Winter is Totally Lame

I know i'm not alone in this, but I am NOT a fan of winter. I don't like it when it arrives in November, I don't even like snow on Christmas (yes, I know. Bah Humbug.) But around mid-February it goes from a mild annoyance to full-fledged hatred.

So in the spirit of trying to be a little less miserly, i'm attempting to make a list of things that I can pretty much tolerate, and occasionally even like about winter (Yay for lists!)

Things about winter that do not suck:

1. The deer that come down from the hills and graze in my neighborhood. LOVE them.
2. Sitting on the heater with a blanket and a book (yes Dad, I still do this)

3. Putting warm and colorful tights and boots on my kids

4. Fog (could I see myself living in England? Why yes, I think I could)

Fog over the Oregon City bridge

5. Stepping on that thin layer of ice that forms over the water next to the curb.

6. Hot beverages of all types

7. The way snow looks when it's on things like architecture or bare tree branches (but nothing else about snow)

There are other things that while they don't directly involve winter as a season, they do occur during winter months such as, My birthday, Rousseau's birthday, New Year's, and everything from the 2002 Olympics in SLC (that was seriously awesome, right Natali? Except maybe those heinous berets)


And if I were writing this list to appeal to my hottie-cakes husband, I would of course include basketball season on the list somewhere. But this is my list.

Be Nice

I am not a very neat person. So I really don't have seizures or anything when my kids have toy explosions in the living room, or decide that it's a good idea to eat popcorn in my bed.
I am, however, a reasonably nice and polite person. So it stands to reason that all my kids should be the model of affability right?
Not so much.
Astoria is... well, (how do I say this nicely?) A bully? A terribly violent and sadistic bully?
No day is complete without an episode involving Astoria grabbing Elliot by the hair, pulling her down to the ground, ripping the toy she was playing with out of her hands, then run away top speed. This is not a joke, nor an exaggeration.



Maybe it's a middle child thing? I don't know.

I know that at times I put some unrealistic expectations on her. I mean she is, after all, only two. But because of the fact that she is so ridiculously smart, I sometimes forget that she is not the same age as Elliot. For example, Astoria is obsessed with letters. OBSESSED. Her favorite song is the ABC song, she reads every letter she sees no matter where we are, and she can even read a couple words by sight (to, we, me, go, and jump). It's pretty amazing. But even though she has the literacy skills of a four-year old, her emotional level is still definitely TWO.

So we've tried time-outs, spankings, taking away privileges (like toys and treats). Nothing seems to be sinking in. All I can really hope for at this point is that is just a phase, and that someday her, uh... assertiveness will turn into positive adult traits, like confidence and determination. But as for now, i'm just trying to figure out ways to keep her from getting us kicked out of nursery (again) or the play room at the gym (again).

sigh...

Things I Love

Sometime in the near future I intend to be ambitious and do a list of 100 things I love like unto my friend Jael. But for now, this little Valentine's day list shall suffice.

1. Blair
2. celebrating Valentine's day by chaperoning an 8th grade dance with my sweetie
3. Elliot reading the word "Pet" at the store yesterday
4. Astoria trying to tell me a joke
5. Rousseau's adorable smiles
6. fresh blueberries
7. friends named Katie
8. friends with other names
9. Zumba
10. audio books
11. regular type books
12. Grandmaposa, Papa, Aunt Laura, and Hermes... but not October (just kidding Laura :D)
13. family prayers
14. my new purple phone. her name is Veronica

Aw...

How to be a Lady

Before you get all confused and assume this to be a tutorial (which it is not), let me clarify: I would really like to learn how to act like a lady, and less like a clueless 9th grader. (No offense to 9th graders of course...)

First:

I need a purse that will actually fit stuff inside. You know, stuff I really need, like Pez dispensers and a hundred extra pens. The one i have now is teeny, but i love it because it's Gola brand -if you do not realize the significance of this, then we are obviously not truly friends :) So i've been looking for a new Gola bag, but they are not really purses, more like gym bags. which would be great for fitting notebooks and diapers and such, but i don't want to look like i'm carrying a gym bag around all the time. So to all you ladies out there who have taste (which I do not. Obviously) Please advise me.This is the one i've been looking at.

Second:

I'm not normally a super-crafty person, but I am pretty proud of these Valentine's boxes. I had to hurry and take a picture of these before Astoria ripped off all the letters.

Three:
I bought what I thought were cute and fashionable dark faux-denim leggings. Blair corrected me. Stretch Pants. I'll probably take them back. I am stylistically retarded. I need a personal shopper or something.

In summation:
I am still a 14 year old girl who just wants to be cool. sigh...

The Calm Down Dance

I guess I need to do the calm down dance. While I'm at it, I should probably ask my family to join me. We could all use some calming down.



Ten Things for Today:

1. This morning Astoria got us kicked out of the gym. She beat up two other boys (both bigger than her) because she wanted to sit on the chair they were sitting on. Several apologies and a time-out followed. Sigh... what in the world am I going to do about this girl and all of her, uh, energy.
2. LOST. (really, that's all I can say. I have no words to convey the awesomeness)
   
3. This Friday is TAX RETURN DAY!!! I was thinking about buying a pair of roller skates, but will probably end up getting new tires for my car instead, because that's how I roll. (wah wah)
4. I've hit a snag in my healthy body goals. I really like going to the gym, but as it turns out I also really like eating ridiculous amounts of unhealthy food. Lame.
5. Want to hear something a little embarrassing? Several times during the LOST premier last night I, in my excitement, shouted "OMG!" What am I? 15? Ugh.
6. I need to ask this question to ensure that I am not actually crazy: When you read books, do you start narrating your life in your head for hours afterward? Audio books are even worse, because then I get to hear my life being narrated by someone else.
7. I was thinking about skipping on church this Sunday, then I thought about how much Elliot loves "Sum-Beens" and how sad she would be to miss it.
8. I am very in love with Sausage Potato and Cabbage soup.
9. iTunes alphabetical adventure. Get it Faster - Jimmy Eat World. On the list of bands I MUST see again before I die. (the last time was opening for Weezer in 2002)
10. My hottie-cakes of a husband is apparently the new "Hot Teacher" at PHS. Well, yeah, who couldn't see that one coming. :)

See? Isn't he dreamy?

Love and Rockets...
Maryposa

Yes, thank you, I would like some cheese with my whine...

Today, has really not been my favorite day.

I'm not so overly-pretentious to believe that there are many people who would read this and take offense, however, due to the open and exposed nature of the Internet, i'll keep my comments as vague and un-accusatory as possible.

Despite the fact that my hair is slightly pink, I do not, in fact, have any kind of communicable disease that would prevent you from talking to me.

If you see me running full speed down the sidewalk in high-heeled boots in pursuit of a squealy two-year-old, it is perfectly acceptable for you to put an arm out, or do something to slow her escape. However, stepping aside so she can jet by and then staring at me like i'm a crazy person is not.

And finally. Ow. Ow ow ow ow ow. I want to take a bath and read a book.

Ok, i'm ready for my Camembert now.

Little Letters

Dear Blair,
3 weeks down, and we are still here. Hooray! Also, thank you for doing our taxes last night. This is the one time of year where it's kind of nice to be the poor kids.

Dear Rick Moranis,
I really wish you hadn't retired. You are completely brilliant


Dear Dad,
If you click the button on the side ---> that says Amazon Wish List, you will find every birthday/Christmas/other random occasion present for the next 25 years or so. You and Laura should make one too.

Dear Disneyland,
The Einfeldts are coming in a few months. Prepare yourself!

Dear Ben Brinton,
Running into you at Wal*mart for some reason weirded me out for the rest of the day.

Dear Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Tuna,
You are very delicious, but smelly. I also think you would be delightful with feta cheese... next time.

Dear Team Boo,
I read your blog like I read novels. I wish you posted more, and I also wish we could be real friends (oh wow I really sound like a stalker now. Yikes)

Dear Katie Cowan,

I want you to live closer. For many reasons, but particularly the following:

* You are ridiculously fun
* I want to borrow your sewing machine to make a library bag
* I think grocery shopping would be more fun/bearable if we did it together
* I can make awkward comments and touch the dust on your lamp and yet we are still friends.


Love, Maryposa