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Attempted Baking Projects

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I’m sure I’m not the only one who started this quarantine and thought the Zombie Apocalypse was imminent. I did what all normal apocalyptic-preparers would do - I filled our extra 60 gallon water containers, I checked the date on my bucket of freeze-dried food, and I stocked up on canned goods and baking essentials. Clearly the stores would be completely shuttered and I was going to have to make my own bread and can my own vegetables by the time we emerged from quarantine. Well, we all know things didn’t turn out quite that bad, but an Ayres is always prepared!  I’ve had a fully stocked pantry of baking ingredients so I’ve worked hard to keep something on the counter to eat at all times. Today I attempted cinnamon squares.  The yeast didn’t rise as much as I thought it should’ve, and I didn’t include the pecans that the recipe called for since I have some nut-haters in the family.  So you roll out the dough and the spread some of the filling, which was easier said than done.  Then you
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Pandemic Pause at the Pond

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School is out. We're still working. There are no camps. What is there to do? Move to the lake! My parents offered to help watch the kids during the day while we worked, and they were ready for some quality grandkid time. We packed up the whole family - kids, dogs and cat -  and moved to the guest house for two weeks. This has been such a great change of scenery for all of us.  We would eat breakfast at the guest house each morning, and then the kids would get dressed, pack their backpacks, and ride their bikes to the main cabin to spend the day with the grandparents. My DH and I could work peacefully at the guest house, taking a break to have lunch with everyone.  Then after work we can sit outside, help with some chores, and all eat dinner together.  During the day the kids have been busy helping Nana and Papa with chores. They spend ALL day outside  - exploring in the woods, swimming in the lake, kayaking, fishing, riding bikes (thankfully my parents keep everything and had 3 of
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Finishing the School Year: Day 75

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Today will be my last "Momming Hard" labeled posts. I feel like the end of the school year signals the end of this phase. Although we are definitely not out of the pandemic, I am no longer juggling homeschool with work. Instead I'm just juggling my kids at home... while I work. Sigh... not much different I supposed. Still no camps, they still can't go anywhere. Maybe it'll just be "Momming Hard in the Summer?"  Honestly momming is hard all the time.  So today was 'officially' the last day of school for the kids. Parker finished 2nd grade and moves to the Tall Hall next year. In a normal world, Ainsley would've had a lovely 5th grade recognition assembly at school. She would've dressed up and had her picture taken. She would've walked across the stage. She would've celebrated with her classmates at a fun dance party that night. But she doesn't get to do any of those things.   We tried to still celebrate the end of her lower sch
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Burning Butt and Baking Biscuits: Day 71

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Happy Memorial Day!   I started the day by making biscuits from scratch - my first time ever!!! I got the recipe from my Magnolia Table cookbook.  These are called JoJo's Biscuits ( https://food52.com/recipes/76989-jojo-s-biscuits ) and they were delicious! I made the dough the night before so it was very quick to make them in the morning. Yum!  I then celebrated Memorial Day by completing a race - Remember the Fallen 21k. That's 13 miles for those (like me) who have a hard time converting k to m.  Whew... it was hot and humid but I appreciate the fact that I CAN run.  Thank you those who served and died for our country and our freedoms.
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Ainsley's 11th Birthday in Lockdown

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My baby girl is ELEVEN today!!! She couldn't have a big party, but she sure had a special day.  We surprised her with yard signs ( cardmyyard.com ). We released the butterflies into the garden. They hung out on the kids' hands for a while before flying off.  Her gift from us was a purple hoverboard - she is so excited! Her neighborhood friends came and secretly decorated the garage for a little party. She was so surprised and loved sharing cake with her best friends. THEN to add even more excitement, two of her best friends from school came for a 'drive-by' socially-distant celebration. She was thrilled to see them drive up - she hasn't seen them in person since March 6, before Spring Break!! Both sets of grandparents gave her a new bike (she will get to go shopping and pick it out herself next week). She has grown so much and is in desperate need of a new bike!  My beautiful 11 year old... how time flies!
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