rain...

cool breezes gust so strong

pitter pat splish splash splat

feeding my soil feeding my soul

and leaving beauty in your wake

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ( Inspired by Amanda Soule of SouleMama)

just me and the mini

 With dad in class, big brother at his lesson, and big sister at her mothers house it was just me and the miniest person in our home left to enjoy eachother. 

 He discovered a low growing tree and decided this was the best fort ever!

 We spent nearly half an hour peeking back and forth between these low branches colored so gorgeously of the rainbow of Fall.

 There was such laughter in this sweet little guy game.

 And just as quickly we were sitting quietly examining the puffy dandelions.

 Wait for it...

Super Cuteness!!!

Come Play

Joy In Momming presents…

A Cook-Along a Book Review and a Give Away

Featuring recipes from “The Organic Family Cookbook” by Anni Daulter (author of  the wonderful books “Ice Pop Joy” and “Organically Raised: Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddlers” and co-creator of The Bamboo Family Magazine)

With the weather growing cooler and the holidays upon us, many of us find ourselves longing for the warmth and coziness of the kitchen. The family kitchen is where so many wonderful and delectable memories are created. Where the smell of cookies baking brings on gleeful anticipation and laughter shared is in our hearts forever. Following in this time honored tradition, join me as I share 3 days and 3 recipes , courtesy of Anni Daulter’s newest cookbook, that are sure to bring a smile to your face and warmth to your heart.

As a special bonus, everyone who participates in the cook along and book review will be entered in the drawing where one lucky person will win a copy of Anni’s newest cookbook “The Organic Family Cookbook”!

Featured Recipes…

 Surprising Baked Buttermilk Donuts

 Mini Satay Chicken Bites with Spicy Peanut Dressing on a Bed of Red Quinoa

Roasted Cinnamon Apple and Sweet Potato Galette

When: November 18^th through the 21^st

Where: www.JoyInMomming.blogspot.com

Contact: joyinmomming@gmail.com

or

www.facebook.com/JoyInMomming

(Rules of Participation: The rules are simple. Each day, for the three days of the cook along, there will be a new recipe posted. To show that you are participating in the cook along, you must post a comment after each recipe post. On the day of the book review post a final comment; these are the names that the random drawing will be generated from. Please also go to “The Organic Family Cookbook” page on facebook and hit the like button. (For those of you without facebook accounts, send me a message and it will get worked out.) It is that simple! The winner will be posted on my blog the Monday after Thanksgiving.)

Kids in the Kitchen

When I was little I remember very clearly eating tons of graham crackers. Every daycare, every baby sitter, every kitchen cupboard of every house I had ever gone to always had a box of these trusty old faithful snacks. I have eaten them all of my life and my children have picked up their love of graham crackers from me. And yet, until today, this simplest of snack food has been a mystery to me. Like Santa dropping off gifts, it was as though the graham cracker fairy only sent her wares to the stores. That all changed with the help of my 7 year old, Loki, and his sweet little friend. Determined to do some baking they had me search for a recipe that would suit them. And wouldn't you know, out pops childhood favorite graham crackers. The kids were instantly interested and could not wait to get cooking. The recipe is quick and the kids loved pressing down the sweet smelling dough into the cookie sheet in preparation for baking. We liked these graham crackers so much, we thought we would share the recipe with you. Enjoy with love from us to you!

Cinnamon Graham Crackers

(recipe from "The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook" by Cathe Olson)

1/4 cup softened unsalted butter or coconut oil

1/4 cup maple syrup, brown rice syrup, agave nectar, or honey

1 egg or egg replacer

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly oil a 9x13 inch baking sheet. Beat butter or oil and sweetener together until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat until smooth. In separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and sea salt together. Use the low speed on your mixer to beat the flour mixture into the liquid mixture. The dough will be crumble but should hold together when pressed in your hand. If it's too dry, add a little water. Press dough into the prepared baking sheet. Score into squares a little over 2 inches big. Prick each square several times with a fork. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Cool and break into squares. Makes 2 Dozen

Belly of the Season

As we move deeper into this glorious fall I must be grateful for the beauty that surrounds me. The longer days, cooler weather, slower pace of life... And yet there is a sense of urgency to this season. A desire to create every seasonal craft, cook every Autumn recipe, finish a floor full of hand made gifts until I can't see straight. But then an ancient piece of my being says not so fast missy! You are a mammal and must slow down with all of the other mammals great and small. So for now my aspirations must pay homage to my need to be in flow with the cycle of the world around me. Many blessings to all of you this wonderful season. I hope you all remember to honor yourselves in this slower, stay close to your family time of year and enjoy the bountiful beauty that surrounds you!

this boy, my heart

(all of these wonderful photos today were done by this fabulous boy!)

This boy who has held my heart for seven years. This boy who can scream like a banshee, howl like a wolf, and laugh like he is being tickled by the heavens. This boy who is magnificent, talented, and amazes me at every turn. This boy who incites my temper just to see me frazzled and hugs so tight you'd think you might explode. This boy is more precious and special than I could have ever imagined. I love this boy!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ( Inspired by Amanda Soule of SouleMama)

in this moment...

I  can only sit and back and admire my children. Their individuality, their character, their strength all astounds me. Their vulnerability, their honesty, their need is humbling. And though at times I may screw up, and at times I don't have all of the answers there are days when I am grateful to be able to say that I am indeed a pretty great mom to these pretty great kids!

Goodbye October, Hello November

It is with a fond farewell that I leave behind the joys of October to embrace the wonders and joy of November. I leave you with our fun antics from our trick or treating adventures last night.

 (in homage to our ancestors and Dia de los Muertos candy skull makeup)

 (we matched! he was a wee bit scary in the dark!)

 (2nd year running as the biofuels mechanic)

 (my hand me down tootsie roll)

 (our homeschool friends)

 (as close to family as friends get! love these people!!!)

 (gorgeous dancers honoring the dead)

(our cue that it is time to go home)

As we break into one of my favorite months (turkey, my birthday, family gatherings, warm yumminess, and goodies baking galore!!!) I hope to being to you all far more crafts than I have in the last few months. While my crafting has sat on the back burner to our recent move (we were slow to move in since September) I believe that we have overcome this jumble of life and I can now bring out my crafting goodies to create some loveliness! I'm excited how about you?! Welcome November you have been missed!