Two Priorities

Yesterday had 2 major elements:

1. Mom's birthday!
2. Eric's artist's lecture at the college!

We started off the morning by meeting up for a family birthday breakfast with my mother. Cordelia was so excited for my mother's birthday. I was afraid that she might be confused and think she would receive gifts, but she was just so happy to snuggle and hug her grandma. When we arrived at breakfast we couldn't help but notice that my mother had her celebration color on. She wears orange when she's happy. We ate our breakfast and read some of mom's birthday cards, it was nice and laid back.

After breakfast I dropped Eric off at the college to set up for his lecture. I took Cordelia to the dollar store to find some junky toys to entertain her through the duration of the lecture. I had intended to pop in and out of the store in 5 minutes or less, but one thing led to the next and finally we found ourselves in line behind a woman who had an entire shopping cart filled with shampoo---there was only one person manning the checkout line so we waited. We made our break 45 minutes later than expected and it was time to head up to the college.

Cordelia, all set up with snacks and junky toys to entertain her through the lecture.

Opening Slide for the lecture, also the name of his exhibit

We met my family there and settled in to watch the lecture. The crowd was so much bigger than anticipated, it was awesome! Eric did a great job and the whole thing went down without a hitch. Cordelia was perfectly well-behaved; she is almost always well-behaved, but sometimes she gets chatty and she was silent and sweet through the hour long lecture.

Eric is looking over his notes as people begin to file in.

After the lecture Eric stayed behind to chat with the folks who remained while Cordelia went home for a nap. I prepped for my class that night and set up for mom's birthday as Cordelia rested. I hung the bunting and other birthday decorations, frosted the cupcakes and set everything up.

Later in the afternoon my parents came over for cupcakes and present opening. Lovely time all around.

The birthday girl

Cordelia and my father

Later I went back to the college to teach my class while Eric and Cordelia enjoyed some father/daughter time. When class was done the snow had begun to fall. I stood in the parking lot for a moment and just watched, taking it all in, letting the snow fall on my cheeks and tongue for a minute. Then I was afraid my students may see me so I quickly hurried to the car, trying to look professional.

I drove home slowly, watching the snow fall in a glittering rain, it was beautiful. Finally I was home. I was greeted by my husband, sweet girl and the squeaky whines of my basset houndfriend. It was just one of those really full and fulfilling days.

Crab-walking Lessons, Little Hats, Real and Imaginary Food

We are enjoying family time this week. My whole family is together! Yesterday the crew came over to my house for lunch only Eric was absent as he had to work.

We ate lunch and then Cordelia took whomever was willing to join her up to her bedroom and put fancy hats on them and enjoyed a tea party (with imaginary tea and cookies).


Ben, teaching Cordelia to crab-walk


My dad, just wearing a little flowered hat


Sara, wearing the highest honor, the sparkle hat


Sam, who has been to many many tea parties, opted to feign sleep.


My mom was crocheting while the party was going down.

Later Eric and I finished up some Christmas shopping and then met my siblings and sister-in-law for dinner. My parents hung out with Cordelia and the dogs.

What are you up to? Spending time with friends and family?

Embarrassed...Meh

Are you ever asked what your most embarrassing moment is?I get that question asked pretty frequently. Perhaps people just assume that I have many of them. Well, the assumption is well founded. I have so many embarrassing moments that I generally forget to even be embarrassed at this point.


Recently I did have one that put me over the edge. I was having lunch with my parents at the church (remember my dad is a pastor). Anyway, we were all hanging in his office. I let out a belch...one of my hidden talents is my ability to shake the earth with my burping (you've probably felt it at some point). I did it without thinking. My mother said she didn't even realize it had happened (because I do it so often). My daughter was asleep and slept through it because she is so used to it.

Then I looked up and there was a parishioner in the back office, he was doing some office work, not expecting to be assaulted with an earth moving burp. Seriously I think I probably interfered with the rotation of the earth. We made eye contact. There was no way that he hadn't heard it. He probably even felt the power blast. He didn't say anything, just kind of hurried out probably headed to the doctor to check his hearing. I just laughed. My dad laughed. My mother who hadn't registered the burp just looked around confused.

So I wasn't really embarrassed, but it was noteworthy. I suppose a more dignified person would probably be mortified, but here I am sharing it with you...

Care to hear some more of my embarrassing moments? Click here

My New Obsession

Last week I was over visiting with my mother. She was working on an adorable crocheted hat for a friend. She put a crochet needle and some yarn in my hands (talk about an enabler). One thing led to another and before I knew it I had fallen into a crocheted vortex. I have been crocheting hats like a woman possessed----think mashed potato Devil's Tower from Close Encounters of the 4th Kind, but not really.



I have been crocheting on the couch, in bed, in the car, at the table, while baking, while entertaining company...it's kinda weird.



What do I have to show for this weird effort? A lot of hats...my mother and I are hoping to sell them here in town, online, and perhaps at a craft fair. There are big hats, little hats, boy hats, girl hats, hats with ears, faces, bows, flowers, etc.

What is your obsession?

Embarrassing Moments

Do you know what people say when you do something really embarrassing? They say, "No one will even remember it next week." Well, that is a lie. Don't believe me? Just ask your spouse or best friend what they think was your most embarrassing moment. They will rattle off a long list of moments that you may have forgotten. I did that last night and Eric easily rattled off a list of glorious moments like..

• Jumping off the diving board. Not one particular moment, just generally.
• That time I was 8 months pregnant and cut the cheese in Target.
• The time I was feeling super hot and fell, once again in Target.
• My seventh grade yearbook photo...that's a story for another day.
• My entire junior high basketball career.
• The time I fell flat on my face in front of my dorm.
  

Well, I do in fact have a very long list of embarrassing moments and those listed above don't even scratch the surface. The thing is I am not really embarrassed by them anymore. More than anything I am happy to have been in those ridiculous situations, making myself and others laugh for years to come. I don't know about you, but I think I am far more defined by my most ridiculous moments than my most graceful, but maybe that's just because the embarrassing moments are in far greater supply.

What are some of your most embarrassing moments?