As I have grown it has become more and more apparent to me that I am an incredibly lucky person.
I used to think not. I used to think I was cursed.
EVERY year in elementary school I'd spend most of my allotted money at the winter carnival at school on that damn cake walk, DESPERATE to win my very own cake. I never won. Not one year. I was sure I was cursed.
And then there were the bad room draw numbers in college. If you didn't go to a teeny tiny liberal arts school I'll spare you the details, but it basically meant last pick of the rooms on campus.
You know what? That actually worked out. I ended up with the best roommates ever Junior year, in one of the coolest triples on campus. Things were starting to look up.
Now as an adult? I'm pretty sure I have some of the best luck. I found an amazing man to share my life with, we have three beautiful children and a full happy life together. Things are great. And after seeing this video I feel even luckier. That I don't even have to think about this gender stuff for the most part because I have been surrounded by the most amazing men in the world.
You see, I was the second born of four girls. I never knew what little boys were like. Sure we had tons of dolls and Barbies and dress up clothes and pink stuff, but we also had Tonka bulldozers and trucks, a full sports bin in the garage with bats and balls and gloves and equal opportunity parents who made sure we all knew how to change a tire and sent us to college with a toolbox in hand.
Until this video, it honestly never occurred to me to think differently. That perhaps there really are people out there who believe that because of the girl and the pink and the dolls, we maybe aren't as smart, or challenged, or capable.
I take particular offense because I'm that girl they speak so harshly of. I am a homemaker, by choice. I got a bachelor of arts degree from a great school and most days I don't use that education in the traditional sense.
I am raising two little girls, and a baby boy and am asked often if it's different with our baby. Of course it isn't. He's a baby. And when he's big enough to hold a crayon and smash play dough and stir ingredients in a bowl and finger knit and sit on my lap to sew, he'll do all of those things just like his sisters. He'll also wear their scuffed up unicorn and smiley faced helmets and zoom on their pink bikes. He'll always be running to catch them because MAN they're fast.
I hear that a lot too. That now that I have a boy I'll know what rambunctious is, what rowdy is, oh boy, you just wait! No waiting necessary thank you. Anyone who has met my first born knows that that girl can keep up with (and outrun, out climb, out wit) just about any boy. I'm not bragging, it's truth. Her preschool teachers tell me it's so. That girl walks up to the "Crew" in the block area and bosses them around and they LISTEN to her. They do what she says. She's a force.
So they're girls, but that's one of the last thoughts that cross my mind when I look at my two older children. They are beautiful smart capable excited interesting little people and I know without a doubt that they can do whatever they put their minds to.
They can look into microscopes and crunch data and solve complicated questions like their daddy, they can become a household chef, creative madwoman, mama extraordinaire like their mom. They can do anything and everything in between. And you know what? It's all worthy.
I don't dislike that video. I guess I get it now. I've taken for granted that my gender was never an issue for me, that I always knew I could do anything I set my mind to.
Perhaps I'll get Ainsley that fun engineering set for Christmas, it looks like a cool toy. But I don't for one minute think that a toy can define a child. Pink or blue, domesticated or logical or physical. It's a toy. Its the way we raise our children, the people we surround them with. That's what really matters.
Thank you dad. Thank you Bop. Thank you Uncle Bert and Mr. Beck and Mr. Coady and Mr. Orstad and Mr. Rogers (8th grade science teacher, not dad) and Wendell Arneson and John Saurer and Professor Durocher. Thank you to at least 27 other men that I've left out. Thank you for being strong sensitive men who never gave me a moment's pause over my preference for pink, who let me grow knowing that I was capable and that my choices were many. For being feminists without me even knowing.
Thank you Mom. Than you grandma and Gram. Thank you Aunt Gail and Kelly, Mrs. Rondesdvedt, and Karen Cherewatuk. Thank you to all of the women who showed me first hand, how amazing women are.
And thank you to my husband, the father of my three beautiful children, you are the best role model, the most supreme advocate, that I can imagine for them all.
I am the luckiest, and I'm happy to say I'm pretty sure my kids will be too.
I hope the same for yours, pink or blue.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
This Moment and Little Bits
We're almost three full months into the school year and I feel like I'm still shuffling around in the mornings. Most mornings there is so much that needs to get done, at the same time I know I need to take my alone time while I can and rest if I'm going to need it at all to get me through the day. We're still there I guess, in the thick of ohmygoodnessthisissohardtheyneedmeallthetime parenting. I'm taking my breaths while I can.
So most mornings after Felix and I drop the girls off I come home, put him to bed and pour myself a second cup of coffee and sit. Even if it's just for 10, 15 minutes, it feels so good. Then I get to it, and feel good about getting things done, so I don't go crazy and so that when I go pick those two precious girls up I can focus on them and have a great rest of our day. It's mostly working. I love preschool mornings.
Ainsley loves preschool. I haven't had an issue at drop off for weeks now. She marches right in, hangs up her things and gets to it, hardly remembering to say goodbye to me anymore. IT's sad in a way, but just how it should be. She always has so many elaborate stories from her mornings at school. I doubt most of them are real, she's an embellisher, but they're fun and I love her excitement.
Another milestone to note is our Ainsley girl is writing. I know I've mentioned this before, but up until now she's still needed lots of help sounding things out, now she just sits and writes and for the most part is REALLY good at spelling words out on her own. I think she's very motivated by all those stories she has in her head. She loves to write.
This past weekend we had a mommy daughter date. We were down to two pairs of thrifted shoes that fit her so she needed a new pair. When I suggested that we go to get some more she pleaded with me. "Oh mommy, can we please go to a new store, one that's just for shoes, brand new shoes?" You know you're gotten sucked into the thrift shop vortex when your child is Pollyanna style excited to go get new shoes, store bought shoes, at a real store!
Oh we had fun. Ainsley picked out the blinkiest sparkliest shoes she could find. We went to Nordstroms where they actually have great deals on last seasons shoes. We got her a pair of $48 stride rites for $29, still WAY more than I typically spend pn shoes, but she loves them and needed them and they're really nice shoes. Oh but we didn't stop there. We got her a new twirly Christmas dress and Christmas presents for Pop and Uncle Joey. I made the mistake of touring the Disney store with her where she wanted EVERYTHING so we ended up leaving with a Tinkerbell ornament for Ainsley and a Minnie Mouse one for Louise. Then we ate lunch at the cheesecake Factory. It was a great special morning with my girl.
We got home and heard all about Louise's morning with daddy and Felix. They had some fun too at the conservatory and lunch at Indian buffet.
Oh my Louise, such a little spark plug. Yesterday morning she was CRUSHED that she didn't have school, cried and cried because she loves her teachers so much. She's such a happy little girl at school, loves her friends and being out and about. Whenever I ask her what she wants to do in the afternoons she replies "go scooting to a pawl mama". She LOVES her scooter and parks, and wearing her crazy hair down and pink, and dresses with tights and her cinderella shoes, and drawing and painting and play dough and crackers and eggs and anything sweet. She's still in a sassy three year old stage of life, but still so sweet and snuggly. I love my Louise.
And Felix, my little guy, I feel like I haven't been documenting him enough. He's almost 7 months old. He slept SO well last week and this weekend didn't sleep so well. It's so hard for me to let him cry at night. I love him so much and all he wants is to nurse and snuggle and he goes right back to sleep. He has me wrapped around his little chubby fingers.
His baby temperament so far is somewhere between Ainsley and Louise's. He's definitely not as docile and "easy" as Louise, not quite as fussy and desperate to move as Ainsley. He LOVES being held, in particular by me. The hardest time of the day for me with him is from about 4:30 - 5:30 when I'm tired and trying to figure out dinner and the girls need extra direction and he just wants to be held. It's VERY hard not to pour myself a glass of wine every day at that time :o).
Oh but he's a good baby. He loves sitting up on the floor just grabbing and playing and biting on things. He makes the best happy scream sound and I can really get him laughing with tickles and silliness. He is a really good eater and LOVES food. He still doesn't show much interest in a bottle but eats at every meal with us, some mum mums in between, and nurses every few hours still. WE've started giving him baths with the girls and he loves that. He just splashes and giggles. The girls love it too. They love their little "bubba boo" SO much. We're pretty blesses to have three amazing little ones that all love each other so much.
As for me? Right now I'm trying to find a balance in my days. I have so much that I want to get done for the holidays that it's hard to be present with the kids in the afternoons. It's very tempting to just pop on a show or set up a simple craft and leave them be so I can work. I'm learning to use rest time well, even if it means no real rest for me. And Ainsley is so big that she can be a real help with projects now, Louise too. I made myself a new top last week in the two hours I had one morning while the girls were at school and Felix slept. I needed that jumpstart, I've been lagging with my sewing projects. Funny because last year I found it so hard to motivate to knit, this year it's the reverse. I'm LOVING knitting right now. It'll all get done right?
At any rate, life it still good. I'm thankful for a fun weekend behind us and full week ahead and Thanksgiving next week. It's going to be good.
Happy Monday!
So most mornings after Felix and I drop the girls off I come home, put him to bed and pour myself a second cup of coffee and sit. Even if it's just for 10, 15 minutes, it feels so good. Then I get to it, and feel good about getting things done, so I don't go crazy and so that when I go pick those two precious girls up I can focus on them and have a great rest of our day. It's mostly working. I love preschool mornings.
Ainsley loves preschool. I haven't had an issue at drop off for weeks now. She marches right in, hangs up her things and gets to it, hardly remembering to say goodbye to me anymore. IT's sad in a way, but just how it should be. She always has so many elaborate stories from her mornings at school. I doubt most of them are real, she's an embellisher, but they're fun and I love her excitement.
Another milestone to note is our Ainsley girl is writing. I know I've mentioned this before, but up until now she's still needed lots of help sounding things out, now she just sits and writes and for the most part is REALLY good at spelling words out on her own. I think she's very motivated by all those stories she has in her head. She loves to write.
This past weekend we had a mommy daughter date. We were down to two pairs of thrifted shoes that fit her so she needed a new pair. When I suggested that we go to get some more she pleaded with me. "Oh mommy, can we please go to a new store, one that's just for shoes, brand new shoes?" You know you're gotten sucked into the thrift shop vortex when your child is Pollyanna style excited to go get new shoes, store bought shoes, at a real store!
Oh we had fun. Ainsley picked out the blinkiest sparkliest shoes she could find. We went to Nordstroms where they actually have great deals on last seasons shoes. We got her a pair of $48 stride rites for $29, still WAY more than I typically spend pn shoes, but she loves them and needed them and they're really nice shoes. Oh but we didn't stop there. We got her a new twirly Christmas dress and Christmas presents for Pop and Uncle Joey. I made the mistake of touring the Disney store with her where she wanted EVERYTHING so we ended up leaving with a Tinkerbell ornament for Ainsley and a Minnie Mouse one for Louise. Then we ate lunch at the cheesecake Factory. It was a great special morning with my girl.
We got home and heard all about Louise's morning with daddy and Felix. They had some fun too at the conservatory and lunch at Indian buffet.
Oh my Louise, such a little spark plug. Yesterday morning she was CRUSHED that she didn't have school, cried and cried because she loves her teachers so much. She's such a happy little girl at school, loves her friends and being out and about. Whenever I ask her what she wants to do in the afternoons she replies "go scooting to a pawl mama". She LOVES her scooter and parks, and wearing her crazy hair down and pink, and dresses with tights and her cinderella shoes, and drawing and painting and play dough and crackers and eggs and anything sweet. She's still in a sassy three year old stage of life, but still so sweet and snuggly. I love my Louise.
And Felix, my little guy, I feel like I haven't been documenting him enough. He's almost 7 months old. He slept SO well last week and this weekend didn't sleep so well. It's so hard for me to let him cry at night. I love him so much and all he wants is to nurse and snuggle and he goes right back to sleep. He has me wrapped around his little chubby fingers.
His baby temperament so far is somewhere between Ainsley and Louise's. He's definitely not as docile and "easy" as Louise, not quite as fussy and desperate to move as Ainsley. He LOVES being held, in particular by me. The hardest time of the day for me with him is from about 4:30 - 5:30 when I'm tired and trying to figure out dinner and the girls need extra direction and he just wants to be held. It's VERY hard not to pour myself a glass of wine every day at that time :o).
Oh but he's a good baby. He loves sitting up on the floor just grabbing and playing and biting on things. He makes the best happy scream sound and I can really get him laughing with tickles and silliness. He is a really good eater and LOVES food. He still doesn't show much interest in a bottle but eats at every meal with us, some mum mums in between, and nurses every few hours still. WE've started giving him baths with the girls and he loves that. He just splashes and giggles. The girls love it too. They love their little "bubba boo" SO much. We're pretty blesses to have three amazing little ones that all love each other so much.
As for me? Right now I'm trying to find a balance in my days. I have so much that I want to get done for the holidays that it's hard to be present with the kids in the afternoons. It's very tempting to just pop on a show or set up a simple craft and leave them be so I can work. I'm learning to use rest time well, even if it means no real rest for me. And Ainsley is so big that she can be a real help with projects now, Louise too. I made myself a new top last week in the two hours I had one morning while the girls were at school and Felix slept. I needed that jumpstart, I've been lagging with my sewing projects. Funny because last year I found it so hard to motivate to knit, this year it's the reverse. I'm LOVING knitting right now. It'll all get done right?
At any rate, life it still good. I'm thankful for a fun weekend behind us and full week ahead and Thanksgiving next week. It's going to be good.
Happy Monday!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
No Sleep, Grumpy Mom
IT's been a rough morning at the Vaagenes house, and it's completely my fault. You see, Felix is not sleeping well. Has not been sleeping well for two solid months now. Every single night he wakes up JUST as I'm drifting off to sleep...right at 11pm. Then around 3 or 4 he's up again, ravenous. He's eating two big baby food meals a day and some table food. We give him a 6 oz bottle before bed that he doesn't usually finish. He goes to sleep just fine, we lay him down awake. We're three kids in, we know the drill. NOTHING IS WORKING.
Last night he screamed for a solid hour before finally going back to sleep at 4am. I was so grumpy this morning. I love my baby, but I'm over it. I NEED SLEEP.
And those poor girls of mine are suffering. I have NO patience with them. I expect so much of them in mornings. I want them to just focus and hurry and get ready all on their own and I feel so sad after I drop them off because I've missed out on so many opportunities to enjoy them in the mornings, to snuggle and help and love. Ah. I'm feeling bad about that today.
So I've spent my free time tidying and trying to revamp. While cleaning out a few drawers around the house I stumbled across and old Aiken Drum I drew with the girls a long time ago. I think they'd like to do another one today. That was always a favorite. And then we best wash those pumpkins off the window so that we can paint something new for the Thanksgiving season. Perhaps a big Turkey? Some leaves? IT's so sunny and bright out but COLD. I want to have fun with them this afternoon. I felt like a bad mom this morning.
I am feeling sad right now. It's not their fault that their brother isn't sleeping well and that I'm grumpy. IT's not even really Felix's fault. He's a baby. I never knew sleep deprivation until this very minute. My bags have bags. Ah. Please sleep tonight Felix...I want to feel like a good mom again.
Last night he screamed for a solid hour before finally going back to sleep at 4am. I was so grumpy this morning. I love my baby, but I'm over it. I NEED SLEEP.
And those poor girls of mine are suffering. I have NO patience with them. I expect so much of them in mornings. I want them to just focus and hurry and get ready all on their own and I feel so sad after I drop them off because I've missed out on so many opportunities to enjoy them in the mornings, to snuggle and help and love. Ah. I'm feeling bad about that today.
So I've spent my free time tidying and trying to revamp. While cleaning out a few drawers around the house I stumbled across and old Aiken Drum I drew with the girls a long time ago. I think they'd like to do another one today. That was always a favorite. And then we best wash those pumpkins off the window so that we can paint something new for the Thanksgiving season. Perhaps a big Turkey? Some leaves? IT's so sunny and bright out but COLD. I want to have fun with them this afternoon. I felt like a bad mom this morning.
I am feeling sad right now. It's not their fault that their brother isn't sleeping well and that I'm grumpy. IT's not even really Felix's fault. He's a baby. I never knew sleep deprivation until this very minute. My bags have bags. Ah. Please sleep tonight Felix...I want to feel like a good mom again.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Halloween and Galena and that week in Between
I came on to write about our weekend and then got totally sidetracked by the fact that I never wrote about Halloween. For shame!
Halloween was great. The girls were so excited to be Satsuki and Mei from Totoro and Felix as a tiny Totoro was pretty darn cute.
In retrospect I'm surprised that it was all as easy as it was. The costumes weren't too tricky to make, everyone was happy and excited. Ainsley did want to wear her penguin costume to school but when I picked her up she'd changed into her Mei costume and was so happy to trick or teat in it (in the rain!). I think she and I have both mellowed quite a bit over this past year. It's all not such a big deal.
The girls didn't mind the rain at all and we still got two good blocks in, ran into friends and Ainsley in particular REALLY enjoyed handing out candy once we were done. She was doing this hilarious thing where she'd open the doors, then bend down on one knee and hold the wooden bowl up like an offering to the kids. It was so hilarious. I'm laughing out loud right now just thinking about it. She also switched costumes. Her Mei costume got a bit wet so she went upstairs and came down in a very eclectic garden fairy costume. Next year I'll just have them raid their dress up bin I think! She looked so cute and was so proud!
Carving pumpkins the weekend before Halloween was so fun. The girls both grabbed some guts, though Ainsley was reluctant at first. Louise told her to be brave so she did. She's not one to have her little sister show her up! The girls both wanted happy pumpkins and were a bit nervous about me making a scary face. I went ahead with my plan mainly because I'm trying to show them it's not a big deal and not REALLY scary to have a spooky jack o lantern. They came around in the end and liked all of ours. Felix had a ball just hugging and patting and sucking on his pumpkin while we all carved. Just like a 6 month old should. It was a great time.
So Halloween was great and we spent the next week enjoying normalcy. I had Felix's 6 month appointment and the girls' conferences, and we scheduled lots of playdates. The week just flew by!
Felix is holding steady in the 70th percentile for both height and weight. He's growing so well, eating tons, now I just need him to stop wanting to eat all night! Thanks to mom friends on Facebook I found a bottle that he'll finally take. The Playtex nurser. I find it hilarious that this third baby of mine only wants to nurse and when he will take a bottle it's the cheapest plastic kind. Ha! Oh Felix, you're lucky you're so cute :o)
Halloween was great. The girls were so excited to be Satsuki and Mei from Totoro and Felix as a tiny Totoro was pretty darn cute.
In retrospect I'm surprised that it was all as easy as it was. The costumes weren't too tricky to make, everyone was happy and excited. Ainsley did want to wear her penguin costume to school but when I picked her up she'd changed into her Mei costume and was so happy to trick or teat in it (in the rain!). I think she and I have both mellowed quite a bit over this past year. It's all not such a big deal.
The girls didn't mind the rain at all and we still got two good blocks in, ran into friends and Ainsley in particular REALLY enjoyed handing out candy once we were done. She was doing this hilarious thing where she'd open the doors, then bend down on one knee and hold the wooden bowl up like an offering to the kids. It was so hilarious. I'm laughing out loud right now just thinking about it. She also switched costumes. Her Mei costume got a bit wet so she went upstairs and came down in a very eclectic garden fairy costume. Next year I'll just have them raid their dress up bin I think! She looked so cute and was so proud!
Carving pumpkins the weekend before Halloween was so fun. The girls both grabbed some guts, though Ainsley was reluctant at first. Louise told her to be brave so she did. She's not one to have her little sister show her up! The girls both wanted happy pumpkins and were a bit nervous about me making a scary face. I went ahead with my plan mainly because I'm trying to show them it's not a big deal and not REALLY scary to have a spooky jack o lantern. They came around in the end and liked all of ours. Felix had a ball just hugging and patting and sucking on his pumpkin while we all carved. Just like a 6 month old should. It was a great time.
Felix is holding steady in the 70th percentile for both height and weight. He's growing so well, eating tons, now I just need him to stop wanting to eat all night! Thanks to mom friends on Facebook I found a bottle that he'll finally take. The Playtex nurser. I find it hilarious that this third baby of mine only wants to nurse and when he will take a bottle it's the cheapest plastic kind. Ha! Oh Felix, you're lucky you're so cute :o)
The girls' conferences this year were a breeze. I remember being so anxious last year. It was all new! This year I was looking forward to sitting down with the girls' teachers. Ainsley's teachers talked about her "astounding and magnificent vocabulary", her impressive (and relentless!) creativity and how well she plays with other children. I can brag a bit because I'll happily admit that we both agreed we need to work on her transitioning from one activity to another and taking care of her belongings. It's always good to know that teachers see the same things I do and that we're all working towards the same thing, happy to have our Ainsley girl around. She's pretty great.
Louise's teacher teared up talking about her. She's apparently pretty sweet and fun to have in class. It's always nice when a teacher starts a conference with "she is an absolute joy, i know I'm supposed to find a concern, but I just can't". I stressed that we're continuing to work on letter recognition with Louise, mainly because she seems to eager to learn to read like Ainsley is and she's ready!
I'm growing to love conferences. It's nice to have confirmation that we have two pretty great girls on our hands and aren't completely screwing up in the parenting department :o).
Coming off such a great week I guess I was feeling adventurous and decided we needed a little family trip. I inquired on Facebook about Galena, IL and got an unexpected message from an old friend offering their house to us in the area. So we packed up and left on Saturday morning. Galena is about three hours away and the drive was easy enough. The scenery out in northwest Illinois is beautiful, rolling hills with trees, lots of farms, sheep, horses, cows. The home was beautiful and the girls in particular enjoyed the family's fondness of disney, in particular the tinkerbell/princess room they got to stay in.
We ended up just staying for a night and I took NO pictures. Sadly a lot of the activities that we had counted on were not available. Horseback riding was closed for the season as was the alpaca farm, and downtown was not as kid friendly (or delicious) as we had been hoping for. Still it was fun to have a little family adventure. Ian and I spent our one evening away sipping on mead playing a rousing game of Big Bang Theory Trivia and then went to bed early. Ian took the girls to the resort pool while I packed up the next afternoon and we were back in Oak Park 36 hours after we left. I think for now we'll stick to familiar vacation spots. It's a bit hard to be spontaneous and flexible with two preschoolers and a baby who still doesn't sleep well.
Now we're home. It's a rainy cold day with the promise of flurries this afternoon. I'm hopeful! I went grocery shopping just now all by myself, thanks to Ian having the day off of work, and I'm excited for some good food this week. I feel like all we've had to eat the last few days are fries and burgers! On the menu is chicken curry, another batch of a delicious butternut squash soup that I made last week, this time with a side of scallops, alaskan salmon with sweet potato swiss chard gratin, homemade chicken noodle soup per Ainsley's request, and calzones. Mmmm. I best get cracking' in the kitchen. I hope you all had a great weekend!
Monday, November 4, 2013
Fall Groove
I am loving the switch of the calendar this morning. Of course this is a figure of speech as I still don't have a big adult mom calendar, just a little blue planner. Still it feels good to say November first and see the month ahead filled with lots of fun.
As the rain stopped last night the temperatures cooled again. Once again I find myself longing for an indoor fire to curl up by. Someday we'll have it. For now we light candles and turn on the tiny space heater in the basement to full blast and huddle by it while we play.
Because now we mostly play indoors. We get out for bits here and there. Short bursts for a rain walk or a few runs around the park with hats and mittens and down and wool. I am more thankful each season for this cul de sac that we live on and the girls' independence in biking and scooting. Thankful too for my happy boy who will still let me tote him most anywhere.
So we're in and I'm rekindling my love for all of that. This morning for instance, the morning after Halloween, we were all pretty tired. The girls were reluctant to get out of jammies, me too if I'm honest. So I cracked open my new preschoolers busy book and we stayed in.
This morning we did some work. I try to make work a part of our everyday. This morning is was learning work. A few games of X's and O's for Louise who's working so hard on her letters and a sight word version for Ainsley. While Ainsley took off writing her own word games Louise and I worked on her alphabet book. She chose P so we drew pumpkins, a park and pears, then she went to work making as many perfect p's as she could. It's amazing how just the right amount of work is so exciting for these little girls of mine. We had fun.
Then it was time to make yogurt. We were down to our last cup which meant refill time! Ainsley helped me whisk the hot milk on the stove and watch the temperature until it hit 180. Louise measured and mixed the starter yogurt with the dried milk. We all watched the temperature plummet back down to 120 in the ice bath in the sink and now are eagerly awaiting 6:20 when we'll get to see our finished yogurt after it sits all snug in the warm microwave for 8 hours. (all credit goes to Ruth here, I'd given up on making yogurt until she helped walk me through her foolproof recipe)
Then I made bread while I gave the girls a little sensory play. I gave them each a baking sheet and two cups of flour, reminded them not to make a mess and stepped 5 feet into the kitchen to make the bread. They of course made a tremendous mess and we spent the next 15 minutes sweeping then scrubbing, now washing clothes. Oh but they had fun and those little bodies need that kind of play when we can't get out.
Now it's rest time and Ainsley's spent the last hour making a Fairy Research book. She is SO into it. It's great. Louise is sound asleep, Felix too. It's still so cold and dark out I don't know if we'll motivate for a walk later. If not I'll pull out the trampoline and the swing in the basement, we'll turn on that space heater and I'll bounce with Felix on my lap while I sew a few more squares and strips for the girls' quilts. It's high time I finished those.
Ah. I love the fall groove. Happy November!
As the rain stopped last night the temperatures cooled again. Once again I find myself longing for an indoor fire to curl up by. Someday we'll have it. For now we light candles and turn on the tiny space heater in the basement to full blast and huddle by it while we play.
Because now we mostly play indoors. We get out for bits here and there. Short bursts for a rain walk or a few runs around the park with hats and mittens and down and wool. I am more thankful each season for this cul de sac that we live on and the girls' independence in biking and scooting. Thankful too for my happy boy who will still let me tote him most anywhere.
So we're in and I'm rekindling my love for all of that. This morning for instance, the morning after Halloween, we were all pretty tired. The girls were reluctant to get out of jammies, me too if I'm honest. So I cracked open my new preschoolers busy book and we stayed in.
This morning we did some work. I try to make work a part of our everyday. This morning is was learning work. A few games of X's and O's for Louise who's working so hard on her letters and a sight word version for Ainsley. While Ainsley took off writing her own word games Louise and I worked on her alphabet book. She chose P so we drew pumpkins, a park and pears, then she went to work making as many perfect p's as she could. It's amazing how just the right amount of work is so exciting for these little girls of mine. We had fun.
Then it was time to make yogurt. We were down to our last cup which meant refill time! Ainsley helped me whisk the hot milk on the stove and watch the temperature until it hit 180. Louise measured and mixed the starter yogurt with the dried milk. We all watched the temperature plummet back down to 120 in the ice bath in the sink and now are eagerly awaiting 6:20 when we'll get to see our finished yogurt after it sits all snug in the warm microwave for 8 hours. (all credit goes to Ruth here, I'd given up on making yogurt until she helped walk me through her foolproof recipe)
Then I made bread while I gave the girls a little sensory play. I gave them each a baking sheet and two cups of flour, reminded them not to make a mess and stepped 5 feet into the kitchen to make the bread. They of course made a tremendous mess and we spent the next 15 minutes sweeping then scrubbing, now washing clothes. Oh but they had fun and those little bodies need that kind of play when we can't get out.
Now it's rest time and Ainsley's spent the last hour making a Fairy Research book. She is SO into it. It's great. Louise is sound asleep, Felix too. It's still so cold and dark out I don't know if we'll motivate for a walk later. If not I'll pull out the trampoline and the swing in the basement, we'll turn on that space heater and I'll bounce with Felix on my lap while I sew a few more squares and strips for the girls' quilts. It's high time I finished those.
Ah. I love the fall groove. Happy November!
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Life Today
This past weekend was great.
Saturday morning we were up at at em as usual. I was in a bit of fury needing the house spotless NOW! and after scouring the dining room floor and squawking at everyone a bit I settled and we got going with our day.
Last week Ian finally got the eye exam he's been needing for ages which confirmed that he does need glasses for those near sighted eyes. We were in need of a rare together without kids shopping trip to pick out some frames and Auntie Sonya came to the rescue to watch the girls so we could shop Costco with just sleeping Felix in tow.
I took deep breaths when we pulled up because my mom's voice will ALWAYS be in the back of my head when I shop on a weekend (never shop on weekends! It's too dang busy!) but you know what? It wasn't bad at all. We were the only ones perusing the glasses and I honed in on my favorite pair and somehow Ian agreed right away. In 10 days they'll be ready and he's going to look oh so dapper, and be able to see!
While Ian checked out there I roamed with Felix sleeping on my chest and ooh did I have fun. I was very thankful for Ian being there. IT's not often that I go shopping aimlessly and I fear it may have gotten out of hand without his even more frugal than me mentality. We did purchase a few fun things for the girls for Christmas and for Ainsley for her birthday. It was fun for me to see Ian pick things out for them. I tend to take the reigns with gift giving most times, but really, he did better than me I think.
We checked out and stopped by a new to us sandwich shop to pick up some lunch. When we arrived at Sonya's the girls were so excited to tell us about their fun morning at cool Aunt Sonya's apartment. I'm so thankful for her in this home away from home of ours. IT's so special for the girls to grow up with their Auntie close (and she's so much more fun than mom!).
We all napped that afternoon, I think. Or perhaps I kept working on Halloween costumes. I merely remember that it was fun. Then Ian took the girls to a friend's for afternoon coffee and homemade egg rolls while Felix napped and I kept sewing away. That evening we had our annual Halloween chili potluck block party. It was fun to eat it out of piping hot in bowls with cold hands outside while the kids ran around and played. There are a million kids on our block and it's so fun to watch them all together, kind of miraculous that the girls are big enough to just do that with very little supervision from us.
Then it was bedtime. I watched more scandal and knit. I somehow keep finding ways to avoid the half finished knitting pile by making new unnecessary quick projects. Fingerless mitts are my latest craze after that Luuk hat pattern I can't get enough of. Ah. Love those quick amazing projects.
Then Sunday I was up early for no good reason. Oh, wait, it was because I finally got a full nights sleep thanks to Felix boy sleeping 9 straight hours himself. He FINALLY took a bottle Saturday night and I fear it worked wonders. Now just to keep him from giving up on me entirely! (update, he hasn't taken another bottle since...oh well :o(
Sunday morning we had some friends over. Parents of a good college friend of Ian's. They brought gifts for the girls, I made scones. It was a lovely two hours of sipping coffee and talking while Jim, the dad played castle and knights with the girls. It was the perfect Sunday morning.
Then they left and Ian and I looked at each other. Indian? Indian! So we were off to our favorite buffett to get out a bit and fill up with delicious food. We all napped again. Then parks and raking and leftovers for dinner because who needs a full meal when you've eaten at an Indian buffet earlier in the day? Then finishing the Halloween costumes and showing them off for daddy. Then books and bedtime and some boardwalk empire and more knitting.
Now it's Monday afternoon and the girls didn't nap. But the beds are changed and that roast is bubbling away in the oven and the floors are still mostly clean and four amazing jack o lanterns are sitting eagerly on our kitchen table and the sewing and knitting bug is still as persistent as ever.
I love this time of year. I love this time of life. My beautiful sweet family at such a perfect place. A place where all we need is each other and a bit of crisp air and some of that yummy roast in our tummies. Ah. Life feels really good right now.
Saturday morning we were up at at em as usual. I was in a bit of fury needing the house spotless NOW! and after scouring the dining room floor and squawking at everyone a bit I settled and we got going with our day.
Last week Ian finally got the eye exam he's been needing for ages which confirmed that he does need glasses for those near sighted eyes. We were in need of a rare together without kids shopping trip to pick out some frames and Auntie Sonya came to the rescue to watch the girls so we could shop Costco with just sleeping Felix in tow.
I took deep breaths when we pulled up because my mom's voice will ALWAYS be in the back of my head when I shop on a weekend (never shop on weekends! It's too dang busy!) but you know what? It wasn't bad at all. We were the only ones perusing the glasses and I honed in on my favorite pair and somehow Ian agreed right away. In 10 days they'll be ready and he's going to look oh so dapper, and be able to see!
While Ian checked out there I roamed with Felix sleeping on my chest and ooh did I have fun. I was very thankful for Ian being there. IT's not often that I go shopping aimlessly and I fear it may have gotten out of hand without his even more frugal than me mentality. We did purchase a few fun things for the girls for Christmas and for Ainsley for her birthday. It was fun for me to see Ian pick things out for them. I tend to take the reigns with gift giving most times, but really, he did better than me I think.
We checked out and stopped by a new to us sandwich shop to pick up some lunch. When we arrived at Sonya's the girls were so excited to tell us about their fun morning at cool Aunt Sonya's apartment. I'm so thankful for her in this home away from home of ours. IT's so special for the girls to grow up with their Auntie close (and she's so much more fun than mom!).
We all napped that afternoon, I think. Or perhaps I kept working on Halloween costumes. I merely remember that it was fun. Then Ian took the girls to a friend's for afternoon coffee and homemade egg rolls while Felix napped and I kept sewing away. That evening we had our annual Halloween chili potluck block party. It was fun to eat it out of piping hot in bowls with cold hands outside while the kids ran around and played. There are a million kids on our block and it's so fun to watch them all together, kind of miraculous that the girls are big enough to just do that with very little supervision from us.
Then it was bedtime. I watched more scandal and knit. I somehow keep finding ways to avoid the half finished knitting pile by making new unnecessary quick projects. Fingerless mitts are my latest craze after that Luuk hat pattern I can't get enough of. Ah. Love those quick amazing projects.
Then Sunday I was up early for no good reason. Oh, wait, it was because I finally got a full nights sleep thanks to Felix boy sleeping 9 straight hours himself. He FINALLY took a bottle Saturday night and I fear it worked wonders. Now just to keep him from giving up on me entirely! (update, he hasn't taken another bottle since...oh well :o(
Sunday morning we had some friends over. Parents of a good college friend of Ian's. They brought gifts for the girls, I made scones. It was a lovely two hours of sipping coffee and talking while Jim, the dad played castle and knights with the girls. It was the perfect Sunday morning.
Then they left and Ian and I looked at each other. Indian? Indian! So we were off to our favorite buffett to get out a bit and fill up with delicious food. We all napped again. Then parks and raking and leftovers for dinner because who needs a full meal when you've eaten at an Indian buffet earlier in the day? Then finishing the Halloween costumes and showing them off for daddy. Then books and bedtime and some boardwalk empire and more knitting.
Now it's Monday afternoon and the girls didn't nap. But the beds are changed and that roast is bubbling away in the oven and the floors are still mostly clean and four amazing jack o lanterns are sitting eagerly on our kitchen table and the sewing and knitting bug is still as persistent as ever.
I love this time of year. I love this time of life. My beautiful sweet family at such a perfect place. A place where all we need is each other and a bit of crisp air and some of that yummy roast in our tummies. Ah. Life feels really good right now.
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