Shopping for Double

With another baby on the way I've started looking at double jogging strollers but I haven't done a lot of research yet. Any brand recommendations or features you appreciate when running with two kids? Also if you've used a double jogger that you're not happy with, share that too! I'd like to buy a used stroller since they can be so expensive but maybe it's worth the cost in the long run...

Has Difficulty Completing a Task

When I was teaching I once used a report card program with preset comments for teachers to enter with students' grades. I'm sure you can guess what phrases were available: Student works well with others, excessive absences are affecting student performance, etc.

If I were to grade myself today I would enter the comment "Student has difficulty completing a task." The last two books I have started I have not finished because I am such a SLOW reader and the library deadlines always get me. My main problem is that as soon as I begin reading my mind starts to wander. I usually think about things I would like to get done or I get sleepy and end up taking a nap. There are books that I can get lost in but they're usually silly "beach books" that I don't want to read on a regular basis.

Today I started reading Persuasion by Jane Austen since I had to return my last failed attempt to the library. I think I might actually finish this one since it's for a book club and the accountability usually keeps me motivated. But the last 48 hours before book club can also be filled with frantic reading to finish in time.

I know some of you have always been quick readers and can't explain why it comes so easily to you. Or are there people who have struggled like me and somehow found a trick that helps? I feel kind of silly writing about this since I was a teacher but the strategies I know for reluctant readers mostly involve drawing pictures or other creative activities that aren't appropriate. Any ideas?

Really, Is There a Better Place To Be?

(Okay, except for my friend Kat who is going to Hawaii...but besides that, Tucson is fabulous right now!)

Bossy Boys, Babies and Burritos

Here's a family picture from Christmas and some other notes and news:

Trevor's language has really taken off! He can put complete thoughts together in a sentence and in the last week has started testing how far this new power can take him. Since when did he have an opinion about EVERYTHING? A few examples:

We'll be sitting on the couch and he'll decide that we're in the wrong place: "Mama, move please" and point to where I should be sitting.

During the day we'll sing songs but if it's not the song Trevor wants he announces: "No sing fish song!"

Is he exploring language? Testing limits? Starting the terrible twos?

We are also expecting another baby due to arrive in the middle of June. I'm surprised at how different my body feels this time. I was a lot more sick in the beginning--or was I just not distracted by work? I've also had a really sore back. I love to sleep on my stomach and when I roll over in the night when I should be sleeping on my side it leaves me a little stiff the next day. I refuse to believe that running could be making my back sore, but I am trying to do more swimming and Pilates.

Birch is getting ready to study for his board exams, which he has to take right when the baby is due. Nice timing, huh? I think we'll register for a test date one week before and make adjustments if we need to. Since I can't do much to help him besides keep a quiet house and a happy face I try to make food that he likes. Both of us could eat a burrito every day for lunch and never get tired of it. Here's how we make Birch's burritos in the crock pot:

3 cups pinto beans, soaked overnight

1 ham hock

3 cloves garlic

3 t chicken boullion

1/2 onion, chopped

Cover with water and cook on high for several hours until beans are soft. Drain the liquid and reserve, remove ham hock. Mash beans, adding liquid if necessary. Make an assembly line with tortillas, beans, cheese and salsa. Wrap burritos in parchment paper and foil, then freeze. Makes about 10 burritos.

Fish Resolution

One of my New Year's resolutions is to get our family eating one meal with fish. I'm a big fan of seafood but Birch just can't get past the flavor. He knows we should be eating it so now the challenge is to find a "non-fishy" fish dinner. Do any of you have recipes or ideas? I think fish like Tilapia and Halibut are more mild, right?