tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105820192012-01-30T20:22:01.678-05:00And They Never Slept Again<center><a href="http://robandjulie.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/6137290391_fc55376112_b.jpg" width="750" height="303" alt="header2011jpg.jpg"></a></center>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.comBlogger14041100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-42452541571562979742012-01-29T19:56:00.002-05:002012-01-30T07:12:06.991-05:00Five
Friday was Jorge's fifth birthday. Yes, five. I don't know why, but I am having a hard time believing it. I've checked the math at least twice, sure I was counting wrong. Maybe it's his size--he just now fits into 4T reasonably well. Maybe it's his attitude--he still has huge screaming meltdowns almost daily. Maybe it's because we've only been his parents for 3.5 years. Maybe it's his Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-54473596286105190192012-01-25T21:01:00.003-05:002012-01-25T21:01:51.933-05:00A new recordToday a kid in class was playing with his pen and it flew in another girl's face and caused a minor commotion. I distinctly heard someone say something to the effect of "pulled a Smith." except Smith was replaced with my last name. Yes, 3 lectures into the semester and I've fully established myself as a clutz.
I can't say it wasn't deserved. I don't know if it's the sleep deprivation, the factJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-15940642114762321242012-01-23T07:49:00.001-05:002012-01-23T07:51:38.864-05:00Good News Bad NewsGood news: August slept well last night, only waking up at 1:45 from the endless teething and then 4 for a feeding. Yes, this is what we call "well." The 4 nights before that he woke up every single hour.
Bad News: I still had to get up at 4.
Good News: I did! I showered and dressed all professionally and got my already-packed lunch out and was ready to leave on time.
Bad News: I rememberedJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-87146233760617327952012-01-18T19:28:00.000-05:002012-01-18T19:28:16.093-05:00Back in SessionClasses are finally back in session and while Rob is taking the semester off, I'm teaching more than I've ever taught. Nearly five hours of non-stop blah-blah-blah to a crowd that totals around 175.
In order to get enough work done, I need to work about 10 hours a day. There's just no getting around it. However, except for those five hours on teaching days I'm blessedly on my own schedule.
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-5506348190097174862012-01-16T20:14:00.002-05:002012-01-16T20:16:36.931-05:00Random Book Recommendation: Peter PanI've never been particularly interested in Peter Pan as a Disney movie or even just as a story. However, a few years ago a cousin told me about "Peter and the Starcatchers" by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. It's a pre-quel of the classic story with Peter and his friends on a ship that is attacked and then shipwrecked by pirates, landing them on a strange island and setting up the entire Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-87444337790394931002012-01-14T13:41:00.001-05:002012-01-14T13:41:30.190-05:003.5 day weekendThe kids were sent home at lunch on Friday due to worsening weather, meaning they're home for way too long. And then they have 3 days of school and--oy--another 3 day weekend. Anyone want to borrow some kids for a few days?
I made tostadas today after Jill mentioned them a few days ago and set my mouth watering. Brown corn tortillas in some hot oil and toss on plates. Meanwhile, drain a can Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-80892630638818961642012-01-10T15:19:00.001-05:002012-01-11T10:26:16.150-05:00To August, nearing 17 months.Dearest boy,
From your earliest days, when you were still a bladder-kicking mystery, we jokingly called you Garbage Truck. It started as a joke with the kids as we negotiated possible names and I insisted that we had decided that it would be Garbage Truck, whether you were a boy or a girl. It was fitting at the time, since I frequently felt as though I'd been run over by exactly that.
These Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-48063030492573944902012-01-07T14:26:00.001-05:002012-01-08T11:27:42.601-05:00Ring My BellAlmost exactly 4.5 years after moving in, we finally have a functional doorbell. The previous one may have been original to the house (which is original to the late 1800's). We generally like to preserve whatever we can, but in this case the wiring was mostly ripped out inside the house, the sensor was rusted, and the wires from the doorbell were dead-ends. We opted to go wireless.
In the Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-12947309016218482752012-01-07T08:33:00.001-05:002012-01-07T08:34:32.264-05:00Before it grows out
The new 'do.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-49903460213658945252012-01-05T10:55:00.000-05:002012-01-05T12:13:46.570-05:00HaircutWe've been getting comments for nearly 2 months now that August needs a haircut. When it's humid or freshly washed, his curls are tight enough to keep it out of his eyes. But with the drier winter weather, humidity isn't helping and we also do fewer baths so it's been a wispy wave that brushes his nose. Last night, after seeing him smush his sweet-potato-covered hands through it again to get itJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-14006459531242512632012-01-04T14:03:00.000-05:002012-01-04T14:03:06.254-05:00It's practically un-American to not discuss exercise and weight-loss in early JanuarySo here it is.
Just before I got those surprise double lines announcing August's pregnancy, back in early November 2009, I had just admitted to myself that I was 10 pounds over my desired weight and committed to crossing the street to the gym and working out a few times a week. I even went out and bought a dedicated gym bag and some work-out clothes that weren't super embarrassing to wear in a Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-29726408870854723952012-01-02T10:46:00.003-05:002012-01-02T10:46:37.086-05:00"...and mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again!"The kids are back at school!
(And the parents are NOT!)
Everyone take a moment to enjoy that. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
My school duties officially start in 2.5 weeks when all the college kids return and classes kick in. Rob is taking this semester off from teaching since the only class they had for him to teach was a night class on Monday/Weds which would mean every M/W I'd rush home from my lastJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-50981743554166876012011-12-28T15:50:00.000-05:002011-12-28T21:12:43.064-05:00Merry Christmas!!
We were out of town for a week preceding Christmas and it was all the chaos and noise and delicious foods and "oh-good-heavens-are-we-there-yet" that you can imagine with these three kids in a car for a 9.5 hour drive each way. We swore last March after an all-night drive that we would never again attempt it in one shot and so we spent the night at a hotel with an INDOOR POOL! at the halfway Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-13361249239170686332011-12-22T15:44:00.000-05:002011-12-28T15:46:27.362-05:00Grandma and Grandpa's Farm
...Where cousins go to become best friends.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-73234139920412325182011-12-19T15:32:00.000-05:002011-12-28T15:34:25.416-05:00Santa's Lap
August was not pleased. Not a bit.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-63656275285964164052011-12-13T20:12:00.000-05:002011-12-14T23:31:18.689-05:00Another Photography Workshop [updated to add to day 4]A friend tipped me off to a December photography project. It's not a class, really, but a daily prompt to photograph something to fit the day's theme. Practice and thinking outside of the usual photography subjects is really where I need motivation, so it was a perfect chance to enjoy the end-of-semester breathing room now that both major projects are done for the semester. I upload them to a Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-22801531226723403852011-12-11T21:49:00.001-05:002011-12-11T22:16:36.004-05:00DoneIs the weekend over?
The kids and I made candy-cane hot cocoa mix on Saturday as well as the salpores de arroz. Then this morning after church (which really means this afternoon since 10:45 mass ends up with a noon return home) we whipped up the Guatemalan cookie dough and put the logs in the freezer. While those froze, we mixed up the biscotti dough and put those in the oven for nearly an hourJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-54085182728251519252011-12-10T16:38:00.001-05:002011-12-10T20:28:04.046-05:00Salpores de Arroz
Oh, gracious, yum.
These are from El Salvador and are either a very sweet scone or a dry crumbly cookie. A perfect light treat with a cup of coffee, tea, cocoa, or milk. Rob declares they taste like a sweet snickerdoodle; I think it's more like a crispy sugar cookie. The cinnamon is subtle but provides a nice holiday flavor. The rice flour makes it light and a bit crispy.
Salpores is Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-89281514856516168092011-12-10T11:29:00.001-05:002011-12-10T11:41:49.351-05:00BakingWe're putting together Christmas gifts of home-made goodness for teachers and family.
Today's (eh, This Weekend's) goals:
Salpores De Arroz
Guatemalan Ice Box Cookies --We'll make one batch with real butter and another with soy-butter so Jorge can have some. They don't come out exactly as nicely as the real butter, but still delicious.
Buckeyes -- I'd like to make these; we'll see how much Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-9565749380683370802011-12-04T16:55:00.001-05:002011-12-04T17:03:53.298-05:00Christmas Tree DayJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-83111178774827783582011-11-30T08:10:00.000-05:002011-12-01T08:10:25.219-05:00Rested.On the advice of a friend we tried something new with August last night to get him to sleep. He SLEPT! From 8-12 (woke up but went down easy with a binkie for Rob), 12-3 (nursed), 3-5 (wanted to nurse but accepted the binkie with no fuss), 5-6 (woke up and smacked me in the face for an hour), 7-7:45 (up for the day). That was easily the best night of sleep I've had in 16 months.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-10263777949985880202011-11-29T22:03:00.001-05:002011-11-29T22:24:05.481-05:00And STAY done.In light of yesterday's undoing of what had been several months worth of work, I took today off.
Truly, some days I feel more productive if I just don't touch anything.
So anyhow, my dear friend is having a baby boy in 2 months and her baby shower is this weekend. I'm not able to attend but offered to help with games and favors. I realized this morning that I needed to mail out the things I Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-80385600547014987392011-11-28T21:35:00.001-05:002011-11-28T21:40:01.064-05:00BlaerahghI've been working on a project with a co-author for nearly 2 years now and as far as I was concerned we were done with it. She kept tinkering with it but I was done. We would submit it for publication very soon, which involves a series of 4-5 reviewers picking it apart, verifying the math, and generally looking for holes.
Today I attempted to start a new project and pulled out a complicated Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-20888146519180811192011-11-27T22:48:00.001-05:002011-11-27T22:56:56.077-05:00AdventToday marks the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new church year. And, of course, this year it also means the beginning of some new phrasing in the Catholic mass. Ah, Catholicism: Finding new ways to alienate the doggedly faithful every decade.
This morning, in our usual chaos, Jorge and I went to the 8 AM mass and Rob took Katie to the later mid-morning mass so August could stay Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-71554675421036809532011-11-26T21:27:00.001-05:002011-11-26T21:37:43.545-05:00Oh heavens, it's still November.NaBloPoMo, when is it over?
We had another crazy gorgeous day. Katie and August and I met up with friends at the park and about half the city to play and ride bikes while Rob and Jorge were out on their own. When I found out they wouldn't be home for dinner I took the opportunity to take Katie and August out to eat wherever they wanted. So many places are basically off limits because the Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-85617572364581129122011-11-25T22:30:00.001-05:002011-11-25T22:34:05.631-05:00It's like anti-shoppingToday I...
...didn't leave my house.
...sat on the front porch with some coffee and crochet in a sweatshirt I got in 8th grade.
...watched August running around on the front porch in a long sleeve tshirt and jeans.
...taught Katie to crochet.
...finished 2 crochet projects and marked up a quilt; moving 3 large projects out of my craft area.
...helped Rob bring in our patio furniture and, in a Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-14749853608694318562011-11-24T20:12:00.001-05:002011-11-24T21:10:16.924-05:00Thankful for these knuckleheadsJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-39911219396061554492011-11-23T13:28:00.001-05:002011-11-23T13:55:49.053-05:00Owl Feliz
The Joann's near us is moving and had 70-90% off of everything to clear the old store. I picked up entire bolts of cute corduroy prints and solids and turned some of it into these dresses this week. These two are identical with owls for the under-dress and a dark purple over-dress with applique and trimmed pockets on the left hip. The other one I made last weekend and has a purple Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-87810364690669463022011-11-22T21:42:00.001-05:002011-11-22T21:43:39.974-05:00Bracing for it...School's out for five days.
Five days.
The chocolate supply in this house is woefully insufficient for the task ahead.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-67926383905182121312011-11-21T19:53:00.000-05:002011-11-22T07:57:19.877-05:00Love Thursday: Monday edition.Sometimes love isn't so great.
Love is pillow talk. But sometimes, like when your four year old has five days in a row of making choices that baffle the mind and make you pull your hair out and even put people at risk, pillow talk is a painful discussion about limits, expectations, and interventions.
Love is nurturing. But sometimes, like when your one year old is sick and has the world's Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-64750424409069413072011-11-20T21:27:00.001-05:002011-11-20T21:53:20.977-05:00Holly Homemaker goes back to work...What a fun weekend.
Friday I slept. A lot.
Saturday the kids and I made some fall crafts and puttered around the house. We processed seven pumpkins from the basement into 6 bags of pumpkin puree (2 cups each) and 3 pints of a soupier pumpkin broth and four cups of roasted pumpkin seeds. We played some games, I may or may not have lost my mind screaming at a certain child for writing his nameJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-5470057641168387962011-11-19T20:17:00.001-05:002011-11-19T20:22:39.102-05:00Catching upFriday, after a long day for all for us and August not taking a nap at all, we all converged at home for a few minutes around 4. Rob was planning to take the kids to his mom's for dinner but August was in no mood.
NO. MOOD.
So instead I stayed home with August and by 4:30 the rest of the crew left. By 5 I took him upstairs for a little snuggle and nurse. But first a diaper change. And his Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-54962407849552442382011-11-18T16:56:00.001-05:002011-11-19T07:36:10.530-05:00Land Lab with August
I chaperoned Katie's class trip today to a nearby nature preserve where they learned to identify evergreen trees and explored the woods looking for samples. August and I just milled around the property most of the day which, other than a chilly breeze, was simply beautiful.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-50503506593672500092011-11-17T22:01:00.001-05:002011-11-17T22:02:57.164-05:0015 month check upBecause the baby book is probably never going to get filled out...
22.5 lbs
no change in height
He also seems to have some kind of rotovirus.
I love that spell-check thinks I meant rottweilers. Sure, close enough.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-58343022054649272422011-11-16T13:49:00.003-05:002011-11-16T13:49:35.513-05:00Peek-a-boo!Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-84878954062694148742011-11-15T18:28:00.000-05:002011-11-15T18:28:00.130-05:00Embracing my old fogey selfEveryone, eventually, reaches a stage or phase where they decide to close their eyes and ears and start blocking out the newest trends. It's just all too much after awhile. I remember one day many many moons ago mentioning someone, I think Gwen Stafani, in conversation and my dad asked who I was talking about. I could not believe he didn't have at least some idea who she was. I mean, I wasn'tJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-79448507670839885682011-11-14T23:27:00.001-05:002011-11-14T23:37:57.752-05:00So Close...I've been working on a research project for 5.5 years now. The first real draft was completed almost 5 years ago exactly. Twenty-three months ago I got feedback on it that was, pardon me, painful to read. It is due back to the reviewers tomorrow, Tuesday, in 24 hours. I've been working on it and its sister paper for months now on a daily basis. Seriously, a normal day is 6-8 hours on it; a Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-43345667735322006912011-11-13T12:16:00.001-05:002011-11-13T12:19:50.311-05:00HeaderLast night I carried August upstairs for a bath and stood him next to the empty tub for 2 seconds while I turned around to grab his bath supplies. In that instant, he climbed onto the edge and fell face-first into the (empty) tub. His two (only) bottom teeth gashed his upper gum open, exposing the incoming tooth (um, thanks?) and sliced open his lip and the little connection between his upper Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-42617003214173820792011-11-12T12:07:00.001-05:002011-11-14T09:18:17.664-05:00Where I'm FromThe "Where I'm From..." meme made its rounds a dozen times or more but never landed here. I've always wanted to do it. If you're interested in doing it yourself, I suggest starting here: Template
I am from homemade cookies, from Kool-Aid and a sun-filled kitchen.
I am from the big white house in the woods, the chimney dotted with cicada shells, the front porch swing with bouncy springs.
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-23861656097058352652011-11-11T08:37:00.001-05:002011-11-11T08:41:48.683-05:00It's going on a leaf...Today we remember that we are thankful for veterans every single day.
Thank you to my grandpa, my dad, my father-in-law, my cousins, my friends, and everyone else who served. Thank you to their families and loved ones who sacrificed their own time together when duty called. Our world is better thanks to you.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-83947638681975809372011-11-10T08:02:00.000-05:002011-11-10T08:02:00.267-05:00The Thanksgiving Tree
I'm determined to not let Christmas Creep take over at our house and so we're focusing on enjoying fall and preparing for Thanksgiving. The "enjoying fall" part is especially easy right now since the weather has gifted us a gorgeous warm week. The kids have been playing outside with just light jackets and only coming in for
meals. I can't tell you how much I'll miss this all winter long!Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-21051803899832545542011-11-09T10:02:00.000-05:002011-11-09T10:02:00.296-05:00Losing wheelsAfter months of coasting around with her feet on the ground, Katie is using the pedals and two-wheeling it around the driveway as of last night.
(this post brought to you by NaBloPoMo: The Quantity Not Quality Edition. Some day August will sleep well enough that I won't wake up practically in tears and gush at him for doing such a great job sleeping nearly two whole hours straight. By golly!Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-32014348941756610132011-11-08T21:08:00.002-05:002011-11-08T21:08:58.175-05:00It's warm in November and you know what that means... ...a whole lot of girls need to be told that a long button down shirt and tall boots does not negate the need for pants.
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-66341443778057161932011-11-07T21:47:00.002-05:002011-11-07T21:47:59.667-05:00Tooth FairyKatie lost her fourth tooth this morning and so once again she wrote a letter to her own personal tooth fairy who (after doing the dishes and packing the lunches and running to the store to get more ink for the printer) wrote her back. I love her conviction about the reality of fairies and their many quirky lifestyle "facts". I hope she never outgrows it. (Even if two friends are already Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-60633647146389578942011-11-06T21:33:00.004-05:002011-11-07T10:03:33.966-05:00Adoption SundayToday is adoption Sunday. I already mentioned the beautiful post at Sit a Spell, which challenges us to think not just about adoption but about preventing children from being orphaned in the first place. There will always be children in need of adoption because life is life. Parents are killed, people struggle with addictions and diseases, and life throws us all curveballs. But in many casesJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-61061610102940731212011-11-05T14:51:00.001-04:002011-11-05T20:14:40.847-04:00Public Enemies #1 and #2
Description: Both small, shiny, white. Suspect #1 is about 1/8" tall; suspect #2 about 1/16".
Wanted for: Turning an otherwise poor sleeper into a nightmare non-sleeper, inducing copious mucus resulting in all-night coughing turned vomit, converting a relatively independent, happy child into a sobbing Velcro baby.
Warning!! Beware, they're capable of violence and are believed to have manyJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-47491849590684312312011-11-04T13:54:00.001-04:002011-11-04T13:54:21.688-04:00kissesJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-13637632732411572342011-11-03T16:16:00.001-04:002011-11-03T20:00:57.176-04:00My annual rant about Christmas SpreadSeriously? The radio stations are already switched to 24 hours of Christmas music. The stores had Christmas decorations displayed next to the Halloween stuff last week. My head is going to explode.
It's downright UN AMERICAN to start Christmas this early. That's right, I'm pulling out a political accusation: UN AMERICAN. Thanksgiving is a celebration of many wonderful things and is uniquelyJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-32025818913409358482011-11-02T09:17:00.004-04:002011-11-02T09:17:00.562-04:00SpiderAugs
Just enjoying the sweet chocolate-y brains of Frankenstein
(after knocking him over and beating him against the wall.)
Spider senses are tingling!
SpiderMan to the rescue!
With a few boxes to go, of course.
Never Fear! The Light Switch Is ON!
PS. No babies were chocolate-ed in the making of this post.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-49787443844376697862011-11-01T16:01:00.001-04:002011-11-01T16:02:31.976-04:00NaBloPoMo?Meh, I suppose.
I'm running low on steam these days. Today the kids had parent-teacher conferences so Rob and I hit the school at 8AM. Ok, let's be real, 8:15. We're not so good at punctual before 8 AM. By 9:30 we were home again with beautiful glowing praises of both kids ringing in our ears and I swapped out my "jeans and shirt I found on the floor so we could get out the door" style for aJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-55190034450021849622011-10-31T22:26:00.001-04:002011-10-31T22:26:29.925-04:00Happy HalloweenJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-6351468118066758462011-10-25T21:27:00.002-04:002011-10-25T21:34:53.396-04:00More of the sameI know, I know. The title of the blog says it all and no one wants to hear another rant about how bone-thugs-and-harmony tired we are. To be honest, August is sleeping slightly better these days, only waking up 2-3 times a night. Granted, on Sunday night that included a coughing fit at 1 AM that ended with him spitting up a tummy full of phlegm-y milk-y grossness all over me and the bed, but, Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-5231194211700298462011-10-21T14:14:00.001-04:002011-10-21T14:14:00.497-04:00Another reason we love our kids' schoolOh, such love.
Another reason to love the Montessori format is that, especially at the younger ages, there's no issue if they miss a few days. Unlike the traditional school format, if a kid misses a few days of Montessori they don't miss anything specific. No class-wide lessons or quizzes or tests. Yes, they might miss the day that they go to the library or the French teacher visits the classJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-29673366100741033562011-10-20T11:06:00.004-04:002011-10-20T11:16:03.551-04:00Tell me about it
Click to see a larger view
I've seen this a few times already, but always enjoy it. Turning it around, I often wonder why people without kids haven't yet solved all of the world's problems. Maybe they're causing them? What the heck are they doing all day?
All I know is last fall I was spending 6 hours a day--SIX--just getting kids down for naps and bedtime. 60 mins with the baby 4 timesJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-88629740928233019702011-10-17T10:33:00.004-04:002011-10-17T13:37:56.579-04:00Prevent them from becoming orphansYes yes yes yes.
Read this post at Sit a Spell.
If you work with a church that will do a special ministry on Orphan Sunday (Nov 6) please read this and consider adding this perspective to your outreach.
And if you are interested in helping orphans please read this and think of the whole-child solutions in addition to the end-of-the-line part (adoption, orphanages).
Even if you aren't Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-9943944629765576072011-10-16T08:36:00.010-04:002011-10-17T11:41:57.848-04:00ReflectiveToday marks 4 years since the little boy we were originally matched with to adopt died at 7 months old. I don't think of him as often as I used to, but when I do it still brings up a painful mix of emotions. Perhaps I never quite dealt with it entirely. In fact, to be painfully honest, I ended up talking with a therapist for quite awhile nearly 2 years after he died to try to work out some of Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-878555933173543092011-10-13T23:47:00.002-04:002011-10-13T23:59:32.959-04:00Neither complaining nor bragging, just documentingLast night as Rob and I got ready for bed I realized that saying something like "Ugh, we have to do this all again tomorrow" didn't even apply because with the way August sleeps lately (again), it's not so much "doing it all again" as just a never ending never pausing endless relentless all-consuming--well, you get the point--task.
So, I give you: Wednesday and Thursday: a typical snapshot. TheJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-52052075935666517392011-10-11T09:11:00.000-04:002011-10-11T09:11:24.129-04:00Without Fail6:30 AM -- wake up and peek at clock. Tell myself to enjoy the last 30 minutes of sleep before the school day preparations start since miraculously all three kids are still sleeping.
6:35 -- wake up. Nope.
6:45 -- wake up. Nope.
6:50 -- wake up. Seriously, body, just rest.
6:55 -- wake up. Five more minutes. Just rest for five more minutes.
7:28 -- wake up. Panic!Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-80820432384307540092011-10-10T09:38:00.000-04:002011-10-10T09:38:31.058-04:00She can keep the back-ache; drugs please!Rob's been out of town since, basically, bedtime Thursday so I've been solo-parenting for 2.5 days. This should not be such an ordeal, but I find a way to make it one.
Friday I left the big kids at the "after-hours" care until about as late as possible. Usually Rob picks them up after he finishes work but they can stay later and so they did. From there we went to a nearby park where I let allJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-73803234281387114302011-10-06T21:23:00.000-04:002011-10-06T21:23:41.836-04:00Thirty Eight!Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! I'm going to go ahead and re-cycle my 2006 post yet again and not feel bad for forgetting to send a card. You didn't invite me to the wedding, after all. So we're square.
Love you.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-85128473254738674852011-10-05T22:50:00.003-04:002011-10-06T11:15:50.366-04:00Back to our regularly scheduled programming....Monday's classroom visit last week tipped the scales of the universe back aright, it seems. Katie skipped off to school Tuesday and Wednesday without a pause. Thursday school was closed and Friday she had an all-day class field trip so I was a little worried that the magic would have worn off by Monday, but she was happy to head into school. Tuesday she woke up with a neck cramp that preventedJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-60116736228721028972011-10-04T09:52:00.000-04:002011-10-08T09:53:41.984-04:00First toothThat's right, first. He's 13.5 months and just got the first sharp little showings of a bottom tooth. It's going to be a long hard couple of months of catching up, I fear.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-24177953141051544192011-09-29T09:17:00.001-04:002011-09-29T09:17:42.562-04:00walking and talkingJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-80384186423108847722011-09-27T20:52:00.002-04:002011-09-27T21:45:11.946-04:00Success! (for at least one day)Drop off was a double beam of sunshine. Pick up was two happy kids eager to talk about their awesome days. Katie was happy to report that she didn't sneak off to cry in the bathroom at all, not even once. Go ahead and revel in that tasty marinade of momma pride and guilt.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-71146687542993404102011-09-26T21:46:00.003-04:002011-09-27T21:39:20.972-04:00Struggle onKatie's still mostly ambivalent toward school. Every morning she wakes up exhausted and complains her stomach hurts, but then gets up and putters around happily getting ready. But shortly after breakfast, she has a mopey anxiety attack and refuses to get her backpack together or suddenly freezes when it's time to get her shoes on. Once in the car she chatters away until we're rounding the Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-58237583807447181972011-09-23T15:47:00.004-04:002011-09-23T16:13:01.544-04:00Book Day: Sewing For BoysI picked this book up from Amazon based on the positive review from another sewing mom blogger (if I ever find my brain back I'll link to her). So much of sewing is geared toward little girls--cute handkerchief skirts and pillow case dresses and easy dresses made from old shirts and so on. For boys I have one easy trick for making pajama/sweat pants or shorts and have appliqued a handful of Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-30494464945747782162011-09-20T09:43:00.004-04:002011-09-20T13:25:29.945-04:00Adjustments.Katie lost it on the way out the door Monday morning. Just broke down wailing that she did not want to go to school. She hated it. And she missed me. And she hated it.
I forced her into the car, forced her out of the car, forced the back-pack into her arms at the door of the school and she hurled it at me. Chucked it and wailed.
This is not the Katie we've known for 6 years. Katie loves Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-63166034844397471382011-09-17T20:59:00.002-04:002011-09-17T22:56:28.818-04:00Handprint artWe finally got around to making these! I picked up the canvas boards 2 months ago and we had the paint, but it didn't come together until today.
August's is just a hand and foot. Jorge has a hand elephant and a tree with two hands of leaves and a foot trunk. Katie's is both hands. They can't wait to hang them in their rooms.
As usual I was reminded that busy engaged kids--even with a Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-10927207397435196852011-09-16T21:32:00.003-04:002011-09-17T11:31:59.331-04:00Walking, mostly.August has been taking little steps here and there for a few weeks. He'll stumble/walk/fall from the coffee table to the couch or the kitchen chair to a parent. Occasionally he's even taken three or four steps before resorting to the much preferred crawl. However, we've been reluctant to call it "walking" for real. But tonight he started taking five to ten steps at at time covering stretches Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-5907220775389135932011-09-13T19:08:00.003-04:002011-09-13T19:13:00.411-04:00Deja FoodOh lands, remember that time we went out to dinner and Jorge wanted french fries and Katie kindly shared hers and he ungratefully just screamed that he wanted more? This time? Let me refresh your memory:
Jorge wailed and wailed. Katie took pity on him and gathered up all five of her fries and put them by his plate. Instead of being grateful or even just eating them, Captain Unpleasable only Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-67236441059335005632011-09-13T08:34:00.002-04:002011-09-13T08:34:00.107-04:00Interview with August (as represented by his agent, Mama)[Age 13 months today]
What is your favorite food? Mama Milk. And Banana pudding. And toast. Also hard boiled eggs.
What is your favorite song to sing? You don't know the words but it involves screeching a lot.
What is your favorite song to listen to? OK Go for dancing
What is your favorite movie? I don't think he's ever seen a real movie.
If you were an animal, what kind of animal would youJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-36925807911315868372011-09-12T10:06:00.003-04:002011-09-17T20:13:01.602-04:00An Interview With Katie May[Age 6 years 3 months]
What is your favorite food? Does it have to be a dinner food? (no). Oh, then definitely brownies.
What is your favorite song to sing? Inch by Inch
What is your favorite song to listen to? Somewhere Over the Rainbow
What is your favorite movie? I love so many movies! Um, Wizard of Oz
If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be? Swan
What is your favorite Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-83042896539207704192011-09-11T13:43:00.003-04:002011-09-12T16:28:38.753-04:00Interview with Jorge[Age 4 years 7.5 months]
What is your favorite food? Scrambled Eggs.
What is your favorite song to sing? Inch by Inch
What is your favorite song to listen to? I like my Guatemalan Music CD. And my Rainbow CD, but where did that one go? I want that one back. Ugh.
What is your favorite movie? Transformers {note: old cartoons, not newer live action or even old animated movie}
If you were an Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-54959994907459288732011-09-11T10:34:00.000-04:002011-09-11T10:34:46.923-04:00An Interview with Jorge[Age 4 years 7.5 months]
What is your favorite food?
What is your favorite song to sing?
What is your favorite song to listen to?
What is your favorite movie?
If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?
What is your favorite color?
If you could pick one vegetable for us to never eat again, what would it be?
What is your favorite book?
Where would you like to go on a vacation?
Who isJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-33542756896165817322011-09-10T19:30:00.000-04:002011-09-10T19:31:17.242-04:00Walking AugustJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-91136068555812743912011-09-09T07:12:00.000-04:002011-09-09T07:13:12.326-04:00Morning TasksJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-91712736574314988312011-09-08T09:46:00.002-04:002011-09-08T11:07:24.981-04:00Day 2: Not so muchOne of the many things I love about the kids' school is that parents are not allowed in the building. Ok, that's a bit harsh. We're allowed in, but only if we have to talk to the administration about something. No walking the kids into their class area or whatever. Leave them at the front entrance and go. In fact, we usually do a stop-drop-and-roll style where parents pull up into a Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-46404135465741798212011-09-07T20:23:00.007-04:002011-09-07T21:57:50.515-04:00Jorge's first day back to school (Pre-k)He was very excited to get to go to school all day today.
Last year he went half days in the mornings. Toward the end of the year--for the last 4-5 weeks--he stayed full day one day each week. But this year in addition to being there full day, he gets dropped off and picked up with Katie who is an elementary kid. The elementary kids drop off 15 minutes before the primary/pre-k kids and are Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-10697258688415010342011-09-06T21:33:00.001-04:002011-09-06T21:35:35.291-04:00No crying, just cozinessKatie's first day went smoothly. I dropped her off, did a full morning of good productive research, and then picked her up since Rob was home with a sleeping baby and I needed a lunch break anyhow. She chatted at me the entire way home and is ready to roll again tomorrow.
Jorge is very excited. Our go-to threat all summer has been to email his main teacher when he is being a pill. He Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-91706324056670363532011-09-06T07:17:00.000-04:002011-09-06T07:17:11.942-04:00First Day of First GradeJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-22516991227703137322011-09-05T22:15:00.003-04:002011-09-05T22:33:30.318-04:00Almost There!Tomorrow is Katie's first day! The official first day of school is Wednesday but all the kids moving up a level have a half-day orientation Tuesday morning* so Katie's packed and ready. We made some teacher gifts today which I'll attempt to remember to write about later. Katie was rather anxious and jittery this morning so I finally called her friend's mom who has two daughters. The younger Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-76747092318962696412011-09-02T16:48:00.000-04:002011-09-02T16:48:09.165-04:00Flea-b-gone...?In addition to wearing the kids out and fulfilling our citizen requirements, attending The Great New York State Fair allowed a full day of having the dog and cat confined in the basement and the kids out of the house so we could bomb the be-fleas-uz out of the house. Actually, we didn't use the bombs (yet) but did use the toxic-soup chemical spray. Up to this point we'd been trying to do the Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-26082635238193520802011-08-31T21:57:00.001-04:002011-08-31T22:00:47.599-04:00With one week left, I suppose we could try this "summer vacation" thingFinally, the home stretch! And just to torment ourselves we're going to attempt to cram an entire summer's worth of fun into the last few days so we can send the kids off with fond memories of summer and wishing it never ended. All that sitting-around-wishing-the-day-would-just-end-already drag of July and August fading into the background.
So we hit the the Great New York State Fair (oh yes, Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-83621345465146200482011-08-30T14:41:00.003-04:002011-08-30T14:44:05.141-04:00One more weekA week from today both big kids will spend the entire day - from eight until a glorious three - at school. I honestly can't tell you who is more excited, them or us. We're all just really really burnt out on each other. This past weekend some friends who also have three kids who are also ages 6, 4, and baby called to ask if the big kids wanted to come over and play for the afternoon because Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-27871435888375253022011-08-29T08:51:00.002-04:002011-08-29T08:51:36.121-04:00It's Monday...which means I am probably re-shampooing, vacuuming, and flea-spraying the entire house. Blasted nasty bugs. I'm generally not terribly affectionate toward the pets but this is pushing me straight into dislike.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-57932013040199542342011-08-24T21:10:00.000-04:002011-08-24T21:10:02.878-04:00Burning down the houseI was joking about it, really. But when I went to Petsmart today to buy some flea-killing carpet spray I ended up also buying some fogger bombs. When I got to the checkout the clerk began a rather intimidating speech on how to use them effectively including "and be sure to call the fire department and let them know to be on stand-by."Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-82382121920443744412011-08-24T10:20:00.001-04:002011-08-24T10:20:45.794-04:00Who needs wheels when you have coasters?Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-7635452365117086092011-08-23T21:57:00.000-04:002011-08-23T21:57:36.701-04:00Two more weeksThe kids return to school in two weeks. Two weeks from tonight I'll be packing two lunches and probably tucking both of them back in for the 30th time that night and perhaps feeling nostalgic and weepy for my kids growing up so fast, but right now I am focused on keeping us all from ripping each other's faces off for 13.5 more days.
Back to school is pretty low key for us. The kids don't have Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-44037218929362341792011-08-20T20:00:00.001-04:002011-08-20T20:53:33.159-04:00And in other news...Three weeks ago tonight Rob went out for a bicycle ride in the last bits of daylight after we tucked the kids into bed. He came home and parked his bike in the basement as always but by the time he got upstairs it was clear this was not going to be a typical night. He'd wiped out while taking a corner at about 25-30 mph and was very unclear on the rest of the details. He didn't remember how heJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-70839498228614044452011-08-19T21:31:00.002-04:002011-08-19T21:44:19.131-04:00Dear August at one year (and a few days because mama is slow)There's something to be said about a one year old baby who, when he goes one stretch of almost 2.5 hours without waking up one night, is praised for being such a great sleeper. Not complimentary things, by and large, but since you are impossibly cute I find I can't really even think those things in full without instead gushing about your squishy squirmy cuteness. Katie and Jorge have both Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-60789490695745227592011-08-11T06:21:00.001-04:002011-08-11T06:21:00.947-04:00August, the great hunterAugust fancies himself a hunter.
As a side note to this story, I estimate I've nursed August a little over 3000 times now (roughly 9 times a day on average if you consider 12-14 at the beginning and more like 6-7 lately, across 360 days) and of those probably less than 50 have been in any kind of seated position. Nearly every time we nurse I find a bed or couch and lay down because I'll take Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-86642964261997463552011-08-10T11:21:00.000-04:002011-08-10T11:21:21.434-04:00I have an animal on my head, can you guess what it is?Does it swim in the ocean? Yes.
Does it have big pointy teeth? Yes.
Is it a shark? Yes.
(18 hours in the car last weekend and if it was Jorge's turn to pick an animal 90% of the time you could be sure that would work. The other 10% could be solved with "does it have stripes? Is it a tiger?" BOYS.)Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-63044591034334575582011-08-09T17:04:00.002-04:002011-08-10T13:34:17.573-04:00Photobooth funMy baby sister got married last weekend and I'll save that happy post for later. For now, I wanted to share the details on the photobooth that Rob and I did for her wedding since several of her friends asked and this way I can point them here.
Cindy really wanted a photobooth at the wedding but when she priced the traditional metal-box style ones the most rinky-dink ones were $500 and up to Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-83172877771273678402011-07-29T10:25:00.000-04:002011-07-29T10:58:50.532-04:00And then we're back to this...Jorge comes in from the garage -- which Rob just moved both cars out of and swept so Jorge could play "outside" even though it's raining. Also, because we desperately needed to sweep out the garage.-- and has matching red stains on his shirt and pants.
He insists it has been there all day. It's just a stain. It just so happens that his bright yellow shirt and the non-matching yellow and blueJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-78123733719292737242011-07-28T22:09:00.002-04:002011-07-28T22:09:56.774-04:00Sometimes they redeem themselvesJorge asked if he could go play in the yard this morning and I said yes, go. Go now. Go go go. Because it's going to get hotter this afternoon so go now while it's so nice out.
And as he ran to get his shoes he called to Katie "You should go out now. It's going to get steamy today."Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-15534965708985933382011-07-28T11:29:00.005-04:002011-07-29T11:08:46.685-04:00Dear (I swear, they really are) Children,1. If my computer starts making any kind of sound, it does not mean you need to come running from all over the house to peer over my shoulders. Sometimes mommy is just watching some Daily Show. Back OFF.
2. Two pieces of cereal stuck together is a production error, not a magical mysterious award bestowed upon you by the cereal fairies for your obvious amazing awesomeness. And the lack of suchJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-70038094755397666482011-07-24T17:10:00.001-04:002011-07-24T17:41:34.312-04:00Grand ReopeningAlmost exactly 7 months after our friend moved out of our "guest apartment" where she lived for almost ten months, we have finally gotten around to making any effort at all to re-set it to a guest space. Rob's friend had a bachelor party this weekend which involved several out of town guests, including the groom, and so the Chateau was re-opened.
On the subject of different standards (what? OkJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-29798554116767944412011-07-18T14:59:00.002-04:002011-07-18T15:16:06.987-04:00Fairy GetawayDon't we all just need a place to stroll along a stony pathway...Climb the log steps to a shady tree...
Or just lounge on the soft mossy ground?
If you're a fairy in Katie's fairy garden, you're in luck. This all-inclusive resort includes a tee-pee style shelter, two luxurious beds, a laundry line and wash basket, ample seating and delightful shady hide-aways.
[We've started a new system to Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-72943416607892639342011-07-13T11:31:00.005-04:002011-07-13T11:50:08.629-04:00Dear August at 11 MonthsAuggie-Auggie Never Nap
He rarely sleeps--it's true!
He crawls and grabs and sucks your face
But cries the whole night through.
From dusk to midnight, slumber soundly
then waaah--he wants a midnight snack
then one, then three, then five, then six,
and all day long just mini-naps.
He feeds himself. "No mush here, lady!"
puffs, fruit, rice and sweet potat-y
And he wants yogurt--oh so yummy!
but Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10582019.post-84889201518473134092011-07-11T00:02:00.002-04:002011-07-11T00:11:33.993-04:00Canine DelinquentDaphne--our 65 pound mix-breed horse of a dog--was hit by a car Saturday morning. She's fine and we took her to the vet to confirm it. Just a scrape on one leg and a little extra skittish for a few days.
The car, on the other hand, has a huge dent where it smacked her.
Dumb as a rock and twice as solid.
Rob had let her out as he prepared the three kids for a birthday party and I was Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864229531085152218noreply@blogger.com0