Later on this evening after boys in bed, I santered off into the neighborhood for a little walk. Saw my first bat of the season. And my first lightning bug, too. How could this day be better???
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Birthday, bats, and bugs
Ahhh, what a perfect Spring day. For many reasons, it is perfect. My dear husband entered into this world 35 years ago. THIRTY FIVE YEARS AGO! Thank goodness he did. On top of celebrating his existence, we got a picture-perfect weather forcast: 75 and sunny with no humidity. GORGEOUS.
After work, we headed straight into dinner. I labored really hard at providing something scrumptious: Drove right on down the road to Donato's. :) Scott has missed it for our near-four-years in MN, so I treat him to it any chance we get. We brought along his chocolate birthday cake (which the workers really appreciated; not only did they have sauce and parmesan cheese sprinkled throughout the booth, they were faced with chocolate crumbs and smears, too!) and the boys helped him blow out his 8 candles (3 plus 5, or else I'd go over my candle budget).
Later on this evening after boys in bed, I santered off into the neighborhood for a little walk. Saw my first bat of the season. And my first lightning bug, too. How could this day be better???
Later on this evening after boys in bed, I santered off into the neighborhood for a little walk. Saw my first bat of the season. And my first lightning bug, too. How could this day be better???
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Just doin some art today
The artists are below.
And the artwork... giraffe & elephant. You can likely guess who is the artist of each. :)
And the artwork... giraffe & elephant. You can likely guess who is the artist of each. :)
Monday, April 9, 2012
The book remembers when...
I love that Trisha Yearwood song: "The Song Remembers When"
So does a book, by the way.
Case in point:
* Elizabeth Gilbert with Eat Pray Love got me through mom's death and pumping for Duncan (how many hours did I sit behind that curtain in the pumping room of the Children's Hospital NICU reading away?)
* Jodi Picoult with ALL of her books got me through Duncan's death
* And Suzanne Collins with her Hunger Games series got me through Dad's death
I am taking the time to write this, because I had the AWESOME opportunity to watch the Hunger Games movie preview showing a few Thursday nights ago. I planned it as a date night, lining up the inlaws to stay overnight, holding the fort down with boys, so Scott and I could go to the 12:05am showing (to illustrate the special nature of this event, please note our regular bedtime is 9:30pm and stuff officially turns to pumpkins after 10pm for sure!). As the event came closer, it became abundantly clear to me that Scott's week and Scott's following work day was not permitting him to be sleep-deprived. So, I encouraged him to bail on me. In fact, I insisted. It just was too much.
One might think that I would bail too.
But no.
I went.
10:00 - 11:40pm was a rough 1.666666 hours. Snacking and messing around on Pinterest prevented me from nodding off. And the bed was calling me LOUDLY. It was tempting. But I pressed on.
I was beginning to feel a bit silly - mother of two preschoolers and visably prego with another - staying up for a book-made-popular-by-teenage-crowd-turned-movie. But then. When I arrived on site. My mood shifted. The theater was crawling with Hunger Games enthusiasts. I was with my people: old, young, purple, green, rich, poor... the energy was palpable.
So I sat my pregnant little patootee down in one of the few single seats remaining (the place was nuts, I tell you!) and enjoyed the show. I laughed. I cried. I jumped out of my seat.
It was great.
Thank you, Suzanne. I will never forget what you did for me!
So does a book, by the way.
Case in point:
* Elizabeth Gilbert with Eat Pray Love got me through mom's death and pumping for Duncan (how many hours did I sit behind that curtain in the pumping room of the Children's Hospital NICU reading away?)
* Jodi Picoult with ALL of her books got me through Duncan's death
* And Suzanne Collins with her Hunger Games series got me through Dad's death
I am taking the time to write this, because I had the AWESOME opportunity to watch the Hunger Games movie preview showing a few Thursday nights ago. I planned it as a date night, lining up the inlaws to stay overnight, holding the fort down with boys, so Scott and I could go to the 12:05am showing (to illustrate the special nature of this event, please note our regular bedtime is 9:30pm and stuff officially turns to pumpkins after 10pm for sure!). As the event came closer, it became abundantly clear to me that Scott's week and Scott's following work day was not permitting him to be sleep-deprived. So, I encouraged him to bail on me. In fact, I insisted. It just was too much.
One might think that I would bail too.
But no.
I went.
10:00 - 11:40pm was a rough 1.666666 hours. Snacking and messing around on Pinterest prevented me from nodding off. And the bed was calling me LOUDLY. It was tempting. But I pressed on.
I was beginning to feel a bit silly - mother of two preschoolers and visably prego with another - staying up for a book-made-popular-by-teenage-crowd-turned-movie. But then. When I arrived on site. My mood shifted. The theater was crawling with Hunger Games enthusiasts. I was with my people: old, young, purple, green, rich, poor... the energy was palpable.
So I sat my pregnant little patootee down in one of the few single seats remaining (the place was nuts, I tell you!) and enjoyed the show. I laughed. I cried. I jumped out of my seat.
It was great.
Thank you, Suzanne. I will never forget what you did for me!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
SOMEBODY is turning THREE!!!
Yesterday we celebrated the first of a couple birthday celebrations for our 2 362/365 yr old. Tuesdays is his real day, but we're taking advantage of the weekend to really celebrate in style. Grandpa and Grandma Arthur really went above and beyond with a Mickey Mouse themed party -complete with plates, napkins, stickers, favors, AND a special birthday boy pin (which Sullivan is NOT sporting in any of these pics)!! He got a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal, which he is holding right now (on Sunday morning) while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on TV. He is a Mickey freak.
Thanks for all the fun!!!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Favorite quote from my favorite 4 year old
"Mom, you are my favorite human in the whole world."
Remind me to look back to 2.19.2012 on 2.19.2023, when he's 15 and I am the #1 most alienating human.
For now, I shall relish.
Remind me to look back to 2.19.2012 on 2.19.2023, when he's 15 and I am the #1 most alienating human.
For now, I shall relish.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
94% of the way there
I'd say we only have about 6% of our possessions (indoors) still in boxes. Don't ask about the garage - we'll save that for Spring weather...
So, that's good news! It's shaping up around here. Once I feel it's respectable, I'll post some pictures for my MN peeps and other out-of-staters.
My favorite things about this house:
#1) Little bar area off of kitchen island: an eat-in set-up like I've never experienced: food slopped straight from stovetop to kids' plates. No walking. No dishes to transport. Skillet to plate. Love it.
#2) Washer and dryer on 2nd floor... I do laundry for fun now (outright stretch).
#3) A "true" dining room with enough space for all my beautiful dining pieces, gifted by Mom and Dad. (Have I ever told you the story of how, when my mom's death was imminent, she told Dad, 'I am perfectly fine with you remarrying but don't you DARE let any new woman have my dining room furniture.' I truly think it ranked as one of her proudest possession! And Dad and Nancye faithfully Uhauled it up to MN the first year they were married - promise kept!)
#4) Using our leather couches, formerly serving as the "formal furniture," as our main furniture. It's so comfortable, easy-to-clean, and I don't miss my cushy overstuffed couches one bit! Plus, I don't miss my formal living room one bit! This is where the action is all the time, anyway!
#5) Where it's located... this neighborhood is great. There's a bike path up the street, as well as an elementary school with a playground down the other way. The Caribou is walking distance. The library is RIDICULOUS. And the local Giant Eagle grocery store serves crepes topped with nutella on the spot. COME ON!!! I'm pitching the plan to go to Giant Eagle for my first date night with Scott :)
The boys have adjusted marvelously. And so have Scott and I, if I do say so myself.
If only I could find one last thing in the remaining boxes... been looking for it feverishly since we arrived. I'm beginning to panic that it may remain lost for the remaining 5.5 months until Aug 3:
MY ENERGY.
Has anyone seen it? I really need it.
For this reason, I'm so slow in returning messages, popping cards in the mail, emailing, or anything else. I'm perfectly content being a bum all day long, in my PJs if I could. I'll just ride this wave and hope my home, my children, and my friends/family forgive me!
Almost forgot: Guess what I got for V-day???? Scott sneakily jetted off to the car while I was wrapping up baths with boys. We had planned for a candle-lit meal in peace once they went to bed. I didn't even notice that he had planted a big box in the living room. He unveiled it in the dining room once dinner was over. A VACUUM!!! Like, a really, really nice vacuum!
To some, this may seem lame or unacceptable.
But to me, one who has spent the last several years developing anxiety every time I had to turn on my sometimes-it-works-sometimes-it-doesn't PMS-y cheap-o sweeper, it was as if Scott had just handed me a ticket to domestic bliss. I LOVE it. LOVE IT! (He did get reprimanded by a female bystandard in the store while he was vacuum-browsing, scolding, "Don't you DARE get your lady a vacuum for Valentine's Day!" Thankfully, this had no impact upon him. :)
So, that's good news! It's shaping up around here. Once I feel it's respectable, I'll post some pictures for my MN peeps and other out-of-staters.
My favorite things about this house:
#1) Little bar area off of kitchen island: an eat-in set-up like I've never experienced: food slopped straight from stovetop to kids' plates. No walking. No dishes to transport. Skillet to plate. Love it.
#2) Washer and dryer on 2nd floor... I do laundry for fun now (outright stretch).
#3) A "true" dining room with enough space for all my beautiful dining pieces, gifted by Mom and Dad. (Have I ever told you the story of how, when my mom's death was imminent, she told Dad, 'I am perfectly fine with you remarrying but don't you DARE let any new woman have my dining room furniture.' I truly think it ranked as one of her proudest possession! And Dad and Nancye faithfully Uhauled it up to MN the first year they were married - promise kept!)
#4) Using our leather couches, formerly serving as the "formal furniture," as our main furniture. It's so comfortable, easy-to-clean, and I don't miss my cushy overstuffed couches one bit! Plus, I don't miss my formal living room one bit! This is where the action is all the time, anyway!
#5) Where it's located... this neighborhood is great. There's a bike path up the street, as well as an elementary school with a playground down the other way. The Caribou is walking distance. The library is RIDICULOUS. And the local Giant Eagle grocery store serves crepes topped with nutella on the spot. COME ON!!! I'm pitching the plan to go to Giant Eagle for my first date night with Scott :)
The boys have adjusted marvelously. And so have Scott and I, if I do say so myself.
If only I could find one last thing in the remaining boxes... been looking for it feverishly since we arrived. I'm beginning to panic that it may remain lost for the remaining 5.5 months until Aug 3:
MY ENERGY.
Has anyone seen it? I really need it.
For this reason, I'm so slow in returning messages, popping cards in the mail, emailing, or anything else. I'm perfectly content being a bum all day long, in my PJs if I could. I'll just ride this wave and hope my home, my children, and my friends/family forgive me!
Almost forgot: Guess what I got for V-day???? Scott sneakily jetted off to the car while I was wrapping up baths with boys. We had planned for a candle-lit meal in peace once they went to bed. I didn't even notice that he had planted a big box in the living room. He unveiled it in the dining room once dinner was over. A VACUUM!!! Like, a really, really nice vacuum!
To some, this may seem lame or unacceptable.
But to me, one who has spent the last several years developing anxiety every time I had to turn on my sometimes-it-works-sometimes-it-doesn't PMS-y cheap-o sweeper, it was as if Scott had just handed me a ticket to domestic bliss. I LOVE it. LOVE IT! (He did get reprimanded by a female bystandard in the store while he was vacuum-browsing, scolding, "Don't you DARE get your lady a vacuum for Valentine's Day!" Thankfully, this had no impact upon him. :)
Valentine's Day always brings out my creative side
Not all are symmetrical, but it's the effort that counts... apples and pb as apps for my big love
Summer sausage and specialty cheddar for my big love
Mini ice creams for my little loves, and stuffed little animals from Grandma too!(Jackson's new thing is to purposely make his eye stray when he's posing for a picture... charming, ain't it?)
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