A Day In the Life

Day 127

2010-05-21T12:11:00.001-07:00

First Poppy of the Season

Ok, if we're being truthful, its actually, Robyn's first poppy of the season. But need we be particular, really? I am just in love with these orange, papery goodness...

Day 126

2010-05-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

*inhale deeply. ahhhhh*
herbs. yum. especially basil. he's my favorite (along with mint). though, any fresh herb will do. here we have thyme, basil and tarragon, just waiting to be made into something very yummy.

Day 125

2010-05-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

Today I went for a walk after I dropped the kids off at school. It was perfect. The weather was gorgeous - warm, sunny. I had my iPhone and was listening to some good tunes on Pandora. And I should have had my camera, because I saw some things that were photo worthy.
These particular peonies caught my eye. I snuck up someone's driveway and photographed them with the trusty hipstomatic :)

Day 124

2010-05-18T20:24:00.001-07:00

Look at my new toy!!! That's right....... for mother's day, my wonderful husband got me a flash for my camera! Now I just need to learn it....

Day 123

2010-05-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

You see these? I hate these. I am currently knee-deep in these. And that's a big thing for me to say, because I really love old, big, beautiful trees. But this tree? I loathe. I loathe these seeds that drop in bucketfulls onto my lawn and in my gardens and then plant themselves. I am picking little trees year-long. Ugh. And its not even my tree.

Day 122

2010-05-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

The energy of a Sunday morning marathon on a spring morning in Wisconsin

Day 121

2010-05-18T20:07:00.003-07:00

Inside Lambeau Field! And look....we can move freely. No one is holding a beer. No painted bodies or spongey cheese heads. Just 2 fun loving girlies.

Day 120

2010-05-18T20:07:00.001-07:00

Look at those eyelashes.
Look at those cheeks.
Don't you want to eat those boys up?
Thems is my nephews. My husband's brother and his wife's chillins.

Day 119

2010-05-18T20:06:00.004-07:00

My Mother's Day bouquet that arrived on a tray w/ my breakfast in bed :)
Flowers from my garden!
(ahem, and the neighbor's. see previous post)

Day 118

2010-05-18T20:06:00.003-07:00

Almost every time I am at the library (at least once a week), I see this car in the parking lot. I think its a freaking cool car. Except the insides are all torn up - like I don't know how the person even drives (that's how bad the seat, or lack thereof, is). But still....there's something to be said about a car like this.

Day 117

2010-05-18T20:06:00.001-07:00

May 11

Day 116

2010-05-18T20:05:00.004-07:00

Several days of cold, icky rain.
Rain, rain go away. Please.

Day 115

2010-05-18T20:05:00.003-07:00

May 9

Day 114

2010-05-18T20:05:00.001-07:00

May 8

Day 113

2010-05-18T20:04:00.002-07:00

May 7

Day 112

2010-05-18T20:04:00.001-07:00

May 6

Day 111

2010-05-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

May 5

Day 110

2010-05-18T20:01:00.001-07:00

I love lilacs. The smell is heavenly and they are just so velvety to touch. I was bad and I snipped a few off my neighbor's bush so that I could enjoy them. In my defense, they do hang over my fence. Soooo.....

Day 109

2010-05-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Day 108

2010-05-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

Making a wish on a "wishberry", as she calls it

Day 107

2010-05-18T19:52:00.000-07:00

5/1

Day 106

2010-05-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

4/30

Day 105

2010-05-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

4/29

Day 104

2010-05-10T10:23:00.001-07:00

Poor baby.

Elliott took a spill off the side of the slide at school, and landed on his face. On the wood chips. Ouch.

day 103

2010-05-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

Give peas a chance!

Day 102

2010-05-10T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yeah, the picture isn't anything special. But its indicative of what my life was like that day. Sick. 2nd day in 2 weeks. Some random stomach thing. So there I was, in the house. Staring outside. No bueno.

Day 101

2010-05-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

2 tired kiddos zoned out on t.v. in the morning after a sleepover

Day 100

2010-05-10T09:40:00.001-07:00

Laundry. My life.

Day 99

2010-05-10T09:32:00.001-07:00

Take Your Child To Work Day, 2010

Day 98

2010-05-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

It was late. I realized I had to do the POTD yet. I walked into the bathroom to wash my face and when I went to grab my face wash out of the shower, I saw this sight and could not resist using it as my photo.
Barbies are almost always naked in our house. Not always, but often. I will note that they all had bathing suits, but they were discarded, laying by the barbies feet. And the one w/ the funky hairdo? She was one of my barbies from my childhood. I went through a haircutting phase.

Day 97

2010-04-23T12:17:00.001-07:00

Baseball season has begun.

Day 96

2010-04-22T13:35:00.001-07:00

Norah went to California Pizza Kitchen with her Daisy troop for a fun field trip. They toured the restaurant and then got to make and eat their own pizzas. It was a ton of fun!

Day 95

2010-04-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

Oh, if only to be a cat. Such a rough life it would be.

Day 94

2010-04-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

If we had the front yard to do so, I would plant a magnolia tree in a heartbeat. Several yards around here have them and I love to look at them. Its so sad when the first rainstorm comes through and all the blossoms fall off.

Day 93

2010-04-22T13:13:00.001-07:00

Bleeding heart. Its such a cool flowering shrub.

Day 92

2010-04-22T13:11:00.001-07:00

Enjoying the colorful signs of spring all over my yard

Day 91

2010-04-22T13:09:00.001-07:00

I love how she plays with toys. A Magnatile house. Lego submarine & diver. Star Wars girls & animals. LPS cat. What an imagination.

Day 90

2010-04-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

She got her brown eyes from her mama, who got hers from her mama, too. But they're not like mine. Mine have flecks of gold in them. Hers are deep, dark brown. A dark brown that I've never seen on a blonde before. Granted, she doesn't have the blonde like I did as a child. But she's blonde. With olive skin and dark dark brown eyes. And the brown eyebrows and thick, long eyelashes. Such a lovely combination.

Day 89

2010-04-22T13:01:00.001-07:00

My first tulips of the season - my coral fancy tulips. You know - the ones w/ the pointy edges. She picked one of the first ones that came up. It just about killed me, because not only was there no stem for me to put it in water, but she left it on the ground. To lay there and wilt.
So is life, eh?

Day 88

2010-04-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

Another day, more dress-up fun!

Day 87

2010-04-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

The kids are really, really into dress-up lately. Especially cross-dressing.

Day 86

2010-04-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

Baby Ethan and his great-papa Jack

Day 85

2010-04-06T17:30:00.001-07:00

My first daffodils to bloom!

Day 84

2010-04-06T17:27:00.001-07:00

Springtime = bubbles! I think its cool that the reflection of Norah and the house is so clear in the bubble.

Day 83

2010-04-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

This photo makes me smile. My sweet nephew*, Ethan. My cousin was hoping to get a photo of him with his basket, but apparently, he decided to go to sleep just as she was going to sit him down. And he wouldn't wake for the life of him.

*I think that technically, he's my first cousin, once removed, since he's my cousin's baby. But for all intents and purposes, he's my nephew.

Day 82

2010-04-06T17:21:00.000-07:00

I forgot to take a photo again. Ack.

Day 81

2010-04-06T17:16:00.001-07:00

Day 80

2010-04-06T17:13:00.001-07:00

Apologies to anyone who is skeeved out by feet...

April 1st. It was true...March went in like a lion and out like a lamb. It was in the 80's on April 1st! Flip flop and shorts weather!! This photo commemorates the first day that I wore flip flops this season. Happies.

Day 79

2010-04-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

Norah's Daisy troop went to a local upscale resale shop where they learned about recycling. They had to bring an old t-shirt and got to make a bag out of it. For several days after, Norah sported the shirt collar as an 80's style headband.

Day 78

2010-04-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

While the kids were at school, I made some tulip and butterfly cookies (closest thing to easter cookie cutters I have!). It took A LOT to hold myself back from decorating them myself and making them pretty. But I did it. And the kids had a ball decorating them.

Day 77

2010-04-06T17:03:00.001-07:00

One of Aidan's favorite things to do this spring is to shoot hoops

Day 76

2010-03-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Just a lone lemon

Day 75

2010-03-30T07:39:00.001-07:00

The assignment for the weekend was to take a photo at 3:oopm, showing what you were doing. This was on Saturday, and I happened to be picking up my girlie from a birthday party and walking home. I got a few strange looks when I showed up with my camera around my neck, but eh... whatever.

Day 74

2010-03-30T07:27:00.000-07:00

Egg wreath
Not done for its sheer beauty, but because the kids love seeing it hanging in the den where they like to lay in the sun and read or play legos.

(more about the wreath here)

Day 73

2010-03-29T12:09:00.001-07:00

I got an idea from another blogger to do a craft with eggs, so I was working on this. The kids loooove them some plastic eggs!

Day 72

2010-03-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

The kids are mesmerized by the crocuses, because they open and close. Norah asked if I'd take a photo of her with them. Sho 'nuff.

Day 71

2010-03-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful spring day. I was doing yardwork, Elliott was at the playground with a friend, Aidan was playing basketball, and Norah was practicing rollerblading. She looked so cute, but she was grumpy that I made her take her skirt off, so I was surprised she hammed it up.

Day 70

2010-03-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

Rub a dub dub. Twinadoes in a tub.

Day 69

2010-03-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

I was sick on Saturday. Slept all day long. Soooo...that means I forgot to take a photo. Whoops.

Sunday...
Still recovering, so I was laying on the couch. I looked out the window at my husband playing baseball with the kids. I grabbed my camera, but didn't change the lens, so the action shots are blurry.

Day 67

2010-03-20T10:57:00.001-07:00

Spring has officially sprung! Spring is here! Purple crocus in da hizzouse!

Day 66

2010-03-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

I was at Barnes & Noble scoping out my daughter's artwork that was on display there when I cam across this piece. No idea who this child is, but it caught my eye because A) Norah loves her some cat, and B) the mixed medias just popped out at me.

Day 65

2010-03-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

Irish Root Soup. Mnnnn. Carrots, waiting to be made into this delicious soup from the County Clare B&B.

Taters, waiting to be chucked into some boiled dinner.

day 64

2010-03-17T08:05:00.001-07:00

Snirt.

UrbanDictionary.com defines as:

The stuff that piles up in parking lots and along side the road in the midwest during the winter. Not quite snow, not quite dirt.

Don't step in the snirt or you will crud up your shoes

Around here, snirt is a common find from March through May. Its gross and it hurts. It causes Elliott to break out in hives when he comes into contact with it.

The midwest. Love it.

Day 63

2010-03-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

How sweet is this? A little girl in Bean's class made this for me last week when I was helping out in there. I was tickled.

Day 62

2010-03-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

We were at the Museum of Science and Industry today and they have a live chick hatchery. So. Freaking. Cool. We literally saw chicks hatching. I got some funky photos. Norah was totally enthralled. I really dug this photo--- its like he's sunning himself, thinking, 'ahhhh'.

Day 61

2010-03-14T20:53:00.001-07:00

Its called Cloud Gate, but it looks like a giant bean. Like a giant charm from a Tiffany & Co. necklace. This cool sculpture is in Millennium Park in Chicago. I got some pretty nifty photo angles from this thing. Too bad it was raining.

Day 60

2010-03-14T20:50:00.001-07:00

Awe. Fright. Delight.

We were at the Chicago Children's Museum (at Navy Pier) and the kids were climbing on/in this schooner exhibit and Elliott was so scared. Yet he loved it. Just check out that look in his eyes.

Day 59

2010-03-14T20:47:00.001-07:00

embroidery thread abound........

Day 58

2010-03-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

My girlie got a fresh haircut (finally! no more tangles!) and tried on mama's glasses. Too cute.

Day 57

2010-03-11T09:59:00.001-08:00

No Dignity

also known as

Fat Cat In A Little (doll's) Shirt

(or what happens when you indulge your daughter's whim)

Day 56

2010-03-11T09:48:00.001-08:00

Despite the name, which I think could be better, I think that The Little Red Store is such a charming and cool piece of history in my town. Its the town's oldest building, once serving as a post office, a library, general store, grocery, and other things. Its now owned by the Historical Society and our Farmer's Market (that I helped get off the ground, but am now not a part of) will be held in the lot behind it

Day 55

2010-03-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

Two days in a row - iPhone photos. Not ideal, but you capture what strikes you, right?

I was shopping at a store I don't normally shop at (for good reasons. Gr. ), and as I walked by the small euro-product section, this caught my eye. How could it not?!?

Ok. Spotted Dick. Why is it named as such? Not a really appealing name, if you ask me. And whatever it is, its microwavable.

Day 54

2010-03-07T18:25:00.000-08:00

Over 8 years ago, Chris tried his hand at home brewing. We gave our first home brew out as a 'goodie bottle' for the guests that came to Aidan's party. We also served it. Truthfully, it wasn't all that good. At all. But everyone kept their bottle, because how could you not? Look at that darling little face! (and props to my friend Sheila who designed those labels for me 8 years ago.) And oh - I found this bottle in a bedroom, in plain view :) - at my parents house on Saturday.

Day 53

2010-03-06T07:54:00.000-08:00

I technically didn't take this, but 8 years ago to the minute this photo was taken, this little boy was born. Wow.

Day 52

2010-03-06T07:49:00.001-08:00

Wacky Wednesday!!!!!

Day 51

2010-03-06T07:41:00.001-08:00

Tuesday.

They call this an animal picnic (they were artfully arranged on separate blankets down the hall). I call this a BIG. FAT. MESS.

Day 50

2010-03-01T15:09:00.001-08:00

Norah had a friend over who was a really good influence. Her friend encouraged her to let the boys play with them, instead of the whole, "NO BOYS!" that other kindy girls employ.

Day 49

2010-03-01T15:06:00.001-08:00

Reasons Not To Make Your Bed.

I was pulling the mattress pad taught on my bed when I was putting on clean sheets when my hand slipped and BAM! went right into the window and subsequently, through it. 80 year old windows don't stand much of a chance when making contact with a fist, I guess.

Amazingly, my hand didn't require any stitches or anything serious.

Day 48

2010-03-01T15:04:00.000-08:00

Will come back and edit (2/27)

Day 47

2010-03-01T14:55:00.000-08:00

Irony.

I took photos of some of my photos that I recently framed and hung. Based on the quality of the photos of the photos, you'd never guess that I could take a reasonably decent photo. lol.

Day 46

2010-03-01T14:52:00.002-08:00

I've been drowning in laundry lately and can't catch up. This was 4 baskets waiting to be folded and a bag of shirts waiting to be taken to get laundered (not by me). I am typically someone who folds the moment it comes out of the dryer. So the fact that this sat here for days indicates just how awful I felt for so long.

Day 45

2010-03-01T14:52:00.001-08:00

will edit.

Day 44

2010-03-01T14:48:00.000-08:00

Elliott's Play-Doh Creation

Day 43

2010-02-22T18:53:00.000-08:00

The influence the olympics has on my kids.....

I was shoveling and I heard, "Look mommy! I'm pretending I'm Shaun White! I am snowboarding!" I turned around and saw him doing this (on his sled. in the yard.). I was on the porch, so I was able to grab my camera off my desk quickly.

I suspect we need to take him REAL snowboarding. Maybe his uncle can teach him next winter.

Day 42

2010-02-21T19:05:00.002-08:00

The theme this weekend was SPARKLY. It was dreary as all heck outside, so this was the only sparkle I could find.

Day 41

2010-02-21T19:05:00.001-08:00

~Saturday~

reserved. pic on another camera.

Day 40

2010-02-21T18:55:00.000-08:00

Errr...I thought I took a photo? But I guess not. I mean, I took photos, but not an intentional POTD one.

So I'll use this one....a scarf I made for Norah. I call it "the fugly scarf". She wanted green and she loooves that fiber. I personally think it feels creepy as all getup.

Day 39

2010-02-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

After dropping off the kids this morning, I set out to take a photo of this suspension bridge that was built in the 30's. In the spring and summer, I always run or bike by this, as its just off the parkway. I think its breathtaking when its green. I've not seen it in the winter, because frankly, I hate running outside in the winter. But today I took a gander and its a different kind of pretty.

And bonus photos...

A view of the river from the bridge

overexposed

A view of the sky from the bridge....its so sunny and blue today. Very rare.

Playing with exposure.

Day 38

2010-02-17T19:11:00.001-08:00

I took the twinadoes out to dinner tonight to my favorite local coffee joint that serves yummy, healthy food. They totally pigged out. This is them after they cleared their plates (honeydew melon and a huge bowl of baked oatmeal chock full of fruits) and split a cinnamon roll! Oink!!

I only had my iphone, so I apologize for the photo quality. I tried sprucing it up w/ the photoshop app.

Day 37

2010-02-16T12:47:00.001-08:00

This is an homage to what I did on Valentines day this year.

Day 36

2010-02-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

I saw this done with an oreo somewhere and thought it was cool. Doesn't quite have the effect w/o that contrast, but it'll have to do.

Day 32

2010-02-14T20:38:00.000-08:00

Er. Out of order. But I found them all. No missing days. This was Wednesday. Artwork by Norah. While its not a great photo, I thought it was a cool looking owl.

Day 35

2010-02-14T20:33:00.001-08:00

Comfy. That was the topic for the weekend. The first thing that came to mind was my blanket. I knit this blanket and its so thick and soft and comfy. And can always be found on my lap :)

Today I was having issues w/ my kit lens. I will have to take a look at it this week when I have time, but long story short, it wasn't wanting to focus properly. As you can clearly see. Gah.

Day 34

2010-02-14T20:28:00.001-08:00

Its amazing what a little fluid can do to add life to your body.

This first one is my official photo of the day. Nothing special...taken with the coolpix I threw in my purse to document yet another trip to Children's Hospital by one of my children (but for once, said child was not hurt or did not ingest something they should not have).

This other one is for comparison. Taken w/ my iphone. This was right after they got the IV hooked up, before it took effect.

Day 33

2010-02-14T20:24:00.000-08:00

sticky sweet

Day 31

2010-02-14T20:20:00.001-08:00

I can't let days go by between posts. Because I really hope this is day 31 (i do know i didn't miss any days). Its been a long week.

This is "what i see when i sit on my couch...."

Day 30

2010-02-09T12:28:00.001-08:00

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

(as if I really have a choice in the matter?)

Look!!! I got it! I got falling snow! Of course, it was coming down in sheets, but hey...

Day 29

2010-02-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

Rock Star

I know its a washed out photo with a flash, but she's been hilarious lately, dressing up in costumes, pretending to be people. She's very much into 'fancy'.

Day 28

2010-02-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

Cold

If its any indication how cold and drafty my house is, one of our very fat cats always parks himself in front of the heat vent for hours.

Day 27

2010-02-06T06:39:00.000-08:00

We are the champions!

Last year (with Darth Taiter) he took 3rd in the pack, but this year, Aidan won 1st place for his den in the pinewood derby race.

The trophy and winning car (the car is a spin-off of the Milwaukee Brewers, obviously)