"Earth's Crammed With Heaven"

Weekend.

2012-01-16T18:47:00.000-08:00

They are always such a blur. Today feels like it's been nothing but laundry and cleaning. My feet hurt from standing. But there were other things. It wasn't all a drag.

I went to lunch with a dear friend and got to love on and inhale the sweet scent her baby girl.

I checked facebook 3450986 times.

Cried over clips of the Les Mis 25th anniversary special and ordered the DVD.

Served a fancy tea for Emma and her friend.

Let Bo have a couple of friends over to work on his movie.

I exercised.

I did my morning pages.

I'm going to show the kids a couple of the appropriate shorts from Paris J'Taime.

Then I'm going to settle in for some lamp-lit creative time at my desk.

I will.

And I will go to bed, sleep soundly, and wake up ready for another day.

Word 2012

2012-01-06T17:36:00.000-08:00

Three years ago I chose the word "abundance."

Two years ago, I chose the word "wait."

One year ago, the word "wait" was still quite applicable,

because I apparently had not gotten full use of it the year before.

I am tired of that word.

This year, I have chosen a word with action.

A word that I can use as a command to my brain

or a request to my soul.

A word to remind me

to use what I have been given

to discover what I have been given.

LISTEN

You can read more about OLW here.

Story Telling.

2012-01-04T16:28:00.000-08:00

This is a great story in the works, and I am looking forward to seeing the whole thing when it's finished.
Subscribe to Bo's youtube channel to be ready when it comes!

Wed-nes-day

2011-09-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

Evening #3 of the Three Day Diet, and here's how I'm feeling:

Hungry.

I'm super excited about this girls weekend coming up with my mom and my sisters!

I have a lot left to do tonight, and I'm so sore from ballet and tired from work that I'd much rather sit on the couch and watch The Cosby Show with Emma.

So blogging is the compromise.

Semi-productive from a seated position.

Bucket.

2011-09-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

I miss scrapbooking. Not honestly for the craft itself, but for the outlet it gave me. I *may* have gone slightly overboard in zeal at one point in my life, but looking back, no one was harmed in the process. In fact, my kids do not like it that I don't do it anymore and complain loudly about the fact. I must needs come up with a new way to be creative. When I come up with a cunning plan, I'll let you know. Everything seems to require too much time/money.
But if I'm not currently creative, my kids certainly are. They are also growing at an alarming rate and require more space. I'm not about to stifle them, so they can have all the room they need. In the studio area. Not in the living room. Ok. They can have the living room, but they have to clean it up when they are done. I love what they are doing right now, and their enthusiasm and energy is wonderful.
I feel like I am coming down with a nice flu right now and this is the first moment I've risen from the couch since I got home 4 hours ago. Perhaps that affects the mood and tone of this post, but I'm determined regain ground that has been lost from lack of practice.
I will say it here to reinforce the idea in my brain: Self-neglect is not the "high road" nor it is a good example to set. Self-indulgence is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about doing things that are healthy, right and natural for your spirit and your body. I can't really think of what those things might be right now. Possibly exercising and eating healthfully, but also allowing creativity to have a place in my life---beyond the creativity I'm using in dealing with people at work. I do enjoy that, but it's not a bucket-filler.
I had an instructor in nursing school who encouraged us to make sure our buckets were filled. She said that the nursing profession, though fulfilling, can empty your bucket pretty fast and that we needed to find ways to fill it back up so that we did not burn out.
So what fills the bucket? The ballet class I'm taking once a week. Bubble baths. Crawling into bed at night. Puppies who curl up with me when I don't feel good. Pinterest. (oh suck of my time, but it hurts so good.) Fall scents and getting emails from folks who tell me that I'm helping make their work in the clinic more successful.
I must practice. Practice saying "yes" to the right things and "no" to the wrong things. Even if on some days what seems to be the wrong thing is just the difficult thing.

Labor Day: Trip to Glen Rose, TX

2011-09-17T20:59:00.001-07:00

What's Happened

2011-09-17T16:03:00.000-07:00

"Is too much.

Let me sum up."

-Inigo Montoya

New Job: still working in the school district, but as a resource nurse, moving around to different schools, kind of as a support person. Liking it.

New Job: Bill is managing the studio full time. Loving it.

New School: Bo started Jr. High. Advanced Orchestra, dance classes, Robotics club, lots of homework, new friends. Loving it.

Old School: Emma is now at school without her brother for the first time. Fourth grade. It's been an adjustment for her. Busy with dance dance dance. Liking it. Mostly.

The days just fly by.

Hello

2011-05-18T18:13:00.001-07:00

I'll believe that.

On Ballet.

2011-02-01T20:48:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, I was browsing Amazon to find a book for Em, who generally doesn't LOVE to read unless the word to page ratio is a certain number or less. This would break my heart more, except that she adores the Betsy Tacy books. I can live with that. Anne will come when she's older.

So. I found this book, and got it, thinking: "Emma will love it because it's so full of pictures and it's about dance, and Bill won't care because it's a comic, for crying out loud." I was right on both counts, but it turned out to be so much more. It is a beautifully written and illustrated book which gives a clear glimpse of a young girl attending the American Ballet Theater during the end of Balanchine's life. When it came in the mail, I opened it to check to make sure it was appropriate, and read the whole darn thing while sitting on the floor of my closet, hiding from the kids.

Emma loved it as well, and read it through three times before we finished our Christmas trip to Baton Rouge. It not only entertained her, but it lit some sort of fire in her regarding ballet.

I know this feeling. My ballet-o-mania was rather short lived, but it was real. We had seasons tickets to the Fort Worth Ballet. I rented Barishnikov and Gelsey Kirkland's Nutcracker and The Children of Theater Street from the library about four times. We saw the Moscow Ballet at SMU. The only result of all this is that a) I'm quite star-struck with Emma's ballet teacher, who is a principal with Metropolitan here in town and b) I daily question whether I'm pushing Emma too much, or living vicariously through her.

When this thought plagues me, I remember these things: I never have to drag her to dance. She loves it. She wants to go. She works hard. When she started the team last year, she couldn't do the splits. She worked every night. She stretched and pushed herself for about three months. When she finally did them, she jumped into my arms and tearfully said "I did it! I just said to myself: 'If I want to look professional, I have to act professional.' and I practiced and I did it!" She takes correction (even from those of us who know less about dance, but say what does or doesn't look quite right) without getting pouty. This is a huge lesson, and one that every child would do well to learn. She thinks about it long term. She thinks about what will be best for her own training and future. She isn't the best. She knows she's not going to be on a tv reality series any time soon or ever, if I have anything to say about it. I'm sure she daydreams about being a super-star, but she doesn't talk about it.

So am I a pushy parent because I correct her when she acts up in class or because I help her practice at home? Maybe. But I do the same for Bo in violin, and for both of them in schoolwork and chores around the house. It's what parents do. Yes, I showed her the website of Evgenia Obratsova, but she stayed there and watched all the videos on her own. (PS. She is amazing and so darling!)

If it's just a temporary thing, I'm happy. We have that in common. But if it's more than that for her, than I am happy to keep encouraging her. In the meantime, I think we are both enjoying it.

Anyway, ballet is just so pretty!

Suzanne Farrell. So pretty.

Love the huge painting and the high gloss wall color!

Degas, natch.

Em's ballet teacher, Marina and her husband Andrey. See why I might be star-struck?

and of course, Margot Fonteyn.

So lovely and graceful.

36

2011-01-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

I wish everyday was my birthday.

or rather

I wish everyday was this birthday.

or rather

I wish I could hold on to this feeling of overwhelming gratefulness

For each and every person

Who crossed my mind and heart today.

Never before in my (now even longer) memory

Has spring come in the dead of winter.

Fall, yes. October, yes.

Grey January?

Nope.

But now, today,

a newness, a hope,

a sense of Him in each step of my past

and a glimmer of light in the future.

And so this grey sky has transformed

from dreariness to

a Lightening of the darkness.

For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 4:6

Tradition.

2010-12-10T18:57:00.001-08:00

Not because it's possible that I will get any of these things, but because I do it every year. OK. Maybe it's possible I'll get one of these things.

Merry Retailing.

Today I:

2010-11-30T19:50:00.000-08:00

source

Did something I've never done that was important.

and

Cracked a 2nd grader up.

Win, win.

Outtakes.

2010-11-28T18:07:00.000-08:00

Christmas card pictures needed to be taken.

I knew I wanted black and white, so I told them

Put on your puffer coats.

I did not notice that Em was wearing shorts.

Dogs tend to get off task during the picture taking process,

and they often take the children with them.

The End of November

2010-11-26T21:11:00.000-08:00

Emma had her 9th birthday party and her first "not at home" birthday party. This was a big deal. We had the party at Alley Cats, and they got to bowl, eat pizza and cake and each kid got a game card. It was fun for the girls, I think, and totally easy for me, and not that much more money.

We were going for the "Taylor Swift-ish" look, and I don't even want to tell you how long I spent on this particular hairdo that ended up looking like an old perm. Ugh.

She liked it though.

Em has some really cute friends.

And we have some really cute dogs. Yes. I am aware that they are wearing matching bright shiny purple puffer coats. They were 2.50 at the dollar spot at Target. Maxie loves hers and practically leaps into it. Minnie HATES hers, and will barely move once you put it on her. She just looks totally disgusted. (see above photo where Maxie evidently is being a bit too enthusiastic in expressing her love for her coat and Minnie is feeling precisely the opposite.)

Duh-nah duh-nah duh-nah duh-na BAT DOG!

I had some idea to do a book this year to keep track of all the fun holiday things we do, but perhaps I will just blog a bit more. We shall see.

It was a lovely thanksgiving at Mom and Dad's. Dinner was perfect (except for my rolls, which were underdone. Note to self: take rolls out of fridge a significant amount of time before you bake them.) I had a gorgeous nap on the floor behind the couch and then Bo and I took Bill to see HP7. Loved it yet again. Bo got to ice skate because we got to the mall early and had an hour to kill and they had a 5.00 skate Thanksgiving special. Came home, crammed more turkey and dressing down my gullet and went to bed.

I worked home health for most of the day today, but then we went over to the Tuckers for spaghetti and Elf + White Christmas. On the way to Jen's I did manage to score some black friday bargains at Tarzhey. The 8 dollar crock pot and this lovely throw which I have been coveting and which was half price! Huzzah!

Tomorrow we commence to decorate for Christmas. Wish me luck!

The Goose is Getting Fat

2010-11-16T20:18:00.000-08:00

source

Yes, yes. I know it's early.

But the only real time I have to decorate is Thanksgiving weekend.

So there. nyah.

So I'm thinking that I love these candle holders,

and to be honest,

they were the only thing I loved in the new Crate and Barrel catalog.

The Mrs. Shop is another story.

Happy Mid-November!

PS. My daughter is nine. How is this possible?

Show Up.

2010-09-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Isn't it funny what clicks?

This morning the art teacher and I were moaning about Monday and she said that she read something written by a 92 year old woman that she wanted to pass out to the staff. She couldn't remember all of it, but said it was really simple and the first three things were

"Get up. Get Dressed. Show up."

And I was inspired to present in my job today. And it helped because there were some things that needed my involvement.

Show up.

Here's another good list:

42 Things To Always Remember:

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

2. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

3. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

4. When you say, “I love you”, mean it.

5. When you say, “I’m sorry”, look the person in the eye.

6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

7. Believe in love at first sight.

8. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much.

9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt, but it’s the only way to live life completely.

10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

11. Don’t judge people by their relatives.

12. Talk slowly, but think quickly.

13. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”

14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

15. Say “bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.

16. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

17. Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.

18. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

19. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

20. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

21. Spend some time alone.

22. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

23. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

24. Read more books and watch less TV.

25. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.

26. Trust in God, but lock your car.

27. Create a loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.

28. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

29. Read between the lines.

30. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

31. Be gentle with the earth.

32. Pray. There’s immeasurable power in it.

33. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

34. Mind your own business.

35. Don’t trust a man/woman who doesn’t close his/her eyes when you kiss.

36. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

37. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.

38. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.

39. Learn the rules then break some.

40. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.

41. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

42. Remember that your character is your destiny.

And the Years Fly By. A Retrospective.

2010-08-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

Legos, Deodorant, clearasil, abercrombie, cheerfulness, sperrys, facebook, cotillion, punk rock.

Legos, Rock, Wizard 101, soccer, guitar hero, pumas, laptop.

Legos, early onset angst, old friends, cell phone, attitudes, transition, pokemon.

Legos, Pokemon, playstation, Harry Potter, the beach, Maple Story, student council, stitches.

Legos, Harry Potter, game cube, Yu-Gi-oh.

Legos, Magic Tree House books.

Legos, Thomas the Tank engine, Magic Treehouse Books.

Duplos, Thomas the Tank Engine

Duplos, Thomas the Tank Engine, Temper Tantrums

Thomas the Tank Engine, Spirit the Horse.

Go Dog Go, Baths and Cuddles and Kisses.

puppy lovin'.

2010-08-02T19:39:00.001-07:00

I'd hate to be one to admit that true love is conditional, but in this case, our love is much truer now that the bladder leakage has stopped. This one is rascally. She is, to quote Neena, "Full of the Dickens." She actually currently has Emma in full-on tears because she won't stay on her bed and cuddle. Emma + Full-on tears = Never happens. Come ON, Maxie. Be a good dog!

Minnie, on the other hand, is low key, patient, eager to please, obedient and knows her rightful place as low man on the totem pole in this house. Who knew the low man on the totem pole got such love? Must be nice. According to this face, though, you'd think it was barely tolerable.

Photographs.

2010-07-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Minnie and Maxie are my companions today as the children are off investing in their respective talents. Bo is here, and Emma is here. This is what Bo said about strings camp: "Mama? What if I didn't like going to strings camp? Ha. Like I suppose there is anyway you could not like it. Imagine, Mama, if you got to play your violin ALL day and then eat lunch and Subway or Chick-fil-a!"

Bo and Emma before we left for the ballet. I really love this picture of Emma. Bo really likes wearing a suit. No, seriously. He does.

Do you like my wreath? It's a fun little DIY project forwarded to me from my friend Kimmy. The instructions are here. Super cool, and super easy!

I've been pretty crafty these days. It's nice for a change. I made this pillow for my bed:

Here's a close up of the wreath...This was made with old books that had been sprayed with glimmer mist, rather than paint.

I do have some other projects in the works...but I don't want certain persons who read this blog and are having a baby to see!!!

PS. Should I open an etsy store? Sell pillows? or something else? Sigh. I just don't know.

Shadowfeet

2010-07-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life feels, well, oxymoronic. (if I just made that word up, you are very welcome.)

Like there are two currents.

The madness, sometimes good, sometimes bad, of a busy life, keeping occupied with the daily: the children fussing, the dishes and the cooking, the waking and sleeping, and the getting through the grey spots that threaten my otherwise happy little life.

and

The steady pace of eternity, that goes on, like breathing even when I am not aware, or (keep your shirt on) don't care. It's hard to pursuit....to exercise....to be diligent....oh heavens. I don't even know how to put it any more. "Find the Lord" is so overused in my experience. I think I'm gonna have to resort back to the old-school "pray" because it just sounds the truest right now.

Anyway. It's hard to pray to God, Whose corporate nature is so very real, when I'm alone. I really think that is the gist of it. It's not an excuse. It's not even a very good reason. It's just habit. Habit of practice and a habit of thinking.

Alan Knox posted about finding a community, and it got me to thinking. Am I actually ready to make the sacrifices that are needed to pursuit the Lord in a group setting? Really? . It just takes SO long, and it really is hard. I know the payoff is worth it. I KNOW it is.

The answer is "no" for right now. Like I said earlier, I am still learning to pray. Still learning to remember "the kind intention of His will" during the tricky bits of each day. It's like I've forgotten Language, and I'm learning, little by little, to speak and to listen. I'm ok with this.

Maybe when my ears and my mouth work better, the Lord will bring along some folks with whom I can listen and sing. I look forward to that day, but for now, I will wait.

Sweet and Pretty

2010-05-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

from this sweet blog

From Oh Joy!

From Ikea Family Live. Yummaaay.

My ALL TIME FAVORITE author. Such a pretty cover!

Summer's Lofty Goals: Commence to start in 10 days.

2010-05-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

Waiting

2010-05-05T19:21:00.001-07:00

Tonight Bill said

"The new batman doesn't come out until 2012."

and I thought

"Huh. That'll be here like, tomorrow."

And I meant what I thought.

I am a busy bee these days.

I've historically been busy by choice,

but when May arrives, things tend to spiral out of control.

The good news is that all this extra stuff

is the signal for The End of Stuff.

Dance, Soccer, School, after School Events

Work, Work Events, Meetings

Awards, Parties, Practices

Blah Blah Blah.

All wrapping up in a little over a month

and my calendar goes blank.

Oh halleluiah

and I wonder how long it will take me to start filling it up.

For now, it is for me to embrace what each day holds.

Own it.

I've owned today. I made it mine.

I did all I had to do AND played tennis with my son

and vacuumed and got the kitchen and bathrooms clean.

My reward is a shower

clean sheets

and Glee.

Snapshots of our days

2010-04-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

What the Bunny Brought...

2010-04-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

Our sweet new addition!

Happy Easter!!!

How I did not have a coffee with Channing.

2010-03-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

This is Channing Cooke. It was not advertised that she would be at the convention this weekend, and so when the teacher said "and this is my demonstrator, Channing. Say Hi to Channing!" it took me about 10 seconds to go all Ed Grimley on her. I loved her so much on sytycd, and was like "completely mental" that she was in a class that my daughter was in. Like right there in the room!

And then, I passed her in the hotel lobby, and I had to restrain myself from chasing her down, introducing myself and inviting her over for dinner. "Like, what if we became best friends, best friends in the world, and I could just call her up and say 'Hey Channing, it's me.'"

I took a deep breath and continued moving passed her, a slight blur to my vision from the unshed tears of joy mingled with pain ( such deep emotions.)

AND THEN

As I was ordering coffee this morning, once again in the lobby, there she sat. Like a foot behind me. At a table. Alone. With a really cute purse. And first, I went up and introduced myself and said "I'm a huge fan" but I think I'm smart enough to know that that is not how great friendships begin. So I didn't say that.

I said, "Have you gotten to go to any cool places in Dallas yet?" and when she inquired where the cool places were to go, I was stumped and had to introduce her to a cooler-than-me person named Rachel who would know. So I didn't say that.

I said, "Hey, cute purse." Cause, I mean, what great friendship ISN'T started that way? OF COURSE she said "Hey! Thanks! Sit down and have a coffee with me! I'm so bored and lonely and you look like my new bff." Well, thanks, Channing! That I am!

Yeah, that never happened either. For no good reason other than it sounded like I was just TRYING to be cool and not a super fan.

I said nothing.

I think I actually hunched my shoulders, blushed and turned and went in the opposite direction rather quickly.

I keep telling you people I'm shy, but no one believes me!

But to the point.

I feel really close to her after all the girl bonding time we've had together in my imagination. That's the reason I really cherish this photo.

Emma and her Aunt Channing.

'Cause were really, like, sisters.

The Boston and the Bulldog.

2010-03-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

We've been dog sitting Bella the Bulldog for the last few days. She is one of the funniest animals I've yet to encounter at close proximity. So stubborn, so drooly, so underbitie, and so stinking adorable! She's so fat and white and Minnie is so trim and black, we have made alot of jokes:

Ebony and Ivory

Yin and Yang

Jacob and The Smoke Monster

You get the general idea.

Anyway.

We love her, and want to keep her,

and have been practicing our Jedi mind tricks to work on Jenny when she gets home.

"This is not the dog you're looking for." (two finger wave)

"Your dog would never wear a frilly polka dot collar." (two finger wave)

"And she most definitely would not wear a dog skirt." (two finger wave)

Awwww, Minnie Moon! You're our girl, and we love you.

Aw, Em. You're our girl too, and we love you too.

but you only rate a little headband decor, not a frilly collar or skirt.

"You don't really like Bulldogs. Especially ones named Bella." (two finger wave)

"What dog?" (two finger wave)

Even if the Jedi mind tricks don't work, I'm not sure Bella could leave anyway.

It appears that she has melted into our chair.

PS. Want a frilly dog collar or skirt or headband? Email me and I just might take your order. ;)

Bo's cool post.

2010-03-13T07:21:00.001-08:00

Well crafted, son.

http://www.boheroman.com/2010/03/mini-city.html

Well Spoken (and spoken for)

2010-03-10T17:50:00.000-08:00

My clever and ever so diligently studious husband posted something that I think is great.

Not that I don't think all his stuff is great....I just...what I mean is...

Did I mention clever and diligent? I forgot to say HANDSOME!

Ok, so this is a really good post that I think even people with similar brains to mine can appreciate.

Racism and Geography

The lastest Anthro?

2010-03-06T20:04:00.000-08:00

Nope!

This is the work of photographer Cecil Beaton from the 30's and 40's. Don't tell me there is anything new under the sun, and with stuff this gorgeous, why should there be?

March

2010-03-01T19:03:00.001-08:00

I am grateful for newness. I am grateful that each minute is new, and if that isn't good enough, then there is a new week, a new month, and well, heck. If none of those work, then we just wait for the new year and see if that doesn't do the trick.

The fact is that no matter what old thing I bring into each moment, it is STILL NEW. Still fresh, and there's another moment coming before this one even has a chance to get stale.

Praise the Lord for His mercy. It is new NOW. His fullness is overflowing now. And now. And I can grab hold of it NOW even if I didn't yesterday or this morning or 10 minutes ago. He is the reality of this minute.

Really thankful.

Snow Day

2010-02-18T16:42:00.000-08:00

Unreal.

I love you, dear.

2010-02-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

February

2010-02-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

It's a good thing it's such a short month, cause it's really long as is.

We are having so much winter in Texas, and I am dreaming of summer.

Or at least spring.

Open windows, color,

kids being able to play outside,

and, oh my goodness,

longer days.

I bought a pair of shape-ups about an hour ago.

I am sitting down and my feet feel numb,

which isn't so much related to the shoes

as it is

the lightning bolts of pain shooting down from my hips.

I mean, if I'm gonna have lightning bolts, I'd rather they shoot from my fingers or eyes,

rather than down from my hips,

rendering walking a journey from

one muttered curse word to the next.

It's just a flare up. It will pass.

(pass, please pass)

and then I will begin the prevention of pain

and stiffness routine

Which consists of me saying

"I need to exercise, I need to stretch."

30 times a day.

Clearly an exercise in futility.

Wow.

2010-01-27T05:20:00.001-08:00

Thank you, Design for Mankind, for a new favorite.

<3

Smile for a Weary Mom on Tuesday.

2010-01-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

Clay Today article about the boys.

2010-01-06T14:45:00.000-08:00

Special from Albert “Buddy’ Harris

ORANGE PARK - Luke Marlar never gave up on his dream to play basketball in college, but he knew it would be a tough road since he chose not to play his senior year at Orange Park High School. It was a different administration, a different coach, and if Coach Lauderdale had arrived a year earlier, things may have been much different.

But things could not have possibly turned out any better for Luke, or his two brothers David and Mark, in the long run.

Two years behind Luke is Mark, who had a tremendous high school career under Coach Lauderdale, followed by the youngest of the trio, David who is two years younger than Mark.

After graduation, Mark received a scholarship to play basketball at St Johns River Community College for Coach Buster Harvey. Following two successful years there, he received a scholarship to continue playing basketball at Webber International University, just south of Orlando, in Winter Haven.

When Webber head coach John Shoffner found out Mark had a brother that was a senior at Orange Park, he set up a work out for David. At this time Luke was a sophomore at FCCJ, still looking for an opportunity to play, working out daily, and at times outplaying some Division I athletes in pick up games.

A time was set up to have Luke be there and work out for the coach also. The plan worked as Shoffner was impressed, and invited Luke along with David and Mark to work out with the Webber Team.

That was the opening they needed, and in the spring of 2008 a signing ceremony was held at Orange Park as Luke, Mark and David all signed full scholarships to play basketball at Webber.

This might have been a difficult and tense situation for three brothers with less than 4 years of age separation all playing for the same team, but for the three, the eldest Luke spoke for them all stating, “It was a dream come true”.

Despite the much different roads they took to achieve their goal, they all feed off each other. It took some convincing, but they even room together. There is no jealousy, and they push each other to improve their games.

When they first arrived at Webber, Luke and Mark earned spots on varsity, while David, spent time on the junior varsity squad before being moved up. The move gave the brothers a little space, and time to find their individual niches.

Mark had played college ball for two years, so David and Luke learned a lot from him that first year, which led Mark to say, “I might have made it a little easier for them with my experience, but having my brothers here certainly made it a lot easier for me too.”

They have been playing together almost daily for as long as they can remember, and that comfort level translates well to the basketball court. Luke ended his first year by earning All-Conference Academics honors for the 2008/2009 season.

With Mark slated to graduate in the spring, this will be the last season they all play together, but they are making the most of the remaining time on the court together.

Luke and Mark are starters, while David is generally the first man off the bench, and Shoffner feels the youngest of the trio could possibly be the best of the three.

But David quickly credits his brothers stating, “I take a lot from both of their games and try to combine that with my own athleticism. I can’t say enough about what my brothers have taught me.”

Although the season is still young, success has followed thus far, in a recent game, Webber had the then undefeated Florida Gators on the ropes early in Gainesville, leading 15-6 before Coach Donovan got his team on track for a solid victory.

Each got in the scorebook against the Gators and all agreed that playing in front of the many friends and family in that night has been the highlight of their young careers.

There may be more significant highlights to come, but for all the dreams they had growing up in Orange Park, for all three to play college basketball on the same team, this dream will never be topped for them or their parents, Bryan and Missy, and sisters Sara and Mary.

http://www.claytoday.biz/content/1867_1.php#rating

Hello 2010

2010-01-01T21:04:00.000-08:00

No more waiting room

No more "wandering"

No more thinking that it's only purgatory

the airport

transition.

Leaving old things behind

and

reaching

for all that lies in store

I lean hard

pressing into the arms

of Love

and hear Hope

in the voice of the Father

calling out

the name of His Beloved Son

in which I am found

The best place.

The highest calling.

Merry and Bright.

2009-12-25T07:17:00.000-08:00

Love to you and yours. <3

If I wasn't just getting coal in my stocking...

2009-12-22T05:49:00.000-08:00

Scenes from the Car

2009-12-02T20:10:00.000-08:00

SCENE: Bo, Emma and I in the car on the way to pick up Bo's violin, which has been in the shop for repair.

Me: So did you get to borrow a violin at school today?

Bo: Yes, and it was terrible. I mean, it looked cool, and it was all brown...the chin rest was brown, the knobs were brown, but it just sounded, I mean, I played the right notes, and it sounded terrible. Even after she tuned it, it just... just sounded bad. I mean, it looked cool, but it didn't sound as good.

I will be so glad to get Lightning back.

Me: Lightning? I thought you named your violin Sparks.

Bo: Well, I named my bow Bullet, and so I changed the name to Lightning, because those are like the two fastest things in the world, and that's how I play. (Makes really fast violinish sounds)

Me: Lightning, huh? Huh.

Emma: So when you put Bullet and Lightning together, you get "Mary Had a Little Lamb?"

Snippit

2009-11-30T18:31:00.000-08:00

In Front of Me: Emma sits just beyond the view of my lappy eating leftovers for a late dinner after dance. She is humming "Hot Chocolate" from The Polar Express.

To the Left of Me: My calendar, assorted papers that need, well, sorting , sounds of the TV and Bill making comments to Bo regarding X-Men which he just switched past.

Behind Me: the kitchen. I don't dare turn around.

To the Right of Me: A very doggy chair and a table covered with scraps from yesterdays adventures in book making. Much more appealing than that which is behind.

Not doing the best job of keeping up with things these days. Feeling a bit discombobulated. (speaking of which, is "combobulated" a good thing to feel?

As in, "I wish my life was more combobluated."

"I'm very good at combobulating my once assorted papers."

things to ponder....)

Things I feel I'm not keeping up with:

that which is before,

behind,

and on either side of me.

Other than that, I'm doing ok.

Happy December.

Adventures in Sunday School

2009-11-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

Emma: "They asked me today if I was a Christian, and I said 'no'."

Me: "Why did you say 'no'?"

Emma: "Because I don't know what Christian means."

Me: "Well, if they had asked you if you had invited the Lord into your heart, what would you have said?"

Emma: (big smile) "I would have said 'YES I HAVE!!!'"

And Now We are Eight.

2009-11-17T19:24:00.000-08:00

Honey comes to town each year for Emma's birthday. It is a beloved tradition, enhanced this year by the sojourn to the American Girl Store for shopping and lunch! Emma got Elizabeth from Honey and Buzzy for her birthday and Samantha got a much needed hair-do.

I love Emma's happiness as seen in these pictures.

I just can't believe how big she is. How old she is. How lanky, slender and tall she is. Bill and I have about 10 heart attacks a week just looking at her. How did this happen?

Sunday was her birthday, and most of the day was centered around her first performance for the Dance Company. She may not be the most "precisional instrument of speed and aromatics" but one thing is for certain. She LOVES being on stage.

That's a good thing, right?

Not that either Bill nor I get that.

Or Bo.

We're just too shy and retiring.

No imitations, movie quotes and showtunes for us, no way.

Welcome to your eight year, Emkins.

We think you are just great. <3

Scaaareeee.

2009-11-05T17:36:00.000-08:00

I was nervously chuckling, and backpedalling.

Emma was whimpering and hiding in another room.

Bo was screaming bloody murder and bracing himself inside the closet.

And Avalon was grabbing his nose.

Boo!

2009-10-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

Most years, I am a super lame mom, and

a) don't let my kids touch the big pumpkin that I dished out 5 gigantor dollars for

and

b) buy them the teeny tiny punkins and hand them a sharpie, cause all that gutting and cutting is just a pain in the you know what.

Stupid food network pumpkin carving challenge. Got us all en fuego.

This minnie o lantern is not a result of canine adoration. It is merely proof that I will ALWAYS try to do the different and unusual, but only if it's fast and easy. Less time wasted if it turns out to be a dismal failure (which is 98% of the time.) If I post it on the blog, I kinda like it.

Also, pumpkin carving is way less of a drag when your son is old enough to do his own. Except the gutting. He couldn't stomach the pumpkin innards. His says Bo and has a lightning bolt under the O. Just in case you were wondering what kind of delinquent defacement I allowed my gangsta son to perform. Nothing says gangsta like "Mama, I. really. can't. stand. the. squishy. *shiver* feeling. of. the. ug. inside. of. oooooh. this. pumpkin."

Happy Halloween!

Bo decided to be the SCARIEST THING for Halloween

2009-10-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

according to the media at least....

Sweet Girl

2009-10-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

When I was little and sick,

I stayed in bed.

I got lots of drinks in bed.

I was served soup and toast with a dishcloth as a napkin/place mat in bed.

I read books.

I slept.

If I was feeling better, I would get to lay on the couch in the afternoons and watch TV.

My mom took loving, attentive care of me.

This is what Emma will do today.

And I remember who comforted me, and what made me feel better,

and we will see if we can beat this thing quickly.

Serious Question.

2009-10-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

Ignore the creepy pearlescent bluish eyes and tell me truly:

Am I certifiable?

Even if I can justify it, does that still make it ok to knit candy corn scarves for your dog?

Yes, it was quick and I had the yarn, and it was much cheaper than buying the tacky halloween fleece that the kids wanted to get her,

but really.

I'm torn between

Totally cute, I'm gonna get an etsy site and start mass producing

and

I'm officially the Target Lady. I think I'll perm my hair, start painting sad clowns and cover every surface of my house with crocheted nasties.

Cards

2009-09-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

Some little fall cards with the MM Autumn Splendor line. Isn't it lovely?

The Season for Making Things.

2009-09-27T06:54:00.000-07:00

Fall is so my favorite season.

Fresh mornings

Cozy evenings

Warm drinks

Scented candles

It is also my "crafty" season.

Scrapbooking

Home decorating and arranging

Baking

Sewing

The only problem with all of this is that it coincides with:

Soccer season

PTA season

Dance season

Good TV season

Alot of Stuff to do at Work season

Weight Loss season

I think it is now safe to say that

I like being busy.

Snorts, Chortles and Farts not included.

2009-09-22T16:51:00.001-07:00

Bo, Emma and I have been "howling" over this site, thanks to Elsie.

The one we love and Bill likes:

This is ADORABLE.

We have died laughing a few times over at this image:

And we just did again.

I know what you are thinking and yes, This is Sarah.

And yes, pigs just flew. Thank you very much and have a nice day.

2009-09-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

Seriously. It was time for a new look. I decided today that I was going to do this, and do it I did. Never mind that the dishes are still in the sink, the kids are not in bed, my room is a mess and I need a shower.

Enjoy!

We are Officially a Blogging Family.

2009-09-17T17:40:00.000-07:00

It started with Me- about every other day at first, now two or three times a month, if I'm lucky.

It was perfected by Bill- who now posts approximately 2387594383794 times a day.

It was embellished by Bo- who blogs just as he speaks.

Our latest addition is Emma. Who is not blogging as I type, but rather is dancing and breathily singing a little song she is making up about a garden in the spring.

And so, our cyber world is complete.

It really is all lists these days, isn't it?

2009-09-09T19:17:00.001-07:00

Argentina Bakery. Epanadas. Hello, darlings. I've missed you so.

New mixed CD's from new friends.

Skype-ing with the Florida fam.

So You Think You Can Dance.

Glee.

A messy scrapbook table taking up the whole of my dining room. Has not been touched in 3 days, but it promises loads of fun.

Football games and Catfish Sams.

Bo's contentment with 5th grade so far.

Emma's description of her determination in dance. "Sometimes, when something is hard, I just look down a little bit with my eyes, and say to myself 'I AM gonna do this. It's hard, but I'm gonna do it.'"

Her other comment tonight after dance: "I'm starvaciously hungry!"

The fact that Minnie killed a bug today by stepping on it. She lunged and barked and jumped, and then smashed her paw down on that bad boy. I think she might prefer to use the magazine method next time.

The luxury of getting in my comfy bed each and every night. It's the best reward for a long day.

A productive morning. Collectively.

2009-09-04T18:03:00.000-07:00

This morning before school we: Woke up. Got dressed. Played keep away with Minnie under the bed. Tackled Dad. Made fun of Dad for acting so coochie about Minnie. Ate Breakfast. Discussed Emma's grooming skills. Discussed coordination of outfits with Bo. Discussed Six Flags and whether there is an Aquaman ride. Discussed what the Aquaman ride WOULD be like if it existed. Got tackled by Dad. Called Minnie "Sweet Honey Punkin Sugar Puppy Love." Discussed whether the lego bricks used to build the real house were more expensive than regular bricks. Quickly decided they were. Did not clean our rooms or make our beds. Laughed. Listened to Dad's singing. Dawdled over Fruity Cherrios. Reminded certain people not to dawdle over Fruity Cheerios. Applied makeup. Fed the dog. Threw in a load of laundry. Checked email. Checked facebook. Packed lunch. Brushed teeth. Attached suction toothbrushes to mirror in a decorative fashion. Left pj's on the floor. Turned out the lights. Walked to school. Drove to school. Went to sleep.

Last list for now. Maybe. I hope.

2009-08-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

Things I forgot about during summer vacation.

1) How tired I am in the afternoons

2) How cold my clinic is. (but that's NOT a complaint!)

3) How hard it often is to contact parents.

4) How bad my clinic can smell

5) How much Spanish I have acquired

6) How short the evenings are when I want to go to bed at 8pm.

7) How Diet Cherry Coke can sustain one after lunch.

8) How often I confuse which key is for the outside door, and which key is for the clinic.

9) Signing Emma's binder every night

Things I'm anticipating as we move into fall

1) Brisk mornings

2) Cozy evenings

3) Dog sweaters

4) People sweaters

5) Bill finishing his book

6) Baking

7) Dance and Orchestra concerts

8) Pumpkins

9) Scented Candles

10) More creative time (I will have to carve this out)

11) Time with friends

12) Writing things besides lists

summer09

2009-08-21T20:52:00.001-07:00

ENJOY
THIS

SUMMER

Being
Awake

Tidying
the House

Breathing
Deeply

Creating

Quilting

History

Swimming

Exercising

Eating
fresh foods

Reading

Being
Present with my kids

Painting
the Living Room

Quiet

Being
Home

Organizing

Resting

Routine

Not
Moving

Family

This was my summer list. I have touched each one of these things-

some I have done more of than others, but as a whole I am utterly satisfied.

I did these things and more.

Thank You Lord, for this summer time

and Thank You, also, for seasons.

15 Books

2009-08-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

The quick list of 15 books that will always stick with me.

1. Bible

2. Les Miserables

3. To Kill a Mockingbird

4. Jane Eyre

5. A Child From the Sea

6. Betsy-Tacy

7. Anne of Green Gables

8. Harry Potter

9. Chronicles of Narnia

10. The Divine Romance

11. Little Women

12. Sense and Sensibility

13. Streams in the Desert

14. The Artist's Way

15. Living a Beautiful Life

The Secret of Time

2009-08-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

Time is a gift of love and grace

Without time, there'd be no time to change

Time to be tried, humbled and broken

Time to hear the word of love spoken.

I see the mission up ahead of me

And I tremble as one shaken.

But if I have the eyes of faith- the eyes to see

I will leave the outcome in the hands of the One

Who called me.

And over and over I must learn and re-learn

That whether I decrease or whether I increase

Is not my concern.

Not my concern.

Deliver me from strategy

From endless clever thinking

Set my sights upon the shore

Keep this boat from sinking down.

Let me taste of a fresh wind of reason

And stir the gift within.

For I am not a boat left to drift at sea,

I remain in You and You remain in me.

There is no great distance between You and I

The moment I found out who You were

I found out who I was.

The silence covered me

And the tears began to fall

I could see, I could see what a great and grand

Great and grand

Act of affection

It's all been.

Time that is...

Hearing

2009-08-06T07:53:00.001-07:00

This morning

In the sunshine

I went to get the recycling bin from the curb.

A middle aged couple was walking by.

Arms swinging, out for exercise

Together.

We said hello.

I turned

to bring the bin back to the shade of my house

and behind me I heard

an ongoing conversation

and then

her quiet laugh.

In the showers of bad news,

discouragment, struggles,

disappointments and

genuine sadness this morning has delivered

Her laugh

their easy happiness

is the Still Small Voice.

And I am hearing.

Go Away Dog. I don't like Dogs.

2009-08-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

Here's the thing.

This dog

that we didn't want

and never planned on getting

is now called by the following names:

Minnie

Minnie Moon

Min Min

Miss Moon

Sweetheart

Shweetheawt

Princess

Baby Dog

Puppy Doo

Puppy

Sweet Puppy

Sugar Love

Sweet Baby Puppy

Precious

Pweshious

Good Girl

Silly Puppy

Baby Girl

Minnie the Moocher

Mooch

Rascal

Silly Rascal

Do we despise ourselves a bit for this? Only until she sits and looks at us as her butt slides backwards on the tile floor. Then we giggle and call her Sweetest Puppy Ever.

Just for today

2009-08-01T08:11:00.001-07:00

I don't think I've been this pale in July since I had Bo. Not our swimmingest summer yet.

Speaking of having Bo, it has been 10 years. TEN YEARS. It's scary how fast that goes by. And sad too. Excuse me for a second, I have to go give him a kiss and a hug.

Art camp is over, with the usual peaks and valleys that come with Rec center camp. It's not all it's cracked up to be, and then in the end when you come home with armloads of crafts, you can't wait to do it again next summer. Apparently.

I knew there was a reason I didn't let my kids watch the Disney channel. It's because now that I do they want to watch it ALL THE TIME.

Time to get more exercise. Back aches.

We LOVE our Minnie Moon. Who could have guessed? We all think she is the smartest, cutest, funniest, sweetest doggie in the world. And she is. I could talk about her all day, which is really just sickening.

Time to get dressed and ready for a day with Emma! She needs a little Mama time, and has specifically requested that we "go to Forever 21, Target, and can we get me a grown-up Bible?"

Happy Weekend!

Minnie Moon

2009-07-14T20:07:00.001-07:00

For years Bill and I stated that we were not "dog people."

That we would be totally happy if we never had a dog, or any sort of pet.

The kids would cycle from resignation, to utter despair ie: school projects that include the words The only kind of pet my parents will ever let me get is a fish.

Then we bought this house 6 months ago.

It came with a doggie door.

Its amazing the changes that one little device can make.

Yesterday, we added to our family.

Oh, there were happy tears.

I started this blog post quite a while ago, but was interrupted by the certain motions of a certain puppy, who then went outside and POOPED and PEED. Then there was much frolicking and rejoicing and playing as a result. I'm back now, with the triumphant but weary pooch curled up in my lap.

I think it's official.

I'm a dog person.

Linda

2009-07-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

A girl,

A woman

Whom I have never met

In real life

Lies in a hospital

In a city I've never been to

And breathes through a tube

Each precious breath

One I've never felt.

But her heart beats.

And I feel it.

And there's a song inside her

That resonates with me.

And an ache I feel

Is only for her,

Her sons, her husband-friend

Whom I've never met.

My hand does not hold hers

and my tears do not drop on her shoulder.

But they drop.

And my hands ache

from holding on.

Hold on, my dear friend.

Hold on.

Fourth of July.

2009-07-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

Food.
It's good.

Fourth of July Food.
It's grrrrrreat!!!!

I made this queso recipe, and I wanted to gobble up the whole lot of it. Yum.
I made Lemon Pie from the Amish Cookbook (haven't tasted it yet, will let you know how it turns out!)
We will be having Pico and Guac which is on the dock for preparation tommorrow.

We are having this tonight, as I don't feel like scraping enough corn cobs for 2374637 people. So I made it for 6 people, and tommorrow we will have corn on the cob.

We are headed to our local parade in the morning for some flag waving fun, and then to Jen's house for swimming and feasting and fireworks at the Lake.

Happy Birthday to my dear sister Alison, our Yankee Doodle Sweetheart!

Happy Independence Day everyone!

She's Afraid of the Dark

2009-06-29T20:18:00.000-07:00

Mama!

she says

Mama!

Maaaaama!

(we are working on sleeping with the hall light off)

What?

(although I know perfectly well what)

I'm scared of the dark. whimper.

The dark is nothing to be scared of. What are you scared of IN the dark?

The shadows.

(that answer is good enough to merit another

hug, kiss and stuffed animal.)

Just close your eyes. It's still dark , but there are no shadows.

Love you. Sleep well.

Why We Need Each Other

2009-06-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Hide

Annette West A Story

about an hour ago · Comment · Like

Annette West at 8:30am June 27

(1) Once upon a time there was a princess named E. She was as perfect a princess as any princess had ever been on earth. She had a wonderful mother that was also a princess, of course she had to obtain her royalty from somewhere (right?). Anyway…

Annette West at 8:31am June 27

(2) E’s mother decided to create a quilt, for many long hours her mother worked diligently on the quilt. E’s mother loved the idea that one day the quilt would be ready for what it was meant to do. It would be comforting at times and it would create warmth when the cold presented itself again in its due season.

Annette West at 8:31am June 27

(3) After much work, the quilt was finally ready to be presented. E wanted to give it a name, and so she did. She loved the quilt so much. It was more than just material sewn together, it was evidence of her mother’s love and had been given to her to hold onto for the rest of her life, if she so desired.

Annette West at 8:32am June 27

(4) The quilt was finished. It was time to rest and enjoy the creation. Every stitch counted and every piece of material was important to the purpose of the quilt. Now it could just be a quilt. It would serve, without trying. It would be warmth, without any effort at all. It would comfort a little princess throughout her life. The quilt didn’t even know its full potential. But make no mistake it was perfect, loved and glorified its creator, just by being a quilt.

Annette West at 8:34am June 27

The moral of the story…just as I am and more importantly just as you are…just be! (Oh, yeah - E and her mother are real people that I love very much. You know who you are E & E's mommy)

Reduce Reuse Recycle.

2009-06-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

I have started to become more aware of the waste in my household. I am aware of this for several reasons, the main one being the need to spend less money.

I have made some small changes (maybe not so small) but there are others I'd like to make.

I have a recycling bin which goes to the curb full each week.

I would like to start using these.

I have been buying whole chicken and using if for multiple purposes (roasting for meat and boiling for chicken broth)

I am considering using this.

I have always loved shopping at thrift stores and garage sales, but now I am not looking for extras, but for necessaries. So far, with this purpose in mind, I have found a bread machine, weed eater, edger, and a pile of brand name clothes for Emma.

We had a flood in our son's room due to the ac leak. Thankfully my dad was able to help me fix it, and then, rather than hiring someone to come in and change the carpet, we pulled it out ourselves, dried it, and put it back in.

I bring re-useable bags to the grocery store. They carry so much more and really reduce the number of trips needed to bring your bags into the house. Of course there's that whole environment thing too.

Is there a part of me that is embarrased by all this? Yeah, a little. But the larger part of me is very proud of using resources wisely. These are things my grandparents did as a matter of course. They did not have the option to spend more and work less. It IS harder and takes more time, revealing the truth of "Time is Money." It can be super satisfying when I engage in the activities rather than resenting them. Being off work for the summer really helps. ;)

I would like to have a compost pile and keep chickens. Can you imagine fresh eggs? But there are all these stinking cats in the neighborhood.

One of my favorite cookbooks is one my mom used, and was given to me by friends for our wedding. I use it all the time.

I love to make the french bread out of it, and the master baking mix is good too!

What are some ways you save money/the planet?

Metal

2009-06-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

I took my daughter to the orthodontist. He, smiling and apologetic at the same time, said with few words that there is alot of work to do. Something along the lines of: We're gonna be buddies.

Impressions, spacers, expander, brackets.

She was sad and burrowed into my side.

I took her to the Mexican grocery store to cheer her up.

We gazed in wonder at the mounds of pan dulce and the rows of aqua con fruita in barrels of bright colors. Picnic tables in the grocery store where people ate and socialized together under the shine of huge pinatas and the ringing mariachi music.

We got our pan dulce and our crema mexicana and headed to the check out. She observed the staples in the belt that rolled our purchaces up to the yellow shirted employee. She said "Wal Mart and Tom Thumb don't have these."

I was suddenly 7 myself, standing at the checkout with Mom, eyes closed, finger resting on that moving belt, wanting to believe that it magically renewed itself, and that I wouldn't feel the metalic coolness of the staples grazing my finger. But I did, rendering me helpless to resist the impulse of counting the seconds to see how long it took to go around again.

Emma didn't have that luxury, since I wasn't doing the weekly shopping. But she noticed. She noticed it. Then I remembered noticing it too.

There is so much I would never recall if I did not have her. Things of my childhood are made doubly precious by the enriching experience of being a parent. She was sad to hear that she had to get braces. I was elated. Major difference, somehow making a discovery of a small similarity that much more delightful.

Sweet Faces

2009-06-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

She's graduated. The sweet cheeked girl with the freckle on her nose and the middle fingers in her mouth graduated from high school.

Zachary graduates Sunday. Oh he who, at age 5, wandered off in the National Museum of Art and was found explaining a painting to a security guard.

Finishing up school this year, and so glad to report that I'm going back next year. Happiness.

Thinking about summer. Torn between two extremes.

Planning it all out to the last minute

not making a single stinking plan.

Maybe there is a happy medium.

Here's a happy puppy:

Hi Bailey!

Weather.

2009-05-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

It stormed this evening.

In Texas it threatens...threatens...

and the heavens open.

The only time I know where the pipes are located in my house

is when it hails.

They are echo chambers lurking behind my walls

banging out one sharp plunk after another.

I stepped out on the back patio

and the smell was a rush of memory.

Dad on the dark back porch,

the squeak of the swing's back and forth

drowned out by the thunder of water on the tin roof.

The brilliant flashes that made me jump out of the warmth of his arm

to say "Woah! It's like daytime"

and peer into the dark greyness hoping it would happen again.

I love the way thunderstorms smell

dirt, grass, wet, moss,

and my dad on the back porch.

Enchiladas.

2009-05-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking about posting a few recipes here simply because I can never remember which book has which recipe, and what I did to change it, or substitute or make do if I don't have the right ingredients, if I read the recipe halfway. If I post them here, then I can always find them.

I have tried really complicated recipes for Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas that were totally not worth the effort. I found this simple one and modified it.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

4 oz cream cheese softened (I used reduced fat, only because I accidentally bought it.)

1/3-1/2 cup of sour cream (approximating)

1 lb cooked chicken shredded (well seasoned)

1 onion chopped

1 can green chilies

12 flour tortillas

1 can green sauce ( I just saw that the original recipe called for 2. Learn something new every day.)

shredded monterey jack or colby/jack cheese

Saute onions in a bit of oil, when soft, add green chilies and chicken. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix in cream cheese and sour cream. Roll tortillas with mixture inside and place in a 13 x 9 inch pan. Spoon green sauce on top (now that I think of it, two cans would probably be better) and sprinkle with cheese (be generous.)

Bake @ 350 for 15-20 minutes.

Because these are naturally served best with rice and refried beans, but those are a major pain in the butt to make and the canned beans are gag-o-magic, I usually serve with a large green salad.

Also, I happen to think that this recipe would be really good with Mexican Crema as opposed to cream cheese and sour cream, but it would be a bit less tangy. If you have not tried La Crema, I suggest you do so only if people surrounding you make the appropriate tostatas for it to be applied to. If you have these resources, then you are one lucky son of a gun!

crafty.

2009-05-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

Here are the quilt squares put together for Emma. I have to add a background color, because I apparently continue to be bad at reading directions and made the squares for a crib quilt. But making do is what I do best. Just ask any of the people I feed.

On second thought,

don't.

So anyway I'm on a sewing jag. I've made three of these to go with it.

I was gonna blog about something else...what was it?

uhhhhh....

8 school days left.

Which is a perfectly lovely countdown.

Compared to last year at this time.

And now Em is dancing her way to bed ala So You Think You Can Dance style.

This one is about periods.

2009-05-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

But it's scientific.

In preparing for my growth and development talk with fourth grade girls, I was wondering if there is any evidence I can give them to show that "starting your period" doesn't mean "ready to have a baby."

I googled it.

Rabbit trail: Remember doing research in the LIBRARY? Dewey Decimal System ring any bells? Micro Fische anyone?

One result that came up was fascinating to me. Now while abc does a stellar job of LOST, I can't say that I feel strongly about the validity of their research. They claimed here that studies show the absence of a father is consistent with early menarche in young girls. (starting your period)

Fascinating.

Ok. So I googled again, and got this. For those of you (like me) who are never gonna read all that, here is the abstract:

Abstract
In this study we examined the relationship between menarche and interest in infants among adolescent girls, and the effects of early environment, particularly of father absence from home, on both variables. Eighty-three girls ranging in age from between 11 and 14 years served as study participants. Interest in infants was assessed through their preferences for photos and silhouettes of animal and human faces of infants versus adults. Information on menarche and the early family environment was obtained with questionnaires and interviews. Variation in menarcheal status or timing of menarche was associated with some differences in interest in infants. There was little or no evidence, however, that suggested a direct causal relationship between these variables. Instead, both menarche and interest in infants were independently associated with early father absence from home such that father-absent girls exhibited earlier menarche and greater attraction to infant visual stimuli than father-present girls. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that father absence is associated with a developmental trajectory characterized by earlier readiness for reproduction and parenting.

For those of you who need the one sentence version, it says that they are making a reasonable guess supported by evidence that father absenteeism is associated with early maturation and readiness for reproduction.

My thoughts were as follows:

"Is this because there is some invisible chain connecting us and testosterone or lack thereof is sensed and the body naturally tries to gather/produce more of it?"

"Thank goodness that Bill is such a good and present father to Em."

"Yet one more reason to appreciate my own father."

"Wait. What if it is simple psychology, and the desire for parenting is translated into a desire to be a parent?"

"There is no hope for alot of my girls at school. How can I help them?"

"I'm so ready for the weekend."

I did not say they were great thoughts. Just thoughts.

Do you have anything to share? I would appreciate.

"

My Dream Job

2009-05-06T19:09:00.001-07:00

I love my job.

There have been moments of supreme hatred and loathing, but that usually
was not related to the job itself,but to the people with whom I was attempting to work.

I have wanted to do this job since I was seven.

I remember confirming that moment when I was 17.

I watched in the hospital while my sisters had her babies. I remember when she had Mary in Florida, I was watching the other four. I spent the night with her in the hospital while Bryan was home, and the next morning the nurse came in and asked me to leave for a moment. I think I cried a little, but managed to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. I'm fairly certain it was biscuits and gravy. And hot chocolate. When I came back, there sat my newly operated on, dearly adored, mama of a sister sitting on the edge of a delicious looking, fluffed up, pristinely white bed with the sun shining in the window. She was eating breakfast in a new gown with her hair and teeth brushed. Baby Mary was cocooned up in the bassinet sleeping peacefully.

I had an epiphany. It's such a clear memory. I wanted to be the magician who stayed in the room and made THAT happen. It seemed like a miracle to me.

Nursing school was two of the worst years ever. It was HARD. No one could sleep before clinicals, and we would ride up the elevator to 9 Roberts, nauseous and sweating in our white uniforms, with Brandi muttering "I hate our lives."

I liked home health. Mostly. I loved my patients, and I liked seeing them and caring for them in their homes. That was a special experience. I grew frustrated though, by the fact that I could not really make anyone better. I found myself saying "I just need that magic wand!"

I liked post-partum. Loved taking care of the babies, mother-baby care, teaching and comforting new moms. Straightening the trays, opening the blinds and snuggling the newborns. I don't get to make that particular magic happen anymore.

I was ok with floating through med-surg. I learned alot. If you had a bad day, you just moved to a different floor the next time you came in for a shift. But I just hated working at that time. My babies were babies. I wanted to be home with them, even if I was only gone two days a week. I still get a sick feeling in my stomach when I remember pulling out of the driveway on Miller St. and pulling in to the parking lot at Crawford Long.

But it kept me in nursing. That mattered a lot.

It matters because now that both of my kids are in school, I can work full time, and I can be home with them when they are home. Schedule, though a huge part of it, is not all of the reason I love this job.

It's walking through the doors, saying good morning to all the sleepy, grumpy, happy, sneezy (yes, and dopey doc and bashful) faces...calling out as many names as I possibly can. It's having a girl waiting by my clinic door just to say "hi" or ask me a question. It's putting bandaids on owies. It's feeling small arms around my waist as I walk through the cafeteria to get ice each day. It's a line of 70 kindergarteners with big smiles to show me that they brushed their teeth. It's pulling lice out a girls hair, while teaching her older sisters how to do it too, because if they don't, no one will. It's joking and laughing with my friends through the course of the day.

Ok. Ok. I admit it. It's all the Mexican food.

Just kidding.

(sorta)

I like joking with the older kids, comforting the sick ones who's parents have more pressing matters (real and imagined) to attend to. I like teaching about health and deodorant and lice and periods. I like screening 4 year olds for vision and hearing.

I love pulling out splinters. Very satisfying.
I'm not terribly fond of nosebleeds. Or diarrhea.
Vomitting I'm ok with. And earaches. I like looking in ears and listening to lungs.
I get kinda panicky with asthma, because, well, breathing is kind of important for living, you know. There's a life or death aspect there that has always kept me out of the ICU and the ER.

It's really rare when people find a job they love. I feel so grateful to the Lord for putting it in my heart from a very young age, and to my parents who never doubted for a second, educated, supported and paid my way. I know that I have been richly blessed.

I consider it a privilege.

Happy Nurses Day to all my cohorts out there. In the words of a first grader today: "You Rok Alot"

2009-05-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

Just playing with Picnik. That's good times.

He's Not Here.

2009-04-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

Today after school I witnessed this conversation:

Emma: I'm still hungry.

Goody: You ate a bowl of watermelon, a bowl of strawberries, a bowl of chips and a piece of cake.

Emma: I'm still hungry.

Goody: Eat a banana.

Emma: I'm blind. Where are the bananas? (Her eyes are closed and she does the zombie walk)

Goody: Over there.

Emma: Over here? (and she heads straight for the cake)

Goody. No. Over here. (redirecting her)

Emma: OK (turning and heading back towards the cake)

Grandad: We hid chocolate cake in one of those bananas. You just have to pick the right one.

Emma: Disbelieving smile.

Grandad: But if you pick the wrong one you have to eat the banana.

Emma: You're lying.

Grandad: Grandads never lie.

Emma: Yes they do. I have a Grandad who always lies (quick processing of resulting consequences of that statement) but he's not here.

Goody, Grandad, Me: Die laughing.

Emma: It's just a banana. I told you.

Grandad: You picked the wrong one.

Emma: Yeah. Right. (Consumes entire banana)

Eleven.

2009-04-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

Last year was our 10th anniversary. Bill surprised me. It was fabuloso.

This year was our 11th anniversary. We had no plans, except to take our kids camping overnight with some friends. It was really loads of fun. I wondered every once in a while why I was so contented with something so unromantic.

I figured out that it was because it was not ordinary.

We were with friends who acknowledged our long years together with champagne in colored plastic cups and s'mores around the campfire.

If you would have told the newly engaged me that I would be spending my anniversary in a tent near Joe Pool Lake, I would have been either

a) ready to drop kick Bill back to his town house right around the corner

b) thinking "I won't care, as long as I'm with Bill!"

(I say either, because I was so emotionally wiggy at the time I probably would have had both thoughts right next door to each other. )

I'm SO glad I didn't know then. Only because I wouldn't appreciate now how a relationship matures. How people mature. How our friendship has grown and our respect and appreciation for each other has deepened.

In other words: How far we've come.

It's all good.

However.

If we go camping for our 12th anniversary, I will not call that a good tradition. I will call it redundant.

I had not intended for this post to be in any way serious. I totally intended for this post to be centered around this photo from our campout:

Oh heavens, Petr, that is just funny. Oh man. I actually think he had the helmet on because this was going on just a few feet away:

We all had a good time, I think.

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl

2009-04-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

On this day I got my new Lappy.

The feel of it makes me so happy.

Now my old desktop

Is still so great. NOT.

The speed of the new makes me sappy.

I have entered the world of the sleek, and left behind the old and behemoth. Just in case you doubt the wonder of my new machine, this photo has captured this laptop's powerful aura.

Me likey.

Welcome Home.

2009-04-05T08:28:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful every day to be where I am right now. I love this house, I love the neighborhood- the easy familiarity of it all. I love the gorgeous spring days. (never mind that today is 49 and the wind is blowing like a banchee.) I love the kids playing outside with friends. It's just lovely.

Don't you like my geraniums? My dear mother in law planted those for me while they were here.

I also love garage sales. These chairs were 2 dollars each. Though they are not perfect, they are perfectly priced!! It gives me a place to sit while watching the kids do the following:

freerun in the ditch

scooter

skateboard

play tech decks

ride bikes.

The backyard is reserved for another game:

Meet Cracker and Poofle. They live on the planet Zeenger. Cracker has a Magical Sword with Magic Power, and Poofle has a Magical Bucket in which she hides from Monsters. The Dragon, Beach Ball, and Jarritos Bottle are also essential, but in what capacity I am uncertain. Let's not forget The Magic Green Recorder of Magical Power. Cracker just wouldn't be Cracker without his Magic Green Recorder of Magical Power.

And now, my friends the load of whites is ready to be switched to the dryer, so I guess that's the end of today's post. With all the things I love, I do not like laundry. If I ever say that I do, then you know that the Monsters from planet Zeenger have taken over my brain. I'll need to be saved, and quickly. Hopefully, the Jarritos Bottle will do the trick.

Congrats on 2.0

2009-03-20T17:08:00.000-07:00

OH I love babies.
Babies, babies, babies.

We've had a particularly good crop of them this season, including but not limited to:

The oh so super adorable and precious Ms. Avalon Hallford (who should be arriving at my house any minute primed for me to lavish affection upon)

and the newest offspring of Pound. Meet Oliver, in what might possibly be the cutest newborn picture ever taken.

I like this.

2009-03-15T19:59:00.000-07:00

A touch of inspiraton for me tonight.

Up to Date.

2009-03-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

We are officially one day out from spring break.
Lovely words, both and spring and break.
Unless you are referring to spring as in
"...a leak"
or referring to break as in
"...a bone"
Then they are not so lovely.
Of course, if you are a plumber or an ostopath
then even in the double meaning they ring of
both happiness and job security.

Bo and Emma danced around the kitchen today singing
"I loike traffic loights, I loike traffic loights."
and Bo wondered where it came from.
"Monty Python"
I said, as if he would say
"Of course. Naturally."
Which he did not.
So I finished the explaination:
"Monty Python was a mumdblvinglsdnfoig... HEY, go wash your hands and set the table."

Emma has an amazing capacity for concentrating on a thing.
Today at the dinner table Bo asked her what 3 x 3 is.
While she was thinking, I thought
Man, is she ever gonna learn to eat faster, and I wonder how that headband stayed on her head today, and Bo's hair totally looks weird, and Bill looks tired, and dag, these rolls I made are good, and I need to wash this tablecloth, and no way is she still thinking about 3 x 3, and what am I going to wear tommorrow, and how can I get through the dishes before open house, and I wonder if Bill is going to go, and Lordy I'm glad tommorrow is Friday

and she said "9."

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Did You Know?

2009-03-03T17:44:00.000-08:00

Interesting...

What do you think?

A Good Poem I

2009-02-15T20:15:00.000-08:00

On the Strength of All Conviction

and the Stamina of Love

Jennifer Michael Hecht

Sometimes I think

we could have gone on.

All of us. Trying. Forever.

But they didn't fill

the desert with pyramids.

They just built some. Some

They're not still out there,

building them now. Everyone,

everywhere, gets up, and goes home.

Yet we must not

Diabolize time. Right?

We must not curse the passage of time.

Off Season.

2009-02-12T15:02:00.001-08:00

Since Valentines Day is Saturday, let's post some pictures of Christmas and New Years, shall we?
Let's.

The following pictures are us playing Quelf on New Years. If you have not played this game, do so. Immediately. If you are pathologically shy and introverted, run the other way.

Here's Mark watching Bo do...something. I don't remember what Bo had to do, but I do remember that Mark had to speak like a Charasmatic preacher every time he read a card aloud. And thus sayeth I, it was HILARIOUS. Can I get an AMEN???

I think Zach's card said that he was Santa Claus and everyone had to sit on his lap and tell him what they most wanted, or they had to go back one space. And then Josh had to sit on his lap until his next turn.

Jenny had to make a fort and stay in it until someone rolled a four. I think it was her favorite part of the game- or at least she liked it better than I liked wearing toilet paper on my head like a mummy until a certain card was drawn.

Zach and Emma being very adorable. Not part of the game, but hey, when you're adorable, you're adorable.

And this is the part where Drew had to put a towel on his head.....HEY WAIT.

Wha???? Ohhhhhh. Never mind .....

Moving back a week, we now find Christmas and the Pagent presented by our lovely offspring.

Drew, Josh and Zach were the three wise men.

Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus, respectively. (They had IKEA in Bethlehem, right?)

This is Drew's 16th Birthday Party In Which a Game of Spoons Was Played.

Here's to the happy end of yet another sick week.

Stay healthy, yo. I mean it.

Premium Brand

2009-02-09T18:21:00.000-08:00

Some things going on right now.

The Flu.

Journalling (not by me, but the two offspring. Bo's reads like Twitter, a blow by blow account of the details of his day. Emma's contains drawings of herself wearing jewelry and hairbows.)

Facebook. Sigh.

Drew's 16th birthday. Holy cow.

Pokemon and Hannah Montana Valentines.

Me wishing I would finish something creative.

Dad playing tennis.

Pretty much being bored with this post and thinking I'll delete this second attempt which, as it turns out is super lame, because I wanted to post a poem I read, but don't want to be hoity toity and high falutin' so I'll put this wretched bit in as a palate cleanser, so to speak.

It's a saltine, kids. How good can it be?

If you're looking for me, I'll be playing solitare.

Dad

2009-01-27T20:42:00.000-08:00

I'm still angry, but thankfulness rushes over
the sharp edges of it,
and is the overwhelming emotion
For most things.
Except the words "heart attack"
Then I'm angry again.
But I remember that pulsation,
pressing against my finger-
so o o o o s l o w,
but under the familiar texture of his skin
strong.
stronger than anger,
than fairness
stronger than the alarmed response
to technology's brazen beeps
and jagged colored lines
strong.
The living
moving
healing
blood of my father.

Snowed in.

2009-01-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

I'm here in my cozy home, pj's on, 3rd cup of coffee in hand and the kids are playing happily in their room.

Ok, so I'm not snowed in. I'm not even rained in. I'm cloud-ied in. It's not even in the 30's right now- or 40's for that matter, but it IS 50, and grey.

Don't judge. It's Saturday morning, and I'm feeling slightly under the weather (so to speak) and there is nothing more gorgeous than taking it slow in the mornings. With a veritable buffet of things to do, I sit at my computer and let them parade in my thoughts, eventually picking out of the line-up the most time-wasting and unprofitable. "Doing Laundry" and "Make the Grocery List" and "Getting the Kids to Clean Their Room" glide past gracefully, and wedged in there like a troup of clowns in a tiny car between the gorgeous and ornate floats comes "Sit Down on the Compy and Post Something Improvised." Clowns. Love them or hate them, but they win the grand prize in the Putzing Parade.

Today we live up to our middle-class status in all outward appearances. Pancakes for breakfast, video games in the morning, Emma has an ice skating party this afternoon at the mall, and I plan to take Bo to the game store during that time, and perhaps pick up an overpriced coffee while I wait. Sounds totally staid and un-thrilling.

Below the surface of this "normal Saturday" are the undercurrents of something richer. Something you have to take time and breath to sense and feel. A relaxing in the shoulders. The happy sound of children who have gotten off the tv and are creating worlds together. The trees chuckling and shaking in the wind. The sense of a Lord who is new each morning, and yet the Same. His joy permeating and changing everything.

My life is not what it appears to be. My life is what I am Living. If you pass me in the mall today, I'll raise my paper cup of mocha cappucino, and hope the riches that are stored up in you find their way to the surface of your day.

Here's to cloudy Saturdays.

"I feel like the maid...I just cleaned up this place!"

2009-01-05T18:30:00.000-08:00

Now that I have so much storage space, I still have SO much JUNK.

How does this happen?
I'm still trying to simplify, still proud of the fact that we downsized so much in the last year. But now I have more space and those empty corners seem to attract junk like the disposal attracts spoons.

We spent a goodly portion of the evening working on Emma's room, and my goo'ness does that girly have alot of sparkly plastic things. Combs, bracelets, costumes, crowns, pens, ponies, even books are coated in sparkly plastic. It's quite the phenomenon. Luckily, Em is not too sentimental about things she's outgrown. All the princess stuff? "Gone." as she put it. "Trash." When we wailed on and on about her Little Mermaid Doll that she used to take EVERYWHERE and sing with and play with and love, she looked at me and said "Well, you keep it then!" Bo, on the other hand, stacked up the books that were his favorites long ago which got handed down, and then outgrown.
Ping
Hug (He and I will still say "Bo Bo!!!!" "Mama!!!!")
Toad Makes a Road
Bill and Pete (about a crocodile named William Everett. A must-have for a boy named William Everett.)

WHAT? Bo's name is William Everett????

Well, that's a story for another post.

Anyways. About this crap around the place. I really want to keep up with it, honestly, but my kitchen keeps pulling me back. It calls me down the corridor... "You really want to try something in that new dutch oven of yours!" And my new griddle cries out "Pancakes! Your kids NEED pancakes!" And once Betty starts her seductive whirring...well, I'm just lost.

But seriously. I really needed those things. OK. I've lived without them for 33 years now, but I think that's long enough to prove a point.

Besides, I still have empty drawers in my kitchen. So there.
And you know what? I plan on keeping them empty for a long time.
Space. The final frontier.
It's not just for Trekkies anymore.

Live long and prosper.

2009

2009-01-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

You lucky year, you.

2008 did all the hard work
saw all the changes
the dramas
the boxes filled up
emptied
filled up
emptied
filled up
emptied again
and disposed of
new jobs
new schools
major shifts
in thinking
living
goodbyes.

so hello '09.
with hope
I anticipate
comparatively
little out of you.

Merry Christmas from the Texas Heromans!

2008-12-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Chef Bo-ar-dee

2008-12-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

This son of mine.

This is what he did @ Goody and Grandad's after he came home sick from school today.

"Life Spent Preparing"

2008-12-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

The head of John the Baptist stretched high atop his shoulders.

With sweet and buggy breath, it bellowed out, across the Jordan, Prepare Him a way!

Make His paths straight!

The head of John the Baptist bent low when he baptized the Lamb.

The sight of his Lord and the sound of God’s voice put a thought in John’s head.

He must increase. I must decrease.

The head of John the Baptist pressed hard against the wall of his cell.

Disconnected from the body of his followers, a sense of doubt grew in his mind.

Was his cousin really the One?

The head of John the Baptist hung from a saddle, bouncing inside a wet sack.

Up the Jordan a hundred miles, from prison to palace – first time in Galilee.

Then it went to a girl on a platter.

The head of John the Baptist was an outrage all over Israel.

The people’s disfavor made their leaders slow to repeat that same crime.

For a time, Christ was safe in Judea!

John’s head, once again, had prepared the Lord’s way.

--Posted By Bill to Bible/History Blog at 12/01/2008 12:05:00 AM

Breakfast for Dinner

2008-12-03T16:45:00.000-08:00

The evenings shorten now, but that's ok, cause we just get to turn on the christmas lights that much earlier! Though we have a new house, we decided to stick with our old 2 ft "Charlie Brown" tree to remind us to be frugal this holiday season. It is packed full of ornaments, and the kids are just as thrilled as they can be! Tonight we have White Christmas on the tv, and I fixed Jill's recipe for dinner. (yes, you should. it's scrumptious.) I heart the holidays!

Contentment Plus.

2008-11-22T17:04:00.000-08:00

Sweet smiling faces with sparkly brown eyes and shiny black braids.

Pumpkin muffins.

Animal Crackers.

A new phone.

Warm bed/ cold morning.

Friends.

Tacos. (I can't link you to the Texaco station where they are the BEST EVER. Sorry.)

Bo skateboarding.

Grasping at Spanish.

Paint colors.

High School Musical 3.

Knitting with red yarn.

Bill's laugh.

Lamplight.

Guitar Hero.

Candles with holiday scents.

Party planning.

Kneading bread by hand.

Emma going by "Emily" at school, but not at home.

Homemade Tamales.

and finally...

Saying goodbye to apartment life.

Halleluiah.

Why can't Comcast work with my schedule?

2008-10-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

I'm on Bill's lappy.

Why haven't I blogged? Well, besides the general lack of anything unique in my life to report, my internet is down. Down dooby-do down down. Has been for some time. And those cable guys can only come out during work hours. Boo.

I don't get on Bill's lappy to blog because then he sits next to me and makes comments when I do like: "DON'T blog about how you got nothing to blog! Just don't blog if you don't have anything to say!!!" At which point I shoot him a look, and quote him. Which may or may not be entertaining.

I sat down to make a card the other day, and it feels like papercrafting has gone totally stale for me. Who knows? Maybe the holidays will bring it back. Baking, however, is still a whole other story. Last week it was french bread and the first attempt to make copy cat "Krumballs" which is cake rolled up in a ball and dipped in chocolate like a truffle. Yes, they are so good. Yes, they such a pain to make.

Knitting also, is a fun sport. But the event in which I excel this season is sleeping. I'm super good at going to bed early and struggling to drag myself out in the mornings.

And now the newsworthy part: Emma is two chapters away from finishing her first Magic Treehouse book, which are her first chapter books. I am so excited about this! So is she, which is really, really cool.

So glad that fall and the holidays have arrived! It's my favorite time of year.

Withing you a merry crithmuth!

2008-09-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

All she wants for Christmas is her two front teeth.

But for her birthday, she wants:

a bike

a Nintendo DS

Nintendogs

a Libby Lu gift card

a Build-a-Bear

and

a poster.

The First Nice Day in September

2008-09-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

Don't you miss photos?
I know I do!
I got my scanner working , but still am missing a cord for the printer...not that it will make it work, but maybe the good rest will have helped.

So I edited some photos with plans to post them, and every single time I hit the browse button on blogger or flickr, NOTHING HAPPENS.

I feel I have reached my quota for trouble shooting tonight, so I'm just putting my hope in the restart button.

Went to the park twice today. The weather (which was supposed to be jacked up from Ike) was just gorgeous. Blue sky, warm sun, cool breeze. So refreshing-so lifting. I am totally stoked that fall is on the move in my direction. I feel creative, introspective and energized when the weather cools down.
I also start to bake.
Alot.
Lord have mercy.