Getaway

January 15, 2012

The Husband and I got away this past weekend, just the two of us, to belatedly celebrate our 10th anniversary.

Here’s my summary of the weekend:

1. There is something that goes on in my new bag that turns my camera on repeatedly and runs out the battery. I love my new bag. I do not like this problem.

2. As a consequence of said camera incident, I only have these half-hearted camera phone photos to show for it.

3. I love my husband.

4. I love my kids.

5. Sometimes I need to be away from them to remember how much I love them.

6. It’s possible all the Husband and I need on a getaway is a couch, tv, good book, bike, and solid internet connection. In hindsight, we could have done this more cheaply closer to home. But it WAS really nice to see the ocean.

7. We have some of the most amazing friends and family. There are not many people who would willingly take our three crazy children on for more than a few hours. Amazing, I tell you.

8. I only took photos on one day since the year began. ONE DAY.

9. I finally got the blog caught up. (January was kind of a freebie, considering that whole one day of taking pictures thing.) Being caught up is incredibly liberating. Telling myself that putting the camera down every now and then is as well.

10. “The Hunger Games” series has managed to reel in both myself and the Husband and now we are fighting over who gets to read Book Three first.

Yep, I’m ending on a schmaltzy teen novel rather than tying up this whole rambling mess neatly. How’s that for shaking things up in the new year?

Posted in family, outing, the Husband

Vignette 01

January 9, 2012

In my day-to-day life I often round the corner to find a scene that makes me giggle. Some random assortment of things, abandoned in just the right moment.

I’m going to start documenting these little scenes in a series of vignettes.

This first one kind of speaks for itself. Polly Pocket has clearly had better days.

Posted in the Youngest, vignette

Sewing

January 1, 2012

The kids have always had an interest in sewing, crafting things for their dolls and stuffed animals. The Husband and I both sew off and on. I don’t do it anywhere near as often as I’d like.

The Oldest just completed a sewing unit at school as part of their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Program. The whole class sewed these amazing stuffed creatures. This seems to have re-invigorated the desire to sew around here.

But I like my sewing machine, and I get a little itchy when I think about the kids using it. So when a friend told us Bernina had come out with a line of basic sewing machines at an affordable price, we decided to spring for one for the kids.

It was supposed to be here in time for Christmas, but I sort of think things worked out the way they were supposed to. We picked it up right before the new year, right as the newness of to holiday gifts wore off. We’ve been hearing a steady hum over there ever since.

Posted in crafty, family, farm, the Oldest

Happy new year

January 1, 2012

Once upon a time I did some illustrating. Back then I crafted an original holiday card each year. This one is over a decade old—time for a comeback, methinks.

Posted in crafty

Christmas

December 25, 2011

We set the time-lapse camera on Christmas Eve. In review, my favorite part is that the kids were all like, “Oh, we just got up and took a look at the presents for a few minutes, that’s all.” But, I don’t know about you, but I see a whole lot of investigating going on before the Husband and I stumbled out of bed.

A fantastic American Girl, Star Wars Lego, skateboard deck, car radio, whole lotta family time day was had by all.

Posted in family, farm, the Husband, the Middlest, the Oldest, the Youngest

Santa

December 24, 2011

Each year we go to the Museum with friends on Christmas Eve. It’s always been empty, and we have the run of the place.

Except this year they moved the downtown train exhibit to the Museum, and we suddenly found ourselves fighting a crowd. I have no idea what we’ll do next year.

But in the meantime, we managed to find that moment when there was no one in line for Santa, and the Youngest had him all to herself. He spent a huge chunk of time listening to her list and introducing her to his reindeer.

Magic moments, I tell you. Magic.

Posted in community, family, friends, outing, the Youngest

School

December 23, 2011

It’s the first day of winter break. No longer the student, the Youngest has decided that her stuffed animals could use a little instruction.

You know, on the anatomy of the brain.

Posted in the Youngest

Carbo-love

December 23, 2011

This boy has had a love affair with bread since the beginning. I once put him down for a nap, clutching a bagel, because he simply could not be calmed down without it in his hands.

So after a long day of errands, I took the kids to Panera as a reward, letting them choose any one thing from the case.

But my boy looked past all the pastries and smoothies, as he had his heart set on just one thing—a baguette, which he declared he would eat all by himself. I can’t even describe the glee with which he clutched that loaf.

Eat up, kid.

Posted in mumbling, the Middlest

A horse, of course!

December 21, 2011

I don’t mean to brag, but I really do have the most amazing bunch of parents in my preschool class. My guess is, by the end of the year, each one will have come in to share their knowledge or talent with us.

This is mammal week. In the Montessori science curriculum, the horse is the animal that represents mammals. In an ideal world, you investigate a live animal and then move to the more abstract learning works. This has not been terribly difficult as we’ve explored insects and birds. But when one of our parents offered to bring her horse to school for the morning, I have no other response but…YES, PLEASE! As a bonus, each child got to take a ride around the campus.

Seriously…who gets this lucky?

Posted in friends, nature friends, school

Matryoshka

December 21, 2011

We’ve been studying Russia this week. Each child got a blank set of nesting dolls to decorate and take home to their parents as a holiday gift.

Posted in crafty, school