tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67127920488035883212024-02-21T09:40:30.053-08:00I Wonder WomanI wonder...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger856125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-91275186134006324092016-02-08T19:33:00.001-08:002016-02-08T19:33:14.880-08:00February 8, 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What a great Monday. Seriously.<br />
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One step starts a journey, right? Well, I did half an hour of yoga in my room before breakfast...with the door locked. Because I hate exercising alone and being seen. Eeeep! I liked it though, and it got my heart rate up, and I had a great day. So hopefully tomorrow is day #2! <br />
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I'm out of chocolate (vegan) protein powder, so I used the vanilla (dairy whey) kind....which I don't like the taste, and it gives me a stomach ache. Not actually too sad when two kids asked for cups of my protein-filled, half-spinach, smoothie. Better nutrition that cinnamon toast crunch, right? <br />
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Kids all did well in school. I saw a bug downstairs, so lunch break came half an hour early as I demanded EVERYTHING be off the carpet so I could vacuum. Ew ew ew. Pretty sure it's brand new carpet, so that's nice at least. I don't know what kind of bug it was (just like I don't recognize any plants or birds here) and that's always a little disconcerting. Ernie has moved from studying the southeast and southwest and northeast states to the midwest. It's rather dry going, so I look for a few new materials to help her remember things a bit easier. We're trying a "doodle journal" for her notes about the regions- a piece of paper in her notebook that will just have all the info she needs. I posted my example on Facebook, because E thought it was funny. My friends wanted to know why there was a bunny (it was a bison), why there was a snake licking a picture of Kansas (it was a picture of the East Wind), and why there was a fish ball kabob (it was the prayer beads of a rosary.) Obviously, I am not a good drawer. BUT, as my fourth-grade-teacher pointed out on the same post: I KNOW WHAT IT ALL MEANS. So I guess that's my goal for E- her own version of things to help her remember what's important. And someday I will be able to doodle. I just need another three decades of practice. Practice makes perfect, I'm sure.<br />
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I locked myself in my room after school to finish J's Valentine's Day present- it's absolutely goofy and wonderful and I love it to pieces. I don't know if he will feel the same way though. I need to find time to make the kids' gifts- I'm pretty excited about them, but I think they need to be done after the kids go to bed because they involve paint and drying time. And paint brushes. I haven't found my paintbrushes yet. <br />
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Yesterday we celebrated Chinese New Years. But, I fell asleep till 5 after church and our potsticker wrappers were in the freezer, not the refrigerator. Oh well! I made steamed greens beans with pickled mustard greens, rice with dried chinese sweet sausage (a kid favorite here), and a kind of hot pot seasoned with peppercorns, green onions, star anise and a couple other things I can't remember. I cooked fish balls, napa cabbage, vermicelli, and shiitake mushrooms. We had moon cake and tong yuen (boiled mochi served with brown sugar) for the dessert. <br />
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SO, the potsticker wrappers were perfectly thawed tonight and we had a fun family night mixing up the filling, and pleating and cooking (and eating!) the potstickers. J fried the rest of the filling with leftover rice for a nice fried rice too, and we had mooncake and apple slices for dessert. </div>
Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-18709203356628263212016-02-04T18:29:00.002-08:002016-02-04T18:29:52.766-08:00February 4, 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't have many words tonight! <br />
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Kids worked hard in school. I vacuumed before school, taught 9-12, washed two-days-worth of dishes, taught 1-3, and then started dinner at 4. Cocoa helped me make dinner- I chopped up onions, garlic, yams, potatoes, carrots, and celery and added them to browned beef cubes with some flour and chicken stock to make a really great stew. He helped me make biscuits too- they turned out nice. <br />
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While the stew was cooking, I pulled out my jewelry supplies and made a new necklace. It's a stamped medallion that says "Hope is an anchor" with one of my "Grandma pearls" as a dangle next to it. The pearls I'm sure weren't anything special to Grandma, but they were part of her collection of costume jewelry to make pictures with. I'm still collecting jewelry to make my own jewelry tree for Christmas, but I love these old fake pearls she gave me. They are plastic and the pearly finish is wearing off in places. Just a yummy, lovely, patina about them. <br />
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Everyone loved dinner, and was happy I was able to make exactly ten huge biscuits. The kids played Kinect after dinner, Jays did the dishes (doing all those dishes, and then the jewelry, and THEN trying to rub cold butter into the flour for the biscuits just did my hands in for the evening. But so worth it.)<br />
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Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-23459030079202280932016-02-03T19:35:00.000-08:002016-02-03T19:35:03.953-08:00February 3, 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The wind blew in the cold and the clouds. Without the sunshine coming through all our huge south-facing windows....it felt pretty chilly in the house today! I taught school in a flannel shirt, leggings, a skirt, shearling slippers, and a queen-sized comforter. Yesterday our kitchen was 76 degrees, just from the sunshine. <br />
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Cocoa is IN LOVE with school right now. I think part of it is because he is still abnormally clingy- he fell asleep twice on me today, and is pretty much attached to me if we're in the same room. It makes cooking hard, with his arms wrapped around my waist. I'm cutting out most of the games, so we covered I think five lessons today. His kindergarten materials arrived in the mail today, but I think I will hold off on starting him till September, just because I need all three kids to be on the same schedule for my own sanity. <br />
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Mimi struggled a bit with "borrowing" tens for subtraction today, but with enough little coins to mess around with I think she understood it. Constructing a proper paragraph from an outline is still an art lost on her, but I think she finally got a better grip on her weekly spelling words (ow and ou words like town, cow, frown, house, mouse, etc.) She just has to see that little pattern in the middle- she is such a "give me something to touch and I will understand it" kind of kid. Writing it out doesn't do much for her, it has to be something she can move around. We do a lot of flashcards and jumping and clapping and such.<br />
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I helped Ernie cement types of governments a bit more, and the natural resources and major industries of the Southwest region of the united states, and re-explained using factor trees to find the greatest common factor between two numbers. (She just missed the last step.) We also talked about different sentence diagramming ways to label subjects.<br />
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Ernie decided today MUST be bento day, so lunch didn't get served until 1, so school went a bit late. I sent Cocoa off at 3, and the girls finished up at 4. I think E went back and did more later though. <br />
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Jays was late home from work today- he scored an air filtration system off of Craiglist for his workshop downstairs. He came home to Ernie scooping spaghetti out of a pot with tongs because she couldn't lift it to drain it, and me underneath a sleeping Cocoa. <br />
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I'm having one more green smoothie, because it's sweet and I'm hungry. All the kids are tucked in and sung to, we studied Amulon and Alma in the Book of Mormon today (we accidentally read those last night too- I didn't update my bookmark.) We still don't understand why the Lamanites were so mean to promise to let Alma's people go and THEN break that promise. Probably because stinky Amulon was running around with them- Lamanites never broke their promises. Not then. <br />
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Anyway- Myrnie has a headache, and tomorrow is another day of school! Oh, and dishes. Our buggy dishwasher started working the morning after it wouldn't work- the start button would work, which means whatever the last cycle it was set to (no heat dry, normal wash) would turn on when I shut it. Unfortunately...that changed tonight, and now the only button lit up is "locked." It won't unlock either, which means I really need to get on top of getting that machine fixed or replaced and I am wishing I had dish gloves because that water and soap is murder on my hands in this dry climate.</div>
Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-19993585276722511022016-02-02T19:16:00.000-08:002016-02-02T19:16:44.261-08:00February 2, 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Windy windy windy.<br />
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The day started off gorgeous and sunny, and it stayed gorgeous and sunny till the evening when the clouds came in, but my word were the leaves dancing around in the streets. Weather app said the wind was about 23 mph. I know why the lawns are so clean here- they're just scrubbed bare of anything that isn't rooted down!<br />
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We all went to IKEA last night- the master bedroom blinds have been slowly snapping one by one. We've lost two out of six, and the teal sheet covering the one and the up-ended painting covering the other weren't doing any favors for the decor of the room...or giving any favorable impressions to the neighbors unlucky enough to be facing those windows. Not pretty.<br />
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We found large, white, curtains...which isn't a huge surprise, because given a choice I will always choose white curtains. The only thing that varies is the fabric. However, they are SUCH a nice upgrade to the room and I love looking at them. I would have snapped a picture, except the ladder and extra hardware are still up there because we only installed the 13' rod, not the shorter rods for the side windows. Those happen tonight. It's an understood thing that Myrnie does NOT hang things in our homes....unless you want them crooked or at the wrong height. It's a gift. It's alright though- Jays and I can't be good at all the same things, and in this instance I am happy to watch!<br />
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The kids are really getting back into the swing of school, which is VERY nice. We barely got any done in December and January during the selling/packing/moving/unpacking. <br />
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Cocoa is still way back at the beginning of his Pre-K curriculum, because he just hasn't shown much interest, but now he is very interested and we're flying through three or four lessons a morning. I skip the games and such, and we read stories and do work sheets and pre-reading and pre-math activities. I only get his attention for about half an hour, which is just fine for a four-year-old. <br />
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Ernie is flying through with very little help from me- I help her review tricky concepts, but she learns quite well from videos, online tutorials, and text books. Her tricky subjects right now are history and science and geography- there's SO MUCH vocab flying at her, it's just not sticking the first time through. But math and composition are great, and those were such a huge struggle for her for so many years- I'm not complaining that she doesn't have perfect trivia recall. Today she started learning HTML coding, which was funny to hear her discuss with Jays over dinner.<br />
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Mimi works best next to me, which is exactly what I would expect from a 2nd grader. She doesn't get frustrated with work, but sometimes I get frustrated with her blank stares and zoned out expression! "Do, or do not, there is no try." She loves writing stories, and spelling isn't her strong point. <br />
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I made bread again during the lunch break- we work from 9-12 and 1-3 on school. I also got some laundry thrown together and got the kitchen cleaned up from breakfast. After school, the kids played piano, or games, or iPad, and I kept futzing. I finally got through the large stack of papers that had accumulated during and after the move. I have a few more things in my to-do pile (changing addresses, etc.) but it's much more manageable.</div>
Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-19551438608174437212016-02-01T12:39:00.001-08:002016-02-01T12:39:46.906-08:00February 1, 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last post was in June, 2015. So.... June was good. July, August, September were very good. We visited Utah family, attended a family reunion in Washington. I enjoyed my garden immensely, we had everything running smooth as butter. All my plants thrived. The fig tree even bore two crops- it was a record-busting drought summer after a too-dry winter and spring.<br />
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October, J told me he felt we needed to move to Kansas City. We sold in December after a week on the market, and purchased a home near Kansas City the following week. That week we also accepted a job offer near KC and gave notice at J's office. January 18th, we rolled into KC after a week staying at my parent's and a week driving across the country. We made stops in Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. We got to see J's family in Utah, the Provo Temple open house, and my friends in Colorado. We were so VERY tired of sitting in that minivan!<br />
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So now we have been here two weeks. The house is beautiful, the neighborhood is quiet and friendly. The kids found a wonderful friend behind us who has the gift of bringing everyone together- she's with a new neighborhood friend every day, and my kids are always welcome to run out the back door and join the crew. I didn't know how much I would love not having fences.<br />
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We've done a bit of handyman work on the house- fixing leaking sinks, leaking toilets, clogged garbage disposals, un-grounded light switches, etc. J's parents stayed the first week with us and were a HUGE help. Nana actually left a day early when J's sister-in-law had a medical emergency- we're all pulling for her though, and it's under control even though she will need some extra help going forward for the next month or so.<br />
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We've seen temperatures all the way from 17 to 65 in the two weeks we've been here. On the warm days, the kids spend all afternoon outside and we maybe go for a walk. On the cold days, we drink cocoa and stare out the window and hope the milk in the fridge doesn't run out before the ice melts. It's constantly windy. Breezy actually. I see why everyone wears their hair up! <br />
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It's funny- the only women I see in yoga pants and a tee are the women who literally just came from the gym. This Seattle girl feels a little sorry for them, but at the same time I often feel a bit under-dressed at the grocery store. Also, everyone talks a really long time. Just when I think they have stopped, and I start to respond, they start talking again and just plow right on through me. Makes me feel a bit rude for CONSTANTLY interrupting people. I kind of get the feeling they aren't terribly interested in me responding though, so maybe this could work out for my benefit? <br />
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My kitchen and pantry are pretty well stocked now, and I'm loving having time to really cook again. I'm not sure what the difference is, but I've made yogurt and bread and boba tea and nightly large-ish meals. It's lovely having a prep kitchen and a cooking kitchen- prep kitchen keeps the small appliances and pantry items. I prepare things for baking in there, and stuff like that. There's a sink with a garbage disposal, and a dishwasher. OH that reminds me, my dishwasher in the kitchen is barely functioning...but I have two more, so maybe I should just cart my dishes around to whichever machine is working best? I want to get the kitchen one replaced, it barely cleans the dishes and only two buttons work (normal and start) but I need to call the home warranty company and see what my options are. Or just can it all and go order a new one and eat the cost. Because Mama wants clean dishes.<br />
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Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-38964335459863055632015-06-14T15:59:00.001-07:002015-06-14T15:59:10.307-07:00June 13, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After years of waffling, we have drip irrigation!! Woohoo!! Coolest thing ever. Now that it's in, it is easy to modify. I can run emitter tubing from the main line, I can add more tubing in the beds. It was a bigger project, and an easier project, than we guessed. Designing it and planning and gathering the pieces was definitely the most brainy part. It took about 3 1/2 hours to install, and didn't have any hiccups. We are still tweaking how often it will run and for how long, and there is a dripping leak at the spigot so we are turning it on and off manually instead of using the timer until we get that fixed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZgPefn47oqzGeFxnipnqCQrNleQeLqBZ_hoR_xyO-oNmYrHy8EiYlxIMttffDPPpzfP0fvD_3poybEFVGpPWe3EpF6wh6HWA9fB2u3xIm33D2DYAkE0NpuDmp9FEJWvwtLWxqsu_Z5Q/s640/blogger-image-76844046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZgPefn47oqzGeFxnipnqCQrNleQeLqBZ_hoR_xyO-oNmYrHy8EiYlxIMttffDPPpzfP0fvD_3poybEFVGpPWe3EpF6wh6HWA9fB2u3xIm33D2DYAkE0NpuDmp9FEJWvwtLWxqsu_Z5Q/s640/blogger-image-76844046.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Z06epeQkQas2Ycewtci28DokMyzjBVLR6uxI9GeRqG7iMgzVh64Rw6KtCOy2WchdpB7B31tJeptp5Vsw2H1BlxtUBArJ7uNWPtzb-eie1cfx4gea8AZnVK-fDMWUJKVdiZBUBHMzz0A/s640/blogger-image-296076702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Z06epeQkQas2Ycewtci28DokMyzjBVLR6uxI9GeRqG7iMgzVh64Rw6KtCOy2WchdpB7B31tJeptp5Vsw2H1BlxtUBArJ7uNWPtzb-eie1cfx4gea8AZnVK-fDMWUJKVdiZBUBHMzz0A/s640/blogger-image-296076702.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cocoa came out with this dress up box gem. He looks like the scariest kind of mob boss: the one who doesn't care what you think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtgvl0O2h9CjFmwqCjg3EWxq47X6eAHpLufU3z90j9pmT8ILQfU4m9rJ1qqnbN0v_5UxMBTrxLr8Hvvb52MZnzk1Rt736eGDjRhUABKhOQ5T6YcE4mdtBG8nvyjWNh9BlMmw1tq9OcsY/s640/blogger-image-1963575310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtgvl0O2h9CjFmwqCjg3EWxq47X6eAHpLufU3z90j9pmT8ILQfU4m9rJ1qqnbN0v_5UxMBTrxLr8Hvvb52MZnzk1Rt736eGDjRhUABKhOQ5T6YcE4mdtBG8nvyjWNh9BlMmw1tq9OcsY/s640/blogger-image-1963575310.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MSLIWO6weuVPUx_TRV6_nbq4yviZzy06vELqzeq-pNOtfm9IxJHRKhHw3EPb7zk4EQRIisqYY-qKQGLzltpeDmQkpkF6ayLIrU52W5m4dsePa_IEj2kzfIHLvmT3QoKN8aIe9y4ZVcs/s640/blogger-image--1942124539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MSLIWO6weuVPUx_TRV6_nbq4yviZzy06vELqzeq-pNOtfm9IxJHRKhHw3EPb7zk4EQRIisqYY-qKQGLzltpeDmQkpkF6ayLIrU52W5m4dsePa_IEj2kzfIHLvmT3QoKN8aIe9y4ZVcs/s640/blogger-image--1942124539.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZd4ih5iH5QR2EaZPUpBdPzXnl38jqOCprYBljsRJZOOwV-vpvh4JqF7P5fBjidSaa_icTQTr74mjeOzGwHfcpLnJq8vftyfzI7K_hozMvay1A732NeGWojydFoZO2cCVAGIqNlvnncs/s640/blogger-image--1302110575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZd4ih5iH5QR2EaZPUpBdPzXnl38jqOCprYBljsRJZOOwV-vpvh4JqF7P5fBjidSaa_icTQTr74mjeOzGwHfcpLnJq8vftyfzI7K_hozMvay1A732NeGWojydFoZO2cCVAGIqNlvnncs/s640/blogger-image--1302110575.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We ordered about 30 pounds of cherries from a farmer in Eastern Washington through a group buy- I was up till nearly midnight pitting them, and cleaning the kitchen, tucking Mimi in, and helping Ernie clean and vacuum her room. It was BAD. I got through about 12 pounds in an hour, which filled three gallon-sized bags for the freezer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9ijetcCPGqqd3ZSHi_sa2RJejZAwjxbLVwKEM4Yzf9_i80l0UiB-kuN6S4Rw6QwY4pOLJfOiG_T7bWTrfexi1HXgY67Q_iyJZIyFbMKOCQPCqDGxhH5tV5Vm5I3XsQccbs-m3m1e-0c/s640/blogger-image-1468068805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9ijetcCPGqqd3ZSHi_sa2RJejZAwjxbLVwKEM4Yzf9_i80l0UiB-kuN6S4Rw6QwY4pOLJfOiG_T7bWTrfexi1HXgY67Q_iyJZIyFbMKOCQPCqDGxhH5tV5Vm5I3XsQccbs-m3m1e-0c/s640/blogger-image-1468068805.jpg"></a></div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-35951146705788660232015-06-12T22:35:00.001-07:002015-06-12T22:48:22.684-07:00June 12, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I sent this to my sister today. My hair is increasing in sheer volume. It would not even cooperate for a bun. Yikes. What hath this bleach wrought? I am fairly certain I am never going to bleach my hair again, so I am having fun while my ends are accepting color. It will grow out, get trimmed off, and fade soon enough. Sure fun though :) Crazy to take care of, especially since I barely even brush my hair normally. Now, I only have to wash it once a week, but if I get it wet I have to slather conditioner in or it will be a snarled mess. So....I use shampoo once a week, I use conditioner every 2 or 3 days. I wash it in cold water, too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRE-xkCa8bEJmQYkIIcF7EkM46MgGaF-ysd4_i0HEfC1MGOEHIMwAp6HMdnwEey-SAUgsmZBKmb4pB0nLkfJhbgRPYS20cZ0ZhhYKP66fRYBp5E9jvcl0e98xNyf0CHY-Rjn4A4JY8Vzc/s640/blogger-image-987756552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRE-xkCa8bEJmQYkIIcF7EkM46MgGaF-ysd4_i0HEfC1MGOEHIMwAp6HMdnwEey-SAUgsmZBKmb4pB0nLkfJhbgRPYS20cZ0ZhhYKP66fRYBp5E9jvcl0e98xNyf0CHY-Rjn4A4JY8Vzc/s640/blogger-image-987756552.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A friend came over to drop off everything my kids left at her house, and she and her kids stayed for a few hours. The oldest girl, N, is a Brain. She's five, and she and Ernie get along famously. They just "get" each other. Super fun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My sister grabbed the kids this afternoon since she was driving by, and I had the house to myself for a few hours. I probably should have cleaned, but I am still deep into organizing my studio stuff and wanted to dig out of that. I've been typing up checklists for a master binder to track things like scales, payments, songs passed off, etc. I know. Spreadsheets rule my life. When I feel off kilter I make a list and a spreadsheet. I still feel off kilter, but at least I can point to a piece of paper and pretend I am in control and everything will go smoothly. I can pretend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh. Speaking of planning things, I have been looking at getting drip irrigation for YEARS. But, it was complicated and expensive. We are finally at a point that $200 isn't going to break the bank. I spent hours reading guides, and we bit the bullet. For our date night tonight we spent an hour in the irrigation aisle of Home Depot getting tubing, hose, timer, fittings, couplers, et cetera et cetera. I sure hope we have all the bits and bobs we need!! Tomorrow is the day :)</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVnQFUJbkMw3NqkeKfNkyuy-ssIDLB46wP3euItUmnvzeZlAWF0tm1pIi1WU2H2kLGRF1M11HrEkUMZ7UfhUP1CqwsRDqzXfQW7XkaIe79QodmfcAEhxw0N7PH-42oi0K6putO2y-eE0/s640/blogger-image-585463058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVnQFUJbkMw3NqkeKfNkyuy-ssIDLB46wP3euItUmnvzeZlAWF0tm1pIi1WU2H2kLGRF1M11HrEkUMZ7UfhUP1CqwsRDqzXfQW7XkaIe79QodmfcAEhxw0N7PH-42oi0K6putO2y-eE0/s640/blogger-image-585463058.jpg"></a></div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-58237580334423297202015-06-11T22:17:00.001-07:002015-06-11T23:31:16.846-07:00June 11, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I slept! Why does every entry start with my sleeping habits? Sleeping is most important I guess. The kids actually woke me up at 9:15 and I was kind of grumpy about it too. I have seen 2 a.m. more often than not this week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mimi informed me that the book I gave her to check out last night (The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe) was boring and she needed to go back to the library. Right now would be great. I reminded her that nothing was going to happen until I finished my breakfast, but she was welcome to go get ready. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I looked fabulous, so she had to take my picture before we left. (This is the result of finally taking out the Mrs. Claus braids I put in two days ago. Mermaid hair!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvj0gd68Qn8QctFUpJKv8wuZjiL7r3QuCbEeaoqRr8pJA3eqCk_sJAQCM7p_9qnOmwQzSX85P4aqWbhPHzqwmdKyxO-6tdDtM8XAZQjgwJAtr8R40U0JPdy0CJ9V_vFmZbOVH_7HOgKY/s640/blogger-image--1201901708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvj0gd68Qn8QctFUpJKv8wuZjiL7r3QuCbEeaoqRr8pJA3eqCk_sJAQCM7p_9qnOmwQzSX85P4aqWbhPHzqwmdKyxO-6tdDtM8XAZQjgwJAtr8R40U0JPdy0CJ9V_vFmZbOVH_7HOgKY/s640/blogger-image--1201901708.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cocoa needed his picture taken too. Does this shot make my eyes look big?</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNXvYwTNIWplRF6lujlfEo53QeR8WDeEQLBFON0Ms39vBOwQfKpwC9-3f2T_vzrNXia_2wSlCQNG0_-c1BS5y7AYdptTnQFyhmOrmTNK7rCHKlihjuKZahpjRawpNdaqil9RtqvvRi2c/s640/blogger-image--1167223727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNXvYwTNIWplRF6lujlfEo53QeR8WDeEQLBFON0Ms39vBOwQfKpwC9-3f2T_vzrNXia_2wSlCQNG0_-c1BS5y7AYdptTnQFyhmOrmTNK7rCHKlihjuKZahpjRawpNdaqil9RtqvvRi2c/s640/blogger-image--1167223727.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We hit the library, the music store, and the grocery store. Cocoa was SO SQUIRRELY by the end. Yikes. But everyone got books to read, I replenished my studio shelves, and we have a fresh supply of milk, almond milk, gold fish crackers, and antidepressants. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I told the kids that if they would attack the laundry pile with gusto, I would make them their favorite little rice balls (onigiri.). They did a great job and I filled the balls with beef stir fry from last night, minced. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I worked on organizing my music shelves this afternoon, and my first student was a little shocked to find me on the floor surrounded by piles of music, with every table, couch, chair, and piano bench covered in more stacks of music. She'd never seen so much music in one place! Makes me a little sad- I would love every piano student to have stacks and stacks of music to play, just like kids have stacks and stacks of books to read when they are learning to read. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had a good dinner tonight- Spiralizer zucchini with pesto (from two summers ago) and sun dried tomatoes and meatballs, melon, and artisan garlic bread from Costco. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We scarfed our meal and rushed out the door for my little sister's last concert at her college. It was a great show- they used the Wizard of Oz as a narrator and wove a storyline together from Wicked, Wizard of Oz, and The Wiz. All the soloists were in full costume. Cocoa chose seats right behind the band (piano, synth, drums, stand up bass, and a horn section) so he could watch them. He gave the drummer (a huge dude with a tiny kit) a high five after the show: first time he'd ever gotten a high five after a show :) E could not sit still during the songs from The Wiz. Her feet were dancing, her body was swaying, her head and arms were bopping. I literally mean she could not sit still, it was awesome.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmB_nlkiNjstWoC0rIfKwqmjNhcvLa_gc6Vi8TkTCjM-YdtvCtzaC8jgAbigZaXls3erpKJuTr2VV6J_-punUbiqRKydbC1QLTooE7AAl7f0Ufpx7g0YXJwd6u8EgCcRW0dggrsWRdSA/s640/blogger-image--228724269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmB_nlkiNjstWoC0rIfKwqmjNhcvLa_gc6Vi8TkTCjM-YdtvCtzaC8jgAbigZaXls3erpKJuTr2VV6J_-punUbiqRKydbC1QLTooE7AAl7f0Ufpx7g0YXJwd6u8EgCcRW0dggrsWRdSA/s640/blogger-image--228724269.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwcaszP9GjmxQKaJuehac4ur9a8H1YzRYWVSh079Cb48v8GmlETSpdH847VPw6yBQpvzCbC1H2c-ZhE6XJwHITAqfP_1jnf9_6qD04FwpycBteG3H_Hg9WHZkMM_y8P3R3dAQCzo2-Qg/s640/blogger-image--2133616639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwcaszP9GjmxQKaJuehac4ur9a8H1YzRYWVSh079Cb48v8GmlETSpdH847VPw6yBQpvzCbC1H2c-ZhE6XJwHITAqfP_1jnf9_6qD04FwpycBteG3H_Hg9WHZkMM_y8P3R3dAQCzo2-Qg/s640/blogger-image--2133616639.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(We met Bert's friend, K, after the show and I pulled her into the group shot!)</div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-91427804279203728532015-06-10T22:17:00.000-07:002015-06-10T22:17:02.889-07:00June 10, 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Wednesdays. They are the only day of the week I have to wake up early, and so, obviously, are the only days the kids EVER sleep in and are normally preceded by a largely sleepless night.</div>
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So, of course, I was up at 2:00 in the morning sitting on my deck in a bathrobe trying to get my restless limbs to settle down. I think I screwed up my medication- I forgot to take it Sunday and Monday, so I took one Tuesday morning and another Tuesday night. By everything I was advised, it should have been fine and wouldn't even affect me for a couple more days.... but I popped awake with the sun at 6:30. Yawn yawn. At least I'm happy, right?</div>
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I taught one great lesson this morning, and we had a calm day. The house is in good shape, I worked on organizing piano studio supplies and making lists of what I'm missing. </div>
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I invited the kids to do a project with me after they finished their chores: Gak! Equal parts white glue and water, and then drizzle in a mixture of 1 tsp borax in 1 cup warm water until you have the consistency you want. Stir and knead! SUPER fun, Cocoa thought it was amazing. Mimi left almost immediately to go read, but princess sparkle pants is hard to impress and doesn't really care who knows it. We are working on her social skills.</div>
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At 2:30 I realized that we had to LEAVE for dance class in about ten minutes- Cocoa and I dropped the girls off and came back to adventure a little bit. We walked to the mail box, then walked to the creek. I tried to get him to eat flowers with me from the garden when we got back, but he wasn't buying it. I heartily enjoyed a snack of nasturtiums and borage. </div>
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After we picked up the girls from dance I made a beef stir fry from a cookbook Aunt LoLo gave me (she had an extra copy.) It's the real deal, guys. Her mother-in-law uses it- I can't imagine a higher endorsement than that. MaMa is a fabulous cook and lived in China until she was an adult and moved to the States. I loved the stir fry, J said thank you, Ernie RAVED about the meat (she is all about meat), Cocoa ate the rice out of his bowl and snuck away when no one was looking, and Mimi acted like I was trying to poison her. Cads! I thoroughly enjoyed our beef stir fry, with sirloin, carrots, mushrooms, peppers, and shallots.</div>
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J and Cocoa packed up for a night at the beach with the scouts, and the girls and I left for town. I swapped with a child who had a conflict tonight, so the girls read in the foyer while I had my lesson. My teacher....I swear, she could spend a month on three measures, and a year on a page. It's exactly the nit picky heckling I need, but it's really pretty funny. Can I please give more oomph on those notes, and lift my hands gently but please don't really left- see? Don't leave the keyboard. Nice wrist rotation, but not too much. Dynamics please, but block them. That's all just one measure. After two years with her, I think...I am starting to be a pianist. And I think I have left accompanying behind me for a long while. I started lessons because I was injured, and I have spent two years learning to play without injuring myself, and I have learned it is a long and deliberate process. As soon as I go back to sight reading at breakneck speeds for hours at a time, I get injured again. Sad, because I really love collaborating...but then again, I have been rather "used" for about 20 years. Maybe it's time for me to stop stepping in to fix everyone's problems, eh? But...I learned a lot with the trial by fire I've been through as accompanist for everyone and anyone, at with hardly any notice most of the time. I'm the back up, I don't get advance warning: I get a binder two days before the show. HA! (Can't say I don't really, really enjoy the adrenaline though. I do like that bite of challenge.)</div>
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We stopped at the library after my lesson, and then Target for some supplies. All the kids were in bed by 10, and the sun has barely set. We are almost to the longest day of the year!</div>
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Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-15716436899501102482015-06-09T22:20:00.000-07:002015-06-09T22:20:28.330-07:00June 9, 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I think kids are tired today. I think I'm tired today. I think I forgot to take my medication since last Saturday. Wheeee.....</div>
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We have had a breakthrough in cleaning up here- a friend/student of mine/mom/former teacher/I used to teach her kids piano heard we were having trouble and dropped off a cool digital timer a little bit ago, just for the big girl to use. We were super grateful, and E loved pushing the buttons...but it didn't really accomplish what we hoped it would. Because...we wanted stuff to get clean. And it still wasn't getting clean.</div>
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Last week a friend shared that she was teaching her crew (three kids 5 and under. YASSSS.) to do 10 minute clean ups. The kicker was...they worked hard for 10 minutes, and accomplished whatever they could. See? 10 minutes is way less scary than "clean it ALL" or "You have 10 minutes and I throw away the rest." (That last example is me. It's all me.) </div>
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This morning, in 10 minutes, we unloaded and loaded the dishwasher, tidied the music and living room, cleared and wiped the table and counters, and put away all the dried hand dishes. NOT BAD. We took another 10 minutes this afternoon and got the playroom clean enough that I could vacuum most of it. Again, NOT BAD. This is actually huge monumental progress, especially for E.</div>
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I tried it on myself- I gave myself 10 minutes to clean my room. It becomes the landing place for papers, laundry, grocery receipts, kids art work, books, random toys Cocoa abandoned, and mis-matched socks. I got it tidied up and vacuumed- sweet! Of course, there is a huge pile of laundry that moved from the floor to the bed (which I am NOT GOING TO FOLD. NO WAY.) </div>
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This? This is a picture of my lunch. I actually sat down and ate lunch. This doesn't happen during the school year, mostly because I am so DONE with children that as soon as the books close I go in my room and shut the door, then grab a granola bar in the afternoon when no one is looking. Now, I eat lunch when I get hungry because the kids aren't there to see me, they're off playing littlest pet shop pirate princesses go to Hogwarts (and play chinese checkers). They come up when they're hungry and make sandwiches. </div>
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Isn't it pretty? It's pretty.</div>
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I asked the kids to take a few minutes and clean the entry way. I assumed they would put away the shoes and grocery sacks blocking the stairs, and maybe sweep. Instead they trooped outside and raided the garden to create a fairy garden scene for visitors to enjoy. (Notice the cracked bird has a feathered headdress thing going on. Which...is kind of ironic.) </div>
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My sister dropped her kids off this afternoon so she could grocery shop in peace. This is a very valid concern!! My niece, BuBu, was dropped off sound asleep. I know she doesn't sleep at night if she naps, so after a while I tried to gently wake her up. I spoke to her...tickled her feet....kissed her cheeks....propped her eyelids open...girlfriend was not going to wake up, and now she was asleep with her EYES OPEN AND TRACKING ME. OK, that's creepy. I knew she was awake when she smacked me across the face and burrowed in the couch. She finally woke up enough to launch herself, wailing, into her big brother's lap. The kids called him to play, and he smugly said "No, I can't: BuBu needs me!" Awwww! She took him by the hand upstairs and she found the guinea pig. I gave them a big bowl of salad to feed her.</div>
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I taught a piano lesson this afternoon (the child didn't realize they had a lesson before a long summer break, so we worked on her song a bit and then I set her loose trying to write lyrics for the thing. Hopefully it will help her get the tricky rhythms into her head!) </div>
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We all changed into swimsuits and packed a picnic dinner, and met the dads at the beach for the evening. The water felt FANTASTIC, it was another hot day. 85 is hot here (really hot.)</div>
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Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-20403201833680276292015-06-08T22:52:00.000-07:002015-06-08T22:52:23.589-07:00June 8, 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We did it: A perfect summer day. WE DID IT!</div>
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1) I was awake from 3-5 with the most amazing head ache. It was like there were little pebbles on my bones around my eyes. I tried everything I could think of- I was stretching, rubbing, and pouting. None of those things really worked- pity. I worked so hard at them. J texted me this afternoon to ask if I, at one point, had my bottom where my head should be and my feet up on the wall. </div>
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Ahem. I DID manage to sleep a few more hours, until about 8:30, to add to my few hours I got before 3. Not a bad night! The kids are so self sufficient in the mornings, it's awesome. I think that's part of why summer has really thrown me for a loop so far: No one needs me. I am so used to be needed all the time, it's kind of a hard shift to just accept that I get to take a break. </div>
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2) A friend came by to pick up the last of my wrinkly autumn apples (again, that dang wrist. How can I peel 50 pounds of apples and stir and do all those things? I can't. Less work for me!) She made up batches of apple sauce this afternoon- she's such a go-getter. (Of course, she is retired and has the energy of a chipmunk.) </div>
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3) Around 10:30 I told the girls they could bike to the park. Cocoa really wanted to go, so (get this) I drove him down. We stayed until he got tired. I drove him back. GENIUS AT WORK! The girls didn't have to leave before they were ready, I didn't have to try and make him walk a half mile in 82 degree weather, and no one got upset. Not even me (which is huge: I really, really don't like taking kids to parks.) This is awesome. This has possibilities. Oh the joys my kids are going to have as they get old enough to have the things they want instead of waiting for someone to give them to them!</div>
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I drove C home when he got too hot. When the girls got home we all had lunch. </div>
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4) By this time, it was 85 degrees outside and starting to heat up upstairs. I told the girls that if they finished their chores, everyone could watch a movie downstairs. They chose a Tinkerbell movie. Do you know how great the Tinkerbell movies are? I'm not even joking. The characters have personalities, disagreements, strengths, weaknesses, and real friendship. Also, real lessons (even hard lessons.) Tinkerbell and My Little Pony are both pretty great in this house.</div>
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5) After the movie, I pulled out a history story book I'd unearthed while I was organizing our cupboards. I picked it up at a curriculum 2nd hand shop a few years back, for no reason except everyone else liked it. We have LOTS to cover during the school year, but just because it's summer doesn't mean the kids aren't still anxious to learn and do guided activities. Today we learned about nomads and the dawn of civilization in the fertile crescent. We made cave paintings afterwards, and I challenged the girls to make a shelter out of "found" items in the backyard. Since they had just watched Tinkerbell put gobs of cool machines together, they were all over it. </div>
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The paint quickly became a moot point as Ernie and Cocoa started smashing raspberries in old garden pots, adding water, and painting rocks. Cocoa stripped down to his skivvies. How quickly civilization slips away- can anyone just picture my kids literally going "Lord of the Flies" if I was gone for a solid 48 hours? That's all it would take, I'm sure of it. </div>
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(Mom's legs are longest- I attack with wet toes with no regrets.)</div>
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6) Ernie convinced everyone to get their swim suits on, and she turned the sprinkler on in the backyard.</div>
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7) I called everyone inside around 5:30 to get dressed. We went to Costco with the intent of shopping in the air conditioned store and then coming home to eat after the evening had cooled off a little. It didn't cool off much by the time we were eating at 7:00 (and a few children barely made it through Costco) but I stocked up on no-cook things for meals this week. We had croissant sandwhiches tonight with grape tomatoes and actual grapes, with frozen blueberries and whipped cream for dessert. (Third time we've had fruit and cream in a week's time. I'm hooked.) I bought shredded rotisserie chicken to mix with an asian slaw for another meal, and I will make the rest of the chicken into a chicken salad with tomatoes and serve it with the rest of the croissants. I bought zucchini to spiralize and mix with a quick sauce, and garlic bread and frozen meatballs (I can just microwave those.) That's four meals, not bad! That will get us through the week- tomorrow night we are having a picnic at the beach.</div>
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8) We finished off our family night by introducing the kids to American Ninja Warrior. They were entranced. Am I in trouble??</div>
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Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-17092480547934514722015-06-07T21:56:00.001-07:002015-06-07T21:56:39.957-07:00June 7, 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
No pictures today! Is a blog a blog without pictures? Let's find out.<br />
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1) HOT today. Going to be a whole week of hot, I see a lot of beach nights in our future! Our back patio is a close second in terms of wonderfulness though. I continue my decorating trend of designing our lives and home and yard around the perfect place to put a chair. There is not a pretty spot or a nice window that does not have a comfy chair next to it. I like to sit a lot, OK? I really like to sit....and look at pretty things. My favorite spots right now are the chair in the front room, the front patio, the back deck, the deck off the master, the grandma chair in the dining room, my bed by the window, and the back patio. Pretty much wherever I go, besides the kids rooms and the playroom, I have a perfect spot to sit. Beautiful. <br />
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2) Church was wonderful. It's normally wonderful these days. J was released as a family history specialist and called as the 1st counselor in the young men's group. It will be an adventure! He's taught this age twice before as a Sunday School teacher. Guess it's just the age the Lord wants him to be with. His wood working skills, guitar playing skills, and TRUCK are going to come in very handy I think. His recent physical therapy to work on his knee, which has been bothering him off and on for years, will also come in handy. Our relief society lesson was on being courageous- sometimes it's having courage in the moment, sometimes its having courage in the long run, and sometimes it's just trying again the next day. <br />
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3) My wrist is a bit better today. Am I going to have to pamper this stinking thing for the rest of my life? Baby. I am hoping my mid-week I will have finished repenting of my hubris to think I could fold six loads of laundry at once, or thumb type for half an hour, or play piano with bad technique. <br />
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4) We invited my sister's family for dinner tonight- bring a side dish to share and meat for your family. We had the grill up and running. J grilled flank steak, I steamed carrots, she grilled chicken and brought a salad. I served quite possibly the best summer dessert: frozen blue berries topped with a thick cloud of whipped cream. Superb. Did I mention it was HOT today? The six kids ran all over the yard, the adults served and cleared and chatted. Beautiful evening!</div>
Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-88231135399649224562015-06-06T22:31:00.001-07:002015-06-06T22:31:33.559-07:00June 6, 2015What a beautiful day. I'm doing better today. J let me sleep in and then I stayed in my room until a neighbor rang the bell at 11:30 to let me know he saw a large, healthy, unafraid, coyote trotting down our street and I should keep the kids inside. Love that our neighbors watch out for each other!<div><br></div><div>It was a good Saturday. I keep typing and deleting this paragraph because 1) I don't want to sound like the lazy lump I am and 2) I don't want to let anyone know that I probably overdid it today. Pretty sure I shouldn't have vacuumed or carried patio furniture around the yard or cleaned the kitchen or carried laundry baskets around the house. </div><div><br></div><div>Onwards! Pretty pictures! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQfAZAkeZwgLH89nEiYRinV07eLFNjo1CVzezec26m-w-5q00awVyxYzGDX4tYrKUy6KOWW4OHsnEDkjiOuRQYIvRdv9YLrCDcJgZpan5YjxuPDQxfhLPUEhbZe9R5jog0DLhJswTpzg/s640/blogger-image-1233760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQfAZAkeZwgLH89nEiYRinV07eLFNjo1CVzezec26m-w-5q00awVyxYzGDX4tYrKUy6KOWW4OHsnEDkjiOuRQYIvRdv9YLrCDcJgZpan5YjxuPDQxfhLPUEhbZe9R5jog0DLhJswTpzg/s640/blogger-image-1233760.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RwAn0qDma3r5IxLkGCGnu2ymT8F-iISCcbZ9qIIV9vxTuK70EpH09n27KR76-FFnHTsg-ByCMTgdE2-by8syRDP0tG5uV0VD6-8VyJxhFx-yRPsX62Yxn-0f5wNFicoUfpUCY-F2gv4/s640/blogger-image-1850525775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RwAn0qDma3r5IxLkGCGnu2ymT8F-iISCcbZ9qIIV9vxTuK70EpH09n27KR76-FFnHTsg-ByCMTgdE2-by8syRDP0tG5uV0VD6-8VyJxhFx-yRPsX62Yxn-0f5wNFicoUfpUCY-F2gv4/s640/blogger-image-1850525775.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Life is beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-76776943630861788072015-06-05T23:04:00.001-07:002015-06-05T23:04:21.995-07:00June 5, 2015Hot summer day!<div><br></div><div>We spent the morning at a park in the neighborhood, and the girls biked to a newly re-opened neighborhood park in the afternoon. It was a really nice day to be at the park.. We saw a few friends and the kids got to play with neighborhood friends.</div><div><br></div><div>We've been slowly amassing a flotilla of patio furniture. Today I sold one of the larger sets so we can rearrange the others and be able to walk through our patios and decks without needing to play "the floor is lava." (Although that game is fun.)</div><div><br></div><div>I feel like an idiot today. I am in my brace and my thumb tendon aches. I am using text to type to blog tonight. It's driving me mad: I WANT to be superwoman darn it. I've been defeated by a pile of laundry and an iPhone. My ego is my kryptonite. I wanted to help J with his chores- folding is one of the few things I still can't do, but he was working so hard on other projects. I want to keep this blog going so family knows what we're up to. I wanted to play in the recital last night so that the kids could sound their best with the duets, and I could demonstrate some of the more interesting parts of musical history. Every parent expressed their delight and how lush the songs sounded or how the recital was structured and how much they learned. If it hadn't been for the other things I've done the recital wouldn't have been a problem for me.</div><div><br></div><div>I had my piano lesson tonight we spent a very nice half hour working on the left hand of Beethoven's third sonata.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbi2SLd0WfK4-ZCncq3gYYUyUvd8KKvjvFbVEry47frcBApvMtDYCCOFbx092k4ZTtNouny6jrm8e3e-GWmCvc3eut_oFH5urDkcYZsOCpAWG917GPS5WILjZeWCQJZEwlvX9B7Z0qj0/s640/blogger-image-769635072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbi2SLd0WfK4-ZCncq3gYYUyUvd8KKvjvFbVEry47frcBApvMtDYCCOFbx092k4ZTtNouny6jrm8e3e-GWmCvc3eut_oFH5urDkcYZsOCpAWG917GPS5WILjZeWCQJZEwlvX9B7Z0qj0/s640/blogger-image-769635072.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-88732180253221621962015-06-04T22:46:00.000-07:002015-06-04T22:46:00.112-07:00June 4, 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Recital day! Recital day! La La La La.....how many recitals have I hosted now? Well, two a year for the past 8 years? You would think I would learn to simmer down. I'm getting better though. Really.</div>
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I spent the day alternately scrubbing things that no one would see and throwing myself on the couch to complain about my stress headache. Oh Myrnie. You're so...Myrnie. Aunt LoLo happened to be going to Costco right when I called her in a crisis to ask if I should get cake or cookies. We decided on cookies (good choice) and she grabbed them for me. Yay sisters!!</div>
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I taught piano in the afternoon, and made another good dinner: I am on a roll. J fried pork chops on the stove while I made sauteed mushrooms, one-pot linguine, and a salad. Nom nom. I could get used to have a partner in the kitchen! He's slowly learning where to find things like salt and pepper, it will only get easier.</div>
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We had a beautiful recital. I was ready to just cancel the whole thing about a month ago, I just couldn't face another recital the same as the last 15. BUT, I realized we had a good solid line up of old standards....we broke the recital into sections by musical era. I introduced the eras, threw a few of my own pieces in to demonstrate a few key era-specific quirks, and we had a blast. I played Bach's Invention No. 8 to show dual-voicing in the Baroque era, Schumann's Knecht Ruprecht to demonstrate the story-telling of the Romantic era, Aaron Copland's The Cat and the Mouse to demonstrate how the sound became the story in the modern era, and finally John Cage's 4'33 to show how the definition of music started to change. All those pieces formed an effective bridge from Star Spangled Banner to the Beatles.</div>
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It was all very well received, and it gave a good frame work for the kids' pieces. I played a LOT of duets tonight too, so even a piece as simple as repeated middle c's sounded lush. The parents and grandparents enjoyed the new format, and the kids didn't seem nervous at all. All very good stuff. Everyone went outside for cookies and playing, and it was a great recital. </div>
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Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-44481121826028540572015-06-03T22:21:00.002-07:002015-06-03T22:21:47.903-07:00June 3, 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The sun. It comes up so early. And when the sun is awake, that means my SON is awake, and he crawls into bed with me and I'm too groggy to do anything about it at 5:45 in the morning. Ahem.</div>
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Wednesdays are early days- I set my alarm for 7 and try and make myself presentable for the first lesson of the day at 7:30. Let me tell you, that lesson feels a LOT better in the sunshine than in the dark of winter! </div>
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Students did great- everyone is ready for tomorrow's recital. Not everyone was prepared to receive an end of year progress report. I did not mince words, and I think the kids knew exactly what I was talking about and agreed with me. They know when they are giving their best, they know what we are working on, and they know when they've been sliding by. Love teaching those kids.</div>
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(*** Spoiler alert: I am no longer sick. Hallelujah.)</div>
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Right after lessons, J remarked how great it would be if I could drive him to work and pick him up after the girls' dance classes. WOOT- adventure day, everyone in the car! We dropped him at work, deposited books at the library, and spent the better part of the day at a friend's house. </div>
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Our kids are different in age (Our cumulative age is 20, theirs is 11 I think) but the kids are a good fit. The two oldest are peas in a pod- it was pretty hilarious to hear them HOWLING with laughter at each other's jokes. The nine times table- one number counts up and the other counts down! Yeah, but look how you can do it on your fingers! Oh the jokes. They just rolled on and on. </div>
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We left E there to play pirate fairy princess treasure hunt in the backyard (they drew maps but forgot to hide any treasure, so they were scouring the yard FOR HOURS. Not sure if they found it.) I brought my youngest two home- we stopped to pick up some fabulous shoes for me from a fellow Buy Nothing member, and then took some down time at home. </div>
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(Saw this kitty in our yard hunting rabbits. Sadly, I think it was unequal to the task.)</div>
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After an hour it was time to get BACK in the car, get E, and drop the girls off at dance. Cocoa was so antsy we just turned around and chilled at home for an hour until it was time to go get the girls again. We picked J up from work, looked at the traffic and the clock, and decided it was unreasonable to give ourselves two hours to fight traffic home, make and eat dinner, and get to within blocks of where we were sitting. Conveyer belt sushi won (it always wins) and we gorged on pickled herring, cucumber rolls, pot stickers, salmon, and Krab salad. </div>
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(I am back in my brace today. I remembered why I stopped blogging regularly: thumb typing on my phone is a very, very, very bad idea. I decided to be a super hero and folded about six loads of laundry two weeks ago, and it just started the slow slide down. I've been good about resting and stretching, and now I am typing ON THE COMPUTER, like every good human should. Why do we think opposable thumbs are invincible? They're not.)</div>
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After dinner we headed to the park for E's final regular event with her Activity Days girls and leaders- they had a forest scavenger hunt, played games, and then roasted miniature marshmallows over tea lights and smeared them on honey grahams with chocolate chips. Tres adorbs.</div>
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I love this man. So much. So, so much. And....look at my face. There IS a light at the end of the tunnel every month!</div>
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Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-89023636213763506862015-06-02T22:20:00.000-07:002015-06-02T22:20:29.264-07:00June 2, 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The first day of really real summer break. Lots more time for playing, fighting, and learning to make up.</div>
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I am going to apologize right now, because I am smack in the middle of what my doctor decided to describe as a "mood disorder" and I normally don't blog while sick, but I promised my wandering parents updates!</div>
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I lamented to J that I still, at age 34, do not know how to cook meat. I wander the meat sections of the grocery store and stare at all the large pink packages, and turn around and go home with sausages because THOSE I know what to do with. "So....just pick up a package and we'll figure out what to do with it!"</div>
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My Costco meat of the week was flank steak- I've eaten that before, I know what to do with it. I stuck it in a ziploc with Yoshi sauce this morning and let it sit in the fridge all day. (I picked up pork chops--I think-- at Fred Meyer. I have to do something with those tomorrow- think of me.)</div>
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I spent my day getting the June sacrament meeting music in order, finalizing Thursday's recital program and program notes, and helping the girls clean their playroom. I had to stop helping when I realized C was too quiet, and I found him watching Family Guy on my iPad. He's now lost iPad privileges and I'm an idiot for leaving him alone with a device. I know. That is DEFINITELY not a kid show.</div>
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Let's see. This picture, someone had told him no, he hadn't stopped, and then someone screamed at him. And he probably stubbed his toe on his way to find me because dude is growing so fast he doesn't know where he ends and floor begins. Poor guy picked up a splinter in his foot yesterday, I think from my dining room bench (!!), and it tore his little foot open. It was a good half inch long and had an entry AND exit point. He was brave and let me pull it out twice, once from each wound because it broke in the middle. He spent half of yesterday crawling around pretending to be a dog, to avoid walking on that foot.</div>
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Dinner actually work tonight. HALLELUJAH. I thought I'd lost my ability to cook. I gave up my accounting knowledge when E was born. All sewing stopped when M came. Then when C came, I've pretty much stopped baking and cooking it seems. Definitely stopped baking. I used to make bread every other day, and make cookies and cakes and scoff "OH, it's only three extra minutes to make it from scratch. Why would I use a boxed mix?" And then my butt got handed to me on a platter.</div>
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Mimi, while hiding from Cocoa this afternoon in the laundry room (which he then insisted was his something or other room and she screamed at him and he cried and I reminded her that is NOT how we make friends)......she saw peaches. She came upstairs, during the piano lessons I was teaching, to inform me that I was going to serve peaches with dinner tonight. Look at that plate. Do you see peaches? Neither did she. She came in, saw the meal I'd spent an hour preparing, and with a quiver in her lip and a resigned sigh, quavered "Oh...I thought we were having peaches. *sniff* It's OK. We aren't having peaches. I just...I just thought we were having peaches."</div>
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That's when I decided to give her another chance to enter the room, before I smote her with the fiery rod of my mouth.</div>
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I served peaches for dessert.</div>
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I didn't mention my cramps. I have cramps. I am using LAMAZE BREATHING to get through these cramps. My children, seeing me hunched over the table with my eyes squeezed shut and doing LAMAZE BREATHING, said "Oh. Mom, are you OK?...... Mom, when do you think you will go get that book you promised to find for me?"</div>
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Children are psychopaths.</div>
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And yes, when I was done I went and found the books. After finishing a grade of school, they get to read the corresponding Harry Potter book over the summer. My heart gave a little thrill when J started off "Chapter One. The Boy Who Lived."<br />
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Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-26656028755628655522015-06-02T07:47:00.001-07:002015-06-02T07:47:51.825-07:00June 1, 2015Where did the warm weather go? Seattle proved it's "still got it" and gave us gloom and drizzle today. After a warm and dry winter AND spring, I was glad to see some moisture!<div><br></div><div>C was in bed with me around 6:30 this morning. We are waking up earlier and earlier, yawn.</div><div><br></div><div>The girls finished their tests this morning: we officially have a fifth and a second grader! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jOYn4g_w14GpMdzPpCWC0QnMxZ9aZATjO87YpsKPk7hy1dxZB9FVlclTPjevZ3LJPbSrXqKOJ0tduhn_9LJDi9OwFFuxR_wL3EtsCElDC_fzmzD3ZAZ9WT6WGcYmSbJBNibnHvwXNqY/s640/blogger-image-1753042424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jOYn4g_w14GpMdzPpCWC0QnMxZ9aZATjO87YpsKPk7hy1dxZB9FVlclTPjevZ3LJPbSrXqKOJ0tduhn_9LJDi9OwFFuxR_wL3EtsCElDC_fzmzD3ZAZ9WT6WGcYmSbJBNibnHvwXNqY/s640/blogger-image-1753042424.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTU-xTz250o03xw6WAHGBdJfC2zxDL2xU85wcaJv05Fg-of5RtnkQ5MgykRo6iMknHfGknh9tEZOrvM9hQNhvrI4ZGq8Tz9RLsxpNtUh7vbOMI83mFteC7es-gj59ycMC1fKCsOBUnB8/s640/blogger-image--1465390585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTU-xTz250o03xw6WAHGBdJfC2zxDL2xU85wcaJv05Fg-of5RtnkQ5MgykRo6iMknHfGknh9tEZOrvM9hQNhvrI4ZGq8Tz9RLsxpNtUh7vbOMI83mFteC7es-gj59ycMC1fKCsOBUnB8/s640/blogger-image--1465390585.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We did grocery shopping before lunch- tonight was our night to prepare a meal for the ladies at the overnight shelter. We brought them spiralized zucchini noodles with marinara and meatballs, country loaves, garlic butter, salad, and mini cinnamon rolls. I served my family the same thing tonight- very yummy!</div><div><br></div><div>The girls helped me clean the kitchen tonight and we made super quick chocolate rolls (crescent dough with Nutella, rolled into a log, sliced, and baked at 375 for 12 minutes.). Very, VERY tasty. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqS9NXhMT4hW21Afmz1YDBUd768VOk8zI2sKT0OGdzy2NDWYo9XwOgR8wihd-MknZ7OWWyz5F-jYHXULXrn1N8n2UVA0pmyFP-PFQh-m7Ca7U6WYEMqGhWWbWcBWQvERu0COBzS6sf3ao/s640/blogger-image--523249402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqS9NXhMT4hW21Afmz1YDBUd768VOk8zI2sKT0OGdzy2NDWYo9XwOgR8wihd-MknZ7OWWyz5F-jYHXULXrn1N8n2UVA0pmyFP-PFQh-m7Ca7U6WYEMqGhWWbWcBWQvERu0COBzS6sf3ao/s640/blogger-image--523249402.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnbe2vjgzsI2wiV5XCLW02b0ctuRqfe7XZoklsB4e2G0AmhwLsSWFT53Kx8lrxXvuRjxkm57eWhws1Ax24z4ciM_SUp53GwXImHPcdpaDgxvw6BpvyTvKaNa3BwygItJQD2KOqDFV4_E/s640/blogger-image--975724927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnbe2vjgzsI2wiV5XCLW02b0ctuRqfe7XZoklsB4e2G0AmhwLsSWFT53Kx8lrxXvuRjxkm57eWhws1Ax24z4ciM_SUp53GwXImHPcdpaDgxvw6BpvyTvKaNa3BwygItJQD2KOqDFV4_E/s640/blogger-image--975724927.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-9556060323825806012015-06-02T07:44:00.001-07:002015-06-02T07:44:54.648-07:00June 1, 2015Where did the warm weather go? Seattle proved it's "still got it" and gave us gloom and drizzle today. After a warm and dry winter AND spring, I was glad to see some moisture!<div><br></div><div>C was in bed with me around 6:30 this morning. We are waking up earlier and earlier, yawn.</div><div><br></div><div>The girls finished their tests this morning: we officially have a fifth and a second grader! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jOYn4g_w14GpMdzPpCWC0QnMxZ9aZATjO87YpsKPk7hy1dxZB9FVlclTPjevZ3LJPbSrXqKOJ0tduhn_9LJDi9OwFFuxR_wL3EtsCElDC_fzmzD3ZAZ9WT6WGcYmSbJBNibnHvwXNqY/s640/blogger-image-1753042424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jOYn4g_w14GpMdzPpCWC0QnMxZ9aZATjO87YpsKPk7hy1dxZB9FVlclTPjevZ3LJPbSrXqKOJ0tduhn_9LJDi9OwFFuxR_wL3EtsCElDC_fzmzD3ZAZ9WT6WGcYmSbJBNibnHvwXNqY/s640/blogger-image-1753042424.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTU-xTz250o03xw6WAHGBdJfC2zxDL2xU85wcaJv05Fg-of5RtnkQ5MgykRo6iMknHfGknh9tEZOrvM9hQNhvrI4ZGq8Tz9RLsxpNtUh7vbOMI83mFteC7es-gj59ycMC1fKCsOBUnB8/s640/blogger-image--1465390585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTU-xTz250o03xw6WAHGBdJfC2zxDL2xU85wcaJv05Fg-of5RtnkQ5MgykRo6iMknHfGknh9tEZOrvM9hQNhvrI4ZGq8Tz9RLsxpNtUh7vbOMI83mFteC7es-gj59ycMC1fKCsOBUnB8/s640/blogger-image--1465390585.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We did grocery shopping before lunch- tonight was our night to prepare a meal for the ladies at the overnight shelter. We brought them spiralized zucchini noodles with marinara and meatballs, country loaves, garlic butter, salad, and mini cinnamon rolls. I served my family the same thing tonight- very yummy!</div><div><br></div><div>The girls helped me clean the kitchen tonight and we made super quick chocolate rolls (crescent dough with Nutella, rolled into a log, sliced, and baked at 375 for 12 minutes.). Very, VERY tasty. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqS9NXhMT4hW21Afmz1YDBUd768VOk8zI2sKT0OGdzy2NDWYo9XwOgR8wihd-MknZ7OWWyz5F-jYHXULXrn1N8n2UVA0pmyFP-PFQh-m7Ca7U6WYEMqGhWWbWcBWQvERu0COBzS6sf3ao/s640/blogger-image--523249402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqS9NXhMT4hW21Afmz1YDBUd768VOk8zI2sKT0OGdzy2NDWYo9XwOgR8wihd-MknZ7OWWyz5F-jYHXULXrn1N8n2UVA0pmyFP-PFQh-m7Ca7U6WYEMqGhWWbWcBWQvERu0COBzS6sf3ao/s640/blogger-image--523249402.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnbe2vjgzsI2wiV5XCLW02b0ctuRqfe7XZoklsB4e2G0AmhwLsSWFT53Kx8lrxXvuRjxkm57eWhws1Ax24z4ciM_SUp53GwXImHPcdpaDgxvw6BpvyTvKaNa3BwygItJQD2KOqDFV4_E/s640/blogger-image--975724927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnbe2vjgzsI2wiV5XCLW02b0ctuRqfe7XZoklsB4e2G0AmhwLsSWFT53Kx8lrxXvuRjxkm57eWhws1Ax24z4ciM_SUp53GwXImHPcdpaDgxvw6BpvyTvKaNa3BwygItJQD2KOqDFV4_E/s640/blogger-image--975724927.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-56795289462928442092015-05-31T18:21:00.001-07:002015-05-31T18:21:03.774-07:00May 31, 2015Sunday! Day of rest! Ha. Hahahaha. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf6VlWUnw_3et_JhKN2CPLdDIoE3U5jrG4UPsed2XU1nN7b4IwXkgeihbIPfwkdcmIaN6q3oOpRCpxPQ3PQw9k7LlW4mcDsA2g_ZNua6uV8IuxsOIPGeCTsvhG-OHg49UOANowkFmPY4/s640/blogger-image--1383910812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf6VlWUnw_3et_JhKN2CPLdDIoE3U5jrG4UPsed2XU1nN7b4IwXkgeihbIPfwkdcmIaN6q3oOpRCpxPQ3PQw9k7LlW4mcDsA2g_ZNua6uV8IuxsOIPGeCTsvhG-OHg49UOANowkFmPY4/s640/blogger-image--1383910812.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>We left early for church this morning to rehearse an octet number for today's sacrament meeting. It came together nicely- we had two prior practices and at each one we had a different half of the group. </div><div><br></div><div>Our home teachers came after church, and then I started puttering for dinner. We had beans (over salted and seasoned), pao de queijo (I ran out of tapioca starch and my oil is rancid- they separated into layers like pita bread, one gummy and one very much like wet Parmesan cheese. And too salty.). We also had roasted shoestring sweet potatoes and if that had been the only thing I cooked, and served it with runny fried eggs we would have had a lovely dinner. ALAS! I just realized I forgot to serve the pineapple I planned on, and I already know I forgot to make rice. Seriously. I am a menace in the kitchen right now. My mouth tastes like a cheesy salt lick. </div></div><div><br></div><div>But my hair looks fabulous, so there's that.</div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-35422252107030016852015-05-31T18:20:00.001-07:002015-05-31T18:20:00.204-07:00May 31, 2015Sunday! Day of rest! Ha. Hahahaha. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf6VlWUnw_3et_JhKN2CPLdDIoE3U5jrG4UPsed2XU1nN7b4IwXkgeihbIPfwkdcmIaN6q3oOpRCpxPQ3PQw9k7LlW4mcDsA2g_ZNua6uV8IuxsOIPGeCTsvhG-OHg49UOANowkFmPY4/s640/blogger-image--1383910812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf6VlWUnw_3et_JhKN2CPLdDIoE3U5jrG4UPsed2XU1nN7b4IwXkgeihbIPfwkdcmIaN6q3oOpRCpxPQ3PQw9k7LlW4mcDsA2g_ZNua6uV8IuxsOIPGeCTsvhG-OHg49UOANowkFmPY4/s640/blogger-image--1383910812.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>We left early for church this morning to rehearse an octet number for today's sacrament meeting. It came together nicely- we had two prior practices and at each one we had a different half of the group. </div><div><br></div><div>Our home teachers came after church, and then I started puttering for dinner. We had beans (over salted and seasoned), pao de queijo (I ran out of tapioca starch and my oil is rancid- they separated into layers like pita bread, one gummy and one very much like wet Parmesan cheese. And too salty.). We also had roasted shoestring sweet potatoes and if that had been the only thing I cooked, and served it with runny fried eggs we would have had a lovely dinner. ALAS! I just realized I forgot to serve the pineapple I planned on, and I already know I forgot to make rice. Seriously. I am a menace in the kitchen right now. My mouth tastes like a cheesy salt lick. </div></div><div><br></div><div>But my hair looks fabulous, so there's that.</div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-24879301063302789802015-05-30T16:01:00.001-07:002015-05-30T22:07:50.984-07:00May 30, 2015I woke up sick in the head today, and late. Oh, and I drooled in my sleep and had a purple streak across my face and arm. Soooo..... Good start to the day.<div><br></div><div>I'm kind of on strike today. I did not walk the kids through their chores, I did not do house chores. Those can wait, and the kids can handle cleaning their rooms and bathrooms, or we will deal with it later.</div><div><br></div><div>The weather is AMAZING today- I've spent all day in the garden and green house just puttering. I planted another few flats with wild flowers, coleus, sun flowers, squash varieties, flat parsley, and Siam basil. I set up an old ladder as a trellis, planted out the rest of the tomatillos, planted corn and beans, spread vermicompost and Sluggo and fertilizer. I tied back the double daffies and yanked out the singles. I love that my garden is starting to get that layered feeling. Love love love.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_hCkDbB5taa-ODCuoxCo1VbhnCSu6ptHEUpHosaM74mJOkWE-4dXH2EQ-cXEk9W5MAELRgU60P99XC8vVU32ZeHLARMOcGwXxCCP3BJtGnNjy5OlD9-jaweAyoEkV1N6gw1ouSk4mxU/s640/blogger-image-1166040017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_hCkDbB5taa-ODCuoxCo1VbhnCSu6ptHEUpHosaM74mJOkWE-4dXH2EQ-cXEk9W5MAELRgU60P99XC8vVU32ZeHLARMOcGwXxCCP3BJtGnNjy5OlD9-jaweAyoEkV1N6gw1ouSk4mxU/s640/blogger-image-1166040017.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">View from the front porch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5oZiiLlawN_jWhbFjc1RbYwPYdSN9iwrzj1Hutv5UwbAOxK__8sNdgbr1zVShk7IEw5iguUN5OMOJZzZF5k4tVZq-uLLwaKeTvvBqaK0I_xvRs1G9fu6IePS0_2ZR_gFYkknRQBWuXI/s640/blogger-image--1546618329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5oZiiLlawN_jWhbFjc1RbYwPYdSN9iwrzj1Hutv5UwbAOxK__8sNdgbr1zVShk7IEw5iguUN5OMOJZzZF5k4tVZq-uLLwaKeTvvBqaK0I_xvRs1G9fu6IePS0_2ZR_gFYkknRQBWuXI/s640/blogger-image--1546618329.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Really, really happy that we have a gardener this year. My wrists are still weak, and will possibly be that way for a long time and will always require a little pampering. Weeding isn't easy for me. He just does the big stuff: pressure wash, mow and edge, and keep the weeds down. I walk around and pull little weeds when I get a chance. As my plants fill in over the years, weeding gets to be less and less of a chore. Oh man the weeds were TERRIBLE when we moved in, and in the first few years. I was in baby years, and we would have patches of dense, waist-high weeds that I would have to tackle in sudden bursts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I measured my soil fertility and PH today with a little gadget I picked up last year. All is good except in one bed that I always blamed myself for: fertility is hovering around 1 and PH is too high. (All the other beds are at a comfortable 7 on the fertility scale. For reference, even though I have no idea what the scale is!). I top dressed with compost from my worms, the rest of my good potting soil, and a good sprinkle of slow-release fertilizer and Sluggo. I've done all I can for the year! No wonder those plants always failed in that spot.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am super happy with how the yard is going. I have a list of spots that need filling, but what is there is lovely. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When the afternoon got hot, and I was done, I sat in the yard and soaked my feet in a big galvanized tub. I'm a suburban hick ;). Did I mention I did all this in my pj's and an old straw hat? Yoga pants and an old tee seemed like a perfectly fine way to spend a day :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I m<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ade the weirdest dinner tonight, and the kids adored it. Everything was sweet. First there was an AMAZING canary melon. Then I candied pecans with a sugar, salt, and a little chile powder. There were bread and butter pickles, and finally shoestring oven fries with ketchup (which is nearly as sweet as jam.). Mimi was in HEAVEN. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I cleaned the kitchen, swept, ran the dishwasher, and cleaned the pig's cage and then served up ice cream for everyone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg9zfTlibTHfLtUkDfg7B3zmRPF9VnZEK08pw3Pre0RG28blp_6LeCrPRVG8sIK4ccSzzhTI1292f_SsMfTdDb7qUVTMmJqaJf3Ui9YM5s_jtV6X_Kb-0-jL8bpd2QsPfml1X_XOGfH4/s640/blogger-image-789602325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg9zfTlibTHfLtUkDfg7B3zmRPF9VnZEK08pw3Pre0RG28blp_6LeCrPRVG8sIK4ccSzzhTI1292f_SsMfTdDb7qUVTMmJqaJf3Ui9YM5s_jtV6X_Kb-0-jL8bpd2QsPfml1X_XOGfH4/s640/blogger-image-789602325.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">OH. J was busy today- back at Christmas he bought me heavy-duty outdoor lights. Today he installed a post and guide wires, and strung the lights. One strand is faulty, so he'll return those, but it looks magical!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyQDWoHCwcvS1QgrQooETvZDV5qr4hJGGCN4ib2_ATMJSkwC-_lzO78NqGRXyh2ONq_2kNVD42n3s54ZgVddWv8NJZe2bXH6UxvBuOBoaKdqsttZT084JCP8MXw59pcAZybI9AQLfKZs/s640/blogger-image--512340736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyQDWoHCwcvS1QgrQooETvZDV5qr4hJGGCN4ib2_ATMJSkwC-_lzO78NqGRXyh2ONq_2kNVD42n3s54ZgVddWv8NJZe2bXH6UxvBuOBoaKdqsttZT084JCP8MXw59pcAZybI9AQLfKZs/s640/blogger-image--512340736.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-71851715929208050992015-05-29T10:20:00.001-07:002015-05-29T21:46:03.613-07:00May 29, 2015With the sun coming up earlier and my pillow next to a window, I suddenly find myself waking up at 6 or 7:30. Pretty different from the 8 or 9 I usually see on my clock!<div><br></div><div>I've been looking for educational iPad apps for the summer months- so far I have C addicted to a learn-to-spell program, M is loving her new spelling app, and E is collecting states Ina geography app. Not bad! </div><div><br></div><div>I gave M her piano lesson this morning, loaded the dishwasher, got M through her last academic lesson and her test. Our bubble tests for the annual state testing requirement arrived in yesterday's mail, the girls are pretty stoked to get started on those after lunch. Funny kids. Yay bubble tests!</div><div><br></div><div>12:51 Girls are almost done with language portions of their tests. Mimi is looking a bit run down, but E thrives on these.</div><div><br></div><div>4:21 Draaaaaging. Cut the testing off at 3:00, we will finish Monday. Did an art project with the kids, and now they are downstairs trying to pick out a movie. I finished off a dark chocolate bar and a pretty good-sized chunk of imported Brie.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4TcHu3MXqPhDETdw4kjhpH_OxLiswb5ZWY2qkUnDTgHJuCXSkAY97U4WPNywKauqS8-a8MoU9oK_Rx0Gq2SI88fFUMFCaxg5d-WkQ9J0Kx6Vg6lixgpgcpQsXsJnaem_SQy0uoVvXnI/s640/blogger-image--402149598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4TcHu3MXqPhDETdw4kjhpH_OxLiswb5ZWY2qkUnDTgHJuCXSkAY97U4WPNywKauqS8-a8MoU9oK_Rx0Gq2SI88fFUMFCaxg5d-WkQ9J0Kx6Vg6lixgpgcpQsXsJnaem_SQy0uoVvXnI/s640/blogger-image--402149598.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>9:45 I don't even know where this day went. It's possible I was abducted for part of it. Oh wait- No, I was gone. I practiced piano for a bit, texted with a very sick friend, ate chips and salsa for dinner, and left at 6:00 for my piano lesson. I did the grocery shopping on my way home, got back at 8, and helped put the kids to bed. I loaded the dishwasher, took care of all the animals, had a glass of juice, and here we are!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZLF-C-DAzaoHrN2ByX4p1b3XSJpvChgZ4A32wNNFTrEkcOGFTzONpM3z9dWFNkQHkmWdQvf3xCCxDFvWu7sVCV7bKhJ7Lgp0C8EdkJPfE2UAxuRzuXzSsNp9kM9eLmiUQKfEuyWPTPU/s640/blogger-image--1892851286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZLF-C-DAzaoHrN2ByX4p1b3XSJpvChgZ4A32wNNFTrEkcOGFTzONpM3z9dWFNkQHkmWdQvf3xCCxDFvWu7sVCV7bKhJ7Lgp0C8EdkJPfE2UAxuRzuXzSsNp9kM9eLmiUQKfEuyWPTPU/s640/blogger-image--1892851286.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-45311827584021167472015-05-28T08:41:00.001-07:002015-05-28T22:07:22.587-07:00May 28, 2015Alright Dad: this update's for you!<div><br></div><div>7:00 I'm awake! I'm awake! I roll over and check my messages: 44 people love my purple hair, 3 piano teachers take offense that I question the validity of marking on note as an eighth note AND a quarter note, and my 8:30 adult student has written to say she's not coming because she didn't practice. Cool.</div><div><br></div><div>I eat my bowl of cereal, M goes out to play on the new fort, and E is organizing the school books they left all over the house and yard yesterday trying to find her math book so she can take her test. </div><div><br></div><div>8:00 C rolls out of bed and asks me to strip his sheets: he's wet the bed. I strip the bed, strip him, and draw a bath.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0QqPUiR9xJ8kq2tHIfZ7rfdVNC1-7l8uwF6oNo4vM3JoX4p6lbN0HMcjexBwY55Wr9cF5fZU5TZlZ26AOGyTqYxlzVKL5xfCIGGY8UcOWnblIXu5rPNgNMUlpPfgW6OjQbND-IyeRU4/s640/blogger-image-1273295789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0QqPUiR9xJ8kq2tHIfZ7rfdVNC1-7l8uwF6oNo4vM3JoX4p6lbN0HMcjexBwY55Wr9cF5fZU5TZlZ26AOGyTqYxlzVKL5xfCIGGY8UcOWnblIXu5rPNgNMUlpPfgW6OjQbND-IyeRU4/s640/blogger-image-1273295789.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>8:30 I mix hot tap water with instant oatmeal to make C's favorite breakfast. I consider getting dressed... But a tee and yoga pants is awful comfy for teaching in. Hmm.</div><div><br></div><div>8:45 C asks for chocolate milk, and fist bumps the air repeatedly while galloping into the kitchen ahead of me. I get a hearty congratulations for successfully matching an orange cup to an orange lid. I make up a batch of trail mix for the kids to snack on, wipe the black watercolor paint water off the floor that C just spilled while clearing yesterday's painting project, and wonder if it's too early to start eating cookies. I could REALLY go for a cookie. </div><div><br></div><div>9:00. I didn't get dressed. No big surprise. I ring the bell for school, M cries. I guess when she asked to go play at 8:00 she never actually went outside, now is is extremely unhappy with the unfairness of life. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98Ry_p5QLoQ5TLYXwNHBifOl0zFE9EZdWkBI4Ux5wSM5v12yPqOKdBtxVphiUpc7h1EgCgknjh_gXJSrx5xV3mYKSP0sPu1lVVBwS4yZe9p58p93Xm99cwF0Su1UtS4Oo9-yogIyFT5I/s640/blogger-image-1426423443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98Ry_p5QLoQ5TLYXwNHBifOl0zFE9EZdWkBI4Ux5wSM5v12yPqOKdBtxVphiUpc7h1EgCgknjh_gXJSrx5xV3mYKSP0sPu1lVVBwS4yZe9p58p93Xm99cwF0Su1UtS4Oo9-yogIyFT5I/s640/blogger-image-1426423443.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We have our gathering song, prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and value song-of-the-month (Love at Home.). I get M started on math, E heads to the front patio to do her math test, and C heads to the back yard. I am on a stink hunt: something smells like bread dough. I can't find it, and this is day three. Has something died in the walls???! </div><div><br></div><div>9:30 Both girls are doing math outside, C is on an early spelling game on the iPad, and I have located the horrible smell: it is my electric composter blowing hot hair through a stinky filter. Got to clean that today!! I move it to the deck for a quick fix.</div><div><br></div><div>10:00 A neighbor friend came by for plants- everything but tomatillos is long gone, but she took two of those home. Her boy played with the kids outside for a few minutes. E is done with her math test, and has taken all her workbooks out to the recycle bin, so she is free and clear!</div><div><br></div><div>11:00 M is working on a math sheet, and C and E are in the back yard with a sheet pan of baking soda, two glasses of colored vinegar, and two tiny droplets. I am kind of really hoping one of those cups tips over and the whole pan foams away in a technicolor glory.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKuiGoLW5UuBlASyWdAiKTXF_1GWQqaK0EkfmCKN3_40QkBP36zP4LeKPQ9eHVujCNf6CLRpI95wK-U0nhAGOFIS5GgU2bERlrZt9kde2DwclVrJw2pDhxNuDR9kU9KrMQR-ChTcOG34/s640/blogger-image--1636034480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKuiGoLW5UuBlASyWdAiKTXF_1GWQqaK0EkfmCKN3_40QkBP36zP4LeKPQ9eHVujCNf6CLRpI95wK-U0nhAGOFIS5GgU2bERlrZt9kde2DwclVrJw2pDhxNuDR9kU9KrMQR-ChTcOG34/s640/blogger-image--1636034480.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">11:30 C and E are done with the baking soda. C has soaked his hand in the Orange vinegar and looks like pruny Cheetos. I rinse his hand with milk just in case I can neutralize something, rinse him off, and take him outside to declaw him. Dude grows fingernails faster than anyone I know! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2Ml33-P26iXXUcB16ELSg6I5rwpMaBeqAVHkFOeQBh0m1hyphenhyphenU1g4-pKXybb8pfWWN052v-PHrSa8oAcRP3Eb56j3BXuDyIo5b14qzY3u6E9a69HoUKnKYHvbK6eWQ55dtJ08VwggjJZA/s640/blogger-image--42189092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2Ml33-P26iXXUcB16ELSg6I5rwpMaBeqAVHkFOeQBh0m1hyphenhyphenU1g4-pKXybb8pfWWN052v-PHrSa8oAcRP3Eb56j3BXuDyIo5b14qzY3u6E9a69HoUKnKYHvbK6eWQ55dtJ08VwggjJZA/s640/blogger-image--42189092.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I come inside to discover two excited girls: E has yanked M's tooth. Wow. They run off to bag and stash it for the fairy to find tonight. I make C a sandwich.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I point out to M that the point of math repetition is to help her get faster and faster at these problems... And suddenly she is flying through without laboriously counting things like 2-2 on her number line. Novel concept! I must be the greatest teacher ever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yM2hA2rbHNIZN4dy7i7rZh7rHtw0vQmHG0_d7Xw4M5vSXyxgW0CTTOOmpBeid3bbZSC80HLBSUn7diPDTuD90gcKXINoUzMJ3QgUyl2MgCpYFkFyYKMKu9jRXjJGhTN2K4oyEHifKgg/s640/blogger-image--1316196137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yM2hA2rbHNIZN4dy7i7rZh7rHtw0vQmHG0_d7Xw4M5vSXyxgW0CTTOOmpBeid3bbZSC80HLBSUn7diPDTuD90gcKXINoUzMJ3QgUyl2MgCpYFkFyYKMKu9jRXjJGhTN2K4oyEHifKgg/s640/blogger-image--1316196137.jpg"></a></div><br></div>12:30: E and C are outside watercolor painting. Well, C has coated his paper in black paint and is currently burying his bare feet in the French drain rocks. E is painting nicely on the patio. M is taking her math test. Oh we are so close to finishing it makes me jittery!</div><div><br></div><div>12:45. Well, I got about five minutes of piano practice and ran through two Grieg pieces. M is out playing with baking soda and vinegar now, and C came in asking for a bath. He seems to have watercolor painted his feet black. Second bath of the day, and he will surely have one more tonight after we go to the beach!</div><div><br></div><div>3:00 We have lunched, packed and are at the beach. E has made playmates out of the little boys she found here, M is sunning and day dreaming, and C is ricocheting around the park. Life is pretty good. We are so amazingly blessed to live with access to a private, gated, neighborhood beach.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh0RA2k_JxjL2mTdSbd9UvuBGGKyCIqyXsUdiKxA_GfoRiY8oFCTMItStPnwDb4wLqQ-shwCMXamTyFwZcvj9-RRB4E-4EE5IrfQQQxMmxPWpnNs-oE28Jp-iRWFUb_5c9D2B0h8RXNs/s640/blogger-image-1917871359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh0RA2k_JxjL2mTdSbd9UvuBGGKyCIqyXsUdiKxA_GfoRiY8oFCTMItStPnwDb4wLqQ-shwCMXamTyFwZcvj9-RRB4E-4EE5IrfQQQxMmxPWpnNs-oE28Jp-iRWFUb_5c9D2B0h8RXNs/s640/blogger-image-1917871359.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtNJG1odV1LfWQ7oITfuO4gy7C8lGZwwBqx2dmnKgqlphjMNzk1wpgsNAn8w7hfbEXTypmLVGT2TiFRfKP-3VJ9I_ygOu5l5NXEN1V0T2JJd9IsFjheyHGNzWaAuKzFIBEeJ6veT6VLQ/s640/blogger-image--1532292565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtNJG1odV1LfWQ7oITfuO4gy7C8lGZwwBqx2dmnKgqlphjMNzk1wpgsNAn8w7hfbEXTypmLVGT2TiFRfKP-3VJ9I_ygOu5l5NXEN1V0T2JJd9IsFjheyHGNzWaAuKzFIBEeJ6veT6VLQ/s640/blogger-image--1532292565.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4:00 I am home to teach piano. My 4:00 is a great girl, and she is totally ready for next week's recital. My 4:30 is a group primer lesson with a six and an eight year old. We run through their recital pieces, and I make up a game with foam, alphabet, floor tiles. We pick out the ones in the musical alphabet and take turns hopping the songs in their piano books. They get five minutes of iPad time and a piece of candy on their way out the door. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P5sigSsl8r0PPr8CQz0zt4DjocZZ36jT8YGeinzBtvnKxKE5eZjXIY9Jmyy94CI0E53cPf1-fAVjHWotdy34glUdPS-eli5E3TbND5Qenavn_LeX0jauNtOm5s77Ey0fFt8TuZRq-DU/s640/blogger-image-1283150951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P5sigSsl8r0PPr8CQz0zt4DjocZZ36jT8YGeinzBtvnKxKE5eZjXIY9Jmyy94CI0E53cPf1-fAVjHWotdy34glUdPS-eli5E3TbND5Qenavn_LeX0jauNtOm5s77Ey0fFt8TuZRq-DU/s640/blogger-image-1283150951.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">5:00 J gets home from work, we load up the truck with dinner supplies and the three kayaks and head back to the beach where Aunt LoLo has all six kids. We have BBQ chicken wraps for dinner and the standard s'mores: we have those at EVERY beach night this year. I bought a Costco box of Hershey's bars and ordered special sticks from Amazon. In fact, we have a whole picnic tote I grab every time: S'mores fixings, plastic plates and cups, a big platter, BBQ tongs, paper towels, a knife in a sheath, and a lighter, all in a big tub. It's grand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The adults take turns kayaking up and down the shore after dinner, and the kids play. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">7:45 We are loading the car, with all the drama that comes with ending a park outing after the kids have been playing hard for nearly six hours. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">8:00 Showers for everyone, and family scriptures and prayers. Tonight's story is Lehi's vision in First Nephi. Mimi acts as Lehi, I'm all the wicked people, E is Sariah, and C is Nephi. Scriptures are way more fun for the kids when they get to move!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">9:00 Light out for the kids, I get my much-needed shower, and it's time to clean the dinner dishes.</div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6712792048803588321.post-70201314719376846182015-03-03T10:21:00.001-08:002015-03-03T22:45:47.517-08:00March 3, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAQhVl96-6Z8h7AFp3aGNBv7FRPT8JgUKhqEKTul13GBgh5GA_E12EHoiX0Dyc710sCFOKrk1g98wVwa556KCbxHcth025eoqgIHuioaA9Qac9ekGKdwG4puN3FSgMFnYzJv2FS3mYXU/s640/blogger-image--1988724482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAQhVl96-6Z8h7AFp3aGNBv7FRPT8JgUKhqEKTul13GBgh5GA_E12EHoiX0Dyc710sCFOKrk1g98wVwa556KCbxHcth025eoqgIHuioaA9Qac9ekGKdwG4puN3FSgMFnYzJv2FS3mYXU/s640/blogger-image--1988724482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP6NrPfjDcsFQB5B51HnLVF3WQmocSi4DOCcoGjNUydRpoaIUj4MWMUx0tSuc_DNqIIs79dPiGEmgAvvZzSrTAo9jw__Ct0xQsLHaB9UaZzatgevyP4Qx7dQ1RmIZRpP_PDD7D43WIeA/s640/blogger-image--2143584854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP6NrPfjDcsFQB5B51HnLVF3WQmocSi4DOCcoGjNUydRpoaIUj4MWMUx0tSuc_DNqIIs79dPiGEmgAvvZzSrTAo9jw__Ct0xQsLHaB9UaZzatgevyP4Qx7dQ1RmIZRpP_PDD7D43WIeA/s640/blogger-image--2143584854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKJrnI_QTbhYsu6woA8XKGwBzGJAgHgdtQJ1rOw0OUDUPRIh7teQddgnOX2ICvm7c8qtzLLo8JEMcEBPN86MYDlGxT8V-EPAYEjHSB9c1KOZfBzW_rcsnMH4JVULzFhjhi5ooZu1_ej0/s640/blogger-image-988396302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKJrnI_QTbhYsu6woA8XKGwBzGJAgHgdtQJ1rOw0OUDUPRIh7teQddgnOX2ICvm7c8qtzLLo8JEMcEBPN86MYDlGxT8V-EPAYEjHSB9c1KOZfBzW_rcsnMH4JVULzFhjhi5ooZu1_ej0/s640/blogger-image-988396302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJyAy-LfrP3HbExpo0befccWW3jEFTlJKFDbLT0vrICTj7uEHFrHpLfeXgz3JaN2-QMhDGsG15gD9G-wqOW55C_3cy-w3rrYAdiJROfHZL977_7Q1ugtPUMMbbxY6qV2LzuwumOsXrK4/s640/blogger-image--1719744271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJyAy-LfrP3HbExpo0befccWW3jEFTlJKFDbLT0vrICTj7uEHFrHpLfeXgz3JaN2-QMhDGsG15gD9G-wqOW55C_3cy-w3rrYAdiJROfHZL977_7Q1ugtPUMMbbxY6qV2LzuwumOsXrK4/s640/blogger-image--1719744271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUkOSyW7BlMCO3EagGFYpYj1bxcZDXv3g7lspqNtKAHxRLFPmQzcdVsB_aybqovZZv614CHcM-bBLXdyUv6E7wbvXS5M71gVhxZkm3yqwkvKNwAZE3sVs-uG1jsSWCmnlS7jS-Z-mXtM/s640/blogger-image--847184381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUkOSyW7BlMCO3EagGFYpYj1bxcZDXv3g7lspqNtKAHxRLFPmQzcdVsB_aybqovZZv614CHcM-bBLXdyUv6E7wbvXS5M71gVhxZkm3yqwkvKNwAZE3sVs-uG1jsSWCmnlS7jS-Z-mXtM/s640/blogger-image--847184381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt8Q_sDD8ciqSEGecxb_mS3ju8BId53vrfv9wcdT1VjzH28Q1B0ilz4iY-yBKSMKOtdOdi6He0rndnBc42dscuwM6DfKCNI7wcCUf37Z_PSOk5E6lezCXpoBa-I5yfVQozakW4UnaRI4/s640/blogger-image-113092872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt8Q_sDD8ciqSEGecxb_mS3ju8BId53vrfv9wcdT1VjzH28Q1B0ilz4iY-yBKSMKOtdOdi6He0rndnBc42dscuwM6DfKCNI7wcCUf37Z_PSOk5E6lezCXpoBa-I5yfVQozakW4UnaRI4/s640/blogger-image-113092872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaaweC3zASo_L6aQNkpysBw7fY-fjsHQ8fH03nfCKxHAvHH_c1jWlN_AL5RkBJ_iuHcgwywCNVtRlv2WxELyLs1uk5ycpNqVhLSz0GQOzoXw1Gvjq3vxq9cTMo-Nx1fLQqvM7zU9vwBQ/s640/blogger-image-1332133105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A productive week so far, and it's only Tuesday! I started a new anti-anxiety medication, it's changed my life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">J and I went for a hike on Saturday evening- we had to race the sun to get back to the car before dark, but I can't wait to do this hike again. We took the trailhead in the ymca parking lot, and followed the primrose trail loop. Although, it's not really a loop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mushrooms</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaaweC3zASo_L6aQNkpysBw7fY-fjsHQ8fH03nfCKxHAvHH_c1jWlN_AL5RkBJ_iuHcgwywCNVtRlv2WxELyLs1uk5ycpNqVhLSz0GQOzoXw1Gvjq3vxq9cTMo-Nx1fLQqvM7zU9vwBQ/s640/blogger-image-1332133105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjXWiiqX56EMvsB-8kwqvI3ZgRLKRwLVTjEqPS0NFOARxVlrLxb8As-yzEUEk8EQaohyqPCucnj5GvSTIeX0a-4PcLCB4-vffYpDUbDG4fOxaSbTBV__vTkTS5LIr6Yem_99kcZY1MQI/s640/blogger-image--146130720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjXWiiqX56EMvsB-8kwqvI3ZgRLKRwLVTjEqPS0NFOARxVlrLxb8As-yzEUEk8EQaohyqPCucnj5GvSTIeX0a-4PcLCB4-vffYpDUbDG4fOxaSbTBV__vTkTS5LIr6Yem_99kcZY1MQI/s640/blogger-image--146130720.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Creek at the bottom of the hike.</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaaweC3zASo_L6aQNkpysBw7fY-fjsHQ8fH03nfCKxHAvHH_c1jWlN_AL5RkBJ_iuHcgwywCNVtRlv2WxELyLs1uk5ycpNqVhLSz0GQOzoXw1Gvjq3vxq9cTMo-Nx1fLQqvM7zU9vwBQ/s640/blogger-image-1332133105.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">E was not feeling well on Sunday, she chose to stay home from church. We had a primary lesson together, watched videos of highland dancers, and made a cherry pie. I promised M that we would have a fancy dinner on Sunday- the food wasn't fancy (rice, corn, and yoshi chicken I burned into inedible building blocks) but we used crystal glasses and my fine china. Everyone had to keep their hands in their lap, sit up straight, keep their voices down, and not clink their silverware. The girls just ate it up. </div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt8Q_sDD8ciqSEGecxb_mS3ju8BId53vrfv9wcdT1VjzH28Q1B0ilz4iY-yBKSMKOtdOdi6He0rndnBc42dscuwM6DfKCNI7wcCUf37Z_PSOk5E6lezCXpoBa-I5yfVQozakW4UnaRI4/s640/blogger-image-113092872.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Monday we studied gothic cathedrals in history- after school was done, the kids raided their candy stashes for hard candies and we melted them in the oven to make stained glass suckers, like the stained glass windows in the cathedrals.</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUkOSyW7BlMCO3EagGFYpYj1bxcZDXv3g7lspqNtKAHxRLFPmQzcdVsB_aybqovZZv614CHcM-bBLXdyUv6E7wbvXS5M71gVhxZkm3yqwkvKNwAZE3sVs-uG1jsSWCmnlS7jS-Z-mXtM/s640/blogger-image--847184381.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJyAy-LfrP3HbExpo0befccWW3jEFTlJKFDbLT0vrICTj7uEHFrHpLfeXgz3JaN2-QMhDGsG15gD9G-wqOW55C_3cy-w3rrYAdiJROfHZL977_7Q1ugtPUMMbbxY6qV2LzuwumOsXrK4/s640/blogger-image--1719744271.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I slept in late Monday morning, and E surprised me by sweeping off the front porch and redecorating. Ha- that girl!</div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKJrnI_QTbhYsu6woA8XKGwBzGJAgHgdtQJ1rOw0OUDUPRIh7teQddgnOX2ICvm7c8qtzLLo8JEMcEBPN86MYDlGxT8V-EPAYEjHSB9c1KOZfBzW_rcsnMH4JVULzFhjhi5ooZu1_ej0/s640/blogger-image-988396302.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Another surprise when I woke up on Monday- E had pressed, dried, and laminated a cherry blossom for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP6NrPfjDcsFQB5B51HnLVF3WQmocSi4DOCcoGjNUydRpoaIUj4MWMUx0tSuc_DNqIIs79dPiGEmgAvvZzSrTAo9jw__Ct0xQsLHaB9UaZzatgevyP4Qx7dQ1RmIZRpP_PDD7D43WIeA/s640/blogger-image--2143584854.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">C started preschool on Monday- I will make the curriculum last until Fall 2016 when he is ready for Kindy, but he needed something to do while the girls work. They are having a hard time watching him color and play while they work, but I keep reminding them that I am keeping C busy for their sakes. He loves it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAQhVl96-6Z8h7AFp3aGNBv7FRPT8JgUKhqEKTul13GBgh5GA_E12EHoiX0Dyc710sCFOKrk1g98wVwa556KCbxHcth025eoqgIHuioaA9Qac9ekGKdwG4puN3FSgMFnYzJv2FS3mYXU/s640/blogger-image--1988724482.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The kids spent the afternoon with my sister, while I went to my weekly wrist therapy appointment. I've been going since the beginning of January- if I am careful my ganglion cyst doesn't flare up, my tendons have healed, and I am working in strengthing my wrists. Doing good! I brought home therapy putty today, my kids really, really, really want it. C walks by and pokes it while I am working. Goofs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I taught two lessons in the afternoon, and after dinner took the girls out for new shoes and sweaters for their Easter outfits. We finished up with huge pastries at Panera- Mimi was delighted to finally find herself on a Mom Date with accompanying treats :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8zpg2mv6GD6PAw74Cd3xeEQxAsorAkJjzR4cwjrCdmxf7IsuLGQpsmXpzqR0ea804wv4jANWOUdVnszd3NJtOou-GGV_eRmFz29IoAajBflcTHJhGTt4CjO7iXjyr_YWMePdcgJV17o/s640/blogger-image-74931978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8zpg2mv6GD6PAw74Cd3xeEQxAsorAkJjzR4cwjrCdmxf7IsuLGQpsmXpzqR0ea804wv4jANWOUdVnszd3NJtOou-GGV_eRmFz29IoAajBflcTHJhGTt4CjO7iXjyr_YWMePdcgJV17o/s640/blogger-image-74931978.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Myrniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585790815417752655noreply@blogger.com1