Hey there. I seem to be able to manage one yearly check in, so here it goes.
We're doing well...the days seem to be similar in content, but I guess with three kids that is how it goes. We are enjoying summer, Eleanor is much more of a toddler than a baby and gets in to everything. She is kind of nuts but a good baby. Bigs are up to their hijinx, alternately trying to murderate each other or playing nicely, always enjoying the reading, etc. I am still working for my political office although more sparsely. Now, YOU in a nutshell if you don't mind.

And sorry to just drop in!

Hi all. Mostly new faces here!

So, I had a new baby and I thought you guys who may remember me would want to know. She is real cute. Baby number three! I am crazy, I know. 12 weeks already.

Here's a few pictures of my wee one.

we are doing the orlando area in may and i really simply cannot just do disney again. truly. lay it on me, what's fun and nature oriented in the area?

forget what i posted, it was too mean.

oops double post

just ranting. just hating mcmansions today and wishing that poor people had enough to eat and a sense of security and a solid roof over their heads no matter what...seems completely absurd that we can't manage that when 5% own 95% of the wealth. ok, done.

so this lady was on the radio bitching about having to give at the holidays, how everyone makes her feel like crap about not giving (she does not donate to anything for any reason)-citing that she was POOR. she was too POOR to give even five dollars, that it was a real hit to HER family, etc...and the host was commiserating, saying "everyone does what they can" etc...until she reveals her salary as 60K a year. in cleveland ohio (believe me, i know there is a huge difference across our country. i would say that would equal at least double in NYC or LA). now, i don't say this is a fortune, or enough to retire, but isn't that enough to not consider yourself Poor? it rubbed me so the wrong way.

i want a balled tree but we can't get it til xmas eve in that case...i have always had an artificial tree b/c i hate the thought of killing a tree, but i miss the smell. what do you guys do? anyone had luck with a balled tree that you kept in the house for more than 3 weeks??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGZ9aWBWLUU

I have waited forever for someone to post this on Youtube. sigh. I used to be SO sad for the n and so happy at the end.

so at PTA last night (which i worked setting up the dinner and then SERVING it all, so do get some brownie points there??) we had a door prize raffle. so there sits a beautiful red crate and barrel french press. i have been wanting one for ages and, ironically, our coffee pot broke yesterday. so dd's name gets called and she picks a .49c necklace. so me, worst mom ever, connives and wheedles for her to go trade it in for the french press!! i am such an ass. but damn, my coffee is good this morning. anyways, i promised a necklace making event on saturday with her best bud.

i can't find it and it's our only line.

http://www.slate.com/id/2153364

Who would you vote for?

For me the choice is clear, i love Barak Obama. I think he has the stuff it takes to unite the center to the left which is what we need.

As a feminist it hurts me to say that i do not trust H. C. I think she is a true and total politician. However, I would vote for her if she was the only choice left. I just always hoped that when it was the first woman president that I'd be so excited and ready to campaign.

http://www.uakron.edu/centers/conflict/docs/whitepriv.pdf

I need a last minute easy to make costume for dh and me. Any ideas?
I know I haven't been around. How rude to just pop up and demand your creative ideas! I'll trade you a good recipe.

I'm thinking frankenstien and bride of, or pirate and wench...but ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzz

gigi, would you be so mad if we jocked frida? but what is a diego rivera costume???

i already made lentil, so not that. c'mon women. lay it on me.

we are very very seriously considering having number 3. i will be 36 in january. is that too old? is it totally hard to have 3 kids? are we insane?

we are both excited about the idea.

He sent me the link to this article.

http://www.internetwritingjournal.com/aug06/paesel.htm

Gotta love 'em sometimes.

Anyone need an exersaucer? Free for the picking up.

1. hi guys! you guys are on my list today. haven't been around in ages but i know you still love me.
2. in laws. i focus all my energy on how much i don't like them, but i wouldn't have my dh and beautiful kids without them.
3. fall! it's coming. love it. have been baking. is good.
4. my stripey mug that i bought just for me and my 4 aquamarine drinking glasses. i never splurge. love these items!
5. tea tree oil. need i say more?
6. coffee. always. with cream.
7. having enough "points" left for potato pancakes and cabbage and beer at oktoberfest tonight.
8. sun peeking thru clouds after six days of gloom

should a new vaccuum make me this happy? there is something so wrong with my life. i have been manically running about getting ceiling cobwebs and remarking on extra special suction action on the low pile for 3 hours. somebody please help me.

just wanted to say it to the world. they are funny and sunny and intelligent and so inquisitive. they play really well together considering their age difference, and play a funny game where my little ds is big dd's mother and he calls her "sweetie pie" in a high falsetto, and makes her pretend cupcakes. they smile most of the day, and when they whine (which they also do part of every day) they get over it pretty quickly. they love music and dominoes and art and whole wheat spaghetti and getting filthy...they are my superstars.

please someone post about a happy childhood b/c mine was kind of sucky and a lot of my friends' were pretty sucky too and i am worried that i have no chance at giving my kids a great life to look back on. it seems very much like we're crafting a happy life right now, but then i worry...does it all just go to shit at some point? i would be so edified by some stories of people who adored their child/teenhoods (especially that part) and who look back fondly on that part of their lives. and what was done right to make that happen.

Thanks mamas.

If you leave them unattended they just grow bigger and more ridiculous in your subconcious, and when they re-surface they are a big old friendly monster...something worthy to rassle.

Mamas, i need your vibes to rassle my idea monster. I need the inner strength to finally follow through on something. I can't tell you guys what it is for a long time b/c that will make it all go away. But I need LONG term mama success vibes from you all. I know how good you are at this.

one of you people introduced him to me and i think it might kill me. i might die from too much feeling. we have been listening to him for the past four months or so and he's just so moving.

any more killers out there? i have a large list m'self. i'm not getting more reslilent to my emotions with age and music is the thing that can just flay me open. believe it or not i consider this a good thing.

d.k's response that mentioned her bro and the 70's got me with that wave of sense memory...you guys know, when smells and sounds and feeligns just wash over you like a bittersweet ocean wave? I was a little kid in the 70's, so it's all awash in that "stand my me" sepia tone...

i'm thinking of the giant radio cabinet that my best friend's family had that housed a wicked 8 track player and turntable...listening illicitly to her big brother's kiss and rush albums...my knee socks and roller skates (practically a uniform), short shorts b/c that's all there were, feathered hair and bubble gum when it was really good...like fully leaded bubble yum...