Saturday, January 31, 2009

Winter Camp




Wish you were here!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

What's it spell?











Sylvia - asking the kids would be considered cheating . . . . :)

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Daddy's Coming Home

After 3 days, Daddy is returning from Austin today.

We have missed him.

I read Elspeth's Tractor and Truck book wrong, I tried, but she finally said it would wait until Daddy got home.

I tried to put our Christmas tree away, but I think he must find some weird time space continuum each year, because there is no way that thing fits in the box.

I have tried to keep up the house, which means we actually have piles of clean laundry in some places, and dirty laundry in other places, and I don't want to talk about the state of our dishes.

The world knew the minute he left town and ants invaded the main bathroom. Seriously, who gets ants in January in the Midwest? People who let their husband's travel, that's who.

I proudly tried to deal with our recycling (when it got really cold we just kept adding to the garage and stopped delivering to the central drop off point and it was getting scary out there), and the garage door is now sitting at an odd angle, closed on one side, 5 inches open on the other. Jeremy started talking about lethal springs over the phone and I decided to leave it.

I keep forgetting to tell him important things on the phone. By the time I can talk to him with no kids around, I am too tired to remember, well, anything.

Elspeth has decided to never potty again.

Adwen has decided to climb up on our new bench and dive off, because, so far, I have caught her and that is fun.

If you know a single mom, hug her.

Editor's Note: As I hit post, Elspeth came out to tell me the toilet paper was stuck in the toilet. Which is good, because she is off her potty strike, but bad because she kept trying to flush and the bowl overflowed a little. While "fixing" that mess, Addie decided to feed the dogs. I won't go into details. I checked Jeremy's flight, it got in the air 5 minutes early. I think I might cry I am so happy.

Double Editor's note: So far this morning, Addie has eaten 1 orange marker. As Elspeth and I were brushing Ella's teeth to head out on an errand, Addie ran by the bathroom. I didn't think much of until Ella yelled "Hey Addie's playing with scissors, lets get her!" That's great, the little one is running with scissors and the big one is chasing her. Yeah, I am in control. I am in control, I am in control, I am in control.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

18 Months Today

And still my girl.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

what will change Everything?

I saw an article recently that has me thinking. What is the next big thing?

Personally I am pulling for an honest governor in Illinois, but I am pretty sure that is not going to happen any time soon.

I remember our first computers as a child. Large cumbersome things that were NOT portable. The one I took to college had a 30 megabyte hard drive. You read that right.

No one had a cell phone.

When I first started running, no one had music. Now we can't imagine running without a pair of headphones plugged in.

I remember when Atari was cool. Now my PS2 is hopelessly outdated.

I remember when it was OK to ignore your impact on the environment, and I feel vaguely guilty about all the Aquanet I used, releasing ozone killing chemicals into the air. If only ignorance could save the environment.

What is the next big thing. What will CHANGE everything.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Gone Rogue

A few days ago I found Elspeth playing with a storage unit. When I asked what she was doing she answered, "this hand (indicating her left) is hiding stuff from this hand (indicating her right)."

I suggested to her wayward left hand that it should share.

Two days ago, Elspeth informed me that "My left hand isn't letting me eat."

Naturally I gave her left hand a stern talking to, but again yesterday this rogue hand wasn't letting her have breakfast.

What do you do when your hand has gone rogue?

Saturday, January 3, 2009

In Training


April 11th is closer than you think. Closer than the day we find out if Jeremy has an internship (Feb 20th), closer than the day that we find out where the internship is (February 23rd). April 11th is VERY close.
After surgery, I was hesitant to get back into training, so I am just seriously starting my half marathon preparation. I know it is feasible, but we have never been in real training with kids.
It is not just a matter of getting in the time anymore, it is a matter of booking it with my spouse, and managing it so we don't short our family time, too much.
I am a lot older than the last time I tried this.
I am a lot more tired than the last time I tried this.
But this time, I want it more. And that is all the difference.
We are going to need a lot more Motrin.