{Mac 'n' Cheese}

Some days are just tough. No matter how positive, proactive, and determined you might be. For example, after a night of panic attacks and bad dreams (me) and a morning of tummy troubles and tantrums (the boys)...it's just not a day that anyone would plan. So I thought I would keep it simple and just share the recipe for my favorite comfort food. It's a huge treat, but some days are just huge treat days. We make it gf with this pasta and it works great. Recipe at the bottom, let me know if you try it! Back to my lemon balm tea... 

{Oven Mac 'N' Cheese}

1lb uncooked elbow noodles 

1lb cheese, grated (I used half cheddar half jack here) 

1qt whole milk

salt and pepper to taste

In a 13"x9" baking pan, combine your uncooked pasta and shredded cheese. Just mix it around with your hands so it's fairly well balanced. Salt and pepper over the top. Pour milk over, sometimes a little bit more is needed, you want to cover nearly all of the pasta. I smush it down a little bit and don't mind if some of it is about half out of the milk, you just don't want any whole noodles above the milk level. Add a dash of paprika on the top if you want to impress your five year old. Bake at 350* for and hour. 

{Feeds four really hungry people, or 6-8 if served with sides like salad and soup}

{Blogger Craft Swap}

I didn't mean to disappear again! Annoyingly, I messed up my wrist somehow and spent the entire month of February doing...nothing. No knitting, no dishes, no folding laundry, no vacuuming. I'm not sure how we survived honestly. I am still resting it, and doing just a few dishes at a time, and no knitting yet, but at least I can type! Before my wrist flaked out, I signed up for a blogger craft swap. Oh what fun! I received the sweetest package from Summer, (shown above). I feel totally spoiled! The little coasters are a huge hit here and I love their scrappy, homemade purple style. Nomi loves purple as much as I do, and his favorite shape is the heart, so I keep finding him sneaking these off to his room...I can't say I blame him! She also made me lemon salt that smells like heaven, and a darling little painted rock. She even tucked in some local coffee... This girl has me pegged! I love this whole idea of swapping... taking a bit of time from our busy days to make something just because, for a random person, just to brighten their day. Pretty good stuff. 

I had a bit of a tricky time getting my box together one handed (my mostly useless right hand at that) but thankfully sewing is pretty gentle so I don't think the contents suffered too much. I don't want to spill what I sent as my recipient hasn't gotten her box yet! The below peeks will have to do for now. Thank you Amanda for hosting all of us!

{Hi}

Where on earth to start? My computer died. My phone died. My camera died. Not the same day or anything, but it felt like a good time to just take a break from...well, everything. Summer was slow and hot and filled with trips to the farmer's market, a multiple week visit from my best friend, lots of visits with sisters and just being... my birthday came and boy has 26 been great so far. The first half of my twenties was tough for so many reasons, but so far so good with this second half. My first tattoo, finally buzzing my hair (I've done it three times now and I think I've got it just right now), and a lot of new, deep things that have me feeling like I am finally here. I'm liking this new voice I'm finding.

 Fall came with so much confusion about when Joe would actually be coming home...end of October, no, early January, no, maybe...well....December? November? January again...? and on and on until we started ignoring that paper chain because it was too much to keep up with. Then it happened finally, "...home in two weeks..." gulp. Big life changes go like that though, don't they? So much time thinking about them and wondering and then in one moment nothing normal is the same. Don't get me wrong, we are beyond delighted to have him home! But goodness two years is a damn long time. It went so well though. Our little family is full again, and it is just wonderful. I pondered how to do a catching up post but I think that I'm simply going to dive back in and try to find a grove here. I've been working on a fresh blog home and once I get that finished up I'll share the new link with you! For now though let me just say thank you for reading and it is good to be back!

{Farmer's Market}

We have fallen in love with our new Saturday morning routine of trying our best to get out the door early, piling into the car with snacks and coffee, and hitting the road to our local(ish) farmer's market. We have a pretty good drive {45 minutes each way} so we have plenty of time to fully wake up, point out every single cow/truck/motorcycle/bird/cool thing, and talk about what each child wants to spend their dollar on this week. Honestly more often it's $2.50 for a bear claw, but they are so darn good I can't really tell them no. 

My sister often comes with us, and pushes Nomi around in the stroller while Jenny browses to her heart's content and dances to the live music...whenever she finds some must-have produce they come to collect Bobby and I or to tell me how many "dollars" it is for the most amazing "fill in the blank with produce" so that she can go make her purchases. She carries a tote bag around and is just outrageously cute. Seven is so big. {I wasn't prepared for that At.All.} Meanwhile, Bobby and I make our way to our favorite stand and get most of our veggies for the week. Getting to choose his own veggies has really {REALLY} worked miracles on his willingness to try them, and he often strikes up conversations with the sellers about his favorite way to cook cauliflower. Be still my heart. A bit of wandering around always yields some other goodies {this week it was purple potatoes and raddishes.}This weekend everything seemed to have tripled...all of the produce was bigger, there was more of everything, and far more variety. Summer is here...and I think I love it.

{Rainbows}

I suppose I should narrow down those pictures, but well...it turns out I can't. I'm obsessed. I'm working on several other projects, but since they are gifts I can't really share them yet. This rainbow though...isn't it something special? I started it with plans to pick up stitches along the edges and create a felted basket. I still might...or I might use it as a little table mat as-is...or felt it and use it as a table mat that way. Or maybe I'll hang it on the wall so I can look at it all of the time... I can't decide. (Feel free to offer your opinion in the comments!)

I'm currently attempting to read my way through these three books...although if you've ever read them you will know this is a silly plan. I need to pick one of them, grab a highlighter (or really anything except a crayon) and settle in like I'm taking a class. They are just so fabulously full of brilliant information. Information I wish I had when I started parenting, and feel like I need to learn quickly so I can do a better job with some of the issues we are working through right now. It's just that I haven't really figured out a good way to read AND parent. My brain tends to become totally consumed by one thing at a time and it's hard for me to break off one thought just because it's time for something else. You can tell this in my housework really...either the bathroom is consistently clean OR the laundry stays caught up OR dinner is promptly cooked and served every evening. It's something I'm working on... I think the key for me (or at least the first step) is in really (REALLY) reducing the amount of stuff in our home. That is my big project right now, and I have to say it's going pretty well! I'm trying to focus on filling giveaway bags instead of finding homes for things because we really do just have too much stuff in this house. I'm already feeling calmer and seeing improvements and I am excited to share the results in another week or so (it's a slow process)! 

I'm linking up with Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On, and Ginny for the Yarn Along, check out their blogs for more crafting/knitting/book goodness! :)

{Monday Randomness}

 {So in love with his Grammie's train set}

{I eat massive salads for lunch most days...and love it} \

 {My final view at night...it's a pretty great one, I think}

Okay so this picture...let's not look at the epic mess that often surrounds my chair. I assure you I tidy this space up about 100 times a day, but as it is most certainly the busiest spot in the house, it (despite my best efforts) generally looks like I run a home from it...oh wait. Just look at that outrageously funny girl, in the too-big-used-to-be-mine dress, drumming her fingers and waiting for me to come out of the bathroom so that she can use the hilariously creepy line "We've been expecting you, Mommy..." I just have to wonder where on earth she gets these things!! 

{Saturday Morning}

{What pen, Eliza?}

It was funny to see that Ginny has started journaling a tiny bit every day...I've noticed that about this blogging community, ideas seem to sweep through us and then there will be a burst of posts that are hilariously related. I happened upon This lovely etsy shop full of the most beautiful handmade journals and treated myself for Mother's Day, {although had it been any other month I'm sure I could have come up with a reason to splurge, I mean, that paper alone is probably reason enough} and I am so glad I did! I don't quite write in it every day yet, but I'm working on the habit. Just a page or two every most mornings, about whatever is on my mind...plans for the day, thoughts on the day before, about the kids or house or life...just a little glimpse into my thoughts to look back on. Putting pen to paper is so satisfying, and everything about the feel of this little book is grounding. 

I thought I'd share a quick peek at my space. It's not exactly a desk, but it is the side table by My Chair as it looks this morning. A dolly jacket {made for me by my Grammy} with the ribbons needing to be untied {I remember working on those knots SO hard as a little girl and my mom probably untied them a million times...it's funny that Jenny will have the same memory}, a sea shell bowl of whatever Nomi was cooking last night, more delicious rainbow yarn for winding {if you follow me on instagram you might be getting tired of this yarn...if that's possible}, the all important MUST NEVER GET LOST notebook, my essential morning coffee, and my favorite print... Just a little corner I've carved out right in the middle of everything...where I can work or rest or snuggle, or whatever else comes up. 

Happy Saturday!

{Five}

Oh wait, not him...

Yes, this one. This sweet boy of mine is officially FIVE. Honestly I have no idea what to do with that number...seven, five and two...what ever happened to my babies?? But these numbers are awfully exciting and I really can't wait to see what they hold for my "babies". Bobby's birthday marks the end of our busy birthday season, although with such a large family, it never really ends. (That link runs over to a handy who's who on my sister's blog...while you're there check out her Home Tour series she's working on!)

{Ahem, that would be a "B" for Bobby, not an "8", I assure you...}

Explorer gear is my new favorite little boy gift idea! There is so much COOL FACTOR to be found! Ponchos, reflective heat "blankets", compass, lanterns, mini first aid kit, snacks, binoculars...the options are nearly limitless, and this time of year, very easy to come by! We wrapped it all up in a sturdy backpack with his very own stash of AA's and headlamp. I'm hoping to help him make a few field journals to tuck into the pocket and he'll be ready!