Gigi and Nico and sometimes my art

Update

2009-10-04T20:22:00.000-07:00

Gianna cues in mom on the latest, up-to-the-moment news.

Gigi's and Nico's current Halloween costume candidates

2009-08-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

These are the somewhat tenuous choices for Halloween costumes Gianna has declared so far:

- The Cicero water tower (looks like above img)
- tarantula
- alligator
- corythosaurus

Nico:

- a silo. a black one.

Tonight, Gianna's bedtime talking story revolved around going to the Ocean Park Pet Store to buy some frogs, alligators, and crocodiles. It was raining, so she wore her alligator raincoat that had the whole body that stuck out behind you, with the feet out on the sides, and a snout mask that covered your face, and shoes like alligator feet, and arms with the alligator hands at the ends that cover your whole arm so that no skin peeks out. And ALL of her animals went with to the store, including all of the whales, dolphins, stingrays, clown fish, orcas, dinosaurs, kitties, snakes, and all of the bugs that were delivered before in three sacks, one small, one medium, one large. And we went through the water tunnel because I (she) taught all of them how to swim, and especially the bugs that were the FASTEST because they have so many legs.

And the OPPS manager didn't recognize her at first because of the raincoat, but the tyrannosaurus rex said to the manager that it was Gianna.

- dad

'Liveries

2009-08-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

We were in Ithaca today to see the Earth Museum and go to the farmer's market. To our surprise there was a harpist playing in the center of the farmer's market atrium, which was a thrill for Nico. He's been obsessed with the "harp part" of a Teletubbies movie for a long time. He even got to pluck a few strings.

While driving out of the farmer's market parking lot, I joked that "...I bought a farmer and a silo, and I'm having them delivered."

Nico said, "We should have the harp 'livered."

- dad

and tonight when I was putting him to bed he told me he should have that harp in his room and the girl playing it because she was really good at it.

- mom

my camera was on a blurry setting by mistake

2009-07-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

i didn't totally realize it because it was sunny and well sometimes I just take pictures without looking through the lens. If I painted figures in a simple way, these would be great to use as reference. the light was right and the body gestures make for good composition, almost makes me want to paint figures. another life maybe after I'm Donna Summer.

Steve wrote this in a letter to my mom and his uncle Dave

2009-07-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

I had to post this, it cracked me up. tonight I went to bed early not feeling well and now its 12:30 at night and i'm awake.The following is from Steve

I thought I should pass along a highlight from tonight's "talking story" with Gianna. The routine, as you know, is she gets a 10 minute talking story, then a 4 minute one (which is almost always a continuation of the first 10 minutes), then a 1 minute. I make up the story according to whatever she wants it to be about, with frequent interruptions to modify or correct any innumerable details, such as adding Diego (Dora's cousin) to the cast midway through.

As usual, her topic for tonight's story was about buying something at the Ocean Park Pet Store - the imaginary pet store extension of the local ocean park, where orcas and dolphins do shows, etc. (All her doing, as you would expect). This time, however, instead of wanting me to make up a story about buying 5 blue whales or 100 clown fish or 5 girl sting rays that were pink with purple polka dots, tonight she wanted a story about buying 5 tarantulas. (she is currently sleeping with her life-size plastic one that she picked up today someplace while out with Lucy).

Except that the Ocean Park Pet Store doesn't carry tarantulas, I explained, and that she'd have to ask the manager to call the distributor to see if they could supply the store with a shipment of tarantulas. (Supply is a frequent problem with the OPPS, and the distributor is called upon on many occasions to remedy these issues - a hero of sorts).

So, she said, she put on her tarantula costume and walked over to the store (and brought her toy plastic one too) and she asked the manager to order some tarantulas.

While we were waiting around for the delivery, she thought it would be a good idea to pick up an extra 10 "pooperators" to help clean out the poop from the giant tanks in the back yard with all the whales and dolphins. We were up to 100 or so. So I asked her, what about all the poop that was piling up from the dinosaurs back there too? (She had previously cleaned the store out of all of their parasauralophoses, dilpodocuses, t-rexes, and corythosauruses).

"I'll just get some dung beetles," she said.

"Yes! A million of them!" I replied emphatically. "And send them through the secret underground dinosaur tunnel." (the one that connects the store to our house, next to the underground secret water tunnel for ocean creature transport as well). "Besides, all those dinosaurs have been pooping in the tunnels, and those beetles will clean them up *snap* like that!"

"No," she said, "they have to go through the water tunnel!"

"But dung beetles can't swim. Can't they?"

"I brought them to the 'Y' and taught them how to swim," she explained. (she's taking swimming lessons at the 'Y' now, by the way.)

"Y'know," I said, "if you put those scuba diving flippers on their feet, they can ZOOM through the tunnel really FAST!" I clasped my hands on top of each other, with bent fingers wiggling like a beetle swimming with scuba flippers on.

"Yeah!" she said.

s

blip blip

2009-07-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

Steve went to bed at 8 pm. this is weird, never happens

I should go to bed now

how the hell do I print out my blog? Anyone

i'm still going to write on it but if it ever evaporates, I want a hard copy of it for the kids and grandchildren someday.

my tomato plants are doing great, but the rain needs to chill so they don't succumb to the blight, cucumbers are good, onions are doing great as far as I know, broccoli looks good, well 4 plants are getting huge and two have not grown at all, freaky, why, not sure.
Basil is hearty and pesto should be eaten by all, so far Just Nico and I eat the pesto.
If I grow it and actually cook it then eat it.

I love oil paint

oh new project on the horizon....25 paintings in 25 days by me for sale 90.00 each
coming in August/sept, they will be 6 inches by 6 inches and hopefully posted all at the same time after the 25 days.

photos for now

2009-06-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am long overdue again, so much to write i can't do it, well at least not when i finally have time, i'm tired and i want to watch a movie with Steve. that bowling alley we have yet to go to i saw it out in Great Barrington, Mass, took the picture for Steve and Nico, its pretty much a dream come true for them. another reason i want to live there.

The farm pictures were part of Nico's birthday present and then we went and played pool

okay Nico's 3 year old birthday post where I say all kinds of good stuff about him will come soon, these things take time and more brain power.

oh yeah in the photo of Gianna with the ear protection on, she wore that because of the cows and she was holding her nose the whole time just about but she did it for the Beef which was great.

Nico's Golf Day #3

2009-05-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

Dad here. Nico's been to the Butternut driving range three times now. I thought I should catch him in action before he turns 3 next month. I took some of my old golf clubs and sawed them in half, then re-attached the handles so he could use them. He has a putter, an iron and a driver. He putts all day in the back yard during the week to be ready for Saturday, which appears to be turning into Golf Day now. I have never actually played on a golf course [wait - I did once, when I was 16 or so, using my friend's mother's right-handed clubs. I don't think that counts], so it's not like I'm imparting some aged wisdom on him. I just want him to have a good time on his own terms.

When "dad is an editor" it's likely that movies like this will come out once in a while. It's 5 min. long, which might be much for your tolerance, but it is not narrative. So just watch. The lousy compression causes the ball to be lost on the end shot. He sinks a 6 footer, at least.

just general info

2009-04-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

So I'm sitting here in Steve's office thinking I wish he could read my mind and get up and make me some toast with honey, I could ask him but hes intensely focused and typing. This is the first day in more than two weeks that I have seen him have any energy. I on the other hand got some asthma medication and i am not doing that much better, well I am still really wheezy and tight, i cough a lot and i think maybe i am allergic to the advair, i have to go to the doctor again tomorrow. i really do wish there was a perfect place for allergy ridden people to live that had little fairy's that dusted your furniture and cats that you can't be allergic to and are still cute.

I have to keep this short because i'll probably be making my own toast, it was easier to work the Steve make it angle when I was pregnant.

the kids are great they sort of realize I'm not myself but it usually just depresses me that I can't get their energy, shit I can barely fold laundry and clean, I can't muster up the energy to take them to the park because of the dam trees and wheezing. we have been out in the yard but the past few days of heat I have been in a chair while Nico waters the same tulip over and over again to make it wiggle and Gianna gets frustrated because of the bees and the fact that nico keeps taking all the water out of the kiddie pool ( actually they call it the "kitty pool" and then giggle and say "its not for kitties" )

I bought Nico some shorts and he said he didn't like them, not sure what an almost 3 year old boy expects his shorts to look like. So anyway he now loves his shorts because i sewed some silos on them.

The other night Gianna came up with an idea that she says will get her to try more foods when shes 5, she wants her and Nico to sit in her closet and eat the foods that they don't like together. I will videotape this if it ever happens.

allright I need the toast

about the pictures

2009-04-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

well you can't hear any sounds, so it looks like a lot of fun around here, well no not actually today was the first day we were out playing for a long time due to Gianna's bad mouth sore virus that pretty much has kept her home all week. so with not much time to myself to exercise at the gym I was able to complete the swing cushions for the swing Steve made (the stand he made and the swing was from a kit) G was a bump on the couch with her fever watching Diego earlier in the week, it was sad, she could barely eat and she barely eats to begin with, She lost a friggin lb, I would not have known that but we had two trips to the doctors. Nico is healthy and has managed to stay that way, I hope i'm not jinxing anything, Steve is downright miserable, he already went to bed and its 9:30, he is usually up until 1am. my allergies are so bad right now that if I get this I could possibly die, well that's how I feel from seeing what it put G through and Steve, I think I'd just have to get checked into a facility that would take care of me and my kids. they would have to have mini golf.

the vest Gianna is wearing is her new favorite wardrobe item, she wants to be Diego now for halloween, but as a willow tree. She is really into this idea of a costume in a costume. I like the willow cat idea better.

Nico with his putter and wayward ping pong paddles and bowling pins, he has to have this stuff out all the time if his school ever got golf clubs and ping pong paddles he would be so happy. For now though I think hes content with college students who are willing to cuddle when needed. I picked him up today and he was totally cuddling with one of the student teachers and i know it was his idea, he just likes to be close to people who make him feel comfortable.

and the clay table, I covered a kid table with canvas so the kids could take the clay out whenever they wanted, preferably not right before dinner, or before we are about to walk out the door for some other reason.

new pictures

2009-04-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

Nico's perfect situation

2009-04-12T16:05:00.001-07:00

So if Nico were to have life how he wanted it, this is how it would be.

He would live on a golf course with thousands of golf balls and a putter, a driver and an iron. He would not have a house on the golf course but he would have a barn, he would have a big bed in the barn to sleep in with a lot of stuffed animals and each one would have a baby and a mother and he would make up little voices for them. He would have a pool table in the barn that was lower so he could play with out a chair. He would also have a ping pong table that was lower so he could play with out a bench. he would have one of those machines that throws the ping pong balls at you and Daddy's paddle would be his paddle. He would also have a bowling lane with a ball "maturn" and a black bowling ball that he could pick up.

back outside away from the golf course he would have a silo that needed to come down and he would be able to knock it down with a tiny sledgehammer. And each day the silo would be rebuilt so that he could take it down again.

farther away on the property would be a real dairy cow barn where there would be about 50 cows that had to get milked by him and kittens would romp around near the dairy barn.

He would also have a record player so that he could play blondie records whenever he liked. He would have his own long hair to play with when hes tired instead of mine.

We would all live there with him of course.

Rated R

2009-04-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

No not really, just needed to say i'm still here, the kids are fine, we just keep evolving and most days I'm taking it in and i'm to tired to write it down later, or I choose to paint instead.

I have been really focused on exercising again, kind of like when i used to go to water aerobics back before I had kids, i was good at going. Its taken me 4 and a half years to get to this point of wanting to wear the clothes that fit me before I had kids. So I cut out bagels and I added grapefruit and red peppers. I feel better already. this has also been fueled by my horrible allergies, sinus issues and wheezing/acid reflux? I have a cat scan for my sinuses finally scheduled for April 17.

okay this post is now for Gianna

You woke up last night with a fever that went from 100 to 104.7 in about 10 minutes, you were shaking and spit up a bit and really scared me, luckily Steve came up and jokingly compared it to the time he ate some bad hot dogs. You took some tylenol and it took over an hour for your fever to go down but it did, you went in and out of sleep, one minute you would appear totally asleep cuddling with a cup of watered down juice, the next your eyes would pop open and you blurted out "I can talk, sleep, and drink all at the same time" This leads me to believe you will be good at parties someday.

You also rambled on about how your going to tell Nico how he needs to call out MOM if hes shaking and can't stop. there was a part of you that was fascinated by the whole thing, and not scared. You have this interest in the body right now where you like to know about each organ and its function.

Today there was low fevers but you seemed to have an appreciation for feeling good, tonight we resumed our usual bedtime discussions about how your closet should be. Basically you want shelves and hot pink paint and every princess dress hanging up in it, you also wants a fancy light and it to be a private place for you and a friend.

You discusses her closet remodeling over and over, Also the planning of your 5 year old birthday party that's not until November. You want a pool party at a bowling party, like according to you the kiddie pool would be set up in the bowling alley in "NOVEMBER".
You even told your teacher that you wanted her to come and she had to bring her bathing suit.

I know I have posted your halloween costume ideas in the past but todays I really loved you basically said you wanted to be a "Willow cat" you wanted a costume that would make you look like a willow tree and your face would stick out of the trunk but you would have a cat face.

Nico i'll give you your update tomorrow and pictures

more pictures

2009-02-21T16:55:00.001-08:00

and the making of new kid art

2009-02-18T17:02:00.000-08:00

Gianna drawings/paintings

2009-02-18T16:59:00.001-08:00

Art?

2009-02-17T06:37:00.001-08:00

how could I not put this on the blog

Gianna has been really into the body lately and learning about organs, she often makes up these elaborate designs that are consisting of made up organs, i have to take pictures of those yet. But for now this one is just getting right to the facts.

new paintings

2009-02-12T19:16:00.000-08:00

for now its my stuff, but tomorrow i am going to post some of G's latest.

Steve has to redo my website so I am going to hold off on putting these on there, hopefully it will be redone in March/April, I also have a few more new paintings yet to be photographed.

well protected

2009-02-10T18:45:00.000-08:00

so Gianna lately puts on all this stuff and then experiments with running and falling on the floor to enjoy falling without getting hurt. she also says its her protection she has to wear when looking for orcas and stingrays.

a total venting post

2009-02-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

it is exhausting mentally that my daughter is such a picky eater and will not eat fruit and basically lives on crackers and cereal until 5 pm when I get in some dinner which is usually one big bite of broccoli and a few bitty bits of chicken and rice. She does like meat but not until dinner. She loves milk but not yogurt. she just will not and i mean never trys new stuff. it is super frustrating especially when i can tell thats why she is tired. part 2, she never admits to being tired or takes a nap.

she screams really loud when frustrated, and whines.

i have to remain calm through all these things and i am at fault for not always being successful at that. I have walked away to collect myself and hold back from losing it myself. theres more but I am not into going into more detail. basically i have used a pretty dam firm voice at times.

the gist of this is that my sinus headaches are more frequent and they wear me down, i want to tend to my kids and sometimes I have to let Steve take over because I need sleep and darkness due to head pain.

i never write posts like this and will probably delete it in a few weeks.

I should not be a stay at home mom, but there is not a wonderful job here for me like my old one in Hoboken and I would rather be a stay at home mom then have a lousy job that barely pays a babysitter. I also want to paint and work on the stuffed animals as a way to bring in income without paying a babysitter.

i don't want my kids to hurry up and grow up but i look forward to the day that they can read/write/play games together without help/ them wanting some space.

I know I shouldn't rush this, i know i have taught middle school students and its not always pretty.

remember i'm just venting, just a tired mom needing a place to vent.

next thing, i miss my friends, i miss time alone with Steve while we are not tired.

i wish i could stay out at the beach for a few weeks this summer and show the kids the ocean.

just so you know Gi is an amazing little girl with millions of wonderful things about her, i wouldn't want her to be any different ( except i fantasize about her taking a big giant bite of something healthy before she goes to school in the morning)

I could vent about Nico being a bit to obsessed with touching my hair but he eats lots of good foods, takes a nap willingly and is just so dam cuddly.

if anyone knows of some secret way to get healthy foods in to my daughter without them passing her lips let me know.

don't worry i'm ok

not gone

2009-01-29T18:04:00.000-08:00

I'm not gone I'm still here, i'll get back to blogging soon, I just have been painting way more than ever and just caught up on season 1 of "Damages" with Steve. I need to take pictures again, I have fallen off on that bit with the kids, ahh but we have been making lots of movies.

the best one lately Gigi filmed Nico up close to make a movie about the body

Gianna's story from 10-16-08

2009-01-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

"little kitty had to go to bed. mama kitty gives little kitty hugs and kisses. When mommy kitty left the room baby kitten started to cry. Waah! Waah! Waah! When the kitty woke up the baby kitty told mama I had a bad dream last night. Mama cat said, "What was it about little kitten?" Baby kitten, "It was a bad dream but I don't know what it was about." Little kitty said, " I have an idea. i have an idea we can go to the parade and state fair and go on lots of rides." Little kitty had to go to the doctor because little kitty was sick. Waah! Waah!(more crying in the car) Little Kitty cried at the doctors even more Waah!! and loudly because he was scared. He crawled under the table and cried he was scared. Little kitty had to get a shot and cried even more.
Little Kitty didn't want to go back home she wanted 100 and a thousand stickers. Mama kitty drove little kitty all the way home. Little kitty cried again because she didn't want to go home. The End"

as said to her teacher and her teacher wrote it all down.

now if only I could figure out where she should go to school next year.

old pictures of Nico

2008-12-21T19:28:00.000-08:00

sleeping in the carseat until about 6 months old
the interest in garbage cans started early and continues to this day
just hair and snow, I think he was about 8 months old

I'm pretty much posting thes because Nico is now 2 and a half and very much leaving his baby/toddler days behind him and having a tough time of it, he is very clingy lately and I think its all normal of course but its like hes in this big transition stage and maybe in a month things will settle down again, anyone who has kids knows, takes a nap sometimes because he needs it but then can't fall asleep at night, just in the middle, screams about babysitters but is perfectly fine with it once we are gone. rebelling against eating dinner but once mustard is offered ( he friggin loves mustard) hes fine, sits down and eats dipping everything into mustard.

Who knows, I love you Nico more than you love Grey Poupon ( which Gianna pronounces Grey Poop on)

snow

2008-12-21T11:42:00.001-08:00

new pictures

2008-12-19T19:24:00.000-08:00

So here we have Gianna's new mermaid tail that she asked me over and over again to make for a few weeks and I gave in before Christmas and made it last Saturday, I am actually proud of it since it took me about 30 minutes and I think looks better than anything I saw online and she can walk in it. She wanted me to make the tail like her dolphin one exactly,(see dolphin on floor.)

Steve got handy and Made a lovely art table for the kids and I made a box for the paint jars finally under the easels, the kids helped with putting in the nails.

Snow lots of snow

I have to do a seperate post this weekend of the things Nico has been saying lately, just to write it down for baby book reasons. ya know blog as baby book.

G and owls

2008-12-12T18:27:00.001-08:00

I'll get back to it, don't go anywhere

2008-12-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

I have been a lame blogger again, mostly because i have barely felt alive the past week. From having a bunch of sick kids to my own horrid cough and Steve being sick as well. well its all finally passing and I think we will have good health in this house until the next round, hopefully we will make it past the holidays.

I'm painting every night again and in need of Gamblin Painting medium to be sold in Syracuse, it sucks that i have to order it and wait for it to come in the mail, i should get it together to order it in time before i run out but i don't.

I have to get back to the gym, i have been on a hiatus due to my Portland trip and Nj trip and cough, but i think by wed I should go again. Just writing that down so that I do it.

Nico and G were very impressed with Steve cutting down a Christmas tree yesterday, I didn't really get to take my time decorating it, G wanted it all to happen so quickly, ahhh shes 4 and theres lots of stupid ornaments we have that I don't really like. I have this thought in my head that someday our tree will only have handmade or vintage or significant ornaments. whatever.

owls

2008-11-24T19:32:00.001-08:00

pizza making with dad and record turning

2008-11-19T17:31:00.001-08:00

I will be writing about my Portland trip but for now we have pictures of Gianna and Nico making some pizza with Dad. Gianna's little finger waving at Nico is to tell him to not eat up to many of the mushrooms. I have a feeling he's not going to date any girls just like her, but they will be close as brother and sister. She will give him straight up advice about women and he will absorb all of it, and then still only date women that have good hair. Nico is hair obsessed for those of you who don't know, since birth pretty much, If I came home with my head shaved he would be in tears for a month or until it grew back. Its not so much my hair, its just hair in general.

So he is also very into playing records lately, more the process of putting it on but thanks to Steve having such a great Disco collection we get to hear the good stuff on a regular basis. Gigi was singing "cotton candy" today a lot by the Silvers, i kind of love that one, and now and then we have a Sylvester record on.

Portland was really great as a place to visit and even more so because I was FREEEEEE of all kid responsibility for 5 days it was easy, put my self to bed, no diaper, ate great food and best of all had quality time with Cindy. A really great night out at the ocean, saw lots of galleries and a tour of the Gamblin paint studio, i really wish I could just make oil paint and then use it of course. At the end of the tour she gave us each a tube of oil paint and I was content even though I was hoping for a big fat tube of cobalt blue, but that would be like giving me 60.00. hmmmm that gives me an idea

christmas wish list
1. Big fat tube of cobalt blue gamblin oil paint
2. Kiln
3. to turn 40 again next year so I can visit Lindy in San Diego and Katie in Santa Barbara.
4. a new hairdo, some days I feel like ponytail mom just way to much
5. for Nico to nap because he wants to and alone in his own bed.

other things going on around here, Gianna and I have been working on her dollhouse, we painted all the rooms, we are going to put in flooring and tonight she drew pictures on tiny pieces of mat board so we could have art on the walls. Shes been really into setting it up different ways. Sometimes she fill up the room that's the model of her bedroom with all the necessities in life as if shes going to stay holed up in there for months, like the tiny cake, the Christmas tree, the decorative lamp, the books, toaster, loaves of bread, whisk and pretend eggs in a bowl and all the other tiny things, its really cute. I'll take pictures soon.

well I should get on to other things

bippity boo and personal crap

2008-11-17T18:15:00.001-08:00

I want to start a new blog, I'll let you know when I start one but for now I have this one. Something about writing and talking about whats on my mind, well can't do it here. I leave this for the kids then, its intended purpose. Having a bad evening. Whats the point maybe I should just keep everything inside for however long. thanks to painting I get by. This is exactly why I never had a diary growing up, couldn't write it then and can't do it now.

someday though, someday I'll start keeping a diary, I did in grad school, I remember it helped

portland photos

2008-11-15T08:42:00.001-08:00

halloween

2008-11-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Gi is a dolphin as an Astronaut.
Nico is a cow and he insisted on having an utter, so he has an utter that i made with G's pink socks 30 minutes before we went out last night.

experiments with Granny Sue and G's birthday

2008-10-29T07:27:00.001-07:00

We just had a really great visit with Granny sue, the kids really got to know her better, especially Nico who got some quality one on one time with her outside playing baseball, and practicing peddling his tricycle. We did experiments with flour and water and spices that we never use (the spices we moved around from every apt we have lived in over the last 10 years) also we added vinegar for some bubbling.
we carved a pumpkin and had a pink cake for Gianna.

painting

2008-10-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

so I realized a few things this week, I need to paint much bigger again , i need more paint, and space. there has been so many restrictions on my life as an artist since leaving MPLS. space being one of them and then pregnancy and then well being a mom of course, all good stuff but now the kids are well kids and i need to listen to music and paint bigger and not care about a mess here and there. I need more hours in a row, but that might take a while.

while on a field trip with G this morning she said "When I get home I need a shower."
forgot about taking one but it was funny at the time she said it.

She has been obsessed lately with this idea of being a dolphin in an astronaut suit for Halloween.

Nico keeps singing the "Oh what a beautiful morning song" you know the corn is as high as an elephants eye and all that, I love hearing his little voice sing.

and please read this
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/opinion/22dowd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

off week

2008-10-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

having a really bad week here, more headaches, just not having any good studio time, what i mean by that a good few hours in a row. What an awful post, this is why I don't always blog because I might just talk about migraines or just not know what to say.

one thing i do want to write is what the hell does anyone see in voting for Palin. Its really frustrating, hearing Colin Powell speak about his endorsement for Obama was so excellent he really said how so many people probably feel about McCains choice for VP. Just hoping that on Nov 4 Obama wins.

ok no more political talk on my blog, I promise just had to unload and I still feel bitter that Gianna was born the day George Bush was reelected.

good stuff

2008-10-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

So with G's birthday coming up just after halloween, i scored some cheap costumes for her and Nico off of ebay besides the tree/monkey costumes i will be making. It seems in this house you can't have to many costumes. Gianna is one of those people that i think firmly believes everyday should be halloween, kind of like her Uncle Joe, (picture to be scanned soon of Uncle Joe in costume)

heres Nico's bed

and Nico is still good at beds, going on the third night.

today

2008-10-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

Nico woke up at 8 am announcing "I'm good at beds"

I had the migraine from hell all day today and it is still going on.

so far so asleep

2008-10-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

So Nico came home from preschool so excited about his bed, wanted to keep going upstairs to check it out. He went to sleep i'm assuming , haven't heard a peep from him and I didn't have to stay with him until he fell asleep. He did say before I left the room that hes pretending his bed is a rocket and he had a pretend helmet on, so thats good, I guess. I'm wondering how hes going to do all night without being in a sleepsack, he is usually in a sleepsack, but with a bed well whats the point. So we are done with sleepsacks, kind of makes me sad but also happy about his new big boy status. Gianna is still awake, she has been obsessed with her books at night and its hard to get her to give them up and go to sleep, she is a true night owl like her mom and dad.

Tang

2008-10-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

Well tomorrow is the big day that the new bed arrives for Gianna, and Nico gets her bed, basically Gianna is getting a full size because we already have a nice mission style bed from back in the day and we just bought the mattress and box spring. Nico will get her twin and well I can't decide yet if I should get rid of the crib right away or use it for leverage to keep him from getting out of bed.

Heres the Tang part, I got him some amazing orange sheets, amazing to me anyway because they remind me of my past obsession with Tang, I used to really love Tang so much so that I would go through those big containers in a matter of weeks, disturbing. Well somehow I stopped drinking it and replaced it with orange gatorade, not the same yummy color but it worked. I quit the gatorade around 2000 and now occasionally drink orange juice. Well I love his orange sheets and they go perfectly with his bowling quilt. i'll post some photos tomorrow night.

Gianna has some hot pink sheets , which she is very excited about and for back up some red ones, you know, accidents.

I can't believe Nico is going to sleep in a bed alone and be able to get up, weird.

fall leaf pile up photos from today

2008-10-15T18:05:00.001-07:00

g and n's halloween costume ideas so far

2008-10-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

Well weeks ago they were set on being monkeys, so I got some soft brown fabric to make monkey costumes, I have yet to start making them. 3 days ago while putting Gianna to bed she says in a matter of fact way " I NEED a warm soft white suit with bunny ears for the winter." then today she tells me she NEEDS a daisy tutu and a yellow shirt and green tights. She also keeps telling everyone she is going to be a cat that is dressed up as an astronaut for Halloween. Okay now Nico has hopped on the crazy costume bandwagon. Originally I wanted to make him a bowling pin costume. then G was all excited about the monkey thing. so anyway 2 days ago he says he wants a "tree falling down costume"
Gianna instantly jumped on that idea and thinks they should both be trees.

dilemma.........Do I make the monkey costumes with the brown fabric or do I make tree costumes with the brown fabric? help me out here.

additional info, Nico also wants a frog costume and a giraffe costume.

what is this going to be like when they are 6 and 7

bed for beef

2008-10-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

just made the commitment to buying a bed for Nico, should come in a few days i guess.

i am out of town

2008-10-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

I am out of town until tuesday, when I will make up for lame post in a good way.

one last thing my wish for the day is that some random oil paints would fall into my lap.

holiday weekend

2008-10-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

Hey I sometimes get it in me to push the double stroller up this hill, I get totally sweaty but the kids like the view and the ride down the other side.

gunk and Random stuff about Nico

2008-10-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

Nico's new favorite word is gunk.
He loves golf and ping pong
He is so happy and goofy, its amazing
He gets excited about going just about anywhere.
even if he has a cold he remains cheerful, unlike some other small person in the family who is really the opposite when congested.
He wants a harp
He eats everything just about
He gives out compliments that make you feel less dumpy, for example "you look good mom" or "i love that shirt" when I'm wearing some dumpy old t-shirt. Might I add Gianna told me today that an old black sweatshirt of mine looked really nice, even after i showed her the whole in the armpit. This is great when in reality i feel like the WHAT NOT TO WEAR people are going to show up at my door any minute.
He easily amuses himself shoving small toys into the sides of the couch.
he could easily just spend time running back and forth deliberately falling down and then declaring "i fell down.....on purpose"

I'm so glad your here Nico and the best thing of all is how affectionate you are, oh man its really beautiful as well how you are with Gi and how you guys seem to really know each other.

not to much to say

2008-10-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

i don't want to post a boring post but well here goes. Steve is out for a few days, its hard to do this alone, I love my kids but its hard, I think if they were 5 and 6 it would be easier. I am considering getting a bed for Nico very soon, just he is so cuddly and I think it would be easier to put him to bed, i also want to ditch the ugly couch thats in his room soon. Right now we kind of need it since I can't sit in his crib with him and read books. my biggest wonder is will he stay in his bed at night, Gianna totally did and still does, even in the morning she just gets books and looks at books and really is never in a hurry to get up. LOVE THAT, I am not a morning person and neither is Steve, so we are very grateful our kids sleep til 8 am. thing with Nico is I think he will get out of bed earlier and come in ours and poke at our faces, with love of course.

i am going to go watch Mad Men alone and then Entourage, usually I watch these with the husband.

Shazam

2008-10-07T19:09:00.000-07:00

Gianna was a bump on a log after school didn't know if I would get her off the couch at all. So I had a Shazam moment and rolled up the living room rug and she popped off the couch and started dancing with Nico.

just a little moment in our day

2008-10-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

maybe Tiger Woods started out in a tutu

quilts

2008-10-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

here is Nico's quilt I just finished, and G's is the red one with the umbrellas on the other side that I made her when she was 2. the green striped one is one that I made when I was pregnant with G.

possibly learning to run

2008-10-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

this morning I had a complimentary training session at the health club I go to at 9 am to be exact, it was great, maybe I will be buff by 50.I also go in on friday for a running lesson, should be interesting. After that I had an amazing yoga class. Ok I am feeling it now and i'm tired and i'm not going to lift any weights tomorrow besides the kids. But tuesday morning i am going, I have to focus and commit to it, I need more energy, more muscle, to feel better in my clothes as well as not.

its also something that could set a good example for my children to take care of themselves, and my posture I long to fully improve my posture.

this blogging everyday thing really gets your personal thoughts down doesn't it.

on the painting deal, i'm posting some new work soon on my website, i'm starting a new series of paintings where I plan to push my self more in a different direction, still gooey and thick but the imagery could change, I'm thinking a lot lately about how much I love horizontal lines, probably because as a mother of two small children I really like just laying down sometimes and having a moment of quiet. that time of night when I turn out the lights and go to bed and everyone is sleeping its really a treasured, valued moment for me, its when I can finally think and plan in my head. Sometimes I just think about sculptures that I want to do and can't yet.......money getting in the way..........but its all good for now.

One last thing a thank you for all the comments and support I get as an artist, sometimes I try to think of what career direction I should go in next, and then I say fuck it I am an artist,period,the end.

here are the new paintings that are not on my website yet.

interviews

2008-10-04T18:55:00.000-07:00

ok the interviews are only for substitute teaching in the public schools here. One district in particular needs an art sub. So its not totally back to work for me, I do miss the money but I also feel like these are the years to try and get my art to a better place.

so tonight Steve and I went out for our anniversary and had a friend of ours son Ben babysit, G has been having a hard time winding down lately and falling asleep, so she was awake after Ben left I went up there and she basically told me she felt she didn't get enough time with him (mind you he helped her set up her whole dollhouse and read her 9 books) I think it was one of those things were she was having so much attention and fun she didn't want it to end, She is starting to realize the fun part of having a babysitter. She then told me that I should go out longer next time. If your reading this Ben I hope you had your piece of pumpkin pie, if not we will make it up to you, thanks for taking such good care of my kids, it means so much to me.

pictures

2008-10-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

I had two interviews today and really loved coming home to Steve and Nico making a pumpkin pie, mostly Nico all covered in flour and in steve's popeye's chicken apron.

other photos were from one of many recent farm/pumpkin picking/apple picking trips

curious on the ceiling

2008-10-02T20:09:00.000-07:00

tonight in the dark Gianna told me that sometimes she looks at her ceiling and sees curious George or sometimes owl eyes. we don't know but maybe we are getting closer to finding out what 3 year olds have nightmares about. Still the best one was when she woke up yelling "froggy bagels"

tomorrow I need to seriously write about last weeks great trip down to nyc by myself to the guggenheim, its 11:13 and i should go to bed.

31 for 21 (and wow its Oct 1)

2008-10-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

"i did it, i did it" Nico while using potty.

can't figure out how to paste the 31 for 21 link.

its Down Syndrome awareness month and I am going to attempt to write something everyday on my blog even though its totally out of character for me, its good for me and its in dedication to Georgia and her mom whos about to have her baby boy.

let me go try this link thing again.

G might be my new walking partner

2008-09-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

So two days so far this week Gianna has taken walks with me while Nico naps, its been amazing, i love walking and desperately miss walking in NYC especially. I walked everywhere until we moved here. I still get a walk in now and then but never everyday. I want a walk to be part of my everyday, and this week, like I said Gianna walked up a really big hill and basically continued to walk with me at a decent pace for about 40 minutes. There was none of that stopping to look at every crack thing going on. Not that thats a bad thing it just does not do much for the ass. We looked for cats and paused at flowers, we talked and basically had a good time. It helps that it is fall but maybe over time this will become a regular gig, after all Gianna is a huge fan of snow and putting on a snowsuit and all the accessories. So wish me luck in trying to keep this going at least while Steve is freelance (he's in the house working while Nico naps).

ping pong and tigers

2008-09-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy reading other blogs, i don't write on mine. Anyway here goes, So both kids go to school now from 9-12 everyday, itsssss soooooooooooo wonderful to have some time during the daylight hours to myself and to know that G and N's days are filled with toys, art activities, playground time and a snack. I need this time to paint mostly but also its great for home improvement time.

On the ping pong thing, Nico has been trying to hit the ball with the paddle for so long now that pretty recently he started doing it and now he hits it almost all the time, its incredible for me to watch being that there is not an athletic bone in my body when it comes to ball and racket stuff. Steve on the other hand a very good ping pong player and bowler, well that must be where it comes from. ok G is totally like her mother and frustrated, she sees Nico hitting the ball and her competitive instinct kicks in and she desperately tries to do it and is well not even close......sorry G but please keep trying, Nico has been at it for about 5 months. She wants it to happen instantly and gets so frustrated.

on the other hand Gianna you have been making up the best stories these days and Daddy loves your long discussions about the difference between ice and icing and frost and frosting and whether theres a difference between frosting and icing. Also your explanation of how cloths don't have mouths so they can't say anything and therefore they don't care if you like some cloths more than others. For those of you who don't know what a cloth is, its a small soft cloth which G has many of that she sleeps with. We gave her one when she was about 4 months old and she clutched it and well they help her get to sleep, but they don't have feelings, and they don't like it when you sit on them.

ok heres the pictures, they are up above because I don't feel like moving them.

summer trips and our lovely broccoli

2008-08-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

documentation part 1

2008-08-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

thanks Tricia for getting me started.

the following pictures document my house right now at the end of a day, before I clean up the usual stuff.
the reason for some bare walls is a bunch of paintings today were brought to the person who takes jpegs of my art. also the dining room table is usually in the middle of the room but the kids want to play records and dance so its pushed over to the window often. that same dining room space also becomes a bowling lane, ping pong practice space and just a great place to bounce a superball or drive or bop around. So every few days I put the table back, just because.

past the baby gate is my temporary studio

the pink potty well its constantly relocated these days, can't wait until its gone, but Gianna wants me to save it for her kids, that and everything else she owns, i'm worried she has the hording gene. She piles stuff on every couch every day usually various important things to her. Tomorrow I'll document the second floor.

I'm hyper

2008-08-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

i had 4 cups of coffee today, i never have 4, i usually have 2, I think I should go back to 2. this all occurred because of slightly to much rain and not enough sun, and Nico taking an early nap. I do have more of an energetic feeling but i am also talking to fast. I hope I can fall asleep tonight.

a three year old said to me tonight "Give Gianna my love"

just rambling

2008-08-04T16:41:00.000-07:00

I am tired, not so much physically tired but mentally, I love my kids but I can't wait until we can have more intellectual conversations. Don't get me wrong I love there little voices and there random spewing of mixed up stories and Nico saying almost anything these days, its great, But as a former teacher who loved the magical ages of 7 , 8 and 9 well I just look so forward to it. I can't wait to not pack sippy cups and not need extra clothes in my bag and to be able to go out and know that no one is going to all of a sudden turn into a crazy over tired screaming banshee. I don't want my kids to grow up to fast but i also want an amazing trip to Italy with just my husband. I don't long for Gianna and Nico to deal with pre-teen awfulness but I can't wait to see what they draw at that time in there life and to hear what they have to say about the world.

sometimes its just hard to spend 12 hours on a 3 and 2 year old level...... ahhhh and the eating, i can not wait until G tries more foods, her list of foods that she will eat is really short.

I know we will get there, I have to believe that I will be able to my own artwork, be it sewing or painting at times during the day while they are occupied, Its really just a summer thing, i'm all for year round school, unless we could get a beautiful summer home in Cape cod. wake up.

ok i just was away from posting this post and I was called upstairs by G for the 4th time I got frustrated, she got more frustrated, it ended in us both agreeing we were both over tired and that we still loved each other. Not looking forward to the days of her and I having PMS together, unless of course we can find a way to laugh at it and just take double doses of Midol. ha ha

summer pics

2008-07-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

pregnancy with G, preg with Nico, after Nico turned 1

2008-07-26T17:07:00.000-07:00

I just deleted the photo of me pregnant with Nico, i really don't like that photo.

these are just to document the hugeness and puffy face I had with both pregnancies, I'm 4 ft 11, so there was not a lot of room in there for my own stuff.The other photo is just to say hey I got somewhat back to not being puffy. its now a year later from then and I'm going to yoga twice a week and more in the fall, i am almost 40 and I hope to be in my best shape ever by 50.theres a lot of women I know here who are 50 and look really great, there kids are almost grown up and thats got to help and often I choose art over exercise but it will all come together and work itself out someday.

this post is for you Trisha, sorry I don't have a better photo of my puffiness but I am often subjected to a video Steve made the day before my c-section with Nico, and ohhh God I look just awful.

french

2008-07-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

Today from the backseat of the car G told me she knows how to say car in french, then she says " Le Car"

then some silence

then she goes I know how to say penis in french to, "Le Penis"

Videos inda... eye-eee

2008-07-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

stories and etc.

2008-07-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

So while my naked kids were in the pool the other night after dinner (when getting a sunburn ass won't happen), Nico experienced seeing himself pee for the first time. Just one of the highlights of having a boy. He was just so impressed with himself. Anyway he then got right back in the pool making sure to get himself all wet again, then proceeds to get out and try spraying the lawn again saying "Doesn't work, doesn't work" in a confused frustrated way. He basically thought that he could fill himself up i guess with pool water like a squirting bath toy. G and I laughed and I think he now understands that he has to drink water(not pool water of course) in order to pee. I guess this is all progress in potty training a boy.

So why I don't post on this blog that often but should
1. I'm trying to complain less
2. I'm trying to let the kid thing go at night and just paint, sew or watch season 3 of lost (actually moving on to season 4)
3. I don't feel I'm a great writer
4. pure laziness
5. I feel like i should be doing other things like tying to find galleries that will give me a show or put me in a group show. I need that right about now
6. I could easily vent to much like how I don't agree with feeding your kids poptarts with frosting on them for breakfast, and then being confused about why they are hyper.
7. sometimes I just go outside after the kids are in bed and check on the tomato plants, I like having some alone time out in my own yard, i have become addicted to planting things.

announcement.................attention....anyone reading this blog, get me a show in a decent enough gallery in NYC, Seattle, MPLS, Portland, LA, Chicago or anywhere in Central New York and I will gladly give you a painting. Why I need help with this, because I spend a large majority of my time wiping butts and emptying pee from a potty into a toilet as well as the more fun and quality things that go on with 3 and a half year old and a 2 year old. I find time to paint but finding time to get somewhere from there well its not happening right now and I'm sick of waiting for it to happen most days. Raising kids is so rewarding of course but it really uses up a lot of my brain power and I'm not so good at doing things for myself while they are wake except vacuuming or cleaning out the toy box to see what we can get rid of.

what to do

2008-07-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

can't sleep, it sucks, my kids will be awake in 6 hours and they will not understand or care that I couldn't sleep. I am not good at losing sleep, in college if I couldn't sleep I would go over to MCAD and paint, Cory would usually be over there anyway painting or playing guitar and he had his little coffee pot and well it was pretty dam excellent...............don't get me wrong here I love my kids and being a mom, what I'm struggling with is scheduling my creativity it sucks. Tonight for example painting issues and new sculpture ideas are filling up my very awake brain,(this happens all the time) Its exciting and energizing and somehow super frustrating because NOT only can I not stay up and fulfill these desires I have to put them on hold all the way until tommorrow night at 8 pm until usually I'm exhausted. I read Catherine Newmans blog from time to time and recently she had a post about her 9 year old son doing something on his own in the house while her 5 year old does something on her own and she embarks on sewing as well as writing. This time in my life seems so far away..........today I pictured my self actually using oil paints in my someday attic studio while my kids are up there as well either playing or doing there own art. for now I'm keeping this future thought in my head to keep me sane and i'm also feeling nostalgic for those MCAD days when I could stay up all hours at night and sleep until noon the next day.
someone should call me tommorrow at around 2 pm to wake me up, not that I'll be asleep but that is when I crash and Gianna doesn't and I quickly make coffee and try to keep her brain churning/entertained, If your a mom, you know the deal.

one more thing before I go that is funny and a small dilema. I took Gianna to her first ballet class today and she looked at all the other 3 year old girls in there pink tights and leotards and promptly decided that she only wanted to be in the class if she could get a different color outfit. She then told me to get her blue tights and leotard or perhaps fushia.
On the one hand I know shes scared about the class but on the other I agree with her not wanting to dress exactly like everyone else. Not sure what I'm going to do yet. Maybe just get my money back and let her just keep doing her freeform dancing at home to my Blondie CD in whatever outfit she wants. I didn't really like the teachers vibe anyway.

all right maybe now I can sleep

does this look like a girl who lets you tell her what to wear.

picture Gianna took of her shoes

2008-07-01T19:20:00.001-07:00

just love this one

Dam, its July 1

2008-07-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

I wanted to write this before July, Oh well.
Hey Nico, Its mom here I wanted to say Happy Birthday, I can't believe your 2, and might I add ever since you turned 2 You have been acting way more 2.
Your dad and I agree that you are extremely jolly and happy, its down right amazing compared to your first year of life where yes there was giggling but there was way more crankiness due to you never getting enough sleep and the dam reflux. Now your good, you suck down tomato sauce with a spoon and chase it with OJ.....reflux NEVERMORE. I still can't believe you don't sleep in a carseat anymore, (In case we forgot to tell you Nico did sleep in the house in his carseat until he was about 5 months old.There is a picture in the archives somewhere.)

I love your hugs and your kisses, you are extremely affectionate and I'm sure you will continue to be..........your future girlfriends will hopefully appreciate it.I love the way you have always been so independent in your exploration of things, today for example you rode your tricycle without the peddles, just using your feet on the ground, up and down the driveway about 50 times, trying to practice turning and seeing what would happen when you went really fast. You also took my camera and took these picture of yourself, not realizing what was happening of course.

Ohhhhh Nico I am just so glad your here and a part of my life, I love you so much.

Gianna keeps trying to get you to play more with her and your starting to catch on a little, the best thing is when she teaches you expressions and words and you guys giggle together as if your just the funniest kids on the planet. recently she has you saying "an apple a day" and "penis" your relationship with her is so dam special, My best memory this month is after your last haircut ( you were crying the whole time...again) She immediately ran over and hugged you when the haircut was done and you stopped crying. I bet you didn't know it but sometimes when I'm putting Gianna to bed she asks me to get more Nicos, One night she asked for 16 Nicos. (Dream on Gianna the baby making days are over).

Nico is a two-nager now

2008-06-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

Dad here. So it was a tough two years but we made it this far. Considering how awful your life started -- with that dreadful apartment at 527 Washington St. in Hoboken to the complete lack a privacy at the Bloomfield apt. that made you miss so much sleep -- it's a wonder you didn't turn into one of those "miserable kids". But you are a funny goofy snuggly kid whom I've totally fallen in love with, and can't wait to play "A BALL GAME!! A BALL GAME!!" with or teach you all my disco steps, or make some inedible goo out of flour and who knows what under the guise of pizza dough.

You know barely more than a couple dozen words but you find ways to say things to be funny or to make me laugh. Our wagon rides are full of new discoveries every time, and people love to see you watching them do what they do while you suck on your lower lip.

You're going to be so much more fun to be with as you grow up every day. Some enduring images I will remember you by at this point:

- your determined look on your face as you wailed a Sponge Bob Squarepants baseball bat at a bouncing super ball in the driveway, hoping to get the benefit of the statistical likelihood that constant swinging versus a constantly bouncing ball will ultimately lead to contact. It mostly did.

- Your two-handed clutching of your mini-coffee cup, taking your first sip of "coffee" yesterday morning, and then again today.

- Your trembling arms trying with all your might to rip the velcro ball off of the "catch pad"

- Your mad-dash sprinting into my arms at the mere hint of putting on a disco record.

- You "running away with the crackers".

- You taking an instant obsession with the spinning soccer ball toy, and then trying it out to see what would happen if you spun it in sand, water and grass.

- You trying every music sound at every speed on that drum pad thing

- Our first time going to a real bowling alley together.

- Your fascination with my jewel-size tools and to see what holes in my DAT player you can put them into.

- Your strange fascination with my hair and my head.

- Your propensity to repeat physical tasks over and over until you've mastered them, such as getting on the couch, and getting off the couch, drowning the boat, and spilling out the water, climbing over the side of the toddler bed, hammering the "ice" block in the Don't Break the Ice game, sliding garbage CDs and DVDs into the spaces between the pantry cabinet doors so that the next person who opens it gets an avalanche of optical discs, bouncing a kickball until you figured out how to dribble it [you're getting there, Neek], your fancy wrist flexing at the top of your backswing as you roll a plastic bowling ball towards the rack.

- Your first few words, which were mainly ball related declarations: "Go Bow'ing!! Go Bow'ing!!" and "A ... BALL! A... BALLL!"

Well, I love you, Beef. You're fun.

Steve III [Dad]

You're 2 Beef

2008-06-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Nico Neek

Hey Maia

2008-06-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

Just wanted you to know Nico loves his blanket very much, its one of his favorite things, besides his lower lip.

first steps to making a garden

2008-06-02T18:51:00.001-07:00

I know its not to exciting yet but I am currently digging up a lot of grass and planting plants that should get flowers and grow bigger and the back area with the Hostas, well its dam shady and I'm not a big fan of Hostas. I might add some ferns and some flat stones. I have tomato and pepper plants along the sunny fence and the area where the kids are will be more tall flowers. See Tasha Tuders garden for what it should look like when I'm 80.

pictures from a bad blogger

2008-06-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

I'm going to find time to write more here someday, I have been painting, sewing a quilt for my mom and another one for us, and one for Nico, also digging up grass in our yard to make a path around some flowers,( I'll take pictures soon) digging up grass is a lot of work and I don't get much time to work on it and during the process the kids pour water on the dirt. okay and all the daily grind things like cooking, laundry, dishes, wiping butts, etc.

the picture here of G and Nico really says to me even though this is so hard I'm glad I had my kids so close, Nico is really catching up to G and talking more and more and his great sense of humor is coming out and I'm so excited to here what he's going to talk about when he is 4. What is he going to be into, all that good stuff.At bedtime G and I have really great conversations bout all kinds of things and it goes really well except when she is overtired then she just whines crazy stuff like " I hate my bed and room, and I'm never going to go to sleep, ever, never" and then falls asleep within 5 minutes of saying all that.

going on here

2008-05-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

bees bees bees, we have an old wood house but its great we love it, we also have carpenter bees, but so do the neighbors, it sucks they are taking away from my pleasure of sitting outside and enjoying time with my kids. Also they supposedly attract wasps and yellow jackets.
I keep remembering that evil nest of so many bees in the house I grew up in that was only discovered when some guy demoed the old kitchen cabinets, they were right there behind the dishes for god knows how long. I find myself outside watching G and N and watching the bees and trying to figure out there hiding places/nests. maybe when the rose of sharon bushes bloom on the side of the house they will all go hang out there.
Dam bees, I wish they would relocate to a yard where there is not a stay at home mom with 2 small children.I'm considering putting piles of old wood down the street with open jars of honey and a vacancy sign.

Better stuff....... Nico is almost 2, can't believe it, he was being so cute tonight at bedtime he climbed up in G's bed and layed down on her pillow and put the comforter on himself with this look at me smile on his face, he really wants a bed probably but no way, not yet, he will quit napping, i'm not having that. Thats what happened with G and it has been a year and a half and she still could use a nap. So sorry Nico your sleeping in that crib until your at least 3, maybe a few months before, maybe, unless of course you get your sleepsack off and climb out.

Steve will soon be posting the "Sauce....in the Eye" video, so check back for that

Gianna news, shes obsessed with hearts, I guess rainbows and unicorns come next.
For the first time she set up her dollhouse in a way that makes some sense. in the past she would cram a whole bunch of furniture in one room or put the toilet next to the couch. its all good, shes into it. She does want more carpeting though and a butcher block like the one we have. I love the sleeping arrangements she comes up with, sometimes theres a lonely baby up in the attic.

I have been going to yoga, I really like it now, I think i didn't like it as much before having children because I didn't have anything that I really needed that kind of break from and I'm getting old and want better posture. Also I'm actually pretty good at balancing, now that I'm not pregnant. I intend to go as much as possible come fall when the kids are both in preschool, Thanks Cindy V and Heat B , to yoga women in my life that inspired me to go. I can still here Cindy saying "its how you hold your bones" or something like that.

Hey Joe, my brother, I think you would really like yoga, you should try it.

lame blogger will write soon

2008-05-07T18:55:00.001-07:00

pictures Gianna took "just for the heck of it"

2008-04-30T17:59:00.001-07:00

pictures from Grandmas

2008-04-30T17:12:00.001-07:00

ducks and bowling

2008-04-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Hey its April

2008-04-11T17:37:00.001-07:00

This is a photo from a more chilled out time in our life, I was swollen and 6 months pregnant with Gianna. We were on a short weekend trip with Cory and Heather.

I can't believe I haven't posted anything yet this month, I hate it when that happens. sometimes so much happens in one day and by night time I forget what to write because I'm just so relieved there sleeping. I used to be able to occasionally post during the day but now if I touch the lap top Nico wants to watch bowling on you tube or Gianna wants to watch blast offs or trees getting cut down, (her latest interest, ROOTS, not the series).
Well basically we have had nice weather and I have been taking walks after the kids go to bed by myself mostly and its been great, I love walking and its something I really need consistantly in my life. Both of my kids are at an age where it makes it hard to get enough walking in while they are awake. Its hard to explain you would have to know Gianna.

So anyway these walks have proven to be more than exercise. The first night out I saw an owl , a real big one up way high in a tree. it was so dam cool, for those of you who don't know I really do love owls. I would live out in the country just to build an owl box and see if anyone moves in.
The next night out was with a friend of mine up the street.

then the third night out I scored a little tykes climbing cube, the big one for free from some people up the street that are moving, and just the right teenage boy was available to carry it down the street, Thanks Ben. Gi and Nico were very excited about it the next day. they don't make this particular cube anymore and its a great thing for the kids to climb on. we can't really fit a swing set in our back yard, or a pool or a trampoline for that matter.

what we are going to have is a really big vegetable garden, I can't wait to get it going, its going to be my first by myself, I grew some tomatoes last year but this year I want a good variety of stuff to feed to these guys, especially the extremely picky Gianna.

also I got rejected from a group show I entered but I guess i'll keep at it. competition sucks, and its worse when you go see the show that you got rejected from and theres crap in it. Like recently I saw a show at this particular museum and one of the more expensive paintings in the show done by a local prof. really was not to strong or interesting and the canvas was dented real bad in one of the corners.
The art world is very undesirable, I could go on but I know some of you know what I mean.

Nico the other day I sang bah bah black sheep and he yells out "bowling lane" when I get to the part about the little boy who lives down the lane.

He's talking up a storm and adding words daily, I'm starting to forget that he once didn't talk.

No one is sick, probably shouldn't write that, I'm still waiting for out of control vomiting from one of them, Nico has never had that and Gianna hasn't had it since last year in January. How long can I really be this lucky.

4 of my owls sold in the Hoboken store, only 2 left for now hopefully will be sending them more soon as I get some more time for that. The sewing machine has been resting the last 3 weeks or so.I kind of switch back and forth with painting, I need to stay focused on the painting for now. I am still plotting out in my head a new sculpture direction, I'm reading and drawing and collecting materials, zippers, wax, plaster, wire, fiber of some sort, needles and thread, glass possibly. I'd like to add porcelain but not sure where I'd be firing it yet. Its got to happen it just might not be until next Sept when The kids are at school for the sacred 3 art/exercise hours.

i miss TV sometimes

Steves getting dissed on hearing his yankee game tonight. I have to say I miss seeing Derek Jeter and his big head. Though he is hot you should not consider pushing out his baby.

"go Bowling"

2008-03-31T16:59:00.000-07:00

Nico has become completely focused on bowling and talking as well, his favorite phrases currently are, "go bowling" and "Real bowling pin"

we have some wayward bowling balls in the house and Nico thinks if we have real balls why not real pins, makes sense.

besides all that, everyone here is again recuperating from more colds, Gianna has mastered the art of dragging out bedtime and this is a new thing for us because she never has really done this, We are expecting Nico to do it when and if he ever gets a bed, but G has always gone to bed easily and willingly without us having to stay in her room after books, etc. Sometimes I look so forward to reading them chapter books and then saying goodnight and then I realize that I don't really want them to grow up that fast. I love the 2 word sentences from Nico right now and I'll miss G's crazy random stories about her stuffed pillow having a personality.

Oh yeah and at dinner tonight G successfully taught Nico how to say "poop" or I should say yell poop.

After dinner there was this really sweet time where they where looking out the window calmly enjoying lollipops and G was telling Nico about spring and summer, it was really amazing. Then an hour later while trying to put them to bed, they were being ridiculously silly and hyper, at one point Nico took the Balmex tube and stuck it into his crib. Was he thinking hmmmm maybe in the middle of the night I'll squeeze that greasy stuff all over my pillow. there just was a crazy amount of resisting pajamas, diaper changes and lights going off, somedays I feel powerless and the only thing to do is crash on their floor and let them run out of energy.

heres some recent bowling photos

easter egg colors and Maia's tea cups

2008-03-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

Nico was included he just did not end up in any pictures.

new pictures

2008-03-16T16:46:00.001-07:00

pictures I took of G and three pictures that she took.

just after

2008-03-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

ok just after that post I found some bowling on youtube for the kids to watch, I then went to the bathroom and came back and G was closing the lap top and said " I'm done with the computer mom, I'm done checking my E-mail."

sick kids, a drag

2008-03-13T08:49:00.001-07:00

so heres my life right now, G is sick and off of school this week, all playdates cancelled, constant snot wiping, coughing, scratchy cute voice, nico interupting me right now yelling bowling at the computer moniter because he wants to watch Earl Anthony on youtube. complete and utter lonliness even though I am surrounded I might say very closely by my very drooly, boogery nosed children.

okay this picture of G from yesterday. and one from the park earlier in the sickie week prior to the colds being bad. Oh and when I took them to the park and no one else was there, hate that sometimes, to quiet. this all makes me turn to more coffee.

I have managed to somehow get some painting done at night and also managed to almost finish my king size quilt that I started in Sept. I am hand knoting it and I will update with another photo of it when finished.

recent owls and the frog and the firegirl

2008-03-02T19:27:00.001-08:00

extra

2008-02-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

I can see Northern lights from our back window, this is something I have never seen before, not even when I lived in MN. So yeah, its cool. Also somehow the Balmex got unpacked and put where the toothpaste normally is and I just ruined my toothbrush.

pictures tommorrow, for now, this

2008-02-28T18:24:00.000-08:00

I'm still here doing what I have been since Nov 2004.
Steve has been telling me to write this stuff down and well I should ,I need to, its funny.

things G has said lately, and starting with our drive home today from grandmas She and Nico woke up from sleeping for 2 hours in the car and they both seem refreshed. We are 5 minutes from the house and we pass a tunnel and she blurts out with enthusiasm "the Beef and I need tunnel costumes" this said as we are driving past a tunnel.

last week first thing in the morning out of no where she declares, " I need a monkey costume" then continues to blab about other non related stuff. Later that same day while she was getting out of the car from school she says, " I would like a carousel costume."

to sum it up I guess everything and anything should be a costume in G's world.

other stuff, well theres always the boob talk

"I can't wait to have boobs"
"I'm going to wear a bra in outer space"

and last night while laying down next to her in grandmas bed she wacks me in the chest and says " what happened where did your boob go? Sit up mom" and then some more can't wait for boobs talk.

ok and the cutest dam things Nico has been saying

"Ooooh Noooo" in a very strong minnesota accent

"horray"

and "bolin ball" for bowling ball obviously

The two of them have been getting closer and closer and its really sweet when G trys to teach him stuff or console him if he bumps his head. She really sees him as her friend and man I hope this continues. It is so hard to have your kids close in age during these young years, so so hard, but now and then I get a glimpse of what they might be like with each other down the road and its really worth it. So I do highly recommend it, I would even go as far as saying even closer in age than 19 months would be even better. Burn through those diaper and potty training years together.

potty woes

2008-02-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

yeah potty training sucks, lets all admit it, i try to be enthuiastic and there has been some good days but then theres days like today and yesterday and i feel like we are starting all over again. i needed to vent, i'm done

i have to add my own site to my links yet but for now its

http://www.lucymink.com/

this cheers me up, thanks Steve.

hanging out with Dad

2008-02-09T16:50:00.000-08:00

So after some bowling with Dad, G spent some time at home with him while I took Nico to the ER for a cough and turns out ear infection as well.

Anyway G took it upon herself to try and fit into her dollhouse, I'm very curious as to what her thoughts were before she tried to fit in. Nico tried to walk up the stairs once totally not understanding the scale of his foot to the dollhouse steps.

she finally made it thanks to photoshop

2008-02-07T17:12:00.000-08:00

G says thats me in the other Astronaut suit, yeah , I wish.

we have been sick sick around here for the past week as well, G had the worst cold I ever saw her have and I feel lousy and Nico is hacking and slightly feverish, We are shooting for complete recovery by monday I hope, our plans to go to Grandmas were postponed and I could use some sunlight.

hot dreams

2008-01-29T18:19:00.000-08:00

http://www.skutt.com/products/km-1018-3.html

okay I know this is not romantic but the above link is the kiln I want someday, and I love looking at it lately, It brings me back to the thrill of working in clay and porcelain especially and being able to fire it up myself, I know Schneider understands where I'm at with this, Its really amazing the whole process, I remember fondly peeking into the kiln when the temperature would get down to a reasonable degree and just being so excited to see the results. Maybe its the cold weather and how I loved firing the kiln at work on colder days and having the art room get all toasty warm, not to mention the smell. there will be a time, for now I have the link to gawk at, and maybe soon some classes downtown at a local ceramic studio.

If we ever do have this in our garage I'm going to have to make sure G does not think its some sort of rocket or portal to Saturn.

ripping the rack

2008-01-28T17:22:00.000-08:00

So we took the Beef and G bowling, and it was a cool, they both loved it, G especially was really excited and Nico was into it, but did get tired and we had to roll for him towards the end. it was entertaining to say the least, I never saw a ball roll so slow down a lane in my life, doesn't matter it was a good time. okay it really was great to see G pick up this big bubblegum pink ball with her little legs and goofy sneakers, we will video tape next time, I had a hard time getting good pictures, the dam camera delay thing.

Also I can't help myself lately I keep thinking about kilns and working in porcelain again, I hope we can get a kiln in our garage eventually, I think I want my next sculpture work to be a sort of combination of porcelain and softer stuff.

birthday wishes to Blix, Stella, Georgia, Katie B, Dave S, and Cory

costumes

2008-01-23T19:35:00.000-08:00

So G wants a power ranger costume and I'm having trouble finding the pink one in the smallest size, it all started because of these 3 boys we get together with for playdates that wear their power ranger costumes, often, its so dam cute, I think G as a super hero type is a new thing for her, I do like the silver power ranger myself and she could pretend its an astranaut costume as well, at least it doesn't have fake muscles. fake muscles on G would be very surreal, Nico would like it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZKRDR8/ref=nosim/?tag=nextag-apparel-tier1-20&creative=380333&creativeASIN=B000ZKRDR8&linkCode=asn

today was cold

2008-01-20T17:33:00.000-08:00

we mostly stayed in and Steve made tiny pie crusts and pudding pies with the kids, it was really great, It all started because Nico really wanted the flour canister and the flour.

And theres G's new haircut, short and layered and it really goes with her face and petite body, She still looks very much like a girl and although she still wears hats shes not constantly wearing them.

Steve commented on how much he thinks she really looks like grandma mink, my mom.

G quotes

2008-01-15T17:36:00.000-08:00

G has this thing lately where she says the playroom is the moon and she wants the light off and the tunnel/space shuttle set up, ok and then she takes a bunch of legos and blocks and spreads them around on the floor and says "I'm putting gravity on the ground"

Also we are on our 2nd day of wearing underwear in the house only and well we change them constantly but well it should hopefully get better. She is a bit confused about the idea of wearing one pair and trying to keep them dry still. She often puts extra pairs on and announces "I'm not going to pee I'm a big girl now." Now I explain as much as possible in simple terms about what it is her body needs to do and it seems to be mixed up at times when it relates to her but for some reason she thinks she could potty train anybody, including Nico. She actually explains to him in clear terms what to do and goes into detail about his bladder being full. She even likes to tell me while I'm using the bathroom "wow mom you made it you stayed dry."

you are cracking me up G but I hope you get the hang of this soon so we can actually try using a public bathroom someday, ohh joy that should go well, any suggestions for my strong willed very petite little G.

Nico is now 19 months old, the age G was when he was born. hes adding more words and crazy expressive sounds he likes to say "thumb" when I put on his mittens.

me, well I'm sleep deprived today and I wish I could catch up, sometimes I fantasize about sleeping until 11am again (has not happened since before G's birth), I'd settle for 9, its not so much that I want to sleep in its that I want to stay up late and if you stay up late you have to sleep in.

one more thing, everyday G announces how glad she is that uncle Joe got her an astronaut snowsuit.

just two more

2008-01-11T20:08:00.000-08:00

I love how in this painting one, all the painting is done at the bottom of the page, you really get a sense of her size.

the other one I love because the light outside and that the paper says "Nico" written by one of her teachers. She calls him her best friend.

Some pictures I did not take

2008-01-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

these pictures and a lot more that I have, well I just love seeing of Gianna, her teacher took them, and what I really love is that I was not there and well its evidence that she is fine at school most of the time with out me, shes having fun, she likes her teacher and just the whole deal. Before she started she was so attached to me and I couldn't imagine her letting go and not only getting through the 3 hours but actually loving it and the people. I figured she would eventually but you know how sometimes theres just this unknown feeling you have and even though you think positive, a little negative creeps in. I'm sure I'll go through this allover again when she leaves preschool for the k-8 school. ( For now she just asks me to tell her stories about starfish going to kindergarten, thats a 'whole nother' blog post.)

astronauts and flour

2008-01-01T18:46:00.001-08:00

So G loves her new tunnels that Santa brought and has decided its her rocket or space shuttle, she puts on her second hand silver snowsuit thats to big and the silver boots, hat and mittens and her ladybug backpack serves as the air tank. She then is an astronaut. She crawls into the tunnel and basically quietly lays in there asking me to do the countdown. Sometimes she brings a juice and some cereal. Nico is often welcome to come in and he crawls in and giggles and comes back out. She announces her trips to the moon or Saturn and then comes out upon returning.

Nico has taking a liking to screaming about being alone at bedtime and rocking is still not done. He will occasionally fall asleep for an hour only to begin screaming again. Mind you he is all smiles and rather energetic and happy in the daytime. he continues to be very affectionate, a good thing and I figure he just really doesn't want to be alone, ever. He presents a strong case for attachment parenting and I am giving him as much as I can but I need some down time before I go to bed and hes almost 19 months.

I set up my loom again, see this website for what kind of loom,
http://www.loopoftheloom.com/
a really great Japanese one I got years ago while teaching art.

okay heres the photos of the beef and G playing with flour, and G in her rocket

our little drummer boy and girl

2007-12-28T17:16:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and happy new year, sorry I didn't get a card out this year, I'll try for a valentines thing, maybe.

some jumping on the bed photos from today

2007-12-21T17:53:00.000-08:00

sorta angelic

I'm trying to get some good photos of the kids for a card and I'm not having an easy time of it. there will be a new years card eventually. I do love the sunlight that comes into my bedroom in the day.