Liam turns 9!!! Can You Believe It?

Liam had a unique birthday experience this year in that we celebrated it in bits over a couple of weeks. It's funny how it just seemed to work out perfectly for where he is right now in his life. Two weekends ago the kidlets spent the weekend with Nana and Fred and they made a birthday trip to Target (you will note that Target is one of Liam's favorite links over there on the right side of your screen). Then this last Friday we celebrated with his class. He ordered the specific cupcakes he wanted and passed them out to all of his friends and then hit the hallways passing them out to every teacher he could find (a little sweets to the teachers never hurts.) Then I took him out of school early and surprised him with a trip down to ACL for his first concert. There was music everywhere...people everywhere...and so much fun to be had. We hit the Austin Kiddie Limits tent where he got rock star hair and a dragon 'tattoo'.



After music, body art, many prizes and lots of sweet tea we headed for a rendezvous with papa and Fi at Macaroni Grill, which was Liam's request for his birthday dinner. He stuffed himself silly...and THEN they came out with the sinful birthday cake and ice cream...and THEN he was given the birthday treatment of having "Happy Birthday" belted at him in Italian by their token opera singing waiter. Liam seemed thrilled, if only because the sooner the song stopped the sooner he could dig into his cake. : )



Saturday the kids went to this cool place for kids...where he played video games all evening (definitely something special) Then on Sunday M and I went to ACL sans kiddoes and they spent the day with Lita. He received a camera for his b-day and has been snapping pics ever since. Look for his pics on here soon....or who knows maybe he will have his own website. He has already made himself a business card...calling himself "The Freaky Photographer" His tagline (which he came up with on his own mind you) is "We can put mostly every thing on film"

Many thanks to all of you that sent cards and gifts to Liam for his birthday. He is still working on his thank you cards, but look for them in the near future. We are capping off his birthday in the next week or so with a trip to Blazertag for him and his good buddy from school. It's just good all around...and I'm sure Liam would tell you...it's SO good to be 9!

A Quick Visit from Auntie

In her transit from one adventure to another, we were graced with the presence of the lovely 'Auntie'. Remarkably, we had more than 2 days with her...and it was so wonderful to have her home with us for a while.
For those of you who don't know, she is now in Costa Rica for her semester abroad...but we have been promised a visit over winter break. She checks in now and again via email and IM...so if you are looking for her, you can find her that way.
A couple of days before she left she came out to our house so that M and I could go on a real live date. This also allowed her and the kidlets to have some alone time. The schedule went something like this:

1.) Trampoline
2.) Make special dinner

3.) Make even special-er dessert (Brownies with frosting)

4.) Dance Party (complete with costumes)

We miss you Auntie and relive that crazy night over and over again. This usually involves turning up the music REALLY loud while the children hurl themselves in circles on the floor...
they are practicing their 'breakdancing' for when you come back to Tejas to hang out and teach them some moves.

By the way, the reason Liam is curiously missing from most of these pictures (except ninja dance mania picture on the left) is because he was the photog for the others. I am always impressed at the spontanaity of the pictures that he takes. Nevermind that he wasn't supposed to have my camera (sigh)...he's a great photographer anyway...and I wanted to share his shots.

That's it for now...stayed tuned for the next installment from the Monkeyhouse. Until then, much love to ya'll. -J

Fiona's First Day of School!

Hooray! Hooray! It was Fi's first day!

So today was Fiona's first day of school and by all accounts it was a success. She was so excited to go...and was not at all disappointed!

Liam and I watched her through a hole in the fence until her class went inside. Liam reassured me throughout the day (when he noticed I was a little misty-eyed) that these feelings are only temporary and that "I would have my kids back soon enough, loving me and watching TV". I am really glad I had him to distract and entertain me all day. He is an expert at comic relief. It's been a while since we got to hang out-just the two of us...and it is something special to be able to reconnect with such a sweet boy one on one.

We are so excited about Fiona's teachers Rachel and Marianne. They seem sweet and loving and very aware of each child's unique qualities.


Fiona has been filling us in on all the details of her day...and I am currently just waiting for her to fall asleep at the dinner table. Our girl is wiped out! More please.


As I mentioned, Liam and I spent the day together one on one...just kinda goofing off. We shared breakfast together (see pictures below), ran errands and just generally enjoyed pleasant conversaation and each other's company. I had to fend off numerous requests to 'just go hang out at Party Pig'...you know just to 'check things out for like an hour'. Can you tell Liam is a little excited about Halloween this year??? He has already designed his Halloween costume and let me tell you, this mama has her work cut out for her. I only hope I can live up to his crafting expectations! I can tell you now that he hopes to add at least 8 inches to his current height. OY.


Liam at breakfast:




Much love to ya'll from our goofy family to yours...

Growing up so fast...

Liam and Fi Kitchen 2006
Originally uploaded by Crafty Monkeys.

All of the sudden I am acutely aware of how grown up my children are becoming. I laugh at the irony they use in storytelling, their wit and their ever burgeoning vocabulary. Yesterday Liam used the word 'contemplating' and last week Fiona told me her imaginary sisters do her bidding because they are her 'minions'. Unbelievable!!!

Lately I have been feeling like their early childhood is fleeting away faster than I can catch it up. It's all just going too fast. It makes me want to steal every moment that I was impatient or inappreciative of their beauty back somehow.

We got word today that Fiona will be in the Pre-K class this year. So, this year both kids will be up at the elementary school. Although Fiona is over the moon, this mama's heart is conflicted and feeling a little tender. It has been a long time since we haven't had at least one kid at work with us. This offers up a whole host of opportunities for our business...but this new era comes an empty space that will just take a little while to fill I guess.

Starting Fresh...

Today I turned 33. It was a great day to look around and take stock of where I am in the world. Not too shabby by my estimation. Most of the time my birthday seems superfluous to me...and has since I was a child, but this year just feels different. I received phone calls from so many people that I treasure in my life. It always shocks me when people remember my birthday. I guess for some people its just a matter of propriety...but it really does seem like so much more. It just leaves me basking in the afterglow of feeling loved by so many people. Top that off with a lovely candlelight dinner with my husband the night before and lovely handmade cards from my children. What else could a mama ask for?? ooooh, I know...the offer of even another date with my husband next week from my inlaws!!! or howzabout a skirt that I would never splurge for, but is to die for from my mother? and this incredible fabric that i have been drooling over for weeks OR a very sweet gift from the heart from my brother? See? I told you! What else could a mama want? I have just been snugglin' on my kids all day. and THAT feels good.

So this other pretty surreal thing happened last night too. M and I went to my favorite restaurant, The Clay Pit which is in Austin. We only go once a year or so. Its a little pricey for us and I guess that keeps it kind of special anyway. They have a small old wine cellar downstairs that has about 6 tables. It is candlelit and quiet and romantic. Wait...I have to backtrack a little here...When M got home from work he gave me my birthday present which was this awesome CD by this band I am really into right now called Kings of Convenience. We already have the one from 2004 (which I love) and so he gave me the one from 2001. NOT an uberpopular band...and not a current or hot CD. I love them though and put it in the player immediately for the trip to Austin from Blanco. After we drop the kids off with my mama and some friends we get back in the car and turn the CD up loud for the trip downtown. So we get to the restaurant and check in with the host. They seat us immediately (which NEVER happens at this place on a Saturday night). We sit down at our quiet romantic table and look at each other and take each others hands. Then M says "Hey, that's the song we were listening to in the car!" That was the weirdest thing. I mean weird. Not just that it was the same (semi-obscure) band, or that it was an out of date CD....IT WAS THE SAME FLIPPIN' SONG. SO. I have decided to chalk it up to the supernatural. At this point I'm thinking it was just Big Papa saying Happy Birthday. You may think I'm crazy...but dammit, I miss him. so that's my story...and I'm stickin' to it.

Thanks for the love ya'll.