Faerie Festival

My friend Molly is a glass artist (check out her link over on the side panel), and she attended the first annual Fairie Festival at Cooper's Lake this year. Because I live so near by, she asked if I would help her mind the booth. It was a lot of fun, some great costumes to be seen and Molly painted my face with Faerie swirls so I could model for potential customers (she also face paints on the side.) Next year it should be even larger and you might want to check it out!

Mmmm... hostas

Hostas

I love Hostas, they come in all shape size and color combos (of green and white) and they grow in complete shade. What could be better, except maybe the Japanese Painted Ferns next to them.

Grrr...Rain

We spent Friday getting ready for a garage sale bravely dodging rain drops and tarping and un-tarping, and re-tarping. I ran out in the rain no less than three times in the dark pouring rain with a staple gun in an attempt to keep the tarps on the table. Then Saturday dawned lovely and I naively thought it would be a nice day. Only to spot a large dark mass of clouds looming over the horizon. Thus followed an afternoon of tarping and un-tarping, and re-tarping... Let's just say I could have thought of better ways to spend my weekend...but hey at least we made some money! Which is more than I can say for any other rainy weekend this past month.

Ryan's 3rd Birthday

Here are some pictures from Ryan's birthday party yesterday. It was great fun for everyone, the adults sat around in the shade and the kids ran around in bathing suits running back and forth between the water slide and the kiddie pool. After it cooled down, we lit a bonfire, toasted marshmallows and set off fireworks.

Giant Rododendrons

Here at last are the long awaited pictures of the world's largest Rhododendrons (purple flowers) and some equally amazing Azaleas (red flowers). The Rhodies are to my knowledge, at least 30 years old, the Azaleas probably 10 to 15. This is what happens when you let your landscaping get out of control!!! If you look at the far away picture of the Rhodies, you will see Maya in the far right corner. It gives you some perspective as to how big these really are. (She's a little under three feet tall)

Cherokee Brave

The dogwood we planted last year as a screen for the neighbors porch, has finally bloomed. All last year I had my doubts about its ability to survive, but the desire to live has taken over. Oddly enough, only half the tree bloomed although leaves are coming out on all sides. Hmmm.

I haffa brush my teef...

Maya has become totally obsessed with brushing her teeth. Every time we go into the bathroom, no matter what the reason, she has to brush her teeth. I tried getting her to brush with just water, but everytime it has to be with toothpaste. And then the ceremonial drinking of water from the little cups followed by the sacred spitting all over the counter. Followed by the comment, "Aaaawww, my shirt's wet, Mom!"

Piano Picnic

Sunday was our annual piano studio picnic. It's a nice laid back approach to performing and gives the kids a chance to play in a very non-organized mostly stress free atmosphere. We rent a picnic shelter at the local park and set up two of our digital pianos and amps for the guitars. We get the grills going and then the students and there families show up when it's convenient for them (between 11:00 and 4:00). Everyone brings food and drinks and the kids bring their music and we get to play songs and listen to the guitars jam out and generally everyone has a good time.

The weather this year was colder than I would have liked ( 57 degrees) and it rained while we were setting up, but coffee and hot chocolate kept us going, and we took turns running out into the sun to get warm when it finally made an appearance. On the way home I had to turn on the heat in my Jeep full blast to stop my teeth from ch-ch-chattering.

It's cute how some of the kids don't want to play when they first get there, but they do... and they have such a great time, that they put their name on the list again, and again, and again! I also like that I get to accompany some of the guitar kids on piano. It's fun to play with other musicians, even when they aren't that good. That's what the picnic is for really, to get the students together to play with other kids and realize that music is FUN! This year we did 12 bar blues ensembles and Heart and Soul duets. The kids had a blast and so did I.

I love my job and that I'm teaching others to love music as much as I do. It's great having a career that makes me feel like I'm making a positive difference in the world. It's moments like these that make me realize quiting my old, high paying, absolutely emotionally degrading corporate job to do anything else was the best decision of my life. At the time I didn't know where I was going, or what I was going to do, but it all worked out in the end. As my dad says, "Everything happens for a reason..."

Modern Ideas?

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." Theodore Roosevelt - 1907

What Makes a Mother?

I can't take credit for this, but it made me laugh and cry so I thought I would pass it on to all the wonderful mothers in my life. Happy Mother's Day to you all.

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced withOscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here." Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted. This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse. For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T. This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors. And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it. This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words. This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat. For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead. This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college. This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away. This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

This is for all the step-mothers who raised another woman's child or children, and gave their time, attention, and love... sometimes totally unappreciated! For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green. For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting. For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers whosat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely. This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M.when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home? Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...And mature mothers learning to let go. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers. Mothers with money, mothers without. This is for you all. For all of us. Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. And tell them every day that we love them.

The Day Dreams of A Mother

Maya is going through this new stacking phase. Everything, and I mean everything has to be stacked. Now couple this with the patience level and the stacking ability of a 2 1/2 year old, and stop and think about it for a minute. Ok, you might possibly have a inkling of what I am trying to cope with here. It seems every time I turn around she's crying because something won't stack right, or it fell off or it's crooked or.... The only thing I can do is offer her constructive suggestions like "Try putting the big ones on the bottom honey," because I most certainly can not under any circumstances help her do it, or even worse- take it down. Because the world might end, or it could burst into flame, or some other equally unheard of senario. I'm hoping this really is just a phase, and not the beginning of some compulsion that she inherited from me (God knows I have enough to pass on!) So for now, I try to sidesteps all the half built skyscrapers in the playroom, and the books on her bedroom floor, and the pile of coasters under my computer desk and think "Maybe tomorrow she'll develope an obsession with wearing matching clothes and brushing her own hair. " (Sigh) The day dreams of a mother...

Play Day

Just trying out something new, because...well...obviously I seem to have too much time on my hands. Or better yet, I'm procrastinating. Yeah, that would be the more realistic definition!

Split Personality

I asked Maya today why she was licking her arm.

Her response was "Because I'm not. Because am are. Because not, are, are!"

What ever.

Choices, choices...

Therapy is expensive. Popping bubble wrap is cheap. You choose.

My Guardian Angel

Maya has this habit of following me all over the house, even when I tell her to just wait for me because I'm coming right back. Last night after she had followed me ALL day, I told her to wait downstairs while I went to get something out of the upstairs bathroom. Of course I met her on the stairs as I was coming back down.

In exasperation I asked, "Maya, why do you have to follow me everywhere I go?"

She looked at me for a moment and then said, "Because if I don't, the monster will get you and take you far away from me."

That's my Maya, my little guardian angel.

Here Kitty Kitty

After Maya finally learned how to quit accidentally stepping on Uma, they have become inseparable friends. One because Maya loves anything fluffy, and two because Uma is such an attention freak. She loves that he follows her around and he loves that someone pays attention to him. He's one of those cats that acts all deprived, like no one knows he's alive, even though he just sat on someone's lap for three hours. But in his defense, he is the most tolerant pet I've ever had. He will let you flip him upside down by his back legs and swing back and forth, purring all the while. Really the perfect companion for a toddler and her over boisterous friend next door.

Friends to the End

My friend Uma

So big!

We went to the park today, which is slightly ironic because we just installed one in our own back yard, but the neighbor called and asked if we would like to go. We haven't been to this park since late last summer and I have to say I am astonished at all the things Maya can do now! But the nicest thing was, Katie and I could stand next to the stroller with the new baby and just talk! For anyone with toddlers you know how rare a conversation without interruptions can be. The kids listened to us today too. Like when I told Maya not to go outside the fence, she actually turned around and came back, even though there was a bird she wanted to catch on the other side. They didn't even really put up a fight when we told them it was time to go home and eat lunch. The days when she was little and would stretch up her arms and say "So big..." are gone, she really is getting so big!

No words of wisdom today

Bleeding Heart

I have no words of wisdom, no little kernels of truth so here is my Bleeding Heart instead.

Here be Dragons

Christmas Fern

This is one of my many different ferns emerging from the ground. When we first purchased our house I was at a loss over what to plant because most of my gardens are in shade. I was frustrated and disappointed over being unable to plant all the sun loving annuals I knew. But after much research and some trial and error, my shade garden has become my favorite, filled with leafy perennials and a lovely interplay of light and shadow. I love how this Christmas fern starts all curled up and then slowly unrolls and fans out. To me, they look like baby dragons crawling out of the ground, all serpentine and scaly. Unfortunately they don't look anything like this when they are done. Enjoy them while you can!

Construction Ends

Front view

Back view 

Maya and Chad

We actually finished the swing set with no spare parts and we only had to run to the store twice! I highly recommend this set if you're in the market. It is so well built, that I expect Maya to be plying on in at least 10 years from now. The directions were right on, all the parts were included and it actually looked like the picture when we assembled it. Maya flipped out when she got up from her nap and saw the swings hanging from it. She really didn't know what to expect and when she realized what it was, it made all the work totally worth while! Now we just have to build a small retaining wall around it and get the mulch delivered to finish it off. Hopefully sometime this week !

Construction Begins

This how much we have accomplished so far. It may not seem like a lot but man was it hard! Every single piece came separate in 4 large cardboard boxes and not one piece was labeled!!! All we got was a parts list saying " G4 - 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" 11 holes " . So we had to measure each piece and then count the pre drilled holes to make sure we weren't using the wrong piece. Or should I say I measured and counted while my dad and Chad put the pieces together after I grouped them and read the instructions to them and then explained the instructions. Why can't you men read instructions? Is it genetically impossible? Or for the ones who can, why do the rest of you not do it? Sorry, that was a bit of a rant...It's been a long day and I think tomorrow will be longer because we still have to construct the monkey bars, swings, climbing wall, ladder and slide. Whew! I'm tired just thinking about it.

But it is so worth it to see Maya running around all hopped up at the prospect of having her own swingset. She loves to swing more than anything and she is outgrowing her infant/toddler swing that hangs from the tree. So the prospect of a real swingset is better than... candy for dinner, or wearing no shoes in snow, or what ever else makes a preschooler wiggle with delight.

Hopefully I will have pictures of the completed project to share tomorrow. Oh yeah, the estimated time for 2 skilled laborers is 16 hours... so that calculates to (16 x 3 =48 + 3 random hours for replacing lost stuff = 51 hours) 3 weekends and an afternoon. So mother's day weekend seems a safe deadline for claiming completion, right?

Today the swing set, tomorrow the world...

Today we begin the installation of one of those really big cedar play sets. You know, the one every suburban home has in the back yard? We saw it at Sam's Club last year and really considered buying it, but we knew Maya was way to young to use it. So we kept our fingers crossed that they would have it again this year. They did, so now we do to. I think she's really going to love it. It has a slide and three swings, a glider, monkey bars for when she's older and a climbing wall that leads up to the look out. The best part is, it's all enclosed with a real roof, not just one of those fabric ones , and the slide has really high sides so they can't flip out when no ones looking. And better yet... We won't have to get in the car and drive to get to a park!!!! I'll post some pictures when it's all assembled. As everyone knows, take how long you think a project will take to complete, and then triple that - not including the 6 times you have to run to the store to get any supplies or tools you thought you had, but didn't. So considering that we hope to complete this on Saturday, it will probably be done next week.

Baby Haley

So it didn't actually take me three months to post a picture, but as you see, I didn't actually take the picture either. This is our new neighbor, Haley. She is one of those babies that everyone aspires to have; she sleeps all the time, eats a lot, and hardly ever cries. Pretty much the opposite of everyone else's kids! She is adorable though and Maya will love having a little girl next door to play with when she gets older!

Birds Don't Like Pasta???

Oh my goodness!

Goldfinches

We like to watch the birds while we eat lunch everyday. Maya has become surprising good at identifying the various birds that come to the feeders. While she may not remember all their names, she does recognize any new species. She loves the fact that it is lunch time for the birds as well as us, and on occasion, the cats. However, it always brings up the perplexing conversation of why birds eat birdseed, and cats eat birds, but cats won't eat birdseed when Maya tries to feed it to them. Ah, the complex workings of her mind. She also likes to try and convince me that the birds will eat whatever offending food she doesn't want, in an attempt to get to her dessert sooner. This will be the child that trades every item in her lunch box (including the carrots sticks) for Ho Hos and Ding Dongs and somehow will convince her naive peers that it was a good trade.

Happy Birthday to Chad

Today is Chad's birthday, a whopping 32 years old! Shame on him for being married to a woman almost half his age (ha, ha). Two years ago I threw a surprise birthday bash for the big three-oh. This year he got a card. I figure that the amount of planning that went in to the last birthday party gets me out of having to plan anything for at least another eight years. I figure I'll put together another big bash for his fortieth.

While the presents aren't getting any bigger as the years roll by, I have to say that my love for him has grown in leaps and bounds since he became a father as well as a husband. And it's so much fun buying those Daddy birthday cards and then letting Maya scribble all over them... So here's to you my hunny bunny. I hope we get to celebrate 32 more years together in our own little insane asylum!

Two more yards to go...

I only managed to get three yards of mulch spread today. I waited too long this year before getting started and hence created a lot more work for myself. I have lots of tender little plants coming up that can easily be crushed by flying clumps of wood. So I had to make smaller piles and then spread it around by hand. Very time consuming, but I was so excited to see all the little green shoots coming out of the ground. I was hoping to get finished today, but by the time Chad got home to help, the farm closed and we couldn't get the last two yards of mulch. So, the Rhododendrons will just have to wait. While I was raking out the dead from underneath them, I discovered a birds nest inside them, and so did my cat, Uma. After several unconvincing conversations about how cat food is so much better than baby birds, I finally had to threaten him with the loss of his tail. I'm pretty sure he only pretended to agree with me because I was brandishing a pitch fork at the time. I can't be angry with him for being a cat, but I can't seem to love the birds any less either, so I may have to put netting up under the bushes to keep him out.

Man am I out of Shape!

I have spent the last few days cleaning up the gardens in preparation for a marathon mulching session this Friday, which I am attempting to undertake on my own. Six yards of mulch doesn't sound like a lot until you have shoveled it off the back of a truck all day. It will require several trips to the farm down the road and lots and lots of effort. I'm fearing that I may require even more mulch than usual because I am remulching the 30 year old Rhododendrons in the front yard. They add so much acidity to the soil that nothing really grows under them, but all the dead leaves and random weeds have been accumulating for about five years now. I spent this morning raking and shoveling all the debris out. Five wheelbarrow loads later, it's finally ready to be dressed! I'll post a picture of them when they bloom, they truly are awesome.

I worked in a garden center for three years toting 70 pound trees and shrubs, shoveling mulch daily and bagging rocks. I used to be in fantastic gardening shape, but a winter of inactivity has everything aching. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, and oddly enough, I hope it does. Shoveling is hot work and a little rain goes a long way in cooling you off. Even with all the aches and pains, I have to say that I love working outside.

Digging in the dirt is the most rewarding job to me. I just love seeing green things come out of the ground, and seeing plants re-seed on their own. I love it when you prune the hell out of something and it comes back bigger and better the next year. My shade garden has finally reached the point I had planned for 5 years ago. Gardening is a study in patience. You plant small plants knowing that they aren't going to look good for about three year, but then you realize that it's ok, you can wait for it. Why? Because it's worth it.

Abstract Artist in the Making

Maya's Picture of a Giant Toe

The neighbor's have a large, pink, foot shaped balloon that says "It's a Girl!" Rather a silly design for a welcome baby gift I think, but it's all Maya can talk about lately...the giant toe at Ryan's house. This is her rendition of the Giant Toe.

First Bouquet of Spring

This is the possibly the ugliest vase in the world, but it's just the right size. It was my mom's vase for all of our hand picked bouquets when we were kids. After Maya was born, she passed it on to me so that I too would have just the right sized vase to put her bouquets in. Every time she picks me dandelions, I flash back to the pride I felt at presenting my mom with "flowers".

My favorite flowers have always been daisies, but I think that dandelions are running a close second. Especially when they are wrapped in a chubby little fist and presented with, "Here mom, I picked these just for you!"

Easter Number Three

Easter Egg Hunt Next Door

As Maya gets older, one of the most obvious ways to mark time is how each holiday is different from the previous years. Her first Easter, she was only 4 months old, so there wasn't a lot of action to be had. Her second Easter, she was getting good at walking but the concept of finding things that were hidden was a tougher one. But man, she loved those plastic eggs. She carried them around in a basket for about two weeks until I got tired of stepping on them and they mysteriously "disappeared" while she napped one day.

While she hasn't outgrown her love of the plastic eggs, this year she took to hiding them herself. The surprise was on her Easter morning when she realized we had filled them with Life Savers and pennies . Our neighbors hid some outside this year and she and Ryan scoured the tall grass looking for them. Shouts of "I found one!" and "Here's another one!" rang out as they ran around trying to get to the eggs first. But I guess the real milestone was that I hardly had to help Maya find any this year - my baby is growing up.

Easter eggs and Frilly things 

Easter at Mimi's 

I'm so glad it's Thursday

This is the "end" of my week, and thank goodness for that because I don't think I could have handled one more 8 year old bouncing around the room and swinging his headphones around his head like a lasso. As a teacher, I'm not sure which is worse. Either the week before a holiday when the kids are so hyped up that getting them to focus is something I accomplish only through the most daring of feats and wittiest of jokes. (ok the jokes aren't that witty, most of my audience is under the age of ten...) Or the week after, when the let down has hit and they are all letharigic from too much sugar and communicating in shrugs and grunts.

Both weeks require willpower and patience beyond the normal human powers. Which is why at the end of them, I have none left, for anyone. So I'm sure my family is also happy to see the holidays go so I can return to being mildly annoyed at them instead of a raging lunatic. So I hope you all enjoy your Easter holiday and may you bestow some of your left over candy on the teachers in your children's lives. We need the extra sugar to get through the let down ourselves.

My Car Stereo is Possessed

Have you ever had a problem and the answer seems to come to you out of the blue? Well this may sound strange, but I think god speaks to me through my car radio. Before you think -" what a nut job", let me explain. There have been several times in my life that I have been experiencing a problem, or stress, or depression, that I can't seem to shake. Most of the time I think about it while I am driving. I have a real tendency to obsess, but only in my head, so it comes as a real surprise to people when they find out that I have a recurring stomach ulcer. I'm one of those people that seems very calm and put together on the outside, but the reality is I'm an insomniac with indigestion because I can't turn off my brain at night.

So back to the driving part...Usually the problem reaches a point where I can't take it anymore and I just have to put the question out to the universe. And oddly enough, it answers back through song. More times than I can count, at the crucial breaking point, a song will start to play on the radio that answers my question and it's almost always one I've never heard before. So long story short - as I was driving home last night very upset and stressed, and mulling over a problem I can't shake, the song "Zig Zag" by Ben Arnold came on WYEP. I tried to find the lyrics so you guys could read them, but I think the song is too new. Paraphrased they went," You just gotta zig, zag, have some fun, Let your past go..." And that is exactly what I think god was trying to tell me. I just have to get over it because something better is on the way.

Why we need better schools

NO PARENT LEFT BEHIND I promise you cannot read these and not laugh out loud. These are real notes written by parents in a Tennessee school district. Spellings have been left intact.

1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.
2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.
3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.
4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.
5. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.
6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.
7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.
8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.
9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.
10. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.
11. Please excuse Lesli from being absent yesterday. She had diahre dyrea direathe the shits.
12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.
13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.
14. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.
15. I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.
16. Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.
17. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.
18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the marines.
19. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.
20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.
21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.
22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.
23. Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever, sorethroat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.

Now we know why parents are screaming for better education for our kids.

If you have kids...

If you have kids you will understand why I didn't post a picture of Haley like I promised. As I was getting ready to leave, Chad was swinging Maya around by her arms and she started to cry. When he put her done she kept saying her elbow hurt and she wouldn't move her arm. So of course, we're totally stressing out that her arm is dislocated, or broken, or at the least sprained.

After a 30 minutes of sobbing in my lap, we graduated to the bed so she could lay down and cry. Of course when I called the Dr's office at 3:02, they had closed at 3:00 and no one would pick up the phone! (Don't get me started on that...) And all you get is that stupid message, "for medical emergencies only, please page Dr. so and so...")

So then you stand in the kitchen and think, "Oh God, is this an emergency or not?" Well after about an hour she finally calmed down and cried only when it moved, not non-stop. Yea! Progress! Chad finally convinced her to go outside and wander around so I could sneak out the front and speed to the hospital before closing.

Needless to say, in my sneaking attempts, I forgot the camera. Hence there are no pictures today. But take my word for it, she is very cute! Katie and baby should be home Sunday, so I'll try for pictures then. Although if you know me... I'm sure you won't expect to see them until Halloween.

Oh, and as for Maya's arm, by the time I got home - she was fine.

Happy Birthday to Haley

My friend (and next door neighbor), Katie, delivered her 2nd child yesterday, a little girl named Haley. She was born at 9:33am by c-section and weighed 8lbs. 8oz. We are going to visit the hospital this afternoon and I should have a picture to post by this evening. Oh the joys of technology. So lets all sing together off key... Happy Birthday to you!

Joy and Sorrow

Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.
And he answered:
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter arises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper the sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

excerpt from 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran

Today was a bad day, I hope that joy is waiting for me tomorrow. Sometimes I need to look at the world from anothers point of view. Feel free to lend me yours...

The Day God spilled the paint...

Wow

This photo was taken on the east side of the Carrizo plain, in the Temblor Range, about 50 miles due west of Bakersfield , California . Photo taken by Barbara Mathews, May 14, 2005

Things that make you go Hmmmm

On Wednesday of this week, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06. That won't ever happen again. You may add it to your "extreme scientific knowledge" file. You may now return to your normal stuff.

Maya's first haircut

Taking it all very well.

This was Maya's first real haircut. I'd cut it myself until now because she had such horrible stranger anxiety. I had visions of her hair ending up half cut because she would freak out after the shock of meeting someone new wore off. I kid you not, she cried at everyone from the age of 6 months to about 22 months. I'm pretty sure that's one for the psychology record books. She cried at men, people with glasses, people who looked at her, people who talked to her, sometimes I think she cried if someone even thought about her. She wouldn't let her Pappy near her until she was 9 months old! Then one day I realized, "my god, she hasn't cried at a stranger in at least two days!" and from there it only got better. Now she's only afraid of imaginary people, and crabs. But hey, who isn't afraid of crabs? I have to agree with her that they are creepy - they walk sideways. I don't think you can trust anything that won't come straight at you!

First real hair cut

Happy New Year's, uh I mean April Fools!

New Year's Eve 2006

Yes, I know it's April 1st... this is how long it took me to get a roll of film developed. I've been using my digital for so long that I couldn't even remeber how to fill out the stupid bag you put the film into! We were rushing around trying to get everything ready and forgot our camera. Luckily, my parents loaned us theirs, very old school - point and click. I spent the whole night staring at the back of the camera trying to see the picture I just took. Duh. But we had a great time and it was neat to get back pictures that I forgot I took. Maya's first haircut was on the same roll of film. I'll post those pictures tomorrow to give you all something to look forward to. (You all being the three faithful readers of this blogging blurb, and if you are one of those, I thank you!)