English Emma Blooms

Lars and Laura got up a little later than us, so I was already full of energy and waiting for my victims to awaken. Even poor Philip was not safe. They were relieved when Aaron beckoned them outside for some erudite conversation.

Hello ladies! It was great to see so many of you at the kickoff today! I think everyone was as excited as I am to be starting MOPS again. I felt very blessed to see all of your smiling faces and welcoming personalities today. Dawn

We had a good turnout at our kickoff today. The kids enjoyed themselves on the playground while the moms talked. We then ate sack lunches at the pagoda, the kids picked apples and the moms relaxed. Pictures follow. Anyone who is not pictured should congratulate themselves on managing to stay away from Emma and her camera!

Nationwide(participating locations): Penn Station Tuesdays Denny’s: Tuesday and Saturday 4- 10pm Fazolis: Tuesdays 5- 8pm Indianapolis: Chick-fil-A on 82nd Wednesdays 4- 8pm Noblesville: Skyline Chili Fridays 5- 9pm Greenwood: Sunshine Cafe All day Tuesdays Oriental Buffet & Grill Monday Nights Lonestar Steakhouse Tuesday all day. Saturday 11-4

We have more than one artist in the family extended) Can you guess who is responsible for this??? ?

Wow! We were tired after this one. We weren't pooped out... we were scrapped out! Please join us at the next MOPS CROP NIGHT! Invite a friend (like Emma and Josie did). Sep 19 MOPS CROP at Archivers, (317) 595-9502) Castleton. 5-11pm $15. Cost includes goodie bag, dinner and use of some Archivers tools.

Joel has an easel in our living room on which he loves to draw aliens, monsters and cyclops. Here are some: He says he needs to stop drawing so many monsters because they give him nightmares.

Joel just got out of his bed because he "needed to be tucked in". He was so full of it and so cute that I had to give him a hug. Of course, before he said anything, he said " I don't want you, I want Daddy!". He knows his poor old dad is a soft touch. Anyway, these pictures are ones Aaron took after Joel got out of the bath.

I now know why I wanted to clean. I am SICK! I always have a burst of energy right before I get ill.

she's a clean teen! I have an urge to clean. I don't know why, but it's not unseen. That quote comes from a movie that I watched with Carrie A., I think.

...at the Indiana State Fair Just trying to sound like the Linton Kwesi Johnson Song. The title is a clue to the riddle, though. How many times did each Kalinowski go to the fair? With Jill and Mira, Joel went twice With Emma, Joel went thrice With Aaron, Joel went twice With Jill and Mira, Emma went twice With Joel, Emma went thrice With Aaron, Emma went once With Debbie, Emma went once With Joel, Aaron went twice With Emma, Aaron went once. Let's see who gets it right!

Our last trip to the state fair! Aaron brought Joel and me and I brought a debilitating headache (pre lobotomy still). Joel was pretty depressed that this was his last trip to the fair this summer. "Cheer up," I said, "there will be lots of pretty ladies there today!" LADIES!! Here I COME! Miss Indiana Miss Indiana State Fair plots her evil take over. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

Yesterday Joel asked me when he was going to play soccer with Jake. what I did not realize was that registration was that morning! I went this morning and signed him up for fall soccer and gymnastics so all is not lost...

Before I had my lobotomy, we went to the fair two mornings in a row with Mira and Jill. Joel and Mira wait for the free bus to the fair! You know I would take it just because it was free even if I didn't want to go to the fair! The elephant they did not ride Looking at the animals they did not pet Avoiding the poop they did not step in The cow they did not milk The balloon that Joel did not hold onto quite tightly enough They bus they did not ride long enough A friend who understands? Priceless!

All answers given by 2nd grade school children (apparently) to the following questions: Why did God make mothers? 1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is. 2. Mostly to clean the house. 3. To help us out of there when we were getting born. How did God make mothers? 1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us. 2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring. 3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.. What ingredients are mothers made of ? 1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean. 2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think. Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom? 1. We're related. 2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me. What kind of little girl was your mom? 1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff. 2. I don't know because I wasn't there, b

I got to Chicago at 1pm and left at noon the next. I bookended my visits with breakfast with Brett and lunch with my dad! In between, I went to Walgreen's, a festival, a party and a movie. As promised I gave Brett my wake up call when I was 1 hour from his house. I arrived at 1pm and by 2pm we were eating breakfast at Brett's favorite restaurant. Open nose insert finger. This is revenge for the coffee cup Brett had made with a picture of me sitting on the toilet. Brett has changed very little! This is all he had to eat in the fridge. Brett and I had different perspectives at the Halsted Market Daddy and I were exhausted after our weekends.

This is before and after I stayed up past my bedtime with Brett in Chicago

My dad came to see us for three hours. We had meatball soup for dinner (not as good as his Oma's, but as good as my grandad's) and then hit the park. Daddy (mine0 gave Joel exactly what he wanted - tickles, chasing and cuddles. Solomon is feeling much better now he is on arthritis medicine. Before Joel went to bed he read him a Tintin comic book. Then Daddy and I critiqued Tintin and the Black Island - the movie. It was a visit we will all remember well.