Jan 29, 2016

Five on Friday

1.  I have a FOUR YEAR OLD.  I'm still in complete befuddlement on how this is remotely possible. She started out Wednesday with pancakes with sprinkles.  Oh, to be four.

We had mani-pedis yesterday for her birthday present.  She sat perfectly still the entire time, and didn't make a peep.  Her only movement was to look over at me and grin.  It was so out of character- she does the same thing when getting her face painted or her hair cut.  Maybe I need to have more beauty treatments for my kiddo when I need her to tone down the volume.  My parents, brother & SIL and niece came over for pizza and cake on Wednesday.  My kids had possibly taken some sort of stimulant without my knowledge, or else I need to have the entire family over my often.  They were zooming with excitement.  I was ready for bed by 7:30, ha!

2.  Sunday is Deeds' birthday- TWO!  That's when we could schedule Dell Harper's party (I don't do parties until they are 3 and can remember enough to thank me later).  However, he's getting to piggy back on her celebration, with lots of his little buddies invited to the Halloween extravaganza as well.

Yep.  She wanted a "smooooookkkyyy (spooky) Halloween party", and that's what my girl is getting. Just love her to pieces.

3.  We went swimming at the Y yesterday afternoon.  It was a fun change of pace. And an excellent energy buster.  Deeds was very upset to leave.


It had me thinking about new swimsuits, and longing for some cute coverups.  Zulily has Splendid swimwear on sale right now!    I haven't ordered anything yet, but love this sassy one-piece.  There's very few sassy one-pieces I've met that I haven't loved.  It could be the name of my band.

4.  Book of the Week-

The Lakehouse by Kate Morton

Here's the blurb from Publisher's Weekly-

Bestselling storyteller Morton (The Secret Keeper) excels in this mystery set against the gothic backdrop of 1930s England. In Cornwall, the wealthy Edevane family prepares for its annual midsummer ball at Loeanneth, their isolated estate. That night, teenager Alice Edevane is lingering near the nursery when someone kidnaps the cherished Edevane son, Theo; despite a lengthy investigation, he is never found. The story moves forward to 2003 London, where Det. Sgt. Sadie Sparrow is suspended after speaking to the media about a missing-person case, recently closed, that haunts her. Sparrow seeks refuge with her grandfather in Cornwall. On her first morning run there, she finds the now-dilapidated Loeanneth mansion deep in the woods. Curious, Sparrow peers through the windows into tumbledown rooms abandoned in haste long ago. She begins to investigate the 70-year-old Edevane case with help from the Cornwall locals, including a retired copper who was there in 1933 when Theo disappeared. Sparrow locates the now-elderly Alice, a celebrated mystery writer in London, who hands over the keys to the estate so Theo’s case can be reopened. The compelling story moves back and forth in time as Sparrow uncovers what happened to Theo in 1933 while also resolving the recent missing-person case. Morton’s plotting is impeccable, and her finely wrought characters, brought together in the end by Sparrow’s investigation, are as surprised as readers will be by the astonishing conclusion.

It was excellent- one of my favorites of Morton's books.  The ending was a bit too tidy, but hell, sometimes one just wants everything wrapped up in a neat little box with a pretty bow.  I actually listened, instead of turning pages.  This allowed me to go about my life, instead of abandoning all duties to find out what happens.


So Vanity Fair this month is excellent as well.  Kept me entertained through Dell Harper's gymnastics class, and numerous realizing soaks in the tub- sabotage at England's top dog show, Megyn Kelly, Zealander Proust Questionnaire, and the aforementioned article puff piece on Lynn Wyatt, which sent me down a Lynn Wyatt rabbit hole.  A shallow one landed me on this National Geographic article on River Oaks/Houston.  Oh, so interesting.

Lynn Wyatt seems like she has a great attitude.  And a great closet.  And a teeny- tiny waist.

 I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend- Dell Harper and I are off to a fancy girl's night- dinner before the theater downtown (Peppa Pig Live).  Not gonna lie, I'm pretty excited.  Just love that little British pig.

Thanks for hosting Five on Friday ladies!









Jan 25, 2016

A (Snow) Day in the Life

Ready for a long and exhausting day?  Try a snow day with an almost 2 year old, and almost 4 year old. . . (note, now that I'm on the other side of a Z-pac and a steroid pack, this day does not seem quite so daunting.  In the throes of an unrelenting, hacking dry cough that left bowed over, it was a bit hellish).

Last Tuesday night, based on the prediction of snow, the county cancelled school.  Which meant preschool is also cancelled.  I called into work, letting them know stuff would be delayed- drawbacks of working from home, pro of working for your family).

I was surprised to wake up to actual snow.

The kids were ecstatic  and wanted to dash out immediately, while I had to mull over where I had stashed snowsuits during last year's Amazon ordering frenzy.

I delay the cold-immersion by bribing them with pancakes and bacon, while I wake up with a chai tea latte, made with some chai tea and Cruze Farm's chai milk (amazing!!).  The kids watch some Disney Junior and drink milk.  Morgan is getting ready for work during the morning hubbub (I'm the morning person in the relationship).


My snow day outfit.  Old Navy sweat pants and slippers for the win, folks!

After breakfast it's off to the races.  We head up to the guest room, where the kids have created their own indoor gym.
Safety first!

Then we play hide and seek.

Buddy in the pillow pit.
After about and hour and a half of this I'm worn out.  I capitulate to demands for a "show" (my flagging energy is later explained by a bronchitis diagnosis a day later).

After 23 minutes of relative peace, we are back in business.  I get out the "messy sand" hoping it will help me get this laundry folded.


It's only 10:00 AM at this point.

I get the laundry folded, and locate snow clothes.  We get dressed.  This takes approximately 49 minutes.  Seriously.

But then. . .SNOW!



Not enough for sledding yet, so the kids get out their ride-able scooter things.  We stay out for about an hour.

Lunch for all is lemon chicken soup from the freezer, oranges, and crackers.



Dell Harper has a clothing change due to enthusiastic soup consumption.  Deeds helps me vacuum up all the errant messy sand, while DH hides in her room.  He loves the "coom" and she hates it.

Then I get out the play dough.

I start to prep the dinners I'm making for friends who recently had babies, while they dough it up.

Then about 1:30, it's finally nap time for Deeds and rest time for Dell Harper.

The snow is coming down even harder.  DH settles in my bed for her allowed iPad time, while I dash into the dining room to dab some paint on a dream of a sunny pastoral day.


Then I get to work on French chickens in the pot for my baby dinners, along with pureed cauliflower and lemon garlic green beans.


I then join Dell Harper and cuddle up in my bed.  She works on a sticker letter/number workbook.

I peruse the latest Garden and Gun, and, perhaps, snooze just a bit.

After a solid 2.5 hour nap for Deeds, it's time for sledding.  I get everyone back in their gear.  Morgan arrives home from work, and joins us, before delivering the baby dinners for me.  Luckily they are both going to neighbors, so he doesn't have to drive too far.


















I get everyone out of snow clothes, and the kids play while I get our dinner together.  Chili and tamales from the freezer.  Have I mentioned how much I love a well-stocked freezer yet? Ha!

We all devour dinner- starting without Morgan who is still out delivering food. Normally we all eat together, but we are STARVING from all the sledding.  He gets back and I make him a plate. Kiddos run around a bit more, while I clean up and Morgan eats.

He puts Deeds to bed, while I take on Dell Harper.  Four books each, a few songs, and prayer, then lights out for both at 7.  Much like me, they are exhausted!

While Morgan takes a work call, I clean up the house, (dishes, countertops, sweeping, loads of laundry and dishwasher, putting up snow gear, etc.).  When we both finish up, we curl up on the couch in the family room and rent Straight Outta Compton.  Morgan and I both give it two thumbs up, then crawl into bed (while simultaneously wikipedia-ing Suge Knight).

After a couple pages of my book (some Aunt Dimity mystery nonsense, that was perfect for a snow day, and my depleted brain), I am out.  Ready for school tomorrow, right?

Ha, of course not- kids don't have school the rest of the week. . .ah, snow in the South.

Jan 22, 2016

Five on Friday

1.  Snow!





We are on day 3 of snow days (there is currently a teaspoon of snow on the ground, but whatever, school system).  It's been fun, but I'm ready to get back to a routine.  And work, since I'm about a week behind between the holiday on Monday and missing 3 more days of school.  At least today we can get out and about.

2.  Bronchitis

Compounding my chagrin at endless snow days?  A dry hacking cough that was keeping me up all night for the past week.  Convinced to go to the doctor finally by Morgan and my mom, I feel a lot better now that I'm on a steroid, prescription cough suppressant and antibiotic.  Thank the Lord for modern medicine!



3.  Local News Jazzercise Fame

I walked into 4:30 Jazzercise a couple weeks ago. It had been a nutty day, and although I usually leave the house with a modicum of makeup, this day I decided that I was just running to jazz, so I didn't need to bother.  Also hadn't bothered with washing my hair in 3 days or so (I had bathed in this interim, just not washed my hair).

Lo and behold, when I skulk into class, there are news cameras there.  To film us.  Exercising. Aerobicizing. Dancing.  Oh, law.  It was a disaster.  But too late to leave.

They were filming a segment on one of our token Jazzer-men, who turned 70 this week, and look about 55.

4.  Gap Breathe Tops

At least I was wearing my new favorite work out clothes- these soft cottony tops from Gap are amazing.

The perfect amount of fitted but not too clingy.  Pick one up on sale, and you will be smitten too.

5.   In addition to modern meds, this week I am also so thankful for my washer and dryer.  Snowy clothes in, then warm dry things out minutes later.  DH loves everything when it's "Soooo toasty!".  Me too, sister.

Linking up with the Five on Friday ladies!