Our Tannebaum (Version 1)

I've always wanted to have two trees: one to do all designer,
and another for our family ornaments. But realistically, it didn't make sense. After all, living in Wisconsin and then Louisiana meant that we wouldn't even be home for the heart of Christmas season, and I never really was able to get into decorating when I knew we'd just have to come home and take it down right away. We did have a "family" tree with our family ornaments, of course, and decorating it with the kids was a tradition for when we got back home after our Thanksgiving visits.

But after Christmas last year, we found a tree 85% off at Target. It looked pretty on the box, so we went for it. After all, we had a second-hand tree now, and it wasn't looking too good with each passing year. So when we moved, we gave away our old tree and brought this one with us.

I've been really excited about Christmas this year, so while Ben was out of town recently (yeah, he never would have let me get away with it while he was here) I set up our new tree. It was pretty, alright, but I soon realized that there was no way it had sufficient girth for all our gifts and ornaments. But I didn't despair. Actually, I was pretty happy about it. That meant I could go all decorator on this skinny tree, and we'd just have to get another one for the presents and family ornaments!

So behold my pretty tree. This was my first try at this, and I am sooooo happy with the results. I bought the ribbon from Costco for like $7/50 yards (a GREAT deal, and I made the bow and did the cascading ribbon myself. Then I went to Wal-Mart and bought the ornaments for like $20. So total, this is less than a $50 experiment, but I think it looks way better than that. I just had to share -- I've never had a house big enough for two trees or a room formal enough for a "dressy" tree. I am so happy!

The coolest park ever...

Wow, for a little town, Hernando sure has some pretty great stuff. I really do love it here -- it has so much character and a real sense of community. There are trees and older homes intersperse with newer developments. And there is seriously the coolest public park I can imagine a city of less than 15,000 people ever having. Conger Park is one of the public parks here, and wow, is it ever awesome. We'd heard about it, but we'd never checked it out before. Today I took the kids and they had a really fantastic time. It has a puppet theatre, a set of chimes (we learned to play ABC/Twinkle Twinkle and Somewhere Over the Rainbow on them), and really imaginative, cool little obstacles. The sets themselves look like castles or trains or other imaginative structures, and there's so much color and detail...well, you can see for yourself!

The "other blog"

I can't remember if I mentioned this on here before, but I recently took a paid blogging position over at BabyCenter, which is a widely read portal for all things baby and child. Because this blog is mostly for friends and family and that one is more about the general world of parenting, there isn't a lot of overlap on things I *would* post here, but end up putting over there for the sake of getting a post going. But last night I found myself writing a post I thought you guys might like to read, as well.

It's about Will's latest "I-Can't-Believe-He-Just-Said-That" moment. Let's just say it involves questions about the reproductive process:
The little genius problem (at our house, at least)

If you're curious and would like to check out my other posts, there's a nav bar on the right hand side of the main page, and toward the bottom, it has a "Posts by author" link. I'm the first one listed.

Me and my girl

Today I was laying in the floor reading my book, and Laila came and laid down next to me, pretending to read right along. Then she started singing the ABCs and trying to point out letters in the book. It was so cute. Ben grabbed the camera, so he got some photos that prove I really do exists. I'm like the Yeti -- you hear the stories, but you never see me on camera. But these were really too cute of Laila not to share. :)

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Hernando, everyone! We had fun tonight. Well, the kids did! Of course mom gets candy duty, but that's pretty fun, too. My favorite? A little girl dressed as Dorothy with a very real, tiny Toto tagging along behind.

But my kids were the cutest, of course! Well, the cutest and the creepiest were what I think they were going for. Exhibit A: The Unknown Phantom (insert spooky, ominous sounding music here). He wanted this costume sooooooooooooo badly. He picked it out in Louisiana before we even left, but I told him he had to wait until after the move to buy his costume. It was freakin' September, after all! Then he oscillated between Ninja, skeleton, and Unknown Phantom. Clearly, the initial instinct won out. It is a pretty cool costume, though! The spooky eyes fade on and off, and the mask is somehow simultaneously easy to see through yet opaque for the onlooker. Cool. This is the first halloween I've EVER allowed them to buy their costumes rather than have us make them. But with the move and me working, it was a good choice. Besides, spooky red eyes that fade on and off are beyond my mommy skills right now.

The cute aspect, of course, is with little Snow White. She was a hit, too. They made a nice pair, one spooky and one sweet. She loved it, but Ben said he did have to keep the little extrovert from running into people's houses and making herself at home. We also couldn't get her to say "Trick or Treat" -- she'd just say "Treat!" Well, that IS the idea, I guess, right?

And my favorite photo of the night? The kids with Daddy! Will and Daddy were trying to do a "scary shot," but Adelaide? No way! That's her daddy! He needs a big hug.

One other word of wisdom: Don't order pizza on Halloween night, especially if you're all really hungry. You start getting bitter at cute little trick-or-treaters who aren't holding pizzas.

Hope everyone had a fun, safe night!

A little early spookiness

I know I haven't posted much lately, but things have been pretty busy around here. I had an allergic reaction to a medicine I was taking, which sent me to the ER this week. I've never had something like that happen to me, so it was kind of surreal. While it was scary and awful, I have to say that it was so incredible to be able to call my dad, who was in town of course, and get him to meet us at the ER to keep the kids. I just kept thinking that this was so much of what we were here for. My mom and dad stayed in town an extra day and kept the kids all day Wednesday after I got home from the hospital. I'm finally doing better today, but I've been out of action most of the week.

We've been busy since we moved here, though. Will was so excited about the new house, he desperately wanted to decorate for Halloween, which is something we've never done before. (I usually don't even get pumpkins carved until a day or two before!) Anyway, Ben's parents came down to check out the new house, and they helped us get in the spooky spirit.

Our new neighbors brought us cookies, which was super nice. There are kids here in the neighborhood that Will plays with a lot, and he just started two new activities: a homeschool P.E. class and Taekwondo. He made a new friend at Taekwondo this week, and I hit it off with the parents, as well. Turns out they are new here, too, and were originally from Louisiana. They invited us to their son's costume party tonight, so the kids got dressed up and we went over there for a while. It was good fun.

Our new digs

So, here are our new digs. The movers came yesterday and unloaded everything, and we're trying hard to settle in. Just thought you guys might like to check out our new house!

Ron McNutt, Car Expert!

You'd think seeing names in print would be a pedestrian experience for me now. But a few months ago, a writer in a freelance organization that I am also active in was looking for an authority to speak on trends in the auto industry. I offered that my dad was the most preeminent expert I knew since he's been very successful and built a multi-state business in the past 35 years.

She was interested in talking to him, and I got all PR-like and even set up the interview. I just discovered the article online, and it was such a kick to read Dad's quotes in the story:
Small Cars are Selling Big

He's on the second page, talking about how people down here still love their gas-guzzlers! Great job, Dad. :)

ch-ch-changes

So, what do you guys think about the changes I've made? I also added a poll over on the sidebar -- the URL for this site is englishfamilyinthebayou. I started this blog when we moved down here to Louisiana, but now that we're leaving, we obviously won't be "in the bayou" anymore. So do I need a new URL, or should I just keep this one to save everyone a whole lot of trouble? thoughts?

Maybe I figured it out!

This has to be a new record for me. Just yesterday I complained of a certain photographic malaise I was feeling. Today, I think I might have the answer...and it's simple.

The camera I always felt like I was best on was my old 3 megapixel, 3x optical zoom Olympus that we bought when Will was a baby. My photos just seemed better for some reason. After I got the 12x optical zoom, 8 megapixel Sony and I just couldn't bond with it, I thought it was just that I just hadn't bought the right camera for me. Then we got the Nikon, and I was having trouble finding my groove with it, as well.

Fortunately, Ben's parents have some generous friends, the Holgates. His parents friends were devastated when Katrina flooded their waterfront Biloxi home. They lost everything but what was in the attic. And when they went through the long-forgotten items stored away on high, Mr. Holgate found his old Nikon camera equipment. It was for manual cameras, but it fits on the new digital bodies. He asked Ben's parents if they might like the equipment, and they said they wouldn't be able to use it, but they were pretty sure they knew someone who would. Yeah, that was me.

So I was blessed with a ton of amazing Nikon equipment: lenses galore, filters out the wazoo, and even really great retro cases. I'm still learning the world of DSLRs, however, and I was a little reticent to really go and give the whole manual thing a shot.

Well, today I was browsing some other mommyblogs, and read on Posie Gets Cozie about her wide-angle lens discovery. So I decided to go and dig out that lens and give it a go.

So yes, long story to get to my point of discovery. But I'm getting to it, I promise! Because the wide-angle lens isn't zoom, I used my body again in my photography. I was squatting, climbing, hovering and laying on the ground the get the shot I wanted. I still have a long way to go with getting used to manual focus, but when I sat down and looked at what I had, a light went on. I had become a lazy photographer.

When I got my fancy-schmancy new cameras, I suddenly was content to park my butt and use my newfound zoom capabilities. But for some reason, that seems to have taken a lot of the soul out of my photos. I needed to be in it, to see the light (literally), to find the angle. Even though you never see me in the photos, I am "in" them in my composition. And I was losing that completely.

So today, a wide-angle lens helped me get my groove back. I'm so excited to realize that I haven't lost my touch -- I'd just forgotten where to look for it.

Anyway, I was playing with the focus a lot, trying to get used to full manual, but the slideshow about shows some of my efforts. I don't know if you guys will be able to see the difference, but I know I can. And I expect that my photo plateau will lead me on to even greater picture-taking experiences in the future. Yay!

Will went on a playdate today, so I decided Little Miss and I would take another shot at some good "two year" photos. Yes, I know that was almost a month ago, but I still haven't gotten any I'm really happy with. These are better.

I am feeling a little sensitive, like my photos are missing that je ne sais quoi I think they used to have. I haven't been putting as much into them since I've been really ramping up my writing career, but I do still love it, and love messing with them when I have time. Maybe it's the post-process time I'm missing. I don't know...but these are okay. They show HER, I think. And isn't that the idea?

The second-best real estate sign ever

There it is. Finally. The prettiest sign on the block.

It's been "pending" for a few days now -- forgive me for not telling you all earlier. But you might characterize the buyer as "difficult"...if you were being diplomatic. But Ben and I have worked it all out with him, and because of the great corporate relo package from Sherwin-Williams, we know now we're actually moving.

See, the package has this phenomenal contract that says that after an inspection contingency has been removed from an offer, if the sale falls through for any other reason, the relo company buys the house at the contracted price. I am kind of a superstitious person by nature -- I don't like counting my eggs before they've hatched. I don't like saying anything is guaranteed in life -- I've been bitten enough.

(Don't believe me? Ask Ben about the Jets comeback against the Dolphins in a 2000 Monday Night Football game. Sounds tangental, but it's really a great story for showing that I can never count on ANYTHING to happen.)

So onward with the inspection on the house in Mississippi. And if that goes well, I'll post photos of that house, too. But I'm not assuming it will go well. I'm not assuming anything. I'm only knowing that I'll do what it takes to get our family back together. Like I told Ben, you can make back money, but you can't make back time.

So, God-willing...northwest Mississippi, here we come!

Good Times

Knowing we'll be leaving soon, I took the kids outside this evening to enjoy our "backyard" a little longer. Ben grilled, the kids played, and I chased them and took pictures. The first few on the slideshow, actually, are from Adelaide just being silly last week, but those were worth viewing too, I thought.

Snow White

Lindsay, Edwin and Caroline sent Adelaide this little getup for her 2nd birthday. As soon as she opened the package, she had to put it on. I think it suits her. And I have to say, I was impressed with how she handled the heels!

Will's latest artistic creation

Isn't this beautiful? It's a Will Creation. He calls it "Damaged Lungs." He created it from scratch, only with a blank photoshop document. He thinks it looks like lungs on either side...though clearly, they are damaged a bit. But beautiful, I think. Beautifully damaged. It's funny, he really can't draw at all with pencil and paper, but put him in front of a computer, and he's a genius with color and shape. (Not that I'm biased, or anything.)

The conversation I just had with Will

Will: Mommy, what year were you born?

Me: 1978.

Will: (Thoughtful silence) Did they have cars back then?

Me: (Shocked silence) Did you just ask me if they had cars "back then"?

Will: (Not laughing, even though I was sure he must be joking.) Yes.

Me: OF COURSE THEY HAD CARS BACK THEN!

Will: (Ponders this for a moment.) Modern cars of today, or horse-drawn wagons?

Me: (Trying not to let the expanding pressure in my head cause a full cerebral explosion.) Modern...cars...of today... (teeth clenched.)

Will: Huh. Well, okay.

Me: (muffled crying noises.)

My SELF article was picked up by MSNBC.com

When I get a Google Alert on my name, it's usually a regional mag that's picked up a reprint, or even from clips posted on my own website. But I was surprised today. Apparently my story for SELF (which was MUCH more time consuming to produce than the final product shows, let me assure you) got picked up by msnbc.com:
The Skinny on Spicy Foods

So that's pretty cool. In the world of "all rights" contract, I unfortunately don't get paid again, but I did get paid the first time, and MSNBC is a pretty good pencil notch.

More birthday photos

Just more photos from the big day.

The Big 0-2

Today was Adelaide's second birthday...hard to believe in some ways, for sure. But then again, it's difficult to remember what life was like without her around. She's such a trip -- always dancing, singing, and diving headfirst (literally and figuratively) into everything she does. Ask her how old she is and she'll proudly proclaim "Dooooooo!" (That means two.) She didn't quite understand what all the fuss was about today, of course, but she didn't complain when offered chocolate and pretty presents, some with singing cards attached.

She had a blast being the "birthday princess" today, and Ben was able to come down this weekend to spend it with us. It hurts to know he's leaving tomorrow -- everytime he goes out the door, Adelaide starts crying, begging for "Da-yi, Da-yi" to come back. It's hard on her -- she doesn't understand. Then again, it's hard on Will, and he does. I think, however, it's hardest on Ben. Tonight, Adelaide wanted another piece of cake. In her logic, the way to get that was to find her birthday crown and put it on. "Da-yi!" she called, pointing at the cake and showing him she had put on her appropriate headgear. Since she'd already had two baths today, he cut her a piece and fed it to her rather than letting her do it herself. Everytime he'd give her a bite, she'd grin her million-dollar toothy smile and do a cute little dance. I looked over at him and he was crying. He just couldn't bear knowing tomorrow he'd be going back to the lonely confines of his hotel room alone.

I don't know when we'll sell our house. But I truly, truly, want it to be soon.

Skateboarding for siblings

Adelaide's birthday is Sunday, and she is claiming her terrible two-ness. Mom sent, along with other items, two Toys R Us gift cards -- one for Laila and one for Will. Well, we actually had to leave our house yesterday for a showing (hallelujah!) and Will suggested we cash in their cards. So we went. After looking at blocks, RC cars, and action figures, Will inexplicably chose a skateboard. Fortunately we had just gotten him a new helmet for his bike and he chose a skate helmet that came with elbow and knee pads, as well. So he had all the safety items -- he wanted that board, that just happened to be the exact price I told him to look for.

Adelaide happily chose a pink music set that included a snare drum (pink), maracas (pink), a tambourine (pink) and a harmonica (green -- nah, I'm just kidding, it was pink, too). But when we got home and Will started ripping open that skateboard box, she was smitten. Along with the board, a beanie (black, with a skull and crossbones decor), chain wallet, and wrist band were included. She quickly and independently appropriated these items. Yes, as Will and I were de-plasticizing his skateboard, she decided she must wear the beanie. Will acquiesed, as he had a helmet on. But when she went after the board itself...well, he was not so much pleased.

We worked it out (and let me pretend it was done easily, without must consternation and gnashing of teeth, okay?) and they took turns, Adelaide on her hienie and Will trying not to do the splits ("Mommy, are there any books on 'how to skateboard'?" he asks). Then we opened her pink percussive instruments and she discovered the harmonica.

And for the rest of the day, my soon-to-be-2-year-old walked around the house tooting her new instrument. It was actually rather lovely, and much prefered to the snare drum.

And yes, she did it while wearing the beanie. It was lovely.