Simply Dori...

Generation gap...

2012-01-30T10:15:00.000-05:00

The wee girl is growing up but not out. Now that her arthritis has been under control for over a year she's finally reaching the height of a typical 4-year-old. But without an ounce of fat on her tiny little body. Which means jeans she's had for a couple of years still fit--I just sew ruffles to the bottom to accommodate her height. Last year's dresses are now shirts. And therein lies the daily struggle...

Me: If you're going to wear that top, you need to wear pants.

Her: But these are my favorite, favorite leggings! (Editor's note: she calls tights "leggings"...anything without feet are called "pants")

Me: Leggings aren't pants. And that dress is now a shirt. Shirts are worn with either pants or skirts.

Her: But it is a dress!

Me: It's too short. It's now a shirt. Find a pair of pants.

Her: See? (turning so I see her backside) It covers my panties. It's a dress.

Me: Oh...that is so not the definition of a dress!

In the end she found another actual, length appropriate dress to wear with her favorite, favorite leggings. Her teenage years are going to be awesome! Though, in retrospect, I should be happy she at least wears panties.

Status report...

2012-01-23T20:06:00.000-05:00

Sick bay's full.

Mama's functioning on ginger tea and Nyquil.

Been mostly dead since Friday.

Storming the castle is quite out of the question in these conditions.

Just another Sunday...

2012-01-16T09:22:00.000-05:00

The first hint that something wasn't right was the sound of my daughter's door opening when she woke up yesterday morning. And me realizing that I was in bed alone. Himself still not home.

He kissed us all good bye the night before and went to work. Typically on these nights he's home by 3 or 4 in the morning. As I laid in bed, listening to the sound of my children playing upstairs, I didn't worry. I mentally went through our Plan. The Plan of what to do if he doesn't come home.

Given the life I've lived and the life we live now, it's pointless to waste energy worrying. But it would be naive to not plan.

Going about the morning routine with the kiddos...drinks (coffee for me, warm chocolate milk for them), feeding the animals...I sent him a quick text...

Hey...you okay? Love you!

Yep. Finishing up paperwork. Be home soon. Love you too!

Twelve hours after he left home, he walked in the door. Exhausted, worn out from dealing with difficult drunks, but very much alive and home. And bearing hot-fresh-now doughnuts.

There's an old hymn that runs a constant stream through my brain..."But I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able..."

Balance...

2012-01-13T20:49:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I learned that a dear friend's dad was diagnosed with inoperable terminal cancer.

Today I found out that another sweet friend is expecting her first baby, due this summer.

Both made me cry.

Celebrations...

2011-12-28T16:12:00.001-05:00

My family actually managed to keep secrets and threw me a surprise birthday party! I can honestly say that yesterday was one of the best days of my life--and I've had some really good ones!

Apparently there was quite a bit of discussion regarding a cake. Even though my mom displayed amazing cake skills while we were younger, she didn't feel up for the challenge of creating a birthday cake for a cake maker. In the end...

My favorite cake--a good old fashioned southern Lickin' Cake. Six layers of yellow cake with a layer of fudge in between each one and then ~~covered~~ drenched in fudge.

It was delicious! And perfect.

I have the most amazing family and friends in the whole wide world.

It was an outstanding celebration of my 40th trip around the sun!

40...

2011-12-27T10:46:00.001-05:00

Yep. Apparently time stops for no one.

If anyone is curious, I'll be regressing today and kicking my 6-year-old's booty in Fruit Ninja.

Because that's how newly minted 40-year-olds roll.

Things that make me happy...

2011-12-26T20:33:00.001-05:00

Lately every time the Boy has been watching television and the Tintin movie trailer comes on he's been all...yeah, yeah...I know, Mommy...you really want to watch that...blah, blah, blah.

Yes. He really adds the "blah, blah, blah."

Thanks to a very generous Nana, great aunt and great grandmother, our big family gift this year was an Xbox 360 with kinect. Which is pretty much awesome in itself. But then my always thinkin' husband goes and buys the Tintin movie companion game.

It's received quite a bit of play today. From all four of us. And now the Boy is really excited for the movie. We were discussing it at supper when I made the comment that I was looking forward to it because I grew up with Tintin. So then he wanted to know if we could watch the shows I watched as a kid.

They weren't tv shows--they're comic books. The movie is made from one of the books.

Wait...they're books?!

Yep. And I still have them.

So I can read them?

Tonight's bedtime story? "The Secret of the Unicorn." Complete with pirate voices and funny Belgian accents.

6:30...

2011-12-25T09:21:00.001-05:00

They let us sleep in this year! Both waited, ever so patiently, for both of their parents to be up and on their way to being caffeinated.

With each and every gift opened there was a proclamation of, "Oh my goodness! This is what I've always wanted! Thank you!"

May they always be so grateful!

We're off for a short church service this morning...a simple gathering to sing a few carols and to hear the Christmas story. Then we'll make our way out to my parents' where we'll spend the rest of the day as an entire family--mine and my sister's gift to our mom.

The past couple of years have seemed to be filled with more ups and downs than others. But through it all, we have been blessed beyond merit and measure. I very much believe the best is yet to come!

Merry Christmas!

13 years...

2011-12-19T14:28:00.002-05:00

Since we vowed to walk this journey together...

Whatever it was that put us in the same darkly lit, dodgy country bar on a cold January night in the south of Spain almost 17 years ago, I'm forever grateful. I fell in love for the first and last time that night and you still make my heart thump all these years later.

Happy Anniversary, my love!

Traditions...old and new...

2011-12-15T22:10:00.001-05:00

Early last month I took over the space where the Christmas tree has resided for the past two years...previously it was in the dining room which allowed us to control munchkin access by means of gated doorways. So this year, furniture was moved to make room in the living room for the largest tree we've ever had. The top branch ended up being trimmed to accommodate the angel. The angel I purchased for our first tree together as a married couple. It went on top of a tiny little three foot tree I spent way too much money on just so we could have a real Christmas tree in Florida!

Our first Christmas in this house the boy and his dad went out on their own to find a tree. They found a couple of old tree farmers selling trees in the parking lot of one of the older strip malls not too far from us. We've gone back there ever since. We always take our time looking for the perfect tree--perfect by our standards, not anyone else's! One of the farmers this year made the comment about how big the kiddos are getting. I wonder if it means as much to them to see us every year as it means to me?

Once the lights were tucked in the branches it was time to let the kiddos loose with the ornaments. I waited until they were in bed to rearrange clusters and distribute some a little higher. The lower half of the tree was decorated beautifully! The top half was a little sparse. It's evened out a bit now. Especially as the kitties do their share of ornament placement critiquing.

Please don't tell any of the other holidays, but I really like Christmas the best. I do. I love Christmas. I love just about every bit about it. The family time. The music. The decorations. The lights. Pulling out our ornaments and hanging them on the tree reminds me of who I am and where I come from. I love that I can pass that down to my children. And I love that they are at the age where they're curious about them and they want to hear the stories.

The hand painted wooden ornaments that my mom painted the Christmas I was born. When my sister and I left home these were divided between the three of us. Given our nomadic upbringing it means a great deal to know that no matter where any of us are any given Christmas, these wooden ornaments--among others that were also divided out--draw us together as sisters and mother...

There are tiny little clay pitchers I purchased on our camping trip through Portugal. A painted tin cat that reminded me of our beloved Sebastian T. Cat. A bright red ball that was a reward for raising a lot of money for this year's National Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run. A crystal star given to me by a dear friend and fellow Navy vet I share a birthday with. A handmade ornament I won in a raffle my first Christmas in Spain...

Carved wooden animals my mom brought back one year. She and my sister strung them up on a clothes line and spray painted them gold, silver, white and red and gave them all beaded garlands. A little bit of Africa to remind me of home...

My favorites, however, have started appearing in the past three years...ornaments the kiddos have made in school. Clay mittens painted and sparkling with glitter. Snowflakes and gingerbread men. Picture frames with their smiling faces...

New finds I couldn't resist...

And ones each child gets to pick out for themselves. The girl chose a shimmering purple ballet slipper. The boy had a tough decision between a dinosaur and a dragon. In spite of my love of paleontology, I'm secretly pleased the dragon won...

And new traditions. Last year Kyleigh wanted a Christmas tree in her room. This year when she brought it up again I remembered how I had always wanted a tree in my room as well.

I actually found a set of two pre-lit trees on sale, as well as a bin of small non-breakable ornaments, and sparkly garland. I had the trees plugged in and lit in their rooms when each came home from school. I knew the wee girl would be excited...and she was...but I wasn't expecting Jacob's reaction.

He was overjoyed! His tree was decorated before I could make it upstairs with the camera. He made sure that this would be something they do every year.

Of course, they now want to add their own ornaments to their trees each year. I suppose it's only fair. But I'm drawing the line at putting their presents under their own trees!

I've never been one who follows tradition for tradition's sake. But I love that our little family is creating our own traditions and that these are things my children can look forward to throughout the year. However, the tree falling over on us before we get a chance to tie it to the wall? That doesn't get added to the list of traditions we carry on. Everything else can stay.

A geek's best medicine...

2011-12-11T20:27:00.001-05:00

Wee girlie's cold settled into her lungs and now we're dealing with our second case of pneumonia this month.

Last week was insanely long, emotional and trying.

We've always fallen back on irreverent humor to get us through the toughest times in our lives. So why should now be any different?

Fair warning...I laughed so hard at this I do think I may have peed...just a little. And I heart my fellow geeks!

A long December...

2011-12-05T19:06:00.001-05:00

I don't deal well with being cold...and being cold at Christmas time only intensifies my longing for home and for Africa. I can't layer up enough to keep my equatorial bones warm and still manage to remain mobile.

Clearing out the attic recently brought into clear focus the fact that I've been in this house and in this town longer than I've lived anywhere else in my entire life. There's an itch to give away all the things and move on. The inability/impossibility to scratch that itch is making me grumpy, cranky, moody and an all around bitch to live with.

It's going to be a loooong winter.

And, if you could, please...when you think of my very understanding and long suffering husband, say an extra prayer of peace for him. He'd appreciate it.

Why my head hurts...

2011-11-29T12:57:00.001-05:00

Actual, honest-to-goodness conversation with my daughter just now:

Her: It's not very nice of somebody to make fun of my pretend baby sister.

Me: Who makes fun of your pretend baby sister?

Her: My pretend baby brother.

Me: Your pretend baby brother makes fun of your pretend baby sister?

Her: Yes. And that's not very nice.

Me: You're right...that's not very nice at all.

Because there's always room for more crazy...

2011-11-28T11:00:00.001-05:00

Two hours at Kid Med (pediatrician urgent care), a couple of chest x-rays and the Boy was diagnosed with pneumonia. He was home all last week with a nasty cough that just wasn't getting better. Yesterday afternoon he looked pale and blue around the eyes and mouth. We're not the sort of parents who rush off to the doctor's with every little sniffle, but that sight had the Boy in his booster seat within five minutes.

I learned a few things. Passing four other urgent care facilities just to go to a pediatric specific facility was worth the extra miles. I need to have more than two books actually loaded on the Kindle Fire since it's wifi only. "Sponge Bob Square Pants" is stupid. And nothing perks up a lousy feeling 6-year-old faster than being able to see his own x-rays!

Over communicating...again.

2011-11-21T21:01:00.001-05:00

Me: So a while ago there was this huge uproar over a toddler pageant mom dressing her daughter up as Julia Robert's hooker character in "Pretty Woman"

Him: Okaaay...understandable.

Me: Putting the whole "toddler pageants are creepy and should just go away" argument aside...now there's a picture floating around of a little girl dressed up as Audrey Hepburn's character in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"...and they're all...that's so cute, so classy!

Him: Aaannnddd....

Me: Holly Golightly was basically a prostitute as well. And married.

Him: I did not know that.

Me: I don't know what bothers me more...the hypocrisy of the same people being outraged at one but charmed by the other or the fact that they're charmed and clueless regarding what they're being charmed by.

Him: Um...I've never watched the movie. You do know that, right?

Me: But it's over there in the cabinet...

Him: I'm not saying it doesn't exist in this house, I'm just saying I've never actually watched it.

Me: So we're never going to be able to sing that song to each other, are we?

Him: Please stop.

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on...

2011-11-19T22:06:00.001-05:00

In light of our recent bout of the plague there's been little time for the gathering of thoughts and coherent thinking necessary for a blog post. Sorry.

However, the wee girlie did provide us with some hope of her not being turned completely over to the Dark Side (the Dark Side being, of course, all that is Princess and Pink and Girlie.) And it was worth noting here.

Yesterday morning whilst zipping up her fleece before heading out the door for preschool she let out a massive belch. And then busted up in 4-year-old giggling.

Wowie! What are you supposed to say after you burp?

Good one!

Or...or...maybe, "Excuse me"?

But that's what Jacob always says!

Fine. New rule: From here on out...do not repeat anything your brother says. And don't take your etiquette cues from your dad. Or your mother. Really, you're on your own on this one. Because I still laugh uncontrollably at the poop jokes.

All quiet...

2011-11-17T07:56:00.001-05:00

The Boy boarded the school bus a while ago. No one else is up. The wee girlie is still fighting a cold...and several days of late nights/early mornings have caught up with her. Himself has been mostly dead for the past two days. But that didn't stop him from insisting I open my anniversary present when UPS dropped it off yesterday.

Our anniversary is just over a month away. I know--the man is precious. And yes, I'm spoiled rotten.

So I'm sitting here enjoying the rare quiet on this cold, wet Autumn morning getting to know my Kindle Fire just a little better. And so far? Love it. Don't get me wrong...I still love books, real paper books...the way they feel, the way they smell, turning pages, flipping back through to read a part again...and I typically have 3 or 4 going at the same time. We will be buying books until the day they stop publishing them. But I fell in love the digital reader sitting and waiting all those hours at various doctor's appointments with the wee girl. This reader is the perfect size and fit for me. I'm looking forward to seeing what else this nifty gadget can do!

Bragging...

2011-11-12T10:31:00.001-05:00

My big sister just ran her first 8k this morning. In 30 degree weather. In 47:37 minutes.

Why, yes...she is awesome!

I am...

2011-11-11T07:25:00.001-05:00

The granddaughter of a Sailor...

The daughter of a Sailor...

I am a Sailor...

And the wife of a Sailor.

Today we honor the ones we walked with, served with.

It was an honor to be a member of this nation's Navy

and to be a part of something bigger than myself. The friendships made during that time are lasting...obviously at least one more than others.

"Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Freedom."

For those still standing watch...I salute you.

Those crazy genes again...

2011-11-10T20:47:00.001-05:00

Not too long ago (shush, dear sister...you're still older),

I was a four-year-old with long flowing locks...

(somewhere near the Grand Canyon)

I was even known to wear a crown every now and then...

(Ocracoke Ferry)

Then one day we learned we were moving to Africa.

Apparently it's Hot there and long hair just would not do.

(Rockin' our jumpsuits and taking in the sights of London...Parliament, Big Ben)

Of course, it was my sister's idea and, since she was The Coolest Person I knew,

I had to follow along.

Years later...I too have a daughter with long flowing locks of hair...

Two ponytails...rarely will she let me get away with just one.

She was quiet and occupied this afternoon. I thought she was coloring.

Imagine my surprise when I walked into the kitchen and discovered a trail of hair...

She did attempt to pin the blame on her brother. Except he had an airtight alibi.

We were in the other room killing zombies.

My first thought was to simply trim it up a little. Then I got a better look at the damage. Loaded everyone up in the Jeep and headed for Super Cuts. Because Daddy's working tonight. Of course.

It's obvious a hacked hair cut isn't about to diminish the Cute or the Adorable. There were no tears...we made the entire trip into an adventure. Besides...I kinda like it. Short hair will certainly be simpler to deal with on this wild and crazy twirly girly!

On Honesty...on Perfection...and accepting help...

2011-11-07T22:19:00.000-05:00

Everyone is watching. Don't forget to be perfect.

That's a lot for a 4-year-old. And then even more as she's growing up.

Sit still. Stop fidgeting. Don't fight with your sister. Everyone can see you.

Preacher's daughter. Born and raised. Missionary daughter since the age of 4.

We expect more from you. Better.

Church school disciplinarians were always disenchanted to discover I was really a normal kid after all.

Boarding school with all of it's rules. If only I'd remembered to be perfect.

Years of freedom helped me discover the me buried deep inside the resentment and the anger.

I forgot again in my attempt to be the perfect wife, perfect mother. And it almost all fell apart. The fact that it didn't is a testimony to True Love and tenacity.

Last September I made, and kept, the commitment to run a 5k. Then signed up for a 10k and dropped out due to a back injury. In May I signed up for a half marathon and started my training. Training for the half marathon was grueling. Especially in the summer. With two kiddos and a husband whose work schedule refused to conform to my own needs. I was at the Y two afternoons a week running 5-7 miles on the treadmills then dragging myself out of bed at 5:30 on Saturday mornings to be able to run an hour, two hours before the heat and humidity became unbearable. By mid-August it all became too much. My body literally gave out on me. Ovarian fibroids developed into a cyst and ruptured. A persistent pain in my side and an odd numbness in my neck and along the side of my face.

I ran the half marathon doped up on naproxen and Tylenol. And puked my guts out at the end.

Two separate issues.

When I started consistently losing sleep due to being in pain, I sought professional help. The doctor really thought the pain in my side was my gallbladder. Abdominal study ultrasound showed normal organs all the way around. A HIDA scan showed that not only was my gallbladder functioning, it was functioning at a level he'd never seen before. So while there was nothing amiss with the gallbladder or any of the major organs, no one denying that there was, in fact, Something Going On. He called me back in for a follow up. More questions. More probing. More listening. Tentative diagnosis...severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome. And, yes, my loving husband has already run the "grumpy pants" joke into the ground!

It wasn't until the next morning that I was able to really dig and find out more about IBS and the medicine I'd been prescribed. While there is a correlation between IBS and anxiety, it's not always related. However, the medicine that is supposed to ease the muscle spasms and keep the intestines from seizing up is also combined with an anti-anxiety medication. Just in case.

I've never denied the existence of stress in our lives. Given the life we've chosen, how could I? And not a week goes by when some new stress rears its nasty little head. A husband with one of the most stressful jobs known to man as well as a chronic, possibly crippling disease, a daughter with the same chronic disease who, along with her brother is also in the High Spirited Child category. An old house that decides to be cranky every now and then. And then running my own cake business on the side. However, I would never think or admit that it's to the point where I/we need to talk to someone about it or that I would need help from an medicinal source. It's not a matter of denial--more a matter of, at what point have I had two seconds to put the thought together that maybe, just maybe everything landing on my small shoulders might be too much? Even during the years when I really should have talked to someone I didn't...because I was supposed to be Perfect. Those were the years I attempted self medication. With alcohol. Not recommended. But this amazing man who loves and supports me unconditionally walked beside me then and he's walking beside me now.

Friday night was the best night's sleep I've had since the beginning of August. While my neck and side are still stiff and tender, there is no longer the mind numbing-I'm-about-to-throw-up-then-pass-out pain I've been experiencing. Saturday was an extremely productive day. And Sunday I was drawing up plans for taking over the sunroom for my own sewing/craft/mommy space (I was shoved out of the office when the Boy took over my desk top). I strung together entire, complete sentences. Because I was no longer in pain. And because I actually slept. I have a feeling the entire family just might benefit from Mommy being on a mild Happy Pill.

I dropped the Girl off at preschool this morning. Came home and set out for a two mile run. It was going to be my first run in three weeks. I almost cut it short thinking there was no way I was going to make the whole two mile loop. But I didn't. And I made the entire two miles. Without my insides threatening to strangle me from the inside. Logging the run on my training program I realized I tipped over the 100 mile mark for the year.

My next 100 miles will be healthy and smart ones. While I may not be the Perfect Parent--and I'm okay with that--I am the Healthy Parent in this family.

Homesick...I blame it on the cold snap...

2011-11-04T22:33:00.003-04:00

The walls are thin this night...

2011-10-31T21:42:00.001-04:00

We donned costumes in order to confound the fey..

A ghost pirate will keep us all safe...

And gain plenty of booty for his troubles...

A wee princess will enchant them out of their payment.

We're safe for another year.

Turn out the lights...the party's over...

2011-10-30T15:06:00.002-04:00

One Sleeping Beauty cake...

One bleeding Eyeball cake, surrounded by brain cupcakes...

One very excited ghost pirate and his X-wing pilot pal!

Long day spent getting everything ready, cooked and decorated was worth it

when both kiddos declared it the Best Day Ever. This parent gig is pretty cool sometimes!

It's Birthday Party Day!

2011-10-29T11:16:00.000-04:00

And for my next trick...pulling off a combined 4-year-old princess party and a halloween party!

Princess cake...in the works
Bleeding eyeball halloween cake...in the works
Princess treats...check
Halloween treats...check
Pink princess napkins and plates...check
Black halloween tablecloth and napkins...check
Enough food to feed an army of costumed kiddos (and their parents)...check

List created of all things party that have to be transported to the church's fellowship hall because our ancient sewage drain picked yesterday to start spewing sewage back into the house...done and being checked off. Yeah...yesterday sorta sucked. But I can say that our bathroom has never, ever been cleaner! So we've got that going for us.

The sun also rises...

2011-10-24T11:28:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know Mr. Hemingway wrote it first. But after the past four days--long nights and early mornings--with the boy being really sick...his fever finally broke during the night.

The sunrise this morning was beautiful.

Fluidity...

2011-10-22T17:04:00.000-04:00

Party postponed until next weekend...

big brother sick in bed...

Daddy out on a work call...

but we still celebrated with a "girls only" tea party with Aunt Donia and Maia!

It's hard turning four and being told that the party you've been looking forward to for so long isn't happening today after all. Big brother is down with a nasty virus and keeping the party on schedule just wasn't worth the risk of contaminating other kiddos. Besides, it'd be nice for him to enjoy himself as well. Birthday parties suck when you're sick. We had a halloween party planned already. So for my next trick...pulling off a princess/halloween party! I believe I'm up for the challenge!

She was concerned about the lack of cake. Cupcakes just aren't the same when one is expecting the requested Sleeping Beauty cake. But she perked up when she saw me setting the table for a tea party. Her aunt and cousin were on their way in (they weren't scared of germ boy). She'd have someone other than just her parents sing Happy Birthday to her. Then her dad's bat phone rang.

She enjoyed her little tea party. And more presents. And very enthusiastically showed everything off to her dad when he came back home. I think she's going to warm up to this "week long" birthday celebration pretty quick!

A very special anniversary...

2011-10-22T01:00:00.000-04:00

Who could have imagined...

that this wee bundle of a newborn baby girl...

would grow into this wee bundle of personality, energy

and imagination in four short years?

Happy Birthday, Kyleigh!

I love you, baby girl. All the way to the moon...and back.

Lukewarm coffee...

2011-10-20T16:28:00.001-04:00

The Boy had his highly anticipated 1st grade field trip to the pumpkin patch this morning. His dad went along. He came home with a tiny little pumpkin and a raging fever. His dad had to turn around, change and immediately head out to work where he'll remain until late tonight.

Thinking everyone was settled for the moment I made a cup of coffee. But before I sat down I poured out a dose of Advil for the kiddo, along with a water bottle of cold water. He proceeded to throw up the medicine. His popcorn snack. His lunch. And I think I saw breakfast in there as well. On me. On himself and on the couch. His little sister had been really concerned about him--pulled the blanket up over him, kissed his cheek. Very, very sweet. Until he blew chunks on her blanket. Then she was all...oh, no he didnt!

Wee girlie screaming. Boy crying but still managed a shower. Couch cushions stripped and in the wash. Girl still screaming. Boy still crying. Girl then hides the fact she pooped in her panties. Again. Dog just wants to go out.

Now? Boy is clean, re-medicated (chewables this time around) and sleeping it off in our bed. (Note to self: Change sheets in an attempt to keep germies away from compromised immune system husband.) But the kitties remained napping on the bed as well, so he's got that going for him. Girlie is clean and contently playing with play dough (my sister's homemade variety...which they refused to play with before because they declared it Stinky. Miraculously the stink has disappeared. Whatever. Kiddos. Not about to understand them.)

And I'm savoring my lukewarm coffee. And the quiet. I take the moments where I find them.

And the Best Husband award goes to...

2011-10-18T20:59:00.001-04:00

This amazing man I married almost 13 years ago!

I walked in the door after a late and long committee meeting to find kiddos bathed and tucked in bed for the night, laundry already running, himself in the process of washing dishes and a glass of wine poured and waiting for me. That was after his full day of work and taking the kiddos swimming at the Y and out to dinner all by himself.

I believe the term you're looking for is Spoiled Rotten.

Still breathing...

2011-10-17T21:23:00.002-04:00

Still here. Still kicking. Still alive.

New pictures and posts coming soon. Promise! Life's just being...well...life. Something has to give sometimes and, unfortunately yet unsurprisingly, this little ol' blog drew the short straw this time around.

"Here's to the crazy ones..."

2011-10-05T20:30:00.000-04:00

I learned basic programing on an Apple II. And it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. No matter what you feel about the Apple brand, Steve Jobs changed the way we think about computers, entertainment, animated movies, music sharing and dropped the veil on media editing.

Rest in peace, Mr. Jobs. You did well. Thanks.

A still life...

2011-10-05T13:43:00.005-04:00

A girl, her cat and an ipod...

...a rare still moment.

Love it when we're in the funny papers!

2011-09-29T10:58:00.002-04:00

http://www.gocomics.com/thebuckets/2011/09/28

Motivation...

2011-09-28T22:09:00.000-04:00

Getting back into the rhythm of school and running hasn't exactly been smooth. It's still hot and I'm having to make choices between running in the heat at 9 am or hanging out in a quiet house that I have all to myself for three hours. I gotta tell ya...some days? Sitting on the couch for three hours is awfully tempting. My body is still in recovery...sorta...and still dealing with other issues. My attitude towards running has sorta been "meh."

Then earlier this week I read this...a fellow runner and a-MAZ-ing baker who was also feeling meh regarding her running. Seriously? Anyone uses "must outrun zombies" as a motivation is a Role Model in my books!

And then there's this girlie...

The whole reason I started down this crazy road to begin with! Sheesh. How much trouble would I be in if I let her down?!

So...I'm back to lacing up the running shoes whenever I get the chance. This morning was 7:30 in the rain. It was short. But it was still a run. And running my neighborhood was like running with an old friend. I seriously have no desire...no fire...for another 13.1 miles or beyond. But there are shorter races on my horizon. I want to finish strong. Because I have to.

PS...not only are we as a family recruiting team members for this year's National Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell 5k, I'm also privileged to be a member of the planning committee for the event. If anyone wants to know how they can help out, please feel free to email me at smplydori (at) gmail (dot) com.

Whilst on the subject of pets...

2011-09-25T21:35:00.001-04:00

While he hasn't been a constant all summer, Snack T. Bat makes an appearance every so often. He appears to be in good health and he still stays home on rainy nights. It's still a delight to watch him throughout the day...

And, yes...if you look closely, that is the reflection of my fantastically awesome R2D2 Droid phone. And ignore the unkept yard. It's been raining. A lot.

A pictorial post on cats...and why I need a living room door...

2011-09-24T10:13:00.001-04:00

Cutting out the fabric for the wee girl's cape required using the living room floor as a cutting board...I had a little "cat-ervision"...

Don't know how I would have completed the project without them!

A night out on the town...

2011-09-23T09:59:00.001-04:00

Family tickets to opening night of "Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream"?

Free, courtesy of a local magazine drawing!

Snazzy princess dress? $6 from a local children's clothing resale store...minor alterations and repairs were needed, but, since I happen to know my way around a sewing machine, it was well worth the bargain price!

Red cape for the girl and new black cape for the boy?

$6 in fabric...and scraps were turned into a big red hair bow!

Kickass princess shoes? $1.50 from another resale shop!

Entertaining ourselves with the phone camera during intermission? $0

And $0 spent on Disney merchandise!

Daring to dream? Priceless!

The thing is, we were going to buy tickets--but just for the wee girl and her dad. Call it an early birthday present. And they probably would have been the cheap, suck section tickets as well. I always enter contest for stuff we/I want and I never win. Ever. And then, somehow, in the past month? Just about everything I've entered for the kiddos we've won! So from now on, I'm totally entering their names on everything.

I've held a love/hate relationship with Disney for years. They've totally and completely screwed up every single fairy tale they've touched and it pisses me off. And don't even get me started on the whole needy, non-self rescuing princess crap. Ariel, not only changing species, but giving up her voice for a man? The biggest, stinky-est load of bull ever sold to little girls. In the past couple of years, however, there's been a change in the wind. A new crop of strong, independent leading ladies with actual personalities has come up.

Proof that the 'verse has a sense of humor? I spawned a princess loving girlie girl. I don't fight it. After all, I was given the freedom to be the tomboy when my own mother (Hi, Mama!) would have much preferred a girlie girl. We will, however, equip her with the tools she needs to be strong, independent and self rescuing. Wanting a prince to come rescue you is all together different from needing the rescue. And learning how to kick a little butt along the way certainly doesn't hurt either!

Kilted...

2011-09-22T10:32:00.000-04:00

September is Prostrate Cancer awareness month...

and all the cool kids are donning kilts to let everybody else know...

Well...kilts and tutus. Maybe next year we can have a Tutu-ed to Kick Cancer. I, for one, would like to see that fashion show, or at least the bit with Kiefer Sutherland.

Anyway...head on over to his blog for more links, details and a donation link. And remind your man to get checked...or remember to get checked yourself, if you're plumbed that way. Me? I'm going to keep admiring the picture...

Warning...cuteness overload!

2011-09-18T22:02:00.002-04:00

But if you're going to overdose on Cute, then what better way to go than watching a wee 3-year-old dance?

They're boogying to Dan Zanes playing up on stage! We had already enjoyed a great local band (one of the band members used to be with Carbon Leaf).

Kiddo music festivals are so much cooler than the grown up versions! Loads of free crafts and hands on play stuff. We shared a funnel cake (much to His disappointment since he had work stuff and wasn't able to join us for the fun)...I haven't had a funnel cake in years and it was delicious! Coolest part? I had won us free tickets to the festival through one of the local kids magazines, so the whole day only cost us $10 for snacks! And then won their drawing for tickets to Disney on Ice Dare to Dream show which is in town this week. So...basically? Best Day Ever.

One year later...

2011-09-12T10:11:00.001-04:00

One year ago I dropped the wee girlie off for her first day of preschool, drove to one of the local parks, set my interval timing on my ipod and ran/walked by way through a mile and a half. Week 1, day 1 of the Couch to 5k training program. And I didn't die.

It's amazing and just a little surreal to look back over the year and see everything as a whole...the accomplishments, the stumbles and the getting-back-ups. Since this week last September I have logged over 600 miles, run three 5k races (one of them being the insane Rugged Maniac) and a half marathon. I've dealt with 98% humidity, rain, snow, freezing temperatures, searing heat, dog bites, a nasty back injury, girl plumbing issues, the defeat of having to drop out of the 10k race only to bounce back and finish strong (for me) in a half marathon. And I'm still not dead.

The lesson learned is this...if one is stubborn enough, bull headed enough and just a little bit crazy one truly can accomplish just about anything and reach insane goals, even without being "gifted". I do not come from an athletic family. My mom was a fairly decent athlete in school, but that was one of many of her genes that did not get passed along to her daughters. But she passed along the tenacious gene in abundance!

I have at least four more races before the end of the year...two 5k's, a 10k and just maybe another 1/2 (I've mentioned crazy already, right?) The mornings are turning cooler...I'm heading back out to my beloved trails to train and simply run for the joy of running. Who would have ever thought I'd write that last sentence?!

With Liberty and Justice for all...yes, All...

2011-09-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

How we do hurricanes...

2011-09-07T11:04:00.004-04:00

You may have heard of a little storm we had roll through here two Saturdays ago.

Woke up to rain Saturday morning. The wind picked up and we were in tropical storm strength winds from early afternoon until wee hours of the morning Sunday. Kiddos managed to sleep with the wind rattling the roof above them. Downstairs we had windows open for the air and with the mighty storm raging outside one not-so-fierce Bella T. Doggie decided to forgo her bed and went for the narrow sheltered spot on my side of the bed.

Sprite T. Kitty was perfectly content as long as she had her blankie. The storm drove the mama cat into our room for the night as well. She typically sleeps on the office chair.

Of course, after the night we had, coffee was as much of a necessity as ever! No power, no problem...

We spent the morning out in the front yard cleaning up...lots of branches came down. Some bigger than others. Our Narnia lamp may never be the same. Visiting with neighbors who were also doing the clearing. Making sure everyone came through okay.

Our block of the neighborhood was somehow spared from the devastating damage that happened all around us. Our 80-year-old oak trees remained standing. Many others in our area weren't so fortunate. We lost power Saturday evening but had it back late Sunday night. It took another week to get our internet/cable back. I became very familiar with what my trusty little Droid can and cannot do! However, a smartphone is only as smart as the user, really. Again, it was a minimal inconvenience compared to the fact that neighbors the next block down didn't get power restored until three days ago. It's going to be months before all of the downed trees are finally removed and destroyed homes repaired but at least all power lines are restored and streets are open.

Sometimes...I imagine at least six impossible things before breakfast...

2011-09-05T22:12:00.001-04:00

But Sunday morning, I only needed to focus on one...

Finishing 13.1 miles...in this crowd...

And I did...I crossed the finish line on the boardwalk at 02:57:49. The crowd was immense. The energy was overwhelming. Live bands at just about every mile marker and streets lined with cheerleaders and loud spectators.

My equally nutzy, determined, fabulous and fellow global nomad cousin flew in just so we could run the half marathon together! Love you, Jenn!

Very sparkly finisher medal...because when you rock 13.1 miles? You better believe everyone gets a medal!

Jenn currently lives in a land locked state. When I said I wanted seafood after the race, she didn't argue. She and I stayed with one of the most amazing friends anyone could ever be blessed with. Not only did Amy feed us the night before and shuttle us to the start line at 6 am and meet us at the finish line on the beach with balloons and our own wee cheer leaders, she let us in on one of the best kept local secrets: an amazing seafood restaurant/dive right on the bay....the shrimps were swimming with the fishes just that morning.

My own personal reward...Magic Hat #9...and the glass even saluted me!

Cleaned up. Full. Happy. Content. And sore. I have muscles I didn't even know I had introducing themselves. But, dang, if we aren't both proud of ourselves!

The elite runners were awesome. Of course a Kenyan won...we had just crossed the 5k marker when he passed us going the other way. Crazy fast.

But the group of runners that most impressed me? The ones I was running with. The ones who were running to prove something to themselves. Running for a personal cause. The ones who were struggling with keeping one foot in front of the other and still kept on going. The ones who wanted to quit, but didn't. The ones who stumbled, fell, got back up and kept running and finished. Those are the ones who I'm proud of.

So why do I put myself through this? Because I believe in parenting/teaching/living by example. My children will know that they can do anything they put their minds to. And they've been gifted with the tenacity to see it through.

Things are labeled Impossible just because it hasn't been done yet. A year ago I couldn't run a mile. Sunday I ran/walked 13 of them. I threw up at the end. But I finished. Three weeks ago I suffered a ruptured ovarian cyst. Derailed my training just a bit. But I still ran. And finished. Because I said I would.

Earthquakes, thunderstorms and hurricanes...oh my!

2011-08-25T20:33:00.000-04:00

We're all set...nothing left to do but ride it out and party on...

Shaken...not stirred.

2011-08-23T21:20:00.001-04:00

I know it's practically meaningless to inhabitants of the west coast, but this side of the country got a little shaken up this afternoon!

We're about 30 some miles from where the epicenter of the quake was and it took me a few seconds to register that, no, a big truck did not just drive by. 5.8 on the richter scale...the largest earthquake ever recorded in the state. And the strongest I've ever felt (spending years on a volcano and on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, tremors were normal). Local news casters are in heaven!

Kiddos were upstairs playing and when I went to call them down two gray streaks flashed by me as the cats made a dash for the safety of their basement sanctuary. I thought they were supposed to be able to sense these things before hand? The four of us--me, two munchkins and a big black dog who was "protecting" us--huddled together at the bottom of the stairs and I kept them laughing until the earth settled back down. My eldest declared the earthquake The Coolest Thing Ever. His younger sister, on the other hand, added it to her list of Things She Doesn't Like.

Lots of noise, lots of glass rattling but nothing broken and everything remained on shelves and on walls. I supposed toddler proofing ones home works for earthquakes as well. Not surprising really. Toddlers should be classified as Forces of Nature, after all.

Apparently there was an aftershock this evening. But it occurred right around our nightly clean up/teeth brushing/bath time ~~drama~~ routine. Not sure we would have felt it even if it had been as strong as before.

Oh, and hey...there's a hurricane coming in for a visit this weekend as well. And, yes, I went to the grocery store and purchased two gallons of milk and two loaves of bread. Good thing whole wheat bread isn't considered a Staple here in the south--I'd have hated to throw down in the bread isle on this now historic day.

Loving what I do...

2011-08-14T20:53:00.000-04:00

And love that I have a nephew who requested a zombie cake for his 13th birthday!

Busting out of his chocolate coffin...

braiiiiiiinnnnnssss....

Freedom!

Oh yeah...he loved his cake! It was delicious too.

New things...

2011-08-11T21:33:00.000-04:00

We decided it was way past time to introduce our kiddos to the joys of tent camping. We also decided to ease them in to it at one of our favorite local state parks.

The family enjoyed some time swimming in the lake before thunder and lightening had the park ranger evacuating the beach area. But there was plenty of time before the thunderstorm hit for us to cook supper on the campfire...but not enough time for s'mores.

One wee girlie does not like thunderstorms, thankyouverymuch. And riding one out in a tiny little tent? She was not pleased. The little man, on the other hand, distracted himself just fine.

As always, the thunderstorms moved on and the sky cleared. There was still time and daylight left for exploring. Don't worry...the tent is bigger on the inside.

Everyone managed to sleep...some more than others. Apparently my son inherited my super power (I can sleep anywhere, any time). Even Bella T. Doggie had a quiet night...not a growl, not a whimper nor a whine--even with all of the other animal noises around us. Bears were off in the distance as well as other animals I couldn't identify.

Morning came early. Water was heated for coffee. Fluffy buttermilk pancakes on the ancient whisperlite stove. Camp was packed up, campfire doused and we all went exploring. A half mile hike was just about all little legs had in them that morning. But there was still plenty to see and inspect!

While Daddy and the doggie watched from shore the kiddos and I explored the lake in a canoe. Everyone was doing great until we came back around the bend and Kyleigh spotted her dad. Then she insisted she had to be out of the boat right then and there! Once she was safely deposited back on dry land her brother and I paddled to the other end of the lake. It was nice to do something with just him. It brought back memories of his first two and a half years when it was just he and I alone on all of our adventures.

The trip ended with a little more swimming, a picnic lunch and everyone snoozing for the trip back home. While it was fun and definitely repeatable, we're a long ways away from backwoods camping! We also decided that investing in a slightly larger tent might be a good idea.

The leap...

2011-08-10T22:53:00.000-04:00

One of the quirky little ways life has worked out? The births of my nephews and niece each mark a monumental moment in my lifeline.

The eldest was born while I was in boot camp. He just turned 17.

I was actually there when his sister was born, then promptly left to catch a plane back to Spain and my first date with the man I'd end up spending the rest of my life with. She'll be 16 in December.

The youngest's 13th birthday is tomorrow. And, by request, I'm making a zombie cake. It's shaping up to be delightfully gruesome and gory.

The summer he was born was the summer I lived with my sister and her family. I had signed my military separation papers with a vague idea of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Packed my house up. Watched them crate the motorcycle and packed my bags. With one last lingering kiss goodbye to the one I'd love forever, I boarded a plane and didn't look back. We both had our own paths to walk. Our own plans. Our own dreams. All he had to do was ask me to stay and I would have. But he didn't. So I left. And that Thing, that Thing that had been with me my entire nomadic life enabling me to survive countless moves and goodbyes, kicked in and with dry eyes I walked.

I called him on his birthday. He said he missed me.

We started communicating via daily emails. Then regular phone calls. Very expensive phone calls.

I was still laying out my own plans for my future. I'd enrolled in a local university. My GI Bill paperwork was already approved and funds on their way. He'd made his own plans to come visit for a couple of weeks. Then some international crisis arouse and those plans were cancelled.

My nephew was born. The house was getting a little crowded. I was looking at apartments and about to sign a lease and make a deposit when he called. I miss you. I love you. I was an idiot to let you go.

13 years ago I cleared out my savings account and purchased a one way ticket back to Madrid. I dropped out of classes the day before school began, repacked my bags and leaped into the great unknown. I didn't sleep on the plane. My super power is that I can sleep anywhere, any place, any time. And I was wide awake for the entire seven hour flight. My brain wouldn't shut up. Had I made the worst mistake of my life? If this didn't work out, I had nothing. What the hell did I just do?

As I made my way through the crowd at the Madrid airport and came around the corner after customs he was standing right there in the middle of everyone. My heart leapt. And I Knew. I fell in love with him the first night I met him. That morning, four years later, I fell in love with him all over again.

They're listening...

2011-08-04T21:49:00.001-04:00

Our little family has been finding reprieve from the heat in the pool. Heading home from the Y the other evening we were praising the munchkins on their ever improving swimming skills...

And you, wee girlie...you're turning into a fish!

Not a fish...I'm a Mermaid!

Very well! You're turning into a mermaid!

Because I'm going to be a Mermaid when I grow up.

Um...well...we're Human and, as far as I know, changing species isn't really an option.

I'm going to be a Mermaid! I can be anything I want to be when I grow up and I want to be a mermaid!

Slight amendment to the "You can be anything you want to be, do anything you want to do" speech to now include "within current species and dimension". And here I said I'd never put limitations on my children. That didn't last very long.

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."~ Christopher Robin

2011-08-01T21:24:00.000-04:00

I'm running a half marathon in exactly a month. Now, more than ever, this Pooh needs to be reminded of what the original Pooh Bear was told.

And have I mentioned that I'm also five months out from my 40th birthday? How did that happen?!

Grateful...

2011-07-22T22:00:00.000-04:00

I bought new running shoes today. As I walked out of the store there was a man sitting at one of the neighboring deli's outdoor tables. He asked if I had change for a bottle of water. Today was the hottest day on record for the area. The weight of my $100 shoes was suddenly heavy in my arms.

I told him I didn't have any change but I'd go in and buy him a bottle of water. As I started to open the door to the deli he quietly, and hopefully, asked if he could also have a hamburger. I grinned and asked what he'd like on it.

Everything.

When I placed the order I requested two bottles of water--my water bottle sitting in the Jeep would be warm by the time I got back to it. I handed the man his meal--accepted his thank yous and God bless yous, told him he was welcome and to enjoy--and I went on my way.

Rounding the corner I came face to wheelchair with another haggard looking older man. Handing him the second bottle of water, I told him that he looked like he needed it more than I did.

I could use some change.

I'm sorry--this is all I have, but it's your's if you want it.

I had actually managed to find a parking spot under a tree. Mainly because I had to back track on one way streets and parked on a side road. My full water bottle was still cool.

And I made my way back home to a loving family, supper in the oven and air conditioning. Everything in life I could have hoped for and more.

How we do Summertime...

2011-07-22T11:52:00.001-04:00

My tropical soul sighs a sigh of relief every year when summer arrives!

Not only do I finally thaw out but it's also time to Play!

Princess parties...

and crashed princess on the couch...

Ice cream sundaes!

Backyard sprinkler fun...

Pool time with cousins...

Enjoying fireworks on a stormy 4th of July!

Roasting giant marshmallows...

which make awesomely huge s'mores...

Love!

And mine and the kiddos very first baseball game ever!
I feel like a for real American now!

Self entertaining during innings...

Even Daddy's girl managed to ignore the crowd and enjoyed herself...

coaxed out of her shell by junk food.

And the best part? Summer's not over yet!

Reflection...

2011-07-14T12:09:00.002-04:00

The Bruce Springsteen song has come up before...and it'll keep running a loop through my brain/life I'm sure...

Well, it’s Saturday night

You’re all dressed up in blue

I been watching you awhile

Maybe you been watching me too

So somebody ran out

Left somebody’s heart in a mess

Well if you’re looking for love

Honey, I’m tougher than the rest.

It's been a rough week...month. Once again we find ourselves stretched and stretched again. And I'm reminded that there's a reason God made me just a little bit tougher than the rest. I also find myself humbly grateful for my husband, my family and for this incredible support group of fellow police wives. ML and V...one of these days I'm finally going to get to hug your necks!

A perfect storm of awesome...

2011-07-06T21:36:00.000-04:00

I *heart* my people.

They aimed to misbehave!

2011-07-04T13:25:00.000-04:00

And that's certainly worthy of a day off and some fireworks to celebrate 235 years later!

Balance...

2011-07-03T21:36:00.000-04:00

He's in the office working on training aids for EOD training (yes, we have the only 6-year-old who can explain what a collar bomb is. And Homeland Security knows exactly who we are and where we live.)

I'm sketching out a cute, pink and girlie baby shower cake and mixing up sugar paste.

Once again, balance has been restored to the force.

The impossible...

2011-06-28T21:07:00.002-04:00

Years ago we were told we couldn't. This handsome devil proved we could....

His 6th birthday was celebrated with Jedi training and a

mighty light saber battle in the back yard.

Of course, young Jedi Jacob needed a space ship...

Happy birthday, sweet son! May your heart always stay so sweet and your mind as brilliant and curious. Love you...to the moon and back.

I see Star Wars...

2011-06-24T18:45:00.000-04:00

I went for a longish run this morning. Across a fairly large street and up a sidewalk around the local commercial area. And I come across a spot on the sidewalk with multiple and odd municipal markings...

An epic imperial battle was fought here.

A block later I come across this one...

The one they call "Skywalker" is truly a Master.

Hi!

2011-06-20T10:33:00.001-04:00

It was a fairly full week last week...last week of school for the boy, a week of camp for the girl, she and I were both sick, long week for the lawman and I had three cake orders for Saturday. Good thing I tend to work best in chaos!

My delightful niece spent the latter half of the week with us. Not only was she an amazing help, but we had a great time together in the kitchen!

Anyway...I'm only going to show you my favorite of the three cakes...slightly more appetizing than the original inspiration...

Our own gruesome rendition of The Worst Pie in London

Lots and lots of chocolate cake with mini chocolate chips and covered in even more chocolate...really hoping the health inspector doesn't stumble across these photos...

A even gruesomer surprise lurked in the middle...

It bleeds!! Bwahahahahaha!

Daddy day revisit...

2011-06-19T07:34:00.001-04:00

I posted this a couple years ago, still one of my favorites...

**********************************************************************

This list was more difficult. Due more to an inability to put concepts into words than for brevity. And it has only been in recent years that I've come to realize the magnitude of gifts handed down from my dad...

It's never wrong to stand up for what you believe in--even in the face of adversity

Poetry is actually pretty cool

An unquenchable desire to know Stuff and to know how Stuff works

More importantly--how to put Stuff back together once
I've taken it apart in a quest for knowledge

Even girls need to know how to change a tire and change the oil.

Whenever possible, use the proper tool for the job--even if it means you have to go out and purchase that one specific tool you need. Everybody will be happier for it.

Be inventive

Learn from every experience...builds character!

If you're going to learn something, learn it well. Practice often.

Easy on the clutch

Motorcycles are, indeed, Amazing Things

Use the front and rear brakes together

Love animals

It's never too late to learn new things

Read. Read. Read.

Computers are Useful Tools--know how to use one!

The written word can be a very powerful tool--use carefully and judiciously.

Choose your battles

It's never too late to broaden one's mind

Be strong

Be independent

Love

Love out loud

Treat each day as an amazing gift

Love you, Daddy! Happy Father's Day!

Saturdays...we like them!

2011-06-11T21:11:00.000-04:00

Their dad worked last night...not only made it home in time to take care of all of their morning things and let me enjoy a fairly relaxed Saturday morning, but the man also brought home doughnuts! Then what to do with these two wild and crazy kiddos so daddy-o could sleep...

A morning at the botanical gardens seemed in order.

A delightful morning spent playing on the splash pad, exploring the tree house, squealing with delight over the venus fly trap plants, picnicking by the sandbox, smelling the roses, pausing to admire the little brown bunny that was enjoying his own morning out...

And exploring this amazing sculpture made out of saplings and twigs...

From the garden's website: "Artist-in-residence Patrick Dougherty built a large-scale, temporary sculpture of woven sticks and saplings in the Anderson Meadow; a transformational activity we called “Meadowmorphosis.”

They were both worn out by the time we left...Kyleigh informed me that her legs didn't want to walk anymore...it was hot but they enjoyed their day!

Status report...

2011-06-10T18:48:00.000-04:00

Laced up for a run this morning. And at 6:20 in the am, it was already soup outside! It's going to be a loooong summer. I suppose the good part is that the 1/2 marathon in September is at the beach and I'm going to be running in the exact same conditions I've been running in--Hot and Humid. There'll be people coming in from all over who aren't used to that and it's going to kick their booties. So, I have that going for me.

First ever catcall whilst running this morning. Horn honked and a, "Lookin' good, bay-bee!" You know, officially? I'm offended. But the fat girl in me? She was all...really?! Gosh...thanks! Sure beats the heck out of the time I was mooed at! Though, I may have run just a little bit faster.

The boy is finishing up his year in kindergarten this week. He had an awards ceremony a few days ago and I got a little choked up. He's still little compared to so many others in his grade. But he's running over with personality and brilliance. The little man has had a really good year--we're so proud of him and how far he's come! He's also got a birthday coming up--and it's going to be Awesome!

The preschool we've been involved in for the past couple of years is expanding to include kindergarten through eighth grade in the fall. It's a massive undertaking. I've volunteered my time and pr skills and created a brochure and mailing for them. I'll also be involved in the school itself as one of the art people. When I was first asked to help out with the brochure it never even crossed my mind that I would be compensated for my time. Imagine my surprise a few days ago when the director of the preschool called and asked if, in lieu of payment, Kyleigh would be interested in joining them for one week of their summer camp program. A program we never even considered due to its cost. And now she gets to go to next week's camp. Simply because I replied, "Sure, not a problem" when someone else asked me for a favor. I made the mistake of talking to her about it...the girl was ready to head out this morning! But, Mommy! I have to go see my friends! Time is such a fickle thing in the world of 3-year-olds.

We're all anxiously awaiting the end of next week--cousins will be out of school as well! Out door pools are open. Parks to visit. Sprinklers to run through. Adventures to be had. The days will be just packed!

7:16 am...

2011-06-04T22:06:00.001-04:00

And this is where she can be found...every single morning.

Well, except for Saturdays and Sundays. Then she's off somewhere else causing mayhem.

Birthday season...

2011-06-03T21:24:00.002-04:00

A dear friend's daughter turns 3 this week...and she's in love with horses.

So they had pony rides at the party!

My own kiddos were delighted...to say the least!

Of course, I made the cowgirl cake with a white horse to match her party plates...

A purple princess cake started off the season...my original birthday crew...I get a little teary every time I put a higher number on one of their cakes. Both of them very girly...but always fun to create such vastly different cakes.

Not too long ago someone asked me a question regarding how I advertise. She was a little taken back when I told her I didn't. Every single new cake order I get is through word of mouth. And really? That's the best advertising I can get! Cheap and highly effective. I'm as busy with this as I'm comfortable being and I love what I do! Who could ask for more than that?

Still kickin'...

2011-06-02T21:27:00.000-04:00

He remains under the weather. She's already on preschool summer vacation. He's two weeks away from graduating kindergarten! Cake business is hopping. A week of temps hovering just under 100 makes me think summer decided to come early. Oh...and I have a half marathon to run in 13 weeks!

But the play was delightful!

Dear Inconvenienced Citizen...

2011-05-27T21:46:00.000-04:00

I understand that having your street blocked off for a short time this afternoon was an inconvenience. My own plans for the day had to be changed as well. But that officer in the bomb suit? The one you were complaining about taking so long? He was dripping sweat in there, called in on a day off, the day after a nasty cold had him in bed all day, his joints were probably hurting and he's also getting over the shingles. But he went through all of that discomfort and, yes, inconvenience, in order to safely dispose of a live explosive device. A device that could have gone off and damaged your property. Hurt you. Injured your child.

And that same officer? He has a family of his own. A family who never, for a second, forgets that he wants to come home to them. So I'm sorry you had to wait for them to clear the street before you could continue on to your own home. Every single police officer on your street this afternoon had a family waiting for them as well. One of them has a wee blonde hair toddler and another on the way. Another has two little ones who were probably in bed before he made it home tonight. One of them is retiring next month--after 30 years of putting his own plans and life on hold just so you and your family can sleep in peace.

Is a little inconvenience too much to pay for your well being? Because that officer sweating pounds away in the bomb suit? He was willing to break his promise to his own two small children and to his wife--the promise that he will always come home--to put his life on the line for you, dear citizen. So that you could make it safely home to your own children. So next time? Take a moment, look beyond your own self and try to see the situation from his point of view before you bitch on a public forum about how inconvenienced you were on your way home from the grocery store.

Sincerely,

The Wife.

I train for days like this...

2011-05-26T21:58:00.000-04:00

Wee girlie has been dealing with a head cold all week. The child also flat out refuses to use the toilet for its intended purposes and the growing pile of soiled clothing is enough to send me to the Depths of Despair (don't ever try to leave!) Oh, she knows what to do. She just refuses to Do It.

The Boy is feeling neglected. Since my daughter began eschewing naps, mine and his time together diminished. I've been doing some volunteer pr work for the pre-school and the new k-8 extension school and had promised I'd have a brochure work up in by today. So even though the girl did nap today (after I tossed her royal hinnyness in bed with her dad--the one who called in Dead this morning--and they snoozed together), I used that time to finish up the brochure. But he and I still had time to play a couple of games, so don't feel too sorry for him!

So, yeah, about the sick ones. Both of them house a disease that attacks their bodies through their immune systems. A disease without a cure. Solution? Kyleigh gets by with Naproxen for now. For my husband, an auto-immune suppressant. Shiny side? He can function and live a normal life. Or at least as close to normal as we get. Not-so-shiny side? The man pretty much lays out a welcome mat for any and every bug out there. In the line-up today, he's battling a nasty head cold and shingles. Yes, I said shingles. Hence, the calling in Dead.

But tonight, laundry is in the dryer so we can start tomorrow with a fresh pile of undies for the girlie. The boy's favorite lunch is made and ready for the Star Wars lunch box in the morning. Toys that were flung to the far corners of the house in multiple meltdown moments have all been retrieved and stowed. Tomorrow will come soon enough and we get to do it all over again!

I've often thought that mommyhood is not for the faint of heart. Now I know it's for the hard core, nut job endurance athlete.

Summertime...it's just around the corner...

2011-05-26T06:56:00.002-04:00

Some of us celebrate early...

Dreams and memories of days like these are what keep me sane (ish) through the cold. And why you will never see my return address from anywhere north of where we currently reside.

An illustration on why I don't request help in the garden...really...

2011-05-24T09:03:00.004-04:00

(Thanks, Monty)

And that's all I'm going to say about that...

2011-05-22T21:38:00.000-04:00

Family adventure...

2011-05-22T18:02:00.000-04:00

About an hour and a half west of us is a small town with a tiny train station. And out of that station, for a few weeks in the spring, fall and winter a family run operation runs tours through beautiful countryside, along the river and in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

While we all had cameras with us and all came away with a plethora of pictures and memories, my 15-year-old niece worked her amazing magic and captured the day with these gorgeous pictures. I could have shared my own (and the last one is mine), I really just wanted to show off the incredible artist that she is!

The James River Rambler tour...

And the newest (and by far the most adorable) junior conductors.

Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance...I will never get tired of this view!

A special surprise on the tour! Cowboys, train robbers and the US Marshal and his posse all showed up! Setting aside the reality of the fact that wild west cowboys were never a part of this state's history, it was a lot of fun to interact with them and watch their performance.

Rustlin' up the train robbers!

Facing his accusers...

A distressed damsel...

The real conductor...and a man who truly loves his job!

The artist herself! Thanks for letting me share your pictures, Maia!

Apparently mud baths are good for you...and about that "crazy" gene...

2011-05-15T20:41:00.001-04:00

Rugged Maniac 2011

We came. We saw. We kicked its butt!

"Before"...shiny!

5K run through the woods and around a motor cross track...with a metric butt tonne of obstacles along the way (I lost count of how many walls I went up and over and how many mud pits I "swam" through, as well as the swinging tires, branches tied down at chest level, and the barb wire we army crawled under)...at least an extra ten pounds of caked on mud...a huge water slide at the end and a leap over fire to finish...

"After"...yeah, not so shiny!

I may not have run the entire course (bad back, you know) but I made it over, under and through every single obstacle! I know we made it through in about 45 minutes. I'll be interested to see the final times once they're posted. And see the pro pictures from the day!

It's all her fault. My crazy "big" sister is the one who double dog dared me to join their team. A team made up mostly of middle school teachers (I just can't imagine any one of my former teachers doing this on the weekends!) Okay, so it was more of an invite than a dare. She smoked me on the course, but waited for me at the water slide and we finished together. In some ways, we really haven't come too far from playing in the mud together when we were kids!

Mud caked shoes and socks replaced by beloved flip flops. Relaxing and enjoying good music, great company, swapping war stories and showing off scrapes and bruises! And already talking about next year's race.

*Both group shots are from my sister...the other is the one I sent from my phone to prove to my adoring and supportive husband that we had not only survived but that we Conquered!

**Edited**
Official time: 55:35...my goal was to complete it in under an hour. I'll take it! And, no, I will not be taking my husband's well meaning yet snarky advice on race attire next year. But he is more than welcome to join us and he can wear the boots and cammies!

When the crazy ones retire...

2011-05-09T17:16:00.002-04:00

They get an exceptional retirement cake and send off!

I had a little help with "arming" the cake. This man that I share my life with can be a little scary sometimes...brilliant, but scary. Of course, it just also went to prove that we are so far from Normal. Good thing we're okay with that!

Handed down from my mother...a Mother's Day encore...

2011-05-08T00:01:00.002-04:00

Spunky, Fiesty and Smart trump Submissive, Docile and Ignorant any day

Size does not matter if one is mighty in one's soul

Sometimes a road block really does simply mean

that's not the road you're supposed to take

When God closes a door, he always opens a window

Never pogo stick on gravel

Play...a lot

Sewing doesn't make one domestic--it makes one useful

...it also helps keep family members from getting lost.

Making meatballs for your daughter--even though you really do not

enjoy the task--makes your daughter feel pretty darn special when she walks

in the door for lunch and sees meatballs.

Being your child's biggest supporter and fiercest defender

is a pretty Big Thing in parenting

Never waste an opportunity to celebrate

Birthdays are Very Important Days

Allow your child to make mistakes--even if they're super dooper big ones

Love unconditionally

Reveal your own mistakes and weaknesses

Show fear

Show courage in the face of that fear

Go about the impossible with fierce tenacity

Enjoy the moment when the impossible has been made possible

Goals and dreams are attainable--without sacrificing family

Take care of yourself--inside and out

Follow your heart

Follow your own rhythm

"Bloom where you're planted"

Be impulsive

Have Faith

Be faithful.

Thanks, Mama...I am, indeed, a blessed daughter.

Happy Mother's Day!

On being a princess...

2011-05-05T21:26:00.001-04:00

Always be dressed in your finest...

even if your mission for the day is to find puddles to jump in.

Avoid the pesky paparazzi with quiet aloofness.

Accessorize.

Footwear is optional.

Mysterious ways...

2011-05-01T20:48:00.001-04:00

Friendly bickering between his dad and I at the supper table had our son rolling his eyes. Of course, his dad claimed I started it. Which I clearly did not. Jacob decided to intervene.

I'll decided who started it...

enny meeny minny mo...

Wagging his finger between us on the "mo", God will tell me which one of you started it!

catch a tiger by its toe

enny meeny minny....

His finger stops on his dad, MO!

Clearly, God is on my side.

Though if Divine Providence were truly on my side something would have stopped me from taking a huge bite seconds prior to his little judgement session. A large napkin was all that saved the rest of the family from full chicken pot pie spewage. Clearly, He's on their side as well.

Girlie day...

2011-04-27T21:38:00.000-04:00

Daddy worked late, brother has after school sports fun on Wednesdays...

it was just us girls for most of the day.

We like it like that sometimes.

Small victories...

2011-04-27T21:24:00.000-04:00

Parenting is not for the faint of heart. Parenting two highly intelligent, highly imaginative, creative and crazy kiddos totally takes someone just a little tougher and crazier than the rest. Basically...I just do my best to keep up.

At the beginning of the school year, Jacob came home all excited the day of his first library visit. He proudly showed off his library book. We read it all week. Each week he was delighted to bring home another book. Then the enthusiasm started to wean. We'd read the book when he first brought it home and then wouldn't look at it again until the hunt to find it to put it in his backpack. After he'd read the last several books to us I asked him why he wasn't checking out more challenging books. The librarian only let him check books off of the kindergarten shelf and he'd read them all already.

A note to his teacher addressing the issue (I do believe she has my email address memorized). A reminder to him yesterday morning as he left to--politely--ask the librarian if he could check out the higher level books.

Jacob was one very excited 5-year-old when he showed me his library book yesterday! And then we sat and he read "There's a Wocket in My Pocket". I love hearing my son read. And I love that he's excited about reading. He read the entire book by himself tonight...cover to cover with his sister sitting beside him, hanging on to every word.

It took a little prodding but the little man stood up for himself. And I'm more proud of that than any other part of this. And I'm totally looking forward to story time tomorrow.

Day dreaming...

2011-04-25T11:02:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking peach cobbler...

And maybe canning some peach preserves...

Assuming, of course, that the critters and fungus leave these alone this year.

Regardless...the sight of wee small peachlings makes me happy!

Lines drawn...

2011-04-24T20:56:00.002-04:00

Summer of 2000 found us moving...new state, new duty station. Apparently the months of July and August are busy times for military movers and we ended up camping out in our new apartment for two weeks whilst we waited for our furniture, and everything else we couldn't fit in the back of a Dodge Dakota, to catch up with us.

Emergency measures were needed and, seeing as it was infinitely cheaper to go with a ready made set of curtains rather than purchase a new sewing machine, I purchased (on clearance) a set of curtains. Full length denim to block out the street lamp that was directly outside our window. The only set I've ever had to buy...and they've followed us--sometimes remaining in the storage chest, sometimes fitting perfectly. They went up on a pair of windows when we moved in to this house--a back room that has gone through various changes. The final change was being transformed into our own bedroom. The curtains never fit well--too short to be floor length, to long to stay as they are. My 3rd world upbringing--reuse or repurpose all I possibly can--kicked in. A quick trim and hem and the curtains were fit to the windows.

A recent uniform change left my husband with a closet full of useless shirts. Apparently they can't simply be disposed of or donated somewhere due to the risk of falling into the hands of someone bent of impersonating a police officer. I watched--horrified--as he cut up one shirt and threw it away! I told him I would destroy the remainder in a much more useful and resourceful way if he would just put down the scissors and walk away!

This afternoon he looked over at one of the "new" bedroom curtains and pointed out that the hem was uneven.

Oh, that's fine...it so happens I just came into a surplus of navy blue material...

No. No. No! You are not using my old uniforms to fix our curtains!

Looks like I get to go shopping for brand new curtain material!

Our one Easter (sorta) craft...

2011-04-23T18:49:00.000-04:00

One dozen blown out eggs...(innards saved for baked yummies)

Food coloring dye...

Sharpies for details (they get so excited when I break out the grown up markers!)...

Lovely eggs drying...

Ribbons hot glued for hanging...

One rosemary bush delightfully adorned...

And not a single zombie to be found!

An open letter to Spring...

2011-04-13T11:17:00.001-04:00

Dear Spring,

I love you. I adore you. You bring sunny days and greenery...living things my tropical being craves. Each year I look forward to your arrival with great antici--pation. My happy thoughts are filled with the knowledge that I will be able to go out and frolic without pairing socks with my Earth shoes. My lily white legs will be exposed to Sunshine and Warmth.

But, girl...you have got to lay off on the pollen...

(I hosed her down yesterday afternoon!)

The double whammy of Oak and Maple have me under house arrest. There's not an allergy medication out there that leaves me free to move about the great outdoors while still maintaining some level of functionality as a human being.

Now looking forward to Summer.

Your's truly,

Finishing touches...

2011-04-06T20:58:00.001-04:00

A house with character is a wonderful thing...and something this abode is not lacking. Whomever it was that finished the upstairs apparently left his (or her) level in the truck on construction day. We have chosen to embrace that. Resistance was futile anyway.

While transforming the upstairs area into a space for the kiddos, I wanted to do something that tied the rooms together.

Another mural? Nope. Give them something they can color and draw on themselves? Score!

And a magnetic chalkboard? Double score. A royal pain in the posterior to apply, but totally worth it!

Things that go whoomp in the night...

2011-03-31T07:42:00.006-04:00

The wind does funny things to this old house...whistling through drafty windows and rattling loose doors. So last night when a soft whoomp shook the quiet evening hours, I paid it no mind. He, on the other hand, looked a little startled and unconvinced by my "just the wind" explanation.

Reading this morning's local news and turns out the man knows his whoomps. A vacant house was leveled in an explosion at that very moment...or, how many moments before for the shock/sound wave/whatever to reach us...18 miles away. Huh. No official word yet on a cause...though, given the location, I can opine that there is now one less meth lab in existence...

One last transformation...

2011-03-28T10:00:00.001-04:00

On another chilly March morning, five years ago, my sister and her kiddos drove into town to help clean our just closed on house...as well as help wrangle a very curious and very mobile 8-month-old Jacob so I could paint his room...

The day we actually moved furniture in was an emotional day...two nomads just signed a 30 year mortgage...but the peace far outweighed the fear...

This morning, as I washed my brushes and closed the art box on another transformation, I had that same peace...

Tonight the wee girl gets to sleep in a garden, tucked under a tree...

She has one small token princess element. At some point in the history of the house, someone finished the upstairs and carved out two bedrooms and a bathroom. Their creative way of dealing with the existing fireplace chimney? Plaster it, build the room around it. For a twirly girlie princess it became the perfect spot for a castle turret and royal banner...

One of my grandmother's quilts and a consignment store rug and her room is complete....

Due to this crazy life we've chosen, our children sometimes ( a lot of times) have to do without the new shiny things their friends get. But what they do get is priceless. I vowed long ago that my children would never, ever have to question whether they were loved or not. Because they are, and will always be, loved ...to the moon and back.

Pros of social networks...

2011-03-26T21:45:00.003-04:00

Proof for all to see of former boyfriends (or, even better, the boys who wouldn't give me a second glance but broke my heart just the same) swelled, much less hair and with wives/girlfriends far less attractive than I.*

Shallow? You bet. Vindictive? Maybe. Does it put a big ol' Cheshire cat grin on my inner 17-year-old self? Absolutely.

*See also "high school girls who never missed an opportunity to make my life miserable in boarding school." Except none of them are bald. And, with one or two exceptions, have actually evolved into rather decent human beings. And I'm delighted to witness that as well. And more than happy to be back in touch with them.

Upgrade...

2011-03-22T14:57:00.007-04:00

From this (the day we first looked at the house)...

to this...

A room worthy of a young squire...one brilliant and amazing enough to request that his dragon look like Smaug...

He chose to position his bed directly under the dragon so it's the first thing he sees when he wakes up...

One very delighted 5-year-old gets to sleep in his very own room tonight. I can't quite tell if he's more excited about the room itself or that his little sister's chattering and singing will no longer be keeping him awake.

Though I think they're secretly going to miss each other. Very secretly.

Wee girl's room gets its own upgrade tomorrow...

Spring! Is that you? We've been waiting...

2011-03-19T20:29:00.002-04:00

And here you are!

Peach blossoms soaking in the sun...

Children and doggy...soaking in the sun as well!

Happy Spring!

Cancer sucks.

2011-03-18T09:11:00.006-04:00

For the second time this year (and third time in two years) I lost a friend to cancer. And that is three too many.

I first met Warren eleven years ago. He had a standing weekly gig at the pub I worked at in the town we lived in before here. Rarely in my life have I met a person so true to himself, his faith, his family and his music. The example he was of living a Godly life whilst walking the path less traveled, during a time when I was struggling to find my own footing, will stay with me forever.

Heaven's chorus is currently being schooled on polka and Jimmy Buffet. Rest well, my friend...we'll miss you, but we're all so very grateful you're no longer in pain.

Child labor...

2011-03-16T20:40:00.003-04:00

County public schools had the day off today (for reasons never really made clear) and the Boy got to stay home while his sister went off to preschool. Of course I put him to work!

He is, after all, the one who wanted a mural in his new room.

Reformed nomad...

2011-03-14T12:18:00.004-04:00

Primer went up in the Boy's room this morning. Not over the whole thing, just over the bits that will no longer be green.

It's fairly surreal to be repainting that room and realizing that we've been in this house long enough to have built up memories and make it our own. Five years ago I was coming over to an empty house to paint on the rare nights my husband was home and could hang out with the baby. The original paint was chosen as a way to darken the room for the day sleeper, but not make it oppressively dark for the night sleeper.

This morning I painted over scars left by the crib rubbing on the low, slanted wall. And I remembered the year the wee girlie slept in that corner of the room...her sleep sounds keeping me company on the long nights I was the only parent home.

Soon I'll start on the mural in the girl's room. A room originally painted for a baby boy. A boy we just assumed would be our one and only child. And who would stay in that room until the day we moved out. I remember the day we set the room up. I sat in the rocking chair, taking it all in and cried. After all of the heartache, sitting in my son's freshly painted nursery was overwhelming. In the not-so-distant future, it'll be transformed into a girl's room--and not just any girl. A girl who adores princesses and all things twirly and girly. A girl who fills this house with laughter and sunshine.

Our own bedroom was once the office and our office was once the room my parents' lived in for the times they were here. And it's starting to feel like everything is in its rightful place.

It's fascinating to me to look back and see the gradual settling of this former nomad. Even the ghosts and spirits have appeared to settle down and accept that we're here for a while longer.

Watching for spring...

2011-03-12T15:25:00.002-05:00

With all of the changes taking place indoors, we've slightly neglected the outdoors. But no more! Kiddos and I got ourselves to the local nursery this morning. Our spoils included bags of organic garden soil to mix in with the veggie beds, new seeds for starting our own plantlings and a couple rounds of small fence thingies to wrap around the beds in a vain attempt to protect them from the doggie and various other critters. They also each picked out a new plant for the flower garden....hopefully the fence thingie will protect them as well! I'll start up regular updates in the garden journal shortly.

A stop at the home store for a can of zero VOC/non-toxic primer was also in order. Hopefully I'll be able to get started on the mural in the boy's room this week! I'm quite excited for that.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying watching the buds forming on the peach trees and praying we managed to take care of the fungus last year!

I can be police cat?

2011-03-11T21:03:00.000-05:00

maybe I should grow a little bit more...

Inventory...

2011-03-09T12:45:00.006-05:00

Switched around closets this morning as our bedroom switcheroo presses onwards. Sorting out my already meager closet offerings I found, among numerous pairs of casual cords and button down shirts, one pair of dressy trousers and one dressy dress (the obligatory LBD).

I was reminded of the career goal/mission statement I had many years ago--to never wear panty hose again. It's good and comforting to know that I have set obtainable goals!

Cowboy up...

2011-03-03T12:36:00.003-05:00

I loath gyms. I loath the crush of people, other sweaty bodies, televisions bombarding me with sports, news casts and morning talk shows I'd just assume never watch all the while sucking piped stale air into my lungs. I long to be out running through the woods again...just me and the various critters. However, my running days aren't back yet. And in order to get them back I must heal. And so, with trail running held in front of me like the proverbial carrot, I made my way to the gym this morning. And rode five miles on a bike going no where. In spite of my loathing of being indoors it felt good to work my heart, to sweat and to breath deeply.

Styling...

2011-03-02T20:01:00.013-05:00

Have you ever met someone and it feels like you've known them for always? And you know that no matter what--zombie apocalypse, anarchy, dogs and cats living together--there's someone who will always have your back? Or at least a hot cup of coffee to spin the wild tales over? Jules at Henhouse Pottery is just such a person. And one of these days I'm actually going to get to meet her face to face and hug her neck. Anyway...I have no idea why, but she thought my little blog was worthy of a Stylish blogger award. Thanks, Chick!

The rules...

1) Thank the person who gave you the award, by providing a link to their site.

2) Share 7 things about yourself, that other bloggers might not know.

3) Give the Award to 15 newly discovered or interesting bloggers.

4) Notify each of those bloggers to present the Award.

I've been pretty wide open in the past several years...not sure I can dig up anything ya'll don't already know...but I'll give it a shot.

~I laugh just as hard at my son's poop jokes as he does. I know it only encourages him, but I can't help it.

~I once wanted to be a diplomat...foreign services...linguist specialist and all that. Turns out I'm really not all that ambitious. Or driven. Seriously? It took me 14 years to complete my bachelor's degree and I suck at keeping secrets.

~Summer of '93, driving through Tennessee with a girlfriend in her ancient Chevy Impala we drove by a tattoo parlor. I made her do a u-turn. I walked in, handed over $40 and walked out with a tattoo on my ankle. These little guys have been with me ever since.

~For four years...more like three due to various schools...I was Rosie the Riveter, working on ancient Navy P3 aircraft. It was a love/hate relationship. I was constantly challenged, pushed beyond what I thought I was capable of and I wasn't sad when my enlistment was up. While I enjoyed what I did and I'm proud of what I did and was involved in--it wasn't what I wanted to be.

~In what seems like another lifetime ago, I rode a Harley Davidson...a '95 XLH Deluxe. I bought it through Overseas Military Sales while living in Spain...flew back to the US to pick it up and put it on the boat. Actually got stopped on the way from Jacksonville, FL to the shipyard in Charleston, SC...state trooper was a former Marine. He complimented me on my "cute" bike, glanced at our military ID's and waved us on our way. Over the years I fixed her up...bigger gas tank (stock peanut tank didn't take it very far), black powder coat chain guard and cam cover, Vance and Hines 2 into 1 drag pipes and a low slung saddle. She was beautiful. The summer I was pregnant with the wee girlie, I sold the bike. I stood in the front yard bawling my eyes out as I watched her disappear down the road.

~A week after my 13th birthday I unpacked my trunk, made my bed, hung my "Hang in there" kitty poster on the wall and moved into boarding school. It was already half way through the school year...all of the little eight grade cliques had already formed. I was miserable. I got over it...figured out my own coping mechanisms, buried myself in books, art and drama...and managed to graduate from the same school only mildly scarred.

~And I've got nothing else. No other deep dark, hidden secrets. Really. It's like I'm an open book...or blog. Heh. Well...there are the arrest warrants in Idaho and Minnesota for unpaid parking tickets. Totally not my fault. I was out of the country at the time and trusted the wrong friend to car sit. Honest. I have stamps in my passport to prove it!

I know I'm supposed to pass this on. But for the most part, anyone I would hand it off to has already received it. Besides, I'm not good with following the rules and doing what I'm told. Do I get style points deducted for that? However, by all means...feel free to share your own little known tidbits!

Recap...

2011-03-02T13:11:00.004-05:00

Apparently, when I decided to "go public" with a cake business, I tapped into a niche. To say I've been busy would be an understatement. Last week was overwhelming simply due to juggling two labor intensive cakes, a back injury and temporary single mommy-ness. But I did it. And all recipients were delighted.

A review...

2011 Chevy Silverado...or what passes as my own rendition...

Castles for 3-year-old twins...

And a rainbow cake for a 7-year-old!

I'm actually working on another rainbow cake for this weekend. Followed by a Noah's ark cake. So far I have orders through the end of May.

In and around all of this we've managed to complete (mostly) our new bedroom! Our son is being very patient with me regarding the repainting of our old bedroom upstairs and his impending move into it. The kiddos have shared a room since the wee girl was kicked out of ours at 14 months (way overdue, that one). A few more weeks of co-habitation won't do them any harm...and their own chosen murals will be worth the wait. Next week promises to be slightly less hectic...we might even get other projects completed!

Milestones...

2011-02-28T20:10:00.003-05:00

Wee girlie endured her every-four-month eye exam last week. She accepts her eye patch and rattles off the images on the screen like a pro. This was the first time she crawled up in the chair all by herself...in the past she's asked (insisted!) to sit on my lap.

After the eye doctor lady declared her eye innards whole and healthy, Kyleigh climbed down and, very politely, asked for her lollipop and sticker. Please.

It didn't take her very long at all to figure out the system and how to make it work for her. That's my girl.

Crickets...

2011-02-26T20:42:00.002-05:00

So...I've received one or two emails commenting on the dust settling on my humble little blog. Okay, one email from my dad (Hi, Daddy!) mentioning that he hasn't seen anything new in a while. Sorry about that.

Um...back injury, physical therapy twice a week, two younglings to herd, wee girlie's doctor appointments, husband MIA for the past week and then this small thing about a cake business that just sort of hit the ground at mach 1. See that big long sentence? That's the first one I've been able to string together in, like a week!

I have a few posts in the drafts folder to finish up...maybe tomorrow. Or not. Honestly...no one needs to hear the gibberish that's been going through my head lately anyway. In the mean time, my delightful--and no longer MIA--husband put up a video that almost made me pee my pants. Then again, I am on pain killers...