{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}

 ~Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life, as inspired by the women at Like Mother, Like Daughter~

{Pretty}

We (or, more accurately, I) decided to give our local CSA a try this year, and we received our first box this week. As I was preparing to slice this kale leaf for a salad, I noticed how pretty it was: the deep purple vein against the forest green, caught perfectly by the sun streaming through the skylight.

I am unreasonably excited about getting a box of veggies each week. I love the opportunity to support local farmers, the abundance of fresh and seasonal produce, and the challenge of using items I might not normally purchase.

(That said, the task is a bit daunting: in addition to a large bunch of kale, this week’s box also included a good amount of mizuna, a head each of lettuce and Napa cabbage, carrots, artichokes, zucchini, spring onions, and fresh dill. Looks like we’ll be eating a lot of leafy greens in the next several weeks!)

{Happy}

Abigail is a happy, happy girl. (Except for when she’s not – and then she’s really, really not).  She’s expressive and funny, soaking up attention from anyone who will give it to her. As we make our way through the grocery store, she babbles and kicks her chubby feet. People notice: I’ve had more people than I can count stop me to comment on her wide grins and joyful noises.

Katie is also a happy, happy girl (at least most of the time) – but she prefers to express that happiness only when she’s with those she knows. The public Katie is reserved, quiet, and watchful.

I love getting to watch these two girls grow. I love seeing how very different they are from each other, how each is her own unique personality.

{Funny}

Katie loves to have picnics on the living room floor. She carefully spreads out a blanket, and then raids my pantry, filling a grocery sack with whatever cans and bottles and bags of food she can find. Usually, she invites her imaginary friends (Beo, Julie, and Dah) and an assortment of stuffed animals and baby dolls. This week, however, something new: she realized Abby was old enough to sit up and join her! Excitement of excitement for this little girl who, in the first week of Abby’s life, was disappointed to learn her baby sister couldn’t enjoy a snack with her.

Katie brought exactly three cans of beans – one for Katie, one for Abby, and one for Mama – and three spoons (a small one each for the two girls and a big one for me). She set it all out, then tried to “feed” her sister. Poor Abby. Being offered an empty spoon only served to confuse her, and she quickly devolved into banging on her can.

(Poor Katie, too: she’d hoped Abby would give her a bit of cooperation in the make-believe department. But she recovered from the disappointment quickly, and entertained herself with other things.)

{Real}

Jonathan threw his back out a few weeks ago. For many days, an ice pack was his constant companion. Katie, our sweet little observer and questioner, upon learning the purpose of said ice pack, began needing one herself. Here she is tending her “hurt knees” (which she’d skinned a few days previously).

Those are the {pretty, happy, funny, real} moments around here this week. How about you? Share in the comments!

2 response to "{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}"

  1. By: Jamie Posted: May 29, 2017

    Your girls are so precious! I’ve never even heard of mizuna, so that would be a challenge for me to cook with for sure.

    • By: Jenn Posted: May 30, 2017

      Thanks, Jamie! And I’d never heard of mizuna, either – but it turns out it’s a type of mustard green that shows up pretty regularly in the spring mixes available at the grocery store. So it’s fairly easy to throw into salads, eggs, etc.

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