national babywearing week!

 

Happy national babywearing week! From the time Riggs was first born, we have loved to wear him. I searched through old photos to collect all of our babywearing memories, and have compiled them here for you.

the babywearing view is always lovely :)

babywearing allows you to get outside and get moving

it's allowed us to do all the things we did before having Riggs

only now we have a happy little friend to come along with us

babywearing is a great way for baby and dad to bond

babywearing is a great way for baby to be involved in everything

instead of watching from the sidelines in the stroller

And the best thing is, babywearing only gets better with time :)

fall means baking: molasses cookies

One of my favorite things about fall and winter is the baking. I just love to bake up lots of cookies and pies and breads. And there's one type of cookie in particular that personifies fall/winter baking for me: Molasses Cookies.

You know, rolled in sugar, nice and crackly, crispy on the outside and just soft enough on the inside. Mmmmmm! So good. I make batches and batches of these every single year from October to December, and they never get old.

Next time you feel like baking something, I highly suggest you pull up this recipe and get to work. Put on some good music, tie those aprons straps around your waist, and get to work.

Soft Molasses Cookies

[original source]

1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup shortening (soo bad. we use lard, much 'healthier' for you)
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (I used 1 cup of whole wheat flour and 1 1/4 cup of regular)
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt

3 TBS granulated sugar (for rolling dough in)

1 | preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix brown sugar, shortening/lard, molasses, and egg together until combined.
2 | Add in all the other ingredients (except sugar) and stir until just combined.
3 | Shape dough into round, 1 1/2" balls. Dip into sugar and roll around till covered. Place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2" apart.
4 | Bake 12-14 minutes or until just set and cookies appear dry. Immediately move to cooling rack.
5 | Try not to eat them all :)

These cookies are perfect for little ones to help with. Riggs loved rolling them in sugar and putting them on the baking sheet for me. He also loved trying to sneak some raw dough and eating as much of the sugar as he could ;)

These come out of the oven looking soooo perfect. I was strong and resisted the urge to stuff as many in my mouth as possible while they were still warm, but just barely. If you do decide to sneak one fresh off the cookie sheet, you will not be disappointed. And not only will the cookies taste amazing, but your house will smell amazing as they bake. Perfect!

Afterwards, if you or your helper are covered in sugar like Riggy was, feel free to take a quick bath. Sink baths are always a favorite around here!

horseback riding adventure

Last week Riggs and I headed over to Sarah's parents to hang out (one of our favorite places ever). Riggs got to play with his friend Brody who's just three months older than him, and they had a blast! Sarah's dad spoiled the kids by saddling up the horses to let them ride.

I was glad I brought my camera with my, so many moments that needed to be captured! It was Lyla's first time up on horseback, and she loved riding Ginger with her Mama :) 

Riggs got to ride on Ginger with Sarah, then switched over to Shadow to ride with 'Papa'. He was so happy up there, my sweet little cowboy. I love love love getting to watch his wonder as he experiences new things. It was his second time riding a horse, but he was as excited as ever!

I'm so thankful to have amazing people in my life who love Riggs so very much. He was so happy and comfortable up there with Papa, and I think Papa was pretty happy too. Such special memories being made for my sweet boy.

After horseback riding, Riggs and Brody explored the yard together. They watched the ducks for a while, then moved onto to the old wagon to play with Brody's truck. I was impressed at how well they played and shared together. Lots of fun!

weekending

Riggs got a 'new' toy on Friday, and he hasn't been inside since. Seriously though, we've basically spent all our free time outside in his car aside from eating and sleeping. Who knew a old, pink cozy coup would be such a hit. I can't decide if I'm going to be lazy and leave it the way it is or paint it to make it a little more custom for him (and less pink). I don't really think he would mind either way, and it seems like a bit of work...plus I don't think I could get him out of it for long enough to paint it!

Saturday Steve's mom came out to visit (all the way from Homer) and we were all so happy to have Grandma here. My poor MIL broke her leg in two places in early summer but is finally 'just' in a boot and able to walk around. She is such an active person that this break has really been hard on her, both physically and emotionally. Not being able to get around like you're used to is tough! She spent two months without being able to put any weight on it - and this is a woman who can usually be found playing some serious tennis, biking 15 miles roundtrip to work everyday, kayaking, sailing or hiking depending on the day of the week.

You can imagine that she was pretty happy to be up and taking a walk around the neighborhood with Riggs, and he was pretty thrilled about it too. Dotti loves pictures as much as I do so I was the official photographer for the day (don't mind my apron, I was baking a pie before we headed out on the walk).

Grandma also brought a pumpkin to carve with Riggs, so fun! Riggs was very intrigued by the pumpkin and loved 'helping' carve it. We carved one last year but I highly doubt he remembers, haha. It is so so so fun at this age to be able to get more into holidays and celebrations since he's really starting to get it! It makes me very excited for Christmas :)

He was having a great time until it came to carving the face. For some reason it really scared him! Dotti and I were just about in tears laughing from his reaction to the nose popping out after we cut it. So funny!

Grandma stayed the night and went to church with us in the morning. Then she had to head to Anchorage and catch a flight for some training in Seattle. There were definitely tears, especially when she hugged Riggs and Steve goodbye. It's hard living 'so far' (5 hours away) and I understand it so much better now that I'm a mama. We are going down for the whole Thanksgiving weekend and it yet that seems too far away. I really can't wait until Steve can take more time off work to go and visit more.

The rest of Sunday was just spent lazing around, cuddled up on the couch in the rainy weather. Truly a perfect weekend. Hope yours was just as lovely :) Before you go, how cute is this picture of Riggs cuddling Tutka on the couch?! Just melts my heart. I was lucky enough to get a video too, click over to insagram to see it.

not my favorite friday

Today's been interesting day so far, and it's only 8am. Riggs woke up three times in the night crying like somebody was pinching him [he usually sleeps the whole night through, maybe waking up once every now and then]. Then he woke up at 6:40am for good [he usually sleeps till 7:30 and reads quietly in bed until 8 or even 8:30 if I'm really lucky]. And he's been as ornery as all get out ever since.

Oh well, such is life with a toddler I suppose. I'm squeezing in a little blog time while he eats breakfast to post my five friday favorites, and joining two link parties while I'm at it.

one | favorite photo

This shot by Hanna of Relic Photographic is soooo gorgeous. It's taken from the top of the Butte overlooking

Pioneer Peak, which is basically in my backyard. Hanna lives here in the valley and does amazing work.

two | favorite etsy

This adorable burlap and lace table runner is perfect for decorating your home for the fall and winter

holidays. And it's made by my friend Lena from Root & Blossom; definitely go check out her Etsy shop!

three | favorite diy

This easy DIY garland from Amanda is so adorable. And also, I think it's finally time for
me to put up a chalkboard somewhere in our house. So cute!

four | favorite post

"We bury our swollen prayers in Him who’s raised from the tomb. 

We lay our hope, full and tender, into the depths of Him and wait in hope for 

God to resurrect something good. Good always necessitates long waiting." 

I got a little teary reading this post this morning from A Holy Experience. 

One of my favorite blogs to catch up on when I need extra encouragement.

five | favorite funny

This is sooooo true for me! I'm not thirty yet, in fact I'm turning 27 on 

the 23rd of this month. But most days I still feel like I'm 20 years old, 

at least until I see actual 20 year olds, and then I instantly feel a lot older...ha.