I pick Finn up from preschool at 12:30 every day and Hadley doesn't get out until 3pm. I try to make the most of this time with him alone by doing things he likes to do, which most of the time includes moving very quickly from one place to the next. Although, one day he told me he wanted to scoop ice cream so we went to the store, bought two different kinds of ice cream and then came home and scooped and scooped. Well, he scooped, I ate. THAT'S my idea of a fun activity. He loved it too but most times he just wants to MOVE. To get rid of this most enviable extra energy (alliteration for the day, you're welcome) we have been going to parks. And we've been having a wonderful time. (He's wearing his little uniform. So sweet. And EASY!) I think perhaps I'm becoming almost fluent in "BOY" because lately all the stars are aligning and I am getting through to my whirling dervish and soaking up every moment. I love you so much, Finn. Thank you for infusing my life with sparkly bits of explosive joy.

Someone was flying a huge kite that we watched for a while. And the things with the tent is a mini amphitheater. F&H will make me sit in the grass and perform skits and shows. It's hilarious.

I made a cucumber sandwich for lunch today and the memory of my first one came flooding back.

I liked this boy who was friends with a friend of ours. I remember we (ELK, I think it was the two of us...)went up to Greeley,CO (University of Northern Colorado) to visit this kid. He had olive skin, big brown eyes and tousled brown hair. He would wear glasses when he was studying, which I found so cute. Anyway, I was besotted. He literally made me breathless. I tended to crush really hard on boys but would never do anything about it. They would barely know my name and yet I would read into every little glance my way. KU girls - need I mention NC? Seriously, HK had to have an intervention with me about him. As in "Emily, you are insane, give it up." sigh...

Anyway, back to this kid. Whose name escapes me....(ELK, do you remember? CTM? RHR?)

So, when we went up to his place in Greeley at UNC, for some reason he and I ended up alone. I can't remember if we even kissed quite honestly. I do, however, remember him randomly taking off his glasses and saying "Do you want a cucumber sandwich?"

Which, being the naive little dork that I was, I interpreted as "I love you and want you to be my girlfriend."

But I tried to nonchalantly to say "Sure" like I didn't care.

He went to the kitchen and started getting stuff out: whole wheat bread, mayo, cucumber and salt.

I watched his every move and was loving that this handsome boy was making me a sandwich. He was really methodical about the whole thing. I remember finding that so swoon worthy. He explained that you have to toast the bread first. Then put on just the slightest bit of mayo. The cucumbers have to be sliced w/o skin but not too thick or it screws everything up. After the cucumbers are laid out just so on the bread, top the whole thing with a little bit of salt.

Perfection. I loved it.

He made one for each of us and we sat at the kitchen table together, eating cucumber sandwiches. I was totally squealing on the inside.

Weird what things stick in your head, eh? I think of him every time I make a cucumber sandwich though.

I took this one day when I was watching her at our house. I just came across this pic again. Hell, I may have already even posted it. But it's worth posting twice. Can you even stand the cuteness? You are so loved MFP.

This news broke this morning. So the baby IS actually Palin's and her daughter is pregnant now.

This is rich.

I laugh when I get uncomfortable and I've been giggling all morning.

Dear Scandal,

First off, I would like to say welcome. You come at a good time. And I am glad you are a scandal of the Republican variety.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Emily

I'm thinking about everyone affected by that bastard Hurricane Gustav. Ugh.

Meg and my Mom saw Obama accept the nomination. Meg wrote about it and posted pics.  There is also a pic of my mom and Nancy Pelosi. It's such a cute pic. It looks like they were just hanging out together at happy hour. Both women graduated from Trinity and have mutual friends.

I'm feeling better and on the mend. Finn likes to lift up my shirt every couple of hours to look at my wounds and say "Lemme see, Mama. Is it getting better?" (lift up and inspect) "Nope. Not yet." He's infinitely fascinated by it. Hadley wants the play by play of what went down at the hospital.

The doc ordered no yoga for 2 weeks, which is going to kill me. The look on my face must have made him feel he needed to repeat "No Yoga For Two Weeks" really slowly. I also have to reschedule my massage for a few weeks out. They only reason I say that is because of how embarrassed I am to have to reschedule. The last time I rescheduled it was because I fell down the stairs. Now, it's my appendix. I sound like a piece of work. (my dad used to use that phrase a lot.piece of work. It's a good one, isn't it?)

I went with Peter and the kids to the annual Reidy summer party yesterday. The always glam Munssons were in town from Seattle and it was a must to see them. I probably shouldn't have gone though. It was too much and I don't know who I thought I was. Like there was going to be some award for "person who most recently had surgery"?  I gobbled some percocet, shimmied into some jeans and put on a smile. Although exhausted, I'm glad I went. I do love my peeps so. We have really great friends. (big ups to my sis, and the V sisters for the flowers!)Peter was on patrol the entire time and if I would stand to hug someone or chat I would hear him from across the patio "SIT! SIT!" What would I do without the much adored PGP?

And Happy happy birthday to the handsome Hen. Here's hoping 4 is a great year.

Happy 3 day weekend people.

PS- What about all of the hullaballoo about the Repub Veep, Sarah Palin's baby really being her granddaughter??! Such a scandalous rumor. (that last sentence was more delightfully squealed than actually said)

**Blog title stolen from Baby D's creative mama, Rosa. Baby D was wearing a shirt that said My Mama loves Obama. So cute.

Tuesday my stomach was bothering me. Nothing new so I ignored it. We had Thai food for dinner and shortly thereafter, my stomach was really bothering me. I thought I had indigestion so I took TUMS and went to bed. I tossed and turned. The pain had moved over to my right side and it was unbearable. Wednesday morning we went to urgent care and they sent me straight to the ER.

By this point I was writhing around in pain. It hurt to walk. Through a CT scan they confirmed it was my appendix and they had to take it out. Wednesday night they removed it. I was home about 3pm on Thursday. It was laparoscopic surgery, just like when I had my left ovary removed, so there are just 3 tiny incisions. The killer is the excess air trapped in there after the operation. In order to see everything, they blow up your abdomen with air but after they close you up, that air is still in there. You just have to wait for it to be reabsorbed into your body. I seriously look 6 months pregnant. They gave me pictures of my appendix. The thing looks like a crawdad. It's crazy.

Um, whoever is in charge of the universe, can I get a freaking break for a while? Seriously. Thank you.

My friend B from high school was in town with her husband and daughter for the convention and I had been looking forward to seeing her.  Sorry to have missed you, B!

Speaking of the convention, my mom and sister got tickets last minute and were able to see Obama speak last night. I'm so glad they were there. They said the energy was electric.

Totally off topic but not really. I saw on the news that they were giving homeless people free haircuts a few weeks before the convention. That struck me as so hilarious. Like visitors were going to say 'Wow, look at that great cut on that homeless guy. Denver's homeless sure are top notch!'

Isn't this picture the best? Love it. (The kids and I found a dead bee a few weeks ago and pet it. They're really soft.)

Go see more of Slinkachu here.

Here's another favorite:

Isn't that brilliant? The detail is fantastic. The concept is genius. There is such a sense of wonder and adventure to the photos. I could look at them for hours....The snail pic inspired another site.

Last night I bought a container of Dreyer's LOADED ice cream. (the peanut butter cup one) Seventeen hours later, it is gone. I suppose I should feel disgust over my gluttonous ways. But strangely, I feel triumphant. Take THAT, ice cream! (insert picture of me showing my ice cream muscles)

Hadley has been obsessed with pointing out pregnant ladies lately. Only problem is, none of the ladies she points out are pregnant. Perhaps I should lay off the ice cream before she starts asking me if we're having another kid. The answer, to anyone who is asking, is a resounding Hell to the No.

The Lowballers are back on the scene in Seattle, trying to get our house for a dollar. We're trying to work with them but as I said to our realtor "They're jackasses." She said "Perhaps, but they're buyers, Emily." Yes yes. Must focus.

My new massage therapist is a genius. I think regular sessions are going to do wonders for my aching bod. Plus, he plays cool music. Things have been all right lately on the Lupus front. Fatigue has been creeping in and leaving me useless lately though. I laid down to rest my head a few days ago about 4pm. I woke up the next morning. Whoa.

We are all on schedule now with school and it feels great. Little people love structure. So do mamas. The blue eyed devils have been particularly delightful lately. They're both biking around like nobody's business. Finny likes to ring his bell. Will post pics soon.

Wishing you an ice creamy day. Oh and shout out to my cute mom, who is hobnobbing this week at various DNC events, looking fabulous, of course.

• For S&E, that they find some peace. My heart breaks for them and they are top of mind constantly as I telepathically try to send love and support.

• For M&T, that they drink up the fabulousness of their wedding day today and stop every once in a while to tell themselves "remember this." (Oh, and also that my darling Tay's lady lumps don't pop out of her bridesmaid dress)

• For this woman and her husband.  The back story on these people is that I don't know them. I stumbled upon her blog a year or so ago and I was sort of transfixed. I was at times dubious of her undying love and affection for all things domestic. I just couldn't believe that at 26, with 4 kids, she could be THAT happy all the time. They are a Mormon family, which was interesting to me in and of itself, because I know nothing about it. So, it was a bit foreign. Sometimes I would be a little in awe and feel I should probably be more like her, perfect hair and makeup, knitting and crafting while simultaneously whipping up some homemade dinner. Other times, the feminist in me would almost get angry and think 'This is bullshit.'  The point is, I kept reading, almost torturing myself. Last week, she and her husband were in a Cessna plane crash. The flight instructor died and they are in critical condition, with burns all over their body. I sort of go numb when I think about it. They have 4 kids under the age of 6, I think. It's inspiring to see how the family and actually, a ton of other bloggers, have come together to raise money for the family and help. I hope they are ok.

I have become increasingly aware that there are a plethora of douche bags on the planet, specifically in my general area. It's really quite shocking. I just keep thinking "DAMN, another one!"   And some of these douche bags have children. And their children mingle with my children. There is a total market for douche bag repellant. I need some.

Shoutout to that one person who had that really great thing happen to them. Yes, you.