this tea keeps me going through the long, cold, all-the-sun-must-only-be-over-the-state-of-Montana days...here in Wisconsin


Poppy has been discovering toys and games she had forgotten she had. Today she found her magnetic fairies and was captivated for a good long span of daydreaming bliss.


genuine Solomon


These cold January days and nights have been filled with board games, Go Fish and Cranium games. We can play games now! Poppy not only wants to play but can follow the rules of the game, has developed her own strategies (nearly whooping us every time at Go Fish these days!) and most importantly has fun and is proud of herself for being "one of the big kids now."


Our first harvest from our Aero Garden, one of our fun Christmas gifts this year. We also have Thyme and Chives ready now. I had previously thought it not possible to grow herbs in the middle of the grey winter here in Wisco. I love it!! The three fresh leaves were just enough to top our Salmon Curry.



Mr Sol is going to audition for The Pied Piper this Monday presented by the Missoula Children's Theatre (good ol' Montana!) The traveling troop is visiting Middleton this upcoming week and Sol has been so excited to get involved in drama related activities so now's his chance to see what he thinks. I think he will have fun...and may even find out he has some good skills. We definitely think he's an actor!


Saturday morning cartoons....I think the part they like best is "sitting twins," as they call it, in the rocking chair, all snuggled up together, sharing snacks and probably also the good cartoons that come on later in the morning. They have been enjoying Richard Scary's Busytown (?) or maybe it's called "Huckle and something or other." Hmmmm, I am usually upstairs enjoying my second or third cup of coffee with extra froth and savoring a little quietude for a half hour or so.


Gifties arrived by post this week. The excitement that shows on the kid's faces when they hear they have received mail is beyond cute. I sometimes want to wrap up anything just to see them guess the contents, bounce with anticipation and then get right to putting the new curiosities to work. Maybe they would rediscover their old toys again if newly opened up....



Sol wanted to make a cake today to practice for his birthday. And with the ideas he had for his cake we will need practice, let me tell you. We whipped up a "Wacky Cake" or "Crazy Cake" or whatever name you have for it when you make the cake in the pan you bake it in and use white vinegar and baking soda as the leavening agents. Anyway, quick and always pretty tasty. And, when you add 2 cups of frosting to the top of it you don't taste much of anything but sugar anyway. We used a grated beet, half for our dinner salad and half to color the white frosting, to add a bit of pinkt to our night. Must say, it was really fun to all participate in a celebration for no other reason than...we can!

Also, today marks the familyorum blog first anniversary! Hooray for life's little discoveries.