Names

so with names like Piper and Finley, you can't just name him Brian so here's our short list. I will let you in on a secret, though, we pretty much have already decided...

Felix
Seamus
Jonas
Callum
Gideon

Piper is insisting that his name is Michael so I think he will have a double middle name: Michael Grimm. Grimm is my mother's maiden name and, yes, she is a relative of those Grimms, the ones who wrote the fairy tales and I have always wanted to use Grimm but is just didn't seem to work with girls.

So, betcha can't guess which we've chosen?

and I'll post more about reactions and such later because I think is will be a novel and I don't have time for novels right now!

and because all our baby bedding is pink and flowery I think we'll be going with one of these:

they're both by Dwell and I'm leaning towards the transportation one because it matches Jason's Christmas present.

Holy Crap!

Pink or Blue

anyone care to make a guess?

today's the day, I'm halfway there!

Happy Birthday Finley (yesterday)

I can't believe she's three...




then again, maybe I can.



I love you Finn.

Happenings

Updates: I have so many that I will list them and then come back to them in future posts, that is if anyone still reads this blog?

1. The girls have new beds and Finley has sort of moved into her "big girl" bed.
2. Finley separated her shoulder last week and we thought she had broken her collar bone.
3. We have new living room furniture.
4. I am now 14 weeks pregnant and feel as though I've been pregnant forever. All the little kids at labschool keep saying, "but where is your big belly?" Yeah, I haven't gained anything yet but heartburn.
5. We are going to Tallahassee next weekend for a football game, just me and the hubs.
6. This may be the first year I don't make halloween costumes.


For today I will write about our plans for this weekend. Up until now I have pretty much felt like crap. It is not unusual for me to feel this way for the first few months of pregnancy, but this time is just seemed more difficult. I am extremely exhausted most of the time and have not appetite really. Until about 2 weeks ago I was taking the generic zofran for nausea and that helped but now I'm out of it nad it is really expensive so I'm just kind of toughing out the few times I feel nauseous during the day. Wow, I'm such a whiner.

Anyway, so this weekend we decided to take a little mini-vacation to Tampa. We are going to the aquarium (that link may not be working) and the zoo and staying near Channelside so we can take the trolley everywhere.

We needed a break and we are going to have fun!

Hope you all have a great weekend as well and do something with people you love.

I wish you well!

Piper Speak

"Hey Mom?

I love you.

And I will never give up my feelings about you."

the joys of pregnancy

We went for a walk after dinner last night...well, some walked (Jason and I), some rode in a wagon (Finley) and some rode their bike and had a meltdown onthe sidewalk (Piper).

A few minutes into the walk I feel Jason staring at my forehead and then he says, "So...is your face breaking out so bad like this because you're pregnant?"

"Yes. Thank you, I hadn't noticed."

Piper Speak

Yesternight - n., the night before last.

my favorite "Piper" word.

I've totally mastered this parenting thing

So today as I was enjoying a sour apple blow pop because I apparently can not stand upright without having to hurl, the girls were begging me for a lollipop of their own.

"I am only sucking on this lollipop because my tummy doesn't feel good."

"In fact, these are special lollipops, just for people who are pregnant."

"You wouldn't even like this because it is like sour medicine."

"Yes, you have to be pregnant to have one of these and you can't be pregnant until you're married."

"Well, you can't get married until you have finished college and have a job."

"And you have to work really hard and pretend like boys don't exist while you're in high school so that you can get into a good college."

"So, that's when we'll talk about you having one of these reallly disgusting lollipops...after you graduate from college and get married, and remember to marry that someone that you really love and don't settle because it's forever, then you can get pregnant, well, maybe be married a few years first and do a lot of traveling and learn about each other but don't wait too long because I don't want to be an old grandma."

"Ok, I'm glad we've cleared that up and no you can't have a lollipop."

A Marley classic - preschool style

and that is purple and blue eye shadow on their faces.

HA! only 248 days to go!

I am so relieved that everyone knew what that drawing was about! And thanks so much for the well wishes, we are very excited. The girls are beyond excited as Piper has been begging me for close to a year for a baby.

I am due around April 18th and that seems like the perfect time. We wanted to space this baby a little farther away because I did not want two in diapers at the smae time again and I didn't want to be giving birth during Piper's first year of school because I remember when i was teaching Kindergarten and there were many kids who were welcoming siblings and it was a tough transition for them. So, I wanted there to be a little time in between when the baby is born and when Kindergarten starts so we can all get to know each other and what our family will be like as a family of five.

It never escapes me how absolutely blessed we are that we don't have fertility issues. I feel very fortunate as I have seen numerous people around me struggle and I know how heartbreaking it can be for a couple. I was a little nervous this time around because I had an IUD after Finley and I didn't know if that would have any affect on getting pregnant, but lucky for me the first time we tried we were successful. It has become a joke that all Jason has to do is whisper in my ear and I get pregnant and this time was no exception. It does kind of take the fun out of the "trying" part though but I am not complaining.

So now we wait what will seem like forever to find out the answer to the "boy or girl?" question. I will honestly be happy either way. I would love a boy but I also love my girls and can't imagine anything other than a girl. And we'll get to find out before Christmas so that will be good!

It's weird...Piper was an only child for almost 2 years but she will never remember her life before Finley and Finley has always had Piper, but I think that they will remember this new addition and what is was like before, I just think that's interesting.

Guess what's different about Mama?

drawing and announcement by Piper on our new toy

Searching

we are in the market for some new living room furniture and I am the worst decision maker ever.

these are the ones I like with comments. I am thinking a sofa and two chairs with one ottoman. I figure that with two chairs it is the same amount of seating with less space taken and a more open feeling and more options for configuration.

These first options are all from Room and Board
1. The Burke Sofa and Burke chair and ottoman with the Quinn chair in spa color



what I like about these is that the legs are almost exactly like the legs of my dining room set which the living room opens to the dining room so they would fit nicely together. I am digging the modern clean lines and the chair looks especially comfy to me. What I don't like about the sofa is the loose back cushions and is it too modern? too stark?

2. The Candace sofa, chair and ottoman and another chair, but I don't know which would look good with this group.
what I like about this one is the tight back with no loose cushions and it looks comfy. The legs are a bit stocky for my taste and I am not in love with the shape of the sofa in general. And the chair does not look comfortable to me at all.

3. The Cole chair and ottoman

I just like this chair and ottoman and that it comes in a different pattern.

4. The Jasper sofa group

like the legs and looks comfy. A little too casual for the living room? and loose cushions not on the top of the list.

Next on the list is from Crate and Barrel

1. The oxford sofa group
I like the tight back and I like the option of getting the chair and a 1/2 twin sleeper with an ottoman. I don't really care for the shape though as it looks "mushy" to me and this is for our formal living room. I also don't care for the rolled arms and squatty legs.


ok, so tell me what you think? any other ideas?

I do still sew...sometimes

I attended a baby shower last night, so I decided to make some baby things for the baby boy. It was a bit more difficult than I expected because I do not have a whole bunch of boyish fabric in my stash.

The results:





more pictures here
along with pictures from our cruise
and I got a new toy today, can't wait to try it out!

so these pictures kinda look like crap, sorry!

Happenings at my house

Piper and Finley have formed a "club" and their anthem is:

"Rub a dub dub, welcome to our club! YYEEEAAA HUMANS!"

and Piper tells me that " 'they' call us humans because we're not animals."

and munching on some pretzels that are "exquisite" and "divine" Piper informs her sister:

"Do you want to know where I learned words like that, Finley? Well, when you're in the club longer you'll learn all kinds of words."

"Do you enjoy this club, Finley?"

indeed.

summer vacation

new pictures over in my flickr from vacation and summer

summer anthem

When Mac Was Swimming
The Innocence Mission

when mac was swimming,
I was running late
walking around New Orleans
looking for a birthday cake.
it was a great surprise to him so many people came.


nobody knows, darling,
nobody knows how they are loved
don't worry, my darling
the sun is coming up.

let's get up early now
dive clear into the day
let's get out of the car with open arms
not wait to be embraced
the flowers that bloomed, the things that happened since the day you came


nobody knows, darling
nobody knows how they are loved
don't worry, my darling
the sun is coming up

nobody knows, darling
nobody knows how they are loved
don't worry, my darling
the sun is coming up



nobody knows, darling
nobody knows how they are loved
don't worry, my darling
the sun is coming up

For Noah and Tiffany

Now we feel no rain, for each of us will be a shelter to the other.
Now we feel no cold, for each of us will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no loneliness, for each of us will be a companion to the other.
We are two bodies, but there is one life before us and one home.
When evening falls, I'll look up and there you will be.
I'll take your hand; you'll take mine and we'll turn together
to look at the road we traveled to reach this: the hour of our happiness.
It stretches behind us, even as the future lies ahead.
A long and winding road, whose every turning means discovery.
Old hopes, new laughter, shared fears.
The adventure has just begun.


Congratulations!

Guess who's coming to dinner...

We are hosting an, ahem, "Dinner Party" tomorrow night so I thought I would make it difficult and make all new things that I've never cooked before and if you know me, then you know that this is how it always goes and then I don't feel like eating it because I don't know if it's edible, but I digress...

Menu:

Chips and salsa
watermelon
cucumber, cantaloupe and summer squash salad

Reshmi Kebabs
grilled veggies (onion, peppers, zucchini)
corn on the cob with chili-lime cilantro dressing
roasted corn and basmati rice salad

Strawberry shortcake with homemade whip cream (this is an old standby because it's my FAVORITE!)
Homemade ice cream

Beer
White wine Sangria
water
mint iced tea

Phew! My dilemma (isn't there always at least one) is that there are various vegetarians in the crowd so I wanted to please them as well as the carnivores, so there you have it, what do you think?

We go to the library A LOT during the summer, especially because they have these free shows on Tuesdays and Thursdays and today was one of those shows, "Mr. Brian and the Boppets." He was so great but it was funny because he was singing "Twinkle, twinkle" and messing up the words to be funny and it was just totally getting Piper pissed off for real. She would look at me and glare and be like, "Come on, like he doesn't know it's 'like a diamond in the sky?' Seriously, this is so stupid." That's my girl, calling it like it is.

Finley's texture day at school

The girls and their teachers. Finley was sad about it being the last day (or she just didn't want anyone touching her, whatever.)

Piper's texture day at school

Piper speak

Me: "Hey Piper, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Piper: "I want to be a Shannon when I grow up."

"If You Really Want To Know, Look In The Shannon."

go here and type in your name to get your very own "slogan"

funny

"Poppin' Fresh Piper"

"Puts the Finley in Britain"
"If you like a lot of Jason on your biscuit, join our club"

cry baby

My feelings got hurt today to the point of tears. Then I realized it had been a while since I had had a good cry which evoked more tears and then I remembered that I didn't have anyone to talk to when I got home and the lonely tears started. I guess I was just really ripe today because really I was probably being overly sensitive and don't you just love it when people talk all around something but then don't give you the whole story? kind of like what I'm doing now?

It's ok, though, because I am going to Sunday school with Piper Jolie tomorrow because I have been invited for some muffins and everything looks brighter on the other side of a belly full of muffin and a heart full from time with my sweet girl. Gotta keep filling my cup.

Then, we'll go to the farmer's market for some fresh veggies to make veggie fried rice for dinner. And there will also be a craft for the girls and a swim in the afternoon, as there is every day lately - my girls - they're fishes.

And I have found my favorite version of the ABC's. When you get over there find the "You are my Sunshine" link then listen to the "Alphabet Dub", you will not be disappointed. Then poke around some more and listen to a few other songs. Really. If you have not heard Elizabeth Mitchell, go there and listen to her children's music. I listen to it even when I'm by myself.

You know what I love? When I am the working parent in Piper's preschool and I get to work the art room and I get to write down the kids descriptions of their paintings or drawings, their stories. It makes me remember what it is like to feel wonderment.

I think I might cry. miss you.

girls are THEEEE best

radically gnarly

This looks pretty much totally awesome.

ps- are you sick of me using the old skool surfer lingo

because I am like totally bitchin

It has been very warm here the past couple of days and that gets me thinking about summer, my favorite time of the year. We are busy doing something or traveling almost every weekend form now until school starts next fall and that makes me a bit anxious but also excited. Between us we have a surfing trip to Nicaragua, a camping trip, a family vacation, a Disney cruise, a bachelor and bachelorette party weekend, a wedding, a high school reunion, and maybe a long weekend get away minus the kiddos. Phew! I'm tired just thinking about all that stuff, but a good kind of tired, like when you've been at the beach all day and are crispy and salty and tired.

Some more randomness...

The girls finished their "refresher" swimming lessons. So they won't drown and that's important.



And look here, I made a pillow. I was feeling like our living room was dark and depressing, so I put up the blinds on our massively tall entry window and made a cheery pillow. You can see more pictures here. I have another one pieced and ready to be quilted and put together in my to-do pile. When I showed it to Jason before it was put together he said it was "girly." I was kind of inspired by my bike and it makes me want a new sofa. Maybe something like this or this or this. And maybe a chair because you know, that's my daughter's name, so that means I have to get it.

Don't you hate it when you are in Target (not the one you usually go to and far from home) and you find the picture frames you've been looking for and in the right size and there are enough (I needed four) but you resist buying them because well, that wasn't what you were there to buy and so then you go to the Target closer to your house to buy those exact frames and because your Target is just a regular Target and not the SUPER Target (do you think it gives the little Target a complex?) they have NONE of the frames that you need. sucks.

I am trying to do things in my house to spruce it up without spending any money or spending very little. It's hard (whining). The backyard is almost finished (finally!). The last part of the yard and the only part that needs grass is currently being prepped for said grass and Jason thinks he is going to build a playset for the girls. Me? I asked him if it would be finished before they can drive?

oh, and I kinda want another baby. BUT, i really should hold off on getting knocked up until after the previously mentioned bachelorette party weekend that will be an entire weekend of acting like I'm a college student on spring break although without the sleeping around and venereal diseases. Seriously, what all does a college spring break involve?

Where is this going? Jason and I saw Disturbia this weekend and i was worried when I saw that it was rated PG-13 and I was right to be worried because the audience was filled with teeny-boppers that are so obnoxious. I like to believe I wasn't like that and I also would like to cut them some slack, however, when one set of girls is talking so loud you want to say "use our inside voice" and the other side is a couple practically humping each other, it is difficult to stay patient. Especially when the movie bites.

I do have this, this, and this to watch at home through netflix, which I love.

We went to the zoo last week and as I pulled into the parking lot I noticed that it had been invaded by about 25 school buses. Great, I thought, because there was no way i was going to turn around after driving 30 minutes and promising the girls (I was not about to put up with the crying and whining that would surely follow had I declared, "the zoo is full.") so we (I) labored on and find out that it was a "very special arts" festival. All of the 25 school buses were special needs kids. Now, I think it is totally awesome that they had this whole day planned out for these kids, there were art stations set up all over the zoo and music and dancing and yada yada yada, but, fir me it was a difficult day because there was definitely not enough supervision and we kind of got trampled over. All Piper really wanted to do was pet the giraffes and she got to do that so the day was a success.

Speaking of giraffes, well, not really, but does anyone have trouble with sunglasses? I have not found a pair that I can wear without getting a headache...not just a headache, but a migraine that makes me nauseous. Any suggestions? I seriously spent like $275 on 2 pairs i thought were going to be the answer to all my problems, only to take them back a week later. bummer.

Next, I made this for dinner last night and it is so good. This is what we're having tonight. I am trying to get us on a more vegetarian type diet in which we only eat meat like twice a week. It's a good thing my girls LOVE fruits and veggies, and pizza counts as vegetarian, right?

Guess I'm ill, with diarrhea of the mouth, or keyboard as the case may be.

The tribe spoke

The "survivor" couples shower was awesome. totally radical.

We had 4 challenges and most everyone participated which made it so much more fun.
Challenge #1 - tug of war across the pool - had the least amount of participants and I think that was because you fell in the pool if you lost.
Challenge #2 - Lay an egg - each couple had to put an egg between their backs and safely get it on the ground without it cracking. This game was fantastic! Very interesting positions were attempted and everyone tried at least once.
Challenge #3 - a trivia game of questions about the soon-to-be-married couple.
Challenge #4 - the food challenge. As I was preparing the food, i made sure that everyone saw me opening the dog food so they were totally grossed out and worried that I was feeding them the recalled stuff.. What they didn't know is that i switched it out with some kind of beef stew (I'm so sneaky). So they had to eat that, cooked chicken hearts, and fishlets, which are some kind of various fish pieces that are kosher. i saw it on the grocery aisle and figured it looked gross enough. It was funny how everyone thought the dog food tasted just like "vegetable soup" and we had success in making someone throw up...it was the fishlets that did it.

Now, the main factor in getting everyone to participate was the beer. Give them enough beer and they really will do anything. Another highlight was the camcorder i set up as the "confessional" so everyone could give the couple advice or well wishes. Again, with the beer, it turned into something unforgettable. If I can figure out how to get a video on this...

Outwit Outlast Outplay Out-PARTY!

I don't even want to talk about the last few weeks.

What I do want to talk about is this party that I'm giving on Saturday. It is a "His and Hers" couples shower for my brother-in-law and his fiance who happens to be one of my best childhood friends. The theme is "Survivor", so I figure we need an eating challenge, a trivia challenge (trivia about Noah and Tiff) and a physical challenge. I am also setting up a "confessional" where each couple can give Noah and Tiff advice or well wishes.

Anyway, ideas anyone?
Please?

Oh, and is dog food, the wet kind, edible...for like, people?

And just because they're goofy: my family. We went to the beach the other evening after dinner...one of my favorite things to do together.







seriously, a little help with the survivor stuff, ok?

Fo' shizzle

1. My real name?
Shannon

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (first 4 or 5 letters of real name plus izzle)
Shanizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (fav color and fav animal):
Green Dog

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, and childhood street):
Kaitlyn Park

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom's maiden name:
Dowshgrim

6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
Blue Water

7. YOUR IRAQI NAME (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, any letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of you dads middle name, 1st letter of a siblings first name, last letter of your moms middle
nAME]
Awtrise

8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (grandmother and grandfather)
Emma Godfrey

9. YOUR GOTH NAME (black, and the name of a pet):
Black Wingnut

10. YOUR PORN STAR NAME (One of your pets names, and a street you've lived on)
Talulah Whetherbine

Plans

Spring Break 07!!!

Potty Training 07!!!

Before I start on that...

This weekend, instead of a "date night", Jason and I had a "date afternoon" and you'll never guess what we did...we took an airbrushing on canvas class at a local gallery. It was AWESOME. Of course, Jason's project is better than mine, but he usually is better at this stuff than I am. It was so so fun and so fun to do it together.

Our weekend was so busy. The rundown:

Friday day - It was my work day at labschool and then Piper went to a friends house while Finley had swim lessons. Jason took off from work a bit early and after Finley's nap we rode our bikes over to pick up Piper. Then we rode our bikes to the park and played and then it was back home to wash up for dinner out with my parents because (lucky them) they left for vacation this week.
night- Mom's Night Out, and what a night out it was. I hadn't stayed out that late or had done those type of things in a long time. And was I feeling it on Saturday morning and my stomach is still wrecked today.

Saturday: morning- Fin had her last swim lesson, woo-hoo! Then, it was off to my least favorite place besides the dentist - Walmart - to buy our canvas for the airbrushing class. Our parent educator for labschool said the other night, "If you ever want to feel good about your parenting skills, just go to Walmart."
afternoon - airbrushing 101. Jason did a tiki and I did some hibiscus. The teacher was awesome and i highly recommend the gallery. They have workshops pretty much every weekend, and programs for kids during the week, Piper will learn out print-making next month.

Jason and I picked up pizza on the way home because we needed a quick dinner so we could go to
night - The FAIR!!! the girls had a great time, rides were ridden, ice cream was eaten, and dropped on the ground, and wiped off and eaten some more. Jason went on a ride with his sister and came off terrified. I won't ride the crazy rides because those things aren't required to be inspected, I just don't trust them. I went on one ride with the girls, "The Crazy Bus" and Friday night was haunting me. nice

Sunday: we skipped church and went down south to Joann's because I had a bunch on gift cards to spend from Christmas and I wanted to get some crafts for the girls for this week. Jason dropped me off so I could do the bulk of my fabric shopping alone (thanks honey!) and took the girls a bunch of places.

My brother came over for dinner last night (which was not good - grill broke, baked potatoes not baked enough) and then finally to bed.

But the fun does not stop there.

Plans for SPRING BREAK 07!

Monday: laundry, cleaning, play dough making, errands to run, solar blanket to buy, college to apply, pottying to train. Then to the park and dinner with friends.

Tuesday: BEACH, potty training

Wednesday: SEA WORLD, potty training (ha!)

Thursday: not sure yet but we will be potty training

Friday: BEACH and a playdate along with potty training

And so it is that time in her life when Finley will start using the toilet. She is ready, I am ready. The problem is that with each of these milestones, I am further and further away from that baby stage and I'm not sure that I am looking forward to doing that baby stages thing all over again. hhmm.

ooo! The paper I ordered for invitation for the his and hers shower I'm giving for my good friend and my brother-in-law just came so that will be something else to do this week - Designing the invites! Woo-hoo! Did you know that my brother-in-law is marrying one of my best friends from childhood and still today? We met at labschool and we will be sisters!

ok, this post is so random. I'll try to get a shot of our "airbrushing."

Happy Birthday Grandma!

It has been quite some time since I posted about anything that I've made, but maybe that's because I haven't really had time to make anything. I finally took the Bernina's virginity.

Jason's Mom's birthday is the day after mine or this past Friday and we went over to visit and deliver her gift this afternoon. Some of her favorite things: A bamboo tray with a handmade quilted mat, a Le Creuset tea pot, a handmade tea pot cozy, a vintage Buffalo China cup and saucer, some locally made Hibiscus tea, some local honey and a wooden honey stirrer thingy, and a mix cd that I made just for her including:

1. These are Days – 10,000 Maniacs
2. Joy to the World – Three Dog Night
3. City of Blinding Lights – U2
4. Trouble Me – 10,000 Maniacs
5. Cecilia – Simon & Garfunkle
6. Beautiful – G.Love
7. Never Going Back Again – Fleetwood Mac
8. Bubble Toes – Jack Johnson
9. Falling Over Evening – Six Parts Seven
10. Fields of Gold - Sting
11. Stars – The Weepies
12. My Own Two Hands – Ben Harper and Jack Johnson
13. Satisfy my Soul – Bob Marley
14. Satellite – Dave Matthews Band
15. Pink Moon – Nick Drake
16. Free Fallin’ – Stevie Nicks
17. Wildflowers – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
18. Living in Twilight – The Weepies


This weekend we went to a quilt show at the local community college. There were some beautiful quilts and lots of vendors as well, my favorite being the one who sold all vintage fabric and vintage feedsack but at rather steep prices and whiny little girls I was too overwhelmed to pick out and purchase anything. The downside to the show was all the older cranky ladies that dominated the room. It was very discouraging that these women had such bad attitudes because there art is one that is so important to preserve and pass on and personally I had no desire to spend anymore time there than I had to, but that is a whole other can of worms to talk about. Also, I was disappointed that there weren't any modern designed quilts or modern fabric used in any of the traditional quilts. The quilts were beautiful but in my opinion, a bit boring.

The highlight of the day was happening upon a little shop in the small downtown. It is owned and run by a young couple with a bitty baby. They have completely restored the building (the husband is a general contractor by trade) which was originally a hardware store. It took them 4 years and they live above the shop and the shop was AMAZING! I honestly felt like a fool all tripping over myself about how excited I was to find this jewel. I'm sure the guy thought I was a little looney, but whatever. They sell everything vintage at almost thrift store prices. They sell everything that I look for in the thrift stores and can't find. I ended up with a smock type apron, some jumbo yellow ric-rac, and some bias tape. I will return, I just hope that they are still in business by the time I get down there again. It was inspiring and now I feel stupid, like "if you like it so much, why don't you marry it?"

oh, and now I am 28 as of last Thursday. And I got a haircut and my toes are pretty.

feeling sad

It has been a difficult weekend/day today.

I miss my friend.

You Are My Flower You are my flower, that's blooming in the mountain for me You are my flower, that's blooming there for me The grass is just as green, the sky is just as blue The day is just as bright, the birds are singing too The air is just as pure, the sunlight just as free And nature seems to say, it's all for you and me When summertime is gone and snow begins to fall You can sing this song and say to one and all So wear a happy smile and life will be worthwhile Forget your tears but don't forget to smile

Piper Speak

"Finley, you can't believe how much I love you. I love you all the way up to the moon and the stars. NOOOOO! YOU CAN'T HAVE MY VALENTINE BAG!!!!"

ABC mom

find out what kind of mom you are most like...

turns out i'm like cheryl from "according to jim" - a show ihave never seen but that's ok because i'm a "fun mom"! especially with strep throat - really! so! fun!

Top Design

have you seen this?

looks like fun and the competition isn't so steep right now, maybe I'll give it a go?

because I have so much abundant free time.

Both ends of the spectrum

My best friend from high school had a baby girl last Thursday. I went to visit her and welcome her to the world on Monday. I forgot how small newborns are and she was a good sized baby, much bigger than my girls when they were born. I held her and she slept as newborns do, occasionally showing me that her startling reflex works and making the newborn noises. I never knew before having my own children, how absolutely noisy babies are when they sleep. I remember not being able to sleep, not because the baby was up all night, but because they were snoring or hiccuping or maybe I had to check that they were still breathing just one more time.

My friend and I talked baby talk, the talk you can only reach after you've had kids, and I was so excited that she was finally in the club, that I wouldn't bore her any more with me stories because now, well, she understood. She told me that it felt weird that she was finally here and I remembered the same feeling. We talked about breast feeding and jaundice and reflux and joy. Things that only mothers talk about and are only interesting to mothers.

The day before I met that little girl, we were out of town for another birthday party. My great aunt Martha turned 100 years young (as she likes to call herself). She is in ship-shape health, only having lost most of her hearing, her ears are really old and that's why she can't hear very good (according to Piper). She is also one of the funniest women I know. I grew up hearing her bicker with her sisters and playing canasta, their jersey accents making me laugh. While at the party she kept telling Jason and I to leave and go do something because she wanted to watch the girls. Here she is at a party in her honor with all these people there to see her and all she wanted to do was play with Piper and Finley. And the girls? Well, they love her as much as I have loved her. She told us last year at her 99th birthday that when she turned 90 she decided she was tired of walking and that was it, she is now in a wheelchair but scoots herself around and Finley was her personal assistant, pushing her from room to room. Happy birthday, Martha. What an inspiration.

The day before the 100th birthday we celebrated Jason's birthday. He makes our life sweeter, and although I am a little perturbed with him right now because he left me a sink full of dishes and headed off to Vegas, I guess I could cut him some slack because he works harder that most men I know to support his family and give us a nice life. That, and well, he's pretty sexy, ahem.

So we ended up at the beginning, close to the end, and somewhere right in the middle. What an inspiring time in our lives to see each step of life being played out and enjoyed and celebrated.

My Sweet Piper Jolie,

You are four years old, love, and I can hardly believe how fast the time has flown, slipping through my fingers. You are everything that is true and bright and extraordinary. There are so many special things that make you unique.

I love to watch you play, weaving your stories and living in fantasy. All of your characters have intricate stories and you often reflect things that have happened to you in your storylines. That's how I find out how your day went at school or if anything happened that made you sad, happy, excited, or funny.

If you aren't making up stories, you're making up songs and singing all the time. I love listening to you sing, it fills our house with joy. I hope that you never lose your song or feel ashamed to sing.

The other day we were in the car and you said, "Mom, I just thought this in my head and I was thinking. Last night I had some really nice dreams."

I wonder what you will be when you grow up, what you will become. Lately you have been arguing with me about who gets to marry daddy first - you or me. You ask me, "Can I be a mommy when I grow up and have a baby in my tummy?" I tell you that you can be whatever you want to be and really believe that you will be everything that God has planned for you.

I will always love you. You can always come home and you will be safe. There is absolutely nothing I wouldn't do for you and there is nothing that would cause me to turn my back to you. I am excited about your future and blessed to be a part of your past.

As we were sitting here this morning before the sun came up eating your choice of cinnamon rolls you looked out the window. The sun had just started to rise and the clouds and sky were your favorite shade of pink, "Look ,Mama! God painted the sky my most beautiful favorite color just for my birthday!"

Happy Birthday. I love you to the moon and stars and all the way back down to your sneakers and toes.

grapefruit and tangerines

My parents live in a very old home, like over 100 years old and that is where I grew up. Until I went to college and then got married I had never lived anywhere else. It is a beautiful home on an acre on the river with lots of old oak trees and a dock and even a swimming pool. I love that house and so do the girls. I could write an entire post about that house and I will, but today it's about the fruit.

A couple of weeks ago I had to drop off something for my dad and we also needed some tangerines and grapefruti so we just helped ourselves to the trees that were bountifully stocked witht the fruit. I taught Piper to twist the fruit until they fell off the branch and the sweet fragrance of the tangerines filled our car on the way home and became very nostalgic for me.

I remember having orange fights with my older brothers and their friends (who I was madly in love with), taking the fruit that had already fallen to the ground and pelting each other with it or squeezing the sticky juice out over heads matting our hair together. These were hot summer days and the only way to get clean would be to hose off or jump in the pool, we were definitely not allowed in the house that messy.

I also remember my Aunt Gert who always used to serve us grapefruit with a cherry in the middle and topped with the slightest dusting of sugar. This is when I came to love the grapefruit. When I was a teenager in high school I was the first to wake up in the morning. My dad would get up while i was showering and getting ready and he would prepare a grapefruit for me to eat for breakfast, a grapefruit from his tree. We would sit together, he was usually reading the paper, and eat our grapefruit. Most of the time there wasn't a lot of conversation which was fine by me since I was not a morning person. My nickname was "Sunshine" in a sarcastic snear.

Now, I bring the grapfruit home to my own house and prepare it myself and as I am freeing the sections to eat I think about my dad and the sweet and considerate act of doing something for somebody besides yourself. I wish I could send you some grapfruit filled with the juice of this kindness.

Because you need to make this and eat it tonight for dinner it was that good

I said I was wanting some Thai chicken pizza, so I made it for dinner and let me tell you - it was SO. GOOD. Here's what I did, probably could be made a bunch of different ways but this is what I came up with:

Grocery List:
pizza dough - I just used the Pillsbury stuff in the can
Thai peanut sauce - was in the Asian food section
a rotisserie chicken - makes it soooo easy
carrots to shred
one red pepper
green onions
bean sprouts
mozzarella cheese
peanut butter - you only need like 2 tablespoons so you probably have that in your pantry.
oh - and some hershey kisses because they are good


Ok, so heat your oven to 400* (based on my pizza-dough-in-a-can). Get out the pizza dough and spread it out to your desired thickness...use a baking stone if you have one...cook the dough for about 8 min.

While the dough is cooking, mix about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the peanut sauce with about 2 tbs. of peanut butter.

Shred the chicken

Chop the green onion

slice the red pepper

shred up some carrots

(hope you can do all that in 8 min- just kidding)

plop (you like that? real technical) about 2 sppoonfuls of the peanut sauce mix into the bowl of shredded chicken and mix it up to coat the chicken

Smear (another gem of technicality) the rest of the peanut sauce mix over your dough

top with chicken, green onions, and red peppers.

sprinkle some mozzarella cheese over everything

put it in the oven for about 7-9 minutes more (again based on the dough-in-a-can)

when it comes out all good-smelling and tasty-looking, top it off with the carrots and bean sprout.

Wha-La - trust me, you will want to marry this pizza it is so good.

Because I'm Lazy

I stole this

Are you...
1. a cuddler? with my children
2. a morning person? uhmmm, not so much
3. are you a perfectionist? no
4. talented? I am seriously talented...what kind of question is that?
5. religious? i guess
6. in your pajamas? no
7. left handed? no



Last:
1. friend you saw: labschool people
2. phoned: voicemail
3. sent text: what's that? have never "texted" anyone
4. recieved text: see above
5. message over myspace: kelly
6. instant message: jason about a post I want him to write baout condoms.

LAST NIGHT:
1. wore: pajama time
2. last night was: routine
3. got any plans: me? don't you know my social calendar is full! right.

Favorite:
1. number: 7
2. color: right now? orange and blue and pink and green...it's so hard to choose
3. season: summer

Currently:
1. missing: family
2. needing: health insurance
3. wanting: thai chicken pizza for dinner

q's and a's
q: first thing you did this morning: shower
q: Last thing you ate: pretzel fish and roasted red pepper hummus
q: Do you have anything bothering you? stressing about Piper's birthday party
q: What's the last movie you saw?:Children of Men
q: Where is the last place you went? picked up Piper and her friend from school
q: Do you wish upon stars? sometimes
q: Are you a friendly person?:I don't know, am I?
q: Where did you sleep last night?: my bed
q: What color shirt are you wearing? white long sleeve thermal under a orange blousy thing
q: When was the last time you really cried? last week when I was sick
q: What was your last thought before you went to sleep last night? thinking about the morning routine
q: What are you about to do? put Finn down for a nap
q: If you could drink anything right this second, what would it be? water
q: What's your job position called? mama
q: What's your favorite month(s)? November, January,February, March, May July
q: What was your elementary schools mascot? Lion and Cougar
q: what's your favorite bottled water? I don't care
q: What were you doing at 9pm last night? reading this book
q: Did you attend your high school prom? yes, it was lame
q: Did you go to someone else's prom? I went to a "banquet" with a boyfriend when I was in 7th/8th grade and the boyfriend was a jr./sr.
q: Do you prefer coffee or tea? tea
q: Something red within 5 feet? tablecloth
q: How much french do you know? oui?
q: Ever crash a car, been in an accident? no
q: Do you look good in yellow? depends on the shade
q: Do you sing? I actually don't ever speak, just sing everything like I live in a musical.
q: Ever sing in public? see above
q: Least favorite color? I don't think i have a least favorite there is something good about every color
q: Ever had dippin dots? no
q: How many driving tickets have you had? I don't know what qualifies as a driving ticket?
q: Do you own your own house? yes
q: At what age do you want to get married? I was 22
q: Have you ever been married? see above
q: How many kids do you have/want? somewhere between 3 and 5 maybe
q: Do you like anyone right now? who don't I like?

More Favorite Things

Ok, so the other favorite things were things that I've been looking at since I've been confined to the bed or the couch and occasionally passing on the way to the bathroom.

Here's another list of more recent favorite things since I am beginning to return to theland of the living although I had to leave church this morning because I could not stop coughing. Seriously, I think I coughed for 20 minutes straight to the point where people were asking me if I could breathe.



1. Ta-Da! My bike. It is the most awesome bike ev-ah. When I was little I wasn't allowed to ride my bike around the neighborhood because it wasn't safe enough for my mother so i never really learned how to ride a bike. This is a perfect example of ignorance causing fear. It wasn't until we were in Birmingham last year visiting my brother when i saw how much fun the girls had riding around in one of those trailer things on the back of the bike. We were going to get bikes and we just never got around to it until this Christmas. So, Jason and I got bikes. I got an Electra Townie. It is kind of like an old lady bike but I love it. It is a cruiser and I just cruise. We ride up to the local park that is right next to our neighborhood tha has soccer fields and tennis courts and a playground and across the street is the other part of the park that has anohter playground and ison the water and usually has people windsurfing or kite-boarding. It is just so perfect. Thanksto my Sean and Susan (my bro and sis-in-law) for helping me pick it out and watching the kids while we test drove. More pictures here. She's cute, no? It originally came with a gray and black seat and the bike guy thought I was nuts for wanting to put the daisy seat on her but she turned out purdy.





2. Family bike rides. We played "Family tennis" on Saturday afternoon. interesting. We usualy bring a soccer ball and play soccer which Piper is showing some talent (amazes me since I suck at soccer, but Jason is good and that's oneof the things that is so hott about him).



3. Dairy Queen. We all went together on Firday night and it was fun. Something special to share together.

4. Did I tell you i got a new sewing machine for Christmas? My Bernie! She rocks!

5. Date night with the hubby. We've recently seen some really good movies: Children of Men: intense but really good, Casino Royale: first Bond mvie I've seen and I loved it!, the exception? The Holiday: hated it, hated it, hated it,love Kate Winslet, hated the stupid sappiness unrealisticness but then again it is a movie?


Happy now? That is the bike.

interesting projects using magnetic and chalkboard paint this weekend, hhmmm.