Time With Dad

 Things that have been done since Dad has been home. . . .

1. Jeremy got some real vampire teeth

2. A bog was explored

A Purple Pitcher Plant (I know it doesn't look purple), a carnivorous plant growing wild in Ohio.

Apparently, getting a group shot proved to be too difficult.

Megan lost her front teeth a few weeks ago.

I have no idea what Jeremy is so surprised at, but I love this face.

Cute messy face

Looking for bugs. Apparently Jeremy, Lincoln, and Nathan ate bugs while I was away.

Classic Emma hair

lily pads galore

The reason for going to the bog was the look for pitcher plants.

Mission accomplished.

Ah, sweet!

Date Night, Birthday, and Mary and Anne Boleyn

So, Nathan and I don't get to go out on many dates. I think one of our most recent ones included scraping wallpaper off the kitchen walls. Romantic, no? Anyway, tonight Nathan took care of getting a sitter (Thank You, Kjirsti!) and then surprised me with dinner and a movie! Usually if we do go out we pick one, dinner or a movie, so this was pretty deluxe and awesome!

We went to a place in Shaker called Touch of Italy. But apparently, to locals, it's more commonly referred to as "The Touch." We'd never been there before, but had passed by it and Nathan knew I wanted to try it. We found it humorous because when we walked in the lights were off and there was no one to greet us. Nathan had to walk to the kitchen to find the host and get us seated. The atmosphere was less than Italian or welcoming, so we were wondering where the "touch of Italy" was supposed to come in. We found it in the food, thank goodness. I ordered eggplant parmigiana and Nathan had grilled chicken over pasta. It was delicious. I only wish there'd been enough room in my stomach for all of it because my taste buds wanted more of it!

Then I realized that it was still before the kids' bedtime, so Nathan must have had something else planned, too. He told me we were going to go to Lowe's to look at a new stove. I didn't think that was true until we actually started getting close to a Lowe's. However. . .

He then took the freeway and I had no idea where we were going until we got close to a movie theater.

We saw Inception. Holy moly. I'm still working on wrapping my brain around it and I'm really curious about what kind of dreams I'm going to have tonight. For the last two weeks I have dreamed consistently about Mary and Anne Boleyn and the English court.

Although in my dreams they don't look anything like Scarlett and Natalie.

I'm ready for something different and tonight I think it might come. 

That Was Totally Wicked!

As I mentioned earlier, Nathan got us tickets off of Craigslist to see Wicked. I checked Craigslist everyday for weeks hoping to find someone desperate enough to sell us tickets that we could actually afford.

We went a couple weekends ago (the Saturday after Megan's birthday) and it was awesome! The Elphaba we saw was the understudy, Meridith Kaye Clark and she was terrific. I can't imagine a performance better than hers. And when I compare our Glenda to the Broadway Glenda, I have to say that I like ours much more. She was more animated and looked more the part.

Our seats, which were the cheapest possible seats, technically could have been further back in the theater, but only by two feet. And a group of people two rows ahead of us arrived half an hour late and left early, so everyone between them and the aisle had to stand to let them pass. It was pretty annoying.

But I guess we were actually pretty lucky because the next weekend a woman down near the orchestra seats was drunk and decided to start yelling obscenities and nearly got into a fight with another patron. She was eventually escorted out of the theater, but it took quite a quite a while for the theater to send anyone to get her.

So we lucked out! Thank you Nathan for my great Christmas present, taking me out to the theater to see a great show. I loved being with you, hearing the fun music, and seeing the great performances.

Let's do it again next year:)

Everyone Needs A Samwise

"I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you."

This one line is Samwise Gamgee. He carries Frodo through the entire journey. He lifts him up, encouraging positive thoughts and urging Frodo to banish any fear about their situation or future. He goes without so Frodo can be strengthened. He watches out for Frodo when there is danger. He risks his own life to protect Frodo's. Helping Frodo overcome his trial, keeping him as comfortable and happy as possible is all that matters to Samwise.



I have a Samwise. My own personal Samwise Gamgee. He takes care of me everyday. He helps me be positive. He helps me be happy. He helps me remember the good things in life and keeps me from dwelling on the heavy load I carry. My Samwise does things he doesn't want to do and doesn't complain. Without my Samwise this world would be so much more difficult for me. My Samwise carries me everyday, from one moment to the next, often without any thought for himself.

"But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. . . . Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something. . . . That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for."



Nathan, I love you. Thank you. You are my Samwise. You are my good in this world that is worth fighting for.

My Sweet New Ride

If you missed it, my laptop died last week. And if you didn't check my blog a few hours ago, Nathan is the coolest ever. He told me last night that he was expecting a couple packages and to stick close to home today. So other than taking the kids to school and picking them up, I stayed home waiting.

About an hour before I left to pick up Megan, the side doorbell rang. I went to get it and there was a delivery man with a box. I didn't really pay much attention to the box, or its size, or even what was printed on the box.

Then the guy was checking my signature and asking me what my first initial was. I gave him the wrong answer.

This is because that's when I decided to take a look at the box.

Now, Nathan gets computer stuff in the mail all the time. I'd say every month something comes for either Nathan or a friend who has asked Nathan to build him a computer.

But this box was different. This box said there was a computer in the box. A laptop computer. As the delivery guy started walking away I called after him, "Nathan bought a computer?"

He smiled and said, "Yeah, and it's for you, so don't get mad at him!" Then he laughed and kept walking.

How did he know?

Can I tell you how excited I am? No. There are no words. And I'm a writer, so I know that there are no words to tell you just how excited I am.

This is possibly the coolest laptop ever. This is because it was a surprise from Nathan. [Quick breath] And he bought me a green mouse. And green is my favorite color. [Quick breath] And he put Princess Leia as my little icon for when I get on my computer. [Quick breath] And my background is cool and green with black buildings in silhouette. [Quick breath] And it is cool.

Thank you, Nathan! I love you!!

THANK YOU

I have the best husband in the whole world.


THE WHOLE WORLD.