Sol good

We were up early. I was determined to be on time. Snow and ice has been making it tough. I was out shoveling, Jim was in the shower. Willa was going to be on track. I did, in fact rock! I was so excited about not feeling anxious and rushed on the way to work.
And then it came time to find my keys. The ones I just used to get the snowbrush out of my car. Lost. Probably in a snowbank. Growl.
I drove to Willa to daycare practically in tears, I felt so defeated. The 30 minute key search ate up all of the time we gained by waking up early.
Willa and I walked in and her friend greeted her by name, and hugged her. And it made me so darn happy.
And the sun was shining. Sigh. Better.
Maybe it will melt a key collection sized hole in the snow?

Goodnight Willa

"In the great green room, there was a..."

"Telephone."

"And a red..."

"ooo-loon."

"And a picture -"

"COW"

"of a... of a..."

"COW."

"Jumping over the..."

"moon."



We read Goodnight Moon every night, and Willa finishes every phrase. Adorability factor? High.

Our little exhibitionist

We were in Muskegon on Saturday for a Polar plunge fundraising event for Jim's organization. Willa and I went outside and watched 20 of the 70 participants jump into the lake, via a hole cut out of the ice.
It was too cold to stay out, so we went back inside. Willa took off her coat, sat down and started to eat her graham cracker. Then she set it down and started taking of her shirt.
"Willa! What are you doing?" I asked.
"Jump innda water, mama."

Later we were out for dinner. Willa and I were just coming back from the bathroom, where she successfully used the facilities. However, her diaper was wet, I didn't have a back up, and we were leaving in a minute, so I threw it away. It must have felt kind of weird to her to go diaper-less. As we weaved through the tables, I noticed Willa walking funny.
Because her pants were around her knees after she pulled them down to show daddy she wasn't wearing a diaper.

New totally radical trick

Just when I thought it was already tough to get Willa down for naps at home...

She has learned how to climb out of her crib. She's been testing for a while. Today, I was happily enjoying some time dreaming of kitchen backsplash ideas, when I hear toddler sized fingers prying open her door. When I got up to check on her, she was walking towards me holding her baby, stuffed Grover and Ernie, a bunny, and a sippy cup.

It took us 3 hours and several tantrums to get her to nap.

We. Are. Doomed.

Cousin pals

We needed provisions, and some air

I know!! 2 sinkis in one day! It's like the blog equal of leap year!

Last night after the majority of our 8+ inches fell, Jim, Willa, and I made the journey to our local grocery store for garbage bags and potatoes. We are but simple folk.
Willa enjoyed her sled ride down the street, around the corner and 2 blocks to the store. The cashier looked confused at our sled in the shopping cart, but understood when she saw Willa bundled up. "I've never seen that before... That's funny."

Might be time to put away the Amy Winehouse* CD

Willa and I have been listening to the first song every morning, not so much for lyrics, but for the strong, fun, funk/soul sounds.
Willa has started to sing along with the "no, no, no" part of her song rehab.
"They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said 'no, no, no'"
Time to get out some good ol' fashioned Aretha Franklin.



*Amy Winehouse: mess of a person, with substantial singing talent.

Groundhog wrapup

Groundhog's Day was on Saturday. Phil, of the Punxsutawney Phils, came out of his hole, saw his shadow (and a bunch of guys in top hats), and scurried back into his warm burrow. Thus damning us to 6 more weeks of winter.
However, check out Phil's competition in Howell, MI. I am dedicated to Phil. But I turn my head to the window and see that 5 of the 6 - 12" of snow predicted for today has arrived. So this year? My love goes to Woody who is a local, anyhow.
The sinki's hosted our 4th annual Groundhog's Day party on Saturday. We were charmed by friends and family stopping by with wonderful food and a fun time. My mom brought bling. My Grandpa was there. Our living room is small, and my anxiety lessened as people explored the basement - now labeled as a totally cool guy basement by one party goer. It was a fun party, and there are photos. Which darling Jim has in his computer but not publicly available yet.

Ceiling of Butterfly Garden entry at Detroit Zoo

I forgot to safety pin the zipper

"I love our daughter so much. Come in here, you have to see this, " said Jim while chortling (I'm pretty sure that was a chortle).
She was in her crib. Sound asleep. Stark naked.
Diaper on the floor. Sleeper at her feet, one foot still in.

blips I want to remember

Yesterday Willa and I entered her room at daycare. She unzipped her coat, handed it to me, and ran to sit with her friends for story time. She still had her fuzzy winter monkey hat on.

Lately when I peek in on her before going to bed myself, I find her baby doll (my old Cabbage Patch that she's adopted) lying on her belly on Willa's pillow. The doll is covered by a carefully placed, wrinkle free, all edges extended (fairly certain Willa will have OCD) baby blanket that we borrowed from the hospital to give our dogs a new sniff of newborn Willa. Willa's head is always on the far corner of her pillow. Last night I heard her talking to her doll while she was covering her up. "Night night, baby. See you 'omorrow..."

Bleeding, sad heart.

Denial: The initial stage: "It can't be happening."
Anger: "Why me? It's not fair."
Bargaining: "Just let me live to see my children graduate."
Depression: "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"
Acceptance: "It's going to be OK."

I went through all of the 5 stages of grief rapid fire yesterday while reading the news. You may have noticed there was no Sinki yesterday. I suspect I'm going through them again today...

I am a politics geek. You know this. I know this. While Jim and I were dating, a hot night consisted of watching a few episodes of "The West Wing" on DVD. I know. Geek. It is my own personal freak flag to fly.

So, you all know I [insert thoughtful metaphor of my firm belief in/jr. high school girl crush here] John Edwards.

And perhaps you've heard he's out of the race as of yesterday. Go and read his speech - and then sit and be sad for a moment with me - if you agree - for he would have been a great person to lead our country.

He has a vision of America that I share, and an energy and plan to try to transform this wonderful country into that vision.

Right now folks, America is like a puppy who has had too many accidents in the house, who drags your underwear out of the bedroom just as company shows up, a puppy who yaps and yaps and yaps... at nothing. The puppy can grow to be strong and smart and loyal, and can learn that peeing on the kitchen floor is just not acceptable. With the right guidance.

Who do I want holding the leash now? I've got some work to do in terms of familiarizing myself with the other options.

BUT - in his speech Edwards says:
"Today, I am suspending my campaign for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency. "
And the bargaining part of me considers the implications of the word "suspending."

Greg Brown is one of my favorite musicians. "I Want My Country Back" is a song that made me cry the first oh... 20 times I heard it. Click here to see a video of him singing it live.

I love this country. I just wish it would stop chewing up my shoes.

Taking storage to a whole new level

Like my mom (in the form of anon.) hinted at, someone thought the new corner cabinet was her new play fort. For 3 days we let her play in it and, because she was recovering from stomach flu, we let her eat dinner in there one night too. I didn't care - she was eating, AND keeping it down!

Consequently, as my mom suggested, someone was upset when the pots and pans went in the cabinet, and her fort was no more; throw herself on the floor wailing upset. Here are photos from happier days.

Kitchen

Kitchen transformation 2008 continues to push on. As we speak a plumber is in our basement making the sink relocation happen. All of the lower cabinets are in and the countertop is laid out, though not secured. Pots and pans and other cooking things came out of the totes and into their new homes last night. The microwave and stove are able to be used. Photos to follow.

Preference

After a bath, Willa and I snuggled under the covers to read through what was becoming her favorite books. We got through 1/2 of the first and she got up, said "be right back," slid off the bed, and returned a few moments later with a book from the living room. Might be time to rotate the pile.

Numbers and Names

Willa counts. She skips one and continues in this manner: "Two. Free. 'our. Five. Six. 'even. Six. 'even." The six seven thing goes on for a while. She might really be starting to understand the concept of counting (she'll point to a birds in a book and say the words one by one). She knows the concept of two, which impresses me. Who am I kidding, the smell of her socks at night impresses me.... Anyhow, yesterday she handed Jim the content of what she had been carrying and said, "two balloons." Correct.

Last night on the drive home, I called Willa by her first and last name. She giggled and repeated it (which sounded adorable, by the way). Then I said "Arlo [last name which isn't really Sinki]" and she giggled and repeated it and said, "Greta...." and waited for me to finish which I did and she giggled. Then she said, "Daddy [last name]" and the same with mama, and laughed and laughed.
I told her we all shared that name because we're in one family. Which was also very funny to her.
It will be interesting when she learns that MaKenna's middle name is our last name. I've already been crafting a story about how Lisa and Ken stole MaKenna from our family before she was born.

Sluggish, sick, alone time

The economy and I aren't feeling well lately. The Feds cut interest rates today. I went to bed at 9:30 last night.
The Feds and I both hope that these unusual measures help give the economy and my body a boost.
Willa brought home from daycare last week a charming art piece composed of tissue paper glued on to a paper plate. She also brought home a stomach bug. This kept her home from daycare for 4 days. And then Jim got it. I believe I've mentioned here that he's kind of a baby when he's ill.
So. I don't think it's the bug that's got me down, but exhaustion, and just a general wearing down.
I've been daydreaming about having an afternoon to myself.
Before I landed this job, I spent some time making coffee for people in a bookstore. Often we'd have regulars who would come in, get their mocha, pull their book out of a canvas sack, find a comfy chair and spend an hour or two reading. I often wondered why they didn't do this at home.
Now I'm thinking about packing my own canvas bag with a warm blanket and my own book.
Moms, what do you do with your well earned "alone time?" How do you carve that out from the rest of your daily responsibilities?

Pillow talk

Arlo, Willa, and Greta

"I think Arlo's drink would be bourbon."

"Bourbon?"

"Yeah, like a chilled out old man drink."

"I think Greta would drink cosmopolitans."

"No... that's for fancy schmancy, 'I'm trying to impress you' dogs, like poodles."

"hm."

"I think Greta would go to U of M."

"I don't want her to go there! Too pretentious. I think she's more MSU."

"Arlo, would totally go out of state. Northwestern, I think."

"I was just going to say University of Chicago!"



We paused, looked at each other and laughed while turning off the bedside lights.

Clearly we have differing opinions on Greta's disposition, though.



It was a long week.

All George Michael, all the time...

We do not have cable television.
If it were up to me, we wouldn't even have a television, and I'd have to wean myself off of some favorite shows.
Anyhow, we don't even have CBS. I don't know, it just doesn't show up.
BUT! Sometime in the past 3-6 months a new channel has arrived. It seems like it is a time warp to 1980's MTV - but without all of the annoying VJs. Jim and Willa watch it sometimes over their morning cereal.
Yesterday I was flipping through our 4 other stations to find primary vote results (mutter, mutter), and landed on Guns and Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle." Willa spent the whole video cackling with laughter. It was not a giggle, but a full on laugh at Axl and the gang.
So many of my junior high peers would have been insulted...

Lunch with Justin and Marcus.

"Is that what I think that is?" you're wondering.


If you think it's the American League Championship trophy, then yes, yes it is.


But wait... it's gets better.
















That's me in the orange sweater on the left, and Willa's next to me. Above her arm, in a suit is the MAYOR of Bay City. I know, brush with fame. Us Sinkis? We roll with the celebs.

Sitting next to Willa, on the other side, by the way is Justin Verlander.















While he's no small city mayor, Justin Verlander is a Detroit Tiger's pitcher. Last season? Threw a no hitter. In other words, he's um.... incredible. (And nice too.)














"This is Willa."


"Hi Willa, I'm Marcus."


Marcus Thames? He's mighty personable. See how delighted I am? Where did my eyes go? I don't know.

Willa liked Marcus so much, she offered him her baby doll. She handed it to him a few times. He said he and the doll could sit in the back of the bus and listen to some music. In the end, we left with the doll.

With a 7 month old daughter at home, Marcus can probably find some of his own to bring on road trips.

We left with some fun photos, 2 autographs (we forgot to ask the mayor for his) and an increased excitement for Spring Training. Go Tigers!

Being her parent is the best, #492

Last night I was walking to my car thinking about Willa and how quickly she's developing these days. And I haven't really captured that in the past few weeks here. Then I became very very sad about all of the little things I didn't record. Then I let it go.
But, here's a little update.
She's moving up to the older toddler room at day care, and is doing great there. She naps there - voluntarily! She eats most of her lunch really well. Perhaps there's something to be said about the positive effects of peer pressure. Most of her younger pals will be joining her in the new room, and I hear that once they see her with the older kids, they go to play with her, and feel better. "Mama Willa" could become a new nickname at daycare.
She's been cracking us up more. At night we bathe her, get her in PJs and then we read books in our bed before kisses to everyone and then to her crib. During story time, she's been sitting on Jim's side of the bed, getting under the covers, and patting the blankets to invite (demand, really) the dogs to place their head on her lap. "Com'on! Doggies!! Com'on!!" She's also been pointing at her book and joining me in saying "no more monkeys jumping on the bed."
If she sees a candle, she'll either start singing, "happy... to you, happy... to you" or request, "light. on."
She won't eat vegetables.
She won't go to sleep with a blanket on. So we sneak in after the last sigh of a contented day leaves her lips and tuck her in.
She's started, this week, to say I love you. She said it to me 2 nights ago when I put her in her crib, and she said it today when Jim loaded her into her car seat and closed the door. "Daddy. I. Loooovvvvvee Ewwwww..." He didn't hear it, but I called him to let him know.
She's started throwing her leg over the crib rail, and I found her a week or so ago, stranded with her limbs wrapped around the top of the crib, muttering "stuck" over and over, looking much like people you see on the news clinging to tree limbs in a flood. We're in the market for a twin bed, but in the mean time, have lowered the rail, figuring that if she tries to escape again, it's a much more gentle fall. Results: she's not tried to get out. Yet.
She frequently requests to go to "'andma... 'ampa's house." Either one is fun for her.
She is less inclined to hold my hand when we're walking in a familiar place, and earlier this week broke my heart when I offered, and she refused my help up the stairs. She did it all by herself, upright.
She's growing and challenging and bring us so much joy.

Sinki says, "Michigan, go vote"

I know, I know... if you're looking forward to voting for your favorite candidate who isn't on the ticket, it's frustrating, and makes one wonder how much a a voice a single person has in this democracy of ours... disenchantment... blah blah...

If you're considering not voting next Tuesday because of this, I ask you to reconsider.

Please read this. I'll wait...

Back? Okay. I don't necessarily share Mark Brewers thoughts that the DNC will suddenly let delegates take their seats, but maybe? I'd like to be a delegate. Imagining sitting on a bus or plane heading to the convention in Denver. "Are we going to get in? Are we going to be locked out in a hallway?" It's kind of exciting in the same way as losing your last baby tooth: "is the tooth fairy going to come and leave some cash? Do mom and dad know I stopped believing?"

Anyhow, you have a voice, and I don't know what the outcome of voting in the Primaries will be, but go - it is an exciting time when the status quo is challenged . Vote next Tuesday. Even if you're voting for a Republican. And if you don't vote? Really, you've just knocked yourself out of the right to complain about 1) the candidate and 2) the current primary process.

In fact, send me photos of you wearing your "I voted" sticker to enter a raffle for an exciting prize.

The D

I just met with my favorite socially awkward, but super sweet-research geek of a rheumatologist. Here's the latest:
CK level (remember? this was the enzyme that was high and had me terrified that I had ALS, Lupus, or some awful disease) is back to normal. Yay!
Vitamin D is climbing, but not at a great level yet. Low-normal level is 30, I'm at 24. So much better than the original 18, I think.
Public Service Announcement: Vit. D defficiency is actually a growing concern, and can lead to all kinds of health problems including an increased risk of Cancer, auto-immune disorders, and in my case muscle pain. Get it checked out people. Soon the FDA will likely raise the daily recs of vitamin D from 400 to 800 IUs. Take care of yourself.
Woah, isn't it weird to trip over a soap box?
Anyhow, Dr. is keeping me on my perscription D2 vitamin, but I'll go to a 2 times a week dose instead of 1. In 2 months I'll get checked out again. But, we agreed that if my family practicioner is okay with taking the baton back, there's no need to continue with Mr. "I'm a kid genius who can't make eye contact with you."
Good news!
Click on the links above if you want backstory.

"Never tease a crocodile" duh.

Willa's hooked on a new book, and it's driving me crazy for several reasons. The book is called "5 Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree." It's based on the preschool rhyme about 5 monkeys and an crocodile who "eats them" one by one. I think the original rhyme doesn't end like her book, in which we find the 5 monkeys were simply hiding in a tree one by one. Nothing says toddler humor like a cartoon mama monkey sobbing on the river bank over her 5 children, lost to a hungry snapping crocodile.
So, after each monkey disappears, I read, "oh no! Where is he?" And instead of being anxious about the disappearing monkeys in the tree, Willa points out - every time - where the crocodile is - "'ere he is!!" she cheers loud and proud.
And I tried to explain why we are looking for the monkeys, not the crocodile... once. And then thought, "do I convince her to worry?" Instead I'm just trying to phase the book out of rotation.

Yup, this about sums it up.

I bought this after Christmas with a nice discount. Then I got home and looked at it for several minutes until I finally realized what was wrong. You can do the same, if it's not obvious - and it wasn't to me either, so don't feel bad. Conversely, if it is obvious to you, do not mock me, it's been a rough 2 weeks, and you're nicer than that.
Anyhow, it's an easy fix, and I haven't re-glued the fabric down yet. Today I am thinking I should leave it. A good reflection on how this particular holiday season felt.

In the meadow, we can build a snowman

It's too early for Spring Fever!!

We were watching Sophia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette" last night and the garden scenes did something weird to me. I craved peonies. I saw her pick one and I thought I want, no I NEED one of those. Then I reminded myself that come May, I'll have 2 bushes full. Jim gave me white and a pink peony bushes for my first Mother's Day.
Seed catalogues, and a photo of a delicate Bleeding Heart in bloom...
Sigh.
3 months until the bulbs bloom, friends. Wait with me.
In the mean time, let's talk about starting plants from seed. Any hints, good places to learn? I'm thinking we'll do melons and tomatoes, and maybe some flowers too.

Photos from the wedding

Bill and Jaclynn have returned from their honeymoon. It was reported to be awesome. I'm glad they got to enjoy some paradise to cap off their year of planning their wedding. Their wedding, which was beautiful and heartfelt, and fun.

It snowed.

We took some nephews tubing. Jim and I opted for man to man instead of zone, and my "man" went down the hill exactly one time. Thank you, kind ticket girl, for the refund.
Then we decorated Christmas cookies.
Then they went home.
And we took Willa to the school down the street to enjoy their nice sized sledding hill.
Then we built a giant snowman. And a Willa sized one too.
Photos will be up when we're not glued to the bed, a little sore and very, very tired.

I think having a child might turn me into one who doesn't hate winter. As much.

Hi all. Thanks to everyone for the comments, notes, and kind thoughts. The Sinki's and the extended Sinki's are doing pretty well. We were back in Grand Rapids to try to celebrate Christmas, and it was a lovely day with Jim's family and later a nice quiet dinner for 3 at our house. Willa is now a wrapping paper ripping machine. There have been some very happy times that have risen up during this time of confused, exhausted grief. I promise to share those later in the week.

Yesterday morning was my Grandma's funeral mass. I was proud to represent my family in remembering Grandma in the following eulogy.


Good morning. My name is Amy, I’m the first granddaughter of Bill and Virginia. On behalf of the ______ family, I'd like to thank Father Joe and Deacon Larry, this talented choir, the luncheon committee, and the whole congregation for giving my family comfort. To all friends and family here today and those thinking of us from afar, thank you.

It’s such an honor - and a daunting task - to stand here. I guess it’s that way for all of us today. An honor to celebrate the completion of Grandma’s long and fulfilled life. A daunting task to do the work of missing her. I hope I’m able to do justice in sharing some universal memories of Grandma.


I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven” or maybe a few times in your life, you’ve been so completely happy and at peace that you leaned back, looked around and thought, “I could die a very happen person right now.”

On Friday, Grandma was surrounded by family- even most of the out of town family was there. She was sitting next to her priest. The new Mr. and Mrs. William _______ was just announced and we joked that the crowd at the reception were standing to applaud her and Grandpa. She was happily glowing, just a little less than the bride. About ten minutes later, Grandma started to say goodbye. Perhaps she was so completely happy that her heart couldn’t contain any more… and it was time.

Grandma seemed to live her life driven by three core priorities: her family, her faith, and her pride in her Irish heritage.

Grandma was born on April 1, 1923. After hearing stories of her growing up with her sisters Jean and Illene, I’m sure their parents Arthur and Adelaide Lynch had their hands full with 3 firecracker daughters.

She and Grandpa married on July 5, 1947, and celebrated 60 years of marriage this summer. Grandma and Grandpa raised 5 kids: Sue, Chuck, Jean, Tom and Richard, and welcomed their children’s spouses John, Kathy, Steve, and Diane into the family. I’m sure that as Grandma met each serious boyfriend or girlfriend of her kids, she asked them what she asked my husband Jim when they met: “Are you Irish?”

He is, by the way, and since she found that out, she never stopped flirting with him. Sally and Lisa? Did she ever do that with Jim and Ken? Are they Irish? Anyhow, Grandma asked everyone if they were Irish, and like my dad said, if you were Irish, you were okay with Grandma.

And, if at any moment you weren't okay with Grandma, out came what Uncle Tom has termed "the wave of disgust." One hand for minor infractions, two is you were really in trouble.

Faith and her Catholic religion was another keystone in Grandma’s life. She prayed daily for family and friends. She prayed to Fr. Solonas, and believed that St. Ann’s oil could cure everything from a head cold to cancer. I think that each of us probably owes some of our happiness and success to Grandma’s prayers. She was like our family’s very own main switchboard operator to God. And with such a big family, I’m sure Grandma was praying a lot.

Grandma and Grandpa have 10 grandchildren. Growing up, some lived very close to their house and some lived very far away. On visits, if cousins weren't there, I would hear updates about all of them equally, she’d talk about Doug, Matt, and Jim, Scott and Sally, and Erin. And I’m sure they heard about myself and my siblings Lisa, Bill, and Brian. And later we would hear updates about spouses too, and her 6 Great-grandchildren as well. And out of the 10 original grandkids, she had exactly 10 favorites.

On Thanksgiving, I was sitting next to Grandma and Grandpa, and she turned to Grandpa - after looking around the room - and said, "we started all of this." They were both so, so proud of their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.

One of my memories of grandma is sitting in the backseat of a car with Lisa. Grandpa was driving and Grandma was next to him. It was a hot summer day and the 7th Inning stretch of a Tiger’s game was on. We were all singing… and when it got to “root, root, root for the ….” Line, grandma said either “home team” and Grandpa said “Tigers.” And Grandma said, “Bill, it’s __ whichever one she thought it should be.” There was a little pause and grandpa responded with – say it with me everyone – “Yes, Virginia.” That little game of theirs helped define the gentle and constant love that they showed every day.

At the visitation I shared with Grandpa that he had been married 30 times longer than Jim and I. Grandpa, here’s a better one, you and Grandma have more than 60 years on Bill and Jackie. I want to thank you, and Grandma for showing your kids and grandkids what it means to be a married couple, working as a team. Your dedication to your wife - throughout your life – is an inspiration and a guidepost to all of us learning the ropes.

And we will all continue to carry on pieces of Grandma in our lives. The pious curses of – excuse me for this, father – “Judas Priest, Jesus Moses” and, when she was really upset, “Jesus Mary and Joseph.” Most of you probably have one of these to wash your dishes and counter tops with – I think anyone who ever met Grandma received their very own hand crafted dishtowel. Well, maybe only if they were Irish. I think my premature white hair is probably directly correlated to the Irish blood of Grandma in my own veins. Someone’s going to have to learn how to make the congo and shortbread that everyone looked forward to at family celebrations and the larger August _______ reunions. . I sit with my daughter on my knee and sing songs that I remember Grandma singing to someone in their Albion St. living room.

I remember saying, as a 9 year old, to my parents on the way to visit Grandma and Grandpa, “I hope my cousins are there. It’s so boring when all you grown ups do is sit around and play cards and tell stories.” And there were stories! Some involved names like Oenei, Gruey, and Mocheri, some involved Grandpa's siblings and their families (Grandma's adopted 2nd family). There were many, many stories about my dad and his siblings and their antics.

And here we are to celebrate the end of a generous, warm, spirited life. And those stories and family ties are the best possible gift. And the best gift we could give Grandma back is to continue those stories.

So, thank you Grandma. And, as Doug requests, “Tell God we said hi.”

Here is a photo of Grandma and Grandpa at the wedding, moments before her heart attack. As you can see, she was having a wonderful time!

The term bittersweet was invented for days like this.

My brother Bill is a married man. He was sweetly sincere at the ceremony. Goofy with his groomsmen. Gentle while touching the elbow of his new wife. Jackie, my new sister, was breathtakingly beautiful. And nervous (at first). And so very happy.

My brother and his wife had a nice ceremony, and then the wedding party drove to Detroit landmarks for pictures: Comerica Park, Campus Martius (they got to get some photos on the zamboni).

The reception hall was beautiful, and there was so much joy and anticipation in the room. I was at the table with my parents and grandparents as the newlyweds were being introduced as "Mr and Mrs. William (their last name - top secret)." People stood clapping and cheering. I told my Grandma that the people were clapping for her and my Grandpa (same name). She smiled at the joke, but told Grandpa "that's us, they're clapping for us."

My brother was the best man, and in the middle of his toast, Grandma had a heart attack. She was taken out into the entry and was given cpr and rescue breathing (It seemed like 1/2 of the guests there were nurses!). 911 was called and she was taken to the hospital. There was not a lot they could do, so the doctors put her on some machines until midnight, allowing my parents to stay at their son's reception, so there wouldn't be a similar anniversary...

At about 12:45 my grandma died, surrounded by all of her kids.

My grandpa is doing as well as can be expected.

We're all trying to sort out the 2 events and give them their own space and feelings. My poor brother and his new wife didn't get the wedding they deserved, but some information was compassionately kept through the night, and I truly think that, while they had an idea, they were able to enjoy themselves.

My grandma got to say goodbye in a beautiful hall, with all 5 of her kids, and 9 of her 10 grandchildren. She looked beautiful and was having a wonderful time. A woman who has been walking with the assistance of a walker, she walked down the aisle between my brother and her husband unassisted, save for the graceful arm offered by each gentleman. She was enchanted with Willa and MaKenna, beaming at the happy couple, and so proud to have her family together. It couldn't have happened at a worse or better time, all things considered.

Please keep my grandpa, brother and new sister, and my entire family in your thoughts and prayers.

This post may be edited several times over the next few days, as details and new feelings start walking on their own. Also, there are wonderful photos of the wedding, which I will share as time passes.

bad influence

On the phone with Jim just now (in my final 15 minute before vacation stretch)...

"What is she listening to?"
"Uh... um... Barney."
"NOOOOOO!"
"Well, we got home from the store, and I turned the tv on while I was unpacking the groceries and she saw him and..."
"You know, every bonus point you earned from grocery shopping is out the door."
"Well, it's not like she'll be getting a lot of Barney."
"That's like saying it's just a little crack."

Here we go folks, over the river and through mid-Michigan...
look for updates from the front.

While visions of a restful night danced in my head...

Delivery

Today's lunch was delivered by Jim and Willa at my office. They have the whole week off. I start vacation on Wednesday afternoon.
In exactly 11 working hours.

knowing she's paying attention

I had just finished laying out the program for Bill and Jac's wedding. And Willa pushed the "off" button of the laptop.
"NO! Oh, SHIT!"
She backed up, looked sad, and - I'm not making this up - said, "sorry."

Guess I'll have to be careful about the "oh shits."

Sometimes I feel like the luckiest person in the world

From this collection of books, Willa has the Feelings Book.
It is colorful and sweet and a good primer on feelings. On one page it says "Sometimes I feel like holding hands with a friend."
While lying in bed and reading the book to her, she reaches for Jim's hand and then mine and we all sit in a hand holding line for a second, until we get to the "Sometimes I feel like making mud pies" page and she drops our hands and says (over and over) "mess."

Fun with Sinkis: more photo outtakes

Willa in her "I heart Coolio" phase

Jim's senior photo pose at the Bounce Party.

It looks like alcohol was the missing factor in this photo, but nope, I was high on K-9 affection.

Don't call it a come back...

"I have no voice."
"I know, you've said that every day for a few days now. With your voice."

Jim has been sick for several weeks now. Honest-to-goodness chicken noodle soup and wrap yourself in a blanket sick. And I have empathy for him because I've had what he has, but in the lite format. I have the Muzak version of his sick. He's dusting off his blog and writing again. In today's episode, you can - if you want to - read all about the sick. If you're not all into mucus, skip to the next post where he talks about music. 'Cause that's a good one.

Here's to health, when it returns.

For the 4 year old boy who has everything?

I'm not even talking Christmas gifts, his birthday is tomorrow.
This kid has everything. I'm pretty sure he even owns the moon.

Jim and I are going to get him a dress. Kidding. Mostly.

It'll be too late for birthday ideas, but how about Christmas, friends? Ideas?

"Hillary"

The national media are finally talking about an issue that's been bugging me for years.
In Michigan, we have a female governor named Jennifer Granholm. During the last election her detractors spouted about not voting for "Jenny" because DeVos had better plans for the state.

When we are troubled by politicians we refer to them by their first names in a blatant sign of disrespect: "Tricky Dick" Nixon immediately comes to mind. In this particular administration, those less enthusiastically "hailing the chief" add a W to differentiate from daddy George.

And now here comes Hillary. She's not my top pick for the Democratic ticket - not that the party cares about what any of the renegades in Michigan think. I guess I'll have to come to terms with the fact that someday a granddaughter might ask what it was like when the first woman president was elected and I'll try not to roll my eyes and effusively proclaim that we missed our chance for real change in the presidency with a white Southern Male (Dear John Edwards? I know I'm from a state that will have no delegates at the convention, but still... you, me, grilled cheese?)... Anyhow my point... there's one here somewhere...

Hillary. Really? Her campaign is doing this themselves: banners, buttons, bumperstickers... all spalshed with one word Hillary. Maybe to differentiate from Bill Clinton, but okay, "welcome to the mideast peace talks, President Hillary will be joining us shortly..."? Or is she leaning to heavily on the maybe female voters will notice the "I'm a woman too" thing? One can only imagine the Hillary special edition Barbie advertised to help little girls dream that someday they too can be president. Cute.

I know this is a self-styled thing, but I heard a professional journalist refer to the field as Obama, Hillary and Edwards. Grrrr... Respect in parallels, please?

One could argue Rudy is doing this too... maybe it's a New York thing?

Here is a link to the On the Media segment that played on NPR on Friday, along with some thoughtful comments.

Thoughts?

Dill Pickle Soup DIY

For about 12 years, starting when I was a freshman at GVSU, I received cards in the mail from Grandma Laws. In the cards was always a handwritten note about the weather, the escapades of Poopsie the bird, and a note of hello from Grandpa. Many times the card would contain clippings from Reader's Digest, a cute comic strip or column from the paper. One of the clippings was a recipe from Grandma's church paper.

Once I found a recipe that combined peanut butter with eggplant. It sounded so awful, I thought it must be good, and I tried it. It was awful. This one is not. If you like pickles, give it a shot.

DILL PICKLE SOUP (serves 4)
8 chicken bullion cubes (I used vegetarian vegetable bullion)
8 cups water
1/2 cup chopped carrots (I'd put in closer to 3/4 cup)
1 cup diced potatoes (again, a little more might do you good)
1/2 cup chopped fresh mushrooms (someday when "I'll allergic to mushrooms isn't around, I'll give it a shot)
3 large dill pickles (Grandma wrote in "Get pickles in the dairy section!")
1/2 stick butter
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons cornstarch (hey, follow the directions on the box for mixing this into water before mixing it into the soup)
3 tablespoons dill weed

Boil carrots, potatoes and mushrooms in broth until tender
Grate dill pickles (I love my food processor) and add to boiling mixture with butter
Reduce heat, add sour cream and mix vigorously with whisk
Dissolve cornstarch in 1/2 cup water and add to mixture

Simmer for a bit, enjoy with a good bread. After, if you've still got a grandma send her a card. Include a Family Circus cartoon - she'll love it!

Again with the cooking?

The wedding of the year is now17 days away. Bill and Jackie are probably up to their ears in teeny final details, send out vibes of peace and productivity to them.

Bagels and apple crisp were made in the cocina de sinki. Is it weird to feel empowerd that I can make bagels at home? Spending time cooking has been centering for me. Slicing apples last night was like a meditation of repetitive motion. The slisss of steel through apple and klnk of apple hitting bowl... so natural, so small, but so satisfying.

My job has been a lot like driving on an icy parking lot. I'm not sure where I'm going, and I don't feel like I'm really in control.

Making meals and treats for my family is so productive and finite, and rewarding. Winter and a quest for direction has me standing over our in the middle of rehab sink. And that's where I'm comfortable this week.

In non-domestic news, we've been watching Heroes for 2 years now. Anyone else? Want to discuss the end of season 2?

Singin' fee fi fideleye oh

The kitchen and I have been spending more time together lately. It's like believing an old boyfriend who said, "For you? I'll change, but it'll take some time" And then you get excited about the relationship once it's where you want it to be, so for now... for now you tolerate it.

We've decided to make the kitchen a kinder, gentler, less 1960's kitchen. And while we're in the slow process of remodeling, I'm enjoying being in there. Because it's going to be better, folks!
As evidenced by the homemade mac and cheese, vege chili, dill pickle soup, and raisin bran muffins all in the freezer. I also made some great chai (not from a box, thank you).

In a house run by procrastinators...

I present to you, one of our Thanksgiving cactus blooms:

showing signs of excelling in the funny department

I was lying on the floor with Willa sitting in front of me, and pretending that I could blow her down. It wasn't my awesome lung capacity, but my arms that gently brought her to the floor each time. Twenty minutes later she stood in front of me, puckered her lips and blew. Then she said, "mama" and blew again. I blew, and she fell to the ground, giggling at herself.

Loving technology, part 739

"I wonder what all of the bubbles at the top of the water means."
"I think it means he's happy. Is that thing on? Google "beta bubbles."

3 minutes later we're know-it-alls on beta breeding.

Thankful for...

Willa (in pink hat), me (in black hat) and Santa (in red and white hat, behind the reindeer) hangin' at the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade. So neat to bring my daughter to her first big parade and watch her stare in awe and laugh. My parents were there too, and I imagine it was neat to watch their daughter do the same while watching their granddaughter. We also ran into cousin Scott and Ramona, who helped me convince Jim that parade virgins had to wear any beads they caught the whole day. It was his first "America's Thanksgiving Day Parade" too. He loved it! AND he wore the beads the whole day. He wasn't fooled, only a good sport.

Bead wearing Jim, yam loving Willa, dopey looking me.

Here we see Jackie and Bill in the last month of their year long engagement. Also here is MaKenna, enjoying her cupcake frosting, and Lisa, enjoying her first days after being self-emancipated from a job where her newly ex-boss called her Lisa Marie. (grrrr...) Brian's not in this photo, but he and Willa had a super good play time too.

My grandparents. Grandma looked around the room and told Grandpa, "we started all of this." It was a sweet moment. They are so proud of their family.

Willa stacking cups on her Grandpa's lap. Looking to give a toddler an inexpensive gift? A sleeve of colorful plastic cups kept her happily busy for a long time.

Cousin love.

Day after Thanksgiving Belle came over and dressed Willa as Minnie Mouse. These two are BFF. Until Willa tried to use MaKenna's sippy cup later that day. Fences to be mended...

Rach, thanks for asking. Here are the new upper cabinets. Lowers will be done during Christmas holiday. Woo-hoo!!

Have mercy on the liberals. Please.

Talking with a friend...

"Well, Jesus was a liberal, though a lot of churches don't want to admit that."
"I know....um... uh-oh..."
"What?"
"Well, I was just thinking about how sometimes the next generation completely changes political ideology from mom and dad. Which means that God would be conservative. In which case a lot of us are in trouble."
"Oh crap."
"Oh crap."

Willa learns remodeling

We sat at the kitchen table looking at graph paper and little squares and rectangles that represented our appliances for a long time.
"I can't look at this anymore. Let's just do it."
"For real?"
"Yes, let's get started."
An hour later Willa woke up from her nap, walked into the kitchen and froze in her tracks. She was staring at the place where, just before she fell asleep, there were cabinets and a back splash.
"'ERE'D IT GO?!" She demanded with her arms lifted, hands palm side up. I chuckled, and she yelled again, "'ERE'D IT GO?!"

I thought it was amusing until I remembered a weekend home from college. I walked into the kitchen and it was someone else's kitchen. They changed it so much that the next morning, I walked downstairs, opened the fridge, pulled out the milk, and set it down on the island that had been there for the 15 years before. Only there was no island, and the milk crashed to the floor. Upset about home not looking like "home" anymore, I may have cried. Over spilt milk, I know, I know...

Change is so hard.

On the other hand, we have some of the new upper cabinets up and while I'm happy that they look lovely, I am jumping up and down excited about the extra storage space in our small kitchen.

The post where my 19 month old corrects me

Water was flying as Willa sat in the bathtub churning her hands around each other. ".. 'round and 'round, the wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round. All through the town."

Her hand started a patting motion. "Okay. The horn on the bus goes honk honk hon-"

"BEEP BEEP BEEP," she yelled, eyebrows drawn together. I could almost detect an eye roll and the phrase muttered under her breath, "geez, mom, you don't know ANYTHING.

Tea with the animals

A-okay, with D-okay to follow shortly.

A neurologist in Grand Rapids called me unremarkable today. And that's a good thing. An EMG tells us that my nerves and muscles are normal. *Big sigh of relief* Still working on getting my vitamin D levels up to that of normal folks, and hopefully by then I'll be pain free.
The shock and needle thing was weird. I laid on a table watching my hand spasm as small currents of electricity went though my arm. Curious to see my finger move without me telling them to.
Jim wanted to come along to watch his wife become a science experiment, but alas, Labor Law class reading was making demands.

Some responses to recent comments:
Amanda, I picked up my orange tree at Flowerland about 2 years ago. It's only about 2 feet tall. If you have a sunny spot, it's a fun thing to watch grow.

Christina, Jim and I drink a lot of hot tea in the winter. We have about 9 or 10 boxes of tea open, to help deal with the clutter, we bought a shallow basket and store the tea boxes in the basket. Thusly our tea basket was born.

B~, Willa talks. Looking forward to a conversation between her and Rosalie next month.

Agriculture in my office

I've got a small orange tree in my office. It blooms in quick cycles and produces fruit too small to enjoy. I have eaten one orange from it every four months or so, but have never truly enjoyed it. As the tree ages and grows the fruit is reaching larger sizes and sweeter tastes. Sometimes I squeeze it's sour citrus juice into my water. Good little jolt. If you like your eyes to roll back into your head and your tongue to curl.

At the rate we're going, I may have truly edible oranges in 8 years.

Right now I've got 5 orange babies on the tree. They'll mature to about the size of your eyeball.

In 2 months, I'll probably have a tree full of blooms again.

There's something almost magical about stomping snow off of boots and removing mittens and scarf to be welcome by my citrus laden office.

North Country, late autumn

The grey of November has moved in.
It's time to pull out soup recipes, and put away the garden trowel. Flannel sheets on the bed, and find that frost and ice scrapper. I've rearranged the tea basket, and Willa's new mittens are ready.
It's time to daydream about the days living in South Carolina and Georgia. Even DC...
There's something about the drive to hibernate that is tempting.

Getting on my nerves

In the continued quest to figure out why, at random times, my limbs feel like someone slammed a large and heavy dumpster onto them (a dumpster with a lot of sharp edges)... on Monday, I'll go to a neurologist who will put small needles under my skin and send little electric shocks into me. And I'll pay him to do this. Hm...
I hope this will bring some answers, I'm not sure that the vitamin D is making it better. Maybe I need more time with the D?
I'll tell you that this is something that isn't bothering me every day, and when it does it isn't constant. But at it's peak it's more than unpleasant.
Please join me in crossing fingers. Thanks, dudes.

My dad saves the day

"This is Bed Bath and Beyond calling to say that we found the cow finger puppet. If you'd like to reclaim it, it is at the service desk."
Great, I thought, except I'm already in Lansing, and an hour away from the store, and more importantly the cow.
And it was just a $3 finger puppet that we picked up on the way to my parents house, but for Willa it was love at first sight.
"MOOOOO" she bellowed from the backseat of the car, cradling her new pal between her jaw and her shoulder. 2 minutes later she was asleep and drooling on him.
And then we went to buy a shower gift the next morning and, well he got lost.
I called my sister who lives the closest, but she didn't answer. I called home and talked to Brian. He wouldn't be near there in the next week. The manager of the store would send it to me, if only I arranged for prepaid shipping.
My dad called me a minute after I hung up with Brian. He was on his way to get it.
"No, dad. Don't make a special trip, it's just a cheap finger puppet. IF you're near there in the next week or so, you can get it, but really...."
"I'm on my way."
The cow has been picked up. Willa has a new hero, only she doesn't know it yet. I'm looking forward to witnessing a reunion of Willa and her moo, thanks to her super swell grandpa.

A girl, two dogs, and autumn leaves

New entry for top 5 in favorite parenting moment so far

Willa, Jim and I were lying on the floor in her room. Jim pretended he was sleeping. Willa walked to her crib and tried to pull her blanket and Bay-beeeee through the crib slats. I lifted them out and handed them to her. She covered Jim and offered Bay-beeeee to him. He snored. She laughed and started tickling him. He woke up. Over and over until she laid back down and pulled the blanket over her, staying very quiet and still. Jim and I discussed all of the possible locations Willa might be at that moment. She ripped the blanket off of her face yelling "'ERE SHE IS!!" and laughing from her toes. Over and over again. Then it was my turn to sleep. Instead of covering me with the blanket and tucking Bay-beeee into my arm, she launched herself onto my chest laughing. Over and over.
Twenty minutes later we left the room.
This Parenting thing? Totally awesome!

It's oh so quiet...

Yesterday on NPR a fella with a handsome vocabulary was saying that he doesn't want to use a bunch of big words to impress people, but sometimes there's a word that is exactly right and he just has to bring it out, polish it up and put it out there.

Two minutes later, Nancy Pelosi answered Neal Conan's question about what surprised her about the first session as Speaker of the House by saying that she had little use for the word surprise in a role that calls her to be ready for anything.

1) What a great way to answer that question.
2) "... little use for the word..."

This got me thinking -and talking to a coworker/friend (hey Sarah, thanks for the opportunity to explore this)- about use for words in different spheres.

I read this tidbit of awesomeness yesterday too. Oh Andrea at Superhero Journal - I would like to sip tea and make cards with you.

Jim mentioned last night that I've not posted an entry of meaty content here in a while. I kind of blew that off but...

I've been feeling quiet lately. I don't know if it's an autumnal thing, or if I'm not tapped into myself or what I find energetic lately.

Hi, um, Yesterday? What are you conspiring?

I'm going to let this all churn for a while and see what words I have a use for soon.

Willa the Dragonfly

It has been a magical day for Willa. She discovered Tootsie Rolls.

Moved by spirits

Our church celebrated la dia de los muertos (for a primer on "The Day of the Dead" click here) on Sunday. After the mariachi band played*, and during "quiet reflection and prayer" Willa decided to show delayed gratitude for the music by yelling "YAY" and clapping. An 18 month old's "YAY" resounds exceptionally well in a 150 year old sanctuary.

*I love attending a church that lets me type "after the mariachi band played"...

Thanks to Amy in Motown for inspiring me to remember to share this here. See the story of her three year old singing angel here.

happily married 730 days

"I think it was just as sunny as it is today, but not as chilly."

"I don't think you would have felt any cold, no matter what the temperature on that day."

He's right.

Happy second anniversary, Jim.

me -> you, always

The Family bed

This morning I finished brushing my teeth and looked into the bedroom. Jim in his spot, Willa in mine, the dogs curled up at the foot of the bed. Willa's sick and they are all at home. I am at work.
I kissed her on her head, her whispy hair tickling my lips, "bye Willa, feel better and go easy on daddy." She smiled at me, said "Moma," and patted the bed next to her.
This patting is how we invite the dogs up.
So, so difficult to put on my big girl shoes and leave them all there.

Mom and Dad run away from home

We are back from a long weekend away. On Sunday Jim and I left Willa safely and happily with my parents and headed around Lake Erie to Cleveland. Some highlights:

• walking along and across the river with no plan
• sitting in the 80 degree sun
• a quick trip out of our hotel to see the sun set that landed us in Jacob's Field with thousands of Indians fans who saw their team lose the League Championship (we only stayed for the first 3 outs)
• eating room service pizza in bed because we stayed at the stadium too long and every kitchen in downtown Cleveland closes at 9 pm on Sundays
• seeing the original lyrics to "In My Life" handwritten by John Lennon at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• not needing the backup CDs in the car on the drive in case Jim and I grew tired of talking
• picking Willa back up at my parents - she never cried, and after an hour of watching the Detroit Zoo's polar bear for an hour with Grandma, has a new fuzzy bear to snuggle
• Best thing? Reconnecting with Jim as a partner outside of our roles as parents. This guy I've said "forever" to? So wonderfully perfect for me.

Karma bites

Willa learned a lesson in what goes around comes around. Her daycare report from Friday:
"Willa tried to take a phone from one of her friends. She got bit on her left hand."

I love a rainy night

Last night we were at a visitation for Jim's sister's husband's mom. We were all standing around the outside of the Howard City church watching the skies saying things like, "looks like it went right past us." Inside, I was thinking where one would hide from a tornado in Howard City.

Hours later, Jim and I were enjoying some quiet reading time. I heard Willa starting to stir and cry just a little. I went to her crib, and she was sitting up, watching the lightening through the window. Her brow was almost touching her nose, she was so concerned. "Woah." I laid her down and said it was a thunderstorm and she was okay. "Woah, mama, woah." Seconds later she was back to sleep, snuggling her stuffed bunny.

... not as fluffy as normal

I walked in to Willa's room and the afternoon care provider jumped up to get a paper. She did this the day before and I had to sign for the knowledge that Willa bit one of her friends:
Willa was playing with a ball. Her friend tried to take it. Willa bit her friend. I told her that biting friends isn't nice.
Uh-oh, I thought.
Instead, this is what I got.
"Willa did something funny today."
I eye my daughter suspiciously, she's in her backup outfit. Did she paint herself? Pour milk all over her front?
"She took off her own diaper. I went to pick her up and her bottom was really wet, and not as fluffy as normal. And then I noticed that one leg was a lot thicker than the other. She took off her diaper and stuffed it down the leg of her pants."
I am still trying to figure out the logistics of this. She was in a one piece romper that snaps around the legs (my delicate way to avoid the word crotch- oops). So... how did she undo her own diaper and then stuff it down a leg? The world may never know.

bent limbs on the family tree

My dad's dad's dad had the largest rhubarb farm in Wayne County. This I knew, but when he was talking about it Saturday he started a sentence off when "when we lost the farm..." There's a story to be told.

My mom's mom's dad was a bootlegger and ran homebrewed beer in the car with my young grandmother sitting on the seat on top of it. His wife died very young, and the paperwork says her bowels were punctured by a chicken bone.

Jim-ness

This fella is 40 today.

Jim, full of kindness and laughs and integrity and creativity.

Jim got an "A" in his first Master's class, and does more dishes than he should.

Awesome dad, Jim. Bather of dogs, fixer of lamps, reader of everything, Jim.

My life is enriched by his partner-hood. I love him, Jim.

Happy Birthday.

1 year old

Happy 1st Birthday, Blanco de Sinki.

Sinkis in the Morning

6:30 am Willa starts stirring

6:40 am Jim gets up, brings Willa into our bed

6:42 am Willa turns toward me and kisses me on the lips

6:42.5 am Willa won't go back to sleep unless her lips are on my lips. And she's still coughing.

6:43 am Feeling grossed out that my sick daughter won't stop kissing me on the mouth, try to roll over, blocked by dog.

6:44 am Grateful that Willa is distracted from my lips and is now picking her nose. I doze.

7:02 am Alarm sounds

7:50 am All of us are still in bed playing and giggling, wishing it was a Saturday morning

Gettin' a jump start on the terrible twos

Well, it's happened. Against our wishes, Willa went and became an illogical toddler.
Last night we were having a pretzel snack. When I handed her one from the bag she looked at it and yelled "NO." She has never yelled "no" at me before. Greta and Arlo, hot on her heels, after her cheese? They get a stream of "NOs" followed by a hug with the cheese dangling in their face and a giggle. My "NO" was in direct response to the pretzel - the last one in the bag - being broken.
I've heard about this, but thought they were the child rearing equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle - just a little caution mythology, a little hyperbole about "those crazy kids."
Turns out those kids really are crazy.

My work review was 3 hours today. I am exhausted, but pleased. I am a good little worker bee, and have the paper to prove it.

Like standing naked in a mirror

Performance Evaluation tomorrow at work. Though I do my job, and do it well, I'm nervous. I've been here for 3.5 years, but this is the first review with a different boss.

Movin' to the country?

We were discussing how this has been the season of farm animals for Willa. Visits to the State Fair, the petting area of the GR zoo and Binder Park, and now the Post Family Farm have put Willa face to face with more farm animals than cats or dogs. Do you have a goat? 'cause we'll come over to your house, put a quarter into the food dispenser and feed it while petting it. Jim said she's going to want all these farm animals.

On the way home from the last outing (which was billed as a family trip to the pumpkin patch) Jim started musing about opening something similar but better ourselves. I think he wants a pony for his birthday.

Hmmm... look for Camp Sinki sometime soon. You'll find pumpkins, and concerts, and Sunday brunch, and a roadside produce stand, and a summer camp. And goats. In the interest of full disclosure, this is a Binder Park goat (last weekend) not a Post Family Farm goat (this past weekend).

This is what 18 months looks like

Today Willa is a year and a half old.

Can't enjoy cider in shorts

It's October. It's 80 degrees.
I'm enjoying the extended garden season. Our late start watermellon might have a chance. Our beans are awesome.
We have strawberries.
I'm pretty sure we're doomed as far as the whole global warming thing goes.

It's not easy being green

We're still getting over a round of stomach flu and poor Willa's had a cold on top of it. With me not feeling very lively, I've been relying on a lot of quiet, sitting still activities: coloring, books, and dvds we borrowed from friends of the Muppet Show.

Willa is suddenly obsessed with Kermit the Frog. He's on the screen and she's riveted and squealing. He's off the screen and she's calling for her, "er's da frggg? (that's "Where's the Frog" for those of you who don't speak toddler).

She woke up at 5 this morning coughing so much I got her and we sat on the couch for a little while. Suddenly she was wide awake and pointing at the tv asking for da frggg.
"He's sleeping."
"Frggg nite-nite?"
"Yes."
She snuggled in and dozed off.

News from the East

My cell phone rang last Friday as I was leaving the office. I could tell by the way he said "hi" that there was news.

"How are you?"
"Well... not so great"
"Aw, geez, I'm sorry."
"... they want me to start on Tuesday!!!"
He got me. For a teeny tenth of a second.

Remember that job that you were pretty sure was killing anything good about you? The one that made your brain turn to mush, and more painfully pulverized your heart too? My brother has been teaching at a charter school that did not seem to have their students at the top of the priority list. There were 35 kids in his class this year. All boys. 6th grade boys. And a whole list of bad bad things that add up to this not being a place for any student or teacher, especially one fresh out of school himself with all these ideals...

Yesterday my brother probably sat his 1st graders down and started to learn their names and they might have talked about the calendar and addition. There will be challenges, but there will be support. And he is happy.

We were both crying as he gave me details on Friday. Sweet freedom. Sweet renewed purpose.

Completely unrelated, I forgot to mention and a comment reminded me. The red jumper Willa's wearing in the previous photos? I made that. Me and my sewing machine and several swear words. I made it for MaKenna, and now Willa's enjoy the hand-me-down.

frying pan... fire

Willa does not have croup, and her coughing has been less violent since Saturday. I suspect it was a cold with a side order of stomach bug...
We went to Battle Creek for Jim's work on Saturday, and tagged on a trip to Binder Park. It was a great trip, and the park/zoo is pretty cool. Willa got a cracker to feed the giraffe. I guess I should have explained to her that it wasn't for her, because when that 16 inch black slimy tongue reached out and took it from her hand, she had a melt down.
While at the zoo Jim started feeling bad, and blamed it on a bad choice of Burger King's breakfast. On the way home, I got to hear my husband toss his cookies for the first time. At 2:30 Sunday morning I started. The stomach flu hit us, and then kicked us, and then spit in our faces. I was out of bed for a total of 20 minutes yesterday.
Today everyone is back to day care/work, but still feeling kind of dazed and sore.