Say It Ain't So!

(note: probably only two of our readers will understand this post)

What?
No more Cafe Classical?
No more Rush Hour Relief?
No more Great Wall of Composers?
No more one-oh-three-Commercial-Free?
No more Classical Countdown???
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
Ah, cruel, cruel world! What have you done with Washington's Good Music Station?
Farewell WGMS!

hello, classical weta

*SIGH* Even though there's still good music on the radio, I'm going to miss the radio personalities. They were half the reason I listened to WGMS. Although it wasn't quite the same since Dennis Owens left. He was a true gem. (you know anyone who calls his wife "She Who Must Be Obeyed" has gotta be good) But in the linked article, Dennis made an excellent point -- that people don't listen to Classical music on the radio b/c it's boring -- not the music, but the presentation. I loved listening to WGMS b/c the music was good (the program director had good taste) and the DJs were fun to listen to. I have to say I don't have the same confidence in WETA. I don't think public radio station personalities are allowed to have fun.

Another Shooting Star

As most of you know, yesterday was the March for Life. We were all planning to go. Last year I had Katie in the stroller, and Miriam walked the whole way, the little trooper. I was going to take our parish's bus again this year. But I couldn't. Mr. Pickles went, but I stayed home and thought particularly about all the mothers who have suffered the loss of a child before it was born. I remembered those women who suffer every time they see a newborn. I thought of all the innocent babies who have died, including my own three.

Yes, three.

I had hoped to end our Christmas post with a little pic about our best Christmas present, which was going to be this:


But I just miscarried. Again. I actually expected it -- once again, I never really felt pregnant. It was also really early, about 5 weeks along this time. It still wasn't fun -- on Friday I felt like I was having postpartum contractions (Ibuprofen is my best friend). And I spent the weekend on the couch reading David Copperfield, and declared yesterday to be a pajama day. My attitude has pretty much been, well, here we go again, let's just wait for this to resolve itself so life can move on. My poor, wonderful, long-suffering husband -- he's been picking up the slack and making sure that the earth continutes to revolve (something I'm not sure about whenever I'm laid up). The girls can also tell that something's wrong -- Miriam has been especially clingy and in need of cuddles lately.

For us, it's starting to get frustrating. We can't help wondering, "How long, O Lord?" I'm so ready to hold and cuddle another squishy, sweet-smelling little bundle. But everytime we're tempted to be discouraged, we just look at Katie. Yes, we lost Gabriella, but if we hadn't, we wouldn't have gotten Katie, and all the joy and silliness she brings to our lives. We just can't imagine our family without her. So even though I've just lost two babies in a row, it's because God wants us to have another baby instead. We just need to be patient and wait.

A few weeks ago I asked Miriam what we should name the new baby. She promptly said, "Alice." (one of her favorite names for her imaginary friends) I haven't received any other inspirations, so in honor of Miriam, the Best Big Sister in the Universe (much better than I ever was), we named her little sister Alice.

In memory of all the mothers who have lost children, and all the children they lost, especially our angel babies Gabriella, Peter and Alice:

Dear God,
I wanted to hold my babies in my arms
and tell them all about You.
But since I can't,
will You hold them in Your arms
and tell them about me?



(photo credit: All God's Children by Dona Gelsinger)
(poem by Anonymous author)

How do we know when Katie is done eating?

Oh, she'll do something like this:



This video clip is from breakfast. This evening she was smashing peas on her eye and saying, "Oh, my eye!**"

Click here for those who can't watch the embedded video.


**Ahim brothers will appreciate that one.

I Like Snow

Cold snow, Slow snow

White snow, Icy snow

I like snow

Snow falling softly with everything still

White in the blue night, white on the sill

White in the trees on the far distant hill
With everything still

I like snow.

(from "The Friendly Book" by Margaret Wise Brown)
photo captions:
1) Our Snow Bunnies (there's NO way Katie's going to let lost! she GLOWS)
2) Aren't Katie's gloves to die for? I saw the hat & mitten set and HAD to get them for her. They were MADE for her.
3) I can't believe how long Katie's hair is getting!
4) Miriam enjoying the first snowfall of the year, and asking every 3 minutes when Katie was going to wake up so we could go outside and she could throw snowballs at Daddy (her crowning glory of the day was when she pasted him across the hinder, as he was bending over to scoop up a snowball to throw at HER!)
5) I like snow. (but not my camera's reflection)

I need new pots.

Meanwhile, the girls' collection of play dishes rapidly grows.

New! Improved!

Welcome to...

(new Pickles logo courtesy of the Webification 2.0 tool, courtesy of F.U. News)

Yes, we've been dragged kicking and screaming into the NEW blogger. Do you like? My one complaint with it is that the template is now so complicated that I'm going to have to learn how to program in html all over again, just to fine-tune the sidebar. (I had to completely re-enter everything in the sidebar -- insomnia can be very useful sometimes -- just b/c I couldn't do a simple cut & paste of all our customized info. Grrr.) What the h-e-double hockey sticks are widgets???

Sigh... now I know how old timers feel about computers. Too much new stuff to keep up with! Maybe we should just go back to the old fashioned way of communicating with y'all by taking pictures, getting the FILM developed, and actually MAILING you copies along with HAND-written updates. Gosh, talk about medieval! Of course, we'd have to charge you all a subscription fee b/c postage is so darn expensive. Why, back in MY day...

Okay, I'm going to stop now before I totally sound like a cranky old fogey.

I must need more sleep.

This is what I got out to make the girls a PBJ sandwich. Note the "jelly."

Can you imagine how thrilled they would have been if I hadn't caught myself in time?

Out of the Mouths of Babes and Infants

This morning while the girls were snuggling in bed with me, I was just conscious enough to register that a sweet little two-year-old voice was singing, "Wi-ise, and shi-ine, an' give God gorly gorly, wi-ise, and shi-ine, an' give God gorly gorly, wi-ise, an' shi-ine..." (over and over) How can I be grumpy with a wake up call like that?

What were model artists thinking?

Exhibit A:

Vintage 50's housecoat

What women wore for their trips to the hospital for dialysis, since obviously they couldn't have kidneys AND fit into this dress at the same time.

(joke courtesy of Mr. Pickles)

I'm just happy the days of the corset are gone. I happen to like breathing.

What month is it again?

The grillmaster at work... in January!


It doesn't usually get this warm at this time of year even in southern California! It's been SO mild lately. We've been sleeping with our windows open. I jinxed us this year -- it's probably never going to snow this year b/c I have all the snow gear for the girls already. Now, if I had waited until now to get their snow boots & pants & mittens & stuff, we would've had at least three blizzards by now.

We're actually all hoping the mild weather is going to last at least until the March for Life next week. :) It's cooling down today, though -- and I just checked the forecast and found out it's supposed to be really cold and windy and rainy and snowy.

Figures.

But it was really nice having grilled chicken in the middle of winter!

A Very Pickles Christmas Photo Dump!

Well, now that Christmas has been over for a week, I thought it about time to post some pictures of our Christmas Day. :)

What a fine looking family, if I do say so myself. :)

They got cartloads of loot, but here are a few highlights:

The girls LOVED their Christmas ornaments from Grandma & Grandpa B. We had to keep Katie's "girl" low on the tree so she could hold it and talk to it. She was CRUSHED when we took it off the tree to pack the decorations away.

"[gasp] Cars movie!!" Katie requests this movie at least twice a day. (They're actually watching it while I write this.)

They LOVE their "Nana sweaters." (and I love Katie's face in this picture)

They also BOTH love the dresses from Grandma B! :) Miriam often wears both of them together -- they make a really pretty layered look, actually:

Scoring a bullseye (for reals!) with the dart game Santa brought Daddy. (Katie loves playing darts too -- which for her means picking up the misfires and poking them into the carpet.)

Our Christmas spread: glazed ham, green bean casserole, candied yams, green salad, rolls, and apple pie and ice cream. The extra place at the end of the table is for Jesus.

And finally, the coveted rocking chair. Miriam is very generous in sharing it even with her sister. :)

A Very Pickle's Christmas (Eve)

Here's a family video from Christmas Eve when we decorated our tree. About 45 minutes smashed into about 5 minutes. Hope you enjoy it. I had fun putting it together. More to come in the future as time permits.



I know that some of you have had problems accessing it. To get on our "special friends" list and view the video you must send a suitcase of large, unmarked bills to ...

I do have an option of making the video public and allowing everybody to view it, but due to what I'd consider a healthy level of paranoia I'd rather keep it private and only post it on my blog. I'm currently working with You Tube to get it to work.

For now I'll keep it as public so ye family and friends can view it. Let me know if you can't.

For those of you who can't watch the embedded video. Click here.

Happy (belated) Delurking Week!

According to the author of Paper Napkin, Jan. 8-12 was De-Lurking Week. In true Pickles family style, we're celebrating it a week later. :) If anyone reads this blog, leave a comment. That means you. No exceptions. I know, it hasn't been that exciting lately (gimme a break -- we're recovering from Christmas vacation!), but I promise updates and pictures soon. (and maybe even a video! ooh!) So if you're reading this, just take 30 seconds right now & leave us a comment with something about you that we don't know. (Chris' idea.) We may even respond with some things about us that YOU don't know.

Signs and Portents

You are all, no doubt, excitedly watching the progress of Comet McNaught.

Space Weather News for Jan. 13, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

Observers around the world are reporting that Comet McNaught is now visible in broad daylight. The comet is very close to the sun, so it is tricky to find. If you want to try, here's how to do it: Go outside and stand in the shadow of a building so that the glare of the sun is blocked out. Make a fist and hold it at arm's length. The comet is about one fist-width east of the sun.

This weekend is a special time for Comet McNaught because it is making its closest approach to the sun. Solar heat causes the comet to vaporize furiously and brighten to daytime visibility. McNaught is now the brightest comet in more than 40 years, and it may become the brightest in centuries.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and updates.


Unfortunately it's been cloudy every single morning the last few days, and there's a big fat hill blocking our view of the west, so I haven't seen it yet. :(