Friday Moments

Friday Moments with Soule Mama again today. If you have a moment or two to share, please leave a comment with a link.

This week it's a shout out to beloved Hubs.

We're lucky to have such a devoted, engaged man as the dad in our little family.

I often wonder if the men in our society realize what a crucial role they have in the lives of the children around them. 

The children who get to know my Hubs are lucky, though we often forget to tell him so. 

Happy weekend, gang. 

Stay awesome.

Shout Outs

Good morning Gang.

Thursday is awesome, no? I can smell the weekend.

For those of you who have some gifts left to buy this holiday season - please allow me to offer a few recommendations before you hit the mall this weekend.

If you aren't familiar with Etsy, then man, you are missing out.

If you are new to Etsy, don't be nervous - it's perfectly safe and you will be amazed by the quality. I've never had a bad experience.

For jewelry please check out Shining Stones. Beautiful, affordable jewelry handmade by one of the most soulful people on the planet. Ellie is awesome.

For cool, artsy clothing, jewelry, accessories and home decor please check out Bark Decor. Sara is a local (to me) girl who is fabulous, talented and environmentally conscious.

Once again, allow me to sing the praises of my beloved Miss Kristen, who not only showed up to work every day this week sick-as-a-dog but also makes beautiful, inspiring art in her free time.

Then of course there's my fab neighbor Sharron who makes these sweet snowman ornaments, while jugging two kids and generally being awesome.

For children's clothing I love Kissing Kumquats. Adorable, beautiful and very well made way over there in sunny CA.

I've also had a good experience with Nici at Dig this Chick. Handmade clothing for children and adults, made in Montana. If you know someone who is dedicated to a certain state or country - you can get these awesome t-shirts showing off the love.

I got some beautiful prints from Printland this year - upcycled dictionary pages - super cool, and from Spain! Which I think is awesome.

Okay I think that is it for my Etsy shout-outs. There's still time to get some awesome, custom, locally made, unique holiday gifts - but you must act fast if you want them by Christmas.

If you have a favorite local or Etsy vendor - please, please leave a comment.

Buy local. Skip the mall. Be awesome.

Boys

Prepare yourselves, dear friends - I have some news to share.

Boys are different than girls.

Seriously different.

Two and three year old boys are about as different from two and three year old girls as you can get.

When we walk into the daycare at the gym, the girls can be found huddled together - talking, coloring, playing imaginative games with the toys.

The boys on the other hand?

The only interactions they seem to be interested in making are:
chasing each other
stealing toys from each other
irritating each other.

My boys have more physical energy than I ever imagined possible.

"I am happy to run" says the Big Boy, and it's true. The kid loves to run.

This weekend we took them, once again, to the woods.

Intrepid explorers.

In the woods, they run, laugh, and most importantly  they do not fight, whine or otherwise irritate me or each other.

I can't explain it, but it's true.

The Big Boy runs away from us at full speed until he exhausts himself, bending over and resting his hands on his knees like a professional sprinter - then after a few moments, he straightens up and runs back to us,
"I was running so fast!" he says.
"I know, Bud! I saw you." I say.
Then poof, he's off again.

He must have run at least double the distance we walked with these back-and-forth dashes.

Something happens to them in the woods, I can't explain it. Give them a wooded trail and they are happy.

Me, on the other hand? I'd rather be at home drinking tea and making a craft - but these boys? Oh, no. I will be needing to invest in warm clothes and good sneakers because these boys, they are happy to run.

Nutrition!

My children's dietary habits are so poor, sometimes I am afraid they are going to develop Rickets, Scurvy or Beriberi.

Here's what the Big Boy ate yesterday:

Waffles (at least they are homemade, whole wheat, with added flax)
Milk
Graham crackers
Raisins
Toast (2 pieces for lunch and 2 pieces for dinner)
More milk
Cheese stick
fairy dust

The Wee One isn't much better. He subsists on breakfast, snacks, fruit, hummus, and macaroni-and-cheese.

In a fit of nutritional frustration this weekend I decided to try the sneaky nutrition recommended in Deceptively Delicious.

It involves the creation of a variety of vegetable purees.

Pumpkin, cauliflower, winter squash, broccoli, carrot, and beet. 

Half for the fridge and half for the freezer.

It's "Jamaican me crazy" from Bruster's, if you must know.
Coconut ice cream with chocolate covered almonds.
Now, back to the nutrition.

In truth, my purees are not as smooth as I would desire. Broccoli, carrot, and cauliflower retain a slight fibrous quality, even after an extended period of time in the food processor. The best results came from canned pumpkin (no work required), frozen winter squash (simply thaw), and canned beets (canned in water with no salt).

As far as tricking the children....

Cauliflower and margarine on this toast. 

There's broccoli in this hummus. 

I have to admit it's fairly successful. 

The secret is to keep the volume of vegetable very small. 

So there you have it. Sneaky nutrition. 

Why did my grandmother not have to sneak vegetables into her children? With 6 kids, did she just not care if one got Scurvy?

Oh Christmas Tree

Good morning.

How was your weekend?

This family obtained a Christmas tree.

Phase one: selection.

Not too big. 

Not too small. 

We found just the right one. 

And even managed to make it home without the tree sliding off the roof of the car! (It has happened.)

Phase two: analysis of the ornaments.

All ornaments must be thoroughly inspected and
examined prior to  application on the tree. 

Phase three: decoration.

Sorry for the atomic flash, but this picture is too cute not to post. 

The Big Boy totally got into it. 

He's currently very into "putting things where dey bewong". And as soon as he got the gist that the ornaments "bewong" on the tree, he was a man on a mission. 

The Wee One, on the other hand, is never one for conforming to societal norms and kept taking his favorite ornaments off the tree to play with. 

This poor golden train was eventually taken down to the train table
where it was thoroughly  examined for  choo-choo ability. 

It was good.

It was festive.

Fa la la la la la la. La! La!

Friday Moments

Hey Gang!

Happy Friday!

Joining SouleMama for Friday Moments again today.

If you have a moment to share, please leave a comment with a link!

Today's moments are brought to you by my beloved cousins (once again) who took a ga-zillion photos for us this weekend in an effort to catch some photos for our Christmas card.

Thank you Kelly and D-rock.

Why yes, Columbia Sportswear, he is available for advertising. 

I will admit to you, close friends, that this photo with Hubs in the
background made me cry a little. Don't tell anyone. 

Hope you have a fab weekend. I believe there will be a Christmas tree in this family's weekend... Keep you posted!

December Pledge

December?

Yep.

Sometimes I feel like my life is traveling at warp speed.

My goal for this month is to slow down and enjoy. To take notice. Much like my fall pledge I'm making a December pledge:

I, Melissa, do solemnly swear to enjoy the month of December. I will not be overwhelmed, overburdened or over-scheduled.

I will show my children that Christmas is about family and about giving.

I will give thoughtful gifts, and not rely on gift cards.

I will bravely say "No, thank you." to parties and activities which are not in my best interest.

I will remember to leave a little something for our mail carrier.

I will watch Christmas movies with the boys.

I will remember that Christmas isn't about what you spend, but about how you feel.

I will not be grinchy, but I will be thrifty.

I will pull my family in close and give thanks.

Spoiler alert! Christmas card photo!
Thank you Kelly and Derek!
Why do I always tilt my head at that strange angle in photos?

What's your December pledge?