hopeful

Emmett is in the midst of one of those wonderful toddler phases wherein he doesn't just like cowboys...he sincerely thinks he is a cowboy. He spends his evenings trotting around the house on a stick horse and if he doesn't wear his cowboy boots to preschool, he most certainly puts them on upon his return.


It was therefore not at all difficult to decide on a theme for his third birthday.

Emmett's birthday happened to fall over spring break. Since we were planning on taking a little family getaway anyhow, Sean and I decided to pull all the stops and plan a cowboy overnight. So we headed to southern Illinois to stay in a cabin that we had rented many times many years ago (check it out!) and found an outfitter who was willing to take a just-three and a five-year-old along on a trail ride. That's right, my friends, horseback riding.

I let Emmett pick the dinner for his birthday night and, because I am a firm believer in showing up to rental houses with a meal ready to go, I was quite pleased with his selection. It was a three-year-old feast, ooey gooey super delicious baked macaroni and cheese (which I admit to finding by Googling "best macaroni and cheese ever") and a gigantic bowl of berries. I popped the mac and cheese in the oven while we opened presents, and it was warm and toasty by dinner time.

Cowboyed up

Big boot, little boot

The birthday cowboy and his mama

December was an abundantly full month for our family. Here are a few favorite pics from the holiday season. I am, as always, "hopeful" that I can find a way to write more often in the months to come; in the meantime, I hope 2013 is off to a wonderful start for everyone!

Brother love at the Christmas tree farm.

Always focused...

...and far more interested in THIS stuff than in finding a tree.

Under the tree in red pajamas.

Bookmark presents for teachers: art by the boys, scanned, printed on cardstock, laminated, and ribboned.

A perfect pre-Christmas snow.

"Make Santa beards in the tub" - an advent calendar activity.

Best effort at a Christmas Eve family photo; Sean and I can't stop laughing because Finn won't stop dancing...

Christmas morning quiet...and our BIG ol' tree...

Cowboy boots and Star Wars books. Nuff said.

My new 50mm fixed lens!

Playing a polka...

...and eating smores.

New Years Eve ready.

We've now been in Montana for more days than it took us to get to Montana. We drove twenty-six hours over three days, put 1500+ miles on the minivan, and arrived none the worse for wear - it was a remarkably pleasant road trip, punctuated by hotels with swimming pools, many impromptu frisbee stops, and lots of stories and songs. The road trip bags came in very handy and, save the occasional colored pencil spillage, the kiddos were pretty independent exploring them.



Other road trip highlights included:

The obligatory stop at Wall Drug (and chance to run around in the sprinklers out back,  as evidenced by my very wet child)

Picnicking on my college campus - my freshman year dorm is right behind us

Stopping for ice cream in Livingston, MT - it tastes better with a view like that

Swirly whirly hot tubs.

I could insert a half dozen adages here about getting there being half the journey and all that, and while I will spare you the canned sayings, I gotta say it's true. I'll be back soon with a few posts from Montana...when I'm not fishin' or hikin' or explorin' or campin' or doing all the things we love about this great state. Stay tuned!

Forget orchids for this mama - for my Easter treat, Sean volunteered to cook the entire dinner and in fact explicitly forbid me from the kitchen the entire day. Throughout the afternoon he photographed his handiwork, claiming inspiration from none other than this blog. I love this man.


And so, a moment to remember his divine work:

Deviled Eggs with Bacon, Scallions and Cherry Tomatoes

Roasted Chicken and Sauteed Swiss Chard with Onions and Bacon

Roasted Beets, Carrots, and Potatoes

The Cheese Course, courtesy of Prairie Fruits Farm

Strawberry Custard Pie

The roasted chicken was the gift that kept on giving; a few days after Easter, I made a ridiculously easy and delicious chicken and dumplings recipe that I found here. And I got fourteen cups of homemade chicken stock by simmering what was left after that.

As thoughts turn to spring and summer, I'm finding myself feeling somewhat uninspired...time to get my hands on a new project or a new cookbook...or perhaps to start planning the vegetable garden. I'll keep you posted.