when i walk the streets of chicago in wicker park, ukrainian village, and rogers park (where i live), i'm so thankful that i live and work in neighborhoods of tree lined streets and unique, old houses and apartment buildings. i also love all the trees everywhere that blossom. what's better than a breeze laden with the blossomy smell of spring? mmmm.
today i decided that i would walk with mia and greta to the library (we usually drive). i actually didn't know the actual distance, but i just looked it up and it's 3 miles there and back. that's a slightly long walk when you're pushing a double stroller! it was really lovely and i was bit tired by the time we arrived home!
i have to give three cheers for goldfish crackers, since they kept the girls happily occupied on most of the way home. personally, i could list about a million things that i'd rather eat besides goldfish crackers, but two year olds and 11 month olds seem to find them to be the epitome of deliciousness.
of course we do other things when we go for walks besides munch on cheesy little creatures from the sea.
_we sing. well, mia does. her own renditions of twinkle twinkle, old mcdonald, etc.
_when i think about it, greta sings, too. or maybe she is just talking in a sing-song voice. it's a bit difficult to tell. she makes noise.
_we look for doggies. fortunately for mia, LOTS of people here own dogs and are out walking them when we take walks. seeing doggies and saying "hi doggie!" is one of the high points of mia's day.
_we undress. well, greta does. she takes off her socks and eventually, her sun hat. the girl would be a little nudist if she knew how to work the buttons and zippers of the rest of her clothing.
_we say "hi" to all the people who are walking by, see the girls, and express admiration for their cuteness and sweetness. we also have to answer the question, "are they twins?"
that was our walk. we take lots of walk. and spend LOTS of time at the park.
i have a tough job. ;-)
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Rainy Sunday
We spend disgusting amounts of time at coffeeshops. mmmm.
I babysat for Liv, Mia, and Greta yesterday from 4 pm-11 pm.
Their mom and dad were at a wedding. While she was eating dinner, Liv proclaimed, "I bet my mom is dancing with my dad right now. Like Cinderella." Love it.
Mia can say "Elmo" now. I wish I had an easier name to pronounce. Like "Elmo." She has yet to say "Kelly," or anything like it. I love those children. I will love to have some of my own someday. In a long time.
When I came home Wade and I drank beers and watched TAL. His beer was organic.
I am eating a very stale scone.
When I get home I need to make bread.
We are never going to find a church. That's how it feels. People prolly think that's silly. How many churches are their in Chicago? The thing is...I don't know what the thing is, but I guess we are really strange, overly particular people.
I desire things like...
~teaching the scriptures. not an agenda.
~a gospel that is not ground down to just forgiveness of sins OR "just love everyone and don't ask any questions or make anyone feel uncomfortable"
~a place that's not just a huge building full of rich, yuppy people doing their rich yuppy "God blesses ME and I come on Sunday to feel good and here a worship concert." (I realize that this is unkind and ungenorous.)
~the chance to help people.
Going to read, "Jesus Wants to Save Christians." and then some Henry James now.
I babysat for Liv, Mia, and Greta yesterday from 4 pm-11 pm.
Their mom and dad were at a wedding. While she was eating dinner, Liv proclaimed, "I bet my mom is dancing with my dad right now. Like Cinderella." Love it.
Mia can say "Elmo" now. I wish I had an easier name to pronounce. Like "Elmo." She has yet to say "Kelly," or anything like it. I love those children. I will love to have some of my own someday. In a long time.
When I came home Wade and I drank beers and watched TAL. His beer was organic.
I am eating a very stale scone.
When I get home I need to make bread.
We are never going to find a church. That's how it feels. People prolly think that's silly. How many churches are their in Chicago? The thing is...I don't know what the thing is, but I guess we are really strange, overly particular people.
I desire things like...
~teaching the scriptures. not an agenda.
~a gospel that is not ground down to just forgiveness of sins OR "just love everyone and don't ask any questions or make anyone feel uncomfortable"
~a place that's not just a huge building full of rich, yuppy people doing their rich yuppy "God blesses ME and I come on Sunday to feel good and here a worship concert." (I realize that this is unkind and ungenorous.)
~the chance to help people.
Going to read, "Jesus Wants to Save Christians." and then some Henry James now.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
why oh why must it be snowing?
i'm very much in the mood for spring at the moment. especially because of the planned "travels of three kindred spirits" (i'm pretty sure that's the official name until someone imagines a better one). yes, we planned a trip for wisconsin in early april and i hoped for lovely 60 degree weather, i may be a bit delusional. i hoped for a spring trip and instead it will be chilly-end-of-winter trip. oh well. we will still have a lovely time, i'm sure.
enough complaining about this abysmal snow....
i had _no_ idea that abysmal was spelled with a "y". Hopefully I will remember that, my spelling skills are in constant need of improvement.
here's a confession, i _LOVE_ weread on fb. mostly, because i am able to look back with fondness and pride on all the books that i've recently read. yes, i'm very vain about my literary accomplishments.
currently i'm reading three books simultaneously:
_The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher_ soooo fascinating and gruesome
_Marie Antoinette: The Journey_ still plodding through. a little dull and long at times.
_Til We Have Faces_ I've been telling Wade I would read this books since sophomore year. in face, i bought it just before leaving to visit ElizabethAnnewithanE in D.C...I like it much more that I thought I would.
Wade and I have definitely adopted Stella Espresso Co. as our new second home.
so, i babysat for Sarah, Charlie, and Mimi last night. earlier in the day Charlie drank dry erase board cleaner and had to go to the ER. thank you, thank you, thank you that he didn't do that while under my supervision! they didn't even have to pump his stomach, just observed him for a few hours after testing his blood. he was not only drunk from the alcohol in it, but apparently it made him bounce of the walls. kind of humorous in a morbid way. it is amazing any of us live to adulthood...
enough complaining about this abysmal snow....
i had _no_ idea that abysmal was spelled with a "y". Hopefully I will remember that, my spelling skills are in constant need of improvement.
here's a confession, i _LOVE_ weread on fb. mostly, because i am able to look back with fondness and pride on all the books that i've recently read. yes, i'm very vain about my literary accomplishments.
currently i'm reading three books simultaneously:
_The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher_ soooo fascinating and gruesome
_Marie Antoinette: The Journey_ still plodding through. a little dull and long at times.
_Til We Have Faces_ I've been telling Wade I would read this books since sophomore year. in face, i bought it just before leaving to visit ElizabethAnnewithanE in D.C...I like it much more that I thought I would.
Wade and I have definitely adopted Stella Espresso Co. as our new second home.
so, i babysat for Sarah, Charlie, and Mimi last night. earlier in the day Charlie drank dry erase board cleaner and had to go to the ER. thank you, thank you, thank you that he didn't do that while under my supervision! they didn't even have to pump his stomach, just observed him for a few hours after testing his blood. he was not only drunk from the alcohol in it, but apparently it made him bounce of the walls. kind of humorous in a morbid way. it is amazing any of us live to adulthood...
Saturday, March 14, 2009
I forgot the name of my own blog....that's how long it's been...
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
I love love love this song.
The weekend is flying as always.
We spent most of Friday night and all of this morning at a class for people interested in membership at this church where we've been lurking on and off for almost a year (?).
We met some nice people there, including a girl who is also a nanny for three girls, so we had a lot to talk about. But she is also an actress, so much more interesting that me. (There are alot of actors at this church). Upon completion of this class, we realized that this church is really not for us. So....next Sunday we'll visit somewhere new. We need to move in the direction of more emergent churches...that's our theory anyway...that they will maybe be speaking our language?
I have to go babysit in a few hours. Then my sister, two brothers and brother'sgirlfriend are coming into town, so we'll spend all day tomorrow seeing the sights of our city with them. I stole my sister's hoodie and I have to give it back to her now. It's so much warmer than any of my hoodies.
Last weekend we were at my parents and I borrowed a whole stack of books from my childhood. This led to the desire to read through several children's books. They're so delightful. So here's my list:
Roller skates
Bittersweet Time
Lily's Crossing
Blue Willow
Thimble Summer
Calico Captive
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Secret Garden
Listening for Lions
Homeless Bird
A Time to Keep Silent
Simultaneously, I'm reading a huge biography of Marie Antoinette and a memoir of a girl's drug-filled and promiscuous high school years spent in Central Park and Washington Square in New York City.
I want a smoke.
My husband gives the most amazing foot rubs. 15 minutes on each foot with body butter and when they're over I'm practically tranquilized
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
I love love love this song.
The weekend is flying as always.
We spent most of Friday night and all of this morning at a class for people interested in membership at this church where we've been lurking on and off for almost a year (?).
We met some nice people there, including a girl who is also a nanny for three girls, so we had a lot to talk about. But she is also an actress, so much more interesting that me. (There are alot of actors at this church). Upon completion of this class, we realized that this church is really not for us. So....next Sunday we'll visit somewhere new. We need to move in the direction of more emergent churches...that's our theory anyway...that they will maybe be speaking our language?
I have to go babysit in a few hours. Then my sister, two brothers and brother'sgirlfriend are coming into town, so we'll spend all day tomorrow seeing the sights of our city with them. I stole my sister's hoodie and I have to give it back to her now. It's so much warmer than any of my hoodies.
Last weekend we were at my parents and I borrowed a whole stack of books from my childhood. This led to the desire to read through several children's books. They're so delightful. So here's my list:
Roller skates
Bittersweet Time
Lily's Crossing
Blue Willow
Thimble Summer
Calico Captive
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Secret Garden
Listening for Lions
Homeless Bird
A Time to Keep Silent
Simultaneously, I'm reading a huge biography of Marie Antoinette and a memoir of a girl's drug-filled and promiscuous high school years spent in Central Park and Washington Square in New York City.
I want a smoke.
My husband gives the most amazing foot rubs. 15 minutes on each foot with body butter and when they're over I'm practically tranquilized
Friday, February 27, 2009
why did i use that password?
i think it's really lame to complain about the weather...i mean, aren't there so many other things to talk about?
however, i am not going to lie. i am damn sick of being cold. tired of my coat and longing to wear tank tops and skirts. the end.
it feels like it's been a long week because mia has been sick. poor girl. today, instead of my normal friday work day, i am going to work from 1pm-11 pm. thus, wade and i walked to a coffeeshop and we're campd out here for a few hours.
i completely love the feeling of not being at work on a weekday.
however, i am not going to lie. i am damn sick of being cold. tired of my coat and longing to wear tank tops and skirts. the end.
it feels like it's been a long week because mia has been sick. poor girl. today, instead of my normal friday work day, i am going to work from 1pm-11 pm. thus, wade and i walked to a coffeeshop and we're campd out here for a few hours.
i completely love the feeling of not being at work on a weekday.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tuesdays sometimes turn out wonderful
and this one did. it just did, ok?
i have realized that my blog can never even begin to come close to the brilliance of elizabeth anne with an e's musings on life.
still, i might keep writing on here.
even when i have a stinky attitude or i want to be by myself reading or with other grownups, not a day goes by without reflections on how thankful i am for my job taking care of three beautiful and amazing little girls. Mia and Greta are so damn cute. really, astonishingly cute. and olivia is probably one of the best 5 year olds out there. it's cool. i juts started reading 'besty and tacy" liv. Betsy and Tacy (and later Tib) books! LOVED them as a kid.
every time i use or type the word "cool" i cringe. what a dumb word.
i have been reading some holocaust literature. i finished "the last seven months of anne frank." so fascinating and sad! i love anne. yesterday i began "an interrupted life: the diaries of etty hillesum." i am amazed reading the intimate thoughts of these young women during such an unreal time in history.
"Here goes, then. This painful and well-nigh insuperable step for me: yielding up so much that has been suppressed to a blank sheet of lined paper. The thoughts in my head are sometimes so clear and so sharp and my feelings so deep, but writing about them comes so hard. The main difficulty, I think, is a sense of shame. So many inhibitions, so much fear of letting go, of allowing things to pour out of me, and yet that is what I must do if I am ever to give my life a reasonable and satisfactory purpose. It is like the final, liberating scream that always sticks bashfully in your throat when you make love."
"The fear of missing out on things makes you miss out on everything."
~Etty Hillesum
i have realized that my blog can never even begin to come close to the brilliance of elizabeth anne with an e's musings on life.
still, i might keep writing on here.
even when i have a stinky attitude or i want to be by myself reading or with other grownups, not a day goes by without reflections on how thankful i am for my job taking care of three beautiful and amazing little girls. Mia and Greta are so damn cute. really, astonishingly cute. and olivia is probably one of the best 5 year olds out there. it's cool. i juts started reading 'besty and tacy" liv. Betsy and Tacy (and later Tib) books! LOVED them as a kid.
every time i use or type the word "cool" i cringe. what a dumb word.
i have been reading some holocaust literature. i finished "the last seven months of anne frank." so fascinating and sad! i love anne. yesterday i began "an interrupted life: the diaries of etty hillesum." i am amazed reading the intimate thoughts of these young women during such an unreal time in history.
"Here goes, then. This painful and well-nigh insuperable step for me: yielding up so much that has been suppressed to a blank sheet of lined paper. The thoughts in my head are sometimes so clear and so sharp and my feelings so deep, but writing about them comes so hard. The main difficulty, I think, is a sense of shame. So many inhibitions, so much fear of letting go, of allowing things to pour out of me, and yet that is what I must do if I am ever to give my life a reasonable and satisfactory purpose. It is like the final, liberating scream that always sticks bashfully in your throat when you make love."
"The fear of missing out on things makes you miss out on everything."
~Etty Hillesum
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Ballet flats and a hoodie
Our apartment smells like coffee (Wade made) and chocolate chip cookies (I made).
I just dropped Wade off at work and I'm a little sad. However, in a little bit I'm going to get really motivated and clean the whole apartment and do laundry. And tonight I babysit.
I just had to go to Target. I am beginning to hate spending money. I think this is positive. Some things about Target:
_Our neighborhood is pretty diverse. It is very obvious on the drive from our place to Target and in the Target store itself. I like it.
_On the drive home I noticed some people putting up a big, pink It's a Girl sign in front of a house and it made me think of all the babies being born right at that very second (amazing to think about). I don't want to have kids anytime soon.
Last night, after I came home from work, Wade and I cooked pasta and ate. Then we went to this little coffee shop called The Bourgeois Pig. We have walked by this place millions of times and actually thought it was a fancy little restaurant. Wade and I had some black coffee and a wonderful, intimate conversation that made me feel drunk on life and so happy to be married to him. After that we saw a movie, The Reader and it was sooooo good. (Don't see it if you are bothered by nudity or sad movies that don't end happily).
Ummmmmmmm....
I am sure the nice weather is being talked about by pretty much everyone in the Midwest right now, but can I just tell you what it was like to feel the sunshine and warm air today after weeks and weeks of biting cold? I can't tell you.
I wore ballet flats and a hoodie today. No boots. No coat. No hat. No mittens (not hating on my mittens or anything, though. I love mittens).
I love the book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Possibly my favorite book.
"If there was only one tree like that in the world, you would think it was beautiful," said Kate. "But because three are so many, you just can't see how beautiful it really is. Look at those children." She pointed to a swarm of dirty children playing in the gutter. "You could take any one of them and wash him good and dress him up and sit him in a fine house and you would think he was beautiful."
I just dropped Wade off at work and I'm a little sad. However, in a little bit I'm going to get really motivated and clean the whole apartment and do laundry. And tonight I babysit.
I just had to go to Target. I am beginning to hate spending money. I think this is positive. Some things about Target:
_Our neighborhood is pretty diverse. It is very obvious on the drive from our place to Target and in the Target store itself. I like it.
_On the drive home I noticed some people putting up a big, pink It's a Girl sign in front of a house and it made me think of all the babies being born right at that very second (amazing to think about). I don't want to have kids anytime soon.
Last night, after I came home from work, Wade and I cooked pasta and ate. Then we went to this little coffee shop called The Bourgeois Pig. We have walked by this place millions of times and actually thought it was a fancy little restaurant. Wade and I had some black coffee and a wonderful, intimate conversation that made me feel drunk on life and so happy to be married to him. After that we saw a movie, The Reader and it was sooooo good. (Don't see it if you are bothered by nudity or sad movies that don't end happily).
Ummmmmmmm....
I am sure the nice weather is being talked about by pretty much everyone in the Midwest right now, but can I just tell you what it was like to feel the sunshine and warm air today after weeks and weeks of biting cold? I can't tell you.
I wore ballet flats and a hoodie today. No boots. No coat. No hat. No mittens (not hating on my mittens or anything, though. I love mittens).
I love the book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Possibly my favorite book.
"If there was only one tree like that in the world, you would think it was beautiful," said Kate. "But because three are so many, you just can't see how beautiful it really is. Look at those children." She pointed to a swarm of dirty children playing in the gutter. "You could take any one of them and wash him good and dress him up and sit him in a fine house and you would think he was beautiful."
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