A Weekend at home

Abigail and her banana muffins.

 A Weekend at home

By Allan Olson

Every weekend it can be a challenge to find something to do – especially if you live 20 miles from everywhere like we do. So unless we plan something specifically we often don’t do much. I’m often torn between staying home and doing nothing after running all week or going out and doing something because I get bored at home.

I’ve never proclaimed to be a handy man – quite the opposite in fact. If you want something taken apart to salvage I can be of some assistance to a certain point. If it gets to be a struggle and it won’t come apart well, it likely won’t be salvage worthy either. If I do take something apart my non-mechanical brain won’t give much help in putting it back together or building something with my clumsy hands.

On Saturday – I was heading to the LL Diabetes Family Fun Day – for work and then later in the afternoon the kids and I were asked to a demonstration on Geocaching. It was really optional for the kids to attend but they felt the need to show off their knowledge of caching because dad is forgetful and might not remember everything – at least that’s their basis.

The day late morning and early afternoon was largely spent at the fun day – learning with everybody else and listening to stories. The kids and I helped set-up in the morning and clean-up in the afternoon. I think it’s safe to say that we all had fun. That afternoon we came home I did some reading, some napping and some more reading and that was pretty much it.

On Sunday – I really thought of going out of the house but I also knew that we really needed to work downstairs in the girls room and of course laundry needed done – but first breakfast. I decided that it was time for some muffins and we had the bananas so it was a perfect combination. I called Abigail in to assist me and we started mixing the ingredients – while the prep time is only 10 minutes it took us at least 20 of course I read the instructions at least twice before each ingredient and I was trying to let Abigail do most of the work. I helped with a little bit of everything, making sure she dumped, stirred and poured and then I filled the muffin pans and sent her off to play – eighteen minutes later they were done. I decided that since I had some of my caramel left – it would be a nice touch for the top of the muffins – they were declared a hit by all six members of the family – Abigail and I did well.

So a brief break and then I convinced my wife it was time to work in the girls room – I didn’t want to, she didn’t want to but it really needed the deep cleaning that a kids is not capable of doing and what a task it was. We picked up clothing, toys, garbage and tossed some broken toys in the garbage along with a few tattered books. By the time we were done, the entire floor and window ledges were cleaned and their bunk beds were put together for the first time in a couple years. In all it was a successful project and the boys were put to work on their room – which didn’t need as thorough a cleaning as the girls. So we did accomplish something on Sunday but it really would’ve been more enjoyable spending time outdoors.

We’ve discussed a couple ideas for next weekend, but time will tell how it all plays out.

Thanks to everyone for reading, and as always, please be safe while enjoying your favorite outdoor recreational activity and on the lakes, and remember to take pictures to preserve a lifetime of memories. Remember to drive safely, and watch out for those buses carrying our children. Thanks for reading, and have a great week! For more of my columns visit: http://allan-crazykids.blogspot.com.