Cranberry Thanksgiving Bread

I happen to think that one of the best ways to build family traditions, is spending time in the kitchen with your kids.  I have very fond memories of cooking with my Grandmom as a young girl.  The time and life lessons that she poured into me during those times are priceless to me.



Elaina is girl after my own heart.



She longs to spend time in the kitchen with me, as assistant or even better, doing as much independently as I’ll allow. 





Donning an apron and the mandatory chef hat, she’ll follow me around the kitchen begging for her next task.  What can I stir?  Can I open that?  Let me crack the egg…please?



I’m not always the best about looking for the opportunities to spend time in the kitchen with my kids. 



I get busy and overwhelmed at the task of cooking three meals a day for my stay-at-home family.  Oftentimes, I just want to get ‘er done, and that is most easily accomplished without the scampering of little people running through the space, and begging me to let them help.








I like a planned - ahead and organized cooking time. 


I also handle working with one kid at a time easier.  The chaos of each of them fighting for their turn, licking the spoons for a taste, and spilling flour all over the floor is usually enough to turn me cranky, and send them all to another room so I can finish on my own.


Sad…I know.  But knowing this about myself is good, both for me and for the kids.












As a homeschooler, I’m always looking for learning opportunities other than just opening up our text books and filling out more worksheets.  Cooking is a great way to teach listening skills, reading comprehension, accurate measuring, following directions, and patience.  Not to mention a great break in our routine for fun and practical life skills.











This school year, we’ve used several different books to enhance our time in the kitchen.  This is another great new-ish tradition for our family.  Nothing brings a book alive more than applying the contents to your everyday life.





Cranberry Thanksgiving is one of those books.  I was thrilled when I found this hard to find and expensive Five-In-A-Row selection at our local thrift store for $0.74.  We’ve already read it more than a dozen times together.  Funny how a really good book can be read like that, over and over without ever being boring.





“Mom, can we make cranberry bread for our Thanksgiving too?”




You already know what I said.  How could I resist that cheeseburger smile?

Recipe here.

Terrifically Two

My baby is two now. 

 No longer does she toddle. 

 She runs. 

 No longer does she babble and coo. 

She talks.
And screams. 

 No longer does she fall asleep in my arms. 

 She climbs into her bed on her own. 

 And often climbs out too.



Twirling and dancing.  She loves to dress up.





She's already so motherly.



Having gone through this three times before,

 I already know what this year brings. 

 A new found sense of self. 

 A strong desire for independence. 

An abounding growth of vocabulary.

  The ability to perform, to entertain. 

 An unquenchable curiosity. 

 A simple understanding of right and wrong. 



Caught trying to give the cat a bath, a definite No-No!



She is still our joy,

a lovely bundle of energy

 bounding from here to there. 

She dances and sways to her own music,

 sings and jabbers to her own tune. 

We can’t imagine our life without her,

our surprise number 4 in just 5 short years. 

What a blessing she is.

We celebrated her birthday at home. 

 A simple gathering of just us 6. 

 She climbed up to help me mix her cake,

 and seemed surprised when I handed her the spoon to lick. 

Happy Birthday Olivia! 

You are loved beyond measure!

Party for a Princess

She wanted a pinata. 

And a princess cake. 

 We gathered to celebrate her and bless her 5th year. 

She is a beautiful girl,
dark brown wavy hair nearly to her waist. 

Bright, almond shaped eyes frame her baby round face. 

She’s grown  much taller this year,

 and is often mistaken for an older child. 

Endearing and sweet,

 yet bossy and determined,

 her very character dominates our days. 

There is a song for every occasion,

 a twirl of her skirt and a curtsy that follows. 

 A love for God, and for all his creatures.



She chose Homemade Cinnamon Rolls and bacon for her Birthday Breakfast.



We started her day with our traditional story telling. 

She delights in listening to her life:

 the day we first celebrated our miracle,

 and then the day she kicked her way into the world,

water spilling down,
 bringing with it
a perfectly pink little dark haired princess.

 And how I couldn’t put her down,
or share her with anyone. 

 How I cried thinking about putting her to sleep in her crib,

 until her grandma went and bought a cradle,

 and then I just tucked her under my arm to sleep anyway.

How my heart skipped a beat just to feed her,

my body able to nourish her
 and grow her in that precious way that God designed. 

How I wore her like an accessory,

until she squirmed her way out, ready to conquer to world. 

What a story it is,

 to really know and feel how loved you are.

 

We ended her day with a blessing,
our special prayer over her upcoming year. 

 A prayer for growth, and health,
protection and guidance. 

 A pouring out of love that each of our children get
while being tucked into bed. 

 No matter what has filled the time between,
 the beginning and end remain the same. 

 An intentional honoring of the child,

 a celebration of them.

Happy Birthday my dear one! 

You are loved beyond measure!