calming, cetering, changing.

We've got signs of Autumn & change raging in and out of our house this week. The nature table had a seasonal refresh, Benjamin built a fantastic plant stand out of scrap wood (in about an hour!) so that we could bring the plants in until Spring, the front porch has been made appropriately festive (the corn stalks are from our garden... the hay bales will be used to winterize the garden) & even dear Shiva the snake is preparing to shed.

The nature table/family altar is ripe with symbolism. Acorns for potential growth, winter squash for bounty and harvest, one of Shiva's previous sheddings for change & release. The Buddha is pretty much a staple year round reminding us to go within and to dance through the world from a place of calm strength. This tiny nook serves as a constantly cycling visual reminder of the changes to come within and without.

We're fully in the mood for Celebrating this season. Though more snow did flurry through here yesterday, Winter is just going to have to wait its turn.

Flannel sheets & hot cocoa.

SNOW!!! Our little house is cozy on the inside and blanketed in beauty on the outside. Delicious. This is the first serious snow of the season. The first snow that calls you to get out and jump around; to sit and gaze away the day at the largest window in the house. Our little family woke up yesterday and celebrated with peanut butter pancakes and homemade soy lattes. A very good day, indeed.

Though the roses are suffering accelerated deaths, I find myself joyful beyond measure. So beautiful!

The changing of the seasons blisses me out. I'll admit that I hope Fall lingers a bit more... but I am content to take what comes our way and make the best of it. Soakin' up the magic:

Freeing the inner child!

Even Miss Shasta was intrigued. She spent much of the day staring out the window and trying to figure out how to catch those annoyingly elusive snowflakes.

Two things are for sure. There were an abundance of smiles filling up our morning & we brought the potted plants indoors just in time (the day before!). Today it seems we are reverting back to the splendorous view of leaves falling, pumpkins on porches and grey skies. Methinks Mama Nature is just fooling with us, though. I predict more snow to come before season's end.

Even more Halloween fun: Boo at the Zoo!

We made it out of the house early Saturday for the trick or treat event at our local zoo. Good thing, too, because it was packed! Sebastian and Mama had a blast (and I dare say even Papa had way more fun than expected). Safe trick or treating, animals, train & carousel rides? What's not to love?

Bas' first lollipop! He finished the first and had the second open and in his mouth before we even realized there was a second.

Carousel fun with Papa!

Okay, okay... Mama was having more fun than most of the kids.

On the go at the zoo playground.

Mama's little hatchling.

Caterpillar wrangler.

Hanging on for dear life!

Can't catch me!

A fantastically fun filled day! In fact, the only tears of the day appeared when it was time to leave... and once settled in the car, he was passed out in seconds. 3 Halloween events down, 1 to go. These events have been a very welcome distraction from the 4 canine teeth working their way through the little guy's gums (Yes! All four at once! It is aawful.). Mama is so appreciative.

Pre-Halloween festivities!

Utah is *NOT* lacking in Halloween celebrations. Just this week we made it to two parties! You will note below that it was very hard to get a picture of Bas as he was zipping around with excitement.

Bas' first mustache: cupcake style!

Too much fun! Can't sit still!

Finally! I caught him just long enough to snap one... & he wiggled like crazy until I let him go.

Yes, he has 2 costumes. I had lofty ideas of painting his face into a Day-of-the-Dead-like skeleton. Reasoning hit just in time and saved us from a big creamy mess. He was completely happy to wear the Elmo costume to the party at the Unitarian church. In one weeks time, Sebastian decided that anything touching his chin or throat is unacceptable. When we dressed him in Elmo for the Little Gym party, much screaming and complaining ensued. Lucky we had the skeleton onesie at hand. So so cute even without the makeup. Halloween might be our fave holiday... We'll let you know after Winter Solstice.

The proper way to eat Mac 'N Cheese.

1. Inspect the goods.

2. Approach with caution.

3. Abandon all caution for the sake of experience.

4. Savor the moment... and reflect.

5. Rate your meal: All smiles = 2 thumbs up!

Mac 'N Cheese was one of Mama's fave treat meals way back when. This kid has good taste. Of course, we wouldn't settle for just any boxed mac. It's gotta be Annie's with chopped veggie dog. Looks like we will be experiencing more of the mac in our future. Next up, we try our hands at the homemade from scratch variety.

An Autumn walk - the many hues of Utah.

The mysterious production of juice.

It's time for the grape harvest!!! We have been enjoying our many varieties of grapes in morning smoothies. As grape season is coming to a close and they are beginning to turn to raisins on the vine, Benjamin proposed a home made juice canning project. Here is just a small portion of the grapes we will/have juice(d). Ignore those silly zucchini... they are the last of the season and always eager to work themselves into any photo op.

We began with many boxes of grapes that looked something like this:

Then it was bath time!

Next, beautiful jars were cleansed & prepared...

just in time for the lovely juice to come:

Hooray! We are now the happy owners of many jars of home made grape juice. Not sure of all varieties used, but concord is the dominant flavor.

This naturally sweet (no sugar added) juice is ready for consumption, to be transformed into jelly... the possibilities are endless. Ben spent a good day and a half in the kitchen pumping out batch after batch. I helped in between caring for and occupying Sebastian. All in all, we ended up with 20 quarts (or 5 gallons). The crazy thing is: there are still loads of grapes on the vines! We are love love loving this harvest.

Autumn sleep takes over.

So, you know how there just isn't enough time in a day...? I can't remember ever really feeling any truth to that saying; until now. We have been filling our days with tiny bits of house cleaning, trips to the park, long walks, soup making & general family time. It is blissful to be spending much of the season's last sunshiny days outside and to just enjoy being together. On the other side of the day, however, I find myself falling asleep while nursing Sebastian to sleep. It would be one thing if he just went to sleep, but he has taken to singing and playing and talking to me for about an hour each night. I love it and cherish the time with him so much. I also miss my mama time. Usually I get some time to myself or with Ben after the kiddo snoozes... but I keep passing out and waking up around midnight. Woohoo. Just in time to brush teeth and hop into my own bed. I guess my body needs the extra sleep these days. I'm blaming it on the season change. The whole point is: I have a camera full of pictures to update this space with and little time to actually post. It's not that I don't want to share what is happening... It's just that I'm too busy living (and catching zzz's) to get them up. I am determined to reclaim my evenings. As I succeed, you will be graced with little visual snippets of our full days.

Autumn Cleanse: Days 6 & 7!

Day 6 fell on a Sunday. Sunday evening is our weekly family dinner with the Dud-in-law and we tend to do up a feast. There was a little part of me dreading Sunday night dinner and whatever delicious food might have been making its way to the table. Lasagna! Ugh... one of my faves. I did a whole lot of meditating around whether or not to partake. After a good self pep talk, I decided that the cleanse would continue after enjoying a little bit of the Sunday feast. I ate light all day Sunday and lost 6 pounds in 5 days. A little lasagna wasn't going to get me down. Benjamin even made a veggie version just for me. I don't think that I have ever truly enjoyed every slow bite of a meal in my life. It was more than savored. I allowed myself a couple glasses of wine. I even succumbed to a taste of chocolate (15 chocolate chips). I woke up this morning and weighed exactly what I did yesterday, so it was totally worth it. I did have a really hard time sleeping last night. Took hours to fall asleep and then I slept in until almost noon. That NEVER happens. Benjamin was sweet enough to allow me some snooze time by getting up and feeding and playing with Sebastian. It will be interesting to notice if my sleep suffers after next Sundays meal.

This is where I cease laying out all I am eating for your viewing displeasure. I don't think that I would find it very interesting to follow someone else's food intake. Plus, I am on track and have a plan. This week of typing it all out has helped me so much to get strong about my goals and to do some much needed self examination. Just know that I'm sticking to the plan & meeting my goals. As those goals are met, I will surely share my excitement. Just 4 more pounds to go until I am back at pre-pregnancy weight. YAY! If I can meet that unattainable feeling goal, the rest is a piece of cake (or maybe a handful of nuts).

Autumn Cleanse: Day 5!

A beautiful day spent with the fam: Decorating the sidewalk with chalk as requested by Sebastian. Tripping on over to the park for some playground fun (Guess whose idea that was!). Watching the chickens. Gathering cherry tomatoes before the frost hits. Harvesting seeds for planting now & next spring. Strolling around the farmers market (2nd to last of the season!) and scoring great deals on veggie + honey. Loving this city. Enjoying every moment of glorious sunshine.

So here is day 5 in cleanse-land:

-whole juice: frozen berries (rasp, blue & marion) blended w/water & ice.

-10 almonds.

-5 dried cherries.

-salad: mixed greens, cherry toms, cucumber, garbanzos, 2 tsp. albacore tuna, 1/2 tsp. olive oil, a touch of basalmic vinegar, 1 tsp. salsa.

-2 Cups mostly veggie soup: carrot, celery, onion, chickie broth, peas, corn, olive oil.

-1 gala apple w/ 1 TBSP. peanut butter.

-2 Cups popcorn (w/ corn oil & salt - no butter).

-1 Cup herbal tea.

-Lots of water.

-Green Vibrance.

-vitamins.

-45 minute walk (20 minutes brisk).

Confession: I don't just have *a* sweet tooth. I have a whole mouth full of them. Carbs have been a major source of comfort that I have been willing to cut back on, but sweets are something I couldn't even fathom not having every day. I'm talking like a couple of squares of chocolate after dinner or a popsicle or ice cream (every few weeks). I am generally mindful about what goes into my family and myself, so they're "quality" sweets. You, know: organic ice cream, dark organic chocolate, whole fruit & juice popsicles. Nice way to fool myself, eh? Sugar is sugar and I know I don't want to be eaten away by it... so cutting back is necessary. What better time than NOW? One of the amazing realizations that have come from this cleanse is that I don't need the sugar. I'm not craving it (other than that peppermint mocha craving... though it isn't as persistent today). The fruit that I am getting is enough to satisfy, is cleaning me out & tastes better than it did when sweets were a daily dealy. There has been weightloss! Talk about a reason to continue... No longer feeling stuck. The happy dance is just beginning.