So I am finally back to blogging after a two week hiatus! After a lovely weekend of hiking, mulching the gardens (or watching my husband do so from my lawn chair), clearing some space on the DVR, and reading most of a fluffy, paranormal-romance novel, I managed to throw together a batch of Xingren Dangang, almond cookies rolled, refrigerated, and topped with a butter toffee almond.
Most of the prep work happened earlier in the day as the boys played outside before lunch. The actual baking happened at what ended up being a very busy time for our household. We were transitioning into our evening routine. The boys were coming inside from a marathon afternoon of bikes, hula hoops, and trucks. I was popping trays of cookies in and out of the oven in between dinner prep and showering off two very sandy, sticky children. Not one cookie suffered though, and we all managed to enjoy a few before the transition to bedtime.
We spend a lot of time in our house managing transitions. Anyone with small children knows the challenge of transitions for little ones, and our household is no exception, especially as we maneuver these changes with the scars of trauma ever present in our daily routines. Then as a teacher, my career seems to be one long transition of several classroom activities over the course of five period days within three trimesters throughout the nine month school year surrounded by 3,000 teenagers. And that doesn't account for those curve balls that life sends our way occasionally, be they a struggle or a new joy to behold. No wonder I am so dang tired all the time!
But one of my favorite transitions is upon me. The shift from the school year into summer vacation. This week ahead marks my last of the year with students. The final project gets presented, the grades are entered, a little curriculum gets written, and I get to drive away from work for an extended break that is a necessary restorative for a demanding career. I am looking forward to the adventures of summer, sleeping in past 5:30 am, camping with my boys, witnessing the garden bloom, drinking margaritas on the back patio, and all the other activities that demand nothing more than my relaxed presence and joyful spirit.
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