for 1 I ♥

Olivia.
She is beautiful.
She is passionate.
She wears her heart on her sleeve.
She is at times a complete mystery to me.

I wonder if my own mother thought so much about me as I do O?
I don't think she did.
I think there was more confidence back then
This is the way we (and everyone else) do things
Now it is all open for debate isn't it

Spelling trips us up the most.
I mean really who besides children write with pencil and paper
recording all of their mistakes
because even if you erase,
we can still see you had it wrong at one time
no we write with computers and texts
creating new ways of spelling
Using spell check when we are feeling archaic

So how much pain and suffering should one allow
over spelling?
how do you gauge - trying your hardest
or putting in your best effort
should tears be allowed, encouraged, ignored, built upon?
Should it be
Don't let it get the best of you
You can conquer this
a plan and discipline
or
spelling,
some people get it
some don't
it is ok.
spell check will be there when you need it
Just like your father has always been there for me
honey how do you spell...

How not to

The photos

The Tower of TERROR!!!!

Some people go for the characters and autographs. Some for the parades and shows. Some for the stories and the wonder of it all. And then there are those who go for the rides. Our family falls into this last group. Or at least our trip to Disney revealed that this is who we are.. The Ride people.
Olivia especially loved the rides. And I was just so proud and happy for her.W hen I was a kid, I loved the rides too. I still do. I have several great vivid memories of standing in line with friends, freaking myself out over a roller coaster and then screaming my head off out of terror and thrill as I rode the ride, only to survive and get back in line to ride again.
And that was Olivia. Tower of Terror, Everest, Space Mountain, Thunder Railroad, Barn Stormer and everything in between. She braved them all. Each time she would doubt her desire to ride.
Maybe I won't ride this one.
It looks scary.
Too scary.
I don't want to ride.
Ok I will try it.
Can I get out of line?
Ok I will do it.
Are you sure it always stays on the track?
Has anyone ever gotten hurt?
It goes really fast.
Ok I will ride it once because I have ridden others but I won't ride it again.
SCREAMING SCREAMING SCREAMING
That was so great! Can we ride it again?
If only we had had enough time and stamina to ride them all again.

Except for the Tower of Terror which used to be a nice little ride that faked you out with a half drop and then shot you up to the top of the tower and really dropped you. Now, to make sure it catches you off guard, it has 7 or 8 different combinations of drops it can do and when we went on it, it treated us like a can of pop and shook us all up. It was truly terrible and I told Olivia when we got off to NEVER let me ride that ride again. And she agreed that we both would Never ride it again. I love her so much.

OJ

In March we went to WDW. In order to save money I packed a bunch of food that we could eat in the room. This included water bottles and those little crystal lights packs for use with water bottles, some juice boxes and Dr. Pepper. While Olivia will drink whatever is on hand except for OJ, Jack only drinks OJ. So I specifically founds OJ juice boxes that I thought he would like. I was wrong.
Here is the thing. Not only does he exclusively like OJ, he only likes a specific kind. And I know this and yet I keep trying to find some other kind for him to like.
Tang
His reply - are we trying to kill him?
But the astronauts drank it!
Nope.
Freshly squeezed
What is all this STUFF in my OJ!
But Jack they are like special little bursts of juice.
Nope.
OJ Juice boxes
Mommy why did you buy these?
So you would have something to drink.
But I just want my regular juice.
I know but that does not transport so easily.
But I LIKE that kind. And I DON'T like this kind.
I am sorry Jack.
And so throughout the trip Jack would remind me how I failed him.
Jack are you having a good time?
Yes but it would be better if I had my normal juice.
Jack wasn't the Tower of Terror terrible.
It was and I wish I had some of my juice to make me feel better.
Driving home after the vacation - next time mommy don't forget to bring my juice. Why didn't you bring it this time? I just don't understand why you would think I would like other juice when my juice is so good. So next time don't do it Mommy. Next time bring my juice.

If Jack only knew how much I love that he pestered me SO much about the juice. It was hilarious. and I think next time... I just might forget again. Oh the ribbing that I will have to endure.

maybe

So I think I may have ticked off the valet. See I am at a convention that is paid for by my employer. And I am here alone so I used valet parking. But I forgot the part about tipping the valet. Which wasn't a problem really until today when I actually took the car out TWICE and never tipped the valet. It did not even hit me that I should tip him until I was driving back to the hotel tonight. And then I realized that I have no actual money on me... so I am hoping that I will be able to tip him tomorrow and that he does not hold it against me...and at the same time I am wondering why I have to tip him when I am paying $12.00 a day for valet parking? UGH! This is why I don't normally use valet parking. But I am a going to tip. I AM! unless of course my car shows up with dents and scratches in it.

a slow death

Call it.
4:33 PM
At 4:33 PM on Wednesday September 24th, after months of neglect, my blog died.
Sorry folks...all 2 of you but I am done for now.
I will leave it active for a few more days so I can save it to my lap top but after that, I am shutting off the lights.
Thanks
it was fun while it lasted.
Beth

Legos

He wakes up thinking about them.
Probably because he falls asleep thinking about them.
He is always ready for School before his sister
because he is always rushing
trying to squeeze in a few minutes of early morning play time
This morning there were two ships and a gray planet rectangle on the table
They were left over from the night before
He had retreated to his room to play
I began to absent mindedly play with the ships.
He rushed out of his room
Mommy! Lets Play. I Will Bring You a Guy.
Ok
Here I brought you a girl
Thanks Jack
And so we played. Just for a few minutes.
Mostly I watched and listened as the Guys search for R2 D2
He was hiding in a rock Jack had built.
I found R2D2 because that is what Jack wanted
And then it was time for him to leave with Daddy for School

I started to see myself as the 64 year old woman who had been in the same job for 39 years and I began to worry

I have a new job. After 14 years of being a Bursar's Office employee, I am now a Student Loan Office employee. I have to admit - It feels about the same. Which is good. I was not really looking to leave the Bursar's Office but this job came looking for me and I could not ignore it. I am glad that it does not feel a lot different. It is in a different location but I have moved with the Bursar's Office before so no big deal. It is with new people but most of them I have know for years so again - no big deal. The focus of this job is different. Loans instead of billing. And the scope is different, just Undergrads and not every student at the University and their parents. So I am good with this move. Of course only time will tell. Six months from now some aspect of the job may rear it's horrible head and I will be wishing for the good ole days. But for now, This Is Good. 

And I am Thankful. 

What I did this summer... because obviously I wasn't blogging

Summer - a time to relax and enjoy time together.
Summer - a time to jam in all the things that you can't do during the rest of the year
Summer - Hurry up and enjoy... NOW before it is over.

A blog blitz on our summer.

Mom turned 75 and we celebrated at a resort perched on the highest point in Illinois overlooking the Mississippi, which was at flood stage back in June. Our celebrating mom included eating, shopping, swimming and playing.
Mom, at 75 years young... but that didn't stop Tamara and I from beating her in miniature golf

The Great Muddy Mississippi. If you enlarge the picture you will see that the island in the middle of the water is not an island at all but the tops of trees. (yep we are at a ski resort...in ILLINOIS! don't even comment)
For some reason they would not stand closer and Jack would not stop talking long enough to let me take the picture.
The Alpine slide. We tried to convince Mom to give it a try (she went white water rafting the previous Fall) but she was not brave enough. Olivia is on the left and my niece Erin is on the right. The slide was cool people. I highly recommend it.Jack and Eric on the way back up after a ride down the alpine slide. Note the slide in the lower right corner. Let me say again - totally cool fun.


Also in June we said good bye to Tamara as she moved back up to Boston with Jill. We miss them both. It was a sad weekend.

Aunt Tamara with O on O's birthday

And then the last weekend in June we drove to Birmingham Alabama to visit the Patricks. Great fun. And Birmingham is beautiful y'all. On this trip we realized that Eric had driven through 16 different states and the District of Columbia in the month of June. NC, VA, WV, KY, IN, IL and IA for Mom's celebration. NC, VA, MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT and MA for Tamara's trip back to Boston. And then, NC, SC, GA and AL for the Patricks.

This is Vulcan. He overlooks Birmingham. I could tell you the history behind him but just google it.

Here is Jack doing his best impression of Vulcan. (click on it to enlarge)

Olivia, Amelia, Jack, Colin and Yeadon running away from The Vulcan.
All the same kids with baby Emma at the side. Note Colin is three months younger than Jack.

July brought Katie and Bob (my niece and her husband). And fireworks or missed fireworks or natural fireworks. We played Uno attack outside on the deck waiting to leave for the Fireworks on the 4th and then the clouds rolled in and we had a major thunderstorm. So the kids and I watched the fireworks on TV from DC and Eric, Katie and Bob watch the fireworks from the storm as it passed through.
July also brought Tom Petty. Ok, he did not come to us. We went to him. This was my birthday present to Eric. It was a GREAT concert. There was a moment during the concert when several college students who had consumed more beer in the last hour than I had in my whole life, started to toke away and I had a moment of clarity on just how many of Tom's songs are about getting high. Not saying I did not realize this before but the songs sung in succession and in juxtaposition of the students just brought it home a little more clearly. But Tom can Rock people.
July also brought the projects. Eric made a tree house for the kids and we made screen curtains for the front porch. The tree house is complete. We are still working on the screen curtains.

For some reason I don't have a picture of the completed treehouse but here it is in progress.

And August brought school but not before we spent time with friends, swimming and making memories.
Jack lost his first tooth the first week of school. He lost his second on our Labor day vacation. And he did literally lose them or he swallowed them. But the tooth fairy still left money based on the gaps in his mouth.

And being the procrastinators that we are, we saved the beach for last. We went to Hilton Head for Labor day where we had a great time playing in the ocean and on the beach, swimming in the condo swimming pool and eating ice cream and Italian ices ... everyday.

I love this pic. Olivia holding her nose, Jack with his hands in the air. Both screaming with delight.

And now we await Autumn.

And tonight

Jack ran in the house yelling - Mommy I like it! I like Kindergarten!

He likes to warm into things

This past weekend
Jack, what are you doing with your school supplies?
Hiding them.
Why?
Because if you can't find them, then I won't have to go to school.

Jack! Look, you've go mail.
Really? What is it?
A Post card from your teacher welcoming you to Kindergarten.
Oh, why do I have to get bad mail? I don't want that.
As I pick the discarded postcard up from the floor - Why don't you want it?
I don't want a new teacher! Why all the time, do I have to have a new teacher.

Monday-
Olivia - Jack, Jack, we are going to meet your teacher today.! Aren't you excited.
Jack - Ok sure.
Olivia spends several minutes explaining to Jack about how much fun Kindergarten will be
You get to learn your letters and then you will start to read. And you will be able to read just like me.
Really?
Yes.

Wednesday Morning - the First day of school

As I took the picture they were both yelling triumphantly
It's the First Day of School!!
Over and over and over again.

hmmm

Trying this as well. What we did on Olivia's 8th birthday

Something New

I am trying something new. It is a photo album posted to the Blog.
Not sure if I like it or not.

Our beautiful girl

Her request for her birthday was dinner at Red Robin, complete with the wait staff singing Happy Birthday as they delivered her birthday sundae. Heaven for an eight year old.
Click the pic for a larger view

Sorrow

A friend of a friend is currently living in Shanghai China and she noted on her blog that on Monday there were three minutes of Noise in Shanghai to commemorate the earthquake that brought devastation to the Sichuan province a week prior.
This intrigued me. Three minutes of noise. Not a moment of silence, which can go unnoticed but three whole minutes of noise which are hard to ignore.
I understand the moment of silence. I find it beautiful and moving to be respectful in the face of unthinkable horror. For me personally I see it is a moment to reflect and say – I do not understand God but I do trust you and may your will be done.
But I also see the beauty of the noise. Noise is uncomfortable, chaotic and even painful. It is appropriate to have people sharing noise in a reflective moment that is uncomfortable and painful, to support the sorrow and anguish that a terrible event wrought. That makes sense doesn’t it? To me it is like a calling out to God, to let him know that we have been hurt, to ask why?
I would like both on a global level. Three minutes of gut wrenching noise followed by a moment of utter silence. I hurt but I trust you.

Buzz

Jack watched intently while I cut Eric's hair with clippers. When I finished he asked if he could get his hair cut too.
Are you sure - I asked - because if we buzz it your hair will be all gone.
Yes.
Positive.
YES!
I questioned him for two reasons. One - previously he had let us know that he never ever wanted clippers used on his hair. He did not want his hair buzzed. Second - I did not want to see his hair gone. I like Jack's hair. I love his shaggy look. I did not want it gone.
Eric reminded me how much I used to like when my nephews had their hair buzzed. This is true. And so I relented but I could not be the one who commit this hair travesty.
So Eric performed his first clipper cut and Jack's first buzz.
I am still a little sad about it but Jack is loving it.
So below - Jack's summer dreaming. (Natalie Merchant sings Come Take a Trip in my Airship)

The little plant. Again

My video is poor but the sound is good. This is Olivia at the Cresset talent show. It was a great show. Many talented kids but of course O was the highlight for us.

The small things

7:45 AM Friday - Eric called to see if I was going to make it Mother's Day Lunch at Preschool today. Of course I had completely forgotten about this. The last time I thought about it was over a month ago when it was mentioned in a note home. I only get a 1/2 hour for lunch and there was just no way I was going to be able to swing this for Jack without having pre arranged it. Thankfully Eric is at school and he is going to try and fill in as Jack's mom for part of the time.
7:45 PM Thursday - Last night the kids had a Spring program. The both did great. After the program we went to the bookfair and bought several books. The library is small, so the kids and I waited outside in the hallway while Eric paid. The line was long and so after awhile we all wandered back into the bookfair. The kids went and stood by Eric and I hung out near the door. I noticed a jar full of cars. It said " Guess how many cars have traveled this road"? I did not know what road but I looked around for entry forms and found them on a ledge across from the cars. I had nothing to do so I made a guess. I counted a row. Seemed like 10. I counted up. 8 rows. I guessed 96. I went to write my name and realized it was for students only. Of course that made sense. Why would random parents get to guess? So I wrote Jack's name down and then butchered his teacher's name on the form and placed it in the pile. I then filled out a second form for Olivia - 113 and a final form for Eric - 156.. I am usually way off on these things so I went big for Eric. While I was hanging out by the door Olivia's friend George came up with his Grandma and she had him guess as well. George is very quiet. Olivia often talks about George and she says her favorite thing about him is that he is quiet. (yay I thought the same thing). George guessed 99 and I told him I thought that was a great guess. I then chatted a little with his grandmother.
8:45 AM Friday Eric called. Is someone throwing up? I asked. This is usually why he calls.
No, he said, you are really going to laugh at what I have to tell you.
Great!
They just announced over the loud speaker that the winner of the car guessing contest was Jack Rice!
Oh my word! I laughed - That is great.
I then told Eric how I had filled out forms for both kids and him.
Does he win all the cars? I asked
I don't know. Is that what it said?
It didn't say what you win. Maybe it is just fame that you win.
I am sure he won something.
Well I guess this makes up for not being at the Mother's day lunch I thought and then I felt bad for George. He was so close. Was it wrong for me to guess for Jack? Maybe it was. I don't think Jack even knows the number 96. Will George even care? Ugh. See.. Welcome to my life. If he does win the cars in the jar we are totally giving some to George.

Cursing the need for sleep

I haven’t felt this way for awhile. It has probably been since before I had kids that I was so excited about reading all the books that are currently surrounding my bed. I like to read. I do it regularly and I get excited about a certain book quite a bit but right now the urge to just sit for extended hours, undisturbed reading book after book or even just one book cover to cover in one sitting, can not be squelched.
The books nag at me all day. Calling to me to come and read them. I have avoided taking one to work with me because I know I would be stealing glances at it all day, eluding my actual work. When I get home, I head straight for the books. I open one up and bring it through the house with me. Catching paragraphs between playing with my children, cooking dinner, conversation with Eric: all the things that come between arriving home and going to bed.
Finally when I snuggle in bed, with time to myself, I give the book my full attention. I read and read and read, confident that I will be finishing the last page just as the sun rises and my household awakes for the day, only to wake at 1:00 AM to discover that I read a mere 10 pages before falling asleep. CURSES! And though my desire is to pick up where I left off and keep reading I cave to my responsible adult self, turning off the light to sleep and merely dream of reading.

Books surrounding my bed:
Surviving Nashville - Stacy Barton
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - Michael Chabon
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
The Death of Adam - Marilynne Robinson
So Brave, Young, and Handsome - Leif Enger
The Reason for God - Timothy Keller
Abide With Me - Elizabeth Strout
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness - Andrew Petersen
Prayer Does it Make a Difference - Philip Yancy
Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury
Summerland - Michael Chabon
Complete Stories - Flannery O'Connor
Sex God - Rob Bell

And Two I hope to get this summer and add to the collection:
The God Factor - Cathleen Falsani
Kingdom of Ordinary Time - Marie Howe

To Grandmother's house we go...um ok Great Grandmother's house

Yes I know, not a "real" post but we have been meaning to get this slide show up for Great Grandma ever since Eric came back home with the kids. This is their trip to see her and Great Grandpa. The kids are stilling talking about the trip. They had a great time. As did Eric. If I get around to it, I will post pics of Eric the first time he visited the Kennedy Space Center so you can compare it to this time when he went with the kids on his way home from Great Grandma's. (the song is the BoDeans - 'Closer to Free')

Palm Sunday

On Saturday Olivia and Jack started Ice Skating
lessons. Jack was very hesitant but Olivia was
gung ho! The first lesson went very well and then
on Sunday O sang with the Children's Choir at
church and one of the father's was nice enough
to forward us this video.

Speech Meet

Olivia had a full weekend. It started Friday with her

Speech Meet Competition in Greensboro.  This is

her early morning run through before the meet.

Not bad for 6:30 AM. 

Today

Day of possibilities + totally indecisive = missed opportunities

Our little Indie

Ok it is too long but I wanted it to play the complete song. Of course the song may not even work. So if you have sound on your computer but don't hear anything let me know.!
Anyhow, it is Jack's Indiana Jones party.
Quick review - hats and whips
swing over the pit of snakes
mortally wound the snakes
climb the hill and dodge the boulders
shoot through the hole
rickety bridge over the hungry water monster
run across the spongy ground while being shot at
climb through the cave(under the trampoline) and then dig for clues in the sand box
put the clues together to form a picture of the lootf
ind the loot
take the loot
open presents
eat cake
collapse in bed





music - "The Raiders March" by John Williams

It might be a big one

Tomorrow is Jack's birthday. We let him open the present from Grandma and Grandpa early because we will be away from home for most of his birthday. Below documents that gift opening. See if you can hear Jack say - It might be a big one.
(It slows a little in the middle but it pays off in the end.)

Knee energy

This morning igoogle, lead me to this article on NPR concerning a knee brace that stores human energy. I think it is so freaking cool to think that one day the energy I exert to hike a mountain can then be used to charge my cell phone... or in my case - that the energy I exert to play the Wii can be used again ... to play the Wii.

FOUND!

I found my positive attitude as soon as I picked up my kids. Both were thrilled to get to leave school early with Momma. Even if it was only 1/2 hour early. As we turned on to Duke Street both kids sang out - I Love Going to the Dentist! Which made me laugh. And then when we pulled into the parking lot, Jack asked - Why are we here?
Olivia replied - This is the Dentist.
And Jack asked - Why are we here?
Olivia - Because we have dentist appointments.
Jack - Oh Sorry! I forgot! I love the Dentist.
Again, me laughing.
The Dental hygienist was chill about the breaking of the apparatus. Apparently the Dentist likes to OVER correct the bite and then leave the apparatus in for an additional three months. So we bought a new apparatus. Which normally costs $400 but they cut me a "deal" for $120. $50 more than the $70 glue. MAN I should have gone for the glue.
We head back to the dentist in two weeks for the new apparatus. And we got to keep the old one. What does one do with $400 worth of metal apparatus? I don't know but I am hoping Eric can work it into some cool piece of are work.
And Jack has an appointment in six months. Because who can argue with - I really love the dentist Jack.
On a positive note. When I got home Eric had our reenrollment check from Cresset. Apparently we do not have to pay a re enrollment fee since Eric is staff, so they had written void on it and handed it back to him. Sweet. So all together I was only out $40 for the day.

lacking positive attitude

Today I am bring Jack and O to the dentist. Olivia is suppose to get her apparatus removed today. Jack is just having a routine check up. A routine check up that is going to be annually after this and not every six months at least not until his permanent teeth start coming in. I mean really what were we thinking?? On the 25th of January, Olivia's apparatus came loose. The dentist is not open on Fridays so we shoved it back in and hoped for the best. Then last week Olivia was sick with a high fever. This did not seem like the time to bring her in to the dentist just so they could glue the apparatus on one side... nor did it seem like the right time to spend an extra $70.00 so the dentist could do a better gluing job. And then, yesterday Olivia came home from school and the apparatus had broken. Today is her regularly scheduled appointment. I know that the dentist is going to be upset that the apparatus broke and that we never came in. Worst case scenario - Me yelling at the dentist that I am not paying for a new apparatus when she was suppose to get it removed today anyhow, I don't care if her mouth is where the dentist wants it to be or not. And thus Olivia's mouth will be messed up for life. Best case the dentist says- well that was good timing since you were getting it removed anyhow. Man I wish were Eric's turn to bring the kids to the dentist.

Are you sure?

More than once in my life, I have had another mother look at my children and then turn to me and say, in the kindest way - Well it looks like this will be the last time your child can wear that. I think they are commenting on the passing of time and how my child has grown but I always hear it as a nudge to my ineptness at knowing when my child has outgrown their clothes. It is more like - Hey wake up and get your kids some clothes that fit. Not an assault really, more of just a gentle but firm shaking.
And sometimes, my own internal voice has chastised me in this same refrain - Olivia when she was two had the most adorable jeans with little flowers embroidered into the fabric. She wore them often. And I always thought she made them look adorable. And then one day when I went to pick her up from school in the early Spring, she was standing outside with her classmates, all in a row and the visual, as it struck my eyes, smarted. The adorable jeans were at least two inches too shorter than any of the other children's pants. You could not see their socks... you could see Olivia's.. and a little bit of flesh besides. They looked like pedal pushers...except that they weren't suppose to be. I bought her new jeans.
This morning, Jack and I had the following conversation.
Mommy?
Yes Jack?
Why do clothes get too small?
Well they don't get too small, instead people grow.
Yeah but sometimes the clothes are just too little.
Well, yes but they become too little because the people get too big.
But sometimes when you are little you buy little clothes and then when you are big you need big clothes.
Jack are your sweatpants too small? Do you need new ones?
Yes.
OK.

Parenting or lack there of

I could maybe get a grasp on it, if my kids would stop growing.
Just as soon as I get one parenting aspect figured out something new comes along.
Maybe that is why some people have a dozen or more children.
They can use the skills they learn on the first six on the last six.
I plan to just roll with being an remedial parent of two

Sunny CA

Olivia was fascinated with the Rose Parade this year. Twice she got upset because Eric and I were not paying enough attention to it. She would recite facts to us about flowers and seeds that were used on each particular float. She then announced that when she grew up she would design floats for the Rose Parade. Below is her first design. Note the fish hanging from the croc's mouth and I think that is a fairy swaying there in the back. No doubt the good Croc fairy that keeps all crocodiles safe. I am hoping to carry this through to summer and make an actually mini float so STAY TUNED! (and forward your used petals)

sick days

Olivia has the stomach flu and I have some horrible virus that my coworkers have been passing around at work. (thanks for sharing) Eric and I are laying down bets as to when I will now get the stomach flu and which virus he will get first. But I digress
The real reason for this post is not to share our misery but to share the following.
Olivia and I are watching an episode of Little Einstein on Playhouse Disney. The kids are rescuing a Blue Footed Booby Bird. And I keep thinking... wow, really? They couldn't find some other bird to rescue? So now toddlers all over the US will be chanting incessantly in a sing song voice - Booby Bird! Booby Bird! Blue Footed BOOBY BIRD!
And now I am going to fall into a fever induced sleep.

What?! no Star Wars?

One of Jack's presents for Christmas was a subscription to Lego Brickmaster. Every two months he receives a Brickmaster magazine in the mail along with an exclusive Lego model. When we gave it to him we were unsure that he would understand that it was the gift that would keep on giving... for at least 12 months. This past wednesday his first set arrived in the mail. He was thrilled.
Really for me?
Yes it is part of your Christmas present.
Are there other Christmas presents the will come to me in the mail?
Well you will receive more of this one every two months.
Really?
Yes.
On Thursday he rushed into the house.
Is there more mail for me?
No.
Why not?
It has only been one day. You don't get one each day but every two months.
So what day did I get it on?
Wednesday.
What day is today.
Thursday.
So I get them on Wednesdays?
No. You will get another one in March.
MARCH! OH MAN! That is not fair. I want one on Wednesday.
Well maybe it will come on a Wednesday but it will be a Wednesday in March.
Oh ok. He walks away despondent.
On Saturday he received his Brickmaster Magazine. He is enthralled and has it with him at all times. He pours over every page asking me again and again what each page says. He has Eric read the stories to him and help him with the puzzles. He muses over the pictures of Lego creations made by other little boys. He tells me how he wishes he had the two Indiana Jones sets featured in the middle spread because then he could make the cool model shown. When I tuck him into bed that night, he asks why there is no Star Wars lego in this magazine. I tell him the truth.. I don't know. He rattles off a long winding sentence the gist of which is that it should have Star Wars Lego in it.
This morning, when I awake, Jack is standing at my bedside in his blue camaflouge night pants and his oversized super man shirt.
Momma?
Yes Jack.
Can I just cut out the pictures that I want to keep from the magazine and throw the rest of it away?
Why do you want to throw it away?
Because it does not have any Star Wars in it.
Well can't you cut out the pictures and just keep the magazine too?
AW MAN! Why do I have to keep it?
Fine Jack cut out the pictures and throw away the magazine.
Do I have too?
Have to what?
Cut out the pictures and still keep the magazine?
No you can throw it away?
ALL OF IT!
No after you cut out the pictures.
So I have to keep the magazine after I cut out the pictures.
Jack, cut out the pictures and then throw away the magazine.
Really?
Yes.
And he did.
Ah yes, the gift that just keeps on gving.

I am sorry but your subscription has expired

Ok when someone goes 30 (THIRTY!!!) days without posting it should mean that the blog has been discontinued but I am have not given up on myself yet and will start posting again soon. Of course I had built my readership up to about 15 (FIFTEEN!!) and I am sure I am down to like 3 now. Oh well.
So to tide you over until I get a real post together here is a little video for you. The Sunday before Christmas we took the kids ice skating at an outdoor rink. Eric as you can see gets all the credit for the ice skating. I get credit for taking the video, buying the tickets, buying the food and keeping Jack happy but you won't see any of that in the video. Also not in the video is the kids visit to Santa but I will post the pics from that.
One note before you view. It was like 65 degrees and rainy that day... so there is like a inch of water on top of the melting ice.

The Calendar

tonight - Shopping for Christ in Christmas present
Friday - Shepherding Group Christmas party
Saturday - Christ in Christmas Party
Sunday - Cantata at Church (Olivia sings)
Monday - Cookie/ornament exchange
Tuesday... nothing...
Wednesday - Behold the Lamb of God Concert in Charlotte
Thursday - Kids program at school
Friday - My work Christmas Party
Saturday....sleep, sleep, sleep
And somewhere in there we have to fit in - buy and decorate tree, make Pretzel Yummies for Cookie Exchange, finish cross stiching Jack's stocking
10 intense days and then we can settle in and chill out, anticipating Christmas.

All I want for Christmas is rain

All I want for Christmas is Rain

My city currently has only 52 day of easily accessible water left in its reservoirs. Less than two months.
This summer, I was convicted to start using tap water again for drinking and to stop spending money on bottles of water. We are back on bottles of water. In fact when I think of boiling water for pasta, I hesitate and think… maybe I should use water from one of my store bought bottles. Instead I fill the pan with as little water as possible and when I am done boiling my pasta I use the hot water in the pan to rinse off my dishes that are piling up as I am waiting for enough dishes to justify a full sink of water to wash them. And once I fill up the sink I first wipe down everything in my kitchen with the fresh hot water because we have turned to cleaning up almost everything with various kinds of wet wipes.
After I finish eating my cereal in the morning I walk to the sink to rinse my dish only to remember that it would be a waste of water and instead I reach for a paper towel to wipe out the bowl and then wonder how many trees I am killing because of all the extra paper products we are using. Oh did I mention that the reason the dishes wait to be washed is because we have also turned back to using paper plates whenever we can. Yes, I had started using paper shortly after our second child was born. Just to cut out the daily chore of washing dishes and then recently I was trying to wean myself off of paper and go back to real dishes. So much for my progress. Welcome back paper plates and plastic utensils. In fact I am going to check out paper bowls the next time I am at the grocery store (aka Target).
When I use the bathroom at work I cringe when people double flush and want to say “Do you realize that your double flush now might lead to no flushing in the less than two months?” A thought that should leave anyone horrified.
As I take my five minute shower in the morning I wonder if I should catch the water I am using, in the tub and reuse it else where in my home. When I mention this out loud during dinner with my co workers they all look at me like I am nuts and tell me that the soap I use (not to mention the dead skin and hair) make the water useless for any other task… really? Of course they both have WELLS and do not have to spend any time worrying about water. At this same dinner I convince another friend to ask for a to go cup for the water she did not drink. (Spilling it over some plant outside is better than letting them throw it down the sink.)
But here is the crazy thing. I will do these things and yet I still find myself just using water as if there is plenty to go around. Just this weekend we steam cleaned our rug. Yep. Steam… that comes from Hot Water. And really it did not even pop into my head not to do this until I saw Eric pouring the water into the cleaner.
And just to give a clear picture, a few weeks ago it rained. I think we received a total of two inches. And as it started to rain, every employee in my office came to the window to look out and watch it rain. It was like when it snows and everyone rushes to see the snow because it is such a rarity in the South and now we are doing the same with rain.



Dear God, Please send rain.

Threes

Ted Roof is gone, My boss is going over to the dark side and I quit one of my bookclubs. What is happening,people?

We did what?

So today at church Eric, Olivia and I sang the wrong verse twice during the same song. And I was blissfully ignorant until Eric "confessed" it late this afternoon and then I realized that I too along with O, had sang the wrong verses. Now I understand why all those people were turning and looking at me. I thought they were admiring Olivia's boisterous singing... nope! wrong words.

not Jack, Jack RICE

Things we did while daddy was gone
trick or treated
slept in
watch cartoons from bed
ate donuts
cleaned our rooms
learned to sew (Olivia)
watch the Office with Tamara (me)
ate at Bob Evans
saw The Bee Movie
Shopped at Target with Aunt T

What we did after Daddy came home
Went to a Cocktail party (me and Daddy)
slept in late
hiked to the highest point in Orange county -
an aside... don't you think if you hike a trail called - The Overlook
that when you get to the top you should be able to overlook something??
Obviously the people in OC don't think so.
Watched The Jungle Book
on Monday stayed in our PJS all day long.
ate candy candy candy

Some pics - don't forget - click to enlarge!

Don't even TRY to talk to him before he has his juice in the morning

Made a pattern, cut it out AND sewed. Oh the skills Mommy has to share.
I love to go a wandering along the somewhat large hill trail..

Eventually you have to JUMP!

At the bottom of the hike was this group of trees the kids called - The Pink Trees!

The Loot

Halloween

First we carved a pumpkin




































It quickly rotted... what you can't see is all the bugs.


























Then we decided on Costumes


Jack is Anakin Skywalker. Anakin when he has his robot hand but has not yet gone all the way over to the dark side.

Olivia decided on a Princess. We put her hair in sponge curlers last night because apparently Princesses have curly hair... except when their hair is straight.




And we went Trick or Treating with the Stevensons!














On the way to the Stevenson's Jack said it was going to be the BEST
Halloween EVER!














And it just might have been.
At least until next year.

Does this ever happen to you? (aka Moe)

Your son is sitting across from you at breakfast when suddenly, inexplicably, he falls to the floor, only to jump up a second later conveying ta-dah I survived another attack from gravity.

Or your son is leaning his upper body on the kitchen table (basically balancing on his ribcage), dangling his legs when suddenly he says uh oh wavers a little and then suddenly plunges to the floor. Again only to jump up a second later, smiling confidently that one of these days he will beat this enemy called gravity.

Yes Jack is currently pratfall prone. It is like a tiny episode of the Three Stooges every time we sit down to eat.

The nothing post aka And here are the As

In the next few days I plan to update to Bs so I thought, since I don't have the contents of a purse to reveal, I would reveal the contents of my ipod
Yeah you can just skip this post. It is more for posterity

Abacab Genesis Platinum Collection
Abide With Me The Calvin Alumni Choir Hymnale
Absolute Reality The Alarm Strength (Remastered)
Acoustic #3 Goo Goo Dolls Dizzy Up The Girl
Across The Universe Rufus Wainwright I Am Sam
Adult Education Hall & Oats Music Mix #1
After the Garden Andrew Osenga The Morning
Afterglow Genesis Platinum Collection [Disc 2]
Alive and Kicking Simple Minds Once Upon a Time
All About Soul Billy Joel River Of Dreams
All Along The Watchtower U2 Rattle And Hum
All Around The Place Hooters Out Of Body
All Around The World Or The Myth Of Fingerprints Paul Simon Graceland
All Creatures Of Our God And King The Calvin Alumni Choir Hymnale
All Eyes On Me Goo Goo Dolls Dizzy Up The Girl
All I Need (I Did Not Catch Your Name) Caedmon's Call Share The Well
All I Need Is A Miracle Mike + The Mechanics Mike + The Mechanics
All I Want Is You U2 Rattle And Hum
All of My Life Phil Collins But Seriously
All Shall Be Well Pete Townshend Gold
All the Things She Said Simple Minds Once Upon a Time
All the Wrong Reasons Andrew Osenga The Morning
All This Time Sting Soul Cages
All Through The Night Cyndi Lauper She's So Unusual
All You Need Is Love The Beatles 1
All You Zombies Hooters Nervous Night
Allentown Billy Joel Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (1978-1985)
Alright Five For Fighting America Town
Always A Place Hooters Zig Zag
Always Something There To Remind Me Naked Eyes Entertainment Weekly 80's Wave
Amelia [Orchestra Version] Joni Mitchell Dreamland
America Simon & Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits
America Town Five For Fighting America Town
American Girl Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Greatest Hits
Amigone Goo Goo Dolls Dizzy Up The Girl
And Can It Be Christ Community College Ministry Indelible Grace
And She Was Talking Heads Music Mix #3
And So It Goes Billy Joel Storm Front
And We Danced Hooters Nervous Night
Angel Band The Stanley Brothers O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Angel Of Harlem U2 Rattle And Hum
Anna and the aliens Andrew Osenga Letters to the Editor, Vol. 1
Anna Begins Counting Crows August & Everything After
Annie's Song John Denver Rocky Mountain Collection
Another Cup Of Coffee Mike + The Mechanics Beggar On A Beach Of Gold
Another Day in Paradise Phil Collins But Seriously
Another Galaxy Paul Simon Surprise
Another One Bites The Dust Queen Music Mix #1
Antarctica Midnight Oil Blue Sky Mining
Ants Marching Dave Matthews Band Under The Table And Dreaming
Any Way You Want It Journey Music Mix #3
Appalachia Waltz Yo-Yo Ma, Mark O'Connor & Edgar Meyer Appalachia Waltz
Approach My Soul Christ Community College Ministry Indelible Grace
Arise, My Soul, Arise Christ Community College Ministry Indelible Grace
Artic World Midnight Oil Diesel And Dust
Ask, Seek, Knock - Matthew 7: 7-8 Laura Licata Seeds Of Courage
Aspenglow John Denver Rocky Mountain Collection
At The End Of The Day Les Misérables Original Broadway Cast Les Misérables
Atlantic City Bruce Springsteen Greatest Hits
Autograph John Denver The Rocky Mountain Collection

back in the day, I too thought the opposite of Dog was Cat

Breakfast was going well
We were all seated at the same time
Eric and kids were eating
I decided to read Jack's note home that was posted on the fridge
It gave a brief synopsis of what the kids would learn in class each day that week

Monday - Children will be making "Oranges of Joy" What makes you happy? What makes your child happy? Check the front bulletin board soon to find out.

Jack, I ask, what makes you happy?

STAR WARS!!

Anything else?
No
Nothing?
No
Not Mommy or Daddy or Livia?
a sly smile crosses his face as he answers- Nope!

Tuesday - Children will be gathering gourds of all different shapes, sizes, colors and textures. They will be sorting them by their attributes: Color, size, texture. This is a language, pre-math and sensory challenge.

Jack
Yes Mommy?
Did you play with gourds yesterday?
No I played with David.
I know you played with David but during class did you sort gourds?
He looks at me blankly
I played Star Wars with David.
While Jack goes into a detailed retelling of his and David's Star Wars re-enactments I think - So much for the language challenge

Wednesday
Children will get hands on with an opportunity to explore opposites through their senses. Warm water with cold ice will be used to demonstrate different scientific and sensory purposes.

Jack
Yep
Today is opposites day!
What?
Opposites... you know.. what is the opposite of cold?
I don't know
Hot - answers Olivia
Jack, what is the opposite of Up
Down
In
Out
front
back
hot
cold
Dog - supplies Olivia
There is no opposite to dog Olivia
Yes there is ask him
Wet
Dry
Big
Small, ask me the dog one now
What
The dog one
I consent - Ok Dog
CAT! says Olivia
NO DOG says Jack
Eric and I look at each other and nod our heads - No Dog... Nice!

Not THE pill, MY pill

I take a pill for my digestive system.
It used to be a cool pink and black capsule that came in a prescription bottle with a child proof cap.
But it became too expensive in that form
Now my pill is tiny and comes is a pinkish brownish color in actual pill form
It is OTC – Over the Counter
And so the packaging is different.
The little pill can no longer take up residence
In a bottle with a child proof cap to protect itself from me
Instead it comes packaged in a sheet of plastic
With a perfect pill shaped bubble for my pill to get cozy
The pill is then covered over with a nice warm blanket of foil with paper backing glued to it for extra protection
The package protects 7 pills, enough for one week
Which is nice since I often forget if I have taken a pill or not
until my stomach starts to feel queasy and heartburn begins to reign.
So each morning, usually after Eric and the kids have left for school,
I take out my One a Day Women’s multi vitamin and the package that contains my pill
I grasp the little corner of paper that is not glued to the foil and I gently pull
Trying to ease the paper off so I can sneak up on my pill
And it does rip easily from the foil
But only that corner rips
The rest of the paper backing is still firmly attached to the foil
Now a logical person would just grab a scissors and cut it open and extract the pill
Apparently I am not logical in the morning – I am giving myself the benefit of the doubt for the other hours of the day
I, with my almost none existent finger nails, scratch around for a loose bit of paper
If I find one, I pull on it
Only to have it also rip from the foil prematurely
I could go for the scissors at this point but why when I have teeth
Yes I bite at the plastic and foil and try and rip it in two
Wow that plastic is really stubborn.
My last ditch effort is to grip the tiny package between both fore fingers and thumbs
And push on the plastic bubble until it yields the pill
Which it does!
Only so much force has been applied to it that it shoots through the foil backing and in its jubilation of freedom flies through the air only to rapidly descend near the vicinity of the sink
I lurch to the sink, covering the drain with one hand and feel around the basin with the other
Feeling, feeling, groping until at last the pill is located and I can pop it in my mouth and wash it down with my glass of water
Oh if only the kids were home to enjoy this daily entertainment

Recess anyone?

Jack – I want to be a teacher someday
Really Jack? Why
So I can say – we are just going to stay outside all day today.

Me – I want to be a wizard someday
Really Mommy? Why
So I can say – Dishes Wash and they will wash themselves

Sare (sorry)

It starts with comfort
And then asks – How do you know this comfort?
How?
Because of my sin.
Because of my wanting hoping trying
Failing
You can’t know comfort unless you know uncomfortable
And you can’t know uncomfortable unless you know comfort

She hands me a card
Blue grey construction paper folded in half with stickers
I am busy with Jack
Look Mommy.. for you.
I take it from her and admire it
Nice stickers – Jack come back here please
No read it!
All seriousness
Ok
I forget Jack
Open the card
Mommy
I am sare when I said you were a bad mommy.
My mind flashes back
Tic tac toe
Explaining strategy
Angrily thrown pencil
Frustration
I hold her
Hug her
Tell her it is ok
I understand
She replies Sometimes it is just hard
Yes sometimes (a lot of the time) it is.

The eyes have it

Timing is everything aka I think this is funny, I apologize if you don't

This weekend we went to a Pirate birthday for our young friend Houston. Houston just turned three. During the festivities the children, who were all decked out in their pirate garb, gathered together to play a game. (This was after they walked the plank over a sea of hungry crocodiles. Oh MY!) To begin the game the kids were asked – what do all pirates want? Well imagine my surprise when I yelled out wenches and the actual answer turned out to be treasure… I looked over at Eric to say oops! But he just shrugged and said – Same thing.

OK this is not quite how this played out. When the question was asked I turned to Eric and softly asked - what is the word for slutty pirate women?
To which he replied in hushed tones - Sluts?
As I hit him on the shoulder he ducked and whispered Whores?
I paused to consider this but then shook my head.
No Wait! he said in a very excited whisper - Wenches!
-Yes! I whispered triumphantly- Wenches!
As I yelled my answer, I quickly discovered I was too late. The kids had already advanced to their first clue on the treasure hunt and all the adults just looked curiously at me wondering why I would yell WENCHES at a child’s party. (Well it could have been sluts people so just be grateful I took the time to figure out the correct word.) I turned to Eric to say - oops to late but we both agreed Treasure, Wenches … close enough.

And then I let out a deep sigh because sometimes it is difficult to be the only slow witted 40 year old at a 3 year olds party.

next time won't you sing with me

I have a problem.
In 2006 I bought Eric a video iPod engraved with the words - In your Eyes.
I mention that it is a video iPod only so that you know it holds an incredible amount of music and videos
This past summer we bought a second iPod - a Nano (before they went video) engraved with the words - because it is too hard to share
The Nano is mine.
Mine was really for podcasts because I often find podcasts I want to listen to but Eric is always using his iPod so I can never listen to them. Thus the second iPod.
But you can only listen to so many podcasts. You need music as well. And there starts my problem.
Eric has a lot of music. I don't.
Eric and I are complete opposites when it comes to music. I love the sound of music. I like to hum or sing along. I often have a song that I will hum to myself
as I go about my day. It makes me happy.
Eric loves and knows music. He pays attention to it. He knows titles, musicians, song writers, albums, release dates...words, things I never even thought about until
I met Eric. He also has music memories, like what album was playing in the car, the day he road with his brother Mark on the day of Mark's graduation from college. (Zappacosta)
So Eric has a lot of music and it all fits on his ginormous iPod. I decided to download some of his music to my iPod. And here is the problem. I have no idea
where to even start so that I can whittle his library down to something I can fit on my iPod. Since I have been married to Eric for 17 years, I do now recognize artists and songs. I know who I like but I like most of what Eric has. (I have am currently undecided about Zappacosta.) So I find myself listening to snippets of songs in hopes of being able to eliminate it only to hear myself say - Oh I have to have that.
So I have decided to go with something I do know. The Alphabet. I will download songs that start with the letter A first and when I tire of those I will go on to B. And I will follow this system all the way to Z, only breaking from it when Christmas comes around when I will of course down load all the Christmas albums which mostly belong to me.

Do not Covet

We are watching Ken Burns' The War. For those of you who live under a rock, it is a documentary about WWII currently playing on PBS. For the record, I want to be Ken Burns. OK I don't really want to be him. I just want his job AND I want to be as good at his job as he is. I would settle for a job as a peon researcher that worked for him. But the closest I will probably get will be my own dvd copy of The War.

Leaning forward

I know that you are just on the edge of your seat wondering if our plan to get Jack to sleep at night has worked, so I will update you. Currently it is working. Olivia has moved upstairs, which she LOVES and Jack has gotten used to sleeping in his room alone. There was this initial reaction for Olivia to try and keep Jack out of her room and for Jack to try and keep O out of his room. We had a little discussion about that which resulted in Jack wanting to make "Welcome to my room" signs for both his and Olivia's rooms. Which we did. So now everyone is welcome.
Eric has also started to get Jack in the early afternoon and bring him into his art room for the last class or two of the day.
So - Separate rooms have lead to less noise and keeping Jack from his nap in the afternoon has resulted in him falling asleep shortly after 8:00 each night. So mission accomplished... so far.

It was just Meredith

I/we have had a crappy day. So thank you -The Office- for the best opening ever.
I needed that laugh. No matter how perverse it might be to laugh at someone getting hit by a car.

Camping

Three words are all that is needed
S'mores
Canoe
Fishing

just a small elaboration
I am the only one who did not go canoing. I don't think I have ever canoed, and I did not really need an audience, even an audience of good friends, for my first time.
Eric caught fish with the kids bigger than the one you will see but even more amazing is he also caught one smaller!! Oh and Jack caught a fish all on his own, Eric was busy helping one of the other kids and when he looked over Jack was reeling in a fish. That talent would be from my side of the family. One last bit of info. The girls are Autumn and Aspen and the boys are Cody and Houston (and the dog is Hannah). I think you know the other two. Oh and this one has music with it so turn on your sound. It is "Speed the Plow Medley" by Yo-Yo Ma. I was going for a country feeling since we were camping but after listening to it again, it might be a little too fast. I will try to do better next time. And if you can't hear the music, it might be an iTunes thing and then all I can say is Sorry.
Blast! one last thing. I found this pics from about three years ago of Jack and O in our back yard with our old tent and I could not resit throwing them into the slides.

Pirate's life for me

He had been talking about the canoe all day Friday and when we showed up at the campground it was the first thing he asked about. When the Newlins showed up later with it attached to the top of their Volvo he could barely contain his excitement and was sorely disappointed when he found out he would have to wait until morning to get in it on the water. The next morning I was watching him play in the canoe when I heard him singing "Row, row, row your boat" I grab the camera and went over to him and what I heard him sing on camera was "fire truck for me". I thought he was just trying to be uncooperative so I cut the video short. It wasn't until we were replaying if for Jack at home (for the record, Eric also heard fire truck) that Jack and Olivia explained he was singing - "A pirate's life for me". The Yo Ho should have clued me in. Here is the video for your viewing pleasure.

Sleep deprived already

We are going camping this weekend. It is just for one night and we are going with friends so it should be fun but I think we really need to get another tent. One for – we will be in and out of this tent for several days so we need some room – situations and one for – easy set up, easy break down – because we are only staying one night situations. So if you are thinking about getting us a gift… there you go.

Patience running thin... very very thin.

Well Jack is just the best little sleeper. I think if we didn’t wake him up he would just sleep straight through all the noise until you came to pick him up. – This has been said several times by Jack’s afternoon teacher at school (she has a thick southern accent so you should read it again with that in mind just to get all of the sweetness. I smile and nod but inside I sigh deeply and feel instantly tired.)

Fast forward to 11:00 PM
OH MY WORD!!! Is he EVER going to fall asleep? - This has been said through gritted teeth many a night by either myself or Eric. (it depends on who has lost their patience first concerning Jack still being awake)


Problem- Jack does not need an afternoon nap. But there is quiet time at school and Jack loves to nap so he does. (I mean really, if given the opportunity I would nap every afternoon too.) We have talked to his teacher and she has tried to let him do other things but apparently Jack then becomes a distraction for the other kids and quiet time is disrupted. And I understand that. Really I do. You would think that if the parent tells you – my kid doesn’t need a nap, then that kid will not actually nap during quiet time. So maybe we should say, WE don’t need Jack to nap, so please, we are BEGGING YOU don’t let him sleep. In all fairness the regular teacher at Jack’s school is understanding and has tried to help but the teacher that comes in to replace her in the afternoon is just so awed with Jack’s ability to sleep through tons of noise that she just believes she knows better than we do. And I understand really I do. But our lives can not go on as they currently are…without someone going insane

Solution:
Two fold. We were going to move Olivia into her own room when Jack turned five. We will now be doing this tonight! We will then move Jack’s bed across the room and away from the door. Easy access to the door is a major problem.
If this does not quiet things down to sane levels then Jack will start hanging out in Eric’s room during nap time. I suggested that Eric just slip over to Preschool everyday around 1:00 and slip Jack some chocolate because while he can sleep through noise he can not sleep through chocolate consumption. Eric came up with this kinder solution of hanging out in his room during HS art.
If neither of these solutions work we will be turning the garage into a bedroom for Jack.

fun with iphoto

OK none of you were brave enough to comment that this wasn't working! So Now I repost just for your FYI.

Apparatus

About a week and a half ago Olivia had a quad helix put in her mouth. This little apparatus is suppose to expand the arch of her top teeth, thus making room for her teeth and lining up her top and bottom teeth into a proper bite. She has adjusted to it amazingly well. And if she isn't opening her mouth super wide to show it to you...

You don't even see that it is there.

jack writes

Olivia was holding a pencil by age 14 months, before she could even walk steady. Jack avoided holding any writing implement in his had until he was four. Then a friend bought him some wonder markers and wonder coloring pages and he at least showed interest. But he still did not show much interest in drawing specific things much less writing his name. So that is why the following progression of Jack's papers from school thrilled me. I actually flipped through them casually not really noticing and then I came upon the Great Job note and I showed it to Eric and said somewhat dazed - Does that mean Jack actually wrote that? Eric looked at it and said - Wow I guess it does. And that is when I went back and looked at each page and noticed the progression and just couldn't stop smiling. Now if we can just get him to draw his own Darth Vader!

Fascinated with technology

This past weekend we flew to Chicago to attend my nephew Kyle's wedding. Olivia was one of two flower girls in the wedding and Jack was one of two ring bearers. Normally I would have lots of cute photos of the kids but we used the camera as a distraction for Jack to try and keep him quiet and occupied - read stay in one place - and thus the battery wore out by the middle of the wedding. I don't even have a pic of the bride and groom! I do have a pic of Kyle hugging my mom after he walked her into the wedding. But nothing of Martina the bride.

And Olivia took this pic of Kerrie and Katie- Kyle's sisters. Katie's wedding was Olivia's flower girl debut.

Here is the only pic I have of the kids together at the wedding. That other adorable little girl is Maya, Martina's cousin.

The kids did a great job. Jack was a little jealous of O's basket of rose petals so he tried to help her throw the petals as they walked into the wedding. Each petal Jack dropped, Olivia stooped to rearrange on the white carpet. When Jack realized his sister was not willing to share petal dropping with him, he turned his back on her and walked backward down the aisle. Then when they walked out Jack added to the joy of the occasion with a little woo hoo yell.

It was a great weekend but the time went way too.

Olivia right after her hair was styled.

Jack waiting for the wedding to begin.