Happy Birthday to the love of my life and to a wonderful daddy!  We love you so much, thanks for being ours!

We're home!  You would think that we would've been blown here after all of that Michigan wind. I really don't ever want to experience those intense winds again!  But here we are.  I will writer more tomorrow, stay tuned for a year in review, and -- tomorrow -- an ode to Chris in honor of his b-day.

until later...

  Last load of laundry is in the dryer...

carry on bags are ready to go... checked in online and printed boarding passes...just about ready to go.

Merry Christmas,

Love, us.

For those of you loyal followers dutifully expecting something, it's from my morning brain but who knows when I'll be sitting down again.  See you soon!

Crazy days

Not any fun

Glad this stupid

week is done

Few more days

the time is near

Greta asks 

When Santa will 

be here

Still so much

stuff to do

every minute the 

whole weekend through

Baby at the keyboard

3 year old out of sight

Let's put it this way

we'll be in Tuesday night

Blog out...

See you all soon.

I love the horn on my car. It is a strong sounding horn-- a proud "honk" rather than a timid 'beep'. As I honked my horn on the way to work this morning at a car that so rudely turned in front of me moving slower than fog off cow manure, I couldn't help but chuckle. How good that made me feel. What a passive-aggressive way to cheer me up on a day I completely dreaded - 2 days before Christmas break with 5th graders. (Too old to anticipate Santa, write him letters, color him pictures and so on, and too young to expect much from them during the pre-holiday madness.) It also made me chuckle, because I know the recipient of my hearty honk probably cursed me up and down. Down here, at least in small-town world where I live, no one honks their horn. From what I can tell, it seems to be somewhat of a southern thing, not honking your horn. I can say that with a fair amount of certainty as I recall a few years back when we were riding in the car with a friend (born and bred in a city not far from here) and we used the good old horn to get someone moving. The friend didn't even hesitate before he announced "Just like a Yankee." (Can't tell you how many times we've heard that phrase/been called that -- and by people who don't mean it with the best of intentions, though they pretend they're joking...) So, that just makes me enjoy honking my horn that much more.

What was amazing was that, the other day someone actually did honk their horn at me. I was completely absorbed in singing "Jingle Bells" along with the radio and my 3 year old in the background and didn't even notice the green light. As I pushed on the gas and gave it a little extra oomph to make up for my lack of attention I wanted to call to the person and say "Good for you! Thanks for honking, it told me that I needed to go. GOOD JOB." I did give a little hand wave in my rear view mirror to let him know I was sorry. Now we could both move on with our day, both figuratively and literally. Of course, down here in this resort town, that person probably was a "yankee", not knowing I was one of his own.

So honk on people! Whether you are a Yankee or you appeared in the world south of the Mason-Dixon line (didn't know until I moved down here that that IS still a modern day point of reference for many people) HONK ON! Let me hear you beep -- and no, not to say hello, or to pick someone up from their house -- a real honk. Tell someone to get moving, go faster, don't cut you off, look out -- you get the point. Just honk.

See my red shoes, so shiny and bright?

They're red as a cherry and fit me

just right.

I wear them with pants or a skirt or a dress,

I wear them when I'm careful so I don't make a mess.

I love my red shoes, so shiny and bright,

not too big or too loose, and definitely not too tight.

And best of all as I visit on Christmas,

I can show off my shoes and my beautiful dress.

Love,

Greta

Sorry Chris, I couldn't resist. You make a wonderful "Stage Dad". We love you!

This is Greta and her friend Brianna. They have been together since they were 9 months old. They have been through good times, and some bad, but can almost always be found together. They have been known to be called the "President and Vice President" of the center. (That would make me First Mom)

Do you happen to notice Reindeer Number 7? Blitzen? The one miserable and not participating?

That would be Greta.

Oh sure, all smiles after the show.

The pictures didn't turn out well 1) because the lighting was terrible and 2) because I really spent the whole night focusing on getting this event on video tape. I think I had the best time of all, knew Greta wouldn't but secretly wished she would've participated, and can't wait for the next performance!

Well everyone, I bit off more than I could chew with Christmas cards this year.  Greta and I sat down a couple of weeks ago and started making them.  I absolutely love making my own cards, and Greta and I had a great time -- over an hour with an inkpad and our fingerprints.  I FINALLY finished the rest of the cards, and am hoping to mail them out tomorrow or Tuesday, but for how they don't necessarily reflect all the time they took!  Anyways, I hope they get to you before Christmas, I like to be one of those Early December card-senders.  I think next year I might just take a season of card making off.

'Tis the Season!

Yup, Clara's turn!

I had a great day!

Fashion Show!

While Clara was sleeping, Greta and mommy played....

There are others, but I didn't want to bore everyone.  I'll email them all out later.  Greta's down for a nap...maybe I can introduce Clara into the world of posing!

Please excuse this less than sophisticated entry, it was going through my head several times today, if you know what I mean.

Strained Carrots Strained Carrots

yum yum yum

Strained Carrots Strained Carrots

gimme some

Strained Carrots Strained Carrots

I could eat a ton,

But on their way out

They stain my bum!

The cords are up

the plug covers are in

Tree ornaments are up

some decorations aren't out

Paper is up

Remote controls are up

markers, crayons and messy things are up

So many things I want to reach are up,

and sometimes I find things that are down

and when I try to reach them, up they go.

Shiny things are up

Food is up

People are up up up

Dog bowls are up  

Ooh, dog water is down!

There's got to be some adventure 

when you're 7 months old.

BOOM...reverberating rumble....

It took a lot longer to hear the pat pat pat pat into the bedroom

after the Winter thunder shook the windows.

I wanted you to crawl in to snuggle, 

but you were already somewhere else.

Scooping, pouring, stirring, mixing, tasting....

Just as I dozed off again

I am awakened by a cool little hand

that tells the story of where you've been....

Your favorite morning routine when it is 

almost too early to be morning

and surely is still night for so many....

I turn over and squeeze you tight

and the rain pounds the roof,

and daddy is off to work, 

and we snuggle,

your coffee breath and me.

This time next week I will hopefully be reeling in the pride and joy of my first born child's debut performance in front of any kind of audience at her school's Christmas program. My heart has been beeming since yesterday when her teacher told me that she choose Greta and 2 other kids from the class to be reindeers for the program. Okay, now I know this is really silly, but I was so happy she was picked. Maybe I can live my stage dreams vicariously through Greta.... I asked her teacher if she sang a lot during music time in class, and her teacher said "oh yes, Greta is a VERY loud singer. I often have to tell her to sing a little more quietly." It's so funny to hear about how your child performs when they are out of your view. I wouldn't have expected that from Greta, though she is constantly singing or dancing at home. So off I go to charge the batteries in the cameras and make sure there's plenty of video tape. We'll have entertainment to bring up to Michigan at Christmas time.

Here are two pictures from last year.  

What  a long way we've come...

Compare this to the ones from the previous post.  

We took the picture in the same spot.

Why such a big smile you ask?

Clara must be feeling better, because she is really back to normal.  She loves her new "exersaucer" (see previous post if you  have no idea what I'm talking about), and enjoys maneuvering around the floor and playing with her toys.  

And why else?  

Her tongue is dancing, her taste buds are tickled -- Clara is adding some REAL food to her repertoire of pureed portions.  As of right now, it's limited to puffs -- I think they taste disguting, but she likes them -- they melt in her mouth and come in an interesting variety of flavors -- sweet potato anyone?  This morning we tried real chunks of banana instead of the baby food variety.  She moved her mouth to swish it around, and ate about a half inch of banana that way.  Not a ton, but it's a start.

We really wish we were getting ready for another trip to Disney before Christmas this year.  Last year was perfect and we can't wait until we can go again.  We're hoping sometime before Greta starts Kindergarten so we can go at a time when it is more quiet to beat the crowds.  I am sitting here in the glow of the Christmas tree, enjoying the smell of Christmas Wreath wafting through the house from the candle I am burning, listening to the King's College Choir sing Christmas carols and just enjoying my house being bathed in the holiday spirit.  It is off to get the presents ready to ship up to Michigan, order the last few things for Greta and probably put in a load of laundry.  We head to Michigan the 23rd, and will be there until the 30th, and will do our best to see all of you as much as possible, just be patient.  Have snow for us when we get there!

We gave up.  After 6 months of hardly a fuss or a cry, Clara decided that she is going to give month 7 a run for its money.  I know there's more teeth coming in, and I know she is recovering from a month of a runny nose and now a double ear infection, however....  Clara wants to move sooo badly, and not just move around but productively get from one place to another.  And if she can't do that, then she just wants to stand.  I have always tried to limit the "baby holders" we have.  A bouncy would suit me fine.  Until now.  So, we went for the "no frills" version.  This stationary playland has toys, is bouceable (if those petite yet oh-so-kissable legs could really reach) and she can turn around 360 degrees, oh, an of course with childhood obesity at an all new high in the United States, it comes complete with a snack tray.  But, if it buys us just 15 minutes of sanity everyday, it'll be worth it.  As you can see...it was a big hit.  

It is now past bedtimes, and quickly closing in on my own.  Good night!

When you're 7 months old

the world just seems to come alive

and you can't believe

how much there is to

see and do

and

taste and touch

until you realize how

heavy

your body is

and that it is nearly

impossible

to get somewhere,

which is

anywhere

except where

you

are

now.

When you're 7 months old,

you also realize that people seem to

come and go -- mostly go --

more than they used to.

And when they go,

you wonder if they'll come back.

And when they go,

it's sad.

And it makes you cry.

Real tears,

that tumble down

and leave a tear-stained trail

down your innocent

pillowy

cheeks.

I  know that when I sit Clara down somewhere, she is not in the same spot a few minutes later.  Even when I watch her, I see her moving, but it just doesn't look like she is covering any ground.  Now, just recently, she has mastered  the inchworm.  It consists of tummy, to all fours, to on hands and tippy toes to all fours and eventually back down to tummy, with some twists and turns in between.  It looks absolutely exhausting, and not all that efficient if you ask me.  I also think that many times Clara is frustrated with it.  Frankly, all she wants to do anyways is just stand up.  She is just about able to pull herself up to a standing position, the problem is she is just so tiny that she can't reach anything sturdy enough to pull herself up on.  And, I am in no way encouraging any of this because once Clara is completely mobile, I know our world is in for a BIG change....

Big Sigh.  I can't believe it.  Today, December 1st, 2008, I sat at the kitchen table with my daughter who is 3 years 3 months and some days and helped her with her first homework assignment.  My mind is reeling.  Partly because -- wow! -- I just helped my three year old with homework, partly because -- wow! My 3 year old has homework!  And, also, my three year old has homework because she was playing around instead of doing her work like she was supposed to.  I know this sounds ridiculous, and even thinking this was bound to doom me forever, but I honestly didn't think any child of mine would be anything but superbly well-behaved in the classroom.  Now, aside from the whole "bootyhead incident" Greta has been extremely well-behaved, and her teacher did say that usually Greta just gets down to work and does a great job.  However, today her and "the bad influence" decided that instead of tracing their letter c's they would draw circles all over their paper, and instead of coloring shapes the appropriate colors they would (as bad influence announced) "color the shapes what I want to".  So, thus we sat at the table doing homework.  Big Sigh.  But, it was probably the most amount of fun I will ever have helping her with homework.  I made her redo the shape coloring sheet, after she did (a remarkable job may I add) her tracing.  We sang a little bit about the letter c and talked about how both Clara and Chris (they learned their parents' names a few weeks ago) start with C.  Watching her little hand work so hard at getting the paper at just the right angle, manuevering the crayon (I don't know why she didn't have a pencil, it was a sharp crayon though), and then watching her try to write with the other hand because her left hand was tired.  Oh, it was divine.  I couldn't have been in a better place, at a better time.  The homework is placed on the counter ready to take back to school tomorrow to show her teacher how well she did.  Now all I have to do is make sure it doesn't sit there all day.  Big Sigh.