Water Play

We actually got a few days of weather that's warm enough to play with water outside and not worry about getting drenched. This brings Ben (and myself) great joy!

While growing up, my parents built a deck in our backyard with a little garden sink with a brass duck on the faucet. That duck faucet with a slow drip has made every toddler that has come to visit through those 20-something years of living there, joyfully occupied for HOURS. No exaggeration. My parents have moved to a different house and I miss that duck more than ever right now.

Anyway, we're moving in a few weeks, so I wasn't about to drag out our kiddo inflatable pool for just a few days. I also know that these few days of 80 degrees are rare and won't stick around for long. Instead, I filled up our cooler and made some soapy water. Between that, a few balls and buckets, and the hose, we had one happy little boy for a few hours.

Now it's a few days later, the cool(er) air has returned to the lower 60's and Ben is wondering why he can't play in the water like he did before. Sigh. Welcome to springtime in Wisconsin, my love. Summer will be back again soon.

Roasted Rhubarb

I just made this over the weekend and put it over vanilla ice cream. It was SO tasty and INCREDIBLY easy. I happened to have all the ingredients, surprisingly enough. This recipe comes from "Simply in Season" (sorry for all you literary folk out there... I can't seem to figure out underlining or italicizing publications), which for those who are not familiar, is a fantastic Mennonite-published cookbook of recipes geared towards the foods that are grown in each season. This is also an effort for us to think more about where we buy fresh food (including dairy and meat) and support our local farms. For the past few years, I've been making a real effort in buying what I can from local farms, which is actually pretty simple living in Madison. The amount of this awareness in Madison is encouraging and makes me feel hopeful with being on the brink of a food crisis and all. We have one of the largest farmer's markets in the country that surrounds the capital building every Saturday morning. It's very refreshing (literally)! I just got this book for Christmas and it is becoming a favorite.

Here are the goods for the recipe:

4 c rhubarb (chopped)
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c orange or lemon juice
2 TBL candied or fresh ginger root (I used fresh)
1 tsp orange or lemon peel

Combine in a baking pan. Spread evenly and bake in preheated 450 degrees until rhubarb is soft, but retains its shape, about 25 minutes. Stir, cool slightly, and serve over ice cream or yogurt. (We at this after it was completely cooled and it was fine)

I hope you enjoy this!

Spontaneous Visit with My Grandma

We took a spontaneous trip to a suburb of Chicago to do some snooping around the Crate and Barrel Outlet (talk about some serious self-control in action!) and to pop in on my grandma for an afternoon/evening visit.

She is such a dear! I love my grandma. She's a loving mother of 6, has stories of growing up during the Depression, will beat anyone at Boggle and Scrabble by leaps and bounds, she's hilarious, is gracious and non-judgmental, humble, giving, has been the strength for my grandpa who died of a long battle with cancer 11 years ago, etc, etc, ... the list goes on. I often think of her as such a role model for what I want to be when I grow up. She has faced some very difficult situations in her life and has handled them dignity, grace, and love.

She is amazing.

We had a great time with her yesterday. Ben was a little shy at first, but he was rubbing noses, getting cozy in her chair, and showing off in no time. I hope, hope, hope Ben is old enough to remember these moments.

I'm thinking we'll go back to rub noses and cuddle in chairs again soon. This was so much fun.

Three Pals

These three boys see each other almost every morning (or just about). The parents enjoy swapping toddler stories/advice, sip coffee and have pleasant adult conversation. These three boys don't really interact with each other yet unless someone wants the same toy or wants to give a hug (or should I say headlock?). They observe each other's whereabouts and copycat sometimes. They want to eat the same snack, even if they don't normally like it. Of course, this is extremely entertaining for the parent spectators!

We have been very fortunate to have found these friends after moving to Madison. Ben and I spent a good chunk of time last year in Wausau searching for little friends/parents that we could connect with at library programs, arranged play groups, churches, neighborhood parks, etc, etc, etc, ... and nothing! Nothing clicked. I've never been able to NOT connect with anyone before. It was strange. It was a lonely, lonely year.

Now we're in Madison, bike paths connect our houses, parks with people who are looking for friendship, and we love it! This year compared to last year is like night and day and we are very. very. thankful.

Shoe Snatcher

Ben loves to wear other people's shoes. Shoes that are not on anyone else's feet are fair game. I just get a kick out of watching him figure out how to put them on and maneuver around the house. Ah, the joy of having a toddler!

Getting the Cabin Fever Out

Grandma Time

For the past few years we have been living in Wisconsin, Marc's mom, Joanne, has been coming for a week in the spring to visit. She helps us so much, it's almost like we're sitting around twiddling our thumbs after she leaves since there's nothing more to do (except for the Ben factor). This week she's keeping busy with taking long walks (while Ben runs) to the nearby gardens, parks and just plain old around. While Ben sleeps, she does little odd and end jobs that add up to be a lot, including the dishes every night and giving Ben a bath. Ben, of course, soaks up this attention like a sponge and can't believe his good fortune that he gets her to himself all week long! It's really quite amazing how together we feel after her visits. We're well-rested, clean, fed and ready for another round of life with just ourselves until she comes around the following spring.

Is there such a thing as balance these days?

One thing Marc and I have been trying to master is coming up with some sort of a break schedule for ourselves. Having that alone time helps us both step back, breathe, get some energy, and then come back refreshed (or that's the idea anyway). It's hard when we both have different jobs/activities/tasks throughout the day that requires most of our energy.

Marc is an RN at a hospital where he does a lot of physical labor lifting patients and checking off a lot of tasks on his list that are not typically an RN's responsibility (taking vitals, changing sheets, lifting patients, giving baths, etc, etc). He works hard everyday making sure his patients are comfortable and answering to every call. He comes home exhausted and there's an excited 21-month old boy waiting for him to play and a wife who is exhausted, too, because this same little boy ran his mama to the ground.

It's hard, because we both need a break and it's not like we're about to both list off what we did that day to see who deserves a break first. After how many months of this, I'm beginning to realize that no matter how hard we try, it's not going to be the same everyday. That's the way it is with a young child. You keep going and going and going and ...

Carrot Apple Pear Juice

4 carrots
1 apple
1 pear

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