Monday, October 19, 2009
A beautiful English sunset...
We couldn't capture the true beauty as we were driving and had to find a place to pull over, but this was one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Mission accomplished...
I made the yummiest dinner last night. It was mackrel fillets marinated in soy sauce, honey and sesame seeds. I grilled them in the oven and served them with noodles stir fried in the marinade and steamed broccoli and asparagus. Martin told me it was "outstanding," and even Dylan ate most of his. Edith had baby food, but she tried (and loved) the mackrel.
I can't believe how efficient I am getting in the kitchen. I usually prep dinner while I'm cooking breakfast and lunch, and can cook a meal and clean the kitchen all at once. My vegetable chopping and peeling skills have improved so much in the last two years it's just insane. I still don't enjoy cooking family meals (although I do enjoy cooking for company) but that's next. It IS very satisfying when dinner flies off the plates.
Apparently, the women that Martin works with think that I am a lazy housewife.
Martin has never said that I am, but he let it slip that it was the general consensus of the three women he works with/for. They told him that he does "too much" at our house, and wondered what I was doing all day that he had to do so much when he got home.
This information didn't sit well with me, as you can imagine. Especially because the opinion was expressed while I was heavily pregnant with Edith and very ill with my asthma. I WANTED to do more to help out, but was physically unable to.
These women have no idea what Martin is like. He is one of those strange people who are totally fastidious about their personal appearance but are totally slovenly in every other aspect of their life. I adore my husband, but that's just the way he is. So they don't realize that just picking up the mess that he leaves in his wake is a full time job, never mind caring for children on top of it. But knowing that his coworkers thought this about me has rankled for over a year now.
I have been striving to do more around the house since then, at a cost to my physical health at times, and yesterday I finally got a little recognition for my efforts. Martin asked what he could do to help me while I was doing dinner, and I told him there was nothing. Just play with the kids. And he told me that he feels useless around the house.
GOAL!!!
Now, if he could just tell that to all the ladies at work...
I can't believe how efficient I am getting in the kitchen. I usually prep dinner while I'm cooking breakfast and lunch, and can cook a meal and clean the kitchen all at once. My vegetable chopping and peeling skills have improved so much in the last two years it's just insane. I still don't enjoy cooking family meals (although I do enjoy cooking for company) but that's next. It IS very satisfying when dinner flies off the plates.
Apparently, the women that Martin works with think that I am a lazy housewife.
Martin has never said that I am, but he let it slip that it was the general consensus of the three women he works with/for. They told him that he does "too much" at our house, and wondered what I was doing all day that he had to do so much when he got home.
This information didn't sit well with me, as you can imagine. Especially because the opinion was expressed while I was heavily pregnant with Edith and very ill with my asthma. I WANTED to do more to help out, but was physically unable to.
These women have no idea what Martin is like. He is one of those strange people who are totally fastidious about their personal appearance but are totally slovenly in every other aspect of their life. I adore my husband, but that's just the way he is. So they don't realize that just picking up the mess that he leaves in his wake is a full time job, never mind caring for children on top of it. But knowing that his coworkers thought this about me has rankled for over a year now.
I have been striving to do more around the house since then, at a cost to my physical health at times, and yesterday I finally got a little recognition for my efforts. Martin asked what he could do to help me while I was doing dinner, and I told him there was nothing. Just play with the kids. And he told me that he feels useless around the house.
GOAL!!!
Now, if he could just tell that to all the ladies at work...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
My favorite place in the whole world...
It's not home. It's not church or the temple or even my parents' house in Nephi. Where, then? It's IKEA!
Martin is taking some holiday days and we were going to go to Preston and the lakes. But temple accommodation was full and we couldn't find anywhere else to stay that we could afford. Plus, my asthma has been flaring up again and I didn't really feel up to a mammoth trip like that. So we had a lazy morning yesterday and went to IKEA in the afternoon. Oh, I love that place so much!
We got new bed slats in the bargain corner--should retail for £30 for each side, and we got them for £7 a piece. MONSTER savings. The new slats are bowed and should make our bed a bit more comfortable. We'll know if they work the next time Edith sleeps for a longer stretch than 3 hours. And we got a few other clever bits and pieces, and the start of Emma's birthday gift (I'm not giving any hints, Emma, but I think you'll like it!).
Dylan had a great time there, as well. He loved the twirly chairs and trying out every single bed in the bedroom section. Edith, well, she wasn't bothered. I took a few breaks from shopping to feed her, so she was a happy camper. We were there for about three hours, mostly just looking around and marvelling that the designers for IKEA are so clever. I could happily furnish my entire house there. The storage solutions are my favorite--they're just so creative and fun! I found a coffee table that I love. Wish we weren't so broke, because I could spend an absolute fortune there.
Mostly, though, I'm just enjoying having Martin around. He worked on Monday morning, but I had him all to myself (well, I had to share him with the kids but that's OK) yesterday. And I'll have him all day today AND tomorrow. We are trying to pack loads of fun things in to our days off so that it'll tide me over until his next days off at Christmas.
The main purchase of the day was a stool for our bathroom. Dylan has decided that he prefers to stand up to pee, and he's still too short to reach the toilet on his own. He had started having loads of accidents and I think it's because he didn't want to sit on the toilet any more. I'm not really happy about it, because I have to help him with his aim, and it kind of weirds me out. But as long as he stops peeing all over my carpet it will all be OK. I'll deal with it!
The only dark spot on this week is my stupid lungs--and the fact that Edith is having some tough nights. It's funny, because if I was feeling decent it wouldn't be such a big deal. And if I could just get enough rest at night I would feel better. But I can't get enough sleep, so I can't get totally better. I'm stuck in a downward spiral. I wish I was completely healthy!
I remember this guy I went to college with--he had been totally blind since birth. One day I was sitting in the common room at my dorm and having a whinge about my asthma. I said that when our bodies were perfected, the first thing I would do was run a marathon. He said that he'd join me, because for the first time he would be able to run--he'd finally be able to see where he was going! I guess I should be happy with what I've got.
Martin is taking some holiday days and we were going to go to Preston and the lakes. But temple accommodation was full and we couldn't find anywhere else to stay that we could afford. Plus, my asthma has been flaring up again and I didn't really feel up to a mammoth trip like that. So we had a lazy morning yesterday and went to IKEA in the afternoon. Oh, I love that place so much!
We got new bed slats in the bargain corner--should retail for £30 for each side, and we got them for £7 a piece. MONSTER savings. The new slats are bowed and should make our bed a bit more comfortable. We'll know if they work the next time Edith sleeps for a longer stretch than 3 hours. And we got a few other clever bits and pieces, and the start of Emma's birthday gift (I'm not giving any hints, Emma, but I think you'll like it!).
Dylan had a great time there, as well. He loved the twirly chairs and trying out every single bed in the bedroom section. Edith, well, she wasn't bothered. I took a few breaks from shopping to feed her, so she was a happy camper. We were there for about three hours, mostly just looking around and marvelling that the designers for IKEA are so clever. I could happily furnish my entire house there. The storage solutions are my favorite--they're just so creative and fun! I found a coffee table that I love. Wish we weren't so broke, because I could spend an absolute fortune there.
Mostly, though, I'm just enjoying having Martin around. He worked on Monday morning, but I had him all to myself (well, I had to share him with the kids but that's OK) yesterday. And I'll have him all day today AND tomorrow. We are trying to pack loads of fun things in to our days off so that it'll tide me over until his next days off at Christmas.
The main purchase of the day was a stool for our bathroom. Dylan has decided that he prefers to stand up to pee, and he's still too short to reach the toilet on his own. He had started having loads of accidents and I think it's because he didn't want to sit on the toilet any more. I'm not really happy about it, because I have to help him with his aim, and it kind of weirds me out. But as long as he stops peeing all over my carpet it will all be OK. I'll deal with it!
The only dark spot on this week is my stupid lungs--and the fact that Edith is having some tough nights. It's funny, because if I was feeling decent it wouldn't be such a big deal. And if I could just get enough rest at night I would feel better. But I can't get enough sleep, so I can't get totally better. I'm stuck in a downward spiral. I wish I was completely healthy!
I remember this guy I went to college with--he had been totally blind since birth. One day I was sitting in the common room at my dorm and having a whinge about my asthma. I said that when our bodies were perfected, the first thing I would do was run a marathon. He said that he'd join me, because for the first time he would be able to run--he'd finally be able to see where he was going! I guess I should be happy with what I've got.
Monday, October 12, 2009
A weird but wonderful surprise...
Edith slept through last night. The wonderful part is obvious. The weird part is that she had next to no solid food yesterday. She had an all liquid diet, and still managed to sleep from 7pm until 5am.
We've had a lovely day today. It didn't involve any television, either. Dylan peed on our floor this morning, and he's not allowed to have cartoons if he has an "accident," but it turned out to be a good thing. We dropped Martin off at his handyman job and then went down to Water's Edge to feed the ducks. I had Edith in the sling and Dylan held my hand (most of the time). It was such a beautiful, crisp morning and there were TONS of ducks.
When we got home, Dylan helped me make cookies. Then it was lunch time, and nap time. When the kids woke up, we read stories together and waited for Martin to come home. Then we drove to Beverly and did some window shopping. Evening brought a temple recommend interview--the real reason we went over. And now the kids are tucked up in bed and I am watching my guilty pleasure--"America's Next Top Model." I became a junkie when Dylan was a tiny baby.
Here's hoping that Edith sleeps through again, because I took a Volmax for my asthma as soon as she fell asleep and really want it to be out of my system before I have to feed her again.
I really love the days that don't involve the telly. The kids are better behaved and I feel like a better mother. It does involve a lot more effort on my part, but it is usually a good time. I'm going to try to do it more often.
We've had a lovely day today. It didn't involve any television, either. Dylan peed on our floor this morning, and he's not allowed to have cartoons if he has an "accident," but it turned out to be a good thing. We dropped Martin off at his handyman job and then went down to Water's Edge to feed the ducks. I had Edith in the sling and Dylan held my hand (most of the time). It was such a beautiful, crisp morning and there were TONS of ducks.
When we got home, Dylan helped me make cookies. Then it was lunch time, and nap time. When the kids woke up, we read stories together and waited for Martin to come home. Then we drove to Beverly and did some window shopping. Evening brought a temple recommend interview--the real reason we went over. And now the kids are tucked up in bed and I am watching my guilty pleasure--"America's Next Top Model." I became a junkie when Dylan was a tiny baby.
Here's hoping that Edith sleeps through again, because I took a Volmax for my asthma as soon as she fell asleep and really want it to be out of my system before I have to feed her again.
I really love the days that don't involve the telly. The kids are better behaved and I feel like a better mother. It does involve a lot more effort on my part, but it is usually a good time. I'm going to try to do it more often.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Housekeeping tip of the day...
Would it make me a bad parent if I told Dylan he could only pee in the toilet, but if he HAD to pee on the floor could he please make it the kitchen floor? Urine makes my floor tiles sparkle when I clean it up!
Thursday, October 08, 2009
What a little play can do...
We went for a walk today--Martin, the kids and I. We were collecting Kleeneze brochures, but we walked right past a park on our way. Martin asked me if I wanted to take Dylan over to play, and I didn't feel like it but did it anyway. Well, we had a great time!
I pushed Dylan on the swing. I pushed him higher than he's ever gone before. Then we went over to the "big kid" swings and spidered. He threw his head back and laughed and laughed, and before I knew it I was laughing, too. And I realized that my children don't care if the house is clean. They want feeding, but would be just as happy with the simplest of meals as anything else. They don't mind that we don't go anywhere. A trip to the park is as much of an adventure as Dylan needs. Edith doesn't mind just sitting in the fresh air and looking around. I don't have to be a shut in. And I need to remember to play with my kids as often as I can.
I started the day with a determination that it was going to be a good one. And you know what? It was. Not everything got done, but I smiled a lot more than I have been lately. And I loved my family a lot more as well.
Thank you Dylan, for teaching me that sometimes all you need to do is play on the swing and laugh out loud.
I pushed Dylan on the swing. I pushed him higher than he's ever gone before. Then we went over to the "big kid" swings and spidered. He threw his head back and laughed and laughed, and before I knew it I was laughing, too. And I realized that my children don't care if the house is clean. They want feeding, but would be just as happy with the simplest of meals as anything else. They don't mind that we don't go anywhere. A trip to the park is as much of an adventure as Dylan needs. Edith doesn't mind just sitting in the fresh air and looking around. I don't have to be a shut in. And I need to remember to play with my kids as often as I can.
I started the day with a determination that it was going to be a good one. And you know what? It was. Not everything got done, but I smiled a lot more than I have been lately. And I loved my family a lot more as well.
Thank you Dylan, for teaching me that sometimes all you need to do is play on the swing and laugh out loud.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Thinking about a day off...
Being a stay at home mom is hard work. Not just for me, either. It's hard work for Martin to have me at home.
We got in a mini argument last night. He works six days a week. Sunday is his only day off, and we spend most of it travelling to and from church and, of course, in our meetings there. I know he only works 3 hours a day on 5 of those days, but it still means we can't go anywhere.
The rare days that Martin has off are precious to me, so I've been looking forward to this weekend with no church meetings for what seems like forever. But we had to tax the car this week and we needed some extra cash. Martin got a "handyman" job, and he was gone all day yesterday.
Being home with my children all day is rewarding and I am mostly grateful that I can do it. But I never leave the house! I cook and clean and wipe bottoms. I feed the baby and get kids down for naps. I do laundry. This is how all of my days go, and it is boring and lonely. I need Martin to have days off so we can go out and do things--even if it's just taking the kids for a walk (still really difficult to do on my own). I need him to help me break the monotony of my every day life, and I struggle when I have a weekend like the last one. He played football on Friday night, which should have been date night. He worked all day on Saturday. And then he worked all day AGAIN on Sunday. There was no break for me. And now he is going back this afternoon to do some more "handyman" jobs for the lady he worked for yesterday. It's not like she's even paying him that much. I get nearly as much for giving a one hour massage as he got for 6 hours of work yesterday (incidentally, I gave one of those on Saturday).
I do know that I chose this for myself. I know it is important for me to be home with my kids right now, and if I worked I would probably tear myself to pieces feeling guilty that they were being raised by a stranger. But I can't go days on end without a change in the daily grind. This weekend means that Martin will be working 13 days in a row, and I feel like a prisoner in my own home. He gets to go to work every day, talk to other adults, have interesting conversations. I love my Dylan, but conversations with a two year old don't tend to be intellectually stimulating. In fact, they currently consist of me talking to all of his toys one at a time.
Martin has a telephone interview for a job this week, and he asked me if I'd be ok if he got a full time job. The answer to that is an unequivocal YES! If he had a real job, he'd probably have two days off a week. We would be able to do stuff as a family again. And those rare days out are such a treat because they remind me why I wanted to have a family in the first place!
But that's enough self pity. I just need to stop whining and clean my house, cook breakfast, do laundry, and feed the baby. After all, I'll miss these days when they're gone. Right?
We got in a mini argument last night. He works six days a week. Sunday is his only day off, and we spend most of it travelling to and from church and, of course, in our meetings there. I know he only works 3 hours a day on 5 of those days, but it still means we can't go anywhere.
The rare days that Martin has off are precious to me, so I've been looking forward to this weekend with no church meetings for what seems like forever. But we had to tax the car this week and we needed some extra cash. Martin got a "handyman" job, and he was gone all day yesterday.
Being home with my children all day is rewarding and I am mostly grateful that I can do it. But I never leave the house! I cook and clean and wipe bottoms. I feed the baby and get kids down for naps. I do laundry. This is how all of my days go, and it is boring and lonely. I need Martin to have days off so we can go out and do things--even if it's just taking the kids for a walk (still really difficult to do on my own). I need him to help me break the monotony of my every day life, and I struggle when I have a weekend like the last one. He played football on Friday night, which should have been date night. He worked all day on Saturday. And then he worked all day AGAIN on Sunday. There was no break for me. And now he is going back this afternoon to do some more "handyman" jobs for the lady he worked for yesterday. It's not like she's even paying him that much. I get nearly as much for giving a one hour massage as he got for 6 hours of work yesterday (incidentally, I gave one of those on Saturday).
I do know that I chose this for myself. I know it is important for me to be home with my kids right now, and if I worked I would probably tear myself to pieces feeling guilty that they were being raised by a stranger. But I can't go days on end without a change in the daily grind. This weekend means that Martin will be working 13 days in a row, and I feel like a prisoner in my own home. He gets to go to work every day, talk to other adults, have interesting conversations. I love my Dylan, but conversations with a two year old don't tend to be intellectually stimulating. In fact, they currently consist of me talking to all of his toys one at a time.
Martin has a telephone interview for a job this week, and he asked me if I'd be ok if he got a full time job. The answer to that is an unequivocal YES! If he had a real job, he'd probably have two days off a week. We would be able to do stuff as a family again. And those rare days out are such a treat because they remind me why I wanted to have a family in the first place!
But that's enough self pity. I just need to stop whining and clean my house, cook breakfast, do laundry, and feed the baby. After all, I'll miss these days when they're gone. Right?
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Pictures...
Martin and I disagree about what "matches" when it comes to the kids' clothes. You can always tell when he dresses them! This outfit actually looks pretty good in the photo but it didn't look quite so nice in person. But hey, when you look this cute your outfit doesn't need to match.
Look how long Edith's hair is getting! She enjoys a little cuddle with Tim, the toy her aunt Cathy bought for her. Don't let her serious expression fool you--she actually smiles almost all the time.
She looks so lovely in red, and is sitting up on her own very well now.
Dylan is flexing his muscles. Super strong!
Martin is dreaming about his great escape.
Prayer...
Dear Father-
Please help it be enough for me to be a housebound mother today! Please help me love my children unconditionally and want to take care of them. Help their love to sustain me and help me to be satisfied with the life I have chosen for myself.
Please be with me today--I can't make it through this day alone.
Please help it be enough for me to be a housebound mother today! Please help me love my children unconditionally and want to take care of them. Help their love to sustain me and help me to be satisfied with the life I have chosen for myself.
Please be with me today--I can't make it through this day alone.
Friday, October 02, 2009
My friend in the kitchen...
I have hated spiders since I was a little girl. I remember the dream that the fear stems from--I had it when my family was living in Bloomington Hills, and I dreamt that I was covered from head to toe in ants and spiders. Since then, well, I squeal like a little girl whenever I see one and all it takes is a glimpse for me to feel like I'm covered in spiders all over again.
But there is a little spider on my kitchen windowsill that has been there for quite some time now. She's about the size of a thumbtack. She has an egg sack on her web that looks like it's going to burst any day, too. She is right about eye level to me, and I sit and watch her while I am doing the dishes. I feel like she is keeping me company while I do my kitchen chores.
I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and it's nice to know that I've got something to keep me company. I know that sounds completely nuts, but that little spider is keeping me entertained. I might not like it so much when that egg sack bursts and I have loads of baby spiders running around my kitchen, but for now I am enjoying watching her work!
She kept me company yesterday evening while I was preparing dinner for our friend Amy DuBois. Amy is a fellow American. She moved to England 40 years ago yesterday, and I invited her over to "celebrate." We had a great visit. I feel an urge to take care of her--maybe it's that mothering instinct that's starting to develop in me! She is partially blind and has severe arthritis in her hands and feet, yet manages to participate in the community and maintain the sunniest disposition you've ever seen. Seriously, such a lovely woman. She has no family here, and I know she must be unable to cook for herself most days. She looks like she subsists on next to nothing, but she sure tucked away a lot of food last night. I suppose everyone appreciates a home cooked meal every now and again!
Martin is playing football this evening, and I'm missing him. He left at 5:30, so I did bath time on my own. It's not exactly easy now that we have two children, but I got it done. I really hate listening to Edith cry! But I'm genuinely glad that Martin got out. He is always working so hard for us and he deserves a little fun every now and again!
But there is a little spider on my kitchen windowsill that has been there for quite some time now. She's about the size of a thumbtack. She has an egg sack on her web that looks like it's going to burst any day, too. She is right about eye level to me, and I sit and watch her while I am doing the dishes. I feel like she is keeping me company while I do my kitchen chores.
I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and it's nice to know that I've got something to keep me company. I know that sounds completely nuts, but that little spider is keeping me entertained. I might not like it so much when that egg sack bursts and I have loads of baby spiders running around my kitchen, but for now I am enjoying watching her work!
She kept me company yesterday evening while I was preparing dinner for our friend Amy DuBois. Amy is a fellow American. She moved to England 40 years ago yesterday, and I invited her over to "celebrate." We had a great visit. I feel an urge to take care of her--maybe it's that mothering instinct that's starting to develop in me! She is partially blind and has severe arthritis in her hands and feet, yet manages to participate in the community and maintain the sunniest disposition you've ever seen. Seriously, such a lovely woman. She has no family here, and I know she must be unable to cook for herself most days. She looks like she subsists on next to nothing, but she sure tucked away a lot of food last night. I suppose everyone appreciates a home cooked meal every now and again!
Martin is playing football this evening, and I'm missing him. He left at 5:30, so I did bath time on my own. It's not exactly easy now that we have two children, but I got it done. I really hate listening to Edith cry! But I'm genuinely glad that Martin got out. He is always working so hard for us and he deserves a little fun every now and again!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
News...
I showed the house on Saturday afternoon. Our estate agent called me at about 10 am and said they had a couple who wanted to view the house that afternoon. Having been sick for three weeks, the house was in a right state. But I got it all cleaned and called my saintly mother-in-law to help me vacuum the stairs (the one job I wasn't able to tackle). And...
The guy loved the house!
That's not to say that they're going to make us an offer. But the bloke is an artist and gave me many compliments on the job we've done, the decor, the color choices, and the general quirky feel to the house. It makes me feel good, even if they don't put in an offer. He was asking questions that showed he was keen, and was charmed by the garden and the sheer size of the house--the very things that drew me to the place.
So that's the first bit of news. The second is equally exciting.
DYLAN IS POTTY TRAINED!!!
He has been diaper free all day today, including a drive to Lincoln with Christine. We had to pull over twice so he could pee, but he managed to hold it both times until we found somewhere to pull over. We sang a little "hold it" song while we were waiting. He's still wearing just trousers (if he has underwear on he thinks it's a diaper and forgets to go to the toilet) but we're going to put pants on him in another couple of days to see how he does. He's still sleeping with a diaper on, but it's usually dry in the morning and almost always dry after his nap. It's mostly there just in case.
I'm seeing the light at the end of my bum wiping tunnel, and boy does it look wonderful!
We've just saved ourselves about £3.50 a week and can now afford to buy juice for Dylan again. I'll bet he's excited about that.
So fingers crossed everybody, that Mr. Artistic and his lovely girlfriend liked our quirky old place so much that they decide to make us an offer. Prayers would be appreciated!
The guy loved the house!
That's not to say that they're going to make us an offer. But the bloke is an artist and gave me many compliments on the job we've done, the decor, the color choices, and the general quirky feel to the house. It makes me feel good, even if they don't put in an offer. He was asking questions that showed he was keen, and was charmed by the garden and the sheer size of the house--the very things that drew me to the place.
So that's the first bit of news. The second is equally exciting.
DYLAN IS POTTY TRAINED!!!
He has been diaper free all day today, including a drive to Lincoln with Christine. We had to pull over twice so he could pee, but he managed to hold it both times until we found somewhere to pull over. We sang a little "hold it" song while we were waiting. He's still wearing just trousers (if he has underwear on he thinks it's a diaper and forgets to go to the toilet) but we're going to put pants on him in another couple of days to see how he does. He's still sleeping with a diaper on, but it's usually dry in the morning and almost always dry after his nap. It's mostly there just in case.
I'm seeing the light at the end of my bum wiping tunnel, and boy does it look wonderful!
We've just saved ourselves about £3.50 a week and can now afford to buy juice for Dylan again. I'll bet he's excited about that.
So fingers crossed everybody, that Mr. Artistic and his lovely girlfriend liked our quirky old place so much that they decide to make us an offer. Prayers would be appreciated!
A very rare night out...
Such a lovely photo of Emma--she just looks so happy!
Lewis--looking like an alcoholic!
Martin likes the nightlife--he likes to boogie!
Flirtatious...
We love dressing up at our house!
How drunk can the sober people act?
My dear friend Jen had her engagement party last night. She and Howard are a surprising couple, and they are the nicest people in the whole world. Seriously, I feel very blessed to have a friend like her and I'm so glad she's met someone as lovely as Howard. It was supposed to be their wedding, but Howard is in the middle of a very nasty divorce.
Anyway, it was a great party. Jen really knows how to throw them! My in-laws went, and so did Emma and Lewis (we pretty much forced Lewis to go, but I'm pretty sure he had a good time in the end). It was a James Bond themed party, and fancy dress was "optional but appreciated."
Martin's costume was easy--he was James Bond from "Die Another Day," when he's, um, bird watching and sees Jinx (Halle Berry) coming in from her swim. Khaki shorts, hawaiian shirt, flip flops and binoculars. Mine was not quite so easy. I went as a '60's Bond girl from "Diamonds are Forever," Plenty O'Toole. I copied the dress and did my hair and make-up 60's Mod style. It was pretty fun. I made the dress from a purple velvet shirt that I got off Freecycle.
There was karaoke, and the Mundays and Martin and I participated. I am no longer a karaoke virgin!
Some time during the night I decided that it would be a good idea to try to capture the only sober people at the party looking slightly drunk. So I started snapping pictures like crazy. Turns out you don't need alcohol when you only get to go out a few times a year, because you try to squeeze as much fun and craziness and dancing into a few hours as you can! I find the pictures funny.
Martin looks like a merry drunk who does it every weekend. Emma looks like the shy girl who only lets her hair down when she's had a few. I look like a flirty drunk. Lewis looks like the anti-social drunk who starts out quiet and gradually becomes practically comatose.
I'll get pictures on here ASAP. Martin had the camera last night and I don't know where he left it. I think you'll appreciate them, just because they are silly and totally out of character.
Anyway, it was a really good night. But I've decided that having a son who wakes up at 5:30am is worse than a hangover. Oh, and Edith woke up every three hours all night long to be fed. That's pretty bad, too!
Anyway, it was a great party. Jen really knows how to throw them! My in-laws went, and so did Emma and Lewis (we pretty much forced Lewis to go, but I'm pretty sure he had a good time in the end). It was a James Bond themed party, and fancy dress was "optional but appreciated."
Martin's costume was easy--he was James Bond from "Die Another Day," when he's, um, bird watching and sees Jinx (Halle Berry) coming in from her swim. Khaki shorts, hawaiian shirt, flip flops and binoculars. Mine was not quite so easy. I went as a '60's Bond girl from "Diamonds are Forever," Plenty O'Toole. I copied the dress and did my hair and make-up 60's Mod style. It was pretty fun. I made the dress from a purple velvet shirt that I got off Freecycle.
There was karaoke, and the Mundays and Martin and I participated. I am no longer a karaoke virgin!
Some time during the night I decided that it would be a good idea to try to capture the only sober people at the party looking slightly drunk. So I started snapping pictures like crazy. Turns out you don't need alcohol when you only get to go out a few times a year, because you try to squeeze as much fun and craziness and dancing into a few hours as you can! I find the pictures funny.
Martin looks like a merry drunk who does it every weekend. Emma looks like the shy girl who only lets her hair down when she's had a few. I look like a flirty drunk. Lewis looks like the anti-social drunk who starts out quiet and gradually becomes practically comatose.
I'll get pictures on here ASAP. Martin had the camera last night and I don't know where he left it. I think you'll appreciate them, just because they are silly and totally out of character.
Anyway, it was a really good night. But I've decided that having a son who wakes up at 5:30am is worse than a hangover. Oh, and Edith woke up every three hours all night long to be fed. That's pretty bad, too!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
8 years...
It's hard to believe that Martin and I got married a whole eight years ago. And aside from that hour the next day when I totally freaked out, I haven't regreted it for a moment since!
We probably seem like such an odd couple, because we are very different. But somehow, we work. We complement each other and balance each other out, and we are both crazy about each other. It hasn't been all roses and sunshine, but it's always been worth the time and effort. Martin is a terriffic husband and father, and I couldn't ask for a better partner.
We had a nice anniversary. Martin booked the day off work and we decided that rather than do something with just the two of us, we'd have a family outing. We drove across the bridge (makes my blood boil every time, £2.70 each way to cross the darned thing) and went to The Deep. It's the world's only submarium, and very cool. We had been talking it up to Dylan for days, telling him we were going to see big fish. He was completely entranced by the coral reef area and loved all the brightly coloured fish. He was also excited to see "Nemo," and couldn't get enough of the rays--especially the smaller ones with bright blue spots. In the end, he was more interested in those than in the "big fish," pretty much ignoring the sharks and stuff.
So we had a delightful time with the family, then came home to give the kids dinner. We did bath time and bed time at the Mundays' house and deserted the kids there for the evening. Martin and I smuggled a bucket of KFC into the cinema and watched a movie. We had a great time. Very nearly had the theater to ourselves because it was a subtitled showing, but two guys came in at the last minute. We picked the kids up and brought them home to bed. We kind of plan on having a rough morning when we put them to bed there, because neither kid sleeps as well when we interrupt their sleep like that. True to form, Dylan was up at 5am. Edith was the realproblem though, waking up at 4 for a feed, greedily gulping down milk and then throwing it up, first in our bed and then in hers. So our night was filled with crying and vomiting baby, plus late night bed linen changes.
But the day was great, and our date was fun, so I can't really complain. I've got a few pictures to post, but that'll have to be done later. I'm so behind on the housework because the weather is changing and that means my asthma has flared up. It requires constant effort to keep my house from looking dirty and disgusting, and that becomes very apparent when I can't supply that constant effort. But it's kind of nice--makes me feel like I do a lot of hard work and contribute lots to the running of our house!
We probably seem like such an odd couple, because we are very different. But somehow, we work. We complement each other and balance each other out, and we are both crazy about each other. It hasn't been all roses and sunshine, but it's always been worth the time and effort. Martin is a terriffic husband and father, and I couldn't ask for a better partner.
We had a nice anniversary. Martin booked the day off work and we decided that rather than do something with just the two of us, we'd have a family outing. We drove across the bridge (makes my blood boil every time, £2.70 each way to cross the darned thing) and went to The Deep. It's the world's only submarium, and very cool. We had been talking it up to Dylan for days, telling him we were going to see big fish. He was completely entranced by the coral reef area and loved all the brightly coloured fish. He was also excited to see "Nemo," and couldn't get enough of the rays--especially the smaller ones with bright blue spots. In the end, he was more interested in those than in the "big fish," pretty much ignoring the sharks and stuff.
So we had a delightful time with the family, then came home to give the kids dinner. We did bath time and bed time at the Mundays' house and deserted the kids there for the evening. Martin and I smuggled a bucket of KFC into the cinema and watched a movie. We had a great time. Very nearly had the theater to ourselves because it was a subtitled showing, but two guys came in at the last minute. We picked the kids up and brought them home to bed. We kind of plan on having a rough morning when we put them to bed there, because neither kid sleeps as well when we interrupt their sleep like that. True to form, Dylan was up at 5am. Edith was the realproblem though, waking up at 4 for a feed, greedily gulping down milk and then throwing it up, first in our bed and then in hers. So our night was filled with crying and vomiting baby, plus late night bed linen changes.
But the day was great, and our date was fun, so I can't really complain. I've got a few pictures to post, but that'll have to be done later. I'm so behind on the housework because the weather is changing and that means my asthma has flared up. It requires constant effort to keep my house from looking dirty and disgusting, and that becomes very apparent when I can't supply that constant effort. But it's kind of nice--makes me feel like I do a lot of hard work and contribute lots to the running of our house!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)