smile

We’ve got a lot of photos of Naiya eating. We’ve got some natural smilers as well. When we ask her to smile for a picture on cue though, this is what we get.

granola

A few years ago we started making our own granola.  Naiya likes her variety of warmed grains in the morning but Ryan and I are cereal people.  We were going through so many boxes from Trader Joe's though that it was getting embarrassing to put out our recycling.  My friend Rachel gave us a tasty recipe that we have morphed over time into what we like most.  This year we gave bags of it away for Christmas and it was a hit.

Granola
8-10 cups oats
1 cup sesame seeds (I use raw)
1 cup sunflower seeds (raw again)
1/4 cup ground flax seeds (optional)
1-2 tsp. cinnamon (optional) (I have also used the Pumpkin Pie Spice from Trader Joe's)

Toss these first ingredients then in a second bowl whisk to emulsify:
3/4 cups oil
1 cup honey or maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract (optional)

Pour about 3/4 of this mixture into the oats and stir to moisten.  Let that sit for about an hour.  Meanwhile, chop a mixture of your favorite dried fruits and nuts.  I typically use:
1-2 cups almonds
1 cup dried cranberries
( I have also used candied ginger, dried dates, raisins, dried blueberries and dried cherries)
Stir the fruits and nuts into the remaining oil and honey mixture.

Preheat oven to 300 and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  (I re-use this parchment paper several times).  Spread the oats mixture on the parchment and bake for 20 minutes.  Carefully toss and bake for 20 more minutes.  Add the honeyed fruit and nuts, toss once more and bake for a final 20 minutes.  (That's one hour total.)
Cool.  Store in an airtight container.  Enjoy!

felted dogs

These cute felted dogs were made by Naiya's Aunt Erika for Christmas (along with a sweet swan, bright pink kitten and a little gnome).  I had started the same dogs some months ago and never finished them.  Now I don't have to!  Step-by-step detailed instructions can be found in the book Feltcraft by Petra Berger.

snow

After Christmas at home with all manner of family goodness we ventured over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house. There, just over the mountaintop, was a festive snowy wonderland. On our way out grandma and grandpa came along to slide down a few hills before we headed back home. Daddy took the first trip down the hill on a sled with Naiya in his lap. Since she was the one who ended up with a face full of snow, this may not have been the best arrangement. Still, in the bitter cold, it was a beautiful day for us all.

gifts for the nephews

Again, I saw something like these somewhere and just made them using what I had. (If they look familiar and you know where the idea came from do let me know as I now can't recall to site the original artist.) I especially liked the hair which came from the tasseled ends of a red felted wool scarf.

genuine train ride

We hope you all had a festive and joyous holiday season. Ours was full of activity now that our little one has a firm grasp on all that fills our world in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Naiya was so thrilled with all the lights this year that we tried to get them in at every opportunity. Sometimes this just meant walks around various neighborhoods but we also tried to jump aboard a few of the other holiday offerings in town. This included a trip on The Holiday Express. We were on the old Southern Pacific Steam Train #4449 and took just a short journey about twenty minutes up the river and back that included a visit from Santa. Naiya hadn't been on a real train before and mostly enjoyed the bit when her daddy took her to the in-between cars space so she could feel the wind racing through her hair. This ride is a local fundraiser for the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation. Its mission is to build a permanent home for the City of Portland's three historic steam locomotives.

the grotto's festival of lights

This year was the 22nd Annual Festival of Lights at The Grotto. For those who aren't familiar, The Grotto is a lovely 62 acre Catholic shrine and botanical garden located in NE Portland, Oregon. It's actual name is The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother. It's more popular namesake comes from the cave which has been carved out of the 110-foot basalt cliff side which holds a stone alter and a replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà. It's open all year and the cliff-top gardens are accessible after a short elevator ride up to a spectacular view. The Festival of Lights features family entertainment including a display of over half a million lights, choral performances, puppet shows, carolers, a petting zoo and shepherd's play. Hot cocoa, coffee and treats are also available. Naiya's favorite was the puppet show. She was enraptured this year by the story of Princess Tiptoe.