Wine and Potato Chips

There I am, going about life, when suddenly--

Boom!


Hit by life.

Shake it off, keep on going.

Then

BOOM!!

Hit by more life.

Shake it off, keep on going.

Then--

Boom! BOOM! BOOM!!


Hit by more life.

Shake it off, keep on going.

This keeps happening, thing after thing, whether it's something in my life, or my families' or my husband's ... or something as silly as losing an earring.

And pretty soon, I find myself with a glass a wine,
a handful of potato chips, and a few seasons of Friends.

I finally know it's bad when I have wine--and potato chips.tato chips and a few seasons of Friends.

The Kitchen

Where does your family gather to chat, discuss, ponder and critique?

I would assume that families gather in a room that contains couches, set in a way that is conducive to discussing. However, I really have no real frame of reference, because my family does no such thing.

No, my family gathers in the kitchen.

Now some might say, hey, that's not so weird--chatting around the kitchen table with a bowl of popcorn in the middle.

Ha ha--no.

We gather not at the table, but on the counters and the floor. My husband and I sit on the counter. Dad leans against the pantry, Molly blocks the way to the fridge by sitting next to the stove and propping her feet on the island (slightly irritating). Michael wanders here and there, every once in a while opening the fridge to stare at the numerous types of food, as if the longer he stares, the more likely something is to jump out at him. He trades off between the fridge and the "snack" pantry, hanging on the doors as if he's weightless (he will break them someday, I'm sure of it). Mom stands for a while, but slides down to a sitting position on the floor so she can cuddle with her doggies. I mean seriously--the living room with a couch, a loveseat and a chair--not to mention carpeted floor and pillows--it literally 4 steps away.

For as long as I can remember, kitchen floors and counter tops have been the place of choice for our family to chat, discuss, ponder and critique. Perhaps we love food; or perhaps we're too lazy to leave the room we began talking in.

I guess we'll never know--maybe we'll discuss it next time, in the kitchen, sitting on the floor and the counters.

originally posted june 14 2006 on myspace

This is a Magical Place!!

We went to Disney World on our honeymoon--and had a blast! But can I just please say that going to Disney with children is so much better?!Erik and I just returned from Orlando after spending a week with his parents, sister, brother-in-law, nephew and niece. Not only was this a perfect vacation, with the crucial mix of exploration, relaxation, and good food, but we got to take Samuel (4) and Serenity (2) to the place where dreams come true!

Each clutching their respective Disney characters (Pluto and Minnie Mouse), Sam and Renny were literally bursting with excitement as we approached the castle ever so slowly on the ferry.

Favorite Memories from our time @ Disney World:


1. Hearing Samuel say over and over, "This IS a magical place! This is such a magical place!" as we entered Magic Kingdom.

2. Watching Serenity squeeze Minnie Mouse tightly and say, "Mouse. My Mouse."

3. Desperately distracting Samuel as we attempted to block Goofy from his vision, and run in the opposite direction. (He is terrified of Goofy. Says he's "too big". ???)

4. Taking Samuel on the Carousel in Fantasyland. As he rode the horse, he said, "Man, I should have brought my cowboy hat!"

5. Holding a very sleepy Serenity against my chest as we rode the Buzz Light Year ride one last time.

6. Playing 'Duck Duck Goose' in Norway @ Epcot with Samuel and Erik.

7. When Serenity was having a small meltdown in Germany, and a stranger gave her a flower, and she immediately quick crying, and smiled so big.

8. Skipping to the bathroom with Samuel, singing "Skip to my Loo" and hearing Samuel say, "...loo loo skip to my loo......Skip to my loo my....(long pause).....Auntie Kri-stin!"

9. Introducing a very sleepy Samuel to Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore after discovering them last minute in a toy store in London.

10. Helping Serenity and Samuel find "Nemo" in a fish tank, and having Sam say, "There's Nemo--and there's his Dad!!!!"

There are, of course, so many other memories, including ones we made just laying by the pool, or ones with adults in them. :) But these are definitely some of the highlights of taking kids to the Magic World of Disney. I highly recommend it!!