DID YA MISS ME?

Monday, December 31, 2007

Well, I have a lot to post about Florida. Because my mom's house does not have wireless internet. I think that was probably a blessing, because I did really just relax, but still. Lots of catching up for YOU people.

The day after we got back, our backyard spa was delivered! We tried it out tonight and it's pretty great. Between that and our new mattress*, my back is thinking it might have somehow gotten a new owner that's pampering it.

The spa is introducing me to a whole new Mom vocabulary, with greatest hits such as Don't You Track That Crap In Here and Do That One More Time And You Have To Get Out For The Whole Day. And who could forget, Close The Goddamned Door, For Crying Out Loud. I only take comfort in knowing that every mom says these things... I am not simply repeating my mom's motherhood, but rather, everyone's motherhood that has ever come before me.

I am going to post a whole bunch of stuff so you people better be prepared to be sitting there for a bit. Go and get some coffee or something.

*New mattress, why? Because this is what our old one looks like. Actually this photos is a 3d raised relief map of part of New South Wales, England. Note to self, never sleep on a raised relief map...

PULL OUT THE COTS

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Well... tomorrow we are leaving for Florida to go visit the grandparents. Our flight lays over in Chicago. Maybe you will get a little impromptu visit from us, from the way things look...

NOW THAT'S MY BABY

Friday, December 21, 2007

Tonight was Sarah's piano recital. First one at which she played solo... the others were duets with the teacher. Among a sea of Christmas songs, Sarah played the blessing over the candles that we sing on Hanukkah. She chose it for its obscurity - as she said after it was over, "Mom! I made 3 mistakes, but since nobody here is Jewish, they all think it was perfect!" And there it is... perception is reality.

GREAT HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Monday, December 17, 2007

I'm sure you guys saw holiday lights wherever you were this holiday season. This year we saw something unique: boats dressed up in holiday lights and competing in front of judges! Lots of pirate theme this year... we watched from a boat ourselves, thanks to my friend Carol's boss. Fun fun.


Music: Banana Boat Song, Harry Belafonte

TODAY I FEEL SILLY

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Whoa this my 300th post!

Becca and I are doing a creative book report on the book "Today I Feel Silly". So we took a bunch of pictures of Becca showing how her face looks different when she has different emotions and the pictures are just so cute, I had to share.

Music: If by Colette

HOW DID I GET HERE?

So last week the whole 5th grade put on a Salute to America concert... it was associated with their History unit in which they are learning about states, state capitols, etc. It was great! Very well choreographed and the kids were really into it.

I was sort of having an out of body experience looking at the kids. Somehow we have these beings that aren't really kids anymore. And they are going through some sort of weird stage... some of them are lumpy and the others are stringy.

The Stringies look like someone took their 4th grade selves and put them on a stretching machine. The Lumpies look like they have developed toddler tummies and have little boob lumps... probably they are about to become Stringy because they are shorter.

Because Sarah's sort of Edelmany, she's a Lumpy. I would predict Becca as a future Stringy.

Anyway. Look at these children. They are big people! How did I get a big person in the house? She was just 5... wasn't she?

DIY HOLIDAY CONCERT

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Here's a bunch o' kid videos. Some nice holiday music for you.


This one's for you, Uncle Toddwee.


Here are the lyrics to Sarah's choir song... because you ARE going to want to sing it. Trust me.

Reindeer, workin' for The Claus. Love their hip hop just because.
Reindeer, flyin' in the air, love their hip hop everywhere.
Eight tiny reindeer - hey, that's a lot of feet!
Eight tiny reindeer - they love their hip hop beat!
Eight tiny reindeer - you have to see them move.
Eight tiny reindeer - they love their hip hop groove!

HAMMY HANUKKAH

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Hanukkah was... so early this year! So now it's the last night. The kids have gotten a bunch of loot. Sarah's big haul was a computer. She really is doing more and more homework on the computer and with Don doing actual work on our home computer, there was PC Conflict.

Becca's favorite thing was a volcano kit from Grandma Dykshorn. And her Magnetix from Baba and Zada. I just hope they don't get combined... so that the volcano shoots out magnetic balls. Someone is going to put their eye out.

I'm going to keep my eyes open, I promise!

The big commotion during Hanukkah was the arrival of Scooter, Becca's new hermit crab. WHY did I buy Becca a hermit crab, you ask? Dunno. It seemed like a really good idea at the time.

Scooter has been with us for over a week and so far, Becca has not been pinchied and Scooter is still living. This is an accomplishment for them both.

Finally... has anyone seen this in their hometown? Either it's Photoshopped to be this way, or some clerk was reaaaally bored one day, or there really are some very clueless people out there... or some combo.

OH MY

Monday, December 10, 2007

Geez I hope all you guys in the Midwest are thawing out and nobody got into any car accidents!

A PROUD MOMENT

Saturday, December 08, 2007

The grocery store paid Don to shop there, practically. He is so very proud of this.

MURPHY'S LAW OF COMMUTING

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Murphy's Law of commuting: if something CAN go wrong with your route to work, it will.

My commute has been a total breeze for 8 months. 15 minutes. 18 if I hit all the lights. Then the powers of Murphy did their annual review of commutes and discovered my bliss.

Then there was road construction. I put up with that for a little. And now there are 2 rotaries. Also known as roundabouts.

I have never been able to figure out these structures. Honestly, does the diagram above help you at all? Does it not show cars colliding in the roundabout?

So the construction that created the roundabouts has yielded to collisions in the roundabouts. Sigh. Hafta find a new way to work.