Conversations: Three Cakes and a Bugar

Children, 

You keep life interesting. We love, love ya. Here are some of our conversations this evening. 

Hensley: "I got a bugar, Mommy." Holding your finger out with a lovely surprise attached to the tip.
(Yep, that's my job. Bugar collector.)

Tegegne: "I got three cakes!"
M: "What? How did you get three pieces of birthday cake?"
T: "Remember when you were looking for me and I was playing with those kids at that other party?"
M: "Yes, I thought you were with Dad."
T: "Well, I ate cake with those people at that party. One lady knew me!"
M: "Seriously?! That's hilarious! It's not okay that you didn't know where we were."
T: "I could see you and Dad. I knew where you were."

And then there's Fields...who smiles and grunts, pulls my hair, and grabs the back of my neck so hard with those little chubby hands, digging his little nails in. "Ouch, baby!" says Mama. You turn eight months in a few days. You are becoming a little boy, always wanting to stand and being rough and tumble. You'll be keeping up with Hens and Tegegne in no time.

T: "Mommy, tomorrow is Mother's Day and we have 2 surprises for you." (You are no good at keeping surprises, Tegegne. And you cannot stand to have one kept from you!)
M: "Oh, I'm soooo excited."
T: "You may be getting that special drink you like in the mornings..."
M: "Don't tell me what it is, but will you make it for me?"

Good night kids. Thanks for making Mother's Day something sweet to look forward to. You are the reason I get to celebrate.

Love,

Mom

A Love Note: To Our Cookie

Dear Chocolate Chip Cookie made by Dear 'ol Daddy,

We love you, Cookie.
You are so good to us.
Sometimes you are there for an after dinner treat.
And other times you are Mommy's sneaky breakfast.

We are glad we get to enjoy you often.
A lot of our friends get to enjoy you as well.
Oh Cookie, Dear Cookie, thanks for being so yummy.

Love,

Happy Consumers with Messy Chocolate Faces

Palm Sunday: A Ride On a Donkey

Dear Children,

Good day. It's Palm Sunday tomorrow.  A wonderful woman with our children's ministry at church made the coolest Easter Story Characters (paper dolls that stand, small symbols, a chronological scene foldout, etc, etc,  wowza) It's pretty great how they encourage us (and equip) us as parents to help you (kids) be involved in the stories of the bible and play them out. Tonight we shared in the narrative starting with Jesus trip on the donkey to Jerusalem. 

We are excited to go to church in the morning and get actual palm branches to wave. (If we can get to church...we're kinda getting snowed in.) Telling the stories of Jesus, reading them, and acting them out....hope to continue to do all of this as a family...and do it more. It is always neat to learn something from you guys...to hear you, Tegegne, spout out fine details that you picked up from Miss Mimi's story time. Thankful for the wonderful people that share the life of Jesus with our children. 

I also added a few Easter egg ideas I liked. Nothing beats the intricate scenes that Grandma Ileen paints on eggs. I'll try to get some photos, since we're headed home over spring break. Her's are beautiful.

Mom

Baby Fields: With Uncle Eric

Sweet Fields,

You had a great Christmas, especially with Uncle Eric. He spent lots of time playing with you and laughing. You two had a good line of communication going. I caught some of your time together on video. 

Another amazing gift from your dad was a set of plates from Aunt Erica. I was so surprised and absolutely love them.  Her work is available here and here. Coffee never tastes so good than when it is drank out of one of her mugs. Also helps when it's coffee from here!

Love,

Mom

P.S. Hensley is "helping" me write this blog post, and saying "Eric" over and over. She is also holding the candle from my bedside and swaying while singing her version of this song..."Light one candle for love, one bright candle for love. He brings love to every heart, He Comes, He Comes!"

Bicycle Basket: Our Wish List!

A little...something for everyone!

The Essential Belt for Dad from Everlane...watch the how to!

...So Mom can stay "In The Know"

Adorable sweater dress for Hens!

Kicks for Tegegne...velcro yo!

Zutano Booties for Fields...they promise to stay on babies feet!  Could they be serious?!

Our Home: For the Holidays Part II

Details, details, details. I learned that it is fun to go all out and decorate for Christmas!  And to add our eclectic taste in the details! 

The one thing I wished I had found or made was a nativity set. One that the kids could interact with and play out the Jesus story. Tis the season for making things merry and bright, for teaching the children about giving. We have gotten into the Advent season and it's good to share the traditions and the meaning of Christmas with the children. This morning we did a Centering Prayer together. We took deep breaths then said, "Jesus, over and over." What a sweet moment. Hearing their little voices say the name of Jesus. Each week of Advent is focused on something different. The first week is Centering Prayer and Morning Prayer. 

Love,

Kristyn

P.S. All photos by Aunt Deanna!

Our Home: For the Holidays Part I

The Pendleton Heights Holiday Homes Tour was a success. Four hundred and eighty-eight tickets were sold, and children under 12 were free. That made for a steady flow of people from noon to 5 in our house on Saturday! It was quite enjoyable to share our labor of love with family, neighbors, friends, and other folks. Thanks for coming on the tour! Thanks friends and family for giving the tour (we had docents in each room telling history, remodel stories, saying where artwork and furniture came from, etc!) Having people we know and love here made it all worth while. Several families and students from Michael's school came through as well. That made his day! 

Hensley, you enjoyed a special day with Gramma Debby, as you are least interested in greeting many people. Tegegne, you greeted with me and told folks that our house was built in 1905. (but most of the time you entertained people as a cheetah in the front yard). That was until your cousins came. You have talked about Ava non-stop since she left! Fields, you also were held by family and friends all day.  

Thank you so much, Aunt Deanna, for documenting the day!

Love you all and Merry Christmas!

Kristyn

Jonesing: For a Holiday + Thanksgiving Recipes

Hi there. We are so looking forward to this Thanksgiving weekend.  Then we'll trudge through to next weekend when our house will be on the Pendleton Heights Holiday Homes Tour. After that we will really kick back and enjoy Christmas break. A break, a holiday, some true relaxation is just what we need. I've had this severe sinus toothache that makes my teeth throb. Today I warned and then apologized several times to the children for my impatience. Phew. When mama is throbbin' ain't no body better get on her nerves. Michael came home with some antibiotics from the doc. Sweet relief, please come my way before I dig to the back of the medicine cabinet for my codeine pills from surgery. 

Hensley, you had a tummy bug that seems to be clearing up, but the laundry aftermath is still going. Poor girl. You've been acting normal this whole time. It's odd, but we're glad it totally didn't wipe you out. 

Tegegne, you love school. Some days spent at home, like today, get really long, especially when I don't give you ideas of what to do. We will be glad to have dad around. He's finished sanding, mudding, and painting, so he's all ours! You had a Thanksgiving Feast at school yesterday and did a little program on the stage. You shouted out, "The Mayflower," when Mrs. Donna asked the name of the Pilgrims boat. We love your preschool. Your teacher has become a good friend of yours, since this is your third year with her!

Fields, you slept all night. Yay!  I put you to bed at 6:30, woke you at 11pm for a late night feeding (I'll usually do this right before I go to bed, normally between 9 and 10.), then you slept until 6:30am. Following that you took a long morning nap. Love you little sleeper!

We are hosting Thanksgiving and are in charge of the turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, rolls, and cranberry sauce. Yum. Michael will do the turkey again via Cooks Illustrated Herbed Turkey. I'll do Ina Gardners' sweet potatoes and this year I'm going to try Pioneer Woman's stuffing.  The rolls will be from our Artisan Bread book and the cranberry sauce will go in the crock pot. 

Cooks Illustrated Herbed Turkey - From this book
Ina Garten's Sweet Potatoes
Pioneer Woman's Stuffing
Artisan Rolls - From this book
Heather's Cranberry Sauce: Crockpot

With lovin' from our oven,

Kristyn

(photo.)

Independence Day: Boom, Sparkle, Sparkle!

Happy Independence Day! 


We originally had no plans for the holiday weekend, then some friends called and offered us their lovely home for the holiday. So, we packed up and moved to the Westside. Their house is quite modern and was designed by 360 Architecture, my old workplace! Tonight we'll have a great view of several displays from their rooftop terrace with a hot tub (we enjoyed the hot tub last night as it was cool enough for the whole fam)!


Other life updates, our sweet sweet dog Owen moved to Grandpa Ben and Grandma Debby's at Big Sky Ranch. It was a mutual decision, as they have had 2 doggies pass away recently and were looking for a companion for their sweet yellow lab, and we know it is Owen's dreamland with 80 acres and two large swimming ponds. We are going to miss him and it will be a transition, but it just means more visits to Big Sky Ranch which is nothing but a good thing!


Pregnancy is going well. My belly got super big, super fast, but just because it's like "been there, done that, and I know where I'm headed!" Fields is healthy, I'm healthy. I do have placenta previa, and if it doesn't resolve I'll have to do another c-section so we'll have 2 more ultrasounds at 30 and 36 weeks to see about that. 


Taryn and Micah welcomed Baby Hazel Elece Waters on June 30th at 6:46am. She is beautiful and teeny tiny (7 lb 2 oz, 20 in). We are so excited she's here and love seeing Micah and Taryn as parents. I can't believe I haven't taken any photos yet! 


And The Tour is on, so no better time to kick back and relax!


Happy Fourth! 


(fireworks.) 

Memorial Weekend: Serious Family Fun

We had a really great weekend with our family. Tegegne played and played and played with all of those fun cousins. Not sure I saw him until Monday morning! We had an old school slip-n-slide with a pool at the bottom, had a fish fry, late night guys basketball game, lots of fishing, my grandparents celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary, and it was a good time by all.


We love you all!