I know, Sarah, you look "furious" in that pic...but I loved the view. Hahaha...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Some recent shots...
Well, I finally got some pictures uploaded...highlights from our fall youth group retreat at Camp Henry, Benjamin practicing his put with the golf club he fashioned out of a stick (found it on a walk by the creek a few weeks ago!), girls' overnight at the lake (yes, Cavanaugh, that's you looking so sexy...), and other random fall stuff.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
I almost forgot!
FOUR DAYS until the Dashboard Confessional concert!!!
Brian and I will be departing early afternoon for our overnight in Deee-troit. Cannot wait!
If you don't see the likes of me around here by mid-next week...just assume I went home with the lead singer.
Yummy.
Brian and I will be departing early afternoon for our overnight in Deee-troit. Cannot wait!
If you don't see the likes of me around here by mid-next week...just assume I went home with the lead singer.
Yummy.
"I'm so happy to see you!"
This is one of Benjamin's favorite things to say when someone he knows comes over...or when Brian or I return from being away.
It's incredibly heart-wrenching and sweet. Just like my B.
And then yesterday, when I gave him some MandMs from our Halloween candy dish, he poured out the little snack size pack in front of him on the kitchen island and exclaimed..."Oh, chocolates! I'm so happy to see you!!"
Funny...so funny.
Unfortunately, that's all I got for tonight. I'm butt-ass tired and needing to salvage some energy for tomorrow's long day of fun/craziness.
Officer Benjamin and my little Pumpkin man will certainly have lots of fluff (pics) to share.:)
It's incredibly heart-wrenching and sweet. Just like my B.
And then yesterday, when I gave him some MandMs from our Halloween candy dish, he poured out the little snack size pack in front of him on the kitchen island and exclaimed..."Oh, chocolates! I'm so happy to see you!!"
Funny...so funny.
Unfortunately, that's all I got for tonight. I'm butt-ass tired and needing to salvage some energy for tomorrow's long day of fun/craziness.
Officer Benjamin and my little Pumpkin man will certainly have lots of fluff (pics) to share.:)
Friday, October 26, 2007
Brian.
I write so often about my boys...but don't pay enough attention, I'm afraid, to Brian.
A buddy of mine recently sent me an email forward of an article on how to treat your husband. It included a checklist of dos/don'ts...ways to diagnose whether or not you're the pefect, loving wife. Many of the items on the list made me wonder if there was a nationwide epidemic of loveless, unhappy marriages--or, more specifically, shitty wives. Because so many of the "dos" on the list were/are things I do on a daily basis.
1. Tell your husband you love him. Check.
2. Tell your husband you're proud of him. Check.
3. Brag about him to others. Check.
4. Laugh at his stories. Holy shit..Check!
And trust me, I don't think this separates me from anyone out there that I know...I'm not patting myself on the back for these things. I was just surprised to think that anyone would need reminding of such basic, decent, human behavior.
But then I got to the "don'ts"...and there were just a few that stuck out, but not in a good way.
1. Don't make fun of your husband to others/in public. Woops.
2. Don't get angry with him in front of others/in public. Woops.
3. Don't pick at the way he does things with the kids--ok, this one wasn't on the list, but it's one I feel guilty about all the time. So double Woops.
The making fun one is definitely something I'm guilty of...I think a lot of wives are, and honestly, the comments/narrative are often benign in nature. Just normal "mommy conversation", for example.
But sometimes I've been known to reference Brian's "Dungeons and Dragons" days in a way that is only funny to me...not to him. And I'll be honest--the fact that he used to play that shit in college really does make me scratch my head and want to call him a nerd. Because in so many ways, Brian is just dorky. But the thing is, I knew that when I met him...and knew it even better when I married him...because it's one of the things I first fell in love with about him, as it related to his innocence and genuine nature. There wasn't/isn't any pretense or "need to impress" with him.
But in the last few years, I've managed to let my pissed-offness about dirty dishes and messy clothes on the floor color my commentary on Brian when talking to others.
And the public-pissy-ness. Yikes. That's one that I always said I wouldn't do...and for the most part, I try to keep our discussions/arguments out of public view. But once in a while I let it be known how annoyed I am with him, particularly if I'm with a friend/family member who can relate when I'm in the moment.
So yes. I'm--shocker--not a perfect wife.
In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm a royal pain in the ass many days.
Why did I feel the need to purge myself on my blog today...I've no idea.
Perhaps it was that silly article.
Last night, after we watched The Office and 30 Rock, Brian and I sat on the couch, without the tv on, and just chatted about random junk. It was really nice, and I found myself feeling like a total space case for not having asked him more about his work lately. His promotion has been such a huge deal, and I've been more than supportive and congratulatory, but haven't taken the time to ask him if he's felt more stress from it. Seems he's handling it rather well and loving it, which is great.
The reality is, it's just so hard to find time for those conversations.
We went on a kid-free vacation a month ago, and still managed to have some of our best conversations over the past week, here in GR, and often on our spit-up-stained couch.
Funny that way.
I'm hoping that no one has actually gottent this far in today's entry...because if I were to be reading this on someone else's blog, I don't think I'd be able to stop throwing up.
Whatever.
Just love my Brian.
Guy takes quite a beating being married to me (hour long conversations about sports shows being on during dinner...so ridiculous), yet still manages to grab my ass as I'm walking out the door this morning for playgroup.
Love that.
Now, anyone know of a good article on how to treat your wife?
Sister needs to forward that one on...:)
A buddy of mine recently sent me an email forward of an article on how to treat your husband. It included a checklist of dos/don'ts...ways to diagnose whether or not you're the pefect, loving wife. Many of the items on the list made me wonder if there was a nationwide epidemic of loveless, unhappy marriages--or, more specifically, shitty wives. Because so many of the "dos" on the list were/are things I do on a daily basis.
1. Tell your husband you love him. Check.
2. Tell your husband you're proud of him. Check.
3. Brag about him to others. Check.
4. Laugh at his stories. Holy shit..Check!
And trust me, I don't think this separates me from anyone out there that I know...I'm not patting myself on the back for these things. I was just surprised to think that anyone would need reminding of such basic, decent, human behavior.
But then I got to the "don'ts"...and there were just a few that stuck out, but not in a good way.
1. Don't make fun of your husband to others/in public. Woops.
2. Don't get angry with him in front of others/in public. Woops.
3. Don't pick at the way he does things with the kids--ok, this one wasn't on the list, but it's one I feel guilty about all the time. So double Woops.
The making fun one is definitely something I'm guilty of...I think a lot of wives are, and honestly, the comments/narrative are often benign in nature. Just normal "mommy conversation", for example.
But sometimes I've been known to reference Brian's "Dungeons and Dragons" days in a way that is only funny to me...not to him. And I'll be honest--the fact that he used to play that shit in college really does make me scratch my head and want to call him a nerd. Because in so many ways, Brian is just dorky. But the thing is, I knew that when I met him...and knew it even better when I married him...because it's one of the things I first fell in love with about him, as it related to his innocence and genuine nature. There wasn't/isn't any pretense or "need to impress" with him.
But in the last few years, I've managed to let my pissed-offness about dirty dishes and messy clothes on the floor color my commentary on Brian when talking to others.
And the public-pissy-ness. Yikes. That's one that I always said I wouldn't do...and for the most part, I try to keep our discussions/arguments out of public view. But once in a while I let it be known how annoyed I am with him, particularly if I'm with a friend/family member who can relate when I'm in the moment.
So yes. I'm--shocker--not a perfect wife.
In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm a royal pain in the ass many days.
Why did I feel the need to purge myself on my blog today...I've no idea.
Perhaps it was that silly article.
Last night, after we watched The Office and 30 Rock, Brian and I sat on the couch, without the tv on, and just chatted about random junk. It was really nice, and I found myself feeling like a total space case for not having asked him more about his work lately. His promotion has been such a huge deal, and I've been more than supportive and congratulatory, but haven't taken the time to ask him if he's felt more stress from it. Seems he's handling it rather well and loving it, which is great.
The reality is, it's just so hard to find time for those conversations.
We went on a kid-free vacation a month ago, and still managed to have some of our best conversations over the past week, here in GR, and often on our spit-up-stained couch.
Funny that way.
I'm hoping that no one has actually gottent this far in today's entry...because if I were to be reading this on someone else's blog, I don't think I'd be able to stop throwing up.
Whatever.
Just love my Brian.
Guy takes quite a beating being married to me (hour long conversations about sports shows being on during dinner...so ridiculous), yet still manages to grab my ass as I'm walking out the door this morning for playgroup.
Love that.
Now, anyone know of a good article on how to treat your wife?
Sister needs to forward that one on...:)
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Benjamin.
What an incredible kid.
I absolutely love this child...and while it's impossible to be objective here, I dare say he's one of the most hysterical kids I know.
Miss Margaret's class was today and we had such a ball...made and painted our own apples with various forms of toddler media--his favorite, of course, was the paint. Thank heavens it was washable paint, though, as he decided to test out the glorious shade of red on his new pair of Merrells.
We also made our own applesauce, which was by far his favorite part of today's class..."Mommy! See apples in blender! Go, go, go apples!!"
But my favorite moment...easily my favorite moment, I'll add...was at the end of class.
A bit of background:
Brian and his sister Denise have, for years, always used this ridiculously funny voice whenever they say the name of their Aunt Barb. You know, just one of those silly sibling things you do...like quote certain movies. It's a relic from their growing-up years together, and with the addition of myself to the family, it's become a real staple in our fits of laughter together.
Here's how you say it: you draw your uppler lip down and under your teeth, do the same in reverse order with your lower lip...then press your mouth together real tight and blurt out "Bbbbarrrrrb!"....though it really sounds more like "Baaayyyyyaahhhrrrb".
Seriously? Sounds ridic. And it is...but it's damn funny in person, and once you get the hang of it, it's surprisingly addictive.
So.
The other day Brian and I were, yet again, practicing this in the kitchen...and Benjamin thought it was the most hilarious thing he'd heard. So he practiced several times on his own, before putting his own unique spin on it. And by this, I mean he chose a new name: Miss Margaret.
So, for Benjamin, the ultimate funny and hilarious thing to say in this house is, "Miss Muuurrrrgaaaruuuuut!"...with his face all contorted--mouth pursed, nostrils wide open, and eyes like quarters. It's hysterical.
Unbelievably ridiculous...but funny as hell.
So! Today, when we were getting ready to leave class, I leaned down and said "What do you say to Miss Margaret, Benjamin?"...the way I do at the end of every class.
He takes a few steps toward her, throws his shoulders back, chest forward, tilts his head up to the sky, and declares proudly--"Thank you, Miss MURRGAAARRRUUUUUUUUTTTT!"
I almost wet myself.
I absolutely love this child...and while it's impossible to be objective here, I dare say he's one of the most hysterical kids I know.
Miss Margaret's class was today and we had such a ball...made and painted our own apples with various forms of toddler media--his favorite, of course, was the paint. Thank heavens it was washable paint, though, as he decided to test out the glorious shade of red on his new pair of Merrells.
We also made our own applesauce, which was by far his favorite part of today's class..."Mommy! See apples in blender! Go, go, go apples!!"
But my favorite moment...easily my favorite moment, I'll add...was at the end of class.
A bit of background:
Brian and his sister Denise have, for years, always used this ridiculously funny voice whenever they say the name of their Aunt Barb. You know, just one of those silly sibling things you do...like quote certain movies. It's a relic from their growing-up years together, and with the addition of myself to the family, it's become a real staple in our fits of laughter together.
Here's how you say it: you draw your uppler lip down and under your teeth, do the same in reverse order with your lower lip...then press your mouth together real tight and blurt out "Bbbbarrrrrb!"....though it really sounds more like "Baaayyyyyaahhhrrrb".
Seriously? Sounds ridic. And it is...but it's damn funny in person, and once you get the hang of it, it's surprisingly addictive.
So.
The other day Brian and I were, yet again, practicing this in the kitchen...and Benjamin thought it was the most hilarious thing he'd heard. So he practiced several times on his own, before putting his own unique spin on it. And by this, I mean he chose a new name: Miss Margaret.
So, for Benjamin, the ultimate funny and hilarious thing to say in this house is, "Miss Muuurrrrgaaaruuuuut!"...with his face all contorted--mouth pursed, nostrils wide open, and eyes like quarters. It's hysterical.
Unbelievably ridiculous...but funny as hell.
So! Today, when we were getting ready to leave class, I leaned down and said "What do you say to Miss Margaret, Benjamin?"...the way I do at the end of every class.
He takes a few steps toward her, throws his shoulders back, chest forward, tilts his head up to the sky, and declares proudly--"Thank you, Miss MURRGAAARRRUUUUUUUUTTTT!"
I almost wet myself.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
What a way to start the day...
Our youth minister and his wife just had their baby two days ago...so I offered to host the Wednesday morning breakfast at Wolfgang's. I absolutely groaned when the alarm went off at 5:45 this morning, and wondered why I was dragging my ass out of bed that early when my kids were still sleeping!
Anyway, I showed up at the restaurant at 6:20am, and was amazed at the influx of kids that came through the door not five minutes later. We had about 25 high schoolers this morning...all fresh-faced (though some more than others) and chatty as ever. And there was me, at the end of the table, clutching my mug of coffee and wondering how and where they get so much energy.
I have plenty of friends who work out at this time of day, so I know it's not impossible...but I was just truly amazed at their readiness to hang out and have a somewhat meaningful conversation at that hour of the day.
I did manage to get some quality grocery shopping accomplished on my way home, which was truly a gift.
Great start to the day, really.
I just get so much out of being around those kids, that it makes me feel guilty...I'm supposed to be there for them, but so often they end up being the ones feeding me.
Now for a day with my boys...:)
Anyway, I showed up at the restaurant at 6:20am, and was amazed at the influx of kids that came through the door not five minutes later. We had about 25 high schoolers this morning...all fresh-faced (though some more than others) and chatty as ever. And there was me, at the end of the table, clutching my mug of coffee and wondering how and where they get so much energy.
I have plenty of friends who work out at this time of day, so I know it's not impossible...but I was just truly amazed at their readiness to hang out and have a somewhat meaningful conversation at that hour of the day.
I did manage to get some quality grocery shopping accomplished on my way home, which was truly a gift.
Great start to the day, really.
I just get so much out of being around those kids, that it makes me feel guilty...I'm supposed to be there for them, but so often they end up being the ones feeding me.
Now for a day with my boys...:)
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