one word

Flu.

Ok, three: Flu. Pity me.

I think I am going to die. Ok, I know I'm going to die, but I didn't expect it would be on the tail end of a packet due date after too many nights of working at midnight and waking up at six. Yesterday, a few swollen glands. Today, death. sniffle, sniffle.

At least I got my packet in. I won't hear until tomorrow if it was worth it. Of course, if I'm dead, it won't matter. hah.

Mother's Day

If you take a close look at these beautiful children who go around saying things like, "You're my favorite Mommy ever!" and "If you ever feel sad, Mommy, just think of how much I love you and you'll feel better," "I picked these for you!" and "You look beautiful, Mommy!" you would realize that only a person with a stone heart could not feel incredibly happy and blessed. It has been a delightful sunny day here with so much love from my kiddos and my husband that it would be impossible not to feel wrapped in warm-fuzzy.

Here's a picture of us on my Mother's Day present: a new bench for the patio.

Happy Mother's Day to you mommies!

Accountability

Today, I have written three and a half pages of my current novel, and three and a half pages for my workshop piece, which will be novel #2. With my packet due Monday, I need six more pages of creative work, and one paper done in between now and then. So what am I doing blogging????

Updates

The days merge together so quickly. So humor me while I blog about my children.



Samuel is 7 1/2. He just lost another tooth yesterday. That's two this week, three in the past two weeks. He's going to the dentist on Monday for his regular check-up and cleaning, but I'm beginning to think there will be no teeth left to clean by the time we get there.

Likes: Curious George, Tom and Jerry, Magic Treehouse books, Encyclopedia Brown books, building roads and train tracks. He loves bacon and pasta, pancakes as big as his head, cupcakes, getting mail, fleece pants, cranberry juice.

Dislikes: bees, dogs, pants with zippers, tying his shoes, fat on meat, oranges.

We went candlestick bowling this morning and Samuel beat us all. Tonight, we were invited to one of the GBM's colleagues house for dinner. The whole time we were there, she kept rubbing Samuel's head, because his hair is so thick. Last week, during vacation, he wanted some Alone Time with Mommy, so he offered Will a dollar if Will would go away. I told him he didn't have to pay to have Mommy Time.

Will is 3 1/2. He is in preschool. I would post a picture of him here, but the hamsters inside blogger apparently do not want to do that. So.

Likes: Curious George, Tom and Jerry, building elaborate train tracks with double-decker bridges, Ladybug magazine, reading books, music, dancing, mopping and vacuuming, cleaning of any kind, helping Mommy cook, eating, especially granola bars and Mommy's homemade bread. He also loves Kelsie, our babysitter. I think he'd marry her, if she'd wait for him. I don't think I'd mind, but the age difference would be a bit weird.

Dislikes: baths, getting ready for bed, being anywhere without Mommy.

He really likes snacks and refuses to eat lunch unless I call it a snack. Anytime we're in the family room, Will turns on the stereo which is permanently stocked with Vivaldi's Four Seasons, which he dances to, spinning around and around, in a shuffle-bounce. He also sings constantly in a tuneless way. He is completely devoted to me, meaning that he won't go anywhere or do anything unless I'm there. It would be completely sweet, if it weren't so annoying. I'm trying to enjoy it.

Random Happenings at the Gingerbread House

1. Samuel lost another front tooth. He's officially fang boy with both of them gone. Thankfully, the Tooth Fairy did come, but she didn't bring toys.

2. Spring vacation is OVER. It was a good one, although it began with vomit. We got in a trip to a local kid's gym, a trip to the New England Aquarium (amazing display of jellyfish), time at the playground, a bit of yard work, a visit to Home Depot (where we picked out outdoor table and chairs, so even though we don't have a dining room set yet, at least we can eat au natural), some spring cleaning, and numerous games of Old Maid, Go Fish, and War.

3. I finished revisions on my manuscript. Now I'm back to writing new stuff. Hurrah! At least, I'm back to writing new stuff until I get a reply on my packet, but I have a couple of weeks before that.

Ok, I need a quick post so I'm not labelled as a total nerd. Which I am. I know.

I finished a draft of an essay on flaneurie, based on my wanderings in Oxford. I also read and took notes on another chapter in John Gardner, and started The Game of Sunken Places, which I cannot garner much enthusiasm for. I think I'll turn to Shark Girl. I'm experimenting with a new piece that I'm planning on submitting for workshop. I began writing it in 1st person, then tinkered with alternating viewpoints, both first person. I'm not sure if it's too distracting to be flipping back and forth between characters though, so I might keep it in a single viewpoint. And, to top it off, I'm narrowing in on a topic for my critical thesis.