hello, december

We've been having some fun around these parts the last several weeks with very little photographic evidence. Sorry!

Had a surprise scotch-tasting party for the man a couple of weekends ago. It was far too much fun. How cute of a kid was this guy? Oh, my goodness! Sadly, we didn't get any snaps at the party, but the two included were of the morning after.




Went to STL for Thanksgiving. My grandmother has made the decision to sell her house and move into a retirement community. She has decided that the house is a bit too much for her. Mind you her house is spotless and the woman has more energy at 87 than I think I have ever had! I was sent home with some fantastic vintage fabric, a swan planter and this beautiful pink serving bowl. I'm proud of her for making the choice, it will be good for her to be around other people again. But I will miss the house I was practically raised in.



Painted the 2nd floor bathroom, just days before the party. That's my style -- to completely change a room when I should just be cleaning it. It did get a good cleaning in the process though, so that counts for something.

Put up the tree last night. Riley likes to place every ornament on a single branch. So it's pretty cute with giant clusters of shiny goodness and then completely naked areas. Oh, well. I am trying not to control everything! Well, I'm getting better anyway.



It's way after lunch and Lola is still wandering around in her pjs and robe because it is freezing in the house! And because she looks so cute!

no school today

R. had parent/teacher conferences at school today and had the day off. Our weather has been unseasonably warm for November, so we spent most of the day outside. Our day included a long walk to school for his conference (excellent report, with only a couple of things to work on), lunch with Aaron and then the library and then the long walk back home. We spent the morning and afternoon collecting leaves and looking into waterless fountains and crawling around the kid's corner at the library. It's been a great day and I think everyone at this point could use a nap!

Vader's Pumpkin Patch

Luke, I am your father and I insist you take a hayride to our corn maze. Or something like that. James Earl Jones could pull it off, I think.

Playtime (or I know why the caged bird sings)

the kids are alright

We have been busy around these parts fancying up the house for out of town guests for Lola's birthday party. It was fantastic...we had such a lovely time. Pictures to follow on her actual birthday tomorrow! In the meantime, here are some shots from R's first ever soccer game. So what if the score was 10 to 0 in favor of those other kids in the orange shirts?!

It was so great to watch them all. It was almost as if they were playing dodge ball instead of soccer -- a huge clump of 7 and 8 year olds would chase the ball in any number of directions and then run away from it when they caught up to it. Too funny. They had much more success at their second game this weekend.

Hope your week is off to a good start. This week marks the beginning of working part time and keeping Lola home 3 days a week. We are loving it! We went for a long, long walk this morning and now she is snoozing with the sweetest little smile on her face. I couldn't be happier!

snaps

That's Riley on a recent trip to Powell Gardens. And L is just happy to be alive. Her new favorite toys are those that belong to big brother.

Seven days of Seven

Riley turned 7 yesterday and we have been celebrating around here for the last week. There was some face painting, some dancing, some cukecake eating, some homemade icecream eating, some present opening, some sugar overload, some friends and family visiting and then some sugar crashing. Love to you all!

P.S. His favorite present was a cheetah blanket that he had been coveting from TJ Maxx for about 3 months. It is very bachelor pad in his room now -- next year it'll be a live nude girls sign.

Oh, the places he'll go!

Riley graduated from Kindergarten last night. It was a wonderful program that included quotes from a number of presidents and songs about capitals. They were all cranked up to about 11 and had so much fun.

Riley was Abraham Lincoln and said with pride, "as I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master." JFK, John Adams and GWB were represented. All of the quotes were those that inspired and moved generations, well all but George Walker Bush. The only quote the teacher could think of was "no child left behind." There were audible smirks in the audience.

All of the kids worked so hard and were so sweet. We are so proud of Riley. He did so well and has known not only his line for weeks, but everyone else's as well. Such progress has been made this year. This was his second go'round for Kindergarten. Last year was such a struggle and he just wasn't ready. This year he has accomplished so much and grown up quite a bit. He is funny, charming, bright, creative, energetic, determined and a READER. Best decision I ever made. Look out 1st Grade here he comes!

Lola had fun at graduation, too. She sang along to each song with raspberries and squeals. Another 4 or 5 years, baby girl, and you will be there too!

oh mama

One lump or two?

Just returned from a Mother's Day Tea Party at Riley's school. The kids served their mamas a choice of hot or cold tea, assorted sweets and chips and salsa. He was so proud and couldn't stop hugging me. Completely made my day. Thank you, sweetest (Swedish) boy.

"Why do we have to feed her? She is going to have to learn to do that for herself, you know." says Riley, aka Dr. Phil Jr.

Quotes from the end of a day

R: I was not really thrilled with this day, actually.

Me: Oh, really? Why not?

R: I don't know.

Me: What do you think could make it better?

R: Well, soda would be a really good start, if you ever let me have that. Like duh.

Which craft?

I often have great intentions of being that certain breed of urban-chic mom. You know the type -- she crafts, bakes, sews with her kids, decorates with said craft/sewing projects, saves the planet/whales/cause of the week and still finds time to check out the latest, hippest local happening.

I am not that mom. Or at least not all at once. I figured (and my husband would often be quoted as saying) that I should just do it. Do something. So here goes nothing. All of my nonexistent readers out there can hold me accountable. Deal?

First task...record for posterity all of the Riley-isms that I carry around in my head. Many of these have already been past around anecdotally. But should be recorded nonetheless.

One of the earliest and most memorable was "The Dangerous Moves Academy". He was probably 2.5 -3 years old and he told me very matter-of-factly and on several occasions that before he was born he trained at the Dangerous Moves Academy. Apparently the "Academy" taught him how to be brave and do Dangerous Moves. The moves were mostly twirls and karate kicks, but every once and awhile they also included some sweet Henry Rollins-esque moshing.

Another classic from the early years:
Q: "How was school today?"
A" "LaPetite is for chumps."

And then he gets philosophical and starts to ask about death. Casually as he is playing on the living room floor he asks, "when you die and you're not a human anymore you go up with Kevin, right?". When asked who Kevin was he says, "he's the guy who teaches you Kung Fu."

So there you go.

He can always be counted on to say something very literal, funny and incredibly imaginative. Only to him it's the facts. Like did you know if you are bad to Santa then you get coleslaw? True story. You heard it here folks.

I know there are and will be hundreds more. I love you, Riley Ohs!

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