BFF

Juju, if you're reading this STOP LOOKING. If you are reading, why don't you ever freaking comment?!! This card is for Juju's birthday (don't you love that the whole internet now knows you as Juju?!!) along with some goodies that I failed to photograph before wrapping them up. I was going to wait til after her b-day to post this, but I have to have something to show for yesterday and this is it.

I spent an amazingly long time setting up this photo and took 39 pictures! I'm trying to improve my picture-taking skillz. Here is a source of photography inspiration for me.

It's a sweet and sour day at our house. Sweet because Arwyn returned home and we have danced and sang all evening (she's currently stuck on "Go for G" by We Might Be Giants). Sour because The Bubs got some bad news at work today and we are contemplating second and/or part-time jobs. Send some happy thoughts our way before we drink ourselves into a pickle.

Fishbowls For Everyone!

Friday night dinner with friends at a local German restaurant. Not my pretty drink, although I did have some tasty Purple Haze beer. My hubby is "watching tv" (aka snoring in the recliner) while fuse plays in the background and everyone on seems to be talking about puke. Maybe I'm just sensitive to the subject since I talked to my sister tonight and Miss Arwyn puked a bit earlier. Aunt DJ thinks Arwyn was sticking her hand down her throat AGAIN. I have NO IDEA why she does this. She went through a phase of it a few months ago (but never made herself throw up, just gag) and it finally went away, but the habit seems to be back. What sort of enjoyment could she possibly get from this? Blech.

I hope to have some creative-type things to post about in the next few days. The weather hasn't cooperated much for fence painting, so I'll be clocking some time at the craft table this weekend.

Aw, Shucks

There have been so many years lately where I felt like summer was passing me by, spending so many hours of the day in an air-conditioned office. This year I can finally say that it truly feels like summer. We have been lucky enough to do many "summer" activities. We went on vacation to the beach, we've gone swimming several times, we went to a baseball game, we went to a cookout for July 4th, we've got lots of mosquito bites.


Tonight I had my first official summer meal of the season. My sister brought us corn, tomatoes and a zucchini from Amish country. That first bite of tomato was heaven. I ate 2 whole tomatoes with a dash of salt. When I was a kid, I ate so many tomatoes that I got sores in my mouth. My absolute favorite is a tomato sandwich: white bread, Miracle Whip and tomato.


I sat on my front porch and shucked the corn while a mosquito chowed down on my arm. It brought back memories of participating in this activity when I was a kid. We had an enormous garden for many years and my mom would get up early to pick the ears of corn, I would help shuck and then the fun part would start, cutting it off the cobb to freeze. My mom and grandma would set up a table outside and get to work, pieces of corn flying as they cut and talked. My mom valued speed above all else, but I was impressed with the person who could cut the corn off in long, thick rows. When I was finally old enough to be entrusted with a knife, I had my chance to try out this skill, and I soon learned it wasn't so much skill as a good knife. I also learned if I kept my mouth shut, I heard a lot more interesting gossip! We would then pile the corn into freezer boxes and store them away for the winter months. Seeing the milky white juice from the cut corn and that smell can really take me back.


I still love those long columns of corn still in one piece. I seem to be much better at achieving this than I once was, but maybe its just my knife. I sliced up the zucchini and fried it, using my mom's "recipe", if you can call it that ("Beat egg with some Milnot" "Dip in flour and salt" -- not so much with the measurements). It took a couple of batches to get it to come out right, just like I remembered it. Good memories. Ah, summer.

Hope Your Hip Heals Nicely

Cardstock, patterned paper (wild asparagus "all boy" polka dot/blue paper), ink (Jim Holtz Distress Ink in old paper), brads (making memories tropic mini circle), alphabet stamps (Hero Arts Printer's Lowercase).

Daddy's Girl

My sister came to visit us Tuesday and I treated her to a fabulous haircut for her birthday (which was 2 months ago), ice cream and my great company. What more could a girl want? We stayed up until 2 am talking and giggling. She left yesterday afternoon and took my babester with her for another visit.

Today I spent the majority of the day driving my father-in-law to and fro the VA Hospital in Illinois for an appointment. I saw some interesting things along the way (a sign stating "Egyptian Health Clinic" and an arrow pointing left?), but I was driving, so photo-taking seemed a tad dangerous. You'll just have to use your imaginations.

Hodge Podge

I took this picture reflected in the mirror in our bedroom. We were trying out a new hair-do. Those are my sexy legs in the background. Those are the not-so-sexy cords from the tv and dvd player at the foot of the bed. Our room is rather smallish. What are you gonna do?


Carrie, if you are reading this, Arwyn is in LUV with this Elmo. We accidentally left him at imollie's house on Thursday and she asked "Where's Elmo?" about 500 times until we went to pick him up. She took a nap with Elmo, she ate dinner beside Elmo, she put him on the couch and he read books with her, and in this picture she is saying, "Oooooooh Elmo. Oooooooooooh Elmo."


This was taken today at the birthday party we attended. We got tokens! We rode the apple and the cat! We played ski ball! We ate pizza, juice, gummy worms and icing! Yipee!

Craftin' the Night Away

These are some small wooden letters (Arwyn's initials) that I painted for her room. They are currently on the top edge of her bulletin board, because every 2-year-old needs a bulletin board to keep on top of her hectic schedule.


This is a birthday card that I made for one of Arwyn's friends. Cardstock, printed paper, ribbon, ink. I want to enter a birthday card into Paper Crafts birthday card contest. Someone please yell at me so I will meet the July 31 deadline.

Benign

This doctor's office is next door to my dermatologist. His name is B. Poos. Need I say more?

I had a bit of a scare the past couple of weeks. I had an unusual tumor-type object removed from my back and had to wait a week to get the lab results. It was, thankfully, benign and now my scar is healing and my skin is revolting by breaking out in a lovely, itchy rash. However, as a devoted Dooce fan, I've been brutally reminded that not everyone has been so lucky lately. I'll take my itchy rash over skin cancer any day. Heather, you are in our thoughts.

Playdate Swim Party

I'm posting from my in-law's house. No relief in sight on the technical difficulties front. Our computer is beyond ancient, so I'm not even sure how much hope remains for the poor thing. On the bright side, the in-laws have a cable modem, and WOW, it sure makes posting a lot faster.

These pics were taken last week at a playdate with some friends. Arwyn is modeling her newest swimsuit. She now has FIVE, sheesh. I told my sister not to get her another one when she had four, then I went out and bought one myself. I tried to justify it by buying a bigger size in the hopes she can still wear it next year. Hey, I can dream, all right?!! It is totally not my fault that they make little girls clothes so cute.

Technical Difficulties

Sorry for the lack of posts as of late. We are experiencing technical difficulties with the computer. Stay tuned!

Is It Really Only Tuesday?

Here's Arwyn trying to look out the window to see a bunny in the neighbor's yard.


This is the look I get most often throughout the day.


I'm not so evil after all.

I had a discussion today with my sister about the challenges of a 2 year old. What I gleaned from the conversation was its only going to get worse! Her two boys are 18 and 13. Apparently being the parent of a teenage is no picnic either. Lord help us all.

I Wasn't Finished Yet!

Apparently you can only upload five pictures at a time to Blogger. Hmmmphf.

Anywho, then we drank some tasty milk.


Then we practiced writing and saying our numbers with daddy ...




... until we fell off the couch. Then we went to bed. The end.

Arwyn has been a dream the past couple of days. I said to Bubby tonight after dinner, "She has been so good today!" I love these types of days.

Play by Play Sunday

It was another exciting day in the Horstman household. First we stuffed ourselves with cinnamon rolls for breakfast.


Some of us took this as a personal challenge ...


... but couldn't hold out for the strong finish.


This afternoon we filled up the pool ...


... and drank some grassy water.

Arwyn Dae Renner

Today was the first day of Arwyn's gymnastics/tumbling class. I was very glad Bubby was there, as I would have had a hard time flipping Arwyn around, what with the stitches in the back and all. There were about 6 or 8 little girls in the class. First they did some stretches, then they all ran around the room exploring and trying out the equipment, then they played with a big parachute, got a stamp and we were done.


This was her favorite piece of equipment. They were supposed to jump off the top and go into a roll, but she would only jump if Daddy held on to her. Otherwise, she scooted her little bum to the edge and slid off, then laid on the mat and flopped around like a fish. She also kept trying to cut in line. Daddy doesn't quite have the Playdate Etiquette down. Hint: if you let her cut in front of the other kids, all the other moms will hate you! Also, its not nice.


The 2-3 year age difference was quite apparent, as the older girls were jumping off of things, walking on the balance beam by themselves and didn't fall off as a certain someone did (I was the mean one laughing while my child was crying, but at least I didn't take a picture.)


She was a bit freaked out about standing on her head, but Daddy finally coaxed her into it. On to back hand-springs next time!

WIP Friday on Saturday

Oops, forgot to post this yesterday. I haven't had much time or inclination to craft this week. This is what my desk usually looks like, a big ol' mess. I like to think its part of the creative process.

Drinking Her Dinner

Not exactly the same as when I drink my dinner, although that's exactly what I wanted to do by the time it was over. A few nights ago we had chicken with lime sauce (sauce in the silver cup), noodles, and green beans. She has water in the purple cup and lemonade in the green turtle cup. She just kept going back and forth between the lime sauce and lemonade, taking big gulps of each. I thought we could bribe her to eat more if we gave her lemonade (the next phase of parenting: Bribery) and that worked for about five minutes. Then things deteriorated into "You have to eat 3 more bites. You have to eat 1 more bite. You still have to eat 1 more bite. It's only 1 bite and you can get down!" Then she spit out the last bite (twice) and was unceramoniously deposited into a time out in her bed by her daddy. Ah, the joys of dinner with a 2-year-old! It started out so promising ...

She's Starting Her Own Blog Tomorrow

Daddy is also teaching her to use the remote. She'll be self-sufficient in no time!

Its Always Something

Due to torrential downpours yesterday and sauna-like temperatures today, we have discovered a new source of entertainment: sitting at Mommy's art desk going through all of her things. It is rather annoying to have to clean it all up, but it was good for an hour and a half yesterday and an hour today. I'm hoping for even longer this evening. Hubby Bubby is working late, Arwyn is being rather clingy, I have 10 stitches in my back (had a "thingy" removed - can never remember 18-letter words dermatologist uses, therefore it is a thingy) and I'm not supposed to drink. I'm not supposed to run tonight either, so I can't even look forward to leg pain and buckets of sweat. I'll have to resort to chocolate.

Nobody Likes a Whiner and I Don't Care

Did you ever have a day where you just really don't like your child? Oh, come on internets. Don't make me out to be a bitch here. I can't be the only one. Sure, she looks perfectly cute and sweet in this picture, playing with the parachute at story time. But you weren't at my house about 15 minutes ago when I put her to bed early for her own protection. From ME.

Bubby had to work late tonight and then play basketball, which puts me on child duty from sun up til sun down. Add to that a child who is still snotty and whiney and you have the perfect recipe for disaster. I didn't yell or throw anything. After the last straw was forcibly hanked from wherever those types of things are stored, I just quietly said, "I can't do this anymore. Its time to go to bed." to which she heart-breakingly replied, "Arwyn stop crying. No go bed." because of the numerous times she's been threatened with bed over the past few days.

While I was collecting the trash to put by the curb tonight, I was thinking of a funny post about trash bags but right now it doesn't seem so funny. I think I'll grab another beer and go watch some Sopranos. Maybe I'll feel better about my life in comparison to the Mafia.

Isn't She Lovely

Arwyn had her very first haircut today at the ripe old age of 2. I didn't even cry or anything. Jule the Hair Lady was awesome. She let Arwyn look at and hold (!) her digital camera, talked to her about doggies and birthdays and gave her a sucker when she was done.



Then we went to the library and Arwyn ran around outside with her friends while Mommy got to have an adult conversation, cramming as many words as possible into the hour.

We're still whiney and snotty in the Horstman house. All I'm hoping for at this point is a better day tomorrow.

A Star is Born

Congratulations to our good friends Tony and Jill on the birth of their second child, Jordan Elizabeth. We can't wait to meet her!

Blah

We've not had a very fun weekend. My poor little baby is not feeling well. It doesn't seem to be anything major. She has a nasty cough, a runny nose and a low-grade fever. But that means we've been stuck in the house all weekend. Bubby and I did make it out to a show opening in New Harmony last night, but he's working today. So Arwyn and I are watching the Sesame Street All Star Alphabet over and over and over. GAH!


I took this picture Friday morning before we left to get her picture taken. She did really well, for the most part. She got these flip-flops for her birthday and she loves them, but I discovered that she can't walk too well in them. It took us approximately 8 years to get from the store back to the car. She HAD to do it by herself, and so she would take about 5 steps, one would fall off, she'd stop to put it back on and take a few more steps before starting the process all over again. SIGH. Then you have all the old ladies coming out of the store that have to stop and comment. At least we didn't have anything else to do that day, so I tried really hard to be patient. But now the flip-flops are only for wearing in the house until she learns how to keep them on.

If you need anything, I'll be in the recliner with a pitiful girl on my lap watching All Star Alphabet AGAIN.

Thrifty

Yesterday I stopped at a thrift store I'd never been to before. It was pretty run down, a little creepy, but I found the greatest stuff! I will definitely be going back. I didn't even make it through all of the rooms. I got everything pictured here (pitcher, 2 mugs, thermos mug and cup, and 11 books) for $2.33! I felt guilty that I got away for so cheap! I stuffed some money in the donation jar to assauge the guilt complex.

I have no idea if this pitcher is anything special, but I really liked it. It was the first thing I picked up. It doesn't say anything on the bottom, but I thought the tree and colors were sweet.


I got some really cool Sesame Street books for Arwyn (of course, she's already ripped a page in one of them), some older ones with neat illustrations that I will use on cards (if I can stand to cut them, one is in pristine condition), and a stack to keep for when Arwyn is a bit older and will sit through a longer story. The pilot book may go to a friend's son who is obsessed with airplanes.


We see to be moving into another book phase in our house. Bubby and I constantly have a stack of books from the library, but for a while Arwyn wasn't interested in the ones I would bring home for her. I recently decided to pick up some that a friend had suggested. He has two girls a bit older and they came highly recommended. We have been reading every day before nap and every night before bed. Her favorites seem to be If You Take a Mouse to School, If You Give a Pig a Party, Click Clack Moo Cows That Type, and Giggle Giggle Quack.