The Kitchen Cabinet

Apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, and stone soup were among the imaginary recipes I made as a child in this little wooden kitchen cabinet.

My father, handy with wood shop skills, crafted it from his own design and hands. Dad signed the back of his creation and placed it near the Christmas tree...where two-year old little Lisa discovered the treasure.

My brothers might tell you I was spoiled...being the youngest and the only girl in the family. 

But I would tell you that I was just loved.

As I stepped through my childhood...my kitchen evolved from a  little wooden play kitchen...to playing in Mom's big kitchen...to sharing a college kitchen with roommates...and finally having a kitchen in my own home.

But the little wooden kitchen sat in a corner basement room...

just waiting for someone to open up the doors and let their culinary imagination run wild.

On the occasion of Olivia's first birthday a couple of years ago...my parents hauled the well-loved kitchen into her birthday party and presented little Olivia with her very own first kitchen.

Where Olivia and Henry have been stirring and cooking and baking delightful things ever since.

Do you think Olivia can smell the imaginary cookies stirred and baked in this little treasure by her Nana when I was just three years old?

Although childhood was long ago for me...I still feel the wonder and allure of every age I once was.

I am among those holding to the belief of...

once a child, always a child.

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one." Dr. Seuss

Weekend with O & H

The boys left town for a week of cat skiing in the Canadian wilderness. Since Cass was home alone with hubby traveling too...we made a long weekend out of it.

Olivia and Henry are growing leaps and bounds lately. Board games have become one of their new favorite pastimes. The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel game teaches colors and numbers...Sami the dog would mostly just like to have a squirrel snack.

 Izzy the pooch tags along with me for the weekend and mostly tolerates all the attention from Olivia and Henry...

 mostly! Ah...Princess Izzy Pants!

Whenever I'm with these two little bumpkins lately, I can't help but drool over their zest for adventure. From the moment their peepers open in the morning until they finally drift off to sleep at the end of the day...the world is their playground.

 Sister kisses for Henry.

We decided to go see the Ice Castles in Heber, but when we arrived a very long wait in the freezing cold looked immanent and certain...because everyone and their Aunt decided to have the same adventure on the same day.

Early dinner plans were quickly devised, hoping the crowds would disperse by the time we finished. Cass is a wonderful mamma...every moment is a teaching moment with her little people.

 Henry and I sipped beverages and then we all played Simon Says

and occupied ourselves as best as we could until dinner finally arrived. Patience is not in a toddler's vocabulary.

Snowsuits and hats and boots and gloves and then a moment when Olivia lost it! It seems her hand was nowhere near the end of her glove. In fact, if you look at the length of her forearm you can see that her fingertips are somewhere in the middle of the arm of the coat. Cass and I got the giggles...which Olivia did not appreciate.

We convinced the kids that going inside the Ice Castle was not going to work out for us...after selling the idea to them only an hour earlier. There were promises to return with Daddy Bob when the crowds were down and the sun was warming the air just a little bit more.

 The thing about kids is...they just don't care. Because around the corner is a gazebo that you can run and chase and laugh and forget about going inside the Ice Castles. Oh if only us adults could be more childish sometimes.

Bedtime routines are the sweetest moments in this home. Night Nights and milk they call it. Prayers for all, teeth brushes and storytime. Doesn't childhood sound wonderful right now to you?

 Early every morning the rugrats would sneak into my room...jump into my bed and exclaim "I waked you up Nanny Goat." Then morning snuggles and giggles would ensue aplenty.

Until our next sleepover my sweet sweet grand children...love you, love you long time!

Count All the Bees In The Hive

Christopher Robin and I walked along

 Under branches lit up by the moon.

 Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore

 As our days disappeared all too soon.


But I've wandered much further today than I should

And I can't seem to find my way back to the wood


So, help me if you can I've got to get

 Back to the House at Pooh Corner by one.

 You'd be surprised there's so much to be done,

Count all the bees in the hive.

Chase all the clouds from the sky.

 Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh.

It's hard to explain how a few precious things

 seem to follow throughout all of our lives

After all's said and done I was watching my son

 sleeping there with my bear by his side.

 so I tucked him in, kissed him, and as I was going

 I swear that old bear whispered "Boy, welcome home".

Believe me if you can I finally came

Back to the house at pooh corner by one.

Back to the days of Christopher Robin

Back to the ways of Christopher Robin

Back to the days of Pooh...