Central Park in the Fall

This past Saturday was a beautiful day. Mike and I decided to go into NYC for a picnic in Central Park. We did it in the Fall last year as well, and we had such a good time that we said we have to do it next year. I had despaired of doing it this year; after all, it is November, and I certainly did not want to sit on a blanket in Central Park in bitterly cold conditions. I am a wimp when it comes to cold weather-even though I come from the Great North. But Saturday dawned warm and sunny without a hint of wind and so off we went. It was loads of fun! We wandered around FAO Schwartz (a huge toy store), and managed to leave with no purchases tucked under our arms! I was tempted to buy a stuffed giraffe for Nanna (she loves giraffes), but Mike informed me that the large giraffe cost $800.00. Sorry, Nanna. No giraffe for you this year. (Last year we bought a small stuffed animal - Pluto - but it never made it home. He was left in Central Park). Then we went to a deli, bought some sandwiches, and made our way to the park. We picked a spot on a hill close to the outdoor skating rink, and Jules and Mike wandered around making friends with all the people who had dogs. (Gregarious doesn't even begin to describe my husband). We also were near the building located on a hill that houses chess games. People can wander up to it and the building has all these outdoor tables with an inlaid chess board in them. You go inside, get your chess pieces, and play a game. It was very cool - I never noticed that place before. After our picnic, we walked near the Plaza hotel and watched some black guys perform some acrobatics. (As we walked up to them, they shouted at the largely white crowd, "Don't be afraid folks. We're just a bunch of black guys dancing. We won't hurt you!") Interesting. As we turned to leave, a person dressed as Elmo came walking down the sidewalk. Jules didn't know what she saw! Then, off to the Apple store. Not my idea of fun, but you have to please the hubby, and Mike really wanted to see it. After that, it was a bit of window shopping, I could have had my picture taken with some Abercrombie model, but informed Mike I would pass. And Mike shrugged and said, "Why do you need a picture with him? Look at what you've got!!!" So, that was our picnic in Central Park.
P.S. not that I really wanted a picture with that dude, anyway. Just in case you get the wrong idea. :)

Jules in Church

As some of you know, Mike and I have been trying to get Juliet to sit in church with us during the service. It makes for...interesting services. I have to say, Mike has better success than I do. If he is the only one in church sitting with her he can get Juliet to last throughout the service. I think it has something to do with the look in his eye he can get if she's "acting up." Me, well, I ain't quite as successful. Usually I end up leaving half way through the service and sit in one of the cry rooms with her. Juliet wised up on that one last Sunday, for it was only me sitting with her in church and after making it through the "long" prayer, she whispered loudly: "Mom! I'm naughty! Take me to the 'little' church!" Apparently it is a little more fun to sit in the cry room than in church!

Hand Me Downs - I Love 'Em!

Is there anything more exciting than receiving a huge bag (or in my case, huge bins), of clothes to sort through for your own kid(s)? In my case, I have the pleasure of looking through bins of clothes that my niece wore at one time. And, seeing that she was a first born, her mom, my sister Lora, bought lots and lots of clothes - all being handed down to Jules. It really is so much fun digging through a bin, trying different pairs of shoes on, searching for the matching shirt that goes with the skirt, checking out the bathingsuits, and not having to pay a cent. I love it. (On a side note, I don't know if it would be quite so fun if I had a boy. I just love pretty dresses). I especially love getting Sunday coats which would be quite expensive brand new. So, if you see Jules wearing a different outfit to church every Sunday, don't assume it's a shopaholic Niccy who just can't keep her money in her wallet. And, so what if she has three Sunday coats? I mean, one for every Sunday, right? When it comes to actual paying for clothes, right now I am focusing on accessories for myself and Juliet. One of these days I will write a post on fashion - not that I am an expert or anything, but I am amazed at how accessories can extend your wardrobe.... Since I am teaching now and wear skirts everyday, it gets a little boring to wear the same thing once a week. So, it's off to the second hand store to look at the jewelry...

Dating Photos to Christmas Cards

I was looking at somebody's online photoalbum (nevermind who!), and all I saw were shots of the young (unmarried) couple. There must have been fifteen shots of the couple (all looking pretty much the same every shot), and about five of other things. It reminded me of when Mike and I were dating. All that matters is THE COUPLE. All you want to do is take photos of... each other. I look at my dating pictures, and yep, the majority of the shots are of our two mugs, plastered with smiles. It makes me feel slightly nostalgic. Now, it's hard enough to get a picture together and what with Christmas around the corner I'm starting to get nervous since we try to put a photo of our family on the cover. Did you hear about the new rules? If you want to be in the "in" crowd, you have to send a card WITH a picture. If you don't, I hate to break it to you, but you are horribly behind the times. And now, I have a grand announcement to make: I am the official judge of the annual Christmas Card Contest this year (D.R., and W.R., winning last year's contest), and I will soon let you know the rules. Extra points to those who include the actual parents as well as the kiddies (if you have them), in your photo. (I am not going to be surprised when the amount of christmas cards I receive dwindle to about...5.) And, now, I better stop this post before I get in serious trouble and someone starts to actually take me seriously!
P.S. - Pictures taken by a photography studio will be instantly excluded from the competition.

Jules - Ready for a Night Out on the Town, Handbag and Keys Included

This and That

I was reading Romans 12 or 13(?) this morning, and the chapter talks about how the body is made up of different parts and how each part is necessary. The eye as well as the arm is needed...etc. It is comforting to read that. Every believer is different! It seems to me to be a bad habit (of woman in particular) to try to make rules about EVERYTHING - and then try to impose them on EVERYONE. We've read every bloomin' book on how to be a good wife. The nitty-gritties are fleshed out. A guide line is given about almost every issue under the sun - eating healthy, keeping your man happy, raising productive kids, breastfeeding, time spent at home, birth control (or lack thereof), dieting, baking, cooking, clothes, etc. Maybe it's human nature; let's make every gray area out there as black and white as possible. But have you ever noticed that the Bible doesn't really dealve that much into the particulars? It seems to me if you love God, you will strive to love your spouse and the kids (though you won't always succeed). As a result, your love will flow out in practical areas of life as well. And when the Bible does give clear commands, then obviously, we should follow them! When Jules grows up and meets her man, I will press ONE good book on being a godly wife and that sort of thing. But kick me in the tush if I start sending her off to "woman's conferences" and child-rearing classes and..., and, who knows what!!! (I've read a few marriage books and after I read them, felt very sure I knew how to be the perfect wife. I just came to realize that though I was good at reading about it, the practicing part was a lot harder).

Inspirationed-Out

I'm getting inspirationed-out! Whatever in the world do I mean? Well, I was just on facebook and came across, let's see, five wise, thought-provoking comments in just a few minutes of scrolling. So, if you asked me now what new "inspirational" quote I read, I probably couldn't tell you because I no longer remember. Ever get that feeling? Now, by no means stop posting thought-provoking expressions or proverbs.... I do the same thing! But when I'm on the computer, I find that I just breeze through them and don't really appreciate the significance or wisdom of a particular idea. Know what I mean? It's like I'm in my computer-mode; I want what I want as FAST as possible. Any thinking involved only delays my immediate gratification. I think I will stick to Bible reading in the morning and at night for real INSPIRATIONAL words.