New Sparkle Shoes in Motion
We took each of the kids individually to shoe shop last week, and then out for a special treat. (Chocolate milkshake for Sis, mint chocolate cookie for Bubs.) So fun! (And so nice to get some individual kid time.) These are Sis's "dress" shoes for the year...you should see them sparkle!
Still Life With Texture
The wall in our living room. This went in a few months ago (my husband's idea) and I like it more every day. :)
XO
Wild Duck Pond Pajama Hike With Grammy • Labor Day 2014
Lots of people on the trail. Hot. Heard and saw frogs (boy they were loud). And lizards up close. (Luke gave chase but the lizards out-ran him.) Kids are turning into quite the hikers. :)
XO
Labor Day Weekend Is Here!
My parents are visiting from Colorado...so excited to have a few happy late-summer days with them. :)
xo
A Poem About Feeling Better
Sis: "What's that?"
Me: "A poem. Do you want me to read it to you?"
Sis: "Yeah!"
Sis (once it was over, with wonder): "Ohhhhhhhhhh."
the railroad yard
by Charles Bukowski
the feelings I get
driving past the railroad yard
(never on purpose but on my way to somewhere)
are the feelings other men have for other things.
I see the tracks and all the boxcars
the tank cars the flat cars
all of them motionless and so many of them
perfectly lined up and not an engine anywhere
(where are all the engines?)
I drive past looking sideways at it all
a wide, still railroad yard
not a human in sight
then I am past the yard
and it wasn’t just the romance of it all
that gives me what I get
but something back there nameless
always making me feel better
as some men feel better looking at the open sea
or the mountains or at wild animals
or at a woman
I like those things too
especially the wild animals and the woman
but when I see those lovely old boxcars
with their faded painted lettering
and those flat cars and those fat round tankers
all lined up and waiting
I get quiet inside
I get what other men get from other things
I just feel better and it’s good to feel better
whenever you can
not needing a reason.
(From "what matters most is how well you walk through the fire.")
Wednesdays With Newton, Vol. 1
I've been taking my boxer Newton for walks around the neighborhood, but haven't hiked much since we put his fellow boxer Dexter to sleep...it's just made me too sad but my husband is right when he says it's not fair to deprive Newton...and the weather's cooling now...and I think I'm ready...
I usually have afternoons to work/do stuff but lately I've had Wednesday mornings, and so my thought is to get out--hopefully somewhere new--once a week.
This morning was after a night of rain and the fleshy cactus were blooming pink, wisps of clouds on the mountains and the air smelled of piñon pine, felt of fall. Last time I was on this trail, Newtie ran back and forth, back and forth and Dexter took it very easy just step by step and I remember being grateful he (Dexter) could hike even though he no longer raced like he did for so many years. There was a dusting of snow that morning...
I miss Dexy...
Good to be out hiking again...
A Note About Naps
Hi Everyone! Happy Tuesday!
So, half the time (like yesterday) it takes 2 or more hours and lots (and lots and lots and lots and lots) of frustration to get my kids down for a nap. Half the time (like today) they go to sleep in about 3 minutes. What gives? I can't see any clear connection to anything like sugar, activity level, etc...
Night time is the same (although not as bad)...sometimes they go right down, sometimes it's a (major) process. And wake-up time in the morning is totally unpredictable too...
Easier around here when there is a predictable schedule. But no one ever said this was going to be easy, right?
xo
P.S. Here's Luke waking up after a great nap today...
We're Roosters, Not Kids!
Kids (from the other room while I'm trying to work, forty-five minutes into what is supposed to be their nap time): "Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
Me (coming in to find each wedged into one of the cubbies in their playroom bookshelf): "What are you doing?"
SIs: "We're roosters, not kids! And we're in our coops!"
Me (stifling laughter): "Well, you are roosters in need of a nap! To bed!"
(P.S. It is now an hour-and-a-half past their nap time, and they are still up. Sigh. I would let them give up naps but they are crazy-cranky when they don't sleep in the afternoons...)
Star Wars vs Star Trek
At Satellite (our local coffee spot) this morning.
Daddy to the kids: "Luke and Leia, which side do you think we should put our tip money on?"
Fuzzy Britches Goes Out to Get a Gelato...
(...and wears his seat belt, of course.)
(And, after dinner, Fuzzy AND Pink Teddy AND our Yeti [who doesn't really have a name yet] had to wash their hands in the sink per Sissy, although I was careful to tell her it was just PRETEND washing, so that I don't find a sinkful of wet stuffies some morning.)
xo
Bath Time!
Me (standing next to the bed, after having been in the bathroom, running a bubble bath): "Where are my big kids? I lost them!"
Them (under the covers): "Giggle, giggle, giggle."
And then, throwing the covers off: "Here we are!!"
Me: "Oh good! Bath time!"
Zoey Cuteness
Loves her new "sparkle fox" shirt (above).
***
Came with Daddy to pick me up at the airport last weekend and danced with joy when she saw me on the escalator.
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Luke: "What's that?"
Sis (very matter-of-fact): "Cookies, Bubs."
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Wants to help Bubs with stuff, like getting dressed. Is very methodical about laying out her brother's clothes like I have been teaching her to do for herself.
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Sis: "I'd like some milk!"
Me: "You'd like me to get you some milk?"
Sis: "OK!" (As though it were my idea and she's thrilled with it. In fact, she says "OK!" in answer to most questions posed to her...the girl is up for anything.)
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Luke woke up early Sunday and went back to sleep in our bed. Sis woke up and started running around the house saying, "Where's my Bubs? I need to find my Bubs!"
***
xo
Luke Says...
Me: "Luke, would you like a cookie?"
Luke: "Oh, I would." (This is a very common response these days to a multitude of questions. Stated very matter-of-factly.)
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Luke's response to Daddy rapidly snapping his (Daddy's) tupperware snack box closed close to Luke's hands: "Nope! I can't like it!"
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Me to the kids (standing in the driving, waiting with them for Daddy to come home from work): "Which direction is Daddy going to come from today?" (He sometimes pulls up from the left, sometimes from the right.)
Luke (pointing straight ahead, where there is no road): "That way! In an airplane!"
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Luke: "Let's go to Satellite! And have scones!"
Daddy: "Yeah, sometimes we're bad parents because we let you guys have scones for breakfast."
Luke: "You're not bad parents! You're happy parents!"
***
xo