Still hanging in there...

This little geranium flower is still hanging out in the front of our house.  It seems like November 30th is late for flowers to bloom... but it and a few others have decided to make an appearance before December rolls in.  Holding on until bitter winter comes to visit NJ.

I've also been doing some "hanging in there."  Today is November 30th.  The last day of NaBloPoMo.  National Blog Posting Month.  30 posts in 30 days.

I did it!!!!

WooHoo!!!

Grace in Small Things - 81

1. Coffee ice cream sodas.

2. A family dinner by candlelight (because Joy decided to perch herself on the "chandelier" today not thinking about how she might get melted at dinner time.  Silly Joy.)

3. The girls' bedtime with Daddy.

4. Sitting in silence, typing, drinking wine.

5. Being able to watch full episodes of Bones online (Why are there so many shows on Thursday??? My dvr can't handle it.)

Daily Mugshot

Yesterday I started doing a Daily Mugshot.

Because I am a glutton for punishment.

I've taken 2 photos (today and yesterday) so far.

It should be something that is easy to accomplish.

1 photo a day.... of myself... when I sit at the computer.

They even send you a reminder if you want.  No excuse for forgetting.

I have browsed through the mugshot galleries... and it's really interesting to watch some of them.  It's especially fun to watch some of them when the people have been growing out their hair... or growing a beard... or wear glasses sometimes.  I'm looking forward to seeing how much I change... or don't.  I think I might even start doing a mugshot for Zoe and Ana too.  That would be even more interesting to see.

Anybody else want to try it?  Or is anyone else already doing it?  I'd love to add you to my favorites list!

Joy has returned to our home...

and this... this is Joy...

Joy is our Elf of the Shelf.  She (yes... SHE) joined our family last year and after reading her story Zoe named her Joy.  We're very happy she's back to visit us again.  She magically appeared tonight.  We think it's because Santa came to town for the Madison Santa parade.  Santa must have dropped off the elves while he was here.  We were very surprised that when we came home from the parade... there was Joy.

Joy has a VERY important job.  She spends the weeks before Christmas with us... and each night she uses her magic to travel to the North Pole to let Santa know how Zoe and Ana are behaving.  Joy makes it back to our house before we wake up... and she picks a new place to sit and watch.

Zoe is extremely serious about Joy and the work she does.  Last year... if Zoe was behaving badly... all anyone needed do was remind her in a whisper "Oh no... I hope Joy isn't seeing what you're doing... she's sure to tell Santa."  Suddenly Zoe would stop whatever she was doing (usually whining or crying or occasionally having a fit over some preschool type drama) and would give a glance in Joy's direction. It's amazing what a little elf can do!

We've all been looking forward to Joy's return.  Hopefully her magic is just as powerful this year!

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Happy Thanksgiving

Wordless Wednesday - Last days of Pumpkins

Visit Wordless Wednesday and 5 Minutes for Mom for more photo sharing.

Oh how I love these girls...

Ana - 16 months

Zoe - 4 years 16 months

I have so many photos from our recent trip to Florida.  I have to go through them... and delete the bad ones... and edit the OK ones... and sigh over some (like these) that make me think "did I really make those?" (the girls and the photos!)

These came out of the camera just perfect.  These shots make me think I might be getting a handle on the manual camera settings.  They were uploaded to our old computer when we got home... and this weekend they were transferred to our new computer (um... did I mention we bought an iMac?)... and  since I have yet to get any editing software on this computer (other than iPhoto... is that useful at all?)... you get these straight out of the camera. 

The rest you have to wait for.  I have to spend a little more time with them.  But these... these I love just the way they are.

Issues

I'm still having commenting issues.

I'm TRYING to go back to the original Blogger commenting form.

I'm not sure if it's working yet.

Bare with me.

And... um... help.

sniffle sniffle


Edited:  Scratch that.  I'm back to JS Kit Echo.  For now.

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A broken blog is SO frustrating

edited: Comments on this post WERE done using IntenseDebate.  It wasn't working/syncing/making life easy... so I removed the widget.  Now it seems to be holding the comments that WERE made on this post hostage... and I can't get any comment form on this post.  Arg! GRR! Ugh!  Right now... my opinion... IntenseDebate sucks.  Anyone have any opinions or suggestions?  Of course if you want to comment and help me you'll have to do it on another post or e-mail me.  GRRR!  I would go back to annoying JSKit Echo... but now they are giving me an error too... and won't import my comments so I can install.  (I know Carrie... WordPress)

I clicked one thing today... and I broke my blog.

Well... not really my whole blog.  Just the commenting.  But that's the important part right???

I thought I would try removing the confusing JS-Kit Echo comment system... and the next thing I knew I had no comment form at all.  I panicked and had a bit of an anxiety attack.  After some slow breathing and counting I settled in and started to work out how to fix it.

I've spent most of the day making adjustments.  I installed a new comment form/system.  I'm hoping it's easier than the last one that I was trying to use.  I wasn't getting as many comments as I used to and I'm hoping it was because of the confusing form.

Now it looks like it's much easier.  You just have to enter your name and e-mail (and blog site address if you have one).  I'm hoping I'll be able to add back the comment luv if it's compatible.  Also, if it's working like it's supposed to I should still be able to reply to comments through e-mail. 

So what do you think?  Can you comment (even just to say hello) so I can see if it's working properly?

If it works out I think it will end up being worth all of the anxiety and hours of fixing it.

(Now if I can just figure out how to get my post signature ABOVE the comment form I think I'll be in good shape!  Anybody know how to do that?  I keep trying with no success.)

Sharing a song...

I'm subscribed to Nataly Dawn on YouTube. I just love her voice... and I love the whole "videosong" concept of recording each part live and meshing it all together.  But... mostly... I love her voice.  This came in my e-mail subscription today... and I've watched it enough times that I thought I would share it!

Grace in Small Things- 80

1. Walking around the happy shiny Apple store.

2. Buying a happy shiny new iMac.

3. Feeling all computer fancy.

4. Having everything you click open REALLY fast.

5. The excitement of learning to use something new.

I'm not ready

I'm not ready for Christmas lights, or candy canes, or Christmas carols, or Christmas trees, or Christmas shopping, or Christmas cards, or whiffs of fake pine when I walk through certain sections of the grocery store.

Not yet.  I'm not ready.

I'm still eating peanut butter cups and kit kats from Halloween.

My mind is still on pumpkins, and crisp leaves.

 
Can we just hold off of dreaming of a white Christmas and Santa Claus coming to town? Just a little while longer?

My thoughts... I want to try to keep them on NOW just a bit longer.  Can we stop rushing?  Can't we concentrate just a little bit longer on thankfulness.

Can we at least wait until next weekend?  Can we hold off just a little longer?

Then maybe I'll be ready.  But even then... I'm not promising to be ready.  It's just all coming too fast.

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Where my mind has been today...

My time online today has been consumed by a woman I have never met. Anissa Mayhew. A blogger. A 35 year old mother of 3 children (her youngest daughter just reached her 1 year anniversary of being cancer free!!!) A woman who's blog posts I just recently began reading. A woman who seems to be known by everyone I follow on Twitter... and 1/2 of the people I am friends with on Facebook. Every other blog I open up today has a post about her.

On Tuesday Anissa had a major stroke.  

She is 35. She has 3 young children and a husband. She had a stroke. She is in the ICU.

Those facts just don't want to connect for me.  I have to keep repeating them.  It' shocking and unbelievable.

Anissa is an awesome online presence. Bloggers all over the internet are writing posts of support. Sharing photos of times shared with Anissa. Telling stories that illustrate what a vibrant, strong, hysterically funny woman she is.  Her personality is larger than life.  It is clear that she is a true friend to many.  I don't know Anissa personally... but after today... after reading so many posts relaying stories and photos of her... I feel like I know her.  I know her... and I am waiting with the rest of the people who know her to hear that she is on her way to recovery.

So far the updates sound good.  She is fighting... and her friends are not surprised.  She is a strong woman. Prayers and positive vibes are being sent her way from all ends of the internet.

If you want to get updates you can check her family's page at Caring Bridge (you can even sign up to get e-mail notification of journal updates) or visit Aiming Low.  If you would like to help Anissa and her family in some way you can also visit Aiming Low to find out how.

My Girls are so Classy!

I'm trying to transfer some new videos from my Flip and I'm having some issues. It's really driving me crazy. I plug the recorder into the port just like I'm suppose to... but my computer insists it doesn't "recognize" the hardware. But... even though it doesn't recognize it... it still autostarts the Flip software. THEN, to make it more fun, when it does "recognize" the Flip... it tells me there are no video files to transfer... even though I KNOW there are 16 of them.

So... I'm slightly irritated right now.

To look on the bright side of things... while I was fighting with my computer I did spend some time looking at the old videos. It is so hard to believe what changes 1 year (or less) can bring. I am so thankful that we have so many little video clips of the girls. They just grow and change so fast.

You may start seeing more videos... because clips like this one... they must be shared (maybe multiple times even)...

Hopefully I'll get the computer to accept the Flip again soon. I can't stand the thought of losing the videos that are on there. They might seem small and insignificant now... but they're just priceless.

Done

We are all back home.

Nick has been home from his work trip since Wednesday(ish).  He picked Zoe, Ana and me up from the airport tonight.  So now... we're all safe and sound at home.

Ana is zonked out in her crib and Nick is reading Zoe a few stories and then I imagine Zoe will immediately be out cold.  The house is silent.

Thanks to my mom ALL of our clothes came home clean except the pjs I was still wearing late this morning (isn't that the BEST!?!?!)  The important things are unpacked (binkies, sleepy-time friends, tooth brushes, the dual room monitors).  The rest of the unpacking will wait until tomorrow.

The transferring of pictures from camera to computer will wait.

The stroller swap back from double to single will wait.

Taking the dvds out of the portable dvd player bag to replace in their boxes will wait.

Emptying the snack travel bag will wait.

Whatever I'm forgetting about... it will wait.

It will all wait.

I'm done for today.  Wiped out.  Exhausted.  Drained.  Done.

We're home... and I'm done.

Grace in Small Things -79

1. The enjoyment my brother gets out of putting his face in a hole.

2. The way Ana gets up and dances when The Wiggles come on.

3. Special addition Gingerbread coffee for the Keurig.

4. Getting to spend a little bit of time with 4 generations in one house (my grandparents, my parents, me, the girls)

5. The half way point!!!  Day 15!!!  15 posts done!!!  15 more to go!!!

Grace in Small Things - 78

1. Zoe's love of swimming.  She loves it so much she has gone in the pool every single day of our vacation.  Today she even insisted she really likes cold water.  Her lips were blue and she was shivering... but she was having a blast.

2. Watching the interactions between Ana (16 months old) and Grace (22 months old).  Priceless.

3. Being able to sit with a laptop in front of the tv.

4. Peach and mango salsa.

5. Ice cream sodas.

A New Blogger in Town

Lately, when I sit down (with my Mom's laptop) to blog, this is what happens.

Maybe she could do a couple quick NaBloPoMo posts?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Disney Hollywood Studios

We had a long full exhausting day... and now we feel like this...



So... goodnight. I'm lucky I'm not snoring already.

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hi... um... can I come in?

For more photos check out Wordless Wednesday and 5 Minutes for Mom.

Cousins in Florida

If nothing else happens on this trip... at least Zoe, Ana, Avery and Grace are having fun.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A Heavenly Flight

Zoe, Ana and I took a flight to Florida last night.  Nick took a flight at the same time... to Dallas for work.  Since we were at the airport together Nick took us all into the Continental Presidential Lounge (ooh la la) before it was time to board the flight.

The girls definitely enjoyed the free snacks... and Mommy enjoyed the free wine.  (If the flight was rough... it wasn't going to bother me! lol)


Zoe really liked the "butter"fly crackers.

Ana... well... she liked whatever she was handed.

We left the lounge just in time to walk right onto our flight.  Ana and Zoe rode in the stroller right down the ramp.  Zoe was a big girl and got out of the stroller to walk and carried her back pack and snack bag and was our leader.  Ana walked and followed Zoe smiling and saying "hi" to all of the passengers along the way.  I brought up the rear carrying the diaper bag and our carry-on.  It was SO much easier this time since Ana could walk on.  Trying to carry a 29 pound baby AND the bags would have been nearly impossible.

Since we were seated at the rear of the plane it took us a while to get to our seats.  Once we got there I realized that we might actually get to have an extra seat for Ana.  (Since she's under 2 we didn't book her a seat... but since she's the size of an at-least-2 year old I wasn't quite looking forward to her as a "lap infant".)  When they announced that everyone had boarded and the door was being closed the aisle seat was still empty... and so was a lot of the rear plane section.  I almost jumped up and did a happy dance at the mear thought of Ana in her own seat.

Let me just say... it was lovely.  Just lovely.  Zoe in her own seat.  Ana in her own seat.  Me in my own seat.  Ahhhh.

The girls were both "big girls" on the flight.  They sat nicely in their seats.  They looked at some books, they did some coloring, they ate their flight "snack", and they watch The Wiggles on the dvd player until the battery died... ACK!  Even when the dvd stopped working... they were good.  I have 2 very good travelers!

And finally...since everyone was boarded early we actually took off early.  I don't think I've ever had that happen before.  And... since we took off early... we landed an entire 1/2 hour early.  How amazing is that???

And THEN... when it couldn't get better... our 2 suitcases and 2 carseats were the very first 4 pieces of luggage to come off the plane. 

I'm afraid I may be spoiled now.  The flight was just plain heavenly.  The only thing that might be better?  First class seats. 

And when we go home... Nick has us booked in first class. 

Is it too much to hope that we could have another perfect flight?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Grace in Small Things - 77

1. Packed suit cases.

2. Excited girls.

3. Little girls who travel well.

4. The possibility of swimming in November.

5. Getting away from NJ weather to enjoy some Florida weather.  (Although today is quite lovely here in NJ after way too much dreariness).

Grace in Small Things - 76

1. A Daddy that will play hide-and-seek repeatedly with a girl who is not a very good hider.

2. Wearing pajamas until noon.

3. Leftover BBQ chicken pizza.

4. 3 year old videos of Zoe making animal sounds on command.

5. Having a daughter who LOVES to help with packing.

Facebook is out to get me...

Seriously.

I believe that Facebook is seriously trying to sabotage my NaBloPoMo.


It's 11:43pm... and even now... Facebook is calling to me.  It's open in another tab right now as I type.

First off... my friend Amanda just gave birth to twins today.  She had posted in her status that she would be going to the hospital to deliver on Thursday.  So I waited... and I checked in... and I watched her profile page.  FINALLY she posted this...

"Trying to get some rest after 18 hours of labor. Elizabeth Jane "Ellie" arrived at 6:26 and Zachary Kevin "Zach" arrived at 10:24 this morning. Ellie is 5 lbs 15 oz and 18.5 inches long. Zach is 7 lbs 1 oz and 20.5 inches long. Korey will try to post pictures later tonight. Thank you for all of your prayers."

Then of course I had to friend Korey.  He posted just a couple of photos.  One of Ellie and one of Zach.  They are GORGEOUS and healthy and perfect.  And big.  Aren't they big twins?  And born 4 hours apart.  Does that usually happen with twins?  I'm dying here waiting to hear details!!!

I am SO happy for her.  She has a 2 sons... Gabriel (who is 6 weeks younger than Zoe) and  Ethan (who is 6 weeks older than Ana).  I cannot say how happy and excited I am for her to now have her 2 brand new sweethearts!


(um... ACK... it's 11:48.... hurry hurry hurry!)

So that was the important reason Facebook kept me away from todays post.  But... what really happened was that I would log into Facebook to see if there were any updates.  Then... I would have to take a bit of time to see what everyone else was up to.  Gotta scroll down that "live feed" and see who's doing what.

Then there is the call of Cafe World.  I have to log in there.  Food to cook, food to serve, gotta change my little character out of her Halloween clothes.

And Sorority Life.  I have to check on Sorority Life even if it's just to put my money in the bank.  Of course if I do that I have to "socialize" a little... and "fight" a little... and maybe send a few gifts to my "sisters".


And then did you know that like... my whole entire family is on Facebook and I didn't know it until my cousin Melody friended me which led to my cousin Crystal and then her daughter LaTasha.  And when I look at their friends lists I find so many more cousins and some of my aunts.  Ok.  Maybe not my ENTIRE family.  But that's because my dad has 5 sisters and 1 brother... and then I have 25 cousins on my dad's side.  And then they all have kids who are mostly old enough to be on Facebook. I don't think I can friend them all or I may never blog again.

So it's Facebook's fault. 11:59.... Publish!!!!

The Preschool Portrait

 

Nothing tells you your baby is growing older quite like the school portrait.  I mean... look at that girl!  That is no baby.  That is a 4 year old preschool girl.  I think it might be the hands folded so perfectly that is the most striking.  I realize she didn't do that by  herself.  She never ever does that.  But it just shows that the photographer said "do this" and she did it.  It's also the appearance of the nice smile... rather than the "cheese smile".

Every day I see that she's getting older.  Maturing.  She likes to pick out her own clothes (sometimes) and put them on by herself (sometimes).  She likes to decide which shoes she'll wear (sometimes).  She likes to go into her room by herself and "read" books (sometimes).  She likes to take baths... but loves to take showers because she gets to do it alone.  She loves school.  She can write her name (although Z is a tough letter to get in the right direction).  She can recognize all of her letters (when she feels like it) and can tell you what letters start words.  She has seriously started to learn a good deal of Spanish (no thanks to me... more thanks to Dora, Diego... and Ms. Gloria... the school Spanish teacher).  She's completely potty trained (those night time pull ups hung out for a while!)  She questions things ALL THE TIME.  Interesting things...like "does the giant at the top of the beanstalk live with Jesus?"  Scary things... like "Mommy, if you die who will take care of me and Ana?"  And her mind is clever... like when she told us she really didn't want Grammy and PopPop to visit... and when we asked her why her answer was "because I'd rather go see them in Florida."  (smart girl!)  She is also very brave and has never shed a tear over getting shots.  She actually enjoys going to the doctor and the dentist.  And she's friendly.  Everyone she meets is her friend.  If you meet her on a playground her opening line tends to be "Hi I'm Zoe!  Wanna play?"  She's also a loving big sister (when she wants to be).  She wants to help Ana with things (whether Ana wants help or not). 

As much as she likes to do things by herself, and be on her own, and be the big helper... she knows when she wants to be my baby.  To cuddle in bed in the early morning.  To snuggle and have countless books read to her.  I hope we can hold on to some of that as she continues to grow.

I could just go on and on.  She is just growing in so many ways.  Every single day.

Every day I know she's getting older... but looking at this photo just seems to bring that fact into focus for me.

Where have you been all my life?

Make sure to visit Wordless Wednesday and 5 Minutes for Mom to see more photos!

Sharing can be sweet

When I got a coupon for a free 6 piece box of fresh chocolate covered fruit I selfishly hoped there might be some way I could create a situation in which I would be able to eat all 6 pieces by myself.

Silly silly Mommy.  In what reality would that EVER happen???

For a brief moment I thought maybe... just maybe... I'd get the "I don't really like this" statement and get my berry back after a couple of tentative nibbles.

Yeah right.  Who would actually give up a chocolate covered berry?

Certainly not MY kid.  nom nom nom

Sharing is good.  Sharing is good.  Sharing is good.  Sharing is good.