Thursday, December 19, 2013

You've heard it before, but..

.

Mother, O' Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek - peekaboo.

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.



(Song for a Fifth Child ~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton)

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Back in the Saddle

I won this sweet yoga mat in a raffle sponsored by the cutest blog: www.vintagesimplylove.blogspot.com The blog's writer, Janelle, might be the cutest, sweetest human being ever. And she has excellent taste! 

You can get your own "the mat" here.


I am so excited! I never win anything! Hopefully this will spur me back into a yoga routine...or a workout routine of any sort. Just before our wedding, I was doing this great yoga class at V Power Yoga...let me tell you, I was fit.  And I loved it. Much better than the 13-mile days I put in during the summer of 2005 for the Columbus Marathon. The first and only marathon I will ever run. Actually, I really haven't run since that marathon. Lesson learned.

I did some vinyasas today during naptime and when James was playing quietly. It felt good. I miss the flexibility I used to have! Good thing it can be regained...unlike the four minutes of my life I lost watching this

(Toddler not included.)

Sunday, December 1, 2013

December to Remember


It's amazing that December is here already. The past months have flown by; these days it's hard to get my teeth brushed, let alone blog. I fully expect this to get worse. 

At least our tree is up on time. As I reflect on the passing Thanksgiving season, I am grateful for all those who are supporting us in this season of our lives. I am also grateful for the energy to continue to pray for the ever-growing number of friends and family who are ailing. It is good to know that our God is the great physician. 

And as far as doctors go, it seems that our celebration of His big Ob/Gyn doctor visit is just around the corner? 

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

See You in Four or Five Years


You're still the one, darling! I love you and still want to spend all my time around you. See you in four or five years when I am not up to my elbows in baby wipes.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Bestie.

Drosophila. Hot feet. Hair extensions. Obscure Richard Adams quotes. Star Trek. Makeup. Willie Nelson. Baby animals. Handlebar mustaches. 





Some friendships just keep on giving. 
Your vestigial wings won't ever hide your bright eyes and big heart. 
:)

Two Under Two: Week Eleven


We work hard for the money.


Sunday, September 22, 2013

Two Under Two: Week Ten

We are coping with Jeremy's work-related absence the best we can. 


We miss you, Daddy! Really.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Nolan Anthony

Here's looking at you, kid.



Look at that sweet baby. My lovely sister, Kelly, welcomed her fourth lovely child on August 23. 
Kelly is good at lots of things.Making babies is certainly one of them.
And yes, you are correct, dear reader, I blogged about her birthday (September 9 
and anniversary (September 2) first though out of chronological order.
I was waiting for good, in-person SLR pictures, honest.
I think I got one.

And what a busy guy he is. So fast and furious the nurse had to catch him. 
Handsome like his daddy, quiet and strong like his mommy. 
Go get 'em little guy! Its your big day.
You have lots of adoring fans cheering you on.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord.
 "Plans to prosper you, and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  

Jeremiah 29:11

And why not a Novena for good measure, courtesy of my cousin, Amy:

To Christ the Great Physician
We know that there is one physician:
Both flesh and spirit
uncreated, yet born
God in man
True life in death
From both Mary and From God
Subject to suffering and then impassible
Jesus Christ our Lord!

We ask O Great Physician, for spiritual, physical, and emotional healing,
especially my intention of Nolan Anthony Rindler.
You of both flesh and spirit

May we spend all of our days in your healing presence
You the eternal Son born for us

Grant us the healing benefits of your Incarnation, Death, and Resurrection
You who are true God and true man

Grant us your true life in the midst of death
You, the true life in death

Grant us to follow your example and that of your Blessed Mother
You, from both Mary and from God

May our suffering be for our growth; free us, we pray, 
from that which we cannot
bear
We ask You, O God the Word who became man to suffer

We ask you to grant us this healing if it brings us closer to you,
Jesus Christ our Lord!

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Its Your Birfday!


...and your anniversary!




Happy Birthday to my wise, un-opinionated, beautiful sister, Kelly. Happy Anny to the cutest couple to ever come out of the Univeristy of Toledo, Al's, the Town Tavern, Jed's Sports Bar, Auglaize-Mercer-Shelby Trifecta of Catholicism, draft beer, and high school sports. 

You guys make it look so easy. 

:) 

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Two Under Two: Week Nine

Happy Anniversary to an amazing friend and father.


He cleans up nice. 

We had a great fourth anniversary weekend:

Dinner at M.
Two amazing babysitters!
Buckeye football
Casino blackjack 

We took the money and ran. 



 TBDBITL



Chills! Go Bucks!





My friend, Jen, of The Stoycheff's Saga. What talent!

My feet are sore. I have a gameday sunburn. The house is a mess. But he's still the one. 

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Two Under Two: Week Eight


On Tuesdays we watch for the garbage truck! 


Baby Samantha is smiling! 


Friday, August 23, 2013

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Two Under Two: Week Six

We drink kale and spinach smoothies to get over the plague that hit 7074 Bluffpoint!

James likes his with extra banana.
Mama likes hers with extra rum.


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Two Under Two: Week Five

Sunny day visiting Nana Schafer and gently restraining James from the parking lot.



Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Two Under Two: Week Four

For some reason, I thought colored pencils would be safer.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Two under Two: Week Three

Party all night, sleep all day.

It's our lot in life these days.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Two Under Two: Week Two

Sleepyheads and Pacifier Pirates. Really, Jimmer is coping better than this picture alludes.



Monday, July 15, 2013

Samantha's First Tai Shan

She will always be Butterstick to Uncle Rusty and me.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Look, I Can Juggle!

Seriously, though, this Moby wrap is awesome!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Two Under Two: Week One

Better get your hardhat, mama! You are in for a bumpy ride!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

And Samantha Makes Four!

We had a baby! Another baby! Little Samantha Jane arrived bright and early on the Fourth of July.

Happy Birthday, America! Hope you like adorable!

Saturday, May 18, 2013

I Thought YOU Were Watching the Baby?

James is walking like a champ these days, but sometimes a good crawl is better than a trail of breadcrumbs.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Our Attic Squirrel Saga

Attic squirrels. First World problem for sure. Never a dull moment at Camp Morris. Like all good do-it-yourselfers, we thought this would be an easy problem to fix. Boy were we nuts. (hee hee)

Our quest to eliminate the attic squirrels has been eventful, to say the least. First, we had to sow the courage to actually go into the attic to do a little reconnaissance, to asses the situation. This was a difficult process, as our only attic entry is through our master bedroom closet ceiling, and there is no access ladder, and I was four months pregnant at the time, and husby is TERRIFIED of heights.

We made it into the attic with more than a little gymnastics, flashlights in hand, and little
nervous that we were going to run into something out of Stephen King's movie, Graveyard Shift. Or at least a cute little nest of baby squirrels.

Graveyard Shift is based on one of my favorite King short stories, "Night Shift",. Worth a read. Maybe not a movie watch, tho, lest you end up with nightmares about creature depicted above, or worse yet, your own attic squirrels.
We found nothing. We couldn't even find our new rodent houseguests' preferred method of entry into our snug little attic.  And ain't nobody in the Morris house getting up on the roof at this point to search for it from another angles.

Enter Exhibit A, our "Live Animal Cage Traps." We set two, waiting impatiently for a week, baiting each trap daily with Jif peanut butter- choosy moms, I know, I know.




Our squirrels proved very industrious, cleaning the traps of peanut butter but somehow not tripping the plate. Nuts. We were growing frustrated at our traps' ineffectivity, and a small caliber rifle as the final solution was looking better and better. We have understanding neighbors. Or at least we hoped.


But then we fell into a hot streak! Four squirrels captured in two weeks! The first three captives, aptly named Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, were safely released in an undisclosed, forested location. (Did you know its a misdemeanor, or something like it, to release a trapped woodland creature on public property? However you may trap and kill to your heart's content on your own property...)
"If you're having squirrel problems, I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a squirrel ain't one."

What became of Squirrel Delta, the fourth squirrel, you may ask? Let's just say there was a stretch of very cold nights, and Mr. Morris may have forgotten to check the traps while I was away for work, and Delta is resting in a better place in the Back 40 of Camp Morris.  That's all I have to say about that.

Weeks went by, and we enjoyed a peaceful stretch of attic silence.

Then we heard that familiar scratching once again.

Traps out. Peanut butter smeared.

Squirrel Epsilon ensnared just one day later.

It was a bright Sunday morning. We noticed the tripped trap, and shortly thereafter, increased squirrel presence on the patio. Epsilon had a buddy! (Zeta? My knowledge of the Greek alphabet is waining...) We both noticed that Epsi's buddy was very interested in his entrapped friend.

Mr. & Mrs. Morris Over Sunday coffee: "What if they are best squirrel friends?""What if they are a squirrel family?" "What if thats the squirrel mommy in the traps?" "Who will take care of the babies?" "I don't want the other squirrel to be sad!" "No orphan baby squirrels!"

Neither one of us could release Epsi into anywhere but right back into our backyard. Softies, that's us.

Talk to me in a few weeks when there is a nest of rodent babies in my attic. Time to call a roofer. Or whoever keeps those fluffy beasts out of my house!


Thursday, May 2, 2013

Wildlife!

7074 Bluffpoint is teeming with wildlife. In the backyard, we have at least one pair of cardinals, countless robins, and a trio of ducks that make a nightly appearance to swim on our pond full of goldfish. Last year we had a bullfrog or two, but we haven't heard from one yet in 2013. There are rabbits here and there and the occasional hawk or heron sighting, not to mention the attic squirrels and of course, darling Peanut.

Here are our newest friends! I noticed the nest yesterday and clicked the picture today. Hopefully the door opening and closing doesn't scare Mama and Papa robin off!



Saturday, April 27, 2013

House Party

All great parties at your house should start with Cupcake Lady cupcakes and end with a tinfoil swan in your refrigerator.


Hooray to Dr. Bobby and good luck on your new adventure!

Special thanks to Megann Smiley for sharing the load in so many ways, Murad at Indian Oven for delicious, timely samosa prep, and the good Lord above for perfect party weather.



Saturday, April 13, 2013

Welcome Drew!

My bff Holly just brought home her third son, Drew. This is extra super because Holly and her husby struggled with infertility for I guess I could say, YEARS, until Drew arrived. Oh, yes, and then there were Holly's personal struggles with thyroid cancer, muscle tetany, gluten sensitivity, and pseudotumor cerebri. And then little mister decided to come a few weeks early with the respiratory problems that often accompany that sort of thing. So it goes that Drew necessitated a brief but stressful stay in Hotel NICU...but really, who's counting anymore? We all know you can do hard things, Holly. You can stop showing off now. :)

Well, one thing is for certain, Holly is good at making cute babies and the dairy products that sustain them.

Don't believe me?





Mini pies...

...mega fun.

Special thanks to Uncle Adam for the mini pie maker and Pillsbury for the ridiculously easy to use pie crust. This time I did a basic apple pie filling, but I can't wait to try chicken pot pies! The second batch in the foreground fared better than the first, as you can see. hope they freeze as good as they taste!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

A Topsy Turvy Week

At least some of the Morris family is still smiling...