compared to previous years.  We're ready and oh so excited.  Happy Christmas to all and to all a joyous holiday!  I'll be back after our trip with lots of stories and photos you can bet!

Pre-Holiday letdown

What's a mama to do when holiday let down is in full force, on December 19th? Not so much for the girls, no. While Ainsley had a crankier than usual day yesterday (and they both LOST it on the way back from zoo lights, even though we all recovered with a great meal with wonderful friends) it's just me that seems to be suffering.

::Louise feeling the burn, still as cute as can be::

Ok, suffering may be a bit dramatic, but in the wake of a filled to the brim weekend and huge holiday and birthday celebrations in front of us I'm feeling the need to let DOWN a bit. I am bone tired, something I rarely feel. I can power through sleeplessness, necessary errands and chores, slap a smile on my face when all I want to do is scream, but not today. Today I woke up just feeling TIRED. A little sore throat, that I'm-possibly-coming-down-with-something-but-really-i-just-feel-like-crawling-into-bed-and-snoozing-all-day kind of sick.

 So we're taking a sick day. We've spent the morning in our cozy basement, watching Heidi (the Shirley Temple version of course) playing and folding loads upon loads of laundry. Presents are wrapped and packed, the girls now are packed too. Party remnants still adorn our home, balloons floating freely between floors and rooms. I simply cannot bring myself to make lists or plan out our few remaining days at home. The only plan is to slowly but surely get it all done. To clean and organize as best I can knowing full well how important it is to come home to a put together house after the holiday hub bub.

::Ainsley enjoying her new gifts from Ian and I after quiet present opening time with just us 3 on the eve of her party, adorned in her new swimsuit, then her raincoat, thankful and playful and sweet, what a fun new tradition::

 ::powering through this Monday haze with my two favorite girls, armed with jingle bells and crayons (and in Ainsley's case three dresses), really? it could be so much worse::

 ::my little ray of sunshine::

 But really? I just want to spend these days relaxing with my girls, enjoying the anticipation of the great fun to come and the end of this wonderful year. So today we hibernate, and forget the errands and to dos. Today we relish in the calm and quiet, the peace and love of us 4. It's actually a fairly nice let down, wonderful in fact. Now if only the car would pack itself...

Birthday Brew

Half the fun of any holiday (in my humble opinion) is the making of it. The planning and anticipating, the hard work and thought. today we are in full birthday brew mode and it feels (and smells!) wonderful.

Yesterday we got out the decorations, hung and unwound. Ainsley (and even Louise) were as much a part of the doing as I was. I was a bit weary of our "overdecked" our house was going to look with Christmas AND birthday adornments, but I must say I like it so much I may just leave it up through new years.

::kneading the largest ball of play dough EVER, finally cleaning windows of fall decor, and all that garland and flowers::







After news of Ian's success last night and a fun Christmas party for me and the girls we celebrated with some Portillios and early bed times. I awoke this morning determined NOT to be overwhelmed with the to dos, to focus on the fun and merrymaking of this special day with my specail birthday girl and her cute baby sister. (even though in the midst of this all we're dealing with replacing part of our roof, ick!)

We erranded this morning where Ainsley maneuvered the "big girl cart" at TJs like a pro and the only items I bought off list were a couple of bottles of their vintage ale and Prosecco (hey, it is the holidays afterall!). We got right to work upon our return. I debated putting a show on for the girls to occupy them so that I could work, but they wandered inside, sat down and just started playing, together, happily. Afraid of rocking the boat I said nothing and got straight to work. We made a loaf of WHO bread (for sure my new favorite, sweet enough for a treat but bready enough for a sandwich...SOOOO good), golden potage soup (with a whole foods mix of seasonal root veggies) and 2 yellow cakes. The girls helped dump and stire when needed and then happily meandered up and down the stairs, playing in the play kitchen, dress up and with their new great toys from the party last night. I was amazed at how great the morning went. Usually when there is so much to be done catastrophe strikes!

::a few photos from the Christmas party, Ainsley wearing my pearls, Louise ho-ho-ho-ing (literally, she LOVES saying ho ho ho), noshing on yummy treats and playing with their friends, such a great party::







Now the girls are peacefully and easily resting, the sun is shining and 4.5 sticks of butter are coming to room temperature in the kitchen waiting to be made into some delicious BLACK chocolate frosting for Ainsley's penguin cake. I hope the girls sleep long enough to let me frost. goodness knows they can't contain themselves when it comes to sweets. Just like their mama. I can't wait to share about Ainsley's party. I feel the joy of a kid again, like it's my own third birthday. What fun it's going to be! Happy Friday everyone!

:: a very blurry Ainsley, dutifully stuffing party bags, my helper girls in the kitchen, funny Louise and her oven mits, yummy soup and bread and how my sink looked until about 20 minutes ago. Oh the joys of cooking!::

Hump Day Nuggets: The Good Old Days

There is something about this time of year that always sends me back down memory lane. Perhaps it's the deep traditions I remember from childhood, the new ones we're making with our own family, the twinkle in my girls' eyes, or just that I'm getting old. Dang if that's it.

I love reminiscing. As a child I often watched old home videos, just for fun. I still sip on wine and read my old blogs some nights, to remember what it was like last year, last month, last week, when time seems to so quickly fly lately. I feel like it grounds me to so presently remember the past, where I'm from and from where I've come. It's helped me to do some soul searching and changing. I'm a big fan of memory lane.

This time of year has always been so special to me. The first snowfall, the first Christmas cookies filling the house with good smells, decorating and scheming and anticipating. In college, late nights studying, writing and painting (some of my favorite nights truth be told). As a newlywed in the hustle and bustle of all families christmas. As a new mama to my new first littlest love, spending her first christmas in our little apartment with a quiet tree and a bursting heart. Last Christmas with my two dumplings and my happy family, sharing in the love and joy of this season all together.

Each year really just keeps getting better. I've found my personal zeal for the holiday quite shifted. Instead of me gazing in wonder at the tree and the empty hopeful stockings, it's my girls eyes that light up with joy and anticipation. I love getting to create that joy with them, for them.

I love that our traditions are almost equal parts Jesus and Santa. Ainsley knows the nativity story by heart, for her own curiosty in the sweet baby Jesus cannn't be satiatied. She LOVES the Little Drummer Boy and the animals staring in awe. She loves the mother Mary, and totally gets needing to care for her little one. Louise mostly loves to make all the animals kiss baby Jesus. louise is all about kissing these days.

I love that all Ainsley wants for Christmas is "a treat mama, like chocolate, or OOOOH, maybe a candy cane?" There are few moments thus far in my parenting life that I've been willing to say "I did somethign right there" but my child's sheer joy and gratitude in the simplest SMALLEST gifts is one. she gets what a big deal it is, that it's somethign special. I love that about my girl.

So despite the rain and gloom and hurry scurry, there's lots to love this time of year. I'm pretty in love with it all.

Nuggets::

Morning Louise. One of my favorite times ever.

::morning dynamic duo? also pretty great::

Nuggets:

We had our first snow last week. Well, first dusting. Just a half inch of the white stuff was enough to set the girls in winter motion. Full on snow suits, snow angels, teeny tiny snowmen and red cheeks abounded. It was a great morning.

Nuggets:

I took Ainsley to her first ballet, the Nutcracker, with Auntie Sonya this past weekend. She was absolutely entranced. I think we may have a little ballerina on our hands.

Nuggets:

Baking and cooking are still two of our favorite long afternoon inside activities. I just can't get enough of my girls vying for position on the step stool, focused and hungry to help. Simply can't get enough.

::on the menu this week? spritz cookies,

gingerbread play dough, caramels and english toffee hence ALL that butter::

Nuggets::

My sweet Louise. Now that she's officially done with morning naps we spend Ainsley's playschool mornings just the two of us, erranding and playing. What a special time it has become for just me and my girl. I love her to pieces.

::taking advantage of this unseasonably warm weather at the park::

I just can't get over how much she's grown (up) in the past few months. She such a little girl now, a sweet moving talking little girl. We have such fun together. I'm one lucky mama.

Nuggets:

Christmas came early at our house today. After all the presents had been thoughtfully bought, wrapped and budgeted for one of my FAVORITE kids clothing lines was on sale on zulily. So I did what any rational parent of two woudl do. I went nuts. Well, not nuts, I filled up my virtual cart and literally spent a half hour agonizing over which items to keep, how much we could afford. I ended up with some amazing stuff. New dresses for both of my girls, new pants, a skirt and a shirt for Ainsley. I always buy a size up from where they are to make sure everything fits and lasts as long as it can. We were all pretty excited upon the arrival of that box this morning.

Nuggets:

I feel like we're on the horizon of some new big stuff. today ended a great semester at musikgarten, and with it we're looking forward to the new year. New classes and schedules, new friends to meet and make, work to do. Ainsley's amazing playschool teacher commented on how ready she thought Louise was for playschool this next fall. I can't even fathom her being big enough to ever leave my side. But somehow she will be, just as Ainsley is now, independent and big and smart and free. We've exited the baby years, with long nights and snuggles, full on into the big kid stuff. I haven't had time to stop and really ponder all that's changed in our lives. I'm so thankful for it all, and yet again trying to focus on the here and now. Because it's pretty great.

Happy hump day out there!

Permission to Sit and do Nothing

Here I sit during another naptime after a full morning, tired and frazzled. It's been that kind of week(s).

Aside from Louise's teething and oh-my-goodness-my-baby-is-now-a-toddler struggles, I'm staying up late to work on things, Ian's working long and hard, leaving him frazzled too. I've had to remind myself lots that these are the days that we can shine. Being uber productive and filled to the brim, yet I find myself so flustered and scatter brained that everything feels cloudly and time is flying by.

I am particularly frazzled because this is my favorite time of year. Old movies to watch, cookies to bake, seasonal crafts to make and books to read. I feel like the days are moving too fast, too full to really stop and enjoy.

So the last few days I've made some changes, granted myself the right to just SIT and do NOTHING. Instead of getting frustrated and trying to wrap presents or knit or sew, or organize or clean with the girls underfoot, I'm just WITH them. We dance to tunes, color slowly and purposefully, talk and pretend and play. It sounds so simple and obvious, but it's made life so much better.

I'm trying to focus, something I've lacked a lot lately. One thing at a time. I know the things that need to get done and I know myself well enough to know that they will. Right now my girls need me to be a fun mama, to enjoy this precious fleeting time of year and life with them. My husband needs me to be on, because he is SO on with his own stuff, and he always backs me up when I need to get MY stuff done (for instance, after staying at work until midnight and getting up with Louise at 6 he insists that I go running tonight "I got this. You'd better be in running shorts when I get home." what a guy I married.)

So after the girls went down for their naps and I washed dishes, switched around laundry and knitted a few rows of Ian's sweater I gave myself permission to make a cup of coffee, spike it with some delicious nog, look over the cute photos of my girls enjoying the first snow of the season that I took this morning and write this blog. Because life is too short and precious and fleeting to be ON all the time.

I hope you all take a moment today to just BE and ENJOY. I know I sure am.

Hump Day Nuggets: Eight Years

I had a whole post written for today. It was good. All about a new groove I'm searching to find for myself, the self of me that's still wholly mine. My plan was to tweak it tonight after the girls fell asleep, add some nuggets and "bada-bing!" done. Then Ian came home and after exchanging our typical smooches and smiles he looked me in the eyes and said "happy eight years".

Eight years? December 7th. Eight years. Eight years since I said yes to being his and he to being mine. Eight years since the moon eyes across the cafeteria and obvious "accidental" encounters in the dorm halls. Eight years since this journey with the man of my dreams began. Amazing.

So of course my mind was sent reeling down memory lane. Fondly remembering that flutter of new love and excitement. Reminiscing about the dates spent in painting studios, sipping coffee, and pretending I liked film noir as much as he did. Feeling thankful for this amazing love that I've found, this easy comfortable amazing love.

Eight years.

Eight years later I still feel every bit of that flutter. Truth be told most days around 3pm, just before the girls stir from their naps, just when I decide that I've done enough to mark naptime as productive, I stop. I pour a cup of coffee or tea, sit, and think for a moment about my man. Not as a dad, or even a husband, or a scientist, but Ian. Smart, handsome, kind, steady Ian, and how utterly blessed I am, and the girls are, to have him in our lives, for ours.

It's been an amazing eight years.

Nuggets::

We're finally able to get a few things done to the house that have much needed doing. One was to remove the mulberrys that were taking over our back porch. The tree guys were amazing. in and out and cleaned up in under a half hour. The girls LOVED watching all that loud chainsawing action.

::and I love watching them share the stool::

Nuggets::

Louise is erupting. Literally, new words and tricks and and preferences emerge every minute of every day. I am totally in love with this adorable hands on all smiles and chatter chattering 15 month old of mine. Can she stay this way forever?

::totally into cutting out graham crackers with Ainsley::

::giving me a little sassy sweet face, after chattering away::

::look mom, I'm behind the kitchen, you can't catch me!::

Nuggets::

I found my old camera in the basement (aside, you know you need to do a good clean out when you find an old fully functioning camera in your basement that you didn't even know still existed, yeesh). It's become Ainsley's camera and she LOVES having it at her beckon call. I need to upload her latest photos, but here's a group shot she took on a typical auntie sonya's over for dinner night. Those are some of our favorite nights.

Nuggets::

Ainsley went to her fist movie this week! Ian and I both wanted to see the muppet movie and we decided it'd be a great first film for our girl. We all three held hands, nearly skipping down the street. We bought the biggest popcorn and coke that money can buy and munched and laughed away. She did so great, fell asleep for 20 minutes on Ian's lap and then woke up laughing and clapping at the finale. Ah, another sign my girl is growing. I saved the ticket for her baby book. Of course I took no photos. The theater was too dark for Ian's camera phone.

::a few morning shots::

Nuggets:

the girls are really getting into the christmas spirit with me. Louise is enthralled with the bright packages and paper, definitely choosing which package should be wrapped with what. Ainsley has single handedly cut and taped most of the presents. They are such little helpers.

::snowscapes with tempera paint and christmas tree branch stamping::

::the magic of the christmas village continues to entrance::

::blurry I know, but I had to include it because check out their expressions, they WERE playing nicely with the village, then promptly began devouring the gingerbread house. Louise at the whole gumdrop roof section in about 30 seconds. Is it wrong that I'm a little proud?::

Ah. What a great day. Happy Hump Day out there!