It seems like whenever life gets busy, blogging is pretty low on the priority list. Which makes sense, but at the same time, bc its busy, that usually means the stuff we're doing is worth recording! So prepare for yet another post of high lights.
-A long time ago, we started hearing about this hit broadway play Hamilton. And next thing I knew my brother, and then shortly after that, my Dad were obsessed with it. It got to the point where I had memorized a bunch of the lyrics, and was sick of hearing them, not having ever really 'listened' if you will. So finally, when our family went on a road trip to Crater Lake, we decided to listen to it audio book style. By the end, Lester and understood the obsession and shared it, and we listened to it again the entire way back. Maybe that makes us bandwagoners, but I don't care-worth it. So when a year or so later our friend Connie told us where we could get tickets for a reasonable price, we grabbed at it. Somehow, even with all the high expectations its still lived up to it [with the live music, amazing choreography, set, etc etc] ! And it was fun being able to share it with Luke as well. [We saw it at the Orpheum, and since we got there early we were able to explore the library next to it, which was amazing too.] And when taken with a grain of salt, I love that it is getting people interested a little bit more in looking into history. So that was amazing!
-St Patrick's Day came and went, and I feel like we finally mastered our corned beef [basted with mustard and peppercorn and herbs] and cabbage [roasted with red potatoes and onion soup mix on top], and will be doing it this way from now on [with Irish soda bread of course]. A mischevious leprachaun also turned the girls milk green, which was shocking. It was a fun little day.
-The weather has been really bipolar lately, but we've been trying to make the most of it. We've had a lot of beautiful beach and outdoor days [my Mom even taught the girls to make giant bubbles at the beach one day!], soccer fun, zoo days, indoor Academy days, and educational do-projects-at-home days [a favorite for the girls was geography, and geology lessons, where we did a 'gem dig'].But all the off again/on again rain has also made everything around here so goregously green and springy. We've been loving hanging out with our friends at bonfires, and having people over on rainy days. So we like the variety there is in that!
-The girls had their first ever dentist appointment! I honestly should have done it way sooner, but they both were late teethers and are pretty good and all that stuff, so I didn't worry. In the end it went great-the girls showed off their counting and alphabet skills, and were so easy going. All the staff were so nice and impressed with them, and we walked away with a good report of no cavities! So that was a fun little milestone! Isla also finished her potty chart. So we are onto undies, which feels crazy! I wish they would just be my little best friends forever.
-Easter is coming up, so we've been having some fun with activties and stuff regarding that! The primary put on a great shin dig for it, we had some friends over for Easter egg dyeing, and before my Mom and Same headed out of town, we had my Grandma Chandler over for an early Easter dinner, complete with her traditional Easter cake [which she's been making every year since 1955]. So that has all been great fun, and a good introduction to Spring and the feeling of renewal and rebirth!
-Mariah and Ross came for a visit and we got to do a little exploring, some fun game playing, and lots of baking while they were here. We can't wait for them to move back out to CA so we can do things together more often.
-This month for book club I brought my kids and a key lime pie along, and we got together at Becca's [who graciously hosted] to discuss the book [Big Little Lies] and hang out. As always, it was so fun, and I have been loving this excuse we all have to get together more often, and still learn new things FROM and ABOUT each other, even after all these years. Afterwards, Lisa and Becca braved a movie with my and my girls and we saw the recent version of Beauty and the Beast. It was a fun day!
-As far as food goes, we've tried some new places, made some new things, but currently, the one we've been working on the most is our pizza. Pizza is a wonderful things bc it can be as basic and easy as you want [its one of the first meals I ever made when we were newlyweds], or as advanced, complicated and fancy as you want. Anywho, Lester and I both love Napoleta style pizza most of all, and its something we wanted to learn how to make ourselves. However, every time we've tried, we've had issues [for one, most Napoleta pizza's are cooked in a wood fired oven, which can range in tempatures, but at the LOWEST is round 600 degrees, and typically higher and with much more room for multiple pizzas and an even bake. Most home/commercial ovens only go up to 500-550.] This was just one of several issues, including the dough ratio and flour content being different here [naples pizza flours are typically 00, which we have here, but you just have to get it specially.]
I know most people think this all sounds like a ridiculous amount of work, time and even money to put into it. But I suppose most hobbies are that way-like I will never get how someone spends so much on car hobbies, art supplies or camera stuff, or decorating bc its not my thing-but I can definetly respect it. Its good for the soul, which means its worth the investment if you will. This is how I feel about food. But anyways-Lester's friend Chris [who was a chef] reccomended The Elements of Pizza cookbook by Ken Forkish to us if we were serious about it. And finally, after reading it cover to cover like a novel [one I actually couldn't put down bc it was so interesting] we've had success! And now we are making pizza once a week, always margerhita, but others to, like meat lovers, pesto mushroom, 5 cheese, broccoli alfredo, arugula and marinara etc. And those are just the ones we've tried so far! So this has made my little foodie heart go pitter patter on the regular. I think, just like any skill or hobby, you may not be good at something or instantly knowledgeable to begin with-honestly, for me thats often how I feel with new cuisines. Apart from baking, I am often learning, and experimenting with food for the first time-and often not successfully! But when you put in the research, time, work and investment in anything, you can gain most any skill! So I love it.
I also got to teach some friends from church about challah bread and how to make it-and its another easy and versatile one. And of course, there have been a few other fun things we've tried, like tarts my MIL taught me how to make. So much good food out there, so little time.
-We checked another thing off our bucket list and went to the MOMA today. This was a departure from our normal art appreciation, since neither of us has much experience with modern art. But in the end it was great, and we learned a lot. There were pieces and parts we loved, and once we didn't get at all haha-but again, no matter what we could respect it. We've come to the conclusion that impressionist and other classic kinds of art need no explanation and you can instantly admire-but with modern art, its more about memories, feelings it invokes, and the things it brings to mind. So, cool and interesting! Thanks to Tori and Vivi for joining us, making it that much more awesome, and for joining us for a fancy fun artistic lunch!
-And lastly, but most importantly, we are beyond ecstatic to share that we are pregnant, and with our very own beautiful boy. That said, I think every kid deserves their own day in the sun, and at very least their own post, so I will write more about him, how we found out, both that he was coming, and about who he is, and how excited we are in its own post, just for him later on. Again, I can't express how excited [and a tiny bit nervous] we are about him and his entrance into our lives. So this has been the biggest high light of all, and I'm sure will continue to be for quite a while! We love you baby boy!
So rather then another update post, the next time you hear from me, it will be all little brother. As always, life has its rough moments, but has generally been really beautiful lately. Hope its the same for others out there!
