Obama interview

I know that this is really a family blog, but with recent events, the economy in the crapper, and the new president being sworn in a few months, I can not help but give my opinion. I am not sure how many people got the chance to see Barbara Walter's interview the other day, but I did get a chance to see some of it. Most of the interview was pointless, and during most of it I would alter between yelling "What the...?" and "Are you serious?" I mean, really who cares what kind of dog will be in the White house when we have yet to figure out the policies that will guide this country. As my husband so adequately stated, "It was cutesy during the campaign, but now I want to know what he is going to do." Obama may be a type of celebrity. I can understand why this would be, as he is the first African-American president. That is a great thing for this country, but what would be even better, is if we had a competent president (especially after a not so competent one). I think that he can be competent if he would stop playing these games. On ABC.com they have a story about his interview, and they say he, "touched on a broad range of topics from the economy and troop deployments in Afghanistan, to Thanksgiving plans with his family." In reality, I think he touched on the subject of the economy and the war but, more than half of the interview consisted of them talking about their family and mindless other topics. The fact of the matter is, I don't care that much about which of the rooms his girls are going to sleep in when there are thousands of people losing their jobs RIGHT now. President-elect, I DON'T CARE about how your Thanksgiving turkey will be cooked or how your girls are not going to be spoiled, I want to know what you are doing about the war, or about Wall st, or unemployment, or the loan crisis. Please stop avoiding questions because you don't want to lose popularity. I am tired of it, and I am sure I am not the only one.
ps I really do like Obama and I think he will make an good president, I am just frustrated by the fact that he seems to be under the impression that he is still campaigning. He is after all NOT a celebrity. He is going to be our president and he should realize that.

I always forget

Everytime someone discusses the east coast cold I think I understand what they mean. I have, after all, been here for over 6 years. I wonder then, why each and every winter I get hit with the thought, "I cannot believe it is this cold." This year has been no different. This week has been especially cold for it not even being winter yet. As I get ready to go out, I think,"Oh this jacket will be just fine and maybe a pair of gloves," and then I freeze. I am nicer to my girls.
Two days ago I took the girls out to play in the nearby park. (Really it was just for Ali to play in the huge pile of leaves that the gardeners piled up). While Ali had loads of fun, and we stayed out far longer than I would have had I been alone, after about an hour we headed inside because it was just too cold. The girls both had on gloves, hats and jackets, along with warm underclothes and shoes, but this is what the babies cheeks looked like even after about a 15 minute warm-up. She has gotten to the point where she likes to face outward in the baby Bjorn. Nick, of course, as the hypochondriatic med student, thought she had frost bite. She did not. Though, from now on I think I will cover her face somehow when we go out for long periods.


I finally took out Alicia's warm jacket from the winter closet. Luckily, it still fits; I hope it does all winter.


We bought this really cute bunting yesterday. I think it will work better to keep our little one a bit warmer, plus it is really soft.
I really should amend this before I post it. When I mean that it was cold, I mean it is in the 40's and high 30's which to me is frightfully cold. Give it a month and I will think, "I can't wait for it to hit 40 again." If we had this weather in February or even March, sorority girls would be out in our park in their bikinis, but I don't even want to think of that now. I guess if we all remembered, New England would be empty.

Kat Talking and Smiling

The title pretty much explains it all.

Because it's cold

There are lots of things that I like about Boston. There is one thing that I don't. If I ever leave this city, I will not miss the cold. No matter how much I love the fall, its one downfall is that it is a preview of winter. One benefit of living in a city that is used to the cold is that people make adjustments. I have a playgroup that I take the girls to. While it normally meets at parks and such, this week we met at a fire station. It was rainy and yucky, so it was a great way to escape from the house without getting too cold. Alicia was very shy at first, and she did not want to come near the firemen, but by the end she was touching things and talking almost as much as the other children. The thing she enjoyed most was driving the firetruck, (though no driving was actually involved). I only know it was her favorite because she talked nonstop about it later. Kat slept the whole time. if you zoom in you can see her snoring.

Here she is in the driver's seat. Watch out fires her she comes!


This is her in front of Engine 1. This was her expression for the first half hour of the tour. "Where is momma, where is she? I cannot be more than one inch away because a person is looking at me." *sigh* I hope she outgrows this stage, but if she is anything like her daddy, she will not.


One thing, not the only thing but a big one, that I like about the beginning of winter is that it's the season for clementines. Sweet and delicious.


I had meant to showcase this in a blog about a month ago when I received it, but as the procrastinator that I am... Well here it is. When Alicia was born I asked my sister Adele, a talented artist, to paint something for the nursery (ie our bedroom wall at the time). I told her she had artistic freedom, but that I wanted the colors to be bright and cheerful. August 27th "The Tulip" came in the mail. I was shocked, because, first of all, I had forgotten about it, and second my sister is in a PhD program now so I thought she would never have time to paint anything. I loved it right away because it is sweet, like both my girls. I hung it on the wall in the girls room. Another of my sisters, Jen helped me to pick the perfect spot. Normally there are no girls in the pile of stuffed animals.

What happened this week again?

I think that there are some weeks that kind of go by with a blur and after the week is over, I feel like I made no mark on the world. This week was one of those weeks. Quite a lot actually went on this week, but I feel like this week was just another week that will long be forgotten. Those are times when I am grateful for a camera. I looked back at the pictures this week and realized that there were some times that now can never be forgotten. This is the longest bike trip that she ever took. She rode all the way to the library to help me vote. She was still upset that she couldn't vote, but the sticker that she got at the end made it better. Stickers often do that. Of course I had her wear her helmet so that she could be safe, but really she only wore it because she loves it. Look at that concentration!


Kat first laughed out loud this week. I did not get a picture of her actual first laugh, but since I figured out how to make her laugh, we did get this cute picture of her. At the beginning of the week she was cooing loudly so I figured I should play with her. I put her hands above her head and "ate" her tummy. She thought it was pretty funny so she smiled. Since she smiled at it I did it again. That time she actually had a little giggle burst out unexpectedly. Since then, now all I have to do is put her arms above her head and she immediately giggles. It is a really cute giggle too. Maybe I she make a video of it...maybe next week.


There is no story behind this picture, it is just to show how much she is growing which kind of makes me sad and happy at the same time. To conclude, I am glad that we have a camera handy because then maybe my weeks will all be full of something that make it memorable.

Where do I vote?

This morning, I tried to explain to Ali the duty of a good citizen of the USA is to vote. I told her she could not vote yet, which really upset her. It prompted shouts of, "I want to vote." Well, she was pacified when I told her she could come with me to vote. I told her to get dressed while I got ready. As you can see, she obeyed. What amazed me the most was that not a single article of clothing was inside out or backwards. She doesn't have much of a fashion sense, but at least she can do it right.


Alicia has never really been into dressing up. She does play make believe, but it has never before involved changing her clothes at all. I think that Halloween really made a difference in her outlook. If she can be a butterfly, then she can be anything. This is her outfit. I helped her put on the dress, but everything else was her doing.
ps For those who noticed that these pictures look similar, ie Kat sleeping in the swing in the background, this is why as a Mom I can complain about repetition. The bottom picture was taken yesterday and the top was this morning... It might as well be tomorrow or the day after that, since all days seem to just blend.

Happy Halloween!

This year we had a great Halloween. Ali was old enough to enjoy it and Kat, well, she was just cute.

Our little caterpillar.


Too much candy!


Our little butterfly. I wish I could have gotten a picture of her flying. She really would just jump with her hands out, but in her mind she was probably miles up in the air.


Sisters. What fun it is to have two girls.


Trick-or-treating was loads of fun. Once Ali got the idea of getting candy at each door, she was ready to go.


Pumpkin carving with daddy is always a treat. The best part for Ali was taking out the pumpkin guts. Each time she got a handful she would say, "oooh pumpkin guts" which was very entertaining for us too.