Back burner and front burner

J is almost done and our summer travels are almost here, but until then it’s just hanging out and getting there.  Kiddo, for her part, is doing a club.  It’s the cooking club.  She’s been enjoying it (mostly) so far, but it’s a wide range of kids from 1st to 5th grades.  That’s not the problem…. The problem is that it’s very basic and also geared for kids, so they are given plastic knifes and most of the food is premade and it’s more a “food assembly” club.  The good parts are that H is in the club with her, so she get a whole week with her Bestie.  She’s made a new friend as well and (it’s 9 year old vague right now) she is going to be in the forensic club next week.  Lastly, it might be more assembly and plastic knives, but Kiddo has ideas and is suddenly very interested in cooking and helping me in the meal prep and planning.  All in all, I’d call it a plus.

It was supposed to end with a trip to a cake makers and getting to make cakes and cookies and a lot of sampling, but since it’s only 10 kids and not the 12+ that was needed, the last day is going to be a cooking contest.  Kiddo gets to Top Chef it up and it’s a good enough consolation prize for her.   In fact, this morning, she wanted to get an early start to come with me to the produce market to help pick things out, but also to talk out some of her hopes and ideas for the contest.  

She came to the produce market with me this morning, because H’s mom is doing the morning drop offs and I am collecting the girls after.  So, because of morning traffic near school and in the area, it’s easier for H’s mom to run down the street that the market is on and Kiddo can just hop in the car and go.  For me, it’s out the side gate and across the street.  Super easy on foot.  Cars, however, it can get tricky, so it’s a nice meeting spot and from there, they can go and it’s in the right direction.  Boom!  Done and done.  Easy.

They also get gym and active time.  So, with that she's been good and tired at the end of the day.  Not only does she get to cook and learn and get the spark of ideas, she gets all her wiggles out and burns off the energy of the day.  She claims it's the "worst part of the day", but I think the pictures show a different story.  Girl is IN it!

Aside from that, it’s been a rainy week, so I’ve been home and just kind of doing stuff there.  Nothing major, just some planning, straightening, reorganizing, and little things like that.  It’s cut down on my walking, but that’s what the bike is for.  The cool part is that I’m down 6 lbs in the month since the stent was placed.  Eating better and being more mindful of food, snacks, and stuff like that.  I’m also back to eating more fruit.  It’s a great time of year for watermelon here and also, next week, we’ll start getting the first crop of good plums.  I love a plum.  

Other than that, we’re pretty boring.  I guess the only other big highlight is that we showed Kiddo the first Hunger Games film and that was a big hit.  This coming weekend, we’re going to try to make time to watch the second.  If not, we’ve got a lot of travel and family time coming up and I’m sure that will afford us the opportunity to watch it.

There is some sad news with us leaving for most of July.  It’s the H and her family are moving and leaving Shanghai for other parts of China.  Kiddo will miss three weeks of fun and play time with H with our travels.  It’s nice that H is in the cooking club and the girls have been having a great time, but it’s coming to an end.  H will join us tonight for dinner and hanging out after the club and next week, just before we leave, Kiddo will have another day with her, which is nice for J and I since we’ll need to pack and get ready to leave the next day.  It’ll be a nice send off for Kiddo, last day seeing her Bestie and then getting to travel and have fun with the family.  

Let’s go, Kiddo… the next 10 days are going to be busy and a lot of fun in clubs and doing summer stuff.  Then, you get to say a goodbye, but as bittersweet as that may be, you’ll get to see Thailand again, visit with Beer again, see some elephants, chill on a beach, and see a new city.  Mumma and I will be with you and you can feel all the feelings you need to feel.  We got you.