Read, Watched, Listened

I love reading just about everything, watching comedy and documentary-type things, and have recently embraced the podcast.  I also enjoy hearing about what other people are reading, watching, and listening to.  Here's my two cents worth.


Read

A memoir written by a woman who lost her father unexpectedly the same year President Kennedy was assassinated.  It was okay.  I was involved in it enough that I felt the need to finish it, but I'm not sure it was exactly enthralling enough to recommend.  She interwove her family's story with the that of the paper mill in town, where her father had worked, but the two stories never quite worked together for me and I thought it ended somewhat abruptly.

The subtitle is "Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe".  True that.  Each chapter has a section written by Sarah Mae, a section written by Sally Clarkson, and a verse with some questions for thought and reflection at the end.  It was well-written and there were several tidbits that I took away from this book.  I just wasn't prepared for the questions at the end...they would have been nice to ponder and journal through but I honestly just wasn't in the mood.  I wanted a book that was encouraging, that I could breeze through fairly quickly after a long day, and this wasn't it.  It wasn't the book's fault (it's not you it's me!).  I'll probably come back to this one at some point.  Probably would be even better done as part of a Bible Study/mom's group.

LOVED IT.  Read it, then read it again.  I re-read my favorite chapter (Russian Dolls) too many times to count.  So good that even though this was an ebook borrow from the library, I'm probably going to purchase a copy for myself.  Shauna's writing is just so beautiful.  Beware: when she writes about risotto, all you will want to eat is risotto.  When she writes about bacon-wrapped dates, you will want to eat ALL the bacon-wrapped dates.  When she writes about blueberry crisp, you better believe that you will want blueberry crisp right NOW.  I haven't actually made any of the recipes yet, but I certainly plan to.  Then you will make you want to gather everyone you know around your table to feast.

This book is different from a lot of what I read.  Part memoir, part humor, part poetry, with songs and odes to various foodstuffs sprinkled generously throughout.  The humor is very dry, which I really enjoy.  It's about, well, food.  And food experiences.  It's a book that doesn't take itself too seriously.  I'm kind of loving it.  It's been a good summer read.


Watched

This is literally about the only thing I've watched recently.  It's you-don't-have-to-think-hard funny, which is what I need most nights once the kids are down.  Plus I really enjoy Jim Gaffigan's humor.  The show is based on his own life (it's a spoof on his own life: Jim plays a comic in NYC, living in a small two-bedroom apartment with his wife and five children).  My only quibble is with the tired premise of a beautiful, capable wife married to somewhat incompetent oaf, with characters like the token gay BFF and the bored, womanizing bachelor.  Oh, and also their children are inordinately well-behaved.  Like, in the show they sit at the table and actually eat their dinner.  But it makes me laugh in spite of all that.  Watch for the priest, Father Nicholas.  He's my favorite.

Listened

Jamie interviews a different woman each week on her podcast.  It's faith-based (she's interviewed everyone from Jen Hatmaker to Korie Robertson) and each and every conversation is fantastic.  Her tagline is that they talk "about the big things in life to the little things in life and everything in between", and it's entirely true.  You feel like you are right there having a conversation with your own girlfriends.  One minute they might be talking about the trials of adoption and the next someone is sharing their favorite makeup product.  She asks each guest at the end for three things they are loving and what they are currently reading, and it has given me some GREAT recommendations for products (look out, bank account) and books to read.  That actually might be my favorite part of the show.  One of my favorite episodes is her interview with Jamie B. Golden.

A podcast of conversations by a married couple.  Each week they cover a topic (actually two, one from him and one from her, which they surprise the other with) and discuss.  The conversations aren't always the most stimulating to me (although many of them ARE fantastic), but the topics and some of their points almost always provide me with fodder for conversations with Tyson.  And, I think without meaning to, their natural conversation style demonstrates a beautiful and open way of working through conflict and issues with your own spouse.  Or anyone, really.  Check out episode 6, which covers napping and (wait for it) in-laws.

I know, I'm not exactly on the cutting edge here.  But I HAVE been listening to the Hamilton musical soundtrack on repeat.  Do it.  Listen to it while you wash dishes.  Turn it on while you make your grocery list.  Bounce around to it with your kids.  Belt it out while you're in the shower.  SO into it.  


Big Chip 2016

One Good Day (aka Day One)


{Mom and dad are running around like crazy, packing up ALL OF MY THINGS, and all I want to do is swing.}



{Arrival: ready for action.}


{Life jackets: also handy for kid control.  Who needs a leash?}



{You have fun in that 52-degree water, daddy.  Imma stay right here with my camera, a good book, and a baby.}







One Rainy Day (aka Day Two)


{Not needed.  Whomp-whomp.}


{So...coloring?  I was informed that the above was a portrait of Caden.  Given that it looks like a scribbled whirlwind/tornado, I'd say that its accuracy level is high.}



{Rainy day don't care.  Okay that didn't rhyme.  But this guy didn't care.  Wash-outs are better with cute babies.}



{Who take rainy-day naps on big-person beds.}


{Rainy days also = a visit to the winery.  My fave was the You Betcha Blush, doncha know.}


{First time bellying up to the bar.  We start 'em young up here.  What happens at the lake stays at the lake.}
{Well, until your mom puts it up on her blog.}

One Perfect Day (aka Day Three)


{Feeding fish.  Fun fact: they enjoy Ritz crackers almost as much as toddlers do.  Almost.}


{You're welcome, fishy, fishy, fishies.}


{All the heart eyes.}



{It's called a Lily Pad.  As the below photos will show, the kids absolutely hated it and no one had any fun at all.}







{Nope, no fun at all.}



{"I dwive?  I dwive it?"  Oh yes, he drove it all right.  "I dwive boat!  I dwive boat!"}






{Noon = margaritas.  I love lake time.}



{"My turn!  My turn!"}


{First time dipping his toes into Big Chip.  HE LOVED IT.}


{At the very least, he didn't hate it.  Unlike the Caden and Brooklyn of two years ago.  One more sign of his absolute mellow-ness.  Chalk it up to being baby #3.}



{Trying to figure out sand.  And the sunlight glinting off the water.  Mind = blown.}

Day of Departure


{"We're going to go back to our blue house!"  Caden: "No blue house.  Big Chip!"  Brooklyn:  "No bye-bye!  I Big Chip!"}


{Breakfast on the way out of town.  I remember stacking condiments during this yearly breakfast, too.  Glad to see that the tradition has carried on.  We can call this a family tradition, right?  An event that happens annually?  Sounds like a tradition to me.  No matter how weird it might be.  It's all part of the Big Chip experience.}


The Reset Hour

Mornings can be a blur.  Breakfasts eaten, teeth brushed, pajamas off, clothes on, snacks packed, diapers changed, and (most days) time spent out of the house at playdates or running errands.

Afternoons are usually the opposite.  They often seem to drag on and on and on.  Once we hit 5:00, I KNOW that Daddy will be downstairs soon, for the blessed routine of dinner-baths-bedtime, but those few post-nap hours can last FOREVER.  Is any hour longer than the 4 o’clock hour?  I don’t think so.

But naptime?  That’s my time.  I’m lucky enough right now that Nolan, currently on a three-nap-a-day routine, usually takes his second nap at the same time that Caden and Brooklyn go down for theirs.  Unless someone's schedule is really off, there is absolutely no one demanding anything of me during those moments.  But the clock has started ticking.


It starts with lunch.  I'm usually starving by the time everyone is finally down.  Breakfast is barely a memory and despite all my best intentions, I usually haven't had a chance to eat much of anything for several hours.  It's also the only meal I have each day all to myself. No jumping up to refill plates, sop up a spilled (er, thrown) glass of milk, negotiate over taking just "one more bite" of veggies or a protein instead of cheese or carbs, or listen to the endless chitter-chatter of a couple of two-year olds.  Plus there ain't a person in this world who doesn't need a break after putting three small children to sleep.  It's quiet.  It's simple - usually just leftovers from the night before, or a fried egg with toast and an  avocado.   It's pretty quick.  No more than 15-20 minutes, tops.  

Reset.

I move on to clean up.  Wash up the lunch dishes, pick up the toys that haven't made it to the appropriate bin or shelf (read: ALL OF THEM), wipe down counters, sweep floors, bake bread or start any other prep necessary for that night's meal, assess the state of laundry.  I need this general tidying up out of the way before I can move on to anything else.  Clutter and I do not get along very well.  In The Hunger Games, "beauty base zero" is described as a very natural state of beauty, looking "flawless but natural": hair washed and brushed but not styled, very minimal makeup.  This is what I do to our home during this time (okay, "flawless" might be a bit generous here).  Usually another 15-20 minutes goes by, as I adjust our home back to it's own beauty base zero.

Reset.

Next comes a bigger task.  Depending on the day it could be bathrooms, floors, or a scrub-down of the entire kitchen.  A shopping list for the next day.  Occasionally it's an errand or phone call that needs to be made.  Something that really needs to be done, but wouldn't get done unless I really force myself to.  Having set days to clean certain areas of the house helps.  So does listening to podcasts that are funny or mommy-focused (or even better: both!).  Sometimes these tasks take 15 minutes, more often it's 30 minutes to an hour.  Hopefully this gets completed before the kids wake up.

Reset.

On the best days, there is time left.  All three kids are still out.  If I haven't already poured myself a glass of water or, more often than not these days, a cup of coffee, I do that.  Maybe eat another bite (something with chocolate, hopefully).  I sit.  Read a book or a page in my devotional.  Catch up on this blog or photo-editing.  I should probably move this step up in the routine.  It's so hard when there are so many other things to be done.  It's hard to force myself to sit and rest and recharge myself BEFORE completing the things that "really" need to be done.  Sometimes, very occasionally, when the night was really rough, the morning too early, the toddlers too whiny, or everyone just too dang clingy, this might be all that gets done during naptime.  And, however long I get, this step never seems quite long enough.  

Reset, reset, reset.

Naptime, I will mourn your loss when you disappear.  Or when Nolan moves to a two-nap schedule, which will probably perfectly sandwich Caden and Brooklyn's lone nap of the day (joy!).  Right now, I love my reset hour.  Resetting the house to a mostly-livable state is such a nice way to start the post-nap afternoon.   Resetting myself with food and (hopefully) a break helps the afternoon seem to not drag on quite so long.  Having time where it's quiet is such a welcome break to have in the middle of the day.

Here's hoping you get your own chance to reset today, mamas.


Post (Fourth of July) Weekend

Sandbox time:


Driving in the car time:


Dinner date time:


(I mean, sorta.  It counts as a date when you're only out with 1/3rd of your kids, right?  It sure feels like it.)

Playground time:




Patriotic time:





The best we can could do for a family picture with three squirmy children time:


Papa and Nana time:


Dinner time:


And, most important of all, first batch of fresh homemade ice cream time:


(Seriously, go buy this one.  Best thing ever.  You will not regret it.  Until your waistband starts expanding from eating homemade ice cream every day.  Even then it's probably totally worth it...)