Dilemma

Max showing our two drawings of our muse, the porcupine.

I was really looking forward to today because Jack had an after school playdate, which meant I had THE WHOLE DAY TO MYSELF!

Yes!

So I took the kids to school, did a little grocery shopping, went to yoga, and was just bringing in the garbage cans from the curb when my cell phone rang and I saw it was Max's elementary school calling. Well, my first reaction was "oh great, someone's throwing up," so I answered immediately. Instead it was Max telling me that he had a field trip today and needed more parents to come and wanted to know if I would.

Crap.

I mean, what do you do? I had no excuse other than my own personal interests to keep me home. I even told Max that I would try, but I wasn't sure. My body was weak (it really wanted that nap I had been planning), but the will was strong (Max never asks for anything, ever), so I sucked up my selfishness and went.

We walked to the natural history museum so the kids could sketch the animals. Max and I got to sit together on a bench and sketch a porcupine together, which, really, how often do you get to do that with your children? But really, that wasn't the best part. The best part was when I first got to his classroom and he turned around to see his slacker mother had shown up after all, and his face totally lit up like his favorite rock star had just walked in the room.

After a response like that, I only have one thing to say: Naps are over-rated.

I Think This Takes The Obsession To A Whole New Level

Steve asked me what I wanted for Valentine's Day, and since I'm trying to lose some weight, my #1 choice, a ton of chocolate (although I did get some chocolate, and ate it all within 24 hours), was out of the question. Flowers? They die too soon, in my opinion. And perfume is usually out because I often don't wear it and have a hard time finding scents that I like. But, while perusing Ebay recently, I saw my dear, dear, Orla Kiely has a new purfume out that is only available in the U.K. I told Steve that was what I really, really wanted, and Steve produced the goods. I was a little bit hesitant to buy since I was going scent unsmelled on this one, but it was exactly what you would think Orla Kiely's fragrance would be, light, clean, slightly floral, and a little earthy. Nothing like a handbag. Even the packaging is perfect.

I love, love, love it.

Now, that's a great Valentine's gift. Score a big one for Steve.

Space Snowman

Jack was asked to collect some things a while back to make a snowman during art at school. He collected all kinds of stuff from our art drawer, and then went off to school to create. A couple of weeks later I was walking down the hall and saw his snowman, complete with a caption that explained what kind of snowman it is. Of course, since Jack is only in Kindergarten, the words were mostly spelled wrong but if you employ all your phonetic skills, you can figure them out.

Jack's, which was a Space Snowman (the one in the picture above holding the American Flag), said: Im holdin a Amerikan Fag.

P.C.? No. Funny? Yes.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Last year for Valentine's Day we wandered around art museums and shops in The Marais in Paris. This year we decorated cookies with friends, had a special breakfast, and enjoyed being together.

One of our special Valentine's Day plates we used for breakfast.

Holiday cookie decorating. What I live for.

On the menu: Eggs Benedict, Mango, and Banana. Oh yeah, and chocolate.

A big, red Lego robot. What every five year old boys wants for Valentine's Day.

And even though this year was much less exotic, I have to say, I loved both days just as much because I got to spend them both with these three guys I love more than anyone in the world!

Happy Valentine's Day!

His First Ski Day

He's definitely got the ski dude attitude down.

Sew What?

Anyone who knows me knows I'm not one for the crafting.

That is, until lately.

Trust me, I'm as surprised as anyone.

It all started with my Halloween costume this year. We decided to have a big party, so I figured I had to have a good costume, and I figured if I made it once, I could wear it every year. Really, to be honest, at first I looked to buy a costume, but have you ever seen the adult Halloween costumes available on the open market? Every time I found myself looking I thought I had wandered into the lingerie department. Talk about scary! I never knew that Halloween was a chance to get in touch with your inner stripper. Who knew.
So, I decided to be a witch and I made this hat:

Thanks to Steve for being my anonymous model.

Which made me realize that I needed more than just a crappy dress that cannot be near open flame. So, I went to the local thrift store and looked around in the Halloween section and found that the only selection that would fit me was no better than the Halloween Lingerie department at the local time. Only this time it was used. Eww!
My next step was the women's dresses where I hit the jackpot, a black taffeta bridesmaid's dress, in my size, with an easily detachable bright yellow sash (Can you say bumblebee wedding? Sorry I missed that one).
So, I took it home, and after a lot of swearing and way too much damaged orange satin, came up with this:

Me doing my best America's Next Top Model pose.
Whoever said you couldn't learn anything from reality TV was DEAD WRONG!

And somehow, I had the sewing bug. And now I'm appliqueing t-shirts, scarves, hot water bottle covers. You name it. And I still don't know exactly why.

This is either a really good or really bad sign of my mental state. Your guess as to which is as good as mine, but in the meantime, my kids and their friends are getting their applique on.