expectations...

While driving home from dropping the kids off at school this morning, a sleeping Silas in the back, I noticed a pregnant mama walking down the street with her dog. First baby, I thought. This always makes me smile. She is expecting.
Expecting to cuddle and snuggle and play in the sprinklers and rock endlessly in a rocking chair while humming lullabies. And she will do all those things.

Last year at this time I was "expecting"...to be a third time around mothering expert who doesn't sweat the small stuff. The mama of a mellow (that's what "they" say) third baby. I expected to have all the help in the world from my eager and doting older children and lots of time to watch and marvel at their sibling-hood.
Well, I expected too much. Silas is his own guy with all sorts of his own ideas about where he is going and at what speed...and at what ear shattering pitch. He is NOT mellow but driven, curious beyond curious, insistent, full of FEELINGS, he is intense and physical and relentless. He is wearing all of us out. He is an incredibly spirited kid. As was Mac and Emmett...each in their own ways.
I definitely never would have predicted this level of chaos (Matt did!) and I truly did believe that no one would ever feel neglected or left out the way Mac and Emmett can sometimes feel when Silas NEEDS me NOW! (Matt knew that too!)
I just never thought it would be so hard.
Now his first year is over and I feel a bit guilty to breath a sigh of relief. After all, aren't I supposed to be sad that the time has gone so quickly? Well, maybe...but each day as, little by little, I learn more about this boy...his baby-thought-process, his likes (elephants, airplanes) and dislikes (tomatos, getting off the swings)...I fall deeper in love with him...the REAL him...not the expectation.

I am blessed with three uniqely awesome people who I am privelaged to get to watch grow, from scratch!

...and when I go upstairs after hearing, "mamama!" on the monitor, I can't help but feel lovelovelove when I see that face!
.

a must watch for the MOMS out there...

...had to steal this from RubySoho (linked from Laurens blog)...this truly feels like my daily blabbing mouth. Sometimes I get so sick of my own voice...maybe I just need background music!!

Do you have a Torino?

I have mine!!!!!!

Matt

johnny and george...

blast from the past...

mammoth 1999 (these are dark because they are
pictures of pictures!)

Here's Johnny now at the studio!

...and a shot of the cabin to tempt!

It was so fun hanging out with you!!!!

emmett did his own hair for picture day...

...need I say more!!

amazing woman doing peaceful things...

...we missed it but Rhea didn't!!...
...for those of you who don't know Rhea, she used to teach kids classes at Plum Pottery and continues to inspire kids at the Peace Fair in Narragansett, Rhode Island! Check out her blog if you haven't already! We miss you...and the kids really wish you still had clay camps here!

Finley, watch out...

...we are gonna have to put a protective bubble around you. Silas is a maniac! If you are cute, small, defenseless and fuzzy (ok you're not fuzzy), Silas wants to taste you, (aka bite or lick!). We spent much of Ry's b-day party chasing Silas around as he stalked a sweet 18 month old trying to hug her (aka pop off her head). Don't worry, we are researching every effective parenting technique and testing it out on the cats (who are daily victims of his baby enthusiasm). If we can not find the answer we will be equipping your mama with some sort of force field. (Emmett's idea)
Can't wait to see you.
Start doing some baby self defense work outs!
Love, Aunt Annie

another great book!!

Septimus Heap Book One: Magyk!!...kinda Harry Potter meets Deltora with a twist!! Mac loves it, Emmett is really trying not to, but it's hard...and Silas is buried in Boo so who cares but I think he does appreciate that Septimus Heap's father is named Silas!

post partum pudding...

...for a rainy day!

(proof, rain on the torino)

ok, I know that "post-partum pudding" sounds like maybe the grossest thing ever but I always think of it with that name because Myra (who has been in my pottery class for 9 years with her husband Jim and is a doula and accupuncturist-guru-extraordinaire) whipped this up for me after Silas. She said she does this for all her "moms". Ever since, I feel that it is the most wonderful, healing love-in-a-bowl. I meant to make it for Cami after Finley...but it just didn't work in July. So here it is. Feel free to make without giving birth!! It is essentially a kind of rice pudding but it is low in sugar and the kids love it for breakfast...I have even substituted brown rice!

1 1/2 or 2 cups arrborio rice (washed and strained)
32 ounces or a box of lowfat plain or vanilla soymilk
2 cans coconut milk
1/4 cup turbinado sugar (or less)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
bit of cinnamon

wash your rice to get the goop off (I have skipped this step)
put it all in a pan and bring to a boil then turn to low and simmer with a tipped lid for 1 hour.

condiments that make it ridiculously good:
berries or peaches or whatever
shredded coconut (toasted quickly)

...and for all of you that are generally freaked out that my posts have become a bit Holly Homemaker (Lauren!)...don't worry, it's still me. I only have about two more recipes in me before I've shared all in know in the cooking dept. I am hoping for all of you (out there in the blogosphere) to comment or post YOUR best family recipes.
Edgy Annie will one day return!

what's this blog business all about...

...if it's not about sharing info in a new way?! (that and obsessively taking pictures of our babes!) Honestly, I have been inspired by Amy's sewing, Caroline's music, Lauren's politics, Daleth's food, Cami and Craig's baby:), Lydia's home projects etc. (and feel free to mix those all around...Craig and Cami's music, Caroline's food)...This whole thing is about ideas. So here's one idea to conserve a bit this holiday season. Probably not new to many of you who have ever received a present from me or my kids...
...Wrapping presents in Scap Cloth instead of Wrapping Paper!!
There are many advantages: it's actually easier than paper!!, there's little need for tape, scap cloth is easy and cheap to buy, looks good messy, a kid can do it, encourages NO BOXES (because its hard to wrap the large box holding grandmas sweater...and easier to just wrap the sweater!) and best of all, if this catches on I'll be giving you my cloth and you can reuse it for someone elses present and so on. Also, cloth can be washed and stored barely folded with scented candles or soap so another sense has been thrown into the gift giving mix. What d'ya think?
Books can be tricky to wrap this way so we often resort to using last years cool artsy calendar...or even the produce section of the newspaper with bright colored yarn!
I know some of you are not into the whole crafty thing, but the THING is that this is not crafty! It's easy! The most difficult part is the extra trip to the fabric store bargain bin! And I recommend buying it in big pieces and not cutting it up too small because you can just wrap the cloth around and around...so no "peeksies" and no tape, just twine or ribbon. It's even easier on Xmas morning because you don't need to deal with all that trash that can't be recycled!!!

(my drawers full of cloth and yarn, twine, ribbon etc.)

something about soup...

I have always thought of soup as a bunch of good ingredients thrown into a pot and cooked for a long, long time until..."voila!"...hearty yummy-ness! But let's face it, often I am really just trying to use up old veggies and make dinner in the 5 minutes before I leave for school in the morning (I love my crock pot!).
Well, the other day I asked Rebecca how she makes the worlds most delicious soups and she told me. Today was the tester. Wow! Now that's soup!
The difference...roasting, boiling down, THEN crock pot magic for hours. In other words, more flippin' dishes...but worth it if you are going for the real thing and you're really in the mood! (Just what all of you with day jobs need...a long complicated recipe! Forgive me, when Silas naps and I am stuck in the house holding the monitor aka "the Hisser", this is a great outlet...cooking, gardening, art projects and messin' around with the blog!)
So this is my usual recipe with roasting added...makes all the difference I think!(And I hear rain is coming...perfect!)

Yummy Slow Veggie Soup (very minetstrone-esque)

First Roast the following at 325 for 45 minutes on a baking sheet with olive oil and garlic brushed over:

8-10 tomatos
carrots
mushrooms
1/2 onion
sweet potato with skin
potato with skin

Then, dump all this into a pot, add 2 cups water salted or 2 cans veggie broth add the following herbs and veggies (all optional):

rosemary, thyme, basil (obviously best fresh but...whatever!)
green beans,spinach,cabbage,zucchini,garbanzo beans,black beans etc. (canned beans for this recipe unless you've got a lot more time!!)

Simmer this uncovered for 2 hours so it boils down to a loverly concentrated stew.

Transfer to crock pot and add 2 more cups salted water or cans veggie broth for at least 4 hours...6-8 is better. (so you can leave the house!)

If this is too stew-like with all the green things floating around and your kids prefer it broth-ier, puree 1/3 of it and dump it back in...sneaky!

Eat Him Up!!...

ONE OBSESSION AT A TIME PLEASE!!...

Morgan innocently mentions that the school kitchen could use a paint job and some clean up and I am obsessively thinking about kitchens, including my own. Then Daleth and I talk a bit about the beauty of the colorful Mexican kitchen and ... I'm off. (discovered this great book at the library..."Mexicocina" Make sure you search inside the book for some really beautiful kitchen colors!) It's hard being me!

the real inspiration...

Edible Schoolyard!
I have no idea if our school would ever come close to doing what this school has done but it is really exciting to just imagine a curriculum that involves a bit of Earth...not just blacktop! I already know our school has the heart!


...what next...Geese??? Sure, why not!!

for all the school gardeners out there...

...a little inspiration!! "I think we can, I think we can!!"





...kinda like your circular idea, Amy!!
This is all very exciting!

mug shots...

...ok, passport pictures...but, wow, we look odd...

I have to say, though, that I am relieved to no longer belong to the AWP club... Americans Without Passports!! (Matt and I had them but let them expire a while back...pitiful!)
So, we are ready to go anywhere. The question is...will we?

Here they are! And at the post office they made it seem they may not make it in time unless we pay $90 extra per passport to expedite...very glad I didn't fall for that one! Yelapa here we come...in January, that is!

can't wait to see this movie!!.......

...by the director Julie Taymor who made "Frida", which I love, love, LOVED...
"Across the Universe" opens in mid-late September...
Anyone up for it?!! It's all Beatles tunes which I can't decide if that's ok or not and hope it is because it looks visually stunning and awesome. I hope it's not so generationZ that it's just too cool for me. I love the beautiful music/movie combo!

good recipe...

cilantro, mint (chopped)
rice vinegar (3 tablespoons)
soy sauce, sesame oil (teeny bit of these, no more than 1/2 teaspoon)
thai rice noodles (boiled and rinsed with cold water)
cucumber, tomato (chopped)
onion (chopped,optional)
I know its good because the kids hate it!

truly delicious
good with chicken
great for hot weather

...but what I am really in the mood for...Soups and Stews!!

comparisons...

Last year, the first day of school and very pregnant...


...this year...

it's a lot noisier around here!

come on...just one more picture...

NOOOOOOO!!!

DOUBLE NOOOOOOOO!!!!

FINE!

on that note...

check out coop america and the green pages...

only 10 more years before it's too late...

Mom watched this special on Nova tonight and after talking with her I checked some of it out online and it's just incredibly horrible and frightening and what keeps going through my head ... "the worst decision ever made is the one to do nothing because doing just a little didn't seem like enough" or something like that.
The Syracuse Cultural Workers make this great calendar every year and all the proceeds go to great causes ...maybe passing this on will be my one little thing for today!

5th grade and 1rst...

Off they go...and lookin'good too. Mac in her rainbow outfit with brand new bookbag (way hipper than the backpack, mama, sheesh!) and Emmett finally deciding on an old favorite...the "human canonball" shirt!




...still not used to how huge, green, open and fabulous the new school is...

...new places and familiar faces!

Happy Birthday Matt!!

39 looks pretty good!!

Happy B-day to you too Craig! (I love this picture!)

summer favorites...

Inspired by my long distance friend (and old pottery partner)who now lives in Rhode Island, I have compiled a list of summer favs...

1)best snack of summer: enormous plate of Nachos with beans, cheese, avocado, scallions and tomato and sour cream. When lacking in the traditional mexican ingredients we make "deli nachos" with crackers melted cheese and hard boiled egg.
Dark chocolate covered almonds.
Sparkling lime water! The kids are now sparkling water fanatics!
What do we do while we eat this? Read books. Best pleasure ever, food and books!

2)best movie: Harry Potter 5...the only movie we actually saw this summer in the theatre. Its been difficult to take Silas anywhere he needs to be quiet...he does a great imitation of a divebombing seagull at the most inappropriate moments!

3)best outing: the beach obviously. This was the year of the beach and fully succumbing to all the sand everywhere. We just roll in it now. Who needs towels! Also, anything involving the zoo with Nana!

4)best books: For kids obviously "Harry Potter" the 7th Book(!!)"Inkheart", "the Deltora Series", Mythology books of any kind, and for me a couple of mindless "bodice rippers" that pose as historical novels...actually I am loving the kids books so much I have been neglecting my ever growing stack of bedside books. For Silas, "Good Night Moon" again and again and again!! For Matt anything with a black and red cover that has the words "death" or "menace" or "platoon" or "bravo company" etc.

5)best new discovery: our front lawn has a spot that is shady and breezy most of the day and if we sit out there on a blanket with Silas he is endlessly happy digging in the dirt or sucking on the end of the garden hose...while we engage in #'s 1 and 4! Oh and also we've re-discovered that you don't have to do a hell of a lot to have fun. Babies are good for that!

6)best outfit: Emmetts dream plan for the first day of school which I don't know if it'll happen but...anyway...a daishiki and a head band/sweat band to hold back his hair that he's growing out...and which shoes? his sneakers with "high white socks".
If this actually happens...Wow!

7)best music: M.ward, Michael Franti, Rufus, the Rock Out Car CD, and for Mac "Convoy", for Emmett "Kung Fu Fighting"

8)best catch phrases:
Mac:"I lovest thou" (to Silas)
Emmett: "Just put it any darn place"
Silas: "by by bird"

9)best summer moments: catching frogs at Cami and Craig and Finleys...and seeing that baby girl for the very first time!

It's a pretty simple list really...every year has its own flavor and I won't forget this one!

Happy Birthday Megan!!

ok, I have officially known you as many years as you were alive when I met you. get that?...you were 11...ok, not the best riddle...ok not even a riddle at all. (whatever!)
we love you!!!

p.s. And you should be totally impressed that I got my act together on time to even post this b-day best wishes...sorry Caroline, and Lauren and Lydia and...everyone. I am pretty lame usually. Just ask bebe and pops...every year a week after their b-days Matt and I are smacking ourselves in the head! Basically, if you don't live IN our house and specifically put in an order for chocolate cake...well, we forget 'ya. I didn't even know that Camis b-day was in May at all until Finley was born!!! So Meg, thank goodness, for more reasons than just that, that you are here all the time!...and Again with the love!!
p.s.s. I hope you don't hate this cropped picture of yourself. I like it! I tried to find one of the eleven year old you...so cute. Maybe tomorrow on the second day of your 23rd year... old lady. ha.

just look at my neice...

...isn't she just ridiculously sweet and edible!!(I just had to steal this one from Cami and Craig's blog because, well, just look at her!
and she reminds me so much of another baby redhead...while being her very own self!

It's awesome getting to watch these girls grow...from the very beginning!

no cottage cheese, thankyou...

Summer is coming to a close...

...and I just hate that. Even though all the stuff to come is great, I really love summer. I love everyone home, even when it drives me crazy. I love that in just 3 months our family can read out loud two Harry Potters, Inkheart, and 7 Deltora Quests. I think it is divine to go to the beach on a whim and not so bad when you have to spend three hours running errands because there's time afterwards to go checkout the petstore just to look at the turtles and then go to Soup Plantation...or whatever...
This summer has been full...a great vacation, lots of outings every where and tons of creative home projects. (Right now "The Daily Blabbity" , Mac and Emmetts newspaper, is in the works.)And having Silas around has made it new again. He has started talking, (duck, bird, mama,ball, by-by,up,papa,nana etc) at least the kind of talk that the immediate family can understand, and that makes all the difference for me. He's really fun and funny and has a strong personality that all of us are discovering. It's so amazing to watch the relationship between family members develop. Emmett is starting to enjoy Silas, which makes that baby SO happy, and that makes Emmett happy and the circle continues. Mac, as usual, feels like the glue for all of us. She helps us all.
And now summer is over and I will miss the togetherness. WAAAAAAAA!
...but now having written all that...the feeling is passing. I look forward to school and hanging out in the classroom...the friends there and the garden plans (Amy!!)...time to work at the studio...(ha!)...OK its not sounding so bad.
Hello Fall, Hello Back to School...and the beat goes on.

Emmetts favrite things by emmett

every morning when i wake up there alway there to greet me.
and do the swim around the tank. there are some of my favrite things in the world.


my dad and my brother a fun bunche.every time he leaves i always hug him.
and on the other hand silas very anoying,but i still love him.


a sculpture of a living room, not that much ey,but when i tell you the story, you'll want it.
me and my mom made it hand maid glaized and a lot other stuff.

my dog mayble my favrite pet of all.i love her soooo much she like my older sister.


my sister and her friend bella. bella might be strange but she comes over so often she like my sister.mac my real sister she is so great i almost explode with love!!!!!!!

a suker a useful item to use with screaming baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if nana were here i would take a picture of her!!!!!!!
don't you think i'm lucky.

tilt and freak...

this is sooooooo dumb but after Lydia and Sean's party I thought it hilariously hysterical...and now I can't stop singing this..."these are my tiny moves...tilt, tilt and freak"

summer of love...

first there was the 70's party...now for the 60's...

I know, I know, I don't look any different. But check out Megan!!!!!!!

Lydia and Sean throw a great party...and "the revolution will be live"!!