Start your sewing machines!

Tomorrow night the long-awaited fourth season of Project Runway begins. (Doesn't it seem like it's been too long since last season?) This is one of my favorite reality shows, and I'm NOT a reality show junkie. I believe there are a couple of designers from Dallas, so I'll be cheering for the Lone Star State connection as long as they merit it.

What I love about this show is that it actually requires true talent. I am always in awe of people who design and sew clothes. (My mother has an excellent sewing ability, which sadly was not passed along to me.) Maybe that's why the show is more intriguing for me. And what is not to love about Tim Gunn?

And if you're really into this show, check out this blog that is insane with information about every season. No idea who these people are, but I love the blog.

On a side note: In today's Detroit Free Press story about reality shows, it lists The Bachelor as lowbrow reality. Come on! What is so lowbrow about 25 women acting in desperation (exemplified by sorority house-like behavior and fueled by many, many cocktails) and claiming their love for a guy they've spent two minues with in three weeks? Lowbrow, perhaps, but totally worth it!

Kelsey at six months

I'm a couple of weeks behind but wanted to share a bit about Kelsey at six months old:

• She's eating rice cereal and has recently added carrots and peas to her menu.


• While learning how to eat solids, she has also discovered her tongue. It's very difficult to feed a baby when she is constantly sticking out her tongue throughout the meal!


• She's teething ... terribly. I expect her first tooth to appear any day now. Until then, we're (she's) enduring endless BMs (TMI, I know), diaper rash, and general fussiness.


• She hasn't been taking a bottle, but began with some exposure last week. Today, I can happily report that she scarfed down nearly three ounces and cried for more.


• She loves to blow bubbles.


• She loves finding her feet during diaper changes and trying to get her toes into her mouth. Too bad her Aunt Amy isn't nearby. She'd be eating those toes every day!


• Kelsey does an impressive push-up. (She has the upper-arm strength to support this, believe me.)


• She's quite the roly poly, having discovered how to roll from her belly to her back now. Turn your back, and she'll have rolled halfway across the room.


• I can see the wheels turning in her little mind when she's playing on her tummy. She'll be crawling very soon.


• She still naps twice a day: one morning nap that begins about two hours after she wakes and one afternoon nap that begins around noon or 12:30. She could stand a late afternoon nap most days, but she's not convinced.


• Her brothers still absolutely adore her.

Halloween fun

Grammy and the kids

Brendan walks with his class during Gallimore Elementary's Halloween Parade. Brendan is the Special (silver) Power Ranger in the middle.

Kelsey, dressed as Tigger, with Grammy during Trick-or-Treat night in downtown Plymouth. The costume was cousin Kylie's. I think she looks like her cousin in this photo.

Last Friday, we attended a Halloween party at our friend Jen's house. (She's a friend from my book club.) The party was fabulous, though Ryan didn't wear a costume. We tried several, including this Woody outfit.

Brendan and Ryan are ready to go on Halloween night. In the end, Ryan agreed to wear a firefighter's jacket.

Soccer & pumpkins

Kelsey cheers for her big brother during Brendan's final soccer game. The season started and ended with rainy, cold, windy weather. (That's why she's wearing the adorable, hand-knitted hat from a good friend of ours.)

Brendan (right) huddles with the team during the final game. He'll play indoor soccer with this crew in January. Thankfully, it's only games, no practices. Practices were a little more difficult to endure.

A week ago, we visited the pumpkin patch with Grammy and Papa. It was a beautiful fall day. Cool and crisp.

Brendan and Ryan do their scary monster imitations. It's just not the same without audio!

Brendan and Dad trace a pirate flag onto one of three pumpkins. Now I remember why carving pumpkins was so fun as a child. The parents do all of the work!

Colorado & family

Grandma and Grandpa Healy with all of their grandchildren in Colorado.

Brendan (right) and cousin John Mitchell play superheroes. This was one of many costume changes.

Grandma and her granddaughter, Kelsey, who had just turned six months.

Kelsey tries cereal for the first time. She's since moved on to peas and carrots. So far, carrots are the fav.

Whew!

I have so much to say and no time to say it! It doesn't help that I keep waiting to download photos from the past few weeks so I can share some images, but I can't find the time. So I'm just going to dive right in with updates, and hopefully photos will follow soon ...

• The bathroom is finished! It's been so for a few weeks. As my hubbie says, "We now have an adult bathroom." We love it. It's amazing to us how changing the layout has transformed the space. Even though the shower is so much larger (about the size of a small tub), there is more space to move around elsewhere. Any regrets? Only one. Our showerhead is of the rain variety, and its shape doesn't allow the water to reach the bench seat. Oh well.
• Two weeks ago, we visited the Colorado Healys in Denver. Ken's brother recently rejoined the Army Reserves and will be heading to Afghanistan soon. We spent four days with them and with Grandma and Grandpa, who flew in from Dallas. Brendan loved playing with his older cousin, John Mitchell. They played Star Wars, superheroes, Legos and much more. It was fun to see them bond.
• And just to remind me that winter is approaching, it snowed on our final day in Denver. We spent 45 extra minutes on the plane, waiting for it to be de-iced. The poor gentleman next to me spent that 45 minutes uncomfortably fidgeting in his chair as I nursed Kelsey, then surely couldn't miss the smell of her dirty diaper. (I tried to hide it by laying her on Brendan's lap to change her and putting my back to the gentleman.) He was as nice as could be, but I felt bad! Turns out, he was friendlier than the woman who sat next to Ryan and hubby. She didn't utter one word to them, despite Ryan being the absolute best-behaved (and certainly cutest) 2-year-old on any plane ... ever.
• Last week I had the opportunity to volunteer in Brendan's classroom. What fun! Mrs. Benedict quickly put me to work. (Thankfully I knew what "touch reading" was so I didn't have to ask!) I helped the students draw their own Pumpkin Circle books, based on the story of the same name. Then we used touch reading to review the story. I enjoyed meeting other students and learning more about how the classroom works. Now I can interpret more of what Brendan tells me after school each day. I will be able to return once a month since I am working from home (see below).
• Brendan played in his final soccer game Saturday. He showed off quite well for Grammy and Papa, who made it in from Oklahoma City to see their star. Afterwards, the team celebrated a hard-fought season with donuts, hot chocolate, and hot cider.
• I returned to work on Monday. Grammy is sticking around for two weeks to help with the kids while I transition back to the office. My boss has agreed to let me ease back into my routine. I'll work 4 days for a total of 30 hours per week. Two of those days will be at home. At the end of January, I'll ramp up to full-time, but will hopefully continue working a couple of days at home.
• As a result of my return to work, we're in search of a nanny. We're using the website enannysource.com, which has worked well so far. I hope to interview our top candidates Friday and make a decision this weekend.
• Finally, today was a wonderful Halloween celebration. Power Ranger Brendan was exhausted tonight after trick-or-treating. He should be! Not only did we make the rounds tonight, but he also participated in a Halloween party and parade at school, and we went to downtown Plymouth last night for trick-or-treating. Needless to say, I'm taking a sack full of candy to work Monday. We have way too much!

Whew! Isn't that enough?

Almost complete

We're one step closer to a finished, remodeled master bathroom. All that remains are the final plumbing details -- connecting the plumbing for the sinks and shower. Today, we had a beautiful verde butterfly granite countertop installed by Rock Tops. They did a nice job and didn't bang up the cabinets or walls with this huge piece of rock.

So now I can unveil the bathroom with some photos:

Taking photos of small spaces is never easy. This is a view from one of two entrances to the master bathroom. This door leads to the laundry room and garage. Our previous bathroom did not have double sinks. No more fighting over the sink!

This is a view from the master bedroom doorway. The shower used to be the toilet's location. We added a light above the shower, which definitely helps lighten the space. It certainly helped the past week as I sat in there for hours, sealing the grout.

A closer look at the vanity mirror and sink. The walls are painted Softened Green, which matches our master bedroom.

The toilet -- nothing glamorous here! We chose to do beadboard wainscoting around the toilet. It really helps brighten the space.

A fair attempt at a close-up of the granite. This stone has quite a bit of green in it, hence the name "verde butterfly."

"Eat, Pray, Love"

This month, my book club is reading Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love." You must read it. Well, you don't have to unless you are interested in reading a book that could profoundly change the way you think or at least challenge you a little.

I am not a deeply religious person, but I was moved by Gilbert's spiritual journey. And amazed.

More importantly, though, the book opened my eyes and heart to what some people closest in my life must have encountered while enduring a divorce. To anyone who has ever felt that they needed a change or has asked, "What do I really, really, really want in my life?" or strives for inner peace, then this book is worth reading.

More low-key birthday fun

Thursday we celebrated my birthday in yet another low-key celebration. I decided not to cook on my day, so we made it Pizza Night in my honor. (Friday is always Pizza Night in our house.) Afterward we enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood (until Brendan took off so fast on his Big Wheel that he couldn't even hear me screaming his name).

Once back at the house, we enjoyed more of our homemade cake from Ken's birthday. It is amazing how low-key a birthday can become as life moves on. I'm thankful I was able to spend the day with my children and for the summer-like weather we had. I'm also thankful for all of my wonderful family and friends who sent me birthday wishes that day!

Birthdays & bathrooms

Happy birthday to Ken! He celebrates today. We made it a low-key day, with homemade cards from the boys and me, a delicious home-cooked dinner, and cake prepared and decorated specially by us. Hope he enjoyed it!

Bathroom update: Well, the bathroom is nearly finished. I will wait to post more pictures because we are only lacking the countertop and faucets. Those will be installed on Monday. I'll post photos then, of the complete look. We are very pleased, though!

To pass the time waiting on the countertop, I have spent my evenings and some afternoons sealing the grout. What fun! Why don't they include this in the tile installation, especially since it's required? Who knows, but it's definitely taking more time than I anticipated.