Jonah Lisa Land

Happy Birthday, Happy Guy!

He's Two.  I can't believe it.  Some pictures to commemorate the day.

Buckaroo

 
The Snot Nosed Kid rides again!

Edited on request:  This toy is called the Rody Bouncing Horse.  It's like those bouncing balls with the handle on top we used to have when we were kids, only shaped like a horse.  It's totally made of some smelly rubber/vinyl substance but it is a favorite Christmas gift from Jazz & Pop.

Vous avez de la ciboulette sur votre dent.

Stephen and I have decided to learn French together.  There seems to be some chance we might move to Luxembourg for several months this spring.  Either German, French or Luxembourgish will come in handy there.

I tried to learn German once.  Okay, truth be told I didn't try that hard, but the grammar was asinine.  All I came away with was the ability to say "I'm from the United States" and "Can I have an English menu."  So basically, I can come off as a pompous ass in German.  And since they don't make Learn Luxembourgish In Your Car cd's, French it is!

And why not?  The grammar is supposed to be the easiest and we've both got a pretty good ear for dialects and pronunciation.  And we can all work on it together since they say this is supposed to be the best time for kids to absorb other languages.  Also, Stephen's father and sister are fluent in French so we've got built in people to practice with and help us when we have questions.

Now, I know you're wondering...why in the world might you be moving to Luxembourg? 

Show biz.

There's a company in the Gran-Duchy of Luxembourg that might want to make one of our movies, possibly in the spring, contingent on all sort of things.  No merde.  It sounds all exciting, but if you know anything about the movie business you know that it mean absolutely nothing until somebody sticks their neck out and ponies up some cash.  Once someone is exposed financially, then it's real.  Until then, it's all just spun sugar.  We'll know in the next month whether it's all systems go or tears and recrimination. 

But that hasn't kept me from ordering French Language cd's already.  What can I say, I'm a hopeless optimist.  At the very least I'll know how to cuss a blue streak in French if the deal falls through.

Just a little off the back, please.

Maybe this makes me cheap, but I refuse to pay money to get a 2 year old's hair cut.  We don't have any of those fancy kiddie haircut joints here anyway and I think Huck would go full-on freakshow at a regular salon. 

So, I cut his hair.  I've done it about 3 or 4 times so far.  Just a little trim and it's gone surprisingly well. 

Thought I'd share my technique.  Maybe it will work for others.  The big secret for me is MAJOR, TOP LEVEL DISTRACTION.  I'm talking DVDs and toys from grandmas that are so incredibly annoying that they usually live in the top of a closet and the bestest ever treats. 

I try not to talk them up like bribery.  I don't say "if you do this...then you get this."  I just make it all part of the funniest day ever.  Haircut day!  A magical day when we get to eat and watch special things.  The distractions work well enough that I can usually make a toddler spa day out of it and get the fingernails and toenails cut and do a really thorough toothbrushing, too.

Click continue reading for the Toddler Haircut Primer.

DISCLAIMER:  I know that there are kids that absolutely won't sit still for this no matter what kind of distractions you offer.  Part of it is certainly temperament.  I don't know what you do in those cases--maybe that's what's going on with Kate Hudson's son?  But if the kid CAN be motivated by special treats, and you have the time, you might as well save some bucks and DIY.

The Pass: Closed

The pass is closed!  The pass is closed!  I don't have to go to work today!  It's like a snow day when your in elementary school!  Yippee!

This shot is down my driveway.  What driveway you ask?  Exactly. 

O frabjous day!

Edited to add:  My day at work yesterday did the trick of resetting me after the heinous weekend and making me better equipped to be a descent wife and mother again today.  Just didn't want you all feeling sorry for Huck and Stephen stuck here with my nasty attitude...and pinching.

Birthday Crown

I'm getting ready for Huck's birthday this week in my spare time, which means from 11pm to midnight. 

I just made this little birthday crown from him.  Got the idea from Salt and Chocolate, a great blog by a mom named Mary Beth who does lots of lovely handmade things and has some great recipes.

It's a really simple project.  The front is pieced felt panels and the back is a full felt panel.  They have a stiff piece of interfacing sewn in between to give it some form.  Then the nice ribbon sewn on the front and elastic with a plain cotton cover.  You could whip this out on the machine pretty fast but I did it all by hand because I prefer lap work to hauling out my machine.

More gorgeous examples of felt crowns can be found at SouleMama and Uncommon Grace, too.

It'll be a nice hat for his birthday but will be great for dress up afterwards, too.

Glad it's over...

It was one of those weekends.

There were difficulties with a script we're working on, subsequent arguments and name calling, negative pregnancy tests, one full day keeping a neighbor's tubercular toddler due to a child care emergency, 2 naps refused, impending period (I'm thinking of installing a salt lick in the living room), hitting, throwing and pinching (due to refused naps, not impending period...oh, except for the pinching, that was me), Huck climbing out of his crib for the first time, and to end it all, the Cowboys lost.  And they lost ugly. 

Despite the fact that my tank is on E, I'm kinda looking forward to going to work in a little while.  Just get me the hell away from these people!  I need the hour in the car alone on icy roads over a steep mountain pass to settle my nerves.

It's Picture Day!

It seems I take about 1 day off from writing here every week--usually on the weekend.  Well lately, I'm feeling the need to let that creep up to 2 days off each week.  But instead of just giving in, I've got an idea for a fun intervention that I think will allow me to keep it down to 1 day off.

Picture Day!  And maybe a caption if I'm feeling playful.  It will be a little like my very own Cat Friday or Wordless Wednesday.  It's not very original but big whoop.

The point is to give the old potato a rest and offer up some easy content on a day I would otherwise be offering you...nothing!  You get what you pay for and since none of you are leaving wadded up twenties on my nightstand, all you get is a freaking picture on Saturdays now. 

Don't pout.  Maybe it will evolve into something less banal.  Perhaps I'll get creative and surprise you with a koan, or a cartoon, or a link to something I deem cool.  Or perhaps, at the very least, my photography will get better.

But for now...

Yeah, I know your cold.
When you come in you can vacuum.
That'll warm you up.
Now get back to work!

Wanna see my muffin?

Imagine their surprise when the pervs click through and it's all gnomes and cleaning with vinegar.

But keep scrolling if you really want to see pictures of my muffin...Sicko.

Here are 3 really good muffin recipes that are pretty healthy and can add some extra veggies into your kids' diet--ala Deceptively Delicious, but not with purees.  They're quick, easy, healthy snacks and Huck thinks he's getting a treat, when he's really getting zucchini & carrots or peas or pumpkin.   

None of them contain refined white sugar and all 3 freeze well.  I bake them in large batches and keep them in big baggies in the freezer.  I often pop 2 frozen muffins in a little bowl when we head out to do something and dole them out once they thaw, which is very quickly.  I also use mini muffin tins (you might need to shorten the cooking times by a tad) because he seems to prefer the smaller size.  I swear, he'd probably eat dog shit if it was baked in a mini muffin tin.

Click continue reading below for the recipes...and my sexy muffin shots.

Friendly reminder for a Green Christmas in 2008

Anyone interested in going greener next Christmas by making fabric gift bags instead of using wrapping paper should remember that most fabric & craft stores are having huge sales on Christmas stuff right now. 

I just bought 4 yards of Christmas prints and some ribbon at 45% off--only spent $15.  Nice.  I'll stash it all in the top of a closet or under a bed, with left over Holiday cards for my little gift boxes, and next year I'll be ready to roll. 

Spend a little time and consider if you'll do any other holiday projects next year--baking breads for neighbors or making green cleaning sets.  You might as well get fabric on the cheap if you need it for those, too.