Learn Something New Every Day

Does anyone even care how much Riboflavin is in a Milky Way mini?

In case you do, 2% of your RDA. Huh.

She Has a Point

"Mom, you know what? I really don't think we need the letter 'C'.""

"Really? Why do you think that?"

"Well, we have a 'K' to say 'Kuh' and an 'S' to say 'ssss', so 'C' just seems kind of extra, you know?"

She's right.

We also shared a giggle about the word "phonics" not being spelled phonetically.

A Few Things I'm Most Thankful For Today (in no particular order)

* My beautiful, hilarious, smart-as-a-whip daughter.

*Friends. All my lovely friends. Friends since dirt, friends since college, friends online, and friends who have made the past couple years a joy.

*Employment, and employment that allows me to be with Ainslie most of the time.

*10 years of marriage!

*Family (although I count many members as friends, too!)

*Enough.

*Faith in a God who will not let me go.

*People who call on me to do more, even when I resist

*The internet

*Chocolate

*spontaneous Ainslie kisses (Craig ones are nice too)

*President-elect Barack Obama

* 2 cars that are hanging in there

*Harry Potter

*Ainslie's interest in reading and learning

*Our upcoming trip to Disney World

*Digital cameras

*Being Carrie's sister

*Pain medication

*Microfleece

*A body that is healthy and strong

Election Day Activities

I'll save the entry for how tickled pink I am by the election of Barack Obama for a later date, when I can collect all my thoughts and feelings and adequately express them. For today, here are some pictures of how we celebrated the day...

First, we voted for dinner:

Then, Ainslie cast her ballot.

After voting and our traditional post-voting donuts, we (went to Zumba--there will NOT be pictures) made some banners to wave during the coverage, and read some library books about voting, the candidates, and Lucretia Mott. Oh, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

You Know Halloween is Over When...

Your 4-year old inquires on November 1, whether she may have "a relaxing day off."

Because her daily life is so taxing.

My Elite Eight

I stole this/ was tagged from Lori's blog, and who doesn't love some good list-making?


8 Favorite TV shows...
1. The Office
2. True Blood
3. The Simpsons
4. Entourage
5. Mad Men
6. House Hunters
7. Big Love (I hope it comes back!)
8. The Daily Show

8 Favorite Restaurants...
1. Chevy's
2. Big Bowl
3. Taco Gringo (local thing)
4. Culvers
5. Noodles, Etc.
6. Mariah's
7. Chipotle
8. Bella Milano

8 things that happened yesterday...
1. Taught my HRM class
2. Went to Target
3. Skipped the workout
4. Tapped with Ainslie--worked on Irish
5. Spent too much time on the phone with BCBS for a client
6. Read most of my new Real Simple
7. Watched the debate
8. Ate an ice cream cone

8 things to look forward to...
1. Jack'o'lantern Spectacular this weekend
2. Carving a pumpkin
3. the Twilight movie
4. Christmas shopping
5. The pumpkin pie that is in my oven right now
6. Girls' night on the 20th
7. Trick or Treating with my Little Witch
8. Election Day!

8 things I love about Fall...
1. The beautiful leaves
2. cool nights
3. no heat or a/c bill
4. tights
5. not shaving my legs so often!
6. chili
7. Halloween
8. pumpkin and apple desserts

8 things on my wish list...
1. An Obama victory
2. To love the new preschool teacher as much as I loved the old one
3. Family Holiday planning where nobody gets their feelings hurt
4. new brown boots
5. A massage
6. A Belle dress for Ainslie
7. An aversion to sweets
8. Some new, funky necklaces

If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged now too. Let us see your 8!

And Another Thing

How is it that I am intolerant of others' opinions if I state mine with conviction, yet it is perfectly acceptable and the Right Thing To Do for someone to take her toys and go play somewhere else when met with people who have different political ideals?

I'm behind on my blog-reading, and I am amazed that people (one person in particular) are so embarassed of their own beliefs that they feel the need to excommunicate themselves from people who see the world differently. My, how tolerant. How open-minded.

This person can't be around people who have been her friend for years, through some pretty miserable times, because they have a different political agenda and the audacity to say so? That's just sad.

How will you ever learn from other people's ideas? You won't. That is sad too.

For years I have mentally said, hey, X has a different way of life, a different take on things. But these new developments are just crazy. Ruby Ridge.

Lots of people vote differently from the way I do, including my parents and many people who I have never met in person but love very much, from years of shared experiences. Why can't we all state our positions, and even argue them without labeling the 'other side' as stupid or crazy?

Oh, yes. Most of us can get along. Grow up.

Swarming Chatterboxiness

Moms, you know what I'm talking about.

Like bees who talk. Nonstop. Buzzbuzzbuzz (constantmovementconstantmovement.) Buzzbuzzbuzzbuzzzzzzzzz.



Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. (Finally, for the first nap since last Monday.)

Stream-of-Conciousness Political Ranting

Why is it that conservatives can bash Obama, but an Obama supporter can’t point out a discrepancy or outright lie told by the McCain/Palin ticket without being accused of bullying? My own theory is that Obama/Biden supporters, as a group (and we are a large group) are just so darned enthusiastic about our guys and the message they bring, that those who are not “drinking the kool-aid” are feeling a little left out of the election excitement. Obama supporters have been excited since 2004, while many who will ultimately vote for McCain had a harder time getting on board that train.

Until he chose Sarah Palin for a running mate.

You know, I tried to like Gov. Palin, initially. In the interest of saying something nice, yes, I think she is street-savvy, and yes I think she is attractive. As a potential leader of this country, I think she is dangerous. She has proven herself time and time again to be grossly incompetent on matters of foreign policy and the economy. While she managed not to completely fall on her face in the VP debate, it was obvious that she had talking points prepared on some key issues, but if pressed, she couldn’t fully answer many of the questions.

But she’s so down-to-earth. She gets Joe Six-Pack.

Pllllease. I don’t want to be called Joe Six-Pack. In fact, I find it offensive. Further, I don’t want the potential leader of the US to be just a regular hockey-mom down the block. I want her or him to be the best, brightest, most-informed, best-traveled US citizen we have. Does this mean he or she has to have a fancy law degree? Of course not, but I feel a “heckuva” (winking at Gov. Palin) lot better having someone in charge who had the gumption to get into a Fancy Law School despite the fact that he did not come from great wealth or from a family with a long history of post-secondary education.

To me, Living the American Dream is better represented by someone who rose from a difficult childhood to achieve an elite education and came back to serve some of the neediest citizens in our land, than by a pretty girl who backed into the Alaska governor’s office and then, in a political mindtrick, was selected as a VP candidate.

And yet, to some, I am unpatriotic, disrespectful, and/or sexist for having this opinion.

This country remains bitterly divided, politically speaking, something I attribute freely to the Current Occupant. I know John McCain is not GWB, just as I know that Bill Clinton hasn’t run for president since 1996 (this one was hard for a lot of conservative voters who seemed to think he was on the ballot these past two elections.) I also know that try as McCain might to distance himself from the train wreck that is the current administration, he has, more often than not, voted in line with GWB’s agenda. That is not ok.

Snarkiness aside, if this country elects McCain, we deserve whatever fate befalls us.

And My Standards Aren't Really That High

I get very annoyed when other people can't or refuse to approach life and it's little tasks with the same level of effort as I do.

Lazy people who can not manage their time suck.

It took me until September 3 for my first little rant

Sarah Palin's daughter is pregnant. So what?

So...this girl gets to not only be scrutinized and judged by people who don't know her from Eve, but she also gets the nice guilty feeling of potentially damaging her mother's VP race.
Bristol is 17. 17-yr olds do not often follow parental rules. I would be a hypocrite to assume that if the Palins had been better parents, none of this would have happened. Abstinence-only education does nothing to squelch teenage hormones, no matter what message you are trying to beat your children over the head with.

There are two things that bother me about this situation, and perhaps only one is valid. The other issue springs from my distrust and dislike of uber-conservative pundits and may be unfounded, but it's my blog and I can write whatever I want to.

First. Who cares? I have a hard time understanding why some people are so confused about who to vote for. The platforms are almost entirely different. The Democratic and Republican presidential nominees have had their policy goals laid out for us for months now. Either you support most/all of the Republican views or most/all of the Democratic views. So... all this campaigning to persuade certain voters to vote one way or another highlights one very disturbing phenomenon. Voters can be bought by gender and race. It's not like I didn't already know that, but really, McCain wanted to (and probably will) rescue some Hillary supporters by choosing Palin? Palin is the anti-Hillary on almost every issue. Anyone who professed to support Hillary but now thinks Palin is the bee's knees is missing a few IQ points. (And I'm not saying Palin supporters are stupid, read it again, carefully.)

Second. The only thing that bugs me about Bristol's pregnancy is the way the neo-con pundits are praising the Palin family, as if they are the only family in the history of the US to support an unwed, pregnant daughter. James Dobson came out almost immediately with a statement about how the Palin's are truly living out their values by supporting Bristol and by Bristol keeping the child. I'm not disagreeing with Dobson's statement, but I've listened to him enough to surmise that if it were a child of Obama or Biden in the spotlight for an unplanned pregnancy, and the same familial support and decisions had been made, Dobson's take on the situation would be a lot different. Suddenly, according to these Beacons of Moral Guidance, we would see the falsehood of the values the candidates profess to espouse, in the glaring reality of a teenage pregnancy.

Second, part B. Really? Bristol and Levi getting married at 17 is the best choice? No mention was made of adoption at all. It's not my family, not my baby, none of my business, but I shudder to think of the heydey the press will have if McCain/Palin are elected (I shudder at that too) AND the marriage doesn't go so well over the next few years. Hopefully Bristol, Levi and Baby can stay in Alaska and enjoy some peace.

Sexy Fictional Teenage Vampires

I am completely obsessed. I started reading the Twilight series about a month ago. You know--the vampire love-story series targeted to teenage girls? It is so addictive! Thankfully, most of the other Edward-obsessed readers I know are also adults, wives and mothers. The exception is my 12-yr old babysitter...
To learn more, here is the author's website: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

I am having trouble concentrating on anything other than these books, which I have now read 4 or 5 times each, for any length of time. It's the same way for many of us. It's Harry Potter all over again, only this time, there's...Edward. And it's sick. Really sick. I'm 36 years old, for Pete's sake. I have a husband, a child, a house, jobs... and Edward.

Really. You have to read it. The movie comes out in November and you'll want to be an expert before seeing it.

You know, I'm just going to post pictures...

This is what we've been up to. I've had the worst (busiest) teaching schedule ever, we run around constantly, but we've had some fun too.

Preschool starts next week. Fall soccer started this week. Time passes quickly!

And that was June!

Notice how my last post was almost a month ago? Yeah. June went quickly!

Our fun kicked off on June 3, Ainslie's 4th birthday. I can't believe how fast her year of being 3 went. All the new things she can do! In the past year she started preschool and dance, got moved up (again!) in gymnastics, learned to sound out words and read a little, made tons of new friends, said a million hilarious things, and grew three and a half inches. On her birthday, we did fun things all day, then grandma and grampa came over for her birthday dinner--she wanted pepperoni pizza, popcorn, and strawberries. I had never served popcorn as a side dish before, but whatever, it was her birthday!

The very next day, I drove her to Kingdom City, MO, to meet my mom, who took her back to LS for a whole week, because Craig won a trip to Cancun--so that's where we were until the 9th. The resort was gorgeous, the beaches were beautiful and it was a great time.

The following week, Craig and I ran around in circles getting work done and getting ready for Ainslie's return and the Big Birthday Party and Dance Recital Weekend. 15 4-yr- olds at our house. Dance recital the next day. Lots of relatives. Fun--but if I had it to do over again... alas, I do not. ;-)

Then we had a week of VBS, peppered with trips to the water park, gymnastics class, playdates, farmers' markets, and me trying to get to my new job and the class I teach now and then. (Luckily I can work from home most of the time!)

June ended with 6 of us kidnapping my friend Holly, who will soon be a fabulous 40, and taking her to Chicago on the train overnight, where we all tried to act like we are 20 again. FUN WEEKEND!

July looks a tiny bit less busy, but we are having fun. Lots of trips to the library and water park, swimming lessons, and I start a new quarter at Robert Morris, this time teaching 3 sections. That is a lot of papers to grade.

Happy Summer!

Sunday, June 1

Carrie was born on Sunday, June 1, 1980. I remember being scared because I peeked out of my room and saw a shadowy figure asleep on our living room couch early in the morning. I crawled back into bed, until I heard the phone ring, and a strange voice answering the phone, "A girl? Carrie Jane. Oh, wonderful!"

It was Barb, a friend from church, who had come to stay with Chad and I. A new baby sister! A future best friend.

It all hit a little harder than usual this year, on what would have been her 28th birthday, and I know exactly why. Two weeks ago, Pastor B's brother and best friend, who was also 28, also passed away suddenly. Pastor is my age, which means he and his brother share the same age difference as Carrie and I.

Pastor B is really great at his job, and I can't say that for every pastor I've known. He really is right where he should be, in my opinion. As wonderful as I think he is, I was stunned when I saw that he was preaching yesterday.

I speak in front of groups all the time. It's a big part of my profession. Public Speaking does not frighten me in the least; in fact, I've designed courses to help others speak in front of groups. All this goes out the window when it comes to Carrie. I can rarely tell others about her without melting into a soggy mess, even 12 years later.

Pastor B. was talking about the Wise Man and the Foolish Man and where each built his house... "The rain came down on both houses. The rain came down on BOTH houses." Pause. He came clean with us. There has been so much rain on his house that he has not been able to see God.

Amen to that. I remember after Carrie passed, our family minister telling us that it is ok to be mad at God. WELL, HOW COULD WE NOT BE?

Losing a sibling makes you part of an exclusive, horrific club. I happened to sit next to my friend C, yesterday in church, who is about the same age as my mom. Before service, we were talking about Pastor B and how sad we felt for him, and she told me she'd lost 2 of her sisters last summer. Losing a sister hurts.

I don't want to relay the sermon word for word, because it seems almost a private thing, but the congregation applauded Pastor (and Lutherans do not clap for people in church!), a few even stood. I'm proud of him. Hurting with him, hurting with everyone who loses a sibling, that person biologically more like you than anyone--but so proud.

Carrie and Kevin--take care of each other up there.

Career Goals

A few months ago, Ainslie wanted to be "everything when I grow up, and the President. And a mommy." Fabulous!

Now, she wants to be a cowgirl, a cheerleader, and a superhero.

So, a month later...

BUSY. It's feast or famine with my jobs, and lately it has been feast--which is terrific because I was terrified of a famine not too long ago, but feast time leaves little time for other fun things.

The cat is gone, and that's all I'm going to say about that.

I got the job! I applied for a part-time HR job with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation and ended up getting a consulting gig out of it. YAY. Not only is the work something I enjoy, but I'm proud to be working for such a great client!

I am also teaching a section at Robert Morris and it looks like I may be teaching two sections next quarter, starting in July.

Meanwhile, if it ever gets hot, we have our water park season tickets to use, a week of preschool camp at church (Around the World in Five Days--doesn't that sound fun?) and another week of VBS.

In more specific Ainslie news, she has her first dance recital coming up, she finished her first year of pre-school (and in case anyone is wondering, she passed to the 4-yr old class for next year,) and my little monkey is turning FOUR! In the middle of all this, she gets to go spend a week with Grammie and Grampie because Craig won an incentive trip to Cancun.

Whew and Whoopie!

Soccer is also going well--the change in all the kids is unbelievable. The first practice was an hilarious mess, the last game, they creamed the other team! (Our pediatrician's son was on the other team, hope this doesn't make shots hurt worse in the future.) Ainslie broke away with the ball twice, and once, she got knocked down and kept kicking! She even told us she likes it when parents cheer for her, but she doesn't always hear because she's concentrating!

Over the summer, she's doing swimming lessons and gymnastics. I really hope she finishes learning to swim this year--I know I'll rest easier knowing she could swim if she had to. She caught on last year, so hopefully this year she'll really take off.

School is out--and I'm a mom with a little schoolkid, sort of. Gearing up for a busy, fun summer. Even if it is 58 degrees today.

Cat

Even Craig has wholeheartedly admitted that Joe is a Bad Cat. Actually, he has some more colorful terms, but this is a family blog.

So. I had full dispensation to get rid of him, as long as I delivered him to another family or a shelter. I listed him on Craiglist and had a new home for him within 24 hours. Took him there yesterday.

He lasted FIVE minutes. The girl I gave him to has had zillions of pets, including, at present, another cat, 3 birds, and a tank full of fish. So, you know, she isn't a pet novice. Joe bit her twice. The first time, she called me (I was 3 blocks away) to ask whether he regularly bit people. I lied and said no. (Thank goodness she didn't ask whether he habitually pees down vents.) She conceded that he was probably just nervous and she'd give him some time.

Two blocks later, she called and asked me to come get him back. He had done a Pounce-and-Bite. Nice. **&%$#(*(&^&&^%^$$%

The worst part, to me (well, other than the obvious--that this horrid creature is still sleeping under our roof) is that Ainslie, despite being sad, handled leaving him SO WELL for an almost-four-year-old who for whatever reason, loves this cat. So now, he's back, and I can break her heart again when I take him to a shelter.

Being a soccer mom kind of sucks, so far.

I like soccer well enough. Ainslie is having a swell time, although on the way to her game, in the burgeoning deluge, she very sweetly informed us that she was nervous, because she wasn't sure what to do. We assured her that her coaches would be right there on the field helping her, so then she was ok.

The rain was not ok. This wasn't a sprinkle, a mist, or even a shower. This was Rain. Hard. Rain. Given that this was supposed to be the third game of the season and they are out of make-up dates (Week 1 cancelled due to thunderstorms, Week 2, due to high winds--welcome to the Prairie), I knew we'd have to play.

Soaked to the core.

Craig was a hero for bringing along a tailgating tent, but that meant, since the other team was a bunch of tough 5 yr-olds who had obviously been recruited from eastern Europe, that we strained to see our kids do much of anything. If we had known all the action was going to be going into our goal, we'd have set up on the other end of the field.

Mercifully, the game was called after the third (6-minute) quarter. As Craig and the other dads struggled to get the tent put away, Ainslie came dripping over, all smiles. I asked whether she'd had fun.
"I did! Did I win?"

We have so far avoided answering, per se. She has the phrase, "do my best and have fun" down pat. Waiting for the seats of the van to dry out.

Ainslie shorn!

No more fighting over tangled hair! Ainslie was so excited for her haircut, and we are both thrilled with the results--here are the before and after shots:

Catch-up, Bullet-Point style

• Ainslie and Caroline were on the news a couple weeks ago --there was a camera crew covering American Girl day at story time. Ainslie has no clue about American Girl (for now--Yippeee!) but there are nice shots of both girls.

• Soccer is hilarious. The first game was postponed tonight because of soggy fields. All for the best. Despite the excitement, I'm not sure a single kid on the team knows what "game" means, as opposed to what they do in practice. Next week should be warmer anyway.

• I'm teaching next quarter! Two classes! Hooray and Hallelujah!

• Finally got a video camera. Look for lots of obnoxious videos involving soccer tykes.

• Got five inches cut off my hair a few weeks ago. Loving it.

Is this all? I guess I'm not nearly as interesting as I'd like to think!

War and Peace it isn't...

...but I'm not sure there is a sweeter sound than your 3-yr old reading, "Tom and Betty come see! Come see Bunny ride!"
The new thing we do is she reads to us for 5 minutes at bedtime, then we read to her, but guess what? She doesn't want to stop at 5 minutes!
Read, Ainslie, read!

First Soccer Practice

Sorry, but I think all this gear on someone 42 inches tall is funny. She liked it--despite running full force into a teammate about 2 minutes into practice.
Games start next Friday. Craig's comment, "do they have another practice before their game?" What was he saying...?
This works out well in the new economy. Free weekend entertainment.

Carla's Lily Vanilly

Dumb name, huh? I wanted to just name her Lily but apparently I had to give her a schmancy AKC name.

She chose me. I have never seen anything cuter than the herd of Labrador puppies that met us at the gate. All boys. The two girls I was to choose from were inside, all washed and fluffed. First, I picked up her sister. She was loveable. Cute. Bigger. Then I picked Lily up, and she immediately snuggled up to my chin and started licking. She was the runt of her litter (which she quickly outgrew!) but that was that. She had chosen me.

As a puppy, her immense cuteness saved her many times. Bibles, complete works of Shakespeare (we said she had a Taste for Literature), Tivas, the infamous $1000 work CD... destroyed. There was the time she got her head stuck in her feeder while we were out, she just haaaad to get that last nugget.

I got her when I didn't have a baby, and thought I might never. Cycle after disappointing cycle, she knew when I was sad. I could cry into her soft fur and she was so content, even proud, to let me.

Craig worked from home and he told me that every single day at 5:15, she would go watch out the front window, knowing I'd be home at 5:30. She needed to be ready. I'd come in the door and she'd run up the stairs in front of me, hop onto our bed and flop over, ready for her belly rubs and attention.

That changed after Ainslie arrived, and it was so unfair to my sweet doggie. One day she was IT, and the next, she was our dog.

Still. The reduction in the amount of attention did nothing to reduce her loyalty. I was undeserving.

She was great with Ainslie. My two blonde girls. Rolling over each other, hugging each other. Lily loved listening to stories. When I'd read to Ainslie, Lily would come in and lay down and I swear, she was listening.

The diabetes diagnosis two years ago was bad, but not deadly. She took her shots like a champ, and even though her cataracts got bigger, nothing stopped her. The Addison's disease though, was a different story. She hasn't been herself since fall. I kept waiting for a Sign. Loss of appetite, something. Finally, she helped me help her.

Goodbye, Best Dog Ever, my Lily Lou.

January 14, 2002-March 19, 2008

Ramona Rides Again

Do you remember the Ramona books, by Beverly Cleary? I loved them--and this week, one of the local school district's DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) selection is Ramona the Pest. Ramona is 5 and in kindergarten and since you know I think Ainslie is waaaay advanced, LOL, I thought she'd love the Ramona books.

We needed to trade in library books this morning anyway, so I went delving into the Student Fiction section. Man, I was transported back in time for those few minutes. Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Eleanor Estes... Found Ramona the Pest--and all the other Ramona books, but thought we'd start with this one, as well as the usual Little Kid Book selections.

I convinced Ainslie she needed a nap today because she has a) a cold and b) dance class tonight, so we got set up in her bed, and started Chapter 1. Chapter 1 was 40 pages--but we loved it! Until---

Ramona did NOT get chosen to be the wake-up fairy, after an already harrowing first morning at kindergarten.

Ainslie started howling, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Ainslie, HONEY, what's wrong?"

"I wanted to be the wake-up fairy!"

After some snuggling and convincing that things would pick up for Ramona eventually, she calmed down and we finished the chapter, and I promised to read chapter two later.

Can I just squeal? Despite the tears, I am beyond thrilled that my little girl was so into the story that she cried for Ramona! She was paying attention; she was so engaged and invested! I wax histrionic about my passion for kids being avid readers, but...SQEEE-EEAL!

I can't wait for chapter two!

Well, that was quick

This week has just disappeared. We've had something going on out of our ordinary each day, and it's just flown by.

A couple of early morning conference calls (gotta love it when clients live in a later time zone and it's early for them) have gotten my days started early. Worked all day yesterday, minus taking Ainslie and I to the dentist. She was a star! They asked if they could take her in a different room so they could work on both of us at the same time. I was nervous about that, but Ainslie said, "sure, that would be fine." She loved the dentist! Add that to Things I Should Learn From My Preschooler.

Lovely (not) snowstorm Tuesday did something funky to the garage door... parking outside until we try a little more to figure it out or call the garage door people.

Ainslie had a sleepover with Grandma and Grampa. Packed her own suitcase at 6am. Shirt, pants (that yes, did have a little pink in them, to match the shirt), jammies, library book, summer hat (that she likes to sleep in. I know.) I casually suggested packing some underpants so she did. Three pair.

I'm getting a manicure and eyebrow wax during preschool this morning (well, not at the preschool, you know what I mean) so I can appear well-groomed at my Pilot next week. Leaving for lovely Pittsburgh early Sunday morning, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how this class stands up to what I've put on paper.

Girls' night out tonight.

Play date tomorrow afternoon.

Gymnastics and Easter Bunny breakfast on Saturday. And packing. Mine may take a smidge longer than Ainslie's did.

Parenting Moment or Country Song Title?

I Love You To Pieces But I Don't Want to Hold Your Trash

Angel on My Shoulder, Snot on My Shirt

I'm Out of Cheese, But You're Still Whining


If you can think of one, post it in your comment!

A Dream Fulfilled

This morning I went to Target. Alone. I waltzed over to the Starbuck's counter and gift-carded a skinny hazlenut latte, before even choosing a cart.

I looked at everything I wanted to. For as long as I wanted to. Then I bought (mostly) only what I came for.

I got home with nearly an hour to spare before pick-up.

Sunday Morning

"Mom, can you read me the Bible?"

"The whole thing?"

"Yeah."

"Now?"

"Uh-huh."

"Hmmm. Let's finish getting ready for Sunday school and then see what kind of time we have left."

Newsweek came yesterday

"Mom, who is that lady?"

"Her name is Michelle Obama. Who do you think her husband is?"

"Barack Obama!"

"That's right. She's on the front of the magazine because she is helping her husband run for president."

"That is SO nice of her. Mom? When are you going to help Daddy run for president?"

"Well, Daddy isn't going to run for president."

"I am. Will you help me run for president when I'm 35?"

"Of course! I'll be right there, doing everything I can to help you."

"Then YOU'LL be on the magazine!"

Q is for Diva

Today was Ainslie's Leader Day, which meant she got to bring the snack, bring an item for Show & Tell (her camera), change the numbers on the calendar, and be the Weather Lady. Big Day!

Today's theme was "Q is for Questions." We thought and thought (and polled the HS board) for semi-nutritious snacks that could be dropped off 2 hours before snack time that began with Q. All I could find was Quaker Quakes, which are flavored rice cakes, and since I want Ainslie's friends to like me, we went with Cheezits and apple slices.

At pick-up, she told me she was "exhausted." Mrs. L mentioned that may be because during Center Time, Ainslie sang and danced every song from Annie. Who knew they had a Musical Theatre center? So much for painting!

Little Girls

The Annie obsession continues...

"Mom, do you know why Miss Hannigan wants a man to nibble on her ear?"

"Why?"

"She wants someone to eat her ear off so she can't hear the orphans anymore."

I like it.

When Mommy Needs Help...

Everyone knows how I feel about cats.

Joe, the evil (notice how "evil" is an anagram of "vile?") feline strikes again. Honestly, that animal's days in this house are numbered. Friday night, I made the most beautiful, succulent pork chops of my life. Craig was coming home late from being in Chicago and I had put aside a great dinner for him--2 chops, rice, and broccoli, covered with plastic wrap.

I read Ainslie two stories.

I heard something in the kitchen. Joe had eaten the ENTIRE plate of food. This is not the first time he's done something like this. One night we accidentally left the pantry door open a crack when we went out and he ate an entire loaf of bread. He routinely gets the trash can out and spreads coffee grounds around the kitchen. I loathe and despise this animal.

So anyway, after the pork chop incident, I lost it. I started just screaming unintelligibly, to avoid using words I'd have to explain about later. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to call Craig to tell him he would not, after all, have dinner waiting for him, when Ainslie got all wide-eyed.

"Mommy! Are you calling...GOD?"

Get out there!

Did YOU?

In a nutshell

December 20 was a long time ago.

I still believe cats are vile. With every fiber of my being.

Other than vile cats, things have been busy! Christmas was wonderful and the 26th, Ainslie and I took off to LS to "bring the mountain to Mohammad." Besides a great visit with Grammie and Grampie, I got to see/meet Cathy, Tammy, and their cute kiddos AND play with my friend since dirt, Heater Mo Has. It was almost like Christmas break during college, except that now I'm old.

Two weeks later, Ainslie got to go back to Grammie and Grampie's while Craig and I went on a cruise. Bliss. Warm, sunny bliss. The only dark cloud was that we missed Ainslie--she would have LOVED this cruise. There was a parade every night with dancing in the 'street.' We are planning to take her next year.

Back home, it was nice to get back into our routine--until--Ainslie and I got a nasty stomach virus. I have not been this sick since 1986. I think Craig was a little freaked out, since he has never known me to really be sick. Thankfully (and miraculously), he didn't catch it, and was able to take care of us.

In Ainslie news, she is obsessed with Annie. She wants to be Annie, and "sing on a stage--not just steps like at school and church--a really big (dramatic pause) ... STAGE." I love this kid. She may look more like Craig, but on the inside, she has her mommy's dramatic heart.

While in LS, she gave my very Republican parents a civics lesson. "We vote for Barack Obama because he's the good guy. Did you know I'm going to be President when I grow up? Well, I'm going to be *everything* when I grow up, you know."

This went over much better than the time she informed my Bushie dad that "George Bush is mean and he tells lies." It may be the truth, but diplomacy, Kiddo, diplomacy.

Speaking of voting, I am all atwitter for Super Tuesday tomorrow. I have taken Ainslie to vote with me every time since she's been here. It gets me all choked up to explain the process to her. She is looking forward to going tomorrow also. We'll go before preschool and I'll get her her own sticker. We'll wear red, white and blue. (Of course I'll be wearing my "January 20, 2009" shirt. It's getting close!) We got books about voting and the Statue of Liberty at the library today. I forgot the Super Bowl was on this weekend, but I'll be tuned in to the results tomorrow!

That's about it for us. Go vote tomorrow!