Lily – Galveston, TX

What is happening here?

Memorial Day Carnation Drop

Re-posted from 5/28/09. I can't believe this was a year ago!

On Memorial Day we went to the carnation drop at the Palm Springs Air Museum. It was a thrilling experience. Carnations were dropped from a B-25 Mitchell bomber that thundered by not far overhead to honor our war veterans. Next time I'll bring a cooler. Ahh, hindsight is 20/20 where common sense fails to thrive.

Joe loves his big brother Dennie, and something about the way Dennie is tenderly holding Joe's hand in this photo just touches me to no end. Joe's other big brother Brian braved the center of the crowd to make sure we could pluck at least one carnation from the batch for our little one. And that is, in fact, what he did.

Thank you to all war veterans and to every man and woman who has served this great country of ours in any capacity, be it military service, as a peace officer, fire fighter or teacher. We owe you a debt that can never fully be re-payed.

Around the New House by Joe Joe

I'm feeling more comfortable in our new Texas home. One thing that makes me happy is taking pictures.

[caption id="attachment_2673" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="This is what I see when Mom is working and I crawl under her desk to bite her toe."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2674" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lily's sippy cup is empty. Mooommy!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2675" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Mommy doesn't know this but she puts her hand on her face when she is thinking."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2676" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I dragged the rocking chair into the family room from Mommy & Daddy's room. I was bored."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2677" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I like my dune buggy."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2678" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="My feet are getting bigger."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2680" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Daddy thought he would be a big ball of blur in this photo. Hee hee."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2681" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Mom told me to stay away from this, so naturally I am taking a close-up photo."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2682" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Mom put this in the family room, then freaked out one day and put it in the back yard."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2683" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Mom said she used to think I had six toes. She's nuts."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2684" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="My sister Lily likes it when I flash the camera in her face."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2685" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="That's it for now. Bye bye."][/caption]

Life returns to normal

[caption id="attachment_2542" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Our classy mirrored bar room, baby."][/caption]

Our new house came with a fairly extensive learning curve. It's an odd U shape and sports more windows and light switches than the viewing room at Good Morning America.

I'm not a fan of ridiculously bright rooms. I like a subtle, glowing atmosphere. Hence, nearly every time I walk by the living room I flick off the overhead lights. Only I'm not flicking off the overhead lights, I'm actually flicking the switch that my husband's computer and light are plugged into. It's not my fault they put the switches in the wrong place. I'll get used to it eventually. Ahh, the little things we do on a daily basis to compound our marital bliss.

Which makes me think of this morning. I cooked eggs for the kiddos in a little cast iron skillet that we found buried in the back yard of our old house in Placerville when I was a teenager, scrubbed to a black sheen by my determined Mother. She read somewhere that I can get iron in my kids' diets by cooking with a cast iron skillet. I don't know if it's true, but I figure it can't hurt. (Note to self: buy some SOS pads.)



After an unsuccessful battle with the stubborn egg funk coating the sides of the skillet aprés cook, I tucked my tail betwixt my legs and trudged over to the side of the fridge to add non-stick cooking spray to my running list. Shocked and pleased was I to discover that my husband had added something to the list for the very first time: AAA batteries! However, since he was in the area, he saw fit to install judgment on my denotation of intent to purchase self-tanner.



Listen up, Mr. Smug with the natural golden glow. I'm sick of being mistaken for the recent undead due to my ghastly white pallor. Not only that, I'm convinced that if I carefully apply self tanner to the ridges of the cellulite craters on my thighs I will render them invisible. Again, I have no proof to back this up but it's worth a try. You'll be thanking me later.

We all had fun last night after bath time. There is nary such a pleasing sight to thine eyes as my babies Joe and Lily scooting around in their jammies, freshly-scrubbed and sweet-smelling, high on new surroundings to claim and explore.



[caption id="attachment_2550" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="What's your order, Mom?"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2549" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Joe was moving so fast I had to snap this picture two seconds before he ran into the kitchen to get the shot."][/caption]

Here are some random pictures of the past couple of weeks for interested family and friends to peruse. Some were taken at home, others at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Have a wonderful Sunday, everybody. :)



[caption id="attachment_2539" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lily and Brian camped out in our living room shortly before the move to Texas."][/caption]

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah!

I awoke at 4 AM this Christmas Eve and lay there in bed, squeezing my eyes shut, imagining myself in my Grandma's back room, listening to the muffled voices of my early-rising family. There's so much comfort in being a child, safe in bed, half-asleep and half in the land of the sounds and smells and bustle of family just in the other room, family who loves you, family who cooks you awake with bacon, and ruffles your hair and kisses your first tentative daily steps into safety and warmth.

It's never looked and felt less like Christmas in my own home this year, due to our move and the house being mostly packed, but it's never felt more like it in my heart. I would have my children emerge from their rooms this morning into wrinkle in time, so that they may feel as I have felt so many Christmas Eves, as a child, when I looked up to the world and it didn't so much look down on as smile upon me. Flocking, lights, boughs of holly, falalalala lalalala. Arranging and re-arranging the presents under the tree. Taking a musical trip to an open fire, where chestnuts roast, and jack frost nips playfully at your nose.

They won't have that this year. They will have our tiny tree and a sea of candles which Joe will remind me to light, and be amazed and satisfied by. He will tell me, as he has for the last four days, that today is Christmas and that it's time to open the presents. That "it is a good morning".

I will hear Lily awaken and tap her feet all over her wall, and tickle me into smiles with her coos and gaiety. When I bring her into the living room and gently place her on the rug, she will not fret for what isn't there, as, thankfully, she will not remember to register the lack of it. She will pussyfoot over to her brother and laugh at his expression, and they will playfully crawl in circles, chasing each other like puppies.

Dennis will eventually give up on sleep and plod down the hallway, his mind on the Christmas pastries we didn't make, but purchased ahead of time, happy to have them, and wanting our hugs and bodily warmth, to hear our laughter and see our beaming faces and to know that he can rest for today and enjoy the mood and magic that is Christmas.

Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah to you and all you hold dear!
I'm so very glad our paths crossed this year.
Soon 'twill be time to start anew, again...
Let's give the world heck in 2010!

Dallas by Happy Hour!

Image by Ginas Pics via Flickr

Dennis, Lilypooh and I will be flying to Dallas today in search of a home, and will be returning to Southern California on Sunday evening. We're not actually making the move until January 5th or so of 2010, but we recently realized that in order to accomplish the relocation we must first procure a place to live. My Mom and Stepson Brian will be entertaining, hugging and keeping an eye on Joe Joe while we are gone. We would have loved to have taken him with us, but couldn't justify forking out the bread for an extra ticket seeing as how we're going to be returning for good in a month. This bums me out immensely because he would really have enjoyed the plane ride, among other things.

Boy, will  I miss my boo boo bottom. He dragged his suitcase into the family room about an hour ago and it nearly broke my heart. I'm being honest with him as he responds well to logic, but still... we've never been apart this long. Even when I spent two nights in the hospital after Lily as born he came to visit the next day.

I just went searching for a photo of Joe's visit to the hospital and found this...



It seems as though Joe's fascination with maxi pads was not recently born!

Here it is... this picture haunts me. I think of it on a near-daily basis. Joe looks so sad and unsure of himself. The poor thing was only 18 months old when Lily was born, one month older than Lily is now! His world changed so much that day. Sure, he gained much more than he lost but still...



Why am I doing this to myself? Where did this come from! Deep breath. Moving on...

The two hour time difference is going to be a bit of a nasty witch in the morning, as we will be meeting a realtor at nine, but we're used to getting up early a'la Joe Joe's penchance for turning on all of the lights in the house at 5:20 am. Lily's always up for an adventure these days, so I'm expecting good things from her. I'm hoping to hide her underneath my hooter hider on the plane and that she'll fall asleep after a quick nip since the flight takes off right at her regular naptime of noon. I packed little bags of snacks and toys to divert her attention (thanks for the plane tip, Gina!) should she start winding up to a meltdown. Dang, I should have done the same for Dennis.

I'll miss you all. Have a fun weekend!

My Feet by Joe Joe

I sneaked out of my room early the other morning in search of candy. Drat, Mom remembered to put it on top of the refrigerator. Why she doesn't just throw it away is beyond me.

[caption id="attachment_1571" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="What's this black thing?"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1569" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="One small step for me, one large step for toddlerkind"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1570" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="If one foot is good, two feet are better. Right foot a bit shy."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1568" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="If two feet are better, two feet and three mini newtons are best!"][/caption]

I am getting bored with photos and have moved on to taking videos.



[caption id="attachment_1576" align="alignnone" width="199" caption="Brian came over Saturday night and carried me and Lily around before borrowing Dad's fancy shoes and heading out to the pub to score chicks. Yes I realize I'm much too old for a binky. Send your angry emails to my Daddy."][/caption]

Bye-bye.

Joe :D

The Seedy Underbelly of The Kephart Compound

I find it's best to write my blog posts as soon as I get up, before my brain has a chance to click into gear. Every morning I awaken a babe in the woods among you—unsullied, fresh and eager to make new friends and tackle new challenges. By noon, not so much. :?

Given my present state of mind, it seems a fabulous idea to share with y'all the seedy underbelly of our home. The "B" side, if you will.

[caption id="attachment_1588" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="I found this wad of playdough on the floor the other day. The embedded pattern looked strikingly similar to that of my shorts. Hope I didn't wear it to the store."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1589" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="The Kephart children like to raid our pantry on a daily basis. Sometimes Lily reaches into the trash can and grabs things. I'm going to Hell for allowing that to happen."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1590" align="alignnone" width="199" caption="I allow my baby girl Lily to sit in mud puddles on a regular basis."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1591" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I get up and put my hair back. Usually I remember to take a shower and fix it. Not this day. My husband Dennis told me I looked like I was from "the South"."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1592" align="alignnone" width="199" caption="I allowed this to happen too."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1593" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Lily has taken to removing her diaper during sleep sessions and flinging poop all over her room. I found poop on each page of the small book in her crib, and on each shelf of her changing table (Daddy found her first). Yes, Grampy and Grammy, this is the doll you gave Lily for Christmas. Don't worry - it came out in the wash. She sleeps in pullups now."][/caption]

And there you have it, folks! Wishing you a lovely, relaxing Sunday surrounded by the people you love.