the big apple

Well, it's official. We're moving. Not to the big apple, but close by: to New Jersey. So it's a 45-min train ride to the big apple. Any takers? T got a great job offer with Verizon so off we go. We're not sure when we'll go, but most likely in the next month or so. And we'll be staying here for 6 months courtesy of Verizon. The extra bonus? A maid comes once a week. Sign me up. :) So meanwhile, we have to get our house all spic and span. Mulch, weeding, touch-up projects, refinishing the deck, restaining the fence. Fun times. So while I do that, Boozie gets to enjoy the plentitude of mud and his pool. He's a big fan.



(And for all of you who are wondering: no, we haven't cut his hair yet.)

Other updates: he stands! Mostly while he holds onto things, but we've caught him a few times standing all by himself for a few seconds at a time. Where's my baby going? He's going to pick up and walk away soon. Sad.

The Entertainment Book Curse

One evening when T and I were first married we went up to Ogden, Utah to see my cousin perform in a ballet recital. Afterward we decided to use our Entertainment Book because there were tons of coupons for restaurants in Ogden. It was about 9:00 so we figured some of them might be closed. We chose one and decided to call first to make sure they were still open. No answer. We were close to the next restaurant so we just drove to that one. Out of business. Called the next one. No answer. On and on until we eventually settled on a Denny's-like substitute. How pitiful.

Fast forward about 5 years to today. We want to use our Little Rock Entertainment Book so we pick out a sandwich shop close to our house and go online to look at their menu. After finally choosing our sandwiches, T drives over there only to find out it went out of business! We're jinxed. What is it with Entertainment Book restaurants and going out of business? The only thing I can think of is that they must be on their last leg and that is their last try at marketing. Sad luck for us, though.

busy busy

It's been forever since I posted here and there are a few reasons:
1) It's mid 70s here in Arkansas and Boozie and I are taking advantage by running, planting flowers, pruning, weeding, and throwing dirt.
2) I got a sewing machine for Christmas and I have discovered the sewing love. So far I've made 2 tiny skirts, a tiny tunic, and an even tinier diaper (small stuff requires less time and less fabric). So fun! (Don't look too close, Bean)




3) Boozie has discovered how to tear the house apart in 10 seconds or less. Every container is filled with toys, balls, travel shampoos, etc...

He talks!

In case you didn't know, I only speak Swedish to Boozie. I decided when I lived in Sweden and saw all these multilingual kids, that it's very beneficial for a baby to be exposed to 2 languages. That way, they just pick up both, no problem. When I was pregnant I asked T if he wanted to speak only Spanish to the little one. He said no. Okay. So I decided I'd speak Swedish (a very useful language if you're in Stockholm. And let's be honest, Swedes are completely fluent in English. They'd rather see their movies without voice overs and subtitles). So Boozie hears Swedish all day long.

So about 2 weeks ago he pulls off his sock and says, "Umpa" (ooompa). Strumpa is sock in Swedish. I was completely surprised and thought it might have just been a coincidence so in the midst of playing, I pulled of his sock and he said, "umpa". So while the English-speaking babies are saying ball, this Swedish-speaking baby is saying "umpa". How fab.

5 March is the Day

There's a house on our street that had their Christmas decorations up for months and months. It was our standing joke to see if it was still up and how long it would stay. About 3 weeks ago they finally took it all down but left it in heaps on their porch. So for the past 3 weeks, every morning when I get home from work I report to T, "Their decorations are still on their porch, in case you were wondering." Well, today was the day! CB and I were out delivering Children's Market Consignment Sale fliers and I saw someone on the porch putting the garlands, lights, ornaments, Christmas trees, etc... in Rubbermaid bins. What? I gave her a flier and she said, "Can I have 2? I actually don't live here but I'd like one and I'll give one to them too." So, apparently those neighbors are so busy that they had to hire someone to take down their Christmas decorations and today, 5 March, was the perfect day for it. I just had to laugh.

Another funny for your day: a school somewhere had some extra portable/trailers to sell off and someone listed one on ebay, hoping to get $10,000 for it. Little did they know that you have to list it with a reserve to sell it for a minimum price and it sold for $0.99! They are trying to resolve it but ebay said the sale is final. Unbelievable.

Magical Loaf

For all you vegetarians out there I just found the coolest thing ever! It's a magical meatloaf. T loooves meatloaf and was so sad to learn I would not be obliging his favorite meal. Until I found this. You can plug in what ingredients you like and it will make a recipe for you. I made a black bean, nutritional yeast, carrot, garlic, onion, s&p, sunflower seed, oatmeal, worcestshire sauce, soy flour loaf a few nights ago and it was delicious. T said, "Please, please make this again. Even though you never make anything again. Please?" Even Boozie liked it.

Hide-and-Seek

Boozie loves to play hide-and-seek. We will go and hide in another room behind something and say where's mama/papa a few times and he crawls around laughing until he finds us. He loves it and it's so funny. So yesterday I gave him a little card to play with. It's one of those annoying cards that goes on your key ring that you just have to have to get the discount at a store that everyone should get, in my opinion. But I digress, I couldn't find it after he was done and I searched under the couch, in baskets, etc... Then T searched but neither of us could find it. This morning Boozie was playing again on the ground by a stack of VHS tapes on the floor that are waiting to be sorted and donated. He picked up the top one, pulled out the VHS tape, and dumped out that little card! He must have put it there yesterday and then remembered it was in there today. Luckily he found it because I don't think I ever would've looked in the VHS tape cases. Maybe he just didn't want me to find it... :)