Bliss on Rainy Spring Days.

What a weekend!

It all started with a special date with the most gorgeous 5 year old in the world. I picked up my date from daycare and headed to Chuck-E-cheese for dinner (her choice). We spent almost 2 hours playing games. Usually I get overwhelmed by the whole running kids/blinking lights/binging sounds thing, but the restaurant wasn’t that crowded, so we both had a great time. Next up we ended up in SE at the Community Music Center for a performance of Classical Revolution PDX. Now, I was a classically trained student and am well aware of how long, boring and stuffy chamber music can be. Hell, there were times when I felt bored while playing it! But I was inspired by their mantra so we went. Blake was still bored at times, but the group was able to engage the kids. There’s nothing like having the crowd scream after certain phrases during Beethoven’s Op.18. Classic! I’m sure it wasn’t on the top 10 of greatest things she’s ever done, but I’m glad I was able to share with her something different.

Saturday Chris took the kids to a children’s play where Blake was able to wrestle with the principle players afterwards. This allowed me some time alone. How great was that? Then we were off to Katie B’s birthday party. It astounds me how quickly children grow! Kate and Blake have known each other for almost 5 years now. I work with her Dad and even though we live far apart we make an effort to have them get together for play dates. Blake had a grand ‘ole time. This upcoming Saturday we have another girl’s day out planned...

On Sunday I ran the Shamrock 5K. Yup, I ran the whole entire thing in 34.01. Honestly, I look at my time and I know I can do better. I know now that I need to be closer to the start line. I wasn’t aggressive enough to immediately pass the walkers and the people with jogging strollers. I wasn’t aware enough of where I was on the course so I didn’t push early enough towards the end. And I will need to buy myself a watch so I can accurately time myself so at the end, when the whole group stops yards before the finish line and shuffles across, I can stop my time. (I’m still bitter about that!) So today I’m signing up for another 5K in three weeks. My goal...to come in under 30 minutes. Wish me luck!

Full Moon's Arising.

What a crazy week this has been.

First off...having a full moon AND Friday the 13th all in the same week? No wonder people are leaving work crying and the most seemingly innocent decision turns into WWIII at our house. I am very happy to see this week end and the moon continuing on it's journey!

HOUSE: So Chris has been kicking some major booty finishing up projects.
-We now have floor molding in our bedroom and in the living room. That makes every room accounted for and frees up a lot of room in the garage for happy fun projects!
-The unused garden bed in the back has been dug out and the soil (and worms!) are now living happily in the front bed. We also seeded our tomato and pepper plants. I hope to start seeing signs of life in the next couple of weeks. Just the thought of my garden puts a smile to my face.
-The front deck has been washed/scrubbed and is waiting for a few sunny days before getting stained and posts repainted. This deck has been neglected for so long it'll be nice to see it cleaned up. I plan on cleaning and repainting all the handmade Adirondack furniture the original owners had made.
-And the best thing EVER...Chris has cleaned, filled and had the spa fixed. We plan on shutting her down this weekend for the summer, but it's nice to know that she's alive and kicking!

KIDS: Our kids are starting to have their own "lives" as well. And all their "stuff" keeps our calendar full!
-About a month ago, out of nowhere, Ranen declares that the trumpet is the instrument for him. We gave it time to see if he was really into the idea and indeed he was. So we rented him a trumpet and he had his first ever lesson yesterday. We are all geeked...the boy loves it!
-Blake declared she wanted to play the piano so we are looking into getting her into the rookie rock class at the same place Ranen is taking his lessons; Sound Roots School of Modern Music.

ME:
-The 5K race is Sunday and I feel ready. Yesterday I ran about 3 miles and still felt like I could keep going. What a difference from where I was a month ago! I realized track running wasn't doing it for me so I switched to running the berm that surrounds Nike's campus. The inclines are tough, but dodging rambling geese and muddy patches keeps me engaged. If I have fun at the race, I have a few more in my que to do this year. I have to be careful or else someone might think I actually like this running stuff...
-I have finished knitting a sweater, a baby sweater set and a pair of socks. What to knit next?
-I fought my nature to bail (includes everything outside the house...can we say Agoraphobic?) and attended the free viewing of imago theatre's APIS, or The Taste of Honey. It has been a while since I've seen a show this abstract. It was wonderful. I'm glad I went!

Boy meets Hoop

I never thought this was possible, but the kids choose to be outside doing something then spend it indoors complaining they were bored. And why is this, you may ask? Meet Mr. Hoops...


Initially I scoffed at the idea of buying a 10-15 year old hoop. But within minutes of being weighted down and pushed into position, the boy was out there making baskets. At random times we would hear, "I'm going out to shoot hoops."

I'll eat my hat. Good work Chris.

This past week had some spring tease weather. My bulbs that I planted a few months ago are starting to break ground and we've decided to plant a garden. The backyard is way too shady to have one so we decided to take a part of our front yard and convert it to a victory garden of sorts. I don't want to totally ruin the landscaping by filling our front yard completely with boxes so we are going to keep everything as is but use the side bed (what you see below) as the garden. It's not very deep but long enough to put in some cucumber (to grow on the fence), lettuce, onion and pepper. I'll be growing some yellow pear and cherry tomatoes in pots on the deck.



I am so excited to be growing our own food again. And now that St. John's will be having a farmers market starting in July, I'll be able to supplement what we grow here with other 'fresh' veggies.

Noro agrees!

St. John's Bridge...meet my kids.

Last Saturday we walked the St. John's bridge and our kids took their camera's.

Here is what they saw:




It was chilly, windy and a bit disorienting (it's a fricken tall bridge!). But the kids couldn't stop asking questions about how the bridge was built and about what they saw below.


Totally worth it!