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.
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
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?
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")
"A clean house is the sign of a broken computer."
don't know who said this, but it is so true....
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.
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.
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?
So, I went to
take a shower
this morning....
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.
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.
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
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.
MOXIE --
(noun)
backbone, determination, and fortitude.
Would love, if , someday, somewhere, while discussing my life, someone, anyone, would say...
'That Amy, she had moxie.'
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.
| You Are An INFP |
 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. :)
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.
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.
it starts out good.
all good moms feed their boys baked potoato and peaut butter and jelly for dinner, right?
The start of the surgeon consultation, Isaiah's nerves were on edge...
but when the doctor said that all looks good, he can stop taking the meds, and stop wrapping it in gauze -- that all he had to do was put the splint on for sports, he was very excited!
I have decided, today, to take you on a journey, a hair journey.
This is me, at Micah's age...
By second grade, it was still pretty straight. This is Hannah's age now.
But, by eighth grade, it was completely out of control.
Freshman year, you can pretty much call me a lion.
By my sophomore year, I had decided to cut it all off. Not to mention become a hippie vegetarian.
Close to my shortest legnth, although I do remember taking a razor blade to it a few times.
By senior year, I was growing it out again.
And, you all know how I have been keeping it for the last few years. Well, I am making the switch again. Back to curly. Sorry in advance for any eye my hair might poke out.
"Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself.
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)"
- Walt Whitman
So, I have been feeling bad about the stupid dog situation. Trying to do some research into why she is so annoying lately. Best I can tell, she needs more exercise. Duh, who doesn't? So I will try. I will try to take the pest for a walk every day for a week or so, and see if she gets better. Very difficult considering the current weather conditions. It is very cold and very rainy and very dark.
I thought it was important to document some of the beautiful flowers Steve gave me for our anniversary. He had TWO bunches for me. One waiting in the bathroom when I woke up....
and another bunch on the kitchen counter. So nice. Feel so loved. Thanks Steve.
this of course, is just one of the flowers from the kitchen, but somehow it stood alone.
Brody and his sheepy. He loves this thing. And it
always makes all things better....
Micah on bananna number two. Yesterday,
he ate three, and seventeen strawberries.
Never has any trouble with his tummy....
These are my boys. Now, I know I have another boy, but we never seem to refer to him as "the boys" like we do Micah and Brody. It is probably the age thing. It is like we have two families of kids, the big kids, and the boys. I don't know what will happen next fall when Micah becomes a big kid. Not sure if he will still be part of "the boys" or if Brody somehow will become the only one... but for now, I am sitting on the bed, watching Miss Spider, and enjoying my boys.
been having a hard time lately with how spoiled my kids are. we have recently been blessed by getting to know a little bit about a five year old boy in Liberia, and it has again awoken something in me. something i have a hard time understanding, and a hard time explaining. something real, something raw. and i want so badly for my kids to get it, for my husband to get it. but when they look at me and say that it is not fair that they don't get ice cream after dinner, even though they had it last night, or they call me mean because i won't let them watch t.v. after their bedtime, somewhere inside me i want to scream. how can they not get it? how do they not see how absolutely blessed and privileged they are? how rich? i know, they are kids. but somehow i think they of all people should get it. if we could somehow get our kids together with kids in Liberia, or anywhere like that, would they get it then? i don't know. all i know is, i get it. and it is becoming increasingly apparent to me, that not getting it, is a whole lot easier.
So, I broke down and took him to the doctor this morning. It was getting redder, and more swollen looking, and with sports that use his hands to play, I figured it was a good idea just to make sure nothing major was wrong. Good thing I went. The doctor said it looked like the end of his finger was broken, but it was a stable fracture, so there was not much we could do about it. Then she said, just don't play any sports like basketball, for about four weeks. RIGHT. I said, that will pretty much be impossible, is there another solution? She said, yeah, just splint it. Like that was so hard? Couldn't she have just said that to begin with, rather than practically making Isaiah have a heart attack? Then she said that he also broke his nail, down below the nail bed, and that is likely what is causing the infection to set in. She lanced it, thinking it looked like it was puss filled, convinced it must be MRSA, and came up with nothing. (Everybody is so paranoid these days) So, he has oral and topical antibiotics to take for the next ten days, assuming it is looking better by Thursday night, all is okay. If it is not looking considerably better then we have a consultation with the surgeon on Friday afternoon to discuss removal of the nail. Good times here people.
Yes, I know it looks bad.
And yes, I think I should probably take him in to the doctor to have it looked at. But will I? Doubtful. I am sure in a few days it will all be just fine.
Isaiah on the run....
Team meeting!
The boys did alright, mostly in the fourth quarter of every game they played. I think at the fourth grade level, it is more about the jersey. And those purple Muskies were pretty cute out there!
If you can tell from the first picture, Isaiah's finger is taped up. At school on Friday, it got shut in the door. The teacher had to come and open it up in order for him to get it out. It is bad. Real bad. I got three calls from the school nurse. One to tell me that he was white as a sheet, and he almost passed out from the pain. But he'll live, I think. I will post a picture of his finger later... but be warned, it's pretty blue.
Micah: Look what I made at school Mom, it's a bird feeder!
Me: That is so cool Micah, where are you gonna put it?
Micah: Well, if we had an elephant outside, we could nail it to him.
Friday again.
Tonight my Mom will take the little boys, and Emily will stay home with the big kids, and Steve and I will go out to dinner to celebrate completing thirteen years of marriage.
Hard to believe it has been that long.
Thirteen years.
I remember, like it was yesterday, meeting Steve for the first time. Spring break at The Master's College, the only people on campus were the few of us who had to work, and the baseball team. He walked into my dorm lounge, and said, "Hey, does anyone have a car?" "I do." I said. "Hi, my name is Steve Smith" (while shaking my hand). "Oh," I said, "I could never marry you." He responded, "What, you don't even know me!" "But, my middle name is Suzanne, and if I married you, my initials would be A. S. S." Steve, with that grin on his face, said, "Well, I wouldn't want to make an a** out of you."
It appears he did.
And a happier donkey I could never be.
Okay, I said it before, but this is Hattie. Free to a good home. One with NO small children, and no other dogs. She is a 6 year old Rat Terrier. Not altered. Championship blood line. Cost us $450.00 six years ago. We love her. However she is too stressed out by our busy lives and five kids. Her ideal life would be curled up on the couch all day being pampered and loved. Not happening here. So, if you know anyone who is interested, just let me know.
Seems like lately we just go from one day to the next. Looking onward to the next event. What is happening this weekend, when does Dad go to India, what day is your anniversary, etc. Why is it so hard to live in the now. The right here. This is our life and our messy house, and our kids still in their pajamas. This is my sink full of dirty dishes, and my laundry baskets full of clothes to fold. This is it. This is the right here. And I don't want to be anywhere else.
I do love the snow, don't get me wrong. But I hear the forcast is for 50's this weekend, and I might break out the shorts!
Just testing out this place. It seems so much easier to post from here. Direct links to pictures and all. Just following the crowd, and I suppose this is the trend.....
