So, playing the piano just isn't as relaxing as it used to be. Growing up, the piano was my "happy place"--the place I would go to unwind and release stress after a long day. Since the beginning of Mommyhood, however, I rarely tickle the ivories. I think I've figured out why since running across this video... (which was unknowingly filmed, by the way.)
P.S. I'm a little hesitant to share this, but I'm feeling daring after getting news tonight that I've passed all seven of my comprehensive exams. Yippee! :) Still, no mocking please. After all, fools mock, but they shall mourn.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A Blast from the Past
So, I figure that I'm long overdue for a cutekids picturepost. (As far as the grand-parental units are concerned, twenty minutes is overdue, but I can't keep up that lively pace.)
I picked up our daughters this afternoon from their Aunt C.'s house where they had been gardening, and was greeted by this adorable sight! They'd had so much messy fun that the clothes ended up in the washer while the girls got tossed in the tub. Afterwards, they got to dress up as a blast from the past. I think Talia looks particularly stylish, don't you?
I picked up our daughters this afternoon from their Aunt C.'s house where they had been gardening, and was greeted by this adorable sight! They'd had so much messy fun that the clothes ended up in the washer while the girls got tossed in the tub. Afterwards, they got to dress up as a blast from the past. I think Talia looks particularly stylish, don't you?
My Sweet Little Binky
Yesterday our family was driving home when Brooklyn composed the following sonnet to her sweetheart. Here's an honest-to-goodness literal transcription:
Where's my sweet little binky?
She's lonely.
She needs me.
I love her.
I want to suck her thumb.
Oh, my sweet little binky!
It's amazing the passionate inspiration that a piece of plastic can inspire in a three year-old.
Where's my sweet little binky?
She's lonely.
She needs me.
I love her.
I want to suck her thumb.
Oh, my sweet little binky!
It's amazing the passionate inspiration that a piece of plastic can inspire in a three year-old.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
McWisdom
Sometimes we encounter wisdom in the most unlikely of places. Yesterday our family was walking out of McDonalds when we met a friendly employee who commented on our cute kids while emptying the trash cans. Jason thanked him for the compliment, and asked if he had any children of his own. He replied, no sirree, he wasn't married yet, and he wasn't gonna have no kids outta wedlock. Happy to meet a stranger who so openly professes morality, I smiled and felt grateful for the lesson I had learned about standing up for goodness.
However, my lesson in wisdom was just beginning. After Jason slipped out the door with a baby in one arm and a diaper bag on the other, this man pulled me aside. Looking me straight in the eyes, he said, "I hope you know how lucky you are to have a man who does what he's supposed to do. I'll bet you got a dozen friends who would kill to have a man like yours."
My eyes filled with tears as I walked into the parking lot and realized how right he was. This man, humble in speech and appearance, possessed a wisdom and insight so profound that I thought of the angels that walk among us.
Indeed, I am lucky. I feel so grateful to have a husband who is intelligent, funny, creative, talented, but most of all loving, considerate, thoughtful, and good. It sounds cheesy, but he truly inspires me to be better every day. In those moments when I have questioned the sanity of juggling graduate school, an assistantship, and motherhood, I have felt peace knowing that each moment the girls are not with me, they are building loving relationships with their father. He truly is the best Dad.
And so, please bear with me if I brag on Jason yet again by sharing a link to a video of him telling the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears to our daughters. I recently posted this video for my ESL students since we're doing a mini-unit on fairy tales. The storyline is familiar, but Jason's academy award winning sound effects give it a life of its own. :)
However, my lesson in wisdom was just beginning. After Jason slipped out the door with a baby in one arm and a diaper bag on the other, this man pulled me aside. Looking me straight in the eyes, he said, "I hope you know how lucky you are to have a man who does what he's supposed to do. I'll bet you got a dozen friends who would kill to have a man like yours."
My eyes filled with tears as I walked into the parking lot and realized how right he was. This man, humble in speech and appearance, possessed a wisdom and insight so profound that I thought of the angels that walk among us.
Indeed, I am lucky. I feel so grateful to have a husband who is intelligent, funny, creative, talented, but most of all loving, considerate, thoughtful, and good. It sounds cheesy, but he truly inspires me to be better every day. In those moments when I have questioned the sanity of juggling graduate school, an assistantship, and motherhood, I have felt peace knowing that each moment the girls are not with me, they are building loving relationships with their father. He truly is the best Dad.
And so, please bear with me if I brag on Jason yet again by sharing a link to a video of him telling the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears to our daughters. I recently posted this video for my ESL students since we're doing a mini-unit on fairy tales. The storyline is familiar, but Jason's academy award winning sound effects give it a life of its own. :)
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Trying out Technology
As part of my course in Computer-Mediated Communication, I recently had to make a movie. (I also was required to post it somewhere. That explains why you are being tortured with this.) While you may be impressed with my slow-motion acting ability, Jason is truly the star. He was kind enough to let me record a wonderful paper he recently wrote about technology and how it is changing our perceptions of reality. If you'd like to read part of it, you can click here.
Warning: this was definitely an amateur production! Fortunately, in the process I've learned a lot about podcasting, so if you stay tuned, you may find cuter (and shorter) videos of our girls in the future. That assumes, of course, that I survive my comprehensive exams over the next couple weeks....a very big assumption!
Warning: this was definitely an amateur production! Fortunately, in the process I've learned a lot about podcasting, so if you stay tuned, you may find cuter (and shorter) videos of our girls in the future. That assumes, of course, that I survive my comprehensive exams over the next couple weeks....a very big assumption!
Friday, April 04, 2008
A Different Answer
So our family went on a nice little outing to fill the car with gas today (in the process we spent our life's inheritance, but that's a story for another day.) I thought I'd share our conversation with Brooklyn in the backseat.
Brooklyn: Can I play with Mommy's camera?
Daddy: No.
Brooklyn: Please?
Daddy: I'm sorry, no.
Brooklyn: Pleeeeeaaaaase?
Daddy: I already gave you an answer.
Brooklyn: Give me a different answer.
The dialogue sure made me chuckle. Yet when I stopped to think about it, I realized that I often do the same thing. How many times have I prayed and been given an answer, only to turn around and ask God to please give me a different answer because His didn't suit my fancy. Maybe I need to trust that since earthly parents generally know what's best, Heavenly parents probably do too.
Brooklyn: Can I play with Mommy's camera?
Daddy: No.
Brooklyn: Please?
Daddy: I'm sorry, no.
Brooklyn: Pleeeeeaaaaase?
Daddy: I already gave you an answer.
Brooklyn: Give me a different answer.
The dialogue sure made me chuckle. Yet when I stopped to think about it, I realized that I often do the same thing. How many times have I prayed and been given an answer, only to turn around and ask God to please give me a different answer because His didn't suit my fancy. Maybe I need to trust that since earthly parents generally know what's best, Heavenly parents probably do too.
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