Casper Babypants

On Friday I took my son to his first 'rock' show, Caspar Babypants aka Chris Ballew from The President's Of The United States.  While the music he creates for kids is really great, I think us parents were the ones who were really having all the fun.  It was near pandemonium at this show (ok not really but...) and the room was full capacity.  We arrived early and got great seats, and before long cameras were flashing.  After the 45 minute show was over, he personally met with parents and had his latest cd and cute books written by his wife for sale.  Being a big fan of the band in high school, this was all a real treat, for me and my son!

waiting for the show to start

Let it Snow

While I worked on my husband's birthday cake my son was more interested in making tracks with his hot wheels through piles of flour.  This, combined with his santa pj's ended up being a cute holiday photo op, especially as he pretended it was snow.  Although it created a big mess (with flour making it's way even into our front room) I was relieved he was contented to play while I constructed the three layer cake we're looking forward to giving my husband on Thursday.

Movie Monday

Due to my husband's profession, our weekends begin on Sunday and end on Monday; therefore Mondays often feel like Sunday to us.  We generally like to take it easy, and this last Monday was no exception.  The weather was especially stormy making it the perfect opportunity for an afternoon movie.  When my son picked this movie off the shelf at the library, at first glance I thought it was an older one, perhaps from the early nineties.  Upon a closer look, I noticed the star of the movie did not look as he did in the nineties, and became intrigued.  Actually filmed in 2009, this movie has a classic appeal, one you don't find much in modern family films today.  The pace and filming were equally pleasant, while the storyline is full of heart.  I was also delighted to see that it not only held my attention, but my three year old son's as well.  If you're looking for a quality family film released anytime in the last decade, this one is a sure hit.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

A couple of years ago I went on the hunt for the best chocolate chip cookie recipe I could find.  I bake them often and since I do I wanted them to be the best-tasting they could be.  I found the recipe here, and haven't looked back. 

Be sure to read the troubleshooting notes in this recipe.  The first few times I made these cookies, they turned out flat.  I had to adjust the amount of flour used and added more to the dough; instead of leveling the cups, I just keep them heaped and then I get the results I want.

Play Series : Puzzles

We have a couple of puzzle boards at home, but the selection at our library always wins when it comes to staying engaged.  They have a great vintage appeal and often the entire stack are available to play with; the best afternoons are when my son will spend over an hour putting the pieces back together.

Trail

Yesterday was a really beautiful fall day and it was next to impossible not to get out into the sunshine.  I had some things to pick up at the market so around 11am we headed toward the trail near our house.  My son and I take this trail regularly which leads us into the heart of our neighborhood, the library, and a couple of parks.  Having everything within walking distance is wonderful and having a trail like this to take to get to it is something I am so grateful for.  With the leaves turning and falling and looking so pretty, right now I look forward to and enjoy our walks beyond anything else.

 

 

until next week :)

Front Room Redo

Every three months or so I like to rearrange the furniture in our front room.  It gives me an opportunity to take care of dust bunnies and the change just feels good.  The last time I did this I found an arrangement I really liked, and things stayed the same for over six months.  Honestly I had no plans to try anything new for awhile, that is until my husband asked me to do something different.  He was beginning to feel cramped, and truth be told once he brought it up I had to agree.  So my son and I spent the day pushing and pulling, lifting and dusting until everything was in it's new place.  Now it feels more open and airy, which is so much better than cramped and cluttered.

We bought this sofa 10 years ago as a wedding gift; it's probably time for a new one.  The green chair I've had since high school.

This mid-century dresser was found in a second-hand furniture shop in our old neighborhood; it's one of my favorite pieces.

This plant is perfect for me; I cannot kill it.  The stack of books behind the plant are a gift from my aunt- learning books for my son.

I love my books.

All the wall art is from thrift, vintage, or second hand shops.  The one in the middle was found at a dollar store ten years ago.

Farmhouse table we use as a desk found on Craigslist.

I guess I really like this color combo.

My son's elephant found a new home among precious photos.

Play Series : Hot Wheels

It may sound crazy but I really enjoy playing toys with my son. Being the oldest of 5, and the only girl, I didn't have massive amounts of Barbie's to play with, I had massive amounts of my brothers hot wheels. We spent hours building little towns and cities out of whatever materials we could find to create roads and landscape (usually lots of crayons and blankets for terrain) until I eventually requested my mom bring home a large appliance box that we could draw a permanent city on. Those moments were some of the best times I had with my brothers during play, letting our imaginations run with scenarios full of action and drama. My son loves hot wheels beyond most of his toys, and as I play with him in the afternoons I can nearly recall what it felt like to be so young and imaginative, with a feeling of contentment like no other. Which gets me to thinking about other toys on the market and what he might enjoy beyond the things he plays with now. His interests are changing at a rapid pace and I have to admit I may be just as excited as he is about the selection of toys out there, and just in time for the holidays.