What’s Your Status?

Why Facebook is the bain of my existence, but like a mosquito to a porch light, I can’t stop looking.

1. Why do my “friends” insist on posting inspirational quotes as their status on Facebook and don’t credit the original author?  Here’s a status for you “He who can’t be original can be annoying”

2. Help me understand a status like “I’m so happy about a decision I just made” and the first comment says “can you share it” and the author’s response is “not on Facebook”.

3.  Why are women posting their bra colors as their status in an effort to confuse the men in your network?  Don’t we confuse men enough as it is?

4.  Can we boycott the sappy, my life is amazing, no one has a better family, car, house, kid or pair of jeans?  Let’s be honest people. We’re all just voyeurs hoping for a bit of juicy gossip.  No one cares how hot your husband is.

5.  If I work with you, don’t update your status with how busy you are.  Seriously. 

6.  Don’t even get me started on Mafia Wars, Farmville, Ice Cream Scoop Town, Hearts of Love blah blah blah…I’ve blocked all of you and will continue to block you so quit wasting my time.

7.  If you friend me and don’t at least say ‘hi’, I’m going to de-friend you.  I do not want to be a statistic that helps you win the “I have the most friends contest”.

8.  If you attempt to friend me and I do not know you, I’m sorry.  I will ignore you.  I do not care how many friends I have.

9.  I have friends, who are mothers, who have professional full time careers and somehow they manage to update their statuses multiple times a day.  How is that possible?  And…why?

10.  As much as I complain about it, I still visit it, and I enjoy the fact that my parents (both of them) are on it.  I especially enjoy seeing my parent’s friends comment on how cute my kids are.  I get to catch up with great friends and acquaintances, co-workers and friends of friends.  It might be the best invention next to Shrinky Dinks.  For those reasons and more, I’ll keep coming back.

GREY*isms*

(In the kitchen after Mike returned from the “Big V” (‘Vasectomy’ for the laymen out there)

• G:  “Daddy had surgery?  How come?”
• Me:  “Well, it was more of a procedure”
• G:  “For what?”
• Me:  “Well, you know how we have you and we have Graham. We decided that we don’t want to have any more babies.  We just want you and Graham”
• G:  “So you don’t have to have 5?”
• Me:  “Exactly”

                      Our two (not 5) children:

Overheard:  When he didn’t know we were listening, Greyson told Graham about all the fun they were going to have together “playing pirates”, “playing golf”, “playing shooting” and “follow the leader”.  When Graham woke up yesterday morning, Greyson said  “when Graham bees bigger, maybe he wants to sleep with me”.

(Sigh of content)…Have a GREAT weekend!

Sunny Days, Chasing the Clouds Away!

Mike wanted me to post a picture of our green lawn. I could claim that he’s not trying to rub it in but I’m pretty sure that’s the intent. He had to mow the lawn on Saturday, yet another weekend of 55+ temps and sunny skies. Needless to say, we’ve been spending a lot of time outside going for walks to the park, playing ball in the backyard and a new one for Greyson, worm hunting. (He uses a spoon to dig up the dirt. He found one living worm, though I think it was dying, as it was quite short and looked a bit maimed; perhaps the spoon had something to do with it)

02/20/2010

I don’t talk about it often, but it’s really tough being so far from home; particularly from friends and family. But enjoying the mild temperatures this winter, particularly the sunshine and outdoor activities, makes the pangs of homesickness a little less sharp.

Our boys continue to amaze and delight. Graham is drooling and chewing as if a tooth might be coming in and he's close to rolling over so we’re keeping a close watch.

He's more vocal than Greyson was at this age. Given the amount of chatter Greyson provides on any given day squashes any hope Mike might have had for some peace and quiet.

Greyson is working on perfecting his artistic side. Meet Baleedy & Crotchy:

Those cheeks!

Do you not want to just squeeze him?

GREY*isms*

"Wow, Dad. Mom sure doesn't like me eating jello"

What do YOU want to be?

I wanted to be a writer when I was little.  There was a time I would have given anything to be Mary Lou Retton but my gymnastics dreams died when the program moved from the balcony of my middle school gym to a town 100 miles away.  Gymnast vs novelist?  Hmmm…

Now that I’m “all grow’d up” and most definitely not a writer, I’m known for the next best thing…editing.  This is an award I received at our company Christmas party this year:

They got it right, I guess, since the first thing I want to do is destroy the wording in the award.  Anyway, I digress.

GREY*isms*

• Mom: Whatcha doin?
• G:  Mom, shhh. I’m in a meeting!

So, if Greyson grows up and follows in our footsteps, he will in fact be attending a lot of meetings.  The following photo montage tells a different story, though.

Paging Dr. Greyson…

Greyson, the one man band

Captain Stinkbutt!

Last month he wanted to be a truck driver, this month it’s Spiderman.  He’s still loving every instrument we put in front of him and swinging golf clubs in the backyard whenever he gets a chance.  We’ve discovered that he’s not a big fan of playing basketball(although why would anyone like the class- they don’t get to shoot baskets!!!) but he’s OK with soccer and baseball.  His best role is big brother and he’s really amazing at it.

What I know for sure is that I don’t care so much about what he turns out to be as much as who he becomes.  And I prefer not to think about any of that and just revel in my almost 4 year old Doctor Captain One Man Band.

Celebration(s)

Mike is 35 years old, Mike is 35 years old, Mike is 35 years old…

What are we up to these days?  The end of a year and beginning of another one is a crazy for time for anyone.  This year was especially eventful given the end of my maternity leave, our travels, Mike’s birthday last Wednesday and Valentine’s Day (today!).  Mike got his birthday wish once again- a low key night with take out pizza and an ice cream cake.  To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we took a cooking class at Sur La Table on Friday and loved the meal so much that we recreated it last night.  A romaine salad w/ pancetta and homemade croutons, linguine with fresh pesto, shrimp with citrus butter and lemon souffle.  It was excellent.  The best part about it was getting a text from Sara that said “boys are both sleeping, stay out as long as you want, have fun”.  We did.

Overheard:  Greyson singing Frosty the Snowman while sitting underneath the kitchen table playing a makeshift drum.

Graham is laughing.  Open-mouthed belly laughs.  There’s not a sweeter sound in the world.  He smiles all the time and is content to hang out on the floor kicking his legs and watching his crazy brother.

What did we learn today?  We do NOT put our gum wrappers in the refrigerator.

We’re missing our family and friends, but not the cold.  56 and sunny today.  We went for a walk to the park and the boys are now napping as I write.  I’m not rubbing it in, just trying to entice you to visit!  Happy Valentine’s Day!

Big Ben…Parliament

I thought things were nutty when I went back to work in January?Throw in a trip to London for work a day after returning from Cancun and I’ll give you insanity!  

We had a load of help while traveling.  My parents flew to Seattle so that Mike & I could have some fun in Cancun (we did).  They had a blast and got to enjoy 50-degree weather while Wisconsin stayed nice and cold so I think we might have an annual reservation for them to come out and watch the boys.  While I was in London, Sara added an extra hand so that Mike could get some work done.  As Greyson was going to bed, she was getting ready to take a shower and Grey said “I want to see you naked”.  Mike thought it was hilarious.  I’m not so sure what to think!

Trafalgar Square

Big Ben

The UK Team

The boys keep getting bigger and bigger (and cuter and cuter).  I missed them like crazy.  How could you not?

So, an official ‘THANK YOU’ to my mom & dad for coming out.  From the Museum of Flight to the music store to the Meydenbauer Boat, I don’t think you could have packed more fun-filled action into a week! 

We’re all exhausted and will be taking it easy for the next few weeks.  We owe our friends and family some phone calls, Skype calls and emails so thanks for being patient!  Cheers!