Blog a la Cart

Easter // 2016

Easter was incredibly bittersweet. James and I tried to do our best for the kids, but we were so very tired and I was so very sad to not be with my mom and family as we were last year. But we decorated the house, and filled baskets, and the Easter bunny hid eggs. The day was positively gorgeous, so we went on a long walk and then dyed eggs out in the sunshine. James, Sander and I even squeezed in a nap while the girls watched a movie. But the late afternoon and evening found me agitated and weepy, so I retreated to my bedroom for some space. Meanwhile, James and the girls pulled out Momar’s good, good china and set a fancy table, and I rallied for an Easter supper with these beloved people of mine.

Holidays will now always have this stinging absence, but we’ll learn to weather them and find happiness and beauty in spite of the loss.

Jonas FOMO

We did not receive a flake of snow in VT, and I found myself looking wistfully at pictures of friends frolicking in NYC and DC and Boston amongst all that snowy white goodness. We have yet to have a decent snow fall this winter, and we’re all feeling exceedingly ready for some snow bank leaping (okay, maybe not the nearly 9 month pregnant Cart, but I would love to observe and document the fun). Alas, slipping and sliding on our neighbor’s pond had to suffice as our winter weekend adventure. The kids and pups had a ball regardless.

And James and I managed to find, sort, launder, and ready all of our 0-3 month baby gear. With a heavy pink-lean, this baby, regardless of genitalia, has more than enough clothes for his or her welcome (and let’s be honest folks, a newborn cares not what his/her clothes look like as long as s/he’s warm and fed and dry). So bring on an infant in sweet pink nightgowns that had me aching with nostalgia as I pictured both Sunny and Kaki’s babyhoods. I have to admit, I am feeling over-the-moon excited to meet this little one. I can’t believe I ever doubted that we’d welcome another child into our lives.

2016 Header

A new year, a new header. A few days late, but it’s here and it so accurately captures our array of Cartwheel critters bedecked in snuggly knits.

I worked with Lydia Mba (who did last year’s header) to execute this update. I asked for Green Mountains, fall foliage, a cartwheel, and our barnyard pack in an assortment of knitwear. I’d say she delivered beyond expectation! Hanna I find particularly endearing this year.

And this sure captures Gladdy’s irrepressible personality!

And Penelope Pig and a baby chick. Cute cute cute!

These illustrations are sure inspiring me to make some knitwear for our flurry and fluffy pack.

Gingerbread House Demolition

Or consumption, as it were for Miss Penelope Pig. Unabashed consumption of two stale gingerbread houses. Happy New Year, Penny!

One of our 2016 family projects is the creation of an IG account chronicling the antics of Penelope Pig and Gladdy the Flatty. If you’re on Instagram, follow along at @pennyandgladdy. The girls are helping James and I curate and caption a daily dose of swine and canine companionship. Ridiculous? Yes. Adorable? Also, yes.

And yay for even an itty bitty bitty bit of snow in Vermont! Finally!

Merry Christmas // 2015

Cards courtesy of Minted

Elf Express // 2015

Ho Ho Ho! What a festive final weekend before Christmas. We had two separate cookie baking playdates, oh the sugar highs! We had holiday parties, and Nativity pageants, and a ride on the Elf Express through snowy Green Mountains. I was so grateful to catch even a dusting of snow given that we’ve had NONE this season and it’s going to be 62 degrees on Christmas Eve (boo hiss!). The train ride was adorable and cheesy and right up the girls’ alley. A fun way to really get in the spirit of the season, with cookies and hot chocolate and elves and Christmas carols and Santa.

We also started plowing our way through all of the STAR WARS episodes as a family. We’re preparing for an excursion to Episode VII over Christmas. The girls are far more into it than I anticipated and it’s been fascinating to watch them try to understand the movies and the nuances of good and evil. But more on that later…

In the meantime, snaps from our Elf Express adventure in Vermont.

It’s beginning to look a lot like…

^^And a cartridge in a bare tree!!! (LOLs courtesy of my mother-in-law).^^

^^Our ever-growing collection of Walker Christopher ornaments thanks to the girls’ Bermudian great-grandmother Zizi.^^

^^A beloved Swedish Christmas puzzle from Maja and Lars.^^

^^Our new sliding door! So much more natural light fills our downstairs. SWOON!^^

^^Our snowflake ornament collection courtesy of James’ aunt. Yeah, we’re big into ornament series.^^

^^A German candle carousel from my childhood.^^

^^Another year, another equilateral Christmas tree that is taking up far more of our living room than we anticipated. And I love it!^^

Pollerts Tree Farm // 2015

Happy December! We spent our Sunday cleaning up Thanksgiving and hauling our Christmas gear up from the basement. It’s astounding how many bins we have filled with ornaments and garlands and Christmas themed decor. hashtagthisisparenthood

It was a full day affair that included a trip down the hill from our house to the local tree farm to select our tree. As usual, we opted for an equilateral triangle that absolutely takes over the living room. Such is the plight of a home with low ceilings, but the delicious scent of evergreen is reminding us why all that work was so worthwhile. Our dropped ceiling might limit the height, but the festive spirit fills the space with joy. A few snaps from the tree farm…

^^Sunny counted the rings. Our tree is 12 years old.^^

Thanksgiving // 2015

We had a jam-packed Thanksgiving weekend, complicated and tempered by a memorial service for James’ dear grandfather. It made for lots of travel and added stress (both emotional and physical), so I can’t say that I’m feeling all that rested coming off of this holiday (does anyone ever?), and my usual SAD November slump is hitting me hard this week (Welcome, December and your freezing rain!). But, looking at these images I’m reminded that Thanksgiving Day was quite a happy, family-filled, food-filled, turkey-filled affair, for which I am incredibly grateful.

^^Doda performing surgery on a turkey hand puppet from my childhood in order to bring his gobble back to life. Very important work indeed.^^

^^Arts and crafts while the bird cooked. The girls made Turkey Crowns for everyone to wear throughout the day. A good look considering the holiday.^^

^^A viewing of The Peanuts Thanksgiving to pass the time until pie and stuffing.^^

^^Beautiful rose apple pies – a new addition to our feast courtesy of Auntie Kimmy.^^

Grateful for these people and this life, even if it’s hard to remember that during these gloomy mood slumps. Off to bathe by my sunlamp and kick myself out of this funk. We’ve got round two of holiday adventures this weekend with the girls’ Nutcracker performance. Ready for some serious nostalgia and cuteness.

47/52

“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015.”

Sunny: We capped off a very very busy holiday weekend with Christmas tree selection. Bring on December!
Kaki: She wears that formal purple coat every opportunity she gets. A hand-me-down from Auntie Kimmy’s childhood.

More details about The 52 Project here. To view all the portraits in the series visit here.