Playing catch-up & I just might get a nap.

Had a busy weekend and last few days. Come journey with me...

Thursday and Friday we had nice warm weather and Viki and I spent a lot of time out-of-doors. Also, since i was so hot we ate mostly cold foods. Apparently, these meals didn't quite please dh. SO frustrating when you work so hard only to be put down. But I am doing my best to keep things in a positive perspective and learn from what is being said. The key points are that dh has stated he does not know how to eat and what is normal for him is unhealthy. He keeps using the illustration of not knowing the difference between a Tbsp of food and 4 Big Macs. Not sure i get the illustration, but clearly he's referencing portions. We got loud with one of our discussions, and my feelings did get hurt so I lashed out at him verbally. I was about to fold like a cheap deck of cards, and stop trying to do my part towards the nutritional health of our family. I had it past here! Apparently, I didn't make any good meals, they were too small. I didn't understand what hungry feels like. I was not making even caloric meals. Well... it ALL got talked out and we are OK now. I have decided to ignore his complaints. I will just make nutritious meals of appropriate size and leave it at that. I am no longer enabling him in his food addiction or encouraging that behavior in myself or our children.

It was Selah days this weekend.

Saturday morning, I was awake early and set my chairs out in the shade along the parade route. A dear friend, Jenn, and two of her children used the house as base camp. Her daughter was marching in the parade. Selah's parade is always awesome! Lasted a GOOD 2 hrs. DS, OD and YD sat with me in the shade. MD went across the street and sat with her BFF and their family. There was an octogenarian couple next to our left, and a yuppie couple on our right. The elderly couple was a blast, as he was out there scrambling for the candy with the kids. Not one handout didn't land in his hands. She just giggled. If you're as old as you feel, they are teenagers in that ooshy-gooshy love. I hope DH and I can keep that kindled into our 80's. Ran into a friend of mine i had lost touch with and learned our mutual friend has moved to California. She was such an inspiration to many, a true prayer warrior. Jenn and I were hot and thirsty afterward, so she came in for iced tea and to sit in front of the fan. It was like 88 degrees, funny because in a few weeks that's going to feel nice and cool. LOL.

Saturday afternoon we just stayed at the house. Chores were neglected, as the children frolicked outside. I let it slide, since we had so much rain and wind lately. They needed the fresh air. Saturday evening, was the fireworks display. I love the location of our house. We can watch the full fireworks from our driveway. No traffic, no drunks on the blanket next to you. Comfy bathrooms, free food and drink. YD is afraid of the fireworks though, which i find sweet. It's like she just can't arrange in her mind the noise and lights. She'll grow out of it.

Sunday morning we started getting prepared to go head for the hills. All 7 of us piled into the van armed with camp chairs, bug spray,walkie-talkies, DH and my sidearms (his 9mm and my .38 snubbed-nose revolver), the .22, ammo, a light picnic, gallon of water, gallon of iced tea, and a couple of books. We went to one of our favorite spots and hung out for several hours. The camp area isn't officially opened yet, so it was just us in the campground. OD was searching out flora we haven't identified yet and took pictures so we could ID what's out there. YD and MD got scraped a little as they were playing on a make-shift teeter-totter. YD loves to go log walking on the downed enormous pines. DS went for a walk across the dry part of the reservoir basin. He was content to just go out and through stuff in the water, observe the insects, and skip a few rocks. MIL even enjoyed gather kindling, pine cones, dry moss, and some small logs and sticks for a campfire (which we didn't light).

When we had enough of the campground, we decided to explore some of the side roads along HWY 12 for a safe place to put some rounds through our firearms. What beautiful country! The OD, MD and I climbed a 150 ft ridge and looked out across the reservoir. We were looking straight across to the peak of Mt. Adams. AMAZING! Lots of snow pack still in place. Hopefully there will be enough moisture to fill the basin since most of the agri-businesses rely on irrigation from the reservoirs and mountain streams. Yakima Valley is known as the nations fruit bowl growing apples, peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, wine grapes, asparagus (not a fruit but grown here), strawberries, blueberries, and more I probably don't know about. Spring's fresh fruit seasons begin in Chile, then the California fruit, then Yakima then towards the various orchards in the U.S. interior west, then south, middle, then east.

We climbed down and drove on finding a perfect quiet place to blast off some rounds. We all took turns. Everyone did an excellent job of following "range rules". The girls built pretend campfire rings behind the van. They found kindling and used last fall's leaves as "fire". Ds found a path to explore and found some waterfalls. There were a few deer ticks out there, which we didn't realize until i found one crawling on my head on the way home. Oops, guess we should have used the bug spray we brought along. A thorough check when we got home only yielded two more of the little buggers. One was in my underwear, must have found its way in when i used an open-air privy. LOL.

We were exhausted when we got home around 7:30.

Two more days to go and we're up to date...

Monday was a recovery day. I made bread and we lazed. DS did the kitchen, and Bible study. YD and I did alphabet work in chalk on the porch. Apparently, for a 4yo, letters are BORING. We sing a song to explain why we have to learn boring letters. "Letters make words and words make sentences and sentences make stories." Later in the morning she amazed me by writing random recognizable letters then "reading" the story to me. I LOVE BEING HER TEACHER AND SHARING THESE A-HA MOMENTS!!! CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE ALL MY CHICKS IN THE NEST LEARNING AND SHARING DISCOVERIES OF A-HA TOGETHER! *GRIN* COME ON JUNE 11TH!

Tuesday, yesterday... MIL had her day with her mom in town came home riled-up going on about AIDS, Prince Charles, and diabetic test strips. I got her calmed down and found out that she doesn't want to attend a family reunion coming up in July. She decided, however, that it would be better to attend the gathering for 5-10 minutes instead of having them "pop" over for a visit.

DS had full load of homework, two separate bike rides, chores, band followed by jazz band, and youth group.

OD stayed home (again :(. DH and I think we've narrowed down her syndrome to RAP-Reoccurring Abdominal Pain- manifesting itself as Stomach Migraine rooted in the anxiety she feels towards being in the school system. I've located some biofeedback tools including a relaxation script for stomach anxiety I'm going to work through with her for her next flare up. I'm so grateful to my mom for sending me to biofeedback appointments to manage my migraines as a teen. Now, 20 years later, I can apply those techniques on my daughter. (Slow-deep breathing to increase oxygen, raising core body temp, slow methodical relaxing

MD had a great day yesterday. Came home, played. Did a quick thorough job of her chore and played some more. She did some reading and crayoning with YD under the dining room table. LOVE THAT!!!

YD had a lazy day yesterday. She and I brought DH his lunch at work, then stopped to pick up some eggs, carrots, cukes, and box of cereal. Got home and she and OD watched a couple of movies, sat outside on the porch, crayoned a few pictures with MD... The payoff was that since she had such a lazy day, she didn't want to sleep last night. She didn't settle in until 10 or so.


OK so that brings us current. It's Wednesday 5/19/10 at 10 a.m. DH, OD, MD are off for the day with breakfast in their bellies and DH with a veggie salad with croutons for lunch. Grain is soaking for bread. DS is in the middle of his math assignment. YD is on her 2nd dress change of the day getting ready to go for a walk with me and the dog. Two loads of laundry run through the machines with next one ready to go. Living room picked up and straightened, Kitchen straightened. Supper tonight will be pasta with Garlicky bread and lettuce salad.

NO activities planned for the evening. I just might get a nap this afternoon :).