Culinate

Something I wanted to share from the culinate newletter I received today:
http://www.culinate.com/home

When you’re cooking — feeding yourself and other people — small victories abound. There are, perhaps, more obvious successes in our lives: running marathons, making million-dollar deals, winning promotions, and so on. But day in and day out, the ability to bake a birthday cake, create a chicken soup, or craft the perfect cappuccino for someone you love provides elegant and much needed gratification in our complicated world.

And you can do it daily.

I hear over and over again that when things get rough, people go to the kitchen. (Of course, the people I hear this from are often Culinate readers, so maybe that’s no surprise.) After long days in front of computers, many of us take refuge there, not only because we need to feel something real with our fingers — stretchy pizza dough or wet lettuce or cold grains of rice — but also because we know that home-cooked food can satisfy us in a way that no deli takeout ever will.

...Something to ponder over on your way home tonight

Popcorn & Acorn



Frannie and 'her' chick



As some of you might know, I recently brought home two chicks. "Why?" you ask....no answer. "Don't you have enough on your plate?" you may ponder...no answer. All I know is that these chicks are just what I need right now. Maybe the new baby is taking me to my roots-grounding me to the earth-or making me dream of a simple life led less my schedules and more by just being. The little peeps have brought me a lot of happiness and I beam with joy when I see my little three year old so intuitively taking care of them and blowing them kisses when she leaves them. Lou and Murf plead the 5th on their feelings about them.

Cousins and Chicks

Popcorn

Acorn

Easter with sunshine

Easter was a hoot this year for Francesca. She still is figuring out holidays and why we do things different when they come and what the heck all the candy is about. Who ever thought of giving children candy before they are even awake had to be an aunt or uncle and not a parent. Frannie was good about the "just one bite" rule from her easter basket candy and had fun with the toys more. We put her candy up on a plate and she was motiviated only by the fact that if her basket was empty she could go on an easter egg hunt. Lou's parents and niece Janine came to visit this year and that also made the day more festive. Frannie didnt like the mass at 7:30 b/c of all of the people or the egg hunt at the capitol lawn but she enjoyed the day with all of the sunshine. I just have to remember that she is still a very little girl and new experiences with crowds or things out of the normal routine are challenging for her. One of her 3 year old  mottos is, "Sometimes big sisters need help and sometimes big sisters dont." and I commend her for being so aware of her needs. This weekend was also special b/c I brought home two chicks to try out. I didnt know how things would end up with them (dog, child, husband, many possible threats to their lives from the elements of disease) and wanted to see how we would adjust. As of 7 am this morning, they are alive and peeping...one does have a wound on its sturnum...more to come about the chicks soon and pictures too. Frannie is having a great time with them in our family.

windy with a chance of everything

This weekend we got a little bit of every kind of weather possible in Montana. Even though we have an up and down climate, the daffodils have started to open and spring really does feel like it has arrived. I should have taken a picture of our daffodils this morning covered with snow...i"ll spare you for now.

This weekend we didnt get much done, but got the contents of the house in order. I washed diapers for the new baby, cleaned a bit and Frannie planted peas (which she makes sure Murf stays outside so the Fox wont dig them up...I still havent seen any foxes lurking around but she is sure they will come). We made spanakopita and visited the chicks at Murdochs (in anticpation for our three wee black birds arriving this week) and watched the snow fall. On a brave move to get away from 1010 e 6th, we went to Spring Meadow Lake to stretch the toddlers legs and hope for a better glimpse of spring and birds...we got wind.

Come on!!

Hanging on to her hat.  One thing she has learned about this spring is the wind

 I love the puffy clouds in the sky

Trying to find some bugs or fish

Nothing new with the soon to be bambino except that man is he growing! In the last 7 days he grew an inch in length and is enjoying all the free room while it lasts (can you say world cup in my uterus?). Frannie has officially adopted a name for him b/c she thinks that baby brother should be called something like everyone else. She is pretty infatuated with this little guy living inside of me. She said she wont run away when he comes and b/c big sisters need to help with baby brothers. I hope she doesn't change her mind...

25 weeks

Well, 25 weeks was two weeks ago. Man, does time fly. Things have been preoccupied around here and life doesn't seem to settle down. The baby isn't settling down either. I felt what I thought was his knee yesterday or some other nub like protrusion. It was magical to actually feel a part of him instead of a hard spot. Frannie gave him a hug this morning and said good-bye to him as I ran out the door to work. It seems like he is becoming more and more a part of our family each day. 95 days left but I could take him sooner (not sure how much bigger my stomach can get at this point and I am tired of people asking me if I am having twins). I am almost in my third trimester (nest tuesday)-so close I can almost imagine holding him.

25 weeks baby #2





25 weeks baby #1