Mom's Day Off

As all of my fans know (that's you, Mom), for the past 14 years or so, I've given myself a day off for my birthday. When I first started this, I was a single professional. When I became a mom, I decided I still needed a day off. And while David always pitches in and helps out with everything every day, giving me breaks on a regular basis, there is something about spending an entire day doing whatever I want that just rejuvenates my batteries.

Last year I went to an impressionist exhibit at the museum of art. The year before that I toured historic Columbia and went cemetery hopping. Some years I do amazing things and other years it's more mellow. This was a mellow year.

I slept in and spent the morning relaxing at home while David took the kids to their well-child check ups. Then I went to the library to pick up a few books.

My next stop was Panera Bread. I still like La Madeleine best, but there's not one here. This time I chose a turkey avocado sandwich along with the fuji apple salad I usually order. My book of choice was Agnes Grey (I'm having a Bronte sister obsession at the moment. It started when David chose Wuthering Heights as our book to read while he gives me my nightly foot rub. Yes, I am spoiled.) I absolutely love sitting in a café, eating a fun lunch while reading a book. It makes me feel so intellectual.

Then I went to the movie theater. I had an Entertainment booklet coupon for a free movie on my birthday. Even though my birthday was a couple of days ago, they let me use it.

I had the ENTIRE theater to myself. So awesome!

I saw Divergent, which overall I really liked. One thing that drove me crazy and distracted me throughout the movie was the fact that they had Tris and her mom wearing mascara and eye liner, which Abnegation did not do. I wish they had cast a smaller actress as Tris since she was supposed to be tiny and is bigger than Christina and almost as big as Four. I wish Christina had gone with natural hair since I always pictured her that way. I also didn't really feel much chemistry between Tris and Four or between Tris and her mother, or actually Tris and anyone else in the movie, which made later events less emotional than they should have been. Overall though, I thought they did a good job of transferring the book to screen and I enjoyed the movie.

After the movie, I spent some quality time at this sacred place. I love going to the temple and today was no exception. It was a peaceful way to spend a couple of hours and I had a tender moment while here.

Next I decided to go to yet another movie. This time it was Draft Day. I had an entertainment coupon for $2 off and then used a Staples rebate card to pay for popcorn and a drink. I found the movie fascinating and wonder if that's really what draft day is like. There was one gross obscenity that was completely unnecessary and upsetting.

On the way home, I stopped at Chipotle Grill and got a burrito and chips to share with David.

It was a great day, completely relaxing and enjoyable. I love this tradition!

I'm Old!

Forty-five years ago at about 4:30 in the morning I was born in San Gabriel, California. Yep, that makes me 46 years old. Sigh. (It also makes me a California girl, which according to the Beach Boys is a good thing.)

I'm not sure the years have been kind. I'm losing my sight, my hearing and my hair. At least I still have an entourage willing to fix it for me.

And in spite of everything, I still have a devoted husband who makes me breakfast.

And kids who think I'm awesome.

I'm including these awful pictures of myself in the hopes that next year my pictures will be very different and these can be my "before" pictures. I think I have potential because I was a seriously cute little girl.

My all time favorite personal birthday post is still found HERE. It proves that I have done a lot with my 46 years, even though sometimes I forget.

I'm throwing these pictures in just to show that four people can sleep in a queen-sized bed, even though one of us ends up looking and feeling a little bit haggard. (I love that Baylie and Jalen both have the same arm thrown up over their head.)

And as a reward for making it this far in this post, I thought I'd throw in this gem. Yep, I've even worn a tutu. Who knew?

Happy Easter!

We started the day yesterday with egg decorating. Like last year, we just opted for food coloring and vinegar. It works great.

Baylie is a fanatic egg colorer. (So are David and I. We each had 10 eggs to color - I cut down from the usual dozen this year.)

Jalen was speedy and finished way before the rest of us. 

We also decided to do our Easter dinner yesterday rather than on Sunday. It made Sunday a lot more peaceful and less stressful.

Baylie woke us up at 6:30 in the morning to tell us the Easter Bunny had already come. Jalen was still asleep. I am pretty sure that is the only time in their lives that Baylie has woken up first - or that early.

We made her go back to bed and wait for Jalen to wake up. He was only about 20 minutes behind her. I think he may have had some help. They were both excited about their baskets. The baskets were pretty simple. I got the candy and coloring books from the Dollar Store - not much candy - and movies that were on sale at Target (new Disney Blu Rays for only $13!).

The kids looked amazing in their Easter outfits. We have the cutest kids!

Strawberry Fields Forever

Today we made our annual trek to the strawberry fields. It is one of our favorite family activities. This year we were joined by our friends the Jones family. Both Baylie and Jalen have decided they want to live with the Joneses (but they want me and David to live there too).

It was a little chilly this year, but not bad. I remember the first year we went, it took FOREVER to fill our bucket. Now the kids are so fast, the time passes too quickly.

The Joneses picked five baskets, we picked two.

Of course, we had to sample the goods.

When we got in the car, these baskets were equally full. Somehow, by the time we got home, the basket in front of Baylie had decreased in volume.

We made white chocolate covered strawberries. Lest you think differently, this is the 'before' picture. It's the taste that counts, right?

I made 6 1/2 pints of freezer jam.

I also made my first ever pound cake. We're having it tomorrow with whipped cream and strawberries. Usually I make a strawberry pie, but I wanted to try something new.

As always, I wonder if the cost is really worth the quantity we get, but it's more about the experience than the fruit. Plus, I don't always like strawberries, but these are so sweet, I love them.

Beach Day

We wanted to do something fun over Spring Break, but we didn't have a lot of free time or money. So, we decided to head to the beach! It was COLD, but we decided to head out anyway with our friends the Jones family.

I love South Carolina beaches. The water isn't blue and pretty like the Pacific, but I love the wild grasses, the walkways and the rustic atmosphere. I always feel like I'm in a Nicholas Sparks novel (without the fateful death twist at the end.)

This little guy didn't mind the chilly weather. He popped up out of nowhere.

And these guys didn't mind the cold weather. They just wanted whatever they could scavenge.

There was a little bit of this.

And a whole lot of this. (Actually, the water was warm. It was the wind that made it freezing.)

Some serious digging.

And then we decided to pack up and go home.

But as I always say, any day at the beach is a good day!

HE PASSED!!

The past couple of months around here have been very stressful. David has been trying for about a year and a half to prepare himself and pass his comprehensive exams. He took the test a year ago, but there were some portions he had to take again this year. The test was comprised of two parts - written and oral. In these tests, he had to know the history of music from the beginning of time to the present, music theory, be able to compose a piece with instrumentation that was given to him in the moment, and be able to answer detailed questions about three 20th Century composers and their major works. I'm sure there was more to it, but I can't keep it all straight.

Last year, the written part was three days long. This year he only had to take one day for the written portion, which consisted of the following (per an e-mail from his professor):

• Part I: Tonal Analysis (2 hours)
• Part II: Post-Tonal Analysis (1.5 to 2 hours)
• Part III: Music History (2.5 to 3 hours)
• Part IV: Score Identification and Repertiore (1/2 hour)

Below is one of innumerable pages of notes he used to review. On the final night before his written exam, he had me quiz him on the composers and their works. My efforts to pronounce the various names was rather humorous and in one case, inadvertently obscene.

In final preparation, he spent the past two months studying from about nine in the morning until at least ten at night. He would get breakfast for the kids and drive Baylie to school (I was teaching seminary at the time) and then he would leave. The kids wouldn't see him again until the next morning. It was hard on all of us. He was confident that he was prepared, but we were all still extremely nervous. The written test was taken Monday, April 7, and the oral portion was taken this past Monday, April 14.

Not only did he pass, but his professors told him he passed with flying colors! (And as one professor said, "...not only that, but you look great too!") We are all so proud of him. It has been a difficult process, but David has learned so much and says he is a completely different composer because of this experience. He knows his music will have more depth after having studied some of these composers in such detail. He was excited to finish studying so he could start composing again and in the past week has already composed a 7-movement work for viola that he was commissioned to write.

In celebration of his success, we took the kids to Frankie's Fun Park. (I'm not sure if they were more excited that their dad passed or that they got to go to Frankie's.)

This last ride is the favorite for me and David to watch the kids. It simulates a roller coaster and Baylie screams out loud. It's pretty funny.

After Frankie's, we splurged and went to a new Brazilian steakhouse. We ate until we all felt a little sick. It was delicious (especially the pineapple).

It is such a relief to be over this humongous hurdle in David's educational journey. He is now officially an ABD (all but dissertation) and can apply for teaching positions that weren't available for him before. All he has left is his dissertation - he is writing an opera - and a paper to accompany it. After that, he will officially be "Dr. Batchelor"!