Holidays and Hikes

Well to date we are five for five! We have now successfully celebrated: Eat a Red Apple Day, Fritters Day, Make a Gift Day, Wear Brown Shoes Day and Day of the Ninja. Tomorrow is Put on Your Own Shoes Day and then we might have some issues on Microwave Oven Day! See what's coming up: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/fun/.

Some have been more momentous than others. Fritters day was the most fun as I experimented with four kinds of fritters for our breakfast with the kids' friends: spinach, corn, lemon ricotta and blueberry applesauce. We all had different favorites (which is better than all fighting over the same one). We all made a gift for someone on Sunday (appropriate holiday for early December) and yesterday I even modified my work outfit in order to pull my brown sandals out rather than black. Today was a bit of a stretch and I was very glad for the girls' creative thinking: they suggested we make something in our Ninja. So we'll soon enjoy hot drinks with chocolate ricotta mousse made in our Ninja!

Our weekend included special times with friends, hosted in our home and taking a meal to a friend and his fiance who recently had surgery. Good times were had making music, making balloon pets, carving a pumpkin, putting on plays, and then on Sunday we took a hike to the lake as a family. We were "behind" in our goals for the week - the self-care and family relationship nurturing goals - so we had to "cram" a lot into Sunday. Jason and I enjoyed a jog in the morning before our hike and then I got to cuddle and read to Alida for bed. The day really was beautiful and the time together special. There were a few hiccups in our carefully laid out plans. But as I look at the pictures from the hike, I'm glad to remember mostly the positive parts of the day, including harvesting freeze dried persimmons for a mid-hike snack and seeing the sun make a fireworks show on the lake.

The hike ended with yet another bad dog experience, for our middle daughter this time. It feels like despite our best efforts, we keep having run ins that feel like they set us back considerably - feels like one step forward and two steps back.  We plan to take a step forward this Thursday as we have made an appointment to pay to play with puppies at a local place that breeds golden retrievers. Let's hope taking a good chunk out of the day for this outing is a worthwhile expenditure of time and money. I hope it can be a positive and fun experience for all, but especially our two youngest gals.

After the unfortunate dog experience, Terah (who we really needed to nap on our hike prior to an afternoon music concert) was wide awake. So I was feeling upset and concerned that we might take a napless child to a concert in which children were not to make any noise (except those singing). I walked ahead of the rest of the family and at one point Terah wanted to hold my hand and then she started singing and singing. It was cute, very cute, BUT she was supposed to be sleeping. Here's a clip - taking just a few minutes before sleep overtook her. Phew!