In keeping with my pledge earlier this month to spend as much quality time with my children as possible, I am going to capitalize on the beautiful weather we’re having today in my fine city and  spend the entire day outside. I even packed a picnic. I can’t wait!

Looking for things to do to celebrate Earth Day? Check out these online resources. Each is packed with cool ideas and info:

 earthday network

kaboose’s earthday page

The nature conservancy

planetpals

and these:

arbor day foundation

trees are good

organic gardening

Happy Earth Day to you all!

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This morning, my son was so excited that it was his turn to bring snack to his pre-school class that I wanted to make something special. With his help, I put this recipe together quickly. These tasty little muffins were ready in no time thanks to a little help from Hodgeson Mill.

Vegan Apple Cinnamon-Flax Crunch Mini Muffins

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Dry Ingredients

1 Cup  Hodgeson Mill Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancake mix
2 Tbsp almond meal
1 Tbsp milled flax seed
1/4 Cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3 tsp turbinado sugar
1/2 very ripe pear, minced

Wet Ingredients

4 oz. container organic apple cinnamon yogurt (I used the one for toddlers with fruit and cereal on bottom)
1 Tbsp flax oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
2-3 tsp cool water
3/4 Cup (or enough to make a moist batter) soymilk

Topping

1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp turbinado sugar
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 -1 /2 Tbsp Milled Flax Seed

Grease or line mini muffin pan cups. Mix dry ingredients thoroughly with wisk. Combine wet ingredients and add to dry. Stir until just combined but don’t over-mix. Place one teaspoonful in each muffin tin cup. Sprinkle topping on each. Bake 12 minutes. Remove from oven, and let rest/cool in pan 3 minutes.  Remove muffins from pan and cool completely.  Makes 24.

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Welcome baby Gus! It was truly an honor to be present when you entered the world. Your mom is graceful, beautiful and strong. Yep, she’s a superhero. Congratulations, friends!

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We have a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful. It’s that women are strong. ~ Laura Stavoe Harm

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It’s April first. I’ve been spending quite a bit of time doing non-parenting activities. I’ve been doing quite a bit of activities for myself. While they are great projects—being on the Rec Board of my Borough; studying for professional certifications; writing for this site; training staff at a local small business—I am discovering that something’s amiss. Although it’s worthwhile work I’ve been doing,  I have to admit that I feel a disconnect happening between my children and me. Not a huge isolating, neglectful disconnect. Rather, a feeling that I miss the great amount of time we usually spend together. And, I can tell they miss it, too.

I’m a stay at home mother which translates into I have alot of plates spinning in the air at one time. And, in my case (and, I don’t think I’m alone here), the spinning plates have begotten more spinning plates. So, this month I’m going to focus on being a mom. An Attentive mom. Flying kites. Playing board games. Mending torn superhero costumes. Baking bread. Singing silly songs. Practicing phonics and mathematical equations. Setting a positive example. Reading new and interesting books together. Taking long springtime walks in the park. Whatever the concept of being an attentive mother might present, well, I’m going to do that.

And, the rest of it may just have to wait until May.

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