In an effort to distract myself for a bit, I took your suggestions and made plans for the day. I had been meaning to take E. to the Hands-On Children's Museum, so it was a perfect start. We enjoyed the boat and water table, the lentil table, the mini-kitchen, and the garden, where E. harvested carrots and cucumbers:
Then off to Walmart to pick up grass seed to spot-repair the lawn and (per Nik) start E.'s own little grass garden. We got creative with the watering can sippy cup:
Charlotte's suggestion of pancakes sounded good, so I fixed breakfast for dinner. Which leads me to a couple of suggestions and a quick recipe for you:
Pancakes: I always use Bisquick; it's just easier. I halved the box recipe, added vanilla extract, and made them entirely no-mess by layering all the ingredients in a single large measuring cup and mixing well - 1 c. Bisquick, then add 1 c. milk, and an egg. They were easy to pour this way, too.
My mom's potatoes and eggs: cut a medium-sized red potato into cubes (you can use any potato, but this has good flavor and browns well) and brown in a skillet with olive oil over medium high heat. Once brown, add 4-6 eggs and scramble.
Serve with tortillas. This is how I grew up eating eggs (just like my Grandpa Hernandez): If you have a gas oven, heat your tortillas directly over a medium flame for a few seconds (toss the tortilla over the burner slightly off-center so you can pick it up and flip it easily). Tortillas taste so much better heated up this way, but you can nuke them for 15 seconds instead. Use pieces of your tortilla to pick up your eggs (crude, but yummy). E. demonstrates:
After dinner, we all cleaned up together (J. always helps with dishes and E. is learning to dry and put away silverware). Then we rested on the couch with an episode of Little House on the Prairie. It was a good day. I hope to have more of them as we go through this process. I hope you'll have patience with me if I get melancholy at times. All change is difficult, but this is especially hard for me.
sounds like a wonderful day! my boys and I need a day like that- we've been cooped up in the house over a week now with sickness! it's still unbelievably cold here (a record cold march for anchorage) and we still have 1-2 feet of snow on the ground. i'm starting to lose it and the kids are bored out of their skulls.... as soon as we are all better i will have to splurge on an outing! glad you had a good day!
Posted by: stephanie | 03/26/2007 at 12:04 AM
Glad you were able to rest and distract yourselves with fun activiites.
Watching the grass grow will keep you busy, it will be exciting to see the first specks of green popping up.
Posted by: Deb | 03/25/2007 at 07:24 AM
Sounded wonderful! What a yummy meal - breakfast for dinner is my favorite. What a great idea with the grass too. Glad you had fun!
-Andrea
Posted by: Andrea | 03/24/2007 at 11:30 AM
What a fabulous day! Especially ending with Little House on the Prarie. I still love that show.
Posted by: KBG | 03/23/2007 at 10:02 PM
oooo, that was so nice to read that you went out and had some fun with E...mixed up the routine, invented your own adventures, that all your friends were of some help to you. I remember that kind of day when they were little and life just seemed so "daily", so unyielding. You did a marvelous thing for your family, for you- one that she will remember in surprising ways. You are quite special, Crystal...E is lucky to be yours. xoC
Posted by: charlotte | 03/23/2007 at 08:30 PM
crystal - I think change is especially hard, but the next few months will be tough as J transitions. When Brian got out of the CG, we knew it was right for us, but he continued to doubt whether he made the right decision & "what if" I finally sat down & told him we cant keep wondering what if, we have to live w/the choices we made - it was the best thing for us when the decision was made. Just trust that you are making the right decisions and it will work out.
Take care & enjoy the little things.
Keri
Posted by: keri | 03/23/2007 at 05:36 PM
what an amazing day. i'm glad you guys had the chance to spend that time together. :)
Posted by: lara | 03/23/2007 at 05:24 PM
Good for you! Sounds like fun was had by all :)Let me now how your grass garden grows!!!
XO-Nik
Posted by: Nikki | 03/23/2007 at 03:05 PM