Barb Goes Kayaking

I made my kayaking debut on Sunday.

We hauled the kayaks all the way home and then to the Eau Claire River.



When people ask me what kind of kayaks we bought I am quick to reply, "A red kayak and an orange kayak."


The orange kayak is mine. It has many must-have features including a cup holder.



Brad is a kayaking natural. Seriously. Give the man a fishing pole and some water and a paddle and he is in paradise.


Turns out my skills weren't too shabby either. I will admit that we did a "boring" stretch of the river with only one set of pretty tiny rapids, but it must still be said that I rocked the kayaking.


There was some fishing by Brad and Loren (his step dad). Ugly fish award goes to Loren for this adorable muskeye.


There was lots of paddling and fishing, but it wasn't all work. There was some play.



And there were some beverages.



Here we are right after the rapids. . . .


And, no trip is complete without a self-portrait.


And. . . here's how I'm spending tonight. It was a rough day back at work, and no matter how hard I tried to channel the inner-peace left-over from kayaking I was still beyond stressed.

Around here.

I haven't made anything in ages. I've got plenty of supplies around and lots of great pictures, but I just don't feel like actually making anything. I need to do something about that.


We bought kayaks on Sunday. There aren't many things that Brad and I actually both like doing. We're hoping that kayaking will become something we can do together. I bought some shoes to match mine. We're headed out on the river in Eau Claire on Sunday.


Natalie and Katelyn planted me a spider plant as a graduation gift. I'm notoriously terrible at taking care of plants. (I've heard that means I'm not a very nurturing person.) Hopefully, I can change my ways with this special plant.


I have a new favorite: iced caramel macchiato. Delish.

Hello, It's May

I turned around and all of a sudden. . . out of nowhere. . . May!
How in the world did that happen?
And, to top it all off - today I realized that May is half finished.

I'll sum it up in pictures.

May 1: Another calendar
I have this great calendar in my office (gift from Em) that I don't think I've taken a single picture of all year. Welcome to May.


May 2: Cupcakes in Minneapolis
In Minneapolis for the pre-conference of the International Reading Association annual conference. Had a long enough lunch break to catch a taxi to have cupcakes (and sandwiches) for lunch. The taxi ride was a real adventure! Luckily, my traveling companion was a great sport about the whole thing.


May 3: IRA Conference
Two days of listening to research about reading. Brilliant but exhausting.


May 4: Tired. Really tired.
Lots of driving and late nights and learning over the weekend made for a really painful Monday morning.


May 5: I feel appreciated.
Teacher Appreciation Week. Was showered with personalized goodies.


May 6: Rotten left-overs.
No food. Haven't grocery shopped in weeks. Have been eating out of the freezer - which is now empty. The fridge has a few drops of milk and some way-too-old to eat lasagna.


May 7: Strange details
Wore these lovelies to the NKOTB concert. Not much else to photograph today.


May 8: Grandma's buttons
Bought cards for Mother's Day today - they won't be there in time. But, the whole the whole thing made me really miss my grandma. Spent some time admiring the giant box of buttons I have from her. Wasn't quite the same as a conversation or making something together.


May 9: God-Mother's Day
Long, crummy day at class followed by a date with the Little Man. He has very sophisticated taste. We ate at Nakashima.


May 10: Katelyn is Two
Celebrated her special day and Mother's Day with a trip to the zoo.


May 11: Not much to say
Went home sick. Flu-like symptoms meant I needed to stay home both Monday afternoon and Tuesday just in case I was a victim of the swine flu.


May 12: Katelyn's a Momma
We got Katelyn her very own baby as a birthday gift - no more sharing with Natalie.


May 13: Wine
Email is brilliant! Turned in a paper from the comfort of my own home instead of driving to Madison tonight.


May 14: Chores
Nothing has gotten done around our house for a very long time. No grocery shopping. No cleaning. Brad finally broke down and mowed the lawn, so the neighbors didn't report us for neglect. What I should have caught in pictures, though, was tonight's Grey's. Totally brilliant and completely devastating all at the same time. Katrina kept me company with witty text messages.


May 16: Graduation
Decided not to go to graduation but celebrated with Brad, my parents, and Angie and Mike instead. Mom and I shopped the day away, which was captured in pictures. We all shared a great dinner, which was not captured in pictures.