Gratitude Friday

I love my Gratitude Friday posts. They are the chance to pause in a busy day/week and count my blessings, little and big...today I am feeling grateful for...

:: An old english teacher giving me an old copy of The Catcher in the Rye to re-read. (Thanks Mr. Rea!)

:: My education....I love that I've already read Salinger.

:: The finding of the folders of all my old M. Grammaire worksheets and notes to pass on to my Français V students...along with stories of French Classes of old...*sigh*

:: The chiropractor....I'm feeling good!

:: The fact that I truly know myself...and I am honest with my strengths & faults, have the ability to self-reflect and am learning to exhale and move on.

The New Fave...

Meme really hit the jackpot with her present for Mia....Mia & Benji are so loving playing knight, princess and dragon...but they are not the only ones....I found this set up the other afternoon....not set up by the children mind you, but by Tom...young at heart!

In other news, I have no wip this week....I am taking some knitting time off at the advice of my chiropractor. It is okay...I am surviving....I'll try to add a little back into my day next week...if my neck stays pain free.

I finished Mia's birthday quilt...and I just love it. Sewing however also strains my neck....so a break from that as well... I feel a thousand times better from just 3 sessions & adjustments. A word to the wise: If you ever have whiplash...get xrays! See a chiropractor! Don't live 6 years with headaches and back pain!

The new semester at school started on Monday and things are going very well. My students are particularly engaging this semester and I feel a new fire for teaching. I was totally energized by the relative pronoun "dont" today...ahhhh, grammar, I'm such a nerd!

Mia Celebrates :: Three

Well, you only turn 5 once...so we had a big party for Mia and all her friends to celebrate. We rented a great salt-water filtration pool and swam in January! Then we headed to the restaurant in the Inn and ate, danced, had ice cream cake and partied...5 year old style! Mia and her friends had a blast!

~the pool was 85 degrees...lovely~

~Could Benji be any cuter in his baby-speedo????~

~Friends...~

~Mia shows off her twirly-dress~

~Make a wish!~

We all went to bed early that night....it was fun, but exhausting! Happy Birthday Mia...

Mia Celebrates :: Two

The evening of Mia's birthday we had a little family celebration. Complete with the heart-shaped cake she requested...I made an "M" with frozen strawberries we had picked in the summer! It was actually a very yummy cake. We ate pizza (at her request), opened presents (oooh, such goodies!), lighted her birthday ring and feasted on cake. It was the perfect quiet home celebration.

~Bonnie Butter Cake~

~Local strawberries in January! Yum!~

~Benji likes the cake too!~

We weren't quite done yet though...stay tuned for the third installment of "Mia Celebrates."

Mia Celebrates :: One

Mia started her birthday with a special day with Daddy...skiing...(he got some awesome videos too...but blogger won't let me upload them grrrrr.)

The annual poster...
Lunch with Daddy & Mimi...
A decorate your own snow man sundae! Wow! Thanks Daddy for special day!

But the celebrating was not over yet! Stay tuned!

Gratitude Friday :: Mia Edition

Happy 5th Birthday Mia...Today I am feeling grateful for you...and...

:: your funny sense of humor

:: your love of drawing

:: your empathetic spirit

:: your gentle soul

:: your love of fairies & gnomes

:: your kindness towards your little brother

:: and all the ways you've brightened my life over these 5 years. I love you inchworm.

wip (it good) wednesday!

I've been taking a little break from knitting to work on Mia's birthday quilt...deadline friday! I finished the top today...I apologize for the poor photos...the light was dark, it was just before dinner. I am quite pleased...

On a separate note... This is Benji's new lounge spot...he is soooo silly & cute.

I've been busy with the preparations for Mia's big day as well...more on that later!

A little of this...a little of that...

Last week's week of frugal dining went well. Friday night Tom & I went on a little date and thus the frugality ended. I planned our meals for this week, and we headed out to the grocery store yesterday before the storm. Frankly, we spent more than usual, so I'm not sure if taking a week off actually saves anything in the long run...but it was a fun exercise in resourcefulness & "making do." This week, we're eating well...I made delicious chicken tortilla soup tonight which really hits the spot on such a blustery winter day.

I also have been working on Mia's birthday quilt...which I started in July! I have a patchwork middle that matches her curtains, and am adding borders of coordinating colors until it reaches my desired measurements! I am doing this quilt in such a haphazard manner that I'm sure any "real" quilter would break out in sweats, but I love the way it is turning out...and more importantly, Mia loves it too. It is my first large quilt...and I've been learning a lot in the process. So I think I have 1 more border and and the backing to do before friday...no problem (right?)...I cannot believe my daughter will be five. *sigh.*

Gratitude Friday

Hmmm....counting my blessings today...

:: My freezer! (Thanks Auntie & Luke!)

:: My muffins (that's the kids)--keeping me laughing and teaching me so much.

:: My students who appreciate me...I wish I had my camera today when I taught my students to sew)...(we're making culminating books filled with french grammar--ooooh!) it was so fun! Quote later I overheard between one student and his friend "Dude, Madame taught me to sew today. It was cool."

:: A little break from frigid temps.

Happy friday...what are you grateful for today...

Night Four...

Tonight's meal was local polish sausage, carrots & broccoli in a cider vinegar-mustard sauce over whole wheat couscous...tasty. I used up my half-box of couscous, carrots and officially I am out of broccoli until next summer!

I even made cookies from the pantry (and used up a half container of 5 grain oats that no one "liked" for breakfasts)...as cookies with maple syrup & honey they are delicious! The recipe was on the box...I added chopped pecans leftover from a New Year's appetizer I made....oh how thrifty I am!

I also made a pair of mittens for myself...with left over yarn from the hat I made for Luke for Christmas! I love that!

~the frugal factor was brought down by the buttons...but I love them! Pattern on ravelry: "twinkle mittens."~

Dinner Three...

Tonight we had Rosemary-Vinegar Glossed Chicken, noodles and beets. This is the second time I've made the chicken. It is simply yummy. I love anything with vinegar in it. I always have white wine vinegar, cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar and champagne vinegar on hand. (that's a lot of vinegar!) So delish as a pan sauce, salad dressing...marinade. Ahhh, vinegar is so yummy. The beets were canned...the chicken from the freezer, the rosemary from my plant happily growing in the dining room for the winter and the noodles from the pantry. Another success...

~Dinner is served...~

Who joined us last night after dinner? This little "super gnome." Off to rescue woodland creatures and wayward fairies....ah, my kids....I tell you....I love them...they make me laugh...

A must read for parents!

There is a fantastic blog I read--the Parenting Passageway--link on my blogroll. Today's post really resonates for me as a mother of 2 littles, who have temper tantrums (somedays more than others!). I've been searching for a way to deal with them...time-outs never seem to be the answer...time ins don't work when the child doesn't want to be touched! When I read the post today, I had one of those "yes!" moments...read for yourself...http://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/01/12/more-about-time-in-for-tinies/

Dinner two...

I had a lot of Asian condiments and sauces half used in my fridge...plus a box of thai noodles, pork chops from the farmer's market over the summer that I had frozen, a can of baby corn and frozen blanched broccoli from my local farm stand....so I made this tonight:

~Pan Asian Pork & Veggie Noodle Stir-Fry~

I cut the pork into thin strips and sauteed them and added the veggies, a little soy sauce, duck sauce, thai chili sauce, sesame oil and rice wine vinegar...added the cooked noodles and voila...yummmmm. I added a little gomasio & hot chili sauce to my portion, but it was very flavorful and easy....and to think I had all the ingredients just waiting to be used! Stay tuned: tomorrow night: rosemary-vinegar glossed chicken....oh yeah! Happy Eating!

Dinner One...

On tonight's menu of frugal eating we had Carrot Soup, baguette and brie. Yummmm. In the colder months we always eat soup on Monday nights. Sometimes I make a double batch to freeze. The carrot soup recipe is from my french host mother: Evelyne. I learned so much during my study abroad (so soooo much), one thing I learned was an appreciation for french food. Eveylne cooked nightly, and we usually ate a smaller dinner (if you call at least 3 courses small) that often was soup. I made sure to take some of my favorite recipes with me when I left. I've been making this soup for nearly 10 years now (gasp!)...it lends itself to many variations and is always soul-warming.

So here it is....French Carrot Soup

6 (ish) carrots, chopped

1 potato, peeled and chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 T butter

2 T tomato paste

1 t sugar

6 cups veggie stock

Simmer all together in your favorite dutch oven (however did I live without my Le Creuset???) for about an hour. Puree (I use a stick immersion blender--super easy) and season with salt and pepper to taste....add a little milk, cream or yogurt if you are so inclined...enjoy.

~Tonight's dinner simmering on the stove! I collect red Le Creuset!)

~Setting the dinner table...my children each received an enameled place-setting from Nova Natural for christmas...I just love them & so do Mia and Benj. ~

On a separate note, I finished Mia's Gnome Hood....it is so adorable. I must make one for Benjamin as well. As a rather gnome-prone kind of gal, this is simply squeal worthy.

~Mia loves her new Gnome Hood!~

I went to the grocery store and wound up spending $21. In addition to coffee, milk and tea, I also bought butter, yogurt and clementines. Tom also picked up some eggs from a coworker lucky enough to have chickens. This is such a fun way to remember the summer bounty and take a little break from buying at the big grocery store. Happy Monday!

I know this much is true...

My family will never go hungry!

Since we got our freezer (thanks Auntie & Luke) last spring, I've been doing a lot of freezing. All summer I squirreled away extra produce whenever I could...I shelled, chopped, husked, hollowed, steamed and froze all that summer goodness in convenient Lynch Family meal portions. I also bought at the farmer's market extra bacon, pork, kielbasa and chicken and stashed that in the freezer too. I have extra soup, egg whites, tomato sauces, pestos, a whole homemade lasagna, creme fraiche and a baguette. Not too shabby. When combined with the contents of my pantry and fridge, I can make a luscious, very local, organic dinner every night this week without buying one single thing. True I tell you! I'm going to do so this week...so check in and see what's cooking this week at my house...

I'm headed to the grocery store for the week, to buy milk (if only I had a cow--or a goat!), coffee (rather self-explanatory) and black tea (again, I cannot grow or buy this and freeze it ha!). Even though we buy organic and fair trade I still will only spend $15 this week....oh yeah...and we'll plenty left in the freezer for another budget freeze week next month! Being frugal was never so delicious!

Gratitude Friday

Today I am feeling grateful for...

:: skype...keeping me close to Lila & Hannah!

:: the sheepskin from TG, keeping me so cozy on my chair!

:: a snug home

:: my husband...we are so good together.

:: feeling peace at only having 2 babies...our family is complete. But....we can't wait to have a niece or nephew....so get going auntie! :-)

Two Little Kings...

Last night we celebrated Three Kings day...the children each got a little present from Tom & I, I made a little cake, and they wore crowns...it was fun. The real end of the Christmas season has always been the Epiphany for me. Now we turn our attention to Mia, who turns five this month! Five is a real milestone in my eyes...and I can hardly believe I've been mothering for five whole years now!

~Dining by candlelight!~

~The children each found a crown at their placesetting.~

~Look at the cute little Kings!~

~Mama...take another picture of me!~

On a completely side note...look at the picture Mia drew of me! It is "Mommy goes to Paris." Oh and Paris....Mia pronounces it "par-eey." Very very cute...and makes me smile.

wip (it good) wednesday!

It is still wednesday right? Ah, good...I'm in time for a little wip post. Still knitting here...working on a dk weight cabled...(yes cabled! I did it--it is easy-peasy! Now what was I so afraid of???) beret for my sister...and a fun hood for Mia made with leftover beautiful Dream in Color merino from her Christmas sweater...I plan on one for Benj too...

~On my needles...~

I recently finished up a new little LTK pilot cap for Benj....my first foray into the lusciousness that is Malabrigo! I also picked some beautiful "grape" for a LTK pilot cap for Mia. Malabrigo--where have you been all my life? I love it...so soft, such beautiful colors...I just wish it was a bit easier for me to get my hands on...although my wallet probably doesn't mind! Happy Knitting!

Watercolor...

We were so lucky this Christmas...we received stockmar paints, painting boards, brushes and beautiful paper. I also received Painting With Children, which along with You Are Your Child's First Teacher, gave me plenty of great information for doing wet-on-wet watercolor with my kiddos! We had done plenty of red painting...so we did some red...and a little yellow...it was so fun and beautiful, I wished we had a third board for me!!!! I helped the children remember to use the brush gently, by referring to the brush as a little gnome, whose beard is the bristles and likes to be kept neat....and be treated kindly. Mia loved thinking of her brush as a gnome and repeatedly talked to her brush...it was adorable. Once we added yellow paint and saw the orange that became on the paper, Mia was entranced....and so was I! Benji was more interested in mixing and adding as much to his paper as possible...but Mia was very methodical and was very good about not mixing her paints in the jars...the results are beautiful. Tuesdays are painting days, I am looking forward to it!

~Benji uses red...note the left handed preference!~

~Mia started slowly and carefully.~

~Look! Red & Yellow make Orange!~

~Finished...warm and wonderful!~

~Benji's red masterpiece!~

I think we'll do just blue tomorrow and see what happens...so much fun!

Vacation!

Oh what a glorious vacation...but all good things must come to an end. Back to school tomorrow! Back to our rhythms and routines...back to waking up before the sun---**sigh.**

We spend our vacation celebrating and enjoying eachother's company. There was plenty of knitting...

~Manos del Uraguay silk-merino blend beret on the needles for Auntie.~

Enjoying new gifts, such as Bella & a new Mama-made Christmas sweater...

~Knitting details: Dream in Color merino in Lunar Dazzle colorway....Knitting Pure & Simple pattern (of course!) ~

A special trip to the Children's Museum with special friends (with a side trip to a yummy yarn store with KJ for Mama!!!)...

~Benji loooooved the train table.~

~Mia and Emmerson played so well together.~

We've been enjoying the lovely wintery weather with plenty of sledding in the yard and snuggling in the house. I hope I don't have too big a case of the Mondays tomorrow!

New Year Festivities!

To ring in the New Year we packed up and headed North to visit TG! My parents, sister, Luke and Mimi came too--we really filled his bachelor pad! We celebrated with a roaring fire, a little knitting, a soothing hot tub soak, a variety of tapas and rose cava (yummmm)! The next morning we awoke to a soft snow storm and while Luke & Tom went skiing/snowboarding, the kids played in the snow. We are in the midst of a long gentle storm here in NH and we are snuggled down and enjoying the season. Happy New Year!

~TG, Mia & Benji enjoy the fire!~

~Snow!~

~Bundled up to play!~

~Snuggling Poppa!~

~Playing truck-truck with Mimi...on a different note, Benji is wearing his Christmas sweater I made him! It looks so cute on him...~

I made it up to midnight--but just barely...Mia tried...but crashed on Poppa at 9:30...and Benji, well he went to bed by 8! Such party animals we are! Thanks TG for your hospitality!!