november

Well, friends. There have been many moments between this post and the last where I've thought "Maybe I should write about this. Post a picture. Record in this modern annal the happenings of today." Obviously those moments did not find their way here, and I am okay with that. Maybe later we'll peek back.

But today. This day. I feel like I captured my children in their truest element. Their exuding joy and fullness of life. Their fashion sense. Their love for the outdoors, and for each other. They are just three-and-a-half and nearly two. Have I only had them for such a short time?

rear view

(insert required apologies for sporadic posting) These last few weeks of summer have kept the Osengas on the move. I plan to go back and start at the beginnings of our travels...but in perusing the photos of my last trip with the tiny ladies to the North Carolina coast, I noticed several taken from behind. I bundled them up in a little collection for you - you know, to stave off complete Osenglette withdrawal.










but how can I not include my favorite seafood shots...?





{photos snapped by me or my mammy}

cause they're cute

Andy's doing video updates for his new project over on his website. Yesterday he incorporated our children, and it's just too sweet not to share here.

muffins, lotta, and a green skirt

This morning the girls and I made blueberry muffins. Not from a package. For whatever (sad) reason we had not had flour and sugar in the cupboard for quite some time...and the other day I decided enough was enough. It was time to start baking again.

So today we did. Lots of muffins and messy mouths later, we are spending the morning reading books, doing puzzles, building with blocks, investigating our abacus, and hoping Sadie's fever subsides. Ella is eagerly awaiting her lunch date with Daddy, and I'm intermittently trying to stave off the (ongoing and dramatic) battle over who gets to cuddle with our stuffed Pat the Bunny.

I can't stop glancing up at my new purchase. At the first of the year, I saw it on Jenni's blog, and wanted to get it, but for some reason didn't. Well, the year is more than half over, but I would think about it from time to time, envisioning it on my wall. I headed over to Lotta Jansdotter's site last week, and saw that it was on sale (naturally, I suppose, considering the time of year). But I got it anyway. And it makes me feel cheery just looking at it.
{photo via Lotta's website}

I'm also wearing this skirt (except it's a fun, bright green). On the Gap website, it's on sale for $33 - but I found mine in the store for $11!! I've been wearing it the majority of the past two weeks that I've been its owner. There are so many things I love about this skirt! It's got the perfect flounce (without being frumpy). There are hidden pockets on the sides (so hidden that I didn't even discover them til my second time wearing it) that are perfect for my phone, because the pockets are deep enough to keep my phone secure, AND it helps me actually find my phone when I need it (instead of it sitting on the clothes dryer for 4 hours like it did yesterday). And the fun, girly part is that the top layer swirls up something akin to blooming petals as I bound down stairs.

{photo via Gap website}

snapshot Sadie

I recently scurried after Sadie with my camera, to capture her last days as an 18-month-old. Here's a bit of what we came up with.

the littlest mermaids

In keeping with the video theme, here's a little clip of the girls in their truest element. Ella singing ("Ariel songs") and dancing very earnestly, and Sadie trying her best to keep up.



{video by Nana}

here we are

Andy's side of the family started a family blog where we can all post and keep up with each other. His brother and sister-in-law spent two weeks in Hawaii, and posted a video of their digs. And pictures of the crater where they snorkeled (the same place Andy and I snorkeled on our honeymoon...this bit of info comes in handy later). Andy and I decided to respond with what we were up to.

I meant to post this when we filmed it because, well, it's just that riveting. And because we've actually been doing lots of fun things in the interim. But Andy has all the pictures on his computer, and I get mean letters in the mail if I post without pictures.

So. Without further ado, I give you Andy and Alison having absolutely nothing to say.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.}

(very cute) visions of the future

Last night Ella and I attended the ballet recital of her friends Lucy and Mae Mae. It was so very precious. A bundle of three-and-four-year-olds doing ballet and tap. Wearing tiaras. And tutus.

Ella was enthralled and (although she dances all the time anyway) has been performing some of the moves she saw last night. (It ended abruptly after she fell down our stone steps in the backyard.) I have every intention of enrolling her in the fall.


{spotted this print online}

hindsight

I have this annoying little habit of writing an almost-entire post. Then I stop. I have quite a collection of "drafts" that I just now read through. This one, in particular, struck me as a perfect "20/20 Hindsight" moment.

It began last week. My mom and I were in Wild Oats buying, amongst other things, that night's dinner. Whenever I'm feeling the need for some fresh, healthy-feeling food, I pop on over to Wild Oats and buy some sushi vegetable rolls. Although the other day I went to Fresh Market on Franklin Rd for the first time, and they had some yummy California rolls. Mmmm, imitation crab.

Anyway, back to Wild Oats. I was trying to think of something to go along with my sushi, and right about that time we passed some hummus. I'm going to be honest and say that I've never been too fond of hummus. A) the name is just grody-sounding B) I had never had the right flavor.
But that night I thought I'd give it a whirl, and my mom was very happy about my decision. We picked up some garlic hummus (how bad can something really be if it's garlic-flavored?) and some pita chips to go along with it.

All too soon the deliciousness was gone. My mom, sister-in-law and I devoured that thing before you could blink twice. I wanted more. Happily, I was afforded the chance to return to Wild Oats and satiate my desire. This time I got the "party size" and 2 containers of pita chips. It was all gone in 24 hours.

Next I went to the Fresh Market and got the regular size, and couldn't find the amazing pita chips I'd been downing, so I went with some froofy

It ends there. What's funny is that (beside the fact I used the word froofy) I wrote that 4 days before I discovered I was pregnant with Sadie. Hmmmm, first craving much? I continue to enjoy hummus - and that very brand remains my favorite.

vintage

Due to my frequent viewership of Keely, Kierstin, Jenni, and Christine's blogs, I also love this digital picture treatment by some fine Japanese internet establishment. Don't be daunted by the non-English aspect of the site...simply upload your photo and click the blue button!

I thought I would showcase all of Ella's birthdays (March 16) ... all but her actual Birth Day including cake.



{zero}




{one}




{two}




{three}


i have now photo-antiqued away the greater part of Sadie's morning nap. i have also noted that with each subsequent birthday, there is less-to-no frosting on my child's face. hooray, Ella!

out

As my children finished their supper last night, I realized I had not left my premises all day. Sometimes I am fine with that, but last night I was feeling restless. Andy had just left for a photo-shoot (how many girls can say that about their husbands without batting an eyelash?), and I wasn't feeling particularly excited about handling the nighttime routine alone.

The solution? A trip to CVS. I packed the girls in the car to pollute two blocks of Mother Earth (it was raining and I don't have a rain-cover for the double stroller) to do some mindless wandering. They squealed with delight when they saw the shopping cart with the car-thingy on the front, and piled in as fast as they could.

I had nothing in particular to buy. I grabbed a box of animal crackers that the girls shared while I pushed them down the aisles. We said hello to fellow patrons, and I marveled (yet again) at how much stuff a drugstore sells. Like office furniture. I caught myself harmonizing (rather loudly) with Toni Braxton to "Unbreak My Heart" as we rounded the greeting card aisle. Where people were watching me.

As we headed down the toy aisle (where my children were gloriously silent), I spotted an Ernie (from Sesame Street) doll lying in a box surrounded by Cookie Monsters. THIS was the reason I came to CVS, I just didn't know it! For, you see, my one year old loves Ernie. Her father and I are mystified by this. Never have we once talked about Ernie. She's watched Sesame Street a handful of times, but usually it's just the Elmo's World segment. Yet, whenever she sees Ernie on her little Pampers she says his name like a broken record like her life depends on it.

I plucked him from the box and placed him in her little hands. Immediately she clutched him to her chest. He's been there ever since.

tiny morsel

There are several posts in the queue waiting to be tweaked and published. At some point they will face the interwebs, but for now I will leave you with my current favorite snapshot of Sadie and me.

exchange

Alison: (gasping for air from laughing) Andy, come in here and look at these chickens running!!! Have you ever seen chickens run?

Andy: Yes, I've seen plenty of chicken running. If you will recall I am from a farm-town.

Alison: No you're not. Farms surround your town. You lived in a town. How would I know if you've seen chickens run? My grandparents had chickens, and I don't remember seeing a bunch of them running at the same time.

Andy: Well, I have. (clearly not as amused as I am or think he should be). Oh, Eric and I were talking about how both our wives watch this show, and neither of us understand why you guys like it. Why, when our own children go to bed, would you want to watch this? It stresses me out to even be in the same room when it's on.

Alison: Well, I like it. I'm going to watch another episode until you're ready for me to cut your hair.

Andy: goes into the kitchen and sets up the clippers. still not very amused. and definitely not wanting to be in the same room as me and my show.

dinner of champions

3 bites of...



plus 2 cups of...



I'm tired, people.

a Contradiction would be...

...buying seven bags of organic groceries, then hitting the Taco Bell drive-thru on the way home. circa 10:30 at night.

* I felt highly disgusting by 10:34pm *

I'm IT.

* i actually did this the Saturday of Easter weekend - but for some reason have not posted until now *

my buddy JJ tagged me with a little quizzie-quiz, and here are the breathtaking and mind-numbing results...

10 years ago I was...

on Spring Break during my freshman year of college, (I went skiing with my pals the Twindigs in CO) and was spending Easter with their family. Their cute mom even gave me an Eater basket. (how's THAT for 10 years ago down to the day??)

also, my friend Andy had just decided to not return to Belmont the following year so that he and his band could tour full-time. I lectured him and my friend Cason endlessly on how I thought it was a dumb idea. Things seemed to turn out OK.

5 things on my "to do" list today:
1. drink coffee.
2. clean out Sadie's closet, which was previously Ella's closet...and contained MANY a thing that neither girl have used in a very long time.
3. go on a walk.
4. go to the grocery store.
5. enjoy the fact that my husband is home on a weekend.

Things I would do if I became a billionaire:
1. pay off our mortgage, plus some other people's mortgages too
2. travel
3. have a maid
4. and a cook
5. and a personal trainer
6. and a stylist
7. and do selfless things, too
8. then use them as tax write-offs. heh heh.

3 of my Bad Habits:
1. I burp. Loudly and often. This was even mentioned by my pal Andrew Peterson in the Rabbit Room ...still not sure how I feel about that.
2. I'm a total hypochondriac. Is that a bad habit? I guess your mind can get into the habit of thinking you've got the latest and greatest disease (remember the SARS craze?).
3. apparently I'm a bed-hog.


Places I've Lived:
1.Durham, NC
2.Nashville, TN
ok, since that list is miniscule (and I'm bored), I'll sub-categorize within Nashville.
*Belmont Univ. campus for 4 years
*little apartment off of Thompson Ln. for 6 months post-graduation with 2 friends.
*cute house in Crieve Hall for 10 months with those Twindigs and another girlfriend until I got married.
*Berry Hill (for our first year of marriage) in a really random neighborhood that had twice-a-week trash pick-up that was AWESOME. what was Not awesome was the fact that our house practically touched our next-door neighbors' house and he was a bitter old man who sat at home and called the police whenever people played drums in the middle of the day.
*our current locale in Crieve Hall. we bought our 60s ranch 5 years ago this summer, and have loved being here. interestingly, it is just a few houses away from the rental where I lived before marital bliss.

5 jobs I've had:

1. Medical Filing Clerk at my dad's office. I was 15-turing-16, and spent all day in a dank basement re-labeling patients' file numbers. They had been relegated to the basement if they had not been there in a long time or were dead. I listened to Jewel, and was grateful to get all the missing/dead people filed so I could move upstairs. I still have the Jewel songs stuck in my head.
2. Abercrombie and Fitch. again, with the Twindigs. (they are a recurring theme in my life) we basically spent all the money we made there on their clothes.
3. Coordinator of Volunteers for the Nashville Rescue Mission. Rewarding. Eye-opening. I ate a lot of fried chicken that the cook named Major would make especially for me.
4. YMCA before/after-school care. When I wasn't traveling with Andy, it was good to be home making some cash. So I joined up with (are you ready?) The Twindigs and my friend Adrienne - making kids smile all over Williamson County. Am I right, girls?
5. Bible proofreader. I prefer not to explain. It's that much better. All I will say, though, is that my co-horts were (you guessed it...) THE TWINDIGS!!!! (p.s. this is not their real name, although it would be awesome if it were)

Things that most people don't know about me:
1. I have a really keen sense of direction. Which is good because Andy still gets lost in Nashville.
2. I can say The Lord's Prayer from memory. In French.
3. I'm left-handed? I mean, I am - I just don't know if that's a fact not a lot of people know. For the record, I love being left-handed. It was especially "handy" (I'm sooooooo funny) playing high school basketball. The defense didn't have a clue what was coming!!

Glad tidings

Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed.
Alleluia!

four days later

first peek...


i wish this hoodie came in my size...


this one would live outside if we let her..

march morning

home sweet, snowy home...


delicate and vibrant...


outside my kitchen window...


tree and mailbox shadows...


galoshing through the snow...


barren birdfeeder...


pondering...