Welcome Back, Friends

About five years ago some friends of ours who lived a few houses away moved out of state. It was hard for the Artist who lost a playmate and sad for mom and dad who lost trustworthy friends living one minute away. No more impromptu company for dinner, impromptu game night, or impromptu "Can I leave my child with you for half an hour, right now?"

We missed them.

Saturday was a wonderful reunion with our friends who have moved back to Ohio and now live only an hour away. We now have eldest children the same age and younger children the same age, plus they've added a toddler. The fourth graders took right up again with being friends after a five year absence. And the Pre-K- Kindergartners fell into quiet, cooperative game playing, block building, and marble run constructing together. For the Artist, especially, it was a joyous reunion. A few months ago, when they were first back in town, they stopped over for a few minutes. The Artist was out of town with her grandparents that day.

I was thoroughly enjoying myself the whole time they were over and I did not think to grab the camera. Luckily, the Quipper caught a video of the older kids playing a duet on the piano. When I can figure out how to show it, I will! He also got some snapshots of the younger kids.

The adults played Boggle (why do I bother? Oh yeah, that's why! -- To come up with words for the Quipper to challenge and then find them in my dictionary for him most of the time.) I never score too well in that game. We had a discussion about all the games we'd like to play next time we get together, then we played a horse racing game our friends had brought over. That was a blast! It was a wonderful evening.

We're looking forward to more such evenings together as they build their new homestead and put down roots here again.

Quite a Cake

This weekend I was swamped with a big list of things to do. I asked the Artist for help with making a birthday cake for the Quipper's party. She had made cakes under my supervision before, and she always wanted to be a baker. And this time, I had a cake mix. What could go wrong?

I learned not to confuse the desire to be a baker with baking experience! With recipe books it usually works out well to follow the directions listed and add the ingredients in the order they are listed in the instructions. Not with this box! The poor artist put the cake mix, eggs, and then the butter into the mixer.

Let the experiment begin!

After enough beating, it looked all right, and it poured all right. The volunteers who licked the beater the spoon and the mixing bowl all gave their approval. But when it came out of the oven and cooled we had a problem.

The cakes did not want to come out of the generously oiled and floured pans. One submitted to coaxing and the other rebelled. So we had this:

The Quipper was very kind about it and did not seem to mind. Was it the fresh half layer of chocolate cake he and the kids got to eat as a surprise snack that eased the pain? Or was it the promise of pineaple and shrimp kabobs for dinner -- two of his favorites served with honey ginger sauce.

Concentration

A couple of nights per week we try to have a family game time. Now that the Engineer is 5, reading and able to manage a few things on his own the games have changed a bit.

I probably don't need to explain how thankful the Quipper and I are that we do not need to paste smiles on our faces and go through grueling hours, (okay, minutes--but it seemed like hours) of Candyland and Chutes and Ladders any more.

Some of our favorites lately are these:But we have also been known to have fun with these:
Last night we played concentration. We had a ball watching the keen memories of the little ones, the Quipper and I and remarking how we knew exactly where certain matches were located a few games ago, and so on.

As an extra bonus, the kids enjoy playing these games with each other too. With the exception of Yahtzee, they can play them without our help. The Engineer still wants to go for a Yahtzee on every turn rather than earning higher scores by filling out the entire score card!

What games do your families play? Are they fun for everyone?

Almost Done

I had originally hoped this bathroom remodel that we began the first full week of February would be completed by now. At least today I can report that it is almost done.

The wallpaper boarder arrived in the mail yesterday. A new shower head is expected any day because the original we ordered is no longer available and the contractor's guess, this nice looking but ineffective rain-shower-type head does not allow enough pressure to rinse shampoo from hair.And the exterior trim on the new glass block window needs to be put in place and caulked or weatherstripped or whatever is conventionally done for new glass block windows.It looks like the Quipper and I are not the only ones pleased with the new room. We just show it in different ways!

Sigh...Almost Time

I have Spring Fever! The hint of warm weather on Saturday and the expectation of it today have combined with baseball on the radio. Together they have stolen my ability to concentrate on school or my willingness to try.
Thanks, WTAM for the spring training photo.

This week will be filled with cleaning. The messy parts of the new bathroom are completed, and there are piles of drywall dust all over the first floor to prove it. I was able to do spring cleaning in one room so far and now I want to get the rest over with.

Last night we got a call that my mother-in-law was taken to the emergency room. She was admitted, and today I'll be driving my f-i-l over to spend time with her then the kids and I need to leave to fulfill a commitment I have for the afternoon.

The kids are itching to go ride their bikes and I'm inclined to let them. After an insomnia-filled evening, in addition to the spring fever, I'm in no condition to teach. And it supposed to be in the upper 60ºs F today. I wonder if today's baseball game will be on the radio....

Two Anniversaries

Today is Mach 11th!!! Nineteen years ago today my Sweetheart and I started dating. Well, not really dating, but having dinner together every night. He was working full time and going to school full time at night, and I was in school full time days so we had little time together. But in sharing those meals we learned a lot about each other. And the rest is history.For the last year I have been keeping this blog as a kind of family and knitting journal for my children to enjoy when they are older.
Thank you, Favorite Apron, for encouraging me to blog. I never imagined I'd enjoy it so much.

Euphoria

Today I get to experience the euphoria of project completion and the anticipation of beginning another project. Early this morning I wove in the ends and put on my new Milanese socks from MagKnits. Tonight I'll begin swatching to make the Pomatomus Socks from Knitty.com.

Lately, The Engineer has been reviewing German language material on our language program rather than learning new material. He has completed more lessons than the rest of the family. So while we all catch up, he is reviewing. He is most pleased with the function that shows his voice print and grades his pronunciation. Here he is, at it again.