Cheese Puffs & Opera Rehearsals

All in an afternoon on the porch at Chautauqua Institute.

Gardeners 2.0

In years gone by, I planned the garden and took pride in the layout, seedlings and fresh produce.  In the last few years, I'm working more and my busiest season coincides with planting season.  I'm so thankful that HandyMan has taken the lead on the gardenin and training up the next generation of little gardeners.

MMan was giving instructions on planting the carrots while GGirl munched away on a stalk of rhubarb. I sat back, enjoyed the show and the sunny afternoon!

Ice Cream and Play

It's February and it's cold.  So GGirl had great fun redeeming a voucher for ice cream she received for Valentine's day.  We alao tagged in an afternoon adventure to the Discovery Center.  No matter how maby times we go, the kids still find fun new things to play with.

Snowy Days

This winter we've had a lot of snow-more than I remember getting in the last few years. Delays and snow days just keep coming.  GGirl and MMan have thoroughly enjoyed playing in the cold white stuff.   HandyMan has also spent a fair bit of time joining in the fun

Granny Snuggles

Kiddos are still not 100% well but are enjoying Granny snuggles and one more cartoon before we head home.

Jr. Broomball

What does a Granddad do when there is an empty hallway of floor space in the new condo?  No windows. Nothing breakable.  Order kiddie broooms and wiffle balls.  They had warm-ups today.  The Cousin Bowl is on for Sunday night.

Lazy Day

Every good vacation week starts with a lazy day!  Trains, coloring, bubble baths and naps all factor in to a great day of rest and relaxation!

Sugar Art

Decorating sugar cookies when you're 2 and 5 is like an intricate, multimedia art project.  Different types of frosting, sanding sugar, and sprinkles are just the beginning because it all goes on COOKIES!

These particular pieces of art were gifted by the singers to the homes they visited on the annual youth caroling trip.

Good Morning

This morning was one that had all of us getting ready to leave at the same time-earlier than normal for some.  Usually this type of morning involves frenzy and chaos.  Today, we all got out the door calmly-and even some smiles.  GGirl's mood was appreciably elevated by her new shirt that I surprised her with when I woke her up.

Remembering Grandma "Sconsin"

So many memories of my Grandma "Sconsin".  Growing up we lived in Oklahoma, and then New Hampshire, and my grandparents lived in Wisconsin - they became Grandma and Grandpa 'Sconisn when we were little.  It stuck.

I can't think of Grandma Jean without thinking of molasses cookies at coffee time and games of cards at the table in the farm house. Care packages at Christmas with homemade jam and lefsa were always a highlight of the holidays when I was little.  Grandma's Peanut Butter Balls and Frying Pan Cookies have made it into my Christmas cookie repertoire, but this year the family recipes will hold even more sweet memories of the amazing lady who shared them with us.

I remember visiting Grandma and Grandpa in May 2009, and they were among the first to know we were expecting our first, and visiting again to introduce Gwendolyn to her Great-Grandparents.

One of my favorite "Grandma" stories is of my mom and her five siblings as children running around the farm looking for my Grandma.  When they finally found her she was hiding in a tree with a book.  As a mom of only two little kids, I can fully sympathize, and know that a bit of my Grandma has been passed down through the DNA chains to this introverted mommy.

Words are inadequate.  We were often separated by many miles but she was my Grandma.  She was loved and will be missed.

Geneva B. Wait ~ September 28, 1925-December 1, 2014

Why Not?

Some nights, you just need to eat whipped cream by the spoonful after dinner. 

HandyMan left last Sunday for a 2 week trip.  It's the first trip of this length in our 12 years of marriage.  Because electricity is not reliable in the area he is traveling in, communication has been minimal.  It's been a hard week.

Finally this evening, it feels like I've found my groove.  Now I'm hoping to get caught up on things that got bumped down on the list earlier in the week. 

One day at a time and 11 days to go.

Full Communication, Few Words

MMan is taking his time figuring out how to talk.  While he has very few words that someone outside our family would understand, he had no problem communicating to GramB that he wanted her to come play in the floor with him!

Merry Christmas to All!

Dear  Friends!

We hope this note finds you well!  We continue to thrive in upstate New York: HandyMan pastoring, me working from home and being Mom, MMan and GGirl growing and changing by the day.

HandyMan has had a bit more time this year to develop his musical interests in composing and soon recording with a friend.    GGirl started school and is attending a full day preschool program and loves every minute of it!  MMan started walking and that lasted about 30 minutes before he took off running and hasn’t slowed down since!  I have an interest in all-things-natural for our home and has put my bits of free time into learning more.

2014 will start with an adventure as HandyMan will spend 17 days in Ethopia in February.  He is traveling as part of a partnership team with 6 others  through our regional church organization.  He’s excited.  I'm nervous. We’d appreciate your prayers.

This year, our friendships have grown deeper.  Our family is healthy and our children a rich source of reflection by the minute.  Rich Blessings to you in 2014!

Unwinding With Crayons

"My name is Chubby..."

A few weeks ago HandyMan spent many hours on a bus with a bunch of high school students.  At one point when I called him, he was being pulled away for a game of Chubby Bunny.  The Chubby Bunny game I knew involved lots of marshmallows and usually gets messy-he assured me that this was not the same game and gave me a brief overview and it got lost in the minutia of the day.

Fast forward to this afternoon.   I'm sitting on the footstool in our playroom and GGirl comes up to me, with flat hands squishes my cheeks towards my mouth and says "Mommy!  Say 'My name is Chubby Bunny.'"  Apparently HandyMan or one of the teens from the trip taught GGirl the Chubby Bunny game.  She went on with other lyrical lines, but in between laughter and trying to repeat my lines, my mind went back a -ahem- few years to my grandparents house and my cousins teaching me a similar game about Chubby and his motorcycle.

While the new version is a cleaned up rhyme, it is still fun and brought some good laughs to this Mama and the 4 and a half year old.

Happy Easter & 35 Years

Every seven years or so I share my birthday with Easter. It is such a fun coincidence. It means extra special celebration times with family.  And sometimes it means I get to spread my birthday out a little bit too.

Unlike many, I'm proud if my age.  I'm thankful to be celebrating another birthday in good health.  To celebrate with my steadfast husband and energetic, ever-growing, always-learning children. To touch base with friends and family farther afield that I don't get to see as often.

Highlights of the day included a fantastic birthday card written by GGirl - all by herself!  I also got a musical card that moved MMan to try out his first dance moves.  Absolutely priceless gifts for this Mama!  

It was a great day.  I am so blessed.

Happy Birthday HandyMan

Today is HandyMan's birthday.  When you're a pastor and your birthday falls on Easter Weekend, you get to spread your birthday out a little.  So, some sleeping in and cake today (that will double as dessert for lunch tomorrow) and birthday dinner of his choice will happen next week. 

Today brought a fantastic Easter program at our church for the kids:  egg hunt, story time, games, crafts, and more.  HandMan got to spend the afternoon with GGirl enjoying the activities in "dad" capacity and not tending to  official duties, which they both really enjoyed.

To my children's awesome Dad, amazing Husband and my best friend- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Sunday Sunshine: Spring Break Edition

...family
...cousins
...ScienceCenter
...ice cream
...lazy mornings
...laughter
...food

This week was kind of like my spring break.  Nobody in our house is currently enrolled in school, but it was a break from our norm.  Extended family came to visit which mean aunt/uncle/cousin time.  With that came meals that nourished the soul, not just the body. Conversation and laughter to rejuvenate our spirits.  It was a fantastic couple of days!

As icing on the cake I went to a one day Women of Faith conference with a bunch of friends that was just fun and refreshing.  What a great break from the norm!

Family Time

Time together with extended family is so important to us, happens too infrequently and passes way too fast.  It is such fun watching GGirl develop relationships with her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents and to see all of these folks planting the seeds of relationships unto MMan's life. 

This weekend while hanging out, GGirl picked up some tips frim her older cousin, however her style still remains her own.  Both kiddos were able to soak up sime Granddad time and asleep before we got on the highway to come home.

Snow Day

We had planned a trip to be with family that happened to coincide with one of the larger snow storms of the season.  Once everyone arrived safely and the snow had been flying for a while, it was time to go play.  So the uncles and the kids went out to play.