Seven Quick Takes XIX: Snow and Inspiration

Things have been quiet on the business end around here. While I enjoy the lull, lulls always make me worry that there won't be an end to the lull. That may sound a little crazy, but it's okay, I fully accept that I am a worrier, and that it's just part of who I am. Anyway, I've been digging in deep, looking for some inspiration, and here are my current forerunners:

-One-

Cherish This Day, a blog full of those everyday moments. While I'm not doing a 365 project this year, I think it's important to still recognize that each day has it's own importance, despite the fact that us stay-at-home parents often feel like we're just slogging through to the "next" thing. This time that feels like an in-between time to us, is the childhood our babies will carry into adulthood.

-Two-

Snow. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with snow. I don't like being cold or slogging through mush in parking lots, but I love how beautiful it is, how much my girls love playing in it, and how ridiculously adorable those little girls are in a mountain of backyard snow.

-Three-

Traveling plans. In the distant future (but hopefully before our tenth anniversary), Daniel and I are hoping to make our next big trip to the Czech Republic. My family is from a small village outside Prague, and I have always wanted to spend some time connecting with that past. In the less distant future, I am planning a trip to the South, and hopefully photographing a sweet family for a little "Day in the Life" narrative/shoot. 

-Four-

Two years ago, this petite little lady came into the outside world in the midst of the blizzard. This year, her birthday week has pushed this month into the snowiest February in 103 years. She is hilarious, adorable, and an absolute joy. I am so grateful for her presence in our lives. We have a sweet little Winnie-the-Pooh party coming up this weekend, because I'm all about celebrating these little lives we've been entrusted with, and she already gets super excited when she sees a decoration or piece for her party hanging out.

-Five-

Good food. While visiting my Oklahoma sister, I got back on the meal planning train. My food is nowhere near as exciting or varied as hers, but just having a plan with a few things we haven't put in rotation in a while has been refreshing. I do need to get better at actually getting things out to thaw or dough ready to rise on time, but it's been a happy week full of warm, yummy food.

-Six-

My mom is here! While I adore living in Colorado, the one thing that makes me regret leaving Kansas is the fact that my parents and so much of my family are still there. I am incredibly blessed in that my mom is willing to make the drive out here multiple times a year. There is an actual real possibility that the house will be clean and in order for Colette's party, thanks to this wonderful woman. Plus, everyone needs their mommy sometimes.

-Seven-

Spring. It's still a month off, at least (March is our snowiest month, usually), but it will bring Easter, a garden, roses by Mary, Anni's first big dance recital, the ordination of a dear friend, and more lovely, lovely things. I'm okay with the anticipation of it all, I wouldn't wish it sooner. Just knowing it's on the horizon brings hope and a willingness to settle into this lull with a cozy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.

Check out more Seven Quick Takes at This Ain't the Lyceum.

Two.

Surprising Aunt Tinie

A month or so ago, I started messaging my brother-in-law to see if it was feasible to surprise my dear sister with a visit. Anni has been missing her godparents something awful, so we made our secret plan, and tried not to spill the beans. Anni did let it slip that she had a secret earlier in the week, and Chuck (Tinie's husband) told her that there was a surprise coming, so she had an inkling, but didn't think it would really happen.

Buuuuuut... it did! 

We had the best weekend. The first evening, Anni jumped right into playing with her cousin, whom she adores.

Then we headed to Stations of the Cross, where I didn't take any photos, but, luckily, Anni drew pictures of her favorite things from the trip, so we have her representation of Stations below:

We also had some rather fabulously creamy mac n' cheese in the church hall afterwards. In fact, our tummies were rather well fed the entire weekend.

The next morning, the kids got up, erm, early, and made everyone pretend breakfast, and continued on their lego-playing way quite happily.

Then we headed out to Iguana Grill for some very yummy mexican food. My enchiladas were good, but the absolute best thing we had were the empanadas. Ohhh my goodness, smoky chicken filling and a creamy avocado sauce... just delish.

Then we headed right next door to Sara Sara Cupcakes, where we picked out four lovely cupcakes to have after Mass and dinner later that evening.

We also stopped at the Route 66 Park in OKC, where the kids played their hearts out, and us adults rotated walking the path. Unfortunately, I didn't get my camera out while we were there, but I highly recommend it if you're in the area! After a bit of a rest, we headed off to Mass, except for Tinie who had RCIA duties the next day.

During Mass, there was a bit of a tired meltdown when a certain younger cousin couldn't watch her older cousin receive Communion, and then because she missed her sister. Poor girl definitely needed a nap! That night we had some amazing minestrone, because my sister is a fabulous cook.

She also made a cream cheese filled lemon and almond coffee cake for Sunday breakfast. Oh. my. That is one way to celebrate a Sunday for sure! It was the best coffee cake I have tasted in my entire life.

Then we all lazed about while Millie got dolled up and headed off to herd her wonderful class toward holiness.

Then, after another round of tears, and the strong suspicion that the early mornings were taking a toll on our girl, she snuggled up with Aunt Tinie for a long winter's nap, after which she was briefly confused and stoic, and then incredibly chipper and excited about everything.

Before long, it was time to head off to catch our plane. I'm so grateful for a weekend of sweet memories, not only for myself, but for my Anni, that she got this time to connect with her "god-family" and have a little adventure of her own.

Lent.

The day before Ash Wednesday, I was all pumped. You know, because, I had great plans, but was still getting to revel in MardiGras. We made it to Mass before Daniel headed off to work (where Colette repeatedly, and in her very clear little voice, searched the congregation for Taw-we and Aunt Tinie). I, of course, was a total wuss about fasting for my first time in a few years (neither pregnant or nursing). But, I made it. 

This morning we got out our purple cloths for the prayer table, and the girls had a little too much fun cuddling the statue of Mary while I got the cloths on (thank goodness, no damage done). 

Then, after considering it last year and never getting around to setting it up, I managed to get a sacrifice jar all set up... only one day into Lent! Woo! The girls are mildly obsessed with it, which works in my favor, as they are, albeit briefly, excited about helping with little chores and helping each other.

Colette can't resist putting at least two in anytime she gets near the jar. It drives Anni crazy, but I think it's pretty adorable.

Daniel and I are trying to up our prayer game and start saying night prayer together, like we did when we were first dating and I was on Crossroads. The girls are giving up screen time, which means I'm giving up some quiet time in the afternoon. It's a good thing, but I think it's going to be as hard on me as it on them (is it bad to admit I like quiet time? I'm an introvert!) I'm also giving up sugar, which holy moly, I didn't think through. Here's to turning to God instead of chocolate on the rough days (she says as she longingly pictures her favorite chocolate bar). Here's to Lent, friends, may your sacrifices bring you closer to Christ.

A Love-ly Week

We started out our week with a little Valentine's date on Wednesday. Daniel and I went bowling, which was a blast because we had never bowled together in nearly ten years of knowing each other. We were hilariously terrible, and we spent the whole time laughing at each other. It was awesome.

Then, on Friday night, Daniel took Anni on a date of her very own. Oh, my goodness, was it darling. When I was helping her get ready, I asked her if she wanted to wear what she was wearing, or if she wanted to change, and she told me, "Oh, I have to change! I want to be even special-er for Daddy!" We picked out a dress, did her hair, and I loaned her a little necklace that my godmother had given me when I was her age. It was such a sweet moment to help her get ready for her date, I only hope when she starts dating (in, ahem, 30 years), that she still comes to me for help getting ready.

Daddy whisked her off to pizza and ice cream, and she came home bubbling over with excitement to tell me all about it. (They also brought ice cream for little sister, who was rather thrilled with her side of the deal.)

On Saturday, Daniel had a meeting in the morning, and came home with flowers for all three of us! I got the loveliest dusty pink roses, and the girls each got half a bouquet of super-fun bright carnations. They both have their vase sitting on their bedside tables so they can smell them whenever they want.

 

I have so much hope that the way my husband treats our sweet girls will be a standard for them someday should they be called to a marriage of their own. 

On Saturday, we marked the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius by making kolaches! This is the first time I've tried to make them using my own whole wheat dough, so I have a bit to learn yet, but they ended up pretty yummy. They'll never beat out my grandma's, but that's to be expected.

Wrap all of that up with the bow of a snowy, Daddy-has-the-day-off Monday, and life is pretty good in this little family right now.

Colorado Adventures: Lair o' the Bear

In keeping with our family goal to enjoy where we live a little more, we headed out to hike the first of a lengthy list of easy, kid-friendly trails I had gathered from friends. We started out at Lair o' the Bear today, savoring a warm winter day.

The paths were a little snowy, icy, and muddy, but it was an adventure, and we had a blast.

If it weren't for the snow/ice/mud, it would have been a super simple hike, which is a major plus for when Colette is hiking along with us rather than riding in the carrier.

Bear Creek runs through the park, and the girls were fascinated by the sparkling, crystal clear water.

Once she knew there were Lara Bars tucked away, Anni made sure to let us know that she was "weeewwy hungwy". She felt like waiting for a bench to sit and have our snack took waaaay too long. Other than that, she was a trooper of a little hiker.

Near the end, we let Miss Lettie down for a little hiking of her own. She ran along in her adorable toddle yelling, "Wun wun wun wun wun!" as she chased after Daddy and Anni.

Yep, ridiculously adorable.

Happy Adventuring!

St. Colette Goes to the Zoo

Today was one of St. Colette's feast days (the one not during Lent, so way easier to celebrate with brownies for dessert), and an unseasonably warm day, so we celebrated with a trip to the zoo with some of our best friends. Of course, our little wooden St. Colette doll had to come with us.

I'm pretty sure there is nothing cuter than these three girls holding hands and making their way through the (super busy) zoo. 

Except maybe adding in Mama Amy and the littelest one... because that's ridiculously cute.

It was a good day. Thank heavens for sunny Colorado in the middle of the winter, and for our sweet friends. Such a happy way to spend a day!

and then, this happened last night, so, I'll just leave this cuteness right here: