THIS looks almost exactly like what the kids and I got to see last night. Makes you smile to look at it, doesn't it?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Smiling sky tonight
As I was driving home with the kids tonight, we spied Venus and the Moon in close proximity with no other stars in sight. The little crescent moon looked just like a smiling mouth with Venus as a bright eye right above it. I said the sky was winking at us. Grace said it just looked like it only had one eye, but I pointed out how much nicer it is to think of a wink rather than a missing eye.
I tried to take my own photo, but by the time I figured out the tripod and the camera (somewhat - it is much smarter than I am and I only know how to work it through trial and error) the moon and Venus had drifted too low below my treeline to get a good shot.
So I found this one on Flickr from tonight's sky. Mine would have been better because my sky was black and the two celestial bodies were much closer together, but hopefully you get the idea.
I hope everyone else got to see the sky sharing an inside joke (with a wink and a smile) with you tonight.
I tried to take my own photo, but by the time I figured out the tripod and the camera (somewhat - it is much smarter than I am and I only know how to work it through trial and error) the moon and Venus had drifted too low below my treeline to get a good shot.
So I found this one on Flickr from tonight's sky. Mine would have been better because my sky was black and the two celestial bodies were much closer together, but hopefully you get the idea.
I hope everyone else got to see the sky sharing an inside joke (with a wink and a smile) with you tonight.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Our adventure this past weekend
We decided to take a family adventure and go check out the Jersey shore. Yes, in 30-something weather in January. But we'd never been there and had nothing else to do. It took us about an hour to drive to Point Pleasant, which from what I can tell is a quintessential family-oriented, somewhat cheesy beach. It has an amusement park right next to the beach, a boardwalk with all sorts of shops/arcades/restaurants, cheap motels and pretty rental houses. Most everything was closed down, but it was fun to look around nonetheless.
A shot of the shore. Beautiful dark blue water. Decent sand with batches of small pebbles here and there. We had a gorgeous clear day for our visit.
Jim and the kids. Alex of course was doing some sort of superhero running action.
Kids and I are checking out the rocks. Jeans and parkas and it was STILL damn cold.
A little detail on the top of one of the boardwalk shops.
Cool sign on one of the dismantled amusement park rides.
Somewhat creepy clown on another building.
The next couple of pictures have nothing to do with our trip.
The kids got Bendaroos for Christmas this year, so Grace and Alex were very excited about Bendaroo-land (above) that they created. Pretty much just all the shapes we made put together for Jim to see when he got home.
And this is what Lucy looks like pretty much every night, especially days she gets to go to the dog park. Exhausted dog.
A shot of the shore. Beautiful dark blue water. Decent sand with batches of small pebbles here and there. We had a gorgeous clear day for our visit.
Jim and the kids. Alex of course was doing some sort of superhero running action.
Kids and I are checking out the rocks. Jeans and parkas and it was STILL damn cold.
A little detail on the top of one of the boardwalk shops.
Cool sign on one of the dismantled amusement park rides.
Somewhat creepy clown on another building.The next couple of pictures have nothing to do with our trip.
The kids got Bendaroos for Christmas this year, so Grace and Alex were very excited about Bendaroo-land (above) that they created. Pretty much just all the shapes we made put together for Jim to see when he got home.
And this is what Lucy looks like pretty much every night, especially days she gets to go to the dog park. Exhausted dog.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Hair trigger
Literally.
Alex seemingly has a hair-trigger gag reflex. He gets a hair in his mouth, he spits up. He smells something stinky, he spits up. He sees where the dog has barfed on the floor, he spits up. He sees a small floating piece of dirt/leaf/whatever (I'm not sure what it was), he spits up.
Now to be fair to the boy, he doesn't spit up EVERY time, but definitely more than the average 4-year old.
I got home yesterday from taking Lucy to the dog park, having left Jim playing with the kids. And I hear the story about this exchange while I was gone:
"Look Daddy" (said while pointing to the floor)
"What is it, Alex?"
"I spit up"
"Why did you spit up?"
"Because I saw your tummy. It was hairy. And yucky."
So apparently now the site of my dear husband's hairy belly is enough to set Alex off. Don't know what the boy is going to do when he grows up and gets a hairy belly of his own (maybe not look in any mirrors from the shoulders down?).
Alex seemingly has a hair-trigger gag reflex. He gets a hair in his mouth, he spits up. He smells something stinky, he spits up. He sees where the dog has barfed on the floor, he spits up. He sees a small floating piece of dirt/leaf/whatever (I'm not sure what it was), he spits up.
Now to be fair to the boy, he doesn't spit up EVERY time, but definitely more than the average 4-year old.
I got home yesterday from taking Lucy to the dog park, having left Jim playing with the kids. And I hear the story about this exchange while I was gone:
"Look Daddy" (said while pointing to the floor)
"What is it, Alex?"
"I spit up"
"Why did you spit up?"
"Because I saw your tummy. It was hairy. And yucky."
So apparently now the site of my dear husband's hairy belly is enough to set Alex off. Don't know what the boy is going to do when he grows up and gets a hairy belly of his own (maybe not look in any mirrors from the shoulders down?).
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Two interesting items from today's paper
I have two things I read in today's Sunday paper I found interesting that I'd like to highlight.
First is a story that points out some good to come from the downturn in the housing market (unless you are a builder, I suppose). Here in New Jersey there were a couple of planned suburban developments (exurb developments?) being fought over in the courts. The builders had plans of big housing developments with larger-than-one-acre lots. The residents and environmentalists had plans of keeping some green space out in the country. Many long community meetings and lawsuits ensued, but the economic downturn has put an end to some of these by having the builders willing to give up some of their spec building (with long commutes for homeowners), and prices dropping low enough that townships can purchase the property themselves to keep as preservations. Now before you decry my joy as being bad for the economy and unfair to builders who employ many people, the story says that many of these companies are now looking inward into the cities to redevelop urban areas. Which to me sounds like a much better plan. For New Jersey (or any state for that matter), redeveloping current deteriorated urban areas helps save our beautiful natural resources - once they get paved over we can never get them back.
The second story can be seen here. In a nutshell, there is a church in Atlanta that once a week becomes a sort of spa for the homeless. Christ's washing of his diciples' feet is a Bible story often replicated in churches, but this minister takes it a step further. Homeless folks can come in on Monday afternoons and have pedicures, pumicing, and just pampering for their feet. While you can have a knee jerk reaction of "what a useless thing for a homeless person," keep in mind that the homeless are apparently afflicted at a much higher percentage than the general population with foot problems that can develop into serious health issues. Plus it can be a little boost of self esteem to help these poor people make it another week. Now I don't think I'LL be volunteering for this particular job, I find it wonderful that there are selfless people out there that will do this.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
First is a story that points out some good to come from the downturn in the housing market (unless you are a builder, I suppose). Here in New Jersey there were a couple of planned suburban developments (exurb developments?) being fought over in the courts. The builders had plans of big housing developments with larger-than-one-acre lots. The residents and environmentalists had plans of keeping some green space out in the country. Many long community meetings and lawsuits ensued, but the economic downturn has put an end to some of these by having the builders willing to give up some of their spec building (with long commutes for homeowners), and prices dropping low enough that townships can purchase the property themselves to keep as preservations. Now before you decry my joy as being bad for the economy and unfair to builders who employ many people, the story says that many of these companies are now looking inward into the cities to redevelop urban areas. Which to me sounds like a much better plan. For New Jersey (or any state for that matter), redeveloping current deteriorated urban areas helps save our beautiful natural resources - once they get paved over we can never get them back.
The second story can be seen here. In a nutshell, there is a church in Atlanta that once a week becomes a sort of spa for the homeless. Christ's washing of his diciples' feet is a Bible story often replicated in churches, but this minister takes it a step further. Homeless folks can come in on Monday afternoons and have pedicures, pumicing, and just pampering for their feet. While you can have a knee jerk reaction of "what a useless thing for a homeless person," keep in mind that the homeless are apparently afflicted at a much higher percentage than the general population with foot problems that can develop into serious health issues. Plus it can be a little boost of self esteem to help these poor people make it another week. Now I don't think I'LL be volunteering for this particular job, I find it wonderful that there are selfless people out there that will do this.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Snow
Amid the culture shock of moving 1500 miles from Texas, I've realized that (at least for the time being) I really like the snow. Now, I know I may get comments from those of you more used to living in the northern half of the country than me about how by February I won't be loving it so much, but let's just wait until then. For now, it is just amazing to me to look out the window and see snow on the ground that has been there for the past week. That is one thing that struck me recently - for the few times we actually got snow in Texas (and I'm talking snow, not ice), it never lasted more than a day or so. And by the second day if it had stuck around it was only in patches in the shadows or on the north side of the house. So I'm enjoying this winter wonderland I am currently living in, mainly because I now have a reason to wear my waterproof Timberland shoes and my warm Eddie Bauer parka.
Here's a few wonderful snow pics from a hike in Tamaques Park with the parents earlier this week.
How could you not love hiking in this just down the street from your house?
Before I get accused of being an overly-bundling mother, Alex asked for his scarf to be wrapped up around his mouth.
Alex and Dad.
Alex and Mom.
All three of them.
Can you tell Lucy is looking back, wondering why in the world we are stopping to take pictures where there are many trails up ahead to be sniffed?
Here's a few wonderful snow pics from a hike in Tamaques Park with the parents earlier this week.
How could you not love hiking in this just down the street from your house?
Before I get accused of being an overly-bundling mother, Alex asked for his scarf to be wrapped up around his mouth.
Alex and Dad.
Alex and Mom.
All three of them.
Can you tell Lucy is looking back, wondering why in the world we are stopping to take pictures where there are many trails up ahead to be sniffed?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Old Friends
Lots of memories lately being stirred up with the Facebook account. 20+ year old pictures being posted with lots of fun back and forth comments tacked to them. I'm thinking about them, about the people I saw at the closing of Charlie's Pizza last October (thank you Audra for the pictures), just about old friends of mine in general. And it makes me very happy to realize that there are so many of these people that I can see very infrequently, yet still have wonderful, funny, happy conversations with when we get together. It's a good thing.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
The card reader finally came
So here's just a few more photos.
The kids are trying to keep Lucy from the tiny snowman we made after school on the first day of snow. Hopefully we'll get a bigger snowfall so we can make a bigger snowman. M&Ms were all I could find at a moments notice for the face.
Grace and some of her new friends in class.
Grace and Ms. G
Hard to get a shot of the luminarias in our neighborhood on Christmas Day, but here is a couple that at least attempt it.
And I close with a video of Alex playing with his new Spike the Dinosaur, which Lucy took a while to get used to.
The kids are trying to keep Lucy from the tiny snowman we made after school on the first day of snow. Hopefully we'll get a bigger snowfall so we can make a bigger snowman. M&Ms were all I could find at a moments notice for the face.
Grace and some of her new friends in class.
Grace and Ms. G
Hard to get a shot of the luminarias in our neighborhood on Christmas Day, but here is a couple that at least attempt it.And I close with a video of Alex playing with his new Spike the Dinosaur, which Lucy took a while to get used to.
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