March 29, 2011

Making Strides


1. Daisy might belong to my little man, but she owns my heart.  She's a snuggler.  Yesterday she sat on my lap for 45 minutes while I played Bejeweled Blitz worked on lesson plans.
Isn't she adorable??
Even my animal-avoider daughter cuddled her and then admitted her cuteness.
We're making great strides.

Speaking of great strides...
2.My youngest finally decided he was ready to ride a bike.  Yes.  He's seven.  
I was older than that when I finally learned.  Hey!  No snickering!
A couple of years ago we tried to push it, but the lessons always ended in wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Of everyone involved.  I think my husband was afraid he would go to college on a tricycle.  ;)
We decided to let it go.  We figured he would pick it up eventually.  A great ah-ha moment as a parent is learning to let go of the not-so-important stuff.

3. I received Photoshop Elements9 as a Christmas gift.  For the last 3 months I felt like an idiot every time I turned it on. Even the "Photoshop for Dummies" didn't help.  Ignorant I tell you.
Last night, my uber talented friend Heather gave me a personal tutorial.  She knew she was in trouble when I asked how to open the program.  We made great strides, through her patience and talent.  (See, Heather, I made the collage above!)

4. I haven't made homemade cookies in forever and a day.  I tried these .  They are divine because they are gorgeous, delicious, and stay soft for days.

The icing is VERY lemony, so I tinted it pink and called them Pink Lemonade Cookies for my 6th grade bible study girls.  They like cute names.  And dessert.
Check out this food blog.  It is fabulous.  She is a personal friend and I can promise that everything on her blog is creme de la creme for your inner foodie.

I'm not going to let the fact that I only have 4 points in my list of "making strides."  Maybe I should have titled it "making baby steps."  Oh well.

11 comments:

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

There is a definite learning curve to PSE...and I'm still learning. I agree that a personal tutorial helps. My friend helped me last year and it made ALL the difference!!!

Also, that food blog? Wowza. How perfect that I'm working on menu plans today!

Oh, and my NINE year old can't ride her bike. Doesn't seem to care to learn either. I'm okay with it. She'll do it when she's ready, and obviously, she's not ready! Congrats to your little guy.

ashley said...

Those cookies sound SO good right now! I am also SO glad to hear that my 6-year-old isn't the only kid on the planet that can.not.ride.a.bike. My hubby has also mentioned his fear of him still not being able to ride a bike when he's grown. :) But you are right, he'll get it when he's ready!

Unknown said...

Gretchen,
Thanks for your very kind words about The Cafe! Scott and I are having so much fun doing this but he says that he never had to work so hard for his dinner! :) -he's my photographer! Hope that sweet family of yours is doing well!
Blessings,
Chris

p.s.your blog is awesome!

Little Oak Table said...

girl those cookies look awesome! anything with lemon gets two thumbs up in my book!!!

The Lord Family said...

Look at you and your collage! Way to go! PSE is not an intuitive program--there are 3 ways to do just about everything. It really does help to have someone walk you through it. I'm glad to help!
Thanks for the food blog link! I'm always looking for some yummy new meals!
We'll do more with PSE...maybe some scrapbooking too? :)

Alisa said...

Congrats on your recent accomplishments.;) I think it is great to let the little things go sometimes for a bit. We have major anxiety about "shoe tying" around here. I figure they'll get it eventually, right?!:) Hopefully they won't go to college in velcro.:)

Unknown said...

I have some SERIOUS bunny envy...that little guy is a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e.

And those cookies? Yeah, I've got cookie envy too...but I can remedy that. Thanks for the link!

Anonymous said...

Hey, I know a place in St. Louis MY HOUSE! St. Louis has a free ZOO, but I think you pay to park or somthing, Grants Farm (the beer horses are there) and a Six Flags but hey MY HOUSE!

Anonymous said...

oops just sent a comment on the wrong blog post.

Chelsea said...

I need your friend Heather! I also received Photo Shop for Christmas and have yet to figure it out. I've tried and I'm confused- the online tutorial stuff isn't cutting it. You've inspired me to to find a Photo Shopping Heather in my life ;-)

kay said...

I was just perusing my pantry for something sweet to bake for dessert tonight and found nothing. Now I have something, thanks to you. These look wonderful and so I will give them a spin right now!