Changes in Latitude, Changes in a Mama's Attitude!!!

We headed NORTH for our day spent away from our perceptive and spunky almost-six-year old daughter, our newly-turned happy-go-lucky four year old son and our comedic and energetic 15-month old toddler. And I am still trying to come down from my weekend high brought on by this fantastic day spent alone with my husband.

Ahhh, it felt so good! We spent the afternoon in Northampton, MA (by the way, this is the town where we were married over 7 years ago) browsing the shops, squeezing through clothing racks that were on display for the "sidewalk sales" and listening to an outdoor band . It was raining, and although my espadrilles got soggy, I didn't let the weather put a damper on our day out. One of the shops that I am still dreaming about was called "Essentials". It was totally "my kind of store" complete with pretty paper, baby accessories and clothing, European tableware and my favorite- oilcloth sold by the yard. Does anybody else out there get as excited by oilcloth as I do???

Of course, I did say that we were "browsing" so nothing made it's way into my bag and took up permanent residence in my home (only in my covetous dreams!).

Mike's "coveted item" was probably the GIANT slices (they were about 1/4 of a whole pizza) of fresh doughy pizza that were being sold and consumed in front of "Mimmo's" pizza shop. If we hadn't have had dinner plans I know a couple of those slices would have made their way into his mouth! (Oh well, just another example of how men and women are different. I don't think Mike would ever me writing about oilcloth and unusual baby bibs in his spare time).

The one thing that we did enjoy together and equally as much was our dinner at "Max's Tavern" in Springfield, MA. We were the early birds and although it was still sunny out, we were still treated to dimmed tavern-style chandeliers and a quiet booth where we could enjoy talking without being interrupted, nursed on or being needed to break up a sibling squabble. The food was amazingly yummy and we were so full afterwards that we didn't eat for the rest of the day.

Mike, my meat-and-potatoes kind of man ordered a prime rib steak with garlic mashed potatoes (oh, he started with a giant plate of onion rings and smoky ketchup) and enjoyed every last bite of it. Me on the other hand? I started with a Tuscan salad (mixed greens, grape tomatoes, calamata olives, whole roasted garlic, fresh mozzarella, warm polenta croutons and balsamic vinaigrette dressing) and enjoyed pan-seared sea scallops with spicy chili paste, cucumber squash risotto and Chinese long beans for my entree. This Tuscan salad is THE BEST SALAD that I've ever had. It is on my favorite's list (if I had one of those, for food and things. Perhaps if I were a food critic...).

Our date didn't stop there. We picked Elias up from my parents (bathed, PJ'd and bed-ready), and drove home to tuck him in. Sophia and Nicolas spent the night with Nannie and Grampie and enjoyed every sweet moment of their time there. And then we still had that night to relax, watch a movie and enjoy the stillness of the night.

It was just what the doctor ordered. Oh, and by the way, I am feeling MUCH better. It's amazing what a little decompression and a break from the norm can do for a body, mind and soul. I would HIGHLY recommend doing the same all you mamas out there!

Head Above Water

Picture this...

there is a woman drifting out at sea. For a while she was paddling fiercely, really making some strides towards the distant shore. Then someone tied a weight on her ankle. This slowed her down a bit but did not deter her from her goal. She began to kick harder with her free leg and still swam strongly in the direction that she had her eyes set upon. But then another weight was tied upon her free ankle. She began to rely on her upper body strength and still overcame the waves and the challenge of the strong currents that the ocean presented her with. But then two more weights were tied upon her, one on each wrist. Then all she could do was back float and let the waves toss her about- back and forth in whichever direction they pleased. She was at the mercy of the sea. She was now struggling to keep her head above water.

Well, this is me. And this has been the way it's been for almost two weeks now. These "weights" have been things like my husband's absence, an illness for myself, illness for my kids and never-ending housework. Sound familiar?

Oh, I forgot to tell you that this woman struggling to keep her head above water can see the shore in the distance. There are friends (and fellow bloggers) enjoying themselves on the beach- building castles, sunning themselves and sipping lemonade. She wants so desperately to meet up with them. She wants to join the party again.

Well, all, I am making my way back to the land-of-the-living and I'm working REALLY hard at it! I can feel a break coming soon.
Thank you my dear husband for helping to untie those heavy weights, they have been more that I can bear. Thank you dear friends for stepping in and helping me out with my children so that I could rest. And my dear parents... well, I'm thanking you in advance for taking ALL THREE CHILDREN tomorrow day and into the night so that we can have some down time and enjoy a dinner out. Thank you.
More from me soon...

Ahhh, What a Beautiful Day

I woke up this fine Saturday morning to a very pleasing surprise… I have been awarded the “Thoughtful Blogger Award” by Nesting Mama over at My Nesting Place. I believe she awarded me with this title mainly based on my recommendations for keeping boredom at bay for children by linking my readers to various craft/activity sites.

I did a little digging to find out just what exactly a "Thoughtful Blogger" is. This is what I found:

· For those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs.
· For the people who take others feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous.
· Also for all of those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping others bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites.
· This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others

I suppose that I fit into the second and last categories above. I have said it before (in my own head, not aloud or on my blog) that I will NOT be a blogger who ever disrespects my husband, children, friends, fellow bloggers or those who do not live as I choose to live. Nor will I use profane language, use my blog as a political or social springboard or vent my anger towards people in real life that I have not been able to confront/discuss things with. I feel these considerations to be "kind and corteous".

I am not an activist, a political or social advocate and some of my "delights" may be a bit old-fashioned (I recently posted about dreaming of sewing and yes, I love to bake and I do homeschool my children).

I think that mostly this blog is a creative outlet for me. I would be writing even in NO ONE was reading it. That's why reading this blog is truly a "glimpse" into our life (because you are getting bits and pieces of our real, uncensored and at times trying life). When I write about something admirable that I am doing/aspiring to, it always seems to be balanced with a brutally open and honest post about what challenges I am facing (and yes, it is VERY hard for me to admit openly that I give my children cereal and juice for dinner at times!!!).

As for the other part about being rewarded a "blog award"- returning the award to 5 fellow bloggers who I feel are "Thoughtful Bloggers". I feel that is a favor that will be returned eventually, as I do not keep an extensive list of bloggers on my "to read" list and do not want to arbitrarily pass it out to whomever I know.

When I DO give the award of being "thoughtful" I really want to make it count. I promise to be on the lookout for thoughtful bloggers. So, no offense to any of my fellow bloggers, PLEASE (I am also not good with people potentially not liking me...)!

For now, I will enjoy the award for my meager attempts to point people in the direction of crafts, homeshcooling links and enjoyable pastimes. Just the wind in my sails that I needed to finish off my last and final day (Day EIGHT that is) with my husband out-of-town.

Quilt Dreams

It all started months before I even became pregnant with my first child, so I know that nesting hormones weren't to blame. I can remember making that transition from a carefree and cluttered college student to a more tidy and domesticated version of that same girl.

I started thinking about my home and what it might feel like to have a place of my own to grow old together with my husband (I was single at the time) and to raise a family in. I started collecting things like juice glasses, linens and unique towels that I would see here or there. The image of what my nest would be like started to take shape.

Along with that urge to nest and prepare a home, came the deep and unrelenting desire to have a baby. Like most young married couples, my husband and I had "our plan" about when we would start our family. I think it was something like two years. Needless to say, my husband caught my "baby fever" and nine months into our marriage we were celebrating the new life that had been created.

Preparing for our baby created even a stronger desire to make my house a place where not only our friends and family would feel warm, well-fed and welcome, but also where a baby could grow, be rocked, nursed, nurtured and feel peaceful and cozy.

I have never considered myself to particularly crafty. And I certainly didn't bring any major homemaking skills to the table. But where there's a will, there's a way. And so I learned slowly and steadily how to do simple things like prepare meals, separate/wash/iron clothing (without shrinking or discoloring any items), set a nice table, make a cozy bed, bake scones/quick breads/muffins and nurse my babies.

Here I am seven years later, and that nesting urge is still growing. I have been feeling particularly crafty this week, as you may have read in these posts from this week. Children's arts and crafts are wonderful but have not fulfilled my longing for self-expression in the way of a skill or craft. In fact, I consider myself to be someone lacking any real skill or artistic ability.

In particular, I have been dreaming of sewing a beautiful quilt that can be used anytime by anyone who wants to be cozy. Of course, I do not have much sewing experience to bring this vision to life. So I have asked a family friend for sewing lessons. She has graciously agreed to take me on and I am thrilled!

Just last night, I stumbled upon a step-by-step instructional on how to make a vintage quilt. I am posting the link here for anyone who is feeling particularly crafty and artistic. Hopefully someday I will be the one posting a photo of a quilt that I've made. Anything is possible.

Stop Boredom, Start Craftiness NOW- Part II

Just wanted to give you another great resource for keeping kids' boredom at bay.
Just click here to dig into more out-of-the-box activities!

In My Defense

Whew! Another day in the archives of my motherhood story. Today would certainly NOT be one of the episodes that I’d choose to dust off and replay anytime in the near future.
Tears were had by all, most of them being mine ("Yes, mommies DO cry too!"). A trip to the peditrician's office was NOT on my agenda, but somehow managed to become #1 on my priority list at about 4:15pm today. Thankfully the office was open until 5pm. If only they were having a "two for one special" ("Oh, Doctor, do you think you could also take a quick peek in the baby's ears too?", said sheepishly and heavy with guilt as the clock reads "5:35pm").
Dinner was not one of my proudest moments. Do cereal and juice count as a balanced meal. Was it prepared with love? Uh, no. I could barely get the cereal to hit the bowl my hands were trembling so badly!
Is bribery one of The Five Love Languages? If so, then my kids are feeling real special tonight. I think I actually told them they could have ANYTHING THEY WANTED just to alleviate some of the guilt I was feeling from being such a train wreck for the better part of the day ("ANYTHING Mommy? Even another pudding? More cookies? Can I throw my sword at the fireplace bricks with reckless abandon?", Nicolas asks. "Yes, yes, and why not dear...", I cower in response).
I simply can't air all of this dirty laundry without at least making a meager attempt at excusing my behavior, justifying my attitude and defending my impatience.

So, here are my TOP TEN REASONS WHY I MIGHT HAVE LOST MY MIND TODAY:

1. It’s a rainy day and I rely heavily on sunshine to boost my mood.

2. I only drank two cups of coffee this morning instead of my typical three cups.

3. I’m sick. It’s a head cold. The Netti Pot is my best friend these days.

4. I am going on day SIX of being ALONE with my children while my husband is on a missions trip to Mexico.

5. I’m nursing a thirty pound child who is making it his life’s mission to nurse his way through the day and night.

6. That same thirty pound child is also sick. It too is a head cold, with lots of drool and snot… ON ME.

7. My four-year old is either a)ignoring me when I speak, b)is living in a fantasy world i which he actually needs to have sword fighting, sofa diving and wrestling-style take-downs life-sustaining skills c)he needs a hearing test (oh wait, he’s had one of those and he passed).

8. My five year old daughter found a way into our “iTunes” account and bought not one, but TEN, yes I reapeat, TEN Hannah Montana songs unintentionally (if only I had never taught her to “point and click” that darn mouse).

9. I'm running out of consequences for sibling bickering.

10. Michael’s craft store does not carry sticker paper or string shoe laces. What? (I could feel my eye start twitching as the sales clerk tried to recommend yarn or leather laces. NO. They simply would not do. Doesn’t she realize that these are kid’s crafts that we’re dealing with here? What kind of mother uses yarn for her kids sewing cards? And LEATHER LACES? Do they think I’m made of money???)

No matter what kind of a day we have, know this… Mommy loves you. And I’d rather be right here where I am than any other place in the whole wide world. I am living life’s most fulfilling adventure and you are all changing me, day by day, for the better.

And I remind myself too, that God’s mercies are new each morning.

Stop Boredom, Start Craftiness NOW

Many mothers welcome summer vacation with arms wide open. Others fear the wide open time slots and unscheduled days that the simple days of summer bring.

I for one absolutely welcome the chance for spontaneity and free time that these non-academic, non-lessoned months bring.

My sister and I were just talking about how much we despise hearing the words, "I'M BORED" fall from our children’s lips! I have to say that I haven't heard that phrase in a long time (halleluiah!). I don't take all of the credit for this fact (just a very large chunk of it!) and credit most of this occupation of mind and body to my imaginative, inventive, role-playing and very active children. They seem to find something to play at no matter what the season or environment.

(**Right now as a matter of fact, they have turned the playpen on its side, covered it with quilts and made a barricade out of sofa cushions. Voila- a fort!**)

I am always on the lookout for quality activities for children (TV, videogames and blinking toys don’t fall into that list in our home!). As a homeschooling mother, it is a "part-time job" of sorts for me to research ideas/methods/items that will enrich the minds, bodies and spirits of my little ones.

I found this adorable website recently called "Paper Toys". It carries printable versions of all sorts of toys, paper crafts and arts. Some of my favorites include "A Little Book About the Circus", a Fairy Wand and printable stickers (very stylish ones at that!) for children to make themselves. I will say that you will need plenty of black and color printer ink to "make it happen" for your kids!

Click here to end boredom and start craftiness!

What the World Eats

I found this link in an online homeschooling newsletter that I receive. It is called What the World Eats and it is a slide show of what 15 different families around the world eat on a weekly basis.

It is extremely interesting and provides a glimpse into the kitchen's of families of all different backgrounds. Some of the food items that you see on their tables (or the ground in front of them) may surprise you.

Someday I would love to take my family's photo and post it for you all to see... "hmmmmm".

ripe

We spent the morning at a local berry farm picking blueberries that were SO ripe they practically dropped into your palm! Of course, more blueberries made their way into the mouths of the three smaller pickers that were in tow than did into their pails!

The scene was reminiscent of a story told in one of our favorite books, Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey.

“Little Sal picked three berries and dropped them in her little tin pail… kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! She picked three more berries and ate them.”



Elias enjoyed his first time berry picking and actually seemed more interested in the bushes themselves than in eating the blueberries. Sophia got hot and found shade under a blueberry bush. And Nicolas was by my side really making a good effort to pick nice, big, blue blueberries. He was really my only “helper”!

I think we’ll make a blueberry pie with some of the berries. I made a blueberry crumb pie for the Fourth of July and it was a big hit. This time I’ll add vanilla ice cream on the side.

As for using up the rest of the berries… that won’t be a problem. I can already see the bottom of my crate after the kids devoured them this morning and then again this afternoon! I will never refuse a child who is asking for fruit!

tree-ringed circus

My younger, bachelor-of-a-brother had the pleasure of joining us for the evening last night. He has spent enough time with our family over the years to know that sitting down to a hot meal with three young children can be an adventure.
Spilled milk? No big deal. Children refusing to eat their vegetables? Child’s play. He has even come to understand how a drop of tomato sauce can permanently stain the tray of a high chair (he attempted the clean-up and I quickly, yet gently discouraged him from getting into a job in which he’d be in way over his head). But I daresay he has experienced the joys of a toddler filling his diaper while sitting only inches from his uncle whilst eating a big plate of baked ziti. That, he didn't take sitting down (come to think of it, he did leave the table pretty quickly after that incident).

Things calmed down for a bit after dinner, but quickly returned to the order of chaos as we started preparing for bathtime.

It was like a scene from a zoo or circus. Witnessing my husband and me trying to wrangle in feisty and protesting creatures for a sudsy cleaning after the evening meal was certainly a sight that Uncle Seth hadn’t yet laid eyes on.

The splashing, the crying (Nicolas had a blister that he didn’t want to touch the water), the flooding and towels sprawled about. The commands, “Yes, you have to wash your hair tonight Sophia” and “Please go put your figures away before you get in the tub Nicolas” echoed from the steamy and crowded bathroom floor (upon which I was kneeling on a pile of damp towels). His head moved from side to side, perhaps whip lashed, as little naked bodies ran back and forth across the upstairs hallway.

Perhaps I can put this bathtime experience into visual terms so that you can get the general idea. So here...

These are the three circus animals, I mean children, that we had to tame, I mean bathe last night:

This is my husband, ruler and gatekeeper of all that is just and safe in the land of bathtime:

And me, the ring leader, calling the shots about who gets which lotion put where and which pajamas to put on the children for the night:

Sorry Uncle Seth. I'm sure you didn't plan on sitting through an act of the circus lastnight.

Perhaps someday it will be your turn. I promise to lend you a towel to mop up the mess!

A New Chapter of Happiness

Years ago while I was in high school, there was a book called 14,000 Things To Be Happy About. My girlfriends and I passed a copy back and forth and even tried our hand at keeping our own record of what made us happy.

To this day, I still have my little green velvet journal with a few thousands things that made me happy during my high school and collage years.

Reading the pages of this little book bring me back. Way back. Many of the same things that brought me joy and delight then still do 'till this day.

Things like…

Sleeping with the windows open
Floral bedspreads
Being thanked
Porch swings
Hearing about the birth of a baby
Star gazing
Pretty crepe paper

Still turn up the corners of my mouth and bring about a sense of excitement and wonder.

Other things like…

Apple flavored lip balm
Making a mix tape for someone special
My silver dolphin ring
Hot pink bikini bathing suits
Staying up all night

… not so much!

More than 10 years has passed since I have put my pen to the pages and given an account of what makes me happy these days. Boy, I’m sure that some things have changed…

Baking bluberry scones with my children
Filling, refilling and filling again the endless glasses of Sophia and Nicolas’ lemonade glasses as they spend a day outdoors
Gazing into the sparkling eyes of my toddler while I sit and nurse him to his heart’s content
Bringing my children to a new place, be it a park, museum or sight
The hours from 7:30 to 11pm ALONE with my husband
Reading a food label with the absence of high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils or food dyes
Working hard in my home so that it is a place where my family and friends feel welcome, loved and well-fed
Posting RECIPES for my blog readers to view (yikes, if I could have only seen this one coming!)

Perhaps I should start a new chapter of happiness…

A Yummy Dish

I posted this recipe when I first started this blog and decided that it was SO YUMMY AND FLAVORFUL that I just had to post it again. Hopefully you enjoy this dish as much as we have!

Chicken Curry in a Hurry