tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40889642009-03-01T01:54:56.958-05:00... adventures in parenthoodPeanut, Pumpkin & other storiesHnoreply@blogger.comBlogger703125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-91956305693000084792009-01-05T23:24:00.002-05:002009-01-05T23:26:56.190-05:00Jess’ first mealAt seven she’s finally reading cookbooks so we’re learning to cook meals from scratch. What was Jessie’s selection for her first meal? homemade mac-n-cheese, what else! Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-57017802540954667412008-11-19T22:11:00.000-05:002008-11-19T22:12:09.260-05:00There's a first for everything ... but at seven?When the phone rang last night at just a few minutes before dinner, David answer it while I served up chili. “Yes, she is. May ask who's calling?” My immediate reaction to his inquiry conjured up a mental response to some telemarketer, who I anticipated waited for my voice to say hello.Imagine my surprise when David handed the phone to little Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-43762372167045508422008-10-27T19:29:00.001-05:002008-10-27T19:29:57.944-05:00Melt my …Overheard tonight at bedtime:Jess “It is always be like this, Papa?”David: “What do you mean, Jess?”Jess: “You and momma loving me?”Even at seven, they constantly find ways to melt your heart.Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-30960620167033675252008-09-15T22:19:00.002-05:002008-09-15T22:22:31.549-05:00"The Talk"I knew it was over due even as we sat down to talk. But opportunities for a quality chat alone with Katie aren’t as easy as they should be when a younger sibling Jessie is constantly around. Saturday morning provided a perfect backdrop with a few hours alone with Katie and while she was still in good spirits and the conversation seemed ripe, I thought I’d take the opportunity to findHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-3224128070150224022008-08-03T21:25:00.003-05:002008-12-09T12:13:45.768-05:00CraftyJust when I thought I had been exposed to every summer camp craft imaginable… Katie brings home a new one ...Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-63017988628510026962008-07-12T19:39:00.002-05:002008-12-09T12:13:45.939-05:00Summer ReadingThe Rainbow Magic books are the rave this summer. Between Harriet the Hamster Fairy and Sophie the Sapphire Fairy, the girls are determined to read every one of the rainbow, weather, jewel, pet and fun day fairies books that Scholastic has published Kathryn tells me in that there are currently 36 titles in total. So far I think both girls have tactical 12 or 13 of them, but Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-83974450028880624272008-06-23T05:54:00.001-05:002008-06-23T05:58:19.059-05:00Update & New FocusIt’s been far to long since I’ve written anything here and to be honest a) I don’t like that and b) I miss it. One of things I’m trying determine to do this summer is simply my life so that I have more time me… my family … and my desire to make a difference in my life. My work is very fulfilling and I’ve been extremely lucky in the “make a difference” department of my Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-69714099863212540732008-05-15T17:55:00.000-05:002008-05-15T17:57:11.120-05:00Make a wishDandelions grow ferociously this time of year. One day there dapple yellow, the next day there a head of wispy seeds ready to take sail. I usually see them as nuisance and am reminded of my youth. My dad would pay me 1 penny/per 100 pulled from the yard. Who needs lawn guard’s weed-n-feed, when you have kids that are driving you crazy? :)The other day Jess made a comment that Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-76268096743953541662008-03-30T21:49:00.000-05:002008-03-30T21:50:37.010-05:00New Starbucks marketing campaign ideaAs relayed by David during a recent trip with the girls to purchase me a small gift of one of my favorites – good ground coffee… Jess: “Hey Papa, it’s a good thing for momma that there’s Starbuzz”If Starbucks is in need on of new marketing campaign. I know a future junior staffer that might be able to lend a hand. :)Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-34501678347428825872008-03-20T21:08:00.002-05:002008-03-20T17:27:36.815-05:00 The Bricks & mortar anniversaryAccording to all the etiquette guides the 15th anniversary is suppose to be the crystal anniversary. But us this year, we’ve substitute bricks and mortar instead.Yup, this is the “new home” anniversary for us this year. Today we signed the final counter offer. Tomorrow it's out to dinner to celebrate both, house & 15 years :)If you’re curious as to how many of Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-31609623154510247672008-02-22T16:19:00.006-05:002008-03-20T17:24:54.066-05:00Homeless & Home Wishes Well, we are officially homeless. David flew down to Charlotte yesterday and did the closing on our old home – It sold in three weeks. Unbelievable in this market – and without a mortgage to pay, I guess you say we really don’t have home. We’ve started looking at areas and have a few a neighborhoods that we like. But we haven’t started officially shopping with a Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-68075221762079039632008-02-16T21:25:00.000-05:002008-12-09T12:13:46.518-05:00I love this handwriting...Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-1511914048577092162008-02-16T21:24:00.000-05:002008-02-16T21:25:20.239-05:00Just an updateIt’s hard to believe it’s only our 2nd full weekend here in Columbus for it feels like we grown a mountain in just the short time we’ve been here. The girls are doing great and are adjusting well, but we still have our moments and often time I think this move is much harder on David and I then it is on them. It’s difficult to begin to even feel a little bit settled knowing that weHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-70357366634701146872008-01-26T17:44:00.000-05:002008-01-26T20:52:55.255-05:00MovingI’ve broken into tears at least a dozen times today … Sorry I need a break. Here I go again. [crying break]Ok, I’m back. I feel a little bit better, but still awful all at the same time. Moving sucks royally. It’s not the packing up and moving the house part I hate. It’s the moving that you need to do within your heart as you realize that those people (extended family, friends and Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-27109946974626397352007-12-24T20:28:00.001-05:002007-12-24T20:45:57.233-05:00ChristmasIt’s been a crazy December full of packing, house and school hunting and trying to get the house ready for market. Not my ideal way to spend the holidays, but the good news is despite all the craziness we did manage to get the tree up and gifts wrapped. Tonight the girls unwrapped their ceremonial Christmas eve gift (we open gifts on x-mas day) of new pajamas. The unwrapping didn’t Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-40159287886619268132007-12-01T22:36:00.000-05:002008-12-09T12:13:46.764-05:00A twist on traditionAccording to this blog's records, the girls and I have been building holiday gingerbread together since 2003. But this year, I decided to depart from the traditional a bit and opt for a tree instead. The results look pretty good, don't ya think?Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-78590350303442774502007-11-30T22:25:00.000-05:002008-12-09T12:13:46.910-05:00Snow AnticipationThe thought of living in snow country has both girls anxious to christen the sled we bought nearly two years ago, but yet haven’t had the chance to use. Oh, it snowed a bit here in the Carolinas last year, but not long enough to stick to the ground and bring the sled out for.So when I told the girls the other night on the way home that someone in Columbus had told me they had Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-40107312418408671982007-11-21T22:24:00.001-05:002007-11-21T23:05:44.679-05:00GratefulThis Thanksgiving I have a lot to be grateful for. I have a healthy family, loving daughters, good friends, a career that has blossomed this year beyond my wildest dreams, and a new job to look forward to. But without David none of this would be possible. Over the past several months, the word “thank you” has been quietly spoken to him on more then multiple occasions and each time I Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-30801311215890576892007-11-10T12:49:00.001-05:002007-11-10T12:55:39.077-05:00And so begins the family adventure“Momma, you know I’ve lived in this house eight years. I think it’s good that we’re moving in way because that's a long time and ... change is sometimes good.” Kathryn’s comment at the dinner table the other day sounded so grown-up and almost like it was coached. But it wasn’t. After breaking the news the girls that we will be moving after Christmas a week Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-54632894575095206992007-10-23T20:08:00.000-05:002007-10-23T20:09:57.882-05:00FuzzyIt was bound to happen and in fact I’ve been avoiding acknowledging it for a few months now. But as I squinted and tried to read the small print on the London metro map last week and find the way to my hotel, I realized two things …If it weren’t for oversized posters and color coded maps, I’d be lostIt’s time for reading glasses.Yup, my birthday’s next week and I’m hitting the mid 40s – Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-13782764347678113002007-09-28T21:28:00.000-05:002008-12-09T12:13:47.485-05:00Car ServiceWith all the extra speaking requests (work related) I've been getting over the last 9 months, I've been trying to limit to my travel to only twice a month. The girls and David have adjusted well to my short absences, but it helps that I try to arrange most trips so that I'm in and out to do my thing and home again with 36 hours.But even so, occasionally a longer trip calls (but Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-47896588529406369732007-09-19T21:00:00.000-05:002008-12-09T12:13:47.723-05:00An AIP First So the telephone in my office today rings at about half past four…“Helene, It’s Mary downstairs. I have a guest here who says her name is Liz and she's from This Full House.”“OMG, Thanks Mary, I’ll be right down”... and so I grabbed my cell phone (just in case David called. He generally does around this time to coordinate leaving & picking up the Choopas) and headed down three Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-37481960142996084362007-09-16T16:13:00.000-05:002008-12-09T12:13:47.981-05:00I like the copy better Cleaning out the backpack this weekend, I found this gem in Jess' bag. When asked, she said they had watched a video about a famous painter in art class last week. And while I've always consider my daughters talented, I hope Jess' affinity to Van Gogh only emulates his art... I'd like her to keep her ear. :)Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-45165377849596577672007-09-12T19:55:00.000-05:002008-12-09T12:13:48.193-05:001st homework assignment ... ever!Jess brought home her first bit of homework tonight. She was so excited and read every color and got it right!Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088964.post-18262055530902987132007-08-31T07:47:00.001-05:002008-12-09T12:13:49.325-05:00GrammieIt was just the weekend before last when we last visited and spent the afternoon playing spoons (a card game) and eating klondike bars with Grammie, so when the call came this morning at 5:13 it was a bit of a shock. But if it was her time, we're glad that God called her quickly. Known as mom and grammie to us, Norma was indeed a beautiful and interesting woman. She loved lizards...and Hnoreply@blogger.com