Fish Fry*

If I decided to be real for a minute here on this little space of mine I would be posting pics of our true spring "vacation."  Including but not limited to the photo of Ben fixing the toilet, the front row parking spot snagged at Costco, soccer practice, Ian's not quite pink eye, and me logging 40 plus hours in bed working on my national teaching license. Fortunately B decided enough was enough and planned us a family getaway to smooth the rocky non-break-break waters.  So, with the promise of a hot tub I packed my swimsuit and climbed aboard the Hsiehwagon.
With the what-why-where and how's all covered I only had to read my In Style and complain to my understanding husband that I don't own enough nautical themed clothing.  Now on a normal day I would be the first one scouring trip advisor to find the best scones and can't miss vintage hat shops but man it was liberating to barely even know where we were going.
Which as it turned out was Astoria.  We've always talked about witnessing where the mighty Columbia crashes her way into the Pacific and it's a surprisingly short drive. The forecast called for 100% showers but this privileged spouse of mine has yet to see an hour of rain on the Oregon Coast.  He still cannot believe what all us natives are complaining about.  I swear that the clouds parted as we pulled into the deserted parking lot and we spent an hour wandering under sunny-enough skies.  It was exactly the kind of beauty we all needed this week.

 100 year old shipwreck on the beach was little boo's major highlight

Mama's just enjoying the ride

 captain Ian

 our album cover

 Miss A's highlight was hide and go seek in the grass

 Wandering, collecting, breathing, hiding, laughing, exploring

 Isn't there some saying about how climbing 350 stairs to the top of an old lighthouse cures pink eye?  Poor sweet boy did not get to play his sick card on this trip.  We owe you one buddy.

 almost there

 he did get to do this cool tradition of flying a wooden airplane off the top

 I see it!

 We rocked Astoria!

 And after exploring the cable, free breakfast, and two trips to the pool riches of the Best Western we packed up and headed home.  Our new M.O. of travel is to get a little bit lost and then use some navigation to find our way home.  This time we decided to take this cool bridge up to Washington.

 The windy road along the Columbia was so breathtaking I couldn't even finish my In Style.  

It is hard to express how much I needed to go off script for a few days.  But even though we logged some miles in the Hsieh adventure book I've got my eyes on the bigger prize, and it's only 70 days away.

*As in bigger fish to fry.  As in summer vacation.  As in being off of work for 10 straight weeks.  As in having nothing to do but pick berries, bake pie, sleep in, swim, and travel.  B thinks I need to be a little clearer in my titles.

R-ava-lation

Ava:  Mommy, I wish I knew when the world was going to end.

Me: Why?

Ava:  So I could make sure we were all together holding hands when we go up to heaven.

Me:  I understand that feeling very well.

Ava:  I don't think the world is ever going to end though because people keep having babies.

Me:  Well I don't think the world is going to end.  I think God is going to make it a perfect and beautiful place when He is ready.

Ava:  Yay!!!  Ian, God's going to make our house out of gummy bears!

Me:  Yes, exactly.  Theology lesson.  Done and done.

house arrest

Well its more of the same around these parts.  Our world is a one-inch white blanket of snow.  Time has lost any real meaning.  There are whispers of school being cancelled again tomorrow, or not if the rain washes it all away in time.  Either way I'm just hoping I remember how to do regular things like put on makeup and navigate my way through a grocery store.  The wee babes have pioneered like snow days are their Olympic destiny.   

Let's just admit that this is what I've looked like for some 75 odd hours.  Mmmm-kay.  If the non-washing-dressing-shaving snowstorm streak continues Ben is in for a treat of a Valentine's Day.

Ian:  Mommy, my teacher Alicia said that she left her coffee in her car overnight and it froze!

Me:  Cool!

Ian:  Yeah, lets put a bunch of coffee outside tonight and see what happens.

Me:  How about water?

Ian:  Ok!

 Sabrina loves a good science experiment

And of course the long days call for a little crafting.

We attempted a walk to justify all of our hot chocolate intake, which promptly ended in an Ian faceplant 

 I so won that snowball fight but lost the argument for implants

Pulling out the big guns tools with daddy

Desperate times

Today we rallied into non-flannel and journeyed far and wide walked over 2 houses for the cutest 3 year old ever's birthday party.  Chocolate pancakes with ice cream for breakfast + crafts + the Frozen soundtrack on repeat = a rockin good time had by all.  Happy birthday sweetie pie!

Kat & the gang

So if you would have told me a week ago that I would be I would be intimately involved with the details of olympic athletes or that I would even know what an event called the skeleton was, or that I would have sewn an actual dress with my daughter and had time to organize my craft box I would have given you my crazy look (see above photo).  Thankfully I am not one to easily dismiss the joys of a five day hibernation.  Maybe ask me again if this is still the case a week from now, but these wonky rhythms are right up my heated-down-comforter-and-no-alarm-clock alley.

the sparkliest of detours and some soup

There were rumors swirling about on Wednesday and apparently mad rushes on grocery stores and gas stations but I was too busy packing lunches and sweeping floors and whining about not watching enough tv to notice.  And in our usual frenzy of a morning I shoved the gang out the door and we all headed into our day.  But somewhere between my kiddos coating their bodies in cornstarch and shaving cream

 and escaping death while rolling each other through the mat room in a doughnut, school was cancelled.
So I packed up Ian, drove the treacherous freeway home and we promptly took a nap.  My other two roomies slowly filed in like wet puppies and I received news that the city of Portland had collectively decided to throw in the towel and call the week a wrap.

After living in Chicago for ten years there is just something adorable about the panic that sets in over six inches of snow.  Here, there is no alternative.  There are no snow plows and salt trucks to set the roads right.  There is just the hope that your neighbor has chains you can borrow to go buy milk at any store brave enough to keep their doors open.
 I'm giddily aware that the best days aren't spent so much as wasted away with whimsy.  That the only thing I need to remember is to have mugs of hot cocoa ready for the taking. ( 1cup Ghiradelli's dark chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons sugar, 4 cups of hot milk and an immersion blender for the frothing:  bonus points for whipped cream, candy canes, marshmallows, caramel drizzle, and /or Kahlua)

 daddy gets a ride

Sabrina contemplating the new fireplace decor

 Only the essentials could bring them back inside to warm up.

Discussing important business with Tia

 Best Baked Potato Soup

 It's all about the toppings

 Trust me on this one:

Creamy Potato Soup

1-2 Lbs. Potatoes (I used 4 goldens but baby reds and a couple russets would work great) cut into spoon sized pieces

4 slices bacon (or more, whatever) diced

2 stalks celery diced

1 big onion diced

4 cups milk

1 cup water 

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 chicken bouillon cubes (or use chicken stock for the water & up the salt)

4 T butter

4T flour

1/4 cup heavy cream

green onions, chedder cheese, roasted garlic? for toppings

Boil the potatoes for 10 minutes, drain & let sit.  Use kitchen shears to cut up the bacon into small pieces and cook over medium until crispy.  Remove with a slotted spoon. (You can drain the bacon fat and use something else but it adds a ton of flavor)  Add the onion and celery to the bacon grease and cook about 5 minutes until soft.  Add the milk, water, bouillon cubes, salt and pepper and cook until hot but not really boiling, about 8 minutes.  In a small saucepan, melt the butter and cook until boiling, then add the flour to make a roux.  Cook for a minute or two to get rid of any flour-y taste and add some browned butter flavor.  Slowly add the roux to the soup while stirring.  Cook until thickened then add the potatoes and a splash of heavy cream.  Taste for seasonings.  Top with green onions, chedder cheese, roasted garlic (I've never tried it but it sounds yummy), and the leftover bacon bits.  Serve with buttermilk biscuits and jam or honey.  Enjoy the standing ovation from your family.

The goods...thursday edition

Did you hear that?  It was the sound of my heart's quiet applause as the sun fought for her place in the sky until a solid 5pm.  I know some of my peeps are buried under dozens of inches of fluffy white snow but here there is just enough sunshine to send my soul daydreaming about those lazy days ahead. Is it possible to be content with where you're at and still pine for the next chapter?  I say yes.
And until the days stretch long and my wardrobe consists of maxi-dresses and flip flops I will find solace in JCrews clearance section (50% off!)...Ina's dreamy Banana Crunch Muffins (use unsweetened coconut)...winter flower bouquets 3 weeks strong (yay for carnations!)...

in house date nights (high five Redbox and take out Thai food!) ...my Bon Appetite subscription (I forgive you for the January health issue, Toasted spelt soup with escarole and white beans, really BA?)...quiet mornings shaking off my insecurities (who knew there was so much hope in Job?  Grab some tissues and read 39:1-3) and empty calories (dang you Ina!)...my two smoochies playing like champs every Saturday a.m....aaand weekend trips hunting waterfalls

enjoying his last few hurrahs in the backpack

 Throwing rocks into the current

 sweetie pie

 self take

So maybe I haven't read a book in six months, we ate chocolate pancakes for dinner and I currently can't find my fridge,

it's almost February!  And nothing delivers more cheer than a preschooler reciting poetry.  I give you Winter Sweetness...by Langston News (What?  He was a real person.)