nMk

dear diary..

2011-02-08T23:48:00.003-06:00

in the last week...

i have wondered if fantasizing about hurting the dog is considered postpartum depression

fell asleep in line at whole foods and awoke to a man behind me saying "move it or lose it"

sent nick out to buy "the baby whisperer"

ate roughly 1,000 candy hearts

threw a valentines themed bring a dish and come see Ellie pledge class plus date party

got a massage and the knots were back in a record 3 hours

used a baby hat as a breast pad

looked for something that i was holding in my hand

put Elle in her crib for the first time

sent Nick back to work after 10 weeks of paternity leave

wore jeans that have a button and zipper

started shedding

went to vegas for sun and a change of scenery, which allowed me the privilege to nurse and change diapers in some amazing parking lots

overcame my biggest postpartum fear, i may actually have more than one child

oh the boss is calling, at least she is cute, here is a picture for your troubles

one month..oops never posted

2011-01-16T22:36:00.004-06:00

just noticed that i never posted this (pathetic) post...and reading it now is hilarious because feeding and sleeping "whenever" is exactly why i read the baby whisperer today and can i say that i am more confused than ever....the author contradicts herself and ugh...who knows
anyway might as well post this, i think i am going to start posting again

how can four weeks seem like a lifetime while at the same time feel like a few (long) days?

i thought i would write down some random things (surprise, surprise) in case she ever asks me what she was like at 1 month old or if anyone still checks on this poor blog.

Elle Belle, you are 1 month old and cuter each minute! each time you wake up from a nap i swear that you have added a few ounces to your cheeks, (oh, those cheeks). you eat about every 3 hours, from the start of one feeding to the next so usually it ends up only being 2 hours! or you just eat whenever you want (as you should) and you sleep whenever you feel the need, you do always stay up late until about 1 am regularly. you love your baths. daddy likes to stick out his tongue at you and wait for you to imitate him, and now you just stick out your tongue as soon as you see him! you are now filling out your newborn clothes but are still swimming in the 0-3 month outfits. at your 2 week appt you were 7.8 lbs and 20 inches and your little head was in the 12th percentile! in the past few days it seems as though you have woken up, you love to play and interact! you are more fun each day!

i feel great-ish
i can zip pre-preg jeans but on the rare occasion that i leave the house i still wear maternity jeans
i am still sore
very sore
anxious to get back to walking each day and pilates classes
struggling with cabin fever, with the cold weather and inversions it is almost impossible to even get outside to take a walk

baby E

2011-01-09T21:48:00.002-06:00

Eleanor Grace

born December 12, 2010, five days early
at 8:58 am, 12 hours after my water broke while eating my salad in the ballroom at the Grand America Hotel at Nicks' work Holiday party, minutes after one of the partners introduced Nick to the room and said "...and his very pregnant wife, she has promised not to go into labor tonight, they are here tonight as their last hurrah (??)"
6 pounds 15 ounces (same as her mama)
19 inches long (same as her mama)

picture taken at 6 days old

it's a start..

2010-11-11T20:57:00.002-06:00

i need to post, i have needed to post for a long time. i need to post our trip to NYC, our trip to Aruba, house projects, all the fun (and not so fun) things happening in my belly, and etc. (i have even considered starting an anonymous blog so that i could write about all of the funny pregnancy symptoms and happenings without having to see family or co-workers the next day.)

anyway here is a start before Housewives of BH starts

today i am 35 weeks pregnant

belly measuring: perfect
weight: college linebacker
blood pressure: 110 something something
feeling: good, tired, sore back and ribs, grateful
swelling: moderate, shoes fit, ankles exist, sometimes wedding ring fits and sometimes it hurts
job status: still working...letting the kids get away with more everyday
chin: still one...well there may be a shadow in some lights
belly button: still an innie
activity: pilates reformer class twice a week, walking the dog around the hood or until i have to pee 3-4 times a week, house chores and marital chores
nursery: crib and changing table in boxes, no paint, nothing put away, still full of office supplies
sleep: right side, left side, bathroom and repeat
skin: no change, except a few red spots recently noticed on sides of belly
appetite: normal, craving carby sweets and pumpkin spice
baby position: ready to launch, she has been head down and ready to roll since 27 weeks
husband: excited, sweet, encouraging, helpful, having a birthday this week

dear diary

2010-08-10T23:33:00.004-05:00

i definitely do not have the journal bug and we have not taken a picture every week, so here is my attempt to remember my uteri happenings

5 weeks: 2 pee sticks say PREGNANT

8 weeks: the puking begins

10 weeks: first midwife appt., hear heartbeat

12 weeks: convince nick to go to fetal photos because i still don't believe there is really a baby in there, even though i heard a heartbeat that doesn't guarantee that he/she has a head

14/15 weeks: visit family and friends in PA

16 weeks: she is a girl!

18 weeks: fly to NYC to see Dave Matthews and sweat and swell my way through the city and "wait, i haven't thrown up today or yesterday"

19 weeks: official doctor ultrasound, still a girl, she sucks her thumb and scratches her head the same way oscar does

20 weeks: i popped sometime between NYC and now, sometimes strangers go out on a limb and ask when i am due

21 weeks: 3 week no puke streak ends abruptly and a belly band is needed on a few pairs of pants, most still button under belly

oh my

2010-08-10T23:19:00.002-05:00

she is a girl! Husband and I had a feeling from the very beginning that it was a girl. We always thought she... never he or it. Also, a few days before I found out I was pregnant I had a dream about a baby girl!

My mom was convinced that she was a boy and was only buying boy clothes. At 16 weeks we went to fetal photos and they told us she was a girl. My mom decided "he" was just little and she would not return any of the boy clothes until my doctor ultrasound at 19 weeks. A few days before my doctor ultrasound she had me convinced they were going to see a boy and i started picturing a little boy with glasses, he looked a lot like the little boy on jon and kate plus eight.

But alas, she is still a girl!

confession; when we got into the car after the first ultrasound i started to cry, even though i had thought it was a girl, it hit me and i was terrified. just crying, and crying about how scared i was to have a girl because i was not easy on my parents. i was a snot from about 9 to 20. so let's pray she takes after daddy.

memory

2010-08-10T23:13:00.002-05:00

scene; midwife's office 15 week apt

nurse: wow, you weigh the same today than you did at 10 weeks, you haven't gained any weight

and then husband looks me up and down with a face that said it all...luckily (for him) the hormones were on his side and i just laughed and said i didn't understand it either

our little p

2010-06-17T21:53:00.003-05:00

Before husband checks his google reader and tells me that everyone is going to think I don't love our little 15 week old parasite. I am thrilled, we are thrilled. Yes...he/she was "planned", I can't believe how many people have asked us this. Yes we were "trying" (how disgusting, no one wants to hear about that, except for my pilates class, pledge class, friends or co-workers) but I was still shocked...SHOCKED, because after various Dr. experiences I thought it would take forever and intervention.

Here is the cute little parasite, and how this ultrasound came to be is a whole other story of neurotic.

Just kidding, blogger will not load it right now, I will try it again later.

you didn't know?!

2010-06-17T21:08:00.003-05:00

I use to watch TLC's I didn't know I was pregnant in amazement, horror, and disbelief. I caught a few minutes of an episode the other night and felt this at a whole new level I had to turn it off before I hunted down this woman to slap her. How do these women not notice?!
How do they not notice:
-the constant nausea with the no warning gags
-being so tired that you can even fall asleep to The Real Housewives
-pestering your husband and then crying because you are so sorry you were mean, in the same sentence
-your chest hurting so bad that you don't want to go outside because if there is a breeze you will cry
-hair growing out of new places
-throwing up at home, in the car, at work, in parking lots, in bushes, restaurants...
-p'ing every 6
-a canine like sense of smell
-headaches, headaches, headaches
-never going to the bathroom
-your chest tripling in size in a matter of 8 weeks
-not to mention the color change, HELLO

Oh, if you didn't know we are pregnant, but only I am experiencing the "joy". Why can't we share, I would even take 70/30...80/20. Is this still all because Eve ate the apple, have we not paid enough!

3/17/10 confessional

2010-03-17T21:25:00.003-05:00

- one of the downstairs bedrooms is currently one nightstand or mirror without a home, load of laundry that i don't feel like folding, and bag of Christmas decorations away from looking like a scene from Hoarders
- i ate half a grapefruit and some cheese for dinner
- i left hummus making dishes in the sink overnight/plus being at work in soapy water and then almost cried when my kitchen smelled like a garlic burp the next day when Katie stopped over
- i miss N the most on Tuesdays
- i am trying to think of my 4 inch by 3 inch bruise+scabs from being bit by a 2.5 yr old as a badge of patience
- when my pilates teacher put my in ideal body position today i felt like a Neanderthal, how screwed up is my posture that when i am in "ideal" posture i feel like a caveman
- today i am trying to convince myself that someday i will have the same good news and exciting first picture
- i wore green today even though i didn't want to
- i had to remind myself at least 3 times today that it is never a 3 yr olds fault that they smell like pee and smoke. they need the same hugs, and even the jcrew pants i bought the day before can be washed of it all

crackhead alert

2010-03-02T21:10:00.002-06:00

this morning as a 5 yr old boy with autism and i walked to the bathroom he said " i haven't seen you for lots of days when i was at school" my reply " i was on vacation, i went to costa rica for two weeks to celebrate my birthday" his reply "when i am a MAN you and i could go on vacation together.....but when i am a man i will probably have to go on vacation with my mom too so she doesn't get mad"

once back in the classroom i said "(insert name), it is 8:14 in one minute we are going to start working" "my name is not (insert name) i am crackhead" a minute goes by "insert name, it is time to work" ..running around in circles with a toy bin on his head.. "MY NAME IS CRACKHEAD...CRACKHEAD ALERT CRACKHEAD ALERT CRACKHEAD ALERT CRACKHEAD ALERT CRACKHEAD ALERT....can i work to be a crackhead?" "of course, sit down it is time to work"

does watching the biggest loser make anyone else extremely hungry? maybe it is because how hard they are working, or maybe i am just mean and want to eat in front of them

back from CR

2010-02-25T19:37:00.003-06:00

We are back from my birthday trip to Costa Rica, it was amazing and now I am 25! We visited Monteverde, Arenal, La Fortuna, Playa Dominical, M-something, San Jose and a few other towns along the way. It was an amazing experience and I am so grateful for a husband that works so hard so we can play so hard!

02/09/10

2010-02-09T20:23:00.002-06:00

thoughts on today: does anyone really love LOVE their job all the time?

tivo is not a luxury but a necessary means of time management.
I got home from walking/ice skating Oscar through Parley's Canyon not too excited about my night to find GOLD waiting for me, a new Kell on Earth, 2 Secrets of Aspen, Oprah, Shear Genius and Bad Girls Club!

and why did I think it was a good idea to trek into the gully, because a mother will do anything for their baby, even after calling Nick to tell him that if he did not hear from me by 6 to send a search and ate @#$%^ several times in the first few minutes I did it for love to see that silly puppy slide on the ice and try to go swimming. when he put a little paw into the water and realized how cold it was he growled at it, adorbs! In the next few days when I am sitting on the beach of Costa Rica turning 25 I will have a big bruise on my saddlebag to remind me of these good times!

*i am going to call my own bluff on a previous post, I was watching the nightly news, Chelsea Lately round table, and heard that a woman in the UK found a way to breastfeed her dog, so i am clarifying that i would/will not feed Oskie from my bosom!

true - today

2010-01-27T21:35:00.003-06:00

- today i woke up at the time i usually leave for work, and i still left the house wearing matching shoes, took the puppy to daycare, went to starbucks and arrived to work ON TIME how so?
- i got lost and ended up on the west side on my way to pilates, which i go to twice a week
- i had no idea the state of the union was on until oscar changed the channel when he was asking me for a piece of popcorn, which was part of my dinner
- i found a gluten free sugar cookie that tastes like a cookie
- i wore black and brown together in an acceptable way

fear

2010-01-25T19:56:00.002-06:00

I have several fears; most irrational. Some that keep me awake at night and some that I only think of when I am doing something mundane.

Today my drive to Pilates was consumed by the fear that Nick and I will turn in to a couple that looks alike. Yes, there is a 1 foot height difference, but it could happen. We could start getting the same haircut, sport matching front butts and wind suits...oh it is so possible.

So that I can sleep tonight I am going to use this outlet to vow to Nick and myself that:

-I will never cut my hair short enough to make people at the gym have to look twice to see if it is an awkward teenage boy or an old woman.
- I will never buy or wear reverse fit tapered leg jeans or a wind suit.
- If I grow an Italian old woman mustache I will promptly take care of it.
- I will never buy us matching hoodless sweatshirts, sunglasses or fanny packs.

that may not cover all of the possibilities..

an article discussing this phenomena http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11346164

christmas is almost down..

2010-01-18T19:26:00.002-06:00

the Christmas decorations are almost put away. The fireplace is the first remodel project that we have completed, i will try and find a before and after to show you.

here is our hot mess of a tree; a hodge podge of ornaments that have been given to us put together as best as they could be my Mama Coffey

and of course the seasonal jar. I bought dozens of boxes of LED lights, with the best intentions to decorate the yard but alas we never got to it. We had amazing wreaths on both doors made by Mama C, candles in the front picture windows, and an assortmant of ball ornaments in some of the trees in the front yard.

Thank you Mom for decorating my house against my will, I loved it! Everyone should have an Italian mother, they always know what is best.

"GTL"

2010-01-18T19:20:00.001-06:00

to help you get your "GTL" done, I have four seven day passes to 24 hour. They may give you a 5 minute tour the first day but they don't bother you after that. Let me know if you want one.

*and if you know what Bravo show the Lesbian icon above is from you win a prize

the confessional

2010-01-12T21:43:00.002-06:00

On NPR tonight they were talking about confessions so I thought I would start the year off with some of my own.

1. I listen to NPR
2. when possible I brush my teeth in the shower
3. I hate having anything in my nose...enough said
4. My first job was at a bagel place and I would put tons of cream cheese on the bagel of a "skinny" person and barely any on a "not skinny" persons bagel
5. popcorn is an acceptable meal, especially if you add protein (cheese)
6. sometimes at work (looking back on a bad day) I have more patience with the kids that are cuter, cleaner, and whose parents I like more
7. every time I cut into a piece of meat I am afraid of seeing a vein
8. almost every time my Husband gets on a plane, three times a week, I am sure it is going to be the last time I ever talk to him
9. i am one of those moms that take their baby* to daycare just so they can go to pilates and get a pedicure; and when i do work 6 or 7 hours my baby* is at daycare for 11 or 12 hours
10. I spend most of my day worrying about my next meal and the next time I will go to the bathroom (a side effect of Celiac Disease)
11. according to the BMI chart at the doctors office I am on the border of overweight going into obese
12. I think I am a better driver than Nick
13. I plan on getting copious amounts of Botox and saline after my babies (G_d willing)
14. I watch trashy reality shows
15. The View is on my Tivo list; I like the first ten awkward minutes and then turn it off
16. whenever someone tells me I smell good I am always surprised, I think I just assume that I still sweat like I did during puberty and my natural deodorant has failed me

that is enough for now, Teen Mom is starting

Katie, Joni, and Lisa I hope this has entertained you for a few! PiPhiLove

*my furry, four-legged baby Oscar, if it was possible I would take him everywhere in a sling and breast feed him

Vegas-December

2009-12-29T18:50:00.004-06:00

An email from Elaine and David saying that flights were cheap to Vegas and a few days later we met up with them in Las Vegas. Sadly we had to leave a night early to beat a storm so we could make it to a wedding and they had to stay an extra night due to an ice storm in Chicago.
highlights include but not limited to:
-walking, shopping, walking
-new york, new york roller coaster
-blackjack at almost every casino on the strip
-jokes, jokes, jokes
-trader joes!
-dinner at Tom Colicchios'
-lunch at Bobby Flays'
-dinner at Daniel Bouluds'
-friends, food and fun

Chicago-November

2009-12-29T18:46:00.004-06:00

(kristin and elaine at Avec)

In November we went back to Chicago for a few days. I was nervous that it would make me want to move back but luckily it didn't, no matter how hard our friends tried. The food was fab, weather blah, shopping eh, fun oh yes!

philly- September

2009-12-29T18:40:00.003-06:00

in Sept we went to Philly on a whim to see Rusted Root and Dave Matthews the next night. The weather was perfection, everywhere we ate was amazing, and sight seeing was great and took us back to elementary school history class. Both concerts were fun, Dave saw that I was there and played all of my songs!
I hope we continue our family tradition of seeing Dave in a different city each year.

A Song for the Mormons! (12/14/09)

2009-12-15T21:22:00.001-06:00

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

recall

2009-12-15T21:08:00.002-06:00

my thoughts on Jersey Shore are not a solid recommendation; I only watched half an episode and I had hit my skeeve limit and that is saying something since I am watching The Bad Girls Club right now.

I only wanted to say that the show is reality and as an Italian it does not offend me.

*I have to watch Bad Girls Club on very low volume because it frightens Oscar and infuriates Nick, but there is nothing good on the tivo

jersey shore..fo sho

2009-12-14T20:01:00.002-06:00

There has been a lot of controversy over the new mtv reality show Jersey Shore. I have been to the Jersey Shore and consider myself lucky that I did not contract hepatitis from the "water". If you look past the greasy film on the water there are more prophylactics floating around than fish.

I grew up in the tri-state area, I am a daughter of a 1st generation tri-state area Italian Mom and an Italian/Irish Dad from New York and I am not offended by the show; because it is TRUE! I have tried several times to explain to Nick what a Guido is and now I can watch the show with him and explain it thoroughly as if it is a National Geographic special.

I am very proud to say that no one in my immediate family is a Guido/Guidette, wops yes but no guidos. I was a little worried about my brother years ago because of his gel usage and tan, but thankfully now he has a ski mullet and lives in Steamboat. And my sister like me got the Irish skin and could never get tan enough, but she does have a Steelers necklace so...to be continued

love tank

2009-12-13T14:47:00.002-06:00

when a husband agrees to a Target trip and doesn't complain in the health and beauty aisles; an angel gets their wings

when a husband goes Christmas shopping, to Target whine-free, starts to help clean without being asked, takes you to Chipotle even though he doesn't like it, takes the dog out several times during your unofficial party, and discretely cleans up the party while you dish with a bff til 3:00 in the morning; a love tank is filled

*Kris Tina, you might be the only one to get the reference

Happy Hanukkah!

2009-12-11T20:38:00.001-06:00

Husb gave me a new laptop for the first night of Hanukkah! You may hear from me a lot more often now that I can watch Bravo and blog at the same time!

Mazel!

first cayman pics

2009-11-10T20:45:00.003-06:00

the beach looked like this, no waves and never really anyone else
i sometimes required a dress turban, even with the cabana and spf 70
nick did a lot of this. much deserved!
after swimming with the dolphins we visited a turtle rescue farm

people it is a spray tan that was airbrushed on in four coats

ever?

2009-09-08T20:01:00.002-05:00

ever had a headache that lasted 72 hours, at least 12 advil, massive amounts of tea, aromatherapy, physical activity, 6 aspirin, and 2 hydrocodone? ugh welcome to my life and i didn't even eat gluten or do anything fun enough to deserve this

seen a license plate that says "you think i'm ugly, you should see my kids" Husb and I did yesterday and we want to get them for every holiday party of the season

labor day

2009-09-08T19:59:00.001-05:00

labor day '09

the day something was hung on the walls of our new abode

more to come

trash or treasure

2009-09-08T19:48:00.003-05:00

today on the way home from some errands i stopped by the DI to fuel my vintage milk glass obsession, etsy shop, and because i am on a quest to find bamboo * chippendale chairs that look like the jonathan adler ones minus thousands of dollars.

I saw what seems to be this exact yellow chair but thought "eh...sick"... I come home hit my round of Design blogs and see this Kelly Wearstler room! so maybe after some steam and bleach I could love this chair?!

*i did find a fab hollywood regency style bamboo mag rack and side table, if you are good I will show you the transformation

Cait, we may have to go back for this chair tomorrow and a dresser I saw that I could not handle but you could make look fab!

to: future me

2009-09-03T18:52:00.002-05:00

i am pretty sure no one is out there, so this is mostly a reminder to myself to post pics of this summer and to remember all of the fun things we did this summer, cause really i will probably never get around to putting pics up.

*bought our first house
*had our first home owners incident and a half, clogged drain and then water coming out of the basement ceiling.
- future self remember not to put a 14 oz of coconut down the drain
*first party in our house, all the pi phi's over before Katie moved to Austin
*Bear Lake
*San Francisco
*floating the Provo
*hiking parley's
*teaching Oscar to swim
*our backyard!
*vegas with the girls!
*Elvis Costello and the Utah Symphony outside at Deer Valley...40 degrees in shorts and a tee shirt
*baby bird
*etc...
*coming trip to Philly to see Rusted Root on Friday and Dave Matthews on Saturday
*postponed Grand Cayman trip

Start of a great weekend...

2009-08-06T23:04:00.003-05:00

.....

remember another great weekend?

2 years and I couldn't be happier. Love you Kiki.

regularly scheduled

2009-07-21T11:51:00.002-05:00

whoa..i never really reveal that much in blog posts, unless it is about my g.i. tract. i sometimes write serious blog posts in my head but never actually post them. this post will be more what we are use to.

*Someone in my fam sent me this picture because of my need to reduce, reuse, recycle, re-purpose.

*I just finally let Oscar back in the house, earlier this morning I saw him rolling in something gross, just a pile of earth worms, so i gave him a hose bath. I thought he might be dry so i unhooked him and instead of him running into the house he ran to the neighbors I ran inside to get a banana to coax him back i get back outside and he is running like a bat out of h and the neighbor is saying he has the bear. Oscar runs back into their house with the babys favorite bear and i see that she has friends over for a playgroup this reminds me that i am in my pj's. I finally get the bear away and he takes another stuffed animal, i get that away and as we gracefully leave a mother (a neighbor i have yet to meet) says say bye to the dog to her baby in her arms and oscar barks right at him causing said baby to start bawling.

case of the Mons

2009-07-20T14:59:00.003-05:00

today i am in a funk.

Not the kind of funk where you get mad and cry over little things, like the husband eating all of your Organic Blue Chips before you were even awake and put the bag back in the pantry with only crumbs left, because you had looked in the pantry and decided hummus and blue chips would make everything better and then you open the bag....ugh this infamous funk lasted about 9 hours and was 2 fridays ago.

today's funk is more: why is my house still not the way i want it, i will never find an enjoyable fulfilling job that will let me work less than 40 hrs a week, i have bad cramps, feeling bad for myself cause i won't see husband til thursday, why can't the dog let himself out, why don't they make gluten-free oreo's kind of funk. really important in the scheme of things stuff like that.

at least i have started to try and de-funk; i showered, i am making myself leave the house and go to the post office to mail an etsy order, pilates reformer class at 4:30. hopefully a chipotle or luna's date after pilates will seal the deal.

CC Interiors

2009-07-16T16:14:00.002-05:00

I have a super stylish friend who started her own design firm and blog called CC Interiors

Here is a bedroom she just did! Amazing! As Rachel Zoe would say "I DIE!"

Her personal blog is uber amazing as well and she has links to all of her super stylish friends from NYC for all your blog stalking pleasure!

as of late

2009-07-06T14:27:00.002-05:00

These two masterpieces are the latest to come out of my workshop. If I do say so myself you would not believe the before pics.

Help, I have no ideas for this chair yet!
After two trips to Pottery Barn and two to Target I have not found lampshades for these two Stiffel lamps from my Grandma. ** Please notice that she never took the plastic off of these 1945 gems!

a Pittsburgh man..

2009-07-06T14:22:00.001-05:00

R.I.P. Billy Mays

preview

2009-06-30T20:59:00.003-05:00

i am having a hard time "placing" things so what Nick calls "trinkets" are everywhere!
i have painted lots of furniture from my Grandmas' house. (i promise this is a very pretty color;called sliced cucumber )

Oscar got a mullet! the very back of the yard needs some work...takers?

*while posting this I caught Oscar eating a purple crayon..

be trendy

2009-06-12T14:25:00.000-05:00

June 2

2009-06-02T22:32:00.002-05:00

today I:

*joined Twitter (KikiMacey), to find out my 14 yr old sister is way ahead of me

*got very jealous and mad at my husband for something dumb

*realized I might miss my job just a little

*was so mad at Oskie that i thought I was going to physically hurt him if he didn't STOP everything he was doing

*did zero laundry, packing, or cleaning...tomorrow night will be exhausting

*talked on the phone with my mom about Spencer and Heidi

our house

2009-05-11T20:53:00.000-05:00

pending an inspection tomorrow...crossing fingers!

*since when does my phone take good pictures?

1st attempt at phone blogging

2009-05-07T09:51:00.001-05:00

it is 9:30am and I have already walked into the mens bathroom at Ohare far enough to see men, complimented an old man on his surgical mask after his velcro shoe went into my security bucket, laughed out loud to myself reading several times, fell after trying to jump some chairs in the terminal and realized my shirt was unbuttoned.

05/06

2009-05-06T19:15:00.002-05:00

things I do not understand today:

the 50ish man walking down Ontario St this morning at 8:20am in pink tights, a black leotard, black leg warmers, the kind of velcro shoes you get at drugstores, greasy, balding hair, beergut, and a satin jacket w/ diy VFW patches

the oldest pregnant woman I have ever seen

most 4 year olds

why the longer I am off gluten the hungrier I get

the Russian comic who works at Starbucks

things I love today:
Chocolate Crisp Bumble Bars

when Oscar chews on things he is suppose to chew on

when children listen to my words

herb salad mix from whole foods

the 50ish "fly girl" I see on the way home from work

05/04

2009-05-04T20:25:00.002-05:00

As I was just cleaning the microwave w/ a lemon and some salt trying to get the bean incident out, if you saw the short lived post (I did not know he didn't want anyone at work to know, so modest) about Nick being a big deal don't judge me for how long it took me to clean it up! I started getting very excited to buy a house in the coming weeks! Decorating, gardening, shopping, and general domesticity. I am also nervous, way more nervous than Nick, I mean what are we 24 and we are buying a house! This will (god willing) be the house we bring our first babies too, oy vey it feels like just yesterday I was living in a sorority house and Nick was two doors down living in a fraternity house!

I've been over the blogospere lately and Oskie won a fight with my camera cord but I will update soon about the house happenings!

Cait and baby Winston, can we go thrifting everyday looking for great furniture to restore with your mad skills?

Easter

2009-04-14T21:33:00.003-05:00

If Oscar had not hidden and/or chewed the camera cord I would post pictures of the four days we spent with my family (minus Joe) here in Chicago.

If I was not exhausted from what I hope is only a cold, and not strep throat or scarlet fever which are going around my center. I would type about how much food we ate, how much gluten I ate and all the fun we had!

The quote of the holiday weekend is from my 14 y.o. sister at dinner. The waiter sat the calamari in front of her and she said " those testicles are so big...tentacles!" My dad covered it with "too much information in health class" but the jokes started and even my dad (if you knew him you would be as shocked as I was) and Nick were in on it too!

here is my brother Joe keeping it real this past weekend in Colorado!

I do not get paid enough

2009-04-01T15:21:00.002-05:00

It has occurred to me that IF there is a hell and IF I am going there that at the gate greeting me of my own personal hell will be two four year olds and a two year old!

*and if I am going it probably happened in Park City with the ski team freshmen year or involving a Pi Phi, but at least all of my friends will be there!

camera dump

2009-03-31T19:12:00.005-05:00

a dump of pictures from my camera and phone, what blogs are for right?
Dallas was the spacation that we needed! All we did was sleep, eat, spa, eat, spa, sleep!
St. Patricks - friends, river, lunch at David Burkes, Elaines house, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, taking care of Robyn, cabs, cabs
apparently religion has everything to do with how well you do in poker!
someday Erika is going to be famous!
our new road trip guilty pleasure, Cracker Barrel!
Oskie is keeping it real, he got a major haircut this weekend and now actually looks like a westie and not a wolf!

so far so good

2009-03-12T19:01:00.001-05:00

People universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck or something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather. That's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it. (Elizabeth Gilbert)

-one of my 2009 feelin' fine motto's

final answer..

2009-03-08T18:06:00.003-05:00

We thought a lot about Arizona, we thought about Colorado (sorry Amy), we thought a little about Austin, Texas; and we always said well if we don't like where we move we can always move to Utah. We have reservations about moving back to Zion, but we have been talking about it for a week now and it just feels right. We have talked to the court and the bank about our landlord foreclosing and we should be able to stay in our condo until our lease is up June 30th. Ironically, being able to choose where ever you want to live is very stressful. Reminds me of the book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely.

*now I need to start working on getting a Trader Joes in UT! I will not be ok without their gluten free goodness and I will not seem like such a good wife without their cheater dinners! Caitlin are you with me?

chi-vegas

2009-03-07T17:40:00.003-06:00

We have been going through the Zagat resturaunt guide with David and Elaine trying a new place every Friday and Saturday...I need to be better at taking pictures.

Last Friday we ventured to Chicago's own Vegas, Alhambra Palace with David and Elaine and some other couples. Zagat gave it a 13 so we didn't have the greatest expectations, we went for the experience, it was ok, we give it about a 17, and a 15 for the genuine blonde belly dancers!

Afterwards, we went to the terrace of the Dana Hotel, unfortunately no VH1 reality TV shows were taping there that night.

d.y.k.?

2009-02-25T16:19:00.003-06:00

did you know that when you are renting a condo (paying a semester of college in rent a month) and the person who owns your condo defaults and is being foreclosed on even though there is a management company you can just happen to open a piece of mail which you were not suppose to see and see that you are going to be kicked out in 3 weeks or whenever they feel like it really.......we have been on the phone all day trying to find an attorney

see you sooner then later either phoenix/scottsdale or boulder/denver.....er marriott

team Gretchen or team Tamra?

2009-02-24T22:37:00.003-06:00

today i love sleeping in til 10:00 with Oscar
lunch and shopping with friends
travel insurance
a nicely healing appendectomy scar
a birthday check from Grandma
getting a call from Nick at 3 for us to meet him at the park
eating an avocado and a bowl of EnviroKidz Organic cereal for dinner
the real housewives of orange county confess...oy vey

danke

2009-02-24T22:17:00.002-06:00

Thanks Debra and Max for the great lunch and shopping at Bloomies.

Just finished buying all the things we need, our bags are nearly packed, and...

2009-02-16T12:33:00.003-06:00

Well we just finished buying all the things we need for our trip to Africa, our bags are nearly packed and we couldn't be more excited to leave on Thursday... so if you know us, you know what that means! Appendectomy!

To make a very long story short, Kristin and I ended up in the emergency room last night with her having some very extreme stomach pain. After waiting hours in the waiting room with all manner of homeless and mentally ill individuals, we finally got in to see a doctor. After a few hours of exams from multiple doctors, as well as a CT scan, they determined that her appendix needed to be removed ASAP.

Kristin, making her best sad face.

This was at about 2:00 AM, so we spent the next few hours at the hospital and Kristin had surgery this morning at about 6:30 AM. It went quickly and well, and you can hardly see the incisions. She's recovering now and doing great. She should be released tomorrow and we'll head home and try to sort out our trip to Africa... We'll keep you up to date.

every saturday..

2009-02-07T18:37:00.003-06:00

every saturday in chicago should be 50 degrees and you should go to brunch at Ann Sathers with people like Dan, Mary, Scott and Nick and then go to the thrift store and find dozens of pink swirl Fire King teacups and the perfect yellow vase. The Aveda spa and then taking your puppy to the park where he gets incredibly muddy...come home to watch some quality shows waiting for you on tivo before going over to a new friends house for a home-made dinner and drinks!

*minus your puppy (and for Nick, also your wife) standing on the ledge of your neighbors ungated 40th floor ledge...

" the silly volunteers were scared..."

2009-02-04T20:37:00.002-06:00

While reading and looking at the pictures in the December newsletter from the Daktari Bush School and Animal Orphanage, I couldn't help but notice a little tid-bit about how they found a Black Mamba in the Volunteer Chalet but "it was only a few meters long...and the silly volunteers were scared..." heelp me rhonda!

The Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis), is an elapid snake and is one of Africa's most dangerous and feared snakes. It has a wide range of known locations throughout Africa. The black mamba is native to Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Botswana, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and the Congo. They inhabit a wide variety of areas that include open savannahs, open woodlands, and rocky outcrops.^[1] It is also known for being very aggressive when disturbed or confronted and will not hesitate to strike with deadly precision.

The black mamba is the largest venomous snake in Africa and the second longest venomous snake in the world. Adult black mambas have an average length of 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) and a maximum length of 4.5 meters (~14 ft).^[2] Like all other reptiles, the black mamba relies on external heat to regulate the temperature of its body.^[1] Of the venomous snakes of the world, only the King Cobra is longer. ^[3]

When warding off a bigger threat or feeling very threatened, the black mamba usually delivers multiple strikes, injecting its potent neuro- and cardiotoxin with each strike, often attacking the body or head, unlike most other snakes. It can strike up to 12 times in a row. A single bite from a black mamba can inject enough venom to kill up to 10-25 grown men, easily killing one unless the appropriate anti-venom is administered in time.

source wikipedia

Stop Palin!

2009-02-04T18:21:00.000-06:00

EYEONPALIN.ORG

dreams do come true...

2009-01-31T14:16:00.004-06:00

because we now own a Dyson vacuum!

well and the part where I married the man of my dreams, have the cutest puppy, and am going to Africa in 3 weeks....this post is SO seriously so blessed!

already..?

2009-01-29T22:08:00.003-06:00

I am going to assume that the three wrinkles on my forehead are due to celiac disease; because I wear sunscreen daily, a hat at the beach, use organic paraben free products and my mother doesn't have one crack! ....and it couldn't be that I have been working at a place with horrible management for almost a year where 3 year olds tell me to kill myself when I ask them to open their workbook and today when I told a boy he would get a new workbook tomorrow he said "and then I will punch you in the face..."

no words..

2009-01-20T20:45:00.004-06:00

in the older 2's class at snack time

Me"who is our new president?"

2.5 year old boy " BLACK OBAMA"

2.5 year old girl then says "Obama is my present!"

different 2.5 yr boy "NO Obama is my present!"

girl "No Obama is my present"

I told them he is our new President and offered them more crackers and they moved on to somethng else!

minutes later in the 3's class at snack time

me " childs name do you know who our new President is?"

3 yr old girl " Barack Obama.... he is going to take all of our money away and give it to other people."

me..........

different 3.5 yr old girl " he is going to take all of mommy and daddys money away and then they can't pay the man at church"

her twin sister "the man at church with the basket that you put money in, mommy and daddy won"t have any money to put in it is cause Obama is going to take it and give it to all the other people and then i will be sad"

me.........."girls name where are your socks?"

2nd twin nervously "Obama is going to take our socks"

I am pretty close with the twin's parents and doubted that they said all of this so I told the Dad what they said at the end of the day; he had to sit down. We figure the girls took what they heard from the first girl and the last time they saw money being putting it in the collection basket at church on Sunday and put it all together...oy vey!

relapse

2009-01-18T18:58:00.003-06:00

Forgive me every system of my body for I have sinned and thus harmed you! **I didn't eat the crusts and Nick did have 3 pieces!** And like any addict I have excuses I didn't feel like making dinner...something that I have been upset about and praying about for months came to some sort of head and not a favorable one.... and i miss Quartino pizza! I pinky promised Nick and myself and now the blogosphere that I will not mess up again before Africa, I want to feel the best I can!

p.s. some preschool children may not have a phonics, math or spanish teacher tomorrow

finally we are as cool as our parents

2009-01-17T19:29:00.003-06:00

today is the day we joined the wii world! come over for mario kart madness!

out of the mouth of babes 3

2009-01-12T22:47:00.002-06:00

said to a 4 yr old boy from south africa "i am going to south africa soon" .. "i am going to the bathroom"

3 yr old girl while falling asleep for nap " kristin i pooped today"
me "thats great, i am so glad"
3 yr old "it was a school of fish poop"
me, nervously "what is a school of fish poop?"
3 yr old "when all the poops are wittle but close together and there are lots of them in the water, like a school of fish on planet earth"
me "of course"

at the end of 2 yr old math class "would you like a stamp....which one?"
2 1/2 yr old boy "OBAMA stamp"
"i don't have an Obama stamp, how about the star stamp?"
"OBAMA like it?"
"i think so"
"on tv they say OBAMA!"
ok...that one i guess you had to be there but every time he said OBAMA he did so in a low and loud voice with his eyebrows down and fists over his head

after that flop i'll stop now the rest is mostly had to be there or 2, 3, and 4 yr olds swearing

out of the mouth of babes 1

beauty

2009-01-12T22:31:00.004-06:00

i am going to dream about these beauties from coe & waito tonight! maybe i can give the kids in my classes some clay and see what their little fingers can do! or someone on etsy please make them for my birthday!

blah...can not get all of the picture in the window, the best one is not showing

Chicago, Sunday 4:32 pm

2009-01-11T16:46:00.001-06:00

I love Kristin

2009-01-10T17:39:00.002-06:00

Did any of you know how lucky I am? I have the best wife. I could write a million reasons here, but looking at a few pictures made me remember even more. (Plus I have a ton of Nyquil running through my veins and I can't see straight enough to type the words).

our future (like in 2 years) baby wants this!

2009-01-01T11:39:00.001-06:00

buy here!

several positions available

2008-12-28T20:42:00.002-06:00

Due to the faltering economy our college friends that visited us last year for New Years canceled on us, thus several positions still remain available to be our friends on New Years Eve!

benefits include:
-the comedic styling of Mick Nacey
-access to a car
-apartment w/ a view of fireworks
-snacks
-soda or pop whichever you prefer
-compensation negotiable

We'll even sign off on community service hours!

SLC 08

2008-12-28T20:03:00.002-06:00

Despite the new camera and google phone very few pictures were taken of our 10 days in SLC...

we had the Macey family Christmas party where our branch wrapped up a witches head and dolls hands for the white elephant and Uncle Rex put them in Grandma Macey's apartment buildings tree!

Oscar looved the snow! He has been very sad since we have been home and will not let him touch the disease festering Chicago snow banks!
Nick did lots of this, with Oscar's help of course!
I had lots of fun with the Pi Phi's! Cafe Rio, shopping, getting ready togther, Annual Pledge Class Christmas Party, 2 am Village Inn!
and despite weeks of anxiety and a 2 hour delay Oskie was a great traveler we didn't hear a peep from him! If only you could slip babies narcotics and put them under the seat!

martha can you hear me!

2008-12-28T19:24:00.004-06:00

Eddie from season 2 of Bravo's Top Design has a blog! Although would I even like him if he didn't know Martha?

http://eddieross.typepad.com/eddie_ross/

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-14T10:39:00.001-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

gluten schmuten

2008-12-12T16:52:00.002-06:00

After a week to the hour of being gluten-free I am feeling a little teensy bit better, each day I spend a little less time in the bathroom and less often and my daily headache and pains are a little less severe. Part of me didn't want to feel better because then it means I really do have Celiac Disease and goodbye gluten, but I must have it!

Everything is relative, the time and energy I have gained back from not having to lay on the couch crying every night about how bad my head hurts is now spent in Whole Foods reading labels and the money we are saving on toilet paper and advil is now being spent on 4 dollars an ounce gluten free pasta!

I am hopeful, Nick and I went to the doctor today and he said based on what he saw on my insides if I am really good I should be feeling "normal" in 8 months!

But...If you come near me eating a REAL pretzel, cookie, or pizza IT IS ON Bad Girls Club Style!

p.s. I would post a clip from last seasons bad girls club for effect but Nicks family reads this blog

Illinois governor arrested

2008-12-09T09:14:00.001-06:00

Another great reason to leave this corrupt state.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/source-feds-take-gov-blagojevich-into-custody.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2008-12/43789434.pdf

It's Britney beach..

2008-12-07T16:01:00.002-06:00

Have you watched Britney:for the record? Thoughts? Did you believe her? How about her dad not knowing the difference between Velveeta and Kraft singles? What about her eyes, uppers ..downers..lets discuss? If you need to watch it again its on our Tivo, as long as your bring a gluten free snack!

the answer..

2008-12-06T18:43:00.002-06:00

Hello Celiac Disease...Goodbye Gluten forever...more on this and my feelings about it later my boys and season 3 of Arrested Development await

out of the mouth of babes

2008-12-03T18:57:00.003-06:00

or

FEMALE DOG

Today I walked into the 2 1/2 year old classroom to pick up a few friends for their Phonics class and a little friend ran up to me, grabbed my leg and said..

"You are a Beeach!"
"excuse me?"
"YOU ARE A BEEEACH!"
"No, thank you, I don't like that, I am a teacher not a....and before I could finish my sentence I had three more little friends all around me yelling "you are a beeeeach, Kristin is a beeeeach, Ms. Kristin is a BEEEAAACH!!" and the more they said it, the closer they got to saying the real thing!

belly

2008-12-01T19:18:00.002-06:00

Today makes a week since I had pieces cut from my stomach and duodenum and several biopsies taken from my colon and I am finally feeling a little better! I can eat a normal amount again, I am just a little hesitant about my choices and scared to drink my nightly herbal tea! Thanksgiving was no fun...food wise! The doctor told me the day of what it was (or looked like) and I have tried not to google it too many times and diagnose myself, so now we are just waiting to hear the test results! Please pray with me that it is something easy to treat and FIX and not a life long condition! I am very sick and tired of being sick and tired and want to have my life back! I want to make plans and not have to always cancel them because I have a horrible headache or am in the bathroom! My (our) list of things to do before we start to try and have children is very short; get me healthy, go to Africa, have a savings account in the upper five digits! The tickets to Africa are bought and now we just need to get me better and then save and save some more!

Mr. Macey..

2008-11-16T18:13:00.005-06:00

Happy Birthday to...
the boy who left a dozen roses outside my dorm sophomore year because i had a horrible boyfriend and he knew i deserved better!

the boy who sweat in a giant foam suit all night to be my shining white tooth!

the boy who danced with me at every pi phi and beta formal even though he didn't want to!

the boy who had to stand in front of a whole room of pi phi's and tell them how he proposed to me and sing the beta song to me!

and finally HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the man that I married and who makes my dreams come true everyday!

do you have any...

2008-11-14T20:12:00.004-06:00

Nick asked the head of the school we will be volunteering at if it was okay if we bring things for the children and what types of things would be best. This was her reply, if you have any of these small items around please let me know, I will come to you!

Yes it's a good idea, but please do not bring anything that would cost a lot as we do not want the children to think they get a lot from overseas volunteers. Here is a list below of things that you can bring if you have them at home :

- Old blanket or towel for animals

- White board marker

- Any educational game (easy ones)

- Calculator (it's good to teach them how to use one !)

- Puzzle (easy one)

- Card game

- Any little present that we can give them when we do game and that they win such as :

- cheap watch

- sample perfume (given usually when you buy perfume)

- any small cosmetic

- any small little cosmetic bag or accessories for girls

- any hygienic stuff like small soap, tooth brush, body lotion ect....

- small packet of sweets

- any small kitsch toy that usually privileged children get (it must be cheap as we don't want to give expensive present such as computer game ect....)

Daktari Bush School and Animal Orphanage

2008-11-11T20:37:00.002-06:00

Since I was a teenager I have wanted to go to Africa, and the main thing I wanted to accomplish before I got married was to do a service trip to Africa and Nick knowing this promised to me when we got engaged that we would go before we have children....and tonight he surprised me with the trip all planned out! The last two weeks of January we will be staying and volunteering at the Daktari Bush School and Animal Orphanage in Limpopo, South Africa!! My heart and mind are racing and thinking about all of that we can get together to take to them and raise for them and I am sure this trip will be all you will hear about from now on!

Namaste, Shalom, Ukuthula

the perfect sunday

2008-11-05T16:14:00.000-06:00

after a great husband made breakfast, we walked to the park where Oscar played with his new 70 lb best friend for hours then a delish brunch at the Goddess and Grocer then back home for naps for the boys while I quilted and then a surprise date to Table 52 including a walk through the park in the rain on the way home! I love my Boys!

nick edited the former title

2008-11-02T20:53:00.003-06:00

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=32216

I want to be friends with Barb Young, who knew.

kiva update.

2008-11-01T11:56:00.002-05:00

This week I received updates on 2 of the 3 businesses I have given loans to in Africa. After another lonely week in Chicago it feels so good knowing that somewhere in the world I have a friend.

This is an update on your loan to Matale Lending Group 2 in Uganda.
Christine is pleased to report that business is great! Since
establishing her retail grocery and sundries shop over a year and a half
ago with her first loan from Pearl Microfinance, this friendly wife and
mother of 5 children has since expanded her product selection to meet
the demands of her village, purchased a cow so she can sell milk in her
shop, bought a refrigerator to preserve her milk, sodas, eggs, mineral
water and the fresh juices she prepares daily. Christine was also able
to afford a couch for the home she and her family rent. She’s used the
proceeds from the current loan to replenish her supplies and add new
items to her store. Operating this business has many challenges and
opportunities. Christine struggles to accommodate the customers, most of
whom are her friends, who want to pay on credit. Many times, she’s not
able to collect on this credit and it’s uncomfortable when she has to
ask. Eventually, she wants to apply her knowledge of retailing and
become a wholesale distributor. rnrnThis business has taught Christine
many valuable business skills. As a young housewife, she had no formal
business skills training before opening her shop. Now she knows how to
finance her business needs; plan and budget; manage and save money;
identify and purchase merchandise that her customers want to buy; manage
inventory and, of course manage her loan obligations - all great
entrepreneurial skills!rnrnChristine hopes to take out another loan
after this one to further expand her product selection. Her family hopes
to use the additional profits to buy a plot of land and build their own
home.rnrnWith the support of Pearl’s microfinance program, Christine
and her husband, an electrician, are able to provide 2 meals a day for
their family and pay for school fees. Her kids are attending better
schools and wearing nicer clothes. She’s says her life and her
family’s lives are much better off now. She’s grateful to Pearl
Microfinance and her Kiva lenders.

This is an update on your loan to Matale Lending Group 2 in Uganda.
Robinah is a widow and the single mother of 7 children aged 7-15, and
the sole wager for her household. Two of here children are her late
sister’s orphans. She owns and manages a Malwa bar, a local brew made
from millet (the author tried a sip and let’s just say it’s an
acquired taste and quite potent!). She used the proceeds from her August
2008 loan to buy bulk millet flour, firewood and brewing supplies.
Robinah has a couple of different varieties of Malwa. The style pictured
takes 2 weeks to produce and is best enjoyed in her comfortable and
pleasant café. The other variety requires over a month and is generally
sold in bottles. She started in business with her first Pearl microloan
as a Malwa reseller. Soon after, she learned how to make her own Malwa
and saw a significant boost in profit. Shortly after, with her third
loan, Robinah opened her café, seeing sales rise still further. She now
offers her bottled Malwa through local retailers in her village.rn
rnRobinah says Pearl’s microfinance program “has helped me so
much.” Without Pearl’s assistance, she would still be a peasant
farmer unable to support her children or pay for their school fees.
Without her loans, she fears her children would have to discontinue
school. And she would not have been able to afford the home they all
live in together because of her Malwa business.rn rnBecause her
customers continue to increase, Malwa believes her next loan requirement
will be 1,500,000 UGX to finance the purchase of larger supplies.rn
rnRobinah is grateful to Pearl and Kiva’s lenders.

My third loan was given to a father of 11 who has been a teacher for 30 years and heard about the loan process and thought it could help him finish the house he has been trying to build for his family for years, whenever he could he would buy steel supports and was always building bricks and now he can do it all at once. He has never been late with a payment, and it feels so good to help a man who has helped so many young people stay out of the violence in such a war torn country. My heart swells for the people of Africa, I am going to put together a package for Nick and I's 3 year old Zambian "daughter" Loveness today and dream about our trip there next summer, hopefully.

smile emo mommy

2008-10-29T19:47:00.004-05:00

How hilariously true is this list? Every hipster or emo parent I know has named their child a name on this list! But what makes me nervous and mad is that three of my top baby names are on here, Harper, Silas and Orson and our dogs name, haha! Luckily our other top baby names are not on here Jude, Luka, Eleanor and Mila.

the list.

2008-10-28T20:29:00.002-05:00

I have at least 12 posts to do but negative energy but funny story. So my job, in the mornings I take children out of their classroom and teach them phonics, math and spanish in small groups and in the early afternoon I go to different classrooms while other teachers go on their lunch break and their kids "nap" and later in the afternoon I either go home or go to a random classroom that needs another teacher. Well, the oldest class in the center the 4 turning 5 class is where I usually go from 1 to 2, and I absolutely hate it, I usually leave with my stomach and back in knots and call Nick on the verge of tears and/or dropping some swear bombs!

Well, today I had only been there for 20 minutes and I was in the semi-open air bathroom trying to help a boy change his pants after he pulled them up and "more pee came out all over, okaaay" so he could get out of the bathroom so another girl could sit down on the toilet because "the poop was already out of her butt touching her underwear." While this was happening one of the lovely blessings from heaven was standing on a bookshelf calling me a "poopy skeleton" while another one was standing on the computer desk calling the other one a "what the hell" and another lil blessing was jumping on his cot with his blanket on his head subsequntly waking up the two kids next to him I had just gotten to sleep! Oh, and two other teachers were looking through the windows laughing...to their defense one came in and helped me but only for a minute, which reminds me of a whole other story that the kids i work with ONLY listen to large African American women!!

Well after gaining an ounce of control and dishing out some consequences one of the boys looked at me and said " I am going to make a list about you tonight" and I said "and what will it say?" "NO MS. KRISTIN"..."AND THEN I AM GOING TO MAKE A SIGN FOR MY HOUSE THAT SAYS NO MS. KRISTIN ALLOWED!" and I said "Well, I am making a list of people who listened and it is going to say no ******" I hope he is at home right now asking his extremely strict latin parents how to spell Kristin and when they ask why he can tell them the whole story!

you know who you look like...

2008-10-05T16:47:00.006-05:00

last Saturday I cut my hair (once again) into a short bob, and if I had showered today I would take a picture, here is a picture from exactly one year ago at our 2nd wedding reception in Pittsburgh when I had cut all my hair off! Although right now mine is much shorter, more a-line and less bangs!

and someone told me I look like the MOM from the movie The Sixth Sense, I had never seen the movie so I looked up the actress. Her name is Olivia Williams, she is British and below is a picture of her in Miss Austen Regrets. I guess I see it...do you?

Like every other week I have gotten the "you look like someone"......long pause...sometimes hours....."BABY from Dirty Dancing" Okay, this one I don't really see and take a little offense to because after the movie she got a nose job! Patrick Swayze is living next to the Summers maybe I should knock on his door and ask him if he sees it!

and my favorite! a chubby winona ryder!!

She obviously feels the same way.

The only one I find flattering is when people tell me I look like Snow White, in fact I am going to invest in a real Snow White costume and be her every Halloween for the rest of my life! When my kids talk about their mom I want them to say I look like Snow White and all of my gay boy best friends that I shop with and that do my hair will be my dwarfs and I already found my Prince!

Oscar the Wolf Dog

2008-09-19T14:08:00.003-05:00

Oscar's Father

The other night I got home before Kristin. I let Oscar out, and he was immediately confused. Why was I here so early? What did I want? Why did my fingers taste so delicious?

Kristin was at a birthday party for a co-worker, and wouldn't be home for a little while. I took Oscar for a walk and then we came home and played. The blinds were shut, except for a small hole (about 6" wide maybe) that was open the whole way from the bottom to the top.

About 45 minutes after we got home, Oscar trotted over to that hole in the blinds, sat down on his rear legs and started howling - like a wolf. I tried to stop him but nothing would console him for at least another 10 minutes.

That was the first time Oscar has done that. I am now convinced that Oscar is part wolf. It makes too much sense not to believe.

it is better to give..

2008-09-13T14:35:00.002-05:00

if my checking account was bottomless i would buy everyone i know a pressie ( i can't decide if i like that word or not, do you?) from this company! they have beautiful and charming necklaces, rings and house blessing charms with such great messages! if only i was oprah and they would send me a truckload of them just for mentioning their name! Dogeared Jewelry!

no doggy breathe in this house

2008-09-07T20:06:00.000-05:00

our one year anniversary!

2008-09-07T19:46:00.007-05:00

for our first anniversary we were in SLC so we visited the church we were married at!

then drove to Park City, got massages, ate a fancy dinner, and spent the night on main street!
the next morning we went to the SLC temple, but we were locked out!

mccain needs to up his meds...

2008-09-02T11:34:00.003-05:00

without writing an essay, i will say that I Kristin Nicole Coffey Macey am a registerd Independant and will vote for Ralph Nader each and every time he runs...legalize it, save the earth, etc.! However, I am also in favor of conservative government so I do not mind most Republican ideas and would vote for a leftie-centerie Republican if available!

Anyways, the point of this post is Sarah Palin....really? i mean really? go here to see her daughter taking after the bush girls...lets just hope these pictues were not too recent because she is 5 months pregnant! oy vey!

i know...my blog is trash, but...

2008-08-25T10:56:00.002-05:00

another reason to hate ... the hills ... i hate (and yes i know hate is a strong word but i am using it) the fake scripted reality show the hills but a once a week (i try to do it when nick is not home to save face) it is on our tv! its like they annoy me so much i just have to see what stupid thing they are doing this week! well my friend, he just doesn't know it, perez hilton, found out how much each one of them gets paid to have their "real lives" taped! they should invite the mormon girl morgan back on the show, but she is either married with two kids by now or in rehab getting off meth...or both!

Lauren Conrad: $75,000 per episode
Heidi Montag: $65,000 per episode
Spencer Pratt: $65,000 per episode
Audrina Patridge: $35,000 per episode
Whitney Port: $20,000 per episode
Brody Jenner: $10,000 per episode
Lauren “Lo” Bosworth: $10,000 per episode
Stephanie Pratt: $8,000 per episode

in case you were wondering...

2008-08-24T14:29:00.004-05:00

what an amazing preschool teacher I am, friday was a students last day because they are moving so they bought me a dooney & bourke purse to say thank you!

he was by far my favorite and i will miss him so much! he always made me laugh! even on tuesday after a child screamed in my ear for 45 minutes because he "didn't know where batman was and he missed him" not a batman toy or movie, the real batman and during this two turds ( i don't know a better word for it) had fallen on my bare toes!

as soon as I announce ....

2008-08-24T14:08:00.002-05:00

as soon as I announce that I am pregnant, which I am not, and we are not trying to be at the moment! I would like someone to buy this for me and if no one does then you can Nick...love you!

sunday dreaming...

2008-08-17T19:56:00.002-05:00

riding bikes in mission beach make me love this bike ensemble..

and Nick and I have been researching what kind of trees/plants to get for our balcony that 1) can survive the constant love and attention of me and 2) can survive the chi-town winter. How fab are these garden clothes?

sandyeggo!

2008-07-29T10:27:00.003-05:00

we are meeting Nick's fam in San Diego next week! any of you non-commenters have any suggestions of something fun-to-do have-to-see?!

tuesday 12:48 pm

2008-07-22T12:47:00.001-05:00

right now nick is at work thinking i am at home cleaning because his parents are coming into town tomorrow night but really i am trying to learn this dance and thinking of who is going to do it with me for the next ward talent show! make sure the volume is up and my fav part is probably 2:15-2:40

World's Largest Block Party

2008-07-22T08:59:00.000-05:00

We headed out to the World's Largest Block Party last night; it's a fundraiser for Old St. Pat's Church. Two of our favorite bands were playing: Ben Kweller and Rusted Root.

Ben Kweller was on first, about 30 minutes after we rolled into town. It was disappointing how many people were there, but maybe only 100-200 were actually watching and listening to him play. He was great though, we're going to try to go when he comes in September.

After Ben, we decided we needed to get some new food to replace the nasty nachos we had purchased. Below, the "bucket of fries" that included nacho cheese, jalapenos and bacon; it was delicious!

Rusted Root was awesome. We had a great time listening to them, but decided to leave early because of my experience there last year (ended up walking about 3 miles home).

So, we went looking for a cab. Quite a few other people decided to go looking for a cab at the same time. After many false positives and a lot of cursing at people that ran in front of us, a limo driver pulled over and asked where we were going.

This is where the night takes a turn for the less-enjoyable. We got in the limo and headed for home.... (to be continued)

Cars Nick Sees: Zebra and Collector

2008-07-22T08:36:00.003-05:00

First of an ongoing series

As you may or may not be aware, I commute about 2 hours a day. Part of that commute goes through a part of suburban Chicago that has an interesting mix of white trash and hicks. As a result, I see a number of interesting cars sharing the road with me. Here are two examples:

This person had painted his car in a zebra pattern, with red racing stripes. There was also a remarkable amount of rust (not pictured).

Kristin will need to remind me of the name of the guy that ran for president of ASUU that was old and collected things in the back of his truck. Here is a guy that had everything in the back of his truck from a water heater to an office chair.

I look forward to continuing this series in the future.

under construction

2008-07-20T16:08:00.001-05:00

Working a bit on the blog - things may look weird for the next little while. Thanks!