Artsy Fartsy Mom

Potty training adventures with Gwyn

2009-03-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

I know it has been AWHILE since I blogged. Life with kids and ministry and a job and homeschooling. Life. That is it. I would rather play with my kids...or read a book...or watch a great TV show...than stare at the computer. Anyway, I just could not, not share this with my blog girls. This one is for you Aly and Annie. I miss being able to share these stories with you at the park...

We recently dedicated our sweet Gwyn which basically means we prayed over her life with close family and friends (pictured here Aaron and Emily-friends so dear they seem like family) and committed to raising her in the knowledge of Christ and pouring His love and ours into her. She is the most precious, soft little soul and she has completed our little family. We love her, but life with a 21 month old is always a crazy mix of pure joy and pure...hmm read on.

Gwyn is potty training, and doing well as a preface. She usually only has about one pee accident a day and never poos in her pants anymore. She is even dry at Disneyland or on drives to LA. I am impressed. But, she has a milk intolerance that makes her gassy and constipated. We are usually so careful, but this week a bit of cheese slipped through and she ate it. The next day she was upset at her bowels and trying to poop. We let her roam with no pants to allow easy access while we were cooking dinner after a long day. She was kinda whining and we were kinda not paying much attention. Not a good thing cause next thing I know she is calling Poop! from her room. I go in and she is squatting in front of her dollhouse dropping the biggest log ever. I look at her red face and see defeat. She is mad at herself, so I don't make a big deal, grap a wippee and lysol, pick it up and we take it to the potty, talk about how it should go in there and NOT on the ground and flush it bye-bye. I go back to dinner prep without dressing her. I figure the danger is gone and a little naked time is always fun. She comes in the kitchen and "cooks" at her play kitchen. THEN, after a few minutes I hear the Poop! call and look over to see her STANDING in her own poo. She didn't just drop one...she stepped in it! Ahh! Adam and I were SOO excited to have choosen parenthood at that moment. Aggie held the dog back (Peyton the dog is famous for eating the poo-good times), while I held Gwyn in mid-air. He went and got the wipees. We wiped her down. Sprayed HER feet with lysol. Picked up the poo. Wiped up the smashed poo. Lysoled the ground and mopped with antibacterial soap. THEN, back to dinner prep. Good times, hey? Adam and I joke that maybe we should have waited even longer (we waited 5 years) to have kids. It surely is an adventure. Especially the poop part.

Tea with Gammy (and big girl Gwyneth)

2009-01-25T21:58:00.000-08:00

We took my mom to her first tea house experience this last week for her Christmas present. She loves tea, has a teacup collection from her mom, and has tea parties every time the girls go over for babysitting. Our day at the tea house was a perfect day. The weather was sunny and nice. We weren't rushed. The girls were all fancy and felt pretty. We sat at a pretty table with pretty tea sets and yummy, girly food. Agatha had impeccable etiquette and manners. Gwyneth ate quietly and didn't break anything. My mom got to enjoy her girls and a beautiful tea. It was everything I dreamed. I wish everyday of parenting was this shiny. Today, on the other hand, was back to reality. Homeschooling in PJs, messy house, tons of chores, busy outings with late arrivals, pee pee accidents, a minor burn on my 1 year old's hand, screaming for two and half hours afterward (yes, you read that right-she was inconsolable), late bedtimes and work on the couch late into the night instead of sleeping. Each day brings its own color and my world is rainbow.

Side note: Gwyn is not a baby anymore! She does flips at her Little Gym class, goes pee and poo on the potty, communicates with ASL and verbal words, sleds down huge hills in the snow on her own inner-tube, makes valid jokes and knows she is funny, refuses high chairs and sits on a normal dining chairs and even has a preference toward purple everything (what to do with all the PINK hand-me-downs from her big sister-RIT dye here I come!). I am excited for this next stage of toddler! Gwyn is precious.

A dear man and friend...

2009-01-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

If you have not been following the Mark Lamberth story go here... He was a great guy and friend. I love his wife and my heart breaks for her as her husband has gone to be with Jesus tonight. A rough story. Read it and pray with us.

Hollywood...Here comes Agatha!

2008-12-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

My daughter Agatha has always liked to perform. She sang Silent Night in front of crowds of 800+ at Age 3 and has not looked back. For a year or so now she has been asking to be a star in movies. We were hesitant at first, thinking she didn't know what she was really asking for and that we couldn't make it happen anyway. But, out of the blue a talent scout approached us in the mall. We had meetings. She took classes so we could see her commitment. She thrived. She performed more locally in live stuff, but still wanted to go to Hollywood. I didn't want to do the thing where we send out head shots and pursue it so strongly on our end at this age so we just waited. We decided to home school for other reasons (like having a family day since Adam works full days on Saturday AND Sunday), but because of that decision we have the flexibility we need. We were chatting with a home school friend at the pumpkin patch and she had a manager who was great for kids. I said casually that I would like to get in contact with her because Aggie wanted to pursue that. She emailed me and we sent the head shot in and wa-la! we had a meeting in Hollywood. We got signed with a manager after the first meeting, but still needed an agent. We went down and met with a coach in the Hollywood Hills in a fancy house under the Hollywood sign. It was surreal. The manager linked us up with a big name agency to start, cause why not? I'll leave the name off since I'm not sure claiming that on the Internet is a good idea, but let's just say reputable! Oh my gracious, big! And they want my Agatha. It was her first big audition and I was half preparing her for the disappointments that are inevitable...but, she got it! I am sure there are bumps ahead and we are keeping it real for her. But, wow! Today is a celebrate day! I am proud of her for having a dream and being willing to work to get it. She has already given up things to make trips to Hollywood and knows what it takes. She wants it. And here it is for her. I pray for her everyday that the right roles will come along to allow her to shine and still stay true to her good nature and beliefs. I pray she will be strong and beautiful and not caught up in it all. I pray people don't judge her or us too harshly because she is a pastor's kid. I pray for her. But, Aggie is amazing. Anyone who knows her, knows that. I know she can do anything. I pray provision and protection. Pray with me, please.

Update: After one week of auditions she got a callback and a commercial. It was a personal injury lawyer out of Baltimore and not a high paying job, but more than enough. It was very fun and professionally done. We were shuttled from various locations for shoots, had wardrobe and full make-up and hair in a trailer, ate yummy fish and chicken prepared for us, met with a on set tutor, ate too much craft services and shot in a set hospital. She had lines and had to act "sad". She did beautifully, focused, didn't wiggle, didn't overact and had a great time. There was a huge, professional crew and they all clapped and cheered when she wrapped. It was a great first experience. Adam and I really want to instill in her that acting in an artform and she is an artist. We don't want her to do this to be famous and end up some annoying mainstream pop star, but to become an artist. Even if she doesn't choose this artform long term, at least to walk away undertanding the beauty and strength of conveying emotions through acting. I think she tasted this with this first heavier piece...and she is gorgeous on film. The producer could not get over how great she looked and I was taken aback. She is cute in real life, but the camera makes her breathtaking. I am proud-she did well.

Oh Candy Cane, O Candy Cane

2008-12-03T11:31:00.001-08:00

I organized a recent trip to Logan's Candy Cane making Store in Ontario for our Homeschool Group. It was so fun! We saw the candy canes made from start to finish, got to eat hot pieces of candy cane and they were just great, real people. I am not one for big cheesy symbolism as many do with candy canes. But in his candy cane making presentation he did the stripes for the blood of Christ and the white for his purity and the J for Jesus along with the history of Candy canes as candy invented to keep the kids quiet during the big Christmas pageant at the cathedral. He was just so fun and honest about his faith and love for the process of making this traditional Christmas Candy that it made it beautiful. I guess the cheesiness can be broken by being transparent. I gotta remember that. Watch the video for yourself here and read an articlehere and here . Aggie is writing the process out for schooling today...ah unschooling!

Buenos Dia de los Muertos!!!

2008-11-01T23:11:00.000-07:00

We had such a great day today! We learned about the Day of the Dead and had the most wonderful party! We remembered Grandpa Ron Lugg, Grandma Verna Irwin, Gammy Betty McIntyre and our friend Karissa Ashley. Everything just seemed to fall into place for learning.

We colored sugar skull designs like they sell in Mexico and talked about Mexican use of color in art.

We made this family memory tree with traditional marigolds and skulls for our table. At dinner we all told memory stories about our loved ones.

We dressed skeletons in bright, fun colors as they do they for the celebration to remember the happy memories of loved ones.

I found these authentic papel picado at a local shop and they looked beautiful. Aggie pulled out her pink sombero from our Mexican vacation.

We went shopping at a local Mexican Supermarket and bought a full dinner with Carne Asada, tortillas, black beans, Mexican sodas, sweet bread and Mexican candy. It was so yummy!

Over Mexican coco we played Loteria (Mexican Bingo) with our bottle cap collection as the place covers. Aggie won and shouted out Loteria!

We also made traditional Pan de los Muertos in the shape of Skulls. We each made our own-Gwyn, Agatha, Adam and mine. We found the recipe online and a Mexican Neighbor stopped by and was so excited we were making it.

We had an amazing day remembering, praying, learning, and just having fun with The Day of the Dead! And we have a whole other day-tomorrow we are attending a learning day sponsored by the city on this holiday and a celebration tomorrow night sponsored by a local museum. So fun!

The History of the Jack-o-lantern

2008-11-01T22:46:00.000-07:00

I love to play dress up and I love to dress up on Halloween. Can you tell? We had a great, quiet night at home eating chili, trick or treating the neighborhood, visiting with family, friends and neighbors. Gwyn was so fun when she caught on that people wer giving candy away!

I also love Jack-o-lanterns. We have a pumpkin party every year to carve with friends and today Aggie counted 72 jack-o-lantern decorations as we cleaned them up! For a homeschool project this year Aggie learned the history of the Jack-o-lantern and lo and behold it is Irish-yea McIntyre! Here is her report:

The Irish used to carry turnips carved out with faces on them on All Hallows Eve as lanterns. They went out on this night to beg for money and food because the next day was All Saints Day. People would give money because they were remembering their family who died. The Irish people came to America because of the potato famine and we changed turnips to pumpkins because America had alot of pumpkins at Harvest. The Irish told a story about a mean, mean man named Jack who did not share. He didn't love Jesus so he couldn't go to Heaven. The Devil felt sorry for him and gave him a hot coal that he put it in his pumpkin lantern to light up his way. Now we call then Jack-o-lanterns because of the story of Jack and the Irish!

Fall Fun

2008-10-27T00:02:00.000-07:00

Fall is a fun time to be a kindergartner-or maybe a kindergarten teacher! There are so many fun themes to teach on and since we are homeschoolers-so many fun field trips. We have gone on sooo many but these two were really fun and Fall picturesque.

We went to Tanaka Farms pumpkin patch and I love the big black wheelbarrows you get to take through the patch. We all got the perfect pumpkin and are going to carve them tomorrow night at our annual pumpkin party while sporting out tye dyed jack-o-lantern tees from Family Fun.

We also went to an educational farm called Centennial Farms on the OC Fair grounds. They had all the traditional animals, crops and red barns. We saw a cow get milked and pet chicks. It was GREAT!

I hope you are getting out there in the community this season. As much as the short days and change of weather bring on my seasonal sadness, I do love the outings and colors and walks of autumn. Having a 5 and 1 year old are a fun time to be a mommy. I will cherish these memories forever.

I know...where have I been?

2008-10-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

I really hate that my blog has said "I have so much to do!" since August 16th! It is just that with homeschooling a 5year old and taking care of a 1 year old I have little time to sit like an adult at the computer. And what time I do have I am working...for River Springs. I barely get my personal email checked or glance at facebook. But, I love blogging and reading so here I am.

We have been up to so much fun stuff with homeschooling! I figured it out and we are doing like 8 field trips a month! And with regular outings we are out in the community alot. We have gone to Disneyland with cousins, gone to football game fore Adam's cousin at which Agatha was invited on the field to cheer with the cheerleaders (so cute), Legoland with the Foors (we sorted over 1000 legos and graphed them by color and type for a follow up to that one-whew!), a Family village festival on cultures, the San Bernandino Museum with the Foors, the Huntington Library/Art Galleries/Gardens with the Speirs, a pumpkin patch trip with The Grove Homeschool Group, the Riverside Museum for dissecting owl pellet and making clay scat (poop-yes it was fake) of types of animals, Riley's Farm for apples and colonial farm life tour with The Grove group again, the Chinese Moon Festival and Chinese Food (the pic), and on and on. We are having so much fun.

Aggie is really learning to read and write and I am so proud. She reads to Gwyn all the time and Gwyn can't get enough of books. Aggie is doing great things at Gymnastics and did a flip on the uneven bars that even I was impressed by! She is so curious and really becoming a lifelong self lead learner which is a big objective with me for homeschooling. She and Adam especially dive into subjects with such fervor and have done projects on pee and volcanoes and other fun ideas.

Gwyn loves Farm animals and says more sounds than words at this point. She is a non verbal communicator and has no problem getting what she needs with grunts and facial expressions! She starting using the sign for thank you and it is so cute. She is kinda potty training and is so proud when she is successful. She has starting smiling like this picture when we say "say cheese" and is really becoming a little person. I love to watch her bouncy little trot as she pokes curiously around the house. She is very meticulous about art and already draws her version of the family and dogs (which she loves).

Life is good-but I am really trying to find a balance. I have so many hats at this point. I know I should get rid of one-but which? I like each one in its own way. I just wish I was slower. I wish I had more time-but don't we all?

SOOO much to do...

2008-08-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

So I work for this school and we start attendance days on Tuesday the 19th. My daughter starts schooling at home for K through them that day as well. I have spend 4 of the last eight workdays (I work 4 days a week from home usually) in meetings away from home. And I still have SO MUCH TO DO for my first meetings with my families on Thursday and Friday next week. I know it will even out...but man, if only I could just be mommy right now. I know I like (and need) the money. I know I don't want to be dirt poor. I know I paid all that money for a credential that we are still paying off. I know I want to do this so we can stay in ministry and my husband can be the Pastor he his extremely called to be. I know I kinda secretly like having some adult thoughts to think and a career to develop. But, I look at my cute, precious kids and just wish I were playing games on the floor and creating this euphoric childhood of memories. I wish my house were cleaner and I was doing chores instead of work during nap. I wish it were less hectic. I hope I am making the right choices. I hope their memories of me are not of stress, but of love. Don't we all hope that? I mean look at them. Who would ever want to stare at an email computer screen rather than these two?

(Don't you love their matching shoes? Gwyn is so excited when she is like Aggie-and she LOVES shoes right now. That's my girl!)

BJs and Old Navy

2008-08-06T23:22:00.000-07:00

I went out with the girls tonight for my birthday. Cristi, Nicolle, Shannon, Christina, Holly, and Ashley came out for the festivities and I had such a wonderful time. I miss Annette, Alyssa and Emily though. We always did the BJs and Old Navy thing together and though my evening was supreme with such great girls around me, I missed these girls. Two babies came along (KJ Hughes and Audrey Rodrigo) and I commented that it was so appropriate that babies were at MY birthday. I love babies (I am finally going to start my doula training in March 09) and I got to hold them both for quite a while since Gwyn was not there to be jealous! All my girls seem to be starting their families and I am finishing. I feel so old and mentorly. It is weird, but good. I love my girls and their babies!!!

BTW: I started work again for the year and man, am I overwhelmed. Did you ever get stressed in college on syllabus day? I always went back to my dorm and had a panic attack about how I was going to possibly going to get it all done. That is how I feel right now! Syllabus day as an adult! How can I balance the crazy work expectations this year with mommying, homeschooling, ministry, art, housekeeping and marriage? Hmmm...I am sure it will balance out cause it always does but I have had more than one outburst of emotion at the girls and Adam about it and I don't want to be that way to the ones I love! Pray for me. I have tightness in my chest just writing about it.

Boating with Dad

2008-08-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

We went boating down San Diego way with my Dad today. He has owned his boat for almost two years and this is the first I have been on it! With babies and the drive to Chula Vista is has been a chore to get there. But is was a wonderful day once it came.

Though Gwyn hatted the drive there and really hated the lifejacket we had some wonderful moments. We swam in the ocean (Adam said I would be the cool mom who jumped in when I compained about the freezing water and that it would mess my hair-I had a homeschool mom meeting afterward really), sunned on the front deck (Gwyn was annoyed that she could not roam free), had a picnic lunch and cruised the harbor with the sea breeze in our hair (or knotting your hair-take your pick).

It was nice to spend time with my dad in his element-I miss him.

Plus, my baby brother (almost 21 so not so baby anymore) came down to boot. He and my dad are peas in a pod (in a good way), so it made for a fun day.

My favorite moment was when my baby fell asleep sitting up against me and my normally wiggly five year old snuggled in for a 10 minute cuddle while we cruised the harbor. The boys were distracted with driving the big toy-I mean boat. The wind was wipping. The sea mist off the back was misting my face. The engine was roaring so I didn't have to talk to anyone. It was such a peaceful mommy moment. All I had to do was hold them close and kiss my girls heads.

My beautiful friend Adrianne

2008-08-04T23:00:00.000-07:00

This is Adrianne and Sunshine. Sunshine is a new addition to the Ashley family and is helping them heal a bit from their recent loss of their lovely three year old daughter Karissa. Karrissa suffered from epilepsy and went home to be with Jesus about a month ago. Crazy hard. Crazy grief for this mama. But this couple, Mark and Adrianne, have shown incredible beauty and grace and faith beyond what most would even dream possible in this situation. They aren't afraid to cry and let it out and scream that this sucks, but they don't stay there. They have a hope in their future and what God has for them. They are finding ways to move through this. They are amazing. Adam and I really feel called to help people through this time of grieving as pastor and pastor wife. Adam calls it his sweet spot. We feel most comfortable supporting and listening and just being with them. We love them as dear friends and I have learned so much from these classy people on how to deal with loss and trust in a future. They are true beauty in Christ.

VBS fun with the Spiers

2008-08-04T22:45:00.000-07:00

We attended a VBS at a different church than our own this week and had a wonderful time (not that our week at the Grove wasn't fabulous). Aggie was able to sing in their church service with the VBS kids and (my little performer) was so excited. We had fun at the service and BBQ. Though I must say it was strange attending such a traditional methodist church after my years in a non-denominational. They were so loving and open, but the robes and readings and hyms and kneeling at the front for communion were a wierd flashback to my presperterian childhood. Aggie didn't know what to do with it all and actually climbed over a pew during the closing hymn!Other than some great preschool friends that Agatha was able to reconnect with we hung with this lovely family. (though the younges Matthew is not pictured)

They are homeschool friends and just wonderful to be with. Despite age differences we always have a enjoyable time when they are around.

And I think I have found my nanny to play with Gwyn while I work. She doesn't warm up to anyone like she does Emma.

I love Pomplamoose

2008-08-02T22:36:00.000-07:00

I just found this fun little indie rock band that started this summer. They are great aren't they? I can't wait till they have an entire CD!

My friends the Foors

2008-08-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

This is an old picture because I have not blogged for months, but I figure I will catch you all up. We try to see the Foors at least once or twice a month and our families love each other. We just mesh. Have you ever met a match like that? The husbands have been best friends for years. The wives became best friends when they were married in and the kids just get along (or not) like siblings. We parent in similar fashions. We have like childhood experiences. We both work in ministry and understand those pressures. We both love music and the arts. We have like values for marriage, finances, feminity, masculinity, everything. We just click. I feel so relaxed in their presence. We can vacation with them and feel refreshed. I can talk to Aaron and Adam can talk to Em. I have that feeling of being home when I am with them. They are truly our garden friends and I cherish days like this one when our busy lives and schedules come together for a day of fun at Disneyland or some other activity. We recently got to see them twice in one week and I pined for the days when we were all in Riverside together. I am glad they are only and hour and half away, but I wish they were closer. I am so thankful God has provided such friendships for me to lean on. Words just can't express. (too bad they don't read blogs-this got kinda sappy!)

Gwyn is 14 months!

2008-08-01T23:26:00.000-07:00

This is for all the distant friends and families. Gwyn is beautiful. She is walking now and making jokes and laughing and talking (a little-though she understands everything we say) and doing fingerplays and doing tricks like answering "How old are you?" and rock on and high five and pound. We love her.

2008-08-01T23:19:00.000-07:00

I know it has been months-but here I am. I am 31 today! This is me on my fancy art date with my husband. We went to an art opening at the Riverside Art Museum for the Monothon. I am standing with my Monotype print that was selected for the show and silent auction. We also ate a an upscale resturant called Saffron. Totally out of our price range-but it was my birthday. At check time a member of our church and art patron had picked up the check! Happy Birthday to me! At the risk of sounding like a pastor's wife-God really provides for us! We are blessed.

Saw the...

2008-04-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

We stopped by the Rodrigos today. I miss having Holly in our extra room...or even them just down the street. I miss our more frequent chats. It was lovely to see them for the few minutes we had together. They seem to be adjusting to parenthood well and Audrey is getting so big and aware. Babies are one of my favorite things I think.

My mom and brother dropped by and Gwyn had such a good time playing with them. She was all smiles! She showed off all of her tricks like patty cake and standing up on furniture. And I registered my little brother to vote-my good deed for the day. I was just trying to get another Obama voter out there!!!

Roadtrip to Monterey

2008-04-02T21:47:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness...Gwyn does not like the car! As we were sitting on the grass of a Shell station half way up the state I thought "What have we gotten ourselves into?" The 5 hour drive took us 9 because of the screamer. But it was well worth it.

We saw the beloved Risingers. They have taught us amazing things about life, and marriage, and ministry over the years. It was so nice to be in there company again. They took us to wonderful places, but my favorite times were just sitting at their house catching up with them. They seem peaceful. I miss them and this time with them was refreshing. I couldn't figure out who Aggie enjoyed more-Bill or the dog!

They also got us free Aquarium passes! It was so nice not to have to pay that bill and we had a wonderful time in Monterey playing at the Dennis the Menace park, seeing the fishes, going through shops, eating ice cream and visiting a quirky little interactive children's museum. My favorite part was climbing out on the rocks with Aggie one afternoon and tide pooling. It was just the two if us and she was so brave! We climbed way out and touched all kinds of green anemones (Adam is afraid of them!!!), learned about barnacles and muscles, saw hermit crabs and whelks and even saw big sea stars. It was such a great moment together.

We also met Megan, my lovely sister, for dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp on Cannery Row. She drove 2 hours each way just to see us. I love her and it was great to talk face to face and catch up. She is so beautiful and relaxed and interesting. I love every moment we have together. I am so glad she found me and is in my and my girls lives.

We rounded out the trip with the grand finale...a visit with some of our closest friends-the Osbornes. We figured everyone else has gotten there we better get there too!!! They have been gone for over a year now! This was such a restful stop! I love, love Annie and miss her being in my daily life. We had such good, honest talks that I think we both ended up facing life decisions and changes we have been going through. We had time to cruise the streets of Santa Cruz shopping like young, free girls (no kids!!!...or husbands!!!) I love Santa Cruz. Everyone is as green as me and they have whole shops devoted to it. They didn't even offer me plastic bags for me to turn down. Everything was so organic and earthy-it is my new favorite vacation spot. Good friends and good earth. I will be back! Payton and Aggie were so bonded I felt like I didn't really interact with Aggie the entire time we were there. No one can make me laugh like Trav. Jonah and I had some good talks and he even warmed up enough toward me to tell me I was funny and hold my hand. Davy is quite the little man now and he was so sweet with Gwyn. It was a wonderful visit...I wish I could have packed them up and brought them home in my suitcase.

Our road trip was a wonderful one of friends and relationships. I wish it could have been longer...and I wish they could have slept this peacefully for the whole trip. Isn't Gwyn cute when she is sleeping rather than screaming?

Easter...

2008-04-02T21:26:00.001-07:00

Lest I repeat myself...I love holidays. So here is what Easter held for us.

We dyed eggs and Gwyn kicked over the blue-our butcher block now has a permanent stain! All of Aggie's were pink I think. Go figure.

Aggie counted, estimated, sorted and graphed a bag of 95 jelly beans for homeschool. She is really getting good with numbers and her concentrations-or maybe it is because I told her she could eat jelly beans when she finished!

We went to a Easter Egg hunt at the park with another church. It was so fun and everything was free! It was interesting being at another church's neighborhood outreach event...

We hunted for Easter basket's on Saturday night (because there is no way all us girls are getting up before Daddy has to get off to service on a Easter morning). To make it special we started a tradition of hiding the baskets and hunting for them with clues. Aggie (as you can see) was pretty excited! She hid mine and was my "Easter bunny". She and Adam worked out this great clue, but she told me "Mom, don't look in the dryer" and posted a "NO MOM" sign across it. I didn't really need the clue :) And we discovered in the morning that Gwyn had a earache. She gladly ate the candy in her basket even though she looks miserable.

After church on Sunday we went to my Mom's new place and had a BBQ with the family by the pool. We had an egg hunt and Gwyn would only take eggs within grabbing distance cause she din't like the grass on her legs. But they had goldfish in them so she caught on fast! We had egg races and a wonderful day.

It is nice to have family time and traditions. What a wonderful holiday...can't wait till Earth Day! Did I mention I loved holidays?

An Olympic Sport: Clothes Shopping with kids

2008-03-21T21:50:00.000-07:00

I never go shopping anymore. I know my body and the stores/brands that fit-so I just order online. Who wants to try on clothes with two kids crawling on you? And my alone time or date time is so limited I don't want to spend it trying on clothes in unflattering lights worrying about whether these purchases are worth spending the limited funds we have for free spending. With that, I ordered my Easter dress online (I love a new spring dress-it's a tradition) and it is back-ordered until April 28th-which I found out today! SO, I dosed my teething/fever child with Tylenol and bribed my four year old with dinner at a fast food establishment and went shopping to one store within 5 minutes of my house. And there it was-A femine white and pink ensemble-shining like a beacon-AAAHHH! (choir with organ) I wanted to try it on because it is a junior's store (reference Annie) so we went in the dressing room. I set up the blanket with toys in front of the mirror and set to stripping. It looked cute and my four year old approved-at the top of her lungs. She was singing SOOO loud and I kept having to stop her from jumping or yelling or...acting like we were on a playground. Then while I am half dressed Gwyn crawled under the door and across the isle so fast I couldn't grab her. By the time I covered my boobs and got out she was gone! I got down on my knees and scanned...she was in another stall with another woman who was changing!!!! I knocked and the woman looked down...turned Gwyn around... and she crawled out. Good times. Then as we were checking out she started fever screaming cause she wanted the sparkly choking hazards at the register and just didn't understand why she didn't feel good. Agatha was complaining that this was just a Mommy store and where where all the clothes for her and why couldn't she get something sparkly and fancy and couldn't I just watcher do her ballet skip and...Whew-It is an Olympic sport! We did catch an Easter bunny on the way out and I had to pay for this moment cause I left home without my camera (shame on me). Gwyn was pointing and bouncing in the sling, she was so excited. She sat right down and poked and giggled at the big bunny. I think she wanted to take him home. Agatha, of course informed him that she knew he was just a person in a costume and that the REAL reason for Easter was that Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead and went to heaven so we could. I swear-she laid it all down-informing him that eggs and bunnies and chicks were just symbols for new life-like Spring and Jesus' new life and our new life in heaven! He just gave her a thumbs up.

Laundry, anyone?

2008-03-21T15:01:00.001-07:00

Anyone want to come fold my 6 loads of clean laundry? I have a sick kid, learning records to write, Easter homeschooling to do, (and obviously time to waste blogging!), so this keeps getting pushed off. I think Aggie has been pulling undies out of this pile for three days! Ah, the memories I am instilling.

Easter has begun

2008-03-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

Steve and Karen came over to watch LOST last night (frustrating episode for me-how many questions can my brain hold before it explodes?) and I was rushing around getting the last of my Easter decorations in place-3 days before Easter! The leap year and moon have made this a VERY early Easter and it won't happen again for 152 years! It definitely feels weird and rushed for a girl who loves holidays, homeschools and is married to a arts pastor. But, here we are!

Aggie had her Easter parade at preschool and we spent the whole morning doing room mom stuff at the school. She is so cute-her costume has "an egg on the front so it can hatch and a chick on the back that came out of the egg" I was informed. I love her mind.
Gwyn in teething or sick-I can't figure-but, she has had a fever for 3 days and this was her take on all the festivities.

We went to Eggstravaganza at the library with a homeschooling buddy. Aggie is so charismatic that all the librarians know her by name now! They did crafts, dyed eggs and ate cupcakes. Then Aggie read THREE readers with me while Gwyn played...and earned a reading certificate from the librarians. She was so proud and so am I-she is on the cusp of real, independent reading and we both feel the excitement!

St Pat's at the McIntyre's

2008-03-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day with yummy Irish food (Adam made bangers and mash Sunday and I had a Ruben-cornbeef and cabbage-sandwich at Kilarney's on Monday) and lots of homeschooling about the story of St. Patrick (Agatha wrote a wonderful 3 sentence story about how he loved GOD, told people about God's love and used the shamrock to tell about God's 3 parts-I was impressed!). She finally can spell her last name on her own too-fitting with the holiday (McIntyre...Irish...just in case you didn't follow my rabbit trail). We spent the evening with the Reid family eating almost all green food, 4pt. (wieght watchers reference) cupcakes and letting the girls play. It was lovely. I am ordering Adam a kilt with the McIntyre tartan and next year he can wear it-that would make it REALLY lovely! :)

We had some homeschool friends over for graphing Lucky Charms marshmellos and it was great to see Agatha work in a group setting instead of just with me.
And went to Killarneys to see these awesome Irish dancers. Aggie of course wants to be one. I thought about it cause of the heritage point, but they announced that the costumes cost 300-5000 bucks! Shot that one down. I thought of Annie as I watched and hoped she danced a jig this holiday. We are going to see the Osbornes and Risingers next week! Ahhh...vacation. If Adam and I can just get there with all we have to do before Easter!

I love St Patrick's Day

2008-03-14T23:34:00.001-07:00

I am so glad I married an Irishman cause now I can more justly claim St. Patrick's day. I even want to get Adam a kilt! I decorate with shamrocks everywhere (Aggie can recite the St. Patrick Shamrock metaphor of one God with three parts...and does so everywhere with anyone!), have children's books galore, do homeschool with Lucky Charms and know all the lore. I am kind of a holiday nut! If you want a email list of some fun kids activities-let me know and I will forward my composition for my homeschool families. But if you live in Riverside come on down to Kilarney's. Adam I went there for great date night tonight (both girls went successfully to my Mom's abode for the first time!). It was so fun and festive and they are having a Irish festival all day on Monday. It starts at 11 with Irish dancers and goes into the night. I hope to see you there...here is the poster.

Adam and I had so much fun giggling and flirting across the table. I love that we can still do that. Isn't he cute? I felt like we were young and free again-for three hours at least!

Time spent with old friends

2008-03-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

My lovely Emily came to town. The kids are all growing so fast-look at Allison in the swing, and that is Gwyneth in the back with Stacey. I miss when I sat with the girls at the park every Wednesday morning chatting and breaking up fights or crying fits between the kids-I mean watching them play serenely on the playground. It was a delightful day...even though I was avoiding the house cause Adam had the flu and I was making him hold up in the front room, run the house-fan for fresh air and Lysol everything. The kids and I are on airborne-cause we have not had the flu this season and I INTEND to keep it that way. We'll see.

Shoutout to Grove Homeschool Group

2008-03-14T23:28:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember Kryn Burton? I love her. She influenced me so much in my femininity and mothering when she lived her. I miss her. But, I always thought she lived on the edge of normalcy. Now I realize I do too. When did that happen. I always feel normal-but I don't think I am when I try to look at me from the outside. Weird?

Anyway-I am realizing that homeschooling is on the edge of normalcy. I am watching all of my friends send their kindergartners off to public school and I am not. Who will she play with when they are at school all day? Other homeschoolers. Where do I find them? At the Grove Homeschool group! I love them. We went to the Riverside Philharmonic with them, we had a Valentine Day party with them and we went to Living Desert this Monday.

We saw a Cheetah out and about, giraffes, zebra, ostriches...we are doing a report on Meerkats...and a butterfly landed on Aggie! But best of all are the wonderful friendships we are forming. And we can all hang out on the edge of normalcy together!

where have I been?

2008-03-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

I have this little saying that I say when I sit down at my computer- "I need to make money before I spend it"...so I seem to have work stuff to do rather than blogging...esp. because my time is more and more limited with my 9 1/2 month old who hates it when I stare at the screen instead of her and who is also sleeping less and less nowadays. Ahh...being a working mom! So I have to catch up with all I missed! Here is a pic post (that took me over 48 hours!!! see what I mean?) about the last month of my life. Then I can post meaty things again...

Gwyn loves the sandbox-don't worry we have a CatScram to keep out the cats...but I think she eats more than she digs.

Agatha and I have taken to tea for Snacktime. It is so fun.

We went to Disneyland with the Foors. They are so easy to be with. I love them!

We are getting involved in the Grove Homeschool Group. What a wonderful group of women and kids! Aggie and I have made new friends and connected with old ones. I am so excited to connect with families that will be around when our other friends go off to school all day.

I made name cookies for the preschool class party. Not exactly sugar free (nice job with the rules Room Mom)-but I felt like SuperMom in my daughter's eyes.

Adam and I ran together in a 5K. Not an impressive time-35:10-but we ran with no real stops. I loved running beside my hubby!

And we ran a 1K with Aggie. She was amazing and I think sucked up the time with just Mom and Dad. Gammy was with Gwyn-thanks Mom!

My mom got her own place. I miss having her around daily and so do my girls. It is a great next stage for all of us, but we are all excited when she drops by to borrow the clothesline.

We met Baby Audrey Rodriguez. A little ball of blessing. They are quite a beautiful, new little family and making great, concious parenting decisions!

Mike helped me get Adam into a sling. Gwyn loves them and though he uses other baby wearing carriers well, he neverfelt comfy in these. Yay!!! Isn;t he a cute Daddy?

We have been outdoors with the beautiful weather, hanging clothes and swinging. Gwyn has gotten so she expects it...pointing and grunting if it does not come!

Date night with just Agatha! It was amazingly easy with just a 4 1/2 old! Whew-life is different with two and a baby. I felt like I was missing an arm half the night! (And I carried a purse instead of a diaper bag!)

We attended a ChuckECheese party! That place overwhelms me-and my quiet little Gwyn. She lost it at one point and would not come out of the sling. Aggie (the extrovert) had a blast, but did comment that it was loud. We have such a quiet life.

All in all, life has found a bigger kid rhythm. The girls are playing together a bit more. Gwyn is crawling up on things and standing. She wants to walk with our hands everywhere. She is showing interest in the potty so we are experiementing-with great success. I think her love language is Words of Praise-cause she will pee and/or poop everytime for a clap and a YEY!...She has pooped almost everyday for a couple weeks! We are getting out more and getting more schoolwork done. Agatha is maturing so much I see the changes daily. Kids are so beautiful. I love being a Mommy. God gave me the most precious girls. They make me smile.

My happy girl

2008-02-07T21:55:00.000-08:00

Gwyneth is just so smiley (and aren't her shoes cool? Thanks Pappa). I had dreams about her while pregnant of her smiley and blonde and bouncy...and that is just how she came out. She loves to snuggle hug my mom, bounces in my sling to music and at any excitement, smiles at everyone and just always has a look of curiousity and amusement about her. She is so curious in fact that she is into everything (and swallowing bits of dried glue that choke her, turn her blue, make mom do the himlech, scratch her throat so she coughs blood, be rushed to the ER with no diaper on and then turn out fine and smiley again at the fact that they gave her mashed potatoes to coat it so she could poop it out...crazy story-hey?). But she is beautiful and I am so glad God gave is Gwyn.

My teenage acne skin at 30

2008-02-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to slowly switch ALL our cosmetics and household products to more organic, paraben free, non-toxic kind of things-but, the one thing I was holding onto was my acne care. I have done it all from Benzoyl Peroxide, Salic Acid, Rentin-A, and even Accutane. Though I am not pimply anymore I guess they are still hiding under my maticulous care and product usage. I have been on the Proactiv bandwagon for years-using the cheaper version Acne Free from Target (how many brand names can I drop in one sentence?) Anyway I tryed to go organic with a very pricey product line from Juice Beauty and let me just say-zit city. It may work for some-but not my persistent acne! I had so many chin zits I wouldn't even dare put a picture here. I didn't leave without makeup, I hated leaving the house at all, and my lovely husband who usually overlooks such details as a few blemished nicely said my new products weren't really working. So, I found this Nature's Gate line that is an organic copy of Proactive with cleanser, toner and lotion. SO AWESOME and it was only $25 at my CVS next to TJs! If you are looking to switch I have tested it for you. It works and I love it. So does my chin.

My face painting skills

2008-02-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

Look what I did! Agatha always pines over the $20 face painting masterpieces at Disneyland so I took a picture of the example last time and recreated it-glitter and all. I was quite proud and so was she-plus we didn't have to pay $20 for something that washes off or itches cause my kid has my sensitive skin. I love these face paints I found through a local chilren's museum. They are soap based, but not waxy-so they don't irratate and they don't smear. Have fun being the coolest and cheapest mom on the block. You can be your own party clown-without the nose.

Save a tree

2008-02-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

Here is my new t-shirt that I got on the mark down today. I like it. I have been trying to reduce the number of catalogs I get everyday by using catalogchoice. It is a free little service that has an easy search feature that looks up any catalog you might get and cancels the account for you-nice. I also found a guy with a pretty easy way to cancel your penny saver. So go ahead and save a tree-cause as the penny saver guy says: be a "good human...don't blow it...good planets are hard to find."

Homeschool Family

2008-01-31T10:28:00.000-08:00

A hilarious homeschool spoof with some poking-fun funny and some too-true funny lines. Enjoy!

We are infectious

2008-01-30T11:20:00.000-08:00

The family has gotten pink eye-so stay back. I have never had so much laundry to do in my life. Mine is pretty much gone with two days of antibiotics, but Adam and Aggie are still pretty severe. Gwyn has been spared thus far. We have missed preschool, will miss dance, missed work and even can't help friends redo their hardwood floors for fear of spreading it to others. I am beginning to go stir-and Lysol-crazy. And poor Adam...he wants to go to work, he has stuff to do at work, he is annoyed he can't go to work...it is making him a bit sad. He works on the couch all day with his laptop and headset phone in. It is kinda funny-at least today he is in regular clothes. Yesterday he wore athletic pants and Crocs...and this morning I caught him in PJ pants, no shirt and his headset phone taking a work call. I sparred him the picture post.

I love my Peanut Shell Sling

2008-01-28T23:30:00.000-08:00

I have a new favorite baby carrier. I have used an Over the Shoulder Baby Holder (a good starter sling), maya wrap (a good adjustable ring sling), sloomb UV beach sling, baby Bjorn around the house (but too many buckles for out), a moby wrap (great for GERD and nursing with an infant-so secure but a bear to learn to wrap) and now a Peanut Shell pouch sling. Now, I have used others, but I have not liked them (New Native Pouch, other two sided adjustable ring slings, ergo backpack carrier...how much have I spent on baby carriers?-I must believe in it). This Peanut shell is my new favorite. It is so easy now that my little girl is old enough to sit on my hip. She just slips in, no adjustments needed. She slept in there, nursed in there, rode in there. She was comfy and so was I-for 6 hours. No back pain-really (cause I went to a boutique and got fitted). Good job Peanut Shell. If you want to find a good carrier in So Cal, go try them on with weighted baby dolls at Kissui in Redlands. It is my favorite baby boutique-I have one of everything in there and they are so helpful. Tell me what you like and I may just buy it for your baby shower gift. I really like baby carrying and think it is so good for baby...

What to do in the rain...

2008-01-28T23:09:00.000-08:00

We in Riverside quickly run out of ideas for rainy day activities because we usually have only three or so (not really, but close). We have been trying to get to Disneyland for a week and it keeps raining, so for our Monday Family Day (or Sabbath) we went to the mostly indoor Santa Ana Discovery Science Center today. It was Awesome! I have been, but not for years and not with my family. It was "homeschool days" so the place was crawing with big families and baby carriers. We explored the great exhibits for about 6 hours and learned about gravity, fossils, geodes, hurricanes, clouds, waves, earthquakes, tooth care, green screens (we found a green chair and green legos that made our heads disapear on the TV screen-it was cool), air pressure and pulleys. Aggie and Adam layed on a bed of nails, Gwyn let a beach ball go on a air balance and she even crawled through a tunnel for the first time. It was a wonderful day! We became members so if you want to visit in the next year, give us a call. I love it when we have to get creative with the outings-we always find new, fun things. And my favorite is when Adam says, "Thanks Mom for bringing us here." I feel loved and appreciated. Homeschooling can be so fun-I am so glad that is what my kid does on a school day...

A weekend of Gwyn

2008-01-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

Agatha went off to my in-law's cabin in Running Springs for the weekend to play in the snow with Grandma and Grandpa (and do four homeschool assignments-homeschoolers never stop, do they?) So, we got Gwynie all weekend. Now, we missed Agatha, don't get me wrong, but it was so nice to concentrate on soft, cuddly Gwyn. I layed on the floor with her for hours, we ran errands and I was able to stop and nurse whenever she needed, we went on outdoor walks at the drop of a hat, life revolved around her naps, things had a nice, peaceful rhythm. She has been battling teething and possibly a cold (hard to tell the difference sometimes) so we have had humidifiers and peppermint/eucalyptus oil going, nose suckers and saline nose washes. Good times-but it has been nice to have only one to concentrate on. She broke through the top two teeth, so now she has four. And her GERD is getting better! We have been on every other day meds for two weeks and plan to go off completely in a week or two if all stays peaceful. Ahh-peaceful. It has been so quiet! I even had time to organize and load up our new garage with Adam. Never with two-never!

Prop AB 755 - Prohibition of Spanking...

2008-01-22T17:28:00.000-08:00

"AB 755 would, in its practical effect, make a non-injurious spanking with an object such as a ruler, small paddle, etc. illegal. After being arrested, charged, and tried in a criminal court, parents could receive up to one year in jail and could lose custody of their children."

Info on this proposition is now on the Christian email curcuit and the email forward proposes we take action AGAINST it. My response is not to forward it on, but to think why do we as religious people hit our kids at all-especially with an implement? I don't agree with hitting kids in any way to get them to behave. It seems we should lead by example and I think we all agree we don't want them hitting other kids at play-dates. I interpret (after biblical research) the rod referenced in Proverbs as a shepherds rod. This rod is used to guide and redirect or even to protect the sheep from predators. I feel I can shepherd my children with other gentle, yet firm discipline techniques. I do have friends who choose to spank and though I do not agree I respect their decision to do so...with their hand. I do not accept use of an implement as this law proposes because that is too much force to use on a child. Children should be protected from this avenue of abuse. If it hurts a parent too much to hit with a hand then they are hitting too hard. There are other faith and biblically based ways to parent that don't involve hitting and they can be read about at Dr. Sears site (who is a christian man), and in his book The Discipline Book where he makes a point that it is not necessarily biblical to hit our kids. More info can be found on websites such as Graceful Mothering and Gentle Christian Mothers and Parenting in Jesus' Footsteps . I know this is such a hot topic and there have been tons of my friends that have gone through "Growing Kids God's Way" and read Dobson pamphlets, but this makes my blood race when I hear that it is somehow our right as Americans to hit our kids with sticks and belts and rulers and whatnot. I don't think this is leading to a no spanking law (though I wouldn't oppose one), it is just protecting kids-go read it. What would you as an adult do if someone hit you with a belt or a shoe? Maybe your pastor would take you aside and whip your legs with a stick "lovingly" to teach you not to go into credit card debt? I am thinking that would not go over to well in a counseling session...

Ugliness turned beautiful

2008-01-21T20:27:00.000-08:00

I was out with my best bud Em Foor today. We ventured into old Corona to Little Bitty Prints to get our baby girls' handprints immortalized in pottery wall hangings-a fun and overpriced tradition that we carry on because their hands are that tiny only for a little while. Anyway we drove around a fairly sketchy part of town that kinda looked run down in the rainy gloom to find it. We went in and shopped the gently used merchandise of the second hand store and when we walked out this is the beautiful rainbow that greeted us. All the sudden the ugliness of the run down neighborhood was shining beauty in the sun after rain. The weeds looked bright green and the mud a vibrant dark brown. The street was littered with beautiful old churches with steeples that I had missed before because I was distracted by the mismatched storefronts. As we slowly walked to our car the world seemed breathtakingly beautiful. Isn't it funny how that happens. Some days all I see is bad fashion choices and awkwardness in people and things and other days I see such beauty in the world and people's faces around me. It is probably all in my perspective. Life is what you make it.

I love being outside...

2008-01-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

Saturday was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, we played outside, we had nowhere to go, I hung the clothes on the line, watered my compost, Gwyn ate leaves on the grass, Aggie played in the sandbox and I got to wear my fun little pink garden shoes from my little sister instead of my big black UGG knock off boots (that I usually have to wear to keep my toes warm). What a beautiful day. Wish I could have shared it with my hubby. Ministry calls.

False Eyelashes and Organic Makeup

2008-01-21T19:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got completely ready in my four year old's bathroom. Is it crazy that she has enough product to support her 30 year old mommy? There was deodorant, makeup, a hair dryer, moisturizer and mousse...I did have to use a Little Einstein bandaid and went for the gusto with her face glitter. Which, by the way what is up with the fact that every single mascara ad features a model or celebrity who is most obviously using fake eyelashes?

Nobody wears those things daily and it is totally false advertising. I even read there are controversies about it. Why not just show what your product really does? I want to start using Nvey Eco. It is organic and paraben free-any users? Does it work?

Family update...life keeps of rolling by

2008-01-19T08:07:00.000-08:00

I have been caught up with life and work, so here is a family update for all the fam out there...

Gwyn is eating fingerfood now...she never wants our help anymore. She crawls all over the house and is the cutest thing ever. We have even left her with my Mom at our house for a couple two hour dates. It is amazing how fast you can get in and out of the car with no baby!

We started homeschooling after the holiday break and whenever we do piano Gwyn crawls under the bench and puts her head against the piano...another musician on our hands? She loves rhythm.

We had dinner at Taco Station with Mark, Angie and Nolan Lamberth. It was so nice to catch up with such sincere friends. And only Nolan could entice Agatha into a cowgirl dress up instead of a princess-but it is still pink!

We went to the snow in Running Springs with the Foors. I love Emily. No one else would pay admission with me just to be a part of the fun when really we each went down the slope only 3 times and spent the rest of the time nursing, rocking and appeasing our infants who where not excited about the cold, wet snow that reflected bright light in their eyes. Ahhh, infancy!

Aggie had a blast riding with Haley and Noah. I miss the five families-with out of town moves and starting school our old tradition of Snow Day has been reduced to two instead of five.

Adam taking his turn with Gwyn so I could hit the slopes. We took her down twice. She was not impressed.

I threw Holly Rodrigo a baby shower. She is due on Feb 22 and looks amazing. She has gained the perfect amount-of course- and is glowing. We "went green" and played games like "change the cloth diaper" and "think of 10 ways to go green with baby". We even ate off our compostable "paper" products made from corn and sugar cane. It was fun and I got to catch up with old friends like Keri Quesada who came with her 3 week old baby and wore zip up jeans...at three weeks. Can we say WEIGHT LOSS ENVY?

We had dinner with the Reids...who we love and whose daughters are clones of ours. Can you even find Aggie in this picture? Bryan and Cristi are so laid back-the girls made a sleeping bag clubhouse in their master bedroom walk in closet all night. I love them!

Aggie had her ballet/tap/gymnastics show day at The Little Gym. She is doing so well. But, more than anything I noticed her empathy. She was so concerned about any kids who got hurt or were too shy and ran to their parents. So much so that when I caught her eye I had to redirect her to do the steps again. I love how much she cares.

Katie and Hannah came with a flower for Aggie. They made her day. She adores the Boone girls, so do I. Thanks Stacey. We got you on email, when is the blog coming?

Lots of friends and family playdates and visits in the last couple weeks. I got my hair cut...I had work meetings on my own (Adam took Gwyn)...the garage still has no door or window...the christmas lights are down this year (thanks Scott Ellis)...I finished the old set of Learning Records and now have another set to write...life keeps on rolling by...

Pretty Pink Feminists

2008-01-09T22:54:00.000-08:00

I have always raised my four year old to believe in herself. I never forced girly-ness on her, but as you can see by her blog she has definitely chosen it. She is one of the fanciest, pinkest girls I know. But she still is going to "change the world and make it so lots of girls can be pastors" (something that still needs to change in our evangelical Christian circles). She tells this freely to everyone and recently told me she wants someone to write a book about her life because she is going to change the world like Fa Mulan did for China (she impersonated a man and was in the Chinese army in 380 AD). I am glad my feeble attempts to keep the feminism alive by reading books like The Paper Bag Princess mixed in with the Cinderella and Fancy Nancy has worked. I suppose it is not really feminism, but personism as my friend Bill Catling says. I am the first one to stand up for my wonderful parenting partner and husband when people so rudely say "Is Adam babysitting the girls for you?", no he is just parenting them, Dads don't babysit. Women and Men have their special talents and roles, but we all should partner in life with parenting, finances, decisions, leadership, you get the drift...off my soapbox.

All I need is armpit hair

2008-01-09T22:39:00.000-08:00

So we have always been environmentally conscious, but lately we have been going greener than ever. We just think we should be good steward's of God's Earth. Anyway we found these compostable cups at San Diego Zoo and ordered some for ourselves along with sugar cane plates, bowls and utensils. (cause who really wants to do dishes after a big party with friends or bible study or something?) Compostable! Crazy, ey? Adam and I had to try them just to see if they started breaking down while we ate or leaked or something...nope, our organic granola with organic milk stayed safely in the bowl. They are cool. I am putting them in the compost bin tomorrow-so we will see. I think I will go take a short shower with my organic shampoo and face wash (that smell like composting fruit and grass) and change my baby's compostable diaper while I am at it, oh and clean with my earth friendly products and ward off ants with cinnamon. I'm telling you, all I need is the armpit hair. Am I getting too crazy? I even am thinking about a mooncup (don't follow this link unless you are a girl and ok with menstrual stuff :)

Here comes Gwyn

2008-01-06T19:05:00.000-08:00

My little Gwyneth is on the move. She officially started crawling on New Year's Day when Adam enticed her across our 8 foot rug with baby cheetos every foot and a half, but today she really broke through. She crawls from room to room, goes from crawl to sit and back again, chases my mom's dog (who is fabulous with her), has found the outlets and pulled the cords out, and has started to gain real speed. It is a whole new world. Yey for Gwynie.

Our Progress

2008-01-05T12:24:00.000-08:00

Here is my new art studio...I mean our new garage. We still need to install the doors and window, run electrical and plumbing, nail up wood siding and paint it, but we have a building. I can't wait to have permanent space for printmaking! Woohoo!

2008-01-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

I love this quote I found on my favorite new friend's site.

No sorrowful tears, no beating of the breast
For a safe repose has taken me.
I dance ring dances with the blessed saints
In the beautiful fields of the righteous.
- Ancient Christian tomb inscription

Beautiful, isn't it?

Yay, for Le Leche League!

2008-01-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

Gwyneth recently staged a nursing strike-Adam said he could imagine her with a little picket sign crawling around with a grouchy little look... She is getting some teeth on the top (I figured out after lots of parenting detective work) and refused to nurse from 10am yesterday until we had success at about 8pm! I was bursting to say the least-since she is only 7 months and nursing is still her primary nutrition every 2-3 hours. It was horrible...I would lay her back into position and she would wail this horrible yell I have never heard from her, or she would just put her mouth on and look at me sideways with no latch-on and then sit up crying, or she would bite me and cry immediately from guilt...nursing has always been a beautiful bond between me and my babies and a way I bring comfort and intimacy as well as nourishment to my girls, so this was heartbreaking for me. I worried (since she is eating solids twice a day now and moving on to finger food) that she didn't want it or was weaning. I had to wean Agatha at almost 2 years old-because I wanted to stop-not because she did-so I was not ready for these thoughts. It was hard, and I realize I may need to prepare myself for Gwyn to move on before I am ready. But, I knew it was too early to move on now. I pumped, I gave her some in a bottle (should have used a cup and no artificial nipples I realize now) and she sucked it down. AHHH! What was wrong? SO, finally I called my LLL Leader, Rebecca Konegen, and she is my lifesaver. She has saved me from three nursing catastophies with Gwyn and I owe her some crazy big attachment parenting points! She told me to take a bath with Gwyn and try to nurse in there with the skin to skin, comfy atmosphere. I have to admit it seems wierd to those who have never birthed or nursed-but it worked! (As did the admittedly wierd suggestion of boob soaking in a sink of hot water for mastitis/clogged milk duct, among other helpful things she has told me) Yay for LLL! Yay for Becky! Yay for Gwyn who is now nursing again, gently and with a little pain, but nursing!!! Double Yay for Gwyn who is also crawling now. She started on New Year Day and has now started to really get around. SO many big things happening in her little life-it is no wonder a nursing strike was staged!

Fall colors in January

2008-01-03T07:59:00.000-08:00

This is for all you northern CA/Oregon people that complain that we have no Fall in Riverside. Just come over to my house in January and I'll have plenty of fall raking and jumping for you to frolick in. I know it is late, but beautiful just the same! The girls had so much fun jumping (Agatha) and eating (Gwyneth) in the leaves. My real motivation was to finally have some dry stuff for my compost mix!!!

Her laugh is so pure enjoyment! She said, "Mom, this is just like in a book!"

I have had to swipe many leaves from her throat! They can't taste good!

PS. I know I have missing from blogdom for like a month-I'll post some of the things when I am lacking in material later-but things have been crazy with my CLAD classes and every waking moment that hasn't been mommy duty, social outings or Christmas stuff has been my 12 units. But, I finish today!!! Hooray!

I love christmas traditions...

2007-12-14T16:10:00.000-08:00

I have so many traditions for Christmas sometimes I overwhelm myself trying to squeeze them all in. Luckily as I have gotten more mature I have realized it can still be a tradition if you miss a year now and then-but they are all so fun and festive. I love holidays-birthdays, anniversaries, valentine's, st Patrick's, you name it...but Christmas takes the cake. Here are some of my favorite traditions we have been doing around the McIntyre household:

Attending a performance of The Nutcracker Ballet. Last year we went to Riverside Ballet, this year to one for kids at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. We went with the Foors, which is always fun since they are our best friends. The girls were all fancy and so well behaved. My favorite is the Sugar Plum Fairy because of her skirt and the fact that I wish I were a ballerina or at least a dancer. I am kinda dance challenged-though I try, and I took ballet as a girl. When I was four that was what I was going to be when I grew up. I just found out that Adam does not enjoy this tradition of mine-maybe I need to save my pennies and take him to a real fancy performance. My Grandma Jo always took me to those swanky ones so I guess I can see the magic that he can't.

Making Cookies and Fudge. This is an old photo-but it tells you how good my fudge is. (Not to brag-but I will). I make butter horns which are equally as fabulous and an secret family recipe from the McIntyre side-seriously I couldn't have the recipe until we were married and then I had to go over and actually make them with my mother in law (so don't even ask for the recipe). I am looking for my own famous cookie as these are both hand me downs, but haven't found the perfect one, so I make a different one each year.

Watching the Balboa Boat Parade. This one is something I grew up in as I am from Orange County as a kid. We love it! We bundle up, go down for dinner at the Fun Zone, ride the ferry over to the island, walk the row of fancy houses all decorated with parties going on (it always seems funny that we common folk are staring in the open sliders at older white rich people in black slacks and red sweaters having foofy holiday parties...). Then we find a spot on the concrete edge of the sidewalk and watch the decorated boats go by with their sound systems blaring holiday music. We bring coco and a blanket and have a blast. Other people have not always seen the magic, but this year we brought the Reids. And they saw the magic. We love them!

Seeing Christmas Lights on Houses...esp. the Chino Lights. Adam is a fiend for Christmas lights. He is very opinionated, and likes white on our house-all facing the same direction. Aaron Foor thought it was me that made him do lights with such passion-but no it is ALL him. We have a great metallurgy Nativity that was custom made for us by Carl Wolnisty on the lawn. It is very nice, but we are thinking of going to LED next year now that they are less expensive and easier to find. I just love the twinkly lights. It is so festive and fun. Some years we drive around Riverside with coco in the car and others we get out to Chino to walk the streets of the neighborhood. Not this year, but some years.

Decorating the house with our tree and collection of Nativities. We started out buying one a year, but we have had 10 Christmases and have about 30 nativities, so I think we buy more than the quota. We have them from all genres now and even have a few from other countries, I love them. I don't decorate with any other symbols of the season really, but that with some garland on the doorways make the house look so festive. We put it all up the day after Thanksgiving so we can enjoy it for the entire month.

Attending the Mission Inn Festival of Lights. We love downtown Riverside so this is a given. It is crazy crowed, but it is fun to be a part of it all. It just kicks off the season. They even have fireworks and Santa counts down to the lighting. There was a slight delay this year and the producer in me was fretting the transition and downtime-but it was perfect as always.

Going caroling. We don't always get to this one-but I grew up with it. Jon and Kathy are throwing a party and I am so excited. My family would always carol at a convalescent home and give care packages or go to shut ins. We did this at a family reunion a few years ago and it was such a beautiful thing to sing and see their faces light up. I should start that here.

Celebrating Advent and Counting Down to Christmas. I grew up in a Presbyterian church and my grandparents are Methodist so the advent wreath was big growing up. It is so nice to snuggle up and read a Christmas story and talk about the ways we can love Jesus more and help people more at Christmas time. And I LOVE the whole countdown thing-the anticipation is one of the best parts of the holiday for me. We have a candy filled advent cupboard that has a daily devotional with it, a felt scene nativity and (my favorite) and stocking line with little stocking stuffers each day for the kids. It has been good this year for Agatha with her number recognition 1-30 that we have been working on in homeschool.

Sending out Christmas cards. I love to get them and read about the year and see pictures. It is such a nice way to keep in touch with people throughout life that have stayed dear to my heart if not in my daily life. I sent 160 this year and could have send 200 if it wasn't so expensive! In a time of email and Internet it almost seems so novel and quaint to send something through the mail and get them in the mailbox. Adam thinks it is fun and participates, but really doesn't care...whenever I am laboring over the list of sendees he always says "Cut them-it's fine-it doesn't matter...boys!

Giving to others in need. We try to do this over the whole year, but this time of year just seems to stand out. There are so may opportunities from Operation Christmas Child through Aggie's preschool, Angel Tree (kids of people in jail) at church, toy drives, etc. But my favorite are the years we have had a family in our lives or people that we have given to specifically. One year when I was a preteen my parents gave everything from dishes, a dining room table, a tree, presents, Christmas dinner, to a bed to a family new to the country. We went over to deliver it and played with the kids all night. It was an amazing Christmas memory. We also spend a portion of our Christmas budget on something like goats in Haiti as our present to extended family and friends. We like to go through World Vision-kinda like Heifer International. My extended family started that one and we don't buy for each other-just for charity. It is such a better use of money and who really needs more stuff or another candle?

Christmas Shopping. On that note I do love to give gifts...it is my love language. I shop all online though. I did one jaunt at Target this year and I was bushed! I love shopping in my PJs during nap and having the box delivered. I have 6 boxes in my front room right now...waiting for wrapping. We wanted to buy Chicco bags (mini canvas bags that fit in a purse or diaper bag) for all the wrapping of presents this year to reduce waste-but that is added cost and we just couldn't do it. Green is expensive sometimes! You do what you can.

Santa's lap. My kids know that Santa is not real (and hopefully I have coached them well enough to not spoil the secret for yours), but we do teach on the magic of Christmas. We talk about the gift of Jesus and the legend around the real St Nicholas. We talk about how Santa is a symbol and a fun way to use our imaginations to celebrate all that. Aggie puts on the Santa hat and we all stuff each other's stockings and eat the cookies and carrots. We pretend Santa things for fun and wink afterward. It is fun. Everywhere we go there have been Santas and she has sat on three laps with minimal line waiting. Though, her first Santa this year was a Nordstrom Santa and after that all other's pale in comparison. The second one got "Is that beard real?" He said "Ho, ho, it itches like it is..."

Christmas at Disneyland. Oh the lights-nobody does lights like Disney. And the castle is amazing. I love the fake snow. The parade could use a reboot, but it is still magical. We went with the Reids this year and saw the reindeer in Sants's village, took Gwyn on Dumbo for the first time and had a wonderful day with the girls.

New Christmas Dresses. My mom used to make them for us at Christmas and Easter, but I waited in Black Friday lines for 45 minutes for these matching Mandarian beauties-does that count? Aren't they cute? Aggie sang a spontaneous Silent Night at our Staff Christmas party this night. She loves to perform!

Happy Birthday Jesus Party. We always got the kids together to celebrate Jesus' birthday with cupcakes, crafts, games and a story time. We didn't this year. I miss my friends!

SO I am sure there are others, but these are what stand out. I LOVE Christmas traditions...got any good ones?

delay in BLOG due to SAD

2007-12-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder-it stinks, and after many many years of unexplainable depression when I have a seemingly okay life, I have found that this is the pattern of my life. I look back over the years and this is the only common factor to my depression periods-FALL and WINTER-every year like clockwork. I have driven boyfriends away, had lower grades in school, wear clothes out of the unfolded heap that mounts, gotten behind at work, not called back friends, and slept ALOT in the FALL. I have SAD and I am learning to deal with it. But, it makes it hard to get even the regular stuff in like showering and dusting, let alone Christmas trees, cards, college courses, learning records (for work), shopping, infant care, four year old care, you get the picture. I can't even get my email checked, let alone blog. So here is my catch up post...a bunch of one liners(or longer...) to catch up my blogger buddies and family on our life.

I finished one of my four CLAD classes that have to be finished by Dec 31-one, but the biggest one at that. Gotta start another one...

Adam had a fun show with his band Quick Before Sinking at Java Bliss. It was mostly family of the band though. They are really good I think so come see them at the Festival of Lights on the Main Street Walking Mall on Dec 17 from 7-10 or Java Bliss on Dec 20 from 7-9 or the Riverside Plaza Main on Dec 27. Aggie will be there and she is always worth the trip :)

We went to Disneyland with the girls. It is always fun to go with a baby-they are in such amazement. When we rode Small World-the Christmas version-she sat straight up and held the bar watching open mouthed in awe.

Adam and Aggie attended MacKenzie's Narnia play at CAT. She came home beaming that you only have to be six to be in their plays-the countdown to my inevitable "theater mom" days has begun. Adam has already begun to teach her the Lucy lines with an English accent.

We took our Christmas picture at the Life Arts building in Riverside. It was a fun morning as we traded photography skills with Adam and Alyssa. After taking both family shots we took some of the four kids on the grass. They are so cute, but I got a little lump in my throat. It kinda felt like we were trying to document their young friendship before they are separated by the move. Sucky.

We hosted Thanksgiving for my Dad, brother Rick and The Ellis family. Aggie had Mackenzie trapped in her room for hours-though I think he liked it. It was wonderful (Adam makes a mean turkey, my mashed potatoes are great if I do say so, and Leslie makes a mean "pumpkin"-really sweet potato-pie), but my poor Gwyn had horrible GERD problems as I was trying to wean her from the prevacid and we spent the meal and pie time screaming in the bedroom. Good times.

I was a crazy woman trying to be a good friend and try something new and went out Black Friday shopping with Emily. OH MY GRACIOUS. We were cute strolling the mall with our babies strapped to our chests in matching black Moby Wraps, and I got some fancy dresses for my fancy girl, but it was craziness. I waited in line for 45 minutes at H&M and, I must say, pulled off some super mom attachment parenting. I had a diaper bag on my back, $150 worth of fancy dresses on my arm, my bluetooth headset in my ear so I could call Em and Adam with voice activation for various things that came up, and nursed and rocked Gwyn to sleep in the Moby Wrap while standing in line. Though I looked like a dork or freak I am sure (depending on your view of nursing or strollers), I was proud.

We went to the Mission Inn Lighting and it was fabulous..and crowded. I had a broken toe and this point and was petrified that someone would step on it. We decorated the house all day with nativities, a tree and outside light and then went to Taco Station for yummy tamales beforehand to kick off Christmas. The McIntyre and Thornell crowd were there and we got to see the switch on and fireworks with them. Gwyn loved the fireworks except for the grand finale. She looked worried but I just kept smiling and saying YEH! and she caught on. Adam spent $14 on plastic light sabers (one didn't even make it home unbroken). But I got a cool piece of Hispanic Tattoo inspired metallurgy art from a new shop on the walking mall.

My wonderful brother Rick stayed with up for a few days. He help cooked Thanksgiving, put up lights and take care of the girls. He is awesome to have around and my girls love him. We love you Uncle Rick.

We went to a Goodbye Lance lunch at the Grove Grille. Gwyn was having a hard time and I was almost grateful. I could totally avoid the fact that they are leaving. I have been to so many of these things in the last few years, and I don't want another friend to be so far away. I guess I should deal cause it is happening soon.

We went to Gwyn's 6 month check up and she is 16 pounds now. She is growing well even with the GERD. We aren't ready to go off meds and will try again at 7 months. She is rolling over, starting to make jokes (like blowing raspberries on my arm) and sitting up. She rocks on all fours, but doesn't crawl yet. We are hoping it will be by Christmas. We got her vaccinations-which I hate. Adam and I researched it and decided to vaccinate (always asking for the non preservative kind), but I am not comfortable with it. If Adam didn't come to the appointment I know I would decline. I make him hold her and this time Aggie and I even left the room. He said she looked at him this time with anger like Why aren't you protecting me? I just have so may qualms...

I had work meetings this week and even though they are only 2 hours on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning-Gwyn was not down with sitting peacefully like a poster child. Who would be. She wanted to be on the go, or nursing, or sleeping, or anything but sitting. I think I will be starting to leave her with Adam. It is time.

On that note I tried to leave her in Nursery Care for the first time-not quite ready for that one. I don't have Nursery friendly parenting techniques. I use bidegradable gdiaper which they are not willing to try to change, I use a sling which they are frightened of, I don't let my baby cry-ever-which they always let them go for like 10m before getting mom, I hold my baby most of time and they seem to only pick up if they cry, I nurse on cue instead of on a schedule so it is unpredictable and often, and I have a GERD baby who cannot under any circumstance be bounced. Needless to say she was screaming to be nursed, rocked and with heartburn after 25 minutes. Oh, well-just not a good fit for attachment parents. I knew it was a commitment when I chose it. My four year is an independent as can be-so I know it works out in the long run. We'll try again later.

Gwyn took her first bath in the large bath instead of the sink. She was soooo excited that all four arms were flailing. She has so much fun.

Ok, so that is a recap-I will try to not get so far behind. I need to get a lightbox for the SAD thing. Then I have to find time to sit still by a light for 30 minutes. Maybe I could Blog...

I think I broke my toe!

2007-11-21T21:50:00.000-08:00

This is my toe right now. I stubbed it on a card table out for Thanksgiving this morning and it has swelled and turned purple. We went online and deduced that it broke (I heard it pop when I stubbed it-lovely!) and we needed to tape it together. After talking to Dr Mark (Ashley) tonight he said it should be working again in a week and healed in three. Stink! It is a little hard to carry a baby in a bjorn and drive a four year old to dance (while Adam is at work from 8:30am-8:30pm) with a broken toe and of course I can only wear these bad boys... Thanksgiving service here I come.

My 120 hours of Credential Nonsense

2007-11-19T15:08:00.000-08:00

Guess what I am doing? Finally getting to those 12 units I keep harping on-isn't procrastination great! I am watching hours upon hours of stale, poorly produced videos on Cross Cultural Teaching in the California Classroom to get my CLAD certificate before the California Credentialing Committee changes the rules and I have do do something much more involved to meet this requirement, which is given by most districts to hire (including mine). I have to finish by the end of the year and send it off in January-which means I get to work through the holidays. It is a BURDEN to keep up these California Teaching Credentials, but at this point I feel like I have invested so much money and time I can't let it go...can I get an AMEN from anyone in education? This stinks.

A new Cel Arts Assistant in my future

2007-11-19T11:08:00.000-08:00

Isn't she cute? This is Christina Ellis and she is going to take on the task of coming to work full time in the Cel Arts Department. I am looking forward to working with her through my (now limited, but growing as my girls do) participation as pastor's wife in our ministry. I am soooo excited because she has aways been one of my visual artists that I call for great work to display. This means that she can take my dream of a Visual Arts Gallery and make it an ongoing reality since I cannot devote the attention this needs while raising my family, balancing a job (and this semester 12 units for my credential CLAD certificate), and being an artist myself. She is organized which my husband greatly needs AND musical so she can chart things and stuff I cannot even begin to understand. I am so excited and can't wait to have her on staff. She is going to come on right before our Christmas Production...good times for her cause productions are a bit crazy! But our Post-Christmas Cel Arts Staff party will have a fun new member with Scott and Christina. Fun.

Mommy Shoes

2007-11-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

Aren't my new shoes cute? They are my new mommy shoes-comfy (aeresoles-my favorite brand), flat (good for baby carrying) and cute (good for me). I love them :)!

Dinner and a Show

2007-11-19T10:29:00.000-08:00

Friday we went to Disneyland with the girls. Gwyn is beginning to explore the world so much and she was so fun. We went to the Pirate Island (Old Tom Sawyer Island) and she LOVED the foliage. Her arms were continually outstretched from the baby carrier to try and grabbed leaves as I walked the paths. I let her grab a couple and she pulled them off and carried them around with her, inspecting them with great enthusiasm. She sat straight up on Small World, holding the front bar, and watched with open mouth (with drooling spilling down her chin) in amazement. She also loved the Tiki Room-but it was time to nurse and she was hungry and tired...so she would nurse a little and then pull off, turn around, watch the show, nurse a little, watch, nurse a little...it was like dinner and a show! Babies are so sincerely interested and curious-it is a beautiful thing.

My Mother's Journey

2007-11-15T13:49:00.000-08:00

My lovely mother has left for a 6 week trip. She is going to see family and spend time healing and listening to God. I am so proud of her for taking this period of unexpected freedom to deal with a difficult life change. She could have just moved on, gotten a place to live, stayed with the same unhappy job, tried to make the best of it. But, she didn't. She stepped out in fear and faith at the same time. She packed everything up in storage, she quit her job and she went. I am amazed at her strength and trust. I know she feels so unsure of where the ground is and where she will land, but taking this time to find it will make it all the more solid. These are cupcakes we made for her on her FREE DAY as we named it. She is free to find who God truly wants her to be. I know she won't find all that purpose on a trip, that takes a lifetime of searching...but I am glad she is brave enough to really start the journey.

funny looking

2007-11-15T13:45:00.001-08:00

Am I really that funny looking? Adam took this while driving of me with that stupid cell phone thingy in my ear! (which by the way cost $90 and now I have to replace my phone-because it has water damage from a baby bath incident-for $50...pretty expensive to talk on the phone and be a safe driver) When you see a picture of yourself in such a revealing way, you wonder, is that how I look all day? I gotta wear lipstick!

My first 5K

2007-11-15T13:09:00.000-08:00

I did it! I ran my first 5K in the annual Mission Inn Run. I ran with Adrianne Ashley who has run a marathon-but she stuck with me! I finished in 34:25 which is 3 minutes faster than I have ever run that distance before. I am so glad I did it, now I just have to keep it up to get rid of my last 18 pounds of pregnancy gain!

My amazing daughter ran the Kids 1/2 K without stopping! She was so cute running out there on her own. Gwyn and I cheered from the finish line and Gammy started her off. She was so proud of herself which is so great to see beaming from your child's face.

We are all, Adam included, going to run the Fairmount Park Raincross Run on Saturday, Feb 23. Come cheer us on! Adam and I will do the 5K and Aggie the 1K!

Thanksgiving at Pilgrim's Place

2007-11-15T12:43:00.000-08:00

We found this quaint little festival in Claremont called the Pilgrim Festival at Pilgrim Place. Aggie learned about the Pilgrims and Indians by riding on this fun Mayflower ship build on a Cadillac that held at least 40 people, doing fall crafts, seeing Pilgrim costume on the seniors working the festival, and visiting a Indian Camp with a hut, skins to dry, fish model over a fire and story with craft. So fun, hey? There was this great drumming circle that traveled the country doing their half hour presentation. They were intense. They had an opening incense ceremony, wore certain colors, and took their song very seriously. They were kinda goofy, but because they took it soooo seriously they were cool. Isn't that funny how that happens? We read Thanksgiving books on the drive and when we got to Indian story time my cute, little daughter promptly answered CLAMS when asked what the Indians ate. I was so proud of my little unschooler. Sometimes I am impressed with what she hears. I feel like she is not listening, but-oh-she really is.

On that same subject I have totally infiltrated her little brain with my Christian Equality. She now "plans" to be a "woman pastor at the Grove because there are really not girl pastors and she has to help change the world like Mulan and Ruby (one of the first Chinese Women to attend university)". Part of me is proud and amazed at how much she listens to me, and part of me is scared for her as I have set her up with high goals that may take a bumpy journey to accomplish.

The pap from hell...almost

2007-11-08T21:32:00.000-08:00

If you are a guy, you may want to stop here, unless you are OK with pap-smear/OBGYN and nursing/boob talk. I had a pap scheduled for tomorrow, but it had to be rescheduled for today. It would have been easy to slip away by myself tommorrow, but not today cause Adam works and we have to get Aggie to preschool. Gwyn fell asleep 20 minutes before I had to leave, I was late because I didn't want to wake her, she was crying and wanted to nurse rather than hang with Adam, things were stressful to say the least. I just wanted to be alone! Finally Adam was able to slip away with her (after I nursed in a gown with a drape over my lap-fun) and I fell asleep waiting for my doc on the table (ahh, sleep deprevation). Then I was having an embarrasing girly problem I had to voice out loud to my doc (again-fun) and he tells me I have low estrogen levels like menopause! So that is why I found a wisker growing out of my chin yesterday! Adam said he would tummy bump me later cause I feel so manly. Turns out nursing turns down the estrogen and mine is extra low. Nursing is crazy. I love it and think it is beautiful and amazing. But, low estrogen levels? It is great because it makes it harder to get pregnant which my body needs a break from biologically, but bad for my feminity. I also just got over a breast infection. Crazy fun there. I had to hang over a sink of hot water with my boobs in there to help them let down and release the plug that was causing the infection everytime I was going to nurse. Embarassing. I made everyone leave the room...but can I say it felt amazing. Only a nursing mom would understand that-but seriously, being a woman is wierd sometimes.

Jamie Lee Curtis me

2007-11-08T21:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen Freaky Friday with Jaime Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan? Well, me and Jamie Lee can now stroll the market together looking like crazy people talking to ourselves. I vow to only wear this in the car. If I show up to playdate with this thing in my ear, bean me.

GERD on its back!!!

2007-11-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

Here is my beautiful baby girl on her back in a bed! She is almost 6 months and I think her GERD is getting better. She has gotten too big for her swing and has started sitting up. We don't want her to fall out so we transitioned her to her co-sleeper yesterday. She is doing so well. Aren't babies so beautiful when they sleep? And all that change combine with cutting a tooth (her first came in yesterday) and managing a cold with a cough. Crazy all the stuff going on with her sweet little body and she still smiles. Wish I were the same way!!!

My little 80s girl

2007-11-08T21:11:00.000-08:00

I dressed Aggie for school today and she picked this adorable outfit for picture day. Doesn't she just look like she should be hangin with Debbie Gibson? Adam started singing Tiffany...Running just as fast as you can, holding onto one another's hand...Funny how style comes back around. The pins on her jean jacket with the pink cons. Such nostalgia.

Riley's Old Joe Homestead Tour

2007-11-08T20:59:00.000-08:00

On Friday we visited Riley's Farm in Oak Glen with The Grove Homeschool Group. It was so great because we could do things that a class would be able to do with the group like go on the Tour. We went on a hayride, ate a carmel apple, made buttermilk butter, made apple cider, dippled wax candles and had a wonderful Fall day. The leaves are beautiful there. I love Oak Glen in the Fall!

Halloween Carnival

2007-11-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

Here is the fam on Halloween. We left our serene neighborhood and went to a crazy carnival at our church. Adam was playing so we wanted to support him, but can I just say CRAZY!?! It was fun and sucessful if you like that sort of thing, but it is too fast for me. Bounce houses are crazy, cattle drive candy lines are crazy, thousands of people are crazy. Can't wait to stay home, get to know neighbors and pass out candy next year.

Halloween Breakfast

2007-10-31T12:50:00.000-07:00

My wonderful husband knows how much I love holidays so when I got home from the gym (my 5K is taking 37 minutes now) this is the breakfast I was greeted with! Orange Pancakes, Chocolate Chip Jack-o-Lanterns, Green eggs and creamy pumpkin "beer" (as in Harry Potter) in our Jack-lantern cups. Isn't he lovely? It was a wonderful start to the day and (as he intended) I feel loved. Happy Halloween!

My altar call Jack-o-lantern

2007-10-30T22:40:00.000-07:00

I love teaching with metaphor. I try to learn from the example Jesus gave by always using this effective teaching technique whenever possible. A friend of mine shared a way to go through basic beliefs in Christ while carving a pumpkin. It sounded good, so I tried it this year as we were alone for carving. (We usually throw a big party for Pumpkin Carving as I LOVE it, but took a year off with baby and all-we will do it next year!!!) But, I am glad we did.

Basically the metaphor is that everyone has goopey yuckiness (sin) in their pumpkin (heart/soul/life) with some bits of good-the seeds. The pumpkin can't clean itself out, or any other pumpkins for that matter. But, someone greater can come along and clean it out (God). It is nasty and gross (Jesus had to die) to do, but must be done to make way for the jack-o-lantern. Then the pumpkin is carved into something new and beautiful to become the jack-o-lantern (just like we are formed into a new and beautiful creation). And only when we let that carving happen (the changes in our character by loving and helping others) can the light shine out (the light of hope and Jesus' story). As the metaphor grew more and more complex with our conversation and carving it even made me more and more thankful for the beauty of God's gift to me and a desire to let my light glow beautifully through.

She responded with such great discussion and questions. It was awesome. She said the sweetest and most sincere prayer that she wanted to be carved like a jack-o-lantern and let her light shine out without the yuckiness inside. It was beautiful.

As I tucked her in I told her that in the Bible it says that God wrote HER name down in His book and the angels were dancing around in celebration and that whenever she was truly sorry she was forgiven. Her eyes sparkled in the nightlight glow. She was so excited she had to get up and tell Daddy. As she drifted to sleep she said "Where do you want to go in our dreams?" (we often meet up for playdates in our dreams) and we decided to go to the party in heaven. We are going to glitter so brightly we are like stars and have long hair with curls and beautiful legs and arms to dance around. Sounds fun. You can come too if you like.

Halloween at Preschool

2007-10-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

Aggie had Halloween celebrations today. We made these spider crackers for our contribution to the healthy snack genre at the party (so Family Fun of us, ey?)...

...and attended a funky little costume parade with three songs. I love her preschool because it is so old timey. It is like a piece of my childhood served up on a plate for her. They still use a record player for the background music, they sing outside with no accompaniment facing all directions, they parade through the parents once and then leave us to stare at each other while they trick or treat around the facility and then come back to sing...the production is awkward to say the least. But the awkwardness is the charm. I love it. It just feels healthily slow, loving and child centered.

Our get away to the Desert

2007-10-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

We just got back from the desert-Indian Wells. We were there for 7 days of vacation-7 days! My wonderful grandpa let us use his timeshare points so we could stay at a price we could afford-FREE!

We spent most of our time by the pool, at the hotel playground, on the hotel mini golf putting green, playing shuffleboard, having BBQs by the pool. Sounds nice, ey? It wasn't all cream puffs though. Gwynie is a homebody. She did not sleep much in the hotel and we were up a lot (a lot) rocking, nursing and walking. Oh, well-Adam gave me some wonderful moments to read and relax. And we had wonderful experiences with the girls.

We went to the Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert and did wonderful exhibits including a imaginary pizza kitchen and grocery store. They had a wonderful art center with supplies and an area were Aggie got to paint a VW beetle. We had a picnic lunch and saw a real roadrunner roaming around.

We visited a beautiful butterfly house at the Living Desert where a butterfly landed on Aggie's leg, Adam held a butterfly and Gwynie tracked them and tried to grab them. It was magical with butterflies all over the atrium.

We also saw and learned about crowned cranes, zebras, meerkats, camels, and fed giraffes. They have very long tongues!

Our grand finale was a BBQ on the patio with my sister, Aunt Megan and her boyfriend Bly. It was so special to see her and Bly was a great guy. I hope we get more time with him and Megan is always precious. I am so glad she sought me out so many years ago. Without her I wouldn't know a whole side of my family, life and heritage. It was a great week. But, it is nice to be home too. I love the familiarity of my space-but hate the responsibility: bills, CLAD college courses, learning records, work, cleaning, obligations, family problems, yard work....you know the drill.

The heartbreak of your child...

2007-10-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

I told my daughter today that another of her close friends was moving away-and pretty far this time. It was horrible to witness the heartbreak. It came up in a story we were reading and I thought-OK now is the time. As I told her I could see the realization on her face and then this low wail started to come. It got so loud I had to close the hotel window and just let her cry it out and tell me how bad it hurt. She said, "If he moves how can I ever marry him?" and "Now only one of the five familes is left with us." and "My heart is hurting so much because it is broken." It was gutwrenching because I feel the same emotions. I just held her and comforted. I told her things like "We will visit." and "He will be back to see his grandparents." But, it is hard to watch your child deal with these times of loss of such young friendships. Harder even than I expected.

I love playing dress up!

2007-10-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

We visited the Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert today. It was awesome-I highly, highly recommend it if you have kids under 10ish and can make the drive. (I wish we had something like this in Riverside-maybe Adam and I should start it?) They have crafty arts, painting a VW bug, blocks, magnets, still camera movies to make (Adam loved), optical illusions, right brain/left brain (I rocked at isolating my right brain-apparently the hardest exhibit in the museum to do), weaving a loom, and a baby area to name a few things. It also has tons of imaginative play stuff from archaeologist, to veterinarian, to pizza chef, to grocery shopping, to dress up!!! Aggie and I loved this! Most of our dress up at home is in a size child 4/6 but everything here was thrift shop finds and in my size. Oh, fun. I recruited kids and dressed them up, found stuff for Aggie and had to put a few things on myself. I was the only mom-or adult for that matter, but I don't care. It was so fun to put on those awful prom dresses from my youth (what were we thinking with those sleeves?) and be sassy in fur coats. I love dress up!

Faith and Anne Lamott

2007-10-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

I went for a run this morning as I am training for the Mission Inn 5K Run on Nov 11. (I really need to kick it up a notch as I am running with Adrianne Ashley who has run a marathon-a marathon!) Anyway, while I run I listen to books and right now I am listening to Plan B by Anne Lamott. Alyssa turned me on to her back in Anne's Traveling Mercies days and I am in love. Anne is so raw, and honest, and mixed up, and profound, and crude, and beautiful all at the same time. She is so real. We are reading this book for small group so I am really trying to pay attention because I actually have to talk about it with others...so this is the second time I have listened. She said (actually a quote from a priest friend)

...that the opposite of Faith is not Doubt, but rather certainty...

That hit me. I doubt a lot...a lot. More than a pastor's wife is supposed to-or at least admit that she does. I know it is good to question. I know that on the outside. But that is not the day to day reality of living in the limelight of ministry. But, this reality made me realize that when I am certain then I don't have Faith. Faith is stepping out and living a life even amidst the doubts. I love Anne.

Wow-I have a lot of gray!

2007-10-23T20:46:00.000-07:00

So this is totally not me-but I want it to be. Is she not hot? I used to color my hair all kinds of weird colors when I was young and funky. Now I am getting older and organic or natural. I guess old and funky just sounds like something that smells like an old pair of gym socks-so natural is better. Anyway, I have grown out all the dye and don't usually see all the gray hairs in my home bathroom, but I was just brushing my teeth in a hotel bathroom that has the harshest fluorescent lights (really bad for the thigh and belly cellulite of a recently pregnant girl) and WOW-POP-a ton of grays all over my brunette head. Crazy. Maybe I will look like my beautiful Mother before I know it. I think it is sexy to be all gray, and so does this fashionista. I hope I can be THIS sexy though!

what a cute suit!

2007-10-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

We are in Indian Wells this week on vacation (the reason for the catch up in posting!!!) and spending lots of time by the pool because the weather is perfect and hot. We borrowed this adorable suit from Sofia Lance because we didn't have one that fit Gwyn. Is this not the most adorable thing? How did I miss this one at Old Navy!?!

fun projects

2007-10-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

This is the difference in mommy homeschool projects and daddy homeschool projects around our house. Both fun I hope, but different. Dad makes musical glasses so she can play Twinkle Twinkle and Mom makes colored celery sticks to see how plants suck up water through their stems. Good thing there are two of us cause I know I couldn't do the music thing! Good ratio for Aggie-2 teachers for every one student.

a romantic dinner...and a baby?

2007-10-23T20:07:00.000-07:00

We don't leave Gwyn yet, but have kept our weekly date nights by dropping Agatha off at Gammy's or Grandma and Grandpa's. We do things like go to the drive in, walk malls, go out to baby friendly resturants and just stay in to watch all our tivoed shows before 10pm. The latter is what we did last Friday, but Adam also made this amazing dinner. We had salmon, artichokes with a creme basil mustard sauce, and garlic potatoes. It was so fun. Adam is a great cook and lucky for me he loves it. We ate off of china and had candles---and guess what! Gwyn slept through it all. It was a wonderful evening-the romance is still alive, even with a five month old and four year old.

Stinks to be second born

2007-10-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Gwyn loves the bath nowadays. She plays this game where she splashes with all arms and legs in hopes that she will get her bather wet. When she does she squeals with delight. But, I have to admit that we don't bathe her everyday...or even every other. Her big sister had horrible diaper rash if we didn't bathe everyday, but she was also our only charge. We try to give Gwyn the same treatment as sister had in so many respects, but on this one we fail miserably. Poor Gwyn, other than having a funny older sister to idolize and entertain her, it stinks to be second born.

Friends to miss

2007-10-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

This is Sofia Lance and my little girl Gwyneth. Gwynie is just learning to sit up and thinks Sofia is so cool. She reaches out to her and I know wants to be like her already (Sofia is 5 months the senior). Zeke (their four year old) is the apple of my four year old's eye. She is quite the princess and he loves trucks, but they play together so nicely when it is just the two of them. She already has him picked out as her prince and plans to marry him after they date when they are older (at my request :) But they are going to Redding in January. I know we will see them because they are a part of a group of garden friends that get together every year and they also have family in town that will draw them back occasionally. But still I am sad. I love their mommy. My husband and their daddy have quite a history and friendship. Our hearts will yearn for their presence. I cry whenever I think of the fact that they won't grow up together like I thought they would. And now I am faced with the prospect of telling this news to my very aware four year old. Yucky. But at least a friend pointed out that maybe now they can get married instead of growing up like brother and sister... :)

My little Musician

2007-10-23T16:48:00.000-07:00

I have always wished I were more musical. I played the piano and the clarinet for a while in grade school and took 3 years of voice in college-so I can read music and carry a tune. I guess that is musical by some standards. I practice guitar occasionally and have taken lessons. I want to be able to play a strong rhythm part on acoustic so I could play along with a band or accompany myself singing simple folky songs. But I think that is as high as I should aim at this point. I am more the visual artist. But, I have always been related to and attracted to real musicians. I dated quite a few and married an awesome one. He has to bring some sort of guitar on vacation or he can't really relax (on this one he has a ukulele for by the pool, keyboard and full size electric to lay down tracks on his laptop) The people that surround me in life often have musical lives. I have a dad and sisters who all exude musical skill and talent. And now my little girl is blossoming into quite a musician. She has taken piano for almost a year now and loves to create her own music, play little melodies and is beginning to read music. She started violin at the end of the summer and even though it is a challenge she is getting things I don't even understand. This morning Adam was playing the guitar and Aggie just started singing free melodies along with his chords. She is always on key and follows him as much as he follows her. They can just create music. She sings all day (I mean ALL DAY). And if I can think of a cute little song in homeschooling she learns whatever we are doing so much quicker. She knows so many melodies and can recognize them anywhere. I am in awe. She wants to be a rock star and I know she can-just remember to send a shout out to your old mom and sing me You are My Sunshine.

a day at the pumpkin patch

2007-10-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

We went to a fun little pumpkin patch on Oct 15 at a local organic farm called Tanaka Farms. It was so picturesque and educational. The kindergarten teacher in me loves that! This is the patch that we romped through with black wheelbarrows to choose the perfect pumpkins for carving. They intentionally planted seed late as well so we could see the whole life cycle of a pumpkin so we looked at the vines, blossoms and small green pumpkins on those green plants as well. The entire patch was lined with 6-8 foot tall sunflowers and they had the coolest green beetles on them (I think they were ladybug relatives). There was a live corn maze, a tractor pulled wagon ride, and a petting zoo. They also do watermelons in summer strawberries and organic veggie picking in the fields. We had a wonderful Fall day learning about pumpkins and celebrating the harvest season.

Why I am a environmentalist...

2007-10-15T21:08:00.001-07:00

We recently did a DARE to know, grow and go series at church. It dealt a lot with social injustice and it was awesome. I wish these kind of issues were the topic of every sermon. But I heard little rumblings of "Is our church going liberal?" Oh, gracious. I am a liberal I guess, but I think Jesus calls us to care for people and His creation. Doesn't he? I was raised to think this way and come from a family that has these concerns ingrained. I don't think it is a politically liberal issue to care about the earth. I think it is being good stewards of the beautiful creation we have been blessed with. No matter what state you believe the environment is in, why-with all these easy ways to be sensitive-make more of an impact than we need to?

Some simple things we do are (at least the seem simple to us):

*hang clothes on a line outside instead of the dryer

*use ALL energy efficient light bulbs

*recycle everything that is recyclable-plastic, metals, paper

*compost all organic materials

*use flush able or cloth diapers

*eat organic and fair trade foods

*avoid chemicals in detergents, pesticides, soaps, and cleaners around the home

*take our paint and batteries to the hazardous waste collection days

*water less and plant all drought tolerant plants

*shorter showers and no running water while brushing teeth

*avoid using paper products-and never Styrofoam

*drive a lower gas mileage car

*have ceiling fans and run the air/heat as little as possible

*use rags instead of paper towels

*no chemicals on our lawn

*donate everything we don't want or need to goodwill instead of sending it to a landfill

*use canvas bags when shopping

*fill sport bottles for on the go water rather than water bottles

*wash all clothes in cold

*run the dishwasher only when jammed full

*natural bug control-no pesticides

*use recycled paper products for toilet paper, napkins, etc.

*walk to events when possible, rather than drive

Some harder or more expensive things we are striving toward:

*drive a hybrid car ($5000 more)

*drive a motorcycle or scooter (where to put the kids? :)

*install solar panels on our house (will the historic society let us? and do you have $30,000?)

*buy organic or fair trade clothes (Target is more our price range)

*use cloth napkins instead of paper (hm...lazy)

*mow with battery operated or push mowers (we still have a service)

*use less individual serving pre-packaged snacks (then I have to have self control!!!)

*remember to take my refillable coffee mug to Starbucks

*flush less-I just can't leave pee in the toilet yet (though I did this growing up)

Just thought I would let people in to our life a bit because I guess I grew up thinking everyone was like this, but am now realizing that is not the case. I was kind of taken aback when Adam explained that some people think Environmentalist are just pushing their agenda to make a profit and that people actually think the earth is fine. I guess I am naive there, but I just want to earth to be all God created it to be for a long time. Why not? It is not that hard.

I found some great groups of Believers that are living this green lifestyle too. It is ok to be a Believer in Jesus and love the earth-really. Earth Ministry, and Restoring Eden Maybe we should start a chapter out here. Then I would really be weird (not that my baby wearing, homeschooling, organic, green, extended nursing, co sleeping ways haven't conveyed that message already to my surrounding so cal suburbanite conservative Christians-oh well.)

Gwyn, the rider

2007-10-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

Gwyn is ultimate connoisseur of baby carriers. She loves to be in on the adult action and would rather unload the dishwasher in the Bjorn, take the clothes off the line in the Moby, vacuum in a sling than any excersaucer out there. All babies like to be worn, but with her GERD I think she does even more. She is so content, happy and observant up there. Her ultimate day would be: sleep, nurse, change a diaper, ride, nurse, sleep, bath, ride, nurse and a little more sleep. She is my little rider. But, wow-my back gets tired.

Amber came to town

2007-10-14T17:38:00.001-07:00

A good friend of mine, Amber Parmer, came to town for the morning. It is always good to catch up with her because she is so relaxed and easy going. Our times together are always just a half of a day once or twice a year, but they are like no time has passed between. She was my maid of honor and I her matron (good times to be called a matron). We have known each other since we braved a very testosterone heavy architecture class freshman year in high school and been great friends since. She has always been the giver, coming to live with me while I planned my wedding, coming to visit me with my kids and I hope that when she needs, she will call and I will go. I hope I will go even when she doesn't need or call. I need to be a friend like her. She is awesome and faithful and beautiful and extremely smart (engineer for water in her city) and free (studied in Germany for fun). I love when she visits!

Riverside Pride

2007-10-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

We went to the Mission Inn Museum here in town as a part of our Riverside unit on Friday. We learned all about Frank Miller, the rise and decline of the Mission Inn, Duane Roberts, The Festival of Lights and the establishment of Riverside. We love our town and are secretly passing that on to Aggie through the guise of a homeschool unit. Plus, we are bribing her with fancy food by taking her to the Mission Inn Restaurant to eat on the patio for lunch under the old rotating clock. It was a great day...And we signed up for the Mission Inn Run-I am going to run the 5K and Aggie the 1/2K.

We also stumbled upon this great find! It is a 48 star silk flag made by Riversidians in 1903 to wave when Pres. Teddy Roosevelt came to the Mission Inn. Crazy!!! We bought a 104 year old flag for $5. They found a few boxes and now are selling them. Aggie is standing in front of the picture of Teddy and Frank Miller at the Mission Inn. This flag is almost exactly 100 years older than her!

Coming up on Oct 15

2007-10-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

Green Day in Blogdom. Let's all post! Thanks Jess for making me aware.

Natural Pest Control

2007-10-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

I do not generally like bugs-unless they are girly and harmless like butterflies, ladybugs and um I think that is it. Adam classifies my fear of bees as irrational, I may give him that. But, I also have a completely (in my opinion) rational fear of cockroaches/spiders and an annoyance of ants. Anyway, we have always paid for a Pest Control Service because if it. When we had kids I started to worry about the fact that the back of the bill lists poison control numbers and a disclaimer that we understood that they were spraying poison. Then when my bug guy got annoyed that I started composting a few years ago my concern grew. You're just attracting them, he would say. I started thinking that it was rather silly that I paid more and went out of my way to buy organic groceries, and then ate my own home grown fruits and veggies that had pest defense junk on them. But, finally the last straw was that I reduced my workload and thusly my paycheck. We were simplifying and the pest control is one thing that went. (Funny that the financial is what finally made me go green here.) As I was hanging the clothes on the line today I saw some ants and quite a few spiders. I started thinking, maybe I should get around to researching those natural pest defense ideas I know I could find on the Internet (My daughter has started saying-Yeah, I know that because I read it on the Internet...her source of information is so different than mine at four). This is what I found. EathEasy.com. Awesome site, awesome ideas. Gotta get to work on it though-if I see a roach in my house I will freak out...Wish me luck.

Missing art

2007-10-10T21:20:00.000-07:00

I miss creating art. I am a printmaker of mostly Monotype prints, but have worked in watercolor and acrylic over the years. I have my very own press and inks that I have tried in the past to set up in the corner of my small home, but with kids and various guests it has always been a challenge to keep it up. Plus, right now it is near impossible to get make-up on and keep up on laundry and vacuuming with my infant, four year old and part time job. So, I haven't worked since I was pregnant 6 or so months ago. This is a piece I displayed at the Riverside Art Museum, where I am member. I love being involved in art and the art community, but I am so out of it right now. I recently went to a LA Printmaker's Society and Jesus Cruz prints opening at RAM with the fam and popped into a Monotype seminar put on by my mentor Ron Pokrasso (that I would have attended had I not been in infancy confinement). I can feel myself getting anxious to work again. I know the time is coming, my little girl is only getting older and my soon-to-be-finished garage/art studio will be here (I hope) this Fall/Winter, but I miss art. I miss creating. I miss being in those moments of expression. Especially after the day I had yesterday!

Celebrating New Life

2007-10-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

I met this wee baby today. She is breathtaking. Allison looks just like Haley and has the most dainty, long fingers and huge Aaron Foor feet! She is so small that I can hold her in one hand and even Newborn things are huge, but she is healthy and nursing away. New lives are just amazing. The beauty of God's creation and the gift He gave to women to bear children is just overwhelming. Their smell, their fragility, their soft cuddles...I love the miracle of it all. I walked into the Foor home and it just smelled like birth-I love that smell. I never ask to hold other's babies because I know they need their parent's touch most, but of course I got to hold this one and she was so precious! Em is beautiful and strong and feminine. She is well and resting with her new family of five!

New baby is here!

2007-10-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

Baby Allison Katherine Rose Foor is here!!! Emily is amazing and beautiful and made it through over 48 hours of induced labor! Baby and Mom are nursing in the birthing room as I write and the baby is so healthy they haven't even weighed her yet. Aaron is excited and tired. Everyone came through and the Foors are now a family of five. I can't wait to meet her. I can't wait to hug Em. I can't wait to celebrate this new life.

Edit: I found out Sunday that she weighs 5bs14oz. Tiny and sweet. I will meet her tomorrow.

Amazing childbirth and me, a doula?

2007-10-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

I am a big believer in the power of femininity and woman's body to carry out the amazing feat of childbirth. I trust a good doctor to help out when medical crisis is involved, but I don't think healthy childbirth is that. I had natural births, not because I felt I had something to prove as cynics accused me of, but because I believed I could do it, that I wanted to do it. I wanted to experience all the joy and beauty, and along with that came some pain, yes, but nothing my body wasn't created to handle. Every contraction helped move my baby, squeeze the excess fluid from her, prepare her. I didn't like intervention like monitors, IVs, etc and avoided them when I could. I had a doula at both births and loved them both dearly. So did my husband. He could just be my loving husband and experience it with me, not have me depending on him to know every answer, know how to make me comfortable, know what to tell the nurses, know how to fix it. Doulas relive tension. I highly, highly, highly recommend them. I love this beautiful thing of birth so much that I have often times of late thought of becoming a doula myself. I think I am done with my own births, but if I could be there to help bring other beautiful babies into the world in as natural and peaceful way as possible...I think I would love that. I love supporting women, empowering them to believe in themselves and their bodies. But, today--oh, today--my best friend was having a baby. She had to have every interference in the book from pitocin to her bag of waters artificially broken to an epidural. She is not as opinionated as me, but she has had two other children fairly naturally and I know she wanted the same. But, they induced her early because she lives far from medical facilities. I just found out it came out OK and the epidural helped her body relax and she was able to push the baby out after her body moving through transition. But for the last two days I have felt for her and I wanted to wrap my arms around her and baby and just bring them safety and peace. I wanted her to have that wonderful moment of putting baby on her chest all sloppy and singing to her while nursing for the first time. I wanted baby's new life to begin with peace. God answered our prayers, they had those moments. But, I had to realize it is not my birth. It is not my birth. It is not my birth. I can't control it. I can't make decisions. I can't save it. It is not my birth. I just have to love and support. Being a doula would be hard on these days. I am seeing both sides. I talked with my doula and she was amazing, but I have to keep repeating my new doula mantra. It is not my birth, just support this experience. Hmmm...

dinner with new neighbors

2007-10-06T00:36:00.000-07:00

We had dinner with the lovely Dunlaps this evening at the Cheesecake Factory (can they have bigger plates or more things on the menu, please?). It was so nice (the company, not the mass amounts of food). They love Riverside, love the history, love the neighborhood, are in education, know people we know, love kids, never give me bad vibe about lugging my infant around everywhere, are organic, karen is quirky, steve adores her, they are "members of the green party" (as someone called me today as I changed a flushable g diaper), spend their time off bettering their home, love the outdoors, go running, are artistic, love music, love God, love pop culture, quote the same movies as us, have honest hearts, cling to their crazy kid side (by still going to late night rock shows), are recovering rock stars...can I list anything else we have in common or that I love about them? Awesome that we are neighbors now. I am so excited.

my youtube fun

2007-10-06T00:33:00.000-07:00

So-my last giggle you tube giggle post! He is so funny! This is my new quotable line of the week. "He was injured, injured bad."

why I'm artsy FARTSY mom

2007-10-06T00:26:00.000-07:00

So, my blog is artsyfartsymom because I'm a mom, I'm an artist and I love a good, embarrassing fart story. I watch Regis and Kelly and this is the best fart I've seen in a while.

We Want The Funk

2007-10-06T00:02:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this commercial yet? I cry with laughter everytime I see it. I make my husband rewind the Tivo and watch it over and over.

Avoidance and Procrastination

2007-10-02T21:48:00.000-07:00

Do you ever avoid doing responsible things? Sure you do. Everyone does. I am doing it. I have to write Learning Records for the State about what my students have done over the last month. They each take about 45 min. and I have 6, count them 6 to write before bed tonight. It is 9:50, my kids are fast asleep and we are sitting on the couch with laptops. But, what am I doing? Blog surfing. I really avoid these Learning Records like the plague. I'm pretty responsible usually, but these just kill me. Why do I do that? Why do we do that?

Zoo Day

2007-10-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen a Koala being really active? We just happened to see this guy at dusk which is when they wake to eat. He his so cute-we all think they look like Gwyn because she is so serious and matter of fact about everything. We went to Free Founder's Day at the San Diego Zoo yesterday and had so much fun. It was a bit crowded-but FREE! We saw and learned one new fact about flamingos, mandrill monkeys, orangutangs, gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, a rhinoceros, sea lions, koalas, crocodiles and gallapagos tortises. It was a fun day with my fun little family. Gwyn hardly slept it was all so exciting!

The infamous shrimp eating pink flamingos.

Look how close the rhino is!

I love the Zoo! Now we have to make our What I Learned at the Zoo book.

Our adventure in fairies

2007-09-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

Agatha and I hosted a magical Fairy Tea today for some lovely girls. We studied Fairies all week by watching a fairy movie, reading fairy books, studying the art of Fairy Tea, dressing up, playing with paper dolls, and writing a story about what we have learned about Fairy Lore. It has been very fun for me because I love fairies and the break from princess everything has been nice. The tea was our culmination and was beautiful. Aggie posted about it so you can read her account. Funny thing though, I not much for this kind of thing (my girls know Santa is just a fun pretend that we play to remember the spirit of giving...) but while I was cleaning up this little ceramic figurine caught my eye. It was lying in my flower beds next to our tea table. The wings were broken off, so we repaired them. Aggie thinks the fairies flew over because our tea was so yummy, ate the crumbs, and this injured fairy stayed behind so we could help her. She thinks maybe the little fairy will come to life when we are sleeping. Maybe...:) She says fairies can see Jesus all the time. If that is the case, I really do want to be a fairy!

Lauren, My favorite Creative Arts Coordinator

2007-09-28T00:14:00.000-07:00

Lauren is leaving. Me and my girls (and my husband's department) will miss her terribly. She was the best Creative Arts Coordinator that we almost had. I know life is calling her onward, but I hope God sends us someone who can fill her shoes. She is going to do amazing things for arts somewhere. But, I have to admit I still wish it were here. I will miss the trust I could put in her as a pastor's wife that my husband's ministry details would always be done on time to the best degree. I will miss how well we could work together and communicate. I will miss all the lunches and shopping trips I had planned after I exit this stage of life of infancy confinement. I will miss that Adam and I could ask her to do anything and she always considered our word interchangeable. I will miss how she viewed femininity and women in ministry. I will miss the example she would have been to my girls. I will miss her beauty. I will miss her. I will miss you Lauren. Come and visit us, please.