danana banana: 2009

Sunday, December 13, 2009

A random assortment of thoughts...

1. I really liked doing the gratitude posts in November. It's hard to be grumpy about the little stuff when I'm spending all day on the lookout for things to put in my thankful list. Thinking about starting up again for the New Year.

2. My daughter just turned 5. Which is wonderful and completely unbelievable at the same time. This expression pretty much encapsulates her feelings about the matter:

3. She had a very fabulous, very pink Hello Kitty party. I tried to make these lovelies for the party - results were the biggest FAIL ever. So we had pink cupcakes instead.

4. We got her a new big-girl twin bed for the big day. She big-puffy-heart loves it. And I was surprising unsentimental about taking apart and then selling her toddler bed.

5. For some reason, Jane has started calling me Ma instead of Mom. I'm going with it, but not sure that I'm loving it.

6. I'm discovering that five-year-olds like to ask a lot of questions. From today: "Ma, what would happen if the car melted while we're driving?" "Ma, what if our eyes stayed open all the time and we never blinked?" Am now feeling like I need to revisit some of my early education.

P.S. I spied these during a recent trip to Target. The yumminess is off the charts.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Today she is...

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Gratitude :: 28

1. Memories. Making new ones. The ability to remember old ones.

2. Forgiveness.

3. Leftovers.

4. Spending a whole day at home.

5. 4-year-old creativity.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a day filled with family, love, lots of grace, a spirit of contentment and a full tummy!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Gratitude :: 23

1. Naps.

2. At-home pedicures.

3. Bro & Sis-in-law flying in tomorrow!

4. Lots of yummy food to feed my family.

5. Little girl giggles.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Gratitude :: 21

1. Sleeping in. 8:30! Woohoo!

2. Saturday night church. Pretty much the greatest invention ever.

3. Lip gloss.

4. Christmas crafts.

5. A happy little girl in a new dress. (Thanks Grandpa & Grandma!)

Friday, November 20, 2009

Gratitude :: 20

1. Hunky Husband who will walk in the rain for me.

2. Successfully navigating the daily 4-year-old-picking-out-her-own-completely-weather-inappropriate-clothing negotiation.

3. Quiet.

4. New magazines.

5. Roadside assistance. Again. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Gratitude :: 19

Oops... completely forgot to do #18.

1. Watching Janie play with her grandparents.

2. Making cookies with my kiddo.

3. Salad bars.

4. Seat warmers.

5. Laughter.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Gratitude :: 17

1. Afternoon walks. Throwing rocks into the pond.

2. My little shopper. The older she gets, the more fun it is. (I may revise this sentiment in about 10 years.)

3. The rice-in-a-bowl method for saving a wet iPod that may or may not have been washed with a certain Hunky Husband's workout clothes. (So far, its working!)

4. The beautiful park across the street. If I stand on the porch and lean a little to the right, I can see the lake. :)

5. Getting to start all over again tomorrow.

P.S. This photo cracks me up...

Monday, November 16, 2009

Gratitude :: 16

1. Tea parties. With pretend tea. And marshmallows.

2. Getting re-acquainted with my childhood favorite holiday candy.

3. Spell check.

4. Playing tag.

5. The car wash.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Gratitude :: 15

1. Discovering a new library.

2. Watching 4-year-old dance moves. And then joining in. :)

3. Drive-thrus.

4. The new Busytown Mysteries on Saturday mornings.

5. Putting an extra blanket on my bed.

P.S. Happy Birthday Ross!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Gratitude :: 14

1. Bedtime.

2. Discovering a new series while browsing the church library.

3. Little family adventures. (Local Calico Critter party - woohoo!)

4. The return of the Yule Log.

5. Chocolate. (I can't believe I haven't listed this one before!)

Friday, November 13, 2009

Gratitude :: 13

1. Roadside assistance. Again. (Big sigh.)

2. Coupons.

3. The way my kiddo smells right after bath time.

4. My new favorite holiday candy.

5. These two:

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Gratitude :: 12

1. These jeans. I bought them a couple of months ago and wear them all. the. time.

2. Play dates. New parks. Friends for me and friends for Jane.

3. Snuggling up in Hunky Husband's cozy sweatshirt.

4. A quiet house.

5. Grace.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Gratidute :: 11

1. My amazing, world-traveling, compassionate sister.

2. America's service men and women. The price they pay seems too high.

3. Listening to little voices repeating their memory verses each week at Cubbies.

4. These words (from the car seat behind me): "Good job passing, mom."

5. Watching Janie as she makes friends.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Gratitude :: 10

1. Cinnamon-sugar toast.

2. Playing tackle-the-mom and tickle-the-kid.

3. Packages in the mail.

4. Clean sheets.

5. Carpool lanes.

P.S. Happy Birthday Jon!!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Gratitude :: 9

1. Finally (finally!) reaching the end of the ironing pile.

2. Paper chains counting down to a 5-year birthday. Only 24 days to go!

3. Frozen yogurt. (Even better with a fun friend!)

4. These words: "Mom, these shoes sure are cute. I think I really should get them, don't you?"

5. That moment when Hottie Husband walks in the door. Love him.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Gratitude :: 8

1. Wearing flip-flops in winter.

2. Sunday afternoon naps.

3. Dance parties in the living room.

4. After-dark walks. With flashlights. :)

5. America's Funniest Home Videos. Makes me laugh out loud every single time.

Gratitude :: 7

1. Grandparents.

2. Finally reaching the bottom of the Halloween bowl.

3. A 4-year-old's smile that melts my stress away.

4. Shopping alone at Target.

5. This song.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Gratitude :: 6

1. Daddy-daughter day. I love that Hunky Husband makes this a priority every week.

2. Rediscovering my favorite holiday candy.

3. Grandma Fran, my 90-year-old nursery childcare partner every Friday. She says something kind and encouraging to each person she interacts with throughout the morning. She is an inspiration!

4. Afternoon walks. Crunching leaves.

5. An empty laundry basket. (Even if it was only for 30 minutes.)

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Gratitude :: 5

1. Happy Meals.

2. A 4-year-old with a serious case of the giggles.

3. Being able to communicate with my sister half a world away in India. Yeah for the interwebs!! :)

4. New books from the library. (And especially the online request feature that has my selections ready for me at the checkout counter.)

5. Cars that work. Sigh.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Gratitude :: 4

1. Play dates. I love the sounds of two little girls playing together.

2. New recipes.

3. A hunky husband who bravely tries my creations.

4. Talking with another mom about the things that bond all moms together... middle-of-the-night feedings, potty training, bribing your child to eat vegetables, and on and on.

5. Leaving my windows open all day.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Gratitude :: 3

1. Roadside assistance.

2. A second car. A luxury, really.

3. A friend that will give you a ride home so that you and your 4-year-old don't have to ride shotgun with the tow truck driver (sans car seat).

4. Living in a great location so that we can walk every where we might need to go if we are a one-car-family for a day or so.

5. Remembering the ways the Lord has been faithful before. And being absolutely sure he will be faithful again.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Gratitude :: 2

1. Birthday reminders on Facebook. I wish I was the kind of person who never forgot a birthday - but the truth is that Facebook has saved me many times.

2. California weather. Its November 2nd and we've still got perfect jeans-and-t-shirt sunshine going on.

3. $1 section at Target. Also: Ring Pops for sale next to the register.

4. These words: "I missed you momma." "I love you babe." "Sure. Go ahead, have more chocolate." Wait... that last one is only in my head. :)

5. The yummy scent of baking bread filling up my house.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Gratitude :: 1

So I noticed this morning a couple of fabulous bloggy ladies are attempting to post something everyday in November highlighting what they are thankful for. I'm not sure if I can do the everyday part. I mean, really, my most recent post is almost three months ago and I've managed a grand total of 10 posts for all of 2009. But I do love the idea of taking the whole month to be thankful on purpose.
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Gratitude :: 1

1. Watching Janie do her excited Happy-Hop before (and during) trick-or-treating.

2. Subsequent raiding of the Halloween stash.

3. New shampoo.

4. An extra hour of sleep and cozy blankets to keep me warm.

5. These two:

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Queen for a day

Granny Karen gave Janie a make-your-own crown kit. We glued and glittered and sequined our little hearts out. Together with her flower-girl dress, she was starring in her very own fairy tale.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Happy Fourth!

Monday, June 15, 2009

My two favorite people...

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Bliss

Friday, April 24, 2009

And so it begins...

Me: Time to get dressed.

Her: Okay.

Following her down the hall and into her room. Looking through her closet.

Her: Mom? Can you please go back in the other room? I want to pick out my own clothes and do it all by myself today.

Me: Oh. Sure. Okay.

Standing in the hall, listening to closet doors sliding, drawers opening and closing. Crossing fingers.

Her: All done! Mom! I did it!

Me: Wow babe! What a great job you did! I'll just give you a ponytail, and you'll be all set.

Her: Um, actually, no thanks. Let me think about my hair for a minute. I'll just look at my hair stuff and tell you how to do my hair.

Me: Oh. Yeah. I guess...

Standing in the hall, listening to another drawer opening and closing.

Her: Okay. I got my headband. I'm totally cute and ready to go!

My text to Rob - "Uh oh."

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Adventure

Monday, March 23, 2009

Escape

Reasons I love a road trip:

:: escaping our condo after being cooped up with a sick kiddo for over a week - the walls were quickly closing in on me

:: driving through the mountains during the only three weeks of the year that they are lush and green - for most of the year they are brown and drab, but last week the mountains were simply beautiful

:: being able to just pack up a couple of snacks and hit the road - I love being out of the diaper bag phase!

:: all the "new" toys at Grandma & Grandpa's house, riding a three-wheeler in the back yard and swinging on a hammock watching the clouds

::being away from my compter - no constant refreshing my email to see if there are any updates about our refi or if new jobs have been added to craigslist

:: visiting Granny Karen at her "office" - a nursery overflowing with flowers

:: a constant stream of chatter from the back seat

:: doing something spontaneous - it was seriously fun!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Sunshine

:: a 75-degree jeans-and-t-shirt day

:: every single window open as far as it will go

:: new lip gloss

:: an empty laundry basket and clean sheets on the bed

:: Janie's scratchy throat that makes her sound like an 80-year-old-smoker-lady

:: a $1 magnifying glass from Target providing hours of entertainment

:: long nature walk, looking at every flower, leaf and rock up close (see above)

:: throwing rocks in the pond

:: forgetting to be prissy and getting dirt under our fingernails and grass stains on our jeans

:: Knuffle Bunny and Amanda Pig

:: wearing flip-flops with cute springy nail polish on my toes

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Making rough places smooth

Here's the verse I'm trying to memorize this month...

Isaiah 42:16

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,

along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;

I will turn darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.

These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The world is her oyster

Throughout my Janie-filled day, I observed several future occupational choices for her:

City Engineer - After seeing an example in one of her magazine, she proceeded to build a very intricate race track out of blocks, including bridges, tunnels and "really bumpy parts"

Track Star - During our afternoon walk, she took off at a speed I could not believe. She was halfway down the block before I was out of the starting gate!

U.N. Negotiator - Judging by the way she talked me into buying her a bag of Cheetos, she just might be able to negotiate world peace.

Teacher - I peeked in her room during her quiet time just in time to see her sitting on her bed, surrounded by every stuffed animal she could find, reading a stack of library books aloud.

Architect - A Duplo castle (built with blocks in rainbow order, of course) provided about 45 minutes of fun for her little prince and princess figurines.

Hair Stylist - Janie's new favorite thing: brushing my hair. No complaints from me - I love it!

I have no idea what she will choose to do when she's all grown up - but it's sure going to be fun watching her figure it out!

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