Happy New Year!

Kid Pics Take 1
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

It's been too long, but one of my resolutions is to stop feeling guilty for NOT writing in the blog, and just be happy when I do. So lots to remember from a great Christmas (although a bit tainted by round 2 of the stomach bug that wouldn't go away). I won't get to it all, so I'll start with this picture....6 adults four cameras, dozens of shots and not a one got a decent picture of Erin and Sean in front of the tree on Christmas Eve. Such is life, but I bet we remember it longer than if they both sat sweetly and smiled.

But part of my joy at being a parent is teaching language to my children and to become ever more infatuated with and frustrated by this thing called English. Erin is so astute that the minute something comes out of someones mouth that is a cliche, or a saying she doesn't get, she's all over it. Case in point. Last night - hot dogs at GrandJos and PopPop's house. GrandJo was getting ready to put ketchup on Erin's hot dog and GrandJo said 'OK -- tell me when....' and Erin looked at her and said 'right now.' Which cracked me up -- so we had to explain that 'tell me when' was a saying for tell me when to stop.....

Today, watching this insipid Barbie movie "Mermaidia" -- (I have nothing against Barbie movies, many I like very much, but this one stinks) and a character said something like flying fleetly through the flowers and Erin turned to me and said "Mommy - he used alliteration!!!" That's my girl......

Princess and Pumpkin

Princess and Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

So despite Erin's illness, we had a grand time trick-or-treating. Sean did not make it but he will next year. We went with our neighbors and their 3 kids who we love and we had a blast. So we had a princess, two characters from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and one two-year-old boy who decided he wanted to be a princess. So what did they do?? The put him in a clown costume and told him he was a princess and he was pleased as punch!! There were lots of kids out and about the neighborhood and it was really great to see folks and meet some new people. I know lots of folks lament the downturn in neighborhoods, but ours is doing pretty well and we love it!! But we'll have to secretly hide the candy from Erin or we'll have to peel her off the ceiling and from me, or I'll be back in my pregnancy clothes!! More pics, if you want them on my flickr page.

Our Little Punkin

Our Little Punkin
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

Can you believe Sean is 1 year old today?? He's a pumpkin for school (see video here) and if he makes it trick-or-treating he'll be Tigger. He goes to bed about 6:30pm these days, so that doesn't give us much time. Erin has been sick, but I think the prospect of candy will make her well enough to go as either a princess or Super Girl. Hard to believe that one year ago I was in the hospital, but as they say 'time flies when you're the mother of two' or is that 'mother's of two fly around like crazy people' -- well, you know what I mean. Happy Halloween to all and to all a good night!!!

Undiagnosed

So this is a pretty silly blog, when you get down to it. Some pics, some news, some random thoughts on motherhood, life, politics and the like. But if you want to read a great blog -- tune in to the one my old friend Jonathan Milner keeps on his son Errol. Jonathan and his wife Cary Clifford (who also have a son, Owen, at Erin's school) have been through hell and back again with their beautiful second son, Errol. And the blog is some of the best writing about parenting, human nature and life that I have ever read. Enjoy!!

But is is Art???

So most of you know of my father's crazy collection of corruptions of great works of art. Funny Mona Lisas, poor reproductions of the Venus de Milo (does that make his a collection of Veni de Milo??) and all of the Last Suppers, from the sacred to the profane. So he and Erin are up in his 'artist studio' the other day where they often go to paint, glue, collage (is that a verb??) and Erin stated that instead of painting the Last Supper, she wanted to paint 'The First Supper.' Which got me to wondering, what other revisions could you do -- Monet's Pond Scum, Winged Defeat, Van Gogh's Mostly Cloudy Night -- the mind boggles at the possibilities!

At least I didn't do this

Sean and Pop Pop at sunset
Originally uploaded by Rosalind Tedford.

All parents (well most parents, read on) have fears that they are inadequate, unfair or at the very least doing permanent damage to their children that will take years of therapy, booze or meditation (or perhaps all three) to get over. But occasionally God drops us a little sign that we aren't, after all, the worst parents in the world. Sometimes it's your child snuggling up to you on the couch to read a book and saying 'I love you mom.' Sometimes it's a compliment someone gives you after they have come in contact with your child, but other times, it's a news story like this one.....or this one...and I guess in the grand scheme of things, when your child goes on to reproduce and your grandchildren light up whenever they see you (see picture -- Sean is PopPop's biggest fan in the world) -- then perhaps you can sit back and say 'ok - I did an ok job on that whole parenting thing'....At least that's what I hope my parents are saying, 'cause they are the best there is!!! And not once did they hide drugs in my clothes! Go figure.

Is It Any Wonder....

that Americans are obese???? Hardee's new breakfast has 60 grams of fat -- suddenly my diet looks good in comparison. And keep reading about the Chicken Salad sandwich. And they aren't alone. Arby's Chicken Salad Sandwich (yummy as it is) has more fat (a whopping 39g) than a medium roast beef sandwich (at a still ungodly 20g). Somehow I think these guys are in league with heart disease, diabetes and cholesterol drug manufacturers. The more we eat of the first, the more we need the second. If only it would kill you on the spot, then we'd finally have some chlorine in the gene pool. But no, lots of the people who think this looks good have already reproduced.