Happy Heart Day...love, the girls
Showing posts with label celebrate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celebrate. Show all posts
Friday, February 14, 2014
Friday, November 2, 2012
Halloween
This year it was Pippi Longstocking and the Beast...yes Connor being Beast again. It is getting to be more about the candy and less about the costume for him as he ages. Next year I might have to make him venture away from this mask. Maari also wanted to be the same thing she was last year - a princess of course - but we talked her into trying something different. At least one of them had to change costumes! With that hair she just had to be Pippi at least one time in her life.
Poor Pippi was sick for the big night...so was mom. But we still made it to the neighborhood pary/tractor ride/trick-or-treat. Maybe all that candy we ate will make us feel better.
Maari seemed more excited about these pumpkin seeds than the candy. She was so eager to bake them and then took one taste and declared a "YUCK." Oh well, the rest of us are enjoying them!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
7th of July Fireworks
This was our little belated 4th of July fireworks extravaganza. Although Maari came in at a close second, Betsy was most excited about it!
After the driveway display, Justin took us for a drive in the country to "firework hop." I was a little skeptical thinking there would be nothing to see...but I was wrong. Amazing to me that we saw so many and how big they all were. Betsy got to come along for that too but she definitely prefered our show at home.
After the driveway display, Justin took us for a drive in the country to "firework hop." I was a little skeptical thinking there would be nothing to see...but I was wrong. Amazing to me that we saw so many and how big they all were. Betsy got to come along for that too but she definitely prefered our show at home.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
And Now Breathe
Wow, I haven't visited this place in over 2 months...I think that is a record. We have been so insanely busy that it has sadly gotten away from me. Just in the last few weeks we have had enough life changes (some good and some no good at all) to cover five years. I will start with the good because they are just so much easier to write about...
December brings three birthdays in this household. This old mama turned thirty on the 4th of December. It is a little scary, but I take relief in what I have heard from others. Everyone seems to love their thirties - still young, but much more stable than the twenties. So thirty, I welcome you with open arms - although it is probably time to invest in a good anti-aging cream!
And as for the holiday birthdays...my first baby turned eight on the Winter Solstice. I guess at eight he is not a baby, but I still think of him as my babe.
Connor is...well Connor. He is truly one of a kind. He is uniquely sensitive and caring for his age in years. I admire his kind character more than I know how to say. Strange as it may sound, sometimes I feel as if I look toward my own child for guidance. He is oh so special to us!
Can you tell we are still obsessed with cheetahs, I think even more so than last year. It is quite possible that my son knows everything there is to know about this animal!
And, my second baby (who truly is STILL a baby) turned one on Christmas Eve. One whole year! How is it possible that it seems as though she was just born yesterday, yet also like she has been a part of our family forever?
She is quite different from her big brother. Whereas Connor's personality is comparable to a fine wine, Maari's is more like a spicy enchilada. This girl has spunk and we are loving it! She has brought so much laughter and energy into our home.
Yes, she fell asleep after cake. She woke up with a jolt, shocked to be in her highchair. I thought she would start crying, but instead looked down, saw cake crumbs, and went right back to eating.
To add to the mayhem of the holiday season, Justin started a new job on Monday. After over ten years with the same small business he decided it was time to move on. He has now entered the world of "Corporate." He went from a small close-knit company to one of the largest corporations in the Midwest. The whole move is bittersweet, but in the long run is probably for the best. It has been exciting, scary, anticipated, and just plain different. But, each day it gets a little more "normal."
For his accomplishment he was given the Special Plate...and Gooey Butter Cake for dessert, although, I made the wrong one. Apparently my family has two recipes for Gooey Butter Cake. That just seems wrong, to have multiple ways to make something that is so bad for you. Anyway, I guess it is the thought that counts. We are so proud of our Daddy, he truly is special EVERYday.
Amidst all the celebrating - the birthdays, the new job, the Christmas festivities, the New Year - our family was pained with a terrible tragedy. It breaks my heart so just to put it down in words. I watched a woman I admire lose her child. I watched another admirable woman lose her husband and best friend. I watched my husband and two dear friends lose their father. I watched my own children lose their grandpa. As if watching all these people I love hurt is not enough to break a person's heart, I have also been burdened with my own pain in losing someone very special.
Our Papa Dave was truly a unique individual and his absence is shocking and painful. We had no warning signs - it just came and we have been left to cope. Put simply, it is hard, really hard.
On a positive note, he will be remembered fondly by all who knew him. I know that is what is always said about someone after they are gone, how full of life the person was, what a wonderful parent he/she was... With Dave though it is not being said just because that is what you say. He truly was SO full of life. He had this crazy energy to him. It was the kind of energy that you see in children. But he was like a child in a good way. He was extremely hardworking and responsible. For example, he built his entire house and just about everything in it with his own two hands. His youthful qualities came out in his enthusiasm. When he told a story, no matter how mundane the topic, it was always told with huge doses of suspense, smiles, and laughter.
It is interesting that after years of knowing a person often one dominant image remains in our heads after they are gone. I picture my grandma in my childhood bedroom holding one of my dolls trying to remember the name I had given her. I picture my great grandma greeting me at her front door ready to attack me with a multitude of forceful kisses. I picture my grandpa as I sit in the back of his van (in a lawn chair!), a small smile on his face seen in the rear-view mirror. I picture another grandpa, also with a small smile on his face, sitting at the kitchen table playing cards with his family. I picture my best friend from high school lying flat on her back on her bed laughing hysterically after another prank phone call to that really hot senior soccer star that she was a tad bit too obsessed with. And now I picture Dave sitting at the head of his dining room table telling a story. I do not hear what the story is but I see the gestures: the arm movements, the giant smiles, and the hearty chuckles. I think Connor summed it up pretty well a few years ago when he told me that, "Papa David is my funny Papa."
I can't help but wonder what image of myself would stick in people's heads if I were gone. It has really pushed me to want to strive to be a better person. Who wants to be remembered as cranky, or sad, or mad? I guess if anything good can come out of this whole trauma, maybe we can realize the importance of making the effort to enjoy life and those around us, to have the childlike enthusiasm for life that to me was the core of Dave.
So in the midst of grief and tragedy, we found some happiness in our annual celebrations because that is how Dave would have wanted it. It provided some distraction from the sadness for both the adults and children. I suppose in that sense having it all happen at once is a blessing in a way. Now that the chaos is all over we can just take a deep breath and try to resume as best we can in daily life, hopefully with a better appreciation for what we have been blessed with.
December brings three birthdays in this household. This old mama turned thirty on the 4th of December. It is a little scary, but I take relief in what I have heard from others. Everyone seems to love their thirties - still young, but much more stable than the twenties. So thirty, I welcome you with open arms - although it is probably time to invest in a good anti-aging cream!
And as for the holiday birthdays...my first baby turned eight on the Winter Solstice. I guess at eight he is not a baby, but I still think of him as my babe.
Connor is...well Connor. He is truly one of a kind. He is uniquely sensitive and caring for his age in years. I admire his kind character more than I know how to say. Strange as it may sound, sometimes I feel as if I look toward my own child for guidance. He is oh so special to us!
Can you tell we are still obsessed with cheetahs, I think even more so than last year. It is quite possible that my son knows everything there is to know about this animal!And, my second baby (who truly is STILL a baby) turned one on Christmas Eve. One whole year! How is it possible that it seems as though she was just born yesterday, yet also like she has been a part of our family forever?
She is quite different from her big brother. Whereas Connor's personality is comparable to a fine wine, Maari's is more like a spicy enchilada. This girl has spunk and we are loving it! She has brought so much laughter and energy into our home.
Yes, she fell asleep after cake. She woke up with a jolt, shocked to be in her highchair. I thought she would start crying, but instead looked down, saw cake crumbs, and went right back to eating.
To add to the mayhem of the holiday season, Justin started a new job on Monday. After over ten years with the same small business he decided it was time to move on. He has now entered the world of "Corporate." He went from a small close-knit company to one of the largest corporations in the Midwest. The whole move is bittersweet, but in the long run is probably for the best. It has been exciting, scary, anticipated, and just plain different. But, each day it gets a little more "normal."
For his accomplishment he was given the Special Plate...and Gooey Butter Cake for dessert, although, I made the wrong one. Apparently my family has two recipes for Gooey Butter Cake. That just seems wrong, to have multiple ways to make something that is so bad for you. Anyway, I guess it is the thought that counts. We are so proud of our Daddy, he truly is special EVERYday.Amidst all the celebrating - the birthdays, the new job, the Christmas festivities, the New Year - our family was pained with a terrible tragedy. It breaks my heart so just to put it down in words. I watched a woman I admire lose her child. I watched another admirable woman lose her husband and best friend. I watched my husband and two dear friends lose their father. I watched my own children lose their grandpa. As if watching all these people I love hurt is not enough to break a person's heart, I have also been burdened with my own pain in losing someone very special.
Our Papa Dave was truly a unique individual and his absence is shocking and painful. We had no warning signs - it just came and we have been left to cope. Put simply, it is hard, really hard.
On a positive note, he will be remembered fondly by all who knew him. I know that is what is always said about someone after they are gone, how full of life the person was, what a wonderful parent he/she was... With Dave though it is not being said just because that is what you say. He truly was SO full of life. He had this crazy energy to him. It was the kind of energy that you see in children. But he was like a child in a good way. He was extremely hardworking and responsible. For example, he built his entire house and just about everything in it with his own two hands. His youthful qualities came out in his enthusiasm. When he told a story, no matter how mundane the topic, it was always told with huge doses of suspense, smiles, and laughter.It is interesting that after years of knowing a person often one dominant image remains in our heads after they are gone. I picture my grandma in my childhood bedroom holding one of my dolls trying to remember the name I had given her. I picture my great grandma greeting me at her front door ready to attack me with a multitude of forceful kisses. I picture my grandpa as I sit in the back of his van (in a lawn chair!), a small smile on his face seen in the rear-view mirror. I picture another grandpa, also with a small smile on his face, sitting at the kitchen table playing cards with his family. I picture my best friend from high school lying flat on her back on her bed laughing hysterically after another prank phone call to that really hot senior soccer star that she was a tad bit too obsessed with. And now I picture Dave sitting at the head of his dining room table telling a story. I do not hear what the story is but I see the gestures: the arm movements, the giant smiles, and the hearty chuckles. I think Connor summed it up pretty well a few years ago when he told me that, "Papa David is my funny Papa."
I can't help but wonder what image of myself would stick in people's heads if I were gone. It has really pushed me to want to strive to be a better person. Who wants to be remembered as cranky, or sad, or mad? I guess if anything good can come out of this whole trauma, maybe we can realize the importance of making the effort to enjoy life and those around us, to have the childlike enthusiasm for life that to me was the core of Dave.So in the midst of grief and tragedy, we found some happiness in our annual celebrations because that is how Dave would have wanted it. It provided some distraction from the sadness for both the adults and children. I suppose in that sense having it all happen at once is a blessing in a way. Now that the chaos is all over we can just take a deep breath and try to resume as best we can in daily life, hopefully with a better appreciation for what we have been blessed with.
And to our Papa David: We will miss you!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
2
2 years of wedded bliss. How come it feels like 20? I suppose when it is 20 it will feel like 50.
Happy anniversary to my fantastic hubby!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Parade
Last week Connor attended an art class where he made a very handsome dragonfly all out of trash (ahem, I mean treasure). The kids also made some noisemakers out of recycled plastic bottles. Last Friday night I was serenaded by this little contraption - on and off for several hours.
And on Saturday he got to show off his art in a parade celebrating 25 years of the Phipps Center for the Arts.
It was not your typical parade - no clowns, no candy. Fire trucks did not lead the parade but rather a giant eagle that was pilaged by pirates. Yes, pirates in a speed boat.
And this guy. I am not sure what/who he was but he was my favorite, not including the dragonfly of course.
And on Saturday he got to show off his art in a parade celebrating 25 years of the Phipps Center for the Arts.
It was not your typical parade - no clowns, no candy. Fire trucks did not lead the parade but rather a giant eagle that was pilaged by pirates. Yes, pirates in a speed boat.
And this guy. I am not sure what/who he was but he was my favorite, not including the dragonfly of course.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Mother's Day Recap
This little mother's day gift left me with a lump in my throat.....
He has just gotten so smart - I am shocked at what he has learned in only a few months time. He is actually writing his own sentences! Amazing what sponges those little brains are.
It wasn't just his intellect that made me teary eyed, but of course his sweetness too. I love that my one wish is "to go back in kinderagatin." Yes, I often tell Connor that it would be so fun to go back to Kindergarten again. Although (and this is the part I don't mention to him), if I were magically shrunk back to grade K, I know I would have to go through all 12 of those other grade too. Not so sure I would care to do that!
And I received a lovely bouquet of wooden flowers. The busy little guy also made a little painted pot holding a real flower, but we had a little accident with that one, resulting in a few tears :( but I think a little superglue might fix it.
And I spent some time with my mother on Sunday browsing through a local nursery. A beautiful sunny hour with one of my favorite people.
Justin had a good laugh at my gifts to her, only because they were exactly the same as his and Connor's gifts to me: garden plants and and a book. He even picked out the same card! What can I say, like mother like daughter, our interests are the same.
I also made her a little felt needlebook and one of those cute birds from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. I didn't intend for them to match but it turned out nice that they did.
side1
side 2
He has just gotten so smart - I am shocked at what he has learned in only a few months time. He is actually writing his own sentences! Amazing what sponges those little brains are.
It wasn't just his intellect that made me teary eyed, but of course his sweetness too. I love that my one wish is "to go back in kinderagatin." Yes, I often tell Connor that it would be so fun to go back to Kindergarten again. Although (and this is the part I don't mention to him), if I were magically shrunk back to grade K, I know I would have to go through all 12 of those other grade too. Not so sure I would care to do that!
And I received a lovely bouquet of wooden flowers. The busy little guy also made a little painted pot holding a real flower, but we had a little accident with that one, resulting in a few tears :( but I think a little superglue might fix it.
And I spent some time with my mother on Sunday browsing through a local nursery. A beautiful sunny hour with one of my favorite people.
Justin had a good laugh at my gifts to her, only because they were exactly the same as his and Connor's gifts to me: garden plants and and a book. He even picked out the same card! What can I say, like mother like daughter, our interests are the same.
I also made her a little felt needlebook and one of those cute birds from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. I didn't intend for them to match but it turned out nice that they did.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Friday, December 21, 2007
Six
Oh...I'm late, but who cares. I know it is technically the 22nd and I should either be in bed, packing for our trip, or wrapping Christmas presents, but I choose to draw out the birthday as long as I can. Connor is six today (or yesterday the 21st)! Wow-it is so hard to believe. So, 6 things about the 6 year old:
(Bennett is not wearing "jailbird" pants. They decided to play dress up before the party, hence the pirate pants)
1) Connor LOVES football (and futbol in the summer)!
A football quilt from Nana Jeani & Papa Jayson (handmade by Nana).
A new jersey from Nana Yvonne & Papa Dave.
2) Connor's favorite foods are somewhat similar to other children in that he loves mac n' cheese, corn dogs, & chicken nuggets. However, unlike lots of others his age Connor enjoys many other types of foods, i.e. seaweed (he will eat it like a french fry), cabbage (huge coleslaw fan), and Chinese dumplings (of any sort & prepared in any fashion). I am so blessed that my son lives by the kindergarten motto of "be polite and take a bite" and that he almost always enjoys his bite.
3) Connor's best friend is Bennett.
(Bennett is not wearing "jailbird" pants. They decided to play dress up before the party, hence the pirate pants)
4) Connor's favorite colors are blue, red, black, and brown.
5) He is a doodler. As I mentioned before, I can NEVER find a clean piece of paper around here. So, he will either grow up to be an artist or an NFL football player. Although, for over a year now he has told me he wants to be a mailman. They are all quite different career paths so I suppose he is just a renaissance man.
6) Quite honestly, I think Connor is unique for his age. This may sound biased, but as a person I think he has an extrodinarily kind heart and a deep soul in that he is loving, understanding, and just plain nice. For example, it is just common law around here (by his choice) that Mommy gets at least 5 hugs before bedtime. Some say he is shy, I say he is observant. He is an intense watcher (especially of older children - of course) and he remembers finite details from years ago, yes at age six. He has never done or said anything at school to make another person feel bad. For this I am extremely proud of him and feel lucky to have such a kind and loving child!
Well, I am starting to get sappy, but it is all true. This time of year always brings back memories of six years ago when I received the best Christmas gift ever.
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR-
Monday, December 17, 2007
Tradition
OK, I know my birthday was two weeks ago (and I am not one to dote over my own birthday) but I am going to talk about my night out anyway. Justin and I have developed an annual tradition for my birthday - dinner at our favorite restaurant. I know this does not sound all that exciting but really it is. The food is spectacular as is the presentation, service... Just look at this, my own personalized birthday menu!
After good food, good wine, and a flaming dessert we head down to the little bar down the road. The first year we stumbled upon it because the temperature outside was below zero, it was about a block away, and we were not about to walk more than that. Again this year it was cold, but I think we went back for reasons other than that. I guess it may become part of our tradition.
Justin was feeling particularly generous that night. He was determined to find a homeless person to give our leftovers to. Yes, he approached people at the bus stop asking where he could find some homeless people to give his food to. I don't know if the people were offended by him or just plain shocked. Anyway, poor Justin may have had one too many cocktails with dinner, but really he does have a big heart. And, he did find someone at the end of the evening. The man was not homeless but was happy to take the food.
With that said I will talk no more about my birthday, until next year. It is time to concentrate on the next one coming this Friday. The birthday boy wants hot dogs, coleslaw, and baked beans. Sounds like a summer feast to me, but what he wants he will get. Oh, and chocolate cake of course.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
28
Today I turn 28 years young - those years really creep up on you. So...
*****28 Random Blurbs About Me on My Birthday*****
1) I am a cat person, really big cuddly ones to be exact.
2) Guilty pleasures- red wine, chocolate, and pizza, not usually all at the same time but on a really good day, yes.
3) Not so guilty pleasures - reading and seafood.
4) Something I wish was a pleasure - exercising.
5) Favorite movie - Sophie's Choice - makes me cry every time (it's a fabulous book too).
6) Favorite book - too hard to choose, but have recently enjoyed this one, this one, and this one.
7) Favorite children's book - also too hard to choose, but love this, this, and this...
8) I love music - all genres. Not a big country fan but some of the folky stuff that I enjoy really borders on country.
9) I majored in piano performance for one year.
10) Favorite classical composer - Rachmaninoff.
11) Favorite color - green - and
12) Green eyes
13) I'm an only child.
14) Which means I am a little spoiled!
15) My husband and I were born within a few miles of one another...
16) Our parents then up and moved to the same suburb.
17) We didn't really meet until college though. It was very romantic - nasty college basement party, the kind that reeks of spilt beer an b.o.
18) I have never been a morning person...
19) However lately I have come to favor the morning hours (after a cup of coffee).
20) I have had the same best friend for 10+ years.
21) We are very different but it works well.
22) My house is blue which would not be my first choice, but I have come to like it - it's home.
23) I have been getting my hair cut from the same person for 12 years.
24) I carpool to work...
25) With my father!
26) My life has not followed the conventional order, i.e. 1 get married 2 buy a house 3 have a baby. Well I did things in the exact reverse order.
27) I am happy with the way that turned out!
28) I was born somewhere around 2:00 in the afternoon on a Tuesday.
*****28 Random Blurbs About Me on My Birthday*****
1) I am a cat person, really big cuddly ones to be exact.
2) Guilty pleasures- red wine, chocolate, and pizza, not usually all at the same time but on a really good day, yes.
3) Not so guilty pleasures - reading and seafood.
4) Something I wish was a pleasure - exercising.
5) Favorite movie - Sophie's Choice - makes me cry every time (it's a fabulous book too).
6) Favorite book - too hard to choose, but have recently enjoyed this one, this one, and this one.
7) Favorite children's book - also too hard to choose, but love this, this, and this...
8) I love music - all genres. Not a big country fan but some of the folky stuff that I enjoy really borders on country.
9) I majored in piano performance for one year.
10) Favorite classical composer - Rachmaninoff.
11) Favorite color - green - and
12) Green eyes
13) I'm an only child.
14) Which means I am a little spoiled!
15) My husband and I were born within a few miles of one another...
16) Our parents then up and moved to the same suburb.
17) We didn't really meet until college though. It was very romantic - nasty college basement party, the kind that reeks of spilt beer an b.o.
18) I have never been a morning person...
19) However lately I have come to favor the morning hours (after a cup of coffee).
20) I have had the same best friend for 10+ years.
21) We are very different but it works well.
22) My house is blue which would not be my first choice, but I have come to like it - it's home.
23) I have been getting my hair cut from the same person for 12 years.
24) I carpool to work...
25) With my father!
26) My life has not followed the conventional order, i.e. 1 get married 2 buy a house 3 have a baby. Well I did things in the exact reverse order.
27) I am happy with the way that turned out!
28) I was born somewhere around 2:00 in the afternoon on a Tuesday.
Last night my mother-in-law said that 28 was one of her favorite years. So I welcome 28 with open arms! - Bring it on!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Halloween Snippets
-Some Halloween highlights-
-Carving pumpkins at home-
-Getting full of goop -
-Coloring gourds at school-
-Costumes: The Cowboy-
Chaps handmade by Nanny, vest handmade by Mommy, with a lot of guidance from Connor.
Badge holder handpicked by Connor from Nanny's recent bag of goodies.
-Connor's measurements for the vest (Mommy measured, Connor recorded)-
-Costumes: Mother Hen-
-Also from Nanny-
-Trick-or-Treat-
-Equation-
layers of bulky clothing (yes it was chilly) + running full speed to get to the next house + a month of built-up excitement + the thrill of seeing friends + dark + SUGAR
= at least three tumbles by each trick-or-treater
(none serious :) )
Can you match the pumpkin to the carver?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
