Family Portrait (+ 4)

Posted on June 6, 2013 by lauren

Kristin took two pictures of us when we were on our way to Nana’s funeral: the first, a family photo of our immediate family; the second, of what our family would be if we “inherited” Ryan and Kristin’s kids. Wow.

You know something? I kind of get why people have huge families. For one, once you get started on having kids really close together, you get the knack for taking care of babies, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. Nothing really phases you, and you keep going. And when the older ones start really helping (like, meet-you-at-the-door-and-take-your-groceries-from-your-aching-arms helping), things seem to fall into a real groove. Andrew’s mother, who has 8 siblings, is a ball of energy, the most considerate and positive person I know, and doesn’t ever seem phased by a lot of kids running around.

I, however, will stick with my three for now. Though we do miss the cousins…

What’s your “perfect number?”

Jumpin’ Through Hoops

Posted on June 5, 2013 by lauren

These cousins! On the last day of the three-day adventure with family, we hosted a get-together in our overgrown backyard complete with Andrew’s amazing barbecue ribs, tons of food, and… a little-person circus!The best part? We didn’t plan it. The kids asked for us to bring the mini trampoline up from our basement (which, I might add, was the one thing that kept us from losing our everloving minds this past winter) and soon it was outside. After they fished out some musical instruments (including a slide-whistle) and a hula hoop, they were up to all sorts of shenanigans. We adults thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, but the kids definitely provided ample entertainment and so much laughter! And tonight, after a couple of much-needed days of recuperation (and some serious laundry and cleaning and stocking back up on food), Andrew and I are going out to see a show with a couple of friends. Frankly, the entire month of May seems like a blur, so I am so excited about this next month: parties with friends, our big Paris trip, more family adventures, and hanging out at the pool. June is already cracking up to be an amazing month!

Cousins’ Weekend: Part II

Posted on June 4, 2013 by lauren

A few interesting facts about last weekend: The young blond babe with the green-frosted cupcake pictured above (Gabe) is a mere two years old yet has the voice of a man, and demands answers when asking questions such as “Where’s my Mom,” and “Get milk.” And this fact leads adults to treat him much older than he is, from either fear or respect. I haven’t figured out which yet. Fact: Though there was a little conflict, the above two cousins found time to cuddle on a sunshine-warmed trampoline mid-party. Also, despite months of Andrew and I asking Oliver to let us cut his hair, he was adamantly against it. Until Casey left, and he said to me out of the blue on Monday afternoon that he would like short hair just like Casey. Also, he said “Uncle Billy will be so proud!!!”Fact: I have the best sisters-in-law a gal could ask for. Fact: There truly is nothing more fun than mud. And the mud kitchen became a mud house inhabited by mud zombies. Who later got hosed off by Uncle Billy… who enjoyed the hosing a little too much. Fact: Spoons do not stick well on the pug noses of my offspring, but Liam seemed to do just fine. Also, after tears and numerous practice-rounds in the privacy of his own room, Milo finally got it. For a dollar! Fact: Seriously. I started calling Gabe “The Dude” just because. I mean, look at him!Fact: That, my friends, is a lot of kids. And we miss them already.

Kitchen Update: Part II

Posted on May 29, 2013 by lauren

Well, I suppose the pictures speak for themselves! The cabinets are complete on one side of the kitchen… while the other side still looks like this:

I’m hoping it will be complete by tomorrow… when we will be going from 3 children to 7 children… then 9 on Friday. It will be best to have some cabinet doors that close down low, don’t you think?!

Ohio Holiday Shenanigans (Part II)

Posted on January 2, 2013 by lauren

Most of our vacation was spent with these 9 whipper-snappers and their parents. Andrew’s side of the family grows at an exponential rate every year. His mother is one of 9, and each of her siblings had at least 2 (more often 3 or 4) children, and so on and so forth. We didn’t attempt to get together with the whole family, but it was the first time we gathered together with all 3 brothers and their families since we all stopped reproducing! It was the first time I had met Andrew’s youngest nephew Gabe, and the first time all of our kids were together at one time. We met up at Gina and Michael’s house (Andrew’s mom and stepdad) and had a really great time.

Yes, there was a lot of noise and chaos and children running in a pack all around the farmhouse, but it was also all smiles and very few tears. Emil clearly enjoyed the baby role, as his older cousins rushed him around in a baby doll stroller and fed him gigantic cookies. Oh, wait. That was his uncle. Ryan and Kristin (who claim four of these rascals as their own) made a fantastic dinner which we all devoured. They even treated us to homemade cheesecake with blueberries from their blueberry bush at home in NC (I did not hold back my state of envy). The wood stove heated the entire downstairs so well that it made Andrew and I revisit our desire for one. And the kids got along so well that there were tears when it was time to leave for the evening, even though they knew they would all be reunited at Bill and Annie’s house in the morning.

We self-timed the camera to take this family photo (and others), and were shocked to see just how many kids we had between the four families! When did this happen??? (Answer: oh, around 8 years ago… the below picture was taken a couple of years before any of us had kids in 2002)! Whole family at Ryan NC apt

This family is so amazing, and I am reminded of the fact every time I am lucky enough to visit with them. Warm, welcoming, relaxed, and full of life and fun. One brother in particular may have shown his bare bottom to unsuspecting sisters-in-law one too many times, and the little green looking child may have vomited a couple times before insisting she was “fine! just fine!” but the light-hearted nature of the night carried us through.

We set up camp at Bill & Annie’s house (where we always seem to land), and they put up with us and our rambunctious boys for several days, as well as letting Milo sleep over every night. He was beyond thrilled to share a room with his buddy Reina.

Emil quickly showed Annie his new favorite tricks: throwing stuff into the toilet and climbing onto tables and up on counters. I’m sure they are beyond exhausted and happy to have their house back!

And the last night we were there, Bill, Ryan, and Andrew went to the Bengals game (another family tradition) while the ladies held down the fort. We met up with them downtown for a dinner filled with laughter and just a bit too much food, then headed over to a concert which only 1/3 of us got to see. But that, my friends, is a story I will have to share with you tomorrow…

When Grandma Comes to Town

Posted on September 24, 2012 by lauren

Last week was horrendous for me. I have no idea why, but I was on the verge of tears most of the time, feeling completely overwhelmed and just not like myself. I called a friend in tears, yelled at my boys (and felt so terrible and guilty afterwards), and finally completely broke down to Andrew on Thursday evening. But Friday, my mom arrived (completely unrelated to the crazy-town I was experiencing). And the shift was monumental.

It had been a while since we have seen Grandma. She is super busy with work and had a lot of complicated family matters to tend to on the East Coast all summer long, so we hadn’t seen her in many months. But, as usual, she brought laughter and lightheartedness and gratefulness to our home just when we needed it the most. I think that’s the thing about my mom. She is super dramatic about everything, but in the funniest way. Like, she will make you feel like the BEST cook in the world, the most BEAUTIFUL daughter in the universe, and like you live in THE MOST AMAZING neighborhood that ever was. And then you think, ha ha ha, right. Oh, yeah. I do have it pretty great.

But it’s not the actual reminder to be grateful, it’s just that she is so grateful, it wears off on you when you’re around her. And then there’s the silliness. Let me tell you, none of us had laughed so hard in months. We sang ridiculous songs and popped air packaging in our living room until we could barely stand up we were laughing so hard. Especially Milo.

And I didn’t take many pictures because frankly I just needed to put the camera down for a weekend and focus on laughing instead of documenting. And it was so so good.

And not to reduce my mom to this in any way, but it was so amazing to have an extra set of hands around. An extra adult to wrangle kids, chop veggies, do dishes, clear the table. The things that Andrew and I busy ourselves with throughout the day were done with my mom around. I’m not sure how much rest she got, but I can tell you that I feel ready to start the week fresh today. The sky looks bluer, my house feels cozier, and all is well. Though I do miss that mama. Love you, Mom.

***P.s.- Thank you for the beautiful teacups, Mom. I had my first spot of tea last night and I swear it tasted better in that cup!***

The Revolving Door

Posted on April 5, 2012 by lauren

It has been said by friends, by family, even by me, that our house has a bit of a revolving door. Meaning, once one set of visitors or friends leave, the next are on their way in. The door spins around, some exit, others enter. And I love it.

As Billy and Annie and Reina and Liam headed back to Ohio, I took a day to clean up a bit and restock the pantry & fridge and found myself overcome with calm and eagerness as Jada, Andrew’s cousin, and her husband Jason were on their way. We always enjoy their company, fraught with great conversations, energetic trysts with the kids, and always, always, music and clapping and laughing. They arrived on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday, helped me coral all three boys at the zoo for a somewhat whiney and complain-y and I-want-toys-I-want-snacks-buy-me-something-carry-me-esque morning. But no bother. These two handled it like pros, diffusing tantrums, imparting wisdom, using distraction techniques that I seriously considered writing down, and divvying out discipline when needed. I felt somewhat sheepish, but also refreshed to have so much help.

We visited the hippos, which will forever remind me of Emil since it was while I was staring at them, swimming around and around in their gigantic tank on August 20th, 2011 that I realized I was in labor with him! We also caught a peacock trying desperately to get the attention of a somewhat indifferent peahen, shaking his tale feathers and posturing like only such a show-off can. It was beautiful.

And the rest of the day only got better. After lunch, I put the boys down for naps/quiet time and folded some laundry while waiting for our nanny Elisa to arrive to take the big boys for a few hours.

And, feeling rather tired ourselves, Jada, Jason, Emil, and I headed out for a nice walk and a cup of coffee… which goes quite nicely with goat cheese or chocolate chip cookies:

We took our time chatting and perusing, and I found out that Jason, an avid surfer and musician, is dabbling quite a bit in photography & videography in the Wilmington NC area. Check him out here. Jada, as always, has lovely insights into family life and a level-headedness that I find refreshing. She has always been an inspiration to me, and what luck that she happens to be part of Andrew’s family! Plus, she made some pretty fantastic felt animal masks for the littles, and a felt book about a sleepy pirate. Such a creative family, this one.

The mandolin and banjo… two of my favorite instruments!

The weather has cooled off nicely and it actually felt like a real spring day today, so we enjoyed another outdoor dinner.

Sweet potato white bean burgers with dijon and avocado, corn on the cob, asparagus, and a baby greens salad with pomegranates, goat cheese, and candied walnuts with fig balsamic vinegar

The veggie burgers turned out really well- I will have to post the recipe soon, but I did adapt it from this recipe, found on Pinterest. I made quite a few changes, but the basics are there and I highly recommend trying it!

My big boys… love.

My music baby… also love.

Jada with the boys and the stinky dog

Thank you for enriching all of our lives, you two. We love you!

Lauren’s Inch-Thick Challuh French Toast

Posted on January 15, 2012 by lauren

I guess this post would have been more helpful before the weekend laziness had set in. Lately, at least in our house, it has had a way of doing that somewhere around Saturday afternoon. We are usually go-ers and do-ers, having all sorts of adventures and company on the weekends. But lately, it has been quiet and lazy. And good.

With a new nip in the air, snow on the ground, and ice on the roads, we have taken to hanging out inside by the fireplace in our pajamas on the weekends, building elaborate towers with blocks and magna tiles. And when I am stuck inside, I cook. A lot. Usually, this recipe is designated for company. If you have stayed overnight with us at any point in the past 3 years, you have eaten Lauren’s Inch-Thick Challuh French Toast. And if you enjoyed it, here’s (more or less) how to make it!

Lauren’s Inch-Thick Challuh French Toast

Ingredients

1 large loaf day-old challuh bread (or any type of sweet bread, like Hawaiian or Panetone)
6 eggs (local, if you can!)
1 cup whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp zest from an orange (or dried works fine, just use less)
3 Tbsp butter

Cut challuh into 1-inch thick slices (preferably the night before- it soaks up more goodness this way)
Combine eggs, milk, vanilla, almond extract, and orange zest in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and whisk until combined.
Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt 1 Tbsp butter, spreading around to cover skillet.
One at a time, place a piece of challuh into the egg mixture, allowing to soak up some of the mixture before turning to repeat. Place the bread onto the skillet. Repeat until skillet is full, being careful not to overcrowd (I can fit 4 slices on, depending on how large the challuh was).
Cook on medium heat for about 2 minutes, or until pan side is golden brown. Flip, repeat. Remove from heat and place onto a plate. Re-butter pan before each batch.
Continue until all the challuh is cooked, or you run out of egg mixture!

Now comes the fun part. Usually we serve our french toast with homemade whipped cream, chopped candied pecans or walnuts, or lemon curd, or maple syrup. Sometimes we sprinkle powdered sugar on top. But we always, always serve it with berries.

Breakfast is served!*

*And the next day, and the next! Though when we have company there are rarely any leftovers, clearly this stack of goodness feeds more than the two adults, two kids, and one baby in this family. To reheat, just microwave for 30 seconds and you’re set for Monday morning!

The Calm Before the Storm

Posted on December 5, 2011 by lauren

Yesterday was a calm, quiet day. It rained and rained and the temperature slowly dropped, reminding us of the impending holidays. The snow and coziness to come.

And so we took the day to reflect. We did not much of anything and focused on us.

The next few weeks bring more visitors (so excited!), a football game, a special someone’s birthday party, and Christmas shopping, sending out holiday cards and hosting holiday dinners. Sending packages, cleaning up pine needles, baking cookies and tidying up. Then traveling and more parties and back again and Santa Claus!

So yesterday, we rested.

Hope you are getting plenty of rest before the holiday madness!

Thanksgiving Shenanigans, Pt. 2

Posted on November 27, 2011 by lauren

climbing

*wish I could take credit for the next couple of photos- thanks for sharing, Jamie!*

Day 3. Wednesday. The boys were up and at ‘em early (think 5am) so we walked to breakfast at Winslow’s Home. I have to apologize for not taking more pictures, but it pretty much took all four adults to corral all 5 children and prevent them from consuming unpaid-for candy and other merchandise. Despite the craziness, it was wonderful to get out of the house for a while and breathe some fresh cool air. Mary and I had plans to stay home to cook pies and cakes and goodies, and also to straighten up the house a bit for Thanksgiving Day. So… Andrew and Jamie took Ben and Milo back to the City Museum for big adventures.

ben and milo

Being brave.

As soon as the big kids were out the door, Mary immediately took on the most-helpful-woman-on-Earth role and calmly strapped Oliver and Greta into the double stroller and a screaming Baby Emil into the carrier and walked around the neighborhood for over an hour so that I could get some cooking and cleaning done for the big day. The littles came home well-rested (which is more than I can say for Mary, I’m sure!) to a clean house, a couple of pies and a cake in the oven, and a much less stressed me.

Snug buddies

It takes a couple of days for me to get perspective. Now that it is Sunday, two days after our guests left, I feel that I have a grasp on the special bond that we and our kids share. Andrew and I have talked and talked about the trip, the experience, and our friends. How life should be lived, what is important. What makes us comfortable and happy.

7-1

I think it is all too easy to get caught up in the hustle of life. It is easy to live in your mind, two steps ahead. What needs to be done. Washed. Put away. Cooked. Cleaned. Accumulated. It is easy because you think you are doing what’s best for your family, staying on top of it before it all catches up to you. And in a sense, this kind of thinking is absolutely necessary for a certain comfort and mouths to be fed, clean clothes to be ready, a house that feels warm and welcoming rather than messy and stifling. But balance, people. It is all a balance. And our dear dear friends remind us of this. To be present.

Red light, green light, purple light made-up game

Frozen.

Present.

We are still processing our good fortune. We are still, and always will be thankful for these moments.

Check back tomorrow for Part 3: The Feast

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