Little Miss High Society

philly must love onions

Hello everyone, and welcome to the tundra! Sorry my kids aren't featured in these photos; they're a bit too delicate for this weather, apparently. And let's not forget: they're trying to preserve their tans from the beach as long as possible. Beauty over fun, boys!

Such a strange land we live in. I went to the grocery store on Tuesday, before the Big Whammy, to get some "Schtuff." What a trip! No parking spaces. No carts. No eggs. No cheese (as in, NONE.) No bread. No lettuce. No chocolate chips. (c'mon, people!) And... no onions!

As you view these pictures, just think about all the people nestled in their little dens, contentedly munching their onions.

a nice little swapperoosky

we did this:

for this!

{crummy pic, complete with crotch grabbing, courtesy of one awesome robust German tourist}

And, thanks to the second-largest snow storm in Philadelphia history, we got to stay an extra three days! Cheers to serendipity!

*And, I do have to add: Our "service day" on Martin Luther King Day was so cool. I felt sorta guilty thinking about our selfish reasons for doing a good deed. Philly is absolutely filled to the brim with abundant opportunities for community service, and it was inspiring to see the people who came to help clean up a desolate North Philly neighborhood, not so they could go to Disney, but just because they were committed to the cause. Many of them looked like they came from very humble circumstances. It definitely made an impact on me, and from now on, we plan on doing a day of serious and intense service every MLK day. Cheers to traditions!

from my journal: forgive my self-indulgence

A Snapshot of 2010 (for my future self)

*Grant just lost his first tooth (and his front tooth, no less) last week. He looks awesome—so much better than the pirate-mouth he’s been exhibiting the past couple of weeks.

*Jack’s hair is getting really, really long. He needs a haircut, but I am nostalgic because I’m catching occasional glimpses of his curly locks when he’s sweaty.

*Speaking of hair, Caroline’s needs to GROW. I am a dedicated “clippie-artist:” always trying to finagle her “pretties” to stay in her seventeen fine strands of blonde hair. I’m seeing some Pantene shine, though—but not lovin’ the static.

*Nate keeps on trying to wear flip-flops. The man never changes.

*We try to read the Book of Mormon every morning.

*We eat cold cereal 98% of the time for breakfast.

*I absolutely hate to unload the dishwasher, and I’m thinking it might be time to let that be Grant’s newest job.

*I also am not a fan of piano practicing with Grant. The great irony, I know. Nate seems to be much more productive with him.

*Grant has been playing indoor soccer and loves it. Jack is a fantastic supporter, and I can’t wait until next year when he can be a full-fledged participant in sports, too.

*Nate leaves to go teach seminary at 5:45. I have great ambitions to get up when he does and exercise before the kids get up. This has happened once. Of course, this will all change next Monday.

*Because of this, I find myself trying to squeeze in my exercise at very random times of the day.

*Caroline likes to sit on the stair landing and chuck things down. She also likes to pull out every card in my wallet, one by one.

*Lately, she eats as much as the boys. Or more. In fact, she thinks she's entitled to a snack every time we pass through the kitchen!

*We’ve been having a particularly hard time getting the veggies down around here. Right now, I am considered to be a rockstar cook only when I serve pizza, spaghetti, or hot dogs for dinner. It’s pitiful, I know.

*Grant loves and craves 20 minutes right when he gets home from school to sit down quietly and write down alphabetical lists of the kids in his class, healthy foods (which he never eats), sports, or animals of some kind. He has a folder by the kitchen table with literally hundreds of papers full of lists.

*Caroline’s latest trick: We say, “So funny.” She scrunches up her face and does a little fake laugh. She also loves to leap into Grant’s arms as he walks in the door.

*Jack just started up with swimming again at the Y. He doesn’t like it very much, and makes this known with passion through the ringing halls of the poolhouse.

*Jack is getting good at reading!

*One of the few consistencies in my day-to-day existence is that I actually do read the scriptures before I sleep every night. It’s not always a spiritual epiphany, but I guess it’s one thing I can be 100% in.

*Nate comes back from teaching seminary and we eat breakfast together as a family! I am going to miss this terribly when he starts back again for Year 5 of clinical residency. June 20 is being termed "D Day."

*Jack is just about the most loveable, generous, and compassionate little guy I’ve ever met. Today, he sang Caroline lullabies to help her fall asleep. He likes to ask, “How can I be helpful, Mom?”

*I am growing ever more improvisatory and creative when it comes to entertaining Caroline while teaching lessons. Babysitters continue to try—and fail, with her.

*Nate and I have gone on more dates this year than we ever have since we’ve had kids. This thanks to his research year and abundant opportunities to moonlight.

*I need chocolate at least once a day to continue to exist.

* The boys’ current faves: “Foodland,” (they pretend to be food), dinosaurs, books by the dozens (we’re just now reading Charlotte’s Web together, having recently finished The Indian in the Cupboard), and imagined natural disasters, which are re-enacted with no words, just sound effects and lots of crashing.

* I wear a uniform: a purple fleece, black Yoga pants, and running shoes, 70% of the time.

philly got some snow!

18 + inches-- that's the most we've had in the 3 1/2 years we've been here! We'll take it!

it's the little things

Last Saturday was a little rough. For one reason or another, our kids had the "grumpers." (If you'd like a detailed run-down of the day, complete with the "gratitude drive" to North Philadelphia, just ask.) Anyway, due to a string of events and misbehaviors, Nate and I found ourselves outside, alone, on our front porch. A neighbor walked by, and, noting this unusual circumstance, asked: "Where are your kids?"

"Oh, in time out, in various places," Nate replied. (To her royal credit, Caroline was actually asleep.)

And at that instant, we looked at each other and realized: a moment of serendipitous bliss had befallen us. For the next 5 minutes and 42 seconds, we basked.

The Princess Turned One!

We had two birthdays in our family last week!

First was Little Miss CAROLINE {aka Fweemies, the Fweems, Kiki, Care-Bear, Princess, and Queen of Sheba}! We love you so much, sweet Care. You've got all of us wrapped around your little cute finger.

this banner was up for a solid week (poor Jack)

introducing... the Star of the Day!

the birthday dinner was a bit too sophisticated.. but no worries. She just fed everyone else.

Caroline has a very mean mother, who held out until her birthday to buy her a doll. The poor girl has been lusting over them since she first laid eyes on one last summer.

So pleased with her new acquisitions. She could hardly contain herself.

While the dinner wasn't necessarily appreciated, the girl has definitely developed a fine palette for all things sweet. Eating cake was a very polite and enjoyable affair.

Happy Birthday, sweets!