Into the weekend we came, Friday having lunch at home then taking daddy to work and driving a hour and a half away for our girl's first private swim lesson. A road trip filled with a book on CD, laughter, discussions, fun and treats. Passing the Hoover Dam our son commenting that he still would really love to go take a tour there...thinking in the next few months we can make that happen. Looking at the beautiful scenery of the mountains, valleys and river. Singing at the tops of our lungs, giggles, car games...we finally made it to the pool. A beautiful huge indoor heated pool. Our daughter got started on her lesson while our son and I swam laps in the shallow pool...he would stop to do a hand stand or somersault in the water or show me how long he could hold his breath. I'd stand looking over to the lane across the way where her lesson was taking place and marvel at how graceful her long arms and long legs flowed through the water as she learned freestyle. Done with her lesson she swam with us for a few minutes, sore, tired, but setting goals for herself of swimming one lap of freestyle by the end of the month. Hot showers, warm sweatshirts, grabbing some dinner we settled in the car for the long ride back. To bed as soon as we got home, everyone awoke Saturday late, tired and have been incredibly sleepy all day.
Sleepy Saturday of movies, crafting, cookies, animal play, coloring, reading.
Looking forward to be tucked in our beds early tonight and start the day anew tomorrow.
Studio Ghibli marathon week...
Book on CD...
Painting green frames
Button Art...T for our daughter, J for our son above their sides of the art/school board.
Finally hanging some framed pics up.
Afternoon treat.
Trying a new recipe- Won the tastes of myself, hubbie and our son,
Broccoli Mac & Cheese
We skipped the bread crumbs and used Veggie Broth.
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no
words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special,
extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If
you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the
comments for all to find and see.
We are all still adjusting to a different schedule, with hubbie working different hours and having different days off, these past few weeks are moving slower, we are still getting much done, learning, exploring but working on finding our new rhythm as we all adjust.
We spent time outdoors...nature is budding everywhere. Our son is gathering yard items and constructing tools, forts, magic made up potions and spells. Hay is being cut and baled...I will never tire of seeing tractors or smelling fresh cut hay. It is a heartfelt reminder that we are where we were meant to be, out of the big city.
Every time we gear up to head to San Diego and know we will visit Seaworld or the beach or tide pools everyone sparks new interests in the ocean, species, plants, animals, weather, tides...everything and so we revisit these studies, learning more new things each time. This time hermit crabs and a marine biology video and a few books.
Our daughter continues on her Japanese lessons, today learning colors and animals. She is very devoted immersing herself in her lessons daily.
Everyone looked at math stories....they just make math more fun.
A simple lunch with a new vegan recipe of Avocado Potato Salad with some Veggie Cheese 'steak' sandwiches (sauteed onions, green bell peppers, mushrooms on a roll with garlic mayo and mozzarella, toasted in the oven).
And into the late afternoon...momma retreats to finish up work for the day while quiet reading is happening and sleepy puppies take time to nap. Plans are being hatched to play a few board games before dinner and to watch one of the many Studio Ghibli movies our daughter checked out from the library. Favorites of the kids, interesting quirky stories..theyare debating on which one to view tonight..should it be Kikki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, or Arriety. Either way, snuggles, a movie, bed time stories and sleep to come this evening.
A beautiful day.
We watched Reef Life of Andaman, then a short Hermit Crab video. Our son then constructed his own mock hermit crab habitat.
7 days of work in a row, finally hubbie had Monday off...going with the flow, we took the day off from school, we ran a few much needed errands, did some much needed chores. Hubbie fixed our family car, the two kids and I shoveled and cleaned out the two duck pens then we headed out together to fish in the evening, grab a few pizza's for a late dinner with the new 'Thor' movie and let the kids stay up late. A new spot, trying out lake fishing, seeing sweet burro's wandering on the road into the lake, two kids exploring, a girl taking a break to draw, no fish caught but again much fun was had.
Much needed family time together with their daddy.
As the sun set and we left with flashlights from our trip, we are thankful.
March 1st...where has the year flown to...it seems winter has skipped us over and spring is nearly upon us. Maybe that is why it seems strange that it is already March, we are still waiting for those freezing cold nights, strong chill day winds...a few days here and there but no more. We won't complain that beautiful sun, and warmer days are on their way..the children anxious to have weekly swim trips to the river and lake for tons of swimming time...we are all ready to have meals enjoyed outdoors, friends over for evening outdoor fires, fun conversation and the kids roasting marshmallows...the joys of summer are approaching.
But for this weekend, this rainy, over cast weekend we have been cooking, cleaning, reading and playing in doors. A little home made pizza on Naan bread, spring cleaning is in full force and the kids testing out how to make a realistic looking battle wound on their faces from you tube video's! Yes much fun and hard work has been had this weekend.
Naan Pizza's
Naan - Makes 3 pizza's-
3 cups of water
2 tsp sugar
4 tsp yeast
5 cups of flour (then 1 more for rolling out dough)
Mix, Cover, Let rise for 45 minutes
Divide, roll out
We used a little Earth Balance in a skillet and placed 1 piece on, grilling each side for 3 minutes on med heat.
Place on cookie sheet, add toppings, cheese, place in Oven - at 350 until cheese is melted about 7 minutes.
We had mini heirloom organic tomatoes in beautiful colors- red, purple and yellow needing to be eaten, those with a little spinach and fresh basil and mozzarella rounds made our pizza.
Kids opted for cheese and cheese with olives and mushrooms!
Spring cleaning in full force...the start..rearranging furniture.
Making face battle wounds...
And into Sunday we come- We give thanks for all we have been provided with, we give thanks for our family.
Beautiful foggy morning view from the rain splattered kitchen window.
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