tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120426792007-04-14T23:06:51.299-04:00It's Not All Mary PoppinsMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comBlogger725125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1168885720454222252007-01-15T13:26:00.000-05:002007-01-15T15:50:38.730-05:00I've Moved!The time has come. You all can find me here, now. Drop by soon!
Mary
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© 2007, Mary PMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1161974082224803542007-01-12T14:01:00.000-05:002007-01-12T15:21:16.336-05:00Cleanliness is Next to... Of neat freaks and casual mommas...I am not very concerned with externals. I listen to other mommies... "I left the child with dad, and when I came back, she was wearing odd socks... "Can you believe he took him out in a plaid shirt and striped pants??... "It never fails. If I let dad take her to school, she'll be wearing the same shirt from yesterday!" (Note how it's almost always dads who get skewered.) I listen and I just can'tMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1168548123012401412007-01-11T14:53:00.000-05:002007-01-11T15:42:03.390-05:00Keystone KidsOut with The Stroller again. Malli has walked the mile to the mall, and now gets to ride in the front seat of the stroller, while Nigel walks alongside. We create our usual stir. This time we pass through a crowd of seniors which includes a couple of class clowns.
"You sure you got them all?" one calls.
"One-two-three-four! Yup. All accounted for!" I grin at the gents, and slow the stroller so Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1168437206284691402007-01-10T13:07:00.000-05:002007-01-10T13:02:16.536-05:00All Creatures Great and SmallToo cold for the park today; we've been to the library already this week, so it's the coffee shop! One baby on my lap, two in high chairs, Nigel in a big-people chair all by himself, because he is a Big Boy. One latte, four waters, three bananas, and 25 minutes later, we leave. The woman at the next table, a rather severe woman in a very tailored suit, who had greeted our arrival with a dubious Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1168264690525620752007-01-09T07:44:00.000-05:002007-01-09T09:10:12.900-05:00Rock On!"You need to go potty? Yay, let's go potty!"
Justin is my grand-nephew (I think that's it) - my sister's grandchild. He's interested in and reasonably co-operative with the potty venture, but what he lacks is Staying Power.
"Potty!" he'll yodel, and plonk his butt down. Six wriggly seconds later, he's up again. There's no convincing him that he needs to sit still and reeelaaaax in order for Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1168274592768388052007-01-08T06:31:00.000-05:002007-01-08T14:07:13.116-05:00Five Minutes of Conversation on A Single Second's Worth of Vocabulary: the Babies Begin the Odyssey of Speech"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"Oh, Emily, that's not your book. That's Timmy's book. Here, you can have a book of your own. Here's your book."
Anna looks up. "Buh!"
"Book! Good for you, Anna! Emily and Timmy have a book. Book. Does Anna want a book?"
"Buh."
"All right. Here's your book."
Timmy looks over with interest. "Buh!"
"Book! Atta boy! Yes, Now Anna has a book, too."
Anna waves hersMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1168182082260331072007-01-07T08:14:00.000-05:002007-01-07T10:15:57.510-05:00SaBloBoMo, my not-quite-daily book of the day continues: the mother tongueI love Bill Bryson.
This will undoubtedly come as a surprise to him, but he strikes me as the kind of man who could manage the shock.
I've read a bunch of his books, starting with my still-favourite, "Notes from a Small Island", a book which had me crying with laughter at points, and which started my mild Bryson addiction. Today's book, the mother tongue, english and how it got that way, is a Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1168013263693991192007-01-05T07:39:00.000-05:002007-01-05T11:22:07.146-05:00Today's BookThe Happiest Baby on the Block, by Harvey Karp
Believe it or not, I only read this book this week! I've heard of Dr. Karp, of course - he's the swaddling doctor - and I was curious. I rarely buy a reference book without reading it first, so I went to the library, and discovered that I was number 48 on a wait list! Popularity doesn't always mean Good Book, however, but it did increase my curiosityMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1167952489186045852007-01-04T17:22:00.000-05:002007-01-04T18:14:49.650-05:00Book #2 - Middlemarch, by George EliotI read Middlemarch for the first time when I was 19, an assigned book in The Most Boring Class of my University Career. The book was a highlight of the class, but that would be damning it with faint praise. I loved it enough to reread it about once a year for several years.
What was its appeal? At the time I would have said simply that I enjoyed the multiple plot strands, a 19th century soap Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1167914107528511422007-01-04T07:15:00.000-05:002007-01-04T07:42:04.753-05:00Just Post Awards
Like many of my friends, I have a vaguely benevolent attitude to the rest of the world: I feel sad that there are homeless, I am pleased that gays have the right to marry in my province, I am angered by the plight of abused women and children. But, I confess, it rarely goes beyond feelings. We have foster kids in third world countries, I routinely drop a loonie or a twonie in an outstretched Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1167746149745723602007-01-03T06:49:00.000-05:002007-01-03T08:12:51.463-05:00Challenge for January, should you choose to accept it......from Sassy Student.
Posting challenge for January: "a book...every day, all month long. If you'd like to participate, please do! There are no rules, except you must post a book every day. It can be a book you love, a book you hate, a book that impacted you. Whatever you wish. You may review it, or just tell why it matters; you may post a picture from Amazon or your own copy. Whatev. Up to youMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1167750217242360852007-01-02T09:55:00.000-05:002007-01-02T10:03:37.576-05:00What I Got for ChristmasThere's always one gift that stands out from the rest. The book was great, the calendar funny, the wine glasses pretty and much-needed, and the hinged seat for my piano bench will be hugely useful (when it's finished, Adam), but it was this one that will be The Gift of 2006.
Lovingly handcrafted by Haley, we have...
Sock Monkey Mary.
BWAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
~~~Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1167418789661122402006-12-29T13:50:00.000-05:002006-12-29T14:01:59.166-05:00My KidsMy BIG kids, that is. I'm still on holiday.
Here we have Emma (13), Haley (21), Adam (17).
Haley made cookies, with Emma as sous-chef.
The girls are getting predatory. The boy's a beat behind, but considering...
And he's in!! Christmas cookies! YUUMMMmmmm....
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© 2006, Mary PMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1166873288433874842006-12-23T06:24:00.000-05:002006-12-23T06:28:11.730-05:00Merry Christmas, Everyone! I may be by from time to time, but my plans include only savouring these days with my family - and a little time to myself, too! I hope you all enjoy the season, too, each in your own way.
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© 2006, Mary PMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1166817810838037532006-12-22T14:55:00.000-05:002006-12-24T07:49:35.976-05:00Busy, busy...Daycare Christmas party starts in about an hour.
Eleven families invited; one couldn't make it; one didn't bother to RSVP.
Total attendees: Fourteen adults, eleven children.
Plus my family of five, only one of whom - me - is obliged to attend.
I expect lots of good food, volume, crowding, and a need to open windows by 6 p.m.
Will tell you about it tomorrow, perhaps. If I don't get back beforeMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1166711076035976322006-12-21T06:10:00.000-05:002006-12-21T09:24:37.196-05:00Oh, Tannenbaum, BabiesMy tree is up.
Most of you know how challenging it can be to keep ONE tot away from a tree. Imagine keeping five away. Not to fear. I am Experienced, and I am Creative. In previous years, the tree has been:
- wired to the ceiling
- placed inside a playpen
- set upon a table and wired to it
- placed behind a baby gate
- set up undecorated
- decorated only with unbreakable ornaments
- wired with Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1166533055437991202006-12-19T07:43:00.000-05:002006-12-19T08:10:37.183-05:00He has an Ulterior Motive"What's dat?"
Nigel has arrived for the day, and has stopped in the middle of removing his boots to stab a pudgy finger toward the ceiling.
"That's mistletoe, sweetie. You know what it's for? It's for KISSING!!" Nigel receives a stream of boisterous smooches, starting with his chubby cheeks and working down under his soft little chin. He shrieks in delight.
A few minutes later, Adam comes Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1166203883901648302006-12-17T12:27:00.000-05:002006-12-18T08:36:50.996-05:00Proven: Sleep Deprivation Increases CreativityCase in point: Aaron, a mere five weeks into dadhood, has come up with a seriously brilliant parenting gizmo.
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© 2006, Mary PMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1166034072551784452006-12-15T06:07:00.000-05:002006-12-15T09:22:30.170-05:00George and Darcy do the Twelve Days of Cwiss-MussGeorge and Darcy sing as they build block cities on my kitchen floor.
George: On the fuhwust day of Cwiss-muss, my twoo love gave to me, A pawtwidge in a pay-uh twee.
On the second day of Cwiss-muss, my twoo love gave to me... gave to me... gave... Two... birds in a tree!
On the third day of Cwiss-muss, my twoo love gave to me, three Fwench hens, two birds in a tree, and a pawtwidge in a pear Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1166123713504402572006-12-14T14:13:00.000-05:002006-12-14T14:15:13.633-05:00P.S.Forgot to mention. New post up at PiP. Entirely frivolous. Go have a look, if you like.
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© 2006, Mary PMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1166033273785802512006-12-14T06:05:00.000-05:002006-12-14T07:56:23.996-05:00Carolling is not as Easy as you Might ThinkNigel awaits his lunch, singing to while away the time.
"Jingle ball!
Jingle ball!
Jingle ball inna way!"
A cat toy? A festive dance? A seasonal male ailment? Whatever it is, it needs to move outta the way!
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© 2006, Mary PMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1166011483509070572006-12-13T07:03:00.000-05:002006-12-13T07:04:43.660-05:00Her Bad AuctionIs now open.
Away you go!
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© 2006, Mary PMary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1165671598677324692006-12-13T06:06:00.000-05:002006-12-13T07:33:02.163-05:00Counter-Cultural Me, or, our Santa-Free ChristmasWhen my oldest was very little, I noticed something. It happened in the weeks coming up to Christmas. It happened All.The.Time. It seemed delightful the first time, innocuous the tenth time, even the twentieth time, but by the hundredth time, I was beginning to have serious concerns.
I am out in a mall, first week of December. A neighbour, a friend, a little old lady approaches, smile at my Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1165592649884000092006-12-12T07:38:00.000-05:002006-12-12T08:48:19.893-05:00George and DarcyGeorge and Darcy are here! They are so BIG! Darcy has slimmed right out. He's not a stocky little toddler any more, he is a boy - and a good-looking one at that. George always was on the slender side, so his growth spurt is less dramatic. Two tall, slim boys are in my home. Wow.
Today is a PD (Professional Development) day, meaning the teachers go to school and the kids have the day off. (For Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12042679.post-1165840088425256212006-12-11T07:17:00.000-05:002006-12-11T07:41:23.900-05:00More Auction Info and How-To
The previous post described the 'why' of the auction. This post gives some 'how-to'.
1) This auction is in fact more of a raffle. Tickets are purchased for a specific prize, and winners will be drawn at random. You can, of course, increase your chances of winning a particular item by placing all of your tickets on that item.
2) All proceeds go to Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
3) Tanner is a Mary P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12332559441053092058noreply@blogger.com