Going Underground

I'm following the lead of several of my blogging friends and taking this blog private. I've been thinking about it for quite some time now and a promo last night for America's Most Wanted made me decide it was time. I will send invites to those who I know read the blog, but if you're a lurker and still want to keep up with us, shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment. I'll make the switch on Wednesday night. 

Evan's First Skating Lesson

I took Evan for his first ice skating lesson yesterday. I was afraid it might scare him away a bit since skating is harder than it looks, but I think it has made him love it even more. He is still too young for the group classes, so we are doing a few private lessons with him. His teacher is so sweet. And, she even prefers to work with the child without the parent. So that gives me 30 minutes to sit on the sideline and watch. Of course, I didn't discover this until after I had paid my $11 ice and skate rental fee yesterday.

They have large signs posted that say "No Flash Photography," but I'm sure that doesn't apply to moms whose sons are taking their first lesson, right? Plus, any skater worth his or her salt should be able to skate right through a few flashbulbs going off.

I was trying to stay out of sight so I wouldn't distract Evan, but I failed miserably. I was pretty far away (hence how tiny Evan looks), but Evan still spotted me. At the end of this video he starts signing mom.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

This is the final video just as his lesson is ending.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Ready for a Road Trip?

If you're looking for somewhere to go this summer, check out my story that ran in The Hill newspaper today on road trips. I've posted it on my new Web site at http://mindylong.com/road-tripping-with-congress/.  The Hill is published on Capitol Hill and the story features some senators' and representatives' favorite spots in their districts. You'll have to let me know if you visit anywhere I've written about!!! 

By the way--the Web site still has a few little things I'm tweaking here and there. I'll be posting to my new blog on the site tonight and plan to start posting at least 2-3 times a week. You can get there via www.mindylong.com or www.mindywrites.com so check back there soon! 

A New Tie!

You'll never guess what Bryan got for Father's Day...come on...guess... Give up? Okay--it was a new tie. With stripes! Even though Evan had given away the secret on Saturday, Bryan played along as he was unwrapping it. Evan helped speed up the process, too.

We went out for dinner to a new restaurant (well--new to us) that Bryan has been wanting to try. The waiter snapped a pic of us. I'm posting it just to prove that I do blow dry my hair once in a blue moon. Usually it is in a clip.

Some days I try to tell myself that Evan looks like me. Then I see a picture of him and Bryan together and, well, I have to admit they do look a lot alike.

He Can't Keep a Secret

All week I have been telling Evan that tomorrow is Father's Day--a special day for daddy. This morning we went to the mall to buy a surprise for daddy. Later in the day Bryan, Evan and I were sitting in the kitchen when I asked Evan what tomorrow is. He looked at Bryan and said, "Tie daddy. With stripes." Bet you'll never guess what Bryan will be unwrapping tomorrow.

New Blog in the Works

I am going to be launching a new blog on my work Web site soon about freelance writing. I plan to talk about how to freelance, writing tips, helpful sites, etc. I want my friends and family who aren't writers to read it, too. So, I'm wondering what I could put on there for you, too. Any ideas?

One thought that I've kicked around with a few friends is a virtual book club. We'd pick a book, read it together, post questions and comments on a certain day and hopefully the author would take part, too.

Does anyone else have any ideas? You can e-mail me or post a comment! Thanks!

Homemade Bathtub Paints

There were so many different things I could have used for a title of this post. "The Worst Idea I've Ever Had," "My Budding Artist," "A Bottle of Mustard Explodes," "Evan is Looking a Little Jaundiced." But, I opted for the straightforward approach.

A few weeks ago I decided to whip up some homemade bathtub paints for Evan's amusement. It was really easy--just use some baby wash, stir in cornstarch until it is your desired consistency and then add some food coloring.

Evan enjoyed every minute of it and painted almost every square inch of the tub. Bryan got home from work right at the peak of the painting and looked in at the yellow mess and proclaimed it may have been the worst idea I'd ever had. At that point, I was beginning to think he was right. Then Evan smiled and all was forgiven.


The tub wiped up easily and Evan was only yellow for a day or two. Kidding. It washed right off. I would do it again, although, I haven't, so I'm not quite sure what that means. Give it a try! Let me know if you do and how it worked for you. I want to let someone else experiment with some reds and blues before I try it out!

A Trip to the Farm

Since we live in the city and all, we decided to take Evan on a nice little drive out to a farm a while ago. As Evan was looking at the animals it hit me just how different his childhood will be from mine. I was no stranger to farm animals and in fact was scared to death of the chickens on my grandpa's ranch. I can still picture all the chickens crowding into the back of the chicken coop when my mom would go in and gather eggs--shudder. Evan didn't seem to share my fear. 

I know it is a little wrong that whenever I see sheep all I can think about is having leg of lamb for dinner. 

They should be worried. Very worried. At this point I was also thinking of the rice pilaf I would fix to go along with the lamb. Evan just thought they were soft. 

My two boys. The cutest guys in the whole world. 

If you live in Virginia and haven't been to Frying Pan Farm, you should check it out! 

Daddy Visits Evan's School

On Evan's last official day of preschool, the parents were invited to attend a party, sing songs and have snacks with the kids. Evan LOVED having his daddy there. He absolutely loved it. He sat in Bryan's lap the whole time. 

He showed him around the classroom. 

And he even shared his juice box. 

Since then Evan and Bryan had talked several times about the day that daddy went to Evan's school with him. I think they have both forgotten I was there, too! It must be because I was behind the camera. Yeah--that's it. I'm sure. 

Potty Training Woes

We've been working on potty training Evan. I will be the first to admit I don't know all that much about how boys do it, but I do know that it seems pretty simple. They stand up (or sometimes Evan sits on his potty) and they pee. Logically, the next step (at least to me) would be to wipe, right? So the other day, Bryan and I are standing in the bathroom cheering Evan on as he stands on a step stool and pees into the toilet. When he finishes, I pull off some toilet paper and lean in towards Evan. As I'm reaching across Evan, Bryan says, "What are you doing?"

"He needs to wipe," I reply innocently enough.
"He's a boy. He doesn't wipe."
"Well, I know, but he should at least dab it off."
"Boys don't 'dab it off.' DO NOT teach him to dab it off."
"His underwear will get pee on them."
"Seriously. Don't teach him that."

I continue on my path bound and determined to clean up that drip of pee I can see . Meanwhile, Evan is just sort of looking at us both and waiting for his sticker. Bryan's tone picked up a notch and he asked, again, that I not "dab it off." So, I relented, since it seemed to matter so much to him. Although, I still think it is wrong. What do you think, dab or no dab?

Bubbles Bubbles Everywhere

I don't quite understand the allure of bubbles, but I do know, they make my little guy very, very happy.




He cracks himself up.

Time to Shave

Yesterday Evan and I were sitting on the living room floor putting together puzzles when he reached over and ran his hand across my shin. He looked up at me and said, "Ooooooo....scratchy!" I guess it is time to shave!

My Posts...or a Lack Thereof

I haven't been doing much posting lately and I'll tell you why. I'm depressed. There. I confessed. I had a birthday a few weeks ago and it is really bringing me down. Yes, I know, age is only a number and I shouldn't worry about it. Yada, yada, yada. I will eventually get over it, but it seems like just yesterday I turned 21. Sigh. I guess it isn't so much the getting older that bothers me as much as thinking about where all the time has gone. What did I ACTUALLY DO with all those years? Then, I start thinking about all that time I've wasted and how I really should have been working towards winning a Pulitzer instead of watching all that Law & Order and that leads to me getting frustrated at myself for wasting time now worrying about how I wasted time then. It also makes me wonder why TNT has quit showing as much Law & Order as they used to (bless you whoever made that decision, although I miss Lenny Briscoe something awful). It is a viscous cycle that keeps me up well past my already too-late bedtime. Unfortunately, Bryan didn't know how upset I have been over my birthday and came home and cracked a joke about how old I'm getting. THAT went over well. So, I suppose it is time to get over the birthday angst, pick myself up, brush myself off and get on with it. I think I'll also pick up some new moisturizer.