Choose ONE

If you had to choose just one, which photo looks the most like her? Which one do you like the best?

She loves her new haircut! She is sending her braid in to Pantene Beautiful Lengths (they do not charge for their wigs, take min 8" and make wigs for adult women with cancer, too, not just kids). G-ma Sandy says it ages her, in good ways. G-pa John says she looks like a completely different person. Said he couldn't wait for her aunt Sara to see! (She is a makeup-wig-hair specialist)

Mailing Madness-so it's VIRTUAL for now!

The Post Offices are crowded crazy today. So hard copies may come later to family far away, after Christmas...

A friend who haikus for fun asked for entries starting with "In this house..."  
 
 



















Suzanna
In this house I harp
Not complaining but strumming
Music floats upward.

Maxwell
In this house we sing
Hymns of Gratitude and Praise
Thanks to God above.

Stewart (applies to RJ & Sam, too)
In this house kids play
Blissful electronic toys
Blocks, dolls forgotten.

Emmalyn
In this house peace reigns
"I love you" and hugs abound
Kindness softens hearts.


I submitted one for each child and 4 were selected for this book. She also asked for quilt blocks, a paper-pieced pattern she designed, but we could choose whatever fabrics. These are my two submissions, both in the big quilt. That is me cooking in one window, and two kids doing dishes in the other! Great set up, someone to clean up after I do the cooking! I am teaching them how to cook more, so that may change...

She's HOME!

I love this picture of Emma, home! In the living room!

We got back from the athletic club and red-comfortable-waterproof-shoe shopping (40% discount at Sears on all Land's End goods) and saw 2 messages blinking on the phone. "I bet one of those is Gpa John wanting to talk to you!" Yes, and they said they would come over sometime today to see her.

They were here in less than 5 minutes!

I loved listening to her answer their questions: what was your worse final? Physics. What was your favorite class? Biology.

Her hair has grown even longer. Tomorrow she makes a visit to Geri (H for Hair Talent), to see what cut and style she would recommend.

Pie Night tonight for EQ activity. John made 3 grapefruit pies last night for it and hopes people come. Spouse invited (or dates, Emma is his other date tonight) but no kids.

I'm officially a wrestling mom!

A couple of months ago our high school junior came home and announced that he wanted to join the wrestling team. Out of the blue for us. He had researched what he needed to do, gone to the info meeting, and had forms for us to sign, uniform fees, doctor permission slip, fundraiser event...He has never wrestled before.

We actually have kind of nerdy-geeky kids. They haven't begged for sports activities and we haven't gone out of our way to push them, except Church YM basketball.

What an intense sport! Today was my first time seeing high school wrestling live. I picked up Roxie and Sam from school and we walked over to the high school, paid our entrance fee ($8)and found seats on the bleachers in the big gym. Gpa John joined us before Stewart was up.

I got a crash-course in following the rules, understanding what the ref was saying (green arm band hand for home team) and what was good, what was bad. From other matches/meets Stewart has brought home medals. He got 3 pins yesterday at an away match.

Weight matters. And it's polite and okay to talk about it in this context. He has a BMI of 15, dense muscles, tough and tall. Today he wrestled 189. "I did all right. I didn't do my best, though. The guy gave me some openings and I didn't take them..." They both looked tired by the end. He scored 4, opponent was behind-but scored within last few seconds; so tied after the 3 periods, and into overtime, and the guy from Howard county got the next take down (not a pin) scored 2 points and won. Coach said be more aware of the time, back off last 10 seconds next time.

The coach knows Gpa John and told him Stewart is probably the most coachable wrestler he has, he really listens to what the coach says, does it. Eats oatmeal right before the match, like the coach suggested. (Stewart and I were talking about food, and he said maybe nobody else knows how to make it, and don't cook from scratch at home, like we do?)

Living with a Spouse: Reading BLOGS & Night Notebooks

I told John he is a bad client. I was trying to paint. He was home teleworking and kept talking to me, interrupting, being cute, but distracting. I told him a few minutes later the witty-banter I should have said earlier, "Hey, honey, can't talk, I'm on the clock!"




Friend Nicole asked the question: "Does your husband read your blog?"

I've been thinking about this a lot. Yes, he reads mine, and some of yours.

Here is some of my very long comment-answer on her blog and some additional thoughts:

Umm, I don't share well, or maybe I am very territorial? John has his own blog. Yes, he reads mine, asks me questions about it (never comments). He can't check them at work, but does when he is home and has spare time. He loves the blog kingdom! But he is a big talky-talk guy, and anything I write he is curious about.

We started doing the notebook letters at night, so I know each night he reads at least one letter I have written. Tiffany told me about these nightly letters (from an Oprah show?) where each spouse writes in a plain old school notebook a one page letter to the other spouse, and the next night you can read what they wrote and respond to questions, ask your own, comment on life, compliment them, write them encouragement or lists (no, not Honey-Do lists, but things you dream about, need, wish you had for your birthday kind of lists). We've been writing every night for...months now?

It has been a nice way to talk about things that we haven't told each other, leave messages, sometimes I even draw him pictures to tell him about my day. A couple of times when one of us was picking up a son very late from a late concert I have written in one without him, and leave the other out on the countertop for him to write in before he comes to bed...Oh, and I never peak at what he has written until night-time. The anticipation is nice, knowing there is a letter there at the end of the day just for me!

Moral of the long comment: if you want your sweetie to read what you write, write it just to him, and stick it in front of his face, in bed. He can't miss it!

Straight A Teenager

  This is Suzanna not wanting to have her picture taken--with the handful of other 8th graders who got 4.0 first term. Tough to be 13 and your mom has the camera in your face... 
 

2 short videos...

Each auxilliary was responsible for a number on the program. The RS president delegated to her husband,who sang a solo. John as EQ president recruited Suzu,Max,Stewart and Devin to help,(future elders, in 2 years)


Sam's SCHOOL band and choral concert was wonderful. He and two boys weren't on the program, but the music teacher introduced them saying this year she has some great guy singers, who start stuff in class on their own.