We are beside ourselves with excitement... We just finalized plans today to have a friend of ours move in with us to help out with the kids and the house! I met Camille at Western, and she is a very good friend of Ben & Saamanta's. She is very sweet, easygoing, and wonderful with our kids. We are thrilled to have some help, for the kids to be around ASL everyday, and to get to know Camille better.
My amazing friend, Savannah, has challenged us moms to find some way to nurture ourselves each and every day this week leading up to Mother's Day. I will be playing along, and I hope you will too!! You can read her post and let her know what activities you have done by visiting her Mindfully Mothering blog.
Between our family's food needs and all of my friends who have had babies in the past month I have been in the kitchen cooking a good part of most days. In our search for healthy alternatives to toxic Teflon we purchased enameled cast iron cookware at IKEA the other day. They are so beautiful, and I was very excited to cook with them, but after my first pancake-cooking endeavor I became disappointed...they stick worse than regular old cast iron!!! So, I come to you, dear readers, asking for your advice.
1. What am I doing wrong?? Any tips for cooking on enameled cast iron would be greatly appreciated, even if it is just to "suck it up," or "get rid of it!"
2. How can I clean the things?? Some of these burnt/sticking spots will not come off, and are not scrape-able. I know not to use dish soap on cast iron, but since these are enameled, is it ok?? The directions, which are obviously translated from another language, say to use "washing-up detergent."
Another activity I have been engaged in is baking. I got an Amish Friendship Bread starter from my mom a few weeks ago, and have made bread from it twice so far. I must stop, because I am eating both loaves almost completely by myself in a matter of minutes (ok, I'm exaggerating, but you get the picture). I have 2 1 more starters left (thanks, Danielle), so if anyone wants one I'd be happy to drop it off (assuming you live, like, in the same city as me). The bread that it make is SO EFFING GOOD, although not really good for you at all....please save me from myself.
Ok...I have asked enough from you for one day. Thanks for reading.
Saamanta and I went to see Kimya Dawson tonight at The Aladdin... what an amazing show. All I knew of her was 1) that she's an MDC mom, 2) that her music was in the awesome movie, Juno, and that 3) Saamanta loves her.
There were several opening bands, 2 of them were really entertaining: Kimya's husband, Angelo Spencer, and his friends, a French band, L'Orchidee D'Hawaii. Both were totally silly, very talented musicians, and super energetic. Backstage was their 1 1/2 year old daughter, Panda, and we caught little glimpses of her every once in awhile, toddling around. This was the end of a 2 month tour for them, and they are really looking forward to getting home to Olympia tomorrow.
Kimya came on with a chair and her guitar, and had Matty Pop Chart sitting on the floor next to her, playing a little xylophone and giggling with her between songs. She exuded such a sweet, genuine, mellow vibe, and had a lot of really great messages beween (and during!) her songs for the surprisingly young crowd at her feet.
She's SO cute
Juno with Kimya Dawson singing "Loose Lips"
L'Orchidee D'Hawaii--bad sound, but you can get a sense of what their energy is like
Angelo Spencer--He sings, plays guitar, pounds the bass drum with one foot, and the high hat with the other, all at the same time...amazing.
I'm sitting in my dark kitchen, a candle burning peaceful, smooth labor-vibes into the air, glancing uncontrollably across the street every few seconds... What a beautiful day it was! You can read the events from Leah's perspective, and I'll just show you the pics:
The perfect labor meal: A BLAC Sandwich (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Chicken). Mmmmm... A little Isa-love Watch out, Kiran, that seat will be gone, soon! Holding Peck Glowing Light your candles, ladies!! xoxoxoxoxo
I almost finished my Treasure Map last night, and I am really loving how it turned out! But, no final picture to share yet.
Rich and I also just met with Andy and had our kids' charts read. Whoa. My mind is totally spinning... Their readings were so insightful, accurate (in terms of what I know of their personalities so far), and very very helpful. I am looking forward to processing more deeply, but am scarfing down some dinner as fast as I can manage in order to get to the ICAN meeting tonight that I'm already 20 minutes late for.
Send me a love note at urbanhippiemama at gmail dot com
Rich
Rich is a loving and thoughtful partner and parent. He loves whitewater rafting, rock climbing, soccer, and being outdoors.
Kylin Taylor
Kylin is unschooled, and we spend our days together learning and living. She loves Spanish, cooking, astronomy, and reading.
Kaden River
Kaden is a super-busy guy who is curious about his world and will stop at nothing to figure it out.
Kiran Cedar
Kiran is intense...studying everyone around him one moment, fiercly mad when he can't do what he wants the next. He is walking and making his presence known in our family.
