Wild and free...

Time indoors can be sweet, it really can. I loved watching them concentrate on these little peg stackers together yesterday...

I love watching them play with all of their animals and trains and make nests and play with play-doh, etc.
But there is nothing I love more than seeing them run and play in the outdoors. Their little bodies and spirits wild and free, it just seems the way they are meant to be...




Feeling thankful this afternoon for wonderful places like Wheeler Farm, places to set them free and just sit back and watch (okay , not really, it still takes vigilance and parenting, but still:) ,
Jen

Some songs and silliness for you...

Boy, is it hard to get their songs and rhymes on film!! They sing all day and then I try to get it recorded and they just clam up! I wish I could catch them in action when they don't know I'm watching, but the camera/children never seem to be in the right place at the right time! Anyway, I wanted to remember how cute Sammy is saying and singing little songs and poems. He always surprises me with how he memorizes things. He'll be laying in bed and just start reciting something we read in their Mother Goose book that day or a song we sang...I just love it and want to gobble him and his sweet voice up. Here are a few I was able to capture...

Then there is Amelia. If Sammy is our perfectionist, Amelia is our...expressionist:) She really likes to combine songs, make up songs, and when the video camera is on she prefers to just watch herself make faces on the screen. Here are my attempts at having her sing her favorite song, "Hush Little Baby..."


All for now,
Jen

Beautiful boy...

Almost three years later and he still chooses to curl up next to Joel when he sleeps in our bed. Most nights he walks in, dragging his two blankets and a big quilt and stands at Joel's side with his little hand on Joel's arm until he wakes up and pulls him into bed . I still love the sight of them curled up next to each other. I remember when when people would hear that we co-slept with Sam and Amelia and they would tell us "horror" stories about 5 year olds still wanting to sleep with their parents. We would both look at each other thinking, "Is that really all that horrid?!"

Joel finished reading the book "Beautiful Boy" a few weeks ago and now I am about to finish it as well. He would try to read me excerpts of it, but his chin would start to tremble and his eyes fill up with tears and he would hardly be able to get through it. You see, it's a fathers heartbreaking tale of having a son addicted to meth. And as I was reading it last night, Sammy stumbled in weeping and feverish and climbed up into bed beside Joel. I put the book down, grabbed a cold wash cloth to put on his head, and then took a picture. To capture this moment with our beautiful boy. To remember how thankful I am to have such a tender husband. To acknowledge that this almost three year old will grow up before we know it, and we will long for the days when he stood quietly beside our bed waiting to be pulled into the safe arms of his daddy.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I will go get some hot tea and cry for a while, Jen

Signs of Spring...(mostly) indoors edition.

*Winter book basket out, Spring book basket in...

*Planting seeds...grow seeds, grow!

*A bit of spring cleaning and purging, getting ready for a big Spring yard sale/ adoption fundraiser.
*A bit of thrifting to collect canning jars for late summer. I have heard that you have to thrift them now in SLC, because by canning season they are gone! I am hoping to can tomato sauce, applesauce, pesto, and some pinto/black/red beans. I'll try to keep it simple or it won't happen at all! Oh, also. See that mason jar full of yummy quinoa chili? See that plastic lid? I love those things! They make it so easy to use jars as food storage w/out keeping up with two metal lids, etc. I got mine on amazon.

*Festivity stand ready to display Spring goodness...


*Making strawberry bread from the Spring section of my beloved Simply in Season cookbook:)

What is Spring looking like in your home?
All for now,
Jen

* Also, a little disclaimer. Seasonal decorating has always stressed me out. I seem to think of my ideas too early and then miss out on celebrating the current season, or think of ideas too late and finally get some creative thing done as the season comes to a close...it's ridiculous. So, I have limited myself to my festivity stand and a book basket.End of story. Easy to get out, easy to put away. Dare I admit that I finally scraped a rotten pumpkin off of my porch table only last month? You see my problem. So, don't think "Oh Jenny, look how seasonal she is, " or whatever.Or maybe I am the only one to envy people's seasonalness. Like " Hi, it's the first day of spring and here is our perfect felt spring banner, and wool felted eggs, and a few spring skirts I sewed last night for my little girl." Grrrr. This is my first season to get it "right" in my book, and "right" for me is usually incredibly simple.

Beans and Rice: Week 3: Crash and Burn

Okay, so we didn't really crash and burn, but our enthusiasm dipped and we did "cheat" a couple of nights. One night I walked  in on Joelie eating chocolate cheerios (of all things) for dinner! A couple of nights I ate Eden beans and rice in a can (which are actually pretty tasty with some salsa  mixed in). The rest of the nights we ate black beans and rice with Lizano hot sauce mixed in. Its a Costa Rican hot sauce that a friend gave us and it really helped! Anyway, onwards we go to our last week, though I do hope to eat beans and rice at least one night a week from now on. For simplicity and health and budget and yes, to keep present in my mind the many who eat beans and rice for every meal of every day. 

Tonight I made Red Beans and Quinoa chili from Feeding the Whole Family. I wanted to share the recipe because it's really yummy! 

1 cup dried kidney beans, soaked and drained

3 cups water, divided

2 tsp ground cumin, divided

1 TBLS extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 tsp sea salt, divided

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 large green pepper, chopped

1 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp cayenne

2/3 cup quinoa, rinsed in warm water and drained

1 cup fresh or frozen corn

1 to 2 cups organic tomato sauce

grated cheese for garnish

Place beans in a large pot w/ 2 cups of the water and 1 tsp of the cumin; bring water to a boil. Simmer over low heat, covered, until tender (50 or 60 minutes).

Heat oil in a 4 qt pot on medium heat. Add onion, 1 tsp of the salt, garlic, green pepper, the remaining 1 tsp of cumin, and the rest of the spices and saute for 5-10 min. Add quinoa and stir in. Add corn, tomato sauce, and the remaining cup of  water to tomato, onion mixture. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add cooked beans and second teaspoon of salt; simmer another 10 minutes. Top each bowl with grated cheese. 

As a side note, Amelia asked what I was cooking and I said, "Red bean and quinoa chili", and she said, "Oh good, I love neon chickadees." :) :) 

Oh, and happy happy happy first day of Spring!!!! Here is a picture of us in the back yard eating (summery) blueberries and reading blueberry books and just loving the warmish weather. We LOVE the book Peter in Blueberry Land. You should get it for summer reading with your little ones, Mamas. Thriftbooks.com or your local library! 

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...