Archives for 2009

To the Fathers in My Life

June 21, 2009 by Kelli

I am blessed. I have been surrounded by wonderful men my entire life. I’ve often thought that the reason that I’m just an okay writer and not a spectacular write is because I don’t have daddy issues. The greatest writer’s all have so much angst, such heartache, and, often (not always, I know) they have severe daddy issues.

Not me. And I’m okay with that. Here are a few of the fathers in my life:

1.) My own father. He’s a man of God. He loves my mom and alway spanish-wells-011 s has. He loves me unconditionally. He is there for me at the drop of a hat whenever I need anything. He’s my biggest supporter.

My dad is a great man. He is extremely wise – more so than I think he knows. He’s funny, sometimes in a sick and twisted way, but funny nonetheless.

A few years ago, Lee and I came home from a trip to the condo and were watching back the video we took. While on the beach one day, my dad took the camera so we could all be in the video. Suddenly, a very pretty girl in a very skimpy bikini filled our screen along with my dad’s voice. “Here you go, Lee,” he said. “A vacation memory just for you…” At which point my mom broke in, “Richard!” The screen jumps. “What?” my dad asks, all innocent like. “You’re supposed to be taping the baby.” My dad laughs, “Oh yeah…” And the screen focuses on Sloan once more. HA!

My dad was a hands on dad. I hardly remember a big occasion that he didn’t attend. I know there had to be some, because he travelled a bit when we were kids, but I don’t ever remember a time when I felt let down or disappointed by dad. And I’m grateful for that.

I love you dad. Enjoy your new toy and I’ll see you soon :).

2.) My father-in-law, Herb. A man who many people find intimidating but who I know is nothing but a big teddy bear. Herb is also full of wisdom and I’m always grat sledding-at-vlasis-045 eful for the moments when we can sit and talk with him.

When I first met Herb, I was a 20 year old college kid who was just trying get in good with the family of the guy I had a crush on. I fell equally in love with Lee’s family. I lived with his parents for the summer before my senior year of college. I’m so grateful for those weeks I spent in their home as it gave me a true appreciateion for my future father-in-law.

I love you, Herb. I’m grateful to you for the wisdom you impart to us as a couple and individually to Lee. Have a great Father’s Day!

3.) Last, but most certainly not least, I am thankful for my own dear husband – the father of my children. A man who loves and supports me, who leads our family with the great wisdom that he gleaned from his father.

Lee was created to be a dad. He’s just so good at it! He’s is a phenomenal father and it’s evident in the way that his kids adore him. He plays with them tirelessly, he reads to them, disciplines them, loves them and laughs with them. He models Christ to them and teaches them of God’s love. He is a wonderful leader of our home and I pray that the kids all grow up to appreciate who their father is.

Here is short video of Lee in action. The other night at bedtime, the kids wanted to read Puff the Magic Dragon, then they wanted to sing along to the CD. Can you see why I love this man?

Filed Under: Family, Kids, Marriage, Uncategorized Tagged With: fathers day

He’s Not Always This Cool

June 19, 2009 by Kelli

Last night Lee and I went to the Grand Opening of Shock City Studios, an amazing, state of the art recording and film editing studio owned and operated by Chris Loesch and parters. Chris is married to Dana, my blogging guru and co-board member of the St. Louis Blogger’s Guild.

Lee and I were beyond impressed at the set up they have going on at Shock City. I’ve been there several times due to the fact that Chris graciously donates us free space to conduct guild meetings in their building, but I had never seen the recording booths, sound room and editing room. I was seriously in awe.

Recently, Shock City was named one of the top 16 new studios in the world by Mix Magazine, and after last night, I can see why. It is a mighty impressive place and all involved in bringing that dream to fruition have every right to be very proud.

Because we were so close to downtown and I was wearing a kicky little dress that’s a wee bit short, which means I don’t get to wear it often, we decided to head toward the Arch and get a bite to eat. Only neither of us were hungry so we drove around for a bit and finally settled on Lumiere Place, a huge Casino and hotel.

We tried our hand at the slots and after losing 10 bucks decided that gambling just isn’t for us and headed to a snappy little bar for a nightcap. But we still weren’t hungry nor did we really feel like spending another 10 dollars per drink on cocktails so we finally just decided to head home.

As we stood up, Lee caught his foot on the edge of the table and started to fall. Do you know what happens to a 6 foot 2 inch man who starts to fall and can’t get his footing? Yeah, he just keeps going.

He finally managed to get his feet underneath him, but his head was pitched so far forward that he stumbled to the right, slammed into a table and steadied himself on all fours for a moment before popping back up, all the while splaying menus this way and that.

And what does a sweet wife do when her husband falls on his face in public? Does she: A) Lovingly pick him up, brush him off and tend to his wounded pride? B) Continue walking at a brisk pace in the hopes that people don’t know she is with him? C) Ask him if he’s okay, then burst into hearty laughter?

Okay, the answer is C (isn’t that always the answer?). Though options A and B did cross my mind. I did make sure he wasn’t hurt before I cracked up. As he handed the now destroyed menus to the waitress, who I’m pretty sure thought he was hammered, he said, “Don’t worry – I’m not always this cool.”

I love that man…

Head over to 5 Minutes for Giveaways to read the review I wrote up and enter to win a wooden pirate ship!

And stay tuned. Even though I’ll be gone next week, I am planning on having a few posts scheduled ahead of time for your reading enjoyment.

You’re welcome…

Filed Under: Blogging, funny stuff that happens, Marriage Tagged With: lumiere place, mix magazine, shock city

(Nearly)Wordless Wednesday: 18 Months

June 17, 2009 by Kelli

Yesterday marked 18 months since we welcomed Landon into the world. How I love this little boy. He brings such joy to our household. I fully expect him to be the class clown someday as he always good for a laugh.

I wish I could freeze frame this time and keep him 18 months forever – but alas, I cannot. So I celebrate him right now…because tomorrow comes way to fast.

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For more Wordless Wednesday visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Remember when I said…

June 16, 2009 by Kelli

That I wouldn’t sleep this week, but would just power through until next week? Yeah, what was I thinking?

I was up until 1:00 last night writing up this post. There are some fascinating things happening in the world right now and Twitter is capturing all of it in real time. (Go to Twitterfall and type in #iranelection. Updates will automatically pour in without need to refresh. So cool.) Who needs the news when you can get up to the minute accounts from people who are actually in the line of fire?

This was the most journalistic post I’ve written since I began blogging and, I’ve got to say, it was a lot of fun. But, it also reminded me why I did not major in journalism in college because the stress, Oy!

I also had to complete a review for 5 Minutes for Mom, which should be posted in the next week or so. Can I just say that I love writing? Like, I really, really love it. I always knew I liked it (heck, I’ve made a profession out of it) but the doors that are opening up through blogging are so exciting.

For the first time since becoming a mom nearly six years ago, I feel like I have something that is mine. I’m interacting with people that don’t know me as Kelli the mom, but as Kelli the writer. It feels good. I feel energized and excited.

I also feel tired, though, so I’m going to turn off the computer, fold a load of laundry and take a nap while I have the chance. Or maybe I’ll skip the laundry and just take the nap…Yeah, that sounds like more fun.

Oh, and to the person who found me via Google by typing in the phrase “firm bottom wife tube”-Ummmmmm…did you get what you needed? Yikes.

Filed Under: Blogging, Motherhood Tagged With: google, twitter, twitterfall

The Fun, the Not-So-Fun and the Bizarre

June 15, 2009 by Kelli

That’s a fairly accurate description of our weekend.

Let’s start with the fun, shall we? I mean, since it’s my blog and all…

Ahem.

Friday night we headed to the Zoo for the Jungle Boogie concert and some animal sightseeing. And it was perfect. The weather was spectacular, the animals were in fine form and the music was great. And I’d LOVE to show you some pictures, I really would…but I can’t because my camera batteries died and I’m out of AA batteries.

Seriously – who runs out of AA batteries. That’s gonna be a big hit against my run for Mom of the Year.

Moving on – hey guess what!? The time of day to visist the Zoo is late afternoon/evening. We usually go in the morning and the animals are always napping when we’re there. Friday night, all of the animals were out and were playing and interacting with the kids. A bear waved at us, a gorilla flirted with us – particularly Tia – the tigers were wrestling in the pond and the leopards stared back at us through their wired cages with blood thirsty eyes.

It was awesome!

The Bizarre also occurred on this night, however. In the form of an older gentleman dressed in drag, dancing interpretively to the music. It was obvious that he had some mental issues so we tried not to make a huge deal out of it, but honestly, it was hard not to stare. It’s not often you see a man in a wig, tutu, tights, makeup and ribbons spinning circles in public. It just isn’t…

Sunday morning, I had the privilege bad luck of serving at my son’s baseball field. Chalk it up to Lee and I being newbies at this whole baseball thing, but I have to say I’m more than annoyed at the requirements they put on parents to work a shift.

It’s one thing to ask us to come work the concession stand on a Sunday morning, something I’d be willing to do, but instead Lee and I were assigned to field duty (Each child is required to have a parent work two seperate shifts-which means Lee and I both had to do this on different days). Do you know what field duty is?

It’s cleaning up the crap all over the field from the weekend. And what’s more – it was me and one other woman left to remove the overflowing trash bags from no less than fifty oversized trash cans and take them to the dumpster (the only plus being that I got to zip around in a golf cart). We were also supposed to pick any trash up off the ground, wipe down all tables, clean both bathrooms and sweep the sidewalks and dugouts. Again, there were two of us.

All I could think as I pulled out ant infested garbage and spilled two-day-old soda down my front is that I paid them to do this. Seriously, you can’t tell me they’re not making enough money to hire a company to come in and clean up the fields on the weekends.

Oh, and the kicker? If we don’t show up for our duty – no matter what the excuse may be – they will fine us anywhere from $150-$300. Yes, so not only do they require that I work, but they threaten me if I don’t. Unbelievable.

Next year we will be buying out of field duty, which also makes me angry because on top of the fees I’m paying for my son to play ball, now I have to pay them extra fees so I don’t have to work – and what will they do with the extra money? I’m not sure, but obviously they’re not going to hire help.

Honestly, I do not mind a little grunt work, and, if needed, I’m happy to serve. I worked hard yesterday to have a good attitude and not complain about the situation – even quoting over and over that I shall do all things to the glory of the Lord! But expecting two people to clean up 10 fields (and I’m not just talking trash cans – there was rotting food all over the stands, the dugouts, under the stands, etc…) alone is beyond ridiculous. And to the men who used the Ballwin field bathrooms yesterday – sorry, but those didn’t get cleaned. I just wasn’t going to do it.

There is a fine line between encouraging parents to get involved and alienating them into feeling frustrated and used. If you want us to feel a loyalty to you and to want to help serve, then you really shouldn’t shove a piece of paper in our faces with an unrealistic check-list on it and leave us a job better suited to a team of people, not two lone women.

And that’s all I have to say about that…

Filed Under: Family, Life

When Mama’s Away…

June 12, 2009 by Kelli

There is potential for the house to implode!

My husband is amazing – seriously, as husbands go, this guy is top notch. He is super involved with the kids, extremely helpful and beyond capable of spending time alone with them.

But I fear I am pushing him by leaving for 8 days. So, I’m doing all I can to make sure things are in order and to minimize the stress on my dear hubby.

And as I prepare, I’m amazed at how much “stuff” I do in a day. Seriously, us moms have got it going on. I don’t always do everything great – hence the fact that laundry is rarely ever completed and dinner is most often started around 5:00, etc…

But is it any wonder? Seriously ladies – we do a lot. Here is my to do list before I leave town in 10 days:

-Make and freeze a minimum of 6 meals.
-Stock up on daipers/pull-ups.
-Get the dog a haircut. Or a new home…No! That’s not right, she just needs a hair cut. *sigh*
-Go to the grocery store and make sure we have enough of everything so no trips to the store are needed while I’m gone.
-Meet with the two girls who are going to share kid-watching duties for me and walk them through the schedule.
-Write out a meal schedule so there is no thought/guess work into eating. I’ll write out a schedule for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Quick and easy.
-Coordinate Lee’s schedule with the sitters’ and with the friends who are going to take the kids on the couple of day when I didn’t get a sitter.
-Pack two separate diaper bags for Landon for the two days when he will not be at home.
-Write down all emergency numbers for sitters.
-Write down Sloan’s baseball schedule.
-Schedule a man-date for Lee one evening with another friend. He’s going to need a chance to get out and relax I think…
-Actually complete all the laundry and have it put away.
-Clean the house because I absolutly cannot leave with a messy home.
-Love on my kids and spend some quality time with them.
-Get the oil changed in my car because it’s over due.
-Write two reviews and two Say It Forward columns for 5 Minutes for mom.
-Pack my own suitcase.
-Make sure I have everything I need for my trip.
-Fill my husband with confidence that he absolutely can do this and that he’s going to have the time of his life being a single parent…ahem.
-Pray, pray, pray for safety in travels, good times for the kids, no major injuries while I’m gone and a relaxing, fun trip for myself and my mom. (We’re going to the Turks and Caicos islands where my grandparents were missionaries in the ’60’s. I very much look forward to getting a glimpse of my heritage.)

Whew. And I feel like I’m forgetting something. I’ve kind of decided that next week I just won’t sleep – but that’s okay, because I have a week at the beach to make up for lost rest. Right?

Filed Under: Family, Life, Motherhood

The Day We Became Heretics

June 11, 2009 by Kelli

*This story has been edited slightly to add the facts that my friend Sveta left in the comments. Thanks Sveta!

So, I promised to tell you the story of Lee kissing the cross in a Ukrainian Orthodox church. And here it is:

When I was pregnant with Sloan I spent a month in Ukraine researching a book that I was working on. While there, I spoke with a handful of World War II veterans, but I didn’t get all the information that I wanted or needed. At this point I already had a publisher lined up for the book so I felt a lot of pressure to complete it before the baby came.

So I began contacting people here in St. Louis who might be able to connect me with more veterans that I could speak with. One of those people was a Ukrainian-American man who was a parishoner at a local Ukrainian Orthodox church. He invited Lee and I to visit the church and told us that after it was over we could speak with some of the older people in attendance.

So Lee and I scheduled a visit to the Ukrainian Orthodox church of St. Louis. At this point I was great with child. And I had reached the status of beached whale.

Whenever I mention my enormity in my first pregnancy, people so sweetly roll their eyes and say “Whatever, I bet you were adorable,” and other really nice things.

I’m here to tell you that I’m not exaggerating. Sloan was 9 lbs. 3 oz. and I carried him all out front. I was humongous. And here is a picture to prove it…

random-001 See? G-R-E-A-T with child…

So one Sunday morning, I waddled myself into a small church building with my very crazy supportive husband at my side. Determined not to make an enormous spectacle of ourselves, we sat in the little cry room in the back. It was dark in the room and there was a large window that looked into the sanctuary where we watched the service with fascination.

The entire service was conducted in Ukrainian and if you didn’t know, Ukrainian and Russian are not the same. So we had no idea what was going on and I’m pretty sure we both fought hard not to doze off. There was another woman in the room with us and she actually had a baby so we tried to look attentive so as not to offend.

It was a very surreal experience. In all my visits to Ukraine, I had only ever been to one Orthodox service and I only stayed for a few minutes, then left because I felt extremely out of place. Seeing all the pomp and circumstance that went into the service was very interesting. I really wished I understood what they were saying.

At the end of the service, the priest (are they called priest’s? I’m not sure) batyushka – the guy in the robe and headdress – walked through the church with a large cross held out in front of him. He stopped at the end of each pew and let everyone offer a simple prayer, after which they leaned forward and kissed the cross. They also kissed his hand, which is a part of this story I had forgotten until Sveta reminded me.

As I watched this, I prayed silently that he would not come to the cry room because I had no intention of kissing that cross. Not only did I not understand why I would be kissing it, but there were a lot of strange lips that were landing on that cross and I really didn’t want to swap germs with all of them…

Much to my dismay, however, the batyushka made it to the cry room where my heart was now beating very quickly. What to do? The woman with the baby murmured a few words in Ukrainian, then leaned forward and kissed the wooden cross and the batyushka’s hand. Then he turned to us.

Lee, the consumate Baptist, stood up and reached his hand out to try and shake the priest’s batyushka’s hand. Instead, the small man furrowed his brow and thrust the cross in Lee’s face. Lee bobbed his head for a few seconds like a drunk hummingbird, trying to avoid the inevitable. But he finally took a deep breath, puckered up and kissed the cross.

And then I kissed it. Because I didn’t know how to avoid it and my husband had already paved the way for me. As soon as the priest batyuska left, Lee and I lost it. We could not stop laughing – the whole situation was just so comical. And as I belly laughed, my gigantic midsection bounced up and down, which made us laugh harder. The woman in the room glared at us and left abruptly.

And thus ended our experience in the Ukrainian Orthodox church. Incidentally, I ended up not really getting any good contacts out of them after all. When we attended the banquet after church, no one seemed interested in talking, so it was a wash.

Well, except for the memory, which is now one of my favorites.

And now you know the story of Lee kissing a cross.

The end.

Filed Under: blast from the past, funny stuff that happens, Marriage Tagged With: Ukrainian Orthodox church

Bits ‘N Pieces

June 10, 2009 by Kelli

– Today is a MckMama McKDay for me. I made these pancakes this morning, which I was completely unsure of but was pleasantly surprised when the kids gobbled them up. Anything made with flax seed meal and flax seed oil sounds a little, uh, gross to me. But, in an effort to reign in our not so great eating habits, I followed the recipe to a T.

I’m going to make the cookies this afternoon. And next week I’m going to try the Nut Butter. I feel so domestic! (And Barbara, I’m going to wear the new apron – can’t wait!)

If you’ve never read McKMama’s site, you really need to add it to your google reader. She’s hilarious, she’s an amazing writer, and I think that she just might be supermom. Plus, she makes me think that if she can manage four children in four years, one of whom has serious health problems and still make meals that contain flax in them, then I can too!

I love blogs…

– I signed the kids up for the library’s summer reading program this week. And then I bought them canvas bags for their library books and let them decorate them. Just so you know, a five and three year old and metallic puffy paints are nothing short of an adventure…

So, the reading program: For every 12 books the kids read, they get a special prize from the library. I’ve actually added to that goal, though. I told them we would go back to the libaray to collect their prize when they read 12 books in English and one in russian.

Piece of cake.

Except they can’t read in English yet! Gah! Which means I am having to be much more intentional about reading to them. I started working with Sloan on his English reading. I bought a great workbook that seems to be helping a lot, so I think I’ve decided that for every 7 pages he does in the workbook, I’ll let him count it as a book read for the library. I’m not sure if that’s cheating or not.

Just FYI – teaching kids to read English is H-A-R-D. English is a dumb language. It makes no sense. At least in russian every letter has only one sound. Once you know the letter’s sound, you’re good to go. English? Good grief.

So we’ll see how it goes. Sloan’s already read three books (I read them to him and made him sound out the shorter words) and Tia has “read” two. When I’m done here, I’m going to search the internet for simple russian language books.

That won’t be hard at all.

– I’m going out of town in a week in a half. I will be gone for 8 days and it’s the longest I will have been away from the kids since they were born. I’m a little apprehensive about it. I’m not one of those mom’s who has a hard time being separated from her kids – in fact, I think it’s GREAT to get time away – but I’m going to be really far away and my kids will be spending a majority of their days with a babysitter.

This makes me nervous.

I’m also thoroughly overwhelmed at all the preparations that need to be done. Meals need to be baked and frozen, schedules need to be ironed out, diapers need to be bought, packing needs to be done, and major pep talks need to be given to my husband who is being very supportive and cool about this whole process but who I can see is freaking out just a little.

Whew.

Wish me luck.

Filed Under: Blogging, books, Kids, Motherhood, Sloan Tagged With: McKCookies, McKMama, McKPancakes, teaching kids to read

The Lotus in a Field of Mud

June 9, 2009 by Kelli

I took a yoga/pilates class at the gym last week. Why? Hard to say…I think I’m a glutton for punishment. Actually, the yoga/pilates class wasn’t nearly as difficult as the yoga class I took on Saturday, which kicked my butt.

Seriously, my butt was sore for days…

At the end of the class, after we’d taken our short nap and aligned our breathing with our heart center (huh?) we sat up, hands clasped at our hearts and the instructor, in a vibrating alto of a voice, said, “May we all shine like the lotus in a field of mud. Namaste.” At which point she bowed low. While everyone else bowed back, I stifled a giggle because really? What does that even mean?

And I had an immediate flashback to my honeymoon when my brand new husband and I decided to try our very first yoga class together. We were at an amazing spa and resort off the coast of Seattle. It was very earthy and granola. Yoga just seemed like the thing to do there.

So we arrived promptly at 9:00am on the second day of our honeymoon and we met our instructor, whose name I don’t remember but in my imagination I call her Celeste, because it seems to fit the picture I have.

She was probably in her early fifties and had long, matted hair – very hippie. She didn’t wear a lick of makeup and looked as if she had sworn off bra’s around 1965.

To put it mildly, she was…an odd bird.

We got inside the small yoga room where she lit incense and turned on warbling music that immediately made me feel like Dorothy in the field of poppys. It suddenly dawned on Lee and I that we were the only two people in the room with Celeste. We looked at each other and giggled.

Then we began the workout. “Take in deep breaths,” Celeste stage-whispered over the drowsy music, “And align your spirit with the stars of the universe.”

At this point I opened one eye and looked over at Lee who had his hands at his side and a look of horror on his face. “What is this?” he mouthed to me. I shrugged and stifled another giggle, then went about trying to align my spirit with the stars. I’m pretty sure I never accomplished that task.

Fifteen minutes into our private yoga class, Celeste finally pushed Lee too far. Mind you, this was our first experiece with Up-Dogs and Down-Dogs. We’d never heard the words “Shatacharasana” or “Chutitutunga.”

I’m pretty sure those aren’t actually yoga terms, but it’s what I hear when the instructors speak. It’s all very confusing…

Aaaanyhoo, Celeste was leading us in our first Cobra. A pose which requires you to keep your lower abs on the floor and push your shoulders up and back. As we scooped forward, Celeste, who up until this moment had been whispering all her instructions with great reverenece, burst out in a deep voice, “BEEEE THE COBRAAAAA.” And she thrust herself upward.

After I swallowed my heart, which had leapt into my throat, I laughed out loud. I couldn’t stifle it. But Celeste was so well aligned with the stars that she didn’t even hear me.

I looked at Lee who was standing up and rolling up his mat. “I’m leaving,” he whispered. “This is weird.”

“You can’t,” I mouthed. “We’re the only ones in here.”

He shrugged, then walked out. My husband of 48 hours abandoned me in a room with Celeste the yoga nazi.

I didn’t want to leave because I was afraid that we would bump into her somewhere on the grounds of the resort and she would know that we were the people that bailed on her class and place some kind of star-powered yoga hex on us. So I stuck it out. I did the tree with Celeste. I balanced on my elbows with Celeste. I did a shoulder stand with Celeste. I became one with the cobra with Celeste. And all the while I cursed my darling husband for leaving me to suffer alone.

That was only the start of the many, many bizarre situations that Lee and I have managed to get ourselves into in our nearly nine years of marriage. We have definately seized the day in our married lives. I’m so glad I married someone who isn’t afraid to try new things. And I’m pleased to say that he hasn’t abandoned me in an awkward situation ever again. Thankyouverymuch.

(Soon, I’ll tell you about the time we visited a Ukrainian Orthodox church here in St. Louis and Lee kissed a cross. Classic…)

And now, every once in awhile when we’re sitting quietly, one of us will burst out with “BEEEE THE COBRAAAA!”

Now if I could only figure out how on earth to be a lotus…

Filed Under: blast from the past, funny stuff that happens, Marriage Tagged With: rosario resort, yoga, yoga/pilates