Random List of Thoughts

It's been awhile since I have been here, so I am keeping it short and sweet with bullet points today.

• I am pregnant! With Twins! That's a large part of the reason it's been quiet around here these last few months. There has been a lot of lying in bed or on the couch, trying to survive morning sickness and fatigue. We are nearing the end of the first trimester and there is a (small) light at the end of the tunnel.
• The hubby and I have started to make preparations for this big change that is coming. Selling my car, purchasing something larger that will seat everyone. Discussing homeschooling the older two versus putting them in school in the fall. Can I homeschool well with twin newborns (plus the other children)? What is best for everyone? Should we move to a larger house (for now, the answer is NO). What kind of help will I need in the coming months? 
• After months of serious house neglect, coupled with the arrival of spring, I am wanting to pare down the possessions radically, deep clean, and make room for the new little souls that will be joining us in the early fall. I love this idea. Right now, I am working in about 10 minute spurts of energy, before I head back to the couch to rest. I have been modifying my to-do list...breaking even simple tasks in to smaller tasks, and giving them my all, 10 minutes at a time. And saying "yes!!" to every offer of help. 
• My dear hubby has just converted his man cave into a walk in freezer/fridge. He sold or gave away most of the furniture, and replaced it with a chest freezer and a large commercial fridge. We now have 2 freezers and 2 fridges. I was at first skeptical that we needed that much cold storage. But, as I think over how much food we put up in a year, and how many people we are going to be feeding on a regular basis over the next two decades, it suddenly seems like a really useful luxury. I am rethinking my shopping (maybe only go to the store every 2 weeks? Start buying more in bulk?). I know that extra fridge will come in handy when the babies get here, and friends bring food! 
• Strawberry season is almost here. My sweet boys, eying the strawberries at the grocery store, wistfully ask again "how much longer until strawberry season is here?!" Last week, I relented, buying Florida strawberries, while warning them they they wouldn't be as good as when they are in season locally. There is just no better way to eat fruit, than when it is still warm from the sun. We are all anticipating eating them fresh, made in to jam, shortcake, icing, sorbet, sauce, cut up on cereal, made into leather...
• Wildly optimistic, as my Dr. says that chances are high that I will be on bed rest for a good portion of my pregnancy, I can't help but think to summer and reserve book upon book upon book from the library. Oh, home canning, how I love you.
• A dear, generous friend gifted me with an amazon gift card, and I have decided that I need to read the books I already own before I buy more. So, I am torn between this hammock...the perfect spot to put up swollen feet this summer, while watching the boys run through the sprinkler. All while licking on a homemade popsicle, of course. Or, maybe I should finally get these for picnics? Such delightful, tough decisions!
• I mentioned that I have been saying "yes!" to every offer of help...which means, I need to stock up on stationary and thank you notes. Do you have a favorite etsy seller for paper goods? I would love if you would share your favorites with me.

A List of Randoms

• I was just looking over my 30 by 30 List (a.k.a. my bucket list), and realized I have 12 weeks until I turn 30, and have only crossed off 7 items (but the marathon was the biggest item, and it's DONE!!). I need to get busy. Speaking of the marathon, if you are a runner, and would like to read my marathon play-by-play, it is here. If you aren't a runner, you would probably rather get a root canal than read the tedium of my race, and that's cool too. ;)
• Also, I have made my next goals for fitness and weight loss (losing those last 20 pounds is on my 30 by 30 list too). If you care, those goals are here.
• I want to make these muffins and see if I like them better than these.
• Itching to get my hands on this new book but am committed to reading most of these first.
• My homeschooling mojo seems to have gotten lost during the shuffle of the holidays. It isn't that I'm tired of it, it's just that I can't seem to get back in a good groove. I will probably focus on #2, #10,  #11, #18, and #22 from the list for inspiration. Any advice welcome!
• Related to the picture above, I would really like to have one of these little fences around my square foot gardens (which ARE going to get revived this spring, by golly!). This picture was taken at Yorktown, I believe. Colonial Williamsburg also has them and I just LOVE them. Besides, my boys have energy to spare, so I can put them to work gathering the sticks for it!

First Family Photo

My childhood friend and photographer, Jenny Evelyn, took these pictures of our family in the fall and gave them to me on Christmas. I am so happy to have photographs of our family together and can't wait to see the rest of the ones she took. I especially love the one with our house in the background, because I am so Happy at Home.  :) Thank you, Jenny!

January Reboot, and the Weekly Menu

Fridge, BEFORE

Fridge, AFTER

In January, I typically don't make resolutions, but I do give myself some small challenges to get our household back on track after a season of merry making. It feels really good to cut back, pare down, and get back in a groove. To do that, my goals for January are:

• Buy only secondhand, except for food and household supplies. For anything else, I turn to ebay, thrift stores, craigslist, or barter with friends. Shopping this way requires patience and takes away the instant gratification of buying, which helps me redefine "need". It also is much more exciting to find what I need, after waiting and looking for awhile!
• Declutter 5 items a day. After all the new things that come in to our house during Christmas, I always have a January pare-down. So far, I have tackled the laundry room and fridge. I plan to tackle the medicine cabinet today.
• Spend no more than $65 a week on groceries. Our freezer and pantry are bursting at the seams, which is a wonderful "problem" to have. But even there, I want to have a little margin, so I will be focusing on making meals with items we already have. This week, I spent $59. $29 ($12 of which was for 1/2 of the $25 yearly fee that goes toward farm education, tours, etc. My neighbor and I shared the fee and order together.) at our online Farmer's Market on fresh veggies, bacon, and whipping cream, $20 at Sam's on raw almonds, dried cranberries, and popcorn kernels, and $9 at the grocery store on soap, bananas, and milk. 

These are some of the recipes I plan to make over the next week or two, based on foods we already have on hand (with the exception of spring roll wrappers and sausage). At the end of the month, I plan to head to either Savannah or Atlanta to stock up on things I have trouble finding here, such as dried cherries (LOVE Trader Joe's dried cherries, which were #42 of their favorite items in 2010. SO GOOD.), white whole wheat flour, brown rice syrup, raw nuts, etc. 

Almond Milk

Nut and Seed Granola

Breakfast Burritos

Green Smoothies

Whole Wheat Tortillas

Whole Wheat Waffles

Spring Rolls with Peanut Love Sauce

Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas

Shrimp skewers with Fried Rice

Egg Rolls

Hamburgers

Meatloaf

Corn, Crab, and Potato Soup

Curried Lentil Soup

Lentil Tacos

Chili

2011 Reading List

This year, I have decided that I am going to, primarily, read books that I already own. I have so many on my shelves that I am interested in and have never read, or have read and want to read again. Have you made your 2011 reading list? Have you read and loved any of the books on my list?

1. Better Off by Eric Brende
2. For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer McCauley
3. Traveling Mercies* by Anne Lamott
4. John Adams by David McCullough
5. Gap Creek by Robert Morgan
6. Under a Wing by Reeve Lindbergh
7. Forever Music by Edith Schaeffer
8. A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle
9. The Art of Eating* by M.F.K. Fisher
10. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
11. Home Schooling Series by Charlotte Mason
12. A Praying Life* by Paul Miller
13. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
14. An Echo in the Bone* by Diana Gabaldon
15. The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve
16. All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve
17. The Supper of the Lamb* by Robert Farrar Capon
18. The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kennison
19. A Severe Mercy* by Sheldon Vanauken
20. Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland
21. The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
22. The Montessori Method by Maria Montessori
23. Age of Opportunity by Paul Tripp
24. Every Day Talk by John Younts
25. Your Family God's Way by Wayne Mack
26. Good and Angry by Scott Turansky
27. The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
28. Attitudes of a Transformed Heart by Martha Peace
29. A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George
30. Your Home, a Place of Grace by Susan Hunt
31. Blue Like Jazz* by Donald Miller
32. Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes
33. For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn 1.14.11
34. What We Eat When We Eat Alone by Deborah Madison

*Books I am already reading, or want to re-read

CATCHING UP BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Somehow it has been two whole months since I posted last. Not sure how time slips away so quickly. Here at home, we have been enjoying the Christmas season in small ways. Last year at Christmas time, I started these stockings. My dear mother finished them for me yesterday. I'm really happy with how they turned out. 

Last year, I didn't do much in the way of homemade gifts, still being in a new baby fog. This year, it's simply bags of granola, tied with kitchen twine, by the door for anyone that stops by.  It isn't much, but it is pleasureful to give, and hopefully to receive.

In truth, I have been struggling to find that joy that I have been so earnest about. Reading back over that post, I wonder if I have grown at all over the past year. I still feel the same way as I did then, much of the time.
A lot of it is expectations.
When I snuggle up with my children in front of the fire, hot chocolate in hand, ready to read Christmas stories before nap time, I expect them to just happily curl up next to me, and listen to the story. The reality is more likely spilled chocolate, whining because they can't see a page, or "so and so is touching me", or "so and so got to sit next to you last time, it's my turn", or "I don't want to read a story, I want to play with my friends", etc.

Over the last few days, I have been trying to adjust my expectations, again. The to-do list, already simple, is pared down further. I delete Facebook from my phone, again. Making conscious decisions to be focused on the PEOPLE not the experience I want to create. It isn't easy for me, doesn't come naturally. But I know it's important, so I keep trying.
And I mess up, over and over again.
My kids fight and whine and I get angry, raise my voice, eventually apologize.
Repeat.
It's real and it's messy and it's exactly why I need Jesus. And it's what we are celebrating this season.
Over and over again, my mantra: "My ministry is where my feet are. I am choosing Joy."

I hope that your holidays are joyful and filled with hope, in the midst of the messiness!

MY LITTLE MEN

Sometimes,
I look at these four little boys of mine,
sitting around the dinner table,
or jumping on the furniture,
or in the shower with shampoo mohawks.

And I realize that, someday,
these little boys will be:
fathers
husbands
employees
neighbors

I am overwhelmed.
By the task,
and by my love for them.

I remind myself (again) to
pray more
and get on Facebook less.

OCTOBER BUSYNESS

October is the busiest month of the year for our family, and though I crave simplicity, it is also my favorite.

Housework and schoolwork have been pared back for the month to just the essential (toilets, laundry, dishes, math, and reading). In their place, we have been enjoying: the parade and fair

A trip to visit family and several friends in NYC, as well as several other trips coming up soon.

My brother, finally back from Iraq, and a proposal to his love!

Running new paths, as I continue to train for my first marathon.

Enjoying delicious food (on my must-make list for fall:

apple cheddar scones, roasted pear salad, and butternut squash bisque)

A few more things we are loving right now:

-New neighbors, right across the street, with boys the same ages as ours, that also homeschool! We are thrilled, and our children are outside together, from dawn to dusk. Such a gift.

-Screen doors. When I have to be inside, I am so thankful to let the outside in, with the doors flung open. 

-Woodchuck Hard Cider. Autumn in a bottle.

-Sweater weather.

-The Farmer's market.

-Seasonal foods: roasted vegetables, soups, loaves of fresh bread, cider, apples, granola, pecans...

-Getting from here to there via foot or bike, or at least riding with the windows down.

-Learning through play. Right now my boys are in to writing secret notes in Egyptian Hieroglyphics and playing bingo (my 3 year old has learned to identify so many birds this way!).

-Speaking of learning, my boys (and all the other children in the neighborhood), were thrilled when the fire department showed up at our house (I burned a pot of beans...again...). The firemen were so, so nice, showing the children their gear, talking to them about fire safety, posing for pictures. Aside from feeling horribly guilty that I had wasted these very nice mens' time, it was a fun "field trip" for the boys! And we all got a good laugh when the fireman who was filling out the report asked "ma'am, are you running a day care?" When I looked confused, and said "No, why do you ask?" He said, "there are...just...so many...BOYS!!" haha :)

What are you loving this season?

Some Links I have enjoyed lately...

Breaking the Rules of Frugality

It's Granola...made in a cast iron skillet!! Does this seem revolutionary to you too?!

A Perspective on Parenting

Your ministry is where your feet are

Creating a global pantry

On a little late-night mommy guilt

I am from the school of thought that a little dirt never hurt anyone. 

My kids get several baths a week...but the term "bath" is used loosely. A run through the sprinkler might qualify.

 

At any rate, they are usually semi-presentable, and they do get their ears cleaned and their teeth brushed regularly but no one is going to accuse me of being fanatical about children's hygiene. 

Which is why it is somewhat unusual, that 10 minutes (quiet, beautiful, blissful minutes) after the boys' had gone to bed, that I hurried upstairs, got them out of bed, and in to the shower. 

Their feet were just a little too dirty for comfort.

Getting out of bed to play in the shower for 30 minutes was full-out awesome to the boys.

And I was the hero.

Funny how my mommy guilt can translate so differently to them.