Monday, June 01, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Sam's Seventh
Sam turned seven. SEVEN! This year we planned a Jedi Training Party awarding all of the young Jedis with lightsabers--after they of course past the training with push ups, sit ups, obstacle courses with metrorites and storms of bullets (bubbles) from strom troppers and the like. Once trained, the evil Darth Vader (sweet Tom always taking a beating from the kids) arrived and they all pummeled him to the ground. It was lovely. Stella, oddly and gratefully, slept though the entire event.
We are quite happy to have this little troll in our lives. What a sweet little boy he is. We love you Sammy.
Friday, May 08, 2009
The end of a Grand Era
Stella, the great Escapist!
Almost a year ago, Stella figured out how to climb out of her crib. We quickly slurged on a $80.00 crib tent in order to continue to contain her a few months longer. We censored any references that suggested entrappment. We renamed it a more positive "princess bed." This had a lulling effect for about six wonderful months of sleepfilled nights. HOWEVER! The other day, I heard her upstairs during her nap. Somehow from within the tent, she pushed her entire crib to the door of her room in order to get out. This is one determined (and inventive) little girl.
I am most convinced now that we have only a limited number of lingering days of solid containment. The tent with its twenty safety pins can not hold her insurgency for long.
She is forever the great escapist!
Almost a year ago, Stella figured out how to climb out of her crib. We quickly slurged on a $80.00 crib tent in order to continue to contain her a few months longer. We censored any references that suggested entrappment. We renamed it a more positive "princess bed." This had a lulling effect for about six wonderful months of sleepfilled nights. HOWEVER! The other day, I heard her upstairs during her nap. Somehow from within the tent, she pushed her entire crib to the door of her room in order to get out. This is one determined (and inventive) little girl.
I am most convinced now that we have only a limited number of lingering days of solid containment. The tent with its twenty safety pins can not hold her insurgency for long.
She is forever the great escapist!
Monday, April 20, 2009
HOORAY FOR CAA!
LA with the Girls.
I must admit that going to the Getty with Art Historians is significantly more enjoyable than with the little ones.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Catfish, Amazons and Showers
The Weekly Cute Roundup
Sam and Stellie were showering together this evening and when Sam decided he was done & turned off the shower. Stella was not impressed and a little confused at the sudden lack of water. She shouted, "Oh no, Mom! The shower is out of batteries! we have to fix it!"
Though more indicative of her personality than her plumbing troubleshooting skills, is Stella, the Amazon. She refused to wear a dress today to church, insisting on pants. While gathering our things, she ripped of her shoes, ran outside, climbed to the top of the swing set and started screaming a tribal yell for Independence. She then proceeded to swing as high as she could with her head tossed all the way back. When she was ready, she came back in and put on a dress and grabbed her doll and went to church. What a gal!
Sam was sent to bed at 8. At ten, he shouted that he was so very very hungry. We went up there to put a stop to all of his fatigued shannaigans when he explained that he was so hungry, he was as hungry as a catfish. Mmm... This inventiveness earned him a slice of bread. He is now always...sleepy as a catfish, mad as a catfish.
Thus, this week Catfishes, Amazons and battery-operated showers have all become very very big.
Sam and Stellie were showering together this evening and when Sam decided he was done & turned off the shower. Stella was not impressed and a little confused at the sudden lack of water. She shouted, "Oh no, Mom! The shower is out of batteries! we have to fix it!"
Though more indicative of her personality than her plumbing troubleshooting skills, is Stella, the Amazon. She refused to wear a dress today to church, insisting on pants. While gathering our things, she ripped of her shoes, ran outside, climbed to the top of the swing set and started screaming a tribal yell for Independence. She then proceeded to swing as high as she could with her head tossed all the way back. When she was ready, she came back in and put on a dress and grabbed her doll and went to church. What a gal!
Sam was sent to bed at 8. At ten, he shouted that he was so very very hungry. We went up there to put a stop to all of his fatigued shannaigans when he explained that he was so hungry, he was as hungry as a catfish. Mmm... This inventiveness earned him a slice of bread. He is now always...sleepy as a catfish, mad as a catfish.Thus, this week Catfishes, Amazons and battery-operated showers have all become very very big.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Mary (holy cow!) Kelly
I'm going to a conference in LA on Wednesday with several other grad students. The conceptual feminist artist Mary Kelly will be giving a FREE lecture and I am over the moon. Her extensive five year project called the Post Partum Document is one of my favorite pieces of all time--one that I spent several months writing, researching and trying to understand. Among many other things, the work addresses the labor of mothering, by documenting feeding schedules, diaper stains, portions of lovie blankets, and the slow introduction of language. Her work, like motherhood, is challenging, complicated and completely fasciating. I love her, love her! I'm star struck at the thought of hearing her speak. Thank you Tom for taking the extra shift for me to have this wonderful oppertunity.
We miss Summer!
Last summer, Tom bought this old billboard for $20.00. The world's greatest slip and slide.
But poor Snowy us! By February, I'm always ready for summer.
The weather is starting to warm up a little and we've taken out the rusty old bikes, dusted them
off, and started riding again. Spring!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
How many Allreds can you fit on one couch?
I love this picture (despite my double chin. I swear I don't have one. This is a great picture of my family and me, not so much.) But, there is this running joke about the Allreds that if three people are in a room and that room has three chairs, all three Allreds will be sitting on top of one another and the other two chairs will be empty. We are snuggly to a fault. When this picture was taken Andrew, Mike, Abby, Nacho, Maya and I were all having a little heart heart, Allred to Allred conversation on that tiny piece of couch you see there. In that same snuggly position you see right there. What a bunch!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Kershinsnik's Nativity
In light of the completion my research paper, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Contemporary Images of Lactating Women, we loaded up the kids in the car and headed off to the UMFA to see this great painting Nativity by Brian Kershinsnik.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Why did the Chicken Cross the Road?
Sam loves to tell riddles and jokes. One of the many, is why did the chicken cross the road? The answer typically has to do with star wars, light sabers, and often has little to do with poultry or philosophy in general. However, the last time he posed the question, Stella exclaimed, "Chicken! GET OUT OF THE ROAD! ITS A DANGEROUS PLACE!" I'm glad to know she's been listening.
Romance and Religion
Read this article about how romantic comedies effect relationship expectations. Click here.
I would also like to hear your comments about how unhealthy expectations affect religious devotion. Is it possible to romanticize religion to the point that it inevitably disappoints you?
Saturday, December 06, 2008
AN ADAPTATION
To all of those looking to get into the Christmas spirit, check out this wonder Christmas gem, a post-modern adaptation of Mr. Krugger's Christmas by our dear friends English & Kelly.
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