a day in the life

On the 8th day {Before} Christmas

This year I was excited to find a set of five little gingerbread houses-that means each of us would get one to decorate...well. I know that I am a pretty good singer. I have spent many years training, practicing, and performing. I know I take some pretty good photos. I have spent many years reading, learning, and practicing. I am comfortable enough to say, I do not believe I will EVER be good at gingerbread houses.
They are falling apart. No gingerbread man would want to live in them. They look nothing like the picture. But we had fun making them again. Kids took control and did their own house (well Jack crawled around) and although they may not be "pretty," we had fun. Another holiday memory in the books :) For the record, Lillian's is the front right, Charlie's is the middle back, I did the right and left back and Daddy did the front left.

Yet another Flash Mob

Why share this?
1. Because no matter what, flash mobs always make me teary.
2. Because they used the Glee Soundtrack.
3. Because my Dad shared the link with me (shhhhhhh don't tell him I read a forward)
4. Because it's OHIO STATE! And now everyone can see how cool OHIO STATE is (Adela-yes, shout out #2)

Ten on Tuesday

1. It has come to the point in the summer when I am done with the crazy heat and I just want to wear jeans and light sweaters and well, not sweat to death walking to the mailbox. Is it that time for you?
2. I am scrapping with Tina tonight-you know what that means, digi! I hope that she can teach me how to get rid of the number boogers coming out of Lily's nose. And yes Katherine I laughed OUT LOUD when I read that.
3. Anyone out there have a biter/hitter/pincher? Any advice? I'm not so happy to see this coming out of my sweet baby boy. So far I have tried "gentle, gentle;" "NO!" and yes, even the trouble chair.
4.Tina is now here and look what I did!  

No number boogers! And yes, it is slightly different, but I like it anyway :)

5. I also worked on a project for Elizabeth's FREE class over at Big Picture. I am doing a mini book with one side being all of our guests this summer and the other side being fun things we have done. So far I have two pages done. (I still can't believe how sick I was)

6. I got an itunes gift card for my birthday and really can't decide what to get. Any suggestions to make my decision near impossible?

7. And suddenly Typepad is double spacing. AND did anyone else try updating their "post to facebook" option? Seriously I love Typepad, but good heavens, test things before you release it-good thing they are quick responding to tickets...

8. Today I was at Target and a woman was in the electonics section playing "Heart & Soul." As my students will remember, that song was banned from my classroom when I was teaching as it is my personal goal to wipe that song from the music world. And it has been in my head All. Day. Long. (As I am sure it is now in yours.) I think when I go back to teach I will affix some plexiglass to my classroom piano with some easy song for the students to practice when they sit down at the piano. ANYTHING but Heart & Soul.

9. My computer is running slow as molasses. I have a lot of work to do to make some space on this baby.

10. There will soon be some exciting things happening with A Day in the Life Photography so check back next week! There may even be prizes involved!

A teeny tiny update

My oh my has my blog gotten stale. Not that twenty million things have not been happening, I just can't seem to get it together to tell anyone about them. But here is just a teeny tiny update of what I have been up to...
(seconds after, photo by Jess Wise)

Job #237

That I would never do.

Anatomy of an internet laugh

I find it interesting how people "laugh" on the internet. And how to express that laugh in words. Let's examine a few
1. "Tee hee." A giggle.
2. "LOL" An abbreviation for laugh out loud. For some reason I REFUSE to use this. I really will type out "I laughed out loud at ___________." I have no idea why.
3. "Ha." With the lower case "a" and a period, you could probably read some sarcasm in this laugh.
3. "Bwhahahahahahahahahah." Something strikes you to be VERY funny and it may take you by surprise. If you had liquid in your mouth you would be calling Apple for a new keyboard. 
4. "Heh heh." Creepy old man laugh that should not be used, yet, still is even though she has been informed that it is a creepy old man laugh. "Ha."
5. "Hee hee." Another form of a giggle
6. "ROTFL" This is the kind of laugh that may bring your husband into the room as you were just laughing so hard you sound like you are sobbing. Hard. When he gets into the room and you are still laughing he shakes his head and wonders what crazy person he married.
7. "ROTFLMAO" See #6 and add tears. And possibly some leg slapping. And Mama don't try to figure this one out please.
8. "I chuckled myself." When writing a comment that makes you laugh harder than whatever made you laugh in the first place you have "chuckled yourself." This can also be used in real life, however it is generally difficult to explain because you are laughing so hard you cannot speak thus are kind of having a private joke with just yourself. Then when you try to explain it normally turns out to be not quite as funny. Although watching a person laugh hysterically with...themselves can on its own be very funny, so the person you are trying to explain the joke to is normally laughing as well.

What have you laughed at lately and how did you do it?
And since a post is boring without a picture, here is Lily laughing in excitement at seeing all the geese and ducks at the park today.

T-r-o-u-b-l-e

Yeah, we've got trouble. It starts with T and it rhymes with C and that stands for CHARLIE. I have a story for you, but first we are going to take a little trip down memory lane. Think back to September 2007 to when Lily did this... Lets just first note
a.) She is SO LITTLE!
b.) Her pj's don't match
c.) I was pregnant with Charlie when this photo was taken.
d.) She is in fact, sitting in the sink.
I got such a kick out of this photo at the time that I made a layout about it. Could I have used more letters?? Anyway, I ran upstairs while Charlie was ahem trapped in the playroom (we have a gate because we will never be able to do ANYTHING if he didn't get trapped every once in a while) and when I came back I found this. I have no idea how he managed this, but seriously? To say this kid keeps us on our toes is a serious understatement. Good grief, Charlie Tuna.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Lily played hide and seek with Jafar, Aladin, and Aboo this morning. That must have been one tough game to win...
2. I have officially won the family March Madness poll. Still waiting for the defeat admission from Matt :)
3. I still LOVE my haircut-especially since I didn't do anything to it yesterday and it still looked good.
4. HOWEVER, I once again have about the craziest morning hair ever. This morning I was sporting a serious mohawk.
5. I haven't found a pattern for the colored pencil holder that I want to make that isn't horribly complicated so I think I am going to wing it.
6. I am slowly but surely editing my Cherry Blossom photos-here is another one (before we left.) Just a few comments about this picture...1. Neither the stripy tights nor the pink shirts were planned. 2. Yes, Lily is very cute. 3. But isn't Gracie about the cutest thing ever. I just love her personality-we are middle child kindred spirits :)
7. Here's another picture which I had to brighten so stinking much. Not quite sure why, but all of my pictures were super dark the other day-yes it was gloomy, but I didn't really feel like I should be all the way up at 800 ISO. Anyone else ever have this problem? 8. I am in some serious need of some new flip flops. I kind of like these but I'm not sure if I like the name of them on the strap. Anyone have any suggestions of something along these lines?
9. It is coldy coldy outside today.
10. I have some MAJOR photo editing to do so I must go...

Our cool park and some other fun things

We have some pretty cool parks around here-this one complete with a very, very cool train.
And COWS! Ok, so there not exactly at the park, but there is a huge farm right next to it and boy were all the cows cool.

In unrelated cow news, I made Lily an apron last night. Just don't look at it too closely. Trust me I will not be starring on Project Runway any time soon.

And finally, just some exciting news. In select marked boxes of Cheerios you could win a Discover Card giftcard with $5, $10, or $25 on it. Guess who won $25 tonight!!!! WHOOO HOOOO.

Happy Birthday George Washington

I will miss celebrating your birthday with a cherry pie this year.

Oh and be sure to read (or re-read...again) about selling girl scout cookies to dead people. I know Elizabeth would especially appreciate me pointing everyone to that picture again :)