Shortly after this Jack removed his floaties and tried to convince us he can swim. He drank a lot of water and swallowed a lot of air but he was brave.
Surfacing from the deep
Friday, August 17, 2007
splash
Just a few quick photos from our Friday night excursion to the pool. Yes it is hot here. Yes they did have nice cool water spraying into the pool. Ah refreshing. The only bummer was running into friends as we were leaving instead of when we were arriving. Well that and missing the Berrys.
cue the music
Jack's Teacher made this for him on Wednesday. He has worn it (not continuously, I mean it is only construction paper) each day since. Needless to say he was THRILLED with this simple present from his teacher.
The Close up - because I think it is funny
The Distant - for perspective.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Brick in the Wall
The kids started back to school today so it seems like the right time to start posting to my blog again.
I was a little sad this morning to see the kids rush off to school. Mostly because it means that summer is over at our house. So while other people are off vacationing and haven't even thought about school supplies our house is once again taking on the rhythm of school days.Olivia was of course thrilled about going to school. She took a few bites of cereal and then fluttered from the table to her book bag to the mirror to her bed and back to the table again. 
Jack was a little more reserved. He cried because he could not take his big pillow to school and he cried because I wouldn't let him take tape to school but then he walked proudly out the door with his new backpack and instructed me to take his picture.
I was a little sad this morning to see the kids rush off to school. Mostly because it means that summer is over at our house. So while other people are off vacationing and haven't even thought about school supplies our house is once again taking on the rhythm of school days.Olivia was of course thrilled about going to school. She took a few bites of cereal and then fluttered from the table to her book bag to the mirror to her bed and back to the table again. Jack was a little more reserved. He cried because he could not take his big pillow to school and he cried because I wouldn't let him take tape to school but then he walked proudly out the door with his new backpack and instructed me to take his picture. 
So here are the school pics I have from years past.
Last year's photo. If you look close you can see O is holding the same water bottle as this year. Wow and look at Jack's nice hair cut. As you can see from this year's photo we are running a little behind on that. Hopefully tomorrow after school. Only two days late then.
Two years ago... unhappy Jack.
Two years ago she was ready to go.
Oh my they are growing up.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Ways in which I am geekish
I love watching the new Battlestar Galactica
I will spend a weekend putting star wars and batman lego together and enjoy it.
I really want to see the new Transformer Movie
I ordered my Harry Potter book from the UK
My computer at home is running slow and I would really like a day to just fiddle around and see if I can get it to move a little faster
I enjoy browsing through the instruction manuals that came with our new cell phones.
And here is where I have a split personality – I am both horrified and thrilled that we have a new huge HD TV. Horrified because it says WAY too much about what I enjoy in life. I want to be the let’s go out and enjoy nature or work in the garden or get something, anything done kind of person but really I am the let’s sit on the couch and flip through the channels and watch really bad tv kind of person. So I am THRILLED that I can now get a crisp large picture when I am watching bad tv. Oh my word the picture is AMAZING. Now if I could just get the dvr again…
I will spend a weekend putting star wars and batman lego together and enjoy it.
I really want to see the new Transformer Movie
I ordered my Harry Potter book from the UK
My computer at home is running slow and I would really like a day to just fiddle around and see if I can get it to move a little faster
I enjoy browsing through the instruction manuals that came with our new cell phones.
And here is where I have a split personality – I am both horrified and thrilled that we have a new huge HD TV. Horrified because it says WAY too much about what I enjoy in life. I want to be the let’s go out and enjoy nature or work in the garden or get something, anything done kind of person but really I am the let’s sit on the couch and flip through the channels and watch really bad tv kind of person. So I am THRILLED that I can now get a crisp large picture when I am watching bad tv. Oh my word the picture is AMAZING. Now if I could just get the dvr again…
Friday, July 20, 2007
Potter or puzzles (well actually models but that kills the alliteration)
Yesterday when I arrived home from work, I took a large super soft, made from some micro kind of fiber, off-white blanket and spread it across my living room floor. And then I dumped Jack’s super sized blue Rubbermaid container full of Lego on top of the blanket. Why would I do this? Because somehow, once again, all of the Lego model pieces became combined in to one large Lego mess and while I can handle this for a time, at some point I just throw up my hands and decide that the Lego MUST be separated again. Separated, so we can assemble the Tie Fighter and Anakin’s ship and Batman’s cars and the Jokers helicopter and all the other models with out have to improvise because we can not locate the correct piece in the heap of black, grey and dark grey pieces.
So this weekend I and hopefully Jack and Olivia and definitely Eric will make all the models. And I will once again place them in their appropriately labeled plastic bag, zip the bag shut and then carefully explain to Jack how important it is that we keep them separate and not mix them all together. At least this is the system until he is older and can dig through the heap himself and assemble all the models without any help.
And yes we do have too many Lego models. (And I am not even including all of Eric’s models which are stored in their original boxes in the attic and that are only pulled out one at time under special supervision by their owner.)
So this weekend I and hopefully Jack and Olivia and definitely Eric will make all the models. And I will once again place them in their appropriately labeled plastic bag, zip the bag shut and then carefully explain to Jack how important it is that we keep them separate and not mix them all together. At least this is the system until he is older and can dig through the heap himself and assemble all the models without any help.
And yes we do have too many Lego models. (And I am not even including all of Eric’s models which are stored in their original boxes in the attic and that are only pulled out one at time under special supervision by their owner.)
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Thoughts while camping
Trees are beautiful. I mean seriously if you have just a few hours to contemplate the tree, I don't know how you can't end up believing there is a God.
My favorite tree photo from camping trip mentioned below. This is the view above our camp site.
Oh ya just conjures up wonderful feeling of long walks on sandy beaches... NOT. And yet it was still enjoyable.
My favorite tree photo from camping trip mentioned below. This is the view above our camp site.
And here is another cool shot from the camping trip. A close up of the beach.
Oh ya just conjures up wonderful feeling of long walks on sandy beaches... NOT. And yet it was still enjoyable.
What?
We went camping. Yes it is July and yes we do live in NC. No we did not go camping at the beach or in the mountains. We went about 20 minutes from our house. Why? Because somehow each summer I either have no vacation time or it is eaten up by vacations to go see our families. So this summer I had one day and Eric wanted to go camping.
I am a bad vacationer. I love the idea of vacation but I am also skeptical that I will enjoy myself. But I am trying to be better.
Eric is a good vacationer and is convinced it will be a great time.
After our first night of camping, I rated the vacation a 6. Eric rated it a 3. A THREE!!! The kids rated it a 10. (scale 1 being the most horrible ever, 10 the greatest ever)
In the afternoon the kids swan in the lake and they also fished with Eric. When we finally convinced Jack to come out of the water he asked - Are we going home now?
Well we are going back to the tent.
NO!!!! IT is time to go home and watch movies and play games!
Eric nicely explained that we would be staying one more night but that in the morning we would be going home. Olivia fell to the ground with a scream as if she had been mortally wounded.
Oh my word, what is wrong honey?
YOU PROMISED WE WOULD CAMP FOR THREE DAYS!!!
And so Eric and I went into damage control trying to convince Jack he wanted to stay one more night and explaining to Olivia that we never promised three days we said, Thursday night, Friday and Saturday morning and that is what she was getting. Emotions were high but we were able to calm both of them with a warm shower at the camp bath house.
We had a great camp fire and a nice night at the campground followed by chocolate chip pancakes in the morning.
Today Rebecca called to see if we survived. I told her yes we had a nice time. And then she said but you won't do it again. Ya pretty much. I think instead we will just invest 60 bucks in one of those outdoor deck fire pits so we can have a huge open flame at home because really the best thing about camping is the fire.
(camp just as a family that is. We are always up for group camping. Even if I did spend the last time throwing up the whole last night)
Um Jack, You got a little something on your lip there.
Happiness is... eating s'mores in your swim suit
Lake fun
More lake fun. Look closer. There is a fish on the end of that line.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Reliance shattered
Daddy, can we take the training wheels off my bike now?
This has been Olivia’s mantra since her birthday when we bought her a new bike.
She has had a bike for awhile but the bike she had was too big. No matter how much she tried she could not conquer riding it, even with training wheels. She would do OK for awhile but then she would crash and burn and be leery of riding for a few days or weeks!
Daddy, when will we take them off?
She keep questioning and questioning. And then when school was done and summer started, Eric took off the training wheels.
They started at the bottom of our hill
Eric securely holding onto the seat
Olivia pedaling up and up and up.
then turning around for the descent.
Down, down, down,
the resonance of Olivia pedaling and Eric’s feet running converging into one sound.
They are still one
And then Eric lets go…
and Olivia continues.
Her dependence one step removed.
She rides by me with a huge grin on her face
hair trailing behind her
too happy to slow down
too confident to ponder my blurred figure.
This has been Olivia’s mantra since her birthday when we bought her a new bike.
She has had a bike for awhile but the bike she had was too big. No matter how much she tried she could not conquer riding it, even with training wheels. She would do OK for awhile but then she would crash and burn and be leery of riding for a few days or weeks!
Daddy, when will we take them off?
She keep questioning and questioning. And then when school was done and summer started, Eric took off the training wheels.
They started at the bottom of our hill
Eric securely holding onto the seat
Olivia pedaling up and up and up.
then turning around for the descent.
Down, down, down,
the resonance of Olivia pedaling and Eric’s feet running converging into one sound.
They are still one
And then Eric lets go…
and Olivia continues.
Her dependence one step removed.
She rides by me with a huge grin on her face
hair trailing behind her
too happy to slow down
too confident to ponder my blurred figure.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Things they are better
They crash into the room, crawl crab like, up into bed with me, then quickly scurry just beneath the pale yellow sheets and blue striped comforter for cover. Jack suggests - Liva, let’s go under. She glances at me, trying to decide if she should pull herself away from my loose embrace to join her brother in the darkness of the covers. It is a momentary hesitation. She pushes off and joins him in swimming down, down, down into the depths of the bed.
I watch them. Olivia lies perfectly still, wrapped in her own shell. Not Jack. Jack is in constant flux. Arms push up the blue and then legs. He sits up. He lies back down. He puts a foot out the side into the air. He lifts the side up to let in light. She lies undisturbed in her shell. I reach over to tickle Jack’s exposed foot. He pulls it away laughing and then the foot emerges again. She stirs. Jack and I continue our tickle game. Slowly she extends her foot from the shell and when I latch on and tickle it, both of them explode out of the depths and scurry back out of the room
I watch them. Olivia lies perfectly still, wrapped in her own shell. Not Jack. Jack is in constant flux. Arms push up the blue and then legs. He sits up. He lies back down. He puts a foot out the side into the air. He lifts the side up to let in light. She lies undisturbed in her shell. I reach over to tickle Jack’s exposed foot. He pulls it away laughing and then the foot emerges again. She stirs. Jack and I continue our tickle game. Slowly she extends her foot from the shell and when I latch on and tickle it, both of them explode out of the depths and scurry back out of the room
Section One - Short Answers
This morning I asked Jack – What is your favorite thing about summer vacation?
Jack answered – Momma, so far, my favorite thing about summer vacation is my one sticker book and I would like to have two sticker books.
Now I was just expecting a one word reply and yet Jack gave me a complete sentence and I was thrill to receive this from my child that was unwilling to talk until he was 3.
Jack answered – Momma, so far, my favorite thing about summer vacation is my one sticker book and I would like to have two sticker books.
Now I was just expecting a one word reply and yet Jack gave me a complete sentence and I was thrill to receive this from my child that was unwilling to talk until he was 3.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Help the pirates have boarded the kitchen!
One of Olivia's friends had a Pirate party. Apparently this was his third or fourth and final Pirate Party so the mom sent home lots of extra stuff for O to share with Jack. And so now as I walk through my kitchen, I must beware! because at any moment a pirate just might attack! Yipes!
Fierce!
Nice Ear Rings
Fierce!
Nice Ear RingsBefore she turns eight (must post)
For Olivia's birthday instead of having one big party with lots of kids and too many gifts, we had several small parties where the gift was optional. It was like a week of celebrating Olivia. What follows is some highlights.
Yes we had a dog cake. This one was based on a Kipper cake I found online. The eyes are made with large marshmallows and Jack and his friend Cody requested the eyes to devour while most other kids chose the ears. No takers for the nose.
Here was the end result after doling out the kids pieces:
It saddens me and makes me laugh at the same time. Poor Dog cake!
The party with this cake was attending by our friends from our Shepherding group and Eric's parents who arrived just as the food was ready. Nice timing.
Here is part of the gang before we sang happy birthday. And before Jack licked a candle and then stuck it back into the cake...
The next day was O's birthday. After spending some snuggling time with the grandparents Olivia emerged for breakfast and the first presents of the day.
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
I wasn't really trying for a theme when I bought her presents but I did end up with one. Here she displays her kaleidoscope eyed fly gift card from Target and Eric is trying to catch her with her new butterfly net. We also bought a bug vacuum... I guess so that she doesn't squish the bugs when she tries to put them into her bug house. So far we have only sucked up ants with the vacuum and Jack occasionally uses it as a gun. 
Thrilled. THRILLED about her new pjs from Grandma and Grandpa.
Grandpa being goofy with ribbon.
He's thinking.. Wow I can't wait to get my hand on that storm trooper gun aka bug vacuum.
While Grandma was here we took advantage of her membership to Sam's and bought the kids a trampoline or as Olivia affectionately calls it The Tramp.
Before you jump you must build
.
The inaugural jumps. Still in the clothes they wore to bed the night before. That is what weekends are all about Baby!
It was a pretty hot day on Saturday so we pulled out the kiddie pool. I took several pics of Jack and then he made this pose and insisted that I take a picture. Oh My Word!
And sense we are talking about the weekend, Eric's parents were very helpful in helping Eric tidy up the yard but I am pretty sure this is NOT something you should let your almost 70 year old father do. Can you see him up on that roof next to the chimney? Our roof is really steeply sloped and it freaks Eric out to climb on it but we had a small leak so Rodg offered to help. In the end it was decided that we need a new roof. Guess what Eric is getting for Father's day?
On Sunday night we had a third celebration with the Vlaardingerboeks (one of my bookclubs), man I hope I spelled that right. This time the cake was a triple chocolate cookie. The picture I should have is of all the kids on The Tramp at once. Oh my WORD! The rule, which we adopted from our friends who own the trampoline that inspired our purchase, is three people on the trampoline at one time, MAX. Well we figured that the trampoline was new and the springs were tight so we just let them all pile on and hoped for the best and I am happy to report that no one was hurt.
Monday was Memorial Day and Rodg and Ruth's Wedding Anniversary.. 48th, I think. So we just hung out and enjoyed the day.
Yep, Still in their pajamas. Well the kids are. I am not sure about R&R but I think they maybe as well. 
And we even got Grandma on The Tramp!!! Happy Happy Joy Joy!
That's all folks!
Friday, June 08, 2007
She is Seven
Her eyes are a pale blue grey
When she is overjoyed they twinkle
When she is upset they burn holes
Mostly she is happy and they are blue grey
Her hair is blondish brown or perhaps
Brownish blonde. She perceives it as blonde and
So we agree. Blonde. Really it is blonde.
I was the same way when I was her age.
Blonde, My hair is blonde not brown
She is like me in another way as well.
Ok in many other ways but in one significant way
She is always rushing forward.
She can not wait to let things happen to her
She wants to rush forward to meet them
In the fourth grade I sat on my bed
Eyes squeezed shut wishing, hoping praying,
Please when I open my eyes let me 18.
Please, PLEase PLEASE
Peek
Ok how about 8th grade?
Peek
Seventh?
Peek
Fine
Fourth, whatever (sigh)
She asks me
When will I be able to drive?
When will I be able to stay up late?
When will I graduate from High School?
When will I
When will I
When will I
If I could convince her of anything
It would be to slow down
To enjoy her age
To not rush forward
Time will quicken on its own
There is no need to rush forward to meet it.
When she is overjoyed they twinkle
When she is upset they burn holes
Mostly she is happy and they are blue grey
Her hair is blondish brown or perhaps
Brownish blonde. She perceives it as blonde and
So we agree. Blonde. Really it is blonde.
I was the same way when I was her age.
Blonde, My hair is blonde not brown
She is like me in another way as well.
Ok in many other ways but in one significant way
She is always rushing forward.
She can not wait to let things happen to her
She wants to rush forward to meet them
In the fourth grade I sat on my bed
Eyes squeezed shut wishing, hoping praying,
Please when I open my eyes let me 18.
Please, PLEase PLEASE
Peek
Ok how about 8th grade?
Peek
Seventh?
Peek
Fine
Fourth, whatever (sigh)
She asks me
When will I be able to drive?
When will I be able to stay up late?
When will I graduate from High School?
When will I
When will I
When will I
If I could convince her of anything
It would be to slow down
To enjoy her age
To not rush forward
Time will quicken on its own
There is no need to rush forward to meet it.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
The Lost Posts... Family fun day and East Campus
The weekend before O's birthday we enjoyed a Saturday at Family Fun day for my work. It is like a mini carnival but better because everything is free. We had a great time especially in the arts and crafts portion of the carnival. Jack and Eric built a rocket and Olivia constructed a closing portable bed and a doll.
On Sunday we took a little excursion to East Campus so the kids could ride their bikes. Another beautiful day.
On Sunday we took a little excursion to East Campus so the kids could ride their bikes. Another beautiful day.
Making it happen
I am sure this will be a horrible post but as you can see, I have been away a long time and sometimes you just have to post something dumb just to get going again.
And so a blog blitz
Summer vacation
Not having to be out of the house before 7:15 AM! (the kids not me)
Eating lots and lots of berries… with ice cream…and maybe chocolate
Jumping on the Trampoline
Having to listen to the doctor two days in a row preach about the dangers of trampolines/an injury just waiting to happen (eric not me!)
Still having cable (Is it stealing cable if you canceled your cable subscription but the cable feed into your house was never turned off and so you have cable but you aren’t paying for it?)
No afternoon nap for the kids ---
Jack falling asleep when you put him to bed because… no nap!
Missing Jack’s singing and story telling and humming and everything other adorable thing he did while he wasn’t falling asleep at bedtime during the school year
Expecting to spend two nights pulling up the carpet and padding upstairs and only having to spend two hours instead!!
Making plans for camping
Making plans for the beach
Missing your friends in Africa
Trying not ignore the fact that some friends will move away soon
Making plans to visit MI
Making plans for Kyle’s wedding
Trying to savor each day so that the summer won’t fly by…
Having goals to accomplish but only in a very laid back manner
Taking bike rides
Catching lightning bugs
Watching Olivia and Jack actually play TOGETHER
Olivia getting to wear tank tops and sun dresses and flip flops
Oh and The Pool. Can’t forget The Pool VBS!
Blue skies, white puffy clouds and Sun.
Dry scorching sun
The smell of sunscreen and bug spray
Mosquitoes
Battlestar Galactica DVDs
Open windows
Long nights
Bright mornings
Hope and Promise
And so a blog blitz
Summer vacation
Not having to be out of the house before 7:15 AM! (the kids not me)
Eating lots and lots of berries… with ice cream…and maybe chocolate
Jumping on the Trampoline
Having to listen to the doctor two days in a row preach about the dangers of trampolines/an injury just waiting to happen (eric not me!)
Still having cable (Is it stealing cable if you canceled your cable subscription but the cable feed into your house was never turned off and so you have cable but you aren’t paying for it?)
No afternoon nap for the kids ---
Jack falling asleep when you put him to bed because… no nap!
Missing Jack’s singing and story telling and humming and everything other adorable thing he did while he wasn’t falling asleep at bedtime during the school year
Expecting to spend two nights pulling up the carpet and padding upstairs and only having to spend two hours instead!!
Making plans for camping
Making plans for the beach
Missing your friends in Africa
Trying not ignore the fact that some friends will move away soon
Making plans to visit MI
Making plans for Kyle’s wedding
Trying to savor each day so that the summer won’t fly by…
Having goals to accomplish but only in a very laid back manner
Taking bike rides
Catching lightning bugs
Watching Olivia and Jack actually play TOGETHER
Olivia getting to wear tank tops and sun dresses and flip flops
Oh and The Pool. Can’t forget The Pool VBS!
Blue skies, white puffy clouds and Sun.
Dry scorching sun
The smell of sunscreen and bug spray
Mosquitoes
Battlestar Galactica DVDs
Open windows
Long nights
Bright mornings
Hope and Promise
Friday, May 18, 2007
The wee hours of the morning
Olivia wakes up excited about her field trip to Duke Gardens.
-We are going to have a scavenger hunt!
-That is so cool honey.
-I hope I get to ride in Amanda’s car.
Ah yes I think to myself the Land Rover with the flip down DVD screen, nice choice.
-Or Shayna because she is my best friend. I can’t wait to pack my lunch!
-I am sorry honey that I can not drive for your field trip.
-Its ok, maybe you can come next week when we bowl!
She is too excited to eat her breakfast so she gets dressed. She carefully chooses each part of her outfit for this excursion.
A long sleeved top with sparkly gems attached that is the perfect shade of pink.
Pink leggings in a slightly different shade from the shirt.
A pink patchwork skirt that is long and flowing. (It used to be so long it went down to her ankles but now it only reaches down to mid calf… at best.)
A Blue denim hat with a bright pink and green watermelon with black seeds appliquéd to the front and sized for a toddler that she pulls down on her head for a tight fit.
A necklace made of twine and a dozen or so multicolored beads - very earthy looking.
A bracelet which Conner, or was it Walker, gave to everyone in the class.
Her glittery purple Winx sunglasses
White ankle length socks
Orange Crocs
She is now ready for the field trip, ready to conquer the world.
Jack wakes up unexcited about going to school.
He climbs back into bed several times.
He climbs slowly down the ladder from his bunk, not sad but not happy.
He eats his breakfast quietly while his sister flutters about.
As I pack a lunch for Olivia he requests one as well. I agree to make him one but remind him that he can not have peanut butter because Henly is allergic to nuts. He mopes and so we strike a deal that he can have peanut butter but he will have to leave his lunch in the car and eat it after school.
He dresses quickly and then returns to the kitchen where he pulls out paper and markers to make something for his teacher. It is time to leave, so Eric gently reminds him that Ms. White will not be at school today but will be back on Monday so he has the whole weekend to finish his project. He replys with a feeble ok and slumps from the table. As Eric opens the door to leave, Jack, with a sudden burst of energy, rushes back to his room and to his red toy box. He pulls out his big Lighting McQueen car, a black and white dinosaur that can bite if you push the button on his back (a happy meal toy), a small R2D2 and a rock. He pulls all the toys toward him and tightly grasps them to his chest.
As he moves toward the door he starts to drop toys like bread crumbs on a path. He shakes L. McQueen. The engine revs and I hear – Sped? I was made for Sped!, followed by acceleration. Jack laughs and places McQueen on the kitchen table. As he reaches the door he growls and pushes the button on the dinosaur to make him bite. Again a laugh as he drops the happy meal toy to the porch floor. Outside I hear a thump as he temporary disposes of the rock, putting it in a place where he can retrieve it after school. And then he races to the car with R2D2 clutched in his hand, off to fight the dark side and conquer the world.
-We are going to have a scavenger hunt!
-That is so cool honey.
-I hope I get to ride in Amanda’s car.
Ah yes I think to myself the Land Rover with the flip down DVD screen, nice choice.
-Or Shayna because she is my best friend. I can’t wait to pack my lunch!
-I am sorry honey that I can not drive for your field trip.
-Its ok, maybe you can come next week when we bowl!
She is too excited to eat her breakfast so she gets dressed. She carefully chooses each part of her outfit for this excursion.
A long sleeved top with sparkly gems attached that is the perfect shade of pink.
Pink leggings in a slightly different shade from the shirt.
A pink patchwork skirt that is long and flowing. (It used to be so long it went down to her ankles but now it only reaches down to mid calf… at best.)
A Blue denim hat with a bright pink and green watermelon with black seeds appliquéd to the front and sized for a toddler that she pulls down on her head for a tight fit.
A necklace made of twine and a dozen or so multicolored beads - very earthy looking.
A bracelet which Conner, or was it Walker, gave to everyone in the class.
Her glittery purple Winx sunglasses
White ankle length socks
Orange Crocs
She is now ready for the field trip, ready to conquer the world.
Jack wakes up unexcited about going to school.
He climbs back into bed several times.
He climbs slowly down the ladder from his bunk, not sad but not happy.
He eats his breakfast quietly while his sister flutters about.
As I pack a lunch for Olivia he requests one as well. I agree to make him one but remind him that he can not have peanut butter because Henly is allergic to nuts. He mopes and so we strike a deal that he can have peanut butter but he will have to leave his lunch in the car and eat it after school.
He dresses quickly and then returns to the kitchen where he pulls out paper and markers to make something for his teacher. It is time to leave, so Eric gently reminds him that Ms. White will not be at school today but will be back on Monday so he has the whole weekend to finish his project. He replys with a feeble ok and slumps from the table. As Eric opens the door to leave, Jack, with a sudden burst of energy, rushes back to his room and to his red toy box. He pulls out his big Lighting McQueen car, a black and white dinosaur that can bite if you push the button on his back (a happy meal toy), a small R2D2 and a rock. He pulls all the toys toward him and tightly grasps them to his chest.
As he moves toward the door he starts to drop toys like bread crumbs on a path. He shakes L. McQueen. The engine revs and I hear – Sped? I was made for Sped!, followed by acceleration. Jack laughs and places McQueen on the kitchen table. As he reaches the door he growls and pushes the button on the dinosaur to make him bite. Again a laugh as he drops the happy meal toy to the porch floor. Outside I hear a thump as he temporary disposes of the rock, putting it in a place where he can retrieve it after school. And then he races to the car with R2D2 clutched in his hand, off to fight the dark side and conquer the world.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
A simple pole (that will make Eric shake his head)
Eric and I are waiting for these two houses to sell. Because the longer they stay on the market, the longer I obsess about buying one of them. And we truly can not afford either not to mention they are way bigger than what we really need. They are nice though and I am sure we could come up with something to do with the extra room...
To continue the obsession I thought I would take a simple poll and see which you like better. Because I like one of them and Eric likes the other. And your vote will decide who is right… or something like that. So you can either guess which one of us likes which, which will not help me very much in proving I am right, or you can state which one you like. Anonymous votes will be accepted… I plan to vote many times anonymously.
Now you might wonder why I am obsessing and the answer to that is because both of these houses are just around the corner from Church and School. Just Around The Corner... oh my word!!
( if I have done this correctly, clicking on the photo should take you to the listings which have more photos along with the price we can not afford.. of course if they stay on the market long enough the price might come down right?)
To continue the obsession I thought I would take a simple poll and see which you like better. Because I like one of them and Eric likes the other. And your vote will decide who is right… or something like that. So you can either guess which one of us likes which, which will not help me very much in proving I am right, or you can state which one you like. Anonymous votes will be accepted… I plan to vote many times anonymously.
Now you might wonder why I am obsessing and the answer to that is because both of these houses are just around the corner from Church and School. Just Around The Corner... oh my word!!
( if I have done this correctly, clicking on the photo should take you to the listings which have more photos along with the price we can not afford.. of course if they stay on the market long enough the price might come down right?)
HOUSE ONE
HOUSE TWO
Friday, May 11, 2007
don't read into it
Today the weather is gorgeous.
Last night I laughed at Andy floating away in the water
Tomorrow I am getting my hair cut at 6:00 pm
Tonight I am attending Rebecca’s directorial debut – The Merchant of Venice
Yesterday I took a nap when I got home from work
Tomorrow I hope, with help from the family, to cut the grass and clean the house so we can look presentable on Sunday
Sunday is, well it is Mother’s Day but it is also a party for Frank, hosted by his wife Beth, at our house. Really it is just an excuse to see old friends and hang out.
This weekend I am handing in our dvr and our cable modem
No soup for you
Last night at the school’s talent show, Eric’s student wore 130 t-shirts trying to break a world record of most t-shirts worn at once. The record is over 150
Right now I am amazingly hungry and I am trying to trick my stomach with water
Yesterday we ate chocolate chip cookies after SG
Tomorrow I am going to Costco to buy brats and hopefully pita chips
Mmmm pita chips
Today grasping
Tomorrow hoping
Yesterday repenting
Last night I laughed at Andy floating away in the water
Tomorrow I am getting my hair cut at 6:00 pm
Tonight I am attending Rebecca’s directorial debut – The Merchant of Venice
Yesterday I took a nap when I got home from work
Tomorrow I hope, with help from the family, to cut the grass and clean the house so we can look presentable on Sunday
Sunday is, well it is Mother’s Day but it is also a party for Frank, hosted by his wife Beth, at our house. Really it is just an excuse to see old friends and hang out.
This weekend I am handing in our dvr and our cable modem
No soup for you
Last night at the school’s talent show, Eric’s student wore 130 t-shirts trying to break a world record of most t-shirts worn at once. The record is over 150
Right now I am amazingly hungry and I am trying to trick my stomach with water
Yesterday we ate chocolate chip cookies after SG
Tomorrow I am going to Costco to buy brats and hopefully pita chips
Mmmm pita chips
Today grasping
Tomorrow hoping
Yesterday repenting
It you're happy and you know it, eat your vitamins
We were in a groove for awhile. And now we have slipped out of the groove. Mornings are the hardest. What with the Having to eat and drink and Having to get dressed; not to mention Having to leave the house. Sometimes the nights are hard as well. What with the fatigue and restless feelings and the constant murmur coming from the room where the children are “sleeping”. Good moments do still pop up. Jack coloring, Olivia’s hugs, a lego ship built by Jack from his own imagination, flowers picked by Olivia and presented with a glowing smile, reading/singing “If you’re happy and know it” during breakfast, dancing in the kitchen with Eric. Seeing Eric. Smiling at Eric. Laughing with Eric.
I think the groove might be getting just within reach.
I think the groove might be getting just within reach.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
I am so Psyched
I know this post is far from amazing but I finally figured out how to post movies and how to string pics into my own movie. Ok I knew how to string pics together previously but I just discovered a program on Eric's computer that makes it super easy. Sorry there is not music. I promise to have that next time but I have to locate some cds to do so. For R&R and Great Grandma Just click on the triangle at the bottom of the screen.
What you have been waiting for...Pics of the kids!
This one was taken a few weekends ago. A weekend where Eric was at school most of the time supervising student painters of the sets for Peter Pan. Instead of trying to accomplish anything, the kids and I just played. And this was Jack's choice for playing... the playmobile tree house.
FastForward to last weekend where Jack demonstrated the best position for eating an ice cream sandwich.
Olivia decided the best position was sitting up and enjoying every bite.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Discernment
OK So I had a clear moment of thought this morning (something that I knew already but became more clear this morning) and I am going to share it with you, O Lucky Reader. You, who probably had this clear moment of thought long ago. Normally when I actually write these moments down they seem insignificant and so I trash them before I can post them. However if you are reading this now, then unfortunately for you I decided to go ahead and share my wisdom (cough, couch).
This morning I read Hebrews 5 and came to these last verses:
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
And I stopped to think about the use of the words good and evil because I really expected them to be right and wrong. I mean righteousness has the work right in it. And so I thought about how the words good and evil are so much better than right and wrong and how previously I would have perhaps used them interchangeably but how now after thinking about it, I hope to be able to keep them separate and distinct. And that is why I am posting my clear moment of thought here on my blog; to help me remember.
Thinking in terms of right and wrong is easier. Right and Wrong are concrete and sturdy. They are literal. In Math there is only one answer. You are either right or wrong. Many questions only have one answer; you are either right or wrong. Who wrote Moby Dick? Herman Melville is the only right answer. Right and Wrong are Safe.
Good and evil are much broader. They can change, they can look different under changing circumstances, they are harder to discern and they involve more choice. And when you really get down to it they point to motivation. Doing something because it is right implies duty. Doing something because it is good seems to me to imply choice. (I think I might be on the cusp of understanding free will… maybe not).
But what does this mean to me? It means that I need to focus on teaching my children about choosing between good and evil and not what is right and wrong. And it means for me to focus on the same.
Is the suffering that Job went through right? It would seem that the answer is no. Suffering is wrong. I don’t want Job to suffer. But was it good? Yes it was. May I be able to keep Good in perspective.
This morning I read Hebrews 5 and came to these last verses:
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
And I stopped to think about the use of the words good and evil because I really expected them to be right and wrong. I mean righteousness has the work right in it. And so I thought about how the words good and evil are so much better than right and wrong and how previously I would have perhaps used them interchangeably but how now after thinking about it, I hope to be able to keep them separate and distinct. And that is why I am posting my clear moment of thought here on my blog; to help me remember.
Thinking in terms of right and wrong is easier. Right and Wrong are concrete and sturdy. They are literal. In Math there is only one answer. You are either right or wrong. Many questions only have one answer; you are either right or wrong. Who wrote Moby Dick? Herman Melville is the only right answer. Right and Wrong are Safe.
Good and evil are much broader. They can change, they can look different under changing circumstances, they are harder to discern and they involve more choice. And when you really get down to it they point to motivation. Doing something because it is right implies duty. Doing something because it is good seems to me to imply choice. (I think I might be on the cusp of understanding free will… maybe not).
But what does this mean to me? It means that I need to focus on teaching my children about choosing between good and evil and not what is right and wrong. And it means for me to focus on the same.
Is the suffering that Job went through right? It would seem that the answer is no. Suffering is wrong. I don’t want Job to suffer. But was it good? Yes it was. May I be able to keep Good in perspective.
Monday, April 30, 2007
I feel like renting Hook.
Saturday night we attended a performance of the musical “Peter Pan” at our school (it took me awhile to figure out how to refer to the school. Eric teaches there, the kids both attend… I guess that makes it my school as well?? Anyhow it belongs to ¾ of the family so I might as well accept it as mine). The thing I have always enjoyed about small Christian schools is that everyone who wants to be involved gets to be involved (and sometimes even those who do not want to be involved, get to be involved.) The atmosphere is fun, not serious. You try to do your best and that is all that is asked. Being an adult watching the performance I could point out how occasionally Peter Pan sang off tune, how I could hear Capt Hook but had could never understand what he was saying and how if you did not already know the story coming in, you might get lost (there were some interesting choices in scene selection) along with the Lost Boys. I could also tell you that I was amazed at how well Peter Pan was acted, how charming all the Lost Boys were, how nicely Wendy sang, how cool the sets were and how amazingly perfect the sets were painted. Especially the picture of the horse in the children’s room…
My favorite scene was one my children laughed at because of the slap stick but which Eric and I laughed at because of the wit. It was a scene in which Capt Hook and one of his cronies were being chased by the tick tocking crocodile. The scene was done in slow motion, with a fall by the pirate, and set to the theme song of Chariots of Fire. Very nicely done.
But really none of that, good or bad, mattered on Saturday night. What matter was Olivia being perfectly quiet and watching with eyes as big as silver dollars to every moment of the musical and seeing her hug herself at the end of each act and dance around in the aisle or Jack sitting in Eric’s lap, completely still except for the constant change of expression on his face. We all booed fiercely when ever we spied Capt Hook and cheered gleefully at the sight of Peter Pan. We yelled “I believe in fairies” to bring Tink back to life and Jack crowed right along with Peter Pan as he took out the pirates.
And at the end, Jack jumped up and clapped as he has never clapped before and the rest of us joined him as we cheered for the performers and all the people who helped create the production.
My favorite scene was one my children laughed at because of the slap stick but which Eric and I laughed at because of the wit. It was a scene in which Capt Hook and one of his cronies were being chased by the tick tocking crocodile. The scene was done in slow motion, with a fall by the pirate, and set to the theme song of Chariots of Fire. Very nicely done.
But really none of that, good or bad, mattered on Saturday night. What matter was Olivia being perfectly quiet and watching with eyes as big as silver dollars to every moment of the musical and seeing her hug herself at the end of each act and dance around in the aisle or Jack sitting in Eric’s lap, completely still except for the constant change of expression on his face. We all booed fiercely when ever we spied Capt Hook and cheered gleefully at the sight of Peter Pan. We yelled “I believe in fairies” to bring Tink back to life and Jack crowed right along with Peter Pan as he took out the pirates.
And at the end, Jack jumped up and clapped as he has never clapped before and the rest of us joined him as we cheered for the performers and all the people who helped create the production.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
One of Those
Some people are annoying. You know the type. The kind that start a blog, go gung ho for awhile and then taper off, almost to the point that you give up on them. But you don't give up. You continue to look every week or so and then Finally they post. Yes I have become one of Those. Sometimes I even check my own blog to see if perhaps I have Finally posted something but no. Sorry. I really mean to be better about this. And I will try harder. And I realize this is a lame post. But sometimes you just have to start somewhere and unfortunately for you this is somewhere.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Wednesday
Today Olivia had her first appointment with an Ophthalmologist. We went because she had an eye test at school and they recommend she see one. We have never noticed anything wrong with O’s eyesight. In fact when we are in the car she can see things much further away then I can. ( She can probably do this when she is not in the car as well but it is something I have noticed when we are driving, usually in this way – Mom! LOOK! A Yellow Bug Car! Where? In that Parking lot up on that hill over there. What Parking lot???) But since the form from school had the box STRONGLY RECOMMEND instead of just Recommend checked, we thought we should follow through.
The eye exam went along splendidly. We had a Resident and not a “real” Doctor. The Resident was ok with kids, not great but he was trying. He indicated that all was well and had no idea what may have gone wrong in the eye exam because things looked fine. As a precaution though, just to make sure, he decided he should dilate her eyes and have a look. This of course requires eye drops. Being the good Doctor in training the Resident prep Olivia for the eye drops. This, in theory, is a good idea. It turns bad when you use the words – Do you like to Swim? Well this is going to feel just like when you go swimming and get water in your eyes… Olivia HATES to get water in her eyes while swimming. At the end of last summer she would put her head under the water and swim but only with goggles covering her eyes and a towel close at hand. For the next, what felt like hours but I am sure was only 10 minutes max, Olivia cried and hid and wiggled and occasionally shrieked as the Resident and I tried to talk, bribe, trick and force her into taking the drops. Finally the Resident brought in an assistant who had the drops in Olivia’s eyes within 60 seconds of entering the room. The difference? She had total command of the room. She told Olivia she had a new special way of putting in the drops. Olivia would have to tilt her head back with her eyes closed, several drops would be put on her eyelids and then when we told her to open her eyes she would have to open them and not cry or wipe her eyes. Olivia was still scared but the Assistant explained that as soon as we were done she could go play and that if she put up too big of a struggle and the drops did not go in her eyes we would just have to try again. So - one time without a struggle or several times with struggling. Olivia completely trusted this person and as I said the drops were in within 60 seconds. She did still freak a little but not so much that I could not contain her and quickly calm her. When we walked back into the waiting room several people looked at me and Olivia with concern and I realized – Ah yes, you don’t usually expect a lot of screaming from an Eye Doctor’s Office. I just smiled and let them know we were just fine. After all of that Olivia was seen by the “real” Doctor who seemed a little miffed at the Resident, proclaimed that Olivia has Great eyesight and stated that we should not come back again unless we noticed a problem.
The eye exam went along splendidly. We had a Resident and not a “real” Doctor. The Resident was ok with kids, not great but he was trying. He indicated that all was well and had no idea what may have gone wrong in the eye exam because things looked fine. As a precaution though, just to make sure, he decided he should dilate her eyes and have a look. This of course requires eye drops. Being the good Doctor in training the Resident prep Olivia for the eye drops. This, in theory, is a good idea. It turns bad when you use the words – Do you like to Swim? Well this is going to feel just like when you go swimming and get water in your eyes… Olivia HATES to get water in her eyes while swimming. At the end of last summer she would put her head under the water and swim but only with goggles covering her eyes and a towel close at hand. For the next, what felt like hours but I am sure was only 10 minutes max, Olivia cried and hid and wiggled and occasionally shrieked as the Resident and I tried to talk, bribe, trick and force her into taking the drops. Finally the Resident brought in an assistant who had the drops in Olivia’s eyes within 60 seconds of entering the room. The difference? She had total command of the room. She told Olivia she had a new special way of putting in the drops. Olivia would have to tilt her head back with her eyes closed, several drops would be put on her eyelids and then when we told her to open her eyes she would have to open them and not cry or wipe her eyes. Olivia was still scared but the Assistant explained that as soon as we were done she could go play and that if she put up too big of a struggle and the drops did not go in her eyes we would just have to try again. So - one time without a struggle or several times with struggling. Olivia completely trusted this person and as I said the drops were in within 60 seconds. She did still freak a little but not so much that I could not contain her and quickly calm her. When we walked back into the waiting room several people looked at me and Olivia with concern and I realized – Ah yes, you don’t usually expect a lot of screaming from an Eye Doctor’s Office. I just smiled and let them know we were just fine. After all of that Olivia was seen by the “real” Doctor who seemed a little miffed at the Resident, proclaimed that Olivia has Great eyesight and stated that we should not come back again unless we noticed a problem.
Tuesday
On Tuesday I went to Target to buy a few groceries before I picked up my kids from school.
Ok two, yes TWO side comments here
One is that last week I heard a local news man say the following sentence – A local food store donates a weeks worth of food…
Local Food Store? What the heck? Is it really asking too much to assume people understand the word Grocery? (40 has made me a little ornery)
Second or B, I am a little uneasy about how therapeutic it feels when I walk through those red doors at Target. I mean come on, red is a harsh color. It should strike fear in me or make we a little leery of walking in but instead the doors wave to me from afar – come in, come in and I just can not resist their beckoning. I can however resist handing over my green money… mostly because my check card is blue.
Ok so Tuesday at Target.
I am buying just a few GROCERY items, maybe 20 or so, when I realize I do not have my wonderful Blue Card on me to purchase my items. This has happened before and I just roll my eyes at how forgetful I am, restock the shelves with my items and walk out through the red doors that resist just slightly when they see I am leaving without packages. This time however, I was standing in the check out line, flanked between two other shoppers who succumbed to the beckoning red doors. When I could, I caught the attention of the nice girl ringing up sales in her soothing red vest and very quietly said – I am sorry I have no means to pay. She stared at me as if trying to decide whether to push her security button or not. I quickly spoke up and said – I forget my check card. I have no way to pay for these. I am terribly sorry. Would you like me to put my items back? I could tell she was ready to roll her eyes but she resisted and just said that was fine. Was my card in my car, No? Well they would just restock my items. She then called a Manager to the take the items and he offer to hold them for me in back room it I wanted to come back. My mind raced… that sounded like a good option. I could call Eric and he could be at the store in 10 minutes… I wouldn’t have to reshop…no milk in the cart… OK yes please hold them. He took my name and my cart and I left and called Eric. I then drove to school to pick up the kids while Eric drove from the school to pick up the groceries.
Eric arrived home just as we were emerging from our car. The kids ran to greet him and I smiled at him and laughed at how silly I was to have forgotten my check card (and my driver’s license and every other piece of plastic that gets me through a day). Eric brought the first bag into the house and that is when I noticed… he did NOT have my groceries. OH MY WORD! How many forgetful 40 year olds are there in Durham who could have been having their cart held at Target for their husband to pick up?? Mind you I was not mad at Eric, I was mad at not having thought this possibility through – no milk in cart… scan the store for any other forgetful looking people… oh there is someone who looks suspicious… Ok hold my groceries … remember to give Eric a list of items in the cart.
Well to make an already too long story short. Eric, being the wonderful person he is, brought the groceries back to Target where the Manager apologized for the mix up and even gave him fresh bread because the bread in the cart had gotten squished.
Ok two, yes TWO side comments here
One is that last week I heard a local news man say the following sentence – A local food store donates a weeks worth of food…
Local Food Store? What the heck? Is it really asking too much to assume people understand the word Grocery? (40 has made me a little ornery)
Second or B, I am a little uneasy about how therapeutic it feels when I walk through those red doors at Target. I mean come on, red is a harsh color. It should strike fear in me or make we a little leery of walking in but instead the doors wave to me from afar – come in, come in and I just can not resist their beckoning. I can however resist handing over my green money… mostly because my check card is blue.
Ok so Tuesday at Target.
I am buying just a few GROCERY items, maybe 20 or so, when I realize I do not have my wonderful Blue Card on me to purchase my items. This has happened before and I just roll my eyes at how forgetful I am, restock the shelves with my items and walk out through the red doors that resist just slightly when they see I am leaving without packages. This time however, I was standing in the check out line, flanked between two other shoppers who succumbed to the beckoning red doors. When I could, I caught the attention of the nice girl ringing up sales in her soothing red vest and very quietly said – I am sorry I have no means to pay. She stared at me as if trying to decide whether to push her security button or not. I quickly spoke up and said – I forget my check card. I have no way to pay for these. I am terribly sorry. Would you like me to put my items back? I could tell she was ready to roll her eyes but she resisted and just said that was fine. Was my card in my car, No? Well they would just restock my items. She then called a Manager to the take the items and he offer to hold them for me in back room it I wanted to come back. My mind raced… that sounded like a good option. I could call Eric and he could be at the store in 10 minutes… I wouldn’t have to reshop…no milk in the cart… OK yes please hold them. He took my name and my cart and I left and called Eric. I then drove to school to pick up the kids while Eric drove from the school to pick up the groceries.
Eric arrived home just as we were emerging from our car. The kids ran to greet him and I smiled at him and laughed at how silly I was to have forgotten my check card (and my driver’s license and every other piece of plastic that gets me through a day). Eric brought the first bag into the house and that is when I noticed… he did NOT have my groceries. OH MY WORD! How many forgetful 40 year olds are there in Durham who could have been having their cart held at Target for their husband to pick up?? Mind you I was not mad at Eric, I was mad at not having thought this possibility through – no milk in cart… scan the store for any other forgetful looking people… oh there is someone who looks suspicious… Ok hold my groceries … remember to give Eric a list of items in the cart.
Well to make an already too long story short. Eric, being the wonderful person he is, brought the groceries back to Target where the Manager apologized for the mix up and even gave him fresh bread because the bread in the cart had gotten squished.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Where are the words?
I just spent over an hour trying to post a video clip to this blog. I did succeed to link to my video but not in a very cool way so I removed the post. I am SO bummed. So here are some still shots instead.
We were at a friend's house for Easter. This is a pic of the kids waiting patiently for the egg hunt to begin. As a quick aside - what is an egg roll about? Not the kind you eat but the kind they have on the White House lawn each year? Really what is the big deal with rolling an egg?
The baskets waiting patiently for the children.
The loot
This no doubt is THE best one. Olivia opened all her eggs and was amazed at what each one held. Jack opened the eggs until he found chocolate, ate the chocolate and then walked away.
Number one reason to buy a trampoline? We would get to see this daily.
Number one reason to buy a hammock? Ditto.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
There O goes
She is so excited about soccer and her new purple soccer shirt that she smuggled the shirt in her purse and brought it to church. When I picked her up from her Sunday school room she was wearing it over her dress a huge proud smile on her face. OH MY WORD.
The first Monday she told everyone she met
– I have a soccer game tonight.
I corrected her – practice not a game.
I have soccer practice tonight. I hope my team wins
They would reply – oh I bet you are a good soccer player
Yes she would answer nonchalantly as if she had been playing for years
The first Saturday she told everyone
- I have soccer practice today.
I corrected her – Soccer game.
I have a soccer game today. My dad plays too.
She is aggressive and fast but not always focused, resulting in her going full force and then suddenly stopping, sometimes resulting in a domino affect on the kids behind her.
What causes her to stop? Oh she suddenly discovers she is sweating and she does not enjoy sweating. Or the sun suddenly is just too much to take. Or she notices a scrape on her teammate’s elbow and stops to compare it with her own.
She is good in goal. She is not afraid to scoop up the ball as kids run forward ready to kick. She likes to be goalie because she can squat down and play with the grass when the ball is at the other side of the field.
She tries really hard and does whatever she is told. She is enjoying her first taste of soccer and organized sports… especially the after practice/game snack.
Mom who is bringing the snack?
I’m not sure.
Maybe we are supposed to bring it.
I don’t think so.
How do you know.
No one told me to bring a snack.
Maybe you just forgot. Maybe you should bring one anyway.
Let’s just put on the shin guards and not worry about the snack right now.
OK… I hope someone brings a snack though.
The first Monday she told everyone she met
– I have a soccer game tonight.
I corrected her – practice not a game.
I have soccer practice tonight. I hope my team wins
They would reply – oh I bet you are a good soccer player
Yes she would answer nonchalantly as if she had been playing for years
The first Saturday she told everyone
- I have soccer practice today.
I corrected her – Soccer game.
I have a soccer game today. My dad plays too.
She is aggressive and fast but not always focused, resulting in her going full force and then suddenly stopping, sometimes resulting in a domino affect on the kids behind her.
What causes her to stop? Oh she suddenly discovers she is sweating and she does not enjoy sweating. Or the sun suddenly is just too much to take. Or she notices a scrape on her teammate’s elbow and stops to compare it with her own.
She is good in goal. She is not afraid to scoop up the ball as kids run forward ready to kick. She likes to be goalie because she can squat down and play with the grass when the ball is at the other side of the field.
She tries really hard and does whatever she is told. She is enjoying her first taste of soccer and organized sports… especially the after practice/game snack.
Mom who is bringing the snack?
I’m not sure.
Maybe we are supposed to bring it.
I don’t think so.
How do you know.
No one told me to bring a snack.
Maybe you just forgot. Maybe you should bring one anyway.
Let’s just put on the shin guards and not worry about the snack right now.
OK… I hope someone brings a snack though.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Hi, My name is Beth and I am an addict
I was a little panicked because I thought I was going to have to cancel cable for April and then realized that we have one more month before we have to cancel and say good bye to our DVR. This is GREAT news because it means we won’t miss sweeps.
AND my sister informed me Netflix is going to start letting their customers earn points toward free online viewing. She can already do this but it won’t start here until June. OH MY WORD!!! This could be EVEN BETTER than the dvr.
AND my sister informed me Netflix is going to start letting their customers earn points toward free online viewing. She can already do this but it won’t start here until June. OH MY WORD!!! This could be EVEN BETTER than the dvr.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Lists anyone?
Now that I am 40 I feel like there should be a list but a list of what?
Should I look back and make a list of:
My most embarrassing moments?
The things I have learned?
People I should apologize too because I was just too young to understand?
Things I should have accomplished in my 30s, 20’s, teens?
The many ways in which times flies?
No no no THOSE would all be TOO long
Perhaps it should be a list that defines me now
My favorite books, movies, paintings, people, episodes of TV, places to visit, songs, artists, authors….
No that would be even longer because then I would feel the need to explain my choices and with in each category there would have to be sub categories - like my favorite non fiction book, favorite biography, favorite book I would never recommend anyone else read.
Perhaps it should look forward. What I hope to do in my forties.
Ah yes that I can do.
Trust God more
Try to be less selfish
Love my family and friends more
Try harder to enjoy the moment
Stop wasting time (does that contradict number 4?)
And also
Take documentary classes with Eric
Become more involved in my family’s school
lose weight
take cooking lessons (does that contradict number 3?)
read more books
save more money
blog more regularly
see Paula Deen cook in person
take a vacation to sandy beaches and nice warm blue waters
travel, travel, travel.
There a list.
Should I look back and make a list of:
My most embarrassing moments?
The things I have learned?
People I should apologize too because I was just too young to understand?
Things I should have accomplished in my 30s, 20’s, teens?
The many ways in which times flies?
No no no THOSE would all be TOO long
Perhaps it should be a list that defines me now
My favorite books, movies, paintings, people, episodes of TV, places to visit, songs, artists, authors….
No that would be even longer because then I would feel the need to explain my choices and with in each category there would have to be sub categories - like my favorite non fiction book, favorite biography, favorite book I would never recommend anyone else read.
Perhaps it should look forward. What I hope to do in my forties.
Ah yes that I can do.
Trust God more
Try to be less selfish
Love my family and friends more
Try harder to enjoy the moment
Stop wasting time (does that contradict number 4?)
And also
Take documentary classes with Eric
Become more involved in my family’s school
lose weight
take cooking lessons (does that contradict number 3?)
read more books
save more money
blog more regularly
see Paula Deen cook in person
take a vacation to sandy beaches and nice warm blue waters
travel, travel, travel.
There a list.
Just Olivia
I was busy uploading pictures while Eric and the kids watched Return of the Jedi when Jack asked – Why did Darth Vader do that?
I glanced up just in time to see the Emperor fall a very long distance after Vader flung him over the side of some railing.
Well Jack the Emperor is bad and that is why he did it.
Olivia objected – That is not the reason. The reason is that Darth Vader still has some good buried deep inside him and that goodness could not let the Emperor kill his son and that is why.
Touché
Have I mentioned before that she cried the first time she saw Darth Vader die? And that she can hardly watch The Empire Strikes Back because they carbon freeze Hans Solo? A caring soul has she.
Currently our bed time story book is Wind in the Willows. I had never read this book before reading it with my children. Wow what a lot of vocabulary words. I wonder at times if the kids even understand the progression of the story with all of the new words. But I keep reading it because I think of Marilyn Robinson and how she says we should not dumb things down. We should have faith that they will understand. And so I read on, laughing at the many adventures of Mole, Rat, Toad, Badger and their other animal friends. At one point Toad is put in a dungeon for stealing a car and suddenly the story turns to Rat and Mole searching for a young otter. Olivia was concerned for days about Toad. What about Toad she would ask. They can’t leave him in the dungeon. He must get out? She has formed a bond with naughty Toad. She does understand. And Jack chirps up – Don’t worry Livia he will get out.
This morning Olivia said to me -Today and then one more day until Grandma and Grandpa arrive.
Oh did they say they would definitely be here on Thursday to you on the phone?
Yes but Momma I wonder…
Yes? What?
Who will watch them when we are in school on Friday?
Hmmm? I don’t know. Do you think we should trust them to be alone in the house?
She laughs – Yes!
But I know she is concerned with when will she get to see them on that day so I suggest –
Maybe they will pick you up from school on Friday?
Yes -she replies hugging herself with delight – that would be GREAT!
I glanced up just in time to see the Emperor fall a very long distance after Vader flung him over the side of some railing.
Well Jack the Emperor is bad and that is why he did it.
Olivia objected – That is not the reason. The reason is that Darth Vader still has some good buried deep inside him and that goodness could not let the Emperor kill his son and that is why.
Touché
Have I mentioned before that she cried the first time she saw Darth Vader die? And that she can hardly watch The Empire Strikes Back because they carbon freeze Hans Solo? A caring soul has she.
Currently our bed time story book is Wind in the Willows. I had never read this book before reading it with my children. Wow what a lot of vocabulary words. I wonder at times if the kids even understand the progression of the story with all of the new words. But I keep reading it because I think of Marilyn Robinson and how she says we should not dumb things down. We should have faith that they will understand. And so I read on, laughing at the many adventures of Mole, Rat, Toad, Badger and their other animal friends. At one point Toad is put in a dungeon for stealing a car and suddenly the story turns to Rat and Mole searching for a young otter. Olivia was concerned for days about Toad. What about Toad she would ask. They can’t leave him in the dungeon. He must get out? She has formed a bond with naughty Toad. She does understand. And Jack chirps up – Don’t worry Livia he will get out.
This morning Olivia said to me -Today and then one more day until Grandma and Grandpa arrive.
Oh did they say they would definitely be here on Thursday to you on the phone?
Yes but Momma I wonder…
Yes? What?
Who will watch them when we are in school on Friday?
Hmmm? I don’t know. Do you think we should trust them to be alone in the house?
She laughs – Yes!
But I know she is concerned with when will she get to see them on that day so I suggest –
Maybe they will pick you up from school on Friday?
Yes -she replies hugging herself with delight – that would be GREAT!
Monday, March 26, 2007
39ish?
What do you do to celebrate your 40th birthday in the mist of March Madness? You have a slumber party. Yes that is what I did. I invited 12 friends to come and spend the night. All but two made it to the party and half of those spent the night. The highlight of the night was probably when Dana confused Trivial Pursuit with Who Wants to be a Millionaire and phoned a friend (her husband) for the answer to a sports question. Of course Trivial Pursuit went on for too long (doesn’t’ it always?) and in the end the phone a friend cheaters won the game. I think people had a good time. I think I may be better at children’s parties than adult parties but perhaps it is a learning curve. I however had a great time and I hope all my friends did as well.
Friday, March 23, 2007
There is no denying it.
Yesterday I turned 40 and all I can say is so far the 40s are great! Oddly one of the best presents I received on my birthday (I received several before and one great one today) was getting to watch the GE repair man pull apart my dryer and fix it. Why was this so great? Well I had never seen the inner workings of a dryer before. You would be amazed at how minimalist the workings of the dryer are. Or maybe You wouldn’t be. Maybe you already realize that once you pull out the big tumbling drum all you are left with is a heating element and the little mechanism that powers the heating element and turns the drum. Normally when a repair person comes, I just show them to their work and leave them be but this repair person needed some help holding the dryer in a tilted position while he checked out the back of it and so I helped and then he talked to me about the dryer. (At some point of course it became somewhat awkward that I was still there but he did not seem to mind me watching so I just stayed and I did marvel at the trust there is between you and your repair person. I mean I know you have called him to your house and this is his job but there is something a little odd about having a complete stranger just waltz into your house and take over an appliance like it belongs to him.) The second great thing about this gift was he was able to locate the problem and fix it so I could finish my laundry I had try to start on Saturday.(and I would not have heaping wet clothes in my house for the slumber party) One of the great gifts I received the day before my birthday was watching my husband and children make a cake for me. Usually things like this are done in secret so it can be a surprise but that was not going to work out for us on Wednesday so I was in the kitchen when they were making the cake. Eric was so pleased with the cake mix and frosting he had picked out. It was a butter cake and was amazingly fluffy. The frosting was dark chocolate and completely decadent. And knowing that I LOVE cake candy he had picked out three different sets (not including the letters and number set) that added up to 40 pieces of cake candy. But it was not the cake that amazed me and filled me with joy it was watching them, my family, work together to create something so wonderful and fun. Eric was so patient with the children, letting them help with the ingredients and with the mixing -they each got to use the electric mixer! And the kids were just so excited about the cake that it filled the kitchen with joy. It was just such a nice moment for what had been a very hectic day. And I was so thankful to God for my family.And today I received a great gift from my friend Rebecca. She dedicated a whole blog entry to me. And said some very kind things about me and I tried not to cry while I read them. God has given me such amazing friends. He is so generous to me.
Could she be more pleased. Could it please me more?
MMM Cake candy.
Monday, March 19, 2007
What did you do for TWDs?
Our kids had Thursday, Friday and Monday off because of Teacher Work Days. Of course since Eric is a teacher… he had to work so I took these three days off to hang out with the kids. So here is our list of what we did. I don’t think it will be long.
We did NOT sleep in late much to my chagrin.
We did watch early morning cartoons
And eat Lucky Charms
We played quietly
We fought.
Jack pulled a fist full of hair out of Olivia’s head.(wow that was a bad moment)
I painted the walls in the stairway and in the upstairs bedroom. (Chocolate brown for those not paying attention in previous posts)
We met Daddy for lunch
We played at a local park and Olivia (as always) made a new friend.
Did I mention it was in the 80s?
We had friends come over to play.
We watched Star Wars – A New Hope with our friends.
I painted a second coat on the walls.
We went to play at our friend’s house
I had a date with Daddy
We had chocolate donuts with green sprinkles for St. Patty’s Day.
Eric hung out with the kids while I cleaned out the Playroom.
Eric also purchased a new door for the stairway
We watched March Madness
I read and read and read
Eric took the kids to the Museum
Eric visited a friend and watched Women’s March Madness
We watched the Amazing Race… thank goodness for non elimination rounds!
We did NOT sleep in
The kids watched early morning cartoons
And ate Lucky Charms
We waited for the Bug guy.
I finished the second coat on the stairway
I posted to my blog.
We SURVIVED!!! All limbs still intact.
(we did not take pictures..sorry)
We did NOT sleep in late much to my chagrin.
We did watch early morning cartoons
And eat Lucky Charms
We played quietly
We fought.
Jack pulled a fist full of hair out of Olivia’s head.(wow that was a bad moment)
I painted the walls in the stairway and in the upstairs bedroom. (Chocolate brown for those not paying attention in previous posts)
We met Daddy for lunch
We played at a local park and Olivia (as always) made a new friend.
Did I mention it was in the 80s?
We had friends come over to play.
We watched Star Wars – A New Hope with our friends.
I painted a second coat on the walls.
We went to play at our friend’s house
I had a date with Daddy
We had chocolate donuts with green sprinkles for St. Patty’s Day.
Eric hung out with the kids while I cleaned out the Playroom.
Eric also purchased a new door for the stairway
We watched March Madness
I read and read and read
Eric took the kids to the Museum
Eric visited a friend and watched Women’s March Madness
We watched the Amazing Race… thank goodness for non elimination rounds!
We did NOT sleep in
The kids watched early morning cartoons
And ate Lucky Charms
We waited for the Bug guy.
I finished the second coat on the stairway
I posted to my blog.
We SURVIVED!!! All limbs still intact.
(we did not take pictures..sorry)
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Only people who watch Lost will appreciated this... and even then maybe not.
Last Wednesday, after we finished watching a Lost episode in which there were WAY too many shots of a weird looking cat, Eric turned to me and said - I think the animals are controlling the island. Ok I know you can't really feel the moment here on the blog but I laughed so hard at that and I have been living off that laugh for the last week.
This is second only to - why can't everything have a hard candy coating?
Oh I think I really need some sleep and I will probably regret this post in the morning. Of course I can always pull it when I gain back my sanity.
This is second only to - why can't everything have a hard candy coating?
Oh I think I really need some sleep and I will probably regret this post in the morning. Of course I can always pull it when I gain back my sanity.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Things that make you go hmm
I just read this on Don Miller’s site. I post it here because the third paragraph expresses what I having been thinking about recently but have not really been able to put into words. I give you the whole post because I find it funny and wanted to share a laugh as well as a thought.
This week my friend Jordan and I attended Robert McKee’s "Story" seminar in Los Angeles. McKee is the guy best known as having been portrayed in the movie "Adaptation" as a true-life seminar instructor teaching screenwriters how best to tell story through film. In the film, as in real life, McKee is an ornery, older man whose foul language and temper keep his class on edge and attentive for no less than twelve hours of lecture each day, three days running. McKee never wants to be interrupted while he is lecturing, but he occasionally asks for "movie examples" from his students. I dared Jordan to yell out "The Passion of the Christ!" each time he asked for an example, but Jordan wouldn’t do it. I also dared him to raise his hand and ask McKee if it would be possible to have a movie without characters, but Jordan wouldn’t do that either.
But even though Jordan would not entertain me by causing Robert McKee to go into a rage and tantrum, the seminar itself was worth the time. I confess I did not realize how much screenwriters have to work to come up with a good screenplay. The first three to four months can be spent outlining the story alone, and that is before dialogue or color and texture are imagined. McKee diagnosed good movies and bad movies, explaining why some work and others don’t work. The reactionary side of me wanted to believe that there was no need for formulas in movies, but I quickly realized nearly all the movies I enjoy adhere to specific principles. Even movies like Lost in Translation are remarkably mannered.
It did not escape me, as I listened to 36 hours of story deconstruction, how powerful story is. The overwhelming majority of the Bible, in fact, is story. We often think of the Bible as creeds and precepts, but it is anything but. Instead, the stories of the Bible work to create an internal map, a guide and compass, teaching us what is worth pursuing and what is worthless, what is meaningful and what is not. Right and wrong, then, are not often taught by lists (truth without meaningful context) but rather through the tools of story. The seminar made me wonder why religious institutions who aim to teach ancient texts don’t have story departments alongside their systematic pursuits. It seems that one might benefit from the other. If scripture, in fact, were an indication of priority, the systematic methodology might be relegated to a small room at the back of campus within which we might find a professor with a calculator and an overhead projector. And this makes me wonder if our focus on creedal reductions were not an attempt to validate ourselves to the age of reason rather than an attempt to understand what God has spoken.
*note: things I did not say. 1. Creeds are not important. 2. Systematic theology is not a valuable tool in understanding who God is. 3. The Last Temptation of Christ was not a good movie. 4. Seminaries are bad. 5. Calvinists are not capable of passionate love making. Though one-and-a-half items on this list are actually true.
If you would like to look around on his site just click here.
This week my friend Jordan and I attended Robert McKee’s "Story" seminar in Los Angeles. McKee is the guy best known as having been portrayed in the movie "Adaptation" as a true-life seminar instructor teaching screenwriters how best to tell story through film. In the film, as in real life, McKee is an ornery, older man whose foul language and temper keep his class on edge and attentive for no less than twelve hours of lecture each day, three days running. McKee never wants to be interrupted while he is lecturing, but he occasionally asks for "movie examples" from his students. I dared Jordan to yell out "The Passion of the Christ!" each time he asked for an example, but Jordan wouldn’t do it. I also dared him to raise his hand and ask McKee if it would be possible to have a movie without characters, but Jordan wouldn’t do that either.
But even though Jordan would not entertain me by causing Robert McKee to go into a rage and tantrum, the seminar itself was worth the time. I confess I did not realize how much screenwriters have to work to come up with a good screenplay. The first three to four months can be spent outlining the story alone, and that is before dialogue or color and texture are imagined. McKee diagnosed good movies and bad movies, explaining why some work and others don’t work. The reactionary side of me wanted to believe that there was no need for formulas in movies, but I quickly realized nearly all the movies I enjoy adhere to specific principles. Even movies like Lost in Translation are remarkably mannered.
It did not escape me, as I listened to 36 hours of story deconstruction, how powerful story is. The overwhelming majority of the Bible, in fact, is story. We often think of the Bible as creeds and precepts, but it is anything but. Instead, the stories of the Bible work to create an internal map, a guide and compass, teaching us what is worth pursuing and what is worthless, what is meaningful and what is not. Right and wrong, then, are not often taught by lists (truth without meaningful context) but rather through the tools of story. The seminar made me wonder why religious institutions who aim to teach ancient texts don’t have story departments alongside their systematic pursuits. It seems that one might benefit from the other. If scripture, in fact, were an indication of priority, the systematic methodology might be relegated to a small room at the back of campus within which we might find a professor with a calculator and an overhead projector. And this makes me wonder if our focus on creedal reductions were not an attempt to validate ourselves to the age of reason rather than an attempt to understand what God has spoken.
*note: things I did not say. 1. Creeds are not important. 2. Systematic theology is not a valuable tool in understanding who God is. 3. The Last Temptation of Christ was not a good movie. 4. Seminaries are bad. 5. Calvinists are not capable of passionate love making. Though one-and-a-half items on this list are actually true.
If you would like to look around on his site just click here.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Spring
Ok I just finished watch the Amazing Race and so I have to say that the elimination of Rob and Abmer almost made up for NC State losing to UNC. ALMOST.
Now on to real life. Spring, along with DST, has arrived.
I offer the pictures below as proof and as a teaser for those of you stuck in the barren Midwest and New England states.
The trees are just starting to bloom. There are just glimpses of newness. We have not been overpowered by it yet. Just signs of hope.
The trees are just starting to bloom. There are just glimpses of newness. We have not been overpowered by it yet. Just signs of hope.Spring is also about cleaning up and letting go and so today we released Freezer Fred. He was a good snowman and we did apologize to him for our lack of snow and his having to be cooped up all winter in the freezer... without eyes or mouth... and for accidentally breaking his arms when they got too close to the cream puffs. ( I have no idea what happened to his nose but that seems to have gone missing as well)
Olivia lifts Fred up in one last cheer, saluting his duties as our winter time friend.
Fred had a hard time letting go. He was still with us as the sun was setting. Olivia was afraid she might forget where the spot where Fred was released and so she spent a good amount of the afternoon appropriately marking the site.
If you look close you can see the pink of the wrapping paper which held the necklace Olivia made for Fred. This necklace was given as a gift to Fred shortly after he was placed in the fridge but he was not allowed to open it until today (well Olivia opened it for him because well his hands were missing) I am not sure if he really understood what it was but it made O happy. And I am sure it will please some racoon as well.