Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Spring
The Cherry blossoms have started to bloom. But the weather turned cold again. We actually had some sleet yesterday. We decided to try and take our annual picnic to view the cherry blossoms but we only lasted 30 minutes. It was too cold and the wind was blowing too hard. Violet still enjoyed our time at the playground and we enjoyed our little picnic dinner.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Our Photoblog on Tumblr
This new little curating project is linked in the sidebar presently. Tumblr is so easy to use on a mobile device that it is just an easier way of sharing photos for us. If we could migrate the whole blog over to Tumblr we might do it but as of speaking that is not an option. Well, we will see how it goes. For now most pictures will be going to the link below:
Craft Camera Roll: Our Mobile Photoblog hosted on Tumblr
Craft Camera Roll: Our Mobile Photoblog hosted on Tumblr
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Healthy Eating
We've been so excited this past week as we finally found a place to buy kale. I've been experimenting with different recipes and found some ways to make fun meals with it. Here are some of our favorites.
Chicken, chia seed, carrot, asparagus and kale meatloaf cupcakes. Iced with guacamole and topped with a sweet potato.
Kale, basil and cheese omlets
Kale, kiwi, banana and mango smoothie
Kale, asparagus, garlic and cheese pizza
Violet really loved the cupcakes!
Chicken, chia seed, carrot, asparagus and kale meatloaf cupcakes. Iced with guacamole and topped with a sweet potato.
Kale, basil and cheese omlets
Kale, kiwi, banana and mango smoothie
Kale, asparagus, garlic and cheese pizza
Violet really loved the cupcakes!
Reading (this is a copy of a post written on my Mommy Blog)
This post was originally made on Feb.4, 2013 on my mommy blog. I wanted to share it here for scrap booking purposes for Violet. So I am directly copying and pasting it here.
I have been an avid reader since I was a little girl. If I had a picture of my favorite place to read as a kid and teen, I would post it. We had this high backed chair in our house that was reupholstered 2 or 3 times I think. It came from my Grandmother's house originally. When I was about nine it was upholstered in a pink,white and turquoise, southwestern pattern. (Very popular in the early 90's) I used to love to lay on it with my back and head on the seat and my legs up along the back of the chair and feet hanging over the top. Sounds weird for reading, I know, but I loved it. I loved reading all kinds of books and I was lucky enough that my mom was an avid reader who happened to have a wonderful collection of books from her youth too. So I was stocked! I had my own personal library plus mom always took us on trips to the library to check out whatever books we wanted. I can still remember the smell of our little library and how the cold steel on the doors felt so revitalizing on a hot South Texas day. Walking into that quiet library knowing that there was an endless number of adventures awaiting my mind and my fingertips was exhilarating to me. I still feel that sense of excitement when I step into a library today.
During summer vacation, my mom and I would often read a book together. I would wake up in the morning and go crawl into her bed. She would pull the soft cotton sheets over us both and we would pick up where we had left off the day before. Reading aloud to each other, alternating after a chapter, the stories would come alive. My mom had a great reading voice and always drew us into the story with her enthusiastic reading. One of our favorite books to read together was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The copy we read from was my mother's from when she was a young girl. The pages were a bit yellowed and there were some small tears here and there. The scent of the old paper and the inscription on the inside cover "To Pamela with love, The Roberts" drew me into her world. I could picture her as a 10 year old girl opening the pages with anticipation of what adventures might lie within this new gift. She had some neighbors who gave her books on special occasions. We read The Secret Garden aloud to each other the summer of my freshman year in High School. We had both read it several times before but it was one of our favorites so we decided to reread it together. We were lost in the gardens together and lost in the love of a mother for her son even after she had passed on to the next life. Little did I know that 7 years later my own mother would no longer be with me in this world. And so that book still holds special meaning for me.
I read to Violet every day. I have read to her since she was in my womb in fact. Every night we read at least 3 books. We started out with just 1 book a night but as her love for the written word has grown we have added to the nightly ritual. We read throughout the day as well but definitely at least 3 books as we are lying in bed. If she is feeling particularly sleepy she will nurse while I read. She struggles to see the pictures and will often tug down on the pages to get a better look. Other times she is content just to listen to my voice as I read to her. She has memorized the way I read her favorites and if I put emphasis on a different word than I usually do she will correct me. Or if Daddy is reading one that I usually read she will correct him if he doesn't emphasize the same words. For example I usually say "I just can't wait to dance." But if I say, "I just can't wait to dance" she will ask me to read it the right way. With a smile. Another funny thing she does when I read is if I yawn while reading she will say "Mama, can you try that again please?"
I love snuggling up with her and reading. It is hard for me to see the words over her sweet head as I hold it down for her to see the pictures while she is nursing. But I love how she wants to be close to my heart. I can remember laying on my own mother's chest and feeling her voice as she spoke to me or read to me. It was enough to soothe me even as a teenager.
I am thrilled that Violet has developed the same love for books that I have. I can't wait for the day when we can read aloud together alternating and sharing in an adventure. But for now, I am enjoying entertaining her with my own renditions of our favorites and cherishing the closeness of our nursing/reading sessions before bed.
She is growing so fast and I can hardly believe how much she changes even week by week. Two weeks ago, Violet read her very first book aloud all by herself. We have been using The Bob Books as a tool for reading and she just adores them. The stories are simple and have words that use the first phonetic sounds only. For example, "The cat sat." She was so pleased with herself and when she finished it she looked up at me with a surprised look on her face and said "I read that book, mama." It was a special moment for us all.
Just in case your interested, our favorite books to read together are:
Zippity Zebra and the Windy Day by Claire Henley
Someday by Alison McGhee
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
any Sandra Boynton Book (especially The Belly Button Book)
Bear Feels Scared
Bear Stays Up For Christmas
Bear Snores On
Bears Loose Tooth
Don't Be Afraid Little Pip (and all the above Bear Books) by Karma Wilson
Nursies When the Sun Shines by Katherine Henley
Winter Days in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I Wear My Tutu Everywhere by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
What are some of your favorite books to share with your little ones?
Do you have any special memories involving reading?
I have been an avid reader since I was a little girl. If I had a picture of my favorite place to read as a kid and teen, I would post it. We had this high backed chair in our house that was reupholstered 2 or 3 times I think. It came from my Grandmother's house originally. When I was about nine it was upholstered in a pink,white and turquoise, southwestern pattern. (Very popular in the early 90's) I used to love to lay on it with my back and head on the seat and my legs up along the back of the chair and feet hanging over the top. Sounds weird for reading, I know, but I loved it. I loved reading all kinds of books and I was lucky enough that my mom was an avid reader who happened to have a wonderful collection of books from her youth too. So I was stocked! I had my own personal library plus mom always took us on trips to the library to check out whatever books we wanted. I can still remember the smell of our little library and how the cold steel on the doors felt so revitalizing on a hot South Texas day. Walking into that quiet library knowing that there was an endless number of adventures awaiting my mind and my fingertips was exhilarating to me. I still feel that sense of excitement when I step into a library today.
During summer vacation, my mom and I would often read a book together. I would wake up in the morning and go crawl into her bed. She would pull the soft cotton sheets over us both and we would pick up where we had left off the day before. Reading aloud to each other, alternating after a chapter, the stories would come alive. My mom had a great reading voice and always drew us into the story with her enthusiastic reading. One of our favorite books to read together was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The copy we read from was my mother's from when she was a young girl. The pages were a bit yellowed and there were some small tears here and there. The scent of the old paper and the inscription on the inside cover "To Pamela with love, The Roberts" drew me into her world. I could picture her as a 10 year old girl opening the pages with anticipation of what adventures might lie within this new gift. She had some neighbors who gave her books on special occasions. We read The Secret Garden aloud to each other the summer of my freshman year in High School. We had both read it several times before but it was one of our favorites so we decided to reread it together. We were lost in the gardens together and lost in the love of a mother for her son even after she had passed on to the next life. Little did I know that 7 years later my own mother would no longer be with me in this world. And so that book still holds special meaning for me.
I read to Violet every day. I have read to her since she was in my womb in fact. Every night we read at least 3 books. We started out with just 1 book a night but as her love for the written word has grown we have added to the nightly ritual. We read throughout the day as well but definitely at least 3 books as we are lying in bed. If she is feeling particularly sleepy she will nurse while I read. She struggles to see the pictures and will often tug down on the pages to get a better look. Other times she is content just to listen to my voice as I read to her. She has memorized the way I read her favorites and if I put emphasis on a different word than I usually do she will correct me. Or if Daddy is reading one that I usually read she will correct him if he doesn't emphasize the same words. For example I usually say "I just can't wait to dance." But if I say, "I just can't wait to dance" she will ask me to read it the right way. With a smile. Another funny thing she does when I read is if I yawn while reading she will say "Mama, can you try that again please?"
I love snuggling up with her and reading. It is hard for me to see the words over her sweet head as I hold it down for her to see the pictures while she is nursing. But I love how she wants to be close to my heart. I can remember laying on my own mother's chest and feeling her voice as she spoke to me or read to me. It was enough to soothe me even as a teenager.
I am thrilled that Violet has developed the same love for books that I have. I can't wait for the day when we can read aloud together alternating and sharing in an adventure. But for now, I am enjoying entertaining her with my own renditions of our favorites and cherishing the closeness of our nursing/reading sessions before bed.
She is growing so fast and I can hardly believe how much she changes even week by week. Two weeks ago, Violet read her very first book aloud all by herself. We have been using The Bob Books as a tool for reading and she just adores them. The stories are simple and have words that use the first phonetic sounds only. For example, "The cat sat." She was so pleased with herself and when she finished it she looked up at me with a surprised look on her face and said "I read that book, mama." It was a special moment for us all.
Just in case your interested, our favorite books to read together are:
Zippity Zebra and the Windy Day by Claire Henley
Someday by Alison McGhee
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
any Sandra Boynton Book (especially The Belly Button Book)
Bear Feels Scared
Bear Stays Up For Christmas
Bear Snores On
Bears Loose Tooth
Don't Be Afraid Little Pip (and all the above Bear Books) by Karma Wilson
Nursies When the Sun Shines by Katherine Henley
Winter Days in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I Wear My Tutu Everywhere by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
What are some of your favorite books to share with your little ones?
Do you have any special memories involving reading?
Sunday, April 07, 2013
Friday, April 05, 2013
A Happy Coincidence and the kindness of others
This morning on our way to drop of Violet at her nursery school, Gabe asked me what songs my mom used to sing to me on the way to school when I was a child. I told them that because we drove down a road called Mulberry, my mom used to sing "Here we go round the Mulberry Bush." I then started to sing it to her and then we all sang it together.
When I got to work this morning I checked my email and in my inbox was this post from a forum I belong to called Free Stuff Japan.
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2013 00:56:36 +0000
Subject: [freestuffjapan] Free Mulberry Bush (Nagoya)
When I got to work this morning I checked my email and in my inbox was this post from a forum I belong to called Free Stuff Japan.
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2013 00:56:36 +0000
Subject: [freestuffjapan] Free Mulberry Bush (Nagoya)
This
spring we've started new Mulberry bushes. The good news…….. Cuttings
were more successful than anticipated. We have a couple dozen potted and
willing to share.
This variety bears deep purple berries. Great taste right off the bush. A lovely treat with breakfast yogurt. Into jam making? Dive in! You won't be disappointed.
The bushes grow to about 3 meters very quickly if planted outdoors. A bush this size will probably yield 5 liters of berries, enough for a few jars of jam.
The bushes are just taking root, so shipping isn't recommended. This a pick up item only.
If interested shout back to arrange a hand off, or drop by to grab a bush of your choice.
Nagoya area
This variety bears deep purple berries. Great taste right off the bush. A lovely treat with breakfast yogurt. Into jam making? Dive in! You won't be disappointed.
The bushes grow to about 3 meters very quickly if planted outdoors. A bush this size will probably yield 5 liters of berries, enough for a few jars of jam.
The bushes are just taking root, so shipping isn't recommended. This a pick up item only.
If interested shout back to arrange a hand off, or drop by to grab a bush of your choice.
Nagoya area
I couldn't help but giggle out loud and then told Gabe, he'd never guess what was in my inbox today!
I showed it to him and he too was shocked at this happy coincidence. He suggested that I email the person back and tell him about our morning. (Sharing happiness is never a bad thing)
So I replied with this:
On Apr 5, 2013, at 11:07 AM, Steph Craft wrote:
Thursday, April 04, 2013
First day of Sakura Gumi (the 3 and 4 year old class) with video
Today Violet started her first day of Sakura Gumi at her nursery school. It was a sweet morning and Gabe and I were overjoyed that she was so excited to go to school today. Up until today Violet has been in a classroom upstairs and this year her classroom in downstairs. The school split up her class that has been together for 2 years and spread them out into 3 classrooms. They mix them with children who are already 4 so that they can learn together with older kids. Violet has been thrilled the past week as they went to "practice" in the classrooms everyday. She loves being around older girls and enjoys playing with them. She is excited to make new friends and in fact all she talked about this morning was how much she loves her friends. She even went so far as to tell us both at different times that she loves her friends more than us. We knew what she meant though.
When we woke up this morning she asked her usual question "Is today school?" Usually when I answer yes she cries inconsolably for at least 5 minutes. So today I was hesitant to answer. She asked a second time and I said "Yes, today is school." She shouted out "Yay!!!" This is usually her answer when I say no. So I repeated myself thinking she had misunderstood. "Today IS a school day sweetheart." She shouted out again "Yay! Yay! I love school I love school! I love my friends!" I was shocked and thrilled! She did start to cry though because she asked about her lunch and it wasn't what she was hoping for. On Monday I had to send her with a bento (boxed lunch) and today I was only supposed to send rice. She wanted mama's special bento again and I told her I couldn't do that today. Then we got up and she said "Can I at least take gari with my rice?" (Gari is pickled ginger and Violet is an addict!) So I said yes. We sewed a quick new bag for her lunch box because the bento box she wanted to take wouldn't fit in the bag we were going to use. So I made a new one this morning and repacked the lunch. I just really wanted the morning to go smoothly for her and I had the time. Then we had breakfast, read some books and got dressed for school. We took some photos outside and in the car and at school.
She was so excited about her new class. She gets to wear a new smock that the big kids wear and we got her a new bag to carry. Just like the big kids. She LOVES her new bag! We bought it yesterday afternoon and she wanted to wear it while she danced in ballet class last night too. Funny girl!
When we got to school we walked up as usual. Then when we got to her classroom I set her down and she stopped me at the door and said, "Let's say goodbye from here ok mama?" I must admit in my heart I felt a twinge of sadness that she didn't need me anymore and Gabe said he felt the same. But more than anything I was thrilled that she was happy! No tears! No breaking my heart and reaching out for me to hold her one more time. It was amazing. We gave our hugs and kisses and kissing hands. Then our final kitty touch (kind of like a high five but with curled up hands like a paw). We did a few kitty touches and she didn't seem to know if she had had enough of those and kept touching out to my hand. Then we stepped back and she smiled and waved! It was wonderful!
I don't know if everyday will be like this but we will definitely rejoice in this one!
Here are some pics of our big girl on her first day!
When we woke up this morning she asked her usual question "Is today school?" Usually when I answer yes she cries inconsolably for at least 5 minutes. So today I was hesitant to answer. She asked a second time and I said "Yes, today is school." She shouted out "Yay!!!" This is usually her answer when I say no. So I repeated myself thinking she had misunderstood. "Today IS a school day sweetheart." She shouted out again "Yay! Yay! I love school I love school! I love my friends!" I was shocked and thrilled! She did start to cry though because she asked about her lunch and it wasn't what she was hoping for. On Monday I had to send her with a bento (boxed lunch) and today I was only supposed to send rice. She wanted mama's special bento again and I told her I couldn't do that today. Then we got up and she said "Can I at least take gari with my rice?" (Gari is pickled ginger and Violet is an addict!) So I said yes. We sewed a quick new bag for her lunch box because the bento box she wanted to take wouldn't fit in the bag we were going to use. So I made a new one this morning and repacked the lunch. I just really wanted the morning to go smoothly for her and I had the time. Then we had breakfast, read some books and got dressed for school. We took some photos outside and in the car and at school.
She was so excited about her new class. She gets to wear a new smock that the big kids wear and we got her a new bag to carry. Just like the big kids. She LOVES her new bag! We bought it yesterday afternoon and she wanted to wear it while she danced in ballet class last night too. Funny girl!
When we got to school we walked up as usual. Then when we got to her classroom I set her down and she stopped me at the door and said, "Let's say goodbye from here ok mama?" I must admit in my heart I felt a twinge of sadness that she didn't need me anymore and Gabe said he felt the same. But more than anything I was thrilled that she was happy! No tears! No breaking my heart and reaching out for me to hold her one more time. It was amazing. We gave our hugs and kisses and kissing hands. Then our final kitty touch (kind of like a high five but with curled up hands like a paw). We did a few kitty touches and she didn't seem to know if she had had enough of those and kept touching out to my hand. Then we stepped back and she smiled and waved! It was wonderful!
I don't know if everyday will be like this but we will definitely rejoice in this one!
Here are some pics of our big girl on her first day!
 |
| she said her favorite book was Sleepy Dog(that was what she read last night and this morning) |
 |
| with her new bag |
 |
| with Daddy and wearing her new smock |
 |
| My 2 favorite people! |
 |
| She wasn't crying but it looks like it here. She was telling us about the sun in her eyes. |
 |
| holding mama's breakfast smoothie |
 |
| she looks so big in this seat |
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