Week 51: The Missing Piece

What's New?

Returning home is the most difficult part of long-distance hiking; 

you have grown outside the puzzle and your piece no longer fits.

-Cindy Ross, explorer/author

In Week 51, we welcomed home our other third from a long journey. We give thanks for his safe return, first and foremost. But at the end of this year's story, the real take-home message is that no one will ever know the love that this man has for his Country better than Henry and I. He would freely give of himself and of his gifts to give others a safe passage, and I, selfishly, would hoard him in my mountain cave, if it were up to me. Thanks be to God, it is not.

We have all "grown outside of our puzzle", and truth be told, we have no desire to fit there anyway :) Week 51 was less about trying new things and more about letting it all go. Our brains are decompressing, and our hands are holding tight to one another. We wake up each morning knowing that we are all present and accounted for, and that we do not have to endure yet another day of trying to fill the missing piece with duct tape and super glue. 

Thanks to all of you who supported us on this journey. You will never know how much you are appreciated or necessary.   

Week 49: Keeping Warm and Bubbly

What's new?

A little, local craft brew tasting of FreeState ales (Lawrence, KS), perhaps? New artwork from an AMAZING (somewhat local) photographer that I stalked found on Etsy? Maybe a delicious new chicken tortilla soup crockpot recipe. Week 49 was all dangerous. That's right, folks. We like to live on the edge. As I find myself smack-dab in the middle of replacing light bulbs, cleaning fan blades, and scrubbing baseboards for our pre move-out special/ my-son-is-napping-so-must-take-full-advantage-of-this-time, I will leave it at this:

1. I have 2 friends here who wanted to commemorate their time in Kansas with some form of bison art, and I loved that idea. In my search of Midwest photographers, I found this extremely talented, Iowa native on Etsy. Please check out Scott Fairbairn Photography, should you have the time. The photo in the top left of my new things collage is a photo of his photo, which I plan on framing and find particularly stunning. I love these creatures, but this photo captured such a beautiful moment of pure texture and humility. 

2. FreeState! Ad Astra is a gorgeous, rich amber ale that I think my husband is going to fall in love with when he gets home and tries this! Unfortunately, I can only find this in a sampler pack. I would love it if I could just purchase the Ad Astra! Copperhead Pale Ale...well, friends, as I have mentioned before on this blog, I am not a fan of hoppy beers. This wasn't too obnoxiously-hoppy, but one was enough and the other 2 in the pack are going to my neighbor. And there you have it: My ultra-sophisticated tasting notes. Try to control your excitement. One item of interest is that Lawrence is only 45 minutes east and south of Fort Leavenworth, and FreeState was the first legal brewery in the State of Kansas.

3. Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe...so my friend Adrian shared this recipe with me but did not provide a source. I am not sure if this is her original or not, but it was delicious!! I made quite a few changes only because I am trying to use up the stuff in my freezer/cupboard before we move! My recipe tweaks are in (italics).

Chicken Tortilla Soup (for crockpot)
2-3 chicken breasts (used 3 turkey burger patties)
2 cans black beans
2 cans stewed tomatoes (used 2 cups fresh tomatoes)
1 can green chiles (used 1 bottle of sweet chili sauce)
1 C salsa (omitted)
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 C frozen corn
1-2 garlic cloves (used 5)
1/2 TBS chili powder
1/2 onion, chopped (did not have onion, but added 2 cups carrots, which is totally the same)
2 TBS lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp cumin (used about 4 TBS because I love cumin so much I want to marry it)
(also added 4 C chicken broth, and lots of black pepper)

Put all ingredients in crockpot (I did mine on the high setting) for 5-6 hours. Break up meat with a fork (I chopped mine) before serving. Add tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, and/or cilantro to each bowl before serving.       

Week 48: Brr! It's Cold Outside!

New 3-year old. I find myself constantly praying for this boy. He has such a quiet nature about him, and a dry sense of humor. Terrible eater. BEST laugh I have ever heard. Loves to hold hands on the couch and do puzzles on the floor and have random dance parties. With all of my heart, I love him.

 

 

New crochet whimsey: Free-hand snowflakes. Easy and fun to make!

New breakfast: adding 1 TBS of olive oil to my oats or cream of wheat. Got this idea from Giada Delaurentiis, and it is sooo yummy in this electric-dry, Kansas cold.

New children's fiction (for b-day): Bang! Boom! Roar! and Waking Dragons. Both books are so cute, and once again, Momma has grabbed a Jane Yolen goodie in Waking Dragons, a story about a little boy whose job it is to wake up the dragons and get them ready for school (he brushes their teeth, feeds them, it is very sweet.). "Bang-Bang Rwraaaaar!!!!" as Henry calls it, is the clear winner of the entire year of new children's fiction. We read this book 1,000 times per day. Dinosaurs + construction equipment + a little I-Spy + good morals. We highly recommend both of these!

,

(Not my photo: photo credit Simply Crochet) New project idea: This beautiful crochet garland (I would also like those gold drapes, the vanity, the vintage outfit, and the door, if that is possible)...

New beverage: German mulled wine. My neighbor introduced this to me, and it is quite tasty during a cold winter's happy hour :) I think I am sufficiently sick of it though. Kind of like egg nog, this will be a once-per year purchase. I'm just not a big sweet/flavory drinks person.

New (almost finished) crochet project: Summer baby blanket! This is 100%, American-made cotton, and there will be just a few, little lemon-yellow flowers decorating this as well. One of my sweet neighbors is having a baby girl next month, so my idea sprang from having a 6-month old in 108 degree, humid KS temps...

I also tried 2 new recipes this week. No photos have been included because they were both huge fails! One was a crockpot Thai chicken, which received great reviews on Food.com, but I just did not like it. Perhaps I was not in the mood for the peanut butter (I use Sunbutter), or maybe I added too much soy. It is always weird when I don't like a food of any kind, so beware! I also attempted to make a chocolate cream pie for Thanksgiving and burned the chocolate pudding. For the record, I am terrible at puddings and custards, but I LOVE to eat them. My Mom happens to be so talented at these types of yummies, and there is no way I can do the pudding from the box. My issue is that I always burn it. Do I need more patience? A double-boiler, perhaps? Less over-thinking? :) OR, maybe I should just stick to making what I don't screw up: fruit pies (for which, I credit Southern Living and The Joy of Cooking for teaching me how to make a good pie crust and fruit pie filling).

Week 43: Being Fruitful

What's new?

I am MOMENTS away from completing a major crochet project. You know when you give a project a name, that it has taken over your life and spread its tendrils into the nerve center of your brain. Your children are eating toast for every meal (well, mine basically does anyway), you haven't cleaned or gone grocery shopping in 2 weeks. The house smells like pee and burned toast and you don't care. It. Must. Get. Finished. The reason, my creative fellows, is that you cannot be fruitful again until you have produced this thing. Being fruitful is important because that's how you get Joy. If you're not fruitful, you don't have Joy. And if you aren't producing, you can't be fruitful. I don't make the rules, people, but I do like to try new things. 

The newness of Week 43 was so awesome that I barely noticed the pee smell:

• First field trip. Henry's preschool class took a field trip to Lamborn Farm in Leavenworth, KS, and it was wonderful. A family-owned, small-farm who actually grows their own pumpkins (rather than have them shipped in, like all of the other farms with "pumpkin patches"), raises beef, sheep, and pigs and has a little hay maze for kids as well as a playground? Priceless. Plus, this farm has recently been put on the National Historic Register, which is very great for this family. This farm has been in existence since 1877! The kids had fun and were so adorable to hang out with for a couple of hours. It was also interesting to see Henry with his class for the first time. He is definitely that kid who they give jobs to, and I realized that is probably how they get him to transition from one activity to the next or to do anything, in general :) Give him a job. He takes it very seriously :) I keep saying that I need to do more of this, but I think that this needs to be more of a focus of our day now, rather than a cute little thing he does. You judgers out there who are thinking, "oh, but kids should play and have all play-based learning..." Meet my son. He likes working, this one. 

• New Children's Fiction. Steam Train, Dream Train (by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld), like it's predecessor, Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, is ADORABLE, long-winded, and the perfect bedtime story, with lots of onomatopoeia and make-believe, as well as beautiful artwork. Henry gives this 5/5 stars. 

• New app!! Charity Miles - Have you heard of this wonderful fitness app? It is legitimate! A fairly new invention, you can run, bike, or walk for a number of fantastic charities of your choosing. The app lets you track via miles or time, and you start and stop the GPS when the workout is finished, which then reports the total on your behalf. I like it because it keeps track of your history, but I wish it would keep track of which charities you gave to as well (it only tracks distance or time). You can also create teams, which is how I found out about this (via the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation). I was just telling Ted that I don't think I will ever be able to do a run again without using this app. Why would you?? It would be nice to know exactly how this works and how much money you are raising, but, I also believe in the Placebo Effect. In other words, even if this is totally bogus, when you dedicate something to a cause and meditate on it (your heart's intention), I believe that energy can only be used for good in the World. Like if you go around thinking, "I just ran 6 miles for Parkinson's research," and you keep doing stuff like that, at some point, that energy is going to be fruitful. And being fruitful creates Joy, which hopefully, eventually, generates awareness and healing and something tangible, though it may not help a person write actual, for real, grammatically correct sentences whilst blogging :)

• Fleece-lined running tights. Um. Are you serious? 100/5 stars for Sugoi running apparel. How I have lived in KS without these, ever, is beyond me. I recommend them for runs >30 degrees F, with wind or without. They are breathable, so you can't overheat. I basically want to marry them. They weren't cheap, but still less than a gym membership.

Week 42: A Jolly Good Time

What's new?

"Good soup is one of the prime ingredients of good living. For soup can do more to lift the spirits and stimulate the appetite than any other one dish." 

-Louis P. De Gouy, "The Soup Book" (1949)

Thank you, to my friend Emily, for the wonderful butternut squash recipes AND for harping on me about getting a slow-cooker, in Week 42! I have used it twice already, and I just adore this kitchen gadget. I ended up getting the large one with the ceramic insert, which is cool because I can make big batches of freeze-ahead meals or a pot roast, if I choose. It's all dangerous and a huge timesaver. This one also came with a dip warmer insert, which Ted will love for his queso habit. Since I am deliberately meat-free 3 nights a week now ("deliberate" implies that I am talking about legitimate, nutritious vegetarian food, not chips and salsa because I was lazy), the first slow-cooker recipe I tried was the coconut-butternut crockpot soup recipe from Superhealthykids.com. I basically used this recipe as more of an inspirational springboard because I ended up using an acorn squash rather than a sweet potato, adding 2 cups of baby portabella mushrooms, an apple, garlic, 2 TBS more of cumin, cinnamon, lots of black pepper, and I omitted coconut flakes (though I did use lite coconut milk). The end product was extremely rich and earthy, with more of a cream-of-mushroom meets butternut squash and cumin flavor to it than anything. 5/5 stars from this mushroom fan, and if you've always wanted to be a mushroom lover but don't like the texture, I recommend them this way (crockpot + puree = soup). This made about 12 servings. 

Other Week 42 Newness:

• New beer! I haven't tried a new beer in so long! The sadness! And, to make matters even worse, my favorite kind of beer is a good porter, which I have not had in about 1.5 years. It's one of those things...I guess you could say "trigger food" although beer isn't really a food...But it's one of those things that used to be a larger part of my life when I was chubby, much like a lot of homemade yeast breads and pasta and rich cheeses :) mmmm....rich cheeses.....Cutthroat Porter from Odell Brewing Co out of Ft Collins (CO) was good! I thought it had a very strong coffee aftertaste, which I like, but it wasn't as sweet as some of the more chocolaty porters, if you happen to have a preference. I would have it again, though it is nowhere close to replacing my 1st favorite (Mac and Jacks Porter, Redmond, WA) or 2nd favorite (Black Butte Porter, Bend, OR). I forget how expensive some things like this are here in KS (craft brews). Pacific Northwesterners are spoiled. That's all there is to it.

• Wonderscope Children's Museum. I liked it okay, but it wasn't as neat as some of the other museums and discovery/learning centers we have been to in Kansas and Missouri. Henry had a GREAT time, but I think my bottom-line rating for this place is, I am glad we checked this off of our list, but we won't go back unless we are in the area of Shawnee, KS :) I am sure that if we lived there, we would love it. However, if I am going to drive that far, I would just as soon drive to the Kansas Children's Discovery Center out in Lawrence, KS or the Patee House Museum up in St Joseph, MO or the Overland Park Botanical Gardens or Ernie Miller Nature Center...We have been so spoiled with amazing learning opportunities in our midst, and I love exploring them all with Henry! 3/5 stars for Wonderscope :) 

Week 39: Let's Celebrate 75% Completion!

What's new?

In Week 39, we celebrate a milestone: 75% of the way through the year! And just because we can, we will give thanks for all of it: our successes, our failures, our dreams, and our realities. My favorite ways to celebrate just about anything include eating food, chatting with friends and family, wearing a good pair of jeans, being outside, and making lists. 

Non-mom-jeans. The last time I bought a pair of hot jeans (the really good kind) was 2006. I didn't even buy any after I lost weight! Desperately needing to channel Linda Hamilton in the Terminator (and not owning a gymnists body or a machine gun or a cigarette), I got a new pair of Joe's. And it worked. I look exactly like the photo above. 

September foodie penpal. My second foodie penpal (check out The Lean Green Bean for an explanation of foodie penpals) package was full of deliciously sweet and energy-filled treats. Brookside acai chocolates are delicious! I love dark chocolate and was quite excited to discover that these were chewy. I LOVE chewy candies. I also had no idea Brookside was owned by Hershey. Way to go, Hershey. Henry and I love the honey sticks, which he had never had, and honey is a completely underestimated, natural anti-bacterial and anti-viral food. Agave nectar has nothing on honey, as much as it tries. I had had the Sweet Leaf mint green tea before, but was pleasantly surprised by my foodie penpal's ballsiness to include a glass jar of liquid in my package. Maybe my Linda Hamilton alter ego will give me the strength I need to be that brave in my future packages :) The homemade cookies were a sweet touch - Ted would have devoured these, being that they were peanut butter and chocolate, had he been here! I love orzo and fruit leather for running fuel - Orzo always makes for a nice, chilled pasta salad. Throw in some feta, cucumber, and tomato...maybe a little olive oil, and you have a delicious meal. My penpal also included special treats for Henry, which I thought was the sweetest thing ever.

Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge (Mound City, MO). This is an hour and a half north from Fort Leavenworth and completely worth every speck of your time. What a perfect time of year as well being the fall migration! There is a 10-mile loop around the refuge that is basically a driving tour (slow) with lots of places to get out with the spotting scope or camera, or just sit in your car with binos. We enjoyed seeing American white pelicans, osprey, turkey vultures, snow geese, loons, turtles, and lots of monarchs everywhere. We will definitely be back this winter to try to spot some bald eagles! 

Used food dehydrator. We can't wait to make some homemade teas and dried fruits. I may or may not include a specimen or two as well :)

If you will recall, at the Halfway Point, I created this list of goodies for completion to have done before the end of the year:

Here is what we have completed:

• ditch the sippy cup/switch to full big-boy cups only - done, for the most part. Cups with a lid are still nice for taking on runs, hikes, and in the car, kind of like a Nalgene.

• Pass the Praxis - by the Grace of God, I did pretty well on this crazy test!

• finish current book - yes 

• make it through a playgroup session without trying to leave the building barely, but yes

• successfully find a preschool in VA before we move there - yes, though I am not head-over-heels in love with it, as compared to how I feel about his current school/teacher

• pick peaches from local orchard and freeze enough pie fillings for peach pie until the end of the year They didn't open for u-Pick this year, but I was a farmer's market stalker, and have peaches galore. 

• take Henry owling and to a local owl lecture at a nearby nature center while he is still obsessed with owls - We did go owling! However, we did not make it to a lecture because they were all late in the evening (bedtime) rather than what I was hoping for (a couple that were in the early morning). Both are good times to go owling. He is still loving learning about owls, who fascinate us both.

• get a cute grow chart for Henry's room - done! He's growing like a weed.

• start preschool - yes

• not sit in the parking lot and cry for 3 hours on the first day of preschool like a total loser - yes, thanks to a very good friend

• seriously. get a life - I still have anxiety leaving him every single time. But it goes away within about 12 seconds after dropping him off :)

• say "please" and "thank you" consistently - He has started doing this! I am so proud. This was really the only thing I cared about on this list, and it happened. I've noticed he is better at saying please and thank you to strangers than he is to his Momma, however :) I am probably the same way with my Momma...

• squaw creek national wildlife refuge

Here is what is in the process of being completed:

• potty training completion - If you could graph this progress, it would look like a wave. Just within the last few days, he has been telling me "help"; grabbing himself; then holding it for a few seconds, which is awesome. He only does this in cotton undies - Pullups are a joke in case anyone reading this is just about to start this adventure.

• KS/MO bug collection - Just have to finish and affix my labels! Would like to get a couple more species.

• finish current crochet project and complete about 5 more - I don't know about the "5 more", but should be finished with the current behemoth in a month or so

• finish the rest of current book pile...about 8-9 of them, not counting the teacher resources now on my list - Probably more like 4.

• finish writing current short work of fiction - I think this will actually happen. As usual, It needs to be simplified a LOT for a short story.

• call my grandparents more regularly - Trying...My limited phone talking time is usually spent calling one of my parents, siblings, or sister-in-laws, so I really, sadly, have to schedule time to call anyone else, including friends. Though, is it really that sad? It gets done that way. Just life, I think.

• learn new tree identification (list) - Sucking it up on this one. But I have learned a few...

• try one new smoothie week per week - More like, every 2 weeks :) But yes.

• teach my son to catch and throw a football - working on it! He has a good arm, though teaching someone to catch is HARD when you suck yourself :) haha

• teach my son to ride his bike - Well, we are getting on, being pushed, and are fascinated by big kids on their bikes. Working on it...

• find a place to live in VA - Working on it. I think my Husband has much more lavish taste than I do, but I have always known this. I like cozy. He likes an echo :)

• get my child to willingly eat a vegetable/food in general - If green smoothies count, then yes.

• complete a half marathon on Post before we leave - One more week! Yay.

• make sure he can recognize his name (written) before he gets to his first day of preschool - I think he can recognize his name...He knows the spelling. not 100% sure if he really knows it or has just memorized it :)

Week 38: Our Brains Are Alive (and Melty Is Too A Word)

What's new?

Oh, how I missed you, Wally Lamb. Reading favorite authors is like stepping into a nice, hot bath. You can confidently just let their words completely absorb your melty, porous brain because you're not tripping over their shitty, cliche, underdeveloped characters or bored out of your mind or disgusted because once more, someone mistook a pessimistic point of view for good writing. It is like knowing in advance you are going to get a brain massage and a good laugh and your imagination is going to come alive and be free. The Hour I First Believed is a similiar style to I Know This Much is True, where he ties deep, historical roots with regard to the protagonists family history into the current day. This story centers around a couple going through marital problems who deal with the after-effects of the Colombine massacre. Deep, complex, believable, and thought-provoking.

Week 38 New Stuff:

• Henry has given up naps. Oddly, he seems SO much happier and content on this schedule. No more spending 2 hours a day fighting him to take a nap, then fighting him to eat, then to go to bed. He sleeps from 7:30-7ish; eats more; talks more, is more affectionate and playful. I think this is actually working! Quiet time for an hour in the afternoons is a must, and I am learning as I go. Time Management...this is something that is being quickly readjusted :) Not sure if I will ever crochet again!

• Cod liver oil - A lot of great research exists on the benefits of cod liver oil on brain development, the prevention of learning disabilities, and even various disorders of the Autism Spectrum, not to mention nerve disorders. I just don't think it can hurt, especially since our boy is such a picky eater!  

• I signed up for a half marathon on Post the first weekend in October. One of my girlfriends offered to come hang out with Henry that morning, and having that possibility made me more excited than waking him up early to take to someone else's house while also trying to get ready for a half marathon. While I am no stranger to half marathons, it has been a year since I have run one!

• New green smoothie recipe from Green Smoothie Revolution. I had been wanting to try this one for a while because it only had 2 ingredients and looked extremely refreshing; 3 cups of cubed cantelope and 1 bunch of parsley. That's it! I add a little water to mine every time just because I have a blender from 1994, but you fancy VitaMixers need not add water. I THOUGHT this was going to be good. I am obsessed with parsley. I love anything with melon. I had both ingredients handy. However, it didn't really sit right with me. The flavor combo was not doing it. Green apples, sour berries, lemon, other greens...those are things that work with parsley. Cantelope is too sweet or too melon-y or something. Blech. Like all of those fruit and mint candies and gums? Those also gross me out, and this was kind like that (1/5 stars).

Week 37: Transplanting a Walnut Grove

What's new?

Do you ever find yourself compiling random lists of memories about a person or a situation in your life that you want to write about? In week 37, I created a character list for and found myself thinking a lot about my Great Grandmother, and how, during those times in life where I think I might have a total and complete meltdown, my simple memories of her and our conversations during my childhood give me comfort and strength.

Years ago, while I was going through a very painful separation and divorce, I got rid of almost everything in my house, including all artwork and photos on the wall. My Mom gave me this pillowcase that Grandma had made, and it was the only thing on my wall for almost an entire year.

As oddly dramatic as this is going to sound, I feel this spun out of control and on the verge of a meltdown EVERY time before we are about to move. And, compared to people who met their spouses early on, I haven't even moved that much! I don't think most people have this kind of emotional root system that they have to rip up every time they move, especially when it is a way of life for them. But this is how I feel about it, for whatever reason - It is very painful. It's just who I am. I put down roots in my environment and suck in the air such that it becomes the essence of my very cells. And so, my poor Husband...a Military man to his core, who, it seems, loves moving, must literally transplant a walnut grove every time. Though, he has turned out to be a pretty good arborist, so far.

Week 37 Newness:

• Found a preschool in Virginia for our Buddy (for a January start)! SO relieved and happy about this very huge answer to our prayers. He was on 5 waitlists, and we are picky. We also have found some great potential places for the 2015/2016 school year (when I plan on heading back to work full-time), which is a load off. 

• New collapsible crochet bag to hold my project yarn! In 20 years of crocheting, I have never owned one of these! It is actually a picnic basket, ha! But it is perfect for what I needed. A joyful little gift to self :)

• Grandma Susie's Backdoor Bakery zucchini coconut bread from the Parkville, MO farmer's market. Might just be the best thing Henry and I have ever eaten. It is very moist and flavorful, and worth the price just to try it at least once!

• Backfire BBQ at Legends! Oh my goodness, this place. We went with some friends who had been there before - Choppers and tattoos everywhere. Delicious barbeque, sweet and family-friendly staff (really, you guys have no idea). AMAZING bar. Though my Husband is not as into choppers and tattoos as his walnut grove wife, he would have loved this place to watch college football every Saturday :)     

Week 36: The Kindness of People, The Mush of My Brain

What's new?

Week 36 was a pretty great week, all around. That said, today was a tough one in a day-in-the-solo-life with my growing, glowing, almost-3-year-old. My brain is mush. I cannot even fake my way through this post with an attempt at some humor or ultra-fake-facebook-sounding BS about how we should all appreciate this time because it goes by so quickly. You know what? Right now, in this moment, I am proud to say that I do not appreciate it, and I can't wait until I no longer have to repeat, "please use your words, mommy can't understand you when you whine," 5,000 times a day. THERE. I said it. GASP. Now go find some sugary little Instagram quote to help you feel better. No wait. I already did that :) Don't worry, it is possible that I will delete this horridly grouchmo post and re-post a new, cheerful one when I wake up in the morning...Namaste, friends.

Week 36 Newness:

• The Sweetest Gift - A friend of a friend, whom we met ONCE, made Henry the most beautiful, random, adorable dinosaur quilt. I was so overwhelmingly blessed by this kind gesture, and Henry loved it so much that he danced on it and rolled around on it for days. Some people are so talented in this world! I love homemade.

• New Restaurants - As I mentioned last week, my Father-in-Law was here visiting. The man loves and appreciates food as much as I do (he did not pass this on to his son or to his grandson, which is probably good, or I would weigh 400 lbs, easy). We ate out a LOT and enjoyed every moment! Two new local places we tried were Osaka Sushi in Leavenworth (just outside of the main gate), and Panchos in Parkville, MO. I am so sad that I waited 1.5 years to try Osaka. See what being a food snob gets you? Nothing. It was delicious, and though I do not recommend eating there (kind of ghetto), the food was amazing, and it will be on the take-out menu often. Panchos was so fun! An old house, situated between a boxcar and a caboose. The food was good-enough-Mexican food. Having lived in San Diego, I am kind of still a Mexican food snob, but it was good! Well worth the trip, and if you have a kid who is obsessed with trains, it is a must. You get to sit inside of a traincar with a view of the real train that runs through Parkville. I heart Parkville.

• Friend Dating - While I am sure they are never going to call us back (today, the horrible, no-good, very bad day of which I spoke earlier, was our date day), I enjoyed spending some time with a very interesting, nice, patient woman and her sweet son from Henry's preschool, today. This woman was a good sport. Sooo kind. That is all.

• New Pet - Remember the little teddy bear hamster that we babysat for 6 weeks back in June/July? Well it turns out the parents of the little girl who owned him were looking to re-home this little critter, and we just fell in love with it. The little girl who previously owned him named him "Leah" and her mom suggested we change his name :) But Henry already knows "Leah" and thinks every animal slightly resembling a rodent is "like Leah", so, "Leah" stays. Him-Her.

Week 35: New Favorites

What's new?

Patee House Museum in St Joseph, MO is AMAZING! I took my 2.5-year old and my Father-in-Law, and all 3 of us gave this place 5/5 stars. It is a 40 minute drive from Fort Leavenworth, and, should you find yourself in the area, I highly recommend you do not wait 1.5 years to visit! We will, most definitely, be returning. My Father-in-Law and I both agreed that this museum is just as well-done as the American History Museum in D.C. Beautiful historical displays, and SO many of them. We could have stayed for hours! 

From the website:

 "Patee House Museum features two full floors of exhibits. Inside Patee House, you can climb aboard an 1860 train and ride the vintage "Wild Thing" carousel. The museum also houses an 1877 railroad depot, stagecoach, cars, trucks, fire trucks, wagons, buggies and carriages, Jeeps, a racecar, horse-drawn hearses and a real gallows, a blacksmith shop, dressmaker's shop, model railroads, antique furniture and toys, a wing with Western art by artist George Warfel, and a wing designed to look like the Streets of Old St. Jo in the 1860s-1880s."

Week 35 brought with it some fantastic newness, in addition to our visit to this historical treasure. You all know how I am a hard sell on new favorites? Well, this week I discovered quite a few! My Father-in-Law has been here visiting for a couple of weeks, so we are in vacation mode, which always helps.

• New favorite hair place: Jabez, located in Leavenworth. Ask for Marley. NO one knows about this place because everyone on Post goes to either Tom and Ann's or Teri's Hair Loft. I strongly recommend you give Jabez a try before they discover how awesome they are and raise their prices!

• The O'Malley sandwich at Weston Brewery in Weston, MO. It is basically the most amazing Reuben you will ever eat. In your life. Even better than my Mom's (never thought I'd say that). Mom, if you are reading this, I am SO sorry I did not take you here when you came to visit. I will get the recipe. All I know is, they use some kind of stone ground, spicy, sweet mustard sauce instead of horseradish or 1000 Island (which is gross and not a real Reuben but that's how everyone makes them). 

• I tried out Harbor Lights Coffeehouse in downtown Leavenworth. I cannot remember the last time I went to a coffeeshop by myself. It was phenomenal (not the coffee, the freedom). Coffee was okay. Menu looked yummy, and the place seemed very family-friendly. I'll go again, just because I can :)

• Henry...What a boy, this one :) He is growing so fast and changing at such an incredible rate these days. We seem to be moving out of a VERY frustrating phase and into another fun one :) The reason is because he is expressing himself and actually conversing. I love picking him up from school and hearing about his day. I love it that he can tell me little things now, like if he is cold or wants to go home or wants more food?! His nighttime prayers have also been very lengthy and detailed, of late. I adore listening to what he is thankful for. It is my new favorite part of the day. God Bless preschool teachers. 

Week 34: Treasures (Ecological, Historical, Psychological)

What's new?

Picture, if you will, a half-groggy, non-caffeinated mom, still in her pajamas, enjoying the quiet of the first of the end-of-summer cool mornings in Kansas. She goes outside to clean up the toys in the yard and drain the kiddie pool. Reaching for the foam alligator toy in the half-dark of morning, she, who also happens to be an amateur bug collector, jumps through her skin with a half-masked yelp as she grabs something very large, spiny, and dark. It ain't right, folks, this early in the morning. Then, she goes to turn on the porch light, heart now racing with excitement (rather than primal fear), as she knows she's found a true treasure...a giant robber fly! WOW!

And that, my friends, is how Week 34 began :)

When I had my brief moment of fame, sorting insects for the Entomology Department at the San Diego Natural History Museum, I got to see a non-giant version of this guy. Seeing this guy, however, is a first, and such a treat! The Genus Promachus, it is said, can deliver quite a painful bite with it's needle-like proboscis and is a great predator of the insect world. However, the larva of these guys might be eating the roots of my grass, among other creatures. Who invented lawns, anyway? What a terrible idea, in any climate.

Other Week 34 Awesome Newness:

• While visiting the Parkville Farmer's Market for the last variety of local peaches, we discovered the jaw-droppingly beautiful little town of Parkville, MO! The Parkville Farmer's Market is tiny, but absolutely every farm had the most beautiful of wares. A 45-minute drive from Fort Leavenworth, just like anywhere, and worth it. English Landing Park, which hosts the market, is a wonderful, large park that overlooks the river, and Parkville has quite the history behind it. If ever there was a ghost story to be written, this place would be some great inspiration.

• Now that I am no longer studying for the Praxis II Middle Grade Science (which, by the way, I PASSED!!), Ted and I decided to go back to our tradition of trying to read a book together during deployment. We picked Why Can't You Read My Mind, by Jefferey Bernstein. Having read a few marriage devotionals or counseling-type books before, we decided to give this one a whirl because we thought it seemed a little more focused on the partnership aspect of ANY relationship and managing thought patterns with one another and less about roles in marriage. I am a Christian woman who also happens to be married, but I grow very tired of book after book where the focus is the woman (and man's) "role" in the marriage. How is continually defining your "role" in any situation EVER helpful to the GROWTH of that institution? If you worked as part of a team of project managers and all you ever did during meetings was dole out roles, how would that inspire members of the team to continue to create, inspire one another, and stay loyal to the business? Duh. How about focusing, instead, on each member as an individual, outside of a box, capable of creative thought and inspiration beyond belief, to one another?

From the Amazon reviews:

"They claim that one of the most significant steps is to focus on yourself rather than your partner by ridding yourself of toxic thoughts, "negative thoughts that have lost their basis in reality and have gotten out of control." Examining nine toxic thought patterns (such as jumping to conclusions, labeling one another and playing the "blame game"), the authors provide well-researched explanations, relevant examples and practical alternatives to transform negative thoughts and behaviors into positive and constructive ones." 

When all you have are your thoughts and a prayer because the other part of your team is rarely present in the flesh, the brain God gave you to manage your thoughts and your words becomes a powerful tool, and pretty much, your only one.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

Week 33: Holding Hands, Hot Air Balloons, and Baggy Clothes Wearing

What's new?

In Week 33, my sweetest little buddy had his first day of preschool! I wonder if he heard how loudly my heart beat against my chest when I dropped him off that morning? Knowing he was in the best of hands for a few hours, I treated myself to a little visit to Michael's to look at yarn and all of the fall/harvest decor without a little person in tow! A glorious time, my friends. One of my very sweet girlfriends let me drag her along as well, so bonus for some uninterrupted, adult conversation :) I have SO many solo momma plans...trail runs, return to writing fiction, local Victorian mansion/museums, the little kitchen store in town...Maybe some solo birdwatching? It's all dangerous. I'm not even sure where to start.   

Is it weird that I feel fat when I am nervous? When I feel fat, I tend to wear super baggy clothes. So chances are, if you see me wearing super baggy clothes, I am nervous or anxious about something(s). Like test days, doctor visits, hospitals in general, loud crashes in the middle of the night, and taking my son to his first day of preschool :) Also, when I am nervous, I crave hot coffee and hot soup (just since you were dying to know that).

When I picked him up and his teacher brought him to the door, he came out wearing his backpack (I couldn't get him to put it on, so already I was happy that he was learning), carrying his little painting he did and so proud. He even let his teacher HOLD his HAND as he walked out the door. That alone filled me with such hope. Such glee. When he saw me, his little lip quivered and his eyes filled up with tears. I quickly changed the subject and told him I was proud of him and that he was such a big boy. His teacher said he cried a few random times but was really good - followed directions, waited his turn, etc. Then, as SOON as we started walking down the hall, he was telling me all about his day and what they did and was speaking quite excitedly about it all. And as we crossed the street, he let me hold his hand the whole way across without a meltdown. A Christmas miracle, folks.

Preschool, I love you.

What else?

Other Week 33 new stuff:

• New children's fiction: A Little Critter compilation with all different Little Critter stories than we currently have, as well as a couple of Little Golden Books. The Please and Thank You Book is full of cute rhymes having to do with social etiquette and good behavior, but oddly, has nothing about saying "please" or "thank you". Out of the 3, it is my favorite. Henry is Little Critter obsessed, and I am no longer allowed to read it to him (he reads it). 

• New bug! Our first katydid! I have never seen one in real life :) We found this one at the Ernie Miller Nature Center down in Olathe, KS, and we were pretty excited.

• Great Midwest Balloon Festival (Olathe, KS) - We woke up early to drive an hour down South to see the hot air balloons come in and try to make their target. It was really fun, and the weather was beautiful. I always love being surrounded by nerds of whatever the "thing" is. Hot air balloon nerds are awesome. They just follow the balloons around and photograph them, commenting on wind speed and direction and the balloon itself. Huh. Oh, and Henry loved this :)

• New hiking shoes! I had my old Merrells about 8 years; abused and used them, and figured it was about time to replace them. I never like new shoes, but it is important to take care of your feet when you are on them as much as I, or so my Husband always tells me :) Merrells are nice if you have really narrow feet with high arches, and I used them for work many years. Now I just wear them to preschooler-hike and chase after the youngling. 5/5 either way. 

Week 28: Climb Aboard, Explorers!

What's new? Photo cred for the hop tree, giant swallowtail, and milk snake go to Wikipedia, all others are my own.

This year has been so much fun, as my 2.5 year-old has become quite the little wilderness explorer and will actually stay near me/stay on the trail. It took quite a bit of training and hiking practice to get him to be able to do that, as he is a definite runner/anti-hand-holder :) Yesterday, as we were out walking, he pointed to a vine of poison ivy and said, "That's ivy. Dooooon't touch it; it'll bite ya!" I've had various people look at me strangely for pointing out things like poison ivy, stinging nettle, and wasps to my preschooler, I guess the thinking being that it is better to not bring these things to their attention at all. I couldn't disagree more, as bringing awareness and the ability to describe your surroundings is probably one of the most important things that you could teach a child this age. Compassion and respect are learned by observing nature. Don't even get me started on the nature deficit disorder hypothesis described by Richard Louv. For the record, we steer clear of most snake habitat. The milk snake (above) was one I saw out on a trail run, and other than that, all we have seen are garter snakes and brown snakes. Momma is good with that :) 

In Week 28, we began our KS/MO bug collection and compiled a species list of new things we have seen in KS/MO this year. I also discovered that I have a new favorite Scentsy, Apple Press (and you know how I am about favorites!). Also tried and loved a new gadget. Many of my British crochet buddies use ergonomic crochet hooks. I am not sure why I never have, considering the fact that I crushed my thumb joint years ago. It kind of took a bit of getting used to, as my "form" had to change (kind of like anytime you switch to an ergonomic version of anything)...Totally worth it though!

Eastern-tailed blue (most common butterfly that we see)
giant swallowtail
great spangled fritillary
gypsy moth
plume moth
milksnake
brown snake (Storeria dekayi)
plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix)
hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata): smells DELICIOUS, FYI!!!

Week 27: Sources of Energy and Motivation

What's new?

We hope you all enjoyed a safe and relaxing 4th of July in Week 27! This week, we tried a new yummy, easy quinoa recipe PACKED with pre AND post-running goodness. These muffins are amazing! Two muffins for breakfast provide me with enough energy to last until lunch without snacking. Normally, only a hard-boiled egg holds that kind of hunger power :) Quinoa is cheap, easy to prepare, and 1/4 cup of quinoa has 7g of protein, 30g of carbs, 3g of fiber, and 10% of your daily Iron. We call this nutrient-dense awesomeness. Why must we eat nutrient-dense awesomeness? Currently, life is much different than it was one year ago. I am solo-parenting a very energetic 2.5-year old. I am studying for a very hard exam in a couple of weeks and gearing up to become a student and eventually, go back to work as a middle grade science teacher (and/or maaaybe a high school biology teacher). I am also getting mentally prepped (maybe) for the Great Wall of China Marathon (May 2014)! I need foods that provide energy, motivation, and sleep. Do such foods exist? You bet they do! Do these foods include leftover bratwurst, beer and flag cakes from our 4th of July celebration? Noooot so much :) 

Bob's Red Mill Golden Quinoa Muffins

1 cup Bob's Red Mill Organic Quinoa

1 1/4 cups boiling water

1 cup fine ground cornmeal

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 large egg, slightly beaten

1 Tbsp orange zest (I didn't have any oranges, so used lemon)

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour (I used King Arther white whole wheat flour)

2 tsp baking powder

package instructions, per Bob himself: "In a large bowl, pour the boiling water over the quinoa grain, cornmeal, and raisins. Stir to moisten, cover and let stand refrigerated for 1 hour. Can be refrigerated up to 8 hours. Preheat oven to 375 F. Oil muffin tins and set aside. Sit into the quinoa mixture the honey, oil, egg, orange zest, salt, whole wheat pastry flour and baking powder. Mix quickly, being careful not to overmix. Spoon into prepared muffin tins. Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes 12 muffins."

What else?

Lots of other newness in Week 27:

• St Joseph, MO Remington Nature Center. An easy, 45-minute drive north from Fort Leavenworth (and well-worth it!), this is a beautiful building containing a plethora of phenomenal displays of native wildlife and ecological processes. The displays are both living and taxidermic, and both interactive and audio/visual. I HIGHLY recommend this place for kids and adults of any age, and the Riverwalk pathway is open at dusk, if you want to go for a great nature walk an hour or so prior to the center opening (at 10:00am). $3 admission for the general public and listed as one of the Blue Star facilities if you are a military family. 5/5 stars! :)

• Some new children's fiction worth mentioning: We are big Sandra Boynton fans around here, and I was looking for a book I knew Henry would respond to about feelings. I have seen other things that claim to be for his age-group that are either way too over-the-top serious, emotional, or just not enough to keep him coming back to read it. Boyton's Happy Hippo, Angry Duck is just our speed :) And you know what? I can think of plenty of adults of whom this would also be their speed...I am putting this under our "deployment resources" for sure. 5/5 stars. Dr Seuss always gets 5/5 stars. Biscuit books...Henry is obsessed with them. I honestly would rather read a lot of other things, but because he loves these so much, and we have already read all of the ones at the library, I figured it was time to own a few. Our new bugs book is actually non-fiction, and it has beautiful artwork and explanations of spiders, so it gets 5/5 as well. 

• Wine in a box (Bota Box Reisling). The same neighbor who told me about Green Smoothie Revolution also advised me to try wine in a box. This woman has some good advice! Why not? And white wine, too! I think the last time I drank this much white wine, I was 21...In all seriousness, this is nice for single wine servings, when you really only want one glass, and Ted and I had tried Bota individual boxes camping many times, so I knew it would be okay. Good for exhausted moms and girl's nights :) We'll just call this a momma deployment resource. 

• New neighbors...yeah, yeah, what is new, right? This is pretty much a constant. They seem very sweet, and their little girl is exactly Henry's age. He already let her give him a hug and liked it :) 

• New running shorts! It's gross how long it has been since I purchased new running shorts. Think about it: Running shorts are like underwear, but grosser. Okay, don't think about it. A message to the 15-25 year old girls who have decided to make the ONLY good fitting running shorts their latest fashion statement: "Keep your paws off of my running gear! I am flattered that you want to stick your twiggy, non-running legs in my running shorts and wear them with tall socks and a messy bun and this is considered fashion, but please. $30 for a cheap piece of nylon gives me ulcers, and thanks to you, this is how much I now have to pay. Go find something else!!"

:)

Week 26: The Halfway Mark!

image source

We are about to be 50% of the way through the year, people! How are you doing with your 2013 goals, up to this point? Are you where you envisioned you would be? Or have you become a little lost (either by accident or on purpose) and you are now brushwacking a new pathway somewhere? Perhaps you have found a really great view somewhere, and you aren't moving at all - You are just sitting, enjoying the spray of the waterfall. Maybe you didn't even make it up the mountain because you became so distracted by that amazing new pub near the trailhead, and you got to talkin' to some other distracted person, and the sun started to set...

:) 

We have tried may new things this year, and in honor of our halfway mark for Allbrandnewin52, here are 50 more new things Henry and I would like to do/try for the remaining 26 weeks:

1. squaw creek national wildlife refuge
2. potty training completion
3. KS/MO bug collection (pins only, nothing in vials, which means no spiders)
4. ditch the sippy cup/switch to full big-boy cups only
5. begin regular Pilates routine
6. begin training for The Great Wall of China Marathon (May 2014). This is kind of a big one since I have only run 3 previous full marathons, the last one being in 2008, when I developed bad Plantar Fasciitis. I really don't want to run TGWC half marathon. C'mon.
7. Oh, I don't know...maybe PASS the PRAXIS??! EEEEK!
8. finish current crochet project and complete about 5 more 
9. finish current book
10. finish the rest of current book pile...about 8-9 of them, not counting the teacher resources now on my list
11. finish writing current short work of fiction
12. finish writing current children's folktale series
13. start preschool
14. not sit in the parking lot and cry for 3 hours on the first day of preschool like a total loser
15. seriously. get a life
16. learn all of the species on the ceiling at T-Rex
17. say "please" and "thank you" consistently
18. make it through a playgroup session without trying to leave the building
19. Wonderscope
20. call my grandparents more regularly
21. learn new tree identification (list)
22. try one new beer per month
23. try one new smoothie week per week
24. try about 40 new recipes
25. teach my son to catch and throw a football
26. teach my son to hit a ball off of the T
27. teach my son to ride his bike
28. actually take my son to the pool, even though I am not a fan of pools
29. find a place to live in VA
30. successfully find a preschool in VA before we move there
31. apply to Educate VA (after hopefully passing Praxis)
32. meet new nephew/cousin
33. get my child to willingly eat a vegetable/food in general :)
34. complete a half marathon on Post before we leave
35. convince my neighbor that she likes running and is going to be a total badass at it. I am really good at this (convincing people of their secret badassness). It's like my secret talent.  
36. learn the second verse to "America the Beautiful"
37. learn the real words to "This Land is My Land/This Land is Your Land"
38. pick peaches from local orchard and freeze enough pie fillings for peach pie until the end of the year. Peach pie is one of my favorites!!!! And last year the peaches didn't do well due to the drought.
39. get a good juicer and begin juicing for preschooler
40. get rid of TVs
41. take Henry to an outdoor jazz festival
42. take Henry to the Renaissance festival
43. take Henry to Branson, MO
44. take Henry owling and to a local owl lecture at a nearby nature center while he is still obsessed with owls
45. Kansas City zoo! We've been to Omaha a few times now, but have yet to visit our own KC zoo!
46. get a cute grow chart for Henry's room
47. crochet pennant for H's room
48. make sure he can recognize his name (written) before he gets to his first day of preschool
49. visit Foucakes in town (local fancy bakery)
50. visit the Atchison farmer's market...

Week 25: Look with your Eyes, See with your Heart.

What's new?

"Look with your eyes," is something that I say to my son quite often these days :) Though I mainly say it as a command synonymous to "don't touch that!" - it is something that he understands on a deeper level than most 2.5-year olds. He genuinely seems to enjoy looking "with his eyes", and we have the most fun together reading our Eye Spy books and looking for birds and bugs. In Week 25, I was much inspired to take Henry to his first art museum. We had a blast. He surprises and impresses me with his little brain, and more and more, I love hearing what he is thinking about, as he starts to verbally express himself (though not much...I think he might take after his Daddy just a bit in that department), I find that I just want to show him the World in the way that you want to show off for someone. I want to grab his hand and present him with all of this amazing beauty and life. 

Of course, my expectations were that we were, realistically, going to probably last all of 6 minutes before we were done (because he had to be in the stroller). Not so! He really seemed to enjoy looking at all of the paintings. We tried to play a larger version of "Eye Spy" books, and it worked. He also got a kick out of the sculptures and the sound of his voice as it echoed in each room :) Some of the docents came over and commented on how well he was doing and pointed out some more cool stuff to see. We ended our hour-long visit with a trip outside, which was just an extraordinary terraced lawn/landscape with even more sculptures. I highly recommend the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, should you find yourself in the area. It is free admission, and parking is only $5.

Other Week 25 Newness:

• I received the most beautiful book of watercolors of local landscapes called, Return to Kansas. The artist is J.R. Hamil, a local who worked for Hallmark Cards for 15 years before deciding to open his own studio in 1973. His wife, Sharon Hamil, was a teacher and writer of curriculum materials in Kansas. She wrote the accompanying historical text in the book, a really wonderful gift from my peeps that just moved away. I will treasure it, always.

• We are now hamster-sitting for 5 weeks for some neighbors who are on vacation. Henry is obsessed with this mangy little thing, and I will admit, it has grown on me. She follows me around in her little ball and just mostly wants to be held. She rolls in her poo and pee, and I try not to think about it too much because she really is pretty cute. Messy little creatures...

• Henry and I are learning our owl calls. He memorized all of the species of owls in my bird book and then kept asking me what they sounded like...uh...I knew 3? So, we have spent some time on YouTube and in the Ornithology Institute's library :) 

• I learned that milk thistle greens are edible.

• Tried a new green smoothie for the week: Kale, cucumber, granny smith apple, and banana (just a little bit to sweeten, otherwise it is very "green").   

• Conducted my first interviews of preschool potentials for Henry and found one whose director I think I may have a small woman crush on who JUST SO HAPPENS to be the teacher for the 2.5-year old class! I am so excited to have found a preschool that has a 2.5-year old class that is a perfect fit for us, and we meet next week for the tour! I think Henry is going to have the best time. 

Week 24: A Galaxy, A Smoothie, and A Toddler

what's new?

We spent week 24 in the company of our fabulous friends, the Morrows, who were staying with us for a week before they moved to their next Post. We have grown quite close over the last year, and I gave them my whole heart, and they gave me several solar systems, in return. Sometimes, when you allow yourself to be truly vulnerable in friendships, you get stung, but other times, you get a galaxy :) And so, there seems no other passage more befitting than One Art, by Elizabeth Bishop:

 The art of losing isn't hard to master;
 so many things seem filled with the intent
 to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

 Lose something every day.  Accept the fluster
 of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
 The art of losing isn't hard to master.

 Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
 places, and names, and where it was you meant
 to travel.  None of these will bring disaster.

 I lost my mother's watch.  And look! my last, or
 next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
 The art of losing isn't hard to master.

 I lost two cities, lovely ones.  And, vaster,
 some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
 I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

 ---Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
 I love) I shan't have lied.  It's evident
 the art of losing's not too hard to master
 though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

New things we tried in Week 24:

• Scooter's Blend Coffee (a medium roast/blend). I liked it - very deeply roasted and nutty flavor overall. Still not better than my favorite, but better than many. An easy drinking coffee that you can get at the drive-thru in a pinch if you don't want to make a special grocery store trip just for coffee.

• New deployment book for kids - Lily Hates Goodbyes. This book received the utmost praise from critics and reviewers, buuuut...I was not a fan, simply for the reason that "Lily hates goodbyes" is repeated on almost every page, despite the creative and wonderful things she is doing throughout the story. I don't like the idea of harping on hating something and continuing to whine about it. Say it once, get over it, and move on. Tough baloney, Lily. C'mon. 

• Red Barn Farms Country Market (Weston, MO). I LOVE the town of Weston (about 20 minutes east of Fort Leavenworth), and though we have visited many of the local farms around here, have never made it to Red Barn! They have the cutest little country store - I highly recommend paying them a visit, should you venture out this way.

• The Farmhouse (Kansas City, MO). Beautiful farm-to-table restaurant downtown, near City Market. Our dear friends treated us to this great find, complete with lovely outdoor seating and delicious wine and appetizers before the beginnings of a toddler meltdown occurred (mine) and we said goodbye. It happens...We will be back. They have Black Butte Porter ON TAP :)  

• Green Smoothie Revolution (by, Victoria Boutenko). This book was given to to me to read by my neighbor, after chatting about rebuilding immunity from being sick/taking antibiotics. Her exact words were, "This book will rock your World.". I (wildly) concur and recommend to just about anyone. I learned quite a it about the overall digestion of green vegetables in general from this book. As a Colitis patient, I also learned some valuable tips for the absorption of the vitamins and minerals from veggies, but even if you learn nothing, this particular recipe feels really good on your tummy. I love parsley. It is highly underrated. We will alternate the types of greens we use (to avoid alkaloid absorption) every other week, but here is this week's smoothie recipe, which I modified (the original called for dates and only one lemon, and I prefer the piney-citrusy flavor of the parsley and didn't want it that sweet, so I opted for unsweetened berries):

2 cups parsley

1 Fuji apple (we used whatever)

1/2 cup frozen blueberry/raspberries

lemon juice from 2 squeezed lemons

a little bit of water to make my cheapo blender turn

This will be enough for a couple of days - make sure to store in glass, not plastic, which will leach nutrients

Week 23: The Good Graces of Time

What's New?

Dear Week 23, 

You were not an easy week, but within the good graces of your time, we have learned much about the amazing strength of our little boy. Please tell future weeks to go easy on this momma, lest I forget what I have learned about my 2.5-year old during this time :) And please, please remember: I am only a Padawon in all of this. There is still so much to learn in order to be a Jedi Master deployment momma, and I am not always 100% sure if want to be, for that matter.

Ted left at the end of last week, after only having been here a week, and each day since has been a parenting adventure trying to explain that each light left on in another room does not mean that daddy is home. Every time a car goes by or a male runner passes us on the trail, that is not daddy either. Daddy is on a ship in the ocean. He is probably having coffee with Nemo. He is protecting people from sharks, so the sharks don't bite them and make a big, giant, owie. 

Sometimes, distraction seems like the best thing, and other times, just talking about it really matter-of-factly is good. Still, most times, a big hug and a kiss and a good, long walk is the best thing. I find that if I let him lead with all of this, he usually works through it using his own little brain. Yesterday, I heard him upstairs get out of bed during his nap and go into mom and daddy's room. He was just sitting in a chair we have up there going, "daddy's room. this is daddy's room," very definitively. That must have brought his little heart some peace because then he ran into room and took a nap :)

Thankfully, one of my good friends brought over a couple of books for us to look at, which ended up being so great (and we ordered our own copies). He LOVES Over There (by Dorinda Williams). It has some very simple illustrations and is action-oriented (i.e. "I brush my teeth here. He [Daddy] brushes his teeth there." Just really could not be any more perfect for Henry! We have also enjoyed the activity book (created by Julie LaBelle) and have already completed our first deployment time capsule. There are cute ideas in there befitting for a 2-3 year old, such as connect the dots (and it is a Navy ship). 

My mom also sent a U.S. Navy Alphabet book, which I had never seen. Not only does Henry love this, but as a terrible Navy wife, I have learned more from this book about the Navy than I have ever known! :) This book should be given to every new Navy spouse. "V is for vessel" people! 

Another great "resource" has been just simple prayer!  Every adventurer's pathway calls for meditation and prayer at some point, and we do this often. Not only has it been a great bonding time for us, but I think to teach our kids to rest and be still in the small spaces of the day, amid the running around and endless structure or lack thereof, in many cases, is teaching them how to use a tool for real happiness. We are the praying type, and we believe prayer works, but even if you are not, teaching your kids to just count to 10 and take a deep breath every once in a while is a good thing in this World.

Going beetle and spider hunting and playing puzzles. Making chocolate chip cookies and raisin trains. These are the things that make us both happy turtles. So that's what we are doing, for now.

Other Week 23 Newness:

• Finally got my dream kitchen tool (besides the Kitchenaid pasta maker attachment)! A rice cooker/food steamer with a timer. This thing has been LIFE CHANGING. It has a white and brown rice setting, but you can also cook quinoa, lentils, or just about anything in half the time. I am eating a ton more vegetables with the steamer - and I just love it. Now if I could just get Henry to eat this stuff :)

• Henry did his first bird call: the California Quail. Yes, I was beside myself with glee.

• I signed up for a Foodie Pen Pal! Doesn't that sound exciting?? It was created by a dietician whose blog I came across via a gal who I sometimes get Weight Watchers recipes from. Check it out!! The Lean Green Bean