Saturday, March 27, 2010
Emma's Art
Emma loves art, and loves to make art. Creates art all around her, and loves to be surrounded by her drawing friends. We struggle to keep her walls free of her works, and try to teach her the proper usage of art supplies. Tomorrow Emma gets her art supplies back, and I love that she is such a creative spirit. I hope that having her tools back will help her re-center, she has been off balance lately. I am toying with the thought of covering her walls with roll paper, so she can express freely. However, I don't know if that will blur the boundaries of art supplies. If only parenting was easy.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Happy Birthday Emma!
4 wow already! Such a change no longer a baby, no longer a toddler. A kid; a full fledged kid with opinions. Emma says she is no longer Emma Bean, that she is just Emma, and I get weepy inside. But what happened to loving the story about how mommy and daddy found a bean, and we decided to plant it. We gave the bean lots of love and water and sunshine and the bean began to grow. To mommy and daddy's amazement the bean started to grow into a little girl, and now if you look close enough you can see where the bean started to grow from Emma's toe. And that's why Emma is an Emma Bean... Hmm maybe we need to tell this story more often, I am not quite ready to give up on the Emma Bean.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
St. Patrick's Day Fun
We have so much fun at the St. Patrick's Day parade here. It is quite the event!
All decked out, ready for the goodies!
Watching everything!
Don't they look like we dragged them to the parade against their will?
But really they had fun!
Grandpa's friends are a hoot! So proud to be Irish!
All decked out, ready for the goodies!
Watching everything!
Don't they look like we dragged them to the parade against their will?
But really they had fun!
Grandpa's friends are a hoot! So proud to be Irish!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Family Time
Just a simple weekday night.
Daddy finally got the guitar aligned that Grandpa Gary built. It is very cool and has a great sound. The kids think that Daddy is a rock star now. Well Emma thinks its pretty cool, and Claire just wants to turn the knobs on the amp...
I think this was mid song, and I am already getting Mom you are not cool taking my picture look. I thought I had a few more years. I am realizing that I am old, and very mom like. However, Emma at least Mom isn't cackling yet when she gets together with friends. That would make me old and truely Mom like. I think here I am just being trumped by Dad's uber coolness because he sports an electric guitar, at least that is what I am telling myself.
Daddy finally got the guitar aligned that Grandpa Gary built. It is very cool and has a great sound. The kids think that Daddy is a rock star now. Well Emma thinks its pretty cool, and Claire just wants to turn the knobs on the amp...
I think this was mid song, and I am already getting Mom you are not cool taking my picture look. I thought I had a few more years. I am realizing that I am old, and very mom like. However, Emma at least Mom isn't cackling yet when she gets together with friends. That would make me old and truely Mom like. I think here I am just being trumped by Dad's uber coolness because he sports an electric guitar, at least that is what I am telling myself.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Unsafe Babywearing
Emma's take on the unsafe babywearing.
However in all honesty. I think that babywearing is beautiful and crucial to my life. It is safe if you use proper carriers and watch your baby for signs of distress. There are many groups to help if you feel overwhelmed with a carrier. Proper usage is very important. The bag slings that created the unsafe stir, are dangerous. However, there are so many other options and brands that are safe. I recommend a Moby/ strechy wrap for the newest of babies, and then move to a Mei Tai or Soft Structured Carrier. I used to love the pouch sling with Emma but knowing more, it is really hard on moms body and newborns can get in the dangerous chin to chest position.
So babywearing mamas be safe, keep you babies close, and wear them proudly~
However in all honesty. I think that babywearing is beautiful and crucial to my life. It is safe if you use proper carriers and watch your baby for signs of distress. There are many groups to help if you feel overwhelmed with a carrier. Proper usage is very important. The bag slings that created the unsafe stir, are dangerous. However, there are so many other options and brands that are safe. I recommend a Moby/ strechy wrap for the newest of babies, and then move to a Mei Tai or Soft Structured Carrier. I used to love the pouch sling with Emma but knowing more, it is really hard on moms body and newborns can get in the dangerous chin to chest position.
So babywearing mamas be safe, keep you babies close, and wear them proudly~
Warning Cake:
So once upon a time there was an e-mail floating around about a 5 min. chocolate cake in a mug. So I tried it, well it was awful. I was disappointed, but knew it was the best for my waist line. Well a friend of mine sent these to me, and well it is danger! So yummy, so quick, so perfect for those times when the children have either cried, destroyed, or irritated all day long. You know those mommy is hiding in the basement, what the microwave oh that was nothing continue on with your crying, destroying, irritating. Mommy is having a mommy time out.
Gingerbread Cup-o-Cake
Into a large coffee mug put:
5 Tbs all purpose flour
2 Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt
a rounded 1/4 tsp ginger
a rounded 1/4 tsp cinnamon
mix it all up and add:
1 Tbs very soft butter (or oil)
1 Tbs plus 1 tsp molasses
2 Tbs milk (or 1 Tbs milk and 1 Tbs well-beaten egg)
Mix it all very well and microwave for 1 minute and 45 seconds to 2 minutes. Turn it out of the cup to cool or eat it straight from the cup. It's yummy with some canned peach slices and a little bit of whipped cream
Enjoy!
Apple Spice Mug-o-muffin
Into a good big coffee mug put:
6 Tbs all-purpose flour
2 Tbs packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
about a 1/2 tsp cinnamon (I eyeballed it, it was about 6 or 8 shakes from the container)
about 1/8 tsp nutmeg (again, eyeballed, about 2 or 3 shakes)
1/8 tsp ginger (about the same amount as the nutmeg)
Stir it all around with a fork and add:
4 Tbs milk
2 Tbs very soft butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 of a apple, grated (my apple was sort of a medium sized one, about 3 inches across at the widest point) (I have used apple sauce, grated pear, mashed peaches they all work)
1 Tbs pecans (optional)
1 Tbs raisins (optional)
mix it all really well and put it into the microwave for about 2 to 2 and a half minutes (I set it for 2 and a half, but ended up stopping it at about 2 minutes and 5 seconds cause it looked done to me). Let cool 3 or 4 minutes and then turn out of the mug to cool a little more before sharing it with the kids
oh... and if you want plain spice cake just leave out the apple and maybe cook for not quite as long
My Favorite!
Magic chocolate cake in a mug
get a standard coffee mug (about 8 to 12 ounces) and put in:
5 tbs all-purpose flour
2 slightly rounded tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
2 slightly rounded tbs sugar
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
mix these ingredients together and add
3 tbs milk
2 tbs oil
1/4 tbs vanilla
1/4 tbs white vinegar
mix it all up and heres the great part... lick the spoon or have your kid lick the spoon... no eggs, no worries
you can add come chocolate chips or nuts now if you want
put it in the microwave for 1 minute, maybe 1 and a half. check it at one though... since there are no eggs it cooks really fast... if the top is bouncy and a fork stuck in it comes out clean, its ready. Its good with a scoop of ice cream dumped right into the mug.
Version 2: Vanilla Cake with chocolate frosting
Get a coffee mug (a standard 8 or 12 ounce one works just fine) and put in:
6 Tbs all-purpose flour
2 rounded Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
mix it all up with a fork and add:
4 Tbs milk
1 Tbs oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
mix it all up really well and make sure there are no flour lumps at the bottom of the cup. Microwave it for 2 minutes and the minute it comes out of the nuke put a handfull of chocolate chips on top. Wait five minutes and your chocolate will have melted so you can spread it around for frosting. Give it a few more minutes before you eat it, or it will be very warm still.
You could forgo the chocolate at the end and after mixing everything together just before you cook it you could add a couple tablespoons of frozen wild blueberries for a blueberry muffin in a cup...
and, just to be different:
Carrot Cake in a mug
Get a large coffee mug and put in:
6 Tbs all-purpose flour
2 Tbs sugar (brown or white depending on your taste, I used brown)
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
mix your dry ingredients up with a fork and then add:
4 Tbs orange juice (milk or butter milk would work too, though not be as good probably)
2 Tbs oil
1/4 tsp vanilla
3 Tbs finely grated carrot (a small jar of baby food carrots or sweet potatoes work here too, we had some that Claire has grown out of)
1 Tbs chopped pecans (optional)
1 Tbs raisins (optional)
mix it all up and make sure its mixed all the way to the bottom (don't want flour lumps!) and put it in the microwave for 2 or 2 and a half minutes. Let it cool a little and eat it. It's really good with cream cheese and honey
The Warning: Please do not hold me responsible for your over consumption of cake. If you make me feel guilty I might have to eat more cake, and then that might make you sad for making me sad. Then you might need to eat cake. So let's just eat our cake guilt free, and in bliss.
Gingerbread Cup-o-Cake
Into a large coffee mug put:
5 Tbs all purpose flour
2 Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt
a rounded 1/4 tsp ginger
a rounded 1/4 tsp cinnamon
mix it all up and add:
1 Tbs very soft butter (or oil)
1 Tbs plus 1 tsp molasses
2 Tbs milk (or 1 Tbs milk and 1 Tbs well-beaten egg)
Mix it all very well and microwave for 1 minute and 45 seconds to 2 minutes. Turn it out of the cup to cool or eat it straight from the cup. It's yummy with some canned peach slices and a little bit of whipped cream
Enjoy!
Apple Spice Mug-o-muffin
Into a good big coffee mug put:
6 Tbs all-purpose flour
2 Tbs packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
about a 1/2 tsp cinnamon (I eyeballed it, it was about 6 or 8 shakes from the container)
about 1/8 tsp nutmeg (again, eyeballed, about 2 or 3 shakes)
1/8 tsp ginger (about the same amount as the nutmeg)
Stir it all around with a fork and add:
4 Tbs milk
2 Tbs very soft butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 of a apple, grated (my apple was sort of a medium sized one, about 3 inches across at the widest point) (I have used apple sauce, grated pear, mashed peaches they all work)
1 Tbs pecans (optional)
1 Tbs raisins (optional)
mix it all really well and put it into the microwave for about 2 to 2 and a half minutes (I set it for 2 and a half, but ended up stopping it at about 2 minutes and 5 seconds cause it looked done to me). Let cool 3 or 4 minutes and then turn out of the mug to cool a little more before sharing it with the kids
oh... and if you want plain spice cake just leave out the apple and maybe cook for not quite as long
My Favorite!
Magic chocolate cake in a mug
get a standard coffee mug (about 8 to 12 ounces) and put in:
5 tbs all-purpose flour
2 slightly rounded tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
2 slightly rounded tbs sugar
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
mix these ingredients together and add
3 tbs milk
2 tbs oil
1/4 tbs vanilla
1/4 tbs white vinegar
mix it all up and heres the great part... lick the spoon or have your kid lick the spoon... no eggs, no worries
you can add come chocolate chips or nuts now if you want
put it in the microwave for 1 minute, maybe 1 and a half. check it at one though... since there are no eggs it cooks really fast... if the top is bouncy and a fork stuck in it comes out clean, its ready. Its good with a scoop of ice cream dumped right into the mug.
Version 2: Vanilla Cake with chocolate frosting
Get a coffee mug (a standard 8 or 12 ounce one works just fine) and put in:
6 Tbs all-purpose flour
2 rounded Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
mix it all up with a fork and add:
4 Tbs milk
1 Tbs oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
mix it all up really well and make sure there are no flour lumps at the bottom of the cup. Microwave it for 2 minutes and the minute it comes out of the nuke put a handfull of chocolate chips on top. Wait five minutes and your chocolate will have melted so you can spread it around for frosting. Give it a few more minutes before you eat it, or it will be very warm still.
You could forgo the chocolate at the end and after mixing everything together just before you cook it you could add a couple tablespoons of frozen wild blueberries for a blueberry muffin in a cup...
and, just to be different:
Carrot Cake in a mug
Get a large coffee mug and put in:
6 Tbs all-purpose flour
2 Tbs sugar (brown or white depending on your taste, I used brown)
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
mix your dry ingredients up with a fork and then add:
4 Tbs orange juice (milk or butter milk would work too, though not be as good probably)
2 Tbs oil
1/4 tsp vanilla
3 Tbs finely grated carrot (a small jar of baby food carrots or sweet potatoes work here too, we had some that Claire has grown out of)
1 Tbs chopped pecans (optional)
1 Tbs raisins (optional)
mix it all up and make sure its mixed all the way to the bottom (don't want flour lumps!) and put it in the microwave for 2 or 2 and a half minutes. Let it cool a little and eat it. It's really good with cream cheese and honey
The Warning: Please do not hold me responsible for your over consumption of cake. If you make me feel guilty I might have to eat more cake, and then that might make you sad for making me sad. Then you might need to eat cake. So let's just eat our cake guilt free, and in bliss.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Tiny Dancer
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
Tiny Dancer~Elton John
Six more weeks of Ballet under Emma's belt. She has grown so much, and has blossomed as a fabulous dancer. She knows all her terms, and is very eager in class. Where she lacks in coordination, she is proficient in terminology.
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
Tiny Dancer~Elton John
Six more weeks of Ballet under Emma's belt. She has grown so much, and has blossomed as a fabulous dancer. She knows all her terms, and is very eager in class. Where she lacks in coordination, she is proficient in terminology.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Stutz Opening
The city that Patrick and Emma hung together. Emma found our house and our shed. Patrick carved these tiles from reclaimed block prints. He then coated them in beeswax, and carved the houses. They are very fun, and a good conversation piece.
Some prints with the latest imagery Patrick has been playing with.
A nice spot to sit and enjoy the show.
Emma has so much fun helping daddy, and loves to twirl in the studio.
Claire on the other hand just wants another cracker, and to be put down so she can get into something.
Catching Rainbows
“The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work.” Unknown
A friend gave us a prism crystal when Emma was born. I have to say it was one of the best gifts ever (thank you Sara)! It provides us with rainbow dance parties. We can catch rainbows in the palm of our hand, it is truly a magical part of our day when the sun is just right to invite rainbows in to play.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Snow Family
Last week Patrick and Emma created a family portrait in snow.
Emma is so sad to see the snow us wither away as the weather warms, and keeps asking "Mama, why does king winter have to go?" and I say "So that Mother Earth can paint the ground with flowers." While thinking because Mama doesn't do well in the winter, and King Winter is learning that he needs to high tail it out of here before I go crazy. So as the snow melts, I wanted to reflect on the joy it brought to Emma.
Emma is so sad to see the snow us wither away as the weather warms, and keeps asking "Mama, why does king winter have to go?" and I say "So that Mother Earth can paint the ground with flowers." While thinking because Mama doesn't do well in the winter, and King Winter is learning that he needs to high tail it out of here before I go crazy. So as the snow melts, I wanted to reflect on the joy it brought to Emma.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Monday
Every Monday seems to repeat a case of the Mondays. You think I would learn, but alas I sit here thinking what is the deal. Oh yeah it is Monday. The cherry on the top Claire didn't sleep last night. Poor kid has more teeth coming in. Maybe some fresh air is needed but Emma refuses to wear clothes, because she is a sup...er hero. Well the last time I checked Emma super heros wear clothes.
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