34/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

Lilia: Our extrovert.
Evan: Our introvert.

We are back! Back from vacation. Back to school. I am currently trying to regain a steady rhythm to our days. It is taking longer than I thought and I find myself in catch up mode. I did want to say HI and I thought I better hurry and add a post since my dad keeps reminding me that Lilia is still "eating ice cream". 
I have to admit I cheated a bit this week. The photos posted here are from a few months back. I was revisiting past pictures and as I came across these two they stood out and tugged at my heart strings. I love them because each photo represents their individual personality so well.Thanks for popping in. I missed this space.

21/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

Lilia: Eating ice cream at the end of the school day became a ritual this week.
Evan: Reading his much anticipated postcard that Scott sent from Berlin.

I admit that I'm falling a little behind on this 52 week project. It has been busy and full around here these last few months and now summer break has officially begun. Scott has been in Europe since April, finishing a film he started working on last July. He has one more month to go and we are so ready for him to be home!  

I knew it would be hard starting the summer with him being away, so the kids and I are headed for our own great summer adventure. We are traveling all over to visit family and it starts in Colorado. We leave tomorrow today.

It is going to be quiet on this space for a bit while we enjoy being in the moment.

I may pop in a few times this summer, but I will definitely be back in August.

There will be loads to share when I get back.

20/52

"A portrait of my children us, in Paris, this week, in 2014"

19/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

Lilia: She has been begging to get her hair cut for the last few months.
Evan: Morning snuggles with Grammy before he is off to school. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms out there. This mother's day is going to be extra special this year. My mom came down to stay with the kids while I'm visiting Scott in .........PARIS. I've actually timed this post to show up today while I'm overseas. Before I left, I captured this moment with Evan and my mom. It is so special and beautiful. 

It will be weird not being with the kids on this day, but we can celebrate when I get back.

Thanks MOM for everything! I love you to the moon and back and couldn't have made this trip without you. 

Happy Mother's Day.

18/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

Lilia: Hiking up Lookout Trail with friends over a weekend trip.
Evan: It looks like it is time for a haircut.

We made a quick trip to the mountains. Visiting our old neighborhood, catching up with close friends and watching the much anticipated musical of Evan's old school. It was a whirlwind and wonderful.

17/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  Mopping....we went to the hardware store and she spotted this mop and wanted to try it out. As I watched her, the song "It's a hard knock life for us" (from 'Annie' ) kept running through my head.

Evan: A quiet moment with lego characters.

Our porches were covered with that green-yellow pollen grime. It was everywhere and sticky. This weekend I was determined to clean them so we could enjoy our outdoor space again. The kids were so onboard with this plan that they started before I was ready! It took a lot of time to clean the floors, walls, railings, furniture, etc; but it was well worth it! We are enjoying this space again and we can breath.

 Inspired by jodi's 52 Project

16/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  Collecting Easter Eggs....having lots of fun doing it.

Evan: Loving watching his sister being a ham with his 'Harry Potter' glasses. 

I dropped the ball this week. Posting week 16 very last minute.....the next 3 months are going to be crazy around here.....cross my fingers that I can keep up. 

15/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  Enamored with this cat, enjoying every moment with her new friend this weekend.

Evan: Checking on the chickens and making sure everything was okay.

Our neighbor came over and asked the kids if they would like to help them while they went out of town. The kids were over the moon excited to help out. Lilia volunteered to be on cat duty and Evan asked if he could be in charge of the chickens.They even have a fort that the kids were told they could enjoy. It was such fun, they loved the responsibility, and they hope to be asked again sometime soon.

 Inspired by jodi's52 Project

14/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  Capturing her chalk drawing before it becomes something else.

Evan: I love it when I walk into his room and see him reading.....completely engrossed in a comic book. 

 Inspired by Jodi's 52 Project

13/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  Camellias are blooming all over our yard and she insists we need more inside.

Evan: On the school bus, on our way to a field trip with his class.

 Inspired by Jodi's 52 Project

12/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  Every day this week she wanted to pick flowers. 

Evan: He asked if he could help peel carrots....so sweet. 

 Inspired by jodi's52 Project

11/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  I love that she still loves to wear dresses.

Evan: Catching a smile.  

 Inspired by jodi's 52 Project

10/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia: Watching a video she made of herself this past summer using photo booth.

Evan:  Taking a rest at the park. 

10 weeks......Each week these photos made me smile....

week 1: malt memories (the adventurer)

week 2: 52 keer 2 (the essence of childhood) 

week 3: lamb loves fox  (the magic) 

week 4: piper and poppies (the balance...the hair)

week 5: practising simplicity (the joy....the light)  

week 6: jane mabel (the little moments of a day) 

week 7: one claire day (my favorite of all favorites...is this one of Marguerite) 

week 8: life of TOI (the beauty of sibling love and naps) 

week 9: bleubird (the beautiful ice....the eyes)

week 10: it's the little things (sweet theo)

 Inspired by jodi's 52 Project

9/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  A few weeks back she asked if she could take a shower and not a bath. She hasn't wanted to take a bath since. I am not quite sure how I feel about this.

Evan:  We snuck into an alley, to take pictures of his grandparents before they headed home, and I caught this moment of him watching them.

Both kids have hit a growth spurt this past month. Their clothes are fitting snug, buttons are not coming together, pant legs keep rising, and shirts are becoming skin tight. We are sooo close to spring and warmer weather....I hope to eek out one more month of winter clothes. Does this happen to anyone else?

 Inspired by Jodi's 52 Project

8/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  Roped her grandpa into playing a game with a bouncy ball, then stood on the sidelines for a breather to watch.

Evan:  Having fun with really big bubbles.

 Inspired by Jodi's 52 Project

7/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  Waiting patiently for the arrival of her grandparents.

Evan: I catch him at times with this expression and I'll ask him "What are you thinking about?"....his reply every time "Oh, nothing". I wonder where his mind travels to.

It has been, yet again, one of those weeks where school was canceled and another winter storm came. The novelty has worn off and I am now dreaming of warmer days and some consistency. 

Inspired by Jodi's 52 Project

Happy Valentine's Day

In February, fifteen years ago, Scott and I went to get our passport pictures taken and on our way out we saw this photo booth and I looked at him and said "Come on, let's take a photo to remember this moment" He was going to London to study for the summer with his grad school program, and we decided that I should meet up with him after he was done and we would backpack through Europe together. We spent our first Valentine's together at the bookstore buying books about Italy, France and Spain written by Rick Steves and The Lonely Planet, planning our summer adventure. I started making a pizza from scratch from a much beloved recipe our friends had given us for Chicago Style pizza. As I was putting the ingredients together at 7 o'clock, I came across the part where the dough was suppose to rise for at least 2 hours.....WHAT!, that didn't really matter did it. We both agreed 30 minutes should be okay, and went on putting it together. Needless to say it didn't work out, and we ordered pizza shortly after we tasted my disastrous first attempt. We still laugh about it today.
This past summer we came across another photo booth - the kind where you find funny stuff to wear - and I looked at Scott again and said "Come on, let's take a photo to remember this moment". This time 4 of us got into the booth. Our family. We have had many adventures since that first Valentine's Day, and many homemade pizzas (I finally got the hang of it). I have and still do love every moment of our life together. I feel so incredibly lucky. Happy Valentine's Day!!!

6/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  Finding sticks to make into walking canes is a ritual of hers.

Evan: Channeling his inner Harry Potter "Wingardium Leviosa"

Inspired by Jodi's 52 Project

Home Remedy: Cough-Be-Gone

A few weeks back, Lilia complained about her throat hurting and requested I make her favorite "Cough-Be-Gone" Syrup. I found this recipe after having horrible luck getting my kids to take store bought cough medicine. They literally would shut their jaws and refuse to take it. A friend of mine mentioned Rosemary Gladstar's book Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health. This is one of my go-to recipes. The kids love it and will gladly take a few teaspoons at a time throughout the day.

Cough-Be-Gone & Sore Throat Syrup

4 tablespoons fennel seed
2 tablespoons licorice root
2 tablespoons slippery elm bark
2 tablespoons valerian (I used the inside of a few valerian teabags)
2 tablespoons wild cherry bark
1 tablespoon cinnamon bark
1/2 tablespoon ginger root
1/2 teaspoon orange peel

How to make the Syrup:
Step 1: Use 2 ounces of the herb mixture to 1 quart of water. Over low heat, simmer the liquid down to 1 pint.
Step 2: Strain the herbs from the liquid. Pour the liquid back into the pot.
Step 3: Add 1 cup of honey*.
Step 4: Warm the honey and the liquid together only enough to mix well.
Step 5: Remove from heat, bottle, and label. Syrup will last for several weeks, even months if refrigerated.

Take 1 to 2 teaspoons every hour or two throughout the day.

*Do not give to kids under 1 because of the honey and make sure they are not allergic to any of the above ingredients.
*Maple Syrup or Rice Syrup can be used in place of honey.

5/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lilia:  Loving every moment of our 3 day snow.

Evan:  Playing board games while staying warm inside.

Inspired by jodi's 52 Project