Happy Day

Belle

Beautiful girl.  It was so nice to meet you today.  Come again soon.

 Assisted self-portrait.

A smile so big it closed your eyes.

Christmas Miracles

 Good eats.

 Mommy's hired elf (Seamstress Sandy).

 Sweet sweet Hank.

 Hank's sweet sweet gear.

 Best buns 2011.

Best view ever (but hey neighbor - cut it down or light it up would ya'?).

Today I got out of my car.

Today we walked past a cold man sitting with his duffel on a park bench near the coffee shop we were visiting.  I saw him wiping tears from his eyes with a rather old looking napkin (I'm sure the age of the napkin is irrelevant, but it made an impression on this excessive hand washer anyway).  I got what I needed and then sat in my car thinking about him and wondering what he was doing there; alone, cold, the day after Christmas, crying.  I must have sat in my car for 10 minutes trying to decide if I should do something for him, and what.  I've had these 'ideas' in the past, and easily ignored them, never sure if I would be safe to offer help or hissed at for my attempt at kindness.  I will admit, I have a general distain for 'pan handling' and other manner of begging.  However, this man expected nothing of me, even embarrassed to be seen crying by me.  Today I got out of my car.  I went back in the coffee shop and then walked over to offer him a large coffee and muffin.  His gratitude humbled me to tears.  It shook me, and for a while.  I don't cry often, but when I do I'm hard to stop.  An endearing quality?  No, definitely not.  Anyway, I am certain I have never made another person so happy with 5 minutes and 5 dollars.  I am changed and will hesitate no more.

Merry McDougalls

A Happy Christmas to you and all yours.

Good Cheer

We're down south helping my Mom recover from surgey.  I am tasked with the less important jobs (housekeeping, nutrition and general maintenance) but the kids have been working on some very special presentations as the cheer squad.  This is tonight's Christmas pageant.  Enjoy.

The Santa Hat

Never a dull moment in the santa hat.  Always a good time.  We've been wearing them all weekend for no other reason than we like the way we look and the way people look at us.

Santa's Workshop

This year's project is not for my little helpers...but a couple very deserving young ladies I know and love.  I saw the idea in a mag., but knew I could do it!  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.  That's all it takes.

"I don't want to sit on that guy's lap."

No problem Lu, neither do I.  Henry on the other hand was happy to join the Boobsy Bobsy twins over there and see Santa.  Happy Christmas all.

Stuffed Turkey

What a Thanksgiving.  It was stuffed with...

 playing on the stairs

 a 24 hour kids table

 cousins

 walking to "Karaoke with Marcy" at the Lamplighter

 clamming

 goofing

 sneaky tides

 food

 more food

and good wine

We really hit it hard this Holiday.  However, it should be noted I did bring along my ab-roller for good measure.  Here's hoping your time was as good and full as ours.

Guest Ready

Just finished cleaning up the bathroom after Hank the plumber left today.  After removal, rehab and some serious cleaning, we were able to re-install the original 1939 Kohler tub, sink and toilet.  The built in cabinet mirror and sconce lights are also original to the loo.  This bathroom is charming and extra white and I love it.

Dimples McD

Dimples are a wonderful thing, because they remind you that someone is smiling.  Lu's are my personal favorite.

I want a bunny

Does anyone know anything about these guys?  Is this a bad idea?  What do they need?  Are they nice or nasty?  Will they survive a Winter with heat lamps outside?  Am I crazy?

We are so lucky...

...to have been raised amongst catalogues. (<---watch me)

I am having so much fun flipping through all of the catalogues this year.  Full of ideas, Christmas wishes and memories.  I don't care if I'm early this year...I'm in the the spirit.  Our adopted family is not going to know what hit them this year.  I feel the Christmas Crazy coming on. 

Jackpot

Well, it's out.  The coin is no more lodged in the belly of this little lunatic.  Despite my diligence, somehow it evaded us.  Probably made it's exit on volleyball night (wednesdays) when Daddy stays home.  Who, cares really?  It's gone.

Too Late to Boo?

H. A. Double L. O. W. Double E. N. spells it.  A wonderful weekend spent with cousins, good food (thanks for the crab Al!) and lots of movie watching and misc. merriment.  The good news, we get to do it all over again in a couple weeks.  Hip hip for Halloween.

Progress

Progress has been made on the ol' basement project.  There is still much to do; paint the doors, paint and install trim work, also trim out the electrical (happening tomorrow), some touch up painting of the concrete walls and galvanized pipes, not to mention the whole bathroom needs to be tiled and have fixtures installed.  But for now, I am enjoying what has been done.  I think we'll even be able to watch Cailou on-demand down there tomorrow.  Thank God!

Can I borrow your headgear?

A letter came home from school about head lice yesterday.  Nice.  And since that is the last thing we need crawling around over here, I went straight to my hippy friend at Metro Market and she set me up with some Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and concentrated Tea Tree Oil to put behind the kids' ears.  She said lice do not like Tea Tree Oil and somehow it "gives them the impression that you are not human".   Ok.  Well, hopefully the hippy will win out on this one, because it would be awfully nice if this worked as a preventative measure.  And in my germaphobe world, option two is pulling Henry out of school.  Seriously.

Get to the funny part already!  Well, in reading through the pamphlet the Health Department sent home, I found these words of wisdom, "Use disposable shower caps when headgear must be worn by different children."  I'm not sure what's grosser, lice or sharing headgear?  Yuck.  And I'm certain that the only thing geekier than headgear is having to wear a shower cap underneath it?  TGIF...tomorrow.