Life is Fun

Over and over people tell me that my husband and I should take the time to do the things we want to do before we become parents. As they say, “Your time will not be yours.” We aren’t naive to the fact that we will be occupied nearly every moment. In fact, we are looking forward to it. (Really!) But we really don’t think that what we do, on the large part, will be hindered by having a child….that is, except for a day like yesterday.

As a child, I was very mobile. We all were. My mother made packing up four or five kids to go on a day trip or even to the grocery store an art that I hope I’ll be able to replicate with only one child to worry about. Our kid will know how to go. However, yesterday was testament to the kind of day we will not be able to have when we are with child and I relished every moment of it. We spent the entire day lounging on the couch, watching movies, eating pizza, and knitting (well, I did some knitting). Why this overly casual day?

This previous week was a crazy one at school. Teaching at an expeditionary school is exciting but often much more work than your traditional educational setting. This past week was one of the more challenging. Each expedition ends with a culminating event. Our current expedition, Seeds of Culture focused on kids becoming geographers through the study of a particular country. Part of their study was to learn about their country’s culture through finding a traditional recipe with an ingredient grown in their country. In science (my class), we would learn about the physical make up of that country and how that ingredient can be grown (climate, soil, biome, etc.).

So, what did we decide to do for a culminating event? Have a public restaurant where the kids prepare and cook selected recipes from their country and then serve the food to paying customers. The price of the meals were to cover the cost of food. Any monies left will be donated to Heifer International. Yes, we’re crazy but I’ve got to tell you, I think it is going to work!

Thursday and Friday were restaurant prep days. Anyone who has ever worked in a school will tell you that when kids are pulled out of their routine, chaos can happen. Our kids (other a couple…ahh…issues) were great! In addition to a decorating committee, students spent two days cutting and chopping (with real knives), mixing, baking and preparing for our two dinner seatings for Friday night at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. We were cooking a great menu for 98 expected guests.

How did every thing go? Well, we don’t know yet as our superintendent of schools CANCELED all events because of the impending snow storm expected Friday afternoon! We’re rescheduled for Monday, but this little cancellation led to some pretty quick thinking.

1. What to do we kids who were hyped up and had planned on spending the afternoon setting up? Cooperative games and a class on how to wait on tables.

2. Where do we put food for 100 people in a middle school? Talk about finding freezer and fridge space. Some how it was done.

3. Scheduling a place to cook the food on Monday? OK, we’re still working on this as the classroom with ovens that we had signed out on Friday is needed on Monday because our school is hosting a national conference next week and food for that needs to be prepped.

Anyway…that is just the beginning.

I wasn’t going to be able to attend the our final dinner Friday night (called Knight of Culture) as my husband and I were attending an event in Freeport (the 2nd Annual Dance Party) and had already invited guests to our house (a month before our restaurant date was scheduled) for a pre-event. We had friends that were coming from away and spending the night as well as a number of local friends from Portland and Freeport joining us. Not only was I at school until 7 p.m. or later every night last week but I was also trying to get the house clean and plan and prep our own Friday night menu.

Phew, that goodness my husband took care of a bunch of the cleaning and all of the grocery shopping. There were only a few details to take care of on Friday afternoon when I got home. Already pooped, we got all of our food prepared, house organized, and refreshments set up while we watched snow and freezing rain pummel the streets around us. Long story short: two friends from Portland, neighbors down the street, and a host and hostess of the dance party were able to attend where the weather and a couple babysitter issues kept the larger group away.

Despite the lower turn out, the evening was still a success: we had our happy hour, went to the event with about 25 others who braved the storm, and danced and socialized the evening away. We also had a ton of food left for our lazy day on Saturday.

A day that will not be able to happen with a “little one”, Saturday was a wonderful day of rest!!! We didn’t even get out to remove the 7-9″ of snow that is piled up in our driveway and on our front porch. Although the removal of this heavy, crusty snowfall will be twice as difficult today than it would have been yesterday, I’m happy we let it sit!

Despite having a little extra work ahead of us today, a true day off is a rare commodity and shouldn’t be passed up when it comes along!

Well, now that I’ve reveled in my relaxation, it is time to get to work!