Our Newest Painted Portrait

This was so hard to photograph, so my apologies. You will have to squint. My canvas is long and odd shaped and I still wasn't able to fit the whole thing in my shot. This is our 2009 family portrait. I love doing these. They are non-traditional and a little quirky just like us, and each portrait is full of our little families inside jokes. I hope these will be fun keepsakes for the kids someday. Jeff and Greta had a lot of great input for this portrait and since Fieldin can't talk and say "please, no" he ended up sitting in the sand with a crab pulling at his little speedo swim trunks and his expression is priceless. Jeff decided to be buried up to his neck in sand. I love that I can use my love of painting and cartooning to bring our day at the beach to life. If you'd like to see the portrait from last February when we were just a trio it is here.

You Spin Me Round Round Baby..

Miss Greta is feeling much better and has worked on this "Rock Star Video" for you to the tune of "You spin me round round baby round round". It is impossible not to notice baby bros back up singing. When Greta sings he sings. We did a couple takes to see if he would bring the volume down a notch but no luck. His youngest sibling personality is already emerging. I know the signs. I was the youngest and of the most annoying kind. My sister would agree with me, I am sure :)

When The Lights Are Out

So what do we do when we wake up in the morning to snow, wind and no electricity for 3 hours? Nothing different. Greta headed to her art shelf as usual and we decided it was a good day to make animals in the wilderness. As anatomically correct as we could make them with pipe cleaners, that is. My favorite, the skunk. Greta was partial to the one-eyed bunny, such a sad story, poor bunny. It was fun making this but always more fun to see what Greta's creative mind will make of it. Shortly after this photo, paper made lumber jacks were added (the animals talked the lumber jacks into leaving the forest for good and never cutting down their trees) and then the buck became Rudolph and it was just like Christmas. Tomorrow, Greta has a bit of video for you since she is feeling better and this weekend I will show you my new quirky family painting I drew up last night. I just need to add some color to it before I show you a peek.

The Last Of The Eating.. I Promise.

Just had to share these pictures. The top one is Fieldin tasting his first real food (sweet potatoes) and obviously he was happy to have something besides rice cereal. Seconds later he looked over at big sister and saw her eating a hamburger. Check out that look. Life isn't fair sometimes is it?

Breaking News From Greta:

She would like you all to know that her cherished brown bear is also very sick and she is "soooooo sick". I apologized for not being able to make them both feel better and she told me "Of course you can't make me better, you don't have a sick machine." Does anyone know where I can rent one?:)

She's got "The Bug"

There is a horrible virus floating around our area knocking out young children like a bully playing dodgeball. Unfortunately, Miss Greta got hit. I don't know why people choose to give virus' such horrific names but we've been calling this one "The Bug" so we don't terrify poor Miss Greta. This is the first time in almost 4 years that I have seen her "sick". We are on day three now and if I wasn't nurse mommy I would be running for the hills with my bottle of purell. Every man/woman/child for themselves. The youngest decided since he doesn't have big sister to play with, he might as well grow more teeth in the meantime. Our days have been full of Orajel, kleenex, popsicles and an ongoing "Hello Kitty" movie marathon. I have to say between illness, teething and "Hello Kitty", I would pick the first two. My posts will probably be sparse this week but by request from grandma & grandpa I will load a video of Fieldin eating. It may not be Oscar worthy but cute nontheless. Time for my dose of vitamin C... stay healthy everyone and if you see "The Bug" flying your way...run like the wind!

Morning Chat

Cooler Than Cool

Before I begin on today's post I wanted to share Greta's bakery sign from our "owning a bakery" play this morning. I love that her bakery has donuts AND lettuce. Like all bakeries should...

So yesterday we found a pleasant surprise in our mailbox. Some very pretty sheets of wrapping paper. The only thing is we have no idea where they came from. The best part about this gift was the packaging more than the paper. The minute it was pulled from the mailbox, Greta laid stake on the mailing tube. "This will be my telescope" she said. Now for those out there not understanding why we found so much joy in a tube, I will explain. For crafty people, finding a sturdy mailing tube is hitting the mother load(so many possibilities!) This is something we wouldn't throw away... EVER! A tube is one of the necessities in kids crafts along with toilet paper rolls and plastic peanut butter jar lids. This is a case of one mans trash is another mans treasure, indeed. I'd like to thank the sender of the tube and lovely paper whomever you are. If this was a passive aggressive way of telling me I forgot a birthday/anniversary/holiday, I am sorry but passiveness doesn't work on me. Next time send a note inside another mailing tube and I will be sure to remember.... :)

Quoting Dr. Suess

SAD

DAD

BAD

HAD

Dad is sad.

Very, very sad.

He had a bad day.

What a day dad had!

-Dr. Suess

This is a glimpse of how my brain works. When my spouse comes home saying he kind of had a bad day this is what pops into my head. Explains alot, doesn't it. We all had an off day around here today. We all have them, such is life. Today was nothing some toasted coconut cinnamon ice cream couldn't handle. The one in the household that needed the chilly goodness the most can't have it yet. Poor Fieldin has decided to cut a molar as his first tooth. I guess he is skipping the wimpy teeth and going for the hardcore "I can chew meat" ones first.

Today is gone. Today was fun.

Tomorrow is another one.

-Dr. Suess

Please tell me you all quote this much Suess too?

Thoughts From An Accountant

As promised by Raylene last night, here is my version of random thoughts. Thanks a lot Raylene, see #5 below.
1. I enjoy playing the drums with Raylene & Greta, we have all types of drums in the basement.
2. My favorite vacation spot is Scotland, but I'm not a fan of driving on the left side of the road.
3. I have a large baseball card collection in the garage from the 80's.
4. I will eat all the cashews out of a nut bowl before anyone else gets the opportunity.
5. I hate writing about myself.
6. When I retire or win the lottery, I want to work on the grounds crew at Wrigley Field.
7. I've thrown a strike in bowling, going behind my back and through my legs.
8. My Grandpa was/is my hero.
9. I won't let Raylene cut my hair after the bald spot episode!
10. I'm patient, except for when writing about myself.
11. To be continued........ Ha Ha

Random Things about Moi

Hello.... I know I have been very quiet again lately. So unlike me. The kids are busy bees, Jeffs been busy and when the days wind down to their end I find myself knitting for some down time on a project for next Christmas. I'm not into deadlines anymore so might as well give myself some wiggle room, plus, this project will take me awhile. I hope to show you glimpses of it in the coming months if my hands don't become arthritic beforehand. I've been seeing and receiving "random things about me" emails recently and thought I would share the randomness. I am pulling this stuff out of my.....brain (ahem) so bare with me.

The Randomness Henceforth:

1. I's think, that! good grammer is over-rated. This is because mine stinks.
2. I believe a pint of Guinness can cure the common cold & a bad day.
3. Two things make me grouchy. 1)Not finding time to do something creative each day( 5 min is enough) or 2)if I don't drink enough water. (No, I won't wear a hydration pack. ha ha I saw that coming.)
4. I have a lead foot.. Most of you already know this.
5. My favorite color is brown.
6. I heavily dislike cell phones.
7. I don't like to run, even though I used to run cross-country. (Between 3-8 miles a day..vomit)
8. I will pass Fieldy off to Jeff when I know he has a load in his pants and act like I didn't know. (Game on Jeff!)
9. When I was in middle school I wanted to be a meteorologist.
10. I have way too many hobbies and not enough time to do them.
11. "Man vs. Food" is my favorite T.V. show. Then "Lost", it gets second billing since it keeps me up at night.
12. My kids are cool. Me? maybe one day.

Randomness is harder than I thought. Tomorrow... Jeff will be sharing his random thoughts. Get ready folks....

She Boogied

Disney Live. Greta & Mommy time. Clapping. Singing. Bustin' her moves. Cotton candy. Oh my stomach. No more cotton candy. Dancing on her "stage". Cheering extra loud for Mickey, Tigger and Handy Manny. Watching my girl. M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S....E. Enjoying Greta. "intermission??!!!" Belting out the chorus. "zooming through the sky....Little Einsteins!" Souvenirs. Time well spent.

A Year of Love For You

I really dislike Valentine's Day. There I said it. I have no reason to dislike it really. Maybe my time in advertising made me a bit cynical of what the day has become. I haven't been scorned, actually Cupid has always been very good to me. After all, he knew to match me with someone who dislikes Heart day as much as I do. Jeff and I have never really celebrated Valentine's day, that is, until we had Miss Greta. When you have a girl who loves pink, ribbons, cards and hearts, you can't really deprive her from celebrating V-day. Around here it is more about the art projects and baking then the day itself. Jeff and I choose not to partake in the February 14 fun but we make up for it throughout the year. He lets me have the last piece of garlic bread(even though I've eaten more), He tells me I'm pretty even when I am covered in baby gunk and on the scariest day of my life he held my hand and made everything ok. Those moments can never be replaced with overpriced wilting flowers and a store bought card. So for all you out there, I wish you a YEAR full of love and happiness from us...... not just a days worth.

P.S. I just realized I took 3 blog free days off. I've been a little distracted with unnecessary book shopping, excited V-day party talk from Miss Greta, watching some lacrosse and hockey, lots of dancing with Greta and watching Fieldin consume his body weight in rice cereal...... I think that would distract anyone.

30 Days Of Togetherness

Day 23: Messy Faces

I am a week from finishing my 30 days of Greta and Fieldin photo project and digging the challenge. I did the same project over a year ago with Greta but the two of them together has been tough since the little guy isn't mobile and is still in babyhood. Check out their time together here. I am going to revisit this project in 6 to 12 months. It will be fun to see how their time together changes. I am going to try a new project and still deciding what to do. Thirty days of Jeff, me, our town, our ever messy and cluttered kitchen table??? What do you think? Any ideas? Thirty days of the fish has already been nicely rejected.

If our walls could talk........

They would say "Can someone PLEASE feed that poor fish!".

He Eats....then dreams of the Chicago Cubs

A Big Event happened today. Little Big Man turned 4 months old and got the O.K. to eat food! He's been waiting for this day and he loved it. He was a pro. The coolest part for him was his idol, Miss Greta, got to feed him. He could barely eat for awhile through the smiles of happiness. Then it got chaotic. We gave him a break to digest and he started beating his hands on the tray...yes, I'm serious. Miss Greta assumed it meant he wanted more food so started jumping around the kitchen chanting "More Food, More Food" while Fieldin beat on his tray. While watching this I had a flash forward, twenty years from now, of Fieldin at some baby back rib eating contest with Greta out in the audience cheering him on. Yes, my mind does wander. I am happy for you buddy. No more crying for you while you watch us eat dinner. No more imitating us eat. The worlds your plate. engage your palette. I hope rice cereal is a good start.
Now in other news, the painting on the wall thing is still happening around here. I promise to stop for awhile after this. Fieldins' room started with a general sports theme and has morphed into looking like a Chicago Cubs team store. Jeff has unearthed some (antique) memorabilia from his childhood room. So keeping with the time I painted a mural from the era of Sandberg and Grace. You might be thinking, well than it's more like a room for Jeff. Pretty much. He is spending more and more time in there lately. Little Fieldin will be hearing cubs baseball stories for years to come so he might as well get the images engrained in his mind, either that or he will be forever scared of bears and not know why. If so, please don't tell him about the mural.