Thursday, January 24, 2013

......dance floor magic.....

....the last few days of the Christmas vacation, we finished a lot of the unpacking from this move......the move into the actual house we bought.....confusing, I know, since we had three roofs over our head in 10 weeks.....but I am speaking of our final destination or as I have often told Stefan, our final resting spot......Momma can't fathom moving ever, ever again.......

.....ever......

......I digress.....

....now that the unpacking and organizing has been (mostly) done, it has been really exciting to actually settle.....

....settle......just saying that word relaxes me......we are finally taking deep breaths.......yes, there are still rooms to fill, but our silverware is where it should be, our clothes are hung, the toys are organized and our routine is in full swing......big projects are in the works and I will be sure to post before and afters with some of the DIY projects that await Stefan's weekend list.......

.....one will be baby proofing the dryer, Brody's favorite new hiding spot.....


....I have procrastinated on this post.......Elsie's birthday was the week after we moved in and Thanksgiving shimmied its way in to that first week of unpacking, too......somehow, we were able to cook for the holiday and also celebrate Elsie's big day......but before I knew it, Christmas was here and other pictures of our lives filled the queue.....

....but let me rewind to that special day on November 24 because she and I escaped and made our own afternoon of memories......


.....living in NYC, there are nail boutiques that fill every block.....some cheap and easy, others more upscale and fancy......sister has wanted her nails done since she has been three and a half and she would take any of the corner store selections, cheap or fancy.......for over a year, she would ask repeatedly.......she would peer through the windows to see older toddlers and young little girls perched in the over sized chairs right beside their Mommas.......the girls Elsie would watch were not quite able to inhale the beauty and pampering of the moment, but Elsie would be sure to point them out to me.....see Momma, that little girl's Mommy let her get her nails done.....

....and so my answer became, we'll go together when you turn five.....

.....in the suburbs, we don't walk by 25 nail places on a daily basis......out of sight, out of mind......that didn't make a difference.....Elsie had one thing on her mind the day she turned five......



.....and Momma always keeps a promise.....


.....two months to the day later, Elsie is still talking about how much she loved it; but hasn't asked when we can go back......I think the year and a half of anticipation already branded in her little five year old mind that spa days are special treatments saved for momentous occasions.....


.....and since birthdays only come once a year, it's important to celebrate them.....wear a crown all day, eat your favorite foods, open presents throughout the day as they trickle in, laugh a lot, let others pamper you.......

......at least that is how I want my children to grow up remembering birthdays.....even as I approach the later part of my thirty somethings and birthdays are not an event I necessarily look forward to as much as I once did, I over enthuse for the kids.....age aside, it is my special day and it deserves to be embraced and highlighted as much as theirs.........after all, it isn't the age we are celebrating, it's the person's life.....

....I repeat that mantra, as well as the one about embracing life lines on my face every night when I wash up for bed......but I'll save that self talk for another post.....

.....when it came time to celebrate Elsie's young life of five sweet years, we were all ecstatic to cherish and honor her big day.....



.....friends drove from near and far to party with our girl.....all of our NYC friends made the trip and we merged old and new......










....all of the kids lined up to select paints for their plaster craft and whether or not they knew each other, they all shared in the excitement of independence and creativity.......




....although when it came to gaining the attention of the birthday girl, my heart ached for her......old friends wanted her attention, new friends wanted her attention.....all the little girls wanted to sit next to the birthday girl and Elsa had to make choices......some that would cause tears and sadness, while other choices that would bring out laughter and joy.....

....friendship is hard, even at five....

....as a parent, it was difficult to watch.....I didn't want to jump in and hover over her.....she has to learn how to handle social scenarios and deal with the choices she will make......but as a people pleasing first born myself, I also couldn't stand back and watch some of her friends cry.....especially when Elsie doesn't have the capacity to understand all of the different emotions that were unfolding around her.....

.....so the only time I intervened was when the crafting turned into a full on disco party, which is a great venue to include everyone......

.....no place like a dance floor......

....with the simple suggestion of dancing with old friends and new friends at the same time, Elsie caught on.....her heart is big.....she aims to love and she does it big......


.....and the DJ made sure it was good music to get the crowd going.....

....age appropriate, of course.....











.....just as birthdays need to be celebrated victoriously, friends also need to be treasured.....I know there will be many years ahead of learning the value of friendship for all of my children......some lessons will be hard to watch and others will make me proud......my only hope is that the end result is one that surrounds them with people they love, enjoy and appreciate......




.....I am constantly reminding myself to stop and savor every phase I encounter.....a wise woman told me today that when she looks at her older sons, she still misses being called Mommy.....

....there is physical labor that goes into being called Mommy......I understand the mental exhaustion comes when Momma changes to Mom......so I will suck the Mommy phase dry and focus on the parts of it that are precious......because despite the trials, there are many heart warming moments......







.....Happy birthday two months late, sweet girl.....






....you are a ray of sunshine.....


....and our family is so lucky to have you.....


.....and Callie was watching.....

.....she is scouring catalogs and handing me the things she wants with huge circles around her wish list items......

.....we have a birthday girl to be and we are ready to celebrate.......

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

.....hookie.....

.....we woke up to the surprise of snow this morning.....forecasted to be more of a wintery mix, Stefan was reciting the news to me as I was half functioning at his absurdly early waking hour.....I heard something about actual snow and then he said something about a 90 minute delay for schools as he was wrestling with his tie.....

....as I began to try and remember what day today was, I immediately fell into the most relaxed state when Wednesday came to my mind.....yes, Wednesday......Elsie only goes to school until 11:45 am, so why would I rush everyone out of the house so she could attend school for an hour and a half?......

....that was just as absurd as it was early.....

.....Elsie stumbled into our bedroom just as I was coming to this realization and I pulled back the bedcovers, inviting her in.....our morning routine is that we always take a few minutes to nestle close together before the morning begins.....she is my earliest riser in this season of ever changing early birds and I cherish the moments of one on one before the morning gets crazy......I whispered in her ear, today I am going to teach you how to play hookie......

....what does hookie mean?.....

......no school today, lovie.....Momma has other things in mind......but for now, let's just close our eyes until we hear Brody......

.....Brody was up two minutes later and Stefan happened to leak the big news that it snowed.....so within 3 minutes, all three kids were in my bed, jumping up and down and begging to play.......


.....we were outside and fully bundled faster than we've been all winter......and the three of them didn't even stop for breakfast or acknowledge my badgering about eating at least a banana.....the girls can completely prep for the snow now, even remembering to pull their waterproof pants down over their boots....Brody kept his mittens on and gladly donned his snow gear for the first time this winter without screaming.....and for over an hour this morning, we all played and then the girls cheerfully helped Momma with the outdoor chores.....


......it didn't actually occur to me that I should shovel my driveway until I saw all of the neighbors making their way out with their shovels.....I checked my phone and saw that icy rain was coming....I have been in the northeast long enough to know that rain on top of snow can be a messy and dangerous mix.....I figured that everyone was trying to be proactive and that we should too before the snow turned to slick ice.......although I should mention that this Florida girl has never shoveled a driveway......ever....

....we all began shoveling, plowing and shaking our salt until we had a nice, safe walkway for Daddy's return home......



.....I must admit that I was completely exhausted and breathless by the time we were done.....I'm sure it didn't help that for part of the driveway, I shoveled holding Brody on my hip as he shook his red, chapped, wet hands.....the mittens can only stay on for so long.....

......I sense a hot bath to soak muscles that have not been used in ages in my near future......

....however, the girls were extremely proud of the accomplishment and asked several times if Daddy would be happy he could walk safely to our house.....that alone was worth all the muscle aches and motrin I'll be taking this evening......


.....we worked up a good appetite and breakfast at 10am made today feel like a Saturday......I can't get enough of the way Brody loves Mickey Mouse, so I attempted the pancakes that Stefan usually makes.....not bad for a non breakfast maker and just hearing his excitement at the sight of his pancake was a good fill for my soul.....


.......pancakes aside, though, we are still in full force on our quest to eat more colorful meals.....I am not exaggerating when I say that there were many dinners in December that consisted of plain noodles with three cookies on the side.....it was sort of a down hill spiral post Halloween.....and knowing that my children are hardly the adventurous type when it comes to food, I have decided to try to incorporate some new things into our menus that taste similar to what they are used to eating......

....so instead of a plain strawberry smoothie, I added some *kale and told the kids Momma wanted a smoothie in her favorite color......


.....little brother can not get enough of these......I literally have to double the batch to feed the four of us breakfast......


....we also have substituted french fries for *baked cauliflower.....the kids get a crunchy side dish that they can dip in either ketchup or ranch dressing and I am thrilled they are inhaling a veggie they would typically wince at.....

....add a bit of parmesan cheese and they are begging for seconds......



....all except Callie....she can't be fooled as easily, but I will take two thirds digging the baked veggie.....not a bad statistic when it comes to cauliflower.....

.....good food habits are just one of the reasons I am starting to feel more settled......routines are being established, rooms are starting to evolve, ideas for layout are being planned.....by no means is the house full, as there are plenty of empty rooms that desire some design love......but we are doing less organizing and I am now moving on to fun and exciting projects......soft, beautiful and cozy things are in the works to help make this house feel more like a home.....


....we are not only feeling settled at home, but the girls are also finding their groove at school.....



....Elsie with her reading, typing and science and Callie with her imaginary, artistic and class performances.....






.....and we are wrapping up one extra curricular activity in exchange for another.....





....and I have also found my camera.....three different living places in 10 weeks was a lot of boxes......

.....but we are reunited and it feels so good......

.....I may need to dedicate the next post to all of the pics I have taken this week with the canon......the iphone sure does make an easy crutch, though......


.....happy hump day.....happy snow day......happy hookie day.....


Kale Smoothies 
*2-3 kale leaves pulled off center stalk and torn into small pieces
*1 frozen banana (I peel and freeze all my bananas that are too ripe to feed the kids and use in smoothies)
*5-10 frozen strawberries
*1.5-2 cups of almond milk (Cow milk would work too, but we are cutting back on our dairy intake)
*1 tsp of agave nectar (Any sweetener will work)
*2 Tb of protein powder
*1 Tb of flax seed oil

Blend for two minutes or until smooth. Delicious! Enjoy!

Cauliflower and parmesan fries
*1 head of cauliflower
*1-2 Tb of olive oil
*3-5 Tb of parmesan cheese
*Salt and pepper

Wash and separate cauliflower into florets. Mix florets, olive oil and salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. cover evenly. Spread florets on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle parmesan cheese. Bake for 20 minutes on 400 degrees, tossing every 5 minutes to ensure oil and cheese are evenly distributed over cauliflower florets. Broil for last 5 minutes to help brown and crisp florets.

Serve immediately.