Tuesday, August 26, 2008

my first kindergartener

This was the official first day of Audrey's kindergarten. (Even tho it lasted only about 40 minutes, and we were there the whole time). The classroom was so cute and the teacher was so nice. Aug. 26th. A day that I have looked forward too but dreaded at the same time. Audrey is my first born. She is a ball of sunshine and energy. She is so intelligent and bright...She wants to be a rock star, she loves princesses and sparkly things. She is kind to other people and wants to be friends with EVERYONE she meets. She loves fashion and has been busy all summer making these fashion books...(shown below). She LOVES to draw and color and be creative.


I am one of the millions of mothers sending their first child off to kindergarten. Audrey was more than thrilled to be left at the door of education. I suppose that the inevitable must begin. She will be thrust into the cold dark world of disappointment, and hurt in order for her to grow and progress. That is good right? It is suppose to be.... so I suppose I need to let the desensitization of innocence begin at a place known as KINDERGARTEN!:)
Here she is in line waiting for the bell to ring and the day to begin. She has some friends in her class from church which makes me feel better. I am not going to deny that I did get teary-eyed watching her walk into the classroom and leave us behind.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

my kids' pallettes


Is it weird that all of my kids get excited to eat celery? They love this stuff....it strikes me as an odd kid food favorite...but maybe I am way off.

I DEFINITELY think that it is weird that they would rather eat...
dirt, chalk, & grass......




over homemade tacos....
Something is wrong here....

Monday, August 18, 2008

my project runway marathon


I love this show! My husband and I chose not to succumb to the enticements of cable television in our new home...we have been cable free for 1 year. So far so good. There are only a handful of channels that we miss. Bravo being one of mine, just for the purposes of watching Project Runway. I love the design process, I love the fabulous freaks, and I love the interesting clothes that are created. I would love to make clothes if I didn't hate sewing so much.
My wonderful brother and his lovely wife told us how to watch past and present seasons of this show on youtube. I was so ecstatic! Michael and I watched all of season 4 (about 13 episodes) in 4 days. It was kind of sick...but we loved it. Now we are up to season 5....I cant wait to see what happens:)
On a side note, I was fixing a skirt that I had made for Audrey, Micheal came into the sewing room and asked me what I was doing. I started complaining about how the hem was crooked and I wasn't sure how to make the closures work...and I wasn't sure if I had added to much pattern....etc.
Michael patiently listened to me w/o saying a word, and when I was done complaining he said, "Well, make it work. Carry on..." and then he left the room.
It was one of my favorite moments in our marriage.

Friday, August 15, 2008

my husbands success

Michael worked really hard to bring/organize a national traveling exhibit to our library here. The exhibit is called 'Changing the Face of Medicine'...and you can read about it in the article below...
He also planned an opening banquet and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate it. It was really great! I was really proud of Michael. He did an amazing job and it was very well recieved. I am thankful that my husband works really hard for us and always tries to excel and make things better where he works.

Here is the article:
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/v-print/story/275982.html
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008
Exhibit on women doctors opens today in Kennewick library
By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer
A traveling exhibit about how women doctors have made a difference in American medicine opens today at the Mid-Columbia Library's Kennewick branch on Union Street.
The exhibit consisting of 28 panels and two interactive computer kiosks shows how women first entered a male-dominated medical profession and pioneered changes in the U.S. since 1849.
About a dozen outstanding women physicians are featured in the exhibit, which is being displayed at 61 libraries across America and only two in Washington, said Michael Huff, the library's collections director.
A formal reception for the exhibit is planned at 5:30 p.m. at the library, 1620 S. Union St., with several guest speakers, including Dr. Celestia S. Higano from the University of Washington and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
Huff said the traveling display was created by the National Library of Medicine, the National Institute of Health Office of Research on Women's Health and the American Medical Women's Association.
Sponsors from the Mid-Columbia include AdvancedMed Hanford, Columbia Valley Daybreak Rotary, the Tri-City Herald, Kadlec Medical Center and Friends of Mid-Columbia Libraries.
The exhibit, which runs through Sept. 24, will feature several special events. All events are free and will be at the library.
Films about women in medicine will be shown at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Fridays, Aug. 29 and Sept. 5, 12 and 19.
Three performances by professional actresses depicting the lives of pioneering women in medicine are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sept. 7 about Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, 7 p.m. Sept. 8 about Florence Nightingale and 7 p.m. Sept. 23 for Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell.
Dr. Blackwell was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S., obtained in 1849 at Geneva Medical School in New York.
Nightingale was famous for her work in caring for wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War in 1854.
Dr. Walker was a Civil War doctor who is the only woman to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Huff said a discussion panel featuring women physicians from the Tri-Cities will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 10.
Viewers of the exhibit will learn about women doctors in America who overcame prejudice and gender bias such as Matilda Evans, who founded the first black hospital in Columbia, S.C., in 1901, and Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Native American woman to graduate from medical school and later care for 1,300 Omaha on the reservation in Nebraska where her father was chief.
More recent leaders among women in medicine in America include Helen Taussig, the first woman president of the American Heart Association in 1965, and Antonia Novello who President George H.W. Bush selected as U.S. Surgeon General in 1990, the first woman and first Hispanic to hold that office.

Monday, August 11, 2008

my princess problem

I watched the Disney movie Aladdin the other day with my kids and it got me thinking about all the "princesses". I do love all of the classic Disney movies. They are very entertaining, but I am starting to see some negative, rebellious themes coming from these princesses...Here is my take on a few of them....


Jasmine, so exotic, yet, so sad. Was her life really as terrible as she sulked about in the movie? I got sick of her whining about living in a vast palace, having maids, a caring father, and having food to eat....hmmmm, a roof over your head, food on the table, a loving family....apparently these fundamental needs are not good enough for this princess. It must be hard to find time to be happy when you are so busy living off of other people's accomplishments, wealth and generosity.


Sleeping Beauty, now she broke down in tears when she realized that she was a princess and that she would be reunited with her parents. Oh, yeah, ouch...that is definitely bad news. I wouldn't want to find out about my real birth parents and that I was royalty.

Belle, wasn't happy to be in just a "little town"...she thought people in these small villages were small minded. How judgemental of her. Now, why cant she find happiness and contentment in her everyday life? Those are some of the most precious moments. Why does she need to go on adventures? Perhaps to run away from her own confused, conflicted self.



the little mermaid was so very disobedient to her father & very rebelious. instead of going to her trusted loved ones for help, she chose to risk everything for a man that she saw for MAYBE 1 hour? Talk about selfish. I just really cringe now when I watch the DVD and hear her lies that she tells her father. Whatever happened to honoring our mothers and fathers?




Now, Cinderella is my favorite disney movie. Here she had everything, a home, loving father and it was all taken away from her. And what did she do, she endured. She didnt complain, but she dreamed of a better day. No one to love her except the house rodents. She was respectful to those who were cruel to her...

Maybe it is just me, but I think some of the other princesses could learn a thing or two from Cinderella.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

my den of slack

I have been in such a rut these last couple of weeks, not wanting to do anything, go anywhere, clean anything ...here are a few things that are helping me to overcome my attitude of slack


For some reason, the things that I have planted are growing CRAZY! This makes me feel a sense of accomplishment...even tho some of these plants are completely idiot proof. My sunflowers are so huge, it is funny to me. And Reese's pumpkins have produced several gourds already and they are trying to take over the backyard. My tomatoes are the tallest and wildest I have ever seen. This makes me feel good that I can grow things.
Secondly is 3 wonderful, energetic kids. They always want to play with me and they want to love me. They are all so unique and wonderful in their own way...

Thirdly is sweet Sadie, she makes me feel peaceful. She is such a joy, she carries around 2 baby Doras and a bottle for them. She takes care of them. If anyone gets hurt, she runs over to whoever is crying and hugs and kisses them. She wants to be a peacemaker and she is. She finds little pieces of paper on the carpet and throws them away for me. She wants to help me and she wants to help others. I really want to clone her.

Monday, August 4, 2008

my traveler



Reese woke up this morning, came out to the kitchen and said "Mom, I am going on a journey, can you take my picture..."

I am not sure where he thought he was going, but he was all packed.....
Another funny conversation Reese and I had was about pilots. We drove by an airport and I said, "You should be a pilot, that would be really fun to fly in the sky."
He said, "no, I would rather be the person who passes out the food."
I said, "oh, why?"
He said, "b/c they get to get up and walk all over the plane."
that made sense to me, but for a moment i was a little worried...

Sunday, August 3, 2008

my life savor

Like many of you, I have swimsuit anxiety. On our latest trip, my eyes were opened to a new trend that is quickly (i am sure) catching on....

this look is called the 'wholesome wear' line of swim ware. Why can't these swimming outfits be considered cute? and why can't more people catch on to this comforting new idea of less skin? My eyes have been burned on countless times by barely there "bathing suits". What is the point of wearing a strategically placed washcloth? I for one, would rather have a strategically placed table cloth.
Sure the yards of fabric are cheap looking, sure all that yardage might possibly weigh your body down to the bottom of the pool.
I am going to weigh the pros and con's of this new, cutting edge trend. Is it worth it to sacrifice looking cute (even tho my body is no where near "cute" in a bathing suit) or would I rather bask in all the folds of my layers of fabric, not afraid that any bumps or dimples are showing in weird places, not afraid that something might slip out or even off at the wrong moment. The 'wholesome wear' line, is sounding better and better to me.....

Saturday, August 2, 2008

my cheesy novelty toy



After the chaos that was my life in July, I was at the store and saw this big, blue, bouncy, textured ball. In the past while I was shopping, it seemed I would see this ball and think to myself, "that looks like it would be fun to play with...oh, $7.00?? I am not going to spend that much on something so pointless. "
But, after my stress and anxiety this last month, I decided to splurge on the ball and I forked out 7 bucks. After all...wasn't all my hard work worth a cheesy 7 dollar novelty toy...? By the time I got home with my new toy, I had a different question for myself like, why do I "reward" myself with a cheesy 7 dollar novelty toy? Shouldn't it be more like a day at the spa??? I am so low-maintenance...