Not a Manic Monday

Monday was a good day. Vacation is officially over for me, so I was back to work. The kids were really good playing together. Everest got some Squinkies for his birthday and Christmas, so he and Julie played with their collections together.



They were extremely patient while I worked in the morning to the early afternoon. But by 2:00, they were ready for me to be with them for sure. They packed picnic lunches, and we went to the park for them to play and eat. I got to sit and read more of Artemis Fowl #3. Fun times!





We headed to the gym afterward, where I was able to squeeze in a quick workout and a shower. We swung by Jerri's house to pick her up because she was babysitting for me that evening. After dropping her and the kids off at home, I went to Mirch Marsala, an Indian restaurant that my friend Nia has been raving about for years.

It was my last opportunity (this visit) to hang out with Eowyn and Child before they went back home. As a bonus, Nia's friend Dara was there. There seems to be an ongoing joke that Dara and I could actually be famously good friends, but if we did become so, then we would probably take over the world.




The Indian food was fantastic, first I've ever had. Such rich and delicious curries! A bit pricey for my budget, but delicious just the same. I'll have to go back again one day--if only for the cheese naan!

We finished dinner around 8:00, but I had Jerri until 8:30. I was able to swing by the library to drop off some books AND go to Target for my 2012 calendar and still get home by 8:30. Amazing what a mother can accomplish with no kids in tow. ;o)

After driving Jerri home and putting the kids to bed, I decided to just sit and read. I really need to get Artemis Fowl back to the library, so I am pressing through in earnest. It was so nice to have an evening of just chilling with a book. Heath and I went to bed early, and the night ended with absolutely no stress.

First Family Day of 2012

Sunday, after seeing Jerri off and taking Piper home, the kids decided that we should do a big family day rather than have individual dates. We started out by having a late breakfast at Denny's downtown. A fun treat for all! Everest was very wise and didn't get the pancakes that had sprinkles, telling us that he "doesn't need all that sugar in the morning." Well, good for you, buddy!




We drove through downtown and out to a park in Manitou afterwards. The kids played there for over an hour! It was an incredible little playground--all wood with nooks and crannies and surprises around every corner, maintained completely by neighbors and volunteers. Tons of fun. Heath and I chatted and watched the kids and talked with a mom who was there with her daughter, a girl Julie's age.





Once the sun had dipped below the closest horizon and put us in the shade, we took off for another park (which was still in the sunshine). The kids played for another 30 minutes or so there, ending with a little hop around the Julie Penrose fountain. They were starting to get cold and tired by that point, so we headed back home.





We all rested a little bit when we got home, then Heath took off to go rock climbing. The kids and I had a quick dinner of hot dogs, spaghetti, and fruit. We had talked about going to see a cheap movie; Julie even gathered a bunch of change to purchase the tickets. But it was getting late, and everyone was tired. Also, if we go on Tuesday, the tickets are actually only 75 cents, so it would be better to wait. She set aside the money to save for Tuesday, and she will definitely not forget!



After dinner was done and cleaned up, the kids wanted to do a game Julie calls "Wig Down Show Town," where she and Everest wear different wigs and perform dances and songs. I had them get in jammies and brush up first, but later got to watch a few performances. It was rather hilarious!




We played ball on the stairs with Everest's new soft soccer ball from Nana and Papa, then it was at last time for bed. Julie had a little hard time falling asleep, but she finally did give it up. She had to be tired after such a long day.

Heath returned from climbing, only to find some last minute projects sitting in his email. SIGH. So he is currently taking a nap so he can get up in the middle of the night and get all this stuff done before class starts in the morning. I've been happily catching up on emails and blogs tonight. Work starts again tomorrow, and it's magazine week.

Oh, and by the way, I started Project 365 again for 2012.

Parting Shot
Julie had a cat on either side of her, asking for pets tonight. They really do seem to adore her. :o)

Spontaneous Adventures

What a weekend! Friday started out relaxed and normal. Everest and I played together in the morning since he didn't have school. We also straightened up the bedrooms and got everything folded. I tried to get Everest to take a little nap, but he wanted to just sit in bed and practice writing. Eventually he did fall asleep.



When Heath got back from working, Everest was up again, and we hung out. We chatted about having an impromptu family day because Heath was going to be gone all weekend. Meanwhile, Everest wanted to take pictures of us. Silly boy. :o)




After my young men got Julie, we headed out to the zoo. Unfortunately, they closed early because of an event that night. Not be deterred, we went to a park to play for awhile, then got some donuts. (Sort of a necessity every time we're downtown!)






On the way home, we decided to have dinner at Fargo's Pizza, an absolutely wonderful place that seems like its been around forever. Both Heath and I remember going there as kids. It was neat to get to share the place with our own kids. Julie said it was the best place we'd ever gone for dinner. :o) On the way out, we did the photo booth in the arcade area.





It was a lovely family day, even if it did end up spilling past bedtime. Heath and I had some much needed time together after we put the kids to bed. Later in the evening, I caught a movie with Legolas--Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which was actually quite good. Totally new take on the story and well-done CGI. All in all, it was a great but exhausting day.

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday was incredible productive but that of course makes it busy busy busy. Heath got back late Thursday night, so he was able to stay with Everest for the morning while I went to print bulletins. I still had a bit of time leftover before I had to be back, so I got a free coffee at a new drive-through coffee shop near the church. (Free coffee because it was their grand opening day.) Excellent service and delicious house coffee. Once I had my caffeine, I went to my mom's store to hang out and do some editing. She served me Tom Kah Gai for lunch, which was AMAZING as usual.




When I returned home, I got a bit more work done while Everest took his nap. Once Julie got off school, we ran some errands, which included picking up some family devotional books from the printers. They are designed to facilitate quick discussions with busy families. The kids and I tried it out in the car while we were running around, and they both really enjoyed it.

Heath took over around 4:30, taking the kids out to someplace so that I could have my tutoring appointment at 5:00. I worked on some freelance design projects early in the evening, then met with my Muse girls.

We ended up coming back home because no one really had the money to go anywhere. Ah well. It was a nice chat we had, and nobody had to spend anything extra.

Saturday, the kids were incredibly generous and let me sleep in. Once I was conscious, they actually made me breakfast in bed! I don't know what the occasion was, it was sure sweet. Julie made me a cup of coffee. (It had already brewed because I had it on a timer.) And Everest put cream cheese on two mini-bagels for me. So sweet!

They worked on crafts all on their own while I had been sleeping. Julie decided that they needed to make thank-you cards for Silvereagle for sending us the lovely package from Korea earlier in the week. YES! They're getting it!




My dad came over around 1:15 to watch the kids for me while I went to the first session of the next Collaborative Writers Group. The kids were a bit tired. I suggested that they just watch a movie together, and that suited everyone just fine.



The group went wonderfully, and I think everyone had a fun time. We have some crazy characters planned, that's for sure. There's one brand new girl who is a friend of one of the boys. She's fantastic and reminds me a lot of a couple CleanPlace girls I know. :o)

By time we finished, my dad had taken the kids to my mom's store so she could see them. They were pretty good, so I heard. My mom made me some shrimp fried rice for dinner. I am so spoiled over there!



On the way home, I let the kids play at the park for about 45 minutes. It was really good for them to get their energy out. As for me, I was getting a pounding migraine and kept quiet and still in the car, just watching them play. (It's a small park, so they weren't out of my sight for a minute.)



The kids were still a bit hungry when we got home. Julie had a fun idea of me putting out a buffet of options in little bowls, then they could make their own plates. It sounded good to me because I would be able to put out healthy choices instead of just trying to find something quick for them to eat. While they went up to get into jammies, I got the buffet line set up.





They loved it! We may have to do afterschool snacks in a similar fashion in the future. Absolutely everything was eaten--even the veggies! Huzzah.

Heath got home from rock climbing around 8:30 and helped get Everest into bed. Julie and I stayed up drawing, doing math flash cards, and just hanging out. It was really nice. She is more of a night person. Too bad she still needs lots of sleep to be functional (and happy) in the morning!

Visiting the Awesome People, pt. 2

Saturday, after breakfast, I took the kids on a but of a nature walk to help them get some of their energy out. It was just me and the kids because Tessa was taking a nap. We had fun finding acorns, spying on squirrels, and dropping grass into the stream.


(Click this if you can't see the slideshow above.)
They'd gathered a nice collection of nature items by time we got back.



Mike was kind enough to take us out to pick up an essential item when we got back. XD



Meanwhile, Kate had made dough for pretzels. We got a lesson on pretzel rolling, then we made a dozen or so homemade pretzels. YUM! Tessa enjoyed watching for stray bits of dough to munch.






Nana and Papa arrived shortly thereafter, and we relaxed for awhile together.




Mike, Julie, and I went to get a take-out lunch at a fabulous BBQ place called Nordy's. Downtown, there was some kind of festival going on, and people were dressed up in costume everywhere. Julie got a kick out of it. At the restaurant, we spotted Big Bird at the bar. o.O





After our really late lunch, my parents went to check in to their hotel, and the rest of us walked to the park nearby to let the kids run around. Julie and Tessa played in the sand together for a long time. Everest did a lot of climbing.






Home again, I got the kids showered, and we had some delicious beef vegetable soup that Mike had put in the slow cooker the night before. Because of the big lunch, the light dinner was absolutely perfect. We sat around and talked for a long time. Everest fell asleep on Nana's lap





After Nana and Papa went home for the night, Julie went to bed, followed by Mike. Kate and I sat at the kitchen table and chatted until 2:30 in the morning! It was great getting to talk with her though, and we did end up sleeping in on Sunday, so it all worked out...