2.26.2010

2105 people entered.

6 people won.

i was 1 of them.

thanks ali!

love your blog.

love your giveaways.

2.25.2010

when was the last time your second

grade teacher showed up at your

basketball tournament?

colins smile was from ear to ear!

go lakers !
what a great season!
good bye basketball.
hello football.

2.25.2010

another update.

frosty had a rough night last night.

here he is as we left for school this morning.

the afternoon sun got the best of him.

here he is as i get ready to pick the boys up.
all thats left is his hat and nose.
front yards every where are littered with
coals of charcoal, colorful scarfs and carrot noses!

2.24.2010

chess club continues.

at z pizza.

right from school with our

chess board in hand.

best 5.95 snack -

2 slices of pizza & a soda with 2 straws.

we are regulars.

everyone watches.

everyone stops to share a chess story

or a chess memory

or a chess move.

its our standing date.

its our wednesday afternoon.

its our everyday memory.

for the record:

nathan vs. colin (nate won)

colin vs. mom (colin won)

2.24.2010

the day after.

this morning.

this afternoon.
what a difference a day makes.

2.23.2010

yesterday.

today.
everyday memory.

2.23.2010

snow in texas?

photoshop?

am i in buffalo?

all afternoon school activities are cancelled.

high school kids are being dismissed now.

this is big stuff here.

feels like a snow day.

i'm off to stock up on wood and hot chocolate.

i'm putting away the flip flops at the front door.

i'm off to find my scarf.

73 on sunday & hot.

32 today & snow.

winters in texas!

2.22.2010

weekend update.
dusted off the old fashioned scrabble board.

dusted off the flip-flops and dug out the shorts.

hit the courts, pluckers & nordstroms.

hit randells, church & the vacuum cleaner.

watched the olympics.

sat in the sun.

make an egg bake.

ate homemade peanut butter cookies.

sipped metropolitan at happy hour.

finished homework.

worked on the never ending laundry pile.

celebrated basketball wins.

ice cream sandwich celebrations.

arcade bowling games.

delicious buffalo style wings.

played outside, football & tag.

another wonderful weekend.

2.19.2010

take 1050 elementary students.

give them each a 36 inch piece of duct tape.

and watch them tape their gym teachers,

principal & vice principal to the wall.

it was all for a good cause.

it was all for the american heart association.

it was front page story in the newspaper.

just another everyday memory.

way to go teravista elementary.

2.17.2010

wednesday afternoon chess club

continues.

it would be so easy to come up with

an excuse.

it wouldbe so nice to just come home after

school.

but the boys love our special time.

and guess what -

so do i.

no phone. no tv.

no laundry. no homework.

just 32 pieces & 2 boys.

2.12.2010

happy 8th birthday colin !

i can't believe that you are turning eight today.

i can't believe how big you are getting.

i can't believe that you are in second grade.

i can't believe how funny you are.

it was just yesterday that you arrived.

it was just yesterday that i could see you

sitting in your car seat in the rear view mirror eatting

chocolate tibits from tim hortons.

it was just yesterday that you were watching max & ruby

on vcr tapes from the library.

it was just yesterday that you were getting on the

bus off to kindergarten for your first day of school.

it was just yesterday that you beat me at chess.

happy day dude.

enjoy.

2.12.2010

quote of the day.
colin came down to the breakfast table early this morning
to find it decorated with confetti and balloons hanging from the light.
upon seeing a ton of confetti scattered all over the table,
colin said "it looks like nan was here!"

2.9.2010

4 siblings & 1 celebration.

all together in the same city.

in the same kitchen at one time.

(sounds like a great theme for a movie.)

today was about living & celebrating.

today was about remembering & connecting.

today was about honoring grandma.

today was filled with an eulogy that was perfect.

God rest.

2.8.2010

favorites pictures from today:

famous quotes from today:
"i'm working out today"
"room service - i'd like to order a cup of coffee delivered to the blue room please."
"its a little cold down here in the morning."

-

a day filled with thoughts, memories & catching up.

a day filled with reflection, backwards & forwards.

a day filled with smiles, tears & laughs.

a long day.

a good day.

2.7.2010

i am on a plane.
heading home.
to celebrate 93 years of daily memories.
memories of cookie trays that were transformed
into a special dinning table.
tupperware toys that have lasted generations in the
same plastic loblaws plastic bag in the front hall closet.
tours of the violet plants, candy dishes always full & cereal in
a drawer.
a telephone with no buttons, a hand crank card shuffler &
a house with only one bathroom.
a writing instrument always were you needed it, the cap taped
in place to hold it.
reused twist-ties even had a home in an old plastic
toothpick holder taped inside a drawer.
every photo had a date handwritten on the back.
on saturdays, the kitchen was a bakery or a beauty shop -
depending on what time you stopped by.
saturday nights was the best night to sleep over because
there was saturday night bowling at klauder hall complete
with pop in a glass bottle & early morning mass followed
by homemade baked treats and sunday comics.
lots of walks.
around the garden.
around the block.
around the neighborhood.
lots of meals.
at the kitchen table -with a backyard view.
at the dining room table - always decorated with a tablecloth.
at the patio table - complete with walk-up window service.
for holidays.
for sunday dinners followed by 60 minutes.
for afternoon sandwiches.
home.
i'm heading home.
grandmas home.

2.6.2010

2 favorite photos from today.

basketball fun continues.

2.4.2010

{at grandmas house - july 2008}

a celebration of life today.

looking back with fond memories.

remembering funny stories.

reciting grandmas 'work week'.

garden stories and strolls.

multiple christmas cookies.

(carefully stored in the basement cupboard)

violets and the story behind each plant.

(yes, there was one from my wedding shower)

a never ending candy dish.

all my children - everyday - without a dvr or soap network.

(that in itself is amazing)

a woman who really did spring cleaning.

(had it scheduled & actually enjoyed it)

plastic bread bags -washed and reused - years before it was 'green'.

(a recycler before it was in vouge)

the grandma who keeps cereal in the drawer.

(thats how my boys knew which grandma we were off to visit)

a celebration of life today.

"the old grey mare ain't what she used to be."

2.2.2010

today.

take 1 nathan.

add 1 math challenge game.

mix in students from around the globe.

what do you get?

one happy smiling nathan.

had to pry him away to eat dinner.

thank you mrs. frick for always finding

wonderful learning opportunities for your students.
world math day here.

2.2.2010

to do today.
post office. grocery store. dry cleaners. library. cvs. hospital.
must do today.
starbucks & chess game.
nathan & colin decided not to join the spring session of chess club.
instead we started our own chess club.
after school.
every tuesday.
at starbucks.
with chocolate milk.
and brownies.
and tall skinny lattes.
and music.
game one: colin vs. mom {colin won}
game two: colin vs. nathan {colin won}
castling & en passant.
check & checkmate.
can't wait till next tuesday.
an everyday memory.
today.

2.1.2010

on the refridge.

get your february calendar here.

mark bill due dates.

note basketball practices.

return library books ontime.

fill in special birthdays.

jot down every meeting.

get organized now.

make those new years resolutions happen.

today.

now.

1.27.2010

{william sonoma - message in a cookie kit}
a special handmade valentine here.
a mini valentine banner here.
valentine gift tags here.
a valentine brownie bag here.
hugs and kisses cookies here.
cupcake decorations here.
i {heart} valentines day.

1.26.2010

{our backyard- taken on the way to randalls on sunday}

10 random thoughts today:

someone in our house got their cell phone taken away at school today.

someone in our house today paid $15.00 to get their cell phone back today.

someone in our house today got a 100 on his social studies progress report.

someone in our house today almost had the minivan door close on him

during the morning drop off.

someone in our house today took 8 sudafed cold tablets.

someone in our house today watched american idol.

someone in our house today read books in bed with mom.

someone in our house today started watching friends season 2.

someone in our house today got hit in the face with a football.

someone in our house today studied for acls next week.

1.24.2010

sunday mornings & church.

sunny afternoons & basketballs.

football championship games & overtime.

new dinner recipe & chocolate cake.

homework & laundry.

family time & sundays.

together.

1.23.2010

a packed saturday day...errands at pottery barn, restoration hardware & joseph banks...basketball games & bowling birthday parties for taggert and riley...pizza and family movie night with ice age three...saturdays just seem to fly right by.

1.21.2010

yes. its a yardstick.

yes. i lost a bet with steve.

yes. i'm a good loser.

yes. its a long story.

yes. it is my everyday memory today.

spring cleaning in full swing.

unused desks to the curb.

windows wide open. vacuum on overdrive.

finding treasures under beds & inside closets.

trash bags overflowing.

simplify. keep it simple.

less is more.

less is easier to clean.

less is invigorating.

another new years goal in the making.

1.18.2010

the story behind the colored pencils.
take one semi-controlling color freak mom.
add one artsy third born son.
time to make a title for the science fair project.
i carefully select colors to coordinate with the pictures on the board.
colin selects the pencils as noted above.
i gently try to persuade colin to use the 'correct' colors.
colin gently tells me that these colors are better.
why i ask.
because this is the color of lime juice, lemon juice, orange juice,
water and milk.
because this is the order we did the experiments.
because this matches the liquid photos.
who exactly is the color control freak here?
like mother, like son?
good stuff.
everyday memory.

1.18.2010

happy martin luther king day.

happy no school monday to my boys

and all the wonderful teachers in our family.

monday holidays are way better than friday holidays.

heres how we spnt our day off.

our mlk tradition.

lots of smiles & secret ink chemical reactions.

several frozen cups and chilly thermometer readings.
another successful experimental season.
(as long as you don't count the rock candy
that just would not grow!)
sonic happy hour.
sunny 70 degree day.
all windows wide open.
happy monday!

1.15.2010

fffnotr.

(friday family fun night on the road.)

$1.00 hot dogs for dinner.

9 seats in a row.

1 brand new arena filled with

1 texas star hockey team.
1 special hockey puck for each family.
thanks frank p. for the pucks.
(helps to know someone)
don't forget our great texas star blankets.
tonight reminds us of our fun times in poppa & grandmas
suite at the sabers games.
a texas win completes the night!
we have found a new fun event.
welcome stars !!

1.14.2010

that yellow blur is colin at basketball practice tonight.
that yellow blur has passion.
that yellow blur has the new sneakers.
that yellow blur has his mothers athletic ability.
but
that yellow blur gives 150% with a red faced sweaty smile &
a night time prayer that is thankful for a great defensive
move at practice tonight. the coaches smiled. his teammates
patted him on the back. it was just a split second in an hour practice.
but
his smile had just a little broader grin.
his eyes had just a little twinkle.
his run had just a little edge to it.
his heart had just a little extra beat.
good stuff.
but
great stuff from a sideline cheerleader.
go colin go.

add 2 more dog tags to nathans collection.

A honor roll & perfect attendance.

does he look like harry potter today?

maybe its the glasses.

maybe its his serious school face.

at 2:45pm this face does change as

he is hanging out the van window high

5ing all his buddies through the car line.

nathans day gets even better.

its wednesday &

his sports illustrated is awaiting him

in the mailbox on the way home from school.

i think he likes this subscription

more than the cell phone!

nathan now.

is reading his current issue of SI, working on the

new puzzle & watching american idol -

simultaneously.

thats our nate.

enjoy these simple days!

1.12.2010

gratitude journal for today:

$1.00 books purchased at the library today.

tuesday errands in a short sleeve shirt.

minivans with sunroofs.

baking homemade peanut butter cookies.

a new family puzzle.

american idol watched by the whole house.

reading outside on the back patio.

spongebob alarm clocks.

1.11.2010

{colins new dog tag - an early morning awards ceremony - is he even awake yet?}

weekend recap. fridays on friday for dinner. christmas thank you notes mailed. one christmas tree & ornament box packed away. one train & track safely stored till next december. basketball practice x 3. one dallas cowboys game. one new artichoke dip recipe. fires & smores. steves world famous yankee chili x 5 pounds. big love season premier. cold & sunny weekend. making to-do lists. achieving goals. updating the calendar with must watch tv shows - american idol & grey's. school newsletters. ok week - we are ready for you.

1.10.2010

take one christmas present. (the pioneer woman cookbook from sarah)
add one new years resolution. (try three new recipes per month)
stir in a sunday sunny morning after church. (new series on what fuels you?)
result? (see above)
a new breakfast meal!

1.8.2010

{last nights championship game}

follow-up on yesterdays longhorn game.
let the boys stay up until half-time.
at one point, i thought i was going to have to wake them back up.
but then the wheels fell off the cart.
colin ran downstairs early this morning.
eager to hear the results.
we made him go outside & get the paper.
i came out to the kitchen to find him with his head down on top of the news.
it was not a great way to start a friday.
was i ever this excited over football when i was 7?
nathan arrived downstairs in time for breakfast.
he had already watched espn.
it was not a great way to start a friday.
was steve ever this involved in college football at 11?
needless to say, no one wore their ut shirts today.
it was an indiana university shirt day today.
love college shirt day every friday,
just a little hard after a thursday night loss.
its 7am. its 24 degrees.
heres to a sunny afternoon!

1.7.2010

getting ready step four.

decorate the inside.

decorate the outside.

decorate the mantel.

now decorate the tree.

1.7.2010

getting ready step three.

pick up some treats at the store.

so many to choose from.

cakes, cookies, colby cheese in the shape of a longhorn.

who knew?

lots of partying tonight in this town.