chimney sweep

First, be sure to wear a white shirt.

Second, gleefully push ash and soot down the opening to your dad who is on the other side.

Third, wear your frog boots. They are best suited to this job. Also, waving your dirty hand to your mom will certainly make her smile and be glad that she decided to take pictures of the event.

Fourth, don't forget to take off your frog boots before you step on the light carpet.

ten years of grace

5 year old vocabulary

Me: "Jimmy, please put your laundry away."
J: "I cannot. I cannot pick up all of my socks. They are missing their dopplegangers."

its my party!

(the following beautiful picture was taken at someone else's birthday party in the summer, but it works for today!)

The celebration began last night. My darling MIL took me to see a stage production of South Pacific. The music was fun and the partial male nudiness was surprising. All in all a great way to move more towards my late 30s.

This morning consisted of Nate staying home long enough to make breakfast and lunches for kids, an emergency trip back to school with a forgotten (and sorely missed) Kindergarten backpack (this small act puts me as a contender for Nicest Mom on the Planet award - I love being a contender), breakfast out, and some good shopping. This afternoon brought some nice laziness and catching up with the children on unwatched episodes of Phineas and Ferb. Next on the docket - a family date night. Tomorrow consists of a for-real-date-night with my handsome surgeon. I'm pretty stoked.

There were many birthdays during those med school and residency years when it didn't seem so birthday-ish. Its nice to make up for all that!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!

protective eye wear

Yesterday this young fellow decided to wear Nate's old lab goggles to school. He informed his class during Share Time they were in fact x-ray vision goggles. His teacher's response, "Oooooooooo." She's the best.

Here is our little man in one of his many photo poses in front of the flamingos at the zoo. I bet you would never have guessed that the flamingo is his second most favorite animal. His third, of course, is the flying donkey. The first favorite seems to change whenever it strikes his fancy.

to party

Right after the holiday swoop we head right into the birthday bang. I'm up first, then Grace, then Jimmy - all before Valentines Day. I'm still in Holiday Recovery Mode. I can't fathom putting together a birthday party, let alone 2 (or 3 if we do a family one too).

Grace is leaning towards a Hogwarts themed bash, Jimmy is gearing up for a Spy Guy soiree. All I can think about is chocolate cake.