Bloom

We'll miss you

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:26:00 +0000

You might be surprised to learn that this will be our farewell post. (The picture above is us blowing you a goodbye kiss.)

Oh my darling friends,

It's difficult to know what to say when there are so many thoughts and feelings running through your mind and heart. Just as early 2009 brought about multiple conversations between Emily and me, discussing the possibility of a joint blog, 2011 ushered in a constant dialog about saying adios. We have felt it coming on, and now we just know it's time.

It is with a great, big, gasping sigh that we do it.

Partly a sigh of relief (because we have really worked hard to make this an interesting, inspiring place to visit).

And partly a sigh of sadness and tenderness. I have loved Bloom so much. I have loved the beauty of it (thanks to Emily Yates). I have loved the many guest posts. I have loved the Friday Forums, the giveaways, the photo contests, the home tours, the Christmas decor shares. I have loved the chance to write my feelings about being a mother.

Most of all, I have loved being here with you. You have supported us, shared our words with your friends, sent us tender emails of gratitude, and contributed to fascinating, important discussions. I felt a sense of community here--I have felt so connected to you, and I am really going to miss that.

Why say goodbye?

About a million reasons. Essentially--it's time. I told my husband, Taylor: "When I first became a mom, and felt so lost and out of place, blogs really helped me grow. I read blogs by women who made mothering look fun and beautiful. I started writing on my own blog and it helped me see my life through a new lens. I wanted to make that kind of my life for myself and my family. Bloom has helped me do that. But, whereas blogging used to propel me forward, it is now holding me back. There are so many things I want to do and make and feel with my children, and being tied to the cyber world doesn't make me feel free to do those things."

I feel a great need in my life to settle down, and to slow the pace of our life as much as possible. And to give my boys more quality time and attention. It looks like this: less cupcakes while the boys are neglected; more hiking and swimming as a family. less blogging while the boys run amok; more reading, painting, gardening, and baking bread together.

If you want to keep in touch, feel free to follow my personal blog, Anne with an 'e.' I will try to update it at least once a week.

I love you, dear friends. Thank you so much for being here and loving us.

xoxo,
anne

Well, goodness sakes. I'm no stranger to writer's block, but tonight it feels especially thick. Part of me feels like I owe some sort of explanation for this goodbye and part of me feels like I have nothing to explain. The short of it is that my real life, the one with a pulse (4 actually) and noise and laughter and conversation and mess - it needs the part of me that I have been giving to Bloom for the past 2 years.

The other day Lily and I were deadheading flowers in the garden. "Why are we cutting the flowers off, mom?" she asked with concern stamped on her forehead. "'Cause flowers die. And the plant needs to use its energy to grow new flowers instead of trying to nurture the dead ones." She seemed satisfied with that answer and she was quiet for a few moments and then said, "So flowers just bloom and die, bloom and die?" "Yep," I answered, "that's what they do."

I see the same cycle in my own life - ideas and trends that bloom and are beautiful for a time. I learn and grow through them and love them for a season. And then they wilt and wither and whatever little energy they required seems too much.

That's how Bloom has come to feel (our blog is so aptly named for this metaphor, isn't it?!) There are new blossoms to nurture. Banjo lessons, perhaps?
And since moving to Oregon I feel like we are living the life we imagined (or making a mighty effort thereunto). There is much of hiking, and berry picking, and baking, and gathering with family and friends, and swimming and gardening and watching the sun set. And the more deeply I embed myself in the beauties of real life, the more the flashing pixels of the internets dim and dull. And the only thing I really care to do at my computer is upload the pictures and catch up on my little personal blog to preserve the indescribable goodness of this chapter of life. And lest you think otherwise, let me assure you that yes, there are hard things, too. Loved ones who are very afflicted. Personal disappointments that feel like they might swallow me up some days. Chores aplenty in a house that is never as clean as I'd like it to be and a yard that is similarly average. And these things need tending to also.

{disclaimer: i think blogging is great and helpful and awesome. i'm not throwing it under the bus or swearing it off by any means. i'm just feeling like it needs to take a different shape and place in my life.}

Bloom and die, bloom and die. A season for every purpose. Everything in its time.

Thanks for being here and listening to our thoughts and commenting on our forums and making this a safe and loving place to share our hearts (and our parties and our projects and our favorite songs).

Much love,
Em

Things I Want To Teach My Kids {Part II} by Bloom Guest Steph

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:09:00 +0000

A few months ago we introduced you to Steph of Modern Parents Messy Kids and shared the first half of a list of things she wants to teach her kids. Today we're sharing the second half of that list. Check it out and tell us what you're trying to teach your kids...

7. All Feelings Are OK
Have you heard of emotional coaching? It’s basically a parenting style that focuses on teaching children how to recognize and express their feelings. When I was a young child, I was very shy and fearful. To this day I’m not really sure why (my family was very supportive, open, and loving) but I do know that I want to do everything I can to prevent my own kids from feeling that way.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to change anyone’s personality or create super outgoing kids. It’s only been in the last 10 years or so that I’ve really come out of my own shell so if my kids turn out to be introverts, that’s fine by me. I just want to make sure they’re not missing out on life experiences due to fear.
A few months ago we introduced you to Steph of Modern Parents Messy Kids and shared the first half of a list of things she wants to teach her kids. Today we're sharing the second half of that list. Check it out and tell us what you're trying to teach your kids...

We’ve been weaving emotional coaching into our everyday life for the past year or so now and are pretty amazed by the results. Our 2 year old regularly identifies himself as being happy, sad, mad, and scared. Having this awareness seems to help him work through new and scary situations as well as tantrums. You can find out more about emotional coaching here.

8. I’m Worthy of Their Trust
From stranger danger and bullying to drugs and sex - I can think of about a million reasons I want my kids to trust me enough to talk to me. For me, building that trust now is about always doing my best to be as truthful as possible. Of course there are a lot of topics that I don’t particularly want to talk at length about with my 1 and 2 year olds. But if they ask me about something I try to answer them simply and directly (and then move on if it’s something I really don’t want to talk about yet!).

I also try really hard not to lie to them about the little things. It’s often tempting to head off an impending tantrum with a seemingly innocent lie, “We can’t get ice cream because the store’s closed”. The problem is kids catch on quick. If you get in the habit of fibbing to make things a little easier not only will the kids know, they’ll have less trust in you and what you say.

9. Mistakes are OK
This one goes back to my childhood again. As a shy kid I was always mortified when I messed up. I actually have a vivid memory of hiding under my covers as a preschooler after breaking a glass bowl I was using as a drum. When my parents found me they laughed but for some reason I was convinced I’d be in big trouble.

To teach my own kids that mistakes are OK, I make sure to let them know whenever I make one. It seems like several times a week I’ll spill something or forget something in front of them. When I do I always say something like, “Uh oh, Mommy spilled. Oh well, everybody makes mistakes”. This shows them that mistakes are just a part of life and they don’t have to be scared or embarrassed about messing up.

10. If at First You Don’t Succeed...
This goes hand in had with “mistakes are OK”. Giving your child permission to make mistakes gives them the confidence to keep trying when they’re confronted with adversity. Not everything in life is going to be easy. It’s our job as parents to let kids know that success isn’t about being perfect, it’s about continuing to try. (Side Note: For some excellent reading on this topic see the chapter “The Inverse Power of Praise” from the book Nurture Shock).

11. Saying No is OK
Last year my son’s toddler group hosted an excellent speaker on family safety, specifically protecting children from predators. Along with the usual tips about stranger danger, she also emphasized the importance of allowing children to say no. This applies to everyday situations as well as immanent danger.

She talked about teaching kids that they don’t always have to be polite. They don’t have to give hugs and kisses to anyone they don’t want to (family included) and they can always say no if an adult makes them feel uncomfortable. Her message of teaching kids to trust their gut, even at a very early age, really resonated with me.

In addition to being able to say no for safety, I also want to teach my kids not to be pleasers in general. As adults, we all know people like this. They regularly bend over backwards and over-commit themselves because they hate to disappoint. In reality we can’t do everything for everyone or even be friends with everyone. Somehow (and I’m not quite sure how) I want to show my kids that life is shaped by the people and activities you fill it with. It’s your responsibility to make sure you fill it up with positive and reciprocal relationships.

12. To Be Kind
This, of course, is the flip side of saying no. In a society where high self-esteem is regarded above all else, basic kindness can sometimes get overlooked. This one is all about walking the walk. You can tell your kids to be nice all day long but they’ll truly get the message when they see how you interact with people throughout your day together. Be courteous and friendly towards friends, neighbors, family, waiters, sales clerks, baristas, and families at the park. Smile and say “hi”, open doors for people, and let cars in your lane. Your kids will see your example as well as the positive reactions you get in return.

6th Street Design Bedroom Makeover--the Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

A few months ago Bloomer Jessie won an E-Design giveaway sponsored by Kirsten Krason of 6th Street Design School.

We showed you before pictures.

We showed you Kirsten's design board.

Today we give you the results:

Check out the before and after comparisons...

Old bedding: woodsman meets pink polka dots
New bedding: pillow fabrics suggested by Kirsten plus quilt made by Jessie

Old corner wall: multiple swatches of paintNew corner wall: a nice light gray color with artwork suggested by Kirsten plus a cozy reading nook (chair from Ikea), pillow made by Jessie
Old thrift store pink buffet:

Newly painted mint green buffet:Old curtains:
New curtains: fabric suggested by Kirsten

Old (joke of a) headboard:
New headboard: an old door-turned-headboard by Jessie's husband
Pretty amazing improvement, don't you think?!

The Cave = Love

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:06:00 +0000

Hey friends,

This morning I was feeling loafy on the treadmill. Then I pulled this song up on my iPod and ... hot dog! The adrenaline started flowin.

I love it. And the video makes me want to ask for a banjo and lessons for Christmas.

Hootnannies on the front porch!!

Enjoy Mumford & Sons - The Cave...

xo,
Em

More from the wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:35:00 +0000

A few of my favorite things from the wedding...

Honey jars for the favors (my brother keeps bees, so it's his local honey--love that!) Sara and I covered the lids with Amy Butler fabric and twine.
They were displayed on bee boxes--loved that touch.
My husband, Taylor, made the wedding cake. I loved the 'scraped' look of the butter cream frosting and the local raspberries--such a nice organic look.
To supplement the cake (and we still totally ran out!) I did cupcakes--mini lemons, coconut, these chocolate chocolates,
and my new and improved mint chocolate chip cupcakes (they totally got a makeover--goodbye green food coloring, hello mint leaves! plus the mini chips are a better texture we decided).

Sara and Shane are the most darling newlyweds. We were sad to send them home to Utah!

xoxo
anne

The Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:44:00 +0000

Sorry friends, I promised pictures and more substantive thought on Thursday...but yesterday just didn't allow much, er...any time at the computer. So I'll share a few pics from our recent family reunion today and then I think it would be interesting to discuss extended family relationships and what it takes to promote unity and closeness in our families - little & immediate and large & extended.

Beachy Fun - sea shells and surfing and sand boarding - hooray!

The girls spent an afternoon in Seaside; we couldn't turn down a carousel ride

Rob & Ash after some chilly surfing Kate & Lil skippin' along the beach

Lunch at Bridgewater Bistro - so, so yummy.

That little sticker behind us said "Best Place to Kiss in the Northwest" - we had to try it out. It was a pretty good place to kiss :) (Rob & Ashley, sorry I didn't post your pic...I don't think you would have wanted me to ;)

Wednesday morning we went to see what all the hype's about at VooDoo donuts. There were certainly a lot of flavors - tang, neopolitan, fruit loop-crusted, cap'n crunch covered, memphis mafia (a fritter as big as your head that was COVERED with chocolate and all manner of icing). My review: It was an experience and the donuts were good, but I wouldn't go back. They were more fantastic to look at than they were to eat.

Now, let's chat about families. I would describe my family as extremely close and quite harmonious. Sure, we have our little squabbles and we each deal with challenges and heartaches in our individual lives, but when we get together, we get along swimmingly and we have a lot of fun. A lot! Sometimes I wonder if we're just a fortunate bunch with a lot of lucky chemistry or if our closeness is a result of choices my parents made, a culture they created, deliberate efforts we've made as siblings to grow and stay close to each other. I think maybe it's a bit of both.
We make the effort (and the pilgrimage) to be together for special occasions and events. We call each other on the phone. We celebrate each others victories and mourn each others disappointments. We try to protect each other, build each other up and encourage and counsel each other. One thing I think is super important is to let each person progress and be who they are today without holding them to what/who they were in the past. I know there are things I have made a mindful effort to change about myself and it is so painful to be reminded of those things or have them brought up as fodder in a family setting. It's something we've had to talk about as a family - protecting each other and not digging up old dirt or sharing stories that are hurtful or embarrassing.
Those are just a few things that come to mind when I start dissecting our family dynamics.
What about you and your family?

Do you enjoy time with your extended family? Is it harmonious and enjoyable?
What things does your family do to promote unity and closeness? Or what have you observed in other families?
What could your family do differently to promote those things in greater measure?
What about adding in-laws? How do you make them feel accepted and included? As an in-law yourself, how do you feel with your spouse's family? What makes you feel at ease and welcome? Is it hard to get comfortable and fit in? Why?

Discuss!

Have a great weekend!

Wedding wear and my new favorite Etsy seller

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Yay! Sara's wedding was perfect--gorgeous, spiritual, exciting, emotional, delicious, tender, fun, and did I mention gorgeous?

Today I want to show you how darling the children looked and then next time I'll show you beautiful pics of the reception (including the food and cakes!!).

The little girls were perfect in their white dresses with sashes made by my m-i-l (Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes...). My s-i-l, Rebecca, made rosette bobbies with the same fabric.

For the babes, my s-i-l, Melissa, and I appliqued white onesies. They looked very handsome, if I do say so myself.

For the older boys, we ordered bow ties from Etsy seller Me and Matilda.

Now is the part where I gush about Me and Matilda. I ordered them late to begin with, and the shopkeeper promised she'd get them done and shipped in time. THEN, when there was a shipping problem and they ended up back on her doorstep two days before the wedding, she expressed them to me, and assured we'd have them the afternoon before the wedding. And sure enough, we did. I love you, Me and Matilda! I'll never buy a bow tie from anyone else. (You shouldn't either. The quality is excellent and you won't find such selection anywhere else. And no one is paying me to write this. I am just passionate about that kind of customer care!)

More tomorrow...
xo,
anne

TOFW

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:40:00 +0000

Are you familiar with Time Out for Women? Maybe you've been to one of their awesome events?

Well here's something fun! TOFW has just suped up their website and blog. They have some really great new features--including connecting their readers to other blogs and women just like you and me.

Em and I are honored that Bloom is one of the featured blogs on their site right now. They have published one of my favorite posts. Check it out here!

xo
anne

Preoccupied & Sun-Drunk

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:15:00 +0000

image

Dear Bloom Friends,

I (Em) am supposed to post today, but I am at the beach with my whole family. We're playing games and talking and taking personality tests and cooking delicious food and laughing 'til the tears flow and playing beach soccer (girls vs. boys - we're tied 1 & 1 - tie breaker is scheduled for late morning; I've never had so much fun in all my life!), loving each other more and more, especially our sweet Kate (little sister) who was in Ecuador for 8 weeks prior to this reunion. The ocean is magical and healing as ever. The mornings are foggy and damp, but the afternoons are sunny and sparkling. The boys have played a hundred games of pool. And all the girls rode a ghetto fabulous carousel in Seaside and ate donuts at Dundee's yesterday afternoon. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and love. Families are the best ever. I will be back Thursday with pictures and more substantive thoughts, but for now can you forgive me for being brief and (mostly) picture-less?

Thanks.

xoxo

Simple Superhero Capes

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:26:00 +0000

This spring I made some quick and easy capes for Blaine and Rog. I wanted something non-specific, partly because I don't love all the character commercialization in the world but mostly because a more neutral cape= more diverse imaginative play. I settled on a soft brown fabric with chocolate grosgrain ribbon for ties and a first initial appliqued on the back.

This was a really satisfying project for an amateur seamstress like me. They were simple and quick, and turned out just how I'd envisioned.

You can make one, too. Here's how:

***Unfamiliar with applique? Try this
(she taught me everything I know on the subject).
***Not into sewing but like this idea? You could make the whole thing out of felt and a hot glue gun and never touch a needle and thread!

Happy Monday!
xoxo
anne

Project Runway Soiree

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:30:00 +0000

We've been so excited about Project Runway Season 9, that a couple friends and I had to have an impromptu first episode viewing party about it!

Besides popcorn we munched on...

oreo mini cheesecakes,

chocolate chippers with oreos inside (They are as good as they sound!),

and cake pops shaped like spools of thread (my friend, Jessie, was responsible for these, as well as most of the party's aweseomeness).

We drank soda in glass bottles (always tastes better--seriously though)

with stripey straws.

For decor Jessie whipped up those cute embroidery hoops (see top photo) and had this banner made--so classic PR.

Of course we loved every minute of celebrating the return of Heidi, Tim, Michael, and Nina; wowwing over some of the ingenious designs and rolling our eyes about the hideous ones. So fun!

What about you?
Are you a fan?
Did you watch?
Who do you like so far?
Do you think that girl from Trinidad really just learned to sew? (We think she might be fibbing a little...)

Happy weekend!
xoxo
anne

Learning from regret

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

A lot of people say "No regrets!" like they really have no regrets in their life.

I just don't understand that.

Because I have regrets. Boy howdy, do I!

One of my biggest regrets is not getting it with my first baby.

I didn't get how fast he would grow. I didn't get how fleeting that time was. I didn't get how perfect he was. I didn't get how lucky I was.

I liked being a mom well enough and I knew it was important, but I didn't really get it.

With my second I started to get it more.

I enjoyed it more, I reveled longer. It began to define me.

Lately I like to sit in my chair of many colors to nurse Jared Carter. When he's sufficiently drunken with goodness, I put my feet up on my ottoman and sit him up to pat some burps out. I want to sit their all day. I want to squish his cheeks and make him smile. I want to make faces at him so he'll raise his expressive eyebrows at me. I want to tickle right between his ribs and his armpits to make him giggle uncontrollably. I want to pinch his fat tummy and poke at his cavernous belly button. And I want to kiss his neck 9 million times.

I could let the dishes pile up for weeks and let the big boys get muddy outside to their hearts' delight just to sit in that chair and love my squishy babe.

And I'll tell you what.

I would give anything to do the same with baby Blaine. It pains me to the core that I missed that with him.

I envy my friends who got it with their first.

I know it's all about hindsight and there's no point in dwelling on the past and I just need to love him now. But it still makes me sad.

'Cause this is the best.

el matrimonio

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 07:23:00 +0000

I used to dream about marrying a boy who could pick&sing...

There are a few things I wish we talked more about at Bloom - one of them is marriage. We devote a lot of time to motherhood, but most of us also exist in this extremely important other dimension of wife-hood, and we hardly talk about it. Today I'd like to talk about it.

Nate and I had a huge pow wow this weekend about our marriage. It was eye opening and a little bit painful if I can be totally honest. I need to be less selfish. And I need to be more warm in our day to day interactions. I want to work on both of those things. I want to be a cheerful, kind, supportive, sexy wife because I think my husband is about as fine a human being as there is and he deserves that kind of wife. He has things to work on, too. We reminded each other that we don't want to be enduring marriage because we have promises to keep -- we want to be enjoying it. And even for two people who are very compatible and very attracted to each other, that takes a monumental effort.

I want to open this up to a forum, but I realize that the questions I want to ask are kind of personal, so if you feel more comfortable answering anonymously, please do.

* What do you quarrel most over in your marriage? Or what do you feel is keeping you from being happier in your marriage?

*What do you think you could change about yourself or your circumstance to improve your marriage?

* What have you learned that has helped you be a better wife/have a happier marriage?

* What would you like to ask others about marriage?

As I type this, it is ridiculously late.
I will hop on the comment thread tomorrow
and answer these questions about my own marriage....

Promise.

Tall Cow Press

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:00:00 +0000

When I wrote about the bridal shower I threw for my s-i-l, Sara, I had a few inquiries about this love birds print.

I got mine (it's actually a large greeting card) at my favorite local shop. It's made by Tall Cow Press, and I've found it online for you here.

I really love Tall Cow cards. They're clever, unique, and colorful. Not to mention, a $7 greeting card + a cheap frame = really inexpensive art for your home.

Some of my other Tall Cow favorites:

Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:45:00 +0000

Ahhh, Monday, Monday. Raise your hand if you're sick of the Chicken Dinner post that was up all weekend (+ a day)...sorry 'bout that. We had so much going on last week and through the weekend. Did you know that Anne and I are sort of related? We married cousins (who may as well be siblings), so quite often when one of us has a family gathering, the other is involved -- and such was the case this weekend. We ran from one outing to the next. And Anne baked a zillion cupcakes in between. You should have seen/tasted them -- A-mazing! Anne took lots of great pictures (I took none), so I'll let her tell you about the wedding and recount whatever details she desires, whenever she desires to recount them.

And in the mean time, I will tell you that my baby turned three this weekend. And I love her so bad. We've been hoping for another little one for over a year now. And that hurts sometimes and makes us sad now and then and fills us with questions. But as with so many hard things, there is a silver lining; the longing for another child also makes us focus in on the two that we already have and realize how absolutely precious and miraculous they are. My arms ache to feel the weight of a baby, but my hands are so blessed to touch and serve and care for the two I already have.

Today I snuggled up with Lily and told her about the pocket of time surrounding her birth - how Nana came and how we were soooo excited, and how Henry was just about her size. Nate and I shook our heads at the fact that three whole years have passed -- it's gone by so fast, and yet we can barely remember what life felt like before Lily.

As I watched her show us her age with "olive-fingers," and eat her dinner on the special red plate, and open the darling present her brother put together for her (cutest part: a sandwich baggie full of loose change he'd gathered up around the house), and blow out the candle on her birthday brownie, I thought about the huge part of my heart that beats just for Lily and wondered what it was doing before she joined us.

Three-peat {Chicken Dinners}

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Abbie's back sharing some yummy ideas for Summer suppers.

This is one of my very favorite summer eats. It's so yummy and easy. And this one recipe can turn into three super delicious meals for our little family of four. Bonus! I'm all about making leftovers look new.

The Chicken

Crockpot BBQ Chicken

6 chicken breasts

12 oz bottle of BBQ sauce

1/2 cup Italian salad dressing

2-3 Tbsp brown sugar (adjust for sweetness)

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 - 1 tsp of chili powder (optional kick)

DIRECTIONS

Put chicken in a crockpot. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl and pour mixture over the chicken. My crockpot cooks this in 4-5 hours on low.

Dinner 1 - Serve chicken with wild rice and steamed veggies. Our favorite farmer's market picks for this meal are zucchini, yellow squash and red bell peppers.

Dinner 2 - Shred leftover chicken. Serve sandwich style on a hearty bun with corn on the cob, broccoli slaw (I buy a bag and put some Brianna's poppy seed dressing on it), and sweet potato fries or sweet potato chips if you're avoiding the oven (but sometimes sweet potatoes fries are worth the heat. I have a major crush on this RECIPE).

Dinner 3 - Take remaining shredded chicken and put on a bed of greens. Top with black beans, avocado, tomato, cucumber, cheddar, and dressing.

Hope you enjoy!

Lemonade

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

"I have some lemons leftover from my baking, boys. Shall we juice them and make sorbet?"

"Oh, Mom! Instead can we make lemonade and sell it for money?" Blaine begged. "You said in the summer I could have a lemonade stand and it's finally a warm day!"

"OK, let's do it!" I agreed, as I plugged in the electric juicer. And we set to work. I carried a table and chairs out to the sidewalk and gathered plastic cups while Blaine and his brother, Roger squeezed out lemons with all their might. They worked long and hard for that lemon juice. I helped them mix in a hearty scoop of sugar and some water, created a sign as directed by Blaine, found them a pail to collect the money, and set them out on their first ever entrepreneurial venture.

As I watched them beckon to passing cars and helped them pour some cups for the neighborhood kids that stopped by on their bikes, I reveled in this perfect summer moment. I was enchanted by the magic of my boys' first lemonade stand, thrilled that the sun was finally here to stay, and--I dare say--a little proud of myself for going to the effort to make it happen. It was one of those moments.

After the bike gang left our pitcher empty, I helped Blaine stir up one last batch and carried it out to the table. "Remember, son," I warned, "if someone wants some lemonade, holler at me so I can pour it. We don't want it to spill!"

I wasn't even back in the house before I heard it. The pitcher of lemonade crashed down and all of the magic and pride of the moment with it. I ran outside to find Blaine in screaming tears over the spilled lemonade. I was filled with heartbreak and frustration all at once. "What happened, son?"

"Rog wanted some. I was trying to pour it and the lid fell off and it all spilled out!" he sobbed. "Oh, Blaine! I am so sorry about your lemonade. I wish you had listened to me, son. This wouldn't have happened if you had called me to pour it like I told you!"

Uuuuugggghhh. I was crushed. It tore me up inside that my son lost something he had worked so hard for. It killed me that it could have all been avoided if he had just trusted me and taken my advice.

As we hosed off the sticky sidewalk and lemonade stand together I thought to myself, "This was just spilled lemonade. What happens when he's sixteen and it's a car accident?" Just thinking about that felt like getting punched in the stomach.

But here's what it comes down to:

I can teach and I can warn. I can plead and I can encourage. I can set parameters and make rules. But in the end, I have to allow my children autonomy and agency. And, as much as it pains me, I have to let them feel the consequences of their actions.

As we dried off the table and brought the chairs in, I looked at Blaine and said, "Did you learn a lesson today?"

"Yes, Mom."

Oh how I hope he remembers it.

--anne

In My Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

the little lady running at the all-comers track meet
and little Pierre, I mean Henry, all bundled up to take the recycling out in the rain

I go back and forth about how to blog (and sometimes about whether to blog at all). Sometimes I feel too guarded and private to share much of anything personal. Other times I feel like, "what's the point of sharing if it's not personal?"

Tonight I am feeling introspective.

Among other things, I am thinking about how absolutely precious my time with my children is. Having said that, I worry that you might get the wrong idea about my life as a mom - let me assure you, it is riddled with all the same kinds of frustrations that your mothering is filled with. My days with my children are not free of strife or conflict. We have plenty of both. This morning Henry unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper to use the brown paper tube as a pirate scope and then ate a bowl of greasy noodles on the living room floor and left a trail of pasta shards and basil leaves on the carpet. Lily was extraordinarily uncooperative. And I was magnificently cross and condescending about all of it.

By noon my heart was heavy with sorrow and remorse. But we had company and plans and more company and more plans and I never really found a quiet moment to apologize for my impatience.

We were out late this evening visiting with family and didn't get home until after ten o'clock. When we got home both kids were tired, but still sweet. We brushed teeth and prayed and then, even though it was nearly eleven o'clock, I made both of them crawl up on the bed and snuggle with me. I needed to rub their skin and smell them and kiss them and tell them all the things I love about them. I needed to apologize for getting so upset about the toilet paper and the pasta. Sweet Henry looked up at me and said, "Wait...did that happen this morning? It feels like that was a couple days ago! This day was long!"

Some days are long, but time is racing. The phases are fleeting. It's only legos and backyard sleep-outs and princess slippers for so long. It hurts somewhere deep to think about this phase coming to an end. I know there will be joy in the next phases. Of course there will be. But this, what we have right here, now, is so full of wonder and creativity and discovery and joy and a hundred more shiny, good things. Sometimes I feel like no matter how present I try to be, I can never soak it up good enough. No matter how purposefully I try to live in these moments I will still reach back after them nostalgically when they're gone.

The road trip re-cap

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

We welcomed July and celebrated our nation's independence with my whole ginormous family at Yellowstone Park. It was no small fete, considering we are two and a half dozen people and some of us hail from Chile!

There is nothing like the grandeur and majesty of the American West, and Yellowstone is the ultimate. It was a week of adventuring and swimming, laughing and snacking, story telling and loving. {For my poor mother I think it was mostly a week of worriedly counting heads, but we all survived!}

I'm a huge advocate for family reunions. It's a ton of work to haul food for 30 for a week two states away. It requires hours of planning and communicating. Sometimes it's pure chaos. But to watch my boys forming relationships with their far-away cousins and laugh my guts out with my siblings I would do just about anything.

{from the top: Rog and Blaine are BEST friends these days, Uncle Brian with the 3 amigos, Blaine adored cousin Bridget (as did I), me + 4 boys at Yellowstone's Grand Canyon, cousies wating for Old Faithful to erupt (totally lived up to the hype!), Seamus the 14-year-old giant (was darling with Rog!) and my twin brother, Steven, Blaine the Science Kid couldn't get enough of the geo thermal landscape}

{Jon works the bedhead (at the breakfast table where 3,476 bowls of lucky charms were consumed--GROSS!), baby Steven and baby Carter, Nana and Carter}

On our last day there were gifts from Chile and North Carolina and a big fat talent show.

And, because I love you, here is a video clip of my sister, Liz and me doing a 'tap-off' for the talent show. It has been a decade plus since we've tapped and it was all we could do to not laugh our heads off. Wow, thanks for the lessons, Dad. Totally worth your money, don't you think? {Liz, can you ever forgive me for posting this?}

Now, try to stop laughing at me while I tell you about the second, more solemn part of my trip. Taylor, the boys, and I cut out of the family festivities early to dash down to Utah for the funeral of our dear friend, Wes. His wife, Lori, has made several appearances here at Bloom, so I thought you'd want to know about her loss. We can't stop crying about it and hurting for Lori and her children. It was a privilege to know Wes. We hope you'll remember the Trumans in your prayers.

xoxoxo
anne

The Friday Fray

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

image

My grandma lives right around the corner from me which is just one of the happiest things in my life. I adore her. Sometimes she invites us over for dinner - last weekend we ate with her and she served a delicious salad. We eat a lot of salad, so I'm always happy to find a new variation. Thought you might like the recipe...

Salad de Maison
(Yields 8 Servings)

2 heads romaine lettuce, washed and torn
2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1 c. swiss cheese, cubed or coarsely grated
1/3 c. parmesan cheese, shredded
2/3 c. slivered almonds, toasted
1/4 lb. cooked bacon, crumbled

I especially love this simple dressing:

Dressing (best if made several hours ahead of time)

Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. olive oil
3 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp. pepper

Top with croutons.

I hope you love that recipe.

On a somewhat more personal note, I've been spending a lot of time cleaning and then re-cleaning the same rooms and trying not to get frustrated about the fact that nothing stays done. Nothing. I know lots of people say, "just let the house go when your kids are little... blah, blah, blah." I can't do that. I need order. I don't coexist well with clutter. I'm a happier, nicer mom when the house is tidy. So I'm looking for that ever-elusive balance of what to let go and what to insist on. I need to do a better job of teaching/training the kids to clean up after themselves. I know to some degree I enable them because I get so sick of the mess, and I want so badly to avoid the conflict, that I just clean it up myself. Not so good.

Anyway, I hope you're finding answers to all of your parenting quandaries.
And I hope you're invited to a wonderful event this weekend and I hope the hostess asks you to bring the salad because {ding!} ... you're all set!

xoxo
em

Hippie Popcorn

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:22:00 +0000

Woohoo! We're back! We've been on the road. I hope to share some thoughts and pics about our travels, but frankly, we're still playing catch up, plus it's my sweetheart's birthday. So that will have to come later.

For today, I'm sharing our favorite summer snack (OK, also our favorite anytime snack). When it's light until 9:30 PM, bedtime gets pushed back a little. Nothing motivates my boys to clean up the playroom like a little movie and popcorn.

But not just any popcorn. When my husband and I first started dating he introduced me to the way they eat popcorn here in Ashland. Let me tell you, there is no going back.

Friends, meet nutritional yeast (also called brewer's yeast):

You can purchase it in the bulk section at lots of grocery and health food stores. I keep mine in an old PB jar.

A little freshly popped popcorn, some melted butter, salt, and nutritional yeast= DELISH. (If you're feeling guilty about the butter, keep in mind that the yeast contains every essential amino acid. Totally worth it!) Our preferred accompanying beverage? OJ!

enjoy!
xoxo
anne

Life Is Perfect for None of Us...

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Good morning, friends! It's good to be back here after our little blog break. Anne and I are still catching up on life and laundry. We have stories to tell you and thoughts to share, but today Ms. Abbie is going to do the talking. She's sharing something important and thought-provoking in her spunky, delightful, genuine way.
We'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter, too...

“Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have [love] for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.”

This is what I’ve had on my mind. It’s ridiculous how often I’m tempted to judge someone before I have all the facts. Do you struggle with this too? I have a sneaking suspicion that some of you might because I’ve been chatting with some friends and we’ve found that it’s something a lot of us are working to overcome.

Lately I’ve been trying to turn off the auto-judge in my brain because HELLO! we're all in this together! We’re all women trying to do our best. We all know our personal weaknesses and we don’t feel like being judged for those times when we do things differently or fall short or completely biff it. Then why do we judge others?

So, Bloomers, I’m asking: How can we stop judging and criticizing each other? And can we start our own mini No Judgment revolution? Can we all try to be a bit nicer to each other and give each other the benefit of the doubt? We’re all different, but aren’t we all kind of the same? I mean, we're sharing the same human experience. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a bunch of people cheering us on as we cheer them on?

I think Mother Theresa was right, “When you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

Let’s just love. Yes? YES!

Just a thought… :)

p.s. quotes coming from this talk.
p.p.s. raise your hand if you're in love with hydrangeas!

The Little Magical Things

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:43:00 +0000

Yesterday morning Henry woke up and asked for breakfast in bed. Why not? I thought. I grabbed some (mostly spill-proof) vittles and we snuggled in for breakfast. I wiped hands and tried to prevent spills the whole time, but it was fun to bend the breakfast rules and a tiny bit magical in the way that any little shake-up of the routine is magical when you're a child.

I have three goals for our summer days:

* work
* read
* play

We try to get our chores and 30 minutes of reading done in the morning and then we get on with our fun. Do you know how great it is to plan an afternoon when the only objective is "have fun"?

Really great.

Anne and I need a little summer break, so we're going dark for a few days; we'll catch up with you here in a week or so. Happy 4th!

I bribed them with rainbow sherbet

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The lovely Stacey Morris photographed us in amazing Lithia Park a few weeks ago. Here are some of the rad outtakes...

"Don't pick him up by his shirt, Blaine!"

"Here it is, Rog! I found your rolly polly. Now please stand in place for the picture!"

would have been so cute with Rog's cooperation...

my fave pic of the day (sincerely)

dang, they're cute

poor little fussy Carter

One of the main reasons for the photo session was an artistic shot I had in mind for some art work in our entry way. I'll show you when it's done...

xo,
anne

Cabbage Salsa

noreply@blogger.com (Bloom) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

This is such a fresh, unique summer dip. And a great way to eat cabbage. Every time we serve it people love it.

1 head green cabbage
green onion (2 or 3 finely chopped)
peppers (red or yellow, diced)
tomato (diced)
1/2 bunch of cilantro (more if you like it)
black beans, black eye peas (1 can each, drained and rinsed)
Mezzetta tamed jalapenos (chopped)
1 c. white vinegar
1 Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix (click the link to see what the packet looks like)
couple tablespoons of jalapeno juice
fresh lime juice

Chop it all up. Mix up dressing packet with vinegar, jalapeno juice & lime juice. Toss and serve with tortilla chips.

I'm sorry that these ingredients and amounts are not precise - start with as much cabbage as you'd like and adjust the other ingredients accordingly so you have a nice variety of textures in each bite. Feel free to leave questions in the comment thread.

Mmmmmmm, summer!