Sunday, September 25, 2011

Geek Me

As a child, the public library was one of my favorite places. Now, as an adult, well, nothing much has changed. I still love it! Every two weeks (like clockwork) my children and I visit to exchange our books, peruse the new releases, and play with the puzzles. There's something inherently magical about a library. In fact, I've written about our beloved library routine in the past.

Recently, though, I discovered that our public libraries are in trouble, their funding in crisis. Luckily, many people are working hard to change that, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They created the Geek the Library Campaign, and I couldn't wait to become a part of this tremendous effort.

Let me explain (with the help of the above website)!

Geek (v):
1. To love, to enjoy, to celebrate, to have an intense passion for.
2. To express interest in.
3. To possess a large amount of knowledge in.
4. To promote

What do you geek? For me, the answer was simple: books! I love to read them. I possess an unimaginable amount of them. I passionately hope to write them for a living one day. Heck, I even love the way they smell!

Even though I have a Kindle and know that technology will forever change the way we experience books, I still know that nothing will ever replace the childlike excitement I feel when I open the first chapter of a new book, as I turn the pages and disappear into the story. I know this little 'ol blog of mine might not make much of a difference for our public libraries, but how could I not share my passion for books?

My name is Lori, and I geek books! :)

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Saturday, September 24, 2011

Herbstfest 2011

It's that time of year again! Time for yummy fest food, high-flyin' bouncy houses, and a local park filled with family, friends, and fun. Plus a parade tomorrow! You guessed it.....the Huntingburg Herbstfest. :)

As usual, we were eager to join the fun and let the kiddos run wild. While Ava became "Queen of the Bouncy House," Hudson decided he wasn't ready for that quite yet. Instead, he took Papaw Rich by the hand and led him over to the Little League field. Together they played an exciting game of pretend baseball, followed by a rousing rendition of hide-and-go-seek.

Erik and I sampled a variety of the food, which I told the kids was my version of a bouncy house. Ha! Raider fries, breadsticks, tenderloin on bun, walking taco, and lemon shake-ups were some of our favorites. Then we finished off the evening by buying inflatable toys for the kids: Dora the Explorer for Hudson and a big cell phone for Ava.

If you're in the area and have some free time, stop in at the city park and check it all out for yourself. In the meantime, Ava and I are going to sneak back down while the boys take their afternoon naps. ;)












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Saturday, September 17, 2011

Friday Night Riverwalk

Last night, after eating at The Gaslight to celebrate its 40th anniversary, we headed to the Jasper Riverwalk for a little playtime. It was perfect weather to play outside! Both kids had some extra energy to burn, and Mom and Dad simply enjoyed the break from routine.

Hudson became an expert slider, all by himself! (Sorry, no pics of that, cause I was hovering nearby just in case...lol)

Ava made a new friend, Mason, and chanted his name on our walk back to the van! (Boys have become more interesting than playground equipment. Yikes!)

What a fun night!







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Sunday, September 11, 2011

Ten Years Ago

It began like any other normal day for me as a college junior at USI. I was eating a bowl of cereal, packing my bag for classes, and half-heartedly listening to Good Morning America in the background of my campus apartment. All three of my roommates were already gone for the day, and I was enjoying my morning of solitude.

Then I finally noticed the television.

At first, I wasn’t too concerned, selfish enough at twenty to gloss over the unfolding tragedy of a plane hitting a prominent New York building. I went about my business, but paused now and then to get an update. Then the second plane hit, and I still remember Charles Gibson’s shocked voice as the true meaning of the attack congealed in the hearts of America.

Not a simple tragedy, but something much, much worse.

In minutes, I was due on campus for my first class of the day. Being the kind of student I was at that time, it was unimaginable to miss a class. Yet I considered it, not wanting to tear myself away from the news report. Finally, though, I decided it would be better to have others to talk to during this time, rather than sit alone in my suddenly chilled apartment. So off I went.

Most of that September 11, 2001, was a blur. Masses of somber students moved in waves through the college buildings, congregating around the myriad television sets that appeared throughout the campus—in classrooms, at common areas, even in the cafeteria. A common thread of fear, disbelief, and anger united us that day.

As I remember it, no professors actually held class. A few cancelled, but most simply provided an opportunity to share this unprecedented horror with one another. Students mechanically attended our classes and spent the allotted time asking questions that could not be answered. When the first tower collapsed, an audible gasp shook the walls of the classroom in which I sat.

Eventually, I ended up back at my apartment, gathered with my roommates to watch as reporters wove unbelievable separate events into a tapestry of unspeakable tragedy. There could be no doubt now. Our country was under attack, and for my generation this was like the sinking of the Titanic—a previously impossible disaster—only one that cut at the very foundation of our nation’s safety.

My mind was an emotional whirlpool of questions. Would there be other attacks? Was Evansville large enough to merit one of them? Would we go to war? Could my boyfriend be drafted to fight? Did I know anyone living in New York City? Was this the beginning of the end?

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since that fateful day, and although much of that horror remained distant for me—terrible, grief-filled images on my television screen—I will never forget the way I felt. That my illusion of true safety was forever broken. That our country was truly one of strength and pride and unity. That I didn’t know my heart could break for complete strangers.

Today, as I remember, as I proudly fly my American flag, I hope that our country’s survivors have continued to pay proper tribute to the lives lost, torn apart, and forever altered. For me, that historical day revealed what it means to be proud to be an American, and why we have the freedom we do, and why we must continue to fight for it.



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Tuesday, September 6, 2011

What we've been up to lately....

Not a lot!

I haven't blogged much recently, mainly because life has just been steaming along. School started, routines settled around us, and evenings became consumed with playtime, dinnertime, bathtimes, and relaxation time. Guess I forgot to make room for blogging time, eh?

Ava B. has been gradually adjusting to kindergarten. The days are longer, the rules are much more strict than preschool, and going from a class of 12 to nearly 30 has been a new experience for her. In all, though, she's enjoying her time at school and making new friends. I love coming home each day because I can't wait to hear the newest story from her own sweet perspective.


Hudson has been enjoying his one-on-one time with Mamaw Karen, and I know they play hard during the day because he's more than ready for bed each evening. (Yes, I realize I'm posting a photo of my 2-year-old with a "ty-ty" in his mouth. Shame on me! Honestly, he only uses it at night, and this was taken right before bedtime. Eventually we'll wean him off, but in the meantime I'm simply grateful for a reliable sleeper.)


As summer transitions to fall, I hope everyone is enjoying the various colors in their life!

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Dinner Conversation with a Toddler

Tonight, during dinner, I had the pleasure of hosting both my children for a tantalizing meal of spaghetti with zucchini, mixed berries, and garlic breadsticks. But it wasn't the food that made this meal memorable; it was the delicious conversation!

Now usually Hudson is my quiet child, while Ava is more of a talker like her dad. But not always. And certainly not tonight! A few events conspired to have Hudson unusually chatty at supper. (1) No nap today. (2) Erik decided to mow and didn't make it back inside until we'd all already eaten. (3) Ava was tired and quiet, not the norm.

All this = Hudson's time to shine. At one point, I literally stopped eating, turned on the laptop, and started recording his musings verbatim. Ok, let me just shut up and let my little man's voice do the talking. I hope you find it as amusing as Ava and I did; we were laughing in between every bite!


I need more cheese!

Are you happy?

I have no shoes on!

Sorry, Sissy!

No!

I have sticky hands!

Boo-yah!

More cheese, please!

Oooohhhh!

Sissy no shoes on!

Sorry!

Momma no shoes on!

Mwah! (blowing kisses)

Need a wipe!

Sissy, get my wipe!

I have cornies??

Ring around the rosie... (singing)

I like garlic bread sticks!

Look at me!

I shake my milk!

Sorry, Momma!

Are you mad?

See, Momma? I shake milk!

More cheese!

Zucchini? No!

Ew! I got sketties on my milk!

I take my bib off!

Clean up, clean up, everybody clean up! (singing)


While that might seem like a lot of exclamation marks for a single dinner (yeah, we thought so too), it sure was darn funny! Love my little man!


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