A few facts about our household:
1. 80% of our household is female
2. 80% of our household loves pink
That being said, this was bound to happen eventually.
It was a hard sell to Jason, but he was outnumbered. Pink is perfection.
;)
Update: Yes, this was my April Fools day joke. I guess we'll stick with our gray house.
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Oh, you know. A little of this and a little of that.
: 1 :
Did you watch the Oscars? I didn't catch the first 30 minutes, but then I managed to watch most of the rest. In a moment of poor planning on my part, Sydney had a book report that was due the following morning and she had more work to do than we realized.
Fortunately, there are two English teachers in the house and the one who was less interested in watching the Oscars was drafted into helping Sydney finish. It's possible I might have even thought that Jason got his job as an English teacher just to prepare him for this moment when I would say: please help her write this paper so I can sit on the couch for the next three hours and watch beautiful people win a small trophy.
Possibly.
The highlights for me were seeing Daniel Day-Lewis win for Lincoln, seeing the Les Mis cast sing "One More Day," and seeing Argo win Best Picture. I don't know if I thought it should have won best picture, but I wasn't surprised. I've been told it has a lot of Hollywood insider jokes, and it doesn't have that "give me an award" feeling that Lincoln does. (Don't get me wrong; I loved Lincoln and would have been happy to see Spielberg win. But it's not subtle in its THIS IS IMPORTANT STUFF message.)
I didn't care for Seth MacFarlane, but whatever.
: 2 :
Because I don't have time to catch up with who the cool kids are in Hollywood, I was not particularly aware that a lot of people don't like Anne Hathaway.
Not just dislike her, but DISLIKE her with a passion.
Thanks to my sister's stellar research, know we know why: it's her face.
The theory is that people prefer those with rounder faces more than those with slender faces.
It's true that the world has always loved Drew Barrymore (round face) even when she was making terrible life decisions. Adele also has a lovely round face, which is perhaps why I wasn't the slightest bit bothered by her Oscar ensemble (also, the woman had a baby a few months ago, so getting out of the house with a pretty dress and make-up is high marks from me).
Other round faces? My sister. Anyone who knows both Andrea and I will automatically gravitate towards her. I used to think it was her winning personality, but now I know it's just because my face isn't round enough.
Sidenote: the comments on the article justify my belief that (1) lots of people really do like Anne Hathaway and (2) CNN is just as ridiculous a news source as all the rest.
: 3 :
Just tonight a former student of mine brought this site to my attention. If you're not familiar with The Onion, then it might not seem funny.
But if you already know the joke--that The Onion makes up its news stories--then seeing people's earnest FB responses might just make you laugh.
I laughed. Laughed until I cried. Literally.
: 4 :
One of my goals for 2013 was to start making meals that I'm interested in making even if I know only Jason and I will truly enjoy it. The girls are picky eaters, and I suppose when it comes down to it, Jason and I are a little bit picky too, so whatever I'm making is still going to be rather mainstream.
Last week I made Pioneer Woman's chicken parmigiana, and man oh man was it good. The chicken was chicken--nothing amazing about it. But the sauce? Holy moly. The next day I just ate the sauce like a bowl of soup it was that good.
I loved it so much I took a picture of it. It's out of focus because my hands were shaking just a tiny bit because I was so excited to have found a meal that, in some form or another, my whole family would eat (the girls ate the chicken once we took the bread off it; Sydney ate the noodles plain). Highly recommend.
: 5 :
My sister was involved in a scientific study at her university involving eye tracking. The researchers would say words in English and a foreign language, and she would look to the left it was a real word, and look to the right if it wasn't a word (or vice versa, I don't remember and it doesn't matter to the story).
After she was finished with her part, the researcher told her that she should sign up for other eye tracking studies. "You have very trackable eyes," he told her.
We both agreed: Best pick up line ever.
: 6 :
The highlight of an otherwise seriously miserable week: I got a new camera.
That camera I was hoping for? The Nikon D5100?
We can all thank Jason for being super de-duper awesome. It helped take off some of the misery of soccer season starting, I will admit.
I'm still getting used to it, but so far, I'm smitten. It is not, as my dad so kindly pointed out, a serious camera (he made up for his snarky comment by giving me a nice memory card for the camera). But it is a big step up from what I have been using. I may have even slept with it next to my bed last night.
: 7 :
If you're feeling a little blue this week--and who isn't after enduring January and February--then you might want to watch this video.
It's not sweet or sentimental, and unless you get all teary eyed when you see people celebrate a major accomplishment (like me), it won't make you cry.
But it probably will make you smile because what's not to love about a soccer player/cheerleader making a half-court shot?
Joy is contagious, so let's keep spreading it.
{For more quick takes, check out Jen's page.}
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Presidents Day is good for sales, for having the day off from school, and for remembering Addie wearing a tiny wig for her alphabet project.
Hope your day is full of smiles...and, yes, perhaps a bit of drool.
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A couple months ago, I heard that my favorite blogging duo--John and Sherry of Young House Love--were coming to Portland.
Every once in awhile I would check out the Portland Home and Garden Show's Facebook page to see what the news was on the Petersik's Portland arrival. Last week, I managed to snag a few tickets to see John and Sherry at a blogging seminar.
Yesterday, me, Sarah, and friend Emily (and baby Waverly) hung out together at the Expo Center and listened to John and Sherry talk about blogging. That's us in the back, directly behind the Petersiks. Even though their talk was about monetizing your blog and making a living from blogging (which is not on my radar as something I want to do), it was just pure fun listening to them.
It's true, the Petersiks have no idea who I am--I very rarely leave comments on their blog--but their whole DIY spirit has really inspired me. I'm painting my kitchen cabinets using their technique. I've put art on my walls, spray painted frames, and hung my curtains high and wide thanks to their blog.
I think we can count this as Waverly's first (blogging) celebrity sighting. She was so in awe she hardly made a sound.
As proof that I am a nerd: one of the highlights of the presentation? John's Keynote presentation (Mac's version of PowerPoint). It was super duper professional, and the transitions were a-mazing. Yes, I'm a slideware freak because I work with PowerPoint on an almost daily basis. As a public speech teacher, you don't even know how much I appreciate a good slideware presentation. Tears. In my eyes.
Another highlight?
Emily made this sweet little art piece and gave it to John and Sherry. They liked it so much they even showcased it on their blog. So Sarah and I are pretty proud of Emily for being clever and artsy.
The icing on the cake was hanging out with these girls. It only would have been made better by having my sister there. *sigh* She was missed.
While just hanging at the garden show would have been enough, we were moms on the town, and so we went to get tacos. But not just any tacos.
Tacos from Por Que No. Oh man. Good food.
There may have margaritas consumed as well. Possibly pomegranate. Which was possibly very tasty.
All in all, it was a fun day. Fun to meet in person bloggers that I admire, fun to hang with friends, and fun to huddle around a table with only a space heater and laughter keeping us warm.
I vote for Wednesdays always being this grand.
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Just about every time I'm online I see articles touting the amazingness of the Internet. You can get coupons! I can enter contests! Consolidate your bills! Discover new and fabulous recipes! Find out the weather for the next 30 days! Learn one new trick that will trim inches off your belly! (I've never clicked on that link, btw. I find it suspect.)
Yes, we know. The Internet is amazing.
Most of the time, though, I'm not that amazed. I have come to expect that the Internet has cool things on it. My expectations therefore make the Internet less amazing.
But today I decided to take a look at 7 Sites That Can Save You Money. And even though six of the sites didn't interest me, one did:
On Grooveshark, you can listen to whatever music you want, as much as you want, and it's free. You can even make and save playlists just like on iTunes, except that because you're not downloading the music, then it doesn't cost you anything.
So while I edited photos, I listened to Sugarland.
While I learned some new video editing tricks I listened to Balmorhea (have you heard them? so relaxing).
Then for kicks I listened to Quiet Company.
I thought it was pretty nifty.
*
I have no connection to Grooveshark. They don't know me, and I don't know them. I just found their site cool and useful. The end.
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Can fun change people's behavior for the better?
Of course it can.
Any parent who sings the "clean up" song to get their kids to pick up toys knows that making something fun makes a difference. We have toothbrushes that sing, blue bubbles for handwashing, "ants on a log" to get kids to eat their veggies (and peanut butter).
Then? We grow up. And the fun stuff isn't always the good for you stuff. But what if it was?
What if taking the stairs over the escalator was this much fun?
I climb about a hundred stairs every day I teach. I wish it was this much fun!
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In all the holiday hustle and bustle (and Nutcracker rehearsals), I totally forgot to write about my MIL's birthday party.
Sharon turned 60 in December, and her friends threw her a lovely party celebrating this milestone. The theme of the party was "Sweet 60," a play on the whole Sweet 16 thing. Sharon's BFF Laurie (hi Laurie!) orchestrated the whole thing, and let me get involved in the areas I am reasonably good at.
First: the invitations, which I was quite happy to do.
Obviously, there was a lot more info on the original invite.
Second: shopping trips to Costco. It's true. I take a list, and can get in and out of that store without going over $100. Be amazed. Be very amazed.
And third: sing.
Now, I'm not an amazing singer, but I would say I can carry a tune nicely and have done my fair share of singing in front of people. And if that tune involves any sort of theatrics? Well, all the better.
As for the song, Laurie's daughter (hi Megan!) rewrote the lyrics to The Sound of Music's "16 Going on 17," and--if I do say so myself--she was fantastically clever and creative. It was quite my good fortune to be the one to sing such a fun song, and I only wish we had recorded the performance. Not because I was so marvelous, but because the reaction from Sharon's friends was priceless. Several of the lyrics were totally inaudible because everyone was laughing so hard.
I thought I ought to share the lyrics here because they are just too good to waste on a one-time birthday song. Enjoy!
Sung to the tune of "16 Going on 17"
We're here today
To stand up and say
Happy birthday to Sharon
Let's start with this class
Please lift up your glass
And say salute to Sharon (to Sharon)
You were in your 50s, now on to your 60s
Grandma, it's time to think
Discounts galore
In every store
Now that you are on the brink
You were in your 50s, now on to your 60s
There's lots to look forward to
Handicap parking
And young people barking
They're sick of repeating to you
Totally unprepared are you
To join the senior class
Diapers and aches will soon ensue
And dentures in a bedside glass
You'll need someone
Younger and stronger
Taking good care of you
No more in your 50s, now in your 60s
I'll say a prayer for you
Now in your 60s, not in your 50s
Life will be so grand
When crossing the street, though slow on your feet
A boy scout will take your hand
Now in your 60s, not in your 50s
It's all down hill from here
Creaks and moans from all of your bones
Will magically appear
Totally in denial are you
Of what the next year holds
Prescription drugs in pink and blue
And lots more wrinkled folds
Deafness, blindness
A little less kindness
All this to look forward to
You're not 50, but mature at 60
What's an old lady to do?
Dear Sharon, happy birthday to you!
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I'm an adjunct professor for a lovely little university down in Salem, Oregon.
The president of this college is Dr. Hoff.
This little piece of information is important for you to see why I thought this soon-to-be-rolled-out tshirt was so funny.
One of my former students designed the shirt, and the school's ASB is selling the shirts to raise money for next semester's mission trips. I snagged the photo off the FB page of another former student of mine.
It made me laugh, and I just thought it was too clever not to share.
*I originally wrote "alums" because I just like it better even if it isn't right, but then decided I probably ought to be grammatically correct since I make a reference to teaching. And higher education. I really should represent the school in a orderly fashion :)
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The #1 rule with curly hair is no brushing. Absolutely no brushing. Curly hair gets washed/wet in the morning, a good dose of conditioner (shampoo only once a week), and then picked out with a wide-toothed comb.
The girls are quite familiar with this rule, and will freak.out. if someone tries to fuzz up their hair.
Except every once in awhile, Julianne lets me do this:
Hi there, Miss Crazy Hair! I think a bird might be living atop your head.
No, I'm just kidding. No birds in your hair. But maybe a monkey?
Okay, okay. No monkeys. You got some fuzzy hair going on tonight, don't you?
Yes, it's my fault. But hey! I have a camera, so let's make the best of it.
Strike a pose, Jules.
Ooh, very Vogue.
Very post-modern.
Very toddler-chic.
Very I'm too cool for this princess nightgown.
Or something.
Well, Jules, you've been a perfect model for tonight's entertainment.
Let's give her a round of applause for being a good sport!
And maybe a good bottle of conditioner too.
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I will freely and without shame admit that I enjoy celebrity gossip. It doesn't bother me that people find that sort of amusement as a shallow past-time. An academic friend of mine was more than a bit disgusted that I knew the names of Brangelina's kids. "Why on earth would you know this? You, with a graduate degree and dreams of pursuing a PhD?" After all, smart people should be very serious about what kinds of information they put in their heads.
I'll tell you why: once upon a time I read James Joyce's Ulysses and as an apology to my brain I feel allowed to put a certain amount of meaningless entertainment poofery into my head (albeit selective poofery because I absolutely refuse to read anything about Justin Bieber, Robert Pattinson, or Miley Cyrus...and yes, I put them all in the same sentence, so there).
Actually, aside from the highly entertaining People magazine (that happily arrives in my mailbox every Friday) I do very little to follow celebrity gossip. I really and truly don't have time to be dilly dallying around on the Internet or tv for the latest Hollywood news. I figure if it doesn't make it into People magazine, then it wasn't worth reading about.
Outside the "news" field, I do enjoy some celebrity fashion quips, particularly from those penned by Jessica and Heather, over at Fug Nation. To that end, I feel compelled to share with you two particular links from today's Fug HQ that made me laugh, an act sometimes hard for me to come by these days. (Minus those charming things my daughters do that always make me laugh. The other day from Jules, "Be careful where you walk, Mama. A bird may poop on your head." She's a regular little Confucius.)
And, let's be honest now, can you name at least one of Brangelina's children? That's not such extraordinary knowledge, is it?
Happy Friday!
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Jen participates in 7 Quck Takes every Friday, and I've finally decided that I need to hop on this bandwagon because there's always bits of this and that I want to write about...and then I remember I've forgotten where I put my keys...and then I never end up writing about them.
Today I will!
:: 1 ::
Spring Break has officially started for me. Woo hoo! My classes gave their presentations yesterday, and then I dismissed them with a grand flourish and a celebratory trip to the Woodburn Outlet Stores to buy my mom jeans (nothing for myself, of course, since I'm saving my pennies for the cool pregnancy wardrobe I'm determined to have for the summer). Now I am free like a bird for a week.
:: 2 ::
And really, I'm more free than usual (from the parenting duties) because I leave tomorrow morning to go on a road trip to Colorado. With my parents! To visit my sister! And then move her home! She's saying adios to Colorado, and the parents and I are helping her pack up her house and drive back. I'm sure I'll do very little packing, but I'm mostly along to keep my sister company for the drive back. Oh yes. Good times. Also while in Colorado? Meeting Gretchen from Lifenut for lunch. Awesome.
:: 3 ::
I had my 14-week pre-natal appointment on Wednesday and everything looks good. I've lost 2 pounds since my 10-week appointment, but I'm not worried and neither is my midwife. Baby gave me a wave on the ultrasound, so I figure that's good enough for me. Plus, the weight finds me eventually.
Weird thing happened during the appointment though. I was sitting in the waiting room, they called "Stephanie" and I follow the nurse to get weighed and back to the exam room. She asks me all the usual "how you feeling?" bit, and then says that they'll be doing a pap today. "I don't think so," I told her. "I just did one." Even though I give up a lot of my modesty when I'm pregnant, I'm not volunteering for an extra pap exam for kicks. And then the nurse asks me all sorts of questions that seem totally weird and out of place. Finally, with both of us feeling confused, she asked, "Are you still smoking? Because it would be good to cut that back while you're pregnant." Since I don't smoke, and hope to goodness they haven't put something important like that in my chart, I'm feeling like I've landed in Bizarro World. Fifteen seconds later we both realize that I am not the particular Stephanie whose appointment was 15 minutes before mine. But now I know a whole lot about her.
Craziness.
:: 4 ::
Last Friday, Devon and I saw Alice in Wonderland. It was quite lovely, visually enchanting, and very Tim Burton. I wasn't sure if I'd like Johnny Depp with all his weird make-up, but then I did, and he was perfect and made me tear up a little bit too. Helena Bonham Carter was fabulous; Alan Rickman's voice as the caterpillar could have had lots more screen time because he has a seriously awesome voice. I give the movie two thumbs up. It's not going to rock your socks off or anything, but it's fun.
I had pre-bought the tickets from Fandango, thinking that Friday night in Wilsonville's only theatre would be busy. Nope. There were maybe 14 other people in there. I suppose most people see the 3D version. I don't do 3D except in teeny tiny bits at Disney World.
:: 5 ::
A few weeks ago, Jason was hired as a JV Boys' soccer coach at a local-ish high school. A week after practices started, the varsity coach had to bow out, so now Jason is the varsity coach. We're excited for the extra income, and of course, it's good for Jason to be back coaching since he's good at it. It's a lot of time though. Lots and lots of time. And since I'm not so good about attending games (too cold and fraught with stress for me), it feels like we don't see each other that much. Nevertheless, Jason being hired for something is a good thing. They've already told him they won't have any openings for him to teach at the school next year, so that's too bad. But, he's got this going for him right now anyway.
:: 6 ::
I got my hair cut and highlighted blonde (no pictures, but it looks just like it did last year (scroll down that post for photo)). I'm loving the summery look. I got a brilliant idea last week regarding hair color. When we learn if we're having a boy or girl I'm getting a pink or blue streak put in my hair. Wild, huh? I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself! Look for the streak the end of April.
:: 7 ::
Devon reminded me last Friday that I hadn't watched a video she had posted on Facebook. She told me I'd cry, and then sure enough I did. And it's just a public-service commercial! Oh, but it's so good. Really really good. The most beautiful public service announcement I've ever seen. Watch it. It's just over a minute long.
Happy Friday! ♥
More quick takes at Conversion Diary.
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Weird news of the day:
Danvers High [Salem, MA] parents recently got an automated call from the principal warning them that if students say or display the word "meep" at school, they could face suspension.
Meep doesn't mean much, unless you are Beaker — the hapless, orange-haired assistant to Dr. Bunsen Honeydew on "The Muppet Show."
While meep may be nonsense, what it represented was no laughing matter to the high school's administration. High school Principal Thomas Murray said students were using it and other words to disrupt school in a particular part of the building on Cabot Road. The term later became part of a disruption some students were planning online.
I taught high school enough years to know that anything--even, uh, meeping--can get out of hand. But still. It's so silly.
If only this was the most serious thing our schools had to worry about.
Meep meep.
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When I was growing up on the Family Farm, we had to keep ourselves happy with a few sticks and some well crafted mud pies. And the trampoline. And a swing set/sand box. And, fine, we had dirt bikes too. So, we weren't totally deprived of all things fun, and it's true that many of our friends insisted we lived at the coolest place ever. But still. It all seemed very regular and low key to us.
And it remained fairly regular and low key until grandkids came along. And then somehow my parents got it into their heads that their grandchildren needed some extra fun things. Pshaw. Grandkids. They get all the fun stuff.
Some of the stuff they aren't even old enough to enjoy--like the zip line over the frog ponds--but the newest fun thing is...well, it is just their size. Or rather, it's just the size for them and ten of their friends.
It's a bounce house. Seriously. Why didn't I have a bounce house growing up? Maybe because there was no Internet from which you could order bounce houses.
The Internet now, however, is chock-full of bounce houses, and so after some serious deliberation, Sydney and my mom decided Mr. Lion would be a perfect fit at the farm.
I have to admit, I think Mr. Lion is pretty darn cute. Even I got in there and bounced around a little. You know, just to make sure it was safe. And, um, ergonomic. And efficient. Anybody would have done the same.
Inside the bouncy area is a climbing wall to get to the front. All you have to do is grab ahold of Mr. Lion's tonsils, climb on up...
...and there you are at the top of his mouth, ready to slide down out of the friendly beast. Jules was a little hesitant to slide the first few times, but now? Now they literally leap off the top, landing mid-slide before zipping all the way down. It's enough to make my heart stop every time they do it. They think it's hysterical.
Bounce houses in general are prone to inducing laughter.
In the end, I would say we're all big fans of the bouncy Mr. Lion. After all, something that makes them laugh and tires them out at the same time?
Well, let's just say it isn't only the grandkids who are getting spoiled.
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Here's one reason why you photograph fireworks: to show a little celebration. This marks my 1000th Typepad blog post! How about that. It took me four-and-a-half years to get here, which averages out to about 20 posts a month. Not too shabby. Some months I did more (like the years I blogged every day in November for NaBloPoMo); some I did less (like when Jules was born). But I got here because clearly I had something to say.
That seems to pretty much always be the case.
I've tried to think of how to mark the occasion...
I could give away $1000, except I don't have $1000 to give away.
I could write a 1000 word essay about how blogging has changed my life. Eh. No doubt someone's already done that.
I could go leave 1000 comments on blog posts/Facebook updates. I think that's about how far behind I am (unpacking and organizing the house has made me a terrible blogger/friend/emailer...at least I have Google Reader helping me out).
One thousand things about me would be ridiculous. Even 100 things about me doesn't seem like much fun.
Let's go with Ten Random Things About Me and call it good.
So, there you go. And if you were really itching to learn 990 more things about me, well, just peruse my archives. I can't imagine you'll get too far without discovering I'm kind of an emotionally crazy person who likes to read, tell stories, and take pictures.
Somehow my husband loves me anyway. And much to my surprise and constant delight, I think some of you folks tolerate me pretty well too. So, I'll see what I can do about writing up another 1000 posts.
Be forewarned though: I think it'll take me awhile.
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I stayed after church on Sunday to help decorate for Vacation Bible Camp. At the beginning we all introduced ourselves, although I never really count on anyone actually remembering my name (probably because I never count on me actually remembering anyone's name).
Later in the afternoon, one of the women came up to ask me a question. "Jessica?" she inquired, her voice indicating her uncertainty that my name was, in fact, Jessica.
"Stephanie," I helpfully corrected her.
"Well. That makes sense. You look like a Stephanie." (Hooray!)
"No problem...most people call me Stacie."
The woman I was working with turned around and said, "That's what I always want to call you!"
It's true. Most people--friends and family aside--want to call me Stacie. Two of my co-workers who really ought to know better consistently call me Stacie. I've stopped correcting them; now I even respond to the incorrect moniker.
Nine times out of ten, when someone calls me the wrong name they call me Stacie. Occasionally I get called Jennifer (must be because of the middle "f" sound Stephanie and Jennifer share). I've now been called Jessica.
But for whatever reason "Stephanie" doesn't stick in the brain of a new acquaintance. "Stacie" does. Some people say it's because my last name sounds similar to "Stacie"; others say it's the similar beginning and ending sounds. Whatever it is...it's a bit mysterious. Familiar, but mysterious.
Yesterday morning as I was helping out with registration at Vacation Bible Camp, I was telling my friend the Stacie/Stephanie story. As I finished, the pastor of my church walked by and greeted me. "Hi Stacie!"
Does this happen to anyone else, or am I the only one who has a name no one can remember?
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My favorite talent-based reality show is back on, and my Wednesday and Thursday nights are happy now. Nothing against other talent-based reality shows, but I think So You Think You Can Dance is the best there is. Love it. Love it all.
I mention it not because it has anything to do with what I'm about to show you except that it reminds of how competition can inspire great things. And it can humble you just a bit.
For example, a couple months ago, Audi decided to do a little chest-thumping about its newest car. It doesn't surprise me much that those German auto dealers are fiercely competitive with each other.
But I think if you're going to throw it down, you should make sure that you don't leave any room for a clever retort:
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Today, from Sydney:
"Hey Mom! I'm imaginationing--
I'm imaginating--
Hey Mom! I'm using my imagination when I hear this song!"
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If you give a mom a vacation, she's going to want to visit her sister.
And when she visits her sister, chances are they'll head to a hipster town like Boulder, Colorado, to do some shopping.
And while she's shopping, the sun will come out and remind her that spring is on the way.
Knowing that spring is on the way, she'll wander into a boutique to find a cute little skirt that she has to have.
And once she has the skirt, she'll discover when she gets home from vacation that she doesn't have a top to go with it.
So she'll have to go out shopping again to find a top that compliments the skirt.
And shopping for the top will remind her that she needs to get some new shoes that are just a little fancier than regular ole' flip-flops.
When she tries on her new shoes she'll realize that her toes aren't sufficiently summery, so she'll have to go get a pedicure.
As she's getting a pedicure she'll start to relax, knowing that she's done teaching classes and her summer vacation is just around the corner.
And thinking of summer will inspire her to go get her hair straightened because even though she has daughters with ridiculously cute curly hair,
her's is not so much (ridiculously cute, that is). So off she goes to get her hair straightened.
And once her hair is straightened, and her new skirt and top and shoes are on, and her toes are painted and looking perfectly summery, she'll go outside only to discover that the sun is gone and the rain is pouring down in buckets.
She'll remember, in the midst of the rain, that her sister is vacationing in Hawaii.
And chances are, when she thinks of her sister enjoying all that sunshine...
...she's going to want a vacation.
(Inspired by the weather, the new outfit, and that fabulous mouse and cookie lover, Laura Numeroff.)
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I have a story I love telling to my friends when the conversation topic turns to having girls/having boys/having multiples.
The story is about the Voiles, whom I don't know personally but who I know of because they are friends of my friends.
The whole story is a bit on the longish side, but the basics are as such: the Voiles decide to have a baby. They have a baby girl. They decide to have another baby. They have twin girls. They really want to go for that fourth baby (hoping for a boy?). They don't have a boy. They have triplets. GIRL triplets. Yes, six girls In five years.
TRUE STORY.
The Voiles are in a contest to be featured on TLC, and voting ends in a couple weeks. If you are so inclined, you might want to vote for them.
I've gotten a lot of mileage out of telling their story (because six girls in five years?! wow!), so I've been voting for them every day. Plus, I'd love to see their story on TLC!
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So, my birthday is on Sunday. Yay me. I'll turn 33, which I'm hoping will be better than being 32. Yes, I have great hopes for being 33. Maybe not as great as the hopes I had for turning 16, which was really quite a spectacular birthday, getting the driver's license and all. Being able to drive turned out to be a pretty nifty deal, even these many years later since I still have a record of no traffic tickets or accidents. Yay me again.
My spotless driving record aside (but not too far aside because seriously, that's some good driving), I thought I would open up this final week of being 32 to you, dear readers. I'm inviting you to ask me any of those serious/silly/random/life questions which perhaps you have wondered about all these days of reading my blog. I can't actually think of anything you might want to ask me, especially since I just revealed one of the grandest achievements of my life (that would be 17 years of perfect driving, ahem), but if there was something else...
Now is your chance to ask. Friends, relatives, countrymen, lurkers and all--ask away.
I'll post all the answers to your questions on my birthday, before the wisdom of turning 33 starts to sink in too deeply. Heh.
(Not that I wouldn't answer your questions if you asked me in a month or so, except that I'd probably forget to. My memory is not one of the grandest achievements of my life.
Except that I do remember not getting any tickets.)
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Last weekend, Jason surprised me with my early Christmas present.
No, not another trip to Maine (and wasn't that the best surprise present EVER?).
It's the ever so cute, simply adorable, pretty as can be Flip Video Camcorder!
It's ORANGE! And I'm smitten with it.
I had casually mentioned to Jason that we needed a little video camera that would take better video than our camera. Our camera is nice for pictures, but its video quality is less than stellar.
So, the tricky guy ordered it at Amazon and gave it to me (WRAPPED! IN CHRISTMAS PAPER!) last Saturday. I've been playing with it all week long. I'm just tickled with it. It has a USB plug right in the camera, so all I have to do is plug it in, and download the video. I can add music, some silly little graphics, and there's even a button to upload the video to YouTube. It's all a person could ask for (well, except that a person would eventually want to get the nicer software in order to insert pictures and really control the length of the video, but otherwise, it's quite clever).
I won't be opening any presents on Christmas day, but that's okay because I'll be video-ing everyone else opening Christmas presents.
And just for fun, here's a little video I put together of the girls.
I never get tired of Coldplay. I also never get tired of seeing Sydney dance. And right now, I'm definitely not tired of my little Flip Camera. I just want to pinch its cheeks.
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Saturdays are nice, aren't they? I like them because we get to be all together as a family. I'm reunited with the girls after being away from them on Fridays; Jason is reunited with the girls after three days of being away from them. Yay for reunions!
I suppose I'd have to say that Saturdays are my favorite day. As long as I don't get in the rut of saving every chore imaginable for Saturdays, they tend to turn out as a solid family day. Added bonus: we have no obligations for Saturdays. No meetings, no soccer games, no place we have to be by a certain time. Always good.
If I had to pick a favorite weekday, I'd pick Mondays. Even though Jason heads back to school on Mondays, it's a day when the girls and I have no pre-planned activities. A whole day without thinking, "I have to be here at a certain time" is a treat. I don't know about you, but sometimes the chore of getting in the car is more difficult than it ought to be.
I put it to you, gentle readers. Of all seven days of the week, which is your favorite?
(poll)
Happy Saturday!
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A bit of bloggitty navel gazing this lovely Saturday afternoon. Not that I'm easily bossed around, but I'm just randomly interested in your responses. And now I need to get back to watching A Bug's Life.
(poll)
Happy Saturday!
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With current events in the state they're in, it can be hard to find things to laugh about. I get kind of hot under the collar when I'm thinking about politics, and when I read things like AIG needing MORE money (REALLY?! More! Ridiculous!), so my response is to not think too much about it.
And so...making me smile...
(link courtesy of one of my students, who was showing it as an example of "effective visual aids")
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Stressed out? Dead slugs under your couch? Another political phone call?
What snack do you indulge in to bring some sweet relief?
Without fail, I reach for a Snickers bar. Something about the peanuts and the chocolate and the notion that it gives me energy.
I've been eating a lot of Snickers bars lately.
PS: As Jen pointed out, there really ought to be an "all of the above" choice. Sorry. You only get one choice...just like on November 4th. Heh.
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It's 2 hours before October begins, which means it's a month before November. Which means next month people start going crazy with NaBloPoMo. I admit I've succumbed to the craziness for the last couple years. But not this year. No sirree. I'm not posting every day in November because last year I realized that it's. not. fun. I swore to stay far, far away from NaBloPoMo. Maybe I wouldn't even post at all in November. Oh yeah. That'd show 'em.
Whoever 'em may be.
But then, those clever minds behind NaBloPoMo started doing monthly themes. People were posting every day, all year long. My mind spins just thinking about that.
I got October's theme in my inbox the other day, and oh, I just couldn't pass it up. The theme? Vote.
Vote.
I don't know how they came up with that theme...seems so random. Hee hoo haw. My deadpan is hysterical.
There's no way I'm actually writing about politics all month long, but creating polls and finding out a little about all of you? Now, that sounds fun. I can do that every day, and hopefully we'll all have fun and learn a little bit about each other in the process. It's the kind of voting that I like doing because there are no long term consequences. It's cotton candy voting. In fact, maybe I'll even do a poll about cotton candy. Who knows. I'm open to suggestions.
Of course, I figured we better kick off this month with a political poll that's the inspiration behind all these daily posts. Maybe I'll write more about where I stand politically, but eh...I don't know. I'm pretty insecure about discussing politics. I get the feeling that some people unsubscribe blogs from their reading list based on political preferences. That sort of pressure is terrible on my complexion.
Nevertheless, I'm still really interested in how you all are voting on that fateful day in November. Come on. You know you want to tell me. Updated correction: Yes, I realize now that I spelled Sarah Palin's name incorrectly. Please consider it a late-night gaffe, rather than a political statement. Meh.
PS: I don't think the polls show up in your feed readers, so you have to click on over to make your voice be heard. Or your mouse-click be seen. Whatever.
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Alternate title: The day I unpacked the camera cable.
Alternate alternate title: Jules gets her move-on during Anna's wedding.
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In case you're new here or don't pay much attention to me, or both, or neither, I thought I should mention that I teach Fundamentals of Public Speaking, also known as CO102, also known as "That Required Class that Makes My Students Want to Throw Up with Anxiety."
I've never really understood the whole "afraid of public speaking" deal, mostly because I'm an attention hog. It's true. Please ask me to give a presentation to you. I *heart* public speaking.
But my students don't. Well, some of them do, because some of them--like me--also enjoy the beautiful warmth of the spotlight. Mostly, however, my students come in with fear and trepidation. I am sympathetic to such anxieties and as such try to make my class really enjoyable. We have fun. I laugh a lot, and this semester I have been blessed with two classes who also laugh (because the Lord heard my cries from last semester when I got students who were so polite, too polite to ever laugh at me, I guess).
In an effort to infuse something interesting and "hip," this semester I'm trying out a new way to end my classes. I wrap up my lecture at least five minutes before class ends and then turn it over to a student who is responsible for showing us a video from YouTube they find humorous/thoughtful/lovely. The only requirement (other than the video being appropriate for class) is that the student must briefly explain how the video might be used in a presentation.
So far, I've been wowed by what my students are coming up with. It's funny how much I learn about their personalities just by seeing what video they choose to show. Yesterday's video, though, is one I'm going to be adding to my lectures. When it comes to talking about Public Speaking, it's a keeper.
So funny. Maybe even funnier for speech teachers. Probably even funnier for me because his delivery is kind of like how I teach. Except he's funnier. Of course.
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I haven't ever participated in Works For Me Wednesday before, but I there's a first time for everything. Plus, I had my newest obsession on the brain--photo postcards--and this was the perfect way to share the love.
Now, of course, I've been smitten with photo cards ever since I sent postcards and photostamps of Jules shortly after she was born. But using a professional company to create photo postcards is not inexpensive. And while I do love photostamps (oh my goodness, how I love them), they also are not cheap. So when it came time to send out invitations to Sydney's birthday party (back in May), I was trying to figure out a way that would be both creative and cost-efficient. Sometimes those two things go together. Sometimes they don't.
After wandering around the Internet for awhile collecting ideas, I decided that maybe I was just creative enough to make my own birthday invitations. Not with stamps. Not with pretty paper. Not with anything that would require a lot of hands-on work or money, because goodness knows, I don't have time for hands-on work (unless it's something household related) or funds for expensive treats (unless it's for...no wait, I actually don't have funds for expensive treats). A few clicks later, a little of this, a little of that, and I finally came up with this:
(Obviously, the final version has all the important details, I just figured you wouldn't be interested in that part.)
Since I got such a big kick out of the invitations, I duplicated the whole process all over again for the follow-up Thank You cards.
I have to say, I don't think I'll ever go back to using regular invitations and first-class stamps (be they Forever Stamps, or otherwise) because this way is just so much fun.
Invitations and Thank You cards mailed to all her family? $16.52
Having a postcard worth putting on the fridge for a few days? Priceless.
(c) Creature Bug 2008. All rights reserved.
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I had to steal this photo from Little Yellow House. Oh. My. Word.
I can't stop laughing.
(If you're not familiar with this particular variety of our local creature, then perhaps a quick biology lesson is in order.)
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Kimberly sent me this link--featured below--that demonstrates why again "yogurty goodness" is becoming the ultimate superlative to all of life's great experiences. (If you didn't catch the previous yogurt video that I posted earlier, will you please go watch it? Please? Even if it doesn't make you laugh, it will make me laugh knowing that you watched it.)
Who knew yogurt could bring us all together in fits and giggles?
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It is a gloomy, drizzly day, here in Oregon--the perfect opportunity to share a funny video I saw a couple weeks ago over at Lifenut. I don't regularly click on videos people post, but I got a good chuckle out of this one. In fact, I've shown it to everyone in my family. More than once. I laugh every single time I see it.
Since the video clip was messing up the formatting code at Lifenut, Gretchen had to take it down. I'm doing my part by putting it up here so that it can live on in hilarity.
I admit that there are no less than a dozen cups of yogurt in the fridge right now...but oddly enough it doesn't seem to make my life that much more exciting. (If the video isn't appearing above then try here: Click.)
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There is something very peculiar about wanting to write about one thing (Pasadena! sunburns! good food!), but then being scheduled to write about something else entirely. Or maybe that's not peculiar. Maybe that's just the way it works out. Anyway, I hope you'll forgive the juxtaposition of my being in Pasadena with a review (OH! I saw the musical Wicked! It's amazing, and, and...I'll have to tell you all about it later...).
Here we go.
PS: I'm writing this review while I'm listening to the soundtrack from Wicked. So, if my sentences start meandering about no one mourning for the wicked, you know why.
***
Once upon a time, there was a little princess who had the most beautiful hair. Everywhere she went, the townspeople commented on her blond, curly hair. "What beautiful hair you have, little girl," they would say. The princess, while sometimes a shy one, learned to say "Thank You" because that was the kind of good behavior that was expected of princesses. Surliness is definitely not princess behavior.
The princess's mother was fortunate to have been gifted with a certain kind of knowledge that it takes to manage such curly hair. No shampoo, only conditioner. No brushes, only wide-toothed combs. No hair dryers, only air drying. Scrunch with fingers; hair products on special occasions. Once dry, hands should be kept out of the hair or the wicked frizzies would terrify the sweet princess.
As it happens so often with hair, the princess could not always control it. Try as she might, hairbands would fall out. Headbands hurt her head. Hair clips would slide away until they too fell out. Rubberbands were wonderful, but only if she was in the mood for "piggies" or "ponies." What to do to keep the hair out of her eyes?
The little princess and her mother fretted about, trying to find ways to keep the curly hair in place. Then one day, there was a knock at the door. "Who could it be?" wondered the princess's mother.
"Maybe," said the princess, "it's ice cream!"
In fact, it wasn't ice cream.
It was, however, a gift from another maiden of the village. Maiden America had sent the little princess beautiful barrettes that wouldn't slip, and wouldn't slide. They would stay put, no matter how fine her hair was, and how fuzzy curly it might be.
The princess was overjoyed to see such beautiful barrettes. Green ones! Pink ones! White ones with swarovski crystals! Each barrette made perfectly so that it would stay in the princess's hair. The princess insisted on two non-matching barrettes in her hair, which was evidently the fashion among the toddler set. She could put them in herself, although she did have to have some help from her mother to get them out.
The mother was relieved to find a solution to the hair-in-eyes dilemma, and spread the good news in the village that there was a perfect barrette for every little princess, whether she had straight or curly hair, long or short. (Although the hair couldn't be too short, as happened to be the case with the princess's tiny sister who still didn't have enough hair for barrettes to adorn her head.)
The delivery was swift, the production of barrettes American-made. The cost was small enough to be affordable, though big enough to make the princess and her mother sad when the apple-green barrette was lost. As the sun set in the distance, the princess rejoiced that Maiden America had created such lovely gifts and shared them with the people.
And as every good story should end...
...they all lived happily ever after.
This review brought to you by Parent Bloggers Network.
*****
I'm flying back from Pasadena today, so pictures of my SoCal adventures will be forthcoming.
(c) Creature Bug 2008. All rights reserved.
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Okay. I can't keep it in any longer. I have to brag.
Right now? I'm listening to the new Flight of the Conchords album. (Not familiar with them? Here's a good YouTube sampling (don't watch with kids in the room): Business Time, Jenny, Hiphopopotamus vs Rhymenoceros (my favorite).)
I have to tell you, this band just makes me laugh. They are silly silly guys, who have quite a knack for ridiculously funny lyrics.
They also have great taste in illustrators. I know this because MY BROTHER designed the artwork for their new album.
MY BROTHER! Tyler Stout!
Is that just the coolest or what? That's why even though the album--already ranked #4 in music at Amazon--doesn't come out until Thursday, I have been able to listen to it since last Thursday because Tyler got advance copies of the CD and sent each of his siblings a copy.
You should check out Tyler's website for other artwork that's featured in the album, and then head over to Amazon and buy the CD because it comes with a poster filled with Ty's artwork. Oh, and also because Flight of the Conchords is darn funny.
And now that Tyler is rich and famous--or at least not poor and not in the witness protection program--I can proudly say I've known him since he was born and once upon a time I put a trashcan on his head.
He is one talented guy, and I'm darn proud of him.
*****
(c) Creature Bug 2008. All rights reserved.
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It's Wednesday! And that means I need to pick two winners for the Diaper Goop contest. I had a very adorable helper pick two names out of her crayon bucket (and the other adorable helper promptly ate the paper with the names, so it was good I took pictures), and this is what she came up with:
and
Congratulations to Becca and Jen!
I admit, I wish I had eight jars of Diaper Goop to give away instead of just two. I was really rooting for all of you!
Happy Wednesday from me and the girls. xx
*****
(c) Creature Bug 2008. All rights reserved.
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I have to say I'm a little surprised that nobody commented on the song allusion in the last post. I've been humming it all day, how about you? No country fans out there? Pity.
Well, I did want to send out a hearty congratulations to the winner of my little blogball NCAA tourny. There were some twists and turns, some high drama and tears, but Kansas--oh Kansas, and your overtime miracle despite your poor free throw shooting!--squeaked by.
Who was the lone wolf of our pack to guess Kansas as the winner?
Bravo, Kim. Bravo. I'll email you your Amazon gift certificate this week.
Thanks to all of you who played along and made March just a little bit more interesting. See you next year! Same group name. Same password. (I think that password was good luck this year, don't you?)
*****
(c) Creature Bug 2008. All rights reserved.
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It's been 200 weeks since my sweet faced, curly-haired, Singing In the Rain singing, ballet dancing, book memorizing, chatterbox of a daughter made me a mom. Technically, 200 weeks and two days, since she was born on a Saturday after all.
From this moment:
To this:
Curly haired, chocolate face, flower in her ear girl. You're not quite grown-up. Yet. But you are certainly getting there.
And to celebrate 200 weeks, I decided to spend some good ole' bonding time with size 1 diapers. Oh little size ones...how tiny you are and how sweet you smell and how much I miss you. No, scratch that last part. I don't miss you. Nevertheless, you are quite useful, especially for baby shower gifts.
Last week, when I was at the first annual MOPS auction (whereby I got to finally put my public speaking skills to use and act as the MC) I saw many a lovely items, some of which I even bid on, although I didn't win anything. One thing I didn't bid on but examined quite closely was a diaper cake. Now if you are anything like my students, you know nothing about diaper cakes. You have not heard of diaper cakes. You will even look at me with a skeptical, slightly grossed out expression on your face when I mention the words, "Diaper Cake." At least, that's how my students responded.
However, I have heard something about diaper cakes and after seeing the one up for auction, I thought, "I can make that."
I should say that this thought crosses my mind more than once when I am out window shopping. I see something really cute, think, "I can make that," then go home and promptly decide...not to make it. Or even worse, I'll get all the stuff to make it and then don't. Which explains why I have a couple bins full of craft materials that rarely get used.
Sometimes I even have "I can make that" moments when I'm out grocery shopping. I see a cake; I'm hungry for a cake; I go home, unload groceries, am too tired to make a cake, so I pull out a stack of graham crackers and slather them with frosting instead. Because really, it's all about the sugar anyway.
This time, this encounter with a diaper cake, was going to be different. I was determined. I was focused. I had a baby shower I was going to the very next week. I bought the diapers, Googled "how to make a diaper cake" and decided that because no sewing machine, skill saw, modge podge glue, or knitting was required, quite possibly I could do this.
Well, what do you know? I did it.
I had it all wrapped up and ready to go before realizing that I needed to take a picture of it or no one would believe me. My diaper cake consisted of 56 size one diapers, and then a dozen size 3 diapers to fill out part of the bottom layer (well, I guess technically they're all bottom layers (heh), but you know, the very bottom tier of the cake).
I wrapped up each tier with some ribbon, stuck in a couple toys, my favorite Baby CD, my favorite hand sanitizer (because I suspected the new parents-to-be wouldn't have heard about Purell warnings, being out of the parenting email loop and all), a hat, and a product that I'm reviewing (and giving away two jars of) next week.
If I had thought of it sooner, I would have used Seventh Generation diapers, and used organic cotton ribbons, and then nearly the whole thing would have been environmentally friendly. However, since I haven't yet tried out Seventh Generation diapers, then I stuck with Pampers Swaddlers. They may fill up the landfills, but at least I know they generally do a good enough job doing what they're supposed to do.
Any day now, little George will be making his entrance into the world. When that happens, Gavin and Preeti's life will be forever changed, just like mine was 200 weeks ago.
Carl Sandburg would agree: The world is going on.
*smile*
*****
(c) Creature Bug 2008. All rights reserved.
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I'm hosting a March Madness Bracket Tournament again this year, and if you participated last year you should be getting an email today. (And if you are a bit foggy on the whole thing, last year's post explains the hoopla surrounding the hoop fest.)
If you want to participate, email me or comment on this post and I'll send you an invitation. You can participate up until the brackets close sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning. This year's prize is a $20 Amazon gift card (yes, I know, $5 less than last year...blame it on the decreasing value of the dollar or inflation or something).
Good luck!
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Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!
What's that? St. Patrick's Day is Monday?
Ah, there you are mistaken. It's today!
It's a topsy turvy world when you can't even trust your own calendar to get the holidays correct, isn't it? But since I'm giving away the storytelling CD Tell Me A Story 2: Animal Magic then I think a little extra luck will go a long ways.
I waited and waited for Random.Org to get back online, but they evidently were having some difficulties, so I had to use another site which isn't quite as cool but at least prevents me from doing any real work. The lucky number is...
3!
So congratulations to Heather! Hopefully, the package will be waiting for you at home when you get back from Bangladesh.
I also forgot to mention last Wednesday that the winner of the Body, Soul, and Baby book is Rachel. Yay! (I'll bring it Tuesday to the library, just in case you're able to make it.)
Have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day weekend everyone.
May those who love us love us.
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping. --Irish proverb
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After crossing my fingers and my toes (but not my eyes because we don't joke about crossed eyes around here), I entered in all the pertinent info at Random.org to see who the lucky Amazonian winner is. And the winner is...
Number 12.
By my counting, that means that Kari is the lucky winner. Congratulations! I'm sure her daughter Claire will have something to say about what book to pick. Oh, and Kari, if you're feeling especially lucky today, maybe you ought to go out and buy a Powerball ticket. I bought one last night since $200 million would make building the house a little easier. Sydney kissed the ticket and said, "This is for the house." That's as much luck as we have to bestow on anything.
Thanks everyone for playing along! Stay tuned for even more prizes. You know all that stuff I get from doing reviews? Well, some of it is going to you! Yes, you! Yippee!
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I know, I know. I said I was going to post a review. And here it is 10:18 and I'm not writing it. I'm just not. Because my head is thinking about the things our builder/contractor said tonight when we met with him regarding the house plans.
Hey, did you know? We're building a house. Oh yeah. That's right. I already mentioned that. But I did say I was going to give something away, so let me think of something that relates to the topic of my building a house...
Okay. I got it. Since I received an Amazon gift card for the review I posted yesterday, I think I'll just give that away. So, leave a comment and a $10 gift card is yours. OR! If you want something even more exciting than that, I'll buy you the book Small Bungalows (worth almost $15 over at Amazon), where you can see the kitchen we are building right there on pages 30 and 31. That's the kitchen. Without the painted cabinets. And a bigger island. And no marble countertops. Otherwise, they could be twins.
Gift card or book. Take your pick. Leave a comment. I'll run the comments through a randomizer and choose a winner Saturday at 10 am PST. Won't that be a lovely way to kick off your weekend?
Oh, and if you don't know how to leave comments, I have to tell you it's just as easy as can be. You don't have to sign up for a Typepad account or anything. Just click on "comment," type in your name and email address (and your blog address too if you have one), and you're good to go. Sweet Amazon dreams.
*****
(c) Creature Bug 2008. All rights reserved.
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When your aunt and uncle (that would be Jason's brother and SIL) live in Rhode Island, there's really no option on who to cheer for during the Superbowl.
Come over to our house and you'll see me scampering into the livingroom during the commercials, you'll hear Sydney cheering, "GO PATRIOTS!" as she consumes a whole bag of Cheetos (which she has been looking forward to all weekend), and if you aren't cheering for the Pats, there's no telling what you'll feel.
I'll warn you though: someone has very sharp teeth and isn't afraid to use them.
Here's to a perfect season!
*****
(c) 2008 Creature Bug. All rights reserved.
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Even though my students from Alaska and Wyoming make fun of me when I complain about the cold, the low temperature tomorrow is 15 degrees. FIFTEEN. I don't care where you live, that's cold. I hear it's supposed to get up to 33 degrees tomorrow, which barely squeaks in under my range of acceptable temperatures. I am opposed to all temperatures lower than my age, and every year that I get older I lose a degree of tolerance for cold weather (this will explain a lot when I'm 60 and end up moving to Florida). Romantic wintertime vacations to Maine aside, I can't bring myself to get outside much when it's so cold.
However, it still remains necessary to leave the house every once in awhile. And when it's this cold outside the only thing to do is bring out the bear skin coats, trimmed with fox fur.
What's that? You don't have bear skin coats, trimmed with fox fur? That's too bad. They're so warm. Actually, we only have one bear skin coat, and it almost fits our largest little bear cub. (Post Script: My dad tells me he doesn't think the brown fur is bear skin, but rather something else less exotic, like sheep skin. Little Bear was momentarily disappointed before saying, "Maybe I could be a lion, maybe?")
Jason's grandma got this coat in Alaska almost thirty years ago, before it was politically incorrect to dress children in real animal furs. (And also, as Jason said today on the way to church, there's something about wearing real fur that is "very sad.") Grandma actually got two coats, which Jason's cousins wore before passing them down to Jason and his brother. We now are the proud owners of one of the coats, and Jason's cousin owns the other one.
Little Bear finds the coat very entertaining, and she also feels quite daring in it. I feel a little bit alarmed, in a highly comical sense, like I'm walking beside a tiny bear cub.
Watch out. She's fierce.
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Remember when I raved about That Baby DVD/CD? Well, tonight I'll get to be part of the weekly PBN radio show--hosted by Kristen--that discusses children's music and also interviews Rob Wolf, one of the artistic minds behind That Baby DVD. I'm so excited, but also a little nervous. The show starts at 6 pm, and I'll be calling in around 6:20 to ask relevant and intelligent questions. I hope. Or I'll just stutter and giggle uncontrollably and forget my name. It's anybody's guess.
Dear Lord, Please don't let me embarrass myself in front of the whole wide blogradio world. Amen.
UPDATE: My blogradio debut did not end in catastrophe. Hallelujah and thank you Lord. I think the show will be archived at this link if you want to listen to it. Rob talks about the process they went through to create the CD and DVD, as well as their goal of making a music project that appeals to the whole family. My final plug for the CD: it would make a great Christmas/New Years/Baby Shower gift. The end.
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Not too many things are worth me missing Tuesday night Family Bedtime Storytime. Not too many things are worth me missing Storytime AND watching House. It has to take an extra-special event to get me to miss my favorite events of the week. An event that better include food.
Leave it up to Stefanie and Becca to cause me throw favorites to the wind and say, "Yes! I'm in!" The event? A circle of bloggers getting together for coffee and cookies and even a trivia game to test our knowledge of each other's homework assignments.
The extra fabulous and amazing some-I-knew-before-and-some-I-met-for-the-first-time bloggers met up at Becca's house and just hung out. We talked. We chatted. We drank coffee. My contribution of the evening was to sing the praises of Google Reader (what! you haven't signed up yet? crazy kids!) and Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements (oh sweet Photoshop, how I love thee). And just as I was about to leave I met Rachel and we discovered how much we both loved The Thirteenth Tale (what! you haven't read it! read it now!), and then an hour and umpteen books later we were kindred spirits.
Did I have fun?
I should say so. I even wore my special jingle bell socks to the event. Oh yeah. I can still bring it. Add in some great chats--Angie (to the right) and I talked about community; Leslie (to the left) and I talked about blogging; Ona (to the far right) gave me the phone number of great hair stylist; plus half a dozen more conversation--and it was an all around fun evening. No kids! Coffee and cookies! No kids!
And lots of giggles.
Especially after I got my camera back from Abby and discovered some extra-lovely pictures she had taken. You can take the mom out of the crazy, but you can't take the crazy out of the mom. Or you know, something like that.
It was way fun. And all thanks to this little community that brings us together and helps us share things that we ordinarily wouldn't or couldn't in person. Yes, definitely something we'll have to do again.
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Well, over half way there for posting every day, but today I just don't have much in the way of writing.
Thanks for checking in here, though.
While I have your attention, don't forget to go to this post and Comment for a Cause. All you have to do is leave a comment, and I'll do the rest. Thanks to everyone who has participated so far!
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Last week our neighbor brought over a sweatshirt for Sydney. It's red. It's three sizes too big. It has a snowman, and it says 'Tis the Season to be Jolly.
I showed it to Sydney, who immediately deemed it her most favorite sweatshirt ever, and has worn it nearly every day. And thanks to my parents who got Sydney the new WowieBOZowee Christmas movie (which we must watch every day), we are already singing Christmas songs around here.
Christmas sweatshirt.
Christmas songs.
Book about the Christmas story (us reading "and there's something even more special about Christmas..." is Syd's cue to yell, "Jesus' BIRTHDAY!")
Trips to Costco just to pet the so-soft Christmas penguin that we are not getting for decoration (sorry Sydney), but will enjoy in the aisles of the warehouse.
If the weather is good this weekend there will be Christmas lights (but not turned on! Not until after Thanksgiving! Strict instructions to my husband!).
And I'm betting that there will probably be a Christmas tree in our livingroom the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Come on, now. Who else has Bing Crosby in the CD player? Anyone? Please?
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You know you're a mother of small children when going to a junior high choir concert constitutes as a fun night and a "good time." But in all honesty, it was a much deserved night out and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Inkling invited me to go with her to her school's (and Jason's since they teach at the same school) choir concert, and I gladly left Jason to do library night with the girls whilst I put on a non-nursing friendly dress and wore dangly non-kid friendly earrings. Oh the joys!
The choir did a great job--not cringe worthy at all (which can sometimes be the case with school music concerts). Inkling and I managed to squeeze in some fabulous conversation between songs, during intermission, and then after the concert, over dessert at the Konditerai.
It was like a little three-hour vacation, on a Tuesday night. I'll take it.
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Part One:
(video length: 1:41) (beware: it's loud)
Ever since Sydney was old enough to make sounds, she was old enough to antagonize Daisy. No one had to teach her that she had some strange power over the dog; she just felt it instinctively, in her little tiny baby bones. For the past few years, I have had to endure the insanity that ensues from the Howl. Sydney especially loves to get Daisy going when I am on the phone. Naturally.
It was, of course, par for the course that Jules learned that she too could influence our beloved pet. She starts howling, Daisy starts howling, and then Sydney starts howling. When one of the girls pauses a moment to catch her breath, the other one picks up stronger and louder to fill in the gap. It's like a little choir. Orchestrated by Edvard Munch.
Today's Howl-fest was no different than other days, except that I was able to distract Sydney from her task by getting her to sing Stage Two of her US state song (Stage One here). Even though there are days when the last thing I want to hear is two kids and dog making more noise than an angst-filled teen band, today I wasn't trying to hurry them to go somewhere, wasn't trying to talk to somebody on the phone, wasn't paying bills at the computer. In short, I wasn't trying to get anything accomplished. Which means that I can handle quite a bit more than the usual fare.
As part of the Halloween festivities, I'm doing a 3-part blog post. Today you get The Howl. Tomorrow, you'll get an even more terrifying sound. Stay tuned.
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...when you try a new cookie recipe
that's supposed to be more healthy
than other chocolate chip cookie recipes,
and after working hard
at dumping in the brown sugar,
the chocolate chips,
the chickpeas
(that's the healthy part)
and assorted other ingredients,
after standing in front of the oven,
watching the seconds tick down
from the microwave timer
until she could finally exclaim,
"They're done!"
(with such joy that you wonder
why you don't bake cookies with her more often),
she takes a bite,
says,
"Ack! Ew! Get it out of my mouth! I Don't Like It!"
spits out the bite of cookie into your hand,
and runs out of the kitchen as if you had forced her to eat kidney pie.
And you realize,
at that moment,
cookies ought not to be healthy for you.
Lesson learned.
Momma will do better next time.
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