Chills and Thrills

Everett: Well, the Chill is that I had a horrid bum rash last week. The Thrill is that it is gone. I am also moving around--cruising furniture, pulling myself up, and generally having a grand time escaping from Mom (who I call "Sheila") and Dada (who I call "Dada"). The BIGGEST THRILL is that I don't have to take ANY Prevacid, any more! Bye, bye acid reflux medicine!

Erik: My Chill is that the ward Christmas party is this Saturday, and I am busy trying to get everything aligned so that it will go well. My Thrill is that my job hunt is going well. I have been able to find a several firms in Texas that I am interested in and have been able to make some progress with each of them.

Sheila: My Chill is that I will no longer be working at the Department soon, and my Thrill is that in several weeks I will no longer be working at the Department. As the reality of my departure sinks in, I am unexpectedly feeling how much I will miss DC, my coworkers, the work that I do, and exercising that part of my life. At the same time, I am so excited to take a music class with Everett, to let him sleep every morning as long as he needs to before we start the day, and to teach him to call me "Mama."

Last week, I tried to watch Laura.

I really enjoy older films as I have consistently been a strong believer that, stylistically, I was born in the wrong decade. But, I couldn't wait for the rising action, the plot to unfold, when I was watching Laura. I had to turn it the movie off and watch an episode of Bones. I couldn't squash that need to be intensely hooked right at the beginning (even before the beginning credits). So sad--as my behavior follows that "marketing programming" where shows get you as you are surfing channels, tempting you to spend the next hour of your life dedicated to watching their show, their advertisers.

Have I given up any intellectual responsibility on being entertained? Am I morphing into a consumer of entertainment that seems to not want to use the brain or be motivated by the development? Am I so antsy to be shocked, puzzled, made to laugh that I have given up any patience?

One of the last movies that propelled me to learn more, take some action in my own life, was Motorcycle Diaries. It tells a true story of an Argentinean student and his friend who motorcycled across South America learning more about how others live their lives and that feeling of dissonance that leads you to stand up for those who you believe cannot stand for themselves.

I still have Laura at home. I plan to watch the movie, still. Maybe I'll have to explicitly slow down my pace expectation, force myself to enjoy each cinematic moment, maybe take notes on the furniture, but also just savor the dialogue, critic the camera angle, or discern exactly what the take-away might be. Or maybe I can just snooze through the slow parts.

To: My Dear Aunt Mandy

From: Everett

Address: Sjolseth Jailhouse, 3rd Floor

My Dear Aunt Mandy,

Thank you so much for rescuing me from bum pain due to your very knowledge-able advice about diaper rash. I am feelin' so much better. Mom can even change my diaper without me runnin' away and cryin'. So, I guess she should really be the one thankin' ya. So, since you are dispensing advice, do you have any about breakin' out of the jailhouse here? 'Cause I could sure use some 'bout now.

Very sin-cerely your nephew,

Evy

Video Moments of Evy

We were able to capture a couple moments with Everett Monday night. Please forgive the inane comments from the parents. We know we are dorks, and we are okay with that.



The following are just about showing how Everett is moving around--

And, then here he is sort of showing off his strumming skills (he loves to play his guitar, drum, and piano):

Parenting Dilemna #1,024

Santa is our parenting dilemma. We have always chosen to limit the Santa-y decorations. We really try each Christmas to focus on a service project--some years we do this better than others. Now we are at a point (we really have another year) to figure out if we want to teach Everett about Santa.

Now, I know some of you are gasping in horror that I could even think of not building a child's fantasy about this jolly kind gift giver, but in my typical fashion, I do question it. I've heard all the arguments about you are teaching your child to use his imagination, but I question those. When you teach your child that the stove is hot, is that teaching him to use his imagination? No, we only say teaching about Santa is using the imagination because WE have to use our imagination to conceptualize his existence.

I really am not too keen on getting Everett's picture taken on Santa's lap. There isn't any harm in it (except if he is scared of a second rate, stinky, seasonal worker sweating in a Santa suit). The pictures can be really cute. But, I just don't know.

I've heard of parents teaching about the spirit of Christmas, and that Santa is a figure who embodies that. How do you teach a 1-2 year old that? I don't want to socially stunt my kid, "He's the one that has never heard about Santa." Nor do I want to be the spoiler of other parents' work in building up the Santa image by making other kids cry (ie, I don't want him spilling the beans in his kindergarten class that Santa will never, ever come).

I want the phrase "Christmas" to bring images of love, sacrifice, and Christ.---Not the ever growing lists of wants that I even had as a kid.

What about the "magic of Christmas" that Santa brings? Well, isn't love and service toward others really the magical part of the season? Isn't further understanding the birth of Christ, his mission, and his sacrifice the real magic?

I am sure I'll come to terms with this since there are others I am going to have to decide what to do with--(1) Tooth Fairy, (2) Easter Bunny, (3) Boogy Man, and the ever fun and adventurous (4) Snipe Hunting.

NOAA Photo Library
Wilson Bentley, a Vermont farmer, took photographs of snowflakes under a microscope as a hobby. These photographs were published in the "Monthly Weather Review" in 1902.

Christmas Tree Compromise

Erik and I often polarize to the opposite ends of the spectrum. Even so, whether it be politics, philosophies on baby strollers and escalators, or when a car is "too old" to be fixed--we can usually find a compromise (sometimes the compromise is to not talk about the issue). This year we found a compromise with the Christmas tree lights.

We always put colored lights on the tree. I have always wanted to just use the white lights. This year we put both of the types of lights on the tree. So, we can have only white lights or only colored lights or both. Yes, we have about 400 lights on our 7 foot tree. And, Erik's favorite lighting position now seems to be using ALL the lights. I still like using just the white lights.

Today's Forecast--Snow

Today, snow hit the area earlier than expected. So, instead of snow meaning this:

It Meant This:

And This:

The Dulles Toll Road was a parking lot. I saw more than 2 taxis in the 8 foot ditch. After counting 20 cars in accidents or all out wrecks, I stopped counting. I arrived at work pre--etty late.

Erik and I maneuvered our schedule this afternoon to beat snow during rush hour during sundown . . . and arrived to a neighborhood quieted with the muffling of snow, the pristine whiteness of a fresh snowfall, and the sound of the "crunch-crunch" that comes with walking on 3 inches of that whiteness. Maybe tomorrow we'll get to play in it.

More Cool Stuff

I love glass . . . stained glass, colored glass, hand-blown glass, and I love color. I was so excited to get to a Dale Chihuly exhibition in Chicago several years ago and never tire watching him work or seeing his exhibitions. BTW, he does amazing things with ice, too. Here are more pictures--at Kew Gardens.

One other cool item I wanted to mention, Diapees and Wipees. Despite the name, it really is a cool product. Here's mine:

Parenting Dilemna #1,023

Here is a simple addition problem for you:

Babygate + mentally challenged cat + accidentally trapped by the gate on the upper floor + no kitty litter box on previously mentioned floor + duration of 12 hours = (what do you think?)

Oh, yeah, she peed all over Everett's crib bedding. All over. All over. She must have peed like 2 gallons of pee. Okay, slight exaggeration. But, it was a lot.

Erik was trying to make me feel better about the situation (he's the one who accidentally locked her on the top floor), "Sheila, I am sure she held it a long time before she finally found some place to pee." y.e.a.h.

And, is it coincidence that she peed in the bed of my beloved son who takes up more of our time which we now don't spend with her?

The good side to all of this . . . . no poop found . . . . yet.

Cause You Probably Need to Know

Texas accepts bid to 2007 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas (9-3) has accepted an invitation to be the Big 12 representative in the 2007 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl where it will face the Arizona State University Sun Devils (10-2) of the Pac-10 Conference on Thursday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. Central on ESPN in San Diego’s 70,561-seat Qualcomm Stadium.

And so, mark your calendars--the next "UT Ugliest Sweater Competition" has been scheduled.

Demotivations

Okay, we don't have to look far for things in our lives to demotivate us. So why not acknowledge it. I am a big fan of the demotivating posters--Despair. And you can even make your own. So, of course I had to try one. This is what it ended up looking like.

And all those who don't know not to take these posters seriously---No, the real reason to invite people over is true friendship, or true love, or the fact that the larger size bag of chips was on sale and you don't want to eat the leftovers.

Chills and Thrills

Sheila: My chill for the week was another epidural cervical shot. It is in the neck for my herniated disks. If I could fast forward to 3 days after the shot, that would be sweet, but the days right after the shot are worse than just the pain from the herniated disks. I was held up in bed with a heading pad. However, my thrill for the week is that the end to this current phase of my federal career is coming quickly. I have resigned, effective at the beginning of February. I have several conferences where I am presenting and several projects to finish up before I leave. It will be sad to quit, and I am sure I'll have some time where I won't know what to do with myself since I have worked since high school. But, I am looking forward to this next phase. And, yes, I know that being a mom is a full-time job, but the people who need to understand what I just said, did.

Everett: I basically only have thrills this week. The Christmas tree is up, I can almost catch the cat, and I am pulling up to STANDING, rolling around, crawling faster than the speed of light, and think that the bathroom is my personal territory. Beware any of you who occupy that room without me!

Erik: My chill is that I am in charge of the ward party that will be in two weeks, and it is hard to see that anything is really done or resolved for it. The theme is pretty cool, "The Retro Christmas Party". My thrill--putting up blinking colored lights on the Christmas tree, which is very reminiscent of my childhood.

Help with UT Sweater Seek and Find

So, I am not going to directly talk about what happened on November 23rd in College Station. As we all await the bowl game assignment, we are on the look-out for an "ugly UT sweater" for Everett (size 2T to 4T). Erik and I will be competing again in the ugly UT sweater competition now scheduled for the next game day, and Everett needs to be in the running.

For those who are unfamiliar with our tradition, every year Erik and I compete against each other for who has the ugliest UT sweater . . . and we wear the same sweaters every year. Last year we did not hold the competition due to bedrest and overall newborn parent fatigue (aka we forgot). In the previous years--Sheila reigned as winner in 2005 while in 2004 Erik held that title.

I could put a picture of us wearing out sweaters but it would give Everett undue advantage. So, I need your help in finding Everett the ugliest UT sweater . . . post a message on our Guestbook or email us with your find.

(BTW, we when we say "ugliest" sweater, for those of you die-hard UT rivals, having a Texas insignia on it does not qualify for "ugliest" . . . "ugliest" refers to the style or handcraft of the sweater--not the fact that it is burnt orange or has a longhorn on it.)

***Note as the official November Adoption Month comes to an end, don't miss out on this article:

The Changing Faces of Adoption

Happy-happy . . .

All of you can pinpoint it, you know, that part in the movie where music is used to move the plot along, accelerate the rising action . . .

• Like the Karate Kid practicing his moves before the big competition--


• Like the make-over/shopping spree to transform a geek before prom--


• Like the grinding practice to get the move "just right" in The Cutting Edge before the Olympics--

Like my day today. And, you can't just choose any music to build the anticipation, the excitement of the upcoming execution all the while making hard, tear inducing work seem effortless.


Today, the music (selection shows I am a good early 90s girl . . . it played in my head) helped me fast forward a great deal of my work . . . leading up to. . . my FRIDAY. I am off the rest of the week. Happy Friday, Sheila!

by Jeff Lyons

Cool Stuff Continued

So, it is obvious that my cool stuff is mainly about designs and trends that I like:

Orna Lalo jewelry---Saw these colorful accessories in Macedonia and love, love, love the creative flair each piece has.

Another place I like to go is Etsy--

And, in case you are looking for some inspiration----I really enjoyed seeing the lengths of theme that these photos show of one artist going to the maximum effort to bring Alice in Wonderland life.

When I need something unique looking or unusual to fulfill a baby related item like bibs, etc . . . I start with Mommies with Style.

And, a something a friend sent today:

Best Sign Ever Seen In a Grocery Store

Thinking About Some Cool Stuff

I am constantly thinking of what Everett is going to need next for clothes, etc. My two most pressing areas--tree houses and chairs.

Tree Houses

Recently, especially since he is able to tackle stairs, of course I was thinking of the next logical step, tree houses. Kind of overstepping some key developmental areas, but who doesn't love a cool tree house?

Check out my two tree house fantasies:

KidsCrookedHouse (see pictures to the left)

The Children's Cottage Company

Chair for Evy

Evy needs a chair. Why? Well, he looks so darn cute sitting in one---So, maybe need isn't the right word. But, looking led me to this chair--P'kolino

The Keys

The following video clip highlights a talent and constant focus of our son, Everett.

That concludes our exercise in getting videos onto blogger. We hope you appreciated our learning experience.

Chills and Thrills

This week's "Chills and Thrills" are presented family style:

The Family Chill: Can't really think of one . . . except that we finally put in a baby gate, something we thought would forever dispel any misunderstood notion that we are handy.

The Family Thrills:

• We were able to visit Rosie and her family for Thanksgiving.

• We also were able to catch up with the Stipes who were visiting from the Detroit area. The husbands went to MBA school at Chicago at the same time.


• We also had dinner at Cafesano and visited with sweet Kyra and her mom and dad.


• Everett is a super crawler and is now going up and down steps.

Evy the Rocker

Enjoy Everett's singing debut and note the exceptional skill working the microphone cord.

Pre-Cub Scout Lessons from Dad

Lesson #1--Firestarting

Fires are best to have when the weather gets cold. Sometimes you have to be patient and let the fire grow.

Don't get too close when you watch the firewood burn.

Lesson #2--Extreme Peek-a-Boo

The trick is to pop up over the edge of the crib unexpectedly and catch the other player's hair.

Lesson #3--Sound Effects

"Roar" is the latest in the ongoing and practiced repertoire. First introduced by fellow "Pre-Cub" Austin, Everett's cousin, Everett and Dad have roaring competitions, usually in the car while waiting for Mom.