Our St. Patrick's Day: A Photo Journey

Audrey is finally getting to the age where she can really 'get' the holidays that are upon us. Or at least that we should wear green and talk about shamrocks and all that rot. It's fun to be able to actually celebrate holidays with Audrey and not go through the motions for her, post pictures and then act like we all had a grand time

Speaking of grand times...this kid knows how to get a party started.
...or a zombie riot
I never underestimate the potential curve balls she could lob at me.


Please note the green Mickey Mouse jammies and that the purple sauce is actually blueberry juice--not zombie brains.

This is Audrey's preschool gang; it was fun seeing them get into the spirit of things

As always, Audrey's favorite part of preschool is playing outside.

When we got home, Audrey helped Mama make some bread for dinner

And she even sorted the clean silverware for me. Hallelujah!

I know you were noting the conspicuous lack of Bailey in this post and here's why: She's too busy dancing, running away naked, and climbing on top of chairs, laundry baskets, tables and couches to get a clear picture of her. Here she is strapped to my back--it's about the only way to get her to stay in one place long enough to snap a photo.

There would've been a picture here of the awesome corned beef and cabbage we had for dinner, but I scarfed it down before there was even time for photographic evidence. Happy St. Patrick's Day, folks!

...and for good measure, here's a video of my girls dancing to an Irish Jig:

It's getting a bit obsessive

I'm feeling incredibly conflicted. And for those of you who know me--it is not normal. I tend to pride myself on my decision making skills: assess all possible options, pick one, move on. I don't like wallowing in indecision.

I've recently come upon a book; Growing Roots: The New Generation of Sustainable Farmers, Cooks, and Food Activists. And all I can say is: Wow. Mind blown. This book is basically a compilation of interviews the author did across the country of organic farmers, cooks and activists...hippies...tree huggers--my folk. I have a feeling this book isn't nearly as revolutionary as I think it is, but in reading these interviews I've found myself longing to have the life these people do. A simple, nearly self-sustaining life where you know where your food comes from or know who grew/raised it. I want that. Maybe my baby-fever-longing-for-a-dairy-cow psychosis is really just a longing to return to the earth--for a simpler life. Now don't get me wrong; I know the term 'simple life' implies there is little work to be done when the opposite is true, but it is what my heart is aching for.

And now for the indecision: I do not live on farm land. We live in the county, thank God, which means we can get away with quite a lot, but this is where God put me. He did not send me to live on 40 acres with a herd of dairy cows and chickens underfoot, and short of digging up every available space in the back yard and turning it into pasture, I don't think Bessy the milking cow will ever take up residence on West Yellowstone Ave. So where does that leave me? With a passion for organic agriculture, relatively little knowledge in any one aspect of it and little land to use as an outlet. My solutions? Learn. Learn by reading, by doing and by seeking out others who do what I want to do. In the mean time I really hope I don't run off what friends and family I do have with my incessant thoughts and words on this topic. If you're not a tree hugging, cow-lovin' wanna-be farmer, then please forgive me. I can't help myself.

In my life

As many of you have been able to tell, I've recently joined the cult of iPhone users. And it's life-changing...it really is. Even though I live in constant fear of being that person--the one who is constantly plugged in--I'm grateful that it gives me the chance to keep up correspondence, take pictures and share things like never before. As always, technology and I have a love/hate relationship. But it makes my heart happy that I can catalog what we've been up to and share it with you.

To begin with, the weather here has been taking a turn towards gorgeous. I'm drinking it in, because I know in less than two weeks, I'll be in Chi-Town freezing my booty off and this will all be a distant memory.

Bailey has recently discovered that sidewalk chalk does not taste good, but it's worth the fun of grossing Mom out.

John is taking a graduate level class that the Lab is paying for. Here, Audrey was helping him write a paper.

We recently hosted preschool at our house. As you can tell, with Gillian as a teacher it takes a turn from 'let's deliberately learn things' to 'why don't we play and eat popcorn'. I see nothing wrong with this.

Kap and Jeff and Ollie D came into town for the weekend. It's always awesome to see my nephew and we put up with his parents because they're his designated drivers for the next 15-ish years.

We celebrated both John and Jeff's birthdays last night--John got this fantastic pipe from his In-Laws. They must know the guy pretty well.

Around the house, things continue as always: Audrey loves to help me in the kitchen...

Bailey runs away from me whenever possible, in various stages of undress...

Audrey remains one of the silliest kids I know...

and Bailey is working on some competition for Audrey's bedhead.

This is my life. Does it get any better than this?