Astoria

I know many people who dread the day their mother-on-law comes to visit.  I am not one of those people.  When my mother-in-law comes for a visit I get as giddy as the girls do.  Fun will be had and very little rest will occur--except perhaps in the car between fun.  

This weekend is no exception.  For the day today we decided to get Hannah out of school early and head for the coast.  Our destination: Astoria.  We headed straight for the Cannery Cafe and the famous Gunder Buns.  

We spent most of the meal trying to decide just what the secret ingredient was that makes them so irresistible. The waitress claimed only the owner knows the secret. . .but we detected a hint of honey. . .and something else.  Of course the rest of lunch was great also.  I had crab cakes (again--we went out last night and had seafood then too) and tomato & red pepper bisque--YUM.  Everyone else had  clam chowder--also good.

Since the Cafe is on the pier we had to climb the tower and hunt for seals and seagulls.

(Sig watched for seals out the cafe window while we were eating lunch.)

The view from the cafe window

The quaintness of Astoria gets me every time.  The old buildings are so interesting. . .

. . .and the houses are so cute I want to move right in!

And, of course, you can't visit Astoria without visiting the Column.  

The view is spectacular (although I took these from the parking lot because the tower was closed for maintenance.)

  

My daughter is in 4th grade and my mother-in-law is a 4th grade teacher, which is when they learn/teach all about Lewis & Clark--so of course we had to stop by Fort Clatsop and take a tour.

It was an exhausting day.  But the weather was warm, and the sun was shinning--you can't ask for more on the Northwest Coast! 

Guilty Freedom

After a short, but enjoyable weekend between semesters, summer semester started on Monday. . .without me.  I had a husband induced epiphany.  Due to a combination of not getting all my classes and the chance I would either have to be at the school everyday next fall (with a kindergartner to worry about) or take classes in the spring--delaying my graduation until May instead of December, and causing me to pay for three semesters instead of two--and a confession from Rob, I cancelled by summer classes.  

The confession was the best part.  It went something like this:

"I miss having a clean organized house.  It's been chaos--you hold this family together more than I gave you credit for."

In case you didn't sense it, that statement gave me great satisfaction--never mind that it also implies that during the semester I wasn't holding it all together.  At least not the house.  I was taking five classes and I don't do things half way, which was reflected in my five A's. . . and my messy house.

So when Rob suggested maybe I should take the summer off and spend time with the family (and the house, and the neglected projects. . .) it took me 24 hours to stress about it before I dropped my classes.  I realized that I will be spending the next two summers in school during the masters program (which I would start next June regardless of whether I took summer off or spring off) so I feel better about not going this summer.  

I am torn between feeling guilty, like I quit (though I am still heavily enrolled for fall) and gloriously free.  Oh sweet freedom--you never appreciate it until you don't have it.

You should see my project list. . . and my summer fun plans. . . and my nearly clean house . . .and my empty laundry room. . .Oh, and the blog post ideas. . . and my writing schedule of things I WANT to write . . . and books! fabulous, frivolous summer read books I plan to read. . .

Yes, freedom and I get along just fine.

What do you plan to do with your summer?

Mother's Day

"My mom is a never ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being.  I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune."

                         ~Graycie Harmon

I called my mom to wish her happy Mother's Day and joked that for Mother's Day Rob got a guitar.  And while this is true, he did make breakfast and clean out my fridge for me.  But that isn't what made my day.  

Today I have no assignments due by Midnight.

Today it was sunny and warm.

After church we ripped the sheets off all our beds and washed them so we could hang them out to dry in the sun.  Rob assures me there is no greater simple summer pleasure than sun dried sheets that waft on the breeze while they dry.  (We had to rig up a clothesline on the back patio)

Then we grilled salmon and asparagus and just hung out in the back yard.  The girls played, ( and only got a tab bit wet) Rob relaxed and I pulled weeds while I listened to music softly playing.  Weeding, for me, is relaxing. 

Watching my girls play together makes me smile.  I may have a bagillion hobbies and interests, but being the mom to these two is the best.  

Now I am going to relax and read a non-school-assigned novel, and enjoy my break. . . until summer semester starts. . . tomorrow.

Happy Mother's Day Mom 

I hope your day was as rewarding as ours was here.

We love you.

(From both of us to both of you)

The Herald of Summer

Today was a sunny 60 something degree day.  The sky was blue the sun was warm, my classes are finished (yeah!) and my hands were deep in the dirt (I planted my garden).  Ahhhh.  There wasn't much that could make this day better. . . .

. . .until we heard the tinkling notes of Music Box Dancer drifting on the breeze.

Here is the reaction we had:

(Note the bare feet -- clearly my kids think it actually is summer!)

(And she's running down the lane by our house, not the middle of the road.)

There is nothing that makes it feel more like summer than the ice cream truck.  For a reminder on why I can't say no to the ice cream truck go HERE.

The kids rushed to the road and waited with barely bridled anticipation.

And when the truck finally arrived the driver let the kids pile in for a picture.

Then they all made their choice, then changed their minds, then changed their minds again, then finally settled something.  I had to remind them she would be back nearly every week for the next three or four months--they would have time try many other options later.

And from the looks of this crowd I think she will be back. . . often. 

Basking in Motherhood Part II

Hannah came home from school with a gift and card for me that she made.  The gift was a cute little purple magnet tulip made out of clay and the card was shaped purse.  Inside the purse card she had written:

Mom

My mom is the one who makes the best food and desserts and is always happy.

My mom is the one who likes a quiet house so she can read without being disturbed.

My mom is the one who can design rooms better than a designer.

My mom is the one who can't say no.  She is always helping others.

So although she can't say no. . .

she is my mom,

the perfect mom for me!

Love

Hannah

I have to say she is pretty great too.  Did I mention that she has kept her room clean and made her bed for two weeks running?  I love that she is getting so helpful and working so hard lately.  The quiet house for reading has also worked out well because she has discover the "Series of Unfortunate Events" books and has read the first three in less than two weeks.  

So if I am a great mom, it certainly helps to have great girls.

As Sig Sees Me

Today was Signe's Mother's Day Party at preschool.  They do the usual: sing songs, give gifts they made in class and serve refreshments.  The gift was a frame she had painted  with a picture she drew inside (a couple of lovely flowers).  But my favorite part was the questionnaire her teachers had the kids fill out.  It went like this:

What does mom always say?

When it's bedtime she sings me a song. . ."It's the happiest time of the day--when Sig goes to bed. . . " 

the rest goes "and Han goes to bed, and mom and day get to play! It's the hap- happ-i-est time of the daaaay!" 

and

"Do you want to go play in the sunshine?" 

Considering the amount of sunshine we have been getting I haven't said this one much!

What do you like to do with your mom?

Make Brownies (a hint?) and watch movies at night time

What is your mom's favorite color?

purple, pink, blue, red, green, and orange, and black

What can I say, apparently I am fickle! Either that or non-discriminatory.

What is your mom's favorite thing to do?

Listen to Dave Ramsey, and play in the sunshine

I made the mistake of saying, "I don't listen to Dave, daddy does!"  to which her face fell and her lip quivered and she said, "Oh. . .I forgot." and then I felt like a horrible parent  and gushed to make up for it.  Hey, she got the second one dead on!

***

On the way home she suddenly burst out with:

"Hey, I bet Mr. Crabs loooves Dave Ramsey!"

And that is my very astute little "princess" (which is how she insists I address her each morning.)

Here Kitty Kit--I Mean Doggie!

Recently our dog Charly became very ill.  After three days with little improvement we took him to the "doggie hospital."  The girls were very concerned.  They drew his blood, put in an IV and ran lots of tests.  

The verdict?

We have a prissy dog. . . and apparently we aren't prissy dog people. 

The vet said it was likely just something he ate (maybe even a funky mushroom that grows in our yard--but probably something Rob gave him and shouldn't have).  Charly's doctor scolded us for buying cheap dog food and allowing him to eat any scraps (again, that would be Rob--he is a sucker for big sad eyes. . .on girls or dogs, apparently).  Then he sent us home with this:

. . .wait. . .we have a DOG right?  Apparently that aspect of his identity is negotiable!  It is true that the neighbor's cat is bigger than our dog, but is size the issue here?  

Size aside, he does allow us to hold him like a baby, he needs regular grooming (another area we fail at--in case you forgot here is a little reminder) and we can't take him in the forest because his white fur gets mucky and full of sticks and stuff.  

But cat food?! Really?!  

. . .did I mention he licks his paws. . .?