A solid entry into the House of Night series...
It was nice to see the journeys Stark and Zoey went through, and that they weren't simple tasks.
Of course, it left me hanging for Book #8.
EIGHT.
Jeez louise.
Garden Spells is a sweet, enchanting read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wanted to keep on reading it. The mixture of magic and sisterhood just made me smile.
Two sisters, brought together after years apart, learn to apprec...
Short and sweet.
I don't think I've ever bookmarked a book I've read for myself before, and I found myself marking several passages in this one... and it was less than 45 e-book (nook) pages!
It's true... I own a video camera and a flip cam... but right now I have two videos shot on my cell phone. I actually keep my flip cam in my purse, ready for anything that might be fun to document. But let's face it, sometimes I have my phone IN HAND, and it's much easier to press record on what I'm holding, rather than rooting through my purse.
So tonight I have two very short videos I shot, with my blackberry, in the past week.
The first one is of Connor, the ham, singing along to Black Key's "Tighten Up":
The second is of Harrison, ordering me to EAT!! This is his new thing - he fancies himself the dictator of the table and orders everyone to eat at every. single. meal.
so they're not the best quality, but I'm glad I caught them on camera :)
It's official. Connor survived Kindergarten, quite well, I might add. And now we have a certified first-grader on our hands. Woah nelly. When did this happen!?!?
So Connor left for school Friday morning, but not before I could take a few pictures (much to his annoyance) and do a little first day/last day comparison:
Same squint. When will I learn not to sit him in the sun? Oh well. I had to take fast action, because he was NOT having the photo taking.
So while Connor was at school, Jon and I got busy on some driveway artwork, in anticipation of his arrival home from his last day of kindergarten:
I have to say, I got this idea from my very creative friend, Tammy. She's been decorating her driveway for Mason for several years now, and I always wanted to do it myself. Thanks for the idea, Tams!!
Harrison mostly sat in the chalk drawing and played with Jon's stuff:
(side note: when did HE get so big? Jeez louise. Stop growing, for goodness sake)
Connor came home and was THRILLED with his surprise:
So that's it! So long kindergarten. Hello first grade. Lord help me.
Oh dear me, has it really been since MARCH 7th that I posted a blog update?
Good. Night. Nurse. How am I supposed to get better at this? Maybe set a schedule? hmmmmmmm
Ok, to make it easier on myself, I decided to do a 10 on Tuesday post. 10 random thoughts for this day.
1. Harrison now says Hew-wo (hello), aw-wight (alright) and oh noooooo!! daily. It's adorable and I need to get it on video. Post haste.
2. His current obsession is Wall-E. This is his typical pose while it's on:
3. Jon's been battling a stomach bug. He feels somewhat better tonight. So what did he want for dinner? PIZZA. Go figure.
4. Connor's been battling allergies. This is our first experience with them... apparently it's one of the worst seasons for allergies - EVER. He's coughing and sneezy and the worst part - has big, puffy, itchy, red eyes. I took this photo with the camera on my laptop:
Poor pathetic mess. This was last Friday, after he took a shower to alleviate the itchiness in the eyes... the whole time he was in there, he fussed and whined "why did God invent allergies??". I have no idea, sweetie. He's taking zyrtec and has prescription eye drops - they seem to be working right now.
5. On a high note, Connor jumped on his two-wheeler Saturday night and just took off. This after a good amount of falling off and frustration the week before. He said to me before he hopped on - "Mom, I gotta try, because if I don't I'll never do it". Smart kid. And yet something else I need on video.
6. Yankee Candle brought back my favorite scent: Storm Watch. This makes me very happy.
7. The next Sookie Stackhouse book comes out in 2 weeks. This makes me very very happy.
8. I'm now 4 months in to the "new" job and it's safe to say I made the right choice. I'm very much loving it. The work, the people, everything. And guess what? I'm plenty busy.
9. We are working on planning a beach vacation with one of my favorite families and this makes me very very very happy.
10. If you're looking for a good cookbook with tasty, yet healthy meals, Jon and I wholeheartedly suggest: Cooking Light: Fresh Food Fast - we've been using this cookbook since last summer and have not been disappointed by one recipe.
Ok! that's 10 on tuesday. I hope to be back soon. Like in days... not weeks.
Ok, it's been well over a month since I last blogged. Let's face it. Facebook and Twitter have taken the place of blogging. Which is sad, but true. I can share pictures and videos faster. I can choose to put something on facebook that I only want "approved" people to see, rather than slapping it out here on my blog, not knowing who's reading it. There's a comfort in that. But I do want to WRITE how I feel, what I'm experiencing, and I really can't do that on FB and Twitter... at least, not in a longer format... so here I am - blogging again. But seriously contemplating password protecting it. We shall see.
This weekend has been the loveliest weekend Central Ohio has seen in quite some time. Sun shining, snow melting, shoot - I didn't even wear a coat out yesterday! I'm looking forward to spring, and that's odd for me. I typically don't get too bent out of shape in winter. I think it comes from growing up in California and never really experiencing seasons. As an adult, I love to watch the changes between spring, summer, fall and winter... and I love each of them for their own unique reasons. But I find myself longing to throw open the windows, feel the breeze blow through my house and plant some flowers.
So while we're getting a little taste of spring, I thought I'd bring out some pictures from our last snow storm. We broke a snow record in Columbus this February.. I think we ended with around 25" for the month. Craziness.... I think I got out of TV just in time. So here are some pictures of the boys outside. Harrison's first real experience in the snow. And me behind the camera, not worrying if work is going to call and tell me to come in now and who knows when I'll be leaving.
Harrison had a tough time walking in the snow, but really loved it when Connor pulled him in the sled. I was going to do it, but Con really wanted to have some fun with Harry. So I took pictures :)
Jon
In other news, things are going well here. Jon's work schedule has changed for the year and now we share a weekend day off together. That's very nice. It's been a few years since we had a day off together... it's such a simple pleasure that many people take for granted. I don't think I ever will.
Connor
Connor is doing WONDERFULLY in school. His report card came home with him Friday and he got all 3s and 4s. A 3 means he's hitting his goals, a 4 means he's exceeding them. Where were his 4s? ALL IN THE SOCIAL SKILLS CATEGORY. Further proof he belongs to me.
Harrison
Harrison's big gash is healing. He has a red scar above his left eye, but it's fading. He's saying little words and phrases.
Yeah (and uh-yeah)
Up (which is usually "up up up!!" when he wants you to pick him up)
All Done (for when he's finished with a meal)
All Gone (for when he's eaten everything)
Mih-mih (Milk)
Wah-wah (Water)
Nah-Nah (Banana)
App-app (Apple) - why do babies do this app-app, wah-wah thing?
Mama
Dada
Bruh-Bruh (Brother - for Connor)
No no no or just "no"
nigh-nigh (night)
And a lot more I can't think of right now. I took this short video of him this morning. Last week I started singing "dumb dog" from Annie to Chance - because he was all about following me around the kitchen, waiting for a handout - when Harrison started repeating me.
He's a stinker. Still climbing everything he can, he has an obsession with balloons (boons!), is really starting to enjoy coloring and crayons and loves everything his big brother does... which is kind of annoying for Connor.
So that's it for now. The weather is beautiful. I've decided I'm going to run the Race for the Cure this year. My training starts today. I've never ever considered myself a runner... but I'm going to give it the old college try.
I can hardly believe it's been six years since Connor made Jon and me parents. I know I've said it before, but once upon a time, we were worried we'd never be parents.... and then... along came the little boy that could. Our pregnancy with Connor was SUCH a nerve-wracking, heart-wrenching, doubt-filled, cautiously-joyful time for us. Every single day I would come home from work and listen to his little heart beat... reassuring myself that he actually was there... and alive.
And then he arrived.... and after six years I still look at him and catch myself. I can't believe he's here. I can't believe God has blessed us with such a fiery, imaginative, independent, compassionate boy. He's filled our house with so much NOISE (good and not-so-good). He's filled our lives with so much LAUGHTER. He's filled our hearts with so much LOVE. I couldn't have chosen a better big brother for Harrison... or a first-born boy for us.
Ok, enough with the gushing. You've heard it before.
Let's get down to capturing Connor, at age 6.
AT 6, Connor:
Loves all things vehicular (hot wheels, lego racers, 4-wheelers, speed racer) - if it has wheels, he loves it.
Can spend forever at the kitchen table drawing pictures and telling stories about them.
Knows his music. He can tell the difference between genres of music. He knows if a song is a remix. He can identify singers by their voices. He asks what the lyrics of songs mean. He constantly asks me to update his hand-me-down ipod with new music he MUST have (wonder where he gets that from?).
Negotiates, argues and debates. Jon and I think he may have a future as a lawyer.
Has a soft spot for all animals. Not too long ago, he told me he wanted to open a zoo for endangered animals and he would call it the "pretect" zoo... (but then he went into how he'd have a store that would sell some of the animals).
Gives me the crispy fries because he knows I love them.
Proclaims to everyone he meets that they shouldn't worry, his daddy is a police officer and he'll take care of us.
Really hurts when he hears his brother cry, or knows he's upset.
Still calls me "mama" when we're snuggling.
Counts down the days till I'm off work and we have the weekend together.
Makes me crazy with constant pestering and relentless questioning.
His favorite food is any kind of pasta.
His favorite tv show is Hot Wheels Battle Force 5.
His favorite movie is Hot Wheels.
His favorite color is chartreuse (really??).
His favorite toy is Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 (sensing a theme here?).
His favorite person is mom... "because she cares about me and she loves me" (awwwww).
His favorite place to go is Zoombezi Bay.
His favorite outdoor activity is playing with his friend Ethan.
His favorite singer/band is Green Day.
His favorite song is "Ignorance" by Paramore (I think he developed a little crush on Hayley Williams at the No Doubt concert).
His favorite animal is a lizard.
He wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up.
His favorite school subject is science/nature.
His favorite video game is Super Mario Bros. Wii.
His favorite sport is basketball.
His favorite sports team is The Ohio State Buckeyes.
His favorite place to eat out is Dave & Busters.
Now that he's 6, he's going to "play with my buddies".
So that's it. Happy (belated) Birthday, Connor Red Gleason. You are the best early Christmas gift a mom & dad could ever receive.
I know I pepper this blog and my facebook with tons of Connor stories... I can't help it. So here's another one that just about killed me.
This week, we received the Toys R' Us christmas catalog in the mail. Connor treats this thing like his bible. I'm not joking.
So the other night, when he sat down beside me on the couch with a pad of paper, a pen and his "bible" I didn't bat an eye. He looked at me and said "I'm going to make my Christmas list". Go for it, buddy. This is the first year he can write on his own and I don't have to do it for him.
At first, I watched him. He opened the catalog to the first page and started writing. It went something like this: Look at the catalog. Write the letter "G". Look at the catalog. Write the letter "E". Look at the catalog. Write the letter "O".
You get the idea. I figured it was going to take him a while, so I went back to my computer. About 20 minutes later, it was time to get ready for bed. Jon and I looked over and told him it was time to get ready. "Just one more. I need to write one more." And then we looked at the list.
That would say: GeoTrax Low New! Sale Sale Save On Over Low Price Save 50
Oh. My. Goodness. The poor child wasn't writing the names of the toys... he was writing the ADS for the toys. Jon and I almost laughed... but then explained what he was doing. He put his head in his hands and exclaimed "I am SO STUPID!"
To which Jon and I explained he's not stupid. He's 5. And still learning to read and write. And we can read everything he wrote... which was a GREAT START.
His disappointment in himself just about broke my heart... and made me take him in my arms and tell him what a sweet, smart little boy he is. This "Christmas List" is something I will cherish always.
Connor had his first day of kindergarten today. He was not phased. Neither was I. Strange, considering my sentimentality. But we were tough this morning, as we got ready for school... and the big trip on the bus. Mean mom made him sit with the sun in his eyes. oops. I only took two with that angle. Then he was gone... down the driveway and not looking back. Well, he did turn around to see if I was still taking pictures. Answer? Yes. Then he got to the neighbor's house... for... you guessed it... more pictures! Then it was the wait for the big yellow school bus. With his best buddy, Ethan, by his side. He barely looked at me... again. But I kept snapping away... and then I got this look: I barely got a kiss goodbye... don't worry, my feelings weren't hurt. and then he was off. He only goes a half day... so we had lunch and talked about the first day of kindergarten.
Me: Connor, how was school. Con: Fine. Me: Fine? So what did you do? Con: Nothing. Me: Really? Nothing? So you sat in a chair all day and did nothing. Con: Well, we colored... and we sang a song.
The end. Mr. Loquacious. Maybe I'll get more information as the school year goes on ;)
One week ago tonight, we took Connor to his first concert experience.
No Doubt.
He LOVED it.
We had great seats, 5 rows back from the pit, joining the tour club was definitely worth the seats:
We were wise, and brought the DS along for the downtime:
My concert buddy, and fellow ND/Gwen fanatic Tracy joined us:
Isn't she beautiful? She was kind enough to take a picture of Jon & me:
Paramore was the opening act, Connor sang along, much to the amusement of the people around us:
My pictures suck.. because my purse camera sucks. So I had to adjust the brightness, etc to make them look halfway decent. Tracy's promising me copies of hers, since her camera was WAY better.
Then... it was time for No Doubt to take the stage :)
Would you look at that entrance? it was SO cool... totally built up the excitement :)
We took turns holding Connor, he would rest his feet on the seats in front of us, and lean on us for support:
We bought him a No Doubt hat. He's fond of headgear:
The band was all that I had dreamed of and more.
Gwen rocked it:
She had SUCH amazing abs. I can't believe she's had two boys and her oldest is just a month older than Harrison.
It definitely got hot and sweaty in the seats...
For Stand and Deliver, they brought out the big drums :)
And Adrian wore a tutu:
All in all, it was a wonderful night.
Connor had a blast.
We had an amazing time.
I'm still riding the high of seeing my favorite band of all time live.
If I ever get the chance again, I will JUMP on it.
Gosh, I wish I could go see them in Vegas next month.... ahhh we can dream, can't we??
Here's the setlist, which was kick ass:
01 - "Spiderwebs" 02 - "Hella Good" 03 - "Bathwater" 04 - "Underneath It All" 05 - "Excuse Me Mr." 06 - "Ex-Girlfriend" 07- "Happy Now?" 08 - "Simple Kind of Life" 09 - "Guns of Navarone" (Instrumental Interlude) 10 - "Hey Baby" 11 - "New" 12 - "Running" 13 - "End It on This" 14 - "Don't Speak" 15 - "It's My Life" 16 - "Just a Girl" Encore: 17 - "Rock Steady" 18 - "Stand and Deliver" 19 - "Sunday Morning"
