yum

Bbqued Salmon...one of our faves around here!  I used a recipe loosely copied from my father in law...

squirt a bit of lemon on the salmon, or skip if you dont' have any.  sprinkle on some ginger, pepper, and cover with brown sugar.  set on a wet cedar plank.  (I grabbed a package of these at costco one day)  The bbque should be medium-low heat.   I then set the plank of salmon on the middle or potato rack.  It takes anywhere from 20-30 mins.  check it a lot because you do NOT want it overcooked!  just barely able to flake with a fork...

yum...all of us think it's amazing!!!

Here is what it looked like today.

A.D.D.

I think I have blog-background A.D.D

oh. no.

Today Ben got his learners.

'nuff said.

...and NOW

HAPPY 14th BDAY BEN!!!

Yesterday Ben turned 14...we took he and his pals to "night at the museum 2"...very funny!  Then they par-taed!!!  It was a nice day.  Ben has been extremely fun to have in our family!  We enjoy time spent with the little (not so little) fella.

Ben is nearly as tall as his parents...and much more clever.  He is a very nice older brother (most of the time) and treats others with respect.  I know Ben will have a great life because he knows how important and loved he is.

Benny-Boy THEN

Grade Ben's Poem

I have to include Ben's poem today in my posting.  He was assigned yesterday to write a free-verse poem on learning about public speaking in language, and he was told to be honest.  After reading do you think Ben will get good marks?  Or will the teacher be sort of, um, unimpressed...?

I, myself, think it's quite funny and witty.

here it is...

Public Speaking

Public speaking means speaking in front of people

It is more effective if you stand on a steeple

But learning about it

Was pointless indeed

It was not necessary

It did not feed

my language skills too much at all

This poem will end on this short note

This shortish poem, by me, was wrote

Ben Wright

it's only slightly better than his first choice...(public speaking is so dumb, learning it was not much fun, but my mom will kick my bum, if I write a poem this dumb)

Go TESS!

Tessa has been in track and field this week and done really well in her races.  She is a great runner!  Specifically longer distances...something that amazes me.  She did really well in the 100m today...but check out the pics of the racers...notice anything that could go against her?  Like the amazonian size of those girls?  hehe.

15 years

looking through scrapbooks I realized that there weren't that many pictures of the two of us together...and even less ALONE.  well, maybe that is what happens when you have kids right away...anyhow, here are a few.

Happy anniversary to US!!!

British Movies

I have to recommend to anyone who likes British-made movies to watch Jane Eyre.  It was made I believe 2-3 years ago...and it was a GREAT version!(make sure it's the one with above actors in it)

  There are some really good BBC or Masterpiece theatre movies...

Some of my recent favorties are...

Jane Eyre

Northanger Abbey

Mansfield Park (beware which version you get)

Daniel Deronda

Wives and Daughters

David Copperfield

Vanity Fair

Little Dorrit

and of course...Pride and Prejudice.

There are many stories made via Hollywood, as we all know...but sometimes I find the Masterpiece Theatre versions VERY GOOD and better.

New DO

This morning before...

Then...after.


FINALLY...I've been waiting and procrastinating, and then waiting again.  Finally did it today.

Let me just say that there was a LOT of hair on the floor afterwards...long long pieces.  I was so happy to see it go bye-e!!!

Ahhh...it feels so great!

Girl's day out

Each month we are trying to rotate one of our kids planning a special day or afternoon with one of us parents.  

Today was Tessa and I.  She chose what we did...we went to the Cheesecake Cafe, then we went to Michael's to buy some crafty things to do!  She bought all the stuff to make her twilight shirt...we also got beads to make bracelets and necklaces...then we went min-golfing.  We had a great day together!!!

Crocs

If you look in my closet, it is no secret that I LOVE CROCS!!! Now people sort of have a misconception that they are these big flappy ugly-colored things with dumb looking holes all over the top. Okay, now that is how they started and I DO admit to a couple pairs of those.
BUT check out some of the styles they have now!!! Just go to their website...to see more!
I wear crocs a lot because I have an issue with my feet, where the fat pads on the bottom are kind of wearing away. It can cause soreness!!! These rubbery shoes are just the ticket!  They are unbelievably comfortable.  SOME kinds are softer than others, so just ask me if you're curious.

Sunday funnies

I can relate to all of these experiences...

A typical Friday

Lately I've been noticing that one friday is pretty much like the next...

And I don't have much to post about, so here is my friday schedule...enjoy.

 1.wake up at 7.

2.get ready to work at nine...get kids ready for school.  If not work, then cleaning errands, etc.

3.9:00 go to work, or work out if at home.

4. 2:00 get home, do some more cleaning.  Watch kids' friends come over to play.

5. afternoon:  rent movies, take kids out for slurpees.  Pick something up at the grocery store.  Eat my slurpee.  read.  talk on phone.  read blogs.

6. 5:00 get a sub, or take-out burgers from Daves.

7. 6:00-9:00 read, watch movie with kids, read some more.

8.  9:30-ish ...drop off kids' friends or pick up kids from friends.

9.  10-11:00 try to get everyone home and in bed, read, watch TV

10.  12:00am  ...go to bed!!!

I remember the days when I used to look forward to friday as a FUN day, as a day to go out...socialize, go to movies, out to eat...anything!!!  Friday is now about unwinding, relaxing, and not cooking.

More and more it's about everyone else and what they want to do for fun that day...and that's fine.  Just another different stage to enjoy.