PLCMC

Here are all the reasons I love the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County (particularly the Independence Regional Branch):

• Free movie rentals with a great selection - Take the Blockbuster!
• Free CD rentals - Where else can you get this?!?!
• Concierge service - I log on, pick out what I want, give my card # and it's waiting for me on a shelf to pick up.
• Open Story times - If Kate is ready and in a good mood, we can just drop in and join the fun. If not, no need to call and cancel.
• Child-Sized - Enclosed reading room with toys and games for the kids to play with, and we don't even need to order a Happy Meal!
• Kid Friendly - So large that we've never been "shush-ed" by anyone there.
• Weather proof - Open rain or shine.
• Literature Love - No other place that we go to encourages the life long love of literature like the good ol' library. Ashton just said to me "Mom, where does sand come from?" As I began to explain he stopped me saying "Let's just get a book about it from the library." :)

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Know That I Am

I know that I am all grown up now. You see, today I realized that I am more excited about giving gifts than I am about receiving them. Watching Asthon, Kate and Paul's excitement was something that no one can box up, buy and give to me, but I'll treasure it always and forever just the same.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Dawn's Post About Jonathan's Post

From Jonathan B's Blog (I'd Buy You a Monkey)-http://http//idbuyuamonkey.blogspot.com/2008/12/meeting-someone-you-already-know-kinda.html

(Jonathan Wrote)On Sunday I got to go to a Charlotte 49ers game with Dawn, a long but not lost friend from Jr. High School. While at the Northeast, I shared several classes with Dawn, I know we ate lunch at the same table at times and would also talk in the mysterious wasteland that was the grouping of benches behind the cafeteria. After leaving grade schools we never really had any contact. Hence the beauty of facebook.

(My responses) I have to agree with Jonathan, but I remember having a closer bond with the people I went to Northeast with because, well, we were the "smart kids". If you took Academically Gifted classes, there was only 1 or 2 for each subject a day. So, pretty much, you had the same kids in all the same classes (give or take a few electives) with you for the entire year while you were there. I remember all my Northeast classmates so much more than any other school I went to.

(J)Through facebook, I got to learn about what she was up to now. I read through her profile and she even posted a picture of me from the eighth grade. I would read her blog (to the right on my links) about parenting, she would comment on mine.

(D)I've "friend-ed" a few other people from Northeast and other parts of my distant childhood past on Facebook, but I haven't found a way to re-include them in my grown-up life. I will admit, Jonathan, you were the first! I recently explained to my mother who I was going to the UNCC game with, and all I could tell her was "With a guy that I used to know back in the day. Found him again on the internet. He reads my blog about everything in my life and I read his postings about his car and his new house, but I haven't seen him face to face in 10 years." And, well, actually maybe 2-5 years ago this would be weird, but it's pretty common place now for most the late-20's and under crowd.

(J)I posted available tickets here, she took me up on the offer. As an aside, we got four adults and three kids in for free, wicked awesome. I met her husband and kids, got to know her a little bit about what she did in the 9 years or so that had passed between us.

(D)I was actually thinking, during the game, that if I were to reconnect with someone from the past again, at an event is probably the best bet. Watching the game and having action in front of us made the awkward silences that usually happen in the reacquainting of anyone, even through Facebook, a whole lot less awkward, at least for me. It was nice to have something to watch if the conversation stalled for a moment or two. GREAT IDEA JONATHAN!

(J)The best part and to me most interesting part was getting to know someone you kind of already know. Most of time when you first meet someone you are trying to figure out if they are a good person, you are hoping that they are not crazy. You are trying to see if there is something about them that would prevent a friendship. This time is different because those questions were answered a long time ago. So I just had to listen to what she actually had to say and get to know all about her. So really, I was getting to know someone I already know.

(D)I don't know if I agree with you on all of that, because after 10 years, you are a completely new person and I don't know if I "already know you". I would have probably thought of seeing you at the game as actually meeting the grown-up Jonathan B. for the 1st time, if I had not been an avid reader of your blog and social site profiles. Like, for instance, if we had met in passing through a mall and had exchanged numbers, I would have been a whole lot more nervous than after all the info we've exchanged online. Does that make sense? So, you kinda new a "Dawn Rossmeisl" from jr. high, but you also kinda knew a "Dawn Reid" from the internet. And the same for me. (P.S. Just so you know, we are crazy though. But it's in a good way)

(J)No clue weather that makes sense. I look forward to hanging out with Dawn and family again soon.

(D)Either way, after having moved around quite a bit in high school and there after, it was so great to reconnect with someone from a much simpler time in my life. I don't know if you realized it, but when I talk with you or think about those days, they were right before my life got super complicated and I enjoy the nostalgia. Thanks for taking a chance on us and I look forward to meeting your wife and hanging out again! Merry Christmas Eve!

Side Note - I applaud Jonathan and find him brave. You see, I took the less brave route of ensuring safety in numbers. I brought my husband, two kids, brother and nephew. Jonathan showed up solo and didn't seem intimidated at all.

Merry Christmas from NC!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Miss Sassafrass

Kate loves tomatoes. She'll snatch one off the counter so fast it'll make your head spin. She eats Heirlooms like Macintosh's and thinks bright red is much better than green or purple when it comes to "grapes". When she's around, watch out or you'll have to settle for a B.L. instead of that BLT you were planning.

Last night at dinner I whipped up pasta with a salad, throwing in a handful of cherry tomatoes for vitamins and color. Knowing Kate's fondness for the red-rounded goodness, I set aside 8-10 of them for her plate. After devouring those, she snuck over to the counter and declared she wanted "all of dem" and found a happy resting place for the remainder next to her plate. She then proceeded to shovel tomato after tomato from the container to her mouth, two or three at a time. Watching her for a moment, I then asked her "Kate, are those yummy or what?". She didn't say a word, just looked right at me, her mouth leaking tiny yellow seeds, picked up the empty container and held it out towards me at arm's length.

Was she sassing me or just stating the obvious? I'll never know and she won't tell as long as she gets her tomatoes.

GREAT ARTICLE FROM CNN: When toys were magical without being pricey

By Christy Oglesby CNN Story Highlights: Meaningful presents for children don't require lots of cash

In her childhood, presents that required imagination and creativity were favorites.She says joy "came from playing with people who loved me," not the toy itself

(CNN) -- Athleticism goes a long way in picking a spouse when you're just a child. While playing a jumping-rope game, I missed when my friends called out "Marcus." Now I was destined to marry the snottiest boy in second grade and probably in the whole wide world.I was hellbent on not having a lousy reception. So I was leaping my little 7-year-old heart out. As my playmates chanted menu options, I focused on my footwork. I needed to guarantee that my wedding guests ate well. "TUR-key! CHICK-en! Ol' DEAD dog! TUR-key! CHICK-en! Ol' DEAD dog! Turkeychickenoldeaddog-turkeychickenoldeaddog!" They turned the rope faster, but my cadence was perfect. I would not miss on canine carcass.

Thirty-four years have passed, but I remember planning my future in the driveway of my childhood home. That unforgettable memory came from a rope that my mother might have paid $2 for at the corner T.G.&Y. More likely, it was a construction castoff from my grandpa the carpenter.

But what's certain is that meaningful presents for children don't require lots of cash. Give it in love, make sure it requires creativity or imagination, and you're golden. (Oh, and these days, you have to check it for lead.) Look, I'm the mom of a 9-year-old testosterone-drenched boy. I get the blinky-light-deafening-surround-sound-battery-powered-gotta-have-the-latest-hottest-gizmo-cuz-everyone-else-has-one craze. But for the next 450 words, you 40-somethings indulge me.

Was your childhood any less fun without a remote-controlled Dinoraptor? Was your 10th year of life horrible because you didn't stand in front of a flat screen and pretend to bowl? Stop contemplating pricey Wiis, or the hand-held electronics that feed Junior's myopia, or the cranberry-colored Nano, and go back with me. Do you remember the first time you got the 64-pack of Crayolas? You'd gotten a box of two dozen crayons before. But this one had cornflower, goldenrod and sienna! There were five shades of yellow, and what's that in the back? A sharpener! See what kids want for Christmas this year

My hefty, creaky grandmother crawled under the kitchen table to draw with me. Then she taped my masterpieces to the front of her avocado-green refrigerator.

The year my older sister got Monopoly was fabulous! My divorced mom, who always had to juggle at least three jobs, found time to sit at the Formica kitchen table and build an empire starting with Connecticut Avenue and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Did you Hula Hoop? Or did you pick up your cat's eye and take a break from "keepsies" to watch someone move the hoop from her hips to her neck to her fingertips?

Be it a board game, marbles, a jump-rope or a pack of crayons, none of them cost more than $10. But if you think about it, I bet you remember the names of the kids with whom you played. I bet you remember a particularly intense game of Scrabble. I remember that the joy wasn't from the toy. It came from playing with people who loved me, like my mom, sister and grandma.

I'm not putting down the blinking, electronic $450 gizmos. I'm not saying your child won't remember their hefty, creaky grandma playing Wii tennis with them three decades from now. But try this. Go on and get Junior that pricey thing he just has to have. Then think about a great game from your childhood that didn't cost as much as a monthly car payment. Throw in a jump-rope too, or a paddle ball. Put the BlackBerry down, refuse to let the PlayStation baby-sit the kids. And see if you can out-Hula Hoop your daughter. Show her what fun was like back in the day. She'll remember it for a long time to come, and you'll have cash to spare.

Buddy, Family Cat

Buddy is our lovable cat. Everyone that meets him finds him sweet, adorable but a little odd. Here are a few reasons why:

Buddy refuses to eat table scraps of meat, but LOVES yogurt (even with strawberries).

• Does not run. Ever. Not after birds or from dogs.




• Walks quickly to meet strangers, not away from them. (Don't most cats run from strangers?)




• Comes when you call his name.




• Snores loudly.




• Does not know how to climb a tree.




• Enjoys visits with our neighbor's dog, Scotty.




• Has terrible balance.




• Has fallen from our loft and broken his leg.




• Grows back different colored hair if you shave him.




• Has blue eyes.




• Lets my daughter put necklaces on him and play with his hair.




• Stalks me in all rooms of the house, at all times of the day and night.




• Avoids his water bowl, preferring to drink only from algae covered fish bowls or toilet water.




• Gets attacked by birds if he is in our front yard.




• Lays under my neighbor's bird feeder watching birds all day, never chasing them in anything faster than a SLOW crawl.




• Tries to scratch my brother Brian's eyes out every chance he can.

Even with all his eccentricities - he's mine, I love him and you can't have him!

Christmas-ville USA

We took the kids to McAddenville, NC http://www.mcadenville-christmastown.com/ Tuesday and they both loved it. We've taken them there before, but this was the 1st year they were both aware and in awe. In all the times I've gone to McAddenville, I've never gotten out of my car and walked the town. We did this time and discovered the following:

1. The church in town plays old instrumental Christmas songs from it's bell tower.
2. In front of the church is a nativity scene made of statues perched high on a hill of sand.
3. Judging from all the footprints in the sand, it's ok to walk up to it.
4. There is no baby Jesus in the nativity, (I guess he appears on Christmas day), but we did find the following note: "If you want to see Jesus again, give us $1,000,000 or he will die."
5. There is a path around the lake with all the lights, but it's behind the trees.
6. The light sculpture of the old north wind blowing snow flakes is perched on a flat bed trailer.
7. When you walk along, 1 out of 3 cars will have a passenger that calls out "Merry Christmas" to you. (You get used to it)
8. You can walk the majority of the town in 30 minutes or less.
9. There is one restaurant in town, "The Village Restaurant".
10. Walking around you get the added bonus of "smelling Christmas", most of the lit trees are some kind of pine (Frasier fir maybe?) and smell amazing.
11. The kids loved picking a small branch of one of the pine trees, so they could take Christmas home.

Loved doing it and looking forward to many more visits around this time of year! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Ka-Pow! Ka-Chow! Ashton is 4!

Wow, what a birthday it was!



*Note: In case you didn't know, Ashton LOVES the movie "Cars" and it's star - Lighting McQueen. Leading up to his birthday, when asked what he wanted, he told everyone, (my mom, Paul's mom, our mailman, his teachers, the Wal-Mart greeter) his exact wish. He would saying the following phrase in it's entirety (like the kid from "A Christmas Story" and his red rider BB-gun) "I want a Lighting McQueen car that blinks with the eyes that move and says Ka-Pow and Ka-Chow". I mean, it couldn't be a Lighting McQueen car or a McQueen toy, it had to be "The Lighting McQueen car that blinks with the eyes that move and says Ka-Pow and Ka-Chow". http://http//www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3102986




This toy, you'd think it was my holy grail. After searching several stores to find it, located the last one at Toys R Us, 10pm, the Sunday before his birthday and almost cried with relief. He has previously owned it and he has mistakenly thrown it in the bath tub thinking it could float.




Ashton turned 4 years old in a very quiet and easy going way. The night before his birthday, while he was sound asleep, we snuck into his bedroom and covered his floor with red and blue balloons. We also hung a "Cars" banner that read Happy Birthday right where he would see it upon awaking. He actually woke up around 5-ish and, surprisingly, missed the balloons to come downstairs and let us know Kate was sleeping in his bed and could we please move her out. Paul then escorted him back to bed and (in a full sized bed) my 2 year old, newly turned 4 year old and 6'9" husband all went back to sleep for another hour or so.

We then couldn't wait and decided to give him his presents after singing him Happy Birthday. He loved the 1st one, a box full of Lighting McQueen everything. Well, everything that is except the toy he so desperately wanted. I thought he'd throw the non-toy items to the side, grumbling "I don't want these. I want McQueen." But, in big boy fashion, he was happy with what he got and thanked us both. So, of course, we bring out THE TOY and how happy he was!

Thank you to everyone who called and sang to him throughout the day. He loved each and every call.

Wow! Where Did 4 Years Go?

Ashton turns 4 tommorrow. More on this when I get a moment. Back to baking chocolate cupcakes for 12!

Leading the Way in Technology...Preschoolers and Senior Citizens?!?!?!

Found this article in the NYTimes quite interesting, thought I would share! My 2 and 3 year old kids "visit" with both Grandma's over a webcam and my daugther has even refused a phone call and demanded a computer visit instead.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/us/27minicam.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

"Video calling, long anticipated by science fiction, is filtering into everyday use, and two demographic groups not usually thought of as high-tech are among the earliest adopters — the nursery school set and their grandparents. According to the AARP, nearly half of American grandparents live more than 200 miles from at least one of their grandchildren, and about two-thirds of grandchildren see one set of grandparents only a few times a year, if that. Some veterans of the technology fear that the video cam has started to substitute, rather than supplement, actual time together. And no one quite knows what it means to a generation of 2-year-olds to have slightly pixelated versions of their grandparents as regular fixtures in their lives."

Climb the Mountain!

Yesterday Ashton, Paul, Kate & I actually climbed a mountain! Kate and Ashton, all by themselves, summited Crowder's Mountain.



That would be 0.9miles of strenuous climbing and stairs to the top and 2.0 miles
of strenuous climbing down the back trail.


I am soooooooooo proud of them! Both children were insistent they make it to the top all by themselves and, at times, running up and down. It was a beautiful fall day, not only in weather but in the marvel I held at their changes and growth. Once upon a time they were a small cluster of cells and now they can climb a mountian. WOW!


You see, Crowder's is where I first began to suspect I was going to be a mother and I hiked it while pregnant with both children, so it holds a very special place in our family folk lore.

Ranting and Raving

Usually I don't rant in my blogs, but today is a new day. I just have to get this out and move on...

I HATE HATE HATE HATE it when mothers refer to a sibling as "Sissy". As in -

• We have to go pick up Sissy now.
• Don't hit Sissy.
• Give Sissy a kiss.
• Where is Sissy?

Not sure why, but it drives me up the wall, worse than nails on a chalkboard. It's more irritating than a tag on a shirt or an itch you can't scratch. To me it's as bad as a dent in a car door or a neighbor's dog pooping on my freshly mowed lawn.

I hate it, just hate it. Ok, I can move on now. ;)

Ruby Red and Crimson

Falling From Me

By Dawn Reid

O leaves that fall from our tree.

Stay one more week, frozen in time and frost.

Your peak is pretty as can be,

But in the wind and fluttering you are lost.

To my little ones I request the same,

Stay for me, young and innocent a little longer.

Alas they do not listen either,

Growing always older and taller.

YES WE CAN! AND WE DID!

The air smells fresher, the sun shines brighter and my shoulders don't sag as much from the weight of the world I carry....OBAMA IS THE PRESIDENT ELECT!
Having myself been the recipent of racisim that altered the course of my life, I am proud of the direction this great nation is heading!
Also, what an amazing concession speech by John McCain. Ashton and Kate, you have much to look forward and look to in your lifetimes!

Early Politics

Ashton has declared his party of preference. He is a "Demo-crap" but wants to vote for "McCandy". We are on our way to be a part of history as a civic-minded family!

Once we got to the polls, Ashton & Kate stuck near us as we did all the necessary paperwork. Ashton accompanied me to the voting booth and Kate stood with Paul. He pressed my button for president and then wandered off while I avoided the straight party and hand-picked my people. (GO MUNGER FOR GOV!). We then marched over to the Kids Vote area where Ashton, without any prompting or direction from us, did indeed select John McCain. He also informed us, as serious as a heart attack, that he is, infact, not a "Demo-crap", but a "Re-pumpkin". Kate, all on her own, filled in the bubble directly under Munger for governer (my choice as well). All in all, I look forward to sparking their civic-mindedness and will tell and retell the story of the first presidential election in their lifetimes and how they were apart of it.

Vote...For Starbucks?

If you vote tommorrow (and who in their right mind isn't?!?!?), Starbucks is offering a free coffee. Supposed to be a cold and rainy day, so they've got my vote!

362 More Days Until Halloween!

I L-O-V-E day after (insert random holiday) sales. Love them, love them, LOVE THEM.

I was able to get out today and grabbed tons of post-Halloween decor and clothes for next year, most of the stuff at 75% off. One of the girls working at Party City was looking at me like I was crazy with my cart full of tulle ghosts and giant bobble-head trick-or-treaters. "Throwin' a late Halloween party or sumthin'?" she asked with a slight cock to her head. "No..." I explained, telling her how, since I was packing up my Halloween decor today, it's so easy to throw the newly-acquired discounted stuff in with the stuff I already had. And, I must say, I am excited about my finds.

Also, the majority of the stuff out there is G.G.G. (That's gross, ghastly and goolish.) To GGG for my little ones and their potential dreams. Today I racked up on cute ghosts and pumpkin things to add to what we already had. Also, when it comes to decorating for Halloween, is it just me or are most things either small in scale when placed in your yard or wayyyyyyyyyyy to expensive? I mean, really, it's pretty hard to see a carved jack-o-lantern from the road. But the ghosts I got are about 3-4 feet long and I picked up quite a few of them to make a nice grouping for next year. I can't wait!

Most Important Election of My Adult Lifetime

Today I headed to the library to return a few books, grab some DVDs for the kids and pick out an audio book for my long Sunday car rides and was caught completely off guard by the lack of parking spaces at the normally deserted library. When I finally pulled into the grass in what I deemed a "parking spot" I stepped out into the blistery cold and extremely windy day to assess what was going on. I had to walk pass a line stretching down the side of the building, full of people of all different ages, genders and races. Some of the line were elderly, huddled together over walkers and in wheelchairs; some mothers with small babies wrapped in blankets; all it turns out waiting to cast their early voting ballots for the upcoming elections.

I cannot say what an impression this made on me. All of these people, waiting what turned out to be a two hour wait in very cold temperatures, simply to exercise their basic American right to vote and to make a difference. I knew this election would encourage voter turnout, but I had not expected the scene I saw today. What an amazing time this is and I am proud to be of age in this election. Regardless of the outcome, I see myself sharing stories with my children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of how I waited my turn to cast my vote in this election of historic importance.

I also heard something on NPR's "Talk of the Nation" election discussion today that was so poetic and filled with such hope I don't think I'll forget it ever. It seemed to ring true with what I want for my own children, simply the opportunity to be who they want to be and do what they want to do, with no limitations but the sky. (I must admit I was jealous and wish I had thought of it, but glad someone had. )

"Rosa (Parks) sat, so Martin (Luther King, Jr.) could walk. Martin walked,
so Obama could run. Obama is running so our children can fly."

Financial Industry Reform - My Plan

I would like to make a suggestion on how a portion of the $700B financial aid package from the US Government should be allocated. I think the money would be well spent by sending a copy of "Gumby: The Movie" to all commercial and residential loan prospects.

This move teaches the fundamental basics of responsible borrowing and of the consequences of irresponsible loans. Getting ready to buy a home? Check out this masterpiece of claymation on the little big screen and avoid the Blockheads!

The follow up should be required viewing of another classic on living within your means - "The Big Lebowski". Live how "The Dude" lives and abide by him for the true key to happiness.

Grandmas, Grandmas, Grandmas Everywhere!

Some people may not be aware that my mother has been suffering from a mystery illness that has caused doctor after doctor to run inconclusive test after test. Seeming to have come to the end of the road with treatment options, her last resort was seek out help from an traditional Chinese doctor. While she did not believe, not even for a second, that this was what she needed, she never the less decided to give it a try since there was nothing really left. And...amazingly...the treatments seem to be working!
For the past 12 months I have seen my mother become less and less active and unable to be the grandmother she longed to be to her growing grandchildren. And, suddenly, she seems to be making a comeback! Today she stopped by and played "Hi-Ho Cherry-O" with Kate and "Candyland" with Ashton. One month ago she would not have been able to bend down to play. Woohoo! I hope this treatment stays on track and I get my mother back. (And FYI - Kate absolutely LOVED Hi-Ho Cherry-O, she thoroughly enjoys sorting colors and counting the little pieces.)
Also, more good grandparent news! Paul's parents will be arriving in a few short days to spend Halloween with us! Ashton couldn't be more excited and filled with anticipation, while I'm sure Kate will be thrilled when she realizes what is going on. We are very happy they will be coming and, by the frost warning posted for later this week, know they are on their way! ;) (Coming from Detroit they ALWAYS seem bring the cold with them, be it Spring or Fall.) My one wish while they are here is to make sure we get plenty of good photos of everyone together for Darlene's scrapbooks. Either she or I are always behind the camera and never in any of the shots together. HINT HINT Paul.

Trail Mix Angels

While I was unsuspectingly taking a shower yesterday morning, Ashton crept into the kitchen, got our unopened Costco-sized bag of trail mix and took it upstairs. He then opened it and poured it all over his bed. Was he trying to make a "trail mix angel"? What a mess it was. Later that morning I also caught him trying to chug pancake syrup right out of the bottle when he thought I wasn't looking. Needless to say, yesterday was funny today, but ONLY today.

53 Plants and Ouch, My Back!

Well, I planted and planted and planted and planted and, did I mention PLANTED, 53 plants for 4 hours this afternoon. I am so excited! I tried to plant everything so that my beds are going to have that beautiful layered filled in look of an established garden instead of that bare, "three holly bushes out front only, sub-division" look. I will try to take some photos tomorrow when it's light out, but I don't think the real difference will be seen until mid-spring/early summer. How lucky to have gotten all these plants for free too! I made sure to share some with three of my neighbors and can't wait to see the whole street full of beautiful black-eyed-susans next summer!

Everything Is Coming Up Hostas?

A great hobby I've picked up over the last few years has been gardening. I really enjoy getting my hands dirty and watching something grow and flourish that I've tended to and watched over. My mother's kind neighbor just donated an entire trunk full of plants to me which I am very excited to get in the ground and try my luck with. All are perennials and seem pretty hardy. Tons of variety including some really interesting succulents, hostas, black-eyed Susan's, lambs ears, etc. The neighbor also instructed me on how to grow cuttings from my prized Anniversary present tree - our Weeping Japanese Cherry.
Wish me luck and I promise some before and after pictures of the yard!

Ashton is On His Way to Recovery

After spending most of the night in the ER last night, Ashton's doing better. Not full recovery by any means, but he got anti-nausea medicine and a bag of IV fluids with some Tylenol and now has most of his color and spirit back. (Poor little guy!)
Side Note: The Presbyterian Children's ER downtown was awesome! CMC's Levine Children's ER was full to the top (people on gurneys in the hall, every seat taken) when we walked in and sat down. After witnessing a parent trying to fight a nurse and another mother talking loudly to herself about her 3+ hour wait just to be taken back to be seen with her baby, I called Paul to see if he would check Presby's ER for their wait time. He went over, said there were 2 people in the waiting room and 4 rooms open. I ran as fast as I could with Ashton to the car and headed on over. Because of the distance from the parking deck to the ER, Presbyterian provided complimentary valet parking which was very nice because I was carrying Ashton's weakened 19.1kg around. The whole Children's ER was done in an Ocean theme and was really beautiful. We were seen very quickly and the doctor was in our room within minutes after our triage. While I hope not to have to go back anytime soon, the whole experience really helped me feel better which I think helped Ashton feel better too. ;)

Ashton is Sick

Since around 4am this morning, Ashton has had a fever (staying around 102*F in spite of Tylenol), horrible vomiting episodes, severe lethargy (can barley stand up) and has been whimpering for almost 13 hours now when he's not drifting in and out of sleep. He is bordering on dehydration and, if I can't get him to drink anything in the next few hours, we'll be heading to the ER for IV fluids per his pediatrician's office. I'll try to give an update tommorrow.

Three Years Later and Still Going!

Check our our Wedding Photobook -

Click here to view this photo book.

Ghosts Are Funny...

....at least to Kate. Ask her to do her "Boooooooooooooo" for you if you see her. She cracks up to hear the sound come out of her mouth. ;)

Bad Economy = Time To Rethink "Wealth"

As the economy stumbles and slides, I've observed the stress levels of people all around me inch upward. As the overall financial health of this country is beyond my power (other than making sure I cast my ballot in Nov), I've decided to turn my eyes toward the things in my life I can control and the happiness I get from them. Here goes!

• Picking up Kate from preschool every day and the always getting a big hug and even bigger smile followed by "Mommy's here!" (as if we've been away from each other 4 months as opposed to 4 hours)


• Hearing Ashton always ask for seconds, not for himself, but to ensure Kate gets whatever it is he is getting


• Watching the leaves change on the trees and realizing how wonderful fall is in NC. I'm thankful that nature takes no notice of the NYSE!


• Buddy, the coolest cat of all time, is mine and always has time for me to pet him and cuddle with him.


• Having a good man for a husband. One that is patient, even keeled and a good father to our children.


• Meeting new and always interesting people in my job and seeing them insist on having fun, no matter what type of day they had


• Loving my neighbors and the fact that we all know each other by first name


• Listening to my niece's voice over the phone. (It's so adorable and tiny)


• Having both my mother and father alive and around for me, but also for my children to know their grandparents (Both of my grandfathers had passed away before I was born)


• Talking to my grandmothers, both of them, and realizing what huge impacts they've both had on my life and how lucky I am to have to help me parent my little ones


• Having a great mother-in-law that truly loves her grand kids and who's grand kids love her


• Thinking ahead to how this will be the first halloween both of the kids will really be into it and how much fun it's going to be to take my little red dragon and fair maiden princess out to trick-or-treat!


• While we have little left over, I am happy that both Paul and I have jobs and are able to pay all our bills each month and on time!


• Realizing that myself, my husband and my children are all healthy

I mean, really, happiness come not from what happens to you in life but how you react to it right? So, while my retirement savings circle the drain (remember, my background is in the financial industry) all I can do is look forward to working the rest of my life and raising kids that will do well enough to support me in my twilight years! ;)

T.L.O.L.W.W.N.A.A.

Ashton and I picked out a book from the library yesterday that was both a fall theme and had a title that reminds me of my mother. Check it out sometime, great little tale full of sound and rhythm. (I re-read it to Kate and Ashton in the bathtub tonight and they loved it even more.)

"The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything"

by Linda Williams

Scary Thought This Halloween

This is even creepier than

Frankenstein or a witch!

Ever Read "The Paper Bag Princess"?

If you haven't checked out "The Paper Bag Princess" by Robert Munsch, you should. Great feminist children's book with a strong and independent lead character that happens to be a female. It's one of Ashton's favorite books and came recommended by Owen's mother Karen. Great alternative to the classic "woman as a victim".

The other day I was in Old Navy looking for jackets for the kids when I spotted the coolest all-in-one Halloween costumes. One in particular caught my eye, the fire engine red dragon suit. Basically it's a fleece jumpsuit with extras like blue wings attached with a head that doubles as a hood that turn it into a dragon. I convinced Paul and the kids to come up there with me and had Ashton check all the selections out. At first he liked the monkey, then he saw the dragon and the decision was made. We took him back to the dressing room and had him try it on. Once the top and bottom were on (the best thing about this costume is it consists of putting on pants and a jacket, feet and hands are attached) he FLEW out of the dressing room to check himself out in the three way mirror. He then proceeded to run around the giant store roaring at anyone and anything that he passed. Kate thought it was great fun and wanted me to put her butterfly costume on so she could do the same. While Paul checked out a few pairs of 36x36 denim, I wrangled a roaring purple butterfly (the dressing room clerk renamed her a dragon fly) and a fire breathing dragon who would not answer to "Ashton", only to "Dragon".

Ashton was insistent on wearing the costume out of the store and even to bed that night. As my little red dragon and I snuggled in bed I read him "The Paper Bag Princess" and, as the dragon in the story feel asleep, so did mine, in perfect timing. To see him enjoy something so much, in such an ordinary way, fills up my soul and replenishes me. I never knew that being a parent was going to be like this and don't want these times to ever end.

Also, FYI --- After consulting her, I exchanged Kate's butterfly for a princess costume and figured that since dragons always seem to hold princesses hostage, the costumed pair would make more sense. Now, if I could just get her to wear it....

Wow, He Is Good

Monday was a tough morning all around. I was exhausted from sleeping 3 hours a night for 4 days in a row due to work and everything that could go wrong was. I knew I was yelling every other minute at the little ones to "Hurry up please!" and "Listen to me!", but couldn't seem to stop myself. Once in the car and nearing preschool Ashton, my three-year-old who had been quiet in the backseat, suddenly said "Mommy, it's a beautiful day outside...". I grumbled in agreement but really had to strain to hold the tears back when he followed in a softer voice with "...but you are having a bad day today. Can you please stop yelling at me?" I sent myself to time out after that and man, I deserved it. He is so perceptive for such a young soul and can humble me with one sentence. He is going to be a great man someday.

Holy Gasoline Batman!

For those of you NOT in Charlotte, thank your lucky gas gauges! There is a gas crisis in NC and people are now manic over the shortages. It is surreal to see lines of cars waiting to get gas at gas stations that don't EVEN HAVE GAS, people are simply camping out overnight, sleeping in their cars and hoping a tanker comes. Costco has been out of gas for 10 days now and there's not much of a supply anywhere else. At preschool everyone was talking about it, the library random strangers asked me if I had gas and where I got it from, Wal-Mart was dead due to lack of shoppers that chose to wait in line instead...it's everywhere! People are cussing at each other and cutting each other off to get to pumps that do have gas and police are being asked to patrol stations as the tankers arrive. Crazy crazy crazy!

**SPECIAL NOTE: We had to miss Ashton's OT appointment Wed. due to lack of
gas (we are in Matthews and they are in Pineville) and they want to charge us a $140 no show fee. What the heck is that??!!!?? So, we need a
new pediatric OT if anyone knows of any.

Kate's 2nd Birthday!

Yea! We have a Video Channel!

Yea! We have a video channel on youtube.com! Aol's Uncut video was rejecting wayyyyyyyyyyy too many of my videos for one reason or another (length, failure to upload, etc), so I'm now posting to YouTube.

• Check us out at http://www.youtube.com/dawnelizabeth8i .

• The older AOL videos will still be there - http://uncutvideo.aol.com/search/relevant?value=dawnelizabeth8i

Ummmm, Ummm Yuck!

Tonight for dinner Ashton got to pick what he wanted and ate every little bit of it. (Ashton is a picky and skimpy eater, so this was of great note).

Peanut Butter with Jelly, American Cheese and Ranch, all between two
slices of bread. He didn't eat the crusts of course, but did chomp right down to
them.

I say, "Hey, to each their own!"

Festivus For the Rest of Us in Fall

Yesterday we had a great time at this year's "Festival in the Park". The kids really had fun riding the carnival rides, playing on the playground and in the sandbox, catching a show by a clown troupe and taking in all the sights and sounds of a fall festival. Previously we've gone to events like this one, but for some reason or another (tantrums, nap time, over stimulation) they've not been the greatest experiences. But this time, it was magic!



Kate and Ashton both not only wanted to, but enjoyed, going on the rides by themselves. This was the first year they really did it! It was so much fun and gave me unbelievable joy to see them both get in ride cars together not fighting with, but having fun with each other! They were so good about siting right next to each other and taking turns steering or turning or whatever the rides did. (Kate is so fearless at 2!)

The only minor blip was Kate and good ol' Gus the Talking School Bus. As of late she's become fascinated with school buses, always pointing them out as we drive down the road. I was soooooo sure once she saw Gus the Bus parked and open to anyone who wanted to go inside and explore, she'd run up to it and climb those giant stairs. But, surprisingly, she did not want to get on. I'm guessing up close a bus is quite larger and dirtier than she anticipated. As she stood there staring at Gus, she was very certain and firm when asked again and again if she wanted to go on, saying "No. Nope. No. No. No. NO!" But she continued to hang around the open door, playing peek-a-boo with the driver and carefully watching all the kids getting on and off. As I began to give up on her, out of the blue she puffed her little chest out and said "Mommy, up!" pointing inside the school bus. So, I carried her up the stairs and deposited her in the seat next to her daddy. She immedietly got up, ran to the window, and let out the loudest Tarzan-like bellow I've herd from her yet. "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" to the festival, crowd, and anyone within a mile distance.





I guess that was her way of telling everyone how proud she was of herself for conquering her fear of the giant yellow machiene. I was proud of her too!





All-in-all it was a great time and it cemented in my mind what a wonderful season fall really is!

Arrrrg Me Maties!

Did you know today is "Talk Like a Pirate Day"? September 19 every year!

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

"Ahoy! - "Hello!"
Avast! - Stop and give attention. It can be used in a sense
of surprise, "Whoa! Get a load of that!" which today makes it more of a "Check
it out" or "No way!" or "Get off!"
Aye! - "Why yes, I agree most heartily
with everything you just said or did."
Aye aye! - "I'll get right on that
sir, as soon as my break is over."
Arrr! - This one is often confused with
arrrgh, which is of course the sound you make when you sit on a belaying pin.
"Arrr!" can mean, variously, "yes," "I agree," "I'm happy," "I'm enjoying this
beer," "My team is going to win it all," "I saw that television show, it
sucked!" and "That was a clever remark you or I just made." And those are just a
few of the myriad possibilities."

ChaCha Guide

If you text a random question to 242242 you may very well get an answer from me! I am a newly appointed ChaCha Guide (part-part-time job) and, while the money is hardly anything, it's a great way to leave the potty-training/kid squabbling world behind me and enter back into the adult realm.The questions range from interesting t0 weird, but I enjoy attempting to craft witty yet correct answers in record time with a 160 character or less limit. Try it sometime! ChaCha!Here are some recent questions with my responses:
Q:What is the sexiest thing to do to a woman? A: I think the sexiest thing to do to a woman is listen to her. ChaCha the night away!
Q:What are the 7 colors found in the rainbow? A: The 7 colors of the rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Use the acronym Roy G. Biv to remember!
Q: What time does Jimmy John's open? (In Iowa) A: The Jimmy John's located in West De Moines located at 5465 Mills Civic ParkwayTel: 515-440-6666 opens at 10am. Pick me up a sandwich!
Q: Comment: You rock! A: Yes, ChaCha Guides are the best. Tell all your friends to text 242242 and join to join the cool kids club!
Q: What is the score of the Yankees game? A: The Yankees lost to the White Sox tonight, 2-6. Boooo! Get' em next time sluggers. ChaCha!
Try it sometime, you just might get me!

Is Ashton going from 3 to 13?

While discussing (well I would say discussing, he may think lecturing) Ashton on how he should love his sister, not hit his sister and share things with her, he jumped 10 years ahead in time to the dreaded teenager years in one quick moment. The little booger stuck both hands in front of his face with thumbs touching to block me from his view and said "Mommy, stop talking now". So I did.



Well, it was either stop talking or yell at him that "I am the mother and I will talk as long as possible and he'd better be glad I even want to talk to him after hitting Kate". Today I took the high road, stopped talking and concentrated on driving. But if he does it again I think I will try to laugh instead.

The Priorities of a Newly Turned Two-Year-Old.

At night, when I put Kate to bed, we say a simple prayer asking God to bless all of our family and friends. We begin with "God bless (insert name here)" and end with "Amen". Lately, Kate has taken to making sure God blesses everything she values. Here is a list of things she has thrown into our nightly prayer mix, somewhere between her various Grandparents and Aunts/Uncles:

• "God bless t.v."





• "God bless chocolate milk"





• "God bless fan" (ceiling I think)





• "God bless outside"





• "God bless baby doll"





• "God bless Elmo"





• "God bless light on please" (Is this her way of searching for a sign?)

My one prayer is that both she and Ashton look away from organized religion and begin a transcendental approach to life, possibly through the worship of nature. I would like to see them taking the time to stop and not only smell the roses, but appreciate all the flora and fauna around us. As Ralph Waldo Emerson one said "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. "

Hush My Little Babies, Hush

After the party today (more on that later) we had to pack up two exhausted children and ride over to Paul's friend's house to get our newly brake-padded Corolla. On the way, the sleepy birthday princess was crying and carrying on while fighting sleep. Frustrated and tired myself, I began to ignore her when all of a sudden I hear a very soft voice out of the back seat quietly singing "Lollipop, lollipop, oh lollipop". When I turned my head to see the source of this sweet song , it was Ashton singing Kate to sleep with her favorite song. My heart just melted and I was so...I don't even know the word to describe it. But when times are tough with him, and oh yes, he is a tough one, this moment will carry me through. I love my children.

Hurricanes Haunt Me (Partial Party Cancelation)

Hurricanes are famous for ruining my special days. This year is no different. For those of you who don't know, Hurricane Wilma wrecked my honeymoon and left Paul and I stranded for many days in Mexico. (See photo to the left of downtown Cancun).

As the song "One way or another, I'm gonna find ya, I'm gonna get you, get you get you" springs to mind, Hurricane Ike is (brace yourself for a bad pun) going to rain on my parade tomorrow. No, we are NO WHERE NEAR the path of this monster storm, heck, it's supposed to be 90*F and sunny! But as the Texas gulf gets pounded and oil refineries have shut down, the price of gas in our area has shot up so high (over $1 per gallon in the past 24 hours) we must cancel the driving part of Kate's party tomorrow. Of course, only because I wanted to visit the drive through ranch does this happen. Oh well, the new change of plans involves having Angelique and rest of the NC mountains branch of the family (Mom, Freddy, Auntie Karen and Dominique) come down earlier than the 4pm party to hang out in our neighborhood pool. It's predicted to be stiflingly hot tomorrow and the pool is open weekends so the party will go on, but man oh man. What did I ever do to anger the hurricane gods?

SIDE NOTE: For those of you who have never lived through a hurricane, pray for those unfortunate souls who are in TX and SW LA. Their property will be water and wind damaged, followed by the mold and mildew that erupts from the heat and moisture. They will be without power or food for who knows how long, but the one thing that really stands out in my mind about the aftermath of Wilma is waiting for the water to recede. You may not realize it, but not only is the saltwater/flood water everywhere and destroying most things it touches, it's full of sewage, oil, gas, trash, dead bodies of animals and whatever disgusting things there are about. And to get anywhere - you have to wade through it, sometimes through waist high levels. The stench is something I will never forget and chances are it may be a while before there is clean water for them to wash it off. Those poor, poor people. I hope FEMA has it together this time around and they can get back to normal as quickly as possible.

Always Judging, Always Judging

I found this great and reasonably priced carpet cleaning company through my neighbor. When I say reasonably priced, he will clean my entire house for $65. (Stanley Steamer wants $200+)That's including stairs, hallways, walk-in closets...I even catch him cleaning areas I don't pay him for when I want less than the whole house done. He's great!

The only thing is, well, he judges me. I mean REALLY judges me. He always talks about how dirty our carpet is. I've always been so embarrassed and he gets more and more dramatic each time! (We use him about every 3 months or so.) After he left the last time I said to myself "Self, you don't have to listen to him. Be prepared next time he comes, you don't need his crap."

When Daniel came into the house today, he took one look at our carpet, put his head in his hands, started shaking it back and forth and emitted a low "Oh no". But this time I was ready. "Well Daniel! OF COURSE IT'S DIRTY! If it wasn't I wouldn't need you, now would I?" He nodded quickly, saying "Yes, yes. Si." and I think, ladies and gentlemen, that will be the end of that.

WOW! THE HOUSE LOOKS GOOD THOUGH and is all ready for Sat's party! If you are interested, give him a call at - Diaz Carpet Cleaning - 704.965.0311.

Birthday Party Fast Approaching

I don't know who's more excited about her birthday party this weekend...me or Kate?!?!





The theme is "Jungle/Zoo Animals" and I've worked it in to everything I can. In the morning we are going to the Lazy 5 drive through exotic theme ranch. Then we are heading home to a house decorated with monkeys, lions, zebras and tigers and pink, fusicia and green! The guests get pink camouflage gift bags filled with jungle themed things and the cake will have jungle themed animals on it.





I do hope to play at least 1 game - musical chairs and then let the kids play and the adults eat. If you are coming, great! And If you can't make it, pictures will be posted soon!

At school, for her actual birthday, since she is such a fruit lover, I'm going to core apples and fill them with strawberry cream cheese and sprinkle with raisins and sprinkles in lieu of cupcakes. (Last year I brought sweet potato cakes). YES..I KNOW... I am that weird mom. ;)

Also, on a side note, my mom is sharing the party with Kate and I hope she feels well enough to enjoy herself.

I Hate Potty Trainning

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School Daze

Wow, what a 1st day back to school! The kids did not want to make it out the door this morning. Correction...Ashton did not want to go to school but Kate wanted to go without pants on. They rivaled cats and dogs when Kate decided to wear Ashton's Lightning McQueen underpants (backwards no less) without his consent. But eventually we got to St. Mike's with pants on and Ashton in tow. The following happened:

• Kate wanted to go back to her old classroom and did NOT want to take off her backpack. She did mention she approves that all the chairs in her new classroom are purple, which is the best color in the world apparently.


• Ashton wanted to hide behind me in the hallway outside his class and was more clingy then he ever was as a toddler going to daycare. He also decided today he did not like his favorite shoes in the whole wide world and wanted a pair I gave to Goodwill weeks ago. :(


• I eventually just had to hand the kids over to the nearest adult and run out of the building *yes run*. I was surprisingly sad to see them go. Really sad, but I got over it quickly by slowly and quietly walking around Kohl's department store and trying on everything I could find only to purchase one VERY cute turquoise top. What a perfectly good waste of a morning!

Wednesdays Ashton has OT 8:30-9:30am then I drop them both off back at school. I am very much looking forward to organizing our lives and spending more quality time with the kids in the afternoons now, while I think Ashton & Kate will have some desperately needed time apart. (Click on the photo to read what Ashton's schedule is like this week. OMG, he has a schedule! Where have my little babies gone and who are these school children?)

Ha! Shows What You Know.

As reported by Paul:

During a drive home Paul and the kids were singing the ol' standby "Old MacDonald" when, after horse-cow-pig-sheep-chicken, Paul was running out of animals. So, naturally, he throws out monkey. Stopping the singing Ashton asks the question, "Daddy, Monkeys don't live on a farm. They live in the jungle."

Almost there...

1.5 days until preschool starts back!

WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO! I'm not sure who's more excited, me or the kids!

Angles

Ashton sees different things in everyday items.

He sees a helicopter in our dishwasher sprayer.

He sees a playmate in his shadow.

He sees a pocket when he wears his undies backwards (and likes them better this way).

He sees the world through a different perspective and I think this is the greatest thing about him. I wish I was more like him and I love him for this.

The Bravest Man I Know

Paul is now officially the bravest, most adventurous man I know! He has surpassed Indiana Jones, James Bond and Chuck Norris in one fell swoop.



Did he defeat an armed robber with nothing but a toothbrush you ask? No, even scarier.



Did he wrestle a crocodile, shark and lion to the ground with one arm? Something even braver!



Last night he packed up 4 kids, ages 10-1 in the van to take them all to an outdoor movie in Uptown Charlotte and was the only adult. WOW! How brave! Richard - age 5, Renee - age 10, Ashton - age 3 and Kate - age almost 2. This was especially impressive because it was a spur of the moment decision and he executed it in 20 minutes. The sad part is we got the dates mixed up and the movie's tonight! So they played on the playground downtown and then came home.


Paul, you are my hero!

I Didn't Do It....My Shadow Did

Lately Ashton likes to blame his shadow for all his wrongdoings.

"Did you hit Kate?" says mommy.

"No. I didn't do it." replies Ashton very convincingly.

"Why is she crying?" I ask again.

"My shadow hit her. Yeah, my shadow did it."

"Oh, I say. Well, your shadow is going to go to timeout if he hits Kate again. And since you go where your shadow goes, guess you'll have to go to time out too. So just tell him to play gentle with Kate." I sigh.

"Ok, shadow be nice" lectures Ashton to his outline on the wall.

Happy Birthday...Just try not to drown.

For my birthday Paul surprised me with a whitewater kayaking lesson and a romantic dinner by the river! He must have heard me talking about the time I went whitewater rafting with my church's youth group and how fun it was, so he took the time to look into lessons, pre-paid it, found a sitter and made sure to have the time off from work.

The best parts were beyond the lesson itself. I loved that fact we went on a date! I loved that it wasn't the old standby of dinner and a movie. I loved that we were being active AND outdoors. I loved that we learned something new together. I loved that we are so supportive as a couple, never making fun of the other or getting frustrated. I love the patience we both have for each other. I loved the long leasuirly stroll around the park, watching everyone navigate the rapids. I love that I can say we kayaked the largest Whitewater center in the world. I loved that I made it down the last rapid and didn't tip over at the end! I loved that Paul found a babysitter that Ashton and Kate had fun with, Dallas and Regan's family. I loved that he kept the whole thing a secret until the last moment. I just LOVED the day and I love Paul for making it happen!

The Wanderer

This morning Kate was returned to our sleeping household by our neighbor, Susan. It seems she woke early, locked Ashton in his room, then snuck out the front door (the ONE TIME WE DIDN'T LOCK IT) in her high heeled princess shoes and Ashton's old Cape Cod t-shirt.

Susan was on her way to work and spotted her. Our neighbor let then sternly led Kate back in and woke us up with "DAWN! PAUL! I found Kate in your front yard!" to which we jumped up and ran out of our room. All I could mumble quietly to Paul while wiping the sleep out of my eye was "Uh...thank god it wasn't the cops."

Olympic Fever at Our House

This is the first year we've all really been into watching the Olympics, actually...it's the 1st Olympics Ashton & Kate have been alive to see! This is how we are involving it in their lives:

Lego Beijing Olympic Renderings: Check this link out...holy cow these are LEGOS - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1046255/On-marks-set-Lego-Welcome-Olympics-everyones-quick-blocks.html

• Getting ready to witness history = 8 gold medals by 1 Olympian: We've spent all summer at the pool learning to swim so Ashton could begin his quest for the 2020 games and 9 gold medals!
• Making sure the coverage is ALWAYS on tv. Kate stayed up late and watched the opening ceremony on 08.08.08 and absolutely LOVED it! It was so colorful and fluid and simply the most amazing thing I've ever seen. (Outside of Micheal Phelps in a swim suit!) Can you beleive these are PEOPLE 2-3 high making a model of the stadium they are standing in?
  
• After watching the ENTIRE 2 hour 20 minute coverage of the Woman's marathon, which was sooooooooooooooooooooo much more exciting then I thought it would be, Paul and I have started going aggressively back to the gym and try to pretend we are marathon runners when we are on the treadmill. (And FYI, a 38 year old woman from Romania won which means...I still have time if I really want it!)
  

Cover Me Ashton

Last night, for the first time ever I think, Ashton did the most perfect thing a big brother can do for his kid sister...he covered for her! You see, when Kate is bored or finished eating, because she's not quite 2 yet she hasn't mastered the ability to tell us she's ready to leave the table. She simply begins to throw her food about in classic toddler style. Since chicken and Stove Top just weren't doing it for her last night, the food throwing began earlier than Paul & I expected. Paul just HATES it when she throws her food, as he is the usual kitchen angel that cleans it up and, understandably, became irritable with her. Ashton, not wanting his big, huge daddy to be mad with his tiny sister, very unexpectedly piped up with this - "No Daddy! Kate was just sharing with me! Thank you Kate! Good job sharing with me! See Daddy? Kate not throwing, she sharing!" It was sooooooooooo cute....but we still had to take her food away.

Also, earlier, when we were leaving Costco after picking up some milk, Kate would just not share Paul's keys with Ashton. Ashton, wanting to have EVERYTHING all the time, got pretty ticked off and decided to hit her. When I whipped around to face him in the back seat and asked if he just hit his sister, his reply was this "No Mommy" then pointing out the window "I hit the building over there and the car right there". Paul and I could barely contain our laughter with this avoidance strategy in our face.

Ol' Sad-Eyed Kate

Kate always seems to have such a sad or worried look on her face, that is unless she's smiling that famous - yet elusive - sunshine smile of hers, I've come to refer to her as "Old Sad-Eyed Kate". So when I saw the Puss In Boots in Shrek 2 make this face, I saw something so familiar I had to share. And maybe it's just me...but you be the judge of the resemblance.

"Old Sad-Eyed Kate"...humm...sounds like an Irish drinking song or an Appalachain folk tale. :)

Will Cowboys Be Kate's Weakness?

Here is Kate's new favorite song, I guess it shows I am raising a southerner! -

Cowboys Are My Weakness

by Trisha Yearwood

You'll never hear me knockin' an old pair of boots

A man who wears his Wranglers for Sunday suit

The kind that ain't afraid to get dirt on his hands

And bring you fresh daisies in a coffee can

I like a man to ride me ‘round pick-up style

Tip his hat and wink at me, shoot me a smile

Take me two-steppin' at the honky tonk

Yeah that kind of man ain't hard to want, cause

Cowboys are my weakness Gimme some down home, rugged sweetness

A little bit of outlaw, A little bit of Jesus Cowboys are my weakness

I love to hear my name inside a southern drawl

A man who takes his time, you know what I mean y'all

Gets a little rowdy, a little out of hand

But when he's around your mama he says “Yes ma'am”

A doer not a talker, he's tried and he's true

The salt of the earth, but if he's sweet on you

He'll treat you like you're the only woman alive

Yeah, high up in the saddle's hell of a ride, cause

Cowboys are my weakness Gimme some down home, rugged sweetness

A little bit of outlaw, A little bit of Jesus Cowboys are my weakness

I wanna be the lady, he loves with all his heart and soul

I wanna be the lady he keeps warm when the nights get cold

Yeah Cowboys are my weakness Gimme some down home, rugged sweetness

A little bit of outlaw, A little bit of Jesus Cowboys are my weakness

Lord help me Jesus Cowboys are my weakness, yeah, they're my weakness

My Little Mermaid!

Just a 1 short week ago Kate taught herself to float with water wings all by herself. She found some along the side of the pool someone had left laying around and brought them to me demanding I put them on her. So, curious as to what would happen, I did. She stuck her proud little chin up in the air and very carefully balanced herself swinging her legs up and back to grab her toes. She is now a professional and can "walk" through the water to get from one place to the other. I am so proud of her!

Not to be outdone with new tricks, Ashton now makes flying leaps into the pool, where 1 month ago he would only enter the pool by going down the steps or the ladder.

The favoirte destination to drive their cars to is the pool. Ashton insists on eating lunch and dinner at the pool. And you'd better not promise Kate you will take her swimming then not go...she will guilt you to DEATH.

So...if we are not around when you call or come by, check the pool!

Birthday Wishes and Caviar Dreams...

Ok, my mother-in-law made the suggestion I write about Paul and I once in a while...so here's something about me! With my 27th birthday fast approaching, I ponder what a birthday should mean as I cross the threshold into my "late 20's". If you can get me any of the presents below, I would be eternally grateful!

Birthday Wishes:

1. To live in the moment with my children, aware of them and how wonderful and complex their personalities during each minute of the day.

2. More sleep, 7 hours a night would be wonderful. Ideally, at least one day a week where I can awaken naturally, instead of to the sound of Ashton kicking his door or Kate thumping me on the head.

3. I wish to learn to sew this winter. As a mother of young children, sewing seems like a great tool to stow in the "Mommy toolbox". I want to make a quilt before I am 30, knit a WEARABLE scarf before I am 29 and make homemade Angel/Devil costumes for Ashton, Kate and Angelique this year.

4. Improve my cooking and learn to bake! I want to learn to chop/slice/dice without band-aids being involved and bake confections that do not double as blunt objects.

5. Read more books. Have more dates with my husband. Drink more wine. Watch more movies on my AFI Top 100 of All time List. Go to the gym more. Take bubble baths. Practice yoga twice a week. Begin to study for the LSAT. Hang out with my friends.(More ME time I guess)

Southern Drawl Y'all

Ashton suddenly has a southern accent...Miiiiilk (Milk), Heaaaaaad (Head), Hiiiiiiiii (Hi) etc... How did he get an accent in 3 days? Where did it come from? Surely not from Paul or I....


I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it is what it is! I guess raising a southern gentleman/belle was what we bargained for when we decided to raise a family south of the mason-dixon line! Kate and Ashton will be a G.R.I.T.S. (Girls Raised in the South/Gentleman Raised in the South). Gone With the Wind was always my favorite book/movie.

• Girls Raised in the South: "Whether called "Sweet Potato Queens", "Steel Magnolias", "Ya-Ya Sisters", or "Belles", Southern girls make the best friends."


• Gentleman Raised in the South: "He's chivalrous, kind, and moral, but he can also be messy, hog-wild, inattentive, and just plain frustrating. You love him, bless his heart, but you sure don't understand him."

Check this out for GREAT insider info on G.R.I.T.S.: http://www.gritsinc.com/GRITSexcerpt.html

"So ugly she'd run a dog off a meat wagon, bless her heart." translates from
Southern into "Damn Ugly, Poor Thing!"