My, my….

Has it really been a month since I posted? I guess I went on an unofficial blogging break. All kinds of good stuff has been happening though and I am glad to be back!

Tomorrow I start my new part time position at Patchwork Plus. A fabric shop. How great is this?! As excited as I am to begin working in this environment, I am feeling apprehensive about being apart from Aiden and Heidi for so long. As many of you know, we have had many adjustments in the last year. God has graciously provided for our needs and slowly brought me to a place of accepting the idea of working outside the home. I’m thankful for the opportunity to begin easing into a position. I’m also thankful for the incredibly helpful and warm families who will be caring for the kids while I’m working. That the children are comfortable and surrounded with loving arms is such a huge relief to me as I move into this new chapter.

A little update on each of us:

Aiden is just about 3.5 years. He proudly announces that he’s “free” years old and in a big boy Sunday school class now. Quite intelligent and witty, amazing me with his vocabulary and ability to express himself. His newest love is riding his big boy bike with training wheels. He is adamant about doing it without help and if he topples, he is quick to hop up and claim “I’m ok!”. He enjoys writing (tracing), coloring, painting, play dough and cool projects with Momma. He’ll often say upon waking…”Hey Mommy, I actually have a really good idea….how about we do a PROJECT this morning!” and then will proceed to explain what the said project will be.

Heidi is 10 months old, took her first steps last week and is already trying to run. She is feisty and loves to test me. I am stunned at her mockery and grins when I scold. I am wondering where this came from as Aiden was always quick to adhere to discipline. I may be in need of some different tactics. She loves finger food and feeding herself. She drinks from a sippy cup well and still nurses a few times a day. She has begun signing “more” and “milk” (the latter surprised me as I haven’t really worked much on that sign. The other day I was enjoying a glass of milk while I held her and jokingly offered her a sip of milk. She proceeded to sign, “milk” and has since signed when ready to nurse. How bright these little people are!).

Heidi and Aiden have a love/hate relationship as most siblings appear to. Most of the time they appreciate each other and giggle together. Other times, however, if one so much as looks at the other it will instigate screams that could break glass. This happens in the car frequently and most often when I have little patience or a headache. Aiden never really was a squealer as an infant (although he has gotten a good bit louder as he’s sometimes had to compete for being heard over Heidi). And Heidi? Now she is a different story all together. She has the most shrill screech I have ever heard and uses it randomly and more than I would consider necessary. How intriguing that 2 children can have such opposite personalities! Heidi is outgoing and social. Aiden is shy and reserved until he gets to know a person.

And for me, I have been busy enjoying new and old friendships from church. I’ve begun attending a home group on Sunday evenings and will be joining a book study in a few weeks on the book “Peacemaking Women” (which I’m very excited about). I’ve been happily sewing in my spare time (which has been minimal) and trying to accumulate enough items for a table at the Fall Festival in Broadway on the 18th. I have had a number of  custom orders I’ve been juggling while trying to do additional on the side. And I can barely think straight now so I must go to bed while I’m still making sense!

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers tomorrow as I start my new position!

Remembering-

Making bread yesterday reminded me of the many times I have included Aiden in my bread baking. I have had him by my side in the kitchen his entire 3+ years of living. Beginning in the infant seat and then moving to the exersaucer…on to standing on a chair beside me.  I found it easier to incorporate his help at a year and a half, than try to keep my eye on his activity elsewhere while I worked. As he has grown, he continues to enjoy helping me rather than playing while I work.

Good for the soul-

It has been a while (too long, actually) since I’ve sought the therapeutic work of kneading dough. Some times I just want to make bread in solitude and enjoy the peaceful, methodical rhythm of kneading and turning….kneading and turning, but yesterday I enjoyed the company of my son and the conversation we had while working the dough.

The bread was made to complement a meal I was preparing to deliver to a new mother. I found it a good opportunity to talk about serving others and sharing what we have. When preparing a meal to give away, I’ll make the same for us. It’s much easier for a 3 year old to grasp the concept of service and sharing when the steps are easy to see and explain:

When Aiden said: “But I don’t want to share the bread.”

I could respond with: “God  gives us enough to make one for us, and one for the new Mommy…”

He said: “Why do we have to give the new Mommy food?”

I could say: “Remember when Heidi was born and people brought food to us? It was special to not have to make the food ourselves, but rest and eat what was given to us. Jesus asks us to serve one another with love and to do this without being grumpy. Since we have food to eat and energy to make it, lets give some of the extra to the new Mommy so she can rest.”

:Honey Whole Wheat Loaf:

In a large bowl mix: 3 cups whole wheat flour (I typically cut back the wheat flour and add in ground flax and wheat germ), 1/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup shortening, 1 TBS salt, 2 pkgs yeast and 2 1/4 cups very warm water. Mix well. Stir in 3.5 cups (give or take a little) all purpose or bread flour (I prefer bread flour).

On lightly floured surface, knead about 10 min. or until springy and smooth. Cover loosely and let rise until double. Divide dough in half and flatten out with hands into a rectangle. Roll tightly, tucking seam under and folding under ends to make loaf. In greased loaf pan, place dough seam side down and let rise until double.

Preheat oven to 375 (350 if using glass dish) and bake 40 min.

Biking and Labor Day-

Biking again on Sunday proved to be quite therapeutic. I think I’m hooked. I went over the mountain to Walnut Creek Park with a friend and can’t wait to go back. The trail was great. More arduous than the one near my home, but fun. I am a little sore, but anxious to get back into the woods. This is more addicting than running I believe.

We visited with some friends this weekend who we see infrequently due to the distance between us. It was lovely to see our boys (who have butted heads prior to this) getting along super smoothly and being buddies. It makes me all the more sad to see them go and wish we lived closer.

My parents and I (and little ones) took in a celebration nearby that included free carnival rides and other fun stuff. Aiden didn’t brave any rides at the fair a few weeks ago and this was a good opportunity to give him a chance without purchasing tickets in advance. I have lost any ability to enjoy being spun in circles on rickety machines since I’ve gotten older. Actually, I don’t know that I’ve ever really enjoyed it.  I could barely handle the carousel and my stomach turned at the sight of some of the other rides. Aiden did ok, though the carousel was a little frightening for him at first. It’s difficult knowing how far to stretch a little one. Not wanting to traumatize him, but wanting to encourage new experiences. I stood beside him and had both arms around him on the horse. With my stomach doing flips, I could feel him shaking and questioned how anyone could possibly consider the carousel a harmless ride. Am I the only one that feels this way?! By the end Aiden had loosened up and was ready to ride again. I had to call it quits though.

I hope you all enjoyed the day and have a good week-

tiny skirt

Rainy days-

Silliness-

Snack-time silliness. Heidi is not sure what she’s missing out on, but is certain it’s something she wants. Aiden enjoyed his first taste of Marshmallow Fluff. Not a regular part of our diet, the effects of sugar are seen almost instantaneously.

I am loving this new sibling camaraderie. Aiden can get Heidi into a giggling fit better than anyone. They’ve recently begun touching hands across the back seat in the car while we’re on the go. I’ll see a little arm stretched out as far as she can reach, wrapping her fingers around Aiden’s hand. Cute!

sunday biking-

I have had an absolutely lovely weekend. I’ve had large chunks of solo time (sans children) and it has been marvelous! Not that time with them is ever dull, but there is an element of not feeling like a grown up when in the presence of children 24/7.

And with my grown up time, I tried something new today! A friend of mine has recently gotten hooked on trail riding and not too far from where I live. She’s been asking me to come and I’ve been hesitant. I would hear stories of falls, scrapes, bruises, riding over rocks just the right way so as not to get thrown off the bike, and let’s not forget the incredible aches sure to come the following morning. Umm, no thanks. I generally categorize myself in the “does not take risks” group.

Well, I went. Mind you, I have not gone biking (bicycling) for, let’s see…at least 12 years if not longer. I borrowed a normal mountain bike from my folks and helmet. I struggled to figure out the mounting, balancing, and gears while taking a spin on the pavement. I was positive I was going to make an incredible fool of myself trying to bike through the woods on a narrow, rocky trail.

It didn’t take as long as I thought it would for me to get the feel of the bike and I had a blast! 2 hours of riding through the woods was just what I needed. Sure, I ran myself into the bushes a few times and had some close calls with trees and going over rocks. And I only ran into fellow bicyclers a handful of times, but never hard enough to knock either of us over…thankfully. It was by far the biggest thrill I’ve had in a long time. I made the mistake of trying out my friend’s bike that has front and rear suspension. Huge difference. I’m so envious. I am certain that I will be drooling over bikes for a long time now. Maybe I’ll be able to get my very own fancy, shmancy mountain bike with suspension sometime…

There were a number of trails. I only mastered the easy route. There’s a medium and difficult yet. Ha! I did a spurt on the medium and ended up walking the bike back to an easy route. I’ve got some goals now though! Wanted to have some pictures, but none of us had cameras. Maybe next week.

Look at those curls!

Love these too…