yay for poop

Q's reward for pooping on the potty - ice cream!  

It would have been easier to just change the diaper.

awfully good

The other day Haley was mentioning that she wanted to have her hair dyed a natural red.  Having been a natural of whatever comes out of the bottle of dye for years, I laughed at her and told her that was an oxymoron.  You can't dye your hair anything natural.  Eric thought the word oxymoron was great.  His ears perked up and he asked me if I had coined the term.  I told him no I had not, but I thought how awesomely rad that would have been if I had.

There was a time in high school, years and years ago, that Shelle (my sister) and her friend had come up with a catchy little comeback of sympathy to show that they were really listening to you and felt deeply your pain and suffering, or they would just say this whenever they felt like it.  For example, say I came home from a basketball game and we had lost.  I would maybe be telling my mom about the game and Shelle would be listening to me.  I would soon hear AH, BRR BRR!! escape her lips.  Oh, Shelle, how lovely those words of love are to remember.  They still bring comfort.  The funny part, kids all over the school started saying it.  A brr brr here and a brr brr there, everywhere a brr brr!  It was so wonderful.

I do want to send out a loud AH, BRR BRR!  It's really too bad it didn't stick - like the likes of: like, or cool, or awesome, or even, gag me.  Who knows, maybe one of these days one of us will be lucky enough to come up with a word that will enter the English language.  I just hope it's as dope as oxymoron.

natural brunette - natural blonde

5th grade bike hike

 

FIFTH GRADE BIKE HIKE

Average temperature was between 50 and 55 degrees.

It was cloudy, but there was no rain.  We got very lucky.

It took us about 40+ minutes to ride approximately seven miles.

The river at Side Cut Park was overflowing.  There were benches under water.

Adults ride bikes in a straight line - 5th graders do not.

There were two flat tires.

One kid fell off his bike.

The kid in front of me said his bum hurt and thought it would feel better to sit on one foot while riding his bike.  I wasn't convinced this would help the situation.

One kid thought using his feet as brakes were better than using the actual brakes on his bike.  His shoes showed that this was not the first time he has used this technique.

I stayed far enough away from Eric that one child asked me if I had all girls.

One kid fell down and skinned her knee on our "hike".

One girl happened to show me her key to her bike lock.  About 15 minutes later a park ranger came up to me and asked if anyone had lost a key.  He had found one in the bathroom - it was her key.  Sometimes luck is on your side!

One kid stopped the entire procession because of a charley horse - no kidding.

We had a police escort.

Eric's favorite part was playing kickball.

My favorite part was seeing new parts of the park I had never seen before.

It was an overall wonderful day.

eric and the rain

 The rain this spring has been absolutely unrelenting!!  I have never in my life experienced anything even remotely close to this much rain.  I feel like we are going to float away.  The storms we had yesterday have turned some lawns in our neighborhood into swimming pools.  It's crazy!  It made Mimi a little nervous.  She thought we needed to head to the basement for safety.  She was worried about tornadoes.  I let her watch the news to reassure her that the tornadoes were not close to us, and that if they were, we would hear the sirens letting us know that we needed to take cover.  You could tell she was still worried.  I felt a little sorry for her.  Even with all the storms we still made it to Eric's honor's night.  

The kids in the picture were obviously not ready yet for the photo.  I took other pictures that turned out better, but this one made me laugh.  Mrs. Virost is acting all sneaky in the back.  Brock is standing next to Eric and he looks like he is blowing away a burp.  I have no idea what happened to Collin's face.  It looks like I smudged it out.  And Eric is dutifully staring straight ahead when it looks like half of the other kids are paying attention to something that has happened behind him.  Kids are the best, and these kids are some of the best of the best!!

P.S.  During the torrential downpour and the tornado watch, Haley decided it would be a nice day to walk home from school.  Needless to say, she was a little wet when she got home.  This is the ONLY day this year she has walked home on her own volition.  

why the long trapezoid, quinny?

Ever since Quinn was very little she would make this face when she cried.  When Eric was learning a little geometry at school, he made the observation that her mouth was in the shape of a trapezoid.  So, when Quinn was around six months old, the phrase why the long trapezoid was born. 

Why the long trapezoid this morning?  Well, it seems we are having some issues about what we can and cannot eat for breakfast, and this morning Quinny wanted Marshmallow Supremes to start off her day.  This is not the breakfast of champions.  I said no and out came the trapezoid.

Notice her pjs?  I often wonder what she is doing at night in her room that is completely void of anything.  She has a tendency to troll around in there for a LONG time before she falls asleep.  Last night it seems she found her leotard and a pair of capri pants.  She put them on over her pjs.  She thought she was very clever.

mom's lesson #11

Hey kids (I'm talking to you, Mia),

always start your day with a healthy breakfast.

I'm totally cool with these choices.

 Cheerios are good and bananas are great!

 Please rethink these options.  They are not breakfast foods.

claire's day

Claire's Day 2011

"Claire’s Day is a free family book festival held annually in honor of Claire Lynsey Rubini. Claire loved to read, tell stories, dance and make crafts. You can do all of these things and more during this special day."

 We have enjoyed Claire's Day many times over the years!  Quinny made it a little tough this year to listen to any of the authors, which is one of my favorite things to do, but we still had fun doing crafts and walking around.

 The authors/illustrators visit the local schools the day before the festival.  They read, speak, and often demonstrate their drawing abilities.  I have been able to hear them on many occasions.  It is wonderful!  The talent is so amazing!  Then, on the day of the festival, all the books they have written and/or illustrated are there to purchase and have signed.  Pretty cool!

 The girls got to make these little hats as well as arrange flowers.  It was all free!

 The creativity didn't end at the festival.  When we were leaving, I saw that the car parked next to us had a missing windshield wiper.  They MacGyvered that problem with a handy little kitchen sponge!

About Claire

"Claire Lynsey Rubini danced in this world from May 24, 1990 to July 6, 2000.

During the short ten years she was with us, she delighted all with her impish ways,  big smile, creativity and feisty spirit.

The oldest of Brad and Julie Rubini’s three children, she took her role of big sister seriously, enjoying telling her siblings what to do, and always concocting fun games to play whether while basking in the sun, or inside on a rainy day.

Claire was always tall and thin, and according to her a childhood friend, “had great hair”, which true to her colorful flair, she often would fill with a variety of barrettes and pony tails.

She loved to dance, sing loudly, play with friends, and tried her best at softball (getting her first hit the summer before she passed away), swimming and telling stories.  Her younger sister Kyle was always in tow, and she often liked to pick fights with her younger brother Ian.  Claire loved her family camping adventures and traveling to different states. She always enjoyed family gatherings, and loved her cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.  Favorites included the color purple, and her mom’s homemade “pesto pasta.”

Claire loved her teachers at Fort Miami elementary in Maumee, as they loved her.  Always responsible, she was thrilled to have been chosen to be a captain of the safety crossing guards during what was to be her fifth grade year.  She was involved in scouting activities from an early age, and played the violin, although she didn’t like practicing!

She had a passion for reading from a young age, fueled by weekly trips to the library. Her little bag would sag from the number of books she brought home to enjoy. Claire would often try to get out of chores due to being caught up in a book, and some times ate dinner a little late so that she could read “just one more page.”  She often read to her younger siblings, and due to her love for the then newly published Harry Potter series, encouraged family and friends to read the stories as well.

Throughout the years she loved the Babar stories, Amelia Bedelia and Babysitter’s Club series, and the fun Shel Silverstein poems.  Works of non-fiction interested her as well, especially biographies and stories of children that lived in different countries.

Claire’s spirit for fun and her passion for life and reading shine on in her tribute, Claire’s Day, created in her honor by her loving family."

wasting time

There was about a five second lull in the the rain yesterday, so while we had a showing for the house, we were able to go to the park instead of our usual hideout, McDonald's.  Actually, truth be told, I had already been to McDonald's.  Quinny and I had shared an ice cream sundae after I finished cleaning the house.  I really didn't want to go back.  If you can believe it, I am getting sick of McDonald's (a little).  It has rained so much that every time we have a showing we end up there because it has a place to play.  Quinn isn't complaining, or the other kids.  I, on the other hand, would rather go to the park.  It was a bit soggy, which caused some soggy pants after going down a wet slide, but it was all worth it.

 Haley was very nice to push Q on the tire swing.  She loved it!!  Q is fearless!  "Higher, higher!!"

The dandelions are everywhere!  They are so cute when they are little and yellow, but when they turn, ugh.  It kind of reminds me of a cute little toddler that turns into a bucky-toothed sassypants right around age 7 or so.  Please Mia, don't turn into a weed!  You are such a cute little dandelion!!  I am so glad that sassypants stage doesn't last forever.  Thank goodness they (the kids) turn back into flowers.  Too bad for the dandelions, they don't.

note to self

I promise this is the last trip down memory lane (for now anyway).  When I found this index card in my box of miscellaneous keepsakes, I knew why I had saved it.  It was just as funny to me today as it was March 2, 2006, when I found it in Haley's backpack.

 What on earth did Dillon do to cause such wrath?

Haley's 5th grade picture.  

Haley's 6th grade picture.  She lost the glasses and gained braces, but still, what a difference a year makes!!

elmo

Elmo with Stephanie and Alyse Larson (granddaughters)

Elmo with his dad, Ariel

While cleaning out and sorting through, I feel like I am taking quite a walk down memory lane these days.  I found these pictures, among many others, that I was organizing.  Robert's dad passed away in February of 1992.  Robert and I weren't married until December of that year, so our children didn't know Elmo.  (Yes, his real name is Elmo.  Our kids always get a kick out of that!  My grandpa's name was Elmo?)  They get little tidbits of information here and there and the occasional story is told at family gatherings.  I did, however, come across this essay while I was sifting through things.  It was written by Sarah, the oldest of the grandchildren.  She wrote is for an English class at ASU.  I thought I would share it here, since my children have never seen it before.

Elmo with Robert and Stephen

 The Sweetest Memories

By Sarah Shumway
(written in 1995)

Whenever I walk into a See's Candy Shop and see an almond turtle, I think of my grandpa.  A jar of gourmet jellybeans brings back sweet memories of the time that I spent with him.  Also, he always comes to mind when I pop a lemon drop into my mouth.  Many other sugary foods remind me of my grandpa.  These seemingly insignificant candies each bring back special memories of my grandpa.  Just like a child, he enjoyed the sweet things in life.

I was fortunate to grow up close to my grandparents.  They lived just a mile or two away.  I loved to stay at their home.  Grandpa could always find something for me to do.  Whether it was work or fun, I enjoyed spending time with him.

Grandpa loved to work in his garden and greenhouse.  I recall many times when I helped him transplant small plants into bigger pots.  He taught me that when you move a plant, its roots go through a period of shock.  He showed me how to carefully pot the plant, not breaking off any of the roots.  I loved to watch his gentle hands work with these delicate seedlings.  Together, we planted flowers in the backyard planters and tomato plants in the greenhouse.  I learned the value of hard work as I saw these plants take life and blossom.

When it was time to plant the garden, my family always went over to help.  Grandpa assigned my sister and I a row of seeds to plant.  He then demonstrated how to properly plant the seeds.  His hands worked quickly as he dug a small hole, sprinkled in a couple of seeds, and covered the seeds with dirt and mulch.  He was patient with us, teaching by example.

When I was fourteen, I worked during the summer at my grandpa's dental office.  Most of the time, I filed records, typed lab orders, and worked on the balance sheet.  However, there were a few times when all of the dental assistants were busy and grandpa asked me to help him.

He showed me where the suction tube was and demonstrated how to use it.  He then turned the tube over to me so he could perform the root canal.  As I began, the patient looked up, probably wondering what he had gotten himself into.  Several times I slipped and sucked up the patient's cheek, but Grandpa never got mad.  He smiled and continued on with the root canal.  His patience with me helped me gain greater confidence in my abilities.

Grandpa could always have fun spontaneously.  One time, a bunch of my female cousins and I spent the night at my grandparents' house.  We were sitting in the family room doing nothing when my grandpa came in.

"Alright you guys," he exclaimed, "let's play charades!"

Elmo surrounded by children and grandchildren

We all rolled our eyes.  We doubted that we could have any fun playing such a childish game.  We started to play the game and we began to have fun.  We all took turns acting out the titles of books, movies, and TV shows.  Then it was my grandpa's turn to act something out.  He stood in front of us in his slacks and button down shirt. At 5'7", he didn't exactly tower over us in height, but instead was a tower of wisdom and love.  His gray hair was thin, leaving the top of his head exposed.  His hazel eyes danced with excitement.  He was in great shape from running every morning.  However, his face showed signs of age.  Wrinkles lined the corners of his mouth and the area below his eyes.  But at that moment, he was full of youth and vitality.

We watched him as he gave us the signal representing a movie.  He then held up three fingers in the air, showing us that there were three words in the title of the move.  The first word was a small one.

We started shouting out words.  "The, a, an, we, me, are."

When we guessed the word "my," he pointed at us and clapped his hands.  Then he moved to the third word.  He casually walked over to the side of the room.  He put his left hand on his hip and his right hand up by his head like a feather.  He then started walking, swinging his hips from side to side like he was ringing a bell.  He pretended to longingly bat his eyes at an imaginary person.  We busted up laughing.  We had never seen grandpa do anything like that.  We asked him to do it again and we laughed ever more.  We never ended up guessing the right word for his charade, but whenever I see the move "My Fair Lady," I think of that incident.

Stephen and Robert (sons), Stephanie and Alyse Larson, Bradley,  Julie, Allison, Lisa, and Sarah Shumway (grandchildren) - late 1980s

 The summer before my freshman year of high school, my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer.  It was a difficult time for my family and me.  We saw him physically deteriorate in a few short months.  His distinctive laugh and cheerful smile had faded.  The surgeries and massive doses of chemotherapy had taken much of the life out of his appearance.  His face became thin and pale.  His eyes appeared sunken in and seemed like they were filled with great sadness.  Despite this appearance, he still remained full of love and determination.  He hardly ever complained about the extreme pain he was in.

One time between hospital visits, he appeared at our door.  He wore a blue hooded cotton jacket and a tee shirt.  Brown loafers were on his feet.  He came right into the kitchen carrying a bag of food.  We were shocked to see him.  Before he got sick, it was a common occurrence for him to come over with food.  He would often bring us vegetables from his garden.  But now he hardly ever walked around, being too weak to get out of bed.

Elmo with Robert and BYU roommates - 1989

 He began to unload the groceries out of the bag.  His hands move steadily as he pulled out chicken, pineapple juice, and cornstarch.

"Diane," he said to my mom, "I have this really good recipe for Oriental chicken.  You can make it tonight for dinner.  Here are all of the ingredients."  He continued to unload the food.  "Just follow the recipe."

My mom could not even get a word in because he kept talking.

"I have to get back to the house before Norene notices that I'm gone."  Now grinning widely, he continued to speak.  "She has some people over and so I snuck out for a moment."

"Thanks," my mom said worriedly, "but you shouldn't be doing this."

"I'm fine," he retorted.  "I knew that you would really enjoy this recipe, so I had to bring it over."  He left without saying too much more.

He had always loved sharing the things that he enjoyed with others.  Often when my family was over for a visit, he would invite us to stay for dinner.  He would treat us to his homemade sub sandwiches and soup.  Store bought candy such as almond turtles, lemon drops, and gourmet jellybeans were always in abundance at grandpa's house.  He always shared his indulgences with me.  He even kept a secret stash of lemon drops when he was sick.  Whenever I went to see him, I was treated to the lemon candies.

Elmo, Robert (in bow tie), Alyse, Stephanie, Britton, Patty (daughter), and Tim Larson

In the second semester of my freshman year, grandpa passed away.  Although he was not perfect, his innate qualities of patience and generosity stand out in my mind.  His unselfishness was especially apparent during the time that he had cancer.  Although he must have been frustrated with what was happening to him, he always demonstrated patience around me.  He had the ability to forget his own problems and share things like the Oriental chicken recipe with others.  These genuine qualities seem to personify him and the life that he lived.  Now, after I have had a chance to grow up, I find myself trying to understand him better.  I wish I had one more opportunity to see him.  I wish that I could have one more chance to play a game of charades with him.  Then I would once again have the ability to see his love in action.

ladybug

Ladybug! Ladybug!
Fly away home.
Your house is on fire.
And your children all gone.


All except one,
And that's little Ann,
For she crept under
The frying pan.

My grandmother taught me this nursery rhyme.  She was quite elderly and partially senile by the time my memories were forming of her, but here are a few memories I have.  One, we called her Grandmother.  Not grandma, nana, and certainly not granny!  She was a towering five feet tall and maybe 100 pounds, maybe.  She wore heels every day that I remember, and she was extremely proper - I mean, come on, we called her grandmother.  I joke that all of the small genes in the family come from Robert's side, but clearly some of them might come from my side, too.  I'm just not sure where I am hiding them!  Two, she remembered this particular nursery rhyme and recited it to me on several occasions.  I really enjoyed it.  Maybe I requested it, or maybe she liked it a lot too, in any case it worked for us.  She liked repeating things by this age and I didn't mind hearing them over and over again.  I especially liked the part when she made her hands into a frying pan to pretend that little Ann was inside.  Oh, the relief I felt that little Ann was okay.  I'm not exaggerating, I was relieved!  Three, Grandmother gave us candy.  We would visit her every Sunday evening.  At the end of the evening we (usually Ricky, Robert, Shelle, or I) would follow her into the kitchen to help her fill a brown lunch sack with candy.  It was always the same - miniature candy bars and candy orange slices.  It was all we could do to not eat our alloted two pieces on the way home.  These are very fond memories.  They do shift, however. As she aged, she gave us some quite humorous times and then some sad times as her life came to an end.  She really was a grand little lady.

Grandmother was on my mind last night as I spent the better part of an hour researching ladybugs.  Mimi is doing a report on the fair insect.  All internet searches lead to the nursery rhyme.  I am not sure why Mia picked this insect, but it fits her.  It's round and cute and everyone loves it - just like her.  She did come downstairs the other day crying.  She told me she had opened the window in my bedroom and there in the screen was a dead ladybug.  The horror!  She said it made her sad because it is a part of mother nature.  This could quite possibly have been the catalyst to the report.  Regardless of the reason, we are soon to be experts on ladybugs!

So, why the picture of the mailbox?  It is not just because it has to do with home in the poem.  I woke up Sunday to a decapitated mailbox.  I thought old age plus and a stormy night had brought it down.  On our way to church we discovered two more downed mailboxes on the next street.  My theory then shifted to stupid kids.  (I'm sorry if that offends any stupid kids.)  So, because we are knee-deep in trying to sell our house, I came home after church, dropped off the kids, and then headed to Home Depot to get a new mailbox.  As I was installing the new mailbox, my neighbor came running out to inform me that her husband had suffered from a ministroke that morning and he was the one who took out the mailboxes with his truck.  He also hit a tree at the nearby park.  I was so happy to hear that it wasn't stupid kids and so sad to hear it was our neighbor.  All I can say is getting old really, really SUCKS!!!

flower cake, soccer, forts, & Q thinking

"Mom, I'm putting flour in my cake!"

I'm sure she meant to say, I'm putting a flower in my cake, but that's the way it came out, and I thought it was cute.  She also put leaves and a little bit of shoe.  Bon Appetit!

We had just enough of a lull in the rain yesterday for Eric and Mia to play in their soccer games.  I thought it was the last week of games, but I was wrong - they still have one more week.  They were both  glad to hear that I was wrong, especially Eric.  He really enjoys soccer.  He only has one more game left on his Maumee Express team (competitive travel soccer), and like I said, he is now down to one more week on the MYSA (Maumee Youth Soccer Association/non-competitive) team.  Needless to say, I was quite surprised when Coach Kevin (Mimi's coach) announced he would see everyone at practice on Tuesday.  I said, "WHAT?"  Then I checked my calendar, and sure enough, there it was.  Practice is on Tuesday.  I guess we haven't seen the last of Coach Kevin yet!!  By far he has been one of the most memorable MYSA  coaches we have had.  Let's just say he can be quite enthusiastic.  When Eric was a on the Dragons a few year back, he was Eric's coach.  Now he is coaching the Fireballs, Mimi's team.  He likes to name his teams and give cheers.

This morning I was awakened by the sound of rain again.  There is nothing better than sleeping until your peepers pop on a Sunday morning.  The house is still a little dark.  I think it helped Quinny sleep until 7:15am.  She gave Eric and Mimi and nice wake-up call.  They were sleeping downstairs in their fort they built yesterday.  They somehow managed to sleep in the fort all night without wrecking it.

 Quinn saw me taking a picture of the fort and wanted me to take her picture.  She is sitting in her thinking chair.  Mimi and Quinn are currently having a heated discussion about the true owner of said thinking chair.  I believe the chair was originally Mimi's. But really, how often does she use it?  It's time to think about it, Mimi, and give it up!!!

robyn

Last night was the annual Gateway Middle School Academic Awards Night.  How can such big brains fit into such a cute and tiny package?  Maybe if I stand close enough to Robyn some of that intelligence will float over and land in my brain.  It's just an idea, maybe more of a wish.  Robyn works hard at school and it really pays off.  I am very proud of her.

Lucky for me last night, Robyn sat in the back of the group while on the stage and was able to text me through most of the 6th and 7th graders' awards.  We texted mostly about how her friend Sabrina was so prim and proper the entire evening - clapping daintily when appropriate, and most importantly, sitting with her legs crossed.  This was most crucial because she was front and center on the stage.  We cannot say as much for little miss green skirt.  I am pretty sure she gave some onlookers in the first few rows a PG-13 performance with the way she was sitting.

Sabrina and Robyn

you can't say she isn't prepared

I am guessing that Haley is not going to have to carry around EVERYTHING under the sun in her backpack at her new school.  So I thought I would get a picture of her with her "turtle" pack (as I lovingly refer to it), since her days of carrying it around are numbered (I hope).  She has a locker, so she doesn't have to do this.  She just feels like she might forget something.  So, for the past five years she has been carrying around the entire contents of her locker in her backpack.  I swear that thing weighs 30+ pounds!  Here she is this morning, ready to go!  She has her enormous backpack (that weighs more than she does), her lunch, and two number twos, sharpened and ready for action!!  Haley, you're incredible!  Besides all of this, you look fantastic!
P.S.  She has been using this same backpack since first grade!  She should get an award for that!

the mighty maumee

Calling the Maumee River mighty is a stretch, I know.  In fact, I never hear anyone call it that except for our family.  However, this river has been the backdrop to our hometown for nine years, and to us, it is indeed mighty.  We have never tired of passing over one of the bridges and calling out, "Hey look kids, there's the river!"  We have played next to it and at times in it.  Robert has fished in it and done impromptu swimming while fishing.  Its calming effects have opened the doors for times with friends that I will cherish.  I have walked, run, and sat next to it.  It has been a constant friend in this town.

Last night we spent some time next to the mighty maumee.  It was a little chilly, I thought.  Quinny thought otherwise.  She shed her jacket rather quickly.  Mimi was on my side, she thought it was cold as well.  When she saw that Q's jacket was available she asked if she could use it.  I think the picture speaks for itself.

And yes, Eric was actually there, I didn't photoshop his head into the picture.  I don't know how he keeps getting sent to the back of the group for pictures and then his head is just floating back there.  I am going to have to fix this problem.

mimi's gift

You nailed it, Mimi!  Especially H and E!  And I would have to say that O wouldn't be the same without YOU!

mom's lesson #10

When it comes to vaseline, a little goes a long way.

This image is from Vaseline company archives
of various published materials.

"While Vaseline can be used as a lubricant, it is also a useful moisture insulator for local skin conditions characterized by tissue dehydration."

If you are having trouble knowing when or how to use vaseline, I would be more than happy to help you out!  After all, what's a mom for?

the streets i'll miss

While driving around town these days you can often hear the excited cries of Quinny saying look, there's a "popcorn" tree!  The blossoming trees are in abundance here and so is our infatuation with them.  Quinn knows that they do not have real popcorn on them.  She explained this to me the other day in the car.  She said Mom, they are just little white flowers.  I don't know why this surprised me.  She has spent literally hours picking flowers off the trees and bringing them to me as an offering of her love and affection.  Needless to say, she still enjoys calling them "popcorn" trees and occasionally busting out in the song Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree.  I'm not sure if I was a little slow as a kid or that it was because I lived in AZ and there weren't that many trees, but I never quite understood the "popcorn" song.  It is hard for me to admit that.  There are plenty of trees there that blossom - I really should have understood the meaning, but it took me awhile.  No worries folks, I get now!

 I was driving down Broadway (the street where our dear Dr. Amy lives) on our way home from Side Cut park and I knew how much I was going to miss this view.  I have always loved this neighborhood and especially this street.  Trying to get a picture with my phone while driving is not only unsafe (don't do it!), but it also doesn't capture the beauty of the street.  However, in true Ohio form, I thought that if I didn't try, the view would change in the blink of an eye and by the time I passed that way again it would all be different.   

On a totally unrelated note, let's talk about food.

Robyn made cupcakes for school the other night.  She left them out.  Quinny woke up, found one, ate it, and came upstairs and triumphantly told us, I ate a sweet muffin!!  

Yes you did, Addi-Q!!

Excellent breakfast!

Robert and I went on a car date last night.  That means I talked to him on the phone and drove around sans kids while he talked on the phone and golfed.  I did spend some time in a parking lot eating (that makes me feel a little bit like I'm on the way to 500+ lbs - hope not!).  This hot fudge sundae was the bomb.  Look how the hot fudge is evenly dispersed throughout the ice cream - AHH.  This sundae totally made up for the limp fries that came with it!  Thank you McDonald's on the corner of Dussel and the 475, you made my car date divine!  Oh, Robert, you did too.