Our House in the Middle of Our Street

{I thought it would be fun to do a week of kid-related posts a) for the grandparents and b) because I need some perspective of "busy-ness for a good cause" and celebrating all things child-related seems to lift even the crabbiest of my moods. If you'd like to play along, leave your blog in the comment section so we can follow you, too! Each day will be devoted to a child, then some favorite books, and nooks.} Today I just wanted to share a few local 'nooks' the kids love around Lincoln & Nebraska City, Nebraska, so if you're living here you won't miss them! The first picture is of the gem of a play area tucked away in Pioneer's Park near their older nature center. Our friend, Lisa, found this a year ago and showed it to us when we were on our picnic. I'm so glad she did. It's the most peaceful place to play early in the morning, and Lukka and Anikka were busy here for over an hour. Yes, I read (and snapped photos!) It's called the Natu...

{I thought it would be fun to do a week of kid-related posts a) for the grandparents and b) because I need some perspective of "busy-ness for a good cause" and celebrating all things child-related seems to lift even the crabbiest of my moods. If you'd like to play along, leave your blog in the comment section so we can follow you, too! Each day will be devoted to a child, then some favorite books, and nooks.} Today I thought it'd be fun to show you what we've been loving to read around Our House. A few favorites from each child, that they ask for over and over. First up it's My Friends by Taro Gomi , a board book I bought Anikka for her 1st birthday...she still loves it! photocredit This is one of the coolest board books we own. The pictures are simple and very beautiful. I find Japanese artwork very inspiring and this little book is no exception. This is the first book Ani really "took to" and started to like listening in our laps to a book. She al...

{I thought it would be fun to do a week of kid-related posts a) for the grandparents and b) because I need some perspective of "busy-ness for a good cause" and celebrating all things child-related seems to lift even the crabbiest of my moods. If you'd like to play along, leave your blog in the comment section so we can follow you, too! Each day will be devoted to a child, then some favorite books, and nooks.} Anikka playing with the tree blocks at Tree Adventure in Nebraska City. Anikka is now 19 months and I simply can't get over what a big kid she's getting to be. I have to be honest the 15 month mark was one of my favorite and I simply can't bear that my baby (Oh Lord, help me) is getting out of that sweet stage. She's of course, fun at just about any age (though I'd skip the first six weeks again...) but her independence is certainly her strongest character trait right now. She sometimes likes help, okay maybe 5% of the time she'll accept h...

{I thought it would be fun to do a week of kid-related posts a) for the grandparents and b) because I need some perspective of "busy-ness for a good cause" and celebrating all things child-related seems to lift even the crabbiest of my moods. If you'd like to play along, leave your blog in the comment section so we can follow you, too! Each day will be devoted to a child, then some favorite books, and nooks.} Lukka hanging side-ways on a rope over a small bridge at Tree Adventure. Lukka is now 3 years old starting the first day of summer and let's just say this age looks good on him. He's old enough to (honestly!) help around the house and he does it with zeal. Vacuuming and dishes seem to be his prized chores. He says the funniest things and Stefan and I are often cracking up over dinner. He is constantly laughing, climbing (and falling) all over the couch and his imagination is at it's peak since toddlerhood. Although he gave up his nap this summer he's...

They are so best buds. Yes, adorable, I know...all three holding hands! Join Amanda Soule along with countless others today and reflect on a moment you loved. {Credit for making the adorable child in the middle? My friend, Maria .}

photocredit Read it! Read it! Read it! Okay, so now you know how I really feel, here's the review: Shannon Hayes, a woman in academia with numerous degrees suddenly gave it all up to start her life over for the things that mattered: family, community, quality of life, social justice , etc. This is a three part story. One, the personal story of why she re-thought the values of the American culture, two, lots of statistics and research and studies spouting off quotes from Emerson all the way to top economists talking about America's quality of life (poor) and back again to the definition of wealth and poverty. Lastly, the story of twenty interviewed "Radical Homemakers" she inserts here and there throughout the nonfiction work. I think I read this book in 5 days...only because I was distracted numerous times during those five days. I kept agreeing and making Stefan listen to a quote, a statistic, what have you, and I was consumed by her well articulated and witty writ...

Last Friday in anticipation of the Applejack Festival, a friend and I went with all our kids out to Kimmel Orchard to pick some apples. She always drives by it heading to the Tree Adventure and I had only heard of their wine, so we were both excited to be experiencing it together with the kids. Lukka's favorite fruit is the juicy apple and with the promise that one of his best buds was going to be there he practically did all but drive the car himself in anticipation. Ani, of course, comes along for the ride. Here are the two sweethearts picking "no bug-bite ones" off a low hanging branch of Galas. For all of you Fall lovers out there I don't need to tell you that Autumn is the time when apples are in season. Apple cider, apple crisp, and my all time favorite-- Carmel apples -- are eaten in high quantities at the Mast household during the last few months of the year. I almost can't eat an apple in the summer; weird I know. Here's one view of Kimmel Orchard...