Rediscover Adventure

{image by Ruby Taylor}

Lately I have felt the tug at my soul for adventure. Not the traveling, seeing the world type of adventure (though, I admit, I wouldn't turn that down) but the kind that happens in the day to day. A new cooking adventure. A traipsing through fields and looking at leaves and bugs and flowers with my girls adventure. A starting a new blog adventure (hence how this one and its name came into existence). A starting to delve into homeschooling adventure. 

So, I am embracing this need to discover new things, this desire to show Matilda and Hazel just how amazing this incredible life we are blessed with can be. Seeing life through their eyes - one who is learning to do things for the very first time: standing on her own, eating new foods on a daily basis, figuring out cause and effect - and the other, who is a little older and is yearning for her own adventures on a daily basis is a magical thing. I can't even put into words how blessed I am to be their mama and to get to spend day in and day out with them, teaching and guiding them - I will never take this sweet time for granted.

We are starting homeschool preschool on Monday, and I couldn't be more excited about it. Matilda has told me she wants to learn to read, so I ordered this highly recommended book, and seeing where that leads. I am incorporating a lot of reading, nature study and art into our days as well, because those are all things that she loves to do. Not really sure how this will all work with Hazel around, but hopefully we will be able to fall into a rhythm that works for our family. I have a Pinterest board that I have been bookmarking curriculum sites and different homeschooling ideas that might work for our family. We don't have enough space for a school room, so we will be using our dining room table and the great outdoors for our homeschool room. I'm currently looking for ways to store all of our supplies that doesn't make that room look overcrowded. Thinking a small locker that I could install shelves in could be a fun addition. Any tips would be appreciated. 

Hazel - 9 months

Sweet Hazel, I cannot even believe how big she is getting. Only 3 more months and we will be celebrating her first birthday, which is just crazy. I still remember her birth like it was yesterday (posted here, if you want to read about that magical day), and am having a hard time coming to terms with my baby growing so fast. 

I was told so many times before Matilda was born to really enjoy my babies because they are only little for a short time and it flies. I would kindly nod, but in the back of my head be saying, right, whatever. But you guys. IT FLIES. Especially with the second one. I feel like I blinked and 9 months flew by. 

Hazel is currently eating any and all things, and preferably not served in pureed form. She is crawling so fast, pulling up on anything that she can, and cruising around furniture. She is already standing on her own without holding onto anything. She high fives, waves hi and bye bye, and says Mama. It makes my heart so happy every time she looks at me and says mamamamamama. 

This girl is pure joy, and I am so thankful that I get to be her mama. She is loved by her big sister so much, and I can only pray that their relationship continues to blossom as they grow. There is nothing sweeter than a best friend who is also your sister. Believe me, I have the best of the best!!

Black Bean, Corn and Zucchini Tacos

We eat mexican food A LOT around here. I seriously think I could eat it daily I love it that much, and I'm always looking for ways to make it new and different, as well as a way to get some veggies in, because I always have a hard time figuring out vegetables other than avocados or a salad to go with Mexican food. This recipe came about by just randomly grabbing things out of my fridge and hoping they worked. I was able to give my 9 month old this as well, and she fully approved. Enjoy! 

Black Bean, Corn & Zucchini Tacos

1 red onion, chopped

1 can black beans

1 ear of corn, kernels removed

1 zucchini, chopped a similar size to beans

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (more to taste)
dash of hot sauce
1 Tablespoon cilantro
Juice from half a lime

In a few tablespoons of your favorite cooking oil or butter, cook the onion on medium high until translucent and then add the corn and zucchini and cook until softened. Add the garlic, cook for an additional minute, and then add can of black beans and spices, hot sauce and cilantro. Simmer for about 15 minutes, add lime juice and serve.

I served mine on fried corn tortillas with a little cotija cheese, hot sauce and guacamole.

Let me know if you try this and how you like it - it's definitely going to become a meatless staple around here.

Rustic Bean Bake

I recently discovered Nothing But Delicious, a local blog that has some of the most amazing recipes. I made her Southern Strawberry cake for Matilda's birthday, and made this Rustic Bean Bake the other night, which was absolutely incredible. Do yourself a favor and check out Hannah's blog and all of the amazing recipes. I have my eye on the Sweet Corn Pots De Creme with Strawberry Compote next. 

Tomato Bruschetta

Tomato Bruschetta

4-6 ripe tomatoes (depending on size), chopped

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

6-8 large basil leaves, chopped

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 baguette, sliced in half inch wide slices

1/4 cup olive oil

Preheat oven to 450. Add the first 5 ingredients in a bowl, mix well, and then add salt & pepper to taste. Brush each slice of bread with the olive oil, and place oiled side down on cookie sheet. Toast for about 5-6 minutes on top rack of oven, until the slice turn a nice golden brown. Place oiled side up on a plate, top with bruschetta and enjoy. 

family reunion

Every year, at the end of July, we head up to Natural Bridge State Park for a family reunion with Jon's Nana's side of the family. It's the only time of the year that we get to see most of them, and we so look forward to this trip every summer. 

On Saturday morning of the retreat weekend, we always hike up to Natural Bridge, and this year was no different. It was in the sixties and overcast (pretty much the most perfect day ever in my humble opinion) and we took Matilda with us for the first time. She rode most of the way, but got down a couple of times to walk and pick up leaves and rocks along the way. I love including her in things Jon and I have always enjoyed, and this hike was no different. 

homeschool

This little free spirit is starting preschool in the fall, not in a typical setting, but at home. I have always loved the idea of homeschooling our children, since I myself was homeschooled, as well as my siblings. I loved it, and never felt like I lacked any social aspects of going to school. I think as long as you have a good network of friends and homeschool families nearby, you can totally set yourself up for success. 

Growing up, we used a variety of curriculum, but what I look back on and remember loving most, was a study where we would pick a specific event or people in history, and we would base our reading, history, art, science, etc., on that specific thing. I loved a more hands on learning approach, vs using a textbook to learn, and I hope to take that idea and use it to form the base of how I homeschool our kids. 

A few of the books I have been reading are below, but I would love more suggestions, if you have them! 

Teaching Montessori In the Home: The Preschool Years

You Are Your Child's First Teacher

The Unschooling Handbook

Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series (if you have a kindle, these are SUPER CHEAP in the kindle store!)

Pinterest has also been a wealth of knowledge, and I have started a Homeschool board - feel free to follow it, as I'm adding more daily. 

If you homeschool, or are thinking about it, I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. I'm definitely not new to homeschooling, but have never been on this side of it, and am just so excited to start!