Thursday, October 27, 2011
To Pennsylvania for some German Potato Salad
All is well here in Arizona. The weather today is a too warm fall morning of 80 degrees. However, there is cold front on the way and I am looking forward to it.
We just seeded our lawn with winter grass so we are anticipating a lush soft blanket of rye to lay in shortly. If the weather helps us out. I was sad the the gorgeous purple mums I bought only 2 weeks ago finally withered and died in their pots this week.- The heat just kills them too quickly here. Mums are a link to the fall season for me, so I was disappointed.
I recently returned from a short jaunt to Pennsylvania for a Columbus Day getaway. Mike stayed home with the kids while I joined my brothers Noah and Hunter, and my parents to welcome Lincoln home from his mission. It was fun to see him and introduce him to Crew, who traveled with me.
Murphys Law was in effect prior to my flight. An online error (I dont think it was a user error) caused some problems for my flight and I ended up paying for another one way ticket home. After I had already purchased my roundtrip flight. ARGGG!
Then, the day before I was leaving, Mike gets word that a new surgeon wants him to come work the next day, a Friday. Mike hasnt worked a Friday in over a year. Because he never has, he didnt schedule the day off to watch the kids while I left!! So, after a freakout and some choice words, I managed to get the older boys to school and arrange a sitter for everybody (thanks to the good graces of my friend and neighbor). Zach and Tanner were going to head off to Tucson for the weekend, so Grandma and Grandpa Banzhaf drove 6 hours round trip to come and take them, instead of mtg Mike halfway in South Phoenix. It was the most stressed I have been in a long time.- Asher has maybe been babysat 1 time his whole life for under 2 hours. He was at a sitters from 8 am-8:30pm. I was flipping out inside worrying about how he was feeling. Then to hear that Mikes case was extended for more hours, I lost it.
So, not only did Mike end up working, but he worked until 8:30 that night. In his field, this almost NEVER happens. But, the one day I was getting on an airplane it did.
The good news is, Crew was a great traveler. He entertained our fellow passengers, sat quietly and played and slept right on cue. He was an angel to travel with.
Pennsylvania was warmer than expected and absolutely delightful. It refueled me. I needed to just see the green and hear the sounds of the Canadian geese honking in the sky. I felt like I had started to forget my life there.It was good to reconnect.We did some sightseeing and just hanging out together. It was perfect.
To be honest, it was hard to get on a plane and return to Arizona. But, I had for a minute a sense of closure that I never fully had before. A realization that my life there was a grand adventure but not my only adventure. That while in fact I had loved my life there, it wasnt without its negatives also. Nowhere in the world is perfect. Each place has its own pros and cons. I will always cherish my time in Pa, but I need to live in the now and move on. I do hope to someday convince my husband to move back to the east coast for a time, but I will be grateful for the moments Im having here. In a few years, I may feel the same way about Arizona.
Im actually starting to feel like we have a place in the community, in ward, and in our home. Day by Day, project by project, Im learning to love my home and recognize my smallest blessings. My kids will reflect the attitude I have about where we live, and I need to give them a non judgemental base to start building on. Its not fair to poison them with my negativity. My husband needs my gratitude and assurance that I am happy with the blessings he works hard to provide. Im learning to be patient with myself and with others. I will make friends...but they need to get to know me, and I them. The Lord is with me, wherever I go. He will help me to find peace in any location. It seems so logical to KNOW these things, but LIVING them is more difficult at times.
Anyway- Here are some pictures from Pa. My parents threw an October fest party with German sausages, German hot potato salad, apple spiced red cabbage, and all the trimmings. They had over 70 people. It was amazing. What was my favorite part? (besides the pot. salad!?!)- My moms cold apple drink she served. It is just apple juice and ginger ale mixed(dont forget to serve it COLD with pebble ice too!). Oh my goodness...it was so good.
We just seeded our lawn with winter grass so we are anticipating a lush soft blanket of rye to lay in shortly. If the weather helps us out. I was sad the the gorgeous purple mums I bought only 2 weeks ago finally withered and died in their pots this week.- The heat just kills them too quickly here. Mums are a link to the fall season for me, so I was disappointed.
I recently returned from a short jaunt to Pennsylvania for a Columbus Day getaway. Mike stayed home with the kids while I joined my brothers Noah and Hunter, and my parents to welcome Lincoln home from his mission. It was fun to see him and introduce him to Crew, who traveled with me.
Murphys Law was in effect prior to my flight. An online error (I dont think it was a user error) caused some problems for my flight and I ended up paying for another one way ticket home. After I had already purchased my roundtrip flight. ARGGG!
Then, the day before I was leaving, Mike gets word that a new surgeon wants him to come work the next day, a Friday. Mike hasnt worked a Friday in over a year. Because he never has, he didnt schedule the day off to watch the kids while I left!! So, after a freakout and some choice words, I managed to get the older boys to school and arrange a sitter for everybody (thanks to the good graces of my friend and neighbor). Zach and Tanner were going to head off to Tucson for the weekend, so Grandma and Grandpa Banzhaf drove 6 hours round trip to come and take them, instead of mtg Mike halfway in South Phoenix. It was the most stressed I have been in a long time.- Asher has maybe been babysat 1 time his whole life for under 2 hours. He was at a sitters from 8 am-8:30pm. I was flipping out inside worrying about how he was feeling. Then to hear that Mikes case was extended for more hours, I lost it.
So, not only did Mike end up working, but he worked until 8:30 that night. In his field, this almost NEVER happens. But, the one day I was getting on an airplane it did.
The good news is, Crew was a great traveler. He entertained our fellow passengers, sat quietly and played and slept right on cue. He was an angel to travel with.
Pennsylvania was warmer than expected and absolutely delightful. It refueled me. I needed to just see the green and hear the sounds of the Canadian geese honking in the sky. I felt like I had started to forget my life there.It was good to reconnect.We did some sightseeing and just hanging out together. It was perfect.
To be honest, it was hard to get on a plane and return to Arizona. But, I had for a minute a sense of closure that I never fully had before. A realization that my life there was a grand adventure but not my only adventure. That while in fact I had loved my life there, it wasnt without its negatives also. Nowhere in the world is perfect. Each place has its own pros and cons. I will always cherish my time in Pa, but I need to live in the now and move on. I do hope to someday convince my husband to move back to the east coast for a time, but I will be grateful for the moments Im having here. In a few years, I may feel the same way about Arizona.
Im actually starting to feel like we have a place in the community, in ward, and in our home. Day by Day, project by project, Im learning to love my home and recognize my smallest blessings. My kids will reflect the attitude I have about where we live, and I need to give them a non judgemental base to start building on. Its not fair to poison them with my negativity. My husband needs my gratitude and assurance that I am happy with the blessings he works hard to provide. Im learning to be patient with myself and with others. I will make friends...but they need to get to know me, and I them. The Lord is with me, wherever I go. He will help me to find peace in any location. It seems so logical to KNOW these things, but LIVING them is more difficult at times.
Anyway- Here are some pictures from Pa. My parents threw an October fest party with German sausages, German hot potato salad, apple spiced red cabbage, and all the trimmings. They had over 70 people. It was amazing. What was my favorite part? (besides the pot. salad!?!)- My moms cold apple drink she served. It is just apple juice and ginger ale mixed(dont forget to serve it COLD with pebble ice too!). Oh my goodness...it was so good.
Beautiful Fall night sky from my parents porch.
Crew sitting on my lap in New Hope, PA
New Hope, Pa is a MUST see place. So quaint. Tons of shopping. Close to Philly. Loved it!
Washington Crossing. This is the area where George Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Eve 1776. Changing the course of the revolutionary war.
Just taking a walk with Noah, Hunter and Crew around the neighborhood.
My Mothers Festive Home...Love being there.
Some were eating here on the patio. More in other places around the house and yard.
I didnt have my camera until the end of the party so I am not doing the food spread justice. And I didnt take any pictures of all the seating and lights that were all over the yard. Or the darling pumpkin centerpieces on each of the tables. Sorry...I get talking instead of photographing.
I was at the end of the buffet line. As you can see there were 3 types of meat.
Frankferters,Weisswurst, and one other that I cant remember.
Empty trays and delicious memories were all that was left in the end. YUM!
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