Living, Loving, Learning

Dean and Griffin Gabriella (who work tirelessly getting the baby to warm up enough to her to be held) and Lucy. We are having such a fantastic weekend! Our best friends are with us and we could not be any happier about it. It feels so good to be with people who just know you, truly know you and love you still. AND, last night I was able to get 5 loners in Euchre!!! What a feeling....wish I was at the casino. Gabriella made her amazing macaroni and cheese yesterday. Griffin must have told her 10 times " I love your macaroni and cheese" and "I am so proud of you!". It was adorable. When he asked to "prave" (pray) mid-dinner he closed his eyes tight and said, "Thank you for Gabriella's macaroni and cheese, Amen"

I am thankful that you care so much for me that you stop in at my blog from time to time. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

My sister Alexis has been published!!! Check out her article on the effects of indoor air pollution.

I am so incredibly thankful for my two little turkeys.

I'm not going to lie - It has been a rough week here at the Gast house! Tuesday night I started feeling crummy and by Thursday morning I had glands the size of golf balls - strep throat. Bruce had to stay home for 2 days to take care of the kids - I just physically could not do it. My little velcro baby was not at all happy that Mama did not spend the normal amount of time with her. I'm starting to feel better, that is the good news.

Not much news to report here. The kids are sick, AGAIN! Griffin woke throwing up Thursday and had a sore throat and light fever. Friday night when getting him in the tub I noticed he had a rash all over - ugh, poor kid. He has been struggling ever since, finally feeling better this morning. And getting his appetite back. He has barely eaten anything this weekend but wakes up this morning and wants green eggs and ham (which thank goodness I happen to have) and follows it with a big glass of OJ, a banana and graham crackers...all before 10:00 am. Lucy is the opposite, she was great all weekend and wakes up today with a runny nose, watery eyes and a foul mood. We've been trying to wash our hands a ton, but I guess it wasn't enough. I did manage to duck out on Sat. to do some errands! by myself!! It has been a long time since I did anything - I mean anything- by myself. I also took crafting class on Saturday afternoon (can't talk much about that since Christmas is c...

I've been trying to get a photo of those 2 little adorable teeth - it has been a challenge. Lucy is creeping all over the place and very motivated by toys. Meal time has become an exercise in patience for me. Ohhh boy, this girl can scream, and does it a ton at meals. Griffin was such a good little eater, this is quite a different experience. She does like most of the things we make for her so I am not entirely sure what she is screaming about. She sure is easy with the smiles the rest of the day, though!

They love this game. He LOVES when she pulls his hair - crazy kids.

I've been a huge Pete Seeger fan for over a decade but have recently delved into his music with renewed vigor. With this country in such a transition, I wanted to listen to music that understood change in a fundamental way. Immediately I thought of Pete . Last year a documentary of his life came out, Pete Seeger: The Power of Song . It offers a fantastic portrait of his life and legacy. The songs he sings are a large part of our countries history, the songs that have been sung for so many generations that are still so relevant to where we find ourselves today. Griffin has really been enjoying listening with me and more than once I've heard him singing quietly to himself the lyrics to " Oh you can't scare me, I'm sticking with the union". For a short run (only 38 episodes, I believe) Pete had a folk music show on NY public television called Rainbow Quest . We have been watching some of these episodes and really enjoying it - especially Bruce. It is a collectio...

Lucy's teeth really popped up this week, I should know as they are very sharp. It has made nursing somewhat resemble a swim in shark infested waters - YAW OUCH. She is starting to use her voice to call for things, mainly Griffin. In the morning when she wakes up I will usually bring her into our bed for the morning feeding. Once she is really awake she lifts her head up and starts looking around and yelling, oy the yelling. It usually does the trick and beckons her big brother in. He is greeted by a HUGE smile and major arm flailing from her. She is getting really active in her Johnny jump-up, actually getting some air. We introduced apples and black beans into her diet this week. She loves the applesauce but not so much the beans. That may take some time...maybe I should have made her first protein pinto beans instead. She has realized she can get place by rolling, actually following us out of a room that way. She seems like she is getting the inkling of the idea of crawling ...

***This is so good, I just HAD to share it. It really says what I can't put into words. Thoughts that I totally agree with. I know I e-mailed it to some of you, but I had to post it here also.**** YES WE DID By Marianne Williamson America has had a non-violent revolution. As long as there are historians writing about the United States, this moment of fundamental re-alignment of our national purpose will be remembered, pored over and analyzed. It will be seen as one of the shining points along the evolutionary arc of the American story. Yet it will never submit itself to being summed up in a nice little package that reason alone can understand. It's been noted before that Americans get excited about politics every forty years. Then, in the words of comedian Will Rogers, "We have to go sleep it off." We were certainly excited in the l960's. And this is 2008; exactly forty years since the most dramatic and violent year of the Sixties decade: the year when both Bobby ...

Griffin had his last soccer game with the Goalseekers last Saturday. He really enjoyed this season. Being able to be a "leader" and strong player on his team did great things for his confidence level. Even at the last game, there was a bully on the other team that focused on Griffin, ramming his head into Griff's face at numerous times. Griffin would shed a few tears, but each time he was able to get it together and get back on the field. We were so proud. **On a side note, when another kid pushed the bully down he started crying and could not get it together to play the last few minutes of the game. Isn't that the way, bullys can give it but not many can take it.*** He loves his trophy. Although he is sad that soccer is over, he is anxious to play basketball (the season starts in December I believe.) And we are calling this little girl, Bethany, his first crush. She had zero interest in the game, but these two had a great time playing together off the field. More tha...

What a beautiful day has dawned. When my Mom called me this morning (she is currently in Germany) and heard me sobbing, she said "It's been 12 hours and you are still crying?" Yes, I most certainly am. I am moved to the very core. In the last few weeks I had let the FEAR creep in and what a relief today is. I feel as though I have shed my skin, cast off a layer of grime and run into the sunshine. It is a new chapter and I am ready to embrace it. It is time to heal, time to bond together, time to work together for a new and brighter future for us all. To dance and laugh and love. It is time to clean up the mess and hand our children, my children, a country in better shape than we found it. I am eager to follow President Obama into the future.

Because you love your country, GO VOTE! Make the time, it will definitely be the most important thing you do all day.

Welcome to the House of Gast! Bruce did a great job carving the pumpkins.