Pages

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

This Past Week in Photos

The seasons are about to change here, and somehow we've been feeling that shift. Hugo's teething and crawling, which has meant that we've been scrambling to figure out how to keep him happy and keep the house babyproofed: whew, it's enough to keep you busy!

Meanwhile, during a time of great physical and emotional output in the world of parenting, I have been taking great joy in the little markers of concrete progress. A clean car and a growler of beer for Ben, a new knitting project after a bit of a post-Christmas crafting hiatus, a few lovely words from our budding poet of a daughter, and how can I forget the most amazing pizza I've ever had on our way home from church on Ash Wednesday? After a weekend spent in the fine company of friends and family alike, I think we are all feeling a little more centered and ready to plunge into the moment: Lent, spring, teething, and messy transitions, all filled with beauty.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

February 23: I love


the best frozen custard in town. It really is so so good. You won't convince me there's anything better out there.
Ben: vanilla with reeses pieces
Zosia: vanilla
Lily: vanilla
me (pre bangs!): chocolate, or taro, if that happens to be the flavor of the day
Hugo: a plain waffle cone, which he ate in its entirety.

It's all about the simple pleasures, don't you think?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

February 22: I love

going into the city. I suppose I am a city girl at heart. I love it out here in the suburbs: all the green, the parks, the neighbors, and the safety. Quite the perfect place to raise a little family. But I love going into the city every now and then and walking around and, just for a few hours, pretending like I live there. They sell things right on the street! There are museums on every corner (I guess that's just our city)! There are so many interesting people to watch! Ooh, it's such a treat.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

February 21: I love

a long weekend! Long weekends are the best. You have time to do everything you need to, plus sit around in your pajamas all day, plus celebrate a beloved Omi's birthday, plus take a daytrip, plus make raisin bread. Above: cuteness we couldn't resist, coloring away a weekend morning, reading with pops, and receiving a geography lesson from cousin Carissa, whom we all adore (and isn't it cute that her and Ben have matchy glasses? I think good taste runs in their family. Whew, I chose the right family to marry into, I tell you!).

Friday, February 17, 2012

Weekending

Here we are, on the cusp of another weekend! Our plans include...

::going out for burgers, of course. We have to live it up before lent starts next Wednesday (I think the local pizza place will be seeing more of us!).
::teaching a hypnobirthing class to a group of fabulous students. What a gift to have a job that I look forward to so much
::entertaining our very grown up niece along with Ben's side of the family (and making something tasty and paleolithic for dinner... any ideas?)
::making some raisin bread to enjoy on the way to church on Sunday morning. At the end of the day, none of us are morning people here in our household, so we need all the help we can get.
::going for an exciting adventure on Monday's holiday. Warm weather, a daytrip to the mountains, cold weather, a trip to the city. The thermostat will be our guide.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Any exciting plans?

(above: our very pom-pommy dining room. Lily woke up yesterday and said she dreamed about a blue fox and blue pom poms)

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

February 15: I love

going into Ben's office for lunch! Can you spy Ben and a baby next to the lunch truck (which serves amazing sandwiches, by the way. Who ever knew egg was such a wonderful topping?)? Ben works with an extremely sweet group of young men who seem to take genuine joy in having our kids come and run around their office, or spin around office chairs, or color on their whiteboard. They're sort of kids at heart themselves, so there always seem to be toys and games around anyway. And they seem to be especially forgiving if we bring cookies, which I think is a fair deal.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

February 14: I love


old videos. Here's a little Valentine's day song for you from four years ago, when Zosia was just a tiny one.

We're just getting ready to go by Ben's work with some cookies, and then it's back home to make Ben's favorite for dinner: lasagne. I am training the girls as waitresses, and they are quite excited to serve us at dinner. Perhaps a romantic dinner at home is just what cupid ordered on this chilly day.

I hope you're having a wonderful Valentine's day!

Monday, February 13, 2012

February 12: I love

having a reason to get a little festive on the coldest weekend of the year. With our balmy winter, I had forgotten what real winter feels like, but oh my oh my, it feels cold, especially on bare legs when you're going out on a date with your husband. I suppose tights are merited in the middle of winter. Settling in for an afternoon of valentine making is much more weather-appropriate, and after gathering a bit of Valentine's day inspiration, we gathered our supplies and got to work! If you're still looking for some cute printable valentines, check these out! We found some mini magnifying glasses at the local party store (six to a pack as party favors! Quite the deal), and couldn't resist our little nose glasses. You know, we have a special fondness for glasses given that they're sort of our Ben's trademark in the family. Who doesn't love glasses?

(photo of Hugo at a playground last week unrelated, but doesn't he look proud of standing up all by himself? This boy has raced into the realm of mobility at breakneck speed).

We're playing along with I love again this year... head on over to check it out and join in.

Friday, February 10, 2012

February 10: I love

a lunch date with Ben! It feels so silly and thrilling to be out with no kids. And of course we had to try out the new burger place across the street from his office. Because we seem to be on the quest for the perfect burger in Norther Virginia here's the verdict: excellent burger, toppings and sides, but we weren't so much fans of the brioche bun (too much bread!). And the company? 5 stars.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

February 9: I love

lunch in the stroller on the way home from preschool. It keeps the kids quite occupied, happy, and focused. And it has the added bonus of no cleanup! Yesterday's menu: whole wheat nutella sandwiches, apple slices, and sliced peppers. Although at 43 degrees, it was just a bit chilly. Perhaps mid-February winter has finally decided to arrive? Now if I could just find a way to feed Hugo in the backpack, too...

I believe this is year three of joining Kerry for her February I love ritual... go on over, have a look, and join in the fun!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

February 8: I love

epic train tracks, courtesy of a morning with just my Lily. I've come to rely on these mornings every now and then. Time to take a deep breath, regroup, and make some train tracks. Doesn't every woman need such a thing?

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

February 7: I love

dressing up in daddy's glasses. Remember when those used to be mine?

a thrift store outing with the kiddos. Today's trip yielded:
5 books
1 puzzle
1 dolly high chair
3 shirts for Hugo
1 shirt for Lily
1 cardigan for Zosia
hrmph. I forgot to get something for myself.

the beautiful biology of attachment. Hugo has started crawling, an it melts my heart that every single time I put him down somewhere, he ends up right at my feet. He's a bit of a mama's boy, this one. And I can promise you, I am savoring every bit of it. Mothering this little baby is absolutely perfect all the time: even the parts that might seem not so perfect, like the fact that a stuffy baby ended up in mama and daddy's bed for the night after he threw up all over his swaddle. Even moments like this, I close my eyes and say "thankyouthankyouthankyou" for the gift of this baby. And that is just as attachment should be.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Feb 6: I love

ties

Sunday afternoons

sister love

polka dots

this guy.

And how was your weekend? The camera is getting sent away to get looked at. Sniff sniff. I think that last clunk onto the ground is the one that did the trick.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

February 5: I love

Some Sunday mornings, you really do need the promise of the best latte in town to have the inspiration to get out of bed and go to church.

And often, it's those same Sundays that you have an epiphany in church, while you're standing in the back holding a 20 pound baby, listening to a homily about preaching the gospel with gentleness and love. Gentleness and love. Amen! And you're thankful for all that gentleness and love, because you still might get some of the new mass parts wrong.

And then you quite joyfully trot over to the coffee house that shares a parking lot with the church, and traipse in there with all your kiddos and love every last drop. Oh yes, it was worth it to get out of bed.