big beds

Somehow it was easier this time around.  With our first, we had this day of the "big bed" moveover planned for weeks.  Yesterday, it just seemed time for our little one to make the move to the "big bed" in her room.  As with most parenting, I have found that decisions with the second child come so easily unlike the decisions with the first kid that I hemmed and hawed over for weeks. 

The twin iron bed on the other side of the room was stripped of its existing bedding and new sheets were proudly picked from the selection Momma has tucked away.  The butterfly sheets were washed and the bed was made with towel bolsters tucked under the fitted sheet to prevent any falls.

While naptime was reduced to 45 minutes from the usual 2 hours, I was delighted to have her in a big bed.  Last night it took some time to fall asleep in a new place with new shadows of light but sleep finally came and lasted all night.  With a little luck and a willing and excited new participant, I hope it will continue to be a smooth transition!

playing with fire {ants}

I turned my back for a minute to take some photos of the most amazing wildflowers while I was out in the greenbelt with my girls.  I thought they were sweetly smelling the flowers and picking the few that are ok to pick.  When I turned around I found them crouched down fiddling with something on the ground.

They both had large chunky sticks and were intently focused on what they were doing while ignoring my calls.  When I got to where they were, I found them playing with huge ants.  My big girl was pounding the ground with her stick as the little one watched intently.  Then the little one began stuffing the flowers she had picked down the hole of the mound.  Both were totally unafraid and unaware of how badly a fire ant can itch and sting.   

For a moment while I snapped this photo, I was in absolute disbelief that they weren't upset by the largest ants I have ever seen, but instead were happily beating them with sticks and stuffing flowers down their ant hole.  

Thankfully, we all escaped before they got too mad about their hole being plugged up with magenta-colored flowers.

beautiful roses

The roses are blooming and are magnificent!  Their large full blossoms remind me of hydrangeas but their scent is sweet like a gardenia.  I love the way simple cut flowers can quickly and effortlessly transform the ambiance of a room.

it's that time again...

Each year around this time we drive out to a charming little farm in the country to pick the sweetest strawberries.  This year they were especially red and wonderfully sweet from the warmer weather and spring rain.

  My kids love the thrill of finding the perfect red berry that smells sweet.  My big girl coached her sister the whole way out about the art of picking...

"don't get the green ones"

"pick from the stem, not the berry"

 

In addition to the sweet berries, there were tractor train rides and funny little goats to feed.

This little farm also sells their own strawberry jam and lots of local butters and honey.  It is wonderful to feast on homemade local treats.

A morning spent outdoors amongst ripe rows of berries and warm sunshine is quite the springtime treat!

we just can't get into the swing of things...

via

It is getting ridiculous, we just can't seem to get into the swing of things around here since the time change.  We are all officially goofed up.  Everyone is sleeping in, napping at odd hours, staying up late with the sun and I walk around in a drowsy daze all day.  Next week is going to be a killer when we actually have to be accountable with the new time.  This morning we had to be up for an appointment.  When I woke my big girl she asked why we were up in the middle of the night.  Poor kid, 6:30am feels like midnight to her.  

   I can't help but wonder why we put ourselves through this misery every 6 months.  Why can't we just leave the clocks and let the sun do what it wish at different times of the year?

Ahhh!

luck

Wishing you lots of luck this St. Patty's Day!  Maybe you'll happen upon a four-leaf clover!

Spring is here!

We can't seem to get enough of the flowers blooming everywhere!  Everything is so green.  I hope it lasts for a few more weeks so we can revel in the glory of this budding season!

Cowgirls, Hats and Boots

There is nothing more I love about this great state than the great fun we always have in March.  Rodeos, cowboys and cowgirls, bluebonnets blooming on the side of every road, horses and the flag.

Each year at preschool, they have a week where they celebrate our great state.  Cowboy breakfasts of biscuits and gravy entice little tummies who are only used to the usual oatmeal or cereal for breakfast.  Relay games of filling iron skillets with corn and beans provide something new and exciting for anxious little bodies in the springtime.  But dressing up as a cowboy or cowgirl has to be the best part.

My little cowgirl got boots for Christmas which she proudly wore for the occasion but longed for a "real" cowboy hat.  Now, I had to nicely tell her that a Stetson wasn't in the budget for a small dress-up day at preschool but she insisted that she needed one to complete her cowgirl attire.  Thankfully, Daddy had a number of cowboy hats in the top of his closet which hadn't been worn since his college days.  He happily got one down for his little cowgirl and let her take it to school for the day.  She was more than delighted and most proudly wore her Daddy's hat to school.

I love the way schools and teachers go out of their way to make things special for kids.  It leaves a lasting imprint on their little minds and souls.

our morning ride

Each day on the way to school my big girl asks to use my phone to take pictures.  I happily hand it to her and let her snap away while we sit in traffic as we make our way up the road.  Most of the time she photographs many artful things such as flowers along side the road, a neat colored car or a little detail on her shoe.  Recently, when I scrolled through the photos of our morning ride I found a funny series of herself.  I am not sure if these little shots were reactions to my driving or what was going on at school that day.  When I showed them to my husband, he was thrilled to know that she figured out how to change the orientation of what the camera was photographing -- I didn't even realize the phone camera did that.  She figured out how to make the phone into a mirror of sorts.

Nevertheless, here is our morning ride from her perspective last week...

tickling ivory

Your little fingers slowly find their way down the keys to the right notes.  You try very hard to keep that "egg" in the palm of your hand while you are playing.  

Remember, just use the tips of your fingers to play.  

Half note

Quarter note

Whole note

Now, how many counts do they get?

Don't forget the rests.

Treble clef is your right hand

Bass is your left hand

I am amazed at how much you take in and remember during your lessons.  I love to watch your love for music bloom!  Keep up the great work!

Something Green: Baked Kale Chips

I love chips!  I could eat a bag in one sitting easily.  The crunch and salt are something I crave even more than sweets.  

I recently found a recipe for baked kale chips.  I decided to give them a try and to my surprise, they are wonderful!  This is definitely a snack I will be making for a long time.  The kids even ate them too!  

Give them a try.  I know you will like them!

Baked Kale Chips

Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 bunch kale
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 300 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
3. Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, about 20 minutes.