Right Now

Practicing survival skills


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

DayBook 5.20.13

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... camper is set up. Getting it ready for spring/summer camping!

I am thinking... about this essay I read this morning. Very moving for me. 

I am thankful for... my ability to roll with the punches. Most of the time.

From the kitchen... eating leftover crepes for breakfast, making banana muffins this morning, doing something with avocados later today - the pile I have are super ripe!

I am wearing... boyfriend jeans, sweatshirt (my house is always cold! Winter or summer!), slippers.

I am creating... something with my crochet hook. Just haven't decided what yet.

I am going... to review our homeschool year sometime in the next month.

I am reading... the same stuff as last week. Not so much quiet time the last week.

I am hoping... that our plans for this week don't get delayed too much longer!

I am hearing... Kate babbling about something. I'm only half listening while I type. And Jack munching on leftover crepes for breakfast.

Around the house... it must be spring cleaning season. I was on a roll this weekend cleaning out nooks and crannies. Came up with 2 boxes of stuff to 

One of my favorite things... national parks

A few plans for the rest of the week: USTA singles match for me

Here is a picture I am sharing:

Step Back

Tonight was a reminder (yet again!) to step back and let the kids do their thing. I need to not get in the way to help them out or try to make it better.

I was making crepes (yet again!) because we have so many eggs (yet again!). Kate has helped me make crepes before, but this was the first time Jack has asked to make crepes.

So I let him pour and cringed as he spread the batter. I helped a little on the first one, caught myself, and let him do the next few on his own.

I also realized that I must have misplaced my rose-colored glasses, because what I saw as a crepe disaster...

Jack announced as the "coolest crepe EVER!"

Legoland

Mostly just some photos of our trip. We didn't wander far from the Legoland site. Just to the beach and out to dinner Saturday evening. Other than that it was Lego-Lego-Lego 100%!

Hotel was fun. Big pit of Legos in the lobby. Disco elevator.
Reminiscent of the Disney cruise with kids everywhere,
but worth it for Jack's pure joy.

See Matt & kids towards the back? I went on the first time,
but my stomach can't handle 2x in a row!

Just looking at this photo of a spinning ride
makes me queasy!

Kate & I onscreen playing National Geographic XBox Kinetic
We were bears catching salmon

Family photo in 3D glasses

Mom isn't on the soaking water ride either.
Too cold! What a wimp!

Jack & Mom on the sky ride

Jack LOVED Lego Miniland!

Feeding our Star Wars obsession

That's all! Great trip. Jack would go back tomorrow. I think I've had my fill.

Daybook 5.13.13

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... is an absolutely gorgeous morning! Perfect running weather. Feels so good to have 5 miles done by 7am.

I am thinking... that life is about to start moving at the speed of light around here. We have a busy schedule for the rest of 2013 (not to mention 2014!). I hope I've built in enough space and downtime.

I am thankful for... all the opportunities that are filling our schedule and our life.

From the kitchen... avocado and egg on toast this morning, kettle is on the stove for a new loose leaf chai, planning kale salad (for me!) for lunch and cheese soup for dinner. Haven't gotten any further than that yet.

I am wearing... running shorts, long sleeve running shirt, Smartwool socks.

I am creating... piles and piles of dirty laundry lately. Too many sweaty activities.

I am going... crazy!! :)

I am reading... not as much time for reading the last week. Still on  Harsh Cry of the Heron and Let's Pretend This Never Happened (didn't finish for book club... oops!) And Mind Gym. Didn't even pick it up the last week.

I am hoping... for nice, sunny, non-windy weather this week.

I am hearing... the milk frother spinning.

Around the house... I feel like it is 2 steps forward, 3 steps back around here lately. I need some time alone in the house to get stuff done.

One of my favorite things... quiet mornings.

A few plans for the rest of the week: USTA singles match for me, homeschool field day for the kids, eye doctor for Jack, running clinic in Denver for me, going away party for friends, lacrosse tournament this weekend for Jack

Here is a picture I am sharing: Jack (blue #26) chatting it up with the opponent. I could tell both boys were busy talking and not paying attention to the game. Ends up they had a long conversation about Minecraft. Jack may not be the best at lacrosse, but he's great at making friends! A more important life skill, no?

And look at those mountains! Sometimes I still have to pinch myself that I get to see those gorgeous mountains every day!!

Salmon Fishing in Legoland

Pretty embarrassing to see yourself on video playing this National Geographic XBOX Kinect Game.
But we loved it. Totally getting it for the kids for Christmas next year.
(the volume doesn't work for me when I play the embedded version but works when I click through to YouTube)
You can see Kate and I rafting here (albeit sideways). And the kids playing more National Geographic here.

Tea Glitch

I've been thinking about doing this "glitch" thing for awhile, and when this happened on Sunday at the airport on our way home from California, I knew I was definitely going to do a glitch week.

Matt got me a chai tea and with the first sip, I missed my mouth (oh, yes!) and spilled tea down my shirt. Not during turbulence, not while walking around, and with a cap on top. Just missed my mouth.

Can't see it so well in the above photo? I guarantee it was really obvious in person. Here's a closer look.

Know what makes you feel sillier than spilling tea down your shirt? Taking a picture of yourself in the airport bathroom mirror!

Biggest bummer of the whole thing? It was a horrible chai that I ended up trashing.

Bad Baking

It's Glitch Week!

I love baking, and I love homemade buns. I've been making buns using this recipe, which I love, but it is a bit time consuming when I want to make several dozen at one time. I decided to try making buns using an Artisan Bread recipe.  I chose the whole wheat brioche which I haven't before tried. The wheat gluten called for in the recipe seemed a bit much, but Kate was helping me mix so I was a bit distracted and just followed the recipe. Seems my instinct was correct and the recipe was wrong. Argh. Whole batch wasted. 7 cups of flour, a stick and a half of butter, 3/4 cup of GOOD honey, not to mention my chicken eggs!! Double-quadruple Argh. Nothing I could do but throw it out (actually I was so frustrated that I just left it on the counter overnight giving the kitchen an overwhlemingly yeasty smell the next morning). And not enough ingredients to even start over.

Meanwhile, I am researching the recipe online, and I forget about the frozen pizza in the oven (you know, because while I'm so busy making homemade goodness, I don't have time to actually cook dinner for my kids!). Burned that. Fortunately it was still edible, and no one complained.

Then Kate has this way of asking me why the dough didn't turn out that seems somewhat accusatory as if I had done something wrong (which actually wouldn't be all that unusual either!). So I was frustrated, annoyed, cranky and feeling completely inadequate. Let the kids eat their burnt pizza in front of the TV. Have yet to make a second attempt at the buns. That's why they are still on my to do list.

A prime example of moments that shouldn't be blogged...