Fresh Farmers Flowers

Perhaps I should unofficially title this week's posts: "Habits and Rhythms of Our Family". For some reason, be it all the Waldorf/Montessori books I've consumed recently that emphasize natural family routines for kids or the fact that I would love to document the habits we've fallen into as a family of three before they inevitably get interrupted and adjusted with the coming of a fourth--all the post ideas I have for this week stem from our normal, non-exciting, daily/weekly rhythms. Some have developed intentionally while others have just come about and work really well for our family.

Yesterday I mentioned our weekly trips to the library and our daily reading, today is about my summer habit of purchasing wild flowers at the Farmer's Market. I used to buy them every so often, on a whim, but they were normally the assorted bundles, like the kind you can buy at a store. At the start of this summer I tried something new: purchasing the simple wild flowers that came in large bundles for a few bucks. One $3 bundle can be divided into at least 3 different large Mason jars or vases so I can scatter them about the house.

Typically there is one is our dining area and living area, one on our dresser or in the master bathroom, and occasionally I put a small one on E's kiddie table for him to enjoy. I really would love to get some indoor house plants, but since we haven't been to a nursery, this is the next best thing! The flowers will last the whole week and by the time next Saturday rolls around, I purchase another bundle.

This week, I even bought some Mums for a whole $4 in addition to my normal bundle. Living on the edge as a big spender.{still need to spray paint that lantern!}

This will suffice until we get a garden going or get some indoor plants. For a few bucks a week, I love bringing the outdoors in and enjoying some pretty flowers!

The 'Ow' Book

Every week or so, the Swenson family hits up the local library. Sometimes we get crazy and walk there multiple times in a week. But for E, we check out a new set of four or five books once a week. It's a bit hard to rummage through the stacks of picture books with the criteria in mind: attractive pictures, not too many words per page, but still has a central story line, and is on a topic he likes. Mostly, these books surround his current interests: fire trucks, cats, dogs, babies, etc. I'm still hoping to come across some bike or motorcycle ones..although I should probably just to do a specific research for them.  This is all while trying to watch him while he's in the play area.

Throughout the week, we typically read the books once in the morning right when he wakes up and we jump back in our bed with him snuggled in on Papa's side {which can buy me up to a whole additional hour of laying in bed}. And after naptime or right before dinner; along with his puzzles. He picks out which ones we read so right away I know if I've made a good selection or not that week. One of his favorite books from the library to date is this book:

Please Take Me For A Walk

By Susan Gal

It's about a pup who desperately wants to go for a walk as he shares all the dog-happy things he'll be able to do while on the walk. The pictures are made from charcoal and digital collages-- very rich and eye-catching. The author also clearly sets the story in her Berkeley neighborhood during the fall, which is fun too.Yes, that means complete with smart cars in the street and Mac computers at the cafe.

Well, this library book is now officially ours and is also officially known as the "Ow" book. E was 'reading' through it on his own one afternoon several weeks ago and happened to rip out a few pages from the binding as well as rip a page right down the center. I was able to tape the torn page, but still haven't tried to get the others back near the binding. 

We went the following week to notify the library and discovered that they have done away with the 'replace on your own' program. Basically, you have to just pay for the book AND a processing fee. Awesome, huh? I thought libraries weren't for profit?! Prior to the 'defacement' incident, I was actually going to hop on Amazon and buy a copy for E, he loved it so much. Welp, he does, in fact, have his very own {partial} copy for $21 now.  BUT he still picks it out to read every day and will repeatedly say "Ow" as we approach the torn page and the two pages I've shoved in the back until I tape them back to the binding. So, in part we're getting some money's worth. Yeesh.

Needless to say, we'll be keeping library book reading as a joint activity until he's a bit older. And he'll be sticking to board books on his own.

Del Valle Lake

We hit up a bucket list item this week: Lake Del Valle. W had heard good things about it and I don't think I've ever been. Funny how you can live so close to things and never experience them.

We had some lunch...

Then got to playing on the beach and in the water!

We also played some more Frisbee, with balls, and enjoyed the shade!

Only a few more weeks as a family of three!!

A Day At GG Park

The Swensons played hookie from work and chores on Monday. Well, I should preface that with: we worked hard over the weekend to continue to clean/organize the house and complete projects. We were ready for an afternoon of fun.

One of the few things I told W I wanted  to do before baby comes was spend more time at GG Park. So, when he had Monday off, we decided to head into the city. My girlfriend, Stefany, had just recently told me about the children's play area and we were hoping to check it out.

We grabbed some lunch at my favorite sandwich shop and drove in. The weather was perfect and after parking, we found a spot on the grass to meal and play a little Frisbee. Can I just say here, that I've told W that we won't be doing a summer baby again {if we could help it}, but I would totally be pregnant during the summer if we lived in the city. It was the perfect temperature!

Afterward playing in the grass, we made our way over to the huge park area. I let the boys be boys while I snapped some pictures.

I loved that E totally fit into the crowd of kids with his long hair. We even saw a little one sportin' some dreads. But none of this came close to the joy E had over the wet sand pit. Since we weren't quite prepared for a water feature {read: no change of clothes or towel}, we stripped him down before letting him loose.

Seriously, loved every moment of it...squealing and shrieking in delight. Such a water kid! See that diaper? Completely full of sand and water by the end.

 We had to call it quits when the diaper broke and the insides started to leak out. After a quick change on the hood of the car and back into clothes, we ended the day with a carousal ride. 

 Such a wonderful day that totally hit the spot!

Date Night in Oakland

This past weekend, with our babysitters my parents back from a wild vacation, W planned a fun evening out in Oakland. Our church does several local community events and goes a group to them. When W heard they had discount tickets for "My Fair Lady" at the outdoor Westminster Amphitheater, he knew I'd love it. 

He also took me to a new restaurant. One of the perks of driving people around the area is discovering new places; the last being the Airplane Museum. This time W discovered an awesome awesome place: Homeroom. A restaurant with one simple concept: Mac and Cheese. And they do it well!!

Saying it was delicious is a understatement! I got the Gilroy gouda and W got the pesto basil. Both were straight out of heaven and we were both too stuffed for their homemade desserts. We're definitely coming back! Homeroom has only been open for 6 months and we got to learn the fun story behind the owners. I loved the giant chalkboard, whimsical light fixtures, and succulent plant wall, but really, they had me at the Mason jars.

After dinner, we joined the rest of the group and enjoyed a beautiful summer evening watching the musical, cozied up underneath a blanket . One of my favorite dates to date!

Pantry Reveal!

Here's the BEFORE:

And the AFTER...Our new Pantry Storage Closet!

More on the low down here.

10 on 10

Thanks, Stefany, for reminding me yesterday!! :) It was a fairly normal Wednesday for us...

8:30... loading up for some errands

It is getting much harder to 'head out the door' these days with E's requirements: hat, baby, goggles, water, helmet, and the latest one, Quack Quack the Duck. He literally asks for each of these as we load up.

9:30...back with our loot for an upcoming family/maternity shoot.

10:30..naps for all...this is when I use to get stuff done. Not so much anymore. ;)

11:30...with some extra down time I started a new craft project.

12:30...Met Stefany and her two kiddos, Lyss and Trey at the park. And waited for Ash and Grayson to join.

1:30...Singing Happy Birthday and eating yummy cupcakes for Grayson's first birthday. E got icing everywhere, including my point n' shoot.

2:30..back at home just in time for a visit from Erin and her adorable belly!!

{blurriness from sticky icing fingers...this picture let me know it needed further cleaning}

3:30...puzzles and reading!

5:30...W had to pick up my parents from the airport so he missed out on dinner..which made dinner more than slightly off so we settled for some yogurt.

6:30...after bedtime routine and a quite house, I pop in a movie that W wasn't really excited about and eat dinner.

W showed up somewhere between Italy and India. We switched to Alias for a few before heading up to bed. Some quick reading, catch up, cuddles, and lights out by 9:30.

A & E

 Seriously couldn't get enough of these two together. Autumn and her Mama, Nat, came over for an afternoon of swimming last week. 

Nat snapped some quick pics on her phone of these two. I know there is a good amount of young boys and their parents from church lining up for this precious girl. Some strong competition. Of course, I'm bias but I think E's got a real good shot. ;)

Some Serious Business

His:

Mine:

And that's why we've been a bit MIA lately! :)

Have a great weekend!

Because Pregnancy Wouldn't Be Complete...

without a 911 call. Seriously.

Last time it was for W passing out and this time for E. 

Some kids like to paint on walls while their moms are pre-occupied. Some get into your thick body cream and cover their faces, arms and legs. Mine? He rolls off of our sofa as I watch him from the kitchen while finishing up dinner. Unfortunately, he has fallen off of the sofa a few times already, but this time was obviously different. He was a bit hyper and had rolled with much gusto. After I picked him up, he passed out. I wasn't sure if it was a seizure, concussion, or just passing out from the shock/sobs not letting enough air in. He was out, stiff, with his eyes rolled back in my arms for a few seconds while I dialed 911 and tried to get him to respond. Then he came to, seemed momentarily disoriented, cried a bit and asked for his baby. 

By the time I was finished with the call, he was already talking about his 'owie'. W walked in shortly thereafter and E was acting normal albeit quieter; I just didn't want to put him down. The paramedics were already on their way so we figured they should just double-check.

Sure enough, it sounded like E had passed out from lack of air. We had 8 firefighters standing in our small family room, checking him out. They just asked questions and gave him a once-over. Then asked if he wanted to see the firetruck while letting me know "We need more boys!" and "You'll sure have your hands full" once they noticed I was pregnant. Such sweet, kind guys, I'll tell ya. It shook me up but the entire thing from when I picked him up to when the truck was leaving only lasted 30-45 minutes. We were eating dinner at our regular time.

Still a bit shell-shocked.

Honestly, it would be so nice if just one pregnancy could happen without emergency drama. It would be nice not to suffer a heart attack while growing a human. It's all this Mama asks for. Apparently, that's still asking too much...

Maybe I should just open a tub of lotion and put it right in front of him to play with next time I need a few minutes?