Happy Anniversary to us

Sebastien and I got married seventeen years ago today. Here are seventeen interesting tidbits for our special day:

1. We spent Christmas and New Year's in New Orleans on a long vacation, getting hitched while we were there.

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2. I was 22; he was 23.

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3. I was never, ever proposed to.

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4. I don't have an engagement ring. I had a wedding ring, but I lost it.

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5. Seb has a wedding ring, but he wears it on his right hand these days.

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6. We were married at noon and ten hours later the city exploded fireworks over the Mississippi River in our honor.

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7. The entire city took to the streets to celebrate our union.

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8. The French government does not yet recognize our union.

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9. Aaron Neville sang at the small church service we went to on Christmas Eve.

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10. This union has spawned four children and thirteen pets.

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11. We have lived in two towns: the one that I am sitting in right now and Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada. We have lived in five different houses.

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12. Sebastien got a big tax break for '91 by adding a wife at the last minute.

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13. We got a wok as a wedding present.

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14. I never changed my name, but I do use his socially.

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15. I'm wearing his ugly golf sweater right now.

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16. We met (I was 15 and he was 16) on the campgrounds at the EAA Airshow in Oshkosh, WI. It was Like at First Sight. The smell of a bonfire still reminds me of those days.

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17. I'm still madly in love, and so is he. We will still be madly in love in a year when he is bald and I am chubby.

The new bed covered

He is still sleeping in the middle of the bed. Since it is now a king, there is enough room for me on either side.

The new duvet cover actually goes with the orange chair and the light green walls and dark green carpet. I had a hard time finding anything that would work until I went over to Pottery Barn; they had several to choose from. It was a difficult choice. If you look closely at the fabric, you can see printing all over it, names and numbers of colors. I really don't like words/numbers on my fabric or in my art, but I like it here on my duvet cover. Strange.

I'll post more before/after photos when I find them. If I don't get distracted by underwear.

The underwear

I was looking through my photo files trying to find some before photos of my house. I found these instead:
This is why we stopped at four children. The underwear wore out.

Christmas walk

It was 60 degrees F the day after Christmas. Here are photos from our hour-long afternoon stroll that took us much of the way around the perimeter of our 40 acres. We started at the lake. I love a guy who can walk on water.
Here I am getting all artsy-fartsy with my photography. Ever see a tree in the ice like this?

Freddy looks pretty cute when he isn't complaining about eating veggies or whining for chips or talking about scat.

We had to take a break to retrace our steps to find Seb's camera that I managed to lose. If we hadn't found it, I would have climbed into my bed in a great depression. Seb would have cheerfully bought another one, better than the last. (What if he decides to get another wife? Bigger and better than the last???)

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Sebastien was the only one brave enough to cross the creek on this newly fallen tree.

Here I am crossing the Treacherous Pass with my trusty, noisy, fluffy companion. There is a drop down to creek level on either side of this little walkway. It has eroded terribly and will soon slip down and be gone. Freddy skipped right across it and then elbowed past me in another narrow dangerous spot. Wild boy.

It was a lovely, lovely walk. It was also a nice respite from the noise and confusion that eight children were creating in our house. We got in another walk this morning before a thunderstorm (with tornado warnings) rolled in. I made friends with the four horses next door. I don't like horses (they scare me; they are too big), but these are small and I am desparately in need of friends. These new friends of mine are very happy to see me and are content with the weeds that I give them. They also have very bad teeth.

Here's the plan

This is how it happened: We were sitting around yesterday. Sebastien was reading his new book (the Ten Roads to Riches, or something like that) that this guy sent him for Christmas. My books haven't come yet (free shipping...I'm still waiting), so Seb's new book was all we had (no TV, you know). We learned from the book that if you have a dream, a Next Big Thing or whatever, you should go for it. Going for it means putting your all into. So, before I knew it, I had quit my job and all other responsibilities to become a chef. Isabelle and Sebastien figured out everyone else's jobs (and, yes, the children get to quit school; Sebastien will have to give up his business):
Sebastien is the bartender. He has some fancy moves, so he'll be great at it. I'm the chef, not the chet. Calvin gets to be busboy and dishwasher. This will keep him very busy. Lucy will be taking orders and helping bus. Isabelle will serve the food and drinks and do the fancy food arranging. Freddy gets to be the maitre d', the host of our restaurant. My friend Laura will have to make the aprons and placemats, whether she wants to or not.

If you look closely, you can see us at work. I'm in the kitchen by my eight burner stove. I'm wearing a chef's hat that only looks like a Cat in the Hat hat. Calvin is by the sinks ready to dive into the dirties.

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Lucy is on her way to the tables holding an order pad as big as her torso, while Isabelle is over by the booth area delivering some food. Freddy is by the entrance ready to meet and greet; Sebastien is behind the bar taste-testing all the potables.

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Isabelle started on the menu. So far, she's only done the drinks. She got distracted by the idea of taking a trip around the world, so she is working on those plans now instead. The trip will last 58 days and focus mainly on Africa and Western Europe.

Merry Christmas

Treats arrived from far away...treats were bought and made...special foods were gathered and prepared...
helping hands were offered...questions were asked (Can we open the presents now??) too many times.

And today there is a volcano erupting in the kitchen...there is a man brewing his own coffee and looking for a can to open...there is a girl setting up a jungle...there is a helicopter flying around the living room...there is music being listened to and a book being read...there is a bowling video game being played...and there is a lady wearing men's clothing. Merry Christmas!

(Isabelle and Mia setting presents under the tree a couple of days ago.)

Party

Isabelle's birthday party consisted of 11 girls making jewelry, decorating cookies, taking photos and movies, playing with the hermit crab, and running around outside. Above are Grace and Grace, both bespectacled homeschooling pals. Do you see how they are helping each other decorate?

Isabelle had a wonderful time. The next day she lost her final baby tooth while eating mashed potatoes, one of her favorite foods.

My apology

The little boy was naughty, so he had to write me a letter of apology. After years and years of sending these out, I get one myself. Freddy had to send one to Walmart a few years ago. It started out like this: Dear Walmart employees and everyone who was shopping there on (whatever date it was), I'm sorry for throwing a huge fit...
This letter says: Dear Susan, I'm sorry I was rude and disobedient. Next time I will remember to respect you and your rules. Sincerely,...

Shall I save it? I can give it to his fiancee in 20 years...or his children in 30.

What's going on

What is going on over there by my desk area? What is so interesting that all males dressed in orange are so absorbed that they are ignoring the lovely wife/mother that is beckoning them? What could it possibly be?
Sebastien's secret spy stash. Now we know what he does for a living and why he travels so much. I only saw his collection of passports; I didn't find the cash from a thousand countries and the fake moustache, but I'm still searching.

What else is going on:

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Christmas shopping yesterday where Mr Bean was my personal shopper in the book store.

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Finals for Calvin. Those were so entertaining that I had to put up a poll.

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Some freezing rain and some little guests today.

Weekend

I made popcorn last weekend. Popcorn is one of those things around here that is Sebastien's specialty that he now refuses to do so I have to. If he ever decides that he is tired of making all the money, I'll be in trouble. Popcorn I can do; enough $ to feed this family and the occasional guest, I cannot do. This batch of popcorn was for the tree:
Isabelle used some of it to make this lovely Christmas melange. Isabelle is in charge of setting things out, things like our nativity figurines. She really enjoys doing it.

So, that was last weekend. This weekend is full of statistics: # of preteen girls in our house this afternoon: 12. # of webkinz received as gifts today: 5. High bowling score of the day: 191. Batches of cookies made by Calvin: 3. # of free college basketball tickets used tonight: 3. # of laps I could do on the track today before giving in to the asthma: 3.

(This is what Calvin is shooting for...the International Bowling Museum, which contains the Bowling Hall of Fame. Do you see the catcher getting ready to catch a bowling ball?)

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And a final # from public school: # of questions that Calvin has to get right on his French final to keep his A in class: 0. That's right, folks..zero. Now you know why I repeatedly say, "You're kidding me!!" when Calvin tells me something about school.

And a Happy New Year

Meeting the new one

Melissa has photos of her children meeting their new brother. I was reminded of when our children met their siblings.

Calvin was 1 1/2 when Lucy was born. When we brought her home, he took a good look at her and then ignored her to play with a really big booger that he found in his nose.

He was 3 1/2 when Isabelle was born. First he asked me, "Who's that baby that you're holding, Maman?" When I told him that it was New Baby (Isabelle's name for 5 mths), he had to hug her. He pushed his way over to her forcefully. He would have knocked me down if he had to.

Lucy was almost two. She looked so cute. She had spent the day with a friend of mine, a supermom. She was freshly bathed and had her curly hair in ponytails. She looked at me and asked, "Kiss? Kiss?" I gave her permission, and she gave her new sister many little kisses. Those kisses would hardly make up for all the slaps across the face that Isabelle would get later on when she was stuck in a carseat or bouncy chair, unable to fight back. She in turn would step on Lucy with her huge bulk when she became ambulatory and Lucy went through a phase of lying around on the floor whining.

When we brought Freddy home, it was summer, and everyone rushed out to the car to see him. We opened the side door of our van (which Sabra now owns) and the children rushed in. Calvin was six and looked at me intently, asking, "Boy or girl?" He had been praying for a brother for years and years. I remind him of that when he is awful to Freddy, about every single day.

Lucy hovered over Freddy and touched him and kissed him. She would do that for the next two years. She was 4 1/2 when he was born. She used to get up early and be in charge of him while I took a shower. That meant hovering over him, talking to him and showing him things. She was great at it. When he was one, he would go to her if I wasn't home. He would fall asleep in her little arms sometimes. I wish that she still liked him. Maybe she would if he would stop making farting and belching sounds all the time.

Isabelle was 2 yrs 9 mths when Freddy was born. I remember her kissing him and then ignoring him. She was too busy to notice him for the next several months because she was trying to get my attention by throwing fits and stripping off all her clothes.

My new job

Do you see Freddy and me? Look at the airplane that is in the front, to the right of center...the silver one with blue wing tips. We are just to the right of the prop. I'm in brown with a hat, and Freddy's in a green jacket and blue shorts. Don't we look great? We had to run really fast to get into that spot in time.
No one guessed that I paint the airplanes (never...bad fumes).
No one guessed that I overhaul engines (helped install one long ago).
No one guessed that I'm the back-up pilot. I'm ALWAYS the back-up pilot when I'm in the airplane! If the pilot dies of a sudden heart attack or loose bowel, I'm it. But it's not my official job.

Now for the guesses...

Four of you thought web mistress. Nope. I'm not the mistress type.

Three of you picked human resources manager. Nope. I used to do this for the office (and I did it very well), but don't anymore. I've moved on.

Three of you picked spy, including Isabelle. I'm too well-known to spy. I did it once at an airshow though. I got offered a ride in a fast little red airplane.

Two of you picked custodian. Nope. I used to do that too. Never again.

One of you picked party planner. I wanted to do this, but Seb nixed it. He sees no place for impersonators at our Christmas parties. I must defer; he is the pres, after all.

One of you (who was it???) picked mail girl. That is my job. I started out as just mail girl, but was quickly promoted to mail and errand girl. I also quickly started an ongoing spat with Postal Employee #2. We have a truce right now, so no worries.

December 5th again

Why are we so happy on our drive to the big city???
Because bankruptcy court is also where they hold special ceremonies:

I guess bankruptcy is better than tax court or criminal court. There were 55 new citizens from 28 countries.

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1 from Canada

1 from Haiti

1 from Mexico

2 from South America

5 from Western Europe

5 from Africa

9 from Eastern Europe (mostly truck drivers from Bosnia)

7 from the Middle East (including a Sebastien from Lebanon)

23 from Asia

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and Seb.

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The ceremony was actually tedious. The officials and guest speakers spoke to us as if we were all idiots. After some opening remarks, there was a guest speaker. Then each candidate stood up and said his/her name, country of origin and occupation. Then the lawyer guy made a motion and the judge accepted it or moved it or however you say it. Then more remarks. Then the very long oath of citizenship and the national anthem sung by a lawyer. I thought the singing was good, but Seb disagrees with me. We said the pledge at some point also. The candidates should have each been given the mic and an opportunity to sing the anthem solo; that would have been fun.

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Then they each got a certificate and a chance to take photos.

I've been married to a Frenchman...and I've been married to a Canadian...and now I get to see what it's like to be married to an American.

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Like I said, there were 55 people there that day. What are the chances of knowing someone else?

Our friend Rosanna is from Italy. She's been here 23 yrs. Seb's been here 16. They both decided to get citizenship this yr, and both were sworn in on Friday. We had no idea that she would be there. It was a complete surprise. She and Jon are not only from our town, but they were neighbors until we moved to the wilderness. And Rosanna did a lot of babysitting for us, especially when my dad was sick.

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So, that's what we were up to in the big city.

December 5th continued

More photos from Friday...

"Will I still be the same man after my trip to bankruptcy court? How will my life change? Will my wife still love me?"
United States Courthouse in downtown St. Louis. It's a beautiful building, and we hung out at the very top of it.

The view up from the lobby. I got in trouble for taking photos. Security reprimanded me. They told me that I could only take photos on the 28th floor. How did they know what floor I was going to???

Waiting for the proceedings to begin. Look at all those apprehensive faces.

December 5th, 2008

Our Friday began with dropping children off at school after making arrangements for friends to take them home...and then a special mass...and then a drive to the big city,
fasting until mid-afternoon (very difficult)...

and three hours spent in Federal Bankruptcy Court.

More later. There is lots of catching up to do here after a day away.

Duck stew

I'm afraid that we are going to have to cancel our (free) subscription to this magazine. I just can't take it anymore. It's full of carcasses. I don't see why our Dept of Conservation, which is in charge of taking care of the great outdoors of our state, has to be so focused on hunting. I just don't get it when people talk about loving to be out there in nature while showing us photos of dead animals and talking about how they killed them. If I want carcasses, I'll visit Donna's blog; that's what friends are for.
Plus there is the severe emotional trauma this magazine is causing Freddy's feathered friends. Mr and Mrs Quackers thought that they were looking through a mag with some lovely nature scenes when they came to this article.

Now they are hiding in a closet, fearing for their lives. Their feathers are falling out due to stress. We can't coax them out; the damage is done.

On another note...I just started reading a famous, well-known (but probably not well-read) novel. So far we have many characters including the Great Beauty, who is extremely plump (oh, how times have changed!) and has downy hair on her short upper lip, and her husband who has this to say:

"Never, never marry, my dear fellow; that's my advice to you..."

He doesn't say that because she needs to shave. She really is THE GREAT BEAUTY of the circle, the most elite circle of high society. I'm hoping it gets better.

Birthday girl

We have a very happy birthday girl. She's eleven now. She took about 25 pounds of chocolate chip cookies to school for her teachers and classmates.

She got a pet, a hermit crab named George, from Grammy. And she got a digital camera, which you can see hanging around her neck in its case. It's pink.

And she enjoyed a delicious (or so they tell me) dairy-free, soy-free, corn-free cake. She had a wonderful, wonderful day.

Calvin

Oh, we are so very proud. Our little baby boy representing his country in an Olympic-style sports festival. Bowling will bring the world together; we can all forget our differences and bond over a game of ten-pin. World peace is at hand.

This boy of ours is doing a speech today in his speech class at school on...bowling. He had to choose something that he is interested in and/or participates in. But he forgot his visual aid.

I was going to go to the school to request (pester, harrass) that Calvin be accelerated. He has over 100% in his two challenging classes (geometry and French), and he's bored. Bored people get into trouble. But can I ask for acceleration (which they don't do) now? Or will they just suggest that he put some his unspent mental energy into remembering his assignments for speech class? We'll see.

Yesterday he came out of school chewing bubble gum. He's already sliding down that slippery slope into delinquency. I better do something now before he follows his father's footsteps.

Just a Tuesday

Are there any other ten year old girls out there who get to hop out of the car after school and hop into an airplane...
to go flying with her papa...

and take the controls herself...

and find her school from the air...

and touch down at sunset?

I could think of one other little girl who gets to do all that, but she isn't ten.