Running Chatter

I was pretty stoked today when I got all my ducks in a row and planned and cooked dinner (ahead of time), baked homemade bread, and then even pulled myself together enough to make Chad one of his favorite sweet compilations– a chocolate and peanut butter dessert.  So what if Betty Crocker got it all ready for me? 
I was feeling like a rock star while the aroma of Chad’s favorite meal filled the air. I envisioned the way he would rave about how “together” I seemed today.  Truth is, quiche, eggs, and mac and cheese have been a common thread at our dinner table over the last several weeks–when we actually make it to the dinner table.  Oh, and of course, we’ve had a few evenings of frozen yogurt and popcorn for dinner, too.  (Yep, I majored in Food and Nutrition in undergrad.) Baby carrots are an appropriate side dish, right?  I knew he would be surprised when he saw that our main course was not yellow and my Betty’s dessert would be be the icing on the cake. (Haha. . did you see that–icing on the cake. . . dessert?. . .)

After finishing up the dessert, I placed it in the refrigerator and returned to the counter only to find that I had forgotten to put the filling in the dessert.  You know, the decadent middle portion of the dessert?  The creamy, peanut butter-layer after which the entire dessert is named?  Yep.  Perhaps I’m not as on my game as I thought.  Chad took a picture of the dessert and wants me to put it on the blog.  I’m refusing to do so–I do have some pride.

Anyway, seems like a Running Chatter kind of day. . .

1.  Maria Dismondy

Several months ago I wrote about a few books we had purchased and loved by Maria Dismondy.  Those books still remain among our favorites and are read often.  Just a few weeks ago I was so surprised to find that “THE” Ms. Dismondy found her way to my blog and found that specific blog entry.  Within a few days a signed copy of her latest book, The Potato Chip Champ, arrived in our mailbox. 

She never asked me to mention this or even to write about her new book, but I can’t help myself.  Her act of kindness showed me that what she writes about in her books–she lives.  How refreshing is that?  We love The Potato Chip Champ just as much as her other books.  They teach simple life lessons that stretch across all generations and all time.  Personally, I think these books should be in every children’s library.

****************************************

2.  World Longest Closing
Remember back in the olden days?  Those days when I was constantly talking about cleaning our house for showings, obsessing about footprints on our kitchen floor, sweating over crumbs falling from sloppy little eaters?  Well, I haven’t fretted for awhile because we actually got an offer and we are under contract.  Actually, we’ve been under contract for months.  Our closing date keeps getting moved back. 

. . . and back. . .

. . . and back. 

(The issue is not on our end.)

I write this with shaking hands hoping I’m not somehow jinxing it by putting it out there in cyberspace.  If all goes well, we should close later this week. . .

. . . or next. . .

. . . or next.

Heck–who knows. Hopefully, sometime.

In the meantime. . .

Dirt has been moved and we are in the process of building our new home. . .

Well, we aren’t building it–the builders are.  We just play there.

**************************************************

3.  Tradition
I think once you do something three times, it’s a tradition.  This was year three. . .

For the third year in a row, my dearest childhood friend and I met up at a beautiful place to go hiking with our kiddos.  I wrote about it here, and here.  We look forward to this little day trip every year and it always proves to be a wonderful time.  Three years ago, the little legs of our four kids could barely walk the trail without a rest.  This year, however, our five kids almost ran the entire trail. 

It is so heartwarming to see our kids so comfortable with one another that they question whether or not they are family.  They play and wrestle and laugh and run and Katy and I are left wondering how we are old enough to have kids this old.  Wasn’t it just yesterday when we were walking to the Dairy Queen and swooning over Bon Jovi?  (I will admit, Bon Jovi did come up during this hike.)

The day slips by quickly as Katy and I reminiscence about old memories at the same time we make new ones.  Isn’t this the beautiful thing about life-long friendships? 

I hope that one day our kids might be doing the same thing.

****************************************

4.  RED
Saturday evening we were driving downtown (after eating frozen yogurt for dinner) and Chanelle yells out–Look at that wall!  That would be a great place to take pictures!

Ummm. . . perfect.  I suspect that someday I might be working for Chanelle. 

****************************************

5.  Summer Rain
We’ve had quite a few days of rain lately.  At an early age, we accidentally trained our kids that rain means run outside. 

8 a.m.?  Who cares?

Wearing p.j.’s?  No biggie.

Cold rain?  It’s all good. 

They run for it.

They will never forget this, which is why I will never regret it.

(I hope we didn’t wake you, Miss Nancy. 

**************************************************Five is a good number.  I think I’ll stop there for now–I need to think about dinner tomorrow. 

Or, maybe not.  Bed sounds better.  Eggs for dinner, it is. 

Have a great day!

Chatter, Out.