White-Green.

A is an all or nothing kind of boy. All meaning 150% live and breathe it. Nothing meaning it is the worst thing EVER in the world. When he showed an interest in karate I didn't know which way we would go. After almost six months he is still into it, loves it, and is super excited about going to class a few times a week, every week!


Karate has been awesome for him. A is an intense boy and some things can be 'too much'. So, while he is in a room full of kids for the class, his focus is on the instructor. While the noises can be very loud, they are based on moves, and everyone does the same thing at the right moment. While it is a group class, it is really an individual sport for him. And while it is an exacting sport, his instructor is a happy gentle soul who is great with kids. Transition into class is exactly the same every time - and they get to wear a cool uniform. He really enjoys practicing the specific moves and combinations, and remembers every little detail. He loves it.



Today was a belt promotion. He was able to do a solo moment to show a combination. He did some great kicks and had a grin from ear to ear the entire time. He about popped from happiness when he got his belt and shook hands with all the black belts there, and chatted about it non-stop all night.


I love seeing how happy he is and how much he LOVES karate. It should be about doing what you love and finding something that is your own. And it is surely his thing. He is proud of himself today, and he should be! He has worked hard for this belt. Good job, sweet boy.

january days.

The January blah's have hit me hard. I have so much work to do and absolutely zero energy to do it (I work after the boys go to bed at night). This happens every year at this time, but every year I still try to fight it. My body wants to be still and rest in the numbing cold, but my to-do list is miles long.

Lucky for me I have these two little boys who just keep going, and going, and going. They drag me along in their enthusiastic wake and energize my January slug.


The past few days we have spent a bit more time in the kitchen. The kitchen is a good place to be when the temps are below zero and there is just no way we want to go out again. The warmth, smells, and process of making something to nourish us in more ways than one energizes us all.

G, the little chef, loves to cook and bake the most, I think. He loves measuring, scooping, stirring, assembling, watching through the oven window, and seeing what we have created together.


So the past few days we have baked bread from a wild starter, cranked out noodles we made from semolina flour and eggs, slow cooked chili, made caramel popcorn, and juiced and blended our breakfasts. Our counter is covered with soaking things, sprouting things, trays of greens, and freshly baked bread.


With all of this, G came to me with a photo from the latest food catalog (his favorite reading) showing pink icing sprinkle covered heart cookies, and wanted to make some. Now. He said to me, they are white sugar cookies, mama, not brown (ahem). He told me in his G way that he loves our brown cookies (whole wheat flour), but in the photo they are white. With PINK icing. So, together we made white sugar cookies. With pink icing. And sprinkles. Twice. Perfect!

I'm looking forward to February for more energy, more garden planning, more sunshine, less work (ha!), more fun, more sleep, inspiration, fresh air, and maybe, just maybe, more heart shaped pink icing covered sprinkle coated sugar cookies.

fizzy foamy fun.

Science is fun. (No, really!) Lately A has been into being a scientist and conducting experiments, so we have been exploring different kinds of projects.


We had a chance to play with our fizzy foamy science kit over the last few days. It is all stuff we could do at home with a few simple materials, but having the list of experiments was nice for a starting place. The boys loved to measure, pour, scoop, observe, compare, chart, and chat.


They learned about single celled organisms, carbon dioxide, chemical reactions, liquid properties, yeast, and how similar things react in different environments. They were interested to watch how rapidly yeast grows, foams, and emits carbon dioxide.


And they got to blow bubbles in soap. Bonus!

a journey...

Today we went on a journey. The distance was not too far in miles, but we did traverse across many lands.

We visited grand cities,


arid deserts,


lush jungles.


We saw man-made marvels


and were awed by the staggering beauty of fragrant flowers.


We were tickled by the many mysteries of nature.


We were tired from our journey, but brought home many memories (and a whole list of things to google).


A perfect Sunday. Hope you all had a nice weekend!

long winter days.

This little guy has been sick so we have been home taking care of him. His big brother worried about him so - every time G cried out or got sick, A would sob "OH NO! MY BROTHER!" Sweet boys.

In the middle of taking care of sick boy this week I had an acupressure massage appointment that took me out. I know the work needed to be done to relieve some issues, but wow! It is amazing how getting stuff moving can really unload into the system. The sore/migraine/fatigue isn't so hot when my child is sick and not sleeping well. I just want to curl up and sleep in a sunny window! Yep, kind of like her:


Today I did some baking with the boys. The wonderful smell of baking banana bread wafting through the house makes everyone feel a little better, I think. Warm, familiar, comforting.


Yum.

We have a new science kit we are ready to explore, gardening plans to finish, seeds to purchase, sewing to complete, places to go, and V-Day projects to start! I think we are ready!