Monday, December 22, 2008

Emma's Art


Emma entered the digital world of fine arts today. She wanted to make a picture to send to daddy at work, and with a little (very little that is too) guidance she made her first digital painting.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

2008

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Nothing in particular is jumping out at me...

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions, because they only seem to cause downfall.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister did, and she is such a great mommy!

4.Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately I think we made it through the year with out losing anyone close.

5. What countries did you visit? Countries?
We were pretty much local this year. We dream of traveling!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A happy and healthy new family member.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?
There isn't a specific date coming to mind that will be ingrained in my memory.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Living

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't believe that there is failure, just lessons to be learned

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only minor colds and viruses that toddlers love to share.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our DSLR camera, so we can share all the cute pictures of Emma Bean

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The man behind me the other day that stopped to help an elderly lady get up after slipping on the ice.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Senseless acts of violence

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finding out we have a new bean on the way.

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2008?
Hmmm I don't think I have a theme song for this year.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier/sadder,thinner/heavier,richer/poorer?
Happier, poorer, simpler

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Catching the little moments that Emma does, because she is growing so fast.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinating

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas Eve and Day at the Zimmerman's then Christmas Evening with the Flaherty's. Somewhere in the mix of it we will celebrate at home.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
My sisters or mother.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Everyday.

23. How many one night stands in this last year?
Hmmm this question must be for the college girls....

24. What was your favorite TV program?
So You Think You Can Dance

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Oh there are quite a few I despise, but I don't think I truly hate anyone.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?
The Glass Castle

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Elizabeth Mitchell

28. What did you want and get?
To be a full time stay at home mom

29. What did you want and not get?
I'm still trying to find myself, but is that something that ever gets fully accomplished?

30. What were your favorite films of this year?
Thanks to Kevin I think it has to be Fool's Gold (just kidding that movie was interesting)

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27, and I can't remember what we did. I think I had to teach.

32. What's one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More hours in the day

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Official mom gear.

34. What kept you sane?
Chocolate and coffee

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I try to stay out of the "buzz" of popular celebs

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The elections were rather exciting

37. Who did you miss?
I miss my long distance friends.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Reagan, she is pretty new still.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Everything has a happy ending, if the moment isn't happy then that means you haven't found the ending yet.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
Don't Worry about a thing
cause every little thing
is going to be all right
Singing don't worry about a thing
cause every little thing
is going to be all right.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

TV making business...

Patrick has stumbled upon an new image that has found itself in many pieces of his artwork. The "old school" TV has a lot of symbolic reference to Patrick, and so he has become the newest TV factory worker. The image has left its confides of paper and has become a physical element. Patrick first made a clay mock up.



Then from the mock up, he made a plaster mold.



And the TV's were casted into TV armies.



You can see the show at the Ashland Art Gallery in Broadripple.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Homemade Laundry Detergent.

I am now going to share my secret of our homemade laundry detergent. I love it for two reasons it saves a lot of money and it really cleans and makes clothes feel nicer than store bought detergent.
First you will need to acquire three ingredients.



Ivory soap is the easiest. Borax is the next easiest. Super Washing Soda can be the trickiest, we have found it at Meijer and Kroger but that is about it. Please don't confuse baking soda for super washing soda there is a molecular/strength difference.
I first take 1/3 of the Ivory soap bar and microwave it for 2 minutes.

I then crumble it into a big pot
Add 6 cups of water and on medium heat stir until melted.
Then add 3/4 cup of borax, and 3/4 cup of washing soda, and stir till that is dissolved.
Into a large container (or large empty and rinsed detergent bottle)I pour 2 quarts of hot water. I then add my soap mixture. Stir, and top off with 1.5 gallons of cold water.
It will gel up after sitting and will need to be stirred or shaken before using. I use 1/2 cup per load of laundry.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Christmas Tree

We finally were able to make it to the Indiana School for the Blind annual Christmas tree sale. It is a one day event. You go out to their tree farm, and choose a tree and cut it down. For three dollars a foot you get yourself a mighty fine tree. Emma was so excited to go pick out a tree.



We finally settled on a tree, and cut it and took it to be purchased. Poor Emma by that point was frozen solid, and was done searching for a tree.



We took our tree home and warmed her back to good spirits with music from the Charlie Brown Christmas album.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving holiday. It started off slowly Uncle Brian's car needed to be repaired before he could meet us, and so us Indy Flaherty's got to rest and have a morning of snuggles. Uncle Brian arrived, and we loaded the van up to head to Michigan. We had to stop in Anderson for dinner and bathroom breaks, and then a few hours later we had another round of bathroom breaks. We got everyone in their PJ's and loaded back into the car when Emma announced "I am poopy." So we had to unload Emma, but Uncle Brian assured us it was a nice bathroom equipped with changing tables and everything. I take Emma into the bathroom and sure enough not a single changing table in sight. I super mom took off my coat and let Emma lay on it (yick) and changed her non-poopy diaper (I had an inkling that it was a ploy to get out of the car.) At least she was clean and we were ready to get back on the road. We made the last leg of the trip pretty easily except for the hour of Emma freaking out because she was tired, and the paci was packed in the trunk. Finally we arrive to Michigan, put the kids to bed and the men folk have a drink. Oh how I needed one myself, but I just had a soda instead.
We woke up the next morning with coffee and chaos. Not a bad chaos, just the kind that you get when you put twenty-six people in one house. Thank goodness for Aunt Julie the chaos extraordinaire who knows how to avert bad chaos before it even happens. The cousins played, and Emma learned all sorts of neat tricks like how to be loud, crazy, and bossy.
We finally managed to get a decent cousin picture. I am sure Grandma is relieved. I think this was the third attempt. Mine isn't as good as Aunt Julie's she had prime photo location.



That's a lot of kid power in one place. After the picture we had a FABULOUS spread of food. Everything was simply delicious.
The next day was snow day. Emma finally got to play in the snow, and she had a blast!



So did Cian and Maeve.






The trip home was a little more uneventful, but all in all we had a great time, and we happy to be home but sad to leave everyone at the time.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Visit with Candi

We finally got to visit with Candi. It had been way too long she lives in West Virginia, and doesn't make it home that often. And we haven't been able to make the trip to go visit her. We had a nice relaxing visit with her, and went to a fun restaurant where Emma got to have pickles and chips for lunch. I tried to get a picture with Emma and Candi together, but two year olds are so well two... I did get a lovely picture of Emma with Candi's coaster. I guess that is as good as it can get.



The visit was way to short, and it reminded me of how much a good friend can not be replaced no matter how far they move.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

How to store a child and a cat

What's the best way to store a very inquisitive 2.5 yr old and her cat?



In a box of course.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Holy Heartattack!

Sparkle Pony (aka Emma Bean) just locked me out of our house while I was taking the compost out. We have old doors that lock behind you, and she was watching dragon tales so I ran out really quick and that bugger followed right behind me to slam the door. (Insert favorite explicit here) I ran to the neighbors and they weren't home, so went to another neighbors house and he was home (oh thank goodness and especially thank goodness because he is very handy). I called the IL's and they didn't answer their phone called the hubby and he didn't answer his phone. (Insert another explicit here) I am like what do I do! The neighbor came over, and he was about to break the pane out of the door when he thought to look at the window it was unlocked so we opened it. Our windows are never unlocked so it was a sheer miracle that it was! I said I'm small I can climb the window he looked at me and say "Oh no I ain't having that happen on me.." Oh yeah I am pregnant and not so small anymore. So he climbs in the window, and lets me in. Sigh thank god! We are roasting a pumpkin right now it looks like he gets a loaf of pumpkin bread.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Happy Halloween









Painting

Emma loves arts and crafts. She was excited to receive a watercolor set from Trick or Treat at Meijer.








Broadripple Music Fest

Gamblin' Christmas had a gig at the Boulevard Cafe. It was a great family oriented gig. Emma had a great time. The owner of the Boulevard Cafe was very fond of children and gave Emma two cookies!

The cookies were the perfect toddler fuel for dancing.


And enjoying some fantastic music.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Cousins

Unfortunately my sister had to come up for another "eventful" and painful doctors apt. Some of the cousins came along. Emma had a great time with Kenzie playing people, and baking a pizza. They both were excellent helpers in the kitchen. However when you lack counter space it becomes even more cramped when there are two toddlers occupying most of the counter.



We also had the pleasure of meeting baby Reagan for the first time. She is a very sweet and calm girl. Definitely waiting to make a big mark on this world.


Pumpkin Patch

Our good friend Corrie invited us to go to the pumpkin patch with her, and Lilly. We had a great picnic and then went on a hay ride out to see the pumpkins. Emma had a blast and loved looking at all the pumpkins. However she loved the hay even more!