Phone Pictures - Embracing the Camera

I really love the idea of getting out from behind the camera (not that I'm behind it much these days) and getting into the pictures with the kids.  I don't always love the pictures as they turn out but that is not the point...the point is capturing real life...as we live it.  So if I'm playing with the kids and I'm a mess...well, I WAS a mess...but the kids don't care...all they care is that their parents play on the floor with them and snuggle in bed, reading before bedtime.  These are moments that I want to capture for them.  So as much as my brain screams "Don't share", my heart yells, "Post Away"!  So here goes:

I'm embracing the camera with Emily...

Library Time!

The girls and I went to the library last week for the first time and got a library card.  I talked to them about it before we went and Gianna was really excited.  When we got there she asked where the escalator was.  "Ummm, that's at Barnes and Noble, the bookstore" and I proceeded to explain the difference between buying books and the bookstore and borrowing them at the library.  As we are leaving she asked where the hot chocolate was (we usually go to B&N and read/play and then grab a drink before we leave).  "Ummm, that's Starbucks, at the bookstore".  Obviously I need to redirect our activities to less commercial interests! 

Anyway, I think it would be fun to track what books we have out and whether or not we enjoyed them.  Up first are:

• Fairy Houses by Tracy Kane - Cute book but it didn't really hold Gianna's attention

• I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child - Gianna liked it, I thought it was okay.

• The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson - Very cute book - Gianna loved to read along with me.

• Rapunzel by Sarah Gibb - Classic story but it was confusing b/c it's a different tale than her current favorite movie, Tangled.  It was hard to explain to her why they were different.

Early Preschool

I dropped my baby off in the Early Preschool room at daycare today for the first time.  She visited the room last week and then yesterday.  Yesterday she ended up staying all day so we decided to go for it and start her off there this morning.  So now both girls are "upstairs" at daycare...which I feel is probably an equivalent feeling to both girls being in school, or in high school, or in college.  It's one thing for Gianna to meet those milestones but BOTH OF THEM?! They are both big.  They are both growing.  They are both...well, not babies anymore!  I AM really happy because Sara is more than ready for the move and they love being able to pop in on each other throughout the day (good luck to those teachers trying to keep them apart!) but MAN, where did the time go?  I have had several conversations with moms of 2+ kids and most often the feeling is the same...kids #1 feels appropriately their age while kid #2 feels like they grow at warp speed.  I definitely feel that Gianna has been around for 3.5 years...definitely.  But Sara...2 YEARS already?  Crazytown!

And because every post should have a picture - here is one from my phone awhile back...

Gianna loves to wear her dresses...but I make her pick out pants (and usually shirt/socks) to wear with them.  Mean mommy cramping her style...but seriously, we keep our heat really low in the house so it's the rule even if we are staying at home.  Regardless of the rule...jeans, a dress and bare feet?....she's such an adorable little hippie-child! : )

Music

I'm pretty excited that our house is a musical one...and I owe that mostly to Rick.  He plays guitar with the girls on a regular basis and, because of him, Gianna knows songs that I have have never heard of, Phish songs of course.  The other night at bedtime she asked me to sing "Brian and Robert".  The next day in the playroom we had Rick sing it for us followed by more...and more and more.  Gianna just kept naming songs and Rick kept singing them, most I knew but some I didn't, and some I'm fairly sure are songs by Phish or band members in their solo projects but I can't be sure.  "Contact", "Reba", "Dog Faced Boy", "Camel Walk", and "Bounce Around the Room" were tops on the list.  It's adorable and I love that Rick and Gianna have their own special "thing".  Sara got in the action too by pulling out some other instruments and handing them out.  I got the bongo drums : )

Anyone who knows Rick knows that he listens mostly to Phish.  Fewer people know that I listen mostly to Contemporary Christian music.  I was introduced to this video on facebook and the girls love it (it's very catchy so beware).  It warmed my heart this morning when Gianna yelled from the other room that she wanted to listen to "Jesus Loves Me Yes"...

More Christmas Photos

This was the third year that I took photos for this family.  I'm so lucky that they choose me to take their pictures year after year.  I love being a part of their memories!

 

 

  

Check out the previous year HERE and HERE.

Soup

I'm slowly getting more and more able to find time to cook more labor intensive meals.  It feels so incredible to be in the kitchen for hours making a complex meal - I just love the process of it all - from planning the meal, shopping, prep, cooking, serving, enjoying.  I love feeding people good food and, to be honest, if feels pretty darn good when people like what I make.  While I enjoy spending time in the kitchen, some days we just don't have a lot of time.  And on those days where time is short, healthy options tend to go by the wayside.  With that in mind, I've been thinking about ways to make healthy meals regardless of the time available.  One option is to cook 3 big meals a week and have leftovers for lunches and 2 dinners.  If I cook Sundays, have leftovers Monday (work day), Crock pot Tuesday (work day), cook Wednesday (home day), have leftovers Thursday (work day), I think things will be less stressful on those night where time is pressed.  I don't know, our schedule is so wacky that I don't know if it'll work but it's something to try for.  With all that said, last week I made this soup in the crock pot (you could probably simmer this on the stove too) and it was TASTY!    The leftovers were fine on their own but one night we strained to soup and used it to a topping on nachos (yeah, not exactly healthy but...), and I think it would make a great filling for tacos or burritos too.  As with all my recipes, this is a rough idea on how to make it.  I play around with ingredients and you should too!

Chicken Tortilla Soup - Crock pot Style

1 Jar of Medium Salsa
1 Large Carton of Chicken Broth
1 Diced Red Pepper
2 Cans Black Beans, undrained
1 Large Can of Light Red Kidney Beans, undrained

1 Can of Chick Peas, undrained

1 Can of Corn, drained
1 Rotisserie Chicken, or equivalent

Cut up the chicken and pepper, open the jars and cans and dump it all into the crock pot.  I did this the night before and then in the morning (Rick, who was home from work with a sick kid) pulled it out and turned it on HIGH for 8 hours.  We served it with chips, shredded cheese and sour cream.  Guacamole or avocado slices are yummy too.  And that is all my friends, dinner and lunch for days and days!

Last Minute Trip to Boston

The past weekend Rick had to make a trip to the Boston area to pick up some tickets he had purchased off Craigslist.  He was originally going to do the trip by himself, travelling down and then straight back.  Friday night he asked me if I wanted to go.  A quick trip like that with the girls seemed like a bad idea but it got us thinking...we called up some friends in Boston to see if they were going to be around and a quick family weekend in Boston was born!  It's so great to be so mobile now that the kids are a little older!  To decide at the last minute to pack up the kids for an overnight trip is a big thing for us and I think the girls (at least Gianna) loved the adventure.  We told her we were going to Boston to see her friend Aliena and her baby sister Sophia.  Gianna was excited and asked if we could see her "best friend Big Papi" as well. : )  Despite not seeing Big Papi, we had a great weekend.  We left first thing Saturday morning and the weather was near 60 so we took the kids to Columbus Park and walked through Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall.  The girls played and we caught up with our friends.  We stayed over and the boys took the kids to the park while Julia and I did a little shopping (Target and Trader Joes if you care).  Lunch was had and we headed back home!  Perfection*!

*though I should mention that about an hour into the trip I realized I didn't pack the camera.  When we got there I was really disappointed because the girls were so cute and there were many a picture taking opportunities.  Oh well, next time...because there WILL BE a next time for sure!