Weekend Getaway

So the second scheduled field trip of the month was a success. We went to the lake house. For Ruby's sake we brought along a brand spankin' new sprinkler that propels balls into the air using a jet of water. It's pretty cool.

Look at my awesome new sprinkler!!!

Then we went canoeing in a lake with jet skis and power boats pulling tubers and water skiers. That was an adventure. The whole time Ruby said we were looking for treasure and a pirate ship. She even brought along a treasure map.

Look Mom! Like Dora!


We had a pretty good time. Very relaxing.

Ten Things that I learned on this trip:
1. I am good a canoeing.
2. Being around water relaxes me.
3. I love driving around trying to find cool stuff in strange places.
4. I still love my daughter's laugh.
5. My daughter has no fear.
6. My husband and I passed the dreaded canoeing/communication test with flying colors.
7. Hippies can't make sandwiches.
8. I love my bed.
9. I love my family.
10. Everything is going to be all right.

Blueberries and Birthdays

Today we FINALLY went blueberry picking. This is what I asked to do to celebrate my upcoming birthday. We went to a little family run place about and hour away from home called Valley Orchard.
I'm so glad I went searching yesterday one last time to triple check that there weren't two hours south of us.

Look Mom! Strawberries!

I spent about a half hour picking blueberries while J spent the half hour wrangling Ruby, occasionally picking a stray blueberry, either from the bushes or other stranger's buckets. It was quick but fun. We went home with about a quart of blueberries. Not a lot, but plenty for the three of us considering only one of us eats blueberries. Ruby vehemently dislikes berries of all kinds and calls anything resembling a berry a strawberry. This of course is only in my presence. For her babysitter, she eats strawberries. For her Grandmother, she eats blueberries. For me, she eats cookies.

All in all I had a nice experience. I got to see what blueberry bushes looked like. I got to taste a fresh berry from the bush. I got to feel the sun on my skin, hear my girl 'make friends,' and walked away with a quart of blueberries for all under five dollars.

Real Blueberries

So far, the end of my thirtieth year is looking pretty good. A nice quiet trip planned for next weekend. Going out on my birthday courtesy of a friend. My boss is even having a crawfish boil the weekend after my birthday that I am jokingly referring to as my, "birthday boil." July is looking pretty sweet.

July Syllabus

July. My birth month. My Month. Starts with independence, parades, and fireworks. Has some grilling, cherries, berries, sun and family fun in the middle. Ends with presents and a celebration of me and all of my awesomeness.
Okay, so I like July. Realistically. It's hot, humid and almost always end up with a sunburn, but hey...it's summer and that's how it's supposed to be.

Whitewater WI 4th of July Parade




Field trips scheduled for this month:
I am determined to go Blueberry picking. There are some farms west of us and a little south. That may happen next weekend but we'll see. There's really only a month worth of Blueberry season and it's been open a week now. Pressure is on people.

We'll be taking another trip to J's parents summer house, on a lake in Wisconsin. We went for a big family gathering for the Fourth of July weekend. We all had a great time. No phone, no internet, no TV. That's what I'll be doing in honor of my birthday. A nice quiet family getaway to bond as a family. How nice is that?

"Hi Grandpa, do you like parades too?"


On to the Syllabus:

Personal Project for July

Since I went through all my magazines last month and now have a mags worth of recipes I'm interested in trying, I feel like I need to put them together somehow. Organize them. Maybe in a binder of some kind. Though not a binder because I think that's ugly. This project will take a trip to the office supply store to check out my options.

House Project for July

Finish the curtains, hang them in the kitchen window. Find new desk, table, workspace to make cooking dinner with Ruby, safer, easier and more fun. Maybe some new pot holders and an apron.

Group Goal for July - Exercise/Activity

I want to get out, once a week, all three of us and walk, bike, play lawn games, kick a soccer ball, or even just my Roo's favorite game of 'runa round.' Acceptable activities include going to the botanic gardens, walking in the forest preserves. Going to a field park and kicking the soccer ball for at least and hour. I know J and I aren't getting enough activity and I'm starting to think Roo would be a little more compliant sometimes if she was a little more worn out toward the end of the day.
To encourage this goal, I am instituting a no TV on Sunday, before 6pm, policy. If I said all day, J and I would never get to watch our shows together. We barely have time to now and we really enjoy the time together.

I am continuing the cleaning schedule I cam up with last month. Seems to work well. I'm also going to continue to try and not throw out leftovers. Speaking of leftovers, Menu to follow.

"Ruby loves swimming and Grandma"

Father's Day Recap

This was one of those rare weeks when we reached our yearly quota for hosting family and friends in one weekend. We had a very good time. Ruby loved seeing her grandparents and her five year old cousin. They went to Legoland. We painted pictures together. We even played marching band as documented above. One big lesson I learned this weekend was that it seemed easier to parent with two kids around. Granted I'm not saying it is always easier, but the dynamic changed. Instead of feeling like I was constantly at war with my arch nemesis over dyer issues like picking up toys and wearing pants, I felt like the one in charge. For the first time ever I really felt like two kids wouldn't be so bad.

For Father's day this year, J wanted to take Ruby swimming at a fun indoor pool with zero depth entry and a water-play ground. We had a blast. Sunday was the day everyone left for home, so after 11am we were a small boring family again and free to relax and enjoy each others company. All in all a great week.

On to the accountability portion:

1. All cleaning was done according to the schedule.
2. Laundry was even done on Saturday morning and folded/put away by J.  
   Thanks sweetie.
3. The meal plan was altered slightly. We didn't have tacos last week because we had leftovers to eat. All other meals were prepared and devoured.
4. No work on June projects has been started. Thinking about starting later today, but not holding my breath.

No farmer's market as my refrigerator is still overflowing with food waiting to be prepared and eaten.
Today Ruby and I made Banana-walnut-chocolate chip muffins, for breakfast. While the oven was hot I threw together a strawberry-rhubarb crumble for later tonight.

I have been reading. Last week I managed to read Bones of the Moon by Jonathan Carroll. A great short read. I've moved on the The Land of Laughs also by Carroll.
Today is shaping up to be a nice lazy day at home with my baby girl.

Blog post to-do list for the next month:

1. Father's Day craft project
2. Product Review - Mission Fig Goat Milk Ice Cream
3. Second, First Wedding Anniversary
4. Making the curatins
5. Momma's got a brand new bag.
6. Preserving Apricots - Roman style
7. Blueberries and birthdays

Project of the week - Cleaning the kitchen ceiling and the hood vents in bathroom and kitchen.

Menu to follow.