Sometimes you slow down…

… and enjoy the little things.

We spent the weekend at a little slower pace than we have spent the past few weekends.

Partly because Little Bit was feeling under the weather. Partly because I was just tired and ready for a break.

It was nice.

Saturday, I spent some time catching up on my reading/homework for my bible study class.

And helping Big Girl learn how to fold those silly fortune-teller thingys all kids seem to get hooked on making at one time or another:

Of course, Buster Dog was at my feet – which is where he would prefer to spend 90% of his lifetime (the other 10% would be spent eating or chasing squirrels, I think)

And Little Bit ventured outside for a little recreation for a few minutes:

SuperMan cut the grass (I was “helping” him while I read)

And then we started on THE BIG PROJECT of the weekend – My Easter/Mother’s Day vegetable garden. I’m so excited!

Big Girl even recruited the neighbors to help dump the bags of topsoil.

It’s a raised bed on the sunny side of the house. I absolutely can’t wait until things start popping up!

Sunday, we went and got the last of the dirt – and the most important thing – plants & seeds!!

*cue the Green Acres theme song here*

It was an awesome weekend.And it’s an awesome Mother’s Day/Easter present.

Thank you, SuperMan.

More than just baking bread

Wednesdays are usually the days I post a recipe, but today I wanted to share something a little different with you.

Yesterday I had the good fortune to be able to attend a very special event put on by some very special ladies. It was a fundraising function but the event itself was focused on bread making and other baking tips/techniques.

I learned a lot about grinding your own flours, what tools to use, what to do (and not do) and I got to taste some really awesome food.

But what struck me the most was the lesson-within-the-lesson of the day. I’m not even sure the ladies who were organizing and teaching really had this in mind when they planned things, but it was what stuck with me.

Mixed in with all the tidbits of information about healthy cooking habits and how to prepare food that is not only good for you but tasty, too, was this overwhelming sense that it’s not just about the nutritional value of the food. It’s about the love and care that goes in there. It’s about taking the time to prepare food from your heart – food that will nourish your family’s bodies and souls.

It struck me, as I was there, that this is our job – as mothers, wives, homemakers – to make a home for our family – one that is welcoming, loving, nourishing and enriching of their hearts, minds and souls.

I think we all get so caught up in the day-to-day rush of life that we sometimes forget this. This morning was an opportunity for me to remind myself why I am a mom… why I chose to marry and have a family. It wasn’t so I could spend my time rushing from school to dance practice to girl scouts and home again. It was so that I could share my life with people that I love – and give of myself to them.

It really helped to reset things in my mind.

So, that afternoon, as I tidied up the house and planned dinner, I rejoiced in the fact that I had a house to tidy, I had kids to feed and dinner to cook. I gave thanks for the many blessings I have been given and let go of some of the little frustrations that normally get me down (like shoes and book bags and Barbie dolls scattered everywhere).

I learned a lot more than just how to grind my own wheat and get a good rise on my bread… I learned to remember why I am a mom and to focus on showing my love for them when I’m doing even the most mundane things for my family.

And that makes all the difference.

Saturday Fun

We had a change in plans on Saturday but the afternoon turned out to be absolutely wonderful, even if it wasn’t what we thought we’d be doing when we woke up that morning. Little Bit was supposed to have a sleepover, but her friend woke on Saturday with a case of strep, so the sleepover was definitely out of the plans. One of our friends invited us up to their house (in the mountains) for the afternoon when she heard how disappointed Little Bit was about the canceled sleepover.

So, after lunch we drove up to Blue Ridge. We had the best time tromping around in the woods, grilling dinner on their deck overlooking the lake, and roasting marshmallows by the fire. Such a fun, relaxing afternoon and evening in the company of some really sweet friends. We’re so lucky.

Here are some pictures I snapped during the day:

Walking down by the lake – the water was really, really low – we had fun throwing rocks and walking along the edge.

And balancing on trees…

And I found a “rock” I wanted – I think it was marble or quartz, or a little of both – but SuperMan said he kept digging and the “rock” kept going so I had to leave it behind.

I did find a smaller one which SuperMan graciously carried all the way up the (steep) hill for me. Only later did I try to pick it up myself and see how heavy it really was!! IF I’d known that I would’ve never asked him to carry it. But it’s in my garden now and I love it.

I also loved these mushrooms and lichen.

Roasting marshmallows by the fire and relaxing in the hammock

We were exhausted when we got home but we had such a great day – it was the best kind of exhaustion – born of fresh air, fun times and great memories made.

Seeing the sights

During our spring break this week, Mom and my step-dad wanted Big Girl to take some pictures of the historic buildings downtown. So, we headed downtown to take some pictures on Wednesday.

Big Girl was the “official” photographer of the day…

We also went into the Cathedral – she took some great pictures:

We’re headed home tomorrow – hopefully to have some fun with SuperMan this weekend before we come face-to-face with reality on Monday morning.

This is what happens, boys and girls…

… when you don’t watch your taco shells as they warm in the toaster oven.

Good thing Big Girl is so observant!

She was helping SuperMan get dinner on the table Friday night – we were having tacos and fajitas and he was busy finishing up dinner on the stove.

All of a sudden, Big Girl shouts, “Flames, Daddy, flames!!”

I came running and threw open the front door. (not to run away, mind you)

SuperMan carried the (burning) toaster oven out to the front porch.

The shells were toast – literally.

As was the toaster oven.

Thankfully, nothing else was harmed, the fire was contained to the inside of the toaster oven, and we had more taco shells (I know you wondered) for dinner.

Never a dull moment around here, I tell you.

a History lesson

It is always so fun to see life from the perspective of my children’s world… to see how they interpret things they experience and things they are told.

Little Bit (who isn’t so little anymore and may need a new name soon) has been learning about our forefathers in honor of the recent President’s Day celebrations. She brought home her “report” to share with me.

It is absolutely adorable on so many levels.

It reads:

“Harriet Tubman was a slave and was forced to sweep and clean.
George Washington went down in history (continued on the back)
and was very tall. Benjamin Franklin was reading all day.”

I love her phonetic spelling.

I love reading what she learned about these historical figures.
(interesting perspective, isn’t it?)

I love the summary at the top (“All Good”)

I love all of it.

It makes me smile.

🙂

Living with a pre-teen

One of the ongoing battles I'm having with my Big Girl these days revolves around getting her to put her clothes away – she can't be bothered with taking the time to put them away and then gets frustrated because she can't find anything when it's time to get dressed for school. (or dance, or whatever)

My mom saved this cartoon for me – and it is so appropriate for the current situation:

Can you relate?

🙂

Circus (pt 2)

Since I had quite a few pictures to share, I decided to split into two posts. Here are some more from our trip to the Circus last weekend.

They opened with an “All aboard” type of number – reminiscent of the circus trains of yesteryear. The theme was celebrating the 200th anniversary of PT Barnum’s circus, so it was a retro/modern-themed affair. They did a really good job of paying homage to circuses of the past while incorporating technology and new things into the show.

See the little guy with the yellow vest? He was riding a Segueway without the handles. It was really cool. They had about 30 of them and they rode them all over the place steering with their legs.

Some of our favorite acts:

Of course the elephants. Love them. Didn’t quite get the whole laying down part of the act, and I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to be the poor guy on the bottom here.

These guys, in their motorcycle-sphere-of-death act scared the snot out of me (literally) I kept holding my breath the entire act waiting for someone to fall and the whole thing come crashing down. Leave it to the mom in me to be worrying about how they would get them all out and how the EMTs would take care of them if they crashed rather than enjoy the act. I was scared to death.

There were SEVEN motorbikes in there at one time! SEVEN!

And one was a woman! You would think SHE would have had better sense than that.

The high wire guys. The act was actually a little boring. But I liked their costumes.

But the acrobats, now they were phenomenal. These two brothers were just incredible. Not an ounce of fat on their bodies – they were ALL MUSCLE and they had the most amazing control I have ever seen. I was in awe watching them.

And I kept thinking about them at age 10 or 12 practicing – “Get off my head, dude!”

LOL SuperMan and Big Girl were in awe of these gals. They decided they have probably been practicing since they were little bitty girls, too.

At one point they were all three crammed into a box that was about 3’ x 4’ x 3’. THAT was amazing. To watch them unwind and come out of there. Made my back hurt just to watch!

And my favorites, the tigers. Although they seemed a little cranky to me. Not really interested in participating in the show. There was what I think was a mommy/baby pair, too. When the younger one came down, she gave him/her a little lick to reassure him/her that all was OK. Once they finished their part of the act they left and the little guy seemed quite happy to be out of the spotlight. I’m sure it was overwhelming to be out there And these guys were awesome. See those little sticks they were jumping on? Wow. Just wow.