Fun in our own back yard...

Our house across town had lots of back yard nooks and crannies for the babes to play in. Trees for shade, vines that made natural forts, bushes to hide in....it was so great and provided lots of fun hours right out our back door. This house has a nice sized, fenced in yard and for that I am very thankful. However, it is a blank slate. No trees, one bush, no vines or nooks or crannies to speak of. I am known to complain about this as I envision my dream yard with fruit trees and garden, chickens and lots of areas to explore.

Of course, children can find things to explore wherever they may be and Sam and Amelia prove that to me every time we go out there.
They sit at the one bush and look for bugs forever. Patiently they sit side by side and watch for the bugs to come and quickly snatch them up to put in Sam's bug "house".


They sit underneath the porch in the shade and play out scenarios like this one:
The rabbit is telling the bear that she wants some more clover to eat.

Dutiful Sam goes to gather the clover:

The bunny politely says thank you for all of the clover (after a reminder from the mama taking pictures:):

The bear decides he would like to eat some bugs:

Dutiful Sam goes to find some. And the play continues.....they roll down the little slope in the yard, they play chase, we sit on blankets and read books.

And as I watch I think about how thankful I am to be in a city that has such wonderful outdoor spaces to take Sam and Amelia, like the gardens, the mountains, the farm, etc. but how much more thankful I am that children are able to bloom where the are planted so easily. Thanks for teaching me little ones. Every day I learn something new from you, when I am mindful to learn.
Jen

P.S. Thank you God for creating Spring. Thank you for for this barefoot, sun on our faces, bug hunting weather.

Beans and Rice: Week 2

So, this week I just used two recipes and we ate leftovers the rest of the evenings. It is all starting to taste the same anyway:) The babes and I did take one evening off and ate eggs and cereal:) I do feel like it has been such a good thing for Joel and I. Besides being able to share some money with Lahash, it truly has impressed upon us how many zillions of choices we usually have with our evening meal. It also makes my afternoon cooking much more simple. The beans are usually in the crockpot and then I just add seasoning/make the rice/ add veggies (if we do). It has also made us eat. at. home. All good things. It is getting more difficult to get the babes to eat much in the evening. I added lots of butter and some honey to their rice the other night and Amelia called it "rice candy" and gobbled it up:) Sam isn't quite so easy to convince w/ sweetness. Anyway, I think they have done great overall. Here are my recipes from last week:

Mexican Brown Rice with Pinto Beans from Feeding the Whole Family:
1 TBLS extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 cup long grain brown rice, rinsed and drained
2 cups water
1 TBLS tomato paste or sauce
3 cups cooked pinto beans

Heat oil in 2 quart pot. Add cumin and chili powder and saute for a few seconds. Add onion and salt and cook until onion is soft. Add rice and stir well to coat. Add water and tomato paste, bringing to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered, until all of the water is absorbed (about 40 minutes).
Serve alongside pinto beans.

Vegetarian Chili from Simply in Season

2 pounds any combo of dried beans; Rinse and soak in water overnight. Drain water. Cook in fresh water until soft, 45-60 minutes or longer.
1 cup red sweet pepper, chopped.
1 cup green pepper, chopped.
1 onion, chopped.
3 cloves garlic, minced.
In large soup pot, saute in 1 TBLS oil.

8 cups tomatoes, chopped (I used canned)
1 TBLS salt
1 TBLS honey
Add and heat to boiling. Add beans and seasoning listed below.Simmer 45 min. Serve with rice.

1 Butternut squash (peeled, seedes, and chopped)
1 chipotle pepper
1 TBLS chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin

All for now, Jen

Oh, lots of things...

Joel has started hiding the computer from me again. It's this thing we do when I realize I am relying to much on this little piece of equipment too often during my days. I simply say, "Joel, hide the computer." So, at night before he goes to bed he hides the lap top and I wake up in the morning and *poof*, this wonderful-horrible internet is out of my life for the day. Anyway, this is why I haven't been posting as often.

Most of my "babies are asleep time" lately has been spent reading Beverly Lewis books. Fiction books about Amish culture. I think I am on my 9th novel in about three or four weeks. Wow, really? Yep. They are not great literature, but I find Amish culture fascinating. I've always thought that maybe I was meant to be Amish, but now I am changing that to Mennonite. Or maybe Quaker. Mom says that I just haven't embraced the hippie part of me that runs in my family blood:) Really, I just long for God and simplicity and productiveness and community.

Let's see, what else?

When we put the babes to bed we always turn on music for them. Lately we have been listening to someone new and when a certain song of theirs comes on I instantly get an image in my head of Joel and I in Ethiopia, meeting out baby boy for the first time. Every single time I hear the song. It is such a sweet, welcome image that I usually play the song three or four times. I'll save sharing the name of it until I can share it accompanied by pictures of that wonderful day to come.

We got some new (to us) books in the mail from ThriftBooks.com (thanks Diana for telling me about this site--I love it a little too much!). I saw the package in the mailbox when we drove up the driveway from story time and I literally jumped out of the car and ripped them open. I'm like that when it comes to mail. And books. We read Blueberries for Sal at least four times tonight:) We also got a Brambly Hedge book and I fell in love.

When we first introduced Sam and Amelia to "Thomas the Train", she thought I said "Hummus the Train" and hasn't been able to let go of the name since. Several times a day I hear some variation of this conversation:
Amelia: Sam, there's Hummus!
Sam: It's not HUmmus, it's THomas.
Amelia: Right, it's Hummus the train.
Sam: THomas.
Amelia: I know. Hummus.
Sam:
He just looks at her with a blank face and drops the subject. It makes me laugh every time.

Beige, beige, beige, beige. We need some colors on the walls of this house or I am going to go coo coo.

The other day it was so sunny and warmish and we went into the back yard and went on a bug hunt. We flipped over big rocks and watched as the worms tried to slither under the ground. The babes squeled with delight and caught many worms and Amelia kept saying, " I love you worms. I really, really love you." Then she would proceed to hold them and "love" them to death. Poor wormies.

I guess that's all the randomness I have for now. Back to my Amish love stories, Jen

A couple of favorite pictures from this week:

Rice and Beans: Week One

So, we are eating rice and beans every night for the month of March! The purpose?
See this great video here to get a better explanation than I could probably give:)

So far it has been great. We love simplifying around here and this is a great way to eat simply for a month and share the excess! I thought I'd share the recipes I'm using so that you guys could join in if you'd like or choose a month down the road to do it, or just get some new recipes!

This week's menu plan:
Monday: Red Beans and Rice from Lickety Split Meals cookbook
1 can kidney beans (I just cooked my own and froze the rest)
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 1/2 cups instant whole grain rice
3/4 cups salsa
1 cup water
4-5 drops tabasco
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
Mix together in a large casserole dish.
Cover and put in oven to bake for 55 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of cheese and enjoy!
*Joel had a work dinner that night but the babes and I thought this was great and ate it up!

Tuesday: Honey Lentils from Make it Fast, Cook it Slow.
You can find the recipe here.
* I did have to bribe the babes w/ dessert to eat this, but once I did they really enjoyed it and so did Joel and I!

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Lentil and Cheese Bake from More-With-Less .
Preheat oven to 375.
Combine in shallow 9x13 baking dish:
1 3/4 c. lentils, rinsed. 2 c water, 1 whole bay leaf , 2 t. salt, 1/4 t pepper, 1/8 t. each marjoram, sage, thyme. 2 large onions, chopped, 2 cloves garlic minced, 2 c. canned tomatoes.
Cover tightly and bake 30 min.
Uncover and stir in:
2 large carrots, sliced 1/8 " thick, 1/2 c. thinly sliced celery
Bake covered 40 minutes until vegetables are tender. Stir in:
1 green pepper, chopped. 2 T. finely chopped parsley.
Sprinkle on top:
3 c. shredded cheddar cheese (or less:)
*I've posted this on the blog before. It is a very loved recipe in this house:) I will say that I am ready to move on from lentils for a while, but we still enjoyed it.

Friday: Out
Yeah, we went to a little Mexican food place tonight.

Saturday: Black Bean and Rice Skillet from Simply in Season:
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 small green or red sweet pepper (chopped)
Saute in 1 TBLS oil until soft
2 cups cooked black beans
1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1/4 tsp crushed hot chilies
1/4 tsp dried thyme
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 bay leaf
Add and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered until rice is done: 20 min for white rice, 40 for brown. Remove bay leaf. Add 1/2 cup of cheese and serve.
Serves 4.

Sunday: Mexican Black Beans from Lickety Split Meals
* Recipe is wordy and Joel needs the computer so I'll try to add it later:)

Jen

My baby brother...

All grown up now, he is a wonderful papa to his Echo, adoring husband to Tara Bell, and he is also an excellent musician. His band, the Happen-Ins, have their debut CD out today! I am sooo excited and proud for them. So, go have a listen here at Amazon, or if you are in Austin they have the CD's at Waterloo Records.

I always have been such a fan of my brothers throughout our lives, and days like today just make my heart swell.

All for now,
A proud big sister

Make us new...

I love Mondays. To me Mondays feel like a New Years Day that we get to celebrate every week. A new beginning. I really needed that today. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were those "rough and we're just going to make it through" kinda days. It started on Thursday with a new Mama and me dance class. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh. It was terrible. I totally felt like, "Hello. My name is Jenny and these are my wild, disobedient twins that I am completely overwhelmed by right now." While I do feel like the class is way too structured for 2 and 3 year olds and my little ones are not used to having constant direction and having to sit on a dot, it was just embarrassing to my "want to look like I have it all together" self and put me in a major funk. That was followed by a massive meltdown on Sammy's part when we got home, then again on Friday morning, then again on Sat. Whew, it had been a while since he has had meltdowns like that and I had forgotten how exhausting it is, and how terrible (both his meltdown and my reactions to them). So, last night I had a great little planning and prayer time for our week and was determined to start fresh this morning, letting go of the weekend.

Ahhh.

We made Blueberry muffins during our Monday baking time and then met Anne and Vera at the park for a morning picnic. There were several time outs during the muffin making process, and yet we kept on:) The park was delightful indeed (that was just for you Anne:) and the babes just ran and ran and screamed and played and came home worn out and promptly went down for a nap.





And so I am sitting here in the rocking chair, just feeling thankful for new beginnings. That He is making us new every day when we let Him. He doesn't want to leave us stuck in the mire and so I hold out my hands in this moment and whisper, "Make me new. Make my weary, impatient, selfish heart new."

Amen.

Rexy...

Sam and Amelia were having fun with this toy dinosaur they named Rexy at the cabin. They didn't know that you could turn the dinosaur on and so while they were eating lunch I decided to start it and watch their reactions. It was soooo funny! First they were in awe...
Then they warmed up to it and decided to try and touch it...
Hmmm, not so sure!


Sam would just freeze when it got close. Amelia shoved it across the table when it got close to her:) 
"Can I get some help, daddy?!" 

Soon enough, the moving Rexy was a good friend who was fed cheerios and allowed to get close to everyone:)
All for now, Jen

Scenes from the cabin...

Snow cave.

Hill sliding. 



Rest. 

What a fun adventure this has been! Indoors and outdoors both we have all had such a wonderful time. Joel and I just keep looking at each other and saying, "Can you believe we get to do this?!" Thankful for friends who are willing to share their wonderful getaway with so many people! All for now, Jen

Now that was fun!

We came to stay at our friend's cabin again this weekend...ready for another family adventure and thankful for a (free!) place to getaway. Though the cabin is definitely not roughing it, getting here was quite a little hike! The snow is such that you have to park your car about a mile a way and walk or snow mobile your way up to it. We chose to walk. With two two year olds. Coo coo I tell you! I had my doubts as we drove into the mountains with the snow swirling all around us. 

I was wrong. They were such little adventurers and we all had so much fun. Joel pulled all of our food in on a sled and we each carried a back pack. Even when the snow got deep, the babes were so brave and tried their hardest until their "big daddy came and picked us up and helped us" (says Amelia). 

Truly, we were amazed and very thankful that it wasn't a disastrous attempt at hiking with toddlers! :) 

They are now tucked in deep under flannel sheets and a down comforter and I am about to join Joelie by the fire to dive back into a book series I am reading. So, hope you guys are enjoying your weekend and maybe get in a little adventuring yourself! Jen

Muffins and books make the gray go away....

On a dreary, wet day there are two things that are a good bet for cheering us up--yummy muffins and story after story. Here is our latest and greatest muffin recipe:)

Bran Flax Muffins (lots more delicious than they sound!)
1 1/2 cup Unbleached white flour
3/4 cup Flaxseed meal
3/4 cup oatbran
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 cups finely shredded carrot
2 peeled and shredded apples
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup chopped nuts
3/4 cup milk
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all dry ingredients. Stir in Carrots, Apples, Raisins, and Nuts. Combine milk, beaten eggs and vanilla and pour into dry ingredients. Stir. Bake at 350 foe 15-20 minutes. Makes 15 muffins (mine made 20).

Let's see, some of our favorite stories lately have been Annie and the wild animals, Winter Days in the Big Woods, Thomas gets a snow plow, Jamberry, We're going on a Bear Hunt,  Mole and the Baby Bird and I am a Bunny . 

What about you? Any yummy goodness or fun favorite stories you've been enjoying? Do share! 

All for now as a little girl in a polka dot dress just woke up from her short nap and is ready to play, Jen

Oh how they play, they play every day...

Oh, these almost three year olds! They are amazing us with their imaginative and independent play. Even in beautiful weather they have been wanting to stay inside and play and this marks a huge shift in our little world! 

Sam plus trains equals love. He plays and plays with his trains and train tracks. He is so dramatic that his cries for "HELP!!!" often bring me running, only to find that a train is "stuck in the mud" or "his wheels won't turn":) He gets much inspiration from his beloved Thomas books and movies and yesterday his play included lots of chastising for the naughty freight cars. 

Sammy is also really into cooking in their little kitchen, playing with Leap Frog letter magnets, playing with play doh, playing chase and building nests with Amelia.  

Amelia  is still taking her animals and babies on trips of all kinds in card board box trains or their wooden boat, making many nests around the house, and spends much time pretending to eat and trying to find "special treats". She also loves play doh, painting, helping mama in the kitchen, playing in the tub, and playing chase with Sam. 

Anyway, we are just loving and so thankful for the chance to watch these two little ones grow and change every day.
All for now,
Jen

For the birds...

We have had a wonderful amount of sunshine lately and with it comes the chirping of birds all around. So, one day last week we plopped down in the back yard with our neighbor friends and made some pinecone bird feeders. It was a fun little project--though it cracks me up how much time it takes to prepare a kid-friendly project and how little time they actually spend doing it:) Ah well, it's worth the effort!  I hope the birdies enjoyed their treats.

For some more cute pictures of little friends, see Anne's recent post here. And I'll leave you with one of Amelia and her beloved friend, "baby Lily" :)

All for now, Jen

We don't have TV and you can't watch American Idol online, but I found this clip on another blog and was so excited to see it! Barbara Curtis wrote some of my favorite books about incorporating Montessori methods into mothering and she is also an adoptive mama of several children with Downs. Anyway, this is her daughter's audition! So great...

"The best things in life are nearest:

Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes,
flowers at your feet,
duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.
Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes,
certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest thing in life. " Robert Louis Stevenson




I don't know why it is that I sometimes think I cannot live the life my heart craves. Simple things like baking bread and growing food and nature walks and a rhythmic week and a hand craft skill. I think I get caught in the thinking trap of "because I haven't before, I cannot now" and it just isn't true. So, I take a little step. I bake bread--with my children (and friends:). Our first try was yesterday and I loved it. I loved the smell and bubbles of the yeast, I loved seeing the ingredients slowly form into dough and I loved the feel of my hands shaping it. I rejoiced as I gave each child a little ball of dough to play with and watched as they mimicked my clumsy attempts at kneading the dough. Such a small moment, but a moment that was meaningful to me. Meaningful in my quest to be "certain that daily tasks and daily bread are the sweetest things in life." It's sometimes hard in this busy, stimulating culture to see the worth of the work of our hands and yet I so often find that as my heart and my home move slower, my thoughts turn to our God. To ask Him for energy and willing hands, to ask for a thankful heart and contentment in my daily work. And really, drawing nearer to God really is the sweetest thing. It is what my soul cries out
for most. So I thank Him again now, for teaching and growing me in this season as a mama, as a wife, as a teacher, as a keeper of my home--teaching me that fulfillment can come through things as simple as making a meal, wiping off the dust, kissing the hurt, celebrating a birthday, making bread, praying with our children, singing as we work, giving grace and receiving it, running in the backyard sunshine, forgiving and being forgiven. It is all near and it is all sacred.

All for now,
Jen

All aboard!

I brought the babes rocking boat inside for the first time in a while. They have had so much fun fishing, going on trips, etc.

Sammy's imagination is really starting to blossom lately and it is so much fun to see and hear! For example, he is constantly seeing an octopus any time there is water. He and I can really start going, running and screaming as an octopus chases us around the house and giggling about it all the while. Amelia gets this half scared/half amused smile on her face and says, "Just pretend.....right?!" Poor thing, I should probably knock it down a notch. The other day we were at the playground and Sam said he saw one under her swing in a puddle and at first she looked scared and then she said, "It's okay, it's a grandma octopus and she's really nice." She then closed her hand as if she had caught her and carried her all around the playground talking about how nice the grandma octopus was!

Anyway, I am just fascinated by how different their play is. Amelia's play usually revolves around her babies or animals and involves stuffing them into things. If she is playing w/ her dollhouse she tries to stuff all the dollhouse dolls into a bowl or something. She always has dolls stuffed down her shirt eating or sleeping. When she is playing with play doh even she is usually folding one of her animals into the play doh like it is a blanket or making a nest or just buries the things underneath. Maybe you just have to see it to understand but I guess the bottom line is that her play is either relational, nurturing, and/or stuffing. Sam is imagining, building, or moving.

Here is Amelia taking all her babes for a ride in the boat. When I asked her where they were going she said, "A island to see Vera and Anne and Sasa:)" When she got out to go get some more dolls she said, "Don't worry mama, it won't float away." :) ;)



All for now,
Jen

Standing at the kitchen sink, hands hot as I scrub pots and pans and such. The sunshine shining in the window above the sink and I take a moment to thank the Lord for the warmth. For the sun. For the many,many little blessings that He gives throughout the days. My mind floods with thoughts as I turn to Him, thoughts of joys and of little sorrows. So intermingled as they always seem to be. I think of Joelie and how a few months ago he said to me that these past 8 months or so have been "the brightest days of our marriage." I thank the Lord for His grace in our marriage. That though Joel and I hurt each others feelings and say things we regret often, we have grown and are growing and love each other with true and rich love. I think of the dust on the living room side tables and how "dailyness" so often creeps up on me and I just can't seem to keep up with it. I ask for true wisdom as I grow in my role as keeper of this home. I thank Him for ways I have seen Him already give me so many resources from people and books and His word, on how to create this sacred space that I so desire. I think of our adoption. My hearts sighs and grows heavy. I know that the same feelings that I felt with infertility are creeping back in. Questioning why part of my journey seems to be strongly desiring children and yet having to seemingly wait and wait and wait for them. I want to trust. I want to have open hands and surrender the process to Him...He can see the big picture. I realize that the water is too hot. I turn it off and go to check on the sleeping babes. I pass the "Millet bars" on the counter and smile at these interesting and not very tasty snacks I made for them this morning. I smile because I remember the satisfaction of finally remembering to get "millet" at the store in my quest to try new grains. The first attempt failed and yet every day is new. Every day is new. Now that is indeed a joy.

Little friends, growing up...

Babes...

One year old...

2 years old...


Closing in on three years old...




Oh, these little ones! They are just too much with their little conversations and holding hands and, you know, being little kids together. So adorable. Just feeling thankful for friends today, especially Anne and Vera, who have been by our sides through so many of our days and made them brighter. She wrote a little post about them today too:) All for now, Jen