Saturday, October 31, 2009

Grumpy old man.

Tonight was trick-or-treat time in our neighborhood and as expected, many little ghouls and goblins scurried down our sidewalk in search of sweets. My 6-year-old decided that he did not want to wear his Anakin Skywalker costume (that I hated buying in the first place)...instead he wanted to throw together a 'grumpy old man' costume so he could holler things like 'back in my day' and 'you whippersnapper'. Sigh. After a week of fighting fevers, coughs and runny noses, this was not a battle I had energy for....so up to the attic we went in search of old man clothes and accessories. Among the many boxes of things left behind by my husband's grandparents, we found a handful of old caps that belonged to Granddad. When Will put one on, I just smiled. He looked like all those old, dusty photographs I've seen of our grandpas and great-grandpas when they were young. I got a few shots of my own and here they are.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Pumpkin carving

Will and his pre-carved pumpkin



Silliness replaces patience...




My pumpkin and his pumpkin

The carving begins



R.I.P. Pumpkin
See any resemblence?

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Mare Bear turns 6.

My niece Mary celebrated her 6th birthday this weekend. It's hard to believe she's this old already!!! Happy bday, lil' one!!






Chicken soup season begins



Chicken soup season officially rolled in today at an insanely early hour. Will woke up in tears, with a temperature of 101.9, a pounding headache, and a cough that sounded like the horn on an old gangster car. Chicken soup was made and circulating through his system by 9:20am (his stomach can't tell time yet). With all the hype surrounding H1N1, vaccine shortages, etc, it makes me want to kidnap my loved ones and hunker down somewhere safe...like a germ-free bubble somewhere in the tropics. Until then, we'll do the best we can here. Hope you do the same. Stay well, everyone.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

My new favorite style.


While researching light fixtures for the kitchen, I stumbled upon the phrase "Schoolhouse Style." The website Apartment Therapy describes it as "an eclectic mash of vintage and industrial with a bit of geek chic that is easy to incorporate into a home with inhabitants of any age." I had no idea there was such a thing! I love, love, LOVE the sounds of that and I am totally smitten at the moment!!
(Now imagine me giggling like a school girl and doodling Susan + Schoolhouse Style....)

Friday, October 23, 2009

Jackpot!!!!



Let me recount the last few moments for you:

1. Father-in-law (a.k.a. Grand Dad) calls to say he will be picking Sam up to take him to lunch.
2. Grand Dad arrives and Sam announces to Grand Dad that he pooped in the potty.
3. Grand Dad calls Grandma to share the exciting news.
4. Sam talks to Grandma on phone.
5. Grandma invites Sam to play at her house for remainder of day.
6. Sam invites himself to stay for remainder of night.
7. Grandma enthusiastically agrees to host Sam's first sleepover.
8. I hide my elation.
9. Grand Dad is openly stunned.
10. I quickly pack all necessary items.
11. Sam and Grand Dad leave.
12. Happy dance follows (see above photo)

Whatever it takes.


This is how I plan to get my husband and sons interested in lawn maintenance.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Don't squander it!

I haven't been able to get this message out of my head since yesterday.

Dave and I made it to the morning service to hear our pastor ask the question, 'What Is In Your Hand?' He encouraged us to think about the gifts and tools that each of us have. Whether we are aware or not, we each have been given something special to use, to do, and to offer. At the end of life, God will ask each of us the question, "What did you do with what I gave you?" When we tell Him, His response will either be, "You squandered it," or "Well done, my good and faithful servant, well done."


Today I painted pumpkins for each of the kids in Sam's class. The preschoolers plan to celebrate Harvest Day this coming Thursday. I'm not ready to launch a pumpkin painting career or anything, but I do think I used a creative tool today. And I think the kids will each be excited to see their own little pumpkin. If all goes right, someday I'll get a 'well done' too.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

A moment without kids turns into a moment of thinking about kids.


My husband (wonderfully delusional as he is) just volunteered to take both boys, ages 3 and 6, with him while he runs 'man errands' today. That includes a drive up to Sandy Lake, PA to pick up some doors and windows for the new house. He will be borrowing his dad's pick-up truck to do the hauling, which means that he and the boys will be elbow to elbow, lined up on one seat. With no DVD player. For a long ride. Did I mention the two children. Boy children. Buckled into booster seats. No movie. Side-by-side? Part of me wishes I could secretly watch the chaos...as anyone who has traveled with two or more children in close proximity to one another knows. It will be loud. It will become physical. There will be tears. And that's just the grown-up I'm talking about. Honey, if you read this - I love you for taking them today. This is a gift that I so appreciate.
Okay, moving on. Anyone who knows me knows that if I have a spare minute to myself, I am playing with my camera or looking at pictures I've taken. Today is no different. The attached pictures are of random shots yesterday. Typical moments at our house....the kids on the floor with legos, chasing each other through the house, sitting at the kitchen table with a snack and a cartoon. This is life with two boys. It really is a wonderfully long ride together, side-by-side...with some yelling along the way, but with much love too.








Thursday, October 15, 2009

On the hunt for kitchen inspiration.


Okay, so my kids are both sleeping which means no more legos, Candy Land, or refereeing for at least, oh, 7 hours? If I could give up my horrible habit of sleeping at night, I'd be able to research kitchen ideas for the house we're building until the sun comes up. Unfortunately, I have only a small chunk of time to hunt for inspiration tonight. I need my sleep or I will eat my young tomorrow. What I crave for my new kitchen is really what I crave in life: simplicity. I want clean, white cabinets contrasted by dark, warm floors. I want chunky white trim and vintage looking hardware and light fixtures. As for an accent color, I'm leaning towards green. Not just any green though. It has to be fresh green...the way grass looks in the spring when you haven't seen anything growing outside in months. It has to be a happy and hopeful green. This is my kitchen dream for tonight.

Inspired by a conversation with my 3-year-old


My 3-year-old son Sam asked that I make "mac and trees" for lunch today. He eats nothing but macaroni and cheese for lunch these days. How about a sandwich? I asked. Nope, he replied. He will have none of that. Just the standard boxed macaroni. Again. And again. And again. With part disgust/part adoration, I scooped him up, tickled him until he screamed and wiggled out of my arms, and told him that he will soon turn into macaroni. Sweet Sam, the macaroni kid. We both giggled at the thought of that. While he ate, I sat across from him with a pen and some scrap paper and started to doodle my sweet Sam, the macaroni kid. The kid who sprouted mac and cheese from his head one rainy, Thursday afternoon. I have a good feeling he'll be back again tomorrow.

The beginning of Dreamin' Slippers



So, here it is. The beginning of Dreamin' Slippers.
Today is one of those October days you hate to head outside. It's raining and cold...the kind of cold you can't seem to get away from, no matter how many layers you're wearing. It's the perfect day for slippers, which I dug out of the bottom of my closet earlier today before sitting down at the computer to check in with friends on facebook. My deep thought for the morning was 'Great day for slippers.' In that thread, a few friends added their thoughts - let's put our feet on pillows!; Great day to stay home! and so on. I took it a step further, saying that I was wearing my dreamin' slippers today - I'd love for someone to bring me coffee and soup, clean my house, throw some laundry in the wash, and then tell me I've never looked healthier, prettier, younger, etc. A friend commented that she could use a pair of those slippers...and it dawned on me...couldn't we all? Couldn't we all stand to dream a little today? Ask what if and why not? And so I begin this blog, wearing my dreamin' slippers.






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