The start of something good.

So far day one of summer break has been fantastic. We haven't gone anywhere or done a single thing. I don't think anyone is happier about it than Elliot, though. He has Mabel and Oliver wrapped around his finger. He need only point and they will take him wherever he wants to go. He has been smiling from ear to ear all day, loving their attention.

I think it's going to be a good summer.

up with the sun

It is light by 4:58 am. That is great on the days that I go running. It's not quite as great on the days that I don't. Mornings start early at our house. Elliot has decided to be up with the dawn. Mabel and Oliver are out of bed before their eyes are open. Mike is off to work by 6:15.

This gives us lots of time to start the laundry. Or make waffles for breakfast. Or photograph loaves of bread in the pretty morning light. :)

Since I'm still not eating sugar, I have been focusing my baking energy on making bread. This is my most recent loaf. I think it is the best so far. I used the Irish Potato Brown Bread recipe from Beth Hensperger's The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook. It is soft and moist and holds up well for sandwiches.

Today is the last day of school around these parts. I went to pack lunches for Mabel and Oliver this morning and realized that we are out of just about everything. Including lunch bags. I think we're ready for summer.


In case you'd like to try it, here is that bread recipe for a 2 pound loaf:

Irish Potato Brown Bread
1 2/3 cups water
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
3 tablespoons honey
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups bread flour
1/3 cup instant potato flakes
2 tablespoons gluten
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 teaspoons SAF yeast, or 1 tablespoon bread machine yeast

Place ingredients in the pan, and set the machine for the Whole Wheat cycle.

dinner party realizations

I am not at all hip. Or young. Or social. And I think I'm ok with it. Mike and I were invited to a dinner party filled with friends and blogging people on Friday night. We had a great time (thank you, Beth!), but I was happy to come home to my little house filled with my little kids and my little life. I think I'm the most boring person I know.

p.s. I started Gone with the Wind this weekend. So far it is spectacular. To see what I've read lately, find me on Goodreads.



*photo snagged from hip+young Ashley

Dear Sugar, it's not me, it's you.

Day one was a breeze. Day two was jittery. Day three was a headache.

Thank you for your sugar break advice! It was very helpful. I'm drinking lots of water, eating fruit, and chewing gum. :) The cravings aren't bad, but I can tell that my body misses it. Once I made the decision to do it, though, it was easier than I thought it would be. It was only kind of hard to watch Stella eat frozen yogurt yesterday. But I resisted!

I'm not giving up sugar forever. And I definitely believe in having a day off every once in a while. A little bit of sugar in my bread or salad dressing doesn't bother me. It's the big things like doughnuts and chocolate chips and cake, etc. that I was eating far too often. I don't like the idea of completely eliminating something from my diet. I think healthy eating is all about moderation and maintainable lifestyle changes. Eating less, eating more simply, eating food the way it was meant to be eaten.

So I have avoided the no sugar trend. But I felt like I needed a jump start to healthier eating. And too much sugar was my number one problem. I will no longer use sugar to fuel my body. I feel pretty pleased with my decision so far. I'll keep you posted.

Metting Mr. Mitt

Last night Mike and I met Mitt Romney. Robert Redford was just ousted as my favorite celebrity meeting. It was awesome. Mr. Romney is awesome. Let me tell you why I think he's so great. Politics and religion aside, Mr. Romney is a kind, brilliant, down to earth person who has great ideas for our country. Ideas that are simple and straight forward. Ideas that I, a housewife in Mesa, Arizona, can understand and get behind. He is a businessman, a husband, a father, and a patriot. He is in this race because he loves our country and believes that he can make it great again. There was no ego, just genuine humility, gratitude, and an awful lot of intelligence. If anyone can get our economy going, it is Mr. Romney. As the wife of a small business owner, that is really important to me. And as a mother, his strong family values and high morals make him a real winner.

Go Mitt!

the world's biggest egg and other things

One of our hens laid the biggest egg I've ever seen yesterday.  Here it is in Oliver's six year old hands. It's on the left. It must be at least twice as big as a regular egg. I can't wait to see what's inside. I'm hoping it's something like this.

Have you ever given up sugar? I'm thinking of trying it this week. I've never done it before, and I am hoping that if I post my intentions here on my blog, I'll actually stick with it for more than an hour. Can I go a week without baking? Or frozen yogurt? I don't know, but I'm willing to try. I have a hunch that I might feel a whole lot better if I do.

This weekend was perfectly perfect. Nice warm weather, lots of fun family time, nowhere that we had to be. I love lazy weekends.

I hope your weekend was a good one.


**egg update: it was a double yolker**

strawberry doughnuts

Last time I made doughnuts, I kind of decided that I didn't need to do it ever again. Then I saw these strawberry doughnuts and I about died. They looked so good! So I found myself in my kitchen today, giving doughnuts another try. I think I just need more practice. :) But I'm afraid I might eat the whole batch myself (I already feel a sugar headache coming on), so maybe I should swear them off for reals this time?

I followed the recipe exactly as written and was pleased with how they turned out. They were delicious straight from the fryer; very sweet and tender and so fresh! But I think my glaze needed more powdered sugar. It was really runny and sticky and it never hardened properly. Oh well, they were delicious anyway. And I ate more than my fair share.

Have you ever made doughnuts?

Dresses aren't just for Sunday anymore.

I'm still working on my personal uniform.

How do you feel about dresses? I used to only wear them to church. I'll be honest, they made me feel uncomfortable for everyday wear. I felt too dressed up. But then I would see this sister, or this one wearing them around the house, and I decided that I needed to change my attitude. They could be casual. And comfortable, too! And they definitely looked more put together than lounge pants and a dumb tee shirt, which is what I used to wear. I scored with this pattern. I've now made it four times.

What about skirts, you say? Well, skirts are fine. But there's always the tucking issue. Do I tuck in my shirt, or not? I never know the right answer, and I feel like I end up looking sloppy. Plus, my waistline isn't my best feature, so I'd rather not draw too much attention to it. Dresses are as straight forward as it gets. Tunics, too (and much easier to nurse in!).

I used the most cheerful swiss dot I think I've ever seen for this dress. It is super thin and cool and makes me very happy.

What do you think? Are dresses in heavy rotation in your wardrobe?

I am a mother.

I don't think any title will define my life more than that of mother. These little people are my life's work. I became a mother at the age of 22 when Mabel arrived feet first into this world. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was young and unprepared. In what feels like the blink of an eye, here I am, nearly nine years later, the mother of four sweet kids. I had Mike snap this photo tonight. Someday I will want proof that they were once little and uncomplicated. I don't know much, but I do know this: I am one lucky lady to be their mother. 

I had a happy Mother's Day. I hope you did, too.

Now that he's one. . .

he's really starting to pull his own weight around here. He even empties the dishwasher for me. :)

uno

This baby is one today. Say it isn't so!

I like to pretend that he's still teeny and brand new. Luckily, he is a little on the small side and still needs his mama quite a bit. He's not quite walking yet, but I know he's thinking about it.

He is our happiest baby. Oh, what in the world did we do without him?

Mike and I have matching running shoes.

Isn't that cute?

Do you run? I started running in January. I had never been a runner before in my life. But you know what? I love it. I can't believe it, but I really do. I meet my running friends on the corner at 5:00, just as the sun is starting to light up the sky now. It is peaceful and cool and so invigorating. It has been good for my body and good for my soul. I could never do it alone, though. I need my running ladies. I love them. We have some excellent early morning discussions.

Do you want to come with us?

a typical tuesday

 guys on the bed :: a new book to read

everyday a princess :: letters waiting in the mail

 fresh sheets :: my happy guy

 a dr pepper in the fridge I can't resist, darn it :: a prom dress almost finished

in the shade :: at the grocery store

Does any of this look familiar? I'm guessing your days look a lot like mine.