My favorite blog

I don't think I'm biased. This is my brother Christopher's and sister in law Jenn's blog. http://hemispherehoppin.blogspot.com.

It is all about their life in Santiago, Chile. They just have a few posts but it has made Chris and I have serious discussions about figuring out a way to visit them while they are in Chile.

So why are they in Chile? You can read his first post titled A Drunken Walk. It is very philosophical and has more 4 syllable words than this mommy blog will ever have. If you have time, it is a good read. If not, I'll paraphrase...Life isn't a straight line, they are young and free, so why not? The plan was to go down there and get jobs, probably teaching english, and stay for a year or so.

Well, my brother owes a retraction on this first post. I'm going to quote Oprah "Luck is 90% hard work and 10% right time right place" (Not sure if that is exactly right, but it describes Christopher). He happened into the right conversation with someone at a get to know other Americans in Chile event or something like that and is now working at an amazing architecture website called archdaily.com writing and compiling great architecture articles. Yes, he went to South America and got a job in his field probably better than any job he could have gotten in the states right now. No drunken path for him...nope, his resume will look like he traveled to Chile for this fantastic job to further his career. Jenn also got a great job teaching english. You can read all about how they spend their work hours in this post

Plus, their apartment is spectacular. And it's summer there. Do you hear that? We could visit next January and experience a 100 degree change from Minneapolis! mmmmm....that sounds like a little bit of wonderful. Well, anyways, if you also want to live a great adventure from your armchair, like I am, you should check out their blog.

Goodbye Winter!

As I'm writing this the snow is almost gone. We couldn't be happier. This weekend we gave winter one last big hurrah!

Here's 2 videos of Penelope sledding. There were many great runs in between. You see the first slow careful one and then the daredevil ending one.

Hard to believe a year ago Penelope had only been walking for a week. We've moved from the toddler playground to the big kid playground. Sorry it is so long...I need to find a way to edit!

I love that Chris looks like an olympic coach on the sidelines ready to spot the gymnast if she needs it.

On Sunday we went to the other playground in our neighborhood.


This is a really cool spinning chair...my mom would call it a vestibular exercise.
Penelope tackling the ropes course.
Daddy made it to the top. Pretty crazy equipment, huh? Surprising that is allowed in this day of over the top safety rules for kids.

Flirty by Thirty--bleh

This post should be about how I've been successfully doing weightwatchers for a year, that I'm finally in the healthy weight, my cholesterol is down, I'm a good role model for Penny. Yet I'm posting for the EXACT reason why I waited 8 months of being successful before even mentioning it to anyone.

(By the way when I searched Yo yo images, Kirstie Alley was on the first page. Chris and I had a long conversation last week after DWTS about why I think Kirstie Alley is the greatest. I'm not sure why...I mean what has she been in besides Cheers and Look Who's Talking? Chris did mention she was a Vulcan in a Star Trek movie but that went beyond my Kirstie knowledge. I watched Look Who's Talking dozens of times at my friend's house...and then considering the yo yo thingI find she's pretty real.)

And that tangent paragraph goes to show the whole problem. I've totally lost focus. It took 8 months of a lot of dedication to lose 12 pounds, and 3 months to put back on 10. This is a really screwed up yo yo. I can track the real derailment to Dec 18th when I stopped all efforts. The holidays? Nope. The day I accepted my new job. It turns out I only have so much discipline, commitment and focus in me, and I can't focus on two things that are highly stressful.

It's also clearer than ever before that I'm a stress eater. I get stressed, I eat, which makes losing weight even more stressful because I've lost the thing that makes me feel better. Add an AMAZING selection of restaurants in my building including one of the best bakeries in town and BAM, my loose pants had to be pulled out of the goodwill box. Geez! There's something about having a terrible meeting at work and then biting into a chocolate chip cookie or a croissant. I know it's bad, but it is oh so good at that moment. I'm sorry all you runners, but I don't think the runner high will ever come close for me. My true drug of choice is sugar. It sounds cheesy I know (and I love cheese too, but not like sugar). Then today I read this in the NYTimes article about sugar and school lunches:
Scientists have demonstrated the power of sugar since at least 1974, when a Brooklyn College professor, Anthony Sclafani, found that lab rats were so drawn to Froot Loops that they would suppress their natural fear to eat in the exposed areas of their cages. Researchers using brain imagining technology have since found that foods high in sugar or fat activate the same reward system as cocaine and other drugs, and can also set off the release of the neural chemical dopamine, which can cause the brain to override the biological brakes that prevent overeating.

Sigh...I hate this. Everything about it. My mom saying "I've known this about sugar for years"in her I teach health class to 150 kids a year and my daughter STILL doesn't understand this sad voice. My dad saying "I ran 17 miles today" and I think Yeah I napped for 2 hours. Chris saying "it's okay. You can still do it" The logical me knowing I'm doing it to myself, and the fact that I'm even posting this on my blog when you could read this on about 5 billion blogs or ask 10 women in any American office if they want to talk about food or weight and be bored to death for hours.

Well, anyways, here I go again...back on the wagon, but frustrated and angry about it.

Sensory Activity

Penelope's daycare has a daily sensory activity as part of their curriculum. They do all sorts of cool things. Here's the list from this week's planned activities:

Make flowers with play doh

Explore the classroom with a flashlight

Sensory table with shaving cream

Play with different types of toy insects

Touch different flower textures

So the day Penelope stayed home with Chris due to teacher in-service we did a sensory activity. Or at least that is what I'm telling myself because I was too tired to bring out my stern mommy voice and tell her this wasn't appropriate for dinner time.

And in case 1 minute wasn't enough...

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: dads are great

They let you pretend you are in Cirque de Soleil

They let you pretend you are in Cirque de Soleil
They let you wear swim goggles just because
They read you stories, even if it is the 1,348,532 time you've asked him to read Go Dog Go.

Penelope's artwork

Penelope comes home with the funniest art projects. Sometimes I really have to question how much Penelope did vs the teacher, but that's okay. They've been studying countries throughout the year in the toddler classroom so for Australia she'd come home with a coloring page of a kangaroo or a pretend digeridoo, story books about Australia etc.

Last week it was Japan. I actually think it was a coincidence with the horrible earthquake/tsunami because we've been studying that area of the world at daycare for a while.

I laughed so hard when I saw the art project in her cubby the other night. Arts and crafts toddler sushi deserved a blog post...

A visit from a leprec...uhh...easter bunny

The Easter Bunny has been working on a project. And he left it on the couch expecting a St. Patty's day leprechaun would put it away before Penelope woke up.

We heard her yell "Bunny!" Thank goodness she wasn't afraid of it or think it was a gremlin like Chris. If I could just figure out how to put the eyes, nose and mouth. I gave up after an hour of reading the directions every which way. It is because it is sewing and I have a huge mental block against it. I'll probably go to knitting help at the local yarn store. I sort of have to because I got a little carried away and bought enough yarn to make bunnies for every little kid I know...and I'd feel bad making bunnies without faces.

Oh, and Chris told Penny that Mommy made her bunny. Penelope turned to me and said "Wow mommy! Good job!" Nothing like praise from a 2 year old to warm a mama's heart!

Penelope's personal Jim Henson

Luigi reads Tickle the Duck

Who votes Chris should do storytime at day care? I can't get him to sign up to volunteer.

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: New Barrettes

Penelope got some cute hair ties and barrettes from Grandma. She just couldn't figure out which barrette was her favorite...so we tried all of them!

Welcome....spring?

I'm reading way too many blogs talking about spring. I stole this photo from my friend Christen's blog: http://lovelifelists.blogspot.com

She and her husband Dan took this lovely daffodil photo on a stroll around their Richmond neighborhood. I'm going to make copies and tape it in my windows so we can pretend to see the same thing.

Because this is our reality:

We are into the worst part of winter in my opinion. Not just because it is long, but because of the flirting with spring. It has gotten into the mid-30's. High enough to cause huge puddles, which freeze overnight. Then we get another cold blast and snow on top of the ice. A huge pain! Once it warms up again some of the deep puddles still have ice on the bottom. For a little girl who likes to jump in dirty ice water puddles, it is treacherous!
So we do what we can while we wait for spring and daffodils. Very thankful for indoor mall playgrounds.

And now after 4 months, cabin fever takes on a whole new dimension...
Penny plays dress up. This was the best photo I got. After this she felt she should only wear the life preserver and knit cap...and well, those photos were not internet appropriate.
"Yee ha!" I'm grateful for the hours of fun a rocking horse and elmo slippers can provide.

Christen--PLEASE in July/August post about the 100 degree weather and 99% humidity so I can relish our beautiful moderate summer. Much appreciated!

Born in the wrong country

I know, I know. How could I say that? Yes, I love America and all of the wonderful things here. But there's one thing I wish we valued. It's something other countries value, but from our sea to shining sea it clashes with our hard work ethics and fast pace lives. It is the nap! Why, oh why, is the siesta not a part of our culture?

I'm stating here and now that I'm a napper, and it's okay. After this last round of "what's wrong with me?" tests with the doctor, I've come to the realization that 8 hours is the average amount of sleep a human should have, while I unfortunately seem to need 8-9 hours at night and 1-2 hours during the day. It isn't stress, bad health, depression. It's just me.

And I've got to admit I love napping. (sidenote: Chris just walked by while I typed out the last sentence, chuckled and said "like anyone who knows you doesn't know that. It's the understatement of the year") I look forward to my naps. I think it was at the end of middle school when I started taking an afternoon nap. I did it all through high school and college. I've decided nappers like me are the minority. We feel better, refreshed and clear headed after a nap. Chris wakes up angry, cranky and a pain in the butt. He is not allowed to nap.

I will say my brain logically fights the weekend naps. I'd like to get something productive done, but I have this wave of exhaustion come over me and nothing feels better than to give into it. In fact sometimes I wake up earlier in the morning to make sure I do everything I need to do so I don't feel guilty at 2 pm.

And so here's where the conflict comes in...I'm a working 8-5 mom. No sleep pods at my office. I plan all my very important tasks in the morning and my basic tasks after 2:00 if I can. If I find out I've made a mistake, I can bet money it was made between 2-4:00. Conference calls are a beast. I zone out and miss things. Just bad all around. I can usually push through with a much higher energy then I have on weekends, but there are days where I come home and end up falling asleep on the couch at 6 pm for an hour or two to recharge then staying up way too late. I feel horrible those days since I'm missing special time with Penelope. That's why on Thursdays Penelope and I take the bus from daycare to the library and then to the grocery store. If I go home I'm asleep on the couch, usually without dinner, which is what happened last night.

I dream of our trip to Italy a few years ago. We were in Venice and decided to go shopping after lunch. None of the shops were open. I was ecstatic! Here I was on the dream vacation of my life with so much to see. I'd feel guilty even thinking about a nap. Yet it was as if the Venetians were saying "Laura, you are with your ancestors now. Go take a nap!" And it was a wonderful nap...

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Bananaphone

I'm not sure if a video is mostly wordless Wednesday, but it is under my blog rules. I made a kids station on Pandora based on one of Penelope's absolute favorite songs, "If You're Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands." Bananaphone was the first song to pop up and it is so much fun. I automatically purchased it on itunes....and shows those apple people know what they are doing with Pandora. It really is a dangerous box to open!

(For anyone who doesn't know about Pandora, go to pandora.com and type in a song. Voila, you have a radio station based on that song. I have multiple types of classical stations, a Cole Porter station, a Judy Garland station. This doesn't mean it is exclusively Judy Garland, but music like her. The trick is you can't listen to any song you want, so if something comes on that you really like you hit Purchase and itunes magically appears. Imagine that!) This is by far the most wordy post of Wordless Wednesdays!

Christmas present

For Christmas this year Chris picked out some prints from a local artist. I had seen some of her work at an art fair and then saw a lot more at the local store I Like You.

This is a print of the old Pillsbury mill in Minneapolis. Since my nickname growing up was Pillsbury (and still is for my mom) it is a nice reminder of being "Laura Pills" without putting up the dougboy in our dining room.

Here is a print of 4 bikes. I liked that it has the same bright blue color of the Pillsbury print.

Here's the full shot. Eclectic, I know. Chris always shakes his head, but I can't help it. I'm drawn to somewhat odd and mistmatched. Are you wondering about those origami birds hanging from painted antique porch lamp fixtures? I got those at an art show a couple years ago. I love the old fixtures probably come from the time period of the house or earlier with the whimsical touch of origami. The artist said "Are you going to put these in a nursery?" I said, "Oh no, they are going in my dining room!" She was very excited. I've found this to be a tough wall to decorate since the piano window is so high. I promise the prints look much better in person. Remember I'm taking this photo from a 4'11'' angle. I should have stood on a chair!
Pictures of Penelope. I'm so bad about framing pictures. I find it very overwhelming. If I put up baby pictures, then when do I replace with toddler? Or do I add toddler, preschool, soccer, etc...?We'd have a shrine to Penny in no time. I know I should frame family photos too, especially since she rarely sees everyone, but that is even more overwhelming to pick my favorite and find places for them. I wish we had a long hallway or staircase. I'd have it covered in photos.

My favorites from her first week. I don't think I'll ever take these ones down.

Flirty by Thirty--I Feel Pretty

I got this framed picture a couple of weeks ago from my brother and sister-in-law. Yes, they made the frame...probably cut down the tree themselves too. Now I just need to find the perfect place to put it.

I thank Penelope for bringing me all sorts of traits I didn't have in abundance: patience, determination, consistency. One I didn't expect was more self-confidence in my appearance. I look at Penelope with her big blue eyes and huge smile and think "what a beautiful girl!!" I really do not see that she looks like me, I just see Penelope. But I've learned not to argue with people because they will get in an argument with me over it. Over the past year I've had many many strangers stop me to tell me how much my daughter looks like me.

Old man at Target "What a darling little girl. Oh, she is your spitting image!" (I'm happy that one happened. Who uses the term "spitting image" anymore?)

Woman crossed the playground to say "No one would ever question that you're her mama"

Waitress: "She is you with blue eyes. You have a mini-me"

Little girl (age 4 or 5) in line for Santa stared at us a couple of minutes and said "Do you know this girl looks like you?"

I wouldn't say I've had terrible self-esteem. Never thought I was gorgeous, but cute I guess. I do have those tendencies to notice the flaws I dislike--squinty eyes, freckles, dull hair. Yet when I look at Penelope I just see a beautiful girl, and everyone says she looks just like me. Makes me feel good...or possibly I'm finally feeling comfortable in my skin after 30 years? If I ever get too confident I can remember this conversation we had with an elderly relative a few months ago.

Relative: Penelope, I can't tell if you look like your mommy or daddy!

Chris: Everyone says she looks exactly like Laura.

Relative: Oh, really? (pause to look at Penelope) No, I don't think so. Penelope, you are just so pretty!

(very awkward silence)

I chalked it up to old age and laughed it off. I hope when I'm 75 I don't accidentally insult people!

The Cursed Project

In early December I planned to make my cousin's daughter Charlotte something cute for her first birthday. I had 2 months so it should have been easy, but it turned out to be really challenging.

My first attempt was from a pattern called "A Hat in a Day." Well, it didn't turn out like the picture and I messed up the top. Just not cute enough, plus too big. Here's Penelope wearing the first hat.

Then I got some blue and brown yarn. Charlotte has the bluest eyes ever so I thought it would look great on her. I found a different pattern. I made it in one night, stitched up the top and set it on our table to take to the post office. The next morning Penelope picked it up, put it on her head and the whole top unraveled 5 rows. I have no idea how it happened. I must have done a very poor job on the finishing! So all that was left was this mess...and Charlotte's birthday was a week away...
On her birthday I finished the hat for the 2nd time, stitched up the top correctly this time, and added a button of bling. Cute, huh? I should have sent it right then and been happy...
...but no...I realized I had a lot more yarn left so I decided to try thumbless mittens. I've found the thumbs on mittens completely useless for Penelope. Maybe next year she'll get it, but I think I've actually gotten a thumb in the thumb hole maybe 3 times all winter. I found many patterns for thumbless mittens so it seems other moms have the same issues. The mitten was a disaster!

I don't know where I went wrong. Chris said "is that an Ipod case or something?" It actually does look like the pictures from the pattern. Now that I've made it and saw it in real life I've decided it is just a bad pattern. I' want to change the pattern to round the top instead of that weird square top. So Charlotte didn't get the mittens, and her hat was a month late, but she looks darn cute in it!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: A trip to the library

This week I went on a business trip to Cedar Rapids Iowa. I knew I would a book on CD to pass the time for the 9 hour round trip drive. Nothing is more boring than a road trip in the midwest during the winter. So we headed to the Central library in downtown Minneapolis since the book on CD selection at my local library is horrible.

We decided to take the bus instead of parking downtown.

Rosy cheeks? That happens when it is only 4 degrees. I would have taken the car if I had known the bus would be 10 mins late. 10 mins in 4 degrees with a 2 year old is a disaster.
Warming up in the bus...
The children's section is wonderful.


Spring, are you really coming?