Mini-Me?

They definitely carry our DNA - in his build, in his eyes, in his little face, but also in his little idiosyncrasies.

I like socks, Mommy.
That tag itches me, Mommy.
My fingers are sticky!
Oh, no. My shoes are muddy!
Its going to be crowded and loud. I don't
want to go.

(And some pics for good measure!)
Lennon set on third, with Jackson backing him up. "Long and Pitz" will be two names tied together in the sporting world (and hopefully not on the principals' lists) for years to come.

Jackson and Hannah after the year end preschool photo. After snapping the pic, I had to declare that we don't play on beds. I'm sure I will not be in a picture taking mood if I find them like this another 10 years or so.

Jackson, Hannah and Jeffrey holding their star balloons. Jackson's went to the sky while getting into the car. Hannah consoled him the entire way back to our house. He quickly moved on once we got home.

Jackson with Mrs. Kienzler, a GREAT preschool teacher!

Lined up for the program with Ellen and TJ (alphabetically bookending Jackson for years to come). He was soooo proud of the songs they had lined up.

Flying

Do you remember the summer you learned to fully pump your legs on a swing? Jackson is logging hours at a time in our back yard. The first time he truly mastered it, he was on the swing for more than 2 hours, and could barely walk the next day.

This evening I found him back there giggling and flying through the sky!

Art Lover?

Yesterday was my favorite local day of the year - the Old State Capitol Art Fair (timing could not be better - my much needed indulgence!). Some 150 artists from around the country, many local, come and showcase their work in the square surrounding the beautiful Old State Capitol in downtown Springfield.

The Fair also features food vendors and entertainment.

The OSCAF has been a tradition for Jackson and I since I was pregnant with him. Each year I try to get a piece (or more) for our house, and something for him.

The spring that he turned 1, it was the football clock for his room by an artists who actually specializes in brightly colored clay fish, snakes and other children favorites. (The eyes glow in the dark.)

We have also purchased the fan pulls for his from my favorite artist, Lisa Barnhart.

My EXTREME indulgence from last year - this mirror. Yesterday she explained that it was the last of its kind, because she no longer finishes the sodder as smoothly as mine is. (It does not normally hold this star piece, and has been waiting a year to be hung.)

My glass man who keeps my company in the kitchen.

In my craziness of this week, I was so excited for the art fair. Chris was less than luke warm, so we issued an edict - we were headed to the Art Fair, and anyone was welcome to join us, but they could not be wet blankets!

It ended up being just Jax and I. We parked in our normal "secret" spot, got our awesome mini-donuts, and started exploring. This year Jackson was sooo into the art. It was very fun to hear in comment on what he liked, noticed, thought was cool, etc.

In the end, we walked away with a print of a painting featuring a black lab that looks like Tessie - Jackson and his father's dog. Jax was obsessed that he choose the Tessie picture. He also purchased a brass turtle in the children's tent, a long with a very "special" cat print for me.

"Tessie" picture, Jackson's purchase for the Art Fair 2010.

The "Cat in a Box" piece Jackson picked for me. He said, "I knew you would love it, Mommy!" Yep. I love it cuz you picked it.

I picked up a few gifts and a Lisa Barnhart lawn decoration.

Lastly, I ordered a family gift from a metal sculptor I have purchased from in the past. We soon will have a "The Miller Family" metal piece to display in the front garden.

Despite misty weather, the Art Fair, and the special tradition with my little many, met and exceeded!!

Worms

Remember the song,

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I'll go eat worms...?

That's how I feel today. There has just been way too much going on (thus the reason for not blogging lately).

In the past 24 hours I have thrown my temper tantrum and said enough is enough.

I cannot not prep a house to sell, look at lots, look at houses, evaluate plans, price wood, fixtures, etc. work on an annulment, plan a wedding, parent 1+2 children, including an almost 5 year old in 2 sports, maintain a house for sale, clean out the garage and basement, have a garage sale, work full time, be a decent fiance, cook, deal with a depressed semi-unemployed man, do laundry for 3+2 and still maintain my sanity. Many things HAVE TO GO!!

• Yesterday I rationally documented all of the reasons and told Chris I was pulling the plug on the sell/buy/build a new house. We currently have a lopsided budget and too much cumulative debt to take on a bigger mortgage. We are just going to have to stay put for the next 2-3 years or until that big ugly number is AT LEAST divided by 2. This morning I yanked the For Sale sign out of the yard.
• Last night I had a serious discussion with the little man about sportsmanship and that if I EVER saw him kick an opponent's shoe (or any part for that matter) again, he was not playing sports for a year. Even if he does think he is an All Star 3rd baseman.
• My boss and I had a much more contentious meeting over my annual review than she anticipated. She told me that I needed to be more patient and nicer to my colleagues, and I told her I was tired of the Sorority House atmosphere in our office and that I thought her judgement of performance was clouded by her friendship with some of my colleagues. Oh, and that her husband screaming at me at the top of his lungs that "the F#$%^$#ng phones are still NOT fixed" when they WERE working fine when the phone company (whose President calls our office EVERY week because they are our/his client) left, was never acceptable in the workplace.
• THEN Jackson's father called asking about day care rates once Jackson starts kindergarten. It opened the door for me to bust him out that I know his salary has more than doubled (he works for state government - it is public information) since we signed the child support agreement that he is still underpaying, and that I know that he makes the same as me so essentially he needs to get with the program. I did not exactly put it that way, but instead, in the nicer more patient Suzanne mode, developed a nice excel grid calculating down from his gross, then net, then less insurance, then 20%. AND then outlined day care and tuition costs, and offered that he could pick which thing he wanted to pay. His choice. And acknowledging the less costly one is still $200 more than his is paying now (and not "about" the same like he told me 20% of his salary would be), AND $150 less than he SHOULD be at 20%. Never mind that I can take 1/2 of the tuition + child care number and add it to the 20% and that is what a judge would say he should pay. I am NOT greedy. I have been more than generous, but it is more than time for him to buck up.

The silver lining is that all of the bad conversations are all about out. I have typed and the elephant sized weight has been lessoning from my chest. Perhaps I should give my sister in law a call.....:-)

"Short fat juicy ones. Long slim slimy ones...itsy bitsy fuzzy little wooorrrrms."