Happy SPRING!

So March 20th not only marks the birth of a lil sis but the FIRST DAY of SPRING!

With each passing equinox and solstice Pete-a-lee and I seem to celebrate each more and more. Perhaps its because we love to cook and planning a theme dinner is acutally a lot of fun for us ~ perhaps its because we like organics and in paying more attention to what we eat, we're thankful for new seasons & tastes as they arrive ~ perhaps its because like any holiday its less about what someone else says it is and more about what you make of it.

Either way ~ spring rocks!

While P was up getting the grill going, G & I made a new wreath for the front door. Sans picture, it has beautiful spring themed blossoms and 3 eggs tucked warmly inside the vine. Then for dinner we had grilled lamb & asparagus with a salad complete with flower blossoms and poppyseed dressing. Desert was a cupcake for G (i love that after then intial bite of icing ~ she flipped it over and only ate 1/2 of the cake.) And P and I had a rhubard & stawberry tart (almost glueten free - we ran out of almond meal)

After dinner we pulled out my favorite flower pot (mothers day gift from G last year) and planted some cat grass. Apparently its supposed to sprout in 3-5 days, but ummm that was fri and we ain't seen nuttin yet.

Chicken???

So apparently ALL we ever eat in this house is chicken. Or at least that's the world according to G. Occasionally she'll break out a "fisssshhh" in her vocab, but for the most part its "kickin" ("chicken").

Though she does / did know eggs well. She LOVES her morning eggs. However after the latest trip to the farm and picking up the eggs FROM the chickens. The girl is thoroughly confused. Now EVERYTHING is chicken and last night we got in a debate (yes I debate with a child who's not yet two) over chickens vs. eggs.

Ultimately she won.

OUR Farm!

Hee hee.

So Saturday morning was GREAT! We woke up, drove out to our farm ~ which really isn't that far away ~ had breakfast at a nice restaurant ~ and acutally got to the farm on time! AMAZING :)

First, we were given a tour of the greenhouse. Were told about the relatively new wood burning steam heating system (vs. the previous propane heating system that blew up like roman candles in the night) About how some of the 40,000 seeds had already been lost to frost, but were on order from another farm and would be arriving soon. April 15 is the estimated plant date for seedlings and seeds alike. Then in May we'll be invited back for a pick your own lettuce day!

Next, we walked back down towards the main house and learned a little about the history of the property (his wife's family previously owned) and about how the farm works. Of course G was far more interested in the animals and even i have to admit i fell in love with their dogs. So much so that i even googed and found that there are a TON of sweeties recently rescued not far from our home. To which Pete-a-lee dryly replys ~ "yea, that's just what we need in here"

THEN...it was down to the chickens. IT WAS AWESOME!!! Ok. Well *I* thought it was awesome. Peter didn't exactly dig the idea of having to dive underneath a tent with a bunch of birds to gather the eggs and once G stuck her hand in a broken shell, shrieked, thus causeing the closest birds to flutter ~ she wasn't so thrilled either. But it was really really cool. We got almost a dozen ourselves, then later on picked up a few more that were harvested the day before.


Peter altimately found a hoe (not me) and an alternate route to the eggs.

We even scored a GOOSE EGG.

Then we walked back up the hill. We were shown the bee hives and new bees, a few hive boxes that had been destroyed by bears and the humerous tales of their destruction. The herb garden and...A PEACOCK!!! They have the most beautiful peacock.

Then after all that we came home ~ i showered and was off to photgraph a Bat Mitzvah. It was quite an incredible day. If your interested in more of the pictures click HERE.

So in summary. I want a farm. With bees, a great pyrenees and a peacock for mothers day. Pete-a-lee I hope your reading this :)

Could it be???

I can't believe that I almost let March slip away from me. 2 months and I've already forgotten my new years resolution?!?! Bad Jenn!

Anyhoo, thanks to a great e-mail i recieved this morning I think I have a plan. We're going to visit our farm!!! (and by our, I mean someone else's entirely) We're part of a CSA for the summer and will be getting our veggies, fruits and some eggs from them on a weekly basis.

I just got an e-mail inviting us out to check out OUR chickens laying eggs (and get a free dozen) see the 40,000 growing seedlings in the greenhouse, get a tour, take a hike, collect eggs and if you really want ~ drive posts into the ground for a new hoophouse, or help pick up their new crop of rocks :)

I've got to be back in town for a BIG photo shoot, but how can we pass this up?!!?

(can you tell i'm excited??)

Practice Makes Perfect

So I've got a few photo shoots coming up in the next 30 days. Some BIG ones. Soo in addition to a couple new lenes (GULP) and other fun gear stuff ~ i've been working through the basics again with a tutorial. Its amazing how *lost* one can get in playing with the big stuff ~ that you loose sight of photography 101.

Its a beautiful day out ~ the windows are open and i'm following my tutorial...striaght to the park.


Photography may get better with time ~ but i think the subject started out pretty darn perfect from the beginning.

Bubbles - EWE

So for Valentines day G(in addition to a fabulous weekend away with mommy & daddy) got bubbles for her bathtub.

G LOOOOOOOVES bath time and at even the slighted mention of a tub or a wispered hush of "bath" sends her barreling down the hall striping like a coed in Cancun on their way to a bladder buster.

Peter and I have discussed bubble bath for her, but after one look at the ingredients, you sorta give up and say...'someday ~ maybe later'. But we found a packet of harmless-enough stuff and decided to give it a try.

The whole time G & I were filling up the tub we were giggling about BUBBLES and how much FUN it was going to be. Well as it turns out ~ it wasn't really all that fun. Apparently bubbles are kinda scary the first time you take a tub and having them up to your chin isn't the 'easiest introduction' to them either.

Oops.

"what. is. this. stuff."


"no really mum, get this crap off me"


"ok, if i let you take a picture will you help THEN??"


"and now your laughing...i really don't like you"

forgot...but not forgotten

A few weeks ago "someone" had a birthday. A birthday that unfortunately is ALWAYS celebrated in a hotel. Wishing she could have a *fun* cake and all of her family around ~ we at least tried to do part 1, as I think a 12 hr drive is ridiculous for a weekend, much less with a toddler.

The cake.

Unfortunately someone forgot it as he ran out the door. Maybe we'll do better next year.

i'm baa-ack

So holy cow!

Who woulda thunk that working outside the home would leave you with NO TIME to goof off on the net!?!?

I was on a contract for two-whole weeks that had me in the office at 7am but thankfully out by 3. It was great / horrible. I really enjoyed being DONE when I left the "office" ~ i really enjoyed getting back into the gym ~ and i really enjoyed getting out of the house and talking to other folks now and again.

Of COURSE i hated getting up at 5:45 and missing my baby in the AM. That.Just.Sucked. And it was sorta high stress, but thats sorta a plus too. I kinda thrive in that environment.

But its all for not anyhow ~ as they canceled the contract as hastily as they entered into it. Thus my life is to return back to 'normal'.

(but i did get up at 7am today to begin work and if i can get to the gym today i'll be a ROCKSTAR!)

Dare I say it???

I LOVE WEST VIRGINIA!

This past weekend we went to Berkley Springs and had a wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful weekend. It (like everything) took us longer than planned to get there, but once we were actually there it was fabulous.

Friday Night – we went to Earthdog Café: BBQ. It has some seriously awesome food and was the perfect small town mom & pop shop to welcome us to Berkeley Springs. At one point, Giuliane had the whole restaurant in stitches as we walked to the bathroom to wash her messy messy hands and face. (no she wasn’t finished eating ~ it was apparently just halftime) I asked her to hold her ands up so she wouldn’t bump anyone’s purses, jackets etc, so she continued to walk through the looooong restaurant with her hands in the air like she was being arrested. BUT as she walked, hands up, in pigtails and BBQ all over her she would do a lil wave and say “hi” to those who looked at her as we passed. She LOVED all the attention and I swear slowed down a lil bit with each step as we were walking so Lil Miss America could eat up all the attention.

Saturday – was the BIG day. For anyone unfamiliar with it ~ Berkeley Springs is a State Park /Spa combo. What’s that you say? Exactly. Confusing, but you’ll see what I mean in a minute. Historic natural springs come out of the ground at 74 something degrees. Apparently even back in ol’ George Washington’s time he used to enjoy the water around these parts and thus the baths were made. In fact the town was originally incorporated as BATH, West Virginia. The original bathhouse on location was built in 1787ish. This building houses large roman baths and a museum of tubs on the top floor (closed during our visit) The parks building was built in 1929ish and is where the Victorian tubs are and Massages (yes that deserves a capitol M). Pete-a-lee made our appointments via phone, but let me tell you ~ there are NO signs telling you were to register / check in etc. So if you do go ~ tell us and we’ll discuss.


All in all the experience was delightful. I mean obviously it was no Nemacolin Woodlands, but in a certain way ~ it was more relaxing in a rustic laid back sort of way. All sex segregated (except the original bathhouse) The women attendants chatted about while we soaked in our tubs and even that was soothing in a maternal childlike way. The massage was in a darker room in the back with the separate tables separated by an elbow high wall and curtains. It felt very old world and communal. And I liked it.

Sunday – took our time and traveled the back roads home. We hit just about every antique store along the way and I bought some completely unnecessary gems. THEN (again with the caps ~ I know) we stopped randomly for a cup of coffee at “Tropical Island Coffee Shop”. I of course made fun of the name as I wiped the snowflakes from my nose. Little did I know ~ it was owned by a Jamaican man from Kingstown. OH MY GOD did the food smell good. It was prob 10:30am and all I really wanted was coffee. Peter was in the car with Giuliane who was sleeping but I knew he'd be pissed if he missed this place. Debating...debating...I get our coffee's, coke in a bottle, and a meat pie that was up front. Come back to the car and Peter literally sniffs me and tells me I smell amazing. I bring out the meat pie and in seconds G's awake and it’s GONE.

10:30 am and we're debating weather or not to eat lunch!!! So we take a walk around town...and about an hour later finally decide that its an acceptable time to return to Island Coffee for lunch. I had jerk chicken with some sauce on top that was ridiculously good and Peter had a curried goat. The owner was fantastic and we told him next time we're even close to driving through we'd be stopping by with tupperware in our hands.

Miss Crankipants

Confession: I think swapping valentines at 20mos is STUPID. STUPID. STUPID. STUPID.

now realistically ~ i understand G's in a class w/3 year olds who might actually understand love and enjoy a lil party. But seeing the teachers stuff the 'envelopes' kinda takes out the pride of giving and getting doesn't it? Like, are we to start believing in a 'magic heart fairy' that comes and gives candy and cards to all the good little boys and girls? Aside from the fact that I don't really think kids this age need candy, much less should they think its a big exciting deal. I mean here ~ there really isn't anything better than JUSH (juice)

buuuuut...I play along and we made valentines for the class. But here's the kicker.

Confession #2: I had spent so much time on them that i didn't want G to "ruin" them. Am i an ass or what???

So i acquiesced and had her color the backs. Ironically as I finished them G would take them to Daddy to put in the pile ~ hand them to him ~ pretty side up ~ "I DID DIT" then come over to get the next one.



At least someone has her priorities straight!

XOXOXOXO

I DID DIT!

So this is another one of those OH SO FLIPPING Adorable things that I don't think i'll EVER forget...but once you talk to parents of older kids, you know you will.

G's ALWAYS been a helper. A big helper in the kitchen, getting dressed, the lil darling even tries to put on her own diaper. Yes - picture her nudie lil bum laying out a diaper on the floor, and trying to plop her bottom in the right spot. Wiggle wiggle wiggle and "I DID DIT"!

Clearly her favorite is going to the potty. These days she seems to think that merely sitting on la toilet is worthy of a "I DID DIT" and really - who has the heart to tell her otherwise. "YES you did sit on the toilet and toot...and NEXT time you can go POTTY".

I love the enthusiasm and her pride in doing things herself. We've even given up a shelf in our much loved pantry for her. I refuse to give up my living room as most parents seem to (though she does have a good agent and has far more real estate than a year ago) but now she has a shelf that holds some snacks, her silverware, cups, and bowls. She gets them out for meals and brings out her glass when she wants water. Its fun to give her the tools she needs even at such a younge age. The pride she has for something as simple as getting a glass of water is worth squishing a few bags of rice together.

For the rest of her life ~ i hope giving her the tools she needs to succeed are this simple...because I never want to stop hearing "I DID DIT".

We've been busy ....

playin....


eatin....


celebratin (mesmas)....



and being sick...


Thankfully everyone (cept mom really) is back to 100% and happily looking forward to our Valentine's Day Adventure.

Pittsburgh's Going to the SUPERBOWL!

WHEEEEEEE...

So this past Sunday we were sitting at home, watchin the game and just generally hangin out. We had been wearing our Steelers gear all day and got quite a few nice compliments ~ which i must say surprised me living so close to Bmore.

Anyhoo - the first tedious quarter was over (i mean really could it have been any more boring of a game after the Phili & Ariz?) ~we decided to head upstairs. Our neighbor to the north is quite the Steelers fanatic. Add that they have a new puppy and that pretty much just spells entertainment. G entertained herself most of the time by getting kisses from the puppy to throwing puppy toys and chasing them herself. During their down time ~ G took advantage of the best seat in the house. Mona took it in great stride because i think it meant she could hang on the couch.



When G wasn't stealing Mona's bed ~ she was playing in her crate. I mean a toy box that has a door so the balls can't get out??? What a dream!


So Aunt Jude ~ this ones for you. Your neice i mean. She won't eat meat and likes to sleep in dog beds. Heavan help me.

Adventures #2

So...uhh..not EVERY adventure has to be a GOOD one right?!?! I mean we DID ultimately have fun, but man alive.

But now i remember why we had fallen into the at home rut. Not every excursion is as easy as packing a few extra diapers, sunglasses and a good attitude.

FOR EXAMPLE:
etd: 2pm
its about 2:15 and Pete-a-lee gets a note to do something for work. NOW! (duuuude) So he does it and I whine to the world wide web of friends who will listen. Trying desperately not let my good mood falter: it's however unavoidable that as the minutes tick by, so does my patience.
3:15 - TIME TO GO
3:30 - officially on the road w/G in tow
4:00 - about 5 miles from house
4:45 - about 6 miles from house
6:00 - mama's getting REALLY PISSY
6:30 - We finally arrive at the aquarium
(note we were going to get there by 3:30 - 4ish, have a nice dinner & be at the aquarium by 6pm)
6:32 - run run run into the dolphin show: G enjoyed this part enough to make the whole trip worth it.
7:02 - down to the cafe for a lil snack before we all have melt downs (carrots & celery)
8:00 - ahhh a GREAT aquarium walk though. The night wasn't soo bad after all
8:03 - F*&$% we're lost
8:05 - ahh Johns Hopkins, how cool
8:07 - uhh VERY unsafe neighborhood
8:08 - G's first crack house raid
8:09 - I threaten Pete-a-lees life if he doesn't turn around RIGHT NOW
9:00 - back on the highway...which for those of you not familiar with DC - Baltimore, there's NOTHING to eat between the two and umm we're hungry
9:15 - G FINALLY stops screaming and falls asleep
10:00 - AHH SWEET JESUS - FOOD
11:00 - home. ohsweethomeiwillneverevereverleaveyouagain. I PROMISE.

But ~ like i said. We DID have a good time.
Here's G greting Daddy after he was 'stuck' up in the trees. (acutally an overlook in the jungle room) and then running down the ramp at full speed occassionally tellin us to 'comeon guys'.

Clockwise: Mum & G at the dolphin tank ~ an attempt at a family pic on the escalator ~ DINNER ~ new friends

Adventures In Mommy-ing

So while we were away on Christmas vacation, we felt the need for a mini vacation. (don't we all sometimes!) So we took the day and went up to the local ski resort. No we didn't ski, we just roamed around. It was a beautiful sunny day and I just wanted to get O-U-T. We had a BLAST! Daddy & Mommy had a few drinks and G even got a special treat (ohhh ice cubes!). We watched the skiiers and sat drenching ourselves in the sun till we got too chilly then made our way inside. We had a few more drinks ~ a snack (stupid stupid shrimp) and met some great people. Only in Pittsburgh can you find a random association with each person at the table your sitting with.

And so even though I don't normally do this sorta thing...here's my new years resolution:
1 Family 'Adventure' per month


Next Stop ~ Baltimore Acquarium. TONIGHT!!! (wheee)

One - Two ...

This morning G and I were playing in the bathroom after brushing our teeth. She had brought me a 'jingle bell' from a friend's x-mas project. We were rolling it back and forth and I'd count / she'd count 1, 2, 3 and roll. But then I noticed a distinct difference. G wasn't saying 3 so much as WHEEE.

So yes my little darling - let's start the day off fun, with games, and coffee for Mama. On the count of 3.

ONE ~ TWO ~ WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Cristmas Crafting

And here's what I did:




(and about 5 more aprons, but it was getting close to Santa time and I didn't get pics)

ERROR

So uh - the pics won't upload...GAH

HO HO HO

(and no, I'm not calling you names!)

WE'RE BAA-ACK! AAhhhh to be home again. Its fan-flippin-tastic. While spending almost 2 weeks with family is nice, i ain't gonna lie...it grates on you a bit. (sorry folks, but you know its true)

CliffNotes
CHRISTMAS - rocked.
no seriously, this was the beginning of FUN with kids. G actively enjoyed opening presents, and candy - oh lord does this child love candy. My sister is amazing and got G a BOX. Yup folks you know how everyone says 'the kid would be just as happy with a box to play in'...well Jude took it a step further and made lil G happier than any kid alive with just that. This box had tinsel, stickers, crayons & a peek-a-boo hole and a sidecar for her lil puppy. I was HUGE on the lets-not-be-wasteful on presents we don't have room for or need and I really couldn't have appreciated this anymore.


NEW YEARS - egh.
for the record ~ i've never been a big fan. I think any mom with kids under 5 will back me up when i say...a night of uninterrupted sleep is about as blissful as it can get. Trying to organize fun filled family activities for kids ranging in age from 1-16...is not. Soo umm...I napped and left Daddy with a list of ideas that he wonderfully executed. I did wake up around 11 (to be friendly) and play a few games & toast with grape juice. Then promptly went back to bed about 12:14. WHOO HOO.

KID TIME - solid GOOD.
We always have a few issues but thats to be expected when you only see your steps on a limited basis, but as they get older it gets SOO MUCH easier. G has permanent friends/babysitters ~ they can entertain themselves (for the most part) and as far as photography goes...what pre-teenage girl is going to turn down make up and a fancy camera?? Seriously - they woulda been happy with a 'shoot' every single day.


HOMEMADE PLEDGE - WHEEE
so this year I took the homemade pledge. I've been crafting for strangers for almost a year now and really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them though the swap process. Then one day it struck me ~ why don't i spend the same amount of time, love & consideration on those that i really love and care about. It seemed ridiculous. My talents are rather limited and thus this year was deemed the 'Year of the Apron' ~ BUT i am proud of what I accomplished and feel that most people got it and were honored by the gift of thought. (no worries, there WILL be a post of it all so i can brag a lil bit more)