Hop along little birdie!

Remember last year when Harrison found the nest of baby robins in our bush? Remember how bad he wanted to hold a baby bird but could never quite catch one? Well this year he got his chance, and it made his week. Henry spotted a nest in a nearby tree and in his 4 year old excitement shook the branch hard enough to knock the baby robin free.  Harrison scooped the baby up quick as could be before it hopped to the road, it's probably only a day or so away from learning to fly, so it didn't really need rescuing as much as it needed to be corralled away from the busy road! Harrison happily obliged and kept the bird safe (safe from the cars and from Henry!)

Here comes summer....

We got our buzz cuts, final school report cards, summer clothes on order, and warm weather ahead....

Bring it on!! We're ready for a great summer here.

Harrison's big week...

I feel like Harrison has grown so much this year, not just height, but he's matured so much. He's so helpful with the baby, and really delightful to have around. I think having a 6 year old boy is the greatest! Everything is an adventure...

He came home from the pond smelling just like this frog- and that's NOT a good thing.

Sometime between these two pictures, he lost his glasses! I'm not sure if I should cry because they're lost, or be glad they lasted 8 months to begin with.

"Mom, do you think this is a prehistoric fossil?" (pretty sure it's a snail shell mister)

"Look at this spent bullet casing"- he didn't get that vocabulary from me.

He had kindergarten graduation, complete with an ice cream party! An ice cream party at 9:30 in the morning. Kindergarten holds no special place in his heart, after he finished his bowl of ice cream and threw his dish in the trash, he grabbed his backpack and headed for the door. I asked him if he wanted a picture with his teacher and he just said NOPE, and kept walking. 

Saturday was another soccer game, truth be told, this kid is good a soccer. He is always scoring goals at the games, and he's a darn good goalie too. The only problem is he hates soccer, he really doesn't want to play at all. So this will be his last year at soccer until he changes his mind.

 Stopping a goal at the game.

Gosh I love this kid!

Big and Floppy

Last year when I was hugely pregnant with Amelia, we spent nearly every summer day at the pool. I would beach myself on a chair or in the shallow end, keeping a close eye on Henry, and enjoy the cool water surrounding my tired, swollen ankles.  After the fun the kids had at the pool last year, there was really no way that I could say no to pool passes this year. I am NOT a water person, or a sun person, or really an outdoor person for that matter.... but I know if I want to keep my sanity with 4 kids this summer, I'm going to have to suck it up and go out in the sun. I wasn't blessed with the greatest skin, it's prone to burning and freckling. I never really tan. So last year when I discovered that I don't care if I look like a giant dork, and decided to wear a ridiculous floppy hat - I realized that I actually like to be outside!

When I realized how nice it was to be outside, and in the shade at all times, I mourned all those years that I had a sunburn on the top of my head, or cried because of all my freckles.... I could have just worn a big old floppy hat!! Fashion be damned!

In other words, look at this adorable baby, don't you just want to pinch those thighs? Delicious I tell you!

Grateful....

Today is all about honoring our mothers, I can certainly say I honor, revere and love my mother, mother in law and grand mothers. Without their love and guidance, I wouldn't be the woman I am today. But I can't help but think of these 4 precious spirits that I have been entrusted with, because they gave me the opportunity to fulfill my calling as a mother, and for that I'll be eternally grateful.

Seven months!

My sweet baby woke up on her 7 month birthday with her first tooth! I didn't even know she was cutting one, that explains why she was reluctant to eat her solid food, her little mouth probably hurt!

Now that she cut her tooth, she's been eating her solid food like a champ! She eats brown rice cereal, avocados, sweet potatoes, bananas, green beans and bits of things from my spoon here and there.  I make my own baby food (and have for all my children), it's a labor of love, really- but the only way I know for certain what she's eating, and that it's healthy, and delicious.

She loves to roll and roll and roll, no piece of paper, electrical cord, crumb of cookie or dangerous object is out of reach now! Not only does she roll, but she's quick too! I have to keep a constant eye on her, everything she picks up goes directly in her mouth.

Amelia sleeps through the night- usually 10 hours at a time, and naps 2-3 times during the day. She nurses several times a day and before bed and loves to have her sleep sack on when she sleeps. What a joy she is to our family. We love you Amelia!

Coconut Almond Granola

Nothing sends me into a good old morning dry heave faster than a bowl of gloopy, slimy oatmeal. I know eating oatmeal has huge health benefits, so why can't I get the stuff past my mouth? Actually, I can't even get it near my mouth without full fledged gagging. So what's a health nut to do when faced with such challenges? You got it... make granola, and lots of it. When mixed with homemade jam and plain lowfat yogurt? It's darn tasty... no gagging at all!


Coconut Almond Granola

6 cups oats (I used a combination of quick and old fashioned)
2 cups slivered almonds
2 cups shredded coconut (I used sweetened)
1/2 cup coconut oil melted
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1/3 cup honey
1 T pure vanilla
a few dashes salt

Warm the coconut oil with maple syrup and honey, add the vanilla and salt. Pour over the oats, almonds and coconut. Spread on 2 cookie sheets bake @ 300 for 40 minutes (stirring 2-3 times during cooking, and switch trays).

Go ahead and make some. You know you want to!