Friday, October 10, 2008
Fun Friday
Our weather is definitely cooling off and it's beginning to feel more like Fall. That means more outside time for all of us- hallelujah! Today we took advantage of the 75 degree temperature and headed outdoors for what Daniel calls "exporing". He loved playing in the dirt, poking the ants, blowing bubbles, and drawing with sidewalk chalk. Here are some shots of our super fun Friday.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
You Know It's Gonna Be a Bad Day When...
Your breakfast turns out like this...
In my defense, I was not making the eggs and I am not at liberty to tell you who was. Although, contrary to popular belief, it was not Daniel. Maybe tomorrow will be better, or maybe we'll just have cold cereal for breakfast.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Mom's Tagged List
Writing out six random thoughts about yourself doesn't sound like such a difficult thing to do, but I'm finding it very challenging. Maybe its trying to condense the randomness of the last half-century or so down to 6 things that's most challenging. So. . . .here you go!
Some of my fondest memories growing up was my dad playing his guitar while we cleaned up the dishes after dinner, or on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Our house was always filled with music and singing (and the wonderful smell of great Italian food!).
I have an awesome family and I especially love being "grandma". Just looking at my grandkids' pictures makes me smile from the inside out.
My favorite time of day is my early morning quiet time with my Bible, a good cup of coffee, and a great smelling candle (I like the spicy, fruity ones the best).
I love the smell of pine trees and the sound of the wind whistling through their branches.
Would love to get the whole Reckard clan together in one place for a "family reunion".
I love to travel. Always wanted to be a flight attendant, but it never happened. I love seeing new places and experiencing new things. I was even one of those crazy kids who enjoyed moving. It was fun to me to wake up in a new room, in a new house.
That's about as random as it gets.
Thanks for doing this, Mom. I love learning these little things about you. Love you lots!
Some of my fondest memories growing up was my dad playing his guitar while we cleaned up the dishes after dinner, or on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Our house was always filled with music and singing (and the wonderful smell of great Italian food!).
I have an awesome family and I especially love being "grandma". Just looking at my grandkids' pictures makes me smile from the inside out.
My favorite time of day is my early morning quiet time with my Bible, a good cup of coffee, and a great smelling candle (I like the spicy, fruity ones the best).
I love the smell of pine trees and the sound of the wind whistling through their branches.
Would love to get the whole Reckard clan together in one place for a "family reunion".
I love to travel. Always wanted to be a flight attendant, but it never happened. I love seeing new places and experiencing new things. I was even one of those crazy kids who enjoyed moving. It was fun to me to wake up in a new room, in a new house.
That's about as random as it gets.
Thanks for doing this, Mom. I love learning these little things about you. Love you lots!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tagged
I got tagged by my wonderful cousin-in-law, Anna. :) Thanks for giving me something else to think about besides what's on the news! I needed that!
The rules are:
~Post the rules on your blog
~Write 6 random things about yourself
~Tag 6 people at the end of your post~If you are tagged, just do it, and pass the tag along!
Okay, random things about me… (this could be more difficult than I thought)
1) I love this time of year, the onset of Fall, because of the cooler temperatures and the changing leaves. It means that change is coming and the holidays are right around the corner. I live for them all year long.
2) I love old music, and I mean OLD, like Ain't She Sweet and Let Me Call You Sweetheart, because it reminds me of my precious grandpa whom I miss so much!
3) My oldest memory is of the nursery at First Baptist Church of Metuchin. I remember the cribs and the Fisher Price activity boards hanging on them. I had to be less than 2 years old.
4) I am a travel junkie and love planning trips for us to take (truth be told, I love planning anything). The trip I'm most looking forward to is going to New York during the holidays. I can't wait to see the tree at Rockafeller Center, the Rockettes at Radio City, shop at Macy's, ice skate in Central Park, and have afternoon tea at the Waldorf Astoria.
5) I'm a sucker for romance. I love Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, misty bridges, and kisses in the rain.
6) When I was young, I hated Mexican food. It ranked just under liver and onions in my book. Now, not only did I marry a Mexican :), but I can't get enough of it. I crave things like chorizo, carne asada, mole, green chile, enchiladas, and Julie's chicken tacos!
My turn to tag. Do I have to stick to 6? Hmmmm. I tag-
Mom
Lisa
Allison
Stephanie
Kimbasa
Shannon
Mom and Lis- email me your list and I'll post it here. :) Hugs to you all!
The rules are:
~Post the rules on your blog
~Write 6 random things about yourself
~Tag 6 people at the end of your post~If you are tagged, just do it, and pass the tag along!
Okay, random things about me… (this could be more difficult than I thought)
1) I love this time of year, the onset of Fall, because of the cooler temperatures and the changing leaves. It means that change is coming and the holidays are right around the corner. I live for them all year long.
2) I love old music, and I mean OLD, like Ain't She Sweet and Let Me Call You Sweetheart, because it reminds me of my precious grandpa whom I miss so much!
3) My oldest memory is of the nursery at First Baptist Church of Metuchin. I remember the cribs and the Fisher Price activity boards hanging on them. I had to be less than 2 years old.
4) I am a travel junkie and love planning trips for us to take (truth be told, I love planning anything). The trip I'm most looking forward to is going to New York during the holidays. I can't wait to see the tree at Rockafeller Center, the Rockettes at Radio City, shop at Macy's, ice skate in Central Park, and have afternoon tea at the Waldorf Astoria.
5) I'm a sucker for romance. I love Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, misty bridges, and kisses in the rain.
6) When I was young, I hated Mexican food. It ranked just under liver and onions in my book. Now, not only did I marry a Mexican :), but I can't get enough of it. I crave things like chorizo, carne asada, mole, green chile, enchiladas, and Julie's chicken tacos!
My turn to tag. Do I have to stick to 6? Hmmmm. I tag-
Mom
Lisa
Allison
Stephanie
Kimbasa
Shannon
Mom and Lis- email me your list and I'll post it here. :) Hugs to you all!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
42 ...
days until the Presidential election, and I, for one, don't think it's coming soon enough. Can I stand 42 more days of political commercials, biased media coverage, and attacks being slung from one side to the other? I think not!
42- an interesting number and one I've learned a lot about in the last few days. I recently spent an afternoon at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Because of my love of history, I have vowed to visit as many presidential libraries as I can before I die. My first visit was to the LBJ library in Austin, TX. There are definitely some I'd prefer to visit over others, but proximity plays a big role in determining which libraries I get to first. Being that we live in Little Rock, I have no excuse for not visiting Clinton's.
William Jefferson Clinton was the 42nd president of the United States. The Clinton library is of particular interest to me because it highlights the events surrounding the presidency of a man who held office during a significant time of my life- my adolescent and college years. I remember, first hand, so much of what happened during that time. And I also realize how little I paid attention to what was going on in world events- outside the "world of me". Sound familiar to anyone else?
I have visited this library twice now and each time I go, I learn a bit more about who Clinton was and what his presidency was all about- there's still much to figure out...
My first visit left me with a more positive opinion of him than I had previously had in terms of some of his economic and social policies. Much good was accomplished during this time and, as with all of his predecessors, there were some mistakes made along the way. I really tried to keep an open mind and learn all that I could. This second visit left me with a much different view. Perhaps all that I've seen and heard recently from our candidates, congressmen, and political analysts, has reaffirmed my original take on the politics of the 1990s and some of the leaders of the democratic party- namely, the Clintons. Or perhaps I'm just soured on politics altogether. I'm not naive enough to believe everything that politicians say. I rarely believe anything they say- and that is on both sides of the coin. But nothing irritates me more than outright dishonesty and skillfully crafted contradictions. It irritates me to no end to hear them make excuses for themselves and crucify those on the opposing side for the same behavior. I no longer care that we have individuals in government that I don't agree with. I DO care that we have individuals (and glorify them nonetheless) that I can't even respect. We must have more than a few hundred spines laying around somewhere because there are Democrats and Republicans in Washington functioning without them.
With all the talk and criticism we have heard about the war over the past couple of years, I have started to sit up and take notice of both sides of this issue. No one can deny, not even our Democratic presidential nominee, that the surge is working and victory is finally in sight. Does that mean there haven't been mistakes made along the way? Absolutely not. History may very well prove that Iraq is indeed the wrong battlefield- anyone who can see 10 years into the future, feel free to stand up and make your case. Otherwise, we will just have to wait and see. It amazes me, though, that there is seemingly an entire party of politicians that claim to be against the war- some didn't think we had any right to go there in the first place. Does anyone remember what happened here on September 11th, 2001? Right, wrong, or indifferent, the one thing we can be sure about is that for the past 7 years, there has not been another attack on American soil. As a wife, mother, and an American- that matters to me!
Don't get me wrong, there are many other issues of concern that will effect the elections this year, but this one keeps coming back to mind. It is so closely linked to all the others. My weekend visit to the Clinton Library has once again left me pondering the war and what is fundamentally wrong with our government. Unless you visit Little Rock and spend some time touring the Clinton Library, you will not have the privilege of hearing these words (spoken by Clinton himself). Should you be planning a visit, spend the extra $3 for the audio tour. It is SO worth it! Former President Clinton will guide you through the library offering insight into what you are seeing and sharing some of his heartfelt convictions.
While gazing upon the "Foreign Policy" wall, Clinton's voice resonating in my ear, I was shocked by what I heard him say. He discussed the progress his administration made in the Balkans and Northern Ireland and then turned his attention to the Middle East. According to President Clinton, the Democratic party's golden child, little was done to secure this area of the world, although there were "7 years of progress toward peace" (we must not use the same dictionary because my definition of progress and his differ significantly). However, in response to his own foreign policy in the Middle East, he had this to say in closing...
and I quote-
"When America is involved, less people die. Sometimes, it's good to fight for peace, even when you don't fully succeed."
I'm sorry...what was that again?
Can I get that in writing #42? I think you have some colleagues (not to mention a wife) that might be interested in knowing that's where you stand...
42- an interesting number and one I've learned a lot about in the last few days. I recently spent an afternoon at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Because of my love of history, I have vowed to visit as many presidential libraries as I can before I die. My first visit was to the LBJ library in Austin, TX. There are definitely some I'd prefer to visit over others, but proximity plays a big role in determining which libraries I get to first. Being that we live in Little Rock, I have no excuse for not visiting Clinton's.
William Jefferson Clinton was the 42nd president of the United States. The Clinton library is of particular interest to me because it highlights the events surrounding the presidency of a man who held office during a significant time of my life- my adolescent and college years. I remember, first hand, so much of what happened during that time. And I also realize how little I paid attention to what was going on in world events- outside the "world of me". Sound familiar to anyone else?
I have visited this library twice now and each time I go, I learn a bit more about who Clinton was and what his presidency was all about- there's still much to figure out...
My first visit left me with a more positive opinion of him than I had previously had in terms of some of his economic and social policies. Much good was accomplished during this time and, as with all of his predecessors, there were some mistakes made along the way. I really tried to keep an open mind and learn all that I could. This second visit left me with a much different view. Perhaps all that I've seen and heard recently from our candidates, congressmen, and political analysts, has reaffirmed my original take on the politics of the 1990s and some of the leaders of the democratic party- namely, the Clintons. Or perhaps I'm just soured on politics altogether. I'm not naive enough to believe everything that politicians say. I rarely believe anything they say- and that is on both sides of the coin. But nothing irritates me more than outright dishonesty and skillfully crafted contradictions. It irritates me to no end to hear them make excuses for themselves and crucify those on the opposing side for the same behavior. I no longer care that we have individuals in government that I don't agree with. I DO care that we have individuals (and glorify them nonetheless) that I can't even respect. We must have more than a few hundred spines laying around somewhere because there are Democrats and Republicans in Washington functioning without them.
With all the talk and criticism we have heard about the war over the past couple of years, I have started to sit up and take notice of both sides of this issue. No one can deny, not even our Democratic presidential nominee, that the surge is working and victory is finally in sight. Does that mean there haven't been mistakes made along the way? Absolutely not. History may very well prove that Iraq is indeed the wrong battlefield- anyone who can see 10 years into the future, feel free to stand up and make your case. Otherwise, we will just have to wait and see. It amazes me, though, that there is seemingly an entire party of politicians that claim to be against the war- some didn't think we had any right to go there in the first place. Does anyone remember what happened here on September 11th, 2001? Right, wrong, or indifferent, the one thing we can be sure about is that for the past 7 years, there has not been another attack on American soil. As a wife, mother, and an American- that matters to me!
Don't get me wrong, there are many other issues of concern that will effect the elections this year, but this one keeps coming back to mind. It is so closely linked to all the others. My weekend visit to the Clinton Library has once again left me pondering the war and what is fundamentally wrong with our government. Unless you visit Little Rock and spend some time touring the Clinton Library, you will not have the privilege of hearing these words (spoken by Clinton himself). Should you be planning a visit, spend the extra $3 for the audio tour. It is SO worth it! Former President Clinton will guide you through the library offering insight into what you are seeing and sharing some of his heartfelt convictions.
While gazing upon the "Foreign Policy" wall, Clinton's voice resonating in my ear, I was shocked by what I heard him say. He discussed the progress his administration made in the Balkans and Northern Ireland and then turned his attention to the Middle East. According to President Clinton, the Democratic party's golden child, little was done to secure this area of the world, although there were "7 years of progress toward peace" (we must not use the same dictionary because my definition of progress and his differ significantly). However, in response to his own foreign policy in the Middle East, he had this to say in closing...
and I quote-
"When America is involved, less people die. Sometimes, it's good to fight for peace, even when you don't fully succeed."
I'm sorry...what was that again?
Can I get that in writing #42? I think you have some colleagues (not to mention a wife) that might be interested in knowing that's where you stand...
Monday, September 22, 2008
Ode to Fall
Fall is officially here and I, for one, am thrilled. We finally get to experience Fall in all its splendor here- it is one of the things I love the most about living in Little Rock. There is so much to look forward to and love about this time of the year.
What I love about Fall...
What I love about Fall...
- Changing leaves
- Cool, crisp mornings
- Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks (although they always get trumped by the Peppermint Mochas that arrive with the holiday season)
- Apple cider
- Pumpkins
- Warm sweaters
- Hot soup on cold days
- Watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"
- Spending the evening in front of a roaring fire
- Dressing up my kids for Halloween
- Trick-or-treating
- Meals prepared in the oven
- The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade
- Thanksgiving dinner
- Black Friday shopping
- the onset of the holiday season
This Fall will bring many other blessings as we celebrate more of Sofia's "firsts" and, Lord willing, receive news of our future with or without Verizon and another possible relocation. Yes, Fall brings a lot to look forward to and I'm so glad it's here!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sofaloaf
Four months has gone by in a flash- or rather, a blur. :) I cannot believe that Sofia is 4 months old! We have entered the wonderful and explosive world of spoon-feeding. I think this time around, I may head to Home Depot to invest in some large plastic tarps and a pair of protective goggles. This next stage does mark my favorite baby age- the period between 4 and 6 months. And, despite the challenges that come with spoon-feeding and increased mobility, the next few months promise to be fun, fun, fun!
Sofia received a big "thumbs up" from her pediatrician today and is a textbook baby as far as hitting her developmental milestones- in fact, she's a bit ahead of the curve- which comes as no surprise to us! As far as her growth is concerned, here are her most recent stats:
Weight- 14 lbs. 5 oz.
Length- 26 inches
Head Circumference- 16 1/2 inches
I was shocked to learn that Sofia is in the 70th percentile for weight and the 95th for length. Those of you who "knew me when" remember the days of trying to get Daniel to weigh out of the 5th-10th percentile- to no avail, I might add. So, having a baby rank in the 70th is a huge change. No pun intended.
Regardless of how much she weighs or how long she is, we are so thrilled to have her and blessed to watch her grow!
We love you Sofaloaf!
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