Expectations Met!

Sometimes I wonder if I set my expectations too high.  Often I do.  But our recent Springbreak holiday, one in which I had placed tremendous expectations, far surpassed and exceeded any of my preconceived hopes.  Simply put, we had a wonderful time.

We decided to perpetuate a tradition of family pictures at the ocean in matching Nike shirts. The first took place at Thanksgiving of 2008.  We all know from where our bread gets buttered; and it is kind of fun to give a nod as we recognize we are part of the Nike family.

But I digress...  Springbreak of 2010 was a rousing success with just the right balance of structured and unstructured activity.  Never did I feel that we were "on top of each other," nor beginning to get on each other's nerves.  There was plenty for everyone to do, including plenty of nothing when that was our preference.

The boys were able to play golf twice; first at Salishan at Glen Eden Beach, and also our home course at Creekside Golf Club in Salem. 

I helped the girls make seashore memory boxes with matching accordion photo albums while we were at the beach.  When we were back in Salem, I took them to Brian's sewing factory and taught them to make aprons on the commerical sewing machines. 

We played games, flew kites, played with bubbles, cooked and shared great meals, played hours of ping pong, walked along the beach, made carmel popcorn and rootbeer floats. Well, you get the idea. It was delightful in every way. And the best part? We are already planning to do it all again. The best memories are ones that inspire you to create traditions.

I already see this as the beginning of a tradition.

Just trying to keep up!

What a whirlwind day we have had!  If I have learned anything, it is that my stamina is beginning to wane a little. Perhaps I'm not really as young as I think I am. Today has been set aside as a mother-daughter celebration, and I finally had to drop out of the final activities.  Just couldn't keep up with those girls of mine!

The day began with cake baking.  And I mean, lots of cake baking.  We are having a little post-birthday observance for Jackie's big 25, which I missed last month, and part of that is trying our hands at decorating with fondant.  But for a wow cake, it requires many layers of cake.  So we baked many layers of cake.  I'm not sure who is going to eat all that cake.

While the cakes were cooling, my girls and I went shopping, you know a little something we like to do...  Very fun, and very successful.  We are very good shoppers.

Then came time for cake decorating.  In hind sight, I wish I would have taken pictures of my kitchen when we were all finished.  That may have been the biggest mess ever to have covered the counters and the table and the floor and the bakers.  Powdered sugar was everywhere!  And we had a blast!  Here is our masterpiece.  Obviously we are beginners.  Obviously we have a lot to learn.  Obviously it is our first attempt at using fondant.  But we are pretty proud of it, nonetheless.

When the kitchen was finally cleaned up, we caught our breath, changed our clothes, and went to DaVinci's for Jackie's favorite gnocchi.  She claims she has been dreaming about it.  And it probably is dream-worthy.  I had fresh spinach fettucini with chicken, pancetta, and roasted tomatoes.  Absolutely delicious.  Not sure I will be dreaming about it, but very good.

As I stumbled into the house on our return, exhausted from the day's adventures, my girls all headed to change into their swimsuits for a hot tub party.  Sadly, I had to pass on that one.  And then afterwards, they changed and went out to Applebee's for dessert.  I passed on that one too.  See what I mean?  I must be getting old...

I did it!

I never dreamed I would, but I actually did it!  At the beginning of the week, I made a huge list of things I wanted to accomplish before my kids came home for Spring Break.  It was a little intimidating.  I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to do it all.

There remains one thing left to do.  I need to load up the van with all the fun stuff I have prepared.  But it is all ready to go.  Then, Brian will come home in a couple of hours and we will head to the airport in Portland to pick up our first arrivals, Erica and Miranda.  Jackie will follow on Sunday afternoon.  Then, Robert and his beautiful little family will get here on Tuesday.

Although I am not excited about driving to the airport that many times, I am happy that each group will get to be fussed over individually.  Hopefully they will all feel how much they are loved, and how special we think they are.  It has been driven home to me  that my family is the center of my life, my thoughts, my efforts, my concerns.  As it should be.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the great blessings I have been given.

I plan on taking lots of pictures this coming week.  I'm pretty sure I will be in seventh heaven.

Best kind of paperwork

I have been working this morning on paperwork.  Sounds dull?  Not in the least!  I am making final arrangements for my kids to come home for their Spring Break which will be the middle of next month. 

This is what I call the best kind of work because the end results will be wonderful.  I love planning trips.  I love itineraries.  They hold such promise.

Here is a little sneak peak...

I have been working on a craft project, getting it ready for the girls to do when they all come home for Spring Break. I am very excited about it, and hope they will feel the same way.  I am probably divulging too much with this picture, but I want them to know how beautiful it is promising to be.

I'm pretty sure that the boys will volunteer to find other distractions while we girls choose to get crafty.  They ought to be able to find a golf course nearby...