reflective

today.... I am feeling slower than usual.
not slow... like tired slow.
not slow.... like bored slow.
but, slow.  like reflective slow.

Sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee slow....
making a lunch with cheese, figs and crackers slow....
wearing my hair down,
wearing the comfy pants,
and just thinking slow.

Not the thinking hard....
but the WONDER kind of thinking.
and I feel
safe.
home.
calm.
quiet.

Today is already a great day.

a photo from two days ago.... just relaxing.

a new benefit

its not filled with trees,
its not filled with water,
Its not all green and colorful,
its not even chilly (yet?!?)....
but what it lacks in is nothing compared to this....


Friday after school I picked up the oldest boy and asked....
"hey guys, how about a quick trip to the beach?" (notice my PNW friends.... I didnt use the word coast).
we grabbed suits, slicked up with sunscreen, bagged three towels and some sand toys, and headed out.
the kids were out of school at 3:45... we were on the sand by 4:30.

there is a hurricane off the coast of Mexico this week,  so we  got the big waves and beautiful surf.
we enjoyed the moments for a few hours, came home and had us some dinner.
Just like that.
a quick, simple, and easy trip to the beach.
Wow, I could get use to this.
It was like magic for me to have such a great memory and have it not take all day, or weekend.

visitors

with a new move...come new sounds.
Where we live now the sounds are... so different.
the birds are different.  some are screechy.
we live near Camp Pendleton and
the booming of military training is... shall I say... interesting.
let me just say... I would truly hate to be in a city that was under attack.... with sounds of bombs and guns going off at all hours of the day and night.
the neighbors are closer... and I am sure we sound different.

one thing that I have noticed is that my sweet little family is a loud family.  We laugh loud,
we play loud, we yell loud.... its all just... LOUD.

the hardest thing to get use to is the sound of our doorbell.
honestly, the thing rings ALL DAY long.
When you move there is this gnome that runs around every alarm system, tree trimmer, and vacuum representative informing them of our arrival.  Then a squirrel prompts them of the most in opportune time  and encourages them to ring the doorbell.  I'm always either painting a wall, unpacking the heaviest box, or in the restroom...resting.
 DING. DONG. (wait a second) DING.DONG.
which, in turn, set my dogs off on a barking frenzy.
goodness gracious.
Finally I decided... I need to just put up a NO SOLICITING sign.
but,
I kinda feel unfriendly with a sign like that.
but,
I need to get things done without having distractions.
but,
what if it is a neighbor kid selling cookies... I gotta have my thin mints.

but. but. but.
I found one.
its a free printable from Dorthy Sue and Millie B's too blog.
its cute.
its chalkboard.
its free,
and kinda fancy pantcy.

I printed it out and washi taped it to my front window....
crossed my fingers and I hope to get some rest from the doorbell and barking dogs.

*** UPDATE***  rest has occurred with the doorbell.... but the barking dogs still need to be reckoned with.... do they make a sign for that???

PAUSE. Stillness. the waiting.

I cannot believe that it is already May 1st.

This school year is slowly coming to an end.

The sun is shining more than the clouds are rolling in.

Trips were made, visitors came and left, 

changes have come...

yet our lives have remained.

I have been very reflective these past few weeks....

maybe its the Spring, where things are rising, fresh, new.... ready to start growing.

Our lives have had a strange and exciting pause.

Life change seems to be ahead~ but yet.... timing is everything.

It has me scared and excited at the same time.

Tears of sadness have fallen.... as hope and gratefulness have sustained me.

I know you have missed me~ I have thought of you often...

but it has been in this pause of life,

this season of change,

that I have experienced a calm, a peace...

a simplicity.

It has me feeling closer to those here (even though I am not around)

as well as those near me.

Waiting is all part of the game in life~ 

and anticipation is the gain in that return!

I anticipate communion with you again.  soon.

my friend,

it will be soon.

2014

Each New Year brings the idea of resolutions
change.
redefining.
As January began this time around I sat down and began to wonder
what will 2014 mean for me?

it means less.
less yelling.
less scolding.
less spending.
less talking.
less grumbling.
less rushing.
less complicated.


it means more.
more kisses.
more tickles.
more relishing of time together.
more compassion.
more listening.
more learning.
more calm.
more slowly.
more simple.

It means trying.
trying new recipes.
trying different directions.
trying creative ways.
trying to love deeper.
trying to stop more quickly.
trying to improve on.
trying to see it through someone elses eyes.
trying to rise earlier.
trying to move around more.

it means simply give.
simply give love.
simply give hope.
simply give care.
simply give grace.
simply give my being.

2014 will be a good year.
Happy New Year.

2013 Christmas Letter

Thanks for visiting our family blog.... 
Some of you come around often ,yet, for many of you... this is your first time.

no matter how you got here...
welcome, 
grab a cup of something warm... snuggle in... and enjoy our story of this past year.

 2013 was quite the year for us.  We slowed things down a bit~ and this fall we took a life turn that has us all taking some priorities changes (more on that later!)
Early in April, we traveled to Maui with all of Bryan's family and spent 10 days living the island lifestyle.  Odin spent a lot of time snorkeling.  Bryan golfed.  Bjorn spent most of his time in the pools.  I read books.  It was amazing.  The rest and relaxation was so good for my soul.  Odin has now turned 10 and Bjorn is embracing 8 with pride.  The boys are growing up so fast... I am starting to miss the little stages of life ( key phrase- "starting to").  Two years ago, we bought a cute, vintage, itty bitty trailer and this summer we kept her close to home. We took her out to the coast and up to the mountains all season long.  Bryan, kindly, tolerates the camping lifestyle~ but the boys and I LOVE it!  In May, we added a new puppy to the family~ we now have 3 new chickens and 2 dogs.... I am still wishing for a small pig or pigmy goat but I have a feeling that will never happen.... (that is what Bry says!)

Bry's 2013

 He is still working at NWM and is in his 8th year with them.  I believe he has found his perfect fit.  The company is small in size, yet, big at heart and we adore everyone there.  Bry is always working on the "honey do list" that I have going.  This year he added the finishing touches on a house in a tree (its to big to call a tree house!), built up a cold storage space under our stairs, and extended our gardening space, to over twice its size, with raised beds.  Even today, as I type this... he is in the front yard fixing our porch of some worn out wood.  If you would like to borrow him... there is a small fee of dark chocolate due at time of service. He has mastered the Saturday Morning Breakfast  with a recipe for Belgian waffles that leave you wishing he would open a restaurant! (oh man, they are SO good!)

The highlight of his 2013 would be a winter Bandon Dunes Golf Trip with the guys.  This was his 3rd year going... and his 4th trip is right around the corner.  He enjoys running and reading, and of course, still plays ice hockey, weekly, and golf, when the rains stop.

Odin's 2013

Odin is now in 5th grade.  This year, after a rough time in 4th grade, we decided to keep him home for school and he does online courses with Connections Academy (one of the Fall life changes I mentioned above).  He is kicking some serious booty academically and is really enjoying it.  This past summer he went away to camp for 4 days.  He loved the freedom away from mom and dad.    He is a pro at swimming~ and is still taking lessons~ in the Spring he may go out for the local swim team.  This Fall he also decided to try Flag Football.  This is a sport I have no clue about~ so it was kinda fun watching him run the field and just enjoy the team sportsmanship.  If Odin could do anything, all day long, he would choose to play Minecraft.  He loves video games, Legos and watching football games with his dad.  It has been a joy to watch him change and stretch out his wings a little this past year.... He seems to really want to explore life on his own these days.  When he grows up he wants to be a Lego Engineer.

Bjorn's 2013

Bjorn is in 3rd grade... He grows faster than anyone I have ever seen before.... he averages an inch and a half in height and a pound and a half every two months.  This past two months he grew by 2 pounds and 2 inches.  (this is great news... because for many years he was not growing due to dietary issues).  He is still in a social communications class through the public school system, but is looking forward to being mainstreamed in the next year or two.  This year, at school, he won an XBox through his jog-a-thon.  He came home, not knowing what an Xbox was.... and said "Guess what mom, I won a box!".... let's just say Odin has enjoyed showing Bjorn how to play with this new gaming system. 
He still has many doctor and therapist visits a month~ he is a trooper with his whole medical schedule.  His newest team is a Functional Neurologist Group that, we hope, will begin to help us connect all of the therapies and  we will see some progress flourish.  I truly believe we have just seen the tip of the iceberg with Bjorn and what he is going to bring to this world~ it is exciting to know there is so much more to come.  He loves to ride his bike, go on nature hikes, play at the park and play in his room.  This Fall, he started to play hockey with the Portland Jr. Hawks.  Its a rigorous weekend schedule for the whole family, but we all seem to enjoy the time around the ice.  Last week he scored his first goal against a goalie~ I was thrilled beyond containment as I jumped up and down cheering.  He was given the game puck for his goal ( as I beamed!).  It has been a beautiful experience to have this organization embrace Bjorn and his needs, I am not only proud to be a part of this group~ but am constantly humbled by their grace and support for B and our family.  His newest passion is anything that revolves around Monsters University and music.  He says that when he grows up he wants to be an Art Director for Pixar, a percussionist in an orchestra (emphasising on the marimba or vibes), an employee at 7-11, and work in a bakery making gluten-free cupcakes.

Tif's 2013 (that's me!)

I was able to enjoy a few weekends away this year... one to visit some girlfriends in Lake Shasta and the other was a FarmStay, in Hood River during the Summer Cherry Festival, with some Portland friends.  Since the Fall, my life has changed drastically.  Homeschooling has brought some challenges, but has also given O and I some much needed time together.  The weekends are all about hockey... and so home life is very different these days.  I am still teaching piano and my students are really growing their talent.  Starting next month I will have 20 students... which is exciting.  I am also teaching Sustainability and Gardening classes after school at our local elementary school~  I love this connection with the kids in our community.  This summer I opened up our home and taught homesteading classes to the kids in the community.  We were able to go out in our yard and make some great things from scratch.... I truly believe I have found my passion.  I love it.  I am still knitting, tending to my chickens, and experimenting with Harvesting and Preserving foods.  About three weeks ago, I had a small health scare, that put things in a reflective phase for me.... Needless to say, I am in my 8th year of being cancer free... and plan to enjoy the moments ahead in 2014 with simplicity, joy and in peace.

As I look back in 2013, I see each of you as an influence that has made our lives here in Portland, fun filled, more joyful, and abundant.  Thank you for being not just friends, but family, as we live life together~ near & far.   Hoping you each had a Merry Christmas and you look ahead to an adventure filled and wonderful 2014.

From our home to yours~
Bry, Tif and the boys.

** feel Free to leave a comment below... let us know you were here!**

that time of year.

our season of thanks is a week behind us.... and the wonderful season of hope and anticipation is now here.
I have been gradually taking out the fall leaves and pumpkins and replacing them with evergreens and lights.  it is the beauty in this moment that I love the simplicity of life we live.

our home is calm, and at times, so comfy that I snuggle in a blanket and never want to move.
a chill has taken over the skies, and the clouds are no longer around...
this morning it was 20 degrees and crystal clear.

today I am teaching my EcoThink Kids how to make salt dough ornaments....
and while I was looking around on PINTEREST finding a recipe and ideas~ I kept coming across these wonderful photos of coziness. 

www.granlibakken.com

sinkorswimbaby.tumblr.com

 Ignoring the fact that I have to go out in the cold crisp air....
I think I just may stay in my wool socks and flannel shirt all day...

would you like to share this cup of cider with me?

forests for play

We had anticipated rain....
so we raked up leaves all week long~ because raking up wet leaves... is well, a sticky messy situation.  Saturday we waited for the rain....
the kids started climbing walls...
and bounced up and said "lets get outta here!"
grabbed our coats,
our shoes,
and walked outside towards the forest.

One of the great things about where we live is the nature parks that surround us.  They have paths to walk that are well visible and maintained, yet still preserving the green and habitat that live here in the Pacific Northwest.  Our Parks and Rec prides itself on preservation....a new addition to our nature parks are called Nature Play Spaces...specifically marked spaces where you are encouraged to climb, explore, build, create and just play "play in nature".  These spaces are naturally cleared of poison oaks and stuff.... but the idea is these big forested spaces to just run a muck, and be a kid!

This was our first time finding one of these spaces....

and our "get out of the house walk" turned into "lets play for hours until the sun goes down".

One child (you can tell from the pictures) was not as thrilled to be there when we arrived, but by the end of the day he was the hardest one to get back into the car.  I would say that Saturday was a day that I will remember for a long time.  I love it here!  

summer color

we are in the midst of trips here, and trips there.
I feel like my large canning pot is always full of hot water~
my canning closet is full of sweet jars of peaches, pickles, plum sauce and apple butter.
The freezer is full of zucchini bread, green beans and peas...
and tomatoes are coming up quick.
I may be in and out of the house~
but I love grabbing a pair of scissors and a jar
walking out back
and making a bouquet of color.

Its just a cheerful reminder of what some water, a little seed and a lot of sun can bring us.
Exhale.
for school begins soon,
and things will once again be changing.

4th of July

I love our neighborhood.
Every year they throw together a festive event... where kids, dogs, bikes, scooters, skateboards, wagons... you name it... it gets decorated and joins in a parade.  Its the simplest thing~ and all the kids seem to love it.
Anything RED, WHITE and BLUE gets put on as decor~ music is played and all the parents clap and cheer.

what a crowd.

waiting in line.

after the parade there are certificates, a water balloon toss and otter pops!
Everyone is laughing by the end of the hour...
and we all go on our merry way for BBQ's and fireworks.
its one of those fond memories of childhood.

Oh by the way~  I made some red velvet brownies to bring to a BBQ and they were a hit.  They looked beautiful, and tasted amazing too. The recipe originated from Food Network but it was brought to my attention via Sally's Baking Addiction Blog.

Sally is right~ these are amazing.  quick. easy. and super super addicting.

I strongly suggest~ if you have a BBQ, a Picnic, or just a friend visiting....

make these, and you will be asked to make them again and again.

I hope you had a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Orange you glad

I finally did it.
I went orange.

I have been longing to paint my front door a different color for a long time.... Actually, since we moved here 9 years ago.  In California, we had our door a cherry red color (with the exterior paint colors of  light blue with medium blue trim).  I loved it, the red was just perfect.

Here our house is a light grey with white trim and the door was a dark blue.  I liked the dark blue, but it just didn't quite do it for me.....it did look nice.  A few years back I found this photo online via Better Homes and Gardens and PINNED it for later.  Then I came across this photo of an orange door  with a dark grey exterior- and knew....this was the route I wanted to go.  PINNED it for later, again.

I bought the perfect color of paint Benjamin Moore's Soft Pumpkin (its a smidge softer of an orange than the photos~ but perfect for me and my little door!). It was $7 for a sample can, which was plenty for 3 coats on a door.
We waited for a blazing hot day...which came, without fail.  Took the door down and painted one coat of primer, and three coats of orange.  A few hours later- a door of orange was hung.  And my heart sung with happiness.  taa~daaa!

Now, when we have the budget to paint the whole house a dark grey....  but until then, this simple change made a huge difference.
feeling the love for the orange!!!!
(oh by the way, please dont tell me its peach.... Its NOT peach!)

spending the days

getting ready for Spring.

Now that we have "sprung forward"... and the time makes our day longer....

photo by my friend~  Jenny Tan

with the sunshine out...
it seems that things get moving...

seeds get started.
tree houses get rock wall stones.
parks get a workout.
bikes get exercise.
new trails get explored.
dogs get tired.

lets just say.... with warm sunshine  comes a lot of activity.

Hart Park with O

rock wall trunk complete!

there is a word.

There is a word...
a word that has been floating around me lately.
that has been in my head...
in my heart...
just really... everywhere.

so much so, that I have really begun to reflect on it.... 
praying my life oozes what this word is.

KIND. /kīnd/
adj.  having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature.

KINDNESS./ˈkīn(d)nis/
noun.  a kind act.

I watch the ELLEN SHOW... every morning.... I record it, and once the kids are off to school, with a cup of coffee in hand I watch her.  I adore the first 10 minutes... Many times I am laughing so hard~ my side aches with genuine joy.... My husband knows that if its 9am, and I am busting up in laughter I am doing one of two things. 

1.  Talking with my friend Kristin (one of the kindest people I know) on the phone or
2. watching ELLEN.

Ellen always ends her show with these words " BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER".
and every time (honestly- EVERY TIME!) she says that... I imagine a world who would embrace just those simple words.
to BE KIND.
I was raised by parents who embraced kindness.  Who taught empathy and giving to others.  I watched as RANDOM ACTS of KINDNESS were just a simple act  in everyday life.  My dad~ was probably one of the most beautiful givers of kindness I had the privilege to be around.

KINDNESS.  you see, for me.... the word kindness is very much a word that involves action.... motion... a seeking out of.  Your heart is the leading force of kindness... and as your heart is open to others, so is your ability to act.  Its those little tugs of "I think", "I wish", or "Maybe one days" that begin to change to "I will", I can" and "today is the day".... those actions that speak louder than words.  
the more silent the action.... the louder the gift of kindness.

I reflect...BE KIND.

I long to seek out KINDNESS.
because it matters.

I pray that one day... someone will use that word...                  
                                                        to describe me.

Birthday bucket

so last year, on my 40th birthday I wrote out a bucket list.  I found it was a great experience for me to put down in words things that I want to do.. could do... and should do.  I re-read it last night and saw that I can start to cross off some on the list...
as well as, maybe add a few more.

so, in celebration of being 40 plus 1
I bring you the updated bucket list.

1. experience family life (or should a say... doing!)
2. travel through South France (Provence area)
3. Travel through Greece and Italy (the whole Mediterranean area, really!)
4. Live in a flat in the Netherlands
5. tour and sing with a band
6. Open a small restaurant that serves homemade baked goods and soups.
7. enjoy a Hot Air Balloon ride (I will do it this year!)
8. be a mentor to college kids 
9. volunteer at an orphanage/medical center in Africa.
10. knit a sweater
11. teach piano lessons
12. have lunch with Colin Firth
13. see O ~ Cirque De Soleil
14. hang out in Hawaii with Jack Johnson and his family.
15. Take the kids to Walt Disney World
16. visit the Grand Canyon
17. be a host mom (a billet) for a Portland WinterHawk's hockey player.
18. snowboard in Whistler, BC (or just hang out in the village)
19. win big in LasVegas, NV
20. visit and dwell with the Amish community for a weekend or two.
21. London, England
22. learn to spin wool.
23. take a pastry class at Western Culinary (registration starts in Fall~ looked at the schedule)
24. go to a NHL Stanley Cup finals game
25. work on a local farm for a week during the springtime. ( doing this Spring)
26. be on the Martha Stewart Show (okay-so this one if far fetched~ due to her show being cancelled this season!)
27. learn the ukulele ( got one for Christmas 2012 and am plucking away!)
28. graduate from college
29. Niagara Falls, New York
30. Snowboard in Mammoth,CA
31. own chickens
32. walk the streets of Dublin, Ireland (in platforms ~ and tripped!)

::Now adding::.

33. Volunteer for Pacific Whale Foundation

34. Beekeeping

35. visit with a blogging friend, in person!

36. learn to make leftse

37. sleep in an overnight train

38. sit in the audience of a live TV show

39. try glassblowing
40. horseback ride on the beach

   "Life is either a daring adventure 

or nothing at all"

~Helen Keller 

In the Closet

Remember my ramblings about my downstairs closet...under the stairs....
I had PINned some ideas, and thought of a few of my own...
but with a space so narrow, and odd... I didnt quite know what to expect.
I stated my ideas, showed the hubby the plans... and waited as he began to prep his mind for this task (as the  chore was put on the honey-do list... along with many other things)

Early this month I emptied it out.
Painted it.
and gave my hubby a week to work his magic.

Behold,

magic was performed.

one side is perfect for wine bottle,

root veggies,

and baskets of "what nots"

storage!

and the other side fits multiple rows of mason jars of all sizes... 

ready for years to come of canning goods.

oooo....canning space!

I added some chicken silhouettes on the door...
and kept the jacket/backpack hooks.

here chickie!

"Oh goodness me!"  the space is amazing.  It has given so much more room in my kitchen~ I LOVE IT!
dont you?

so, what have you PINned lately?.... and do you like it?

oh deer....

I found a photo on PINTEREST of a deer and pine cones on a winter windowsill.... and I borrowed the idea.  So with pine cones from our yard and a male and female deer purchased from our local toy store~ I had the makings of a cute window scene.

then something started happening.....
the deer were moving.
I started wondering who was the culprit of the moving deer... and realized it was both littles.

One liked them facing this way.

Odin thinks they should be kissing

The other liked them like this.

Bjorn thinks they should be looking out the window

I am beginning to think everyone has an opinion around here!

serenity now.

excuse me while I venture off... by myself... to visit with a dear friend.
to the mountains I shall go.
for calm, rest, peace and bacon.

canning

over the next few weekends.... I plan to get some jars filled with some great goodness!
Starting this past weekend...
I canned pickles, relish, jalapenos, and peaches (all from our garden... except the peaches).

This was my first year making the relish and the peaches....
and we will see.... come winter, how this all fairs out.
 ::side note::
as you can see from the photo... my peaches could have been in there a little tighter.... lesson learned.

Next up is tomatoes, lemon curd, maybe more pickles, and then my tasty spicy fruit relish (that is amazing in meatloaf!)
Someone once gave us a jar of pickled green beans..... maybe I could try that too..... cant you tell, I am loving the canning options!
This year I added a new book to my canning rotation, and I like it.... it was particularly helpful when it came time to can the peaches.

Ashley English's Canning and Preserving Book

the Back To School Bug

no.. no... I'm not sick....
but, I have this uneasy feeling....
much like the one I get when things just seem out of place.

you know... the declutter/ cleaning bug... That seems to posses me at times.
I went back to last year's posts... and I found that the bug hit me then... too.
I decluttered and super cleaned the kids rooms~ just before school started.

but, this year.... today, even....
its like I need to ransack the whole house.  Especially the bathrooms.  Sadly, the bathrooms gets the most neglected (and the dirtiest) when the kids are home for summer.

The bug hit me... and hit me hard... last night.
O's room~ needed some serious TLC.

So I moved his bed, dresser and shelves. Wiped down his walls and base boards.  Washed all bedding and curtains.  Got rid of (at least) a bag full of things he calls "stuff" but I tend to call "crap" (sorry mom, the real word that I would have used... probably would have offended you even more!).  Pictures will be posted tomorrow (when all is complete and finished... still some small bits and pieces to do).

Today~ I am tackling a top to bottom bathroom scrub! (using some great Pinterest finds)
I plan to use this recipe for the "boy smell"  around the toilet
along with this homemade soft scrub recipe for the grime and goo in the toilet and around the sink.

I'm going in....
wish me luck!

today

Today is the first day of school here.
The boys were up, dressed, fed, brushed, and out the door just in time.
One boy is off to 4th grade and the other is in 2nd grade.

Both of them were excited to see their friends and 

I am excited to be back into a routine.

It will be a great one!

                                                      Welcome 2012-2013 school year.