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November 30, 2009
4.30: In the bag
I made it! Another year of managing to post a little somethin' somethin' every day, in spite of visiting family and Thanksgiving and my own faulty memory.
I didn't really have much to say tonight, so all I was planning was to pat myself on the back with words. Then something happened or came up or I had a flash of brilliance and I thought really? Is this how I want to end it? I decided that content was probably more entertaining than self congratulation.
Unfortunately, I have no idea what that topic was. I can't think of anything exciting that happened today. I've made no exciting decisions or revelations, at least that I can remember. And so it ends like this.
Posted by me at 9:04 PM | Comments (0)
November 29, 2009
4.29: Date night
Grandma's in town for the holiday, so tonight Rex and I went to see The Blind Side. It's not often we get a date night, so I'm going to go enjoy it.
Posted by me at 10:40 PM | Comments (0)
November 28, 2009
4.28: Fairy fingers
Most of the time, Owen is more than happy to play with his sisters. They're running around the house like chickens with their heads cut off? He's right there with them. They hide, he goes looking for them. They sit with me to read a book, he climbs over top of them to get to my lap and be right in the center of it all. When the girls go upstairs to play in the game room, he roams around downstairs, calling their names and trying to get them to join in a nice game of "Run, Piggy, Run."
Since, he's the youngest, Owen is usually happy to follow the girls' lead. The only time he really gets to be in front is when he's chasing after the girls and they come up behind him to lap him. He's ok to let them make up the rules, as long as they aren't too complicated and they don't take too long. Other than that, he's ok with pretending to put on make up, dancing with Cinderella's stepsisters, and marrying both of them in a hurried ceremony that ends with a shrieky rendition of Ring Around the Rosy. He loves to try to copy their gymnastics moves, even though his legs are still too short to push him over through even the simplest forward roll. He does much better running behind them as they relevé and chassé down the hall, holding his arms up in the "pretty" position.
Owen may not end up the most masculine of men, but I imagine his future wife will be grateful that he grew up in a house full of sisters.
Posted by me at 9:43 PM | Comments (0)
November 27, 2009
4.27: Retirement
I've finally figured out what people do when they retire.
My grandmother came downstairs the first morning a little before 8. Not long after 9, she went back upstairs to get dressed, and didn't return for almost two hours. Yes, she took a bath, but still.
Every time she goes to the bathroom, you can write off 10 minutes, minimum.
At 7:30, when we sent the kids up for bed, she asked me if we were planning to head to bed, too. She decided to stay up with us "for a little while," and was soon sleeping beside me on the couch. She woke up for an hour or so when my uncle arrived, and then went to bed.
Thanksgiving day was more of the same, except she took a rather long "rest" before dinner, instead of after.
Throw in going up and down the stairs a few times, eating and a slow, slow walk to the park, and you've got a day.
I had wondered what my grandmother did to occupy her days. She doesn't really watch tv, had the internet and cable disconnected after my grandfather died, has no hobbies that I know of I don't think leaves the house alone. Apparently, the business of being alive is enough to keep her busy most days.
Posted by me at 8:44 PM | Comments (0)
November 26, 2009
High marks
My mother just called the holiday meal we prepared together, "The best Thanksgiving dinner I've ever had."
Obviously, I can never cook again. I'll never be able to live up to the pressure or meet the standard.
Posted by me at 8:20 PM | Comments (0)
4.26: The holiday greeting
Happy Thanksgiving! Tryptophan and football dreams to all!
Posted by me at 9:19 AM | Comments (0)
November 25, 2009
4.25: Like a turkey, before we knew it made you sick
It's the night before Thanksgiving, and I've already stuffed myself to the gills two days in a row. I'm hoping I can make one more day, and then I should be large enough that I can't get into the fridge. That's when the diet starts.
Posted by me at 9:02 PM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2009
4.24: Love, with a side of love
Family is here, Thanksgiving is coming, posting will be light.
Posted by me at 9:48 PM | Comments (0)
November 23, 2009
4.23: Another last
I'll never have another rear facing car seat. And yes, that does make me a little sad.
Posted by me at 9:31 PM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2009
4.22: Suspension
Bra shopping sucks.
I've been holding out on buying new bras until I was done being pregnant, then until I was done nursing. Then I found a bunch of bras I hadn't worn since I got pregnant the first time, and I thought there were one or two in there that would work.
After I got stabbed by an escaping underwire, I rethought my position.
So for weeks, bra shopping has been on my to do list. It's not exactly the sort of thing to do with a boob obsessed toddler, though, so it took some time before I got desperate enough and had Rex along to wrangle kids.
I managed to find two bras that I thought might work at outlet for an absolute steal. One of them didn't make the cut once we got home, but the other does an admirable job of propping the old girls up to a position equal to their former glory. And it's comfy, which is probably more of a requirement than it's suspensory abilities. The downside is it's bright blue color. As my sole source of lift, this just won't do.
I'm going to need a backup.
So tonight I went back to my old, if expensive, standby, . It took me a while to find my old friend, the unlined Body by Victoria, since they've changed the damn thing yet again. Fortunately, the damn thing was still comfortable and much more supportive than my old bra, which said the same size on the tag but is now at least a size larger in every direction.
However.
They don't have a single bra in that style in the color I want, much less one in my size.
Did I mention that this was at the regular, here's-my-firstborn, I-can-only-afford-the-one store at the mall? And that they haven't had the right color the last three times I've shopped there?
For now, I guess I'll be the woman at the PTA meeting wearing the white shirt with the shiny blue boobs. The PERKY blue boobs.
Posted by me at 10:24 PM | Comments (2)
November 21, 2009
4.21: Sparkle!
The last time I had someone come clean my house for something other than a move, I was 6 months pregnant with Jamie and was hosting my first ever Bunko for the women in my neighborhood. The next time we had that house professionally cleaned was after we moved out and I never even got to see it.
We were barely in the next house long enough to get it dirty, and the two times I paid someone to clean it were in preparation for showings, and again, after we moved out.
The apartment, the rental house, I took care of the move out cleaning of both of those myself.
I've always felt a bit guilty, paying someone to come clean my house. Not as much when we're moving, because at those times I usually have so much on my plate that I'd delegate to a street person if one would be kind enough to wander by. In normal times, though, cleaning is part of my job description, right? Shuttle the kids, shop for, well, everything, pay the bills and clean the house.
Besides, it feels wrong to make someone else clean up my mess. I was taught growing up that you clean up your own stuff and take care of your own crap. And I'm generally cool with that. I take care of the regular cleaning: vacuuming, dishes, kitchen counters and table, laundry and parts of the bathrooms. What I don't get to is dusting the blinds and fans, windows, more than spot cleaning the floors, doors, etc.
I decided long ago that it was probably worth the money to have someone come in and clean quarterly. It costs a bit more per cleaning, but is still way cheaper than having someone come in every two weeks. I just really have hard time actually making that call.
I did it, though. Today, a woman and her daughter came over and spent SEVEN HOURS cleaning. S-E-V-E-N. That's 14 man hours of work, and they weren't interrupted by other people's needs, no one snuck up behind them and pressed their face to a freshly cleaned window, and the entire house is done in the same day. It would have taken me at least a week to do what they did, and by then I would have had to start over again.
I can't tell you the weight that's been lifted. My house is CLEAN. I have company coming for Thanksgiving in a few days, and my number one to-do has been crossed off my list.
It was worth every penny.
Posted by me at 8:01 PM | Comments (0)
November 20, 2009
4.20: Holy crap!
So busy talking on the phone to my dad and cleaning for the cleaning lady that I almost missed the deadline!!
Posted by me at 11:58 PM | Comments (0)
She's really into the God thing
"God could pick up a giant, because god is stronger and has more love."
Posted by me at 10:13 AM | Comments (0)
November 19, 2009
4.19: I admit, I was wrong about the vapors
But I still think he's a delicate flower.
So yesterday, after running the afternoon activities from my warm spot on the couch, I finally took Rex up on his offer and climbed into bed at 4:30. At 6:30, I rolled over and watched him give the girls their showers, and then I invited everyone up on the bed until it was time for the kids to go to bed.
By 8, Rex and I were both in bed with the lights off.
Sadly, not long after I was up, making repeat trips between the bathroom and the couch. Owen was restless, too, and with the addition of a yowling cat and sore back, not much rest was had before 3.
Then this morning, Jamie didn't want to eat her breakfast (!?!) saying her stomach hurt. I was a little suspicious, but the not eating clinched if for her. Hopefully she won't make the connection for the next time she wants a day off school.
Owen woke up a bit later than usual, which I thought was fitting after his restless night, but apparently should have aroused concern. His first words were "Smoothie! Smoothie!" Ten minutes later Rex was mopping smoothie off the floor while I ran Owen upstairs for a bath. The mess was preceded by a burp, which is how Owen now describes throwing up.
Right now, all three kids are sleeping. (Silver lining, right?) Owen threw up a second time this morning, and then ate Cheerios and drank for 45 minutes straight with no ill effects. I know better than to hope that this is over for him, but it won't stop me. Jamie ate a smidge at lunchtime, but was still complaining of stomach pain before she fell asleep. I'm guessing the expulsion stage is still to come for her. I'm wishing I had some diapers in her size, because I know she's going to be surprised at least once. Katie said she was hungry, but ate like a bird at lunch time. She's not showing any signs of falling like the rest of the herd, but what are the odds she can escape our germs?
Posted by me at 2:47 PM | Comments (0)
November 18, 2009
4.18: Blerg
I think I've caught Rex's case of the vapors.
Posted by me at 7:29 PM | Comments (0)
November 17, 2009
4.17: So there!
Rex and I were having a discussion about turning Owen's car seat forward facing. Calling it a discussion makes it sound way more heated than it was. Really, Rex mocked me a little and laughed at me for "babying" my baby.
And to be fair, there are ways in which I try to keep my youngest child a baby as long as I can. I nursed him longer than the other two. I probably carry him more than I did the girls at this age. I feed him, rather than letting him wield the spoon more often than I did with my older kids. (Although, to be fair, part of that is that he still lets me, most of the time. The rest is a matter of practicality: If I let Owen have the spoon and applesauce, a bath becomes a certainty. I'm too lazy for all that.)
I retorted that I waited at least as long, if not longer, to turn each of the girls. Hell, Katie didn't even make legal weight until she was 18 months! And I knew that I had waited quite a while with Jamie, that she was almost two.
And because I can never let anything go (Just ask Rex!) I spent an hour tonight looking through my old blog for references to turning car seats.
Jamie got to face forward at 21.5 months.
Katie was just a hair over 20 months.
Owen won't be 20 months until next week, and I plan to turn his seat as soon as the weather gets warm enough for me to want to stay outside.
Take that, Mama mocker!
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go rock my little man to sleep.
Posted by me at 9:02 PM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2009
4.16: Sunset
Posted by me at 9:28 PM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2009
4.15: San Francisco Day 4
I woke up early the next morning, in time to catch the sunrise from our private balcony. Then Rex and I got dressed and went for our first daylight walk on the beach, before returning to a common room for a delicious breakfast. We sat in that phenomenal room overlooking the ocean, enjoying a cozy fire and the beautiful views and relaxing with our books.
Soon after, it was time to pack up and head to Ross Ranch, where we rode horses through a redwood forest in the mountains. The ride was slow and easy, and shorter that I had geared myself up for, but I really enjoyed talking with our teenaged guide. She had a lot in common with the me of my youth.
We drove back to SF on 101, avoiding the beautiful but somewhat nauseating twists and turns of the PCH. I enjoyed seeing the vineyards, but unfortunately we didn't stop to take any pictures. They were beautiful, with some fields starting to turn colors for the fall. We stopped for lunch in some little town and ate at a pub that had a most delicious beer battered platter of fried goodness. At this point, I can't remember more than the tasty food.
When we got back to the city, we went straight to our hotel by the airport (and by straight, I mean we got a little lost and had to make a few U-turns, but we didn't go anywhere special.) We took a nice walk along the bay, watching planes land and hoping to find something to eat. I ended up settling for warm cookies from the front desk, with a side of free internet.
The next morning we got up and flew home.
The End
Posted by me at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2009
4.14: San Francisco Day 3
We've been here for three days, and I haven't yet had access to free internet. And much like sex, I refuse to pay for something I can get for free.
Today, we're going to head back down to the bay and take a ferry to Alcatraz for a tour. We're planning to breakfast at Boudin again, but the big one down at the wharf with all the fancy meal choices. Somewhere in there, we're going to drive down twisty twisty Lombard Street, just to say we did.
The Alcatraz tour was sort of awesome. I hadn't realized that there was an audio tour included in our passage to the island, and it was cool to head former prisoners and guards describing their experiences there. A lot of the island was in various states of ruin, but there were bit of incredible beauty here and there, plus the views of the city and the bridges. I went along on the tour mostly because it was something Rex wanted to do, but I'm glad I did.
After the tour, we drove out of town across the Golden Gate bridge, stopping on the other side to take a few obligatory pictures. Then we drove up the coast and made it to the B&B just in time to run down to the beach and catch the sunset. We climbed about a million steps back up to the main house for a glass of wine, and then retired to our room for the first internet access I've had since we left Dallas.
Posted by me at 9:35 PM | Comments (0)
November 13, 2009
4.13: San Francisco, Day 2
The downside of our beautiful hotel room? I think the windows are made from waxed paper, and it's right next to the end of the line for the cable car. All evening and early this morning, the bells were clanging RIGHT NEXT TO MY HEAD. I could hear everything that went on on the street below as though it were happening in the middle of our bed.
I could hear it over Rex's snoring.
We had breakfast at a satellite of Boudin Bakery near our hotel, where an old guy sitting at the table next to us talked our ears off, but gave us some tips on cable car passes and some things to see. When he finally let us go, we headed to the end of the cable car line and waited (and waited) to get on a car. Each of the rides we took were fun and full of wonderfully talkative people.
We spent a half of our day wandering around Fisherman's Wharf, watching them make bread at Boudin, eating chocolate truffles and checking out the (stinky) raft of sea lions. I took a ton of picture of Alcatraz sitting like a jewel on top of the fog. Rex called a friend from work, and he took a few pictures of us on the Pier 39 web cam. We wandered back toward the land end of the pier, looking for the place that had smelled so delicious until the sea lion smell took over. We shared a yummy crepe, fed a few lucky pigeons and starlings some fries and then wandered down The Embarcadero, in what turned out to be a roundabout walk up to Coit Tower. We walked up the back side of Telegraph Hill, up the most stairs we've seen in one place since the fortress we climbed in Nafplio, Greece. The view from the top was beautiful. We ran into yet another talkative and extremely informative man who seemed to know everything about SF. We started walking back toward out hotel, planning to stop at a park Rex wanted to see and then catch a cable car the rest of the way. Instead, we walked all the way back to Union Square, through Chinatown where we saw more things I couldn't identify that things I could.
We too another cable car back to Boudin Bakery on the wharf for dinner, and then walked to the head of the other cable car line to ride back to the hotel. We stopped a few times to watch the "bush" men jump out at unsuspecting tourists and to pick up some ice cream, and then we crashed early. Again.
Posted by me at 9:47 PM | Comments (0)
November 12, 2009
4.12: San Francisco, Day 1
I can't believe it's been over three weeks (!) since we left for San Francisco. I started each of these posts the day they happened, and I've left them that way.
Our flight was late enough on Wednesday morning that we had time to get up and have breakfast with the kids, see Jamie off to school, and hang out with Katie and Owen for a while. Jamie barely acknowledged that we were leaving as she ran out the door to school, Katie and Owen were fine until they saw us off at the car, and then Owen wanted to come too. We stopped at CFA for a free breakfast, got stuck in some rainy traffic, parked and got bussed to the terminal, and still had time to spare. First benefit of our marital bonding trip? We could whip out our books and ignore each other.
We made it to Denver with just enough time to pick up a sandwich and walk right on to the plane. I'm sure we looked pretty low class, both leaning over Rex lap to eat a rather messy lunch, but damn was it good. Then we sat for an hour waiting to be de-iced, but still managed to arrive at SFO on time. After a 10 minute hike and then a 10 minute Air Train ride, we got to the car rental building and went to the #1 Club Gold board where we should have just been able to look our name up on a board and go straight to our car. Except out name wasn't on the board, so we had to go into the lounge, where they told Rex he wasn't signed up as Gold, so could we please sit over there while they found us a car? Ten minutes later, she gave us a free upgrade instead. I love when screw-ups work in my favor!
Headed to the hotel, paid $3.50 for the privilege of driving through the wrong parking garage, and got checked in. The hotel is "boutique" style, very well refreshed with new paint and tile and such, but what appear to be original doors with layers and layers of paint. It's a nice mix between modern comfort and convenience and quaint.
Rex humored me while I took some pictures, then we headed out to look for dinner. We popped into the Apple store on the other side of the block to check out the new 27" iMacs (drool) and the Magic Mouse (totally cool, but I'm not sure I want to get used to the differences. Although it does get rid of the stupid wheel issues, so maybe...) Stopped at a diner place and ate too much fried stuff for dinner, and talked to the girls and Owen for a couple minutes. (They're doing great without us, although they miss us.) Afterwards, we cruised through H&M, where I found two (TWO!) coats I really like, and even seem to be flattering. I picked up the warmer of the two, and wore it out of the store.
Now we're laying in bed, watching friends, and contemplating sleep before 8pm, which isn't even late in our time zone.
Posted by me at 8:31 PM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2009
4.11: Appearance of Avalon
Alcatraz from Fisherman's Wharf. There were touches of beauty even on the island, in the midst of the ruins and the horror stories of incarceration and death. From the wharf, though, it looked pristine, ethereal, magical.
Posted by me at 8:27 PM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2009
4.10: Fingernails
A while ago, I noticed that Jamie's nails weren't just short, they were bitten-down-past-the-quick short. I tried having a few talks with Jamie about her habit causing pain and infection. I was about to start down the road of threats and punishments when I had an epiphany: I could reward her for good behavior.
At first, I started with a contest. I bite my nails, too, so I thought we could keep after and encourage each other. I quickly realized that I was too competitive to let my kid beat me, so I put an end to the bet in favor of manicures for both of us when we had a few weeks growth.
Somewhere around here is when Katie started piping up with "I don't bite my nails!" and "Look how long my nails are, Mama!" She certainly shouldn't miss out on the fun because she never had the bad habit in the first place, so I agreed that she could get in on the manicure.
Here's where things go wrong. For weeks, maybe a month, I didn't bite my nails a single time. Jamie made it about a week, got a second chance and blew it, for a third chance and lied about blowing it, and lost her chance at her manicure, at least this go round.
So Katie and I are due to get a manicure, but it's been a good month and we just haven't had the time for the two of us to take off. In that time, most of my nails have broken off and aren't really worth painting. Plus, I bit one. Just one, I swear!
I still owe Katie her manicure, and I'm fine with that, although a little chagrinned at having let things go so long. But I also need a different plan to break Jamie's habit. Anybody have any suggestions?
Posted by me at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)
November 9, 2009
4.9: Strike a pose
We picked up a couple delicious truffles at a chocolate shop on Fisherman's Wharf, planning to eat them while we watched the pile of sea lions we had heard about. We ran into this guy swimming around on his own, first, so we paused to take a few (fine, probably hundreds) of pictures. He jumped out of the water onto the dock and sat in this pose for a few minutes, slid back into the water, and then came back and did it again. I'm sure there is some behavioral reason that that sea lion stayed in that position for so long, but the best I can come up with is a strong flair for the dramatic.
Posted by me at 9:43 PM | Comments (0)
November 8, 2009
4.8: Revisiting
This morning, we had breakfast at Panera at the mall, and then wandered around, checking out what had changed since the last time we visited, and letting Owen run in the footsteps of his sisters.
It's always odd to wander around that mall, the place where I spent hours letting Jamie become a confident walker, following slowly behind her as she explored. The padded play area that we christened the "Germ Tree" is still there, exactly the same except for 5 years of wear. Katie, too, spent some time soaking in the A/C of our indoor park, following her by then running sister into the Children's Museum that took over one of the department stores. The pet store, upstairs in the back corner, still has kittens in the front window. Owen loved peeking in at them just like the girls did.
On our way back to Grandma's, we drove through our old neighborhood. The first one, with the house Rex and I moved into the week after our wedding. The house brought our first child home to. The house that I could barely see as I cried on our way to the airport when we moved to Maryland. I had pushed for that move, wanted it badly, dreamed about it, but it was crushing to leave all those first memories behind.
And now? That house looks familiar, but it long ago lost any feeling of being mine. I planted those Iris, we replaced a dead tree with that now-giant Bradford Pear, and I drilled into that pristine brink wall to screw in that hose hanger, but it feels like it was a million years ago, a different lifetime. If Rex hadn't gotten that job in Maryland, we could very well still be living there, but I can't picture the life I have now as an extension of the life we had then.
Posted by me at 8:12 PM | Comments (0)
November 7, 2009
4.7: Pearly whites
We're in Houston tonight, visiting Rex's side of the family, and letting the girls have a night on their own with his mom. I'm pretty sure something really funny or cute happened with at least one of the kids on the way down, but I'm so distracted by this thing that's stuck in between my teeth that I can't remember past five minutes ago.
Ah! Teeth. That reminds me. The girls and I had our biannual dentist appointments this week. They did wonderfully. Their teeth are pretty and perfect and cavity free, and so they still think it's fun to have their teeth cleaned and watch videos and get new princess toothbrushes.
I used to think it was fun to go to the dentist.
I still don't really mind the cleaning and all that, and I'm also happy to get something for "free." (Side note, they had your-name-here lip balm in a basket as a consolation gift. I don't know what brand it is, but I keep curling my lip up under my nose to smell the vanilla. Yummy.) And I was happy enough that I don't have any new cavities, since for years I had at least one new one every visit. I'm less thrilled that all of my old fillings are falling apart and need to be replaced. I could shove hundred dollar bills into my mouth and not be able to fit enough in to pay for what that man is going to do to me over the next month.
And when he's done, I won't even have anything to show for it, since he's replacing my silver fillings with composite that looks like normal teeth. For $2K, shouldn't I get some bling?
Posted by me at 9:03 PM | Comments (0)
November 6, 2009
4.6: Evolution
Six years ago, I spent every waking minute of every day with Jamie.
Today, she and I occupied the same space for less than two hours.
I still can't believe that in six short years, my tiny, helpless baby has grown into this capable, independent girl child who barely needs me for the everyday details of her life. All those things that I feared I would do for her forever: getting dressed, brushing her teeth, picking up her stuff, wiping her ass. Especially wiping her ass.
She can fetch her own food, even make smart choices nutritionally. I can't tell you how proud I was the day she came home and told me she had chosen a salad over chocolate cake at lunch. I'm not so strong. She reads, to her sister and brother, to me. She writes and illustrates books. She does homework and chores.
She helps me.
Six years ago, I couldn't foresee the day when I wouldn't spend every waking minute with my daughter.
Today, I'm afraid I can see the day where I don't spend a single minute of every day with her.
Posted by me at 9:11 PM | Comments (0)
November 5, 2009
4.5: From her mouth...
On the way home from TKD tonight, the girls started talking about the future. Specifically, going to the same school together again, Owen going to preschool alone, and what grade they'll each be in when Owen starts school. We talked some about me wanting girls or boys, and what I got (usually the opposite), and how I obviously didn't know what I wanted, because I got the perfect kids for me.
Katie started talking about how Owen would be a big brother when he got older, and I explained to her that for Owen to be a big brother, he would have to have a little brother or sister. I told her that since I was done having kids, that would never happen.
She told me that it was up to God if we would have more kids.
Uh.
I explained to her that the crotch surgery Rex had last year was to make sure that we couldn't have any more kids. Still, she told me, God would decide if we were going to have more kids.
I'm starting to wonder if she has a direct line to God.
And if I should have gotten rid of all that baby gear.
Posted by me at 8:30 PM | Comments (0)
November 4, 2009
4.4: Jamie and the Purple Belt
On Saturday morning, Jamie tested for (and passed!) purple belt. I haven't spent much time watching her work out in a long time, that's something Rex has taken over, since he's also learning TKD. I stay home where it's acceptable for Owen to run wildly around the house, shouting and carrying odd objects from room to room.
When Jamie first started learning katas, the process was a nightmare for everyone. She just wasn't catching on, I had issues with the teaching process (for once someone else's!), and Rex just couldn't understand why she didn't get it already. She finally mastered Cheon-Ji after months of struggles on all our parts. And when I say mastered, I mean she had learned the pattern, not that she did it crisply, with power or intent.
The next kata, Dan-Gun, went much faster. It was as if something clicked in her, and she was finally putting her amazing memory to use. Still, she moved sloppily, running movements together and pathetically extending her arm instead of punching with power.
She's now in the process of learning her sixth kata. I'm not sure when the change happened, like I said, I haven't watched her work out much lately. But she is AMAZING. She made each movement separately, crisply, powerfully. It was like watching a different kid.
Way to go, Jamie. You EARNED this, and I'm so incredibly proud of you!
Posted by me at 11:23 AM | Comments (0)
November 3, 2009
4.3: The return of diet and exercise
I'm not sure how I managed it, but I didn't gain any weight while we were in San Francisco. We did do a fair amount of walking, but we also weren't skipping any meals.
Since we got back, though, well, let's just say I've been hungry. Really, really hungry. And tired and crazy busy and sedentary. I've also had a lot of Mexican food, which is always a fat button for me. I just CANNOT resist those chips, and let's face it, even a salad at most Mexican places isn't what one would call low cal. And while I was really proud of myself for (Wii) running the day after we got back, I didn't run again for a week.
So it's time to crack down again. To step away from the Halloween candy and get off the couch. I waited til the last possible minute, but I did run last night. And I didn't eat as much as I wanted to yesterday, which has to count for something.
Now that I've fulfilled my NaBloPoMo obligation for the day, it's time to get back to it.
Posted by me at 8:51 PM | Comments (1)
November 2, 2009
4.2: Halloween
Halloween was a little rushed this year. Last week was downright crazy, making up for Rex and I being out of town half the week and the weekend before. I thought I had things well in hand, but I just hadn't looked carefully enough at the calendar to see what was ahead. On top of that, it was cold and rainy most of the week, making decorating ahead of time impossible.
On the up side, everything that had to be done got that way. We had friends come on Saturday that go above and beyond even our usual heathen celebration. No one lost their shit (except Owen, when I tried to get all three kids in one picture. And even that made me laugh a bit.) There was tons of candy.
And we had FUN.
Owen really got into Trick-or-Treating this year. At the very first house, he managed to get up to the front of our herd of kids, but wasn't sure what to do after something was dropped into his bag. He just stood there, staring at the man who had given him something. After about 30 seconds, the man asked if Owen wanted more. "More?" Owen repeated, after the man generously dropped in another treat.
After that, he tried his best to run with the big kids. He held his bag out expectantly, and he said thank you when prompted.
And every now and then, he'd pipe up with an adorable little "More?"
Posted by me at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)
November 1, 2009
NaBloPoMo 4.1: Consider yourself warned
And so it begins again.
I'm not sure why I keep putting myself through this every year, except that for once I was part of something big right from the beginning, and I don't wanna give up my "special" card. This one time, I did something cool while it was still cool, and I'm going to keep beating it into the ground until it's dead. Dead. Dead.
Besides, I may be a week behind posting about our trip to San Francisco, but now I have an excuse to drag it out for a whole week. You're welcome.
Some other highlights to look forward to:
- The diet begins again tomorrow. No. Really!
- Daylight Saving Time sucks. Actually, that's all I really have to say about that.
- Halloween is fun!
- Pictures!
See you tomorrow. And every day after that.
Posted by me at 9:10 PM | Comments (0)