This week three big milestones took place…..

1.  Quinn is nightweaned!

It happened earlier and quicker than I thought it would.   I actually started the last night of our vacation in Arkansas.  I thought I might try given a trip I will be taking soon.  So the last night of our trip I began telling her that the milk needed rest and she could nurse when the sun was up.   That night I was able to snuggle her back to sleep without much protest until 4am, so I just went with it.  It took her an hour that first night, although it wasn’t all upset – more restlessness and just trying to settle.   And about five days later, so far so good.  I am not sure if it is her temperment or just timing.  And given the next milestone – it may just be timing.

2.  Chris put Quinn to bed..and she was fine with it!

A time or two before this has happened – but it was usually a case where she fell asleep in the car and he transferred her or she wanted me and was protesting, but I wasn’t there and she had no choice him.   This evening I kind of half-jokingly told her that Daddy was putting her to bed since Tyler was wanting me to snuggle him.  She said she wanted me, but eventually we talked her into letting Daddy read her some books.   This part is pretty common – she likes Daddy reading to her.  But what usually happens is that once it is time for lights out – she wants me and is very emphatic about it.

So as I was laying in the dark next to Tyler, I kept waiting…and waiting…and waiting to hear her get upset.  And she didn’t.   I came out of Tyler’s room and the lights were off in hers.   And about 5 minutes later, Chris came out.  He said she was a little restless at first, but eventually snuggled next to him and went to sleep.  And never once did she ask for me!

Daddy was quite pleased.   I think we are going to try a pattern of me putting her two sleep for two nights and then Daddy doing one and then me again.  It would be nice to get her used to Daddy.   I also enjoy the change to snuggle Tyler as it happens to rarely.   Tyler is so active and chatty and is practically in motion all day long, so at night I love the peaceful connection of just laying next to him.

3.  Tyler and Quinn had their first sibling smack-down!

This was the first slapfest and I think Quinn started it.  They have had these run-ins before, but this is the first one where it seemed to go back and forth as opposed to one turn each, tears and get Mom.  They were just trading blows this time.   I thought to myself, “whoa – so here we are”.   I so need to dig out Siblings Without Rivalry and start prepping my reactions.   Ah, siblings.    There are the smack downs and then there is Arkansas where every morning was a sibling lovefest complete with the big daily morning bear hug…

Get yer ladels ready!  It is time to make soup!!

Okay, so I meant to post this 3 weeks ago when I started making soup, but dammit if life didn’t get in the way.   Still, I have been waiting and waiting and FINALLY, we had a cold front move through and I could wait no longer!  Butternut Squash, a Vegetable Barley soup with Eggplant, Okra and Basil (stop grimacing – it was incredible), Chili, Chicken Barley, and my fave – a red bell pepper, potato, corn chowder…

Oh, and I have become the biggest fan of homemade stocks.  And once you do it, you won’t turn back.   A homemade veggie stock takes so little time – don’t peel anything – quarter an onion, chunks of carrot, celery and potato and some garlic cloves.   Saute as long as you want.  Add water, tamari and parsley stems.  Boil, then simmer for as long as you have.  And if you have the time, turn the heat off and just let it sit.  It gets  better and better.   Make a ton and freeze half.   See How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, p, 101 for more info and variations.   Good stuff!
Anyway, in case you were waiting for soup season to begin, I just want to let you know!  :-p

Said to me by Tyler the other night:

“Mom, when I am an adult, I am going to miss you.”

Tyler, you melt me…..

I have been re-reading The Creative Family and looking for ways to inspire creativity in all parts of our lives.  I realize that sometimes I probably stifle creativity when I am trying to execute *my plan* for the day as opposed to taking the children’s lead.   I have started to slow the pace, pay attention and support/feed some of the things they initiate.  The other day they had grabbed the glue stick and so I jumped in offering them construction paper, scissors and whatnot.   I also read another passage about her kids creating “concoctions” in the kitchen while she cooked.   The other day, Tyler was on that road and so I again, supported it asking him if he wanted x or y and getting him whatever he asked for.

It is a nice reminder that I am not alone on this journey and sometimes inspiring creativity is more about getting out of the way and merely ensuring any tools needed are accessible to the kids.   I think come spring, we are going to have more messy art projects and I know that I need to start getting the glue out more often…..

I am trying to loosen up a bit.  I am forever the cleaner, so I am trying to be more open the creating generates messes and that is okay.  And really, is it a mess anyway?  I mean look at my disaster area of a kitchen after I have made dinner, but man, I cooked one hell of a meal.  It was totally worth it!!

(on that note, my autumn cooking is in full force.  For all of you with the same cookbooks as me – I have tried some more recipes – so watch for recs soon!)

Ah, I had a good day Wednesday – not only did I manage to get the bathroom clean, I needle felted a hedgehog!  I was actually somewhat organized this fall and had my fall crafts planned ahead of time and had already procured the needed supplies.  Now that we are back from vacation and knowing our gnome garden would turn into Mary’s Star Path come December 1st, I wanted to finish the last two projects – a wet felted treasure pumpkin and a needle-felted hedgehog.  THe pumpkin is neat because you use a ball to shape it.  Then when it is done, you cut the top off, take the ball out and the kids have a little place to put their treasures!

Both projects were great fun, but I think I do prefer the needle-felting to the wet…   Maybe that is because I had an easier time with the needle-felting?  Nevertheless, it was fun to try a new craft! Both of these projects where from the Autumn edition of Living Crafts magazine which I highly recommend!

I have to show you our autumn garlands!!  About 6 weeks ago the acorns were dropping like crazy down the street at a neighbors house.  And we walked down there with buckets often collecting as many as we could!   I posted earlier about the snakes we made with them and below is the garland.   Also, two other neighbors has gorgeous yellow leaves falling from their trees.  The leaves lost some of their vibrancy through the pressing process, however, when the sun is pouring in the window, they still have a lovely glow.  The trees that go red are just starting to turn, so I am hoping that we will eventually have a red garland up there too….

I love that all this outside goodness finds its way inside in these fun ways!  And the best part is that at the end of the season we will return these wonderful treasures back to Mother Earth via compost where they can be a part of creating rich soil for a spring veggie garden.

Nature is so damn cool….

I want to blog all about the trip and I have the post complete in my head..if only I can get it typed up.  It is hard when one’s main free time is at night, because I have not much energy by then.  *sigh*

So for now, I will post something quick.  Chris pics aren’t organized yet and of course I want to poach from them.  I did take some of my own on the drive up, so I will post those.

We saw the sunset every single night we were in Arkansas.  My dream – to watch the sunset every night.  Granted, it was made a little crazy with two kids and trying to get dinner prepped before the light was completely gone.  Nevertheless – who can complain about cooking while watching the sunset over the lake?

These were taken during the drive up.  It was getting dark as we neared our destination.  As we drove around a bend, we saw an amazing view of the sunset over the lake.  It was just our luck that a state park was around the corner.  We found the boat launch/picnic area and Chris jumped out to take some pics.