We are prepping for High School enrollment for my son. The process here in SFUSD is "fair" and tedious. It's like a part time job. I've been to a private school enrollment fair, a Parents for Public School (great organization) enrollment workshop for the district and various school tours. This is just getting started. He's interested in a selection school which means he'll also have to prepare a portfolio, which means my "nag-ometer" is going full throttle. However we are checking in to make sure we understand his perspective. I think once he realized his opinion matters in this decision he got more on board and a little less grumpy.
The Kid has also been working 2 soccer teams, school and club so that's basically 6 days a week of soccer. The school team made the playoffs and so I think this is our last week of that. Then we are back to one team until track starts up in the Spring. I'm really happy for him that he made the school team this year. He was too timid to try out in 6th and then didn't make it in 7th. I can tell that just making the team has made him feel really good.
I still haven't finished my summer socks or fixed my friend's sock, but I have been baking. I try to have a baked good for the team and their families every club match. (I just don't have the bandwidth to support the school team in the middle of the week.)
These are my son's new favorites, pinwheels. They taste pretty too :)
Then there is the labor of love that is English Muffins. I did a "formal" bake for my first go (Though I admit to using 2 parts All Purpose flour to 1 part Bread flour to manipulate the crumb/texture a bit.
3 days of labor? What does this mean?This means I did the starter one night, then let the dough rise another day in the fridge and then shaped and did a final 1.5 hour rise on the 3rd day. I tried to griddle them and then finish them in the oven.
It was some work, but I think I'll try it again to make a prettier version, but I also want to try one of the short cut recipes. Because, well, I want to know what the difference is.
What is keeping you busy? What is keeping you happy?
That's a lot of soccer, well done all. We're also in the middle of lots of football too, good to be back in football season. Especially this time of year while the weather is still fairly balmy. High school applications sound horrendous, I do hope he gets a place in his chosen school. Well done on all the baking as well, the pinwheels look brilliant. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI may have a lot of soccer CJ, but I only have ONE kid, unlike you! I do love the weather for fall soccer/football. Here we have hot and sweaty days, crispy mornings and the occasional stormy match. It's an adventure.
DeleteIt makes me proud of you and your husband to being on board with helping secure a right fit for the Kid in his next school adventure with high school. And your cooking results look wonderful. Just want to sink my teeth into those English muffins with jam, ditto on the pinwheels.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nancy! I appreciate it and I think The Kid does too, that we're trying our best to find a place that he can actually get to but also an environment that not only offers "good" classes but the ability to succeed. He's not super competitive but he seems to enjoy learning.
DeleteMmmm.....those cookies, those muffins!!!! I've done crumpets but never muffins. They look amazing.
ReplyDeleteOooo, crumpets! I must look this up. I wish you were close I'd bake for you in a heartbeat.
DeleteI had no idea English muffins were so labor and time intensive. Yikes, I will savor them more from now on. The cookies and muffins look delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy, but I've seen you at it with those quilting projects. It's focus right? I don't know why I was so drawn to this recipe, but the crazy takes hold. My co-worker and I often guinea pig different recipes for each other. She made this amazing caramel pound cake I might have to have a go at :)
DeleteSo much new learning in this post! Esp about what a great mom you are!
ReplyDeleteAw. Man, knitters are the best. I'm actually a second rate parent. I wish I was better at all this, but I do my best. I do a lot of things you're not supposed to do, like yell and use sarcasm as a parenting tool. But I try to bring some self awareness to it all. I remember to love.
DeleteYour English Muffins look beautiful and very tasty! I'm embarrassed that all I was able to throw together was a pan of brownies. You are Super Baker El and super moms turn out super kids! Congratulations and best wishes to your son on all efforts and accomplishments. High school and sports is not an easy combination but with your help I know he will excel.
ReplyDeleteThank you Katherine, I am secretly gearing up for the next bake this weekend. I get 3 days off. I definitely don't think I'm a super Mom and my kid is special to me but not a special snowflake. I think we all do the best we can. I'm really touched by all the nice things people have had to say though.
DeleteI am so impressed with your baking. You take on ambitious projects.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that the school district makes enrolling so difficult. I know they are trying to be fair, but education shouldn't be so difficult to access. Besides, under-privileged families don't win in this situation!
You're a teacher. Teachers get all my love. Talk about taking on ambitious projects, educating other people's kids is pretty amazing to me.
DeleteYou hit the nail on the head with this process becoming difficult for the under-privileged. The amount of vacation time I've had to take to tour and I'm not half way done yet is crazy. I already got iced out of my son's number one choice. sigh. Anyways, we are in a tough spot, there is no "neighborhood" school where we live. The one that we are relatively close to, my son goes to Middle School down the street and he's not super into it.
So happy for the post Ellen. Ive been thinking of you. We will still be forever blog pals nomatter the Giants/Cubs outcome. Im NERVOUS. you have some wonderful athletes.....but we have spunk. hahah
ReplyDeleteI dont like the HS hype. Our old home town had its share. I think it put undue pressure on the kiddos. They had ALlison in ALL honors classes her freshman year and told us she was on her way to a big 10 school for sure or IVe league. We made them put her in more normal classes. She hated school and succeeded on her own terms and graduated hs early.
By the time Zach was in HS we were well versed in all the presure SAT ACT games and chatter. He never made more than the doubles junior varsity tennis team. He STILL adores the game. HE teaches tennis now. He loves watching all the Tennis Nationally. He didnt need to be a varsity stand out to have a lifelong love of his sport. Good luck. I want to eat everything you make. Good thing we are not close by lady!!
Kathy, yours is a good reminder that The Kid will get through High School. He's quite lucky and fortunate in many ways. As for extracurricular activities all the schools have different options so I told him, if you don't care, I don't care, but if you want something in particular you need to let me know. It'll work itself out one way or another.
DeleteAs for the Giants/Cubs. It's going to be a white knuckle pal and I'll adore you no matter what, but you know ... Go Giants! ;)
Yum! Nice time in the kitchen!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteI seriously miss the days of swimming, soccer and all of those games and meets. But I have enrolled Little Buddy in a soccer program for those with special needs, it starts in November. I will be happy just to see him run around with his walker, forget getting close to the ball. You are the best baker ever!
ReplyDeleteMeredith
Your posts with the Bigs going off to college and LB in one of the sweetest stages of childhood remind me how fleeting it all is. It's a joy to see LB's joy in everything. I'm still pleased to hear the giggle of my own and my friends and family around me. I'm holding on to all that's good and dear right now.
DeleteWhat a crazy soccer schedule. One of my GF's her son plays in consecutive basketball leagues, like three a year so it owns her. We've been having a playdate like twice a year. I hope he gets the high school of his choice. I don't miss that process. Here it's more steady once you get into junior high then you automatically go to your neighborhood high school so we're very happy with that. The biscuits look awesome. That is a lot of work.
ReplyDeleteThe sports are wonky. I think we just want active kids, but mine seems to not just like the sport but enjoy the structure of organized sports. I gave him the option to play rec league a few years ago but he said he found it too disorganized. Different strokes for different folks. Hopefully he learns some time management from all this hot mess ;)
DeleteI am so in awe of you!!! English muggins are the things you buy at the grocery, right? LOL
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes normally! I have this favorite local brand "Sconehenge" they sell at the markets here. They are not going to lose my business, trust me, ha!
DeleteAnd thank you, Mama, for the love on my book post and about our Harry Potter dinner!
ReplyDeleteIt's here whenever you need it and even when you're not asking. Bay Area!
Deletesounds like my daughter and DIL's schedules....soccer, baseball, basketball, gymnastics, travel ball, school ball....crazy!!! And on top of it all....you BAKE!?!?! (That's MY job as Granny!) You are one ACE MOM!!!
ReplyDeleteHa! We are all doing what we can. My Mom is living in Germany and is completely over baking. She does love the wonderful German bakeries in her town though!
DeleteThe cookies and English muffins(!) are amazing! I am beyond impressed.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck to your son. Finding the right school is so much work.
Thank you! It's work, I appreciate you all listening to me, "woe is me." Because honestly it's always something. Doesn't have to be kids, it's just always something and we all keep plodding along as happily as we can.
DeleteI love playing yarn chicken (and winning!) cannot wait to see your finished shawl. Two soccer teams? you must be super duper busy with that. All of your food looks delicious :)
ReplyDeleteI picked up that Yarn Chicken term from you! I unlike you become paralyzed by it. I love your zeal when you are in the trenches waiting to see how it all plays out. I love reading about that and I'm filled with knitting nerve envy :)
DeleteWow - I don't remember ever being so busy, or having so much going on with school when I was a kid. Maybe my life was minimal because my mother just could.not.be.bothered?
ReplyDeleteOh your baking is making me jealous! I made an applescotch crisp last week and thought I was Julia Child or something ...
No, I think life and the way we lived in neighborhoods allowed for activity to be a little more organic. I think having 2 working parents, living in a urban/industrial/residential neighborhood adds to the issue. We all do what we can, no matter what generation, right?
DeleteI saw your applescotch crisp! I thought it was a great idea! It's one of the reasons I worked an apple recipe this past weekend.
Good luck to your son on finding just the right school. I remember that from when our son was that age, although our only choice was local public school OR the one private school in our area. We went public and it worked out great.
ReplyDeleteSo, I have to ask .... how were the English muffins. Looks like a lot of work, but also looks very tasty!
Thanks Dee. I think it will be ok. But I'm still going to put some effort into it.
DeleteThe English muffins turned out well! My husband asked me to make them again and that is high praise indeed!
Nice photos! The pinwheels look so yummy ♥
ReplyDeletesummerdaisycottage.blogspot.com
Thank you Summer, I love the photos on your blog. They are transporting!
ReplyDeleteEllen San Fran plays ball way too late for this Midwest lady Fireman and I fell asleep to the radio broad cast after cubs tied it in the 9th. BOOOO we didnt win last night. I thought we would.
ReplyDeleteOh Kathy, we imploded the following 9th inning! Good luck to you and your little baby bear baseball people in the rest of your post season ;) It was all gravy for us anyhow!
DeleteHmmm, I thought for sure I'd posted? Anyhow, I love all your baking projects and hope you win the yarn chicken game. Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteWow, it sounds like a very involved high school enrollment process! But choice and having alot of options is a good thing. It's pretty straight forward here since there is only one high school on the island. Always love to see what you are baking. Totally impressed by those English muffins!
ReplyDeleteYou bowled me over with the English Muffins. That is amazing! I never thought of making them.
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to see your banana leaf!
Hey lady ! Miss your posts. Hope you are well!!!
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