Toddler Lunch

While Bannack was napping I prepped the ingredients so that he could do the fun parts when he woke up!  Bannack got to mash the steamed broccoli and use the cookie scoop to shape the fritter dough.

Also, we each made a sauce for dipping.  Bannack made a mix of yogurt and ketchup and I opted for yogurt and sweet chili sauce!  It was an awesome lunch that was fun to make and fun to eat!

                          Thanks to Smitten Kitchen: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2012/06/broccoli-parmesan-fritters/

Sign of Summer!

Summer is here and we are loving it!  We had another epic journey across the country with a lovely stopover in Chicago (Thanks Aunt Colleen, Uncle John and Gram!).  Our time in Montana has been jam packed and is flying by!  We've been camping, soaking in hot springs, hiking, running, moss hunting, carousel riding, and ice cream eating of course.  Bannack is "living the life of Riley" as my dad keeps saying.  B starts his day in the hot tub and then moves to Grandpa Mike's bed where he snuggles in and watches cartoons.  By mid-morning he is out in the yard catching chickens and fishing in the creek!  Life is good!

My birthday morning with Bannack!

Sunday in the Park

Watching the Central Park sailboats was a perfect way to say goodbye to our city for the summer. We will miss you!

Bannack helping me clean.

Wow. A lot fits in that drawer!

Bannack's Drum

We go to a sing-a-long in the neighborhood every week and this morning Bannack was insistent that we make a drum to bring. This is what we came up with using the things we had in the house!

Your guess is as good as mine!

Bannack Casey Taleff

I just want to squeeze this kid, don't you?  Last week was a good one.  Bannack got a new scooter and on the way home from the store stopped in front of this wall and asked me to take his picture!  That was a first.  We usually bribe Bannack in order to get a photo or take 1,000 action shots hoping one will come out in focus.  This time though, Bannack was so thrilled by his new scooter, he stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, stood against the wall, and asked me to take the picture!  My mom pointed out that he also chose to stand in front of a graffiti B.  Wow, smart kid.

Last week Bannack also started asking why.  I told him to do something, probably put on your helmet and out of the blue he looked at me and said, "Why mama?"  I gave a quick explanation and he followed with, "But why?"  He stopped asking why after I got into prevention of traumatic brain injury.  This line of questioning has continued in full force for the entire last week and it doesn't seem to be waning!  I had no idea the "why" cycle could start this early...wish us luck!

The other big, wow of the week was that Bannack walked from our house to the train unassisted for the first time.  It is about 3/4 of a mile.  I might also add that it was raining so he was sloshing along in his rain boots and yellow rain coat, playing the harmonica.  Yes, playing the harmonica with vigor.  He continued the harmonica playing in the subway while we waited for the train and had the train come a minute later I'm convinced he would have gotten a dollar or two!  

Overdue Easter Update

I got a terrible cold on Easter afternoon that lingered for two weeks which is my excuse for not posting sooner about our sweet Easter morning.  We died eggs the night before Easter using turmeric, beets and cabbage.  The turmeric worked the best, giving the eggs a nice golden yellow color.  When Bannack woke up in the morning his basket was empty of eggs and that creative and talented Easter bunny had left a map to aid in the egg hunt.  Bannck has been VERY into maps because of his deep love for Go Diego Go.  The interpretive map is a layout of the rooms in our house and the corresponding number of eggs hidden in each room.  The hunt lasted for quite awhile with lots of clues from papa, Uncle Mike and Anders.  We finished the day with an early dinner of lamb at Jane and Jean-Marie's.  It was lovely!

Gettin' Crafty!

Bannack got invited to a birthday party in our neighborhood!  I don't know who was more excited.  As many of you know I have been trying to find friends for the both of us for quite some time.  Bannack fell in love with a little boy called Marlo at the sing-a-long we got to each week at the Knitting Factory.  They hold hands and dance - it's cute.  Marlo is usually there with one of his nanny's but a couple of weeks ago his mom was there!  We arranged a few play dates and the rest is history.  My friend's Anna and Corey Baker came up with this brilliant homemade gift idea and I was eager to give it a try.

Potato Stamp Memory

(photo credit: Chris Taleff)

Gathering kindling.

Bannack is practicing in the park so he is prepared for building lots of campfires in Montana this summer. I have already given him a lesson on s'more making but the broiler just isn't the same!

It's a boat, it's a train, no it's a tractor!

When Bannack woke up, Chris' model building supplies were still out from the night before.  Bannack was thrilled and wanted to make a boat.  As they made the boat he thought it was looking more like a train so they added the wheels.  By the time it was finished, Bannack didn't think it looked like a train at all.  It was most definitely a tractor he decided!  

Bannack is lucky to have a creative guy for a dad.  Stay tuned for this summer's building projects which are sure to include bray bricks and montana sticks.  It's official, Chris got the internship with the Montana Preservation Alliance so we are Montana bound at the end of May! 

Play Dough Dinosaur

I had a lot of work in February preparing for a conference in Montana.  I needed an afternoon break and Chris' class was cancelled.  I went out for a haircut and Chris and Bannack made play dough.  They sent me this sweet picture and I am finally posting it!  The gross part is that we still have the play dough.  It is now one solid color and has lots of "texture." It has even been to Montana and back.  I think it is time to make some more!

Ice Cream!

We went for ice cream after the park today even though we left the park due to cold hands. It was just before 6 when we left the ice cream shop and I realized maybe we should have been cooking dinner instead of licking cones! It was just a wacky sort of day.

Another Second Penny Inn

Exploring the grounds...

Mystic, CT

Hello from the shipyard in Mystic, CT! I planned a little two night adventure for us to mark the start of Chris' spring break and our first east coast getaway as a family. Chris was skeptical about my choice of locations but so far so good! Tonight we will go to the famous Mystic Pizza for dinner!

Sunday at the Big Dipper

Carousel Ride!

Enjoying the long weekend!

Share Your Sweet Love!

We wish we could hand deliver cupcakes to each of you. 

Just know that while we made them we were thinking about you! 

Love, Bannack and Sara

Sweet June!