Long Time, No Update

Wow! I just looked back through some old posts and it has been awhile since I did a real update on the goings on around here. I guess that is really an indication that I've become more busy. I tend to focus on my other blog, Life, the Universe and Everything and even there, I'm not posting as often as I have in the past. But real life should take precedence over blog life, right?

Without further ado, the family update:

Trip to Arboretum on Wednesday

Marley - Marley is in the middle of one of those developmental phases. You know the kind. Over the course of a couple of weeks, it seems as if you have a whole new child. She is getting taller. I just measured her and she has grown a quarter inch in the last month. That makes about one inch since just before Christmas. Paul and I have both noticed how much her language is developing and she has these adult teeth filling up her mouth. (Note to self: make an appointment for her to go to the dentist. She's overdue!) School is going well although their is a lot of "breaking up" of friendships occurring. Things seem to blow over in a day or two, but it isn't just Marley and her friends. It seems to be a tumultuous time for the entire set of first grade girls. (I can't wait for the high school version of all this... NOT!)

Current favorites:

• Color: Blue
• School Subject: Writing
• Friend: Hannah (This is one of the third grade girls from her class. It should be noted that while Hannah does enjoy Marley's company, she has recently expressed that she is "getting a little tired of her." Marley is taking this well... so far.)
• Food: Chocolate Chip Pancakes (Currently, she is observing Lent and has given up chocolate chips. Fortunately, we practice Lent beginning on Ash Wednesdays and take Sundays off of our abstaining. So, she got some lovely pancakes this Sunday a.m. But shhhhhh, don't tell her, I never got around to picking something to give up for Lent.)
• Book: Tinkerbell
• TV Show: Naked Brothers Band
• Animal: Dog and Hamster and Guinea Pig
• Movie: Ella Enchanted

Colin - Colin is running the half mile and mile for Frosh/Soph track this year. He is working hard and we are learning about shoe spikes and underarmour and all sorts of things. We are absolutely forbidden from attending his track meets. I am hoping for a negotiation session soon so that we can see at least one. Paul and I feel pretty strongly about respecting some of these types of decisions on Colin's part, so if he says no, we'll respect it. We won't like it, but we will honor it. Academically, no major alerts. To say that Colin is ready for Spring Break would be an understatement of epic proportions. Oh, and I mustn't forget to inform you all that Colin had his hair cut. Short. He is now sporting a first class buzz cut--about 1/2 inch all over. This was his idea and only his idea. I loved his hair long but the management of it all became too much for him. He is now thoroughly enjoying unobstructed vision, a lack of long, blond hair all over and a sunburned neck. His haircut coincided with a couple of 90 degree days. Ouch! (As of this morning, I am also forbidden to take a picture of him with his no 'do so that I can post it. I'll also be negotiating that soon, too!)

Other Colin news:

• Paintball excursion several weeks ago
• Trip to Texas to visit cousins
• First unaccompanied trip on plane
• First frustration at being 14 and having to be escorted to his seat by airline personnel
• First research paper

Well, this is getting long and I'm supposed to be getting reading for church. I've got 50 minutes to get showered, iron clothes, do my hair, get Marley ready, and get to church and seated. Um... I might end up missing worship. I'll come back and catch you all up on me and Paul in the next few days. And I have a regular feature I think I'm going to do on this site. Some of the blogs I read do Flashback Fridays. For them, they use it to practice their writing and explore the past. I'll be doing a Photo version. On Fridays I'll post a few pictures from the thousands I have thrown in boxes which sit under a table in my dining room. It should be fun.

In the meantime, we found this in our yard a few days ago. I figured out what is. Can you?

The Correspondence continues...

Disneyland by day...

Disneyland by night.


Dear 2007,

Well, our first 24 hours were a little rough, but you redeemed yourself (somewhat) with the day you gave us yesterday.

First, all four of us went to Disneyland. Now, it was remarkably crowded but the Christmas decorations were still up. 2006 was a little stingy with her time and we never had a chance to see the decorations before you came around.

After just a few hours, we headed home so that we could await the arrival of the newest member of the family: Colin's Nintendo Wii (pronounced 'we'.) It arrived eventually and occupied the remaining time until we returned back to The Happiest Place on Earth so that we could try again to get on some of the rides and to see the fireworks show up close.

We were not disappointed. A friend of Colin's joined us so they were able to strike out on their own. Paul, Marley and I managed to ride the Matterhorn and the Dumbo ride before it was time for a snack and the fireworks show.

Marley was mesmerized by the show and although I had heard someone mention something about snow at Disneyland for Christmas, we weren't prepared for the snow (bubbles) falling from the sky after the fireworks were finished. The snow was the bubbly icing on the fireworks cake as far as Marley was concerned.

One last ride, the Storybook Land Canal ride, and we were off to meet up with Colin and his friend. Because I am a giant sucker and should not be allowed anywhere where there is stuff my kids want, I was not able to resist buying Marley a new doll: baby Aurora (Sleeping Beauty.) She looks a lot like Buffy from that old show Family Affair and she kept Marley company on the ride home and in bed last night. I can see that she is going to be well loved.

So, in conclusion, 2007, if we can get more days like this, I think this relationship might work out after all.

Sincerely,

Mary

The Year So Far...

Dear 2007,

We aren't even 24 hours into our new relationship and already you are testing us.

Granted, we have your friend, 2006, to blame for our daughter's overwrought, over-excited, resistant to reason, too tired, drama queen, post-Christmas condition, but one would think you'd give us a break on the first day of the year from the "I wants, I never get, no one likes me, I DON'T WANT TO PUT CLOTHES ON" antics that are soooooo last year.

And the Emergency Room? Really? On January 1st? We thought you were going to be more mature than that. Two and 1/2 hours in an increasingly busy ER so that our son could get 7 stitches over his left eyebrow. Were you that eager for us to try out our new, improved higher ER deductible? And if you were going to throw us the stitches curve ball on the first day of the year, could it have been a little more interesting than his friend chucking a paint roller his direction and clocking him above the eye? The least we could ask for is an injury while performing an heroic rescue.

If this relationship is going to work, you're going to have to play fair. If not, we'll have to see our lawyer about skipping this year and going directly to 2008. Consider yourself warned.

Sincerely,

Mary and Paul