We are in Hawaii

And I'm finally updating my blog!  It has been a crazy couple of months.  Once we finally got settled in Wisconsin, we came on an extended vacation to Hawaii.  We're loving our time here with friends and family.  The kids love Pounders.  Miriam has made two trips to Wailele already.  We had so much fun with Kaity and family.  And we stopped by to see the turtles at Lani's.


I had an exciting week applying to grad school.  I've been thinking about it for a couple of years but this trip cemented the deal.  I'm going to library school (if they accept me!).  I'm hoping to study academic librarianship and music librarianship.  Did you know they even existed?  I'm planning on studying full time.  It should make life totally crazy, but in a good way.  I'm pretty lucky to have such an awesome supportive husband.

It's good to be back in blogland!  More updates to come...

Happy Father's Day

The girls at Badlands, SD

When I was around Miriam's age, my dad would take us on road trips with him around the west.   Badlands, South Dakota.   Wall Drug and Mount Rushmore.   On other trips we drove to Tulsa or Rosebud.  

Last week, I felt as if history was repeating itself.  We didn't stop at any reservations, but we did stop at Wall Drug, Mount Rushmore and Badlands.  I don't remember much about those trips with my dad.  We may have been complaining all the way.  But as I showed these places to my kids, all I could remember was that my dad brought us along with him and made business trips into adventures.  So thanks Dad.  Happy Father's Day.

1-0!

Can you believe it?  That was us ten years ago!  It's so exciting to be in double digits.  We went out to lunch and talked about houses.  We talked about some of our adventures.  The Nissan Sunny we drove in Taiwan.  Backpacking in Japan.  The adventures we have planned for this summer.  Jellystone, kayaking, and backpacking.

I'm a lucky gal.  He's a lucky guy. But it's not luck that's kept us together.  Two great kids, a lot of work and compromise, and a whole bunch of family FUN has made these ten years so fabulous.  So here's to the next ten years, and the ten after that, and the ten after that, and the...

Spring Break

It's Spring Break!!!

The kids are home this week.  On Monday, I tried to do my usual Monday things.  Clean the kitchen, vacuum, laundry.  But those kids just got in the way!  They wanted to play!  So on Monday night, I realized that I had better make a plan for the week.  One with limited work and maximum FUN.  So we have had playdates galore, hiking with friends, and are planning a trip to the caves on Saturday.  Jesse took them to work today, which freed me up to finish the taxes!  Yay! 

We were thinking of going to Chicago and then to Appleton to look at houses, but with Jesse just back from his trip to Hawaii and me feeling a little overburdened solo parenting last week, it just sounded like a silly idea.  And since we really don't need to close on a house until July, there is no rush just yet.  We'll go up sometime next month and hopefully the home of our dreams will be available.  Or at least one we like enough to sink our savings into! (and that tax return)

No News is...

just that.  No news. 

Having Jesse gone for last week was a little traumatic.  Then this week with the earthquake in Japan, I got over myself pretty quick.  Thank you Facebook for keeping me in touch with all of my Tokyo friends.  They're all ok.  But under a lot of stress with all the aftershocks.  Most are taking off to parts unshaken.  My heart goes out to all those who are suffering.

We still don't know what will happen next year for us.  Lots of nibbles, no bites.  And after having yet another cryfest about poor me, I think I'm done.  I think I'm really lucky to have two great kids.  They're not healthy, but a cough and sore throat seem minor.  I have a great husband who agrees with me that doing something grand for our anniversary this year seems more like a headache than a celebration.  We've planned a lunch date.  Somewhere nice (come on Groupon, help me out with this one).   I cleaned up my pantry today and I have plenty of food and toilet paper (1971 Honolulu dock strike, not that I was there but my dad was).  And the house is clean because someone came to look at it so I finally took a load to the recycling center, put empty jars down cellar, and cleaned my room.  I have a lot of big and small things to be grateful for.  So that's the news.  We are well.  We are safe.  We are happy.  We are lucky.  How are you?

Turkey Runs Again

Before the snow melted last week, we went to Turkey Run State Park to see if we could fall off a cliff or two while slogging through the snow.

Mention a hiking trip and there is sure to be whining.  It can get very disheartening very quickly.  This trip was no exception.  Although five minutes into it Gwyn said, "I'm behind because I'm looking at how beautiful it is here."  Finally!

J didn't try to pick trails with sheer cliffs and only slabs of ice to walk on, but alas, that's what happened.  We had hiked each of the trails previously, but never when they were covered with snow/freezing rain/ice pack.   Needless to say, we made it back safely.  No one was injured during this adventure.  And we will stick to less cliffy terrain for our next snow hike (if there is one this season).

G became very interested in reading the map to figure out where we were.  It was so very Jesse like.

We sure wish any of you had been there with us.  It wasn't even that cold!  And it was Beautiful, just ask Gwyn.

Happy Birthday Mom

The best thing about this day.

My Mom was born.  She's so cool.  She's a wonderful grandmother.  Super easy to talk to.  The nicest mother in law.  And she pulls off this muumuu like no one else can.  Happy birthday Mom.  (The blonde is my mom's sister Wendy.  Also looking awesome with those glasses.)

Finally! Some FUN in 2011!

It's hard to be FUN when everyone is sick.  Sick kids.  Not fun.  Sick Mom.  Not fun.  Sick Dad.  Definitely not FUN.  And then miraculously, everyone starts getting better! 

And we have FUN!  At Shades State Park.  Where they aren't collecting the usual $5 entrance fee because who in their right mind would want to tromp through the snow?  Us!  Our 1.2 mile hike took over two hours.  Obviously, we weren't going for speed. 

I love being outside, even if it is a little coldy.  I love my purple snow pants and lime green coat because they keep me warm and I will always be the first one found if we ever get lost.  I love all the winter gear we've accumulated that has made it possible to spend hours outside in brrr cold temperatures.

I love spending a Saturday doing this. 

Behind the falls on trail 2

Not this.

Last Saturday Mim slept until 5pm!

Bronx Zoo

The enclosure is open and the lemurs often have to be shooed back in by a zookeeper whose job it is to make sure they don't harass the patrons. 

I have to post some pictures from the Bronx zoo.  It's an amazing zoo and it's pay what you wish on Wednesdays.  What a deal!  We got to bring my nephew Tenney with us.  Isn't it funny how adding one kid to the mix makes it easier?  T is known for his dislike of using his own feet, but he was a speed demon with us.  He ran around the whole park leaving my girls in his dust.  And he shared his goldfish with me.  What a man!  Did I mention that he is super cute photogenic as well?  Next time I want to spend one on one time with each of the cousins.  It's so fun to get to know them as individuals. 

A Day for Family

Me, Pete, and Dan.  Ben was probably too little to come with us.

This week on NPR, Morning Edition has run a series on siblings.  I'm the third of four kids, but the only girl.  I'm glad I have them.  I'm so glad that my girls have each other. 
I wish I could spend the day with my extended family.  I'll just enjoy being with my little family in our little car.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  See you on Monday!

Mornings

Image from here.  Don't you wish Claire invited you to breakfast?

Just got a little nicer. 

"Come down all dressed, with socks and shoes.  There's hot cocoa, eggs, and bacon for you."

With the help of my trusty Presto Electric Grill (They're not paying me, promise.) I can makes pancakes in a flash, eggs and bacon, or french toast.  Somedays I just make oatmeal. 

But something hot and tasty brings them downstairs so quickly.  (And no food if you're not all dressed!)  It's worth the little bit of work on my part.  It's so much more pleasant in the morning lately.  And it smells so yummy, too.

Here's the waffle/pancake recipe we use.


2 cups whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp Sugar
1Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2-4 Tbsp melted butter or canola oil (more for waffles, less for pancakes)
1-1/2 to 2 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla

Whisk the dry ingredients together.  Add eggs, butter (or oil), and 1-1/2 cups of the milk.  Beat until smooth.  Add more milk as needed.  More for pancakes, less for waffles.  This recipe makes just enough for our family of four.

Christmasy Excitement

Are you thinking about Christmas?  Is it just me?

Jesse wants us to send cards this year.  Really send them.  (And the two boxes of Christmas cards, unsent, unwritten, from the previous two years means we're only out postage!)

I want to create beautiful, thoughtful, memorable gifts for family.

I've already made my neighbor gifts, well, the hard part.  I'll give out apple butter, pomegranate jelly, and apple preserves with some home baked good. 

I also have the two birthdays to think of.  The Monkey turns 6 Dec. 29, and The Daddy's b-day is Jan 1.

And how will I help Santa stuff stockings?  I always like to add a thing or two, something especially special that he may not have time to find.

Why is it that this year, I'm utterly thrilled, stress free, and excited for the holidays?  Could it be that they are far away?  And that I'm not hosting?


image from here

Photo Books

It's 12:30 here.  I haven't taken a shower yet.  I've been working on a project.  Three photo books for the price of one on Snapfish, code1Book2Free at checkout and you can have buggy eyes, too. 

Compiling all the good photos from the last two years into three separate folders.  I'm about 2/3 of the way done.  I still need to go through all the pictures from Yosemite and pick out a few there.  Then lay everything out.  Busy, but fun.  (the coupon is only good until Nov 4)  Will you make photo books, too?

Send me an email if you'd like me to forward you the email I got. 

Photog Answers

For all my non family readers (I think there are a few of you!), go look at my brother-in-law Adam's blog.  He is an amazing wedding photographer.  And his last two posts are about buying a camera and taking great wedding shots.  Also, you can download this picture or tomorrow's (or the day after's) at this link for your wallpaper.  Plus he does amazing family photos, and he's super cool. 

To You, Tutu

My Tutu's funeral is today.  I wish I could be there to celebrate her life.  Also, the party will be fantastic!  (Tutu always loves a good party, she'll just be sad she missed it.) 
I wish I could be there with my dad and brother.  Aunts, uncles, cousins.

Since I can't be there, I'll share Tutu with you.  Here are two recipes off the top of my head that Tutu taught me while I was in college.

Garlic Chicken
mince 1 head of garlic
mix with a lot of salt
rub mixture between the skin and flesh and in the cavity of a whole chicken
bake covered 350 about an hour or until it falls off the bone
the meat tastes great on sandwiches

Cheap Yakisoba
parboil 2-3 packages of ramen noodles
chop one or two chicken breasts into bite size pieces.  Stir fry
add
finely chopped yakisoba vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, onion
 add ramen noodles. 
add 1 or 2 of the spice packets for flavoring

Shades, etc

Did I mention that the apples are gone? We made applesauce out of the last 50 lbs, (6 gallons) with our friends last weekend. I left most of it with them. The kids keep asking to bring more home, but refuse to eat what we have. Go figure.

We also went on a little walkie in SHADES OF DEATH State Park. Well, it's just called Shades these days...but with Halloween coming up, it's so fun to go somewhere with Death in the name.

Jesse is getting ready for his interview. I'm so supportive, I've actually offered to iron and starch his shirts. It's going to be a long six days with him gone. Hopefully, I can keep it all together. I bet the kids are hoping the same thing. I bet they're also banking on Mommy getting overwhelmed just enough to take them to McD's.

In other news, Mermaid has learned the joys of shopping online at Amahzon. Emphasis on the mah. She reads the reviews to let us know that "these dolls come highly recommended." She's been so computer illiterate, that it's good she's learning to navigate a little better online. But she wants a debit card.

Also, Monkey now takes books to "read" on the bus. She read Winnie the Pooh last week. Our discussion of the book was enlightening on my part. "I get confused with what's going on sometimes because I skip the words I don't know." That would be anything but three letter words, fyi. One of the kids next to her wanted her to prove that she can't read by reading out loud. She said, "I don't know how to read out loud, yet!" (with an implied "duh!") She finished Winne the Pooh and has moved onto another book. I'm afraid that I won't believe her when she does learn to read.

How's your week going?

Indiana, Au Naturale

Last weekend our friends showed us Natural Indiana. Which is a lot different from what you see traveling to and fro. That would be Farming Indiana (soybeans or corn, take your pick). Nature in Indiana has streams, rocks, neato fossils and crinoids, and pawpaws (just like Baloo. And they are scrumdidliumcious).

I like Nature Indiana. It's beautiful. It's close. It's not incredibly prolific, but it will have to do for now. And if we can find some more of those pawpaws, I shall like it even more.

Happy Birthday Tutu

Today is my Tutu's 85th birthday. She is one of my favorite people. I got to spend a lot of time with her when I was in college. I would ride the bus to her place where she would feed me (she is an AMAZING cook), give me great advice, and make me feel completely at home. She loves to talk story. And she has a great way of tilting her head and getting conspiratorial when the talk gets juicy. She made an amazing life for her family. Tutu gave me her love of creating, cooking, and her amazing practically wrinkle free skin (bless her for those fabulous genes). I wish I could come celebrate and plant a kiss on her cheek. I love you, Tutu.

And thanks for flying from Hawaii to DC when I was born.

Rope Swing on the Nezinscott

So here are Jesse and Ada. Rockin' the ropeswing.

Monday-Kayak

Monday was a kayak trip down the Nezinscott river. Yes, J totally overscheduled us. Yes, our arms were killing us the next day (and the next). And Yes, we had FUN! Thanks for making the trip up north to see the MAIN(e) Palmers!