We watched the presidential inauguration this morning, live. Abby watched at school. I tried to get Noah's American flag sweater on him for the picture, but he has had a fever for a couple of days and just wasn't in the mood to be gussied up. So, here he is in his little dog PJs looking on with mom and dad as Obama becomes president. I LOVED the quartet with Yo Yo Ma and Itzak Pearlman. Noah enjoyed it for a couple of minutes, then asked his daddy to play a you tube video of "Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round." It was a real morning--kiddo with a fever, hubby getting ready for the day, me making coffee then sitting on the floor with Noah. It was also a momentous and history changing morning. Funny how we can experience both the momentous and the mundane simultaneously.
January 21, 2009
January 20, 2009
A Moo-ving experience
We got to see this tiny cow be born tonight! Matty and Noah saw the hoofs sticking out, but the momma cow was taking too long, so they went home and Abbs and I stayed behind to see the rest of the birth. With a little help --a strong and smooth pull--from one of the guys who works at the cow barn, out came a little moo cow. And then came the questions! Why can't the baby stay with the momma (a practice of dairy barns)? Did you hear the momma moo? Was it owie to have the baby? Was it owie to have me and Noah? Is the baby OK? When will it get to nurse?
Then the cow guy got to talking to another onlooker about artificial insemination and how they can tell when the cows are "ready" to be inseminated...this included details about bulls jumping on cows (mounting), cows jumping on cows, etc. and Abby's eyes were large as she asked me:
A: Why would the bulls do that?
G: Uh, that's how they make baby cows.
A: That's so mean!
G: Well, they aren't mean to each other, and besides, there aren't any bulls at this dairy barn.
A: I'm so glad I'm not a cow that gets jumped on.
Oh boy. There weren't any more specific questions, so I let it go. I guess cows might end up being her entry into the birds and the bees talk one day. That is so Davis, California. I forget sometimes that we live in Dairy central. Anyway, it was super cool to see a calf born. I kept feeling sorry for the momma cow. Even the way she waddled around and the way her little eyes seemed so say "I'm tired" seemed familiar. Sigh. For Abby, the evening just made her more sensitive to the fact that we eat animals. She has started to feel very sad lately about eating chickens, pigs, and cows. She cried the other night about a joke I made regarding rabbit stew. She could NOT believe people would eat a bunny. It was a big scene. Matthew was laughing, making Abby indignant, but it was nearly impossible not to laugh--she was so passionate and upset! It reminded me of myself when I was her age. One time my mom had purchased a mouse trap to catch a mouse we had in the house. This is no joke: I made two large posters--one for me and one for my little sister-- and we picketed my mom outside our house. The signs read "Rights for Mice!" "Mice have lives too! Mice have rights!" Apparently it was kind of embarrassing for my mom.
Anyway, I'm just hoping that Abby doesn't become a vegetarian anytime soon. That would make meal planning a challenge.
Then the cow guy got to talking to another onlooker about artificial insemination and how they can tell when the cows are "ready" to be inseminated...this included details about bulls jumping on cows (mounting), cows jumping on cows, etc. and Abby's eyes were large as she asked me:
A: Why would the bulls do that?
G: Uh, that's how they make baby cows.
A: That's so mean!
G: Well, they aren't mean to each other, and besides, there aren't any bulls at this dairy barn.
A: I'm so glad I'm not a cow that gets jumped on.
Oh boy. There weren't any more specific questions, so I let it go. I guess cows might end up being her entry into the birds and the bees talk one day. That is so Davis, California. I forget sometimes that we live in Dairy central. Anyway, it was super cool to see a calf born. I kept feeling sorry for the momma cow. Even the way she waddled around and the way her little eyes seemed so say "I'm tired" seemed familiar. Sigh. For Abby, the evening just made her more sensitive to the fact that we eat animals. She has started to feel very sad lately about eating chickens, pigs, and cows. She cried the other night about a joke I made regarding rabbit stew. She could NOT believe people would eat a bunny. It was a big scene. Matthew was laughing, making Abby indignant, but it was nearly impossible not to laugh--she was so passionate and upset! It reminded me of myself when I was her age. One time my mom had purchased a mouse trap to catch a mouse we had in the house. This is no joke: I made two large posters--one for me and one for my little sister-- and we picketed my mom outside our house. The signs read "Rights for Mice!" "Mice have lives too! Mice have rights!" Apparently it was kind of embarrassing for my mom.
Anyway, I'm just hoping that Abby doesn't become a vegetarian anytime soon. That would make meal planning a challenge.
January 18, 2009
The wisdom of a seven year old
Here are a few of the funny things Abby has said in the first 2 days of being seven years old!
On fiscal prudence:
A: I like going shopping. It's fun to buy things.
G: Yes it is.
A: But you have to be careful.
G: Hmmm, how come?
A: Because you don't want to be, what's it called? "Broke?"
===
On choosing one's work:
(After Abby told a story about encouraging her friends in P.E. at school)
M: It sounds like you're a good leader. Maybe you should be in the army.
A: No, that would be really hard work.
M: It would be really hard work if you were a dolphin trainer too.
A: Yeah, but if I don't work hard as a dolphin trainer, I'll lose my job; and if I don't work hard in the army, I'll die.
M: touche!
===
On self esteem:
(On a bike ride with me, Noah, and our friends, Bronwyn and Teg)
A: Bronwyn, aren't you SO excited about my birthday party?
B: Yes, I am.
A: I'll be the most important person there!
and later, after Abby thanked Bronwyn for treating us to frozen yogurt...
B: Thank you, Abby, for riding bikes with me.
A: You're welcome.
B: And thank you for eating yogurt with me. It is always more fun to eat yogurt with friends.
A: Mmm Hmmm.
B: And thank you for being so cute.
A: I'm almost always cute.
On fiscal prudence:
A: I like going shopping. It's fun to buy things.
G: Yes it is.
A: But you have to be careful.
G: Hmmm, how come?
A: Because you don't want to be, what's it called? "Broke?"
===
On choosing one's work:
(After Abby told a story about encouraging her friends in P.E. at school)
M: It sounds like you're a good leader. Maybe you should be in the army.
A: No, that would be really hard work.
M: It would be really hard work if you were a dolphin trainer too.
A: Yeah, but if I don't work hard as a dolphin trainer, I'll lose my job; and if I don't work hard in the army, I'll die.
M: touche!
===
On self esteem:
(On a bike ride with me, Noah, and our friends, Bronwyn and Teg)
A: Bronwyn, aren't you SO excited about my birthday party?
B: Yes, I am.
A: I'll be the most important person there!
and later, after Abby thanked Bronwyn for treating us to frozen yogurt...
B: Thank you, Abby, for riding bikes with me.
A: You're welcome.
B: And thank you for eating yogurt with me. It is always more fun to eat yogurt with friends.
A: Mmm Hmmm.
B: And thank you for being so cute.
A: I'm almost always cute.
Answers to questions I didn't make up
From my friend Lisa's blog, and now on mine.
1. What is your occupation right now? Mom/ grad student/ full time hubby-helper and encourager as we face a tough job market
2. What color are your socks right now? not wearing socks. I live in california and it was 70 degrees yesterday! OK, that was a record high and I am wearing wooly crocs.
3. What are you listening to right now? the clickety click of the keyboard, Noah making choo choo sounds and Abby asking me if Noah is allowed to stand up in his toy car. Now Noah is banging the metal coffee tamper on the metal trash can. AAAGGGGGHHH. Too loud!
4. What was the last thing that you ate? CAUGHT! A bite of Abby's b-day cake (it's still a long way till noon.)
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes, Matty taught me almost 10 years ago
6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Matthew. Noah called my phone from Matty's phone (this happens a lot).
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes
8. How old are you today? 31
9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? College football followed by ice skating. Though Phelps had me riveted by swimming last year!
10. What is your favorite drink? coffee
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes. wash out stuff to go darker. Tried highlights once about 4 years ago. didn't do it for me.
12. Favorite food? I don't know. I love good food, so this is too hard. How about food I didn't have to cook!!
13. Last Movie you saw? Doubt. M and I had a date!
14. Favorite days of the year? I don't know. Days I get to take a nap?
15. How do you vent anger? sometimes with tears, sometimes with words
16. What was your favorite toy as a child? does a cat count? I had an awesome cat named Shadow.
17. What is your favorite season? I do not like "favorite" questions. I like different things about all of the seasons. Maybe Fall gets my vote, but it also makes me nostalgic and sad sometimes for reasons I can't quite figure out.
18. Cherries or Blueberries? fresh cherries! AMAZING
23. When was the last time you cried? Yesterday, but it was a long while before that.
24. What is on the floor of your closet? I don't have a closet. It's my desk now, and usually a disaster.
25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to? Christina or Lisa
26. What did you do last night? Cleaned my closet/desk! No joke!
27. What are you most afraid of? too deep a question. If you want to know, you'll have to call me.
28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? plain--as with almost everything, plain is usually better!
29. Favorite dog breed? Hmmmm...the quiet, non-wiggly, non-stinky breed?
31. How many states have you lived in? 4, so far
32. Diamonds or pearls? both
33. What is your favorite flower? hydrangeas, dogwoods, tulips, gerber daisies
1. What is your occupation right now? Mom/ grad student/ full time hubby-helper and encourager as we face a tough job market
2. What color are your socks right now? not wearing socks. I live in california and it was 70 degrees yesterday! OK, that was a record high and I am wearing wooly crocs.
3. What are you listening to right now? the clickety click of the keyboard, Noah making choo choo sounds and Abby asking me if Noah is allowed to stand up in his toy car. Now Noah is banging the metal coffee tamper on the metal trash can. AAAGGGGGHHH. Too loud!
4. What was the last thing that you ate? CAUGHT! A bite of Abby's b-day cake (it's still a long way till noon.)
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes, Matty taught me almost 10 years ago
6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Matthew. Noah called my phone from Matty's phone (this happens a lot).
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes
8. How old are you today? 31
9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? College football followed by ice skating. Though Phelps had me riveted by swimming last year!
10. What is your favorite drink? coffee
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes. wash out stuff to go darker. Tried highlights once about 4 years ago. didn't do it for me.
12. Favorite food? I don't know. I love good food, so this is too hard. How about food I didn't have to cook!!
13. Last Movie you saw? Doubt. M and I had a date!
14. Favorite days of the year? I don't know. Days I get to take a nap?
15. How do you vent anger? sometimes with tears, sometimes with words
16. What was your favorite toy as a child? does a cat count? I had an awesome cat named Shadow.
17. What is your favorite season? I do not like "favorite" questions. I like different things about all of the seasons. Maybe Fall gets my vote, but it also makes me nostalgic and sad sometimes for reasons I can't quite figure out.
18. Cherries or Blueberries? fresh cherries! AMAZING
23. When was the last time you cried? Yesterday, but it was a long while before that.
24. What is on the floor of your closet? I don't have a closet. It's my desk now, and usually a disaster.
25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to? Christina or Lisa
26. What did you do last night? Cleaned my closet/desk! No joke!
27. What are you most afraid of? too deep a question. If you want to know, you'll have to call me.
28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? plain--as with almost everything, plain is usually better!
29. Favorite dog breed? Hmmmm...the quiet, non-wiggly, non-stinky breed?
31. How many states have you lived in? 4, so far
32. Diamonds or pearls? both
33. What is your favorite flower? hydrangeas, dogwoods, tulips, gerber daisies
happy 7 year old!
Abby turned 7 yesterday (the 16th). She had a fun party with a bunch of friends and we celebrated her for the wonderful girl she is. What a joy to have Abby in our lives!
January 11, 2009
the other big reason I'm not blogging much...
We're waiting waiting waiting to hear back from schools that interviewed Matty. We're in that tense moment between interviews and calls for fly-outs. So, we've talked as much as we can about every scenario we can think of, and there's not much more to talk about. All we can do is wait! We're a bit jittery and distracted. It is very hard to give updates, because we don't really have clear updates to give. This week should bring with it some clarity, we hope! So please be praying for us.
In the meantime, we are trying to keep busy, keep distracted from the job search a bit, and focus on how GREAT we have it right now: we're safe, healthy, warm, well provided for with our jobs, weathering this tense time as a family remarkably well, and we know we will be fine no matter what happens! There are tons of families and individuals around the world who know nothing of the peace and comfort we have right now, despite the big wait and the major anticipation. That perspective helps keep us grounded just a little.
In the meantime, we are trying to keep busy, keep distracted from the job search a bit, and focus on how GREAT we have it right now: we're safe, healthy, warm, well provided for with our jobs, weathering this tense time as a family remarkably well, and we know we will be fine no matter what happens! There are tons of families and individuals around the world who know nothing of the peace and comfort we have right now, despite the big wait and the major anticipation. That perspective helps keep us grounded just a little.
why I haven't blogged much lately...
Danger Mouse is climbing. He is especially drawn to the stove (and the stove knobs, and anything sharp, heavy, or otherwise perilously dangerous that he can spy). He looks innocent in this picture, but don't let the cuteness fool you; he's all kinds of trouble! OK OK, I'm exaggerating a tiny bit, but he is becoming VERY daring and has little respect for potentially dangerous things. And with the top-heaviness (his head must weigh as much as the rest of him), he isn't the most graceful or balanced of kids. He took a header (haha) out of the bath tub not long ago because he was looking over the side. His wet little body just went over--slip!--wet, naked baby, surprised and a little mad to be on the cold bathroom floor. Does that hinder him from trying to stand in the tub or look over the edge? Of course not. I'm putting lead shoes on him if we ever go to Sea World! He would go swimming with Shamu, and not on purpose.
Of course, here I am proving to you all that I'm running for the camera faster than I am running for the kid. Oh well. That's part of why I've been slow to blog: trying to keep up with Bean Head,
Of course, here I am proving to you all that I'm running for the camera faster than I am running for the kid. Oh well. That's part of why I've been slow to blog: trying to keep up with Bean Head,
January 8, 2009
a new year, a new computer? um, NOPE
Well, I tried to score a new computer for the new year by dumping a WHOLE GLASS OF WATER on my open macbook. Matthew saved the day by closing it, flipping it, removing the battery--this all looked a lot like the heimlich maneuver, by the way--before it was fried. So I have been without a computer for a while as we let my computer dry out thoroughly.
So far so good...I think my computer has been resuscitated. Thanks to Matthew, Bron and Jeremy for all of your quick thinking and techy efforts on my behalf!
I haven't blogged for a while, and it feels like there is simply too much to repot. Ugh. Where to start? I guess I'll just say that we're thrilled to have Matty home from the interviews. They went well, we think. We now wait to hear about fly outs. Any of you praying types, PLEASE pray for us--that we will get a job and that we'll have peace during the big wait.
OK, gotta go talk to Abby about her birthday party! I'll try to blog again very soon.
So far so good...I think my computer has been resuscitated. Thanks to Matthew, Bron and Jeremy for all of your quick thinking and techy efforts on my behalf!
I haven't blogged for a while, and it feels like there is simply too much to repot. Ugh. Where to start? I guess I'll just say that we're thrilled to have Matty home from the interviews. They went well, we think. We now wait to hear about fly outs. Any of you praying types, PLEASE pray for us--that we will get a job and that we'll have peace during the big wait.
OK, gotta go talk to Abby about her birthday party! I'll try to blog again very soon.
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