google-site-verification: google617314e106a28fde.html

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Actual Breakfast Conversation


Zuzu:
Jane, did you know Han Solo is Indiana Jones!?
Jane: Oh yeah, yeah. It's the same guy.
Zuzu: Only when he's Indiana Jones he's not as cheeky as when he's Han Solo. But he's really good at being cheeky when he's Han Solo.
Jane: I think I'd be good at that too. I can be really cheeky.
Zuzu: Yeah, you're good at being cheeky too.

Friday, September 25, 2009

The Exchange That Took Place When I Decided Hair Spray Was In Order For School Picture Day


Jane: That hairspray doesn't smell delightful.
Me: It's pretty stinky stuff, isn't it?
Jane: It's stinky dot com. Did you buy it from Amazon dot stink?

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Sew, Very Old One, Sew Like the Wind!



Today was the birthday of a little neighbor friend, so I made her a little shoulder bag during Ellen's nap. I thought she would like something frilly and girly, and she did.

Most of the time when I get to sew now, it's a bit of a mad dash. Today was no exception. I put Ellen down, stuck Adam in front of Star Wars, raced downstairs, cut it out as fast as I could, rushed through each step, trimmed the last threads, held it up, and thought, "Oh. I wish I'd centered the print." Ha. I kind of miss the days when sewing was a slow and contemplative activity.

OK, truthfully, I was no stranger to mad-dash sewing even in pre-kids life. I'm still grateful to my mom for taking over and putting the zipper into my prom dress for me back in 1990 so I could have time to jump in the shower before my date arrived. (Thanks, mom!) Then there was the time I was doing the soprano solo in a performance of Handel's Messiah and decided the day of the concert that I needed something lovely to wear and that I could probably somehow squeeze a fancy gown out of that piece of red velveteen my grandma gave me. Several hours later, dressed in red velveteen and costume jewelry, I was lucky to hit enough red lights on the way to the show to get some make up on. I was also lucky that no one freaked out when I didn't show up until moments before curtain time. If I hadn't resorted to gluing up the hem of my lovely new dress, I wouldn't have made it even by then. (I did stitch up the hem properly before the next time I wore it.)

By the way, the little triangle sticking out from under the ruffle on the front of the purse is the button loop. It's a little fussy to open it with the ruffle in the way, so I'd probably do a snap instead next time. I used this pattern. I added the ruffle, plus a bit of topstitching, since I couldn't be bothered to hand stitch the opening closed. I avoid hand stitching at all costs.

The following is to provide the necessary background for anyone who didn't "get" my post title:

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Wayfaring Stranger



This little guy was discovered last Monday crawling across our neighbor's front yard. Let me tell you, nothing this exciting has ever happened in our cul-de-sac before. From the urgency of the knock of Jane's neighbor friend on our front door to alert us to the turtle's arrival, I was sure I'd be opening the door to news of a dire emergency.

He turned out to be an escapee from a pond at a house the next street over. Fortunately he came out unscathed from both his trek across the road and from the attentions of a bunch of enthralled kids.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Soundtrack to My Saturday Morning


Today Adam is marching around the house playing The Imperial March, on kazoo.

By the way, that tune was the first one that Ellen ever sang recognizably. I should try to get that on video.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Undeniable Talent


"I am a genius at drawing!"
-Adam to Ellen while they colored with crayons

"I am so. dang. good at this."
-Adam, spoken quietly to himself while blowing bubbles



We Need a Beach Vacation. For Educational Purposes. But I'll Pass On the Crocodiles.


"This is the ocean, mama," he insisted.

"It is the ocean. It has waves. See those waves?"

He really believed it.

However, when he told me next, "And there are crocodiles in there, mama. Really. There really are," he had his tell-tale grin and a glint in his eye. He likes to try to trick me.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Yes, I Took a Picture of This For You. You're Welcome.


As you may know, I hate to see things go to waste. You know how sometimes the little tab gets ripped off an otherwise perfectly good diaper? I hate that. But when it happened today, a thought popped into my head:


I mended a disposable diaper. Laugh if you must. But let's do some calculations. I saved $ .25 (the cost of the diaper) in 30 seconds of my time. If I could save $ .25 for every 30-second increment of a 12-hour day, that would add up to $360. And over the course of one year?: $131,400. Who's laughing now?

You, still, hopefully.

This is the way I like my math. Simple, ridiculous, and on a calculator.