Catfood27Cents

Early July

 

 

summery stuff

Things lately

We just returned from a too quick trip to Ohio to visit our families.  I miss it already - my parents loving on their grandchildren, the familiar smells of the Northern woods, the soft grass, old friends, the comfort of my childhood home, the fun of a large city with cool things to do.  

Had a blast visiting our good friends from college and their children! So awesome to have been able to touch base again Four Schneiders!  We love you guys!  Super excited for October!! :) 

Something about my kids playing in the yard I grew up playing and growing and maybe even dreaming of them is really nice.

 I know a time will come when these simple and happy days will be a memory.  Not that I think everything's just going to turn to shit all at once - but things do change and things will change and there will be good and bad and happy and sad.  It is so easy to want to continue to hang on to now.  It's a bit of a burden on my  heart lately.  I'm not good at carpe diem despite massive efforts on my part to be more joyful in the moment.  I'm trying.  I'll always try.  I just came upon this quote the other day and it has really resonated with me and my current mood.  

“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.”

- Mary Jean Irion

 Truth, right? 

Stelly loves being held by Papa.  

 Father's Day has just passed, and, while we spent a large portion of it driving, we did manage a brief stop over on Hilton Head to visit Brandon's family.  

Isla got to snuggle with her chicken friends.  

Ro got some coop cleaning time!  (he loved it!)

So yes, vacation was lovely- and as always altogether too brief.  Although I do love coming home (minus the unpacking and ensuing laundry and the inevitable cold I get - wah).  

Ah - and another thing to share.   Something so sweet right now.  I recently heard this poem on the Disney Jr. channel, of course it made me teary.  Motherhood is the most vulnerable joy.  

 

 Mother's Song - A Traditional Lullaby

 

My heart is like a fountain true

that flows and flows with love to you

as chirps the lark unto the tree

so chirps my pretty babe to me 

There is not a rose wherever I seek

as comely as my baby's cheek

there's not a comb of honey bee

so full of sweets as babe to me

There's not a star that shines on high

is brighter than my baby's eye

There's not a boat upon the sea

can dance as baby does to me

No silk was ever spun so fine

as is the hair of baby mine

My baby smells more sweet to me

than smells in spring the elder tree

A little fish swims in the well

So in my heart does baby dwell
A little flower blows on the tree
My baby is the flower to me

Ten thousand parks where deer do run

Ten thousand roses in the sun

Ten thousand pearls beneath the sea

my babe more precious is to me.

How lovely is that poem?  What I wouldn't do for them.  

Until next time!

 

And it's 2013 and we're still here

If only I had a million lovely photos to share of our trips to Hilton Head (for Christmas) and Cleveland (for New  Year's).  I have a few and they are currently hovering between two computers and two versions of photoshop and ....eh.  

So... 2012, let's reflect.  A pretty nice year I'd say.  I bore another child (yay Stellan!) and happily the world did not end on the 21st like many people feared.  Hello - I could have told you that, I'm an archaeologist, remember?  Anyway, moving on from that...

I love a good New Year.  The fresh starts, the amazing inspiration to clean clean clean and organize that I really try to harness and prepare the house for another year and the promise of 12 months of opportunities, new memories, yadda yadda yadda.  I mean, yes, I do feel that way, but surely by now you are sick of hearing about those things.  Yes?  

So, I do have a few New Year's resolutions.  I'll tell you about one as it's a new one for me.  I'm calling it "12 projects in 12 months".  Combing through my craft cabinet and other un-sundry corners of my home, I'm slightly haunted by numerous craft project that had been eagerly signed up to start and then sort of fizzled out like a bottle rocket in the rain.  Sound familiar to you?  Well, heck, then start a 12 projects in 12 months resolution with me!  The kicker is, you really should USE THE STUFF YOU HAVE!  Very likely, you have 12 great projects hidden and spirited away somewhere.  Find them.  Dust them off and do them!  Now, I can be flexible here, perhaps you've been jawing on about making some sort of end table or something, really just a weekend project.  Do it.  Make that January.  How about trying the 30 Day Shred?  (I LOVED IT!!) Then make that February (or heck just start that today).  The point is that one month is a manageable amount of time to make a goal and stick with it.  Want to learn to make a really great Indian dish?  Got a knitting project just waiting to be picked up again?  Is there a series of books you've been dying to read?  You wanted to make that blazer for yourself (mom?!).  12 months, 12 projects.  I'll be sharing mine and I'd love to hear if you do any as well.  

 

And, okay, here's some photos from our trip to Cleveland to visit my parents.  We miss you!  

We saw snow!  Yay!

who can resist the yummy taste of snow.  mmmmm....

going after their papa (my dad) in the backyard.  

It's not a trip to Cleveland without a visit to the West Side Market!

and while you are there you HAVE to get an insane homemade cupcake and a hot steamed milk and go sit up at the overlook area but then as a neurotic parent you notice that the once nostalgic and quaint balcony area suddenly is an incredible death trap because "OH MY GOD THAT RAILING IS SO FREAKING LOW!!! WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?!"  Clevelander's you know what I'm talking about right?  Right?  Oh yeah you do.  Both Brandon and I repeatedly envisioned our progeny tumbling to their death or major paralysis more than once in the fretful 14.5 minutes we stayed up there.  Moving on...

Even though I grew up in Cleveland, snow is fun and novel (at least the first day) and I'll admit I kind of miss it here in central Florida.  Although, I did sort of enjoy the 75 degree and sunny day we had today where we walked to the park without jackets and the sun warmed our skin and our hearts...oh, I'm just kidding, it was actually only 71 degrees and we really should have been wearing sunblock, but, alas.  

Okay, last few shots just for you Northern folks.  

The snow was so comfortable he just fell right asleep!  

Now...is it me, or did someone with a "mature" sense of humor design that Spiderman on Ro's hat?  I'm just saying, I mean, I'm just putting that out there.  Okay, sheesh, wow, what time is IT?  Wow, so sleepy, okay, have a great night everyone!  

 

Storytelling

- a march of little ladies in Virginia

- treats

- my littlest, getting so big

So far this summer

hello to new chickens at grandmas

fearlessly climbing. 

pretty swim suits

visiting familiar places from my youth.

Time moving quickly.

Barbe a Papa

Found these on the sd card of my point and shoot that I took with us to Paris last July.   I was like three weeks pregnant here. 

Barbe a Papa (literally translates to "father's beard") is just plain old Cotton Candy.  I couldn't make a beard out of my gigantic tuft of spun sugar, but I could make this...

tres chaud, non?

I had completely forgotten about these pictures.  I really should do another Paris blog post soon, we had some fun.  Like the 800 pictures we took of people wearing horizontal striped shirts, just because...

That week between Christmas and New Years...

There's always this build up for the holidays, and then, the day after Christmas this little bittersweet and nostalgic feeling in your chest.  I truly love Christmas, and recently more than ever simply because I can see the sweetness of the exciting season through the eyes of my young children.  I tried hard not to stress the things that they would be receiving this year or talk too much about "what do you want for Christmas?" with my children - and for the most part, I think we had a nice and fairly modest haul.  They each received two things from us, and then one big present from the both of us to share.  Obviously, family and friends gifted them more than that, but I truly want my children to remember traditions and the sweet and slow rhythms of the holidays.  

I really love cooking and baking and and I want my children to remember those smells of the season as I remember them from when I was a child.  I want them to remember the soft glow of a pretty tree covered in lights and our evening walks through the neighborhood looking at everyone else's lights.  

Ronan is still flying high on the whole Christmas thing.  He has been playing "elf" working in his new workshop "building toys" for next year.  Quite cute.  Isla is pretty much over it.  But she's two.  

We spent a wonderful week in South Carolina filled with reconnecting with family that we hadn't seen in a long time and my in laws did an amazing job making sure that things were so special and that everyone was comfortable and cared for.  It did not go unappreciated, trust me.  

The kids got to play with their cousins and it always makes me wish we lived closer to them as they get on so wonderfully.  Ronan is absolutely enamored with his big cousin H who is almost eight!! and epitomizes all things cool for Ro.  Isla could take or leave her slightly younger cousin N, who pretty much could take or leave Isla as well, but bigger cousin B was sweet and engaging for Isla and played so nicely with her.  Seeing these children interact with one another makes me excited to see how the dynamics with a third sibling will be like.  

Sadly this week Ronan and Isla were pretty much plagued with horrible coughs, often cranky demeaners and recurring melt downs due to said illness - and probably even worse, several nights of sleeping with our sick children left mama and daddy often cranky as well.  Not to mention general third trimester discomfort and random nausea added to what was likely a bitchier than normal attitude on my part.  So, sorry for that...

It seems like, for many people, 2011 has been a pretty rough year.  And, in this week between 2011 and 2012, I am, like most people, pondering my "resolutions" for next year.  Letting go of the crap that I've been slogging around with me for months, happily thinking about really cleaning out the literal and figurative clutter in my life and excitedly focusing on new directions and changes (oh, and a new baby!).  I think, like many people, the excitement of the possibilities of a new year are happily being dreamed of.   

Until then, I'm still enjoying the soft afterglow of the holidays.  Scouring the internet for one more special meal on New Year's Eve (I'll take suggestions!!) and lining up my craft card for things to make and do (and finish) in 2012.  

Happy New Year everyone.  

As you can see, we spent a lot of time on the beach this Christmas.  I figured some cold air would help those coughs... I was kind of wrong, I think.  But there's always a lot to explore on the beach.  

Solstice

Happy winter solstice!  We're with family and enjoying our time in South Carolina.   The kids both have croup and have been a little low energy, but for the most part are very excited for the upcoming weekend with all their cousins and family.  Ronan is completely entranced with the whole "elf on the shelf" thing (including the movie) and pretends to be Chippy all day - flying to the North Pole, "losing his magic", getting it back, calling Isla "Snowflake" and my favorite, sitting with his knees tucked up just like those elves in strange spots all over the house.  It's hilarious.  He wants to be a "scout elf" when he grows up.  Seriously, it's the cutest thing.  Christmas has truly come alive for him this year and that's so exciting to see.  
Isla is sort of into it, but mostly because Ronan involves her in whatever he's playing at.  She has been saying all sorts of fun and nutty things.  I keep meaning to write them down, but I forget, then when I try to remember, I can't.  It's sad.  But trust me, this kid is one hilarious chatter box.  

So, today, on the shortest day of the year, I took my littlest down to the beach (no one else wanted to go down with me) for some sunrise photos.  Isla would not pose for one shot of her face.  She was too busy exploring and collecting shells.  And - of course, just like that, the sun was up and the lovely light was gone.  

Happy Winter Solstice.

On Vacation

I do realize how slow this blog has been. This summer's unexpected schedules, lots of travel (I'm currently in Madison, WI visiting with friends!) and other things have occupied me. I'm also doing a bit of reevaluating, organizing, shifting, changing, etc. So, we'll be back, but I'm not putting myself on any deadlines here. I hope you who read this blog from time to time will bear with me.

Anyway, this photo is taken from a bench in my favorite park in Madison where I spent a lot of time with my family every week that one lovely year we were fortunate enough to call Madison home. This is looking out over Lake Monona. (and shot with my iPhone).

See you soon.

Paris

Was really amazing.  I feel so fortunate to have been able to go over there with my husband to celebrate our ten year anniversary (TEN!!) and to take the long dreamed of, long planned, much anticipated LONG vacation.  Of course, we did all the "typical" touristy things - The Louvre (specifically the Nike of Samothrace - incredible as I expected), L'Orangerie to see the Monet Waterlilies (amazing), d'Orsay Museum, Cluny, Versailles (just the outside - the five hour line was ridiculous, we were not that desperate to go inside).  We tried to see the catacombs twice, but the lines were always more than two hours and it often was raining, so we decided we'd just save that for a future visit.   We also spent a bit of time in Montmarte and I must say, the Sacre Cour is absolutely incredibly stunning.  Event though it was a mad house outside, once you filed in and walked through, you could feel the peacefulness of it.  It really was very memorable to me.

We visited the Pere Lachaise Cemetery to see (obviously) Jim Morrison's grave: 

Oscar Wilde's grave: 

 as well as Marcel Marceau, Edith Piaf, and many other notable deceased.  That cemetery was amazing.  

We toured around the Champs-Elysees which, to be honest, is dreadful.  Just a mad house of tourists and such off-putting displays of wealth combined with an onslaught of beggars, it was really not very nice and we didn't spend any time there once we figured out we didn't like it there.  We did go to the Arche de Triomphe, though, and that was pretty amazing (of course). 

And, the scene stealer in almost every vista is, you guessed it, the Tour d'Eiffel.  It really is absolutely incredible.  It would have been even more impressive if it weren't saturated with young women claiming to be deaf mute (who you could hear talking to each other) beggars and people clanking mini one euro silver and gold Eiffel Towers in your face every ten feet.  But, what was amusing was watching the police chase them regularly away from the area.  That was actually quite fun to see, those chase scenes.  We never saw them catch anyone, but it was kind of funny.  

You, know, to be honest, I didn't take that many pictures with my cameras (I brought two).  As I suspected, I did not want to be slogging my DSLR around with me as we marched throughout the city, and walk and walk and walk we did.  Brandon was actually tres efficient with his trusty iPhone, and that was, to be honest, quite okay with me.  Between the two of us we took enough to put together a sweet little iPhoto memory book, (which I haven't made yet) and the rest, well, they're in my head.  :)  Since it was just Brandon and I, I think that I was less occupied with photographing everything like I am when the kids are around.  It was just a calm and peaceful trip that I was present in and not preoccupied with photographing every cool thing.  Now, don't get me wrong, I took a lot more than the above two photos, but I am not going to bombard anyone with a grand and likely boring barrage of vacay pics.  I'll just save those for when family and guests come to call.  ;)

There was a "Fete de Tuilleries" going on at the large and beautiful park next to our hotel (we were very centrally located, right next to the Tuilleries along the Champs, near the Louvre.  This was a good old fashioned, summer-long carnival, flume ride (visible from our hotel room balcony), bumper cars, and ferris wheel - as well as plenty of "barbe a papa" ie. cotton candy.  YUM!  

I'll probably filter in some more Paris shots here and there as I find the time, the summer has been hectic and I'm trying to fill my first few days back with as much time spent with my babies as possible, so I'm sure I'll be more inspired to update while it all soaks in, and before it fades.  

But for now, I'll just leave you with this.  My seriously posed photo by Brandon on the Pont Alexandre.