The Chapbook Cafe Beginning the Chilly Months

Winter is coming and that means hours of lounging in book stores sipping lattes. It also means reading magazines for free and parousing children's books that we will not purchase at the bookstore, but order off of ebay. So is the ways of a free economy. Owen enjoyed a mocha-steamer, also known as hot chocolate.
Anna also enjoyed some hot chocolate, she only drank about half of hers though. She is a tiny thing and is not able to drink 12 ounces of yummy delicious hot chocolate. (Owen, of course, was able to drink all of his!)
Here Owen is reading Parson Avery's tales of Thomas on the Island of Sodor. At one time, Rev. Avery wrote the Thomas stories as a way to promote Christian virtues.
Anna and Owen also played at the Thomas Table. It is the first time that we have been to Schuler in a couple of months. The Thomas display had 3 8x11 signs warning of all the recalls because of lead based paint. I thought that they should stop doing recalls and just set up the Thomas section under the headings of 'regular' and 'leaded'.
We enjoyed a good cookie with our drinks as well. Chapbook has GREAT chocolate chip cookies, but the cakes are never too great. The atmosphere is very nice there though- big pained windows, stone fireplace, chess players, good art on the walls. It is one of our favorite hybrid bookstores/cafe's in town (not that there are too many to choose from!)
Lydia always looks through a pile of books. She usually leaves with a list of ISBNs that she will look on Amazon and Ebay for over the next couple of days. A week from now we will begin receiving packages from the letter carrier. The residual effects of a nice mocha have lasting implications!
In the winter I get a double mocha. In the summer I usually get a mocha smoothie. Today was the usual. It was quite tasty and gives enough energy to write into the night!
Watson was quite the darling. He slept the whole time. I am sure that if he was awake, he would have been offered a mocha too!
In time son, in time.

Family Update

Things have been quite busy around here. We are preparing for a new baby, our AC was out this past weekend, we had company for a week, and I have a lot of behind the scenes work being done as a part of my internship.

Some things seem to never change though, such as Owen wanting to nap with his vacuum cleaner tucked in next to him.
Since our visitors left we have cleaned out some of the things left behind in the refrigerator. Shawn and Tammy are organic-naturalpathics who do not use man made food-products. The result of this was some heavy whipping cream left which was unopened. Owen, Anna and I had a great time turning this into butter. I made them guess what the cream would be when it was done, but of course, they had no clue. When it turned to whipped cream, Anna exclaimed, "it's turning into a mocha!"

She loved the moment when it went from whipping cream to separated butter and water. It was like magic, minus the Harry Potter action.
Owen liked it on a cracker. He could not wait to eat more. We told him no.
Anna thought that it was really a great thing as well. Homemade butter.. what could be finer? Well, homemade bread on which to spread it!
We also went to Johnson Park for lunch today. The kids played and Lydia and I went through baby names. We may have one.... who knows. Lydia is quite excited about being delivered from this burden... I mean child. We are very excited to have three little ones. What a blessing and an honor to raise children unto the glory of God!
Owen and Anna are always telling * * * * * * * * * what the outside world is like... spankings and all. Here they are giving a pre-kiss.
I am sure that the next few weeks will be filled with pictures of our little guy. I will give a precondition now... we do not think that new borns are cute... this is a myth. But we do love them.

Car Seats Are for Babies

Consumer Reports claims that many of the infant car seats that they reviewed 'failed miserably' when tested at speeds of 35 miles per hour.

I am not opposed to car seats, per se, but I hate being told that I have to wear a seat belt and that my children have to be in car seats.

Should these be laws, or should this be up to the discretion of the parents? Why should 'Big Brother' tell us how to buckle our children? Remember the days when babies rode on mama's lap in the front seat? I am sure that it is just as safe.

These Are the Moments

Nathan: Venti mocha with peppermint (a winter treat).
Lydia: Grande white chocolate mocha half-caff with reduced fat milk.
Anna: New Horizons' organic chocolate milk
Owen: Sips from each.

We enjoy coffee time as a family. Going out for a cup is at least a bi-weekly event. Many great thoughts have been probed over a fresh cup of coffee.

Now there's a good time!

I had a root canal today. Now there's an interesting procedure.

You go in to the dentist with mild tooth pain and you leave feeling like he did a spin-kick to your face twenty-five times.

Wow! Thanks, doc! I feel much better!

Bunch o' Sickos

So the entire clan here on Union Avenue is sick. The process has been going on for over two days. Owen was the first to come down with hyper-emesis and he has graciously passed that on to the whole family.

We have spent many hours in the middle of the night changing sheets and washing towels- quite fun really. It sure does a great job at testing how patient and loving one can be towards the family.

While we we lay sick, Anna and I decided to go over her Bible verse for the week.

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART O, GOD (Psalm 51.10a)

Here is a little conversation that we had over the meaning of the text:
Anna: Papa, do you have a clean heart?
Papa: Yes, Anna.
Anna: Does mama have a clean heart?
Papa: Yes Anna.
Anna: Do I have a clean heart?
Papa: I hope so Anna.
Anna: Did Jesus buy me a clean heart?
Papa: Yes, he did Anna.
Anna: I want a clean heart.
Papa: Then you have to ask Jesus for one.
Anna: Can I ask Jesus for a blue heart too?

*Anna thought that the word clean was green!
Maybe theological discussion is not at its best when one is ill!

Work Makes Free

I worked from 3 pm Monday until 7:30 am Tuesday. I am too tired to do the math.

Boys Are Gross

We had to take Owen to the doctor (well, actually we saw a physician's assistant). He began to have some sores on his chin and some different sores in his mouth. Dr. Lydia looked at them and thought that the sores on his chin was impetigo, but I told that was not true because we are clean people and our children are not sucking snot off of the floor of some daycare.
When we got the doctor's office, we found out that the sores were impetigo, and he also has thrush in his mouth.
The thrush may be from the fact that when he had croup he was on an antibiotic, but we are unsure.

For those who have 'good stomachs' I have linked the google image for both problems. Have fun!

Impetigo
Thrush

Croup DeVille

Our little Owen gave us quite the scare this weekend. (Well, me at least!) He had to be taken to the doctor because he was having difficulty breathing. He was diagnosed with Croup and given meds to help open his airway. This was the first time our little O-O refused to smile in his whole life. The little look of horror on his face was so sad. I hope that he is back to 100% by his birthday on the 25th. Both sets of grand-parents will be here to celebrate with us!

Thanks Grandma!

Oma Eshelman made this new blanket for our basement. She has been known to make some really nice ones that people comment on. The ones that she made for Anna and Owen when they were born are often commented on in stores and other places where people see them. This one was made with our new family room in mind. It has the terra cotta and the buttercream to match the walls. Sedgwick and Anna enjoy a nap under its warmth.
For a fee she will make you one as well. Oh...I get a finders fee as well!

A Random Day

Let me begin with a prependix (I made that up..Appendix but before. I am sure that out grammarians and lexographers will give me the appropriate term.) : * There will be no announcement on this blog concerning the wedding as of now. All I have to say is that Steve has offered $50 and a steak dinner.

Today after class I was supposed to be doing taxes as well as writing a few papers that are still due before semester's end. It was such a nice day that plans were postponed for a few hours. We went for a walk to one of our favourite breakfast and lunch places. The Real Food Cafe' is a place to enjoy homemade cooking that incorporates butter into every dish. It is yummy. Anna was super excited as shown in the below picture. Owen was attempting to remove his hat so he did not care where we ate as long as the hat was gone. Eventually the hat was removed and he fell asleep. Do not think that it allowed for a peaceful lunch... he awoke seconds before the food arrived.
We ate outside since the place is always so packed that you have to wait in line. The lines are always tight and you have to squeeze next to people that you do not necessarily want to be breathing down your neck. One good thing though, as a blog reader you would love it because you always get to hear someone else's business whether you want to or not. It is like a real-life blog standing in that line. I rarely have the guts to comment though...you cannot be anonymous!
The other thing that was great about today is that Owen's Anterior-Incisors number eight and nine came in. That makes for four teeth. Teeth look funny on a baby at first.
Here is the only way that we can get him to show off the teeth. We hold him upside down and we tickle him until his mouth opens. This shot was too gross with all of the saliva and the nostrils showing. I cut out the mouth so that you could see his great little teeth.
The other thing that we did today is watch Anna garden. She thinks that gardening consists of standing around with a rake and commenting on the flowers that have already bloomed. She also thinks that talking to the statuary is part of the assignment as well. If she only knew the joys that gardening can bring other than talking to concrete children.
Here she is checking out her New Balance shoes. Lyd bought these so that she can wear them on walks. I am not sure why she is so obsessed with them. We try to get her to wear the clogs..but she insists on these little running shoes. I think that she is being influenced by outside sources. We don't wear running shoes.
Sorry no poll today!

Cutest Shoes in the World

Thank you Emily. As many of you know we love shoes in this family! Lydia and I are actually getting new Birks for our four year anniversary next month.
We have a hard time with children's shoes though. They are hard on the feet and according to Pediatricians, they do not aide in the proper development of the foot. We would get Birks for the kids too but cannot justify $65 for kid's shoes.


The Vedra's gave us some help and we are well pleased. Lydia has ordered two pairs for Owen and have been looking for Anna as well.


There are many readers who are going to be having children soon or know of a pregnant couple. Maybe George would like a pair. (GIFT IDEA!!)


Pedipeds Shoes

To hear one's own thoughts

Not all moments in our home are this quiet:

The dogs slept curled in separate corners, denying one-another's existence.

Owen nursed slowly in the arms of his loving mother.

Anna read while snuggled in under the window.

The hum of the furnace, the tapping of the keyboard.

All is good on Union Avenue.

What is Life on Union Avenue?

What is Life on Union Avenue? Union Avenue and the Alger Heights area have been called by the chief of police as, "Grand Rapids' best kept secret."

It is a great place to raise your children. Daily we see joggers, babies in strollers (and slings), dog walking, children playing, and in the fall we have a marching band. No joke! Alger Heights has the Catholic schools of Grand Rapids marching around our streets as practice. I have tried to convince Anna and Owen that it is an army marching band that is trying to over take Grand Rapids. They don't buy it. Anna has decided that the best way to keep Alger Heights a great secret is to take down the markers that distinguish her from the rest of Grand Rapids.
I told her that we are not allowed to remove the landmarks which our forefathers placed for our own protection and comfort. (She agreed.)

Cruddy Study

In between being scheduled full time at work, being a full time Master's candidate, and my many familial duties there are "fun" things that must occur in order to get our basement finished and the guest room (someday Owen's) finished. We are looking forward to having the order back in our home that we normally have....But for now we live in bedlam!

Here are some of today's pics of our study being de-shelved and packed up. (Of course it is in alphabetical order and all are being cataloged before they go into their respective boxes.

Here is where we are. We have de-shelved A thru L with the exception of the one's that slip through our compulsive eyes. It is amazing how many books have been done...At least 1000 thus far, I would imagine, and probably 20-25 boxes.
Here is a look at the mess at Lydia's desk. We will each have our own study areas and we are looking forward to that. Sharing space is awful when two OCD people live in the same house and have differing methods of organization! (So, we are little crazy?)
Here is Anna playing amongst the books. She thought that climbing them was a fun expedition. We had to put an end to it when she climbed to the six feet mark. (A little safety is a wise thing.)
Lydia worked while I cataloged and boxed...It seems that she has given up on a clean desk for now. (The book by her right hand is on "no cry" sleep solutions for toddlers. She borrowed it from the La Leche League library.)
The pile of boxes grows as shelves begin to be cleared. I am amazed at how many books are on the shelves that have not been referenced for years. Even with the amount of papers and research that goes on in the study many are not touched once they are read.
Anna thought that since we were both busy she would be at liberty to use a blue-green Sharpie on the folding chair as well as paint her nails with it. I thought that it was so funny but maintained a straight face when telling her that she has to let mama or papa paint her nails. (She has great fine motor skills for her age, if you ask me.)
Here is a cry for help! I think that she would like to do something more Anna focused right now. I guess that a bath and getting ready for bed is a good thing. She has to go play with Noah tomorrow at La Leche League! (She loves Noah!)

More to come as our remodel continues.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!

IT IS SATURDAY NIGHT AND WE TRY really hard to prepare so that we can have a good Sunday. We usually clean the house, prepare as much of the meal as we can, and we especially bathe the kids and attempt to have them in bed at a decent time.

I got home from work at 11:50pm and found these three things were occuring.
1. Anna is quite sure that she IS Elton John
2. Owen sleeping like a good boy should.
&
3. Lydia preparing for Sunday school which she should have done days ago!

Tomorrow should be interesting