Embroidery, Cookies, and Singing

Watching the trash truck (and really cute tights!)

Here are pictures of the little sweatshirt I embroidered Esther. For my first attempt at embroidery, I think it turned out pretty well. Thanks, Mom, for your goody box of threads.

Esther and I made oatmeal cookies today. It's a relatively healthy recipe, but I think they are delicious. She loves helping me cook and, of course, enjoys eating them too. Here's the recipe:
2 stick butter (I use Smart Balance)
1 c brown sugar (I reduced it and added maple syrup)
2 eggs
2 c whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 c + 2 TBL milk (I use soymilk)
2 c oats (add last)
Mix 1st three ingredients. Mix dry ingredients separately. Combine wet and dry. Add milk and oatmeal. I also add 1 cup of craisins, since I don't care for raisins. Cook 10 min at 350. YUM!

I've mentioned how Esther loves to sing. Well, I finally got it on video during our lunch today. She has a full mouth half the time, so some of it is quite hard to understand. She misses a few letters in the ABCs and words in the other songs, but for her age, I think it is pretty good (of course that is probably the proud parent in me). Unfortunately, Zouga interrupted the performance. Enjoy!

Wonderful Fall Weekend

My heart was warmed to find this little monarch chrysalis in my Norfolk pine a few days ago (notice the new layout picture). At least I know one will complete its metamorphosis. We are watching and waiting for the butterfly to emerge. It should probably be another week. I'll keep you posted if I get a picture.

Speaking of butterflies, here is my sweetest butterfly. I didn't feel the picture last week did the dress justice. It has an adorable dragonfly embroidered on the front and sewn on wings on the back. Esther's been practicing being a butterfly fairy for Halloween and has been fluttering (flapping) all over the yard.

E and I walked up to the Pumpkin Patch at a local church on Friday. This small pumpkin is the first one she picked up and was the one she wanted. It won't do to leave it outside, so she has been taking it from place to place around the house. I think she would sleep with it if we would let her.

It was beautiful weekend, not too chilly, but a nice, cool wind. We enjoyed the company of my brother and sister-in-law on Saturday for the Georgia game. I napped most of the game, but was happy they won, so the moods in the house would be pleasant (have I mentioned that I really don't care about sports).
Today was a 'cozy-on-the-couch' kind of Sunday. I read, crocheted, and started embroidering (pictures to come). I crocheted this cute little hat for Esther. I absolutely love it and will probably make one for myself. After trying (and pulling out) 2-3 different hat patterns, this one turned out perfect. Here is the pattern for any crocheters out there. It is the slant stich hat. I used size H hook and tend to crochet really tight, so it made the perfect size for Esther. Ben's parents brought me the beautiful green wool yarn back from Ireland and I have been holding onto for years, waiting for the perfect project. The purple flower was an easy addition to give it some girly flare. Esther seems to like it and is now ready for the coming chilly fall mornings. (her 'cheese' face, again)

The rest of our Sunday, we spent playing in the yard, taking a walk for ice cream (smoothie for non-dairy Esther), and Ben is now studying for his Microbiology class.

It is getting late. Off to bed and back to a busy week in the morning...

Caterpillars, butterflies, (and new boots!)

Again, I apologize for the long span between posts. We've been busy around here and the camera has been neglected.
We had our annual Insect-ival at the Botanical Garden a few weeks ago and adopted a bunch of monarchs in each stage (egg, caterpillars, chrysalis, butterflies). As you may or may not know, monarch larva only eat milkweed. Milkweed is a beautiful plant, but tends to grow on roadsides and abandoned fields, therefore is often mowed down. Hence the problem of the diminishing population of monarchs. Anyway, we had a lot of caterpillars on our hands that had completely ravished the Gardens milkweed and the UGA Botany Greenhouses supply (both weren't doing so well with the drought). So I have (had) a few milkweed plants at home and decided to bring the caterpillars home so they would not starve to death. These little buggers have an insatiable appetite, as they are eating to prepare for their metamorphosis into a butterfly. Well, we brought home 50+ caterpillars that quickly devoured my plants and crawled away in search of more milkweed :( I just hope that some of them ate enough to complete their metamporphosis and make their way to Mexico (where they migrate each year). So, that completes your monarch lesson for the day and here are some pics of Esther enjoying them while they were here. I should have included a picture of the milkweed completely defoliated - it's not so pretty now.

We also brought home a terrarium w/ Gulf Frittilaries. They eat Passion Flower vine - another beautiful flower!

Praying Mantis on the Milkweed


A beautiful butterfly dress that our good friends, Josh and Rachel, bought Esther. I can't believe I haven't gotten pics of her in it before. I just added some more fabric to it so she can wear it this fall w/ an undershirt. I still didn't get many pictures because she was too busy flittering around to pose for a picture. Notice the wings on the back!


And finally, Esther's new boots. I went to an awesome consignment sale last week and found these adorable rain boots, among other things. This is E's 'cheese' face.

And she got a chance to wear them yesterday. Wasn't yesterday's rain glorious!

Fall is here!

After being stuck in the sick house for a week, we decided we needed some fresh air and bluegrass last weekend (and figured we couldn't spread our germs too bad if we were outside). We went to the North GA Folk Festival, which is held here in Athens. This was Esther and my 2nd year, Ben's first. It was a small festival with music, local crafts, and traditional craft/tool workshops. We enjoyed our picnic and boiled peanuts, and of course, the dancing. Pam Blanchard and the Sunny Side Up band played first. They are a fun, interactive children's band. They even invited the kids up on stage to sing Twinkle, Twinkle and If You're Happy and You Know It. Esther was at the front of the stage, but had a bit of stage-fright when it came to singing and moving. She did get a few 'stomp your feet's in there.

I worked the beginning of the week, so yesterday and today have been a fun Esther-Mama time. Yesterday we collected nature objects (inspired by SouleMama's book and Songbird's recent posting). Esther found a pine cone, magnolia pod, various leaves, acorns, and nandina berries.

Here, she is making the maple leaves dance, while singing a little tune.

The ragweed is getting the best of me today, so I am going to rest the remainder of nap-time. Even with the allergies, I just can't bring myself to close the windows. This fall weather is delightful!

Catching up

I know it has been a while, but we've had a house full of sickies. Ben has some sort of respiratory infection (104 temp), Esther has had a simple cold, and my allergies are driving me crazy. We are all on the up and up and getting back to normal.
A few weekends ago, Ben's brother and family came up for a visit (Brad, Courtney, and Baby Colt). As you may remember, Colt came a month early, but has been perfectly healthy after just a few days in the hospital. Esther loved giving him 'gentle' hugs and kisses. So sweet!

Watching football w/ his Daddy. They're starting him young!

Poppi is in heaven w/ both grand-babies

And could this be any sweeter? E was so excited to be able to hold baby-Colt

Asheville Visit

We had a wonderful trip to Asheville over the weekend. We went to see my grandparents, aunts and uncles who all live in the area. We also went to the Lexington Avenue Arts Festival (LAAF), which was a blast. Esther had so much fun, as you will see in the pictures.

Family (Mother's side-Pomraning/Monroe)

Esther and my Papaw. She kept on climbing in his arms and asking to go pick apples from the trees in the yard. I think they made each other's day.

A sweet hug from Mimi on the porch

4 generations of women. The afgan on the chair was made by my great-grandmother who lived until she was 100. It is really special to have met her a few times and hear the stories of her life.

LAAF Fun

Happy drumming

You've heard of finger-painting? This was feet-painting!


Painting a truck that is later auctioned off for charity

Hooping

Smoothie-lovin'. And the cute hat Papa bought E.

Ben and Justin-a long-time friend who used to live in Athens

Bicycle joysting. Esther was passed out in the stroller at this point, but Ben really enjoyed it.

More family fun

After the festival, we drove down to my Aunt's home in Balsam. She and Max cooked a delicious meal of fresh-caught fish and corn, beans, and potatoes straight from the garden. Esther enjoyed picking grapes off the vine and getting corn and heirloom tomatoes for us to bring home.

Coffee and conversation after the meal

Yummy!

Tinkle, Tickle

As I've mentioned, Esther is loving school (or 'cool' as she calls it). They must have a wonderful music time because E has been singing more than usual lately. Her most recent melody is a combo of Twinkle, Twinkle ('Tickle/tinkle'), Wheels on the Bus, and Happy Birthday. It goes about like this:
Tinkle, tickle, tickle, tickle...How do you do, how do you do...happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...(continues with the happy birthday until Ben and I can't contain our laughter any longer). I love her voice and how singing brings her such joy.
She now loves Twinkle, Twinkle has her night-time song. Though I'm having a hard time breaking away from the routine songs, I have conceded. She is doing very well putting herself to sleep after a few songs and a short rock. She 'sings' and 'pats' her baby doll to sleep in her bed. It is so sweet! Here is a picture I sneaked in to take at naptime. She's cuddling with 'Ellie' instead of baby today.

And as for my favorite night-night song. I learned this at my prenatal yoga class I took while pregnant. We sang four rounds of this at the end of each class. The first time I heard it, I fought back tears of joy and the amazing miracle of the life inside me. It filled my heart and comforted me to see another soon-to-be Mama burst into tears in the coming weeks after hearing it for the first time.

Welcome to this world, dear child
Welcome to the Earth
All our love surrounds you at your birth.
Though our paths may someday part,
right now, you're too small to be alone,
so the Lord, has placed you in our home...

The tears are welling up once again.

To not leave on a teary note, here's E having a 'Flashdance' flashback. She put Ben's socks on while folding laundry. They remind me of the leg warmers I used to wear to dance.