What's up with those Armstrongs?

Please help me become the 105.5 Triple M Backstage Blogger

2009-04-05T16:00:00.001-05:00

If you still are reading this....PLEASE HELP!

This is a shameless plea for your support. I am planning to go to Bonnaroo in June with my friend Chris Marsh, partially to celebrate her 40th birthday. We both have entered 105.5 Triple M's contest to be the Backstage Blogger. Our prize will include backstage passes for both of us, and the opportunity to interview artists, etc. Can you please vote for me, or both of us? (You will have to open another browser, i.e. Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari. OR delete your cookies after voting to vote multiple times.)

Please pass on to anyone who thinks a couple of mamas need to get our dance on backstage @ Bonnaroo! (Headlining artists are: Phish, Bruce Springsteen, Wilco, Al Green, Beastie Boys, Ani DiFranco and dozens of others!!!)

Thanks in advance, and don't be surprised if you see more campaigning from me in the next week. The voting ends on April 8th.

http://www.1055triplem.com/pages/4042025.php

So Proud!

2008-11-07T08:26:00.002-06:00

Yesterday Skylar went to her first ballet class. For the last 8 weeks Skylar has gone to watch Rory attend ballet in her own full ballet attire. She always wants to go into the room, and it was all a little pitiful when I had to drag her away. I talked to the teacher, who I have known for a while, and she agreed that since Skylar was potty-trained, and obviously interested we could try her in the class even though she isn't 3 yet (not even 2.5!). Well, she was so precious, such a good listener, totally unclingy. I thought she would be cool, but she really surprised me with how she followed directions and focused on the instructions. I should of taken a picture, but I was trying to be low-key so she didn't rush over to me watching through the window. Can't believe how much she has grown and change just over the last year.

Vote Vote Vote

2008-11-04T12:50:00.004-06:00

Just got back from an energizing poll watching shift. It is a beautiful day here in Madison, and I am soooo excited to watch the polls tonight. Vote! Vote! Vote!

Here is a copy of Rory's picture on the Dane101 website.

Stella and Dot party

2008-11-02T23:00:00.003-06:00

I hosted a Stella and Dot jewelry party for Sarah today at the house. It was fun, although I was pretty stressed about the house before people came over. I solved the anxiety easily by putting a note on the door asking my friends to forgive the non perfection. Interestingly, it worked. I kind of felt like the note absolved me of the guilt. It was fun to see my friends, it always seems like the time goes so fast and everyone is just so desperate to talk that the time is just eaten. I feel really lucky that I have so many fun interesting people in my life, I just wish it was easier to get together with them more often. Oh well.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-01T23:48:00.004-06:00

It's been too long since I have posted here. So.

We had a great Halloween weekend. Friday we had homemade pizza with the Fortneys, followed by trick or treating and then tonight we had a wonderful sushi dinner at Wasabi with the Westmonts followed by costume watching on State St.

More pictures to come

Trip to Portsmouth, NH

2008-03-18T09:40:00.002-06:00

We had a great time on our trip to NH. It was so great to see Katie, Chris and Nolan. Hope we can make it back when the weather is nicer.

All about the potty

2008-03-06T15:20:00.003-06:00

Skylar has decided to potty train herself. I say that, because I had no interest in starting this before the summertime, when the weather is more conducive to running around with no pants on. But, our girl has definite opinions of her own, and after that first applause following the tinkle in the potty she hasn't looked back. She has been wearing pull-ups, mostly because she was becoming a nightmare to get a diaper on. And due to the wetness detector on them, I can tell that she is staying dry most of the day. The downside is: she has a bladder the size of a pea, and is in there every 1/2 hour or so doing a few Tbsps at best. Then the struggle to get the pull-up back on (she wants to do EVERYTHING herself), then the struggle to get the pants back on. ugh. Then next thing I know, "More, More". Strip down again, she sits, poof, that's it. Start all over.

How do I explain to a 21 month old that you can just pass gas in your pull-up?? I suppose I should leave that to her dad.

Skylar loves Abby

2008-03-01T14:31:00.000-06:00

Best of January 2008

2008-02-12T15:06:00.001-06:00

Lots of time spent in the house sick last month, so we don't have many photos. There are a few cute pictures from Rory's 4th Birthday.

"Up on the Mountain--Colorado"* by Rory Armstrong

2008-01-31T14:54:00.000-06:00

[This is a little story that was just related to me a few moments ago. *The title was selected upon prompting at the end.]

Once upon a time there was a bad hyena, but all the sudden he stolen the knife and then he went home and cut a carrot for his mom and dad. [Bet you were worried there for a minute, I know I was.] His mom said "Thank you" and then he was trying to be his politeness but he could pale. But then he said "Oh, I have a good idea for you, I will give you dessert, what kind do you want?" Some yummy grass. If you probably get to bed you would get a mean pet next morning. You're pet's gonna be a mean fox hunting through the woods trying to get a warm place with its baby son and its baby son's dad. But then they found a big walk they couldn't go through and they found the way out. There was a door. But there was a walland they found a door to get out and they knocked on the door and the hyena opened the door and he said "Here is your pet." And they said "What on earth did you get for a pet?"

I have got a surprise from my tummy. Next morning they went to the doctor. And their mommy laid down on the dr's check-up and then their mommy pushed on her tummy and pushed one more time and here popped the baby--it was a baby hyena. And then it started to snow and they hurried home before they got too snowy. Her mom said "Goodness, I am feeling good, let's feed our baby a bottle." Then the baby drinked too much water until she had got sick. then they're baby was fast asleep. Next morning they needed a towl. Then after they needed a good hug. But when they were very igzatdid* they said I can get there to the north pole and have a playdate with Santa.

The End.

*Rory insisted on this word, which I am entirely unfamiliar with. Sounded out ig-zat-did. Excited?? No, mom, ig-zat-did. There you have it.

2008-01-20T08:26:00.001-06:00

From beautiful Rory's mouth:

Scene: Our guests Pete and Megan are over, we are hanging out in the living room before the kids go to bed, Rory is rolling around on the floor kind of spinning breakdance style.

Me: "Rory, what are you doing????"

Rory: "I'm just trying...to be awesome."

Laughs. So cute. Gotta love that honesty.

New Year's Resolutions

2008-01-16T12:31:00.001-06:00

I am obviously a list person. Right now I am staring at a list of things to 'blog about.' I have lots of ideas for things that I would like to write about, it's the getting around to writing about them that I have trouble with. So, here is my list and hopefully over the next couple days I will be able to devote a post to each.

Our new computer. We got an iMac at the end of September and this fall I have been humbled while learning how to navigate it. Silly me, it took 3 months before I got a book from the library and solved some of the differences that were baffling me. iPhoto has confounded me after using Picasa for so long. But I am making headway with keywords, etc. More on this later.
Movies--Chuck has been kind enough to let me catch up on some of the new releases.
Books- I plan to post my 2007 Book List and discuss the To-Read list for the year.
Pictures from the Holidays and our New Year's Eve party. Fun!

I will leave you with this adorable picture I took yesterday of Skylar in a sweater I knit last year. That is Skylar having her daily donut. (yes...more on that soon!)

List of Holiday and Winter Books we enjoyed this year

2007-12-26T09:45:00.000-06:00

I wanted to jot down a list of the books we enjoyed this year. I have already returned some to the library, but here are a few of the ones that we still have at home.

Toot and Puddle: Let it Snow by Holly Hobbie

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

Grandmother Winter by Phyllis Root

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town Illus. by Steven Kellogg

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett (other X-Mas books with Trolls (Who's that Knocking on Christms Eve) good for a little bit older. Rory said "I don't like the trolls, they are scary.)

A Sesame Street Christmas by Pat Tornborg (Also, we really enjoyed the DVD Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, which is the same special I remember watching as a kid.)

Peter Spier's Christmas! (Love everything he does.)

Richard Scarry's Best Christmas Book Ever!

Take Joy! The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book (Rory was too young for this, but I think she will enjoy it in a year or two.)

Tomie dePaola's Book of Christmas Carols

As you can see many of these books are out of print, which is why we love the library! Thank you to all those who have check out and returned these books so they are still available to share this Christmas 2007.

If I can remember the other books that we returned before the holidays I will add them.

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-12-22T13:37:00.001-06:00

We had such a fun time in Cincinnati over Thanksgiving. Here are pictures of our trip.

Best of Pictures from November and December 2007

2007-12-22T13:29:00.000-06:00

Doesn't include photos from Thanksgiving and Rory's Toad Hill Sledding day.

Best of Pictures from August, September, and October 2007

2007-12-22T12:24:00.000-06:00

Pictures include Visit from Cincy Armstrong, Co-op picnic, trip to LI, visit from Lynn and Ryan, trip to Lucy and Jim's farm, 1st Day of School, Willy St. Fair, visit from Mom in Oct.,Skylar's 1st haircut, pumpkin picking, and Halloween.

Look for more soon!

Why so quiet?

2007-12-16T23:24:00.000-06:00

Well, you know..I love to read blogs. But I'm really not a writer. That said I will try for the hundredth time to jump start this blog again. Slowly, I will try and share what has been going on with everyone. Here's to posting a few times a week. Coming soon...pictures from the last few months.

Skylar update

2007-07-31T15:30:00.000-05:00

Many people have called to ask how Skylar is doing. Thank you. When I took her for a weight check last Wed. she had gained 7 oz. So, she is up to 16 lbs, 4 oz. , which is .14% (That means that 99.86 out of 100 kids her age are bigger than her) She's not quite back to her 1 year birth weight of 16 lbs, 10 oz on 6/4/07...but at least she is gaining. She has tested negative for celiac, & her elastase and alpha -1 levels are normal. Soooooo, we are going to just keep feeding her and hope that she continues to gain. She looks great, very muscular legs, cute belly, very petite wrists, bright eyes and smile. She does lots of signs, and a little bit of talking. Loves reading board books and running after Rory. I can't believe she is going to be 14 months old on Thursday!

gDiapers

2007-07-25T23:23:00.000-05:00

About 4 months ago we started using gDiapers with Skylar. Living in Madison has really made me want to 'be a better person'. I feel so inspired to recycle, buy local and organic, and make small changes that will help make the world a better place.

I was always leery of cloth diapers, because, I don't know, they seemed too bulky or something...I admit it, I just felt like it wasn't me, I didn't understand, blah, blah. But then I read about the gDiapers, and was thinking, well, I could try it this. It was easy enough to commit to 1 starter pack to just try them out. Then when the Co-op started selling them at a really great price, I was in. We switched over in late April? and haven't looked back. Currently, we are composting the wet diaps, and flushing the dirty ones.

Skylar looks soooo cute in the little covers.

Perfect Madison Saturday

2007-07-25T13:58:00.000-05:00

This past weekend we went to see our friends Pete and Dave in the Paddle and Portage Race

What an awesome tradition. I hope that Chuck and/or I get to participate some time in the future.

Finished!

2007-07-24T11:00:00.000-05:00

I stayed up to 3:15 a.m. to finish Harry Potter. It does not disappoint. Very much enjoyed it, sad that the series is over. Can't wait to start reading them with Rory in a few years.

What I've been reading

2007-07-23T11:34:00.000-05:00

I have been doing a lot of reading the last few months.

Lost in a Good Book
I have really enjoyed this series, and will go back and read the 3rd and 4th book

Gizelle, Save the Children!
This was recommended by my friend Stacy, who shares an interest in Holocaust narratives. What a haunting account. Truly amazing.

Pretty Little Mistakes: A do-over novel
Interesting concept, an adult choose your own adventure.

The Post-Birthday World
This book really stuck with me. Make you really ponder life and the choices that you make.

The Plain Janes
Cute...quick read.

The Yiddish Policeman's Union

Really enjoyed this. It was a bit difficult to get into. Lots of difficult names to wrap my head around.

Evening

Read this one for bookclub. Didn't love it, but was definitely drawn to read it quickly. Went to see the movie, and I actually really like the movie better.

DMZ 2 Body of a Journalist
I really like this series. Gritty, interesting concept.

Jack of Fables: The Nearly Great Escape
A series that was born from another favorite series of mine: Fables.

If you were here you'd be home by now
I have to admit, I am always a sucker for books about life in L.A., but I didn't really like this one. Disappointing.

The Book Thief
My sister-in-law actually recommended this to me over a year ago. My bookclub will be discussing this in August. I really enjoyed it.

Maiden Voyage
I read this book when I was 16 and loved it. I recently was talking about it with a friend and decided to reread it. Still awesome. You know you have a great read on your hands when it hasn't left you in 16 years!

Y: The Last Man Kimono Dragons
Another interesting series. Although I got a little out of order, when this one came in for me at the library before #7, and I had it read before I realized. Oh well.

Fables: Sons of Empire
Really enjoy keeping up with this series based on fairy tale and folk tale characters.

I Love You, Beth Cooper
Quick read, entertaining account of a high school graduation night.

On Chesil Beach
I've really grown to like Ian McEwan's books. This book is a quiet but very interesting look at a young relationship.

Currently I'm reading along with the rest of the world:

Bursting Garden

2007-07-22T10:32:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the long absence. We were dealing with some nasty colds, weight loss issues (Sky), and plain old tiredness. I am trying to motivate to post more often, we'll see.

I have been meaning to write about our garden for a while. When Chuck's parents came over Memorial Day we planted the majority of the plants. The next weekend when my parents were here for the weekend we added a few things and worked on the other beds around the back yard.

(This first group of pictures were all taken in early June)

So on the left:

spices in the back
(strawberries in pot in back)
broccoli
zucchini
arugela
drawf sunflowers in pot in front

On right:

pumkins and watermelon
green peppers
basil
sweet peas
tomatos

Taken this morning:

Chuck had to construct a whole structure for the pumpkins to climb over the fence! We already have 1 good sized pumpkin growing, and about 5 little ones sprouting out. We have 1 little watermelons and 5 - 6 mini ones sprouting...we'll see how big this gets by the end of August - Sept.

First Watermellon

First Pumpkin

In addition, I have already made 6 loaves of zucchini bread from the zucchinis in the garden! We are gearing up to be a continual zucchini factory. Most of the broccoli and peas have been eaten. The basil needs to be pruned. Tomatoes are green and the green peppers are just starting to sprout.

June picture highlights

2007-06-17T15:34:00.000-05:00

Loving the new Picasa embedded slideshow!!! Pictures include Skylar's 1st Birthday, trips to the Farmer's Market, and Olbrich Gardens

Skylar gains weight

2007-06-07T08:48:00.000-05:00

An update on the peanut. Skylar gained 1 lb 5 oz in the last month and is finally back on the growth chart! (1st percentile) She currently weighs 16 lbs, 10 oz and is 28.5 inches tall. We are really happy that she seems to be putting on weight. She started drinking some whole milk, and eats a big bowl of Cheerios in milk every morning. She still nurses 3- 4 times a day, and for those of you who know what I have been through with the breastfeeding, it feels like a major accomplishment to make it to 1 year! She is presently getting a check-up on her ear tubes and hearing, but as far as we know everything is totally great, and I think it has helped keep her healthy.

Skylar celebrates her 1st birthday

2007-06-07T08:44:00.000-05:00

June 2nd Skylar turned 1. Here is a photo album month by month of the last year.

Some of Rory's more...modern moves

2007-05-15T14:14:00.000-05:00

We just took this last night....so funny. I have no idea where she got those moves!

Skylar turned 11 months....

2007-05-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

Well, 2 weeks ago. She had her weigh-in, and she gained, drumroll, 8 ounces. A little disappointing, but the Dr. says it's alright, because she is still curving up, and her little off the chart curve is mimicing the curves on the chart. In addition, she grew 1 inch! She is still a little peanut, still wearing some 3 - 6 month clothes. Here is some video I took of her earlier in the month.

Little Ballerina

2007-05-15T13:32:00.000-05:00

I took this video a few weeks back at Rory's final Ballet class. So cute. Watch for the full armlick on the way back across the floor.

Other Armstrong news

2007-04-25T14:21:00.000-05:00

So, let's see. Chuck and I joined the YMCA and have been working out for the last 3 months!!!!! I've been walking and running, following a Couch to 5K plan ;) My goal is to continue with this Sprint Triathalon Plan and do the Devil's Challenge in Sept. Chuck has been swimming at least 3 mornings a week, really working on his stroke and breathing. He also is doing tons of pushups at home, sometimes with Rory riding on his back...pic to come.

Rory has been taking Pre-Ballet, and really enjoying it. She is going to go to a little camp program at the Y this summer. Rory has also been taking a swimming class all on her own. She is doing a great job, listening, putting her face in the water, and sometimes even doing a perfect backfloat. Rory is psyched for the summer, probably because of the sweet swingset and sandbox that Chuck got set up last week....the yard is fenced and she is ready to play!

Skylar got tubes put in her ears on April 17th, we are hoping this will help with her low weight gain. The hope is that we can take ear pain, recurrent infections, and long weeks on antibotics out of the eating/weight gain dilemma. We go in for a weight check on May 8th--cross your fingers Little Miss Peanut will have gained weight! Otherwise, she is changing so much everyday. On top of eating tons of food (yeah, I know, that's the thing), she is crawling all over, standing up and cruising around the furniture, saying "Mama, Dada, Bye-Bye, Baby (baba), and I think I heard a Ra-Ra for Rory". I can't leave out the adorable pointing with both fingers, turning pages of her board books, clapping, waving, and the 2 bottom teeth that turned up at the end of March.

Chuck and I have also had a chance to get back into seeing live music. We had a great time at G Love and Special Sauce, and Chuck really enjoyed JJ Grey and MoFro last week. We are really excited to go see Antibalas tonight at High Noon Saloon. We first saw this band in Cleveland a few years ago and had a blast.

Finally...saw The Namesake and loved it. And have recently read The Eyre Affair (really enjoyed it, I just started the 2nd book in the series), Nerve Damage (fast, fun read), The Whole World Over (Julia Glass, you rock, I will read anything you write), and Lost City Radio (very haunting, interesting premise).

As for my knitting, I have about 5 projects in limbo. I am hoping that I can muster the motivation to finish something! Most likely to progress is the Roundabout Leaf Tank from Knitting Nature. Will post some knitting pics soon.

April photos

2007-04-25T14:08:00.000-05:00

Our favorite photos from April 2007. (so far!) They include a wonderful visit with GG (Rory and Skylar's Great-Grandma, and my Grandmother) over Easter, lots of Skylar crawling pics, and Skylar discovering Jules.

April 2007

Awesome trip to Florida--March 24 - 31, 2007

2007-04-25T13:52:00.000-05:00

Just getting around to blogging about our fabulous vacation a few weeks back. We had fantastic weather, and it was just what we needed to get away from the Wisconsin cold.

Rory had such an great time hanging out with her cousins Ben and Ellie. Skylar loved the pool. Both kids loved hanging out with Gammie and Papa. Happy 60th Birthday Papa! (Video)

Florida 2007 March 24 - 31

March 2007 Album

2007-04-25T13:47:00.000-05:00

March 2007

Trying to get back up to date!!!!

My Visual DNA

2007-04-07T16:27:00.000-05:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Could resist this, which I saw on a few blogs....will post new pics soon!

Groovy Girl

2007-03-07T19:33:00.000-06:00

Skylar just started these cute moves!

Skylar--9 months!

2007-03-04T22:17:00.000-06:00

The kids have been sooooo sick the last week. Ear infection, high fevers, coughing, vomiting, pus coming out of the eye (!) you name it, they've done it. But I didn't forget to take some cute pics of Skylar on Friday when she turned 9 months old.

What a cutie! She is climbing all over us, loves to stand at the table, and really wants to crawl, although after going from a sitting position, to sprawled out on the floor she usually just ends up crying. ;) She's bound to figure it out soon.

Book Quiz

2007-02-19T13:03:00.000-06:00

Couldn't resist this one.

Instructions: Look at the list of books below. Bold the ones you’ve read, italicize the ones you want to read, cross out the ones you won’t touch with a 10 foot pole (I used gray), put a cross+ in front of the ones on your book shelf, and asterisk* the ones you’ve never heard of.

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. + Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. +The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. +The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. +The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. +Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. * A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. +Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. +Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. +Harry Potter and the Socerer's’s Stone (Rowling)
17. *Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. +Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. +The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. +The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. + The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. +Tuesdays with Morrie (don't know how to cross out) (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook(Nicholas Sparks)[
33. +Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) Started, never had time to finish, plan to go back and read
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. *The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. *The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. + I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)[
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. +The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. *Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. +Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. + The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. +Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. *The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. +Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. + The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. +The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64.+ Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. *Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. + One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. * The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78.+ The World According to Garp (John Irving)
79. * The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. * Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. * Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams) tried this, it's a friend's favorite book, couldn't get into it
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. * Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. * Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. * In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees(Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. *A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophesy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

Feburary chills

2007-02-19T12:27:00.000-06:00

As the negative degree weather has started warming up the last few days, I have to wonder what we've been doing the last few weeks. Basically just trying to stay warm. We have made a lot of changes around the house with help from Mom while she was visiting. When all the work is done we will post pictures.

Grandma lit a fire under our butts to get stuff done, but she also had a great time hanging out with the ladies.

From Feburary 2007

Skylar has started eating more solid food as we try to bulk up her little 14 lb body. Rory is enjoying school, music class, and her new swimming class with the big kids! Chuck and I have joined the Y, and have been working out regularly.

Otherwise, time passes quickly as our beauties keep getting bigger and bigger.

From Feburary 2007

Happy 3rd Birthday Rory!

2007-01-27T16:44:00.000-06:00

I can't believe our little girl is 3 years old. She has grown into such a beautiful, smart, funny, sassy, talented, and loving little person. The time has just flown by. We love you Rory!

Look how she's grown!

2006 Book List

2007-01-16T19:40:00.000-06:00

January 2006

Shopgirl by Steve Martin
Two Lives by Vikram Seth
The Constant Gardner by John Le Carre

February 2006

Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon
Angels and Demons Special Illustrated Version by Dan Brown
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik

March 2006

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruis Zafron
Small Steps by Louis Sachar
Indecision by Benjamin Kunkel
Fables: Vol. 6 Homeland by Bill Willingham
A Taxonomy of Barnacles by Galt Niederhoffer

April 2006

Alternatives to Sex by Stephen McCauley
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

May 2006

East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

June 2006

The Year of Yes by Maria Dahvana Headley

July 2006

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Lost & Found by Carolyn Parkhurst
Eden Close by Anita Shreve

August 2006

The Love Season by Elin Hildebrand

September 2006

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

October 2006

DMZ: Vol. 1 On the Ground by Brian Wood

November 2006

Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser
The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon
We are on our own by Miriam Katin
Y: The Last Man Vol. 1 Unmanned by Brian K. Vaughan
The Best American Comics 2006
La Perdida by Jessica Abel
Y: The Last Man Vol. 2 Cycles by Brian K. Vaughan
Y: The Last Man Vol. 3 One Small Step by Brian K. Vaughan
Y: The Last Man Vol. 4 Safeword by Brian K. Vaughan
Y: The Last Man Vol. 5 Ring of Truth by Brian K. Vaughan
Y: The Last Man Vol.6 Girl on Girl by Brian K. Vaughan
The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards

December 2006

Everyone worth knowing by Lauren Weisberger
Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi

I hope to do a Knitting Projects 2006 list next!

Skylar's 1st sleigh ride

2007-01-15T09:55:00.000-06:00

Finally it looks like winter in Wisconsin!

And just like that we are almost halfway through January

2007-01-12T10:36:00.000-06:00

Well, we made it to 2007! After plane trips to Cincinnati and New York, and Skylar laid up with ear infections and colds, it is nice to be home.

We had so much fun seeing all of our family and friends over the holidays. Rory enjoyed playing with all of her cousins (Ben and Ellie) and her cousins once removed (Shelby, B, & Joe) (We are always trying to figure this out!)

This was taken on a fun adventure to Cincinnati Union Terminal with Mommer and Buck. What a fun time.

Another highlight from our trip was getting to see all of the babies that were born in 2006 (and 2005-Wade!). Below are some pics of the ladies and the babies.

(on left: Cate & Abby, Margot & Hadley, Kari & Rory & Skylar, Betsy & Jake &Wade)

(on right: Margot & Hadley, Susie & Maggie, Cate & Abby, Betsy & Wade, Kari & Skylar)

And don't think Rory has forgotten about the Sound of Music. She got a new CD player from Gammy and Papa for X-Mas, so we are singing the tunes on a daily basis. Here is a hilarious clip of the chaos on X-Mas night, it was probably about the 7th time we had listened to this song.

Next it was on to New York.

We had our long awaited meet-up with our friends Rich & Monica, and got to meet baby Cooper for the 1st time. We started our trip at the Museum of Natural History . We made it through the dinasour floor, and then split for a walk across Central Park (hotdog lunch, included) to Rich & Monica's apartment.

(Rich& Cas, Kari & Sky, Chuck & Rory)

The strategic moves and skills that it takes to get 4 kids down for a nap in a 2 bedroom apt. on the Upper East side is very complicated, but we managed. Some other good pics below:

Finally Rory and Skylar so enjoyed visiting with Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Andy, GG, Sarah & Kirsten, and all the other Centerport friends that always come over for visits!

For more photos....go to 2006 Holidays. Next up...Rory's 3rd Birthday!

And 2nd place goes to the Thumbsucking Gretel

2006-12-18T14:09:00.000-06:00

That's little Rory over on the right....dressed up in an adorable outfit grandma brought back from Germany. I thought it would sit in the closet and never get wore...until I heard about the Sound of Music Sing-a-long taking place this past weekend. Well, it was all worth it, when Rory won 2nd prize in the costume contest. Joined by Polly, Jenny, Jackie and Stacy, Rory and I enjoyed singing, hissing, and booing to our hearts content.

X-Mas card outtakes

2006-12-10T20:33:00.000-06:00

These are some of the runners-up for the Holiday card. We were able to wrangle #1 for a family pick, so I thought I would just post of these other cuties that were for consideration.

who knew I had the midas touch?

2006-12-08T20:57:00.000-06:00

Found this quiz from Lynn

2006-12-03T10:45:00.000-06:00

Look who's 6 months!
Skylar Margaret Armstrong
Loves to watch her sister, says Ba Ba Ba & Ma Ma Ma, will roll over under duress, loves sitting up, and hanging out her office
WE LOVE YOU!

Thanksgiving Weekend

2006-11-26T19:37:00.000-06:00

Our weekend started early with a visit from my mom. The girls loved spending time with grandma!

From November High...

We had a great Thanks giving meal and mom enjoyed swimming lessons with Rory.

From November High...

Chuck and I had an awesome time at the Wilco Concert the night before Thanksgiving. What a fun time. The band put on a great show, and the energy inside the Barrymore was intense.

The day after Thanksgiving was mild, so we decided to check out the Cave of the Mounds. Rory was a trouper, walking the whole 1 hour tour, asking questions and making comments.

From November High...

I also just posted a new photo album of highlights from November.

Sisters!

2006-11-13T17:24:00.000-06:00

The first of what will probably be a million "Sisters" posts. They love each other so much.

Blue eyed sandwich

2006-11-13T17:22:00.000-06:00

An impromptu photo session after Rory's nap, with group self portrait.

Favorite picture of the family!

2006-11-13T16:41:00.000-06:00