Friday Night Food Porn

Somewhere in the depths of my brain a huge spark flickered today and started to burn brightly. I was reading a recipe for homemade Graham crackers. This was something to add to my recipe bookmarks to try. I make lovely marshmallow creme. Lately, I've been dreaming of nutella...



And thus we have "Friday Night Food Porn."

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Parenting with Love and Magic

One of the grandpas in our family always does the magic trick with the coin that you suddenly find behind the child's ear.

Today I caught my husband doing the same magic trick with our youngest.

It reminded me of how much love and patience goes into this parenting gig.

Muddy shoes tromping through the house, tired kids who can't walk another step, towels thrown in the laundry because it is too hard to hang them up. These everyday frustrations build up over time. It is hard not to feel upset that someone is spending every minute wrecking what you spend every minute cleaning.

This weekend I watched my husband pull off one of his great daddy moments. We had gone for a bike ride on a local bike path. He had two of our kids in the buggy behind his bike. The third was riding on his own. We had reached the turnaround point and it looked as though the rain was coming fast. He put all three kids into the buggy, strapped the child's bike with plastic wire ties to the back of the buggy and took off. He was now pulling 135 pounds behind him. And he was moving quickly for the parking lot.

I followed and was amazed. Strength (all 3 by bike), ingenuity (who carries wire ties in their pockets?) and well (blushing) the view wasn't bad either. The nice part of following is that it gives you time to admire the leader.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

One More Reason to Get Married

One night at the dinner table Daddy says to the kids, "Isn't this great? I make dinner and your Mother does the dishes."

To which our daughter replied, "I am never getting married because I don't ever want to do the dishes." We laughed.

Today, we were in a fabulous homemade ice cream shop getting our cones after a long sunny bike ride. The clerk handed me my husband's cone while he was paying her. I started licking the cone. My daughter said, "Why are you eating Daddy's ice cream?" To which I replied, "That's one of the nice things about being married."

She looked very thoughtful for a moment. I gave her another more serious example of something kind her Dad had done for me the last time I was in the hospital. It sparked a thoughtful look.

I wonder when she'll realize that being married isn't just about who does the dishes.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Date Ride

We bought new bikes. Probably crazy. Definitely necessary. I feel so guilty for spending money on something for fun. But that's what we are having. We went for a date ride this weekend. An easy 13 mile ride on a nearby bike path. We got to talk, uninterrupted. I was very tired when we got home but I still managed to bake, sew and scrub.

I hope we'll go again soon!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

One's Measure of Success

A friend and colleague of mine told me today that he knew he had an enviable life. He is an attorney and works hard. If one's measure of success is money or travel then maybe he is right.

But in my head (not out loud) I was thinking, "you're kidding, right?" My face turned to my car which contains my three car seats that hold the three loves of my life. I can't imagine thinking of a complete version of my life without them. I realized too late that my colleague was telling me in an awkward way how envious he is of my life. Being a grown-up is strange.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wild Ride

We raced as a family last week and had such fun we did it again this week. Except this time Mom came in last place because she missed the turnaround. Oops! Great day. Sunshine. Mowing. Kids playing outside.

Planning to go again next weekend. It is one of those things were everyone complains until we get there. After the race, they are all as happy as clams. I think my youngest goes because they always have donuts.

My oldest won the children's race and then ran the adults
race with us. Several friends asked me why she isn't playing softball or lacrosse. I am not sure when we would fit it in. We are too busy running races.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Determination

I spent last week pouting about my bad news. I decided to start this week off with a bang. I rode the bike at the gym yesterday for 45 minutes. A cross country coach I spoke to last week told me to bike 10 minutes for every mile I wasn't pounding the pavement. Therefore I logged 4.5 miles yesterday without touching the ground.

I also queried friends for advice on foods and supplements that might help. Fish oil and Glucosamine Chondroitin appear to be contenders in the fight.

After ten days of not running. I gave up. And went back to running. Sorry doctor but I can't heed your advice.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone