February's End

The week started off cold (typical for February) and ended unusually warm--enough so that we've taken our kids to the park the last couple of days.

The big even this week was the Blue and Gold banquet for scouting. The theme was "Friends Near and Far," which lent it an international flavor. We were supposed to bring international desserts, so I spent the afternoon making a Hungarian apple and pecan pita (a little like a tart, with a shortbread layer above and below the filling). I'd skimmed over the recipe before starting and it looked easy enough, but really it had lots of finicky details--making and rolling out two separate pieces of dough, food processing the apples and the nuts, whipping egg whites as part of the filling--which meant it took longer than expected! It was pretty good though. Different from a lot of American sweets.

I think these events stress Dan out--not necessarily because he's in charge, but because he hates food events. The meat wasn't ready when they were supposed to start, so the meeting started late, and Dan didn't eat at all (partly because they ran out of meat and partly because Dan has trained himself to be the last person to eat at potlucks in case there's not enough food). I had to leave early to get Andrew to Tae Kwon Do--he really wanted to try for his yellow belt (he has to be present two weeks in a row to test), but he's not quite there yet.

In other news, I got copy edits for my book this week (mostly grammar and usage stuff, from a different editor than mine), which is exciting, because it's one more step toward publication--and stressful, because it's one more thing to do before we go to Dallas to visit Matt and Laurie!

People are finally healthy again (knock on wood), so we've been enjoying the nice weather.

This morning's blog post brought to you by perler beads:

February doldrums

We had a wonderful time on president's day--we joined Bubby and Poppy in SG. Dan and I went to the temple in the morning (and narrowly made it into the session, which was so full they had to add a few chairs). After lunch at Alfredo's (formerly Alberto's), we went up to Pioneer Park and let the kids loose in the rocks.

 

Andrew was fearless--so was Oliver, which was terrifying. The kids decided to climb up through a crevice in the rock.

(I know, Evelyn looks thrilled).

Oliver and I intended to wait for everyone at the bottom, while Dan went with them, but Dan was too big to fit after a certain point, so he came out to get the car and Oliver and I tried to climb up to meet the kids at the top. By the time we found a way up that was safe for a 3 yo and nearly 40 yo, we were too late (though I didn't know this at the time): Andrew and Evelyn had already climbed back down. I eventually spotted Andrew, but it took us a little while to reconnect with everyone. Luckily, by then everyone had had enough fun and we headed home (by way of Sees, of course).

The rest of the week slumped in comparison--not just because the kids gave Dan and I their crud and so we were sick for most of it. I had all three kids home on Thursday, though it quickly became clear that Andrew and Evelyn weren't *really* sick. It was a long day. Thankfully, we're doing better now--just in time for a new week!

Spelling and carnivorous pigs

This week has been long and fairly involved.

We started with a spelling bee on Monday. I had offered to help again, so Bubby watched Oliver while I read the words to the kids. Andrew worked very hard to learn his words and ultimately came in fourth, which he was happy about. I was proud of him, both for working hard (he memorized over 500 words) and for being such a good sport.

Thursday morning, Andrew woke up complaining of a sore throat. Apparently, it was his turn for strep throat. Only--I was supposed to be driving up to Provo for a writing conference that afternoon, so his getting sick then made things tricky for everyone. (We worked it out).

Oliver had his first experience with school Valentines--he came home exclaiming in rapture: look how much candy I got!

Friday, I spent the day at a writing conference (LTUE, also known as Life, the Universe, and Everything). Oliver came with me, but he spent the day with grandma instead. I got to see my aunt and uncle and one of my cousins, who are long-time regulars at the conference. (My cousin Michaelbrent writes horror novels for a living and my uncle was a professor for years at Pepperdine and is an expert on Milton--and horror/sci-fi.) I also had a chance to be on a panel with three of my writing friends (one isn't pictured here). All four of us have debut novels coming out in the next year or so, so we talked about trends we've seen in YA fantasy. We got a little derailed toward the end when my friend Erin started telling a story about the 70 yo man who was recently eaten by his own pigs, but otherwise, we had fun and I think people might (?) have learned something?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Evelyn had her grandparents' program (her teacher puts this on every year--the kids learn songs and poems about grandparents). I wasn't able to be there, so I was glad Bubby and Poppy could go and document it.

On Saturday, Oliver and I drove up to SLC where we got to visit with cousins for a bit--and he stayed with Sarah while I went to a book signing for Nicole Castroman's new book, Blackhearts (for those of you who've seen Poldark, Nicole is the one who got me interested in the show--and her book is actually pretty perfect for fans of that series. It's a pre-Blackbeard origin story, about how Edward "Teach" Drummond comes to set off on his journey towards becoming the pirate Blackbeard).

Thankful now that we still have another day and a half to go of this weekend!

A, You're Adorable

(Or, the blog post I just deleted on accident and now have to re-write. *smh*)

This week started with a big snow storm--enough for the school district to cancel school for the first time in 60 plus years, and the university followed suit (though not, unfortunately, before Dan had started his 7 am class with 7 of the 40 registered students).

That day was slow and leisurely--the kids insisted on going outside as soon as it stopped snowing but only stayed for 30 minutes or so. But we spent the rest of the week scrambling to catch up on classes and life.

Evelyn tried out for--but did not make--the Playmakers play for this year (this is the company that she played the frog for last year). I was a  little disappointed for her until I realized this means no rehearsals--also the troupe is 1/3 the size it was last year because they're only doing traveling performances at the schools this year.

Dan had a roundtable dinner on Thursday with Bubby and Poppy, while I had writer's group at the house.

Other noteworthy things: Dan spent all day Saturday on campus helping with a robotics competition. The kids and I (mostly me) made Valentines for their school classes.

For Oliver's preschool: 

 

For Evelyn (not recommended: the flashlights are cute, but several of them didn't work and now we're hoping the new batch arrives on time!)

 

Andrew's animal squirt toys. He thought the "Hey Squirt!" was funny. (He was less amused when I offered to put "Love, Andrew" on them--he was mortified, in fact!)

Andrew wielding the enormous icicle from our roof.

 More from the drawing project for Bubby: