Why my eyes ya?

We have watched this video more times than we should, and yet it still makes us laugh. Now, at any given time, you can hear someone in our house moaning, "Oh Long Johnson" or "Oh Don Piaaaano" or "Oh my Dog."

Bonding Bust

So the other day Kolby thought it would be fun to print out the guitar tabs and learn "Highwayman" for Madeline. He invited her in for a sing-a-long. She exited the room about 5 lines into his song, came back a minute later with her Shuffle and said, "How about you listen to the song first so you know how it's supposed to sound? Then I'll sing along."

I like lists.

Eleven days to go. Actually 10.5. In the last couple of days I have (finally) reached a pretty good place in my head about plunging into this nursing program. I think I had to mourn the loss of my (somewhat) care-free life before I could really get excited about it. I almost forgot how bad I wanted this. But I do.

I'm going to be a damn good nurse. And I'm going to enjoy nursing school. I'm sure it'll be a pain in the butt, but it's also going to be a lot of fun. And then I'll be a nurse! Woohoo!

So in the next 10 days, here's my list of things to do for fun:

• kayak with the family
• kayak without the family (maybe alone, maybe with my friend Nikol)
• go out to dinner somewhere "fancy" with Kolby
• catch at least one more matinee (I've snuck off for a couple since the girls went back to school)
• finish reading Prodigal Summer
• finish the 2nd season of "Gossip Girl"
• spend a day shopping in Seattle

And here's my list of things to do to keep myself sane for the next 12 weeks:

• get my eyebrows waxed
• make some freezer meals (keftes, baked ziti, chicken pot pie, beef stew, tortilla soup, minestrone, and tomato soup)
• finish organizing closets
• top to bottom deep cleaning of the house and my car
• solidify this schedule I've been working on for the girls (morning and afternoon routines)
• make a master grocery list
• finish getting all my bills set-up on auto-pay

(Isn't that exciting!!!)

FYI, I made a similar fun list last year and did pretty well with it. Shall we revisit it and see how I did?

• Get a season ski pass and ski once a week--check
• Yoga--nope
• Train for another half marathon--started to, but stopped when I got up to 7 miles and my IT band started giving me problems again.
• Learn to kayak--check
• Take bass guitar lessons--check (although I decided it's just not something I'm willing to devote enough time to...maybe because I suck?)
• Catch up on Simpson's and Arrested Development? Check for Arrested Development. No Simpson's though.
• Read The Economist weekly--um. No. I made a valiant effort.
• Find some rewarding volunteer work--Check, but not what I had in mind. I ended up volunteering at the girls' school. I know I said I wouldn't. I caved.
• Cook and bake more--check
• Learn to play tennis and golf--check (I didn't say I had to play them well...)

So there you go. I'm feeling pretty good about the ending of my sabbatical.

End of Summer

I know they say it rains nine months of the year in Seattle, but that has not been the case this year. The sun came out May 1st, and it hasn't gone away until now. We have had such a lovely sunny summer that some of our bushes are dying because we didn't "know" you are supposed to water them. Usually we get some rain during the summer to keep native trees and plants alive.

It started raining Friday night. I'm not complaining. I love the rain. But it makes me very happy we said goodbye to summer last weekend before the kids started school.

Fluffernutter Fridays

Apparently, Fluffernutters are an East Coast thing. I heard about them for the first time this Summer from someone who said she does "Fluffernutter Fridays" for her kids' school lunches.

Fridays are my absolute favorite day of the week, especially when school is in session. We have our ritual: the girls have rockclimbing, we go out to dinner (usually sushi), and then get a movie and have "Family Movie Night" at home. This usually includes copious amounts of popcorn and Sour Patch Kids.

From the moment I heard about Fluffernutter Fridays I was determined to add them to the ritual.

So this morning, the first Friday back in school, fluffernutters were made. Peanut butter, nutella (not traditionally on fluffernutters, but so necessary), and marshmallow fluff. I'm sure there is a bit of nutrition in there somewhere. Their teachers will totally appreciate the sugar surge.

I even cut the crusts off. It's Friday.

ETA: Fluffernutters were a huge hit. With me and with the girls. (Of course I had to try one too.)

Case in Point

Madeline, cuddled up behind the couch singing "Highwayman" with Johnny Cash. I love that she is discovering her own music. (And I love that she has great taste.)

Back to School (Phase 1)

4th grade and 1st grade! How is that possible? You can see that Amelia has the 1st grade cheeser down perfectly.