This week I have become real familiar with the daily routine of the Robeck house. Most mornings, I have woken up between 715 and 900 to the sound of footsteps on the hardwood floor or the coffee grinder. Either alarm I'll take any day.
I normally roll out of bed and plop down on the couch with the kids, who have long been watching Sesame Street and Clifford the Big Red Dog. "Ashley!" they yell, I love that they get so excited to see me in the morning; I need to marry someone like that. Soon after Cristina says, "there's coffee" and I'm off the couch before she can finish that phrase. Breakfast this week has included "the Giant pancake", honey nut Cheerios, yummy bread and lots of strawberries.
Shower, eventually. Maybe another cup of coffee. The kids go to school and around 11 I finally start the productive parts of my day.
After school the kids come home, and there is hanging out in the kitchen and playing outside in the dirt. So good. Dinner this week has been incredible. Every time.
Baths, pjs for everyone, books, bedtime, potty trips, Caleb laying in bed talking while JM, Cristina and I sit on the couch with our laptops and watch tv- with lots of coffee.
This may have been the most relaxing week of my life.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
oh lord jesus
So I don't think I have really been around the Robeck house much when the kids go to bed. Tonight Caleb, as he danced around naked in his room, was being a total goofball. Cristina said,
"Caleb, try to jump into your underwear"
he jumped.
"I can't"
"well then put one foot in at a time."
...
"Caleb, jump into your pants"
"I cant!"
As he put one leg in and then the other..
"Maybe I can jump into that shirt!"
I read them a book each and then apparently his bedtime routine includes laying awake for 20 minutes talking to himself. He's currently standing in front of Cristina and I, (blonde curly bedhead) making funny faces and explaining that he has to go to the potty. Classic.
"Caleb, try to jump into your underwear"
he jumped.
"I can't"
"well then put one foot in at a time."
...
"Caleb, jump into your pants"
"I cant!"
As he put one leg in and then the other..
"Maybe I can jump into that shirt!"
I read them a book each and then apparently his bedtime routine includes laying awake for 20 minutes talking to himself. He's currently standing in front of Cristina and I, (blonde curly bedhead) making funny faces and explaining that he has to go to the potty. Classic.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
moving day
I think one really embraces humanity while cleaning a toilet bowl. There is so much about that that is just...I can't even think of the word. Or using it to brace yourself, on your hands and knees, as you reach around to scrub the floor behind it; something that probably hasn't been done in over a year. Really puts you in your place you know?
Monday, May 4, 2009
could not get any worse if i tried
So my car. It has literally been weeks since I have washed it. And Costa Mesa has this weird ocean air/ freeway combination that just leaves your car disgusting. Plus it did some weird half rain half not thing the other night, and basically right now, its not pretty.
The inside is gross, the outside is even worse. The only way to make it dirtier would be to throw mud on it.
But at this point in my life I am stressed to the max. As all my other friends are getting done and proclaiming to the world, "I only have one more final!" I am looking down the barrel of three more finals and two papers left to write. Anyways...
I walk out to my car this morning, and ...wait hold on a second. Can you do me a favor? Stretch out your hand in front of you, spread your fingers apart as wide as they will go. Okay, got that?
The size of your hand is literally the size of the crap that some hell bird decided to take on my windshield this morning. I am not even kidding right now. 5 minutes! 5 minutes I sat in the parking lot with my windshield wipers going to get that crap (literally) off my windshield.
sheesh.
The inside is gross, the outside is even worse. The only way to make it dirtier would be to throw mud on it.
But at this point in my life I am stressed to the max. As all my other friends are getting done and proclaiming to the world, "I only have one more final!" I am looking down the barrel of three more finals and two papers left to write. Anyways...
I walk out to my car this morning, and ...wait hold on a second. Can you do me a favor? Stretch out your hand in front of you, spread your fingers apart as wide as they will go. Okay, got that?
The size of your hand is literally the size of the crap that some hell bird decided to take on my windshield this morning. I am not even kidding right now. 5 minutes! 5 minutes I sat in the parking lot with my windshield wipers going to get that crap (literally) off my windshield.
sheesh.
chicken and waffles?
Yesterday I went with some friends from Oxford to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, a southern style Southern California restaurant famous for, well the chicken and waffles.
At first I was weary, but then after two bites I held up my arms to stop the conversation and said,
"I now understand this combination".
At first I was weary, but then after two bites I held up my arms to stop the conversation and said,
"I now understand this combination".
books books books
I counted the books that currently reside in my room the other day- 68.
Yesterday I went up to John Mark and Cristina Robeck's parent's house in Pasadena, (we had the best day). Their house is amazing firstly. It has all the old character of a house built back in the days when California was just getting going. Big freestanding bathtubs, doors with cracks and mismatched handles, big windows, deep kitchen sinks with old faucets, a porch and a certain homeyness that is hard to find. Plus, like any good house, there are people coming out of the wood works.
At one point John Mark told me to peek into his dad's office. I was astounded. There are books literally covering every space and surface possible. Stacks of books, shelves of books, books piled on the floor and books stacked on the shelves of books. It reminded me of the office one of my English profs once inhabited, only a bit more intense. They then went on to tell and show me that his office at work, he is a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, is bigger. With more books.
One day I hope to acquire a library such as this. My 68 felt pretty dismal yesterday.
Yesterday I went up to John Mark and Cristina Robeck's parent's house in Pasadena, (we had the best day). Their house is amazing firstly. It has all the old character of a house built back in the days when California was just getting going. Big freestanding bathtubs, doors with cracks and mismatched handles, big windows, deep kitchen sinks with old faucets, a porch and a certain homeyness that is hard to find. Plus, like any good house, there are people coming out of the wood works.
At one point John Mark told me to peek into his dad's office. I was astounded. There are books literally covering every space and surface possible. Stacks of books, shelves of books, books piled on the floor and books stacked on the shelves of books. It reminded me of the office one of my English profs once inhabited, only a bit more intense. They then went on to tell and show me that his office at work, he is a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, is bigger. With more books.
One day I hope to acquire a library such as this. My 68 felt pretty dismal yesterday.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
these are a few of my favorite things...
It doesn't take much to get me excited about life. Those of you who know me know that I am enthusiastic about a cup of coffee, will jump up and down at the idea of watching a documentary and give me a book and I am one happy girl. It's the simple things in life that count for me.
But there is one thing that reserves a special place in my heart-
Church potlucks.
I went to a shower for my good friends Laurel and Ethan. They are getting married this summer and had a shower at a church Ethan plays bass for. Well, each person who came brought something. Let me tell you there is nothing better than older women getting out their best recipes to share. Pasta and chicken salads, marshmellows, fruit, and lemonade; I think this may be what I would call American food. I fill my plate full of little piles of each kind of dish and slowly work my way around it trying a little bit of everything. I grew up on this stuff, it is so dear to me.
After the party was pretty much done I piled a second plate full and dug around the church kitchen for some tin-foil. The plate is in my fridge, and let me tell you, I am more than excited to eat it for dinner.
But there is one thing that reserves a special place in my heart-
Church potlucks.
I went to a shower for my good friends Laurel and Ethan. They are getting married this summer and had a shower at a church Ethan plays bass for. Well, each person who came brought something. Let me tell you there is nothing better than older women getting out their best recipes to share. Pasta and chicken salads, marshmellows, fruit, and lemonade; I think this may be what I would call American food. I fill my plate full of little piles of each kind of dish and slowly work my way around it trying a little bit of everything. I grew up on this stuff, it is so dear to me.
After the party was pretty much done I piled a second plate full and dug around the church kitchen for some tin-foil. The plate is in my fridge, and let me tell you, I am more than excited to eat it for dinner.
Friday, May 1, 2009
endings
This afternoon was my last Worldview class with Dr. Beals. I respect him so much as a professor and I am sad that this class is over, and that he won't be returning to Vanguard next year. After class I went to talk to him and asked him for a reading list from his philosophy class, we are going to email and talk after I do some reading. So good!
Today was also my last class with Dr. Clark, my C.S. Lewis professor. I am so blessed to have been able to study under a Lewis scholar as knowledgeable and humble as he. He is the general editor for the Southern California C.S. Lewis Journal and Blackwell (BLACKWELL!!) publishing asked him if he would write a book on Lewis for them. A publisher based out of Oxford, a city crawling with scholars who are looking for the chance to write a book, asked him to write for them. Amazing.
We had discussion for a bit and then he ended by reading some poems. The last one he said he didn't want to read so he asked for a volunteer. No one was speaking up so I read it, and he said thank you, and then that he was done. I read the last poem, in the last class of his career. I'm honored.
Today was also my last class with Dr. Clark, my C.S. Lewis professor. I am so blessed to have been able to study under a Lewis scholar as knowledgeable and humble as he. He is the general editor for the Southern California C.S. Lewis Journal and Blackwell (BLACKWELL!!) publishing asked him if he would write a book on Lewis for them. A publisher based out of Oxford, a city crawling with scholars who are looking for the chance to write a book, asked him to write for them. Amazing.
We had discussion for a bit and then he ended by reading some poems. The last one he said he didn't want to read so he asked for a volunteer. No one was speaking up so I read it, and he said thank you, and then that he was done. I read the last poem, in the last class of his career. I'm honored.
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