Little Lies, the truth and a photo album of my messy house.

The Lie:

This is Annie eating Lillyroot.  It happens to be her favorite food. Unfortunately it's not Lillyroot.  I don't even know what Lillyroot is.  I have been lying to my daughter for over a year now.  I don't know what started it, but one day Annie came home and said she hated onions. I didn't understand.  She loves onions. Always has. Why the change? 

The Truth:

 Annie I hope that when you are old enough to read this yourself you can forgive your mother for tricking you.  And I hope this doesn't cause you any embarrassment in the future, or worse years of counseling for getting over all the onion you unknowingly ate.  Lillyroot is onion my dear.  Plain old yummy delicious onion that you love to eat.

 Elsie is discovering a passion for sticky mess and couldn't be happier.
She doesn't seem to have food "hates" thus far.

Now for the photo album of mess.  Gigi this is for you.  Your Annie misses you and took all these photos just for you. She's probably hoping these will make you rush back home and make the house pretty again, as only you can do.

 Elsie shredding paper with her nose all red from falling.

 I'm pretty sure Annie set the doll on the sofa just for this photo.

 Mom's messy desk

 Mess

staged chipmunks.

 The meal plan board

The baby who never sleeps

We have learned that Elsie is the baby who never sleeps.  At 1 she naps maybe two times a week, and at night she prefers to be up until 11.  This is NOT good.  Not only are we not getting any down time without kids, but she is not getting the sleep her body needs.  This little girl just can't turn off.  Everything is too exciting and too fun.

The girls at story time, notice Annie laying down at least trying to get ready for sleep, while her crazy sister climbs around in her bed.  So out of desperation we are trying a new napping schedule/bedtime routine.  I hold her in bed until she falls asleep.  I'm not pinning her, but I am hugging to the point that she can't get away.  She screamed for about 5 minutes today then passed out.  I know this isn't sustainable, but the crying it out method doesn't work with her.  She'll just keep screaming, and my husband and I can't take it.

Grain Mill Maintenence

Annie and Texas spent the morning cleaning out my grain mill for me and making sure it's in working order.  It was not grinding the grains as well as it used to.  Now, thanks to Texas, it's grinding up a storm!

Kids

We started our day with Kefir smoothies for breakfast.

Then Elsie put her leg in the popcorn maker, successfully getting oil all over her clothes just before leaving for church.

 After church and a little time at the park we headed home. Annie went straight out into the backyard with three of the neighbor girls and started to play.   I should have known when they were playing so quietly that something was up.  I went outside to find all my bricks around the cold frames transformed into chairs, couches, beds and tables for the girls dolls (not to mention my kitchen towels being used as bedspreads, tablecloths and throws).

 She was less than thrilled when she had to put them all back.

 

The kitchen Window

 When we first moved into our house, the kitchen was falling in on itself.   The cabinets were hanging on by a thread.  The floor was a patched mess of stick on tile.  We had two mini fridges and no stove, but it was moderately functional, there were four wall's and a ceiling after all.  The only real thing that made it a kitchen was that it had a sink and a small amount of counter top.  Strangely the first thing I wanted to do was put a windowsill in the window.  It drove me crazy that there was nothing there.  My husband did not agree and I recall a rather intense fight over putting in a small piece of wood.  Well a year later and we still didn't have a windowsill, and yes it was still driving me crazy. 

So I tricked my husband.  He was outside with the saw yesterday and I randomly asked if he could cut me a piece of plywood.  Being on auto pilot with the saw he did it!  He didn't even ask me what it was for, until after he agreed to cut it.   Now sanded down and painted I have a windowsill!

Not a big deal to most, but now every time I walk into the kitchen it's the first thing I see.

Hazards in the garden

 While strolling the garden path, Elsie took a little fall

 right into the strawberry patch.

Once she crawled out we looked to see how the plants in the cold frames were doing.  It was so hot we opened them all the way up today.   Everything is coming along ok.  The spinach isn't taking very well, but the parsley and chard are going great.  We transplanted kale a few days ago and it looks like it's taking root.  We'll be hardening off the broccoli and cabbage sprouts to transplant soon. 

 Parsley

 Spinach

 Chard

Kids

Breakfast

 Annie was SO excited about breakfast today.  We have started a new system of writing down our meal plan for the next day before we go to bed.  She wakes up knowing whats for breakfast and the best part is, she has to write everything down herself and is really getting good at her letters.  So this morning was Sourdough English Muffins with raspberry jam.  Annie could not wait.  We don't eat a lot of bread around here, so this was a huge treat.

Elsie just sat in a pan she pulled out of the cabinet and played with her toys.  Sorry Elsie, but no bread for you yet.

The after party

Now that things are quieting down here, the girls are getting back into their routines.  Elsie eats pieces of paper while Annie reads to Banjo.  I love our boring life!

The party

 Tonight was Elsie's official party!  After two days of birthday celebrations we ended with a little family party.  I still can't believe she's one.  It doesn't feel like it's been a whole year.  The best part was we celebrated her birthday in the room she was born.  How often does that happen?  All in all the party was success.  We only set fire to the dining room table once and thanks to mom, who asked, "is that fire inside or outside," it didn't get too far. 

 Elsie enjoying a Rib while sitting on her daddy's lap.

 The desserts.  Yes, they are all Free of refined sugars and white flour.  It was probably a little strange for my family, but with time they might get used to it (or start bringing their own desserts).

 Black forest cake made with Spelt flour and sourdough starter.  I found the original recipe here, but I made a few changes. Mostly to sweeten it up for everyone.   It's no three teared wedding cake, but it will do.

 Elsie preferred the Angel Kiss cupcakes.  These are ridiculously easy.  I can't remember where I got the recipe from, but it's Gaps friendly.

Elsie was not interested in opening her gifts, but thankfully her sister and cousins were here to help.  

Happy Birthday Elsie, and just so you know this ends your three day celebration and tomorrow you are going to have to go back to being normal.

The cake

My friend Sheri is getting married TODAY!!!!

  Congrats Sheri and Dale.  I hope your wedding is spectacular, and we all wish you years of happiness.  Enjoy your cake.

Annie wants her next birthday cake to be just like Sheri's wedding cake.  I think I set a dangerous precedent last year with her cake and I will now live to regret my over the top tendencies.