The Schwartz Family Files

{this moment}

2010-11-05T09:54:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Bait and Switch :)

2010-10-29T14:28:00.000-04:00

The girls are still a bit young to realize that we're not part of the "general public" and that our decisions regarding...well, pretty much everything from where our babies are born to the types of food we eat...is a bit outside of the norm. I try to be an active participant in most of what the community does but make small changes and alterations (like supplementing our celebrations with truth-based stories and not HIStory) in order to actually feel good about what we're doing. I guess that's what all families do...make things their own. (It just so happens that most people in the communities in which we reside don't).

Halloween is no different. We're still a little young to feel comfortable dressing up and hiking around from house to house. Sophia is still scared by the costumes that aren't pink and frilly. But we all enjoy handing things out from the comfort and safety of our home. That way Soph can hide behind furnature is someone or something scary rings the doorbell.

Things are a bit easier when you have an infant. They often just go with the flow. Toddlers, especially 3 and 4 year old ones raised by viciously independent parents who encouraged said toddler to have their own opinions and such, actually DO have their own preferences. Much to my dismay....it isn't always what I want. (Who knew?!?)

So, in an attempt to allow full participation in the joys of Halloween without the sugar crash and all that insanity that goes with it, I put together baskets for each of the girls in hopes that the pile of (acceptable) goodness will satisfy.

Soph got pens and pencils, markers and (her favorite thing in the WORLD right now) lip gloss. I stuffed some Yummy Earth gummies and lollipops, Revolution foods Organic Mashups in there along with some Spooky S'mores Z-bars. (YUM!) Madeline got some new crayons (to color the walls with, no doubt), Method bubble bath and the same treats as Sopher.

Let's hope it works!

Oh...and in case you're wondering:
1. No, I do not dress up.
2. Sophia was not a chicken this year (like she has been since birth!)
3. She was a cowgirl, Belle princess, fairy...of course.
4. Madeline was the chicken. :)

{this moment}

2010-10-29T14:08:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

2010-10-22T17:07:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Amanda Soule, Soulamama

{this moment}

2010-10-18T11:57:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. (oops)

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Regrouping

2010-10-09T00:21:00.000-04:00

This week was Babypalooza! Wonderful for me (and those mamas!) but it required that our Harvest Time fun be put on hold. I was blessed to attend three beautiful homebirths in the first 72 hours of the week (two of which were waterbirths!). What an amazing thing to experience. The first two births required considerable time and I was away for a majority of Sunday night and Monday. I returned home and some sleep and then received another call.

The girls have been reading a ton of library books and have been soaking up time with the Dadder and my father in law, who is here for the week.

Both girls crawl up on Pop's lap with their favorite books and beg and plea (with hugs and kisses) for him to read. Madeline snuck out of the bathroom while I was showering and slid her naked self downstairs before I even realized it! I found her snuggled up with Pop and a book.

Soph has been especially interested in anything having to do with firefighters and Pop is the perfect man for the discussion. After returning from World War II he became a firefighter with the Philadelphia Fire Department. She is an testament to self-directed learning! She knows more about equipment and apparatus than I do. Smart cookie!

So, we're taking a much needed week to regroup. See you on Monday!

{this moment}

2010-10-01T08:21:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Harvest Time Week Three: Rusty, Trusty Tractor

2010-09-26T22:19:00.000-04:00

Week 2: Rusty, Trusty Tractor

Primary Books:

The Rusty, Trusty Tractor by Joy Cowley

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Burton

Enrichment Books:

Tremendous Tractors (Amazing Machines) by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker

Field Trip:

Bloomsburg Fair to play on the TRACTORS!

Poem:

Little Boy Blue

Aunt Katie (of WinterFoliage) and Sarah met us at the Fair!

We ended the day with a roll in the hay!

Roba Family Farm Fun!

2010-09-24T18:09:00.000-04:00

There was an unexpected birth this past week and I had to put some of our Harvest Time on hold. So, to make up for the time missed we took a family trip to Roba Family Farms. We had a blast! It wasn't a working dairy farm, but more of a harvest time amusement park surrounded by a corn maze (we conquered the mini maze but didn't even attempt the mega maze!).

Mini maze!

And for anyone who thought I was joking when I said that Madeline was a monkey!

Swinging at the very top of the ladder.

Aaaarrrrrrgggggg!

I'm actually impressed that we got all three heads in there!

The drama of the pig races.

Sophia cried hysterically when she wasn't chosen to cheer on the piggies.

The educational portion of our trip.

Milking demonstration

Fun, fun family fun!

{this moment}

2010-09-24T10:05:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Harvest Time: Week 2 Review

2010-09-18T21:10:00.000-04:00

Even before we began I considered changing the topic of this week. Both of the girls are lactose intolerant and the idea of a full week on dairy, including dairy-making activities, seems a bit silly. In the end I thought that it was still important for Soph to understand that most people use dairy as a staple in their diet and how it is made. The only specific change that I made was to talk about raw and cultured dairy. Seems a bit chemistry-like, perhaps a little over most toddler's heads, but homogenization and pasteurization were both discuss in the Aliki book.

I supplemented the readings with a Snipp, Snapp, Snurr book and wow! it is now a favorite. I plan to take a few more out of the library and see where I can fit them into our reading time.

We began mornings with Circle Time. With the stress of moving and all that came with it this summer I got into the habit of allowing them a morning show as soon as we all came downstairs. This gave (groggy and sleepy) me time to brew a cup of tea and to cook breakfast. It became a habit because it worked so well. So, in order for our mornings to be technology free (this, of course excludes my camera and computer!) I needed to find an activity that they both enjoyed just as much as Sprout.

We break out the big white comforter and put it in the middle of the floor. We pick comfy spots and sing and finger-play-away!

This week's Circle Time Songs:

Fall Poem

(I'm not sure where this is from. My mother uses it in her public school classroom)

Red and Yellow, green and brown

(Count off the colors on your fingers)

Lives are falling to the ground.

(Simulate falling leaves with hands)

We pile them up OH SO HIGH:

(pile leaves with hands)

Then we JUMP in!

(pretend to jump in)

My dog and I!


Pup Pup and Soph enjoying the "leaves"

Five Little Chipmunks

(Betty Jones/A Child's Seasonal Treasury)

5 little chipmunks by the lakeside shore,

1 fell down and then there were 4.

4 little chipmunks running wild and free,

1 fell down and then there were 3.

3 little chipmunks over logs they flew,

1 fell down and then there were 2.

2 little chipmunks they would race and run,

1 fell down and then there was 1.

1 little chipmunk basking in the sun,

He went to his hallowed-home and then there were none!

We colored leaves red and yellow, green and brown to match the Fall Poem and decorated our mantle with them. Sophia really enjoys using the scissors so she's likely to tell you that this was her very favorite project of the week!

We decided to bake Applesauce bread to eat with our fresh butter. (I am still having a love affair with my bread machine.) Yum! I tried really hard to pump Soph up for the Butter Battle. Girl .vs. Machine. Told her how the process worked and how it was like magic. You pour the cream in and shook it and it came out butter. I thought the wonder of it all would motivate her to keeeeeeep shaking.

Excitedly pouring the cream into her mason jar!

Now, the rest into the mixer...

30 seconds later.....She was done.

Well, folks...She fooled me. I thought she'd make it a few minutes and then I'd have to shake the rest. She made it about 30 seconds into it and hit herself in the face with the mason jar. That was it. It was over. White flag.

D.O.N.E.

The buttermilk is separating

BUTTER!!!!!

She was really interested, but I think in the end the country-girl-scientist-mama was more amazed at the whole process. To her it was just natural.

And then there were tea parties with fresh bread, butter and chamomile tea.

{this moment}

2010-09-17T10:37:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Harvest Time Week Two: Beatrice's Goat

2010-09-13T08:31:00.002-04:00

Week 2: Beatrice's Goat

Primary Books:

Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier

The Butter Man by Elizabeth and Ali Alalou

Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and the buttered bread by Maj Lindman

Enrichment Books:

Milk: From Cow to Carton by Aliki

Season to Season by Anita Faner

Field Trip:

Bakery

Poem:

Little Boy Blue

Flower Fairy

Bugle Fairy

Activity:

Making butter!!

Herb bread baking

Harvest Time: Week 1 Review

2010-09-12T20:27:00.001-04:00

I should begin by explaining that our "week" begins on Wednesday. I attend prenatal and homevisits on Mondays and Tuesdays with another local homebirth midwife. The girls spend those two days with Ms. Erin, an amazing babysitter. She usually takes them to either storytime at one of our branch libraries, one of the local parks or let's them get all painted up with our arts and craft supplies.

So, we began our week on Wednesday morning with a big family snuggle fest at 6:30am. I tried my best to convince the girls to cozy down and get a few more minutes of sleep but they wouldn't have it (Ugh. They never do!) Our morning routine generally includes some independent playtime while I prepare breakfast, we head upstairs to get ready for the day and then begin any "planned activities."

This week we started off with some coloring time. Sophia is really excited about learning her letters. She already knows the alphabet (How that happened I don't know! It is amazing what they learn when you're not looking!). She's especially excited about the flower fairies.


"A" is for Apple Blossom Flower Fairy

Then we baked (and ate) bread for morning snack. I'd like to say that we did the entire process by hand but the truth is that I am now the proud owner of a bread machine (thank you, Craigslist). For a long time I was doing the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day...but it was never just five minutes and it never completely satisfied me. (Geo loves and misses it though). This is my attempt to continue to feed my family food that contains ingredients that I can (mostly) control and to fill our house with the smell of fresh bread.


"Backpack, backpack!"

We spend time at the children's library. I have to say that reading has always been a favorite pasttime in our house. Both Geo and I are always juggling several things that we're reading and that love has very clearly been passed down to both the girls. They prefer books over most things and we're so glad!

It is actually Soph's love of reading that actually making us wonder if Waldorf school would really meet her needs and was the beginning step in this homeschooling adventure.


Bookworms!

Our Farmer's Market day began with some disappointment but ended happily! We arrived at the market at 9 to find out that they open at noon! Yikes! (Snoozing farmers?!?) We packed up and headed to the closest library and the girls played made the best of the hours that we had to pass.

We baked our salt dough veggies (beans, peas, potatoes, cauliflower, pumpkins and a fish....yes, a fish). We used book and produce that we brought home from the market as reference. Madeline wasn't very entertained by this activity so I spend most of the time just chasing her around the kitchen and offering Soph verbal encouragement.

We also decorated the table for the season and spent some time playing "on the farm." I'd like to get a special table for the girls to decorate for each season but I haven't found anything that works just yet. It isn't the space so much as it is finding some place that Madeline won't deconstruct within 5 minutes. So, for now, our kitchen table is our seasonal display.

Our meal blessing, some felted rocks, pipe cleaner flower bouquet and some seasonal veggies.

Everyone has a Ninja farmer, right??

The last two days of Week 1 were spend camping. What better way to learn about the transition from summer to autumn than actually spending days and nights outdoors? While camping doesn't always seem like a break for adults in the family, I really appreciate the change in scenery and am always reinforced when I see just how much the girls learn from getting smokey and dirty!


Soph was reminding Madeline that corn comes from the middle "just like in the book."

{this moment}

2010-09-10T13:51:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Harvest Time Week One: Tops and Bottoms

2010-09-07T08:14:00.000-04:00

This is our first week of Harvest Time Homeschool Preschool curriculum and I'm really excited! A few weeks ago I put a request in to our library system for the books and began to prepare myself mentally, spiritually and environmentally (organizing our resources).

This feels very organic to me. Like many of our parenting choices homeschooling just feels right. Just like home birthing, nursing and our conscious choice to use methods of gentle disciple (even when ghosts of our childhood pop into our heads and we want to wag our fingers and say "If I would have done that in MY house my Mom/Dad would have....."). Sophia is only 3 so we have several years to really work out what works best for our family, but since the beginning of our parenting journey, Geo and I have discussed education and "schooling." We both agree that the style of education in our local public schools doesn't feel that it would truly address the needs of our girls. (Local schools have 15 minutes of recess on three of the school days per week...hardly what I think kids require!) One of the options we discussed was a then-local-to-us Kimberton Waldorf School. But, Sophia's love of reading has nudged us toward homeschooling.

So, this journey led me (the craft-addicted-blog-reading-midwife-mama) to Wee Folk Art along my internet travels. Their site is packed full of beautiful projects, most of which include free tutorials, guidance or instructions (true altruism!) and is build on an amazing foundation of love and compassion. Just overflowing with heart. I immediately connected with their nature based values. It was natural that I'd find the homeschooling curriculum that they developed a nice fit for our family. So, this is our experiment....Come along for the ride!

Sophia and The Dadder checking on our Marigolds

Week 1: Tops and Bottoms

Primary Book:

Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens

Enrichment Books:

The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons

When Autumn Comes by Robert Maass

Four Seasons Make a Year by Anne Rockwell

Field Trip:

Scranton's Cooperative Farmer's Market

Poem:

Little Boy Blue

Flower Fairy

Apple Blossom Fairy

Art Activity:

Salt Dough Vegetables

Misc:
A child's seasonal treasury compiled and written by Betty Jones
I'm using Circle Time seasonal songs and fingerplay activities.
(I took it out of our library and am so sad that I can't find a (reasonably priced) copy for our family library.)
Discover the seasons by Diane Iverson

First...Begin with a Firm Commitment!

2010-09-06T21:38:00.000-04:00

Commitment means to show loyalty, duty or pledge to something or someone. These are my two:

I'd like to take part in the {this moment} Friday posts started by Amanda Soule (I'd actually really appreciate if she'd move in with us and teach me everything she knows....but I'll settle for baby steps: imitation).
Regular posts about our Harvest Time homeschooling adventures. Soph is 3 and has the brain of a adult. Seriously, I think she just might be smarter than me. She reads every single day. She dives head first into anything that she's interested in and it has become clear that we need a little more rhythm in our life. So, I'm using the Harvest Time curriculum from Wee Folk Art as a foundation for our homeschooling preschool adventure. I've added several additional enrichment books to the list because I don't think that she'll be satisfied with one primary (fiction) and one enrichment (non-fiction) book. This is our experiment and I'm inviting you to join us!

A New Beginning

2010-08-30T23:04:00.000-04:00

Dearest Daughters,

I feel like our family blog is like a vacation home. It was a place that I regularly visited when I first set up camp a few years ago. Like anything new, I visited and played and fully enjoyed the space. As the time has past, our family has expanded and our days have grown even fuller I spend less and less time documenting the richness of our experiences. I'm torn because I want you both to look back on the years before you have crisp, clear memories of childhood and peek at this time in our (crazy) family life. I love to create but scrapbooks and journals just aren't my thing. (I have several hundred photos of Soph's first year in a box somewhere...the idea of organizing them is daunting!)
I've recently been meditating on the concept of impermanence and exploring the ways in which I try to capture moments in time. Jotting notes, painting pictures in my head and snapping endless pictures. The days sometimes pass so quickly that I selfishly fear I won't be able to hold onto the smell of your baby heads or the sound of your deep laughter and joyousness.

Life is full of ebbs and flows and I hold onto the belief that these trinkets of our hearts will somehow make the challenges less frightening and the joys all that more beautiful.
There is a part of me that feels like I should address the content of my absence but let's just say that the last year has been full. Full of changes and new editions. When I look back on the last few years our life resembles nothing of where we all began a few short years ago. New careers, new family members and several new addresses. Lots of ebbs and lots of flow! Your ability to bend with the wind and flow with the rivers of our crazy life is inspiring.

I'm recommitting to regular visits here. I am working to detach from the idea that I can freeze time or create a way to reconnect with an experience, but an focused on opening our hearts and sharing.

So, a new beginning. A fresh start here on The Schwartz Family Files :)

More love than ever,
The Mommer

Headed to Camp

2010-08-14T10:33:00.000-04:00

I wonder if there is enough room out in the Great Wide Open for these two personalities :)

Mao Mao the Communist Kitty

2010-06-02T13:00:00.000-04:00

We are looking for a new home for our cat, Molly. She is a great cat and we all love her very much. This decision, as difficult as it is to make, is due to two "quality of life" issues. Geo's allergy has gotten increasingly worse and Molly has become fond of the outdoors. This has worked well for us but we're packing up, again, and moving to a townhouse in Old Forge at the end of June. They have agreed to allow us to keep her but she will be restricted from going outside. Right now she eats in the morning and then asks to go out for most of the day. She returns at dusk and sleeps in the house.

We adopted her from the ASPCA in Chester County 2 years ago. She is neutered and declawed. She has had all of her initial immunizations (ironic, since we don't immunize our kids, huh?). She has a microchip (required by the SPCA) but it hasn't been registered. I can provide all her records and the info on how to register her chip (I think they said it cost $20).

She really is sweet and Sophia is going to be heartbroken, but this move is going to require that Molly remain indoors, which isn't good for her or George.

If you are interested in opening your heart (and home) to our Mao Mao or know of a responsible friend that would, please let me know. I'm happy to provide you with her food, storage container, cat bed, litter, litter box, some treats and her cat carrier. I'll even throw in free in-state transportation.

Birthday tears

2010-05-13T14:27:00.000-04:00

This girl really hates the song "Happy Birthday."
Two years in a row the first line brings her into hysterics.

Happy Birthday, Sopher.

2010-05-09T21:49:00.000-04:00

Happy 3rd Birthday!!

You are a big, bold three, lemme tell you.

Big smile, big brain,
big personality.

Big sister, big hugger,
big talker and a
big time prankster!

You live life to the fullest
each minute of each day.

When the sun is shining you want your toes in the grass,
When the rain is falling you want to taste it on your tongue.

You're big, girl. Very big.

You have grown faster than we ever could have imagined.
It seems like just a blink ago I was snapping shots of you for The Dadder.
We were hogging the whole bed together.

It seems like just weeks ago when we were watching you take your first steps,
You were enjoying your first snow.

It seems like just a few days ago when you were wobbling on your Scoot for the first time.
Teetering on the seat with a helmet that hid your eyes.

You're big, little girl.
You're bold.
You're 3!

2010-03-25T05:26:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Madeline!

one year ago today our family grew by two feet.you, ms. madeline, had us by the throat and filled our hearts with boundless joy.
(and our ears with the loudest screams we've ever heard!)

your birthday party was planned for home but you decided on a change of scenery.
i've never felt so relieved as when i heard your heartbeat on the monitor that night.
i've never been so thankful as when we were told that you were doing alright despite the scare.
i walked, i talked, i cried.
i wanted so badly for you to slide into our family on my terms
that i nearly forgot that you had a say.

you navigated perfectly,
a body twisting and swaying.
legs rooted strongly in the ground and a top that flowed with the wind.
our last dance while sharing one body.

i have been humbled.this year has been loud, fast and streaked with bright colors.
your birth was the beginning of a whirlwind.
your birth was the beginning of so much growth.
a journey.
one filled with hills and valleys, the tallest mountains I've ever climbed
and the most breathtaking views ever.

you are so special, Mads.

thank you for your courage.
thank you for your heart.
thank you for your unbridled laughter.
thank you for your persistence.
thank you for your forgiveness.
thank you for your willingness to share.
thank you for your amazing smile and those beaver teeth.
thank you for mooing and clucking, and saying uh-oh 1,000,000 times a day.
thank you for waking me, breaking me and watching me put myself back together.
thank you for choosing us.thank you for loving us.
thank you for they way you sit up in bed when you first wake up just yell for us to come get you.
thank you for being my snuggle-bug.
thank you for running to Papa Bear with big, open arms.
thank you for getting excited when I walk through the door.
thank you for all the fun.for today, yesterday and tomorrow.

xo
Mama

Out on the Town

2010-03-17T08:10:00.000-04:00

Physics is fun!

2010-03-05T07:50:00.001-05:00

Our Favorite Song

2010-02-24T16:03:00.000-05:00

Our current favorite song from our all time favorite musician.

Yum.

Healing Energy

2010-02-18T11:42:00.001-05:00

A close family friend was involved in a terrible bike fall on Monday. We are thankful to hear that time will heal his broken vertebrae and his ability to walk won't be effected. Please keep him close to your heart.

Love it in the Air

2010-02-01T22:43:00.000-05:00

Sophia and I cut out loads of felt hearts. I sewed them together into garland during nap time.

When she woke up and saw them hanging she insisted that I add some to the light hanging above the island in the kitchen. "Dad will come home and tell "They are soo beautiful."

She's adorable.
This was a super fun, easy and cheap project. I think we'll keep the garland and add it to our birthday decorations.

Speaking of love...

Sophia looooves holding Mads. Love it.
Mads doesn't love being held.

Happy New Years

2009-12-31T16:14:00.001-05:00

Christmas: Schwartz Style

2009-12-26T18:34:00.000-05:00

"Ess tooo heeavy!"

Sophia playing with Mads new maple race cars from Little Sapling Toys.

Yummy cheddar spinach fritatas.

(8 eggs, 1/2 c. whole milk, 1 c cheese, 1.5 c. chopped spinach.
Wisk, scoop into mini muffin cups. 8-10 min at 350. ! Sooo easy)

The newest Schwartz.
A huge Jade plant from Ms. Ann. This piece fell off of a larger jade this summer. She planted it and...BOOM....like magic it took.
I love.love.love.love jade plants.
I have been drooling over her big babes for a long time!!!!

The Dadder sporting his newest pj's.

Sophia enjoying the Melissa and Doug treehouse that George spent the better part of Christmas Eve (evening) assembling.

The Water Colors Wooden family from Purple Lizard. We got each of the girls a set. They came in a great travel pouch with pockets.
I pack small toys and a teeny container of play clay for restless periods when we're out (restaurants especially). I'm hoping to add these travel families to our pack.

Foamy blocks for Mads. There are already baby teeth marks in the corners of the animals!

Kitty fun.

Sophia's infectious laughter and a face smattered with yogurt. She wrapped in Sarah's silk which, before the yogurt snack, was being used as a sling for Puppy and George (one on front and one on back....I'm so proud!)

We had a beautiful holiday. Filled with family and demands from our 2 year old.
"Open this! Gimme that!"
"NO, this one is next!"
"THIS IS MINE. MINE. MINE!"

I'm sure that my mother is laughing. She knows all too well what it is like to raise a daughter like Sophia. I'm afraid that she gets it naturally. My nickname was Queeny.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-24T17:25:00.000-05:00

Now go have some fun!

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-21T14:50:00.000-05:00

Holiday Cheer

2009-12-11T00:41:00.000-05:00

My mother hates Christmas. Hates isn't even strong enough to describe the depths of her feelings towards the end of the year madness. It, no doubt, has to do with the fact that my father worked for the railroad and lived in a hotel more than our house, four crazy kids that required a crap-load of work and the Scrooge that lived downstairs.

September brought anniversaries and a break from kids as we marched single-file back to school, October birthdays, November gluttony and then the dread of holiday lunacy set in.......

I inherited this feeling but I'm working very hard to change it. Nurture over nature here.

Working.hard.on.it. Working very hard.

Step one: Acknowledge that the month of December will indeed come.
I did this last week. After 25% of the month had already slid by without me noticing.

Step two: Erect a tree.
Before getting married I had a beautiful tree. It was cheap and easy...just the way I liked it :) I took it out of the box and there it was. Done. My loving husband nearly spit his coffee through his nose when he first saw my "twig." He hated it. He gleefully unpacked his tree and I felt equal disdain for it's multi-colored LED lighty things. (UGH!) So....this year we bought a new tree. Fuller than my first and less colorful than Geo's. It was even prelit :) Bonus!

Step three: Decorate
The girls and I make a double batch of salt dough and cut out trees, reindeer and stars. Baked. Bought washable paint (brilliant invention. Who knew they had such a thing?) and brushes.
This was the most awesome holiday fun of my entire life. Honestly...things are looking up!

Sophia had so much fun painting. She's been begging to paint ever since she and Kristen mixed their first batch of homemade watercolors on the back porch back on The Farm. Step four: Light it up
I have been saving this step. I the tree only once to get this shot. Geo has been in Mississippi since we put the tree up and the girls barely noticed it in the morning. I wanted to keep it that way until I had another set of eyes home to help watch out for the falling tree.

Step five: Feel the warmth.

Maybe I'll enjoy this stuff afterall....

I am Somebody

2009-12-05T08:23:00.000-05:00

A friend watched this and said "There was a time when SS was really for the kids who needed it - the disenfranchised, not the kids preparing to own their own Elmo franchise." I think that sums up my feelings perfectly.

Gobble Gobble!

2009-11-26T00:34:00.000-05:00

Cuteness

2009-11-20T08:48:00.000-05:00

In Honor.

2009-11-11T21:38:00.000-05:00

Through Soph's Eyes

2009-11-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

Soph has been experimenting with my camera. She loves taking pictures and, now that she's including heads and other important body parts in her photos, I can share her art with you.

(No, I was not sleeping while the kids played on the bed! I swear she caught me blinking on a bad hair day.)

Baby butts are very important to this artist. This shot is just one of several hundred that I found on my memory card.

Yum. Potato Leek Chard Soup about to be blended into a super yummy puree. After snapping this shot Soph dropped to the ground screaming like she was being eaten alive by a lion because I had "pushed da buttin" on the blender when she wanted to do it. Oh joy.

I didn't think that my face was going to actually be in the shot. Lol. She showed me.

Latest and Greatest

2009-10-19T16:10:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the latest and greatest photos for your viewing pleasure! It has been a whirlwind of activities since Maddy's birth. So many things going on and soooo little time to update everyone on them. I hardly find time to download all the pictures. Whew.

The Schwartz girls enjoyed the Second Annual Craftapalooza. This year was a little less intense and we had a chance to soak up some good eats and even better company. In addition to knitting, sewing and cooking there was also some hair cutting. Kate was brave enough to trim Soph's bangs (which had grown down over her eyes).

After arriving home I trimmed the rest of her baby locks. She's been bouncing around the house showing off her new haircut.

Mads is growing sooo quickly. She keeps us on our toes and c.r.a.z.y busy! The lack of blog posting is a testament to her firecracker personality (loud and breath taking). She's amazing. Simply amazing.

Our very first WHOLE family picture. The timer worked! It really worked! Aren't we cute?

Look how enthusiastic Geo is about parenting. :)

Growing Like a Weed

2009-08-28T01:48:00.000-04:00

All the rain here in Central Pa has the grass a beautiful shade of green, the rivers full and the babies growing like a weed! It is simply amazing how quickly they change and evolve. Ms. Madeline is teaching us so much about life.

Team America Today

2009-08-09T18:43:00.001-04:00

Today was our first annual Team America reunion. We dodged raindrops for the beginning part of the picnic but ended up laughing until the clouds parted. To say that it was great to see old friends would be an understatement.

And of course, Sophia walked away with another best friend. She even wanted to wear a pony tail all day to be like A. Sweet. So sweet.

CPM love.

2009-08-09T01:08:00.001-04:00

Everything is Better in a Tutu

2009-08-03T16:43:00.001-04:00

Letort Park and Playground

2009-07-09T09:14:00.000-04:00

We found the most amazing park in Carlisle. It has a stream filled with quacking ducks, a well managed nature trail, and the largest wooden playground that I have ever seen. It is absolutely amazing.

Soph played Hide and Seek with Madeline for over an hour without getting bored (or lost!). There are so many neat areas that it was easy to run miles without realizing it.

Madeline was content tucked inside the ring sling. It is hard to get pictures of both kiddos during activities. (Who am I kidding??...it's hard when we're not doing anything at all too!) I think that you should grow an extra set of arms with ever child born.

Soph had to sit down and chat with the ducks before we left for the evening. She made friends with a few of them on our way in. She certainly has the waddle down!

Summer Fun

2009-07-08T22:47:00.000-04:00

I haven't been doing a very good job keeping up with photo sharing, social media or other tasks that require several minutes worth of attention....but don't fret I'm getting there....

Summer Weddings are Beautiful

2009-07-01T09:50:00.001-04:00

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-20T22:59:00.000-04:00

A real father:

Works hard to get to know his daughter despite being 7,000 miles away when she is born.
Cries the first time she sees her.
Watches videos before bed at night so he can hear her voice.
Dreams of how she smells.
Shares the covers and his half of the bed.
Wakes at any time of night and fills her belly with kefir.
Turns the music up and dances the night away.
Asks to learn how to wear his girls in slings.
Doesn't mind carrying a paisley diaper bag.
Supports the breastfeeding relationship between his children and their mother.
Tells stories.
Enjoys nothing more than an afternoon nap with little feets in the small of his back.
Provides kisses and cuddles whenever asked.
Enthusiastically agrees to "catch" their baby during birth.
Kisses away real and perceived boo-boos.
Insists that there be laughter.
Washes cloth diapers.
Watches stacks of birthing videos to prepare for a homebirth.
Spends extra time in the shower when little ones ask to get rained on.
Lets his little ones pick out the books.
Swings his girls around until they erupt with laughter.
Stays up late to do the dishes while mom snoozes with the kiddos.
Knows you can be firm and set limits without hitting or shaming your children.
Loves his children's mother.
Beams with pride and wonder.
Is filled with and shares love and tenderness.
Puts aside chores and time with friends to play with a wooden kitchen.
Understands the frayed nerves of a frazzled mother.
Never grow too old for funny faces.

Happy Father's Day!
We are so lucky to be loved by you.

xoxoXOXOXOXOxoxoxo

The Mommer,
Sophia and Madeline

Family Fun

2009-05-28T15:39:00.001-04:00

We took a trip to Jersey this past weekend to pick up hugs and kisses from Geo's side of our terrific family. We returned home with full bellies and cheeks full of lip marks!

Pop turns 85 next week so we baked Happy Cake! and took it with us. Soph was VERRRRY excited to see this creation and more than happy to consume her share.

Here is Maddie wearing Pop's New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal that he was awarded on 19 May 2009 for his service during World War II.

How You Know Your Husband Loves You: 5

2009-05-14T14:55:00.001-04:00

He listens.

I mean....he REEEAAALLLLYYYY listens.

Listens to everything.
Even the insane talk about how you saw the infomercial for the Jack LaLanne Juicer and you reeeeeaaaalllllyyyy want a juicer now.

And for Mother's Day you get a Breville Juice Fountain Elite.

The Birthday Extravaganza

2009-05-12T22:56:00.000-04:00

It took some serious encouragement from Dadder in order to keep the felt b-day crown on long enough for me to get a picture.

Sophia was sooo excited to cut the birthday cake for everyone. A new Schwartz birthday tradition. She enjoyed her piece and some of the Dadder's icing....and has asked for cake 2000 time a day every since her first bite.

Terrific Two

2009-05-10T08:45:00.001-04:00

See secret messages here..

Oh Happy Day!

2009-05-09T09:21:00.001-04:00

George has been in Germany for the last three weeks. He hasn't had much free time but I'm assured that what little he had was spent pining away for his girls.

Today we get to dress up and pick The Dadder up!
In preparation for his return, Sophia has been practicing her Hide and Seek skills. She recently hid from me for about 15 minutes in the baking cabinet. I honestly had NO clue where she was....or that I was playing Hide and Seek!
Ms. Madeline, on the other hand, has started cooing and smiling so she could wooooo her Dadder upon return. How sweet. I wish I had an extra set of hands, or a clone, so I could shoot as many pictures of this cutie as I did of her big sister. It just so happens that the moment I put her down and grab the camera I turn around and have to rush to her side exclaiming... "No Soph, we can't put our fingers ____INSERT ORFICE___(up the baby's nose, in her eyes, or in her ears), sweetie."

On a happier note, my sister was visiting this week. We took turns entertaining the kiddos and putting the house back together. I guess things will never be as organized and clean as they were pre-kids. This is something that I'm working hard to come to terms with. Her presence was calming and I feel so grateful for her vacation time. (During her visit she discovered the robin's nest in the first picture. She and Soph were going out on the back porch to feed the birds some left over bread and Amy nearly had her nose pierced by the Mama Bird.)

1-2-3-4:00 is the big hour!
Woooaaahhh..Counting to four...

And These Little Piggies Went To The Market!

2009-05-08T14:34:00.001-04:00

We took our very first trip to the Farmer's Market this morning. Our bounty was beautiful! Spring has definitely sprung.

We scooped up a huge basket of apples for sauce, local spinach, free-range eggs, raw milk....and then we turned to corner to see a stand filled with strawberries and rhubarb!

Oh. the. possibilities. My mind started racing. Jelly, conserve, crisp, pie....oh. my.

We loaded our bag with about 3 lbs of rhubarb and the two quarts of the most delicious looking strawberries I've seen this year.

While the girls were napping (yes, at the same time!) I made my first creation.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

1 c. sugar
1/3 cup flour
4 c. rhubarb
4 c. strawberries
3 c. oatmeal
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. melted butter

In large bowl combine rhubarb, strawberries, sugar and flour. Transfer to greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Combine other ingredients and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

E-A-T your first serving while it is still steaming. I like mine with kefir!

Now, a good mama would have timed it perfectly so that the crisp was coming out of the oven just as her girls were waking up. We'd sit down at the table and let it dance on our tongues together. I, on the other hand, made it, baked it and dug in while enjoying every second of the quite adult time.

Bad Mama. Bad Mama.
Oh it was gooooood!

Climbing in the Clover

2009-04-30T02:27:00.001-04:00

Sweet Madeline...You're our favorite

2009-04-18T13:26:00.001-04:00

Day 13 of Our Lifelong Love Affair

2009-04-07T20:44:00.000-04:00

Ms. Madeline,

We are so blessed to have you in our family. You bring us so much love and light. Even on the longest nights and the hardest days your sweet face is refreshing and life affirming. With each little squeek and coo you remind us why we are all part of this world ~ to love and be loved.
You are an ever present reminder of how love is endless and how wide our hearts can expand if allowed.

We promise to focus on remaining in the moment and allowing the energy of the universe to guide us through this expansion, and to shepard you through the years ahead.

Our hearts have been cracked wide open and you have been filling us with your divine presence.

All Our Love,
The Mommer, Dadder,
and
Princess Sophia

Fun. Fun. Fun!

2009-04-04T14:07:00.000-04:00

The girls got Geo a super swell present to celebrate all of the previously read bedtime stories and the many, many more to come. Now, Dadder can have his cup of morning Joe and read all the newspapers his heart desires.....all before his girls are even out of bed.

Sophia was so excited when the Priority Shipping box came in the mail that she immediately insisted on drawing on it. We picked fresh flowers from the yard and tucked them inside her masterpiece and anxiously awaited Dad's arrival from work.

After all...what is more fun than surprising someone with an unexpected gift??

After opening the present and passing out kisses we decided to introduce Sophia to the joys of packaging peanuts.

Needless to say...she loved them.

And we're still picking up the pieces :)

Sopher: The Big Sis

2009-03-31T16:08:00.000-04:00

Sophia eagerly shares her Elmo with her little sister.

Life is tough when you spend all night watching your Mama not sleep.

Eye Candy

2009-03-29T10:35:00.001-04:00

Introducing...

2009-03-26T13:38:00.001-04:00

Madeline Kathryn Schwartz
Born: 25 March 2009 at 4:45 am
8 lbs 11 oz
19.5 inches long

We are home, resting and enjoying our Babymoon.

Dear Baby Schwartz

2009-03-22T23:37:00.001-04:00

Your big sister is scrubbed in and ready for your birth.
You can come out now.

Love,
The Mommer and The Dadder

Oh. My. Heavens!

2009-03-22T20:41:00.000-04:00

These were delicious. Absolutely delicious and so easy to make. I made a few modifications to the original recipe (they're listed below to photo of Mama's big belly bump) and mixed up the dough while Geo and Soph napped this afternoon.

I didn't make them into traditional donut shaped pastries because I couldn't find anything to cut them out with. I considered one of the mason jar lids but couldn't find something small enough to take the centers out with. So, mini donut holes it was. It will help keep us from overindulging...yeah, that's it.

And for your amusement, here is a photo of my big belly. If you look quickly it just appears that they wind is blowing my apron away from my body....but noooooo....there is a baby still baking under there.

My version of the recipe

1 cup raw cream and 1/3 cup organic soymilk (body temperature)
2 1/4 teaspoons dry active yeast
2 tablespoons ghee
1/3 cup organic, raw agave nectar
2 eggs
5 cups stone ground, unbleached, organic, white all-purpose flour
A pinch or two of cinnamon (I didn't have any nutmeg)
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 tablespoon organic vanilla extract (from the holiday gifting extravaganza)

Topping

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups organic pure cane sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Notes:
I've learned a lot about baking and yeast from the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. One of the things that the authors discuss is that modern day yeast doesn't need to be proofed anymore (you don't have to let it sit in the warm liquid and make sure that it bubbles). So, I mixed the first four ingredients in the bowl and added it to the flour, egg, cinnamon and salt. Let it mix in the Kitchen Aide with a dough hook on 2 for about 3 minutes. Added a little bit more soy milk to get the texture that I was looking for.

I also baked the holes at 350 for 10 minutes instead of 375. The smaller pastry required a cooler oven. I pulled the out, dipped only the top half in butter and the topping mixture and then called in the troops.

They kept asking for more. more. more.

This would be a super easy bake sale favorite. I think I'm going to wrap some all pretty and gift them to my midwives. If I see them before they get stale that is. Ugh.

Time to Make the Donuts

2009-03-22T04:30:00.001-04:00

No. This is not a reference to the baby that is STILL brewing inside of Mama's belly!

Read on.

I'm really feeling the crazy, crafting spirit lately (as personally witnessed by Katie, during my week of sock madness......that is extending into a more than a week). So, I met a knitting goal tonight (I have to set them...it's an obsessive thing...not too different from the list making thing) and then promised myself that I'd go to bed.

I did.
At 11pm.
Nearly 4 hours before my "normal" bedtime.

So, in return the universe woke me up at 3am as a joke.

So, what is an overly-pregnant Mama to do? Get up and read crafty blogs until the rest of the family is awake, of course.

I was reading Two Straight Lines posts and was delighted to find new bloggy goodness. The Artful Parent, The Intersection of Art and Parenting. Perfect! I have been poking around her site for the better part of an hour now and have considered requesting her hand in crafting marriage. (Alright....it's 4:25am...sorry).

Yum. So many ideas. So little time.

One of my very favorites (which very well be fueled by some raging pregnancy hormones) is the link she has for baked donuts. Donut lovers, don't throw things at me...not at least until you hear that I'll be substituting a natural sweetener, soymilk and other healthier ingredients.

Here is the recipe. Read it and see if you can resist.

Baked Doughnuts Recipe

Don't over bake these, if anything, under bake them a bit - they will continue baking outside the oven for a few minutes. You want an interior that is moist and tender - not dry. Also, be sure to cut big enough holes in the center of your doughnuts - too small and they will bake entirely shut. Remember they rise, and they rise even more when they are baking. These really need to be made-to-order, but you can make and shape the dough the night before if you want to serve them for brunch. Instructions: after shaping, place doughnuts on baking sheet, cover and place in the refrigerator overnight. Pull them out an hour before baking, and let rise in a warm place before baking.

1 1/3 cups warm milk, 95 to 105 degrees (divided)
1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
5 cups all-purpose flour (alternately, white whole wheat might work - haven't tried it yet)
A pinch or two of nutmeg, freshly grated
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Place 1/3 cup of the warm milk in the bowl of an electric mixer. Stir in the yeast and set aside for five minutes or so. Be sure your milk isn't too hot or it will kill the yeast. Stir the butter and sugar into the remaining cup of warm milk and add it to the yeast mixture. With a fork, stir in the eggs, flour, nutmeg, and salt - just until the flour is incorporated. With the dough hook attachment of your mixer beat the dough for a few minutes at medium speed. This is where you are going to need to make adjustments - if your dough is overly sticky, add flour a few tablespoons at a time. Too dry? Add more milk a bit at a time. You want the dough to pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl and eventually become supple and smooth. Turn it out onto a floured counter-top, knead a few times (the dough should be barely sticky), and shape into a ball.

Transfer the dough to a buttered (or oiled) bowl, cover, put in a warm place (I turn on the oven at this point and set the bowl on top), and let rise for an hour or until the dough has roughly doubled in size.

Punch down the dough and roll it out 1/2-inch thick on your floured countertop. Most people (like myself) don't have a doughnut cutter, instead I use a 2-3 inch cookie cutter to stamp out circles. Transfer the circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet and stamp out the smaller inner circles using a smaller cutter. If you cut the inner holes out any earlier, they become distorted when you attempt to move them. Cover with a clean cloth and let rise for another 45 minutes.

Bake in a 375 degree oven until the bottoms are just golden, 8 to 10 minutes - start checking around 8. While the doughnuts are baking, place the butter in a medium bowl. Place the sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl.

Remove the doughnuts from the oven and let cool for just a minute or two. Dip each one in the melted butter and a quick toss in the sugar bowl. Eat immediately if not sooner.

Makes 1 1/2 - 2 dozen medium doughnuts.

Anticipation

2009-03-16T11:26:00.000-04:00

by Carly Simon

We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway
And I wonder if I'm really with you now
Or just chasing after some finer day.

Anticipation, Anticipation
Is making me late
Is keeping me waiting

And I tell you how easy it is to be with you
And how right your arms feel around me.
Bit I rehearsed those words just late last night
When I was thinking about how right tonight might be.

Anticipation, Anticipation
Is making me late
Is keeping me waiting

And tomorrow we might not be together
I'm no prophet, I don't know natures way
So I'll try to see into your eyes right now
And stay right here, 'cause these are the good old days.

Patiently Waiting

2009-03-15T19:39:00.000-04:00

Hello! We wanted to let those of you who are frantically refreshing your browsers for any news, that we're still patiently awaiting the arrival of The Bean.

:)

All Of Our Ducks Are In A Row

2009-03-08T10:13:00.001-04:00

Lucky Ducks (217/365) (063/365) [Explored]
Originally uploaded by kimberlyfaye

Time Is A Tickin'

2009-03-06T09:30:00.001-05:00

squared circles - Clocks
Originally uploaded by Leo Reynolds

I'm a list maker.
I write lists.
I rewrite lists.
I check off lists.
I highlight things on lists.
I make lists about lists(....alright...maybe not since grad school...but you get the picture).

I think it is my way to bringing some sort of appearance of order to otherwise impossible tasks. Order out of the chaos that is my life and brain at times.

Completed:

* Return to Phoenixville
* Room prepared
* Camera battery charged
* Birth Plan written
* Hose for birth tub purchased
* A stack of wool diaper soakers knit
* Cabinet stocked with plenty of fresh loose leaf tea to drink (including catnip for a new mama's nerves)
* Herbs dried. Sitz bath made. Salve has set.

To Do:

* Grocery shopping
* Meal planning
* Deputy Doula (Kate) to arrive in town

So, I left detailed instructions (in list form) for Geo to come up with 7 dinners that he'd like in the next two weeks (he complied with the demand). I'll match them up with 7 of my own dinners and we'll make a calender. Anyone wanting to help with life can feel free to stop by our fridge and check out what is on the menu for that day. Cook away.

The lists have been written. I'm going to check off the grocery shopping and meal planning today.....So once Kate is in town we'll be completely prepared for Baby Schwartz.......well I'll be completely prepared anyway. I'm not sure anything will fully prepare my wonderful husband or our darling daughter for what is prepared for the madness that may (read: probably) ensue.

We just might have to write a few more lists.

New Book: The No Cry Nap Solution

2009-02-21T21:11:00.001-05:00

Elizabeth Pantley, the author of the very successful (and sanity-saving), No Cry Sleep Solution, has recently published another book in the series. Here is some more information from the website:

~~
Elizabeth Pantley's books for parents are as close to a user’s manual as there is. The “No-Cry” books offer remarkably clear and practical advice. This latest book in the series addresses an issue we have all faced and many struggled with: helping our children to nap.

"Easy naptime solutions that really work--without any tears."
Kathy Lynn, President, Parenting Today

"Naps: Children need them. Parents want them. Here are the tools to make them happen."
Maureen A. Doolan Boyle, Executive Director, MOST (Mothers of Supertwins), Inc.

Does your child:

nap only in your arms, a sling, a swing, or the car?
require elaborate rituals before sleeping?
get fussy, act cranky, or have tantrums due to lack of sleep?
take very short naps--or none at all?

Naps are important to a child's mood, well-being, and development. The No-Cry Nap Solution offers you a proven formula to allow your baby, toddler, or preschooler to get daily restorative rest. You'll learn gentle, loving, tear-free techniques, developed by world-renowned parenting expert Elizabeth Pantley and tested by hundreds of families around the world, guaranteed to help you:

Convince any child to nap every day
Effortlessly settle your child for naptime in his or her own bed
Turn short, fitful naps into long, peaceful ones
Establish a nap schedule that works for you and your child
Easily adapt nap routines to your child's developing needs
Confidently deal with sudden changes, nap strikes, and travel

Here is a link to the book on Amazon.

My Valentine's Date

2009-02-14T20:26:00.001-05:00

It is 8:30pm.
The boxes are unpacked.
The husband and the babe are sleeping.
A chocolate cake has just been iced.
The cat and I are headed to the comfy chair for a Valentines Date with my knitting needles.

Am I in heaven?

To The Love of My Life

2009-02-11T00:18:00.000-05:00

George,

The remainder of the week will prove to be filled with moving boxes, things we haven't seen in a few years, rushed lunches and dinners, hurried evenings of activities and a few "drive by kisses"...but I wanted to let you know what an important part of my life you are.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't fall in love with you all over again. I could have never imagined such a deep spiritual connection I would share with you. You are so much more than the "man of my dreams." Our love and our life have far surpassed the dreams of a young, innocent girl.

Whatever life brings we can handle it together. With a foundation of love, trust and understanding and the commitment to spend the rest of our lives laughing together we can overcome the challenges of this crazy life.

I reject the idea of having one day a year to profess one's love for their partner, and prefer to tell you in words and show you in actions everyday of the year. I guess pregnancy is making me all mushy on the inside and I feel a duty to exclaim that I love you so much it makes my heart hurt and that I'd marry you all over again and again and again....

Love Serenade
The Waifs
When the night-time comes you can hear
My heart calling
Calling out to you my one true love
Thinking about you all of the while
Thinking about you its making me smile
Honey Im sitting on top of the world just
Thinking about you

In the morning light that's when I'm feeling right
Another day come, another day go, another day closer till I make you my own
Honey Im siting on top of the world
Just thinking about you

I wouldn't say it if it wasnt true
Honey I'm in love with you
I'm going to show you what I can do

Come over here you've gotta be told,
My love for you is out of control
Honey I am sitting on top of the world,
Just thinking about you girl
Im going to show you how much I care,
Marry you and take you away some where
Sit back in a rocking chair and rock all day with you my dear

Cause I love you, I love you I love you I love you

Your adoring wife,
Nik

ps. I love the shit out of you :)

Just Roll With It Baby

2009-02-09T07:57:00.000-05:00

When life is too much, roll with it, baby
Don't stop and lose your touch, oh no, baby
Hard times knocking on your door, I'll tell them you ain't there no more
Get on through it, roll with it, baby
Luck'll come and then slip away, you've gotta move, bring it back to stay

You just roll with it, baby, come on and just roll with it, baby
You and me, roll with it, baby, hang on and just roll with it, baby

Roll with It
by Steve Winwood

Sophia and I packed for the weekend and met The Dadder at the new house in Carlisle. Geo was drilling this weekend but the girls made the best of their time. We unpacked and moved into several rooms of the house. After the boxes were cleared and the energy began to settle I was reassured that we could actually survive this move.

There are a lot of things about our new space that I love. The one-floor design is at the top of the list. Although we spend most of our time on the first floor of our current home, it seems like a huge relief to only have to clean one floor, and to have everything right there. No hidden spaces.... no stairs for kiddos to climb.

The second thing is the amount of light that pours in the house. Because I married Captain SafetyMan, all the shades are drawn (so the theives can't see that there is no furniture in the house, of course!) and I didn't realize, until this weekend, just how much light pours in the windows. It will be a nice break from our beautiful but very, very dark living room.

There is also some really nice hardware throughout the house. I love to decorate and redecorate but hardware has always been a tough one for me. If I could bring all the samples into my house and then choose I think I'd be alright...but having to picture your house in your head and then pick from a huge wall of hardware is a hard one for me.

There may not have been any furniture to sit on (which means that I complained of physical, third-trimester ailments) but Soph and I had a blast finding ways to entertain each other. Well, mostly I chased her around while she entertained me. It amazes me how a broom and dust pan can hold the attention of a toddler. Amazing.

So...we're just rolling with it, baby. Nothing we can do...just rolling with it...I promise we'll make it through.

Why Obama needs a team of impatient, unforgiving, third-trimester renegades to whip this country into shape.

2009-01-28T12:57:00.000-05:00

This is a rather humorous piece of journalistic genius by Heather Havrilesky.

Here is a teaser:

Jan. 27, 2009 | President Obama has chosen a sharp and able-bodied team to head his administration, but if he really wants to yank the country out of its dismal state, I suggest he enlist the help of some expectant mothers, preferably in their third trimester of pregnancy.

It is all about the small things

2009-01-26T11:34:00.000-05:00

Despite the carefully laid out plans and the miles and miles of lists that we've been making in order to maintain some sort of control over the chaos of the Schwartz Family Life....The clock in ticking down and we're starting to feel a bit of pressure.

So, what does a Mama do when she has a To Do List that seems overwhelming? She sits and she knits. If her belly is round and her organs are getting kicked and punched by little teeny tiny angel hands she knits wool soakers.

Sophia has been a cloth diaper baby since day 1. We've tried pretty much everything except the All in One diapers (which are the Cadillacs of cloth diapers. I never bothered because they take FOREVER to dry and it seems like they're less efficient because of the extra energy consumed by the dryer.) I have a pretty abundant stash built up from Soph (who is fascinated with what Mom and Dad do on the toilet but not yet interested in doing it herself) but we were lacking in the newborn department. In any event, I got a great deal on some organic fitted newborn diapers. All I needed to do is knit up a few wool covers.

So, in the middle of our somewhat crazy life I started hunting down patterns and picking out 100% wool from my stash of yarn. (That's right folks...I didn't buy ANY new yarn for this project. I just used what I had on the shelf!)

How loved would you feel if you were raised by a family that actually covered your sweet little buns in something healthy, safe, AND handknit?? We're hoping that the warm fuzzies that our children will one day feel because I knit their diaper covers will cancel out their need for therapy because of all the bizarre traits they received via their genes.

...and.....They are so damn cute.

After I finished 5 diaper covers I decided to take a break and knit a new sweater for the Big Sister. I saved a few skeins of organic cotton from the moving madness and cast on and knit this sweater.

Much to my surprise (and thanks, no doubt, to the car ride to and from South Jersey yesterday) I knit the entire sweater in less than 24 hours. I wove in the stray ends last night before bed and Soph got to try it on this morning.

She ran several laps around the house after I put it on and was rather happy with herself. She didn't really enjoy the photography session though. She's much more interested in DOING the photographing and doesn't like actually getting her picture taken.

Sheesh.
Kids.

Home Again, Home Again

2009-01-19T13:23:00.001-05:00

Despite my pleas to stay until June, Geo (the voice of reason in the Schwartz household) insisted that we packed up our dirty laundry and return home.

I highly, highly recommend mid-winter vacations to warmer climates. Last February we traveled to Florida for a week and this year it was Puerto Rico. I can't even describe how good it feels to get out of the gray, cold weather and to run around in the green grass in your bare feet.

So, on to the trip...

We had a fabulous time. We're both a slightly on the geeky side so as preparation for our island vacation we spent one childless day paging through every tour book that we could find in Borders. We settled on the trusty ol' Foders guide and threw down our dough.

We read through the descriptions of places to see, things to do and, of course, the delicious dining that HAD to be experienced. We looked and looked and studied and paged until our heads were spinning and our eyes were blurry with possibilities. We laid out a detailed plan that included daily activities and the places we would eat. This itinerary was based on Que Pasa! magazine and Foder's Puerto Rico travel guide.

We had a lot of fun, but there were many (many, many) hours spend driving around in the car looking for the places that we wanted to go to. Soph wasn't happy with the backseat and there were a few days when the only thing that saved our sanity was giving up and spending a few hours on the nearest beach. I'd recommend using other guides to inform your trip to the western part of the island.

Our favorite activity was the Zoo and our lunch at Ricomini Bakery. The Zoologico de Puerto Rico is the only zoo in PR and Soph had a blast. There was a great variety of animals but our favorite part was the bird exhibit. We had a chance to walk into the netted area with the birds and get an up close look at their colorful feathers. They were beautiful.

After the zoo we tested our luck and found the Ricomini Bakery. They are known for their Brazo Gitano which translates to Gypsy Arm. It is a giant (like...the size of an arm) jelly roll that is filled with delicious creams, fruits and cheeses. They are delicious! I did a search and found several recipes so if you'd like to try your hand at a filled sponge cake open another tab and Google it.

On Sunday we packed up and enjoyed a slow morning in the 79 degree weather. The drive from the west to east coast was scenic and, because Sophia slept most of it, was the perfect way to end a beautiful trip.

Good bye, Puerto Rico,
Good bye, warm, sugary sand beaches,
Good bye, lighthouse,
Good bye, 80 degree weather....

Hello, Pennsylvania,
Hello, blustery wind,
Hello, cold, cold, cold 8 degree weather....

How You Know Your Husband Loves You: 4

2009-01-11T22:30:00.000-05:00

Your birthday present is a week-long trip to the beautiful beaches of Puerto Rico!

When we were nearing the end of 2008 I was enjoying the last few months as a twenty-something. On 10 January I turned 30. That's right folks...I'm all grown up now.

Now, there are some small things that end up meaning a whole lot to me and then there are some big things that just never phase me. This birthday was not really a huge deal to me. Probably because I've felt like I was 40 at age 18 and have been slowly working on growing younger every year since then. Anyway, when George told me that he had booked a week-long trip to sunny, warm Puerto Rico right smack-dab in the middle of the Pennsylvania's winter I was..um...shocked.

We've finished packing and are flying out in the morning. Hope you have a wonderful week...I know I will.

Gratitude

2009-01-01T13:10:00.000-05:00

For me, starting off a new year has always been about gratitude. I spend the last few days of the previous year reviewing all we've done, the changes we've made, and how our family and friends have impacted our life and I always spend the first day of the new year amazed.

2008 was a very, very big year for us. There were so many things that went on in our lives that it is hard to imagine we fit it all in one year!

Last January, Sophia and I were cleaning the house and bringing order to our All Girls Palace. We were making and checking off things to do on our list. We were pacing the floors waiting for the day that George was set to come home. His trip from Afghanistan to the United States was long and, because the guys were pretty much stuck for a week with nothing to do, included hours of reading bad novels and wishing they could speed up time. Its a good thing he had time to rest because as soon as his boots hit the ground in the US we were off and running.

They out-processed for 4 days and were back in Pennsylvania with two shakes of a fist! We were packed and migrating to Florida for our very first family vacation. The weather was amazing, the vacation was relaxing. This was the beginning of a new life for all of us. As we flew back home Sophia and I tried (really hard...really! hard!) to leave "Our Way" of doing things in the south and came home to a house filled with family love!

George enjoyed 40 days of being reminded of how "We Do It" and receiving instructions on proper diaper changing, bathing and sleeping habits. (He was so patient with me, I swear the man is a saint). After his sentence with The Mommer (and yes, that out-ranks a Lieutenant Colonel) was up he started his new position as Deputy G3 in Harrisburg. To date he still makes the 3 hour round trip to and from work.

Overall the transition from a Mommer run house to a Schwartz Family house was smooth for George and Sophia. Their adaptability just amazes me. They're both so easy-going and flexible. I had a more difficult time but eventually caught on.

Overall we've enjoyed the year and all its gifts. Watching Sophia grow from 9-19 months has simply been amazing. She started walking at the beginning of the year and now prefers to run everywhere. She has developed this silly idea that she is a separate person with her own preferences. Humph!

I want to thank you all for stopping by our little blog, saying hello and keeping up with what we're doing. I am so appreciative for the support you so willingly offer. I feel blessed and honored that you have joined us on our life's adventures. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Holiday Booty

2008-12-28T21:05:00.000-05:00

I hope that your holiday was as festive as ours. Sophia and I celebrated our first Christmas at home, in our pj's, with George. She will, one day, forgive us for not decorating but I'm sure it will only be after forking over a few paychecks to a lovely therapist some time in the distant future.

Geo and I were up early on Christmas morning and were blessed with some time to chat over warm breakfasty goodness while our dearest angel lay sleeping in the room above us. Just having him home and healthy (mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually) is something I'll forever be grateful for. It humbles me to think that other families that we have grown to know and care for spent this holiday without their loved one to help assemble toys, disagree on directions, or to share the spirit of family with.

When Soph finally realized that it was morning she slid out of bed and ran out to the balcony. We thought that we might be able to shuffle her past the living room and into the kitchen for some breakfast first but she was on to bigger and better things. Who needs food when you have toys that have yet to be licked??

After enjoying the better part of the morning playing we convinced her to come into the kitchen and have some eggs (Do you know that the girl eats 3-4 scrambled eggs each morning?....she out eats both Geo and I regularly!).

She wasn't coming, however, without bringing along some of her new toys. She settled on the heaviest of them all and toted her new dollhouse into the kitchen for some more playtime. She seems to especially enjoy trying to stuff the Dad into the crib-sized bed and tossing Jose' the Firefighter through the front door.

She is a blast to watch.

After breakfast we decided to venture out on a family walk. The weather was especially beautiful and Soph held her demands to be carried off for several miles.

Our usual landmarks include a covered bridge (we bypassed it for this trunkated walk due to the Mommer's enlarging belly and sore back), a creek, a large turkey, a very large pig, a few goats, and a house with a Beware of Cat sign.

The owners of the goats invite the community to step into their yard and greet the pets (as to not become a splatter of roadkill along the beautiful country road). Soph really, really enjoys this part of the walk. The bigger goats generally drop whatever they're doing and mosey on over to the fence to sniff the Peaster, lick her and try to nibble on anything possible. I haven't always had postive experiences with goats, but these are very kind, gentle and less smelly than your average goat.

We fishished the walk, took a nap and played for the remainder of the day.

Overall I'd say that our holiday was perfect.

2008-12-24T21:58:00.001-05:00

Wishing you and those you love a safe and joyous holiday season.

May the new year bring a renewed sense of peace, serenity and a new level of inspiration to your life.

Birth At Home

2008-11-22T14:54:00.000-05:00

Here is the link to a NY times slideshow that depicts that beauty and strength of homebirthing families in New York.

The Wonders of Play Clay!

2008-11-19T10:50:00.001-05:00

I was invited by the one of the owners of Earth Mart to do a series of lectures on Sustainable Family Living at the store. The series was not well marketed and attendance has been.....well....less than ideal. In any event, I've had time to shop around the store. During my last trip I picked up some Play Clay in the Cherry Berry scent. I was assured that it didn't taste good despite the delicious fruity scents.

The next night right before I attempted to cook dinner (always a challenging hour in our household) I pulled the Learning Tower over to the end of the counter top, threw on our trusty smock and let Soph explore with the clay. She played for over an hour and a half with the miracle toy. She, of course, started with a little taste and then decided that it was more fun to smoosh it between her fingers. It has been a lot of fun.

A small warning. The smell can be a bit overpowering. It is far more pleasant than the traditional PlayDough, but on a day when I had a headache the scent of the Cherry Berry Clay exaserbated my brain pain. If you have family members that are sensitive to scent or susceptable to headache or nausea, I'd stick with the home made stuff.

Here is a recipe:

Kid Friendly Play Dough

1 cup flour (not self-rising)
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1-1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Mix in saucepan over low heat. It does not have to heat very long.

Dough is ready when it rolls into a ball.

Keep dough fresh in an airtight container.

If you need to make different colors, add food coloring while mixing over heat.

I haven't tried it, but I suspect that you could add a few drops of essential oils to the mixture in place of a few drops of the vegetable oil if you were interested in having scented dough.

Another "Tired, Crazy, Official Mom" Angered over Motrin Ad

2008-11-17T08:02:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm another "Tired, Crazy, Official Mom" that was terribly offended by the Motrin ad that was supposed to target the community of babywearing, Attachment Parenting parents (yep, that's Geo and I).

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall at the advertising meetings. The whole table must have thought this ad was a good idea.

I can imagine raising children without cribs, exersaucers, bouncy chairs, pack-n-plays and all the other things that new parents are basically forced to believe that their children won't survive without, but I couldn't have done it without the slings! Wearing Sophia kept her close to my heart, gave me two hands to cook, clean and knit with, ensured that she maintained a safe body temperature, kept strange people from touching her, and most importantly it kept her happy. While sharing space, energy, and basically, mom's body, the parent-child pair learn each others cues and parents can more quickly respond to a baby's needs. Only good things come of wearing your child.

There are so many challenges to raising your children. I survived Geo's deployment with the help of a very long piece of cotton and I tied my beautiful daughter to my torso everyday and night. It practically became another article of clothing. It made single parenting manageable.

And I never took a pain reliever. The sling took a load off of my shoulders by evenly distributing the Pea's weight, and a load off of my heart because she was healthy and happy right next to me.

Edit: I'm adding a link to an interesting NYTimes piece.

Holiday Cards for Wounded/Recovering Soliders

2008-11-15T11:11:00.000-05:00

As the holiday seasons nears I start receiving email about the community's effort to support wounded or recovering soldiers. Before the heightened need for domestic security, families could address extra holiday cards to "Any Wounded Soldier" or "Any Recovering Soldier" and mail them off to Walter Reed and other military facilities, this is no longer an option.

Cards sent to "A Recovering American soldier" or similar will not be accepted by Walter Reed Army Medical Center and no soldiers will receive them.

There are, however, programs where cards can be sent. The American Red Cross has stepped in and started a Holiday Mail for Hero's program. Please reference the article below. It also includes a link to the Walter Reed website (where the article was published) and the correct address to mail your holiday cards to.

~~

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a national "Holiday Mail for Heroes" campaign to receive and distribute holiday cards to servicemembers and veterans both in the United States and abroad.

Holiday Mail for Heroes, which began Tuesday, Veterans Day, is a follow-up to the 2007 effort that resulted in the collection and distribution of more than 600,000 cards to hospitalized servicemembers. This year's program will expand its reach to not only wounded servicemembers but also veterans and their families. The goal is to collect and distribute 1 million pieces of holiday mail.

"As we enter this holiday season-a time to celebrate with family and friends-it's important to remember the thousands of men and women who serve our nation in harm's way and those who are recovering in military and veterans hospitals," said Army Col. Norvell V. Coots, commander, Walter Reed Health Care System. "The Holiday Mail for Heroes program is a wonderful outreach effort and a great way to acknowledge the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform."

Holiday cards should be mailed to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD. 20791-5456

All cards must be postmarked no later than Dec. 10. Cards should not be mailed or delivered to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

For more information, visit www.wramc.amedd.army.mil or www.redcross.org/holidaymail for Holiday Mail for Heroes program guidelines.Walter Reed is not accepting mail addressed to "A Recovering American Soldier."

Click for the original article, found on Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Website

Sometime The Little Things Seem So Big

2008-11-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

The pure joy on Soph's face when she escapes the grasp of one of her chasing parents.

This picture kills me. She has been putting my shoes on and walking around the house. Something about this simple act made me realize how much she has already grown. Little teeny, tiny feets kicking against my internal organs :) Feeling your developing baby play in the warmth and comfort of your body is like a private blessing. Too small for the outside world to see or feel, it is an intimate bonding experience between Mom and Babe.

We're Seeing Pink

2008-11-09T22:00:00.000-05:00

We decided to have a 21 week ultrasound. The testing provided us with a look at every lovely bone and perfectly shaped organ in our lil' Bean. Growth and development are right on target and everything look gorgeous (other than the little bugger looking like a sea monkey!).

We kindly decline most prenatal testing because we're healthy, low risk and many of today's tests are not medically necessary (this could be the subject of a doctoral thesis and is a point of contention between the medical system and those trained to provide assistance to low-risk birthing mothers...so, lets save it for another post.) In any event, we had this ultrasound during both pregnancies in order to ensure that all was well inside "the bubble" and to decrease the possibility of a surprise immediately following the Bean's birth (in our spare room).

Sophia had a play date with several friends and we had our appointment while she floated around in a fairy costume for most of the morning. The ultrasound tech was very detailed and she noted each area of the Bean's body as Geo and I started at the screen with anticipation and amazement. As with most things, the output was much easier to read with some experience. After capturing photos of each organ and all important bones the tech asked if we were interested in knowing the gender of our little one and we both said "YES!" There was no question that we were interested. She bounced around my belly trying to get a good angle and showed us how our little angel ways positioned face down with his or her knees pinched shut. She tried for several minutes to convince Baby Schwartz to open up and let us peek.

Nothing.

We were asked to wait for the doctor, but she was guessing that it was a girl since she didn't see anything "poking out." After the longest 7 minutes of the day the doctor came in. He reviewed the findings and proceeded to scan around. At the end of his examination he was able to determine that our little sea monkey was a girl.

George is SO out numbered! (even the cat is a girl!)

Pictures for the Crowd

2008-11-07T23:34:00.000-05:00

It has been a month since my last post and I have started to receive harassing emails. I've been neglecting my photo posting obligations. So here are a few photos of our Peaster enjoying the warmer fall days.

Even on the colder days she stands at the door and begs for one of us to take her outside. She is our nature girl, that 's for sure. She loves walking the neighborhood searching for new and interesting bugs, playing with the dogs across the street and splashing around in any available water.
She has a beautiful way of connecting with the world. Her innocent pleasure makes me appreciate some of the things that a busy life has hurried me past. She sees and hears things that adult ears have long tuned out and it isn't until she points to the sky and signs "airplane" that we actually hear the passing jet. There are so many things that she brings to our awareness. Everyday with Soph is like a lesson in living.

We're forever blessed by you, love.

Yes We Can :)

2008-10-06T08:33:00.001-04:00

This post is dedicated to Mr. Kevin Powers.

We enjoyed visiting with you and the wonderful Donnice. Time between visits passes so quickly, we'll have to be more vigilant about scheduling time to get our families together and talk about politics and apricots.

This Face Could Sell Anything!

2008-09-26T13:23:00.001-04:00

This is Sophia's commercial for Tofutti brand "cream cheese."

She can't have bread without something one it anymore...

WARNING: Political Video...You may actually feel inspired

2008-09-21T06:30:00.001-04:00

Since this is a family blog, I should mention that George is completely opposed to this type of campaigning.

I, on the other hand, and just energized by the ability of a political candidate to engage parts of the American public that have felt like their voice hasn't mattered in a long, long time. I'm inspired that people are actually excited about voting.

Settling in

2008-09-10T10:29:00.000-04:00

The lazy days of summer may have passed us by but Molly is making herself comfortable in her new home. In between being carried upside down from room to room, playing hide and seek behind the curtains and gleefully chasing Sophia and her red shoelace she finds some quiet time to rest and settle in.

Wet , Wet Saturday

2008-09-06T17:09:00.000-04:00

The puddles were full this weekend thanks to the Tropical Storm blowing its way through the north. Sophia had no complaints though. She enjoyed slurping and swimming in the giant puddles.

This is our newest addition. It isn't the orange tabby named Patton that we planned on giving a happy home. The family that we were going to adopt Patton from changed their minds and we found this kitty at the SPCA in West Chester. She and a few other cats and kittens had been surrendered by an owner that couldn't take care of everyone. After a few days with the new kitty we've decided to name her Molly.

Patton was going to be named after General George S. Patton and there just aren't any tanker women in history to name a female cat after. We played around with a few girly names and decided to stick with the historical reference and call her Molly as a nod to Mary Hayes McCauly (better knows as Molly Pitcher). An artillery wife is as close as we could get.

Her first weekend at the Schwartz family was great. She made herself comfortable with Soph and the Mommer. Geo was drilling so she didn't meet the Dadder until Sunday evening. (I'm adding this as an edit to the original post...for those of you scratching your heads about the date). By bedtime it was conclusive:

George is allergic to Molly.

Oh the drama....

We're Growing....By Six Feet

2008-08-30T08:15:00.000-04:00

We're spilling the beans.
The Schwartz family is growing.

In September we're growing by 4 feet.
(Or paws.)
We're welcoming Patton, a beautiful orange kitten.

AND

In March 2009 we're growing by 2 teeny tiny feet.
We've hired our midwives and heard the Thump, Thump of another beautiful heart.
SOPHIA WILL BE A BIG SISTER!

Vacation. Vacation. Sweet Vacation.

2008-08-29T12:40:00.000-04:00

We were blessed with the good fortune to travel to Fort Fisher AP Recreation Area in Kure Beach, North Carolina this past week on vacation. We received a bit of rainfall thanks to Ms. Fay blowing north, but overall the week was beautiful. We spend lots of time enjoying the sun and sand on the beach.
Sophia enjoyed the surf this trip (as opposed to the screaming and tear filled moments in Florida earlier this year). She really enjoyed eating Veggie Booty and sand while lounging on the beach. The wind blowing softly against her bald head while she used all 10 of her teeth to grind down the sand to a find dust. The combination seemed to speed up the teething process as while we were there she cut two molars!!
During the week we visited my sister and her husband, who live just a few miles North near Wilmington. Amy runs a fancy, fancy boutique in the Historic Downtown District. Elixir (the fancy, fancy part of the description applies here. The jeans can cost as much as a car payment!) and Return Passage (where you can find some great bags and jewelry at consignment store prices!) If you're ever in the area Downtown Wilmington is a nice place to jaunt around for a while. I guess if you like history (and your wife will allow you, unlike Geo's lovely wife) you could spend endless hours looking at "old stuff."

Another adventure was visiting the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. I haven't gone to many aquariums in my life but this is my very favorite and a place that we'll return to on every Kure Beach vacation. The exhibits are magnificent. We especially enjoy the large tank at the beginning of the tour. The glass stands over 6 feet tall and you can smoosh your kiddy face against the glass to kiss the fish as long long as your are tall. During our last visit there was a scuba show in a breathtaking two story tall tank (pictured with the beautiful bride in front of it). The scuba guy, we'll call him Scuba Steve, came out to greet everyone in full gear. He swam with a magic note pad and communicated with the audience by writing notes and putting them up to the glass. The tank is filled with small sharks and other interesting sea creatures. Ohh...fun!

Our trip home was longer than the one down. We decided to stay at a hotel in Virgina to make the trip a bit easier for Sophia. She didn't seem to appreciate the long drive down as evidenced by her staying up most of the night to "talk" with us about how disappointed she was in our decision to prepare her for bed and then pack her and the luggage into the car at 9pm and start our vacation travels early. The trip home was MUCH nicer.

Contests!!

2008-08-29T12:26:00.001-04:00

Win a $250 Speesees organic cotton baby or toddler wardrobe from Nature's Child - Wholesome Goods for Mothers and Babies

Chief BerryFace

2008-08-12T23:11:00.000-04:00

We met a friend and her little munchkins for folktales and Pick Your Own berries at Willow Creek Orchard today.

Oh did I learn a lot about toddlers and farms! We sat under a large tent and listened to folktales by David Joe Miller, a professional storyteller. He was entertaining for the older kids and adults but Soph was more excited about interacting with other kids her age.

After story time we ventured into the blackberry bush with baskets in tow. After about three feet Soph sat down with some Veggie Booty and decided that she preferred to have a picnic instead of picking berries. I was satisfied that she was engaged enough to allow for me to actually pick a few. After a few minutes she gave a shout that indicated that she was out of Booty and wanted to move on to something else......this is where I caught the first glimps of Chief BerryFace.

She HAD moved on to something else....the over ripe berries that had fallen from the vines onto the ground near her picnic spot. Ohhhhh...they felt soooo good being smoooshed between her fingers! She HAD to have MORE MORE MORE!(For the FULL effect click on the above photo and check out the red, blackberry stains that ran down her cheeks from rubbing her face......priceless)

We had so much fun. It was a great experience all around. Before weighing the berries I stripped her down and washed off the clumps in a small wash bin. She smiled and laughed the whole way home.

Bursting with Blueberries

2008-08-10T10:00:00.000-04:00

Soph and I are home alone this weekend while Geo is drilling. I was sure that I would get called to go to work, since it was possibly the least convenient weekend to find childcare and balance community commitments.....anyway, we got a great night of sleep following a fun filled day and to celebrate we made blueberry pancakes with Fresh Blueberry Sauce (Cooking Light, June 2007).
Oh my....it was soooo good. I used some of the sauce in place of milk in the buttermilk pancake mix. The sauce made purple swirls and filled the pancakes with sweet blueberries.

Deeeeeeelicious.

I have enough sauce to share if you're interested....

Hanging Out On the Farm

2008-08-07T10:54:00.001-04:00

Geo looks forward to the Kimberton Fair every year like kids look forward to waking up on Christmas morning to a living room full of carefully wrapped presents. Because he was off playing in Asia last year he missed the fair....but not this year!

I mean, what is there to NOT love? There is the huge 4H display with goats, several rabbits and cows. We spent most of out time in that tent playing with the baby goats. I think they'd make a lovely addition to our family! Don't you?

There is also plenty of fried foods to be had. Geo ate his body weight in french fries and I had some delicious fried veggies.

We also enjoyed the tractor display. George always points out the big Ford. " Ya know, hun, Pop drove one just like that up on the farm." But this year was especially special because there was a "Cubby" just like the beauty that my neighbor drive (and jump starts with is car battery) and it was proudly wearing a 1st place ribbon.

Mike, You're a winner in my book!

Enjoying the Summer

2008-07-21T22:20:00.000-04:00

Hope you're enjoying all your picnic foods!

For me, one of the most exciting parts of the summer months are all the fresh foods available in my community. We're surrounded by healthy, organic farms that are treating the community, the Earth, their workers and their crops with love. It makes a huge difference in the outcome, if you ask me. The berries couldn't be sweeter and the vegetables are so ripe and juicy. I can't stop thinking about new ways to put the most amazing ingredients together in new and delicious ways.

Recently we tried the apricot tart from Everyday Foods (one of the most wonderful cooking magazines delivered to my door!). After a few minutes of nervous whisking over medium heat the corn starch did it's magic and I was left with a creamy custard (Whew!). I threw some organic blueberries on just because I saw them in the drawer.

The outcome was a big hit at dinner that night. I have to mention that I wasn't expecting the tart filling to be really custard-like. It tasted more like what you would find in a coconut cream pie. I was thinking more vanilla pudding. I think I'd prefer something a little bit lighter next time.

Sophia enjoyed licking the spoon....

I know that the warm summer months aren't typically spend baking bread but at my recent (childless!!!) trip to the local library I picked up "Artisan Breads in Five Minutes a Day" and have been baking bread daily ever since.

I can't rave loud or long enough about what an amazing book this is. It came highly recommended and I pass on the wisdom to you. There is even an informative website to accompany the book!! (Kate, don't rush out to buy it just yet!)

This was my very first loaf. Since then we've broken out Geo's baking stone and the loaves have become bigger and crustier and packed full of herbs.
And what goes with freshly baked bread? How about some delicious jam??

We're Doing A Happy Dance....So Should You

2008-07-14T14:20:00.000-04:00

There is a Hi-Res version on the You Tube site that is much, much better.

xoxo
The Schwartz Family

Contests!!

2008-07-09T12:43:00.000-04:00

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

The link has been fixed...

Win a Bum Genius 3.0 Starter Kit from Nature's Child - Wholesome Goods for Mothers and Babies

A Celebration of Freedom

2008-07-06T13:33:00.000-04:00

George pointed out that I have been a blog slacker. No update since the last holiday....

Guilt is a great motivator.

(He swore that HE didn't mind the "vacation" but he was SURE that there would be relatives that were shaking their heads in disappointment the next time they pulled up the site and saw the same ol' same ol')...

I'll catch ya'll up...

Inspired by our Peaster, The Dadder and I have been quite the social butterflies this summer. We've visited several friends and have planned for several more visits.

"Schantzie" and his lovely, lovely family were the first. We partied on their back porch and chatted about their big move from Carlisle to Ft. Knox. They treated us to a delicious picnic dinner (including steak, chicken, beans with bacon(!!), corn and lots of bread).

It was here where Sophia first fell in love with the corn on the cob.

Next, we took a trip to New Jersey to visit with the Gartenberg family. They were still firmly planting their feet on the fertile US soil after several years of prancing around England (and I'm sure that Joel did it with one sock on). Dave's job took them from Washington to live among the proper several years ago. I hear that they're still recovering from the Bubble and Squeak.

On a more serious note...It was great to see, in living color, one of the most wonderfully supportive friends. Dave regularly wrote me emails during Geo's deployment, sending gems of parenting wisdom, humorous quips, and, even more wonderful words of support and encouragement.

On the very same day, Queen Crazy Herself invited several close friends over to the house for an afternoon of laughter, catch-up conversations, good foods and Sidecar drinks (you'll have to email Katie of Winter Foliage, for the specifics on her delicious version of this seriously adult beverage).

Next, we packed up our bags and grand plans and headed to "The River" for the Independence Day weekend. Geo and I have always excitedly planned out hiking and camping trips that dance across our summer calenders. We both love hiking, camping, breathing-in-the-fresh-morning-dew, coming home with the smoky smell of campfire.

Really. We dream about new places to explore. Break open crisp (and well loved, not-so-crisp) maps and plot our adventures.

Back to the story. We packed up and headed due north to The River. After a visit with my parents' we hit the road and the rain. After discussing what the night might look like if Sophia were wet or soggy we opted for the Holiday Inn Express for a dry night of sleep. In the morning we were shocked (while munching on the free cinnamon bun breakfast) that there was rain in the forecast until 10 July.

Our plans changed.
We spent the day playing at The River and visiting with my grandfather (who taught me to hunt for "Night crawlers" and fish for Bass during my childhood summers at The River). George enjoyed time with his face in some good reading and a stick poking around the fire. I, of course, knit the day away.

Sophia played hard and had a blast splashing around. So much so that she took an unheard of 3.5 hour nap during the afternoon.
It has been a lovely, albeit busy, summer thus far. I'm looking forward to some more baking and some jarring. We have already enjoyed some fresh baked pretzels (recipe from The Simpler Life Cookbook by Arrowhead Mills, published in the early 70's) and I'm dreaming about the smell of bread baking in the house while we sip fresh lemonade in the backyard.

Have a great week!

And get some rest!!