Justin here,
Here we are, in the future.
Where's my flying car gorram it?
Life at Carriage House has been plugging along since our last update. The girls are almost recognizable as those 2 young kids on the homepage up in the corner and have grown into two amazing young girls.
Morgan plays soccer now and is in her second season. This year's team is bright green and decided to call themselves the Zombie Babies. Their team cheer is "Zombie Babies Zombie babies Brains! Brains! Brains!" and is very adorable when 12 or so 7 year olds shout it.
Eliza took up ballet this year, or what passes for ballet for 5 year olds. She starts Kindergarten at Antioch Charter Academy, a Montesori based school, the same one Morgan attends, this week and is beyond excited. Speaking of Montessori based, I don't understand it but it's amazing how Morgan took to it like a fish to sand paper. If you don't understand that metaphor you need to offer your fish more sandpaper. She came home from kindergarten over a year ago...kindergarten remember...and told me that our shower door was translucent because light went in but you couldn't clearly see through it. Thre may not be desks and spelling memorization but damn, it works.
Kim has taken to very part time work during the girls' formative years and I think that sacrifice has paid off in spades. Not sure what that means exactly, but since we live in the region where gold was found in the 1840's, lets pretend we earned a bunch of shovels. The girls drive her insane on a regular basis but, like I said at the beginning, have grown into amazing young girls.
Morgan reads far above her grade level and is rarely without a book. Eliza has chosen to be a late bloomer when it comes to reading, but she is more like me anyway. Stubborn, funny and adorable.
Oh, and we got a dog. her name is River and she's a beagle/Pit Bull/Bull mix. She got all the best qualities from each breed and has fun with the girls and eats everything. When I say everything I mean everything. Like anything, everything.
Summer has come to a close and we've been relying on the Facebook to send out updates and the like, but a quick photo and a comment doesn't seem to capture what we've been going through here and how the girls have grown.
Perhaps we'll update this more often, perhaps not, but here you go for now.
And that's the word from Carriage House.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
"Murder! Bloody Murder!"
Well, that's what it sounds like these days with Eliza. She is learning so many new words at a great pace, then breaks down screaming at every little bump in the road. And not literal bumps, figurative ones.
If we ask her to sit down..."NO!" and a cry, then a scream, then completely uncontrollable. And I know we've all been there before, but I thought we were getting past that.
We tried going out for a quick dinner tonight, nothing fancy just Uno's, but Eliza wouldn't sit in her chair, or with anyone but Mommy, and then, when finally in mommy's lap, will not sit, only stand.
Kim and I spent the next 20 minutes trading off who will walk Eliza down to the lobby to sit and play on the benches.
Sadly this marks the last time for a long time we will be taking both girls to a restaurant to eat. Luckily we have a babysitter now so the possibility for dinner is there, just not any time soon.
She has been quiet for a few minutes now, going to let my guard down and have a sip of wine.
Ah, thank you.
Back to your regularly scheduled blogging now folks, there has to be more happening than just facebook. Come on!
If we ask her to sit down..."NO!" and a cry, then a scream, then completely uncontrollable. And I know we've all been there before, but I thought we were getting past that.
We tried going out for a quick dinner tonight, nothing fancy just Uno's, but Eliza wouldn't sit in her chair, or with anyone but Mommy, and then, when finally in mommy's lap, will not sit, only stand.
Kim and I spent the next 20 minutes trading off who will walk Eliza down to the lobby to sit and play on the benches.
Sadly this marks the last time for a long time we will be taking both girls to a restaurant to eat. Luckily we have a babysitter now so the possibility for dinner is there, just not any time soon.
She has been quiet for a few minutes now, going to let my guard down and have a sip of wine.
Ah, thank you.
Back to your regularly scheduled blogging now folks, there has to be more happening than just facebook. Come on!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Oh yeah, the blog
With all of you on facebook, it can be hard to remember to update this forum. Used to do it almost daily, now I'm busy with Chronicles and Kim doesn't really update this, does she. Neither do Eliza and Morgan for that matter, oh well.
"Eh-ri-ja," as she calls herself is growing up fast, but still a touch on the little side. She talks a lot now, having words for most things. She likes to tell us her food is hot when it is not and still chases Cleo around the house shouting "Mowe!" Although Cleo now often stops, rolls over and gets some nice attention from the little hands chasing her. She and Morgan can now occupy each other's attentions and play quietly together, mostly in Morgan's room.
Morgan is still in preschool and seems to like it very much. She tells us about all her friends and activities and has come home with new vocabulary and songs to sing. She's big enough to handle some household chores like letting Cleo in and out the back slider and clearing her own place when excused from the table. She just now instructed me that if she's still hungry after her cereal "You can make me a waffle if you want me to be fed more."
Love her logic sometimes.
Her manners are almost top notch. Eliza too. She says "ank ooo" when you give her somethign she wanted and we're working on please.
In a scene right out of It's a Wonderful Life, Morgan said "excuse me" half a dozen times in the paint isle of the Lowe's yesterday before I asked what she wanted and she says, decently loudly, "I farted."
Of course the dinner table conversation was about being inappropriate. Sometimes you are not wrong, but inappropriate. Great table talk, indeed.
Kim's knitting continues to impress, after the Christmas hats, she's making a sweater for herself now. Of course this prompts many a trip to the yarn store for this needle or that thing. She loves it, so what ever she needs.
We finished our taxes last night and will be getting a refund. We're with holding all we can, but the rate is still too much and the Gov got another no interest loan from us.
The premiere of the reality show I'm in is February 12th at 5 PM pacific on emsmedia.tv or at chroniclesofems.com
Hopefully I can update this blog before then, but Morgan just finished her cereal and is carrying her princesses about and by the sound of the spoon on he bowl, Eliza has finished as well.
See you soon.
"Eh-ri-ja," as she calls herself is growing up fast, but still a touch on the little side. She talks a lot now, having words for most things. She likes to tell us her food is hot when it is not and still chases Cleo around the house shouting "Mowe!" Although Cleo now often stops, rolls over and gets some nice attention from the little hands chasing her. She and Morgan can now occupy each other's attentions and play quietly together, mostly in Morgan's room.
Morgan is still in preschool and seems to like it very much. She tells us about all her friends and activities and has come home with new vocabulary and songs to sing. She's big enough to handle some household chores like letting Cleo in and out the back slider and clearing her own place when excused from the table. She just now instructed me that if she's still hungry after her cereal "You can make me a waffle if you want me to be fed more."
Love her logic sometimes.
Her manners are almost top notch. Eliza too. She says "ank ooo" when you give her somethign she wanted and we're working on please.
In a scene right out of It's a Wonderful Life, Morgan said "excuse me" half a dozen times in the paint isle of the Lowe's yesterday before I asked what she wanted and she says, decently loudly, "I farted."
Of course the dinner table conversation was about being inappropriate. Sometimes you are not wrong, but inappropriate. Great table talk, indeed.
Kim's knitting continues to impress, after the Christmas hats, she's making a sweater for herself now. Of course this prompts many a trip to the yarn store for this needle or that thing. She loves it, so what ever she needs.
We finished our taxes last night and will be getting a refund. We're with holding all we can, but the rate is still too much and the Gov got another no interest loan from us.
The premiere of the reality show I'm in is February 12th at 5 PM pacific on emsmedia.tv or at chroniclesofems.com
Hopefully I can update this blog before then, but Morgan just finished her cereal and is carrying her princesses about and by the sound of the spoon on he bowl, Eliza has finished as well.
See you soon.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
The Sickleys
Yeah, we're all feeling sick.
Morgan, Eliza and kim all had sniffles and sneezes before Christmas, then Morgan developed a nasty case of Croup. The kind of nasty case that makes her Paramedic father seek help at the local ER.
For months we were told Morgan has a touch of bronchitis, asthma or some other quick shot diagnosis, but when I finally got the ER Doc's attention and made her understand the albuterol treatment didn't work a bit, even though they gave her an adult dose, she prescribed a steroid and diagnosed a severe croup cough.
Often caused by a bacteria, this Doc thinks there could be other irritants causing it, but the steroid will figure that out for us. If it helps, no big deal, if not, we need to start finding the real cause.
Got the scripts filled after they gave her some Tylenol 3 and finally fell asleep after close to 5 hours of non stop coughing and an exhausted day.
Back at the pediatricians office 2 days later we learn the dosage for the steroid was misread by the pharmacy and the dose of steroid was 1/3 rd what she should have been getting. That explains the last 2 nights of her being up every 30 minutes unable to breath coughing uncontrollably. The first night I got up with her at 4 AM and dosed her into unconsciousness, the next morning Kim tried the same thing.
The new steroid, properly dosed, seems to have done the trick and the once too common cough is now almost unheard of.
Kim and I are dragging ourselves around today, might have done better just to stay in bed and know we got nothing accomplished than to have tried so hard and done nothing. I was able to get a few of the Christmas boxes packed up and away and we did finally sell the entertainment center yesterday, it now lives in wine country with another young family who appreciates mission and craftsman style furniture.
Life is picking up in speed for us this year. I've got the Chronicles Show, Eliza turns 2, Mexico in May...busy busy busy.
That's all I can think of right now, the girls just went to bed and my nose hurts so I'll leave it at that for now with my usual empty promise to update more often.
Morgan, Eliza and kim all had sniffles and sneezes before Christmas, then Morgan developed a nasty case of Croup. The kind of nasty case that makes her Paramedic father seek help at the local ER.
For months we were told Morgan has a touch of bronchitis, asthma or some other quick shot diagnosis, but when I finally got the ER Doc's attention and made her understand the albuterol treatment didn't work a bit, even though they gave her an adult dose, she prescribed a steroid and diagnosed a severe croup cough.
Often caused by a bacteria, this Doc thinks there could be other irritants causing it, but the steroid will figure that out for us. If it helps, no big deal, if not, we need to start finding the real cause.
Got the scripts filled after they gave her some Tylenol 3 and finally fell asleep after close to 5 hours of non stop coughing and an exhausted day.
Back at the pediatricians office 2 days later we learn the dosage for the steroid was misread by the pharmacy and the dose of steroid was 1/3 rd what she should have been getting. That explains the last 2 nights of her being up every 30 minutes unable to breath coughing uncontrollably. The first night I got up with her at 4 AM and dosed her into unconsciousness, the next morning Kim tried the same thing.
The new steroid, properly dosed, seems to have done the trick and the once too common cough is now almost unheard of.
Kim and I are dragging ourselves around today, might have done better just to stay in bed and know we got nothing accomplished than to have tried so hard and done nothing. I was able to get a few of the Christmas boxes packed up and away and we did finally sell the entertainment center yesterday, it now lives in wine country with another young family who appreciates mission and craftsman style furniture.
Life is picking up in speed for us this year. I've got the Chronicles Show, Eliza turns 2, Mexico in May...busy busy busy.
That's all I can think of right now, the girls just went to bed and my nose hurts so I'll leave it at that for now with my usual empty promise to update more often.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Overheard at Carriage House
"Daddy, when I get older I'm going to get married."
"Is that so? To who?"
"My prince Aiden of course!"
"And who is going to pay for this wedding?"
"It's OK Daddy, I'll wear my princess dress!"
"Is that so? To who?"
"My prince Aiden of course!"
"And who is going to pay for this wedding?"
"It's OK Daddy, I'll wear my princess dress!"
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Christmas in November
The holiday season snuck up on me this year, what with my England adventures and all. Last I had a minute to relax, it was Halloween, now our Christmas tree is already up and the boxes of decor are down and now empty.
Morgan has taken to dancing to the Christmas music and we officially welcomed the season with Christmas Vacation last night, then finishing this morning.
Eliza is a little unsure of the tree, but luckily has taken to her new BFF, Cleo. Cleo will seek refuge in Eliza's room, it being the warmest in the house, and Eliza will find her, no matter the obstacles.
"Mowe!" Cries Eliza from any part of the house. "Mowe!" and Cleo will go running. Eliza will give chase, all the while reaching out and crying to Cleo, "Mowe! mowe!"
But the funniest thing is that when Eliza successfully finds a stopped Cleo, the cat stretches into Eliza's clumsy scritches and begins to purr.
Kim is exhausted after my week away, at least I have jet lag to explain crawling into bed at just past 9.
Pictures will be up soon, just wanted to give a quick update since I'm on break from the other blog for a little bit.
Morgan has taken to dancing to the Christmas music and we officially welcomed the season with Christmas Vacation last night, then finishing this morning.
Eliza is a little unsure of the tree, but luckily has taken to her new BFF, Cleo. Cleo will seek refuge in Eliza's room, it being the warmest in the house, and Eliza will find her, no matter the obstacles.
"Mowe!" Cries Eliza from any part of the house. "Mowe!" and Cleo will go running. Eliza will give chase, all the while reaching out and crying to Cleo, "Mowe! mowe!"
But the funniest thing is that when Eliza successfully finds a stopped Cleo, the cat stretches into Eliza's clumsy scritches and begins to purr.
Kim is exhausted after my week away, at least I have jet lag to explain crawling into bed at just past 9.
Pictures will be up soon, just wanted to give a quick update since I'm on break from the other blog for a little bit.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Halloween 2009
The princesses were in rare form this evening, with Cinderella in the lead most of the evening, tiara or no. And no slippers, just boots.
Sleeping Beauty was often at the end of the greeting party, but did push past Cinderella to knock on a door midway through the evening, then shy away when someone opened it.
The graveyard infront of the house was little appreciated again this year, mainly on account of our street being mostly empty. Only us and the folks across the street even had lights on, let alone decorations and they go all out. Fog machine, lights, scary music. I just write silly things on foam.
This morning we went to a retirement community to trick or treat, and some of them had candy. Morgan needed most of that time to warm up to the idea of geriatrics with treats, Eliza took it in stride and if she was bothered, never showed it.
Morgan was also hands on with the pumpkin this year, reaching in before I had a chance to get spooning.
The house was quiet tonight, maybe 20 kids in total, the last groups clearly driven over, as indicated by the awaiting SUV in the street. we walked the girls up the block and didn't see a single house giving out candy, just one woman running out to hand both girls a full size snickers. It was delicious.
We loaded the girls in the car and went to another neighborhood to let them do the knocking on doors. Kind of a bummer/blessing the block is so quiet.
Don't forget the clocks and the smoke detector batteries!
Sleeping Beauty was often at the end of the greeting party, but did push past Cinderella to knock on a door midway through the evening, then shy away when someone opened it.
The graveyard infront of the house was little appreciated again this year, mainly on account of our street being mostly empty. Only us and the folks across the street even had lights on, let alone decorations and they go all out. Fog machine, lights, scary music. I just write silly things on foam.
This morning we went to a retirement community to trick or treat, and some of them had candy. Morgan needed most of that time to warm up to the idea of geriatrics with treats, Eliza took it in stride and if she was bothered, never showed it.
Morgan was also hands on with the pumpkin this year, reaching in before I had a chance to get spooning.
The house was quiet tonight, maybe 20 kids in total, the last groups clearly driven over, as indicated by the awaiting SUV in the street. we walked the girls up the block and didn't see a single house giving out candy, just one woman running out to hand both girls a full size snickers. It was delicious.
We loaded the girls in the car and went to another neighborhood to let them do the knocking on doors. Kind of a bummer/blessing the block is so quiet.
Don't forget the clocks and the smoke detector batteries!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Going home
I'm sitting in the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on my way home from Albuquerque and missing my girls. I got to see them twice over the web camera built into the new laptop, but nothing beats a jumping hug from Morgan...
...a wet, misplaced kiss from Eliza...
...and a warm, welcoming smile from Kim.
So I sit and wait for the plane to arrive to take me back to them, all the while knowing I'll be doing this again in 3 weeks on my way back from England.
It's easy to leave, but hard to stay away.
Come on plane!
...a wet, misplaced kiss from Eliza...
...and a warm, welcoming smile from Kim.
So I sit and wait for the plane to arrive to take me back to them, all the while knowing I'll be doing this again in 3 weeks on my way back from England.
It's easy to leave, but hard to stay away.
Come on plane!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Time passes...
It has been awhile since I've updated, I apologize.
Morgan and Eliza are growing like I could never have imagined. Morgan asks thoughtful questions that I have to actually think about before I answer. Things like, "Daddy, why do those people look so unhappy?" at the store, or "Where should this go Daddy, it doesn't belong here," when we're cleaning up the hose. She smiles and my heart explodes.
She does, however have trouble with silly games. in the car driving back from Oregon I was mixing up the girls' names and we were all having a laugh looking at Eliza and calling her Morgan, then at Kim and calling her Morgan when Morgan begins to tear up and convince me that I was getting the names wrong. Then she broke down crying. I have yet to learn her threshold for silliness.
The England project is on for November, which means we'll be blocking the family blog again. i'm not sure if the passwords from before will work again, but if they don't just follow the instructions and your request will be sent to me and I'll let you in. You can also follow along on Facebook if you aren't already.
It's all to protect the girls from any looky loos who want to know more about where I am and what I do.
Morgan and Eliza are growing like I could never have imagined. Morgan asks thoughtful questions that I have to actually think about before I answer. Things like, "Daddy, why do those people look so unhappy?" at the store, or "Where should this go Daddy, it doesn't belong here," when we're cleaning up the hose. She smiles and my heart explodes.
She does, however have trouble with silly games. in the car driving back from Oregon I was mixing up the girls' names and we were all having a laugh looking at Eliza and calling her Morgan, then at Kim and calling her Morgan when Morgan begins to tear up and convince me that I was getting the names wrong. Then she broke down crying. I have yet to learn her threshold for silliness.
The England project is on for November, which means we'll be blocking the family blog again. i'm not sure if the passwords from before will work again, but if they don't just follow the instructions and your request will be sent to me and I'll let you in. You can also follow along on Facebook if you aren't already.
It's all to protect the girls from any looky loos who want to know more about where I am and what I do.
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