time to get back into the swing of things

we are settled into our new home

we have settled into being a family of four

we have settled into a routine of making lots of delicious homemade meals

we are trying to watch less tv

we are trying to spend more time outside

we are trying to spend more time playing with our kids instead of looking for something to entertain then with

we are missing family and friends who live far away

we are quickly making new friends

we are so aware of how blessed and lucky we are to be happy and healthy and to have two such amazing daughters

the creative family

we are spending june and july living in someone else's house, with someone else's belongings. since we are adjusting to life without tv, i came across this book - the creative family, how to encourage imagination and nurture family connection. our friends, mollie and brian, who normally live in this house, seem to be already living the life described in this book. but the book looks untouched. it was likely a gift, and when you are already living a simple, creative, resourceful, grateful life, why read a book about how to do it? i, on the other, did need to read this book.
i am a creative person, i love making things, sewing, cooking, rummaging through thriftstores. how have i gotten into this rut of buying everything new, wasting food, eating out too much, watching tv? i really want to get back to a way of life that i had abandoned out of laziness and the draw of convenience.
i want my children to be bursting with creativity and a love for life and nature. i love the idea of having creative rituals that are a regular part of our daily lives, above and beyond having crayons and playdo on hand. i want to slow down and play with my little ones.

free loves school

we survived the first month!

it is beginning to feel normal around here again. the first two weeks were the hardest, frances was so emotional and clingy, olive was having a hard time breastfeeding, mama was overwhelmed, and we all kept poor daddy very busy. not to mention that peter accepted a job in new york the day after olive was born and then we put our house on the market and had to have it ready to show and tell family and friends that we are moving far, far away. it is still a little sad to think of the girls growing up far from their grandparents...

duty calls, more later.

Chocolate truffle tart

We are going to a potluck tonight with all the little girls from Free-Free's co-op school. Free loves all her little friends from school, she talks about them all the time. We are often having conversations with her that sound like this: Let's change that poopy diaper....yes, Audrey gets poopy diapers, too...Audrey had an elmo diaper....yes, Free used to have elmo diapers but they're all gone.... Here's your Abby doll... I know, Amelia loves her Abby doll, too... Let's use our inside voice, we can go outside for screaming....yes, Eliana (teacher) asks you to use your soft inside voice, too......

This dessert is delicious, and easier to make than it sounds!

For crust
28 chocolate wafers such as Nabisco Famous, finely ground in a food processor (1 1/2 cups)
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled completely
For filling
1/2 lb fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (no more than 60% cacao if marked), coarsely chopped
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Special equipment:
an 8-inch (20-cm) round springform pan
Garnish:
unsweetened cocoa powder for sprinkling
Make crust:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Wrap a sheet of foil over bottom of springform pan (in case of leaks). Lightly butter side of pan.
Stir together ground wafers and butter in a bowl until combined, then pat mixture evenly onto bottom of pan and 1 1/2 inches up side. Bake until crust is slightly puffed, about 10 minutes, then cool completely in pan on a rack, about 15 minutes. Leave oven on.
Make filling while crust cools:
Melt chocolate and butter in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth, then remove from heat and cool 5 minutes.
Whisk together eggs, cream, sugar, salt, and vanilla in a bowl. Whisk chocolate mixture into egg mixture until combined well.
Assemble and bake tart:
Pour filling into cooled crust and rap pan once on counter to eliminate any air bubbles. Bake until filling 1 inch from edge is set and slightly puffed but center trembles slightly when pan is gently shaken, 20 to 25 minutes. (Center will continue to set as it cools.)
Cool tart completely in pan on a rack, about 2 hours. Chill, uncovered, until center is firm, about 4 hours. Remove side of pan and sprinkle with cocoa to serve.

delicious pancakes

Breakfast for dinner, yummm.... Needless to say, Peter was very happy to come home to ricotta pancakes, turkey bacon, and a pot of decaf. Frances was really into these pancakes! I love finding food that she'll eat!

1 lb. part skim ricotta cheese (i used the 15oz tub)
4 lg. eggs
6 tbsp. whole wheat flour
2 tbsp. butter, melted & cooled
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
splash of lemon extract

Put all batter ingredients into food processor and blend until very smooth. Preheat griddle over medium heat and lightly grease with butter. Spoon 2 tablespoons for each pancake onto griddle and turn when bubbles appear and bottoms are golden brown. Brown lightly on second side (duh).

one, one?

free has this new stool for "helping" in the kitchen. right now she is testing the rules of this stool. no jumping on the stool. no climbing onto the kitchen counter. no standing on your blankie when you're on the stool because that makes it easy to slip and fall.
last night she was having some dinner while standing on the stool. she really wanted to jump between bites. she would crouch down and say "jump, jump!" to which i would reply "no jumping." as she's crouched down, dying to jump, she sticks up a finger and says "one, one?" i can't believe she knows how to beg for just one!! i have to tell her "i'm sorry, you can't jump one time, no jumping on the stool!"
she is 18 months old and she is already bargaining for a little bending of the rules. that one little finger sticking up was the cutest thing ever.

free-free:  water, water

mama:  yes, i'm drinking water.  free has a cup on her tray.  what happens when you drink through the straw?

free-free:  boobs

i'm thinking, when she drinks through the straw her sippy cup makes a noise that she gets really excited about.  frances is thinking that her and daddy have been talking about how when baby olive comes out she will drink milk at mama's boobs.  

beauty.  i am trying to slow down and notice all the beautiful moments that are scattered throughout my days.  i think this will become even more important in the months ahead.  

frances wakes up happy, she talks, sings, and plays in her bed.  she is happy to have those quiet moments before we come get her up.