May 2012
10 posts
A Letter...
Back in 2004 I decided to raise money for Camp Sunshine while I was at working at a law firm. A friend of mine worked at a rival law firm and we made a teeny wager. Whoever raised the most money would have to shave their heads. I knew that it was all in good fun and that I looked pretty decent with a bald head, so what would it matter? Plus, it was for a great cause.
I wrote a letter and...
Happiness is...
Being so tired from being inundated with family, friends, puppet shows and outside playtime that you fall asleep in the car…
Braves Games…
Zoo…
Friends…
Basically summertime…
Phantom Pains
The other morning I woke up and my fingers were literally itching to write. I’ve been somewhat stalled out on my original manuscript. Not blocked because I know where it’s going, just not having the words to write it out. And all of a sudden I woke up with words and thoughts… I wanted to write them desperately.
But, such is the life of a Stay at Home Mom and my boss called...
First and Last
Today was the last day of school for Kennedy… I did pretty well with her being all grown up and three now… until I got her art portfolio from the year. Her awesome art teacher also does photography. And took a SUPER cute picture of Kennedy from the beginning of the school year to put on her portfolio.
When she started school this year Kennedy still looked like a toddler and...
Weird
I was watching Law and Order: SVU today during nap time.
For those of you who don’t watch/ haven’t seen last nights episode, it’s about a doctor who goes around amputating girls legs. So there were several ladies rockin’ the one-legged look. I’m pretty sure that at least one of them was an actual amputee… Well, sorta sure, CGI does amazing things these...
Retreat
Camp Sunshine provides more than just two weeks of summer camp for kids with cancer. Since it was founded in 1982 it has grown from just one week to having year round programs. They have summer camp for patients, sibling camp, family camp and then countless days of programs at the Camp Sunshine House, music class, family nights, spa nights etc etc etc. I was lucky enough to be able to...
Grace
When I was pregnant with Kennedy I desperately wanted to name her Grace. Jason contended that this was an old persons name. I still love it…
But after picking her up from school today, maybe it’s best we didn’t name her this…
The poor thing has yet to learn to fall without breaking it with her face. I keep telling her that her face is Mommy’s retirement, but she...
Camp Songs
I think it was probably 1999, my last year at camp as a camper. I tend to have very detailed memories attached to years. I remember 1994 as my first year at teen camp and the year that I became friends with Dustin instead of competitors. I remember 1998 as the year that I missed to audition for colleges, but my friends from camp all called me the night before to tell me to break a leg…...
Housewife
This may come as a shock to (none) most of you, but I’m not a terrific housewife. If there was a grade I’d be pulling a solid C. Now, I’m pretty decent mom and Jason assures me that I’m a good wife, but when it comes to the whole cleaning/Suzie-home-maker things I’m not the valedictorian by any means.
Like, you know those rules that it just seems all housewives...
Guh
As of right now I have had strep as many times as I did in my childhood. I had strep twice in my entire childhood… even with the whole low counts/cancer thing. In the past six weeks I’ve had strep just as many times. I’m currently sitting in on our new furniture (!), watching Smash and praying that I start to feel better.
Last time I had strep I gave it to Kennedy. It...
April 2012
5 posts
Dances of Joy
I threatened y’all with memories about camp over the next few weeks as I raise money for Camp Sunshine.
In 2002 I officially became a summer camp counselor. I’d passed my years of being a Leader In Training (something at the time I wasn’t so sure I would) and Tricia, the director at the time, had said I could become a full-fledged Camp Sunshine volunteer. I would find...
Summer Camp
The air has turned warm and today a bit moist… the humidity of the summer setting in. Yes, it’s only April, but it is turning hot here in the South. I have always been pretty susceptible to spring fever. Those first few warm days pull at my heart and make me long for days of freedom, shorts and books read by the water. Between my years as a student and my years teaching there...
Center Of Attention
As a child I LOVED being the center of attention. I thrived on it. I always wanted to be on center stage and every eye on me.
Friday I figured out a way for that to happen.
Be the one legged girl who walks into any exercise class. Seriously.
I’ve been swimming for over a year and I love doing it. But, in the summers it gets difficult because our YMCA is used for swimming...
Waiting
I recently switched cardiologists. It was a hard decision mostly because I feel like I broke up with my other one. He is a great doctor and I I know how hard he worked to get Kennedy and I safely through my pregnancy. He just wasn’t a specialist in my actual condition and there is one at another hospital. So I switched.
I met with my new one about 2 months ago. We chatted and he...
Spring Is In the Air
Spring is here! And now that the pollen is no longer killing us we’ve been venturing out! Sure, we had a VERY mild winter, something you won’t ever hear me complain about, but it’s nice that the days are longer and that it’s warmer. Today we took it upon ourselves to head out to our local zoo and take in some of the wildlife. And also the train, playground and carousel....
March 2012
5 posts
Scene: Kennedy’s bedroom, she’s in her bed for nap time.
Kennedy: I want to get out.
Me: No.
Kennedy: I want to get out of bed.
Me: No.
Kennedy: Please?
Me: No. I’ll tell you when you can get out of bed, okay?
Kennedy: Okay.
Me: Under my breath after I’ve left the room. Which will be at the end of nap time.
Hazmat Situations
I hate my laundry room. It’s an actual room, which I love, but it’s not quite big enough. I’ve decided in my next house I want one that is big enough to at least fit a freezer in it. And maybe a couple of sinks… a rod to hang clothes… And of course, enough space for the litter boxes. Currently the one we have fits our washer/dryer and two litter boxes. It...
Fun in Homeownership
About two months after we lived in our house, the first time Jason’s family came to stay with us actually, we discovered our upstairs tub had a leak. It was awesome and made me really wish I could call a landlord who would fix it. We just pretended the leak problem didn’t exist. And when I learned how our homeowners insurance worked I called them and had them send out a...
And Then Three Happens
I’d noticed about back in early February that Kennedy’s temperament had changed. She was all of a sudden more independent… and more vocal about her independence. I looked at the calendar and realized that she was officially three.
Yeah, I’d heard that three was different than two… and it is.
But, she’s just as sweet and cute as she was at...
Things That Hurt
This includes sharing a queen bed with both Kennedy and Jason. Kennedy kicks. And doesn’t share. And has nightmares.
In other words, my back has a horribly knot in it. It hurts to hold my neck up right and keep my posture straight. And I’m no where near my chiropractor to have her fix it. For now Tiger Balm and some heat patches will do. I guess.
Sigh.
February 2012
3 posts
Being Extraordinary
I’m a huge fan of Camp Sunshine. This is not news as I’ve written quite a few times about it. I’ve also talked about some of my awesome friends. And I’ve stated more than once that I’m a Young Adult writer (currently unpublished, but maybe someday that’ll change). And wouldn’t you know, those THREE things have something in common.
Taylor Moseby.
I...
Mommy Blogger
To be a Mommy Blogger, one must actually blog, right?
Life has been busy. Kennedy potty trained in a weekend, literally. But then (AHH! GOING OFFICIALLY MOMMY BLOGGER HERE AS WE TALK ABOUT POOP!) stopped pooping all together. We’ve had to do things to Kennedy I hoped to escape and it has solidified my belief that parenting can be really gross. In about 8 years when she can read this and...
Baby
Kennedy has been asking me to tell her Baby Kendy stories lately. I find this humorous for several reasons.
I VIVIDLY remember asking my own Mom for Baby Kati stories at about this age.
She’s obviously reacting to the new babies around us.
ISN’T SHE STILL A BABY HERSELF GOSH DARNIT!
I guess not. She will be THREE next month. Something she reminds me all the time. She knows that...
January 2012
1 post
Mastercard Got It Rigth
New Salt (because I used all of mine)……………………………. $0.67
Flour……………………………………………………………………….. $2.37
Cream of...
December 2011
5 posts
Pinterest Meals, Day 2
Last night I made Baked Southwestern Eggrolls and our usual tacos.
First, they sound intimidating because of the whole eggroll concept, but they’re super easy.
This is all of the ingredients in my big red mixing bowl. I would definitely use a large-ish mixing bowl just so you can get everything incorporated well. I also toned the spicing down just a little in hopes of getting Kennedy...
Old Friends
Me and Talley, 1991 at Camp Sunshine
For some reason this is one of the few pictures I have of the two of us from childhood. This is strange for a number of reasons, but mostly because from the time we met in October of 1989 until we both headed off to college in the fall of 1999 we were inseparable. We weren’t neighbors or school friends, no I met Talley on the oncology floor at the...
BOWS!
For about a month I’ve been telling myself that I’d sit down and make the gift tags for our gifts. I’ve made them for the past two years and I’ve always liked to do that type of thing. I finally gave up and went out and got some today at Target.
Gifts are big for me. I really love spending the time and thinking about what someone would really love and appreciate....
Pinterest Meals, Day 1
Pinterest is my latest time suck. It makes Facebook look like nothing because you FEEL like you’re doing something when you’re on it. I’m SUPER crafty thanks to Pinterest, granted I haven’t attempted that many of the actual crafts (I did make Kennedy some matching Christmas pants and I have five days to get mine finished). I find awesome recipes, funnies and things that...
Making Memories
Lately I’ve been trying to stay in the moment when I’m with Kennedy. I’m trying to not think about the laundry or the dishes or what it is that I haven’t done yet. I’m trying to make memories with her.
I have some really great early memories of my Mom. I remember she would bring me a treat every afternoon when she would pick me up from daycare. It might...
November 2011
5 posts
No Middle Road
I knew this morning when I woke up that I would either have a happy story or a hilarious story to tell here. I knew this because it was either going to go really, really good or really, really, really bad. I was going to do something with Kennedy that I had DREAMED about doing since I found out I was pregnant. Heck, I’d probably dreamed about doing this since before I even knew I wanted...
I haven't been hiding...
Just writing…
I’m about 8000 words away from my NaNoWriMo goal. Which I’m afraid will encourage me to go all college-age-Kati and just chug out 8000 words of crap on Nov.29. But, I’m trying really hard not to do that. Even though I’m pretty sure about half of the words I’ve written thus far, are in fact crap. But, Nora Roberts says you can’t edit a...
30 Days of Thanks
I can’t commit to making a post for 30 days. I’m currently in the dregs of NaNoWriMo and trying to swim 2-3 times a week. The idea of putting one more daily thing on my list just overwhelms my feeble mind.
Instead, I thought I’d just blog some things that I’m thankful for periodically this month. I might hit 30, I might not.
So, in no particular order, things I’m...
A Civic Duty
For about a week now I’ve been preparing Kennedy to go with me to vote in our local elections. We talked about how she would have to stand with me and be quiet. We talked about how it was important that we always vote, in every election, no matter how small it is. I’m not sure that my 2.5 year old gets it, but it’s still important to start these conversations early.
So,...
A Hallo-Won't!
I’m only a week late on this post. Maybe it’s taken me a week to recover. Who know’s.
So, on the Friday before Halloween I went and met my Mom (and Gram and Great-Aunt) and had lunch before I kidnapped my Mom and brought her back here for what is now our annual Halloween weekend. We went straight to Jason’s office where Kennedy wowed everyone with her polite manners and...
October 2011
6 posts
Recipe!
Several folks have asked for the Cheesecake Nutella Bar recipe!
Yield: 16 squares 2 cups Oreo crumbs ½ stick unsalted butter, melted 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 2 eggs, at room temperature ½ cup granulated sugar ¼ + 1 tablespoon heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla (I eyeballed it) ¼ cup Nutella Directions Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter an 8×8 baking dish and line with parchment...
Just Busy...
At church the other night I requested prayer because it’s October. This means that we will just be busy for the next, oh, gazillion weeks. Or so it feels. Now, it’s all fun busy stuff, but it’s busy stuff that keeps me from my normal routine and from things that typically get done, don’t.
Thankfully I have friends that help. Heather brought M over today and the kids...
Diva In Training
I remember when Kennedy was in the NICU her doctors joked that she was a bit of a diva. They could tell this hours after emerging from the womb. The same doctors joked when we were discharged that we would have our hands full with this one.
Now, I’ve been aware for a couple of weeks that Kennedy is a bit dramatic in her response to things. Especially if she doesn’t...
Ladies
Over the past few days I’ve been blessed with the company of some amazing ladies.
At dinner Saturday we happened to run into our awesome friends Anne, Brad and their two kids Ben and Sadie. Anne is one of my most favoritest people ever so the fact that we got to eat together was such a great way to end the afternoon. Ben and Kennedy love to play with each other and have encourage one...
Random Thoughts
It is just in the past week that I’ve stopped pre-washing my dishes. I’m always a little surprised when they turn out clean.
It NEVER fails that I will make some catastrophic mess immediately after my cleaning lady has left. For example, today after she left I was cooking dinner. We have a plant on top of the cabinet our oven is in and I decided to just move the trailing bits away...
Over the River and Through the Woods
Last week we did something we’ve never done before.
We left Kennedy for a weekend with her Me-Maw and headed to the beach.
I wasn’t nervous, Jason was fine, Kennedy certainly wasn’t nervous… I’m pretty sure Me-Maw was a LITTLE nervous. With reason since Kennedy hasn’t been away from me over night since sometime in July 2008.
Our normal six hour...
September 2011
8 posts
Oh Man
Today is a Monday in every sense of the word. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and when I finally just got so sick of myself I went downstairs, I realized that the leak that had been fixed in our upstairs shower had not indeed been fixed. This was evidenced due to the fact that the bread was now wet. All of this before I’d had my coffee.
Kennedy woke up in a great mood, ready...
Dancin' Machine
The other night we were over hanging out with our awesome friends, Lena, Emma and of course, their mom’s. Emma, who is in elementary school, was doing an awesome job of watching Kennedy and Lena and keeping them entertained. We were chatting on the front porch while the girls danced on the lanai.
Kennedy and Lena were doing this crazy dance that mostly involved them stomping their feet...
We had an awesome time at the beach. We swam in the ocean (well, Jason did), we played in the waves, we caught rays, splashed in the awesome pools and ate (and ate and ate).
I turned 31.
I got published at BlogHer.com (HUGE DEAL).
I was our local news fan of the day.
And I’ve stopped sleeping. Grrrr….
While we were at the beach I kept waking up due to strange anxiety dreams....
How to Make My Birthday MORE AWESOME
31 is pretty awesome.
A lot (and I’m serious, a lot) haven’t gotten to see their 30’s.
So, since it is my birthday go to
http://www.alexslemonade.org
Or
http://www.curingkidscancer.org
Or
http://www.rallyfoundation.org
And volunteer or make a donation. Tell them Kati sent you.
A Cancer Post
It’s September.
This month is significant for a lot of reasons.
My birthday is chief among them.
Kennedy officially becomes a 1/2 (as in 2 and a 1/2).
My Mom’s birthday.
And it’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
And you say to me, “Kati, childhood cancers have a survival rate of 80%, isn’t that good enough?” and I’m saying to you, “If it was...
August 2011
4 posts
Edited to Add
I went out today with Heather and got the fabric. First we went to one fabric storeto look at some canvas fabric. It was a little more than I wanted to spend. Let’s just say this fabric stores name rhymes with MoFran. So, we went to ANOTHER store where I found a better print for WAY less.
So, for 20.00 I now have a new table, chair AND covered the back of an old ugly bookcase.
New...
Work Space Frustration
It could also be titled Kati’s Writing Work In Progress Is Driving Her Crazy So She Rearranges Things.
I got a little irritated with the cramped quarters of my “office.” It’s in quotes because it’s really just a part of our guest bedroom. So… this is the before.
It was cramped and I wasn’t getting the most use out of my space. Plus, things had...