lit*chick

kit kats, baby ruths, and 3 musketeers

that's what our treaters will be gettin. Hopefully there will be some left or I'm going to have to pillage the candy clearance aisle.

I am not a Halloween girl. I didn't like it back in the days when I dressed up either. It may be because of the fat mouse costume. I think it traumatized me for life. Thanks, sis.  I'll have to dig up a picture.  I believe that was the year I desired to be Holly Hobbie and my sister was trying to earn some Girl Scout badge by making my costume. Hence, the fat mouse was born. And 30 years later the complex lives on.

Plus, when your kids dress up in outfits everyday, it would seem that on Halloween they should be able to dress like a normal kid. But no one gives candy to kids in jeans and t shirts do they? Don't even get me started on the high school kids trick or treating. Dudes - get a job and buy your own chocolate.

I'm still trying to talk KWB into being Peter Pan instead of Darth Vader as I scored the Peter Pan costume at 50% off.  There aren't any tights involved so what's the big deal?  I don't like costumes with masks so ....Caleb is a football player (KWB's costume last year) and the Owen is - what else? -  a pirate. Although he'll probably mix in pieces of other outfits and be the kind of pirate that carries light sabers, wears a cape, and  carries a blankie.

Have a safe and enjoyable night, everyone. We'll be out with Wonder Women (Miji's twins).

The End.

Finished

This weekend I read Run by Ann Patchett. I also updated my stacks. I gave up on a few that didn't seem very compelling and am happy with what remains.

I loved Run.  She has a way of describing her characters that is wonderful to read. It's descriptive without being wordy. The story is under 300 pages (a thumbs up). Fabulous character development, maybe a bit exaggerated, but I'll take concise any day. And it is complete - for those of you (like me) who need resolution it's in here. So often I feel left hanging and for what? It's rarely clever and is extremely irritating. I don't always want to imagine what happens - that's why I'm reading the story, to find out. Gimme just a little closure. Sorry, I digress... But I highly recommend this one. You'll have to read it to disagree :).

I'm also reading The Used World by Haven Kimmel (about 1/2 through). Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. I've never read any of her books before, but am enjoying this simple story.

Thanks to all of you for your anniversary wishes. We enjoyed a relaxing weekend with baseball, sushi, books, and fall festival.

And Miji, these are for you:

If there were to be a World Series of shoes and purses it would take place in your closet, girl.

The End.

Sox Books

Sorry gang - but I must pay tribute to my Red Sox. I mean the World Champion Boston Red Sox! It really is a glorious feeling to have your team win. And it so rarely happens to us being Red Sox & Redskins fans...we don't know how to act.

Here are some books for the Red Sox fan on your list:

2 great writers who are super fans record their season watching the Sox. good stuff.

love this cover - awesome pictures.

behind the scenes history from a business/front office perspective.

the team history.

love the character of this place. There is no other stadium like it.

for the kiddos.

And that completes the sports blogging for now. Unless of course the 'Skins win the Superbowl (I don't think there is anything to worry about there.)

From Red Sox Nation...

The End.

this one goes to eleven

Eleven years ago today we were married in the courtyard of Reynolds Tavern in Annapolis, MD. You had hair, and I was thin. We had no idea what was coming - specifically:

(from Christmas 2004)

Eleven reasons we work.

1.You keep us all focused on Christ.

2.You are a wondeful dad to those three.

3.You call me beautiful.

4.You don't mind when I read. Usually.

5.You are good at saving money and I am good at spending money. You usually win.

6.You don't try to fix things. Including me.

7.You know how to play sports and I don't. But I will watch them.

8.You will let me pick new restaurants. You even like sushi now :).

9.You will turn the a/c on when I am hot, even in October.

10.You go out of your way so I can have S'bucks even though you hate coffee.

11.You make really good tacos and sloppy joes.

We are blessed. Love you, K.

The End.

Baseball, Books, and Blessings

This blog is being hijacked by the Red Sox Nation. Lit Chick has been overcome by 4 dudes and their World Series obsession.

Tonight Curt Schilling pitches.  It's gonna be another late one here...at least for me. We make the little guys listen to the radio after they are tucked in. They get to watch the first 2 innings before bed.

Reuters photo

Josh Beckett pitched last night. He is the man.

I finished The End of the Alphabet last night. It was more of a novella (120 pages), but it counts right?  It struck me as being the complete opposite of On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan. OCB is a marriage ending just as it begins.  This book was about the untimely ending of a marriage, sweet and a bit quirky, with the alphabet as a plot device that doesn't interfere too much. If you have a spare hour or two, it may be worth it. I will say it is a book to be read in one sitting or the flow will be disturbed and you may not get back into it. It also shifts between past (memories) and present without warning.

Today I was struck by all the "little" daily blessings. For instance, soccer practices are over. Soccer games are not. I don't like practices, they interrupt the evening and depending on the hubs schedule I may have to drag the whole crew along. Soccer games, I enjoy. Cool, fall mornings, sweaters on, coffee in hand, chattin' it up on the sidelines as we watch our kids having fun. Good times.

Miji saved the day today as I was without car keys. She came over for lunch and then drove me plus 2 to pick up KWB at school. It is a miracle our schedules were both free for an afternoon. That hasn't happened in about a month. Good friend.

And tomorrow, our 11th wedding anniversary. Good man. Good life.

The End.

what's your heiser?

The new phrase around our house came from Caleb. We were making a list of friends for the upcoming double birthday soiree and because we have several friends with the same first name I asked him which fill-in-the-blank he intended. He said "I don't know what their Heiser is". Translation: I don't know their last name.

I think that having speech issues has made C more creative with descriptions. And for that I'm thankful. It's what makes him Caleb. Some of our best "family lingo" has come from him.

Now, I'm not a mini book making girl. And my creative mojo has been on vacation for the month of October. But seeing Nicole's work has inspired me to make one for our family phrases. I love when art & life meet in my mind. Thanks Nicole for the jumpstart.

I'm curious, what is some of your family's lingo? Please share.

The End.

PS There's also "friend lingo", but that's for another time. Miji's daughter, Faith, must get credit for most of ours...

Smiley Eyes

Yep, that was the Owen with the "smiley eyes", as Miji says. You guys are good.

Speaking of the Owen, he has refused to participate in today's drawing. He is too distracted by his new toy - "Grammy got me a golden gun" (my master of alliteration).  So I'll pick.

TRISH  - you've won the book Run by Ann Patchett. Hot off the presses - we can read it together. My only disclaimer is: I haven't read it yet so it may suck. I already know your addy ;)

Etsy enabling ahead:

a barette from maya papaya

pass the peas shirt

i wonder who's getting this with the O on it? from roslyns closet

  so adorable from huddle

  love these from every jot and tittle

what are you gonna do if they do? BITE THEM BACK! this is our exchange with the Owen every night. can't wait to get one for his room. from john w golden's shop.

All done....for now. I have a whole other list of stuff that has nothing to do with Etsy. :)

The End.

Good Stuff

Getting ready for the book drawing, whenever the Owen wakes up from his nap. We are super tired after staying up too late...

Good Stuff:

1. The Red Sox returning to the World Series.  We are stoked. Caleb continues to be a our resident statistician, so please address any questions regarding the Sox to him.

2. Did you know that you can donate old towels and sheets to your local Humane Society? I had been wondering what to do with that pesky stack of old linens...

3. We are cleaning out our basement today. Thankfully, moving twice in 3 years has seriously depleted the amount of junk we (me) have. I continue to work on the hubs to part with his box of notebooks from college. Because agribusiness notes are really useful in the IT sector.

4. This weather is good.

5. Dinner with old friends is the best. I am thrilled that my children have friends they have known since birth and that distance & time has not broken their bond.

6. I am glad we are able to do Halloween without buying new costumes. I highly recommend swapping with friends & neighbors if you aren't able to switch amongst your children (the 3 boy thing comes in handy sometimes). 

7. It was Vee's birthday last week - so go visit her blog and wish her a happy.

8. The Redskins won too.

9. And since nobody likes a blogpost sans picture:

From the archives...Our children have all had their inaugural donut experience while on vacation around 9 months old. (Leave me alone, sugar patrol).  Who is this?

Stay tuned tomorrow for some enabling and Christmas gift ideas....

The End.

How to Earn a PhD in Avoidance

1. Instead of finishing the 28 alphabet cards you are supposed to have mailed yesterday for a card swap, you are online - reading blogs, surfing etsy, checking out Amazon.

2. Checking out Amazon, leads you to get VERY excited about Ann Patchett's (Bel Canto) new book, Run:

3. You are so excited about her new book, that you start looking for other books and find this:

and this:

and this:

4. Finding all these lovely books (with cool covers) makes you want to buy some.

5. In order to justify the above purchase, you decide to buy an extra one to giveaway.

6. You spend the next 30 minutes preparing your blog for the giveaway.

7. And with that you have earned 3 more credits towards your degree. I have a master in avoidance and am a classic underachiever.

On your mark, get set, leave me a comment.

The End.

ps - the Owen will draw names on Saturday after choosing suitable headwear for the ceremony.

Tag, I'm It

Thanks Miss Joni, this made my day. I'm glad your husband is back home in your care.

Now I get to spread some happy.

The rules:
A. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.
B. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names

Here's my six quirks/habits.

1. i am very decisive- unless it's about what to make for dinner. but on important things, i can cut through the muck and usually get it right. (the book Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, who also wrote the Tipping Point, was a good justification for people like me)

2. i love Charlie & Lola cartoons & books

3. fall is my favorite season even though i'm not a nature girl - this is my kind of weather

4. i almost never wear socks. not even in the winter, unless i'm wearing boots.

5. i learned to drive on the Washington Beltway, which means i can drive anywhere. and i'm a good driver too. (stop laughing, mom) i'm also good with directions, if i've been somewhere once, i can get there again.

6. i really want to decorate a room in pink & green so it looks like Lily Pulitzer lives there

And I'm tagging:

vee (aka superwoman)

vera (aka snow white)

nicole (these are the days)

jude (aka the newest member of the mom to 3 boys club)

elise (aka paper girl)

dina (check her out she's been scrapjacked)

all these ladies make me smile regularly.

The End.