Weekend Highlights

• On Friday I took the kids to see Brave. We went mostly because Jake kept kidding Haley during our trip, when she wore her (red) hair wavy, that she was so Brave; I really didn't know anything about it other than it was another Disney princess movie. And despite the fact that we had to sit on the third-to-the-front row of the theater (poor planning on my part), we all loved it. It was refreshing to watch a princess movie without a prince and to see the mother-daughter relationship explored instead. I confess: when the mom's transformation happened I started crying, that ugly cry that no one, least of all a theater full of strangers and my very own daughter, wants to hear, so I stifled my ugly sobs. It just hit a little too close for me, knowing that mothering a teenage girl always seems to mean I'm not quite the right person for the job. All of which is a fairly dismal way to say: I loved Brave!
• After way too much drama over Jake's cell phone, Kendell and I went on a date—another movie and then we picked up nachos from this little place we love. I hate it when dates start out with grumpiness but we got a delicious chocolatey beverage and that helped smooth things over.
• On Saturday morning I ran my fastest 5k ever, 27:54. (I know...PR or not, that's still pretty slow.) This was for the scout fund raiser that our troop does every summer. I didn't manage to defend my title, but I did come in fifth overall, third female, and first in my age group. As this can only happen at a race run by about 50 people, I think I will always love this particular 5k! Haley and Nathan also ran it, and Jake—who was assigned to walk the route behind the runners and to pick up stray garbage (possibly the worst boy scouts assignment ever) walked it with the last competitor. When they came into the track at the end he was talking to her politely and I thought...I sure do love you Jakey. (Shshsh. No one tell him I said that in public!)
• At work on Saturday a patron left a note on one of the tables that said "one does not just walk into the library during the summer" and attributed it to "that dude from Lord of the Rings." Totally made my day!
• We grilled burgers, brats, and hot dogs for dinner Saturday night, and I made angel hair pasta with white sauce as a side. Shall I tell you the secret to delicious grilled hamburgers? It is this: work in a packet of dry ranch dressing into the meat before you shape the patties. Mmmmmm. It adds just the right amount of flavor and tenderness to the meat. An assortment of cheese to melt onto the patties doesn't hurt, either!
• After dinner on Saturday I spent two hours outside with my clippers and loppers, trimming out dead stuff from my flower beds and pruning the rose bushes. It was so peaceful to garden as the sun went down and the heat slipped away.
• I made it through my Primary sharing time on Sunday! I have been dreading this lesson, as it was about modesty, and I just didn't feel like it is my role or responsibility to show children examples of "good" and "bad" clothes. I went with a symbolic and vague sort of lesson that ended with everyone putting flowers into a vase. I'm not sure they learned anything but at least I achieved my goal which was to discourage the judging of others based on their clothing choices. Written out like that my goal sounds a little bit self-serving. Ask me to tell you about the funny thing that happened!
• Sunday night dinner: sweet & sour chicken with coconut rice, broccoli salad (which was only a highlight for me) and perhaps the most delicious watermelon in the history of watermelon. And a chocolate cake. 

Not a highlight:

• On Saturday night, Kendell and I finished watching the TBS miniseries The Hatfields and the McCoys. Holy-six-hours-worth-of-country-folk-shooting-each-other. It was not my favorite.
• The movie Kendell chose for our date: Snow White and the Huntsman. The characters were so underdeveloped and the storyline this weird outline of unexplained landscapes. We were both hoping for more and left sorely disappointed. The only bright spot was Charlize Theron. She does an excellent evil woman!

Comments

[Margot/NZ]

Go on, tell us the funny thing that happened!

[Jill B]

I'm looking forward to hearing the funny story. Please do tell. Have a great day!

[Chris S.]

I really want to see Brave soon and felt the same way about Snow White and the Huntsman. I think it would have been a lot better if Kristen Stewart wasn't in it. She bugs!!

Glad to hear you went with making the chocolate cake. Never a bad decision.

p.s. I want to hear the funny story too.