Louise is 6!

Louise Adele turned 6 on August 26th.  We celebrated with family the day of and friends the week after.

she drew me cooking!

Louise continues to surprise me.  I'll think I have her pegged and then she'll do something I completely don't expect (like bravely disposing of a dead bat in the cabin when mommy was having nothing to do with that and was going to wait for daddy to wake up from his nap) or when after being terrified of tubing earlier this summer overcame her fears and became a wild child behind the boat by the end of the summer.

This year her first grade teacher asked us to fill out some sheets about our children.  I loved doing that so much.  It's rare that I sit and reflect on each child individually.  She asked us what words we would use to describe our children.  I always think of sweet when I think of Louise, but as she grows there are other words that seem more fitting: observant, patient, kind, thoughtful, trustworthy/reliable, responsible.  She is very motivated by doing the "right" thing, and won't hesitate to stand up for what she thinks is right.  She takes such good care of herself and those around her.  

I love spending time with Louise. When we go out and do things just us it's the easiest ever.  She thrives on togetherness, loves being around her family.  We snuggle all the time and she's still the best couch nap buddy.

I love this age.  Such a great cross between sweet young thing and big capable kid.

I love watching the wonderful young lady that she's becoming.

We love you so much Louise!!!

To the Cabin, and Beyond...

We had a wonderful weekend up at the cabin, despite how impossible it felt to get ready for it with my three precious yellers underfoot.  I'm glad we went!  I feel ready and excited for our last two weeks of summer (and REALLY ready for a schedule to start again!)

Aunt Jenny did the girls' hair one morning.  This was BEFORE Ainsley gave herself severe bangs and I cut both of the girls' hair shorter.

Back to school/birthday shoes!  I love 6pm, despite them having to try FOUR times to send me the right size and color of Ainsley's shoes. (I'm saving them for Christmas gifts, but STILL!!!) P.S. They have Ainsley's favorites from two years ago and I'm SO excited to give them to her this weekend.

Our walls are finally complete!  Well, there'll always be a little more to do, but this up the stairs photo wall felt like quite the accomplishment.  I used velcro fasteners to attach them to the wall so I didn't have to make a million holes.

Haha, now that above the couch artwork looks so dinky!  Love this view of the kids art wall through the front hall all the way to the living room.

End of summer play on hot days consists of dining benches being turned into stores stocked with everything in that room.  I bought an original art piece of Ainsley's and some stuffed animals for  a mere $1,250.00!

Trying on my new Norwegian sweater I found at the thrift shop for $25! (an notice our new oak park artwork framed behind me?!!!

The Itasca County Fair on the way home from the cabin.  Based on how excited the kids were for this, the State Fair on Friday is going to blow their mind!

Ian forgot his camera this trip but took a few more photos on his phone.  I'll have to steal some to show you next post.  The full moon off the dock was incredible!  AND I have no photos of the girls in their church musical they did last weekend.  They worked so hard and did so well.  It was a special weekend celebrating all their practicing!

Our youth director sent me this photo of Felix and I at the outdoor movie from last Wednesday (the girls were sitting with their 5th grade buddies on the other side of the lot). 

We feel so fortunate to have found a church home here that fits us so well.  The kids beg to go and want to do everything available to them.  I love that there are so many opportunities for fellowship and service.  It's made it feel so much like home here.

I know these next weeks are going to fly.  Louise turns 6 this Friday!!!! Right now all roads lead to that.  Ian is going to take off work on her birthday for a surprise trip to the State Fair.  Based on how excited they were about the Itasca County fair I think it's going to be a big success.

Other than that I'm scrambling this week to get everything done for Louise's birthday.  I have just a few things I'm hoping to make, but of course I waited too long.  It's been hard to find any time with all of my little people underfoot needing me ;o).

This week I'm looking forward to cooking healthy things in between all of the cabin and fair food we've been eating.  I'm so thankful for the garden still producing so much.  The tomatoes and zucchini continue to produce at ridiculous rates.  I'm already excited for the garden next year.  I've learned so much!

I know a lot of you have started school already or will next week.  Wishing us all smooth transitions and happy times this fall!

Canning!!!

I have wanted to try canning things for a long time.  It seemed like a vital step in the homemaker book that I hadn't conquered.  But bulk farm produce didn't come cheap in Chicago and I could never grow enough of my own to have anything substantial.  This year was the year!

The tomatoes and cucumbers are doing really well this year so I focused on those today.  I ended up pulling all of the beets because a new bunny has found it's way into the garden and was starting to get at them.  I went for super simple recipes for everything.

I slow dried the cherry and roma tomatoes in the oven.  I'll put them in a freezer bag to use for sauces and soups etc.  The heirlooms and beefsteaks we blanched and skinned (the girls were fascinated/delighted by this process) pureed and cooked down into a thick sauce.  It ended up making 4 pints!!!! which I canned in my mom's old canning pot.  I'm so proud of those 4 pints.  I hope they work!

Both recipes almost verbatim (and can I just made a big ole nod to her title of this post? truth!) 

Next up were pickles. I'll admit I totally fumbled with the cucumbers and despite buying traditional pickle sized cucumber seeds I let some grow way too big.  Some hid from me too long, it' wasn't all me I promise!!! In any case I had SO MANY.  So I made 4 quarts and still have three giant cukes and lots more on the vines. Uff dah!  I stumbled across Smitten's recipe for refrigerator dills and it seemed like just what I needed.  Reassured that simple can work I plowed ahead.  I made 2 quarts just like she instructs, one with pickling spice added and once with garlic added.  We tried the garlic and regular dill with dinner and both "tasted like pickles!" as the kids exclaimed.  What tremendous satisfaction.

This was my second go at pickled beets and I was so dismayed to not be able to find/remember the first recipe I'd used (which was stellar).  The one I found was close, but not perfect.  I'll have to keep searching for that keeper!  Still so good though.  If you like pickled things and haven't tried pickled beets you simply must!  They are a favorite of mine.

So now I feel like I can take on a bit more.  It feels good to have at least gotten my feet wet.  Now any great canning recipes for zucchini or cabbage?  I have those coming out of my ears!!!!

Ordinary Everyday

I've noticed lots of photo "challenges" going around facebook.  The one about spouses has been fun to see old photos of some of my favorite couples.  Of course if I ever tagged Ian in a spouse photo challenge he might crawl into a cave for the embarrassment.  Haha!  Plus we have about 7 photos of us together before we got married.  I know because I just looked for making prints for the new house. 

The ordinary everyday life challenge I can totally get behind though, especially in these first true dog days of summer.

With June and July so full and fast I really want August to be pretty free and open.  That means that I start my week with lots of time to fill with my little people.  Just the way I like it.

Admiring handiwork from the previous day when we made homemade model magic and shaped it into letters and decorated for the kids' rooms.

A typical morning, a show or two waking up in the sun before the day truly begins.

The girls' hiding from their brother at breakfast.  He's taken to chewing with his mouth SO WIDE OPEN just to bug us all.  It's hilarious (and so gross!)

Love turning that calendar page!

My mom is working her way through the grandkids with special dates for each.  Ainsley made an America Girl doll dress with her a bit ago and today was Louise's turn.  A morning trip to the Crayola Experience at the Mall of America and a special food court lunch.  She was in heaven declaring the best thing about her day was "just being with Grammy."

The start of two ordinary days with nothing on the docket but the usual housework for me.

When I got the library hours wrong AGAIN we rebooted and went to the closest school park, Scenic Heights.  I can see why they call it that!

This is where we ran into a tball teammate of Louise's.  They all had a ton of fun.  Thanks to the heat and sun they were pooped out by 9:45.  Time to reboot again!

I decided to take the scenic route to uptown.  We first stopped at the Jamba Juice located in the Whole Foods, then made our way to Lake Calhoun where the kids promised me they'd just dip their toes in.  Yeah right!!!

The sailboats and ducks and sandy bottom was perfection. Next time we're going with swim suits!

Later in the day when the library was actually open we went back and checked out 33 books.  Oops!  They had such fun though.

The next day I was dreading.  I had to return a jumpsuit I'd bought for and upcoming wedding cocktail party.  I don't like malls on the best of days, but with my three in tow I was sure it'd be disastrous.  It was not!  We parked as close to the store as we could, got the return done (and they only touched about 47 things in the store while I made the return!)  We walked over to the indoor playground but Ainsley (and almost Louise!) were too tall for it so I decided to splurge and buy them each a ride on a coin operated toy of their choosing.  It made their whole day.

After this I took the kids to the legit indoor playground at our gym.  They had a blast until Felix bit Ainsley because he thought she was attacking Louise so that was super delightful for us all.  But we made it home in one piece.  Felix actually napped so the girls and I got some sewing underway.  When Ian got home I went for a little walk to clear my head.  I made fried rice for dinner.  I always forget about fried rice.  It's such a good last minute use up the leftovers meal that the kids love.   The girls had their Irish dance class and Ian took Felix with them so I got an hour to myself.  I did some exercises while watching Friends, then showered in a quiet house.  All such luxuries.

Today it's storming, which I love.  I just need to fold laundry and clean a bit this morning to prepare for Ruth and Dan coming to watch the kids this weekend while Ian and I travel to Pittsburgh for a family wedding.

Today I'm thankful for another ordinary day with my three little people.