hummm.

Last night Hannah was dressing up some of her dolls, and bringing them out to show me. This one was so, umm, beautifully dressed, that I decided to take a picture of her. Notice the details.... bow on sock in hair, I-dog scarf around her neck, etc., etc.





This is how Brody presented himself to me this morning. I think he took a few pointers from the doll.

Story of the day

Great Game.


What are the rules? I said & she said, Do exactly what I want whenever I want, make no demands of me whatsoever & love me forever, no questions asked & I said, how do you win? & she said, you don't understand. I'm the only one who wins & then she laughed & clapped her hands. Isn't it a great game? she said.
--- Story People

Snowin' and Blowin'

When the kids left for school this morning, in was a balmy 49 degrees. They were sent home early, because of a blizzard warning predicting high winds. By 3pm, the wind chill was reading 6 below zero. Yep, 55 degree difference. In 7 hours. Why exactly did I think Iowa would be a great place to live again?

a few more....

Eagle Watching

We spent the afternoon today down at the locks doing some eagle watching. It was a glorious day, so warm. You know it has been cold when forty degrees is a heat wave.

---

"Today I overheard an American teenager comparing her deprivation to that of our children, here at the orphanage, because her parents would only buy her a used car. There are none so impoverished as those who do not acknowledge the abundance of their lives."
-- Paul Cook's Diary ( as told by Richard Paul Evans, in "The Sunflower")

do you see it?

that's me, in his eye. :)

naptime.

funny quote

"A clean house is the sign of a broken computer."


don't know who said this, but it is so true....

something to think about...

Anticipation, as in, something to look forward to, changes the dull and drab every day, into something beautiful and exciting.
May we all begin each day, remembering that we do, indeed, have something to look forward to. Because, I believe if we choose this, this simple way of thinking, we can change even the most routine of days into something magical.

and again ...

As has been the case on many mornings, this morning, I awoke to find our driveway plowed. Proof, once again, that we live next to the best neighbors in the entire world.

Gifts galore

So Steve came home bearing all kinds of gifts. The little boys got Japanese candy, and little toys, Isaiah got a little remote control car, made in Taiwan, of course! Emily got a new bag to carry her school stuff in, and Hannah got a cute t-shirt, and a beautiful purse made in India. And, he didn't leave me out either. I received a beautiful marble in-layed plate, made by hand in India, and some great Starbucks stuff from Taiwan. But, my favorite thing was this paper that the plate was wrapped in. I love it. What does that say, when my favorite gift is the wrapping paper? Who knows? But is is beautiful, don't you think?

He's Home!

.... and all is right in the world.

This morning

So, I went to

take a shower

this morning....

I was a little afraid of what I would find when I came out. I was pleasantly surprised to discover this! They do ocassionally listen!

cold blooded

tanning confessions

I have recently renewed my love affair with tanning. I know it is bad for you, but let me explain. I love tanning for two reasons:
First of all: I have said this before, but tan fat is way more attractive than white fat. No matter how you look at it, this is true. I do not have the time to get into a regular exercise routine. To do that, I would have to go to the YMCA, which is about a 15 minute drive, when you factor in all the lights, so figure an hour to work out, thirty minutes in travel, amounts to an hour and a half per day without my kids. And lets be honest here, if I had that kind of time everyday without my kids, there is no way I would spend it at the gym.
And second: Last week I looked into teeth whitening. Specifically ZOOM whitening. The cost is somewhere between four and nine-hundred dollars. Don't have that kind of money for my teeth. So, I figure, the tanner I get, the whiter my teeth look. It's true, I have before and after pictures, and they are at least four shades whiter.
Valid argument for tanning I think.

seriously?

okay, so, i was coming home from a great dinner with two great women, when the not so great happened. i happened to look at the thermometer. you know, the one that tells you what the temperature is outside. well, it said 0. are you kidding me? ZERO? seriously? this just sucks.

in the shadows

and somewhere, lurking in the shadows of the unknown, something changed. there was no longer space for darkness. whatever hidden spaces that were, were no more. and although the light, at times, was blinding, she knew it was the only way to be fully known.

---

“When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable.
But to grow up is to accept vulnerability… To be alive is to be vulnerable.”
– Madeleine L’Engle

originally posted my my friend janece

M & M's

Micah: Mom, there is something wrong inside my head.
Me: (although I have known this for some time, I act surprised, for his benefit) What is it?
Micah: I don't know, I will have to get back to you on that.

--

"What do you want? I said and she said, in the abstract or the concrete? and I decided to rephrase the question. I'm going to the store, I said. Need anything? and she frowned and said, Obviously, you meant concrete." -Brian Andreas

my word for the day...

MOXIE --
(noun)
backbone, determination, and fortitude.

Would love, if , someday, somewhere, while discussing my life, someone, anyone, would say...

'That Amy, she had moxie.'

my babies

they miss their daddy, can't wait to see him soon...

Watching American Idol...

Everybody gathered on the bed to watch American Idol! And we like the cowboy farmer who has never been on a plane... he was adorable.

a gem.

"Whereof what is past is prologue.... "

-- William Shakespere

---

"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth...Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable."
-- Kahlil Gibran

What's yours?

You Are An INFP

The Idealist You are creative with a great imagination, living in your own inner world.Open minded and accepting, you strive for harmony in your important relationships.It takes a long time for people to get to know you. You are hesitant to let people get close.But once you care for someone, you do everything you can to help them grow and develop. In love, you tend to have high (and often unrealistic) standards.You are very sensitive. You tend to have intense feelings. At work, you need to do something that expresses your personal values.You would make an excellent writer, psychologist, or artist. How you see yourself: Unselfish, empathetic, and spiritual When other people don't get you, they see you as: Unrealistic, naive, and weak

What's" Your Personality Type?

i thought i liked it.

i was feeling pretty good about my decision to cut my hair, and let it go back to it's natural state... that was until i saw this.



yep. we could be hair twins. depressing.

Deep breath.... here I am.

It's curly....


and all you get is self portraits, since there is no one else around here to take my picture.


I forgot how curly my hair is. And it's me, as real as it gets.

For all you dieters out there ...

Well, 2008, we're two weeks in....
Resolutions were made;
lose weight, again!
Eat healthy, exercise,
go on a diet.
The intentions were good,
but I just don't buy it.
I'm already tired, of whole grain,
and oat bran.
Give me some cheese --
and fry it up in a pan!
I'm ready for ice cream --
and not low fat.
It's time for some chocolate,
what do you say about that?
I'll take a double scoop --
no cone, a big bowl.
Sorry, it's my life,
and that's how I roll.

getting lost

today is one of those days that i just want to sit on the couch and get lost in a good book.
nothing inspirational or educational, just a good read.
some days i just want to live in other places, different spaces, and books are the antidote.
yep, some days, i just don't want to be me.
and that's okay.

good news...

Steve cancelled the last leg of his trip (the New York part), and will now be home on Sunday around 7pm. So happy to not have to start next week without him. :)

Popcorn & Ice Cream

What is for dinner, on Sunday night, when Dad is out of town.

Boys in the bath

These pictures are for you, Steve, see what good times you are missing?
Okay, truth is, the boys were driving me nuts, and a bath always makes them happy, so I figured I would put them in it, and all would be well. That lasted about two miniutes before Brody was holding Micah's head under the water. SO, I told them if they were good, I would take pictures of them. Hence the photos. Currently, I have one asleep, and one pulling every toy out in the basement. Me? I am sitting on my bed watching football.

pretty much guaranteed

i can pretty much guarantee that none of you, between 1am, and 2am, were waiting for socks to dry, and wrapping 21 gifts for your husband to take on a plane at 5am.
it's true. he's officially gone. not to return until the 23rd.
if i end up as one of those mom's who goes completely insane and drives their kids into the river, you will understand why.

Dinner with Brody

it starts out good.

all good moms feed their boys baked potoato and peaut butter and jelly for dinner, right?

not much eating.

lots of playing

and singing