Category: Tom

Happy Father’s Day

June 20, 2010

Have I mentioned that Tom is an amazing father? I know, I do it a lot, but it’s so very true.

To celebrate, this morning we gave him the book Geek Dad. Later, I found him thumbing through it, and a short time after he was off to the hardware store (with all three kids in tow, bless him, so I could prep for the photo workshop).

By the end of the day he had constructed a 60 foot slip-n-slide in my parents’ front lawn (they have the best incline for maximum speed). By afternoon the kids had discovered the best techniques for the fastest slide (which is with a running jump, totally naked).

By late afternoon, I gave him the option to go spend some time by himself, but instead, he decided to take the whole family to see Toy Story 3. Ellery had only been to one movie before, and was beside herself with excitement. Mid-way through the previews, I looked over to see her clutching her popcorn in one hand, her ticket stub in other, overjoyed. It was such a good movie, and particularly bittersweet to see with your own children. I recommend packing tissues.

We tucked into bed three exhausted kids who had spent the day with their father, building, slipping, sliding, and movie-watching. Very lucky kids, those three.
Fun Hunt!

June 12, 2010

I’ve heard rumblings about the annual Fun Hunt that happens each year in our town. Started in 1973, it’s been going on nearly as many years as I’ve been alive. My friend Beth L. kept trying to convince me to join in, but we have three children and we're tired and we can’t find a babysitter and blahblahblah.

Anyway, this year my friend Tiffany sent out an alert that the Fun Hunt didn’t have enough teams, and it might be in trouble. I'm a sucker for things in trouble, so Tom and I rounded up the first people in our path, and created a team. I had no idea what we were in for. My friends told me to think of the Amazing Race without death-defying stunts.

So off we went, and omigosh, it was so much fun. Solving clues that lead us from one location to another, I loved seeing mobs of grown-ups huffing and puffing to outrun their neighbors. Kudos to the planning committee for a fantastic evening. They’ve given me another reason to love this place we call home.
Shep turns five

April 23, 2010

Shep, if I could freeze you at this age, I would definitely ponder it.

You are in the sweetest of spaces. Most everything delights you. You’re considerate of others, and beginning to notice the injustices of the world. A week ago you came up with a list of the people you would like at your birthday party. Other than family, it simply included three girls from preschool. When I asked you why, you said, “Everyone makes fun of these three girls, so they are they only ones I want to come.” Oy, my heart.

I’m beginning to see the inklings of rougher waters, but in between, you are one good kid.

Tom bought most of your presents this year. I’m beginning to suspect I had no genetic contribution, as you and your father are peas in a pod. Every present he bought was spot-on. I’ll have more photos of these things later, since now you’re on the road.

Why, you ask? Because on Monday you announced Tom was taking you to Chicago on your birthday.

We thought we could get away with a few inequities between siblings for one more year, but it seems we were wrong. Justice prevailed, and after preschool, Tom picked you up and you hit the road. You were having a fantastic time last I heard.

So here I sit, on the evening of your birthday, and you’re out on the town. I didn’t think that would happen so soon, being left behind on your big day. But it’s inevitable, so I suppose it’s good to get broken in early. It makes me smile to think of you, bouncing around the hotel room, in the middle of a big city, barely containing your excitement and happiness. A mother can’t ask for much more than that.

Happy birthday.
Jen was here!

April 17, 2010

We miss her so.
Waiting

April 17, 2010

Here sits Shep, waiting patiently by the dryer for his Blob shirt to dry.

I had to get a picture of this, because, according to legend in Tom’s family, he used to wait by the dryer for his blanket to dry.

I love when some things in life never seem to change.
A perfect day

April 11, 2010

Well, other than Shep’s cold, which has left him sort of sad and sniffly, and made us have to cancel brunch plans with Duncan’s family. (That last part almost sent the whole day into a black hole of doom.) But Shep, ever the trooper, never complained once.

But other than that? Perfect.

Trip to the garden store. Vegetable seeds planted (better late than never). Overcame my OCD and let the kids pick out all the flowers for the window boxes on the swing set. They did a fantastic job, and it looks beautiful.

Neko spent hours (and I mean hours) chasing butterflies. Her crowning glory was this swallowtail.

Tom gave me a respite this afternoon, and I went to work on our own Secret Garden.

Now he’s off to a lecture, and all the kids were in bed by 7:45pm.

Perfect. (Or as perfect as it gets around these parts.)
A Boy and His Blob

January 27, 2010

A while back I bought a game for the Wii called A Boy and His Blob. We pulled it out recently, and it turns out the kids LOVE IT. Particularly Shep, who is clearly going to be our video game junkie.

When the video game is off, Shep has been wandering around the house sighing, and wishing he had his own Blob. So while Shep and Ellery were at school, Tom and Ellery ran to the fabric store and got the makings for blobs.

By the time I got home from work, Tom had booked time with the sewing machine, and there were three blobs bouncing around our house. And three VERY happy children.

Photos by Tom
Groovy smoothies

January 22, 2010

As of late, Shep has really been into the show The Fresh Beat Band. Don’t get Tom started on the topic, trust me. It’s a bit like nails on a blackboard, but Shep loves it.

One of the places in the show is the Groovy Smoothie shop, so the website contains lots of smoothie recipes. This afternoon, Shep demanded we make them. Of course, we didn’t have any of the right ingredients, but we kind of made them up.

A bonus? This is an excellent way to slip in protein powder for a child that…ahem…barely eats a single food with protein. (Shep, I’m looking at you.)
Gone sledding

January 10, 2010
We got a tree!

November 28, 2009

December is our busiest time of year. The press is cranking non-stop, we’re shipping and printing and photographing and on and on. Needless to say, last year the days got away from us, and suddenly it was almost Christmas and we had no tree. We went one day after school on a cold and gloomy day. Hardly the holiday event I had hoped for.

This year, we were determined to get it done early. It was beautiful weather. The kids were in (mostly) good moods. We all agreed on a tree almost immediately. (We even picked one out for my parents to save them a trip.) There was even photographically documented skipping from Neko.