[Latergrams] at the sea.

Uncle Nick's visit consisted of many trips to the sea. This particular day Sebastian and Katharina wore their boots for playing in the sand. 

Philippa napped in the pram while we chased and collected sea glass and splashed in knee-deep puddles. When our noses were red and our toes too cold to feel we headed back home after stopping at Mitchell's for coffees to go.

 

Anstruther.

Today was a sunny day, and here the sun can be hard to come by. Usually when you get it, you run with it. So today we boarded a bus and spent the afternoon in a nearby fishing town.

We'd been planning all week to take our littles on a day-trip to Anstruther, a little village right on the East Neuk. They have a famous, award-winning fish bar where they catch all the haddock locally and batter and fry it to perfection. 

Today was my first time really eating fish. (Yes, I said that). Soft, flaky, and lathered in lemon juice, I'm not sure what I spent all these years waiting for. 

waiting for our bus.

the harbour.

colouring all sorts of sea-creature pictures.

coffee with papa.

naptime.

. . .or not.

.  . .and then we found this garage I couldn't get enough of.

Bit of life.

Not only does Philippa smile now, at anyone and anything, but she giggles now too. She kicks her legs and waves her arms when she sees her Papa and smacks her lips when she sees me. She sleeps on her back with her arms above her head and we can't stop kissing her.

Well I'm having a hard time pulling Sebastian and Katharina's bedtime bottles. It's such a snuggly time in our day, and we're all suckers for cuddles. They're 15 months and won't ask for them when they leave for university, right? They like (read love) chamomile tea at bedtime now and lay together to snuggle on the nearest blanket when they see their bottles. They each carry at least 7 books to us in their arms and ask us to read them over and over. And over. Three weeks now, they've been devouring sautéed mushrooms at dinnertime. Sebastian says mama, dada (the boy refuses to say Papa), Kat-a, Mimi, and all sorts of animal sounds. Aside from animal noises, Katharina (Kat-a) leaves the talking to Sebastian.

My guy spent last weekend running around London and we're all glad to have him back. . .he turns The Three Little Kittens into a scary story, and his scary kitten voices are the best of all. 

Snow!

Yesterday we woke up to a light dusting of snow and it continued to come down on and off all throughout the day. This was highly unexpected. I talked with a local earlier this week who told me in his 28 years of life here, 2009 was the first winter he saw a real accumulation of snow.

Katharina sat on our bed silently staring at it out the window. Sebastian pointed curiously and asked about it in his own little-guy words. After lunch we took 12 minutes to bundle them up and spent 10 minutes out there.

It was well worth it.

It was far too cold for the wee man. But to Katharina, it was soft and beautiful and oh so lovely.

Oh, and it tasted good too.

Apple cinnamon bars.

This cookbook was a gift, and a great one at that! On average, I flip through this 2-3 times a week. The photos are bright and beautiful and just reading the recipes makes my mouth water.

These bars had been on my mind, and Peter works two doors down from the health food store. After work yesterday he stopped in and picked up the ingredients we didn't have at home.


Apple Cinnamon Bars from Cornelia Guest's Simple Pleasures

2 cups organic unsweetened almond milk
1 1/2 cups organic steel-cut oats (note: we could not find steel-cut oats in these parts, so I substituted organic, large rolled oats)
1/2 cup chopped pecans (I used walnuts)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup ground flaxseeds
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 Pink Lady apples, cored and grated (no need to peel)

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
3. Transfer to foil-lined 9-inch square baking pan (my note: My brother wanted these thinner, so I used a large cookie sheet/jelly roll pan. I am sure they would be divine thicker as well); press down mixture and smooth out top.
4. Bake until firm and golden brown (about 1 hour).
5. Let cool in pan.
6. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.

And here is what's left of them:

This measly plate for three. After taste-testing last night, the guys took some on their weekend trip down to London, and the big kids and I had some for breakfast this morning. I doubt these stragglers will see the morning.

2 months || 4 january

Philippa Byrde is 2 months old. Perhaps her most exciting accomplishment this month: she's found her voice. She talks and sings and coos all. day. long. And she's the happiest baby we've known.

Oh how we all adore her!