Monday, December 23, 2013

Monday...

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps means a little bit more.”

~Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Sunday, December 22, 2013


This video was all over Facebook about a week or so ago.  Although I am typically not a very sappy person, watching it made me particularly emotional.  Riesling was half asleep, half awake trying to decide if her nap time was over while I nursed her the rocking chair (yes I still breastfeed... and I pick her up when she cries and try to rock or comfort her back to sleep...and she is almost 2.  Topics for another post...) with my iPad on low volume browsing Facebook when I came across the video.  I think something about that sweet comforting moment between us combined with some strong pregnancy emotions set me into tears.

We are surrounded by such a hectic, self centered world so much of the time.  I found myself thinking at that moment how I want to raise Riesling to be a caring, compassionate, thoughtful, and giving person and what a monstrous and nearly impossible task that feels like.  It just seems to be a rarity these days.  We are busy.  We are callused.  Maybe we just don't care enough.  Maybe we just need to try a little harder.

I do recognize that are really good people out there and actually try to surround myself and my family with those types. I try to raise Riesling by example and hope that most days my example is one that shows her that caring about other people matters, even in the smallest way.  I guess some days the weight of the world around just seems heavy, which has always been true.  It just seems a little heavier after you become a parent.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Monday...

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.” 

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We had a busy holiday fun filled weekend.  Saturday we hosted our annual holiday party.  This was our 3rd year and the first where weather was a complicating factor.  We ended up with a ton of neighbors and not so many of our 'out of town' (20-30 minutes away) friends.  It's always a lot of work getting ready but a fun night.  Plus, it's a good excuse for me to scratch some things off my "To Do" list and get the house in super clean pre holiday mode (all the reasons Jim hates the holiday party).

Riesling was a wonderful co-host, sharing all her toys and occupying all the kids in her basement playroom.  She was also adorable in her snowflake princess dress, although she refused the bow and tights.

 She actually stayed up the whole time (past 10:00).  Jim and I were both shocked since she is usually in bed before 8:00 and it was a busy night.  She had a mini meltdown, I tried to put her to sleep, she got a second wind, then ended up completely delirious. 

Sunday we made a trip to visit Santa at our local historic library.  It's such a great setting.  Not too busy and the Santa is very authentic looking and not creeping mall Santa looking (you can check out last years visit here). He is actually our neighbor and starts prepping his beard about mid summer.  He was at our house for the party on Saturday night.  When we walked in Riesling started pointing and saying, "Santa. Santa! In the kitchen"

 Jim and I both looked at each other like...'there is no freakin way she knows that he is actually the neighbor, right?!'  We ended up deciding she was referring to a Santa figurine/statue that we have in the kitchen.  It was just weird because there are other Santas on display around the house and she specifically said the kitchen which is where our guest the whole time the night before.

The actual Santa visit went as expected....
 Excitement from a distance
 I'm not so sure about this
 Mommy!
 No Santa!
Ending with excitement from a distance

Monday, December 9, 2013

Smoothies

We have a lot of smoothies around our house.  I love them because they are so yummy & an easy way to pack in extra veggies and nutrients into your day.  Riesling loves them and asks for them almost daily (she even has her own special smoothie cup).  She has become quite the little helper and knows that banana, milk, and spinach (although sometimes it's kale) goes into everyone.  I switch up the remaining ingredients depending on what we have on hand, my mood, and what I feel like we need a boost of that day.



Today's smoothie:
1 Banana
Almond milk*
~1C. Spinach
~1C. frozen pineapple
1 scoop of protein powder 
1 Tbsp flax seed
1 heaping scoop of almond butter

We just throw everything in the Vitamix (my wonderful new birthday gift) and a few seconds later you have a healthy snack even your toddler will approve of. 

Hair Crisis

Riesling's hair is getting so long.  There is this annoying section in the front that is always falling in her eyes.  She refuses (and pretty much has since birth) to wear headbands, barrettes, bows, or hair accessories of any kind.  The eye hair situation was getting so bad that Jim even commented on it.  Finally today with our powers combined we convinced her to wear a little ponytail (like Mommy's).  If only I could now convince her to keep some clothes on.....