Woo-hoo!

(c) 2013 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

So this happened today, on the last day of the first session of swimming lessons... 

That'd be my 8 year old daughter jumping off the low diving board... and my 6 year old daughter leaping from the high board!  Penguin said today, "I want to try the high diving board now!" So she climbed up, looked around briefly, and then just jumped right off!  No hesitation, no "maybe not today; I'm coming back down," just JUMP!  

It was so much fun, she did it again, several times, sometimes even with the two of them trying to coordinate their jump.  Well done, Penguin!

NaBloPoMo #28 - Really?! Really?!

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Who doesn't need a little more humor in their lives?  I saw this SNL skit via Cool Mom Picks & figured it was worth sharing!  C'mon, it's got Seth Meyers and our beloved Kermit the Frog discussing the whole "Congress says pizza is a vegetable" issue.  Awesome.

I'm sorry but no matter how I try, every idea I have for this title includes the phrase, "My butt."

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

I know, I know, I've been a terrible blogger and kind of dropped off the face of the earth.  Let me just say that the end of the school year was busy, we've been slaving away on the raised bed (which are now DONE!), and having both girls home all day, every day now that it's summer break certainly has been keeping me much too busy to spend a lot of time on the computer!


Oh, and I've been practicing up for this:

(The important part runs from about 0:40-0:50.  I guess my 15 minutes of fame comes in 10 second intervals.)

Sights and sounds of Bayfest Live: fox11online.com

Our belly dance troupe is dancing and doing some simple lessons in our tent from 11-7:30 tomorrow, plus doing three half-hour shows on one of the stages.  Obviously, we danced this evening, too!  The rest of the troupe who were there tonight were grabbing a quick bite to eat when your man with the camera came around, so it was lucky me who gets to have a famous rear.  :)

Garden Progress (featuring the cutest li'l shovel swinger!)

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Hey, with this much dirt to move...
 

...I'll take my help wherever I can get it!

In fact, earlier this week, Mr. Kluges came home to a very Tom Sawyer scene, with several of the neighbor kids happily digging away, though rather less effectively & diligently than Penguin does in the video.  I figure, any shovels-ful they do, are fewer Mr. Kluges & I have to move, right?!

We've been busy digging, leveling, digging, moving/counting bricks, digging, and, oh, did I mention digging?  Moving along fairly quickly, all things considered.  Mr. Kluges is on a kick to get the digging/leveling/squaring off the holes done by the end of the weekend, so HOURS of digging were put in today.  Not done yet, but we're keeping our fingers crossed for good weather.

Here's a couple pictures I took about lunchtime today.  More progress has been made, but this lets you see the scope of our folly, without water (or snow) this time! 

ZhuZhu Pets + Mini-bilibos = Great Fun!

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

WW - The best skirts are twirly!

(c) 2010 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

P.S. Thanks, TNGreatAunt! They're a hit!

Some clever title with belly dancing, tv, and swords in it. *grin*

(c) 2010 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Last Saturday, my belly dance troupe was invited to perform at a local arts festival. We were also supposed to do a tv spot at 8ish that morning, but it was canceled thanks to some chemical spill up in Michigan.

(It reminded us a lot of when we'd been performing at a similar (but outdoors) arts festival last summer when our 6am tv spot had been usurped by a big union to-do with a major local manufacturer. I found out at 5:30am when my phone rang as I walked up to the dark, vacant stage area where it was supposed to be.)


As consolation we were offered the next morning's 6:30am spot with a different channel. Fortunately for us, this one actually happened.



(Ok, if that embedding doesn't work, here's a link to their page... about halfway down is a player & you'll want "Belly dancers shake at Arti Gras.")

Now I way me down to sweep....

(c) 2010 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

I started this blog way back long ago (when we lived in Ireland) for many reasons, including keeping the grandparents up to date/supplied with pictures, connecting with our friends back in MN, and recording babyhood/childhood moments since I'm no good at babybooking/scrapbooking.

One of the many ways that a blog is better than a scrapbook is that I can post video. Here's one I'm putting up so I can always remember just how dang cute Penguin is when saying her bedtime prayers with me. She had curled up on the couch back a few weeks ago at the beginning of January & pretended to be going to bed, so I grabbed the chance to get her prayers on video.

Bilibos are FUN!

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

These are our new favorite toys. Picked them up at an educational kid toy store two days ago & they've already been played with for hours. We love them so much already, the girls wanted to show you how fun they are...

Pumpkin says, "Bilibos are really handy. I like to play rolly-polly in it, and spin it around, and use them for sleds down the grass hills."

P.S. Cool Mom Picks reviewed it a while back. I'd have to say I agree - if you've got two kids, you'll want two. Definitely.

Did I mention the learning to read?

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

I just picked this book out at the library today, thinking it looked about right for her. And before we even read it together, Pumpkin picked up and and got started on her own. I came in to the living room and this is what I saw/heard....

Go, Pumpkin!

Sorry, Pusher! aka Cute Toddler Dance Reprieve

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Sorry, Pusher! Here's a video of Penguin dancing from back at the beginning of May that should hopefully move that icky bug down so it's not staring you in the face when you click on my blog!

And fair warning to the rest of you - icky bug in the next post below!

Don't you wish your Friday afternoon involved less work...

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

... and more running around the kitchen in a tutu and wings?

P.S. This post is dedicated to my husband who is having to work late fixing crappy broken stuff at work. I love you, hon.

P.P.S. Note to self: Watch this one (and/or the versions too long to post) the next time those two are driving you nuts.

Cute kid singing alert

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Also, possibly slow-loading video alert. This is the longest one I've ever put up here at about 40 seconds.

P.S. My kid is so cute.

Totoa Bleh!

(c) 2008 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

She might like chocolate, but...

Arrrr! Avast, ye landlubbers!

(c) 2008 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Your Pirate Name Is...

Pegleg Bessie Backstabber

What's Your Pirate Name?

Arrr! Today be the 19th o' September, and that means it be International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Now, I, Pegleg Bessie Backstabber, be tryin' to get me own girls to talk like fellow pirates, but the one can only say, "Arrrr!" and the other, she be tellin' me that girls don't talk like pirates. Well, blast that! Arrr! She didn't used ta think that way, so I'll be sharin' with ye scurvy dogs a video I took back in the days when she woulda been proud to wear an eyepatch and fly the Jolly Roger!

(That'd be back in December of '07, if ye be wonderin'.)

A Public Service Announcement

(c) 2008 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Now, I don't want any of you to be forgetting that tomorrow is Friday, September 19th.

The significance of that, you ask?

Why, it's....


Start now, if you have children, training them in so they, too, can talk like pirates! 'Cuz you're never too young!

(Although you may be too stubborn.)

Happy Birthday, Pumpkin!

(c) 2008 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Happy 4th Birthday, Pumpkin!

With much, much love to my big, strong, brave, frustrating, clever, hilarious, beautiful, red-headed, charming, first-born daughter.

Cereal with a Spoon

(c) 2008 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Some days I just can't believe how big (and capable) she's gotten...

Doesn't she just look like a pro with that spoon?



But the best part is drinking up the milk when you're done.

Top Household Phrases

(c) 2008 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Let me give you a sampling of some of the top words and phrases heard about our household these days. Then you'll see just how glamorous and exotic being a stay-at-home parent can be.

• Why? (Still #1 around here.)
  
• [Penguin], don't eat that!
• Be careful!
• All duh! (*see below)
  
• But I don't WANT to.
• Be NICE to your sister.
• [Penguin], hold STILL!
  
• She has it now; you can have it when she's done.
• I can't!
• Mommy, can I watch a bideo?
• Leave your sister alone.
• Waaaaah!
• But I'm not tired!

Oh, but I am some days, child. I am.



*

(Edited to add: But of course, y'all know I love 'em dearly, even when I am tearing out my hair some days.)

Look out, world!

(c) 2008 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

3 posts in one day? Yeah I know it's crazy but here's why...

Yay, Penguin! She took 4 steps to Mommy before we got the camera out, then she was so excited (probably because we were) that she'd only ever take two and then lunge. This is the best video we got.

P.S. I still can't believe she's walking already!!! Go, Penguin!