Seven

My baby girl is Seven.  Seven.  

She was born on a Tuesday seven years ago.  

When he hears me sigh over a tough go with the kids, Dad always says, "You know, the days go slowly and the years go quickly."  Yes, that's true for the life of this precious girlie.

On the eve of her birthday, we decorated her cupcakes, just like we've done every year.  This year it was pink, purple, and rainbow sprinkles.  I told her the story of how a seven years before, I was lying in the hospital, having already started the induction of her birth, still dreaming with her daddy about what she would look like, how long she would be, what her cry might sound like...

It seems that there's just as much now, seven years later, as there was that birth day eve of what I don't know about her...who she will become, where she'll go, what she'll be, how she'll evolve.

As much fun as it is to make every birthday special for her, its a day for Ryan and I to celebrate too.  To celebrate another year of sometimes successfully and other times not...raising an independent thinker, an interested friend, a passionate dreamer, an active spirit, a hard worker, and a kind and beautiful girl.

Instead of throwing a big party this year, we took Eva and her friend Carley to Reba's for dinner.  We got all dressed up, said the word "fancy" over and over, hired a sitter for her siblings, and even let her order soda from the bar at the restaurant.  It was a great night.  The two girls had such fun, and bonus, Ryan and I got to eat at one of our favorite places.  Plus, we got to focus all our attention on her - something that rarely happens now.

She's a big kid now in so many ways.  But after they ate her cake, they still danced uninhibited in the aisle.  Oh my dear girlie, may you always be so free and feel so alive!

Lent and Life

Life is feeling crazy hectic right now.  Lent began this week, and as Worship Coordinator at our church, it is my busiest week of the year.  Getting our unique worship for this season off and running is no small task.  The bonus to my job is that planning the worship makes me better aware of the church calendar and what our worship and traditions can mean in my own spirit.  I do feel like I'm in Lent right now....seeking, trying, thinking, planning, reflecting, hoping, waiting....it all fits what's stirring around inside me and inside our family.

On top of all the hours at work and the hours up in my brain, I'm taking classes for 14 hours every weekend for a month to renew my teacher certification.  Have you thanked your child's teacher recently?  Go thank them.  Now.  We put in so much of our personal time and money - thousands of hours and thousands of dollars - to teach those kiddos.  Even though I'm not in the classroom right now, I still have to do it.  But that's a soapbox for another day.  Mostly.

So go check out our nanny's blog...1, 2, Buckle My Shoe.  She had time to post a few pics of how the two Littles spent time this week.  We love you, JoJo!  Especially during weeks like this one!

Groundnut Stew

This is one of my favorites lately.  

It makes a huge pot, is colorful, and easy on the wallet.  

And who doesn't love a one-pot wonder?!  

If you're entertaining friends who don't mind missing the meat, this is what to make.

Groundnut Stew

(from Simply in Season, of course....made my own way)

a big onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

medium size butternut squash, peeled and diced

half a head of cabbage, chopped

2 cans of diced tomatoes, pureed (with my handy-dandy new hand blender, thank you Ryan!)

1 cup of apple juice (I don't keep that on hand...took some apple sauce, shook it with water, and walah!)

ginger root, shredded (Buy a big root, keep it in the freezer, and use as needed.  It keeps forever. Use about 2 Tbsp. with this recipe.)

basil (Just throw in some whole leaves.  You could skip this ingredient if you want.)

a few shakes of crushed red pepper flakes

4 handfuls of frozen peas

1 hearty cup of peanut butter (Or more.  Oh so good!!!)

for garnish...

sour cream or yogurt

diced green onion

peanuts

shredded coconut

Saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until transparent.  Add the squash and cabbage and saute until flavors are mixed.  Add the tomatoes, apple juice, ginger root, and red pepper flakes.  Cover and simmer til the squash is tender (about 20 minutes).  Stir in the peas and peanut butter.  Simmer until ready to serve.  Serve with the garnish.  Don't skip the garnish.  It makes this meal.  

baths and horses and uncles and aunts

We spent the weekend in Lawrence.  Here's a list.....

* Uncle Kyle and Aunt Lori royally spoiled the kids....candy, wii, more candy, more wii, repeat.  They also took them to the KS history museum.  I wasn't along, but I heard a lot about some incredible dinosaur bones from River and some snakes from Eva.

* The best part about their house is the incredible tub.  Buzz and Chachi Band were next to each other, touching each other, for 30 minutes with no fighting.  Miracles do happen.

I thought I was taking amazing pictures, but I still don't know how to use this camera right.  So I made them "60's" in picnik to ease the pain...

* I took a class through Friends University in Topeka.  Oh my word.  Its paining me so incredibly that no one I know was there with me.  I will never be able to adequately describe how ridiculous it was.  It was exactly like an SNL skit of a "motivational seminar".  Think stick-on nametags with a personal goal written on them, fist bumping and high fiving strangers, club music, youtube videos of Susan Boyle and someone saving a humpback whale.  I could talk for pages about what an insult to the profession it is that this seminar is worth an actual college credit.  Also about the hand-outs and personality of the teacher.  But suffice it to say, it was a COLOSSAL waste of time.  Silver lining: new material for my book.

* Mary is Lori's mom...

She is an amazing woman who lives on a huge plot of land at the top of a hill outside Lawrence.  She runs the place all by herself.  She invited us out for breakfast, and the kids got to "chore".  Well, first they sat in the truck and refused to get out because I used that word.  Oh dear.  When they discovered that these chores included chickens instead of laundry or room cleaning, they were all in.  Maybe if I tossed some eggs and hay and horse manure in their rooms they would be more in the mood to clean them??

*A couple of chickens got loose from the pen...I had told Eva when she was in the van suffering over the fact that we were going to "chore" that she had to be enthusiastic.  I said she could do it any way she liked, but she had to show enthusiasm.  Not long after, this is what she was doing.  I'm finding that she is all about control.  If I give her choices and some sense of control, and then let go, she surprises us with unique ways of showing her awesome personality and fun spirit.

* And she is in-loooooooooove with horses.  I never knew til yesterday.  Oh my goodness.  In-love.

* Lori grew up with Tuscon and Feisty.  She comes to life around animals too.  As one who does not do animals, its inspiring to watch.

* I caught River crouched down by the wheel of the gator, just quietly studying it.  He stayed that ways for maybe 5 minutes.  Wonder what was ticking through that little head.

Now back to normal life 

(yes, normal is relative in this home, I know).

That weekend away was exactly what this family needed.  

Exactly.

Beware the Ides of February

Usually its March in our family.  Really it is.  But that's another story.
This year, though, its February.

First sweet Sage got sick sick sick.

Second, the van battery needed to be replaced.  Then the alternator.  In River's words, "Dad, its deader than dead."  Still not entirely sure if that's the problem, because right now the old alternator is in the trunk of the accord on its way to O'Reilly to be tested.  Ryan worked for 2 hours in the cold last night to remove it.  He's a stud for so many reasons.

This morning, a really nice man from the city knocked on the door and said, "Maam, your water meter is just spinning............"  Turns out the water softener is just running and running and running like there's no tomorrow.  Maybe it knows something I don't.  But back to the man from the city....

I've never been called "Maam" so many times in my life.  I liked it.  It was 10 am though, and this was the scene in our house....toys ev.ery.where....Buzz in his underware...the tv on...me still in my pjs (think bright pink polka dot pants and a pink tank top.  no bra of course.  Dirty teeth.  Uncombed hair.  Racoon eyes.)  And a fussy, snot-nosed baby on my hip.  I couldn't understand the plumber language he was talking and he talked about how I should call my husband.  Then he said, "I'm sorry.  Are you married?" in the most polite way possible.  Yes, sir, despite all appearances to the contrary, I am.  But I was all flustered - between the no bra and the water leak and all the "maam's." - I said, "Well, yes I am, but he lives in Wichita."  I meeeeeeeeeeeaaaaan he WORKS in Wichita.  I'm sure he was thinking "yes ok, whatever you need to say to make yourself feel a little better, maaam".

Whatever.  We survived.  And he was nice.  And pride is overrated anyway.

But don't say I didn't warn you...Beware the Ides!

ice experiments

Eva came home with a huge sheet of flat ice in her arms.  That short walk home from school provides so many interesting finds!  We got out cookie sheets and went to work.  Hot water with food coloring and some syringes...they stayed at it for an hour.  A whole hour.  I held my breath and took pictures.  Then I held my breath some more and folded laundry.  Then I held my breath a little longer and started on supper.  I should've taken a nice long bath instead!  But how was I to know?!  A whole hour.

But then I would've missed the joy of seeing them take such interest in such a basic experiment.

Village

Sage McCage is doing much better.  We are just doing one or two breathing treatments a day now, and no more antibiotics.  Having a sick kiddo brings into the light once again how crazy blessed we are to be part of a village...

friends to take Eva to Wednesday night church

another friend to take the two bigs for an evening of cupcake decorating and a basketball game and macaroni and cheese ("with hot dogs, mom!!!")

more friends to drop off a pizza for dinner

another friend to call and say "I know you have a sick baby.  I just pumped 18 oz. of fresh breastmilk.  Its yours if you want it."  She gave us a bunch for the freezer too.

a Mami to come over and hold her, and to help pay for the doctor visits and meds

more friends to have us over to drink wine and make quiches for our freezer

Like I said.  A village.  

Ryan and I have big thoughts on the brain right now.  Just big life stuff.  When I get all up in my head like this, I cling to my village.  And to the daily rituals that provide evidence of joy at its simplest...

bread baking...

...

the near-daily notes from Eva...

...

And how it helps to remember what this life looks like through the eyes of a 3 year old...

My cup runneth over.

Snow Icecream

It hasn't yet snowed enough for snow icecream.  Til last night, that is.  It was less than 1/4 inch.  But Buzz and Chachi Band went outside determined and came back in with a bowlful.  There might have been some talk about it coming from the windshield of Ryan's car.  But those specks were just added flavor, right?

The last time she ate some was in my tummy...it was a year ago that I was on bedrest and eating snow by the spoonful.

So go scrape your own windshield and make yourself some.  YUM...

a bowlful of snow
1 cup of milk
1/3 cup of sugar
1 heaping tablespoon of vanilla

spoke too soon

After Sage's nap yesterday, I started feeling like she wasn't doing better after all. You know that feeling that you have in your mom gut?  The one where you don't know what real symptoms you'll tell the nurse on the other end of the phone but you know you should probably call her.

So I did call her.
we went back in this morning.
she still has pneumonia.
she also has bronchitis.
she has a nebulizer and breathing treatments.
she has 2 antibiotics.
she's coughing and snorting and wheezing and snotting.
she's also playing and smiling and laughing.
she's not sleeping well.
we're not sleeping well.
her brother is missing his share of the attention.
our car battery light started blinking last night.
I buckled up the kids and prayed it would start to go to the doctor.  It did.
then it had to be replaced.
its scary when your baby is sick.
I don't know how to do sick kids.
I had a meltdown.
Libby brought over yogurt for Sage's aggravated tummy and a patchouli bath soak for me.
Peace.Love.Harmony.
nothing like a soak to bring things down a few notches.
Sage agreed.

So please pray that our little lady gets better and this mama stays sane.  Mostly that she gets better.  Soon.

Cookies and Valentine and Marcus-Gunn and oh happy me...

Oh, how I heart heart day.  

I've made these sugar cookies at least ten times, and they turn out differently every single time.  I don't know if its the temp of the butter or the quality of the shortening or just the mood in the kitchen.  But they really are no-fail.

3/4 c. shortening (I use butter-flavored crisco, usually)

1 c. butter (I sometimes use cheap margarine.  Like I said, no-fail.)

1/4 c. cream cheese (no low-fat for this one)

1 c. sugar

1 c. powdered sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper (Just kidding.  Just checking to see if you're listening.)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tarter

4 1/2 c. flour

Cream together the shortening, butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla.  Mix in the salt, soda, and cream of tarter.  Mix in the flour.  

Roll, chill, and slice.

Or chill, roll, press.

Or chill, roll out, cut out.

Or chill, then scoop.

Once again, no fail.  The ones in the picture were chilled then scooped.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  Let them cool a bit on the sheet before removing them to wax paper. 

And just because this is all about sharing the love, 

here's the Butter-Creme Icing recipe:

2 c. powdered sugar

1/4 c. butter (use the real stuff this time), softened

pinch of salt

2 Tbsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla (be generous with it)

To make it chocolate butter-creme, add 1 1/2 squares of unsweetened chocolate, melted

Mix the sugar and butter and salt until light and fluffy.  Add the milk and vanilla and mix until smooth.  If it is thicker than you like, add more milk.  

And more Vday....What do you do when your husband is working a double shift and its still 2 hours til bedtime?  You get out the butcher paper and make a giant valentine.  We decided this was our Valentine card to our own selves.  Had a great time together, especially because it was divided in half down the middle into "your space and mine".  That's how love works sometimes, isn't it?

Sage is doing much better.  Still not herself, but no fever, and we don't hear a rattling when she breathes. I've noticed her eyes are funkier when she isn't feeling well.  She has Marcus-Gunn Jaw-Wink Syndrome.  Click here to see more about that.    Or here's a youtube video with an example and info.  We're feeling like its time to get to a pediatric optometrist and learn some more facts, plan any needed treatment, etc.

But look at that sweet sweet face.  

Oh my happy heart!

in a funk

That's me lately.

Bored and not in the mood.  Which is not normal.  My tolerance and patience for people - husband, kids, coworkers, friends, stranger, store clerk, musician, teacher, - anybody - with that kind of attitude is usually nil.

Brace yourself....I plan to ramble.....

I wrote this on my quote board a couple of weeks ago, hoping for some stirring that would make me more interested and just generally alive...

Hoping for a little drama.  Nothing major or earth-shaking, just a little action.

Perhaps I should've been more clear.  Because the kind of drama we've been having around here is n.o.t. fun.

Over a week ago, a little guy at school showed Eva his boy parts.  That itself isn't that alarming - kids at that age do that kind of thing once in awhile.  But what ensued was drama from the school on some very serious fronts.  It threw Ryan and I for a real loop.  That is NOT the drama I meant.

Sage McCage and River have been sick allllllllll week long.  Yesterday, after chest xrays and plenty of poking and prodding and testing and treating, she was diagnosed with pneumonia.  My sweet baby.  Once again, NOT the drama I meant.

Thrown in there has been plenty of teeny dramas that are more like what I meant... the entire family oversleeping.  Twice.  Overdrawing on the checking account the day before payday.  2 friends having babies (healthy and happy!  Yay!!).  People saying sexist things at a book study.  People not showing up to do their job at church (which is my job to coordinate).  A dinner that I got everybody excited about that ended up in the trash.  You know, the kind of drama - good or bad - that just generally reminds you that you're alive and keeps you humble.

I've been getting out for a real walk once a day since the New Year started - all by myself about half the time.  Me, my yoga pants, the pavement, fresh air, and ear buds.  That's the life!  I know I've asked you before, but please pretty please listen to this song...

Awake My Soul........Mumford and Sons

Marcus Mumford has been working on me during those walks, especially with the phrase:

These bodies, we will live.

These bodies, we will die.

Where you invest your love, you invest your life.

Yes.  I will live and then I will die.  And while I live, I want to truly deeply richly live.  I am stepping out of my funk, stopping the drama crave, and deeply investing myself in each moment with the ones I love. THAT will awake my soul!

 

Valentines

I found this idea on pintrest and I just made and ordered them. 
We'll use a tiny hole punch to make a hole above and under their hands and put a sucker stick through the back.  
You can see River had to hold smarties to cooperate.  Hopefully they don't show up.
I love Vday.  I think I'm even more excited than they are this year!