09-30-11

TGIF!

Made it to the weekend!

While I am looking forward to a quiet, restful, and homebound weekend, the kiddos are out and about on this fine Friday evening.

Bruce and I settled in for some infrequent screen time – love Sheldon on Big Bang Theory. And love the thought of two days without an alarm clock…

09-29-11

Left work early to check out the Healthy Child Growing Mind event at the Northlake school garden. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, and I didn’t have the entire evening to invest in it, but it was fun to see young kids excited about their garden and what they can do with the harvest.

Packed home my laptop tonight for some monotonous audit compliance work, so took the opportunity to watch the next movie in my Netflix queue – Supersize Me! Wow, if that isn’t a reinforcement to keep pushing to eat out less rather than slipping into more, I’m not sure what is!

09-28-11

I was just starting to get my stride back after being so sick, and here I am sick again. I feel like stomping my feet and screaming “not fair!!!”.

So it is back to just getting through the busy days and evenings instead of taking charge and getting the most out of every hour. Day 2 of three days of early morning travel accomplished. Oh so tired…

09-27-11

I am a few minutes shy of putting in a 12 hour work day today. And day 2 of not having my camera at the ready. I saw a bunch of helium balloons in a church grassy area in my travels, would have been fun to stop and check it out.

With Xander working on yearbook (maybe) and wanting to prove to his friend that I did go to high school with Snoop Dog, we’ve been looking through my high school yearbooks. Teh kdis have been teasing me about my dorky jackrabbit mascot.

“It is indeed ironic that we spend our school days yearning to graduate and our remaining days waxing nostalgic about our school days.” ~Isabel Waxman

09-26-11

This photo is upside down to make a point. The black and white, however, I cannot explain.

I’m at the point in the planning season where I can work plenty of overtime, but our crazy evening schedule doesn’t allow me to squeeze in more than a few extra hours.

Tonight Bruce had a meeting, so I was on duty to get Anastasia to swim lessons and catch the last half of Xander’s football game. Mission accomplished, except my camera battery was dead.

I never use my phone camera, but knew I wanted a blog photo. So this is what I got. Upside down, B&W, thumbs in most of them, and all… the Stangs done good, even if Mom is a spaz.

09-25-11

How did we get to the end of September?

Hard to believe next weekend rings in October.

Afraid to flip the calendar and see how stuffed October looks. September has sure been a doozy.

Good-bye lazy weekend, hello to another busy week…

09-24-11

Ah, a lazy Saturday.

Tried to sleep in. Tried to take a nap. Tried to get a patch of garden ready to plant clover cover crop. Tried to start thinking about Christmas shopping. Tried to check out Saturday night church service, but not hard enough.

Had a wonderful paddle board outing. Enjoyed a maple mocha with my honey. And had a our best outing ever to the Humane Society. This trip is how I imagined our volunteering time to be – us working with two dogs instead of one, and relatively well behaved dogs instead of social misfits. Xander named them Whitey and Jet.

09-23-11

“Go Jacks!”

Heard a lot of that chanted tonight. At my first high school football game… ever. Xander asked what I did for 3 hours, since he knows I hate football.

Watched the band; tried to get good photos.
Watched the new lumberjack mascot.
Watched the principal throwing candy.
Greeted people we knew walking by.
Watched the cheerleader routines.
Watched the medical team helping the injured.
Tried to figure out what the crowd was chanting.

It was a balmy evening, great opportunity to sit and enjoy a community event, even if football isn’t my thing.

09-22-11

#80 is back!

The eight grade uniforms are different from the seventh grade ones, but it just kinda worked out that Xander has his same number from last year. The font is much harder to read.

Today was Xander’s first game. Yet another chance to drive around full parking lots looking for a spot…

Xander looks small compared to the quarterback! The Mustangs played well, 12-0.

09-21-11

The green team is back!

Tonight was the spaghetti dinner report out for our Harambee mission trip. A lot of people called it closure. It was fun to see the photos and video again, to get back together with most of the group again, and to hear people share about the week.

Xander is the only Fischer you’ll see, if you’re playing Where’s Waldo? Xander was very happy to get out of speaking.

09-20-11

This is what the interior of my car looks like after I slam on the brakes following a stop at the produce stand.

I was on Washington Way, close to home, when a little squirrel fell out of the trees that stretch over the road right in front of me. He fell on his back, recovered, and started to run full speed toward me instead of away from me.

Natural selection may get this little critter soon, but not on my watch…

09-19-11

Wonder if the Parks Department knows about this big bees nest hanging out over the lake. I give it a wide berth as I paddle by.

We recently had a safety incident at work where a logger was fleeing from a hornets nest and fell and cut open his forehead. Bees and wild animal sightings seem to be on the rise.

“A bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower.” -Kin Hubbard

09-18-11

We had a very busy day today. Church, clean the kitchen form my baking/cooking marathon yesterday, afternoon Relay for Life BBQ, then youth group evening BBQ.

This is the new youth pastor at Longview Community Church on the chair, and Anastasia helping him lead a song, with Bruce across the circle from me. Xander was inteh circle somewhere. I’m excited about what the brings to the youth group, and about the great turn out tonight.

First time back to the building since I stopped considering LCC home, feels a little weird.

“I wish I had a little white box

To put my Jesus in

I'd take him out and kiss, kiss, kiss

And put Him back again.

I wish I had a little black box

To put the devil in

I'd take him out and spank, spank, spank

And put him back again.”

09-17-11

Today I heard someone say that their dance card had been rearranged.

I can relate. Our plans changed today. Probably for the better (since I always overestimate what I can cram into a day), but I don’t like change.

I had considered dragging the kids to VegFest today. I decided the Campfires & Candlelight reenactment at Fort Vancouver would be better, with a few other errands.

First I woke up completely exhausted, and the rain had me wondering how fun the drive would be. But I stayed the course. Then Xander decided he really is sick, but he was willing to stay the course. Then Anastasia’s swim meet lasted over four hours, and we collectively decided that staying home and watching a Netflix movie was more appealing.

Most of my swim photos today were blurry, but I liked this one. Anastasia is in the third lane over, and the girls standing at the edge are her teammates yelling encouragement to her every time she come sup for air. She chanted for others, and now they were yelling “Go Stasia, Let’s GO!”

09-16-11

Heading for bed and realized that I didn’t have my blog done, or any photos to choose from.

Xander has been rattling around the house for 20 minutes saying goodnight, so he’s my victim.

New sheriff in town this weekend, every hour of our weekend is scheduled out, with assignments of who gets the TV when.

“Night night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” – Grama Bunnie, from summers when I slept under the pool table

09-15-11

Left work at 2pm today to attend Anastasia’s swim meet in Vancouver. Got home at a little before 8pm. Get to do it again Saturday morning. Each sport the kids play seem to have their unique pros and cons… Swim is indoors and warm, but incredibly loud and long.

She’s shedding time off her events, is enjoying it, and is getting lots of exercise. I got four pretty good photos; let Anastasia choose the blog photo.

09-14-11

Ok, here’s another photo of my SUP – an artistic shot by Bruce.

I start and end my ride on my knees, standing up after I get out of the lily pads.

It’s 50 pounds of awkward hard plastic. It doesn’t rode in the car, we heft it to the lake- sometimes a body at each end, sometimes dragging it in the grass, sometimes with the mule, wheels on one end to help move it.

I want to get to the point where I can transport it myself, but our mule isn’t working very well and it is quite the workout for me to wrestle it the half block to the lake and then to the water. I am so petite that I can’t get my arms around the darn thing, but I’m figuring out how to flip it.

The more you pay the lighter they are. This is a cheap model. I liked it because it has the netting to hold the life jacket, and it has a watertight storage area (that I never use!).

Lovin’ my time on the lake…

09-13-11

Another kick the dog kind of day. Oh, I would never kick a dog. Kick the cat kind of day…

Had planned to take photos of the board, but had to cut my lake time short due to a tenant wild goose chase. Work wasn’t as bad as yesterday, but sure would like something I touch to not take longer than it should…

So, instead, who can name this veggie? I’m fairly sure I didn’t plant it this year, think it is a carryover from the many starts Debbie gave me a last year. What is it?

Maybe tomorrow will bring more peace and joy. But we’re starting with early morning allergy shots, so maybe not…

09-12-11

Here’s a lake photo from a different perspective… from under the Washington Way bridge on my SUP.

I like going under some of the bridges, and there aren’t any I have to work really hard at, but the Washington Way one is a bit creepy. It has more birds living under it, seems dark and murkier, and smells like creosote.

Today I lined up my board really well, stopped paddling, took my camera out of my back pocket, hung it on my wrist just in case, snapped some photos, and put the camera away – all under the bridge at very slow speeds.

I’m not in the mood to do much tonight, but always in the mood to paddle!

09-11-11

Kind of at a loss for what to say today.

Wrapping up a good weekend, but feeling subdued after watching 9/11 footage at church. Feeling stronger and ready to start exercising again tomorrow, but thinking Xander is coming down sick. Looking forward to a week at work with nothing on my calendar, but knowing the two weeks after that are non-stop movement. Done with a lot of my Sunday chores early, but forgot to incorporate the cabbage from Donna’s garden into the weekly meal plan. Glad the kids had a lot of time with friends this weekend, even if the impromptu was better than the planned out parts.

And such is life, a combination of good and “could be better”.

09-10-11

Guess who turned 15 on this lovely 9.10.11 date?

Anastasia had planned a slumber party with a hobo dinner, but it morphed into a 36 hour Sarah-fest with a pizza picnic at the lake and a huge bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough. And Xander and his friends horsing around on the paddle board.

Happy birthday Anastasia!!!

09-09-11

After a busy week, I have the house to myself tonight. Everyone else is at the high school football game.

I decided to spend part of the time re-engaging in my scrapbooking hobby. I’ve been working on albums, but digitally, which doesn’t feel quite the same.

In preparation I had to remind myself where I left off, and decided that with the 911 anniversary approaching (and Xander doing a unit on 911 in Social Studies), I wanted to find my 911 layouts.

It sure doesn’t feel like it’s been 10 years!

09-08-11

As if I don’t already have enough acronyms in my life, now there is a new one. GSHL. Greater St Helens League.

Today was Anastasia’s first swim meet, and since it lasted from 3:30pm to 7:30pm and we also had Xander’s Open House tonight, so we attended her meet relay style. I saw her swim her second relay event.

This is her getting ready to jump off the starting block.

09-07-11

Stupid things I did today:
Gave into the Krispy Kreme donuts at work. Curse those temptations!
Paddled right after work on a day so hot that an extreme weather warning was e-mailed to me. I about melted!
Went to produce stand and let fruit and lettuce sit in hot car for too long. Wilted lettuce…

Smart things I did today:
Got caught up on my to do list in preparation for a busy work day and swim meet tomorrow.
Went back to bed after waking Xander up for school.
Attended coffee chat to get to know the ladies at our prospective new church. I now know a few more faces.

It was strange to still be home when the kids left for school. Anastasia survived her first day of high school and Xander is enjoying being big man on campus.

09-06-11

Ready, set, go! Tomorrow is the official first day of school, but today everyone was out of the house before me to help with sixth grade orientation. And the bathroom wars begin…

Xander was a great help to the incoming middle schoolers, and got his schedule today. Almost every class with Anthony, what are they thinking?!? Of course, he plans to swap classes around anyway.

Took my camera paddle boarding with me, out a little later than normal, but didn’t stop to take any photos as I raced the sunset and enjoyed the moon reflecting on the lake.

09-05-11

Happy Labor Day.

Everywhere I went today, I smelled yummy food. Bruce started carnitas early and the house smelled great all day. The country club was having a BBQ, burgers smelled yummy from poolside. Even Fred Meyer was selling racks of baby back ribs off the BBQ!

The holiday may have its roots in the labor movement, but is often regarded as a day of rest and parties. I labored a little trimming a bush at a rental and getting ready for another work week, “partied” with nutritious but yummy meals, a trip to the pool, and a paddle around the north end of the lake, and rested with finishing another novel, watching a movie with dinner, and enjoying another low key day.

09-04-11

Another day at the pool, gotta love these hot summer days!

I have a great photo of my book in the foreground and the kids at the pool in the background, but cannot resist showing off this awesome action shot. Anastasia’s dives are improving tremendously, but still needs some work on what she does with the legs.

The kids were diving for a rock, having forgotten heir diving sticks. Xander is standing at left of the diving board. It’s fun to see them interacting and getting along with each other.

09-03-11

Spent the morning in the garden, the afternoon at the Pirate Festival, and the evening paddle boarding on the lake.

The thermometer said 89, but it didn’t felt that warm. With breezes it was pleasant outside.

I planted the rest of my lettuce and spinach seeds, hoping for a fall crop. And started beating back the vegetation. My book club read for this month has come characters who like to garden, and I came across this gardening tidbit: with love and patience we’ll be rewarded with a little piece of heaven here on earth.

We’re counting the Pirate Festival as our eighth day trip of the year, so we may still get 12 for the year.. The juggler was very entertaining, and I could just sit and people watch all day long.

09-02-11

Bruce found himself at the pool twice today!

Summer is winding down. At the shot clinic, Xander and I realized that shots won’t fit into his life once schools tarts. At the country club, this is the last weekday the pool will be open for the season. On the lake, paddling was windy but gorgeous and I noticed some tree leaves starting to change.

The day got away from me a bit, but I’m trying to work on my attitude. Loved this passage in my book this morning: When we become content to live in the present, God has given us our lives back in a vivid way; we no longer destroy the present by looking for a better future or a more celebrated now. We are set free to live the life that God created uniquely for us.

I was meant to sit poolside with magazines!

09-01-11

I must be feeling better, I made a to do list for the weekend today! And I got back on the paddle board! Looking forward to four days of sleeping in, taking it easy, and getting a few things done.