Merry Christmas!

Cooking with Kids

I've been meaning to start cooking more with the kids, and Sunday afternoon we finally got to it. I was making a roasted chicken, and G first agreed to help me chop up the vegetables. Yes, that is a real knife. Bean Dip soon joined in when he saw that I was scraping carrots. He took over that job for me.

They had a lot of fun, I didn't stress too much, and there was no blood. Bean Dip has been wanting to learn about fractions, so I incorporated that into the cooking lesson. It's so much easier to understand halves, quarters, etc., when you are chopping potatoes. But by far, his favorite part was smashing the garlic.

I'm going to try to do this more, for so many reasons. It's a great way to spend time with the kids, great skills to teach them, and a good way to get them interested in the food they are eating. 

Oh, and dinner was delicious.

After a three days of cloudy weather, she was so happy to have a sunny day ...

Cliff Jumping

This morning, Baby G woke up and said her legs hurt. Turns out she was sore from playing all day yesterday. It was pretty funny, she said her legs and back hurt so much she couldn't bend over. Luckily, by the afternoon she seemed to have recovered.

Maybe it was the time change, or all the candy ingested, but she woke up Sunday morning all wound up. The activities began with me hearing her yell from the other room, "I'm Super Girl! I can fly!" Yeah, she was leaping off the couch onto the floor.

"Watch me, Mom! I'm flying!"

We went outside to play, and the "flying" continued. At the edge of our front yard is a sewer cover, and right next to it is the little dip in the yard where our yard meets the neighbor's. G was trying to figure out what she could jump off of to fly. She was pacing back and forth in the driveway, tapping her finger to her mouth, saying, "What I need is real live wings and real live pixie dust and then I could fly!" I told her she might just have to pretend to have wings ...

So all morning, and later all afternoon, this is what she ended up doing: running and jumping off the "cliff," also known as the sewer cover. At one point, she came up to Win with her bike helmet and said, "Dad, can you put this on me? I'm going to do something bad." Win asked her exactly what she was going to do, and she said, "I'm going to ride my bike over the edge of the cliff." And guess what, that's exactly what she did. At least she thought about Safety First.

And so, a new game began. Bean Dip joined in, and so did Earl and Cameron. For hours, they rode laps around the yard, taking turns riding their bikes over the edge of the cliff.

This afternoon, they were back at it again, as soon as BD got off the bus and until it got dark. And as we all headed in, they made plans to be at it again tomorrow.

And wouldn't you know it, I didn't take a single picture of the cliff jumping.

Bean Dip started basketball this week, and so far so good. He really excited to play a "new" sport. The first practice was a little crazy, with all the parents and the coaches figuring things out. But the second practice was much better. He made two baskets during a practice game, and spent the rest of the game running circles around the court. He was having fun, though, and I guess keeping himself available for a pass.

His suggestion for the team name was "The Killer Kraken." He was disappointed that the name picked out of the hat was "Mustangs," but luckily, he got over it quickly. He perked up when I told him he could put Killer Kraken on the back of his shirt.

He introduced himself to his team as Darth Vader. When they played Simon Says at the end, and it was his turn, he told everyone "Darth Vader says, 'Use your light saber.'" It was pretty funny.

I hope he continues to enjoy it.

On the Weekend ...

We had a great (but busy!) visit at home this past weekend. We went up Thursday night in order to have a little more time with both families.

Friday afternoon we went to Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis. It is a great outdoor museum, that is free, and is a great little outing. Friday night, however, was the big event -- Game 6 of the NLCS. We watched with all of Win's family and a few friends at Llewelyn's Pub in Webster Groves. The kids only lasted the first 3 innings, so I had to take them home, but almost everyone else stayed to watch the shutout win. Next up, the World Series against the Red Sox!

Saturday, we headed to the Farm. My parents were having a bonfire party that night, one of the reasons we went home this weekend. It was a perfect night for it -- cool, clear, and a full moon. It was a lot of fun catching up with people, including my friend Kelley from high school and her family. The kids had a blast with their cousins and aunts. We stayed up way too late and ate and drank way too much, but it was so much fun.

A quick drive back to Tennessee on Sunday, and then back to the grind on Monday. Surprisingly, everyone seems happy to be back on a normal schedule after Fall Break.

On the Weekend ...

We enjoyed the warm fall weather this long weekend. On Saturday, we visited a pumpkin patch way out in the country near Hopkinsville, Ky. Best part of the farm? A great mini golf course. We did that first, and it was so much fun. Bean Dip was so excited and almost could not contain his enthusiasm (the fact that Win let him have a sweet tea at lunch may have contributed). We all played, although Baby G took more interest in climbing on all the rock features of the course. Bean Dip had to fish his ball out of the pond, and I hit a hole in one! Other than that ... I don't think any of us scored very well, but we did have piles of fun.

There were lots of things for the kids to play on -- swing sets, a round bale maze, and a sandbox full of corn. We skipped the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch and instead found some pretty pumpkins and gourds already picked. It was a great afternoon, and I hope we'll get back there again before it closes for the season.

On the way out, we stopped for lunch in Hopkinsville. Thanks to Google maps, I found a local diner specializing in BBQ. It was your typical small town diner -- lots of great food at low prices. And they had the football games on.

Yesterday, Win and the kids started hanging up our Halloween decorations. They are getting scarier each year ...

This week is fall break, so the kids (at least) will be getting some free time to "relax," as Bean Dip always says.

More Info:
Christian Way Farm
The Woodshed

Weekend Reading

Here are some great finds from around the Web this week.

A blog from a dad about his wife staying home with their kids ... and the backlash that resulted from it. 
So you're a stay-at-home mom. What do you do all day?
The Backlash

Everyone's a hater ... I thought this Deadspin article was hilarious. The response was great, but not nearly as funny. Go Cardinals!
Why Your Cardinals Suck
The Rebuttal: The Cardinal Way

Malala Yousafzai ... The girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban talks to Jon Stewart.
An Incredibly Inspiring Young Girl

One of the funniest things we saw in Holland was this display at the Ecomare on Texel. You were supposed to match the poo to the right animal. If you got it right, the toilet made a flushing sound. If you got it wrong, it farted and laughed at you. I thought it was hilarious. (My sense of humor is pretty immature.)

We visited the Ecomare on Bean Dip's birthday. It was a great aquarium that taught us about the ocean surrounding the island of Texel. They also have rescued seals, and we got to see their feeding time.

I'll eventually getting around to writing more about our trip. I'm still editing the millions of photos I took.

We spent what was hopefully one of the last hot days of the season outside, enjoying our Redneck Riviera -- blowup swimming pool, beach umbrellas and camp chairs in the backyard. We have had this snorkel for years -- Uncle Mike gave it to Bean Dip when he turned 3 -- and the kids have just figured out how to use it.

There's lots to be found at the bottom of a 1-foot deep pool.

Our neighbors came over and joined us after lunch, but unfortunately, thunder sounded soon after. Our pool day quickly ended after that.

This Weekend

On Saturday evening, we went to Riverfest in downtown Clarksville. It is an annual festival right on the river, with lots of live music, food, games, vendors, etc. We went with our neighbors and Alex, and it ended up being a lot of fun, despite the heat. We mostly wandered around, checking things out and eating and drinking. The kids had most fun playing on the playground and eating giant snow cones. Afterwards, everyone came back to our house to watch football.

Yesterday was a quiet day -- we did our usual things to get ready for the week and went to the pool. One of Bean Dip's classmates was there, so he had fun playing with her. He brought his snorkel, and he and G tried it out in the pool. It was so funny to hear their frantic breathing coming out of the snorkel as they figured it out. They thought it was awesome.

Win smoked a flank steak for dinner, and it turned out fantastic. It had a nice smoke ring and wonderful flavor.

The Things They Say ...

On Thursday, Baby G came home from school and told us this little story:

G: At school today, Ari said I was a funny girl.

Win: Well, what did you say to him?

G: I said, I'm not a funny girl. Why don't you come to my house and see how not funny I am?

Thoughtful Reading

 The Problematic Privilege of Being Anti-Vaccine by Rage Against the Minivan.

This is not an article about whether you should be for or against vaccinations, it is simply addressing the luxury we have as first-world citizens to even have that choice. It was very well written and thought provoking.

For G's birthday party, I made a special treat for myself, my mom, and Johnna: Sangria.

I'd never made it before, so I researched it online, consulted with my friend Michelle and my mom, and eventually decided to wing it.

It was delicious.

I didn't take a picture, but it was beautiful in a glass pitcher, and here is the basic recipe:

White Sangria

1 green apple, sliced
strawberries, halved
clementines, peeled and sliced
peaches, peeled and sliced

one small (mini-bar sized) bottle of Grand Marnier
one bottle of Moscato

All the recipes called for adding sugar to the fruit mixture. Michelle warned that using Moscato might make it too sweet. I already had the moscato and didn't want to go back to post, so I just omitted the sugar. Mom chopped up the fruit and poured the Grand Marnier over it, and we let that sit in the fridge until right before we were ready to drink it, and then we poured the sparkling wine in.

It was fruity and refreshing and didn't taste alcoholic at all. (I guess that is the point!). I had club soda to add to it, as well as ice, and it disappeared quickly. Next time I will double the liquor and wine.

It was time to try a new food: Figs.

I found them this week at Publix -- not just fresh figs, but several different varieties! Baby G did not understand why I was so excited. The cashier didn't even know what they were or that you could eat them.

We had them for dessert last night. They were delicious just eaten as is -- delicate and so sweet. The kids liked them.

So today, when Bean Dip came home from school complaining that he hadn't learned anything, I told him I had something to teach him. I read him this blog post from French Word-A-Day:

How to say wasp in French ... and the fascinating life inside a figue!

So here is the fascinating thing about figs. They are pollinated by wasps that crawl up inside the fruit to lay their eggs. The wasps hatch, and escape the fig to go pollinate more figs. The link explains it in a much more entertaining way, but I think it's so cool.

Bean Dip got upset at his first thought of possibly eating dead wasps that didn't make it out of the fig alive. But I told him to stop crying and listen while I read on -- the fig produces a chemical that completely breaks down those little wasp bodies. That cheered him up a bit.

Today was Bean Dip's first day of FIRST GRADE.

He is an old pro by now, even with attending a brand-new school. 

The only downside is Ivy is no longer in school with him. 

They are keeping in touch with letters and ice cream dates.

I just love it when I tell the kids:

"Pick up your toys and put them away in your room."

And they hear:

"Take all you toys and chuck them into your bedroom."

(The path is only there because I made it.)

Baby G started up dance class today, after having the summer months off. She was more than ready. 

Summer is almost over, and I think we are all ready for the change, although the kids will not admit. School is starting soon, and all our traveling is done for a while. We are ready to get back into our normal routine.

Part of my normal routine will be blogging everyday again. I have millions of picture and stories from the summer, and I want to have them all documented on here. So stay tuned!

Well, it looks like Baby G's collarbone fracture is healed. After about a week, she started taking her sling off, and now, almost three weeks later, she has full range of motion and only complains when I buckle her into her car seat. She still plays it up sometimes, though. I knew she was faking when she was complaining of her right shoulder hurting (she fractured her left clavicle).

Bean Dip is on his way home this morning. He spent the week in Illinois with my parents. It sounds like he had a blast, and was only homesick one night when I talked to him. But I suspect that was mostly because my dad had turned the TV off when I called. Other than that he has been super happy when I've talked to him (we had a phone date every night at 7 p.m.).

Nine Years

Win and I on the beach in Texel, The Netherlands, in June.

Kicking the Training Wheel Habit

I've created a bike-riding monster. We went for a bike ride around the neighborhood this morning, while it was quiet, so Bean Dip could get used to riding while I was riding my bike as well. I also wanted him to practice starting, stopping, and paying attention to the rules of the road.

He put up a bit of a stink at first, but once we got going, he had a blast. He had a few minor crashes, but he kept his cool and got right back on. Towards the end, he wanted to keep going, saying, "This is way more fun than I thought it'd be."

As soon as we got home, he texted Win to ask him if he wanted to go for a bike ride when he got home, and so we all went out this afternoon again. Win broke out his rollarblades instead of his bike, and we had a great ride.

Tonight at bedtime, Bean Dip told me what he wants to do tomorrow: "Go for a bike ride, play golf, relax, and watch a couple episodes of Ultimate Spiderman."

Life is good when you are five going on six and can ride your bike.

Last night Bean Dip and I took his bike over to the empty school parking lot to practice riding without training wheels. We are hoping to do lots of bike riding this summer, and it is really time for him to get off the training wheels.

He has been baulking at the idea, but after I showed him some cool videos of people riding, he got inspired.

And what do you know, he took off like a shot. Well, a wobbly, slow shot, but still. He has the balance, he just needs to stop laughing hysterically, keep his front wheel straight, and not not aim for every obstacle he sees.

He rode all over the parking lot. He did run into the Dumpster and over my toe, but other than that I thought he did great. I tried to get him to stop before he had a major crash, but of course, that didn't happen. He fell, skinned his palm, and he was done for the day.

But I'm happy, because he says he'll try again, and clearly, he just needs practice and determination, and he'll get it.

We enjoyed some of the best of St. Louis this weekend, which included the Zoo, the Science Center, Imo's pizza, and of course, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. If you are ever passing through St. Louis, it is absolutely worth it to make a stop for this amazing ice cream. As Win said, "Ted Drewes is a destination in itself."

For more info:
Ted Drewes
Imo's Pizza
St. Louis Zoo
St. Louis Science Center

Bean Dip and Baby G went to the dentist yesterday. It was G's first time, and BD's second. BD went first while G watched, and they were both rock starts. They both were totally relaxed in the chair, just hanging out with shades on, and their mouths wide open.

The dentist said BD's teeth look great, and she reassured him that his teeth will eventually come loose. He just has to be patient. (He has a fear that everyone in first grade will make fun of him for not having lost any teeth yet.)

G's teeth looked good, too, although we found out that she has a cross bite -- her teeth don't line up. So ... that probably means it will need to be corrected in the future.

They both were thrilled with their goodies from the treasure chest, and also their new toothbrushes. But the icing on the cake was their very own hour glass timers, to help them brush their teeth properly. BD has been playing with his nonstop.

Summertime!

We ate the first watermelon of the season and broke out the slip'n'slide today. Summer is finally here!

And summer finally begins ...

Bean Dip's last day of school was today. It was barely even a day -- officially a half day, but kids could be picked up at any time. I got BD at 9:30, and took him and Baby G for Chick-fil-A for breakfast as a treat.

Poor BD is having a rough day. We think he might have Fifth Disease -- he had the rash on Sunday and now he is running a low fever. What's funny (or not) about our kids as that when they don't feel good, they turn into huge jerks. They don't get all sad and cuddly, they get angry and combative. So ... with the cool, rainy weather, we are battling it out inside.

But either way, both kids are finished with school and all their various activities. I am looking forward to sleeping into tomorrow.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day, and I didn't take a single picture. The kids both gave me flowers they had grown at school, and sweet cards -- Baby G's was a magnet picture frame with a picture of her in it, and Bean Dip gave me a picture of a flower, with his handprint as the flower. They were both very sweet about the whole holiday. Bean Dip planned some "surprises," one of which was telling Win to make me pancakes and bacon for breakfast. The other was he planned to get up early and clean up the living room for me. Unfortunately, I cleaned it up the night before, and he was super bummed that I had ruined his surprise. It still makes me smile that he wanted to do that.

It was a beautiful, sunny, cool day. We decided to take a family run in the morning. Both BD and G ran for part, then they hopped in the stroller that Win pushed. It was a lot of fun, and with Win pushing the stroller, he was slow enough that I could keep up with him.

We went to Bread Co. for lunch, then headed town to Liberty Park in Clarksville. The kids played on the playground for a while, and then we fished at the marina. We didn't catch anything, but it was just so peaceful and wonderful being out in the sun.

Win grilled chicken for dinner and that was about it. On Monday, Win took the car to get cleaned, inside and out, for me, and he also bought me some of my favorite perfume.

I'm very thankful for my little family.

April Showers

Checking out our temporary "lake."

This weekend brought lots of rain. So much that Bean Dip's soccer game was cancelled early on Friday. We had a quiet weekend -- visiting the museum on post and eating delicious pork ramen for dinner.

Sunday, the weather cleared, and we had a lake in the backyard -- we had so much rain that our drain couldn't handle it all. It was the highest I've seen it, and it lasted until late Sunday afternoon.

Of course, we had to go check it out.

And inevitably, the kids got soaked. But boy, did they enjoy it.

A race!

Later, our neighbor boy and his friend were out there. They were actually swimming around in it.

Makes me wish we had a permanent lake out back.

After a long, long wait, our soldier is finally home! Win got home very early Monday morning, and we are so happy he is safe and home.

Homemade Hummus

Today Baby G and I attempted homemade hummus. I looked up a few recipes and ended up doing a very basic one -- one can of chickpeas (with some of the liquid), one clove of garlic, two-ish tablespoons of tahini and juice from half a lemon. I just combined it all in the blender and it quickly blended together.

Of course, G loves hummus. And I'm not exaggerating -- she has been known to eat almost an entire tub by herself, in one sitting. She eats it by the spoonful. She was very excited with the idea of making our own.

She taste-tested every ingredient. We tried the tahini, which she liked. I almost gagged when I tasted it. Then I smashed a clove of garlic, threw it in, and the next thing I know, Baby G has decided to take a bite of that, too. She liked it until the heat hit. I quickly gave her a slice of lemon to cool her tongue, but seeing her eat that was hilarious.

I was not that blown away by our concoction, but G approved it. She ate several spoonfuls right away, then finished up by eating the parsley we added at the end. I will probably keep making it if she eats it, because a.) It's much more cost-effective, and b.) homemade is always better.

I think I will add more garlic, more lemon, and more parsley and cumin next time. You know, to cover up the hummus taste, haha.

Baby G definitely has some crazy taste buds. She is also the girl that eats the onion grass growing wild in the backyard.

Fun in the 'Loo

With the snow rapidly melting and everywhere soggy, we explored some indoor fun during our spring break in St. Louis. We visited both the St. Louis Science Center and the Magic House.

The Science Center is just what you'd expect -- lots and lots of science. Bean Dip's face was priceless when we walked in -- there was a two story ball maze taking over the entrance. I honestly think he would have been perfectly happy spending the entire visit just sitting there watching it.

The place is huge. It is also free. If you wish to view a movie in the Omnimax theater, of course you have to buy a ticket. We saved that for another visit. There is also a planetarium, but we didn't make it that far. We spent a few hours at the center, with Collins. BD was frightened by the life-sized moving T-Rex presiding over its meal of a triceratops. Baby G wasn't -- totally the opposite of what I expected. But they both liked the exhibits on electricity, optical illusions, and cyperspace. It is always fun to cross the highway on the enclosed bridge, and shoot the radar guns at the cars. And BD got to try out a flight simulator in the space section.

BD's favorite part was the ball maze, of course. Baby G said she liked the "building bridges" part -- the section on engineering. She says she wants to be a builder, with a pink tractor.

The next day we did the Magic House. It is similar to the Science Center, in that it is a building dedicated to interactive exhibits for kids. This one was more dedicated to the "play" part however. There are slides and sandboxes and bubbles, but also a whole detective exhibit where you have to solve the crime, an outdoor construction area (for kids!), and replicas of the Oval Office and the Senate and House of Representatives. BD honestly thought the construction area was real, and when I asked to take a picture of him in his hard hat, he testily said, "Can't you see I'm working?!"

There was a special exhibit of The Magic School Bus, on weather. I was a little disappointed with it, but the kids liked it. But really, the Magic House is magical all on its own.

It is not free, but there is a military discount.

For more information:
The St. Louis Science Center
The Magic House

A Spring Break Snowstorm

We happened to be in St. Louis for the big spring snowstorm that hit on Palm Sunday. It was a record snowfall --I think our area got 9-12 inches of snow in 12 hours. It was great snow, too, perfect for making snowballs.

Transportation

Baby G just finished up a unit on transportation at school. One day when I arrived to pick her up, they were outside flying paper airplanes. Another day she told me all about how they "flew" on an airplane and she got to take the passengers' tickets.

And this is what she brought home yesterday, the car that she designed. No surprise that it is pink and sparkly.

The front.

The back. I like how it has a personalized license plate.

This song makes me happy ... and even happier knowing it was written by Bob Dylan.

Easter 2013

Happy Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter this year. All the snow had melted away in time, and the sun was (mostly) shining all day. It was warm enough for the kids to go barefoot, and for us to eat dinner on the porch. All the family came, including Doc and Collins. Everyone was happy, and there was no fighting.

The kiddos were excited to wake up to filled Easter baskets, and I think they ate their weight in candy. In addition to candy, Baby G got fairy wings and a silk streamer, and Bean Dip got more army vehicles and army men. So G was dancing around in wings while BD carefully set up all 100 of the army men for an epic battle.

We went to early Mass, and had to sit up in the choir loft. BD had complained about going, but he was quiet and well-behaved. He liked following along in the song book. G was excited to go to "God's house" as she calls church. She was just as excited to wear her party dress and new dress shoes.

The party was all afternoon. After dinner, the kids hunted eggs, and BD declared himself the winner with the most eggs. Then everyone headed down to the lake, to fish and enjoy the sunshine. It was great. Little Jack, G, and Collins all caught fish. BD had fun playing at the edge of the lake, and all the grownups oohed and aahed over the fish.

G and her fish.

After everyone left, Dad and I went back down to fish a little bit more. I didn't catch anything, but it was such a gorgeous evening that it didn't matter.

Happy Easter!

The first day of spring was cold, sunny and windy. We were going to walk the Greenway with a friend, but decided to walk the mall instead, since it was too cold. It was great to catch up while staying warm, and I also got a chance to get some shopping down - party shoes for Baby G and soccer cleats for Bean Dip. We have a baby shower this weekend and G is already planning her outfit -- if she will wear her party dress or party shirt, depending on how cold it is. She got some pretty white dress shoes, and understands that she can get sparkly light up Dora the Explorer running shoes when she grows out of her Chuck Taylors. That doesn't stop her from admiring the Dora shoes, though!

We are reading Charlotte's Web now. The other night, Baby G asked me why the spider was writing in her web (G doesn't always pay attention to the chapter books we read.) So I explained it to her, and while she was digesting it, Bean Dip piped up:

"Well, I don't care if they kill Wilbur. I like bacon."

The Sourdough Experiment

So I have been practicing my sourdough bread baking. I've posted a bit about it before. I won't bore you with more pictures of bread. I think I have my method down, at least enough to not buy sandwich bread last week. I made bread this weekend and it really was surprisingly good -- not too much tang, and very soft and chewy. Earlier this week, I made a loaf but let it rise way too long. It came out OK. That's all I have to say about it. It was OK.

I have been using this recipe, found on this blog:

Sourdough Bread 

3.5 cups bread flour
1 cup warm filtered water
1 cup starter
2 teaspoons salt

My method:

Mix together the ingredients the night before baking, until it forms a shaggy ball. Drizzle with olive oil and cover bowl with Saran wrap. The next day (12-18 hours later), knead dough 10-15 times until it is a nice ball, then place on parchment paper in a skillet. Drizzle with more olive oil and cover again with Saran wrap. Let rise about 2 hours, or until it's about double in size.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with a cast iron skillet in the oven. Take off the Saran wrap and slash the top of the bread. I like to sprinkle sea salt on top as well. When the oven is preheated, lower temperature to 420 degrees, take out the hot skillet, and transfer dough (still on parchment paper) to the hot skillet and return to oven. I also place a metal pan on the rack below the skillet and fill with a handful of ice cubes when I put the dough in. It creates just a little bit extra moisture that I think helps the bread. Bake for 50 minutes, then let cool on a wooden cutting board.

This has been producing great bread for me. I looked a lot of different recipes and tried different things until I came up with this one. I've realized a lot of it is just experimenting and trying different ways to make a bread you love.

This morning there is snow on the ground, flurries in the air, and a projected high of 37 degrees.

One year ago today, it was breezy and sunny, a record high of 81, and tornado warnings were popping off all over the state.

I wouldn't mind the 80 degree weather minus the tornadoes. But at least with this cold weather, my grass won't grow so fast, and that means less days of mowing.

The Things They Say, Winter Version

1/14/13

At Karate yesterday the sensei was explaining the strategy of yelling when you hit, and Bean Dip raised his hand and shared a long comment about how in chess you have to have a plan to get the king. The sensei said, "You know how to play chess? And Bean Dip said, "Oh yeah, I'm really good."

One of the moms said to me, "He plays chess? I've never even played."

1/31/13 Gwyn: "I want a pink sparkly shooter with pink sparkly bullets. And went I grow up, I want to be a girl shooter!"

(She meant she wants to be a hunter.)

2/2/13 Gwyn: "When I grow up, I want to be a ballerina. Or a truck driver. Or a car driver and drive a pink race car."

2/3/13
Today at the park G came over to me and said, "Those people are speaking Spanish!"

And she was right.

Then I heard Bean Dip say, "How do you say this word: p-o-t-t-y?"

There was a pause, and then G said, "Potty."

It's even more impressive because I never use that word.

2/19/13 Bean Dip to me: "When you were born, were cars pulled by horses?"

Inspiring

I just had to share this wonderful video:

Bath Time Math

“You hear so many people say, I’m just not good at math,” she says. “But you never hear people say, I’m just not good at reading.”

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/11/21/bedtime-math-a-problem-a-day-keeps-fear-of-arithmetic-away/#ixzz2M6oSBSlM

I finally started getting my TIME magazine again, after waiting until the last minute to renew our subscription. This article was great, and immediately after reading, I searched out the website. The article is about a woman who offers math problems to her kids (and now everyone else's through her blog) every night, in an effort to make math as fun as reading. 

We have have just started this, and we do our math during bath time instead of bed time (bed time is still for reading). But it's only been a few nights, and Bean Dip is already asking what the math problem is each night. And with word problems involving Star Wars and curling, it is definitely fun. 

 

There is a new post each day, and there are three levels of math. Baby G does the "Wee Ones," and Bean Dip can offer his answer after she figures it out. He gets the "Little Kids," and we usually have to get out a pen and paper to figure it out. Then we all do the "Big Kids" one together. 

 

And you know what, it is fun.

 

Info:

Bedtime Math

We have had a long quiet week with lots of germs ... Baby G came down with something over the weekend so we have been hibernating. Funny how a short week can last so long. I'm glad it's Friday, and I'll end with the quote of the week:

Bean Dip to me: "When you were born, were cars pulled by horses?"

Sourdough Round 2

I made another loaf this weekend. I wasn't exactly sure how it would work with the refrigerated starter. It didn't rise as much as the first time, but it ended up delicious again. This time I changed my baking method a bit. I preheated the oven and cast iron skillet to 450, then lowered it to 420 and put the dough (on parchment) into the skillet and back into the oven. I also squirted some water into the oven to create some humidity. I read somewhere that doing that helps with the crust.

Anyway, it wasn't quite as pretty, but the crust was super crunchy -- too crunchy for Bean Dip. The crumb was soft and chewy, and warm fresh bread with butter was perfect for dinner alongside a spinach, feta, caper, tomato and avocado salad.

I am in love with this recipe. Crock Pot Asian Pork with Mushrooms by Skinnytaste. I made it for the first time a couple weeks ago, when my parents were here. We loved it so much there were no leftovers. I made it again this weekend, changing a few things and planning for leftovers.

I didn't change much. I simply used four cups of chicken broth instead of one, because I wanted it to be more like a soup (or a pho). Bean Dip said it was too sweet last time, so I halved the honey I used in place of the agave. And I also used plain Ramen noodles this time, instead of the rice noodles that I failed to cook properly.

It was a hit this time with the kids. They made a huge mess eating the long noodles, but they liked that I called it Fancy Ramen. We topped it with cilantro, green onions, red cabbage and shredded carrot.

I'm already thinking of other toppings for next time -- like hot sauce, fish sauce, kimchi, I guess the possibilities are endless.

Also, I have had really good luck with Skinnytaste's recipes. All the ones I've tried have been delicious, and I feel like they are pretty healthy.

We had another ice storm last night, and that resulted in a "snow day" for Bean Dip. The weather kept us inside for most of the day, but we managed to get out for a walk in the late afternoon. As I told Bean Dip as he was complaining about getting dressed, we needed to air out our brains.

Everyone was much happier after a dose of fresh air.

Heading to Hawaii

Not really.

Just dreaming.

The kids love when I draw them a chalk road on the driveway. We've done it a few times -- we start with their houses, then add on stops along our road until we have a city. This time, a long winding road leads to the airport. I drew a runway, and now we all drive to the airport (with toy cars, mine is a John Deere tractor), park and then all three of us line up on the runway, put our arms out like wings and take off into the yard.

The sewer cover is Hawaii. We fly there, surf, drink out of coconuts and soak up the sunshine.

The water meter cover is Australia. I like to go there to see the kangaroos.

The front step is St. Louis, but it is too cold to fly there nowadays.

Baby G seems the most keen on Hawaii. I love seeing her little arms stretched out wide in her big pink coat as she takes off, yelling, "I'm headed to Hawaii!"

Baby G and I went to Books-A-Million on Tuesday after school. I had suggested it to the kids on Monday, but Bean Dip didn't want to go.

G and I spent an hour there. She just sat herself down in the kids' section and began reading. Because I was stuck in the kids' section with her, I began perusing the chapter books.

(Did you know that there are two ongoing series of "Little House" books? One chronicles Laura's mother's childhood, and the other follows Rose Wilder. I had never seen them before. Sadly, I don't think they are written by Rose or any other relative of Laura.)

Anyway, I ended up finding a chapter book for Bean Dip to read by himself. I chose Flat Stanley. It is a story about a boy who gets flattened by his bulletin board and remains flat. He gets into all kinds of adventures, like being mailed to California to visit his friend.

I told G she could pick a book, too. She didn't like the Dora one I picked out, or the Five Little Monkeys one. Then she saw Bible Stories for Girls and chose that one. How can I say no to that? Of course, it was bright pink and covered with glitter, so I think that helped in her decision. (However, one of her favorite books at home is the Children's Bible.)

It was one of those bitterly cold winter days, so we couldn't play outside for long. BD started reading Flat Stanley as soon as he got home from school. I need to sit with him and help with a lot of words, but he can read quite a bit on his own. Later, G sat me down for "circle time" and "read" to me from her new book. The story involved Dora, Boots, and Mary being rescued from a volcano.

Adventures in Bread Making

Last week, inspired by this blog post, I decided to once again try making my own sourdough bread. I spent the week tending to my starter, with Baby G my helper. She got a kick out of "feeding" it every day. Then on Friday, we made our first dough, using (Never)Homemaker's recipe. Here is is.

I left the dough to rise for 12-18 hours, because I was doing a no-knead recipe. I followed the blog's method somewhat, but also combined it with Cooks Illustrated's Almost No-Knead Bread method as well. Basically, what I did different was put the dough in a skillet lined with parchment paper for the second rise. Then I simply placed the dough and parchment paper into the hot Dutch oven. I didn't like the idea of heating it all to 500 degrees, so I did 450, and then lowered the temperature to 420 when I put the dough in.

Starting the second rise.

It was a success! Beautiful, tasty bread. Nice and sour. Next time, though, I'm going to let it rise longer the second time. I got impatient on Saturday.

Baby G just came zooming in and said, "I'm Supergirl, and Bunny is a super hero, too. His name is Tornado."

Then she went zooming away.

A rare moment of agreeableness with the camera.

Ice Storm 2013

Bean Dip was off school today, not for snow but rather, for ice. He got off early yesterday, and also had a late start both yesterday and Monday ... I know they are being cautious, but we are getting way to used to sleeping late.

The ice wasn't bad, thankfully. Our road was clear, and everything else melted throughout the day. It was nice to have a quiet day at home in the middle of the week. We made it outside for a bit, until wet fingers and cold toes drove us back indoors. We did a little ice skating on the back porch and knocked off icicles.

I finally got some time today to play with my new camera. Win got me a DSLR for Christmas, something I have been dreaming of for years. My new title picture was taken with it. I am planning to study the entire 292 manual to learn everything about it. But man, let me tell you, I am in love. And of course, I love my two primary subjects, so it is an even greater joy to use this camera.

As of right now, Baby G will pose for me when I'm taking pictures, or at the very least, not run away. The same is not for Bean Dip, however. He appears to have already adopted his father's annoyance with having his picture taken.

Making Healthy Choices

We just dropped Baby G off at school, and Lem is up watching a few minutes of TV before he gets on the bus. (He had a delayed start this morning.) He just called me upstairs to tell me about a PBS parent tip he saw. He explained that parents can help their kids make healthy eating choices by letting them chop vegetables, smell herbs, and put them in the pan. Then he said, "But you don't let us put the vegetables in the pan, so we are not making healthy choices." 

So I told him, "I let you do everything else, but I cannot let you put stuff into a hot pan." 

He agreed that I was right, then said, "But you aren't letting us smell herbs." 

I said, "Lem! We are growing our own herbs outside that you eat all the time!" 

And he grudgingly said, "Oh yeah." 

And then he said, "I guess the kid in the commercial was older, like 8, and he was putting the vegetables in the pan."

I told him we do make healthy choices, and he'll get to put stuff in the pan when he's old enough. So ridiculous.

Science Saturday

La Befana brought Bean Dip this Carnivorous Plant kit, and when my parents were here this weekend, we got it started. Grandpamp the Horticulturalist took charge, and we all had fun making a mess. The thing is, now that our kit is put together, it takes at least three weeks for the first plants to come up. And we have a second seed pouch that is in the refrigerator for six weeks before we can plant it. But, that also means that these plants (fingers crossed) will be around for a while.

I am really excited to have our own Venus Fly Trap!

What Makes Me Happy: A Great NPR Interview

I was lucky enough to catch this interview yesterday on NPR. It totally made my day, gave me something to laugh and think about, and added another book to my must-read list.

I am going to try to find time to listen to it again.

Jeff Bridges on Zen Buddhism and "The Big Lebowski"

This one was also fantastic:

Camille Paglia on Seminal Images

Gwyn had her first ever dance class yesterday. She was beyond excited, what with seeing The Nutcracker, getting a new pink ballet outfit for Christmas, and going to get brand-new ballet and tap shoes.

The class was on post, through Child and Youth Services. We got there a little early, and G immediately started running around with all the other little girls. It was so cute to see them all in their leotards and tutus.

She did really well, considering it was her first time. She was not shy (like I was my first dance lesson), and took a spot front and center. She listened and followed the teacher as best she could. They started with ballet, then did some tap dancing, and then ended the class with free dance with scarves.

Also yesterday, Lem had his first martial arts class. He has been interested in Karate ever since he had his trial class before Christmas. I found this class, also on post through CYS, and signed him up.

We had a rough start, probably because it was his first day back to school. But he perked up once we got there. The sensei was nice, and there were two assistants for the class as well. It was a mix of boys and girls, and about half were also new.

All the kids were really giggly and silly, and the sensei went with it. They all laughed hilariously when they tried to say the term that means "Teach me, please" (or something like that). The sensei had them all run a lot, sprints across the gym, then they all got to take a turn punching him. I'm sure a lot of it was just to see where all the kids were at, skill-wise, but Lem had fun and that is all that matters. 

First Photo of 2013

A New Tradition

We have started a new Christmas tradition this year, one to end the Christmas season. Today is The Feast of the Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas and the celebration of the Wise Men coming to visit the new baby Jesus.

In Italy, La Befana, the good witch, comes the night before the holiday and leaves little gifts for children. She may also sweep the floor with her broom. So ... we tried it out this year. I read (I think on Wikipedia, so I don't know how accurate it is) that you should leave out a glass of wine for her. I like that idea, that the old Italian woman might need a little fortification for her travels. Much like Santa needs milk and cookies. So we left out a glass of wine.

It was funny, the kids woke up, came to the kitchen and didn't even notice the presents until I said, "Wow, the floor is really clean!" La Befana left an empty wine glass, chocolate for me, and some presents for the kids.

So now, we'll have Sinterklass come on the Feast of St. Nickolas, Santa on Christmas, and La Befana on Epiphany.

Here is more information on La Befana.

Happy 2013

It was so nice to have a long vacation at home. It is also great to be back at our own house, and back to our own routines. We had a really busy visit at home, going back an forth between both grandparents', lots of parties, and seeing lots of people. I'll be posting about the trip this week, but I like to back-date the posts, so scroll down and you'll find them.

I didn't think to much about resolutions this year. One thing I'm going to try is to spend less time on Facebook. My brother and sister-in-law recently cancelled their accounts, because they thought it was unhealthy. I am not cancelling mine, because Facebook definitely helps me keep in touch with so many people. But I'm going to curb my daily checks, and try not to post so much. We'll see how it goes.

New Year's 2013

 New Year's Eve was a quiet holiday for us. We were at the farm, and after dinner, Dad dug out the slide projector and we had a slide show of old pictures. It was a lot of fun, and we all got a kick out of it.

After the kids went to bed, we broke out a bottle of champagne and watched the show of Times Square. I ate my herring (for good luck?), and managed to stay up until midnight.

Happy 2013!