mommy's work (out)...

On Tuesdays & Thursdays I teach a Zumba-like class at the Y. We call it "Latin dance" so that our little Y won't be sued for my not having a Zumba certification. For those of you who have asked what Zumba is, here's a cute news story about it. I'll try to post some of my dances sometime. We usually dance in the gym, but since it has been so darn hot, we moved to the Studio last week & it was much cooler! I also loved having the mirrors so I could see all of us dancing together. Everyone looked so great doing the "older" dances (the ones we've been doing for a month...so everyone knows them). I really enjoy teaching this class & it's an extra workout to yell-think-count-clap as well as dance in front of 30 people! :)
On Wednesdays & Fridays I teach a pilates class, which I use as more of a yoga-pilates-with some ballet class. :) I love it even more. The options for things to do in there are endless. Here's a video (or a few videos....depending on how this posts) of some things we do. And another...of one of my fav moves for balance. I also like to bring elbow to knee at belly & finish with some balance work by rotating arm-leg out even with shoulder-hip during this one. (watch it, you'll see.) I'll have to post some of those classes, too. I am a huge believer in this kind of "exercise" for everything from post-baby recovery to spine alignment to balance...you name it. Go forth and move it, my friends! The more I do the better I feel...honestly.

language explosion....

and so it begins...
Little L. "exploded" with language around 15 months & it seems that sister is doing the same. During the past 48 hours or so she has said, "Boo!," 'Ray!" (for Hooray!), Hans (Hands), Ah Gan (All Gone), & a friend of mine who kept her for about an hour said that she told her little girl, "No, Zora." (meaning, "I will not share this item; it's for Zora." Sorry, sweet Darah! :)
She also started saying, "Ah no!" (Oh no!) in place of "Uh oh!" sometimes. (Although both usually mean she's thrown something down or made a mess...which means "ah no" for me. :)
But, she is really getting to be so much fun! She is a busy walking, climbing gal, but she does sit still for books or play (or a few seconds of a baby show) & currently tries to repeat most everything I say! (Hey, girl, that's a lot to keep up with...ha, ha!)This top pic is Z. chewing on a piece of beet green from our co-op garden. The bottom is her day of sandbox & worms. :)

six years ago today...

...my dad walked me down the Borthwick castle steps to the tune of a bagpipe playing. There, in the little garden, I met a handsome man wearing a kilt. (And I married him, skirt & all...just kidding, honey!) Happy six years, my dear. We've many more adventures to come, I'm certain. :) Love you.

Peaze!

I should do a quick "catch up" for Z. at 14 months...
9 teeth (2 molars with #10...the other bottom front...on its way)
signs: baby, more, eat, eyes,...
says: mama, dada, peaze (please), tease (cheese), woof-woof (dog), moo (cow), ah-ah (monkey), ice (eyes), Ow! (ouch), sue (shoe), NO! (mainly to L, who says it to her a LOT or to us when she touches something she know is a "no-no"), ...and this morning "baaat" (bad) to L, who says this to her sometimes. (I've talked to him about not saying this bc he uses it in a phrase such as, "don't do that! that's bad! bad girl!" When I said, "where did you hear that? we don't say that." He replied, "Some people say that to dogs!" Ah, yes. What an arguement, L. Let's treat the baby like "someone's dog." Not in our family, buddy.)
Big lady is in a 2T or 3T & about a 5ish shoe (when she wears shoes she wears the largest infant size in pedipeds, so it's difficult to determine a "size").
She is still in love with: big brother, trying to get dressed, falling asleep on daddy, nursing momomy, climbing all things, salty, cheezy snacks, sweet fruit, plain yogurt, L's sippy (even when theirs are alike), L's room (bc she can eat so many crayons there!), anything outdoors, dogs & most other animals, swings, sandboxes, and now swimming or splashing in water.
I'm sure I left out something, but there (esp. for the grandparents) is a little about Zora Gwendolyn at 14 months. :)

Zora's great feet

I couldn't resist the fun pun in the title. :) Finally, the long awaited footage of the smallest key in motion. Look out, all breakables in the grandparents homes! Z. began walking less than a week ago & yesterday she tried out running! This resulted in a few face plants after being propelled forward (her toes didn't know what to do with all that speed).
All together now..."Bless her!" :) She's a fireball.

Juneteenth 2009

Langston & Amir last year...the scene was the same this year!

One year ago at Juneteenth...
and this year at Juneteenth.


We attended this year's Juneteenth celebration. Lots of fun was had by all. The two Zos (Zoe & Zora took a walk together...isn't that cute, Emily?!) We hung out with friends we hadn't seen in a while & Langston, Amir, & friends took the inflatables by storm. :)
for those of you asking, "what is Juneteenth?" here's the explaination from Juneteenth.com

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19^th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.

it's official...

Zora walks. Footage coming soon, grandparents!

congrats, Tim!

We had a small adults-play-board-games party; kids play & watch Robin Hood last night. We tried for a sitter or two (eight kids total...ages 7, 6, 6, 5, 4, 3, 1, 8 mths.)on one floor of the house & the grown-ups on the other. After a scramble of pizza & salad, cookies & watermelon, we headed downstairs for a game of Pictionary. It was fun stuff. :) Maybe we'll stick the kids at one house next time with the grown-ups at another...but with two breastfeeding moms (at least) in the group, that's sometimes a little tough.
Another reason for our celebrating was the release of (Barclay's office mate) Tim's book, Distant Revolutions. Hooray, Tim & family! I know that we'll have a bash when Barclay's book is in print! :)I couldn't resist posting this pic of Tim & Sumner. The dads play soccer on Saturdays sometimes & the kids play at the playground. This Sat. Tim was doing his usual "dangerous kid things"...he scares me! :) And reminds me of Eli balancing baby Noah on his palm at church in Gainesville...do y'all remember that, Campus friends?

Homeschool & fun photos

funny family faces while eating birthday cake

I have been trying to get re-inspired to teach my babies once again. I'll confess that I have taken a year long somewhat-slacking stretch due to baby #2. That's not to say we stopped learning entirely, just slacked off a little. The past week or two we've been full speed ahead, though, & both kids are enjoying it. :0) Langston has always loved to put pen or crayon to paper, sit & read, or use his imagination to play. Zora is just getting there. They are a fun pair to work, play, & learn with. Below is the "list" of what we shoot for daily. There are plenty of variations in each section & we do not always make it to each item daily, but most of the time, most of the things are explored. And learning goes on...whether we know we are teaching them or not.
(langston & pal, maeve enjoy some birthday cake at levi's 5th b'day party...they each decided to "save some for later" :)

Our Daily "homeschool" list

• read a Bible story, talk about it, color a pic from a Bible story coloring book or online, pray
• imagine this: (pretending with toys, independent play)
• Zora: ABC’s & numbers (identify, count/sort, letter sounds using foam letter, blocks, word whammer, chalk...)
• Langston: reading & numbers (workbooks, handwriting, site words, flash cards, phonics, telling time, add, subtract, word whammer...)
• critical thinking (puzzles, games, science experiments)
• 1 hour of appropriate "screen time" i.e., kid's netflix or other dvd/ computer games
• arts & crafts & create (draw, color, paint, play dough, with mommy or by himself...Z. is beginnig to show interest)
• getting physical: dance, ride trike, walks with mom, jog with dad, play sports with dad
• the great outdoors: search for bugs, water flowers, play with chalk or in sandbox (when weather permits...darn you, Midwest!)
• read 2 books per child before nap, plus "extras" as time allows
• listen closely: music, stories on tape or CD
  

ah, yes, mommy looks away, zora empties the cereal bowl onto her tray. the usual.

Mommy's list:
during naps/rest time every day…

• check email
• blog or scrapbook
• return phone calls
• make appointments
• work on pilates or latin dance classes or music
• breathe

zora's favorite spot in the kitchen...when she's not under my feet or attached to my let like a velcro kitten.

one “major” housework item

• Monday:clean floors, rugs, change sheets (wash sheets)
• Tuesday: clean bathrooms & b'room rugs (wash towels)
• Wednesday: dust (laundry)
• Thursday: laundry catch up day!
• Friday: home repair, odd jobs
• weekend: deep clean one room each week.
• Daily: dishes, some laundry (a load or so), sweep kitchen & under dining room table, make beds, pick up, spot mop as needed

we moved the coffee table downstairs, stored chairs, & still she stacked the blankets & pillows to reach the sofa! does that guy from the 80s who could escape any situation with string & a soda can need a partner?

I'm still working out my chores. As we are about to dive into a busy summer schedule, we'll see how all this pans out, but I think I function better with more to keep me busy, for whatever crazy reason!
Our summer will be filled with...Mommy teaching 4 classes per week; maybe taking two (Yoga-for my brain & body:), Langston has 2 mornings of preschool, 1 dance class, 1 swim lesson per week, Zora has 1 swim lesson per week, harvesting veggies weekly, Daddy working at the office daily, all of our "getting ready to go to Poland this fall" stuff, not to mention the usual necessary playdates, library programs, etc...hey, I said a busy summer, not a fun-less summer. :)

Thanks for the push in the super-mom direction, Christine, Rachel, & all you other super moms out there!

Zora roars...

and she woofs, moos, meows...not to mention tries to copy our sounds. :0 ) She says "nigh, nigh" (night, night) & "bye, bye." In fact, this morning she said her 1st sentence..."Bye, bye, Da-da!," as he was going to work. (L's 1st was, "bye, bye, Mama!") Our big "talker."

an ode to my hair (via pix)

Last year in April...letting it grow.

This year in late May...


New do. Still a little wavy, but this too shall grow out. :)

Langston's 1st b'day (2005)
Langston's 1st Halloween
funny hats
B's graduation (PHinally Done)
Halloween in Ames (2006)
Family photo in Ames (B. as a caveman)
Goodbye to Gainesville Par-tay

I've never been a "long hair" gal. I've tried. Since I've been married, I've tried to grow it out for my hubby, but usually after 2 years of growth, I chop it off again. This morning I woke up with Lyle Lovette hair. Yikes! You see, I tried not to chop it, so I got a perm in Feb-ish thinking..."if it's curly, I won't want to chop it..." Alas, all those curly pony tails drove me crazy. I didn't have time to "fix" it, so it went up...every day. Yuck. So last week I got it cut...about 7ish inches of it! I don't love it yet bc it still has some wave from that perm, but I imagine I'll be smitten by fall. :) I like the "wash it & go" mentality of it. Plus, I've always wanted to go pixie, but wasn't brave enough 'til post kids. Pregnancy & mommyhood have worked wonders for my self image. I'm sure it isn't that way for everyone, but it certainly helped me become more comfortable in my own skin.

Please click on the above links to see a few examples of my many do-s...or don'ts. I really need to get some pix from teen-hood...all the colors of hair I tried! Ah, and childhood...the tall, puffy bangs...not to mention pageant hair or dance rectial hair...

I think short hair complements my assets...which after breastfeeding are my arms & shoulders...not my boobs! :)

grandparents key & the flowerbed

this post is soooo late! sorry! donna & dewayne visited for L's last soccer game at the end of april. they also bought some flowers from big bro/big sis to put in our flower bed. L. chose "orange & blue" flowers. (Go Gators!) Thanks, grandparents!