31 january

they've been playing star wars angry birds. a little (for free) on their dad's ipad. a lot on the floor with their blocks and playskool heroes star wars guys. but connor informed me this morning that he has $3, and he's going to buy the real thing.

30 january

there was a very big, very long storm today. korinne was at ballet. the students, and parents, and siblings, and instructors sought shelter in the theater basement. she texted her studying-in-the-parking lot-soldier-dad to come save her. and he did.

29 january

cake faces. red hair. real smile. a snugly baby brother, and a handsome big brother.

28 january

i do believe he is finally ready for school. he's copying everything and asking what it says, and he can narrate a (very) small paragraph.

27 january

like father, like daughter ... always talking with the hands.

26 january

playing outside. but not in the snow.

25 january

our home after the big (south carolina) winter storm of 2013. sigh.

24 january

i made wesley a "fishing pole" out of sticks and yarn. but zach was the real fisherman tonight.

23 january

early this afternoon the boys matter-of-factly declared to me that they were indeed done! with school for the day. an hour or so later, i found them huddled together at the craft table, reading take-along guide's snakes, salamanders and lizards to each other, discussing it, and drawing pictures complete with labels.

22 january

"gully, gully, gully?!" as he calls the kitty. just like connor used to do with mimi.

21 january

yes. it's the end of january. and we're outside ... not only coat, gloves, and tobogganless ... but in short sleeves, enjoying full sunshine. it helps me miss the snow less.

20 january

almost 7:00 on a sunday evening. korinne was baking. the boys were recording a play off game on my phone. typical, really.

19 january

reading. eating. sleeping. this is how we are spending this saturday.

Mr & Mrs Cardinal at The Feeder

18 january

they like sliced bananas in a bowl of ice cold milk ... "wif a foon." like their momma.

17 january

i had two teeth extracted this morning. i spent most of the day right here on the couch.

16 january

tyler made an unplanned history connection between a few of his school books. speaking of school books, we're finally embracing our family of kindles. bittersweet. i'm a paper book kind of girl.

15 january

 school, consisting of the naming of john the baptist. and ballet, in a royal blue leotard. and enchiladas, courtesy of pioneer woman's apprentice, kylie.

14 january

kylie nailed down our family's musical style today ... "indy pop" ... we mostly agree. however, this evening's concert was performed by toby mac's biggest six fans.

13 january

it's my birthday. i feel thirty-five. i do. but i don't mind. at all. and this picture makes me laugh. hard.

12 january

connor and tj cleaned up the garage. obviously. we celebrated 35 years of me tonight with chicken marsala and turtle brownies and zooming. life is good.

11 january

a day home. after a lot of running around this week. school, chores, pizza, and brave. 

10 january

while i was at the dentist, brian was in the woods with the boys. guess who was having more fun?

9 january

it's clear i cannot have a 50 minute phone conversation with my mom in the morning, or all heck breaks loose. i burned the chicken for dinner on the way out the door for ballet. we didn't go back in for awhile once we got home. we rode bikes.

8 january

kylie started voice lessons today. korinne started back with ballet. we have a singer, and a ballerina. and a boy that loves to play cards.

7 january

i spent most of the morning still feeling sick. but by late afternoon, i realized i mostly just needed a shower and these rowdy boys to be following a routine. and using their minds.

6 january

i had borderline flu this weekend. and brian worked 39 hours. we had chocolate cake for dinner. ps ... downton abbey season 3 starts in 49 minutes.

5 january

they were cracking each other up over tea, applesauce, and are you my mother?

4 january

the girls and i took the tree down today. it made me sad. and i forgot to buy a new family ornament for zach's first christmas.

3 january

using my real camera is going to take some getting used to. by me and zach.

2 january

my dad was here for new years. we ate burgers, fries, and citrus fruit. and watched a lot of football. a lot.

1 january

brian and i declared christmas 2012 as the star wars christmas. he's having as much fun as the boys.