Speaking of Owls...

See previous post.

What can I say? I was at Target and these jammies just jumped right off of the shelf into the cart.

Things like that tend to happen at Target.

What a Hoot

Remember my post awhile back about loving the phrase, "What a hoot"? I guess it should come as no big surprise that I have a little love affair with owls right now, too. In the scrapbooking world, they are all the rage right now.

I have this wonderful new neighbor, De, who is the neighbor above all neighbors. I actually met her in a stamping club and then soon realized that our new house was being built right across the street from hers. She and her husband brought us welcome goodies, bring over large carts when we are humbly hauling mulch with our mini-barrow, and clip diaper coupons for us---the kind of neighborly stuff that doesn't always happen in our world today.

The best thing of all....we share the love of scrapbooking, stamping and crafting. So, we've had a few big girl playdates where I sheepishly take part in all of the cool projects De finds for us to make, mooching of her time and creativity.

Below is my favorite so far. An owl made of different punches and cardstock. Isn't he a hoot?

Just looking at him makes me smile....and he happens to have a striking resemblance to the new man in my life, who happens to be nocturnal as well. Like last night at 11:3o p.m., for instance:

BFF's, Ballerinas and Big Noses

Q: What could these three things possibly have in common?

A: Livvy.

And all of the entertainment that she's given me in the last week.

Let's start with BFF's.

BFF's. Best Friends Forever. Livvy had her BFF, Morgan, over for the first time last week. As I noted in a previous post, the two have been hooked at the hip since before they knew how to talk. Growing up together crib side at K4J, I think they have inherently developed their own secret lanugage which only they understand. The minute Morgan came in the door last Wednesday, it was one big continuous hootinanny. Look at that, they even have the same squinty eyed smile. For awhile, I just sat on the stairwell unbenknownst to them and listened to them giggle, say a few comprehensible words, dance around, say, "And then I said, Doh, doh, doh" and break into fits and fits of three year old laughter. Honestly, I consider myself a mother who spends a lot of time with her children, and when I wasn't looking, I could scarcely tell one voice from the other.

When Morgan's mom came to pick her up, the frowns were instantly donned by both. As their truck pulled out of the driveway, Liv stood at the door, puppy-dog face affixed perfectly in place. As I stood behind her at the glass, she looked back at me and somberly stated,

"Mom, I have to do this alone."

Well, okay then. I gulped down my pride and exited to the kitchen as she watched Morgan ride off down the street into the sunset. Quite obviously, at the age of three, she found it necessary to grieve alone.

Next up: Ballerinas

Saturday was Livvy's first "dance class." It was too cute. When it comes down to it, it was really more hopping around like bunnies and tumbling around, although I'll hand it to the teacher---they were working on some ballerina-ish type things like toe pointing and such. What I did find out is that I know nothing about dancing.....like the fact that 1) even at three, you are not supposed to wear panties under the tights and leotards because they show and then ride which leaves the three year olds obsessed with readjusting and 2) you are please and thank you supposed to tuck in the strings of your ballet slippers, not tie them in little bows. As you can see, this is a learning curve for ME....not her.

And finally, Big Noses

L: Mom, look! I drew a picture of you!

M: Awwwwwwww! Liv, that's so good! Thank you!

L: And there's

your big nose in the middle.

M: No cartoons for the rest of the night.

Okay, all of you, quit laughing at my expense.

Oh what a beautiful morning

See post from last night.

Owl eyes slept from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Go Jackster!

Today is my day off. Oh what a beautiful day. The girls got up without incident, Jack got up without incident, and loading Camille on the bus was a highlight of the day thus far.

Okay, that sounded bad. Shipping her off wasn't the highlight of the day...it was the way I shipped her off.

We always sit on the steps and wait for the sound of the bus and then proceed down the driveway for her front-door service. As the bus approached this morning, she grabbed my hand and literally RAN down the driveway with cane in hand, running boot securely in place, and backpack donned. All the while, Paul and Diane, the two semi-retired bus drivers, were cheering, "Yay Camille!! Woo-hoo!"

The truth is, I think they've caught the bug. The inspiration bug--Camille's very own little communicable disease otherwise known as 'zest for life.' Granted, these two people are so darn sweet that they likely already have a history of prior infection, but I'm still happy to see Camille is bringing a smile to their faces. Paul was eager to tell me that she sang on the whole bus route yesterday afternoon from school to afterschool care at K4J (where Livvy and Jack go); not only did she sing the length of the journey, but she also had most of the rest of the bus singing by ride's end.

Makes ya wanna whistle, doesn't it?



Oh, and as an aside: Chicks dig Jack.

Too funny baby boy humor compliments of Uncle P.J. and Aunt Carol.

Okay, off to rescue Liv from PBS and head off to the toy lending library to see our friend, Linda.

Nothing much

I don't have anything earth-shattering to blog about tonight. The kids are ALL sleeping, which means I ought to be sleeping.

But instead, I decided to blog about nothingness. Hey, I didn't claim to be the queen of time spent wisely.

I do have a lot of cool pictures to post but am lacking photo-downloading energy at the time being, so instead, I'll just make a list of happy little life things right now.

• Camille is running in her walking boot....so I suppose this technically makes it a running boot and not a walking boot. Though we still don't know what exactly warranted the need for a boot, she appears to be cured. Now we just have to muster up the nerve to remove it for good and see what goes.

• Livvy is just plain in 7th heaven. Her "best friend" Morgan is coming over to play and have supper tomorrow night. The two are soul sisters, born one week apart, and have been buddies since their days in adjoining cribs at K4J when both were less than three months old. Can't wait to listen in on their conversation....it'll be a hoot.

• I love saying things will "be a hoot." It is just such a happy phrase.

• Camille has a new little girl friend. So far, it is a friendship that tugs at the heart. After a playdate on Sunday that was just as sweet as could be, another is in the making. Brooke likes to wear things with bumps on them in the hopes that they configure something in Braille that Camille might read to her. Sigh (of contentment).

• Jack is Jack. Seemingly laid back. Started daycare yesterday and was held by everyone in the building. Took a bottle without incidence which is more than can be said for child-who-shall-not-be-named-but-is-closest-in-age-to-him when she was that age. Is cooing, smiling, and sputtering. As noted in last post, is just a hoot (there's that hoot word again) when he is awake as he is more fully awake than most any infant you will find and surely more awake than the two adults to whom his care is most often entrusted.

• I returned to work yesterday, which was actually not the happiest moment of the week. HOWever, once I got there, I realized that I do find it highly entertaining. I could never be creative enough to make up the stories of our patients' lives......and for that, I am grateful.

Okay, that's all I have to say for now. I am going to go to bed before little owl eyes decides it is time for a snack.