summertime rites of passage

My big girl is extremely cautious just like her mother.  She is always thinking ahead and seems to foresee the worst possible scenarios when it comes to physical activities.  Unfortunately, I think this has kept her from confidently mastering new skills.

This summer was different.

She seemed to be in just the right place to master some new skills we have been working on for a few years.  Thanks to some loving and patient teachers that didn't let her give up, she now swims confidently and independently!  And this afternoon, she took that first ride on her bike without and adult hands holding on.

 

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We are delighted that you have mastered such wonderful physical skills this summer.  They will continue to bring you joy and exercise throughout your life!

back in the saddle again...

Well, we are back in the saddle again.  Off to school. Another year on the horizon.  New beginnings, teachers and friends.

I am incredibly happy she was ready to go this morning.  I gently woke her before the sunrise and whispered, "today is your first day of school, time to get up, rise and shine."  She looked up at me, smiled and said, "today isn't the first day, we already went to school together last week for my first day...we went together, remember, you and me?"  I was overjoyed to know she wasn't nervous about today.  In her mind, we already faced the first day together, last week at Meet-the-Teacher.

She sleepily got dressed and decided she would like to wear her hair down in a headband.  I held my tongue and let her pick out the headband she wanted to wear.  She proudly brushed her hair with only a little help in the back from me.  For breakfast, she ate what she always eats on the first days of school: yogurt, granola and berries in the fancy blue glass bowl.  Just like her mother (a ball of nerves on first days), she only took a tiny bite and decided that was enough.  She tied her shoes all by herself this year and reminded me that we needed to take photos in the front yard before leaving.

It was nice to meet today with a sense of relief.  Already knowing the school and all the procedures made us all feel peaceful and less worried about the first day.  Although she still clutched tight to my hand when we made our way into the overcrowded school, she walked confidently into her new classroom, found her locker and put her things away.  She was ready.

I had to laugh as her little sister guided her up the sidewalk and across the street to school this morning.  She walked proudly with you, giving pep talks along the way and holding the picture she drew for your teacher.

Despite your constant summertime quarrels, she will miss you immensely today.

When we got back into the car to go home, I felt that familiar tightness in my throat that seems to arise with emotions about my children, something related to them growing up and a passage of time -- all too quick.  This year she is no longer a kindergartner.  She is growing fast and strong, ready for everything.  She is moving forward and I am so proud, despite a few tears {from Momma} along the way.

Happy first day to all of you!

last of the summer evenings

Our summer evening look something like this most nights.  After dinner sprinkler fun consumes them as the golden sun sinks slowly down below the tree tops in our yard.  It is hard to believe that our summer is coming to an end.  Although we had our share of hard days, I am glad these three had lots of time together at home this summer.  Sisterly bonds grew stronger and tighter.  I had to laugh when I took my middle one to play with a friend and all she asked for was her sister.  

Hope your summer evenings are peaceful and happy, especially during this last week prior to school's arrival.

little snippets of summer days

happy summertime yogurt shop visits - weaving lessons - summer festival with friends - little reminders about hot stoves - an old door in town - exposure to live music for kids - one-year well check dr. appointment - boat rides - riding lessons

an old school desk

We recently ran across this old school desk.  It was a delight to find and something that I thought might be nice to have in the kitchen.  Ever since it made it's arrival in our home, my girls play school religiously every afternoon when it is too hot to play outside.  The addition of a school desk has made their imaginary classroom much more fun and our long summer afternoons much more peaceful.  It's funny how one thing can change the household dynamic so dramatically.

It has also become her little perch while I am making dinner.  

I love finding old things and making them "new" in our home.  This desk might be fun to repaint when it cools down a bit this fall.  I am thinking a minty green or coral color.  It might make a fun "pop" in the kitchen and give the old desk an updated look.  

Who knows...we'll see.  I have wanted to do things like this before and it typically takes me a year or two to decide on a color and find enough uninterrupted time to complete the project!  Ha!

first birthdays

2 eager sisters helped plan this first birthday celebration.  They were incredibly excited about a first birthday celebration for their youngest sister.  Cupcakes were made, table decorations were carefully laid out, homemade pennants were hung from the windows, special birthday clothes were worn, first birthday candles were lit and lots of family arrived to celebrate another first.

Breakfast for dinner was the theme for the special celebration.  Her favorite meal of chocolate-chip pancakes, eggs and fruit was served.  Momma and Daddy made Fireweed Jam from the flower blossoms of the fireweed flower to top your first-year pancakes too.  Daddy picked them when he went to Alaska and then we experimented with jam making.  Luckily, the jam turned out quite tasty and you loved it!

When it was time for cake, you very carefully touched your cupcake first.  Tiny fingers drug through the frosting on top and after the first taste, the entire cupcake was thrust into your mouth by both fists.  It was devoured in minutes.

I was reminded that all a one-year-old needs for her birthday is a bag filled with tissue paper...this kid had so much fun pulling tissue paper out of bags, playing with it and then attempting to eat it!

We had so much fun celebrating you!  Happy Birthday!

summer fish recipes: halibut and salmon

I love to eat fish in the summertime.  It is light, healthy and just seems perfect for bright summer evenings.

I recently found a couple recipes that I really like.  I am a little picky when it comes to fish and have never been crazy about seafood.  A fish recipe has to have just the right about of seasoning without tasting fishy or overpowering the light fish flavor.  The following 2 recipes passed my picky fish test.
Enjoy some fish on a lazy summer evening with a glass of your favorite white wine.  It is the perfect summer supper!

Panko & Parsley Baked Halibut

adapted from this recipe

Ingredients:

2 large halibut fillets (approx. 2 pounds)

1 cup Panko crumbs

1/4 cup melted butter

4 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley (chopped)

3 cloves fresh garlic (minced)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

Place fillets in the bottom of a baking dish.

Combine all other ingredients in a bowl.

Sprinkle mixture over fish fillets.

Bake for 25 minutes or until fish is flaky.

Salmon with Lemon and Dill

recipe source

Ingredients:

2 salmon fillets (approx. 1 pound)

1/4 cup butter melted

5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

lemon slices to garnish the top of the fillets

4 tablespoons fresh chopped dill

2 garlic cloves (minced)

sea salt to taste

freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease a medium size baking dish.

Place salmon in the baking dish.

Sprinkle salmon fillets with salt and pepper.

Combine ingredients and pour over top of the fish.

Place lemon slices on top of the fish before baking.

Bake fish for about 25 minutes or until flaky.