big girl seat

June's vocabulary explosion has begun. She talks constantly at home, although she still acts shy and is slow to warm to new places and people. But when she knows her 'mama' and 'dadee' are close by at HOME, she acts like a total extrovert. Her highest frustration still centers on an inability to communicate exactly her wants and desires. One of her most recent words (there are so many to chose from) is 'SEAT!' She will tell me to sit in her rocking chair (SEAT) and read books. She will tell me she wants to get in her booster SEAT to eat. We had the little table and chairs in our dining room for a cousin meal and since then, June sits there about 15 times a day just so that she can say the word SEAT! with good cause. This picture is of her first meal at a big girl SEAT, and you can tell from her expression, she is VERY pleased. She has to be able to do this to sit at the table in the next class up at preschool soon too, so we're working on it for that reason too!

sleepless conversations

I crawled in bed to snuggle a Red at 9:45 tonight. He said, "You're my best friend." I think that meant thank-you-i-love-you-this-is-fun in three year old lingo.

RM told me that sleep was hard to get tonight. He genuinely wants to please, and doesn't want to disappoint by getting out of his bed. But when he has napped, the sleep sincerely escapes him. And it is puzzling for that to happen, when you are three.

He passed along quite a bit of other information too. He told me that Geckos climb trees and play hide and seek. He doesn't like tumbleweeds because they roll very fast. But he thought I should know that camels can eat the spikes on cactus plants. I actually got online tonight to look it up and verify this information. Huh. Bizarre.

two evenings.

The end of the nap. How sad, but it is happening. We are still in that 'nap purgatory' stage of sorts... He can make it two days sans nap, but then he's gotta crash. Here are two evenings juxtaposed. The first was a nap afternoon. Today was not.

Last night RM kept getting out of bed. Finally, very exacerbated, he explained, "My bed is taking forever!" We think he believes that his bed is his vehicle to dreamland much in the same way a microwave is to Tyson's chicken nuggets.

This evening I braved the grocery store. 6pm on a Friday night, with a 3 year old and 18 month old in tow. He hadn't napped. I strapped them in the over sized 'car-cart' and steered the enormous load around the store for an hour, wielding coupons and list. He dragged his fingers along the floor as i cruised one aisle. Then legs started dangling out of the 'windshield' then the 'door' then the 'back window' and finally across Junie's shoulders. Three times I rescued Nemo fruit snacks, Starburst, and Captain Crunch 'All Berries Cereal' from his grip. He sobbed all the way to the car. Crashed at 7:45 after a good scrub down to eliminate the grocery goo. I can't tell who was more tired.

Oh, and I lost more than my sanity in that grocery store. If anyone visits Publix tomorrow and finds a sock and a hairbow, both disappeared, most likely in the frozen food section. We did find both shoes, I am pleased to report.

PS - I saved $54. I still hate couponing.

This Ain't Yo Mama's Pot Pie

So, like my friend Ru, I took the Southern Living challenge and took a stab at their cover dish this month. My mouth literally started watering the second I looked at that magazine. I'm pleased to report it was DELISH!!! I'm not a big fan of the same old green beans and peas and what not in my pot pie, so when this one called for leeks, gobs of fresh parsley, and peppered hashbrowns -- well, it's GOOD. If you don't believe me, make it yourself!

swinging in the sun

Fresh air... and signs of spring on the way. Can you see his face? ELATION. Her? She's tired. But life is great!

Balemtines Breakfast

Valentine's dinner

Floyd grew up with a tradition of a family 'valentine's dinner' celebration, which we are trying to recreate and continue with our family. RM has an extrordinary zest for holidays and celebrations in general. Sometimes at night he asks me to tell him about birthdays, and whatever holiday is nearest. We have been celebrating Valentines for a week, I think. He loves it.

My Floyd

My Floyd wears a lot of hats. Doting Father. Supportive Husband. Extraordinary Musician. Accidental Carpenter. Former Teacher, Barista, Industrial Project Manager, Contractor, Sonic Branding Marketer. Waterfall Jumper. Worship Leader. Professional Leaf Blower in October. Pollen escape artist in March. Pyromaniac when dead Christmas trees are found. Some of these 'hats' were worn years ago, some are in regular rotation. No matter what, he is always my constant source of encouragement and companionship - I couldn't have asked for better.
Recently, we found out that he will yet be wearing another, as our lives take a different direction this fall. Last week he received a confirmation letter telling us that he will be a student again, pursuing a J.D. over the next few years. I am so proud of him, and glad to stand alongside him as we pursue this opportunity for his career.

talking on the phone.

he is so big. this photo was taken while mommy was at work. RM: "Mom, why do you have to be at the office? Mom, Mom, we're gonna play basketball, and go in the creek, and play trains. is that a good idea? Mom, check your gmail. Bye, mom."

when i checked my gmail, this photo is what i found. i love technology.

Bug run after bath.

this little number is ridiculously cute and silly.

hi

hi. yes. a short entrance back from a rather long silence here. but the last several weeks have lacked structure - snows and breaks and holidays and starts and stops... for now just a cute shot of these two from this afternoon. inspiration struck in the form of 'organize-one-drawer-and-cupboard-at-a-time' in my kitchen. i came across the two bibs from my alma mater, Converse College, which were used quite frequently when they were babies. did i just say 'when they WERE babies?' strange that i blinked and now have toddlers. who will turn 2 and 4 in this new year of 2011. crazy. their expressions are so telling - him with his wide animation, live every moment fully and loudly. making a joke and yet tenderly showing affection to his sister all at once. one day he's going to ask me how on earth his haircuts always looked like the barber was blindfolded. and her with her pursed lips and knowing grin. barely a dimple showing, but i can tell she is on the verge of a full blown laugh - just holding back. she wants to tell her brother 'NO!' and 'MORE' all at the same time. these little people: i hope they are friends for decades and decades.

conversation

Sometimes, i think about a conversation with Floyd an hour later and realize, that was hilarious. i need to document that. rarely, do i follow through.

Context: Floyd, earlier this evening, was reading a catalog for middle-aged people that came to our house today. I was washing dishes about five feet away.

Floyd: "Wow, stonewashed, fleece-lined jeans."

Me: "Hmm." Hmmm, those sound gross.

Floyd: "Those sound awesome."

Me: "Yeah??
"Now you see how middle-aged people sacrifice fashion for comfort?"

Floyd: "No, these don't look that bad actually."

PAUSE.

Floyd: "oooooh, that's how."

merry and bright

Well, maybe if i just keep singing, and intersperse that with shouts of 'SIT STILL, RM!' and a hefty dose of 'Bug! Stop that fussing!' they will eventually pose perfectly. But at this precise moment, there is no photographer bone in my body that is going to create a picture perfect moment. I'll opt for a preview of reality.

ps - did i put the dress on June before i took the tag off? Classy, momma.

Lately.

Life has been a blur lately. That makes for incomplete thoughts, and very lousy attempts on my part to quantify 'what we've been up to' if you will. At least the disclaimer is out there.

Tonight Floyd was out, and I found myself just sitting on the floor in RM's room with the matchbox cars and playmobil, watching a knight slay a dragon, and then the dragon asking the knight to come to school with him. The Bug has a new game where she tries to carry as many stuffed animals as she can, and runs across the room with them. This is always disastrous, but never dull. Afterall, she doesn't get upset, only enjoys the excuse to exclaim "UH OH!" and do it all again.
Uncle Thomas has spent the night a couple of times recently. He is such fun to have around. RM wakes up and starts to spill every thought onto Thomas' listening ears in the morning over cereal bowls. As the green-thumb of the family, Uncle Thomas always bears gifts. Last week it was a bunch of black-eyed susans for my garden, and these crazy Super Mario cuttings. I am hoping they root! See how happy they are?

Bug? She is looking at a picture of her daddy on the fridge and saying, "Hi Dada!" "Hi Dadee!" VERY proud of her words these days. Particularly "Dog! Hi Jimmy!" He is a major object of her affection.

RM's eczema, which has been dormant for a season, flared up with a vengeance this week. We have a new cortosteroid ointment and antibiotics as it has become infected. I hate it for him. He has been so sweet and patient despite the pain, swelling, and itching.

He has been drawing. Multiple times a day. He begs for a coloring book, or paper of any sort, and will BE STILL as he works. Thank you Lord for fine motor skills. And for the age when boys discover them.


I've finally started drilling down on TASKS. In the car before we get home, we talk about exactly what we are going to do when we go inside. Where RM is expected to go, what he is expected to do, etc. Communication at this age is tedious, but I'm learning as much as he is - maybe more. Hah. This particular task was 'RM, shuck this corn for me.' And he loved doing it together. The other shot is a 'flex your muscles' picture attempt, only the double flash gets him everytime. Oh well! At least you see his cute Freedom Fighter t-shirt.

Went to the park on Saturday. We brought some chips for a snack. Had to snap father & son duo on the bench. And the Bug snacking in the swing. It was a beautiful day, and honestly we didn't talk much, we just pushed swings and watched slides and stood in the Fall sunshine. I think our brains are in overdrive all week, and sometimes on Saturday all we can do is just 'BE' without filling the moment with words. I hate that, because I feel like i have some fog sitting on my brain, but there is also something calming about just being together as a family without an agenda. And for now, I'll take it.

snazzy good time

Turns out after a big, wild, fun, crazy election year, you get to celebrate. And - see? We did. I even have this cute picture to prove it. Maybe we dressed too snazzy for an election night. People might have asked me where the Oscar party was afterwards. But I didn't mind. How many times in your life do you get to throw down for a good re-elect? EXACTLY.

Happy Halloween!

Saturday night we had planned to return to our 2009 venue: Highlands, NC. But RM was rocking a fever and croupy cough still, so we opted for dinner in front of cartoons at KK & Grandad's house. He's feeling much better already. If we look tired in this picture, you're not mistaken. The thing about Oct. 31st is that it falls so close to Nov. 2nd in a busy midterm year, to say the least!


I know, there are a lot of ladybugs this year - but not too many JUNEBUGS! RM's bruiser on his forehead got more attention than his superhero muscles. He is dressed as the old comic book character, "The Green Lantern" and even carried his lantern that matched! Score, Meredith. :)


Oma & Pops came by the house to see their sweet grands visit a couple of houses. It was such a lovely surprise to get to enjoy the walk with them!


The great thing about ages 3 and 1 for Halloween? Four houses is plenty! That's a wrap, home again for bedtime.

fresh flowers

there is something wonderful about fresh flowers on the table. these flowers were given to me before my birthday from Will, and are still going strong. my wonderful mother-in-law gave me the table runner, which I love. funny that the lilies are the exact same burnt orange color - happy fall!

Boy in Boots

From the hallway we heard a little voice, and a CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNK.
"Wook Dad! I'm wearing your boots!" Impressive that he could walk, honestly.

Pumpkin Carving with Meredith

last week, on the day that Meredith was keeping the kids, she went for the gold and gave RM his first experience carving a jack-o-lantern. The bug was taking an awesome morning nap, which rarely happens, so it was a superb 90 minutes for all.

Bugglish Faces

Every child has a hundred facial expressions.
J is no exception... here is a sampling.