Happy Halloween!

Zibby had fun trick or treating today. It was her first time ever! She said all the right things and helped herself to 2-3 pieces of candy at each door. Woe betide the parent who might want to dole out the candy themselves or drop it into her bag for her. No, Zibby prefers to choose her own selections and put them in her own bag, thank you very much.

here are some “sugar skulls” we made at the Girl Scouts halloween party. Zibby made the 3 on the left, and I made the on the right end. Please notice the bunny with the pink ears. Zibby thunk it up all herself.

This is what she chose to wear to the GS party. I am hard pressed to call it a costume, since this is pretty much an everyday outfit, barring the skin art. Although, those are new skin pencils, and we could be using them alot for a while. Anyway, she is a butterfly zebra ballerina dancer.

midnight circus

Zibby and I went to see The Midnight Circus today.

We met up with 3 other families from the unschool group there. We saw all 3 shows and then spent some time sliding down the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza

Then tonight, I opened up a new box of Lyra Face Painting pencils and we had some fun.

Those are Zebra markings on her arms, just in case you were wondering. She was very fierce.

We also worked on two altered board books. Zibby cut the Origami paper for one and helped glue the pieces on. I like that project better than the one I did myself, but perhaps I will like it better after it sits for a while.

And, I forgot until Buzz reminded me, today is the anniversary of our first date, and our first smooch We went to Sheffields for the Pumpkin Carving. Buzz picked me up from work on his motorcycle and introduced me to half the people in the bar, who all had 3 names each (real name, nickname, mock nickname) and I drank a couple of Seabreezes and I wore a brown short sleeve tshirt and jeans. I cant remember what jacket I wore, though. And now its 9 years later and I never would have guessed back then how happy I could be, how good my life was going to be. Thanks Buzz. I love you.

another abc meme

I sort of didnt get that you kept the same topic per letter. So, even though its very “schooly” of me to want to “correct my mistake”, here is another try.

A, B, C, D, E, F . . .

A – Age:32, 33 in December
B – Band listening to right now: Killers. I love them so much.
C – Career future: I love my current career as mom and community volunteer
D – Dad’s name: Frank Ford Owen, Jr
E – Easiest person to talk to: Tina and Barrie are tied.
F – Favorite song: Yesterday, Beatles
G – Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: nothing gummy, ever
H – Hometown: Chicago, via Downers Grove
I – Instruments: sandpaper blocks
J – Job: Wife, Mother, Lactivist, GS Leader
K – Kids: 1
L – Longest car ride ever: from chicago to Seattle in a Fiero in January
M – Mom’s name: Linda Gayle Hackney Dickinson Owen Jackson Owen
N – Number of pets you’ve had: upwards of 10.
P – Phobia: basically anything thats smaller than a cat and alive. sad but true. also, extreme heights. and all seafood.
Q – Quote: The moon is going to bite me, Zibby
R – Reason to smile: Zibby
S – Song you sang last: Hello, Everybody from Music Together
T – Time you wake up: whenever Zibby wakes up
U – Unknown fact about me: I am bossy. Oh, wait, everyone knows that already.
V – Vegetable you hate: cauliflour
W – Worst habit: internet shopping late at night
X – X-rays you’ve had: right big toe, right arm, left arm tons of times, teeth
Y – Yummy food: steak, fajitas, chocolate chip cookies, sweet potatoes
Z – Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

The moon is going to bite Zibby?

Yesterday while driving home, Zibby told us she was scared.
Scared of Ghosts.
She must have picked it up at the cousins birthday party we were just at, but anyway, we told her she was safe with us and that no ghosts could get her.

Then she yelped! from the backseat.
“What happened Zibby?”
“The moon! The moon was coming to get me and bite me!”

She really sounded scared!

Later at home she imagined that a raccoon was chasing her in the bed, and told us to save her from it.

It is interesting to see how her imagination is developing, and her ability to comprehend things grows. Tonight she laughed and laughed at an episode of Curious George. Up to now, she has mainly watched tv in a transfixed type of state. She knew the names of the shows she watched and had preferences, but tonight she was really “getting” it.

It is a real joy to be her mom.

abc meme

Got the idea from kimzyn and since my brain is otherwise empty, here goes:

A: apples, sauteed with butter and brown sugar, for breakfast, yum
B: mmm, butter…
C: Cards, Artist Trading, totally addicted
D: Day of Dead art cards for trade on Imagination Tribe

E: Elizabeth, my daughter, who is a delightful imp
F: favorite new tv show, Top Chef
G: gloomy, todays weather
H: Hoping for another baby someday
I: Intuit Museum for Outsider Art, upcoming Field Trip
J: Jennifer Bremer, long lost former best friend
K: Kiss, first from Buzz, October 30, 1997
L: luxury, new king size bed
M: mashed sweet potatoes with eggs over medium for breakfast
N: nanki, nickname given to me in college
O: owen, maiden name
P: pizza, favorite food
Q: quick like a bunny, most overused phrase by me on zibby
R: Rawga, one of zibby’s made up words
S: Sandy, favorite auntie
T: trading cards, artist, totally addicted
U: under the covers, with my baby and hubby, very nice place to be
V: value village or village discount: Value Village, hands down
W: waitress, one of my former occupations
X: xenops? first heard about from an abc book we have by matthew porter
Y: Why, indeed.
Z: Zibby, of course.

emergency

Zibby and I went to a dance performance on Friday night
There were 6 performances, in 3 different rooms, and each was about 15 minutes long, which was perfect for Zibby’s attention span. She especially liked the ballet, and has been re-enacting part of that scene. After we had gotten home, we were sitting on the couch and I told her that I was happy that she had gone with me, and that I appreciated how quiet she was during the dances. She looked at me very sweetly, and said, “yer welcome” Awww, Zibby, she melts my heart.

Zibby has also been re-enacting another event. Cinder caught a mouse! Zibby and I were up late, reading a book, when Zibby spied Cinder toying with her prey. At first I didnt even register what Zibby was saying “MOUSE, MOUSE” but as soon as I figured it out, we called Papa out of bed. “EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY!” Papa came running, all discombobulated, into the living room. He bravely trapped the mouse in a bag, then took it outside for release.

I have seen Zibby tell the story to her dollies a couple of times since then. Its very funny to hear Zibby say Emergency.

Another very funny thing is Zibby’s pretend phone conversations. Alot of the time they are about breastfeeding. I talk to a lot of moms on the phone about breastfeeding in my capacity as volunteer for LLL, so clearly she is picking that up. She also takes notes during her calls, like I do. She asks how old their babies are! She also talks to my friends alot- Mama Juli and Mama Rachel are favorites. And, Nana is very popular, too. Then she passes the phone to me or Buzz, “say hi,” she commands us.

Today I have to go grocery shopping and menu planning, not in that order. Tomorrow I think Cate is coming over to watch the last four Project Runways- and see our new room arrangements. I still have to do a bit of organizing and cleaning to make it look finished. And go to Ikea for our Shelves and cabinet….I am really happy with how everything looks so far, and our new bed is awesome.

Off to do domestic duties,

International Breastfeeding Symbol contest

This is awesome, and giving me some cool ideas for a tattoo

projects

Zibby and I have been working on our Artist Trading Cards

Those were Zibby’s.

Here are some of mine:

I used sticker miniature reproductions (Dover Fine Art Sticker series) and painted frames around them. I have also been experimenting with acrylic paint and origami paper on some cards. I love just trying a lot of different things out. I am playing with representations of family-the card with the 3 red brushstrokes and the card with the blue curves are Buzz, Zibby and Me

A slightly larger project we are working on is rearranging our living quarters. We took the plunge and bought a Tempurpedic bed, King Size, baby, and we are going to put it in the smaller of our two bedrooms. That room will become the Family Bed Room. The larger room will contain everything else. The elliptical, the computer, all the play stuff, the crib/day bed, and possibly the futon.

AND…we went to IKEA and Buzz and I agreed upon shelves for our new room, and a new cabinet/buffet for the dining room. I have no doubt that our space is going to be totally amazing very soon. I am so excited! So, the next couple days are cleaning, junking, etc, getting ready for our bed delivery, which is Wednesday. BTW, Zibby was in heaven jumping on all the beds in the stores we went to today and yesterday in our search.

And now, for some strange and totally inappropriate comments from salespeople heard over the weekend:

First, I returned a camera that I had bought at Target. It was a kids digital camera, but after buying it I realized that Zibby isnt really ready for it, and my money could be better spent on other things. So, I brought it back today. The teenage girl at the counter scanned and then said,
“Man, this thing is $65 bucks? Dang!”
“it is a digital camera”, says Buzz, and I cringe because the sign clearly says there is a restocking fee for dig. cameras, but girlfriend is still,
“man, 65$ bucks for a toy? you must be rich”
Uh, ok. Nice. I mean, we arent rich, and I am not offended by her comment, particularly, its just not something you would expect to be chided for at the store, buying their expensive items.

Second: at the Back To Bed store today, as we wait for our purchase to be written up, the other salesman is talking to a family with 2 small kids. I think they must have asked to look at the least expensive bed, because the guy pointed at it and said, yeah, there it is.
The family says something, and the salesdude’s response is
“well, it has no comfort whatsoever and no support, and its 250. If you want any comfort or support at all, you can get the next one up for 100 more.”

the family left.

uh, dude. no comfort whatsoever and no support? what are its down sides? I could not believe how rude he was.

Enjoying the city

Friday I was hanging around the house feeling a little bummed and a lot lazy, when Mama Tina called me and said, Hey whyncha meet us at the Field? Its free today. So, I wrangled Zibby into some clothes and we headed on over to the museum. After we saw a gazillion artifacts and emerged from the gift shop relatively unscathed, we departed to places selling foodstuffs. We got slices and sodas at a pizza place on Chicago Ave, and then went to the Heigh-hos for a viewing of Madagascar. This was a direct result of the Lemur window display at the Field, and the correlating Lemur rave scene from the movie.

Saturday we woke up, ran errands, had brunch, and then headed over to Montrose Harbor for the Kite Festival

We saw Barrie and Ruben and Sita and Dan, plus some other folks we knew. We hung out on the hill, in the gorgeous fall afternoon, watching kites and chasing Zibby around.

After dinner, Zibby went to bed, around 9 ish. I decided to work on some ATCs for an upcoming trade. I ended up making some really lovely cards, and I dont think I want to trade them! I also got my new Tattoo Magazine. It was totally awesome. I cant wait to get some more ink!

Our Week

We were on our way home from a trip out to the burbs and were passing thru downtown, so I suggested we stop at Buckingham Fountain so Zibby could see it. She thought it was great! They had a light show and music, so it was an all-senses experience. Zibby really loves water, and she really loves water fountains. It was a good visit.

Wednesday Zibby and I went to the craft store and got fixins to make dolls for an upcoming trade on Imagination Tribe. I also got some poster frames and painting supplies. I saw some looms, but decided to wait to get those later.

Thursday we had Music Together and spent our day with Mama Jackie, Nathan, Madeline and Alice. And Patrick after he got home from school.

Friday we went to Brookfield Zoo with Tina, Myra, Franny, and Barrie, Ruben, Sita. It was fun, but slightly exhausting.
Why does Zibby’s favorite animal have to be the smelly goat?

Saturday we went to a dinner party where Zibby and the host’s two year old spent the evening chasing each other and giggling, and we ate a lot of delicous food.

Sunday I had a tea party, Zibby and Buzz went to the park, and the Uncle Eff came over for dinner and watched the Bears win!

Now its October! Amazing!