Weekend at Home with the Kids

The kids and I spent some quality time together when Ryan traveled to New York City this past weekend to play a concert with one of the projects he is involved in, the Douglas Detrick's Anywhen Ensemble. He was excited for this trip, as their new cd was being released...and he'd get to spend some time in the big city with his brother and other friends. 

Back in Corvallis, Sylvie was hard at work selling Girl Scout cookies.  Thanks to family and friends, and her hard work hitting the streets and knocking on doors, she was able to sell 161 boxes...which qualified her for a Samoa charm bracelet incentive.  Needless to say, she was ecstatic to meet that mark.   

Friday night we had pizza and movie night, and the kids went to bed wanting pancakes for breakfast.  I had anticipated that, so I had picked up some buttermilk to make Great-grandma Holen's recipe.  The kids were overjoyed.  We shared stories of my Grandma Schroeder making the same recipe for me when I was a kid, and how if cousin Hanna was there, I would have had to make a double batch!  

I finished up a t-shirt dress I had made for one of Sylvie's friends birthdays, which was easy and fun - using an old t-shirt and attaching a skirt with ties.  Sylvie tried it on for me, and was happy to give it as a gift...as long as I make one for her too.  

Since I was in full-on homemaker mode, I also whipped up a batch of Chestnut Flour chocolate chunk muffins.  Since going gluten-free three years ago, I've been exploring different baking options.  Using nut flours instead of alternative grains is something I've been liking more and more.  

Also, I decided it was finally time to do something with all the felted wool sweaters I had been saving up, so I cut them up into some squares and sewed up a blanket...which both Kyran and the cat put to immediate use.  

These lucky kiddos also had a post-Christams package from their Grandma Biesack - super fun gifts!  Sylvie got a Pippi Longstocking book, movie, and dolls.  We read two chapters immediately.  Kyran got some new markers and an art pad, and already has put together quite the collection of drawings.  Also, an Etch a Sketch!  

After the kids went to bed, Leah and I continued with our "Girls" marathon.  I hadn't seen the show, and we decided to try to make it through both seasons while it was just us girls (which, I'm sad to admit, also meant that there were several technological difficulties with the whole production!).  We ate plenty of popcorn and made it well into Season 2. 

On Sunday, it was time to get the house ready for Ryan's return.  The kids helped with cleaning and baking a welcome home cake.  Once it was ready, they were on the edge of their seats watching out the window for their dad.  

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Celebrating the New Year

We got to ring in the new year as a family this year, as Ryan had a concert in Portland with Mo Phillips, who has put together a rockin' band for kids.  Another kid's band, Red Yarn opened for them.  The show was at the Village Ballroom, and was sold out!

The kids got dressed up in their party duds, and had an absolute blast seeing their Dad on stage.  Sylvie is quite the dancer!  

The kids got t-shirts, and now proudly show off their status as "Mo-bots."

Happy New Year, everyone!

Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas in Corvallis.  On Christmas Eve, we had a feast of various snacks and had fun getting into the Christmas spirit. 

We took a drive to look at lights and to look for Santa and Rudolph in the sky.  We came back to get our cookie plate ready for Santa.  

We woke up to two VERY excited children.  

And opened presents until 3 pm!  

We missed our family and friends like crazy!  Thank you everyone for the gifts, cards, and well wishes that were sent to Oregon.  

The Days Leading Up to Christmas

We had so much fun getting ready for Christmas this year!  We crafted all of our gifts (ornaments, buntings, grape jam) and got our cards out on time.  We also enjoyed holiday activities.  Our annual tradition is going to Storybook Land in Albany to see Santa.  Storybook Land is a whole set of Christmas themed displays that gets set up every year by a non-profit, that ends with a visit to Santa.  

This year, Sylvie asked for a desk with an art box inside, and Kyran asked for an airplane.  Prior to his decision to ask for an airplane (which he wanted to fly by remote control), his other ideas included a spinning thing to put his sister in, a real butterfly, a bird print, and a pogo stick.  Sylvie was pretty set on the desk.  

As a first grader, Sylvie now participates in the assemblies at Corvallis Waldorf School (preschool and kindergarten observe).  It was such a joy to see her class perform a Jack Frost poem and sing the Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat.  She loved preparing and being on stage!  It was hard to get a picture, but you might be able to pick out a little girl in a red stocking cap right in the middle.  

The weekend before Christmas, we decided to go see the lights display at the aquarium in Newport, and to get some dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Cafe Mundo.  The kids had a blast at the aquarium, which had lit up its outdoor areas.  Kyran just loves watching the fish.  He did not want to leave!  We had a great dinner at Cafe Mundo, and there was a fun band playing, so Sylvie and I got in a little dancing, too.  

The rest of the weekend was filled with finishing up our shopping, getting our cookies baked, and presents wrapped!  And, of course, putting the gumdrops on the gumdrop tree.