The Date

Jude and I went on a date yesterday while Daddy was in class. The line-up was the library, Uncle Cheetah's Soup Shop, and then home again to read our new books before his nap.

But first, he shoveled the driveway. We couldn't leave in the state it was in.

Before:

After:

On the way to the library, I drilled him on his age and full name. He's one, and his name is Jude Donna Klooster.

After picking out some books, we headed to the soup shop. He helped me sample a few before we settled on a cup of jalapeno corn chowder and a grilled cheese sandwich.

He ate with his feet up on the table, singing the Veggie Tales theme song.

The 30-ish waitress came out once and he became obsessed with her, smirking and practically giving her a wink. He said, "I'm flirting," minus the "r" sound, which makes everyone in his vicinity want to squish his face. I'm just guessing.

Getting to spend a full day with him is so great. He changes quickly, and sometimes I feel like I need to get to know him again on the weekend.

Last night we were reading books again before bed. I could tell he wasn't tired, so we got under the covers and whispered for awhile. He squished my cheeks between his palms and laughed.

It was a good end to our day. He knows how to show me a good time.

Internet Candy

I haven't been taking the time to write any posts about family life lately, so to make sure it doesn't seem like we've died, herein is some Internet Candy that is getting me through February.

My routine lately after Jude is in bed is to make myself a hot cup of green tea and curl up on the couch with five blankets and a laptop. Typically I'm too tired to clean or do anything productive. Instead, here's where I end up.


1) PINTEREST. This Interweb Monster plays right into my weaknesses. Pinterest.com is a black hole. Or you could call it a hobby, if you're feeling polite. If you're a visual person, you'll love it. It involves "pinning" things to a virtual pin-board, like this:


It's a visual collection of things you love. Essentially it allows you to curate collections of things under any category you want, using images. Oh yes.

Here are mine, if you care to peek. It makes me a little giddy in a Cabin Fever sort of way to look at them. One of them is "destinations", and I'm pinning things in lots of bright colors that are slowly soothing my snow vision. Joining is weird. You don't instantly get an account; they put you on a waiting list. But it's only a few days long and then you get an invite.

2) AMUSING BLOGS. Like Irina Werning's Back to the Future, where she finds old childhood photos, presumably of people she knows, then helps them to recreate their outfit, pose, facial expression perfectly as an adult. I don't want to make any assumptions about your mental state this time of year, but I Laughed. Out. Loud.

Disclaimer: some partial nudity. Picture someone recreating a baby photo taken while naked and holding an accordion.

3) YOUTUBE. Of course. Best clip I've found lately is Man Cold. Enjoy, ladies.

I need to find a good book.

Or do some yoga.

I can feel my muscles liquefying.

I hope y'all are holed up and cozy, like we are. Just a few short weeks until March, then April near the end of which winter finally ends :)