Saturday, June 28, 2008

Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer

Another week, come and gone. I love summer. I love that I packed our gloves, hats, mittens, and scarves away in a box, and that I put that box on the highest shelf in the basement. I love flip flops, sunscreen, tank tops, shorts, popsicles, ice cream, and that I won't even have to think about snow for another 4 months! We had another great week. Alice and Brad had swim lessons again this week. Alice is like a little fish now. She even jumped off the side of the pool on Wednesday. We'll have to hit the pool this weekend so she can practice her new skills. She now claims to be training for the Olympics. When we ask her which sport she's training for, she says "all of them." She might just be. Her favorite weekly activity is gymnastics. Each morning she wakes up and wants to see the paper to see if Shawn Johnson (our local Olympian/Gymnast) is in it. She is getting pretty good at hanging on the bars by herself and walking across the parallel bars like a bear. When we ask her what her favorite part of gymnastics is she says, "the uneven parallel bars." We haven't been able to convince her that those are two different types of equipment (uneven bars and parallel bars). Alice took a butterfly class this week and got her very own caterpillar which she named Lacey. Lacey is busy turning herself or himself into a chrysalis. After he/she is done we are supposed to transfer him or her to a butterfly house. It makes me a little nervous to make the transfer. I hope nothing happens to little Lacey because our little Alice would be very upset.

Again this week, Will's big news is... another tooth. He has two teeth now. Better to bite me with! I have tried the yelling "no" strategy when he bites me, but it makes him cry and that makes me so sad, so I have to think of another strategy. He finally rolled over this week. It's a miracle. I honestly thought he might just skip rolling over all together. He is much happier on his tummy now. Happier meaning he doesn't scream bloody murder. I'd like to say that this week I was his Favorite Person, but Sissy still holds that title.

Change, Change, Change. That might give you a hint about Brad's week. He took yet another new job. Can you guess? Change? Yep, he'll be working for OBAMA for president until he becomes the president in November. Brad is going to be his Communications Director for Iowa. He's very excited about it and has already started working even though his official start isn't until July 1. This could make for a busy summer and fall. In case you're wondering, "What about Link Strategies?" Don't worry, he'll be back there in November.

And then there's me. What have I been up to... Oh yes, I finished the final episode of Veronica Mars season 2. It was so good, but I'm sad it's over. My mission today is to find season 3. I'm excited about it, but the show was cancelled during the middle of it's third season and so I already know that I'll be left hanging.

That's all for now.

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Sunday, June 22, 2008

Just Another Week In Paradise

I guess the theme of the week would probably be WATER. The week started off with flooding and then turned out to be really nice so we were able to log in a lot of hours at the pool. Brad took Alice to swim lessons before work each morning. Alice is completely in love with "Cady", Mr. Cady her swim teacher. He has been teaching swim lessons in the pool in his back yard for about thirty years. Brad said she's really doing well. She is actually starting to swim without holding on to him. We made it to the wading pool a couple of times too. Will loves to sit on the side and splash.

Will's big news this week is that he got his first tooth. He has been a little out of sorts, but still very happy and easy! He also has really started babbling. He fills or days with mamama,dadada, wawawa and he's pretty loud about it. When Alice wasn't in the water, she was riding her bike. Her new obsession. She had a big fall when Dee Dee was visiting and had been reluctant to ride, but she's back on the horse again.

I've been busy with work. I've taken on 3 new kids for the summer and have a lot more planning and paperwork to do. I saw a really nice office space for a cheap price and felt tempted to expand the business, but the feeling was fleeting. I really have a good set up now. They will be off to school in just a few short years and then the sky is the limit.

I've also been busy trying to figure out how to use all the veggies in our CSA (community supported agriculture) box. We paid to get a box of fruits and veggies from a local farm each week. I had no idea about what to do with several of the veggies: kohlrabi and bok choi. Luckliy the owner of the CSA posts recipes on her website: http://atedesco.home.att.net/.
I made a very interesting salad from the kohlrabi: http://atedesco.home.att.net/Recipes/KohlrabiSaladWithHoneyGingerDressing.htm and a really yummy beef dish with the bok choi: http://atedesco.home.att.net/Recipes/TraditionalChineseRecipeVariationBokChoiWithBeef.htm.
It can be a little overwhelming to try to eat all the veggies before they go bad or the next box arrives.

Brad is so happy with his new job. I think he feels a little bad about not being able to help the governor during the floods. The gov. must not have been too mad about his leaving, because he had him over for poker this week. Brad's funniest moment this week: breaking the light cover on the fan while "rockin out" to Bruce with Alice in the playroom. He had to remove shards of glass from his head. He is fine, so I can laugh at him about it.

Big Events this week: Happy Birthday to Dee Dee and Aunt Joanie! We wish we could be there to help you celebrate. We miss you both.

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Saturday, June 14, 2008

Let's Get This Party Started

I've always thought about starting a blog, so here goes...
This Week in Review:

Lisa: I started my first day of my summer work schedule. On Wednesday I worked from 9-5 and was totally exhausted. I wanted to just work one day so I could have the rest of the week off, but now I'm rethinking. My new obsession: Veronica Mars. It's all I can think about. Thanks Dallas and Laura for getting me hooked. I'm torn between having a viewing marathon and slowing the process down to savor each episode. Brad has to cut me off every night before bed and practically drags me upstairs as I'm begging for one more episode. Reflection:
The floods, the tornadoes, Tim Russerts' death. Life is so short and so unpredictable. I will not worry about the little things.

Alice: has been so delightful this week. There have been no arguments over getting dressed, what to wear, putting her shoes on, where to sit at the table. She has learned to leave her blankie in her room and only takes an occasional trip upstairs to snuggle. Of course blankie hasn't been washed in ages and we have to tackle that this weekend. Our next goal: no more "fingy" sucking. I painted Alice's toenails for the first time yesterday. She wants her fingernails done too, but we told her she had to stop sucking her fingies first. She said, "I'm stopping for a long time!" Within in 2 minutes, they were back in her mouth. I think she could identify with someone who is trying to quit smoking! Alice started gymnastics this week. She especially loved walking on the balance beam and hanging on the bars. I especially loved that she could go to the class all by herself. Alice also took a three day art class at the Art Center with me this week. I thought it would be nice to do something together, just the two of us. She made a horse, a clown, and a circus car. I so enjoyed watching how excited she was and just getting to be alone with her. Alice continues to lead a very active imaginary life. She creates elaborate scenarios and directs everyone else about what they should say and do to be a part of it. Coming up next week: swim lessons with Daddo.

Will: is getting to be so much fun. He continues to be such an easy, happy baby. I am so happy that he is becoming much more predictable as far as napping goes. He loves to bounce and grab. He reaches for and grabs everything. Last week, he grabbed a pot on the stove. Luckily it wasn't hot. This week he enjoyed playing in the wading pool and watching Sissy. No one can make him smile and laugh like Alice.

Brad: Happy Father's Day honey. What a wonderful husband and father. We had pictures taken of the three of us for his present. Here's the link to the pictures: http://maharryphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/5055135_4KjKN#304019657_ZAfCL
I couldn't wait to give him the pictures. We had Father's Day a little early last night. Brad is really enjoying his new job. He is so much more relaxed. He had to evacuate his office yesterday do to potential flooding. He was so dissapointed that he had to go out for BBQ and beer in the middle of the day.

That's all for now!