I absolutely love books. There, I've admitted it.

I love the smell of the pages, the feel of the crisp or soft curving covers, the sound the pages make when you turn them. I love the illustrations, the words, the imagery. I love books.

As you all know, Nate started preschool this month. He came home with four, FOUR, Scholastic newsletters. I've been drooling over them for the past week.

I could buy him Who Loves the Fall? or Apple Trouble. I could get both with paperbook and CDs as well as Old MacDonald Had a Farm. Nate would probably enjoy You Can Name 100 Trucks.

Halloween is coming up, and I bet both children would enjoy On A Scary Scary Night (Can You See What I See?). Or maybe they'd like to read more Mo Willems books (oh, how we love Mo Willems - every parent should read Mo Willems books to their children) such as Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, or Nate's second favorite book: Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late.

Of course, there is also Pirate Pete's Talk Like a Pirate. Nate loves pirate books (such as Night Pirates and Pirates Don't Change Diapers). We've also enjoyed the Skippyjon Jones books in the past, and I see two of them are in the catalog: Skippyjon Jones and Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse. Corduroy, I notice, is only $1! This is shocking.

Some other fun books include All the Colors of the Earth, Can You Say Peace?, First the Egg, Shake dem Halloween Bones, Skeleton Hiccups, Hiccupotamus, and The Hippo-NOT-amus.

My eyes feast upon a set of three books: Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, and Robert Frost. How about some more educational books with Brian Cleary's A Mink, A Fink, a Skating Rink: What is a Noun?; Slide and Slurp, Scratch and Burp: More about Verbs; Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What is an Adjective?; and to Root, to Toot, to Parachute: What is a Verb?. Then of course there is Usborne's Illustrated Greek mythology book. Another Usbourne book on Sharks, and Usborne's First Thousand Words in Spanish.

How in the world can I choose from all these wonderful books?

Labels: mommy blogging

There's something beautiful about my new morning routine. My alarm shatters my ear drum at 5:45, 5:50, and 5:55. I roll out of bed, groggily brush my teeth, put on deodorant, and dress in my workout best. I head out the door and instantaneously my grouchiness recedes.

The air is crisp, just the way I like it. It's heading towards fall, and I am ever so grateful. Fall is my favorite time of the year. The sun peeks up over the trees and hills in the distance. A bird caws, another chirps, and another breaks out into morning-drunken song. A steady hum envelops the background, perhaps from crickets, or cicadas, or frogs. One or two leaves slip from the branches of the tree and float down towards the ground. A walnut drops with a loud CRACK and lands near my feet.

A few steps down the block and I pass the house with the ivy completely covering it. The hum is really noisy here, and I wonder if the crickets climb up the ivy to serenade the open windows of the house. They have a few limp hostas, and the potential for a very beautiful house. It's sagging a little now, but perhaps they'll make something of it. Their dog is normally out, barking at me, on its leash. Today it is absent. I hope everything is okay.

A few more steps and I pass the house with the tall screening bushes that are encroaching on the side walk. I skirt into their yard and just wait for the day that they get mad that people are walking on their grass. Perhaps they should trim their bushes.

I cross a few streets, looking both ways, wondering if anyone else who is up this early in the morning driving to work knows who I am. I hope that I look industrious in my oversized t-shirt and skin tight pants, heading for the gym.

The roar of the car mufflers overshadows the hum of the insects. I'm a little saddened by this, as I enjoy the sounds of nature. But, it doesn't matter anyway, because I am there. I slip in my earbuds for iPod and walk up to the stationary bike.

Thirty minutes from now I will be pleasantly tired, and will walk home. The scene will be nearly the same, except now the sun will be over the trees, and will provide a different perspective on the same exact walk.

Labels: random

Reception 90s:

Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
All For Love - Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
Blue (Da Ba Dee) - Eiffel 65
C'mon N'Ride it (The Train) - Quad City DJs
Cotton Eye Joe - Rednex
The Freshman - The Verve Pipe
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
Jump Around - House of Pain
This is How We Do It - Montell Jordan
Whiskey In The Jar - Metallica
With Arms Wide Open - Creed
For the First Time - Kenny Loggins
Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus
Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Changes - 2 Pac
Everybody Dance Now - C + C Music Factory
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) - Green Day
California Love - 2Pac
Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer
The Bad Touch - The Bloodhound Gang
I'll Be - Edwin McCain
I Saw The Sign - Ace of Base
All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
Macarena

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This semester is going to be an interesting one. I'm wrapping up running the subjects for my honors project. I have to start transcribing all the tapes and then coding the data. After that I have to write my paper and defend my project to staff members.

I'm working in the lab 10 hours a week running subjects, calling people, and all the other lab duties I have. (3 credits)

I also have the following classes:

Human Sexuality and Diversity in Society - 3 credits
Human Behavior in the Social Environment - 4 credits
Social and Personality Development - 3 credits
Personality - 3 credits
Psychology Semiar / Social Psychology - 3 credits
Honors Proseminar in Psychology - 1 credit.

That's 17 credits of classes plus 3 credits of lab.

I'm going to be a seriously busy lady.

Labels: marriage

Reception Music (80s):

Thriller - Michael Jackson
Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
Living On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
Tainted Love - Soft cell
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) - Journey
She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics
Take My Breath Away - Berlin
Wild Thing - Tone Loc
Take On Me - A-Ha
Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
Turning Japanese - The Hazies
867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
Fishin' in the Dark - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Sweet Child O'Mine - Guns 'N' Roses
Taking Care of Business - Bachman Turner Overdrive
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen

---------------------------------------------

Me: "Nate, remember that when you and Sammi are done playing, you have to clean up your playroom. Don't make a big mess."
Nate: "Mom, it's too hard to play. I think I need the radio."
Me, laughing: "Okay, Nate. You may turn on the radio."

Nate goes back for his second day of preschool today. His first full day. He's so excited that he's been wearing his Cars backpack since 8 am. "Mommy, I go to preschool!?"

Yes, honey. You are going to preschool.

Where did the time go? Less than five years ago, I had just found out I was pregnant. I was a mix of ecstatic and worried, hopeful and stressed. Now, my baby is growing up. He calls me "mom" and Aaron "dad." No more mommy and daddy. No more mama and dada!

I'm just not ready for this.

Labels: marriage, mommy blogging

Reception Music (70s):

Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
The Hustle - Van McCoy
Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
Disco Duck - Rick Dees
That's The Way (I like it) - KC & the Sunshine Band
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
More Than A Feeling - Boston
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Wildfire - Michael Martin Murphy
You've Got A Friend - James Taylor
- Meatloaf
The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
Carry On My Wayward Son - Kansas
Lady - Styx
Another Brick In the Wall (Part II) - Pink Floyd
Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
You Really Got Me - Van Halen
American Pie - Don McLean
Shes Always A Woman - Billy Joel
Make It With You - Bread
Hotel California - Eagles
YMCA - Village People

-------------------

Nate had a wonderful first day of preschool yesterday. He was most excited to spend time with kids his age and play with playdough and other stuff like that. He's really looking forward to his first full day on Friday.

Labels: marriage, mommy blogging

Continuing with the next decade of reception music: the 60s!

Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand - The Beatles
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
Ring Of Fire - Johnny Cash
Devil Or Angel - Bobby Vee
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Yellow Submarine - The Beatles
Chain Gang - Sam Cooke
Come Together - The Beatles
Can I Have This Dance - Anne Murray
The Wanderer - Dion
I Can't Help Falling In Love With You - Elvis Presley
I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Brian Hyland
Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles
I Say A Little Prayer For You - cast of My Best Friend's Wedding
Love Me Do - The Beatles
Let's Dance - Chris Montez
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - The Righteous Brothers
Please Please Me - The Beatles
The Twist - Chubby Checker
Cha Cha Slide

Pictures are up on our Flickr site! (http://flickr.com/photos/jenaside/sets/72157606835920971/)


Me, Nate, and Sammi

Labels: marriage, mommy blogging

So, I believe the reception went off decently well. I hear the food was good, the beer was good, and we got compliments on the decorations. Aaron's mom ordered five cakes, cookies, and made a Caribbean rum cake. The cake table was pretty loaded - I'm surprised it didn't fall over!

The only bad news was that our music didn't work. We tested out all our CDs on two different CD players, but about half of them wouldn't work on the CD player at the Jewell Golf & Country Club. Bummer!

So, for anyone who wanted to know, I will be posting each decades playlist for the next six days.

We planned on kicking off the dancing with music played by Jim, Aaron's father, in 1982 (he died around 1985/1986).

50s
Moon River - Andy Williams
My Heart Cries For You - Guy Mitchell
The Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton
Rag Mop - The Ames Brothers
The Wayward Wind - Gogi Grant
Beer Barrel Polka - Frankie Yankovic
In Heaven There Is No Beer - Frankie Yankovich
Party Doll - Buddy Knox
Bandstand Boogie - Les Elgart
Catch A Falling Star - Perry Como
Put Your Head On My Shoulder - Paul Anka
Long Tall Sally - Little Richard
Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
Wake Up Little Susie - The Everly Brothers
Walking After Midnight - Patsy Cline
Love Potion No. 9 - Herman's Hermits
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & The Comets
Hokey Pokey
Shout - Isley Brothers

Labels: marriage

An example of one of the many reasons I married this man.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Aaron

Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 1:52 PM

To: Jennifer

Subject: Here ya go

Thought maybe you could use a little pick-me-up. :)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnzXTGn3i58

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Jennifer
To: Aaron
Subject: Re: Here ya go

Oh god, I love you so much. It's a little hot in here!

Labels: random

The countdown is now at 3 days until our wedding reception. I'm rather excited about it, finally, as things are starting to come together.

Decorations: We have glass floats (I haven't seen them yet) that we'll be hanging around. Each table will have a set of three hurricane glass-looking holders. The first will have white sand with an LED candle in it, covered with a layer of crushed sea shells. The second is filled with two different colors of bath salts topped with a few seashells and a drink umbrella. Raffia is tied around the top and a little metal sandal is danging off of it. The third will have a smattering of seashells on the bottom, filled with water, and orchids with possibly hosta leaves. The three holders will sit on either a bamboo mat or a net mat. Random seashells will be on top of the mat and plastic leis will be sitting on the table for the kids. There's probably more and I'm just forgetting. There will be a basket of cameras for people to take pictures (I think). In addition to the orchids, we will have pots of hibiscus laying around.

Games: Wii Dance Dance Revolution (four players) will be on a big screen TV in a corner of the reception hall for children and adults alike. Board games like Settlers of Cataan and Munchkin will be scattered around for people to play. The kids will also have several different ctivities. First, we have foam sun visors that they can decorate with sea-themed foam stickers. Second, coloring books and crayons. Third, a limbo game. We also have a bean bag game set up (Iowa State versus University of Iowa!).

Music: From 2-5 we will have a variety of different beach related songs. At 5 we kick off with the 50s, and every hour after that will have Aaron and I's favorite songs from each decade. At 11, if anyone is still around, it will switch over to a random smattering of songs.

Slideshow: A slideshow of wedding, honeymoon, and childhood pictures will play, possibly on a loop.

Food and drink: We have two full kegs and a small keg. Budlight, Amberbock, and Blue Moon. These are free. Also some coffee, water, and punch will be provided. All other drinks are pay. Food is jamaican jerk chicken, italian chicken, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, fruit salad, and a garden salad. We will also have cake for everyone with a special spiced rum cake (like the one at our wedding!) for Aaron and I. Snacks will also be provided after dinner (which ends at 6).

I'm starting to get so excited! (I know I've left off stuff on this list, too, but hopefully I'll grab pictures of everything and share with you all later!)

Labels: marriage

One egg in a piece of 100% wheat toast with a tiny sprinkling of cheddar cheese, S&P, and cumin.

I love my new Anolon grill pan, and I am so thankful that my mother-in-law bought it for me for my bridal shower!

Countdown to August 15th.

1) Massive Slideshow for Reception
2) All music picked and burned on to DVDs for Reception
3) German Assignment 7
4) German Assignment 8
5) German Assignment 9
6) German Assignment 10
7) German Final Exam
8) Any other reception duties I'm asked to help with.

Plus all my regular duties such as working in the psych lab, taking care of the children, cooking, taking care of the garden, etc.

I'm hurting. Badly. Does someone want to do my German homework for me?

Labels: random

Sammi sure sleeps funny. Either her bum is straight up in the air, or she's half hanging off the bed. Always, the covers are over her head (and her head only).

Labels: mommy blogging, random

Tonight we had a wonderful dinner. Aaron and I split a sirloin steak from Grass Run Farms and we had some zucchini fresh out of our garden. First I sliced the zucchini rather thick - about an inch. Then I poured some olive oil in a 13 x 9 dish, and added salt and pepper. Next I slid the zucchini around in the 13x9 dish, coating it. Aaron grilled it up. Then we covered the zucchini slices in marina and topped it with provolone. Wow, I think I drooled all over the table.

I discovered that our health insurance plan reimburses us $20 each if we both make 12 workouts a month towards a gym. We found a local gym that we think participates in the program, and signed up. (The manager didn't seem to know what we were talking about, but he's new, so hopefully we'll get it straightened out.) The really nice thing is that the gym is open 24 hours, located three blocks away, and has free daycare while you work out from 7 am - 6 pm. Mmm.

I had my first work out today, and I started a twitter account (on the sidebar, right) to chronicle my workouts. I want to eventually move up to 6 days of cardio and 3 days of weight lifting. We'll see how that goes. (Edit: I'm trying to get the twitter thingy to work so that it automatically updates and shows you the last 5 posts, but I'm having difficulty.)

Labels: cooking, random

I had my hair cut last week, and I really like it.

I was sitting on the couch, curled up against my husband, when he offhandedly asked me, "When are you going to cut your hair again?" I shrugged, then paused and thought about it. I don't recall him ever asking me that question before, or any question about my appearance. A lightbulb went off that while I'd been trying to grow out my hair because I thought he likes long hair, he actually likes short hair on me!

I'm glad, because my hair is so thick that in the summer time the hair smashes against my skin and suffocates me in sweat. (Gross, huh?)

Labels: random

I know Aaron and I have not been posting much lately (well, he has only posted twice I think ever), and I would feel guilty about that.. but I don't. I know that some people who were checking regularly have probably crossed me off their feeds. I can deal with that. I'm under a lot of stress right now! I have no intentions to quit blogging, and I will be blogging more regularly when the reception is over and I'm moving on with things (I'm sure).

Right now, we have our reception coming up August 16th (and if you are from our family and you lost our registry link - here you go). I'm trying to get my Intermediate German II class wrapped up by August 15th. Then I have to start getting my summer classes under control (I haven't started them and summer semester is almost over!). I'll take an extension on them and will have to have them done by December, while simultaneously taking thirteen fall credits (which will put me at twenty credits total this fall). Ouch! But then I'll be able to graduate and move on with life.

The last half of 2008 will be quite momentous for me. Getting married, getting health insurance, graduating with honors with my BA in psychology, and hopefully getting a job. Wow.

But that isn't what I wanted to talk about.

Aaron and I have rarely ever gone out on dates. When he met me, I was a single mother to a one year old. We went out with his friends a lot, but very rarely every by ourselves. Soon I found myself pregnant (again), and then we were too busy to go out.

I'd like to change that.

I've been researching some innovative and fun ideas for "Date Night" other than the standby - pizza and a movie. Does anyone out here in the vast wildness of the internets have some good quirky and fun ideas for Date Night?

Labels: marriage