My Social Network

Blogging is such the in thing right now. Mommy blogs and blogs about decorating, blogs about being a mommy and decorating and blogs about stuff for this that and the other are always on my laptop. I take a vested interest in these stories and these things. Maybe my laptop is my window to the world. I can check to see, am I doing this right? Am I current? Am I crazy? I am.

I began this blog as an addendum to the baby books that I begged Derek to shell out about 200 dollars for because, "The kids will have them their whole adult lives and they must be special". They are super cool...here is Greta's . Well, it turns out that I really enjoy this blog and knowing that it might be fun for you kids to read when you are older...and I have kept the audience small - limited to Derek, and a few very close friends that I cherish and don't mind if they laugh at me for my poor grammar and dorkiness. I sometimes want to make this a bigger project and gain a bigger audience, and then I humble myself and hold onto this little place I can go to tell you secrets and remind you how much I love you.

Derek and I watched The Social Network a few weeks ago and it is lingering in my thoughts. It was a really well done film and I appreciate that very much. I am not a fan of stupid movies anymore...Maybe it is because finding time to sit and take one in is so rare. I go for quality over quantity. But what keeps triggering my thoughts back to The Social Network even has something to do with my place in the world. Facebook is so simple and the idea of it seems to fit into each of our lives for the purpose we need it to - to be a voyeur, to be an exhibitionist, to have a captive audience or be the audience. I am flabbergasted by the whole concept and I got to sit and talk to Derek and gain his perspective. Facebook has changed the world. Derek said it is changing advertising. No longer are websites as crucial. All the information you need and simple correspondence can be achieved through facebook. Ah, but when we were kids you had to communicate through morse code on the gutters, or walkie talkies.

I love the way things change fast in this world. I remember writing my first email at Mizzou in the computer lab. I love that my husband keeps me hip on the trends. One of the first things he told me this morning was, "The new ipad comes out today!" I hope I can remain current. Derek is going to SXSW in about two weeks. Pretty sweet. I hope he comes back! (Or I will just have to facebook him.)

Mental Picture

When I drive the kids to see my dad in Warrensburg I find our busy little world still bustles even in the small space of the car/van (Ours is small like a car, but has sliding van-ish doors). You need to know this because the ride is still small enough that the babies can touch each other if they really want to. They can swipe toys and ninies and they can drop choo choo trains and beg me to retrieve. I do, because I can sometimes reach while still facing forward, eyes on the road, I can blindly find a toy and I feel like superwoman. It is like reaching into a grab bag, that floorboard below my children's dangling feet.

So, we usually head out with excitement and anticipation of seeing Papa. I will never be able to put into words how much they love him. Jack especially. He begs to see him so often, and Gee. Papa and Gee? Papa and Gee. I wonder if it is God's way of making it easier on me to go. Because it is oh, so hard for me to go so often and see him fading away before my eyes and it is oh, so hard to try to explain to Greta what is wrong with Papa. Why can't he walk? Why can't he talk? Why does he cry? Jack just wants to go and be near and flash him smiles and show off. Yes, Jack just wants to be near for a little while every few days and then drive home.

Our drive home is usually so much different than the previous hour in the car. They sleep and I look out at the road ahead of me and the big sky and I have what seems like the weight of the world on my shoulders thinking about life and my dad. It's heavy. But, I can see my sleeping babies in the back seats and they are beautiful and have these little soft, pink lips that sleep in a smile. Their cheeks are pale. They are dreaming.

I like my rear view mirror fixed on them.

Back In The Saddle

I would say we have been hibernating, but that isn't true. We've been busy. And, all at once I have so much to write about and no words sound right. It doesn't have to be profound. So, my babies, I will just tell you exactly what we have been up to. And there is going to be no moral to the story or even a story, really. I hope you are entertained.

We are officially over the winter colds we always get this time of year. But, Jack has his very first ear infection....two of them, to be exact! Poor little fellow told us, "ear hurt". We took him in to see Dr. Kate and came home with Amoxicillin. This is a first for our family. He has run fevers but is definitely almost back to himself. And, Greta thinks the pink medicine looks delicious, so she is begging to catch his infection by rubbing her ears on him.

And, with perfect timing of the ear infection and my pitiful baby boy, I had to go to work for the first time in almost 4 years. I got to foodstyle a recipe book for the women's league of Wichita. I worked with photographer, David Morris, and my lovely sister (who styles all of Dean and Deluca deliciousness.) Derek took a day to work from home and he loved on the babies for me and took them to Chick-fil-a and Target to pick out a toy, and to get haircuts. The barely missed me at all. I missed them. It is like forgetting your watch when you have always worn one, but harder than that. Much harder. I tried not to talk about them too much. We made lace cookies, pea soup and a brie and tomato grilled sandwich, a bbq pizza with chicken and red onions, a quiche, a fresh salad with pears and pecans and a pork roast. I love it. I love to food style. I have missed it. And, I don't think I am quite ready to dive into the field again. I wish I could have both worlds of working and staying home with my babes be my world, but it just isn't the right time. Until then, play-doh will have to fill my styling void.

We met Belle and the Beast and "Pots" Our babysitter, Emmy, was a dancing plate in Shawnee Mission East's performance of Beauty and the Beast and we were given the treat of coming back stage to meet the players. Greta and Jack were star struck and sweet. They were so excited about it! Jack liked the big tea pot, Mrs. Potts and almost gave her his Tonka Truck, but not quite. The play was good, but we got the squirmies and left at intermission.

Greta and Jack had a lovely Valentine's Day. Instead of candy and chocolate we spoiled the kids with Lala Loopsy dolls and Thomas the trains. I know they know they are loved, but it sure is nice to give an extra special treat and get a big thank you from a kiddo that can barely talk and one that will sing your praises for hours in her opera voice.

Jack finally will poo in the potty, too! (Arent' you so glad to know this?) Well, all parents know what a big deal this is. The final step to potty training him is complete and he did it all on his own. I found him sitting on the potty all read faced and I about lost my snit, I was so excited! Derek was a witness to this, too as we tried so very hard not to laugh as Jack gave us the play by play. ut. toot. ut. toot, gain. He is also sleeping without a diaper on and waking up dry! (Although he wakes at 4 am and asks to pee pee.) But, it is good.

All is well and moving forward to spring. I know it is only February, but as the saying goes, time flies...(you know the rest).

Winter

It snowed. We are staying inside, staying warm and hunkering down - a term I have heard several people use as of late. Hunkering down together entails baking cakes and eating spoonfuls of icing - that icing with coconut and pecans that goes so well on a German chocolate cake. Long naps some days, and no naps on other days... Moon dough all over the playroom, making Valentines and colorful pictures of scribbles and Tinkerbells and Rapunzels... Dress up...Hot cocoa...And unfolding folded laundry - at least twice. We have made a "trailmix" for the cold little birds and squirrels and that ugly old possum that Greta said, "Looks like a fuzzy cat with a bald tail." Gross, but kind of pitiful and hungry, so we let him munch outside the door.

We have also been sick, so this time of being homebound is good for recovery and rest. Poor Greta had a stomach bug last week, and Jack caught a runny nose. Then Greta developed a deep cough and shared that with Jack. We have plenty of Puffs and are keeping our germs to ourselves. Our germs are hunkering down.