Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Goodbye


Thank you for your laugh. Thank you for giving my grandpa a reason to get out of bed. Thank you for the last present you gave to Buttons, a mold to make an impression of her ever-growing hands. Thank you for always being so happy to see me and the way you would laugh so easily at my jokes. Your life wasn't always easy, but I know your smile well. I'm sorry you never received the newest picture of Buttons that I sent you and I wish I could give you one more hug. I'm now going to be with our family and remember you.

Grandma, I wish you peace.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas!


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Thursday, December 20, 2007

Buttons, the Red-Nosed Reindeer


She wore antlers traced from her hands with a painted red nose during the Christmas concert at pre-school. It was so sweet, my teeth hurt.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

The tree is up...

Decorations have been made...

Santa Clause is comin' to town...

Buttons has a fudge face...


I'm so behind right now it's insane, but I feel an odd calm. Shopping delirium? The mess in my house has finally driven me insane? Maybe I just want Christmas to be stress free and enjoyable. Hubby is working today but won't be going back until next year. I'm so happy about that, and I'm going to try and not make our time together just about getting ready for company and gifts. I'm craving this together time with Hubby and Buttons and I'm going to enjoy it. I'm also looking forward to my mom, her partner and my brother coming to celebrate my favorite holiday.

So, I may not be posting until next year.
I wish you all a happy and peaceful holiday season.

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Thursday, December 13, 2007

The Artist and Arranger


Buttons drew Oscar the Grouch at the library the other day and I was really excited. She grabbed the green crayon, told me she was going to draw the trash monster and started with the head. She drew a long leg straight from the head, added a circle at the bottom and another circle inside for the heel, then drew another one as well. I try to ask non-leading questions about her artwork, and for this one I didn't even need to inquire as she gave full narration. She wanted me to draw a trash can over him, but I asked if I could draw it somewhere else on the page because I wanted to show hubby the picture. She conceded and then decided the grumpster was missing fur. So, while you can't see it, Buttons and I know Oscar has legs up to his chin and beautiful round heels.


While I was busy working on our holiday letter, Buttons was arranging her animals in a defense circle, at least that's what it looked like to me. When we were in at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego, we saw gazelles sitting in a circle with their bottoms facing each other so they could look around at what's coming. Looks like the scene here, doesn't it? I'm just tickled at its artful arrangement.

I know, you probably want a picture of Buttons, but right now my favorite one is of her with a very silly face sitting on her potty and that just won't due for the public. Yes I know I missed Wordless Wednesday. As the days get closer to Christmas, I'll probably post less and less. Plus, I'm a little under the weather right now due to our crazy weather around here.

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Sunday, December 09, 2007

Road Rage



Hubby, Buttons and I were doing some Christmas shopping yesterday (Saturday) so we expected some crowds, cranky retail employees, parking space frenzies and perhaps even a little road rage. We live in a fairly busy area but rage happens*. However, Hubby and I were surprised by this particular incident of RR with a very angry man in a very large pick-up truck (black Dodge with the ram on it).

We were waiting in a left-hand turn lane for a green arrow to join the highway home. Hubby was driving and the light had his focus. We both saw the light change to green and were behind two or three cars waiting our turn when the guy in the pick-up honked. What? Where can we go dude? Are we going to drive over these cars? When we looked behind us the guy was having a total road rage meltdown. His face was red, hands waving in the air, what I imagine to be expletives firing out of his mouth. He was having a freakin' road rage tantrum. Why?

I understand we all have different timers for the horn honk at the car in front of us when the light turns green and we assume the driver has spaced. I've spaced and had the polite beep, the slightly long irritated honk and the person who waited much more patiently than I would have and didn't tap their horn at all (thank you, by the way). I'm more than happy to do the "oops, I spaced and I'm sorry" wave and get my butt (and car) in gear. I've also tapped my horn more than once when people don't see the green. I know I'm a bit more irritated when the person is busy doing their make-up or talking on the phone, but that's not my main irritation on the road.

Hubby and I have different driving styles and tolerances (he being the more tolerant one) but we both agreed that we were the most surprised by this honk-n-rage than any other we've received over our driving lifetimes. This is an honor previously held by a driver in a Ralph's parking lot in San Diego who gave the finger after parking space related issue that was no fault of ours.

If a honk is deserved, feel free to give it to me. I can take it. However Mr. Ram-tough, perhaps you need some anger management classes, driver's etiquette lessons or maybe just a good old-fashioned spanking.



*Hubby and I have driven in places like San Diego, LA, San Francisco, New York City (ok, once), Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Madrid and a few other large cities. We haven't driven in Boston, but we've had our share of crazy, impatient drivers.

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Thursday, December 06, 2007

Let It Snow

Before mittens...
and after...


Buttons was so excited by the snow yesterday that she dug right into it. It's not her first snow, but she was quite shocked at how cold it was. When I put her mittens on, she lit up like a... well, like a Christmas tree. I need to get those crock mitts finished so she'll have some back-ups. I'm just a little stifled by the whole blocking thing which I've never tried. Yeah, I was one of those kids who didn't want to do anything unless I could do it right the first time. Buttons seems to enjoy the process and I'm glad. She also loves snow. Can you tell?

Ok, enough free form rambling. Soon I will get back to the great questions everyone asked. I'm just still a little stunned from Nablopomo.

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Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Wordless Wednesday

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