Laurel and Greg had a conversation this weekend that went something like this: Laurel: 'I wish I were a boy.' Greg: 'Why is that?' Laurel: 'Because Mommy says it hurts to have babies, and I don't want it to hurt.' Greg: 'Well, I think it just hurts for a little while,...
Archives - April 2007
Gender Preferences.
Sunday, April 29 2007 - Family
The Painted Kitchen.
Sunday, April 29 2007 - Family
Our kitchen desperately needed painting, but I had avoided it because the cabinets, the cabinets, dear god, the cabinets! So much trim work makes for a tedious chore. But Saturday morning I woke up and decided it was the day for it, and I could not wait another day. So we did. This is great, but now...
Dodging Salesmen.
Thursday, April 26 2007 - Family
I really went and did it this time. Greg and I long ago decided we needed life insurance but we just never got around to it. This week I finally got in gear and did some research. I made a big mistake by going online to insure.com, because I gave them my real phone number. First mistake: I gave them...
A Day Spent in the Throes of the Terrible Twos.
Wednesday, April 25 2007 - Family
Here are scenes from today: Yes, it was an incredibly trying day. But I just read a story about a woman who accidentally ran over her 15-month-old, so I wouldn't trade this for anything, because I know I still have another chance to hug him....
On Striking Balance.
Wednesday, April 25 2007 - Family
A conversation with a 7-year-old environmentalist: Laurel: "Mommy, what are they building there?" Me: "They're clearing land to build new shops and restaurants." Laurel: "Oh, no! Why? What about all the trees and grass?" Me: "Well, this area was blighted, and the...
For the Love of Apples; or, Unintentional Racism.
Monday, April 23 2007 - Family
This weekend, Greg and PawPaw and the rest of the bunch went to visit my mother and install a brand new furnace and air conditioner. While there, we discovered Ethan l-o-v-e-s whole, unpeeled apples. He and Laurel enjoyed apples together: On the way home, we taught Laurel how to look for out-of-state...
Stay Off the Roads.
Friday, April 20 2007 - Family
This afternoon, at approximately 3:15 p.m., I will do the unthinkable. I will take the kids on a 3-hour road trip by myself, stretching my patience to new limits. I can't wait. Ethan was running a fever of 103 degrees last night, prompting a call to the pediatrician. He's much cooler this morning...
Hair Today.
Thursday, April 19 2007 - Family
In an unexpected twist this morning, He-Who-Combs-Hair-Before-Taking-Out-Trash styled Ethan's hair as follows: As you can tell from his expression, Ethan was none too happy, and will be taking after his daddy with the hair thing....
Strange Elections.
Wednesday, April 18 2007 - Family
In Webster County, Missouri, where I grew up, they hold elections for Coroner. Having grown up with this, I didn't realize how strange the idea was until Greg pointed it out. A couple of days ago I was going through some old photos and found this: Perhaps giving out campaign balloons to little kids...
Laurel's Autobiography.
Tuesday, April 17 2007 - Family
Laurel has been studying biographies in school recently, and was assigned to write an autobiography. I think it's interesting to have a 7-year-old do this, because you find out what is important to them, if you can manage to wade through the terrible paragraph structure. So here is the text of her...
Laurel-isms, Part XI.
Monday, April 16 2007 - Family
In conversation about the Lost City of Atlantis at the dinner table: Me: "You can Google it, if it's not blocked." Laurel: "Gah, I hate SonicWALL! I hate that it blocks everything !!!" (poor kid's getting an early lesson about The Man)....
Birthday Celebration!
Monday, April 16 2007 - Family
Grandma Smith turned 75 on Saturday, so we took her out to celebrate. I made a somewhat lopsided German chocolate cake from scratch. It may not have looked beautiful, but it certainly tasted good. We realized we had no photos of Grandma with the grandkids and great-grandkids, so we took one. Voila! Happy...
How Fartsome is Fartsome?
Saturday, April 14 2007 - Family
Remember this post ? As I mentioned, I've adopted the word 'fartsome' because I think it's just brilliant. Today, Laurel and I had a conversation that went something like this: Me: (singing) "Ohhhhh, Laurel's fartsome, she's fartsome, she's fartsome all the way..."...
Cruelty to Children.
Saturday, April 14 2007 - Family
It's been a traumatic morning for the youngest of the family. First, the Tyrants in Charge of the Household subjected him to a haircut, the atrocity of which was only temporarily lessened by the presence of a lollipop: Next, Big Daddy Tyrant tested the smoke detectors in the house, leading to the...
Miscellany, Part Deux (or so).
Thursday, April 12 2007 - Family
Could someone please explain to me how it is that after a weekend of eating ribs, big fat burgers, fries, cheesecake, half a bag of Chili Cheese Fritos and a LOT of chocolate, plus drinking plenty of beer, I managed to LOSE a pound? I'm beginning to think our fancy-schmancy state-of-the-art scale...
Growth Spurts and Super Kids.
Wednesday, April 11 2007 - Family
I think I sense a growth spurt coming on. For the last couple of days, Ethan has been really cranky, sleeping a lot and eating a lot. Yesterday he had his first White Castle burger, which was left over from the Laurel / Greg trip that made breaking news earlier this week. I know, I couldn't believe...
Yes, I Confess, I Obsess.
Tuesday, April 10 2007 - Family
I have a planning preoccupation. Little wonder, then, that in Greg's anniversary card to me he wrote, "I would be lost without you . . ." . . . and then when I gushed about it he responded, "It's true -- I would be lost without you -- you have all the maps."...
Memphis, Day Three.
Tuesday, April 10 2007 - Family
We wrapped up our trip to Memphis beginning with a lunchtime visit to an outstanding barbecue joint called the Bar-B-Q Shop. No roosters crowing here, but they make a mean pulled pork sandwich. Greg had the ribs which were also very good, but not as good as the ones he makes at home! Afterwards we hit...
Memphis, Day Two.
Monday, April 09 2007 - Family
See how happy we were to be in Memphis? Clearly we recovered nicely from the previous evening. Not to be outdone by the festivities of Day 1, we awoke early on Day 2 to visit the National Civil Rights Museum , located in the motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. It was eerie to be...
Breaking News.
Monday, April 09 2007 - Family
We now interrupt your regularly scheduled blogging for this announcement: Greg and Laurel just got back from lunch at White Castle, where Laurel ate SIX White Castles, beating Greg out by one. When asked, Greg maintained that if it had been an out-and-out eating competition, he could have eaten more...
Memphis, Day One.
Monday, April 09 2007 - Family
Greg and I went to Memphis over the weekend to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary. Here are the highlights from day one: We stopped in Ste. Genevieve to view the Bolduc House , built in 1770. This is a prime example of French colonial architecture. I studied this home in my Art History & Architecture...
Good Times.
Friday, April 06 2007 - Family
We're in Memphis right now, celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary. I'm linking you to a post I wrote earlier but didn't publish until now, so you have something to read. We have LOTS of blog-worthy stuff already from our trip, so stay tuned! Here's that post ....
Why I Love Outsourcing.
Wednesday, April 04 2007 - Family
Directions from a reading light Laurel received for selling magazines in a school fundraiser*: Usage instructions: 1. Press right button. Book light truns on. LED light is bright. 2. Use metal clip on any object. Move topmost link to adjust bright degree to the best lighting result. 3. Take back ,Press...
Vinnie's Revenge.
Tuesday, April 03 2007 - Family
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Vinnie for the last couple of days, wherein he has filled our hours together with the following nasties: He muddied up my floors almost immediately after I cleaned them; He dragged a large ham shank into the house on the same nice clean floors; After eating...
A Visit to the Park.
Monday, April 02 2007 - Family
Yesterday afternoon, Greg was digging in the back yard (something he does a lot lately) while I was reading on the deck. I called down to him and told him that if we were good parents, we would take our kids to the park. So we did! Ethan learned to use the slide and LOVED it: Laurel spent lots of time...
Early Easter.
Monday, April 02 2007 - Family
We celebrated Easter a week early this year because Greg and I will be in Memphis over the holiday. Highlights included a visit from the Easter Bunny, an egg hunt, and a ham dinner. Ethan took his first shot at egg hunting: Laurel risked life and limb searching for eggs...: ...and was joyful & triumphant...
