a Sunday from Scratch

As usual, little V woke me up, yes it was still dark out, but I got up without too much fuss.  Good thing too, as we let the dog out for his morning business we were lucky enough to catch a view of a shooting star.  "Quick, grab a jacket!" said little V.  Onto the deck just in time to see another one!  Talk about a great way to start the day.  With the coffee pot going and the pancakes being made, little V made her very own constellation book.  And so the day began...

After pancakes came the usual Sunday business, news, laundry, dirty diapers, more coffee, baby giggles, jenga, and a trip to the grocery store.  Little V was my sidekick and in the midst of all that we also activated some yeast, mixed the dough, and set it in the corner to rise for what would be a loaf of homemade bread.

Lunch, coloring, homemade pop tarts (can you say heaven?!?), nap time, baked the bread, roasted a chicken, a game of secret spies, made a pot of soup, folded laundry, played outside, watched baby R explore by the lake, had a glass of wine with big V as the sun set, enjoyed an apple-goodness desert, brushed teeth, read books, and bedtime for the kiddos.

Today was the best kind of Sunday.

Oh yeah, we made butter too. 

(Not even kidding!)

a Summer re-cap

Because this blog is a journal for our family life, and because so much has happened in the last few months, I need to take a minute to jot it all down somewhere.  So here is the cliff notes of summer 2012...

School finished for the year, the dance season ended and we headed to the windy city...

Of course, we had to go to the American Girl doll store.  (What a place that is!  Who knew dolls need skateboards, but thank goodness our doll got her hair done!)

We headed out to Camp for the 4th of July.

We hit the beach in Virginia...

baby R's first dip in the ocean!

We packed up all of our belongings and...

have settled into lake life.

The blog is back!

WELL!  It has been far too long since I have taken the time to sit down and record the happenings in this household.   

With everyday that passes I am becoming more and more aware of how quickly my kids are growing up. While I would prefer to stomp my foot and insist all of this growing business comes to a complete stop, I have decided, rather, to get back in the habit of writing about our life.  Hoping that the time it takes me to write about it all will also provide a few extra moments for me to savor their childhoods.  Because in the blink of an eye my little V is now six (and a big time 1st grader!) and my little baby R is about to celebrate his first birthday.  

Why can't I just make time stop?!?

Nourishment

I've always believed in the power of breastfeeding, the magic of mama's milk.  I believe it makes stronger, healthier, smarter kids.  I am not, however, one of those crazy 'milk nazi's.'  If it doesn't work for you & your baby, don't do it because in this house we live by the creed "if mama ain't happy-no one's happy."  I enjoyed nursing little V.  she liked but was always ready to move on to the next thing (much like her personality now!)  But this baby of mine, this chubby little ball of happiness, he could be the poster child for nourishment by way of mama.  He get's so excited to nurse, grabs onto my shirt while he's feeding with those chubby little hands as if to say "thank you mama!"  I find the quiet time shared during his feedings are providing nourishment for the both of us in many more ways than just nutrition.  These quiet moments have become moments I really look forward to.  Of course they provide time for baby R and I to build the mother & child bond, but they also provide time for me to be still.  (Still can be so hard when there are two kids, a dog, a home, and a business all needing attention.)  In these  still moments I am given time to reflect, reflect on all of the wonder of our lives - a growing curious 6 year old, a wonder of a happy baby boy, the changing of our future lives, and the deepening bonds of our marriage.  This time when he is small will go by so fast, I want to always remember these quiet little moments of our life right now.  In these moments of reflection I find myself always left feeling recharged and immensely grateful.  Grateful for all of the love that abounds in this little family of ours.  Nourishment in so many forms...

Allowance

Little V has a new interest...money.  Yep, the girl is learning all about buying her own goods.  She wants to do it herself, buy her own toys, hot lunch, dollar spot goodies. There must be some serious recess talk going on about allowance, because little V came home one day with a plan. 
"Mom, what do I have to do for an allowance?"
I held back the, "what-who-how did she find out I should pay her for helping around the house shock" and calmly told her  I would talk to her Dad and we'd come up with something.
So, here's the run down:  little V has to make her bed everyday and do a few easy things on a regular basis (take out the recycling/garbage, load the dishwasher) for a weekly payday.  She can make a little extra for doing big stuff (vacuuming, mopping.) 

So far, I am really enjoying her new found interest...

Family Game Night (and a winner!)

There is a new favorite game in this house, so long UNO! 

Pictionary! 

(Our own homemade version, no fancy cards or egg timers here!)

Little V thinks it's the best thing since sparkly nail polish, even baby R is getting in on the action!

(by the way, don't you just think little V's boots with the dress is just so Molly Ringwald in the Breakfast Club?!?  Big V and I are getting the biggest kick out of this latest fashion adventure!)

And the winner is...

Amy W. is the winner of the kit to make these pendants.  Amy- I'll be in touch, congrats!

aren't they sweet?!?

We are really loving this crazy summer weather in March!  Hope you are spending lots of time outside soaking up the sunshine too!

Just a reminder... If you want to be entered in the drawing to win the supplies to make those pendants, you need to sign up to follow the blog before Thursday night!  Little V will be drawing the name of the winner out of a hat before bedtime!