Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Happy 8th Anniversary






I'd pick you again honey.  I love you.


"Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench when there's plenty of room at both ends."

January 31, 2011 - Baby's Boat


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Thursday, January 19, 2012

General Hospital - Dr. Duck

Between the parking lot where employees can park and the hospital where I work, there is a small creek.  In that little creek lives a community of ducks. 

I'd call them a family, but there's really a little more drama going on with what I've observed the last few days.




Day 1:
  A beautiful, crisp cold January day.  As I walk over the bridge, I hear the quacking of an arriving duck.  Splashdown!  (the other ducks swim to greet the arriving male duck and when almost there, one female hangs back and quacks at her male saying - "Dude, give them some space to say hello - it's been since like 5 this morning since she's seen him!")  Upon arrival, the female duck and male duck swim around each other quacking happily.  I have to imagine the dialogue went like this:
"Ah, Quackita - you are looking especially bouyant today!"
"Why thank you Quacko, I was just admiring your tail feathers myself."
I laughed and walked on - promising myself that I'd share with you tomorrow.


Day 2:
  Another beautiful crisp cold day, another duck arrives.  Just like yesterday, the ducks swim to greet the new arrival quacking happil- oh, no I guess they're not quacking happily.  They're warning him off.  Apparently, he's new in town and is now checking out the ladies. He is quickly warned to swim away by the other males.
"Skyooz, me ladies, do I have something stuck in my..." 
"Keep movin', dude, they're taken."

Day 3:
 Another beautiful crisp cold day, our new duck reappears.  the newcomer saunters over to a female only to be chased off by her drake (male duck - I was going to say her man, but come on - they're ducks).
"How YOU doin'?"
"Scram!"
Unhindered by any feelings of shame or decorum, he slides smoothly over to another hen (female duck).
"Heyyyyyyy."
"get lost!"

It's just like days of our lives out there!


Today:


We've had a lot of snow over the last few days - with freezing rain and sleet today.  On my way out, this is what I saw.

The creek where they live is trying to ice them in, so they've had to put aside their differences and stick together and work together to keep the "path" clear between where they live in the grasses and where they eat.

You can see the little path they keep clear by swimming below.





Just keep swimming!

January 15, 2011 - MayLee at bowling


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Let it Snow

This is our first really decent snow of the season.



Here's wishing I was at home with the girls snuggled in a blanket reading books all day.

January 9, 2011 - part 2 - An Aminal for MayLee


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Funnies at work - Today, January 16, 2012

I have to own this one.

I called someone in another department.

"Sterile Processing, this is Dena." 
"Hi Dena, this is Cara from Value Improvement for Patients returning your call."
"OK, where are you from?"
"Kansas." 
Yes. I'm that doofus.  Clearly I knew her by name and face better than she knew me by name and face.  I didn't realize until I blurted out "Kansas" that she was still trying to figure out who the heck I was.

face palm (d'oh!)

January 17, 2011 - the Big idea


Sunday, January 15, 2012

Today - January 14, 2012

Today, I tricked Alyson and MayLee into requesting and enjoying food storage.

I remember trying powdered milk at a friend's house when I was growing up.  It wasn't great, but then maybe it  Lately, I've gotten really into the idea of setting up my food storage and actually using it.  I've looked into it a lot and have drunk the punch.  Or in this case - the powdered milk.  There are lots of great websites out there to make the experience possible and positive.  They gave me hope that powdered milk has improved and some tips on making it palatable.

My game plan:

Make it new and exciting - the desirable milk instead of the weird food storage milk.

  1. Today, I made a little - just enough for one person - in my pink shaker bottle.  I added a small pinch of sugar and a little dash of vanilla (like vanilla soy) and sat down with it in front of my dinner.  Immediately the girls asked to have some.  I told them, "I'm sorry, this is special milk for mommy."  I waited for just a beat to get their interest peaked and then asked them if they'd like some anyway.  Using their pretty cups (instead of their run of the mill red plastic cups), I gave them a little each and let them try it.  Success!  They liked it, so I made more and shared it with them.  
  2. Next, if we ever want to get to the point that we're just drinking it from the pitcher, it'll have to be pretty. So I'll be checking thrift stores for a nice glass pitcher that will fit in the fridge.  Bonus points if it has a lid.  I'd love for it to be a small tube or rectangle.  Man - Mom (grandma) and I came across a perfect one at Nell Hills years ago, but I didn't buy one.  Now I don't know if they have them anymore.  I'll keep my eyes peeled for a look-alike.
  3. After that, the container is going to need a makeover.  Maybe this is just where I get into wanting stuff to be pretty because that's what I do.  But if I'm trying to pass this off as fancy / fairy milk, it's going to have to be in costume.  Because the #10 can wardrobe just isn't doing much for it.  I'm thinking a cute sleeve out of fabric or scrapbooking paper ought to do it.
  4. Finally, I want to make this the fun milk - the milk you get on special occassions - until it's the milk I can pass off as every day milk - for cereal and drinking.  For now, I'll keep it for fun days or for when I let them have chocolate milk.  
An example of a can cozy - this one is petite for a little bitty soda can.  Mine would really have to mean it for a #10 can.

The hope is that I'll eventually be able to keep from using the sugar and vanilla or eliminate one.  I've learned a lot about what else you can do to use your food storage every day and if I try them and find them to work well, I'll force it upon you in blog form.

You're welcome in advance. :)

January 15, 2011 - Bowling



Friday, January 13, 2012

Funnies heard at work

Upon hearing she'd have to present part of our event report out the next day, one of our participants tried to get out of doing so by saying:
"I'm planning on wearing something wildly inappropriate tomorrow."

During our green team meeting yesterday, we had two gems.  Both highly intelligent individuals in separate conversations.

Chase said in regards to bicycle commuting:
"I live six miles from home."
Bryan said (sarcastically) in regards to the huge mass of floating garbage in the Pacific ocean:
"Ah, is that the Bermuda Triangle?"

January 13, 2011 - Alyson's princess


Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Today - January 11, 2012 - part 3 - MayLee

We are blessed with highly observant girls.  MayLee brought me the "Fox in Socks" book to read tonight and called it:

"Gah-ca-Zoos" for Dr. Seuss.


More tidbits

If you missed the gems earlier, don't forget to check the previous post.

We are currently watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in honor of the girls' dinner time cuteness.   In case you find all slightly mispronounced Potterisms like I do, I share the below.

Alyson's favorite part of the first movie is when Ron tries to change his rat yellow.

"Sunshine, Daisies, Butter mellow,
Turn this stupid fat rat yellow!"
All Alyson hears is:
"Stupid rat mellows!"
She then will quote it happily for a few minutes.

Then, for the first time, she recognized Draco Malfoy and said:
"That Malf-Boy is bad.  He's mean to Harry."

Today - January 11, 2012

Aly and MayLee are so funny.  At lunch, Aly was pretending to be Ron saying:

"Wing-bah-bee-bee, Oh Sah!" and then she'd wave her pretend wand back and forth vigorously.



It blossomed from there into them saying "Harry Potter stick" with a rash of giggling.  

"Harry Potter Stick!"
"Ee-ee Pah-yah gick!"
"Harry Potter Stick!"
"Ee-ee Pah-yah gick!"

Eventually it turned into:

"Blarry Blobber Stick!"


I swear we don't watch Harry Potter constantly.  Only regularly.


January 10, 2011 (part 2) - MayLee's checkup

At the doctor's office...


Monday, January 9, 2012

Today, January 9, 2012 Girl, Interrupted

We were on our way in to the store this evening when we promptly turned right back around and left without buying anything.

Any ideas why?

A framed autograph to the correct guesser!
Okay, well maybe not, but 5 points.

Here's a hint. It starts with "T" and rhymes with "spantrum".

I decided it wasn't worth it.  We're not that low on milk.

January 9, 2011 - MayLee claims a kiss


Sunday, January 8, 2012

Today - January 8, 2012

MayLee was playing leapfrog with Alyson's stuffed froggie.  Alyson's froggie that, incidentally had been dressed in Aly's jammies.

Christmas - Prettied Up

Do you remember the other day when I posted pictures from Christmas?  But I hadn't had a chance to Photoshop them yet?  Here are a few that are prettied up - Just for you.






January 8, 2011

On the phone:
Daddy: Whose birthday is it today Alyson?
Aly: Isabell's (and indeed, we were getting ready for Isabella's birthday party)
Daddy: And whose else?
Aly: (silence)
Daddy: Mommy's birthday!
Aly: It's not Mommy's birfday, it's Isabell's.
Daddy: Say "Happy Birthday, Mommy!"
Aly: (to me) It's not ore's birfday Mom.



Saturday, January 7, 2012

I'm just going to say it

I'm opinionated about certain things.  I'd like to share 2 with you today.  Normally I'd like to make it 3 because odd numbers are better than even numbers.  Hmm - maybe that can be my third opinion.



1. Ugg boots.  They appear to be about the most comfortable thing you could possibly wear outside the house.  My feet feel comfy and warm just thinking about them.  So why is it that I see young fashionable women wearing them in the dog days of summer with a mini skirt on?  Please stop doing that.  I might be able to condone it if they looked somewhat stylish - but they don't.  They're the millenium's equivalent of the moon boot.  Comfy and warm for winter wearing.  You know - when it's snowing or you're running errands or building a snowman.  Maybe I'm a snob.  The only acceptable exception to the rule is kids.  Kids can get away with Uggs no matter what, because they're kids.  Everything's cuter when it's smaller.








2.  Exposed zippers.  It hasn't grown on me. I remember seeing it for the first time on Project Runway and hated it then.  I still do.  I'm sure I'm probably the only one that does - but I do.  I don't care if a famous designer at Lanvin did it first.  It looks like a mistake and completely interrupts the design.  Maybe that was the point.  I just don't think many people can pull it off.  But let's face it - how many runway fashions can be pulled off - off the runway?

At any rate - because there are some that pull it off beautifully - here's my rule.
  It cannot interrupt the design.
  It cannot look like you didn't know how to do it and left it in wrong.
  You must not use an exposed zipper in a waistband.  I don't want my eye drawn to your nether regions.


3.  Lists are better in odd numbers.

Thank you for your consideration of the above.  Please, no hate mail.

Today - January 7, 2012

The girls and I played dress up.  And we went to the store that way.


After her nap, MayLee pointed to her ears.  "Eeees!... wiggle!"  And then she wiggled them around with her fingers.

January 7, 2011

\

Any abandoned shoe is swiftly claimed by our resident shoe thief.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Today - January 6, 2012

MayLee was running around this morning with a cinnamon stick wand trying to say Wingardium Leviosa.  Which of course is the spell for making things float.



You can hear her saying it at about 30 seconds in the above clip.  And then she flops herself over.  Kind of ironic considering the intended outcome of the spell.


Eventually Alyson broke in and said:

"No, it's Wing - Gar - Dee - Um  -- Leh - vee - OH - sah."
I only wish I'd caught that on video as well.  My little Hermione.



Oh yes.  We're great parents.  I am for introducing them young and early to the magic of imagination.  Erik is for playing along.

January 6, 2011 (part 2)

Alyson: There wasn't a pompom in the sink.
Mommy: Nope.  What was there?
Alyson: 'lime and dirt. (horrified face)... 'lime is icky.  It will hurt ores body.  It goes in de garbage.
Alyson: uh-HUH!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Today January 5, 2012

MayLee was tickling me this morning -

"Kickle, kickle, kickle" (followed by giggles when I tickled her back)

January 6, 2011 (a day early)

MayLee: Mmmm, I have an Oreo beard.  I wonder how much I can lick off...

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Today = January 4, 2012

MayLee climbed up into her chair at the table while I was making dinner.

I didn't know why she kept giggling.

Until I saw that she'd gotten a hold of the butter.

And had been scratching little bits into her mouth.

I guess I'm lucky there really wasn't much on the butter dish at the time.

Ironic

Sciatica has been kicking my butt lately.

That is all.

January 5, 2011 (a day early)

So here's the deal.  Sometimes I'll have more funny stories per day than I have of days.  So they may shift around a little.  Enjoy them anyway - but don't blame me if you start dating your documents incorrectly. 

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

January 3, 2011


(She gets that from me)

Monday, January 2, 2012

Today - January 2, 2012

Well that's going to take some getting used to.  2012.

At any rate, though I didn't give much of a big reveal, and as I have still not chosen a new name, I am excited about sharing last year with you in cartoons.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Today: We completely overhauled the closet in our family room.  It is now a usable space that doesn't look like a breeding ground for nargles and spiders.

Also today, I realized that picking up your violin for the first time in years and really seriously practicing is different than you expect.  My back and shoulders hurt - as does my neck.  I guess the muscles that used to hold the violin up like that in the past have gone a bit soft from disuse.  I guess that's what I get, huh?

:)

Happy new year - back to work tomorrow.

January 2, 2011

Sunday, January 1, 2012

January 1, 2011

So, from now on, I'll be reliving the past.  In comic form.

As the year has gone on, I've kept track of funny things said, exciting milestones and heartwarming stories.

This is how I will be sharing them.


Additionally, because it is not healthy to only live in the past, I'll give updates on what is going on now.  Who knows - maybe you'll see a comic next year and remember the story from this year.



Last year, we watched football games.  And the girls and I made fun signs to hold up like the two shown above.  Because MayLee didn't really understand the signs, she was more excited about the cheese dip and chips we were enjoying.

:)

Happy New Year!