Pre-baptism photo shoot

more halloween...

Halloween

"What a fool I was! Tricks and Treats comes once a year and I missed it by sitting in a pumpkin patch with a blockhead!" - sally brown

Autumn Sunset

I was just so fortunate to look out the window and see this sunset in front of my house tonight. I don't know how well the picture captures it, but it was beautiful.

Let the leaves fall

Ben @ 10 weeks

(poor kid, I found this knit outfit in a bag of clothes that my friend gave me and I fell in love with the sweetness of it. hehe)

Autumn is escaping too quickly. Im not ready for frost on my car windows and frozen grass. time change this weekend - fall back. Isabelle doesnt want to be a chicken for halloween anymore, she wants to be a super hero. She wants to be a chicken when she grows up though. Ive been making a lot of crock pot meals lately. I love the crock pot. Throw the stuff in, walk away come back later and bam it's ready. So, Noah has been on the home computer alot because his work computer crashed. I dont like to share. I attended a wonderful MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) meeting this week. The speaker was very inspirational and funny. Ive been super tired lately, I dont know if its the weather or that Im getting up with Ben more then I realize.... but I could take a nap every day now if I could (the chance of that happening doesnt usually work in my favor though!). The Office was a rerun this week. Last night I watched this 20/20 show in which they introduced a story of people having "animal sanctuarys" and exhibits of big cats such as lions and tigers...and the public can enter the cages and pet them and people have been totally mauled by these big cats and even serious injury (women with boyscout troop just next to the cage, arm ripped off) or died (teenage girl posing for school picture with tiger and attacked). Just sad sick and scary. I cant believe these people are allowed to run these type of establishments and that people actually think its safe to go in with a wild animal. I get scared around crazy regular sized cats every once in awhile. I asked noah if he would rather be in a cage with a tiger or bear? well, he took this opportunity to tell me yes, he would defintely choose to be with a BEER in a cage (since thats how I say the word bear and he found it hilarious that I said it wrong proposing the question). I myself , I think I would go with the tiger. Only because they seem to be trained more then bears and hopefully the one I was in the cage with would be one that was trained well and was having a good peaceful day and that he was feed, so chance of attack would be at low. It's 5:30 am, I think I'll go back to bed. Or maybe I'll just make some coffee...

Houses for Our Souls

"Make yourselves nests of pleasant thoughts. None of us yet know, for none of us have been taught in early youth, what fairy palaces we may build of beautiful thought - proof against all adversity. Bright fancies, satisfied memories, noble histories, faithful sayings, treasure houses of precious and restful thoughts, which care cannot disturb, nor pain make gloomy, nor poverty take away from us - houses built without hands, for our souls to live in." - john ruskin

It's 2 a.m. and that is the quote on the back of my celestial seasonings chamomile tea box. I can't sleep. I hear the slight rains and the brutal winds whipping around outside and I am glad that I am inside. I just got done feeding Benjamin and got him back to sleep, but my mind was wandering and I couldn't find peace enough to properly rest...so I made a cup of tea and here I am. quiet time. alone. a few minutes by myself.

Im thinking about many things. Things that I want to get done on a daily basis that I never have time to acomplish, these endless lists in my head. I think about friends that I want to contact because I miss them, bills that need to be paid somehow, laundry thats piled up because I have skipped it for one day, Lance needs more dog food, he's almost out. I think about the pumpkin that I just got for Isabelle and how when she saw it she said with such excitement "for me? oh wank you mom, wank you!" I think about what fun (and what mess) it will be to carve it with her tonight.

I think about how sweet my little Ben is. I love that when he stretches his arms that they can't reach over his head yet and that his legs are still curled in the fetal position. I love that he looks at me at 2 a.m. and smiles so softly. I love that his pajama's smell like freshness (dreft laundry detergant) and that his head smells of lavendar when I kiss it. His little fingers wrap around my finger and I know that's all I need and that is all that he needs at that very moment.

Motherhood. wow. What a gift. Being a parent is not at all a walk in the park...it's more like a chase and a drag and spin and a carry and trip and fall and a get back up again in the park.. but at the end of the day, at 2.a.m. with a smile just for me...I'd say it's worth entering the park and taking on the challenges that await me...even if I stumble into some dog poo along the way because I get to see the sun brighter and feel it's warmth more than I ever have before.

Fishy Candle

The Taxidermist (noun. person who stuffs dead animals so they look lifelike) ran away with the Fish! OMG! So, some of you may recall through photos (photo on left for example - Isabelle, Noah and Big Fish - Early Fall 2005) or through story telling, that Noah caught a ginormous fish in minnesota last fallish...well, this thing was def. a record braker so he decided to have it Stuffed. Stuffing is a long process, so we left the fish behind when we highTAILED it home, knowing that some day in the future our paths would meet again (well I wasnt thrilled about this because hey, big ugly fish, no where to put it, not in my house anyway. But, whatever). So anyway, weve checked on the fish progress occassionally since and it has not been ready. Well, our friends are coming to Illinois from Minnesota and they offered to pick up the fish and cargo it home for us since we dont have any immediate plans to return to the northwoods. But when I called the taxidermist office to make the final payment arrangements there was a disconnection, with no new number. No where to be found. My friend Sally spent days tracking down this guy (had to deal with his disgruntled estranged wife, with the chamber...found out he closed up shop and left, etc) and finally she got a hold of him and spoke with him directly and guess what? He was on the road (in a big semi truck) with the FISH! They (meaning taxidermist and fish) are currently in Alabama. The guy asked for our address and said he would send the fish. The thing is it just makes me think...if this guy, just decided one day: hey I'm packing up and taking this dead fish with me, I am going to sit him beside me on the seat of the truck so it can keep me company on the road, Ill give it a hat to wear and we can take turns talking on the cb radio and sharing beef jerky... It just makes me wonder...what other "animals" the guy had taken along for his journey as well?..Maybe a moose head? or a few deer... a bear foot... (I'll report if we ever get the fish and then we'll discuss where to put it for proper display... (I say the trunk of noah's car would be a grand spot).

It's around 5am and I am up with Ben and think I will stay up for the day. Unfortuantly, my whole family is coming down with the flu or something. It's just this sinking feeling that were all sick and it's only going to get worse. Isabelle threw up in her bed the night before last. She never throws up. (She is not sick enough to stop talking 24/7 yet though.) We actually had chicken soup for lunch and dinner. There's something about chicken soup that really does do something for the soul...like the books say. Noah's got it the worst so far..but I just know the rest of us are on our way of following. I can't live in denial about it. Not to be negative, it's just that it's the truth...with cheese on it. JOY, there is nothing more fun then taking care a bunch of sick needy whining people when you are quite ill yourself. Should be fun... So, I am glad that I have some halloween decor up at my home, because the cobwebs look like they fit right in now. Seriously, it amazes me how fast cobwebs are formed. Spiders are quite the little miracle workers. Isabelle keeps asking for bananas and then not eating them. So then I make banana bread. I am no baker, but I do know how to make banana bread. I dont put nuts in mine. The recipe I use does not call for it. I think people either really like nuts or they dont. I do on occassion, but not on the occassion of my bananna bread. It's fine just the way it is. I used to hate anything that was banana flavored related. I dont I feel that way anymore...... SO Noah and I were watching everyone loves raymond last night and Debra was pointing out to Ray that he says certain words wrong, asterik, cinnamon, ask. Well anyway, this gave noah perfect opportunity to make fun of certain words that I say. I dont hear it but people tell me that I say: bear/beer and button wrong among other things. Well that's when I shared an embarrassing little word tidbit with Noah and now with you. I just recently realized that my whole life I have been saying and spelling a word wrong that I had no clue was not right. In my brain, it's always been: oulfit. But, the word is OUTFIT people! outfit with a t not an l. Wow, what an eye opener. I went through my whole life not knowing. I recently took note of the word and discovered my wrongness as I came across it alot when I was researching on line, Benjamin's Baptism ouTfit. (they dont call them gowns for boys. Note: he was supposed to wear Isabelle's gown but I tried it on him and it doesnt fit! Plus I noticed her gown was super girly not just neutral or semi girly, but lacey, flowery, pearly. So the non fitting thing kind of cinched the deal, that he needed his own)....Want to know a long time dream of mine? It's a simple dream, but just has never happened yet.... I would love to have one of those nostogila sepia type photos taken..in old fashioned clothing. Like at a saloon with a gun or somehting along those lines. How cool would that be? A family photo of the four of us would be the neatest thing. Someday maybe ill acomplish that goal....Speaking of goals, I keep forgetting to collect leaves so I can press them in a book for weeks.... I just noticed that it rained last night, which wouldnt be a big deal, but I had clothes on the line. A few days ago at dinner , Noah and I asked Isabelle what she did in school earlier that day, she told us that she made a candle. Were like o.k. kid you made a candle in school. Sure you did. Did you color a candle or paint a candle? No I made a candle! Anyway, thursday she brought home a little book she made in school that was titled: rub a dub dub. There was a page with a butcher that had tinfoil on it (for the cleaver), a page with the baker and it had oats glued to it and on the final page ther was the candlestickmaker, and there glued to it was a little birthday cake candle. So, she did "make" a candle after all.

Listening Ears

"My Listening Ears"

Backpack Surprises...Whenver Isabelle gets home from school, we open her backpack together, talk about what she did that day and review her wonderful creations. Well, when I opened her bag and found this hat with the ginormous ears, I couldn't stop laughing. I don't know if it was more the dumbo size of the ears or the concept of the hat altogether. Now if only Isabelle's "listening" ears were really that big and powerful... Ya know, now that I think of it, Noah could use a hat like this too.

It's funny when Isabelle pretend plays. She doesnt just close doors, she slams them..and if she doesnt "think" they are shut , she will slam it again! It's just so funny when she is imaginary playing, because she gets deeply involved. Lately in the bath she magically turns into a mermaid (ariel the little mermaid to be exact). She swims and sings the whole time. Quite entertaining I must say.

I listen to a variety of music in the car, when im cooking, cleaning etc..and whenever I play U2, Isabelle says to me: Mommy, I like your Susick (music). She only says it for U2, nothing else. It's like she knows. Girl after my own heart!

There's this really cool halloween costume on an m&m's commerical that I wish I could find. It's just an ax going through this guys front and sticking out his back. I wish I could find that costume. It's simple. Easy. And just would be kind of fun. SO anyway, im starting to get depressed that I am not getting dressed up this year. The last couple years, these have been my costumes: 2003, Snow white (with a bloody head injury), 2004 Ghostbuster, 2005 Cool Witch, 2006 nothing. Yep, you heard me right, nothing. HOw sad is that? I dont plan to dress up this year. Oh well, maybe next year we can make a big deal out of halloween. This year we just have to skip..to much going on. Besides, the kids are dressing up and they are going to be so darn adorable! Living in the country, I dont have to buy trick or treat candy...but I bought some just in case. yeah, just in case you never know.

Since noah wasnt home for supper last night isabelle and i had a simple dinner of chicken and stars soup with goldfish crackers. It was the best. Speaking of noah..why must this man leave wet towels on the bed? hello? Do you not get that it is never a good or productive thing to leave a wet towel on the place you sleep? Well...at least he always leaves it on his side of the bed! Speaking of towels and noah...Whenever he cooks he leaves the biggest mess, anyway..he always mangages to use my decorative for display only towels. This time I found my nice fall hand towel (clearly "decorative only" in my opinion)..I found this towel with a very greasy spatucla laying on it. thats super. Thanks.

I love that Isabelle still loves footy pajamas. I collect Elvis T-shirts. Ben was two months old on tuesday. Navy blue sweaters collect just as much dog hair and lint as black sweaters do. I went to MOPS today. I wonder why I buy wonder bread. What is with the new teas being in a triangle shaped bag? It looks cool, but does it really make a difference in the brewing process? I can't remember if I have ever attend the circus...I think once. I can't wait to watch the office tonight. My current phone ring tone is: Ring of Fire, johnny cash. In the words of dr.evil : It's fricken freezing in here. Brutal winter has already stolen some of my autumn. Not fair! I had a bird (parrotkeet) named feathers once. He was green and yellow. I never really fed him. He died. Isabelle brought a musical wooden fish for show and tell today. It's like whenever its showing tell I think, am I going to be judged as a parent regarding what my kid brings for show & tell? Usually I let her decide but i must admitt i influence the final decision. The best pen in the world is a Zebra F301 ball point. fine point. black ink. I havent written any stories or poems or anything in ages. Rehab is for quitters.

Pick your own Pumpkin

Pick your own Pumpkin!


Isabelle's first PONY ride. (notice short haircut!)

We will be friends until forever, just you wait and see. - Pooh Bear

Halloween - Isabelle will be a Chicken and Ben will be a Chili Pepper. Both costumes were purchased at one of my favorite stores: Target. They are adorable, I can't wait! Recently we enjoyed a nice fall day at a local apple orchard. They have the best apple cider donuts on the entire planet. Well, I dont really know that, I mean I cant verify it... but they are pretty darn good. So Lance is outside howling right now which is super annoying. I want to throw a basketball at his head. But I wont. Isabelle is crawling on me like Im a jungle gym and Ben is laying on my lap and he just smiled at me. So I just learned recently from the news that many left handed people are injured or die from equipment and such that are made for right handers. All my life I have been living a more risky life then the average joe and I didnt even realize it! It's not like I wrestle alligators, but hey being left handed is not always a picnic in the park on a sun shiny day. Also, I must say lefthanders are discriminated against because their stuff cost more. Example: notebooks. lefthander notebooks are outrageously priced! So, Ive never been a person to wear sunglasses or chew gum on a regular basis and I dont really know why. So recently my kitchen sink was not draining properly (like washing a million dishes by hand is not a pain in the butt enough) so I had to decide between liquid plumber and draino, not knowing which the better product would be...well Liquid plumber was my choice...and I was disappointed in the final outcome. A plunger is what really got the job done. It never fails, I trip on someone's shoes every single day. I desinate shoes for under the bench in the dining room, except neither the husband or girl child can seem to keep thier shoes out of pathways. So, Isabelle had a ginormous fit this a.m. because I put rubberbands in her hair instead of barretts. You would think it was the worst punishment on earth. I need water...I just keep coughing. I cant get rid of this cough. I had a cough for a year once. I hope that doesnt happen again.

Delicious Autumn

Ben ~ 6 weeks 1 day old

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Elliot

Im so excited that fall has finally arrived! Yippee! Before I know it I will be watching It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. I must savor these moments as they are fleeting. I just had a grand thought, what if my favorite scents (burning leaves and baby powder) could be combined into one everlasting candle. <--oh throw some cinnamon in there as well. That would be cool. Excuse me if my thoughts are a muck but Isabelle wont stop talking to me as I try to type. Both kids have colds and now im getting one too. So, here's an fyi for anyone who calls us at the home front, as of tomorrow we are disconnecting our home phone service due to misc. reasons... so if you need to communicate with me or Noah, please call our cell phones. I promise I will be keeping my phone in hearing distance! (not in the bottom of my purse inside the diaper bag in the car with the windows closed.) I will make better efforts to keep it handy. . Our internet has been going out a lot lately, something wrong with our tower - that's nice and inconvient. We started planning an intimate baptism celebration for Benjamin to take place in November. I have been seeking opinions on whether it is ok or not that Ben wears Isabelle's baptism GOWN and from my poll results, the conclusion is Yes. So, that's good! Isabelle has to wear red to school tomorrow and for show and tell she needs to bring two of something. Tomorrow at the end of class (last 15 minutes), parents get to come in the class and watch a presentation of what the kids have been doing, so I am really looking forward to that. Scrapbooking/cardmaking - so now that Ben is offically here and we are settled into a some what routine, I am ready to take on any projects/jobs..so keep me in mind if anyone is looking to get something done in this regards. At this point , I am debating whether or not I will be picking up my Usborne book business. I am sorting the pros and cons in my noggin for the time being. Ive been drinking a lot of tea lately. Tea w/ honey. Oh, and I have discovered a new cheese (well a new cheese for me), I cant believe ive never really choosen Muenster before. It's cheesy but its good. I have a new current favorite song...it's Rob Thomas's Streetcorner Symphony (discovered it from seeing the grey's anatomy promos). Last night I made cheese manicotti for dinner...tonight I will be preparing a dish I call turkey tenderloin and green bean casserole. Im so glad that the new season of THE OFFICE has started. I just love that show! Whenever Isabelle wakes up lately (even from an afternoon nap) she says: "good morning, im waking up now, see!". Tune in next time to see what the children will be for halloween...oh and remember folks, if life hands you lemons...cut them into neat little wedges and squirt them into somebodys eye, because if you must suffer, others must suffer as well.

Laughter

Sometimes the laughter in mothering is the recognition of the ironies and absurdities. Sometimes, though, it's just pure, unthinking delight. -B. Schapiro

Whine & Wine

(This photo of Isabelle reminds my of a song I used to love when I was little. Sugar, Sugar by The Archies...oh honey, ah Sugar Sugar ..Your'e my candy girl... )
Life is precious and everydays a prize...<--those are actually the lyrics im listening to right now. (elton john). So Isabelle and Lancelot both Whined alot today, so I figured I deserve some Wine. I wish they would both take a nap right now. It's been a long day between those two. At least the baby has been good! hehe This place is a circus. I swear Id run away but I couldnt run away to the circus since I live at the circus so there would be no place to go. Here is a funny scenerio that took place earlier today: Isabelle laying under the table where I was working...she was talking to herself: Goodnight grandma. Goodnight papa. Goodnight mary. Goodnight rubberband. Then I heard fake snoring......then she got up and ran away. <--My little weirdo. Yesterday Ben had his 1 month appt. check up. He is doing wonderfully well and he now offically weighs 10 lbs. His nicknames so far are: Benjamin Bunny and Private Benjamin...oh and Benny Bunny. Did you ever want to throw your dishes away instead of washing them? I am actually considering it. I wonder why play-doh doesnt just come in one color since not soon after being introduced to the child that they are all merged as one large glob anyway? It would save me a lot of anxiety...I could much more easily accept this chaos of color if it was meant to be that way from the start. I reordered my special edition elite personal elvis checks today. They will be delivered by DHL service. I must say I dont like that company, the people who deliver to us are quite rude for no reason. I think Im friendly but for some reason I get this attitude from them So has Noah so it's not just me! So I offically have gray hair. Every time I look in the mirror, there it is taunting me. It is a piece that I have cut from existance in the past, yet it grows back each time with more strength and vibrance. Whatever. I must accept this . I am upset to report that there is offically a mouse about the house. That's all I am going to say about that. Except this one comment: lovely. I have never cut the grass in my life. I have never grilled on a grill either...well except this little mini grill that cooked by lighting waded up newspaper in the bottom. I could grasp that conept easily. I believe I used to make premade burgers on it. I love this fallish crisp air...it makes me want to go run through a pumpkin patch field and twirl around while leaves fall on my head. I wish I was a better cook/baker. It doesnt come easily for me. I have to read the recipes 40 times during the process and totally concentrate to get things right. It doesnt come naturally to me at all. I do enjoy cooking though believe it or not. Its fun...well except of course the doing of dishes. Which leads me to my current dilema of my debate of throwing them all away instead of washing whats in my sink. I dont know how isabelle can have two barretts in her hair and still manage to have hair in her face. If I had a choice of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or turkey and cheese sandwiches for the rest of my life...I think I would choose turkey. Yeah, turkey for sure. I just asked Isabelle if she is my peanut head? and she answered, "No, I'm Isabelle!"

Ben.Belle.Etc..

I can't believe that Ben is going to be 4 weeks old on tuesday! Wow is time going fast. He is changing so much already. I am really trying to savor these fleeting newborn moments. They are so precious. My favorite thing is when he smiles in his sleep, I believe that the angels are whispering to him. I must admit that I am so in love with him. Our biggest challenge so far is keeping his big sister from helping and touching and kissing him all the time! (isabelle is a little too hands on, but im glad that she loves him so much).

Other thoughts/news:
-Lately, Isabelle never stops talking. She wakes up and talks non-stop until she goes to sleep. It is a constant noise that does not cease. Ive been taking a lot of ibeprufrin these days.
-Our garden has turned to total crap. I think we might salvage some acorn squash and possibly some peppers in the near future. I think tomatoes and cucumbers are pretty much done. Oh and there are some onions and pototoes somwhere in there.
-Isabelle's imagination is just so interesting to me. I just sit and listen to her and watch her sometimes and wonder where she comes up with this stuff.
-Im still working on Ben's birth announcements and thank yous. Someday, I shall finish.
-I want to move, this "old" house frustrates me.
-I think Noah will be traveling this week.
-I love the crockpot...Im so excited about falling coming! I get to whip out heartwarming fun recipes! Stews, soups, casseroles...etc.
-Would it be a bad thing to make a baby boy, a sunflower for halloween? I just love Isabelle's costume from when she was a baby and I would love to use it again! Hey, it's green and yellow...those are boyish colors....
-Isabelle just put a strawberry shortcake sticker on Benjamins pajamas.

1st day of school

(photo 1. waiting in line for school to start, photo 2. afterschool)

I have not updated in a long while! Feels like I have not been on the computer in forever. (doesnt help that the internet was out for a week!)...anyway...Today felt like a good day to update. It's Sunday, it's raining outside (it almost feels like fall!)..

1st day of (2-morning) PRESCHOOL!
Isabelle has been talking about going to school all summer, and finally the day arrived (aug. 24). She was so excited to go! The night before we packed her backpack together with all her supplies, we picked out her snack and then we layed out her new school clothes (most exciting part, strawberry shortcake mary jane shoes - thanks grandma!). We arrived at school the next morning, and she was so thrilled by the whole experience! She couldnt wait to talk to her teachers and meet new friends and go inside and work on projects and play! When it was time to go in (8:45), she kissed me and waved good bye. As she was just one bouncing pigtailed head in the line of children disapearing out of my site, into a whole new world...I felt the bittersweetness of it all. My little girl, leaving me to explore something new...without me. All I could think was, take good care of my baby... I left...(even though part of me just wanted to wait on the sidewalk right there for her to come out, I figured, I must go. I was happy at least, that she was happy. She was not frightened or scared, that I would not be there with her. She was just fine. 11:15 came.. and I wasn't prepared...for my overwhelming emotions... The class came out holding a rope together in line and Isabelle was first in line with a big smile on her face. The kids marched out with hats they made on their little heads. All you could hear was screams of Mommy! and waves of hands and then the running of the masses.... great grand hugs took place between all the children and their parents...and tears rolled down my cheeks...I couldnt control how I felt. I was so proud of her and so happy for her and I just could not concept until that very moment how big she really is now. How, I have to let go. How I have to trust in her and trust in the world that everything is going to be o.k. I realized all the wonderful things she will be learning and experincing and all the opportunities that she will have. I thought about how she will also come across more moments and situations of getting hurt and feeling sad and disappointed and scared...but mostly I thought about how much I love this little person. How much she has changed me and my life in so many ways and how she has let me be something so wonderful in this world....her mother. So, yeah 2 morning preschool may sound like no big deal...but let me tell you a little secret...it is a big deal...a really big deal.

It's A Boy!

BENJAMIN LUKE

August 15th, 2:13p.m.

8lbs, 4.7 oz, 21 length

Our Benjamin is here and he is amazing! The delivery and hospital stay went very well. We are doing wonderful. Isabelle is so excited to finally meet her little brother. She's such a great helper and loves him so much!

Happy 3rd Birthday Isabelle!

Bedrest & Misc.

Tough week. So, I have been put on home-bedrest from my dr. I have overdone things lately (that darn nesting bug!) and my blood pressure has gone up. The Bedrest has been working & I have had wonderful help from friends (they have been taking Isabelle during the day and running errands for me). My blood pressure is back down right now. It's possible this baby can make his appearance any time now, but we are hoping to keep him in for at least another week! (especially since I dont have my hospital bag packed yet!). We may schedule an induction after my next appointment.

Even though I havent been able to work in the garden, we are getting cucumbers, green beans and tomatos now! I am especially excited about the tomatos. There are probably other things ready too, I just dont know what or where to look (since noah has been out of town, many weeds have found their way among the plants, it resembles a jungle almost).

With Noah gone alot Lance has been on super guard dog duty. Watch out even if you are a squirrel, because he will bark his head off if he sees you climbing a tree! I know it's good hes so protective, but it almost gives me a heart attack sometimes. (between the dog & the toddler, no wonder my blood pressure has gone up).

Summer is slipping by fast which is more then fine with me. Autumn is my favorite season always! I welcome and cherish it. So, anyway, I am patiently waiting for fall...among other things...

I need a haircut, so does Isabelle. Im so excited that I get to buy school supplies for a legitamate reason this year. Sometimes I wonder if anyone in this house knows what a garbage can is besides me. My August Elvis wall calender portrays the movie ad for Roustabout this month. I think I will go get a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats and a glass of wine...well minus the wine.

SCRAP project & HEAT complaint

Photo: This scrapbook page was inspired by a beautiful photo that my friend Sally took. The journaling says: Eggs turn into Singing Birds, now isn't that Amazing? Look deep into NATURE & then you will understand everything better. This is the first page in a new 8x8 scrapbook that I am creating in which I will capture simple misc. glimpses of life. I love to find or take a special photo and find the perfect quote, lyric or thought to go with it! I am excited to start this book!

So, this HOT weather has really been getting to me. I step outside and feel sick instantly. If we didn't have air conditioning, I would be living in a hotel right now. Last time I was at the doctor, I asked if he could take the baby out then, while I was there because I couldnt take it anymore...he laughed and told me that was not the first time he had heard that request that day! UGH! I am so done with this pregnant stuff. I can't breathe, I can't sleep, I can't move...I know just a couple more weeks....

No Corn for You!

Still Homeless!

Here is a fun gnome series of cards that I made recently!

So, I think we are destined not to ever grow corn. The first year we lived here, heavy winds knocked down and damaged all the stalks, the 2nd year we didnt plant any and now last night, strong storms came through and knocked down all the corn stalks in the garden. I don't think that they are recoverable...but, who knows.

The weather has been hot hot hot lately, as with most of the country! Ive been feeling pretty sick lately. I am quite thankful for airconditioning and fans and icecubes, but still this is pretty crappy. I just feel nausea and drained a lot. When I was pregnant with Isabelle in august, I think it was a pretty mild summer. Not, such the case with this one! Speaking of this little baby...he should be showing up in about 5 weeks! I can't believe it (and I can't wait). He moves around quite a lot , reminds me he is there all the time! (like I could forget, since I can't reach my toes and have to go the bathroom 321 times a day. So, I started preparing more for his arrival...Crib is set, clothes are washed...

Isabelle. Little miss Isabelle. I can't believe she will be 3 years old shortly. (aug 7th). Im not planning any parties this year (just dont have it in me with all thats going on), but I still plan to make her day very special. Isabelle is so excited about turning 3, getting a baby brother and starting 2-morning pre-school! In fact, recently we got her a strawberry shortcake back pack (that is bigger then her) and I couldnt get it detached from her being. She was wearing it all the time, so I had to sneak it away while she was sleeping. Every day she asks me where baby brother is and tells me she wants to go to school. So, anyway - lot's going on in Isabelle's world coming up!

Some Thoughts:
Teddy Grahms are a grand snack. I hate Earwigs/Pincher Bugs. General Hospital has been good lately. I love the smell of cardstock. Clutter makes me nervous. Safety Scissors are not all that safe. Does Hello Kitty ever say goodbye?

Evil Penquin

Isabelle had big sibling class at the hospital last night. When we pulled up to the hospital, she yells wow, mom, a castle! It’s a castle! She was so cute in class holding the fake baby (properly and softly) and learning about how to be a big sister! We got a tour of the maternity ward. Isabelle got juice and stickers, but she liked best, the big fish tank that we found in the lobby. When we left she told me, “mom, I like the castle”.

Boycotting Ben Franklin –I am boycotting all the Ben Franklin stores across the land. Personal experience and research has revealed to me that Ben Franklin stores do not allow customers to use their bathrooms and benFRANKLY, im darn sick of that treatment. Yesterday, I was a pregnant woman in need asking if my dear toddler could please use their bathroom. No, was the response that I received…so I dropped my potential purchases on the shelf and left with no intentions to return to that establishment. In fact, I think I will write a letter of strong complaint as well. Although... I am not in a letter writing mood.

Speaking of Bens… I had a dream last night that I should name the baby… Ben. But with this new cool spelling Behn or Bhen or something along those lines (the cool new spelling was obviously a figment that my dream made up because now that I am awake it does not make sense). I think I should just name this kid Bob. Its short. Its easy to say. Its easy to spell. It rhymes with a lot of stuff, so if I ever wanted to write a poem, I would have an easy time of it.

I think an evil penquin or someone just as sneaky and geared toward cold climate weather is living in my refrigerator, because sometimes I go in there and it is magically set at the coldest possible degree setting. All the food has ice chips on it. Today my watermelon was frozen as a rock and it was in the fridge not the freezer mind you! ICEMELON!

Wishpapers. So, Ive been thinking lately that I might set up an online gallery of some of the cards/scrapbooking projects that I create. I have just been doing these jobs word of mouth, etc…but I think I really want to take it to the next level…kick it up a notch, really let people know that I am available to provide custom cardmaking/scrapbooking services. So after I finish the current projects that I am working on and hopefully before the baby comes…I can get this goal established.

My new favorite discovery: Honey Bunches of Oats. How did I live all this time on earth and not know about this super grand cereal? I highly recommend this product. I am more of an oatmeal girl, that may be why I haven’t come across this cereal in the past…but there have been notions in my head that I should try it and today I did. What a discovery, I feel like I landed on the moon, but different. Plus I don’t have a flag to stick anywhere so I kind of don’t feel like I landed on the moon at all.

Just a note: If you take a 3 legged dog to the park, people will stare at you.

In dogs...

In dogs there is so much friendliness, such ingenuity, such loving kindness, such a way to turning to one to give one their heart, that one comes to love dogs almost as much as one loves man.

Lions & Tigers & Bears...Oh My.

Pook Riding a Giant Turtle at the ZOO!

When I asked Isabelle if she wanted to go to the zoo, she responded, "NO! I want a vitamin!" But I think she was glad we wound up going to the Zoo despite her initial refusal. It was a beautiful weather day to venture to this destination. Isabelle's favorite part was seeing "the Lion King".

Twirl Me, Tickle Me.

So, Noah is gone this week for work. It just amazes me, only a man would pack for a week’s trip the morning of. Monday morning is when he started packing, right before he had to leave (not to mention that he woke up late)!

Cutting Onions – I hate onions. I hate the smell of them (let alone the taste)..but If Noah wants onions I offer to cut them for him. Then I smell like onion afterward. If that isn’t true love and sacrifice in marriage, I don’t know what is?

Baby Names – Well, this has been an ongoing battle within my head. I must be honest and say that there are truly no boy names that I love. Noah likes Henry the best and I really like it to, but I really like Luke the best. We also like Benjamin, Gabriel and some others. I guess we just go in to the situation with a small list, look at the kid and know what’s is right at that time. Im a planner and I like to know things, have things set and ready…but since I have no absolute, I can’t force it. I had a strong dream a few months back that we should name the baby: Elijah. I am not fond of the name Elijah. I think that dream was meant to go to someone else.

Our Garden. So this is what we have gotten from the garden recently: Strawberries (just a few), Black Raspberries, Cabbage, Cauliflower and PEAS. Isabelle enjoys getting to carry the basket and help pick berries and peas.

Toddler Musings & recent things I have learned by being a parent:
Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets taste better then regular shape.
You can take a toddler to the potty 87 a day. (or at least it feels like it).

Isabelle’s favorite thing to do lately is catch Butterflies. When she wakes up in the morning the first thing she says is : Let’s go catch Butterflies!, so we do (well, after I have a cup of coffee and wake up a bit).

So, I bought Isabelle some tinkerbell underwear yesterday. Later in the day after we were home for a while, a thought suddenly hit her and she asked in desperation: Where’s my Fairy Wears?

Isabelle has definitely noticed and taken an interest in my growing Belly. She likes to look at my belly button and ask, Baby in there? And I answer yes. Then she puts her eye up to my belly button and says: Awww, he’s cute! Then she screams, Baby Come Out!

Speaking of belly’s – Isabelle insisted the other day that her belly hurt and she needed a band aid to make it feel better. I tried to tell her she did not need a band-aid for her belly but she insisted. So, I gave her one and she put it right across her bellybutton and said, Better Now!

When Isabelle does get an ouch somewhere she asks me to kiss on her ouch. Example: She got an ouch on her hand and asked me to “kiss on her hand”. Well, yesterday, she pulled down her pants in back and told me to “Kiss on her Butt”.

Marathon Runner – Somewhere Isabelle picked up this little running routine (which I love cuz she gets tired). But it is so funny because She gets in this stance with her arm behind her back (like the professional Olympic athletes) and she yells: Ready. Set. Go. And she takes off for a sprint! She reaches her destination, turns around and does the same thing. And if you have ever seen Isabelle run in the first place it’s the funniest thing…cuz she shakes her butt/hips and moves her arms in full stride.

I asked Isabelle what she wanted for lunch yesterday and she answered: “Coffee”…(then she changed her mind) “Um no, Tea pease”!

Everyday Isabelle tells me to “Twirl Me!, Tickle Me !” Everyday she tells me: “I love you, Mommy.” That is when it makes all the tiredness, the chaos…the challenges…it makes it all worth it. It reminds me, what is most important and that I am so very blessed. Not to get mushy and sentimental and all...It's just I really feel I need a brake lately, like I want to run away to a quiet place and that being a parent is really hard sometimes. I think because I feel so tired and sore lately that I am just getting kind of worn. I feel kind of selfish because I get upset that I dont have time & energy to do the things that I want to get done. A child needs constant attention and care. I dont function well in chaos and clutter and noise, yet I am forced to. I need to remember that I am so lucky and so blessed in so many ways and that I can do this. Not only can I do this, but I love this. Every day I must try my very best for this little person and never give up. Being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. But, being a parent is the most wonderful thing I have ever done in my life. I recently read a quote that said, "being a mother is the greatest privilage a woman can have." I believe with all my heart this to be true.

friendly Cantaloupe

Some kids have imaginary friends. My kid has befriended a Cantaloupe. Yes, a Cantaloupe. (occassionally referred to as watermelon because she gets confused). I have documented a little bit of their adventures today: It started with: Mommy can I hold canelow? And then the relationship grew from there…

Isabelle places canelow on the couch next to her and tells it that they are watching “berry cake” (strawberry short cake). Isabelle throws canelow up in the air and drops it and tells it to: fly! Isabelle stands on canelow and giggles as she tries not to fall. Isabelle get’s a blanket and lays down on the floor next to canelow. She covers herself and canelow half way with the blanket (enough for it’s head to stick out?). She tells canelow that she is tired. She tells canelow: let’s count stars! She puts her snow white headband on it and says: pretty! She asks: Canelow, where’s my juice? She screams: Owe, Canelow hurt me!

Although this bond seems sweet and all, I feel Isabelle’s intentions toward her new friend are short lived. She has already requested that I “cut it open”.

Yippee - A visit from an idiot!

Some super weirdo just came to my back door trying to sell me magazines. Um...first of all jacka**, Ive been trying to get my toddler to take a nap all day, we were both just about to fall asleep (exhausted pregnant woman here) - and because of you, well that didnt happen and now it doesnt look like its going to. These are the times that I am thankful for Lancelot's Large Bark. He really scared this guy and got rid of him pretty quickly. Why dont you go stand in a field and chew on some corn or better yet go stand in the middle of the road and count clouds. Just leave me alone! Visits like this are worse then a telemarketer call. A. Who the hell invited you on to my property? B. Why are you disturbing my day with your idiotness? C. Do you honestly really believe that I am just sitting here with a bunch of cash in my hand hoping and praying that some moron stops by and wants me to buy magazines because I really want to add a new magazine to my subscription list and I really needed for someone as grand as you to come by and offer it to me so I could acomplish that life goal? Question, do you even know how to spell your name let enough know how to read any of the articles in the supposed magazines that you sell? (can you tell Im tired and a bit crabby?) Good Day Sir!

Book Review: The Glass Castle

I have been such a slow reader lately (not counting the various toddler level books I read everyday). Seriously it takes me forever to finish reading a book these days! Anyway here is a short review of one I just finished for book club:
The Glass Castle - A Memoir - Jeannette Wells
This memoir is about Jeannette's childhood. She grew up in challenging circumstances with dysfunctional (drunk , selfish & mental) parents. The family was very poor most of the time and the children had to keep the household going and keep their parents in line as much as possible. At first I thought it was humourous the way that Jeannette wrote about her life, the tragedies, but then I realized how sad it was. Her story got very depressing very quickly. In the end she is a survivor who seems to have a decent life, but only because she was strong and brave through many dark situations.
Masterpiece
Toast of the Town
Worth Telling a Friend - I would recommend this depending on what you want to take away from this story. The lifestyle this family lead was interesting...but sad. The whole time I was reading it, I just wanted someone to scoop the children up and take them to a warm, kind, safe place.
Needs A Boost
Crappy

Slip Covers & Fake Deer

Pet Peeves. Two of my major ones are when people who leave their christmas lights up way too long and when people dont use their turn signals. One of my other "favorite" pet peeves is: FAKE DEER. I just dont get it. I dont understand the concept of it. It's like people are trying to trick you...like hey look! Here's a deer (or two), standing here on my property looking at you, how exciting- oh wait it's just a plastic piece of crap. I would like to take all of the fake deer from all these lawns and gather them into one field. Then the people can drive by and say" Hey look there's a whole field of deer! Oh wait...their fake. Then I would like to torch it.

Here is one more pet peeve...SLIP COVERS. Here is my personal situation. We have stripe couches and we have flowered carpeting. These items all must co-exist in the same room, yet they dont match. They clash. The chaos of these two patterns together, seriously makes me ill. It's just pure yuk. I can't afford new couches or new carpeting...so my only solution is to go blind or to use slip covers on the couches. Well the thing about slip covers is that they slip! They never ever stay on the couches. They are a constant pain in the butt. They dont stay put. I dislike them to the highest degree, yet I feel trapped in my situation to battle their placement every single day of my life. My dream simple as it is, is to rectify this situation and daily dilema by replacing the carpeting (which by the way collects and displays dog hair more then any other carpet that ever lived, but that's another story) or to get plain couches that would match this flowery designed carpeting. My dream seems like it will never come true. I guess I should be thankful that I have couches to put slip covers on and that I dont live under a bridge somewhere, heating my grieving soul by garbage can fire.

believe

Kitten Anyone?

Well, MOO (our shop/outdoor cat) has had kittens! There are 4 black and white spotted kittens. Isabelle loves to go check on the babies several times a day. When they are ready, we will be looking for homes for all of the kittens so if anyone knows anyone who wants a new furry addition, please let me know! Side Note: Moo just showed up at our property one day in the fall and has been here ever since. She has been nothing but wonderful natured/well tempered (between Isabelle and Lancelot both wanting to play with her constantly). She's such a good cat that even Noah admits to liking her! So anyway the point of my side note is that if she is such a good animal, maybe her kittens will be as well!

Duck, Pook, Goose.

This spring/summer thus far has been filled with alot of PARKing. Isabelle just loves going to Krape Park and feeding the geese & ducks. Life has been very busy & crazy lately with a lot of changes going on with Noah's career. Lots of adjusting for us (with his traveling, etc) but it has been good and we know that we are making the best decision for our family. Uncharted territory...but it is a path we must try. The garden is growing! I cant wait to start using the vegetables! We are growing a little bit of everything. Seeing several deer around the homestead lately. I made potato salad from scratch all by myself for the first time this week. It turned out pretty darn good I must say. Isabelle has moved to a booster seat for the car. I just cant believe how fast/big she is growing. So this pregnancy is going fast and slow at the same time. I have approx two months to go. Two months until a new little baby is here and life will change for us once again! My appts. are now every two weeks! Im starting to feel sick & tired & sore lately. Ugh, like right now...I could so take a nap!..but I dont think Isabelle will let me.

Im a little teapot

As a special surprise birthday gift for Grandma Barb, Isabelle was the star of a tea party photo shoot, in which the pictures were the main attraction of a special TEA scrapbook and a special little surprise tea party in Grandma Barb's honor. It was such fun to make the scrapbook and create a tea party!

cheekphones

Isabelle loves to theive Noah's headphones and wear them around. Only thing is that they fit her cheeks better then her ears.