how to win friends & influence (little) people.

We eat a lot of eggs around here. Like four mornings per weekday we eat eggs: scrambled, fried, casserole-d, you get the idea. So, one day per week I try and do something fun for breakfast. A couple of ideas:
Coconut-banana fudgsicles*:
They thought I was the greatest mom on earth this particular morning. You're welcome, turkeys.
Blend together & then freeze overnight in popsicle molds:

2 T cocoa powder

1/2 cup canned coconut milk

2 small, very-ripe bananas

scant 1/16 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

A little raw honey

Tasty Breakfast cookies:

We made these with coconut oil and chocolate chips. Even my Clairegirl declared them awesome! High praise indeed.

*Found on pinterest, but unable to locate the original source.

traditions: the friday night sleepover.

A wise friend suggested friday night sleepovers for the big kids and they have been a hit. They love to sleep in each other's rooms. They look forward to it all week. It's adorable to see them become friends and to watch Mister become a big brother. Recently, I asked if he liked being a big brother and he said, "Ingrid is special to me, Mom."

Unrelated: do you know how hard it is to get a decent photo with all 3 kids in it? Nearly impossible. Someone is always crying, someone is making a pooping face and someone is intentionally hiding behind his baby sister. Back when I had one baby, I took great pictures. Just saying.

a text while the rain comes tumbling down.

Me: Why do we live here?

Him: Here as in our house or Oregon?

Me: Oregon.

Him: Because I had to find you. We can go now.

friday flaxjacks.

Maybe you eat all manner of fluffy baked goods. Or maybe you're gluten free. Maybe a year ago, your husband decided to eliminate starches. Because I love him, I've developed some new cooking habits. (Example: I used to make him banana bread for a treat, now I make him these). In our house, these pancakes are a friday treat that everyone loves.

Combine:
2 c flaxmeal (found in the refrigerated section)
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t salt

Add:
1 T melted coconut oil
5 eggs, beaten
1/2 c half & half or coconut milk

Flaxjacks cook lower and slower than traditional pancakes, so we usually do two pans at a time and put lids over each 'cake.

Yum.

he.

Loves helping with dishes. Loves salad. Loves to "shake the dressing." Loves listening to the song "Pumped up Kicks" way too much. Loves snuggies.

He sat quietly in the library today with hands folded and listened to all of the stories. A year ago, I would leave the library near tears, near cursing as he would sprint out of the children's room, unlocking the safety gate. I would waddle after him, unable to catch up or lift him. My life felt hard and small.

He still lets me rock him. This is not a small thing. During those months that I couldn't hold him I felt like I was missing it. Like he wouldn't be a baby by the time life felt normal again. But at 3, he is a treasure. And I feel like those months destroyed by locusts and uncomfortable pregnancy have been given back to me.

a birthday adventure.

This was not the year for travel without kids. Saturday I turned 35 and Nate and I took the kids north. Originally we had planned a weekend away. But as we planned we realized that we couldn't see these particular people without taking our family. I'm so glad we did.
We saw old friends.And new ones.

There was snow and there were snowmen and we got stuck and unstuck in our minivan. There was coffee and dads taking kids for playdates and best of all- my dear friend and "birthday advocate" who made sure that I was celebrated sufficiently.

We love you all.

you can lead a horse to water but you can't make her dance.

Yesterday I thought I'd go rogue and abandon rest time and keep an extra little boy. Ingrid had napped late in the morning and we had ballet at 3, so the playdate seemed reasonable. As we loaded up to take the friend home, I realized that not only was my extra carseat not installed, but we had taken the actual seat out as well. So, first I installed my 5 year old, my friend's 3 year old and my cranky baby into the van. Then I lugged the seat and carseat to the driveway and attempted to install both, while Mister ran wild (no idea why I chose to leave HIM unstrapped). The backseat buddies made various helpful suggestions. You should put the carseat in, Mom. I smacked myself in the face with the seat. I refrained from swearing. I called Nate and he talked me through seat installation. Done. We were on the road.

We drove the friend home and then headed to ballet. This was a new class for the girlie and kind of a big deal. It is smack in the middle of naptime, but she has a friend in the class and she really really wanted to try it out. So we went. Her very tired brother was a champ, watching patiently from the hall. Ingrid charmed the other parents as we waited. As we're heading home, I asked Claire what she thought of the class. Her response: I think I want to go back to doing nothing.

Looks like next week we'll skip ballet and go back to doing nothing.