OVERCOMING THE DARKNESS WITH APPLE DUMPLINGS

 

This past Monday, I got off work and walked out to a darkening evening sky. By the time I picked up the girls and got home, it was pitch black outside and I could feel it -  like I was slowly sinking into an deep dark ocean. It's a familiar feeling that I get around this time of the year, and I mentally counted the months that we had left until we would see sunlight during this evening time again...5 months. Ugh. "Mom, it's so dark! It makes me tired" Sloane said, and I had to agree. It makes me sad to think of the few hours that I have with my girls at the end of each day being in darkness, but that is what I have to work with. "Isn't it exciting Sloane? It will be dark like this because it is getting ready to be winter. Maybe we can see the stars come out earlier."  I took a deep breath and started thinking of things that I could do with Sloane that didn't require sunlight. I want to spend intentional time with her each day if possible, especially during the months where it's so easy to go into autopilot mode during the work week. This week I decided it would be making apple dumplings.  Or hand pies. We called them dumplings because it is so adorable hearing Sloane say that word.

She was excited to help and she was able to do most steps by herself with my instruction . She could roll out the dough, cut the circles, and sprinkle the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg over the apple. She was also meticulous at brushing each one with the egg wash; I was impressed. 

 They turned out so good I ate mine and also the one that Sloane had designated for Logan. And it was so easy, that we made them again a few days later. 

Here's the basic recipe, if you're interested:

 Roll out a puff pastry sheet to about 1/4 inch thickness, cut out 8 circles (we used the mouth of a cup), and place 2 thin apple circle slices on four of the circles. Top the slices with a spoonful of brown sugar, sprinkles of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a pad of butter. Place an unused circle on top of each mound and seal the top and bottom together by imprinting with a fork. Brush with egg yolk, add some more butter pieces if you'd like and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Cut three vents into each and bake in 400 degree oven for 18 minutes. 

We are definitely going to make more of these this winter. 

NEVERLAND PARTY

Halloween was extra special this year. If you're going to dress up, why not dress up as story-book characters with your friends? I feel like we cracked the code with this thing; it was so much fun we want to try to do something similar each year, with a different book as a theme.

I read a short version of the Peter Pan book with Sloane earlier this year and she instantly started pretending she was Tiger Lily, and then we pretended to fight as Peter Pan and Captain Hook with baguettes as our swords. Needless to say, the excitement and build up for this party was monumental in our house. She asked me everyday for the Peter Pan story and once our friends decided what they were going to dress up as, she would list them to me confirming that Simone was going to be a mermaid, Os was going to be Peter Pan, Elijah was going to be the crocodile, Eden was going to be tinker bell, etc. 

It was so much fun planning for the party too; it was hard to tell who was more excited about it - us or the kids. 

 I posted a video I made of it here, but I wanted to share some of the photos I got too...

Sloane said her favorite part was digging for treasure and of course, flying. 

OFF TO NEVERLAND! (VIDEO)

We threw the kids (and ourselves) a Neverland themed party for Halloween this past weekend and it was glorious fun. The day after, Sloane recounted all the characters and events, begged for more Peter Pan stories, and I could hear here saying, "He can fly! He can fly! He flew!" to herself all around the house. Here's a video I put together from the party, enjoy!

THESE DAYS

Happy Friday !!! Here's a round up of what we've been up to these days. 

The weekdays haven't been terrible! I know it seems like a low standard, but on paper it all seems so overwhelming, so when we get it done and every week I'm amazed that we are doing it. Amazed and grateful. 

We are out of the apples we picked from the orchard a few weeks ago, and I'm sad about it. 

The sky was the exact color of Sloane's shirt !

We were so pleased with our cider and donuts. 

I can't stop seeing Chris and Ken (their dads) in this picture. 

I want to spend as much time outdoors as possible before it gets really cold. 

During a lunch break a few weeks ago I visited a greenhouse to pick out a plant and it was so peaceful and calming in there. 

The cocktails (and the way they present their menu) at Saison are on point.

Sloane is so into collecting sticks, leaves and acorns right now. Her being excited about those things makes me feel so much joy. Almost every morning when we walk out the door, she looks around, takes a big whiff and said, "it's still fall! What a beautiful day!" 

Last Friday it was so nice, we spent some time running around outside after I picked up the girls. That there in her hand is Logans first art project! 

Coconut water and expresso? It works.

 A sleeping baby? The best. 

I can't get enough of these two together. Sloane is such a great older sister to Logan - Logan is so lucky to have her!

Eunice stopped by the other weekend and had her hands full.

     Slow mornings are the best mornings. 

My cousin Joe came to visit, which was so nice because it's been a while since we've seen him. 

I love these people!

We got to hang out at a friend's beautiful backyard.

Sloane collected pine cones to paint, and did a great job painting them different colors.

Note to self, get a fire grate ! And cook chicken over wood burning fire...

And lastly, this. Pumping was the thing I was dreading the most. On the bad days I'm astounded at what sorts of strange and difficult things we as moms have to do. On the good days I'm grateful for such inventions that allow me to provide for my baby. And so far it's going well, so, cheers!

WHAT I'M READING V. 10

....the audiobook edition! I've continued to not have as much time to read as I would like, so I've remedied that by searching the audiobook section of the library (through my Overdrive app). I love that I can still get some books in this way. 

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari:

This book is a commentary on what dating is like in our current digital age and how relationships are impacted by the use of texts, emails and online dating. It's an interesting observation on our culture today, with research and data to back it up. It's not a thorough analysis but I think it captures the phenomenon of a dating culture in an accurate and compelling way, especially since it comes from his point of view. I appreciated his tone (made more apparent because I listened to him read this) and enjoyed his perspective on this topic. 

The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante:

This is the fourth and last installment of Ferrante's Neopolitan series and I found it stunning. Ferrante is a masterful storyteller and the way she fleshed out these characters over the span of six decades kept me wondering if this was based on real life experiences and people. I had renewed appreciation for the previous books while reading this one and maybe because of that reason this one might be my favorite of the four. I was also impressed by how she was able to describe the complexities of motherhood, balancing a career, friendship, relationships and feminism through these characters. 

Lila by Marilynne Robinson:

I read this book earlier this year and it's probably my favorite book of this year so far. It is quiet, lovely and makes your heart ache from the way she portrays humanity - vulnerable, resilient, desperate, searching and kind. When I came across the audiobook, I decided to read it a second time and I'm having a different experience with it this way - it makes me feel so sad it's almost unbearable...

Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne:

I did a summer study abroad at Cambridge during my law school years a few years ago, and I can recall my international law professor vividly when I think back on that time. He was past his 80s, brilliant, and a wonderful teacher. He was a great lover of gin and the Winnie the Pooh stories - he said because of its simplicity, humor and wisdom. He would quote from it all the time during class and I think of him often while going through this audiobook with Sloane. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WEEKDAYS

Within the deep breath I took before going back to work, was a resolve that I wouldn't dread the busyness of the day-to-day. I didn't want to rush through the week, living only for the respite of the weekend, I want to be excited for each day.

It's a bumper sticker, but it's a bumper sticker that I'm wholeheartedly embracing right now. Reminding myself of the things that I have to look forward to in each normal day has been the most successful way to foster happiness and contentment in my life. That way, my life is not just defined by the milestones and big and exciting things, but the small and indispensable every day things.

One of the biggest mental shifts I made was to make mornings something that I look forward to, and that has helped enormously. Here are some of my other small gems: 

1. Good coffee
2. Snuggling Logan and seeing her smiling face. Watching her beaming at Ken whenever he looks at her.
3. Conversing with Sloane
4. Listening to good podcasts and audiobooks during the day
5. Writing and checking off my to-do list in my bullet journal
6. 5:00 PM - the end of a work day!
7. Crossfit
8. Winding down with my babies and pattering around the house in the evening 

9. A hug and kiss from Ken, regrouping with him.
10. Any sort of reading time I met get
11. My bed