Washington: Day 2

We woke up to sunshine and the promise of a warm day (mid 60’s) so we drove to the nearest ferry terminal and drove our van aboard.  We arrived just in time.  As soon as we parked the van, the ferry started moving.

Grant had to check for wi-fi coverage on the boat.  Yup.

In 20 minutes we were docking onto Vashon Island.  We spent the day exploring beaches and other interesting sights.

At our first stop, Brian spotted this bald eagle from the car.  Evan took the camera and got some great pictures before it took flight.

The kids played in the sand rocks near this lighthouse and collected shells and rocks.

A driftwood fort?

She needed her walking sticks to navigate the rocky beach.

We had lunch at the Hardware Store—an island establishment since the 1890s.

The small print on the map reading “bike in a tree” intrigued me, so we went out of our way and into the thick growth to find this landmark.  Moral of this story?  Don’t park your bike in the forest.

Getting back to Seattle was not as quick—we waited in a long line of cars before there was room on a return ferry.  This is our car parked below as the family is heading up the stairs to enjoy the ride from the deck.

This is our view, returning to Seattle.  In the middle of the picture you can see the ramp that connects to the boat for the cars to drive back on the land.

Back at the condo.  After a late dinner, we watched a movie.  I think Hayley and Corinne were the only ones who made it to the end!

Washington: Day 1

Snoqualmie Falls—we stopped here on our way into the city.

The 1/2 mile hike to the beach from our condo through a beautiful, green forest.

The beach!  This is Seahurst Park on the Puget Sound, just south of Seattle.  The water was really cold, of course, but that didn’t stop the kids from wading.

Corinne started a shell collection and came back with a bag full of them.

It was a little windy, but the weather was actually sunnier and warmer than we expected.  (mid 60’s)

This was a good introduction to the beach for Hayley—no waves!   The kids all went to bed excited to explore the next day.  I love vacations!

Make-up Work

Mom, I used your “Eye-touch.”  That’s what she calls my eyeshadow.  Three times in the past two weeks!

Instead of the wall, this time Knuffle Bunny and Pink Bear got make-overs, too.

The next time it was my lipstick.  My favorite lipstick completely flattened.  All over her face and the bedroom wall and her sheets.  I was pretty upset, after all of the discussions we’d had about not using Mom’s make-up.  “Take a picture,” she said.  So I didn’t.  Instead, I finally got smart and hid all of my make-up.  Up high.  The next day she reported, “Mom, I didn’t get into your make-up!”  “Thank you, Hayley—that’s a good choice!”  “Where is it?” she asked.

What Was I Thinking??

Hmmm, it’s Cinco de Mayo.   I think I’ll make homemade tortillas for dinner—I’ve always wanted to try that.  Here’s a recipe online that sounds easy enough and there are pictures of each step.  No problem.  I’ll just make the dough after I pick up Evan from track and before I drop Grant off at swimming.  Then I can cook a couple for Jillian before I take her to rehearsal, and finish the rest after I take dinner over to a friend who just had surgery.  See the problem here?  Like things ever go as smoothly as I plan them.  I couldn’t have pulled it off without Evan.  He made the dough, and then later rolled and cooked.  And they were delicious!

For you observant types, this picture was staged.  The big stack of papers in the forefront, on the counter?  I just put them there so that you wouldn’t feel too bad if your counters ever look like this.  Mine are always clean, but if yours aren’t, I’d never judge you.  And if any of you are ever running so far behind that you don’t sit down to eat until 7:30pm on a school night, well, shame on you.  Because that would never happen around here.  Never.

And since it is Thursday, we had Key Lime Squares.  Doesn’t everyone serve dessert on Thursday nights?  Of course you do.  But we didn’t eat it at 10pm while reading the scriptures.  Who has family scripture study at such a late hour?  Not us.  And if we did, our two-year-old would definitely not still be awake.  No way.

Just eat it—I promise there are no surprises!

They don’t trust me!  Everything I served them today they smiled and inspected closely but wouldn’t take a bite.  “I bet there’s lots of salt in it!”  “She probably made it really spicy.”  “I think there’s paper inside.”

Who me?  Would I do that?  In past years, yes.  But this year I was normal as can be, not a single trick up my sleeve.  I loved watching them squirm, looking and waiting for the unexpected all day long.  Which never came.  All part of my plan.  Until dinner, when I served this:

Taco Salad (sundaes)

And bundt cake (stuffed pizza with cheese on top).

I love April Fools’ Day!

Table Makeover

We bought this table and chairs while we were in graduate school in Boulder, CO.  I was pregnant with Evan—that’s how long ago it was.  A family in our apartment complex was moving to Europe and selling all of their furniture.  We needed to replace the card table we’d been using since our wedding.  Sold.

We’ve gathered around this table for hundreds and hundreds of meals, eaten in five different houses over the past 15 years.  It still fit all of us, but I was tired of it.  It was the same color as the floor.  The chairs were getting a bit wobbly.  So I started looking at the local classified ads online.  For weeks and weeks.  Until I found this.  A used Pottery Barn table with 2 leaves and no chairs.  Sturdy.  Nice lines.  Great legs.  (no, I’m not talking about myself.  Except maybe the sturdy part.)  $75.  Sold.  (wish I had a better before picture—this is the underside and the legs are to the right)

I needed chairs.  I found these.  They came with a table.  The set was blue.  Ugh.  But I like ladderback chairs.  $50.  Sold.

I paid Grant to help me sand the table top to the bare wood.  Jillian helped.  (the table is sitting on top of a dresser that I’ll refinish as soon as the weather gets warmer.)

Looks beautiful, right?  Nice job, Grant.  (Not pictured are the two leaves.)

I lightly sanded the legs and all of the chairs, and then carefully wiped away all of the dust.  That took longer than the table top, even though I wasn’t taking them down to the bare wood.

I painted the legs and the chairs a creamy white (oil-based enamel).  I distressed the edges, and then applied a walnut glaze to give them an antiqued look.

I stained the table top and skirt a dark walnut color.  I wish I’d applied another coat of stain for a more even color, but I didn’t think of that until after I’d applied a several light coats of polyurethane.

And then, while I was at it, I did the same to the extra table—the one with blue legs.  (I’m planning to sell it because I don’t need it—it’s still sitting in the garage.)

I started this project in August.  I worked on it a little almost every day—just an hour here and there.  In October I listed my old table and chairs on KSL.  Sold.  $200.  The kitchen was empty.  I was motivated to finish.  I ordered fabric for the chairs online, and then recovered the seats.  And finally, we moved the new table inside in November.  I love it.  Last week someone called me and said, “I heard you refinish furniture.  Could you do my bedroom set for me?”  “No,” I said.  The end. 

My Perfect Day

a long retrospective post with no pictures
Last night I went to bed with the most wonderful feeling.  A blissful, I-can’t-remember-the-last-time-I-ever-felt-this-way kind of feeling that “today I accomplished everything I needed to do and more.”  That never happens.  As I said my evening prayers and then lay thinking about my day, I marveled that it was only one day.  I thought of all that had happened since I woke that morning and I felt gratitude when I realized that the entire day had gone smoothly—there was nothing I could think of that I would have done differently. 
Now don’t roll your eyes when you read this.  Like I said, this never happens to me.  And please don’t hate me when I report that it gets even better.  Not only did I feel extremely productive, but my children were cooperative and helpful and fun to be around.   (Yes, I’m sure there’s a connection there.)  I had to shake Brian awake and point out to him how amazing our day had been.  Unfortunately he was too tired to analyze it with me and figure out the secret so that we could duplicate such success in the future.  Before I went to sleep, I knew I had to document this day so that I could learn from it, but more importantly, so I’d have proof that my life at this time isn’t always as hurried, crazy, disorganized, and discouraging as it sometimes seems.
So, Mirien, how was your day, you ask?  Let me tell you all about it.

8am-After a great night’s sleep (a full 8 hours—so rare for me!), I made pancakes for breakfast.  Two different recipes for taste testing purposes.  Both were good.  (recipe coming soon on my cooking blog)
8:45-Brian left for Provo with H, C, and G.  Purposes of trip:  take G to purchase a used game system and games that he found on KSL (not so excited about this one but trying to teach money management and help kids learn valuable lessons about saving, bargain shopping, and negotiating while they still live at home, blah, blah); pick up J from cousin sleepover, drop C off at different cousin’s for a day of play.
8:45 I cleaned the kitchen, worked on laundry, exercised, and showered—ALL WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS!
I didn’t expect to see E or A until late morning—it was Saturday and they’re teenagers—but A came downstairs just after 8 and started on homework. (?)   A friend came over to study with her and they worked for much of the day on AP US History.  As for E, he came up for breakfast, checked the job chart (!?) and said, “I’m glad the basement is my job today—I’ve been wanting to clean it.”  No joke, he really said that.
11-Brian returned H and J back home and then left with G for his swim meet across town.
11:30-I packed  some snacks/lunch for myself and H, then buckled her back in the van and took E to his basketball game (a little sad I couldn’t stay and watch today), drove J to a friend’s house so she could ride with them to play rehearsal later, and then headed to G’s meet.  I spent the next couple of hours catching up with Brian (yes, I need to catch up with my own husband) and his parents who joined our cheering section, entertaining (and being entertained by) H,  and watching G do something he LOVES.
2-Back at home, I did more housework along with G, who wanted to finish his chores so he could play his new games and then go to a friend’s house.  Brian left with E and H (Daddy’s little shadow) to his parents’ house to watch the BYU basketball game (we don’t get the games on our TV).
3-Drove to pick up J from rehearsal.  They weren’t finished yet, so I sat in the car and read the Book of Mormon for 15 minutes.  Then I convinced J to stop at Home Depot on the way home to pick up supplies for a mudroom project I’ve been wanting to tackle, and then a quick stop at the grocery store for some ingredients to make a giant ice cream cake for the big family birthday dinner on Sunday.
4:30-Both J and A wanted to go to the library, so I told them I’d take them as soon as they finished their Sat jobs.  J was tired and dragged her feet a little, but A stepped in and helped her finish.  I put dinner together and started it cooking.
5:15-A drove us to the library (while I stayed nice and calm in the passenger seat—I promise!) where she and J split up to find books.  I headed to the children’s section to find books for C and H until I stopped myself.  That’s what I always do, but for once I had a few minutes to myself in the library!  I headed to the periodicals and scanned cooking magazines.  30 minutes later I had some great dinner ideas and a few new ways to use the kale that had been sitting in my vegetable drawer. 
6-We returned home and I finished dinner prep while J and A curled up on the couch to dive into new books.  B, E, H, and C arrived, along with G and 2 friends.  While the kids ate, B and I changed clothes for our date.
7:15 B and I left for the temple.  As we pulled out of the garage, I commented—”we left 8 kids inside and it was amazingly calm in there.  Hope it stays that way!”
7:30 Dressed and ready in the temple (I know, we’re spoiled to live so close!) but it was a busy night so I had time to continue my Book of Mormon reading while I waited.  Usually I feel a bit rushed and stressed, but I just relaxed and enjoyed the peace.
9-Dinner at a Mexican restaurant with Brian.  We talked, enjoyed our food, talked some more, and took our time.
10:30 Back at home, we discovered C & H bathed and in bed (thank you, A!), dishes done, E on the computer, J still reading a book (we sent her to bed pronto!), and G and friends just finishing up a movie.  I mixed up the dessert for tomorrow.  While it was baking, B and I played a game with E and A until midnight and I didn’t win, which I loved because I got to observe just how SMART my kids are getting!
12:30  All kids are in bed, the house is quiet and somewhat tidy (not perfect by any stretch, but good enough),and I climbed into bed glad that I didn’t need to stay up and prepare Sharing Time for the next morning—my turn was last week. 


My perfect day.  Does it get any better than that?  Some of you are thinking, That was it?  Big deal.  And others may be thinking, Good for you, but you should see my messy house and look at the huge list of things I never have time to do!  I get it, I really do.  We’re all in different stages of life, and we all have good days and bad days.  Sometime I’m going to document one of the “not-so-perfect” days—I have so many to choose from.  But for now, I’m going to enjoy the sunshine a little bit longer.  What made this such a good day?  Here’s what I think.

• The obvious:  Brian had Hayley for much of the day, and Corinne was gone from breakfast until dinner.  I love those little girls so much and I am glad I get to stay home with them, but I realized how much time I spend meeting their demands needs every day.  The little break was just what I needed—thank you Brian and Stephanie!
• I read from the scriptures.  Not first thing in the morning like I’m striving for, but I still fit it in.  It was enlightening.
• I exercised and showered one right after another, and both before noon—what a concept!  Enough said.
• Maybe there is something to getting a good night's sleep...
• I had time for myself in the library reading about something I’m interested in. 
• I made progress towards home organization. 
• I spent quality time with each of my children.  (except for Corinne, but I made time for her on Sunday afternoon—just the two of us.) I really enjoyed them. 
• Brian and I worked as a team today—often apart, but with common goals.  And then we had time alone together.
• My day really wasn’t perfect, of course, but I was in such a good mood that the normal little annoyances didn’t even annoy me.

Most days I struggle trying to squeeze all of those elements into my waking hours.  I know that I need to take care of the essential things each day, and then be selective about the rest of the things that easily fill up my time.  I’m learning.  Today just happened to be one of those days where it worked.  I cannot control all that happens or doesn’t happen, but I can control my choices and reactions.  Each night I have the opportunity to evaluate and try again the next morning.  I love what I do and I know that the Lord will guide me through the daily tests and challenges to help me become the woman He knows I can be.  One day at a time.