Monday, June 23, 2008

tweet tweet

I just joined Twitter. I haven't quite mastered it, but it's up and running in my sidebar. So for all of you dying to know even more of my random thoughts/what we're up to, check it out!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

on loan



My love for the library is strong and true. The girls and I attended the Main Branch's famous story hour this past week, and afterward browsed the children's section. This, of course, meant that I racked my brain as to what great children's book I had been wanting to get, but dangit, I just can't remember right now...while Ella performed a puppet show (which really meant her holding puppets and singing "Who's ready for the puppet shooooooooooow??")... and Sadie flitted from one spot to the next, landing in the middle of the floor and flipping through all eight copies of the same Christmas book.

As I was collecting children, bags and books, one book caught my eye. It had obviously been left behind by another browser, so I picked it up and added it to our pile. I'm so glad I did. We All Went On Safari: A Counting Journey through Tanzania is a beautifully illustrated book that gives a surprisingly in-depth look to the Massai people of Tanzania, the country's animals and grasslands. You can even learn names and numbers in Swahili! The first read through, I was unsure of the pronunciations of some of the names, but the back of the book has pronunciation guides and additional facts about the inhabitants of Tanzania.

This book prompted the first lesson on our new globe that actually took us out of the United States! I highly recommend this read not just for families with children learning to count, but anyone who wants to know a bit more about another part of our world. We have read it through many times, and it's one of those books that may find a permanent spot in the Osenga library.

Friday, June 20, 2008

reaction

I LOVE the Nashville Public Library system. There are so many reasons why, and I intend to write a post about them all. But now - right now - I only have time for a quick lament.

Friday is when the library sends out circulation notices - a friendly little e-mail telling me that the book I have requested is available for pick-up at the closest branch. And Friday is when that branch is closed. So I get all excited, only to remember that I have to wait a whole, entire day to retrieve the book.

It's Friday, and I just got the e-mail.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

when you're sliding into first...

...and you feel something squirt

{Addendum - at the beginning. I have interspersed some new information. Look around. It's like Where's Waldo, except with words.}

No fun, right? Well, the runny rounds were made in the family last week. "Why does she share this personal and rather revolting information?" you may ask?? Because I have some information that I feel might help fellow sufferers (or the parents of the sufferers).

It could be common knowledge that there are a few foods that are especially good to have on the menu during these times. A friend of my mom's passed along the acronym BRAT. This stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and T beans. huh? (The only correlation I came up with was T=toot=beans, but this still is a weak argument to me) ** Thanks to the fine and helpful ladies who commented, I have learned that the T stands for Toast. NOT BEANS. Good thing I've been feeding my child beans Daily for the past week. But not tomorrow. No sirree. **

After a call to the doctor's office, and the confirmation that toddlers hang on to this messy business for sometimes a couple of weeks, the nurse also added Yogurt to the list of stopper-uppers. Yogurt has probiotics, which basically put good bacteria into your system. My children especially enjoy these.

So. Armed with my ** new and correct ** list of foods and exceptional brain power, I came up with a new acronym. BARTY: Bananas, Applesauce, Rice, Toast, Yogurt.

Use this information, my friends. Use it well.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

my people

{I've heard some murmurings from the viewership that I haven't posted enough pictures for all two of your likings. So without further ado, I present my offspring. And their father.}