Ginny and Hermione

Yeah, however you spell those names, they are characters from Harry Potter and the girls play this all the time so these Halloween costumes will probably get a lot of use. Megan ditched the cloak and accessories pretty early on so she was just someone in a purple tie.

Failed photo attempt

Batman scares Robin?

Way to represent

Don't mess with the ortho department. Oh and the first time we met Leah she was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz play, this is a slightly different look for her.

Identity revealed

Patrick shows the world who is behind Robin's mask.

Report from the Radiologist

No razor blades, just looks like a stomach ache in the making. The chief decided that they would treat the candy CT's just like they would treat an emergency head CT... by reading it from home. Sean rolled through the images for me, pointing out the different kinds of candy, he was pretty good at it even though it's not an official rotation during residency. He went to a special training conference for it last year in Vegas. Oh wait, no that was for poker... but don't tell Army, they paid for it. (I'm kidding, don't go tell the commander that or he may believe you).

My Illegal Rant

I just got this email and I am supposed to forward it to everyone in my address book. Let's take a look:

PETITION for President Bush:

Dear Mr President:! We, the undersigned, protest the bill that the Senate voted on recently which would allow illegal aliens to access our Social Security. We demand that you and all Congressional representatives require citizenship as a pre-requisite for social services in the United States

We further demand that there not be any amnesty given to illegals, NO free services, no funding, no payments to and for illegal immigrants.

We are fed up with the lack of action about this matter a nd are tired of paying for services to illegals.
===========

First of all, when did this petition start? When did someone actually think President Bush had the power to accomplish anything? I think he's been a lame duck for about 2 years now but that's a whole other issue. My point is that illegal immigrants are GOOD for this country and for our economy and I am so so tired of people thinking they are the enemy. Unless you are a Native American, at some point your family members were immigrants. It used to be much easier to get citizenship, how fortunate for your family, congratulations!

Now, what jobs do you think illegal immigrants are taking from the legal citizens of this country? Do you think they are getting the big promotions down at the bank? Or do you think maybe they clean the bank after hours? Do they own fancy restaurants or do they wash the dishes there? Would you go pick produce in the fields 16 hours a day in the sweltering heat for low wages? Would you shove pickles in a jar from 10pm until 6am every night, did I mention no air conditioning? Would you work for extremely low wages building affordable houses in the blazing Texas sun? Do yard work from sun up to sun down? How about raise someone else's child for less than minimum wage and live far away from your own children just so they can eat? Do you see where this is going? And do you see how this benefits the legal citizens?

Produce is cheaper when you pay illegals to pick it and the cost of food affects many parts of our economy. There are a lot of legal citizens who enjoy cheap nannies, cheap housekeepers, and cheap lawn maintenance. We may not see much of that here, but I certainly enjoyed the only authentic Mexican food in town before the illegals who worked there were deported. Awesome, thanks, now there is just one less restaurant in town, well done.

Now as to those who are paranoid about illegal immigrants getting free health care.... do you think they are getting tummy tucks and boob jobs? I don't know about you, but I like when healthy people pick my produce or work in the restaurant kitchens. And hey, you know when doctors take trips to 3rd world countries on humanitarian aid trips, well, that is certainly applauded and celebrated. How is it different when they treat some of those same people in our own country? Oh look, they didn't have to leave their families behind for several weeks to do the same acts of charity. In fact, they can treat those patients much easier here with access to all their equipment. How about we start letting doctors take a charitable deduction for services performed pro bono? They do have a billing chart, it's not that hard to prove what amount to get credit for. Many people send a lot of money to poor countries yet turn their backs on the ones who risked everything to sneak into this country to clean our toilets. How does that make sense??

It only took me one year in El Paso to realize exactly why Mexicans sneak across our borders. You can see over the border and see that they live in slums... houses made out of scraps of metal and wood, with no windows and dirt floors. It's not the same to see it in photos, you need to see it in person to believe how horrid it is. The crime is horrific there also; the stuff that goes on there and is ignored would be a media field day in this country. That is a country that has been destroyed by their leaders.... they allow factories to come in and pollute their soil, water, and air with no consequences. Drug lords intimidate all, kidnappings are rampant, and gun violence is a fact of life. It was so bad that the soldiers at Ft Bliss were forbidden from crossing the border when we lived there. So if you lived in one of those shacks and had to worry about the safety and health of your family, do you think that perhaps when you looked across the border at the relative luxury of El Paso that you might think about moving?

Oh, and as for the idea that illegal immigrants are going to drain social security, the fact is that many of them DO pay social security taxes, under the fake social security numbers that they used to get a job. The kicker is that they can't later draw on that social security, being that it's a fake number. A moot point anyway, social security will be going broke for other reasons.

Well, that is my rant for tonight and a bit of a departure from my normal topics. This is why I don't work for a magazine or newspaper, I can write whatever I want and no one is being forced to read it. Total freedom, a good thing I live in America where I can enjoy that. Just something else I don't take for granted and something else I hope everyone, legal and "illegal", can enjoy too.

Update to Bread Recipe

I know a bunch of people use my bread recipe so I thought I would share how I am making it more healthy these days. I debated grinding up Flintstone vitamins and adding that to the dough since it's pretty much all the kids eat but then discovered whole ground flaxseed meal. I just add a tablespoon or two to all the other ingredients and it comes out great. It has a slightly nutty whole grain taste to it but the kids still snork it down. Sean prefers the regular recipe but he is not the main consumer so he is overruled most times. You can find the flaxseed at any store I bet since our Dillons carries it. If Dillons has it in Kansas then I bet gas stations carry it in Virginia...

Countdown to Christmas

Ugh, Target already has round 2 of Christmas supplies out and it's only a matter of time before they start infiltrating the muzak playlist with 50 different versions of Silver Bells. So no, it is not too early for me to be stressing about gifts for Sean's office staff. The past two years I have slaved away for a week making shortbread, fudge and candied pecans for all 26 of them. The first year Misty added her baked goods to mine so it wasn't as taxing, but last year I had to step it up on my own so it didn't look so pathetic.

I thought it would be worth it if it would garner some goodwill towards Sean but he said it only lasted a few hours before one of the techs made a comment to another one about how he was being mean. I would see their point (they are insulted when he reminds them to turn in the paperwork after a procedure) except that it is not unusual for the lab to call and say they got some unlabeled items turned in. Brilliant. Who do you think gets in trouble for that? Everything trickles UP in Army hospital where doctors are just seen as a drain on the budget, not the driving force for income. But I digress, my point is that I'm not feeling like giving up a week of my time for this anymore if it's only making people like ME, not Sean. So, anyone have suggestions for a gift Sean can give them? Many of them do work hard and we feel it's appropriate to show them some appreciation (might I add that other departments don't do this), so what is appropriate here? I am thinking Target gift cards. Other suggestions??

He's a walking boy

How cute is that jacket? Thanks Monica, we are going to get a ton of use out of it this winter! Patrick is mostly walking now and getting fast. I only get stuff done now when he's sleeping.

Just a little shout out

I don't want to scare anyone off but I can tell some locations of loyal readers and sometimes I wonder who they are. Waterbury, Connecticut, you deserve a prize, whoever you are. I feel a bit guilty when I see that people have been checking in and I've run out of things to complain about or photos to post. Oh the pressure to post something.

I also know that a lot of you are "mom with a camera" and in fact many of us have the same exact camera (go rebel!), so when you get that photo you love I would recommend that you check out mpix.com. I just printed out that one of Patrick in the grass on some photo mount thing (not the wrap around canvas, that cropped off his hands), but something that kind of looks like that except the edge around it is black (or white, your choice) and it comes ready to hang. And about $400 cheaper than the real professionals would charge you. I think that cancelled out the price of my favorite lens. I ordered it late Thursday night and it was on my doorstep by noon Saturday. Now that is some service. I also printed out a bunch of lesser photos on single weight matboard with lustre finish and it made a huge difference. Don't worry Palmgren, it's not looking like a shrine around here yet. I ship a lot of this stuff to Sean's office. He actually got criticized by some higher up at the hospital for not having photos up shortly after he started there. Well Army, I saw your challenge and it is MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Hat Weather

Grandma Marjie knit this to go with a sweater back when Megan was a baby. Who knew it would fit her for 7 years? Didn't get much use in El Paso or San Antonio oddly enough. Patrick refuses to even try it on.

Can you add yourself to Wikipedia?

Just looked up the town Sean's family comes from and found that Aunt Maureen is one of their notable residents. Brigadier General and first female department head at West Point. Also makes pillowcases for her favorite niece currently serving in Iraq. Huh, I wonder who added that entry? I think I just thought of xmas presents for everyone on my list... creative and free! Ooh, I also just thought of a way to "honor" people I didn't like in high school. Hmm, what sort of career field might someone who used to steal boyfriends go into? A genre of movie, anyone, anyone??

Gotta Love Wikipedia

Ran across the Wikipedia entry for Manhattan today and thought I'd share some highlights with you. Yes, you can't make up stuff this good.
1. It was actually named Boston until some people from Ohio in a steamboat joined the settlement under the condition that it be renamed Manhattan. I think I'm okay with not living in "The Little Beantown".
2. I still don't understand why being home to the "longest continuously-operating Pizza Hut in the world" is a positive thing. When I think of an old chain restaurant, I think of old grease and dirt. I'm sure it's fine but it's still not on my list of places to go for date night...
3. Notable residents: Bill Murray's brother (do we really believe he is an actor in his own right? It says right in his bio that he appears in most films that stars his brother); Tiger Wood's dad (I bet the K-state alums knew this one), and Elvira (only born here, phew).
4. Census data shows 0.07% of the population is Pacific Islander. I think I've seen that guy.
5. The trailer for Friday Night Lights shows downtown Manhattan. When I first read that fact I thought they shot some scenes from the TV show here which meant Tim Riggins was in town and I missed it?! But no, it was for the movie.

Well, that is enough trivia for tonight. Quiz tomorrow.

Check those vents

Patrick has discovered that there is fun to be had in every room. He can lift up the vent covers in the floor and enjoys making things disappear. I found my cell phone down the one in the laundry room today and then in another I found about 30 markers, his sunglasses, and a big rock. I cringe to think about what we can't reach... He also likes to get in to my lazy susan cupboard and open up the flour and stick his hands in. We were both well dusted with it today right as it was time to leave to take Anna to school. Ran into a friend who is expecting her 3rd baby and she asked me how it is with 3. I assured her it wasn't that big of an adjustment, meanwhile she must have been horrified by my flour covered outfit and my obvious lack of shower today.

Freaking Me Out Here

So maybe that was Richard Simmons I saw the other day...

Favorite new photo of Patrick

The never ending quest to just get him to look at the camera.

Batman does have another job...

So we had to cut out of the party early. Sean is afraid that this will show up on the Nightrays website now! On Halloween he can wear this to go x-ray candy at Army hospital. Seriously. If you google this sort of thing you will find out that it is pretty much an urban legend and there are many problems with doing it, but that doesn't matter apparently. Oh and if you do go, see if you can get the lab to screen for poisons. Tell them radiology sent you.

Manhattan is Safe Tonight

We forgot how old and tired we are and decided to go to a party tonight, down in the college area. Oh, I guess it's pretty funny seeing Batman get into a CIVIC, right college boys? You know, we like to keep a low profile, no need to get the Batmobile out unnecessarily.

There were many funny costumes tonight and if I can steal Sean's laptop away I can post from there (used the old camera) and show you some. The girls loved our costumes and took turns trying them on. Perhaps I can convince them to go as Super Friends family next year. We have a Robin costume we can borrow for Patrick, so watch for those photos in a couple weeks.

Where's Patrick?

I don't know why I thought Patrick would be safe from Anna if I strapped him in his highchair....

Optical Delusion

What water tower? We have an awesome water view, just look the other way....

Grumpy Kids

Tried to go get some photos of the kids tonight since it was nice out but they were so crabby that I didn't even try. Instead I just played around with some old shots, here you go, Grandmas!

Mommy Servant

So Anna says something to me the other day about how I am her servant. I do make a lot of comments about how I am NOT their servant, but apparently those are ignored. So I ask her what she means because I am most definitely not her servant and she says, "But you serve me lunch". Yes, good point, but don't call me your servant. So then she decides to call me "Mommy Servant" instead. I give up. It is time to enforce the chore list.

Big Stuff

Yeah, someone thinks he is big stuff these days. When I was getting him out of his car seat the other day I briefly sat him in Anna's booster seat while I grabbed numerous items he had thrown around the van. He then refused to get out of the booster so I had to bring it inside for him to play with. He is not happy that he is still in a real car seat, facing backwards too, the final insult. Trust me, this smile is not around when it comes time to buckle him in for the Anna preschool shuttle.

This is how I roll.

Triathlon Complete!

Yes, this was what I trained for my entire life: The Big City Triathlon. Eating. Shopping. Sleeping. I conned a friend into joining me; I was correct in assuming she needed a break since her husband is half-way through his deployment. Someday I will take weekend trips away with Sean, but in the meantime we have no one to watch the kids so we do our get-aways with friends. He has his share of Vegas weekends with the boys, so don't feel too sorry for him. I'm not even counting all the trips he does to go get medical licenses in various backwoods states. Hello West Virginia! We thought you were just for driving through!

Anyway, a quick warning to those who might want to complain to me about the hassles of flying. Unless you have small children in tow, don't say anything. Nope, just shut it now. Having just done an "easy short direct flight" to Chicago with the whole family and now a longer trip by myself, I cannot believe the experiences have anything in common. Wow, yeah, that sucks when you are stuck on the runway for an hour waiting to take-off-- without children.... man, wow, you get to sit and read a book uninterrupted for an extra hour, yeah, poor you. Nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to trying to keep 3 children from having complete meltdowns in front of many many strangers (one of whom is armed I might add-- and who was right in front of me on the last family flight we took, props to him for not threatening to scare the kids straight). Also, the security process.... only having to put one pair of shoes back on and grab one bag and zero strollers was a breeze. I didn't have to bite my tongue about how stupid it is to take off Patrick's Robeez (essentially leather socks for babies). Yeah, it's all ridiculous and a pain, but way way easier when you're on your own.

Overall the trip was great and I didn't buy nearly as much as Sean feared I would. I was disappointed to find that the shopping in unnamed big city is not much different than Kansas City but there were a few good unique stores. Lots of great restaurants too and we resisted the old fallback of Cheesecake Factory until brunch on the last day. I really haven't eaten much since then and wonder if I'll ever be hungry again.

Sean insists that they had a great weekend here, lots of eating out and surprise toys to entertain the kids. He had the house clean and was folding laundry when I got home (where did he get that tip? ha). I haven't mentioned where I went because I didn't have time to see all my friends in that particular area, less than 48 hours and that included a lot of sleeping. I did get to see one friend from college though and her 3 perfectly behaved children. They are about the same age as my kids and the two older ones colored quietly for two and a half hours while we had a long lunch. My girls are getting better about stuff like that, but never could they have lasted so long and been so good. Last time we were together Megan and Emma were toddlers and baby #2's were on the way. I do hope the kids get to play together again some day, maybe a football game next year. I will post photos of them if I can figure out how to download from my old camera. Hmm.

It is good to be home and no one seems to have any long term psychological damage from mommy abandonment. Oh and Patrick slept through each night, yes, this is pretty much the first time he has done that in 13 months... I guess he knew his night servant was gone and didn't want to wake daddy. Poor guy is getting a back tooth also so that is rather impressive. Sean insists he didn't just sleep through the crying. He is off enjoying a well deserved break himself... at the video game store. Happy Columbus Day to him!

Perk to Living in Kansas

I was driving through town today (45 seconds) and saw a guy riding a bike in shorts and a red tank top. My very first thought was that it was Richard Simmons. Seriously brain? After that moment of horror passed I sighed with relief.... I believe there is zero chance of seeing him in Kansas. Unfortunately this rule also holds true for George Clooney.

Housework for Computer Addicts

A friend recently posted that her husband thinks she does nothing all day but play on the computer and I thought she could use a few tips to remedy that. And if you're someone who actually reads my blog, then you probably spend too much time on the computer too!
1. Do chores that are noticeable.
Make your own bed and then shut the doors so the kids don't mess it up. Don't clean the kids' rooms, they will trash them before husband comes home, negating the 4 minutes you spent making their beds and throwing books in the closet. Use those 4 minutes to start the laundry. Notice I said "start" the laundry. Takes no time at all to throw a basketful in the washer, then the dryer, then the next basket (there is always another basket or 4). Pile it all on your bed to be folded later when it can be witnessed. Laundry is much more impressive when it is piled 4 feet high. If you fold it all and put it away before he comes home he will assume the laundry fairy visited once again. Same goes for vacuuming, he won't notice unless you do it while he is home.
2. Bake something.
Now I enjoy eating, I mean baking from scratch, but don't feel the pressure to do more than throw some premade cookie dough in the oven. He will think you did a lot of work. If you are worried about eating all the baked goods yourself, get the cookie dough from whatever neighborhood child is peddling it this year, it won't tempt you. I personally don't think it's worth the calories because I can bake something much better myself, but for your husband who actually considers buying the Little Debbie snack cakes at the shopette, those are some mighty fine cookies.
3. Hire a lawn boy.
At least one day a week you will then be able to make the joke that you cut the grass that day. If he isn't paying attention as you run down your list of accomplishments for the day you may actually get credit for an extra item. If he does pay attention then it is also a little reminder that mowing the lawn is one less chore for him to do.

One of the keys to marriage is making sure you appreciate each other and hopefully these tips will help. Truly, if the house is still standing and the kids are alive, you had a successful day. If you did all that while spending time on the computer to preserve your sanity, then it's a double success. There are worse ways to spend your time, things that involve spending a lot of money...(shopping, gambling, collecting hummels). Speaking of money, be sure to appreciate what the hubby does all day to pay for the beloved computer, in fact asking lots of questions about his day will distract him from how little it appears you did during the day!

Destruction Boy

Patrick is most definitely on the move these days, taking a few steps here and there and crawling like mad the rest of the time. I found him in the toy basket today which he later tipped over and then Anna put on top of him (and I put her in time-out). While I was making dinner Patrick was getting out the napkins to set the table. And then to distract him further I let him play with his favorite toy- the lens cap. I later found that he had thrown it in the trash, nice. I forgot about the trash stage, ugh.

Big Excitement in Manhappening

Yes, a new park. Had to check it out this morning, thought we'd give Sean a little peace and quiet to catch up on sleep.

Sobering Thought

My excitement over the fact that the mini-van is paid off now has been replaced with the realization that I've been driving it for 5 years. I have been driving a mini-van for FIVE years. Never thought I was cool, but this is a new low. It's pretty darn convenient but does signify that you've given up and embraced the suburban lifestyle with kids. And this is why I insist on getting the cool jeans, must retain some sense of dignity.

Sleepy Hair

Always styling in the morning, especially today in her new pj's from Fairy Godmother Aunt Katie. I had to give her a bath this morning to try and tame the hair.

Pop It

Anyone remember these? Well, I think Tupperware lady was scared by my enthusiastic reaction when I saw them last night. Turns out they are no longer in the catalog and she just had a couple she was selling, so I snapped up one set. It just occurred to me that I should have bought both sets so 4 people could shoot balls at each other at once. Sean and I practiced last night so we could impress the girls today.