Last night while Tabby was at rock climbing class, I got to spend a bit of time home alone with Ben. He absolutely revels in having time alone with us and last night was no exception. We built a Brio train track all around the first floor of our house (kitchen, dining room, living room and family room go in one big circle). He kept telling me things like, “Dis is gonna be so awesome!” and “Dis an awesome twain twack!” and “Fank you fo building wif me, Mama.” Love that kid.
It’s getting alarmingly close, this back to school nonsense. Supplies have been purchased (and pilfered from around the house). Fees have been paid. Every time we pass it, Ben delights in reminding us, “There’s mah new school! Mah BIG BOY school!” I am truly very excited for them, but I am alarmed at how fast they’re growing up.
What is up with the peaches this year? They have been truly outstanding. I’ve been having them sliced over cottage cheese (my constant bid to eat more protein) every morning lately and I never get tired of them. Both kids have been having one daily at least as a snack and unlike a whole apple which they often leave half of on the counter, they eat their peaches to the pit. I’ve made peach crumb bars twice and if it weren’t for the carby/calorie-laden nature of them, I might eat them at every meal. YUM.
Saturday is my birthday and I am heading to the mountain with some girlfriends for the weekend. Honestly, this is not the way I’d choose to spend my birthday – nothing against a good girls’ weekend – I love them! – but I really enjoy my family and I hate the idea of being without them on my birthday. It will be the first time I’ve spent a birthday away from my kids since they were born and it bums me out a bit. I also hate the idea of being the spotlight when we’re on our trip – it is not something I ever like, let alone seek. But this was the weekend that worked and I wanted to go, so I made my choice. I know I’ll be glad I went.
I just finished reading American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld. It is one of those books I wasn’t sure I wanted to read – it’s loosely based on the life of Laura Bush and I wasn’t sure I liked that angle or hook or whatever. But after reading it, I’m convinced, the author wasn’t trying to use the Laura Bush thing as an angle to intrigue or sell books, I think she saw in Laura Bush’s life the framework of a potentially great story and she ran with it. She is a really good writer – I really enjoyed another of her books, Prep, though I think this one is a more mature work – and the story is engaging and has a nice comfortable feel to it, somehow, despite the backdrops of grandeur. It is long, but well-edited and when I’m done I have the new Mary Kay Andrews and Susan Elizabeth Phillips books for some nice light reading.
We are incredibly behind on Olympics watching – just finally got through the Women’s Gymnastics finals last night and that was because I FFed through practically everything, including the irritating announcers. Our Women were AMAZING! They really nailed everything. I was sad for our men – their start was so promising! – but I did love seeing the Brit Blokes get a medal on home turf even if it wasn’t silver. Well deserved. Also, could Missy Franklin be cuter? She’s very poised for 17. She seems far older than the gymnasts near her age – maybe it’s the little girl voices?
A group of us are offering babysitting services and bringing meals to our friend who has breast cancer. It is a scary thing, though I know what amazing medical technology is available to her, all of us. In the meantime, what we can do is make things a bit easier on our friend and her family. Hopefully it will really help relieve their considerable burden and it helps us feel like we are doing something. I’m due next Wednesday and I have got to figure out what to bring. I want to bring a freezable main dish and some muffins for breakfasts and snacks, also freezable.
This morning we did a workout called “Pick Your Poision” where you select one exercise and do n of that exercise each minute. So the first minute you do 1, the second minute 2 and so on until you can’t do that many within the minute. I picked pushups and made it to 25 minutes. Now I can barely lift my arms. Washing my hair was painful. For those of you doing the math, yes, that is 325 pushups. Clearly I’m insane.
Olivia and I think Niel too are a big fan of peaches. Unless allergic how can one not be. They are perfect. And so looking forward to reading the new Mary Kay Andrews.