Lights and Display Contest

S and I set out to make our gingerbread houses for the Camellia Waldorf Winter Faire, organized by my amazing friend.  Charged to make something "different from the box," I was inspired by my children.  After all, L's name was suggested by big sis after watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas" during a queasy first few months of pregnancy.  He's a very sweet guy & there are others with the name, too... it stuck.

I was hopeful about my beginning...

Feeling good after light mist from

spray bottle left over from scorching 1st birthday party helped my "roof" to stick.

Phew.

Ok...  This looks like Snoopy's doghouse.  Now for the show.

Feeling good!

Ta-daaaa!

View from behind - I had to include because

I just love the lights!

S's gingerbread cottage is the third from the left, on the cake stand.

You really should come check out the show and silent auction next year.

Really, you should enter a gingerbread creation!

Sky's the limit...

Kids create their own at the gingerbread workshop at the Faire.

S's sweet (hee-hee) cottage.

What fun!

Forgot these...

No, this time I really packed up the fall decor... really. I even remembered there was a fall

wreath on the front door!

I considered not putting up these pictures, but decided they just brought me so much

happiness this fall that they had to be included, too!

Did you make these when you were a kid?

Turkey 2009 & 2010

Well, these are tiny & feel wintery. They can stay : )

Out with the old (holiday)

Finally putting away the Halloween decorations.
Sad to see these guys go...



and these guys...

and I'll miss her encouraging words every morning when I brush my teeth!

But we'll leave as much fall as we can --

... until it's engulfed by Christmas decorations!

Now these fall cuties -- they're keepers!

Happy Fall!

Fancy Eggs x 2

Today we colored eggs in a way that was fun, colorful & easy - that's a winning combination! It was the easiest, most low-stress way we've ever done them. We got the idea from Family Fun magazine.

Dip your hard-boiled eggs in white vinegar, or sprinkle it on. Put a few eggs in a colander at a time & put it in the sink. Drip one color of food coloring on them. Use the colander to swirl them around & let sit for 30 seconds. do the same with a second color. Add a third if you'd like. Then rinse lightly with a little water.

Voila!

And now for the eating...

My friend, D, is the best cook. Despite my need in life not to burden others, I NEVER turn down food at her house. I even eat foods that I don't usually like when I'm at her house. When she makes it, I love it! Doesn't matter what it is. I don't even turn her down when she offers to send food home with me!

Recently I was at her house during lunch time. (Oh, is it lunch time already?) She offered what she called a "really simple egg salad sandwich." This didn't sound like D & I was curious. Of course, you know I accepted her gracious offer to feed me (again). What she served was the best egg salad sandwich I've ever eaten -- and the fanciest! She said she got it from Real Simple (I think), but I have a feeling she added her own special something. Since we'll all have plenty of hard-boiled eggs around, I thought you might enjoy D's fancy sands, too. (I only wish I had a picture because not only are they delicious -- they are quite pretty, too.)

Slice & toast a large loaf of bread.

Spread on parsley mayonnaise (1 T mayo, 1 T fresh chopped parsley, 1 t mustard).

Cover with sliced hard-boiled eggs.

Sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Add watercress or arugula.

Enjoy open-faced!!

Learning

I'm really enjoying a new book right now (who knew that I had time to read?!) -- it's called "Mitten Strings for God." I'd love to tell you why it's called that, but it's very sweet to discover the meaning as you read. So I won't spoil it for you. One of the things she writes about is that our children teach us things. While I don't disagree with her, it isn't where I've found the most pleasure in the book. I bring it up, however, because of what I learned from Baby L today.

When Baby L was days old, I learned that my "too much movement overstimulates babies" philosophy isn't always true. And it wasn't true for him. I learned this after several nights of full-blown newborn infant screaming. Poor guy. In desperation I told J (my husband) to find some batteries for the bouncy seat; maybe there's a reason they all have that vibrate-y function?! Yes, that seemed comforting to him. A friend told me her secret: deep knee bends. What?! I learned one of my own: rocking so vigorously in the rocking chair that I thought we'd tip over.

Fast forward six months. Baby L has never been an easy sleeper. Over the months we've had many variations in sleep -- none simple, relaxing, or predictable. (Unless you count "predictably unpredictable.") Last night we were back to just plain difficult, and no one got any sleep. And today he was very tired all day. But, he couldn't get to sleep. We were in the kitchen, I was holding him, and I remembered that a couple days ago he had fallen asleep while I bounced to a new cd (this was not my intention at the time). This cd was playing.

I learned today that movement I wouldn't think conducive to sleep still works to coax this guy to sleep. I learned that Jack Johnson's new cd "En Concert" is perfect for dancing babies to sleep. It's the perfect combination of upbeat and mellow for hip-swayin', foot-tappin', knee-bendin', booty-shakin' snuggling a baby on your chest, nuzzling his sweet head under your chin mama-dancin' in the kitchen.

And, it's a really good cd.