The List

Last weekend I asked Madeleine what she wanted for her birthday (less than a month away!) and here's what she said, in order.

1. purple fan
2. purple heater
3. purple rocketship jammies
4. birthday card
5. blanket: green with brown polka dots
6. a Santa Claus movie
7. toy dog that makes sounds
8. purple mack truck
9. brown dress
10. a Santa Claus book
11. green towel
12. long-sleeve shirt, yellow with white sparkles
13. purple pony stuffed animal
14. shark towel

All of this was new to me. What's up with all the purple and polka dots?!? I know she's obsessed with Santa because she was old enough at Christmas to comprehend how cool Santa is. I'm hoping she'll be satisfied with the carousel t-shirt and Emily train (from Thomas the Train). She has also asked for "chocolate cake with chocolate buttercreme icing" using those exact words. I can definitely do that. What a funny kid!

The sound of silence

I covet silence. More often than not it's loud around here but on the rare day both kids will nap and I will have the house to myself. Today I'm enjoying a cup of sweet dreams tea with honey to soothe my sore throat while looking up dress tutorials for Madeleine. I've started one dress that I hope to finish tonight. Lately she's been obsessed with layering a summery dress over her long-sleeve shirts and jeans so I thought it'd be nice to give her a few more options. Her favorite dresses have polka dots but I'm low on dot cloth so flowers will have to suffice until I make it to JoAnn Fabrics.

Like my cup? Picked it up at Goodwill the other day. It is a nice reminder of the summer weather that seems so far away on a snowy day like today.

I'm looking forward to having some other photos to share by the end of the weekend. Mads has been at a creative standstill so I'm hoping to spark some new ideas by giving her the camera to document what does (or doesn't) happen around here. We'll try to make the best of the last 3-day weekend before the long stretch until Memorial Day. Justin will probably have a couple days off between now and then since he needs shoulder surgery. He has a torn something-or-other that can't heal with just physical therapy so we're trying to schedule things to make sure he will be healed in time for hunting season. It's unfortunate that he won't be able to complete any triathlons this summer but in the long run it will be good to get this procedure done so he can compete in the future.

My silent afternoon is fading away so I'm off to drink one last hot cup of tea before chaos ensues.

A bittersweet day

http://theclineadventure.blogspot.com/2010/02/goodbye-maggie.html
I have to get going because Drake's making me play with him and Parker's asking me to stop crying. I hope you each have a love, present or past, that you can honor today.

IRS

While in San Diego last month, the IRS mailed us a letter explaining they were reviewing part of our 2008 tax return. After my stomach did it's initial flip (making a mistake on taxes is one of my biggest fears), I was relieved to read that they were just reviewing our first time home buyer tax credit. Today I finally had time to dig through all of that home-buying paperwork to find and copy all of the documents they want while the kids napped (still recovering from pink eye/a virus that put Mads on antibiotics). I think the IRS and I have another date tentatively scheduled for later this month when we'll head down to a coffee shop to meet with Mr. Turbo Tax. Instead of being the month of love, for me February is the month of paper: finding it, filing it, shredding it. I suppose some love is involved because when it's all said and done, I do love how nice my file drawer looks and the extra pocket change we usually get.

Quarantined

I had thought I'd be cooking up a storm today, preparing for a big Super Bowl party. Instead, I'm staying as quiet as a mouse to ensure the kids get good naps. You see, they both have pink eye, runny noses, a bad cough, and low-grade fevers so we had to cancel our big celebration. We've spent the entire weekend watching Curious George, Thomas the Train, basketball and today football. I'm slowly trying to teach the kids how sick days work around here: couch potato/tv zombie (it's much easier on mom). Fortunately, they napped really well yesterday so I was able to use that time to make them new Steelers gear that they're sporting today.

(that's chalk on P's shirt and yes, it's "fitted." I think I made it just big enough for him to wear it today without out-growing it but I'll have to make a new one for next season.)

I would have put #43 for Polamalu but 7 was easier to freehand cut and applique...plus, Roethlisberger is a great quarterback so we're fans.

Time to go cook some chili. Go Steelers!

Why isn't there anything new?

It's ironic...I keep checking my own blog to see if I've posted, as if I do it in my sleep or something. That's about the only time I could do it these days. We're all constantly moving, taking advantage of all of the ways to be active and social. Whether we're at the Y and the kids are in childcare (and loving it!) or at the children's museum, carousel, train at the mall, a local gymnastics facility, playgroup, playground, friends' houses, etc., we're a moving and grooving fam trying to survive winter. We got hit with the preschool ick this week so we slowed down a bit but speed will pick up quickly as we prepare for Super Bowl Sunday :) We're hoping to have a few friends over to watch the Packers go down in flames. Go Steelers!

San Diego heaven

Carol and I had an unbelievable trip to San Diego this past weekend. We indulged in every way conceivable: great hotel, delicious food, fabulous sights, even early bedtimes :) It was so good that we're already trying to figure out when and where we can do it again! Every mom deserves a chance like this...thanks Justin and Jeremy! We couldn't ask for better husbands.