Monthly Archives: April 2022

Lip Service Thursday Rundown

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I like numbers that have a “7” in them so I am digging April 7. With that random piece of information out of the way, let’s get tonight’s Thursday Rundown underway. Here are five topics for you…

National Beer Day – Perhaps I dig April 7 more because of what it is designated as rather than the numeral it contains. Today is National Beer Day and that means I must share my classic and absolutely embarrassing Top 5 Beers post from four years ago. If you have any type of a sophisticated taste when it comes to brews, you will most likely be appalled by my list. You have been warned.

Looking at this photo, you can probably already determine that my list is going to be baaaad.

Put Me In Coach – Sloan begins her first organized sport next week! The t-ball field is calling her name as she joins a team with her cousin for what will undoubtedly be a season of errors, butterfly catching, and a load of cuteness. I purchased Sloan a glove this past weekend and we are in the process of working it in. I will be sure to give you season highlights over the course of the next several weeks.

Sloan trying on her new pink glove inside Walmart.

The Weekend Away – My Netflix “pick of the week” for you is “The Weekend Away.” It captivated the attention of Sid and I so much that we watched the whole thing on Sunday night (it is only 90 minutes but we usually watch films in a couple different sittings). It is a fast-paced mystery that takes place on a weekend getaway to Croatia. It reminded me just a tiny bit of “Taken” and has a couple of pretty good turns. I recommend!

I recommend “The Weekend Away.” Catch it on Netflix.

Lip Service – A year ago, Beau suffered a bloody injury when he lost balance on some stairs and smacked his mouth on the corner of the staircase. The trip to the emergency room has a somewhat humorous and memorable angle to it, but overall it was a tough episode. The ER doctor warned that he might have some scarring and a year later he does—but he still is a handsome little guy.

A photo of Beau when his accident happened on April 3, 2021 vs. a photo of him on April 6, 2022. If you look closely you can still see some scarring.

Tomatoes In Cake? – I have read a couple Patricia Polacco books to Sloan but we finally were able to check out “Thunder Cake.” I had waited to get my hands on this one for a long time because…well…it is about cake. To be a little more specific, a grandma bakes a cake with her granddaughter during a storm to sooth some anxiety. I was excited to extend the book beyond the pages and bake thunder cake but that was before I learned that the recipe calls for TOMATOES. When I read this I turned to Sidney who had read the book and baked the cake before. I asked if she had actually used the tomatoes and she said, “Yeah, and it was good.” Apparently it is for moisture but I think I will pass. I can deal with carrots but not tomatoes.

I read “Thunder Cake” to Beau last night and learned that the recipe calls for tomatoes.

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Thanks for your attention tonight. Palm Sunday is this weekend so let’s make sure to prepare ourselves for Holy Week and ultimately Christ’s resurrection on April 17. Have a nice weekend! Don’t Blink.

Happy 406 Day!

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Happy 406 Day! This evening I am thinking about my many friends and acquaintances who live in the great state of Montana. Today is April 6 and that date (4/06) reflects the ONLY area code in the Treasure State.

Happy 406 Day!

There is a part of me that is celebrating too. I lived in Montana for eight years as I went to college, started my professional career, and grew into an adult. I enjoyed many milestones, good times, and lifelong memories.

Out of the three states I have lived in, Montanans are the most distinctive. They are proud, hardworking people who value their slice of paradise. They are good folks who truly love the outdoors and the beautiful environment that surrounds them…and for good reason. You see, in Montana the air is crisper, the scenery prettier, the days longer, and the rivers fresher. It truly is a special place.

I am so thankful for my time in the state but I don’t think I ever truly fit in. I just didn’t have the attributes of a Montanan. To be honest, I think I lacked the toughness and resourcefulness that is innate in so many of the people who were born and raised there.

Montana is a beautiful place and I enjoy returning when I get the rare chance.

Despite my inability to claim a true Montanan spirit, I am damn proud to have lived there. The state has so much to offer and like I have already alluded to, the people know it. It is not called The Last Best Place for nothing. I extend my genuine gratitude to the state for the positive impact it had on me. Don’t Blink.

A Spring Break Tradition

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Thank goodness Sloan is on Spring Break. I was concerned for her. As a pre-schooler who attends class three times per week and puts in grueling half days, you just hope she doesn’t get burned out. This week of R&R couldn’t come at a better time.

Excuse my sarcasm. I actually think it is cute she gets to take a Spring Break with the K-8 students at St. Mary. We are trying to frame her Spring Break, rather she really earned it or not, as an award and milestone in her school year. As she starts going to school full time next year and for the ensuing years after that, we do want her to enjoy and recharge during her Spring Breaks.

Over the weekend, I found myself thinking about what Spring Break was like for me when I was in elementary school. I remember a lot of wiffle ball, computer games, and Blockbuster videos. I also remember something that my mom would do. Throughout the course of the week, my mom would take each of us three kids out to lunch individually. We would get to choose the restaurant and have a nice one-on-one meal with mom. I can recall Taco Bell and Senor Froggy both being destinations of my choosing.

I work remotely most of the week and that held true yesterday. When noon came around, I asked Sloan “McDonald’s or Zips?” She was a little surprised. It’s not like we go on a bunch of one-on-one lunch dates in general. Furthermore, I seldom ever leave the house during my break when working from home. But I was channeling my inner-Mary Reser.

Sloan chose Zips and off we went to the Inland Northwest’s favorite burger fast food joint. We ordered for dine-in and I sat down with Sloan as she ate a cheeseburger, sipped root beer, and suffered a brain freeze as she tried to eat an ice cream cone so big it had to be placed in a fountain drink paper cup. Sloan enjoyed the unexpected treat and I savored the company of my 5-year-old. It isn’t very often that I get to break up my workday like that.

Sloan eating her cheeseburger at the Zip’s on Trent in the Spokane Valley.

I told Sloan that I was taking her out because it was her Spring Break, just like my mom would do for me. I hope to make this an annual tradition for Sloan and, eventually, Beau too. Don’t Blink.

Sloan’s Top 5 Board Games

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Sidney and I both come from families with strong board game traditions. We grew up playing games around the kitchen table with our parents and siblings and at extended family gatherings. These sessions served us well to teach the values of competitiveness and sportsmanship.

Over the past couple of years we have introduced the magic of board games to Sloan (Beau isn’t quite at that point yet). It has been fun to watch her follow directions and think critically. If you are looking for a good board game to introduce to your young children, I thought it would be beneficial to list the fives games that are currently in Sloan’s rotation.

Sequence For Kids – This is the game that we are playing a lot these days. The goal is to use the cards in your hand to place chips on the corresponding game board depiction to score a “sequence” of four-in-a-row. Sequence For Kids is based on strategy so it is pretty cool to watch the wheels turn in Sloan’s brain as she plots her moves. Not only does Sloan really like the game but Sid and I do too! We are planning to purchase the original Sequence game for adult nights.

Sequence for Kids is a great game for young children that introduces strategic thinking.

Guess Who – A favorite of mine as a kid, Sloan also enjoys Guess Who. The characters on the cards have changed dramatically over the years with a better representation of females and minorities but the process of elimination concept is still the same. This game also requires strategy and Sloan has mastered the questions she needs to ask to put her in position to win.

Guess Who is a classic and a fun “process of elimination” game.

Encanto House of Charms – Sloan was given this board game for her birthday and it has been nice to add a non-traditional option to our collection. Instead of trying to beat an opponent, you work with your fellow players to win. The goal is to keep the Madrigal house from losing its magic by combining charms to prepare the rooms of the Encanto characters. This game has taught Sloan teamwork and the power of building others up as there is a feel-good “compliment’ component to the game.

Encanto House of Charms teaches teamwork.

Zingo – We introduced this game to Sloan a couple years ago and we still bust it out pretty regularly. This is best described as a Bingo training game. Players use a contraption known as a “Zinger” to spit out tiles. If the photo on the tile matches a photo on your game board, you place the tile on that corresponding spot. The first person to blackout their card wins. Although no strategy is needed for this one, it has a clear objective and teaches object recognition…a great starter game!

Sloan playing Zingo.

Candy Land – This classic introduced Sloan to the world of board games and the important concepts of winning, losing, and rule following. Candy Land is basic enough to play at a very young age as the rules are simple. The game also grabs the attention and imagination of toddlers with the candy theme and colorful board. Even though Candy Land received its most intense play from Sloan a couple years ago, we still play it every now and then.

Candy Land was a great beginner’s game for Sloan.

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I believe board games are important to the development of children. Because of this, I am always on the lookout for new ones to bring home. If you can recommend a great game for a 5-year-old that your family enjoys playing, please pass it along. Don’t Blink.