so this is love

Stream of Pictures {a week in review}

Posted on March 4, 2012 by jenn

{I said “Casey! Quick! Take a picture of that cool sign while I’m driving!

Here’s the product of that idea.}

{Here’s our gym. This was last Sunday.

Only made it 3 times this week, but that’s better than zero? Right?}

{Here’s what my kitchen looks like when I dare bake. From scratch.}

{The finished product. Plus I can now totally say I made one thing from my Pinterest board!}

{My most interesting sign picture of the week. This is posted on my work building. Don’t bring weapons to therapy, mmmkay?}

{Mr. Tea came to work with me. I pity da fool that has to do paperwork! Yeah, me too.}

{Played a lot of Yahtzee this week. Plus I yelled at someone while I was walking to SLOW DOWN! This probably means I am getting up there in my years.

Just like our blog, who is now the proud Google Friend Connect age of 71!}

{Mom came THISCLOSE to beating me at Scramble with Friends. THISCLOSE!}

{We got an actual snow storm. Of like 12 inches of snow. Our first “real” snowstorm since Halloween. Skeeter is not impressed. He is looking forward to North Carolina!}

{Stacey made me waffles for breakfast on Saturday. It’s apparently our thing now. Also? We then went and charmed a landlord into giving her an awesome 1 bedroom apartment! We have totally never been turned down an apartment we wanted. And that’s a feat in Portland, just yesterday this landlord had 7 appointments to show this particular apartment. We rock! The end.}

{Friends don’t let friends get paint spatter in their eye. It really freakin’ hurts. Really.}

{I’ve gotten Casey addicted to the Gilmore Girls.

I told him he’s one episode of Dawson’s Creek away from becoming my same-sex partner.}

How was your week, everyone?

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Kid Quotes Friday!

Posted on March 2, 2012 by jenn

Kid: I’ve been doing a whole lot better in school.
Me: Oh that’s great. Have you been studying more?
Kid: No, I have my lucky shoes.
Me: Oh, why are they lucky?
Kid: Well, I drank this really good soda. Then I took the soda tab and tied it on my shoe. Obviously.
Me: Oh, uhm, of course. (8 y.o.)

*******

Kid: I’m a pilot now!
Me: Oh yeah? Of what?
Kid: Paper airplanes. But I’m pretty sure it’s the same as real airplanes . . right? (7 y.o.)

*******

Kid: We’re going to cure this animal. I’ll be the doctor and you guys are the nurses.

Me: Okay, how do we cure it?

Kid: You pour tea down it’s throat and Casey can call me when it’s feeling better.

(begin “pouring tea”)

Casey: Doctor, doctor! The patient is ready.

Kid: Actually, it’s not. You haven’t flattened it’s belly yet with the spatula! (4 y.o.)

*******

Me: Okay missy, are you done playing here?

Kid: MY NAME IS NOT MISSY. (4 y.o.)

*******

Kid (looking into reflection in the window): MOM! I can’t see my skin in the window! MY SKIN IS GONE! (3 y.o.)

*******

Okay, now it’s your turn! Grab a button and link up funny stories about the things your kids say, or kids you know!

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One Jump Forward

Posted on March 1, 2012 by jenn

The snow is crunching beneath our feet.

The sun is playing hide and seek with the clouds.

He is jumping between rocks, telling me about his day in the way that only children can. Fast thoughts running together, flowing out of his mind and mouth like a waterfall of words.

He comes upon a big rock, covered in snow. He is hesitant, clearly unsure of whether or not he can make the jump.

I want to say “be careful!” but I bite my tongue and watch.

He bends his legs, preparing to jump.

I hear him begin to say to himself quietly, “I can do this. I CAN do this.”

And he’s airborne. Flying through the air.

I hold my breath, hoping he lands safely.

And he does.

A smile spreads across his face, lighting up the afternoon. He is proud of himself. He did it.

That smile makes every hour of my job worth it.

In six short months he has changed his thoughts from “I am stupid, I am worthless,” to I can do it.

He is facing situations that months ago he would have shied away from.

He is jumping. Even though he is afraid.

And just like that, in this one simple moment, I know my work with him is done.

Source: m.boden.co.uk via Linda on Pinterest

This post is written for the GBE 2’s writing prompt “Simplicity,” Join us here!

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Follow

Posted on February 29, 2012 by jenn

The music clicks on and it is time to begin. I desperately want to look at my feet in order to keep them in line, but I work to keep my head up, my eyes centered on him. I place my right hand in his left, and my other on his shoulder. He smiles at me, blue eyes twinkling as we count off together. 1, 2, 3, begin.

Slow, slow, quick, quick.

Slow, quick, quick.

He sends me out for a twirl, and I am not expecting it. I stumble over my feet.

We laugh at our attempts to keep time with the music, as the instructor rushes over to my side. “You must learn how to follow. Always be a quarter step behind him.” I nod, and as the instructor walks away. My husband catches my eye and says “I told you so,” without opening his mouth.

*****

You see, marriage? It is a delicate dance. It’s trusting your partner to know what direction is best and not let you bump into other couples on the dance floor, walls or pointy objects. It’s learning to keep your head up and not look at the floor, worrying that you might trip. It’s knowing that sometimes you will be off tempo, and you have to come back to center. It’s going with the flow of being twirled without a moment’s notice, knowing that your partner will keep you safe. It’s knowing that, in the end, you will always come back together.

It’s learning when to lead and when to follow.

And let’s just say, I’ve never been a follower.

But I’m learning.

And like the say in the dance world, practice makes perfect.

1, 2, 3…begin.

******

Linked up with Shell for Pour Your Heart Out.

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Top 10 Google Search Terms (Alternative Title: I weep for the state of our education)

Posted on February 28, 2012 by jenn

Source: relatableblog.com via Whitney on Pinterest

Here are the latest and greatest things that have led new (and probably very confused readers) to us!

Are Triathlons Addicting? Maybe you were hoping that triathlons were the new “bath salts.” That you could be addicted to something that is actually good for you. Except Google led you here. You should probably consider it a divine intervention, because you were educated here about how triathlons are in fact not that addicting, and even perhaps – traumatizing, or at the very least time consuming.

Fat Boy in a Bubble Spacesuit. Ok, I have no idea what post this term led you to. To my knowledge, even when Casey was a “fat boy” he was never in a bubble spacesuit. However this term led my brain to the logical place of BUBBLE BOY from Seinfeld. Because obviously.

Fat Kid Stories. Okay, perhaps we must use the term “fat” too much (another search term along this line is “I was a fat boy.” Congrats!). We did have a short lived series at the beginning of this blog called “(We Used to be) Fat Friday” that met an untimely end when we couldn’t think of anymore topics to write about on the subject of our cellulite.

What is this fried piece of dough I just enjoyed? I don’t know, sir, what it is. Perhaps…fried dough? But I’m inclined to blame Casey for leading you here, because he enjoys fried dough pieces in just about any shape, or form.

The Personification of MLK JR. This makes me weep a little bit for the state of education and creative writing. The posts that led you here are two separate (but equal) posts. MLK Jr is already a person, there is no need to “personify” him.

How to Achieve World Domination. Okay, I give you credit. You have goals in this life. But, really? Googling it? Probably means that you aren’t ready for world domination just yet.

What are Therapists Not Telling Us? BWAHAHAHA. Sorry that was my evil therapist laugh. I am going to give a snarky answer here, and say that your therapist is likely not telling you what you want to hear. They are likely telling you the truth. Want to know some more things your therapist would like to tell you? Go here.

Can I have a miscarriage without having sex? Again, I weep for the education system. And, no. No you cannot. Edit to please the technical people: Yes, technically through artificial means without sex involved you can get pregnant and therefore miscarry. However, I doubt someone who is going to those lengths to get pregnant googles this type of question due to their already superb knowledge of pregnancy and reproductive health and their intense knowledge of the fragility of a baby they went to these lengths for. They are freakin’ superhuman experts, in fact. Shout out to all you IVF and IUI ladies 😉

I wish I was a happy person. Me too, I really do. Perhaps I could suggest stepping away from Dr. Google and finding happiness elsewhere? It’s likely the google search bar isn’t going to bring it to you.

If you’re happy and you know it, hug a therapist. Really? REALLY? Who is out there googling this stuff? WHO?! By the way, don’t hug your therapist. It’s a boundary thing.

Also, my spell check doesn’t like the use of “googling.” OBVIOUSLY, spell check needs to wake up and realize it’s 2012 and googling is a totally acceptable verb. It is also another way that our language is becoming very strange. For realz.

Happy Tuesday, folks! Google On.

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Flatlander’s Guide to Speaking New England-ish.

Posted on February 27, 2012 by jenn

Source: imgfave.com via Yess on Pinterest

Flatlander (flat • land • er), noun

1. Someone not from around these parts.

2. Someone from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey or New York.

3. Outsider who calls New England “quaint,” “so cute,” and/or drives like a maniac.

Uses:

“Got behind a #$%^& flatlander today on route 2.”
“Can’t wait until the flatlanders go back home. GO BACK HOME FLATLANDER!”

——————————–

Jake’s Barn (Jake’s • Barn) / jah • akes bahn /, noun

1. Something you have to go around when (a) cows are blocking the quickest route home, (b) there’s road construction on the bridge, (c) you can’t get there from here.

2. Barn belonging to person named Jake.

Uses:

“Had to go all the way ’round Jake’s Barn to get to the Hannaford this morning.”
“Did you see Jake’s barn? It’s wicked round.”

——————————–

Wicked (wick • ed) /wah • ick • ed/, adjective

1. very

2. a lot

3. awesome/cool/stupendous

Uses:

“It’s wicked cold outside!”
“I had a wicked good time going ’round Jake’s Barn today.”
“Flatlanders are wicked annoying.”

——————————–

Leaf Peepers (leaf • peep • ers) /lee • f • pee • pahs/, noun

1. People who drive to New England to look at foliage in the months of September-October.

2. Extraordinarily slow drivers who take pictures of foliage from their vehicle while driving.

3. Refer to New England as “quaint,” and/or “so cute.”

Uses:

Got behind some leaf peepers this morning. They are wicked annoying. Almost as bad as the flatlanders that were here during summer!

Can’t wait until the leaf peepers come home, but I hope they buy lots of stuff.

——————————–

Round Barn (round • barn) /round • bahn/, noun

1. A meeting place where you cannot be cornered.

2. A barn that is round in nature.

Uses

“I’ll meet you at the round barn, they can’t corner us there!”

——————————–

Sugaring Off (sugar • ing • off) /shuh • gar • ing • off/, verb

1. The process of boiling down maple sap to produce/yield maple syrup and maple sugar.

2. The end result of boring meetings, processes, etc.

Uses

“Uncle Jeff is in the sugar shack. Hopefully the sap sugars off wicked good.”
“We’ll see how this all sugars off.”

——————————–
We hope you enjoyed your very own guide to understanding the complicated dialect of New England!

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Stream of Consciousness {a week in review}

Posted on February 26, 2012 by jenn

{a week in review}

{a} Stacey made a wonderful dinner for Monday night dinners. We switch off every week, who cooks. This week is our turn and I’m hunting down the recipe for homemade chocolate chip cookies to impress the masses (Stacey & Casey). I really love this routine of ours.

{b} My Mom and I are working on a montage project to the song “Signs”…so my quest this week has been to take pictures of signs. This one was taken on a walk in between clients this week.

{c} We got temporary custody of Stacey’s dog, Chandler for the weekend! She’s dog-sitting for another family, so Chandler (a.k.a. Bing, a.k.a. Chanadler Bong, a.k.a. Chauncy, a.k.a. Chandler M. Bing) is staying with us for the weekend! And also? I am not killing him in this picture, despite what his eyes look like.

{d} We got some snow Friday night into Saturday. As my Mom pointed out, this is a rare occasion this winter! It was a beautiful morning. You know, the ones that inspire you to start singing “OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING, OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY!” while you take pictures in your pajamas. No? Just me?

{e} I pity da fool who hasn’t ordered themselves one those these yet. Seriously, I pity you. (Go here and do yourself a favor)

{f} A beautiful sunset on my way home Friday night, overlooking a field near Stacey’s house. One of those “ohmygoshImustpullovertothesideoftheroadandtakeapicture” sunsets.

{g} While putting some old pictures into tubs for storage, I came across my first picture. Yup, that’s me as a baby. All squishy and looking a wee bit Asian.

{h} This was me at work on Monday. It was a holiday, which translated into 3 cancellations, which left me to my own devices of taking pictures of myself. Yeah, I know. Bring a book next time, Jenn.

{i} I ordered a friendship bracelet from over here, where a fellow blogger’s daughter is making them and decided to sell them as a school project. Turns out the reactions from the internets was huge and she’s a successful business lady now. Cool, eh?

{j} These sneakers were made for walking.

{k} A beautiful sunrise, taken from our backyard.

{l} I finally hung up my beautiful portrait, created by Sarah’s 4 year old during our visit to Delaware! Doesn’t it look JUST like me?! I know.

{m} Look closely and you will see Barney, the swiftest and fastest of our dogs running across the backyard in the fresh snow. It is beautiful to watch him run.

{n} Oh hey? That guy? My cute husband.

{o} Another sign for the “Signs” project. Yes, we have horse crossing signs in Maine. So? We also have snow mobile crossing signs, which my brother’s girlfriend once thought was a “sleigh crossing sign” as in Santa’s sleigh.

{p} See all those green checkmarks? That means ALL MY CLIENTS SHOWED UP. That my friends, is nothing short of a miracle.

{q} Oh hey, open up the freezer and what do I find? A dead moth! COOL! (not).

{r} Here I am snuggling with Skeeter after the gym. Yeah, I’m tired.

{s} It’s Hoodlum-Jenn! Just kidding. This is during a between client walk as well (while searching for signs). It was super duper windy, so I brought out my inner hoodlum.

{t} Me and Skeeter! Look at his smile!

{u} The caption to this photo is “Stacey: I could make a joke here about coming unhinged.” Because that’s right folks, WE INSTALLED ANOTHER FRICKIN’ DOOR yesterday. I’m pretty sure we are going to start hiring ourselves out, because we rock this. Also? We provide lots of witty banter.

{v} A picture of our house, in case any of you ~~stalkers~~ fellow bloggers wanted to see it. It’ll soon be up for sale if you’re looking for a lovely home in Maine!

{w} Stacey put together a touch lamp for the guest bedroom and was highly amused by the sign that came with it that said “Touch Me. Your Touch is the Switch.” I think their marketing people may moonlight as a weird 1-900 line. Just sayin’…

And there is my 5 minutes of typing (I confess, putting the picture together took an additional 10 minutes so forgive me). I didn’t have much on my mind this morning so I wanted to give you a glimpse into our week.

I also wanted to take a quick moment to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the people who took a moment out of their day this week to show support on this post, and/or this post about the anniversary of our miscarriage. You guys totally know how to make a couple feel like they are not alone, and they are heard. Thank you.

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

********

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
Link up your post below.
Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

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Saturdays with Casey: One Year Later

Posted on February 25, 2012 by jenn

I don’t have any words for today. Instead, I’m going to have a moment of silence for our never-to-be-born baby.

Source: stilllife365.blogspot.com via Danielle on Pinterest

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Kid Quotes Friday!

Posted on February 24, 2012 by jenn

Welcome to another edition of Kid Quotes Friday!

Grab the button, and link yo’self up below!

_________________________________________________________________________

Kid: I am Mario the Great! SUPER MARIO THE GREAT! I am master of snow mountains, rock hopping, and…. I can fix your toilets, too! (6 y.o., after a little too much Super Mario World).

*****

Me: So what have you been doing over vacation?
Kid: Oh you know. World domination stuff.
Me: What?
Kid: Oh, I wasn’t supposed to tell an adult. (10 y.o.)

*****

Today I was taking a walk with two kids. One got very tired toward the end of the walk and became a wee bit whiny and refused to keep walking. I told her she could run ahead to a big rock and sit down to rest until I got to her. She then spent the rest of the walk trying to “beat me” home. Her brother said, “HEY! You tricked her didn’t you?” And I said “Me? No!” and then he said, “yes you did, adults and their trickery.” (6 & 9 y.o.)

*****

Kid: Mrs G, I learned something today.
Me: Oh yeah, what?
Kid: Adults are totally boring. Can I be excused? (11 y.o. in a meeting with his parents and myself).

*****

__________________________________________________________________________

Your turn! Got a funny quote or story about your kids or kids you know? Share it with us!

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to you

Posted on February 23, 2012 by jenn

Source: piccsy.com via Kelly on Pinterest

You, who has celebrated many milestones with me. Who has sent me endless cards, letters, and pieces of treasured artwork.

Source: google.com via Yvonne on Pinterest

You, who has given me advice, and so much love.

You, who was one of the first people I told about our miscarriage, because you got it.

Source: vi.sualize.us via Ruby on Pinterest

You, who throws on sneakers, goes into the snow and creates a snow pony for your daughter just to make her smile (even though she whacked off the head 20 minutes later)