Nine

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~Thornton Wilder

A few of this weeks treasures with some random musings along the way!!

 "Ovals"

 Getting my Mojo back!

 Our nanny texted this photo to Jenn and me while we were at work :: play-dough and garlic press!

 Woke up late on Monday morning with no plan :: at 9:50 a.m. we have this! I love community.

While I have been in the kitchen more (yay!) :: Avi has been doing some food experimenting of his own. His recipe:  water, lots of sea salt, 3 apples and a mason jar. 

 I had to giggle at myself a bit :: Look at what I'm making - Tomato-less Bolognese.

 But it turned out great and tasted delicious over these zucchini noodles :: now what to do with those tomatoes?

 Redeeming myself a little after this happened :: a more patient Ema following her son's lead!

This bear we found at the farmer's market (stuffed) :: but there have been sightings of a mama and two cubs in our neighborhood. 

Taste of Tuesday: figs

Honey-Carmelized Figs with Yogurt

I made this delicious treat a few weeks ago and thought I would share it as I'm moving into a month of gluten, dairy and sugar free. I'm hoping someone else can enjoy this while I can't.

1 Tbsp honey (plus more for drizzling if you like)

8 oz fresh figs, halved

2 cups plain low-fat Greek yogurt

Pinch of cinnamon

1/4 cup chopped pistachios

1. Heat honey in medium skillet over medium heat. Cook figs, cut sides down, until caramelized, about 5 minutes. 

2. Serve over yogurt with cinnamon and pistachios. Drizzle with honey if desired. 

(Caramelize a pound or more and keep them in your fridge for pairing with oatmeal or cheese)

I pulled this recipe from a magazine but forgot to write down which one. If anyone else knows the source, let me know so I can link it. 

Keeping it Real: Contemplations on Being the Parent You Don't Want to Be.

Pausing to listen to an airplane in the sky, stooping to watch a ladybug on a plant, sitting on a rock to watch the waves crash over the quayside - children have their own agendas and timescales.  As they find out more about their world and their place in it, they work hard not to let adults hurry them.  We need to hear their voices.  ~Cathy Nutbrown

Lately, I've have to step back and ask myself:  What is causing so much stress? Why am I clinging too tightly to my own agenda and losing patience for Avi's agenda? About a week ago, while walking to dinner,  I found myself feeling easily frustrated as Avi was stopping to touch every bike parked along Pearl Street (and if you know Boulder, that's a lot of bikes). And instead of hurrying along Avi, I just projected my 'agenda' onto Jenn (sorry Jenn).  "Please don't let him do that, those bike chains are greasy and his hands are getting dirty." and "Can't you help him along faster?"  I was tired. And hungry. And cold. But instead of just honoring their moments together - and walking ahead on my own, I had to push my agenda onto them. In hindsight, I'm not very proud of myself as a parent or partner in that moment. And other moments like them. Lately, I haven't liked the stress-case that I have become. Having difficulty dealing with transitions. Pushing my own agenda onto the world. Melting down easily when things do go as planned. Being just plain grumpy. I'm thinking that this means I need to take some time for myself and look deeper. (And I need to sleep more).

Being a parent is hard work. It is stressful and exhausting and time consuming and can bring up all that was or wasn't good about one's own upbringing. But being a parent is also magical. And amazing and rewarding and awe-inspiring and phenomenal. My heart swells bigger everyday. I love watching Avi grow and being able to help guide him along his own path. And I'm glad Avi works hard to not allow me hurry him. But I don't want him to have to work so hard. I want to respect his agenda too. I need to pause... pause to listen... hear Avi's voice. Respect Avi's voice. 

Maybe I should get a tattoo the above quote from Cathy Nutbrown's? Or paint it on a wall in my home?  

What are ways that you realign yourself with your values when things feel stressful? How do you deal with times when you are not the parent you want to be? 

(these [Nine] Moments)

Okay, so it's becoming common practice around here -- a little bit of Thursday for Friday.

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~Thornton Wilder

 A trip to the hot springs last weekend and we see the first snow up in the mountains this season.

 This perfect picnic spot.

 Why not?

 This kind of fun!!!

 This boy and his love of veggies ... inspiring this rant.

 Avi and Mama's spontaneous play while walking along Pearl Street.

 Avi and his cousins ... oh the fun they have together!! this gathering was because my Aunt Jan was visiting from Michigan. What a fun reunion.

These two sweeties.... enjoying a special moment together.

Waking up to this dusting of snow this morning!!

The case of the missing veggies: a (mild) wednesday rant

But there are a few things about food and kids in our society that irk me and YES, I'm using my own space to mention them.

Recently, we were out to eat and I ordered a buffalo burger plain with a side of roasted veggies for Avi. It came with french fries. "They all do," the waiter said. We took the burger and veggies and sent the fries back. "It's included in the price, you can keep them. It's not an extra charge." he insisted. I felt bad for this guy -- just trying to do his job and calm my fears of an extra charge on the bill. Poor bugger hadn't a clue that I couldn't give a shit about the money. He had no idea that this brief exchange got my blood boiling on a societal level. Why are raising kids parents to believe that kids will only eat french fries (or chicken nuggets or everything dipped in ketchup).

What I -- Jenn and I -- have noticed about children's menus at most restaurants (even healthier minded places - and we have lots of those in Boulder) they have two common denominators: fried and cheese. Really? (Didn't I read in the news that even the worst of the worst, McDonalds, has added veggie sticks to their happy meals)? 

Further, I'm a bit disgusted saddened disgusted that many children's books that I come across insinuate that children don't like veggies. Whether it's blatantly saying it or showing it in the illustration with a character's tongue sticking out. And these are books with otherwise pretty forward thinking messages.

Sharing Broccoli with his cow friend.

Snap peas and blueberry snack in the sandbox.

Helping make dinner :: spinning the salad. 

Enjoying the aroma of a fresh picked tomato :: he didn't eat this one.

A chat about cucumbers with our lovely neighbor Sahand.

Now, anytime we make smoothies, he reminds me we have to add kale and avocado. 

Carrots to share with the goats, but since there weren't any takers on this day, Avi ate them himself. 

I love that our boy loves his veggies. Carrots, cabbage, kale, broccoli, peas, tomatoes picked from the vine, purple beans, lemon cucumbers, and many many more. We have raised him eating a variety of foods and that doesn't mean he likes everyone of them all the time. But we keep re-introducing him to veggies in a variety of ways -- Steamed, roasted, mashed, baked (into a chip - think kale chips), fresh, or mixed into soups, smoothies, casseroles, rice, eggs, etc. -- and he keeps trying them, eating them.

And at our neighborhood picnic this past weekend, I was chatting with a neighbor from up the street. "Well, you know what it's like," he (the Dad of a three year old) said. I was happy to reply,  "No, [I don't know what it's like to have a kid that only will eat chicken nuggets and ketchup]. Avi's never had either."

I leave you with a statistic: "Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese." source


And I ask you: What choices are you making to help your kidlet eat healthier? What have you avoided? What have you caved in on? What do you keep re-introducing? What do other's say/think about your choices?

Making Friends: Here Kitty Cat

Meet our neighbor's cat. We knew it's name once, but I haven't been able to remember for some time. These neighbor's live behind us and our fence prevents daily interactions like those we have with our neighbors next to and across the street. But we have daily interactions with this cat... from afar. Every morning while Avi is snuggled on the couch waiting for me to finish making his breakfast or at the table finishing off his eggs or french toast, he sees this black and white cat walking along the wooden fence. This week we got a different kind of interaction and Avi tried his hardest to make friends.

 She came close once (before I had the camera out) and let Avi pet her and then she retreated and he tried his hardest -- squatting down and calling to her -- to make friends. After a bit he became impatient as she just looked at him and he tried, in vain, to follow her.

 He retreated and tried again to call her, once again, squatting low and clucking his tongue best he could. She ran off and we played in the yard together until....

...we saw that she came back and brought with her Forrest, our other neighbor's cat. 

As you can see, Forrest is fluffy, huge, and very friendly. He's a different kind of friend -- always ready for pets, snuggles and...

... an occasional KISS!

AND all of this happened after Avi decided he wanted to be a kitty cat for halloween. I wonder if he will change his mind about being a black and white cat and want instead to be an orange cat.