As Seen on Facebook

ok, so i totally realize that this is cheating. BUT, since some of you maybe, possibly, don't keep up with facebook and all it's horrors here's a bunch of photos i probably posted on facebook once upon a time. 

I also realized that i didn't mention on here (at least i don't think i did??) that we cut Esther's hair short. It was driving her crazy for a while and said she wanted it very short so we complied. And she's super adores-able.

Anyhow, here's a bunch of photos to keep you in the loop more or less until i can get my act together enough to write a decent post and keep up with the blog.

apology...

i just wanted to apologize for being so MIA these days. As we all know (because i've stated it innumerable times) March = not good... so i've been plugging along working a lot... and waiting as patiently as i possibly can (which isn't much) for spring.

spring is peeking up all over these last couple weeks though. And though i'm as bipolar as the weather, things are beginning to be a bit more promising. The kids are now going to bed at 8 rather than 7 since daylight savings (i refuse to acclimate them to the new time so shoot me) which opens up a wealth of social possibilities. Namely, we're starting up our weekly dinners with j&i again (sooooooo happy about this!). In light of my increasing lack of creativity, and busy schedules, and because they're driving to us every week so we can put the kiddos down to sleep and still hang with them after - we're implementing Fiesta Fridays!! (consisting of mexican cuisine - or as close to it as i can come-, and tequila... or not...)

Let's see... anything else new? not really... trying to prepare stock for our booth at fairie festival but also not really getting anything done, anxious for ben and my baby free get away april 17-18 (we're spending the night at a b&b in federal hill), and other than that working working working.

OH and my new 5 year plan has us moving to Africa in 3 years for a year or so...

Happy Heart

So, Asa's heart murmur is what they call innocent or functional. His heart is strong. He does not need to have antibiotic treatments or avoid activities. He will not need blood thinners or anything like that. He is a healthy wee man.

We have an appointment with a pediatric endocrinologist april 4th because he's so very small. We'll let you know how that goes.  Our pediatrician did call us with the blood test results and x-ray results and so far everything looks fine. No thyroid problems or anything like that. His skeletal age is 15 months. And though i read all about it on wikipedia i'm not sure i fully understand skeletal age vs. true age. It sounds like having a younger skeletal age means he will grow for longer so could potentially catch up to his peers by adulthood, but i'm not entirely sure.

Anyhow, we're breathing easier knowing he has a good heart.

however, i hate march. and we all have colds. COME ON APRIL!!!!

Cardboard and duct tape...

Poor kid

So...

Asa has a heart murmur. likely it's nothing. gunna take him to see a pediatric cardiologist and also a pediatric endocrinologist (hopefully) next week.

Bragging on Ben

Have i mentioned lately how i married a really incredible, totally maudlin (though he wouldn't admit it even in the face of chinese torture -- ask me how i know!), sexy, sweet, and doting person??

Well, if i haven't. Guess what kind of person i married! an incredible, maudlin, sexy, sweet, and doting person!

For Valentine's day he surprised me by coordinating with my folks to watch the kids over night and reservations at a b&b just up the road a-piece (did i just say "a-piece"?, i did, i live in the woods... gimme a break).

We, unlike my parents, had a wonderful time! went out for sushi... and... well... you get it. A room all to ourselves... with a bed... and NO ONE ELSE around (we were the only guests in the house!)...

so, yeah. i'm a lucky girl...

Boston, Kit, a lot of wine, and memories...

So, my Boston trip... i can hear your anticipation, just waiting to see when, if, what i'm going to write about it...

It was... it was a hiccup in time. A worm hole from the now to not quite then... but somewhere in between perhaps.

It has not been an easy decade for Kit or her family. I think i actually heard that little *snick* sound when as my heart broke over and over for her as she relayed the last ten years to me over seven, yes SEVEN bottles of wine... or was it eight?

I do not want to go into the specifics of any of it because this is after all the internet, and it is after all her life... but i do want to say that i am appalled, heart broken, so extremely sorry, and very, very angry about some of the stuff she's been through. I think i need to leave it at that for now...

On a more positive note. Kit is well. She is gorgeous and wonderful and full of stories of travel and excellent food. My god, that woman has good taste in cheese! oh and men too as it turns out. Charles (her wonderful big bear of a beau), Kit, Rocky (their sweet dog), and Becky (Kit's fabulous and oh-so-sweet mama - she came down for Saturday night, yay!!) spent the whole weekend catching up, drinking wine, eating cheese, looking at the splendid view, looking at pictures, talking about the old days (but not necessarily *good* old days), snuggling, laughing, and yours truly even teared-up a bit a couple of times...

I am hoping that it will be far less time between this visit with her and the next. It's been a difficult week. I haven't been feeling 100% plus all of the fun, but albeit interruptions in our daily routine is throwing everything off. And i have to miss a wonderful party this weekend to WORK. yes work. on a Sunday... until 7pm... :(

Her house on an ice cube, that looks like an ice cube but has a resplendent view!

Just before i left for the airport to go home...

On our walk around the island... -- what? you say? Boston is NOT an island. Yes, but Nahant is.  

He's sewing a button onto his own pants. I love a man who can sew!

a terribly flattering and lovely picture of Kit

letter to her kid

I love this letter to her kid. also she's awesome. read her blog (all you parenting types).

Also, woke up to a Valentine's Day miracle. awoke to the thumping of Esther coming down the stairs. I go to her in the dark and pick her up while she whimpers a bit and then says "night time is no fun". I sympathize and carry her upstairs. lay her in her bed, go over to check on Asa who is still sound asleep in his bed. I lay down on the sofa beside Esther's bed and then catch sight of the thin border of light around the curtain because the SUN IS COMING UP. BECAUSE IT IS ACTUALLY MORNING. The dim light gets brighter and bolder as i lay there listening to Esther roll over and over... and then sneeze...and then Asa's touseled head pops up like a jack in the box... (what am i getting at you're wondering?) we, yes, all four of us, slept in our own beds ALL NIGHT LONG!!! granted i think Esther woke me up around 6, but that's Morning! REAL morning. not like fake morning at 4:30 or 5.

so happy valentine's folks. also, the world is not a completely frigid hell today. so that's nice too.

What February reduces us to...

February and March are crazy times for me. Case in point --

 "are those underpants?" i hear you asking, why yes. they are. well actually Esther's mask is swimsuit bottoms, Asa's is underpants.

 did i just come back from trapeze? maybe...

or perhaps i just dress like this all the time. What? i didn't tell you i was a deranged and MIA christmas elf?

The Pen Story

struggling...

Maybe it's just today, or all the horrible stuff that keeps happening (read: people are dying...) but i'm not doing so hot these days (or maybe it's just today and the fatalist in me is kicking in).

sad, sad, sad,sadsadsadsad....

feb and mar are not my best months over all... i dream of one day having the money and time to run away for a few weeks during this time to somewhere sunny and warm and good smelling...

Ceci & Miah

i love these people!

March Distraction?

Just one more distraction during the month of March and i think i'll be able to make it through the winter homicide-free!  Any ideas?

Thank you!

You guys are awesome. I got so many comments after asking for them. i feel very loved.
I particularly want to say "Thank You" to Kit and her mama, Becky. I love you guys very much!


Also, it's cold as Fire Truck here!!!! ok so fire trucks aren't cold, but i'm trying to keep this site pg rated...

no new pictures... because i'm lazy... and i'm cold... and my house is a mess... and my work is a mess... and... well... i'm tired. Can we just hibernate the winter away? I think the idea of Alaskan wilderness excites me so because essentially they do hole up for 3 or 4 months and DON'T DO ANYTHING but hide out in bed (all time favorite fantasy - i actually think kit and i spent whole weeks not getting out from under covers! - i mean that in a totally pg rated way), play checkers, open the perma-frost freezer for some frozen caribou hunks (which they make into amazing stew!) and wait for the thaw.

anybody, please...

For the love of god, will someone PLEASE comment on the post below with the pics of fat-me in winter of 1999-2000???

Good Morning World!!

Today is a nice day off... sort of. Home with the kids which is always exhausting. But the upside, i don't have to make christmas presents, food for parties, clean up from food for parties, make samples for Fairie Festival vendor judging thingie -- Oh speaking of, you may have noticed some changes to the blog. The judges wanted an online venue for looking at the samples of things i'd like to sell at this year's festival so i added a page to the blog for them to go to.  You can go there too, tell me what you think... just ideas... samples.

Anyhow, it's been an interesting and for the most part, good week. Happy to mellow out after the holiday chaos, get back on track.

And only 3 weeks until my escape to Boston! yippie!!! (Hi Kit, i can't wait!!!)
Also, can someone call up Ben and take him on some fun boy adventure to Gray Beard's, or on a drinking binge, or to the block??  that boy needs to blow off some steam, especially before i ditch him for a whole weekend with the wee 'uns.

Happy Birthday Ceci!!

My sweet and incredible sister-in-law's birthday is today. I just want to wish her the best year ever.

To celebrate her birthday she had a roller skating party at Sportsmans Hall in Reisterstown.  I haven't been on roller skates since i was like 12. And to say the least i was very sure i was going to fall and bust something.

However, i did not. I also did not get any pictures. But i'm going to say here despite not having photographic evidence my outfit was AMAZING! i want to thank my mom for the bootie sweater.

I also want to thank een for hitting on the 15 year old boy for me because me doing it just wasn't creepy enough.

Anyhow, to sum up: roller skating = fantastic fun (look out roller derby, my dreams are not dashed after all), ceci = awesomest sister-in-law ever (good work Miah!), and if you're in need of a hand knit bootie sweater contact my mother.

Look Out Boston!!!!

Look out Boston, i'm a slightly grumpy, over-worked, stressed out, under appreciated house wife (not really - i'm very appreciated and i work part time outside the home), in desperate need of a  good time.

Shortly after one of my recent (and far too frequent) meltdowns (read post-holiday, stress-induced hissy fit) i received an e-mail from my very dear friend Kit.

stolen from facebook

Let me tell you a little about Kit. I met Kit (and her amazing family) during the roughest and longest winter of my life and would not have survived without her. Kit is (if not actually, then darn close to it) a 6ft tall, blond bombshell. She is the most self-assured and adventurous person i know. She is wise and fun and so full of life just thinking about her makes me ashamed of my more feeling-sorry-for-myself moments (which are also far too frequent). Anyhow, during said long winter, i found myself in a less than favorable situation and Kit took me in. We spent many a night giggling, planning adventures we would have, drinking, picking up unsuspecting men in bars, shooting pool in her basement, and wandering the desolate streets of a small new england town.

Guys and Dolls 1999 - yes, that's me in all black looking tubby and about 13 years old, it is almost directly behind me in the back row.

Peter Pan 1999/2000 - that's me in the grey shirt, jeans, and "do-rag", and that's kit in the back row on the left next to the old guy with white hair.

i'm 19 in these pictures...

Anyhow, due to various reasons we haven't seen each other in almost 10 years.

So this e-mail said "Come visit me! Jet blue is having a deal. i'll pay half" (i'm paraphrasing).   And since i was in a major slump and it was the quickest wait (probably) to get me out of it Ben said "GO!!!" so i booked it.

So Feb 11-13 i will be in Boston hopefully doing all of the same things we did 11 years ago (probably not the picking up unsuspecting men part).  If you think you'll be in Boston those days too, let me know!