Halloween

My little Masha...  

 

 

 

So Bob found this Russian cartoon on Youtube a while ago.  It's pretty great.  Little miss loves it and it makes me laugh a lot.  It's a play on a Russian folk tale called Masha and the Bear.  Masha reminds me a lot of Cecily...  especially when Cecily is playing with Gus.

 

These are my two favorite episodes.

Cecily and I tagged along with Sharon and girls to trick or treat at Grandpa and Grandma Koch's and Grandpa and Grandma Beutel's house.  She totally didn't get it.  *grin*  Which is good because I have no desire to take her trick or treating around town ever. 

Blessings.

Firehot!

So this is mostly lots of pictures from the last few weeks...  I'm still sick, plus a cold, plus I'm lazy.  It's a great combination.  Every time I think I'm getting better I find myself getting up close and personal with the toilet...  speaking of which, anybody have any good tips for getting rid of blueish green mineral deposits in the toilet bowl?  Regular bowl cleaner does nothing.

 

 Snuggled up in the laundry basket with a book and my tiger costume.

 Grandma came over one afternoon and we went to Jeanne's sale... and read books with our glasses on.  We were not, however, brave enough to eat lunch on the pipe line lunch buses.  I think I regret that.

 
We made chocolate milkshakes one night; little miss was a fan.  She drank all of her "cocoa milk" and tried to steal Bob's too.

 One morning she woke up grumpy so I gave her pig tails.

 She was very pleased with herself and with her reflection. 

And one morning she insisted on wearing her birthday dress from Eden.  Over her pink and brown polka dot pajamas.  Quite the combo.  *grin*

Bob reinforced this little doll cradle because she does this...

 
We got this off craigslist for Cecily's new room.  It's still in the hallway because that bedroom is full of stuff that needs to go to the basement once the Legos are cleaned up a little more...  Anyway, after a good scrubbing and liberal dose of Orange Glo, I think it looks fabulous.   

 Speaking of Legos- little miss loves to help Daddy sort his toys.  Haha.  Or something. We actually have made some progress; all of the loose pieces are sorted by color and shape (into hardware and tackle organizers).  Now, he wants to build all the sets. 

 

 

Sunday evening our potluck had a wiener roast.  It was pretty cold and little miss kept spilling liquid on herself.  But I saw a shooting star!

 

Monday was a nice, relatively still day so I burned the massive pile of sticks that we have been accumulating.  July and August were too dry to burn, and we haven't really had a chance to since then.  So the pile was probably 4.5 feet tall and 5 foot in diameter. And Junior High P.E. was going on next door.  We had just gotten it lit when a football came over the fence, so I tossed it back.  The boys yelled, "Hey thanks lady, you're smoking hot!" *eye roll*  Middle school boys think they're sooo funny.  And then the whole pile erupted in flames and it was hot!  Cecily kept saying "Firehot" and backing farther and farther away, which is good.  And then the leaves on one of the lower branches of the closest tree caught fire.  And the football came over the fence again.  "Hey lady, your tree is on fire!"  Um... no really?  So yeah, I was afraid I was going to have to call the fire department for a few minutes there... that would have been embarrassing.   

 

It did calm down once the small dry stuff was gone.  So we watched it for a while and stamped out where it was burning into the grass...  fun times.  

Yesterday we took my chair over to Ron and Janet's for reupholstering.  Mom let me use the van since it doesn't fit in my car so we spent some time at the farm too.  Little miss got to see the cows, and play in the leaves with Gussy and Tate, and she got a wheel barrow ride...  she was not very happy to come home.

Blessings. 

The Cop

So today marks seven weeks of nausea.  I am so tired of being sick.  And I do not enjoy this.  Plus, I came down with a cold this weekend and can't breath (or sleep) very well.  Woot. 

Anyway, so you remember a couple of weeks ago I had a small run in with a cop?  Yeah, now I can tell you that whole story. 

I had left Nathan and Michelle's after singing practice...  to get back home, I turn west on a pretty nice, wide, quiet, street in Eureka.  The speed limit is still 25 there, though people go way faster because it goes out of town to the east.  Plus it's right by the college and you know what college kids are like.  *grin*  Anyway, it was dark, and there was what looked like a routine traffic stop on the other side of the road, so I slowed down a little bit, but there wasn't any other traffic and they had plenty of room.  As soon as I drove past, I saw somebody sprint across the road and get in another car.  And turn on the lovely flashing lights....

You have to remember that I have zero control of my emotions right now- the hormones rule (which I hate, but there's nothing I can do about it). I started shaking, and didn't stop.  So I pulled over, and the cop comes up and started yelling at me- "do you know how fast you were going? didn't you see us? we're trying to help a stranded motorist and you came flying by and didn't even slow down!"  Eesh.  Ok, so I probably was going more than 25, but not "flying"- my car doesn't have that much get up and go, especially since I had just turned a corner.   And he didn't have a radar gun, and there was no indication from them that it was anything other than a traffic stop (no extra lights, no reflective vests, cones, etc).  Anyway, I started crying.  I am not a crier.  And certainly not for a traffic stop with dubious cause. 

So the poor cop continues his lecture about how they just want to get home safe, why would you go so fast with a little one in the back, (seriously, I was going maybe 30) how he should have ticketed the guy who drove past right before me (*cough* Jake) and I'm sitting there crying like an idiot.  And not just a few tears, it was a full on, hormonally induced, shoulders shaking, ugly cry.  He finally stopped and asked if I was ok, and if I had any conditions that I was going to black out on him.  Haha.  O man.  And all I could say was "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" (both for speeding and for not being able to stop crying).  So he ended up writing me a warning.  Which is all he really could do, I didn't do anything wrong and he didn't have a radar gun... 

And then I cried most of the way home.  Seriously.  My ISTJ, usually very rational, non-emotional self hates what pregnancy hormones do to me.  I had calmed down by the time I got home enough to laugh at myself when I recounted my tale of woe to Bob.  hehe.  And I'm rather embarrassed and hope I never meet that cop again.  I mean, who ugly cries because they got pulled over for going 5 over? 

Anyway, that's the story.  We've had a pretty quiet week here. 
Blessings.

10 years

So we skipped the pork chop fry (*gasp*) last Saturday to go to my 10 year class reunion.  Little miss got to spend the evening on the farm terrorizing Gus.  She had a great time.  Honestly, I wasn't all that excited about it...  I mean, I haven't really missed most of my classmates.  *grin*  But it was actually more fun than I was expecting.  We got to sit by Julie, who I haven't seen since her wedding, and Holly, one of my best friends in HS.  It was also good to see Dorothy, and my fellow trumpet gods...  what can I say, we were weird in HS and created a trumpet cult in band while we were bored...  good times.  And of course it was good to see all the church kids.  Although, slightly awkward since we never have a reason to visit Eureka, Congerville, or Goodfield anymore so I'm not sure who's still ACCA....  Over all though, it was a good time.  Poor Bob knew one person and he is a spouse, not a classmate.  It's good for him, right?

Nothing like going to your 10 year reunion looking more pudgy than pregnant, and smelling faintly of lice shampoo.  *sigh*

We got home late so somebody went to bed pretty late.  Cecily did not have a good day at church the next day.  Karen and Randy were there; it was fun to see them. Oooooo, and my cousin Kendra's getting married.  Great rejoicing!  So people keep asking me if I know him; while I remember him being at nursing home singings, I didn't talk to boys, especially Morton boys, so I've never actually had a conversation with him.  Hehe.    

Yesterday Cecily and I enjoyed the beautiful weather while I painted door and window frames... 17 down, 6 to go.  Not my favorite thing to paint. I do not have a steady hand and it's hard to get paint off of siding!  But, I would rather have a little paint on the siding and not have to replace rotting windows in a few years.  The process is also made more frustrating by the fact that we have 4 different types of windows and half of the screens are on the outside of the windows.  *Gah*  Who built this place anyway?   

I had an appointment today and they stole much of my blood (she was good though- no bruising so far!).  Little miss got to hang out with Eden.  She was thrilled.  They both were squealing when they saw each other.  And then Daddy brought home his Legos...  she's pretty sure they are for her.

 

Blessings.

To a Louse

So I had grand plans to blog earlier this week; about Dave and June's wiener roast, how we (and I use that very loosely) have been working on painting the window frames outside, and about our latest awesome craigslist find (an antique dresser for little miss).  And then I saw a louse crawling in Cecily's hair.  And Bob found them in my hair.  And the house fell down around us.  Ok, so maybe it just felt that way.

It didn't help that it was already almost 9pm and Cecily had refused to take a nap.  Bob got the lovely task of going to Wal-Mart for shampoo while I tore the house apart and started washing things.  *sigh*  Poor Cecily.  She just didn't understand why all of her stuffed animals and all the piles of pillows and sheets were off limits.  And then when Bob got home we *gasp*  washed her hair.  She hates it normally, but since we had to keep it out of her eyes it was even worse. 

Then it was my turn...  ugh....  yeah, I was already tired, had a splitting headache, and it was late.  Sooo I must confess I found Sgt. Bilko online and watched it during the hour I spent combing out my hair.  I had about had it at that point; it (and the associated memories) cheered me up immensely.  Yeah, it was 1am before I finally got to bed. 

The next day consisted of loads and loads of laundry and cleaning the house really well.  My mom was kind enough to come get Cecily for the afternoon, so it was actually a really quiet around here.  And then Lena brought her home and brought us supper.  So amazing and much appreciated! 

If you're wondering, even if stuffed animals say hand wash only, they do survive hot water and the hot dryer.  I had no mercy....  and everything made it through fine.   

Anyway, hopefully that's over with.  I shall leave you with this wonderful poem and some silly pictures of little miss:

To A Louse

Robert Burns

On Seeing One on a Lady's Bonnet at Church

Ha! whare ye gaun' ye crowlin ferlie?
Your impudence protects you sairly;
I canna say but ye strunt rarely
Owre gauze and lace,
Tho faith! I fear ye dine but sparely
On sic a place.

Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner,
Detested, shunn'd by saunt an sinner,
How daur ye set your fit upon her---
Sae fine a lady!
Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner
On some poor body.

Swith! in some beggar's hauffet squattle;
There ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattle;
Wi' ither kindred, jumping cattle;
In shoals and nations;
Whare horn nor bane ne'er daur unsettle
Your thick plantations.

Now haud you there! ye're out o' sight,
Below the fatt'rils, snug an tight,
Na, faith ye yet! ye'll no be right,
Till ye've got on it---
The vera tapmost, tow'rin height
O' Miss's bonnet.

My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose out,
As plump an grey as onie grozet:
O for some rank, mercurial rozet,
Or fell, red smeddum,
I'd gie you sic a hearty dose o't,
Wad dress your droddum!

I wad na been surpris'd to spy
You on an auld wife's flainen toy
Or aiblins some bit duddie boy,
On's wyliecoat;
But Miss's fine Lunardi! fye!
How daur ye do't?

O Jeany, dinna toss your head,
An set your beauties a' abread!
Ye little ken what cursed speed
The blastie's makin!
Thae winks an finger-ends, I dread,
Are notice takin!

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us
An foolish notion:
What airs in dress an gait wad lea'es us,
An ev'n devotion!

 {and according to one un-named individual, others see him as a stud.  hehe}

She wouldn't wear them at the wiener roast....  but wouldn't take them off at home...

 "I sweepin'... ducky"....  silly girl. 

Blessings.

Birthday at the Zoo

Lets see, what have we been up to?  Little miss and I went garage saleing last Friday and came home with books and nothing else. 

 

We ate lunch outside on a blanket; when we brought it in she turned it into a nest with all of her stuffed animals and blankies.  "I sweeping."  Except, she never did take a nap that day... 

We went to the farm for combine rides on Monday.  My camera battery died so I didn't get any pictures of little miss in the combine.  She wasn't overly impressed, and she did not want to sit on Grandpa's lap.  She wanted to go back to the van to Grandma and Tate.  She did like watching Trent drive the tractor and wagon. 

Lindy died this week.  I loved working at Lindy's. I loved working with the Lindsley family. Lindy was in his 80's then and he came in every morning after Mass and went over the cash and receipts from the night before... if we made a mistake he caught it!  So yeah, sad news, but it brought back lots of good memories.

Cecily turned two on Thursday.  Craziness!  We met Mom, Shelly, Lena, and Brielle (the little girl Lena babysits) at the zoo.  Picnic...  somebody didn't really eat much of her sandwich...  o well.   

 Then she got to open her present from Aunty Shelly- "It'sa Keesha!  Bear!"  hehe.  And her present from my parents.  Once she saw her new church shoes she didn't want anything else.  Such a girl.

 
We could hear and sort of see the tigers the whole time we were eating, so they were our first stop.   

 Cecily liked them, I think Brielle was just happy to be held... 

 Apparently Peoria Zoo doesn't have a camel anymore, so little miss had to settle for this statue.  "Itsa cam-ul!  Soft!  Hi cam-ul!"

 Silly kid.

 Sitting watching the giraffes- my favorite, Cecily was a little scared of them.

 Then we saw the "Runnins."  Lions, to the rest of us.  *grin*  She roars really quietly...   

 
We got a milkshake for Daddy on our way home, which she claimed most of.  While wearing her new shoes. 

 I made tomato soup and grilled cheese for supper because "soop" is one of her favorite foods.  If two year olds have favorites.  It's at least something she always wants more of. 

 

 Then it was time for cake!  It's supposed to look like a tutu.  Marginally successful, it looks cute even if the tutu part isn't super obvious.  Please ignore my abysmal piping skills. 

 

So apparently she's terrified of fire.  She saw the candles, said "fire, hot!" and tried to get as far away as possible.  I was cracking up.  

 

This is her face while Bob was helping her blow out the candles.  *grin*  

 Then with that trauma over, it was time for presents.

 I think the princess shoes made up for the scary fire.  Yeah, the pants came off when we got home from the zoo.

 She opens things so slowly, one little piece of paper at a time.

 Oooo, a baking set for my kitchen!  I think she likes the rolling pin the best. 

 This morning we went to the doctor for her two year checkup.  She is still tall and skinny, and she was not happy with the doctor for shining a light in her eyes... and her ears... and her nose... and her mouth... and you would think the stethoscope was an instrument of torture.... *sigh* 

Anyway, she's two already!  How is that possible?  If I was sappy and emotional I would be tearing up right now... but... I'm not....  so...  Happy Birthday Cecily!

Blessings.