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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