To Spoil or Not To Spoil

Too late.
Oh, Liam is going to have a good Christmas. Lucky kiddo.
He was already going to be spoiled rotten with gifts from all sides (must be nice to be the ONLY kid on both sides in a whole family). But yesterday we found the Coup de Gras. Toys R Us had the Thomas and Friends train table and playboard on sale. A Very Good Sale. My mom and dad hurried over today and got it for him. I was so excited about the prospect of this that I even dreamt of it last night. Liam has played with this table in two different places. He plays so carefully with the wooden train sets--it amazes me since he is not yet two. I thought this particular table was just plain out of our league, so when we went to Toys R Us on a whim yesterday I was floored. I'm so thankful, too. Because I shook both the Thomas table and the Imaginarium table, and I just don't think the other table is sturdy enough for years of play, despite the fact that Liam is a gentle child. I want Liam to be able to play with friends at this table for many years to come.
Speaking of many boys playing at this table--at the Day Out With Thomas, there was a tent set up with a lot of these tables, and Liam played at one very carefully. There were other boys at the table. I was trying to get Liam's attention at the table, and I called his name and the other boys--and other parents---looked up. They were ALL named Liam. I think there were either three or four boys at the table (including my Liam). It was so funny.
He's going to have a Very Thomas Christmas. I got him a Thomas costume on clearance, my mom got him a Thomas pulltoy, the train table and train set, his other parents got him some Thomas books.
The funny thing is that Liam rarely watches the show. He'll watch it every once in awhile, but he'd rather *play* with his Thomas things. I like that.

In other news...
Tomorrow after work we're going to the Christmas hospitality walk down the street. There are supposed to be lights, trees, people strolling and singing Christmas songs, cookies, pony rides, etc. Then I've got to come home, bake cookies and clean the house to get ready for the parade party. S told me today that he didn't think they'd be able to make it, even though they'd like to. DUH. I didn't expect them to once baby N made his appearance.
I finished my two classes today. Whew. They were officially over last week, but the instructors made the mistake of telling me I didn't really need to turn things in until next Monday. All of a sudden all of my willpower and discipline went out the window. But, I couldn't wait until Monday---we're leaving for a week in San Diego and a day at Disneyland next week. So, I'm very proud to say that I forced myself to do it today.
A whole week away from work. Boy do I need that.

Well, That Backfired

I have a 20 year old cat that I've had since I was a freshman in higschool. This girl has gone through everything with me. She even went away to college with me. But, she's old and things aren't as easy for her as they used to be. She has zero body fat and you can practically count all her bones. She can still jump onto the fence, but it takes a little clawing to get herself up to the top. At night we've started to have potty issues. Its too cold for her to go outside at night. Its been about 19 with 29mph winds at night, so she started going potty on a pad I laid out for her by the laundry room--those home alone dog pads. She won't use a litter box anymore and I wonder if its because its hard for her to raise her hips up high over the edges, or if she doesn't like the grains on her feet. Anyway, the home alone pad has been the only thing that really works. But, every morning I have to pick up the dirty pad and mop the floor and well, its cold in our downstairs and I'm tired in the morning and I was looking for a way to not have to do that.
So, last night I made her a comfy bed in our dog crate lined with her home alone pad and a blanket with some food, thinking I'd take her out in the morning, let her go potty and take her back inside to stand in front of the heater.
I woke up to a cat COVERED in poop.
So she's had a shower and now I'm washing linens and the crate.
I think I'll go back to our old way of doing things.
It isn't horrible. Its better than this morning was. Its a good thing I have so many years of zoo and vet experience. And, I can't help but think it won't be much longer--and that makes me sad.

I have issues

I have a problem with people pleasing issues. Though I'm often assertive at work and other areas in my life, my mind is often busy with a zillion issues and senarios trying to assertain whether or not I've made an ass out of myself, put someone else out or did something that will make other people not like me. I've given up on the "I can't do x because people will think I'm weird" thing because-- well-- that ship has long since sailed, but I never want to put someone out or *gasp* end up with people disliking me. I'm sure that they do, and in a theoretical sense I'm ok with that, but, well, let me just give you an example from today.
I was heading to the hospital giddy and excited about the baby --might be the closest I come to newborn in a long time-- but yeesh, my tummy is grumbling and I'm starting to twitch and I know that I need to eat, so I drive to McD's first.
I haven't been to this McD's in a long time as evidenced by the fact that I DROVE PAST THE ORDERING THINGYBOB! They used to have two menu boards one that you just look at for the hour or so you're in line, and one where you order. But apparently they've moved the ordering thing and taken down the extra board.
As soon as I realise my error, I start getting nervous. My heart starts to pound. My hands start to shake. I'VE MADE A MISTAKE. I start thinking in my head about how I'm going to explain to the teenage girl at the counter. What if I've made her mad? S0, I get there and she chastizes me in a teasing sort of way and I feel sheepish and fall all over myself apologizing and I pay my money and I sit in the line to go to the next window and my heart is palpating and I'm starting to sweat even though its freezing and I'm going over in my head how I'm going to explain to the next teen-aged girl why I've messed up. ...and it is actually causing me stress. And then I think, HEY! you've paid for a service. Its not like they've come to your house and heaped gifts upon you. So what if you've made a mistake? In the grand scheme of mistakes that can be made in the world, this one doesn't even merit being on the charts. Go up to the next window, explain that your order is out of order, say thank you and move on. GET. OVER.IT.
But, I couldn't.

We have a Baby!

Gonna go see him at noon! Soooooooooooooo excited.

I guess they won't be coming to my parade party, eh?

We interrupt this programming

To tell you that I'm about to become a Fraunt (what do you call those people who are closer than friends, but not really family? A friend aunt?) again.
S's wife is being induced and I'm super excited. I loves me some babies...
I get to hold a newborn in the next couple of days!

My Three Trees (and one son)

Finished three trees this weekend. Still pondering a full-size tree on the front porch. I'm wondering what the wind would do to it.
Today I spent a lot of time standing in my hallway right outside my computer room. I could see two trees. One in our playroom and one in the living room. They took my breath away. Every Christmas I feel like Clara, despite the fact that my trees are considerably smaller than the one in the Nutcracker. I stand there in awe, with slow, deep breath as I take in the lights and the shapes of the ornaments. I love trees and someday my house will be FULL of them.
For now, there is one in the living room, one in the playroom and one on the sideboard in the dining room. Oh, and a tiny one in the kitchen.
Liam helped me. He's a great helper. Especially good at taking things out of the boxes. And in again. And out again.And in again. And out again.
Not done around here, but it sure does look like Christmas. I strung old fashioned bubble lights on the garland on the mantel and it took them over an hour to start bubbling. I hope that when el husbando comes home tonight he is awestruck with the Christmas wonderland I've created while he was gone.
Maybe I earned all those clothes and jewelry I bought for myself at the mall yesterday.

From Pumpkins to Snowmen

I shopped today. Not early, though. El husbando and I slept in and cuddled. I've been getting up at 6 even on days off, so it was nice to just stay in bed. My lungs probably needed it, too.
We only went to Kohls and JoAnns, but every single thing I got was 50% off or more, so it was well worth the lines. Everyone was happy, too. Next year, I'm doing the 5am thing.

We only got Liam's tree up in our tv room. He helped to decorate it as you can see. I don't have a pic of it completed yet. Its so pretty at night with the lights. Everything else is waiting for me to put Thanksgiving away. We're aiming for four full-size trees this year. Last year my decorating was cramped because of the kitchen renno (though we still had two trees), so this year I am going ALL OUT. I'm also going to decorate some outside before the 2nd because that's the day of our parade party. I'm putting a full-size tree on the front porch.
After we were done and I was home from shopping, we took a much needed reading break. Some in more comfortable seats than others.

Giving Thanks

Liam stationed himself by the punch fountain and cheese and crackers early in the evening. He assumed his "just looking" hands behind the back position and watched carefully (can you see him there behind the chair?). Eventually he learned to go and get the nearest adult, lead them by the hand and take them to the table to ask for crackers. Eight people signed the table--two forgot, and my SIL drew a picture of a turkey. Its really funny. I wrote in what Liam is thankful for "pumpkins and trains." Its a pity that the pumpkin season has come to a close. I'm hoping he'll develop a new attachment to snowmen.
I was on my feet from 6am to 5pm. I had meant this year to start cooking early, so that I could have a more leisurely holiday, but life in recent weeks hasn't made that possible. I had also intended to have the tables up at least a day early, but that didn't happen either. I only had a few moments of stress-induced irritation. When I woke up today I had no idea what I was going to do with the tables, but they turned out really well. I cooked the Turkey, some sweet potato apple stuff, a mashed potato casserole, some sweet potato rolls and cranberry stuffing. Everyone else brought the rest of the food. After dinner we sat around and watched Liam dance and we threw a "rainbow stick" on the fire and watched beautiful blue, purple and green flames.
It is easy to say that this year I am thankful for Liam, or for my inlaws and grandmother moving here, or for Grandma being out of the hospital. But what I'm thankful for goes so much deeper than that. Yesterday I was driving home and remembering that 11 years ago I was living in San Luis Obispo and working in a nursing home as a CNA. I lived alone and three hours from my parents. Though I loved SLO, nothing could compensate for being away from my family. That Thanksgiving I had to work, but I was going to dinner at a friend's house afterward. She had to leave work early because she was having a miscarriage and I sat at her house alone with a highschool boy friend of her sister's while her family was with her at the hospital. It was a very sad holiday. A few weeks later, though, I went home for Christmas--before the actual day of Christmas because I had to work on the holiday--and when I woke up the next morning there was snow. I felt like God had made the snow just for me because he'd known how alone and sad I had been.
These days I feel like it has been snowing every day, and I am in awe that God has done this just for me. I sat in my house today and it was literally bursting at the seams with my loved ones. My inlaws and my parents and grandmother sat at the "Grown Ups" table and roared with laughter and passed the wine to one another. My brother, sister in law, husband, son and I sat at the other table and talked about trains. That conversation was initiated by Liam, of course. There was clapping, singing and laughing. My heart aches from that happiness. I am so thankful that this is what I have to offer Liam.
Usually my life is controlled by worry. Like most moms the first thing I do in the morning is sneak past Liam's crib and assure myself that he is still breathing. But my fear that I will lose him goes deeper than that. The other day I was thinking about what Liam will be like when he is eight. I don't usually do that, and in a split second, I realised I was thinking "Oh. I hope we can make it to eight. I would be so thankful for that." I think in the back of my mind I am always afraid that, like the snow that melts, my gifts from God will evaporate back into the heavens.
This is something I am going to have to work on this year. It is a matter of faith, hope and trust in God and his plan for my life. I think that it is only with prayerful consideration I will be able to wrestle this fear.
But, for now in my journey I am thankful. Every day. For God's bounty in my life and the snow that he has blessed me with--however long it will stay.

T minus 17 or so hours

Ok. Furniture moved out of living room to make room for second table. Tablecloth and centerpiece on dining room table. Punch fountain assembled. Mantel decorated. Hand sewn Give Thanks banner hung. Floors swept. Glass on fireplace cleaned (as good as they get...*sigh*). And dough for sweet potato rolls started.
Giant pile of things to be put somewhere else sitting in the middle of the room.

Bring it on Thanksgivin'!

A lot to do tomorrow, but I'm looking forward to it.
Why does my back always start killing me right now?

Have a wonderful, gratitude filled Thanksgiving. May God bless you today and every day.

Goin' to bed to wake up TURKEY EARLY!

Gone Thankin'

You all must be gone for Thanksgiving as my bloglines is eerily empty these days.
Tomorrow is my favorite of all holidays. I just love the idea of taking a moment for gratitude for no other reason than that we are thankful for the bounty in our lives. And what other holiday fits so well for me? Seriously, setting the table, cooking a meal and sitting around with family? My idea of heaven. I'm not ready for tomorrow, though. I've got to clean, bake, set up tables (maybe buy a larger folding table??) Finish sewing my Thanksgiving banner, make favors, press linens, figure out the table settings. Yup. I've done almost none of that. Usually by now the table is set and the menu is printed on pretty cards, but between all the activity, finishing my classes, and the whole bronchitis thing...I've been spent. Last night, though, I slept 10 hours and now I think I'm ready to go.
Today we're having a Thanksgiving potluck to thank our student workers for all their hard work. We've set up pretty potluck tables and made thank you cards that students or faculty can sign to thank the tutors for helping them through the semester.
When I finish enjoying the food and fellowship here, I'll go home and get cracking...taking a break only to take Grandma to dialysis. If I'm not back between now and tomorrow to do my annual Thanksgiving post, I'll do it Friday.
I had a great new idea for a Thanksgiving tradition that I can't start this year, but plan to next year. On the weekend after Thanksgiving I plan to host a potluck at my house for all of those people that we weren't able to spend the holiday with--friends, extended family, etc. I plan to call it a Brimming With Thanks potluck and challenge people to make dishes with their Thanksgiving leftovers.
Alas, this year el husbando is working that weekend. So, I'll be packing a basket of Thanksgiving leftovers for him to eat alone in a hotel room. Since we're having the parade party without him, I hadn't the heart to throw another party that he couldn't come to.

But, Friday....oh! Friday come the Christmas trees...

I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. A different kind of crossroads.

Day five of antibiotics and still sick. sigh.

And now to continue the saga of Kether and the House Wants. Saturday, we left the house to walk to the train station. If I might interrupt myself immediately in this story, I want to relate The Cutest Thing Liam Has Ever Done. My inlaws and el husbando and The Boy were outside on the porch, ready to begin walking, but I was inside still. Doing what, I have no idea. But, I was not with the pack. The screendoor was closed, but not latched. All of a sudden Liam burst through the screen door, ran to me, grabbed my hand, and began to pull me to the rest of the group on the porch. I suppose he was tired of waiting for me, or, if I want to be particularly flattered, he didn't want to leave me behind.
Anyhoo..We were walking the three or so blocks to the train station, having a lovely chat with my inlaws. Liam walked most of the way, holding onto a hand from each parent. The weather was crisp, but not cold, and our path was dotted with newly fallen leaves. I sighed, content and happy. This is the life I want to live, I thought. Liam got tired and we put him in the stroller that my father in law was pushing. And then it happened.
The ghetto smacked us right between the eyes. At the corner of our street and the street where our vet clinic is was a group of young "adults"--I use that term loosely. They were wearing various articles of blue attire and cursing loudly. I mean really atrociously bad language. Kinda like Michael Richards..They were talking about a certain other group that likes to wear a different color clothing than they do and I literally thought I was going to have a heart attack. As we stood there on the corner, I was sure that we were going to be unwitting victims of a drive by shooting gone wrong..and I'd dragged my inlaws and my toddler son into this! This group of people moved into the center of the street, and, though I said excuse me, did not move out of our way as we passed. I was left scared and angry.
We got to the train station, and they had the snow. The city council members and city employees were there with santa hats on.They passed out candy and by all intents and purposes it seemed like a typical family centered event in a safe,friendly, family centered community.
(As a total aside to my story, my awful feelings left the minute that train pulled into the station as I was so struck with child-like awe by the beauty of the train).
I was relating this story to a co-worker today and she said, as she always does. Why don't you move?
I struggled for my answer. Because most people don't understand my answer, and I'm beginning to doubt it myself.
I don't move because I love my house and want to finish the renovation. Sure, its small, and old and a bit wonky, but that's why I love it. And where else can I live on the Christmas parade route? Walk to the theater and the library? We are on the precipice of change in our downtown. If the plans that the community and the consulting group come to fruition, we will have a vibrant downtown community and shopping district. That will surely change the face of the housing around the area. It will become desirable real estate. We will live in a walking community within blocks of shopping, the libarary, train station, museums, post office and other things to do.
I don't move because we are almost paid off. A new mortgage, a significantly higher mortgage--I'm talking exponentially higher mortgage, would mean that we have to have two working parents to make it work. We'd also probably have to give up a lot of the extras we are used to--annual passes to Disney, going to events like A Day Out With Thomas, cruises, etc. We are in the processing of pursuing a career change for me that would give us MORE time together because I would be home more. Fewer hours a week, and off for several months out of the year. A new home would make that a moot point. I mean, yes, I'd be home with Liam, but el husbando would be gone to work. Our goal is more time for the entire family to be together. For me, a larger home just isn't worth the trade-off. In addition there is the whole el husbando work factor. He had in his life plan to be "semi retired" by 35. He did so at 33, and working a 9-5 job does not appeal to him in the slightest. I don't feel it would be fair for me to negate what he has worked his entire life toward just because I want a bigger house.
I don't move because I feel like then I am giving up--that we as a society are giving up-- and shrugging our shoulders and allowing undesirable elements to have control. If Ghandi said to "be the change I want to see in the world" this is it. I want to see this be a desirable place to live and a vibrant community. I want people to see value in these old, smaller homes. I want them to believe in the beauty of living somewhere where you can walk to all sorts of activities. If I move, I give up on that dream for me, and for others. Our city core will become more and more rundown, and there will be a ring of affluence on the outskirts. The space I vacate will just be turned over to people who don't care. In the last few years there has been such hope here. Several houses are receiving overhauls. The consulting group came in and made plans for our vision.
Still, my friends don't get it. I know that they cringe at the thought of living here. And to be frank, I'm starting to, too. To be fair, that experience on Saturday has been the only concrete experience in recent history to necessitate any real fear. But, I'm scared for our whole community to be honest. Our crime per capita is growing rapidly. Our section 8 housing violations are increasing (most because they are allowing parolees to live in their homes, and/or have drug or criminal offenses happening in the homes), our gang problem seems to have no ceiling and it seems, quite often, that the city is in over its head.
The bottom line is that if we move it probably won't be here. Why trade no mortgage for a $300-500,000 home when there is the potential of the same problems in the new neighborhood. Why invest in a community where my son might still not be safe? And, that, my friends is what it comes down to. Will my son be safe? I realise I cannot raise him in a bubble, but I'd like to mitigate as many circumstances as I can that will contribute to his relative safety. So, we've set a three year goal. If in three years the city hasn't made any forward progress in our city, and our area specifically, we will begin to look for a home in a new area. This devestates me. I really love the fact that Liam is growing up just five minutes from both sets of grandparents, a great grandmother and his aunt and uncle. Will this mean they'll all have to move? I can't even start to think about it, because my chest starts to tighten. I am working on a "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it" philosophy in my life.
But, its starting to seem that my life is built of bridge after bridge looming in my future.

A Day Out With Thomas

The trip for A Day Out with Thomas was fantastic! The train museum was beyond belief. There were so many old trains; I was simply in heaven. So was Liam. Although he *did* scream and cry when there was one sharp train whistle. There are family with Thomas pics, but I haven't scanned those yet.
The gift shop was full of things you can buy anywhere, but I did get a t-shirt that says "I spent a Day Out With Thomas" and on the back it says "And Thomas spend the day out with ME"
and then I got a coal car for a wooden train set that is a day out with thomas 2006 keepsake. Those two things you can't get elsewhere.
SO glad we had the early train. Later in the day it was getting crazy. We left by noon.


| View Show | Create Your Own

The Metrolink Toy Express

I've never seen this before despite the fact that the train station is three blocks up the street. I'm SO glad we went. I just thought they'd slap a wreath and some lights on the front of the train and Santa would get off...


Create Your Own

Xray says....

Bad bronchitis.

I have been very sick for 20 days. In fact, when we were in Scottsdale, I considered going to the ER while I was there. I knew it wasn't a cold. Not just because I had been sick for over two weeks, but because it was only in my chest and I felt like I couldn't breathe air deeply into my lungs. When I breathed it was raspy and hurt a lot. But, because we were only there two days, I didn't want to spend all of one in an ER, so I didn't.
I meant to go Tuesday, but Grandma got out of the hospital (yay!) and I had to go over there to help her do some things that she wasn't strong enough to do and the men of our family couldn't do.
Wednesday I broke down and went and the doctor all but told me that it was just a cold and nothing a bit of cough medicine couldn't take care of. Then he did the xray and told me it turned out he was wrong. So, I'm on antibiotics, which is a big deal since I'm allergic to two different families of antibiotics...I rarely take them. And I'm on two inhalers. I can already breathe a little better.
So, my house isn't clean. I have been doing sitting down types of things because I have little strength and I haven't taken sick leave because we're winding down the semester and I've got a lot to do. So, at home I've been coloring with Liam, sewing a thanksgiving banner, and writing out invitations to our Parade Party.
Every year the Christmas parade goes right past our house. So, last year I started having a parade watching party where we also do a Christmas cookie exchange. The invitations this year say, "You bring some cookies and a mug, we'll provide the cocoa and the parade." Its a good parade, too. One of the year's band competitions is held after it, so there are bands from all over. Lots of them with bagpipes for some reason. I love me some bagpipes.
Anyway, to do the invitations, I used some Christmas themed blank note cards that I got last year at Michales for 8 for $1 and and used an invitation stamp to stamp the inside like an invite. That thing is really going to pay for itself quickly. I'm glad I invested in it.
I've also been planning Thanksgiving Dinner and doing a bit of classwork. My two classes finish next week. Thank God! I have a 105.3% in one class and I've no idea what I'm getting in the other. He hasn't returned ANYTHING. It is driving me nuts.
Saturday our metrolink train is coming into the station all decorated for Christmas with Santa. It is three blocks up from us, so we'll be going. Liam, as you might be able to tell from pictures, is obsessed with trains. Sunday, we're going to A DAY OUT WITH THOMAS to ride the life-size Thomas the train. I've been looking forward to this all year.
I've also done some desk-chair Christmas shopping and worked out almost all of the photobook that I'm going to give the grandparents for Christmas from Shutterfly. I chose Shutterfly because I really like the hardback options they like...and I've got a free shipping coupon, and I think I'll still get the multiple order discount.
oh! We had a major milestone around here. We were all in the computer room, and we had shut the door. Liam walked over, reached up for the doorknob and turned it and opened the door. I was floored. What will we do now?
And when I'm in the bath, he knocks on the door and says, "Mama? Door. Open. Now. OK?"
OK finishes all of his sentences. I must say that a lot.

So, that's where I've been. I'm still reading all of you. I just use bloglines these days, so it means I don't comment much. That's the evil part of bloglines...I can read to my heart's content...but you'll never know it.

We're Back!

Create Your Own!

Twister anyone?

We're goin' on a minibreak to sunshine-y Scottsdale.
I'll leave you with this adorable pic. Isn't he scrumptious?

Glad that's over!

Thank goodness the election is over. If I saw one more ad, or had one more message on my answering maching I was going to blow a gasket.
The one that particularly got me was Cruz Bustamante. I don't know who his campaign manager was, but who decided that the "I used to be fat....Now I'm not, so you should vote for me" platform was a good one? The first time we heard it, el husbando and I looked at each other and said, "wha?" Ok, I'll be fair. There was the part in there where he talks about how he promised his family he would lose weight and he did, so that demonstrates that he lives up to his commitments, therefore, we should vote for him. But, uhm. Wha? Frankly I don't think he gave a damn about the election. I think he lost weight and wanted the world to know.

Its here. The crossroads.

Today I was sitting bleary-eyed in my office and I made a major life decision. I am no longer trying to conceive. And in a way a weight has been lifted off my very weary shoulders. I feel like I've been standing at this crossroads for a long time, putting my foot in and taking it out, afraid of either decision. But the hokey pokey must end. I am tired.
I know that my journey has not been nearly as long as many of yours, but I have reached as much as I can take. I am tired of trying to control my life. Tired of worrying about whether or not the timing of conception will fit into the life I am attempting to perfectly order. I am tired of worrying that if I get pregnant at X time, it might interfere with the new path I'm trying to pursue in my career. I am tired of worrying about where we might need to move eight years down the line. I'm tired of going over different floor plans in my head, trying to decide how we could possibly fit children of different sexes into the wonky floor plan we have. I am tired of counting days, and waiting hopefully and trying to reign in the twins of fear and hope. I am tired of worrying that there is something wrong with me. I am tired of worrying about bearing children past the line of "advanced maternal age." I am tired of worrying about whether or not my TSH levels will kill an embryo clinging to my body. I am tired of worrying that Liam might be The Golden Child in our family with nary a child-relative in sight. I am tired of worrying about whether or not my family is complete.
And I am tired of trying to control something in the hands of fate--and God.
I can make better decisions about how I spend my money. I can sit on the floor and play with Liam. I can make a schedule for when to clean my house. I can register in classes and write papers. I can apply for jobs, and I can manage my schedule around my life's demands.
But I cannot make an egg meet a sperm and burrow into the lining of my uterus. I am tired of being Sisyphus. I am pushing this rock up a hill no longer. I'm taking my rock and going home.

This is no longer in my hands.

Yesterday my mom and I popped into Big Lots on a whim and I found new dining chairs. Our chairs have long been a saga. The chairs that I bought with our table--from an antique store--were beautiful, but wobbly and the spidle-y backs hurt after awhile. I was afraid they were going to break, so they've been shoved in a closet and we've been using less comfortable pressed back oak chairs that I've been meaning to get rid of.
We found yellow linen damask parsons chairs for $59/ea. When we got them home, we noticed they were from Restoration Hardware. I can only imagine how much they were there.
I love them and they go really well with my great grandmother's quilt in our dining room.

The chairs shoved into the closet have already found a new home. I posted them on freecycle and said that if someone was able to repair them, they could have them. A really nice woman came this morning and got them. She said they were, "So cute!" I agree...so I hope that she loves them and gets a lot of use out of them. I've posted the oak chairs and their round table on cragislist for really cheap--$35. If no one buys them, I might just freecycle them as well. It will free up some much needed storage space around here!

Famous for being Famous

Liam and I were in the paper today! A picture of us Trick or Treating at the Trunk or Treat at my inlaws church. Figures its a crap picture of me! Its small, but I'm going to try and scan it later.

They did spell our names right, though!

A Mother's Words of Wisdom

You know you're the mother of a toddler when you've found yourself saying:

You know you're not allowed to color the dog.

Magic Eraser Danger

A few weeks ago Liam had a really bad rash on his face. We couldn't find the cause. It went away within a day, so we didn't end up going to the Dr. about it, but I felt so badly for him as it was very itchy.
I don't think this is the same thing--because Liam was itchy rather than burning, but I so felt for this mother and her child. It seemed like important information to pass along in case any of you use the Magic Eraser as I do. I never worry about it being somewhere where Liam can grab hold of it. Now I will.

A Gypsy, A Math Test, and a Chicken walk into a bar

I am still recovering from yesterday. There is nothing that I like better than the ridiculousity (the act of being so ridiculous that it isn't mere ridiculousness) of Halloween. It cracks me up to see the Grim Reaper walking around with Elmo. or A gypsy, a chicken and a Math test. It is like the world turns into the opening to bad jokes...
"This Gypsy, a chicken, and a Math test walk into a bar..."
Really. My mom was a math test. She was afraid that I would think that it was stupid. But, it cracked me up. Bent over, in half, laughing. She had a really funny world problem, and some funky find the angle questions, and she entered the "Scariest costume" contest because "A math test was the scariest thing I could think of."
Someone witty at work passed by and said, "At least its a short test."
Which had me laughing even harder. You see, my mom and I are both 4'11.
Halloween has long been one of my favorite holidays. It is such a relief to be able to shed the clothes of the serious world for just a few hours, and play. But, most of all, play WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Yesterday, in my "spare" time, I was reading several blogs on the "Christian" standpoint on Halloween. I use quotes because there isn't just one stand, but there seems to be the idea that there is one unified thought about it. I won't get into the arguments here, because it is plain to see where I stand on the matter. I am Christian and I love Halloween. I don't view every little '"spookable" (as Tigger would call them) as some physical portal to allow Satan and his friends to romp through my living room. I don't feel that by dressing as a Gypsy and taking my kid from car to car that I am somehow worshiping Satan. I think its a fun, imaginative day. Period. But, I am aware that it is yet another thing that divides the Christian house. I hadn't thought about it too much until I started to read the posts, and after I started reading all of the various arguments pro and con, my head started to hurt, because really I didn't want to think at all. I just wanted to play. But in case it is a topic you have some interest in, I did read a blog that had some links to some good articles about the topic, and I thought I'd pass them along. I found them on this blog.
All this to say that what several of the authors said was just what I like about Halloween. That, ultimately, it is one of the few days that we reach out to one another. One of the few days that instead of just saying, "thanks for my change" to the girl leaning out the window of McDonald's we say, "Hey! Great Chuckie Mask! Its fantastic. Where'd you get it?" and actually talk to the head attached to the hand holding the money. We see our neighbors, experience different churches or community places and encourage imaginative play with children.
It was the first time in as long as I can remember that I actually sat in our cafeteria at work among the students. I went to the costume contest, and the costumes were a great equalizer. Everyone is equal under the eyes of The Costume Judges. There are no faculty, staff, students, administrators, etc. We're just a Gypsy, A Math Test, and A Woman Riding a Chicken

Oh, yes. And the Grim Reaper. Who, it turns out, is very pleasant and has excellent manners.