Ten on Tuesday.

1. I've thought about doing a Ten for the past few weeks, but usually by the time I think of it, it's really not even close to still being Tuesday, or even Wednesday for that matter. Summer can be wonderfully lazy.

2. We have our second round of newly-hatched robin babies, so clearly summer is not lazy time for those guys.

3. Lazy summer means to me that we are gathered around the table while the breezes blow in through the screen, book pages fluttering, feeling slow. This is today.

4. The perfect summer dessert is a grilled peach drizzled with honey, homemade whipped cream generously heaped on the side. Must get more peaches.

5. We had a lovely Fourth, starting with a morning canoe on Silver Lake, and ending with taking the kids to see fireworks for the first time. Alla said they were "too pretty for words." Agreed.

6. We of course had our Ron Killins fireworks show at home first, though.

7. Alla started orchestra yesterday, and seems just perfectly suited to this responsibility. I hope that she'll continue to be excited to learn as the days (and years) wear on.

8. Ron and I are nearly done binge-watching the first five seasons of Sons of Anarchy and starting to feel the panic of it ending! At least we haven't watched season 2 of Orange is the New Black yet. Whew.

9. I started the new JoJo Moyes book yesterday and am feeling that this is a perfect summer read.

10. With that, we're off to the library for summer reading prizes, and then the Farmer's Market for (hopefully) something for dinner. These kids sure eat a lot.

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Here we are in the second week of summer. The sun is hot, the day is bright. Truly the best days of the year.

2. Our first two weeks are full of swimming lessons in the morning.

3. Kids are busy being kids. Our true summer day is sandwiched between swim in the morning and sports in the evening. The down time is lazy and feels like summer should. A little bit of learning, a little bit of helping out around the house, and a lot of playing outside, Rainbow Looming, and even cross-stitching.

4. Lots of rain. The garden is growing!

5. It's been six summers now that we've done at least one summer (evening) sport, and by now I could have written a book on summer meals, yet every summer I wonder what's for dinner and when we're going to eat it.

6. On today's to-do list: make a 2014 block party flyer!

7. The kids and I finished reading Hoot after lunch today! How amazing is it to finish a book outside under the umbrella!

8. A sports update: Alla is playing soccer again, and Fisher has added baseball to his roster. It is great fun to watch both of them play.

9. This year for summer reading I made each of the kids a list of 20 books and if they read any ten, they can choose their own reward. They still have time to read things they have in mind, but are also being exposed to things they might not pick up otherwise. Case in point: on Fisher's list was Diary of a Wimpy kid, which we'd been suggesting for awhile but he didn't seem interested in. Well, he read that one first and now wants to read the whole series!

10. We have been taking advantage of our drive time to and from swimming by listening to our first audio book of the summer - Escape, which is about the life of Houdini. I would say the kids are interested in his 'tricks,' and Alla wants to find out how he died, but other than that it's reading pretty dry, so I'm looking forward to listening to something a little more energetic next!

Good Job, Honey.

I'm calling this a win! Mother's Day photos with everyone looking at the camera, genuine smiles, everyone in focus. Best Mother's Day gift ever.

Hope you all had a lovely day, too!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. We have a robin's nest! They built it one day last week, but we got nervous when we didn't see them around much of Saturday or Sunday. Then Mama Robin sat in it all day yesterday, and sure enough, a perfect blue egg!

2. Alla had her Reading Hall of Fame ceremony last night. The kids record their reading minutes each month, and if they reach the goal for their grade in seven of eight months they receive a medal at a special ceremony in May. Alla is an old pro, and Fisher will have his first ceremony tomorrow night!

 

3. This is the start of what is a busy May for families all over the country, I suspect, with schools cramming in ceremonies and field trips and sports starting up.

 

4. Fisher, in fact, will have his first field trip tomorrow!

 

5. Since all this activity is leading up to summer vacation, I'm wondering just when summer might actually arrive? The kids would love to get the summer box out, with all the warm weather clothes, but I keep telling them we need warm weather for that.

 

6. Same goes for planting. I'd really like to plant more than peas and radishes. I'd really like to put in some new perennials and fill up my planters and deck containers with colorful annuals. But who wants to be out gardening in 50 degrees?

 

7. Somehow, though, the weather on Saturday mornings hasn't been half bad. Fisher has his tennis lesson then, and it's been relatively lovely to sit out and watch him, even it's from under a blanket.

 

8. Tonight's dinner - Crockpot Pinto Beans. Family favorite.

 

9. The kids and I went to Barnes and Noble to spend their birthday gift cards this weekend. Alla found Maleficent and is just giddy to see the movie.

 

10. I am nearly done reading The False Prince for the second time around and eager to get onto the next two books in the trilogy but also picked up Year of No Sugar at the library, and have a week to read that. Such good things to read lately!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Yesterday was the first day I thought, Spring has sprung.

2. I am absolutely eager to start planting stuff. Flowers! Veggies! Herbs! Baskets! Bring on the color!

3. Yesterday was also Cinco de Mayo, which in our house means carnitas, homemade salsa and guacamole, slaw to go on top of your carnitas tacos, and margaritas! I squeezed a lot of limes yesterday.

4. Relishing reading The False Prince again!

5. Alla has taken on another role at school: walk patrol. (This to me means getting her there earlier and picking her up later, and trying to keep Fisher occupied for those 10 minutes on either side of the day, both times that he'd rather just be outside at home playing with friends.)

6. Yesterday I did what Ron has coined the "Mother's Triathlon." Run 4 miles, bike 4 miles, work in the garden.

7. The tree pollen is trying to beat me down, but so far my lemon, lavender and peppermint are getting the job done. I'm sneezing like crazy but this year not scratching my eyes out, so we'll call that a win.

8. Today we planted peas and radishes. Does anyone know of anything good to do with radishes?

9. I start out the day with a list and ambition, but by the time the kids are in bed, all of that is gone and it's all I can do to keep my eyes open on the couch. Here's to a good night's sleep and more ambition tomorrow, since my lists don't seem to get any shorter!

10. Greatly looking forward to Mother's Day this weekend!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. We're on day 3 of downpours. Today it's cold enough to mix with snow. Lovely.

2. Tomorrow we're supposed to be heading to the Twins game, where Alla's school choir will be singing the National Anthem. I have a feeling we will be leaving shortly after, if this weather does not improve.

3. Speaking of that lovely girl of mine, she turned 9 over the weekend. Last year of single digits.

4. I now have a 6 year old and a 9 year old. Just getting used to saying that.

5. My 6 year old lost his first tooth yesterday!

6. The kids and I are reading HOOT as their bedtime story, while Ron just started the 4th or 5th Narnia book on his reading nights.

7. Alla is deep into the first Fablehaven book.

8. Fisher is on the 37th Magic Tree House book.

9. The first tick of the season was spotted - on ME!

10. I'm off to build a boat, seeing as how rowing may be the only outdoor exercise I'm going to get all this rainy week!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. A classmate of Alla's was lucky enough to visit Harry Potter World (I'm pretty sure that's not the official name, but that's what we've called it.) last week and told Alla that she got a wand. Alla then learned that they don't really work (as in, no real magic), so she's decided she doesn't even want to go there. Makes life a lot cheaper for this family.

2. We are in the middle of a great bedtime read, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Tonight Alla hit on the fact that she likes the way Brian Selznick organizes this book and leaves you hanging. She says she likes books that "unveal" things.

3. On that note, apparently we aren't spending enough time at the library!

4. Alla says she has a list of authors in her desk at school, in case I need any help finding bedtime books. Ha! As if! My list grew longer today when I came across this other list again.

5. Next Wednesday night is World Book Night! I'm a giver!

6. Little Passports looks like a super fun way to learn about the world or the country over the summer.

7. I ran today in 29 degrees and seriously cold wind. My January self would be appalled at my wimpiness, but I declare my exhaustion with the crisp air that requires tights and mittens. I want to feel warmth again! I want to challenge my body to make its own vitamin D!

8. The kids are not swayed by the chilly weather, however. Fisher spent two late afternoon hours outside with the rest of the neighborhood kids as usual, playing kickball, soccer, basketball, tag, one game until they decide it's time for the next. I'm so glad he's a tough one, as the rest of the kids (all boys) are third, fourth, and fifth graders.

9. Alla's activity of choice, after doing some math and reading homework, was tree climbing. Today no one had to come tell me she was stuck in a tree! She scraped her hands pretty good though, and thinks some tree-climbing gloves are in order. I don't think that's an actual thing.

10. No school Friday, and aside from Memorial Day next month, this is it until the kids are out for the summer. Though it's still quite a distance to the last day of school, we can all feel that excitement that comes when the school fills up the last two months of the calendar with fun things. A busy month and a half is ahead!

LA Getaway: A List.

The best way to capture the spirit of our first [airplane] getaway sans children is a list -

Direct flights rock.
Carrying-on just a roller bag and a purse rocks.
I'm like my son, never getting over the hugeness of a plane flying right overhead.
Thank you, Laughreys, for the fun, food, and sunset walk!
I can never get over palm trees.
Alla has had a photo of this street sign in her room since right after she was born.
LA = Land of Punch Buggies.
Reconnecting with Air Force Academy friends after many many years = awesome.
Everywhere we went, I took a picture of succulents and palm trees and blossoms.
I finally found my grandparents gravesite, after walking 20 minutes around the cemetery.
You cannot leave California without some In n Out.
We are so lucky.
People drive a lot in California.
I can never get over the traffic and congestion.
It's nice to feel the sun.
You should not wear new shoes to the airport, where you might have to walk a ways.
Café Brasil in Culver City has delicious plantains and tilapia.
48 hours is a really perfect little getaway.
I really like Ron. He's fun.

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Happy April! I wish I could say it was April Fool's that we woke up to snow this morning, and temps in the 20s, and wind chills in the single digits, but that's just how we roll here in Minnesota.

2. How else we roll is by expecting 6-12 inches by the end of the week.

3. But spring is definitely in the air. Signs of spring, which may be different depending on where you are: daffodils in a vase on my table (not in the ground, silly!), geese returning, longer days, fewer layers, can't remember the last time I wore a hat, and the remodeling bug has returned.

4. We are notorious for having lots of remodeling/house ideas and not going through with them, mostly because I am incredibly indecisive and commitment-phobic when it comes to house changes.

5. Consequently, I made myself a giant list today and purposely included many smaller projects that don't involve having three different people out to our house, waiting for bids, checking references, and then scheduling something three months out.

6. We are in the midst of our cable company's week of free cable, meaning we are trying to watch an entire season of The Walking Dead in one week.

7. Tomorrow Fisher is participating in a study at the U. He'll be excited about the $10 they pay. He's a complete miser and never spends a cent.

8. April is a busy month for us with Alla's birthday, Easter, and Fisher starting tennis lessons. I believe May is equally busy.

9. I am halfway through the last Phoenix Files book.

10. Did I mention that we spent a quick weekend in LA? Just the two of us? As in 2 days ago we woke up in LA and wore t-shirts and flip flops?

Ten on Tuesday.

Today we're celebrating Fisher's last day as a five-year-old, so today's ten is dedicated to the boy I love.

1. He loves Legos, but probably more than that he loves to be outside with friends doing stuff, which means lots of running around, tackling, Zombie Tag, and, eventually when the snow melts, bike riding.

2. He loves to play sports: tennis, baseball, soccer.

3. He loves to play games: Speed, Farkle, Uno.

4. He gives the best back rubs.

5. He is incredibly smart.

6. He loves to read. He's made it his goal to read all the Magic Tree House books.

7. He loves to be read to, and he and I are currently in our second reading of Flora and Ulysses.

8. He sleeps with multiple stuffed animal friends: Lovey, Tempy, Mimi, the new frog Bulkhead, Elmo, little Elmo, Glowworm, and a few smaller ones that are constantly getting lost.

9. He is really really hard on his shoes and clothes. Keens have been a lifesaver for shoes.

10. He is one inch shy of four feet tall!

Happy Monday!

Hope your weekend included lots of snuggles and good books. We are enjoying a lovely spring break sans coats and mittens!

Currently reading.

Alla: Twice Upon a Time
Fisher: Magic Treehouse #30
J.J.: Fallout
Ron: The Cuckoo's Calling

What a difference.

 Just two and a half weeks ago, this was our front step.

Two days ago, roller blades were pulled out of the attic for our first 50+ degree day, and even though the snow remains, and will remain, for a long time, it's really the reason March feels so good. We can hope.

 This face pretty much sums up the feeling of every Minnesotan on a 50-degree day in March!

That said, I sure do think our family is hardy, and that we do our darndest to get out there and enjoy and appreciate Mother Nature even in the deepest depths of winter. It's easy to do when it's this pretty. Or when you have six school days cancelled. Take your pick.

Ten on Tuesday.

1. This is Fisher's last week as a 5 year old.

2. I think I was right about having my last single-digit run last week. It was 53 yesterday!

3. Super excited to see my brother!

4. Last night (and tonight) for dinner was our favorite Black Bean Quinoa Bowls.

5. I finished a wonderful children's book, Esme Dooley, over the weekend that would be a fantastic read aloud, especially for Minnesota kids, because it takes place here!

6. Finally decided on a vacuum and am amazed at either how well it works, or how poorly my old vacuum performed.

7. Spring is so subtle here, and Minnesotans really do appreciate things that are only earned by months of frigid temps: seeing a robin and a woodpecker this morning, seeing our deck, playing catch.

8. As such, the next thing I'm greatly looking forward to is the sound of geese returning.

9. They are wise to wait a bit.

10. I'm planking again. That challenge in November was so great that I'm doing it again this month. There's something about the daily task of it that trains your muscles in a way that doing a plank here and there, even for longer periods, just can't accomplish. Here's to looking ahead to bathing suit season!

Photo-a-Day, January 2014: Part Six.

Top to bottom:

Jan 28 Fifth "snow" day, progressive party
Jan 29 My son at 10pm
Jan 30 actual snow, but not a snow day, 5-6 inches
Jan 31 My daughter at 10pm

Photo-a-Day, January 2014: Part Five.

 

 Top to bottom:

Jan 23 "Snow" Day number three, Suspend
Jan 24 no school, forts are for reading
Jan 25 Fisher gets his library card
Jan 26 after dinner reading
Jan 27 "Snow" Day number four, the Surprise Jar saved us, Muffin Tin Monday returns 

Ten on Tuesday.

1. I didn't apologize to my kids for not telling them these "muffins" were really a lot less muffin than cauliflower. They were just too yummy. I should have told them, though, because then they wouldn't have eaten them, and there'd have been more for me. For the record, they didn't like them. Pooh.

2. Over the weekend I read the book Wave, which I really and highly recommend. I enjoy memoirs a great deal, and this a tragic one, about the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, but it's just so very true, how she takes you right through it, and honest, how she deals with every harrowing moment in the years following the wave.

3. Have you heard? The Polar Vortex has returned. At least it's sunny.

4. My favorite day of the year is coming up: Spring Forward Day!

5. Alla cannot wait to hear Idina Menzel sing at the Oscars on Sunday!

6. Fisher is up to #25 in the Magic Tree House series and says he's going to read them all.

7. Alla is reading a great fractured fairy tale trilogy that starts with Half Upon a Time.

8. I am in desperate need of a new vacuum and am currently in research mode.

9. I cannot believe that Fisher's sixth birthday is next month.

10. But I am super happy that spring break is next month!!

Photo-a-Day, January 2014: Part Four.

Top to bottom:

Jan 18 Saturday morning train tracks
Jan 19 Afternoon stroll in the open space, hammock in the middle of the woods
Jan 20 Reading what they found at Half Price Books, family outing on MLK Day
Jan 21 Breakfast reading
Jan 22 Afternoon reading/snuggling in Mommy's warm quilt

I'm sensing a theme here! Lots of reading happened in January with The Return of The Polar Vortex.

Did you miss the rest of the month?
Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Today Fisher and I finished Zombie Baseball Beatdown, which is exactly as it sounds, and just a perfect read for a mom and her 5-year-old boy.

2. Ron and I ate the most amazing filet mignon for Valentine's Day.

3. I am patiently waiting for the arrival of daffodils at Trader Joes.

4. I am so over the Olympics. Ready for regular programming, thank you.

5. Current bedtime books: Ron has just finished reading the third Narnia book, and I am reading this lovely Australian trio of books about a boy named Jack.

6. Our family pretty much never eats breakfast before eight, lunch before noon, or dinner before six.

7. We awoke to 25 degrees this morning. Can't explain how balmy that felt, or how warm 40 felt by late afternoon.

8. We were all dragging a bit this morning, and Fisher told me, "I need more time."

9. My children lose an inordinate amount of crap.

10. As cold as it's been, we really haven't gotten tons of snow. Curse me now, but I could handle one really big snow storm.

Photo-a-Day: January 2014, Part Three.

 

Top to bottom:

 

Jan 13 Someone turned 37

Jan 14 Some birthday spoils

Jan 15 Looking at photo albums

Jan 16 Asian Scotch Eggs, yum

Jan 17 Afternoon screen time, Angry Birds

 

Catch up on part one and part two!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. I'm going to blame The Polar Vortex for my lack in blogging. We had five school days cancelled in January, which I don't think has ever happened in our school district.

2. What saved us during The Polar Vortex was The Surprise Jar, which for us was this: an alarm rang every hour for the kids to report to and pick from the jar containing slips of paper. They had to do what was on the paper (such as hug mommy, do 10 jumping jacks, read page 12 of any book, go change their outfit, etc.), or the jar went away for the day.

3. After The Polar Vortex we got about 5 inches of snow. Combined with the snow we already had (remember ours doesn't melt, it's all been here since December), we've got about 4-5 feet at the corner of our yard. Great fort going on out there.

4. What keeps me warm during Polar Vortex weather: Acorn socks and fleece-lined leggings.

5. Something I bought during the peak of zucchini season, then put away after I just didn't get to it, thinking it would take a lot of instruction-manual reading: the spiralizer. No reading required, and super entertaining for the kids.

6. I made a list of all the books I want to read aloud to the kids. It's long.

7. Seems we might have seen our last monarch butterfly. So sad.

8. Super Bowl food at our house -  nachos.

9. Just finished The Invention of Wings. Very good read.

10. Go make these raw cookie dough bites. Now.

Ten on Tuesday.

1. The family had a successful trip to Half Price Books on our Martin Luther King holiday. Successful in the year 2014 means that all four of us found a book. I am imagining that Success 50 and 60 years ago meant something else.

2. I believe I need to update my Photo-a-Day fun, but here's the last batch.

3. Alla starts an art class after school next week. She is delighted.

4. The family thoroughly enjoyed movie night at Daddy's work on Friday night. The movie of the month was Turbo, and the grown-ups were pleasantly surprised.

5. We are all about the Frozen soundtrack here. Goodness gracious.

6. We are sure hoping Idina Menzel will sing at the Oscar's.

7. We also love Pharrell's Happy but for us there is no contest, Frozen wins!

8. Yesterday Trader Joe's was out of shredded Brussels sprouts. Crisis.

9. I'm on book #5 so far in 2014 (I like to start out strong, I will surely meet a difficult or long book later in the year.), and 2 out of the 5 have been on my "Official 2014 To-Read List." Not sure if I should be proud of that or get myself back on track.

10. That said, the Newbery/Printz, etc awards are on Monday, which is a prime opportunity for me to add to my list!

Photo-a-Day: January 2014, Part Two.

Top to bottom:

Jan 6 Day one of cancelled school.
Jan 7 Day two of cancelled school.
Jan 8 Frozen eyelashes.
Jan 9 Citrus drink making.
Jan 10 Matching happy socks.
Jan 11 Tunneling.
Jan 12 This is a picture of an open window in January.

Ten on Tuesday.

1. I had a marvelous birthday yesterday and have been informed that I've now entered my late 30s. Not sure I like the sound of that, but moving on.

2. Fisher made sure to take a picture of me (with his V-Reader camera) at my birth time of 12:25 just as I do of them. Glad to see I'm rubbing off.

3. It was balmy yesterday in the upper 20s with sunshine, so this made for a very lovely morning run.

4. I got lots of reading material. Very exciting!

5. My husband woke up early to decorate with banners and streamers.

6. I made the most amazing brownies! No refined sugar or grain, awesome.

7. We woke up to fresh snow today, 3-4 inches, very pretty fresh white everywhere.

8. Not as fun to drive in, but provides a good workout when the plows come around and plow you in.

9. Looking forward to our birthday date this weekend at Butcher and The Boar!

10. The vegetable I'm obsessed with this week is butternut squash, already cubed from Costco, thank you, roasted and then put into my lunch salad. Delish!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. My delightful friend Erin introduced me to Meatza. Um, yes. Last Friday was therefore Meatza Friday for me!

2. I can't seem to keep carrots around. We seem to go through a 5-pound bag in as many days.

3. Have you heard about the cold weather here? We had two days of school cancelled! This is unheard of here in Minnesota, and in the 7 1/2 years we have lived here, there has only been one other cancellation, for snow. So we treated these two days as rare gifts and used them well.

4. Cold weather activities: domino course (me), Legos (kids), movies (kids), reading (everyone), beef stew, book-making (kids), and more rounds of Speed than I could possibly keep track of.

5. One of my favorite Christmas gifts was a jump rope from my mom. Also coming in handy in this cold weather.

6. We started an "Awesome Jar" for 2014 and are filling it with small slips of paper that list awesome things for this year.

7. Fisher is all about Lorde.

8. Ron is all about Hall & Oates.

9. Our whole family loved seeing Frozen over the holiday break.

10. The highlight of our day was when the temperature reached one degree (above zero), and we suited up for a walk on the frozen creek. Yes it was cold, but goodness was it beautiful out there.

Photo-a-day: January 2014.

I'm doing it again! It's been a very long time since I've tackled a January Photo-a-Day project, but it felt like it was time.

 You know what's fun? Looking back on old Photo-a-Day Januaries. Go ahead. See what I mean.

Lists With Friends: Books to Read in 2014.

Goodreads is just about the best thing to happen to readers, as it keeps track of all the books I've read and want to read, but I tend to get carried away and have ended up with over 500 books on my virtual to-read shelf. So at times I have to narrow the focus, keeping in mind that new books will come up and some how I will have to try and make room for them this year.

 

These are the books I most want to read this year.

Of course there are probably at least ten others I am thinking of right this moment that I would like to add, but I'm restraining myself because it's not a wish list, but rather I have prioritized, and this is the list I will actually read in 2014, among others, I hope, when I've finished these!

This is the first list in a series, part of a project with other list-minded friends.