Late Night Ramblings

I've been working on movie stuff nearly every waking moment that I'm not actively mom-ming, wife-ing, or slogging through hoarse pain from an eternal sore throat. Went to doctor on Saturday and learned it's not strep throat, which is good. Feeling a little low-energy tonight, although we had a lovely day all together, driving over to South Minneapolis and toddling around the storefronts at 50th and France Avenues.

We were going to go to this free family event in downtown St. Paul, but Audrey fell asleep in the car on the way there, and we didn't want to rouse her to navigate a crowd. So, we stopped for the ever-necessary cups of coffee (I ran out of the car, got the goodies, and ran back) and motored West while The Shmoo snoozed.

Tonight, to get myself out of this near rut of must-work, must-work (which really doesn't turn out to be very productive), I noodled around on the Web, trying to alight on something Free to do tomorrow with Audrey. Since I'm still nursing a sore throat, going to the fitness center and using their Babysitting service won't be an option. Well, I'm happy to report that I came across this art organization's shop that sells recycled art supplies in St. Paul. Since our little artiste is really digging on the painting supplies lately, I figure we'll go burn some daylight there tomorrow. :) And, get coffee nearby, of course.

Sorry to be so mundane with this entry, but I'm here! Trying to resume the habit that I used to have of updating this blog more often.

Let me think before signing off, what latest Audreyisms I can share?

She's really into watching Pinocchio these days. She's gotten really good at using the toilet when necessary -- and, likes getting reward stickers at daycare for doing so. She likes cuddling before bedtime and reviewing her whole day, then having Mommy or Daddy sing Do Re Mi. And, she's begun coming out of her room, like, 10 times after Lights Out for assorted reasons. Sigh. Yeah, I know, I gotta get one of those door handle thingies that'll make it hard for her to open her door. I'm sure that'll go over really well with her. Ha ha.

She's really into painting and loves her dance class. Music Class, in comparison, seems so 6 months ago. She still likes it, but she doesn't talk about it nearly as much as the dance class.

She loves answering the phone, and does not want to give it to either parent when asked. AND, playing "chase me" is a really big favorite right now, whether we're game for it, as well, or not. :)

Doing things "by my own" is also very big right now. And, she's experimenting with mercurial mood shifts and tonal bursts of extreme decibels to indicate how much we are or are not in line with her expectations.

Ken and I are certain that our upstairs neighbor is loving this phase of Audrey's toddlerhood, as evidenced by the loud stomping down stairs and slamming her outside door occurrence today would indicate.

Alright, I'm pooped. Off to bed for me. XOXO

I just need to sit here and...

Okay, okay, we've REALLY slacked off on this blog here.

That's what Facebook will do to you.

I'm not just behind here, though. I have a stack of stationery for our "holiday letter" which still sits unopened, too. Sigh.

What we have been up to:

Ken's still a happy camper working at Beka. I'm still a happy camper working at producing my indie feature film. Audrey's still a happy camper being an adorable toddler.

Today, in the bathroom she said, "I'm fine. I don't need privacy. I just need to sit here and poop."

Been querying some friends and family about which photo to submit to a Cutest Baby contest. If Audrey won, the prize is $125K toward college. Woo hoo! So, I tormented her some more today with the camera. Actually, she's pretty game, except for the fascinating cartoon of "Casper" that was on the tv. Every time I saw a shot in my viewfinder on the camera and clicked, she turned her head toward the tv again. Nice. :)

Okay, so this entry is a baby step toward posting here again more often. XOXO

Fly on the wall moments...

Some new Audreyisms.

"Are you a woman?"
"Yes."
"Is Ken a man?"
"Yes."
"I'm not a baby."
"No."
"I'm a toddler."
"Yes."

Pause.

"I'm a little booger. Are you a big booger?"
"Yes."

And, tonight while winding down toward bedtime. I was rubbing Audrey's back as I sang, "You are my sunshine..."
"Stop petting me. I'm not a cat."

Leaves!

Pics and viddies Sept - Oct

I'm gonna post some images/video, in no particular order. :)

To the left, we have "Fun with hats."



Below we have "Audrey coaches Cow to somersault."




Also, a couple Audreyisms from late:

Outside chatting with neighbor the other night. Audrey was playing alone in their toddler's sandbox. I told Audrey we'd leave in just a couple minutes. A few minutes went by, and she announced, 'I'm boring. I want to go home.'

Going naked is big right now. Audrey likes taking off her pants, skirts, tights, socks and/or diapers at no provocation. She's also begun using the toilet, albeit rather arbitrarily. :) The nakedness helps with that process, though.

Below is "Audrey somersaults with aplomb."



Below, "I'm a lemur."

You can tell we've recently visited the zoo by Audrey's command of monkey knowledge.



And, finally below, "Let me see!"

For Grandma Susie

Photos Bonanza - MD Birthday Trip July '09

And now for some party pix, and others.


"Blood on the Saddle..." as sung by Tina and Dave. It's not a party if there's no "blood on the saddle!"





















Nothing bloody below:


Grandpa Dave meets all of Audrey's little friends.

Photos Bonanza - Summer '09 Miscellaneous

Cousin Tracy's visit, during Walden's graduation picnic. It was shortly after this photo was taken that I skinned the beJesus out of my left elbow on a menacingly steep tube slide with Audrey.




And, now for some pix from our trip to Maryland in July.


Zak and Audrey.


Uncle Chris, maestro of the backyard grill.







Cousins William and Michael look chummy for the camera.

Doug and Ken below.









Ben and his favorite relatives: Audrey and Ken.










Greg and Lisa.

I feel out of practice!

I actually have a few, quiet, free moments here and thought I'd check in. And, then I wondered, 'what should I write about?'

Trip to Maryland to see Marshes Many and good friends was great. It really was. I'm hoping that by this weekend, Ken and/or I will sit down with the camera and download and upload stuff for your viewing pleasure here on the blog.

Audrey was great. She's a good traveler. The first time our plane took off, her eyes got bigger than dinner plates and she was a little scared. But, we talked about how it was a little scary to hear all the noises, feel the plane shake, and see ourselves zoom up, up, up into the sky!

And, then she played with the barf bag. Who knew dismantling barf bags could be so fun and time-consuming?

I'm currently planning on driving with Audrey in early August to my brother's house in Illinois. We look forward to playing with cousins Cody, Alyssa, and McKenzie for several days! Then, we'll continue south to Springfield, to visit with my best friend from high school. THEN, there's my 25th High School Reunion in Lincoln, IL. Afterward, we'll then head back up North again.

On a Lorie's Work note: today I got an email from an established movie producer whom I've LONG admired. Seriously, his work is something that has inspired me since I first started on this movie-making path in my late 20s. I'm quite tickled.

Okay, back to the remaining tasks at hand for the evening! More photos soon!

Phun With Photostitching

Finally got around to locating and installing some photostitching software that allows me to merge multiple photos into one panorama. Yay me! Turns out it came with our camera, duh.

Here's Minnehaha Falls towards the end of last winter, in a park just across the river from our house:








And here's about 200 degrees of the backyard of my Silver Spring, MD childhood home now occupied by brother Greg and his family. I shot this about a week ago while we were visiting my family. That giant dirt pile in the distance on the left, sadly, is the beginning of the outer beltway that they've been threatening to build "in our backyard" since before I was born.





The northwest corner of the house:






Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of backyards look like this right now all across Montgomery County MD:






On the bright side, this project is sure employing LOTS of people!

Portrait photos from June 09

Oh lovely Immediate Family (most of whom we'll be seeing shortly, live, in person!),

Here are some pix from our portrait sitting(s) last weekend for your viewing pleasure.






Repeat after me, 'My God, what a darling child!' Tee hee.

We'll be bringing/mailing some physical copies to parents and brothers/families.

XOXO

A video made at my job

It's cheesy and amateurish, but it gives you a rare glimpse into my workplace and a recent toy manufacturer trade show here in St. Paul where Beka had a booth. The video was made by the husband/wife? owners of a store that sells our products in Scottsdale AZ I think. I think they made the video just to show their own customers where Beka products come from.

I'm "so proud" that of all the cool things they could have shot me doing, I'm in the background sweeping up while Jon (Beka's owner's son) makes an easel. I didn't even know I was in the shot, duh.