Quick Summer Recap

Summer was amazing.   We saw friends and most of our family.  River trips, hiking, surfing, water parks, camping.  This may have been the best summer ever.  I love the order and predictability of the school year, but I'm already looking forward to June 6, 2014.

Cousins at the beach house

Miriam on Timp

All the Tano cousins

Rafting the Provo river with Tenney

Mount Hood

Windy Oregon Coast with Ben's kids

Rafting the Deschutes in Oregon

The First Week of School

Recycled some folders from previous years.  A little washi goes a long way.

School started on Tuesday!  Oh, the thrills of a new school year!  First grade is dreamy perfect, complete with  teepee, hermit crab, and teeny tiny desks for each little pupil.  Fourth grade appears to be just right.  An in class library, dreamy!  

The beauty of a neighborhood school is at 8:05 am.  Little legs pumping bicycles, scooters whizzing by, groups of three and four walking by.  Four crossing guards situated around the school helping the little ones get there safely.  I love it.  

Here's to months more of educational bliss.

The Kids' Room

Finally took some pictures of the girls' room.  Jesse has been so handy downstairs in the basement.  He creates these amazing pieces out of very ordinary pieces of wood and not wood.  I've been redeemed for hauling around my loads of fabric.  The curtains are from 2 meters imported from Japan.  Three years ago.  The carpet is an Ikea as is find of years past. 

The best part about this room is how functional and roomy it is.  The kids actually play in it!  Yay!

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.

G's Grandparents

 

Ok, I lied.  One more post.  These are Gwyn's Grandparents.  There's a bit of Mimi and Austin to them.  Gwyn says it's Merv and Kay.  Okeydokey.  Well, here's to visiting the grandparents this summer so next year their portrait will be a little more accurate.  

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)

Permission Granted

 

A little note from Gwyn this evening:

"I know it is time for bed.  I do not want to go to bed.  Just now.  Can I watch some more instead of stories.  Signed Gwyn.  To Parent."

My kids are awesome.  I am really enjoying them right now.  They are very self sufficient which is great.  And the hormones haven't kicked in yet, which is awesome, too.  Momhood is sweet.

Spring?

Life is getting exciting here in the midwest!  The sap is flowing, mystery bulbs are poking their heads out in the yard, and I changed my hair color from dark brown, to medium brown.  Ah!  Spring is in the air!

We sent Jesse on a spring break trip to see his brother in California.  Solo parenting has me falling on the couch at 8:30.  But pats on the back to me since we did have family night and we have been reading scriptures.  My entire goal this week:  Keep it together.  Anything accomplished is extra. 

And I'll finish with a fascinating conversation with Miriam on the walk to school last week.
"What does the Holy Ghost look like?"
I said that He is a spirit so doesn't have a body like ours.
"Well, you have to think about what his body looks like to think about what his spirit must look like.  I think the Holy Ghost is a girl."
"Hm.  I haven't heard that theory before."
"Why is the prophet always a boy."
"Well, historically there were women who were prophets."
"My teacher said that Miriam was a prophetess.  Have there ever been any women apostles?  I think that women and men should be equal.  Well, maybe five less than equal."
"Or five more."
"Yeah."


PS, if you didn't know, we're Mormon.

Gwyn's Valentine's Party

Little Gwyn made a sad face after Miriam's birthday and said "I've never had a friend party."
Jesse and I looked at each other and realized "she's right!"
Oh, what a sad first six years.  A December birthday has some major drawbacks.  No friends.  So sad.

This year we shook things up and had a Valentine's party for G and her friends.  A Friend Party!  Yay!
We started by making cards.  The girls were busy for 45 minutes.  They would not be budged. 

We played some games.  Pin the Nose on the Snowman got turned around and became Boring Horse to Fancy Unicorn. 

We decorated pink sugar bombs aka cupcakes. 

We had a little lunch of sandwiches, veggie tray, apples, and apple juice.  We sent the bombs home with the kids so very little sugar was eaten on our premises. 

This was the easiest party ever.  I loved that there were no gift bags, no gifts, just FUN.  I believe we may have started a new tradition! 

Gwyn Is Six

I was awake for about 3 hours of Gwyn's birthday.  I am so grateful to Jesse and Amy for making sure she had a party.  Jesse went shopping for her.  In a store.  That's love.  Amy got her balloons.  And Ben and Yuki let her spend the night with them. 

I was in charge of the green lobster jello.  Her request.  She was happy.  I was too, since that was about all I ate the whole day. 

Happy 6th birthday Gwyn!  We are so glad you were born.

Getting the Craft on Early

It's never too early to start!

Nutcracker, featuring my head as the nut

Mim and I are going to the Nutcracker this Friday.  With 178 other kids.  On three buses.  Three to a seat.  For over an hour, each way.  I can't wait.  I'm going to bring a whole lot of Advil.  Remind me to check on the logistics before I jump to chaperone the next field trip. 

If only this article in the NYTimes had come out 4 weeks ago. 

(It will probably be great.  But my tendency to migraines and nausea on buses has me a little concerned.)

Stocking Stuffers For Girls

You know that Santa always needs a little help with the stockings, right?  He's great at putting in the Lifesavers Storybook, the orange, that kind of stuff.  If I were a little girl, these are the presents that would make me squeal.

1.  Hemp Barrettes, how darling!
2.  Soaps with tiny animals inside.
3.  Charm Bracelet, sterling silver with the girls' name engraved on their first charm.
4.  Birdie Barrettes
5.  Tough Girl Belt.

I found all of these cuties on Etsy.  How's that for supporting small business!

Turkey Day Crafts, For Kids

You know how the Thanksgiving feast magically appears and the children have been quietly entertaining themselves for the past 4 hours, and everything is beautiful, perfect, and lovely? 

Oh.  Wait.  That's not what happens.  The meal always takes longer to prepare than you think it will, kids are starving and cranky because they're off their eating schedule, and there's the 5 last minute trips to the grocery.  

I can't help you with much, but I can help with the kids.  Last year before the Thanksgiving meal, by some miraculous fluke, Miriam asked Amy if she could have the package of pipe cleaners in the attic.  Suddenly, it was all work in the kitchen.  No kids screaming.  Just bracelets and crowns.  Necklaces and badges.  They were happy.  They were doing a novel, no parent needed craft.  Hallelujah!

I want this for you.  If you are hosting Thanksgiving, you deserve this hour or two of quiet.  All these crafts are great with an adult or older child to help.  Most of the items needed can be found at the dollar store or a craft store for sure.


The pipe cleaners, by themselves, are pretty fun.  Add some beads, and they're magical.  Letter beads, and you've even got educational.  Have the kids make napkin rings with everyone's name.  A necklace that's also a love note for mom or dad or favorite cousin. 

Use this site to make cornhusk dolls.  If you have fresh corn this week, save the husks.  If not, just get tamale wrappers.  They work great.  Twine or raffia works well to tie.

And don't forget the turkey.  Two circles on a cardboard background and feathers from the dollar store.  Placemats, perhaps?

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.

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. 

Chore Chart

This is the embarrassingly easy job chart I created for the kids.  Being a stay at home mom to two kids means that they think I'm in charge of their lives.  This chart is slowly weaning them off of me, I hope.  They don't have daily chores, but this way I can get some work out of them before they can go play with the neighbors.  Anything from putting toys away, or clothes, or taking out the recycling.  Also, I don't have to keep reminding them that homework needs to be done, etc.  They put a clip next to the job they've finished.

I love my kids.  I also love a simple system.  It may not last long, but we might learn something from it.

Halloween in Theory

 I have a little theory about Halloween and towns.  The more economically depressed the town, the more ecstatic they get about Halloween.  They spend more money on costumes, decorations, and candy than say, Irvine.  I think one reason is that there is no social stigma in a small town for turning your front lawn into a graveyard with skeletons emerging from the ground.  Or having evil demon like wraiths floating in front of your front door (there are two of these in the neighborhood).

I'm not complaining or judging.  If anything, I'm enjoying myself a little too much.   I must say that Indiana takes the cake (or the candy corn).  We have had to turn down several party invitations because they conflict, or it's really just too many for one week.  Oh, and since it's a small Christian town, trick or treating will be on Saturday night, not Sunday.  Cool, huh?

I bought a schmaltzy Cleopatra costume from Target.  Jesse doesn't want to match me.  Oh well.  The kids were instructed to make use of the costume bin and the dollar store.  I believe there will be lots of wings, makeup and glow sticks involved in their dress up.  Can't wait to post pictures! 

So do you LOVE Halloween?  How do you celebrate without it getting too gruesome?

Unappreciated vs Reviled. Hmm. Hard choice.

I wouldn't call it a cooking kick, exactly.  More like I'm thinking about cooking some new dishes.  I'm thinking, "hey.  I like to eat.  I like good food.  I like to cook.  This could be fun." 

Then I start looking at cookbooks.  Jesse bought me Quick Vegetarian Pleasures because he so adores meat free meals.  Small problem.  The family acts indignant if I put pasta in front of them, the kids hate potatoes, and vegetables are only good for rearranging on their plate.  I have found two recipes that may pass muster.  One for enchiladas (everyone will complain it's too spicy. wimps.)  And another for vegetable couscous, which Jesse will like but the kids will detest. 

And now I remember why I don't cook.  I am completely unappreciated when I do and even more reviled when I don't.  Who wants cold cereal tonight?

Last Sunday

Last Sunday when Jesse was gone I took the kids to the park.  It was...enlightening.  I always love dangerous playground equipment.  The kids came so close to getting slammed so many times, it made my heart sing. (This is what happens when you have two sedate girls.  You look forward to injuries.)

We don't get out that much, so we forget that not everyone works at the university.  Lots of smoking, lots of swearing, a few conversations about how the female speaker could totally beat up several different people (both male and female).  Do you know how much it warms my heart to know I could raise my kids in the midwest equivalent of Roseburg?