School of Love

Liesel is attending the same school my sister Reagan did when she was a youngin'. Once upon a time, Reagan broke her nose while playing on the playground. Nothing bleeds quite like a head injury and so it was rather dramatic. Mom tells me as Reagan was taken away to the hospital with her face all bloodied, a little boy sorrowfully proclaimed, "But I was going to marry her!" She survived the incident and while they never did marry, Reagan is still friends with the boy via Facebook. I remember Reagan getting a HUGE pack of frozen popsicles that no one else was allowed to eat. And a lot of attention. But I digress.

This morning as I dropped Liesel off at preschool, a little boy in a Batman t-shirt ran up to me and gave me this envelope:

His sidekick told me I needed to open it up at home and give it to Liesel. Inside, I found this drawing of a purple heart.

Ahhhh the romance continues! Another one I'm hanging onto for Liesel's permanent file. After all, they may be Facebook buddies someday!

Fail

I've seen Reagan do this numerous times with her girls (resulting in gales of laughter) and decided to try it:

I guess I don't have the magic touch! Poor Ireland...

My Heart Broke Along With Hers

Tonight we said our goodbyes to Brent at the bus depot. Ireland was already asleep and Brigitta was working her way there with a few tired wails now and again. As I pulled out of my parking spot Liesel spoke up from the backseat.

"Mom? I'm really sad because I miss Daddy." And she burst into tears. She cried like I have never heard her cry before. 

And I sobbed too.

Happy Thanksgiving...

...from the Wuehler girls (cousin Elizabeth included!). Vanessa had the idea to make hats shaped like turkeys, color them and then glue on feathers.

Surprisingly Ireland seemed to enjoy it the most. Every time she glued on a feather she'd smile and shake her shoulders. She's still carrying that hat around.

Liesel also brought these beauties home from Preschool:

I will never get tired of turkey hands! I'm saving this one.

This turkey mask just makes me (and Liesel) smile. I'd like to meet  whoever came up with this!

Bring Your Kids to Work Day

While the girls had these masterpieces painted on their faces:

I contemplated these masterpieces at Chicago's Art Institute:

They should really rename Bring Your Kids To Work Day something a tad more apropos like Give Your Stay-at-Home Spouse a Break Day. I think the day flew by a tad too quickly for everyone. It's been years since I've been to an art museum and making it back was a breath of fresh air.

Brigitta and I were second in line and once we got in I made a beeline for the Seurat. Being able to stand at that huge, huge, HUGE painting and just take it in was heaven. I always notice something different and this time (thanks to the audio tour I flipped for) I noticed the soldiers near the upper left. Chagall's America Windows was stunning. I always forget how much I love stained glass (I took a class myself in high school) until I see something this impressive. I find it funny the figures in American Gothic were Wood's sister and dentist. Sometimes I feel like my dentist is using a pitchfork on me too... I've decided I will make it to Monet's gardens in France someday. I absolutely will! My heart skipped a beat when I saw the Pollock. For someone who is as fastidious as I am, I'm not quite sure why I like his frenetic work, but I do. I could stare at it for hours. The passion just seems to radiate out of the canvass.

I'm already looking forward to the next Bring Your Kids to Work Day! Between the face painting, magician, pizza and donuts I think the girls are as well.

Right Brent?

Brigitta's 3 Month Photos

Per tradition, we had photos taken of Brigitta in her blessing dress. I also brought along her baby quilt which my sister Katrina worked on (she's done a beautiful heirloom quilt for each of the girls). There was a huge family doing a Christmas photo just ahead of us and we ended up waiting over an hour to get in. The poor baby was exhausted by the end of the shoot! Nonetheless, Brigitta looked absolutely angelic in the yards of silk, lace and ribbons. Just looking back at the photos makes me want to squeeze and cuddle her SO tight!