Food

Sometimes I want a personal chef.

Sometimes I just want more hours in the day to cook myself.

I want kids that have adult pallets who will eat things like Watercress, Pistachio and Orange Blossom Salad.

But I'm glad that I have kids that eat broccolini, zucchini, green beans and asparagus.

I now understand how my mother could sit down and "read a cookbook".

I love that the cookbooks of today have amazing photographs vs. the cookbooks my mom read.

Swiss Chard has got to be one of the most beautiful and yummy foods.

Swiss Chard is one of those adult foods my kids do not have a taste for as of yet.

Swiss Chard is easily disguisable in lasagna, soups and even hamburgers.

Did my mother do this?  Disguise food?

I never imagined owing vegan cookbooks.

But I'm glad I do.

If you ever EVER get a chance to go to a True Food Restaurant I highly recommend it.



DKL

1.) Wore his shirt backwards this day because he wanted the print on the back to be on the front.
2.) Is totally digging sunglasses this summer...he just bought his third pair.
3.) Can entertain himself for hours and hours and doesn't need toys to do it.
4.) Is extremely creative.
5.) Always writes an apology when he gets in trouble.
6.) Would rather be outside than in (even in winter).
7.) Loves to snuggle, be held, be carried, suck his thumb and play with my hair.
8.) Falls asleep pretty much anywhere...in the car, on a chair, on the floor...when he gets tired he just puts his head down and he's fast asleep:) (sound familiar?)
9.) Doesn't like cheese.  But loves asparagus, mangos, Ezekiel muffins and bacon.
10.) Loves green, blue and silver.
11.) Prefers sleeping with me over his own bed.
12.) Loves to sing and dance and act.
13.) Has a momma who is breathtakingly in love with him.  She loves his face, his smell, his touch, his thoughts, his moves, his life.

Does he know?

Cooper very much likes his mom and dad to come to school with him, to come to morning meeting, to attend his field trips, to be a "driver" etc. So this past Friday I joined Cooper on a field trip to the creek to hunt for fossils. I took my camera because, well, I'm ME...and after taking portraits of every child in Cooper's class, I turned the camera to him. He is so used to this I don't even think he notices which I am so thankful for. I loved coming home and downloading all the photographs. The photos of all the other children were so much fun, something different. (I ordered prints for all the parents and just picked them up at Target.) As I looked through them and sorted, I found myself gravitating toward photos where he wasn't looking at the camera like the one above. Then I looked back through ALL my photos and realized that this shot looking down on him (and those of Duncan too) are some of my favorites... I look at this and think... Does he know how much I love him? Does he know how I worry about his separation anxiety and wonder if it will fade in time? Does he know that in a strange way I cling to his separation anxiety because it means he still needs me? Does he know that I see so much of myself in him? Does he know that when he gets upset because things aren't perfect I understand deep down in my soul? Does he know that I love when he holds my hand? Does he know that I love when he says to me "a mommy's job is never done" because I realize that on a six year old level he "gets" what I do for him? Does he know that I understand when he pretends not to need me but really does? Does he know that I love and hate how fiercely independent he is about his wardrobe? Does he know that I love how he looks forward to reading to me at night? Does he know how much I love his freckles? Does he know how badly I want everything wonderful and amazing in this world for him? Does he know how much I love that we count at night and tuck each other's kisses away to keep us safe in the night? Does he know how much I look forward to the planet that he will pick? I love you all the way to _______ and back? Does he know how much I love him? Does he know?

Focus

Sometimes when the world around me is nutty and crazy, I find it helps to focus on the good, simple, light things... *remembering how much I love taking (and looking at) photos of my boys *the smell of lavender soap in my bathroom *open windows, breeze *hummus with extra virgin olive oil *teaching Cooper ebay *sleeping with little boys that wear no shirts (they are soooo soft next to me) *sounds of nature on my iPod (totally dorky but very relaxing) *the smile that I know is on a friends face when we talk on the phone *wearing skirts and flip flops *giving Duncan a haircut...his face is way too cute to have hair all over it *clean sheets *reading Star Wars EVERY night to my boys

Things I Love

1.) The Weather Channel 2.) Pillow spray 3.) Pictures of Duncan in the homemade tree swing 4.) Carmel popcorn - PoppyCock with Cashews is killer 5.) A man who can dance - my dad is a perfect example 6.) Sleeping on hot nights with NO AIR CONDITIONING - just the fan 7.) Lip gloss (it had to be said) 8.) The space between Cooper's front teeth 9.) Croissants 10.) Flying - I really should have been a pilot (or a weathergirl)

Around here

Around here our taste buds must not know that Autumn is a distant memory because Honey Crisp apples still top our grocery list. Around here our minds are ready for spring, ready for going out without a coat and ready to hear birds chirping in the morning. Around here there lives a very very poor blogger or at least a blogger with very little time to blog lately. Around here there is a new home nearing completion. Around here there is a 5 year old who learned how to whistle. Around here there is lots of Mark Knopfler playing. Around here I have two boys who know more about Star Wars than George Lucas does (or at least they think they do). Around here my house never seems to stay clean or even picked up for that matter. Around here I seem to wake up at 3am and lie there thinking about everything that needs to be accomplished. Around here we still have our icicle lights up...and absolutely no plans to take them down anytime soon. Around here I am looking forward to a shopping trip with Bryn and baby Katie on Friday. Around here I'd love to go on but I have two little boys who need tubbies.

"5"

Click on photo to enlarge and read text. He is 5. He is my sunshine. He loves Star Wars, Sponge Bob, stuffed animals, crafts and construction. He loves his brother and his family. He showers us with hugs and kisses. He is sweet and gentle...he still sucks his thumb with blue blankie. He loves everything lemon. He won't eat cheese or butter. He loves to snuggle. He loves swords, guns and light sabers. He weighs 38 pounds. He has a mother that is totally in love with him.

Top ten

1.) I miss bare feet 2.) I am TRYING to enjoy the process of building a house 3.) But I'm not really succeeding 4.) I had Cooper's Parent/Teacher conference and was reminded how absolutely in love I am with him 5.) I'm really looking forward to Saturday night with old friends and family up at my mom and dad's house 6.) I love coloring and creating and telling stories with my boys 7.) I am rolling my eyes and trying to be patient but above all...loving Duncan's infatuation with decorating for the holidays 8.) I'm looking forward to John Mayer's new album release on the 17th 9.) Looking forward to Thanksgiving, my WHOLE family being here this year and a short work week 10.) I can't wait to get all the slides digitized

Questions

I decided to take the day off and spend it with my boys...just me and them. I share with you my day... Why do we have a tongue? What is the heaviest thing in the world? Is there anything that can pull a tree out of the ground? Can we listen to Hits 1? Can we stop at the candy store? Are you going to swim with us? Are we going to spend the night? How long can you hold your breath? If I held my breath forever would I die? Can we take the back way? Is the pool going to be warm? Can you teach me how to jump off the diving board? Can anyone lift up a house? Are you strong enough to lift up a table? Are you strong enough to lift up Duncan? .... Yes. If everyone in the whole word died would the earth be brown? When will I be old enough to swim without my bathing suit? ...today Can I have a cookie? Can I have some skittles? Can I have a freeze pop? Can I have another cookie? Are you getting in? Will you blow up my floaties? Can you dive? Can you dive and swim under my legs? ...yup Will you catch me? Will I sink? Does my new truck float? ...no Do wasps sting? Are they deadly? Can you count to one hundred million thousand? Do we have to take a nap? Marco? Can I take pictures? How fast does your car go? What is the speed limit? Can I close my eyes? I am quite sure that this is just a small sampling but you get the point...what an awesome day.

I am

My parents are quarantined in their friend's apartment in China after someone on their flight tested positive with H1B1 virus so I thought I would give them some light reading and a snapshot of what's going on around here. (Got this idea from a blog I read - seemed like a perfect idea). I am loving this totally awesome watermelon dessert (thank you Bryn) with lemon sorbet and fresh mint I am reading The Spanish Bow (no thank you Bryn...but only on page 100) I am appreciating a fairly clean desk at work I am enjoying sunshine (finally) I can hear children playing in the backyard (two of which are mine) I would not want to live without fake suntan lotion I need to carry the folded laundry upstairs and put it away I am looking forward to bedtime I am excited about being very close to breaking our all time record at Comfort Keepers I would love a trip on a plane (so I could read) to visit a friend (any friend) and sip wine with them and laugh and relax (interested?) Hope the authorities spring you soon mom and dad! If not, make me a list of "I ams and I will post it to the blog"!

Where have I been/What is new/Other stuff

1.) Comfort Keepers convention in Louisville, KY

2.) 2 t-ball practices and FIRST game ever

3.) sick sick and sicker

4.) Walk it Out at Penn College (Relay for Life event)

5.) lots of Mentha Lime lip gloss

6.) Bark for Life (ANOTHER Relay event)

7.) work - Comfort Keepers is crazy busy (this is a good thing)

8.) 8 plane trips in April - and did I mention I've been sick (drugs help at times like this)

9.) thank you Barb (for the drugs)

10.) testing for Graves Disease (Barb promises it's not as bad as it sounds)

Making me happy

1.) Fresh tomatoes. 2.) Finally finding the website that re-taught me how to get my custom blog header to actually fit inside the border. 3.) Clothing in shades of pastels. 4.) Watching Everyone's Hero with my boys...such a cute movie. 5.) The amazing amount of art that my children have been producing in the last month.

Inspired by: Sunshine in February

My Dad

turns 70 today.

is celebrating in Roatan, Honduras (his other home).

looks 50.

has three children.

has four grandchildren (so far).

has a green thumb.

loves peanut butter.

loves me.

ran away with my mother.

gave the Jewish prayer at my wedding.

cut Cooper's umbilical cord.

is a die hard liberal Democrat.

is not afraid to admit it.

taught me to love Jazz.

adopted me.

took lots of photographs when we were little.

is a Dentist.

drives fast.

is smart.

loves to play golf.

has an awesome smile.

is proud of me.

is amazing.

I love you Dad ~ Happy Birthday