Oh it's been so long.

So I think that pms is particularly bad if you're trying. I really feel for those people who aren't doing it for the first time. Or maybe it's worse because I am making up for 4 years of not cycling. Who knows. So I haven't exactly been myself lately. My poor husband. Also, he's making it worse by telling his entire family that we're trying. I don't really want themn to ask every time I see them. Sigh.

Christmas, however, was wonderful. I think everyone should experience it with a 3 and six year old. Much purple feathers, much lego building, much candy, and it's all good.

Licking 200 envelopes will make you feel sick.

Also, if you've added a new child to your family since your last card, the very least you can do is include her name on it.

Yesterday we got our tree. Then at playgroup this morning, we had a visit from santa, and had holiday treats and crafts. Then we picked up the boy from school, whereupon we visited Santa, and then went to target to get presents from the kids to the world.

I'm exhausted.

A few things I learned. 1. I am not a good judge of tree size in field. It's really cute. 2. The girl wants a barbie and the diamond castle thing that I didn't get for her. I have to hit target. Her auntie did get her that, but I think santa will get her the horse and a friend. 3. The kids didn't really appreciate the point of the gift buying, and instead I'm exhausted from an hour in target trying to keep them on task.

However, I got home and my backordered Sukie iron ons are here. So maybe we'll make gifts. I'm not sure what would be appropriate.

So today I went to target to do the major huge bulk of shopping. I spent $237 and have my kids and my two (younger) nieces primarily done. I still have to get the darn Hess truck of the year, and maybe some stocking stuffs, but done done done! I love that I did it all within the course of about 90 minutes, and didn't have to go to the mall. Period! I will still have to visit the mall soon, as that's where the Big Man with the White Beard is. Maybe after school tomorrow?

I think for my parents I'll do a donation thing again. NPR has some nice gifts right now.

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DSC00724
Originally uploaded by archimom

The game works like this: if you use Flickr, go to the sixth page of your photostream and pick the sixth picture there, then post it to your blog, and pass it on to six other people.

If you read this, you've been tagged.

So this weekend I saw the flyer for Family Dollar, which I don't generally frequent. And they had a dressup set, including tutu, wand, tiara, slippers and *wings* for $5. So of course I needed to go buy two. Today I pull into the parking lot of Dollar Tree. Doh.

I went inside and still spent $10, on things like markers and stickers. I'm not sure why, but among the checkout necessities, there are pregnancy tests. This cracks me up. Maybe it's just a high-theft item?

The checkout lady did alert me to the fact that there *is* a Family Dollar just 1/2 mile down the road, where I went and bought a pink *and* a purple dressup set. I'm going to have to go back the week before the Big Day and finish up. I wasn't really prepared.

Again with the sporadic note making.

More later, but first I need to tell you that the two horses pulling the old-fashioned firetruck are named Midnight and Snowy Moe. Snowy Moe!!

I've been a really bad blogger lately. I'm so tired but I'm staying up to see if the husband will bring home milk. See, because earlier he got us the cutest little whoopie pies. But I want milk with them.

Today, the reason I am tired, I visited GreenBuild. It was very cool. I spent five hours on the floor getting samples and stuff. So by 3:30, I had a super heavy bag on my shoulder and had eaten a cookie (that said Armstrong Flooring on it), mints (that said Armstrong ceilings on them, apparently Armstrong was the good loot provider), about six glasses of water, and a pepsi. I was in quite a state. Then, because it was 28!!!! degrees on the train platform, I got a coffee. Which I requested in decaf and I'm pretty sure wasn't. But I did sent lots of random text messages, mostly to my sister. Of course.

I sighted the guys from This Old House, Kevin and Steve. I had to tell someone!!

We had success with potty training. Much success over the last week. In fact, yesterday, she told me she had to go, *before* going. I was all encouraged. Then, this afternoon, she came home from the sitter's with a pullup on. Apparently she had a wet nap. But still! This is a step backwards, people. Sigh. My son took about 3 days to get on board, and he was much younger. This little lady is on day 10 or so of partial success.

I send my sister the most random text messages. I recently purged or there would be more better. Here are some examples:

Oldies 103 is already holiday music!
G just said I'm jealous of his penis.
G wants to meet barack.
I am on a cloud today.
Daylight savings has brought back the nap.
38 degrees now.
Saw an obama sign w/ "do not steal this sign" on it.
I just saw a guy with a handlebar mustache chse a g sized boy around a parking lot for five minutes. The kid couldve easily gotten to the road.
At grocery, balloon says "i'm sorry".

See, the things that strike me in my life, that aren't really worth a phone call, get a text to my sister. That way, my odd life is shared with others, without disrupting those others.

It was pretty well summed up this morning, when the boy was in our bed, and we said "you know what? Obama won!" and the boy got a giant grin and did the fist pump "YES!!"

Oh and also, he said "now will the soldiers get to come home?" We explained it will take a while but yes, the soldiers will get to come home.

Please vote tomorrow. And if you know what's good for you (ie, my friendship ;o) ), please vote for Obama. It's up to you. You especially, as compared with Massachusetts Me.

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DSC01425
Originally uploaded by archimom

I'm not sure why I've been so crafty lately (aka today). I just made these delicious cake balls (thanks pioneer woman). They're super sweet so make them small. I purposely made their "costumes" a bit short. I just thought they were so cute.

Earlier I made a set of placemats and napkins, and have started on dollhouse number two.

Okay, so I found this (I don't know why my link doesn't work, so here: http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabric-dollhouse-tutorial.html) tutorial for a fabric dollhouse, and I was going to make the girl one for her birthday. Then yesterday, I was trying to distract her during an older kid get-her-out-of-here playdate, and we made it. It took all of 90 minutes, even with 3 year old help, so I highly recommend. Next time I'm going to leave less seam allowance and make it less floppy. Also get some cute buttons to hold it together and some premade embroidery thingies for the gardnen.

Anyhoo, here tis:

So then I was bummed that her christmas gift was spoiled. But I saw someone mention making a fairy house, and that seems really, incredibly cute. She's in love with tinkerbell (who is the cutest of the disney characters, and is blond and "spunky/stubborn" like mine). So maybe I'll make her a fairy themed one with woodsy things, and then get her some tiny tink dolls like so, but without all the stuff, maybe get some of her friends:

Then I will still make a handful of them for cousins/friends/brother. The big boy is really into zoo, has all the schleich animals and a Steve Irwin figurine, who happens to be the right size, and I'm thinking safari vet place. Somehow, all of his animals get badly hurt and/or separated from their parents. Tragic.

I am *so* glad that the boy changed from Indiana Jones to Davy Crockett. I'm pretty sure every kindergartener out there is either Indy or Anakin Skywalker. He wanted to be Indy based on the Last Crusade, though, not the Crystal Skull. My rennaissance man.

Sometimes I laugh and laugh, then for good measure laugh some more.

The girl was jabberjaws (possibly related to earlier halloween candy) at bedtime. So she was telling me all about the guys at walmart who are skeletons, which means they have the bones on the outside. Some of them have green bones, and I don't like that, and that's disgusting. But one of them is a pumpkin who sings "Iiiiii want candeee!" just like that momma, and then there's a skeleton head who sings "Iii want candee!" And there's a song in Debbie's car, that is like that, momma, it says "Iiiii want candeee!" And also in Debbie's car, there's a song about Ghostbusters. Sometime momma can we watch a movie about Ghostbusters? There are ghosts in it but they're just pretend, just made up not real. And one of them has a red button, and when you press the red button, the ghost says (remember earlier tune here) "Iiiiii am spooookeeee!"

Laugh.my.tuckus.off.

Seriously cracked me up. I still giggle when I think of it!

We went to the diner for dinner. Much pancake, french toast, grilled cheese. They also have fab pie, but after the sweetish dinner, we weren't in the mood. Big boy wanted pie, though, so she was listing the 230923 varieties they have. He politely asks for cherry pie. I said just bring that, and four forks. Then the baby girl pipes in. "Um, I'll have chocolate cream". It was so hysterical, we got her chocolate cream pie. And of course, we all enjoyed it. She fancies herself "shy", except when there is chocolate pie involved, apparently.

I cut the girls hair. To match Ann Estelle, if you know that character. If you do not, it's a short bob with bangs. Ann Estelle has glasses, but she also has yellow hair, which is close enough for a 3 year old.

I decided that now that she's three, I need to make her look like she has real hair, even if it's by cutting it and forcing the issue. It's super cute. It is also nearly impossible to get a good photo of.

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Originally uploaded by archimom

Celebrating the girl turning 3 last night. Wednesday is the actual birthday. So fun and not too many obnoxious noisy toys!

In one week my daughter will be 3. She has requested pizza and a chocolate cake. Seeing as she and I are about half of the attendants who will enjoy an all chocolate cake, we're doing yellow with chocolate frosting. And pizza!

I bought her a $5 little pet shop set which her brother found and gave to her the other day. I'm not buying her more. She'll like the dress (and tights!! always tights!!) that I also got.

We haven't shown the house in 10 days. Which I love, not having to clean the house, but it doesn't feel great. We really can't drop the price any lower, especially since we expect someone to offer less than anything we're asking. Now I don't know what to do. I still want to apply for that state house, which I have to do by the end of the month, but without the sale of this one, there's a very limited budget (aka, free labor from us). That probably won't look great on paper. I need to figure out how to phrase that. I have mad architect skillz, yo.

I've also been so busy with paying work that I'm not sure where I'll find the 10 or so hours to put together the proposal for that house. I probably have to schedule it for myself. As well as exercise. I'm turning back into a slug and not really enjoying it.

Heard upstairs just now, the girl is singing herself to sleep: Come and sit by my side if you love me, do not hasten to bid me adieu!

The Death Match question was definitely my favorite. I think that actually ties into the Natural Selection question.

You are a Social Liberal (70% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (28% permissive) You are best described as a: Democrat You exhibit a very well-developed sense of Right and Wrong and believe in economic fairness. loc: (74, -82) modscore: (17, 42) raw: (2139) Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Momma! I was at Debbie's house! I was eating ice cream, and I shared some with Moon, and Moon has a pink tongue. We went to the farm with a llama with OUT pajamas.

So today as I do on Mondays, I picked up the boy at school. His teacher was all "oh good I have to talk to you". I was so worried he had done something. But no, someone else had done something to him. He's fine. And I'm so glad that she told me, even though he wasn't traumatized and had nary a mark on his body.

Suddenly I have plenty of work and am feeling like a genuine Architect again. Well, plenty is maybe stretching and genuine, I'm not sure I've ever felt. But it feels good to be using up some of those business cards and doing something that requires my washing my hair. Which I need to do somewhat soon, actually.

The real reason I came here was to add this wonderful sketchbook to my link sidebar. But in case you don't know every detail of my blog and wouldn't notice that this is new, here she is: http://www.suzannebuchanan.blogspot.com/

Makes me want to carry my sketchbook and use it myself, instead of ripping out pages for kiddos while we're waiting for chicken strips.

Have I mentioned that I got a breadmaker? I haven't bought a loaf of bread in at least a month. Twice or so a week, I make a loaf of something, and have only had two miserable failures. Not bad. So I'm starting to get bold. I'm trying to figure out the texture thing now, getting that soft perfect for sandwiches storebought inside. I got close a few times and thought that was it. I'm also getting adventurous, by looking in the little window and adding oatmeal or water or honey or whatever, and keeping the texture the same as it usually is. It's very precise. So yesterday, I threw a bunch of things in there, and the texture was funny, so I threw some other things in there, and I was worried, frankly.

3 hours later, the best loaf of bread yet. All store bought texturey inside, the likes of which I hadn't had even *with* the online recipes claiming such. Which is good and bad, because it was obviously good, but unreproducable. I think I sort of know how I did it. Maybe.

Of course, now that I don't have childcare, work is picking up. I'm going to go with it and see how things proceed. I can get coverage for the meetings I have scheduled, and then . . . we'll see. Babygirl will go to school 2 mornings a week in just about a month, and those will be mine.

Two viewings of the house, not much interest. But the most recent interest has been from a friend/acquaintance who dropped the husband off last night, after a showing when the house was looking tiptop. Hooray! But, he has four kids, and to be honest, I'm not sure where he'll put them all.

If he figures it out and writes the check, I will not question. I think you could fit a bed in the wine cellar. ;o)

This weekend, we ate breakfast at Nancy's Airfield Cafe. Where Nancy, herself, was seating folks. And discussing the frogs and fish in the tanks with my boy.

The boy is really into the election and is always talking about Bush and McCain being on the same team, and how that's not the team we want to win, and how Obama is going to live in the White House.

He decided that Nancy, of the cafe, is John McCain's wife. I have no idea how. Isn't her name Cindy? I don't know who Nancy supports, but this is Massachusetts after all, it's probably not him.

Facebook is so confusing some times. I dont' know what to think. I was just friended by a HS classmate, who went on to the same college as I, and that was the last I'd really heard. She was sort of friends of other college friends, so I would hear reports that way. Come to find out, she married a guy we went to high school with. Who I don't think she dated in HS. But facebook cracks me up, and I like to see the reports.

The House that I am very, very, exceedingly interested in, has had a new development. The official rfp has come out, including an analysis of cost estimate, which is somewhere just under $2 million. Just to get it into good condition. And in 25 years, we will have nothing to show for it. I'm hoping that's a very fluffy estimate. By, say, like a power of ten.

It's amazing to me that several of the last few years, on this date, the weather is like this. Exactly (at least here) as it was in 2001. I can feel it all over again. That beautiful, "hooray for fall", crisp sunny day. It makes me want to go out and buy mums, and I usually do. Then I drive home, past my neighbors' house, and there are mums and candles and flag balloons.

I don't know if I mentioned that I'm losing childcare within the month. It was a really, incredibly slow summer, workwise, but those two days have been helpful for just household operations. But financially, not so hot. I was keeping the sitter on because searching for new is such a nightmare. Now, with kindergarten going, it seems silly to have a sitter. Not only do I pay for her to watch just the one kid, the same money, but the days when I'm with the girl, I can get tons of things done. I feel guilty and spendy sending the kids off on these 2 days. So as of October 1, I will be a stay at home mom, who can work as projects come and have family support. It won't be a problem for husband or mimi to watch a kid if I have a meeting, and life might be a little less nutty.

Sometimes I wish life were more like it were 40 years ago. In stupid, neighborly ways. Like, in the morning, I just open the door and let the dog out. We don't have a fence. So when the neighbor walks her two dogs by, Moon runs out front, and neighbor lets her dog off the leash. They have a little playdate and sometimes I look out the window to make sure there's no blood. For some reason, I feel like this practice would be frowned upon by many of the neighbors.

Or the whole "letting kids go to the bus stop alone" bit. I know mine is little, but I can't wait until I can kiss him when he walks out, and not have to be wearing a bra and conversational at 7:50.

Okay, so maybe "really well" was posted too soon. He's still having separation issues, particularly from me. Tomorrow he's riding the bus, I think. That may or may not make it easier. He loves school, his friends, all of it. He does not want to leave me, for some reason. Sigh.

Today my son went to kindergarten. How on earth are either of us old enough for this?

It went really well. This first day, you just meet the teachers, see the classroom, fill out forms. I filled out forms, he played with legos. That's right, there's an entire lego table there. He'll be just fine. The teacher was really cool about me worrying about bus riding (they ride for over 30 minutes with kids up to fifth grade), and I know it's going to be great. He only had a moment or two of uncertainty. We'll see when I have to leave him there.

So yesterday I bought a breadmaker. And last night made the first loaf of whole wheat oatmeal bread. I am about to go upstairs and figure out how to make zucchini bread in it, as this week's farm zucchini isn't going to eat itself. I'm hoping that I'll get really adept at this and be making all of our bread. I'm just not comfy with all of the preservatives and corn syrup in bread, and with having to pack a lunch, starting next week, we'll be going through a lot of it. Not to mention the grocery prices going through the roof.

Oh also, I am a slacker. Twice, maybe three times, I blew off Moon's training. Once I just forgot, twice I called to reschedule at the last second. At around 11 last night, I remembered I was to go at 8:30 today. With no childcare lined up. So this morning I did some scrambling, and didn't blow off the trainer a fourth time. Thank heaven for small miracles, I guess.

The realtor came in to take photos of the house today. And put up a sign. It's not official until the 1st, I don't think, but we're going back on the market for 60 days or so. Very short blast. One open house type thing, possibly not lowering the price. We'll see. The realtor said to my husband that the house looks great and a professional stager couldn't have made it look better. My dishpan hands thank you.

The upside is, we have a really clean house for the weekend. Oh and the boy is going for an overnight at my parents', so I will get a little downtime with the girl, not worrying about cleaning.

Second wiggly tooth disappeared overnight. Tonight we shall compose a note to the tooth fairy. I just hope he doesn't want to search for it upon exit.

This weekend, my husband and I started singing "rocky mountain high" to the kids. And while they are big fans of Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers, they didn't know the John Denver. So I was going to dig through the $5 bins for a cd. All on my mind, for sure.

Today I left the big tv on when we went out. It was PBS for kids shows. I came down to turn it on, and it's John Denver. Spooky!

My niece sort of ruined the whole tooth fairy magic. Not severely, but apparently her tooth fairy gives $5. The silver dollar was less exciting. Not to mention, the boy was pretty sure that it was the silver dollar he already had. I had to find said silver dollar and tell him the tooth fairy wasn't a crook.

The vacation was fun. Aquarium, family, friends, plane ride, all good.

This week, the boy is doing karate camp. I am not entirely sure why, but he's having trouble leaving me. Or specifically, me leaving him. He has fun the entire time, even when I'm there, but any talk of leaving makes his lip quiver. I don't exactly tell him to suck it up, but I do leave. I hate these decisions where I worry I'm harming his future self.

I've been tagged.

The Nitty Gritty details:
It’s a random tag, and here are the rules!
1. Link to the person who ‘tagged’ you!
2. Post the rules on your blog!
3. List 6 random facts about yourself!
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post!
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by commenting on their blog!
6. Let the tagger know the entry is posted on your blog!

1. Candy
2. Done.
3. I'm making dinner right now, we're having wax beans (which I know not much about), I smell like the dog who got into my gym bag, the blinds I bought for the new room are too wide, I forgot to get an erasable calendar at target today, where they're on sale, and I'm going to get back into triathlon training.
4. How about I do it here? Mary, Martha, Ang, Jessica, Blair, and Amy.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by commenting on their blog!
6. Let the tagger know the entry is posted on your blog!

Since I"m going away, here's some entertainment:

The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks
Cake Wrecks

At the gym today, free pomegranate peach passion white tea. Gross. Free is not always good and that makes me sad.

Wednesday we're going to Atlanta to visit the family. I haven't seen my sister or niece since May or June which isn't the longest we've gone, but it feels too long. We're staying at a vanilla chain suite hotel with pool and kitchenette and maid service and internet and cable. I couldn't be happier. Really, we could be staying in East Podunk and if it had those factors I'd be thrilled. I don't care if I ever see past the parking lot. Oh wait, except for a starbucks/ice cream/chocolate run. At some point, because my mom is going, I might eat a vegetable.

Oh, and I'm planning to bring running sneakers and a sportsbra. I will have no excuse. I should google earth the hotel and find a nice little running loop. Or an on site fitness center with treadmill or something. Or maybe just the aforementioned starbucks.

Oh! That (aforementioned) was our vocabulary word today. Thank you, They Might be Giants, and "can you find it".

I forgot to add a finished photo!

She slept in her own bed last night! Girly is growing up. It was (knock on wood) all pretty smooth and painless. Other than her waking up and not knowing where to find me.

Also, we ran a 5k last night. Fun. I'm kind of tired, though. Like long term tired. I'm going to do this triathlon on Sunday and then take some time "off". I still will exercise 5-6 times a week, but I'm definitely feeling burned out on it all. It's not the exercising, but the making the time to do it and be on such a schedule.

Today we had to put a new coat of paint on the floor. White over darkish green needed 3 coats, especially when fully cured. But I'm getting there.

She'll be using his bed, which is a semi-old spindle bed (no idea how old, really). Cream colored sheets, pale pink comforter. And this week, target has soft storage cubes on sale, so we'll get 4 or 6 of those. And *pink* underbed storage boxes, which really will make the difference for her.

This morning I did 3/4 mile swim, 6 mile bike, and 1.5 mile run, so I'm feeling much better about next weekend. Tuesday is a 5k race, and I did that course on friday, so it's all good. Pray it's not 12390 degrees that evening.

massipainted

massipainted
Originally uploaded by archimom

Here we go! Now just to put the stuff in it (um, and buy the bed and bedding and things) and convince her to sleep there! She's excited so I think it will be all good.

Because of this project, I worry I'm not ready for the triathlon next weekend, August 3. For instance, I didn't exercise at.all. today. I'm getting up to run in the morning, a course of a 5k I'm doing Tuesday, though, so if I do that I'll feel better, more prepared. And we're going away this weekend, and I hope I can get in an open water swim one of those days.

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Originally uploaded by archimom

Is this not the cutest thing? I am turning my former office into the little miss's room. Yesterday I outlined the clouds and although it wasn't the highest priority, I filled them in today. It was my reward for my 230923 trips to the garage attic with books and boxes of photos in frames and stuff. Over the weekend, I moved my desk and things down into the guest room, where I sit right now. It's a nice room, the only issue I have is that it's not all that close to the kitchen/kids/etc. But because of that, it's really quiet and toy free.

I'm going to paint the room "filtered sunlight", which is a really pale yellow/cream, and her bedding will be pale pink, with cream and brown. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to get the bed in white, or in black-brown. Huge decisions.

She is so excited, and wants to keep going into "her room". She drags me by the hand in there, even though it's mostly empty and still somewhat dusty.

Oh so ya, the boy is really into Davy Crockett right now, of all strange things. So if a new Davy Crockett movie is in the works in 6 months, know I prophesied it. It happened with Indiana Jones, it could happen again.

This is the post where I share every dirty detail of the triathlon with you. Skip post if you don't care.

I had an 8:30 start, with a 7:30 athlete meeting. So I planned to get there for 7. You had to park a little ways away and I only live 3 miles away, 2 of which can be done on a paved rail trail. So I packed up my backpack, ate a powerbar, and hit the road at 6:45. I found my spot, got marked (they write in permanent marker on your arms and legs) and got all set up. By 7 I was ready and excited, and had met up with my team. My coach was supposed to be participating but was having a bad medication reaction, so we "got" her for the day. Another gal in the group who was sick during training and didn't feel ready, hung out too for moral support. At 7:30 or shortly thereafter, I saw my husband and kids arrive and was thrilled that it was all coming together.

The young men started at 8, and every 5 minutes they sent out a swim wave. I was in the last wave (because I weigh more than 150 lb, I am considered an Athena Athlete), and wore a white cap. We all got in the water up to our thighs, and then they blew the whistle. It took me a few hundred yards to get away from the others (particularly one guy who I think was trying to "draft" off me), but then I found my groove. Suddenly I was among swimmers again, and realized I had caught the tail end of the wave ahead of me. By the time I got out, I was one of the first of my wave out, and had passed people from three of the waves before. It was a bit strange, because there is no real relativity when you know others started the race 1/2 an hour ahead of you. I had a great swim though, and it turns out I finished 108/444 for the swim. Go me! ;o)

Ran up and got the shorts, shoes, singlet, helmet on. Grabbed the bike and ran to the mounting point. I had sort of a slow transition (2:30) but not bad for a first timer. Headed out, had some water, tried to settle down. I was all adrenaline and racing, and knew that there was the biggest hill of the course about 4/10 of a mile in. The good thing about that hill is that you're totally warmed up by the time you're up it. Drank tons of water on the bike and was able to take it a little easy, analyze the swim, the bike, prep mentally for the run. Found a guy to kind of stick with (his number was 69, giggle, which makes a good icebreaker). Passed some people, got passed by many. I was 402/444 for the ride. I did about the same pace I'd been doing practicing (13 mi in 56 min), so that felt good.

The day was warming up at this point. Dying to get off my helmet, grabbed a bit more water, changed shoes, headed out. My legs felt like jelly for the first 1/2 mile or so. Stopped to walk for a hundred yards or so, and realized that it didn't feel any better, so just plugged along. Many, many neighbors out with hoses, makeshift water stops and moral support. Felt wonderful. At the turnaround was the real water stop, so I grabbed a cup and got a pretty decent stomach cramp. I walked for probably 1/4 mile then, but then felt okay and trotted on back. Not my fastest 5k, for sure (42 min) but still, after the others, it was just the end to a fun day. Total finish: 396/444. Which keeps confusing me, as by alphabetical listing, I was number 398.

Then, the big boy wanted me to swim in the lake, and of course nothing sounded better. That victory swim with the kiddos was the most fun, refreshing swim ever. Then we all had free burgers by the lake. Altogether fun.

August 3, look for me on another course!

I guess Sundays are our good family days. This morning we got up and went out to breakfast at a beach cafe. Sat outside, had our napkins blown around, strolled out to the surf (chilly even today). Then on the way home, big boy asked to go to the Dinosaur Park, so we had to turn around in another park - a little island in the river. We got out and did a little stroll on the island, then went back to the dinosaur park, then finally home again. Just those few hours of time together is a definite recharge.

Yup, it's done. I did it! I finished, I am alive to tell the tale, and I wasn't last!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow!

I'm going to pick up my number this afternoon. Must plan, plan, plan and obsess accordingly.

Maybe the book I'm reading isn't a comedy. Does one categorize books as comedy? Anyway, I started a new book last night, and it just made me crack up in a few places. The style just brings me right back to being 12, attitudes and that sort of thing. So a few times I was actually giggling in bed. My husband thought I was crazy.

Then it sort of turned sad, the events have to do with missing kids in a small town, but the style is still just so dead on. I want to read the reviews of it on goodreads, but I'm sure it will have spoilers, and I guess when I finish it, I'll know what it's "supposed" to be. For now, I'm just enjoying it as it comes.

T-minus 4 days until triathlon day. I did a spin class (too hot to bike outdoors today) this afternoon, I'll do an open water swim tonight, the bike course in the morning, a jog on thursday, open water swim thursday night, and then that's it. Four more workouts. :|

Sometimes I wouldn't trade my life for anything. Tonight, it's a lovely summer evening, so we decided to go out to eat. Our standard place is a fried clams type place, but as soon as we left, we realized that it is on the other side of the tolls, and so we reconfigured our plan and ended up at a local, but "nicer" place. We had to wait 1/2 hour, so we wandered among the boats at the marina. It only took 20 minutes. We sat at a "high top" table on the water, but the kids handled it awesomely. They both sat happily, ate fish shaped ravioli and commented on the bridge openings, and stayed relatively clean and adorable. Lovely breeze off the water, lighter fare than we'd expected, in a good way (really good pear-pistachio topped salad).

Oh and I cut her hair! More added to the adorableness that people kept commenting on. ;o)

Ran another 5k last night. I am not sore at all not even one bit today, so something is working. It was a nice enough night for being in July, I was worried about weather. I did it as a "pace run" so it wasn't fast but it was easy - I figure that's the fastest I'll be able to run it after the swimming and the biking. Or maybe I was just lazy.

I'm feeling better about things. Maybe I had a little cold or something. Today I swam the 1/2 mile again with no issue, biked the 12.5 and ran about 1. No problems at all, other than sweating and puffing and being tired and all the normal things that happen when one does this.

I'm not sure what to do. Tonight I was out in the lake, doing a full length swim. I have no problem at all with the swim, it's definitely my strongest tri component. But about 2/3 of the way through the first, I experienced what I *think* was an asthma attack. I was sort of wheezy and felt like if I coughed it'd make it better. But when I coughed I felt like I'd swallowed water and it tightened up more. Now when I take a deep breath, I'm sore and tight. And I still feel the little rattle in there.

I'm not sure what to do. I think I'm going to try again Saturday and hope that if the weather is warmer I do better. I know I *should* see a doctor, but I am 2.5 weeks away from this g.d. triathlon which I know I can do. And I'm not afraid of swimming, and I'll just take the whole thing easy - I'm okay with finishing DFL if I finish. But the upset of this is, well, drowning.

I guess I don't know if I should call the doc tomorrow or if I should wait until after Saturday's swim. I"m supposed to wake early to run with another tri gal, and I hope that all goes well. I haven't had any similar symptoms while running so we'll see.

Today the boy is 5 1/2. So in honor of this, he wants to have a "party". Do you know what a half birthday party is to a boy of 5 1/2? A dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, with some cake and ice cream, or possibly ice cream cake. And of course, having dessert first.

I am TOTALLY on board with this party.

I need to be better about writing things down. We have a smallish stuffed turtle that the big boy named Perry Trotman, about a year ago. It was hysterical for a few months. Then PT went to the bottom of the basket. When he was dug out yesterday, I realized what a near disaster it was, with regard to his name. Imagine if it were a month later, and I went "oh! that turtle used to have a hysterical name but I forget what it was!"

This morning it was sunny. So the laundry went out on the line. Then while we were out it started raining. And then when we got home to wet laundry, the power was out.

Wonder if the stink will ever come out?

Having worn the new bathing suit to the workout tonight, they told me I looked like I'd lost weight! Hooray! I don't think I actually *have* lost weight, but I have less jiggle on the legs. My quads are lovely.

3 weeks and 2 days, but who's counting?

Yesterday it was my birthday. I got a new ipod, because I dropped my old one on the floor of the garage and it didn't fare well. So we discovered that often "podcasts" from pbs kids are actually just episodes. Woot!

Also, I got to have a little shopping spree and now am the proud owner of a new bathing suit, 2 running singlets, and padded bike shorts. Hott!

Today was the big boy's last day of preschool. He is now a kindergartener. But he's taking the summer off. ;o)

It was so fun. They sang songs like "7 days a week" which is a song about said days, but to the tune of "8 days a week" and it's so funny. Ate a snack which is his favorite menu: popsicles, watermelon and munchkins. I wrote little personalized notes to his teachers and they just loved it, which made me a little misty. Heck, everything made me a little misty. The teacher's been doing it for 34 years and still tears up when her kids move on. And they stay in the same building! Big boy is so excited that they're moving the preschool downstairs, because he'll still see his old teachers.

This photo makes me misty all over again.

The crystals in the Chandelier Ballroom, Lechuguilla:

Oh wait. Let me tell you what my kids' current favorite songs are.

The big boy knows every.single.word. to the gambler. Including the bits about whiskey and cigarettes and you know, gambling.

The little girl is constantly singing "please read the letter" by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. Love.

I feel I haven't talked enough about my Big Plan. That is, in about 5 weeks, I am going to do a mini triathlon. It is a 1/2 mile swim (in a lake with fish and whatnot), 13 mile bike, and 5k run. I am going to be The Fat Girl crossing the finish line, but I will be crossing the finish line. And I'm also hoping to be a little less fat by then. To that end, I am on a produce thing, where I eat 7-9 fruits and veggies a day. Combine that with coffee several times a day, and you see where I'm going. How can I not lose weight? ;o)

I just got back from a spin class, 10 minute ab session, and I have about 5 hours to rest before the 1 hour swim workout tonight. This is the first time that I have had both workouts be serious ones. Usually it's a self guided stationary bike, or a 2 mile run. But now I feel that maybe this was a bad idea, and maybe I will be drowning. We'll see. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger?

Anyway, since the big produce thing started about 4 days ago, I'm down about a pound. I think.

bedhead
Originally uploaded by archimom

Best bedhead ever. After a 4 hour nap. Pray she sleeps.

Getting a dog was the best idea ever. I just made 2309 trips to the garage attic with loads of books and things, and she trotted along with me the whole time, just for moral support. And she's really cute.

I know it's june but I'm going till I hit 25. Lilacs. Pretend it's scratch and sniff.

I have to tell you a funny tale. Remember the Alamo (pun intended)?

Okay, so at the zoo today, for some reason, there is a model of the Alamo in with the prairie dogs. Like the cannons are the size a prairie dog would actually operate. So that's strange but stranger still that my son really really wanted to see the prairie dogs, the least exciting animal at the zoo, and now thinks they're the best, because of said cannons.

So then I'm explaining to him what the Alamo is, while not really having the clearest memory, and having just been yanked out of a hard swim workout by the daycare gal (that's a whole other story) and I remember Pee Wee. The basement of the Alamo? And my high school summer RISD roommate and I watched that movie all the time and would refer to the Alamo as our thing. And it's just funny. All of it. Also, now googling, the model wasn't really accurate at all.

There's no basement at the Alamo!

Fantastic! Almost exactly the same time as last week but hillier and hotter. Running with my dad was fun and my husband left us in the dust, which was fine, because he kicked butt even with a stroller!

Free beer.

Tomorrow I am running the redhook 5k, and while I registered too late for a t shirt (I think), I am sure to get free beer. And it'll be like 11:40 when I cross the finish line, have a water, and start the afternoon with some beer.

Again with the two in one day.

Okay, so everyone hates wallpaper right? Particularly really busy floral wallpapers. Until you see the real geniune Arts & Crafts stuff, in place. Even the images I find online don't do it justice. It's amazing. I am now a wallpaper lover.

Target's "Design for All". I particularly love their gift wrapping, but I can't find any images online.

Here's "our" beach.

In the interest of catching up and hitting 25 before May is done, two today. Inspired by Candice's post about Macchu Picchu, I give you Angkor Wat.

Oh shoot. I'm so far behind it's not even funny. And there are so many beautiful things! I picked an easy one!

I was scanning over the People Magazine beautiful people list. And even though I'm out of the loop and don't know half of them, I agree for the most part.

How fantastic is this Amsterdam bridge? I wasn't even looking for this one. Searches for "Calatrava bridge" yield great results.

Last night I ran the 5k. YES I RAN THE 5K!!!!!!!

My new pal and I just loped along together, crossing the finish line at around 38 minutes, which I know will set no land-speed records, except our very own. Which right now is the most important. We beat out many walkers and a few runners, and earned our tshirts, red roses, and pizza dinner. Oh and the massage today! Woot!

Somehow me wanting pizza afterward turned into a little pizza party at our house (at like 8:30 - I can't believe the kids were so well behaved but you'll see why) and the inlaws showed up, direct from the airport/Arizona. They brought cowboy boots and hats for the 3 local grandkids, all of whom happened to be at our house. Lots of clomping, shootouts (much to SILs dismay), and rummaging for bandanas (they were found but the boy's room is still a huge mess). Worth it though.

On a *slightly* different note, I show you the Thames Estuary Fort:

Today I will share a bungalow. Architecture perfected. At least one version of architecture perfected.

It may be cheesy to have my mom today, but I'm going to do it. In fact, here are both of the grandmas. Happy Mothers Day!

Oh no. I've missed 3 days. Which means I now only have a 2 day buffer to fit 25 into May.

Here we go, today. Every issue of dwell, I drool over the henrybuilt kitchens:

Today, blogger directed me to The Year in Pictures. Where I found today's beautiful thing.

One week from tonight I am running a 5k. You say, but haven't you done this before? And I say yes, but I had to walk at two points, for a few minutes each time. No, no, in one week I am running the entire thing. In fact, I already ran the course earlier this week. And although at times, I am sure I could have been walking faster, I was in full running mode the entire distance.

I've already scheduled my massage for the day after. What? I'm so worth it.

DSC00669
Originally uploaded by archimom

Today I am sharing with you the tree outside our bathroom window. It's a pear tree. The pic isn't the greatest, but you can see that we leave the christmas bulbs on all year. It's really pretty, to me.

Oh and yes, that's our neighbor's house. I'm inside our house. We're rather cozy.

I have two funnies for you today. Both by the girl. Firstly, in song form:

"Yellow submarine, yellow submarine, high ho the dairy-o, yellow submarine."

Secondly, she's sitting there looking out the screen door at the flowers. "Momma I have a stinkerbottom *right here*." Of course she does.

The girl got her shot, now the boy gets his. Green eyes.

Today I let flickr choose. That's kind of fun. I just said "beautiful" in the search, and chose the first that I agreed with. ;o)

Today I'll just let you know that compared to 100ish years ago, it's pretty easy to be a woman architect. Underappreciated Marion Mahony (Griffin):

I'll make this a separate post. My son is beautiful but when I go back and look at my 25, this will be distinct. So yesterday, he had his screening for kindergarten. Really basic stuff like hearing tests and color recognition. Fine. He charmed everyone, very funny. But apparently he has some speech/articulation issues. I'm fine with that, I know he's got a few lingering baby speech things, and it was no surprise. But I am really freaked out about the stigma of him leaving class to go to speech therapy. He already has associations.

Funny story. One day he overheard something about Obama and speeches and he went "I know what speech is! Like 'alex, eliana, time for speech!'" I near died.

See, he's a smart kid, right? And everyone knows that. I don't know, I know it's not a big deal, but I still feel it.

And it begins!

It's really incredibly hard to choose. I have to remind myself that I have all month and plenty of opportunity.


As an aside, it really really bothered me that when I google image searched Acadia, most of the images were of the godforsaken SUV.

Ya, there's no way I'll be able to narrow it to 25. But if I do 25, I will have met my goal. It's not even May yet.

Like this, isn't this just stunningly beautiful?


Oh additionally, the boy had his kindergarten screening this morning. How did I get old enough to have a child who rides a bus to school? He charmed everyone, had no separation issues, got all of his stickers. I'm glad I have several more months to deal with the idea.

Erin has enlisted me for a blogging challenge. Which of course I am always up for. I am about to begin the 25 Beautiful Things challenge. They are going to be entirely random, and entirely up to me. Let me know if you agree.

This challenge doesn't officially start until May 1, so here's a teaser. Boodalee childrens bedding. I need a new house.

So the boy spent the night with my parents the other day. He has been interested in Indiana Jones for about 6 months now. I have no idea how or why, or what put in his mind that action movies with nazis and living skeletons are good fare for a five year old, but he was *not* disappointed. Staying up too late, going out for breakfast at the airfield diner, and watching not one but *two* Indy movies, yup.

Now he is out in the yard, wearing Batman pajamas, with snow boots and black gloves, because the pajamas have a cape and the gloves and boots complete the look. Of course they do.

Oh by the way, stop by and say hi to Jason. I'm tempted to insert some joke about his leg muscles after driving a rickshaw for several weeks, but I think that'd be in bad taste. He's a real genuine architect, and the rickshaw thing is just a hobby. ;o)

Oh wait. Speaking of bad taste. Yesterday, I saw these mud flaps on a tractor trailer, which I can't find online to share, but it was a red dot wearing sunglasses, and it said "blind spot". And I'm thinking to myself "wow I wonder if a blind person saw that, if they'd be offended". And then of course, I went "a blind person couldn't see that!" and actually, alone in the car, laughed out loud. I am going straight to hell, huh?

Cutest beach towel ever

DSC00617
Originally uploaded by archimom

Okay, so today it was 84 degrees. At least. It is April in Massachusetts. It could easily snow next week. We all had fun. The water was about 11 degrees. I need a longer leash.

The beach where the dog is welcome is marginally trashy. Please remind me in 9 years not to buy my daughter a string bikini.

I guess spring has officially begun. I yanked the season's first tick off the boy's head today. He is quite delicious I guess. It happens all summer long.

I also feel a little bad for somewhat yelling at a bossy little 4 year old snot today, but I really shouldn't as she was hardly affected by it. Methinks she's heard it all before.

I have had exactly this very same thought before, which makes it all the more funnier:

nataliedee.com

I knew spring was really coming, about two weeks ago, when I began sneezing. Despite the fact that it was snowing, cold, and otherwise very similar to February, the sneezing set in. And other than the irritation factor, I was glad. We are all so ready to be on with it. The kids have been playing in the sandbox any time it breaks 50 (in case you're wondering, that's still pretty cold for fingers in wet sand), and the dog is loving the outdoor time. I just can't wait for the weather to catch up so that I can be out there just standing around a bit more comfortably.

So yeah. By saying that the dog was me saying "I didn't have enough poop", I was summoning the poop gods. Two year old in diapers, 10 week old puppy, five year old with stomach ailment. I have had plenty of poop for a looong time.

I had a strange dream last night where I showed up for my c-section for number three, another blond daughter, and I was alone. It was almost like outpatient surgery.

Plays well with others! Just got back from a walk with Moon, who met neighbor-dog Kai, whom she was afraid of for a few minutes, then started climbing on his head and nipping his ears. They invited us over to play in their fenced yard sometime, when we're not both supposed to be doing something else. Hooray!

Easter was fun, very quiet for our standards. Just had the two brothers in law and their families over, so it was 10 total. I'll be eating leftover ham in many ways this week.

Kids had fun, a few new toys and not *too* much new candy. Big boy had a stomach bug so we talked about Jesus and Easter and skipped church. With him having full access to his own toilet at a moment's notice.

A few weeks ago, we went to a friend's concert (she's a professional violinist) and one of the names on the program matched someone I went to high school with (actually, we were in first grade together). It really true real life was him. So bizarre. I emailed him and he's all married and parenting and grownup and whatnot too. Small world. I mean, I didn't leave the state, but still, this is through my husband's business partner's wife, who is from Colorado.

Kids and dog are good. Moon is fantastic with the kids. M really wants to boss her around, that's probably the only hard part right now. Which, honestly, is not that much. She's learning where to poop and what to chew on, pretty well for six days home. And I swear she seems bigger already.

Yup, we have a dog. She's 8 weeks old and her name is Moon. She's still little enough that she does things like lick her belly and fall over. G is over the moon (yes, *groan*) for her, Moon always needs to know where he is and follow him. M was asleep when we got her, so she woke, told us "I like this new doggie in our house!" and promptly shared her toast.

So far, she seems like a Kid Dog. She's a little jumpy but not really at all, so I'm trying to get the kids to discourage jumping, I think at this point it'll be easy. She's not very nippy (the other pups at the shelter, boxer mixes, gave me bruises from their "love bites"), and she is just the biggest cuddler ever. All she wants to do is be in a lap. We'll see how that works when she breaks 50 lb, but right now she hasn't even broken 10 so we're fine.

We are *this* close to getting a new dog. Our first choice dogs are about 40 minutes away, and there are six applications in for four pups. However, the rescue gal practically told 
me that we're prime candidates. My only concern is that they're going to call the vet, and the cat is like 3 months behind on his checkup. Eek. 3 months ago, I had an appointment and he took off so I had to reschedule. I was all ready and he knew what the house coming out meant. I promptly forgot that he was overdue, and now I worry.

The other dog, who is a bit older, is in GA but could be here this weekend. This is a boy dog, super cute, but he's probably the second choice. I'm not sure they're going to call anyone though, they just want him to have a home. And I know that we could easily fall in love with him. My other concern with him is that we commit to him sight unseen, based on photos online and a 10 minute chat with his foster mom. The little pups, we can go visit and probably even choose which one. Not to mention, the little pups look a lot like our Viv.

So now I'm pricing out monogrammed pink leather collars and wondering if I need to bleach the crate now or later.

I don't know why, but the place that makes our yogurt covered pretzels being called Ann's House of Nuts is hysterical to me. And my mother in law's name is Ann, and she's the one I think of. The funniest part is, she would not find it funny at all.

Isn't it lovely when you're inside and your child decides he's done with his gum and just spits it onto the carpet, where another mom hands you a tissue and tells you what he did, which you didn't see because he's too old to do stupid crap like that? Nice.

This week I keep seeing a mature bald eagle over our garage. White head and all. I need to get a picture stat.

I'm all about the weird dreams lately. Last night it had to do with being on a cruise in the Middle East, and hooking up with all kinds of bearded, turbaned men. I had a thing for them in the dream.

Something funny in my psyche.

Last night I had a weird dream which involved taking my algebra final and some history exam. But by far, the weirdest part was that my 7th grade algebra teacher was my teacher, and it was Mrs Kelly (who I had) and that it actually was her. Until this dream, I had not thought of her since probably 8th grade. I had no idea I still knew her name or what she looked like.

Oh it's been so long. Probably a day or so after my last entry, we got hit by The Sick. It began with the stomach of the boy, then morphed into the respiratory systems of everyone. Except the little girl, knock on wood. So now we're all 80% better, with lingering hacking coughs and diminished appetites. No swimming lessons for us today, bummer.

Then, this week, in the midst of all this, a project which I never expected to see again, resurfaced. "Hi, can you get the drawings to us tomorrow afternoon?" TOMORROW afternoon? So I go like mad, and with a few hours to spare, get a message about a "miscommunication" and I have until the 27th. That's like another 12 days, which is forever compared to what I thought. I called the client to see if he still wanted to see anything today, and he was like "just stop and we'll talk monday". Probably because surf's up and he doesn't want to work today either. I love having hippie-organic-restaurant owners who are surfers as clients.  A blast. 

Sometimes I just can't stop laughing.


marriedtothesea.com

I don't know that I've ever felt a little misty when I've voted before. A few years ago, I voted for myself for a local office, and I can safely say I was more careful today when filling in that little bubble. I feel this amazing empowerment, and (hokey, yes) but hope about this election. I'm a gen-Xer, we don't feel this way. The first president I remember was Reagan. Enough said.

What a rush. I want to do it again. Maybe I'll pretend to be my Florida-wintering neighbor.

Joking, joking! Maybe.

Ack. This morning I went on a parent information session at the local charter school. I need to decide where to send the boy to kindergarten. His school now is wonderful, it really is. But I worry about him in the traditional school setting, especially with neighborhood kids. This is montessori based.

Wonder if it'd be too weird to ask his current teacher about it?

Also, yesterday I rearranged his closet so that he can choose his clothes and dress himself. So far, the practical aspects have been great. He does it all himself (until then, he would ask me to put on each sock and help with every aspect ad nauseam). Last night, pajamas, no biggie. Today, I cringed to see his selection. While not glaringly unmatching, it wasn't one of the ultra cute setups I like to get him in. I have to let this go. Particularly since I still have the little girl to dress up.

Karma is an awesome thing. I have been pricing out new gym bags. PBS calls and asks for money. I say okay, and when given the option of free gifts, I choose a tote bag. Thinking it’s like a real tote bag, you know, like you put your groceries in or something. But NO! It’s a *gym bag*. Like with a shoulder strap and mesh ends and pockets for headphones and shampoos!! Life is super duper right now. All for my contribution to good children’s programming. ;o)

Now she can appreciate my ah-milks without nursing. She's very interested in them, but has not asked for milk in days. She wants to tickle them and tells me she loves them (as I get in the shower ;o) ) but hasn't even asked. I love that it ended like this.

So I guess I need to take down the above ticker and change it to a standard My Kid is Two years, Three Months, Two days one. Because since Monday, she has nursed exactly once. This is what I wanted, right? She has asked several times, and the only time I allowed it was when she was really sad, and it was 6 am. Today. But she didn't ask at bedtime, and I really feel we're done. I'm really glad it (knock on wood) went so smoothly.

When you ask a friend on facebook to confirm you, and it takes time for them to do this, do you get nervous and all eighth grade? Me neither.

Okay so you know how after you shower, your feet are all soft and you can peel of the calluses? Or if this is gross to you feel free to move on.

Anyway, so I was doing just that this evening, as I needed a shower after caulking all day. So I'm peeling my feet and it's going well. :uh And my daughter comes up, practically shaking, saying "owwwwww Momma don't DO that". It was all I could do to not die laughing. And hard to stop. Not traumatize daughter vs. really satisfying foot peeling. Hm. I stopped. By now, after bedtime, the peelability is gone. I'll just have to moisturize. Hmph.

Thank you, Big Brother, for knowing about the piles of stuff at my house that needs out. And coming here to get it!!

Also, I can't believe that I can still get that embarrassed thing from teachers. I got a little talking to this morning about always being late for 9:15 karate. Oops. I still blush a little when I think of it.

In case you're wondering, the best *and* worst gift you can give me is a dunkin donuts gift card. Free coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Several times a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The good thing is, there can't be much left.