Pretty Pretty Picture

Alli has found her inner artist. She has begun coloring, and coloring, and coloring. She colors as soon as she gets up in the morning, she colors as I sit and teach Elijah every day (it's my school, she says), and she colors before and after supper and would color in bed at night if we allowed it.

Don't misunderstand me, I love that she is so fond of this exercise. It has helped her learn more names of colors (like pwurpish-pink) and it keeps her occupied quietly for hours. The problem occurs when I must keep every picture she finishes. There are hundreds now, maybe thousands. And anyone who knows me at all knows my OCD nature and my severe allergic reaction to clutter.

So all this background information leads me to the exchange I had with my sweet daughter the other night after dinner:

I was cleaning up and wiping off the island and I picked up a half-sheet coloring sheet and absent-mindedly threw it in the garbage right in front of my daughter. She instantly opened the garbage can, peered inside and said (in her sweet 3 year old voice),

"Why you frow away my pretty piture?"

And I'm not exaggerating when I say she had tears in her eyes. So of course I quickly rescued it from the trash heap and promptly displayed it on the refrigerator. And all malice was forgotten.

I guess I'm going to have to learn to deal with the piles of her art. And she'll have ample reason to suffer later in life when she is starving for her craft and she remembers that her Mom used to throw her masterpieces in the garbage.

90 Years and Counting

Is it any indication how busy our life has been when I am just now getting around to blogging pictures of events at the beginning of August?

Anyhoo, my mom and my great aunt Imo both celebrated their birthdays on the same day at the beginning of August. Imo is my grandmother's sister, and since my grandmother died while I was still very young, and Imo never married, she became like a grandmother to me. She lived 85 years of her life in Kentucky, and moved to Illinois 5 years ago to be closer to her family, my mom and my uncle.

Imo celebrated her 90th birthday last month, which calls for a party like it's 1999.
Doesn't she look beautiful? I hope I'm this gorgeous at 90, although I don't expect to live that long.

My mom is gorgeous, too. She turned 60, but the poor woman's birthday has always been overshadowed by Imo's. There is no love lost, though, because my mom dislikes the spotlight. She would rather enjoy a quiet dinner with her family, which she got.

My dad and I matched, even without planning it. He looks so handsome when he smiles, I only wish he was a bit more in focus in this picture.

This is Imo's "what you talkin' 'bout, Willis?" face. I'm not sure what my Mom said to deserve that look!

My great aunt has always been a magnificent seamstress and quilter. She is awfully proud that I have taken up the mantle. I made this table runner for her, hoping her eyesight keeps her from being able to pick out all the mistakes.

Imo desperately wanted a picture of Allison in her lap with this doll nearly as old as herself. She has a similar picture of me and the doll when I was a bit older than Alli. This doll is better dressed than your average doll. Imo has made all of her clothes and changes her dresses monthly. She sits posed on her bed during the day and it is one of the things Alli always goes running for when we visit.

It was so nice to be able to celebrate Imo's birthday with her. She was proud to have made it to 90, but gave strict instructions not to say or sing, "and many more." I guess you can say that when you get to that age. Either way, I secretly hope she's around for many more celebrations!

First Day of School

Elijah in Kindergarten
With his proud papa

And his teacher

And his little sister, intent on getting in on the action.

Alli's Homemade Birthday

I'm taking advantage of making all the homemade gifts I can while my kids still treasure anything I make them. Alli's 3rd birthday (almost 2 months ago!) was no exception.

I made her this paper dolls quilt from a kit. It includes prints of old-fashioned paper dolls that I fussy cut to frame and then made the border from a smaller print of the same dolls.

The kit also included yardage of clothes to dress the dolls, onto which I fused fleece onto the back, thus making them like flannel graph, and Alli gets to dress each doll in a variety of dresses, hats and shoes. She loves it! I also crafted a kid's purse for all her girly accessories. It's so much fun to have a girl!

10 years later

What a chaotic summer we've had here, so it was a pleasant surprise to learn that Dan would be whisking me away for a night to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. We had a perfect 24 hours together, including dinner at my favorite restaurant, seeing Phantom live and just enjoying time together. It got us reminiscing about our wedding day, specifically,

1. I remember seeing Dan and his groomsman Brian walking in the church parking lot while I was getting ready. I remember my heart did a little flip-flop and then wondering if the bride seeing the groom before the ceremony was bad luck.

2. I remember shaving my legs the morning of the wedding and on a whim deciding that my toes should be hair-free, too, and knicking the heck out of them and wondering if I would faint from all the lost blood.

3. I remember how nervous I was waiting in the tiny room while guests were ushered in, and then how much more nervous I became when my bridesmaids walked down the aisle and I was left alone in the room.

4. I remember not wanting to look at my dad before he walked me down the aisle because I was afraid he was sobbing and I knew I would to. (he wasn't, so I didn't have to worry)

5. We both fondly remember that Dan answered "I do" and I answered "I will" after my pastor had told Dan it didn't matter which he said because I would just follow his lead. Oops! Mark one lesson in submission before the ceremony was even over!

6. I remember Dan walking into the nursury with his eyes closed to give me my bouquet before our pictures.

7. I remember crying while he recited his vows to me and choking up again while I said mine.

8. I remember my feet finally started to hurt at our reception, and wondering how I had survived so long in 3 inch heels.


9. I remember our reception seeming really short and feeling sorry that it ended so quickly.

10. I remember trying valiently to remember every detail and savor every moment, and ultimately only focusing on how happy we both were (and still are today!)

Thanks for a beautiful decade together, honey. Think how much we've grown and changed in the last 10 years. I hope we have many more decades together, to grow closer together and to change more into His likeness.

I love you.

I have many fears; but this is my meditation

Psalm 62:5-8
5For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

for my hope is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7On God rests my salvation and my glory;

my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.

These are the verses I'm working on memorizing right now. Especially for those moments of fear when my soul is anything but quiet. God is my refuge - not safety in this life! Hope this passage is a blessing to you today.

I'm in the Minority . . .

. . . at least in my circle of friends.

Why? you ask?

Because I can almost guarantee that none of my girlfriends care a lick that Prince Fielder won the Home Run Derby last night.

I can hear you asking, "Who is Prince Fielder?"

And that's why I'm in the minority.

It all started so innocently last year. My hubby started showing some interest in the Milwaukee Brewers. Now, sure, we had gone to a game here and there for the past 9+ years of living in Wisconsin, but we had never followed them. Until Dan started working with an avid fan (I mean you, Jose) and all of a sudden Dan was watching the Brewers every night. And talking about the Brewers, and trying to get free tickets by filling our cars at only BP stations with exactly 8 gallons of gas to maximize the amount of free tickets we could get. And before I knew it, I was recognizing almost all of the Brewers players. And I even found myself rooting for them by name and remembering who played where and occasionally knowing their batting averages.

Then the Brewers secured CC Sabathia (now a Yankee) about half-way through the season last year and we actually had a chance of making the post season. And it got really exciting and I found myself listening to the games on the radio! Now that is what I call deranged.

Well, label me such because now I am a full-fledged Brewers fan, with tshirts to wear to the games, checking brewers.com on a regular basis, and gladly filling my car with exactly 8 gallons of gas so we can make it to another game this year. And all of this after I first made the comment that my idea of a nightmare was extra innings.

My only problem is that I don't know many women who follow the Brewers, much less any baseball at all, so if you see me talking with all the guys, you'll understand why I am in the minority . . .

Links I've Liked Lately

Baked Lemon Pasta - There are not enough adjectives in the world to describe how much I love this dish. I think I could eat it every night. And if your family doesn't go for vegetarian meals, it would be super simple to add chicken, and just as good.

What if Starbucks Marketed like a Church? This made me laugh. Favorite line: "I know a bean's been planted."

Perpetuum Jazzile - Listen to the first few seconds of the simulated thunderstorm. And then stick around because the song is amazing, too.

Spring Sewing

More completed projects, which seems to be more and more rare as the days warm up! Summer sewing might just be an oxymoron. I decided the leftover material from this project would make a fun, spring-y purse. This was the first time I constructed a purse without any sort of pattern and I found that it is the perfect size (for me, at least!) There may be more of these down the line.

This is the quilt I made from a class at my local quilt shop. It was a beginner class, and focused on constructing different, classic blocks to join into a sampler quilt. I chose some more modern fabric, which makes for an updated look on a classic pattern. It took me a few months to get the whole thing pieced, and then I waited to quilt it until I felt brave enough to do it on my new toy . . .

my Pfaff Hobby Grand Quilter on the Next Generation frame. I understand that means nothing to all of you non-quilters out there, but basically it is an industrial sewing machine that sets on a frame where you roll your quilt layers (top, batting, backing) and you move the sewing machine around to "draw" on the quilt top and secure those 3 layers together. I'll have to post pictures of it soon. It was a dream of mine to own one, and everything fell into place for a speedy, affordable purchase, which I share with my quilting friend, Debbie.

Here is an up-close of the quilting. It's sort of a loop d' loop.

That's all for now. Stay tuned for pics of Alli's homemade birthday presents!

My 3 year old

Happy Birthday, Allison!!! (even though I'm a few days late)
I cannot even begin to express how much fun we are having with you. You are a constant joy and life wouldn't be the same without your bright smile! I love the way you kiss and hug so willingly, and how you wake up every morning (and afternoon after naptime) with a smile on your face and a desire to cuddle. I love the way you idolize your big brother - and what a good big brother he is! - and try to copy everything he does and says. Not that you need to copy him - you have some pretty good ideas yourself! You are awfully independent, but occasionally remember that you need mommy and daddy around.

Here are some things I always want to remember about you at 3 years old:
1. You eat almost anything I put in front of you, willingly, even green things.
2. You love to play house.
3. You love to have your hair done.
4. You learned to ride your tricycle with the big kids.
5. You are brave - more brave than Elijah and me!!! You don't seem scared of heights. I don't know if that is a good thing or not.
6. You are officially potty-trained. Whew. Glad that's over.
7. You giggle constantly. Never stop that.
8. You love the Brewers and say that Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are your favorite players.
9. You make up silly songs all the time and then ask me, "Is dat funny, mommy?"
10. You still sleep all night long (since 4 weeks old!) and cheerfully go to bed.

What a gift you are to us, Allison Keona. Happy Birthday. We love you.

It's My New Favorite Summertime Drink

Cold Brewed Iced Coffee

Mix 8 T of ground coffee with enough cold water to make 8 cups of coffee in a french press (or a mason jar).
Let the mixture sit for 12-24 hours.
Press down the grounds (or strain through a coffee filter) and then add an equal amount of water to the brewed coffee.
Store a pitcher in the refrigerator and serve over ice . . . or . . . add a can of sweetened condensed milk for a frappucino-type drink.

So delicious, even my non-coffee-drinking husband asked for a second glass.

You can read here why cold brewing makes a significant difference in the taste.

Boston, Day 3

It was Friday morning. Our last day in Boston. With no business meetings to attend and no schedules to keep, we arranged for a late check out from our hotel and ventured off into the city to do some more sight-seeing. But first I had to eat.

Ever since we arrived in Boston, Dan and I kept noticing Dunkin Donuts on every corner. Walk up the stairs from the T and invariably there was one on the corner. They were more abundant than Starbucks, and that's saying something. But wouldn't you guess it, the morning I'm looking for a quick breakfast that travels, we couldn't locate one anywhere. So we headed back to the hotel before I fainted from hunger and caffeine withdrawal and went to Starbucks.

Okay, then we were off again. First stop: Fenway Park Dan assured me that Fenway is historical, so that's the only reason I agreed to this outing. As we walked around the perimeter of the field, I felt like we were actively betraying our Milwaukee Brewers. And then Dan mentioned the unthinkable - he wanted to buy a Red Socks t-shirt. He explained to me that Boston is not a division rival to Milwaukee, so it was okay to root for them. I couldn't handle it. I was just about ready to make a teary call to Miller Park just to offer my apologies, when Dan saw the prices of the t-shirts and decided against the betrayal. It was a close call.

Next stop: Boston Common, America's oldest public park. We had started off here on our first day, as this is where the freedom trail begins, but we didn't spend any amount of time exploring the park, so we came back to enjoy the scenery and do some serious people watching.

This is a picture of a monument. I'm sure it's historical.

I parked myself along the edge of the pond in the middle of the park. People were feeding ducks and I just sat in the shade and enjoyed the rest. All this walking was wearing me out. Dan wandered around and took some more pictures, including this one of the famous swan boats.

And what is a day in the park without grabbing a hot dog from a street vendor? Dan likes to take pictures of me eating. He's strange, I understand that now.

Stop #3: The Boston Public Library. This was actually just across the street from our hotel, so we decided to stop there after we checked out of the hotel. I checked my email and we wandered a bit.

This giant lion reminds me of our local library. What? You mean your local library doesn't have stories-tall paintings on the walls surrounded by gargantuan lion sculptures resting on marble blocks? Too bad.

This area reminds me of our children's library. Rows and rows of dust-free tables, not a whisper audible, with people absorbed in reading books or working on their laptops. What's that you say? Your children's library is loud and has tables strewn with books and puzzles? I feel sorry for you.

The Boston Public Library has a courtyard in the middle with cafe tables and a fountain, just like my public library. Actually, now that I think about it, the Boston Public Library is almost identical to our local, small-town library. I'm not even sure why we took pictures of it.

We ended the evening walking along the wharf and Dan rested while I took another picture to prove he came along on the trip. Apparently wearing a "Boston" t-shirt signaled to many that we were tourists. We were asked where we are from a few times. But only in the nicest ways. The locals are friendly.We ate dinner at the Cheers Restaurant, a duplicate of the television show. Apparently the bar that inspired the show is tiny and only a watering hole, so we skipped that on our tours and stopped here to eat.

And whatd'ya know? We got a picture of us together!

We returned to the hotel and collapsed, with a 4AM wake-up call scheduled. It was an enormously fun trip, and I would suggest it to any couple looking for a fun get-away. Although we'll wait a few years before we go back with the kids.

Boston, Day 2

Our second day began with breakfast and the business meeting that brought us to Boston and then a guided tour set up by the company. We chose the tour of Harvard, because the Fenway tour and the whale watching tour were already booked full. But it was in no way a third rate tour, despite it being our third choice.

The tour started at John Harvard's Brew House, a historic restaurant (is everything here historic?) and brewery just down the street from "Harvard yard." (That's what the fancy Eastern intellectuals call the campus, except they pronounce it "Hahvahd yahd") I scarfed down my chicken sandwich and fries, forgetting that dessert was included, so by the time I waddled out of the restaurant, I was ready for a walking tour. This is Harvard's main gate, which we learned was bad luck to walk through, unless entering as a freshman and then the only other time you should walk through is as a graduating senior. Since we accidentally walked through it ourselves, I guess that means we are in for a spell of bad luck. I hate when that happens.

Our tour was "unofficial" led by 2 students, a freshman girl and sophomore guy, who gave us the inside scoop on famous pranks between Harvard and MIT, freshman hi jinks and the ongoing feud between Harvard and the town of Cambridge. Oh, and they gave us some historical information, of course, but I really only remember the funny stories.

This is one of the dorms for freshman. Apparently people like John Adams and other famous historical figures lived here. Like I said, I only remember the funny stories. Like when our tour guide Collin said that he lived here as a freshman and saw a limo pull up and the Dali Lama got out. And then a few weeks later he saw 3 limos and a Lincoln Town Car pull up and wondered who was more important than the Dali Lama and saw Oprah get out.

This is Memorial Hall, dedicated to honor the students who fought in the Civil War - but only for the North. A few died in service to the Confederacy, but they aren't honored here. I guess we can figure out which side Harvard was on.

The inside was like a church. Beautiful stained glass windows and archways, but it was built as a completely secular memorial. The freshman eat here and their dining room was the inspiration for the great hall in Harry Potter. What other claim to fame does one need?

The grounds were being prepared for graduation, which was happening in 2 days. Harvard boasts some pretty big names as graduation speakers, people like Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, who is the only man to have dropped out of Harvard and later given an Honorary Diploma. Of course, it doesn't compare to some of the big-wigs Maranatha gets for graduation . . . wait, I can't even remember who spoke at my graduation.

This is the statue of John Harvard, which reads: John Harvard, Founder, 1638. It's known as the statue of the 3 lies, because John Harvard didn't found the college, he just bequeathed a bunch of money to it, and it was founded in 1636, and there are no surviving images of John Harvard, so it's pretty safe to say he didn't look like this. Anyway, it's historical (do you sense a theme here?) so we had to take a picture.

After we got back to the hotel, we collapsed for about an hour and then met up with some new friends for dinner. I was still digesting lunch and didn't plan on eating, so when the group decided on seafood, we were good-natured and agreed, even though neither Dan nor I like seafood. We were encouraged that every seafood place has other choices, so Dan was satisfied.

We ended up going to the Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in America. The building is over 250 years old and boasts housing Revolutionaries. We sat down to order, our entire group (save Dan) ready to eat lobster or oysters. Dan opened the menu and realized there was nothing but seafood available.

Don't be mistaken, this is not battered fish he is eating. Never deterred, he saw a small menu for children 12 and younger which included chicken fingers. He asked the waitress if he passed for 12 and she obliged his squeamish appetite.

This was the most expensive children's menu platter of chicken fingers he has ever eaten.

Tim, our new friend from Iowa, enjoyed the lobster. I had to take a picture to prove to Elijah that people actually do eat those creepy things that swim in the tank at Walmart.

After dinner, we wandered the cobblestone streets and learned that if Paul Revere were alive today, he would still recognize these parts of Boston. Coming from Wisconsin, where the most historic landmark we have is Lambeau Field, that impressed me.

We ended the day in a picture-perfect moment. Window shopping around Faneuil Hall, music pouring out of pubs and restaurants mixed with the chatter and laughter of people enjoying their evenings, walking hand in hand with the man of my dreams in beautifully perfect weather and still revelling in the fact that Kris Allen beat Adam Lambert on American Idol. What more can you ask for?

Boston Trip, Day 1

As a special spring treat, Dan and I escaped, all on our own, to a 3 day get-away to Boston. Neither of us had ever been there, so we were pumped to check out one of America's oldest cities and to drink in the history and culture. Oh, and squeeze in that business meeting that made this trip possible . . .

Boston, here we come!

After arriving late Tuesday evening (or was it already Wednesday morning?) we hopped the "T" and rode to Copley Square where we checked our bags in some swanky hotel that the company was paying for.
After marveling at the old-world feel of the Fairfield, we looked forward to returning and resting there for the next two evenings, only to find out that there had been a mistake and we were supposed to be at the Westin across the street. Still, it was a pretty hotel to wander around and they were nice enough to keep our luggage until the 4pm check-in time.

We headed out to the street and started snapping pictures right away, although I must confess to you that almost all of the hundreds of pics we took on this trip were taken by Dan. He wore the camera bag and has a natural affinity for scenic pictures, so I let him snap away while I looked around.
This is Trinity Church reflected in the glass of the John Hancock building. Breathtaking, don't you think?We then picked up the freedom trail and wandered around the state house while important people bustled around us. We stopped into a historic church along the trail and marveled at the box pews. I think I recall a story about a church that locked the pews of errant members . . . well, after seeing the tall boxes, that made much more sense.

We finished the trail at the USS Ironsides and toured the USS Cassin Young, a WWII Destroyer. At this point, I decided that we needed proof that Dan was actually there, so I snapped this pic of his photography skills. It reminds me of our trip to the Grand Canyon, where I couldn't recognize him without a camera attached to his face.

It's all good . . . he's very capable behind the camera and more patient than I am, so he usually gets the better pictures.

Up next, Day 2 . . .