Samuel is 4!

Happy Birthday, my sweet Samuel!

Tonight as I laid next to in your bed (as you've been wanting me to do every night the past few nights) I told you your birth story. All about how fast you came and what an exciting and special night it was.

Your response was, "oh." But, I know you liked hearing it.

And, soon after I finished I could feel your body relax and your breathing deepen. Four years ago today I laid in bed next to you, with you sound asleep.

Four years ago today was one of the best days of my life.


Here is Samuel's first birthday post. I still feel the same way!

Much To Do

I have so many blog posts and projects in the works, but can barely steal a few seconds away each day to pee, let alone blog and sew to my heart's content. That's ok. I'll enjoy these moments- like right now- rocking out with Barney, the big boys in the chairs, Silas on the couch next to me, and Finley in her bouncy seat by my feet. Well, Samuel is on my lap now, trying to move my face away from the computer and onto Barney.

Tomorrow is Samuel's fourth birthday. We'll spend the day celebrating our boy and on Saturday we're going to have a small party for both the boys. I had lots of great ideas, but yeah, reality trumpeted creativity. As always.

Yesterday Finley was a little fussy and uneasy and later that night she sounded a little congested. Last night was a long night with her waking A LOT. She'd go right back to sleep, but then wake up again an hour later. Lucky for her she can nap anytime she wants. Not so much for me. I'm usually tired when I first wake up, but when I actually get out of bed I'm fine. Although, my body is kind of feeling it now.

And for Liv, and anyone else interested, I will post about cloth diapers soon. I have the post written, but just need to take some pictures.

Finley's Four Months and Ask Papa, Part 2

My little lady is four months already!

She's our little princess, our sweet girl, and our little beauty.

When she smiles her eyes sparkle and when she laughs she surprises herself. It's so funny!

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Ask Papa

Eric doesn't know it, but I thought I'd add a little of my own commentary in here. Just to spice things up. Because he's a man of few words and, as you know, I'm a woman of lots of words.

Did you see Michael Moore's new movie yet? If not, why not?

Capitalism: A Love Story has just been added and moved to the #1 spot on my Netflix queue.
I have no excuses for my untimely, irresponsible behavior. To whoever asked this question, thanks for the kick in the butt -ha

Well, Avatar just came out, so the Michael Moore movie got bumped. We'll tell you how we like it after we watch it, dad. I mean, "anonymous."

What are three words you would use to describe yourself? What are three words morgan would use to describe you? What are three words your kids would use to describe you?

Me: slow - easy - going (kind of sounds "special")
Morgan: slow - come on get with it - brilliant!
Kidos: big - good looking-papa!

I tried to get him to change these because they're wrong and not three words. But, if you asked me I would describe Eric as hard-working, steady, and hot

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

I like Christmas because of the family and food. Sounds cliche, but bare bones honest.

Never in my life have I heard Eric use the phrase "bare bones honest." I guess the real Eric is coming out on the blog.

Do you eat organic?

I am evolving back to the dirt of organic life. Slowly, but moving forward. In the last 12 months my family and I regularly eat organic eggs and beef. Laid, grazed, and butchered locally. Also we drink organic milk. I am planning on getting a lamb for butcher from an Orland farm. I want my kids to meet it first and see where their meat comes from. I remember growing up my Dad raised a sheep in out backyard that our family named Snowball. Then one evening we were eating Snowball. I would love to give my kids these same experiences.

First of all, Eric was laughing hysterically telling me the story of Snowball the sheep. I think it all sounds a little horrifying.
Second, we've been eating mostly organic for quite awhile. We've just been making the big change with our meats.
Third, I don't like lamb.

The last and final part coming up soon. Any more questions for Papa?

My Boy is TWO!

An excerpt of the journal entry I wrote to Silas on his birthday.

Silas,
Two years ago today, at this time, we were just getting to know you, our precious, perfect, beautiful boy.



I am so, so thankful for you my sweet baby boy. While I was pregnant people always asked if we were hoping for a girl. But, Silas, you could not be any more exactly what we wanted.



I love how curious and active and precocious you are. I love how you get into everything because it means you are healthy and strong and perfect.



Because you are in the middle and the third boy I never want you to feel overlooked or less special. You are the apple of my eye, Silas Joel. You are so amazing and we celebrate you and your life.



You'll always be my baby, but I love watching you turn into a toddler, to a little boy, and one day into a man. You are my heart. I love you my sweet Si-Si.

Love, Mama

Menu Planning Monday: French Dip

Would you believe that I made the French Dip last week and forgot to take a picture, then made it again, and forgot to take a picture AGAIN!? Can I still call it new mommy brain? Finley isn't four months yet. I guess you'll just have to make it, take a picture, and post it for me, ok?

We love the french dip/beef dip (whatever the heck you want to call it) from a local place called Italian Cottage, so I thought I'd give it a try. This is another super, super, super easy meal. If you can open a can and turn on your crock pot then you can make this. What's even better is it's one of Eric's favorite meals.

What you'll need:
chuck roast (or "chunk roast" as I prefer to call it)
1 can of beef broth
1 can of onion soup (or a packet of onion soup mix and a can of water)
peperoncinis (hardest word ever to spell) and juice from the jar (optional)
can or bottle of beer (optional)

The last two items just give a little more flavor. Although, honestly, I can't really taste either of them. Maybe it's just psychological. (Or just me?)



1. Put chunk roast in the crock pot.

2. Dump both cans in on top of the roast. Add water or more broth to completely cover the roast.
You could make your own beef broth and onion soup and it would be a heck of a lot healthier, but at this time in my life easier wins. And, besides, I used local, organic, grass fed cow, so that makes up for it, right?



This is where the pictures end and the imagination takes over.

3. Cook on low for 5-6 hours

4. Cut roast thinly against the grain and serve on high quality, delicious bakery bread. We used whole wheat rolls from a local place, Tin Roof Bakery. We prefer to toast the rolls and melt swiss or pepper jack cheese on them.
Dip in the au jus and enjoy.

Date Night!

Last night Eric, Finley and I had a "date night." (I'm not sure if I love or abhor the phrase "date night," but it, apparently, is nowhere in between).



I'm still exclusively breastfeeding (I haven't even tried giving a bottle to Finley) so she, pretty much, goes where ever I go. I don't mind at all because she usually sleeps or sits quietly and I just want to take in all her babyness as long as possible.





First, we stopped by the Farmer's Market to pick up a few things. We love the Farmer's Market, but avoid the Thursday night one. Saturday morning is much calmer and family oriented. I used to love Thursday's, but it's a popular hangout for high school and college kids, so it's crowded and can be stressful trying to keep an eye on four little ones. (Last year we almost lost Samuel, I'll have to remember to tell you that story sometime.)



So, anyway, we enjoyed walking through the market, then headed to one of our favorite restaurants, Sierra Nevada. I love the place, but if there was ever a number one fan, it's Eric. For his birthday I tried to get him to go somewhere new or fancier, but nope, Sierra Nevada it was.



I guess on Thursdays they sometimes have beer on tap that they don't usually have (called "caste night," the beer in the picture is the "hellraiser," which is not a caste), so he planned to go with a friend. But, my in laws were able to watch the boys, thus the date night it was. I got to enjoy a delicious dinner. (And, he said it was better with Finley and I!)



I almost always get the chicken sandwich with portabello mushrooms and fries on the side and Eric gets the fish and chips. We decided to be wild tonight and get something a little different.

Eric ordered the ahi tower.



And, I had eggplant parmesan and a cesar salad. Delicious food, as always!





Have a great weekend! Do you have any fun plans? By the end of the weekend I'll be a mama to a two year old!

Living Green

via

Happy Earth Day!

I'm so glad that being "green" is so mainstream and cool now. That's a good thing. My family and I are doing our best to do our part, not only because it's good for the earth, but it's good for us.

We are:

Planting a garden

Cloth diapering

Recycling

Using our compost

Trading pool service for organic eggs

Eating local grown produce and shopping at the Farmer's Market

Considering joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

Buying organic, grass fed, local beef and other meats

Making our own natural cleaning products

Wearing natural deodorant

Upcycling clothes and shopping more at thrift stores

Avoiding processed and cooking using whole foods

What are you doing?

A Little Dress

My first clothing item!

At the last craftymama night Jenna was sewing a super cute dress. So, I decided to copy her (she said I could!) and make one for Finley. I used a vintage sheet and some fabric from Joann's.

Eric calls it a baby muumuu, but I'm proud of my first dress!

The Garden

I'm super excited about our garden. We loosely used the ideas in Square Foot Gardening (I still need to finish the book). We planted zucchini, crook neck squash, strawberries, watermelons, four types of tomatoes, red and yellow bell peppers, hot peppers, several different herbs, and I still want to add snap peas.

Our garden is in the "dog run," which started with lots and lots of tall weeds.


Here it is weeded, filled with soil, and measured off.


Everything planted.


Eric, also, planted hops on that side planter by the garage.


Now I'm hoping it actually produces a crop!

Bathtime

My little photographer, Judah, caught this moment after bath time. I'm so glad he did. I love this picture.

Whoops! The Beef Dip/French Dip (whatever you want to call it) recipe coming on Thursday. Yesterday was busy.

Busy, busy mornings

Our morning is filled with lots of this.



(And laundry and babies who need attention and cleaning pee-pee off the floor from a boy who decided to take off his diaper and playing referee for fighting siblings and....)

Be back later with a new recipe!

So Super Cute!!

Look at my friend Jessica's fabric flower headbands. Aren't they cute?



Check out her blog at Living the Life. She's a new blogger and a super crafty, creative, talented mama with the cutest little girl and another baby boy on the way!

Here's the tutorial, if you want to make some yourself.

Why I Want To Sew (SUPER Cute Girly Dresses!)

I haven't been sewing lately. I miss it.

My sewing area is, also, the playroom. I love the fact that I can sew and craft and be right by the boys. But, I have this little toddler that likes to get into everything.

A few weeks ago he climbed up onto my table and pulled the thread off the machine. That little thing that holds the thread on fell off too. Fortunately, I found it under the table.

The second time I didn't get so lucky. When I noticed it was missing again I searched and searched with no luck. I even offered a dollar to the boy who found it. Still no luck.


The part that's missing goes right there!

The part was on backorder, so I should finally be getting it in the next week or so. Hopefully.

One reason I really, really want to get sewing is because of this cute blog, Posie Gets Cozy. They are adopting a baby and during the wait for their baby girl she is creating an A-mazing wardrobe. Seriously, stunningly beautiful.







Aren't they beautiful? She has even more on her blog. I can't wait to sew like that!

Thankful Thursday: Special Time

Happy Tax Day! I'm thankful my husband does the taxes so, I don't even have to think about them!



Today my mother in law watched our middle boys, so Eric (who didn't have to work until this afternoon) and I had some special time with Judah and Finley.





We drank delicious coffee drinks (well, hot chocolate for Judah) while doing homeschool, visited a new thrift store, and had lunch.



Then, Judah went to work with Eric and I got some time to myself. Well, I had a baby strapped to my chest, but I took a nice, long, quiet walk.



With four kids it's always special to get some quality one on one or two on two time. And, Samuel and Silas had fun with grandma. So much so that Samuel didn't want to come home!

Tutorial: Fabric Flower Headband

Yep, another headband tutorial. Yep, I am obsessed. And, in case you are, too, I thought I'd share the love.

These are slightly more difficult than the others, but really just slightly. And, the best part is that mamas (or anyone) can wear them!

What you'll need:
Strip of fabric
Glue gun
Headband or something to glue your flower to
Felt (optional)


First, you need a long strip of fabric. I love this mustard linen, but any cotton would work. I used the rotary cutter to start cutting the strip, then just pulled it apart. Loose threads are good. You don't want a clean cut.
My bigger flowers are 2 inches wide and the littler one on my headband at the bottom is 1 inch. The 1 inch wide was way easier to work with. And, the two inch was way too big for a baby head. I was making it for Finley, but the flower was too heavy, so I kept it for me! :)


Then, fold the fabric in half. And, make a little knot at the end. This is the middle of your flower.


With the tail of the knot at the bottom, twist the fabric as you are also curling it around the middle. Does that make sense? Do you love my technical terms?


When you've made your flower as big as you want it tuck the end under. You can hot glue the flower as you go or glue it to felt when you're done. I do both. I like to go a little glue crazy.


Then, you can put your flower where ever you want. On a headband, of course.


Or, maybe your shoe.



And, remember when I used to do outfit posts? And then, I got pregnant and gained 60 lbs and only lost 40? Well, I felt cuter yesterday, so after Jenna mentioned outfit pics on twitter I decided to take an outfit picture. Here it is, headband and all!



Linking here!