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Happy Birthday dad!

(me and my dad, 1971) 

When I was a little girl, I thought everyone went canoeing and cooked their dinner over a campfire at least once a week, because that's what my family did.

I thought everyone spent the whole summer - all three months - together, camping, fishing, canoeing, sitting around the campfire, telling stories, and laughing, because that's what my family did.

When I was older, I thought everyone had great debates about politics and religion and the meaning of life and the legalization of drugs over fettucine and red wine, because that's what my family did.

Of course, I know now that everyone's family is different, and my family was shaped most forcefully by my Dad, Eric Richard Larson.

My dad was probably a rebel in his youth, probably not much good at following rules. As a father, his spirit and intellectual curiousity encouraged me to grow, to keep an open mind, to learn all that I could about, well, everything.

I love him more than words can ever express.

It's been two years since I've seen my dad. He lives in Montana, with my stepmom, Trish, in a log cabin in a dusty little town near a good trout stream. He hasn't been out to PA since just after Ella was born.

And today is his birthday. And next Friday night, I'm going to see him in Seattle.

I'm flying to Seattle this week to vendor at the CK Convention there.

My brother, Keith, lives in Portland, OR, so he and his girlfriend, Sarah (another Sarah Larson, perhaps????) are taking the train up. And my Dad is driving over from Montana. And my mom, who will be out visiting my aunt who lives in WA, will be coming into the city.

Team Larson, reunited for the first time since my wedding in 2004. It's almost more than I can stand. My eyes are welling up just thinking about it.

So here's to you dad (I don't think he reads my blog - I think he keeps forgetting I have it. I don't blame him, given my updating track record!). Happy Birthday! I can't wait to see you.

In 1999, at our favorite campground in Yellowstone, with my brother and me:

 

In 2006, when Declan and I went home to Ill. for a visit:

MIA

There should be a new classification for bad bloggers like me. Missing In Action doesn't quite seem to capture it!

Sorry it's been so long. No excuse beyond the usual - busy.

I took about a zillion photos on Halloween, and wanted to share some here. Enjoy!

 

   

 

   

 

   

Here's to a new year

Well, both kids are asleep, and just in time.

School starts tomorrow!

I can hardly believe Declan's going to be in Second Grade. Where does the time go? I'm sure those of you with older kids remember the first day of second grade, too - and it probably seems like just yesterday.

Declan's backpack is all packed, his lunch is ready to go, and we'll be walking down to the bus stop at 8 a.m. tomorrow. Here's hoping he has a great year!

I'll leave you with a couple pics of the family. These were taken last week at a park in Perkasie.

 

Thanks, Marlene...

So, Marlene tagged me. And now I have to come up with more interesting things about myself. Which is difficult, as I'm not really all that interesting any more. I used to be. But that was years ago.

But while I was linking to her blog, I saw this cool little thingy (I believe it is called a "widget.") that lists where people are coming from when they come to your blog. So I added it to mine. Now how cool is that?

Of course, unlike Marlene, who has visitors from Canada, all my folks have American flags next to them. But that's ok.

Ok, so interesting things about me:

1) I am a Sci Fi geek. I love Stargate SG-1, and will soon start watching Stargate Atlantis (missed it when it first came out, so put off starting until I could get the DVDs and watch it in order. Which leads me to point 2....)

2) I am slightly obsessive compulsive. Order makes me happy. If there's a series of books, or TV shows, I can't just jump in the middle. I have to start at the beginning. Something to do with character development, I suspect...

3) I am drinking Sobe Life Water right now. And it's good. But I made the mistake of looking at the ingredient list. It's got "cochineal extract" in it for color. And since I'm a science nerd, I actually know that that is fancy speak for "ground up bugs." No lie. Go look it up.

4) I got a pedicure a few weeks ago for the first time in about two years. Felt reeeaaalllly good. Looks even better.

5) I have not scrapbooked, for myself, in a very long time. Me = sad. :(

6) The cleaning ladies were supposed to come tomorrow. Now they're not coming til Tuesday. Me = sad. :(

7) When I was a kid, we hid real Easter eggs. One year, we didn't find all of them. We found it about six months later under a chair cushion in the living room. Oddly enough, it didn't smell.

8) I thought of that story because we lost one of Ella's bottles a few days ago. Drew found it today in the toy chest. It still had milk in it. It, alas, did smell.

9) I am going upstairs now to watch Eureka (A Sci Fi Channel original, you know) with Drew.

But before I go, in the spirit of Marlene, I tag these people who I think read my blog (at least occasionally) but don't have blogs of their own, to post in the comments a few random things about themselves: Donna Bolsar, Patti Seiger, Colleen Fennessey, Lisa Valletta, Mary Alice Markol.

'Night! :)

Summertime, Summertime

Whew. August is flying by at the speed of light.

First weekend was CKC Valley Forge. Next weekend, Jen Starr visited to teach at the store. This weekend was CKC Charlotte. This coming weekend, Donna Downey visits to teach at the store. Weekend after that is mlpa's Anniversary crop (we're 3! Whee!)

But I've been working so hard, I feel like the summer is almost over, and we've hardly had any family fun.

We did, however, spend a week at the shore back in July. Ella hated the sand the first day - wouldn't even let me put her down. But she was having fun by week's end.

Declan and his buddy Josh had a blast. They always do - two peas in a pod, if ever there were any!

Got some good photos to immortalize the trip:

This might well be my favorite! You can just hear her thinking, "Whatcha doin'?"

And I love this one, too:

She had fun digging in the sand. Don't you want to just squeeze the little hiney???

The sun and the sand and the sea really took it out of the pumpkin. She was beat, by day's end. Almost fell asleep in daddy's arms:

 

Drew and Steve golfed, I read a bunch of books, Declan and Joshed played Xbox and mini golf, and Miss Ella played at the beach, napped (very well!) and watched Elmo.

A good time was had by all. 

Life, in photos

So I go for almost a month and a half with no updates, and now two days in a row? What on earth will you faithful blog readers (all three of you) do?

But, I have lots and lots of photos to share, so I better get cracking.

Last month, Ella's hair finally was long enough for me to try to wrangle it into pigtails. I almost cried at how darned cute the pumpkin looked! Of course, she doesn't seem to like it much - she pulls them out almost immediately. But they're cute while they last!

Fourth of July was quiet, but really nice. Drew's parents were still in town, so came up for the day. It's always so nice to get to spend time with them. We see them every couple months, but I know living in Florida, so far away from their grandkids is hard on them.

I tried to get a nice photo of them with the kids, but Ella just doesn't cooperate. This was the best of the bunch.

When I tried to get a photo of the kids together, this was, if not the best, certainly the funniest:

Declan, on the other hand, still tolerates me and my lens. Which is a good thing, because the camer just loves this boy.

I've been tagged!

Ok, so I realized that I hadn't updated the blog in awhile - but a month and a half??!! Holy cow! So sorry it's been so long. I don't know how that much time got away from me.

And I just checked back in here for the first time in awhile, and found that my new friend Lynn tagged me! I'm supposed to list seven random things about myself. So here goes:

1. I chew only on the left side of my mouth. I really just realized this the other day. And it's because I have a tooth on the right side that hurts - the gum is receding, and there's not much the dentist can do about it, I don't think. So I've unconsciously adapted by chewing only on the other side. Odd.

2. My house, like my life, is a wacky mix of regimented organization and utter chaos. If something has a place to go, it's usually labeled, and it always goes there. For example, towels are always folded a certain way (label and seams in, decorative stitching out, fold on the left) and stacked on the same shelf, whites together on one and colors together on another. But if something doesn't have a place, it could float anywhere - and usually does.

3. I was going to be a biochemical engineer - until I found out that my sophomore labs started at 8 a.m. (in college). Um, I don't think so. I switched my major to English. I still enjoy reading, and writing, about science, though.

4. I like my pencils really, really sharp.

5. I think it would be cool to be a runner. Except for the running and sweating part.

6. Mint chocolate chip ice cream (it has to be green!) always reminds me of my dad. It was his favorite when I was a kid.

7. Hearing Ella call out "Mom-mee!" in her sweet, pudgy little voice (can a voice be pudgy? I don't know how, but hers is deliciously pudgy!) makes my heart melt.

8. and a bonus - I once got a 100 percent (that's an A+, if you weren't quite sure!) on a political science test my sophomore year in college. It was an essay test (I think they all were) and my professor copied it handed it out as an example to the class on what a "good" essay test answer should look like. NOW how cool do you think I am???

Unfortunately, Typepad has, in the past month and a half, changed all the toolbars, and now none of my "insert link" buttons are working, so I can't tag anyone else right now. I'll have to try again in a day or two...I promise it won't be a month or two!

The pool debut

Went to a friend's house last Monday for the annual Memorial Day poolside party. Drew got Ella a lifejacket for the occasion.

I got her a sundress for the occasion.

OY

Bad blogger.

Without further ado, a couple recent pics from a family walk:

Declan rode his bike - with helmet, of course.

Ella rode the stroller - with blanket, of course.

She's at the point now where she wants to get out and walk/run for aways. We still have to take the stroller, though, because she's WAY too heavy to lug around for long! My friend Kim was holding her at the store yesterday, and after a few minutes, put her on the counter, saying "She's a TANK!" which is what I often call her. Though I will have to stop doing that pretty soon, because girls don't often want to be compared to tanks..

Not much new here, except that Drew is still employed. This is a good thing. The newspaper has been in quiet chaos for months, as the head muckety mucks worked on plans to merge the Courier Times and the Intelligencer. The entire print room got laid off in one fell swoop - one guy, who's in his late 50s, has worked there for 35 years. Can you imagine the sense of betrayal he must feel?

So the newsroom reorganization was announced yesterday. Drew is keeping his job. Not everyone else was as lucky. Though no one was directly laid off, several people were demoted and reassigned - a move that is, I'm sure, designed to drive them out sooner rather than later.

Drew's method of telling me, when he called last night, that his job was safe? "We're still going to Disney World, baby!" Gotta love that guy...

Thanks, mom

Ok, first off, to answer your questions about the pasta pics (in the previous post):

We had already eaten and were playing outside and on the deck last Tuesday, and I went in to get a drink. Ella has taken to standing in the open refrigerator door like she's looking for something. She grabbed the container of noodles and trotted back toward the deck.

I thought, "hey, at least she'll eat something relatively healthy." Now, I know carbs are not the best thing for adults like you and me, but Ella's diet is usually limited to the following:

cheese

Cheez-its

Cheetos (crunchy)

Cheese puffs (the puffy ones)

milk

Goldfish crackers

and did I mention cheese?

So when she wants to eat pasta, I figure, why not.

She climbed up in the chair and I took the lid off the container. Then she started stuffing herself like I hadn't fed her in about 13 days. She laughed, and ate, and laughed and ate some more. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants and took a bunch of pictures.

She'll hate those pictures someday, and I will treasure them always! Isn't that the way with moms and daughters?

Speaking of moms, had a decent mother's day. My main treat, after I got home at 1:30 a.m. from the store, was taking a nap! That's not true; my main treat was a beautiful little letter that Declan wrote himself. It made me teary.

The kids got me a couple DVD sets. Drew said, "It's really hard to buy you things because I can't buy you things for scrapbooking." True. However, Tiffany's is NEVER the wrong choice, is it??!! :)