Heard Around the House

Fiona sucking on toes...
Mom: What's that toe taste like, Fiona?
Fiona: peanut butter & jelly

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Kristi: I think Jesus is coming tomorrow.
Trinity: How do you know?
Kristi: I don't actually know. I'm just hoping.
Trinity: Awww - but tomorrow is show-and-tell!

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In the midst of a frustrating conversation with a child who was speaking disrespectfully...
Allan: Do you know why you need to talk nice to your mom??
Connor: Yeah, she gave birth to me!

Survivor: Fiona

I have a new reality t.v. show in the making - Survivor: Fiona. The goal is to see if the contestants and/or Fiona can survive together for one week. In the last twenty-four hours this bundle of cuteness has:
* been pulled out of the road by her big sister
* sprayed herself down with Fabreeze
* colored herself with dry-erase markers
* pulled the fireplace gate on to herself
* shattered a flower vase (& carried the broken vase to me - aagh!)
* flooded our bathroom ("Look, mommy, the water!")
* shimmied down the length of our attic crawl space

...and these are the ones of which we are aware.

Any takers?

Two Years Old

Wow - no one needs me to say how precious, how beautiful, and how truly special you are, my dear Miss Fiona. Two years ago you came into our lives in a, well, rather violent way. But you and I survived that ordeal together and have been bonded in a special way ever since. I absolutely adore you, and I am so excited to see how you will rock this world. I love you, my sweet girl!

The Making of Super-fans

As I was driving to pick up the kids after school I heard a commercial highlighting that tonight was the Blazers' last game of the season. One of my lesser noble life goals is to get Trailblazer season tickets; I could not let this season go by without entering the pearly gates of the Rose Garden at least once! When I suggested it to the kids, Trinity responded appropriately: We have to go! We just have to go! Being quite early, we played outside in the freezing cold for 90 minutes before joining the mass entrance. Up to the very, very tip-top row we went, but no complaining from any of us! When we found ourselves down 8-5, Trinity became rather despondent: Mom, we're gonna lose. I just know it. Thankfully, a fortune teller she is not. It was a great game, with the Blazers up by fifteen when we left at the start of the fourth quarter (already way past bedtime). The best part of the evening was passing on the joy of this Portland tradition. I remember the '77 championship and my brothers' room adorned with Blazer paraphernalia. Now my kids, thanks to fan appreciation night, have their own Blazer posters to put up. We talked about the importance of home court advantage and the sixth man (we also discussed the importance of dancing appropriately, unlike the Blazer Dancers!) It was great seeing Trinity raise her arms and yell with each three-pointer. I laughed as people four rows up looked back to see if there was a bald-eagle screeching in the rafters - Nope, that's just Fiona screaming for joy like everyone else. Connor's biggest concerns of the evening were that the blimp couldn't throw things to us because we were too high up. Some day we'll be in range, buddy. Someday.

Let There Be Rejoicing!

I wish I had a video clip to show you from this evening. During our Life Group, Allan mentioned that he had driven home through some snow. This bit of news sent the children, especially Kevin Crumrine, into a complete tizzy. I thought the poor kid might blow a gasket from his overwhelming excitement. Allan quickly went into thorough explanations of altitude and snow elevations, while I stumbled over an apology to Leah for the night that was to come in their household (he won't go to sleep now!). When we had prayer time with the children, we went around the group and each finished the sentence, "Thank you God for..." and of course snow was mentioned. Just a few minutes later, lo and behold, I got to make the greatest announcement of the day, Kids, It's Snowing!! There was much screaming and jumping. And more screaming and jumping. The joy was beautiful and contagious.

Thank you, God, for the snow-

Question #1

My friend Jennifer, over at Creative Outlet Labs has introduced her readers to Canadian executive coach Michael Bungay Stanier and his 5 3/4 Questions You've Been Avoiding. I figure that if I work through one question per day, I'll be a whole new person by mid-afternoon on Saturday!

What's going well for you?

My marriage is probably my greatest team success story. Allan and I talk deeply, argue well, laugh often, and genuinely enjoy each other.

My kids are not out-of-control and I have not caused them any intentional physical harm (how's that for looking at the positive!). Although parenting is a tough process, my children are generally sweet kids who hug me a lot, make me laugh, and dance & wrestle with me with reckless abandon. They are healthy, active, and on target developmentally.

We are financially stable. We have a home and a car and can pay our bills on time (or close to it).

I have a wonderful extended family to whom I am immensely proud to be related. Everyone is healthy. No one is too much of embarrassment to handle.

My job is one for which I feel deep passion.

I am enjoying the age I am, the health I have, and the ways I am growing mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Although we do not connect as much as I would like, there are seasoned friendships in my life that bring me much peace.

We get to live in Portland - a place I deeply love (especially on a sunny fall day like today).

First Day of School

We had a successful first day of school and first day back to work and childcare today. You can read Trinity's account and about Connor's day on their blogs.

Happy Father's Day

Here's a little video I put together (with the help of my genius husband) to honor the PUMP men and the great fathers that they are to so many kids at PUMP.

Look Familiar Anyone??