tree hunting

I couldn't have asked for a lovelier day (clear, blue sky and warm) to drive up toward Mt. Hood (or, Mountain Hood, as Mia calls it) and pick out a Christmas tree from the same family we have been visiting there for years. I also couldn't have asked for less cooperative children when it came to standing still and maybe, possibly considering a smile, and certainly not while both in the same photo, oh, no. Even with a lack of documented proof, it was a lovely outing. Decorating went pretty well also and I was particularly happy to find that Henry is much less of an ornament clumper this year.

like a glove

On Thanksgiving at my parents', I asked Henry to put his hand in my clay handprint from kindergarten. It looked really small to me but his hand fit perfectly. I didn't think he would even humor me by trying but he was really excited and more than happy to take a picture. I suppose I should work on making a handprint for him about now as well.

hardly worthwhile

This is at least the 4th time this month that I have gone to bed and remembered the blog commitment a few minutes later. Each time I think I won't bother to get up and then I do. Particularly given that is is day 27, I can hardly give up now. And, in each case I have nothing much to say. I have already committed to bed and sleep so this is another half-assed post that technically means I have posted yet another day but nothing more than that.

happy thanksgiving!

We just got back from my parents' house after a good dinner and some hanging around. The kids are still there, which makes it nice and quiet and easy here. I am definitely thankful for that. We asked the kids what they are thankful for and this morning Henry repeated something we had read in a book about being thankful to bees for honey and trees for apples but when I asked at dinner tonight what his favorite thing is lately he said with a straight face and not an ounce of sarcasm, "for a wonderful mother like you." If he were a year older or maybe a different kid it could have been a completely canned response that he thought we expected but it wasn't and I loved it. Mia would like the world to know that she is thankful for pumpkin pie. Fair enough. I am focusing on how easy my life really is and how surrounded I am by funny, thoughtful and sweet people. For that I am very thankful.

easy

Trashed kitchen, not to mention the rest of the house, but at least I have a lovely looking pumpkin cheesecake cooling in the oven. Tomorrow will be low key with my parents after a (hopefully) easy morning here. Keeping the expectations low at this point seems to be a good idea. So, a little trash tv instead of cleaning and I'm off to bed. That's all for now.

not the muppet

Laying in bed with Henry tonight, he turns over and settles in. We often have little chats or clarifications on the day at this point, mostly fairly banal but some nights confounding.

H: Don't you just love St. Elmo's Fire?
Me: (stifling a laugh and a wtf?) Um, I'm not sure what you are talking about. Let's go to sleep.
H: You know, the song.
Me: (digging way back into my memory banks and coming up with some vague John Hughes' references and nothing more. also wondering who has played this for him. dad or nanny being the only two possibilities.) Right. I guess.
H: Why is it called St. Elmo's Fire? Was there a person St. Elmo's Fire?
Me: Yeah, probably a long time ago.
H: He's probably the one who discovered Elmo.
Me: (really stifling a laugh) That's a different Elmo.
H: Why is there another Elmo?

Things tapered of from there fairly uneventfully and he was asleep in a few minutes. Ah, the little moments I don't want to forget. I particularly like this idea of Elmo being discovered, plucked from obscurity and rising to super stardom. Also, I haven't dug up the song yet, which I suspect I will find on Jason's itunes, but I did look up the reference and it will give us something good to discuss tomorrow. Thank God for the internet.

ug

I spent the whole day in bed. It was clean and quiet and I spent the day alone. Sadly it was completely wasted with nausea, pain and vomiting. I think it's over now but it's unbelievable how we just seem to be jumping from one unpleasant interruption to another.