a day in the life

May the fourth be with you

Contrary to what the title says, this post is actually not about Star Wars, but as I have never once in my 34 years ever thought that this indeed was "Star Wars Day," even with my super geeky fanatic husband, I thought it was still a perfect title.

So no, this post is not about Star Wars, but yet again about my little sister's beautiful book, Any Day a Beautiful Change.
Last night I got to go to Katherine's book reading, my very first book reading. It was, cool. She was introduced by David Hassler, whom considers himself the reason the book was written as he was responsible for their meeting.  Perhaps a joke, but an inspiration to Katherine to say the least.
Then we got down to the reading.
I stood in the back, quietly snapping photos, and looked at the faces of the listeners. Great big grins at times, only to be traded with eyes welling up with tears at other moments. I shared those grins and tears. When I read it the first time, the second time, the third time, and when I heard my sister read her own words. They are powerful. And helpful. And beautiful.

Questions came next, one from Maj Ragain, her old poetry teacher, whether she was still writing poems. She sheepishly answered, no, they didn't come as often. But later, after a particularly moving chapter, he spoke up and said, "No. You still write poetry."

This book is poetry.

Then came another question from the audience. "Do you feel you have aired out all the cobwebs, or do you think there are still more to come?"

Katherine replied, with perfect comedic timing, "This is my father." Chuckles ensued.

I am so glad she wrote this book. And I know you may get tired of me saying it, but it is my job as the dutiful older sister, to tell you as often as I can, you must read this book. You will love this book. So thank you Ben, the ginger haired boy, for telling Katherine "You should write about us."
I'm so glad she did. And for those of you wondering, and asking "Now it is your turn (to write a book)" I will say, no, I'm just happy standing in the back taking the photos.

Any May a Beautiful Change

Katherine, Elizabeth and I are beginning May in a whole new way this year by writing about a beautiful change in our lives. We are doing this to celebrate the release of Any Day a Beautiful Change. We have also invited many others to share personal stories of beautiful changes in their lives to get you in the memoir-reading mood. If you have a blog, won't you join us? You can link your post here and not only get a chance to celebrate the release of this wonderful book, but you will also be entered to win your very own copy. Won't you join us?

A beautiful change.

I love those words. A beautiful change. I feel like I have had many beautiful changes in my life-saying yes to the ring in the little white box; the moment I found out I was expecting my first child; my second; my third. These are the big moments. The moments filled with fireworks and a swelling orchestra. But any day can be a beautiful change. Not just the giant life changing events. One of my every day beautiful changes is coming. Soon. Actually on June 19th to be exact. I am finally getting an iPhone. Did you just laugh? Roll your eyes? Yes, perhaps that build-up was a bit over-dramatic, but so has my journey to get this little piece of technology. I have waited five years for this phone. Almost five years to the day. It has been a long wait.

So why do I predict this will be a beautiful change? I will take more photos. Yes, I take so many photos already…but not always photos of the every day moments. Checking on the boys to see the boys laughing hysterically at one another in the toy box. A self portrait of Lillian and I while we wait for dance to begin. I won't always have to lug around that big camera. I will start Project Life.

I will tell Siri to remind me to put dinner in the crock pot. Or that we are out of toothpaste, or milk.

I will play Words with Friends when waiting in the doctor's office.

I will entertain my children with spelling apps, Angry Birds, and Scribblenauts.

I realize my frustration over my broken "r" or my spotty reception, or the fact that my phone freezes up at least ten times a day is really inconsequential in the long run…but if you know me, you will know my current mantra "June 19. June 19."

Any day a beautiful change. No matter how small. iCannotwait.

Would you like to read about more beautiful changes? With eloquent and poignant writing? Beautiful stories and hilarious moments? Then you should read Any Day a Beautiful Change by Katherine Willis Pershey. There will be several opportunities to win a copy of Any Day a Beautiful Change; until May 10th you can leave a comment on Elizabeth's blog for a chance to win!

'Twas the night before Christmas

Tonight was pretty wonderful. Pizza Hut for the 32nd? 33rd? time, church where there was a very funny impromptu Christmas pageant complete with Lillian the donkey and Charlie the sheep (BAAAH!) and Lillian singing a wonderful solo of Silent Night (video to come) followed by a speedy return home and quick jammy change for the reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. This remains my favorite thing about Christmas. I love this story. I love that Lillian gets a new version each year so she will have a special collection from her Mama. I love that I get to quietly take pictures, and I even love that Jackson decided he had enough and I sat down, holding him, and got to listen to the rest of the story. I love the anticipation. I love the looks in my children's eyes as they listen. I love that there are three children in this house. (I love that I am not pregnant this year) and I love my family. So very much.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Two Kisses for Maddy

That is what I am reading right now. Have you heard about it? It is about a man who lost his wife, Liz, the day after his daughter was born. I know, I know, it is terribly sad, but for some reason I feel a connection to their story. Liz was a month younger than I. She gave birth to her daughter Madeline on March 24, 2008. I gave birth to Charlie on March 26, 2008. She had a c-section. I had a c-section. She died.

I think the reason why I had to read this, despite the fact that it is just horribly sad, it is a reminder of how lucky I am. To have made it through a very hard surgery and recovery. To have now three beautiful healthy children. That no matter what, you have to go on. For your children.

Now I have followed his blog for almost three years now and I know that he is doing much better. Moving on the best he can. Giving Maddy as many good memories and experiences as he can-traveling tons, meeting lots of new people, and starting a foundation to honor his wife. But I'm sure it is still so hard. And it is so sad. But I will keep reading because somehow, it is also beautiful and hopeful and inspiring. But sad.

'Twas the Night {Before} Christmas

All I kept thinking this year is come next year, there will be three kids sitting on Daddy's lap.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Ten on Tuesday

1. The other day Lily said to us "I'm an artist of MATH!" I love that she loves math. I really hope that continues.
2. Bean has been dancing in my belly lately and all times of the day. Goodness gracious I have a feeling I may have a very active non sleeper on my hands. Mmmmmhhhh.
3. I just started reading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone to Lily. Although we read every night anyway, I find it very interesting that she now has 20 minutes required reading for the "Book-it" program. The very same program I participated in when I was in elementary school. I probably even still have my pin somewhere :)
4. I am very excited about a crop benefiting Juvenile Diabetes I have coming up soon. It will be my third time attending-yup even went the first October we got here when I knew no one.
5. I have really enjoyed my days with Charlie-just me and the boy. That kid makes me laugh every single day.
6. If only that kid would look at me when I tried to take his picture. Seriously. I will be resulting to bribery tomorrow.
7. I am very sorry everyone, I LOVE THE WEATHER lately. It feels divine. :)
8. Sciatic nerves have still been giving me lots of problems, but dare I say slightly better now that I am taking frequent heating pad breaks. Fingers crossed.
9. I have a new favorite show. Sarah's house. Just love her gorgeous country but not overly country style.
10. And that's all...folks.

Ten on...pictures

Well we all know that I kind of missed Ten on Tuesday this week, so I am going to make it up to all of you with ten random pictures I haven't shared...but should have. Oh and I have "fixed" my Typepad double spacing problem. How? I have to SHIFT RETURN to start a new paragraph and not cause everything to double space. That is the fix? Irritating.

1. One trip back to Ohio...forever ago, Lily got to have a playdate with Maya and Julie. Oh she was in heaven-as you can see here. 
2. Charlie and I went on a fun trip to Gettysburg Explore and More Museum. He had a BLAST. He kept saying over and over "I like it! I like it, Mama!" And I think this was actually his first real sentence.
3. Lily suddenly starting posing like this-every single time I took her picture. How cute is she. Unrelated story...Lily was walking up the stairs this morning and fell and got a nasty goose egg on her leg. After the tears stopped she got up to walk. She would take three steps and fall DRAMATICALLY. Again and again. Funny, funny, overly dramatic girl.
4. I had a New Moon party a few weeks ago and yes, I go OVERBOARD. Twilight themed snacks, drinks and decorations. I even had Jane visit the party. But this, this was totally unplanned. I was moving the candle to put some more food on the table and I accidentally dropped the candle and spilled wax all over my hand. After I got over the burning pain, I noticed how perfect my accident was.

(Oh and for the record, I am Team Jacob and had a sign for him too.)
5. Lily had Crazy Hair Day at her school last week and was VERY excited to wear pink in her hair. (And so was her Mama ;)
6. Bj plays guitar around here a lot and now Charlie has started joining him. Ah my little music nerds :)
7. I went on a little photo date with my photographer friend Tina. This is one of my favorites. My boots, Tina's legs.
8. Apparently "tree caterpillars" are very common. And apparently I am amazed in seeing them for the first time. There was a whole mass of them, but as I don't want to gross out any readers who may not want to see a mass of caterpillars, here is just two.
9. I love it that empty laundry basket + books + children related to the Willis sisters = cute children reading in laundry baskets.
10. And because he is SO STINKIN' CUTE, one more of Charlie. At least once, but more like ten times a day Bj and I will comment on the extreme cuteness of Charlie. He is cute in pictures yes, but even cuter when you spend time with him. How he is SO excited when he sees us across a parking lot or when we come home that he giggles this funny little low giggle. How he hangs his head or closes his eyes when he gets shy. How he gives the best hugs. How he is talking in more and more complete sentences like "Binky fell on the floor, Mama!" How he loves books, music, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, but not necessarily the ABC song (yes, SAME) and how he can't WAIT to pick up "Wiwy" at school. OH I love this kid. Even if he isn't the biggest fan of going upstairs for naptime.

What I will do to meet thee Ree.

My friend Adela and I went to Chester County Book and Music Company today to meet Ree Drummond, or as she is more commonly know, The Pioneer Woman. I have been reading Pioneer Woman's blog for a few years now and was tickled pink when I heard she was writing a cookbook. Of course when I heard she was going to be coming within hours of me I jumped at the chance to go. So this morning I got up at 5:30, got ready, and Adela and I were off on our PW adventure. As we were beginning our trip we saw a salt truck. We both thought it was odd as it wasn't snowing, and it wasn't raining. (If only I had stayed up to watch the weather...) So we didn't really think anything of it, but about an hour and a half into the trip started seeing cars driving down the road with their hazards. Then more. Then an accident. Then another. Then another. Then another. By this time I am barely crawling down the road-especially after my brief fish-tail experience. All in all we counted 10 accidents, 11 if you double the accident where a van had actually overturned. It was that bad. We made it to the toll booth and commented on how bad it was and hear that we were probably the last car to come through because a semi had overturned.  We were very, very lucky.

So we got to the bookstore and to our surprise, there weren't thousands of people waiting in line. Huh. Oh well. We got our numbers, claimed our seats in the second row and went to eat brunch. It was 10:30 by that point. The signing started at 2:30. We finished breakfast and went to a few stores where I noticed my eyes were as bloodshot as I have ever seen them. No more contacts for me.

We came back to the bookstore-a few more people, then walked around some more. While looking at a very cool big sibling book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, I got a terribly paper cut in between my thumb and index finger. Ouch.

A few more hours of waiting and then YEA! She was right in front of me! Every single bit as funny as you would think, and dimples for days. She even did her Ethel Merman impersonation. And I asked a question. "When will you be on Oprah?" And I didn't even sound like Minnie Mouse. :) I think my favorite part was her slip-up about thinking she couldn't home-school because she didn't wear...she stopped herself. "I don't want to say it just in case anyone is wearing a denim jumper in the audience."

Adela and I got to be in the third group to be signed (by that time there were a couple hundred people) so we were in quickly. I just asked her to write something witty :)

Suddenly we were done. Just like that. So we were off-attempting to find a scrapbook store (we ended up at someone's house somehow) so we decided to just call it a day and come home. It was a pretty uneventful trip home-Adela kept me occupied with random songs from my ipod. And then, at last, we were home-oh FOG! There was also horrible fog. We got our stuff, got out of the car and said goodbye. Suddenly I hear a "Whoo!" and see Adela flying up in the air. Then, somehow quite quickly and mysteriously, my feet were no longer under me and I was flying up in the air. I slammed my head against my brick house and landed on my bum. And my hand. Hard.

So. Let's recap. Tired back and hands from gripping the steering wheel for the last 1/2 hour of our journey. Paper cut. Sore hand, bruise on bum, and lump size of Mt. Rushmore on head. What I will do to meet thee, Ree. I guarantee I will never forget meeting you... 

Friday five

1. I really need to figure out a balance between blogging and facebook. I feel like facebook is slowly taking over and overpowering my blog lately. I think that needs to change. Poor blog I have neglected you.
2. I have also neglected 365-but not to worry we are up to date and now on page FIVE!
3. I just signed up for three classes over a Big Picture-one was the Milestone Class created and taught by my very own sister, and the other based on one of my favorite Amy Krouse Rosenthal books-Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life taught by Cathy Zielski called Me A-Z. I am SO EXCITED about both of these. And how's that for a super linky sentence?
4. Speaking of scrapbooking, no I didn't make American Crafts...again, but look what I did do! I finally figured out how to use a digi template! Oh. Never mind. I just noticed that somehow there is a 1 2 3 across Lily's face. Now I will have to start all over. Well. I ALMOST figured out how to use a digi template. Bah.
5. I ordered 1 2 3 4 U from Amazon as Charlie needs some new books (read:: I am tired of reading the same books over and over and over and over...) and it is ADORABLE. Lily likes it too!

Happy Friday to you all!

Ten on Tuesday

1. I have yet another headache tonight. I think we are going for five? days in a row?
2. Photoshop just "unexpectedly" closed on me...before I saved my layout. Yes, Shelly, paper never does that to you ;) Not quite the same as when I started, but here it is...
3. I really hope it doesn't rain-AGAIN tomorrow.
4. After hearing "That's not my name" for the 20th time, I finally felt that I HAD to buy the Ting Tings with what was left of my itunes gift card.
5. I love how much Lily loves books. For that matter, I love how much Charlie loves books as when I come into his room he is always reading books in his crib. It makes me very happy.
6. I also love how much they love music. Instantly Charlie starts dancing, Lily starts singing and I start smiling.
7. I just started book #2 of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and already I am hooked. Such good, sweet books.
8. Has everyone I know officially read Twilight now? I know someone who just finished book four who originally thought I was a crazy person for wanting to read "teeny bopper" books. She is TOTALLY eating her words now. ;)
9. Dear Juliette, Is your Mama holding you hostage? Is someone holding her camera hostage? Could you please tell her that although this is your Aunt Marie's favorite picture of you at the moment, I'm sure there are many other cute ones out there and she would REALLY like to see some? Thank you.
love, Aunt Marie
10. Dear Katherine, POST SOME PICTURES. love, your sister.