diego's tragedy

when we came home last week tuesday, taylor found diego on the floor like this. at first, she couldn't figure out what happened...she held him up to me and asked, "mama, what happened to diego's legs?" she was genuinely confused. in one hand was diego, and in the other were his two feet. after i explained to her that kai or mickey had gotten a hold of diego and chewed his legs off, taylor became angry. she thrusted diego in the doggies' faces and said rather sternly, "you don't bite my diego's legs off! no, no! you go time-out!!! i'm sad!" it was amazing to see her go through the emotions and actually process all that had happened (cause/effect: one of the dogs destroyed her toy -> she became angry/sad). not to make fun of taylor's tragedy...but i must admit i had to turn away to stiffle my laugh several times as she scolded the dogs. luckily, she had a "back-up" diego to replace the injured one. wanna know what was even more precious? after i put the damaged diego up on the counter to discard after taylor went to bed, she asked me for it. she still wanted to play with him while playing with the rest of her dora toys!

home

feelin' a little homesick lately...check this out to see what i'm missin' so hard, being surrounded by land in dallas.


drs mcdreamy

ok, so i've been into the fantasically genius show "grey's anatomy" since the very start. totally diggin' patrick dempsey as derek shepherd, aka, "doctor mcdreamy". oh yes, mcdreamy and *more*. and yet, as season 8 of "the bachelor" is in full swing...i am again graced with a handsome doctor, dubbed "the real life mcdreamy"... and boy is he ever. {hey, for those of you who know my husband, don't you think he & travis-the bachelor-share some similarities?} completely brillant. ok, just had to get that out there...back to work. =)

smile

just a quick one tonight; i've got data to crunch and hand into my principal in the morning. spent a large part of the evening catching up on a few tv shows. have to say i LOVE the new show "emily's reasons why not" on abc. hilarious!!! whoever picks the songs for the different scenes is a genius. other things making me smile:

1. the new season of the bachelor: the dude's *way* handsome and charming
2. my kids' practice reading TAKS scores: with about a month before the real deal, all but 4 passed. the 4 weren't too much of surprise though, but it's the highest passing rate i've ever had before the real test.
3. my meatloaf: it totally rocked tonight...after several attempts to find the right "taste", i believe i hit the jackpot. proof? taylor had 2nds, no wait...3rds...oh i meant 4ths!!!
4. my ipod nano: wicked cool!
5. taylor missing uncle stacy: on monday we came home from daycare. i was in the process of getting her out of the car and asked her who was waiting in the house. expecting to hear "the doggies", she replied, "uncle stacy". aww... and, she's not crazy to think that...it was true just last week! then on tuesday she walked in the house and asked, "where's uncle stacy?" as she looked for him in the living room. just soooo sweet.

missin' uncle stacy

oh, before i forget...

about 30 minutes after jonathan, taylor and i got home from dropping stacy off at the airport, i noticed the doggies had disappeared. after looking in all their usual "hang out" areas, i found them here (guest bedroom)...already missing "uncle stacy".

my (big) little brother

my brother's departure back to las vegas tonight has brought the end of my holiday season. i was sad to see him go but know that we all have to get back to "our lives" and the daily grind. i was so happy that he was able to come out and stay long enough so that taylor could really know him, especially since they've never met (the last time stac was visiting, i was 7 months pregnant). that's the hard thing about being far away from family-you have to make a conscious effort to introduce and facilitate the relating between members. the opportunities for in-person visits are not as often as one would hope, but we do the best we can. so thanks, stac, for giving up almost 3 weeks of your daily routine to spend time with us in texas. i've got so many pictures and memories to journal for the scrapbook!!!

happy new year

what is that name of the "new year song"... you know the one they play as it turns midnight? anyhow, i'll be humming the tune in my head as i type this so you imagine me *in surround sound* doing it as you continue. =)

my new year's resolutions? (yes, plural...i feel ambitious this year) personally, to get healthier...find my way back to exercising in some form and reaping the benefits that come with regular activity. also get better at keeping in touch with family/friends. i get so damn swept up in what i'm doing day to day...need to achieve balance. ahhh, as my chinese ancestors would say, with their famous philisophical insights, i "must tread on the rice paper without tearing it, grasshopper". (i miss watching kung fu theatre!!! used to be a tradition at my house every friday night while growing up. my dad was heavy into watching kung fu movies that were *horribly* dubbed in english! the perfect kung fu snack food? peach turnovers and ice cream!!! as my brother and i have started saying...good times...)

professionally, to stay on top of "mountain language" on a more regular basis!!! mountain language is a daily language arts skill worksheet that usually asks 5 questions a day. takes the kids approx. 5-10 min (depending on who's doing it) to complete, but longer to go over & explain answers (can i get an AMEN!, julie?). it's so hard to get everything in...and when the kids struggle with something and i need to spend the extra time or i just run out of time to do a really important lesson/activity, mountain language is usually the first to go. gotta make that more of the daily routine!!!

speaking of school, i gotsa go grade some papers before i get too woozy (as in sleepy). hoping your new year's started off well and wishing you a wonderful and healthy 2006!!!

pennsylvania cont'd

everyone helps tay tay make a snowman at grandpa & grandma's front door


deer tracks-a sure sign we're in the boonies. =)


posing with granduncle tom


this one's for jason & cori-PA's obsession with the burning barrel (jonathan's dad has 2).


this scene caught my "photographer's eye"

pennsylvania

so we're back from our treck up north for new year's-spent the last week in coudersport, pa (jonathan's hometown). taylor enjoyed the snow soooo much-she became a total snow fiend. she asked "to go play in the snow" even when we were putting her to bed! she did not like hearing that she'd have to wait until the next day, so we had to tell her that "the snow went to sleep too". i tell you, we parents truly develop the art in creative reality tweaking to help the kids "be on board" with us. =) alas, some pics from the cold country.


going sledding down lincoln's hill just down the street from grandpa & grandma domaleski's house.

the snow fiend is born-see that grin?!


visiting great grandma domaleski-she turns 92 in a month or so.