Our Suburban Homestead

Fresh New Start

2010-10-01T21:49:00.006-04:00

Our Suburban Homestead is starting fresh with a new site and name. Bring your favorite cuppa, and come follow our journey over at Simple Whimsy. This site will remain as an archive of our journey over the last 2.5 years. Thanks for reading!

Two Princesses Take on the Town

2010-09-25T23:18:00.005-04:00

I've been a bit quiet on here the last couple of weeks while we moved and settled into our new home. We have been busy checking out all our new town has to offer, and let me just say that I am very impressed and happy with our decision to move here. One of the highlights has been the Saturday farmers market on the square. Having access to quality, organic, local foods played a part in our decision of where to move, and this town does not disappoint! This morning we headed to the market with two little princesses in tow.

Layla was wearing a dress from when I was little with her princess tiara. It is not uncommon for her to don dress up clothes as regular attire...

Aelyn LOVES riding in the wagon...

The market has an impressive variety of vendors and over 50 stands...

Little taste tester...

Afterward, we hit up Cool Beans Cafe for a tasty lunch...

and some pumpkin spice latte goodness...

On the walk home, Aleyn got a turn at wearing the princess tiara...

Some of our farmers market scores included zucchini, squash, onions, tomatoes, and cashew butter. We also scored some batter of unformed "Goo Balls" from Plant Kingdom Bakery.

...and 100% grass fed ground and stir-fry beef from Green Vista Farm. (Why grass fed you ask? Check out Eat Wild for some good information. And if you haven't yet seen it, you NEED to watch Food, Inc. It will rock your world.)

Autumn Apples

2010-09-22T23:34:00.009-04:00

Today marks the first day of Autumn 2010. Mother nature obviously forgot to check the calendar, because the 80+ degree temperatures were definitely more characteristic of mid July than September for Northeast Ohio. We decided to celebrate this beautiful day by picking apples at a favorite local orchard. Layla picked almost all of the 20 pounds of deliciously crisp and sweet Cortlands on her own. I contributed a few to the bucket but mostly intercepted Aelyn's off-the-ground-oozy-wormy-and-not-so-good-for-eating apples before they joined the harvest. We had planned to gather another 20 pounds of Jonathans as well, but the dark clouds rolled in with thunder and lightning in tow. We thought it best to take what we had and head back to the barn before the skies let loose.
Some pics from the day...

Let the applesauce canning begin!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Milking Milkweed

2010-09-21T23:38:00.003-04:00

Wikipedia Milkweed info
More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom, A Beautiful Mess, and Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Cutie Close-up

2010-09-14T22:39:00.006-04:00

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Free Money

2010-08-30T23:11:00.008-04:00

When Lane arrives home from work each day, he empties out all his pocket change into a large mason jar. Layla recently discovered said jar and has been exploring coins and regularly claiming its contents for her own. She says she is saving up "for something special."

Wordless Wednesday ~ That Looks Yummy...

2010-08-25T01:47:00.001-04:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom, A Beautiful Mess, and Wordless Wednesday.

DayBreak Lavender Farm

2010-08-24T01:09:00.007-04:00

"Here’s your sweet lavender
sixteen sprigs a penny
that you’ll find my ladies
will smell as sweet as any"
~Lavender Sellers’s Cry (London)

Could there be a more perfect day than this? A picnic lunch with friends amongst the heavenly scent of lavender. Free range chickens greeting us as we ate. Tire swings, bare feet, rows of purple, wildflowers, and giggling children. Bliss.

Well, besides the part where the baby put chicken poop in her mouth...
DayBreak Lavender Farm's Site

Knoebels 2010 and Family Visit

2010-08-21T00:23:00.005-04:00

Every summer our family makes a trip to Knoebels Grove Amusement Park. Since our girls are not the best travelers, we gave ourselves extra time and figured we would break up the trip and stay in a hotel when we reached about the half-way point. This would have worked out nicely if the navigator (that would be me) would have been paying attention instead of facebooking on the hubby's iphone. I thought, "follow Rt. 80 for 273 miles" was pretty clear but apparently was mistaken. Instead, I looked up 2 hours later and was seeing signs for Pittsburgh and it's eastern suburbs, because hubby got off of 80 and hopped onto the PA turnpike. This mishap added another hour to the trip. Once we finally made our way diagonally up through the middle of PA to Rt. 80, we found ourselves stopped due to a truck fire. As in engines off and backed up for miles.
"I have to go potty," was then heard from the backseat. Perfect!! (sarcasm). So- Layla got to have her first "pee beside the road" experience.

We did finally make it to Knoebels although it was much, much, later than anticipated. We met up with some of the family and had a great time riding rides and eating some park treats. Aelyn mostly hung out in the Ergo while Layla tore. the. place. up. She went on the biggest and craziest rides that she was allowed- even the Paratrooper twice in a row.

Since my mom had just had her double mastectomy, her and my dad were unable to make it this year. We spent the night in another hotel and then headed south to spend the rest of the weekend with them. While there, Aelyn got to celebrate her birthday for a second time and received some lovely gifts. One of her favorites is this step stool made by my dad (finishing touches courtesy of my mom).

The rest of our visit was pretty low-key. My parents have a wonderful yard for the girls to play in and explore. Layla loved having her cousin Skyler around to play with...

Layla always amazes us with her ability to find the tiniest things. Here she was showing "Poppy" a cicada shell that she found.

Afterward, there was some garden harvesting.

Layla consumed this tomato, a green pepper, and 5 banana peppers during the process.

Skyler really wanted to play chess with Layla, but it was a bit over her head. He had to settle for some intense games with uncle Lane instead.

After a rough night of sleep on a deflated air mattress, we ended our visit with breakfast at the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant. This is one of those touristy type places that, growing up in the area, we never really visited. The motel rooms are all converted train cars, and the same goes for the restaurant section. Layla thought this was the neatest idea and wanted to unload the suitcases immediately.

Perhaps we'll have to make reservations during our next visit...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Layla and the Ice Cream Cone

2010-08-11T00:52:00.001-04:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom, A Beautiful Mess, and Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-04T00:03:00.003-04:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom, A Beautiful Mess, and Wordless Wednesday.

From Chaos to Organization and Back Again

2010-08-02T22:50:00.002-04:00

It wasn't long ago that I was a somewhat naturally organized person. Clutter is an area that causes me a great deal of stress. I like my books organized neatly by size, cds in alphabetical order, my clothes folded a certain way and then put in the drawer in a similar fashion. I like symmetry and bare surfaces. When I got married, I quickly learned that my husband's brain just did not work the same way, and I would need to let go of a bit of my obsessiveness if our marriage was going to survive beyond the first month. And then we had our girls. And with children came more stuff. And more stuff became clutter...
Today, I thought I would attempt to bring a bit of order to one of my personal clutter areas- my sewing notion drawer. This is what it looked like before...

I made a run to Joanne's with the girls this morning and got one of these...

And while the girls were napping, I purged and added a few things to the donate bin. The items that I use on a more regular basis were mixed and matched into a configuration that worked..

during which time Aelyn woke up from her nap...

Hail and Well Met!

2010-08-01T22:58:00.009-04:00

To the shire of Avonloch we traversed this morn (aka. the Great Lakes Medieval Faire in Rock Creek, OH)- Lords and ladies, knights, fairies, and pirates too!

Layla's friend Cece joined us for a fun-filled day of riding, gaming, wandering, and eating of vittles.

The girls opted not to ride him but were happy to watch and inspect Joshua the camel. The camel wrangler (not sure what his official title would be) was eager to answer their questions, mostly of which were "hump" related.

The theme of the weekend was "Pirate Invasion." The girls found this guy (on the right) and thought this lonely pirate needed a little cuddle...

Good food, great music, unique craftsman and artisans- it was almost too much to see in one day. We definitely need to return to take in more of the shows, displays, and jousting events!

Until then, Layla has already brought much of the experience into her play at home. From fairy stones to treasure maps, I forsee many glittery and swashbuckling adventures in our future!

We Love Blueberries!

2010-08-01T01:47:00.003-04:00

Fresh, plump, and juicy, or crispy, crunchy, and deyhdrated- We just can't seem to keep blueberries around for long.

Every time I see these blue tinged faces, I think of Violet Beauregarde from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. "You're turning violet, Violet!"

I'm THAT Mom, He's THAT Dad

2010-07-29T22:12:00.005-04:00

I'm joining in on Ronni's impromptu blog carnival found at the Blog of the Zombie Princess.

I'm THAT mom...
~the mom walking down the street wearing a baby and holding hands with the little girl in a mismatched outfit- because she likes to dress herself.
~the one who clears a path through the downstairs so there is more room for the tricycle to pass through.
~The mom who, when her daughter says, "I'm just going to your room to jump on the big bed," helps by removing the comforter so there's more room to jump- Because her daughter's sensory needs are more important than her desire for wrinkle free sheets.
~the mom who, although is naturally modest and isn't one to "whip it out", will nurse her baby/toddler anytime or anywhere the need arises. Because her baby/toddler's comfort and/or nutrition needs trump the comfort level of the westernized breastfeed-a-phobic general public.
~the mom who gets the "hairy eyeball" from the little old lady because she lets her daughter make "monster's drink" or "monster's food" with the restaurant leftovers.
~the mom who is uncomfortable in even the most minor conflict situation but stands her ground when it comes to questioning or rebelling against mainstream parenting and medical practices for the sake of her girls.
~the mom who royally screws up on a regular basis but isn't afraid to apologize and ask forgiveness.
~the mom who still has a long way to go on her mindful and authentic parenting journey but knows her girls are worth the effort.

And He's THAT Dad...
~the dad who makes chocolate chip pancakes and green eggs with his daughter, the little chef.
~the dad who drops everything as soon as he walks through the front door from work to give his girls a hug and kiss.
~the dad who's up with the fussy baby from 3-5am so "THAT mommy" can get a few hours of sleep.
~the dad wearing a pink boa dancing around the living room with a little ballerina princess.
~the dad who stops at the grocery store on his way home from work to get ingredients to make fruit juice jello; something new his little girl saw in a book and would like to make.
~the dad reading Green Eggs and Ham for the 123456789th time because it makes her smile

We're THOSE parents...
~the ones happily crammed into one big ol' family bed
~the ones who choose not to spank or put their kids in time-out
~the ones who don't freak-out about eating dessert first
~the ones who would rather have mommy stay home than to keep the house
~the ones who couldn't be more thankful for a life as blessed than the one they have.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Peek A Boo

2010-07-28T00:11:00.002-04:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom, A Beautiful Mess, and Wordless Wednesday.

Birthday Baby!

2010-07-26T23:55:00.010-04:00

One whole year!

Check out the skills... (She took her first step right after this picture was taken)

Glamma came to celebrate your special day with us.

We fired up the grill for shishkabobs...

Layla helped make your zucchini cake...

and also completed the decorating...

Pretty tasty!

Present time...

A little wooden gnome and his home...

and Mommy needle felted a pretty pink wool ball for you...

Glamma brought you a new pushcart. Look out, coming through...

Dearest baby girl,
You turned one year old today. I'm emotionally torn about how to feel about this. I love watching you grow and learn, but time seems to be flying by way too fast. You are definitely a mommy's girl, and I cherish every moment. Some of the highlights of the last few months include getting your first tooth on March 19th with 5 more quickly to follow. You figured out a wiggly worm army type crawl at 8 months which developed into an almost unexplainable "bear run" that you still prefer to use. You started standing toward the end of April and now even let go for 15-20 seconds at a time. And today you took your first step! You like to walk by pushing the dining room chairs along the floor and can say and Mama, Dada, more, and bah (Ball). You've started using some sign language too, which your big sister loves sharing with you. Since our attempted introduction of solids, we've had a roller coaster ride of problems which warrants it's own post. Suffice it to say, we took a break from those for several months. Since your doctors gave the green light to try again, you have had a variety of table foods but are still getting the majority of your nourishment from nursing. Mama's milk is obviously sustaining you quite well, as you are holding steady at the 92nd percentile.
Aelyn, I love you. I love to watch the special bond that you share with your sister grow stronger each day. I love how you jump in excitement when you hear daddy's footsteps hit the porch after his day at work. I love our shared cuddles all night long. I love how you reach your chubby little arms up high for a mama snuggle. I especially love getting kisses- even opened mouth drooly ones. I love you and can't wait to see what new adventures we get to experience together.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Wave Watching

2010-07-21T00:05:00.002-04:00

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Farmers Market Days

2010-07-19T22:34:00.006-04:00

With two farmers markets and two CSA (community supported agriculture) pickup nights, there's really no excuse not to be eating fresh, delicious, locally grown foods when living in Lakewood. Walking to the market with our wagon in tow, visiting and learning from the many vendors, and exploring the seasonal variety of food is a wonderful and connecting experience that I look forward to sharing with my girls each week. Layla loves to smell the handmade soaps and herbs, and the local raw honey is a must-have. This week we stockpiled zucchini for side dishes and homemade bread.

Check 'em out:
North Union Farmers Market
Lakewood Farmers Market- New this year
Lakewood Earth and Food Community- CSA pickups on Wednesday nights at the library and Thursday nights at The Root Cafe.
Don't live locally? Check the Organic Consumers Association or Pick Your Own for fresh food and local goodies near you.

Wordless Wednesday ~A Layla- made Sandwich

2010-07-14T08:02:00.003-04:00

Homemade bread with blackberries- Yum!
More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 minutes for Mom, A Beautiful Mess, and Wordless Wednesday.

Guess What!?

2010-07-11T22:59:00.004-04:00

We're moving...again. With hubby's job demanding more of our evening family time, we really had to evaluate our current location. With the places his job is taking him, we felt the need to find a place more centrally located to his service area to allow more time together as a family. After a lot of research and discussion, we've decided to relocate to Medina, about 40 minutes south. This was a huge and difficult decision for us, as we have so many wonderful friends and fantastic community here in Lakewood. After settling on a location, we found a house that met all of our needs perfectly. It's an adorable single family in walking distance to the town square and has a large secluded backyard for our outdoorsy family. We won't be moving for another couple months, but I'll post more pictures, details, and updates as we get closer to the date. Here are a few pictures. (Obviously, this is not our furniture). We are looking forward to the next step in our life adventure.

Knots

2010-07-11T21:40:00.008-04:00

No string, ribbon, cord, necklace, measuring tape, belt... you name it, is safe from the hands of Layla. Her latest fascination comes in the form of knot tying. Having never seen a child so engrossed by this type of activity, I asked Ms. Roberta at the parent-child Waldorf program if she has ever seen other little ones do this. She explained that knot tying and wrapping of string are usually viewed as an indication that a child is connected to their environment. As evidenced by the pictures, Layla must be an extremely connected child!

Independence Day Weekend

2010-07-08T23:47:00.003-04:00

This year, we were blessed to spend the holiday weekend with my parents. My mom was excited to get away for a mini vacation before her big surgery next week and spend some time with the grandbabies. We took it easy and enjoyed the local happenings...

We stopped into the Root Cafe for some coffee...

Visited several of the cutesy quirky shops around town...

Enjoyed the Fourth of July parade...

Did a bit of splashin'...

A bit of swingin'...

A little teapartyin'...

A little fireworks watchin'...

and had an all around nice time.
Hope you all had a fun and safe fourth!

Sherbet Sky

2010-06-27T22:04:00.005-04:00

These are unaltered photos of this evening's sky. What an awesome painter mother nature is!

Wordless Wednesdays ~ Splish Splashin' Summer Fun

2010-06-23T01:07:00.002-04:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom, A Beautiful Mess and Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Family Sprinkler Fun

2010-06-16T01:47:00.003-04:00

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Beach Babies

2010-06-13T23:55:00.004-04:00

A photo story...

Birdhouse Makeover...

2010-06-10T23:36:00.003-04:00

One room efficiency apartment available. No cats allowed. 3 Year old landlord is anxiously awaiting new tenant.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Feeding the Lorikeets

2010-06-09T00:52:00.003-04:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom, A Beautiful Mess, and Wordless Wednesday.

I promise I will get back to posting more frequently again soon. Our home computer went kaput so I've been sharing my hubby's work laptop- usually late at night after the girls are asleep. I can't wait to share some of the adventures that we have experienced lately. Stay tuned...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Little Drummer Girl

2010-06-02T01:03:00.002-04:00

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Wordless Wednsday ~ "Whatcha Lookin' At, Layla?"

2010-05-26T00:53:00.003-04:00

"A worm. It's Beautiful."

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Layla and the Strawberry

2010-05-19T00:33:00.003-04:00

More Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Children's Museum

2010-05-16T23:09:00.006-04:00

Last week, The girls and I took advantage of having the car while hubby was out of town for a work training. We met up with some friends for some lunch at Tommy's in Coventry Village before heading to the Children's Museum of Cleveland.
Some pics of another fun-filled day...

Wordless Wednesday ~ I'm Gonna Get Ya!

2010-05-12T00:17:00.002-04:00

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Storm Damage

2010-05-10T21:54:00.010-04:00

Friday evening, we were leaving Borders and heading to our car. There was a light rain and quite a bit of wind, so my sweet husband offered to go and get the car which was parked about a state away (slight exaggeration). Layla was loving the wind and the puddles, so we opted to brave the weather and make the trek. We got about halfway to the car... and surprise! The skies opened up and layed down the storm of the century. Unable to see through the pelting rain, but with no where else to go, we made our way in the direction of our car. Both girls were screaming (the rain literally hurt), but we somehow managed to blindly find our way. I nursed a sopping wet baby while Lane consoled Layla until the storm passed. We followed the lightning home and found the local news crew recording the new local river formerly known as Clifton Blvd. Warm jammies and a toasty bed never felt so good.

It wasn't until the next morning while driving around town that we realized just how much damage had been done. We had to turn around 3 different times due to blocked streets and downed power lines. Huge trees were down everywhere we looked. They littered the roads, and sadly many homes. One family came home to the back half of their house completely torn off by a giant oak tree. Fortunately, we only had some siding come loose and tree limbs scattered in the backyard. I took these pictures from the car window while we were driving around town...

Smash! a branch went through the back window of this car...

The picture quality is terrible, but a tree took down the entire front porch and part of the roof of this house...

What most of the roads looked like...

Downed trees littered the local park (many areas were closed for safety)...

This is what many of the front yards on the north end of town looked like...

Even with all the damage, we can be ever so thankful that nobody was killed or even slightly injured. It has been beautiful to see the community around us coming together to help their neighbors.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Flower Soup

2010-05-05T00:20:00.002-04:00

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Wordless Wednesday ~ Going Vertical

2010-04-27T23:16:00.004-04:00

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Where there are flowers, There fairies are!

2010-04-26T00:13:00.006-04:00

After meeting with some friends for breakfast on Friday, we headed to a grassy field to let the kiddos play. Layla, Aelyn, and I hung around long after after everyone else departed for home. What a blessing it is to spend peaceful and magical moments like these with my girls.

Layla was on a quest to find "the most beautiful" of the wildflowers...

Aelyn inchwormed along the grass and found all sorts of treasures to put in her mouth.

We scavenged the area for branches and sticks and built a pretend campfire. Dandelions doubled as the golden flames and also as marshmallows for roasting.

The longer tree limbs were used to build a lean-to, and Layla determined that the campfire needed to be moved inside.

We have been reading Cicely Mary Barker's "Flower Fairies" poems, and Layla decided this was a perfect house for the flower fairies to sleep.

We then laid back on a bed of grass and watched the clouds roll past.

No need for journeying,
Seeking afar:
Where there are flowers,
There fairies are!
~ from "Where" by Cicely Mary Barker

A Lovely Day

2010-04-22T00:10:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, the girls and I met a fun and like-minded family at the library. Layla thoroughly enjoyed playing with their two little girls, while their mom and I conversed about health, whole foods, grain sprouting, homeschooling/life learning, and other common interests that we found we were both passionate about. Today we met up with them at the park and spent the day picnicking, playing and exploring.

A lovely day in pictures...

Happy baby girl.

Food and friends

I forgot a knife to cut our avocado, so this was my surprisingly successful attempt using an expired grocery store card a la Macgyver.

Going for a drive...

Kite flying attempt= Fail. (I cannot remember another time when there has been no wind coming off the lake.)

Skipping (more like plopping) stones on Lake Erie

Checking out the lake and downtown Cleveland

Snack break before heading home.

If anyone gets the Cleveland Plain Dealer, could you please let me know if Aelyn's picture gets printed? The newspaper photographer couldn't resist her hammy cuteness. :o)

Wordless Wednesday ~ Rainy Day Stroll

2010-04-21T00:08:00.006-04:00

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Easter Recap

2010-04-15T21:39:00.005-04:00

Our Easter celebration with family was a week delayed this year. We traveled across the very. wide. state. of PA this past weekend and enjoyed some much needed family time.

We headed to the park on Saturday morning and observed my nephew and his baseball team in action. It was ridiculously cold. We froze. However, this gave me a reason to cuddle with my sweet girls on the bleachers...

We ate lots of delicious food, and spent quality time with family...

Layla was fascinated by all of the beautiful spring flowers. She picked the flower beds practically bare and made bouquets to "make Grammy so happy." Of course, no Easter celebration would be complete without an egg hunt...

This time spent together was especially meaningful to our family this Easter. My mom was recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and started chemo treatments last month. She has a long battle of chemo, surgery (double mastectomy w/ lymphnode removal), radiation, and finally hormone therapy ahead. We are so thankful to have another holiday spent together.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Playing Dress Up...

2010-04-14T00:26:00.002-04:00

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Planting Seeds...

2010-04-08T10:02:00.007-04:00

Living in Northeast Ohio, we are still in the planning stages for our outdoor garden. Layla has been stoked to get the garden party under way, so last Friday, the girls and I started some of our indoor herb seeds. Layla helped with every step, and Aelyn enjoyed observing and playing in a bit of the dirt (even tasting a little too).

Adding the water to expand and breakup the peat pellets...

Chopping and mixing the peat...

Layla's favorite part... planting time!

Layla has been helping to keep the soil moist with a spray bottle. We already have our first baby sproutlings...

When I see that first, minuscule, curled, pale green wisp
of a sprout poking up between a couple of grains of
vermiculite, I hear God speaking.
- June Santon, "Miracle in a Dixie Cup," Greenprints #44

Wordless Wednesday ~ "Super Higher, Super Faster!!"

2010-04-07T00:25:00.001-04:00

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Wordless Wednesday ~ Backyard Picnic

2010-03-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

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Things That Make Me Go Mmmmmm...

2010-03-29T11:05:00.003-04:00

Enjoying a yummy cuppa with my girl...

Layla LOVES her Peppermint tea...

Spelt berry and fennel salad- Mmmmmmm....

Delicious comfort on a drizzly day.

It's a Ladybug!!

2010-03-25T23:19:00.005-04:00

"Mama!!! Look!! It's a Ladybug!! On my rocking horse!! Hold it for me, please?"

We examined our new friend and then set him free outside so he could "eat lots of leaves."

I hope this excitement and enthusiasm never fades.

Wordless Wednesday ~ A Day at the Park

2010-03-24T00:17:00.003-04:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Chewable Baby Cheek

2010-03-17T00:02:00.005-04:00

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What's Inside My Acorns?

2010-03-15T20:45:00.005-04:00

Layla's simple question turned into a whole family learning experience. She brought a handful of acorns over to daddy to open and examined them excitedly.

The outer shells separated from the nut meats...

I just love her excitement and curiosity shown in this video...

We learned that sometimes bugs live and eat the inside of acorns, and that ones with a little hole have been infested with an acorn weevil. (Layla said "eww" to that.) We found out that many animals such as birds, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and other rodents eat them, but they are poisonous to other animals. People will get sick (large amounts=kidney damage) unless they are processed to remove the poisonous tannic acid. Making acorn flour looks like a long process, but might be fun to try come fall. We also learned that they are the nut of an oak tree, and given the right conditions, will grow into a tree. Layla was super excited about that, and immediately had to go outside to plant some.

Thrice Welcome, Kindly Spring!

2010-03-13T19:24:00.004-05:00

"...But, thrice welcome, kindly spring,
With the myriad gifts you bring!
Not too hot nor yet too cold,
Graciously your charms unfold--
Oh, your days are like the dreaming
Of those nights which love beseems,
And your nights have all the seeming
Of those days of golden dreams!
Heaven smiles down on earth, and then
Earth smiles up to heaven again!" ~Eugene Field

Wordless Wednesday ~ Making Applesauce

2010-03-10T01:08:00.002-05:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom and and Wordless Wednesday.

Layla's First Haircut

2010-03-04T21:34:00.005-05:00

No more hair in the food bowls, hair stuck in shirt sleeves, starter dreadlocks after every sleep, or hair stuck in the wheels of her toys... After 3.5 years, Layla finally had her first haircut. We asked her how she felt about cutting her hair, and she responded with excitement. Unfortunately, that excitement faded about halfway through the cut. A calm and creative Daddy stepped in and was able to keep her occupied with some favorite books and snacks while Mama snipped away.

9 inches in the ponytail plus about 2 more inches on the floor. It turned out a hair shy of the 10" needed to donate to locks of love.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Tummy Time

2010-03-03T01:43:00.003-05:00

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What's Cooking? ~ Millet Squares

2010-03-02T13:48:00.003-05:00

Super simple and oh so delicious!
Only 3 ingredients...
Millet, water and maple syrup (or honey)
Toast 3 Cups of millet over medium heat in a large pot (Just a few minutes)
Add 6 Cups of water with 1/3 cup of maple syrup or honey. Mix it all together and bring it all to a boil. Once boiling do not stir. Cover and reduce the heat to a simmer for about 20-25 minutes (or until all the water is absorbed). Press the mixture into a 9x13 pyrex baking dish. Let it cool and enjoy! Layla and I enjoyed these served with some veggies and red beet eggs.

Bella Luna Toys Giveaway!

2010-02-24T19:55:00.005-05:00

One of our favorite natural and waldorf inspired toy stores is hosting a giveaway through Wee Folk Art. Check the link for a chance to bring some beautiful, natural, and open-ended playthings to your home.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Just Me and My Shadow...

2010-02-24T01:24:00.003-05:00

Find more wordless wednesdays at 5 minutes for mom and Wordless Wednesday.

A Sisterly Bond

2010-02-23T14:22:00.004-05:00

From the day Aelyn was born, Layla has claimed her as her baby. It has been the sweetest thing to see the bond between these two grow each and every day. After putting Aelyn down for her morning nap yesterday, I thought I would grab a quick shower. She usually sleeps for about 2 hours at this time. However, after getting the shampoo all through my hair, I heard Aelyn wake up screaming. I opened the shower curtain thinking that I was going to have to dart down the hall in my towel while dripping soap and water along the way. Instead I saw Layla, in a blur of yellow cupcake footy pajamas, get up from her book pile just outside the bathroom door and run down the hall to rescue her baby. "I coming Peanut! Don't worry! I Here. Go back to nigh-nights. Shhh..."

Silence.

Layla came trotting back to her pile of books and said, "I give Aelyn her binky. I love Aelyn."

I can only pray that this sisterly bond continues to grow and blossom over the years.

House of Horrors

2010-02-18T22:15:00.001-05:00

We have a house full of sickies here. Be back soon!

Wordless Wednesday - Hula Hoopin' Hilarity

2010-02-17T01:32:00.000-05:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Shoveling Snow...

2010-02-10T08:45:00.006-05:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Expanding the Flavor Spectrum

2010-02-03T00:42:00.006-05:00

2/1/09 Aelyn's first taste of solid food (if you can call smashed and liquefied banana a solid)...

More Wordless Wednesdays at Five Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

6 Months - So much Baby to Love...

2010-02-01T21:39:00.002-05:00

Aelyn hit the 6 month milestone on the 26th and had her check-up last Thursday.

Stats:
Height 27" 89th percentile
Weight 19lbs 94th percentile

This post has been delayed due to all of us battling nasty winter colds resulting in a not-so-happy baby girl who needed lots of cuddles (i.e. don't even think about putting me down, or I'm going to scream horrible sounds at your face Mama!). I am so thankful for my wraps, as carrying around 19 pounds of baby can tire out the biceps pretty fast. We have enjoyed listening to all Aelyn's new vocal explorations. Bababababa and cute little gurgles are now part of our daily conversations. Besides having a rocky week, she is one happy baby. But nobody can make her laugh quite like her big sister.
Case in point...

Aelyn rolled from her belly to her back on Jan 1st, and recently made some attempts at the opposite. Any attempt at placing her on her belly results in mad screaming, so I think that was the initial motivation for rolling. She can sit, bend in half, and right herself more each day, although we still have the typical toppling over.

We recently set up her new crib in a side car arrangement to our bed. We only have a full size right now, so this option has allowed us to continue happily co-sleeping with our whole little family. Our favorite nicknames for our baby girl are peanut and pixie baby. Why pixie baby? Have you seen those ears? They're either pixie or vulcan, so we figured we'd go with the nicer of the two. No, really she just has those perfect little pixie-like features. We've had others comment on how pixie-like she looks too.

Baby girl,
You are beautiful beyond words and we love having you in our lives. We enjoy each gurgle and coo and can't wait to see what fun you bring to us next.
Love Mommy, Daddy, and Layla

Fiber Arts Friday ~ New Felting Projects

2010-01-29T10:25:00.005-05:00

Some of the needle felting projects I have made recently...

This sweet little woodland girl makes her home in a fun and whimsical mushroom. This play set is entirely needle felted using corriedale wool and dyed alpaca fiber. I am having so much fun making these imaginative little playscapes! This set will be going in the etsy shop this afternoon.

I made this needle felted lady for our seasonal table.

I added some more felted balls to the store too...

Check out more fiber arts creations at Fiber Arts Friday's new home... Wisdom Begins in Wonder

Wordless Wednesday ~ Mommy's Little Helper

2010-01-27T01:48:00.003-05:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

The View from My Pillow...

2010-01-25T21:23:00.004-05:00

There are many benefits to (safely) co-sleeping, but I think my favorite is the view from my pillow...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Winter Nature Collecting

2010-01-20T00:58:00.002-05:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5minutes4mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Prioritizing

2010-01-18T20:19:00.008-05:00

Layla picks out her clothes pretty much every day. This usually results in some interesting outfits, but it gives her some ownership in decision making and makes her happy. Recently, she went to her closet and pointed to a yellow dress and said, "Mommy, I want to be a beautiful princess today." I wrestled with this for a moment. In my mind this was a very nice dress- something to be worn for a special occasion- not necessarily appropriate for lollygagging around the house. But we didn't have any upcoming "special" events planned, and she will be busting out of that 3T size pretty soon. And as I thought about it, I realized that every day I have with my girls should be a special occasion deemed worthy of beautiful princess attire. So on went the beautiful princess dress and our day continued. Later, Layla and I were dancing and singing around the living room. Thoughts of my to-do list started entering my head. "Oh, I should go switch the laundry, I need to get supper started...". I stopped dancing to plan which item needed crossed off the list first. Layla looked at me (with those HUGE eyeballs) and asked why I wasn't dancing with her. And I realized, in that moment, dancing and singing with my beautiful princess was the most important item on my to-do list.

Beautiful Princess Rockin' Out...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Gratuitous Baby Cuteness

2010-01-13T09:02:00.005-05:00

And a little video...

Visit Five Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday for more wordless photo fun!

To Market, To Market...

2010-01-09T23:15:00.005-05:00

One of the neatest places Cleveland has to offer is the West Side Market. This place is a feast for the senses and great for any shopper looking for quality on a budget. Organic produce, free range, hormone free meats, fair trade coffee and tea, local dairy, bulk grains, spices, gourmet foods, and so much more await intrepid shoppers.

Some of our top picks include The Basketeria for crazy affordable, organic, locally grown produce, and Boutros Brothers is the only place we buy pineapples (I have no idea how they get them so deliciously sweet).

D.W. Whitaker's is the place for natural, hormone free, free range, pork and poultry, while Dionne's is the go-to for delicious variety flavored chicken and turkey sausages- a summertime grilling favorite.

Urban Herbs carries bulk grains, beans, spices, a gazillion different types of sea and seasoning salts with super friendly service.

Once the necessities are taken care of, some of our favorite splurges include an organic, fair trade cuppa from City Roast Coffee and Tea, the ever amazing breakfast pierogis from Pierogi Palace, and Dichotomy Popcorn from Campbell's.

Oh, and I can't forget the mixed dried fruit and veggies from Mena's- They swear there's no added sugar, but I've never tasted any dried fruit so tasty sweet.
We haven't run into a single unpleasant vendor at the market, and most are quick to share samples (especially with Layla!).

As a baby wearing family, the rarely used stroller acts as our grocery cart.

These are just a few of our favorites, but there is so much more phenomenal food there- much that we haven't tried yet. Each visit, we like to find something new and different to try. On this trip, we got some lamb meat, cucumber sauce, and thick pita to make gyros. Yummo!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Photo Meme

2010-01-06T08:55:00.004-05:00

Connie from Thoughts of Creativity Bubbling Over tagged me for this photo Meme. By explaining the picture, it's probably more of a Wordful than Wordless Wednesday, but hey.
Rules:

* open the 2nd picture folder in your computer.
* open the 3rd picture folder in that folder and post it on your blog.
* explain the picture.
* tag 4 other bloggers to do the same (you can notify them in their comments section)

This pic was taken on 2/19/2008. I was watching Layla's little buddy "Ben Ben" (as she calls him), and Layla decided he needed a hair brushing. He was such a good sport about it too!

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5min4mom and WW.

2010 Word of the Year

2010-01-04T09:40:00.009-05:00

I have never really done resolutions before, but this year I was thinking about some goals I would like to strive for and noticed that most of those goals could be summed up in one word...

Mindful: The state or quality of being attentive; aware; intentional, purposeful.

In 2010 (and beyond), I would like to focus on being more Mindful:

Mindful in my relationships- With my husband, kids, family, friends, and strangers

Mindful as a mother- being truly present in moments as they are happening, bringing more peace to my home, slowing down and focusing on the process rather than the immediate outcome, mindfully accepting my children as the beings they are and where they are on their life journey.

Mindful in eating- being attentive to the history of the food I am consuming, buying local and fair trade foods, growing my own, preparing more food myself, being attentive to my body's cues of hunger and fullness

Mindful in living- being attentive to the history of stuff I am consuming, being attentive to how my choices impact the lives of others, shopping local and fair trade, re-purposing items, reducing the clutter in my life (mentally and physically)

I think I like this idea of having a one word goal for the year. It's like having a focused theme for my life that encompasses more than a short list is able. Here's to a more mindful 2010!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T10:19:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Layla and the Snowman: A Photo Story

2009-12-23T10:21:00.005-05:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5minutes4mom and WW.

Babywearing Mamas Getting Their Groove On...

2009-12-22T14:04:00.002-05:00

This is just too much fun not to share!

Sorry Beyonce, I like these lyrics more than the original.

A Family Picture ~ How Hard Could It Be?

2009-12-20T22:22:00.004-05:00

We only need 4 people to look at the camera at the same time. It couldn't possibly be that difficult. Could it?

I guess this last pic is as good as we're going to get. A little dose of reality.

Our Suburban Homestead on Etsy!!

2009-12-18T09:53:00.006-05:00

All Etsy systems are go for the new shop. I have some of my wet and needle felted projects up, but I still have lots more to post. Here's a sneak peek at two nursing covers that should be up by the end of the today...

For more Fiber Arts Fridays, visit Alpaca Farm Girl.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Peaceful Pixie

2009-12-16T09:39:00.002-05:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5min4mom and WW.

Fiber Arts Friday ~ Sew Busy...

2009-12-11T08:48:00.006-05:00

I've been sewing and crafting during any free moments I am able to get lately. I've been talking about an Etsy store for about a year now, and now that we're finding our groove with the new baby, things are finally in motion. Here is just a sample of some recent projects that I have been working on for the new store...

Here is a nursing cover that I recently made at a friend's request. It is made with a natural linen material with a felt applique.

close-up of the applique

Perfect for the modest mom and those with babies that like to check out the surrounding activity while nursing. The fabric provides ample coverage on both the front and sides for discreet nursing. The straps are easily adjustable using the attached D rings. These will be available in various fabric prints or can be made with a custom applique design.

Peek-a-boo

The perfect addition to an imaginative child's playroom: A play cape- become a superhero, a gnome, a witch, a wizard...

Miss Gabby modeling the one I made for her Birthday in August

Lastly, I acquired bunches of new and fabulous wool and alpaca fleece with which I have been busy wet and needle felting.

Some of the decorative wet and needle felted wool balls I made this week...

Not pictured are the waldorf inspired baby dolls (made from my own patterns) and my all natural handmade soaps (some examples can be seen in this post) which will also be available. Other items may pop up as my crafting interests are constantly expanding!

Find more Fiber Arts Fridays at Alpaca Farm Girl

Decking Our Halls

2009-12-10T09:09:00.003-05:00

We had planned on decorating the house last weekend, but both hubby and I were battling, and might I add losing to, the worst. stomach bug. ever. By Sunday, Lane was feeling well enough to venture out with Layla to get a tree, and we have slowly been decorating throughout the week. We haven't gotten to the outside yet, but the smell of the tree, the garland, the glimmer of the advent wreath, and sounds of Christmas music inside have us in the holiday mood.

Layla picking out a tree (she is wearing what she calls her "awesome pants").

This was my 4th attempt at decorating the railing. I, of course, was like "Oh man, try again". But Layla thought it was simply "lovely Mama!"

This is the first year Layla is really excited about Christmas and the advent celebration. She was dancing all around the tree exclaiming "I got my kistmas tree."

Aelyn helped with the decorating too...

The finished tree. It's much lovelier in real life. My pictures didn't take so well in the dark.

And the 5th and final attempt at the railing...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Just a Swingin'

2009-12-09T08:50:00.004-05:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5min4mom and WW.

Our Baby Girl is 4 Months Old!

2009-12-03T11:48:00.002-05:00

Aelyn turned 4 months old on Thanksgiving day and had her 4 month visit on Tuesday.
Here are the stats:
Length- 26 inches 95%
weight- 16 pounds of roly poly cuteness 92%
Head size- 75%

Sweet baby girl,
We love you more and more every day. Overall, you are an extremely happy baby girl. We love to listen to your coos and squeals. You love to be cuddled and just melt into our arms when we hold you. You love to snuggle close to mommy in your wrap and be a part of whatever action is going on around you. You and your big sister seem to already have formed a special bond, and you are happy to receive the millions of kisses Layla, Mommy, and Daddy give you daily. Lately, you have been perfecting your reaching and grabbing skills. You can get a hold of many things now (especially mommy's hair, necklaces, and dinner plates) and immediately pull them to your mouth to test the flavor. Nursing is definitely one of your favorite activities, as can be seen by the fantastic sausage rolls you have for legs. You (usually) only get up one time during the night to eat and have thankfully started going back to sleep instead of having a 2 hour party afterwards. This makes for a much happier mommy come morning. Laying on your sheepskin while staring at the sky, tree branches, and shadows is another favorite of yours. And once you figure out how to get your arm out of the way, you will be rolling all over the place. Baby girl, we love you so much and cherish every moment we are blessed to spend with you.
Love,
Mommy, Daddy, and Layla

Wordless Wednesday ~ Our Masked Avenger

2009-12-02T09:23:00.001-05:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5min4mom and WW.

2 tanks of gas- $50, Hundreds of miles of Turnpike Tolls- $40...

2009-11-30T21:16:00.000-05:00

Spending the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with family- Priceless.

Layla and cousin Skyler exploring cousin Heidi's farm

My maternal Grandparents

Layla and Skyler on the trampoline

Aelyn and Grammy (My mom)

Aelyn taking a nap on Poppy (My dad)

Aelyn trying to eat Mommom's (my paternal grandmother) finger at the Diner

Layla enjoying a lemon at Sunday brunch

Wordless Wednesday ~ Bubbles & Cheeks!

2009-11-25T09:21:00.003-05:00

More Wordless Wednesday at 5min4mom and WW.

It's the Simple Things...

2009-11-24T09:50:00.004-05:00

This weekend we made a spontaneous trip over to western PA to visit the hubby's family. We are able to check out a bit of the "Art Attack" the community held in various shops around the town. Lane's dad displayed some of his nature photography and had his book for sale at the local coffee shop and cafe.

Lane's step-mom had her pencil drawings of historical landmarks on display there as well.

However, the highlight of the trip for Layla was the CORN! Yes, it's the simple things in life that make my daughter happy.

She shucked away the day with grandma...

and proceeded to remove each individual kernel from the cob.

This kept her busy for the car ride home too!

We now have lots of dried corn kernels for feeding the squirrels, waldorf type playtime, and montessori practical life activities (like transferring by scooping, tweezers, and sorting). We are also drying the cobs to put in a basket for the waldorf play area in our living room and cob printing art.

And here's just a random cute picture of Aelyn chillin' with her Grandpa.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Nature, Friends & Mud!

2009-11-18T10:55:00.003-05:00

Layla and her friend Cece playing at the Metroparks last weekend...

More Wordless Wednesdays at WW and 5min4mom.

Advent Conspiracy

2009-11-16T20:10:00.003-05:00

I know I've been MIA from bloggy land for a bit over a week now. Life has been keeping our family super busy as of late, and a three year old in nap transition is taking away from my afternoon computer time. I wanted to share this information and link to the Advent Conspiracy.

The concept behind Advent Conspiracy is Simple...

Let's be a light and a change this Christmas!

Baby Talk

2009-11-06T12:49:00.003-05:00

Aelyn has a lot to say...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Fall Fun

2009-11-04T11:21:00.005-05:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5min4mom and WW.

Costumed Cuties

2009-11-02T11:29:00.004-05:00

Once again, we joined our friends Jon, Jenna, Ben, and Sam at their place for trick or treating. I was much less conflicted about about allowing the whole trick or treating thing this year, and the kiddos had a great time. The hubbies took Layla and Ben door to door, while Jenna and I stayed back with the babies to pass out candy. Layla was so excited to be a princess this year. Unfortunately, the tiara kept digging into the sides of her head, but she was quite happy to go without it and just wear her dress. The evening was quite cold and chilly, however the kids didn't seem to mind at all. They were thrilled with all their treats and were quick to dig in upon their return.

Aelyn- Our little Sweet Pea

Princess Layla

Sammybear

Trick or Treat! Notice Layla's dress. It was way too long, and I didn't have time to hem it on the sewing machine before leaving. (Such procrastinators we are). So we did it the redneck way and used the stapler. I did the bottom, but apparently she was still tripping, so Lane added the extra staples to the middle.

The beginning of the sugar high!

Thanks to our friends for dinner and another fun year of trick or treating!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Layla & Hydrangeas

2009-10-28T12:38:00.007-04:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5min4mom and WW (not sure why this is still on the Tues. edition).

What's Cooking? ~ Homemade Applesauce

2009-10-27T10:56:00.004-04:00

We made some delicious homemade applesauce yesterday. Applesauce is fairly quick and simple to make, and the flavor cannot be topped by any store brand. There are many different recipes out there for making applesauce, but as in most of our endeavors, we did it our own way- cooked it 'til it was done and added stuff until it tasted good. This is why it's so hard for me to share recipes! I rarely have precise measurements, and each time things may be slightly different. Here's how we did this batch...

Cut, pared (mostly), and cored about 4 pounds of apples. Usually, 3 medium sized apples will equal about a pound which would come to 12 for a 4 lb batch. Our apples were fairly large, so we only used 10.

Added some water and cooked the apples in the crock pot at 350 for about an hour, stirring occasionally

Once the apples fell apart and were applesauce consistency, I added a cup of brown sugar. The amount of sugar depends entirely on the types of apples you use. Some sweeter apples won't require any sugar at all while tart ones, such as the Melrose we used, need a bit of sweetness. I scooped it into a colander that was sitting in a large bowl.

I used the spoon to press the sauce through the holes. This step is only necessary if you have some skins that need separated. If you want a smoother consistency, you can run it through a food mill or blender.

I used two medium sized containers for freezing, making sure there was some head space to avoid a freezer explosion, and a third container went in the fridge. We enjoy ours with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled on top. Happy saucing!

Apple Picking Time

2009-10-22T21:21:00.004-04:00

Yesterday we joined our friends Connie and little AJ for some apple and raspberry picking fun on the farm. The sun was shining, the weather a balmy (for Cleveland) 70 degrees. The pictures tell the story...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Mama Marsupial

2009-10-21T15:23:00.003-04:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5min4mom and WW.

Little Artist at Work

2009-10-19T15:23:00.005-04:00

Some samples of Layla's recent artwork. She created these entirely on her own and named them herself.

Layla's drawing of a bird (beak to the right)

Sculpting medium (aka Homemade play-doh)

Making snakes, cubes, and tiny balls

"Spider on Her Web"

"Lots of Robots"

Painting the "Big Water" (Lake Erie)

"My fingers are blue, mommy!"

Fiber Arts Friday ~ Baby Legs!

2009-10-16T09:27:00.006-04:00

Okay, are these not the cutest little leg warmers for covering my baby's sausage rolls? My dear friend Corrie made these and the little socks. She is not the bragging type, so I'm going to do a little bragging on her myself. This sweet lady does amazing things with some needles and yarn. Even her hats are ornately detailed. Thanks so much Corrie!
See more Fiber Arts Friday's at Alpaca Farm Girl

Children See, Children Do...

2009-10-15T10:47:00.003-04:00

Symphony of Love posted this as her WW, and I felt this was important to pass along...

A reminder to continually ask ourselves, "are my actions worthy of imitation?"

Wordless Wednesday ~ Daddy Daughter Storytime

2009-10-14T09:24:00.003-04:00

More Wordless Wednesdays at 5min4mom and WW.

A Bit of Child's Play

2009-10-11T17:54:00.004-04:00

I'm always fascinated to watch children engaged in their play. With Layla, I especially love that "anything can be anything" in her mind.

This basket holds various fabrics which get used for all kinds of things...

like butterfly wings and...

slings for her baby dolls- they have also been used as a barber shop cape for cutting daddy's hair, a picnic blanket for tea parties, and backdrops for play scenarios (like water, grass, etc.)

This is a basket- but to Layla it is a boat, a bathtub, and once turned upside down is a house for her babies.

A spice filled coaster- to Layla it is sometimes a giant cookie. Other times she sits in a chair with arms outstretched and it becomes her steering wheel.

Layla is an avid nature collector, so many of her finds become play items for exploring, "cooking," sorting and even becoming little people. Of all the toys in the world, her absolute favorite things to play with are stones, pinecones, acorns, buckeyes, and sticks.