Family Life

Take a walk

2012-01-29T09:18:00.000-06:00

This winter has been CRAZY mild. I realize that it's not quite February yet, but usually by this point I'd have considered migrating south on a weekly basis. So far I've only seriously considered it once. And right on schedule, the song birds are returning to the neighborhood. This week we will carve out some time to take a walk through the woods, make some birdseed treats, and generally enjoy

Things to make you cheerful!

2012-01-11T14:48:00.000-06:00

Hey! It's 2012! And our good friend Mr. Bob is out of ICU, where he had been confined for 2 weeks with pneumonia. Our dear sister in law is expecting (but don't tell the kids! she wants to tell them), and I have mailed off a painting to be included in an invitational show (that means you have to get INVITED to participate)*. I'm feeling pretty cheerful about life. I had a wisdom tooth pulled

goodbye, 2011!

2011-12-30T12:54:00.000-06:00

Hello to all! I hope everyone is ready to say GOODBYE to 2011. It was a year filled with much too much bad news and much too little good news. 2011 set the bar so low that it made 2010 look like the height of awesome. (2010 was the year I had pneumonia for 3 months). I am far to old to write to Santa, but not old enough to believe that writing down my wishes for the coming year is in any way

Pensive in the face of the New Year

2011-12-23T11:07:00.000-06:00

Yes, I completed all my holiday presents. I plan to totally cop out of wrapping them by putting them in brown paper bags & stapling the bags shut. My holly jolly ho-ho-ho spirit left about two days ago and I am just ready for this season of gifting to be over. To make it through the next few days of holiday go-round, I will be needing a designated driver. Luckily, I have a husband who will gladly

In case you were feeling rushed..

2011-12-20T13:50:00.000-06:00

Firstly! There is free shipping at my etsy shop with the coupon code JOY2U. Happy Holidays! Secondly, I am not yet done with holiday presents, because I have decided to do a handmade holiday for the second year running. Which wouldn't be so overwhelming if I hadn't added some people to the list. So far I have made hot cocoa mix, marshmellows, book pins, flower brooches, and upcycled journals. I

LONDON, BABY!

2011-12-14T13:23:00.000-06:00

Flying out of Chicago, we headed west over Lake Michigan. Hi Chicago! I flew from Chicago to DC, where I met up with my Mom and we flew together to London. The view from our floor of the hotel. We were on floor 12, so it was pretty spectacular. That castle-looking building is the Renaissance hotel at St. Pancras. On the other side of that is the King's Cross underground and railway

Shop not!

2011-11-26T10:56:00.001-06:00

As I am all out of cash and rapidly approaching a fabulous long weekend in LONDON, where I will be carrying and fetching for my Mom (which is totally cool, because 1. She's my Mom and 2. it's LONDON), I am not participating in any of the retail craziness of this weekend. Instead I will be working, bidding farewell to my last Thanksgiving guest, editing/posting photos and repurposing old clothes

It's Fall

2011-11-12T11:56:00.001-06:00

Oh my, is it ever. A few weeks back we went to the pumpkin patch, where Adrian tried his hardest to bring home a pumpkin three times the size we suggested. The onset of Fall means all kinds of wonderful things. Yellow leaves against blue skies, massive quantities of baked goods, Halloween, Thanksgiving, crisp air, apple cider, sweaters, rosy cheeks and the smell of fallen leaves when I

He's trying to do me in!

2011-11-03T21:15:00.000-05:00

After this week I have decided two things. 1. Adrian should go into politics, because he is master of the spin. 2. I have to either join the french foreign legion or take up drinking. Allow me to transcribe for you the two assignments that Adrian has brought home from school this week, exactly as they appear. Assignment one: One time I stole my sister's diperes and i got cought. I toled my mom

Bringing it all together

2011-10-26T14:23:00.000-05:00

For many years I have resisted merging my home life and my art life, but it does appear that they are inseparable. After all they both require my two hands and one mind to tend them, and I try to maintain a balance between them--lately that balance has slipped. I have spent more physical time in my home life and more head time in my art life. I find myself planning artworks when I am cooking,

Good morning!

2011-10-23T11:07:00.000-05:00

Hello to all, old friends and new! I seem to have acquired some new readers--hi there (yes, you and you)! And I DO read all of your comments, and thank you so much for responding. Don't think I am ignoring you, I am just sort of surprised that you are out there, reading MY thoughts. When I started this blog, 7 years ago, I was grossly pregnant and living far away from both my family and my

The oven repair guy cometh

2011-10-02T09:02:00.000-05:00

On Thursday the oven repair man is coming to FIX MY OVEN. I am so excited I can barely sit still. Our oven ceased working in JUNE and we have managed to do without until now. But I am hosting Thanksgiving for 15 people and I don't think they would be amused by microwave dinners, even if I wrapped myself in foil and declared it "Thanksgiving From The Future". Aaron won't care so long as he gets

Things you should know

2011-10-01T19:36:00.000-05:00

Before having kids, consider the following: It is very probable that you will be at the house of someone you greatly admire and one of your children will put a hole in their wall. If you can survive deathly levels of embarrassment, then you are very nearly ready to procreate.

Sublimating my sorrow.

2011-09-30T16:47:00.000-05:00

Today is a day of mixed emotions. I call these "mixed bag days". On the one hand, I am glad to be home after a week-long, 2,000 mile road trip with the kids. I am glad to see our pets and our friends again. I am glad that Nature got the message and is behaving like Fall. On the other hand, I am sad to once again be 700 miles away from family. I am sad to say good bye to dear friends of ours

The whirring hum

2011-09-11T20:34:00.000-05:00

OF DOOM.Our computer is slowly, but surely, dying.Which means that instead of uploading pictures, I am backing up 3 years worth of files and photos.The last time our computer died, I promised myself that next time I would stay on top of the backing up. It would totally happen every month.Turns out, if I don't write stuff down I forget to do it.So while I limp this little machine along, we will be

the Earth moved

2011-08-24T11:58:00.000-05:00

We in North America seem to be getting a bit of seismic activity these days. Yesterday's earthquake prompted my friend Kym to say: Be nice! We only have 15 months left! But instead of looking forward, the earthquake had me looking backwards. I was thinking of the last time the East Coast shook and the phone lines were down and I couldn't get in touch with my parents*. That was September 11, 2001

Back from Bama

2011-08-03T14:34:00.000-05:00

I came home.I have to say that travel by oneself is a horse of a different color. On the way there, I kept having brief moments where I would frantically look for the children before remembering that they were at their grandparents house.I got to visit with family, drive around the city, go to the Birmingham Museum of Art (twice), and sleep in EVERY SINGLE DAY. There was a lot of good food, a lot

THREE MORE DAYS

2011-07-26T21:06:00.000-05:00

Three more days until I am on a plane bound south for a solo long weekend. I am so excited I could spit.Relax, I have a no spitting in the house rule. (add THAT to the long list of things I never thought I'd have to make rules about. It should go between putting peanut butter on the dog and testing your gag reflex)The kids will be on Holiday at the in-laws (thanks, guys!) starting Thursday--or

At last

2011-07-22T13:40:00.000-05:00

It rained today. A beautiful drenching rain that lasted a good 45 minutes and dropped the temperature to a lovely, bearable 80 degrees.If you live in the United States, you'll know about how hideously, unbearably hot the past week has been. We keep our air conditioning at 78 degrees and it has felt like an ice box.When we turn the air on you can be assured of 2 things: the outdoor temps are above

i'm a bit, what's the word?

2011-07-20T13:34:00.001-05:00

forgetful!I am forgetful. Or perhaps it's just that I have eschewed my list-making for the summer. Without lists I have discovered the sieve-like qualities of my own brain. Tell me all your secrets now, because I can guarantee them forgotten by next week.(for those of you who just come for the photos, skip to the end)So a few posts back I mentioned going for an MRI.I did go for one, and I felt

So far behind...

2011-07-08T09:05:00.000-05:00

Hello all!We have returned from our trip to Washington DC to visit my parents (and brother and friends). One night at dinner Fiona turned to my dad and said: Papa D, you're a funny old goat. (I very nearly shot tabbouleh out of my nose)As I left my camera sitting at home I do not have a single picture. Half depressing, half oh well.We saw museums (LOVE LOVE LOVE The National Museum of The

6 days until Security Theater!

2011-06-23T11:51:00.000-05:00

Six days until the mini humans & I board an airplane in Chicago and touch down in Washington, D.C.I am STOKED. I love the East Coast. In a wholly non-sexual, but totally high-school-crush kind of a way. I have found that I naturally orient myself to large bodies of water (see? part bird), and the few years I spent living in Oklahoma I was known to get hopelessly lost DESPITE the fact that all the

Clarification

2011-06-12T09:33:00.000-05:00

So my last post does indeed look like I was sitting on my keyboard.It was in actuality a rant about having to be in the basement for 5 hours with a wet/dry vac as the torrential rain was pushing water up the standpipe. (SERIOUSLY, how are we ever going to sell this house?!)But it was sent from my phone, which translated the whole thing into a Yosemite Sam style rant. And after I talked to my

2011-06-09T11:39:00.003-05:00

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2011-06-09T11:39:00.001-05:00

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Answers to questions!

2011-06-03T09:54:00.000-05:00

Question 1: Why are you having an MRI?Answer: Because I have a cyst in my right breast. Before the biopsy, the surgeon wants to make sure there is only the one cyst in the one area. I will take an MRI over exploratory surgery any day. Providing the nurse can properly install an IV line.Question 2: Why do you love June so much?Answer: Because it is the start of summer! The farmer's market re-opens

Things at which I am bad

2011-05-19T11:19:00.000-05:00

1. Sports. I am uncoordinated and have the attention span of a mildly concussed kitten.2. Houseplants. Seriously, they cry when they hear me coming. I can't keep plants alive indoors for very long. Although my mushrooms are doing really well! (So i can grow fungus, but not plants...)3. Getting IVs. Yesterday I had to go for an MRI but never made it to the actual MRI because I passed out while the

2011-05-18T09:16:00.001-05:00

Adrian: I'm a corn snake! Fiona: I'm a corn dog snake!

Hi everybodee

2011-05-10T11:03:00.000-05:00

Well, operation clean out is going slower than I anticipated. I probably should have started in January when I was trapped in the house with not much else to do.I have delivered 2 trunk loads of stuff to Goodwill and 1 to a friend (who has a friend expecting a baby). I have thrown things away! I am compiling another trunk load of unused toys and clothes I no longer wear.But in the midst of that

LESS IS MORE!

2011-04-20T14:53:00.000-05:00

So after returning home from Birmingham, I had a small bee in my bonnet. We are surrounded, nay overwhelmed, by all of the things in this house.And then I read this blog post over at Clean.It's easy enough to stand in the midst of a messy child's room and yell "I've had enough!"And have your husband yell "me too!" and formulate a plan to lessen the stuff burden, but then I started to look at MY

Some thoughts

2011-04-15T12:40:00.000-05:00

I have not been posting because I am trying to come to terms with the death of my grandmother, whom we called Nana. She lived a life that spanned nearly a century. Woodrow Wilson was President when she was born in Morgan City, Louisiana. Barack Obama was President when she died in Birmingham, Alabama. She was a pioneer in her time, running the accounting for 2 businesses when most women were

Taste of Spring

2011-03-17T14:24:00.000-05:00

The sturdy leaves of bulbs are poking through the grass, the compost is thawing, and the birds are flitting around building nests. It's 66 degrees outside! The windows are open and EVERYTHING is blowing around b/c the wind is moving at 21 miles per hour. That's enough to make a creaky moan when it gusts through the window.Tomorrow is set to be rainy and 52 degrees. I will be baking cookies (to

There comes a time...

2011-02-23T13:55:00.000-06:00

In every parent's life when you have to put your foot down.I might as well never take them off the floor, I have so many strong opinons on so many things--it's hard to get all my baggage up in the morning.But this post is about TELEVISON (If TV is your best friend & you can't imagine life without it, turn away now) and the crazy crap it brings into our homes.Serial killers? on at least 4

A confession

2011-02-14T11:06:00.000-06:00

I don't know if this makes me a closet hippie, or if it's just an outward manifestation of my own personal religious beliefs, but every time I hear Joel Salatin speak I find myself yelling "yeah!" and "that's right!". And then I take my hypocritical bottom to the store and buy whatever produce is on sale.I don't know if you've noticed, but it's February. Which means that the produce is mostly

2011-02-11T08:57:00.003-06:00

It's 18 degrees.

2011-02-11T08:57:00.001-06:00

While walking to school this morning, Adrian says: wow! It's so warm out, I can smell spring coming!

last week

2011-02-08T11:20:00.000-06:00

Last week it snowed a bit. The official total was 20 inches, but with the drifts (and my aversion to the cold) I didn't venture out to measure. Adrian was able to go out and tromp around a bit, thanks to his snowshoes. I made snowshoes for Fiona but she didn't grasp the marching-instead-of-walking aspect and wound up tangled & frustrated. She tried to navigate the snow, but it was nearly

2011-02-02T08:04:00.001-06:00

To get around in the snowy blizzard, Fiona says we need a giant squirrel wearing snow shoes to ride on.

It's nearly February...

2011-01-30T16:05:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year again...when Old Man Winter throws his worst at us and tries to make us believe that Spring will never, ever come.In true fashion the weather service is predicting that we will get at least 18 inches of snow, with wind at 35 mph. Say it with me boys and girls: BLIZZARD WATCH.So tomorrow, I will trek to the grocers while the kids are in school & pick up extra foodstuffs and

Checking in...

2011-01-26T13:13:00.000-06:00

Hello!This is for my Dad, who said "post a blog, already, would ya?!"Hi Dad!I am not ignoring you, honest to honesty!It's just that this year has decided to grab me by the scruff and start running. The past four weekends, in review:January 1: Mrs P's birthday bash. It was a big party for a big year that ends in zero. And like any big party populated with middle-aged adults, it teetered between

BEST PHRASE EVER

2011-01-03T21:05:00.001-06:00

No one can ruin your day without your permission.Translates into:I do not give you permission to __________ (use that tone of voice/pinch your brother/yell at your sister). Go to your room until you are ready to apologize.(So much LESS yelling on my part. So much MORE listening on theirs.)It's like magic.

Happy (almost) new year!

2010-12-29T21:56:00.000-06:00

You know what I've noticed?When I stop making lists that include "update blog", updating doesn't happen.Sorry about that, interwebs.I resolve to become more obsessive about blogging in the new year.*To tide you over:Christmas eve I am trying to get Fion to GO TO BED. Mostly because we are rapidly approaching MY bedtime (yes, grown woman with a bedtime--oh the glamour) and I had endured a

where did the year go?

2010-12-01T21:50:00.000-06:00

Hello--did you know that it's December? I looked at the calendar and nearly fell off my seat. This year got away from me, that's for sure.The kids are anxious for the arrival of Santa Claus.Fiona wants a polar bear. (PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME A LIVE BEAR. I will not love you back.)Adrian wants all kinds of stuff, but we are having a BATTERY-FREE CHRISTMAS.(SOAPBOX: Batteries are bad for the

A week...

2010-11-23T12:41:00.000-06:00

A week is all it takes, really, for your life to change.For the better: I got to spend time with the Lovely Karlee (whom I have known for 12 years). I have been instrumental in getting a book-writing photographer to come (in January) to where I live and photograph veterans of the Korean War & WWII. My boss is in Ethiopia in the process of adopting 2 children, doubling the number of children in

HELLO 6!

2010-11-18T10:16:00.000-06:00

So, I am only 3 weeks late, which is better than never, right?This guy I know just turned 6.... And in the annals of birthdays, it was another one for the record books. He got a party with his friends at the pet store and a party with his family at home. Both had cake and presents, so I say they are equal.So far, I am liking six. He seems like a pretty cool number. Not too cool to hold my hand

2010-11-09T16:07:00.001-06:00

Adrian: Hey Mom! Check out this slug I found! It totally pooped in my hand!

2010-10-26T15:27:00.001-05:00

It's times like these that make me wish I lived closer to my family. Jono is out of hospital (hurrah!), diagnosis: he's no longer in remission (boo).

PHOTO RAMA

2010-10-24T10:33:00.000-05:00

Because my brain is slow & not feeling in a narrative mood, I give you photos!Make your own story....

It's been awhile...

2010-10-16T19:26:00.000-05:00

And for that, I apologize. When life gets ahead of me the blog is usually the first thing to get bumped off the to-do list.Since I saw you last, we have been reading A LOT. The kids each have their own library card and enjoy weilding its awesome power. As far as I can tell there is no check-out limit at our library. (sweet!)Back in September, Adrian had his first day of school. Once Fiona

reading...

2010-08-25T11:27:00.000-05:00

"When we deny our children nature, we deny them beauty"Richard LouvLast Child in the Woods

My blog, my rules!

2010-08-23T09:55:00.000-05:00

Hey. I realize I didn't post last week, but the week went faster than I expected. It's like time is speeding up in anticipation of SCHOOL.So last week, we painted, got school supplies, Fiona went to the doctor (for a check up), had friends over for dinner, went to friend's houses for dinner, went for a walk in the woods, stayed up late and made the most of the last week of summer. And I can't

This week...

2010-08-14T21:33:00.000-05:00

On Sunday last we went to the Brookfield Zoo. It was hot. We saw all kinds of animals, including the super awesome new bear exhibit (complete with Bison!) which will only get better as the seasons roll on. I am looking forward to our annual freeze-yr-buns-off day at the zoo which we take the week before Christmas.As a result of this jaunt Adrian is quite sure that he wants to be a zoologist. I

As we wind down...

2010-08-04T21:20:00.000-05:00

As summer draws to a close, I have been trying to do a project a week with the kids. Something different, something that draws them outdoors and gets them to really LOOK at the world, not just move through it. My greatest ally in this crafty nature parade has been a website. It's a collection of craft projects for kids and goes faaaaar beyond pine-cone-peanut-butter bird feeders & popsicle stick

The worst part

2010-08-03T21:45:00.000-05:00

about having kids is that it turns you into a broken record. My soundtrack for the past 2 hours: Bed. Now.Fiona is a jack in the box and it is CRAZY MAKING to level hereby reserved only for ex boyfriends and late pizza delivery guys.She's lucky she's so dang cute or she'd be on the first train to Birmingham.

Easy Peasy Apple Sauce

2010-08-02T16:50:00.000-05:00

I was in the midst of trying to create a new & exciting dinner from leftovers when I realized that we had no veg dishes the kids would eat...so I decided to make applesauce. But the easy way--in the microwave!You'll need 2-4 apples, peeled & cut into chunks. Throw that in a 4 cup-ish microwave-safe bowl.Add 1/4 cup water (trust me you NEED this). Microwave for about 7 minutes (or until the apples

Goodbye, July!

2010-07-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

There was playing outside after dinner.... Trips to the library...A trip to the beach (Kemil Beach, Lake Michigan)...Fresh sugar snap peas from the garden--a green vegetable ADRIAN WILL EAT! And a 12 week art project that I started. I am closing up week 2. There was also work, and play and hiking at Lake Katherine. We are gearing up for August--and August 1 celebrates the first harvest. We will

blurt

2010-07-25T09:08:00.001-05:00

hey!i have started a 12-week art challenge.i was going to sit & tell you about it at length, but it sounds as though the children are bent on global destruction....so, i'll be back later.(kiss kiss)

So....really...

2010-06-24T10:36:00.000-05:00

I haven't been blogging out of sheer laziness. Yes indeed, I have a case of SUMMER. We have been taking it easy, filling our days with outdoor play, library trips, and cookouts with friends.And talking to friends who live really far away.... And Fiona is THREE. She is enjoying herself & the summer days. We've been swimming, out to catch lightening bugs, making home made ice cream & stopping by

2010-06-15T14:26:00.001-05:00

today's lesson: you should always have mayonaisse on hand for removing pine sap from little boy's hair.

2010-06-14T07:57:00.001-05:00

TODAY FIONA IS 3!And what did she want for birthday breakfast? Popcorn.

Aint that the way?

2010-06-02T21:25:00.000-05:00

I am out of the habit of doing anything after the kidlets are in bed, so I find myself aimlessly shuffling through the house picking up discarded toys, mate-less socks, and wishing I had the energy to force myself downstairs into my lovely cozy studio.The wee ones are off on separate adventures this weekend, so maybe I'll find some time to spend getting covered in paint, sewing, soldering...That

pickin a good one

2010-05-25T13:25:00.000-05:00

A lot has happened in a week-ish. My brother, his girlfriend, former roommate & his girlfriend came to visit for 3 full days (2 travel days). The kids loved the extra audience, I loved having adult-type-peoples to talk to.Adrian has 2 weeks left in school...and I am trying to figure out how to keep him just busy enough. He will be spending his first 5 days of vacation in DC with grandparents.

2010-05-19T08:55:00.001-05:00

fiona's new favorite activity: glue & glitter.my house is sparkly!

Happy Monday After

2010-05-10T14:54:00.000-05:00

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all!Mine was good, how was yours?Top 10 things about Mother's Day 20101. Foxgloves!2. Hydrangea (hopefully this one will survive)3. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (FYI: this wins over chocolate)4. BBQ!5. Tball meets volleyball in a bizarre combination game6. Somebody I know & love is pregnant & I was finally allowed to share the news (it's been trying to slip out for WEEKS)7

2010-05-09T20:12:00.001-05:00

can anybody explain to me why a 5 year old would have 46 shirts shoved into one drawer?(and have 10 more hanging in the closet?)

2010-05-03T19:27:00.001-05:00

me: fiona, i am mad.fiona: you not mad. you spicy!

Hooray for May!

2010-05-01T10:07:00.000-05:00

We are 2 weeks from our last frost date. And my gardening pants are getting antsy!The windows are open, and the house is filled with the smell of fresh-cut grass, spring blossoms, and vanilla crepes (our latest breakfast of choice).I am slowly introducing the kids to french cuisine, so that when we take our trip to Paris they will be able to order food with comfort. Although I can tell you now

2010-04-20T13:31:00.001-05:00

me: fiona, did you draw all over you?fiona: yes. i've got skills!

Workin Hard

2010-04-12T15:16:00.000-05:00

Working harder this week to keep Adrian busy enough that terrorizing his sister doesn't seem like a good way to spend his time. So far we have finger painted, dug in the dirt, and observed local wildlife (bunnies! birds!bugs!)Any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

2010-04-07T18:41:00.001-05:00

today was the kind of day that makes you want to call all your single friends & tell them not to have kids.

It's April!

2010-04-05T21:36:00.000-05:00

And I am so FAR BEHIND on yard work it might as well be November. Also, I need a rain barrel (or 4) and it turns out the easter bunny doesn't deliver those.The kids and I dug many many many dandelions out of the backyard this afternoon...and we still have many many to go. I just got tired of looking out the window & seeing dandelions where other things are supposed to grow. But I did notice

Updates

2010-03-29T22:05:00.000-05:00

Fiona: got to pet a Uromastyx today. (It's a lizard from somewhere very very hot & very very dry) At one of the local pet shops there is a wall of amphibians & reptiles. We go there frequently to admire all the animals. I took Fion today while Adrian was at school. We didnt see the lizard who is usually doing all kinds of attempting to escape, so we figured he was gone. But no! The friendly

2010-03-23T09:27:00.001-05:00

Round 2 of antibiotics for pneumonia, as round 1 didn't work. I feel like a science experiment.

fuuuuuh.

2010-03-19T18:46:00.000-05:00

It's kinda like being hit in the face with a porcupine...I got a call from the doctor's office today. The radiologist finally got around to looking at my chest x-rays and hey! I have pneumonia. Back to the doctors on Monday. With another co-pay.Aaron found out that his gracious employers might be cutting his salary by 15%. If that happens, we'll have to sell the house...but we can't do that

The glory of antibiotics!

2010-03-15T20:36:00.000-05:00

Hello!I am back (mostly) to the land of the living. The past 15 days, I have been brewing a nasty case of bronchitis! I saw the doctor! I had to have chest x rays! (And who doesn't love a big ol' dose of radiation when they are ill?) The good news: It's not pneumonia! The bad news: It's bronchitis!I exit with a steroid-based inhaler, a prescription for antibiotics, and the desire for a nap.I am

Good times...mostly

2010-02-23T09:47:00.000-06:00

A Fiona update!Anybody who knows me well knows I have a million nicknames for my kids. Lately, Fiona has taken objection to all of them. It goes like this:Me: Good Morning, sunshine!Fiona: I'm not Sunshine, I'm Fiona!orMe: Hello, my love!Fiona: I'm not a wove, I'm Fiona!(repeat, ad nauseum)But she's always so cheerful about it, I don't mind much.... The other one, however, has been carrying

The strangest girl

2010-02-17T19:58:00.001-06:00

I thought that I would forever be the strangest girl wherever I lived...however my beloved Fiona is making strides to best me even before she turns 3.Tonight we were waiting for our potatoes to finish baking so we could sit down to dinner and I asked her if she wanted some bread or some chicken.Her reply?"No thanks. I want broccoli!"

How you know...

2010-02-15T10:56:00.000-06:00

How you know when the sick day is over:Adrian: I want to watch Dirty Jobs!Me: Ok. But first you're going to eat some chicken soup.Adrian: What? Why?!(note that all of adrian's communications are at MAXIMUM VOLUME. Sore throat? I think not.)

2010-01-28T09:06:00.001-06:00

it is negative 7 degrees with the wind chill. without the wind it is a balmy 9 degrees. ferenheit.I HATE YOU, OLD MAN WINTER!

Busy little bees are we...

2010-01-23T20:37:00.000-06:00

So I missed posting last week. Could have been that every time I went to sit at the computer I had 2 kids at my side with a whole list of "Mom can I...", could have been that I needed a week to recover from a VERY LONG 4 day weekend. Could just have been that I forgot.I honestly don't remember much these days....But I do know that our time has been filled with dress-up, art projects, books, and

Turning a corner

2010-01-11T19:58:00.000-06:00

Maybe it was just openly admitting a case of the blahs, or maybe it's that Adrian craves to know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING but I have gone and decided to make the best of the next 10 weeks of winter. (10 weeks--gag!)Thus far we have1. Created a question box. In it, we put questions he has that I don't have answers to. (Currently I need someone who knows about porcupines and someone who knows

2010-01-11T09:23:00.001-06:00

Fried polenta cakes for breakfast. Heaven!

Unh hunh unh hunh

2010-01-08T22:00:00.000-06:00

I have been busy trying not to be "ogre mom". It is tough work, let me tell you. I think its just the season...I've said it before, I'll say it every year until I shuffle off this mortal coil: I HATE WINTER.I feel no joy in a snowy landscape. I don't look forward to first frosts, wool sweaters, thermal underwear, and all that heavily layered stuff.So, I am trying to overcome the tiny black cloud

2010-01-03T08:54:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year!My resolution is as follows: Don't Forget To Have A Good Time.What's yours?

Fiscal responsibility, lesson 1

2009-12-27T22:49:00.001-06:00

This morning Adrian woke up at 6:30, turned on the TV to PBS (now that the remote is lost, we set it and he CANT change it--haha!) and played with Fiona's Animal Hospital (what she got for Christmas) until I rolled out of bed at 8. (I KNOW)I stumbled towards the bathroom & he called out to me: wait! I have something important to ask you!(I am squinting at him with one good eye and standing on one

So...it's winter

2009-12-21T21:46:00.000-06:00

I know that I havent really said hi in a while b/c I was looking for pictures to post and the most recent ones are from November. Ah-ha-ha, yeees. I have been busy & distracted. Busy with work, busy with the kids, busy trying to keep myself from hibernating like I feel I should do every winter. The good news is that all my hard work at work has paid off and I am now a money-making tattooist, the

2009-12-16T10:03:00.001-06:00

adrian has declared that he is saving his money to buy his OWN computer. as i can figure, he's 10% of the way there. you have to admire his ambition.

2009-11-22T07:28:00.001-06:00

6:15 AM is too early for the harmonica. I'm just saying.

In review

2009-11-16T18:57:00.000-06:00

Adrian & Aaron are looking at Good Guys magazine. It's a magazine completely devoted to classic cars. They are really into it. It sounds like this:Aaron: whoa! check that out.Adrian: Awesome.(page turns)Adrian: Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!(page turns)Adrian: Not awesome. Awesome! Awesome!(page turns)Adrian: Awesome!Aaron: You don't have to say awesome after every car.(page turns)Adrian: hot-cha-cha!

2009-11-13T14:46:00.001-06:00

fiona & i looked through the grocery store's sale flyer this afternoon. when we were done, she told me 'that was a good story'.

2009-11-06T07:59:00.001-06:00

adrian: can we go to the north pole so i can give my letter to santa?me: no, you have a birthday party to go to after school.

As predicted by my highschool biology teacher...

2009-11-04T21:35:00.001-06:00

I am delinquent in nearly everything i do. Here are some photos from the Pirate birthday party...Pirates demand cake!Pirates get cake!And my mom was here! For 4 days, which is not nearly enough time but we'll take what we can get. We cooked, we carved pumpkins, we partied, we trick-or-treated, we crammed in as much as we could AND I remembered to take pictures.

Things that are teh awesome.

2009-10-27T20:52:00.000-05:00

1. throwing a Pirate Party for your kid's 5th birthday party, because that's what he wanted. (how awesome is it to have a kid that requests, nay demands! his friends talk & dress like pirates?)2. having other adult-type friends who dress as pirates for the party so I am not dorky costumed mom...I am dorky costumed mom with friends! also, having adult-type friends who are handy with tools build a

New new new!

2009-10-22T08:05:00.000-05:00

My oh my! It's always exciting to get things done around the house. Aaron thinks I'm overly ambitious, but the truth of the matter is that I am proactive and he is reactive. I'm also really good at getting him to see things my way. Aaaaah, the power of persistence. (It only took me 5 years to get a dog, after all). To that end, we got a new roof. When we bought the house, there were 3 layers of

Product review, 4-year-old style.

2009-10-18T12:50:00.000-05:00

Me: Here, Adrian I got you some more tape.Adrian: A whole roll? Can I keep it?Me: Yes, a whole roll just for you. I know how you love the tape.Adrian: Yes. Because it is SO handy.

Right quick...

2009-10-15T22:51:00.000-05:00

I am about to fall asleep where I stand, but I thought I should check in first. Hello! All is well! Children are giant! Adrian will be 5 in 13 days. He is vibrating with excitement.And a funny: I have this Aunt, she's one of my favorite people EVER, and whenever I am having a grumpy day I know that I can call her and she'll say the exact right thing to cheer me up. One of these things has evolved

2009-09-27T12:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Adrian's scout group had their ceremonial wherein the kids received the badges they had earned over the year. Adrian got 8! The ceremonial was held at Kankakee River State Park, which is about an hour from our house. On the way home, Adrian asked to get dinner from the drive-thru.Usually I avoid the drive-thru. I don't like the culture, I don't think the food is healthy, I don't like

And now I'm back!

2009-09-16T20:23:00.000-05:00

I went away for 4 days, to Connecticut/Maine/Connecticut to visit my brother/go to a wedding of a dear friend. It was wonderful and strange to be travelling alone. I got a lot of guff for leaving the kids behind, but I needed 4 days of not being a mom to put my head back on straight.And then tonight, further evidence of Adrian's precociousness:AD: Mom, is Santa real?ME: oh god oh god think quick,

2009-09-10T11:55:00.001-05:00

@ the philadelphia airport. I can't help thinking that it seems weird to eat a cheesesteak in the airport. Like you're cheating, somehow.

2009-09-09T13:01:00.001-05:00

Putting Fiona down for a nap.Me: I love you.Fiona: I love dinosaurs!