The ol' Switcheroo!

Judah writes with either hand.

i like these ol' beautes.

Suvi likes to use the camera.  you can see the reflection of her t-shirt in the window. i was just getting home from work when she took this photo.

today i have been a bit angsty, worrying about finances and the fact that judah needs a filling. he had an appointment last week, but wouldn't allow the dentist to even look at the tooth. it's 'L', for those of you who know your baby teeth. 

i heard the mail arrive and in it was some good, good celebration-worthy news for someone we love (we, as in my family in this house, not we, as in you the reader & i). also, we got the Valpak envelope & i wonder whether folks actually open &/or use the adverts inside. my heavy heart switched from worry and despair to tears of joy.  it's THE best kind of switcheroo.

Suves.

what Suvi sees:

sunday night, before she went to bed, Suvi made a few calls.

she was drinking warm milk "because sometimes something warm makes me sleepy, mama."

blog? what blog?

yes.

yes, i am.

(i love this pic because you can see suvi's reflection in the tv-our photog)

i am this self-centered.

and today, this very morning,

i. am. thankful.

thankful for excedrine migraine and peppermint oil.

a hot shower with eucalyptus,

and earl grey lavender tea.

and back-combing and hairspray and kids who don't tell me to settle down my crazy hairdo. i'm thankful for all of that!

peace. school resumed yesterday.

sunday school resumed this week as well, but we missed it.  i overslept my alarm because i was up in the night with judah-washing sheets and blankies and pillows.  eew. he's fine tho'.

this little icy spot is in my front garden.  the weather was mild yesterday, so we had a bit of a melt and drip situation.

things i didn't know.

um, kids? (by kids i mean you there, with your coffee and your bagel/muffin/banana, not my children)  i did not know just how long it takes a turkey to thaw.  dang.  i made one other turkey in my wife life, and it must not have been frozen.  so lets us hope this bird is ready to go by supper time on saturday.

if you want to make the mil happy, take.her.picture.  not kidding.  she is just giddy that we had a little time to take her photo today.  i did her hair, she lined her eyes (her lashes are pretty much gone, no one tells me why.  do they know? those kids of hers?), put on her new duds, and posed in the dining room.  it took her so long to get ready... well. actually, to START getting ready, that my favorite sunlight time in the dining room had passed, but it was still the best lizight in the hizouse. hollah!

airbrushing is fun.

i don't know why we americanos like to cheez it up in photos, but it is not the norm in e-hope-ia (as theo says it), the photographed tend to have a straight face.  this just would not do for the mil portrait, so i called in the heavy hitters.  'THEO! SUVI! COME MAKE AYAT LAUGH!!'  and so they did.  good kids.

my mil really closes her eyes when she laughs.  who knew?!

tickle, tickle!

suvi LOVES to take photos...she is using my phone here, since her pos camera she got for Christmas last year is broken ;)  i just love her concentration!!

'darkness is a harsh term, don't you think'

last year on this day, october 11th, suvi took a picture of her tootsies. outside.  and i shared one of my kids' favorite songs.

one year later, we have another be.A.U.tiful day.  bare feet and short sleeves. 

since i haven't posted music for a couple weeks, i thought i'd share some more.  this time, it's a new-to-me band with LOVERLY sound.  a new favorite.  and at 53 seconds in, i want to jump up and cheer wildly. also at 3 minutes in. yikes! fills me UP!

no, thank YOU very much, mumford and sons. aiyaiyaiiiiieeeee!

look what the wind blew...out

 I know many people experience it after having a baby, but this is my first time.  Turns out I feel much less casual about it when it is happening to me...my hair is falling out like autumn leaves.

it is almost easier to see in this blurry photo that Suvi took for me.  along both sides and at the nape my hair is so very thin.  I've never even seen it like this on my clients.  Usually it's more like breakage.  In my thin spots it feel like baby hair, or peach fuzz.

Suvi took this one too.  I'm surprised how affected I am by my hair loss. 

And yes, it did take me 10 days to come up with this (she smirks). Actually, my mixed emotions and hitches and critical thinking (not the creative kind) all came to a head the other night and I had myself some tears. And spoke some words. Received some hugs and reassuring words. It is good for me to be married and living life with the guy that I am married and living life with.  His instinct and comfort level is to give a person space if he sees them feeling blue.  My instinct is to try not to ask for help.  This pairing is so Minnesotan.  But when I can whisper the faintest "I'm sad" I am absolutely met with clear, true...assurance. Friendship. Love.

In case anyone is lonesome for my baby, here he is!

Sweet love of loves!!



oh the pressure.

"...what we're trying to do is grow the economy..." blah blah blah. Hey, folks.  Guess what Ima do. Ima 'bout ta calla spade a spade. This political rhetoric is absolute freaking horse shit. Hear that EVERYBODY?  Yeah, that's right.  I said it.  All y'all on the television, in the internets, on the radio, in my salon, at the gas station, at fireworks and Costco, spreading alla your BAloney are full of HORSE.Shit.  I feel like my head is going to explode.  I can't wait to vote and get it over with.

AND, I don't want to hear about any more bullying, stalking, suicide, child abuse, domestic abuse, forclosures, unemployment, illness, co-dependency, entitlement.  I am feeling so very sensitive this week, and I am seriously saturated.  I can't bear to hear one more horrid thing. Good GRIEF!  Isn't there anything good happening in this dog pile of a country we live in?  Guess what, Republicans, Democrats, and pot-smokers, none of you are the One with the Answer.  And another thing.  Yes.  There is a line.  There is a line that says, the things on this side are acceptable, and sometimes, some folks cross the dang line.  Know what that means? Sometimes some people are wrong.  And that is okay.  It is completely acceptable for me to say that somethings are wrong, and unacceptable, and...not even right.  Sheesh.  I'm just trying to enjoy my little children, my hottie husband, the new shoes he just forked over a huge wad of cash for, and my bangs.

(this may be the scariest photo of me i've ever seen. thank suvi)

Alright? ALRIGHT???!

That's what I thought. Punk.  Now take your stinkin' entitled over-opinionated under-experienced biased self to a coffee shop and RE-stinkin'-lax.  Honestly.  Lets do some breathing together. 
Deep, long, cleansing breath in.......and shuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhh, calming exhale.
Good thoughts innnn..............and downers, negativity out.
One more sure, steady, freeing inhaaaaaale, and releasssssssssssssssssssse it all.

Now, can we discuss dress patterns?  Apples?  a winning sports team?  a 62nd wedding anniversary?  a perfect found item?
Please spread your personal happy surprise with me.  Reach a goal?  Do something new?  I want to hear about it.

our strange neighbor used to have expensive cars.

now he rides a bike, and, apparently, a wagon.

some food is just yummy and i will eat it.

my baby is cute. period.

a secret moment i shouldn't share, but i will. because i am so in love with this dude.

another suvi pic

Word.

cool water

we spent an hour or so at the park this morning.  we actually got out of the house by 10:30. i dropped a bill in the mail and then one at city hall--i like to have running water and garbage collection. it is a glorious day, and just couldn't go home after our short errands.  we went over to the park.  i love this park--there is sand in the small kids play area, and fun climbing and sliding in the bigger kids area.  we had it all to ourselves.  i know it is good for the kids to meet new little friends, but i am so much more relaxed if i don't have to worry about some strange little urchin pushing my precious darlings off the slide or coating all the hand-holds with the dreaded peanut butter.  i can hold the baby and not my breath.  so it is sunny, and a little breezy, they leaves are changing...this is my kind of monday.

pulling away from Oak Hill, i felt so refreshed.  i usually do feel good after spending some time outside, but this was almost tangible.  like a cool drink on a hot day.  the cobwebs have been dusted from my little head (really, it is on the large side, but compared to the whole of the world, i see it as my little head. {"head. pants. now." i do love mike myers.})  so time with friends refreshed my heart (as does a date night, like last night was), spending time out of the house with the kids playing together so sweetly refreshes my mind.  oh, and the huge relief of money coming in at just the right time eases my breath. what. a.day!!!

suvi has learned to love being behind the lens. (thanks A LOT deanna. ha!)