Thursday, January 27, 2011

Bedtime

We're attempting a slow shift in the bedtime routine here, heavy emphasis on the "slow" part.
We bed share, and I'm not ashamed. Our little babe is only little once and it flies by so fast, that we're in no hurry to kick her out of the bed. She sleeps well and long and is a pretty cuddly bear, and by now I'm used to light sleeping.

BUT, eventually she's going to have to have her own bed and we want her to get used to it and know that it's a safe place for her. I was reading a friend's blog and noticed that she had taken one side off her crib/toddler bed and I ran with it. I really think it makes a big difference in introducing her to being at peace with sleeping (sometimes) in her own bed.

We love this song come bed time:


hope everyone is getting some sleep.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

4 in the bed

New project for my sanity....felt owls!

Anytime things get a little hairy, I think of craft projects. They are pretty much the only thing that keeps me sane on those days. So last night I made these little guys and someone was pretty happy to wake up to them!



Another thing that keeps this house afloat after a long day, our quiet evenings with lots of story time with our peaceful dada.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Sundays Moment

This busy house

We've been so busy here (like any household with children in it), that it's the mornings that I love the most. That quiet, not-yet-awake-so-not-yet-ready-to-make-lots-of-noise, part of the morning. We make our breakfast in peace, this morning it was steel cut oats with cranberries, almonds and maple nut
We let papa sleep in longer, since it was Saturday, and we just warm up his portion with a bit more milk. Steel cut oats are so much heartier, and less mushy than regular oats.

Somebody loved her breakfast, we're so lucky to have such a great eater that enjoys food as much as we do.
A great breakfast helps us all get through the awesome chaos of the day.

Friday, January 14, 2011

tales of a distracted knitter

I have such a hard time sticking to a lengthy knitting pattern. I get bored fast and want to see the results sooner than months from now. Which I think is why I always knit hats, neck warmers and anything small. But I've started two bigger projects now, and I think I've take on two to have each distract me from the length of the other. It seems pretty ridiculous to take on two projects when I have such a hard time focusing on just one, but it also seems to be working.

One great project I'm really excited about is this autumn leaves pattern, from whattoknitwhen.com This is her sweater:

Mine will be in grey and brown (as if I would stray!) and I'm really looking forward to the end result, however long it takes! I like that this is short sleeved as it can be used in any season. I unraveled some past projects that failed to be useful, and since it's alpaca wool it can't go to waste!

The other is a throw for our living room, started because I found a wool that I was inspired to use:

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Papa's Winter Soup

We're all so happy papa's back and he brings with him and new interest in winter soups. His first soup, made all on his own from scratch, Potato Leek Soup. The best thing about this soup: left over bacon fat for the stock, paired with Rosemary Corn bread and we were in a winter coma.

Now back to playing.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

A great read (A Case for Kids)

Island Parent Magazine www.kidsinvictoria.com

Maclean’s Magazine published an article some time ago entitled “The Case Against Kids.” As anyone with or without kids is well aware, this is not a difficult case to make. The article opens with a warning that “they can hurt your career, your marriage, your social life and your bank book!” Of course, most everyone reads this and says WELL, DUH. So why bother, as the article asks?

First, let me back up a bit, and tell you about why we bothered to give it a try. See, unlike the people interviewed by Maclean’s, my husband and I never really thought that hard about parenting before we did it. We’d heard about how it sabotaged your sex life and caused you unending stress and grief and naturally, we thought NOT US! NUH UH! We just assumed that it would be fun to have a kid, and all those naysayers were a bunch of Debbie Downers. I mean, we’re fun! We would just carry on like we always had, but bring the kid along. Kind of like a dog, butone who doesn’t shed. Again, fun!

So we went ahead and had a kid and you know, it was a long while before we used the word FUN in conjunction with parenthood again. We used lots of other descriptive words, but I’m not here to terrify the expectant. You see, it’s probably a good thing that we didn’t think about it too hard, because we might not have done it. The naysayers are right: parenthood does wreak havoc on your personal, professional, and financial life.

But here’s the catch. Perhaps I’m just speaking for myself here, but when it’s your own kid, you don’t really care. For the most part, of course. I admit that when I first became a parent, I cared. I cared a lot. I went through a period of mourning for my old life. Sure, I loved my kid, but man, did I remember the good times wistfully. A hot sunny day at the beach, without worrying about anyone else getting burnt or eating sand. Leaving the house without a diaper bag twice as big as what got you through six months in Thailand. Sleeping in on a Sunday.

But then, slowly but surely, I just didn’t care any more (well, OK, except for the sleeping in on Sunday part). Once I got over the shock of becoming a mother, things started looking up. I took more pleasure from watching my baby explore the sensation of grass in his toes than I would from a night on the town, any time. And right now, I may not have bought one new pair of shoes for myself since my son was born, but we are squirreling away some cash to buy him a trike for his second birthday. And I’m not saying that to be a martyr. I would rather he have the trike any day. Honest.

So yeah, parenthood is a gradual but definite slippery slope into the kind of existence Macleans warns you about. Humming the Sesame Street theme and calling your partner “Daddy” are only the beginning. You try to fight it but suddenly you’re writing things like “SOMEONE PEE-PEED IN THE POTTY!” for your Facebook status, inciting Olympiceye-rolling from your childless friends. As the months go by, your bedtime slowly creeps into the single digits, until one day you receive a dinner party invitation for eight o’clock on a Friday, and you and your partner look at each other in alarm. “Are they European or something?” you ask in disbelief.

So there you have it: one day the childless you becomes that person. That person, covered in spit-up, with bags under their eyes, discussing strollers instead of politics, who embodies the antithesis of the childfree movement. Don’t become that person! they tell you. You don’t want that!

Well, let me sell you a different perspective. This morning I was spying on my son. He was in his room playing quietly with my pajamas. He buried his face in them and sighed, with all the satisfaction of a sommelier sampling a ’97 Amarone, “Mmmmmmama.”

They say no kids, no grief, but no kids also means none of that. I’ll take my chances.


The Case for Kids
Carly Sutherland
January Article for Island Parent Magazine

Saturday, January 8, 2011

inspiring moment

The blog

The story

Change is a good thing

We've started a new week here and it's been a change for some of us, and the rest of us just feel like it's been going this way for years. I think about mid-week I started to wonder why I had ventured on my own like this years ago, it's so much more peaceful when you're controlling the chaos of your own home.

Some simple things that are making it easier to shift into gear in the morning.
I love the view from my kitchen window, it's not much and most times if I'm not looking right, I will just see backyards. Most times though, I can see the sun coming up through the trees and it's the most beautiful calming sight.

My new tea pot that my sister found at the second hand store, she's always finding great stuff and she spoils me. Is there anything better than the best sister?

Not that I need much help, since each child is so wonderful and peaceful in their own way and the rhythm of the bunch keeps the day flowing well. It's more of an adjustment period for all of us and getting used to the new. But we're finding our way and exploring every inch of the house in the process.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Curried Lentil and Vegetable Stew (heavy on the yams because we love them!)

Our little one has a cold, or is it teething? Either way it's hard to watch, and what better way to make everyone feel better in this cold weather than a big old pot of Curried Lentil and Veggie Stew?




I like to wing it on my soups and stews, but if you need a recipe here is a good one.


I used half the stock and added a can of coconut milk. Less Curry Powder and more Garam Masala (but that's just my taste!) enjoy.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Our New Year

Off to a great start.


We stayed in the yoga studio of a house rented by friends on Salt Spring Island. We couldn't dream of a better place to wake up in, to start the new year off right (even if we were a little cold!)

In to the warm house for a hot cup of coffee!

Hope everyone welcomed in the New Year in a special way. We woke up on a beautiful property with some really great people.

The slowed down peacefulness of the Island is just what we needed to kick in a slower pace in our lives and here's to hoping we can continue through the months to come. I think keeping a journal is the perfect idea, and I think this will be the place.

I've decided on bigger knitting projects that take more time and I'm really going to try hard to organize a ladies craft night at least once a month. If you're up for it, let me know, maybe it will motivate me more.