Currently | April 2019

Ah, an oldie but one of my favorite ways to tell the story of right now.

So here goes:

Listening to Musical soundtracks.  After Sofia's show this weekend I've had the Into the Woods soundtrack on repeat on Spotify.  And then I listen to Dear Evan Hansen.

Reading  Sourdough but have lost interest in the story.  I am 3/4 of the way through and will finish but I'm not super excited by the story any more.  I'll push through and move on.  I am listening to The Heart's Invisible Furies and absolutely loving it!! I also picked up The Path Made Clear at Target and am reading that one before bed.

Clearing my desk off at the end of every work day. Putting my word clarity into practice.  Clearing off my desk and putting everything in order so when I walk in in the morning I can start fresh and not feel overwhelmed. it's actually making me more productive.  

Going to a Dodger game this weekend. It's Cody Bellinger bobble head night and Sofia must be there.

Watching Game of Thrones to refresh our memories.  To be honest, we thought the new season started last weekend and just had time to watch the last episode of season 7. With a week to go we have been catching up on the best of the best.  We are huge fans of GOT.  Looking forward to the new season and all that is to come.

Hoping to get some cool things at the Notre Dame event this weekend.  They always have great items at the silent auction. The live auction is beyond my means but they also have a raffle and grand raffle. 

Eating out a lot this week. We have Volleyball games, a softball game/ practice/batting lessons, meeting at Notre Dame, an event at CHA, youth group.  It's hard to plan when people aren't in the same place at the same time.  Maybe next week I'll plan a weekly menu.

Making lasagna soup for an event at school on Friday.  It's one of my favorite events of the year.  The middle school students make bowls and the staff makes the soup. Parents bring food to donate to the food pantry and they take home a bowl. It's a fun community event.

Wondering if I have 92 more stories to tell.

Writing for 8 days in a row is a win.

Smells like Team Spirit

This is really 2 stories.

The first story is that I am blogging again.  Well at least today. I'm back to where it all started because I can't remember the password for the other blog.  And it's kind of fun to look back at the posts here.  I haven't done a post since 2016!

The real story is the one from today. The story of the guy who manages his daughter's softball team.  Who put his heart in every game, every practice, every girl.  That's the story.

This season has been rocky.  He has a monster team but they just haven't gotten it together to play as a team.  There have been some wins but more losses. Some really close games and some games that just leave you shaking your head in disbelief.  But he believes. He believes in every single player. In the potential of the team to beat any other team in the league.

What makes him special as a coach is the same thing that makes him special as a human.  He is a good person. He gives people the benefit of the doubt. He is forgiving and kind.  He never loses his cool but fights for what he believes in.  I've seen it in different situations.

I always worry that people don't really understand his intentions.  Why he makes choices on the field.  Parents can be tough. I hear them in the stands.  But he knows his role. He has to take it sometimes. And he's the first to admit when he's made the wrong choice. To take the blame for a decision, or indecision. He's not too proud to say, that was my fault.  Even if it means being yelled at or blamed.  I think he is protected by a suit of armor worthy of a Game of Thrones battle.

Today at the team meeting, after an exciting game but a tough loss, he talked to the girls about working on strategy.  The focus of the season being on learning the strategy of the game more than the batting and catching. It's what will elevate them as players, gaining value not just winning games.

After the coaches spoke, one of the girls raised her hand and talked about how much Bobby has helped her believe in her ability to be a better player.  She said it was his belief in her that made her play better - and she's doing amazing. Isn't that what this is all about?

Taking on leadership roles gives you the chance to do great things, or just to make sure terrible things don't happen.  But it also exposes you to criticism, blame, and frustration. Some people can take it. Some people deal with it for the greater good. They withstand criticism without always getting to tell their side, because that's not the point. They absorb the frustration and take the blame. It's not always fair but it comes with the territory.

2016 weekly menu #5

hello.
it's me.
i've been wondering if after all these months you'd like to speak.
to go over, everything.

i know.  where have you been?
i'm sure each and every one of you has worried about what to make for dinner because i wasn't posting my menu.

are you back?
yes.
well, sort of.
well, for now.

why now? 
because today i felt like writing.

is it crazy? 
man you ask a lot of questions.
yes.
i haven't blogged here since october 22.
since then a lot has happened; 3 jobs, 1 new blog, lots and lots of kid activities, holidays, fun, laughter, and great food. it's kind of sad to not have it documented here.
but i'm not going dwell. instead i am going to move forward.

so let's catch up later, shall we?
instead let's post the menu, cause i need this structure back in my life, badly.

so here you go:

weekend eats
saturday: chicken wraps from california chicken cafe - after a very long swim meet.
sunday: mexican food

making this week
monday:  chicken won ton soup, orange chicken, rice
tuesday: salmon with avocado cream, potatoes, salad
wednesday: rosemary pork burgers, salad
thursday: chopped salad
friday: pizza

and in case you haven't heard, i'm collaborating with my sister and our friend jennifer on a new lifestyle blog, sense & serendipity.  we are having a blast and would love for you to take a look. lots in store for this year.

and i hope you'll come back here soon. i promise i will.

weekend wins and losses

we are in the thick of craziness when it comes to weekends.  most of them include a friday night football game, a band review, a softball game and a swim meet.  that is the starting point.  then we add birthday parties and special events and we are maxxed out of time. but we always manage and we always try to have fun.

this weekend the fun started with a dodger game on thursday afternoon.

win: getting last minute tickets to the final game of the nlds playoffs at dodger stadium and making it a date night.  with the series tied at 2-2 and the game being played at home, we were hoping to celebrate a victory with the sold out crowd.  dodger games have become our thing.  something fun that we like to do together and somehow we were lucky enough to get seats for what turned out to be the final game of their season. win or lose, we love la.

loss:  well, the dodgers lost.  what was so painful was that they were ahead for most of the game.  the electricity in the crowd was overwhelming at times.  everyone swinging their rally towels in excitement as the mets went down inning after inning.  and then, just like that, things changed.  it was heartbreaking and frustrating.

bonus win:  getting out of the stadium before the last out, getting out of the parking lot before the traffic jam and getting to notre dame with 10 minutes to spare before jordan got out.

win: going to the homecoming game on friday night.  the halftime show was a tribute to willy wonka and the chocolate factory.  the band wore colorful shirts instead of their usual football uniforms and played songs from the movie.  only one more home game and then their season is over.

loss: well, they lost.  and it was another tough one to witness.  they were ahead for most of the game and made some incredible passes and touchdowns but it just wasn't enough.

loss: bobby and jordan having to get up early on saturday to get on the bus and drive the truck to riverside for a parade.  parade season can be hard on these kids, especially after a late game the night before.  everyone is exhausted and yet they have to perform and be judged.  somehow they always manage to pull it off.

win: they won 2nd place in their category.  the drum major won 1st place overall.  and it wasn't 102 degrees like it was at the previous parade.

win: another fun, emotional, and happy bat mitzvah to celebrate.  andrew's friends are all turning 13 and bar/bat mitzvahs have been on our schedule since the summer.  what a great party this was with a carnival theme.  there were game booths, a candy station, photo booth, and lots of dancing.

loss: not having my dancing partner with me.  both the parade and the mitzvah were at the same time so we had to divide and conquer.  he was missed.

win: taking sofia to see annie at the pantages theater.  i had never seen a professional production of it so this was a first for me as well.  we went with her girl friends from school who were all excited to see it together.

loss: finding out that the actress who plays annie was not doing the show that night.  we saw the understudy, angelina, instead.

bonus win: finding out that she was having dinner at the table next to us before the show. she came over to the table to say hello and got them excited to see the play.  after the show we went to the stage door to get her autograph and picture.  this girl was incredible in the part.  and what a doll. she spoke with such poise and confidence to the girls. she's the same age as sofia and looks like she would fit right in, doesn't she?

win: getting to spend some time with my friend from high school when she came to visit from seattle.  she has been a dear friend to both my sister and i and always has been a part of our family.  we had so much to catch up on but it was wonderful to just have her near and share stories of our time together.

loss: having to say goodbye. it was too short of a visit and with all of the other things going on this weekend i missed out on spending all of my time with her. also this photo is missing two boys; one is in spain the other was in bed resting after a tough swim meet.

bonus win: we are making plans to go to seattle next year.  we'll just have to find a weekend that isn't so busy.

2015 weekly menu #43

smoked salmon tartines from le pain quotidien

what a week and what a weekend.  we know the fall is a busy time for our family with football, parade and softball season but then you add in a (part-time) job, bar/bat mitzvahs, school plays, and halloween and there is barely enough breathing room on the calendar.

we have a few more weeks of insanity before we can relax...if at all.  and then thanksgiving, christmas and the new year will be upon us and there will be other things taking up our time.

i really needed the 75 minutes in yoga class this morning to breath, focus and remind myself to be present along the way.

this week looks a little gentler for us.  let's hope it stays that way.

weekend eats
saturday: bat mitzvah late lunch/small meal before going to see annie
sunday: mexican food

making this week
monday:  chinese food from trader joe's
tuesday: lasagna soup, garlic bread
wednesday: enchilada casserole, salad
thursday: halibut with bacony corn saute
friday: football game

i couldn't even tell you what we ate last week.  lots of take out or leftovers.  we had meetings and band practice and a baseball game and a homecoming game.  feeling a lot better about staying on track this week.

have a happy monday!

double digits

this little girl turned 10 on wednesday.  her abundant energy and dramatic flair keeps our home alive and unpredictable.  

for the past week she's been reminding me that i will no longer have children in the single digits.  it's the sad truth.  

with this birthday we leave behind a little innocence,  some childishness, we are made to grow up. but just a little bit.  

she has been mature and grown up since she was 3. but now i see it in her beautiful face. the baby face is almost gone and she is looking like a young girl.  but she will still talk in her baby voice, snuggle with me when she wants some love, and wrap her hand around her daddy's to feel safe. and we'll enjoy that for as long as we can.

she is our risk taker.

her confidence exudes from every pore of her being.

she has a wicked sense of humor.

she is creative and expressive.

she is a thinker and an innovator.

her friendships are meaningful and compassionate.

she has an incredible memory that she is using to her advantage.

she is brave but not fearless.

she is strong willed - always has been.

her love is limitless but her pain is too.

she will carry on a conversation with anyone.
she has amazing insight and instinct.

sofia enjoyed her birthday. there were donuts at school and an appreciation circle where each of her classmates told her why they are thankful for her.  yes, i was in tears.  they really know her and their comments were thoughtful.  dinner with my family was a big party - just like she wanted.  today we are taking her and her girlfriends to a taping of liv and maddie.  the best part is, they have no idea.  this weekend we celebrate with softball friends and more family.

on wednesday when i tucked her into bed she said, "the best present i got today was being with my family and friends and feeling loved. . . and the barbie dream house."

she is truly a loved little girl and i couldn't be more proud of the young woman she is becoming.

happy birthday sweet sofia!
with love,
mom

weekend highlights and weekly menu #41

caramel cream pie recipe from shugarysweets.com

weekend highlights

getting to see elizabeth gilbert talk about her new book big magic.  she read the first few pages outloud which was awesome.  then she talked about her creative process, troubles and doubts.  she also did a q&a giving some insight into what she believes about creativity, fear and the need to make something.

we each got a book that she pre-signed.  her explanation for why she was not doing a signing line and photos was also inspiring.  the power of setting boundaries for your own good.

celebrating this night with my sister.

saturday was for swim meets and pie baking.  jordan and bobby were at a swim meet early in the morning.  it was a two day meet with jordan swimming in 6 events. this gave jordan entry times for future meets since he's new to club swimming and gave him a good idea of how he compares to other swimmers.  may have been too early after a football game but he pulled through.

i stayed home and finished some work and got started on our pies.  this one is bobby's cha apple pie.  he made this all on his own and is getting to be quite the pie maker.  he's looking forward to thanksgiving.

the pie above was my entry to the pie contest.  it looked so pretty.

before it got smashed in the fridge at the headmaster's house. i'm to blame for this.  but guess what? i won second place.  guess they judged on taste and not appearance.  loved this pie and will be making it again for the holidays.

our school held a first annual all parents social with a country theme.  there was line dancing, square dancing, bbq and pie, lots of pie.  we had a blast with everyone.  already looking forward to next year's event.

sunday morning bobby and jordan were back at the pool for day 2 of the meet while i took sofia to urgent care to have her hand x-rayed.  she fell off her scooter on friday and her fingers were swollen.  a quick check revealed no broken bones but a possible hairline fracture.  yay and boo.  she's in a sling for a little while until we know for sure that it's ok.

and a true highlight was getting to Skype with my nephew at my brother's birthday dinner on sunday night.  he's in spain for his freshman year of college and stayed up until 4am so he could say hello.  tough to not have him here but he's having the time of his life.

2/3 of encore reunited. he is missed for sure.

a busy week ahead with a fundraiser, a little girl's birthday (to be celebrated at least 4 times this week), and jordan's first band review of the season.

weekly menu
did a good job sticking with the menu last week.  it felt good to be cooking again.

weekend eats
saturday: bbq at the cha parent social
sunday: enchiladas and rice to celebrate my brother's birthday

making this week
monday:  skateland fundraiser event
tuesday: gnocchi soup, bread
wednesday: sofia's 10th birthday - burrito/taco bar
thursday: steak, baked potatoes and salad
friday: surprise birthday celebration for sofia