Life might lead us elsewhere, but forever in our hearts will be this home.
Monday, March 29, 2010
In the Moment
Today is the first anniversary of Harlie's baptism.
The past 16 months have been full of so many memory worthy events. And sometimes I get sad when I think that Harlie will never remember this time. This important time in her life. I mean, come on! Childbirth (hello, WHOA!), her first Christmas, baptism, and all those milestones that make a new mom in those first months amazed and filled with joy each week, always anticipating the next week and what it will bring. She won't remember meeting some of her friends for the first time, or what that first bite of cake was like, or when it was she first encountered a peacock.
But yesterday, as we were walking around at this little zoo sanctuary in Folsom, I realized that it doesn't matter that she doesn't remember. In the big picture, remembering these early years are most important to Scott and I. For Harlie, what's important is having fun and learning new things. Seeing that smile on her face or that look of wonder is what it's all about. Right now. At this moment.
The past 16 months have been full of so many memory worthy events. And sometimes I get sad when I think that Harlie will never remember this time. This important time in her life. I mean, come on! Childbirth (hello, WHOA!), her first Christmas, baptism, and all those milestones that make a new mom in those first months amazed and filled with joy each week, always anticipating the next week and what it will bring. She won't remember meeting some of her friends for the first time, or what that first bite of cake was like, or when it was she first encountered a peacock.
But yesterday, as we were walking around at this little zoo sanctuary in Folsom, I realized that it doesn't matter that she doesn't remember. In the big picture, remembering these early years are most important to Scott and I. For Harlie, what's important is having fun and learning new things. Seeing that smile on her face or that look of wonder is what it's all about. Right now. At this moment.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Kerplunk.
Yesterday, Harlie climbed up and slid down the lil' kid slide at Hagan Park all by herself. Some attempts (not caught on film of course) were smoother than others. ;-)
Mama and Daddy are so proud, Harlikins!
Mama and Daddy are so proud, Harlikins!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Game On!
A few months ago, we re-started the Game Night tradition. Every Wednesday, Scott, Austin and I have a date at 7 o'clock and each week we take turns choosing what game we'll be playing. So far, we've played Parcheesi, Wii Bowling, Scooby Doo's Cyber Chase (Scott's pick), Yahtzee, dominoes, and tonight it was poker for the first time.
What makes me so excited about this is that it's FUN, really fun. It's no surprise how competitive my two boys are, which means game playing has not always been that fun, I'll tell ya. But Austin has really enjoyed learning these new games and he has become such a good sport, even encouraging me when I'm not doing so hot. And that feels awesome.
I'm writing this down to remind myself just how much I'm enjoying these Wednesday nights with my family, because sometimes, life gets busy and hectic. And sometimes we're just plain lazy. I know this has happened years before when one week, maybe we skipped Game Night because there was a school function or family event to attend and somehow we forgot the next week and the week after that. Or Austin was with his mom over a school break and when he came back, we just didn't pick it back up. That is one of the reasons I made Game Night on a Wednesday, so weekend plans didn't get in the way.
And also, it's great to get time with Austin after Harlie goes to bed. She gets so much attention throughout the day from Scott and I, and even at dinner, she's always putting on some kind of silly show, that conversations between the three of us often get interrupted. It's nice to spend quality time with him (while he still wants it) without food flying.
What makes me so excited about this is that it's FUN, really fun. It's no surprise how competitive my two boys are, which means game playing has not always been that fun, I'll tell ya. But Austin has really enjoyed learning these new games and he has become such a good sport, even encouraging me when I'm not doing so hot. And that feels awesome.
I'm writing this down to remind myself just how much I'm enjoying these Wednesday nights with my family, because sometimes, life gets busy and hectic. And sometimes we're just plain lazy. I know this has happened years before when one week, maybe we skipped Game Night because there was a school function or family event to attend and somehow we forgot the next week and the week after that. Or Austin was with his mom over a school break and when he came back, we just didn't pick it back up. That is one of the reasons I made Game Night on a Wednesday, so weekend plans didn't get in the way.
And also, it's great to get time with Austin after Harlie goes to bed. She gets so much attention throughout the day from Scott and I, and even at dinner, she's always putting on some kind of silly show, that conversations between the three of us often get interrupted. It's nice to spend quality time with him (while he still wants it) without food flying.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Ants in My Pants
The weather is slooooowly warming up, and I am anticipating the beginning of Spring like crazy!
(The smell of window screening totally brings me back to summertime as a kid, am I the only one?)
In the coming months...
I want to lay in the hammock with a book, sip cocktails on the patio with my girlfriends and play in the water with my kids.
I'm looking forward to the smell of barbeque, pink jasmine and sunblock.
I hope to make homemade icecream with Austin, go on more than one picnic and take Harlie to the town of fairytales.
I'm ready!
(The smell of window screening totally brings me back to summertime as a kid, am I the only one?)
In the coming months...
I want to lay in the hammock with a book, sip cocktails on the patio with my girlfriends and play in the water with my kids.
I'm looking forward to the smell of barbeque, pink jasmine and sunblock.
I hope to make homemade icecream with Austin, go on more than one picnic and take Harlie to the town of fairytales.
I'm ready!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Sweet Maz and "Ock" (Short for Uncle Scott)
A couple weeks ago I came across this video on Scott's old cell phone, which is now Harlie's toy. The video was shot in June of 2008. We were watching Maz for the weekend, I was 4 months pregnant, and about to find out the sex of our baby. Oh my goodness, was I ever hoping for a girl!! This is one of the reasons why.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Food Faves
I still crave the food I grew up on, all the time. Mom's fried chicken and lasagna, tapioca pudding, Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese, Grandma's pot roast and tuna fish sandwiches with Nacho Cheese Doritos smashed inside. Oh, freakin' yum. Those are some of the foods that give me that cozy, familiar feeling, of home.
So I was thinking about my kids and what kind of foods they love...wondering what Austin will ask me to make in a few years, when he's tired of eating Pasta Roni and wants a home-cooked meal. His tastes haven't changed much since he was a wee one and I wonder if these will still remain his favorite foods...
* Any and all kinds of lasagna. He often likens himself to Garfield (his cartoon hero).
* Chicken Drumsticks - BBQ'd is his absolute favorite, but he also gets giddy about this relatively new Wilson-Creeger-Rich family favorite. The last time I made this he had EIGHT drumsticks.
http://www.nigella.com/recipe/recipe_detail.aspx?rid=209
* Pizza - He has pizza every single day for lunch at school. His favorite toppings are mushrooms and olives.
* Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken - he SWOONS over this stuff.
* Cheeseburgers - and make it a double!
* Garlic Bread - I make this with almost every meal it seems. I make it the way my mom did growing up...it's super simple and the way Aust loves it most. Sourdough slices buttered and sprinkled with garlic powder.
Now, Harlie on the other hand is a champion eater already, so it's hard to sort out what her favorites are, just yet. EXCEPT for the one shining star of culinary excellence that she cries out for all day long. "Ap! Ap! Ap!"
Applesauce. She can't get enough.
So I was thinking about my kids and what kind of foods they love...wondering what Austin will ask me to make in a few years, when he's tired of eating Pasta Roni and wants a home-cooked meal. His tastes haven't changed much since he was a wee one and I wonder if these will still remain his favorite foods...
* Any and all kinds of lasagna. He often likens himself to Garfield (his cartoon hero).
* Chicken Drumsticks - BBQ'd is his absolute favorite, but he also gets giddy about this relatively new Wilson-Creeger-Rich family favorite. The last time I made this he had EIGHT drumsticks.
http://www.nigella.com/recipe/recipe_detail.aspx?rid=209
* Pizza - He has pizza every single day for lunch at school. His favorite toppings are mushrooms and olives.
* Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken - he SWOONS over this stuff.
* Cheeseburgers - and make it a double!
* Garlic Bread - I make this with almost every meal it seems. I make it the way my mom did growing up...it's super simple and the way Aust loves it most. Sourdough slices buttered and sprinkled with garlic powder.
Now, Harlie on the other hand is a champion eater already, so it's hard to sort out what her favorites are, just yet. EXCEPT for the one shining star of culinary excellence that she cries out for all day long. "Ap! Ap! Ap!"
Applesauce. She can't get enough.
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