aka dean, mecah and maria
we attended the library's harry potter extravaganza. fun, fun, fun.
visits to classrooms where we took our o.w.l's and n.e.w.t's, practiced potions, divination, met some owls in care of magical creatures, played some wizard chess, ate food in the great hall, and had the first chapter of the 7th book read to us by a local meteorologist.
there were so many people, some in costume like us! and many not, but everyone enjoying the night! --read more >>

fri, july 13
got the final word, i'm not pregnant. sigh of relief.
sat, july 14
left mecah with the grandparents for the first time since nov 11!!! this is huge. she has loathed and despised any person who even attempts watching her for us. nate and i took dean for some alone time to the new harry potter. mecah did great. we will definitely be doing this again!
sun, july 15
surprise birthday party for my mom's 60th! kansas city barbeque and lots of time in the pool. another viewing of hp with my stateside brothers and their so's. mecah slept the entire time! fantastic day.--read more >>

and she didn't get a photo ho on her actual birthday!
there's a picture of me with long hair before i donated it to locks of love, an attempt to capture the kiddos all dressed up, and of course...CAKE!--read more >>

cause i have one. i love my husband dearly. my family is my heart. but, geez this guy needs to get out of my head. time to see if there is something i might be missing here on the homefront, huh? talk to you gals later, off to playgroup.

YES. the last time i posted was may 26. hope you have all been carrying on and have been okay. i have already spent many hours trying to catch up on 6 or 7 weeks of lives. the house is still great, and the kids are fantastic. i'll write more soon, but wanted to check in with you before selfishly posting about me, me, me.

i had to carry my dad's freaks of nature, two enormous cats in their carriers, plus mecah in the sling and a huge bag of litter up 5 flights of stairs bc the elevator is broken. i also have to go feed them twice a day until monday. i am trying to convince dean that just because our pool opens today, does not mean we have to go. 70 is supposed to be our high, which means the water is much, much - shiver and blue lips inducing colder, try explaining this to children. we also have 80% chance of rain all day and it is grey and cloudy, so no chance of the sun warming us up.--read more >>

i have a brother who lives in italy, and we are in mock dueling mode with our children. he sends me pictures of his boy walking, then challenges mecah for a response!

here's why!
woke up early and instead of obsessing about what to wear, i put in one of the new york ballet's workouts and pretended i was the graceful in shape girl i was years ago. if any of the neighbors had been up, they would have seen this mad elephant woman attempting grande battements. whatever. it was fun. mecah stole and ate the cookie from dean's lunch and is dancing to the birthday card that plays the star wars music. she's figured out that every time she opens it, it plays again. it feels good to smile and laugh. hope you all enjoy your day, too!

i need to lower them. my mother's day involved a surprise lunch at a steak restaurant at 11 in the morning. this was due to nate's very consistent "dropping of the ball," as he was supposed to call my dear father and fill him in on places i would have enjoyed more, and also to let my entire family know that what i desire more than anything right now is a jogging stroller to replace the one that was stolen, instead i received gift cards to best buy and stationery. to really rub it in that nate is an imbecile, is the fact that he did nothing for me.--read more >>