Family Surfing Night #8

I can't stop thinking about the Oklahoma tornado yesterday ... 

lots and lots of prayers for everyone in Moore.  

Today's forecast for our area of Texas looked fairly serious, but it just didn't come together for much more than wind and rain, for which we are very thankful.  

The electricity was off here for about three hours.  

I secretly like it when the electricity goes off.  

It gets so quiet.  

And I imagine how family life must have been a hundred years ago.  

Everyone in the same room ... talking.  

Guitar and piano duets.  

Reading outloud.  

Schedule and to-do lists completely disregarded.

Sometimes no technology can be a blessing.

But we were happy to have the lights come back on.  

I couldn't think what I was going to make for dinner without electricity.  

And then we also had Family Surfing Night on the calendar ... 

and we definitely need electricity for that!  

Abbie's name has been on the fridge trophy for weeks.  

And then more weeks,

 and then more weeks again because she kept winning. 

Will she make another Family Surfing Night sweep?  

Is it ...

 for her ... AGAIN???

This week's entry from Melissa ... an interview with a one year old.  

The part about Thursdays just makes me laugh.  

The little guy is so sincere.  

And the Dad is so serious.  

From Abbie ... Kung Fu Nun-Chucks in the Food Lion parking Lot.  

The narration makes it hysterical.

From Aaron ... Minecraft Lag.  

If you only knew how much Aaron loves Minecraft, you would understand.  

Which LtDan said he almost did, for the first time, with this video.

LtDan chose this video of a flashmob in Heathrow airport.

Some of the responses are hilarious.

What would you do if people swirled you into a flashmob?

Ben's entry was a last minute pick from VSauce.  Are you familiar with VSauce?  

Me neither, except that my kids say they've learned a lot from him.  

Cool and funny educational videos on YouTube. Who knew?  

This one is about mythical monsters.

And Nathan, who usually has so many kooky videos queued up that he can't choose, 

also submitted a last minute pick.  

Just between you and me, you'll be glad it's only 36 seconds.  

And the votes are in ... 

 

LtDan and the Heathrow Flashmob wins!

This video got my vote.  

When a three minute video makes you laugh and cry,

and reminds you that life is for sharing ...

that's a total win in my book.  

Barns, Pins and Knots

When we moved to the JustB, we were really excited that there was a barn.

I put together a moving plan that involved three staging areas: some boxes going into the house, some to the shed, and some to the barn.  I was going to take my time unpacking without the clutter of moving boxes surrounding us.  But the day we moved, for some reason the grand plan was nixed, and all the boxes went into the house.

Then it rained.  

Then we discovered why the Realtor looked like a dear in the headlights

when we asked to see inside the barn the second time we looked at the property, 

and it was raining.  

Perhaps that's why she didn't have the key ... ?

The barn roof wasn't finished, which we knew.  

The wooden roof decking was up, but not the tin.   

What we didn't know was that when it rained, water poured down inside the barn.  

It was about as good as no roof at all.  Ultimately I was really thankful we hadn't 

put any moving boxes in there ... everything would've been a wet mess for sure.

The first thing LtDan did was finish the barn roof.  Which was scary fun, since he was up there about three stories high on a very steep roof.  I'll never forget the day he finished nailing down the very last piece and I had to help guide his foot down, over the edge, onto the ladder.  Failure was definitely not an option.

We loved that barn. 

We had puppies in that barn.  

We had kittens in that barn.  

We had baby birds nest in that barn.  

It was a beloved barn. 

But one spring day in 2011, a terrific storm blew through Texas.  

No tornadoes for us, thank the Lord, but great, great winds, coming directly from the west.  

And naturally, as the winds picked up, we went outside on the porch to watch the storm blow in ... 

because that's what you do when the weather gets bad, you go outside.   

Doesn't everyone do that?

As we stood on the porch, the big trees were whipping and bending like we've never seen them do.  Something made me look to the north, and I watched the barn simply ... lay ... down.

Sigh.

All that time (before we moved here) with the water pouring through it 

had severely compromised the entire structure.  

And when the winds blew so strongly straight into it ... 

well, it was a sad day.

But if a barn can fall down, a barn can be built!

When we decided to go forward with building in December, you can bet I was on Pinterest looking at barns and pinning ideas to my barn board.  You can bet the girls had some ideas for that barn.  I think it was about the time when I suggested something so marvelously practical as oh ... I don't know ... more windows ... that LtDan informed me that it was to be a functional barn.

That's when I realized perhaps his and hers barns would be a better idea :o)

Even so, it didn't take much convincing that we really should go ahead and put the balcony off the second floor ... because, really, weren't we planning to do that with the old barn anyway?

I did get to choose suggest the paint color ... and I also got to pick the outside lights.  

 There are a few things yet to be done, but the dogs and cats are again eating in a barn, 

not on the back porch,

and LtDan is moving his tools in and building his work bench.

And it's all just in time.

Because if you've been on Pinterest, you know the best use of a barn is for a wedding.

(image source:  the frosted petticoat)

Here's our nephew and his cute little girlfriend ... 

 They'll be tying the knot in the new barn come June 1st.

I guess all that Pinterest research is going to pay off after all :o)

Chores

Do your kids do chores?  

Our kids do chores.

I always wonder how other families manage this part of family life.

We've had our kids doing chores since they were very small.  

Well ... sometimes it's more accurate to say that they're assigned chores.  

Just because they're assigned doesn't necessarily mean the chores are actually done.

I've read the book that says "kids don't do what you expect, they do what you inspect."

(which book was that?)

I'm not consistent about checking their chores.  I am the weakest link.

But, for the most part, my kids do pretty well on their chores, 

in spite of me.

Years ago one of my friends copied the chore system we were using at the time and in a few weeks she said with exasperation, "it started out great, but she won't do them anymore!"  

I don't know how it works for you, but for us, 

changing things up every so often keeps things fresh.  

One of the things we've done to fill up the time on our long drive to the beach every year is 

a big chore lottery where everything is revamped and reassigned.

We get home from vacation all refreshed and renewed, 

and everyone is so excited for their new chores.

  

You believe me, right?

I'm pretty sure we've employed every method of doing chores possible.  

Chore charts, chore notebooks, 

regularly assigned, not regularly assigned, 

daily, weekly, on and on AND ON.

Here's what's working at our house right now:

Everyone has a set of daily chores.  These are the things that keep the household in a reasonably orderly state, and they're done every day after lunch.  There aren't that many daily chores, 

but I'm a chart person, so we have a chart, and everyone's chores are color coded :o)

Don't think that our eldest (his chores are in brown) gets off easy ... 

he's taken on the yardwork.  

All of it.  

And it's A LOT.  

We also have weekend chores.  These are more deep cleaning than just the day to day tasks, 

and I've divided them over the course of a month and (surprise!) created a chart.

  

On Saturday mornings, we have a meeting after a late breakfast 

(we are, after all, working with teenagers).

I write on the white board what needs to be done, and everyone gets to choose their torture chores, usually four or five for everyone.  If the kids have company, the friends get chores, too.  

If everyone gets busy and gets their chores done fast,

everyone is done and the house is clean in a little more than an hour.

That's how it's done here.  

For now, anyway.

Want to see how we changed things up after about a year of doing chores like this?
click }here{

Well, hi!

Do I acknowledge I've only done four blogposts in 2013?   

Somehow I lost my steam and I was waiting to catch my breath.  

But you know how life beckons you back.   

To quote a dear friend ... 

"ok, ok, ok....the turkey was baked and cranberry sauce consumed.....tree and decorations up and presents wrapped, stuff put away and decorations down and tree in attic for another year....the superbowl was played, valentine's day m&m's were delicious and fat tuesday is now only a memory.....before we are ready for fall again, shall we do that meeting thing where we get to see each other, chat, eat 

and just enjoy a good conversation...?"

Life and good friends don't take no for an answer.

:o)

I've been looking for ways to celebrate life in the every day, compiling a list of ways and means of conducting every day life that bring forth the most joy possible.  One of the things on my list is to be in the family room or kitchen when the sun begins to sink and the light turns gold and the room glows.  

So tonight I went into the kitchen to make dinner,

and out the backdoor the sunshine was glimmering through the leaves, 

and the wind was blowing through the grass ...

and, well ... 

dinner was a little late, but for good reason.

We've had rain ... everything turned green and grew three feet overnight.   

Even though most of the winter time things have been put away, the blankets are still on the porch. 

Earlier this week the high was in the 80's ... right now it's in the 40's.

That's a Texas spring for you:  from flip flops to sweaters in 24 hours!

  

The morning glories from last summer left some volunteers behind,

and they are making their appearance ... yay spring!  

I put this feeder on my Dad's window ... 

it's going to be fun to watch the hummingbirds stop by to visit.

Things have been busy here ... and I have things to post about before I forget.

I'll let the barn red color be the clue for a big one.

And I have progress to report on my {{12 in 12}} aspirations ... now that it's 2013.

And there are a few before and afters to show, too!

Family Surfing Night, #7

Here's how it's done ... 

We gather in the family room with our laptops.  

 Everyone shows the best/funniest/favorite thing they've found 

while surfing the webbernets of late, 

and we vote for the best one.

Videos are limited to (approximately) 3 minutes in length.

The WINNER shall be the proud and much envied recipient 

of the Family Surfing Night Traveling Trophy, 

to be affixed to the refrigerator with their name upon it for all to see:

There is so much great stuff out there on the internet.

Let's look back on the greatness of our winning entry 

from our very first Family Surfing Night:

See?  

Quality Family Time, right there.

The entries for this week are:

From Lt.Dan:

a wonderful stage performance about 

the life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

that will have your heart ready to start the Christmas season

right now in the middle of March.

From Ben:

an amazing real-life rendition of an operatic performance 

from the movie The Fifth Element.

From Abbie:

animals.  mostly goats.  making noise.  

From Aaron:

now here is something different - a MineCraft video!  

Well, maybe not different for our resident MineCraft aficionado,  

but definitely fun.

From Nathan:
a coolio short film that's kind of like 
a techno reproduction of a rain shower.

From Melissa:

no video.  but greatness nonetheless.

The winning entry had Abbie on the floor collapsed in giggles, 

LtDan laughing so hard he cried, 

and the whole family making weird goat noises all evening:

And if that's not Quality Family Time, I don't know what is.

Go Abbie ... you're on a roll!

Family Surfing Night, #6

oooooooh, my goodness ... Family Surfing Night, you've been neglected!  

We've actually had several Surfing Night events twixt this and the last ... 

I didn't get all the links.  

But they were great. 

Seriously.  

Anyway, if you're looking for a family time option that's fun and enjoyed by all, 

let me suggest this activity:

Here's how we do it at our hosue ... 

We gather in the family room with our laptops.  

 Everyone shows the best/funniest/favorite thing they've found 

while surfing the webbernets of late, 

and we vote for the best one.

Videos are limited to (approximately) 3 minutes in length.

The WINNER shall be the proud and much envied recipient 

of the Family Surfing Night Traveling Trophy, 

to be affixed to the refrigerator with their name upon it for all to see:

It is LOTS of fun, and a laughing, highly participative, good time is guaranteed.

I still can't get over it that my teenagers ask to do this ...

YAY!

Now, without further adieu, 

I bring you this week's selections for Family Surfing Night:

From Dan:

an outdoorsy video about a guy who went to live off the land in Alaska, 

all by himself.  All alone.  Just him and his tools.  

From Aaron:

happy music with a colorful light show.

From Abbie:

a food court flashmob.  

From Nathan:

a baby hears his mother's voice for the first time.  Beyond cool.

From Ben ... who submitted the link to his video via text because he's out of town:

remember when the lights went out at the Superbowl?  Well, here's the reason.  

You'll especially love it if you're a hardcore Batman fan.

And from me:

a father gives his daughter away at the wedding, 

but not before he tells a story.  

So great.

And this week's winner of Family Surfing Night is:

Abbie's FlashMob!

The fact that she dedicated the video to me because I love spontaneous outbursts of song

has nothing to do with the fact that she won.  

Because some nights, you just know.    

It's going to be you.

One for the Bucket List, Part Last: California Highway 1

Last December, my sister asked me if I wanted to take a trip to California with her.

Seriously.

She asked me if  I wanted to go.  

It was a quick three day trip that I loved so much,

 it's been hard to bring myself to post the last few pictures.

We flew to San Francisco and drove down California Highway 1 

in the gorgeous and golden late afternoon, 

through Pebble Beach, all the way down to Cambria.  

 See that beautiful drive }here{

The next day we went to Walmart, 

and took a stunning back road that still makes my heart soar.

See that lovely jaunt }here{

Then we visited a National Park.  But not the kind with portolets and grizzly bears.  

This National Park is a castle - Hearst's Castle. 

  

See Part 1 of our visit to the castle }here{ with beautiful views of the grounds and pools

Part 2 of the castle }here{ showcasing the main gathering areas inside the castle

and Part 3 of the castle }here{ and have a look upstairs and in the bedrooms.

But if a castle doesn't quite fit your concept of the National Park experience, 

just down from Hearst's Castle is a beach that is home to elephant seals.  

They were SO BIG, but these were mostly babies and adolescents.  

The full grown males can be as big as a car!

So really, it's probably not a good idea to try to pet one.  

Resist the urge.  

Most of them were just lying around,

 soaking up the sun,

blissing out on the the beach.

Some of them were play fighting.

Probably the equivalent of a bunch of teenagers having a sleepover.

On most trips, getting in the car to head home is when you curl up in the backseat 

to catch a little shut eye.

But not this one.

Definitely ...

not this one.

When we were kids, we once saw a killer whale on this drive.  

It followed the coastline for quite some time.  

We didn't see anything quite so spectacular this time, but we did see a whale spout a few times. 

Not that I was able to catch it on film ... 

It's kind of like seeing a movie star and not taking the picture.

At least I am consistent :o)

If you decide you absolutely must stay one more night,

you have options.

But sometimes, you just can't draw it out any longer, and it's time to go home. 

Besides, you know what they say about all good things ... 

This One for the Bucket List California Road Trip is a Six Part Series.  

Click below for:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

( You just read Part Last )