KJ

Thanks, New Kid’s Store! Originally uploaded by kjda In honor of the grand opening of our semi-new kids store (and to understand the magnitude of this, you must realize that there is no kid toy or clothing stories in town), there were girl gift bags, and boy gift bags. I know it’s a little blurry, but you can see the intensity with which the purple lip gloss is being applied. To lips. To cheeks. To forehead. Every once in a […]

Guess Who Would Have Preferred a Originally uploaded by kjda The girl’s gift bag? Not that he didn’t enjoy his little cowboy, and the Halloween tattoos were a huge hit. But the purple glitter lip stuff? Ahhhh…. KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

Where in the World is KJ? Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

When Lily is Sweet Originally uploaded by kjda She is very very sweet. KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

New Hampshire Evening Originally uploaded by kjda I was just sitting here, not being particularly grateful for the abundance that is my life, when I looked up and saw this. KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

New Hampshire Morning Originally uploaded by kjda I’m pretty sure she’s saying “WTF?!” KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

Happy Halloween! Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

The Art (Thanks, Sculpey!) Originally uploaded by kjda Wait until you see our “Halloween Tree.” what, you don’t have one? KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

The Artists Originally uploaded by kjda This is how we celebrated Columbus Day. For once, everyone is feeling very satisfied (and they are about to have pumpkin pie!)(not made from these pumpkins–who do you think I am?!) KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

Outside the meeting Originally uploaded by kjda I am such a good citizen. Oh, except for the part where I blogging and not listening. KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

Yesterday was a rough bonding day, in which I sank into something of a depression, convinced that I was ignoring all kids because I didn’t want to interact with Rory because I was so TIRED (in retrospect, it would have been quite accurate to say I did not want to interact with any kids because I was tired, and poor Rory had nothing to do with it). Anyway, I slumped on my couch, contemplating the impossibility of therapy in a […]

New Hampshire Girl Originally uploaded by kjda Her 10th apple, at least–future tarts! KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

Rainy Saturday Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

An Afternoon of Indulgence Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

School gives us a glorious level of consistency in our lives that I would otherwise be unable to achieve. Every morning, for four hours, there is ritual and order in Wyatt and Rory’s lives. Every day, for 6 hours, the same can be said for Lily. Every day, for seven hours, Sam is safe and surrounded by kids his own age, learning age-appropriate stuff at a school that suits him very well. And every day, when I get everybody back, […]

We met up with the Guo Jis today. Much, much bonding. Among those adults crazed enough to adopt themselves into biggish although not huge families–or possibly those women crazy enough to come up with it, and those men crazy enough to marry said women. But no, let us admit that we are all crazy, and that that craziness seems to spread into other attitudes–about life, mountain biking and its importance, many although not all general child-rearing practices and, I suspect, […]

You’re not laughing hard enough. http://www.lets-panic.com/

Whoa! Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

World’s Biggest Thrill Ride Originally uploaded by kjda If you’re 3. KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

Trucking Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

Goofiness at the Fair Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

Best View in Town Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

Contrary to the Picture Originally uploaded by kjda Rory quite liked the Ferris Wheel. KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

At the Tunbridge World’s Fair Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

World’s Cutest Card Sharks Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone

I don’t know about you, but I worry about my pampered bio kids sometimes. I moved and changed schools multiple times as a kid. I hated it; it was awful. My mom worked and, much as she did for me, there wasn’t anybody to bring me my lunch if I forgot it. As I got older, I had more responsibilities, and a few more baddish things to live through, etc. So I had my (small compared to, say, Jeannette Walls) […]

Where in the World is KJ Originally uploaded by kjda Boston. Not a big trip, or an unusual one, but it’s always nice to visit a different Starbucks once in a while. The word of the day at our house this morning was compromise–and it’s a good one. We are all easing up on our need to have e rything exactly the way we want it to be. Breakfast, for example, was not precisely what Rory had in mind. Instead […]

I’m feeling impatient and cranky today–like all I can do is gripe at people and criticize. And very touchy–as in, I worked hard on this dinner and you’d better sit down and eat it right now, and for heaven sakes don’t TALK to me while you’re doing it! Nobody is moving fast enough or being nice enough for me. Rory’s horrible wound is a little better. Sam still looks like he’s been in the wars, but I don’t think he’s […]

We biked 18 miles today–two little kids on one double tag-a-long bike and one on a single tag-a-long. Sam and a buddy rode solo. It was the “Tour de Taste” with lots of stops for food, so it wasn’t quite the monster journey it sounds like. But it should have been 19 miles–which it turned out was exactly one mile too long. Rory went from super sport, rollicking along, talking to the other kids–to sound asleep. On the bike. I’m […]

I posted about an acquaintance whose life changed on 9/11. . I’ve never written about it before–it’s her story–but today it finally came out right.

Is giving to art and cultural charites moral when 24,000 kids die every day from easily preventable, poverty-related causes like diarrhea and pneumonia? Discuss. But on DoubleX, please, not here!

What I Really Want to do tonight Originally uploaded by kjda The bag on top is my favorite candy, finally restocked after a long absence (apparently it’s very expensive to ship candy during the summer). Yes, Rory dropped into the right family, although my candy cravings are far more selective than hers, and none of them yet have shown any sign of regarding books as candy. I also found a pair of new books to add to my kindle. Actually […]