Ex Patria

Sweetness

Alan lost his second tooth today.  He's got a big gap in the lower front, and his tongue keeps not finding the teeth there, causing him to lisp in a most charming way.  In absence of the American parent, I had to play tooth fairy tonight.  As I sneaked into his bedroom and felt under the pillow for the itty bitty tooth (wrapped in a tissue), my searching hand also encountered a neatly wrapped present.  It seems that for two days, he's been sleeping with my Mother's Day present under his pillow.

For some reason, I found that very touching.

Happy Mother's Day

I guess I can claim this poster as an idealized depiction of my family.   Disregarding the fact that our little girl isn't born yet (August), and that our boys are blond and never ever that clean-faced, or that well-dressed (nor do I look that young and purty), I also sometimes stop and look around and ask myself - who are these people?  Wasn't I single and lonely just yesterday? What is going on?

Good things, mostly. We are all healthy, the garden is in full bloom and the boys spend hours frolicking between wild flowers, playing noisy Power Ranger games and eating watermelon by the pound.  Life doesn't suck.

Happy Mother's Day!

Paranoia

So, how creepy is it that shortly after I post a link to the blog of the Transportation Security Agency I get paid not one but four visits by the DHS?

Or is this just a coincedence?  Surely, they have better things to do and this is just a nice person who is visiting this blog during work hours and somehow likes my writing? 

One never knows.  But the fact that it makes me twitchy is sad.

Long time no see

I know.

I tout that I want to post more - and then I post nothing at all.

Well, we've been and still are quite busy.  First, the renovation of the house.  Now, the house is stuffed with 250+ boxes of, well, stuff.  Doug is off to the US for a conference, and the boys and I are alone here.  Oh, and I'm six months pregnant, and I have discovered I've stepped on loads of toes all around me without even trying.  I'm working to come to grips with that, too.  So at the moment, I'm somewhat drained - physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

But I haven't forgotten about you.  I especially hope that a certain wedding that has very remote ties to Ostheim is/has been a huge success - and my heartfelt congratulations!

And last, to keep you all amused until I am amusing again, here are some very random links:

The TSA blog which I find endlessly amusing,  a fascinating and awe-inspiring blog about making bento boxes for your toddler and/or yourself, a recipe for homemade Dulce de Leche which I have yet to try (once I find my biggest pot in all those boxes, you know), a totally kitschy charm bracelet which I fell in love with but would probably never wear because it's just so not my style, some good giving ideas for Mother's (or any other) Day, and a blog about people who do more with IKEA products than just putting them together.  Enjoy!