The Lampesalots

Aqua-Sphere

2012-01-29T10:13:00.000-08:00

We've unleashed the home improvement beast! Josh took a trip down memory lane with his paintbrush over the past two weekends, prepping and painting our guest bedroom. It's amazing how quickly and inexpensively you can update a room when you don't have to start with rewiring the whole thing and hanging new dry wall, as we did at the old place.

When we bought this house, every room was covered in an extremely neutral, off-white paint. No complaints from me, especially after the gaudy shades of green we encountered in our last house. However, after six months of going from beige room to beige room, I've started to feel like I have my head submerged in a bowl of pancake batter. COLOR, PLEASE! So here it is. The shade is Aqua-Sphere by Sherwin Williams.

Before: After:

Batman Bird Feeders

2012-01-28T10:08:00.000-08:00

We recently made some neat ornaments with birdseed using a few simple supplies. We created them using the batman logo but you could do this using any shape. Hearts for Valentines Day could be cool, too! We just happen to be superhero fanatics around here.

You'll need bird seed, cardboard, tinfoil, a piece of string and crisco.

To make the batman birdseed ornaments like we did, first cut out a bat shape from cardboard. Then cover the bat shape with tinfoil, like this:Next cut a large circle out of cardboard. Paint the circle yellow (or black, or whatever color you like). I did all the cutting but the kids will have fun painting! Next let the kids smear the tinfoil bat generously with crisco. Once that's done, they can sprinkle the crisco with bird seed, covering it completely. Glue the bat to the circle, punch a hole in the top and tie a string. Try to find a place in a tree to hang it near branches that a bird can perch on. Waaaaah-la!

Snow!

2012-01-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

We had snow! "Had" being the key word. It is now a distant memory. Today, the green grass is back again and the sun is shining full force. It was fun for the 48 hours it lasted. The kids couldn't really build a snowman with it but they still managed to play for hours outside and take the sled on a few runs. Josh snapped this picture, and I added a little blingee. Blingee is a fun way to burn some time and soup up your pictures, after you have completed your taxes and alphabetized your spice rack, of course. Introduced to me by SparkCrafted, who else?

2/25

2012-01-23T08:34:00.001-08:00

My second novel of 2012 is "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin. This is the first story in his "A Song of Ice and Fire" series.

For many reasons, this book is not for the faint of heart. First, it is 800 pages. Not a huge deal, except that after 800 pages Martin draws a nice conclusion yet completely sets you up for the sequel. Which means that after finishing the first mammoth book you still have thousands of pages of the series ahead. Also, George R.R. Martin's writing style is very cyclical. He develops a really interesting story line filled with burning questions... of which he politely answers your questions, only to then reveal six new ones. I found I could only read about 75 pages at a time without getting light-headed. Lastly, the book is highly entertaining but extremely graphic. How HBO created it into a TV series, I'm curious and nervous to see. If you took out all the war and pillaging, deceit and treachery from this book you'd be left with the words "the," "it," and "henceforth."

I'm going to take a short fantasy hiatus before returning to Book #2. But I will get back to it. These books are pretty darn impossible to put down.

"Daddy's Home!"

2012-01-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, Everyone!!!

1/25

2012-01-19T08:42:00.000-08:00

One of my biggest resolutions for the year is to read more. Last year, according to GOODREADS (which I'm pretty diligent about keeping up with), I read six books. SIX. Wow. That's pretty pathetic.

So, I took a GOODREADS challenge and am vowing to read 25 books this year. I know, 25 books is not that amazing. But I must admit, it's amazing compared to last year.

I've finished Book #1, and I realize now why I wanted to read more in the first place. First and foremost, I find reading so relaxing. It's the best way for me to put all my streaming worries and thoughts aside and focus on something different, with a cup of tea in hand, wedged under a blanket. Bliss.

Book #1 is "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" and I highly recommend it. The story is told from the perspective of a young boy with autism and the author Mark Haddon writes the story from the boys perspective convincingly. His insights are nothing short of captivating and poignant, and often overpowering with both sadness and humor. It is a very quick and easy read, although I wouldn't call the book "light" by any means. The story is in many ways heart-breaking, as you follow the boy (Christopher) as he embarks on a solo journey that is to him both fulfilling and terrifying.

OK, that totally felt like I just did a third grade book report, but don't let me turn you off. It's a great story!

For Hugh

2012-01-18T17:02:00.000-08:00

We have a nephew! Hugh Pearson was born just over a week ago and I can't wait to give him a Texas-sized hug.

In the meantime, I designed a print for his nursery. I had a hard time deciding between a Red Wing or a Lone Star for the image. Actually, I'm still undecided. Despite that, I'm pleased how it turned out and it was fun to play around with typography, design geek that I am.

Next I may dig up the old stats for my own kids and retroactively commemorate their births. They'll never know the thought was an average of 4 years behind schedule. That can be our dark, little secret.

Taking Turns

2012-01-13T17:37:00.000-08:00

Iris: Alex, it's my turn.

Alex: Iris, your turn crashed into a bridge that exploded.

Follow-up

2012-01-12T07:58:00.001-08:00

3...2...1....CAST OFF!

Iris got her cast off on Monday. When the doctor went to cut it off, I braced myself in anticipation of stashed gummy bears falling onto the floor, as it broke apart. Dodged that bullet. There was nothing. Not even part of a ham sandwich.

The doctor told me that if she didn't start to walk within the next three weeks that I should bring her back for therapy. My response: "Excuse me? Did you say three hours or three weeks?" To which she slapped me again with, "That would be three weeks." I didn't expect that. Iris had started to walk pretty confidently over the last week in her cast. Now taking it off has been a major set back.

However, Iris's strength has already improved immensely since Monday: she can now stand unsupported and she takes little baby steps with her left foot and drags her right leg along to catch up, all on her own. The orthopedist did X-ray her leg and declared the fracture completely healed, but explained that her muscles on the right side have really weakened. So we are taking it very slowly here.

Iris's first request after cast removal? To take a warm bath and wear footy pajamas all day.

Here is a reunion photo of left foot and right! And now for the greatest challenge of all, which I've honestly been too overwhelmed to mention thus far: a return to the daily task of finding TWO matching socks. Wish me luck.

Resuscitation

2012-01-11T12:50:00.000-08:00

One of my illustrations just got published in the scientific journal, Resuscitation. Don't run out to buy it or anything. It's not that exciting. And I wouldn't have the first clue as to what kind of retailer would stock these God-forsaken periodicals on a shelf. Black and white? Lengthy references? Sentences with equations? Are you kidding me?

So what is this rendering, you ask? It's a rodent during emergency cardiopulmonary bypass. Duh.One of my resolutions for the year is to revisit "Lampe Creative" and to take it somewhere. Anywhere.

I have managed to make enough money in 2011 to require me to pay a tax or two. The sad part is, I'm actually pretty excited about that. When I stopped working for Elsevier, I would have guessed I'd be much further along with Lampe Creative by now. Yep, no. I love staying home with the kids but I'll be the first to tell you it will kill your career, mess up your hair and leave you with the attention span of a goat.

But I digress. Lampe Creative. 2012. I'm hoping to string together a few uninterrupted thoughts and RESUSCITATE!

DIY: Air Hockey

2012-01-07T15:38:00.000-08:00

Materials: ping pong balls*, plastic straws, cardboard box, packing tape and a coffee table.

Object: Be the first to blow the ping pong ball over your opponents side by using your straw and lung power only. No hands!

Note: Play this game only with people you love. It produces lots of straw drool.

Conclusion: Yes, I really dig deep for entertainment during the winter. * Not KING KONG balls.

Christmas Scrapbook 2011

2011-12-31T09:57:00.000-08:00

Personalize a free photo slideshow

Received

2011-12-30T14:39:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest gifts I've received this year is watching Alex and Iris's creativity grow. A year ago, when we would try to color, or draw, or make things out of play-doh, the kids would be occupied for perhaps five minutes. They just weren't into it. I didn't push it. We found other things they preferred to do. Ride bikes. Read books. Build puzzles. But this year both kids have developed a love of drawing and coloring that surpasses anything I could have imagined. They will both draw or color for an hour at a time, or more, and any time I mention bringing out paints you'd think I baked them each a chocolate cake. They are thrilled!

This "Renaissance" couldn't make me happier. I have so many fond memories of drawing as a kid. And I have even more fond memories of drawing with my cousins. There were lots and lots of short order fire trucks for Luke!

On his last day of Pre-K before the holiday, Alex brought home a gift bag for me and Josh with five cards and five envelopes that he made. Needless to say, I will never be able to mail them. In fact, I had to develop a new tag for this post, titled "Things Treasured."

My House:
Rainbow:
My Family:
Garden:
Snowman:

Given

2011-12-29T11:56:00.000-08:00

I always love to hand craft some of my holiday gifts. This year I chose to put my energy into creating one special gift.

It started with an idea that I couldn't let go of. I wanted, as a baby gift for my newest niece Sasha, an alphabet chart in Russian. Her mother, Sophia, is of Russian descent and I wanted to give them something unique and personal for their second baby girl. Amazingly I couldn't find any Russian alphabet charts to purchase on Etsy, so I decided to tackle making one from scratch.

I marched off to the Abington Free Library and checked out "The Itiot's Guide to Russian," as well as a few other dictionaries. I also became super familiar with Google Translate. I divided the chart into 33 squares, and illustrated it with images that represented the letters (and sounds) one by one.

Since I could find nothing like it on the web, I decided to list reprints of the poster for sale on Etsy. I sold three in a week! My first customer, a Russian immigrant living in Brooklyn, helped proof the print and made sure I hadn't made any errors. I kept it local, and used the friendly folks at Jenkintown Business Graphics for the printing.

So here is the gift to Sasha! And she is a gift to us. Добро пожаловать сладкий Саша!

Out Of Office Reply

2011-12-17T19:11:00.000-08:00

This is an automated message. Please do not hit reply. Sarah is currently away from her desk. Today marks the one week anniversary of her daughters broken leg (more technically, a spiral fracture of the tibia). It has been a L-O-N-G week. Iris is quite exhausted (see photo above), but getting stronger every day. She enjoys being hand carried. However, her sleep patterns are quite erratic. She wakes up Mom and Dad by banging her cast against her bedroom wall, which sounds amazingly similar to the dull boom of a Civil War cannon. Good times.

Cast comes off January 9th, after which Sarah will reply to all inquiries. If you need immediate assistance, please crack open a beer and a good book and don't give up on my blogging self completely. January 9th will be here before you know it, that's what I keep telling myself!

Happy Holidays from The ~~Lampesalots~~ Lamesalots.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-26T17:31:00.001-08:00

The greater the holiday, the more sadness felt when it ends. I definitely felt pretty lonesome today watching my Uncle Mark, Aunt Yvie, cousins Marie and Colin pile into their van and head home to Michigan.

We had an awesome visit filled with a heated game of spoons, a Black Friday train trip into Center City, the Wanamaker light/organ show, and a Vietnamese feast. I learned that my Uncle speaks Russian under stress. That Yvonne does ALL the driving. That Colin has a shadow named Alex. That Brazil is unfortunately not a part of Europe. Oh, and we can never forget my Uncle treating us all to getting gassed by a horse name Rusty. Woah, Rusty!!!We miss you, Mark, Yvonne, Marie and Colin. I'm thankful for so many things, but especially for this time together and that my kids have such awesome cousin role models! Come again soon!!!!! Next up: Christmas. Fa-ra-ra-ra-raaaaaaa-ra-ra-ra-ra!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T17:32:00.000-07:00

This year the kids donned Superhero attire! Trick-or-treating lasted all of half an hour for us me this year, because it came after festivities at pre school that started at 9am and a party at a friends house that lasted the better part of the afternoon. I'm cooked. Hope you all had a happy, safe, fun Halloween as well!

Friday Night Lights

2011-10-26T08:35:00.001-07:00

Believe it our not, this is our view of the local, high school football game from our front yard! Yep, we have the best seats in the neighborhood, hands down.

When we first looked at this house I worried about living across the street from the football field. But I made a mental note that the field DID NOT have lights, which put me at ease. At least game noise would be limited to daylight. So I thought. I neglected to factor in that the school might decide to rent non-permanent lights. Ha!

Having the football field across the street has been pretty fantastic, actually. The noise isn't that bad because we are uphill from the field. And the sounds are happy and excited. Since Alex and Iris's room is at the back of the house, they managed to fall asleep last week during mid-game. Then Josh and I brought out tumblers of scotch and sat under a wool blanket. GO DRAKES!

Iris turns 3!

2011-10-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

On October 18th, Iris turned 3! She had a great celebration, with lots of wonderful gifts, cards and phone calls. Thank you!

Iris is sweet, happy, active and independent. She especially loves to draw, paint, read books, play games and bake. She goes to school three mornings a week. She talks a lot about her friends Phinneas, Dominic and Lucy and loves her teacher, Mrs. M. For a three-year old, Iris is quite opinionated. She insists on choosing her own outfits. And God help me if I try to lift her in and out of the car. "She can do it on her own, Mom," reminds Alex.Like Alex, Iris loves Spiderman. The other day, I jokingly asked her if she wants to be a princess for Halloween and she replied, "I want to be something a little more stickier." Speaking of sticky, Iris's favorite thing in the world might be lollipops. Which means one of Iris's favorite activities is going to the beer store where they have a vat of lollipops at the register. Of course, they always give her one and then ask if she has any brothers and sisters who might want a lollipop too? To which she nods her head and answers that she has four brothers and four sisters who would all loooooove lollipops. That is when I intervene and become largely unpopular. Yet inevitably, when picking her up from pre school, Iris will occasionally ask, "Can we go to the beer store now, Mom???" Which probably explains why I don't have many friends yet in Jenkintown. Happy, Happy Birthday to my amazing little girl. Before you, I wondered how I could love another child as much as I love your brother. Now I worry that some day my heart might just pop for the both of you.

Chalk Talk

2011-10-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

Josh got a Lowes gift card for his Birthday, and we used it to check a really fun project off our to-do list. Up until two days ago we had a totally boring, useless, blank wall in our kitchen. We bought some chalk board paint, trimmed it out...... and waaaaah-lah! We are all having a ton of fun with chalk. In fact, nobody seems to be able to walk by the giant chalk board without stopping to draw on it. Thanks so much, A & K!Next in queue: Iris's Belated Birthday post!

Patriot Act

2011-10-14T05:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday in the car, I overheard Alex mumbling something about "God" and "justice" and "The United States of America" from his car seat. It turns out, Alex has learned The Pledge of Allegiance at preschool. Since I was raised primarily in third world, Muslim countries, I had forgotten about this morning, school-time act of patriotism. It's kind of cute and very well delivered, if I do say so myself. Almost makes me want to run out and tip my local IRS agent. Almost. Take note, like many notable American citizens before him, Alex negotiated a bribe for the making of this movie. Five pez candies, in fact. Iris got a kickback, too.

2011-10-13T15:27:00.001-07:00

Please, let me ruin you.

I have discovered the most addictive website ever. Believe you me, it will suck out your soul. Pinterest is simply a webpage filled with links to amazing photographs, recipes, craft ideas, etc. It is an endless stream of virtual amazingness.

Today, Iris made a Pinterest-inspired craft project. Q-tip skeletons. Brilliant. I haven't figured out the whole process of joining the website and starting to pin things myself. As it is I'm wasting enough borrowed time just toodling around all the links, sans account. Check it out though! You will regret it.

The Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-08T15:23:00.001-07:00

Grandpa Molly is in town visiting us for about a week, before heading to Singapore. Today we spent a beautiful, sunny afternoon at Freddy Hill Farm in Lansdale, picking pumpkins with him. Grandpa certainly brought the sunshine. His arrival this past Wednesday seemed to trigger a string of the most beautiful fall days yet! Three cheers for Grandpa!

Grandpa and Alex on the hayride: Wheeeee! Josh on the big slide after completing the corn maze:Grandpa Molly disguised as a pumpkin:Hiking through the patch: The four of us!

Crayola Factory!

2011-10-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but we've had nothing but rain for the past two months. We decided to get creative and ambitious with our drizzly Sunday and take the kids up to the Crayola Factory in Easton, PA. It was totally worth the hour long drive! Check out my pictures of the artists-in-progress...

Finally, walls we can draw on! Making collages: Watching crayons being made: Painting and stamping: Posing with the Worlds Largest Crayon!

Pipe Dreams

2011-09-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Ear Trick

2011-09-28T07:50:00.001-07:00

At some point, just after Iris was born, the nurses whisked her away for a standard hearing test. When they brought her back the nurse passed her over to me and joked, "well, If she doesn't listen, it's not because she can't hear you."

Well, little did anyone know, Iris possesses a true super power. While her hearing is perfectly normal, she can chose to tune anything out by simply sealing her ears with the quick fold of an ear lobe. I rarely get an unobstructed view of her ears, as she usually prefers the Kurt Cobain look and doesn't let me tie her back. But when I do manage to tame her tresses with a hair band, I've noticed that more often than not, I am on mute.

Dishstress

2011-09-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately. What I have been up to? Dishes. Loads and loads of freaking dishes.

We definitely took twenty steps forward when buying this new house. Yes, we acquired a good school district, a small yard, and doubled our living space. However, we took a few, notable steps back. At first these things didn't strike me as troublesome because I was excited about the move. But after almost two months, it's clear to me now that our kitchen needs an overhaul. And that our electrical, while not knob and tube, is also lacking. But then it really struck me. Oh my God. I don't have a $%^#$@ dishwasher.

So the first thing we bought when we closed on our house was a new dishwasher. However, it has sat in the living room for the past 6 weeks serving as a reminder that we haven't had enough free time to install it. In all honesty, the fact that it has been sitting there hasn't bothered me tremendously. I was seriously afraid the installation was going to open up a whole can of worms and that I'd be cooking in the kitchen with a head lamp and washing potatoes in the bathroom sink for the next seven months. Been there. Done that. Can NOT do it with young children.

So I have been washing all our dishes by hand. After eight weeks, I'm so tired of dishes, I've thought about washing sippy cups in our washing machine. I almost laid all the dirty dishes in a neat row on our lawn during Hurricane Irene (with some dish soap dripped on them of course) for mother nature to scrub. I've also considered buying a shot gun and throwing used plates into the air and shooting them out of the sky into a million pieces.

However, today my handy-oh-so-dandy husband rescued me from the brink of insanity with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. Typical. Check out the result!!! Please focus on the dishwasher. We'll get to the rest of it in due time. Now, to get that nasty cat pee couch out of the basement.

Amy O

2011-09-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

A week ago, I learned that an old high school friend passed away.

I found out through the status update of another friend on Facebook. More on my love/hate relationship with Facebook at a later time, I'm sure. I guess if I had been a good, faithful friend who kept in touch, I wouldn't have found out this way. But the abrupt news still really shocked me and has left me feeling sad for my old friend, Amy, and her family, ever since.

I went to high school with Amy in Indonesia. Although she was a year younger, our older brothers are great friends. Amy and I also played Varsity soccer together. Her father worked for USAID. It was obvious, even back in high school, that Amy would follow in his footsteps of service. She had a penchant for social sciences, a worldly perspective and a charitable heart. I wasn't at all surprised to find out that when she died she was Deputy Director of the Office of Human Rights, Humanitarian and Social Affairs for the U.S. State Department. Of course she was.

Amy was natural and genuine. Back when most of us tried to hair spray our bangs into gravity-defying waves, I laugh to think of Amy smelling anything like aerosol. She wasn't trendy, or superficial. Words like "classic" and "timeless" come more to mind. She had a long, straight, blonde ponytail that would wave forcefully behind her as we ran laps at soccer practice. She was pretty, for sure. Yet she had so much going for her, beyond that.

I learned that Amy died of cancer just a week after her daughters 1st Birthday, and only months after her diagnosis. All week, I've sat here struggling with questions of faith, sadness and memory.

The world will miss you, Amy O. I hope that I can instill so many of the qualities in my own children that you seemed to come upon so naturally. Much love. ALWAYS. Me (top right) acting like a dork in high school (surprise!) with Amy (bottom right).

Wrenches

2011-09-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

Alex: My daddy has so many wenches.

Me: Wrenches, Alex. Wr-enches. Rrrrrrrrrrrr.

Sleeping Arrangements

2011-09-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

Before we moved I picked up this used Ikea loft bed for Iris on Craigslist for $50. I was initially thinking to let Iris sleep on top and make a play fort for her out of the bottom with curtains and some big pillows. That was the plan. Just like part of the plan was to buy a house with central air. Nope, didn't happen. Add to that, we sold our window units from the previous house along with... the previous house. So when we moved, during a heat wave (of course), we had no air conditioning whatsoever. And we couldn't find any window units for sale within the state of Pennsylvania. Believe me we looked everywhere. Lowes. Sears. Home Depot. You name it.

We did have two huge king fans. During those initial toasty nights, Josh and I kept one in our room. We put Iris and Alex together on an air mattress in another room with the other fan. At first they complained about sharing a space. Now that it's cooled off we offered to split them up into their own spaces. Here was the response. Alex: I CAN'T WAKE UP ALONE! Iris: NO TO MYSELF! So. They made a pact to stick together, through sunset and sundown. Laughing together at night before falling asleep, face first, in their pillows. Most often in their own beds. Sometimes not even.

I must admit, it's easier having them share a room for the time being. One location for story time. One laundry hamper. One mischief headquarters.

Kids Castle, Doylestown

2011-08-31T12:44:00.000-07:00

Today I packed a picnic lunch and took the kids 15 miles north to Kids Castle, Doylestown. Possibly the most amazing park in the world. Alex and Iris played happily for FIVE HOURS at this place. And Alex still cried when I told him it was time to go. The playground is absolutely enormous. In order to keep track of the kids I made a few trips up through the eight story, wooden maze to the top of the castle. The massive twisty slide down was insane. I screamed "BIG OLD PERSON COMING THROUGH!!!!!!!!" as I flew down, with the hope that I wouldn't take out any poor toddlers standing at the bottom. Typical day at the park.

New Tricks

2011-08-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

When Alex was born, I worried incessantly about SIDS. I remember thinking to myself, "once he hits the one year mark, and the risk of SIDS occurring markedly declines, I won't have to worry any longer. YAY, I can't wait to not worry!!!" Ha, ha, ha, ha. Little did I know that parenthood is pretty much a general anxiety disorder.

Alex has taken up full-time "scootering." He is surrounded by older neighbor kids who ride in the teacher parking lot behind our house and who constantly encourage him and teach him new tricks. It's actually pretty awesome to see. When I dare to look.

Here is one of his favorite new tricks. Hold on tight!

New Tricks from sarah lampe on Vimeo.

Preparing for a Hurricane

2011-08-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

First, make a not so timely purchase of new patio furniture. Next, take a few swigs from my coffee mug on the glass table. Then, cut the tags off the furniture. After that, promptly tie the furniture to the veranda, with the hope that we can resume enjoying the new set post-Irene.

Kutztown

2011-08-24T12:40:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we traveled up north for the Kutztown Fair. It's an awesome annual event where a $32 entrance fee for a family of four gets you unlimited rides, seats at the Smash-Up Derby, and more!

Add to that, our dear friends and old neighbors recently moved to the Kutztown area, so this year we combined our trip to the fair with an overnight stay at their amazing 200-year old stone farmhouse. Check it out!

At the fair!Alex on a hog. Pancake breakfast!
Piper down!Jack and Alex playing on the wooden swing. Thanks, Sarah, Jay and Jack for an awesome visit! We sure miss you guys.

Thanks, Mom

2011-08-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday in the mail we received a new, inflatable water park as a yard warming gift from Nana. As soon as the kids saw the picture of this monstrosity on the box they went insane and begged me to set it up immediately. Well. After about 75 minutes of blowing this thing up I had produced just about enough drool to fill the whole pool.

Not to mention, while inflating the plastic slide part, Alex decided to jump on it while I was engaged in mid-puff. He very nearly blew both my eyes out of my head. And I was already weak from the aneurysm suffered five minutes earlier.

Thanks for the gift, Mom. You got me good! And in case you're thinking ahead for Iris's Birthday... she really, really loves Pinot Grigio.

Cousin Kathy

2011-08-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm so behind, I've been meaning to post these photos for almost two weeks now! Cousin Kathy was our first official out of town visitor. She stopped by en route to Florida for a few hours. She read Sleeping Beauty to the kids (I think I counted about sixteen encore performances) and repaired a cement mixer (major points from Alex for that handiwork). It was awesome to catch-up! We were hoping to keep her for a night. Ummm... perhaps next time I should make our guest room look a little more inviting?

Greetings from the Veranda

2011-08-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

We have eaten breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the past 13 days on our covered back porch. It's lovely. The breezes and large awnings that block the direct sunlight make this spot our most comfortable retreat from the August heat and humidity. We've slung together a make-shift patio set of two REI camp chairs and a kids wooden table and chair set. Today the kids and I walked to the farmers market (again) and bought fresh peppers, onions, rice and hot italian sausage for (yet another) dinner on the veranda.

Farmers Market

2011-08-09T08:14:00.000-07:00

As we are currently sans car, we're having fun exploring our new town on foot. Thankfully, we're within walking distance of the post office, library, a toy store, the train station, a massive park and ice cream shop. Who needs wheels?! In fact, the kids burned what felt like the better part of an hour just trying to decide which cookie to pick at the local farmers market.

Update: Hope For Gus!

2011-08-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

Remember the fundraising triathlon I planned to compete in on July 17th? The Philadelphia Women's Triathlon? Nope, I didn't forget. But shortly after I signed up for the event, The Philadelphia Women's Triathlon merged with The SheRox Triathlon, becoming a single, large event rescheduled for this past Sunday, August 7th. I was initially bummed the two races merged because I knew it was going to be hard to do a triathlon the weekend after moving. Also August tends to be grossly humid in Philadelphia. Aaaahhhh, if only those were the hardest obstacles to overcome.

The Friday before the race, our car died. I was trying to make a left turn at an intersection and I couldn't get the brakes to bring the car to a complete stop. I was at a slow, steady, uncontrolled roll, with both kids in the back. Luckily, the light changed in the nick of time and there were only two oncoming cars that passed quickly, so I managed to turn safely. I was also close to home, thankfully. Josh and I spent all day Saturday trying to get someone, anyone, to look at the car. Josh could tell it was quickly leaking brake fluid. After Josh sat at Pep Boys for 5 hours on Saturday, he was told that our brake lines were completely rusted out. Pep Boys said it was a major repair they didn't have time for, and suggested we take it to a dealer. We had already tried that. The Chevy dealer was booked for over a week and wouldn't even look at it.

That was the night before my first triathlon. I really didn't know what to do. So I called my dear friend Squirrel at work (completely groveling) and asked if I could bike to her place in the city that night (8 hilly miles) and sleep on her couch. Of course, being the most amazing friends they are, Miki and Heather not only put me up for the night but had fresh carved melon ready for me to take to the race in the morning. Race morning, totally dark and early, I biked three miles to the start line. Then in 2:14:53, I swam 0.6K in the Schuylkill River (yuck!), biked another 15.5 miles through Fairmount Park (serene), and ran 5K down West River Drive (painful). You can check out all the result details here. After the triathlon, I biked the 3 miles back to Squirrels. Took a shower. Caught a train home with Josh and the kids. And passed out, in a face plant, on my bed.

The best part: we raised $650 dollars for Hope For Gus! Thanks to everyone who supported me along the way. I love you all... I could not have done it without you! Miki took this photo as I was starting the run portion of the race. Thanks Miki, Heather, Josh, Alex and Iris for cheering me on. You're the only reason I was still smiling at this point!

Home Sweet (Second) Home

2011-08-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

We did it! It wasn't pretty. But we did it.

The move was honestly a harrowing experience. Starting with our movers showing up two hours late on closing day. In true ripple effect, the buyer for house #1 then asked us to write him a fat check because the house wasn't swept and empty of furniture at his final walk through, per the contract. We met him half way, and cut our losses. Meanwhile, in exchange for letting us move in a few hours before closing (thus saving our movers waiting on the doorstep for hours) the sellers of house #2 asked us to allow them to leave a 2-ton safe and cat pee infested couch in the basement. Which we agreed to. Of course the bank stalled on wiring the money to the sellers on time, so we in fact never got the keys early and are now stuck with the 2-ton safe and cat pee infested couch. Oh, and the movers still sat on the doorstep for hours, doing nothing. Lovely. The bank managed to stall the wire for so long that at one point the sellers realtor suggested we ask the movers if they could keep our stuff in the truck over the weekend so that everyone could get on with their Friday and resume the closing on Monday. Until she saw the look on Josh's face. Thus we (all) waited until the money magically appeared (shortly before 5pm) and the movers finished bringing the last of the boxes into the house by 7pm, about five hours behind schedule. That whole experience was chased by a bottle of Stags Leap Chardonnay, provided by Mike and Heather. Who I can never ever never thank enough for their help that day.

And now we live happily ever after. The End. Or better yet. A New Beginning.

T-minus 4

2011-07-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

T-minus 4 days until the big move. And some of us are still having fun with bubble wrap!

Bubble Wrap from sarah lampe on Vimeo.

Pack 'n' Play

2011-07-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

PACK:'N' PLAY:Last night Pieboy and Squirrella came over for tacos and margaritas, followed by a fun-filled packing session. Yes, fun-filled and packing. To explain how we managed to fit those words in the same sentence, I'd have to tell you about inappropriate beagles and salad bowl... well, nevermind. Let's just leave it at this: Squirrella got to take the salad bowl set home with her at the end of the night. Gosh, I'm going to miss our neighbors.

Chez Dave's

2011-07-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

This weekend we celebrated the-calm-before-moving-hell at Dave's recently purchased estate. Step aside Waldorf Astoria. You've got nothing on this place. It's A-MAZING.

Dave's awesome girlfriend, Amy, won Alex over with her homemade banana bread. Alex didn't leave a crumb. Darn it.Throw in some late afternoon tractor driving and you have a photo that very well may represent the first memory Alex retains for life. Dave invited the extended Lampes over for a BBQ. Here's one of my favorite shots of Iris and her cousin, Ellorie. Amy helping the kids feed the resident horse: As if the weekend needed topping off, before bed the kids got to watch the Red Sox throttle Tampa Bay, followed by Sponge Bob. It doesn't get any better than Dave's.

Cousin Bowling*

2011-07-17T18:48:00.001-07:00

You can't really have a Lampe family gathering without children squealing with delight and Uncle Ben nearly throwing his back out. Of course, these incidents ~~usually~~ always go hand in hand. This morning Uncle Ben drummed up a fun, new game called "cousin bowling." No batteries required. All you need are a couple of willing and pliable children, a piece of plastic, running water and some muscle power.

Ellorie: STRIKE!Vera: CUTE!Avery: CHILLY!Alex: SPARE!Ellorie: OUT OF THE PARK!Good times.

*Iris refused to take part in any of this.

House Hunt: Part III

2011-07-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

So there we were. June 5th. Sitting on the porch of our best option for a house thus far, not at all convinced it felt right. The kids were hungry. If I ever examined another hot water heater again, I'd possibly vomit out my ear. We had one more open house on the list for the day, although we were close to bailing on it altogether. I was getting the sense that we were all simply beat.

"Let's just go," Josh decided. So we did. To Jenkintown.

When we arrived at the house we were immediately struck by it's location. The train is about three blocks away. Convenient to walk to, but not close enough to hear the whistles. The house also borders the K-12 school in the back, so we can actually cut through the back yard, through a private teachers parking lot, and onto a huge playground, basketball court, baseball field, tennis courts, a football field and a track.

Of all the school districts we considered, Jenkintown is highly-rated and indeed the most unique. The Jenkintown school district serves the small neighborhood of Jenkintown Borough, with more or less 60 kids per grade. There are no buses. Everyone walks to school. It's that small. Not only that, the house is also within walking distance of the downtown, with a movie theatre, bars, restaurants, and shops.

The house itself has 5 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. It was built by an Italian mason in the 40's. Hence the wine cellar. It's got a decent yard, fireplace(s), hardwood floors, a garage, and has been tactfully well maintained. It's got a huge, finished basement, which I think is what sold Josh. I personally love the back porch.

There are a few items to address, of course. We need to fence in the backyard. We foresee updating the kitchen at some point. And we want to install central air. But the house needs nothing immediate, and the bones are all good.

In the meantime everything is lined up for us to close on both houses and move July 29th. Welcome to our new house!

Now in 3-D

2011-07-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

Josh took Alex to see "Cars 2" today, his first movie in a theater! At first I was afraid the 3-D effects might overwhelm him, but instead he's completely spoiled by the experience. He loved it!*

*Despite the minor incident where Alex literally got eaten by his chair. Alex wasn't heavy enough to hold the folding seat down and kept getting snapped up when he would scoot back into it. Josh managed to snag him a booster and weigh him down with some popcorn. Welcome to showbiz, kiddo!

Happy (Belated) Fourth of July!

2011-07-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

Alternative title: My Daughter As A Firecracker

Cheers Elephant

2011-07-07T07:53:00.001-07:00

This local Philly band is really awesome! They are playing at Pastorius Park in Chestnut Hill on Wednesday, July 13th at 7:30pm for FREE. I will be there. Along with my family and a bottle of wine (which is like family). WOOT! Jumbo Shrimp by Cheers Elephant

Potty Training

2011-07-01T13:05:00.001-07:00

When you gotta go, you gotta go.

Bubble Wrap Prints

2011-06-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

Who says you can't make an art project out of moving? All you need is a piece of bubble wrap, some paint, and preferably some rollers, but brushes work fine too. And then you (I mean the kids) get to pop the bubbles in the end for double the fun! Alex's Print: Iris's print:

House Hunt: Part II

2011-06-29T05:39:00.000-07:00

When we were hunting for our current house almost seven years ago we had two requirements for the perfect home. First, that we could afford it. Second, that it was in a safe neighborhood, with easy access to the city. Never mind that we almost couldn't insure the place because of the old knob-and-tube wiring and I admit we probably should have gotten tetanus shots before touching any of the old appliances. But it was a perfect house for us at the time. We had very little money to buy anything better, no kids, and we weren't scared by the scope of the overhaul needed to turn the place around.

This time, however, our search was much more complicated. The list of "musts" now included a reputable school district, proximity to a train so that we wouldn't need a second car, a place preferably requiring minimal (and I mean minimal) renovation, with a backyard, and more living space (4 plus bedrooms, 2 plus bathrooms, and a bigger living room that could accommodate large gatherings and the piano I really, really want). The list of "would be nices" included proximity to a town with places to walk to, a fireplace, central air, a garage, gas heat/cooking, hardwood floors, and some architectural charm.

We looked at 30+ houses during late May/early June. We saw it all. One of the highlights included an open house in Lower Merion where the owner sat in the wood paneled den in his pajamas watching Terminator 2 the whole time. Another house had an ancient oil heater covered in asbestos. Most of the houses were too small. A few sat on incredibly busy roads. Yikes. We thought the house hunt would be a lot easier and altogether more fun. Instead it was pretty depressing.

On Sunday, June 5th, Josh and I sat outside the only house that we both somewhat liked and talked about making an offer. We were there on our second visit. The pluses: it was a large house (well over 2000 sf), had a fireplace, a gorgeous backyard, and was in a solid school district. The negatives: from the outside it was pretty much a two story, vinyl box on a street lined with other two story, vinyl boxes of varying colors. There was nothing around to walk to. Add to that the interior needed updating, and we would more than likely have to buy a second car for Josh to get to work. And the kicker: we were really going to have to stretch to afford it, even without fixing it up or taking on a second car. Would we really have to go back to drinking Miller Lite? Like I said. Depressing.

But don't worry. This story has a happy ending. We had one more house on our list to see that day.

House Hunt: Part I

2011-06-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

Many of you already know our exciting news. After listing our house for sale in May, we were under contract within 11 days. We experienced an immediate flurry of activity, and received two offers. One for more than our asking price. This really threw us for a loop. We figured we'd sit on the market, like everyone else, for months.

Begin Phase Two. Where to move to? Originally, we had our hearts set on moving to the Penn Alexander catchment zone, close to the University of Pennsylvania and Josh's work. For those of you unfamiliar, the "catchment" is about a ten square block area in University City, with a fantastic K-8 neighborhood public school fully supported by the University of Pennsylvania. The homes in this area are mostly gorgeous, massive, old brownstones. The neighborhood is very diverse, safe and dynamic, with lots of bars, coffee shops, parks, and the University, all within walking distance. However, this area is also pricey, mostly because it boasts one of the only good public schools in Philadelphia. We definitely struggled to find much in our price range that didn't need an overhaul. However, after hearing rumors and finally attending their K-8 open house to hear for myself, this plan quickly folded. Buying a house in the catchment zone no longer guarantees that your kids get into the school. Penn Alexander is currently full and now plans to bus wait-listed kids to neighboring war zone school districts. We considered renting for a year to see if Alex could sneak through the cracks, but since they don't automatically accept siblings we'd have to start the acceptance process from scratch again with Iris. No thanks. I won't even get into the dismay and outlash this news has caused for the neighborhood and the many people who payed an insane premium to own a place on the side of the street that used to qualify their kids for a decent public school education.

So. Back to square one for us, in terms of finding a new place. It is now late May and 60 days away from the official date set to close on our current property. Panic sets in.

Summer Reading

2011-06-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

I love the summer reading program at the Philadelphia public library. The kids get their own game board and earn stickers and prizes for reading books, drawing/writing, attending story hours and library programs. We are regulars at the Friday morning story hour at the Roxborough branch. The kids love going there and sitting on the square mats, listening to books read aloud and reciting the rhymes "Grandma's spectacles" and "Mr. Alligator." Oh, and the cookie at the end. Please Ms. Brady, don't ever forget to bring the chocolate chip cookies out at the end. That would be bad. Very bad.

Nachos, anyone?

2011-06-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

Me: Madeline, would you like me to make you some nachos for lunch?

Madeline: No thanks. I don't want to have to put my lipstick on again.

Jersey Girl

2011-06-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

Here is Madeline's official music video of her summer trip to the Jersey Shore.

Music is "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi. Of course.

Long Beach Island 2011 from sarah lampe on Vimeo.

Our week with Madeline

2011-06-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

We were so lucky to have a week with Madeline while my brother (Uncle Andy) traveled to D.C. for a conference. Nana rented a beach house on L.B.I. and the three cousin amigos had full reign of the Jersey shore for five full days. We went out for ice cream, ran in the surf, played marathon games of hide-and-seek, visited the Barnegat Lighthouse, painted seashells, walked the Seaside Heights pier, and hit the local playgrounds! Stay tuned for the music video. In the meantime, here are some of my favorite photos from the week...

The Buzz Cut

2011-06-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

This evening while I was hanging out with (Lady) Heather at our place, we started talking about haircuts. Alex overheard that Lady's husband Mike has plans to get a haircut and chimed in that he wanted a haircut too. Like his friend Jack. A buzz cut.

The two glasses of wine I drank agreed to it, and Josh proceeded to take the clippers to Alex's beautiful mom-crafted locks. I couldn't watch. But I must admit, when all was said and done, he looks older but still incredibly adorable in a big boy way. And he loves it! Now Iris keeps repeating: "Me want buzz cut too." But there isn't enough wine left in the house to convince me to let that happen.

Check out all the long locks on the ground! The final product!

Craigslist

2011-06-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

In order to get ready to list our place on the market, I went into major declutter mode which involved giving away or selling lots of stuff we haven't used in years. We inherited this hutch when we bought the house almost seven years ago now, but once we took out the wall between our kitchen and dining room we never really used it. It's solid wood and in decent shape though, and even though I didn't want to move it, I always kind of liked it.

Anyway, I listed it on Craigslist and a cute, young couple (recently relocated from Michigan, nonetheless) came to pick it up. I didn't notice until after they left that they dropped one of the drawer knobs on the ground outside our house. The next day I emailed the girl letting her know I had found it, and that I could mail it to her, and low and behold she sends me a picture of the new, improved hutch. They refinished it, replaced the hardware, and filled it with booze. My kind of people! God, I love Craigslist.

The Alex and Iris Show

2011-06-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

Here is the pilot for The Alex and Iris Show, filmed during lunch. Alex learned the song at school... and of course taught it to Iris... who sings it with such passion and fervor... it now usually drives Alex to distraction. What can I say? Never a dull moment. Ever.

Alex & Iris from sarah lampe on Vimeo.

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-30T17:13:00.001-07:00

It's not quite an official holiday unless we crash "Thompson Park" in New Jersey. Josh needed to go into work today to catch up on a few things, so Heather and I took the kids to her parents place for a quick poop in the pool. Let me explain. Alex seems to think that poop is a verb generally meaning "to move from one place to another." Therefore, he sometimes talks about pooping places. Like "I just pooped out of bed." Or "Hey Mom, Iris just pooped off her bike." It's horrible. I know. And this really needs to stop. As in yesterday. But it's easier said than done when you have a friend who thinks it's pretty much hilarious. The end.

First-class seats in The Man Cave.Swimming!Someone is relaxed.Crazy Talk!

7:09 a.m.

2011-05-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

Ocean City!

2011-05-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Today, we celebrated the beginning of summer with a day trip to Ocean City, NJ with Alex's best friend, Jack, and his mom, Sarah. Despite the fact that we almost got the granola bars plucked out of our hands by some stark raving mad sea gulls, we had a great time! Sunshine, corn dogs, ice cream, friends. What more can you ask for?

Iris loved playing in the sand!The boys of summer.Making sand angels.Funnel cakes or curly fries? That is the question.

Bittersweet

2011-05-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

Our house is for sale! Our agent brought his office coworkers through on Tuesday and the only negative feedback they gave us was that the couch in Alex's room made the space look cramped. If you saw this house when we bought it, or in it's many stages of destruction, you would know that comment is nothing short of incredibly. Yes, incredibly.

Check out the following professional "after" photos taken a few days ago for our listing.

Glide-A-Thon

2011-05-10T19:03:00.001-07:00

The kids have been biking lately for upwards of two hours a day, no exaggeration. Alex has mastered balancing on his glide bike and Iris is gaining speed. Although she's not quite ready to commit her feet to the pegs, she has started to loosen up her legs and take longer strides. I took some video of the kids riding over the last few days. Fasten your helmets!

Glide-A-Thon from sarah lampe on Vimeo.

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

Today we rented kayaks at Marsh Creek State Park and followed up with lunch at Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown. And that was after I slept in, and Josh made my favorite puff pancakes, and before I took a nap. Thanks to my terrific three, I had an awesome Mothers Day! And technically, it isn't even over yet. Now that the kids are passed out, I think I'm going to watch an episode of The Tudors with Josh and call it (an awesome) day.

Preschool Portrait

2011-04-21T16:07:00.001-07:00

Alex is about to wrap up his first year of school. Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday he was the shy, quiet little guy who I dropped off in tears during his first few weeks. Those days are far behind us! Alex made some great friends this year at school. He has gained a lot of confidence and independence. I see it in his behavior at home. At the playground. He even sat still during his first full-on dentist appointment with x-rays, fluoride treatment and flossing- without me by his side and according to the dentist, without complaint! Yikes, he might be more mature than I am. Next year he will go to Pre-K five mornings a week. But not until we have a well-deserved, full blown, fun-filled summer! Hope to see you there.

Illustration, Part II

2011-03-08T06:14:00.000-08:00

I have another illustration featured on Trailspace.com. Click the link if you'd like to see my work, learn about the many parts of a sleeping bag (what is a draft collar, anyway?), or surf a fantastic site with great gear reviews and the latest outdoor news.

I must say, it is fun to cross over into the world of illustration. Although I would have originally sold myself as an illustrator, over the last 4-5 years I have worked solely in Photoshop and InDesign, ignoring Illustrator almost entirely. I love the new challenge and am gearing up to work on some paddling illustrations next!

Vacation, anyone?

2011-03-06T11:26:00.001-08:00

Josh and I have started to think about summer and how we might want to spend it. I would love to escape for a week, somewhere quiet and serene. I'm thinking dinner outside on a grill, preferably lake side with a bottle of wine. Followed by another bottle of wine and a good book in front of a cozy fireplace. I checked VRBO (vacation rentals by owner) and found the perfect place. Now I'm looking for 65-70 families to go in with us and split the cost. Details: 100 private acres outside Jackson Hole, WY. Rental includes private chef and nature guide. $65,000 week. Pets welcome. Anyone?

Candlelight dinner for four

2011-03-05T18:23:00.001-08:00

The kids are mesmerized by a story Josh tells them about a flying squirrel coming through the chimney on Christmas Eve when he was a kid. Then I tell them about a magical Christmas when Uncle Andy and I got our first dog, Samson. Accompanied by orange and balsamic glazed chicken and lemon risotto topped with arugula, a recipe from our new favorite cookbook given to us at Christmas from Beth and Pearson. What a wonderful night!

Shoveling

2011-02-22T10:34:00.001-08:00

Introducing my little workforce. Ignore the fact that they are shoveling snow from the snowbank back onto the sidewalk. I shudder to think of the fines we'll get slapped from the City for these two sweet little misdemeanors.

Popsicle Stick Puzzles

2011-02-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

For Valentines Day, Alex made "Popsicle Stick Puzzles" for his class. Like many good ideas, I cannot claim this as my own. I found it in Family Fun magazine.

For the most part Alex is not one for crafts, yet he seemed to enjoy doing this project almost entirely himself. I simply taped the sticks together for him and drew the concentric hearts on the final product. He did all the arranging of sticks (counting them out), and painting. I packaged the puzzles in ziplock bags with the following instructions for his classmates: "To use this puzzle gently remove the tape on the back, mix up the sticks, and try to recreate the heart. Happy Valentines Day!"

I thought I'd share this project as it would be fun and appropriate for pretty much any holiday, and a great alternative to giving out (more) candy at school. Plus I wanted to do hand-made Valentines as I'm sure, soon enough, the kids will be too cool for anything that doesn't ooze Iron Man, Sponge Bob or (god forbid) Justin Bieber.

So, Popsicle Stick Puzzles in three easy steps!

1. Arrange 8 popsicle sticks in a row and tape together using a strip of masking tape on the back side. If desired paint the background. 2. Paint a shape using a cookie cutter (heart, pumpkin, Christmas tree, whatever) on your dried background.3. Wah-lah!!! Pretty darn simple.

AHA Ball 2011

2011-02-14T16:17:00.000-08:00

From left to right: Dr. Limp, Yours truly, Lance, Ward, Lorraine, Manu, Elise, Nora, and Karen.

Josh and I attended the American Heart Association Ball last Saturday night, held this year at the Urban Outfitters headquarters at Philadelphia's Navy Yard. We sat just a few tables away from Mayor Michael Nutter and the former Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell. It's always a fun event that gives me an excuse to dress like a girl. This years bonus: I learned firsthand from a critical care veterinarian how to anesthetize a fish. Double bonus: we won another summer weekend trip for four to Sesame Place. All-around, a date night like no other!

Philadelphia A-listers: Manu, Elise, Yours truly, and Dr. LimpHappy Valentines Day XOXO

Busty Redefined

2011-02-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

Alex: Mommy, do you know what "busty" means?

Me: Um. No.

Alex: It means when something is sort of like a bus.

Me: Oh, yeah. Of course. Bus-ty. Silly me.

Antworks

2011-02-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

For his Birthday, Nana sent Alex a really cool Antworks ant farm. The ants tunnel inside a special gel that serves as their food and water supply, while allowing incredible visibility into their habitat. Our harvester ants are mesmerizing. While we snoozed, they worked all night digging a long, wide, looping tunnel. Their efficiency and industriousness shouldn't surprise you. They are a colony of female workers, after all. Male ants are created only as needed by the colony for reproductive purposes and they die shortly after mating. In a month or two, I'll spring for a gigolo ant at my new bookmarked site: antstuff.com. Whoever thought?

Four

2011-02-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

My baby boy is four. Which means I'm celebrating all 1,460 of the happiest days since his arrival in 2007. Remember how beautiful he was?

Well, he is still every bit as perfect. Just at a faster pace. At four, Alex gets really excited about "pretending." He likes to act out scenes involving Spiderman and Scooby Doo characters. He also has an imaginary brother named J. Michael, who joined us shortly after our return from Texas. He still loves trucks, Thomas trains, and play-doh too.

He enjoys going to school two mornings a week, and especially loves playing with his best friends Jack, Emmitt and Dylan while there. He knows his ABC's, is free and clear of diapers (even at night), and uses words like "unexpectedly" and "abyss" correctly. He can identify Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Canada on a map. Sheesh, I think this makes him smarter than 60% of the general population.

Alex loves to help me and Josh in the kitchen, especially when it involves baking. He enjoys playing games with us as well. His current favorite is the Scooby Doo version of Memory that Uncle Andy and Aunt Katherine gave him for Christmas. He loves for us to read to him, and insists on sitting through 50-60 page chapter books! I currently shop for him in the boys section, as he's outgrown toddler sized shirts. Sometimes he eats more for dinner than I do, especially if it's pizza or tacos (his favorites).

Alex has a sweet, sensitive and gentle nature. He loves to snuggle, gives his sister kisses before bedtime, and he likes to get his toenails painted bright red. He loves to play outside, rain or shine, and is forever magnetized to piles of snow or puddles. He is our perfect little boy. Then. And now. Like the photoshop job, Heather?

Fountain of Youth

2011-02-03T15:07:00.001-08:00

Sorry Iris, but watching you try to work a water fountain makes me laugh. You can get me back someday when I try to get on an escalator with a walker.

Fountain of Youth from sarah lampe on Vimeo.

Hope for Gus

2011-01-31T19:57:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to do a triathlon for a long, long time. Now I have the impetus to propel me off the couch, to the gym, and ultimately to the starting line this summer. On July 10th, 2011, I will swim 750 meters, bike 17 miles and run 3.1 in honor of Gus, a boy Alex's age who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in November of 2009. Gus's parents worked at the same school where I did my student teaching in 2000, and they have created a non-profit called Hope for Gus in order to raise funds and awareness about this aggressive neuromuscular disease . My goal is to raise $1,000 for Hope for Gus by my race date. Donations are tax-deductible, none are too small, and all are incredibly appreciated. So much so, that I plan to match the first $200 donated.

Pyssla

2011-01-30T11:51:00.000-08:00

Pyssla is a form of Swedish torture that consists of arranging plastic beads on a template, then ironing them as a means of melding them together. The Swedish must laugh every time one of these seemingly innocent jars of beads are sold in America, knowing that if the cold, dark, winter days won't drive Americans nuts, this craft project surely will. Our Spiderman (everything in our house is Spiderman these days) turned out kind of cool, if I do say so myself. Although I am now near-sighted, suffering from carpal tunnel, and stepping on beads that Alex and Iris have managed to pitch all over the dining room floor. Spring, are you listening to me? Get your rear end over here. Now.

You Must Watch This

2011-01-27T13:31:00.001-08:00

Or, "Never Give An Engineer A Long Sheet of Plastic and a Kiddie Pool." Or, "Do Not Attempt This At Home." However you title it, this is insane.

The Snow Baron

2011-01-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

No preschool today! We are buried alive in snow. I took Alex sledding down Mt. East Falls this afternoon, while Josh worked from home and Iris napped. After two hours of tubing, the Baron proved himself ready for the luge. To my chagrin, he showed little respect for caution and sought out the biggest, steepest, bumpiest runs I would let him go on. By himself, of course. I think someone is turning four... and it sure ain't me.

Window Shopping

2011-01-20T07:37:00.000-08:00

On Thursday mornings, after dropping Alex off at school, Iris and I occasionally visit her favorite spot: the pet store. Iris has made a few furry friends.

Window Shopping from sarah lampe on Vimeo.

And I do try to keep her from kissing the glass cages, but it's harder than you would think.

Superior Play Systems

2011-01-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

Superior Play Systems is a company that manufactures playground equipment, trampolines and basketball courts... while also using their showroom (pictured above) for free Open Play sessions in the Philadelphia area. Alex and Iris love to play there, especially during the cold months when they can't swing our slide outdoors. SPS is a nationwide company so you can check their website for open play times/dates at a facility near you.

I usually go on my own with the kids during the week, but today we took Josh for a visit. Big mistake. What is it with dads and trying to wrap their kids around the support bar of a swingset?

How rumors start

2011-01-16T06:55:00.000-08:00

Conversation from my table last night during Girls Night Out:

Friend #1: What's new?

Me: I'm going to court in early February to contest a $75 ticket we got from the city for weeds growing on our property.

Friend #2: You're growing weed??!??!

A Texas Christmas!

2010-12-31T21:04:00.000-08:00

A Texas Christmas from sarah lampe on Vimeo.

How to dress like a Texan

2010-12-29T07:58:00.000-08:00

1. Boot.2. Hat.3. And swagger.

Packing for Houston

2010-12-19T14:35:00.001-08:00

Handle with care!

Only in Asia

2010-12-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

Last night I chatted with my Dad on the phone and he told me about a Christmas party he attended near the new Marina Bay Sands Casino in Singapore. He described the casino as three large towers connected on top by a huge glass boat with a rooftop pool and palm trees. My initial reaction was that my Pop threw back one too many Singapore Slings at the holiday party. Until I googled this thing. It's incredible. Only in Asia.

Holiday E-Card

2010-12-05T20:55:00.001-08:00

Check this out! Our first family music video. Make your own for free through jib jab... then send me the link so I can laugh at you too!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Elf on a Shelf

2010-12-04T06:55:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else out there doing this? In case this craze hasn't hit your town, the basic premise is that one of Santa's elves comes to your house from the North Pole. Your child chooses a name for the elf (ours is Jack). According to the story, the elf stays at your home during the day and returns each night to the North Pole to tell Santa about what a good girl/boy (or not) your child has been. The elf doesn't move or talk, he/she just watches and listens. Every morning the elf returns and hides somewhere new. Nobody can touch the elf or he loses his magic.

The kids have been having a blast with this. The first thing they do each morning is look for Jack. They talk to Jack and tell him nice messages to relay to Santa. It's pretty cute and if you haven't jumped on the bandwagon (or should I say sleigh?) I recommend it as a fun, new holiday tradition. Just make sure to register your elf at the North Pole. Therefore, they are completely legal migrant workers and get full health care benefits and qualify for social security.

Keuka Lake

2010-11-28T16:55:00.000-08:00

For Thanksgiving we joined Josh's family on Keuka Lake in The Finger Lakes Region of New York. Despite a stomach bug that claimed Uncle Joe and Alex for much of the trip, we had a great time in a beautiful part of the country. Here's our pad. Complete with arctic hot tub on the deck! The key players. From left to right: Ellorie, Iris, Avery, Alex, and Vera. A highlight for the kids was a bounce house I borrowed from friends that we set up in the basement of the house. Thanks to Uncle Ben, it was totally out of control!Cousin Static!The highlight for the parents was that Keuka Lake is strategically located on The Seneca Wine Trail. We visited two vineyards (Hunt Country Vineyards and Dr. Konstantin Franks Vinifera Wine Cellars) and came home with fourteen bottles of local wine! Ka-Ching! See Josh multi-task parenting and wine-tasting like a pro. Iris holds on for dear life.The older cousins had fun during the wine tasting as well. In fact they loved the place so much I have a feeling the next time I ask Alex if he wants to go to a park he'll answer with: "No Mom, let's visit a vineyard today, please." Kids received special ornaments from the vineyard owners and a sample of sparkling grape juice. Panel of judges, now with sophisticated palettes, ready for a snack tasting.

Ephemicropolis

2010-11-21T18:36:00.000-08:00

Here is a craft project to do at home with your kids. All you need: two tons of staples. I think these staple-scapes by Peter Root are awesome. If I had an extra 40 hours in my day this is exactly what I'd do with them. Shortly after I create a scale model of the solar system with the paper remnants in my hole punch.

What a Kroc!

2010-11-19T10:12:00.001-08:00

Josh and I recently joined The Kroc Center, a new family fitness and community center a few blocks from our house. I've taken the kids a few times to swim in their amazing indoor water park. It has a zero entry kids pool, water slides, water tables, a lazy river, an Olympic pool for lap swimming, a hot tub, and spacious family locker rooms. And that's just the pool. I give Alex a few months before he learns to swim. After only a few pool sessions, he is already going down the kids water slide face first, submerging himself completely to pick toys off the bottom of the pool, and swimming solo while holding a water noodle. Amazing. He absolutely loves the water.

The only downside is now I'm going to have to shave my legs all winter long. Grumble. A few shots of the facility:

Chicago!

2010-11-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

I just returned from Chicago! Josh attended a conference there and I took advantage of a full support crew in Michigan to join Josh for 48 hours in the windy city. Our hotel was located in the River North section of Chicago, only a few blocks from the Navy Pier and just off the Magnificent Mile. I officially froze on an open-top bus tour of the city but it was a great introduction to the rich history of Chicago. I can now spit out so many random historical facts about Chicago that it would probably give your computer a virus. Josh and I ate dinner at a great Cajun place called Heaven on Seven (where you have to sign a medical waiver to try their Hot as Mutha Pasta). We ended our day with drinks in the Signature Lounge of the John Hancock Building. I took this photo of the skyline view from our table on the 96th floor! Now time to filter through the 129 email messages in my inbox at home. Sigh.

Alex's Halloween Pageant

2010-10-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, Alex participated in a Halloween Pageant at school. Here is the uncut edition... probably the first ten seconds will give you the basic idea but I didn't want to cheat any grandparents out of his first appearance on stage!

Alex's Halloween Pageant from sarah lampe on Vimeo.

Encore, encore!

Trick or Treat?

2010-10-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

Having Nana in town is a total treat! Shortly after landing at Philadelphia International Airport, she made a cameo with me and the kids at the annual Mom's Club Halloween party. Ms. Scooby Doo and Mr. Penguin made out like bandits!Stay tuned for a complete Halloween intoxication- a video of Alex's School Halloween Pageant and more Trick or Treat photos to come!

Goblin Gloop

2010-10-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

I took the kids to The Please Touch Museum today and we spent a good portion of our time playing in their craft room. Today they featured "Goblin Gloop" which is simply one part water, two parts corn starch and a touch of food coloring. It's a really cool tactile experience. The stirred substance looks like a liquid, yet mostly behaves like a solid. It snaps, cracks and breaks when you stir it, yet momentarily drips and oozes when you pull it apart. When it dries it just flakes away like a powder. You've got to try it! We made an orange and green batch at home. It was fun for the kids to stir and drip. And I must admit, this 35-year-old kid enjoyed it too. I called Josh to ask him about the reaction process, but he lost me somewhere between "Non-Newtonian" and "molecule chain." Perhaps he'll chime in if anyone warrants a better explanation than "gloop."

Fall Fun!

2010-10-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago (I know, I'm really behind lately- you should see my laundry pile) we travelled to Northwest Connecticut for a family visit. Leaves were at their peak. We had perfect weather. It was almost like a scene out of an Anne of Green Gables novel, except we had Carvel Cake (eat your heart out, Anne with an "e.")

The kids enthusiastically picked pumpkins at a local farm. Alex took a magnifying glass with him in an attempt to search for the perfect pumpkin.Visiting with Vera and Aunt Sophia!
Meanwhile... Iris gets ready to autograph pumpkins.
My fantastic trio.
The Lampe men transplanting a tree. Or child labor. You decide.

Happy Autumn, Everyone!

Goodreads

2010-10-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

Josh and I are enjoying a Renaissance of sorts. It started with Stieg Larrson's first novel "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo." Excellent. Then we devoured Jonathan Franzen's "Freedom." I added that novel to my list of top ten reads of all time. Now I'm totally hooked on Suzanne Collins' series "The Hunger Games" while Josh just started the third of Larrson's trilogy, "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest." I love burying myself under a wool blanket next to Josh on these cool, dark, fall nights with a hot cup of tea, and a great story.

If you want to connect with me in my literary world sign up for Goodreads and add me as a friend. It's a great way to share our current bookshelves. I also pick up lots of reccomendations through friends and really love to see what others are reading. Hope to see you there!

Scooter Bug

2010-10-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

Iris got a new set of wheels for her 2nd Birthday. This toy has been a total hit!

I hesitated to spend 80 bucks on a kiddie scooter but after watching Iris's balance, coordination and confidence soar over the last few days while learning to ride it, I'm glad we splurged. The scooter is really well designed and very light weight. In fact, Iris can pick it up, turn it around and carry it by herself. It's cool to see how proud she is of doing all of this on her own. After every ten feet or so of scooting, she inevitably looks back to delightfully squeal, "Look at me!! Look at me!!"

Scooter Bug from sarah lampe on Vimeo.

Iris turns two!

2010-10-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, I had a perfect little girl who, just like her brother before her, effortlessly and instantly stole my heart.

Over the past weekend we celebrated her Birthday with family and friends in CT. Yesterday we continued the celebration with a magic show at Alex's school, lunch at IKEA and a cake that Alex and I made for her. We frosted it to look like Scooby Doo, her favorite!

Happy Birthday, dear Irie! I hope all your sweet wishes come true. Mine already have.