Last weekend was pretty chill. There was a basketball game, then a park. We don’t often go to a park all five of us – the eleven year old has almost aged out of parks. But there was a park near basketball, so we all went. And took some silly pictures:
Then we went grocery shopping as a family. Also a rare occurrence. It was our family adventure of the week, I guess. The grocery store we went to had shopping carts shaped like cars, which two kids could sit in at a time, so the two littles definitely felt like it was an adventure. (Funny story – when the oldest was a kid – before we had the middle child – one of the reasons she wanted a sibling was so that she could have another person sit with her in the shopping carts at Coscto. Well, the two kids are five years apart, and by the time the middle kid could sit up on his own in a shopping cart, they had maybe six months of tandem shopping cart sitting before the oldest got too big. Well, dreams can come true, just not forever, I guess.) We mysteriously seemed to have misplaced a bag with three cucumbers and a ball of mozzarella cheese. I hope that bag was left at the store and not moldering in some corner of the house somewhere.
After the grocery store and lunch, I managed to get a run in, and the skies and clouds were beautiful.
Sunday we had the usual skating and swim lessons, then the rest of the day was… nothing. Such a luxurious feeling! The Husband went to watch the afternoon football game at a friend’s house. I took a nap, and the kids played and read on their own. Around mid afternoon, feeling as if we had to do something, I pulled out a science kit from Christmas and we built a wind turbine – pretty much a windmill that lit up. But then realizing that we didn’t have the 2 litre soda bottle needed to anchor the turbine, we went out on a grey drizzly walk to CVS to purchase a soda in a 2 liter bottle.
Well, the rest of the week felt kind of downhill from there. The six year old was sick for most of the week the followed, so that was kind of a bummer. He missed three days of school with a temperature and a bad cough, and I stayed home with him. All my grand plans of cleaning and organizing before I went back to work next week were dashed. The first day, he mostly slept, but the second and third day he was still running a bit of a temperature – so sick enough to stay home, but not so sick that he stayed in bed all day. He would come up to me whenever I tried to get into a project…
“I’m bored.”
“The house is too quiet.”
“Can you play with me?”
“Read me a book, please.”
My time log for this week features a lot of entries that just say, “Putter.”
I was a little grumpy to have my week taken up with hanging out with the sick kids, but then I tried to lean into having the alone time with the little guy. For all that I was annoyed not to have the week that I planned, I had to remind myself that the days when I can cuddle and coddle are limited so maybe cleaning out the guest room can wait. So we had some lovely mommy-son hanging out time.
I taught him how to play Uno. And I didn’t let him win.
We went to the library and borrowed a huge stack of books, including several Vox books. And we came home and sat on the couch and read books together. I particularly liked this one, Seaside Stroll. There is a note in the afterward that the author was inspired by ASL poetry in writing this book -and I can see that in how a lot of the words in the book are not about strict rhymes but about sentence structure and patterns.
We had lots of hot cocoa. A friend of ours had moved to the Bay Area and for Christmas sent us eight pounds of Ghirardelli hot cocoa mix. It’s the kind that you can mix with water, so it’s easy to put the kettle on and stir up a cup. I add a splash of half and half to cool it down and for a bit of creaminess.
And sometimes, we just sat on the couch, tucked the blankets around us and cuddled.
And in between I managed to pay some bills, make some phone calls, read some books, and bake some bread.
By Thursday, he was well enough to go back to school, and off he went, a little reluctantly, I admit.
One of the things I’m so glad I did manage to do this week was make that sourdough bread. Hooray! My starter is still alive! I use this recipe, which is very simple and requires no kneading, and which I’ve had the most success with in creating a loaf that has some height. I’m so relieved that the starter is still alive – it’s over twenty years old, gifted to my by a singer I worked with, and I brought it back from Colorado the last summer I worked there. I would have been sad if I couldn’t keep it alive. We say we are cutting down on carbs in our house, but we are making an exception for the bread. The first loaf was gone by the next morning. So I made another one on Friday, and it is already almost gone.
Other things/ thoughts from this week:
The eleven year old using a dictionary. The other day, she asked me what “dilated” means. I told her to go find it in the dictionary. She said she tried, but couldn’t find it. Not the dictionary – we have two of those. She couldn’t find “dilated”. And then I realized that whereas you can just type “dilated” into google and get an answer, in a dictionary, you have to look under “dilate” and see variants. I’m realizing that I maybe took dictionary use for granted and that using one is something you have to figure out. Of course she can build things with minecraft that I have no idea how to, so…
Speaking of teaching skills, I also introduced the eleven year old to the concept of a shoe horn last week. She has a maddening (to me) habit of stuffing her feet into her sneakers in a way that wrecks the back/ heels of the shoes. Sometimes she just ignores the backs of the shoes and steps them down, wearing her shoes like a slipper. So I decided that she needed to learn about the wonderful invention called the shoe horn.
When i was growing up, we had a shoe horn hanging up in our coat closet and it was used all. the. time. Perhaps like Phantom of the Opera and Dictionaries, this is one of the wonders of my childhood that I felt my own child needed in her life. She was somewhat skeptical. But at least she now unlaces her shoes before stuffing her feet in them, if only to prove to me that she doesn’t need this odd old fashioned shoe horn thingy-ma-jig.
Also – the shoe horn, alright I ordered a two pack – the two pack of shoe horns arrived in a humungous box. The box was at least 24″x18″ big. Filled with lots of packing pillows. And two shoe horns. Oh and a oil decanter. I had to laugh. At myself, really, who got so excited by this huge box arriving on our doorstep, wondering what large thing could be coming into our life. I mean a shoe horn is exciting, but definitely not what I expected in the box of that size.
Walking errands. I’m toying with the idea of walking, running, or biking if I have errands less than two miles away. This week, I had to pick up the 11 year old from her after school math tutoring session. Since I had been home all day with the sick six year old, I decided to walk to the school, which is 1.2 miles away. I had the time, and it was a good excuse to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. A couple weeks ago, I had to walk my friend’s dog and I decided to run to her house because I hadn’t gotten my run in yet. Combining exercise with a task felt really fulfilling for some reason. It seems like such a no brainer to not take the car whenever I can, but for whatever reason, my first instinct is usually to get in the car. I’d like to work on shifting that mindset a little bit. Of course, often time is a limiting factor, but perhaps I can be more mindful on when time is a truly limiting factor or just one of minimal convenience.
Fascinating read of the week. Do not read while eating. This rundown of ancient toilet paper alternatives had me riveted. I don’t think twice about toilet paper being the obvious choice for certain daily functions, yet reading about how past populations dealt with the bathroom tissue issue was eye opening. I guess, of course when “disposable” is not something you can take for granted, there has to be alternatives but I had never considered what the alternatives would be. And also… there are people who study this kind of thing.
Deep thought of the week: In my quest for finding fun playlists for running – Why, do the Spotify playlists that are labelled “Throwback” feature no music that I recognize, while the playlists labelled “Retro” feature all the hits of my childhood? When did my “Throwback” become “Retro”?
Along the note of music and nostalgia – after dinner one night this week, I sat and listened to Samuel Barber’s piece Knoxville: Summer of 1915. It’s a piece for orchestra and soprano and I always wanted to sing it, back when I studied voice, but I never really learned it. I had pulled the piece up because the eleven year old had read some Walt Whitman in class (which I’m impressed – I’ve never really understood Whitman.), namely his poem “I hear an army”. (note to self: There is something really lovely about hearing poetry read or recited – we should do that more. ) Barber had done a setting of that poem, so I cued it up to listen to, and from there (thank you YouTube auto-play) the next video that played was a performance of Knoxville: Summer of 1915.
The text is taken from a prose poem of James Agee, writing in the voice of a child who contemplates the moments of a summer evening and the people in their life. The passage was eventually used in his novel A Death in the Family, and I think it perfectly captures that ephemeral sense of security one has as a child and how it can be recollected but not recaptured. It is one of my favorite pieces of music, yet I hadn’t thought of it for years. Rediscovering it this week has been such beautiful experience. I could listen to it endlessly. If you have fifteen minutes, you can find one of my favorite recordings here. I love the entire text, but this is one of my favorite passages:
All my people are larger bodies than mine,
With voices gentle and meaningless
Like the voices of sleeping birds.
One is an artist, he is living at home.
One is a musician, she is living at home.
One is my mother who is good to me.
One is my father who is good to me.
By some chance, here they are,
All on this earth;
And who shall ever tell the sorrow
Of being on this earth, lying, on quilts,
On the grass,
In a summer evening,
Among the sounds of the night.
Grateful For This Week:
– The Husband cleaning off my car after a little snow. We woke up one morning to a dusting of snow – the first of the season. Of course it had to be on a morning when the 11 year old has her 7:15am piano lessons. It’s hard enough to get out of the house in time for piano lessons, but to have to fit in cleaning off the car… I was certain we would be late. But the Husband offered to warm up my car and clean the snow off of it, and I didn’t say no.
-My raincoat. Between the sick kid and the weather I didn’t get any running in this week. Knowing that I wasn’t going to prioritize running, I made an effort to walk (see above: Walking errands). Once the Husband got home from work, I walked to do school pick up, despite the drizzly weather. Luckily last year I bought a proper rain coat and it proved very useful, overriding any weather related excuse I might have to stay inside and sedentary.
– Against the Odds podcast. Each season of this podcast tells the story of one event or situation that seems impossible to overcome. The first season was about the Thai soccer team that got trapped in a cave. We’re now on season two which tells the story of Aid worker Jessica Buchanan who is kidnapped in 2011 by Somali pirates. It’s really gripping storytelling – maybe a touch melodramatic. But I expect being kidnapped by Somali pirates is very dramatic.
Anyhow, the 11 year old was not happy when I showed up on foot to pick her up from her after school tutoring this week. She was expecting to ride the car home, not a twenty minute walk in misty drizzle. I had read this post on Cup of Jo last week, that talks about shifting conversations. Instead of talking about having to do the undesirable task, what about saying, “Well you have to do it, so what can we do to make it feel better?” So I pulled out that phrase. Pause. Grumble. Mutter. Sigh. (That last was me.) “What if,” I asked, “I gave you one of my earbuds and we listened to a podcast on the way home?” And her face lit up. “Can we listen to Against the Odds?” she asked. So we walked home, each with one earbud, listening to this engrossing podcast. And I got some one on one time with her, which I don’t always get these days.
-The eleven year old packing lunch for her siblings and including sweet notes for them. Afterwards she told me that she did it because I used to do it for her when she was in kindergarten. So many mixed feelings about this: 1) I don’t know how I feel about her doing parent like things because it’s not her job, and I don’t want her to feel pressure to be that figure for her sibling. (That song Surface Pressure from Encanto is all about her.) but 2) I love that she is thinking of her siblings and wants to give them something to cheer them up.
Looking Forward To:
– The six year old’s birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. I’ve never had one of those birthday package parties, so this will be a new experience. But I’ve been told that a lot of the kids are sooooo excited. (Three of the five kids coming ride the school bus with the 11 year old and they’ve been telling her that they can’t wait for the party.) [This has happened and it was every more sensory overload than I could have ever imagined. Still, lots of fun was had.]
-Starting work on a new show. Getting to see familiar work colleagues.
-Super Bowl Sunday. Apparently we are hosting. We (the Husband) likes to have food that corresponds to the teams that are playing. I think that means we’re having Cheesesteaks (Philadelphia) and Barbeque (Kansas City). It seems awfully meat heavy. Maybe I can get away with some carrot sticks thrown in there. Okay, I just googled and Tastykakes are from Philly. I can’t decide what I want to do with that information.
One last note: Went to Bed, Bath and Beyond this week, and this was out:
Now I suppose home decor is different from chocolate and candy, but still… it feels awfully early. And what, did we just skip St. Patrick’s day?!?!
What We Ate:
Saturday: Pizza and movie night. We watched Ratatouille – a lovely movie. It was the three year old’s turn to choose the move and she originally wanted Frozen, but her big sister convinced her to choose Ratatouille. Ratatouille is perhaps a little lacking in action and the three year old kept asking, “When will this movie be over?” Well she should learn to just stick to her guns.
Sunday: Solo parenting so I made breakfast burritos for the kids and ate leftovers for myself.
Monday: Mac n Cheese from Dinner Illustrated, with peas instead of chard.
Tuesday: Grilled eggplant with pickled onions. Vegan. The Husband cooked from the cookbook The Green Barbeque, which features vegetarian recipes for the grill.
Wednesday: Sheetpan nachos. Nachos covered with Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, topped with pinto and black beans, corn, peppers, jalapenos (which were disappointingly not spicy), onions. Avocado and cilantro sprinkled on top after it came out of the oven. I also made some cashew queso to have on the side. Nachos are one of those super easy dinners that I rarely make because something in my mind doesn’t accept that it’s a complete meal. Yet, when you load them up, they really are a complete meal.
Thursday: Baked Cod and Garlic Green Beans (The Husband cooked)
Friday: Tofu Lettuce Wraps, this recipe. I used snow peas instead of water chestnuts. (Vegan). The three year old picked out all the mushrooms and snow peas from her tofu. And they were chopped in half inch piecesinterspersed in crumbled tofu. That’s a commitment. She claims that she doesn’t like mushrooms or vegetables, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen her eat any, so I’m not sure what she is basing her claim on.
That was such a gorgeous sky! I love the idea of incorporating movement into daily activities – I try to walk to the bus stop instead of drive. It’s almost 1 km round-trip of walking, and occasionally I’m running behind and have to drive, but it feels virtuous to walk.
Your food always sounds so delicious. My husband usually makes nachos for the SuperBowl, but he’s going to be away this year, so he made them last weekend. They were great, though nachos aren’t really my thing but I enjoyed not making the meal, they tasted good and everyone else LOVES nachos and I never make them. So a big win.
Ugh. Those sicknesses are so hard when the child is not well enough for school but they want constant attention. Looking back, I have some special memories of some distinctive sicknesses…but in the moment, I really disliked the experience.
Your bread looks amazing!
And I love that your daughter wrote notes to her siblings. My kids do this sometimes (not in lunchboxes), and it warms my heart so deeply.
I am always skeptical that Nachos are a complete meal, but they were surprisingly filling once we loaded them up with all the stuff.
Sibling love is definitely on my “joy” list!
Wow, this was so much fun to read! I have so much to relate to. First, good luck with the birthday party. While I never had a Chuck E Cheese one, I have had parties at different locations and was it ever worth the money. Lots of fun had by all. Second, my son used to be a “slip on shoes, wreck the heel” kind of guy, and now he DOES use a shoe horn, so yay. Third, the grocery thing. Last week I came home and the loaf of bread I bought was nowhere to be found. It made me feel crazy because I KNEW I had put it in a bag. I REMEMBERED putting it in a bag. I think that it fell out of the bag in the parking lot; it was very snowy and cold and windy, and I was working at CrossFit levels just to get the damn cart to my car, and I think the bread must have fallen off in the parking lot.
I often wonder what happens to lost groceries. Like do they get reshelved if left at the store? Does the store put it aside in cast the customer returns? Do they just leave it at the register? The image of your lost bread rolling around in the snowy parking lots amuses me greatly, though.
Our neighbor’s five year old is *fascinated* by the shoe horn. He insists on using it whenever he comes over. It’s like a revelatory new invention or something.
I bought two Reese’s Eggs at the grocery store last week. I have no regrets about buying Easter candy so early.
I try to walk or bike if I have errands in town, too. Sometimes it’s a bit too much of a time crunch, but I do my best. Also, sometimes the weather is NOT helpful, especially if it’s super cold and the sun has already set. It seems silly to get in the car to just drive a little bit!
I do have to admit that those Cadbury Easter eggs are welcome any time of the year for me. You know those ones with the candy shells.
Yay for walking or biking! It has been pretty mild here so it’s an easy resolution for me to keep so far…
Oh, that’s funny. My sister is rooting for the Eagles and she’s making (vegan) Philly cheesesteaks for the game. I’m rooting for KC and trying, with no luck, to think of something other than barbecue.
We have a huge dictionary on a stand that was in my house the whole time I was growing up. I looked up SO MANY WORDS in this dictionary. My kids think it’s the stupidest thing in the entire world, and can’t understand why you would stand there looking something up in a huge book instead of just typing it into your phone. I agree, using an actual dictionary is a skill but I don’t think it’s one that’s really needed much anymore, sadly.
It’s kind of nice to have a few sick days! Other than the fact that you couldn’t get much done, of course. But it’s nice that you weren’t working and could be home with him.
I’m impressed and intrigued that you have a TWENTY YEAR OLD sourdough starter! That bread looks delicious.
I love dictionaries! How lovely a dictionary stand sounds!
Well, I haven’t had the starter for twenty years myself. I’ve only had it for twenty years. I thought for sure this time it was dead but… I guess not. Makes me happy.
I haven’t figured out what to serve with the BBQ yet… some kind of veggies, I hope. The only other thing that came up in my google search for KC food was Russel Stover chocolates.
I have never used a shoe horn! I think I’ve only seen them in a store and have never known anyone who used one!!
I’m envious of the park pictures! It’s too wet and snowy here to go to the park. Sometimes sledding is an option but we need fresh snow in order to do that again. We’ve gone to the park in the winter but usually when we don’t have snow – otherwise it is a wet, soggy mess! I’m so ready for park season as it’s way easier to entertain my boys if that is an option!
We haven’t really had any snow yet this year! Makes me sad a little, though you’re right it does put a damper on the park. The wet is definitely the worst part!
I love Sunday afternoons that are free of plans to just wind down and recharge for the week ahead.
Sorry to hear about your kid being sick, in addition of disrupting plans it’s always worrying some to have a sick kid.
I also like to listen to old lessons… they take me back to different period of my life. Nostalgia is bittersweet.
I admit that I have never heard of a shoe horn and had to Google it. What a fascinating invention! I may need to invest in one of these.
I am a bit shook about the thought of the music I think as throwback soon being thought as retro. What does it MEAN if I don’t know the songs that are considered throwbacks these days? AHHH.
I like the idea of shifting the idea of an annoying task from grumble, grumble to “what can we do to make it better?” Genius!
Growing up, I thought everyone had a shoe horn! My father was really into his. It is indeed a wonderfully helpful invention.
I know I’m not a huge music person, but I was fascinated by the fact that I hadn’t heard any of the songs on the “throwback” playlist. Usually a song will sort of enter my consciousness by hearing it at a store or on the radio… but maybe music permeates our lives differently now?