garden bounty

We are picking veggies from our garden by the pounds!  

The girls have carrots coming in - even the small ones are rejoiced over and gobbled up!  :) 

reading :)

Reading is really starting to click for Meredith.  It's been such a fun year to see her work at it and for the elements to begin to make sense.  Lately she's been making leaps and bounds in her progress!

I love this moment! I suggested we take a stack of books outside to read during our afternoon quiet time.  While I put some groceries away, Meredith got all the supplies, and settled down with her sisters to begin....and they added some extra snuggles and giggles for good measure. :)

Raw Asparagus!

Eliza Wren is our snacker.  Meals continue to be laborious, but if you mention a snack this little one is right there with you to gobble it up.  Our community garden is great place for snacks and as always, Eliza Wren is an enthusiastic participant.  Raw asparagus as a snack - woohoo, bring it on!

I stopped her after five stocks this size - we needed some for dinner! :)

Monday Ballet

Both girls are now taking dance classes from the Glenside Dance Academy!

This is Eliza Wren's first time and she is pretty thrilled.  Her first day of class she bounded in and said, "Hi, I'm Eliza Wren!" ...and then went skipping off around the room. :)

Meredith started taking dance classes here 2 years ago - can't believe it's been that long!  She is excited to learn more advanced positions now and loves her teacher, Miss Jenn!

More photos to come of their final class performance in a few weeks!

new chicks!

We are raising a new batch of laying hens.  These little beauties arrived a few weeks ago and we are enjoying having wee ones again.  Hopefully by this autumn they will begin laying for us.  Until then, they are getting some snuggles and have a neighborhood fan club. :)

Eliza Wren Quotables

"Atend it was breezin'."  (Pretend it was breezy)  - Eliza Wren

"Miss Caitlin will come on Tuesday." - Mama

"Twosday, Threesday, Foursday, Fivesday, Sixday...." - Eliza Wren

During dinner everyday this week Eliza Wren has told a story about her baby.  So far, each story has had a reoccurring character enter the scene - a wolf!  Soooo, yeah.  I think it's time to rotate out of listening to The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood during rest time. ;)

This kid and her sweet smile.  Love her! :)

(photo is from a few weeks ago when we had a flash snowstorm)

February weekend

A lovely warm weekend in February means getting outside!  We went for a neighborhood walk / bike ride.  Mama with Eliza Wren in the stroller and Cassie Lou on the front pack, and Daddy with Meredith on the bike. 

Meredith loves the new set-up with Daddy!

At the end of a restful Sunday, I took the girls over to Vernon park in Germantown for some more outside time.

kisses for Daddy

Eliza Wren kissing Daddy's nose...just before bedtime in her favorite "frogger" pjs. :)

first snow

Last Sunday we had a dusting of snow.  It got us all excited, and out in it immediately.

Eliza Wren was the first one to explore.

Cassie Lou wasn't sure what to think....so she soon snuggled down for a nap.

Meredith made a wee snow blob, which became her snow cone!

Then we all set off for a neighborhood walk!

budding musician

musician in the works

nesting dolls

Eliza Wren loves playing with her nesting dolls.  

Thank you for the Christmas gift, Auntie Jane!

"Four"

This is Eliza Wren's consistent answer EVERY time you ask her how old she is.  

Eliza Wren is TWO!

On Sunday, November 30th, our spunky Eliza Wren turned two! 

We started celebrating early - on Friday evening while visiting friends in Michigan over Thanksgiving.  I made Eliza Wren a chocolate pie.

Traveling back home, on her actual birthday, we stopped at a charming diner around Harrisburg for a birthday lunch.  Eliza Wren was thrilled with her mickey mouse pancake.

Later that day, we met dear friends for our annual Christmas tree hunt at the sweet Lenhart Christmas Tree farm.  Here we are with our happy little tree!

Happy day, little Wren!  We love you and your sparkling personality!

sisters

In the midst of long days training these two wee ones, we have sweet moments like these.  This is what makes it all worth it and gives me light at the end of the training/disciplining tunnel!

scrunchy noses and squinting eyes = love!

oops...I've been caught interrupting Meredith teaching Eliza Wren her daily alphabet lesson

autumn harvest

Our garden has been bountiful this season.  Harvest has continued late into the autumn and is just now ending.  We've had plenty of kale, arugula, tomatillos, hot peppers, broccoli and a few slow tomatoes.

Erik made a boatload of hot sauce!

We had our annual applesaucing over a few days in October.  

Apples from our farm up north of Philly - beautiful red cortlands!  

Both girls were sweet helpers - washing apples and helping turn the hand crank on the processor.  

I canned a few dozen quarts, froze some and we are enjoying a lot of it right now.

Erik's made two delicious 2 gallon batches of saurekraut in our new-to-us crock.  We are becoming addicted - so yummy!  Recently Eliza Wren and I had a hankering for a late afternoon snack, so we settled down on the kitchen floor to enjoy some together.  It hit the spot. :)

18 Months

Wee Eliza Wren is 18 months today!

1/2 off frappucinos

Cousin time + 1/2 off frappucinos = doesn't get much better than this ;)