Stories in our Stockings

A while back I was reading the ever popular Momma blog, SouleMama, and I picked up an idea from her about rotating children's books with the coming and going of seasons. I normally find this easier to do around Winter and Christmas because we are inside more and it seems we have more books in our stash that are appropriate for that season. Here is a list of books that SouleMama likes for Winter.

Here are a few we have sitting around. I am wondering what to add to the pile this year.

What are your favorites?

baby bump day

Today marks 28 weeks, the beginning of the end, the 3rd Trimester. And this babe is growing! You can tell by the bump; it is growing!

images by Whit & Whimsy

Highlighting {Handmade}

Recently, I learned of this lovely company; Hand and Cloth. This social enterprise was started to give women in Bangladesh an opportunity to work, create, stitch, to love and be loved. The blankets, made from old saris, are hand stitched. And are simply beautiful!

If you are looking for that one perfect Christmas gift, this is a great place to start! Here is a lovely video highlighting the work that is done. (ps the video is on Facebook and I can't figure out how to link it other than to the Facebook page. Sorry for those who want to see it but aren't on fb.)

Blankets handmade by women.
Women handmade by God.

Leaf Art

We hosted an Harvest Party for P's class and one of the activities was to make a leaf. I got the idea from here, but used a few different materials. Mainly, rather than contact paper we used parchment paper, this was so we could use glue sticks. I have found the best part of most crafts with kids ages 2-3 is the glue stick.

The directions:

1. Glue tissue paper on parchment leaf.
2. Glue construction paper boarder on the edge of the parchment (tissue paper filled) leaf.
3. Punch a hole through the top of the leaf.
4. Tie a string through the hole.
5. Take it home and hang in in the window.

I had everything prepared ahead of time for this project. The construction paper boarders were cut, the parchment paper was cut, and the tissue paper was cut into little squares to create a mosaic look. There is a kit here that can be purchased but I didn't like the foam outline so I decided to make it myself. Of course it is those decisions that I always question while I am up late with an exact-o knife cutting away.

Nesting

As always there are a number of house projects happening around here, some in prep for the baby and some just because we always have projects! :)

Soon, I imagine, the "nesting" will take over and everything on that project list will become a very high priority! But until the that hormone (or whatever it is) kicks in, I spend time day dreaming about the space that this little boy will live when we bring him home. Here are some colors and ideas that I have for this little man:

Sweet Aroma of Tigers?

We recently visited the Virgina Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virgina. The Mister's sister works there and gave us a quick tour before all of our kids melted down on a Friday evening. One of the recent exhibits features this amazing rug.

When we walked into the exhibit I was hit with the intoxicating aroma of tobacco, quickly we realized what we thought was an over sized Tiger rug was actually a rug made out of individual cigarettes. (I was reminded how lovely tobacco can smell when it isn't actually being smoked.)

The exhibit; The Tobacco Project by Xu Bing, was interesting but a bit confusing. It was unclear to me what was being explored or communicated through this art, but the extravagant nature of this rug alone is impressive. Plus we zoomed through the exhibit in about 10 minutes so, to be fair, I didn't take the time needed to fully digest the exhibit.

The rug looks completely different from the other end of the room. The change in pattern as you walk from one end of the room to the other is like watching a falling set of dominoes, there is lots of movement in this stationary rug.

Explore

This year and last year we went to a cabin in the woods. It is a lovely time of year to be out of the city; Fall is in the air. We explored the woods, built fires, snuggled on the couch to warm up our chilled bodies, and threw rocks in the stream for what seemed like hours. We also talked about what it will be like next year when we bring baby brother along, equally delightful, I am sure!

Sold!

We just closed on another house on S Street! This is one that we will fill with friends, bringing more people to live with us on S Street.

In many ways this is the realization of a dream/calling/vision (not sure what category it fits in). This is the redemption of a place that has housed sin and destruction and craziness for a number of year. And this is newness for us, we now have neighbors we trust, love, and care about living just steps from our door.(and more babysitters!) This will only build on what God is doing on S Street and in our neighborhood. We are here to come along side as He builds up His Kingdom in our City.

Imagine

I love when her worlds collide; while the dollhouse family was feeding the forest animals, she had to get on her bike and go to the grocery store because they had run out of food.

Creating Cookie Monster

For months, P has insisted that she wanted to be cookie monster for Halloween. I wasn't sure if I should make the costume or wait, 3 year olds have a funny way of dramatically changing their mind. So I quizzed her on it over and over till at last there was no time left for changing our mind. We bought 2 yards of blue fleece and some styrofoam balls and went for it. I found a great video on-line that gave me some pointers for making this costume. (I can't find it now, otherwise I would link it).

I laid out this green costume to get a general idea of how big to make it, then had Phoebe lay down over this and traced her body, leaving lots of space for a bulky cookie monster to fit.

I cut it, sewed the seams, put elastic in the arm and leg cuffs, cut a line down the back and sewed in velcro for easy dressing. That was it!

Then I found one of P's shirts with a hood and traced around that to make a separate hood for the head. Once we tested to see if it fit, I added a 1/2" seam to the front so I could fish some pipe cleaners through, this gave it a bit of shape.

The last step was the eyeballs, which had a hard time staying on. The best way to get them on, I found, was using hot glue. P loved it, and it turns out the costume is quite warm, so warm in fact, she took it off at every party she wore it to, though it was perfect for trick-or-treating last night!

Now, I suppose it will live in the dress up box, and maybe stick around for baby brother in three years?!

get baked

When I found out the Birthday Girl doesn't really like cake and loves caramel (I do cake and I don't do caramel) I went to the best bakery in DC for some of her favorites. And some of my new favorites!

Tasty Treats; Happy Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday to you, and you, and you...

Sometimes (almost always!) I come up with ideas that complicate my day and take much longer than I anticipate, but this project didn't turn out that way. It is amazing what happens when you have all the materials and the right tools for a project, how easily it comes together. This banner was made with P's help with crayons, construction paper, stencils, hot glue, and yarn. Simple! And oh, so festive! We had a number of birthdays to celebrate last week and this sweet little banner added to the celebration.

my little maker

the finished product

Happy Birthday

Needle and Thread

Sometimes, I sit down at the sewing machine and everything goes right; those days I feel like a master seamstress.

Some More...

On a lovely fall night in middle America, we had a fire, and we had s'mores!

Papa helping with the marshmallow melting

silhouette of s'more making, dadda and papa

by firelight

what is left, just a few smears of marshmallow

We look forward to a few more fires this fall season! S'more, please?!

Pumpkins!

We picked the perfect pumpkins at the pumpkin patch, took them home, and decorated them. We had a fall-fun-filled week last week in Nebraska complete with a trip to Poppy's Pumpkin Patch. So, we check a number of things off the Fall to-do list!

pumpkin patch through the corn maze

Phoebe and her painted pumpkin

Papa carving the pumpkin

The finished jack-o-lantern

Baking

When we got home from the farm we were left with a good question; what were we going to do with all the produce? I made soup with the broccoli and cauliflower, kale chips, roasted beets with Tilapia, and roasted cauliflower all in the first week. Then the apples....it seems clear that the ONLY thing to do with apples is bake and apple pie. So, let me introduce you to my first apple pie entirely made by me. (normally I go with the frozen pie crust!)

I followed this recipe from Smitten Kitchen and added the extra spices like she suggests at the end. I figure when baking something for the first time, there isn't a whole lot of space to veer from the recipe so it is as the recipe says.





The crust is delightful! Crisp but not hard, flaky but it also holds together. The apples are amazing, and the spice was nice against the lemon.

For me the process felt long but worth it. In the future I might make the dough a day or two ahead of time to spread out the time it takes. And certainly part of the fun and added time was due to my little helper; apparently we forgot to put her apron on. :)


During the chilling of the dough, I also made a couple apple breads, this was a simple recipe and OH so tasty! We just finished one bread and the other is in the freezer for next week. The dough seems a little dry but it is perfect for the juicy-ness of the apples, try it.

Apple Picking: Check Check

We started on our Fall List of Fun last weekend with Apple Picking! It was a little frigid but we were committed; the day was predicted to be a sunny mid-50's kind of day and it was about 45, cloudy and wet. We met our playgroup out at Larriland farms for some pick-your-own adventure. Our family picked broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and beets before we met everyone else at the Apple Orchard.

There they are, way up there!

Nina and Phoebe

Phoebe. Notice all the apples that weren't picked!

Next up, baking! Since we brought home SO many apples.

Let us Enjoy the Season

image via: artseachic

I can imagine being able to do most of these things this Fall. In fact, this weekend we are going Apple Picking and we will hopefully be able to check a few things off this list while we are at Larriland Farms!

What do you want to do this Fall?

Changing of the Colors

The leaves are underfoot, they are swirling in the wind, and patches of yellow, red and brown rest against the green. Signs of Fall everywhere. Cooler temperatures can't be too far behind, right?

It's a Blur

When P turned 1 we upgraded our camera, it was her "birthday present"! :) (I actually don't think we got her anything else for her 1st birthday- bad?) The mister and I were both feeling the need to stop her motion with a faster, more accurate camera. Also, we both tend to have a bit of "the photographer" that creeps out of us here and there - wanting to capture certain images to tell a story or remember the emotion of a moment.

The last year or so I have been learning as I go; as a second shooter for Dorean Photography, and working along side Whitney to capture our friends. So, I decided maybe I should learn a bit more. I found a 4 week class (that fits my level of commitment- never could I do a 10 week class!) and it has been fantastic. There is a lot to learn, and I am hoping that as the class ends, the information sticks. The question is, will it be a blur?

Nora Hart Leaps. ISO 200, Shutter Speed 1/50, Aperture 20. Intention: to Blur Motion

What is IT?

This little one is healthy, growing, AND IT isn't an IT any more- well at least to us, IT is a BOY! We are thrilled! Phoebe doesn't quite know what to think as she wonders, "Maybe it could still be a girl?!". (We have some work to do there.)

Bacon

I love when there is that one little piece left, everyone is being so polite to not take more than their share. Don't worry the toddler snatched it up; she doesn't know any better! I love that too.

Bell Pepper

This week Apple (Apll) is about the size of an Heirloom Tomato (mmm, yummy!), but last week it was measuring similar to a Bell Pepper.


I am almost halfway through this pregnancy! Next week we will have an ultrasound to see if the baby is growing on track, all the pieces and part are there and in the right place, and hopefully to see the gender. P already calls this one her little sister, so to help with the expectations we are going to find out the gender this time around.

What is your best guess? Leave us a comment with your prediction!

Day 2

Day 2: She ran in, hung up her jacket and bag, then ran off to play. I would say school is a hit! P seems to love it!

Phirst Day of School

Day 1:

Out the door by 8:30 with a quick photo shoot. Phoebe showing us her bag, Phoebe looking less than thrilled (even though she was so excited!), Phoebe sidetracked by the metro zooming by.

Parked and at school by 8:50, time for another picture! Phoebe was cold so I had to lend her my sweater, oops!

By 9:00, already playing!

At 9:15 I peeled myself away, holding back the tears, and now I am at home with some new found freedom. Time to do the dishes, clean off the table, and of course blog! I know all of our loyal readers are dieing to know how it went! However, the real story will come at pick up; how did our little girl actually do at school, and does she want to go back? Only time will tell.