Birthday Daybook

Outside My Window

Cold, cold, cold with a wintry mix in the forecast. Yay!

I am Listening to

Katie and Karoline playing in the bathtub.

I am Wearing

Pajamas, two pairs of socks, and sweatshirt with the hood up. No one else is cold. But I am. That thyroid thing.

I am so Grateful for

~Little girl with curls, all buckled in to go to the grocery store with Daddy. Two dolls buckled into the seats next to her. Double doll stroller in the trunk.

~Daddy who came in to get me before they set out on their errand, just because he wanted to share the cuteness with me.

~Just the thought of all the people in Costco who stopped to ask Karoline about the "babies" in her stroller.

~Laughing with Mike across the court at the entertaining second grade girls who played their first-ever basketball game this weekend. Laughing. So. Hard.

~Big brothers who can't decide whether to laugh or cry as the coach calls "Foss" in an increasingly exasperated tone throughout the game. They're seriously worried about the family's basketball reputation in this town.

~Winter from the top of a swing.

~Icy nature walks.

~Husband who suggests he make a big Chinese feast for dinner the night before my birthday and he makes enough for two nights, so now, we have dinner made and no pots and pans to clean tomorrow night.

~Hot baths with essential oils of eucalyptus and lavender. Herbal tea to sip in the tub. Warm within and without.

~A brand new doctor whom I really like and the hope that I will be feeling much better soon.

~Fondue night again this weekend with wonderful company and lots of laughter.

~Magic hairbrushes from England

~a Big Game to watch in bed on my birthday. War Eagle. (That was for you, Jan;-)

I'm Pondering

I learned long ago, not to pay attention to what I call, “Job’s friends.” (Those people who are free to give an opinion about your life and what you are doing wrong, and about not following all the “rules”,  when all along, God is at work in great ways.”) Sally Clarkson 

I am Reading

One Thousand Gifts on Kindle

Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace in hardback (but there is a Kindle version of that one, too).

I am Thinking

about this comment Aimee made on her Facebook page. This topic is very much on my mind lately and Aimee's comments really captured much of what I'm thinking. I'm going to leave it here for you to ponder. Do let me know what you think in the combox.

 When someone asks me what I wished I could do all over again during my college/early married years, it would be to really invest in learning the "domestic arts"...I spent years struggling and trying to learn things with babies under my feet :) I wish I had realized that my life would be my home and investing in the people in it and would take seriously that "job" and learn the skills involved!! Seriously! Any new job always has a big learning curve and it can take a professional years to really find their sweet spot in their job...I think the same is true when working at home. It's an investment of time and energy to become proficient in cooking, organizing, cleaning, managing, creating, decorating, serving, entertaining...but it's SO worth it and I have been blessed far beyond what I could have asked for or imagined. This life is a good and beautiful life. Didn't mean to turn this response into a mini-sermon....LOL!!!! Just wanted to encourage you to have fun serving your husband and your home now! :) Aimee Kollmansberger

I am Creating

I am going to learn to knit.

I am.

And I am so blessed to know that my teacher is both a gifted craftswoman and a beautiful friend. I am so looking forward to this.

On my iPod

Bob Books. I now seem to use my iPod for the Divine Office, trading off throughout the day with Karoline, who claims it for frequent visits with Bob.

Towards a Real Education

I'm on a happy picture book binge part with my four-year-old. Pure bliss. She loves stories as much and the way I love stories. It's very much a dream come true.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Candles. I'm thinking candles. As we move towards the time to pack Christmas away, I want to keep the candles. I've loved the light of this season, the way candles can light the rhythms, warm the transitions, bring a glow to the traditions of even ordinary days. More on that thought later, I think. Look for a small series of posts on candlelight very soon.

We're having a Kind Conversation about

Variations on classical education in high school.

To Live the Liturgy

It's a happy little fact that I was born on the first anniversary of Mike's baptism. That thought pleases me to no end...

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me.

Around the House

The tree came down today. I nearly cried. Poor Sarah Annie stood there as Mary Beth and I prepped boxes and cut bubble wrap. She knew what we were about. Her chin quivered and her eyes filled. "I love my Christmas tree," said she, over and over again. We explained that ballet begins again tomorrow and we really do need the space. No words could console. Daddy came along and swept her away on an adventure in the car. We hustled to get it all packed away while she was gone. As soon as she came back, she noted its absence and hurled dirty looks and plaintive wails at Michael, despite his best efforts to distract her with chili con queso and chips. Poor baby.

From the Kitchen

I've promised Mary Chris to get into a soup and salad habit with her. Well, actually, she invented this habit; I'm just trying to copy her.

One of My Favorite Things

Sunday Night Football. And Monday Night Football. Actually, I really just like football in general and football at night, even better. And I am going to miss it. Tomorrow night, though? Good football. War Eagle. (Again, for you, Jan. Smile and wave at the camera. I'll look for you.)

Sarah Annie this week

She's pretty much given up naps. This has me re-thinking our afternoons a bit, making a shift from baby mode to quiet afternoon little girl activities.

Oh, and Sarah Anne insists that we all live the Sound of Music. We've all been assigned a role and she insists we address each other by our "Sound of Music names." Bursting into song is to be expected. I'm living my favorite musical. How cool is that?

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Tomorrow's my birthday. And we begin ballet again, so I get to visit with dear friends again. There's that winter storm predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday. I've promised my kids that as soon as we have a real snow day we'll make homemade marshmallows for hot chocolate.

Picture thoughts:

 
   

 
 
comments are open.

 

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.  Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...

... I remembered to announce the winner of the Stories from the Homeschool Heart Giveaway!

I'm so sorry it's taken me this long!

The winner is

HOLLY RUTCHIK

Holly, send me your address and I'll forward it on to Theresa Thomas and she will send you your book!

Congratulations!

Dipping and Dancing New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is the perfect night for "family time." I really prefer that no one is out driving--much better to settle in for a long night home together.

Fondue makes a perfect New Year's Eve dinner. As Christian so aptly put it, "It takes forever to dip and cook enough to make a meal."

Three Cheese Fondue

1 cup White Wine

1 Tablespoon Butter

1 Tablespoon Unbleached Flour

7 Ounces Gruyere, grated

7 Ounces Emmenthaler, grated

7 Ounces Cheddar, grated

Bring the wine to a boil in a small saucepan and turn it off. Then, melt the butter in a different saucepan, using medium-low heat. Stir the flour into the butter until it's smooth. Stir the wine into the flour mixture, slowly, using a wire whisk. Over medium-low heat, slowly add the cheese, stirring with the whisk as you go. Before we were finished adding, we had to switch to a wooden spoon. When it's all smooth, transfer to a fondue pot and keep it melted and gooey on low.

We dipped Granny Smith apples, hearty rustic sourdough, and blanched broccoli florets. There was no three-cheese left over, but we had bread, broccoli, and apples left on New Year's day. So, I used the above recipe, substituting a cup of beer (not too dark) for the wine, and four generous cups grated cheddar for the cheese. Before adding the cheese, I sprinkled it with a healthy dose of garlic powder and cayenne.

Very yummy.

At the other end of the island, we cooked marinated cubes of London Broil in equal parts butter and olive oil. I had marinated over night in bottle Italian dressing. Simple and really addictive.

Sarah Annie was one happy dipper.

If you give a gang full and happy tummies, they might just break into wild dancing.

  

(Poor Christian is a bit concerned and maybe just a little bored.)

When they were all danced out, it was time for chocolate fondue. I melted equal parts chocolate chips and heavy cream.

We dipped pretzels, pineapple, and angel food cake.

Pound cake, pirouette cookies and marshmallows are other favorites.

When things got a little too chocolatey and sticky, a little whipped cream, straight from the can, did the trick.

A little sparkling cider before going up to bed.

Goodnight, sweet princess.

 

Happy New Year!

First Daybook of the New Year

Outside My Window

It's damp and cold and getting dark. Lazy Sunday afternoon weather.

I am Listening to

Karoline. Always to Karoline. She's incredibly loud.

I am Wearing

Jeans, slippers and that same old, gray cashmere sweater (it survived being accidentally thrown in the wash--a little felted but not terrible).

I am so Grateful for

~email, Facebook, cell phones, and Skype; I do recognize how much easier it is to stay in touch than it was even a generation ago.

~safe travel

~sweet time together as one big family and sweet memories to warm my January

~a chance to rest and relax with my husband at home

~dinner with friends

~a reassuring conversation with Christian and Patrick when I started my inevitable, year-end self-doubting session

~Karoline and Sarah Anne and the perpetual good cheer and joyfulness of blond babies

~watching how those very little girls warm the twilight of Mike's parents' lives. Everyone should have little girls in the twilight.

I'm Pondering

My past, O Lord, to Your mercy;
my present, to Your love;
my future to Your providence.

– St. Padre Pio

I am Reading

One Thousand Gifts on Kindle

Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace in hardback (but there is a Kindle version of that one, too).

I am Thinking

Way too much. I am sad. There's no doubt about it. It was really hard to see Patrick leave today. We still don't know when we'll see him again. I've heard from other moms who understand, who empathize from the bottom of their hearts and share similar experiences. And I've heard from mothers who say it stings for a day or two and then they just move on, blithely going about whatever it is they do. They are almost unmoved by emotions that seem to nearly drown me. And then there are the mothers who tell me about the happy dances they do when their kids move out. 

I am thinking--wondering--what the difference is. Why the difference?
 

I am Creating

Virtual pages. This week will be about documenting our celebrations, so please bear with me as our family's Christmas bursts all over this space. Still--we have more to record and we're moving rathing slowly on that project. Life is happening faster than we can record. But Mary Beth is helping me and we are going to catch up this week.

On my iPod

Rich Mullins. Katie found him on an old iPod. I heard her singing along and needed a good dose for myself.

Towards a Real Education

We got word this weekend that Patrick's GPA ranked first among all the kids on the National Team. I distinctly remember the night he posted this status on his Facebook account:

Tomorrow is my first day of school. ever.

I didn't sleep all night. I tossed and turned and worried about whether he was at all prepared for a classroom, epsecially a prep school classroom so far away. Honestly, I'm still sort of astonished by how well he's done. Astonished. Grateful. And just a little proud.

We're doing good things here. Carry on.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Candles. I'm thinking candles. As we move towards the time to pack Christmas away, I want to keep the candles. I've loved the light of this season, the way candles can light the rhythms, warm the transitions, bring a glow to the traditions of even ordinary days. More on that thought later, I think.

We're having a Kind Conversation about

Our "words" for 2011

Do you have a word yet? Comments are open. Do share!

To Live the Liturgy

I'm looking forward to our January 6th celebration of Epiphany. It always a little disconcerting to celebrate it on a Sunday and then celebrate it again later, but I do like that day set apart, a ways away from Christmas Day. I wrap a book for each of my children in gold paper--makes for "wise men" in the new year.

I am Hoping and Praying

for blessings yet to be imagined in the new year. God doesn't really need my wishlist. He usually outdoes anything I can dream up.

Around the House

My plan is to verrrrrryyy slowly put away the Christmas decorations. This was the Christmas of the deleted Christmas card mailing list. I very carefully reconstructed that list. I keyed it all into a new template and I kept careful track of cards that came in, updating and adding as I went. I'm very pleased with the orderly list that awaits me next year. I'd like to bring that order to everything we store. Slow and thoughtful will be my friends.

From the Kitchen

Michael is home. I am pretty sure that officially relieves me of grocery shopping duties. I'm looking forward to creating new menus and long, detailed grocery lists.

One of My Favorite Things

When the three big boys (not all at once) come flying into my bedroom and plop themselves on the bed, usually while I'm trying to put Sarah to sleep. I've given up scolding for it. I realized in August how much I miss it when it's not there. So now, I sort of hope one of them at least will fly into our presence every night.

Sarah Annie this week

I have a hunch this little girl is going to absolutely fall apart when Mike leaves for work tomorrow. Me, too.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Back to the books. In a big way. The CM Organizer has been dusted off and updated. The book baskets are tidy and uncluttered. We're ready to rock and roll. This week will be the first meeting of the new girls' club at our mission church. Lots of basketball and some soccer.

Picture thoughts:

  

 
 
comments are open. a new year; time to be a little brave...