sieve brain

Yesterday, after a quiet afternoon, family dinner and a monsoon walk, it casually dawned on me that I had forgotten something! Oh! Ayisha's *mandatory* kindergarten orientation! I panicked, called her teacher at home (who wasn't there because she was still at the school) and rambled on to her poor husband about my state of utter mortification! He promised to jot it down, "Okay, I'll give her the message". "You are mortified," he says.

The thing is, I had NO EXCUSE! For the past several days I had been reminding myself of this meeting. I had it plastered across my calendar, I had a list a questions to ask and it simply slips my mind?! Is this early onset of Alzheimer's? I have had a lot on my mind lately, I guess. The truck load of adoption paperwork has been gnawing at me. They need to be completed THIS WEEK. Steve and I have been working on finishing and mailing all four thousand camp images. I have been meeting with Ayisha's new habilitation worker (I am making efforts to demonstrate the delicate balance between facilitating Ayisha's independence and providing necessary assistance). Contracts have needed signed, paperwork filled out, instructions clearly communicated. She will be Ayisha's personal aid during her half days at school. All the curriculum for Emma and Amanda has arrived and we have begun our school routines. Still, Ayisha needs school clothes, new shoes, etc, etc... But then everyone has lists of things that need accomplished, deadlines to meet. WHY, oh WHY is it that everyone else in the world has it together? (Please do ignore the unbecoming whine!)

I take half a day, HALF OF A DAY to cuddle with the kids, to revel in a cooler than usual evening, and I COMPLETELY brain dump an important meeting?! Good thing I am not a surgeon or anything! "Oops, forgot your brain surgery today, Sorry!"

I spoke with Ayisha's teacher this morning and she was tremendously gracious, of course. Then I had a conversation with Genevieve, who is awaiting more results on Tuesday about her thyroid cancer. It's a fresh breeze talking to her. So I forgot school orientation, so what! I DID enjoy my husband and children AND ate cake to boot! I will try to remember to check my calendar SEVERAL times a day, to sticky notes onto my FOREHEAD, to take my baking soda drink (1/2 tsp. in a glass of water is supposed to do wonders for clearing brain "fog". Don't laugh.), but all things considered, OH WELL! Life goes on, right? Right.

recipe for a sweet afternoon

1) three fascinating little girls to chat with

2) a slice of marbled yogurt cake (improperly marbled, if you are me ;)

3) a cup of lovely hot tea

Once the cake is eaten, the tea drunk, race to the couch to catch an episode of Little
House! Scrunch together, breath deeply and enjoy every second.

dragons&fairies

The girls created fantastical creatures this morning to the carefree tunes of Elizabeth Mitchell (a fave around here). How cute are these?

baked oats

We tried my friend Dani's baked oatmeal recipe this morning for breakfast. It was perfectly suited to an overcast, drizzly day.
Here it is:

1 c. oil (I used apple sauce)

3 eggs

3/4 c. honey

2 1/4 c. milk (Dani uses soy milk)

4 1/2 tsp. baking powder

6 c. oats

pinch of salt

1 tsp. cinnamon (optional)


Mix ingredients together in a large bowl and pour into greased 9x13. Bake approx. 30 minutes (until a toothpick comes out fairly clean).

We topped ours with maple syrup and cream. Dani likes hers with pecans and melted butter. Try it! You'll like it!

my hero

I snapped this photo while relaxing on a boat with friends. Steve was steering and I
thought he had a "Master and Commander" look. Don't you think?