Season greetings from the Repaskys!
In this holiday season, we'd like to wish you well with a few recipies gleaned from this last year.
Suburban House Bars
Take a pair of lifelong renters, one horrible real estate market, and mix together with two parts optimism, two parts unanticipated surprises, and two parts solicited and unsolicited advice. Mix for four months until it resembles something remotely livable with room for the family to grow. Pour into pan and put in oven at a very high temperature until negotiations, inspections, and bureaucratic nonsense has settled. At this point open oven and throw in copious amounts of money. Remove pan from oven and let cool outside for two months before bringing it home and cutting into the desired shape. Decorate with landscaping work including removal of blackberry bushes (the West Coast version is nasty), English Ivy, English Holly and other weeds. Purchase all manner of tools to reduce exertion to keep bars looking and tasting nice. Hope bars will last a lifetime.
Take one four year old. Discover a love of reading all manner of books including classics like Dr. Seuss, quirky detective stories, and odd maps. Allow reading during quiet time in the afternoons and marvel at his laughter as he begins to understand humor in the books as he reads on his own. Combine with the increased social skills and appreciation for nature nurtured at the Tualatin Hills Nature Center preschool. Exploit map skills both at school and when out hiking with family. Add significant amount of youthful energy dissipated running, jumping, climbing, yelling, laughing, and exploring this world with his friends and brother. Must avoid hunger or excessive fatigue or this recipe may not turn out as desired. Matches well with the Ronan Stew.
Ronan Stew
Take one independent two year old. Change a diaper, put him in time out for misbehaving, and repeat ad nausium. Combine with hours spent calmly working on puzzles and flipping through books. Blend in patience, love of animals, curiosity, and marvel as he watches a snail/slug/worm pass by for hours. Add weekly Zoo trips to prepare for his desired future as a cheetah. Stir in time at the Athletic Center Indoor Playgroup and Cedar Hills mini-preschool to improve socialization. Must avoid hunger or excessive fatigue or this recipe may not turn out as desired. Goes well with the Torin Cassorole.
Travel Puffs
Start with a family eager for adventure and relatives and friends spread throughout the US and world. Drive from Portland to San Fransisco and meet with Grandma and Grandpa Repasky where the boys charmed everyone with their energy and youth. While there connect with the Singapore Repaskys (Mike, Christy, Henry, and George) and venture to Yosemite for a magical trip where Henry and George were introduced to snow for the first time. After returning home, fly to Wisconsin where the boys entertain Papa and Mame with strawberry picking/eating, trips to the community pool/amusement park, and Fourth of July festivities. Return from Wisconsin, breathe, and delight Mema and Grandpa Repasky with a tour of all of the boys' favorite Portland activities. Throughout the year, including the winter (brrr), add weekly hikes on various trails off the Columbia River Gorge (Eagle Creek is their favorite), Mount Hood (Miracle Mile Lift in August was a hit), and Tryon Creek State Park as necessary. Spice with the excitement and Christmas wonder of two boys as we decorate and host family for the holidays. Allow to simmer with snuggles in bed and stories by the fireplace.
