Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Sharing a Song That Makes Me Smile
Don't frown that I first heard this song in a commercial! This is a simple melody, winsomely sung. I had to look it up on You Tube and spread the cheer! (We certainly need distraction from the SnotFest going on at our house.)
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Wordy As I Wanna Be Wednesday
I took this picture of Sophie the day before Logan was born (July 2006) and for some reason (Hmmmm) I never got around to posting it.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
I Pulled It Off!
Yesterday, with some help, I threw a 40th birthday party for James, and he was actually surprised!
On three different occasions in the past, people have tried to throw surprise parties for me, but I have found out about them ahead of time. I have a sixth sense for such things. I suspected that James would be difficult to fool too, but now I know that I can hide things from him and lie to him and get away with it. Just kidding!
With help, and a lot of technical glitches to start with, I showed the dvd picture montage of James at the party using the church projector. James knew about the dvd, but didn't know that I intended to show it to an audience. I originally meant to keep the dvd a secret from him, but blew that before his actual birthday in January. At that time, he unexpectedly decided to back-up our computer, and innocently asked me, "Do you want me to back-up my pictures?" I got defensive with him, because I thought he had seen all of his old pictures on the computer. I soon realized that he actually had not figured out what I was doing, but was just referring to a file labeled "My Pictures." I decided to just let that part of the secret out of the bag anyway, since it had been my mode of operation to make slide shows in the past. He was happy to have an explanation for my defensiveness, and I was relieved not to have to keep hiding that major project!
The night before James' surprise party, a friend of mine called me, and in talking with her, I realized that she had not received the emails about the party. When James took Logan upstairs, I tried to quietly tell her about the party, but then I heard the upstairs phone pick up! James came down a minute later, and I asked him, "Were you eavesdropping?!" He told me that he was letting Logan play with the phone. I wasn't sure if he had heard anything that might clue him in to the surprise! Thankfully, he truly remained clueless.
On three different occasions in the past, people have tried to throw surprise parties for me, but I have found out about them ahead of time. I have a sixth sense for such things. I suspected that James would be difficult to fool too, but now I know that I can hide things from him and lie to him and get away with it. Just kidding!
With help, and a lot of technical glitches to start with, I showed the dvd picture montage of James at the party using the church projector. James knew about the dvd, but didn't know that I intended to show it to an audience. I originally meant to keep the dvd a secret from him, but blew that before his actual birthday in January. At that time, he unexpectedly decided to back-up our computer, and innocently asked me, "Do you want me to back-up my pictures?" I got defensive with him, because I thought he had seen all of his old pictures on the computer. I soon realized that he actually had not figured out what I was doing, but was just referring to a file labeled "My Pictures." I decided to just let that part of the secret out of the bag anyway, since it had been my mode of operation to make slide shows in the past. He was happy to have an explanation for my defensiveness, and I was relieved not to have to keep hiding that major project!
The night before James' surprise party, a friend of mine called me, and in talking with her, I realized that she had not received the emails about the party. When James took Logan upstairs, I tried to quietly tell her about the party, but then I heard the upstairs phone pick up! James came down a minute later, and I asked him, "Were you eavesdropping?!" He told me that he was letting Logan play with the phone. I wasn't sure if he had heard anything that might clue him in to the surprise! Thankfully, he truly remained clueless.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Snippets and Snapshots
On Valentine's Day:
Last week, my sister Loey told me on the phone that she had mysteriously received a book of letters by Jane Austen in the mail. She intended to call my sister Jen to ask if she knew anything about the book.
Yesterday, the mystery was solved when we received an email from my dad, telling us that he loved us and that we would be receiving Austen books in the mail for Valentine's Day. How sweet and thoughtful is that?!!
Here is a thank you note that I emailed my dad, written with the help of some Austen-savvy cyber-friends on the Well-Trained Mind Discussion Board:
Dearest Father,
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a father is a daughter's first love. I declare above all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! I should be miserable indeed if I had not an excellent library. The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. The gift you bestow upon me is almost too good, but then nobody minds having what is too good for them. And I do say that without the pleasure of a good novel, life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings.
Thank you my dear father for the felicity that you have bestowed upon me through such an amiable and pleasing gift.
Your Loving Daughter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Logan loves to wear his daddy's gloves, and here he is carrying a carnation that his dad brought home for him.
And Logan Said:
"Maffoo, have some water please?"
And Mama Said:
"Logan, can you smile for the picture please? Thank You!"
Last week, my sister Loey told me on the phone that she had mysteriously received a book of letters by Jane Austen in the mail. She intended to call my sister Jen to ask if she knew anything about the book.
Yesterday, the mystery was solved when we received an email from my dad, telling us that he loved us and that we would be receiving Austen books in the mail for Valentine's Day. How sweet and thoughtful is that?!!
Here is a thank you note that I emailed my dad, written with the help of some Austen-savvy cyber-friends on the Well-Trained Mind Discussion Board:
Dearest Father,
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a father is a daughter's first love. I declare above all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! I should be miserable indeed if I had not an excellent library. The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. The gift you bestow upon me is almost too good, but then nobody minds having what is too good for them. And I do say that without the pleasure of a good novel, life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings.
Thank you my dear father for the felicity that you have bestowed upon me through such an amiable and pleasing gift.
Your Loving Daughter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Logan loves to wear his daddy's gloves, and here he is carrying a carnation that his dad brought home for him.
And Logan Said:
"Maffoo, have some water please?"
And Mama Said:
"Logan, can you smile for the picture please? Thank You!"
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Frivolous Decorating Post
If you have visited our house over the years, you might have noticed that we don't rearrange our furniture or pictures much at all. Once we find the "perfect" spot for an item, it stays put. We have also, in some cases, taken many years to find just the right picture or decoration for certain walls.
The first house that James and I lived in sported forest green carpet in the living room. We bought a couch with a floral print to direct the eye away from the floor.
The first house that James and I lived in sported forest green carpet in the living room. We bought a couch with a floral print to direct the eye away from the floor.
I loved this couch at first, and the picture arrangement above it stayed the same in three different houses, but I must admit that recently, after fourteen years, the sofa print and the pictures have begun to get on my nerves. (Yeah, yeah, I know that some of you have probably disliked them all along. You were so polite not to say anything! :)
Well, after fourteen years, the couch is still in like-new condition. It is just a well-made piece of furniture, and I am thankful for it! The couch must stay, but it now has a new throw over the back to break up some of the pattern. Best of all, a new picture, a photograph of my own has replaced the former wall arrangement.
And here is the whole effect:
The wall picture is actually slightly lower now than pictured, and I have yet to steam out the creases in the throw, but I like the change.
Looking at the picture this size is like looking out at Long's Peak from the trail up to Dream Lake in Rocky Mtn. Nat'l. Park ~ brings back good memories!
Well, after fourteen years, the couch is still in like-new condition. It is just a well-made piece of furniture, and I am thankful for it! The couch must stay, but it now has a new throw over the back to break up some of the pattern. Best of all, a new picture, a photograph of my own has replaced the former wall arrangement.
And here is the whole effect:
The wall picture is actually slightly lower now than pictured, and I have yet to steam out the creases in the throw, but I like the change.
Looking at the picture this size is like looking out at Long's Peak from the trail up to Dream Lake in Rocky Mtn. Nat'l. Park ~ brings back good memories!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
New Skills
As I look back over the past few months, I realize that the children have taken up several activities new to our house. The toddler delights us daily with activities, words and even sentences new to him; Sophie is breaking ground by learning a useful craft that she plans to teach the rest of us as she becomes more proficient; and the older kids have continued a tradition begun by their great grandmother.
The kids' Great Grandma, over the years, has decorated many a wedding invitation with the art of paper filigree or quilling. She in turn taught me how to quill, though I've put the skill little to use, but now the kids have taken up the art on their own, following the instructions in a child-friendly book that Grandma gave them called Twirled Paper by Jacqueline Lee. Here is a picture of Evan's very first quilling project:
The kids' Great Grandma, over the years, has decorated many a wedding invitation with the art of paper filigree or quilling. She in turn taught me how to quill, though I've put the skill little to use, but now the kids have taken up the art on their own, following the instructions in a child-friendly book that Grandma gave them called Twirled Paper by Jacqueline Lee. Here is a picture of Evan's very first quilling project:
The kids have followed the book to craft paper insects, fish, snails, and even aliens which are flying by threads from their beds or ceiling, or crawling up their walls and doors. I hope to get in on the action in the future to help them work on larger projects.
Sophie has long expressed a desire to learn to knit, and with the instruction of a friend of ours (Gina K.), she is making progress in her new ability:
(I have seen an old picture of myself with this same expression on my face. On the back of the photo, my mom wrote: "The cat that ate the canary.")
Logan talks quite a bit now and can often be heard yelling for "Ophie!" or "Ewan!" or Mafoo!" His pronunciation of "Matthew" has degenerated somewhat, and even comes out as "Awful" sometimes which gives us all the giggles. One of his favorite fruits is an "ocean", also known as an "orange". He loves to drink "waters" out of a little jar that fits nicely in his small hands.
Last Tuesday, as I changed his diaper, Logan pulled the handle on a musical toy. I informed him, "You pulled it!"
He echoed, "I pulled it!" surprising me with the change of pronoun. I'm not sure if that counts as a sentence, but he is at least expanding his vocabulary to phrases.
This weekend, he saw James walking towards him, and he ran to him, exclaiming, "He's coming!"
In the van, Logan called out his name (which he says quite clearly.) James and I joked about how Logan's cousin, Elijah, calls him "Coco."
I told Logan, "You tell him that your name is Logan," and asked him "Can you say 'Elijah'?"
Logan quickly replied, "Coco!" to our great amusement!
Other new activities:
"Washing dishes" in the toddler tower with his cousin, Josi.
Sophie has long expressed a desire to learn to knit, and with the instruction of a friend of ours (Gina K.), she is making progress in her new ability:
(I have seen an old picture of myself with this same expression on my face. On the back of the photo, my mom wrote: "The cat that ate the canary.")
Logan talks quite a bit now and can often be heard yelling for "Ophie!" or "Ewan!" or Mafoo!" His pronunciation of "Matthew" has degenerated somewhat, and even comes out as "Awful" sometimes which gives us all the giggles. One of his favorite fruits is an "ocean", also known as an "orange". He loves to drink "waters" out of a little jar that fits nicely in his small hands.
Last Tuesday, as I changed his diaper, Logan pulled the handle on a musical toy. I informed him, "You pulled it!"
He echoed, "I pulled it!" surprising me with the change of pronoun. I'm not sure if that counts as a sentence, but he is at least expanding his vocabulary to phrases.
This weekend, he saw James walking towards him, and he ran to him, exclaiming, "He's coming!"
In the van, Logan called out his name (which he says quite clearly.) James and I joked about how Logan's cousin, Elijah, calls him "Coco."
I told Logan, "You tell him that your name is Logan," and asked him "Can you say 'Elijah'?"
Logan quickly replied, "Coco!" to our great amusement!
Other new activities:
Playing with Model Magic with the big kids.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Saturday, February 02, 2008
No Way! I Won!
Logan is now sitting in big-boy style thanks to this give-away that I won hosted by Nan at Life is Like a Lunchbox. Instead of sitting in a booster on the chair, Logan's entire chair is getting boosted by a Kaboost! The Kaboost is an innovative new chair booster that easily adjusts to fit just about any four-legged chair in existence and is sturdy enough to hold up to 300 lbs. (The weight-bearing capability is not a huge concern in our household, but I mention that to underscore its sturdiness.)
I particularly like the fact that the rubberized feet of the Kaboost do not scratch our wood floors and that the chair is easier to clean without a gunk-trapping booster.
The Kaboost is actually recommended for use with ages 20 months to 6 years, but it is working out just fine with Logan at 18 months with the addition of a strap on the chair.
Thank you to Nan for hosting the giveaway and thank you Kaboost!
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