Tidbit on the Museum day

So finally I downloaded my awesome museum day pictures from my outing with the new sisters. Here were some of the highlights from the day (the PG ones at least, you'll have to ask Julie for some of the more disturbing ones! Museum of Man should be treaded through carefully...Yikes!)

Julie made a new friend while we were there...this may have been her favorite piece, and you really can't blame her. It's gorgeous, and I think they would have been good friends.

The art museums were my favorite. We found some real beauties, although looking back through my pictures, I photographed mostly the things that struck me as funny or ugly. What is wrong with me??

For instance ~

This piece of work is called "Great Jewish Bride" and we couldn't figure out whether this was referring to her general character, or simply the girth units of her hair.

The brave Kirstie attempted to better deduce the meaning. We laughed a lot in that room, although I can't quite remember what all was so terribly funny :}

This guy somehow reminded both Julie and I of our Scotto for some reason...I just can't put my finger on it...

This ungodly young...boy? is enough to give anybody nightmares. So many unanswered questions concerning the hat, head shape, ridiculously frightening face when closer than 4 feet away, and horrid pallor. Was this art? Worse yet, was this a real boy?? Egad.

This is in honor of Kirstie's claim to having seen a Pegasus in the background of one of the paintings. Do you see it? I may have to give her this one. I honestly don't know what else they could have been going for.

There is nothing funny about this bench. But I desire it greatly. I would find space for you, my wooden, sleek, and awesome friend.

Now, this is a must MUST must see. Everybody, drop what you are doing (unless you are holding your laptop, in which case, please lay it down gently, no need to be rude) put some shoes on and go to the Mingei International Museum (Folk Art, Design, and Crafts). Yes, right now - why don't you take me seriously?

This amazing piece of work is by a woman named Alice Hudson who created a little elf named Wednesday for her creepy friend. Yes, her friend is creepy, it's all part of the story, just listen. Like I was saying, Wednesday was created for her friend because he always painted his hideous nails gold on Wednesdays.

That is Wednesday in the middle, at the bottom of the stairs. Alice sent Creepy McCreepster Wednesday so that he would stop trying to be her friend, but he kept talking to her anyway so Alice began making more and more friends for little Wednesday (Wed. needed some group therapy after being with Gold Nails too long). Alice also began making the MOST AMAZING palace for Wednesday and her friends that I have ever ever seen. Feast your eyes on her 4 foot tall palace made of things Alice found in nature (and some wire and glue I hear).

So you can have the full effect

I believe they are in one of the handful of gardens

The palace has three dragons (the video said two, but we saw three - one lights the fires in the kitchen hearth which is a goose egg) but Alice went up about 17 notches in my book when dragons became part of the story.

Every character and room had a story and purpose. If you want to see more about it, it's called A Palace for Wednesday. We stared in wonderment for a very long time. And I wanted to play with it so badly. Or go home and start crafting things out of leaves. This is like every little girl's dream. Or at least the awesome little girls. I'm going to try to make stuff like this with my kids. How awesome.

Ok, I have to go get ready for our most amazing Saturday. Scott and I are finally finally going to CIRQUE DU SOLEIL!!!! and we could not be any more excited :}

I'll share pictures and gushing later.

Happy Weekend all!

Before Bed...

Per Holly's request, and because I can't contain my excitement any longer -- here are Marta and Sam (Nanny's maid and Nicolas' birthday present)


I do not have any pictures of the making of Marta...she rather just came to be. But she is a most cheerful maid and requested to be sent to my Nannylein asap.

Her references for Nanny...we must always be so proper

All ready to go!

This is Sam, prior to his face being decided upon

He got tired of waiting for me.

But finally he was finished

And cute as can be

Ready to meet his new buddy, Nicolas (hence the "N" cape)

Of course, Sam insisted upon writing a birthday letter to Nicolas (my right hand was killing me by the end. How do you right-ies do it??). And drawing a picture (with Scott's help)

But finally he was ready to snuggle in for the long journey.

And off they both went. I had SO much fun making them and hope to do more fun projects like this in the near future. I believe my Bubba-son has been sorely neglected. Hmm...

Last two pictures and then we're off to bed! Lookit what the husband brought home for me!


I know, you are just so jealous, but I am afraid that he is taken!! You may borrow him on loan though, by appointment if I think that you are good enough (Justin, let's face it, you're a shoo in)

AND tonight I made my very first Souffle!! I would put a picture up but since it was a small souffle in a large dish, the pictures did not make it look so appealing. But be impressed nevertheless! A Souffle I tell you! Spinach and Gruyeres Souffle. It was....good but I think I'd prefer chocolate :}

I do have a picture of the "Sweet Potato" Pie that I made though (YAMS Martha) with the correct vegetable this time, despite Martha's wily ways

Mmmm Yum.

Ok, now you all had better be in bed at this hour. I know I should, so, Bis Morgan!!

Mister D

I almost forgot...you really must listen to Scotto's latest song. It's first draft, but you get the lovin feelin.

http://www.geneskim.com/edr/RiverHouse_gtrScratch.mp3

Produktiv Mittwoch

You would not even believe how very productive my Wednesday was. It was a most unusual kind of productivity as well. The very hardest to achieve I might say. It was not a day of laundry, shopping, ironing, or vacuuming (although those things need to be done now) but rather take all of the places that are most dreaded to visit, and that is where I was...taking care of business.

In the early afternoon, after I had mapped out my day and made a few calls, I drove to downtown and went to the county office. Here I filled out a form, waited 30 or so minutes, paid $25 and got copies of our marriage license! Yay!

I then drove a few blocks over to the Social Securities office and weaved in and out of the surrounding blocks at least 7 times looking for parking. I finally found a metered spot only to realize that I had no change. Only pennies. Blast. So I drove some more until I found an overpriced lot and gave up.

I paid for an hour, hurried into the building, found the office in the directory, jumped in an open elevator, only to discover that although this elevator had many shiny buttons, it skipped the floor I needed. When the woman I was riding with asked me which floor I needed, I stared blankly at the numbers and muttered, "Eight" which was clearly discriminated against in this particular elevator.

She chuckled (yes, isn't this just hilarious.) and told me to get to the 8th floor I would need to get off this elevator at floor 14, take the next elevator back down to the lobby, then go to the other side of the wall and take one of those to the 8th floor. I did as she instructed only to find that this was the wrong Social Security office. The guard pulled out a map and told me "how fortunate" I was that the building I was looking for was only 10 minutes walking distance from where we were. Oh Joy.

So I went back down that elevator.

As I speed walked with the directions he gave me, I realized that this man had never himself walked the path that he had drawn out. Because the first street I was supposed to walk down dead-ended into a large building. Fortunately I know downtown well enough that I made my way to the building.

this is about what the wait looked like

I checked in, got a number and took a seat with all of my paperwork in hand. After 25 minutes of waiting, I realized that I was still 34 people away and had only 15 minutes left for my parking. So I left the building (much to the surprise of the guard by the door, he must have thought that I had just given up - and only 25 minutes into the wait! Oh no, I knew better what to expect from this experience) and I flew back to the parking lot. I really am not a fan of walking in downtown, but I got over it and just kept speed walking.

Made it to the car, drove to the building, parked across the street for $2 more than the last lot, and jogged back into the building. I took a seat again and took deep breaths, straightening my now wind-blown and agitated hair. 45 minutes later I was called in, the gentleman was very kind and ordered my new social security card with Heidi Diehl printed on it in less than 10 minutes. It should come in the mail in a week.

Wonderful. I left feeling immensely proud of myself. So proud, I decided to go to the DMV and just knock out the last of the name changing horrors. I know, I must have been high or something to take on that last one.

I had an hour and a half before they closed so I happily drove over, and looked for parking. It was at this point that I noticed that I was in trouble. It took me 10-15 minutes to find a spot. Never a good sign.

That and the building looked something like this:


I waited a very long time, and eavesdropped on many a conversation before getting to the front where you present your case, and they determine if you are good enough and competent enough to wait in another one of their lines to speak to another person. I don't know about you people, but I have a small confession. When I am standing and waiting for something like that, I tend to start rehearsing what I'm going to say in my head. So when I get to the front I'm not one of those people that uses too many "uhmms" and stumbles through explaining why they've been standing in line for for the past half hour.

He favored my case and gave me a number. I squeezed my way through a throng of people, tripped one guy and did a back flip over another to get the last remaining seat and filled out some new paperwork.

1.5 hours later my number was called and I had a new drivers license ordered. The whole time I had been sitting and waiting, I had been debating in a very girly manner, whether or not I really wanted to do this...after all, they take a new picture and I had not exactly gotten up this morning with that in mind. Combine that with the speed walking in windy downtown I had just done. I felt my picture would certainly not be the most flattering.


However, the stubborn side of me won out, reasoning that I would not want to come back in the morning to wait again. True that.

So folks. I now have a new social security card with my new name on it, a new drivers license, and my marriage license - all stating that I am indeed now Heidi Diehl! This weekend will be bank accounts with the mister and then we will have done it!

And now I am exhausted just from relaying all the line waiting again. I need a nap.

More later. xoxo

Bullet point highlights of being "Cheacher" or "Ms Hyday!"

That's really the only bullet point you need to sum up my day at the preschool today. Add a few hilarious lines from small children (especially ones with lisps. Can't get enough of that goodness) and a good dowsing in the toilet (child - not me) and you have the summary. In fact, I even read this book to the children at one point in the day.

But really. I really did have a wonderful day. I'm exhausted now, but happy. Sitting in sweats, full of delicious Diehl duo dinner (the d's just kept rollin, I couldn't stop myself!), and sipping coffee, I finally have a decent moment to reflect on the adventures of my day with the Wild Things.

Here are the highlights...

A little girl that had the "same hair" as me (the only two blonds in the classroom) drew a picture of the two of us hanging out and then at nap time whispered, "Miss Heidi? I love you." You just can't beat that in a day's work.


The most difficult little boy of the day, at nap time while I was trying to get him to JUST Hold Still on his mat, asked me to read him a story. This, of course, was only after I took his toys away since he just could not for the life of him stop playing around with them while he was supposed to be sleeping. Also after said taking of toys and his reaction to pull himself under a table and cling to the legs, biting them with his teeth. Good Lord.

So after all this, the child asked me to read him a story. I explained to him that I could not at the time because then every child would want their own book or me to read to them. His reply was priceless.
He sat up, and told me in so many words, "No, not a book story. {Please insert his little fist pounding his kidney here} A Heart Story. Like Onethuponatime." -- I nearly died. I then proceeded to tell him a Onethuponatime story. He interrupted me each of the three different kidney...I mean, heart stories I tried to tell and began embellishing in his own manner. Yet it was still cute.

He also redeemed himself later that day from the table biting incident by climbing into my lap after nap time with his blankie and leaning his head on my shoulder, telling me he was still so sleepy. Ok fine...you're not such a pill after all. At least not all the time.


Third highlight. After lunch, a little boy goes into the bathroom and I suddenly hear a small yelp. That is juuust never a good thing. He peeks out the stall door and calls out, "Cheacher?" I came over and he walked out with his pants and delicates around his little ankles and his shirt pulled up with one hand to tell me that he had fallen into the potty and his clothes were now wet. We changed his clothes and he had a good giggle when we told his dad later. I suppose a toilet is really quite the large piece of hardware to deal with for a 4 year old.

That's about it for now. I could really use some good couch-movie-coffee-and-cookie time with the mister.

Hope your Monday was at least half what mine was :}

Miss Heidi

This is my new, official working name. I start substitute teaching at the preschool tomorrow! Wowee.


As of now, I am only on the calendar for a few days here and there, and they will put me on call for anything in between, but I think that is a fun way to start. I went in on Friday and met the teacher I'll be sub-ing for and some of the children that will be in "my class". Fun fun fun! They gave me hugs as "hellos". I love the job already. Must let you know any and all goofy stories tomorrow.

I have so much to tell you all from the past weekend - the sister in laws and I went to the museums in downtown on Thursday which was great great fun (February is Museum Month in San Diego). I have some most excellent photos from the day that will have to wait until tomorrow to be properly shared.

Also, today I actually cut the mister's hair. Really this time. And...drum roll please...he looks good! All those years of ruining my Barbies did the trick. I can now cut men's hair.

Before I go (something from dinner made my stomach think the end of the world is knocking on our door, thenceforth I am snuggling on the couch with the laptop and a bottle of tums)...here are some great camera photos from my recent outing to Ross.

Ross is a wonderful land. There are few other places where you can simultaneously find a great pair of shoes and, if up to the challenge, hunt down a fabulous purse for $10, while running across some of these items of beauty:

Running/ballet/marching band/tap shoes?? With sequins? Yikes.

Or a sparkly-eyed porcelain owl paperweight with a mini crown.

OR, my personal favorite of the day, a "What would Jesus do?" creamer. Complete the set with a Psalms sugar cup.

Now this was an almost buy for me. Had it been a different pattern, I would have put back all of the other items that I had really come for, come up with a fabulous line of reasoning, and spent the money instead upon this item.

I never noticed before how much I desire a wonderful hard-case, older-styled suitcase.
I would feel so Fab packing in this for an overnight stay basically anywhere. You can't tell me that one of these would not instantly improve any trip.

It's the little things in life. Like a good trip to Ross alone, left to wander the aisles and find fantastic treasures, fun outings with new sisters, successfully cutting the misters' locks and make him a respectable man once more. All in all - a good weekend.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well. Now cross your fingers for me for tomorrow!

CUTIE guy

I know what you're thinking right now. first: BLEAHHH WHAT A CUTE LITTLE GUY!! and second: did Heidi and Scott have a child in secret 3 years ago and hide him in a closet??

I know, it's what you're thinking. oddly enough, no, we did not. but Scott and I have decided that this is what our little guy would look like. we hope.

I just can't get enough of that little grin. Danielle Thompson is a crazy talented woman with a very creative blog. creative and colorful. but the lady takes some bomb photos. this is her son, but I might have to steal him. I'm just warning you.

Have you ever been listening to music whilst doing something else for a long while and then suddenly realized that the song that is playing has been slowly and sneakily driving you insane?? I'm sorry to say it's happened to me on more than one occasion, and sadly, with some artists that I truly love. it's just that sometimes...Oy

I was just listening to some music that Scott sent me, and the link has been playing for about 52 minutes now and I suddenly realized that I am severely agitated and want to kick something. why? this UBER repetitive song has been playing for 12 minutes now. I generally take to having strong speaks with the artist while I hastily change the music.

this happens to be how Sufjan Stevens and I didn't speak for a week. a while back Scott and I went on a random binge of cleaning our room and closets to make room for all the stuff that we brought from our homes. I was sweating through trying to fit all of our winter wear in a little plastic box, completely surrounded by cardboard boxes and clothes and doo-dads and such when I realized Sufjan had gone on one of his 6 minute rants that had far too many "AhhhhhhhhhhOhhhhhhhAhhhh"s in it. I hurled myself into the living room, and I think I made this face at him

before changing to something more soothing.

I think I hurt his feelings, because we didn't speak for days. but we are ok now. sometimes Bon Iver has to intervene, but mostly we're ok.

well, I am trying to gather the gusto to head out to the market. bribing myself sometimes helps. i.e. i might let myself stop at the bookstore or craft store if I'm good. we'll see though, sometimes I throw a fit when the claustrophobia that is the PB Henry's over takes me and there's a three cart pile-up to get to the zucchini. flailing has yet to help but pulling my hair out and yelling "BLEAH!" has done the trick once or twice.

we're halfway through the week everyone!!

interview

well, today was the big day - interview for new job.


i think it went well, it was more of a panel interview than a one-on-one. 4 women interviewed me and went over a series of questions. i felt it was easy enough to answer their questions, but we will see how i fared.

good to have done it though....so now we just wait. i had some big plans for the rest of the day - make a pie, go to the grocery store, return a movie to the library, and make some dinner - but i am feeling a little tired now. so maybe i will cut back that list a smidge just for now.

i hope you all are having a great Tuesday! i will update more later. maybe after a nice glass of iced tea. ahhh.

Valen-what?

that is what our calendar says for February 14th. Scott and i both realized a few days ago that Valentines Day was a comin. our first Valentines together (married)! how exciting...well, what should we do? shoot, what have we done in previous years? anything? did Valentines Day happen last year? cause i sure don't remember it.

well, Scott came up with the brilliant plan that we should stay in, choose a magnificent meal out of one of our many cookbooks, and make it together. then sit down and watch some Hitchcock.

it took us a while to settle on the dish - it's hard to find a meal that is out-of-the-ordinary enough + delicious looking + sexy. we decided that soup is not sexy. but pasta might be too cliche sexy/romantic, and it's generally pretty easy to make.

finally, we found it. indian yellow chicken curry from William Sonoma......it was magnaflorious (better off ted).

those are my lightening quick cooking hands you're seeing...or not seeing

Scotto at the pan

SO tasty, you just don't even know

we're cute, eh?

finished product. HUGE success. good job WS. you rock at recipes.

then for dessert, from the same recipe book, we made some Apple Betty. Yummers.

also delish. but so fattening. did you see that butter??

something distracted him. but i thought he was cute.

so that was our Vday. great fun and definitely a new tradition for years to come.

more to come later (an outing is calling our name), but here's a glimpse at the fun that has been our relaxing weekend.

i finished all little creature projects and they are waiting to be shipped out tomorrow. so in the meantime, i decided that it would be very valuable to finally have a good ol pincushion. i just can't seem to keep track of those sharp little suckers. so i started a new project (they just don't end in this house :)

i once saw a little rough cat made in a fashion similar to this, but i am not a huge cat person, so i thought about what other animal would be fun. and you cannot tell me that giraffes are not fun.

i tried a few cartoony sketches of giraffes and finally settled on this one. and so the giraffe came to be.

i am working on finishing up his outline now, and then i will debate about a face and whether or not he should have proper giraffe splotches. i'll show you when he's done. but he is already up and serving his purpose with great gusto!

last but not least, after a pancake feast this morning, husband showed off his many talents to serenade us into the rest of our day. i love his days off. and really the only reason i threw this photo up was because i just loved it so much.

hope your valentines was wonderful!