01-31-11

Have cup, will travel!

Tonight I met up with a few church gals at Starbucks for some fellowship. Our numbers were smaller, but I kind of like it more intimate.

Maybe not the best way to start 1 of 13 days of extreme calorie counting, but it was a great way to wrap up an incredibly productive work day.

01-30-11

Wow, Anastasia has a clean room!

Usually, on the mornings when I venture into her room to wake her up, I can’t even see the floor for all the mess. I can’t blame her too much. I was a neat freak as a kid, but now have a bad habit of leaving my own clothes on the floor, batch processing them on the weekend. Today Grandma Fischer helped her pick up.

We’ve been hearing a lot of the song Fireflies on the flute lately… at least it's a nice peppy song.

01-29-11

About a twelve hour day doorstep to doorstep.

We started with brunch at Slappycakes. I tried sweet potato batter, it was good.
Bob’s Red Mill and Dave’s Killer bread stores.
Geocaching.
Shopping at Clackamas, got See’s for our couples retreat weekend.

Visited the documented smallest park.
The hot dog place was closed, so we had pizza for dinner.
Powell’s for books.
Gelato for dessert.

I’d say we did Portland today!

01-28-11

TGIF! Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.

Grandma & Grandpa are here for the weekend, and the first order of business was making them custom fresh squeezed juice. I tasted the celery, kiwi, apple, Satsuma, pineapple blend, but prefer my fruit whole.

And no, we’re not getting a pot bellied pig to eat the left over fiber.

01-27-11

“You love bananas more than me?!? Nice, mom!” – Anastasia

I got some cute photos of Anastasia today, but this one just captures my life at this moment better. Deep breath, I am through the tough part of me week, and now I can relax with my very zany husband and glide into the weekend...

01-25-11

How can I leave the house feeling put together and arrive back home a mess? Maybe it has to do with a 14 hour day.

I spent all those hours at an engineering forum in Vancouver. Four hours of mining safety discussions, four hours of landslide discussions, and tomorrow I give them a presentation on IRS road audits. They know how to pick the heavy topics!

Oh well. Such is life. This week too shall pass.

01-24-11

Anastasia’s complaining about not being in the blog, but she’s never around. Tonight she had dinner at her new boyfriends. And Xander seems to always be around. Like today.

We started with 3pm allergist appointments. That lasted 2 hours. Xander’s lungs were severely compromised, so he had an albuterol treatment and more attention than usual. Then we hit the produce stand to add some variety to my morning fruit salad. He found and talked me into pickles. Then after dinner he joined us for date night to Grocery Outlet, the gas station, and Starbucks.

Party on, little dude.

01-24-11

I have some public speaking coming up later this week, but today was Bruce’s turn.

Tonight we missed our Highlands neighborhood association meeting to attend the Community House annual meeting. Bruce, as Board Chairman, described the organizations 2010 significant events and presented an award to the Executive Director.

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” -Muhammad Ali

01-23-11

“Weekend at home” seems to be code for “weekend apart”. All of our family members are back under the same roof, but are in different orbits. This photo and about 10 minutes during church service were the only times we were all four in the same place today.

The guys watched the game, so much for “Go bears!” Anastasia spent a lot of time listening to loud music in her room. I worked in the yard again, spent extra time helping at church, and worked on my honey do list. Bruce and I went out to Mexican and brought the kids home BK. I’m not expecting a traditional Sunday evening dessert outing.

The week ahead looks like more going at high speed but not together. I guess that’s why we are so intentional about dinners together most nights and weekend family adventures; otherwise we’d never regroup!

01-22-11

Spent so much time flitting from thing to thing that I didn’t take any photos. As I trundled off to bed, the only thing going on was Xander playing Quake Live. So here he is.

Milder temperatures and sunshine finally intersected, so I spent as much time as I could outside. The ground is muddy, but so soft for pulling up unwanted vegetation. Good-bye, butterfly bush. It’s fun to see neighbors out and the lake alive with people again.

01-21-11

“One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.” – Luciano Pavarotti

I devoted quite a bit of attention to eating today. Like all day long.

6:15am Normal bowl of fruit breakfast
8:30am First plate of work potluck goodies – powdered donuts and tiramisu, yum!
10:00am Banana
11:45am Healthy lunch
1:00pm Second plate of work potluck goodies – cranberry and blueberry bread
2:30pm Afternoon meeting at Starbucks
3:30pm Krispie Kreme donut – wondering why I am subjecting my body to all this
4:50pm Grocery shopping for evening potluck, can’t imagine ever wanting to eat again
7:00pm Vegetarian Potluck at Payton’s Produce with Xander

01-20-11

Tonight is haircut night. Every five weeks at 5:45pm. Otherwise no plans, so get to get caught up on my life a wee bit.

While I’m excited that I had a very productive day at work, my heart is heavy today. First, we had another fatality at work. Second, Xander REALLY hates his new haircut. I didn’t dare ask him to pose for the blog. I can’t do anything to fix either issue, but it makes me sad all the same.

But I think I like my new cut…

01-19-11

We’ve been wanting to go to a foreclosure home auction for almost a year. They are in Wednesday nights, which conflicts with church activities.

This week with Anastasia gone and a house we are interested in on the block, we decided to go for it. We left right after work for Portland.

This is us at the Grand Central Bakery, where we grabbed a quick bite and watched Portland folk walk by before heading to the hotel. Turns out the only time we raised our bid card was during the practice auction of the hotel. Our property quickly passed our low ball amount, and is now in on-line bidding due to reserve price not being met. No photos allowed in the auction, darn. But it was a fun adventure.

01-18-11

Back home, but not for long!

Got back in Longview from my Vail meeting at lunchtime. Stopped home to grab a quick bite and assess the flooded basement. To my office to face the piled up e-mail. Home to eat and chat with the guys, then ran to an evening Parks & Rec class.

This was a 6-10pm condensed version of Landlord-Tenant Law education. I got another rental agreement form, this time with all the Washington Laws inserted to explain why the different clauses are needed. And a lot more things to research and think about. Time well spent, even if it makes my week crazier.

01-17-11

Anastasia is staying with Uncle Pat and Aunt Mo this week. It is such a blessing that they are so close, are available to shuttle her to and from “work”, and are willing to bring a teenager back into their home.

I spent two nights there to help everyone get settled in and to visit, since we normally only see them at Thanksgiving. As a special treat, Uncle Pat took us to Coldstone for dessert. It was fun sitting there and talking about all the different combinations that sound good.

Uncle Pat was hoping to pick up Anastasia on the motorcycle one day, but the weather didn’t cooperate. She has a longer day than normal – on duty 7:45am to 5pm. And she had to work on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. A small sacrifice for such a great experience.

01-16-11

First evening at home this week, time to breathe and get the blog moving again…

Sunday Anastasia and I headed straight from church to Olympia. We had a 1pm tour of the capital building and a 2pm orientation.

Anastasia is one of 13 pages to the House of Representatives this week. This is her no-nonsense supervisor Richard showing them the ropes.

01-15-10

Today was another packed day.

-I got to sleep in, at least.
-Morning in Vancouver searching for white blouses and black slacks for Anastasia’s week at the capital.
-Checking out a house that’s going to auction next week.
-Videographer for videos advertising the couples retreat.
-Manicure & pedicure. Bright blue toes!
-Chili feed and bingo at church.

One family called “bingo” seven times, but our family has never been very lucky with games of chance. Xander did get a Bingo the first round. He chose a cup of stale caramels, entered himself to win some Barbie prizes, and quickly lost interest in anything other than the dessert table.

Some last minute packing and time for bed. Yee-haw!

01-14-10

Sometimes I get a very strong glimpse of what it will be like the first year Anastasia is off to college. Anastasia is often so busy at or getting ready for her social calendar that it leaves Bruce, Xander and I as the family unit. Tonight she didn’t join us for dinner since she’d be eating at her party (and she thinks we eat incredibly early and likes to throw a fit about it these days).

Here he is, sporting his newest UW sweatshirt. He likes his clothes baggy (like his dad), so I hope he'll actually wear this one.

TGIF! A reprieve to prepare for a hectic next week...

01-13-10

Don’t have my energy back, but have to start moving again or life will pass me right by.

Tonight I finished the table signs for Longview’s first community vegetarian potluck, something I meant to do last weekend.

Xander has a decision to make – attend Winter Ball or the vegetarian potluck next Friday night… I’ve decided to try a new recipe, Roasted Cauliflower and Raisin Crostini.

01-12-11

Coffee ice cream, fruitcake, peppermint cookies. The freezer door is full of good things waiting for me.

I want it all plus some king size Snickers bars.

Some days are harder than others to eat well.

Today I’ve got a splitting headache, a novel I’m reading about a gal who loves to bake desserts, and a daughter bringing more drama into our lives.

But, know the food wouldn’t really make me feel better, so waiting for the weekend…

01-11-11

Stalled out.

Our snowstorm seems to be stalled; I’m tired of wondering about snow that doesn’t come. Our attempt to get the kids plugged into other youth groups is stalled; no Young Life tonight after all. My desire to find or compose a compelling blog photo is stalled; we’ll call this one “loofah still life”. Our search for black bottoms and white tops for Anastasia’s paging week is stalled; I don’t want to drive to Portland Saturday to shop. My productivity seems to be stalled; I’m just tired.

At least the scale has stopped stalling; it’s finally on it’s way back down.

01-10-11

“What’s for dinner, Mom? It looks gross.”
“This is terrible.”
“It doesn’t taste like anything. I don’t like the texture.”
“I’m not hungry at all.”
“They really think meat eaters will like this? It needs more of something.”
“I can’t have bread until AFTER I eat the soup?!?”
“I don’t like pearl barley.”
“I don’t like lentils”
“Ready to eat lots of leftovers, ‘chele?”
“If you eat it tonight, I’ll throw away the recipe.”

Another vegetarian meal at the Fischers. But I will keep trying.

01-09-10

We were gone from 8:30am to 9pm; another packed day.

Blssed to enjoy a veggie soft taco at Taco Time.

Blessed to get the family together again.
Not so blessed to drive almost 5 hours today.
Blessed to have traffic moving and only hit snow a few times.
Blessed to have a yummy Chinese dinner.
Blessed to enjoy some more Christmas cookies and gifts.

Here’s Xander with his new slingshot, posing for photographer Grampa. And James playing Santa.

01-08-10

How creepy is it to stalk the Target parking lot with a camera? Never noticed how many employees are out collecting carts!

I spent seven hours in a Rental Real Estate Parks & Rec course today.
The kids spent 7 hours pent up in the house with a sick Dad.

I took pity and drove them "all the way" to Target. I sure love them buying their own stuff this year! I got out of Target for under $100 for a change…

01-07-10

Even though my weekend is booked solid, it’s exciting to hit another Friday!

This has been kind of a Lost week.

The Mega lottery numbers for the big payout this week matched 4 of the 6 lottery numbers from Lost, making a news splash and causing co-workers to start discussing the series again.

And Bruce and I FINALLY watched the last three hours of the series and saw how things wrapped up. Not sure we really got closure, but it was fun to see all the flashbacks in the finale.

I’ll sure miss Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Juliet, Hugo, Sayid, Sun, and Miles. It's like finishing a good book and wishing the characters continued.

01-06-11

This spoke to me tonight.

It makes me think of the jumbled day I had, running around, getting bombarded with incoming stuff, and getting a lot done, but not getting a lot of closure.

It makes me think of the jumble of families that are going on the Harambee mission trip. We met tonight, focusing on the See’s candy fundraiser and future fundraising projects.

It makes me think of Bruce, who has tackled the dreaded holiday teardown process alone and has been extra helpful this week.

These angels will find their way to their special spots soon, and hopefully other things will fall into line as another weekend approaches.

01-05-10

"Mom, I don't suck at tennis!" is how I was greeted when she came bounding through the door tonight.

Wednesday is becoming Anastasia's night to run. We have an early dinner so she can get to tennis lessons at 5:30, then she has 15 minutes to get to youth group.

She likes being busy. Some would say she comes by it quite naturally. Tonight I stayed home all evening while everyone rotated in and out of the house around me. But did add two more items to the calendar for the coming weeks.

01-04-11

I like the idea of eating more fruits and vegetables and eating more food in its raw form. I’ve been focusing on this for myself for almost a year.

Bruce is getting on board a little, but is going about it in a very different way.

This morning the guys made their first batch of Dr Oz’s Green Drink, running cucumber, parsley, ginger, lemons, and apples through their new juicer. Bruce added the spinach while Xander wasn’t looking.

And here’s the look on Xander’s face when he took his first sip!

I found this blog today linking the food focus to the God focus: http://www.klove.com/blog/ Getting up to weight spiritually is one of my resolutions this year. I want to crave God and rely on God, not use my weekend sweet treats as my comfort and deliverer.

Here’s to more of God and less of wallowing in food!

01-03-11

Don’t you wish you could set New Years Resolutions for other people?

- Get healthy
- Close drawers all the way
- Go to coffee less ($50/month most months really seems reasonable)
- Put less meat in meals. Half the meat, double the veggies!
- Keep tables cleared off, keep non-food items out of kitchen. The entire house is not a personal dumping ground, family!
- Use and eat leftovers. Lots of great food going to waste.
- Do laundry consistently. What happened to all laundry being done on Monday?
- Get to projects that were planned for spring 2010
- Track cash spending. I’d say better, but how about at all?

Gotta love him the way he is, just as he has to deal with me and all my foibles. But it's fun to dream!

01-02-11

Today we attended a Hannah Montana birthday party for niece Kayla, turning six. There was the pass the microphone game, bedazzling sunglasses craft project, dancing to the old songs, and a yummy microphone platform cake (my only sweet treat for a week, willpower is so hard!).

Sing it now:

In some ways you're just like all your friends

But on stage you're a star

You get the best of both worlds…

Yea you get to be a small town girl

But big time when you play your guitar

You get the best of both worlds…

Who would of thought that a girl like me

Would double as a superstar

You get the best of both worlds…

Rock on!

01-01-11

I wasn’t sure I was going to pick a word for 2011 or set resolutions, but guess I can’t fight who I am.

My focus word for this year is:

re·fine (re-fine) verb
1. improve or perfect by pruning or polishing.

2. treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition

3. reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities
4. To free from coarse, unsuitable, or immoral characteristics

New Years resolutions:

- Keep and continue to refine gains made in past years with nutrition, health, fitness, hobbies, and adventure seeking.
- Participate in a family mission trip, climb Mt St Helens, take a kayak and/or white water trip, finally visit Monarch Statue Garden, run a 5K, observe a Sabbath, and go berry picking.
- Continue to try to prune my schedule and priorities to feel more at peace with my world.
- Spend more time & energy with God; get in a more usable condition to be in His will.