Bits: Roger That

On birthday weekend after we had thanked and hugged the last guest, I came back home to my family-- my people.

All eight of us kicked off shoes, some donned pajamas, and we talked and laughed and ate chicken fajitas with guacamole among the happy mess of party decor and too-generous presents.  At one point I asked Maddie to do something to which she agreebly responded with a, "Roger that, Mom!"

Talk about hilarious.

Now our long string of celebrating -- pretty much since Joe's November birthday--  draws to a close.  It's time to embrace cold days at home and the lost groove of routine again.

It's time to find wonder instead in the glory of every day bits.  I need these this week-- like double do, roger that need 'em.
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:: Book authoring mornings over mushy, brown bananas turned mini muffins.

:: "Guess Who" Saturday marathons, the only lazy of an unwelcomingly busy weekend.

::  Homey things.   Approximately 142 times cuter than Comet.

5 ingredients and 89 cents at Target

:: More homey things.  Savory wintertime comfort foods.  Maddie-Girl can stuff this lasagna in by the fistful, like I hardly ever see her eat.  In fact, it's a pretty big hit with us all and had my Mom threatening to lick the bowl.  This recipe is awfully close.  Notes: Skip the whipping cream at the end, stir a little parmesan cheese once the milk is heated through if you like creamy sauce, dry rosemary (or none at all) is fine, season with a dash or two of pepper in the sauce, and use an Italian blend cheese between layers.
The thumb's up, sign language equivalent to a "Roger That!"

:: If you're missing the meat, then this savory soup will do it.  Joe does the happy dance if he comes home to it on the stove.  Again, here's a close recipe.  Notes: You can cook it all in one pot.  Use half and half instead of heavy whipping cream to cut the fat, for the love use real sliced bacon (so much for the fat cutting), and spinach is pictured though kale is really yummy.

:: And one more recipe for good measure-- our best-loved and easiest snow cream.

Mix 8 cups of snow, 1-14 oz. container of sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla to taste.

:: Perfect for a couple more rounds of this:

:: Joe broke the rules again for our cheap stocking stuffers only at Christmas.  Oh but I love it!  "Little Women" is such a treasure reread at this stage in my life.  Then, this post.  So very good.

Think I'm raising a Jo (definitely!), Meg (wouldn't doubt it), and Amy (pretty much)-- maybe with a touch of Beth thrown in there. Most of all, I hope I'm raising myself to be a Marmee.

:: Remembering friends family who gladly take over bedtime stories.

:: Packages in the mail!!!!! The extra exclamation points are literal, should you ever be near our doorstep when the girls discover one.  A sweet, old friend sends the girls new jammies every year.  This year she included a note to get in them, eat a Twizzler, and watch a movie.

Who are we to argue with logic like that?

:: The final few party decorations that I just can't seem to take down.



Somehow having them up reminds me to bring a little shimmer and celebration to the math problems, laundry, and sisterly spats.

Lord, help me to bring it to the sisterly spats.

It's like when I use the vacuum these days and it smells of pine from all those lost needles; it instantly takes me back to the twinkling lights and anticipation of Christmas.  Running that machine is infinitely more enjoyable thanks to that small treat.

I want-- no I need-- to find joy in the nooks and crannies of every day life.

Roger that?

Yep, I do.
~Katrina

Bits: At Six

Hope Eliana, at six you are full of life.  Passionate, loud, often initially shy when performing beyond your immediate family, otherwise crazy daring and social, loving, talkative, analytical with a good dose of compassionate, beyond creative, smart, sometimes pretty stubborn, stunning, and cheerfully giving.  A justice lover.  You continue to amaze us with your observations of the world, with your capacity to learn and connect.  I told you in the note you awoke to on your birthday morning that six years ago was one of the best days of our lives.  No doubt, the angels sang when  you came into this world.

At six, you are so deeply loved. 

The day before your birthday, we looked out to find grass carpeted in shiny white.  This was quite a gift to you as you love playing in the elements, particularly water and snow.  Sissies didn't think it was half bad either.

Our baseball playing, beret wearing snowman. God pretty much trumps us all in the gift giving department.
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Thankfully the snow allowed for fun, but then mostly vanished by party day.  Since "Hope Day" and party day fell on the same this year, we mixed in a bit of both.  Sometime before sunrise you eased into bed with us and waited, semi-patiently, to open two small gifts.  You requested pancakes for breakfast, and I added a few sprinkles alongside some yogurt for good measure.  The only other thing you really wanted to do was finally go back to the sweet used bookstore down the street and choose a new title with your birthday money from PopPop and Nana.  Off you went, and Daddy even took you girls out for lunch so Nana and I could finish transforming our place into this:


A colorful, sock monkey wonderland for our colorful, monkey-loving little {big} girl.

The huge hit was Nana and her fabulous rainbow cake, which tasted as good as it was beautiful! Then the huge hit got huge-er with the surprise arrival of Auntie Brooke and Ms. Susan.  Throw in some favorite girlfriends and neighbors, Mama directing the singing of "Five Little Monkeys," and Daddy leading one awesome game of "Monkey See/Monkey Do" (a.k.a. "Simon Says").

Should have seen when that first slice was cut... gorgeous!

Oh and let me not forget you littles making necklaces and hamming it up in a photo booth, after you drank down some hot cocoa (or ate up all the toppings anyway).

And there you have it.  Good stuff, that turning six.  To say you were amped up or excited barely scratches the surface.  Honey you were s.t.o.k.e.d., from dawn till long past dusk.

The best part was having those we love with us, plus the new friends we're making. Some of my other favorite memories were the reactions when you girls first saw all the decorations and food...

You clambering to get to me while they sang you "Happy Birthday" and the hugs and kisses you planted and squeezed...

And the delicious giggles when you and your friends reviewed your photo booth shots on my digital screen.

Man.

So, didn't you just turn five?  No matter how fast it goes I hope that in life you bottle up all the joy, learn from the parts that seem hard, and continue to bring great hope to this world.

You certainly bring so much love, life, and meaning to ours.

Always,
Mama for Daddy too