-
Go Nigel, Go!
-
Would You Like To Buy My Monkeys?
Dec
18
After a month of planning and anticipation, the day finally arrived. The Playgroup Chrstmas Party. Julia and I have been so excited about hosting this event. And I’m telling you people, it was AWESOME. We have the best playgroup in all the land. Seriously. You so want to be in our playgroup.
I made and served my standard Santa cupcakes, among other delicious things.
I stacked those edible Santa heads on tiers and surrounded them by cute little keepsake Christmas characters like this -
- each displaying the face of a playgroup member.
I had also made a video slideshow of our playgroup from the past year and put it on DVD as a gift to each of the parents. We viewed it after everyone arrived. Then, the kids played until a special visitor arrived.
I don’t know about you, but I think that’s the hottest Santa I’ve ever seen.
Throughout the chaos, I was able to grab a tiny bit of video. There’s a 20 second snippet of my very hot husband Santa in action here.
I wish I had caught the kid’s reaction when he first came through the door. It was priceless. I’ll never forget Julia and her friends jumping around and shouting, “It’s Santa! It’s Santa!”
We had worried a little bit that Julia might recognize her Daddy through the costume - she’s not easily fooled. But we knew all was well when, after Santa left, Julia told me, “I wish Daddy could have seen Santa!”
Once the big man had left the building, the kids exchanged gifts, which was glorious because the presents were so very thoughtful and appropriate. Every child was gracious and happy, and incredibly willing to share their new toys. I’m telling you - we have the best playgroup in the world. And that’s the best Christmas present I could ever receive - a home full of friends. And maybe seeing Dave in a Santa suit.
Dec
5
The snow has come. We woke this morning to a world wrapped in white. I’m not sure who was more excited to get out and play in it - Dave, Julia or me.
We couldn’t dive in right away, though. First, we had piano class. Then, we had to stop at the store. (I needed some supplies. I got a HUGE buckeye order this morning, above and beyond my usual holiday orders, which is nothing short of a Christmas miracle. Although the Christmas shopping for the children in our family has been done for a while, it now appears that I may be able to give Dave something more than my body wrapped in a bow on Christmas morning. I may actually be able to get him a gift he doesn’t already have. Like my body wrapped in a bow and adorned with some kind of new jewelry. Or fuzzy socks.)
While at the store, we picked up a green saucer sled for $3.95. Then we came home and went straight to it.
The Sled Riding.
I had talked about The Sled Riding and how we were looking forward to some snow, with a friend recently. She said, “It sounds like you love to sled ride. It’s too bad you’ll miss out on it this year.”
And I was all, “Huh?”
She said, “Well, you’re pregnant. You won’t be able to go.”
And I said, “Watch me.”
And you can. If you click here. (There is a one and a half minute video of The Sled Riding. You’ll see Julia go down the hill; Dave attempt and fail to go down the hill; Dave go down the hill; and then yours truly - all big and pregnant - gunning down the hill. At least it felt like I was going incredibly fast while it was happening. It doesn’t look so fast on the video. But people I’m telling you, it was fast. Trust me. It’s why I’m screaming.)
Tomorrow, there will be more of The Sled Riding. This time, with friends!
Dec
4
The Christmas Canon by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Does it reduce you to tears, too?
It is truly the most beautiful Christmas music ever played. (Well, that and Traditions of Christmas by Manheim Steamroller.) It is probably what angels were playing from the heavens when the Baby Jesus was born.
I cry each time I hear it. And not just a little tear here or there. I sob. I weep until my nose runs and my eyes get puffy.
I heard it and I cried on the way to Wheeling this weekend and then again on the way to get bread at the IGA tonight.
I walked into the store, sniffling and wiping my eyes. A man asked me if I was okay. I said yeah and then mumbled something about garble garble music. He said, “What?”
I said, “I’m pregnant.”
He said, “Oh.”
Is it because of the pregnancy hormones surging through me or does it make you cry, too? Go ahead and watch it.
Did you cry? Is it just me?
Oct
20
My Baby’s A Fish
by Leslie
Julia has swim class every Saturday. Dave rarely gets to go along, so it felt pretty special having him there today.
Julia was so proud to show her Daddy to everyone at the YMCA. He was the parent she chose to have in the water with her.
I took advantage of being dry and snapped a few pictures. And a 10 second video.
Aug
20
We have a new family member. Meet Jasper:
I know what you’re thinking, “Another cat? Don’t you have, like, a million? And aren’t you allergic, you damn fool?”
And I say, yeah.
And you’re wondering how this happened. I’ll give you the short version: I’m a sucker.
That’s also why I’ve let my 3-year old take over my iPod. (Click here for 37 seconds of Julia listening to her new favorite song “Fox on the Run” by Sweet.)
While visiting family over the weekend, I learned that Jasper had been slated for either A) death by gunshot or B) abandonment in the middle of nowhere. My mother and I suggested secret option C) Jasper comes to live in our happy home.
Now he’s here. And he’s wonderful. I love Jasper!
So does Julia.
If you ask Dave about it, he’ll grumble a little. But look at this:
Dave loves Jasper, too.
And yes, Dave is wearing a shirt that says:
The Man. The Myth.
The Legend.
Oh baby, is he ever.
Aug
16
Blame It On The Rain
by Leslie
Or me. I deserve it. Really, I do.
I even have a button to prove that I am worthy of it. See:
That button represents an award. The Blame It On This Blog Award.
The Blame It On This Blog Award is the brain child of bloggers Jenn in Holland, Soccer Mom in Denial, Jami at Not That Different and Fourier Analyist and is meant to bestow blame upon deserving bloggers for actions that capture your hearts and minds and hold them hostage in a tortuous prison for days, even weeks. You know, things like The Haiku Buckaroo Contest.
I am deeply honored and priviliged to be, not only the recipient, but the inspiration for such an award. Not only does this boost my self-esteem and inflate my ego, it provides me with validation that my blog is relevant. Not so long ago, I posed the question, “If a woman blogs, but no one reads it, does it really exist?” Today, I know it does.
Blame like this doesn’t come easy. There are many people who have helped along the way. I’d like to thank every participant in The Haiku Buckaroo contest. Without you, there would have been no buzz. And without some buzz, there would be no blame. I’d like to thank my family for their encouragement and support, especially my mother for the advice, “You’ve got something there with that haiku.” I thank the poetic genius that gave us haiku and I thank God for giving us so much to haiku about. Most of all, I’d like to thank Jenn in Holland, Soccer Mom in Denial, Jami at Not That Different and Fourier Analyist for seeing fit to recognize me in this way. I dedicate this to you:
Jul
20
Celebrating The Tiny, Tenacious Spider
by Leslie
It was a sunny spring morning in 2005 when Julia and I skipped into story time at the local library and met the new and greatly anticipated children’s librarian. She was young, pretty, and nice. She called the children to the story circle and read a book to them with the help of a puppet - something the old librarian had never done. We were impressed. The chips were quickly stacking up in her favor as the new and improved story time lady. Then, it came time to sing songs. We did the usual - ABC’s, Twinkle Twinkle, and The Wheels On The Bus. Next came a suggestion from a kid in the back for The Itsy Bitsy Spider. A ripple of excitement passed through the crowd as parents raised their voices an octave to declare, “Oh! The Itsy Bitsy Spider!”
Children ooh-ed and giggled. They knew that song!
And so we all settled in with our spider fingers ready to embark on a musical adventure up the water spout. We drew in a collective breath and began…”The iiitttnnnnssssy bbwwwiiieettnsyyy spider…”
Parents glanced from side to side and finally toward the new librarian. What was happening? What was she singing? Didn’t she hear the boy in the back? ITSY BITSY spider. ITSY BITSY! But she wasn’t singing Itsy Bitsy. She was singing this “Eensy Weensy.”
You could hear the confusion as the song went on. Some parents followed the new librarian’s lead singing Eensy Weensy while others stood strong and belted out Itsy Bitsy, loud and proud. The rest just mumbled through it. The song ended and there was a silent moment as we all acknowledged the separation between the Itsy Bitsy’s and Eensy Weensy’s. How would we sing it next time? Would anyone dare to suggest it again?
I hadn’t realized there was another way to sing that song until then.
In the following video, Julia tells the story of The Itsy Bitsy Spider through song and stick puppet theater. The puppets were crafted by her lovely and delightful Kindermusik instructor. Take a look.
Now, let’s get down to business. About this spider song.
Itsy Bitsy or Eensy Weensy?
I’m an Itsy Bitsy girl, obviously. What about you?
Jul
15
V to the L to the O to the G
by Leslie
What’s that spell? Vlog, which is short for Video Blog. Here’s the fourth edition.
Jul
11
Sometimes It’s The Thought That Counts
by Leslie
Each morning when Julia wakes up, she walks to the window, pulls her sheer white curtains aside and tells me about the weather. My favorite report is, “Mama! It’s sunny today!” But, it was not sunny today. The sun was hiding behind thick, gray clouds and by the time we made it downstairs for breakfast, rain was falling from them.
At first, I was disappointed - another day inside. Then, I thought of my friend SusieJ and how much she is missing the rain. So, I wanted to offer her, and all of you, a virtual invitation to my front porch for one minute and eighteen seconds of rain.
You’ll notice one of my ferns if you look at the upper left corner of the screen as the video begins. I love a porch filled with ferns. The rain was actually coming across the field in sheets. As I start to pan over the porch, around 0:55, you can spot one of the ferns I received as a gift for Mother’s Day. I’m not quite ready to admit that I killed it, so it’s dead, rotting carcus remains suspended on the porch. I’m still hoping I can revive it. I believe in miracles. Around 0:28, the rain really starts to pick up. At the end, you can catch a glimpse of my lawn chairs, blown over by the wind. Unfortunately, once the video made the transition to YouTube, it isn’t quite as clear. Still, you get the idea, right?
I love that porch. I love to sit out there with a cat in my lap and Dave next to me while Julia plays under the trees. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset. I’ve often tried to grab a picture, but they never seem to come out. I guess it’s something you must experience rather than capture, sort of like the rain.
Jul
5
You Should Be Dancin’ - Yeah!
by Leslie
One night back in 1994 after a floor meeting in my college dorm, someone put on “We Got The Beat” by The Go-Gos and we danced like it was Soul Train. It was such a great time, getting “The Beat” became a weekly tradition. And “The Beat” goes on…
Yeah, she gets her moves from me.
-
I Write A Haiku Each Day
-
Hurts So Good
-
Categories
- Daily Haiku
- Mommy’s Stuff
-
You Should Do This
-
Ooooooh. Aaaaah.
