Week 5: 10 pieces of inspiration

1. Three great wardrobe items from the Dress Barn, all on clearance

2. Suze Orman and her financial steps books- found out we were normal with our spending, though that means we are overspending each month about $500-$1000.

3. High School Musical went amazingly well. People told me it was the best they had ever seen at Central.

4. Family naps in the middle of day with Link and Bryce.

5. Weighed in less than I did on my wedding day.

6. Seeing the Pop-up Book show at the Cedar Rapids Museum. Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart (from Cedar Rapids).

7. Took Link to our favorite Indian Restaurant for the first time and he LOVED it.

8. Was able to see friends Naomi and Casey compete in Acoustic Idol.

9. Finally painted my belly cast from my pregnancy

10. Currently watching Jason Mraz on Sesame Street youtube with Link. He is learning the lyrics a little more each time he listens. He's a great singer. He especially has the "do, do, do, dos" and "no more"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrqF7yD10Bo

Funny little thing called Link

Link has been doing a lot of funny things lately.
1. Looking for dada saying "Brrrrryce"
2. Talking to his stuffed animals. Naming body parts, holding up to the window and saying what is outside.

Sponge Bob

Week 4: 10 pieces of inspiration

1. Finished Making a Living Without a Job and I want to read it again and again

2. Received a "Thank You" note from my pastor at Peace for just being me.

3. Bought a spring horse (that doesn't make sound) from a Facebook friend.

4. Had several items of clothes mended by the school FNCS class for free. Taught them skills and was considered a green initiative (encouraging people to reuse clothes they might otherwise toss).

5. Was contacted by and Algerian photojournalist asking for me to pick him at a train station 4 hours away. I was able to find a way to get him here, sheltered, fed, and photographing all without English.

6. Was able to figure out and use the Cricut (I am borrowing for a friend) and the Yudu (I recently purchased) to help with elements of the musical I am directing.
7. Tried and enjoyed a new position.

8. Got to see one of my favorite people. Scott Farmer, visiting home from Perth, Australia.
To top it off we decided to meet at the St. Mary Fish Fry so I got a yummy meal in too.
9. Attended the St. Patrick's parade this year without working it. (No photographing for the paper, no driving in it, just sit back and relax).

10. Sang in the Karaoke Championship. I didn't win, but I felt I sang two songs better than I ever have before. "Leaving on a Jet Plane" Peter, Paul, and Mary version and "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul.

Link's grocery cart of words

To give you an update on Link's progress in speech we went shopping yesterday and he said every item I put in the wagon without me saying them. From peanut butter to water.
My current favorite is how he says "Hey Cutie," for some reason Doo Doo sounds like Cutie to him so he replies "Hey doo doo."

Week 3: 10 pieces of inspiration

1. Mardi Gras Bunco night

2. Drawing trees with my art student, Cookie

3. Discovering artist Jason deCaires Taylor
4. A good musical practice

5. Watched Hedwig and the Angry Inch with skepticism and loved it
6. Judged Storytelling in Speech

7. Was able to have coffee with Brenda to discuss business, gardening, and life

8. Reading Phantom Tollbooth for the first time

9. Fire Station Spaghetti Supper

10. Purchasing a YUDU with my goodblogs money

impressive

Link can drink from a cup with one hand now.
His new favorite word is happy.
He is starting to take interest in diapers.
We have two girls who are in 4th grade who come over after school to watch Link while we are working. He loves them and they love him.

Week 2: 10 pieces of inspiration

1. A nice winter night- Watching the ice chunks come over the damn, shoveling verses from the bible in snow all down main street at midnight, snow angels in the middle of the road.

2. Dr. Suess's Birthday Party at the Library. We made a Lorax tree headband before the party. We listened to books and played Suess theme games.

3. My Valentine lilies still in full bloom. (My favorite flower. Good job Bryce.)


4. Cooking with a new herb.

5. Getting Bryce another great Birthday gift: a bike called "The Cranbrook Cruiser"
6. Finished repainting a globe to map out Hyrule from Zelda for Link's room.

7. Entrefest with great seminars and speakers like Bob Clements. Fun creative people with great ideas. Fun creative meals like this mashed potato bar in martini glasses.


8. Trivia dinner at Doug's Pub with Sam and Richard.

9. Shopping dowtown Dubuque- I bought an amazing yellow coat with petal collar and blue suede high heels both amazing and 50% off. I also discovered a toy store with a cool idea for dolls in a nursery.

10. Calling people I haven't called in years and leaving messages of love and talking to two of them.