thoughts

Today I was thinking about a place I once was a few years back. I haven't ever felt like the way I did today about it. I always used to think I was cool because I had been to this place. I was driving down 100 reminiscing about that time and feeling my confidence build--"I was so cool". Anyway, I was thinking about how my car model wasn't even in existence back then. I felt my coolness melt away some.:) The coolness of course gaged by myself only. Time flies, life is so much better now than it was back then, but I couldn't have gotten to where I am today without going through all I did. It's amazing how much I learned and grew when I lived in the city. I was there for barely 3 months but I learned things that probably would have taken more many years to learn anywhere else. I grew up very fast. ANYWAY!(this was written wednesday 8/15)

Asa turned 2 on Sunday! We had a fun little family party I will post pictures soon.

Yesterday I drove past Cheyney University(which I basically pass when ever I drive anywhere west of here.) and noticed the overflow parking lot was full of trailers trucks and a huge tent....not to mention a huge tent. Usually there is about 5 cars in the big open lot. So it made me pretty curious. Today I drove by it again and saw even more cars and lots of people walking around. I saw a sign that read "Extras Parking" with an arrow. I figured it must be a movie...then the trailers made sense. So when I passed the scene yet again on my way home I saw a huge catering truck from California "Tony's" pull out in front of me with a paper on the dash that looked like a computer print out of a tree and the name "The Happening". Pretty exciting that it was happening literally 5 minutes from my house! WOO HOO! YAY

VBS is over

What a crazy good week that was. Lots of driving and getting up early, but very worth it. We had a great time, Tyler learned so many new songs and even practiced the hand motions in the car every day on our way to the church. I think I took some pictures: I'll post them when I get my reader and batteries charged. The theme for VBS was Avalanche Ranch, a wild ride through God's word. It was really cute. I didn't have a crew like I thought I would but I tried to stay busy helping other people. Asa actually participated in a few classes, so that was nice. It was fun getting to know people better seeing them every day all week.


Mark and I also celebrated year no. 3 last Tuesday. We didn't do much, in fact we did nothing. Mark did buy me an amazingly beautiful hot air balloon Hummingbird feeder. It was nothing I would've ever expected, but I loved it. Then he explained that the third anniversary is glass...and it meant even more to me!! He also got me a beautiful purple Lisianthus(sp) and a cactus planter with different cacti and succulants...very cool. I went out and got him a cool reading lamp with a glass shade. Then we went out for lunch on Sunday.....and that was fun :)

This week should be interesting....nothing much planned. Going to my aunts on Friday which should be nice, we're going to some farmer's market that I've been looking forward to visiting since she moved up to where she is and found it. Right now I have about 4 rooms of my tiny house to vaccuum fruity pebbles out of.

Asa is turning 2 this Sunday. We are going to have a small party for him at my parents. I really haven't planned much for it. Thank goodness mom likes to cook for crowds! I think I am going to go to party city and buy a few Nemo decorations.

Mark said he wants to go camping one weekend before the summer ends. I have to plan that too. We want to go to Elk Neck State Park, it's so much fun!

I better go vaccuum.

back

It's been a while since I've last posted because a lot has happened. We returned from our beach vacation. We bought a new car ~!! Oh and our computer crashed.


Thats of course the real reason I haven't written in a while. All is well though, we are all healthy except for a recovering double ear infection in Asa. Unfortunately he was sick throughout the vacation and let everyone know how he felt. The weather was wonderful, we all got very tan and had a very relaxing time.


The new car is awesome, it's a Honda Pilot and it's silver, we fit so well now. The friday before we left for Ocean City I was driving around doing last minute errands when my car started making a strange noise. I just started thinking about how I needed to make the long(ish) drive to the shore in it and then I started to think about how squished we would be. So I drove home and told Mark(who had the day off for school) that I would really love a new CRV. I asked him if we could run over to the Honda dealership and shop around just in case we see something to take on vacation. Well it was a crazy time but we did it! Then our trip to the beach was so LONG but comfortable. it took us 4.5 hours when it normally takes 1.5!!

Anyway we're home. Mark turned 30 last week and we surprised him with a family and close friend party at his parents. It went so nicely! After barely any notice so many of his childhood friends were able to make it for burgers and dogs and a great cake!

Tomorrow is the start of our church VBS. We have Tyler this week so it will be really nice. I am a crew leader(supposedly) but I might be doing other things instead. Hopefully Asa will do well. I am pretty excited, our church theme is Avalanche Ranch. The funny thing about that is almost every church with a VBS is doing the same theme...even in Ocean City!!

We're at my parents now after a nice church service and sunday school class. It's sunny and warm and we're probably going to swim.

The Joy of Peanut Butter

Ever since Asa turned one, and maybe even a little before, people around me have been moved to curiosity over why I won't let him have peanut butter. When I say peanut butter, I mean peanut butter crackers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and other candies with peanuts, or any foods with the nut it in. The reason I stayed away from it though, was because I was convinced that children should wait till they're three to have peanuts, especially if they have other allergies.

Until recently I stuck to my guns about it. Today I was feeding my nephew peanut butter on toast(one of his favorite foods) and I was feeling kind of weak as to how other people around me affect me so that I change my mind on things, basically just to please them. He certainly was loving the toast though. Asa made his way over to it as well, he grabbed a piece and smeared it on his face. I told him to put it back, and that it was not his.

He has had crackers in the past few weeks with PB in them at relatives(on both sides lol) homes. I kind of just let him have it as to not make me look crazy, and also to make other people happy. (Very sad, I know)

So after Luke is done his food and I am done cleaning up the mess, I notice that Asa's face is red super bumpy with his upper lip all swollen. I freak out! I grab him and hold him, he probably thinks I am crazy. I grab my purse and dump out all the millions of business cards from the pocket of my wallet. I search through them frantically yet come out empty handed. I run over to the phone book cabinet, my hands shaking wildly. I keep thinking his throat is going to close up I won't be able to do anything about it. I find the book, and the doctor's number and quickly dial it. A busy signal?! For a doctor's office? Something is not right! I set him down on the table while I run around in aimless circles trying to think of what it is I should do. I decide to call them back, and this time it ends up victorious. "May I speak to a Nurse, or Doctor please?" I say in my most calm and sweet/cheerful voice. What's wrong with me?! Am I afraid I'll offend the receptionist if I act more emotional? After what seemed like way too much time I was answered by a nurse. She told me to give him Benedryl, call and Allergist and that if he has any breathing problems to go and pick up the Epi-pen Jr she was about to call in for me. It seems so simple in one sentence, but it actually was complicated to get those directions when the boys were both screaming bloody murder at each other and I am getting a call on the other line blocking out her speech. I also realize I don't have enough medicine. After scribbling down some allergist's numbers and hoping I got them right(especially since I completely missed their names) I realized that I had to drag two almost-two -year-old boys into the car and down to the pharmacy. I call my hubby and start to cry.


I obviously survived the ordeal. Thank God Asa's reaction mellowed out and I was able to give him Benedryl and pick up his Epi Pen. He's sleeping right now, and I feel like doing the same.

The Moral of the story: Don't be easily moved from what you think is right, just to make other people happy, comfortable or even for your own appearance.

humidity

It's amazing how a beautiful sunny day with temperatures perfectly warm can be spoiled by high humidity. I have two little toddlers today instead of just one. Maybe that's also a reason why I am sweating. Luke got here around 6:45 am and although it was earlier than expected, I was happy to have such a spontaneous start to my day. I got most of my "chores" done while he was playing with cars and Asa was sleeping. It was nice because I had more time to play with them. They did this funny thing this morning; while I was taking socks off of Asa, Luke pulled his toes to his nose, sniffed and said "EW STINKY!!" Then Asa did it and they both started laughing hysterically. It was really cute. Later on they did something else, (I think it was another bodily odor) and Luke said " EW Yucky!" then Asa and he started laughing their heads off and saying "Ew, Stinky, Yucky". It just made me think about how inherently male or female we are made...without being taught.


Is it bad for me to be using other people's photo's on my blog? If so, I won't hesitate to stop. I just figured that since it's actually a link to the original site, I have sited it enough. (that was almost a pun) I am planning on going to Wissahickon again and taking pics myself to redeem myself. Wissahickon is actually part of Fairmount Park in the city limits of Philadelphia.

I have to go food shopping today. I really dislike food shopping. Asa is usually good company though--as odd as that may seem.

I better get back to tending the boys.
Lauren

Monday

Today is Monday, Asa and my "try to get work down" day. So far it hasn't been a very efficient day though. That's my fault.
So,big surprise, we went to Wissahickon again on Saturday. This time exploring new places and witnessing to car break-ins (after the fact). That was scary. We brought my brother John with us and hiked about 9 miles. I forgot to unload my camera so we didn't get any pictures :(

I got these pictures from the Internet, someones Flikr page, but these are some things we saw on our hike. The Indian is a Lenape and the bridge is the only covered bridge in any major city in our country(Wissahickon is in city limits).

Mark's car also broke down this weekend. I am so ready to trade it in. We need to get it fixed though and then try and sell it on our own so we can get more for it. We were looking at the a new Honda CR-V then some used Honda Pilots and a Toyota Highlander. I would prefer a larger car to a smaller one, but we'll see how it goes when we go shopping this week.

The fourth of July is coming up, two days away, and less then two weeks till our family vacation to the beach, I am so excited. I believe we are going to my parents for a BBQ on the fourth.
The weather has been absolutely amazing the past two days. Very comfortable and clear. The humidity is almost non-exist ant.

I am so upset. Our basement is gross. I don't even want to go down there. It's very moldy and there are these flying bugs down there--a bunch of them swarm the lights when I go down to get my laundry. I can't wait for these problems to be fixed, it's very disgusting. Hopefully the landlord will take it seriously.


Well Asa is doing well, yesterday he heard Tyler ask for drink and then he said "I...Have....Juice...mom?" I was very impressed :)Usually he just says "More Juice..please"


Well I am going to go now and make this inefficient day of mine do a 360 :)


Lauren

wifehood

It's interesting to think about how much our life has changed since I stopped working. Although I really liked my job, I couldn't imagine running this household while working outside of it! I don't know how I did it. Except things weren't as organized, and we weren't as happy. Sometimes people ask me if I am bored or unhappy staying at home with Asa full time, but I feel the complete opposite. I love being here with him and keeping the house in good order and having dinner ready for Mark when he gets home.
I remember in college a class I took about life, honestly I don't know what the point of it was. I do remember one class when we looked at how the history of women's jobs has changed in the past century. My class was all women students and the teacher was a middle-aged woman who was just finding herself after divorcing her husband, moving in with her new "lover",getting a tattoo and a "real" job. She was very nice, very sweet to everyone, but the class in particular about persuaded and thinking, "I can't believe what society expected of women---it was so degrading and unequal, to think that people lived to run a household only!" Even after having Asa I still wanted to keep working and having "worth" in this society, and more "equality" with my husband. (Although in my heart all I wanted to do was be with my baby all day). Little bits her point of view rubbed off on me and only recently have I written them off as false.

This job is so valid and important and challenging and rewarding and wonderful! I love it. I think it's equally important to making money outside the home. Some of the things in the past weren't great but history gets progressively better and more civilized, right? I guess I'll just try not to repeat the bad things.

I am honestly blessed not to HAVE to work outside the home. I know many women can't and that's just the way their lives turned out and that's ok but I feel that ultimately it's best for me to be here.

Anyway, we've had a busy 10 days swimming and having fun. Asa has really started to feel more independent when swimming, and potty training has been going well. Last Saturday we went back to Wissahickon and started at the North end, we walked about 3.5 miles before we had to head back. My birthday was on Sunday, I'm 23. We had a nice weekend celebrating and I feel so blessed to have so many loving people in my life. I believe we will be swimming again today, it's been in the high 90's the past couple days.