tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37306018643377183732024-02-21T01:30:55.569-05:00Lil' Lurie ChroniclesAdventures of our family of five, our ruler the cat, and a sweetly disobedient dog.Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-72984592135622687972012-09-09T21:09:00.003-04:002012-09-09T21:09:30.668-04:00Catching up and Rock and roll campI can't believe I haven't posted in MONTHS but this summer is a big blur. We were busy with field trips and barely getting through this pregnancy. Dear childhood friends got married so we go to go to Staunton, VA and Virginia Beach for their blissful days. We didn't get to go on any big summer vacations but Thad at least got to go on a few business trips to fun Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Dallas. We had the big derecho storm in the beginning of July where we lost power (like most of the area!). The following weekend we went to Chicago for my grandmother's funeral, sad affair but always a blessed reunion to see family out there. With my cousins having babies, the boys have second cousins that I am so glad they will get to know. Our goal is to go out to Chicago once a year if we can swing it! The weekend after that Grandpa came down for a weekend visit. *phew* And that just got us through July! I would post pictures of all these fun events but my laptop died and I haven't transferred any files yet to my new computer. <br />
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August was nutso. Fun news that I had 6 friends have babies in August so lots of fun baby news this past month! <br />
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At the end of August Julian got to go to rock and roll camp. I thought it would be a fun segue into preschool (which starts tomorrow) after being home with us everyday. It was for 5 days at a place called <a href="http://www.b2rmusic.com/">Bach to Rock </a>in Herndon, VA. I was nervous that he would have a hard time being gone for 5 mornings in a row but for rock and roll, this kid was READY. Every morning he was ready to get dressed and out the door, by the end of the week he was sitting on the couch by the shoes wearing his backpack, hat, and already had his shoes on by the time me and Dash were downstairs. He got to learn about drums, rhythm, piano, recorder, violin, and of course his favorite, the electric guitar. The camp was only 3 kids (ages 3.5-5) and the teacher was FABULOUS with the kids. I couldn't recommend this program more!! I know they have locations in MD, NY, and VA so if one is close to you, check it out. They have programs for all ages of kids and its not a typical music school; they also teach DJing and mixing, and beyond. <br />
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Without further ado, here is a video of their closing week 'concert.' Enjoy! <br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdCOaqFmTSg">Twinkle Twinkle Little Star</a>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-86990241117557172502012-04-13T14:13:00.001-04:002012-04-13T14:13:54.672-04:00Recipe: Caveman Cookies<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Courtesy of <a href="http://peasandthankyou.com/recipage/?recipe_id=6019668">Peas and Thank You</a>. Enjoy!! If you are not used to working with almond flour, do take care to bake until set, don't watch until 'brown' otherwise they'll burn! </span><br />
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<div class="fn single_recipe_header" id="title" style="color: #5d8618; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Caveman Cookies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by <span class="author">Mama Pea</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prep Time:</span><span class="preptime"> 5 min.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cook Time:</span><span class="cooktime"> 12 min.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Keywords:</span> blender bake snack dessert gluten-free soy-free vegan vegetarian Paleo cookie</span></div>
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<span style="color: #5d8618; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ingredients</span><span class="single_recipe_text" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> (16 cookies)</span></div>
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<ul class="single_recipe_text" id="ingr" style="margin-left: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li class="ingredient" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 1/2 c. almond flour</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2/3 c. almond butter or sunflower seed butter</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 c. honey or maple syrup</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1 “flax” egg (1 T. ground flax + 3 T. water) or 1 organic egg</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 t. baking soda</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 t. salt</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 t. vanilla extract</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3/4 c. chocolate chips</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Instructions</span></div>
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<li class="instruction" style="margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. If using a flax egg, mix together and set aside.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Combine almond flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In a separate bowl, cream almond or sunflower seed butter, honey or maple syrup, egg and vanilla.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Add almond flour mixture gradually until a dough forms, then fold in chocolate chips.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Scoop dough by the tablespoon onto a cookie sheet, spacing cookies at least an inch apart.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bake for 11-12 minutes or until set.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" style="margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 4px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Allow cookies to cool on pan for a minute or two before transferring to a cooling rack.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-50922921662749125042012-02-09T13:25:00.002-05:002012-02-09T13:25:18.983-05:00Reading List: 2011<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have decided to write down the books I read last year. Fabulous reading and let me know if you have any questions about these reads! Don't judge me from my reading of steamy romance novels...sometimes a girl's just gotta read something sexy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Non-Fiction</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">127 Hours by Aron Ralston </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Journey to the Edge of the Light by Cristina Nehring</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Jungle by Upton Sinclair</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Open by Andre Agassi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Shaken, Not Stirred by Tim Gunn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unconditional Love by Alfie Kohn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Raising Happiness by Christine Carter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Loving What Is by Bryon Katie</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Fiction</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Two Step Temptation by Emma Jay</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unlocked by Courtney Milan </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Reiver by Jackie Barbosa</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eye of the Beholder by Emma Jay </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Twelve by Twelve by William Powers </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-63957460508407627892012-01-02T20:57:00.001-05:002012-01-02T20:58:02.776-05:00Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin-Peanut Soup<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got this recipe from Women's Health magazine, October 2011 issue. I've made it multiple times since then and to make it vegan I replace the chicken broth with veggie broth and leave out the sour cream. I did try it with sour cream and without and I will say, the little dollop of sour cream really does make the texture *that* much better but it's up to you. I hear the vegan version of sour cream is amazing. Best of all, this whole soup is done within 30 minutes. If you do Weight Watchers, I worked out the points for this to be about 4 points per 1/2 cup of soup. Enjoy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>Creamy Pumpkin-Peanut Soup</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prep Time: 10 minutes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cooking Time: 20 minutes </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 tsp vegetable oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 small onion, chopped (1 1/4 cups)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 cloves garlic, smashed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp ground turmeric</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp paprika</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 can solid packed pumpkin puree (15 oz)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken or veggie broth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 jar roasted red peppers (7 oz) drained, 1 tablespoon chopped and reserved for garnish</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 cup smooth reduced fat natural peanut butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 tsp sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 Tbsp chopped roasted peanuts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 Tbsp chopped scallion greens</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Heat oil in a 4-qt saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until golden, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Add turmeric, paprika, and chili flakes; stir. Add pumpkin puree, broth, peppers, and peanut butter; whisk to incorporate and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 5 minutes, then stir in sugar, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Transfer to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Divide among 4 bowls and garnish with sour cream, peanuts, chopped reserved red peppers, and scallion greens.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Makes 4 servings of 1 cup. Per serving: 270 cal, 18 g fat, 22 g carbs, 450 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 10 g protein.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-37435189619371222232011-12-20T21:50:00.000-05:002011-12-20T21:50:06.337-05:00What. A. Month.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not sure when it became the third week of December, but here we are. A brief update from the past few weeks:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Our First Thanksgiving</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We got a turkey from a local farm - picked it up, freshly processed and never frozen - the weekend before the big day. My mom and Jack were scheduled to leave for the Philippines for my cousin's wedding on Thanksgiving day and Terri was still in New Zealand so Thad, my brother, and I hosted Turkey Day for the first time. We invited some family friends so all told we had 9 adults and 9 kids over for dinner. Thank you to the Batts, their friends from Alabama, and the Doughertys (regular DeGuia/Lurie Thanksgiving celebrators) for joining us for an amazing night. Here is a picture from our point of view at the end of the table: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8wJZQgPcNWQHZ_UrDJq9D2Omr7CfnD1VZ0Vy_bsfqm0CJu32B3qCNbcZPlIHSfWLmMfL8WcIbIlX-q1dGFQi_17NRlqADMiXQ4Ik9ZF2RC-M39wKBCHqWiyrXs_Qw4sNzrA7y7DE9w/s1600/DSC02935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8wJZQgPcNWQHZ_UrDJq9D2Omr7CfnD1VZ0Vy_bsfqm0CJu32B3qCNbcZPlIHSfWLmMfL8WcIbIlX-q1dGFQi_17NRlqADMiXQ4Ik9ZF2RC-M39wKBCHqWiyrXs_Qw4sNzrA7y7DE9w/s400/DSC02935.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We moved all the furniture out of the living room and lined up tables with food and chairs and it turned out to be an amazing feast. Thad's first experience in cooking a turkey didn't turn out the way he had hoped (the brining made it super salty) but there's a first time for everything, right? Cooking a 20+ pounder for a first time may have been ambitious but I think he did a great job. After packing 8 leftover boxes and doing multiple loads through the dishwasher, we put our feet up and celebrated a first Thanksgiving in our new house a success.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ARUBA</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More to come on our first family vacation in 2 years....here's a teaser photo: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqwPzmA5TAA-pbc17Cf91CkZldHEzDTslxXAV6mSt6AEx8j3dwubkOOvWb9Af49lP-XzzklyEkKKCm0Hkv3DQFvH051Tez4Q4DpwivrbL20tLnjvRuOO1YDvKE8_CZ4dhZDTYqJrieA/s1600/DSC02959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqwPzmA5TAA-pbc17Cf91CkZldHEzDTslxXAV6mSt6AEx8j3dwubkOOvWb9Af49lP-XzzklyEkKKCm0Hkv3DQFvH051Tez4Q4DpwivrbL20tLnjvRuOO1YDvKE8_CZ4dhZDTYqJrieA/s400/DSC02959.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Return of Mamo</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Four hours before we returned from Aruba, Terri returned from her 3-month trip to New Zealand. It's taken some adjustment having her home on all sides but it's great to have her back and the boys were SUPER excited to see her. They still are; Mamo is back and the boys love having another playmate around. Thad and I aren't complaining either...we are getting back into a workout groove being able to escape at night to the gym after the boys get to bed. What a big help! If you want to check out Terri's adventures while she was away, check out her blog and all the work they did on Heather and Mike's homestead: <a href="http://t-notasausage.blogspot.com/">http://t-notasausage.blogspot.com/</a>.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Returning to Training</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I decided that I've been milking this "being out of shape because I have little kids" business and signed up for my 7th <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/nca/">Team in Training</a> event. We started training 2 weeks ago for the Rock 'n Roll Half marathon in DC in March. I am very excited - but incredibly nervous - to be back in the TNT family and have the responsibility of not only training for a race again but also fundraising. The cause is far too important for me to NOT participate so here I am again, continuing our fight to find a cure for blood related cancers. I will be posting my fundraising site sometime over the next couple of weeks and my goal is to raise $1000 before the race. GO TEAM!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and our most recent family event....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>10 Years later</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past sunday was 10 years since we lost my dad. 10 years, a husband, 2 children, and a home that have all missed my father's presence. This time of the year is always hard for us but this year even more so because landmark years are always hard. To commemorate my father and bring together family, we hosted a party on saturday for our family and friends. I'm so grateful that we can all get together and enjoy my dad's memory, as well as share stories around my husband and kids. I think I need them to hear the stories probably more so they need to hear them, you know? Here's a group shot, the best I could do with the lighting. Thank you to everyone who came; you all hold a special place in my heart and in the DeGuia family's hearts. My dad is smiling upon all of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><img height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAUD4K2P1PyUnX-4GCJ1X2fMqoi_HXTEoM8YlFkJIbbPKWUXW5njJ1c1c4roZo9MArOum9YaqWuzx-0tBGQdziQnaals_lPedjaLyjGQHYpcTMqsIUrc4xl0IchloKCZ2rsLz-8EgMw/s400/DSC03192.JPG" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that brings me to the week before Christmas and we've been enjoying the decorations and lights. The boys are getting more and more aware of everything going on and Julian has been singing "Holly Jolly Christmas" nonstop. Unfortunately the little guy was diagnosed with Strep throat this afternoon which means it'll probably pass through the house before we know it. Last Christmas all 4 of us had the flu over the vacation week and we are determined not to let that happen again this year. Send some good health vibes this way, pretty please! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for getting this far....this has been a hell of a month and it's not even over yet!!! </span></div>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-25794245637279180632011-11-14T17:31:00.001-05:002011-11-16T07:39:39.553-05:00Happy birthday, Mamo!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our dear Mamo is still in New Zealand and today is her birthday so here is how we celebrated for her! Chocolate Pumpkin muffins and a song. Happy birthday, Mamo, and see you in a few weeks! </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ScAg_EXwxVpxcnLKBti8qGR2QD6mdAeYZ_f57aHarQJnqiffCKQFA-S-5ajrQ_OlulNGmKzsyHK2g3RhEaditDfOrWymIyOSj40pa7WMIzzK9GZ0n_RV_jyxSGjLN7f9l0R4O917RQ/s1600/DSC02886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ScAg_EXwxVpxcnLKBti8qGR2QD6mdAeYZ_f57aHarQJnqiffCKQFA-S-5ajrQ_OlulNGmKzsyHK2g3RhEaditDfOrWymIyOSj40pa7WMIzzK9GZ0n_RV_jyxSGjLN7f9l0R4O917RQ/s320/DSC02886.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uzJeQfM6sDM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-72121840344729505112011-10-31T21:50:00.004-04:002011-10-31T21:50:45.962-04:00Halloween 2011<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I LOVE FALL. Love the leaves, the festivities....corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and apple orchards. Really, I don't think I could ever live somewhere that didn't have Autumn festivities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Last year Julian was very aware and interested in all the decorations but this year he was SO into it! I made the mistake of bringing he and Dash to Party City with me to choose decorations but the mature decorations were too intense for my little guys. I went back without them to choose G-rated decorations and the boys LOVED helping us hang up the pumpkins, ghosts, and of course, silhouettes. We totally flaked on making jack-o-lanterns this year...oops. Does that make this Halloween incomplete? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We went to a Halloween party last weekend at a friend's house and while Dash was okay wearing his lion hand-me-down costume, Julian wasn't big on wearing the actual costume but just the pirate hat. He loved seeing all the costumes but I think he was still a little confused with them. Dash didn't seem phased at all seeing all the different costumes but after that party he has refused to wear the costume until trick or treating tonight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoI1XTBNxtUqh6P1lubYEJJbcG-z8pLHs7U0MNR3Dj8YSFHD7CELaf7AObxjxVo1GnpTfF4MD11TWPy8iblEqkCR4xJiZvZiXiRSgC3xaP1XXir1gR6uF9GiAg3seXlDL5hl4AQMYLoA/s1600/100_4615.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This past weekend was supposed to be a weekend of festivities but we were snowed out on saturday. Here is a picture of grandma's car with the slushy stuff. It wasn't enough to impact traffic or anything but it definitely bumped the outdoor plans we had for that day. We thought about going to the Air & Scare at the Air & Space Museum but apparently everyone had a similar idea because there was a line to PARK it was so busy. Glad we didn't end up going. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoI1XTBNxtUqh6P1lubYEJJbcG-z8pLHs7U0MNR3Dj8YSFHD7CELaf7AObxjxVo1GnpTfF4MD11TWPy8iblEqkCR4xJiZvZiXiRSgC3xaP1XXir1gR6uF9GiAg3seXlDL5hl4AQMYLoA/s1600/100_4615.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoI1XTBNxtUqh6P1lubYEJJbcG-z8pLHs7U0MNR3Dj8YSFHD7CELaf7AObxjxVo1GnpTfF4MD11TWPy8iblEqkCR4xJiZvZiXiRSgC3xaP1XXir1gR6uF9GiAg3seXlDL5hl4AQMYLoA/s320/100_4615.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So instead of battling with the crowds we stayed inside, made play-doh zombies coming out of the ground (table) and had fun with costumes.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3kKKTgP2N7a_OZfnYNeC-FTz1pmkpugcRdEwEsIGz6WtmHzByUJgkCuVwj_zVTM60l-EheM_H0VijPW3ozbB4Nr6qcXZpcrwbogbfSM-OazoF4Br-wp6YsvBOpTRv-6OrjpgMp1yBw/s1600/100_4622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3kKKTgP2N7a_OZfnYNeC-FTz1pmkpugcRdEwEsIGz6WtmHzByUJgkCuVwj_zVTM60l-EheM_H0VijPW3ozbB4Nr6qcXZpcrwbogbfSM-OazoF4Br-wp6YsvBOpTRv-6OrjpgMp1yBw/s320/100_4622.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumQvLWLHDKoAserpsvnO-Vhm-IMUWy12PEYP0-uRDcKPKATtb9Ip4reFaE2UD4NIaKYXtGBJqJCDZI5RTSbrBExg_o1_PKnFWTTdhE1o7mRiVPWJAVAWqgh1YsiWlFWjRDbLIXzSvsg/s1600/100_4613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumQvLWLHDKoAserpsvnO-Vhm-IMUWy12PEYP0-uRDcKPKATtb9Ip4reFaE2UD4NIaKYXtGBJqJCDZI5RTSbrBExg_o1_PKnFWTTdhE1o7mRiVPWJAVAWqgh1YsiWlFWjRDbLIXzSvsg/s320/100_4613.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Last night we attended the Holistic Moms Network Annual Halloween Party and despite the cold and arriving very late to the event, it was a lot of fun! We arrived too late for the pumpkin decorating and bobbing for apples, but we did enjoy the yummy food and company nonetheless. Plus I got to hold a 2-week old baby so it was great night. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I also love that with little ones they get plenty of opportunities to wear costumes between parties, class celebrations, and the actual night of Halloween. Julian changed his mind constantly about what to be - witch, knight, pirate - and eventually settled on being a vampire because he wanted to wear my cape (I was a vampire at the party last weekend). We went to my mother's for dinner and trick or treating since her neighborhood has a ton of little kids and the houses are closer together. Plus, I knew that my brother and mom wanted to celebrate with the boys, too, so it was a fabulous night. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Truly, tonight was one of those nights that I dreamed about when I had children of my own. The boys were so excited about going door to door, they were polite, didn't take too much, and they loved seeing all the decorations. They each got to eat one candy when we got back to my mom's (M&M's and a mini-Snickers) and they surprisingly stayed awake for the drive home. It was such a dream of a night and I am so grateful to have my family to celebrate with us. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting ready</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bbHvIzKSZs4_yiJwMltTMjYi2FrqV8VQJtwk61kAIk4R8fRP72UIsHRDact1NRbKgx0GrBidMDkl5nSyDWux5oiOIOA0kMtVnMj8m5ZYi06OwsmuxHykhZ69H9np52D8s3dkPaMEdQ/s1600/100_4627.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bbHvIzKSZs4_yiJwMltTMjYi2FrqV8VQJtwk61kAIk4R8fRP72UIsHRDact1NRbKgx0GrBidMDkl5nSyDWux5oiOIOA0kMtVnMj8m5ZYi06OwsmuxHykhZ69H9np52D8s3dkPaMEdQ/s320/100_4627.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My vampire</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDEWdz9qeisPqWNIEKwN9RBEDJAColDTUFcS1xYCF5jiLYTNC6qDUO_IDPAd3u9nUsg-jijrjMlPOtPaAtoEhVB5Pi3vJBujtsdnXNASkHL65wRz4BBmObbAi-ww31MWceKgLi65GOg/s1600/100_4628.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDEWdz9qeisPqWNIEKwN9RBEDJAColDTUFcS1xYCF5jiLYTNC6qDUO_IDPAd3u9nUsg-jijrjMlPOtPaAtoEhVB5Pi3vJBujtsdnXNASkHL65wRz4BBmObbAi-ww31MWceKgLi65GOg/s320/100_4628.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">my lion</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6pXJZ4zOpXKix9Am3IcEnYQUcowf8BwVMZvngufWznoqA45tc0lv9nLXXSIvOAQaW5he9YAWkRui2nd42grHF74-nFA1sj5A6T0w530IQiMqNEqg9iMGvr9_2CXIdqVgeSzX57D_aQ/s1600/100_4635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6pXJZ4zOpXKix9Am3IcEnYQUcowf8BwVMZvngufWznoqA45tc0lv9nLXXSIvOAQaW5he9YAWkRui2nd42grHF74-nFA1sj5A6T0w530IQiMqNEqg9iMGvr9_2CXIdqVgeSzX57D_aQ/s320/100_4635.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Julian's billowing cape</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbuYlqVcQSiX11M1ZBvTq2RKGTQkAAIiTnATGEYb4y1tkZgX6aJbiIkeuRRtCHpwHQHbkbhVFcHJskQByfJ9NmBPk3h9U3Vk88hK_BFcdl0_W3agZh3teIAU9d2J4w3zb8EDTOI1V4w/s1600/100_4634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbuYlqVcQSiX11M1ZBvTq2RKGTQkAAIiTnATGEYb4y1tkZgX6aJbiIkeuRRtCHpwHQHbkbhVFcHJskQByfJ9NmBPk3h9U3Vk88hK_BFcdl0_W3agZh3teIAU9d2J4w3zb8EDTOI1V4w/s320/100_4634.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">About to knock...</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting their loot! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-16323424299738627692011-10-20T21:16:00.001-04:002011-10-20T21:16:19.656-04:00Winston Playce open for business!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">A brain-child of daddy, we turned our playroom into a soft play room for the boys to play over the Labor Day weekend in September. "Just like My Gym!" is what Julian said as he ran into it for the first time. Since then it has become a hit in our house and the boys - and their little friends - just LOVE it. We are hoping to add onto the room for Christmas. Grandma hasn't had a chance to see the room so here are some very belated pictures of the new romping room. Folks with kiddos, you are welcome anytime! Favorite thing to do in the room? Obstacle courses! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-11943086782141145452011-10-20T21:11:00.000-04:002011-10-20T21:11:01.731-04:00Family Music Class<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">We decided not to put Julian in preschool this fall and find activities to do as a family instead. It was a hard decision as we really enjoyed our home school preschool coop last year and thought we would continue that this year, but between our Bradley playgroup that still meets weekly (since January 2008) plus my La Leche League leader commitments, we wanted to find something that we could do together as a family with minimal expectations. I did a little research and we enrolled for family swim classes through the county Parks system and a <a href="http://musictogether.com/">Music Together</a> class which we started in September.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">As you know, Julian has music in his bones and I really wanted a class that would teach him more about music than we do at home. Another big bonus of the class is that it's age appropriate for both Julian AND Dash and finding a class for both of them plus mommy isn't always easy, or at least, convenient. A friend of mine took a Music Together class with her daughter who is Julian's age and gave them a glowing review so we were very excited to start.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">The class has been AWESOME. The music caught on quickly and it has rapidly become a regular part of our CD rotation in the van. (Also on our rotation are the Wiggles, Rocknoceros, and some Julian-selected 'rock and roll'). Daddy has also gotten in on the action at home. Since he can't come to class with us, he learned the music to play it on the guitar so we can sing the songs together at home. Truly, it's been a fabulous experience.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">If you haven't heard of Music Together before, it has a set of songs that are geared to how children hear and learn. The music focuses on tonal intervals consistent with how children begin to talk. Some of the songs are familiar while some are new to us so that has kept the kids quite entertained. They have a different set of songs for each session of the year, with the summer session being "Song Favorites." Apparently you can take a Music Together class for three years straight and never hear the same song twice. Amazing, right? They know their stuff for sure! </span></div>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-39637305245462964222011-10-11T21:33:00.002-04:002011-10-11T21:35:41.429-04:00Recipe: Italian Bean & Squash Soup<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As some of you have seen on Facebook, we have been cooking up a STORM around here lately. After we watched <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ijukNzlUg">Forks Over Knives</a>, Thad has been much more open to trying a more plant-based diet. I've been a vegetarian on and off since I was about 15 and when we met, I was eating veggie when Thad and I met 7 years ago. He's always been supportive of my eating preference but despite my vegan/veggie books I leave laying around hasn't embraced it as much as I would have hoped. Now, though, he's more open and I am so grateful that we can share in this journey together. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think that how we eat, like everything else in life, is a journey. How we choose to feed ourselves - both body and soul - is fluid and evolves. I've decided that I am going to post successful recipes here for you all to enjoy, too, because while I wish I could share these meals with you in person, that isn't always so easy. So enjoy and let me know what works for you, too! Here is tonight's meal, courtesy of <u>Moosewood Restaurant New Classics</u>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>Italian Bean & Squash Soup</u></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Services 6-8</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Time: 30-40 minutes</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 T olive oil</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 1/2 cups finely chopped onions</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 celery stalk, preferably with some leaves, finely chopped</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 3/4 cups crushed canned tomatoes with their juice (15 oz can)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 qt vegetable broth</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 t dried oregano</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pinch of crushed red pepper flakes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 c diced peeled butternut squash</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 1/2 cups cooked pinto beans (two 15-oz cans, rinced and drained)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 t salt</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">coarsely ground black pepper to taste</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">freshly grated Pecorino cheese (optional)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a large nonreactive soup pot, heat the oil on medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, and celery and saute until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes, broth, oregano, and red pepper flakes and bring to a simmer. Stir in the squash and cook until tender, 10-15 minutes. Add the beans and salt and continue to cook until the beans are thoroughly heated. Add black pepper to taste. Serve hot topped with freshly grated cheese, if desired.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-9343546613580316572011-09-06T07:49:00.004-04:002011-09-06T07:54:55.027-04:00Abbey Road on the River<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt5HNUAnbj55gsf4M0tyrrezSGmgokfeKCMleKWHiv6yvMAOv_eOI8h2vd3qoj0VbXmnSYS0dWymVSzTSV9ltF6E92N9-ihWSqyEpgfdsv_hl8rQgR0QDupRw7GDytm9f_1foDwatRQ/s320/100_4456.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649213413608860338" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; ">Another bonus of living in the DC area? <a href="http://abbeyroadontheriver.com/">Abbey Road on the River</a>, of course! We promised Julian the Beatles and we provided....but honestly, I think we should wait until later years when we don't have to juggle naps and bedtimes so we can stay and enjoy the music longer. It's an annual festival- the largest Beatles-inspired festival in the country, apparently- and the boys were so excited to hear the music live! Unfortunately, the band that we ended up catching was playing 60's music so they played not only Beatles but ELO and the Temptations, but the boys still enjoyed it. Ask Julian what he thought, he'll say it was too loud. Go figure. Ask Dash what he thought, and he'll say it was stinkin' hot out. But regardless, it was a good experience for us but I don't think we'll be returning to the festival until the boys have a longer attention span!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhvIFH21WYxMHJZEIYLbtL-VNG1nP-sKmuDMUbg5BZeIJNCYIn1Oye-prxhvomaQzYddbE4dPtnTVBClBIEzXh_LaEZIuMXt5PPYI2s-3kQtvMmUTvJfkmCsHlYh7yquW1DYJqTyd3g/s320/100_4458.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649213414818105202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k-1g_UCUdmv04mc-KQpriq6y9e1f0vpZB1sCH-mYNZiTjXkZD4ibVkiNQIg1Ym5PEwBOeEXzqC2U2y6YkBHFP3Jdw_caKecbGHxcozqSn__fJNwJpT0-HJavIL4Y2UKb4C6a5b2VUw/s320/100_4450.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649213228529381906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4f6K32CoQSXKt0YrtXT2wF-TivVjlo1WEceDQmBisgJK3H7fzNY2e_SWEiVd0wNhE1l_YWgU-eHj9kJ2PBdMAkMiDTuVllpguWc55GVZ49nvp3c2mBuYipeDFMRbE8ZjWNqXZeucJA/s320/100_4459.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649213418387478850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-63749464903857655532011-09-04T09:43:00.007-04:002011-09-06T07:49:01.953-04:00Swimmin' and Diggin'<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Grandma took off for her annual trip to New Zealand this week. She'll be gone until almost Christmastime and I told her I'd maintain our blog much better so she can see what's going on around here, so, here goes...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">What a week it's been since she left! It's a transition for everyone having Mamo gone so I kept us very busy so the boys wouldn't be too sad. On wednesday we went to our<a href="http://hmnofnova.blogspot.com/"> Holistic Moms Network</a> playgroup at a local park in Centreville. It was a lot of fun seeing t</span><span class="Apple-style-span">he other moms that I know, mostly, from online posts in our local chat group. This is the same group with which we did the homeschool preschool last year and I know Julian has missed seeing his classmates this summer.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >On thursday we visited Grandma Joy for a pool trip! The boys haven't been to the pool nearly as much this summer as we did in past summers since our neighborhood does not have a pool. We miss our KPW neighbors so much! Julian is not the most ... adventurous child and he hates having his face wet so the pool has always been a minor challenge. Daschel, on the other hand, is a 'do-first-think-later- kind of kid so we have to keep an eye on him in the big pool. Grandma Joy is AWESOME with swimming and kids so by the time we were done playing with her last time she had Julian floating on his back (with help) and kicking in the big pool! I'm sad we didn't get to the pool with her more this summer but hopefully next year we'll be able to do it more often. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4rTUrJSSXMh73Ui2andhNqYQo7N2EbA4z-KG1zhywFG2kewrD_ZFG7BoLggjJqQhz_e_TgywIlOqcH_3lZLXPFoFhiqkID8QsYjQ9w2EexIuUboMiSojSEGigjzeFpjeBxsYpEMlvg/s400/100_4418.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649211920107421074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Yesterday we headed to our <a href="http://greatcountryfarms.com/">farm</a> for its annual Pancake Breakfast and Potato Dig. The thunder didn't stop us, oh no, from heading to the fields to dig up our 10+ pounds of potatoes! Julian really liked helping daddy find the potatoes! We joined this farm last year as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) member wherein we get a weekly delivery of farm-fresh veggies and fruit plus free entry to the farm for our own picking and play. The boys love to play and visit the animals. Our first trip to the farm was when Julian was almost 2 and Dash was only about 6 weeks old and we've gone back regularly since. This has been a fabulous experience for our family and I am so grateful for the boys to see where food comes from. They've picked their own strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and now potatoes and we can't wait for fall picking with apples and pears! Funny note, we ran into the parents of a classmate from high school. Robinson families are everywhere!<span><span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdIcgiX39ogSxJYJ6vKH_hQO1NABzh-wdKDs3tUEAQ-W0gYwQ_KXBS-K1n8CwUEi6lT3iXda-tKquLs8B1W-qfPXPGDISod4E3Il0reDHAh5meixqpOkxf2oGaMTAIL3TW-fN13Cytg/s400/100_4440.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649212091787275650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-85966321444014535392011-08-28T20:45:00.003-04:002011-08-28T21:03:33.996-04:00Taking a moment<span class="Apple-style-span" >I have started so many postings that never got posted and I figured it's time to at least check in. I am hoping to keep up with the blog better after Grandma leaves for her New Zealand adventure next week since it'll probably be the best way (other than Skype) to keep up with the going ons of our little family. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >When I started this blog before Julian was born, I figured it'd be a good way to pass around what's happening here for our family and friends far away. The more and more time passes, I realize that I think this blog is more for my own journal of our family so that we have something to look back on and remember it all. Although, thank God for digital photos, too. :) That said, I want to chronicle something that happened yesterday.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >We went to breakfast at our favorite breakfast place, <a href="http://www.lepainquotidien.us/#/en_US/locations/virginia/clarendon">Le Pain Quotidien</a>, in Clarendon. We try to get out there about once a month but this summer has been so busy I don't think we've been there since at least May, if not April. Anyways, we went and then after breakfast we decided to go to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/this/index.htm">Roosevelt Island</a> for a little nature walk before the hurricane hit. On our way to the island we were driving past Arlington Cemetery and since today would have been my dad's 59th birthday, I wanted to stop and visit with the family. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Julian and Dash had been there before but it was colder out and the fountain wasn't running. This time the fountain was running and they were ready to jump in! It didn't help that the day before we went to the Fountain at Fairfax Corner so they were fresh off of a public fountain frolicking. After explaining to them that this fountain is not appropriate for swimming, we walked over to my dad's location. <a href="http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/">Arlington National Cemetery</a> is a beautiful cemetery and I am very pleased with how they maintain the space. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >We got to my dad's spot and here is what happened:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Me: Julian, tomorrow would be grandpa's birthday. Do you want to sing to him? He would love it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Julian: *points to grave stone* Is he in there?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Me: Yes.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Julian: But he can't come out and say "yay!"? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Me: No, he can't, but mommy and daddy will clap for you.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Julian proceeded to sing happy birthday to my father and, with tears, I clapped and hugged him. I haven't known how to explain to him and Dash that they can't meet my father. I never met my mother's father, either, as he passed away a year before I was born, but I never felt disconnected to him. Through my mom's stories of him I never felt the gaping hole that I'm sure my mother felt with his absence. I just assumed that my stories of my father would fill whatever hole or gap that my boys may feel without my father being here, but here I am and I realize that whatever story I tell them or whatever pictures I show them, I'll never quite be able to express just how beautiful a person he was, or just how much he meant to me. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I'd give anything in the whole world to have my father meet my family. I can only hope that by keeping him as a verbal part of our life, and by having somewhere concrete to visit that is 'my father's space' that the boys can see, they'll understand that while he may not be here, he's out there somewhere loving them as much as I do.</span></div>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-55590999961546806732011-06-15T22:28:00.003-04:002011-06-15T22:33:32.845-04:00drive by posting<span class="Apple-style-span" >We are sitting downstairs watching "So You Think You Can Dance" and we hear, 'I want to come and watch this, it looks funny, you know,' come from around the corner. Julian decided to come by and say hello despite needing to be in bed at this very late hour for a toddler. Thad just brought him back up but I wanted to share a little story from my evening tonight.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Julian and I were sharing a quick cuddle in the kitchen just after dinner. I sang a little song to him that I've sang to him since he was a baby, a special Julian song that we share together. He looked up at me, smile, and sang the song back to me but switched out his name for 'mommy.' He's never done this before, not so sincerely or as genuinely as he did tonight. It made me cry. One of those perfect mommy moments that I hope to keep tucked away in my memory forever (which is one of the reasons I have this blog).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thank you, Julian, for teaching me about unconditional love. And thank you for sharing your laughter with me. .... Now go back to bed and, if you could, please sleep past 5am? Thank you. :)</span></div>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-39079408869196601032011-04-12T21:14:00.001-04:002011-04-12T21:28:48.481-04:00The little house that love built<span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Today was the day. It was inevitable as we’ve been battling the real estate market for what feels like forever. Our decision to purchase another home prior to selling our townhouse was the best decision we ever could have made but gee, it was a gamble. For all we knew we could have ended up sitting with double mortgages for months before our townhouse sold but in the end our lovely home was picked up after only 5 days on the market (this time around). Third time’s a charm, right? We had put our house on the market back in 2006 for a hot second (literally only about 4-6 weeks) just “to see” if it would be scooped up. Obviously it wasn’t and we decided not to deal with the “keeping-the-whole-house-clean” thing unless we absolutely had to. Then there was last year. I wouldn’t wish what we did upon my worst enemy and I can’t believe Dash spent his first few months on planet Earth dealing with the stress of having the house on the market. What were we thinking?! In the end, our dream house became available and our house was picked up by a lovely woman that, if given the opportunity, I’d love to be her friend. <br /><br />So there Thad and I were this weekend doing our final sweep through the old house and I found myself in tears standing in the foyer, thinking about the last almost 7 years of my life. In spring of 2004 my lease was ending at what has famously been referred to as “Cedar House” and I needed to make some decisions about what I was going to do. Was I going to stay with IBM? Travel? Go back to school? It is the dreaded question for any 20-something: “what are you going to do with your life?” My mom and I figured that if I was ever to go back for a Master’s degree my job would hopefully pay for it. Real estate at the time was the best place to invest some money, so that was where we went. We found this house with my agent not long after it had been on the market and we scooped it up very quickly. It wasn’t going to be available until August so we did a rent back after closing in June and I lived with my mom for the overlapping months. <br /><br />Thad and I met the night before I moved into this house so as far as I’m concerned, he’s always been a part of it. My friend, Shannon, helped me move in and my friend, Melisa, helped me put my IKEA tables together. I mean, really, did someone really say it was okay for this 22-year old to own a house? Apparently so and I loved it. A 4-bedroom house was a big bit for me on my own so the first year in the house was spent with some lovely roommates. There was Scott and Levi, both of whom I found on roommates.com. My mom wasn’t big on me living with perfect strangers who are men that I found on a website but after background checks and some leases drawn up, my mom figured I had to figure things out on my own. Scott was awesome. He lived with me for a year and he was the best roommate. He was quiet, he kept to himself, and he has the best sense of humor. He moved out in September 2005 right before Thad moved in. Levi was not awesome. He was evicted after approximately 5 months of living together. He was stressful, inconsiderate, and he bit one of my friends. Yup, you read that correctly: he bit her. After Levi moved out in spring of 2005 my good friend from college, Lauren, moved in and was with us in the house until Thad and I got engaged in the fall of 2006. Even though she’s moved into her own apartment in Arlington now, we still say that she can live with us anytime she wants. <br /><br />Most of all, the house was the stage for the evolution of my relationship with Thad and truly the first home we ever had. On our third date Thad and I laid on the carpet in my very empty house and listened to music for hours. After Thad moved in October 2005, a month later we got 2 kittens and a puppy. Oh boy did we get ourselves into a big mess. Neither of us had any idea how to care for a puppy and the kittens were 2 furry mysteries to me as I had never had cats before either. Poor Lauren had to deal with crying kittens at her door the first week they were here and a barking dog that didn’t know where to poop…oh, the mess. <br /><br />In the fall of 2006 we got engaged and three weeks later got married with a justice of the peace in the City of Fairfax. Our post-marriage celebration was spent standing around our kitchen island with my brother, Thad’s sister, and her then-boyfriend-now-husband over beers and crackers. In the fall of 2007 we got pregnant with our first little bundle and over the next couple years settled in even more to our home together. In the spring of 2008 his mom moved in with us for what we thought was a temporary arrangement but has evolved into a long-term plan. We are so grateful to have a multi-generational home in a place where it isn’t common anymore. We were especially grateful to have help within walking distance from both of our moms after our second little bundle arrived in the spring of 2010 in our master bedroom. <br /><br />As I walked around the empty townhouse on Sunday afternoon I could see the faint pictures of events past: House parties with friends and that time that a friend spilled a cranberry-vodka on my white carpet. Drunk stair sliding on slippery pants. The time when I hosted a big Filipino food party and I had friends all over the house chowing down on pancit, watching a Filipino movie, and drinking beers in the backyard. Making Halloween costumes with my girlfriends for a weekend of back-to-back costume parties. Unwrapping wedding gifts with Thad and being surrounded by white boxes, greeting cards, and oodles of love from our family and friends. Painting what would be Julian’s room a Winnie-the-Pooh yellow and wondering how our lives would change with his arrival. Taking a pregnancy test and walking through the house to show Thad the proof that our little family was indeed growing. Laboring in my living room surrounded by my amazing birth team and cursing at whoever put so many stairs in my house. Welcoming our son at the foot of our bed with our other son asleep down the hall. Watching my boys cuddle on the couch on Christmas morning….<br /><br />In the book that I am reading right now the main character talks a lot about houses and homes. He comes from a nomadic people and he says a couple of times that a house is like a shoe. If it’s too big, it will slide and chafe. If it’s too small, it’ll squeeze and blister. While I hate to think that we left the townhouse because we had outgrown it, it’s the truth of the matter. It is, though, forever be a perfect home to me. And so it is. The little house that love built will live in my heart forever and I am glad that another family can enjoy the space as much as we did. They may not know where all the dings on the walls came from, or about the flood we had in the basement, or how Julian learned to walk on those floors, but that’s okay. I am grateful to the house for being our home. </span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-61535477123079694892011-02-17T21:09:00.010-05:002011-02-21T21:31:06.474-05:00A year old...when did that happen?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBhxEQAWGRN5h6piq1y6_hAMJY626LSHHvZVf3ZzOWUwHU6TNo62PWV0WtuIthyc2PFS3zcHWkW4fU3HAnsmarjMq6MgbkuArjjdapM5VQTP_vt7HoMt9pNk3rQBCUDJzqCVbt8uaOg/s1600/DSC02060.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBhxEQAWGRN5h6piq1y6_hAMJY626LSHHvZVf3ZzOWUwHU6TNo62PWV0WtuIthyc2PFS3zcHWkW4fU3HAnsmarjMq6MgbkuArjjdapM5VQTP_vt7HoMt9pNk3rQBCUDJzqCVbt8uaOg/s400/DSC02060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574849528416351650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Not sure when it happened but a year has passed since our little dude joined our family.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> I feel like I was just waddling around IKEA yesterday waiting for his arrival. We got home from IKEA about 2 hours before I went into labor. Consequently, we went to IKEA today, too. </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I had this great plan to chronicle what life has been like as a family of four- well, in greater detail than I have- but, alas, I guess this is what happens when you add another child into the mix. Kudos to anyone who can maintain a blog better than I have. </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Not gonna lie, those first 3 months were rocky and crazy. It probably didn't help things when we decided to put the house on the market for three months. Come to think of it, since Dash's birth it has been a non-stop crazy train ride for us. Perhaps it's a testament to the presence that he has created in our lives....the kid is a bulldozer and I say that with lots of love. He's a loud, playful, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">crawling, toothless wonder with lots of energy and a very devilish smile...I wonder where<br />he got it from?<br /><br />He and Julian are BEST buds and we are so excited to see just how much fun they have together. Julian is so kind with Dash. He watches over him to make sure he doesn't play with toys that are not safe for him and makes sure to take them away and replace them with toys that are safe. It's so helpful to have a watchful big brother around!! He even makes sure Dash doesn't crawl towards the stairs. If Dash does, Julian goes, "No Dash, don't go to the stairs!" and runs and gives Dash a big bear hug and lays on top of him to make sure he doesn't go anywhere. ( I'm really glad we only have one staircase in the new house. :)) A big part of our motivation to have another child was to give Julian a sibling and after seeing them together over this past year, I am so grateful that they have each other. Where Julian is a sensitive, relatively calm, and pensive child, Daschel is proving himself to be a tasmanian devil and we are excited to see what kind of personality comes out of him as he gets older.<br /><br />So happy birthday to my little rogue, my little devil. It's been an awesome year getting to know you and I am excited to see what this next year has to offer. Here he is enjoying his first ever sweet treat today. See anything funny about this picture? ;) Happy birthday, chuck! <br /><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7pe_0Cy1ibCrU7UZmb88i7sy3Qzb6aE9aj1R4zsr6Mf1zHgX6svq7qzO1mBphn1zsxM1roxKWUvyZ4OwNJ2gfEhyphenhyphenAq9n-c0hM9Li7jpliwq4KM5AKJfCahCmzGG7MVJ0F6GzxesbiA/s1600/DSC02188.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7pe_0Cy1ibCrU7UZmb88i7sy3Qzb6aE9aj1R4zsr6Mf1zHgX6svq7qzO1mBphn1zsxM1roxKWUvyZ4OwNJ2gfEhyphenhyphenAq9n-c0hM9Li7jpliwq4KM5AKJfCahCmzGG7MVJ0F6GzxesbiA/s400/DSC02188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576330383507232674" border="0" /></a>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-59487333020247725172011-02-06T20:34:00.007-05:002011-02-06T21:27:16.163-05:00Catching up<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuR4NZsqNiqoCkqYANhgeYkeJXUtv50vikV4hbS-4IjyDqFLiQmJz37X899gfZd8mTmfC-YS-Nsd4ICEdspsB5QsSZaygJKrpMehtI4fkHBp1hB0NFbEjQdO3hDg9olcadeWfCL7kKw/s1600/abbyslanefamilypic.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuR4NZsqNiqoCkqYANhgeYkeJXUtv50vikV4hbS-4IjyDqFLiQmJz37X899gfZd8mTmfC-YS-Nsd4ICEdspsB5QsSZaygJKrpMehtI4fkHBp1hB0NFbEjQdO3hDg9olcadeWfCL7kKw/s400/abbyslanefamilypic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570768082371088546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Family picture taken at the Abby's Lane (cloth diaper store) grand opening in Manassas</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Holy cow, has it really been over a month since I wrote last?! Time has flown by....time to catch up:<br /><br />-Thad's new job. He started the first week of December at his new company, American Wind Energy Association, as their Director of Strategic Technology Services. He had been with his previous employer for just over 5 years and the change has invigorated him. He's very busy but I think he's happy there. Not only was the work change needed, but I think working for a cause like wind power is very cool. We came up with a really cool wind ad for next year's Super Bowl...how cool if it made it that far!<br /><br />-"Okay, germs, you can go away now...." Sickness. Two days before Christmas we all got sick with the flu. First my mom, then me, then Dash and Thad on Christmas day, then Julian the day after Christmas. Between respiratory flu, then suspected food poisoning/stomach flu, and colds, the whole house felt better for a hot second at the end of January but now we're back into a cold with me and Dash. Gosh I can't wait until warm weather and we can run around outside again and open the windows!!!<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbezmXFhY4X4fodFO0dhoiZF-81LhvAaJ8WYnXfRhIL889mA8wjJ7nWgCPULsIG9Etr4E_3HbW3HOu6sQ3uMmwHtb_SPDP0shLFlnY0Pj9kpYhpv6ZDwNowm8PdT47CySUcRJ-AuFL_w/s1600/100_3319.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbezmXFhY4X4fodFO0dhoiZF-81LhvAaJ8WYnXfRhIL889mA8wjJ7nWgCPULsIG9Etr4E_3HbW3HOu6sQ3uMmwHtb_SPDP0shLFlnY0Pj9kpYhpv6ZDwNowm8PdT47CySUcRJ-AuFL_w/s320/100_3319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570766754605386642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Attempting to make dinner....right before Julian threw up all over the kitchen.<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />-My birthday. For my 29th birthday, my husband brought me to this amazing Belgian restaurant in Old Town Alexandria. If you are ever in the area and in search of a delicious dinner with amazing service, check out <a href="http://www.braborestaurant.com/">Brabo</a>. 10 points if you can tell me where the name comes from....hint, the chef's parents are from Antwerp. It was a wonderful night out and very needed, it was our first date since right before Dash was born almost a year ago.<br /><br />-New house. You heard that right. In the middle of the holidays and a job change, we bought a new house! We closed on the 28th so just in time for my birthday (between my minivan last year for our anniversary and our house this year for my birthday, Thad has a lot to live up to next year *wink*) and we are moving in officially on the 19th of February, just in time for Dash's first birthday. We didn't want to book movers for Jan in case we had snow, which we did, so this gives us a couple week buffer to pack up the townhouse and then move in. Hopefully our townhouse will be on the market the first week of March. Anyone want a townhouse in Fairfax? If you do, let me know!!! We've got a nice one for you!!<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWkGxfBynSafm0Px1wtEuBmzlhTPytlrVUQhJwbUzLsgngR1HjJDydkU28zTMYrBINynCUgZlVoNzz-HffPbyOfQCLdkrs1YpBI-o9n1pKPNSYnHDAUXv4yiH74AxI_GSqFfArH5bpw/s1600/DSC02043.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWkGxfBynSafm0Px1wtEuBmzlhTPytlrVUQhJwbUzLsgngR1HjJDydkU28zTMYrBINynCUgZlVoNzz-HffPbyOfQCLdkrs1YpBI-o9n1pKPNSYnHDAUXv4yiH74AxI_GSqFfArH5bpw/s320/DSC02043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570767726176745170" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /></span></span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-30767561222422899442010-12-17T21:55:00.001-05:002010-12-17T21:56:25.757-05:00Lessons from my father<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">This time of the year is always hard for me.<span style=""> </span>The holidays have been dappled with losses throughout my life and nine years ago tomorrow was the biggest loss of all.<span style=""> </span>I realized today that a lot of the people who have become my closest friends over the past few years never met my hero, my father, so I decided to put together this small list of lessons that I was lucky to learn from him.<span style=""> </span>I hope you enjoy the read.<span style=""> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Music is more than just notes.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">My earliest memories of music are of sifting through my father’s records, curled up next to the record player, clutching Frank Sinatra’s Greatest Hits (<a href="http://www.sevensidedcube.net/wp-content/uploads/Frank-Sinatra-Frank-Sinatras-Gr-426390.jpg">http://www.sevensidedcube.net/wp-content/uploads/Frank-Sinatra-Frank-Sinatras-Gr-426390.jpg</a>) and listening to “Strangers in the Night” on repeat.<span style=""> </span>Whenever I hear ol’ blue eyes sing “My Way” I still get teary eyed as that was my dad’s favorite karaoke tune (and boy did he love karaoke).<span style=""> </span>At Christmas time I pulled out his cassette tapes of Perry Como and Johnny Mathis singing Christmas carols.<span style=""> </span>My dad was always big on knowing more about the music than just the singer and that’s something I still look into today.<span style=""> </span>When the radio still had an oldies station he would quiz me and my brother on the songs that played.<span style=""> </span>“Who is this?<span style=""> </span>Is this the original or a cover?<span style=""> </span>What year was it?<span style=""> </span>What album was it on?”<span style=""> </span>And so forth.<span style=""> </span>He was really excited when <i style="">Forrest Gump</i> came out because the music throughout that movie could have been my dad’s life soundtrack, too.<span style=""> </span>He loved telling me stories about songs and it seemed like just about every song we heard had a story.<span style=""> </span>“This was played at my 6<sup>th</sup> grade dance…”<span style=""> </span>A big reason why I keep my XM subscription is because of Channel 6, and whenever we go to the Silver Diner every song I hear has a memory attached to my father. Now that Julian is obsessed with the Beatles, I am so grateful to share my dad’s passion for music with him.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">If you see something you want (or in his case, someone), go after it with reckless abandon.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">If you ever saw my parents together you knew they had a special relationship; a love story that any young girl could only dream of finding someday.<span style=""> </span>I heard the story a million times.<span style=""> </span>Here is the short version:<span style=""> </span>He was a junior in college.<span style=""> </span>She was a freshman running for class office.<span style=""> </span>She walked into his science class one day to hand out campaign materials.<span style=""> </span>She was wearing a peach fuzzy sweater, jean shorts, and platform shoes.<span style=""> </span>He took one look at her and knew, “She is going to be my wife.”<span style=""> </span>From that moment on he pursued her- followed her to her dorm, followed her to class, sent his frat recruits to carry her books for her.<span style=""> </span>She would not relent.<span style=""> </span>They were both in their own relationships which makes this story even more scandalous because he wanted her.<span style=""> </span>She knew his reputation and she was *such* a goody-goody (still is).<span style=""> </span>The government proclaimed martial law and everyone went home from school to their provinces, and while they were away boy and girl thought about each other a lot.<span style=""> </span>“I wonder what they are doing right now?”<span style=""> </span>Marital law ended, their other relationships ended, and they returned to the university town.<span style=""> </span>Fresh off the bus, they were walking down the main road and they literally bumped into each other.<span style=""> </span>They both claim they wanted to hug and kiss the other person but it would not be appropriate.<span style=""> </span>He asked her out.<span style=""> </span>She accepted.<span style=""> </span>They went to a movie where he bought her some peanuts, and so began their life-long relationship.<span style=""> </span>December 7<sup>th</sup> would have been 33 years married.<span style=""> </span>They acted like two teenagers in love and their love story is my proof that true love- the kind you see in movies- does exist.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Ladies love the revolutionaries.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">So my parents were in college in the </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Philippines</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> during the Vietnam War.<span style=""> </span>My dad said he would march in the protests not because he had beef with the </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">U.S.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> government but because the ladies loved the revolutionaries.<span style=""> </span>“Down with American Imperialism!” and the ladies would swoon.<span style=""> </span>It’s ironic that he went on to join the U.S. Navy. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Work hard.<span style=""> </span>Play hard.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">He was a workaholic but I wouldn’t say it was bad, although thank God Blackberries weren’t around when he was still working.<span style=""> </span>I think it was because he could never turn off his brain.<span style=""> </span>But still, he worked hard so he could play hard and every weekend (and quite a few week nights) you’d see him on the tennis courts for hours.<span style=""> </span>He worked hard to take his family on vacation, take us to really cool places.<span style=""> </span>I get my work ethic from both of my parents but he was definitely a model for me on how to balance work and life.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">If you get a second chance (or third or fourth), make the best of it.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">I didn’t know this until I was older but apparently my dad entered the University of the </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Philippines</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">, the most prestigious university in the </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Philippines</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">, as salutatorian of his high school class, to study engineering.<span style=""> </span>He ended up being a Physics major.<span style=""> </span>He partied a bit too hard and the engineering school kicked him out.<span style=""> </span>The only school that would allow him back was the </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">College</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> of </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Arts</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> and Sciences and that is how he became a Physics major.<span style=""> </span>He was a brilliant man and it’s no surprise that he went on to get 2 postgraduate degrees during his career in the Navy.<span style=""> </span>He took his second chance and did the best he could and I know it meant a lot to him that he was given that opportunity.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Look at the big picture.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">I cried through my dad’s entire retirement ceremony from the Navy.<span style=""> </span>These were not tears of joy but tears of disappointment that my dad did not stay in and go “for the glory,” as I told him, and get as far as he could.<span style=""> </span>First Filipino supply corps admiral?<span style=""> </span>I felt like he was walking away from his career and wouldn’t get the prestige that I felt he deserved.<span style=""> </span>We had a big talk about it.<span style=""> </span>At the time, his next posting would have been a move from </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Fairfax</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">, </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">VA</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> to </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Corpus Christi</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">, </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">TX</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> for my senior year of high school.<span style=""> </span>He said he looked at the big picture of the move, its impacts beyond his career advancement, and decided it was time to move on from his career in the Navy and do what was best for his family here.<span style=""> </span>After having been on a solid track in </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Fairfax</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">County</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> there was no way I’d be able to take the courses I needed to get into a good college in </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Texas</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">.<span style=""> </span>(Not that anything is wrong with </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Texas</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> but I was looking at taking about 4 AP classes senior year that weren’t offered anywhere near </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Corpus Christi</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">).<span style=""> </span>What about VA schools?<span style=""> </span>He could have gone alone for the year and left me and my mom in VA (Brian was at </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Old</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Dominion</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">University</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> at the time so he was away) but he couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from my mom for so long.<span style=""> </span>And so it was, Mr. Practical, left his career as a Commander and went on to do some amazing things in the private sector.<span style=""> </span>This is a lesson I’ve taken with me throughout my adult life, that I have to look at all the impacts of my decisions and do what’s best for all parties.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Always have plenty of toilet paper, water, and soap.<span style=""> </span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Did I mention he was a Supply officer?<span style=""> </span>Commissary runs with my dad was like we were buying supplies to support a small village.<span style=""> </span>Did we ever run out of essentials?<span style=""> </span>Hell no.<span style=""> </span>Our house was well stocked.<span style=""> </span>For hungry teenagers, this was fabulous.<span style=""> </span>As I’m finding with 2 itty bitties, you can never have too many wipes or crackers on hand.<span style=""> </span>It’ll be interesting to see how that “essentials” list evolves as the kids get older.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Don’t wait to wear those clothes for special occasions.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">My dad had dreams of being a singer upon his retirement.<span style=""> </span>“Sitting at the dock of the bay” by Otis Redding was one of his theme songs.<span style=""> </span>He dreamt of being a cafe singer in </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Hawaii</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, playing a ukulele, and hearing the ocean behind him.<span style=""> </span>He had a stack of Hawaiian shirts that he kept for this specific occasion.<span style=""> </span>He never got to wear the shirts.<span style=""> </span>Lesson?<span style=""> </span>Don’t wait to wear the clothes you want to wear or do the things you want to do.<span style=""> </span>I have a couple of his shirts in my closet.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">R.T.F.Q. and K.I.S.S.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">God bless him, my dad had endless patience with me and math.<span style=""> </span>I was pretty good at math until I got to Trig and Calculus where I might as well have been studying quantum physics.<span style=""> </span>It was damn hard.<span style=""> </span>There were times we’d be up late in our kitchen with endless papers around us with scribbles and marks and pencil points where he would point (with force) at formulas and say “RTFQ!”<span style=""> </span>I was like, “what the hell does that mean?!”<span style=""> </span>“Read The Fucking Question, Pamela!”<span style=""> </span>Or he would look at my sad attempts at proofs and say, “Keep It Simple Stupid.”<span style=""> </span>Throughout life I’ve written out these little abbreviations to myself if I am feeling a bit overwhelmed to remind myself to take a step back.<span style=""> </span>My brother and I still laugh about these late night math lessons.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Remember your roots.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">As a first-generation American, I always wondered what it was like for my parents to grow up in a developing country (is that P.C.?) and how it compared to how my brother and I were being raised.<span style=""> </span>I loved hearing my dad’s stories of playing marbles with his brothers in the courtyard of their home or using sugar cane as a tooth brush (I think he told me the latter anecdote more to fuck with me than anything else.<span style=""> </span>They weren’t that rural).<span style=""> </span>When I was 10 we went to </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Hawaii</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> on a family vacation and my dad climbed a coconut tree to get some fruit.<span style=""> </span>Seriously?<span style=""> </span>I had no idea he could do that.<span style=""> </span>What I loved most about the Filipino connection was that no matter where we were or who they were, if my dad found a fellow Filipino whether it be in a grocery store or in a random city somewhere, he’d buddy up to them and before we knew it we’d be invited to this guy’s house for Christmas dinner with his family.<span style=""> </span>We’re all related, right?<span style=""> </span>I loved that my dad never forgot his roots and never held back in trying to share it with me and my brother.<span style=""> </span>Does that mean I eat balut?<span style=""> </span>Hell no.<span style=""> </span>But I do remember him and my grandfather teasing me and my cousins with them.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Parenthood is not easy.<span style=""> </span>Heck, life is not easy.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">One of the last serious conversations I had with my dad was about him as a parent.<span style=""> </span>I remember him thanking me for taking it easy on him and his parenting decisions because before he was a father he was just a man.<span style=""> </span>He asked me to remember that he tried his best, to be the best father he could.<span style=""> </span>That behavior extended throughout his life.<span style=""> </span>He wasn’t perfect, he had his transgressions and his vices, but he knew them and he did his best by the people around him.<span style=""> </span>I know that everything he did- making the Navy a career because it was the best way he could support his family (he didn’t intend on making it a career, but it just happened that way), moving us every couple of years- he did it all from a place of love and support.<span style=""> </span>He did it all for us and I thank him.<span style=""> </span>I thanked him all the time and I thank him daily now for the life he gave me and my family.<span style=""> </span>In my eyes, he was a model father.<span style=""> </span>He wasn’t perfect but he did his best and I try to live by that every day with my boys.<span style=""> </span>(Mom, don’t think I’m not saying the same about you.<span style=""> </span>You are absolutely the model mother and I can only hope to live up to the bar you have set for me).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Take care of the people most important to you.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">I remember going to the Outer Banks the summer after 6<sup>th</sup> grade with a few other families.<span style=""> </span>This was our crew when we lived in Philly, a group of Navy families that have watched me grow up from a wee one.<span style=""> </span>My dad would stand in the water up to his thighs and watch us all play in the sound (our house was on </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Hatteras Island</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> on the sound side so we could play without the waves).<span style=""> </span>My dad didn’t swim (funny for being a Navy man).<span style=""> </span>In fact, he didn’t like going too far into the ocean, but there he was, wading in the sound watching my mom windsurf and my brother and I go crabbing.<span style=""> </span>The look of happiness on his face was overwhelming.<span style=""> </span>Going off of my previous point, he did everything he could to bring happiness to the people he cared most about.<span style=""> </span>He pampered my mom with trips to </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">Europe</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">, weekend getaways, dinners out- all because he knew he made her happy.<span style=""> </span>How can someone get so much joy out of seeing happiness on other’s faces, knowing he’s responsible for it?<span style=""> </span>I understand it now with my own family.<span style=""> </span>I like nothing more than seeing my boys (Thad included) and my friends happy.<span style=""> </span>I am so grateful my parents taught me this lesson.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> <br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">As I read this list, I can only hope that someday my children can look back at the lessons I am trying to instill in them and think fondly of me.<span style=""> </span>I know this list of lessons can go on forever but I think this is enough for now.<span style=""> </span>I am a better person because of my dad and I miss him so much that my soul aches.<span style=""> </span>I know that he is watching over me raise my family and I can only hope he is proud of the person I have become.<span style=""> </span>I miss you, daddy.</span></p>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-17597921856709147592010-12-01T14:22:00.014-05:002010-12-01T20:20:48.185-05:00Farewell, Fitzchivalry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdy59eyoPJf-2enCa6WMCipert6pajjTCq4HQgrYdpVuBZfvMclyvAMd-N29i2yqhQn8iK2lXjBJLPIRwDaQPHb8KsQm_z2eROukbkJDPaPv6wKfTSuvz4n30XiFifAv7doRRCPkv3lA/s1600/103_0984.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdy59eyoPJf-2enCa6WMCipert6pajjTCq4HQgrYdpVuBZfvMclyvAMd-N29i2yqhQn8iK2lXjBJLPIRwDaQPHb8KsQm_z2eROukbkJDPaPv6wKfTSuvz4n30XiFifAv7doRRCPkv3lA/s320/103_0984.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545885571071977074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">You can keep a dog; but it is the cat who keeps people, because cats find humans useful domestic animals.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">It was the day before Thanksgiving, 2005 when we brought them home. Thad and I had been dating for over a year and he just moved in that Columbus Day weekend. I was working from home at the time and, in my desperate need to feel social, told Thad that I wanted a dog to keep me company. He is not a dog person, or at least, wasn't. He is a cat person through and through. He gets cats. I joke that Thad is the Cat Whisperer because where most cats are aloof and run away from strangers, cats purr and run around Thad's feet. In compromise, we decided we'd get one cat and one dog. Good logic, right?<br /><br />We found a cat rescue organization here in Fairfax that had two little grey kittens up for adoption. We didn't intend to get two, but really, how much more work is two than one? So off to Oakton we went to meet these two little furrballs. A Six-month old brother and sister pair who were dropped off at shelter in rural VA, we couldn't bear the thought of separating them so we decided to take them both after our vacation that week.<br /><br />The first night here we watched them closely and they wouldn't come out from underneath Thad's easy chair. They were scared of the big screen TV and weren't too interested in letting us pet them either. Our roommate at the time said the first night here they howled all night. Little by little they let us get to know them and after a week or so we knew our home would never be the same.<br /><br />First there was the little girl, Trillian, named after the main female character in "A Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy" by Douglas Adams. Then there was Fitzchivalry, named after the hero in the Assassin series books by Robin Hobb. They were identical but for size; if Trillian was Size 1, grey kitty, Fitz was Size 2.<br /><br />If you asked me 8 years ago if I ever would have owned cats I would have laughed at you. I never really understood cats. I felt like they would sit there, judging me without getting a chance to know me. Cats made me feel incredibly inferior. Apparently this is normal behavior for a cat? I wish someone gave me this manual when I got the cats: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/kitty_pet.<br /><br />It's been a trying year with him. He's had to go to the vet several times for a recurring UTI coupled with total blockage; he has been through a lot. When we saw the tell tale signs again last night that something was amiss, we had a feeling that we'd be facing the same decision again soon- whether or not to keep treating the symptoms and then still wonder when it's going to happen again. Unfortunately all the tests kept on coming back that he was okay, so with no definitive answer on what was causing all these problems, we'd be back to square one. What do you do? I am so grateful to have other pet-loving friends in my life to help me be objective but caring about pet care.<br /><br />And so it was today, sweet Fitzchivalry, at five and a half years old, continued on to kitty heaven. I've been thinking a lot about him and the adorable Fitz things he did. He loved to play. Julian has been using the kitty wand with the shiny strings at the end to play with him and despite his size, he was very quick kitty. He was deathly quick when he chased a laser pointer. He couldn't resist a cardboard box or a warm lap to curl up on. He loved to eat, everything from catnip mice to mango. He got out of the house a couple of times and he would be so excited about all the smells, he didn't know what to do with himself. Every night Thad's lap would never be empty as Fitz would jump up as soon as Thad sat down for the night to relax. Fitz also had an ally in Scout. Those two were buddies for sure.<br /><br />Fitz also taught me about cats. </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">First and foremost he taught me that regardless of whether or not I was done petting him, he would tell me when it's time to be done. He also taught me to fear his claws. He taught me that even if cats seem to not care about you, they actually do. He kept me company while I was in labor with Dash, to the point of needing to remove he and his sister from the living room as they were sticking so close to me that they were getting in the way. He taught me that cats' purring could be LOUD. So blissfully loud. Really, he taught me about the unconditional love of a pet that no matter where or what we did, he'd always be waiting to sit on our laps and purr.<br /><br />We'll miss you, sweet, cuddly, ever-purring Fitz. </span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr8i68qMN6L3p9ENu0oLHbpnniCWF399i7BQNrDj1AhXUYOCrWsrmL7dEe1Gwnbc891M9UNonluQqwcxToxNTAUNnLzlxRJ9beZ8ZIwCXMWWVUsqZYWGW6Cy72qHXnxi-Bt7OyVnVfQ/s1600/fitz.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr8i68qMN6L3p9ENu0oLHbpnniCWF399i7BQNrDj1AhXUYOCrWsrmL7dEe1Gwnbc891M9UNonluQqwcxToxNTAUNnLzlxRJ9beZ8ZIwCXMWWVUsqZYWGW6Cy72qHXnxi-Bt7OyVnVfQ/s320/fitz.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545884838902389762" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKs3V_pLsenh4x3Xijhi_JrCZh5AvLWrf72PgwoC5cUWB72MFb2E56N44mQBW6peSNFMFDOeGcAtYv2iipfgwkaYjzAkVmKhqSw0hXA3-2x0SjXLmFqwFAXsnyTwLTGvD-KhTOKnqZQ/s1600/100_0054.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKs3V_pLsenh4x3Xijhi_JrCZh5AvLWrf72PgwoC5cUWB72MFb2E56N44mQBW6peSNFMFDOeGcAtYv2iipfgwkaYjzAkVmKhqSw0hXA3-2x0SjXLmFqwFAXsnyTwLTGvD-KhTOKnqZQ/s320/100_0054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545884990445499522" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCY8QqggT5DZYLDc9KdO1rRk8W3vT5ypuMTFlkjKGTNqs0xpocklxLplTJFmNqi0P5KH6V1vhoCjPi-IxQVRkWVfXMflCq5i4uEoVPgw1pe8RTMneERQf49EWWNQQ5CNizKVnEFKNDw/s1600/100_0341.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCY8QqggT5DZYLDc9KdO1rRk8W3vT5ypuMTFlkjKGTNqs0xpocklxLplTJFmNqi0P5KH6V1vhoCjPi-IxQVRkWVfXMflCq5i4uEoVPgw1pe8RTMneERQf49EWWNQQ5CNizKVnEFKNDw/s320/100_0341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545885117826499554" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OSw5DnIQllR-H0rGM2qvvCRRGSt7cErk_l6nkQSqqDeTx0tsuuT5aJ5MtsZrnDYyAX6bHU7KDVouGR_ZQs-gRikhis-gISOJ4L041jDqwQgOHs9WYwNMeycUPCarx2hj_Z_SONjFTQ/s1600/100_1982.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OSw5DnIQllR-H0rGM2qvvCRRGSt7cErk_l6nkQSqqDeTx0tsuuT5aJ5MtsZrnDYyAX6bHU7KDVouGR_ZQs-gRikhis-gISOJ4L041jDqwQgOHs9WYwNMeycUPCarx2hj_Z_SONjFTQ/s320/100_1982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545885342025246434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH46zgb3awMwKjfcsvzGOQH8djsw25J0dYLAT51KPRk5l7LEJGYDJF6lIea3kgac-5YOiMUZi0naJMX7-yHmHFKABG5lAeIrOHBvg1a7kN_cNlHxCwFSFXJsNWu6sKryVSI6xTccd34Q/s1600/100_2593.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH46zgb3awMwKjfcsvzGOQH8djsw25J0dYLAT51KPRk5l7LEJGYDJF6lIea3kgac-5YOiMUZi0naJMX7-yHmHFKABG5lAeIrOHBvg1a7kN_cNlHxCwFSFXJsNWu6sKryVSI6xTccd34Q/s320/100_2593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545796716999557810" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46nHg8nmrbgJiKvDUAgQA8WsT20yoDj94MQr0QBDWnoTSsihnJL7zLFNsmk9g9Yb_DEQskrY9wesGtl-m5bCge0j-g4w2_I4RthBM4tfnOvfAGY0g3OU1oGGuYtn7aNjQ9TUhlelMNA/s1600/DSC01301.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46nHg8nmrbgJiKvDUAgQA8WsT20yoDj94MQr0QBDWnoTSsihnJL7zLFNsmk9g9Yb_DEQskrY9wesGtl-m5bCge0j-g4w2_I4RthBM4tfnOvfAGY0g3OU1oGGuYtn7aNjQ9TUhlelMNA/s320/DSC01301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545797362264972866" border="0" /></a>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-63855858563229768372010-11-16T20:01:00.004-05:002010-11-16T20:51:19.337-05:00Memories<span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Last week we were talking at dinner about our last family vacation, a trip to Aruba last December. Julian was only about 18 months old at the time and I figured he wouldn't remember anything about it. Wrong. Thad asked him what his favorite part of the trip was and Julian paused, tapped his chin (just like Wallace from "Wallace and Gromit") whilst looking up, took a deep breath and said, "Playing in the pool." I was astonished. He remembered?! Really?!!! Wow. He also remembered spinning him around in the water, going to the beach and playing in the sand. I know that toddlers don't forget anything- like a few days ago when Thad told Julian that we would get him a nutcracker next time we went to Target (he's very excited about Christmas decorations) and today when we went to pick up shampoo for grandma, he reminded me of daddy's promise. (The miniature nutcracker is currently sitting on our dining table...we named it Heir Friedrich)- but I didn't think he'd remember a trip almost a year ago.<br /><br />This little exchange got me thinking about my earliest memories. When Thad and I first started dating I used to tease him about how much he did not remember about his childhood. With all those regular saturday night dates I wanted lots of stories, right? Thad claims to have very, very little memory about life before age 15. I, on the other hand, have memories back to when I was about 3. My brother may claim that some of this did not happen, but memories are memories and these are some of mine.<br /><br />-Age 3. Getting off a bus/tram at the wrong spot with my father. We were in Italy or France, not sure. My mom and brother were still on the bus and I was convinced we'd never, ever see them again. Obviously, we did as we walked and were reunited with them at the next stop.<br />-Age 5. Laying on a towel on the sidewalk in my swimsuit. We lived in Monterey, CA and I was convinced the song "California Girls" by the Beach Boys was written for me. I'd prop my little pink umbrella up next to me and pretend to be at the beach. (I was very sad to move away from CA and could no longer consider myself a 'california girl.' 'Philadelphia girl' didn't have the same ring to it).<br />-Age 3. Wearing my blue leotard while watching "The Wizard of Oz" for the umpteenth time while my mom is making dinner. The house smells of garlic and onion, two of my most favorite smells of all time.<br />-Age 3. Collecting HUGE hail during a storm in Charleston, SC and bringing it inside to keep it for my father to show him when he came home from sea duty. I cried when the hail melted and wouldn't be able to show it to him.<br />-Age 5. My brother brought home the class pet from La Mesa Elementary School and the rabbit pooped by the wall and my brother said it was me that pooped. He claims to this day that it was me. I protest. It was the rabbit and I stand by that. (I did, however, pee on the stairs in that house one night when I was sleep walking).<br />-Age 6. My dad played in his class softball team at the Naval Postgraduate School and my brother and I would go to his games. This specific day my brother was swinging one of the bats and I happened to be standing behind him and he thwacked me in the nose so hard it bled.<br />-Age 9. Me, my mom, my brother, my dad, my aunt, my uncle, my three cousins, my two grand-aunts, my other cousin, and I think another aunt was in there too all drove up to Niagara Falls in a Suburban, starting our journey from Norfolk, VA. We get up there and one of my cousins, a Filipino citizen, forgot his passport so we couldn't go to the Canadian side of the Falls. We drove all the way there and waved at Canada. My cousins and I made a song up about our trip to the tune of Milli Vanilli's "Blame it on the Rain" and called it "Blame it on Manny." Manny is my cousin. I still haven't been to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.<br /><br />I think this blog post could go on and on now that my cerebrum and temporal lobes have been ignited. Suffice it to say that I am glad to remember all these things of my childhood, no matter how erroneous. I only hope that Julian and Dash can remember a lot, too. Or maybe I should start giving them ginko biloba.<br /><br />Before I end this post, I'd like to say this: I remember when I was growing up and my mother would lay on the couch while I played and said, "I'm not napping, I just need to rest my eyes." I'd then proceed to climb on her and pester her mercilessly. Mom, if you're reading this, I am very sorry for all those times I bothered you while you "rested your eyes." I understand now why you needed those little dozers. :)<br /></span></span></span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-79551558307161515502010-11-04T13:25:00.006-04:002010-11-04T21:46:48.873-04:00Don't you judge me<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I hope you read that title with a head swivel cause I certainly am saying it that way. I *so* don't need other people to validate or judge my decisions.<br /><br />I never intended our home birth to be a statement. At least, that wasn't an intention when we began our home birth journey last year, but now I am a proud, flag-waving home birth mama and I hope to spread the good word of home birth and midwifery. While I am proud of our decision to take control of our care, I didn't expect to feel like a pioneer (sometimes). I certainly never expected me or my child to be treated any differently on his home birth but, alas, that is not the case. Last month I ran into my OB from Julian's birth at Wegman's. I had been with that doctor since 2003 and she was the reason I was with the practice for Julian's birth. At the time, we didn't feel comfortable with a home birth and we naively thought we could have a simple, unmedicated childbirth experience in a hospital. For multiple reasons that did not happen and when we found ourselves pregnant again, we gave the benefit of the doubt (briefly) to our doctors that they would support us in our attempt at a vaginal unmedicated birth after a cesarean. When I saw my doctor at Wegman's, while wearing a baby that she or someone in her practice obviously did not deliver, her reaction was pretty flat. I still intend to write a letter to the doctor who made me cry as she was the catalyst for us to find a new practitioner and I want her to know that, after a lot of hard work, our son was indeed born at home.<br /><br />Fast forward to today's visit. I am due for my annual exam and I originally thought of just going back to my old gyno because they are easy to get to and I know them, but then we ran into my old doc at Wegman's and I didn't get all warm and fuzzy seeing her. And, as Thad put it, if I'm going to "vote with my dollars" so to speak, I shouldn't go back to them because we were so dissatisfied with my care. I thought about Birth Care but it's incredibly inconvenient for me. I want to go somewhere that my insurance covers, so while I love my midwife, I just couldn't justify the cost considering I only see these people once a year when not pregnant.<br /><br />My friend just had her second with a practice at Fair Oaks Hospital that is an OB/midwife practice. They take my insurance so I made the appointment there with an OB (whoever was available, actually). When I showed up I had to fill out the typical paper work asking about children, dates of birth, how they were born, any complications, etc. I clearly stated that my second child was a home birth and figured I'd see what they said. The nurse took me back to take my vitals and she asked me where my son was born, despite the fact that she was looking directly at my records.<br /><br />Nurse: Where was your son born?<br />Me: Home.<br />Nurse: Really? Wow. I'd have no idea what to do with a baby at home.<br />Me: That's why we hired a midwife.<br />Nurse: Wow. ... Wow.<br />**enter 3 nurses who overheard our exchange to look at the home birth baby, expecting to see a messed up baby with three heads and blue hair, but to their disappointment found that he was a normal, happy bouncing baby boy**<br /><br />It was very obvious they don't encounter many home birthers as it is an OB office, but I was armed and ready.<br /><br />The nurse brought me to my room and she said not to take any clothes off, just to sit as the doctor wants to get to know me better before she gives me an exam and the nurse said a few times that this doctor would be SO excited to see Dash. So we waited and enter doctor...<br /><br />Doc: Hi, welcome to our office. So tell me where did you have your son? (My chart was right there)<br />Me: Home.<br />Doc: And where did you have your first child?<br />Me: Here, actually, at Fair Oaks with a different practice. He was a c-section and we didn't want a repeat, so we did it at home.<br />Doc: Really? As a VBAC? Wow. That's high risk.<br />Me: Actually, it wasn't. We had great support and I left the old practice because they said they'd support a VBAC but in practice, didn't. Dash was 2 pounds smaller than my first, was in a great position for birth, and my midwife helped us have a great birth. I didn't feel like I was getting supported the way I needed to be in my former practice.<br />Doc *body language became physically repulsed by me, she wraps her sweater around herself and backs up against the door* Well do you have any questions? Go ahead and get undressed and I'll be right back.<br /><br />I mean her WHOLE demeanor changed when I explained our home birth. I'm not too surprised, I mean she IS a trained OB with a lifetime of experience pointing her biases in one direction, I don't expect her to be welcoming me with open arms, but come on lady, get with the program. There is so much information out there for women now to OWN their births, you can't get all up in arms when someone is actually informed and makes decisions for herself.<br /><br />So we did the exam and by the end of the breast exam I could tell she was just trying to get the hell out of dodge. I wanted to talk with her about non-hormonal contraception but she really, really didn't want to talk with me. She was just so....disapproving. She barely smiled at Dash, let alone cooed at him. I figure if someone is going to shove metal ware at my snatch she could have a *little* bit nicer bed side manner, but what can you do. At least I don't have to see them again for another year.<br /><br />If today's experience has taught me anything it's that body language says it all. I kind of expected people to ask me about my home birth but I certainly didn't expect to be treated like I smacked them. I realize that she's looking at me through HER lens but the least she could do is try to look at me through mine. Am I going to go back there? Who the hell knows. Part of me wants to as a weird experiment to slowly infiltrate the system from the inside. :)<br /><br />Point of this story? Not sure if there is one other than to laugh at this doctor and hope that whoever reads this takes control of his or her care. Just because you have an M.D. by your name doesn't make you better than me, we all travel our paths different ways, folks. </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-83769046106675464902010-11-02T19:56:00.010-04:002010-11-06T21:46:07.172-04:00Making sense of it all<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you've followed either on Facebook or by occasional emails here and there, you know it's been an interesting year for us. I know that people usually wait until the end of the calendar year to reflect but too bad....the past few days I've been unable to do anything but reflect. This probably means, though, that you won't be getting a "yearly round up" letter in a couple of months. Too bad. Gotta get it out now.<br /><br />This year has certainly been a year of ... trials? In April we got our house ready very quickly in an attempt to tackle the dismal real estate market. Since then we showed it for three months, were under contract for 5 weeks of those three months, and then took it off out of sheer madness of trying to keep the house pristine with 2 kids, a dog, 2 long-haired cats, and the rest of life. Also this summer my brother's herniated disc got worse and he was waiting for surgery after a crazy car accident that left him with 4 broken ribs. My aunt was diagnosed with colon cancer. Someone dear to me suffered a miscarriage. My mother in law broke her ankle THE DAY she was to fly to New Zealand. Two weeks after taking our house off the market the roof leaked and we discovered that squirrels and mice have made a home in our attic, along with the chipmunks in our storage room. My friend told me (jokingly) that she didn't want to be around me because apparently we were bad luck.<br /><br />Thad and I laughed that we burned all our karma by having a successful home vaginal birth after cesarean with our son, Daschel, in February. It's so easy to leave things up to karma, isn't it? But still, oh, shining light of 2010, the babies being born has certainly been the biggest highlight of the entire year. Babies, babies, and more babies! Babies born every month...last December I knew of 6 babies born in the same week of each other, and every month after that has been just as baby-bonanza. This October alone I've known of eight babies being born. Eight! With 2 months left in the year we have many more to go...I keep checking those Facebook postings to hear about new arrivals. :)<br /><br />Sweet, smiley, cuddly babies that are changing everyone's lives as we know it. I don't know anyone whose heart isn't melted by the coos and gurgles of a bouncing happy baby. Unfortunately, though, in comes the reality when this past week we got news that a friend's infant son has a brain tumor. *blank look* Are you kidding me? A brain tumor? In someone that can't even crawl?! In someone that hasn't even figured out what kind of ice cream he likes or what is her favorite color? Please, no more. If you're reading this and wondering if it's someone you know, it is absolutely not my place to spread their business so I'm sorry, unless they've let you know, then that's all I can say.<br /><br />We were speechless. Tears, of course, have been plenty. I don't even know what to say. As I sat upstairs tonight nursing Dash to sleep I thought about how I felt when he was born- that hopeful, blissful feeling of a new baby and the possibilities that lay ahead of him. He's so young, so innocent, and yet how can this happen?<br /><br />This December will be the 9-year anniversary of my father's passing. When he was diagnosed at the young age of 49 which was followed by treatment, recovery, and then illness again, I did some major soul searching to try and make sense of it all. I read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Happen-Good-People/dp/0380603926">When Bad Things Happen to Good People</a> and while it offered some good perspective, I didn't finish it because it started to get a little too preachy for me. I mean, he's right, just because a "good" person goes outside in sub-zero weather without a jacket on doesn't mean he will escape getting sick. I get his argument that good people are not exempt from the laws of nature. But still. That answer doesn't give me peace when bad things continue to happen to people that just don't deserve it. I read all kinds of literature on suffering and grieving, all from different religions to see if I could make sense of it and I still couldn't find answers that put my heart at ease.<br /><br />It's really, really hard not to take what's happening and turn it back to us. How WE feel by this. How WE make sense of it. Unfortunately, maybe that's where I am mentally because I don't know what else <span style="font-style: italic;">to</span> do. I mean, what <span style="font-style: italic;">can </span>we do? I can't cure cancer. I can't make the pain go away. I think most people turn the emotion back on themselves out of feeling utterly powerless otherwise. <br /><br />How is it fair? How is it fair that a parent has to decide how their child will live their final days if that's the case? Or their days in general, for that matter. Is it fair to put a baby through treatments? What about their older child? How do you explain this to them? <br /><br />Thinking of all this makes me physically sick. My answer? Seems flimsy and naive, but my answer is to have faith. No, not faith. Hope. Hope that things can get better. Hope that life can BE better. And I mean it. I mean it with every fiber of my being, deep into the deepest parts of my soul, I hope. Maybe its the eternal optimist in me but if I can't hope then I might as well not get out of bed in the morning. If you take away my hope, well, I just might shrivel up and die. So let me be. Let me live in my hopeful world where my glass is half full and peace can be found. Until then, I will keep this family in my thoughts and hopes and hope that their dear little one will be okay. <br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;font-size:85%;" >Lord save us all from... a hope tree that has lost the faculty of putting out blossoms. ~Mark Twain</span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-43067265546449247822010-10-31T20:55:00.002-04:002010-10-31T21:25:49.217-04:00Haaalllooweeeen.<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is one of those times where the journey was much more important than the destination. I realize that our children will have MANY more "first times" in their lives and I think it's our jobs as our parents to prepare them for those times, especially for a kid like Julian that needs to know what's going on at all times, and know what's coming next. <br /><br />This past month has been a lot of fun with all the fall festivities. We took Julian to choose pumpkins, fall festivals, and the craft store, which is quite festive with all the decorations (obviously). We went talked about trick or treating and Julian even chose his costume - a ghost. I'll definitely give credit to the Little Einsteins Halloween episode where the kids go on a mission to collect treats for their Halloween party. Julian has learned quite a bit (especially about music instruments) from these shows and while we are careful to monitor how much and what he watches, we approve of this show. This episode is about these three ghosts follow them to each castle as they collect treats and in the end of the episode they have a big Halloween party. Julian LOVES this episode. He carries around the plastic pumpkin and shakes the "treats" inside (he uses whatever will make noise) and has been very excited about being a ghost. <br /><br />The month has been a ton of fun preparing him for tonight. Last night, he was SO excited to go to sleep because it meant when he woke up, it would be Halloween! How would the rest of the day go?! I got pretty nervous when he wouldn't let me measure him for his ghost costume. Very creative, I bought a white sheet and cut a hole in the top for his head. (Whoop-dee-doo). I showed him the sheet, helped him hold the sheet, and even cut a little ghost costume for Dash. When we were getting ready to go to our neighborhood costume parade and potluck, would he put it on? No. He *did* carry his super awesome skeleton treat bag that Grammy bought him at Pottery Barn kids. He even tried wearing THIS on his head. Alas, his ghost was not to be. When we got to the party he really liked seeing all the other kids in their costumes but still, he did not want to wear his. He didn't even want to stay for the parade. He came, he ate, he left. What would this mean for trick or treating?<br /><br />After a quick dinner at home (mainly for daddy and Dash), we grabbed his treat bag and got ready to go trick or treating. We talked about the protocol for t-or-t and he was very excited to try it out! But what about the costume? Oh no. He definitely would NOT put it on. We explained that he needed to wear a costume to trick or treat but we didn't want to punish him by not taking him if he was adamantly opposed to wearing the costume. Daddy was very quick to think of something and he suggested that maybe he could wear his trademark hat and carry his guitar to be a "rocker" and since these are his most favorite toys ever, he complied and off we went...to the house next door.<br /><br />He stepped up to the house, knocked on the door, and when they came he even said "trick or treat!" He was so excited to choose a piece of candy from the bowl and said thank you when he was all done. Success! Off we went to the next house, our new awesome neighbors who have a 3-year old son and an 8-month old son. We scooped them up and "rocker" was joined by "buzz lightyear" (aka Emmett) and off we went to knock on some doors. <br /><br />The boys did great. They knocked, asked politely, chose a treat, and said thank you. I think we hit up about 10 houses for treats and the boys were great at each one. The last house we stopped at there was a teenage boy standing in the shadows wearing a very scary mask and costume, holding a bowl of candy. If I didn't see him scratch his face I wouldn't have known he was there....oh gee, he was scary! Emmett got scared and Julian was very unsure, but Erica (Emmett's mom) got a lollipop from him to show them he was okay but the boys didn't bite. We asked him to take his mask off and show them it's just pretend and after that they were okay. Poor little guys....these decorations and costumes can be scary!!! <br /><br />When we got home Julian ate one mini Snickers and was an angel going to bed. I think next year will be a lot more fun when he understands it better, but for now I think the evening was a total success....even if we didn't get any cute costume photos. <br /><br />Happy Halloween everyone....now go brush your teeth so you don't get any cavities.<br /></span></span>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-30340104860265325092010-09-27T21:01:00.006-04:002010-09-27T21:41:20.451-04:00It always comes back to poop<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">As a follow-up before I get into the main topic of this post Julian returned to school today for his second day of preschool. I don't know if it's because he knows the kids better, or because I was assisting today, but I think he did great. The kids had a lot of fun on our walk (in the rain) and they even enjoyed the mango/banana/spinach smoothies that, I admit, I was skeptical about myself but it was quite yummy indeed. Next week we move to a new home for the month of October so I hope that Julian does okay. We'll see what happens! Thanks for all the supportive notes about his adjustment to preschool. I think he's going to do great once he knows what's expected of him and what the routine is.<br /><br />So. Poop. People have asked how it is with two kids now and the big differences between Dash and Julian. Ultimately, it always comes back to poop. Julian was a frequent, daily pooper. Sometimes he'd do it on the changing table with no diaper on, sometimes he'd get it on mommy and daddy. Ultimately, though, his poop was not an issue in that it happened when it happened and we really didn't discuss it much. Dash, on the other hand, is the most infrequent pooper and it makes *me* uncomfortable when day 5, 6, and this past time, day 9 comes and goes without a poop. When he finally does let loose, well, let's just say he takes a good nap afterwards. I've had 7 months worth of conversations about poop.<br /><br />Other than their bowel movements, it has been interesting to see just how different two little boys can be. I try very hard not to compare them, and I wonder if they were of opposite genders I wouldn't compare them as much, but so it goes. Dash is a very happy little baby but he has no problems with voicing his displeasure if he is not getting his way. When he does his scream/yell/battle cry/howl, Julian goes over to him and says, "It's okay Baby Dash," and then proceeds to serenade Dash with his own rendition of the Wiggles' "Toot Toot Chugga Chugga" where he replaces all the names of the Wiggles with the names of our family. "Julian's in the back seat, playing his guitar...." It's adorable.<br /><br />I do fear that we are not as neurotic about his goings on the way we were about Julian, but I think that's what happens with a second child. We definitely don't have everything chronicled for him the way we did with Julian (as you can tell from our lack of postings since his birth) and I feel like we blinked and he's already 7 months old.<br /><br />The nitty gritty update? He's over 18 lbs now and about 27 inches tall. He doesn't have any teeth yet, which is odd because I feel like he's been teething for months already. He is sitting up pretty reliably now although when he's tired he'll still do the backwards dive so there's usually a Boppy or some other cushion behind him to catch his fall. He is pushing himself up really well but not pulling forward yet, but I have a feeling it's not too far away. He's a rolly-polly for sure, more than Julian ever was, and does enjoy rolling his way across our bed. He sure does love to eat. He likes to eat whatever we are eating- corn, pancakes, quesadillas- and does his battle cry when we don't share. Eating out has become quite difficult juggling the two, that's for sure!<br /><br />Ah, sleep. Blessed, sweet, and unattainable sleep. I haven't slept more than 3 hours in a row, I think, since I was about 3 months pregnant with Dash, so...over a year? I am getting really tired of waking up at night but I am trying really hard to let him drive and let me know his needs. Julian inadvertently night-weaned when we moved him out of our bed when he was 8 months old and I am not entirely sure I'm ready for that to happen. We'll see, we'll see.<br /><br />So that's my quick update before Dash wakes up for his 9:30 feeding. Life as a foursome has been wonderfully difficult at some points, but always wonderfully blissful. I love seeing Julian snuggle up on his little brother and I just love seeing the look on Dash's face when Julian comes to play. They are going to be great brothers and I am so glad they have each other. Daddy has his boys and mommy doesn't have to deal with pink overload. Life is good.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pmiy3MsJFgoD-wAloBuAlU6CSPLKK4YkNTDIwUw-MmVVegbgRfZqMAj2tgJj6GIVSfncW49c2i22-4EDHEmsicAk2dFhhzrozuzZWaTTxabxlGQBqYyP_Az6-25bKQ8b1weqXrbBGw/s1600/DSC01481.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pmiy3MsJFgoD-wAloBuAlU6CSPLKK4YkNTDIwUw-MmVVegbgRfZqMAj2tgJj6GIVSfncW49c2i22-4EDHEmsicAk2dFhhzrozuzZWaTTxabxlGQBqYyP_Az6-25bKQ8b1weqXrbBGw/s400/DSC01481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521771766202487826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;" >Family picture at the National Harbor, Labor Day weekend</span><br /></div>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730601864337718373.post-68817895013197770582010-09-20T20:46:00.005-04:002010-09-20T21:23:23.675-04:00First day of preschool<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >I know, I know, I owe major postings here about life with two boys. Dash will already be 7 months old this wednesday. Seriously? 7 months? I swear he was just born last week. I will put a post up about Dash shortly, but for now, here's what happened for us today:<br /><br />Tonight at dinner we talked about his first day of school. We asked him what he did today. His response? "Julian cried. Played with Whitney and Cora. Circle time." Those were some good take aways, I guess, after the emotional day we just had. Our day started pretty smoothly. He was up at 5:30am (pretty normal), we had some breakfast (his favorite: sausage) and I packed his lunch in his awesome <a href="http://www.planetbox.com/">Planet Box</a> lunch box.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI2DzGAxCQ_Yc8oHdJt27cGsaSyBlUZcFwJo7KUffP7cDjnYFLAviudO9f8CEoBa2lXaYJTGge9YWPeYFA66q7GgL02qpcnA_HXH3wVbFfs8VjIeoFWDMTZPWvDx2ZvA10R-kwYROZQ/s1600/DSC01484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI2DzGAxCQ_Yc8oHdJt27cGsaSyBlUZcFwJo7KUffP7cDjnYFLAviudO9f8CEoBa2lXaYJTGge9YWPeYFA66q7GgL02qpcnA_HXH3wVbFfs8VjIeoFWDMTZPWvDx2ZvA10R-kwYROZQ/s320/DSC01484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519163204356948194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:78%;" >Stainless steel bento box lunch box. For lunch? Organic grapes, organic oven-roasted turkey sandwich on wheat bread, organic honey wheat pretzel sticks, some homemade banana chocolate bread, and 3 chocolate-covered marshmallows. What did he actually eat? The grapes, the pretzels, and the marshmallows. Go figure.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Before we got in the car to go to Laurie's, I took the obligatory picture of his first day of school. He's wearing his new firetruck shirt, new shoes, and holding his brand new lunch box. All the way there in the car he was talking about Nemo's "first day of school." "Just like Nemo," he said. </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >He was so excited! </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBD9Z3UNS3ij47Cf9c-VHqKc7_GEH4S53kPgTw0stYeqAso4WQ6lvn2d6hJ3-rn58Xn_e5Zdd16vnbETpRZNyrVJv3fSXtkubYvS6WWeCKAx8W8kILjN6UZNn8KHTjXlFGi98kBDglA/s1600/DSC01491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBD9Z3UNS3ij47Cf9c-VHqKc7_GEH4S53kPgTw0stYeqAso4WQ6lvn2d6hJ3-rn58Xn_e5Zdd16vnbETpRZNyrVJv3fSXtkubYvS6WWeCKAx8W8kILjN6UZNn8KHTjXlFGi98kBDglA/s320/DSC01491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519164303149714546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Our program is a pre-school cooperative with other families from the <a href="http://hmnofnova.blogspot.com/">Holistic Moms Network of Northern Virginia</a>. There are 7 families and we rotate houses by the month. This month Laurie is our fearless lead teacher and she has 2 other parents as assistant teachers. They started this program last year and we decided to give it a whirl this year since it's only one day a week and we'd still be able to do our regular playgroup, La Leche League meetings, and My Gym, leaving thursday as our only free day each week.<br /><br />My plan during this glorious morning (weather-wise) was to go for a hike with another mom from the group, Kathy. Kathy is due next monday with #2 so we decided to take the dogs for a nice walk at Bull Run to help her get things moving. (No dice, she's still pregnant). Drop off didn't go as smooth as I had hoped it would, though. Julian basically dropped me at the cubbies to go and play so I took it as a good time to exit. I got to the car, started nursing Dash, and within a few minutes I could hear Julian crying, "you want mommy! you want mommy!" (He hasn't figured out "you" and "i" yet). I waited it out to see if I should go in, but the other moms coming in from dropping off their kiddos said I should wait outside. So I waited. Then Laurie's husband came outside and asked me to come in, so I went in to give Julian one last cuddle. He didn't want me to go and he was doing that hiccupping cry that is so desperately sad. The other kids were coming to pat his back and hug him, too. One of the assistants of the day, Paul, came over to try and show Julian his camera and bring him to play in the main room. Eventually Julian decided to go and play and I took my exit again. I was expecting to get a call that Julian threw up from crying so much but thankfully, no call ever came.<br /><br />As a former preschool teacher today was especially hard because I've been on the side of the teacher many, many times but obviously I had never experienced it from the parent's side. I admit it, I was fighting back tears leaving my crying son. I've always known that Julian is sensitive and needs to know what's going on at all times. We are a very routine-oriented family and I know Julian finds tremendous comfort knowing that routine. A new day like today can be hard on these little guys and I've seen it many times before with other kids. I am so, so grateful that I was leaving him with fellow like-minded parents that I knew would treat Julian's emotions with the respect and patience that we do. That's a huge part of why we decided to try this coop in the first place. At the same time, though, Americans are so big on making sure our kids learn independence...making sure kids learn to take care of themselves as soon as possible, so part of me is trying very hard not to feel like an utter failure with a son who didn't want to leave his mommy.<br /><br />Would it be better if he just took off running away from me and didn't look back? What does that say about our bond? Nothing, really, just that he's a more adventurous kid. Am I a failure because my son needs reassurance that everything is okay, needs to know that he's safe, and needed an extra-long cuddle to say goodbye? Probably not, he just needed to know mommy's still there. I mean, he's only TWO for crying out loud.<br /><br />My hope is for my boys to grow up to be independent but they will always be mommy's little boys. I don't think today was as scarring to Julian as it was for mommy....he's already talking about going back to school next week. Luckily, I am assisting next week so me and Dash will be there for the morning, so I hope that will help with his transition.<br /><br />Oh boy, what I mess I've been today. Just imagine when he goes off to kindergarten...it's going to be nuts!<br /><br />Here's a picture of Dash since I don't want him to feel left out. Took this a month ago at the beach while we were waiting in line at 8:30 at night to get Ben & Jerry's. Julian loved it. :)<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nCDRNSxL2SlSvVl9o5cdaw7KfqOaULtaDinFZZwDKQgEvAR2yO3scG-Vy47Y4L5l2Bm47T4GnsHDir9NL43Mtk0XmGR7kKoJRtT9tCm8EyFKgl7yybbNB4mAmCCoGutSYKjzmDHW6w/s1600/100_3120.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nCDRNSxL2SlSvVl9o5cdaw7KfqOaULtaDinFZZwDKQgEvAR2yO3scG-Vy47Y4L5l2Bm47T4GnsHDir9NL43Mtk0XmGR7kKoJRtT9tCm8EyFKgl7yybbNB4mAmCCoGutSYKjzmDHW6w/s320/100_3120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519171117246047266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span></div></div></div>Pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18172016514484387818noreply@blogger.com0