beanski

leap for seven

My cousin Chris is having his 7th birthday today in 28 years. Bizarre to actually know someone that was born on Leap Day. What are the odds? Like 1/4 of 1/365? You figure that out and get back to me. I'm counting on you, my dorky husband who CHOSE mathematics as a MAJOR in college. Kind of weird though if you think of it because which day do you celebrate your birthday on the 3 years out of 4 that aren't in a Leap year? February 28th? March 1st? March 1st is in a whole different month. That doesn't sound right. Is he 7 today or 28? It boggles my mind.

Happy Leap day to all you chumps out there that need an excuse to put a Happy in front of something...really, I'm surprised the consumer-driven department stores haven't latched on and started selling commericial products for Leap Year. I wonder what they would sell. Anyone have any good ideas? Perhaps the day is finally here and I have stumbled upon my MMDI (multi-million dollar idea) while writing a pointless post about Leap Year.

I don't have a picture of Chris so this will have to do. Someday I will travel to the Alaskan tundra to go halibut fishing with you, Chris. And I will bring Renee. She will like to eat those big white fishies too. Renee is saying, "All I have to say is Happy Birthday to my cousin Chris whom I've never met but I have nothing but kind words for." No more questions please. My name is Jack Nicholson and I wear sunglasses indoors all of the time. Just because I am THAT cool.

karma

I'm a big believer in karma. People who steal deserve to be stolen from. People who cause harm to others deserve to go to prison and be tortured by the other inmates. I believe you should be a good person and karma will repay you with luck and good fortune. So remember when I said that Renee hasn't been sick much this year and I called in sick on Friday to get her pictures taken? Karma woke me up on Saturday night and kicked me in the butt. Karma is no longer my friend. Karma is supposed to punish other people. Renee was rolling around acting all uncomfortable in the middle of the night on Saturday night and when I touched her head, I knew she had a fever. All day yesterday was spent trying to keep the fever down. Four to five hours after I gave her tylenol she would be BURNING up again. This morning her fever was 103. Under her arm. She's totally out of it and just wants to be snuggled. Poor little one. So I'm home today because I couldn't in good conscience send her to daycare when she's feeling like crap. How would you like to have eight little kids screaming in your face all day when you're sick? Seriously, that is my own personal version of hell.

Speaking of my buddy karma, hopefully she isn't at play for the crap that is going on at work. I know I have hated many a job and spent a lot of my professional working years complaining about jobs and about working in general. But I actually like my current job. And as of right now, I don't know if I'll have it past March 21st. The scariest part about all of this is that we live in a town where there aren't very many technical jobs out there and if they're there, they don't pay as well as mine or they aren't as flexible as mine. Ski always calls me his sugar mama because I make more money. If I lose my job, will we have to move? Where will we go? So many questions and so many fears.

Karma, throw me a bone here. I solemnly swear to never again lie about being sick to get a day off to get my kid's picture taken or to call my job a total waste of time (even though it usually is). I promise. Pinky swear. Will you please forgive me and be my friend again?

the kitties

I had spent the 15 minutes prior to these pictures jumping up and down, giggling, singing The Wheels on the Bus and Pattycake and The ABCs trying to get her to crack a smile. I would have settled for a little grin. And in walked Simon. Figures.

sledding

My whole extended family met up north at my parent's house to celebrate my mom's birthday last weekend. The weather cooperated so we took the kids sledding. Griff didn't last very long because he apparently doesn't like mittens on his hands and they therefore ended up a touch on the cold side. Charlie had a blast. He raced Daddy and Mommy and Papa and Auntie Gina and Uncle Michael and Uncle Taber and he beat them all. Just ask him. Papa even taught him how to go face first. Sarah and Renee slept through the whole thing. Next year.

Mommy: Griffin, let me put these mittens on. Your hands will be warmer.
Griffin: Umm, what? I don't get it. Let's go inside.

Weeeeeeee!

Let's go REALLY fast, Dad!

Ahh...I love this one.

So serious. The race is in a dead heat. I must will this sled to go faster.
 

sick of being sick

Everyone warned me that the little germ bag would bring home every virus known to man from daycare in her first year but COME ON, this is getting ridiculous. One of us has been sick at pretty much all times since December. The ironic thing is that Renee hasn't been sick very much (thank God). Mostly just Ski and I. Ski was sick for like two straight weeks and kept us all awake all night with his incessant coughing. Then, I caught the cold of colds over the weekend and now in addition to the raspy cough and the perpetually runny nose, I am starting to exhibit flu-like symptoms. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and threw up. Out of nowhere. Then some idiot called our house at 3AM and woke Renee up and it took me like an hour to get her back to sleep. Every time she got close, I had to cough and it woke her back up. GRRRR.

I had to go to work today despite my ill status because I'm taking Friday off to get her six-month (umm, or almost eight-month) pictures taken. See, I'm a good mom. Two-months late is about as good as I hope for these days. I've had the appointment for over a month though and I'm EXCITED to have a real photographer that knows what they're doing take some pictures of the little Monster. I'm also nervous that I'm going to spend a fortune and end up with a bunch of pictures I don't like. Do any of you have any tips on what to have her wear? I'm thinking dresses might be out because she can really only sit up and dresses look funny on babies unless they are standing. Jeans? Just a diaper? Solids or patterns? Pastels or brights? I've never done this before!

my first valentine

splish splash

When Mother Nature gives you FIFTY degrees below zero with FIFTY mile per hour winds, I say turn the temp down in the hot tub and take the kids swimming!

I have an irrational obsession with little baby girl swimsuits. I almost died when I saw this one my mom brought home from Aruba. I could hardly wait until the moment came when I could put it on her. The moment is here, folks.

The Chunkies - My sisters called me Bubble Butt and Thunder Thighs when I was little. Hell, they still call me that..unfortunately, I think Renee inherited the Peterson genes on this one. Thanks a lot, Dad.

Sensory overload. Can't process data. Where am I and what are you doing to me?

Sweet, I get it. This is like a giant bath tub. SPLISH SPLASH I was taking a bath on about a Saturday night! She loved it. She also loves when I sing her that song that I'm not even sure I know the words to. I'm totally shameless when it comes to making her laugh.

Griffin zooming around with his boat

How cute is he?

WEEEE...this is FUN!

My sister's exact words were: If you put a picture of me in a swimsuit on the Internet, I will hunt you down and kill you. Let's see if she means it.

Auntie, you're FUNNY.

And Rama (AKA Dabbie) too.

Thanks to Annie for letting us invade her house and to my mom for coming along. She saved us. Traveling in those frigid temperatures would have been a nightmare if I had been alone. I didn't dare to take Renee out of the car. Or to shut the car off. I would have had to pee in my Nalgene bottle. Thank God my mom didn't make me resort to that because I am not overly confident in my aim. There was a time, yes, when squatting at the shack in the snow was one of my many talents but alas that time has passed. Thank heavens.          

happy birthday, rama!

We love you!!!

busted

"No Auntie, I swear, I wasn't going anywhere. Anywhere at all. I was staying upstairs. Right where I was SUPPOSED to be. See, I can smile all cute and sweet for your camera and you will forget about all of my transgressions." I don't call him my Little Stink for nothing.

superbowl and other stuff

On the Superbowl

To Bill Belichick - walking off the field before the final down of the game outraged me. Dude, you're a big boy, take the loss like a man. Wonder Boy (aka Deadbeat Dad aka Mr. Roboto) couldn't get the job done. Oh and by the way your short-sleeved hoodie is a disgrace.

The Superbowl commercials were hands down the worst I've ever seen. L-A-M-E. Taking animals and babies...hasn't this been done before?

Thanks to Linz for hosting the party and for making that addictive Buffalo Chicken dip with Fritos. I still have the heartburn but it was so worth it.

My apologies go out to Amy as I know she's a Patriots fan. I'm just not. I don't really like the Giants either. Or really any New York/Boston team for that matter.

On the weekend

The in-laws came to town and Ski and I actually saw a movie...IN THE THEATER. At full volume. We saw Juno. I was blown away.

We also went for more than one glass of wine at Bellesio's after the angel went to bed. Oh how I wish one of our families lived closer so that there is a possibility this all might happen again before 2009.