23 years

Today we celebrate our wedding anniversary! Since my father was an Orthodox priest, he married us.  My mother made a traditional old English 3 tiered fruit cake with pretty white icing.  We saved the top tier for our 1st anniversary, but I think we actually ate it before the actual day. 23 years is a long time, yet it really doesn't seem that long.  I still remember some of our first few dates together, like going sledding, a summer outdoor concert in the park, and him helping me with my overheated '88 Toyota Tercel's radiator.  The first time I met his family, I was a bit overwhelmed by all his younger siblings, and his mother gave me a red plate to eat on, I think it was ceramic with "you are special" painted around it.  AND the first time he met my family, my mother wanted to make something nice, and then I was so excited, choked on the steak!  

We cut open one pumpkin and counted the seeds...grand total 444.

The boys did almost all the work for this apple pie.  One peeled, the other chopped and I worked on the crust.

A friend named Katharine knit this for Elijah!  She used to live near us, but moved 6 months ago.  We were glad to see them, back in town for a quick visit.

Chai spices

 Pinwheel cookies:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter 
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons organic chai spices (I used this Harney + Sons blend of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, coconut, also, with chaga mushroom)
  
• Directions:  Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together.  Blend butter and sugar, then add eggs.
• Combine to form the dough and divide in half. Add chai spices to one half of the dough in the bowl and blend thoroughly. 
• Chill both halves of dough in refrigerator for about an hour.  
• Roll out each portion to roughly the same size, then place one on top of the other and roll up.  Refrigerate again, then slice.  
• Bake at 350° F for 5 min.

Inspired by this recipe, which I slightly modified from Mountain Rose Herbs. The boys each had three.  I brought the rest of the cookies to the ladies Bible study to go with tea.  I enjoy these gatherings.

And we went hiking again.  We're planning another hike!  The fresh air is just what I need. 

Paul put the wampum beaded belt he made on Elijah.  

George says, "I'm making myself as small as him!"

These 3 boys are pretty special.  I wish our 2 girls were here, but understand that the next stage, when one becomes an adult.  We all leave the nest at some time.  I'm getting a little more sentimental as Thanksgiving approaches. A cup of hot tea is comforting for now.

A gift

A friend sewed this bear and filled it with rice and lavender buds (so it can be warmed for a child to hold), as a gift for us.  She painted wooden peg doll to look like the monk to go with the book The Sleepy Bear.  In the story, he is thrown from the train.  We added the train in our story-selling for an extra hands-on aspect!

We went on a hike with my husband, last week, who carried the 2 youngest boys for part of it.  Then, yesterday, I took the 3 boys out myself for a hike.  This is such a pretty season.  

Falling asleep in my arms... and this is when I trim his fingernails.

These tiny apples from this thick trunk tree.  Maybe above you noticed the beaver nibbled trees?  We walked past a pond with a beaver dam.

We've been invited by baby Elijah's Godfather and family to their house for Thanksgiving.  I will make pies to take there.  My favorite is maple pecan pie.

St. Elijah

This beautiful enameled icon was a

gift to our little Elijah on his baptism.  

Even the back is really lovely.

He's 6 weeks old now.  His Godmother is holding another icon of the Holy Prophet Elijah below, that was given to him just the day before his baptism.  My mom, aunt, two sisters and their families came to the baptism, as well as some friends who live locally. 

And he just started smiling!

We made 80 baby butter cookies to frost and used activated charcoal and raspberry to paint eyes and smiles.  We had a few cookies left over.  The weather has been putting on a variety show, sun, rain, wind and snow, this morning!  All the cousins had fun together.

Everyone is back home and we're on our old routine again, with homeschool lessons in the mornings.  But on to the next celebration, 2 more days until someone in our family has a birthday!

Posture

Holding my head up and pulling my shoulders back to a relaxed position feels better than my often hunched over profile.  

If I haven't put a pillow under the baby, while I nurse, I lean forward in a way that may cause back pain. Also, using my back in a symmetrical way helps, sweeping using the right and then left feels fair. I'm trying to put Elijah in the carrier, if he needs to sleep, and whatever I need to do, whether vacuum, laundry or something outside, usually results in a nap. Must be the fluidity of movement relaxes him. I listened to Katy Bowman talk about movement in our sedentary world.  A friend recently recommended her to me.  Getting outside everyday is wonderful.  I collected some leaves.  The fresh air feels so good in my lungs.  So, I think about my posture as I walk along these days.

               

We put Elijah down on a blanket more often.  Not just on his back, but on his stomach, too.  Tummy time is done every day for a few minutes and will:

• help develop strong neck and shoulder muscles
• promote gross motor skills
• prevent flat head issues
• build core muscles needed to crawl, sit, and walk
• quality time with other little siblings

It is also beneficial for adults.  Engaging my core muscles and obliques help my back to feel better.  So, I'll be there on the floor with them, with my arms out to the side, lifting them just a little up and down.  These are exercises I did while in a class at the YMCA.

Last week was Paul's namesday!  Here he is with the icon of his patron saint.

One month old and suddenly looking so alert!  I took out all the newborn clothing and have 3 month items for him.  The newborn clothing will go to a nice woman at church, Anya, who is due in 3 weeks.