Gratitude Friday

:: I am grateful that spring is on it's way, slowly but surely.

:: I am grateful that going to the store for a potato sends Patrick home with tulips.

:: I am grateful for clouds that look like turtles hiding in their shells with one leg out.

:: I am grateful for time spent snuggling with my family (even though they are sick) watching olympians.

WIP: Wendesday

I signed up to do a Valentine Swap, and they are about to go out in the mail.

I don't want to say much, because it is a surprise...
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Patrick also has a work in progress in our kitchen.

A very hoppy brown ale. He just kegged a new beer that is also really hoppy. I think he forgot that his wife likes the sweeter darker beers...

Chair & Friends

What is the best way to spend a lazy Saturday?

In a comfy chair with good friends.
This chair was handed down to us, and has seen so much love from our girls. It is a rather comfy chair, and has such a warm feeling when you sit down.

If you are ever over, and the girls aren't occupying the chair, I invite you to sit, maybe read a story, watch the roses grow, and feel the love of the chair.

Rose Garland

A fellow blogger of mine made a rose garland. I am not the biggest fan of cut roses in a vase, but a rose garland is stunning.
Thank you Nicole/Gardenmama for sharing your creativity!
Here is what Emma and I did with our petals. Emma helped pick the petals and string them on.


When I pass by this window the scent of roses is so uplifting, and much needed for the winter blahs.

Grandpa's hat

Bake

We love to bake, and Emma loves to knead the bread. I wish that we were home more often that bread baking became more of our rhythm, but we do try to squeeze it in when we can.

Park Day

Before all of this sparkly snow we were able to squeeze in a park day. It was so nice the fresh air, still cool and crisp. Getting to fly in the swings, so much fun. I am ready for the buds to start showing and the north wind to be going.

So that the girls can spread their arms and fly like birds. Kiss the sky and thank it for the beautiful clouds.

But our rosy cheeks say that we still have a few more weeks to wait.

Happy Birthday Claire!

One year ago Claire made her way into the world or blog. A calm and peaceful birth, and has been such a joyous addition to our family. Looking back I can't imagine not having her in our lives, she is silly, full of spirit, and a major go-getter. Who ever taught her climbing stairs was fun... Thank You.
Anyways, Happy Birthday Burrito!

I love the look of the buntings, so I made one for our birthday celebrations. It is so nice to have that burst of color in the winter. Most of the fabrics are scraps from clothing that I have made the children. I look forward to making a couple more for the back two doors.

We had snickerdoodle cupcakes. I have to say that to me they look prettier than they tasted. At least they looked pretty.

The smash cake! Which surprisingly did not get smashed. Claire didn't like the texture of the icing.

"Happy Birthday to you"

Was not loving the cake or the milk... Claire is going to be our savory flavors over sweets kid I presume.

Snow!

When Candlemas Day was gray I was estatic because I am done with winter, but Patrick said all he wanted was one more snow. Well he got snow, and a lot of it. My class first class of this semester was canceled today, and that is okay with me. I wasn't ready to tackle on a gaggle of teenagers early this morning. I was happy to stay home cleaning and preparing for Claire's big 1st birthday party. So we tidied the house, and made it gleam just like the crisp snow. After cleaning Patrick took a break and played with Emma in the snow. Emma loves snow! She loves to fall into the snow.

Getting ready to go out.

Falling in the snow makes your hair get crusted with snow, which tastes yummy.

Hiding behind Daddy's snow fort!

King Winter
is now in the land
he reigns with the cold
and freezing hand.
He makes Jack Frost
touch nose and toe,
and brings us
bright and shiny snow.

So Quirky!

I love my Miss Emma Bean, she is so quirky.

Patrick said that if Emma were to have Facebook this would be her profile picture.
I love preschool fashion! The kind that says it is okay to wear all florals because well they all have flowers so they must match or the kind that says it is okay to wear a skirt, pants, snowboots, and a tank top. This is such a fun age!

Happy Candlemas Day

Candlemas day marks the day between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. In many traditions this is the mark of the awakening of spring.
Similar to the superstition of Groundhog Day the English have a rhyme predicting winters future on Candlemas.

If Candlemas Day bring snow and rain
Winter is gone and won't come again
If Candlemas Day be clear and bright
Winter will have another flight.

I really wanted to do rolled beeswax candles, but due to poor planning and the fact that the beeswax sheets are to brittle to ship in the winter we dipped candles instead. I remember doing it as a kid and it was fun for me to do. I took it as a task for myself, and the children ebbed and flowed out of the process at points throwing the chunks in the melt pot, other times Emma tried to dip, but mainly she sat just watching. Then she went off to take the baby doll to visit grandma under the couch cushions. An hour or so later I finished dipping, and the two 3 y.o.s were getting bored and antsy. To involve them I had them use playdough to make bases for the candles. They also decorated the bases, and candles. They are a work of small child art.

The wax chunks waiting to melt in their tin can.

Just after melting.

The two lone candles that made it through the lengthy process.

Emma's decorated candle.