a party

This year, all she wanted for her birthday was a party.  I thought we'd do just a small family gathering this year instead of a big shindig.  When we presented that idea to the soon-to-be birthday girl, she politely asked for a party with friends.  I scrambled just a few weeks before her birthday to find a suitable spot for a hot July birthday.

The local children's museum was the perfect spot for lots of friends and family to play, explore and celebrate!

She wore her favorite boots, played with friends, rode in on her great-grandmother's lap and was quite happy about sitting in a birthday throne at the head of the table.  Pigs-n'-blanket were served along with the requested Cinderella cupcakes {same as last year--some things don't change around here}. It was a wonderful morning with family and friends.

Her yearly birthday questionnaire:

How old are you?
Four

What is your favorite book?
Cinderella....
and Pocahontas (prompted by her big sister)

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Umm -- play with our children (big sister butts in and says, "don't you mean play with children?")
Yes, play with children

What is your favorite food?
meatballs and spes-getti

Where is your favorite place to eat?
IKEA

What is your favorite activity to do inside?
play castle

What is your favorite activity outside?
play  
Play what?
bicycles

What is your full name?
Pocahontas

What time do you go to bed at night?
I don't know....Momma, I don't know

Where is your favorite place to go?
I want to go to Disney World because we haven't been there before

What is your favorite TV show?
Curious George

What makes you happy?
when you sing me a song
What song do you like?
Cinderella songs
I don't sing Cinderella songs.
yes, sometimes you do

Who is your good friend?
Cinderella

What do you like to do with your sisters?
dance

What is your favorite color?
purple

we missed the strawberries and peaches but found the figs instead

 I was so disappointed when I called the local peach orchard and heard that peach picking season was done.  This spring, we missed the strawberries we pick at our usual spot out west.  With a new little one in tow this year, I haven't been the best at planning and remembering to do the things we do every year.  Things that have sort of become tradition around here have dreadfully fallen by the wayside.  I think tradition in families is important and furnishes children with such delightful memories to carry with them. 

So, when my mom said she had figs in the garden that needed picking, I was overjoyed!

The figs were warm from the afternoon sun and incredibly sweet right off the branch.

 

They picked until there were no more in arms reach.

Even though they were doubtful about tasting the new fruit (new to them--I don't think I have served fresh figs to them before), they both took a bite and were surprised at the sweet taste.

With all the figs ripening, I have been searching for good recipes to utilize all the fresh figs.

These preserves sound wonderful and quite simple.

via

Fresh fig preserve

from Yum Factor

Ingredients

10 figs

3 tbsp granulated sugar

1-2 long sticks of cinnamon broken into two

juice of one lemon

Directions

Wash the figs and then cut them in quarters

Place them in a thick bottomed pan

Sprinkle the sugar and lemon juice over it

Throw in the two pieces of cinnamon

Keep it on a low flame for about 25-30 mins

Cover it for the first 10-15 mins, but keep checking on how fast it cooks

There is no need to add water. The lemon juice and sugar work well enough for this

Once the figs start to break up, stir them a bit

If there are very large chunks of figs, break it down gently with a fork and continue cooking it till it all done and there is not much liquid remaining

Sterilize the jar that you will be storing this in

I just put the jar in a large pot of hot water and allow the water to boil for 10 mins

Take the jar out and allow it to dry it in the sun. Ensure that there is no moisture in the jar

Once the fig preserve has cooled down, transfer it to the jar

Store it in the refrigerator

I love the looks of this too.  Wouldn't it make the perfect afternoon snack or appetizer?

via

Fresh Figs with Goat Cheese and Peppered Honey

Makes 4 appetizer servings. Recipe from Epicurious.

ingredients:

1/4 cup honey

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

12 fresh figs

1/4 cup soft fresh goat cheese

directions:

Combine honey and pepper in small pitcher; stir to blend. Starting at stem end, cut each fig into quarters, stopping 1/2 inch from bottom to leave base intact. Gently press figs open. Spoon 1 teaspoon cheese into center of each. Arrange figs on platter; drizzle with peppered honey.

Happy summertime fruit picking to you!

  

rainy days

"Let the rain kiss you. 

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. 

Let the rain sing you a lullaby."

  -Langston Hughes 

We sang, stomped, crawled, drew with chalk, and danced in the glorious rain this week.  It refreshed our hot and lazy summer days.  The little one had her first taste of rain kisses and loved it.  The pitter-patter and downpours brought three sisters together in such a cozy way this week.  

We found ourselves starring at the sky each afternoon waiting for more!

eleven

A year has almost passed.  Oh my, it has been wonderful with you here with us.

This month, you became so much more adventuresome!  You love to climb the stairs, make funny wrinkled-up-nose faces, stand up and clumsily move from one item to the next.  You are always looking for an opportunity to sneak out the baby gate and roam the house as you wish.  

Your hair has grown thicker and more unruly.  Some days it looks red and others it looks brown with hints of red and blonde mixed in.  It remains curly and a bow or barrette is a must to keep it out of your eyes.  You began to tolerate pigtails (or at least you now sit still in the bathroom sink while I fix your hair) which helps the hair situation tremendously. 

You attended your first baseball game and loved standing at the rail watching and listening to all the action.  It was a warm windy night and you smiled at the feel of the breeze blowing through your wild hair.

Your little personality has become quite fiery and determined.  Long gone are the days of sitting contently watching your sisters.  You now follow closely behind their every move. 

We are delighted to watch you my dear.  Your little funny faces, cheesy smiles, nervous giggles and wrinkled-nose expressions captivate us all!

Summer Morning

I don't want to ever forget the day she clapped and giggled while tasting a family favorite for breakfast: berries and chocolate chip pancakes!  Her sisters were highly entertained by the mess she made all over her face and hair.  She was encouraged by their giggles and the morning began with a kitchen full of laughter.

I do love long summer morning breakfasts with no rush to get anywhere and siblings that interact together happily {for a change!}.

Bastille Day

Happy Bastille Day!

via

{Bastille Day marks the beginning of the French Revolution.}

Today, we celebrated Bastille Day with a trip to a little French bakery.  Who can resist an opportunity to throw in a little history with some divine sweets?  My big girl wanted to know why we were going to a French bakery and not our normal bakery spot.  She was delighted to have a mid-afternoon treat at this cozy little place {she called it a "cottage"}.  The little one didn't care much about the pastries or the cozy little bakery but seemed happy to be out with her mom and big sis as we all discovered some new tastes and sights.  

We discovered that we love French macaroons!

We hope to enjoy them in France someday...wouldn't that be fun?

curious...

Gone are the days of sitting contently.  

With every inch of your little body, you seek ways to explore and discover.  

Some of this exploration and discovery is wonderful, especially when it involves books, playing with your sisters and splashing happily in the tub.

But on most days, you seem to be looking for more of a thrill than just looking at books and playing with the toys on the living room floor.  Most days, you sit by the baby gate and wait for one of your sisters to leave it slightly ajar so you can quickly escape.  You escape as fast as your little crawling knees and hands will let you.  You crawl fast to the stairs and quietly make it to the top where we hear you bounding around.

Most days, you wait for Momma to put you in your highchair and forget to strap you in.  You peek down and desperately try to find a way out.

Most days, you stand by the back door and scream and yell to the dog or your sisters to let you outside.  Most days, you look for all the cabinets in the kitchen that don't have baby locks on them and happily unload all the contents.  I believe our tile has a few more cracks in it from all the banging you do during dinner preparation.  

Curiosity has come to stay, I'm afraid.  

Although it keeps me busy, I am grateful to see a happy and well-adjusted baby learning from all the curiosity in her blood!