Botanical Garden... Love!

Botanical garden fun! Spring flower show. 🌳🌵💐🌻🌺🌸

Picky about Pistachios

"Mom! I want that one!" // she says pointing to one particular (very buried) pistachio at my regular corner nut store. The guys who work there are so kind and like her so much, I'm lucky they didn't see this, 'cause they likely would have insisted on digging it out for her!

Frida

Please meet the new kitchen helper of my little bread baker and I. We call her Frida. She was a long time coming and H and I are equally excited.

Double Gap

We have a new smile around here!

Cross-Eyed

This is how Mister B currently prefers to watch television (family videos currently)... do you think this is what people mean when they say watching the tv too close will harm vision?! (Nevermind the harm of a toddler watching tv much at all!) 🙈 Fourth kid= whatever! Ha!

Productivity Plummets (Reprise)

I wrote this blog post a couple years ago when Lil’ A turned one.

And I find myself living it allll over again. I just read it again and it just plain tickles me… this toddler stage is something all in it’s own league, that much is true.

This very day I let my usually-barred-from-the-kitchen toddler happily run inside when he saw his opportunity open (in our case, the playpen moved away from the opening… allowing him to enter, which is rare) and dig in the foil/straw/other stuff drawer because I just wanted to drink my coffee and I knew he’d be occupied for a few moments.

And I’m currently ignored any number of items that are strewn around the house out of place. And I’ve definitely been playing the ‘pac-man’ game with him TONS lately (see above blog post link to know what I mean). But here, it means I have to dash in a bathroom (forbidden for him) or my bedroom (forbidden for him) and do whatever it is I need to do in that room, dash back out and get the door closed before he catches wind of my location! My little buddy is FAST on his feet and he can hear the door open from the other end of the house. He’ll be in my room digging my stuff out of my nightstand drawers in no time. Pick up the speed Mama!

So, as I do, I’ve collected some photos of him since he started being on the move and getting himself into ‘trouble’. These start from the summer, when he was crawling around in my parents house finding all sorts of pickles to get into and messes to make.

The recycling bin is always good fun.

Low shelves on tables, amazing!

Poor navigation and size-estimating skills get you in pinches (no pun intended, ha!) like this one though…

Okay, so he didn’t end up in the kitchen sink for a bath on his own! But he is just cute…

Exploring the shower and it’s fascinating contents…

And when we returned home to Africa he went through a phase of trying to crawl over the table bars and getting stuck halfway. Poor little guy.

This is more current. Unloading drawers, boxes and cabinets whenever he can. Classic toddler.

Big mess. But he’s occupied. So that’s good!

That time he got a pencil and scribbled on the wall…

He loves the dishwasher and it’s dirty contents. This day I had failed to keep him out and found myself doing dishes with one leg in the air keeping him away from the dirty knives…

Anyone need some parchment paper?

Oh look! For once he’s trying to help clean up the mess he made!

Oh this is also the ‘baby in a box’ stage! He loves to find things to sit it.Cute stage.

Exploring the inside of cabinets is always fun.

This way the glorious day that would go down in happy baby history if babies had any memory. He got in the cabinet, opened the oatmeal, spilled it, and then I just let him play. It ended up with two happy kids and oatmeal ALLLLL over the kitchen. But it was easy enough to clean up.

So there you have it. Mister B’s age one activity report. And the year of age one is not yet half over, so I’m sure we have a lot more adventures ahead of us…

My Boys

6:30 am on a weekend. I'm still in bed. H says from the door "Mom, B is awake, can I play with him?" Ummmmm lemme think about that... YES!!! And he did for an hour or so. What a joy to have a tot with big kids around... 😍😍

Baby Book - Fourth Time Around

One of my happy places.

Too Much Cuteness

These two are the cutest. #ikea

Tried and True Recipe: Focaccia

I’ve been making this recipe for years. Fresh bread is always popular at meals, and this one is so easy. The recipe calls for rosemary on top, but we usually use zataar, which is a Middle Eastern spice blend.

Ingredients for Easy Focaccia

• 1 1/2 cups bread flour (or use all regular flour if you want)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast
• 1 1/3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir together the flours and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Sprinkle the sugar and yeast into that well. Carefully pour the water into the well. Let stand until the yeast begins to act, about 5 minutes. Pour 2 tablespoons of the oil into the well. With a wooden spoon stir the mixture in the center of the bowl. Gradually widen the circle of stirring to take in all of the flour at the sides of the well.
2. Turn out on a floured surface, and knead just until smooth. Keep the dough soft. Pour 1/2 teaspoon of the oil into a clean bowl. Place the dough in the bowl, turning once to oil the top. Cover. Let rise until doubled, 30 to 45 minutes.
3. Punch the dough down. Use 1 teaspoon of the oil to coat a baking sheet, and place the dough on the baking sheet. Gently press the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Pour the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil over the top of the dough. Make dimples in the top with your fingertips. Sprinkle with the rosemary and the cheese. Place in a cold oven on the center shelf. Place a flat pan of hot water on the shelf below the bread. (or don’t). Let rise until doubled, 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Turn on the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake the focaccia for 20 to 25 minutes, or until browned on top. Remove from the pan, and cool or serve.

Gifts from Turkey

My man was right on with this gift he brought me from Turkey. He sure knows what I like!

Another Bookworm

We have another tiny bookworm in our family.

I only hope it sticks! I find Mr. B like this at least once a day. I’ve included ten pictures over the past several months to prove it. Becuase that’s just what I do. And because five obviously isn't sufficient.

A New Love

Some dear friends took THREE of our kids for 24 hours!!! AND they took them horse-back riding this morning (even after they woke at 6, ack!) What a gift it's been for Mike and I. And I'm pretty sure the kids have had a blast. This one especially adores animals.