Ride, Joseph, Ride

The strange noises are because he thinks he IS Spider Man when riding his Spider Man bike.

About two weeks ago we did a big garage clean out. Since everything was cleared out there was room for Joseph to try riding his special bike. WOW does he love this! He rides round and round for at least 30 minutes and every day he is faster. He has had two crashes, but they don't seem to bother him much. Actually, I have been trying to post this for awhile and we are now a bit out of the habit of riding the bike. For some reason Brad decided that Joseph was ready to have his training wheels off (!?!?!?). I am pretty sure two and even three-year-olds need training wheels still. Needless to say, that did not work out and actually scared Joseph! Now he thinks his bike doesn't work and he keeps getting off to "fix the wheels." I am sure we will get him going again. Actually, it's been a nice break from the constant begging to ride his superman bike.

New Porch!

Sugar time!

Ok, I know it’s been about 80 degrees and amazingly beautiful recently and we are all in spring and summer mode, but, I finally solved some technical issues and can use my blog again.  So, I have to share our early springtime adventure.  As I eluded to previously, and as most of you know, we (well mostly Brad) rigged up a boiler this year and made some of our own syrup!  What a fun!  The season started surprisingly early and our boiler wasn’t quite set, so the first weekend we boiled on the grill and didn’t even have a candy thermometer.  But, boy was it yummy nonetheless.  That week we bought a 50 gallon drum, used a kit to convert it to a stove from the local hardware store, and added a pan welded by a friend to come up with:

(Brad is not going to be happy about that pic . . .)  We boiled four batches and ended up with over 3 gallons (in case you don’t know it’s about 30 gallons sap to 1 gallon syrup and it takes a LONG time).  Here are some pictures from our adventures:

Collecting sap

 

 

 

 

Boiling well into the night (and then I would finish it on the stove)

Cousins Bree and Jacob visited (along with Amy and Bernie):

  

Sugar on snow!  Actually, we have been enjoying syrup on lots of things.  Joseph loves adding it to yogurt, oatmeal, and even to dip apple slices in.  Of course it is amazing on vanilla ice cream and pancakes, French toast, waffles, and my special waffle breakfast sandwiches.  I am also now experimenting using it in savory recipes, like on chicken and pork chops and plan to try it as a sweetener in baking. 

Loot

We also visited Grandpa’s horses at the Russell farm where they live and work:

  
The sugar house there

    Headed out to gather sap

 

Back at our house:

Joseph can have an opinion about ANYTHING. And EVERYTHING!

I am trying very hard not to let Joseph become the dictator in our house. But it really is a challenge. This morning I cut into my grapefruit, my favorite morning indulgence. I set one half in my bowl and, on cue, Joseph announced, "no mom, eat THAT half first!" Seriously??? Actually, this has happened before, and since it is usually 5:30 or 6 in the morning and I therefore cannot be held accountable, and since I really don't care which half I eat first, I tend to let the prince have his way. I knew at two Joseph would have opinions about some things. I figured he wouldn't always agree with bed time. He might want to play a different game. But, he has soooooooo many opinions. Like about:

• which CD to listen to
• which song on the CD to listen to (he asks by number, "I want 23, 'Ol' Man Tucker' ")
• how loud the music should be (clearly music and CDS are a major interest right now)
• what to wear. which shirt. what matches what. which outfit need which shoes.
• of course what to do and when.
• which book to read. oh, and which part he "reads" and what I read. and how to read it-loud or with a funny voice, etc. . .
• which road I should take. really. If I go a different way home he had been known to freak.
• what goes where.

Ok, it's late and that's all I can think of offhand. There's tons more. And each opinion is usually quite strongly held. For the most part I love that he is such an individual. I do believe that this feistiness will get him places in life, if I can just learn to channel it right. I really am working on setting limits and being the one who decides when to give choices and what things are have-tos.
But, spend all day with the kid and you will give in too. I promise.

Dr. Steam

Today Joseph introduced me to "Dr. Steam" his miniature little sister. She has blue eyes and lives in a blue tree house (in our Fichus tree). She likes treats and m&ms, the letter T, playing with all her friends, the playground, and playgroup. Also, "she knows how her words do" which I think means she knows how to read and write (this came up while we were writing her letters).

I have no idea if Dr. Steam or her friends "Cherry-cherry" and "Chi-cho-cha-wa" will stick around. But, I LOVE the imagination. This was the most elaborate story I have heard him weave so far and it was a wonderful moment. (If you didn't know, my imaginary world was quite special to me as a child and I even did my senior psychology research on children with imaginary friends!)

Craft plans/ideas: Big dreaming

This whole crafting thing is ADDICTING. I actually took a couple days "off" and finally finished a book I have been reading (and had out of the library, oops) for six months. Sad. For some reason I either craft or read, I don't do both (not including all the book, magazine, newspaper perusing that I do). Anyways, as I have mentioned, I love coming up with the ideas; but focusing and getting down to business part a bit harder. If you don't know, there is a world of blogs out there with amazing, amazing ideas. How these people have the time for all they do, I cannot fathom. That's where I get most of my inspiration. Anyways, I decided to make a list (oh how I love lists), put it on here, and then stick to projects from this list!!

• cloth napkins
• sock-monkey
• Joseph pajama pants
• Joseph shirts with cool designs so he will actually wear them
• another flap hat to give away, just because it is fun and easy to make (free pattern here)
• pirate underwear for Joseph! (inspiration here)
• someday: A QUILT (yikes) I have been dreaming about the fabric . . .
• a sweater for me (all the yarn is sitting here waiting for me to get up the guts . . .)
• felt or knit play food for Joseph kitchen (maybe like these?)
• a book with Joseph!
• collage out of Joseph's art
• display area in Joseph room for him to put up his art
• pillows
• finish the stupid pinecone wreath I started this year at xmas and never finished (idea here)
• some art for our walls (like these pillows, but on a canvas or framed)
• paint (and fix the sheatrock and decorate) a room in the house! Starting with the very smallest and least important; the upstairs bathroom. Then: the rest of the house, minus the kitchen.
• Joseph towels to match the wash cloths I made him
• travel marker roll-up for J
• CD roll-up for J
• growth chart for J
• banner for J's birthday party
• banner for J's room

As you can see, I love to dream.

Joseph's kitchen!!!

Bob (Grandpa) and I made Joseph a new little play-kitchen!!! I am super proud of this (even though I clearly could not have done it without Bob). Lately I have really enjoyed dreaming up craft ideas, but I tend to be pretty good at the dreaming part of the process and not so good at the actually getting it done part. So it is very exciting that this one got this far. Of course I had even more ideas and plans for this, such as a curtain on the bottom (which would involve me learning how to sew) but Joseph loves it and it was really fun to make. The very best part is I didn't spend a dollar on it! Everything was found at either Father's house or mine. I also tend to spend a bit too much on my projects, so this was another great lesson. This started out as a side table we never really used:

I was trying to convince Brad to make a real nice one, but he has been so busy with work that clearly was not going to happen any time soon. So I was totally enamored when I saw this blog post (from Homemade by Jill) and through that post found this and this with tons more ideas. It is a really great project. Kids of all types, no matter age, gender, personality, etc. . . seem to love these. Happy cooking! And thank you sooo much Bob!

I love yous

I never really have been big on, "I love you." I didn't say it a lot growing up. Didn't really think it meant much anyways. But, now as a mom, it means more. I have recently made two conscious decisions regarding these words. 1) I try to say this often, and not just at the routine times (in parting and at night-night), but also unexpected moments. After a big tantrum. During dinner. Getting into the car. Just because. and 2) my parting words at night are always, "I love you forever." I intentionally choose this phrase. This is my attempt to teach Joseph that, though I may not always be with him, my love will.

Jan and Feb pics!

He LOVES sledding!

Brad, Amy, Bri, Joseph and I all tried out our skating legs (while Bob and Jacob joined in the fun). There was a lot of holding on to the side . . .

Joseph loves any sort of project!

We took the new ferry across Lake Champlain. Here is what is left of the old bridge.

Making--and tasting--Valentines cookies!

This past Wednesday we finally got some more snow. And we went all day without any power!

And then it warmed right up. On Friday Joseph had a good dirty wet romp. There was still 6 inches of snow and the thermometer in the sun read 96 degress.

Now we are on to our newest springtime adventure: making syrup!!

Since my dream of visiting every state isn't happening any time soon . . .

I can pretend! I think this Great American Postcard Swap sounds like a blast. The idea is that a family from each state signs up and then each week it is someone's turn to send 49 postcards to all the other participants. I am representing VT in the second swap group. Fun, fun! Come join us!

Life

There are a few changes afoot around here. For one, I have been working hard to take better care of myself. This includes a number of things, such as joining Weight Watchers! I joined in December, but wimped out, so I consider my real start date January. Since then I have lost 15 pounds. Hopefully I can keep that up (we will see-right now the Valentines cookies Joseph and I are making are giving me trouble . . . but, what's Valentines without cookies?). Brad continues to be super busy with work; usually12 (long, cold, psycho hard-working) hours a day, 6 days a week, SO sometimes I do need time to myself! I am trying to be a better friend to myself--even when I don't keep the house as nice as I would like it, have some trouble with my temperamental two-year-old, don't live up to my super-mom aspirations, who cares?

I also, finally, found a job that fits my schedule perfectly. I will be working two and half days a week at the Addison County Parent/Child Center . This is a wonderful organization that I have supported and known of (to some extent) for a long time. My position is childcare provider and parent educator. Besides taking care of the children, we are also intended to act as educators and models for the young parents who work alongside us as part of their program to learn both parenting and job skills. The center has a very large staff and serves the community in many, many ways, including by conducting the weekly playgroups that Joseph and I attend. I know many people who have been and are well served by them. Hopefully this will be a good fit!

Sweater #2!

and this took about 1/3 as long as the last (1/2 a year instead of a year and 1/2). I am really proud of this one! It looks MUCH better than my first.

I didn't have much luck getting Joseph to model it. First he told me I needed to add a pirate before he would wear it. Then I gave him a whole shpeal (sp?) about how it hurt my feelings he wouldn't put it on, since I worked SO hard on it, etc, etc . . . and he finally will wear it (nice to know sometimes I can get through to him). But he still didn't have any use for a photo shoot. Oh well. I just bought yarn for a sweater for myself (very scary) and am currently working on my first hat. Lots of fun!

***Update: Just after posting this I got a better picture as we were getting ready for story hour at the library:

Jenn and Sophia Visit (pictures long over-due)

AHHHHH! Joseph and Sophia were so adorable together (most of the time). First kiss at Cubber's; how classic!

We had a wonderful and busy visit with Jenn and Sophia just after Christmas. I've been procrastinating going through all the pictures because there were so many cute ones, but here they finally are. Also, I can't seem to change the order, so apologies. Many of these pics are "borrowed" from Jenn and there are many more on her blog (here).

What a gorgeous, wonderful girl!

Dancin' and jammin' at Bob's

New Year's Eve at Dan's Place, then Two Brother's. We even got my dad out for a drink and then later enjoyed some dancing on old friends!

We took Jenn and Sophia to the Ilsley Library and had a great visit.

Dancing at Steve's Dinner

Sophia in the shirt I made her

Christmas/New Years Get-together at Michele's. I love this photo! It was really wonderful to get all us "old" friends together.

Joseph sharing his drink with Sophia

Back to our play-time at Bob's