motherhood

Picking Berries

by Stacy on June 8, 2010

Last week was one of those weeks when the whole world seemed right and our place in it made beautiful and perfect sense.

I took full of advantage of the magical feeling and packed you kids into the car early in the morning. We had your ABSOULTE FAVORITE … breakfast in the car. For some reason every thing is so much better when eaten in the car. On this particular morning it was waffles, apples slices and carnation instant breakfast and according to you, it was totally awesome!

We headed North in search of a Pick Your Own Peach Orchard just outside of Fredersickburg, Texas. It was a rainy sort of day which made things even better since we didn’t have to worry about the heat and we were able to hang outdoors enjoying the sun when it peeked through the clouds and one another’s company. This was my favorite drive in Texas yet, the Hill Country is beautiful indeed. You didn’t know it but the hour and a half we were on the road I was daydreaming about a life raising you three in those glorious hills ~ growing grapes, lavender and peaches and who knows what else. Oh, the life we’re going to lead

This was our first trip to an Orchard and you were so excited to see where all the fruits and veggies grew. You just couldn’t wait to get out there and pick them all by yourselves. Happy kept telling me this was Fruit Pickers Day and that you need sunshine and rain in order to grow peaches. (Notice him inspecting the fruit that was “sick” on the ground and telling Sweet not to eat it our she might get ~~GERMS)

You were such sweethearts to the owners asking if it was OK to pick their fruit and if you could borrow a basket to put them in, the college girls were smitten with all of you before you even said a word. We wheeled our wheelbarrow passed the orchards and on to the vines of blackberry bushes. It was love at first bite for Sweet and it didn’t take long until you were stained pink from head to toe, literally. Somehow you managed to look even more beautiful covered in berry juice.

Happy was such a diligent worker, combing the vines for the biggest and bestest and ripest berries of the bunch. You are quite picky when it comes to what fruits you will eat (sadly we are down to only bananas, blueberries and apples) but you gave it a shot and tried TWO whole blackberries. You even told the lady at the register about the two you had eaten so she could charge us accordingly ,:) what good integrity.

Little, you had the TIME OF YOUR LIFE and could hardly be contained by any wheeled apparatus. You somehow manage to climb out of your harness whenever you find something interesting going on. (You’re 1 so everything is pretty interesting right now). I was worried you would get caught up in all the stickers but it only took one prick for you to learn not to mess with the vines and go straight for the good stuff.

You looked like a blackberry vampire with all that juice running down your chin, it was all I could do not to swoop you up and kiss you all over … Oh wait a minute, I did. You were just too much to resist.

When we had gathered our fill of berries (almost all of Sweet’s were gathered in her belly) we loaded the baskets in the wagon and headed back to the stands.

You helped yourself to Happy’s bounty … and didn’t even consider the idea of sharing. Just look at that scowl you gave your brother when he tried to stand next to you.

We weighed in around 4 pounds of berries (almost all from Happy’s basket) and apologized for the other pound we probably ate. Then we helped ourselves to some homemade Blackberry Peach Cobbler (YUM!!) with vanilla ice cream of course.

It was an absolutely perfect day, so glad you picked me to share it with. Love you guys

XOXO – Mom

Today’s fun was made possible by Vogel Orchards – Great people, tasty fruit

Tomorrow I’ll tell you all about what we did with the peck of Peaches we brought home

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A Year Ago Today

by Stacy on February 16, 2010

I can hardly believe an entire year has passed since I packed away my military uniforms and donned my full time mommy gear. A decision, my husband and I worked towards for three very long years before we could justifiably make me staying home full time with our children work for our family. Each and every one of those days leading up to that monumentus three year mark grew harder and harder for me to get up in the morning and force myself to go to work.

I know this is an issue each and every mother goes through when returning to the work place. I also know, each and every one of us has our own distinct set of circumstances, but I’m here to tell you if what you really want is to be with your children, the Mother Bear inside of you will find a way to make it work. Even if you are about to have your third child by the time you get there

All the saving we did, the sacrifices we made, the changes we’ve implemented. Each and every one of them …. was worth it. A million times over, a trillion times even.

Nothing could have prepared me for the rewarding, invigorating, awe-inspiring journey I was about to take and while I won’t claim to admit its all sunshine and roses, my memories are far more filled with special moments than dirty diapers or tantrums (today’s breakdown at the supermarket included).

I’d like to slowly let you in on my secrets, how we did it and why, in almost every aspect, we’re thriving now on a one income family and not sacrificing any of our wants for our children.

One of those, “If we can do it, Anyone can do it” type of feel good stories.

I hope you’ll find something in our story you can take with you and incorporate into your family’s way of life.

But for today, I thought I’d share a few of the reasons why I couldn’t imagine life any other way:

That Brotherly Bond

See what I mean?

The Three Musketeers

Afternoons of Puddle Jumpin’

And All-Together Family Outings

That’s what my dreams are made of

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Rock A Bye Dreams

by Stacy on May 20, 2009

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a Mom. Not just any mom ~ but a GREAT mom. The kind of mother who always knows just what to say, just what to do, and just how to make each of her children feel special and loved in their own unique way. My unique version of myself as Super Mom, always included an image of me rocking my children in my arms and singing sweet lullabies they would grow to remember always. My version of a family heirloom, they would hopefully remember these songs and pass them along to their own children someday. In reality, when the time in my life came for lullabyes – I found I was seriously lacking in this department. Unable to come up with any sweet melodies on my own, and not knowing where to find any great recorded versions – I reverted to classics like Twinkle, Twinkle and Rock a Bye Baby – sometimes even soft versions of songs playing on the radio. Not quite the motherly image I had imagined.

Fast forward three years and three children later, and I am proud to announce I have finally found the album I’ve been looking for. Better yet, this album found me. Nancy Falkow of Sunflow, first contacted me in February of this year and asked if I would like to review her album, Under the Stars, here on Kids Stuff World. Thrilled with the prospect, I listened to the disc many times, it melodies capturing me a little more each time. Still, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago, when I brought my newborn home from the hospital that I could truly appreciate the absolute treasure I’d received.

sunflow

You see, Nancy’s songs are my lullabies come to life. It’s as if she has found a way to take all of my thoughts and feelings, and put them into words ~ words that became music. Beautiful music. Still, the album is only part Nancy. Sunflow is actually a duo – one part Nancy, one part Fran King. Not only have I found a compilation of treasured lullabies with Sunflow, but Fran also sings hauntingly beautiful songs reminiscent of classics such as the Beatles. It’s almost like getting two albums in one.

I highly suggest you take a listen to the entire album, Under the Stars, and find a few family classics of your own. Here’s a few of my favorites, that I’m sure will be in my family for years to come:

A huge Thank You to Nancy Falkow for capturing what it is to be a Mother so beautifully and for sharing that feeling with all of us.

Now that you’ve had a chance to hear these soon to be classics, I’m anxious to know which ones you love? Can you see yourself singing these to your little ones anytime soon?

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