Sometimes I am amazed at how much fun I have with my kids.

Today, in the car on the way home from preschool, Crazy Train came on. Both girls had big grins and started to headbang in their carseats, giggling and grinning through the entire song. I cranked it up. We looked it up on YouTube when we got home, and Rowan said, "I wish we could get a ticket and go to there!" Someday, we'll all go see Ozzy.

After lunch and attempted (FAILED) naps, we got to work cleaning up the dining room art explosion and the living room toy explosion to a soundtrack of the Black Eyed Peas and Will.I.Am. I set up a playlist with Move it, move it/Don't Stop the Party/I got a feeling/Beautiful Day. Before the third song, things were ship shape and we were headed out the door to walk the dog before it rained again, slapping mosquitos the whole way.

I wish I could say there were no tears or tantrums today. I can't. But I'm gladly here, going off the rails. I love my life.

They are Full of Awesome.

Sisters!, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Are you?

First Day of Preschool: Year 2, The Big Kid

Rowan and Anya, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Rowan began her second year with a bang--literally. A certain adult, who shall remain nameless, overstressed one of the supports of her toddler bed and snapped it, and then spilled coffee all over her carpet. So much for an easy morning! But we got it cleaned up (and grabbed the wood glue and a clamp), got in the car, and were at school in plenty of time to meet old friends and new. Rowan loves school, and would happily go all day, every day. Anya loves to visit and explore, but is still ready to head home with Mom.

In Anya news, as she came into the bathroom this morning, I greeted her with, "Hi, Anya! How are you?" And she responded, "Good!" First time--new word! She's been a little slower in language than her big sister, but pretty much anyone would be compared to Miss Talkypants. :) (At Rowan's 18 mo. checkup, the nurse thought I was crazy when I said Rowan had about 200 words--until she started talking in complete sentences!!!) Anya currently says "EH!" for just about everything, though she now does regularly say "Hi", "Bye" and "Anya!" Just like her sister, when she's hungry she lets us know by pointing to her mouth.

She does that a lot.

Don't let a little rain stop you from being glamorous.

Don't let a little rain stop you from being glamorous., originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Into the Woods we go again...

Into the Woods we go again..., originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

If you've wondered where I've been, it's here, in front of this score. Besides taking care of my family, I've been studying the score, lining up the performers, rehearsing, and preparing for opening night. Today is preview, tomorrow we open. The music is difficult to play, sing and conduct, and the show is almost non-stop music. It's witty and irreverent and sad and touching, and I'm going to have a real challenge to not laugh out loud during performance, which so far, I have failed at miserably. But, I do really think it will be an excellent show. It's my first gig conducting a musical, and it's one of the toughest to conduct. A fun challenge, I'm really enjoying it, though not so much the insomnia that comes after my brain gets all riled up and full of Sondheim.

We'd love to have you join us. Tickets can be purchased here.

Pinterested?

Yeah, I'm probably the last one to the party, but I'm having a good time!

Found this site, where I can pin up things I find on the net, want to remember, and would like to share with my friends. Then, I can follow others and find other stuff. How cool is that? The only problem is that it's becoming so popular, they're already needing to update their servers (which apparently they are doing right now, which is why I can't post any of my pins up here).

Nonetheless, I've found my newest time-suck. You know, because I needed something else to distract me.

When you give a teething baby an ice cream sandwich...

When you give a teething baby an ice cream sandwich..., originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

she hoovers it down in 7 seconds flat.

Welcome, tooth #3!

Evidence

I bought the fabric in Paris, at the Marché St. Pierre, in the 18e., originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Some days, I work and work and work, all day long, and when J gets home, he has to ask:

"What did you do today?"

Cooking, cleaning, taking care of the kids--they're things that aren't noticed unless they're not done.

But today, we had PBJ and leftovers for lunch, the only cleaning done was the dishes, and not one load of laundry was washed.

Today, I finally took the cover off my sewing machine, and got to work. New curtains for Rowan's room.

"Wow! They look GREAT!!! Good job, Ronica!"

That was very nice to hear. Then, he took me out to dinner, and brought me a glass of wine while I gave the girls a bath.

Yep, I earned it.

*Crickets*

The Brownson Family, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Hi.

So yeah, haven't been here in a while. Sorry.

Been busy. Kids, life. Fires in the fire pit, sliding on the slip and slide, breakfasts and lunches and dinners and baths and bubbles and sandbox and playdates. Popsicles and sunscreen, trips to the library and walks through the neighborhood. And every night a bath to wash off the mud and the grass and the sand and the marshmallow gunk.

Summer. Loving it. Loving our new house, loving our family, loving our time together. Grandma and Grandpa B. are coming soon, and there will be parties and fireworks and lots of things cooked on the grill.

This photo was taken on our recent trip to Raleigh, NC. We had a ball, just eating and going to museums and shopping and enjoying being somewhere else, but still being together.

I'm sorry that blogging has pretty much dried up, but there's just too much life to be lived right now, and I don't want to miss a minute.

Retour de Chine

He's home., originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

It was a long week without him, while he was doing business in Beijing and enjoying some tourist time in Xi'an, but he's home.

We've survived with careful planning, praying for patience, some extra treats, plans with friends, and lowered expectations. Made it through the beginnings of summer colds, thunderstorms, and preschool field trips with only a few text messages.

At 11 PM, I bundled the sleepy girls into the car, and pulled up just as his plane was landing. He pulled gifts out of his bag, momentos of his trip to the other side of the world. Then he dug into a plate of good old American leftovers, popped open a beer, and relaxed on the sofa, watching a Chinese movie.

Jade is supposed to bring you luck. It must have worked. He's home.

My favorite bouquet

My favorite bouquet, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

comes from small, grimy hands.

Happy Summer, everyone.

Friday the 13th is the Luckiest Day

Little Blue Eyes, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

One.

I can hardly believe you're already a year old. Crawling like crazy, pulling yourself up to stand, eating everything you can get your hands on (including chalk) despite still having only 2 teeth. Your nature, so calm and sweet, happy to play with any toy, busying yourself for long periods, then crawling over and pulling up on my pant leg for a hug.

You came into our life a year ago today, and it was like you'd always been there. You fit.

I can't imagine my world without you, my lovey. Happy Birthday, Anya.

Easter 2011: Best Shot I got.

Easter 2011: Best Shot I got., originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

The night before, Rowan threw up three times. (Once down her Dad's back, once all over his front, and one more for good measure.) After all the preparation for Easter, I was worried we'd spend it at home, in jammies, eating mass quantities of ham by ourselves. But happily, munchkins bounce back pretty quickly. Though she looks peaked here, by noon she was feeling fine and excited for her Easter treat (Root beer in a crystal glass.) I didn't push the photo session--it is what it is.

More photos on Flickr.

Rowan's First Rock Concert: the Imagination Movers!!!

Rowan's First Rock Concert: the Imagination Movers!!!, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

I didn't order the tickets until the last minute, so we ended up in the nosebleed seats, and apparently my daughter has inherited my fear of heights. But happily, she took my advice (in through the nose, out through the mouth... breathe, just breathe...) and was soon dancing, clapping and singing along. We had a wonderful time, just the two of us. And no, I have still not decided which mover I have a bigger crush on... (though Scott's in the lead. I've always had a thing for long hairs.)

A Celebration

Sprinkles!, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

I could have been folding laundry
or making the bed
or preparing lunch
sweeping
vacuuming
or unpacking another box
but instead
I shaved my legs
put on white capris
and painted my toenails turquoise blue
(which doesn't suit me)
because
yesterday
I saw the forsythia blooming
and today
the sun is shining.

She has discovered food.

She has discovered food., originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

And she is a fan. Big. As in gained a full pound in 2 weeks.

With Rowan, I was so careful. One new food every 5 days, for allergies! Because it's so common to be allergic to green beans!!! As a result, she hates repetition, except for PBJ. Leftovers cannot be served the next day; she won't eat them. Sometimes, she won't eat them again for weeks. It's rather annoying. (And wasteful. And I get tired of eating the same thing for 4 meals in a row because she won't help.)

With Anya, whatever. We went from purées to chunks in days (she did wait until she was 9 months old to eat anything but Mom-juice, so she had more coordination than she might have at 6.) I gave her whatever we had handy. Bananas, sweet potatoes, avocado. Potatoes, carrots, peas, corn, salmon, beef, chicken. Crackers. Cheerios. Gerber puffs, Baby Mum Mums. Applesauce and oatmeal. She doesn't eat much yet, but she finally eats. And apparently, she enjoys it. Though sometimes it's tough to remind her that the food goes in more easily when she actually opens her mouth. She loves to feed herself, though, so gets a sprinkling of chunks on her tray to eat, carefully, one by one, mashing them with her toothless gums and grinning.

This was beef stew (with a bit too much paprika, oops) and applesauce on a Thursday at 1:30 PM. I think she liked it.

Yep, definitely genetic.

Determination!, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

You may remember this.

It appears the gene is not dormant.

Very Personalized Valentines

I saw a link to a blog a few weeks ago with a very cool and clever idea for Valentine cards, and I figured, why not give it a try? So after a few photo snap sessions, we got the shot. Though iPhoto doesn't allow you to add text to photos, I scoured the internet for some help, and found a thread that discussed how to easily edit and add text to a photo using Preview on a Mac. (I had no idea Preview could do all the things it can do!) I added text, including some little hearts, and emailed my photo off to be printed. A few slits cut with a sharp knife, a lollipop added, and here you have it: Rowan's Valentines 2011. We passed them out at her preschool Pancake and Strawberry party today, and they were a big hit. (The photo of the photo makes it look weirdly photoshopped, but it wasn't in person.)


For her teachers, we added a little adult treat. Regular ball point pens with a flower attached by floral tape and some green electrical tape made a sweet addition to the cards. We made a few extras for at home, since I'm always hunting for a pen in my kitchen. These are easy to spot with their pink petals waving in the breeze.

And this morning, we celebrated together with pain au chocolat, strawberries, yogurt and espresso--our own tradition for special days like birthdays or Valentines day. It's a sweet way to start the day!

We hope you are having a lovely Valentine's Day!

We're moving!!! SQUEEEEE!!!

1 Exterior, front, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

We bought a house, and we finally sold ours. We close on both on Feb. 28th, so I'll be scarce on here. (Not like I haven't been.) Have a lot of packing to do. And planning. We are so excited.

More photos here.

Sold!!!

Sold!!!, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Woohooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, we get the new house. YAY! The right person had to come along, and as it was, two did, so we got to pick an offer. Better late than never!

So in the next couple of months, I've got a lot of packing to do.

But tomorrow? I am NOT going to clean the toilets. In fact, I don't even think I'll make my bed.

Yippee!!!

A Walk in Paris

My friend is amazing. I miss her, and all my Paris friends. And I miss Paris.



If you don't read her blog already, please go there. Whether you like Paris or not, you'll like Irene. Promise.

Shades of Blue: Our Girls

Holiday 2010 Photos (Edited for more photos)

So I finally got it done. Phew. Not the best quality, but they're up. I only brought my tiny point-and-shoot with us back to North Dakota for Xmas, and honestly, I think the lens was kind of dirty. I'd been procrastinating putting them up because I wanted to try to clean them up in editor, but I couldn't do much so eventually I gave up and just loaded them.

Go here and here for more.

Now, I suppose it's time to start my Christmas cards?

Magic Blue Cheese Pecan Dip

Over Christmas, we were back in North Dakota. Staying at my dad's and Pam's house was great--no cleaning to do, no one showing our house, and very little cooking, save for the day when Pam was having major dental work done. (It worked, thank goodness! She had been in agony.) We also did some shopping, and realized living in the middle of nowhere North Dakota does sometimes have distinct advantages compared to the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania. I guess being close to Philly, Pitt, Baltimore, DC and NYC means we don't need diddly here. Grumble grumble grumble.

Anyway. We'd go into the local liquor store and marvel at the cheap cheap cheap prices (PA residents will understand--our local laws make our beverages about twice the price). A trip to the mall was mind-boggling at the quantity of stuff available. Unfortunately, we couldn't take too much advantage of the after-holiday pricing, as we had to pay to get it home on the plane, but I did find some jeans and boots and got some dresses for Rowan (much needed--she's a dress girl, every day.)

But my favorite discovery was something Pam brought out when we finally made it, after 13 hours in the planes and airports waiting for the blizzard to let us through on our final leg of the journey. Spread on crackers (crispy rice ones were perfect), it was a fantastic hors d'oeuvre. Slathered on a bun, it topped my burger. Had we run out of crackers, I would have eaten it with a spoon. We went back for more at the local grocery store deli, and looked at the ingredients. However, I'm pretty sure they lied so you couldn't duplicate it, because they listed "blue cheese, pecans" as the only ingredients, and I know of no blue cheese like that.

BUT! I looked on the trusty internet and found some other versions. It's really simple, so you can do with it what you like. On Tuesday, I threw together a hasty bowl and brought half to my ladies at my women's choir rehearsal. They loved it. So much, Marita took the bowl home with her. (Luckily, the other half was waiting in our fridge.) I even used a bit of it thinned with milk as an impromptu salad dressing. I didn't put specific amounts, because it's just a thrown together thing.

So here you go. Try it. Change it. Do what you like. But make lots, because it will go. Promise. And? I think it's magic, because I lost 2 pounds over the break. Woo hoo!!!


Magic Blue Cheese Pecan Dip

*1 tub whipped cream cheese (8 oz. I think? Regular works, too, but whipped made it easy to blend.)
*crumbled blue cheese (anwhere from 2T.- the entire chunk. I did the whole chunk. I'm a hedonist.)
*chopped pecans (I put in 1/2 cup)
*seasoning (I did a shake or two of Creole because I pretty much put it in everything I eat except dessert, but anything would work, as long as it's not too salty. Chives or fresh parsley would be great. Or you could do nothing and just let the other flavors shine through, which is probably what the deli did, and definitely what the internet did. Whatever you like.)

Toast pecans in a dry pan for a few minutes over medium heat until they start to smell good. Don't let them burn. Meanwhile, blend cream cheese and blue cheese. Flavors will blend while chilling, so you don't need a lot of blue cheese, but you can if you like. Add hot pecans and mix them in. (Hot helps to blend them, but if you don't have time to toast your pecans or if they cooled it's not a big deal.) Add your chosen herbs or seasoning. Chill in the fridge for a few hours to blend flavors. If it's too thick, you can thin it with a little milk.

Serve with crackers, as a bread spread, on burgers, thinned as a salad dressing, or just a spoon. Mmmmmm.

I'm working on it...

Little Norsk/Swede/Icelander: can eat Krumkake without breaking them!, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Pictures to come, and a post about our holiday trip, but know it was fabulous and we're home safe and sound. We were able to see all the grandparents while we were back, but not all the friends and family we would have liked to--but then again, we'd have to move home to North Dakota for a month to make that happen. Or maybe a year?

Our house hasn't sold yet, so that's a bit disappointing, but we had a great Christmas and are getting back to normal around here.

Oh, and Anya has discovered her voice. "Mamamamamamama" and "Bababababababa" and I think she might have tried to say "Rowan" the other day, but I could be imagining it.

Also? I discovered blue cheese pecan dip. NOM. And somehow lost 2 lbs. Not quite sure how that happened.

OK, anyway. This is a terrible post, but I just wanted to let you know I'm still alive.

Happy New Year!

3 going on 30

Lunchtime Conversation:

"Mommy, since I pooped in the potty at preschool, can I have a caramel marshmallow after my lunch?"

"Sure, honey. It can be your dessert."

"No, I still want dessert. Nice try, Mommy."

It's official, she's a part of the family.

One for everyone... (Lucy's is hanging down low), originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Anya's stocking arrived the other day. What a wonderful feeling to hang all of them together!

Merry Christmas!!! Classical Flash Mob

The Obligatory Xmas Card Shot

Christmas 2010, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Turned out pretty good, didn't it?

My dad asked for a family shot, which of course, we didn't have because I'm always behind the camera. So tonight, I learned how to use the timer on my camera. It was late, so the sun was down (ie: after 4:30), but I did the best I could with the light, settings on the camera and iPhoto. Some day I'll figure it all out. But overall, I'm pretty pleased with it.

I love Rowan's feet. And how Lucy snuck in the bottom.

Who knows? Maybe I'll even get off my duff and make it into our own Christmas card. (Don't watch your mailbox. I think my record is Valentine's Day.)

Rowan's Christmas Email to Santa, 2010

State College, Pennsylvania,
United States



Dear Santa Claus,

My name is Rowan. I am a girl and I am already 3 years old!! I live in the great city of State College. Of course, that's in Pennsylvania, United States, but I'll bet you knew that!! This year I've been so good that my halo is just a teensy weensy bit crooked!

Santa Claus, some things I might like for Christmas this year are:
- Princess DVD;
- Princess computer; and,
- Pillow Pet.

Santa Claus, I almost forgot to say... Santa, I have been learning to go poop and pee in the potty. I'm doing pretty good! I go to preschool and I love it! And I love my dog and Mama and Daddy and Anya. I love funny guys. I hope your reindeer are well.

Love, Rowan

Little Ballerinas

OK, I stopped. No more microblogging. Yes, it was irritating and dropping my visits. Sorry about that. Follow twitter if you like.

The open house went well. We supposedly had several interested people, and someone called for a showing today. I'm hoping it's someone wanting a second, confirming look before they make an offer. I can dream, right?

Rowan doesn't have dance class this week, for Thanksgiving break, so we're enjoying a relaxing morning. Well, as relaxing as making sure your house looks perfect and doing all the laundry can be. At least I'm still in my jammies at 8:48 AM.

The potty training struggles continue, but I feel like we had a bit of a breakthrough yesterday. She tried really hard to use the potty often, of her own volition. We had one small accident, but she begged to nap in panties, and managed to sleep for 2+ hours without wetting. She still wore a pull-up to bed and wet it, but that's completely understandable. I have no qualms with nighttime help if we can manage to get the day dry and clean.

Anya had her 6 month well visit yesterday, with a CNP who's also a friend from Band. She's perfectly healthy (except for a little patch of dry skin on her leg that we're treating, no big deal) and is officially "so cute, she's a Gerber baby!" She's slowed a little on her growth, down to the 50-53% for height and weight, 78% for head size. Like her sister, her chart is kind of up and down, but this is good for me as she's not yet outgrowing most of her 6 month clothes.

And the BIG NEWS! Anya had her first solids yesterday!!! 6 1/2 months old, organic oat baby cereal. Aaaaaannnndddd... she had absolutely no interest. Barely opened her mouth, thrust them out right away, didn't look interested at all. Didn't protest, but just not into it. She loves to sit in the booster at the table for meals with us, but purely for social reasons. So, we'll try again later.

With her, I've decided to just use Rowan's booster, as it works great for a highchair and takes up so much less space. She sits up fine, can be up at the table or use the tray that comes with it, and it's easily cleaned, so it works fine. Rowan prefers a big chair now, as well as big plates, big forks and spoons, her own cloth napkin and real glass glasses.

She's trying so hard to be a big girl. She talks often of turning 4, then 5, then going to Kindergarten. She can't wait. Just like her Mommy, she loves school and thrives there. I had her first conference this week, and her teacher said Rowan is thrilled to be there and loves everything about school (except going to the potty, but that's nothing new.) I was the same way; go figure I'd become a teacher. She is like me in that she likes a plan, structure, and lots of fun activities--and hates being bored. She's already begging to stay for the preschool lunch bunch and wonders why she can't be there for the afternoon session, too. She just doesn't buy this "Mom likes to have time with you, too" thing.

And yet, she still crawls into my lap every day for a snuggle. I'm treasuring every single one.

Enjoying a Brooklyn Brown Ale. :)

Tried to give Anya her first cereal tonight. 6 1/2 months old, and she still has absolutely no interest. Oh well, fewer dishes for me!

Anya's Devo Dance Party

Anya's Devo Dance Party from Ronica on Vimeo.

I am a cruel, horrible mother who makes my baby groove to music so I can film it and laugh.

Note, while watching this replay, she was dancing to her own music video.

Vacuumed and wiped down the car interior, hosed off the mats. Still kind of gross in there. Wish there was a car detailing fairy.

Just got complimented on my housekeeping by the busybody neighbor who came to the open house. Not sure how I feel about that. :-

Is this microblogging horribly irritating? And other stuff.

I'm sorry. Yeah. I was getting a bit stressed out because I wasn't updating the blog often enough (and didn't want to get in trouble with Blogher), so I pinged it. I hope it's not driving you crazy. It's much easier to ping than update all my social networking sites, so I've been lazy.

But here's what's happening in my life.

We found a house. Did I tell you this? I can't remember, and am too lazy to scroll back to find out. Yeah. So. We were thinking of redoing our flooring (because carpet is gross and never ever ever gets clean) and some windows in our townhome because we thought that we were stuck here anyway, might as well make the best of it. Then our friend (a mortgage guy) told us we could likely get a bigger mortgage for close to our current payment--one that would actually buy a house. Like with a yard. And a big living room. Bedrooms for each kid so naptime isn't such a crazy juggle. A basement. And a garage. A deck. Did I mention the backyard?

So we started looking. Didn't take long. 3rd of the first 4 houses we saw. Perfect. They are holding it for us as "sale pending" until January, but we have to sell this one.

So, we've been cleaning, magic erasing, touch up painting, staging, storing extra junk off site, breaking the attic stairway and generally just finding out how filthy our home really was. (It was nasty. Really gross. And once again, I really hate carpet.) Worked like crazy, manically. Poor Rowan, babysat by the TV during much of this--she really was a trooper. So it's ready. We had an open house.

Nobody showed up.

Yesterday, I got my first call for a showing. I was over the moon!

Today, they cancelled.

ARGH.

So that's what's up. It's like a state of suspended animation. I know it hasn't been long, but it's still frustrating. So close, yet so far. I know it hasn't been long yet, but still.

We've bought our tickets to go back to North Dakota for Christmas, and coupled with earnest money on the house, Dr. B's summer funds still not included in his paycheck, several consulting jobs that still haven't paid him, various expenses and more to come--well, we're broke. It sucks, big time. I am a bit frustrated because really there's nothing I can do about it. Christmas will be really, really lean this year. Thankfully, they're probably too little to notice. Our family understands that our presence is their present. At least I hope they do.

And for Thanksgiving, I have zero motivation. We've decided on Enchiladas. I might make them with ground turkey. You know, because it's festive. We had the church Thanksgiving dinner last week, so I figure that counts.

And MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING !!!

OK, it's out of my system now. I think.

So here's some cuteness to make up for my irritatingness. Will you forgive me?

Rowan's first PT conference. She loves school and is doing well with everything. No surprise, but I wish she behaved the same at home! ;-)

Chocolate swirl marshmallows are surprisingly delicious.

First showing tomorrow! Woot! Finally. (Runs to frantically clean things again.)

Field trip to Giant (grocery store). Guess who ended up wearing the paper hat?

Enjoying a calm morning. Bribed Rowan with a surprise if she was cooperative and threw no tantrums. So far so good.

Watching Muppets from Space with Rowan while we eat supper. This is my favorite movie soundtrack ever. http://bit.ly/cgSMli

Anya just rolled front to back! Yes, I know she's six months old, but she beat her sister by 2 months! We're a bit roll-challenged.

Checked her and walked back out of the room. She fell asleep again. Phew! Must break this weird nap cycle.

Wow. 800 mg. of Advil is really something. I feel so amazingly good right now. Absolutely nothing hurts! And both my kids are napping! Woot!

Dentist adjusted and gave me big Advils since I couldn't get to the store until tomorrow. Can be tough on the stomach, good reason for cake.

Rowan, upon seeing drawings of reindeer: "Look, Mom! Feather Goats!!!" Imagination is awesome. :)

Stuck my kid on the potty chair with _Babar: the Movie_ on her Daddy's laptop playing on the lid of the toilet. I call this parenting.

Worked my fingers to the bone for the open house, and no one showed up. Argh. I declare tomorrow yoga pants, ice cream and boob tube day.

Anya slept for 13 hours. Huh. So that's where Jean-Paul Gaultier got the idea for those cone bras.

3 hour rehearsal: just what I want to be doing the day before perfect strangers are coming into my house to judge me and my housecleaning abilities. :- *tries to let go*

Roasting chicken makes your house smell pretty darn awesome.

Rest in peace, Coffee Maker. You had 3 good years.

My daughter took her daily halloween treat, and a second one, too. That one was for me. <3 <3 <3

Toad in the Hole. Delicious, and weird.

It appears Amazon has pulled the offensive ebook. About time. Can't believe they sold it. Shame on them.

Mmmmm, pork chop gravy. :)

Just cleaned the living room carpet. Wow. Gross. I need one of these machines. This should be done weekly.

Enjoying homemade stir fry leftovers. Glad hub was willing to drive to Chinese place for rice when I ran out. Bow tie pasta would be weird.

Yay! Staircase is fixed for $10. Woot! Knowing a metal forger in town is a handy thing.

Hubby's off to Ace hardware. Hoping to fix the attic walk up ladder thing. Open house Sunday, no time to order a new one. ARGH.

Was going to shampoo the living room carpet, but somehow managed to break the attic ladder thingamabob. Ugh. Will we ever get it all done?

taking a break from scrubbing, spackling and magic erasing.

Confession: I buy Spaghetti-O's with meatballs. And sometimes, I share them with my 3-year old.

Will's Sleepy Haircut

My friends' son, Will got a haircut. Also, he fell asleep in the middle of it.

Lucky he didn't lose an ear. This cracks me up.

The Queen has joined Facebook. Pretty sure that's the last nail in the coffin of coolness.

Is it just me, or does Big Chris on Roary the Racing Car look just like Elliott Gould (except clay)?

Vacuumed the lampshades. Huh. They were white all along!

Difference between my husband and myself: to me, the safe place for a very important teeny, tiny key is a keychain. For him, it's a windowsill.

Does anyone have a crappy chili recipe? No matter how big a batch of my chili I make, my husband seems to think it equals 1 serving.

is trying to limit Xmas gifts. Big gift is our trip, she won't get much. Rowan said she wants a computer. Parents: suggestions? Leapster?

Must grocery shop today with 2 kids in tow. Will be glad when preschool is back next week. Pray for me.

Is trying to consolidate my social networks. Bear with me, it may get repetitive.

Wonder Woman!!!

Today, I earned my golden lasso. And satin tights (but no hot pants, please. I have had two kids.)

And my three year old? She's definitely in the running for the role of Evil Villain in the next movie. That kid has major tantrum stamina.

I used to feel guilty for not doing aerobics (I get dizzy and faint), running (ditto), lifting weights (I'm muscular without--I don't want to look like Conan the Barbarian. Or Conan O'Brien for that matter.) I do yoga when I can because I like to.

But I've shown that I'm definitely a contender. An hour-long screaming, crying, kicking, fighting tantrum. Epic proportions. Temperature taken on the back of her neck (102.5). Advil snuck into juice and refused (and finally taken from a cup.) Food refused, drinks refused, and lots and lots of snot and tears. A phone call, an appointment. More screams, shouting, refusals, finally begging. For naught.

We arrived, and she kicked me as I tried to put shoes on her. So, I hauled her out of the car, shoeless. Lifted her sister in the carseat on one hip (26.5 lbs.), her on the other (31.6 lbs.) She kicked and flailed and screamed and wiggled and cried. But she was going to the doctor, come hell or high water.

Ear infection, severe. Both ears.

Post workout, I caved. Princess chicken soup for her. Ben & Jerry's for me. We earned it.

Tips for Puking Kids

• Garbage bag, over the pillow, under the pillowcase.
  
• Mattress protectors: 10 bucks and half an hour of wrangling the thing on over the mattress, no scent of barf embedded in the mattress forever. Barf smell sucks.
  
• Cover the couch in towels, top with kid, keep a bucket handy.
  
• Lysol.
  
• Backup DVDs or a preschool cable channel is worth it when you're trapped in the house for 2 days.
  
• Have Sierra Mist, chicken soup, saltines and chocolate in the house at all times. (The chocolate is for me.)
  
• Buy a comforter that fits in your washer.
  
• Woolite Oxy Deep carpet cleaner works.
  
• When puked upon, remove clothing and get dressed again before trying to change her sheets. Half-asleep naked moms on Benadryl are not effective linen changers when shivering so hard we can't stand up.
  
• Be thankful you bought the mega-mini-van-jogging stroller so at least you can get out of the house for 20 minutes to walk the dog.
  
• Bake a cake to cover up the smell of puke. Eat the cake.

Sigh. She's recovered, thank goodness. And so far, no one else has caught it. Phew.

Star Bright

I hauled her sister's carseat up the stairs, gave her a hello kiss, and watched her run off again to play on the playground as I went in to the preschool to check her cubbie. In her neighbor's was a glittery star of David, the daily craft. I didn't see Rowan's. On the way home, I asked her about the art projects they'd worked on.

"Did you make a special star today, Rowan? Cool! Where is it?"

"I don't know," she answered, too busy eating her goldfish crackers to consider where it had gone.

"Oh, well. Maybe the glue wasn't dry yet. I'm sure we can get it next time," I said. "So, is it a star of David?"

"Noooo!!!" You could practically hear her rolling her eyes in the back seat.

"Mom, it's a Star of Rowan!!!"


Photo by zeevveez, on flickr.

Let's Dance!

Strike a Pose, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Rowan is loving her dance class, Dancing with Grace with Hannah. Every Tuesday we meet downtown and they fly around like baby birds, galop like ponies, jump over mud puddles, and flip scarves around, to the delight of their parents, watching through the windows (and occasionally sneaking off for a coffee.) The rest of the photos I took of her before we left are mostly blurs--she loves to dance! Check them out here.

Bathtime Grin

Bathtime Grin, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

It's a teeny bit blurry, but I just can't resist that smile. 5 months old.

Best Compliment Ever

I was reading her post this morning, and it kind of touched on something I've been thinking about for a long time. Back when I read this article and then the book, Nurture Shock, it got something percolating in my brain.

Compliments, praise. When are they real? When do they matter? When do they change our behavior? Our perception of ourselves? Our reaction to others?

How can a compliment mean something real to someone I care about? How can my own interaction with them matter more?

I thought about answering her question. I could answer half of it, my favorite compliment ever. But the second half has me stumped.

Do I give to others, the way I hope I do? Does what I say and think matter? Is it just lip service, or does it matter to them? Does what I really feel come across to them in what I say?

I don't know where I am going with this. I don't want to make any crazy vows, or promise to journal my meaningful interactions, or ask you to tell me how I've impacted you. That's not what this is about. But it's got me thinking.

Praise is such an interesting thing. It can mean the world to you, or it can mean the opposite of the intent. The timing can skew it to take on whole new meanings. Tone of voice, what happened earlier in the day, how you're feeling about yourself--anything can color it. It's so rare that the intended meaning is the perceived meaning. And yet, we all really need it. It's important.

I wonder if what I say to my girls will sink in. I hope they will grow to be strong and confident, that they will value themselves the way they deserve. I hope they won't succumb to the feelings that make them believe they are less than they are, because they are so very special. I hope I can be a part of their building up, an example to them of a strong, confident and loving person. I hope that on the days I am impatient or frustrated or downright angry they don't forget how wonderful they are and how much I love them and that it's not their fault. I hope that I am showing them that making a mistake does not make you a bad person. And that pooping in your pull-up may be irritating, but that Mommy still loves you and believes that you will be potty trained some day. I hope that they can see my joy, my pride, my love. I hope they can someday understand how much they have expanded my life.

And yet, the things that stick with them will probably be ones I don't remember doing. Some weird, random thing I say that I didn't even think about. Because we never quite know how what we say will impact someone, do we?

So, my favorite compliment ever. Yeah, you probably wouldn't expect it. It's not from my husband, or from my daughters. Had nothing to do with how I look, music I played or sang, or what kind of person I am. The person who said it likely has no idea that it meant so much to me, but it did.


"If they had a Lefse-Off, you would totally win!"
                                          -Katya Delak

It just struck a chord. The right time, the right frame of mind, an achievement I really cared about. No grand pronouncement, but it really did mean a lot to me. Thanks, Katya. It still makes me smile.

(Note: Lefse is a Norwegian potato flatbread, very popular in the northern plains states of North and South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. It's a pain in the wazoo to make, takes a long time [2 days], and makes a real mess of your kitchen. But it is delicious, and I've tweaked my grandmothers' recipes in a way that makes it my own. I've never seen a Lefse-Off, but if I ever do--thanks to Katya--I will enter. And I'll win.)

I’ll Show You Mine, Now You Show Me Yours

She asked, I delivered.  Yep, that's me. In powder blue terry cloth that matched my sister, and the ubiquitous girl mullet. I just wish my dad had scanned in the one with me "thinking about" my sister as  her face floated above my head. (What was up with that anyway? What a weird thing to do.)

Worst part is, there are much more embarrassing photos in the set it's a part of on Flickr. And yeah, with a tiny bit of clicking, you can see those, too.

On the bright side, compared to that? I look pretty darn fabulous now.

So I did it. Now it's your turn. Let's see your awkward photos. And please, link me back so I can find them. On days like today when there are no naps and many, many poopy diapers and wet "big girl panties", I might just need it.

*EDITED to add:



I just had to. Is that not the worst photo ever? The perm! The "wet look" gel! The pattern on my shirt and the pinky ring!

Yep, looking at that photo definitely boosts my self esteem now. Uff da.

Observant

"MOM! I pushed a poop out!!!"

"In the potty?"

"YES!!!"

I ran up the stairs, yelling "HOT DOG!!!" We examined the evidence.

"Is that corn?" she said.

"Yeah. It is. One kernel. Um, good job, honey! Way to go! You earned the right to use the Dora soap, and a jumbo marshmallow! I'm so proud of you!"

Yes, one corn kernel. But she pushed it out, by herself, without prompting. At this rate, she'll have a whole bag of marshmallows for a real turd. But hey, whatever it takes! (She will get it, someday, right? Please? We've been potty training for 10 months, for one stinkin' corn kernel. I'm starting to lose hope.)

Fun at the Farm

Joy, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Rowan's first field trip was last week, at a classmate's grandparent's farm, tucked along Spring Creek. Though our first day was rained out, we were able to go on Wednesday. The kids had a blast feeding the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig (had to be 2 or 3 pots in there, if you ask me), chasing the free ranging chickens, going on a nature walk, and listening to a story next to the creek. But the best part of the day, apparently, was this--our best efforts to distract the kids from walking into the creek was to get them running in circles around a tree through the crunchy fall leaves. You've got to love the 3-year-olds' ideas of a good time! Next week we head to the pumpkin patch down the road.

Today, the girls and I joined our neighbor and his kids at the Penn State Great Insect Fair. We saw live cockroaches, beetles, walking sticks, bees and butterflies, and Rowan and I even sampled some cricket candy. (It wasn't very good, and I'm pretty sure it's still stuck in my throat.) We came home with a butterfly larva (I think?) in a little container. It will be fun to watch it change and grow.

Well, if I don't manage to accidentally kill it, of course.

This smile

My pretty baby, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

makes those two days of no naps and Clingy McClingsalot totally worth it.

Mom cliché: I cut off all my hair.

And I LUUUUURRRRVVVEE it.

Pink=Girl. DUH.

Day One:

Pink flowered summer one-piece outfit, with ruffles.
Pink socks.
Pink flowered shoes.
Pink pacifier with pink floral ribbon clip.
Denim bib. (I guess this is my mistake.)

"What's your brother's name?"

Day Two:

Black, white, TWO shades of pink and red flowered top with a bow.
Light and dark pink striped pants.
Two-toned pink socks.
Pink pacifier with pink floral ribbon clip.
Pink mary-jane shoes WITH pink flowers.

"This little fellow is really wide awake!"

ARGH.

If it happens again, I think I'm going to have to write, "I may not have hair*, but I have a vagina!" on her head. In Sharpie. PINK Sharpie. With glitter.





*Her sister also didn't have hair at this age. In fact, she didn't have hair until she was at least a year. She's now three, and it hasn't even hit her shoulders yet. I'm working with what I'm given, people. Give me a break!


Hilarious photo by gregoirevdb on flickr. Thank you!!!

My love, my love

My love, my love, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Preschool!

First day of preschool at the JCC, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Today was Rowan's first day. I went up to wake her up after another night in the igloo, and though she was groggy and confused, she hurried to get ready and ate her breakfast without dawdling. The first day of school was too exciting to wait. We brought her in, and she immediately began walking one of the school babies around the room in the shopping cart. We begged for a kiss and hug goodbye as we tucked her things in her cubby. She squeezed me around the neck, but her eyes were already searching for the next new toy to play with. She was ready for school.

I dropped her dad at work and headed to Target and Wegman's. Nursing Anya in the parking lot without a toddler climbing over the seats was peaceful. At Target, I was able to browse and no one raided my purse for snacks 8 times. At Wegman's, I actually got everything we needed and nobody sat on the bread. I thought I was golden, but somehow got in the lane of the slowest, most talkative (though quiet so you couldn't hear her anyway) and worst packing grocery checker in the history of the world. After reshuffling everything in the car, I zoomed back downtown to pick her up, only 4 minutes late.

She seemed glad to see me, but wouldn't have been upset had I not shown up until 3. She was in her element, eating crackers with her new buddy Sophie, a girl who's "nice and she has a pink dress like I like". On the way home, though, she decided to reassert herself, and announced that the fruit pops in the trunk that we were racing home to get in the freezer before they melted would be her dessert after lunch. "No, they're for snack after naps," I said. A tantrum ensued, and she cried for a good 45 minutes before finally accepting that Mom was not going to give up. She ate her lunch, played for a few minutes, and then threw a feeble protest before being hauled halfway up the stairs for naps. At that point, she agreed to walk herself, and climbed up and into her bed. We argued again about the curtains, and soon she was calling me back, begging for a hug. We had a talk, hugged and she climbed back up to nap for real this time.

During her nap, I went to load the photos from my camera of Rowan and her new teachers, and I found my punishment. She'd chewed the end of the cord that hooks the camera to the computer, beyond repair.

But this time, the talk must have worked. When confronted, she immediately apologized.

And then, she got her fruit pop.

What you need to sleep in an igloo

Book Igloo: one of 2 tents she got for her birthday., originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

I set up her igloo tent in her room, a cozy spot to read a book and play with her puppets. Of course, she insisted she must sleep in it. Comfort? Who needs comfort? (Besides her mom--but I am admittedly pretty old and decrepit.)

At my own bedtime, I go to check up on her and find her snuggled up with her pillow and security blanket, her dolls Harley and Mimi tucked in next to her (with their own blanket), and of course the necessities. A cell phone, brown flats with pink velvet bows and a pair of pink, fur-lined snow boots.

The next morning, I asked her what the boots and phone were for. "In case someone needed rescuing, Mom!" Of course. She plans ahead pretty well for a 3 year old.

"And, my igloo didn't melt, either."

Phew!

Grandpa Ron meets Anya

Grandpa Ron meets Anya, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

My dad and Pam came to visit us last weekend. They stayed for 5 days and we had a ball. Hanging out at the pool, Spikes game, bowling, and lots of eating--we were tired when they left. But it was a really fun visit.

In this economy, having a job is a very good thing, and having a good job you like in a great town full of wonderful friends is a fantastic thing. But even so, I wish we were closer to home.

Maybe we could just erase Ohio, Illinois and Indiana? Or perhaps one of those Chunnel things under the Great Lakes? (OK, maybe not. Just the thought of that kind of terrifies me.)

Now we're saving our pennies again. We'll need a lot of them. Plans are in the works for a trip back to North Dakota for Christmas. (Yes, we know what the weather's like there that time of year. We can handle it.)

What Will I Be?

During the nightly tuck-in:

"Mommy, why you are tucking me in?"

"Because I love tucking you in."

"When I'm a big girl, what will I do?"

"I'll tuck you in, as long as you want. And when you don't want me to tuck you in, I won't, but after you fall asleep I'll sneak in and give you a kiss anyway."

"Mommy, when I'm a big girl, what will I be?"

"What do you want to be?"

"Five?"

"OK, you can be five."

Sun, here are your orders.

On the way home from Wegman's, Wednesday, 4:30 PM.

Her window cling sun shade proves too tempting and she begins peeling it off. Of course, then she can't get it back on. "Mommy! Mommy! I need help! My shade is falling!"

"I can't help you now. I'm driving. You'll have to wait until we get home."

The sun shines in the window and hits her face. Arms raised, she gives it the what-for.

"ENOUGH with the shining!"

(I burst out laughing. Then she did, too.)

"Mom!!! She SMILED at me!!!"

They'll have so much fun together., originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

She still checks on her first thing in the morning, before saying hello to us. As I sit checking facebook at night, I hear her get out of bed, and watch as the video monitor goes all wonky when she leans over Anya's bassinet for one last look.

"Rowan!!! Get OFF her!!!" I must yell that fifty times a day. Yesterday, she even knocked the bouncy chair backwards by leaning over it. Anya was squalling like a cat in a rain barrel. "I was just giving her some love!!!" I know, I know. "Honey, just love her a bit more gently, OK?"

She loves her sister. And now she's starting to see: her sister loves her, too.

Swinging

Just a swingin'..., originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

It's been a hot summer. Where the usual weather for our town is pleasant and in the 70's for all but one week of summer, with plenty of rain to make the long mountain a lush, green-carpeted hill to the west, this year we've seen 90's nearly every week, and lots of humidity, though little rain. The grass is brown and patchy, prickling your feet when you run through it, and the new rain boots sit waiting for some action. Trips to the park are frequent, but short. The heat just gets to you, sending you home on the hunt for lemonade and a nap.

Rowan's reaching the point where her naps are getting in the way. Though many of her friends no longer take them, she still will go down for two or three hours in the afternoon. Where a few months ago she could still fall asleep at 8:30 and stay in bed for 12 hours, now she is having more and more trouble falling asleep at night. We're hearing about "Monsters" in her room, and even the elaborate ritual of curtain cracking, night light illuminating, "Jesus Loves Me" music box winding, "Monster Spray" spritzing, and prayer saying isn't cutting it. When her dad was out of town, it got even worse. Tuesday night, she finally succumbed to sleep at 11:45 PM, on a little bed she made for herself directly under the overhead light in the hallway. I woke her gently 15 minutes later, leading her into my room to sleep on her dad's side of our big bed, where no monsters could get her. "Thanks, Mommy," she said, falling asleep again as she bent to pick up her lovey or doudou, a security blanket known as "Cover Blanket". Face down, bum high in the air, she snored into the carpet until I lifted her under her arms and led her into the bedroom.

When he came home, her dad was able to help, laying down with her at 8:30, snuggled between the bears, Groovy Girls, babies, stuffed monster toys ("But they're nice monsters, Mommy!"), a red Chevy Impala and the porcelain music box she likes to sleep with on her pillow, close to her ear. We're glad we've got a double bed in her room, for nights like this.

As I type this, she's gone up for an afternoon snooze, sweaty and sticky with sunscreen. I'll wake her this time, after an hour or so. With a kiss.

What she doesn't like about Jesus

Conversation with Rowan as we walked the dog, Saturday evening.

"So, you're going to go to Bible school next week!"

"What will I do there?"

"Hear stories, do crafts, play games, sing songs..."

"What else?"

"Learn about Jesus! He's a pretty awesome guy, right?"

"Yeah," she says. "But I don't like his hair!"

She is so much cooler than I ever will be

La Petite Girl Destroy, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Who could resist putting a 3-year old in an AC/DC t-shirt? Not me. I am soooooooo Target's demographic.

BTW, the app that did the effect is FXCamera for Droid. We had a ball playing with it.

Bonds

Jeff and Anya, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

Our first little girl was so much. She changed us, from a couple into a family of three, from marrieds into marrieds with kids, from people into parents. She was a challenge from day one, and never let us forget who was in control. One hundred percent her own person, she let us know her when she was ready. She was nothing we expected, always a surprise. Never easy.

So many parents say they bonded with their child before they even left the hospital. An instant link, stronger than they ever thought possible.

It didn't work that way for me, the first time. It took longer than I thought it should have, months rather than minutes. I felt terribly guilty for that. But though it was a slower process, the bond is strong, deep, lasting. Enmeshed. Now I can't imagine a world without her, a time without her, as if she was always there, before.

And the second time, it's different again.

The instant bond, it happened. The moment she was in my arms, she was mine and I knew her. The glow was instantaneous. I slipped into the old routines, the ones so hard won, broken in and comfortable. The easy baby they all talk about: zen, calm, predictable. A delight, a snuggler, smiling and relaxed.

Perhaps it's partly due to confidence, a knowledge of my own parenting abilities, or simple genetics, but whatever it is, this time it is easier. This time, the feelings of guilt are for the relief I feel, the ease I didn't have with my first baby. But it is what it is. Every moment with Rowan was worth it, and every moment with Anya is, too. They are just different.

As I typed this, Rowan came down the stairs in her favorite pink nightgown, fuzzy and worn. She sat on the floor next to her sister's bouncy chair, hugged her, and serenaded her with "I love you, a bushel and a peck!" She then came to me, and sang it again, hugging me around my "pretty neck", and ending with a big kiss.

I am so very blessed.

Dimple!

Anya, 8 weeks: Dimple!, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

She's changing so quickly. Gaining weight, outgrowing her newborn clothes, and even some 0-3 month ones, holding her head up and making her voice heard. She's bigger than her sister and has a very different personality, though she looks so much like her. Anya loves Devo, long walks outside, warm baths, and snuggling. She hates her car seat with a passion, and for some reason, cucumbers make her poo green. She still nurses like a champ, and is a great sleeper, though not quite as much during the day as she used to (but still sleeps well at night, so I am not complaining!) Her right cheek has a little dimple that up until now has only been visible while she's nursing. I was thrilled to pull up this photo in iPhoto and find it there for all to see.

With the second one, there are never as many photos. Too busy taking care of two little miracles--picture time gets taken over by juice-fetching, bottom wiping, and tea party having. Hopefully, I can sneak in a few here and there, though. These are moments I do not want to forget.

I finally admit it. I am no longer a size 8.

And I probably never will be. And that's OK.

Over the past few weeks, in stolen moments, I have been going through my closet and purging things that are worn out, out of style, too short, too tight, or too uncomfortable.  Many items came from my teaching days before we moved to France, so they were pretty ancient, and unlikely to be worn again. The entire trunk of our car is full of bags of clothes and shoes on the way to Goodwill. And honestly, I'm sure there is more that should be in there, but I just got to the point where I needed the process to be done.

And when it was, I still had little to wear. The closet is full of clothes, but there were very few pants or skirts that I could fit into and I liked. But I'm trying to be a grown up. It's time to accept it. I've had 2 children, and I have never had abs of steel, even before my babies grew under them. My clothes just don't fit the same, and may never again. And that's OK. Our daughters are worth that price.

I bought two new pairs of pants the other day. I don't like the numbers on the tag, but I like the way they fit. I like being able to breathe. I like the confidence I have when I know I look good again. And I'm worth it, too.

Hero

Kai Lan and Rowan, originally uploaded by MrsBinParis.

I may not be a big fan of amusement parks, weird characters in giant suits, and souvenir shops, but the joy and wonder on her face when she saw Kai Lan was worth the admission price. So glad that Nickelodeon now sponsors the park at the Mall of America.

Guess we will be going to Disneyland at some point after all.