Month: May 2009

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Welcome home!

I love the way the sun slants in the windows of my home.

This morning at 8am, Bryan picked up the kids and me from the Milwaukee airport.  It’s a stunningly beautiful spring day here in Wisconsin, and my garden and yard are looking so beautiful…a perfect welcome home.

Walking through our home, everything feels so right.  I had a wonderful time with Heather and Micahael and Evelyn.  I loved getting to visit with Grace and Tim and John.  If Bryan had been able to join us, I could have stayed in DC for quite some time.  I was also thinking it would be fun to just take off and explore the world.  Let’s go to Turkey or Russia or Bali!  But coming home feels good too.  There’s a contentment in my heart at the feeling of being home.  Continue reading “Welcome home!”

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Failure to communicate

What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.

~ Cool Hand Luke

Sylvie’s emotions run pretty fast and thick.  As she flips around in my arms in yet another sudden fit of anger, I often have the above line run through my head.

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I’m really hoping that this year we can work on communication a lot.  Granted, most of the time I know what she wants.  She’s great at pointing, she nods and shakes her head.  She says, “Maaa MA!” in different tones to indicate preference.  She also starting to try out different sounds sometimes.  Like, “Baabaa” meant stream or water the other day.  She was entranced by Sligo Creek and shouted “Baaabaa” whenever she saw it.  She also may have said “CraCa” for cracker last week.  And there’ve been a couple words that slip my mind that she’s tried out in the last couple days.

Continue reading “Failure to communicate”

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Whoa

It’s a quiet evening here at Heather and Michael’s house.  We stuck close to home today and made some birthday treats for Michael.  Heather made him a 6-foot-tall stuffed giant squid and a giant squid carrot cake.  Photos will be forthcoming.  Grace had the afternoon off work for her birthday (it’s birthday madness here, I tell you!), so she came over and the two of us took Sylvie and went downtown for some window-shopping and ice cream consuming.

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After Michael came home from work and we surprised him with his squid items, he and Heather went out for dinner.  Having me here for a week provides a good opportunity for them to get out for a birthday treat.  They asked one of their friends to come over while I put the kids to bed to help out.  Turns out that one adult for the three of these kids was a tough ratio.

Continue reading “Whoa”

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We’re in Maryland!

The kids and I flew in to Baltimore on Wednesday morning, and we’re currently all settled in at Heather’s house for the week. At the moment, Sylvie is (at long last) napping, Andrew is playing quietly on his own, Evelyn (Heather’s one-year-old) is at daycare, and Heather is at an appointment.

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We’re here until next Tuesday, so I’m looking forward to seeing Grace, Tim, and John and hopefully Kacy and Reutiger.
It’s summery here in Maryland. The temps yesterday felt downright hot, and another summer storm is blowing through today.
My boy is back at home, hopefully enjoying some quiet time. He’s got plans to be productive while we’re gone, but I’d be happy to have him rest and enjoy a week of calm. Bryan’s birthday is on Sunday, so feel free to drop him a note to tell him how great you think he is!
Oops, Andrew just dropped a toy on the floor, and I imagine I’ll hear a peep from Sylvie in a moment. There she goes.
OK, I’m off. Take care while we’re gone!

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Carpe Diem Party!

In honor of the tradition that Margot started, you are invited to a Carpe Diem Party

Saturday, May 23rd
11am – 3pm
At the Token Creek Park shelter #5 (directions)

Pot luck, bring your favorite dish to share.

We’ll have Frisbees, balls, and stories from the past year, pictures from Maretta and Kyle’s wedding, the engaged couple Michael and Lisa, adorable Andrew and Sylvia, and more!

Let’s get together, remember those we love who are no longer with us, and enjoy a beautiful spring day together.

Carpe Diem!!!!

tulips, beautiful tulips

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Wonderful Mother’s Day

Bryan and the kids arranged for a simply devine Mother’s Day today.  I feel so lucky to have been pampered and tended to all day long.Me and my girl

Sylvie woke up at 5:30 this morning.  I think she wanted me to watch the sun rise.  But after she spent a cranky 45 minutes, I put her back to bed and (thanks to Bryan) stayed in bed myself until almost 8.   How I do love my bed.  I don’t think I sped enough time with it these days.

Continue reading “Wonderful Mother’s Day”

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You’ll have to finish that doughnut before…

Sometimes when I’m speaking to my children, I pause and listen to the words that just came out of my mouth and sort of shake my head.  Like yesterday morning, we were all enjoying some doughnuts for breakfast.  Bryan brought home left-overs from work on Friday, so Saturday morning saw us all enjoying the yummy treats.  Andrew likes to eat doughnuts (and cupcakes and anything else with frosting) by licking or nibbling the frosting off, leaving a nearly untouched bakedgood underneath.  After pulling this trick and diving in for more, we said, “Andrew, you’ll have to finish all of your doughnut before you can have another one.”  And then we looked at each other with wonder, questioning, “Did I just say that?”

Have a carrot!Morning donught with sprinkles

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Last day of preschool

It’s another amazing-looking May morning.  Bryan is taking Sylvie over to Donna’s for the morning, and Andrew is getting dressed for his last day of preschool.  He’s decided to ride his bike (named Brisinger) to school today.IMG_5212

I don’t have a gift for his teachers.  Must still think of something on that front…

Last week, I had a parent-teacher conference with Sue and Emily.  They really love him, and Andrew’s temperment is a great fit for school.  They put together a really touching book outlining the ways Andrew has grown over the year.  He helped me scan it in to the computer, and I have it posted here for your reading pleasure.  It’s about 10MB to download…

Hope your day is a delightful one!

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Last preschool Thursday

I’m sitting on my porch, listening to the cacophony of birds, feeling the sun warm my legs, and feeling a gentle breeze. The maples on our street have finished flowering, and teeny tiny leaves have burst from the buds. Our driveway, sizewalk, and stret are covered with spring-green maple flowers. Dandelions have popped out on every lawn, and the kids are having a blast gathering them. Andrew declared (many times) that his favorite color is yellow. (Just so you know, that’s true today only.) Tulips are standing proud and colorful, the squirrels and birds are racing around with hormonal franticness…May, how I love you!
Continue reading “Last preschool Thursday”