tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80637050950462895932023-11-16T10:22:41.443-08:00my electric mayhemwinter 2012Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-35640358521428245672012-11-14T18:39:00.000-08:002012-11-14T18:39:13.434-08:00Love ShutterflyOur Christmas cards - pretty!<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Cdiv%20class=%22sflyProductPreviewWidget%22%20style=%22width:425px;%20height:494px;%22%3E%3Cdiv%20class=%22sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop%22%20style=%22height:6px;%20background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);%22%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class=%22sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter%22%20style=%22height:482px;%20padding:%200%206px%200%206px;%20background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif);%20background-repeat:repeat-y;%22%3E%3Cdiv%20class=%22sflyProductPreviewLogo%22%20style=%22width:%20105px;%20height:%2034px;%20padding:%2014px%200%200%2014px;%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif%22%20style=%22padding:%200;%20background:%20#ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AcNWzlozcuGLkg&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=118"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AcNWzlozcuGIg/0AcNWzlozcuGIuSg/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1352947009000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Stationery card</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="height: 494px; width: 425px;">
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</a>Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-77672343684704338882012-11-13T14:48:00.001-08:002012-11-13T14:48:08.372-08:00SimplicityIt's the most wonderful time of the year. That gets overused a lot, particularly now - but it's really true. So many of us (myself included) find themselves so bogged down in all the trappings of the holidays that they forget to actually BE there during the holidays. Oh sure, they're there - in body, anyway, but maybe not - maybe they're in the kitchen or running to the store for that last minute perfect bow. Or maybe it's their brain that's missing - counting down what they should have done differently, or could have done better. <br />
<br />
Just picked up "Celebrating and Savoring a Simple Christmas" (check out this link to get your own: <a href="http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/11/get-my-celebrating-savoring-a-simple-christmas-ebook-for-just-0-99.html">http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/11/get-my-celebrating-savoring-a-simple-christmas-ebook-for-just-0-99.html</a>) and I'm really looking forward to losing the rat-race-get-it-all-do-it-all holiday mentality and simple things down.Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-47005191314805249902012-02-26T06:35:00.003-08:002012-02-26T08:40:12.577-08:00HOOOOWL!Wolves, waterslides and a room with bunk beds and a TV - what's not for a kid to love?<br /><br />At about noon on Friday we picked up Ian and set off "on an adventure, for a surprise". About 3.5 hours later, we arrived at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg - and I thought the kids' eyes were going to fall out of their sockets when they saw the place. We'd arrived about half an hour before our room would be ready (4pm) but that's OK - GWL allows you to use the waterpark from 1pm on the day of arrival! We left our suitcases in the car and booked for the slides. Once we were changed, we took the kids to get measured (what slides they can go on is height-dependent - Ian could go on all but one with adult supervision, and Megan could go on all but two, ditto) and grab some towels. Please note: seating appears to be ample, but that is deceptive given how many people there are at the park. If you see an empty table (or even a pair of vacant chairs next to a trash can) - GRAB IT. RIGHT NOW.<br /><br />There are several areas of the park. Right as you walk in you see a massive wooden structure with two slides, many rope-net areas for climbing, a number of spray apparatii and small buckets for drenching unwary (or just unlucky) travellers below, and a ginormous bucket on top of the whole thing. That mama dumps its load every 15 minutes or so and as mentioned, it's a HUGE thing so there is a LOT of water coming down (scared the crap out of poor Megan when we were waiting for a slide though). Over to the right is a toddler area with small slides, and just past that is a wave pool (that was a big hit with my kids). To the back are the bigger, faster slides and the family raft slides, and on the left is a lazy river and a "games" area - think lily pads and water basketball.<br /><br />THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE WATERPARK:<br />- Doors open at 9am, and close at 9pm. You can begin playing at 1pm the day you arrive, and you can continue playing until close the day you check out. Check out is 11am.<br />- Let me reiterate. Grab a table or chairs ASAP. If you want a table, I'd advise getting to the doors before they open at 9am. We were there about 9:30 and were SOL, thus the chairs-by-the-trash-can scenario mentioned earlier.<br />- Lifejackets are provided, but seem to get sparse as the day goes on. You are allowed to bring and wear your own, however.<br />- There is a snackbar in the waterpark, but it, like most of the food options onsite, is very expensive. I'd advise packing food (or heading to the Super WalMart down the street for some) and eating in the room (the rooms have microwaves and mini-fridges) or there are several food options just offsite (Sonic, IHOP, CFA, Burger King).<br />- Saturday arrival is INSANE. We were leaving about 1:30 and the line to check in was past the doors. By contrast, we arrived Friday at 3:30 and waited behind one person.<br />- Locker rentals are available for $10 per day.<br /><br />We ate offsite, so I can't speak to the quality of the restaurants. There is a Great Clock Tower show twice daily (at 10am and 8pm) which is popular with the littler kids, and for the older kids, GWL offers MagiQuest (think running around with wands, swooshing various items around the hotel and lots of excited screaming - wands run $13-25, with game activation coming in at $13). There is an arcade, various gift shops and snack shops (Pizza Hut and robot ice cream were the ones we heard about the most), in addition to a snake show on Saturday as we were leaving (VIPER).<br /><br />We got a KidKamp suite, which the kids LOVED with a passion. Ian slept on the top bunk, Megan got the bottom and both went crazy for their very own in-room TV. The adults got a full bed, with a full-size pullout sofa as well.<br /><br />Overall impression: very positive. It's (not surprisingly) supervision-intensive with smaller kids - think 7 and under - but the lifeguards are plentiful and vigilant, everyone is polite and helpful, and everyone will likely have a Great Wolf Time! :)Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-70697486047298076742012-02-19T08:04:00.000-08:002012-02-19T08:09:54.729-08:00Everything ShattersHow's THAT for a dramatic title?<br /><br />No, it's not an angst-filled teenage love song, or a poem scrawled on the back of the shop building behind the school. What I'm talking about is...tile floors.<br /><br />Yes, they look awesome. Yes, they're super easy to clean. But boy can you not drop one single breakable thing, or else - yep, it shatters. And with little kids (and a mother who's been described as klutzy on more than one occasion)? Things break a lot. A lot a lot.<br /><br />A Twilight glass was the first casualty of the new floors. Then the ferret ceramic pepper shaker. And most recently, as of five minutes ago? The Precious Moments angel my inlaws gave Megan for her birthday eight days ago. Thankfully the angel didn't shatter so much as break into several large pieces, so it's an easy fix with some Super Glue.<br /><br />Perhaps it's time to invest in some rugs.Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-60763847848869579942012-02-16T08:39:00.000-08:002012-02-17T11:03:06.241-08:00In Which The Plague DescendsYou know how, when you're relatively sure it's going to be a bad winter for illness (because with kids in school, it's always - but *always* a bad winter for illness), you're always on your toes, walking on eggshells, waiting for it to happen? Analyzing every cough, every sniffle, every listless eye? And then, when nothing happens, you give a deep sigh of relief before mentally high fiving the universe and shrieking "We made it! WE MADE IT! HALLELUJAHS, HALLELUJAHS!"?<br /><br />Yeah. Not so much.<br /><br />I have a drainage sore throat and a double ear infection, all of which started right after Megan's party with friends for her birthday. All of which continued through a weekend of birthday festivities featuring two birthday parties for friends (including one at Chuck E Cheese!). All of which, despite a trip to the doctor, a day of rest and a cycle of meds, is still hanging around.<br /><br />M has strep. I is under the weather. J is congested and feels yucky.<br /><br />That high five was a tad premature, methinks.Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-71786891723194275032011-08-19T18:25:00.000-07:002011-08-19T18:47:44.306-07:00Caw! Caw!Remember back when you first found out whether or not it was a boy or a girl? You probably immediately had visions of throwing footballs, going to baseball games and in-your-face-shouting-matches over the car keys (if it was a boy) or ballet recitals, two-for-one pedicures and in-your-face-shouting-matches over knee-length vs. barely-there (if it was a girl).
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<br />Me? Not so much. I was an English major in college, an unofficial minor in women's studies and bona fide grrrrrrila girl. When I found out my son was, in fact, a boy, my major hang up was how to make his room as neutral as I could, while still staying in the society-dictated (and daddy-to-be-preferred) blue palette. Enter shades of marine blue, pale blue and green, boats and birds. I stayed away from the football-emblazoned sleepers and wouldn't have bought a onesie that said "Daddy's Li'l Rookie" if you'd paid me to take it out of the store. Every once in a while as he got older I'd succumb to a shirt with a dump truck in his favorite color (orange) on it, but I made sure to balance that out with a pale heathered lavendar shirt that picked out "LOVE" on the front. (For the record: he looked beautiful in both.) Likewise no gender specific toys really, yet move the clock forward to his second birthday - the child knew cars, trucks, buses, boats, planes, trains and the occasional starfighter. Now, at almost 5, he plays Transformers and Star Wars with a furrow of concentration between his eyebrows and a huge grin. It must be in the genes.
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<br />So when it came time for baby #2 to make her gender known, I'd already somewhat given up my rigid stance, at least in my subconscious. And Daddy took the reins and ran with them. Her wall colors? Purple and purple. Her bedding set? Shades of purple with flowers and butterflies. Gone was the pretty green, ivory and light red dragonfly set I'd mentioned - this was a room for a tiny princess. Except that she wasn't a princess, dammit (I thought to myself). She was a little girl. MY little girl. A little girl who, as she grew, developed a penchant for talking, telephones, jewelry and all things sparkly, shiny and PINK. This is ironic because, in a conversation in the late-pregnancy days, I remember saying "She won't wear pink. I just won't buy it. She won't know any different. Khaki is good, and blue and green. It'll be fine." This is also ironic because I wear dresses on my anniversary, at weddings and funerals. That's about it. My daughter puts on a dress, looks down at herself, smiles, swishes her hips and says, "pretty!" And she is.
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<br />Today's purchases: Skechers Twinkletoes. Hot pink coat with pink and purple plaid lining. Pajamas with castles on them. Put them all together with a pearl bead necklace and suddenly, it's Princess, enter stage right.
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<br />Mama, exit stage left and head straight to the dressing room for your steaming plate of crow. Tastes like chicken.
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<br />And for the joy on her face, I'd eat every bit and ask for more.
<br />Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-66634977269611287352011-08-17T16:37:00.000-07:002011-08-17T18:17:58.704-07:00$1 Movies at Regal Cinemas ManassasHaving two children who were born in Woodbridge, I was a ginormous fan of AMC's Summer Movie Camp. What's not to love? You go the week before, you buy your tickets, you show up day of, no line, you buy popcorn, you sit down, you watch, you laugh, you leave. Excellent.
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<br />However, given that AMC decided to cancel their summer program for the 2011 season (sad!) and coupled with the fact that my family and I moved out to Bristow in the spring, I'm now in the market for a new dollar-kids-movie-on-the-weekday venue.
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<br />Enter Regal Cinemas Manassas. Remember all that stuff I said earlier about what's to love about AMC? Yep, after reading this you'll be missing it as much as I do - even if you'd never been to an AMC before in your life.
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<br />The past Tuesday morning dawned bright and sunny. The perfect day for the pool, except we were all a little tired of the pool. Great day, thought Mom, for a movie. Let's go see "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs".
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<br />I drove up to the theater at 9:31 and was greeted by the sight of a line of parents, children, and (what I assume to be) various daycare and church groups snaking from the front doors halfway down the building. This did not bode well for my littlest, who at two is not fond of standing still in lines. As it got closer to 10:00, the line moved along and we bought our tickets right around 10:07 (yep, almost 10 minutes after the movie started, and we got there almost half an hour early). After having bought a kid's pack (small drink, small popcorn and bag of fruit snacks, $5.75) and taken a fast restroom break, we made our way into the theater, only to find...no available seats. Not one. Not even that lone, one-third-of-the-way-across-the-fourth-row-from-the-top no-mans-land seat.
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<br />Trekked out of the pitch black theater juggling a two year old, four year old and a tray of food, to find a manager. The one I found was having his ear chewed by another mother annoyed that it had taken so long to get through the line that she and her kids had missed the beginning of the movie (can't blame her for that, I was less than ecstatic myself). After she had her say, it was my turn. I suggested to the manager that they allow pre-show ticketing (his response: corporate does not allow this, nor are they allowed to open the doors any earlier than 30 minutes prior to showtime) and then asked what to do about the no-seat-in-our-movie situation. He informed me that theater 9 was showing the same movie and I should go there - please note: there was *no* signage to this effect anywhere.
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<br />Cue trekking to the other theater, which was pleasantly not crowded - perhaps because they were showing a movie with a younger target market (VeggieTales: The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything). Luckily I hadn't mentioned that we were supposed to be seeing "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs"!
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<br />The trip after that was fine. The movie quality was great, the patrons were great, my kids were well-behaved and enthralled by the antics of the VeggieTales crew, and my stress level went down considerably.
<br />
<br />So.
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<br />Pros: Inexpensive for tickets (can't beat $1 a seat). Movie quality excellent.
<br />
<br />Cons: You may not get to see the movie you originally planned on seeing. You may have to stand in line a good long while for tickets (or if -as I do - you have a small, impatient child, partner up and get one partner to stand in line while the other amuses the kids elsewhere until showtime). You may need (or choose) to forgo concession in favor of a seat. (And that's another thing - it's not like you can leave your kids in the theater - if they're small - to go get food, and if you get up to grab some popcorn you'll lose your seat! But I digress.) Pee fast.
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<br />Overall review: OK. I love movies, and even though it was a lot of hassle and stress, my kids loved it.
<br />Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-32468545653000980902011-07-20T04:00:00.000-07:002011-07-20T04:28:20.230-07:00Our Bucket ListMy dear friend (who runs <a href="http://pwcmoms.blogspot.com/">http://pwcmoms.blogspot.com/</a>) is running a fabulous giveaway and asked for bucket lists (and progress made on them). My first thought was, how can it be almost a month into summer? I guess getting settled and fixing up a beautiful foreclosure answers that, but summer doesn't last forever and I need to get a move on accomplishing some FUN stuff for a change! (Thanks for the reminder, most awesome friend K!) That said, this is the bucket list that my family came up with. It's sort of jumbled by who asked for what, but it's pretty comprehensive!<br /><br /><strong>Go to the beach</strong> - The VA Marine Science Museum has a stingray pool, and you can actually touch the stingrays! I love it there. And we could stay at <strong>Great Wolf Lodge</strong> on the way down - that would be awesome!<br /><br /><strong>Go to the park</strong> - I think Ian was talking about Kids Dominion, so that one may have to wait until school starts as we're not Montclair residents, although I'm also very interested in checking out Clemyjontri in Mclean.<br /><br /><strong>Go to Pepere's house</strong> - DONE. We were there in June!<br /><br /><strong>Make smores</strong> - I have no idea where this one came from, but it sounds yummy to me!<br /><br /><strong>See a movie with the kids</strong> - Jason took Ian to see Cars 2 (and I was appalled at what I heard about it, so I may be glad I wasn't there even though I love Pixar like mad), and I have plans to take them to see one or two movies at Regal's Dollar Days in August (I'm not impressed with their selection's appropriateness).<br /><br /><strong>Sign up for the summer reading program</strong> - DONE!<br /><br /><strong>Go to the pool</strong> - DONE, pretty much every day!<br /><br /><strong>Find a farmer's market</strong> - I miss the Dale City market so much, there must be an equivalent here in B'stow?<br /><br /><strong>Plant a small garden</strong> - This one will have to wait until next year, unless my dying fruit bushes and tiny cherry tomato plant count! LOL<br /><br /><strong>Go to a PYO fruit place and pick our own</strong> - This one pretty much speaks for itself. Want to do it, never been - maybe in the fall when it's cooler?<br /><br /><strong>Go to Burke Lake Park</strong> - yep, we've lived in NoVa for YEARS and never been (but we've heard fabulous things about the carousel!).<br /><br /><strong>Go to House of Bounce</strong> - this is a new addition. Since moving out to Bristow, Ian has felt the lack of Kids in Motion keenly - plus, I made the mistake of telling him we were getting tickets at the library last week (not knowing the libraries gave out different coupons - whoops, my bad). Needless to say, I've heard of little else since then!<br /><br />Head to the <strong>National Aquarium in DC</strong> - Very interested in their toddler-specific area, and along the same lines...<br /><br />Head south to <strong>Children's Museum of Richmond</strong> - Yep. Lived here for years. Never been. You'd think we never get out, but I swear we do. :)<br /><br /><strong>The National Zoo</strong> in DC and the <strong>Baltimore Aquarium</strong> are on the list as well, but with the heat they'll probably be "Fall Bucket List" items as well.Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-88900697513414803582011-04-19T09:07:00.000-07:002011-04-19T09:09:56.715-07:00Tina Fey's Prayer For Her DaughterFirst, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.<br /><br />May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.<br /><br />When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.<br /><br />Guide her, protect her When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.<br /><br />Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.<br /><br />May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.<br /><br />Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short - a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day - And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.<br /><br />O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.<br /><br />And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.<br /><br />And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me.<br /><br />And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.<br /><br />Amen.Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-776321267191855922011-04-03T11:50:00.000-07:002011-04-03T18:35:05.927-07:00Attack plan for the houseWeek 1 (April 4-10) Week 2 (April 11-17) Week 3 (April 18-24) Upper floor: Megan's room, Ian's room, linen closet, hall bath, master bath, master bedroom Main floor: Kitchen, dining room, living room Lower floor: Rec room, under the stairs, utility room, <span style="color:#ff0000;">bathroom</span>Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-44127189416310367952011-04-01T11:40:00.000-07:002011-04-01T11:58:00.062-07:002011 - The Year of the ACKThe roller coaster...it just keeps on rollin' on. We have a ratified contract on our house, with a settlement date of end of April. Ack. We have bid on a house, but haven't heard anything yet. ACK. Nerves. Stress. Stress. Nerves. And yet. And yet I find myself planning for this still-up-in-the-air, everything-could-still-fall-apart house. I love it. It's got everything we said we wanted (except a fridge, and that's a detail that's easy to add - money + Best Buy = nice cold food). It's got great schools. It is in walking distance to the elementary school (bonus!). It's a better commute. It's got a yard, not just a postage stamp in the front and a deck surrounded by a ruffle of uneven flagstones in the back. It has hardwood floors on the middle level. It has an extra room. It has a two car garage (this is less imprtant to me, but more important to my better half). And for the plans! The house is painted in neutrals right now, which is great for the vast majority of the house but less great for the bedrooms. Megan's room is purple right now, but I'm leaning green in the new house (Disney, Pooh Corner and Christopher Robins Swing). Ian's room will most likely stay blue, although maybe moving toward two ice-blue (Behr 580A-1/2, Icy Bay and Rainsong) walls with one royal blue (Behr, SG570, Sapphire Lace) and one red (Behr, SG170, Licorice Stick) wall. I'm also thinking about trying to do a racing stripe around the room.Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-63134295058043788322011-02-06T19:34:00.000-08:002011-02-06T19:36:38.831-08:00Her first ponytail<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO9t6nfVNEa8Iil2zq3cnLbw_0AFoZ9riZ1nEYfY7eg5n1MR1ii14cNMrg9p-y3HrVu5UCaadeD5WqRCGwIjJo-S64essdau0DYvxcvNo6_yzR56UDK0zrnCcBUDemsaYwMe1DRoiJeE/s1600/ponytail1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570786108674865618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO9t6nfVNEa8Iil2zq3cnLbw_0AFoZ9riZ1nEYfY7eg5n1MR1ii14cNMrg9p-y3HrVu5UCaadeD5WqRCGwIjJo-S64essdau0DYvxcvNo6_yzR56UDK0zrnCcBUDemsaYwMe1DRoiJeE/s320/ponytail1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>She looks so much older than not-quite-two. I can see her with a shorter cut, too - though not for a while. I need to keep her my baby.</div>Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-16976500177257020642011-01-23T06:01:00.000-08:002011-02-06T05:16:03.433-08:00Not much of a blog postMore of a to-do list, but hey - it has to go somewhere, and in case anyone's interested in why I'm not on FB, this is what I'm doing. :)<br /><br />- touch up paint in kitchen<br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">- clean and install cabinet hardware</span><br />- clear counters<br />- clean off Donkey Kong<br />- paint wall behind J's desk<br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">- paint wall beside laundry room door</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">- take tape off ceiling behind my desk, touch up if necessary</span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">- finish baseboards upstairs<br /></span>- clean bathrooms<br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">- get scrap stuff out of bedroom closet</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">- pack up books in bedroom</span><br />- clear floor and vac<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">- touch up paint in J's bathroom<br /></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">- paint hallway</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">- paint bedroom wall</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">- call G&S (Wed, 2/9)<br />- call MP (Mon, 2/14)</span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">- call Derek (Tues, 2/8)</span>Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-26913014878354181612010-11-27T19:08:00.001-08:002010-11-27T19:08:54.265-08:00Ordered our Christmas cards...<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AcNWzlozcuGIg/0AcNWzlozcuGIuLA/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1290913619000/0/"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Seasonal Chic Noir Christmas 5x7 folded card</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>Make a statement with custom <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">Christmas cards</a> at Shutterfly.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-13033023610168642912010-11-12T16:09:00.000-08:002010-11-12T16:12:03.079-08:00Anyone can have an epiphany...I want an *Epiphanie*! :)<br />An Epiphanie camera bag, that is! These gorgeous bags look like they hold EVERYTHING, and they are stylish (goodbye, ugly black scratchy bag). ColorInc has teamed up with Epiphanie to give one of these bags away to one lucky winner -<a href="http://colorinc.typepad.com/color-inc-connect/2010/11/weekend-giveaway-epiphanie-camera-bag-of-your-choice.html#comment-6a01157256bfbb970b013488ede2d3970c"> go check it out!</a>Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-35125446757641067482010-11-02T11:40:00.000-07:002010-11-02T12:39:02.674-07:00Card me!I admit it, I'm a freak for cards. I can happily spend an hour in the cardstore searching for the perfect card or boxed set - at least, I could before I had two kids. Now I'm lucky if I get fifteen seconds to grab the first thing that catches my eye before someone needs a drink, a pacifier, a time out or (more frequently) to go potty. In recent years, I've bought our Christmas cards from our local warehouse store - it was quick, it was easy, and I'd be going there anyway so no special trip required. The quality was OK, the selection was OK, but nothing to write home about.<br /><br />This year, I tossed around the idea of making cards - a beautiful pipe dream, but again with two kids, it's probably not going to happen. We're not members of the warehouse store anymore. I started thinking about ordering cards online and then I happened upon an offer from Shutterfly - <a href="http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/">50 free holiday cards</a> for bloggers! (If you follow me on Facebook, you already know since I statused it earlier.) I've drooled over their photo books for years, and was anxious to see what their card selection was like, so I hopped on over and...<br /><br />O.M.G. The selection is fabulous! They've got classic holiday cards, contemporary/modern holiday cards, nondenominational holiday cards, <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/religious-christmas-cards">Christian Christmas cards</a> - they've even got <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-story-cards">holiday cards that tell a story</a> *and* <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/thank-you-cards">thank you cards</a> for all those fabulous gifts under the tree!<br /><br />The colors are luscious - deep black, chocolate brown, hollyberry red and mistletoe green, pink and blue and in-between. How many photos to include? One photo? Two? Five? Do I want a 4x8 card? A 5x5? Glossy finish, matte or stationery? Where to start? And then, I spotted a card that ordinarily I might miss - and I couldn't look away.<br /><br />Seriously - check it out. The <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/elegant-pearl-christmas-card">Elegant Pearl Christmas Card</a>. White is the perfect backdrop for color photos or black and white, for those night shots of the kids meeting Santa's train or close ups of the lighted Christmas tree. The script greeting is a great little pop of color that registers without overwhelming. It's classic and timeless and fabulous. I'm also debating <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/with-love-chartreuse-christmas-5x7-folded-card">With Love Chartreuse</a> (depending on what shots I can get - i.e., how cooperative the kids are) - it's bright and cheery and packed with photo punch, plus it's a folding card so there's room on the inside for more photos and holiday wishes. Love it!<br /><br />If you want to order your own Elegant Pearl or With Love cards or another design of your choosing, Shutterfly is offering <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery">20% off</a> all holiday cards! Go now and see. Why are you still reading? Go! :)Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-13276242577829520132010-10-09T04:27:00.000-07:002010-10-09T04:32:05.078-07:00Last Letter publishedThis is HUGE. In the scope of the Plath/Hughes pantheon, this is practically unheard of in terms of forthrightness. I am stunned by this discovery, and not surprised that Ted Hughes did not want this to be seen until after his death.<br /><br />“Last Letter” by Ted Hughes<br /><br />What happened that night? Your final night.<br />Double, treble exposure<br />Over everything. Late afternoon, Friday,<br />My last sight of you alive.<br />Burning your letter to me, in the ashtray,<br />With that strange smile. Had I bungled your plan?<br />Had it surprised me sooner than you purposed?<br />Had I rushed it back to you too promptly?<br />One hour later—-you would have been gone<br />Where I could not have traced you.<br />I would have turned from your locked red door<br />That nobody would open<br />Still holding your letter,<br />A thunderbolt that could not earth itself.<br />That would have been electric shock treatment<br />For me.<br />Repeated over and over, all weekend,<br />As often as I read it, or thought of it.<br />That would have remade my brains, and my life.<br />The treatment that you planned needed some time.<br />I cannot imagine<br />How I would have got through that weekend.<br />I cannot imagine. Had you plotted it all?<br /><br />Your note reached me too soon—-that same day,<br />Friday afternoon, posted in the morning.<br />The prevalent devils expedited it.<br />That was one more straw of ill-luck<br />Drawn against you by the Post-Office<br />And added to your load. I moved fast,<br />Through the snow-blue, February, London twilight.<br />Wept with relief when you opened the door.<br />A huddle of riddles in solution. Precocious tears<br />That failed to interpret to me, failed to divulge<br />Their real import. But what did you say<br />Over the smoking shards of that letter<br />So carefully annihilated, so calmly,<br />That let me release you, and leave you<br />To blow its ashes off your plan—-off the ashtray<br />Against which you would lean for me to read<br />The Doctor’s phone-number.<br /> My escape<br />Had become such a hunted thing<br />Sleepless, hopeless, all its dreams exhausted,<br />Only wanting to be recaptured, only<br />Wanting to drop, out of its vacuum.<br />Two days of dangling nothing. Two days gratis.<br />Two days in no calendar, but stolen<br />From no world,<br />Beyond actuality, feeling, or name.<br /><br />My love-life grabbed it. My numbed love-life<br />With its two mad needles,<br />Embroidering their rose, piercing and tugging<br />At their tapestry, their bloody tattoo<br />Somewhere behind my navel,<br />Treading that morass of emblazon,<br />Two mad needles, criss-crossing their stitches,<br />Selecting among my nerves<br />For their colours, refashioning me<br />Inside my own skin, each refashioning the other<br />With their self-caricatures,<br /><br />Their obsessed in and out. Two women<br />Each with her needle.<br /><br /> That night<br />My dellarobbia Susan. I moved<br />With the circumspection<br />Of a flame in a fuse. My whole fury<br />Was an abandoned effort to blow up<br />The old globe where shadows bent over<br />My telltale track of ashes. I raced<br />From and from, face backwards, a film reversed,<br />Towards what? We went to Rugby St<br />Where you and I began.<br />Why did we go there? Of all places<br />Why did we go there? Perversity<br />In the artistry of our fate<br />Adjusted its refinements for you, for me<br />And for Susan. Solitaire<br />Played by the Minotaur of that maze<br />Even included Helen, in the ground-floor flat.<br />You had noted her—-a girl for a story.<br />You never met her. Few ever met her,<br />Except across the ears and raving mask<br />Of her Alsatian. You had not even glimpsed her.<br />You had only recoiled<br />When her demented animal crashed its weight<br />Against her door, as we slipped through the hallway;<br />And heard it choking on infinite German hatred.<br /><br />That Sunday night she eased her door open<br />Its few permitted inches.<br />Susan greeted the black eyes, the unhappy<br />Overweight, lovely face, that peeped out<br />Across the little chain. The door closed.<br />We heard her consoling her jailor<br />Inside her cell, its kennel, where, days later,<br />She gassed her ferocious kupo, and herself.<br /><br />Susan and I spent that night<br />In our wedding bed. I had not seen it<br />Since we lay there on our wedding day.<br />I did not take her back to my own bed.<br />It had occurred to me, your weekend over,<br />You might appear—-a surprise visitation.<br />Did you appear, to tap at my dark window?<br />So I stayed with Susan, hiding from you,<br />In our own wedding bed—-the same from which<br />Within three years she would be taken to die<br />In that same hospital where, within twelve hours,<br />I would find you dead.<br /> Monday morning<br />I drove her to work, in the City,<br />Then parked my van North of Euston Road<br />And returned to where my telephone waited.<br /><br />What happened that night, inside your hours,<br />Is as unknown as if it never happened.<br />What accumulation of your whole life,<br />Like effort unconscious, like birth<br />Pushing through the membrane of each slow second<br />Into the next, happened<br />Only as if it could not happen,<br />As if it was not happening. How often<br />Did the phone ring there in my empty room,<br />You hearing the ring in your receiver—-<br />At both ends the fading memory<br />Of a telephone ringing, in a brain<br />As if already dead. I count<br />How often you walked to the phone-booth<br />At the bottom of St George’s terrace.<br />You are there whenever I look, just turning<br />Out of Fitzroy Road, crossing over<br />Between the heaped up banks of dirty sugar.<br />In your long black coat,<br />With your plait coiled up at the back of your hair<br />You walk unable to move, or wake, and are<br />Already nobody walking<br />Walking by the railings under Primrose Hill<br />Towards the phone booth that can never be reached.<br />Before midnight. After midnight. Again.<br />Again. Again. And, near dawn, again.<br /><br />At what position of the hands on my watch-face<br />Did your last attempt,<br />Already deeply past<br />My being able to hear it, shake the pillow<br />Of that empty bed? A last time<br />Lightly touch at my books, and my papers?<br />By the time I got there my phone was asleep.<br />The pillow innocent. My room slept,<br />Already filled with the snowlit morning light.<br />I lit my fire. I had got out my papers.<br />And I had started to write when the telephone<br />Jerked awake, in a jabbering alarm,<br />Remembering everything. It recovered in my hand.<br />Then a voice like a selected weapon<br />Or a measured injection,<br />Coolly delivered its four words<br />Deep into my ear: ‘Your wife is dead.’<br /><br />http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9275566Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-85106389461553141332010-09-24T19:30:00.000-07:002010-09-24T19:38:39.708-07:00Get Sketchy!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpWygENHaXvaYMGOqISf-gqXtCYcikyZy8rhcHTbCD2abOz54hye6j_crBnMs3bsb1wS3NI3Ens2k8Sk6sfYObIYNLSboisrp9QTmXdzFwO76wxfXU6X6rOEo8vj2eiZbIGqyVUh8pd8/s1600/IMG_1406.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpWygENHaXvaYMGOqISf-gqXtCYcikyZy8rhcHTbCD2abOz54hye6j_crBnMs3bsb1wS3NI3Ens2k8Sk6sfYObIYNLSboisrp9QTmXdzFwO76wxfXU6X6rOEo8vj2eiZbIGqyVUh8pd8/s320/IMG_1406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520673348023775394" border="0" /></a><br />If I were going to design a baby shower invitation based on a movie premiere, this would be it. Based on Get Sketchy #56 (<a href="http://getsketchy.blogspot.com/2010/09/gs-56.html">http://getsketchy.blogspot.com/2010/09/gs-56.html</a>), this was a whole lot of fun to make - thanks to Summer for pointing me toward such a fabulous contest!Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-22096652371340992562010-09-20T13:07:00.000-07:002010-09-20T13:24:11.732-07:00Changes for the holidaysIt's almost the equinox, folks. How crazy is that? Where does the time go? Why do I always feel like quoting Monty Python right about this same time every year? "A year passed: winter changed into spring, spring changed into summer, summer changed back into winter, and winter gave spring and summer a miss and went straight on into autumn... until one day..."<br /><br />The questions, they have no answers.<br /><br />At the same time that I'm considering simplifying lots of things around me, I'm planning on ramping up others. Like the holidays. Most years we just send out a printed photo card from Sams Club - and that's fine.<br /><br />But to paraphrase Dr. Seuss - "maybe [the holidays] mean a little bit more". So I'm thinking handmade cards for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Yep. And more handmade gifts, quite possibly personalized by the kids. And food gifts.<br /><br />Because really - don't we all have enough brightly colored plastic bits around the house already?<br /><br />What are you planning to do for gifts and cards this holiday season? Any particularly awesome ideas or recipes to share?Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-27236935440137638492010-08-21T05:18:00.000-07:002010-08-21T06:10:18.568-07:00JourneysSo: lots of new things going on in ye olde brain.<br /><br />First, I am doing my best to rid my life of time sinks that get me nowhere (yes, I'm talking about you, pointless yet incredibly addicting Facebook games). I have a brain (a pretty good one, in fact, and one I spent a lot of time cultivating) that is so not challenged by "ooh, look - a rain god tiki head! click! click! I can level up my glass of water recipe to one that looks exactly the same! click! click! click! crap, I'm out of energy - must visit other farms so I can continue growing pretty pixels!" So yeah: not doing those anymore. I may slowly reintegrate them but I need to complete my 12-step Clickers Anonymous program first.<br /><br />Second, I actually scrapped last night - at home. This has not happened in forever. Hopefully it will continue! I would love to get Ian's book done, or at least brought up to date.<br /><br />Third, I'm writing again. But more on that later.<br /><br />Fourth, working on getting the house in good working order so it just takes a little time each day to look awesome!<br /><br />Fifth: I've taken a few steps on a faith journey.<br /><br />All of these things conspire to make me happy. <br /><br />What are you all up to?Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-43539506699523032032010-08-11T12:15:00.000-07:002010-08-11T19:09:52.937-07:00Things, things everywhere and no place to put them.I know most of you feel my pain - the pain of too.much.stuff. and not.enough.space. NEVER enough space. I think that's why I love photography so much - pictures (particularly digital ones) take up very little space and they can be fit anywhere: on a wall, leaning on a mantel, tucked under the rim of a bulletin board. Of course, all the *stuff* that goes along with my photography habit (namely, my scrapbooking habit) is copious - but more on that in a moment.<br /><br /><br />And so, in the name of gathering toys together to pass on to a friend, I have come up with some goals for myself - and a question for all of you.<br /><br /><br />1. Reduce. My stuff (and the kids'). By at least 25 percent.<br />2. Reorganize. Make better use of the space we have.<br />3. Redecorate. OK, so this one is kind of a cheat, as I've already started. We're painting the house and doing all the things that (had we been smarter) we would have done almost nine years ago when we moved in. Yay housing market collapse! :(<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What are you holding on to, and why?</span> Take it as abstract as you want. It can be a flowerpot that you painted when you were six that doesn't go with your decor *at all* but you love it because it's bright and cheerful and it reminds you of when school meant pencil boxes and papier mache and those thick jars of glue. Or it could be the weight of the world. Your call. But tell me - I wanna know!<br /><br />And a picture from this afternoon of Missy whacking herself on the head with a flower. Love that girl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURTuwJR53HUvtUPqx9EzQ_QBz7z8fZorYaGq0KIKm20OQhVZldnfNNvfspwxk6G88ZCOkwgBunfLh3tpJlBBUIKferpz9vOLPlAVmcXJQRVDnRbQmlW9zzPfvmmijwJMkyX7AzOfWMBQ/s1600/missywflower.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURTuwJR53HUvtUPqx9EzQ_QBz7z8fZorYaGq0KIKm20OQhVZldnfNNvfspwxk6G88ZCOkwgBunfLh3tpJlBBUIKferpz9vOLPlAVmcXJQRVDnRbQmlW9zzPfvmmijwJMkyX7AzOfWMBQ/s320/missywflower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504236227511913506" border="0" /></a>Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-64584349714912846232010-08-01T04:53:00.000-07:002010-08-01T05:01:42.812-07:00A question for SundayBefore I head off to Target to check on the clearanced toys, a question: What's one craft you've been wanting to do, and what's been stopping you from doing it? It can be a specific project, or a type of crafting - anything. What's on your mind that needs to be out of your hands?Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-65575496729141453132010-07-30T04:19:00.000-07:002010-07-30T04:40:40.830-07:00Coming home, projects and questions about toysA bittersweet trip all around. Flying down to the state of my birth where I spent a number of my formative early-childhood years brought back many memories - some of which I hadn't thought of in decades. Getting to see family members I haven't seen since my wedding in 2001 tallies in on the positive side. The passing and laying-to-rest of a wonderful man, my grandfather, tallies in on the negative, although getting to go down and be a part of it? Positive. In a lot of ways, it was like coming home after an extended absence.<br /><br />Yet my own home was sorely missed (and missing). Ian had a hard time saying goodbye to me at the airport (on the drive home, he kept asking to "go back to the plane house and get Mommy"), and lord knows I had a hard time saying goodbye to him, Missy, and Jason. One of the happiest sights was watching Jason in my little red car driving around the circle to pick me up, the huge smile on Ian's face as they pulled up and he saw me, and the constant hugs and snuggles from Missy at breakfast once she realized that I was actually there to stay.<br /><br />I love coming home.<br /><br />This is going to be a weekend of projects. Finishing one baby blanket, continuing work on another, and a couple of art projects for the kids' rooms (Megan's in particular). Possibly more painting of walls.<br /><br />And a quick non-existent segue into the world of toys. For anyone who has toys with big footprints, at what point did you decide to get rid of them? For example: we have had a Fisher Price activity table and a Laugh n Learn home since Ian was little. Both of them take up a goodly amount of space and both of them were loved and played with extensively (as in, for 30-40 minutes at a stretch) by the little man. Missy, on the other hand? Has maybe five minutes of interest for them. My question to you is: if she hasn't played with them much as yet, is it likely she's suddenly going to get interested? Or should I just pass them on, as she's likely to find other interests at 18 months?Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-31818990571120777882010-07-26T04:13:00.000-07:002010-07-26T04:20:45.405-07:00It's been a while.My dad called on Friday to let me know that my grandfather had not eaten or drank anything for three to four days, and that he had at most days, if not hours. As they're in western GA, it wasn't feasible to drop everything and fly down immediately - we waited for the call. It came on Saturday as I was on my way to scrapping with friends. So there will be no update until at least Thursday - I'm sure y'all understand. Be well in the meantime, and I'll catch you on the flip side.<br /><br />In about three hours, the family will pile into the car to go to the airport. I hate traveling. I particularly hate traveling by myself, so having Jason and the kids there will make leaving so much better - even as it makes it harder - but I know that on Wednesday I will be able to come off the plane, leave the airport and see my beloved faces again.Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8063705095046289593.post-27236268597985714152010-07-22T18:18:00.000-07:002010-07-22T18:22:32.794-07:00What I'm Working On<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWKSDPfhkjunFakt-RPsRh4Vpi-nkpBK6GUKB0LCN_6g97f6H07qFzkuEILStiIbq1e9ogz7n1UBiE-qdG-tILPg8WlPGTV-Cs0VrN-2MX_6JBYKor6J5kgaD4ISNMDUbPwY01cAqZ2Q/s1600/IMG_9548.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWKSDPfhkjunFakt-RPsRh4Vpi-nkpBK6GUKB0LCN_6g97f6H07qFzkuEILStiIbq1e9ogz7n1UBiE-qdG-tILPg8WlPGTV-Cs0VrN-2MX_6JBYKor6J5kgaD4ISNMDUbPwY01cAqZ2Q/s200/IMG_9548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496905114369974850" border="0" /></a>Here are the raw materials for my next project! So excited!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfmHc3ZSfr3QmgF3XeKh3FY3T0ezf0d2G7zE3l0zIszdpJxD9NhfofOPFVNdEBkNXcuSQtCkAfQxxdBnHMEAlO59p5T1zDXbFKADuRUPK-wuCLqrSaAd7whtay3CZqaTbPYoJmQ9T1c4/s1600/IMG_9546.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfmHc3ZSfr3QmgF3XeKh3FY3T0ezf0d2G7zE3l0zIszdpJxD9NhfofOPFVNdEBkNXcuSQtCkAfQxxdBnHMEAlO59p5T1zDXbFKADuRUPK-wuCLqrSaAd7whtay3CZqaTbPYoJmQ9T1c4/s200/IMG_9546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496905100393000514" border="0" /></a>And a peek at my current project - so soft and plushy, just right for a brand new baby!Caithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16836948787537512304noreply@blogger.com0