Coup-fourré

Tonight was a good night! Marina and I went for a bike ride and continued our practicing of riding on the road and also on the trail. We went out to Simpsonwood and worked on going over roots and up hills. We talked about controlling fear and how not panicking on the bike is very important.

Kathleen and Abby made dinner together (salmon, rice and peas). Abby picked, cleaned and chopped fresh basil all by herself and used it to season the rice and the salmon. Over dinner we talked more about fear and used FDR's famous quoter "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" as a way to explain that being scared is OK, the trick is not letting your fear dictate your actions.

We had ice cream for dessert and then played several rounds of Mille Bornes. We switched teams each time and everyone won at least once. We worked on focusing on the game a bunch so that it ran smoothly for everyone.

Dive, dinner, deal!

Abby and I went to the pool again so she could work on her back dive. She loves the pool and really enjoys riding her bike over and back. She's still not tall enough to consistently get started by herself.

Her "crawl" stroke has really progressed this summer and I'm really proud of her.

Marina made a new dish tonight with Kathleen - Chicken and green beans over rice. She loves making new spice combinations (Cinnamon, Basil, Salt and Soy Sauce).

We made special desserts for everyone - Root-beer floats for me and Kathleen and Chocolate/Peanut Butter/Banana Ice cream shakes for the girls.

We played UNO and Mille Bornes tonight. Marina talked smack early and delivered on her early bragging "I am so going to win!". Abby and I cleaned up on Mille Bornes and were near unstoppable.

REWIND: Camping weekend!

6.24.11 to 6.26.11 - I went camping with the girls and Baley to Red Top Mountain this weekend. We went canoeing, cooked over the campfire we built together. We made s'mores, hot dogs and even "ken's swiss spaghetti"! We got there in the rain and had to set everything up while it was pouring. We talked about "being tough" and persevering if you want something. We told tons of very scary ghost stories (Mr Cropsy, The Twinkling Light, The Warewolves, The one-footed lumberjack, and The Dirty Potty!), and I taught the girls how to make them up on the fly by picking one thing or one idea and then just rolling with it stream of consciousness while trying to keep it real.

We went swimming at the beach and borrowed Jeff Fisher's canoe. We went out twice, once by ourselves and once with Ken. Ken came up on the last day with Anna and Ellie and we went for a long canoe ride where we swam in the lake a bunch and even capsized the canoe! We all worked together to get it back upright and had a great adventure!

Backdive!

Saturday 7/16/11 - We made breakfast together, eggs and bacon. We went to see cars 2 at the movies and played games at home (battleship! Marina won!). I went to the pool with Abby, while Marina played with Kathleen and I taught Abby to do a backdive!


Marina and Kathleen made dinner together (cous cous, dumplings and peas). Marina was very proud of her recipe and cooking skills. Cooking is one of her favorite things. Kathleen and I read Inkheart to the girls before bed. Abby loves her new husband (her pillow!)

Go Braves!

Sun 7/17 - I took the girls out to lunch and to the Braves game. We went to the braves history museum, rooted for the Braves and I explained several parts of the game to Marina and Abby (balks, stolen bases, pick offs, run downs, 7th inning stretch, the kiss cam, etc). We had peanuts, soda, and dippin dots (when will the ice cream of the future ever become the ice cream of the present?)


Before the game, we had lunch with my friend, Robin Cahall, and played several games over lunch and after the game (1 up 1 down, going on a picnic, loopdy loop, hangman). Marina made a very clever hangman phrase - "men always talk about sports and taxes". Robin and I both laughed and complemented her for her wit.