That WOULD Be A Good Present, Actually!

The other night, we were sitting on the back deck discussing upcoming festivities and happened to mention my birthday.  Shaun asked Bean what she thought they should do to make it special. 

"Well... Me and Wobin and Daddy...  we can go outside and pick up doggie poo!"

And I totally promise and swear that I didn't put her up to that. 

I Didn't Get Lost, I'm Just Eating and Organizing (a.k.a. CSA - Week 2)

There's a lot going on here, most of which I'll post about later.

Anyway, for now, I'll give the rundown of our second week of CSA goodies! This week's theme was green, lots of green. Apparently, I liked the theme and "posed" the veggies and such on a green towel.

We have russian kale, peas, green beans, asparagus, rolls, a loaf of multi grain bread, spinach, blueberries, strawberry cream cheese (OH MY WORD THE DELICIOUS), green onions, and some kind of lettuce that I forget the name of, but that tastes wonderful. 

I did learn that I hallucinated a bit last week.  This farm, (as is the case with most MD farms), is not totally organic.  Most farms around here, (if not all), would have little to no yield without some form of pest control.  This isn't to say that everything is treated.  Our particular farm treats at most twice a year.  Being on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, more than that results in heavy fines, so they tread a fine line.  In any case, it makes me sad as that's still something that's important to me, but I'm happy that we're getting REALLY fresh local produce, so that makes up for it.  And knowing that the farmer is doing his very best to do the very least in treating his crops is good to know.  Anyway, sorry if I mislead anyone.

Anyway, we're still thrilled to bits at the harvest and Shaun's enjoying the company in his work share group. 

I'm loving watching my daughter try new things as she gets excited about Daddy's "harvest" when he comes home on Fridays.  She can shell peas better than I can.  (Think I can get her to do the rest?)

Community Supported Agriculture = WIN

This year we decided to join a CSA, or a community supported agriculture group.  These are basically farm shares where you pay and get a weekly box of local produce grown on your selected farm or on farms nearby, (many farms work with each other to give their CSA members a greater variety).  We looked through a few online before finding the one we settled on and then Shaun noticed that they also offered work shares.  Every Friday, Shaun goes for 4 hours or so and works at the farm and in exchange, our share is free.

Here's a sampling of our first week's loot:

 

(The picture is horrendous, I know)

We got spinach, broccoli, radishes, green onions, asparagus, butter leaf lettuce, strawberries, mushrooms, potatoes, a small sample of cream cheese (not pictured), a dozen cage free farm fresh eggs (not pictured), and two loaves of bread (also not pictured) .  Shaun bought the small container of local honey on the bottom left.  

They said we'd get enough to feed a family of four for a week.  I'll say!  All this would have run us about 30 bucks if we were to be paying for a share.  

And another bonus?  All organic.  You couldn't spend $30 at the grocery store and get all this organically, no way. 

They also offer cut flowers at a discount, free herb trimmings, and free ice cream for the munchkins if we visit the farm. 

This is our first CSA, so I'm not really sure how it compares to other local farms in quantity or price, but we're impressed.

Anyway, I'll probably post week to week updates about what they offer to give those considering this for next summer, (or those who can find them this summer with openings!), a taste of what to expect!

And for those of you nearby, keep in mind that we have our monstrous veggie garden which will hopefully bear some considerable fruit this season...  so give us a call, we'll share.

Brain = Fried

In lieu of a normal post this morning, I leave you with this gem of knowledge:

At 12am, when your smallest outside-the-body munchkin is fighting sleep because she's convinced that a party is going on while she's supposed to be in her bed, you trying to corral her onto your lap is a bad idea.

It will result in a head thrown back into your face, giving you a sore and bloody nose. 

Just saying.

And for now?  I'm going to take a nap. 

And You Thought You Had a Weird Diet

We went grocery shopping today and Baby Brother was crowding himself all over my midsection.  Apparently, he took today to be the day when he would size me up for the chaise lounge he's been planning to move in. 

Anyway, I looked down and said, "Man, I feel so full!"  Bean peered up and me and said,

"What did you eat?"

"Oh no, not that, it's the baby making me feel full."

Her eyes widened and she patted my belly,

"You ATE a BABY!?"

Cracks. Me. Up.  She's on a roll lately.

Excuses, Excuses... Wait, WHAT?!

"Bean, please put your dirty clothes into the laundry chute."

"I can't, Mommy, I'm dead."  *flops on the floor and assumes a dead position*

"Bean..."

"Mommy, I'm dead and I can't move, so I can't."

I was laughing too hard to do much at that point.  But I did discover that a good dose of tickling can revive most anyone.

(And no, I have NO idea where she gets this stuff).

C - 13 Month Update

Dear C-Bunny,

You've had an eventful month.  You popped out 4 more teeth and started working hard on getting those molars through.  In the midst of molar melt-downs, you somehow ended up with Roseola and spent 3 full days as a cranky, feverish, and difficult little mess.  You didn't want to be held, but you REALLY didn't want to be put down.  Ibuprofen took the edge off and you'd sit in my lap and whimper from time to time.  Even sleep, which is generally how you cope best with teething and sickness, didn't do anything this time around.  It was beyond frustrating not knowing how to fix things to make you smile again. 

On the third day, you ended up with the trademark polka dotted rash.  Your mood improved, but you certainly weren't ready to stop being snuggled, which was fine with me.  Most days.  My productivity took a huge hit the past week.  As of today, your rash has all but faded away and you're back to your usual mischievous antics.  

And it seems as if mischief is becoming your natural friend as you get older.  This morning I was frantically loading the dishwasher in hopes I'd finish before you tried to climb inside (again).  You slipped out onto the sun porch with your sister and then the two of you ventured out onto the deck.  I watched you both color with chalk, investigate wet chairs, climb under the table, and roll a ball back and forth.  I could see you both from the window and grinned to see you guys playing so well together.  Then you made a beeline for the grass.  Apparently, your phobia has abated.  You crawled into the grass and contented sat there, looking around, for a good 10 minutes.  But as soon as you heard me coming, you took off like a shot further into the yard. 

You like running away from me.  Well, crawling.  Or toddling as fast as you can.  Often, it's because you've put something in your mouth that I obviously want to take away.  You hold it out and show me as if to say, "See this?  I'm going to eat it."  And as soon as I make a motion to take it, it's in your mouth and you're off and running.  And grinning.  At least until I catch you and scoop it out of your mouth.  You don't much like that. 

You walk as much as, if not more than, you crawl nowadays. I love the early walking days, when the Frankenstein wobble takes over and you  sway from side to side.  Toddlers indeed. 

This month you also learned to blow kisses, which I love, but not quite as much as the real kisses you tend to give me when you're particularly happy.  True, open-mouthed baby kisses, full of slobber and love.  I don't love it when you suddenly decide to close your chompers on my lip or cheek, but your intentions are good.  And it's so unbelievably invigorating to get a bit of unsolicited love back after so many months of smothering you with kisses of my own.

May we always have many long days and nights of snuggles, hugs, and kisses.  And may you always keep your mischievous streak.  It sure makes me laugh.  (Remind me of that next time you get into something major, ok?)

With hugs and many, many slobbery baby kisses,

Mama