Down On The Farm And Other Adventures

I forgot to post pictures of our fun time with the lambs and other fun animals:

They were so small!

The mothers were very patient with all of the unexpected guests.

Almost every ewe had twin girls.

Impish grins were everywhere.

Then we went to visit the new meat rabbits.

This is a possible mama rabbit, but we'll know if she's an 

actual mama rabbit in mid-April.

No visit is complete without a session with the chickens.

They are celebrities for these kids.

We've also had visitors!  My husband's sister came to spend her Spring Break with us and we did our best to keep her entertained in between her rounds of helping me around the house.  It was really nice having her here, and I felt like we were able to connect as adults for, quite possibly, the first time.  I was so used to visualizing her as a teenager that I forgot she graduates from college this year and joins the ranks among the big, bad world.

Anyway, we showed her around Philadelphia, introduced her to our favorite haunt at Longwood Gardens, and sent her and my husband off to NYC to explore for a day as well.  It was fun to see her marvel at how much more intimidating Philadelphia was than Kansas City one day, then have her come back from NYC almost dumbstruck at the contrast between Philadelphia and NYC.

She got to see the completed One World Trade Center.

She also got to walk around Times Square.

She saw plenty more, but I don't know that I should make this

post a mile long and full of touristy shots. :-)

She has an iPad, so every time she sat down, she had a captive audience.

We took her to Longwood Gardens.

We decided we could live there with little fuss.

Did I mention that it was during their Orchid Extravaganza?

Score!

Banzai trees are always fascinating!  

The oldest banzai tree there is from 1908!

Then there was the always-popular children's garden.

They chased a squirting stream together.

In Philadelphia, we stumbled upon the gate to Chinatown!

We paid a visit to Commodore Barry after peeking at Independence Hall.

We stumbled upon some possible Hepatitis.  Always fun.

We popped by Valley Forge as well.

Then there was spa night, which was lots of fun!

Even a boy or two got in on the action!

Like I said, we've been busy.  However, we've had a great time!

Springing Spring

I can't even begin to extrapolate on how busy we've been.  I can, however, show you bits and pieces:

With a simple cardboard box, imagination, and a steak knife...

...we have a mighty nice rocket ship!

The one spring-like day we had was spent at the park.

Come at my ladybug, bro!

Yes, he was really that happy to be outside.  We all were.

Wind-swept hair, pink cheeks, and that dimple...

What a cutie!

Wheeeeeeeeee!

For once in a long, long time, they were getting along perfectly!

So much to do!

I'm surprised he even stopped long enough for me to snap a picture.

We have been knee-deep in friends and

 Lenten activities in Sunday school!

We've been spring cleaning!
(yep, that's under the fridge and super disgusting)

I could not ask for better helpers!

And then comes the blissful sigh of relief.

The kitchen has looked just shy of immaculate for nearly 4 days now!

We've addressed long overdue personal upkeep issues

with capable and talented professionals...

...allowing for exceptional results.

Admittedly, professionals are the ONLY people allowed

to touch this picky boy's hair. 

Don't let the face fool you.  He loves it.

More spring cleaning is in the works.  This place has not looked this wonderful since we first moved in.  The kids have taken up so many supplemental chores, too!  I'm so proud of them!  Their efforts have allowed me to gain steam in decluttering efforts, which has allowed me to spend evenings working on crafty things, like the blanket in the works for son #1's impending 10th (GASP!!!!) birthday.

Also, seeds for the garden have been ordered and plans have been drawn.  I'm so excited!

Tucked into the folds of our full days have been a few observational gems from the kids:

"Moms have tough jobs.  I don't want to be a mom.  I'll just live with you forever so you can do all the cooking and laundry and stuff." -The Girl, always thinking of others...

"I have autism, but I'm pretty sure you're just crazy." -Son #1 to Son #2, when discussing the possibility that Son #2 might also have ASD.

"Mommy, that was tewwah-bull." -Son #3, critiquing my cooking skills, after finishing his second helping.

"Just because I have tantrums doesn't mean YOU can have them." -Son #2's public service announcement to his siblings.

Until next time!

Badda Boom

I know, I have been absent yet again.  Life continues to roll along at a pace I'm still trying to handle without turning into some psycho stress monster.  The long and short of it is that I'm lazy, which is also something I'm trying desperately to rectify, especially during Lent.

However, days like today come along where I'm itching to get out and make things happen.  We are heading to our friend's farm this morning to check out nine new lambs!  Over the last week, all of their ewes have birthed twins and one set of triplets!  I'm so excited to get the children dirty with some lamb care.  I'm also excited that all of the lambs have survived so far.  Another friend in upstate NY lost six of their ten lambs this year because of the cold, despite their best efforts to keep the lambs warm and fed.

I'll post pictures of this adventure tomorrow, hopefully.

Then it's off to Target to see about a nicer outfit for a filming this evening.  I get to meet up with some of the wives from John's work and be in the background of a filming for a Bible study geared towards mothers.  I get free dinner, a free babysitter (thanks, honey!), and a night of motherly fellowship.  Two solid hours of grown up time?  Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

Then it is home to finish up a few chores, get the kids to practice writing (they really need it), and get dinner thrown together for these crazies before showering and working to make myself look like I don't normally live and operate in a damp cave.

As for fun adventures in motherhood, my daughter has learned the line of logic, "Well, I didn't (fill in the blank as it pertains to the chore she was just asked to perform), so why should I (action that needs taking to rectify the situation)?"  This morning, for example, she was asked to help find her father's guitar tuner.  "But I didn't lose it!  Why do I have to help find it?"   Heaven help me!!!

More Food And A Few Scattered Thoughts

Roasted garlic hummus, anyone?

Chop chop chop...

Roasty toasty...

A little too much roasty toasty, but oh well!

Soaked and prepped garbanzo beans.

Add the a-little-too-roasted garlic.

Turn on the processor and stream in the oil.

Wait until it is amazing.

Confirm the amazingness with carrot sticks and pita triangles.

Success!

And remember yesterday's venture into Lego balloon cars?  Boom:

His went the fastest and farthest.

Hers had the most passengers.

His required the most redesigning, but he was up for the task.

Also, check out Maria's blog for the looooooooooong overdue dress refashion unveiling!

It's off to groceries and deep cleaning in anticipation of a visiting aunt!  :-)

Well, It's Wednesday!

We are abuzz with creativity here!

I should begin with a Lenten resolution that I actually look forward to: we give up TV.  It is SUCH a blessing, and I am completely ready to part with our TV entirely.

However, it manages to weasel its way back into our lives at the end of each Lent.  My husband is a football junkie, though he seemed to be impartial to last season (which was a shock considering how well his favorite team was doing).  The occasional movie is nice, and I do admit that I use it to "babysit" the kids when I need just a few seconds to myself, but I would gladly go without all of that!  The house is quieter, more productive, the kids are happier and more active, and things stay cleaner.

Maybe this will be the year I convince the hubbs that we really CAN go without it, sell it for some decent cash, invest in a larger computer screen for the occasional movie if he wishes, and bask in a more peaceful home life.

Anyway, day three without TV had caused a major push into creativity...
  

The boys have gotten to work on designing a Lego Balloon Car,

which was a rather sweet find on Pinterest:

source

The girl is learning to crochet with great speed and enthusiasm!

Her inaugural project is turning this super soft yarn, for which the original

purpose is long forgotten, into a pair of lounge pants. :-)

My youngest has shown tremendous interest 

in the workings of the kitchen.

He is actually very helpful, and far less

accident prone than his usual chaotic nature

would suggest!

Son #1, who has recently gotten into the Doctor Who series, prompted me to check out TARDIS blanket designs on the internet, leading to the ordering and planning to crank out something similar to this for his birthday:

(source)

Oh, and books have gotten more attention, which is always a welcome and wonderful thing:

Lent Meals And Matters

In the Eastern Catholic Rites, Lent began yesterday.  Our bishops asked that we apply the minimum standards of vegan fare and fasting on Clean Monday (yesterday) and Good Friday, while keeping Fridays and Wednesdays meatless (allowing for eggs and dairy on those days), regardless of age.

Traditionally, for the East, Lenten sacrifice involves being completely vegan for all of Lent, save for the occasional helping of fish, excluding also oil for cooking and wine for cooking and consumption.  There is to be a normal sized breakfast, something snack-sized for lunch, and the evening meal is to be small and plain and eaten after sundown.

We are doing the bare minimum requirements as far as food goes (thanks to pregnancy and such), but have taken necessary steps to see that other parts of our lives are adequately redirected toward mindful sacrifice.

That said, I wanted to share a few food adventures we had in preparation for Lent:

Take some frozen mixed fruit of choice...

...then add some more frozen mixed fruit of choice...

...pop those lovelies in a food processor and turn it on,

careful to scrape down the sides once in a while...

...until your eyes behold the lovely sight of pure, delicious sorbet!

If you want to keep going, toss in a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt...

...and pulse until blended for frozen yogurt without any added junk!

It was a tremendous hit in both sorbet and frozen yogurt form,

though the frozen yogurt will obviously not be on the vegan menu.

I was intimidated by the thought of a vegan Lent until guacamole came into play.

Who knew that combining some avocados,

tomatoes, garlic, onion, salt, cilantro, and optional jalapeños 

would be so magical?  It hardly feels like Lent with this on the table!

God bless you forever, inventor of guacamole.

Alas, dinner was indeed very simplistic last night.

A few red potatoes and an onion...

...chopped and dropped into a stock pot with this stuff and some water...

...boiled down (shown) and then pureed into a thick, dairy-free,

creamy soup (not pictured) and paired with a hunk

of french bread (naturally vegan) made for a blessedly

simple way to end our day.

I wish I had gotten a picture of the red pepper hummus I cranked out with some help from the kids.  We had a decidedly un-sacrificial lunch of pita triangles and hummus (un-sacrificial in that it was really tasty).

On to planning our meatless meals, which aren't as fun or as inventive. :-)

My Day's Meme

This is pretty much my reaction to today, and all that it entails:

For the third day in a row, I am dealing with jags of hormonal crying that seem to last forever and a wave of pinned-to-the-couch depression that I can't shake.  When I do find the energy and motivation to actually do something, it's usually too little, too late.  The day is done and I'll just keep everyone awake by rattling around the house.

Tomorrow is an attempted redo of my husband's birthday.  I'm terrified at the kind of company I will be, especially in light of how his actual birthday went.  I have a sitter hired so that the two of us can hopefully have a nice lunch, with a little time left over for walking around downtown or shopping for fencing and tools.  Maybe.

I guess I should clean something.