Month: October 2011

Fall…..

I still haven’t painted any murals in River’s new room (and the babies new room)…..but then I remembered I had a watercolor mural that I had used when I was a teacher.  I did it in water colors and then laminated it..so it could be reused again and again.  River had a lot of fun helping to put up the mural.  And then, when Fall is over, maybe I’ll feel inspired (and awake enough) to start on a real mural!

Embrace the Camera….

Today’s Embrace the Camera is all about…..relaxing….breathing…..not an easy thing to do for me…….especially now that I have two 7 week old babies!  Somebody is always needing something…and I never get to get anything done…completely….I’m always being interrupted…….but I’m learning…that it is okay…not to finish everything..when I want to…..Normally I want to get everything done right away..I don’t like waiting!  I like to have everything neat and tidy!!!

I’m also trying to move around a bit more..literally….I have everything I need set up in the bedroom…and that was great for the first few weeks…..and it is easy to spend the day there…..squirreled away….but I get bored..River gets bored…and the babies get bored…so I am trying to learn to bring the babies with me..as I do things around the house.  This makes things a lot harder, and it makes things take longer, and it doesn’t always have the outcome I’m hoping for…but I think it makes everyone a bit happier….

I’m also trying to learn that it is okay if a baby cries for a minute or two….just so I can go to the bathroom or throw some clothes into the laundry!  It seems that as soon as I leave their side..someone starts crying…VERY LOUDLY…..as though I’ve left them for hours and hours!  Hearing a baby cry cuts right through me….

Anyway..that is what today’s Embrace the Camera is about….hanging out in the kitchen..with the babies…..when I haven’t showered and so many things need to be done……(and for once holding Escher….you can barely see little Grey..in her bouncy seat..)

Challah Bread in the Bread Machine…..

River had Challah bread at preschool…have I mentioned that she LOVES preschool…..and so, we just had to make some at home.  And, of course, I had to use the bread machine.  After searching the internet for some recipes..I settled on this recipe.  River was very excited to make it and patiently waited for it to be finished.  It was a huge loaf!  And was very delicious!!  As you can see, at least one of the babies was in the background, cooperating, as we baked!!

Jewish Bread Machine Challah Bread

This bread machine challah recipe is adapted from “The Artisan Bread Machine” by Judith Fertig.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 large beaten egg
  • 1 large beaten egg yolk
  • 1 cup lukewarm water
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 4 2/3 cups bread flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons instant or bread-machine yeast
  • 1 large beaten egg for egg wash
  • Sesame or poppy seeds (optional)
  • .

Preparation:

  1. Add salt, egg(s), water, honey and oil to the bread pan. Spoon flour on top of liquid. Add yeast.
  2. Select the Basic / White or Sweet cycle and the Dough setting and press Start.
  3. Remove dough from bread pan, transfer to a floured surface and punch down gently. Divide dough into thirds. Roll each third into a 10-inch long rope. Lay the three ropes out parallel to each other on a floured surface so they are very close, but not touching. Braid ropes together snugly. Tuck ends under to form an oblong loaf.
  4. Brush braid with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds, if desired, pressing the seeds into the dough.
  5. Bake in oven at 375° for approximately 20 minutes.

Embrace the Camera…….

One of the hardest things I find with twins..is constantly feeling like I am neglecting a little one.  They seem to both cry, wake, poop, scream and “need” at the same time.  And it is so hard to hold them both, though I do it often!  I try to give them individual attention….as much as I can.  So, this week I tried to take some photos of Grey with me……She is actually screaming in these photos.  She wanted to be fed, not pose for pictures!

This was the first full week of Christopher going back to work….going back to “normal”…if there is such a thing.  It has been everything from tough and exhausting to wonderful and miraculous.  I still can’t believe that these two little ones are part of our family!

Everyone keeps asking me if they are on a schedule yet……no, they are not on a schedule yet…they are only 5 1/2 weeks old……I know lots of adults that still aren’t on schedules!!  They don’t sleep through the night…and probably never will.  They are endlessly demanding and it seems impossible at times……but they are also able to take my heart and wrap it around their fingers til it hurts……I love them so…..

Go Embrace the Camera…..

Five weeks……

Has it really been a little over five weeks since Escher and Grey were born?  I can’t believe it.  How time flies!  Especially when one is sleep deprived……Things around here have been a bit crazy..but it is all worth it….

Trying to get anything done..like writing a blog post, laundry, cleaning or cooking..isn’t easy………I have to remember to be satisfied if I accomplish little things during the day.  Like getting a shower, sewing for five minutes and all the other things that I took for granted before the babies were here.  I also need to remind myself that is is alright not to finish everything in one day…it will all be there the next day and the next and the next.   The dust and the laundry can wait….babies are more important.

And of course, taking photographs is even more important!  Everyone always says the time goes so quickly….and it really does..I just can’t believe it has already been five weeks…so unbelievable…you wait for so long for your due date and before you know it…five weeks has flown by!