Hannah and I went to see this movie last night and it was surprisingly good. I mean, I KNEW that I would like it because, hello, obvious, but it was even better than that.

I loved how the characters were not all typical and cliched. I love how two of the characters made really good decisions in their lives and didn't go the way of the world.

I loved that Marc Blucas was in it (RILEY!!!) and that one of the characters even mentions Buffy in a line.

Hugh Dancy was SO GOOD in this! I seriously did not love Ella Enchanted and I hadn't seen him in anything since - he was really fun in this one.

I love love LOVED how they made the characters in the movie parallel the characters' personalities and situations in Jane Austen's novels.

Food For Thought

Spend, Spend, Spend. It's no Way to Happiness.

Just some nastalgic pictures of summer now that the weather has gotten cooler and all of the stores are stocking up on things we'll never really need in Los Angeles.
Does any sane woman actually post a picture of herself in a swimsuit? Call it therapy.

Be afraid, waves. The Fletch will TAKE YOU DOWN!

almost halfway done with the tree-skirt! bummed that my other 6 blocks won't be in the same fabrics, but it doesn't matter a ton, since they'll be covered in presents anyway, right?

(why did we pick this year to do no presents?!)

Well, we thought about it anyway. I think the general consensus was "just one present" this year. Our kids are too spoiled....

Today was the first day of pre-school for the little co-op that I am a part of. I taught the first time. We had a little library, and places to play trains, or marbles, or Little People. We painted wooden A's, and learned about sharing and saying please and thank you. The kids were all really good - better than I ever expected! Thanks guys!

here is my card for this week. I copied penelope's castle as best i could......which, not so good. :)
love the prompt this week!!! "draw something!"

Connor informed me yesterday after school that, because he has to go to church on Sunday, and he only has one day "off" every week, he needs me to tell his teacher that he should have two days off of school every week.

He was dead serious. He did not appreciate my laughter very much, either.

Sometimes blog hopping is bad. Okay, mostly it's always bad. I end up at a place like Present Past Collection that is selling things like this vintage card case here on the right, which I would probably never have a proper use for but have ALWAYS wanted.

Remember, in the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, when it was the big "thing" to have little personal cards with your name on them, and to trade them with friends in town? And how Almanzo and Laura traded cards and it was totally the beginning of their courtship? That is why I have always wanted a card holder, even though it is absolutely NOT in style to do that anymore. Look how pretty! Lucky for me it costs too much to justify. But if I ever go into business and get a business card....

Meg Cabot has this great story on her blog about her experience on September 11, 2001. She was only 12 blocks away from ground zero when it happened, and there are a lot of things I never knew about before I read her entry. Check it out.

haven't journaled the back yet - not sure what i'm going to say. i've felt like my cards have been kinda blah lately so i wanted to make a pretty one and i wanted to use green - so there it is!

ah, the joys of ebay

i could not resist the possibilities on this one. a contrasting waist band! pleats!

we've been trying to keep ourselves busy while connor is at school. today we made a Mr. Grass Head. Fletcher fully expected the grass to grow instantly. :) But he was content with just putting the rest of my nylons on his head, as bunny ears.

to make one Mr. Grass Head:
1 pair nylons or one knee-high nylon sock
grass seed
potting soil
glue and stuff to stick on 'im.
Put some grass seed in the toe of the nylon, and then fill with enough dirt to make a round head. tie a knot in the bottom. glue stuff on for his face. set in a bowl with some water in it. put a little water on the top. set in the sun, and wait for him to grow hair!

Good times.

my card this week is a quick-and-easy one. just put on some stamps from my chinese zodiac set (you guessed it, the ram. my sheep lovin' is deeply rooted) and then wrote on a 3x5 card and glued it on.

and this is why i'm going for not-complicated this week. The Connor has entered public school for the first time, into 2nd grade. All of the anxiety and nervousness I avoided two years ago is visiting me now ten-fold it feels like. What if he loses his lunchbox? What if the other kids think he's wierd? What if he can't write as well? (okay, I know he can't write as well because i've seen the kids handwriting. he should be a doctor it's so bad..) :)

Connor wanted to be standing in the doorway waving for his picture. He was hoping to wave fast enough to make his hand blurry in the picture. Notice the concentration. He was annoyed that it didnt' work.

Went to the "new kids" assembly and then a lady took him and another girl to his classroom. And then Fletcher completely went into hysterics. He had tears running down his face and he was reaching for connor's retreating back and screaming "i need my brother!"

yeah. that was rough.

we get to go get him in 3 hours!

goodbye sweetheart

after almost 4 years of coming to our house 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, mason is leaving us. her mom is so excited to be able to stay home now. it's going to be a big adjustment for all of us!