Phew...Tryin' to keep up!

Let me just tell you, last night while dining out, I walked up to the bar at the restaurant bar, ordered a beer, and downed it.  I don't often reach that point, but boy, my nerves have just been stretched thin every since school started back up.  Because along with the new school schedule, Lucy and Jack are both playing soccer, so there's that to add to the calendar.  Jason's at his new job - and LOVING it!  I'm so happy to report - but he's arriving home later than he used to, and although it's not much longer, it sure FEELS so much longer.  And I'm super conscious of making sure our family had down time, time together, family meals, and all that very good stuff, but the irony of that, is that that is just one more thing I'm trying to schedule on the calendar :). 

And honestly, Lucy is taking a toll on my heart.  Love this girl, but she just doesn't love me nearly as much, and it's just so obvious, it feels like.  She has so many great qualities - she's very independent, opinionated (yes, I think it's good to have a strong sense of what's right and wrong/good and bad, etc.), smart, and seems to really take a "caretaker" role when she's around her little brother and friends' younger siblings too - but she's also very proud.  I've mentioned this before, I'm sure.  She's very proud, so all the things I'd love to do with her:  help with homework, read books with her, help her do her hair, talk to her on the walk home from the school bus, etc. - she just seems to have ZERO interest in me doing it with her.

So, I just continue to love her to pieces, obviously, pray about it,  and absolutely relish any time she does show interest.  Which does happen from time to time...like this past Saturday morning, I was getting ready for a run, and she asked if she could come with me.  Um...OF COURSE, so she excitedly put on her "exercise clothes" and off we went.  I taught her about the importance of warming up the body - let's walk for a few minutes before we run - and how the blood moves through her body, how to run heel to toe, and proper breathing (in through your nose, exhale through the mouth :).  And wouldn't you know, she actually responded with more than one word to the questions I asked her.  It was heavenly!  Five minutes later, she was done running, so I dropped her off and continued on my run so stinking happy.  I'm going to ask her if she'd like to run again with me this Saturday, and maybe, hopefully, this is something special the two of us can share.

But, let's see, lots of changes around here.  Jason started his new job at Kailos Genetics last Monday, and I start a new job the Monday after Labor Day, as a writing teacher at Blossomwood Elementary.  This wasn't something I was searching for, but was thrilled to be suggested for the part.  My friend Molly's mom is a reading specialist there currently, and she was kind enough to throw my name in the pot when she found out the principal was looking for a teacher to come in and implement some extra writing programs with the students.  I met with the principal - energetic, personable, we'll get along great I think - and we worked out a great schedule.  I'm going to visit existing classrooms on Monday mornings, while my boys are at preschool (they were signed up for those hours already, so no need to rework any scheduling :), and help students in 3rd grade.  Just a few hours each Monday morning, and I can't wait!  My master's degree was in reading literacy and my thesis based on the writing workshop.  In the school setting, those are my true loves :)

Before Jason started his new job - Software Scientist, isn't that just an adorable job title?  :) - I gave him a surprise dinner, and a few friends came over to celebrate his new opportunity. 

Of course, I wanted to have a fun theme, but I know very little about the biotech stuff they do there, so I emailed his boss and asked for some common terminology around the office.  Then, playing on the terms, I decided on food menu items.  Here's what we ate:


Next Generation Sequencing:  I sequenced antipasta treats of sweet basil, roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, and sausage.  Drizzled with balsamic vinegar (straight from Italy - thanks MOm, we're still using that same bottle you gave us :); it was delicious!

"Kailos Blue"  was turned into a signature drink.  Super simple, but so yummy.  Equal parts vodka, curaco, and lemonade.  Try it!

"Target Rich" became dessert as little chocolate cakes with a target on top :)

For the main dish, I matched "Nested Patch PCR" with chicken cordon bleu with a dijon parmesan sauce.  I nested prosciutto and Gruyere cheese inside the chicken.  This was so good, you must try it.  It's Tyler Florence's recipe, and I had never made this before, and it went perfectly.     The sauce isn't on his recipe, but you can find it here

And thanks to Molly (who, poor dear fell sick that day and couldn't even come to the party :(, who prepared this amazingly yummy "double helix salad" to play off of the all important DNA work that Kailos does everyday.  (Which on a side note, Jason has been super excited about what he's learning about DNA testing as it pertains to cancer.)

Congratulations, Jason! 

Soccer games begin after Labor Day, so I'm sure I'll have lots of cuteness there.  Practices are going very well so far.  Lucy has shown 100% effort, and like I told her, she's really fast at getting back up when she falls (which is often :).  Jack, on the other hand, is all about the time of practice when they play against each other, but hates drills and repetitious practice.  In his (whiny) words, "Mom, I like to play, but I just don't like to practice!"  Good luck with working on that buddy :)