Jonah's 1st Birthday Party

For Jonah's 1st birthday party this year (held on Saturday, the day after his birthday), we wanted to make sure that we centered the day around his milestone, not the approaching holiday season, so Greg decorated the kitchen appropriately:




Elijah has this new "photo ready" look that pretty much just kills me.




I had just done a huge amount of Christmas baking, so everyone chose something that looked good to them, and we added a huge pile of whipped cream to every plate.








Jonah wasn't really sure what was expected of him.




But I hope he knows that we all love him pretty fiercely.



"HEY JO-NO, HEY JO-NO, HEY JO-NO!"



(Jonah is now very solidly called "Jo-no" by the other three children.)

Chocolate! Whipped cream!!










We're not especially sure how this happened:









Party blowers, getting gooey-er by the second.






And then the gifts!



Box from Poppy and Nana.









"Born To Be A Yankee Fan"



All of the Yankee brainwashing starts early with these kids. It cracks me up. (You've gotta love the words streeeeetched across Jonah's round fatness.)

Box from Aunt Terry and Grandma Annette!!









From our family to Jo-no: little Nerf throwing things, and punch-balloons.









All the credit goes to Greg for making this party happen. I've been sidelined by Christmas Crazy, and have hardly felt like I've been able to stop and breathe, so I'm so glad that Greg stepped in and made the day special for Jonah.

Our little guy.












We love you, Jo-no.

Christmas countdown

There hasn't been much time to blog lately, because I've been in full out creating mode, completing item after item in what Greg calls my "Out Of Control Gift List". Ha. Well, it's true, actually, but I am a superhuman, after all, who needs no sleep and never becomes grumpy or impatient when short on time or food. ~Insert sarcastic, manic laughter here~

I really can't talk about much of that, because...well, it's all Christmas gifts. Also, if you happen to be one of my parents or siblings, don't go snooping around in my Flickr account, unless you want to spoil the surprises currently flying through the mail to you. Oh wait! Why am I even saying this? None of my siblings read anything I write anyway!

ANYWAY.

Here's something that I CAN show you:




On Friday the boys had Pajama Day at school, so I sewed these Brown Bear themed ones for them the night before (nothing like getting things done Just In The Nick Of Time, right?)

Thursday was pretty busy for me, because besides the laundry, which is always done that day, I also baked for the boys' teachers, and made extra batches of special sweet things for some friends and neighbors:




Included in most of those were:
Maple Brown Butter Shortbread Bars
World Peace Cookies (Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Sables, recipe from a French bakery)
Caramel Corn with Salted Peanuts
Salted Peanut-Peanut-Butter Blondies from Dori Greenspan's Baking: From My Home to Yours

I also made marshmallows from this Bon Appetit recipe, but spread them too thinly in the pan (I think I was distracted -- I've made these before with beautiful results), and they ended up far too awkward and ugly looking to pack up in the gift bags.

Of course I also had to make bread that day, and baked up some banana muffins too, for general snacking. It was sort of a busy day.

For those of you still busy wrapping and packing things up for the Big Day, here's a link to some free PDF downloads for gift tags and the like. Buy a big pack of cardstock from WalMart (about $5), and you're all set for some very cute/elegant results.

I hope all of your Christmas planning and preparation is going along swimmingly, and that you are able to pause from time to time and reflect on the reason we celebrate.

Peace and love to each of you, as this Christmas draws ever closer... (three days and counting...)

Happy birthday, Jonah

Dear Jonah,

One year ago today, you were born into this world. Your daddy had just come home for R&R two days before, mid-deployment, and we were so glad to have the privilege of meeting you together.



(1 week old, the day after your 1st Christmas)

We are so glad that we decided to have a 4th baby, because you, my little friend, are pretty fantastic.


Wearing the first hat I knit for you

Even though I've had three other children, there has been nothing boring about your babyhood to me. I am fascinated by your tiny fat hands, by your expressive face, by your wild, bright smile.


(2 weeks old)



(8 weeks old)

Ever since you were born, I've scarcely stopped kissing the top of your downy head, snuggling in your sweet baby-self.


(3 months old)

It's very hard for me to accept that you're growing up. I've probably cried at every milestone you've had. Here you are, eating your first solid food when you were 5 months old.


(5 months old)

I was probably crying a little as I took that picture. It looks like you were too. Admittedly, it may have been for different reasons.

Soon you'll be entering your toddlerhood, and I know that I need to accept that, but I find myself trying to hang on to your brilliant baby smiles, the drooling kisses you shower me with, trying to fix these moments in my head, knowing that they're all gone and forgotten far too quickly.


(8 months old)



(9 months old)



(11 months)

Today you are 1 year old. You are poised on the doorstep of Little Boy World, and I need to let you grow up. I suppose that's OK.


(1 year old)

Really, I'm just saying that because, as it turns out, there's nothing I can do to stop time. I'm just here for the ride. I love you, little man. I'm so glad that we get to be on this journey together.

Love you forever and ever,
Mommy

Crisp Coconut and Chocolate Pie

Many of you have emailed me requesting the recipe for the chocolate gateau tart that we had on Thanksgiving. Jillian has emailed me the recipe, so here it is! (And, with only 4 ingredients, it couldn't be simpler to make!)






Crisp Coconut and Chocolate Pie

By Martha Stewart in Annual Recipes 2003

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
11 ounces sweetened shredded coconut
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 1/4 cups heavy cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Place butter and 1/3 coconut in the bowl of food processor fitted with the metal blade. Process until mixture forms a ball, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl. Sprinkle remaining coconut over mixture and combine with your fingers.

2. Place 8 inch tart pan with removable bottom on a baking sheet. Press coconut mixyure into bottom and up sides to form crust, leaving the edges loose and fluffy. Place a ring of aluminum foil over edges to prevent burning. Bake until center begins to brown, 10 to 15 minutes; remove foil, and cook until edges are brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

3. Place chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl. Bring cream to just to a boil in small saucepan, and pour over chocolate. Let sit 10 minutes, and then stir until chocolate is melted and combine. When cool, pour into coconut crust. Cover with plastic wrap, and transfer to refrigerator until filling is set, at least 1 hour. Cut into wedges, and serve.





You can get Martha's book on Amazon here:




Enjoy! (And thanks, Jillian, for sharing!)

Happy (very, very, very belated) birthday, Andrew!

Dear Andrew,

On September 3rd, the day before we got on a flight to move back to the US, you turned 6 years old. The past few months have been near constant motion; it's felt like they've raced by in a blur. Now, however, it feels like we're really getting settled here, and I feel like I have it in me to properly write again.



(One year old)

Words fail me when I try to express how much you've changed my life since I met you. I could tell you about how I fell in love with you the minute I first felt you move in my womb. I could tell you that I fell in love all over again once you were born, once I looked into your precious face for the first time. I could go on and on about the things you've taught me, just by being my first baby. Truly, I'm pretty sure you've taught me more than I could ever teach you.


(1-1/2 years old)

I could talk about your eyes, the color of slate and blue; I could mention your perfect little freckled nose. Really though, what matters is that I'm super glad to have you here.


(2-1/2, with Elijah)

It's so great to watch you grow and learn, and to see your personality and character unfold. I love including you in my life, and I love what you add to our family.



(4-1/2 years old)

Yes, it's true that you're now old enough to get annoyed at me for certain things, and you sometimes (often?) want to question my plans for the day, but no matter how much we might frustrate each other from time to time, there's no way around it: I like you. I love you. You're a pretty swell guy.



(6 years old)

Thanks for being you, my little friend.

Love, Mommy