Okay, okay...

Since so many have been asking...

I'm not going to say these are my favorite portraits in the world, but oh well.

This first one was taken at the end of October...




And this one was taken two nights ago...


check out the swollen hands and the look my dad is giving me...

Deep Thoughts from Kindergarten

I haven't talked a bunch about my class this year. That is truly a shame because they are so sweet and have seriously blessed me in a number of ways. They are kind, helpful little people. They are also little thinkers...here are some statements that have been said this year:

"You know why I don't like playing alone? Because it feels like I'm asleep."

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"I'm thankful for trees and bumblebees."

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"Mrs. Tomlin, how old are you supposed to be when you die?"


It's amazing what they come up with. One of them asked if I would bring up one of the babies after they were born and they were really floored when I said that someday I would bring in both of the babies.

Kindergarten Politics

My class was discussing the presidential election and we are a very appropriately split class. We certainly do live in a swing state.

There was a plane flying around with an Obama flag during recess...that may have swayed a few of the undecideds. Let's hope so. Flying objects are a very big deal during recess.

My favorite comment was from one little girl who told us that her mom was voting for "John the King".

destruction!

I thought you'd get a kick out of this video taken today...

No, I am not on bedrest, but I pretty much act like I am when it comes to the weekends and after school. So, some things have gotten pushed down on the priority list...say, like cleaning...

things to share

Here are the two things to share:

1. We had some fun times in KC at two baby showers!...a mostly friends shower and then a mostly family shower. T.J. and I feel so blessed by the community we have there...and we don't even live there!! It certainly makes us long for our own abode in KC, but who knows if that will ever happen...

The best parts of both of the showers were 1). seeing and being with such excellent people and 2). the organization. Seriously, T.J.'s mom, Jayme, and sister, Shari, are completely amazing at hosting a party and thinking down to every last detail....from themes to hand sewn labels in cloth diapers to "it could be in a magazine" decor to the most delicious cakes of all time. I truly admire their skills. I hope one of our kids gets that hostess gene.

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2. The other bit of news to hare is that we spent the night in Labor and Delivery last week. That was new. Apparently, I have been having contractions. For someone who is 26 weeks along, that's not too good to be doing...just an fyi. But, now we have got it under control...I'm on some meds and resting a whole bunch more. Thankfully, the babies look great and I am having no scary side effects from the contractions (they're not painful ones).

Being in the hospital was interesting. Hospital food really is as bad as they say. Poor T.J. had to sleep in this wooden recliner chair which would randomly spring upright. It was a long night, but we made it.

On that note, I'd also like to share my deepest love and gratitude for my hubby. He has been such a loving and constant servant to me. Here he is, trying to wrap up his dissertation, teach a class and T.A. another...and then on top of that, he is doing all the cooking and cleaning and taking care of me (running to the grocery store several times a week, getting me jugs water, rubbing my back, putting ice in my jug of water). This is just the tip of the iceberg. He is the best and he's my best friend. I'm so glad that my kiddos will have him as their dad. I'm sure they will adore him as much as I do.

It's a...

boy and a girl, if you didn't know. As these pictures show, I am definitely pregnant now. Life as a pregnant woman has been pretty fun...lots of eating and sleeping, lots of hip pain and LOTS of tums. People love pregnancy...I've never been told how cute I look with such frequency. Isn't that nice of people?...especially considering I don't really feel comfortable in my own skin most of the time.

Phinishing Up in Philadelphia

Hello my dear readers. I'm sorry I've taken so long to update you on our many goings and comings. Alas, we have returned from good ole Philly and are now safely back home in good ole Mid-Missouri. Ahhh...

I'd like to fill you in on the rest of our time in PA. The format is going to be a bit different...but, I think (actually, I know) you will like it! T.J. and I are going to blog together---a blogging first!!

Sooo, here we go...

T.J. here. Wow, it is really an honor to be a guest writer on this (my favorite) blog. There is so much to tell you. First, would you like to hear about my research at the Library Company of Philadelphia? I thought so. This first picture is the only one I am legally allowed to display--the others are of eighteenth-century almanacs. Here is the foam stand I placed almanacs on for about a month. Take a look:


Those white straps are weighted ropes that archives allow researchers to use to hold down the pages of fragile documents. Now who said that research isn't fun?

With the loving support of my wife (an even better fan than Michael Phelps's mother), I worked for a month straight with this little piece of foam and a handful of dreams. After a day of research, a fella needs a little time with his favorite lady. Katrina was always eager to leave our apartment (in a townhouse right next door to the archive...who could ask for anything more?) and hit the town. Let's hear what she has to say about it, shall we?

Okay, it's Katrina again...look fast! Soo, many nights we went out to eat at cute and/or swanky restaurants mere blocks from our house. My most favorite restaurants were called Monk's Cafe and La Viola. And, wouldn't you know they were right across the street from each other? Monk's was a Belgian Taproom...I did not have any beer (no doy), but I did have a pot of mussels and french fries. Yum! Then, there is the italian La Viola...which really was like going to Italy. We went here twice...two nights in a row...back to back. It is that amazingly good. I had lobster ravioli in a pink cognac sauce (twice)...you should fly to philly just to eat this dish. I'm not joking.

We also got to see some great friends. I know I mentioned this in an earlier post...but, you know, friends are a good thing. Our friends, Brian and Gail, live out in a beautiful suburb and have a "work for rent" situation. Basically, they spend 15 hours a week upkeeping this family's own private park. It is really a breathtaking little spread of land. We always have the best time with these two...little things become big events. Just look what happened when we visited Brian's school campus:
The guest-blogger returns! I want to tell you about a phrase I learned in Philadelphia. You may have heard of "Italian Ice." Yes, the delicious summer treat we've all enjoyed a time or two. Well, guess what they call it in Philadelphia? (Insert an incorrect guess here) Nope. (Another incorrect guess) Come on, you're not even trying with that one. (A final, exasperated guess) No again. The correct answer is "Water Ice." Yes, water ice. You may be thinking, "Hey, isn't that just two words for the same thing, like "Peanut nut" or "Wooden oak" and you're right. But I've learned to just accept it, because it is downright fantastic. At our favorite place (and others), you could get what they call a Gelati, two layers of custard surrounded by two layers of water ice. It is essentially the best creamcicle ever.

Okay, we've rambled on long enough. Below you'll find some pictures of our room and the townhouse of which it is a part in Philadelphia.