Advise me!

I don't trust advisors on campus. In my experience, they've never been too bright. Given that we have a complicated schedule to figure out each quarter, I have just done a "self-advise" session.
This has gotten me into trouble a bit. See, I'm not that bright either, clearly. Why else would I be taking financial accounting, calculus and French in the same quarter on top of being newly pregnant and let's not forget we've got three kids and a husband at home. This craziness has led to stress, fatigue, depression - not good things. I have to maintain my status at UW, but I thought I just might play about a bit during the spring quarter - I'm working on the schedule now. It's really more important right now to get Aaron into the right classes - he graduates much sooner than I do. And with me less stressed at home, he can focus on his stuff better.
So here's what I thought I'd take:

• French 103 - just to continue my language studies, and I love this class
• French 214 - a class taught in English on the French fairy tale - just for fun, but I fulfill a general education requirement with it!
• Music 116 - Elementary Music Theory - only a 2 credit class, but I have to take it if I'm ever going to take the keyboarding class - this girl has wanted to learn to play the piano forever and dangit, I'm going to do it.

Reasons this would be good:

• Aaron is taking an LSAT prep course this spring, on top of his full schedule. I would be less stressed and he wouldn't have to help out around the house so much. The LSAT is very important and he needs to do very well.
• I'd be done every day by 1:30. I'd only have one class (French 103) on Mondays. The music class meets just two days a week.
• Aaron would have lots more time to spend at the school studying. He really studies better at school. ADHD boy.
• I want to play this spring. Aunt Annette is coming for a visit and I want time to spend with her.
• I want time to be creative, to do crafts, make a baby quilt, enter recipe contests - all the things that are currently missing from my life.
• I want more balance. The scale is tipped toward school. I want things balanced out a bit.

Reasons this would be bad:

• Can only think of one. This delays my application into the business school. Well, I can apply, but I'm supposed to complete the other accounting class and a statistics class before I start classes. I thought I might take one in the fall and the other next winter and just wait a bit before applying to the business school. It's not a race, and I need to think of my family, including this new baby. Laurel will be starting kindergarten in the fall, so that has to factor in as well.

I've pretty much made up my mind, but I want opinions? Thoughts on balancing out your life? Advice? Encouragement?

I *Heart* Valentine's Day

I'm gearing up for Valentine's Day. Here's what I've got for supplies:

• cupcake liners - regular and mini
• sprinkles - lots and lots of sprinkles
• piping bags
• chocolate
• butter, sugar, flour, eggs
• cupcake stencils you can find here
• pancake molds you can find here and here
• candy
• card making supplies
• more cookie cutters than you can shake a stick at
• heart pizzas for dinner
• ideas for dessert with the family
• A card for Aaron
• and PLANS for Valentine's Day

We're not going out at nighttime this time around. We're getting a sitter for in the morning so we can go out for oh-so-delicious breakfast pastries and hot chocolate or orange juice. We're going to our favorite bakery in Ballard, Cafe Besalu. We'll spend the evening together as a family and then Aaron and I can watch a movie together too. Maybe I'll even think of a service project idea for the holiday too. Ideas? Donate some food? Toys? Visit the children's hospital? Valentine's for the children's hospital? I'd like to include a service project for each holiday.

Fashion Victims

Disclaimer: I apologize if this post offends any of my dear friends. But it must be said.

Women are slaves to fashion, this I know. I try to either avoid the trends or, thankfully for me, I'm too poor to afford them. Aaron and I play fashion police on campus. Oh, what fun!

I'm not opposed to any fashion trend, just the universal applications of them.

My point? Flip flops in January, in Seattle, in the rain. Stupid.
Still need one? Super-short jean shorts (with cuffs! and embroidery!!), marroon tights and boots. In January. It was freezing this morning.
Another? Boots everyday, everywhere. Surely these girls have other shoes choices? Or do they just want to get their money's worth out of the latest fashion trend because, let's face it, it will go away soon and they'll be stuck with these UGG boots that are so passe? I don't hate the boot trend, I hate the overapplication, over-saturation of the boot trend. I want some nice, black, heeled boots myself to wear with skirts. But it's just been overdone.

Now, lest you think I'm some snobby, above fashion trends individual, let me just tell you I have two basic uniforms for school days: nice and my "hey, at least I took a shower today" look. The first consists of a sweater, my nice coat, jeans, Doc Martens (think sister missionary style, not the boot versions). Oh, and I do my hair and make-up. The second, jeans, t-shirt, Life is Good hat and tennis shoes. Make-up maybe. Hair? Why? I've got a hat! Trend setter I am not. My Doc Martens are at least 10 years old, I believe. But hey, they're good shoes!

I'd like to be more stylish. I've rediscovered my love for Eddie Bauer stuff. Helps to be in Seattle for that.

Random, I know. But I saw that jean-short, marroon tights girl today and just couldn't stand it anymore.

Just some random photos

Lest you forget how cute my kids are, here's some random shots. First, Mr. James, who likes to eat bubbles. Here, he has a little beard.

On MLK day, we went to the park. James loves to swing. Loves it. I have a hundred shots of this same happy face. He would have stayed there all day.

Will and Laurel were doing the tummy swinging, which made me laugh. Here, Will told us he was a bear and was growling fiercely.

Laurel is wearing a hat that Aunt Annette sent for me - she and Will have commandeered them and wear them around. They kind of look like the kid in "The Sandlot" with the bill that's too big. Not as bad, but these grown-up ballcaps look cute on those little heads. Or not-so-little heads - Will's head is almost as big as mine!

Throwing rocks at the lake. It was chilly dog! We didn't last long here, but we do have our favorite parks in Seattle where we can throw rocks in water. This is a good one.

I want slippers!

I hate having cold feet, but I hate sleeping with socks on. I need slippers. Santa must've forgotten this year. Just have to take care of it myself.
Luckily, all the stores think that no one gets cold feet after the holidays - or at least no one is willing to pay full-price for slippers! Hee hee!

What to post . . .

I need to update the blog, but it's all random information. Here it is, in all it's glory:

• School started for Aaron and I on Monday - looks like we've got our work cut out for us this quarter.


• French class is making me hungry. It's at lunchtime, I'm pregnant, and we're talking about food. Yummy French food. This is torture!


• I'm currently craving hot chocolate, protein and soups.


• I had an ultrasound on Tuesday to confirm my dates. I was a little nervous that it would be twins, but there's just one little gummy bear in there. Too cute - could see the little arms and legs moving a bit.


• Friends come and go, but laundry is forever.


• Aaron has applied for a summer internship - wish us luck!