Spring Garden

We love the Siberian Squill that bloom early in the spring.  Our neighbor, Pat, planted it and w1e are slowly letting it take over the whole yard.  Once it's done blooming in the Spring we simple mow over it.  The gentle blanket of blue flowers is something I look forward to every year.

Henry's 1st Kite

Winter, such as it is...

Lemon Poppyseed Cookies

This are big and chewy, like the top of a lemon poppyseed muffin, but with glaze.  Sweet Jebus, I'm going to eat the whole batch!

Cookies

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
• 2 cups AP flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Cream butter and sugar on medium speed until all the sugar dissolves.  Add eggs one at at time, then vanilla and beat for a couple of minutes until fluffy.  Add zest, seeds and yogurt and mix until combined.  Sift together and then add dry ingredients.  Drop by hugely mounded tablespoonfuls onto parchment lined pans and bake 18 minutes at 350 degrees.  Should make 2 dozen, but don't crowd the pan because the spread.  I did nine per cookie sheet.  They should be a bit puffy and lightly browned.

Frosting

• 1cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter very soft
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Let cookies cool completely.  Spread with frosting and let the frosting/glaze harden before serving.  I store these in the fridge.   This is loosely adapted from a book called "Big, Soft, Chewy Cookies" by Jill Van Cleave which I downloaded to my Kindle for six bucks :)

Siri at 18 Months

Cake Times Three!

When Henry gave me a huge hug and kissed my neck and told me that he loved me after his bath tonight, I had to hold back the tears.  Oh, that kid.  He's just crazy perfect.  I don't have the words to properly express how much I love him and how much it breaks my heart when he has a set back or a bad day.

*love, love, love*

We had a great week celebrating Henry and his 3rd birthday.  MY GOD, HOW IS HE THREE ALREADY?  It started with a joint celebration with his cousin Dahlia and Grandma Ann last weekend.  We gathered at the Nesje compound in Stillwater and had a huge lunch/dinner followed by lots of frolic in the yard and woods down to the pond. We also had cake with his regular Friday playgroup and then had even more celebrating with friend over to our house that included playing in the leaves  and a Thomas the Train cake.  Yea!  

The October birthday bunch - Grandma Ann, Henry and Dahlia

Henry and his birthday buddy, Addie.  She's one day older.

Ladybug cake

The Friday Crew - Elena, Siri, Henry, Addie, Avery, Chole & Paige

Thomas the Train cake

Playing in the leaves

3 years old!

I think he likes it.

Henry has been in Preschool for about a month now and from the pictures above and the feedback we're getting from his teachers, I'm pretty sure he likes it.  Como Park preschool is just a few blocks walk from our house and it has an arts and language focus so we are bombarded with dozens of art projects that he brings home each week.  He is also reading, writing letters and doing simple math problems already.  Did I mention that he'll be just three years old at the end of this month?