Have a SMOKIN' Halloween

Hall of Flames

Thanks to our friends, the Cummings, we learned about the Hall of Flames Fireman Museum and their open house today. We made it over to the museum with just an hour left of the open house and just enough time to catch a ride on an actual fire truck and take a look at some historic engines. Emerson was his usual awestruck amongst the trucks and memoriabilia. A great, albiet quick, excursion for a Saturday.

Fall Festival

After a leisurely day at the spa, the family headed out to Emerson's school for the annual Fall Festival, Boo-Attitudes. Emerson had a fantastic time fighgting fires with fellow classmate Evan...

Enjoying the company of a lovely lady (miss Anna)...

Getting some help from handyman Bob (friend David)...

And catching up with scary skeleton (and new neighbor, Jason)...

Walks Among the Stars...

...relax amid the desert.

Today, my mom and I had the treat of spending the day at the spa (a gift from T for Mother's day that we took too long to redeem). Lounging in the sun underneath this Lakota woman, Walks Among the Stars, displaying her heirloom quilt was just what we needed after enduring a rather stress-filled fall. The massages and desert rain loofah treatments weren't so bad either.

Celebration

Another year gone by and I continue to be surrounded (literally and geographically) by good people. The day was perfect - with a lot of twists and turns: lunch with a dear friend and her baby and baby on the way; Bunco with the girls (where we don't get enough of us to play but we don't even notice because we have so much fun gabbing); dinner with the usual suspects; and divine homemade carrot cake cupcakes with a double layer of cream cheese frosting.

It was perfect.

Good Things

**Some family time Sunday afternoon at the Train park. While I miss my mega-camera, my little PowerShot captured some nice afternoon light and my two nice guys.

**Our living room furniture arrived and we found some barstools that work. The house, despite the flooring issue, is starting to feel more like a home.

**I took Emerson over to the park across the street from our neighborhood and ran into a friend I haven't seen in years. It was instant recognition in that, "Aren't you Lara?" "Aren't you Julie?" kinda way. Her 2 year old and my 3.5 year old said nary a word to one another while we mommies chatted things up, but of course they did the obligatory hug when we all departed. It's so sweet to see little kids and their willing affections.

**A bubble bath, a great magazine and my iPod set to a mellow mix. A perfect way to wind down after a busy weekend.

Books Books Books - A Meme

I found this surfing the net and finding a new blog that I like Katie's Books & Baubles.

What are you reading right now?
Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield for my book club.

Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that?
Actually, I don't!

What magazines do you have in your bathroom right now?
None in the bathroom, but my nightstand holds Real Simple, News Week and Working Mother magazines.

What’s the worst thing you were ever forced to read?
Moby Dick.

What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone? The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter or Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Admit it, the librarians at your library know you on a first name basis, don’t they?
Nope, I am an avid buyer.

Is there a book you absolutely love, but for some reason, people never think it sounds interesting, or maybe they read it and don’t like it at all?
The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken

Do you read books while you do other things?
Only if it happens to be one of those glorious times when I have the luxury of reading and dozing and reading and dozing. But as the mother of an almost four year old, those times are rare.

When you were little, did other children tease you about your reading habits?
No, my friends also read. I remember saving a seat on the bus for my friend Barbara and we would each read our books on the way to and from school. Sometimes we would talk about what we read. We were 13 and I guess that was my first book club.

What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down?
Probably Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love.

If you are a fellow reader, and you haven't done this one yet, then tag, you're it!

Progress

Emerson had his most recent modified barium swallow study on Oct. 2. We learned that he was sitting pretty comfortable with no decline in ability, but no improvement either. It was because of this, that our Speech Therapist Pamela recommended we challenge him a little bit - oh so catiously - by upping his thickened liquid by two ounces a day in the form of anything other than his formula (aka Kiddie Milk).

The rationale for this is that if we can give him an additional two ounces a day, every day for a month with no adverse side affects, then in November we can add another two ounces per day. With each ounce of thickened beverage that he consumes orally, we can then remove an ounce that he gets via the tube. In a completely perfect world, one could reason that if we could get him, albeit slowly, to consume all of his liquid in a thickened state - with no issues - then we could remove the tube. It's certainly something to work toward.

So last weekend we tried some organic, low sugar juice. Tonight, for the first time ever, Emerson had Grape Kool-Aid. Just two ounces, and he thought it was perfect. "That tastes really good, Mommy."

This is also the first night he agreed to reinstate the toilet for his more complicated waste removal.

Progress, no matter what form it takes, is progress.

Gratitude

Our lives have been eventful as of late; in both positive and not so positive ways. But one ray of light was this fall bouquet and card delivered anonymously and not signed. There was also a balloon and pumpkin pail which Emerson will use for trick or treating. Anyway... I had my hunch, but when shared my prediction was proven wrong. So rather than wrack my brain to figure out who did such a nice thing for us, I am just going to enjoy it.

Thank you whoever you are. Wherever you are.

Things I Miss Most About My Car

I never really thought of me as a real car person. But now that my beloved Highlander is damaged goods sitting at the tow lot awaiting an evaluation...AND...while I am driving a not so beloved Dodge Nitro...I am compelled to make a list of the biggest misses I have for my dear car.

1. Steering Wheel Radio Controls. Despite the sense of luxury, they really are safer than leaning and reaching for the dial. Really.

2. Auto running lights. Every night since having the rental car, T has had to remind me to turn my lights on. I am a hazard waiting to happen.

3. My comfy seats and smooth car-like ride. The Nitro is a bit lacking here being as boxy and stiff as it is.

4. My Sarah Bareilles CD and Emerson's We Are the Dinosaurs - Whaddya Think of That? CD. Thank goodness for iTunes and the ability to reburn cds.

5. My Oprah and Friends XM Channel 156 radio. This is probably the biggest adjustment. Her friends are my friends. They talk about everything I want to talk about. And now it's like they have left for summer vacation and we can't catch up until Fall.

Whirlwind

There's a reason I haven't posted in a month. And that's the whirlwind we have been experiencing over the last 30 days. In these days, T and I have entered our busiest seasons at work, have purchased a home, moved, uncovered a pretty significant flooring problem in our new haven, adjusted to new and mainly better commutes,and not necessarily new and better neighbors, survived a car accident this weekend (me and Emerson) and have lived without any real living room furniture (cozying up to the season opener of The Office on some collapsable camp chairs) - until purchasing some today.

I guess it wouldn't be life if it weren't for the highs and the lows (and the sometimes string of highs and the one-right-after-another-can-someone-give-us-a-break-lows). And there's no better chance for perspective than something horrific like an accident. The universe is telling all of us to slow down and thankfully, oh so thankfully, sparing us this time.

So, as we wrestle with insurance and floor repairs, I am reminded how grateful I am for what I do have - healthy family and friends (some near, some far), a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, and laughter. A lot of laughter.

Birthday Fun

Today we got to take in all the joy and mess of a baby's first birthday. The family celebrated our good friend Will's first along with his proud parents Ali and Dave. Emerson had fun exploring with Will and eating cupcakes too!







Happy Birthday - not so baby anymore - Will!

At 35, I am old

Tonight I am in the check out lane at Old Navy and my cashier appears to be about 22 years old. As I approach with my items for purchase, I notice that he (Chris) is wearing a Snow Patrol t-shirt. As he's ringing things up I say, "Oh, did you go to the Snow Patrol concert?"

He happily replies, "Yes, I did."

"Wasn't it a great concert? They are one of my new favorites," I say.

"Yes, the are really cool and [as he looks right at me] have a real cross-generational appeal."

"Are you saying I am old?" I remark.

"Well, uh, [blushing], I mean...." Chris stammers.

"I'm just giving you a hard time, Chris. I am older than you," I say as cheerfully as I can muster.

It's official. I am now the age that I couldn't ever imagine becoming when I was young and carefree like Chris.

When Toddlers and Scissors Mix

After a lengthy discussion, Emerson now knows the correct answers to the following questions:

1. Who cuts your hair? Miss Alice.

2. Who doesn't cut your hair? Not me!

Big Things

Lotsa big stuff going on in our little corner of the universe...

1. We bought a new house. It's got everything we could want and more. We close on September 21 and can't wait to start calling it home sweet home.

2. Emerson started going poopy on the toilet at home. All he needs is a little privacy (and sometimes some books) and he seems to have it.

3. I have been reading more now than ever and it feels really good.

4. We went to a movie...The Bourne Ultimatum...and loved it.

5. I finished up my postcards for Karen's postcard project. A picture and more on this shortly.

We've Gone All Simpson on Ya!

And you can too! Everyone's doing it...from my colleagues to my friends to my colleague-friends!

Create your own Simpson likeness here.

I HEART the World Wide Web

For all the obvious reasons, of course. But for these two very unique ones:

1. The Kind Journal Project.

Over a year ago, I stumbled across a great blog managed by Karen. She's an amazing woman, with an energy that permeates through cyberspace. She's just good people. She's the reason for my Kind Journal tag on my blog--she focuses on the good of things, the good of people, the good of everything.

Well, after being a regular lurker and sometimes poster to her site, she put out a proposal. This idea of hers was to seek interest in her online community of friends to create a Kind Journal. If you signed up for the project, you would be willing to receive the journal at a given point in the process and would contribute one page to it -- whatever you wanted, so long as it was positive and promotes kindness.

How freaking cool is that? So cool and so different, that I signed up.

Well, sure enough the schedule was published and I am second on the list to receive out of 40+ participants. Almost any time in my life (except during the annual holiday gift swap) have I wanted to be picked first or at least in the top 3. This was not one of those times.

My creative insecurity flared up. I wanted the luxury of seeing at least 10 people go before me as a form of inspiration. I hemmed and hawed and flitted and fretted and before I knew it, the Journal was in my hands. As I debated, I took some time out and visited a friend's blog and was immediately inspired and I promptly stole the content from her site (giving credit where credit was ultimately due).

The quote I found resonated with me and was the exact definition of a friendship we all deserve and one I am so fortunate to have in a few dear people. Here is my page (and here's where you can see the Kind Journal as it progresses).



2. The Geniusly Talented Irisz.

Where else other than the WWW could a gal in Arizona stumble across this way cool site, to read an interview by the author of this way cool book and find this super sweet illustration that inspired me so much I had to know who made it. By clicking on the picture of the sweet girl in the rain. I was directed to the site of the woman who created it and she is an illustrator and she lives in Budapest and she does illustrations for a living. And yes, she will make some of Emerson. And, boy did she!

For those that know my sweet child, his mop top hair and crazy cowlick, his love of reading and animals and books and cars and swimming will see that she captured his spirit and has immortalized this little dreamboat at the tender age of 3 and a half.







It's not enough for me to shamelessly brag about how cute I think my son is, but how great she is too. See Irisz's amazing works of art.

Sweet Treat Midweek

Last night Cynthia and I partook in a sweet treat - seeing Snow Patrol perform. It was a pretty good concert and a great venue (not a bad seat in the house and the acoustics are good.)

Better yet, no traffic, parking or walking drama there or back. Amazing, indeed.

If you haven't checked out Snow Patrol, what the heck are you wating for?

Here's their best album, followed by this this close second.

Good Things

KIDDO: Every day on the way home from school, I ask Emerson how his day was. Last week for the first time ever... after he told me about his day, he says, "Mommy? How was your work?" I gushed of course and looked back at him telling him how sweet he was to ask only to have him thrust his finger at me and say, "Look, mommy! I got a booger!"

GADGETS: I got a cool new phone, a Palm Treo! iPhone, shmiPhone. I will wait until a second release...

KIDDO, PT 2: One of my favorite parts of a Saturday is putting Em down for his nap only to hear him reading books. He gets most of the stories right from the sheer fact that we have read most of them 19 million times; but, it's also great to hear him switch things up and put in his own stuff.

MUSIC: Sara Bareillas, Little Voice - Fantastic debut. Artists never want to be compared, but if you haven't heard of her, she's a mix of Fiona Apple and Maroon 5. Interestingly enough she's opening for Adam Levine and the boys on their current tour.

KIDDO, PT 3: You never think you are going to talk so much about poop, but when you have a kid, you surprise yourself. Emerson is fully, daytime potty trained, but Number 2 is another story. He has advanced to knowing when he has to go, but is very embarassed. When the time comes, he discreetly asks for a diaper and to be left alone in his room where he will lie on the floor playing with his cars or reading (so this is where it starts!). Over the past week, though, we have made a smidge of progress...we have advanced to going on the toilet, but while still wearing a diaper. Keeping my fingers crossed this kid won't be wearing Depends in high school.

BOOKS: I am reading something I should - as an adult, as a citizen of our great country - Food Fight: A Citizen's Guide to the Farm Bill. But I must say it's not something I would have picked up on my own. Thanks to Book Club for keeping me current and informed. But the Libra in me needs balance and a little bit of fun, so I am trading off and going back to summer in New York in the 40s and am enjoying Marjorie Hart's Summer at Tiffany.

Discoveries

The past handful of days have been disproportionately focused on work, but in that time I have also uncovered some little gems that bring a smile to my face:

- Podcasts. Okay, I realize that podcasts have been happening for a while but I really kind of just ignored them and figured I didn't need yet another thing to spend my money on. Well, it turns out that I should have been paying more attention. It turns out that every week that I miss Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion broadcast on NPR, I can actually download it, FOR FREE, and get each week's monologue to enjoy at my own pleasure. I have even subscribed, FOR FREE, and will get each week's monologue on my iTunes and, with the ease of syncing, my actual iPod. I am sure that there are a number of other podcasts I would love to get, but I am going to take it easy and savor this new found treat.

- Drive + Play. In other iPod-related news, my friend Scott found a way to route your iPod through your car speakers via your satellite radio. This reduces the need to buy any type of FM transmitter or the like. It works like a charm and I can hear all of my music, or newly downloaded podcasts, while en route anywhere.

- Taylor James. Not to be confused with James Taylor, Taylor James is a female performer who has two albums out that really seem to only be available through iTunes. She's really great and would probably be better classified as a folk singer. I found her through researching some music for a Father's Day mix and I am thisclose to buying both of her albums after previewing her songs.

- Emerson is a couple of pounds and a couple of inches from eschewing his car seat and graduating to the uberbigkid car accessory - the Booster seat. We are thrilled at this prospect and may start stuffing him more to speed up the process.

What new things have you discovered?