The Great American Road Trip

Hello Dears,
We are back from our Great American Road Trip. We took two weeks off of work, rented a little SUV and drove in it for 91 hours total! Our main destination was to California for a family camping trip, but we took the opportunity to introduce our kids to some of the most beautiful sites in the country. We opted for back roads and smaller highways, we used a paper atlas instead of a GPS and we found little greasy spoon diners for our road food.

We drove through 9 states, visited 7 National Parks, read 7 chapter books, ate ice cream and went swimming 10 times and we came home full of love and happiness.

Look out for a few more photos over the next week-- I'll be reliving every moment as I upload and edit them!

Finding Fall: In a Litte House

My lovies in a big chair at the Frontier Village.

A few weeks ago we headed out on a big road trip to North Dakota for our friends wedding. An 8 hour trip in a car with two little people might seem daunting, but for me it was an eight glorious hours of conversation, book reading, joke telling and snack eating. And it was a beautiful weekend, the leaves were changing color. It was chilly and I wore a wool sweater most of the weekend. Could the weekend have been more perfect?

Um, Yes, it could.

Especially if your like me and you take every moment possible moment to indoctrinate your children on the books you loved growing up. Ha! I pumped up and hyped up Little House in the Big Woods and it did not disappoint the backseat peanut gallery. So many things to learn!

We read it for almost the whole trip.

And since I had planned on reading this book, we took a detour through De Smet, South Dakota to the Ingalls' Homestead-- hoping to get a good look at the house they lived in during the book By the Shores of Silver Lake.

The 'little house' and the later built homestead.

We took sometime to explore the visitors center and drive around to see all the buildings, taking a tour was just not in our budget this time. But both kids picked up corn cob dolls- just like Laura.

Frontier Village Log Cabin

On our way home we started reading Farmer Boy and we stopped by a Frontier Village which we could explore all we wanted. We were excited to see that it was in a similar time to the Little House books.

We even wrote a family report about our experiences-- hey the car trip was getting a bit long! Most of it was dictated by them.

I am so glad we took these little side trips, it made for such an adventure. And the midwest has such a rich history of exploration and settlement, I want the kids to experience that too.

And how could we not stop to see the World's Largest Buffalo?

Would you like to see our report? I've added it below! (:



We found fall on our adventure. Where are you finding beauty this autumn?

"This weekend we went to visit Laura Ingalls' homestead [in De Smet, South Dakota]. There was a covered wagon, there was a school house, a country church and now a gift shop. The houses and buildings were set on a prairie. on the homestead they had a barn for animals.

In the car we read a book called "Little House in the Big Woods." Pa, Ma, Mary, Laura and baby Carrie life in a log cabin. They make a lot of their own food like stewed pumpkins, bread and butter. Pa hunted animals for meat, they smoked the meat. They made their own cheese.

For fun the girls played under the trees in nice weather. Laura had a corn cob for a doll she named it Susan. For Christmas she got a rag doll and named it Charlotte.

On Sunday, we went to a little frontier town. It had two goats named Ted and Fred. And we saw a HUGE buffalo. In the town it had a log cabin with a wood stove just like Laura's! There was an old quilt on the bed.

On the way to North Dakota we saw lots of different kinds of farms. We saw lots of crops: corn, beans, sunflowers and potatoes.

On the way home we started reading Farmer Boy. The little boy Almonzo attended a one room school just like at Laura's homestead and like at the frontier village."

Recalculating

Some times, you take a wrong turn. You go down a wrong path or you find your self lost even if you *thought* you followed the directions correctly.

Should you get mad? Should you pout?

No, sometimes that wrong path might just lead you to an old friend.

And you'll have a good reason to smile.


Just merely, recalculating.

Project Life: January 2012

I love the idea of project life, but doing something daily or weekly seems a little too much for me. Plus, I LOVE the supplies. Well designed and systematic. And I know I'd go a bit crazy on them. In an effort to memory keep in a sustainable way (and save a bit of money)-- I thought I'd do one 12x12 page a month and share it with you here. So I can keep a record what joys we've had, perhaps at the end of the year I'll print them all and make a scrapbook.  O my, did I just say that?!

make believe: The kids went on a "date" pretending to be Eric and I. Isabel wore 'more jewelry than mom usually does' and Truman told her that their date was important, "makes us better mommies and daddies."

weekend visit: The four of us traveled up to visit Kerry and her beautiful family. There was lots of love, conversation good food and coffee. Next time, perhaps, Truman will sleep. That will make it waaaay more fun!

date in omaha: Eric and I took 24 hours to ourselves. He surprised me with a night away, a new outfit and my nails done. Then dinner at our favorite restaurant. I think this is where Truman heard the speech about dates making us better mommies and daddies. It's so true you know.

on a walk: In the first week of January, we took a walk to visit Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa John. It was very cold so Isabel decided to wear everything she could fit on her body. She loves layering you know. It makes Truman's wardrobe of hat, gloves, coat, scarf seem so... simple.

snow play: Eric and Isabel made their first snowman together. Truman and I stayed warm and baked chocolate applesauce muffins. Then we made faces as they threw snowballs at us.

ready for bed: One night we cut Isabel's hair before bedtime. This photo of Truman clowning around (:

garden planning: Sketchbook Saturday Morning a few weeks ago, Isabel decided to plan the garden for next year. So she drew everything she would like us to grow. We're going to have to think about bananas and plums. I'm not sure we'll be able to have a exotic orchard in the back yard.

grand arrival: My bestest friend had a beautiful girl. And they sent us their Christmas video. What a treat. Oh I cried when I saw that new little bundle. Truman kept kissing the ipad screen. I can't wait to see her in March!

adventure: We were on our way to Sketchbook Saturday Morning looking for patches of snow to stop in. And half melted puddles to jump in. What a good combo for a 4 year old adventurer.

sketchbooks: We love our Sketchbook Saturday Morning. A few hours of relaxation, coffee, books, coloring, knitting.


This template is from Rebecca Cooper, a month in photos. I've made a few edits to it.

Scenes from California

Playing in the sprinklers is a thrill in October!

We traveled a bit the last few weeks... staying 10 days in California with family. Here are some of our favorite scenes from the trip (a few more posts to come!).

During a blackout, we lit candles and antique lanterns.

Grandma P's beautiful roses.

This is the scene from my run. Foothills and sunset surrounding me!

Playing at the park with Papa

Doing crafts with Grandmommy

Welcome Back!

Hello friends,
I've been on an unintended blogging break. But for very good reasons! So many NEW GOOD! things coming up.

But for now I'll give you a quick update to our spring/summer manifesto!

Read with the kids everyday-- We're reading Ramona the Pest (with Auntie Jayme!), Five Little Peppers and How They Grew  

Read something for myself, everyday-- I'm reading Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

Grow! Cook! Eat! Invite!-- The garden is growing, pies have been baked, meals have been shared! 

Dry herbs for winter-- I first dried chives in the oven. Tutorial soon.

Use fresh herbs now-- Mint for mojitos, chives in herb dip, bits of basil on eggs, cilantro in salad...

Sing-- We've been singing as we work, as we drive and as we play. 

Plant flowers-- Hydrangas, peonies and lilacs...

Be gracious to my children, slow to anger and abounding in love. I am diligently working on this, it makes for a much happier household. I heard Sylvia Boorstein's interview on On Being with Krista Tippet.  She told a story about watching a family on an airplane. Their kindness to their upset child was just gracious, attentive and productive-- the child settled on her own. "Do not ask am I pleased?... {but} in this moment am I able to care for the child and myself in a kindly way?" Because getting upset and flying off the handle is not kind to me and it is not kind to my children.

Eat outside-- We went camping so we had lots of eating outside! And we've been taking picnics with Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa John plus this week Grandmommy, Papa, Megan and Jayme.

Get into the sunshine-- next time I'll go easy on this... I'm a bit sunburned today!

Let worry go-- When my heart is full of gratitude, there is no room for worry.

Farmer's Market, every Saturday-- Orange City, Sioux City and Omaha.

Coffee and tea with girlfriends-- A few impromtu coffee dates with some special girls, hopefully more!

Do you have a manifesto-- written or unwritten?! Have you been slowly bringing beauty in your life this spring/summer?

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I've been writing letters for The Summer We Sent Letters! Have you? It's been wonderful to get a bit of mail and to send a bit of mail (plus a few boxes)!

Weekending: Wedding Sneak Peeks

This morning came too fast and now here I am with a cup of coffee trying to dig the littles out of bed before we start this beautiful day.

The sun is shining and the birds are singing. And I am ready for a new week.

This weekend, I spent with my college girlfriends. I don't even have any words to express how much love I felt this weekend. Reconnection, good coffee, sewing buttons, eating good food!

Here are a sneak-peek photos taken by the beautiful, Tea. 
 

 [Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage. -Catherine Douzel

The Cafe in Ames, IA]

 [Cleaning Lanterns for the walkway]

 [The table aptly named, WEDDING CENTRAL by Aunt Sandy!]

[Exquisite Cut Glass center pieces]

 [Three of the five Orcas!]

 [Wedding CAKE!]

[Super fun hand sewn wedding accessories.]

A New Year: Watching, Listening

"Are your listening ears on?" I ask as we wheel our cart stuffed with luggage, gifts, back packs and beloved dolls. There are people everywhere. And this is an attempt to snap my dreamy little girl into  reality-- just for a few minutes-- for her own safety.
Isabel reaches to her ears one at a time. "Click! Click, they're on!"

"Are your observation eyes on?"
"Click! Click! Yep!"


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I usually use my time at Lent as a New Years resolutions. I resolve to do something to better me or my family, not to restrict or not eat chocolate (I am realistic... hehe). This year for Lent, I gave up time wasters, and it was the most amazing thing. I was able to embrace that new time fully.

And now that I have recouporated from studying and graduating, from Christmas sewing and from holiday traveling (and I have an empty laundry room... gasp I know).  I feel like it's time now to refocus, refresh and take in a deep breath. To take 2011 as a chance to learn about myself, my family and others.

And for this year, I'm only asking myself two things. "Are your listening ears on?" "Are your observation eyes on?"

My goal is just to be the best version of me. Letting go of perfectionism and replacing it with trying hard, being consistent and loving deeply. I am going to wake up each day with a song in my heart and eyes on that see the beauty in the daily.

Will you journey with me? Ears and eye 'clicked' on-- noticing beauty?

Corner View: The December Holidays

It snows here all the time, and we say, "eh, snow." It's just the thing that happens, and we love it. We love playing in it-- exploring in it. Painting it and making candy in it.

We however do not love scooping it, getting stuck in it, driving in blizzarding conditions.

But when snow falls in big beautiful flakes on Christmas morning (in Alabama-- first Christmas snow since 1968ish) on a house full of cousins. It is magical. And when it's warm enough to play outside in your light coat with too-big-borrowed gloves on-- lobbing snowballs to your hearts content. It's mind-blowingly wonderful.

How were your Christmas holidays?

For more Corner View's visit here. 

Read Aloud: What to Read on an Airplane

I should never say I'm going to 'be here a bit' or 'show projects' because yikes! That never happens when I say it will. 

I'm sitting here with a cup of coffee mustering the strength to pull the children out of their warm beds and shove them into coats. Knowing that their night was far too short. And I am not ready to get out of my snuggly-amazing robe the kids got me for Christmas. It was such a good trip-- we went to visit family in Alabama. Warmth and snow, BBQ and sweet tea, red velvet cake and coffee... cousins and snow ball fights. Laughing, football watching, game playing, treasure map making! I just couldn't be more full of good memories.

We read Cinderella and Little Wizard Stories of OZ on our airplane flights. We read The Wonderful Wizard of OZ this summer and Little Wizard Stories introduces so many new characters.

And now the kids are interested on reading more about Jack the Pumpkinhead and the Hungry Tiger. Which aren't even in the movie (they haven't seen the movie... I'm not ready for flying monkey nightmares...).

So fun to see the kids imagination ignite with great literature-- without photos, just their minds eye to guide them. Isabel begged, "Read more! Read More!" I think that was my best Christmas gift this year.

How was your Christmas? Are you reading anything good?

Thanksgiving for food...

Two things you can be sure of in our families. Food and coffee.

It was a great feeling to wake up every morning and put on a pot of community coffee. This year Grandmommy had gotten starbucks Thanksgiving blend. We went through a pound and a half. Breakfast? We need some coffee. Afternoon sweets? Coffee! Leftover cupcakes and pumpkin bread. Co---fffeee! And with pumpkin pie? Pass the coffee. Ahhh isn't it beautiful?

For Isabel's birthday, our dear friend Melissa and her sister made these awesome cupcakes. Red velvet perfect glitter sprinkles and sugar, wonderful rings adorned each one. Totally fancy for our fancy girl!

Dad and Eric made breakfast together, pancakes and eggs. And of course good coffee, it reminded me of when I was little, every Saturday morning Dad would make batches of pancakes. Just the smell of pancakes make me happy.

Priscilla, my beloved mother in law made this spicy ginger cake with the kids in this ginger bread house cake pan. Isn't it perfect? I broke little pieces of it off all week to have with my coffee. O my. I think the trees tasted the best. A little crunch, lots of spice.

Megan, my sister had this awesome idea to make a pomegranate-jalapeno-glaze for the turkey. The recipe was for ham, but I suspect that you could use it for any kind of meat.

Ahh this post is making me hungry and a bit homesick!  Christmas will be here soon, and another round of food and coffee!

Thanksgiving for Warm Weather

Indulge me for for the beginning of this week as we recount the last weeks' celebratory days.

The this particular week in November marks so many good things for us. Birthdays and Anniversaries, Thanksgiving. 

This year, we traveled to California leaving behind icy roads and welcoming sunny days-- and strange looks at my half naked children worshiping the water and sand. While my dad stood near by bundled all the way up in a parka.

Ice cream and wet clothes finished off our excursion.

corner view:: holiday photos/ summer vacation

I love today's corner view theme, I actually love to flip through people's photo albums of trips and adventure. This year's summer vacation we went to Minnesota for a long weekend with our friends Steve, Emily and their daughter Margo.

Here's a few of our photos from our album...

Our other big summer trip with friends I blogged about here, here and here!

Well, I didn't think that the August Break would lead me to take a break for almost 8 days. But, it did.

Since we last spoke, about my pet peeves of the craft closet.... my twin sister and her partner came to visit. It was really amazing to see them and invite them into our little world. The kids just loved having their Aunties here!

As you can guess, we've had a lot of visitors lately and this weekend, Eric and I are taking an evening away. We are staying in a place fairly local, but we need to reconnect, retreat and rest before we get into the school year (after labor day!).

A few things I'm excited about: 
The new edition of Rhythm of the Home will be out Septemeber 1!

I have something up my sleeve and it'll be up next Tuesday! Stop by then.


The shed project. Eric and I are shedding belongings like crazy. A big yard sale soon. If you read the article we won't be going down to 3 backpacks of stuff. We are just actively getting a smaller footprint. Donating, recycling, selling, trashing the things we don't need. Which it turns out is quite a lot.

I will finally get to see this movie.

And some of you know, but I'm starting my last class for college. Lord willing, by early December I'll be a college graduate. So send good, focusing thoughts my way. It could be a crazy season for all of us. 

Well all, have a great weekend and I might just be back for [gasp] a post this weekend!

*Photo by Cuba Gallery

August Break: Farmers' Market

I haven't been doing good at taking a break this August.

Red is obviously the color my eye was drawn to!