Weasel Of Doom

1. This week sucked, but it is almost over
2. Got to see Shannon’s parents again
3. Finished “Archangel’s Kiss” – was good; will buy the next book when it comes out
4. Sugar cane mastery
5. Found a bunch of books I wanted at the Half-Price bookstore:
6. – “Silent in the Sanctuary,” the second Lady Julia book by Deanna Raybourn. Now to hope that somebody takes the first and third books to Half-Price Books, as well :)
7. – three books by Sherry Thomas (an author my library does not carry) – I am in a mood for a nice Victorian romance….
8. Judicious fiddling with a paperclip has straightened the pins in my cellphone charger unit, so now I don’t have to get a new one
9. My husband is so good with the little pests
10. Free coffee at work. Blessed stimulant.

1. May 9th, Victory Day. It’s been 65 years since the war ended. Thinking of grandpa, who was a navy pilot during World War II.
2. Damien is feeling better.
3. Mel, who comes over and plays with the kids and teaches them things.
4. Xavier’s affection for stuffed animals.
5. Funny stuff Sergey says. (“Mommy, are you driving now?” “Well, since I am standing right here in front of you with a garbage bag in my hand, no, I am not.”)
6. Unexpected chocolate muffin from Matt’s wife.
7. Feeling slightly better today, though still really out of it.
8. Missing lunch, and then finding out that there is a reception with hors d’oeuvres and desserts at work that day.
9. Sleeping kids.
10. Going to bed early with a book.

1. Started Xavier’s speech evaluation process – it should happen sometime within the next month and a half
2. Nice lunch with Shannon (even if we ate more pizza than is good for us ;)
3. Making some progress on my many and varied conflicting priority projects at work
4. Bill had a very positive job interview, even though it is not likely to result in a job
5. Beautiful warm weather, and a walk at night while the kids all fell asleep in the strollers.

1. Lots of people gave me a virtual hug on Facebook when I had “needs a hug” as my status. It really helped during a sucky work day.
2. Did not quit my job. Was very tempted, though.
3. Reports of a break-in at the village turned out to be false.
4. Was able to give Karen some information she needed.
5. Did “Step Away the Inches” again.

1. Laundry is done and put away.
2. Friends who helped us take apart an old swing set and move it to our house. Now we just need to put it back together (cue ominous music).
3. MiL took D&S to see “Green Eggs and Ham,” and much fun was had by all.
4. Two loads of dishes done, everything is put away, and kitchen floor is washed (house was REALLY trashed).
5. Downstairs bathroom is clean.
6. Bonus: I actually did the T-tapp “Step Away the Inches” workout tonight

(Day two of de-lurking. Stealth mode appears to be working. I will be messing around with numbering as I fill in the missing posts.)

1. Getting to work at a reasonable time.
2. Making some progress on the important (and over a week late) survey.
3. Being able to work late to catch up on stuff.
4. Everybody fell asleep in their own beds on Friday night, while I sang Russian songs to them.
5. Kids behaved well for Peggy’s wedding.
6. There was a playground by the church, so Sergey and Xavier had something to do when they got bored sitting inside.
7. Beautiful spring day.
8. All three boys playing together at Humboldt Park.
9. Xavier’s happy dirt-covered face.
10. Going for a nice walk at night, while the kids clonked out in the strollers.

Damien…

1. … is getting really good at figuring things out in video games
2. … have been having only “green” days at school for weeks
3. … said “I like you, Mommy” the other day
4. … comes up and asks if he can snuggle and cuddle
5. … can be trusted to play outside with no supervision
6. … is getting better at expressing what he thinks, feels, and needs
7. … likes reading books and magazines
8. … does not lose his temper with little brothers as often as they deserve it
9. … has beautiful eyelashes and nice thick hair (why yes, I am jealous)
10. … dresses himself (sometimes even in clothes that match :-)

Sergey…

1. … is a smart little guy
2. … talks really well
3. … likes to play with little Xavier
4. … is very affectionate
5. … always asks for hugs and kisses at night and when people leave
6. … asks Damien to play with him
7. … can count to 100 and more (with some help)
8. … wants to open all the presents I get in FarmVille
9. … likes picking out earrings for me to wear
10. … figured out what talking on the phone is all about

Xavier…

1. … is starting to babble more
2. … loves stuffed animals
3. … can communicate really well with a few well chosen shrieks
4. … signs “more” when he wants more
5. … loves his Papa
6. … is really good at climbing things
7. … likes the swing
8. … always wants to play with (or tackle) his brothers
9. … does cute things for Grandma and Grandpa when we talk on Skype
10. … has the sweetest smile

1. Girls Nights with Shannon.
2. Bill’s Guys Nights with Eric.
3. No suspicious moles found during the visit to the dermatologist.
4. D&S enjoyed movies at the Library, and I got to see “The Princess and the Frog.”
5. Damien is the most enthusiastic and cooperative student they had in a long time at Level 1 swimming.
6. D&S have their swimming classes at the same time – much easier for Bill.
7. Damien advanced a level at gymnastics. Sergey continues to slack off ;)
8. Xavier is babbling more. He can say “Uncle Mel” but not “Papa” or “Mama” – not sure that’s a compliment to our parenting :P
9. Xavier’s diligent swimming attempts on Saturday mornings. He got the arm movements down, but is refusing to kick.
10. An occasional quiet alone time.

1. Happy Birthday, Daddy. Love you always.
2. After a week of cold weather, it’s finally back to nice and warm.
3. Because it’s warmer, I could take down my white trash air conditioner cover.
4. Spring is here, everything is nice and fresh and green.
5. Crabapples in bloom.
6. Dandelions on our lawn (my neighbors probably do not share my joy in them).
7. Tulips, daffodils, forsythia, and magnolias, all looking pretty.
8. Bunnies eating grass on the lawns.
9. Commie (red) squirrels running around our back yard.
10. Birdsong.

Books books books

1. Falls public library late book fine is a ridiculously low 10 cents per day.
2. Ordered “Under Heaven” by Guy Gavriel Kay from Amazon. Can’t wait to read it!
3. Since an order of $25 or more qualifies for free shipping, also ordered “Archangel’s Kiss” by Nalini Singh and “Mark of the Demon” by Diana Rowland. Hmmm, just noticed that there is a definite theme in the titles :-)
4. My copy of “The Dead Travel Fast” by Deanna Rayburn finally arrived. An homage to gothic romances. Now to find time and write a review on LibraryThing.
5. Finished “Legacy” by Lois McMaster Bujold, next on the list – “Passage.” Am enjoying The Sharing Knife series so far.
6. Finally got around to read some more P.D.James (she of the “Children of Men” fame) – read “Unnatural Causes,” “An Unsuitable Job for a Woman,” and “The Black Tower” (yay for omnibus editions). Enjoyed them, but not to the point of wanting to buy my own copies.
7. Re-reading Sharon Shinn’s “Archangel” and “Angelica.”
8. I am so glad I can lose myself in a good book.
9. Libraries. With LOTS and LOTS of books. I just wish they carried more of the authors I enjoy.
10. When I go to Russia, I am going to buy “Night Watch,” “Day Watch,” “Twilight Watch,” and “Last Watch” in their original Russian. Parental units will likely not be amused, but they should be resigned to my reading tastes by now.

I come slinking back… Let’s see if anybody notices :-)

FarmVille edition

1. Potatoes Mastery
2. Completed Nursery Barn
3. 1/3 of the way to Botanical Garden
4. New crops to master (not that I am done with the old ones, but it’s nice to know stuff is being added)
5. Fuel now available for coins!
6. Adoptable Llamas
7. Dogs (even though both of mine tried running away from neglect)
8. Pretty hanging flower decorations
9. Tons of mystery boxes and a few mystery eggs for Sergey to open when he gets in the mood
10. Looks like I will be done with limited edition tomatillo mastery WAY before the timer runs out (on May 5th)

1. People commented on my “rating the books” post.
2. Good time at Shannon’s.
3. Downstairs area is clean for Bill’s game tomorrow.
4. Sergey dancing and singing “I want to move it move it” – too funny.
5. Hugs and snuggles.

1. Falling asleep early (reason for this post being back-dated)
2. Seven plastic bags and lots of tape later, the wind no longer blows right through the air conditioner in my office (incidentally, it snowed during the night. I knew that would happen the moment maintenance workers carried that air conditioner in).
3. Talking on the phone with Sergey, complete with “Mommy, are you there?” for refrain.
4. Yellow melon mastery.
5. Good coffee at an open house at work.