The Weekend Update

It could have been a Monday Daybook or a Ten on Tuesday or a  Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real on Thursday or a 7 Quick Takes on Friday.  

But that would have meant I was on time. 

Instead we have the Weekend Update because while I wait for the appropriate to day to post a thing it flies out of my brain.

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Hands-On

We had our first science experiment of the new schoolyear - removing permament ink from a dry-erase board.  I am pleased to report this was a success.  Easy too.  Cover with dry erase marker and wipe wipe wipe.  Repeat as necessary.  This method is less successful on scientists than on dry erase boards.  Just an FYI.

K9

We also had our first field trip. Big hit!  The K9 department gave an awesome tour.  We tried on all the gear, toured the kennels, and watched a police/dog pair in the field. Aidan was beside himself in rapt attention.  This is his current dream job.  Fortunately for us all, his mother has been broken in to the idea of her children doing dangerous things and she doesn't hyperventilate anymore as often at the prospect.

Face to Face

My husband had his work summer picnic recently too.  The children ate and bounced and beat on pinatas and got elaborate face paintings.  Brendan sighed that night and said it was an AWESOME day. 

Buzzzzzzz

The only thing not so awesome lately is the swarms of stinging creatures everywhere.  The first run-in came a few weeks ago while Aidan, Kieran and I were on the trail.  They ran up ahead and as I was walking and praying something buzzed and hit me.  We were in a field and I figured it was a grasshopper like back home.  Then it happened again.  And again.  And I realized it was a big round bumblebee, actually many bees, dive bombing rather purposely.  When I realized they were not playing I called for the boys and turned back.  But they followed.  The bees that is. My boys were laughing from afar til they had to walk through it.

Turns out this isn't isolated.  We have had several stings in a month.  I stepped on a bee on the patio.  Then Aidan got stung waiting in line to do a football drill.  I got stung watching him.  Brendan got stung on the nose.  Abbie got stung under her arm.  And Alannah's friend got stung inside a restaurant on her leg.  My husband's office has no a/c and no screens and they are struggling with them flying in the windows.  Apparently the mild spring is to blame.  I am ready for a frost. 

Cooking

We are using the once a month cookbook again but making dinners once a week instead.  Trying to get geared up for sports season.  Has the added perk that it quickly uses the ingredients kids tend to eat before I make dinner.  A line in the book mentioned you should know by 9am what you are making for dinner.  That seems to be true even if you are making dinner fresh.  If it's later than that there is no time to marinate and let flavors mix.  At any rate, I am enjoying both advance food prep and advance ironing lately.  Both are making for nicer, more wrinkle-free days especially as we begin fall sports. ; ) 

Dining Colorway

And finally, really superficial. It takes me about two hops from any subject to get back to decorating.  hop. hop. <g>  I hate dishes that chip and break easily or generally feel flimsy.  I have noticed our Polish mugs have never done that.  Well they do break if you drop them on tile.  But they don't chip in the dishwasher even with kid handlers.  But, if I get more, I am at a loss as to decorating around them - linens, curtains etc.  And my dining room needs something more.  The walls are a pale -nearly absent - butter yellow.  The valances are ecru crochet.  The adjoining living room has barn red and mustard.  The pottery is cobalt with greens and browns.  Need to merge.   Still thinking and open to suggestions.  Google is frustratingly void of images of Polish pottery in actual use. 

I Heart You

And finally my best moment of late was walking behind Tess and Abbie walking hand in hand into the store.  They don't like holding big people's hands but they will hold each other's and stay by our sides.   Anyway as they were walking very carefully inside I heard Tess say, "I love you Abbie."  And Abbie responded, "Love you too, Tess."  

Melt.  

And that is that for our week. Books are arriving, practices beginning, and life basically picking up again.  Am hoping to twist Alannah's arm this week to share her ice cream cake which was incredible.  Good stuff.  

 

Comments

[Tracey]

Oh my! The bees! We believe my oldest is allergic to them after a mild reaction he had when he was stung as a toddler. So, all the stinging you are experiencing was an incredibly alarming thought. Even without allergies, sorry to hear you are getting stung left and right.

Seems the littlest creatures can really mess up some of the most beautiful weather days. That's true here with the mosquitoes - especially in our back yard due to lots of rain and a yard that floods. Unfortunately, the boys also seem to get a reaction from those- though not one that requires an epipen, thankfully.

Do you ever get used to sons in dangerous careers? I am thinking I may have at least one who may lead me to find out the answer to that.

And sibling love- there isn't much better than that!

[annita]

Beautiful face painting. I have an envious 3-year-old girl looking with me. +JMJ+

[Sue]

Well, the very idea of matching my decor to my dishes is about as foreign to me as being a housewife anywhere but Japan. ;o) Don't see much of that here. Japanese love to mix and match. I have never seen anyone with all matching dishes - coordinated, yes, but not matching. Often a set of rice bowls or plates will even each have it's own pattern. When we first got married that idea was so strange to me, but after receiving numerous cup and saucer pairs as wedding gifts - each pair unique - I decided to go with the idea of variety!

My brother and sister-in-law lived in Poland for about ten years, and all of her dishes are Polish pottery. While I'm partial to the blue, I remember that she had lots of different colors. That may not be your style, but it's a thought.

[Sue]

Oh, and those painted faces absolutely made my day. Amazing painting on precious, smiling faces... I almost squealed with delight!

[Kim @Starry Sky Ranch]

No the dishes are all different patterns but all in the same cool color scheme - colbalt based. with greens. The rest of the large great room where the dining area is has been in reds and yellows. I had been going to pull in another red and yellow plaid for curtains and a table runner but its definitely not going to be pretty with the pottery. I am a confirmed mixer-upper but some things push that past coordination. : ) I have just never worked around blue as a major player before.

[Kim @Starry Sky Ranch]

should mention too the patterns in the room so far are yellow and red toile and English country florals. The Polish patterns are very primitive and stylistic.

[Rebecca]

Maybe a solid Fiestaware? If you are simply looking for sturdy, that'd do the trick and you wouldn't have the pattern quandry. I have broken some polish pottery but it is not easy to do unless you drop it on a tile floor. Or your mother does. Several times. Not that I'd know.