Train of Thought

Do you ever stop and ponder the meaning of the song that's stuck in your head? Like is there a greater purpose for me singing "Little Lobster Girl" because it seems like there probably isn't. That one is probably just catchy. Similar to the Tina the Talking Tabby Jingle, also just catchy and probably a sign that I need to watch some grown up television.

These are the kind of things I ponder through the course of my day. Just in case you needed some insight into my mind.

C has had a major resurgence of love for the books in his life. We still read every day don't get me wrong, but there was about a 2 month period where he wouldn't ask to read. Now he has a couple books memorized and "reads" them to anyone who will listen.

Daylight Savings effected no one but the adults. M's schedule is so loose (Generally speaking, the schedule is after she's been awake for 2 hours I try to help her go to sleep.  Real specific like.) that it didn't give her any never mind. And while in theory the jump ahead was supposed to mean C sleeps until 7:30 his internal clock was also reset and thinks his 6:30ness is just fine. We did the whole cold turkey thing and just did his same schedule by what the clock said. Except for the fact it's dark when he wakes up now, nothing has changed. At all.

In other news... today is going to hit 60 which makes it the warmest day since November 10. I'm just going to do a little happy dance. Don't mind me.

And one more cute C story for good measure. Husband took him to the grocery store yesterday for "animal cookies and bananas" (His requests.) He came in and he always gets to carry one bag, his bag had grapes in it. Green and purple mixed. He ate a good chunk of them last night and at bedtime we told him the grapes had to go to sleep in the fridge. So he carried them to the fridge and put them in, telling them goodnight. Immediately after closing the fridge he yelled "Oh no! Grapes!" And threw himself on the floor kicking. But he got over it and went to sleep. This morning when we came down stairs the first thing he did was run to the kitchen and yelled "Purple Grapes! Wake Up!"

And he still hasn't had a single animal cracker.

Do You Know What That's Worth?

The summer before junior year I worked at a day camp. I had been a camper there and did the whole CIT progression for a few summers before I was actually old enough to be there and get paid. I'm not going to beat around the bush here when I tell you that summer camp is my calling.

In real life I kinda dislike dirt and bugs and even nature a little. In camp world no one could get down and dirty like I could. I can do fake peppy "It's just a spider." like nobody's business. I know all the songs and I'm really loud. Plus I have a good memory so learning a bunch of new names every week and figuring them out? I was born for that.

But the best part about my sweaty summer job was coming home every day and taking a shower.

Somewhere towards the end of junior high I quit the bathroom I shared with my brothers in favor of my parent's en suite. Okay... the 3/4 bath off of their room.

That bathroom has a window. And in the late afternoon after the bus had dropped me off and I walked/rode my bike/scammed a ride home the sun came through that window perfectly into the shower. So those after camp, get the grime and lake and chlorine (lake for canoes, pool for swim) off showers were amazing. And I was still soaking up the Vitamin D.

I was even then slightly convinced that Heaven on Earth is a shower in sunlight.

So fast forward thirteen years and our house has a bathroom with a window. And in the afternoons the sun comes shining in perfectly. So today after nap time I did not put away the laundry or pick up any toys. But I took a shower, in sunlight.

And my early March, is it spring yet attitude got a little bit more in check. Not only am I clean but my soul is soaring. So I'll just be over here in the cold singing Belinda because seriously... Heaven on Earth.

Why You Should Post Recipes on Your Blog

We had a pretty spectacular weekend! All thanks to Beth! Well okay... not entirely but she sure helped even if she doesn't know it.

On Saturday we had our friends and their two kids over for brunch. A while ago, I remember reading about a breakfast dish that she made that didn't need very many eggs. After a little search it turns out it was almost 3 years ago but the recipe was still there and still great! It was very popular! We served it with a selection of fruit (grapes, strawberries and mandarin orange slices) as well as Cherry Almond Bread.

Cherry Almond Bread is pretty much delicious. It's moist and sweet with a really unique flavor. To repay the favor I will post the recipe here:

2 Cups Sugar
1.5 Cups Oil
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
3 Cups Flour
1 tsp Salt
1.5 tsp Baking Soda
1 can Almond Filling (by pie fillings)
1 Cup Sliced Almonds
1 Cup Cherries
1/4 Cup Cherry Juice
12 oz can Evaporated Milk

Mix in order. Bake at 325 for 60 minutes.
Makes 2 large loaves or 7 mini loaves.

It is a really good brunch item as an alternative to a cinnamon roll or monkey bread. Not that those aren't good too, but it's nice to mix it up a bit. We had a really great time at our brunch. 

Then on Sunday night we had a roast, because when Beth posted about the Mississippi Pot Roast earlier this week I was sold. And it was just as good as she said. As it turns out, one of my favorite cookies to bring to events or just to eat is also one I found through Beth's blog. The power of suggestion is very real folks. So if you've ever wondered if posting a recipe is worth it know I click and read them always. And sometimes they become crowd favorites!

What Color Is the Dress and Other QT

Friday. (Nearly) Woot. Quick Takes with Kelly. Okay.


1. What Color is this Dress?!?!!!

There are polls. Posts all over the web. I don't get it. It's clearly white and gold. But when I asked Husband what color it was he immediately said blue and black. So did my mom. 

So... White and Gold? Blue and Black? 

I am losing my mind. I have no idea what people are talking about. I can maybe see the blueish tint to the white. But where's the black?! 

2. Dear Hair,

Please stop falling out. I know this is what happens in the postpartum but I'm over it. 

Love, Madeline

3. Hunger Games 

I find the movies so entertaining. I am currently rereading the books (for the I'm not sure which time) and find them just as thrilling as I did the first time I read them.They evoke terror and wonder and make me think the government is a conspiracy and we're headed for our own dark days. The movies just don't get me all on edge the same way.

4. I am Ready for Spring.

I don't really think this needs further explanation.

5. Growth Spurts

C had a growth spurt apparently because all of a sudden his jeans are looking a little short and his shirts are looking a lotta short.

So going back to take 4, I am ready for Spring because I need to buy new clothes but don't want to buy winter ones.

6. This Tee Shirt 

Tell me I'm not the only one. I may never actually get over the death of Dobby. 

7. Dear Mo Willems, 

We are probably your biggest fans. We love you. But the fold out spread in Knuffle Bunny Free makes me want to revoke your children's book street cred.

Except I won't because the last bit of that book makes me choke up every.single.time.

Love, Madeline

Scenes From the Weekend

So broccoli was on sale this past week and it happens to be one of the veggies that all three family members with teeth agree upon. We tried the Barefoot Contessa's recipe and it was just as good as everyone says it is. C thought that the split up broccoli bunch was  actually the big tree with a dog party on it ala Go, Dog. Go!

He walked around with it and nibbled off it all night. It was very funny. 

M felt that being in front of the camera was fun but that behind the camera would be fun too. 

M's first picture.

She loves her newish jungle gym from her "Mama and Ompa." It really is fun! She officially started scooting today. She gets her little tush up in the air with her legs under her and inches forward ever so slightly. Between rolling and scooting she can get to any toy on the mat which is nice for sure.

Four? Already?

Well time keeps on ticking and my little girl is 4 months old today. Bittersweet I tell you. I miss my tiny baby. But I like her new adventures too.

So she can roll both ways which is good and bad. She can move across the floor a bit but it has really been a struggle now to get her to go to sleep. She just rolls over and gets stuck then screams until one of us comes to rescue her. I am hoping we get over that soon! This is of course when she allows herself to be put down while she is sleeping. (Not willingly if she has anything to say about it.) She does have this Velocirapter scream that comes out if she is displeased. Oh man. We try to avoid that if at all possible.

She knows exactly what she wants but it varies to the extreme. Some days she demands to be held all the live long day. Other days she wants to be free to explore the world and not be held at all. You never know what you're going to get in the morning. But then she smiles up at me with her big blue eyes and super duper chubby cheeks and I'm a goner.

No stats because our pediatrician is out of the office this week enjoying warmer weather with her family. But she is simultaneously really roly poly and slim. I know that makes no sense but it's true. She's in 3-6 month clothes and they have plenty of room. She moved up to size 2 diapers.

Enough blather. Here are some pictures from her photo shoot today:

Pretty much just love this little girl. 

She just adores her brother, her eyes follow him wherever he goes and the feeling is mutual even though I cannot capture it on camera to save my life. This is the absolute best picture of the two of them in existence and it's kind of odd but I'll take what I can get! 

The other day they were laying together and they held hands and I just about died of cuteness. C is very doting and soothing when she cries he often comes to tell me that "Mer-ith crying." (Because I apparently am deaf lol) Then tells her "It's okay, Mom's coming. Mom's coming. I'm here." Heart melting I tell you. 

Seems hard to believe it's been 4 months already. 

Mush Brain Quick Takes

It's been quiet on my home front this week. Sorry about that. I haven't really an excuse except I've been figuring out my balance between caring for my children, myself, my house and my marriage and by the time I sit down at the computer my brain is mush.

I have mush brain.

So the quickest of quick takes...

1. My Valentine's Day was just as quiet as I expected. It was lovely. We had donuts and hot chocolate for breakfast, complete with tulips (I always get tulips for Valentine's Day and yet somehow they always surprise me.) Otherwise we hung out. After dinner we watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on TV. It was the first time C had been introduced to a Harry Potter movie. He liked what he saw. There's a lot of animals in it I can say that for a fact.

My girl Valentine

My boy Valentine

2. Did you hear about Oklahoma? Banning AP US History? If I am being honest history without the word "art" or "theater" in front of it bores me to tears but I don't think banning it for an entire state worth of students is fair, honest or healthy.

I'd like to say you're doing fine Oklahoma but... let's figure that out.

3. I've always had a good memory but I am incredibly impressed that C apparently has one as well. It astounds me what he remembers. Yesterday he asked to sing "5 Green Speckled Frogs" and I didn't understand so he just started singing and he knew all the words. And the tune. We haven't been to music class since October and it's not a major song in our repertoire. He amazes me daily.

4. I guess yesterday was just a big day in C's world. He has been able to tell me when he doesn't want something for a very long time. But usually when asked "what do you want?" he comes back with something from the not going to happen category. (A cookie, cupcake or special treat.) Yesterday when I was making his peanut butter sandwich he told me "No sandwich. I want peanut butter crackers." Well okay then. Our lunches usually consist of me putting peanut butter on a vessel so switching up the vessel was just fine with me. Communication is a beautiful thing.

5. I'm going to let you in on a secret, until I had kids I never really liked Eric Carle. Now we are deep into the Eric Carle world and I'm okay with that. But I still don't have to do Thomas the Tank Engine or Dr. Suess (With the exception of Green Eggs and Ham.)

Did you know there's a Very Hungry Caterpillar Netflix movie? There is. And it's very calm and nice.

6. Hey. Did you know Lent started? I wasn't sure but luckily the blog world helped me remember.

7. That was sarcasm. Happy first weekend of Lent everyone.