Joshua Tree

 Moving in with the kids is great!  But, lets be honest, its exhausting.  I'm not 25 any more, my body does not function as it did when I had kids.  It aches, it gets tired and it needs a nap.  

Beyond the physical demands of helping with our grandson's I've also realized that  I settled into our "empty nest" life.  

While I missed the kids a lot, Sean and I also enjoyed this new time together.  We filled our time with new hobbies, longer walks, lots of time in our yard, more outings, hikes, golf, friends and many facetime visits with the kids.  Our new lifestyle does allow for some of that freedom and the kids are great about making sure we get it, but its different.  We live with the best little distractions and we want to spend time with them and their parents.

Now we need to be more intentional about spending time together and getting out and about.  Our son in-laws parents were coming for a visit which was the perfect excuse to leave town and give them time with the grands.

Last week I joined Sean on a business trip to Southern California.  I had the trip all planed.  We were catching an early morning flight on Monday so we could spend most of the day in Joshua Tree National Park.  Tuesday and Wednesday I would help Sean with photo shoots, but squeak in a few new adventures in the late afternoon and evenings.  Thursday we would fly home, but visit Downtown Disney for breakfast first.

Little did I know that a cautious pilot for American Airlines would toss us into a never ending Monday of flight delays, missed connecting flights, arriving in Palm Springs 11 hours late without our luggage.  Tuesday didn't start much better.

Due to our luggage arriving later than expected we started our photo shoot four hours late.   I'm not sure how we did it, but we completed our work in record time, 3 hours.  This allowed us the time we needed to drive to Joshua Tree National Park and have at least 90 minutes to tour before the sun set.

While I didn't know it Monday or even most of Tuesday, seeing Joshua Tree at sunset and in the dark of the night surrounded by stars and planets is the best way to see this park.  It was spectacular!

We missed the visitor center as it closed at 5 p.m., but we found our way to the welcome sign and into the park.  Just as we entered we were astonished by the unique beauty of the Joshua Trees.  Each tree bends and twists to the harsh Mojave and Colorado deserts and their extreme temperatures, gusty winds and heavy seasonal rains.  The entire landscape is shaped by these conditions, not just the trees.

Sean and I could not get over the rock formations.  It is amazing how nature can form, erode and shape these massive rocks into monuments of beauty.

A Joshua Tree

I am not a fan of creepy things, but Skull Rock was impressive.  Nothing creepy about it, except its name.  If you visit this rock be sure to take a few steps back so you can take in the whole thing.

Skull Rock

At the Hall of Horrors I didn't see anything horrific.  Rather I fell in love with these two rocks that look like two faces nestled together.  And was impressed by the balancing rock in the distance.  Apparently rock climbers come to this area to practice their skills.  Good luck!

All nestled together

Balancing at Jumbo Rocks

Our favorite part of the day was Key's View.  We arrived after sunset, but even in the fading light we could see the peaks of San Jacinto and San Gorgoino, the Coachella Valley and the city lights of Palm Spirngs.  Unfortunately it was too dark for us to see the San Andreas fault.  There was a breeze which made the evening cool, but I loved every minute of our views.  

I find the best views are of  Sean doing what he loves, taking pictures.  He found a Joshua Tree all alone about to fade into the dark night sky.  His pictures captured the fading sunlight with the moon and Jupiter just above the tree.  It was beautiful.

The cold air ushered us to the car sooner than we wanted.  As we were driving out of the park I noticed a large dark shadow to my right.  I had Sean pull off.  The lights from the car illuminated it enough for us to realize we were about the pass Cyclops Rock.  My cell phone camera was no match for the dark night, but Sean was able to capture it on his camera.  I am impatiently waiting for his edited pictures.

Each national park displays its own unique beauty.  I find as I visit each one that I am in awe of this beautiful planet and our creator.  

I am grateful that Sean got us to Joshua Tree.  We needed time together to explore, discover, learn and just be us.  I think that is something we all need from time to time, to take a pause from life, connect with our loved ones and do what brings us joy. 

Exploring Natures History

​It’s never too early to expose children to a wide variety of language. By doing so we help their brains develop improved speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. It is also linked to higher levels of reading comprehension later on. What better place to expose children to a wide variety of language than at a museum. 

Last week Holly & Dreyton invited me to go with them to the Natural History Museum.  I happily accepted.  This is a wonderful museum with updated exhibits, old favorites and so much for Cutie E to see.  

I have been to this museum at least 15 times, but my companions were 13 or 14 years old. This experience was a bit different with a baby and toddler. 

Cutie E’s reactions to the exhibits were adorable. He loved all the big animals. In the tundra exhibit he let out a BIG ROAR when he saw the bear. We were surprised, because he did this without prompting.  At the Hope Diamond he tried to grab it as it spun around.  His best reaction was when we stepped into a second floor lookout to see the African Bush Elephant below. He got all excited, threw his  hands in the air, squealed and began bouncing around. By the time we got to the mummies and Egyptian exhibit he was getting tired.  One day he will love this exhibit, until then I thoroughly loved seeing this museum through his eyes.  

I learned a few things from this experience:

Time:  Whether they are 13 or 1, kiddos last about 2 hours in a museum. For older kids create a scavenger hunt to make it more fun. You can easily do this by visiting the website link I have below.  For littles look for things they can touch. Texture is a great teacher and the more they interact with their visit the longer they will last.

Food: The museum does not have seating for sack lunches, but they have two cafes. We packed sack lunches. If the weather is nice enjoy a picnic on the mall (the grassy area between the Capitol and Washington monument).  Be sure to bring a blanket to sit on.

Maps/Apps: The museum has a great app with a map, exhibit information and so much more. If you prefer paper you can print one before going or purchase a map for a $1 at the information desk. The desk is staffed with volunteers to help in any way.  Here is a link to the museum to help you plan your day: Smithsonian Natural History Museum, DC

Parking: This can be tough in the city. METRO is helpful, but we found a great garage in the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center building. It was safe, secure and the location is perfect for touring the mall area. 

 

I loved sharing one of my favorite places with our grandsons. It was a wonderful day and I can't wait for our next adventure.

Cooking With Cutie E

Every time I smell wheat bread baking I am immediately transported to my childhood.  That deep, earthy, honey smell reminds me of my mom.  She showed love for others through her baking and cooking.  I always knew we were loved when she gave us a slice of warm wheat bread with melting butter or warm chocolate chip cookies out of the oven with cold milk.  It was her way of giving a warm snuggly hug.

When our children were small I included them in my baking and cooking days.  Each of them enjoy cooking, sharing recipes and trying many of my mom's recipes.  I loved that we share a love for cooking and baking.

Now that I am not teaching, I started planning foods I wanted to try cooking.  On the top of that list was to make Cutie E's baby food.  In the early fall Holly and I visited many farmers markets gathering fresh fruits and vegetables.  The goal was to use produce fresh from a farm and introduce him to variety of foods.  

I already owned Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld and had tried many of the recipes years ago.  This time I was cooking for a soon to be toddler not school aged children and I wanted to make sure I was introducing foods at appropriate times.  Holly purchased Top 100 Baby Purees by Annabel Karmel, it was a huge help with timing, combinations and how to prepare fruits, veggies and meats.

Needless to say I spent a lot of time in the kitchen.  By October Cutie E had his own freezer stocked with all types of fruit and veggies.  This made my heart so happy.

Much of my cooking had to wait till Cutie E was napping, it was too hard to cook and take care of a six month old.  Of course the days I decided to cook or bake were the days he decided to take short naps.  those were the days I'd put him in his activity center  and set it in the kitchen with me.  What I was not prepared for was Cutie E's interest in what I was doing.  He wanted to watch the mixer or see what was on the stove.  Now, he wants to sit on the counter while I cook or bake.  He gets his own set of utensils to play with while Grammy uses her's.  He watches the mixer mix cookie dough, or the yeast to rise.

So far we have made his puree's (he does let us know which ones he doesn't like 😂😝),  many batches of cookies, breakfast muffins, wheat bread and so much more.  I can see us cooking together, sharing great memories of making yummy food whether it is family favorites or discovering new recipes together.  

Technology Isn't My Thing

 

In March of 2020 each of us were thrown into a new world of technology.  As the world shut down due to covid we had the unnerving task to figure out how to do our jobs, accomplish daily tasks and get toilet paper😂.  No matter what your profession was, each of us had to "pivot".  The way we did our jobs, collaborated, held meetings and connected with co-workers was so different and it required the use of new technology.

I don't love learning new computer based technology.  It has a purpose and I greatly appreciate how it can make my life easier, but the learning process is awful.  I have often compared it to learning a second language, which I tried in high school and it was an epic fail.  For some reason I can not get my brain to think in another language.  Computer technology is its own language.

In August 2020 our school district started in-service week with each of us at home on zoom.  It didn't take long before I turned off my camera because the tears were coming.  I was  frustrated, lost, and confused.  The class was to teach us how to use a new program to post assignments, have students submit work and grade them.  It was going to be the backbone for the upcoming school year.   My frustration grew as I felt more lost! I couldn't raise my hand to ask questions or have someone sit with me to show me how to navigate this new platform.  An hour into this training my husband pulled into our  driveway, I immediately entered the ugly crying stage as I tried to explain to him how awful this process was.

It was my husband who got me through that year of "zoom" school.  He helped me figure out zoom, learn how to scan documents and paste them into google slides, add voice recordings to slides and so much more.  His patience and knowledge of computer technology helped me connect with my students daily.  My aunt was an incredible help when it came to learning and navigating the new web-based learning system our district chose.  My sixth grade team was a huge support.  They were patient as I slowly figured things out, volunteered to teach me how to use the new technology and answered all my questions.

Each of us need a team of supporters, experts or cheerleaders to help us navigate learning new things. They are the ones that encourage us as we learn, keep us going when it gets hard or we make mistakes, they also push us to try new things.  

Starting a blog is a bit scary.  I had no idea how to get started but my hubby did a lot of research to find the best format for me.  My daughters, son in-laws, son and daughter in-law have been amazing supporters, encouragers and cheerleaders.  I couldn't have done this without them.

Now that I have a few posts under my belt my youngest daughter asked if I wanted to improve my blog.  Of course.  She is helping me to learn more technology.  Thanks to her I have a link to my instagram, a link to my soon to be Amazon affiliate page and a Follow Me button.  I am so excited!

We can do hard things.  Sometimes we need to ask for help and other times we need to accept help when offered.  Learning comes through the struggle.  Don't be afraid to try something new.  If I can, anyone can. 

Happy Birthday Cutie E

​

Surfer Baby at 3 days

One year ago we were in Hawaii.   I was at the hospital with Holly and Dreyton as they welcomed their sweet little boy to the family. I remember loving him immediately. I remember how strong our daughter was.  I remember how hard and long she worked to get him here.  Being in the room as Cutie E entered the world was more of a spiritual experience than I imagined it would be.  This experience has left a big imprint on my heart.

Shortly after, I flew home to prepare for a big move and to close out my teaching career. During that time my daughter called daily so I could talk to E.  I missed him, but wanted him to know that I wasn’t too far away even though the miles said differently.  

At 3 1/2 months old I  joined E and his parents in Hawaii to move to DC. Over the last 81/2 months I have formed a very special bond with Cutie E. We laugh, play, buzz our lips, share zerberts, snuggle before naps, sing and dance. Our favorite times are stroller rides, counting snaps, nose beep beeps, reading stories and sockie removals. I get to do these things every day. 

Now he is one. It has been a full year since he arrived.  

Turtle Time

Cutie E has met all the milestones you expect the first year.  The one I have enjoyed the most is the development of his personality.  He is independent, but wants to know you are close.  He loves to laugh and will laugh just because you are.  He loves to discover how things work, destroy block towers, climb up the stairs then slide down them.  Following or crawling over the dogs is one of his favorite activities.  He enjoys  playing peek-a-boo and music time with Grandpa.  He is very interested in what you are doing whether its cooking, working or doing crafts.  One of his favorite accomplishments finding the tv remote, he is so proud of himself when he turns on the tv.  Recently he has learned to love helping to vacuum the carpets.  This little dude is very entertaining.

To celebrate our wonderful grandson we headed to the zoo. He tried to get the Prairie Dogs to come up, but they refused.  While the animals were entertaining, he was much more fun to watch.  He banged on the glass, tried to climb the glass, babbled at the animals and squealed when they moved.

I love this little guy with all my heart. No matter how much I miss home, family, friends and teaching my love for Cutie E and his little brother surpasses all of that.  Sean and I have a wonderful life.  We get to be with our grandsons every day. 

Happy 1st Birthday Cutie E, Grammy & Pops love you whole bunches!