Some Bad, Mostly Good.

The bad news....the job in Wisconsin didn't work out.

The good news....two phone interviews for this week.  And Jesse has put out quite a few more applications.  He's been working hard.  And there are sure to be more one year positions showing up in the next month or so.  Something is bound to work out. 

More good news.  We've been boiling our sap down and making the best maple syrup ever!  I've gotten one of my friends in on the boiling fun, so no sap is going to waste.  And I'm not overwhelmed on the days its flowing like crazy.  So far, I've made almost 5 pints.  I'm getting close to my goal of making one gallon of syrup. 

The downside to all this syrup production is that we haven't made pancakes to enjoy it with!  Silly us!

The Cutest Paper Dolls, Ever

The Fairy Tale Line

Fall 2010, Back to School

Saturday was rainy, blah, nasty weather.  The kids and I were cooped up in the house which was not a good idea.  Mermaid wanted me to print up some paper dolls.  I was chatting online with a friend and she suggested I check out her friend Hannah Stevenson's Mini Me Paper Dolls.  I am so glad we did.  Hannah has a few samples that I could download immediately.  And when I have some kid-free time later, I can go back and order dolls that look exactly like my own Monkey and Mermaid.  Who else thinks this is an amazing birthday/Christmas/anything present? 

Which boy or girl on your list would love to play with these sweet dolls?

Images from LilyandThistle

Doing Something for Haiti

Did you see Designmom today?  Aren't you impressed with people who do more than talk and commiserate?  I like donating to specific causes where the money goes straight to the people who need it.  So I'm donating for some great kids to have a great place to play.  Because that's what kids are supposed to do.   And because every child deserves a safe, fun, loving home.

Home

Jesse and I both read the NYTimes online.  We hardly ever read the same articles and this is probably one of them.  It's about palliative care and how patients and caregivers create a home for them to die in.

One of the most amazing experiences of my life was helping my grandmother her last month of life.  We listened to soft music.  We looked at pictures.  We fed her Haagen Dazs, because when you're dying, who cares about fat.  We visited with all the great people who dropped food by the house.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to be surrounded by alien heads, but a warm beach, a beautiful garden, lots of kids and grandkids someday.

For now, making our home beautiful still weighs on my mind.  I had kind of given up on this house because it has so many problems.  But maybe I need to give it another chance.  Put a little elbow grease into it.  Get the scary places organized.  A few more plants.  A few more pictures.  I don't want to wait until I die to have my dream home.

This was taken at the cemetery in Maine.  It overlooks the river.  Not a bad view for a final resting place.

Simplify

My goal for 2009 is to Simplify. Not easy as school has already started, J has at least two trips planned next month, and we also have goals we want to accomplish.

So...here's what I've done so far:
-Discontinued dance class for the mermaid. She didn't like the teacher, it was expensive, and one more place to drive.
-Attend monkey's music class every other week and the library on alternating weeks. Voila! One more free morning.
-Added another mom to joy school. That's one more mom in rotation and one less time I have to teach.
-Got Mermaid a bus pass so I don't have to pick her up every day. Now we just have to walk 5 minutes to meet her instead of wasting 30 minutes and driving. Yay!!
-Started exercising again after an 18 month hiatus. I now have more energy and also sleep like a log at night. Joy!

So what word will describe 2009 for you?

10 Good Things on a Not So Good Day

Good Things

1. Sweetened condensed milk flavored popsicles. Yum. A definite score from Co-op (said ko-poo)
2. Autumn leaves, crispy air, blue skies, 60 degree weather. Perfect.
3. Cooler temperatures mean my fingers have lost the summer sausage look so I can wear my Wedding Ring!
4. Found the cutest Christmas dresses for the girls thanks to Designmom and Leila & Ben. Ordered them, and thank goodness they ship internationally for a reasonable rate!
5. Am getting my hair cut tomorrow. Last time was right before Sienna's wedding. Just in time for their 5 month anniversary. Yikes, been awhile.
6. Fab dinner tonight. Rosemary chicken, mashed potatoes, spinach, and chicken gravy.
7. USB phone WORKS!!!!!! So now you can Skype me! (Just remember the time difference, por favor)
8. Saw Jared's L's new twins from the webcam. I'm jealous. They are delicious.
9. Looked at Nohea's Etsy Store. I found these earrings which I think I adore. Is there a cousin discount? (these are on her timelessnohealaboy.etsy.com store)
10. It's almost bedtime!