Elise's birthday is today.
Also, the kids turned one the other day. We got some great pictures of them smeared all up with cake. I put them on Facebook, but I need to move them to Flickr so we can all see them.
We need to make more of an effort to post here, we both know that. More to come.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
February 8th
Good Morning!
So, last week I turned 41. I expected it to be one of those "nothing" birthdays, since (a) 41 is hardly an interesting benchmark, and (b) the kids have really captured the spotlight around here, as it should be. But Elise had other plans, and set things in motion so that I could have a pretty wonderful birthday, and really, birth-week.
In the past few months since the México trip, I've been doing a few things around here. First, is that I recorded and produced my first full-length record album, Shabbat Rocks -- a Jewish kids' record. It's selling well, has almost paid for itself. Second, I've been teaching myself to code on Android phones (that's Google's phone system.) That one's a lot of fun, but hampered somewhat since I don't have an Android device. Third, I've been building some embedded devices, putting an Arduino microcontroller to work controlling some sophisticated lights. And I've still been doing a little paying work here and there for the Mansell Group, who bought the old Accucast business from PGS.
And spending a lot of time with the kids as they grow up. Meredith is almost at a crawl -- she rolls over and over to cover the distance. Fisher isn't going to crawl before he walks, probably. When he's on his belly, the only trick he knows is to roll over to his back.
So, last week I turned 41. I expected it to be one of those "nothing" birthdays, since (a) 41 is hardly an interesting benchmark, and (b) the kids have really captured the spotlight around here, as it should be. But Elise had other plans, and set things in motion so that I could have a pretty wonderful birthday, and really, birth-week.
In the past few months since the México trip, I've been doing a few things around here. First, is that I recorded and produced my first full-length record album, Shabbat Rocks -- a Jewish kids' record. It's selling well, has almost paid for itself. Second, I've been teaching myself to code on Android phones (that's Google's phone system.) That one's a lot of fun, but hampered somewhat since I don't have an Android device. Third, I've been building some embedded devices, putting an Arduino microcontroller to work controlling some sophisticated lights. And I've still been doing a little paying work here and there for the Mansell Group, who bought the old Accucast business from PGS.
And spending a lot of time with the kids as they grow up. Meredith is almost at a crawl -- she rolls over and over to cover the distance. Fisher isn't going to crawl before he walks, probably. When he's on his belly, the only trick he knows is to roll over to his back.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
New Year's Thoughts
Supposedly Joseph Campbell said, "We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
This pretty much sums up 2009, and should probably become my mantra for the next several. I think there is great merit in planning though, and I will continue to plan my choral rehearsals. (And our new Sparks family giant wall calendar will keep important dates and appointments in 2010.)
However, in life the best things that have happened to me have not been planned. Fisher and Meredith weren't "planned" per se. Being older and over-busy, I had planned that it would take a bit longer to happen. And I sure didn't plan on twins. In fact, that whole concept had never entered my mind.
I didn't plan on directing a college choir; that happened almost by accident, too. And I didn't really plan to do it for very long, but it seems to be steady work for the immediate future.
I planned on having my dissertation done prior to this year... But then again, GSU needed someone to give an assistantship to, and it is serendipity that I was still unfinished and there to receive it.
It was also quite unplanned that I am not officially back working at church. This is surely the longest maternity/academic leave that a part-time employer has ever tolerated. I hadn't planned to receive such grace from my pastor or choir.
And so it goes. I'll leave 2010 quite open to whatever is waiting. Considered as a whole, I--like George Bailey--have a wonderful life. It is quite better than I ever could have planned.
This pretty much sums up 2009, and should probably become my mantra for the next several. I think there is great merit in planning though, and I will continue to plan my choral rehearsals. (And our new Sparks family giant wall calendar will keep important dates and appointments in 2010.)
However, in life the best things that have happened to me have not been planned. Fisher and Meredith weren't "planned" per se. Being older and over-busy, I had planned that it would take a bit longer to happen. And I sure didn't plan on twins. In fact, that whole concept had never entered my mind.
I didn't plan on directing a college choir; that happened almost by accident, too. And I didn't really plan to do it for very long, but it seems to be steady work for the immediate future.
I planned on having my dissertation done prior to this year... But then again, GSU needed someone to give an assistantship to, and it is serendipity that I was still unfinished and there to receive it.
It was also quite unplanned that I am not officially back working at church. This is surely the longest maternity/academic leave that a part-time employer has ever tolerated. I hadn't planned to receive such grace from my pastor or choir.
And so it goes. I'll leave 2010 quite open to whatever is waiting. Considered as a whole, I--like George Bailey--have a wonderful life. It is quite better than I ever could have planned.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Mexico
I'm on my parents' Windows laptop. It doesn't have a simple, Mac-like facility for putting the accent on the 'e' in Mexico. Grumble.
So, the family is down here in Mazanillo at an all-inclusive resort. If you've never been to one, you pay one price on arrival, and all food and drinks are included. Well, maybe not all. The first day, I ordered Jack on the rocks, and was asked to pay 35 pesos ($3). The next day I went into town and bought a bottle of Jack for 267 pesos ($24). No problema!
But each morning we wake up, tend to the kids, go to breakfast, and then hang out in the pool. We have little floating boats for the kids to sit in. They both like it, though they're a bit sensitive to the cold. Some lunch, afternoon naps, and then a nice dinner. Pretty relaxing.
So, the family is down here in Mazanillo at an all-inclusive resort. If you've never been to one, you pay one price on arrival, and all food and drinks are included. Well, maybe not all. The first day, I ordered Jack on the rocks, and was asked to pay 35 pesos ($3). The next day I went into town and bought a bottle of Jack for 267 pesos ($24). No problema!
But each morning we wake up, tend to the kids, go to breakfast, and then hang out in the pool. We have little floating boats for the kids to sit in. They both like it, though they're a bit sensitive to the cold. Some lunch, afternoon naps, and then a nice dinner. Pretty relaxing.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Happy Halloween!
You can't make it out, but Elise's shirt says "this time: TRIPLETS!" which was the scariest thing she could think of.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
3 years
So this week, Steve and I are celebrating our third anniversary of meeting each other. (Oct. 1--first email, Oct 3--first date, etc.) We've packed a lot into a few years.
I can honestly say that despite his hundred or so frustrating habits, I love my husband now more than I ever have. And despite my equally frustrating hundred or so habits, he still loves me, too.
We celebrated by going to our favorite Italian place for dinner Friday night, where the owner took Meredith and held her while he sat people at tables and chatted up other guests. She was the hit of the place. Fisher slept through this entire event.
Now we are going on our first "full unit" outing. That is, to the coffee house/dog park in the Flame-mobile with the Sparks Five. Steve is recovering from his biggest BBQ gig to date, and we are all a little worn out. But happy.
I can honestly say that despite his hundred or so frustrating habits, I love my husband now more than I ever have. And despite my equally frustrating hundred or so habits, he still loves me, too.
We celebrated by going to our favorite Italian place for dinner Friday night, where the owner took Meredith and held her while he sat people at tables and chatted up other guests. She was the hit of the place. Fisher slept through this entire event.
Now we are going on our first "full unit" outing. That is, to the coffee house/dog park in the Flame-mobile with the Sparks Five. Steve is recovering from his biggest BBQ gig to date, and we are all a little worn out. But happy.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Goin' Mobile
Going Mobile - The Who
We've been taking the kids out a bit here and there. Here we see the babes ready for brunch yesterday. We took them to Calavino's, a brunch place we like. Here is Calavino, and her partner Doria, holding a sleepy Fisher (who they keep calling "Fitch".)
And here's a picture of Meredith checking out the lattice work at Holy Taco.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Trifecta
They say the three most stressful things one can do are (a) move, (b) add or lose a family member, and (c) change careers. You've watched on this blog as we built a house, moved, and added two family members. Well, Wednesday, I left Premiere. I've completed the trifecta. Do I get a prize?
Obviously there's a lot to say about the situation that led to my leaving, but I think I'm going to let time and distance have their effect before getting too much into it. But Premiere was VERY generous in their severance, and there are other people who want some part-time help with a few things, so the net result is that I will get to spend this holiday season with my new family. I'm tremendously happy about that!
I also want to start a venture, so stay tuned on that one.
Love and kisses! It's a great day!
Obviously there's a lot to say about the situation that led to my leaving, but I think I'm going to let time and distance have their effect before getting too much into it. But Premiere was VERY generous in their severance, and there are other people who want some part-time help with a few things, so the net result is that I will get to spend this holiday season with my new family. I'm tremendously happy about that!
I also want to start a venture, so stay tuned on that one.
Love and kisses! It's a great day!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Labor Day Weekend
Here's to LABOR UNIONS!
Around, say, 1870, work sucked. Six or seven days a week, twelve hours a day, horrible conditions, etc., etc., etc. Bosses could fire for no reason; workers had no power at all, and bosses routinely abused the situation. Over about a hundred years, the unionization of America fixed those ills and for the most part, the workplace in America is much better for their efforts. We got Saturdays off, too.
But we also got the spare day, once a year, tacked onto the end of this weekend. Woot! Our first family holiday together, we've got Elise's brother John and his whole family, plus Elise's mom. We'll be throwin' down some ribs and chicken and steaks and burgers.
I hope everyone has a great Labor Day!
Kids update: All is well, nothing really to report. They're focusing much better these days, but still they're mostly scream machines.
Around, say, 1870, work sucked. Six or seven days a week, twelve hours a day, horrible conditions, etc., etc., etc. Bosses could fire for no reason; workers had no power at all, and bosses routinely abused the situation. Over about a hundred years, the unionization of America fixed those ills and for the most part, the workplace in America is much better for their efforts. We got Saturdays off, too.
But we also got the spare day, once a year, tacked onto the end of this weekend. Woot! Our first family holiday together, we've got Elise's brother John and his whole family, plus Elise's mom. We'll be throwin' down some ribs and chicken and steaks and burgers.
I hope everyone has a great Labor Day!
Kids update: All is well, nothing really to report. They're focusing much better these days, but still they're mostly scream machines.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)