So proud!

My niece, Emma, has been going to Pioneers at church this last year. So, SO weird, because I feel like it was just yesterday that my sister and I were going to Pioneers! She loves it, and this last week they had a "closing ceremonies" for this year. They gave out awards, and she got the award for Leadership. I am so proud of that little girl! She has such a kind, sweet heart. She loves everyone and she just exudes kindness to people. Way to go, Emma!



Here's another really cute picture, just for fun.

My parents are going here in a few weeks. I am so excited for them! My mother taught French when they were first married, and always wanted to go. She is also an artist and an art history buff, so the Louvre is like the mother ship calling her home. To prepare they are watching movies about France, and calling each other "La Mere" and "Le Pere."

Even I benefit from this trip! I have a pair of fantastic travel shoes that I never wear. My mom fell in love with them, and I told her to take them. She liked them so much, she's keeping them and buying me these.

Updated Earle Page

Here are the new Lucy pages on th Earle homepage. I'm also going to start working on our house pictures. I want to show it to the lady who used to own our house. =)

I also made these tonight. Super easy, super yum!

Four Generations

Lucy met her Great Aunt and Great Grandfather this weekend. I love that Lucy gets to meet her Great Grandfather. He is in good health, so she will have plenty of time to get to know him. I have been wishing my grandmother could have seen her. I find that I am subconsciously doing things with Lucy that my grandmother did with my mom, and I wish I could talk to her about it. The trip went great with Lucy--she was a great traveler. Had a wonderful time with Grammie and Grandpa, and a fun time with the Nord/Hofers too. Yay!

A little trip

Picture posted just because it's cute. =)
Well, we are leaving my brother at the helm this weekend to treck north. We have been hearing the relatives bemoaning that Lucy is growing up too quickly, so off we go. Bud will hold the fort, and we'll hope no birdies die in the pool this time.

Take and Read

Another list is in order. Here are some of my favorite, favorite books (though I think I'm missing some. I think reading is somehow sacred. It is delicious to sit with a cup of tea and a good book. There are few things lovelier.

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Mansfield Park – Jane Austen
Emma – Jane Austen
The Count of Monte Cristo – Alexander Dumas
Les Miserables – Victor Hugo
David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
Wives and Daughters – Elizabeth Gaskell
The Jack Aubrey Series – Patrick O’Brian
The James Herriot books
The Anne of Green Gables books
The Lord of the Rings trilogy – J.R.R. Tolkein
The Narnia books – C.S. Lewis

Please do comment! I want to know your favorite books!

First Mother's Day

It feels so strange. I almost don't want anyone to make a fuss over me. I mean, Mother's Day is for my mom. I just told Steve I don't want to cook and I don't want to change the monster poop that is due. I think that sounds like a pretty good Mother's Day. I think Mother's Day will be especially great when Lucy and her siblings learn to say it and make toast for me. In the mean time, I want to just be thankful for this sweet little girl, even at 5 a.m. (you couldn't pick today to do one of your awesome 8 a.m. wake ups?). And I want to take a moment to appreciate my own dear Mother. She is such a wonderful, beautiful woman--my best frend! One of the coolest things ever is that she got to be there when I became a mother. I will always remember seeing her start to cry when Lucy was born, and the way she cuddled her in the middle of the night so I could sleep that first week. I love you, Mom! Your card was so beautiful.

And a big thanks to Ms. Nomer for her gorgeous card! I feel loved!

Dead Ants Walking

Update on my ants: they are wandering around the bathroom, sad and desolate, and choosing corners to die in. DIE!! DIE!!! Even if that means I have to sweep multiple times today.

Apologies to Zeke

First let me say that I've come to have a friendly affection for Van Morrison. But really, this man makes his LIVING as a SINGER? Really, folks, how has he fooled us all into thinking he is a vocalist? And yet I listen occasionally.

Two days in a row my postman for some reason refused to take a box that is going back to the company, clearly FROM me, TO the company; clearly marked "NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES." Two days in a row, people. I'm disappointed because I was starting to have a maternal appreciation for the mailman. I worry about his sense of purpose because I shred or recycle 90% of what he delivers within 90 seconds of its arrival.

Went to the jewelry store today to exchange a Christmas gift. Steve bought me earrings with the February birthstone, as you may remember. He figured he was safe... I was due smack in the middle of February. Twelve days in, to be exact. So Lucy came 16 days early. I am exchanging them for garnet earrings. The jeweler is a friend, a former student who I always say OWES ME BIG for all the times I helped him out. =) He is a kind man, and totally just loves hand crafting jewelry. He took one look at my ring and asked if he clean it. It looks gorgeous and sparkly!!

I told him I would be sending Steve there for our 10th anniversary, as I know exactly what I want. When we were engaged, I found this beautiful band of tiny diamonds that was delicate and just breathtaking. It wasn't what we were looking for at the time, but I've always remembered it. Well, Kevin pulled out all these beautiful rings he'd made, and I just had fun looking at them. I get to go back in 2 weeks to pick up the earrings, as he is setting them in white gold for me (they were set in yellow). I'd better go remembering I have just quit my job to stay home with my daughter and THAT is the most important thing. =)

And most important of all, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! He's a ripe old 58, which seems so young to me now. He is one of the two men I respect most in the world, a wonderful man of integrity, generosity and honor. I'm so proud of him, and I will be forever grateful that God saw fit for him to bring my little girl into the world. Here's to another 58 years, Dad.

Bedtime

My girl is asleep, it's time for bed, but I just can't manage to go put her down. I am typing with one hand and the other is cradling her and my head is resting on her head, smelling that indescribable, unbottlable baby smell. I don't think I ever knew I could love someone this much. It makes my heart ache! This is just one of those moments I want to remember because already it is slipping away. She has already said goodbye to her newborn days, and i can hardly remember what it was like when she was so very little. But then, the new stuff is so cool. Her sqwaks and babblings are too precious. Grown men say "awww." Anyway... time for sleep and good dreams. Oh, by the way, dreamt she learned how to give me a kiss!

All that is random and good

I haven't been terribly inspired to write this last week, but life has been very satisfying in all those miniscule ways. The exterminator came Friday to inflict hymenopteric genocide. Ah, the satisfaction of it all. Of course, it's pretty gross to see tons of ants who chose a burial at sea (the pool), but to me it's worth it! Cycle them through, oh filter, and take them to their watery mass grave.

This weekend, errands, errands. Got the announcements out after many frustrating delays. The sad, sad thing is that I thought of something very cool I should have put on the announcement. I should have added that she was delivered by her grandfather. But they're in the mail before her 4-month birthday, so I'm happy.

Lucy rolled over! She was chasing her thumb to suck on it, and rolled to her side, then kind of just kept going! She's only repeated it a few times, but it was great excitement in the Earle Estate.

I have my outfit put together for the wedding/cruise. Got the shoes today, but alas, they were too small. When the 10's arrive, I will be so happy, as even the 9's, while small, were super comfy and very cute.

However, just discovered there's a formal night on Saturday. Do I go for "dressed nice" or do I pull out an old formal and suck in my breath, hoping I actually fit into it? I fit back into my jeans, right? So maybe I can fit into my sister-in-law's old bridesmaid dress (one of the few that actually looks cute and not too bridesmaid-y). We shall see.

Dad Earle stayed a few days with us after their Panama Canal cruise, which ended in San Diego. We always enjoy having him around. He "tinkers" around the house, which I love. He is great company, and I really enjoy him. Mom Earle decided to fly immediately back to Nebraska to help Grandma get moved into a higher care facility, as her health has declined very rapidly lately. She turned 94 yesterday, and has been in very good health until about January. We are so sad to hear this, but are glad we had so many great opportunities to be with her these last few years.

Worked in the yard a bit, which was surprisingly satisfying. Still can't get the weeds under control, which is maddening, but we're working on it.

I am uninspired for meals this week. I usually get all excited about what to make and enjoy the shopping, planning and prepping. But for some reason I just can't get a lot of good ideas. I will do spaghetti tomorrow, which tells you where I am. Luckily I had planned meals into tonight, so we will have Paella tonight. Yum!

And there you have my minutiae.

Humility

My former Dean is retiring this year, and we are having a party for him tomorrow. I was asked to be in a small choir to sing a spoof song from Bye-Bye Birdie with words re-written for him. (Did that make sense? It's late!) Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes, but I think I'm about to lay my dignity on the line for my former boss. What am I thinking??

Mmm, Tacos!

My contribution to clear, logical immigration debates: kick-@#% tacos! (See, I have a clean mouth now!) I have always used the taco packets from the store, but on my weekly cooking show they had an awesome recipe for tacos, so I decided to try it out. Oh my was it tasty! I also have never believed in packaged taco shells, so the fried tortilla shells of course accompanied. I would never have guessed they added brown sugar and cider vinegar! Do check out the recipe... I don't think I can post it, but linking is fine.

@#$%!

I have to tell this story because it is just too funny. You miss the voice inflections, which really tell the story, but you'll get the gist. When I was in the sixth grade I made a conscious decision (I still remember doing this) to start cussing. I was sick and tired of being teased for being a goody two shoes, and wanted to divert attention away from it. Well, it worked! I got just the "respect" and "attention" that I wanted, and people stopped teasing me for awhile about the grades and for never getting in trouble. Well, one day I was with my mom and my sister, and I think I must have dropped something. I opened my mouth and dropped the s-bomb. My mother stopped what she was doing, slowly turned her head toward me and said, "What did you say?" I quickly looked for a way out... any way out! "Uh, Uh, Sari taught me to say that!" "Oh no you don't, you're not pinning that one on me!" I knew I was beaten. I don't even think I was punished for it, consequently.

The funny thing is that when I got into high school I developed a crush on a guy at school (who amazingly liked me back), he basically said, "I like you, but you should stop cussing." I said, "Ok," and I've had a clean mouth ever since. Just like that!

The ants go marching, milling, nibbling...

Last night I was sitting in my chair nursing Lucy when I noticed an ant biting me. It wasn't one of the ants I'm accostumed to, the black carpenter ants. It was a tiny red ant that I'd never seen before. I felt like a cartoon who was zoomed in on the one ant, then zoomed out, then out again to see all these ants crawling all over the burp rag, the nursing pillow and my chair. I frantically gave the (luckily contented) baby to my brother who was luckily at hand, and set about to vacuum them up and figure out what to do next. It completely freaked me out, because I didn't know if these were just small fire ants (a friend very recently had her daughter bitten by hundreds of fire ants), or what they were, so I was completely freaked out. To be sitting cozily in my chair feeding my baby, then feel completely invaded was a bit nightmarish. I think I have a phobia or something, because it took me a couple of hours to settle down again. I have a pretty clean mouth (I'll have to tell the story behind that later), but I reserve one bad word for ants, which basically describes them literally and metaphorically. In essence, I make sure people know that their parents were never married.

Three Months??

Where did 3 months go? I should have posted this 2 days ago, but I'm sure Lucy will forgive me.







As I write this post, I cannot get a Sting song out of my head... You know, it's the one that goes, "That's my baby--she can be all four seasons in one day." Tried to get a few pictures to demonstrate.

One Happy Grammie!

That's the picture of contentment... Come on, you know you want to say it... AWWWWWWW!!!

Thanks for the great visit, Grammie! What a gift for this little girl to be with her Grammie.

Congrats to Colleen!

Welcome, Timothy Lamar Johnson! This is my friend from the MOL program. When we first started the program, the two of us talked a lot about whether or not we wanted to start families, and then we found out we were pregnant around the same time! Little Timothy was the same size as Lucy, but a whole pound heavier!!

I've told Lucy she's allowed to date Timothy, Micah Watson, Nicholas Geringer, or Colin Twisselmann. Oh, or either of the Himes boys. Or at least they can be her back-ups for prom if the person she likes doesn't ask her (which he will of course!), or if we decide he doesn't pass the Earle muster. =)

Red Bud

This is the view out my window. I love this tree. You can't see the shape exactly, but it has this lovely shape that reminds me of a Geisha doing a dance. It has small purple blossoms in the Spring, then gets these teeny-tiny heart-shaped leaves that grow into lovely big heart-shaped leaves. They start out dark purple, develop some green before turning yellow and orange and falling off in autumn. Then in winter, the branches still have that elegant Geisha dance pose. Its roots are unstable, as it was planted too shallow. A really good wind could take it down, though it is protected quite a bit by the house. If it were to fall, I would just cry!

The Announcements

Okay, it is sad, sad, sad that I am just now getting Lucy's Announcements out. She will be 3 months old next week! However, we finally have everything about ready to go. I had one of my favorite pictures of her printed, and the announcement (which I designed) has been ordered. Oh, and had to special order 4x6 envelopes... Office Max doesn't carry that size! Go fig. And I got these stamps because they are just way too cute!