September Recap

At the end of August, Eden dropped my camera 6 inches onto a carpet, and it broke. Apparently cameras are super duper breakable. You can go ahead and judge my parenting skills for letting a toddler near enough a DSLR to break it- whoops! After a 4 week wait, I FINALLY have it back, all better. Unfortunately there were a lot of moments for which I would have really liked my camera- like EDEN'S FIRST DAY Of SCHOOL, first month in a big girl bed, and apple picking. I'm afraid I've become a camera snob, but honestly my iPhone camera does a really good job.

Aside from my lack of inspiring photos, I've also been in a blogging rut. I'm a bit lost on the direction so I'm going back to square one- just letting everyone know what we're up to, hopefully sprinkled with good recipes and cute pictures.

Let's simply start with a recap of September in photos:


First day of school for Eden was at the very beginning of September. We started with breakfast at our favorite coffee shop, Arriva Dolce (where the pic was taken), and went to Highland Park Community for a 30 minute mommy and me play group. Eden didn't look at me the whole time and had to be dragged out kicking and screaming! Thankfully the integration process ended and she gets to stay 2 hours without me twice a week now. She LOVES it. She apparently cracks her teachers up with her dance skills during music time, and she asks to go every day.

We also switched Eden to a big girl bed this month. It's been finished for months and sitting the basement, but she was adamant that she keep her crib. One random Saturday afternoon she asked if she could have it in her room. We were so excited we moved it up and rearranged everything before we remembered we had a babysitter that night! But, as expected, our generally obedient kiddo did great and has never gotten out on her own!

  (working on the bed in April)

There has been a lot of  coffee (and affogato) at Ariva Dolce. Yay Fall!

With Eden in school, I typically get to spend my Tuesday and Thursday mornings sewing. I have gotten SO MUCH DONE. When I was in Portland I visited the coolest fabric store- Cool Cottons-  where I bought a lot of fabric and a raincoat pattern. I think I'm almost caught up to my purchases and will try to take good photos soon. For now, here is a pic of Eden in her raincoat, which is apparently the perfect accessory for September Illinois weather.

Eden looks more and more like me while she acts more and more like her dad. Case in point: here is a face that she makes when she is really enjoying something, like chocolate milk straws.

Thomas gave up Krav Maga to work on his skills as a tweezer ninja:

I am organizing weekly crafts for Eden's Sunday school class, and she likes to hang them on the fridge when she gets home:

 

Eden traded in her crayons for watercolors, and has started filling in objects instead of randomly coloring (I'm of course ridiculously proud!).

Fall has begun!! Which means boots, sweaters, and tights. This is the (only) time of year I really enjoy fashion. Thanks to a ton of hand me downs and thrifted purchases we're ready for cooler weather!

Fall also means enjoying nature :). There are a ton of nature preserves where we live and it's fun to explore on Saturdays when Thomas can spend the day with us.

Other than the pictures I could locate to visually describe our September here are a few last highlights:
Trinity Wives Fellowship has started up and we're two chapters into Dee Breston's study on Esther. I'm enjoying the regular fellowship.
Thomas and I are still getting together with our Missional Order (Highwood housegroup from church) on Tuesdays and are enriched greatly by this community.
Thomas' semester is well under way. He is taking Systematic Theology, and guided research projects in adult education theory and a survey of the longest Phoenician/Luwian inscription. He is also working on wrapping up a paper on his summer dig in Israel, prepping for teaching Sunday school after the new year, and applying to PhD programs.
I host a weekly off-campus play group at our house on Wednesdays and have LOVED my home being filled with a million kids and moms who thrive on the weekly chats with peers.

Coming up: apple picking and pie baking, my love for pinterest, and finished sewing projects!

Triplets

Our garden is in its late season: overgrown, starting to die, but still bearing a lot of fruit stage. I'm sure not everyone's garden begins to look like a jungle at this point, but ours always does. We have tomatoes, sweet 100s, zucchini, and green peppers. I just found out you're supposed to cut back your tomato plants to help them grow better?? It's really amazing that anything grows under my care. I plant, water (sometimes), and the just sit back until it dies.

We always make a Chicken-Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese when we have a surplus of cherry tomatoes and right now we have tons! We add kalmata olives and it's the perfect summer dinner. This morning I had the pleasure of taking a big batch over to a young couple with a new baby. I got to snuggle with her for a bit and it reminded me of my newest nieces and nephew. She's about a month old and they're almost 4, but they're about the same size!

So I'm thinking about them, Timothy, Elizabeth, and Mary, and wanted to share a few pics I snapped on our late July trip to Texas.


Mary was still in the hospital while we were there. While it was sad not seeing them altogether, it was nice to have one on one time with Mary. She is tinie tiny and has such piercing eyes.

If you didn't know Timothy and Elizabeth, you would think they were about a week old- sleepy, big cheeked cute newborns.

I cannot BELIEVE I have to wait until Christmas to snuggle with all these little ones again!

While thomas was gone

Most of you know that between June 30 and August 7 Thomas was home for a mere 72 hours. Thankfully, for a week of that we were with him in Texas. I'm getting the question "what did you and Eden DO while Thomas was gone?" a lot, so I'm answering it here in the easiest way possible- a picture guide.

We played inside a lot because it was actually pretty hot in Illinois. Eden has started to play Mommy :).

Eden had a GREAT babysitter that allowed me to get a lot of work done and have some time to myself. The greatness of this sitter can best be described by the chalkboard drawing I found upon returning home from a Harry Potter matinee (and yes, movies by yourself can be awesome, especially when air conditioning is involved). Unfortunately she has returned to Georgia where she is a senior in college. I'm crossing my fingers that she lands her dream job in Chicago when she graduates in December. 

We also experimented with making new crayons using old broken pieces and IKEA silicone ice cube trays. The hearts turned out great, all the star points broke off.

We played outside a lot. I have flowers, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini which I've managed to keep alive all summer!

We went to our favorite park in Glenview and played in a pool in our backyard.

Eden got her first bike, fun! We're still getting the hang of things, but have somehow managed to avoid serious injury thus far. She was also given a bubble machine from our really sweet neighbors.

In another first, she got a haircut! I started pestering her about getting one in March, and until one random day the week Thomas left for Israel, she was terrified of the idea. Thankfully, it was a great experience complete with an Angelina movie, balloon, and new headband.

So grownup! I love it :) and am already looking forward to the next one.

We took a lot of walks and spent a lot of time at Arriva Dolce- a new coffee/gelato shop in Highland Park. I've complained before that there was not a decent replacement for Java Jacks in our area- it's all starbucks and a couple non kid friendly local joints. Though I know nothing well ever replace JJ, this place is probably as close as I'll get. Best scones ever, good coffee, high chairs, close, lots of parking, nice baristas, and awesome atmosphere. Local people go and support them!!

I did manage to steal away one afternoon to explore part of the city. After reading Eat Shop Chicago I chose Andersonville as a place I could simply meander. In hindsight I wish I had done the Magnificent Mile, Logan Square, Lincoln Park, but I did have a pretty awesome lunch at Big Jones and an overall wonderfully relaxing time. I would like to do this again sometime. Anybody have a favorite Chicago neighborhood for walking around (cute shops, coffee, good lunch spot, art boutiques, etc)?

I finished this book and this book. Rearranged the living room. Ate a lot of toddler food. Went to Galveston sans Eden and spent two wonderful days with my best friends in the world. Mostly tried to do a lot to minimize missing Thomas- but of course it didn't work. We are very glad to have him back and I'll start pestering him to share some of his Israel trip on our blog!

Hey you...

Yea- you. You still out there? My Mom hasn't written much because she's had her hands full with attitude such as this (and lots of fun silliness), but Daddy is back in town. She'll probably do something really silly like post a lot of stuff all at once to catch up, and then not post again for awhile. Just do what I do and call her silly and go about your business as usual.

The Dancing Bike Fairy

This is what it looks like when your toddler dresses herself,

then runs around you in circles,

while you take pictures.

Community

During the summer preaching series at our church we are reviewing Galatians, specifically Chapter 1 last week. Because of the discussion of unity, the liturgy included Psalm 133.

Pslam 133

When Brothers Dwell in Unit

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.

Our family is so BLESSED by the house group out of our church that I was overwhelmed with emotion when this Psalm was read. Good. Pleasant. Precious oil.  Our church's house groups are referred to as Missional Orders and are set up based on location of members. There's a nice number of us here in Highwood. Instead of following a Bible study, we meet to help each other mature in Christ and discern how we can bring God's kingdom into our community. I know that can sound lofty, but God is at work in tangible ways in these people, this group, and the community. It's humbling to witness to say the least.

We of course have made a lot of friends through Trinity, as expected, but it's taken me by surprise how close I've become to our church community. My Trinity friends are so similar to me- mostly families with young children, husbands studying all the time, our futures seem so similar (in regards to our husbands careers). It's not surprising I expected to find support through this group. And I do.
By contrast, our Missional Order contains a mix of single and married people, some students, some not, secular jobs, church jobs, Eden is the only kid. When joining the group I wondered how our family would fit into this group that meets for a later dinner on a week night in houses that aren't child proofed. Wow- God really had a lot to show me about the unity found in his people.

Thomas left for Israel yesterday. He has arrived safely in Jerusalem, and as I am preparing to go to sleep, he is just getting up to start his first full day of exploration. While he is across the world and our family is 1000 miles south of Chicago, I can completely rest in the knowledge that I have the support of a group of people that love our family, know our needs, love as Christ loved, and serve sacrificially.

Oh, and of course we have a lot of fun.

 

Last week I brought dessert to house group. It was a good excuse to get a new toy (which if you're curious works wonderfully and tastes even better).

For Affogato Ice Cream Cake.

Basically a chocolate and vanilla ice cream cake with a chocolate wafer and chocolate chip crust and chocolate top layer served with espresso poured on top.

It was awesome. The recipe is found here: Chocolate Cakes.

Now I just need a good excuse to get this and then I can enjoy homemade lattes :).

The pure wishes of a child :)

Today Eden and I talked a lot about Israel. Thomas will be flying there next Thursday and I wanted her to understand a bit about where he was going. We got out a world map and looked at where we live, where Texas is, and then where Israel is. We discussed that this is where Jesus was born. Next she wanted to look up a picture of Jesus. After discussing that we have no real pictures, Thomas found an image that would probably be fairly accurate to appease her curiosity.
Several hours later at the dinner table Eden started pretending that she was an airplane. She explained it held lots of people and could fly her to Texas and fly Daddy to where Jesus was born.
Then she looked up at me and exclaimed "Mommy! I want to see Jesus!"
I'm so happy you do baby girl, and I often pray hard that you have that passion for a very long time.


Oh and here's a cute picture, because, why not?