Making A Home And Family

I woke up this morning with a lot of rumbles in my tummy, and I knew that I needed some food.  I am so thankful I have a kitchen (and pantry) full of food to feed me and my family.  Good, nourishing, wholesome food!  I made myself some specialty coffee, the family breakfast, and put some meat and canned goods from our summer garden into the crockpot for dinner.

Throughout the years, I have experimented with a lot of recipes and now I love cooking.  It’s fun to be able to put together a good meal, and it’s even better if it came from your own garden or your own farm.  I hope the bounties continue to grow while we live on the homestead.  It’s a blessing to be able to have the food options I have – clean, organic, and full of good things for our bodies.

I am thankful for the blissful, quiet mama time I can sneak in a day. Sometimes it’s when both kids are finally asleep at night, and I can read a few pages in my book. Or I can sneak away to the barn to do chores alone while Dada plays with the kids.

Yesterday though, I had a whole afternoon naptime to myself. I’ll admit I did a few “to-do’s” but then I made tea, listened to a podcast, and relaxed.

Times like that I can recharge, get inspired, and keep evolving to be a better person.

Yesterday James and I took Val to homeschool group for family fitness day at the YMCA.  They went swimming together, and Val just loved it.  I am so thankful for that experience with her.

Val has never been in an indoor pool before even though she has swam in the many lakes around us and had a kiddie pool of her own, so this was a big deal.  She seemed a little hesitant at first, but I think the fact that she knew all the adults and kids in the pool already it made it a lot easier on her.  James swam, played, and challenged her a little bit and as I watched I was so proud of it all.

She fell asleep on the way home and slept like a rock!  I think that was a sign that she was just as happy and fulfilled by the whole experience.

{Source – Lindsey’s Great Pyrenees}

The last two days, James has been traveling to pick up a working dog for our farm. He arrived home late last night with 2 little white fur babies – Great Pyrenese puppies!

I am thankful for their cuteness, little squeals, and their mischievous personalities.  I am thankful that someday the pup will protect me, my family, and the barn animals.

I am so thankful for all that our parents do for us. James is off on a road trip picking up a puppy that will be our guard dog on the farm, so it was my first time home alone with the kids and chores.
James’ mom came by last night so I could do chores and she played with the kids to give me a break and give me a few minutes to do dishes.
My mom is coming this morning so I can do chores without taking the kids out in the rain and have coffee with me so I’m not too bored or overwhelmed.
These are just small examples of all of the things they do for us on a regular basis to make our life easier. I’m so thankful for them, all they give up for us, and that they are close enough to also be our friends.

{Source}

As the days grow colder and shorter, I am more and more thankful for comfort foods.  The warmth of the house and the soul when you sit down to something that has been cooking awhile.  The aroma of the house (minus the smoke when your oil spills over the side in the oven) when you have a sweet treat in the oven or something that has been cooking in the crockpot all day.

Yesterday was one of those days!  I put beef stew in the crockpot in the morning and I could smell the broth and veggies all day.  At nap time, I put AJ in the wrap and we baked banana pumpkin bread.  Sweet, fall smells!  Sweet, fall tastes!  Food makes me happy!

What comfort food are you thankful for?

I am thankful we are blessed to do special (or even to some-”extravagant”) things with our kids.  Last night we packed up our van with my sister, nephew, and our two kiddos and went to see Elmo Live on stage.  We got there just in time to get some snacks and get to the bathroom before the show started.  I knew Val was going to have a good time when I saw her mouth hanging open during the 3 minute warning to show time from Big Bird over the loud speaker.

She was pointing at characters, singing to her favorite songs, waving to Elmo, and just in awe of it all.  Even if the long car trip turned into a challenge, which it didn’t, it would have still been worth it to see her big smile and twinkle in her eyes while she watched the show.

Happy Monday, friends!

If you’ve read my blog at all you know that I LOVE Sundays!  I am so thankful for them and the attitude around this day.

It always feels like a more relaxed day, one to stay in pjs a little longer, have an extra cup of coffee, soak in the tub reading a book, baking, eating a good meal, and spending time with family.  I can’t put into words exactly the aura of Sundays… but they feel a little more divine to me.

Some families have Sunday traditions like church and brunch or going to Grandma’s.  We don’t do the same thing every Sunday, but I still enjoy the day.  I hope you do too!

I am thankful for friends when I need them most.  Yesterday was one of those days with a newborn and a toddler.  The toddler seemed especially loud and active and the newborn needed to nurse or be held all day.  You may think I am exaggerating, but believe me I am not.  Hello 3 week growth spurt!

A friend had planned on coming over, but I text her in the morning to tell her it wouldn’t be a good day.  She never got the texts, and I went with the flow that if she didn’t get them then I probably needed her here.  The Universe knew what I needed.  I needed to relax, hold my baby, watch my toddler run around like a crazy girl, and talk to another wife and mama.

I am thankful for those few hours yesterday afternoon with her.

I am thankful for relaxing evenings at home with a full dinner of fresh veggies and playing with kids on the living room rug.  Then at the last minute, deciding that we have a craving for something sweet and turning that into a little project with V.

I researched recipes, mixed a few of them together, then V and I measured, poured, and baked delicious cookies.  Gluten-free peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies.  They didn’t taste like they used gluten-free flour and I didn’t miss the sugar either!

Our gluten-free peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie recipe:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1-1/2 cups Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix
• sprinkle of dark chocolate chips

Mix all the ingredients together.  Place on pan by the spoonful and bake at 300* for 12-15 minutes.  Enjoy during a cold Fall evening at home with your family.  Maybe with some milk or hot cocoa on the side.