friends again

We hadn't spent time with Kate and Amy in a long, long time. It was a long time overdue and lots of fun.

Happy Belated Birthday, Amy!

Love, all your friends at the Roedner Ranch.

chatty kathy, but can you understand her?

Rosa Jane Tells a Funny Story from obkb2000 on Vimeo.

Happy Engagement Anniversary!!

Seven years ago on a fateful night, Sweet Donr asked for my hand in marriage. Tonight we celebrate with chinese take out.

Tonight's fortune?

When the moment comes, take the first one from the right.

Woe to be

A girl with long curly hair on a windy, windy day. All pictures taken with a lensbaby.

Schooled in the Boot Store

Two weekends ago Diana from Seattle came to the Ranch to play and work. She taught me so much and helped me to see more clearly. As a treat to her and all our guests, we like to take them down to South Congress or SoCo as people in the Know call it to browse a little piece of Heaven on earth in a store called Allen's Boots. You've never seen so many gorgeous boots in your whole entire life. Sometimes a pair will grab hold of you and will refuse to let go.

Diana was supposed to be the one to buy boots. I didn't go in thinking I needed boots, but after being at a wedding over the weekend where these classic Texas women wore boots dressed up, I will acknowledge there was a slight need in my life for black boots. I found these fun boots that looked like they had little flowers on them, but it was really the design of the lizard skin. Art is life.

I was getting ready to put them back because there were lots of reasons in my mind NOT to get them. One, there are other things I need like a new computer and always another camera lens, not to mention our older daughter's college education to pay off. I have my priorities straight. Two, the color was something I thought I'd never in a million years own: a two-toned boot, nevermind that it was double-whammy white! But Don came over and told me I had to have them. That I'd come back next time and they'd be gone and they are really perfect for me.



That's when it was time to look around the store at my accomplices (Don, Rosa Jane and Diana) and count on my hand all the times I thought I'd never do/be a part of something and life wonderful life turned out blissfully to the contrary:

1. I never thought I'd married an older man, just ask Seebug how much Hell I gave her for marrying a cute boy a mere 8 years older.

2. I never thought we'd get pregnant. Well, after months that added up to years and years of trying, I never thought we'd get pregnant. Maybe that's why when we did finally affirm (to my credit, I did take two pregnancies test upon suspect, but both came up negative) we were pregnant we were already 20 weeks along. Bliss that we were halfway done and we didn't even know it! Never mind the fear we live in NOW, knowing that we could get pregnant! Ha! My, my how quickly the tables turn!

3. I never thought my friend Diana from Boston who moved to Seattle would make it down to visit us. Sometimes as much as you love a friend, you can't help but think that wish of coming to visit is nothing more in reality than a pipe dream.



Three for three. I think it's time to recalibrate. So I listened to Don and I am grateful for the extra push. I know boots don't make the girl and I know true happiness lies within, but damn, it sure it nice to don some sweet-looking boots that make me giddy happy and will for years to come, even if they are two-toned white. Maybe that's the funniest part of all.

Roses are red

We love to get invites to eat and meet new friends!
Check out the pics from Autumn's house last night.
Good times and lollipops after dark!

I'm Ready to Throw Down

_MG_9204
Originally uploaded by ..Kristen...

any one that would like to compare Oprah to the devil. I listen to her XM radio program whenever it is possible and always learn something new and insightful. Over the last several months I have picked up books that have greatly affected my life and my point of view. I am eternally grateful. I am a Christian and I try to live my life as Christ has taught, but I have always struggled with that. I never could get a grasp on how and would always get distracted by worldly things -- be it the person that just cut me off in traffic, or the rudeness of a fellow customer at the grocery store, etc, let alone my constant companion inside my head with negative self-attacks. I just couldn't let stuff go. But now, thanks to the Power of Now, I am realizing that all my internal thoughts are just my ego doing it's best to "Edge God Out," as Dr. Wayne Dyer put it so eloquently. Oprah is starting an online night class Monday nights in March and I can't wait to participate. I hope you'll join it, too. It really is going to create A New Earth with those that are spiritually enlightened. Down with the ego. Up with Oprah and Living your Best Life here on Earth where there's enough love from God through Jesus to make the world go around.

Here's a photo of my inspired reading these days. Pick up these books and change your life TODAY!

I'm on My Way to Making New Mistakes

I'm on My Way
I'm on my way from misery to happiness today
I'm on my way from misery to happiness today
I'm on my way to what I want from this world
And years from now you'll make it to the next world
And everything that you receive up yonder
Is what you gave to me the day I wandered

I took a right, I took a right turning yesterday
I took a right, I took a right turning yesterday
I took the road that brought me to your home town
I took the bus to streets that I could walk down
I walked the streets to find the one I'd looked for
I climbed the stair that led me to your front door

And now that I don't want for anthing
I'd have Al Jolson sing "I'm sitting on top of the world"

I'll do my best, I'll do my best to do the best I can
I'll do my best, I'll do my best to do the best I can
To keep my feet from jumping from the ground dear
To keep my heart from jumping through my mouth dear
To keep the past, the past and not the present
To try and learn when you teach me a lesson

And now that I don't want for anything
I'd have Al Joison sing "I'm sitting on top of the world".
= The Proclaimers ala SHREK's soundtrack

Tears and love and stating that I've learned an important lesson. She really wasn't like the other girls. I have to remember that. So let February be the month of love and March be the month of return to old schedules, peace and tranquility.

I am AMAZED by the calmness in my head as I live in the moment during the morning routine and usual craziness to get out the door on time. When I live in the moment of "What do I need next? Oh yeah, RJ's shoes... Let's go get them! Now what? Oh yeah, breakfast. Let's go get it! Now what, and so on and so forth" I have actually been in my car 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Can you believe that? Frantic stress of thinking of a million and one things makes you LATE, while just living aware, makes you early or on time. I choose to live in the moment any day, but especially today!

"I need all my Kids!"

Ever since Thanksgiving, Rosa Jane has been playing with the Little People Nativity scene Honey gave her. She calls all the people and animals "my kids" and often says, "I need all my kids!" To think of putting them away for the season seems like a torturous thing for a mother to do to her kid. Every day, Rosa Jane seems fixated on finding all her "wise mans."

From time to time, some evil mommy who shall remain nameless will come about in a flurry tossing everything this way and that way until all is put away jumbled, but out of sight.

On Sunday, Rosa Jane was looking for baby Jesus and sorting though a green basket twice as big as she is through all her favorite toys that she had forgotten she had. (Imagine that!) As she is sorting she is encircling herself in piles of favorites. I was like "oh, my goodness! that's EXACTLY what I do, when it comes to sorting out closets or my "in basket" or just about anything. Then I get overwhelmed by all my favorites being out in plain view so I quickly toss them back in the closet or basket and push and shove the door closed until next time I am brave enough to open the door. Then next time all my favorites will rain down on my head so I never forget them again. I don't recommend this to any one with a husband or roommate she loves. From the look on Donr's face, I know this to be a trying experience.

This is my great Ah Ha! moment. Let's see if I truly have the power to babystep towards change and actually do something with these so-called favorites.

All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

1. I could pay some handyman guy $200 to come to my house to "weatherstrip" my doors, or I could be proactive and close the already weatherstripped doors more tightly.

2. I could hire some boy to come help me train my too-smart-for-his-britches dog and become totally stressed out about not having the time to correct all my dog's bad behaviors in the moment and in effect create a MORE devilish dog, but ask yourself, as a mother of a crazy handful two year old daughter, WHY?

3. I could change up my schedule completely and drive myself over the edge insane with so much structure a girl like me can hardly breathe.

4. since I have foolishly spent money on the aforementioned disasters, bartering is my new way of life. In exchange for photographs, I now have deliciously and miraculously clean carpets -- look no further than Heaven's Best -- all you people out there. They cleaned out nasty cat stains that have been with the house forever (previous owners). I now have a personal decorator and confidant and inspirer. This woman, Alicia Autrey at Decoratorforhire.com has CHANGED my life, y'all! I bartered with my neighbor for her like-new stationary exercise bike and with Ms. Deborah for Kindermusik classes for my musically inclined daughter... and the list goes on and on! I mean Honey came to visit and gave us that Kitchen Aide Mixer we always wanted.

So I've learned some hard lessons since the beginning of 2008. I thank all those sweet people who have helped reassure me, wipe away my tears and encourage me to keep on a keeping on finding balance in my life. Motherhood is like walking on a tightrope. Sweet Donr is my catch net. Thank you, love.

Now, time to get back to "doing the right thing." I'm not so sure blogging counts, but it sure does help me clear my head.

Like Mother Like Daughter

spikeandgang
Originally uploaded by ..Kristen...

Well the years start coming and they don't stop coming,
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do so much to see
So what's wrong with taking the back streets
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow
- Smash Mouth


My two yr old has become fascinated with the big green ogre, Shrek. She loves the "All Star" theme song sung by Smashmouth. A couple of times we have been out and about and a serendipitous moment occurs -- the song blares in the background. RJ will say, "SHREK!!" When I listen intently, I concurr she is right.

I have always loved this song, too. It is such a positive song that it inspires me to "get my game on, go play!"

There are so many strong memories attached to this song, too. It reminds me of Nashville and laughing with Sally. It reminds me of Jackson Design and their inspired ad campaign that led to Spike and the gang. And my debut as a Cover girl, Rachel.

I think I love listening to what has become the shrek song as much as Rosa Jane does. She's started to sing along even when it is not playing.

The power of music to transport to another time and place is magical. I am happy to go along for the ride to my shining glory days and 15 minutes of fame.

MAMA

Okay, of the mamas out there, who caught themselves with tears a-streamin' down her cheeks as Kanye West sang his heart out to his passed away mother?

As I worry about how much time I'm spending or not spending with my daughter... I have to remind myself I ain't working no nightshift to make ends meet and even if I was, there's Kanye to sing about how much love is still there. The song was not about abandonment or feeling unloved.

To each his own way. March to the beat of your own drummer.

Be in the moment.

5d 22mm
Originally uploaded by ..Kristen...

There's no where you can be that isn't where you're meant to be. it's easy.

There's no room (in your home that) you can't change for two weeks to see if it works.

Do one thing that scares you a little bit each day.

Live authentically. Break through shells. Strip through your facade of reasons why things can't change for you right now. Right here.

Don't forget how special you are and all those in relation to you -- your family, your neighborhood, your community, your state, your nation, your planet. What will you do to make it better?
I'm slow-roasting beef and taking baby steps when shopping for groceries. I'm enjoying the process and looking for ways to improve upon someone's day.

This way of living rocks my socks off. Try it for just one moment. I bet you can't stop. It's like an open bag of Lay's Potato Chips. The real ones.

You Shoulda Been There

00026 libertyfeb-273
Originally uploaded by ..Kristen...

This image looks so effortless. Brett was squawking. Uncle Pat was lifting up Aunt C so she could do a herky to get everyone to laugh.

I guess my camera really was pointed the wrong way. ;-)

A Weekend of Heritage in Food and Sparkly Attire

00026 libertyfeb-178
Originally uploaded by ..Kristen...

For Christmas, Honey gave Caren and me promised Lebanese-cooking lessons. I've been looking forward to this weekend for a while. It was originally a weekend for just the girls, but the town's library held a benefit ball and so we brought the boys and the kids in tow. The guys stayed with the babes during the day while the women spent the day in Tammy Haddad's home kitchen. We made kibbe nie (raw beef/cracked wheat mixture), fried kibbe balls, stuffed grape leaves and cabbage rolls with hashwee. It was so fun and such an insight to how women bonded over spending three hours in the kitchen. I can't wait to find our local international food market and see just how good my notes were.

We are currently accepting donations for a heavy-duty kitchen aid mixer with the meat grinder attachment. ;-)

Check out the pictures of the cousins. I edited the ones that spoke the most fun. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

And the Crowd Goes Wild . . .

00024 RJ2y4msaturday-157
Originally uploaded by ..Kristen...

After a teary goodbye on *my* part to the old school and quiet chants from the peanut of "i want ___ (insert name of old school)," She seemed to want to stay home today and I was dubious of how today and the start of her new school would play out. So on the drive this morning, I asked her, "Do you like to play outside? Yes, she said. Do you like to play with friends? Yes, she said. Do you like to make crafts? Yes, she said. Well, you're in for a treat!, I said, Because today is a great day to do all these things and more!

When we arrived in the parking lot, I said, "Look at all the happy kids skipping into school!" I could feel her own excitement building as she gripped my fingers tighter as we walked right into her classroom. A classroom where friendly mothers greeted me and introduced themselves and their children. RJ headed straight to all the cool toys on the otherside of the room. I ventured closer to her and she gave me a little hug, then she was off playing again.

The teacher's report, "she is a natural." She acted like she'd been there all along. When she saw me, she came running to the door and gave me a big hug. Not like whew! what a relief you're back, but more like "Gee! I love you!! So great to see you! Let's go see Honey now." She fetched her bags and that was that. In the car it was, "I wanna come back here tomorrow."

So the best part of my day? The second hug I got. She's never really done that before. The worst part of my day? Packing for our short trip. Sally sent me some 101 reasons we should plan goals. On my short list: Make packing fun and less stressful.

On a day like today

In this photo set, you can almost taste how much fun it is to be two. She wakes up and the first thing outta her mouth? "Time to go play?" But play sounds more like "p'way." And yes, that is totally adorable.

Her favorite color teeters between purple and red.

Her love for Baby Angel and Baby Sara seem unfaultering. Ever since Baby Princess lost her clothes, she's no longer the talk of the town.

happy birthday to me. happy birthday to RJ.

I missed UPS yesterday b/c they delivered totally off schedule... so i had to stay home ALL day on my day to run errands for fear of missing the ups man again. Wouldn't you know he showed up at 10 til 6. Nevermind, I have a new lens at last. Check out the pictures from Rosa Jane's 2 years and 4 month birthday. Which means it's my 34 year and 4 months and 1 day birthday. Rosa Jane tried to steal my thunder saying it's HER birthday. I said, get used to it honey... we'll be sharing our birthday for a long, long time to come.

To Catch a Predator

Okay, not really a predator because we're talking about a squirrel, but still I wanted to catch him. He found a nook & cranny in our home within which to call his own. I did not like this, sam I am. With all that scratching, it made me think he was creating a hole and soon we'd have him fall onto our floor. Me no likey squirrels. They're real squirrely after all. And can't be trusted.

Sally will appreciate this -- I called our local version of a Trapper Jack.

He came last week before the real cold spell and we've been sitting with an empty trap on our roof for the past week. Today "trapper jack" took away the trap without catching the varmit, but instead closing up the hole.

I'm trying to figure out if this makes me feel. I expected to catch a squirrel AND have the hole closed.

I wanted that squirrel "to go live on the farm. with wide open spaces." Dead, whatever. I wanted the peace of mind knowing he was gone. I'd happily have eaten him myself with some dumplins. That's a southeast Texas delicacy. Yum, delish!

Instead, the trap is gone and the hole is closed.

What would you do? Should I call Trapper Jack to come back and get me my token squirrel?

An Interview with a Very Sweet Girl

A conversation with Rosa Jane from obkb2000 on Vimeo.

Embracing Motherhood

Untitled from obkb2000 on Vimeo.

RJ's first encounter with a lobster.

RJ's first encounter with a lobster. She calls them "monsters."

The Great 2008 Shake Up

We're getting ready to embrace motherhood full on every day every afternoon for the rest of my life and beyond. That's right... the days of full-time (8:30 - 5) childcare being available on two days a week is about to go bye-bye. In exchange, I'm ready to embrace community and neighborhood and 4 hours on three days a week. I'm terrified that I'm going to go crazy, but I'm excited about all the fun we're going to have together.

She's excited about her new school and so am I.

Live In Technicolor

As we were leaving our mom group last week, one mom rolled down her car window to ask me, "Does your daughter dress herself, too?"

I replied, "Unfortunately she has only me to blame at this point in her life."

She said, "oh, my 2.5 year always insists on dressing herself and today she is half-princess/half track athlete." She then added, "I've never met a mother who could dress her daughter in such a fun way."

Despite growing up with a mother who likes matchy-matchy, we like lots of color in our house. After being schooled by the great fashionista Robyna, there is no such thing as too much color.

two of my favorite people

eating popcorn in the late afternoon. we went to the salt lick for the first time yesterday after our morning at the gym. what a truly great day!

How come?

How come the mere mentioning of wanting to run a marathon has completely catapulted me as far away from the treadmill as I can get?

Seriously. I don't think you could drag me to the treadmill at this point. It looks and seems completely unappealing and over-rated.

Ain't That a Kick in the Head?

Right after Christmas, we took down Rosa Jane's crib and she's been sleeping in her big girl bed. At first we still dealt with random crying in her bed in the middle of the night and having to go to her. A couple of mornings I came into her room and couldn't find her, but could hear her wimpering. She was UNDER her bed with no covers in a cold room.

Then one morning at 5am, she discovered that she could get out of her bed and come to us. What a more pleasant way to start the day -- the sound of pitterpatter on the hardwoods and the occassional bump into one of her misplaced toys on the floor. I thought this was a pretty good deal and it has become her recent habit to come into our room in the 6ish hour to awaken us.

Over the weekend Rosa Jane woke up twice during the middle of the night and came into our room. This meant near sleepless nights for Don and me. I couldn't figure out what was going on.

I started my usual projecting, second-guessing what could I be guilty of this time while trying to do my best parenting my little precious peanut. Maybe she doesn't like her bed. Maybe it's too uncomfortable, too hard and we need to get a new mattress for her. I kept these thoughts to myself, but it was definitely a chant in the back of my head.

Last night as Don was putting RJ down for the night, he had a little talk with her about how if she wakes up, she can just roll over. Roll over and pull up her sheets and get all cozy again and fall back asleep. It must have worked because when she came into our room at 6:30 we praised her how proud we were that she stayed in bed all night. She beamed.

This morning I noticed while brushing her teeth that she has three new 2 yr old molars busting through her gums. That explains the sleepless nights!

Just when we think we have all the answers, we forget to check the most obvious of places. Parenting is tough and I always feel like a huge dunce when the problem is so simple and yet so over looked.
Forgive us, Rosa Jane. We're doing the best we can.

baby angel makes her so happy.

baby angel got her name after the nativity scene's angel. i love that my daughter listens to people's names and names her baby dolls after people she knows and the names really stick time after time.

here are some funny things coming from the lips of the babe:
"bless you, daddy" after hearing don sneeze in kitchen upon returning from his "fast walk." don went in her bedroom to check on her and she was curled up, face down still in bed just barely awake.

"they're not doing it." after the teacher said, "Rosa Jane, you don't have to clean up after the other kids. Let them do it!"

"thank you mommy for this delicious dinner" after we all sit down to eat whatever i pulled together at the 11th hour.

"i wanna watch barney."

A shout-out to Granddad

A Special Message to Granddad from obkb2000 on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday, Granddad!

Everybody loves Granddad. Especially when he doesn't mind giving the kids the window seat and he takes the "hump."


There has been a real reversal in how the elders are treated in the family. Here we have evidence of Granddad being pushed to the middle. At Christmas dinner, the grandparents had to sit at what was once reserved only for the kids -- the card table. All of this and global warming? What is the world coming to?

The Scars of our Parents

Yesterday I took Rosa Jane to the good doctor to get her last in the series of flu shots. She cried briefly as a delayed reaction. The nurse and I were so proud of her. She recovered immediately and didn't want to leave the office. She wanted to stay and play a while. Everyone at the office was like, "Wow!" Bring her back anytime. ;-)

Last night over dinner, RJ told Daddy about going to the doctor and how brave she was. Don told the story of the first time he remembered getting a shot and asking his mom if it would hurt. She said it would feel a little bit like a tiger bite.

Good luck with that.

Here's Rosa Jane robbing the cradle. She just loves the baby Jesus.

While in Richland we got to see the birthday girls, Tori and Taylor. The girls had a lot of fun making faces with each other. Check out the photos for more.

Happy New Year!

Come see the fun we had in Richland with Brett and his two costumes received from Santa.

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

We've had a wonderful Christmas holiday. From travels in a packed to the gills car to the live nativity with goats, donkeys and rabbits. We came back late last night and Rosa Jane has been obsessed with her newest baby so tenderly called Baby Angel. Honey and Granddad babysat while Pixie, Donr and I went to see Juno in Humble. I LOVED that movie and I think I cried 5 buckets, while Donr cried 3 buckets and the Pixie cried none. We've been watching marathon back-to-back episodes of Friday Night Lights on DVD. It's the best thing on TV. Right next to the inspiring The Biggest Loser.

I'm thinking about my new year's resolutions -- like really keeping my Journal of Gratitude, having a goal of running a marathon, or at least 10 miles straight.

What about you? How will you make 2008 great?

Christmas Is Coming!

The goose is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny. A ha'penny will do. If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God Bless You!

The Pixie arrived last night and the Peanut is overjoyed.

I can't believe Christmas is just five days away!

Santa 2007

If I hadn't forgotten that Santa was going to be appearing live at the library yesterday, then I would have dressed RJ up in her christmas wear. Still, we waited in line and I told Rosa Jane that she would soon see Santa Claus and she could tell him what she wants for Christmas. She said she wanted, "Big."

I think she meant she wants to be big? Who knows. She was happy until it was time to sit in his lap and then I guess she had flashbacks to last year and got this worried look on her face.

She kept saying, "I no like Santa."

But she didn't cry and he gave her a candy cane.

Cowgirl Rosie Shops for Western Wear

I've posted some old shots that have been sitting in the camera for a while. This was taken while Willard and Robyna were here shopping for cowboy boots. I said, "Let's try these red boots on, Rosa Jane." She had them on for two seconds and said she wanted to try on her crocs.

I guess she didn't like the fit, which is way too sad.

The Neighbor's Gift

Christmas came early this year. Our next door neighbors moved away and left behind this great playscape for Rosie Posie. She LOVES it with pretty much all her heart.

We already miss our neighbors a ton and await anxiously who will be the next to move-in. Will they be the quiet type with a no-barking dog? We can only hope . . .

Hot Off the Presses

Here's a sneak peak at the best gift on the market:

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Yay! Robyna Is HERE!!

Robyna* and her new beau, Willard*, are staying with us for the week. We're having a wonderful time eating late-night brownies, happy green stuff (aka guacamole), and telling stories to catch us up on R+W's whirlwind match.com romance. I'm starting to regret buying new pants in a size smaller than I normally wear. Dang the holidays and delicious sweet eats!

*Not their real names.

Bye, Bye Sweet Pie. I'll Miss You.

I already miss you. I love pie. Pumpkin and Cherry Pies are my favorite. But with everybody gone and a boy who won't help eat them, I had to dump them down the disposal. Otherwise I could have just added them to my butt.

Some of you will be shocked to know I've started running. I pretend a big black bear is chasing me on the treadmill and that keeps me motivated. Three miles overlooking beautiful hill country with Gnarles Barkley screaming, "CRAZY!!" in my ears roughly 2-3 times a week. I love the way I'm feeling -- I can get through a basket of laundry, washed, dried AND folded in no time.

Still, I love pie. And I miss you.

Cousins

Eleven kids rounded up for a very short time. You wouldn't believe how exponentially the volume increased when they were all together. Some had travelled from as far away as Las Vegas and Denver to all the way across town. It sure was nice to see them all together.

And the beat goes on . . .

Happy Turducken Day!

Yes, the cajuns have influenced their way and now we no longer celebrate "turkey day." Instead it's the new hybrid chicken, duck, turkey concoction of deliciousness with crawfish jambalaya thrown in for good measure. My cousin Becky and I did most of the cooking with Honey pinch hitting for the stuffing and giblet dressing. YUM!

It's an important part of being Two

This toilet training business and we've definitely been spending a lot of time on the pot, but I've struggled with wanting to write about it. For privacy's sake. But then this afternoon, Rosa Jane said that Baby Sara wanted to sit on her toilet. So I helped her get the toddler toilet out from the cabinet and she stripped Baby Sara down to her birthday suit. She's reading to her right now and she waits oh so patiently for Sara to do her business.

On Rosa Jane's front, we've had three successful times and each time has been very exciting and full of pride. She now has little tolerance for a wet/dirty diaper but doesn't demand to always use the bathroom.

We're going with the flow and we'll see if we can wear big kid pants soon!

Just when I thought we were back to normal

RJ awoke with 104 degree fever yesterday afternoon. I was all ready to tell you how she's sleeping late -- 6:30 and taking regular naps. So we've been homebound while running a few errands. I don't know how kids do it, or especially RJ. With her high temps, I just know she has to be feeling bad, but she's still singing songs and playing and running and skipping and wanting to go for long walks around the block.

On Monday we went to a playgroup event and it always makes me question whether I'm doing the right thing. Since there are so many other mothers out there doing the fulltime stay at home with absolutely no outside help, i.e. preschool/daycare, whathaveyou.
Then comes a day like today. A day when RJ is regularly scheduled to be at school and while I enjoy the time with her, I'm still chomping at the bit to get more done, whether that's mopping the floors or putting together outstanding photo work.

Balance. It's so delicate and delicious when accomplished.

my workspace

click on the picture to see what inspires me....

The Stomach Bug Strikes Back

Since the middle of October, the Roedner clan has been struggling with a stomach bug that won't die. On top of that, Rosa Jane wakes us way before the crack of dawn, sometimes before 5 even. Nobody goes back to sleep.

I wish we could just blame it on the time change and write a love note to Mr. President to please have mercy on households with children and forego all future time changes, but alas, this pattern has been going on since we left for Chicago.

Please, Lord, let this be just a phase and but a fond memory.

So if you've been checking in on us and wondering why haven't they updated...well, we're just plumb worn out.

My horoscope today

Aesthetically pleasing Venus is your key planet, making you sensitive to her current visitation to your sign. The days and weeks month ahead remind you how important it is for you to take care of your need for beauty. Start out by making a commitment to yourself to make new friends, be more social, and to indulge your senses. Don't let anyone talk you out of your pleasures.

Three Cheers For...

First and foremost for my sweet husband for standing by his woman throughout her creative urges.

Second for that purple dinosaur that kept Rosa Jane from putting nail polish on my new carpets or finding some other trouble while I was busy painting over the weekend.

Third for my sweet friend Sally who inspires me to create.

Four for Mika Beth who told me about the dill pickle color in the first place.

The cutest Little Red Riding Hood This Year

Francis was Little Red Riding Hood last year so we don't want to take away from her by saying that Rosa Jane is the cutest EVER, but I think you know what we're thinking anyway.

We had a wonderful time telling everyone "happy Halloween!" and "The Candy's up there ===>" as we directed the some 200 people who must have stopped by Matt & Sally's during the 60 minutes we were at the house still getting ready.

After carrying around three unwrapped Tootsie Roll lollipops like a bouquet for hours, Rosa Jane finally decided to eat one. Boy, was she happy she did! She really loves chocolate the most.

Happy Halloween, Yall!

We're having big fun despite being exhausted. We're about to go trick or treating so stay tuned for more pictures and of course... wish us the best of luck for getting all the available chocolate and then some.

Honk if you love Rosa Jane

in the Conservatory with art.

Ice Cream for Breakfast

The Girls

Here we are at the Pixie's house. We love Chicago. See more pictures....

Photo Day at School

It's Rosa Jane's second time to have a photographer at school today. I took more care to dress her this morning and thought, I better get a picture of this, JIC (just in case). hahaha.

In any event, doesn't she just look adorable? And more importantly just like somebody you'd like to know . . .

Assignment Theme: Growth

A couple friends and I are challenging each other to be creative and think outside our typical shooting styles. This is my interpretation.

Post-Thomas, Mid-laydown

She's not necessarily screaming her headoff she's just curled up with the gravel and dirt on the sidewalk because it's comfortable to her.

EEK! a Big Hairy Spider!

All day thursday I carried this bag around town, filled to the brim. Friday morning I cleaned it out only to find this big hairy spider that I thought RJ had made it from pipe-cleaners. Sure it was realistic, but my two-year old is amazing, dontcha know. When I saw it flinch I about jumped outta my skin. I still can't figure out what kind of spider it is.

If you can figure it out, please tell me. It's big, with black hairy legs and a brown flat-ish body. Very hairy. and did I mention CREEPY?

First Baby Parade

Well, we can cross it off our list. Our first baby parade and everyone had fun and ate a lot of SNACKS! The Theme was Mighty Molar says, Brush away those SugarBugs! So we had a dentist and a mighty molar and 10 little candy corns. Many more pictures will be uploaded to my faux-toes site in the coming week. Password under the clients link will be "parade."

Stay tuned for more.

Fleeting moments of serenity

My sister and I have spent the last few days together. Over breakfast on Friday, Caren made the comment, "see how fun it would be to have another 2 years apart" as we watched Brett and Rosa Jane eat breakfast together. Then a mere moment later they were fighting over spida-man.
Our photo session didn't go over so well. I think it's mainly because of the mother/daughter relationship with the peanut that she smiles, but won't look at the camera. She's a silly kid and I don't fight her on it. There are much bigger issues in the world.

Click on the picture to see more of sweet moments between a 2 and 4 yr old.

She is my sunshine

Today started off shaky. She threw up shortly after awaking and so all regularly scheduled activities were off. We cleaned the kitchen and started some laundry. We played on the porch while we watched the trash collectors come and go. We jumped up and down when the UPS came to our door on the early round and dropped off my brand new camera, a Canon 5d. I am in love with it. And I feel so proud because I've saved and saved and saved for it over the past few months and was able to pay cash for it. Sweet joy.

Rosa Jane asked to hold my hand as we walked through the house picking up toys and putting shoes away. I love holding her hand and she never wants to when it's my idea. She squeezes tightly and I hope I'll never forget how lovely that feels.

We went to Sonic and sat at their picnic tables to enjoy our lunch of a grilled cheese cut into quarters, tater tots and a jr burger for me.
Next we ankle-expressed it next door to the nursery to fetch some bluebonnet seeds for my true love. The secret is to plant them in October so they will bloom in the spring. He's in charge of this project and I can't wait to see the results come April.

Next we went to the grocery store. I never like going to the grocery store, but Rosa Jane doesn't mind as long as I strap her baby in the shopping cart next to her.

We came home and I hoped and hoped and hoped she'd nap, but to no avail. After an hour in her crib, I fetched her and brought her upstairs to my studio set up. She played along for a little while, but as you can see from the pictures (click through to see the entire set), she really liked playing on the ottoman anywhere but on the backdrop. Oh well, I still love her.

Welcome to my Studio, Little Girl

While Rosa Jane slept, or shall we say sang songs loudly in her crib until she passed out, Momma was upstairs playing with her new backdrops and lighting. Yum!! I could eat this up all day long.

Mommy, Sit down. Mommy, Sit down. Sit down, Mommy.

Sometimes (on very rare occasions) I'll find myself engrossed in my computer, catching up on the news or email or just looking at photos. My darling daughter will stand next to me and repeat herself until she's blue in the face and I look up to assess the situation. Today, I looked up to find this scene.

Funny, Rosa Jane. I do believe I will have a seat. Thanks.

In other musings, I admit to being terrified that my once cute-as-pie and could do-no-wrong-ever daughter has grown up to be a monster toddler who pays no attention to her mother. Yes, I know she's testing me, but to have her repeat back to me the things we've said to her is a bit unnerving. For example, she now demands her milk saying, "i want some milk right now, mommy." And for a while she could take or leave Baby Princess, she now seems to be a staple that we have to lug around everywhere. No other baby will do and she is the largest, by now rattiest-looking cabbage patch kid ever.

A grateful journal

I'm starting a grateful journal so I'm trying to think of at least two things each day for which to be grateful. Today, as I lay in bed in the wee 6o'clock hour, I am grateful for a sweet husband who fetches the babe before he gets in the shower and for the subsequential pitter patter of little feet on the hardwood floors. Later this morning on our long fast walk/partial run, I was thankful that Hank didn't get runned over when he was just two inches from the tire of a big white truck going way too fast on a blind hill.

Rosa Jane's Preschool

It just occurred to me that I've fallen far, far behind in blogging about Rosa Jane's current perculiarities. I just picked her up from preschool and she has all her babies on the couch with her, along with her cooking supplies so she can feed them when they awake. Click on the picture to see the special notes.

King Tut and Rosa Jane

We took our friends to Richland with us this weekend. It was lots of fun hanging in the country and fishing all day. We won't talk about how little sleep we got b/c of the kids.

Click on the picture to see more...