The Liebster Award and some Lollygaggings

The past couple of weeks we have been doing a lot of lollygagging around these parts.

It has been wonderful. With a bit of fall break and some unexpected days where no commuting was necessary, we've been making it up as we go along. No definite plans. Just some time to soak up in play, rest, and other yummy things.

You know...


lollygaggingpresent participle of lol·ly·gag (Verb)

Verb:

Spend time aimlessly; idle: "lollygagging in the sun". Dawdle: "we're just lollygagging along". Here is some evidence of the afore mentioned lollygagging...because I can't get enough.

The bug has pretty much mastered posing for pictures now- she loves smiling for us! {Most of the time}  I also cannot keep this girl out of the kitchen! She is definitely my little helper!

More posing- she thought inside of the box that these stacking pegs came in was the perfect spot.

Wanting to send a picture to daddy at work of the tall tower we stacked.

All ready for the zoo- the beads were her twist on this funky outfit.

Getting our Elmo fix.

She is finally letting me put a headband in her hair again and keeping it there for longer than 5 seconds.

Trip to Hideaway with daddy and mommy...

Now onto the other part of the title of this post:




I am humbled to say that my friend, Megan at Life with the Dokes, nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award! It is for up and coming bloggers that have 200 or less followers.  You should check out her sweet blog- she has such a warm perspective on the heart of a mama and follower of the Lord. I am honored to call her my friend.


So, here goes my part of the nomination:
11 Things about Lil o' Me:
1. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be two things: a teacher and a mom. I never wavered much.  
2. My middle name is Christene after my Great Grandmother. I love the unique spelling and she was pretty much my best friend during my early days.
3. I have been to all of the major BCS bowl games with the Pride of Oklahoma.
4. I have a few "stupid" human tricks: I am double-jointed in my arms and can touch my tongue to the tip of my nose.
5. I have a weakness for Lea & Perrins Worcestershire  sauce. I could probably drink the stuff out of the bottle.
6. I met my husband in high school band. The first time we met though, he was in middle school and I was in high school! From the moment we started dating, I knew it was the real deal.
7. I want to make it to 6 out of the 7 continents before I die. Sorry Antarctica.
8. I used to vault on horses when I was in elementary school at Girl Scout Camp every summer.
9. My family used to own a farm, and I would give anything to have it back.
10. If I could BE any famous person, I would be Stevie Nicks. I have seen her in concert 3 times. The life she has lead intrigues me.
11. I love doing anything outdoors. If I could live somewhere and ski or go out on a boat often- that would be amazing.


Megan's Questions for me:

1.  Why did you begin blogging? I started blogging because we have family spread out over the globe and I wanted them to get a glimpse into our life. I also wanted a place for me to remember things - and if I could help or encourage someone with my own words- even better.

2.  If you could play the part of an actress in a movie, who would you be? (i.e. I would play Kate Hudson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) I would probably want to be Sally in Practical Magic. I love the old house her aunts live in, her long hair, her sweet girls, and of course- the magical powers aren't too shabby either. Plus, Stevie Nicks could sing my anthem.

3.  Favorite thing to bake? Chocolate chip cookies from my grandmother's Hershey's cookbook.

4.  Favorite movie of all time?  "The Last of the Mohicans". I might love the soundtrack just as much as the movie itself.

5.  How long have you been married and what's the best thing about your hubs? We will have been married for 4 years on December 20th of this year. However, we will have been together a total of 11 years! The best thing about my hubs is how well he knows me. Sometimes it even catches me off guard on the things he has picked up on! He makes me laugh.

6.  What was your first job ever? My first job ever would have been babysitting. My first "big kid" job was sewing for a place on campus corner during college.

7.  The last book you read was...currently reading The Book Thief.

8.  What would be your dream vacation and who would you take? Reliving my honeymoon in Mexico with my husband. All inclusive is definitely the way to go.

9.  If you could meet one celebrity, who would you meet and what's one question you'd ask them? You probably have already guessed from my other responses- but Stevie Nicks. I would ask her if I could go on tour with her. ;) Then I could find out more!

10.  If you could eat only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Cheese. Any kind really.

11.  Do you think being a mama has changed you and if so, how? My life has changed completely. My heart is fuller, I can run on not much sleep, I see what my mama was to me in the eyes of my daughter. It makes me think every decision ten times over. I have also learned that some things are not as important as they once were.

Now it is my turn to nominate a few bloggers that I love to read. 



My fellow teacher turned Mommy, Miranda at Where the Children Play. A practical and light-hearted look at mommy hood and other adventures.
A sorority sister of mine, Heidi, is over at Keeping up with the Kendles. This is a mommy to twin girls and all that it entails.
A college friend, Kiley, going through her pregnancy journey and sharing other wonderful memories at Vintage, Values, & Ventures



Love these ladies!
Nominees- it is your turn! 
Write 11 things about yourself, answer the following questions, and nominate no more than 11 bloggers with under 200 followers and draft 11 questions for them to answer.
Here are your questions!
1.  Why did you begin blogging?
2. What band/artist would be the soundtrack for your life?
3. Favorite recipe?
4. Favorite place to be?
5.  What is your must-have, carry everywhere with you item?
6.  Where do you want to retire someday?
7. What was your favorite childhood book?
8.  Which country would you like to visit someday?
9.  What is your Number 1 bucket-list item?
10. What or who inspires you the most?
11.  Do you think being a mama has changed you or will change you and if so, how?

Little helping hands

I just love how our little Bug shows more and more signs of understanding when I ask her questions, when we play, you name it.

She amazes me daily with the things she picks up on as we go about our routines - with new things thrown in here and there.

So, when I asked her if she wanted to help mama make bread, I was not surprised she said yes and marched straight for the kitchen.

She was so careful and observant as I showed her how to help. I now know I want to be more purposeful about getting her little helping hands dirty-for sure!

Daily Rhythms and Fall's Beginning.

Life at the Basset house has been a mixture of comings and goings - as mentioned in my last post, we have two cars making the trek up north to Edmond most days of the week now. Our cars are second homes; littered with jackets, toys and books, a cup or two, and plenty of crumbs from eating on the go.

But, we've fallen into a rhythm. The bug knows that on days when Mama comes in to wake her up that she gets to go and see friends. Her sweet version of their names {well, at least one of them} are her wake-up song..."Ashy...Ashy". 

Our commute soundtrack lately has been The Sports Animal on the way there and a little NPR to nap to on the way home. Voices have trumped melodies as the means to a calmer drive. This mama is not complaining. 

 Daily adventures with our buddies have consisted of plenty of hide and seek, 

acorn/stick man making, 

Grat, our acorn friend, and H.

Grat in his Mega Blok bed.

pirating ships and hunting for buried treasure, 

Captain Firebeard

Captain Mac Sparrow

dancing to Star Wars,

 and lots and lots of building with Mega Bloks and Legos.  

And in the midst of it all- we have found ways to usher in our favorite season.  In order to kick it off right, we started with going to daddy's first football game. Mama and baby had nothing to wear that fit- so I had to fix that {and of course this happened the day before}.  Here are the results of my sewing experiment.

And, if you are okay with non-exact sewing and want to attempt this on your own, this is basically what I did. {Sorry there are not pictures for every step- maybe on my next try I will do better at that}

1. Gather an old adult sized t-shirt and a dress that currently fits your little one.

2. Use the dress as a sort of pattern by laying it over the t-shirt and tracing a triangle slightly bigger than the outline of the dress.

3. Cut the two pieces a part from the t-shirt. (Save the t-shirt's bottom hem as a means to tie the top of the dress)

4. Put right sides together and pin. I then used the dress again as a guide to where the armpits would be.

5. Sew triangle pieces together. (You can then add lace ruffles  or other embellishments to the bottom to make it more girly)

6. Cut slits along the neckline to string through the bottom hem that you saved.

7. Hope that it fits and tie it on your sweet girl! 

8. Enjoy supporting your favorite team or daddy- Not a required step, but certainly fit the bill for us.

For me- I just took one of daddy's too big t-shirts and tailored it in for myself. (Just cut the sides to fit  you and sew them back up! However, I learned the hard way that the arms make this just a bit tricky...)

Fall has begun and we are relishing in it already. Homemade Chex Mix smells fill my kitchen- making me miss my daddy, pumpkin flavored things are at the top of our sweets list (even for the Hubs!) and I'm making sweet potato anything any chance I get. 

Another plus side to still being in Norman is still being able to take in the atmosphere of Sooner Football. Yeah, I know we've lost one- but, we still are Sooner Born and Bred in this house.

Happy Fall!

Miles.

This week, the little bug and I have put in some serious miles. Miles in and out of the car.



The bug and I began logging our miles this week like daddy. With our house still being on the market, I accepted an opportunity to look after a family friend's kiddos a few mornings a week. Hello, to earlier mornings and rush hour traffic. Hello, to sweet faces and new adventures.

The first day I was unsure of what to expect. It has been awhile since I've had to make the morning drive to be somewhere. I felt like I was on edge the whole time as it was stopandgo stopandgo. MC was not quite sure why she had to be in the car for so long after she had just woken up, I'm sure. { I could tell by the grunts and demands from the back. } However, FisherPrice Sing Along CDs have been our saving grace. She loves to sing what she can or clap and move her hands. Add some snacks and some water (Wa Wa) and we're good to go. Then, on the way home she is out like a light in five minutes- tuckered from all of the play and excitement.
If any of you out there are reading this and have had to commute with littles- what are your go -to's?

On some of the mornings, I am lucky to miss the big "rush", and as I returned to the thick of it this morning, I embraced the drive with a new attitude. (Remembering from a month or so ago that I do not want to be controlled by fear) So, a version of this song started playing on the radio...and, I started thinking and praying for the people in the cars around me. The ones that would immediately change lanes without indication, the ones weaving in and out of lanes, the ones leaving a safer than safe distance from the car ahead of them. The patience that I am now realizing that I have more of than most, came through. Peace came over me and I did not think of any of the number of things that could go wrong on a longer commute. I began to wonder about how many of these people I will pass and "travel with" on a frequent basis. Such a crazy thing that you might be next to someone over and over and never meet them.

To you on the road- may you know that you are the Lord's treasure on your drive. He loves you and wants you to feel safe in His arms.



As teachers and students returned to their own journeys this week, it was a bit odd not being with them. There is part of my heart that misses the start of the year and the excitement it brings. I loved organizing, labeling, and planning fun things for the bright and eager faces that would greet me at the start of a new year. I never could sleep the night before the first day.


But, this new gig and journey is pretty awesome. The miles might seem tiring on some days, but the things that we are doing are already creating wonderful memories. I am still getting somewhat of a "teacher fix" by the ways that we are playing and learning each day. Here are a few of our adventures from these first few days together:

Paint with water while little A sleeps.

Our grasshopper home for "Camo" the one we caught today in the backyard. They have an amazing backyard for nature hunts and exploring!

Mr. Camo himself.

I love logging miles for time with these kiddos and am honored that I was asked to do so. Plus, MC loves her new friends. Let the good times roll!

Sweet Summertime.

Summertime really is a sweet season. It is truly as sweet as the berries and melons that flourish in the heat it brings.

This has been our second summer with our own little sweetness and it has been a different sort of sweet than the first.

Last summer we were lucky to get outside to run errands and maybe grab an EARLY walk or two during the week. The 100s came in early June and just wouldn't quit. With an infant, those temperatures just don't add up to a lot of time to soak up the rays and do much of anything. There were plenty of naps and short dips in the pool, and perhaps one trip to the zoo.

So- we welcomed this summertime with an opportunity to show it to a toddler with curiosity bursting at her seams. The 100s didn't really come until mid-July this year, and the mornings still offer a decent amount of time for getting out and playing in sand tables, feeding the ducks that go "wuack, wuack" {Quack, Quack in MC speak}, and a few trips to the zoo and splash pad. We routinely hit up the library for story time and the farmer's market {grazing on some of the finds as we hunt for the rest of our goods}.

Our little family is truly blessed that we get to spend most of these summer months together. With two teachers, and now just one, summer is definitely a time for us.

Here are just a few of our sweet memories from the past month as summer slowly begins to wind down...

Sidewalk Chalking

Ever so often she would stop her own doodles and come try and help me with mine.

Who can resist a chalk-dusted diaper bottom?

Melt.

Birthday Celebrations filled with sweet treats

Happy 3rd, sweet Grace! You're awesome and we love you.

Discovering the dress up drawer.

All chosen by her. Hmm...a fishing bunny that likes to cook and wears ladybug wings for fun?

Pillow Forts and Camp Stories

Showing off the tent to daddy!

A free trip to the Sam Noble Museum to explore with Nana. Sweet!

And, helping in the kitchen to make our own sweet treats...{definitely not one of our Paleo adventures, but like I said- we splurge here and there. ;) }

She was beyond excited to see the cookbook and help dump in the ingredients!

I love her look of concentration just about as much as I love the tufts of hair she finally has in this picture!

And now, it is August. August used to bring up so many emotions; excitement, anxiety, expectation. All brought by the upcoming school year. That time has come for daddy. Time for him to hit the grind and for mama to start her new adventure. It feels odd in some ways not having somewhere to prepare and things to plan, and for this I am humbly grateful. Not everyone gets the opportunity that we are attempting, and I don't want to forget the blessing that it is. My heart is with all of the teachers that are starting and that have already started in the upcoming weeks. Your job is unlike any other- harder than many and more rewarding than most. You are on the front lines of our future, and I hope that you know how valued you are and how important- no matter what some people may think. Your work brings fruit. Just as sweet as those summer berries and melons.

Chocolatetown Chip Cookies 

3/4 c butter

1/2 c granulated sugar

1 c packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 c all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 c chocolate chips of your choosing {we personally prefer dark chocolate}

Cream the butter, sugars and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well. Sift together the flour, baking soda and slat; add to the creamed mixture. Add the chips and blend well. Drop by teaspoonfuls {or more if you like bigger cookies, like we do!} onto a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes.

{Best made with helping hands, especially little ones, like my friend Meg has inspired me to do}

taken from Hershey's 1934 Cookbook, the revised 1971 edition. ;)