Training the sous chefs

The girls pitched in and helped chop the mushrooms for our pizzas this week. It was fun to watch them focusing so intently. Mushrooms were the perfect food to start them on using a real knife. Even Nina did just fine.

Poor little chickens...

The girls were sad to learn that our friend, Eric, who is building our chicken coop lost most of his chickens over the weekend. He let them out in his yard for only two hours and came back to feathers. Only 4 survived the coyote invasion and one hid for two days afterwards and then emerged from beneath a truck. When Zig told Sela that Eric's wife cried, she was really sad too. She made Eric a card and I thought it was really sweet.

Big Nina and Little Nina

One of Nina's preschool friends has a little sister also named Nina. So at preschool functions, we refer to them as Big Nina and Little Nina, which is really funny given my Nina's size. Rollin and little Nina love each other and hug everyday at pickup. Today was no exception....they gave a big hug and held hands as soon as we met at the museum. We went to the Children's Museum today and it was a nice little outing.

Reflecting on Motherhood

It's been a bit of a hard last few days. Nothing major, just some hard mommy days. I haven't felt too good and I'm really tired lately. Zig's schedule this time of the year is very busy so most days I've been home all day and night alone. I'm not having a pity party at all, I am very blessed, and often this schedule doesn't phase me. But this week was one I could have used some backup. I felt like I fell short with the kids by being too occupied with other things (mostly trying to finish Christmas stuff) to play each time Nina asked, and I was not so patient with Rollin when he cracked one of our cabinets in the kitchen (he has an eye for the most expensive things to repair and goes right for them, bless his little heart), and the list could go on. But tonight I was reading on Mothering and there was a post about a woman who posts on the site who passed away in her sleep, unexpectedly. Totally healthy, two little girls, a complete shock. After I read that, I immediately wanted to go jump in bed and cuddle my little ones. Not because I feel guilty, I try hard to do my best, and it is discouraging to come up short, but guilt doesn't help much. But I just reflected on what a blessing each day is and my precious children are my most treasured gift. I don't want to waste the moments and I told Zig tonight, I just want to sit and play with the kids all day tomorrow and listen and look into their eyes. They are each such wonderful little people. I will miss these days of their early childhood, which are so quickly fleeting, when sweet Rollin is perfectly content to wear a headband and ride a horse as Mary's little Joseph.

Rollin loves to jump!

It's Raining, It's Snowing!

Yesterday we had our first real snow of the year. There was plenty of snow for sledding and Sela built a little snowman. Nina had a little sledding scare and wound up wrapped around a blackberry bush, but she was brave little girl and with the help of Treela, Noah, and Sela, we were able to find her boots and get her out of the trees. We've made a quick jump to winter weather, leaving the beautiful fall behind. The first snow is always so exciting. The girls prayed for it, watched for it, and Sela woke up first yesterday and said "Mom, there's a white blanket of snow on the yard!" She has become very interested in the weather and asks to check the forecast on many evenings. I've enjoyed watching the wonder and excitement in each of the children's eyes as they watch the snow falling all around. Rollin was even mesmerized by it. Sela wanted to get him out of his bed yesterday to be the first to show him the snow. She took him to the window and he literally just sat and stared with his mouth a little bit open for at least a minute. The best things in life really are the simple things and I feel blessed to have my children to remind me to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now.

Sela's First Rock Climbing Experience

We went to Vertical World on Friday for Noah Stull's 5th birthday. Nina was too small to climb with gear, but she was able to climb on the lower walls. The first time Sela went up, she turned white and was very scared. She came down after getting about halfway up. She tried again two more times and went to the top. She is determined and I was very proud she gave it another try. I couldn't help but notice the physiques of some of the other serious climbers who were there climbing other walls. I felt very umm, un-toned watching them.