Amy’s Brain :: The Blog

My Big Kid May 29, 2009

Today Mason “graduated” from kindergarten.  (Photos to come) It was a tear jerking experience.  I can’t believe my little boy is growing up.  He is turning into an amazing person.  He is excelling in reading and math.  He has surrounded himself by good friends.  I hope this has set a pattern for years to come.

He also wants to be a scientist when he grows up.  Gotta love that!  Maybe I will go back to college with him.  I am sure all of the “science” I learned will be outdated by the year 2021.  Yup….2021 is the year he will graduate from High School.

I loved the innocence and wonder the kids displayed.  Each kid went up the microphone and talked about what they wanted to be when they grew up.  There were spies, rainforest investigators, police woman, police boy, artists, basketball players, professional skateboarders, teachers, and the list went on.  Somedays I wish I could go back to the days that the world was your oyster.  Six is a great age!  I hope all their dreams come true!

Overexposure to Politics

This is an old old draft that was hanging out in my blog from last year….I thought it worth posting for my memories sake!  I will forget it otherwise.  So here you go.  Sorry for being outdated.

How do you know you have had overexposure to politics?

With all of events leading up to the election in November, I think I have officially overexposed my children to politics.  As a family we have attended the kick-off for Mark Udall’s campaign for senate, made posters for the DNC and spent a ton of time downtown during the DNC.  Morgan and I were fortunate enough to get community credentials to Obama’s acceptance speech.  The TV has been on in the background (with RNC political speeches) a little more that it should.  Personally outraged with McCain’s choice for VP, I had to hear Palin’s speech last Wednesday.  The same day I had to take Madeleine to urgent care (for a rock fight at daycare).  I was bummed that I was going to miss the speech so I had NPR on the radio while driving.  On the way back Madeleine asked me “what is a governor?”.  I answered the question.  Her next question was “what is a Vice President?”.  I answered the question and turned the radio off.  She was listening a little more close than I had realized.  Perhaps we need less politics in the house.

Excitement! January 20, 2009

I am truly exited for today!  I finally get to say goodbye to George W. Bush and hello to a new president.  Today Obama takes office and the promise and hope that he has inspired in people will move our country forward.  I don’t think we will wake up tomorrow and everything will be fixed.  I honestly believe that the next couple of years will be some of the hardest  of my generation.  However, if we can hold onto the excitement that has been generated during the last year we can do great things with a great leader.  This is the first time in my life I have truly felt empowered to make a difference in my world.  I hope everyone who has felt the energy Obama inspires does something small or great and moves our country forward in a positive manner.  There are no great leaders without great followers!

Please Vote November 4, 2008

If you do nothing else today….Please Vote!  It counts!

Fear of Robots October 12, 2008

During a post-breakfast discussion about future home renovations…..Madeleine interjected the following into the conversation:

Madeleine: “What about the robots?’.

Our response:”What about the robots?”

Madeleine:  “They are going to break our house.”

Our response:  Laughter

It is always good to know what your children loose sleep over at night.   Those darn scary robots.

Contributing to the Lesser Good July 23, 2008

I am proud to say that on a regular basis I contribute to the lesser good.  I have now donated three bikes, a ladder, fencing, various tools and several car windows.  Not to mention a palette for the local artists to paint on (my husbands car).  Prior to moving to New Jersey the theft in our neighborhood seemed pretty high or they just really liked our house.  My car was broken into three times, all via broken window.  Our shed was broken into with the local lesser good taking a new extension ladder, two bikes and some various tools. The fencing was removed from inside my backyard one early morning by the nice people who drive up and down the alleys everyday looking for treasure.

The ladder was replaced this spring.  Then last month Morgan and I finally resolved to replace the bikes.  Something we have put off because, at least for me, it meant acknowledging the loss.  Morgan found a used bike on Craigslist.  I was looking a used one when Patti offered me her old one.  It was in decent working order and would get me by for awhile.  I needed to buy a new tire so it was staged on the porch awaiting repair.  While cleaning the porch this morning I discovered it was gone.

Really - give me a break.  Stay off my property and go buy your own crap! Get a job that does not include stealing from those of us who work for our money and belonging.  OK - done ranting an raving.  Just needed to vent!  Next month another bike that will not leave the basement unless I am riding it!

My New Toy!!! July 21, 2008

Today I bought a new toy. It is somewhat in celebration of my new job. Obviously the new toy takes precedent to the job, since it gets its own blog post. It is a Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker. I have been looking at them for awhile and decided to break down and buy one today. Soon I will be up bright and early and actually have to be coherent. No more lazy mornings in my pj’s hanging with the kids. I am sure it will pay for itself in this heat….hopefully I will reduce the number of iced coffees from the coffee shop.

I am not a witch…but I need a broom July 1, 2008

My broom is officially dead. It is old and the bristles are curled up all over the place. This is partially due to the recent use of it on the cement out back. In place of the old blue broom I decided to try and use the straw broom that we bought to use outside. It is brand new and never been used because for some reason we keep using the blue broom (thus the damage). Perhaps this all could have been avoided. Who knows! Regardless the straw broom is not cutting it and the blue broom is dead. Today I will venture out to buy a new broom. I have decided it is time to go all out. No more brooms that are on sale or the cheapest broom on the rack. I want the deluxe model. I don’t know what that is but I hope it all works out. Wish me luck.

Nostalgic June 30, 2008

This weekend we escaped to the mountains for a quick break from the city. We went up the Poudre Canyon and stayed at a place called the Sportman’s Lodge (aka the little brown cabin). It is a rust place about 50 miles outside Fort Collins. A wood stove and cold running water (no bathroom). One room with two beds and a table. It was cute. Sort of half-camping.

When I was a little girl we used to go there every summer. I used to think that we stayed in the same “little brown cabin” every time we went and that the chipmunk that I used to feed peanuts to was the same one year after year. I was wrong….there are multiple cabins and we stayed in several of them and I kind of doubt it was the same chipmunk over the course of 10 years. I caught my first fish on the little pond there. We walked over to it but it’s not so impressive anymore. It is interesting how your memories of your childhood are different from reality. Being at the cabin and up the Poudre is what I think of when I think of being in the mountains and fishing. I have a lot of great memories there and wanted my kids to share them with me. Perhaps it will become a family tradition. Next time for more than one night, it was too short.

We arrived Saturday afternoon after a picnic on the lower Poudre. Checked into the cabin and after a small meltdown by all (dogs included) we grilled some dinner and enjoyed the mountain air. Saturday night we had a campfire and enjoyed roasted marsh mellows and smores. It was a little chilly so it did not last long. Woke up early Sunday due to the freezing cold so we snugged together for some body heat, puppy included. We went hiking on Sunday on the Dadd Gulch trail. A great trail for kids! Splashed in a creek, saw some beautiful butterflies and columbines. I could have hiked all day but the kids were tired. Had a picnic on the Poudre and headed home. All and all a great time was had by all - especially the dogs. They are meant to be in the mountains. I am thankful to live in Colorado. We need to get out and enjoy where we live more!

My New Baby June 27, 2008

So I am crazy (see mosaic block number 11)…..Today we adopted a new puppy. I dropped the car off to get an oil change and walked over to Target. On the way we passed a Petsmart and the kids asked to go in to look at the animals. The sucker that I am I said yes. We looked at the kitties for adoption and did not see any dogs, so we moved along to the guinea pigs, lizards and fish. One the way out of the store we saw the puppies for adoption. We of course had to stop. With no intention of getting one we played with them for awhile. Morgan was in Cherry Creek for a dentist appointment and was going to join us at Target for our shopping. I called him and told him to swing by and see the puppies….honestly no intention of getting on at this point. While he was on his way I made the mistake of picking one up and holding it. That was it. He was mine. So I am crazy and now I am going to be super busy with my new baby. He is a lab pointer mix. We settled on a Diabolito for his name. It is a pirate name. We will call him Diablo for short. Dante seems exited to have a new friend and Diablo seems right at home. Here is one picture of him. There are more on Morgans blog.