Terrific Two

See secret messages here..

Oh Happy Day!

George has been in Germany for the last three weeks. He hasn't had much free time but I'm assured that what little he had was spent pining away for his girls.

Today we get to dress up and pick The Dadder up!
In preparation for his return, Sophia has been practicing her Hide and Seek skills. She recently hid from me for about 15 minutes in the baking cabinet. I honestly had NO clue where she was....or that I was playing Hide and Seek!
Ms. Madeline, on the other hand, has started cooing and smiling so she could wooooo her Dadder upon return. How sweet. I wish I had an extra set of hands, or a clone, so I could shoot as many pictures of this cutie as I did of her big sister. It just so happens that the moment I put her down and grab the camera I turn around and have to rush to her side exclaiming... "No Soph, we can't put our fingers ____INSERT ORFICE___(up the baby's nose, in her eyes, or in her ears), sweetie."

On a happier note, my sister was visiting this week. We took turns entertaining the kiddos and putting the house back together. I guess things will never be as organized and clean as they were pre-kids. This is something that I'm working hard to come to terms with. Her presence was calming and I feel so grateful for her vacation time. (During her visit she discovered the robin's nest in the first picture. She and Soph were going out on the back porch to feed the birds some left over bread and Amy nearly had her nose pierced by the Mama Bird.)

1-2-3-4:00 is the big hour!
Woooaaahhh..Counting to four...

And These Little Piggies Went To The Market!

We took our very first trip to the Farmer's Market this morning. Our bounty was beautiful! Spring has definitely sprung.

We scooped up a huge basket of apples for sauce, local spinach, free-range eggs, raw milk....and then we turned to corner to see a stand filled with strawberries and rhubarb!

Oh. the. possibilities. My mind started racing. Jelly, conserve, crisp, pie....oh. my.

We loaded our bag with about 3 lbs of rhubarb and the two quarts of the most delicious looking strawberries I've seen this year.

While the girls were napping (yes, at the same time!) I made my first creation.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

1 c. sugar
1/3 cup flour
4 c. rhubarb
4 c. strawberries
3 c. oatmeal
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. melted butter

In large bowl combine rhubarb, strawberries, sugar and flour. Transfer to greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Combine other ingredients and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

E-A-T your first serving while it is still steaming. I like mine with kefir!

Now, a good mama would have timed it perfectly so that the crisp was coming out of the oven just as her girls were waking up. We'd sit down at the table and let it dance on our tongues together. I, on the other hand, made it, baked it and dug in while enjoying every second of the quite adult time.

Bad Mama. Bad Mama.
Oh it was gooooood!

Climbing in the Clover

Sweet Madeline...You're our favorite

Day 13 of Our Lifelong Love Affair

Ms. Madeline,

We are so blessed to have you in our family. You bring us so much love and light. Even on the longest nights and the hardest days your sweet face is refreshing and life affirming. With each little squeek and coo you remind us why we are all part of this world ~ to love and be loved.
You are an ever present reminder of how love is endless and how wide our hearts can expand if allowed.

We promise to focus on remaining in the moment and allowing the energy of the universe to guide us through this expansion, and to shepard you through the years ahead.

Our hearts have been cracked wide open and you have been filling us with your divine presence.

All Our Love,
The Mommer, Dadder,
and
Princess Sophia

Fun. Fun. Fun!

The girls got Geo a super swell present to celebrate all of the previously read bedtime stories and the many, many more to come. Now, Dadder can have his cup of morning Joe and read all the newspapers his heart desires.....all before his girls are even out of bed.

Sophia was so excited when the Priority Shipping box came in the mail that she immediately insisted on drawing on it. We picked fresh flowers from the yard and tucked them inside her masterpiece and anxiously awaited Dad's arrival from work.

After all...what is more fun than surprising someone with an unexpected gift??

After opening the present and passing out kisses we decided to introduce Sophia to the joys of packaging peanuts.


Needless to say...she loved them.

And we're still picking up the pieces :)