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I have been pretty preoccupied with the task of preparing for an infant resuscitation course that I took today.  Please, if I ever say that I want to go back to college- remind me of this post.  Man, it was so hard to study whilst being a mom!  My ability to retain information has really gone down the tubes.  I would almost venture to say that my brain in turning to mush.  Happy mush.  I love learning, but on my own terms...and yes, learning to help non-breathing babies is a valuable skill- but it wasn't my first pick in books to read or subject material.  Thankfully, I passed with flying colors (you would be amazed at what some of the Family Practitioners don't know, there were some in my class today).  Glad its over.

A few days ago I did manage to crank out a little bag for Hannah's best friend.  If it weren't for the accountability of all these birthdays...not sure any sewing would get done around here.

 

I used the pattern from Lotta Jansdotter's book for the Simple Tote, then just added some yo-yos.  I loved how it turned out.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that there will be several more of these made in the future.  We filled it with sticker books, nifty pens, and a fun little pair of flip flops. My children just bless me so much when they proudly offer handmade gifts to their friends.  When I suggested to Hannah that we make something for her friend, I expected her to roll her eyes and ask if we could buy her a pink Barbie with glitter eye shadow or something.  Instead, she lit up and said, "I was hoping you would have time!"  Sweet, sweet girls. Sweet bag too, no?

First and Last

Hi!  This is me:

And this is what I did Sunday:

My first time skiing in about 10 years on the last day of the season. I grew up skiing. I have mentioned that before.  I have also mentioned the correlation between the number of years it has been since I have skied and the number of years that I have been married.  My sabbatical is over now.  I am hooked again.  And, whether or not he likes it- I am hooking my husband in too.  The kids won't be far behind.  With free Free FREE season's passes for next year (Carl does the mountain's website) for the whole family...there are no longer any valid excuses.

I went with my friend Camille.

She shreds! (see, I picked up some lingo when I was up there.)  Her husband Brian also came along.

He shreds too, but seems to be better at plowing through his brown glass bottled beverages carried around in his backpack.  I was giggling all day at the amount of alcohol consumption I witnessed on the mountain (not just my friends).  I guess all those people don't really care about physical coordination when they are flying down the side of the mountain at high rates of speed.  Me...I needed all the strength I could muster. A lot has changed in the 10 years that I have be out of the loop.  For one, people wear helmets now? I still haven't figured out how to look cool in mine yet.  Also, I was pretty sure that the rental guy had me mixed up with someone a foot shorter than me when he handed me skis that I was much taller than.  They are so much shorter that the ones I grew up on!  And the tickets are now attached to your ski coat by a little zip tie...no more metal hangers.  Each time I skied up to the chair at the bottom of the mountain I was scanned like an item at the grocery counter.  Freaky.

I completed the rite of passage that each new skier to the mountain must complete...I touched the bomber wing of an airplane that crashed there years ago.  It is supposed to be good snow mojo or something like that.

I also ran into a sign that my peeps back home would appreciate :)

Great view huh?  That is the Columbia River in the background.  It looks like a painted backdrop.  The weather was fairly clear. It was a great day and I am not too regretful today.  I wasn't sure that I would make it out of bed this morning, but I am surprisingly not sore!  Maybe it'll hit me tomorrow?  So, I did make it up for the first time in a long time, on the last day of the season...can't wait until next year!

contentment

Another birth last night.  The call came just as I was getting out of the shower at 10:00pm last night.  My instructions were to get there as soon as I possibly could.  The adrenaline began flowing immediately.  I think that I toweled off, changed my clothes twice (I should just get some scrubs because trying to figure out what to wear to these deals is so stressful) slapped on some deodorant, brushed my teeth, kissed my husband (explaining where I was going whilst walking out the door) and made it to the birth center in about 17 minutes.  The baby was born at 10:37pm.  No joke.  A very quick birth.  I was home and in bed by 1:30am.  My confidence is starting to build and I am so thankful for the people who have been patient with me as I learn how to fit in as a birth assistant.  It has been (and this will sound corny with cheese on top) like a real dream of mine coming true. Told you.

The girls were home sick today.  Tough winter for us and germs.   I thought with the warmer weather upon us (sort of) that all this flu stuff would be over.  Not so much.  They were not miserable however, and if the truth were told- I loved having all 3 of them with me for the entire day.  The pace of life slows waaaay down when we are not rushing here and there around the school schedule.  Something that I desperately needed.  A slower pace. A pace slow enough for "dining room table forts" made from blankets- perfect for some reading.

A pace slow enough for elaborate train tracks and imaginary travels.

And cookies, cookies are always good (especially when most of the crew did not have much of an appetite- more for me!!)

I highly recommend Bob and his Little Red Mill- the yummiest stuff is made there.  This muesli mix is tasty on its own...but on the package there is also a super easy recipe for cookies using this cereal.  Throw in a few mini chocolate chips and you have a small bite of heaven.

We were in our pajamas until 4pm. Pretty sure that no one brushed their teeth before then either.  It was jus one of those days where I felt totally and completely content. Me, us...at home. No place I would rather be.