I-K-K-KEA

Most of the furniture in our house comes from IKEA. This is largely due to the fact that we moved very little furniture over here, so we had to furnish a whole house for as little as possible. In keeping with tradition, when we decided we needed a different entertainment center for our living room, we visited our local branch of this popular Swedish store.


My kids are pros when it comes to assembling furniture, and they love helping put everything together. Kristen was disappointed that there were no dowels to insert in the pieces we chose, but she and AJ gladly helped out in other ways.

Kristen sorting parts.

AJ helping with a screwdriver.

The store we visited was out of the drawers we wanted, but we were able to find most of the parts we desired. Oh, and the bonus was that it was all 20% off.

Goin' Buggy

AJ turned 3 last week, and he wanted bug cupcakes for school. I didn't have any green paste food coloring, so I couldn't get a nice, deep green color, but the flash made these look lighter than they really are. Anyhow, here are the results.

I probably could have done something slightly different with candy you can get in the US, but between Swedish candy and having to go the peanut-free route, this is what I could come up with. AJ is happy, and that is all that matters.

Are You Pondering What I'm Pondering?

This post is not so much about an event that has taken place in my recent life as it is a reflection on growing older.

Most of the time, I don't mind growing older. People my age (just listen to me!) can appreciate "Pinky and the Brain" jokes, remember going to ska concerts, and know what Grover's "Near, Far" sketch is about. It is fun talking to people who "get" you simply because you have lived as contemporaries. I honestly don't miss the uncertain teenage years. I love being where I am in life.

So what sparked this train of thought? Movies. I love old movies. I grew up watching them, and I still will watch them when I have a chance. The difference with watching them growing up is that the main characters usually were older than I, so I got used to watching them from that perspective. That being said, I was watching a movie last night with Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly was playing someone who was about 26 years old. Last night, I realized that I am older than Grace Kelly was supposed to be in that movie, and it was just weird to realize that sometime in the past decade, I have made that transition. I don't think current box office hits get to me so much because the actors I watched as a kid are making movies where they are still older than I. The people who play younger characters are people I didn't grow up with, so it doesn't hit me the same way.

Back to Grace Kelly... I didn't finish the movie. I had to go to bed so I could be up when my children got up. I guess that is just another part of growing old. :o)

Unwrapped

Sunday, I sent AJ to "go potty" before he went down for a nap. Meanwhile, I was nursing Hunter. AJ was taking an extremely long time, and he was being way too quiet. This is what I found.