A Month of Letters

On September 2011, Mary Robinette Kowal made a move many of us couldn't ever imagine doing. She took a vacation from the internet for an entire month, asking her friends to communicate with her only through letters. She came to the realization that...

When I write back, I find that I slow down and write differently than I do with an email. Email is all about the now. Letters are different, because whatever I write needs to be something that will be relevant a week later to the person to whom I am writing. In some ways it forces me to think about time more because postal mail is slower. “By the time you get this…” It is relaxing. It is intimate. It is both lasting and ephemeral.
How so? I find that I will often read the letters that I receive twice. Once when I get them and again as I write back. So, that makes it more lasting. It is more ephemeral because I don’t have copies of the letters that I write and I am the only one who has copies of the letters that my correspondents write. So, more ephemeral.

Mary's decided to turn February into a Month of Letters, in which she challenges herself and everyone who decides do join to write and send at least a piece of postal mail every day. Here are the rules:

• Mail at least one item through the post every day it runs. Write a postcard, a letter, send a picture, or a cutting from a newspaper, or a fabric swatch.

• Write back to everyone who writes to you. This can count as one of your mailed items.

Since moving so far from the people that I love I have come to appreciate the mail I receive from them in a way I never did when we lived just up the road from each other.  I also am realizing how I have not really told them in a lasting way what they mean to me.  But here is my chance.

Of course, most of you know I am an Employee Assistant Program Consultant for the USPS.  They provide such a service that many times goes unnoticed or unappreciated.   And the USPS needs our help.  Here is chance number two.

Are you up to Mary's challenge? If you'd like to hear from me click on my "contact me" link on the side bar to send my your address.

Now grab your stationery and stamps and start writing!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Christmas of 2012 we dreamed of a white Christmas.
No traveling hundreds of miles to celebrate with family...(wiping a tear away as she types).
We stayed home because of this... 

 

Our kitchen renovation finally began on December 10th.  That's a whole 'nother blog post or two or five.  Suffice it to say we needed to stay close to home.  Stuff had to be attended to.

But before the renovation started a couple of other great Christmas joys occurred.  I'm sure you are dying to know what those are, right?  Well, of course there was the Clinton Christmas Parade.

 

And this year, Anna was in the parade with Dance South where she takes gymnastic lessons.

 

And the second joy is seeing dear friends.  My and Patrick's college friends gathered for the 25th year in a row to celebrate "Friends' Christmas". Twenty five years does not seem possible.  I am still a Spring Chicken...in some circles.  Here we are posing...we love to pose.

Strike a pose...

 

We rented a cabin in Brown County.  The same one we rented for year 20.  Not much has changed except we are a tad more creakier and a bit wrinkly.  Except for me...I am still a Spring Chicken. 

Sadly, Patrick didn't join us.  Logistics were not on his side and he was gracious to be Daddy to the kids while I got to laugh at the same jokes, dance to the same tunes and kiss on the same people. So I knew that he had to be included.  That's when I remembered Flat Stanley.  I needed a Flat Patrick. He was coming to Friends' Christmas!

Now if you look closely in the pictures above he is in every one of them.  In fact he was all over Nashville.  That guy really gets around.  Baby Jesus never looked better.  If you want to see the "Flat Patrick Series head on over to my Flickr account.

 

When I got back home we decorated the tree.  Just by looking at the beautiful Christmas tree you'd think decorating was a blessed memorable event.  Memorable... yes.  Blessed...no. Nothing says Merry Christmas like fighting kids and a screaming mom.  Next year I'll decorate the tree with a spiked mug of hot cocoa with Ollie gazing at the lights and my favorite Christmas tunes playing in the background...ahhhh.

 

Winter break in Clinton is not complete with trips to Sonic.  Especially when our Pittsburgh friends come to visit.  I'm sure Martha is jealous about right now.

 

The yearly gingerbread house was made and eaten.

 

And then finally Santa arrived...

 

This was Gavin's first year of being in on the magic.  I'm pretty sure there was some grieving going on in that stinky middle school boy's heart.  But he didn't let the "cat out of the bag" for Anna.  That was our little Christmas miracle.

Christmas morning was full of joy...

 

There was Christmas Ball Frenzy thanks to Gramma Cece.

 

And how do you ring in 2013 when you have no kitchen to cook in?  Fondue, of course.

 

It was a sweet quiet holiday season.  Next year you all are invited to come spend Christmas with us.

Could it be the last?

We have a middle schooler.
Dressing in costume to get candy from strangers is no longer acceptable behavior.
But he wanted copious amounts of candy.
So what does any self-respecting middle schooler do?
Well, you wear a costume that only a middle school gamer would love.

Can anyone guess who or what he is?
[crickets chirping]
Well, my uninformed friends and family, he is a Minecraft creeper.
Because I am such a cheapskate I scoured the internet for a like minded mother who blogs and found one.  Mama Needs a Hobby set me up.  That, a free cardboard box and a coworker with an awesome color printer and my middle schooler was ready to pillage the neighborhood.

My second grader had grander plans.
And I loved them.
We had found an gnome costume for Mr. Ollie Wienerkins.  Oh the universal shame for dogs on Halloween.  But we gloriously joined in the night of shame and dressed our dachshund like a gnome.  Anna decided he was Gnomeo to her Juliet.

So I was in charge of making her look like Juliet.  And, to be quite honest, because I am not full of vim and vigor these days, it didn't take too long to put it all together.  Here's the whole gang on Halloween night.



This years Halloween Party brought lots of little ones with their 'rents.  We kept it low key this time and I didn't go crazy on cooking and baking.  Gotta love warehouse shopping in situations such as this.  Plus friends who bring yummy food to share.

Here is my one easy but fun thing I did for food this year thanks to my obsession with Pinterest:



After all, who can resist jack-o-lantern vomit?

That and fake mustaches and you've got yourself a party!
I came across stick-on mustaches somewhere before the party and snatched 'em up! (I love the verb "snatch"...hmmm, but I digress).  And just as I thought, they were a hit at the party.  I love that a picture can tell it better than me.

There were all sorts of secret personalities that came out at the party that night!  Loved it!!

Before all the trick or treaters ran off to pillage we gathered them around the Magnolia tree for the traditonal Halloween picture.


The gaggle of goblins did not disappoint.

And while we out trick or treating we were serenaded by a mad accordianist.

Note: his mustache is real.

We all had a great time and I'm sure next year we'll do it again.  But maybe the creeper will stay home and hand out candy. Who knows...maybe he has another Halloween in him...we can hope.

Until then, here's hoping your Jack-O-Laterns light up the night so you can find your way home.

Breaking News: American Girls Take Over Clinton

Warning: some photographs in this post may contain content that is too graphic for those suffering from PEDIOPHOBIA.

You have been warned. 

Saturday, June 16, 2012...just like any Saturday in June it seemed,  until seven girls and nine American Girl Dolls descended on the Maple Street house.  The ruse was a certain seven year old girl's birthday party.  But really they were intent on taking over the world...starting with Clinton, South Carolina.



This photo confirms what some of us have thought all along.  The American Girl Company is poised to take over the world.

But first the ruse.

It's not every day a girl turns seven. 
Anna requested an American Girl Party about 7 days before the actual party day. 
Super mom to the rescue.

There were the decorations:







And the goodie bags:


...complete with a cool rock star vest for each doll made from the material seen in the picture.  You can find this no sew tutorial at Free Sewing Patterns for American Girl Dolls.

And the cake:


Since when does a "7" look like an upside down "L"?  The answer...when an inexperienced cake decorator, aka me, does the cake.  I was hoping it would look like this except two tiered with the damask pattern:

But as you can plainly see I deserve to be featured in Cake Wrecks with what actually came to be.  But, hey, it was for a bunch of kids who really thought it was pretty.  That counts for something, right?

Finally the activities:


Here are the crafty materials used to make birthday crown for the dolls


And Anna making a template. If you scroll up you can see all the dolls with their finished crowns. Scary, I know. 
Notice the fabulous no sew rock star vest on Anna's doll.
La-Dee-Dah.

We also made matching bracelets for the dolls and girls from patterned duck tape.

The Menu:

The guests and birthday girl were served easy things for Super Mom to prepare.

• Pink Lemonade
• Bagel bites mini pizzas
• Chips
• Fruit Kabobs
• Not so fabulous red velvet cake and ice cream.

They ate it all up!



Presents were opened:



And the dolls were once again brought under our control...phew, we save Clinton and possibly the world from imminent destruction.



This breaking news has been brought to you by "I'll Tell You Later, Betty", your source for all news that is worth reading about...if you happen to be a fan.

Auld Lang Syne 2011

I've been a bad blogger in 2011.
Very Spotty.
If I may be frank, dear readers (those of you who have stuck around), I do not multi-task very well. I'd like to think that I do. Heavy sigh. But I don't. What I do well is hyper-focus. Let's give a shout out to Attention Deficit Disorder!

So here I am trying to give you a Reader's Digest version of the past year or so. And with my homage to RD it will also be sanitized to avoid dwelling on those parts of 2011 where I or others were not performing at our best. Ugly bits will be left out on purpose. Whining is not an attractive quality. So fasten your seat belts.

Here we go...

In August Gavin entered 5th grade and Anna became a first grader. They both are having a stellar academic year.


Gavin-10 years old
First Day of 5th Grade


Anna Mae-6 years old
First Day of 1st Grade

In September our artist in residence created a treasured birthday card. She truly gives my heart wings.



In October the holiday season commenced with our annual Halloween Party. It kinda surprised me...



But we managed to throw a good "pre-kicker" to Trick or Treating.




Because if you have enough vampire teeth, any party can be a success. Just ask these adorable party goers...


Love, love, love, the owl in perched on her hat.


Gavin and his crew made quite the statement


Anna and her bff, Rachel.

For one Halloween party, Anna went dressed as a Mexican Sugar Skull. Did I mention I love Halloween?



In November we adopted a geriatric dachshund. He's somewhere between the age of 6 and 10 according to the vet. The kids are in love. He's growing on the adults. Anna and Gavin named him Mr. Ollie Wienerkins but to friends and family he's just Ollie.



We traveled to Indiana to be with family on Thanksgiving. This is what traveling in the car for nine hours will do to you.




Thanksgiving day we were with the Kileys. And this pretty much sums up what we did all Thanksgiving Holiday. If only someone were to feed me...and I looked so cute doing it. But currently, sweet Miren has the corner on cuteness.


The Kiley clan's Thanksgiving Feast


Aunt Shannon gave early Christmas gifts to the girls. But the best gift from her was the day before...


I tell you, there was no happier girl in the state of Indiana that day.


The cousins stood still just long enough for me to prove they were all together

Mostly this is what they looked like...


Then it was on to the Gallagher's for Feast #2.

Shenanigans ensued...


And bites of dessert were sneaked...



Great Aunt Libby told the best "knock knock" jokes.


And handsome Phillip and his momma, Aunt Cindy (along with all the other kids) laughed at 'em all.

It was a beautiful autumn full of family, laughter, and life.


Then Christmas sneaked up on us...

There was a Clinton Elementary PTO Winter Wonderland Dance. Pulled off fabulously by fantastic volunteers! Think "controlled chaos". Then the next weekend I had the pleasure of flying to the Windy City to celebrate Christmas with dear old friends from college. Much drinking and inappropriate behavior occurred...and laughter, lots and lots of laughter. So good for the soul, old friends laughing together about the same things they have laughed about for 24 years.

Because nothing says Christmas like anti-diarrheal medicine.

Then came the annual Clinton Christmas Parade...

I'm not sure what they were going for here. Marie Antoinette would be horrified.

And we made what I think will be Gavin's final visit to Santa.

If he's a good big brother it won't be Anna's last.

Christmas arrived.

Santa didn't disappoint.

And we had ourselves a 21st Century Christmas Morning. No eyes were shot out this year. Well, there's always next year.

Then the kids and I packed up and headed to Indiana.


We were given a white Christmas. Sweet gift, Mother Nature. Thank you, dear.

And here we are, 15 days into the new year.
Once again playing catch up with myself. But I wish you all great and wonderful things for 2012.
May you find joy in small things and laugh often.