Time for beddy-bye

So, I'm posting this at 2:47 am. I have no idea why I'm awake, although the late hour may have something to do with what I'm about to share with you. There's this web site about things overheard in NY. It's so funny that I have to share some of my favorites. So, here's my first post of the New Year...

Things overheard in my great hometown:

I'd Rather Imagine the Messiah Than Meet Him

College kid #1: I want to see the Messiah.
College kid #2: Like, actually? Or Handel?
College kid #1: ... Handel.


We Really Want an Amendment to Protect This?

Wife: Well, we need to hurry. They're waiting downstairs.
Husband: Well, I was ready to go ages ago. I'm hot, tired, and my rash is spreading.

--Macy's

Despicable, but Cute

Hipster chick #1: She calls him 'Mango,' and I have no clue why.
Hipster chick #2: Maybe because he looks mangolian?
Hipster chick #1: Mongolian? Like, the retards?
Hipster chick #2: Yeah, that's what I meant.
Hipster chick #1: Oh, well, then that's kind of cute.

--Penn Station

NYC Rules Require Me to Mess with You

Blonde tourist #1: I think we have plenty of time before our train leaves. What time is it?
Blonde tourist #2: I have no idea. My cell phone is dead. [To passing suit] Um, sir? Do you know what time it is?
Suit, rolling his eyes up at huge clock, then at blondes: Nope.

It's Rain with DNA

Woman #1: Is it just me, or is it starting to rain?
Woman #2: No, someone probably spat on you.

--W 35th St

Wine's Not Bad, Either

NYU boy #1: The French used to be all militaristic, like, back in the time of Napoleon.
NYU boy #2: Yeah, but now they're just all about wine and cheese.
NYU boy #1: Yeah... Cheese is good, though.
NYU boy #2: True, very true.

--Silver Center, NYU


Jason's World Gets Unpleasantly Rocked

Man #1: Dude, Van Halen rocks!
Man #2: Um, that's not Van Halen.
Man #1: What?!

--Men's room, Jethro Tull concert

Just When You Thought People Were Finished Calling Chelsea Clinton a Dog...

Woman: How dare you?! How dare you?! How can you say that? How can you tell my child I don't love him? Apologize! Apologize!
Man: It's a dog.
Woman: How dare you?! Apologize right now!

--Tower Records, E 4th & Lafayette

Yeah, We've Got That

Employee: Welcome to Staples! Can I help you find something?
Lucky guy: Yeah, actually -- staples.

--Staples, Union Square

Words to live by...

The #1 rule for eating a fortune cookie is:

Always take the fortune out before you eat it.

-Adam Hooten, December 2007

Happy 2008 (almost)!

We are a very blessed family. We had a great Christmas. Santa was excellent to Adam, we are all in relatively good health. We really feel very very thankful. We enjoyed our traditional Christmas Eve with our dear friends, the Sylvester/Allred/Schuller clan and the Marse family. We ate our buttons off and I personally don't want to look at another meatball for quite some time to come! We still have leftovers - anybody want 'em? We spent Christmas day with our friends, the Nash and Taylor families. We enjoyed leftovers together, as well as each other's company and had fun playing Apples to Apples.

We asked Adam why we celebrate Christmas and he said that it's for celebrating baby Jesus, presents, Santa, and lots of things. My favorite gift? It's a toss up between the bread machine and the beautiful copper salt and pepper grinders Michael got for me. Adam's favorite gift was Super Princess Peach for his DS and all the other gifts he got. Michael really loved his new electric staple gun (watch out world). He also liked the "Obey Gravity, it's the law" t-shirt that I got for him. (Thanks to Isaac for the great t-shirt websites.) Michael wanted the t-shirt that said

"Haikus are easy
But sometimes they don't make sense.
Refrigerator."

Unfortunately, the t-shirt site was sold out. We still think it's funny though.

Frankie's Christmas was a little tough for her. It was difficult for all of us to be apart during the holidays, even though we all know that she's where she needs to be. I forgot to post that we had a really fantastic visit with her for her birthday a couple of weeks ago. Much gentleness was given and healing took place, and I gained a whole new level of empathy for all that sweet girl has endured. We're grateful to say that we're seeing more cause and effect thinking running through her, as well as some genuine concern for others. We're very proud of our sweet Lelu. The work she's doing is hard, but so worth it and she really is pushing hard through some very tough stuff.

We're looking forward to the new year. It's been quite a tough 2007 and we're anxious to move forward. Not that we have a choice, but it's good to be anticipating, rather than dreading.

Stay safe everyone and we'll (hopefully) see you next year!

Take a picture. It'll last longer.

So there's always a challenge in coordinating holiday outfits for a 14 year old girl and a 5 year old boy but it's even more challenging to coordinate photos when you use two different photography studios in two different states! Nevertheless, the gods of photography said cheese and thankfully we have great pics! So, without further ado... see pics below.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Or at least the busiest time of year! Welcome welcome Christmas season. Time for shopping, time for presents, time for overspending! I've decided I really like Halloween best. It's the most amount of fun for the least amount of work.

You should see Adam's Christmas list. It's ridiculous! Actually, if you do want to see it, go to amazon.com. I think it's under my name. Heavens it's long! There's no way on earth he's going to get everything on it. I've already purchased most of Frankie's stuff, which is why her name doesn't really show up that much.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving at our the home of our newest friends, the Nash family. Sally and Michael are the parents of Cohen (5, in Adam's class) and Maili (2). We met them because Sally is one of the volunteer moms, and I am the classroom mom. They were so generous to invite us and we had a wonderful dinner. Adam and Cohen played really well together and we look forward to future play dates. They have a swing in their playroom that is suspended from the ceiling. We all thought that was pretty cool -- so cool, in fact, that we might put one in our play room.

We celebrate the magic and wonder that comes with rejoicing in the miracle of our Savior's birth, and we wish you a peaceful and joyous season. When you feel frustrated, try to recall that tiny newborn baby, and the real reason we gather by the tree each year. Wishing you a very sacred holiday season.

There's a first time for everything...

I just came into my office to check my email and found that my son has been doing some emailing of his own. He's never sent an email before, but he figured out how to open up a new email and started to compose a letter to his teacher, Mrs. Gaisford. Here's what I found:

hi misis gasfrod i lauv you be caus you are so nis to me and i waus sick soon my mom is ona mack me a c

He was sick last week (croup, ear infection), but he's getting better. While I don't know what I'm supposedly making for him soon, I'm really impressed by his self-expression skills. We knew he was learning how to read, but we didn't know he was learning how to write stories as well. We're pretty blown away by his email and touched by his sweetness. Every once in awhile, the universe gives you a treat and tells you that something you're doing is right.

Ch ch ch ch changes...

Sorry it's been so long between updates. Things have been kind of hectic.

So the biggest news on this end is that I am at long last once again a full-time stay at home mom! Hooray!!! The only dream I've consistently had since childhood was to be home with my children. Although it was financially helpful to work for the last couple of years, it has also been extremely painful for me. I'm very very very (did I mention very) happy to be home again with Adam.

Frankie is doing really well. We had a great visit with her a few weeks ago and can't wait until the next one. She's really growing up. We took her for a haircut while we were there, and she got some layers added to her hair. She also asked if she could start wearing makeup. These little tidbits might seem insignificant, but actually they're quite important. Frankie (hooray hooray) is finally starting to take an interest in her personal appearance and her grooming. This is a giant step forward for her because it means she is accepting the fact that it's okay to grow up and it's okay to care. She still has a long road ahead, but she is moving in the right direction. We are hoping that she'll be ready to come home in August.

Adam's wonderful. He's always a joy and a delight. He's still obsessed with all things Mario. He loves kindergarten and is reading really well now. He was a ghost for Halloween and was so excited.

The other big change in our household is the addition of two new family members. Meet Chester and Molly. Chester is a 3 year old Lhasa Apso mix, and Molly a very camera shy one year old terrier mix. We got both of them through rescue societies. They're very sweet and well behaved. Adam loves having dogs. The dogs love the cats (play? play?) but the feeling is not mutual. For now we keep them separated lest the cats have a heart attack from being chased by the dogs.

That's all the news that's fit to print. We hope everyone is doing well as we head in to the hectic holiday season. We wish you a very happy turkey day. Feel free to e-mail or call anytime!