October 29, 2011

The patient.

I think he's on the mend.







October 28, 2011

Autumn Colors.

I was so, so excited to see these pics come off my camera.
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First of all, it was a sunny-ish, warm-ish October day. A bonus in anyone's books, especially when you have the opportunity to meet with friends - planned and coincidentally.
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Secondly, I've become a little bored snapping pics of my own kids. They're overworked, underwhelmed and I'm running out of bribes.
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Thirdly, I love these Extra Kids nearly as much as I love my own. I've known them since they were mere bumps and their moms and I were trying to mentally climb the mythical, natural-birthing stairs while moo-ing like crazed bovines.
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Fourthly, these Extra Kids have the most amazing blue eyes I've ever seen. They were begging for their pictures to be taken. Well, that's what I told myself as justification for tearing them away from fun autumnal play.
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Blue>
Stripes
Brown
Pale
Blonde
Green

October 26, 2011

The Cemetery.

In the spirit of Halloween I dragged Elliot to a cemetery
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I've actually been meaning to go for a long time as it's super close to our house and I'd heard reports it's a very peaceful and serene place to spend an hour or so. I can imagine that would be true if it weren't for a certain 4 year old who, while allowing me to take a few snaps, certainly let it be known that this a) wasn't his thing and b) would be expecting serious candy-laden compensation for his time.
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Why does Elliot look so worried...? Well, you would be too if you spotted your name on a tombstone! (Look back at the picture above!)

October 24, 2011

The goop.

I honestly remember very little about my childhood. That said, one thing I do fondly recall is my sister and I sitting on our driveway, pumpkins in laps, waiting for Dad and the carving knife. I don't remember being squeamish about the goop. I probably was - I was a pretty good complainer -  I just don't remember it. Given that this was a Dad Activity, I'm guessing Mom was definitely squeamish.
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Yesterday I tried to replicate and reinstate this family memory.
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We started small. (Mostly because lugging home two large carving pumpkins from the grocery store that's 1/2 mile away is something that needs to be planned ahead for.) We started simply.
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That didn't quite hit the major memory maker button. So we persevered, schlepped to Sainsbury's, lugged back some whoppers, and got out the knife.
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And then the goop. Oh... The Goop! My boys would not touch it with a 10 foot pole. Despite being obsessed with slime (AKA: dodos), the goop was too much for them to contemplate. 
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We needed tools.
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Obviously you've dealt with pumpkin goop and obviously you know there are no kitchen tools designed to deal with it. So, frustrated that my family memory was not playing out as it should, I dove in and gave Raphael and Wendolyn the cleaning of their lives.
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And then I set them on fire.
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p.s. Happy Birthday, Mom!

October 16, 2011

Long week.

It's been a long week. Diverticula have been found, become infected, and diagnosed. Bowels have been perforated. In-laws have been called in. Hospital stays have been mandatory. Despite all this, everyone is now healthy and well - and home. Finally.
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In times of stress, it's good to laugh. The best way to get a laugh is ALWAYS to say "Don't laugh." Especially to Elliot, at the end of a beautiful day, in a beautiful London park.
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October 7, 2011

Flashback.

It's turned cold. As in find my electric blanket and turn it into a coat kind of cold. You'd never believe that last weekend we (and everyone else on this island) were on the beach in swimming gear.






October 3, 2011

Three is a magic number.

Happy Birthday, Noah!