January 2012 is a calm homey passage into spring for us this year. It’s atypical with it’s early flora, lack of cold or snow and major illnesses (albeit the round of sniffles have made their way through each of us) and lack of events or activities. Maybe it’s early nesting and resting in preparation for Sugarplum’s arrival, but I’m enjoying the routine of early to bed, early to rise, off to work and school and home again for evening cuddles each day.

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday date hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world: Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine

A sunny pause following breakfast out in the mountains with the family where the girls entertained themselves coloring. Zuzu learned to draw birds this morning. Lovey and I had a second cup of coffee. No one cried, threw food or launched their toys into a neighboring table. As still as life can be with spirited small ones. Bliss indeed

4. Sugarplum being named Sugarplum

5. The nightly request from the 5 year old to tuck, tuck, tuck her in

6. The nightly and insistent request from the almost 3 year old to kiss her duck-ducks at bedtime.

7. Books on CD weaving stories into my daily commute

8. Our Holiday Cards- I just keep staring at them.

9. Friends & Family sending Sugarplum Christmas presents already. Oh it warms my heart to have her seen as here already.

10. International justice and hope for the dear orphans.

11. Waking to realize you didn’t wake during the night

12. Gifts of meals arriving from far and wide.

13. The holidays peaceably coming together almost like it had been well orchestrated.

14. A wrapping day with Lovey.

15. Sisters realizing they fit side by side in either end of the tubby

16. The mischievious giggle from the almost 3 year old as her 3rd request to go potty at bedtime is finally denied.

17. Seeing the almost 3 year old thoughtfully ponder the cookie tray before precisely choosing the brownie after considering taking the same cookie her sister had.

18. 5 minutes for a conversation with a friend

19. calmness in the night
20. Sugarplum’s tumblings

21. The almost 3 year old learning to say, “No Momma” and stopping her tantrum short when prompted

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday date hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world: Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine

This spring promises to be an eventful one for our well feathered nest. The first signs of it are in the air as Sugarplum kicks her presence known into the third and final trimester of growth under my heart and the first yellow blooms open early in our garden. Their arrival is early, a sign maybe of an early spring in our home as well….

Happy New Year’s Friends!!!! (waving vigorously) It’s been far too long since I’ve posted and fueled by a little afternoon caffeine chosen over the afternoon nap, I’ve decided to pop in and share our New Year’s Holiday. We’ve been fortunate over the years to have a multitude of opportunities to ring in the New Year with a variety of friends. This year while we did not make it to the southern good luck tradition of eating greens and Hoppin John on New Years Day, we  feel lucky to have been at a fun gathering with a group of families that involved yummy appetizers, fireworks, fondue and lots of littles for our Sistred to run around with.

The reason we didn’t manage a New Year’s day brunch was a happy one as well. Our Zuzu is a big fan of what she calls “Hotel Vacations”. On the first day back to school after the Christmas Holiday you would expect her to excitedly tell about all the loot and loving gifts she received from loved ones near and far. But no. Instead in her mind she had already moved on to the potential “Hotel Vacation” Lovey and I had been discussing in the past week. With our newest bird getting ready to join us we’ve been trying to find devoted time to these little ones and their favorite things while not wearing out ourselves or becoming buried in an avalanche off of Mt. Washmore. So we agreed after our New Year’s gathering we would trek back up the mountain to one of our favorite towns to visit- Asheville and relax in a hotel that offered an indoor pool and go out for tasty treats and an activity or two.

We toasted in the New Year’s with a breakfast toast that is more in time with a tired family who can’t manage to see the New Year in at midnight these days.

The Early Girl is one of our favorite Asheville hang-outs. Any restaurant that offers up a tin of crayons, a paper tablecloth and a bucket of toys with each highchair has my blessing. Of course the tasty breakfast treats like multigrain pancakes for the kids, Early Girl Eggs Bennie which is the traditional with a substitute of a grit cake for a muffin and tomato gravy for the topping for me and a sweet potato-sausage scramble for Charlie all served in a sunny room makes sure that we have many happy returns. It doesn’t hurt that Zuzu learned to draw a bird off of the local pottery and the neighboring table offered to take our photo rather than ask us to leave.

The girls love to have the opportunity to swim and so the hotel was a hit. The other great treat for us was our first family movie as a group of 4. We had taken Zuzu to her first movie theater movie the friday after Thanksgiving while her sister went to school. It had been a special day for her to have solo attention from both of her parents and she had thoroughly enjoyed watching Arthur Christmas and a lunch out a restaurant. Zuzu’s always been one that is easily spooked by violence, even cartoon violence. Every time we try to show her The Muppet Show it is met with the question of “Why does that pig keep hitting that frog? It’s not nice!” So we’ve been hesitant to take her to a new show that hasn’t been previewed. Her sister on the other hand, is not easily scared. Knowing this we ventured out on New Year’s Day to Asheville’s Pizza and Brewing. A movie theater that offers up slices of gourmet pizza, micro-brews and second run shows. Puss N Boots was showing  and for $3 a ticket we figured if we made it through the opening credits with both girls it was still worth it to grab some lunch. Much to our surprise and delight, the Quail LOVED being in the theater. She immediately stood up and started pretending to run and dance along with the cats on screen and helped herself to Momma and Lovey’s specialty pizza of walnuts, pesto, gorgonzola and sesame seed while making it clear she wasn’t interested in the old grilled cheese we had bought her. It was a fun day for all and a great way to end the holidays. We’ll definitely be rining in the new as we prepare for our spring bird to join our family! Hope the holiday season was a delight for everyone!

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday date hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world: Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine

Oh I promise this blog wasn’t created for the sole purpose of whining. But well, I’m thinking mentioning it a third time equates to whining. I’m tired. Not so very tired, more suseptibly tired. As in my OB said, “How’s your energy level?” at one of my last appointments and I gleefully crowed, “It’s absolutely fine!”

And then the next day I yawned in the middle of the day. And then that weekend when the Sistred went down for a nap, so did I. And from then on, well, my weekend writing/photo editing/blog time was given over to the land of nod. I have lots to update on. It’s been a fabulously fun-filled last 3 months. 3 months! I haven’t told you about Zuzu’s birthday party, Halloween, our holiday tree gathering trek up the mountains, our holiday festivities including Zuzu’s first parade march, our gingerbread house decorating, our pastry building, our Tur-duck-in, our Christmas day and the glorious 5 days we had to ourselves to celebrate it or our happy little weekend heading back to the mountains over New Years. I haven’t gone on and on about the Quail’s horn tooting, her acquisition of new words and subsequent program plan update with Sara Rosenfeld Johnson, her new found fierocity and independence or the giggles and secrets between Stisters. I haven’t told you about the joy that is growing Sugarplum, whom I’m happy to report is officially tagged in-utero by her eldest stister and the name has stuck. The reports by my OBs, one of which involves my favorite OB mistakenly asking if I was 5 weeks further along than I am (oh the pastry builidng, did involve pastry eating, and Sugarplum measures more like a Watermelon than a sweet plum these days).

See how much you’ve missed? Well stay tuned. I’m going to do my best to catch you all up. Scouts honor!

Merriment is currently underway in the forms of lemon & peppermint sprinkled spritz cookies, warm roasted chickens, steamed milk with chocolate sauce, apricot brioche, a trip for our traditional tree hunt, that happily involved a lot less tears this year, the Sistred in residence all helping to dress the tree (and subsequently and routinely undress it), daily movement from our resident Elf on the Shelf- TJ, a marching 5 year old joining the Twinkle Brigade, an almost 3 year old learning to shout Santa and whisper sweet nothings to her now vocally referenced Momma and a closet full of giftees needing some wrapped attention.  I’m hoping for some quiet AND awake time in the weeks ahead. Until then Season’s Greetings to all and to all some peace and rest!

The last 5 years have gone into these lil darlings. I feel I can measure their growth and time in apples! From those first bites of soft, mushy applesauce, to the carefully and thinly sliced and peeled bits to the full on chomp on it straight from a tree. Thank goodness for the seasonal clocks that Mother Nature provides to help us keep track!

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday date hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or poetic in form from around the world: Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine

This November we have decided to join some of our pals in expressing our gratitude for the blessings we have in our lives. While I do keep a weekly running tab of the bigs and littles, I decided to start the conversation with Zuzu about what gratitude means and how important it is to notice the things in our lives that we already have and are thankful for. This took some explaining to clarify that we weren’t just starting an early letter to Santa and that what we were trying to think about is our blessing of the little babydolls we already have and love, rather than the ones on the shelves in the store we covet. Eventually we got there and now for the last couple of nights this past week she’s reminded me that it was time to talk about what we are thankful for. I thought I would gather this harvest of thoughts here for safekeeping. Or keep-saving as dear Zuzu refers to it, the blessing that her words often are! Below is a combination of her and my thoughts on the blessings in our lives. I’ll leave it to you to decipher who felt what.

1. Gratitude for the many facets of the mighty brain of Lovey, and particularly his mechanical know-how. How lucky am I to have a partner who can bake a pie and fix a car.

2. Gratitude for the myriad of people in our lives who help us function semi-reasonably day to day. We could not do it without you all!

3. Gratitude for when Daddy, Momma, the Quail and Chula cat all cuddle on Zuzu’s bed with her and no one or cat pees on it.

4. Gratitude for the Sistred! (which my girls will hereby be known as- Thank you very much Ms. Lopresti

5. Grateful for the sistred’s expectation of Saturday morning apple pancakes.

6.  Grateful for all the friendships that grace my life- both near and far!

7. Grateful for snuggly, candy scented, giggling baby-girls who are always willing to dance with their Momma in the kitchen to 40′s vocalists

8. Grateful for a little girls reminders to talk about what we are grateful for each day

9. Grateful for the curiosity that each member of my family expresses

10. Grateful for peace of mind and the ability to know when it’s best to just let negative thoughts go

11. Grateful for swift moments of youthfulness however fleeting