Week in Review: January 20-26

((I had SUCH a happy week!))

I made granola with my mom. I've always wanted to try making granola, but just never have. I actually have a lot of things I want to try, but never attempt. I get too busy, or forget, or figure there are other things more important to tackle. So, I decided to make a checklist of things to achieve every month. And, so far, so good! Click HERE for the recipe. It's from allrecipes.com & is very delicious! I followed the baking time, but I should have kept a keener eye on things, because it was just a wee bit too long. Every other bite gives you a slight burnt taste. The girls & I love it though. We are already tackling the 2nd of 3 bags. Next time I'd stir more often & watch the happenings in the oven more closely. You know how the first time following a recipe goes sometimes. Yeah. And I am discovering something about myself in the kitchen: I am an absolute klutz & mess-maker-extraordinaire. I mean, I always have been. It's just getting worse as I get older.

And speaking of getting older...Guess who just went to the eye doctor & has to get progressive lenses? *points to self*

This old lady, right here. Gah. I'll be picking out new frames this week.

 The family & I took an early Sunday evening trip to a local ice skating pavilion. The Mr., with his bum knee (from kick-boxing), had to sit out & watch his girls. Another realization about this old, uncoordinated lady: She will never be a professional ice skater when she grows up. Or even an amateur one. Holy moly! A few times around that rink & my ankles were so shaky & weak that I almost purposely flopped on the ice, just so someone could drag me back to home base. 

Since the busy holiday-ness has faded, my mom, grandmother, sister & I have reinstated our monthly tea & breakfast. Our first tea happened right after I moved back from Nebraska, in the summer. We had such a lovely time together that we decided to make it a monthly thing. And it has now turned into a full-on yummy breakfast. I made THIS Cajun-style hasbrown dish for the morning meal. And then I gave everyone a concert on my ukulele. Everyone clapped, especially grandmother. She's so cute. I'm really practicing a lot on the uke & loving it! Can't believe I waited 9 months to redeem that birthday gift card. My fingertips are all awesome & calloused. 

One afternoon last week, the girls & I spontaneously plopped down some watercolor supplies & got to creating. In fact, the mess is still all over the dining table. That's how we roll. Those little people of mine are so inspiring. They make the coolest things.

It has been 5 1/2 months since I played around with making Foodie Cinema Vines. I used to LOVE making those silly 6-second films! So I got out the veggies & the smartphone & the tiny props & had a blast. Take a peek at the 1st of a 3 part series. (Find me on Vine: Nikki Mans) I'm just gonna have to make more time for the things I love doing. 

Here's what else happened last week...

•Zoey's basketball team played on Saturday. Zoey had a surprise when unexpected guests showed up to watch her play: her papa, mimi, & GG. You should have seen her jaw drop as she stepped onto the court & saw them. So adorably shocked! Icing on the cake was that her team won their game! Woohoo!

•I got THE happiest package from my Susan friend, filled with knitted lovelies & chocolate covered potato chips. A tiny knitted Lucha Libre doll with a pink cape & mask for me? I have the best friends. 

•So, I'm trying to go to Zoey's 5th grade Camp Wooten Outdoor Education trip in March, but got rejected as a cabin counselor. What?!?! They don't know what they're missin'! Haha! So now I'm trying to get in the door by volunteering to help out in the kitchen. Me & the kitchen ladies are gonna have THE. BEST. TIME. EVER. But first I must be accepted into the position. Here's hoping I'm not a two-time {volunteer} reject... 

•The Mr. got to sit in on Zoey's strings class one morning. He came home, saying, "It was so cool." He even used this word to describe it: MAGICAL. The massive sound of all the instruments playing together was such a thing that he'd never heard before. Oh my word. My heart did flips to hear him talking like that. Cutest ever. He thinks we should all go to a symphony now. (Quick! Sign him up before he changes his mind!)

•As I was cleaning the house on Thursday, I got a surprise visit from my Tia friend. I will always accept visitors during cleaning time. I'm just putting that out there. To just sit & chat & giggle & sip yummy hot drinks with a friend is the best. 

•I took the girls for their first appointment with their new doctor. Just a well-check visit. But suddenly I had serious nightmare-ish flashbacks of taking them to the doctor when they were little: They acted the exact same way! Jumping & bouncing & doing acrobats on the examination table & climbing under chairs. I was the embarrassed mom who couldn't control her children. I did get them to hush for a moment when I asked the doc about getting them "flu shots". 

•And finally, grandmother seems to be getting along ok, after her heart attack on the 1st of the year. Though she does get weak more quickly & tired more often, she doesn't require as much assistance as she did when she first came home from the hospital. She does physical therapy twice a week & has nurse visits once a week & happy Nikki visits at least four times a week.

♥