This week on Facebook, I linked back to a blog post that I wrote two summers ago. I've thought about that summer often over the past year or so. I remember how good I felt and in a lull, it has helped to heed my own words and pull strength from my "happy" list. Again, I have been feeling a stirring in my soul. I've been talking to Matt about it a lot but I'm not quite sure what it is. It's not that I feel like something is missing. I have enough, too much even, in my life to make me feel secure. He thinks it's that I need a hobby, something to do without the kids. That could be it. The time doesn't quite feel right to start anything big (i.e. my dream to have my own pottery studio) but I have picked up some hobbies that keep me stimulated and excited. I have made some goals related to them; I want to make my first quilt and run another long race. I think it definitely has something to do with helping others. I'm exploring some volunteer opportunities. It also has a lot to do with God and bringing Him into clearer focus in our family. That's probably because Marek is growing in his understanding of life and I want Jesus to be the center of it. I'm also trying to open myself to help from others. It hasn't been difficult to pray for God's guidance but it's an entirely different thing to actually move over and let Him take control! Having child #2 has seem to change me more than first becoming a mother had. In my experience, two has been loads easier than one! It's because I've relaxed. I feel so much more confident in making my own decisions about parenting my children and worrying less about other's input. I've also realized that I had been making the mistake of assuming all other moms, especially moms with multiple children, have it all figured out. It's reassuring knowing that we are all doing are best and figuring it out day-to-day.
One of the biggest struggles I have in my life has been a feeling of utter panic when one of my assumptions is upturned. The earliest recollection I have of this is in kindergarten. I asked the teacher, "what is the last number." She told me there was no end but didn't exactly explain the theory behind it, as if I should have known this all along. I panicked, I still remember the feeling! How could I have been such a fool? I should have known! Why didn't anyone ever tell me? I'm so confused! It's happened a number of times in my life and each time, I struggle to figure out what went wrong with my understanding. I've found it happening a lot with parenting. So much so that I am wondering if much of what I have believed my whole life is somehow wrong. No, that can't be right. But it has brought me to a point where I believe the mature thing to do is at least examine my beliefs, one by one, and make sure I'm always questioning, always striving to be better.
In an effort to sort through these emotions, I am going to try to blog more or at least write down more snippets of thoughts throughout my days. Maybe I'll come out the other end with some answers to who I am and what God wants me to be doing with this precious time on earth!
I also have many more recipes to post. It'll be a mixed bag ;)
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Da duh duh Da...
Our daughter's name is Magdalene "Maggie" Catherine.
Of course Marek already spilled the beans to some of you...
Of course Marek already spilled the beans to some of you...
Official stats.
No Name reveal yet but she just got her first time on the scale after a good first meal.
Baby Girl weighed in at 6 lbs 15 oz with a length of 20" and a head circumference of 13 1/4".
After the weigh in, daddy got to hold her for a while while mommy got to take a few pics and start moving around. Baby Girl also revealed that she has her Daddy's dimples and appetite. We'll be changing rooms within the hour, and will most likely start welcoming visitors this afternoon, but we are not for sure yet. I'll head out after we change rooms to go pick up Marek so he can meet her too.
There are some photos on our Facebook pages, but none here yet because we forgot the camera cord at home. Don't fret, they get posted on here at some point.
And then there were four of us.
Just as I was getting ready to do another update, Anna started to have really strong contractions and things started to move quickly. Luckily our Doc arrived just in time. Anna was such a trooper through it all, even if she doesn't think so. She elected to pass on the epidural and do it naturally so she was more uncomfortable than when she gave birth to Marek. This time the whole process moved a lot faster, and with three pushes our daughter joined us with a few cries at 10:45. We are both so happy to have her with us and looking forward to Marek and everyone else to meet her. She does have a name but we have to tell two special people first before we let everyone know. Right now Anna and "baby sister" as Marek knows her are nursing and resting up from the ordeal. We don't have any official stats yet, but we'll get them on here once we do.
A bit closer...
A few more hours have passed and the nurses have switched out as well. The contractions seem like they are coming more regularly and are a bit more intense. Anna just remarked that it feels so good when they pass and that she feels like she could run a marathon. The nurse also told me that the doctor we are using usually lets the Dads catch if they want. I still have some time to decide if I'll be up for it...
Sooner rather than later...
Things are moving along as expected. Anna is still feeling good, though the contractions are starting to get more intense even if they are not quite regular. We were able to take a nice walk around the hospital here about 30 minutes ago to try and move things along and it seems to have worked. Right now, we are just sitting and waiting while listening to the baby's heartbeat on the monitor. More updates to come...
She'll Be Comin' When She Comes
We're back! It has been a long week of waiting and thinking this baby was ready to come at any minute. This morning at 3:30am my water breaking woke me up. I gently asked Matt for a towel and then started shaking with nerves. I settled down after getting things arranged with Marek and we left for the hospital about an hour later. Contractions have not really kicked in (which is why you are hearing from me and not Matt). Scratch that...that one hurt a little ;) It's 5:30am now and I'm dilated to a 6. The nurse says that I'm "made to have babies" and thinks it will go very quickly as soon as it kicks into gear. I just ate a banana and am going to walk around and see if we can get things going! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. We can't wait to introduce our little girl to the world!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Our Favorite Smoothy (Cherry Chocolate Smoothy)
Our Favorite Smoothy (Cherry Chocolate Smoothy)
I do think smoothie recipes can be silly because it's a matter of throwing anything you like in the blender and turning it on! But...this one is a constant favorite of ours so I thought I would write it down. Marek and I share a smoothy first thing every morning.
Ingredients:
2 C plain (homemade) kefir
1/2 C frozen cherries
1/2 C frozen wild blueberries
1 T cocoa powder
1 handful fresh baby spinach
Directions: Put all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.
I do think smoothie recipes can be silly because it's a matter of throwing anything you like in the blender and turning it on! But...this one is a constant favorite of ours so I thought I would write it down. Marek and I share a smoothy first thing every morning.
Ingredients:
2 C plain (homemade) kefir
1/2 C frozen cherries
1/2 C frozen wild blueberries
1 T cocoa powder
1 handful fresh baby spinach
Directions: Put all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Creamy Fiesta Chicken Bowl
I added another made-up meal to my arsenal tonight. This was an unusual (can-o'-this-can-o'-that) meal for me but it turned out delicious and Marek devoured two bowls full. I thought that I should write it down, not that I won't remember the recipe but so I remember it as an option for dinner when I feel out of ideas. It has been a goal of mine to start writing down my recipes as I have started to make many of them repeatedly and also had more and more requests from friends. I'm excited to see how many I have in the end and hopefully bind them all together for my children some day. For my graduation, I asked my dad to write down all of the recipes that I remember from growing up. I have them in a notebook in his very difficult to read handwriting and unique writing style. I will cherish it forever!
Creamy Fiesta Chicken Bowl (crock pot recipe)
Ingredients:
1 lb chicken breasts
1 lb chicken thighs
1 T cumin
1 T taco seasoning (recipe here)
1 tsp salt
1 jar of your favorite salsa
1/2 bunch chopped fresh cilantro (stems and all)
1 can rinsed and drained black beans
2 C frozen corn
1 pkg cream cheese, cubed
Directions: Place all ingredients in crock pot in order listed. Cook on high 4-5 hours. When finished, shred chicken with fork. Can be served wrapped in a tortilla, over rice, or just plain!
Notes: The chicken can be frozen. The thighs really make the dish, they are more moist and flavorful than the usual boneless, skinless breasts.
Creamy Fiesta Chicken Bowl (crock pot recipe)
Ingredients:
1 lb chicken breasts
1 lb chicken thighs
1 T cumin
1 T taco seasoning (recipe here)
1 tsp salt
1 jar of your favorite salsa
1/2 bunch chopped fresh cilantro (stems and all)
1 can rinsed and drained black beans
2 C frozen corn
1 pkg cream cheese, cubed
Directions: Place all ingredients in crock pot in order listed. Cook on high 4-5 hours. When finished, shred chicken with fork. Can be served wrapped in a tortilla, over rice, or just plain!
Notes: The chicken can be frozen. The thighs really make the dish, they are more moist and flavorful than the usual boneless, skinless breasts.
Anna's Homemade Taco Seasoning
Anna's Homemade Taco Seasoning
Ingredients:
1 1/2 T chili powder (recipe here)
1 T cumin
1/2 T garlic powder
1/2 T onion powder
1/2 T oregano
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Directions: Mix all together. Store in a mason jar.
Notes: Use fresh, good quality spices! It makes all the difference in the world!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 T chili powder (recipe here)
1 T cumin
1/2 T garlic powder
1/2 T onion powder
1/2 T oregano
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Directions: Mix all together. Store in a mason jar.
Notes: Use fresh, good quality spices! It makes all the difference in the world!
No-Bake Cookie Balls
No-Bake Cookie Balls
Ingredients:
honey
Notes: I enjoy these refrigerated. For a prettier presentation, form into logs and roll in coconut flakes (like a date roll) and press a blanched almond onto the top.
Ingredients:
1/2 C oats
1 1/2 C various raw nuts (such as almonds, pecans and walnuts)
1/4 C various seeds (such as chia, pumpkin, flax and sunflower)
1/2 C unsweetened coconut
1/2 tsp fresh ground cinnamon
*1 T cocoa powder optional
1/2 C sticky dried fruit (such as dates, raisins or apricots)
1/4 C maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla
*1 T cocoa powder optional
1/2 C sticky dried fruit (such as dates, raisins or apricots)
1/4 C maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla
honey
Directions: Blend oats, nuts, seeds, coconut, cinnamon (and optional cocoa powder) in the food processor until it reaches a crumbly, slightly sticky consistency. Processing too much will separate the oils from the nuts. Add fruit, maple syrup, and vanilla and process until fruit is combined. Now, with the processor running, process adding honey until the batter becomes dough-like and forms into one ball in the food processor. Use your hands to roll into 1-inch balls and enjoy!
Notes: I enjoy these refrigerated. For a prettier presentation, form into logs and roll in coconut flakes (like a date roll) and press a blanched almond onto the top.
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Ingredients:
1 C dry quinoa (made just like rice, one cup equals about 3 cups cooked)
kalamata olives, halved
sliced colored sweet peppers
canned quartered artichoke hearts
garbanzo beans
whole cherry tomatoes
sliced yellow summer squash
diced red onions
fresh chives, chopped
fresh basil, julienned
My Vinaigrette:
-equal parts olive oil and vinegar (I use a mixture of red wine/balsamic/apple cider and/or whatever is left from the olive jar!)
-lots dried herbs of your choosing
-salt
-pepper
-garlic powder
-a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
-a dash of cayenne pepper
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a mason jar and give it a good shake. Sometimes I add a little honey to kill the acidity. I also may squeeze in a giant glob of stone ground mustard. Let it sit for and hour or more so the dried herbs can rehydrate and all the flavors can incorporate. This is a great dressing for almost any salad!
Directions for Salad: Add as much dressing to the salad as you like and give it a good toss. It soaks up quite a bit so be generous, I'd say I usually add about 3/4 of a cup or more.
Notes: The salad is delicious served over a bed of fresh baby spinach.
Ingredients:
1 C dry quinoa (made just like rice, one cup equals about 3 cups cooked)
kalamata olives, halved
sliced colored sweet peppers
canned quartered artichoke hearts
garbanzo beans
whole cherry tomatoes
sliced yellow summer squash
diced red onions
fresh chives, chopped
fresh basil, julienned
My Vinaigrette:
-equal parts olive oil and vinegar (I use a mixture of red wine/balsamic/apple cider and/or whatever is left from the olive jar!)
-lots dried herbs of your choosing
-salt
-pepper
-garlic powder
-a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
-a dash of cayenne pepper
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a mason jar and give it a good shake. Sometimes I add a little honey to kill the acidity. I also may squeeze in a giant glob of stone ground mustard. Let it sit for and hour or more so the dried herbs can rehydrate and all the flavors can incorporate. This is a great dressing for almost any salad!
Directions for Salad: Add as much dressing to the salad as you like and give it a good toss. It soaks up quite a bit so be generous, I'd say I usually add about 3/4 of a cup or more.
Notes: The salad is delicious served over a bed of fresh baby spinach.
Anna's Homemade Chili Powder
Anna's Homemade Chili Powder
Ingredients:
3 T ancho chili powder
2 T cayenne chili powder
2 T paprika
1/2 T red pepper flakes
1 T cumin
1/2 T garlic powder
1/2 T oregano
Directions: Mix all together. Store in a mason jar.
Notes: Use fresh, good quality spices! It makes all the difference in the world!
Ingredients:
3 T ancho chili powder
2 T cayenne chili powder
2 T paprika
1/2 T red pepper flakes
1 T cumin
1/2 T garlic powder
1/2 T oregano
Directions: Mix all together. Store in a mason jar.
Notes: Use fresh, good quality spices! It makes all the difference in the world!
Anna's Homemade "Orange" Curry Powder
Anna's Homemade "Orange" Curry Powder
Ingredients:
2 T turmeric
2 T coriander
2 T cumin
1 T cayenne
1 T cardamom
1 T ginger
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
Directions: Mix all together. Store in a mason jar.
Notes: This curry powder blends together all of my favorite curry flavors and highlights the ones that I like the best. It is not traditional and doesn't go with any specific recipe. It isn't a red, yellow, or green curry. It's somewhere in between so I'll just call it orange. I use it in basic, throw-together curry dishes as well as curried chicken salads and anything else that calls for generic "curry powder." I try use as many whole spices as I can get and grind them myself, this contributes to the aromatics and freshness. Use fresh, good quality spices! It makes all the difference in the world!
Ingredients:
2 T turmeric
2 T coriander
2 T cumin
1 T cayenne
1 T cardamom
1 T ginger
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
Directions: Mix all together. Store in a mason jar.
Notes: This curry powder blends together all of my favorite curry flavors and highlights the ones that I like the best. It is not traditional and doesn't go with any specific recipe. It isn't a red, yellow, or green curry. It's somewhere in between so I'll just call it orange. I use it in basic, throw-together curry dishes as well as curried chicken salads and anything else that calls for generic "curry powder." I try use as many whole spices as I can get and grind them myself, this contributes to the aromatics and freshness. Use fresh, good quality spices! It makes all the difference in the world!
Anna's Chai Spice Mix (and Chai Tea Recipes)
Anna's Chai Spice Mix
Ingredients:
2 T ginger
1 T cardamom
2 tsp white pepper
2 tsp cinnamon
5 whole cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Directions: Mix all together. Store in a mason jar.
Directions for making chai tea: Steep 1 tsp good-quality black tea leaves with 1/2-1 tsp chai mix per 1 cup of boiling water. Let steep for 3 minutes. Stir in a heap of honey and milk to taste. Chai should be sweet and creamy, be generous! It is also easy and delicious to add about 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk in place of the milk and honey. For iced chai, use 1/2 the amount of water for steeping. After steeping, add sweetener and pour over a cup full of ice. Add milk to taste. Enjoy!!
Notes: This spice mix is also great in recipes calling for generic "chai" such as muffins and granola. I try use as many whole spices as I can get and grind them myself, this contributes to the aromatics and freshness. Use fresh, good quality spices! It makes all the difference in the world!
See my past post about chai for more chai fun!
Ingredients:
2 T ginger
1 T cardamom
2 tsp white pepper
2 tsp cinnamon
5 whole cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Directions: Mix all together. Store in a mason jar.
Directions for making chai tea: Steep 1 tsp good-quality black tea leaves with 1/2-1 tsp chai mix per 1 cup of boiling water. Let steep for 3 minutes. Stir in a heap of honey and milk to taste. Chai should be sweet and creamy, be generous! It is also easy and delicious to add about 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk in place of the milk and honey. For iced chai, use 1/2 the amount of water for steeping. After steeping, add sweetener and pour over a cup full of ice. Add milk to taste. Enjoy!!
Notes: This spice mix is also great in recipes calling for generic "chai" such as muffins and granola. I try use as many whole spices as I can get and grind them myself, this contributes to the aromatics and freshness. Use fresh, good quality spices! It makes all the difference in the world!
See my past post about chai for more chai fun!
Friday, January 25, 2013
New Home!
We are finally (mostly) settled in to our new home. I had a lot of energy and motivation right away to get the house unpacked and start checking things off of our very long to-do list. In the first week I had nearly everything put away and even some painting projects done. It didn't really seem overwhelming to me at the time but I think it caught up with me and Marek after a couple of weeks. Marek was really starting to act up and wanting my attention. My patience was getting seriously tested after a million trips to the store for supplies. And so, I think my body and my baby told me to take a step back and relax. I have lost almost all of the motivation I had to get anything done and now I'm just waiting for that husband of mine to get home and finish off the list! It always happens at the two-month mark; we all start to go a little stir crazy and need our family together. Unfortunately, Matt will be staying on the ship an extra month in order to be home an extra month and be here for the baby's birth. Just pray that baby comes early so we have extra time together as a family of four! Marek has adjusted incredibly well to the move but as he is older now, he is also very aware of Daddy's absence and misses him a lot. Luckily, Matt has been in port for a couple of weeks and is able to access video chat while docked there. It makes all the difference in the world being able to talk face to face! Marek looks forward to seeing Daddy every night before bed and I think Matt gets a kick out of his silly before-bedtime restlessness. Sometimes I'll plop him on the office chair and go grab something for dinner and I can hear him chirping away while Matt laughs and says, "uh huh, Buddy" because it is still difficult to understand most of what he's talking about :)
With the added attention, Marek has been such a good boy lately. He is helpful and perceptive and surprising me every day with new things that he says and does. I've realized recently that I need to start recording more of him because this baby talk is soon going to be a thing of the past! I also started writing down all of his funny words for things that I don't want to forget (my latest favorite..."Pop Pork" = Popcorn). I have been holding and carrying him as much as possible because I know our days are numbered. I'm also realizing the importance of tradition, routine, and starting to instill in him our beliefs at this age because he really does pick up on a lot! He often times is the one reminding me to pray before we eat and at bedtime.
We actually haven't been hanging out with family as much as we'd like because the weather has been so dang frigid. We are looking forward to a warm-up and hopefully even more snow so we can get outside and play! We did get outside one afternoon for a walk around the neighborhood and met some neighbors. We also got a membership to the Community Center and Marek loves to go swimming and is warming up to the idea of playing in the childcare center while I get in a workout. He did great at church nursery last Sunday which was good for both of us.
The novelty of our new home has not worn off yet for Marek. Every time we pull in the driveway he exclaims, "new home!" and every reference to our house still includes the phrase "new home" as well as every other place we've gone: new library, new store, new church. He has mentioned a number of times, even today, that he wants to "go farm, see Papa." It's sad that we are not as close to be able to do that but we hope that it will make our visits back to Wisconsin more special and memorable.
I have my first OB appointment with a new doctor on Monday and we will be finding out the gender (on Matt's birthday!). I am anxious to see the baby and make sure that everything they can see looks okay. I have had a hard time gaining weight so far and I'm nervous that the baby could be affected by how sick I was in Oct/Nov. In many ways, I feel like I'm doing this all again for the first time. I have made many lifestyle changes since my first pregnancy as well, I have become a mom and that alone makes me feel like a different person. I am hoping to do things a little differently with this pregnancy and birth and praying for the same wonderful outcome. It took me until about two weeks ago to really "feel pregnant" and to face the fact that this baby is coming, no matter what!
I haven't done enough to express our gratitude to our family for helping with the move. It was a long day (and days for some!) and was perhaps more stuff than I thought there would be. They not only did the actual lifting and moving, but helped with Marek, supplied food, plowed the driveway, and so much more. Thank you, thank you, thank you to you all! We are so happy to be here.
With the added attention, Marek has been such a good boy lately. He is helpful and perceptive and surprising me every day with new things that he says and does. I've realized recently that I need to start recording more of him because this baby talk is soon going to be a thing of the past! I also started writing down all of his funny words for things that I don't want to forget (my latest favorite..."Pop Pork" = Popcorn). I have been holding and carrying him as much as possible because I know our days are numbered. I'm also realizing the importance of tradition, routine, and starting to instill in him our beliefs at this age because he really does pick up on a lot! He often times is the one reminding me to pray before we eat and at bedtime.
We actually haven't been hanging out with family as much as we'd like because the weather has been so dang frigid. We are looking forward to a warm-up and hopefully even more snow so we can get outside and play! We did get outside one afternoon for a walk around the neighborhood and met some neighbors. We also got a membership to the Community Center and Marek loves to go swimming and is warming up to the idea of playing in the childcare center while I get in a workout. He did great at church nursery last Sunday which was good for both of us.
The novelty of our new home has not worn off yet for Marek. Every time we pull in the driveway he exclaims, "new home!" and every reference to our house still includes the phrase "new home" as well as every other place we've gone: new library, new store, new church. He has mentioned a number of times, even today, that he wants to "go farm, see Papa." It's sad that we are not as close to be able to do that but we hope that it will make our visits back to Wisconsin more special and memorable.
I have my first OB appointment with a new doctor on Monday and we will be finding out the gender (on Matt's birthday!). I am anxious to see the baby and make sure that everything they can see looks okay. I have had a hard time gaining weight so far and I'm nervous that the baby could be affected by how sick I was in Oct/Nov. In many ways, I feel like I'm doing this all again for the first time. I have made many lifestyle changes since my first pregnancy as well, I have become a mom and that alone makes me feel like a different person. I am hoping to do things a little differently with this pregnancy and birth and praying for the same wonderful outcome. It took me until about two weeks ago to really "feel pregnant" and to face the fact that this baby is coming, no matter what!
I haven't done enough to express our gratitude to our family for helping with the move. It was a long day (and days for some!) and was perhaps more stuff than I thought there would be. They not only did the actual lifting and moving, but helped with Marek, supplied food, plowed the driveway, and so much more. Thank you, thank you, thank you to you all! We are so happy to be here.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Our Last December in Wisconsin
We had a lot of time to prepare for our big move and before we even started packing, we were working hard on getting organized and purging all of the corners of the house that have been untouched for years. Because of this, packing has been going very smoothly. I have managed to pack up a few boxes every day over the past few weeks and slowly it is all getting done. This has left us room to have some fun and take breaks from our not-so-homey-home.
This is the first year that we have been able to go to the winter festival in town. I was seriously impressed by the events and the number of people that showed up! First, we visited Santa. Marek was intent on NOT sitting on his lap but he still wanted to visit him because he knew he had suckers. I felt bad, but for the first time, I threw him on Mrs. Claus' lap and jumped out of the scene to get a photo. It was definitely the real Santa but "Mrs. Claus" was for sure a phony. She had lipstick all over her teeth. I think the real Mrs. would have been appalled :)
Notice the real reindeer in the background!
After Santa, Marek and I went on a dinner date. We had soup and tea at the cafe and then put on all of our gear and headed back outside. All of the kids in town played in the snow in the plaza before the parade began. It was a pretty warm night and they had hot cocoa on the street corners courtesy of Swiss Miss (which is made right down the street from us...I can smell it on my running route!). The parade was fantastic, perfect for Marek. We ate our fill of candy canes, saw all sorts of cool trucks, and my favorite were the animals: horses, sled dogs, a donkey and a camel! After the parade, we walked one block to the lake where they had a short but impressive fireworks display. It was Marek's first time seeing fireworks and he was talking about the "BOOMS" all night.
I sure am going to miss this "little" town.
This weekend, friends of ours invited us to Chippewa Falls so see Santa again and to walk the lights display at Irvine Park. We had a nice visit with Santa. Now Marek knows that Santa is a nice guy who gives candy canes. He likes to see him and talk to him but he still won't sit on his lap. He pleasantly chatted and then enjoyed his candy canes on the steps at a safe distance :)
We had ice cream in town and then headed to the park to see the lights.
It was another warm night and Marek enjoyed the stroller ride through the park. We took a couple of pit stops to play in the snow and see an old steam engine that was lit up for Christmas. It was another wonderful evening with friends, the perfect thing to do to prepare for Christmas.
I set aside this week to really get down to business and finish packing the house before we leave town for Christmas and closing. I've had to wait for a lot of things that we still need in our daily life. Yesterday was the first day that my list of to-dos was longer than I could get done during naps and nighttime so Marek was my "helper" all day. He is really good at helping and loves to do it but of course for a two-year-old, it really means getting in the way. He wanted to be sitting on my lap and touching everything I needed to pack the entire day. He was being a good boy but I felt very guilty for snapping at him a few times so today I took the day "off" from the house. We had a Marek and Mommy day starting with a trip to the Children's Museum in Eau Claire. It is the best Children's Museum I have ever been to. We bought a membership this fall when we were anticipating staying in WI for longer. I don't think we'll get our money's worth from it which is so disappointing; this place is the best! It is usually pretty quiet, very clean, and full of enough things to do to keep him busy for hours. This time, he was finally old enough to climb and crawl through all of the exhibits by himself and I didn't feel like I had to chase him down the whole time. He even crawled through the super dark and creepy large and small intestines by himself which slides down into the giant toilet :)
I keep catching him with his "tongue stuck out while intent" face. So typical. So adorable.
After lunch and a nap, we made a special trip to Goodwill to pick out a new truck. We found a dump truck for two bucks. Of all the tucks in his arsenal, he didn't have a dump truck, can you believe it? We had a nice time playing tonight and he's still playing in his crib with his new dump truck, loading up and dumping out his wooden beams.
Although there are many things to look forward to and many reasons for the move, we are sad to leave our home. Driving into town last night, I realized how much I am going to miss this area. We have our places that we like to walk, the shops where we know the employees, the grocery stores with the best deals, the river, the lake, the food coop, the library, the museum, the cafes, good friends, and the farm. The university (rather, the students) are what is driving us away but I am thankful for the diverse and vibrant community that it helps create. This was a truly wonderful place to start our lives together!
This is the first year that we have been able to go to the winter festival in town. I was seriously impressed by the events and the number of people that showed up! First, we visited Santa. Marek was intent on NOT sitting on his lap but he still wanted to visit him because he knew he had suckers. I felt bad, but for the first time, I threw him on Mrs. Claus' lap and jumped out of the scene to get a photo. It was definitely the real Santa but "Mrs. Claus" was for sure a phony. She had lipstick all over her teeth. I think the real Mrs. would have been appalled :)
Notice the real reindeer in the background!
After Santa, Marek and I went on a dinner date. We had soup and tea at the cafe and then put on all of our gear and headed back outside. All of the kids in town played in the snow in the plaza before the parade began. It was a pretty warm night and they had hot cocoa on the street corners courtesy of Swiss Miss (which is made right down the street from us...I can smell it on my running route!). The parade was fantastic, perfect for Marek. We ate our fill of candy canes, saw all sorts of cool trucks, and my favorite were the animals: horses, sled dogs, a donkey and a camel! After the parade, we walked one block to the lake where they had a short but impressive fireworks display. It was Marek's first time seeing fireworks and he was talking about the "BOOMS" all night.
I sure am going to miss this "little" town.
This weekend, friends of ours invited us to Chippewa Falls so see Santa again and to walk the lights display at Irvine Park. We had a nice visit with Santa. Now Marek knows that Santa is a nice guy who gives candy canes. He likes to see him and talk to him but he still won't sit on his lap. He pleasantly chatted and then enjoyed his candy canes on the steps at a safe distance :)
We had ice cream in town and then headed to the park to see the lights.
It was another warm night and Marek enjoyed the stroller ride through the park. We took a couple of pit stops to play in the snow and see an old steam engine that was lit up for Christmas. It was another wonderful evening with friends, the perfect thing to do to prepare for Christmas.
I set aside this week to really get down to business and finish packing the house before we leave town for Christmas and closing. I've had to wait for a lot of things that we still need in our daily life. Yesterday was the first day that my list of to-dos was longer than I could get done during naps and nighttime so Marek was my "helper" all day. He is really good at helping and loves to do it but of course for a two-year-old, it really means getting in the way. He wanted to be sitting on my lap and touching everything I needed to pack the entire day. He was being a good boy but I felt very guilty for snapping at him a few times so today I took the day "off" from the house. We had a Marek and Mommy day starting with a trip to the Children's Museum in Eau Claire. It is the best Children's Museum I have ever been to. We bought a membership this fall when we were anticipating staying in WI for longer. I don't think we'll get our money's worth from it which is so disappointing; this place is the best! It is usually pretty quiet, very clean, and full of enough things to do to keep him busy for hours. This time, he was finally old enough to climb and crawl through all of the exhibits by himself and I didn't feel like I had to chase him down the whole time. He even crawled through the super dark and creepy large and small intestines by himself which slides down into the giant toilet :)
I keep catching him with his "tongue stuck out while intent" face. So typical. So adorable.
After lunch and a nap, we made a special trip to Goodwill to pick out a new truck. We found a dump truck for two bucks. Of all the tucks in his arsenal, he didn't have a dump truck, can you believe it? We had a nice time playing tonight and he's still playing in his crib with his new dump truck, loading up and dumping out his wooden beams.
Although there are many things to look forward to and many reasons for the move, we are sad to leave our home. Driving into town last night, I realized how much I am going to miss this area. We have our places that we like to walk, the shops where we know the employees, the grocery stores with the best deals, the river, the lake, the food coop, the library, the museum, the cafes, good friends, and the farm. The university (rather, the students) are what is driving us away but I am thankful for the diverse and vibrant community that it helps create. This was a truly wonderful place to start our lives together!
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Snow Day!
Holy buckets!! This snow just won't stop. I love it!
This is really the first time Marek has ever played in the snow. First snow pants, first snow boots...Last year we went out one day for about 5 minutes and that was the last significant snow we've seen since. He liked playing with Jake and watching him catch snowballs that I would throw but he was getting frustrated with slipping and falling, not being able to grip the shovel in his gloves, and finding it difficult to walk with so many layers in so many inches.
The first thing I did this morning was throw open the shades and show Marek the snow outside. I love that feeling! It brings me back to when I was young and I would run and wake up Rudy..."IT SNOWED! IT SNOWED!" Marek looked outside and the first thing he said was, "See Santa!" I have no idea where that came from. I didn't even realize he knew there was a connection between snow and Santa :) We shoveled once this morning before church and headed out again after his nap this afternoon. There has to be 10+ inches and in the time we were outside another inch or two fell...and it's still falling hard. I really do like shoveling, I like the fresh air and the exercise but I am dreading shoveling again tomorrow. Our driveway is pretty darn big when you have to shovel it by hand! I'm not quite sure why Matt decided to put the snow blower in storage early, I'll have to ask him about that one the next time he calls.
I did manage to talk my 8-year-old neighbor into helping and was surprised that with the lure of a few bucks, he really did put quite a dent in the driveway and even did the front walk by himself. With snow pants on, the perimeter of the driveway acted as a gate keeping Marek in. When he tried to wonder out into the snow he would get stuck, fall over and roll around calling, "Help Momma, I stuck!" You could say he also helped but his shovel was not the most efficient :)
I am so thankful that I no longer have to drive to the cities in this weather, it was hard enough driving to church! When I used to commute, I felt like one of the "highwaymen," or at least connected to them. I even saw many of the same rigs on the road everyday. Since then, I try to remember to pray for all those to work on the road. The snow is quite beautiful and meaningful. I know it employs many people but it is also dangerous. Be careful out there! And thank you, God for a white Christmas this year!
This is really the first time Marek has ever played in the snow. First snow pants, first snow boots...Last year we went out one day for about 5 minutes and that was the last significant snow we've seen since. He liked playing with Jake and watching him catch snowballs that I would throw but he was getting frustrated with slipping and falling, not being able to grip the shovel in his gloves, and finding it difficult to walk with so many layers in so many inches.
The first thing I did this morning was throw open the shades and show Marek the snow outside. I love that feeling! It brings me back to when I was young and I would run and wake up Rudy..."IT SNOWED! IT SNOWED!" Marek looked outside and the first thing he said was, "See Santa!" I have no idea where that came from. I didn't even realize he knew there was a connection between snow and Santa :) We shoveled once this morning before church and headed out again after his nap this afternoon. There has to be 10+ inches and in the time we were outside another inch or two fell...and it's still falling hard. I really do like shoveling, I like the fresh air and the exercise but I am dreading shoveling again tomorrow. Our driveway is pretty darn big when you have to shovel it by hand! I'm not quite sure why Matt decided to put the snow blower in storage early, I'll have to ask him about that one the next time he calls.
I did manage to talk my 8-year-old neighbor into helping and was surprised that with the lure of a few bucks, he really did put quite a dent in the driveway and even did the front walk by himself. With snow pants on, the perimeter of the driveway acted as a gate keeping Marek in. When he tried to wonder out into the snow he would get stuck, fall over and roll around calling, "Help Momma, I stuck!" You could say he also helped but his shovel was not the most efficient :)
Monday, December 03, 2012
Playing Catch-Up
There have been many "bloggable" moments since my last post and I'll try to catch up here while I have the time. Things have been busy, but more than anything I really just wanted to be present in the moments that we had this fall with Daddy home and all of the changes that we are experiencing.
We spent the end of the summer relaxing and doing those end-of-summer things like barbecues, night walks, and drinking lots of wine on the deck. Marek really bonded with Daddy this trip home. As he gets older, he is willing to let go of Momma more and more. Matt quickly found that his favorite thing to do was let Marek fall asleep on his lap while he watched him play "cars" on the Xbox.
We spent Labor Day weekend with our friends along the Great River Road. It was a wonderful introduction to fall. The babies played great together and we were able to visit a number of wineries along the river. It is one of my favorite things to do in the fall!
After all of the fun and games we realized that it was time to get to work! We had a lot of things on our to-do list to get our house ready to be listed and we also wanted to start the process of searching for a new home in Minnesota. I was surprised how emotional the process of home searching was. We really had to think and talk about what we wanted not just for our daily lives but for our family and for our future. I was also a little surprised and delighted that we agreed on everything we saw, it sure made the process easier! What seemed like a long and draining process ended with us buying and selling sooner than we had anticipated. Our home sold in about a month, after we had already put an offer on a home in Minnesota. We had faith that everything would work out and our prayers were answered! We close on our new home after Christmas and a few weeks later, we close on this house leaving me time to move at a relaxed pace. There was a lot of preparation and organization that needed to happen, but I feel confident that everything will go smoothly even with Matt overseas. There is quite a bit to be done once we are there. It stresses me out to think about but Matt is SO excited to start to make it our "home" which includes finishing the basement and replacing some old flooring, paint, etc.
All of this was happening as we found out we are expecting baby number two next summer! June 14th to be exact. I am just over 12 weeks currently and it still feels like I'm talking about someone else. I'm sure once I feel the little peanut moving around it will really sink in :) Marek caught on pretty quickly after I showed him photos of pregnant women on the computer and made the connection. When I ask him to say hi to the baby he kisses my belly and says, "Hi baby, what doing?" I know he will mature a lot over the next half a year but two and half years never seemed so close together before! It was a rough couple of months physically and emotionally for me. I got very sick with pneumonia and a load of other maladies which lasted about six weeks. I've never been so miserable in all my life and I think it was amplified with the pregnancy and morning sickness thrown in the mix. The most difficult part was that during it, we decided it was the right time for Marek to be weaned which was the most difficult thing emotionally to go through. Matt was supposed to have left for work but because of delays with his ship he was home and extra month. "Everything happens for a reason" rang very true this last month when I simply could not take care of my child or myself without him. What a man! Thankfully, I am feeling better now and am starting to get back into my regular routine. The baby sickness seems to be subsiding and I've gained most of my strength back to start working out again. Our main concern is that Matt may find it difficult to be home in June but again, we are just praying that everything will work out, which it always seems to do. We will most likely find out the gender when Matt gets home (if we can wait that long). So far, everything looks perfect and baby is just busy growing!
We spent another two weeks in South Florida in October, the second to last time we will be there for a while (hopefully!). We enjoyed playing in the sand, spending time with Daddy during breaks from class, and a couple of trips to the beach. Over our weekend we visited the Miami zoo and although it was REALLY hot, Marek loved seeing all of the animals. His favorite were the elephants. He was trying to share his apple saying, "here you go heenee" (heenee=elephant in Marekese). Every week or so since, it randomly pops into his head and he giggles and talks about giving the apple to the elephant.
Daddy left a week ago which was harder than ever for him. Marek has been talking about him a lot and instead of asking for him or hoping and shouting, "Daddy home!" he has now started repeating to me, "Daddy airport" and "Daddy ship." We spent some quality time together the last week visiting Santa at Macy's in Minneapolis, spending time with cousins, and playing, baking, and watching movies at home. Today my baby turned two! I have been singing "Happy Birthday" to him all day and he looks so happy and proud. He woke up from his nap with a fever and was not well when we tried to visit Santa at the library this evening. I am looking forward to next year when we will have a proper birthday party for him with his whole family. Of course I am feeling nostalgic today. Here we were two years ago today, my perfect little baby boy. The best day of my life.
He is really something right now. We are having quite a time figuring out how to parent a toddler. Every day is so different and I am learning a lot about him and about myself. He needs a lot of attention, guidance and stimulation right now, things that got ignored during a busy time of year. As he learns to communicate more, it is beautiful to see him growing into himself and the person that he will be. I am feeling very patient and proud right now, things I usually feel when Matt first leaves but which become more difficult to hold on to as the months pass. I know that the time will fly by with the holidays and the move and we can't wait to see him thrive among all of his cousins with space to roam.
I'll sign off with a funny video that I meant to post in August documenting Marek's love for bananas (I swear he could eat an entire bundle if I let him) and a most beautiful photo that my niece took of him this fall that I just can't take my eyes off of.
Peace to you all this December!
We spent the end of the summer relaxing and doing those end-of-summer things like barbecues, night walks, and drinking lots of wine on the deck. Marek really bonded with Daddy this trip home. As he gets older, he is willing to let go of Momma more and more. Matt quickly found that his favorite thing to do was let Marek fall asleep on his lap while he watched him play "cars" on the Xbox.
We spent Labor Day weekend with our friends along the Great River Road. It was a wonderful introduction to fall. The babies played great together and we were able to visit a number of wineries along the river. It is one of my favorite things to do in the fall!
After all of the fun and games we realized that it was time to get to work! We had a lot of things on our to-do list to get our house ready to be listed and we also wanted to start the process of searching for a new home in Minnesota. I was surprised how emotional the process of home searching was. We really had to think and talk about what we wanted not just for our daily lives but for our family and for our future. I was also a little surprised and delighted that we agreed on everything we saw, it sure made the process easier! What seemed like a long and draining process ended with us buying and selling sooner than we had anticipated. Our home sold in about a month, after we had already put an offer on a home in Minnesota. We had faith that everything would work out and our prayers were answered! We close on our new home after Christmas and a few weeks later, we close on this house leaving me time to move at a relaxed pace. There was a lot of preparation and organization that needed to happen, but I feel confident that everything will go smoothly even with Matt overseas. There is quite a bit to be done once we are there. It stresses me out to think about but Matt is SO excited to start to make it our "home" which includes finishing the basement and replacing some old flooring, paint, etc.
All of this was happening as we found out we are expecting baby number two next summer! June 14th to be exact. I am just over 12 weeks currently and it still feels like I'm talking about someone else. I'm sure once I feel the little peanut moving around it will really sink in :) Marek caught on pretty quickly after I showed him photos of pregnant women on the computer and made the connection. When I ask him to say hi to the baby he kisses my belly and says, "Hi baby, what doing?" I know he will mature a lot over the next half a year but two and half years never seemed so close together before! It was a rough couple of months physically and emotionally for me. I got very sick with pneumonia and a load of other maladies which lasted about six weeks. I've never been so miserable in all my life and I think it was amplified with the pregnancy and morning sickness thrown in the mix. The most difficult part was that during it, we decided it was the right time for Marek to be weaned which was the most difficult thing emotionally to go through. Matt was supposed to have left for work but because of delays with his ship he was home and extra month. "Everything happens for a reason" rang very true this last month when I simply could not take care of my child or myself without him. What a man! Thankfully, I am feeling better now and am starting to get back into my regular routine. The baby sickness seems to be subsiding and I've gained most of my strength back to start working out again. Our main concern is that Matt may find it difficult to be home in June but again, we are just praying that everything will work out, which it always seems to do. We will most likely find out the gender when Matt gets home (if we can wait that long). So far, everything looks perfect and baby is just busy growing!
We spent another two weeks in South Florida in October, the second to last time we will be there for a while (hopefully!). We enjoyed playing in the sand, spending time with Daddy during breaks from class, and a couple of trips to the beach. Over our weekend we visited the Miami zoo and although it was REALLY hot, Marek loved seeing all of the animals. His favorite were the elephants. He was trying to share his apple saying, "here you go heenee" (heenee=elephant in Marekese). Every week or so since, it randomly pops into his head and he giggles and talks about giving the apple to the elephant.
Daddy left a week ago which was harder than ever for him. Marek has been talking about him a lot and instead of asking for him or hoping and shouting, "Daddy home!" he has now started repeating to me, "Daddy airport" and "Daddy ship." We spent some quality time together the last week visiting Santa at Macy's in Minneapolis, spending time with cousins, and playing, baking, and watching movies at home. Today my baby turned two! I have been singing "Happy Birthday" to him all day and he looks so happy and proud. He woke up from his nap with a fever and was not well when we tried to visit Santa at the library this evening. I am looking forward to next year when we will have a proper birthday party for him with his whole family. Of course I am feeling nostalgic today. Here we were two years ago today, my perfect little baby boy. The best day of my life.
He is really something right now. We are having quite a time figuring out how to parent a toddler. Every day is so different and I am learning a lot about him and about myself. He needs a lot of attention, guidance and stimulation right now, things that got ignored during a busy time of year. As he learns to communicate more, it is beautiful to see him growing into himself and the person that he will be. I am feeling very patient and proud right now, things I usually feel when Matt first leaves but which become more difficult to hold on to as the months pass. I know that the time will fly by with the holidays and the move and we can't wait to see him thrive among all of his cousins with space to roam.
I'll sign off with a funny video that I meant to post in August documenting Marek's love for bananas (I swear he could eat an entire bundle if I let him) and a most beautiful photo that my niece took of him this fall that I just can't take my eyes off of.
Peace to you all this December!
Friday, August 03, 2012
Lions and Tigers and Bears...and Peacocks and Puppies and Turtles and Trucks...OH MY!
Playing around the house:
Irvine Park, Chippewa Falls:
4th of July Freedom Fest:
Eating sweet corn for the first time:
County Fair:
First theatrical performance, "Seussical Jr.":
Field trip to the County Hwy Dept.:
Sisters-in-law with our boys (and girl!):
Moonlights with our boys (and girl!):
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