Day Two Hundred Sixty-Three: Almond Butter Date Bars

My kiddos have end-of-year testing tomorrow, and I wanted to have a quick, protein-packed breakfast on hand to help them power through the day. I came across a recipe for almond butter date bars, and decided to give it a try. I have only ever cooked with dates one other time, so that was still a little new for me. They came out a little more crumbly than I had hoped, but they should still work as brain fuel.

Uncut almond butter date bars

Day Two Hundred Sixty-Two: Homemade Bathroom Cleaner

I love experimenting with homemade cleaning products, so today I made bathroom cleaner. It's not a terribly exciting First, but it'll have to do.

Day Two Hundred Sixty-One: U.S. Citizenship Test

Weston was recently asked some of questions from the U.S. Citizenship Test as a requirement for one of his merit badges. So, he thought it would be fun to quiz us. He didn't ask us all the questions, but he did present us with a good sampling. Most of them weren't too difficult for us, but a few of them were pretty challenging. It was an interesting exercise and probably a worthy endeavor for anyone who calls himself/herself a citizen of this country.

Day Two Hundred Sixty: Homemade Taco Seasoning

I wanted to make "avotacos" for dinner, but I didn't have any avocados, so I ran to the store and picked some up. When I got home, I realized I didn't have any taco seasoning either. So, I made homemade taco seasoning, which I had been wanting to try for a while anyway because the store-bought kind usually has sugar added. Then, and only then, I realized/remembered that half the family had another dinner commitment for the evening and one of staying half can't eat foods that need to be chewed at the moment. So I gave up and heated up leftovers. But, I did get a First out of it with the taco seasoning, so it wasn't a total loss. (And we'll have the "avotacos" tomorrow night.)

Day Two Hundred Fifty-Nine: Homemade Multipurpose Wipes

We use a lot of disinfecting wipes around our house because we are dirty, messy people. I have seen many tutorials for homemade wipes, and I finally got around to making my own. To be perfectly honest, I don't like the homemade ones as much as the store-bought ones. They aren't as thick or as big, and the alcohol in them kind of drowns out the scent of the essential oil I used, even though I used more oil than was recommended. They get the job done, and we will use them, but I was hoping for something a little more amazing. Still, I enjoyed making them and was glad to have a legit First for today!

Day Two Hundred Fifty-Eight: Non-Stay-At-Home Mom

Well, it wasn't really a First-filled day, but it was more eventful than usual. I dropped Jeff off at the airport at 8:00, so he could head to D.C. for his third round of FSO (Foreign Service Officer) testing and his in-person interviews. By 9:00, I had Ruth at the dentist's office to get her wisdom teeth removed. The procedure went well, and we were back at the house by 10:30. I was picking up the meals for my Meals on Wheels deliveries by 11:00. There was a little downtime in the afternoon before I had to take Max and Clay to their activities at 4:30. But before I brought them home, I stopped by the library to pick up a book for Weston. Finally, at the end of the day, I took myself to yoga, where I attempted to coax my body out of its almost permanent "driver position." It was a day that really made the moniker "stay-at-home mom" seem ridiculous!

Day Two Hundred Fifty-Seven: Cushion Foundation

Yesterday it dawned on me that we leave on our summer trip to South America in just two weeks, and today I decided I need to start thinking seriously about what I should pack. We are carry-on only travelers, which I love, but I struggle with the limit on liquids for long trips. I don't wear a lot of makeup, but I do typically use a BB cream, which works as a light foundation as well as a moiturizer and sunscreen. The problem is the container it comes in just takes up too much room in my one-quart liquids bag. So, while I was a Target this afternoon, I made it my mission to see what my other choices were. I was happy to find a "cushion foundation" that looks like a powder compact but applies like a liquid. It has built in sunscreen and everything, and it will likely not be suspect going through the airport. This feels like a big travel win!

Day Two Hundred Fifty-Six: CAP Promotion Ceremony

Ruth had her second promotion with CAP tonight. I had to miss the first one, so I was really glad it worked out for me to be there tonight. Jeff and I got to pin her new ranks on her during the ceremony, and we couldn't be more proud of our Cadet Airman First Class!

Day Two Hundred Fifty-Five: Celebrating Mom's 66th Birthday

Well, of course we've celebrated birthdays with my mom before, but never her 66th! 😃 It was so fun to get to spend the day with her, along with my sister and her family. I'm very thankful for this wonderful woman!

Clay did an oil pastel drawing for Nana's birthday

Day Two Hundred Fifty-Four: Llano Crawfish Open

I have been to many shrimp boils, but I haven't ever been to a crawfish boil. And, while I have eaten crawfish in dishes like etouffee before, I have never eaten a whole in-the-shell crawfish (though I have dissected one because I'm interesting like that). So, I was excited that we had the chance to attend the Llano Crawfish Open today and get a couple of "flats" of crawfish. Getting to the meat was a bit intimidating at first, but after a few, I got pretty good at it and found the meat to be delicious if tiny. It was such a great experience, and I'm glad I have it on my First list.

A serious pile of crawfish

Day Two Hundred Fifty-Three: Kombucha Station

There is a gigantic new HEB in Marble Falls, which has been built since we moved from the area. I had heard it was great, but when my mother-in-law told me they had a kombucha filling station, I knew I had to see it for myself. They have four flavored kombuchas on tap, and you can fill a growler with the one if your choice. They also have sample cups, so you can try before you buy. I have never been in another grocery store that had a kombucha station, and I was very impressed that I found it in Marble Falls of all places.

Day Two Hundred Fifty-Two: Resume

While I have had several paying jobs since college, I have never had to submit a resume in order to get one of them. I am planning to apply for an online job as a writing coach next week, which will require a resume, so today I spent some time trying to put one together. Even if I don't get the job, I think it's really great to go through this process.

Day Two Hundred Fifty-One: Meals on Wheels with Mom

It was so fun to have my mom ride along with me while I did my Meals on Wheels deliveries today. Afterwards we were able to have lunch together at Mena Grill. I don't get to spend much one-on-one time with her these days, so it was a special day.

Day Two Hundred Fifty: Hanging Out with Abe Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson

Today was our last day of CC, and the older boys got to present their Faces of History research papers, which they have been working so hard on this semester. (And I got to break a microphone stand in front of an audience, which was a First I hadn't counted on!) Max's paper was about Abraham Lincoln, and Weston's was about Thomas Jefferson. They both did a wonderful job, and I'm very proud of them! I had so much fun being their tutor this year!

When you break the microphone stand, you end up having to hold the microphone!

Abraham Lincoln

Thomas Jefferson

Day Two Hundred Forty-Nine: Homemade Lip Balm

I recently ordered a lip balm making kit for myself, and today I had a chance to use it. It was easy and fun, and I love the peppermint balm I made! I use A LOT of lip balm, so I think this little investment is really going to pay off.

Ruth said it looked like I was a too-happy mad scientist with all the colored tubes

Finished product

Day Two Hundred Forty-Eight: Breakfast with Ruth at Mangos

We had to get Ruth's friend home quite early this morning, and after we delivered her, Ruth and I decided to have a breakfast date since we figured the boys were probably still sleeping. Ruth found Mangos Breakfast Brunch in Southlake, which was a place we had never tried before. We had some wonderful food and conversation, and we got a kick out of the improper use of punctuation marks in the menu. I am very cognizant of the fact that Ruth's time in our household is short, so I relished every moment.

Day Two Hundred Forty-Seven: Several Small Firsts

There really wasn't one big First today. But, there were several small ones. First of all, Ruth and I left the house at about 6:45 to go to Aubrey for an Equestrian Special Olympics horse show, which some of the CAP cadets were helping out with. I actually spent most of the time in the car because it was COLD. From there, we drove straight to Six Flags, which was where Ruth wanted to celebrate her birthday with one of her very best friends. It was my first time to just drop Ruth off at a place like that, which is a testament to the fact that she is almost 16. I then had lunch with one of my very good friends, who happens to the the mom of Ruth's friend. We haven't gotten to have one-on-one time like that in quite a long time, so it was a very nice treat. Finally, I took myself to Urban Alchemy, a new-to-me local coffee shop, where I spent the afternoon writing while waiting to pick up the girls.

Day Two Hundred Forty-Six: Two-Mile Run

Ok, so technically, I have run two miles before. Lots of times actually. But everything I knew my body could do completely reset when I injured my knee, and so I have new old milestones to reach that certainly do feel like Firsts.

I was cleared to start running in January, and it has been hard. At first, I could barely run for a minute. There has been pain (so much pain!) and a few tears. But there has also been fierce determination. By early March, I had worked up to one-mile runs, and could pound them out pretty consistently on the pavement and on the treadmill. Even as recently as Tuesday, though, I was telling Jeff that a mile was about all my knee seemed to want to do and that I was having a hard time moving beyond that barrier.

But, with the knee's blessing, today I finally managed to knock out two miles. Before my injury, I was running about four miles a day, and I'm assured that recovering from this type of injury and surgery generally takes about a year.  I am realistic enough to know that, as I continue to work, there will very likely still be hard days, days when my knee or my mind or both just don't want to or just can't manage to reproduce the results from today. That's o.k. because now I know I can do it. And when you know you've done something once, it's easier to do it again and again. This accomplishment meant a lot to me and truly felt for all the world like a real First (possibly a little better, even, since I had to work harder for it!), and I wanted it on the official record. 

Just put one foot in front of the other until you get where you want to be!

Day Two Hundred Forty-Five: Wine Bottle Workout

This morning I was working out at the house and found myself wishing for some small dumbbells, but all I had was a set of kettlebells that wouldn't work very well for my purpose. I cast a hopeful glance around my surroundings and came up with a solution: full wine bottles. As an added bonus, it was a tangible reminder of one of the many reasons I work out! 😃

Time for some curls!

Day Two Hundred Forty-Four: Coconut Lime Ale

We love craft beers and live in a good place to find many. Tonight was my first time to try something from Whistle Post Brewing and my first time to ever have a coconut lime flavored ale. It's so good, and now I'm planning a personal visit to the brewery in Pilot's Point. And, as an aside, I'm kind of crazy about the Texas palm tree logo!

Day Two Hundred Forty-Three: Journal with Maps

It was a very ordinary day, and frankly, I didn't expend the energy needed to make a First happen. However, my hubby visited Half-Price Books and brought us all back a surprise. For me, because he knows the way to my heart, he had a beautiful travel journal with maps on every other page. I've never had a journal quite like it, and I love it and can't wait to use it on our trip to South America this summer!

Day Two Hundred Forty-Two: Chia Seed Pudding

I have tasted chia seed pudding before, once, but I have never made my own until tonight. I made a chai flavored one, which I think is going to be fantastic. I'm already looking forward to breakfast!

Day Two Hundred Forty-One: Zombie Movie

I am not now, nor have I ever been, interested in watching zombie movies. The whole concept just doesn't appeal to me. So, imagine my surprise when I sat down to watch the sequel of a perfectly good movie (that had absolutely nothing to do with zombies) only to find that it was in fact a zombie movie. It was disappointing, but at least I got a First out of it.

Not a zombie movie
(Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/viipeer/15090733409)

Zombie movie
(Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/vernonbarford/23083912521)

Day Two Hundred Forty: Below Freezing Medal of Honor Parade

Ruth has recently become a member of the Color Guard of her branch of the Civil Air Patrol, and they were invited to participate in Gainesville's Medal of Honor parade, which was today. Who would have guessed the temperature would drop below freezing and that freezing drizzle would be falling from the sky a week into a Texas April?! Needless to say, it wasn't quite the introduction to parade participation we were hoping for! But, despite the weather, Ruth and her fellow cadets did their duty and looked great doing it! And the rest of us, sans Weston (who was away on a Boy Scout campout), did our familial duty and withstood the elements to see our girl do her thing. We are so proud of Ruth, and we're thankful to all the veterans, who have given so much to ensure the freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted!

Nighthawk Cadets
(Ruth is carrying the blue CAP flag in the front line)

Bundled up against the elements but still enjoying the parade
(and all the candy filling up their pockets!)

Perfect day for a parade!
(Check out that "feel like" temp!)

Day Two Hundred Thirty-Nine: Not Banana Bread

It so happens that Jeff and I went grocery shopping on the same day with different lists in hand. Both lists contained bananas, and we each bought enough to feed an army. So, we now have a plethora of overripe bananas in the house. My usual go-to in a situation like this is banana bread, but I wanted to try something different this time. (Plus, I'll no doubt still have enough bananas for the old standby.) So, I spent part of my day making homemade banana chips and banana-based ice cream in two flavors--chocolate and chocolate peanut butter. We were very happy with the results of both experiments and were especially excited that neither of them contained sweetners of any kind.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-Eight: New Homeschool Group and a Date with Clay

Since we moved here, we have not been involved with any homeschool groups except CC, but today some of us went to a teen/tween game day at a coffee shop in Lewisville with a local homeschool group. It's always good to meet new people, and I think the kids had a pretty good time.

I also got to go out on a date with just Clay tonight, which may have happened before, but he was sure we had never been on a date before, "just us," and I really can't remember, so we're going to count it.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-Seven: Cauliflower "Risotto"

One of my favorite places to hang out on my writing days is Black Walnut Cafe. They have excellent food and bottomless coffee, and "my" table is right next to an outlet, which is very convenient for keeping my laptop juiced up. They have a blackened salmon with cauliflower "risotto" on the menu, which I have been tempted to order several times but haven't until today. We have used shredded cauliflower in place of regular white rice at home a few times, but we've never done anything fancy with it. This was my first time to have riced cauliflower with any pizzazz, and I thought it was wonderful!

photo credit: https://www.diningwithdeliajo.com/2017/06/jump-start-your-day-at-black-walnut-cafe.html

Day Two Hundred Thirty-Six: A New Stunt

When you are the mother of four, you can often feel like you've seen every stunt a kid can pull. But, this evening, I experienced a completely new one. My youngest child, who is generally one of the most compliant and agreeable children I have ever met, decided to try on a different personality for a while. Just he and I were grocery shopping, and he was pushing the cart and generally being quite helpful. We stopped to pick up something, and he asked for an adjacent item, which he must have known I was going to say no to, and that is exactly what I said. I then continued walking and turned to the next aisle while he lagged with the cart. That little toot went ahead and put the forbidden item in the shopping cart, which I failed to notice during the rest of our shopping trip. Then, while I was busy talking to the clerk and sorting through some coupons, he put it on the conveyor belt, and it was rung up and bagged before I even looked up. And, while I was bringing in groceries, he unloaded his "prize" and put it in the pantry with the label turned so I wouldn't notice it. But, of course, a sibling found it and realized it was something we wouldn't normally have in the house. Busted. This truly came out of nowhere and just goes to show that kids will surprise you, even when you think you've seen everything.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-Five: Letter of Recommendation

A friend and former co-worker/boss of mine contacted me today to ask if I would write a letter of recommendation for her for a new job she is applying for. This is my first time to receive such a request, and I was flattered that she thought of asking me.

Day Two Hundred Thirty-Four: Epictetus and The Art of Living

Sadly, I never read anything by any ancient Greek philosopher until a few years ago when Ruth's literature class introduced us to the works of Plato. I was interested in what we read, but I still never took the time to prioritize reading other Greek philosophers' works. A couple of weeks ago, I saw The Art of Living come up on BookBub and decided to add it to my library, even though I had never even heard of Epictetus. Since it is an interpretation of the original work, it is written in plain English and promised to be an easy read. I was able to knock it out this weekend, though I'm certain if I would have had more time, I could have finished it in a day. I really enjoyed all the nuggets of wisdom and felt the book actually encompassed almost every major principle I want to instill in my children before they leave home. It will now be required reading, and I will be seeking out more works by Epictetus and the other philosophers of Stoicism.