The Magic of Stained Glass

Seven years ago when we moved into our SSsssssweeet 1980's split level home, we took a look at the transom window above the entry and said... "That would be a great place for a piece of stained glass!!" After finding we had to replace every window in our house this year, we decided to go for the gold and add the stained glass at the same time. I drew up a design and took it around the corner to the studio in our neighborhood. I told them my budget, showed them my design, and then waited. They got back to me quickly, explaining that you pay by the piece, and mine was a complicated design. Since we live in the neighborhood, they wanted to give us a 50% discount, but that was still 50% more than I wanted to pay. Then they asked me if I wanted to re-visit the drawing board. I sighed loudly, and proceeded to cut away more than half of my design, and then showed the new version to Jordan. He took one look and said... "Is that really what you want?" I explained that this was the budget version and I would be okay with it. He smiled at me, picked up the phone, and called the stained glass place. He explained that he would be more than happy to pay for the original design, and to get started right away. I couldn't believe it. Our couches have massive holes in them (thanks Talmage) our TV is older than dirt, we need new carpet, and the list goes on, but hey we have the NICEST piece of stained glass I have ever seen! It has all sorts of fun symbolism based on Native American medicine wheels and East Indian Rangoli, and it even has our little family crest etched into it in five places. Jor and I designed the family symbol, which was on our wedding annoucement as well. So Jordan, thanks for giving up your potential flat screen, and six months of grocery money to indulge your wife's aesthetic vision. YOU make me happy... jordanwynskyzer gray.

All I want for Halloween is my two front teeth.

I apologize for the brutal nature of these photos. I actually couldn't watch the process. Too grody for me. Att had one tooth hanging from a string for a week, and finally Jor couldn't take it any longer. He ripped it out, and then Att found he liked the process so much that he decided they might as well rip out the other one as well. Atticus left a note for the tooth fairy to please leave his teeth so he could take them to school in the morning. The tooth fairy must have been feeling generous, because she left the teeth AND some money. LUCKY!!

Attman and Asher break boards together

Atticus and Asher have been invited to join the leadership program at their Karate school. They get to wear blue uniforms, work with weapons (oh yeah baby... he'll have mad bow staff skills) and tutor other kids in karate. They even got to break boards to show their RAW power! (Really I guess the board breaking is symbolic of setting goals and making it through hard things) Atticus has worked really hard to meet some goals at home and in Karate in order to be eligible. Way to go Att. You rock!

Indigo Hits 18 Months!

Our Indigo Maize Gray is just as colorful as her name. She spends her time trying to be one of the big kids (as seen in photo above, wearing Att's helmet and june's dress. She's bossy, opinionated, delightful and hilarious.

Random Rhombus

I must admit, I have a real love hate relationship with legos. They are the most wonderful creative toy, but I HATE HATE HATE stepping on them in the middle of the night while walking clumsily in the dark. They get everywhere, are the perfect swallow-able/choking size, and yet, they make wonderful artworks like Atticus' "Random Rhombus" possible. So, Legos, I hate you and I love you... can't you pick up yourselves?
Speaking of my Attman, I overheard the most hillarious story the other day. Junie said, "Atticus, Mrs Sarkady let's us say potty words!" Att said, "NOOOooo she doesn't! She sends you into the hall if you are naughty like that!" Mom says: "Att, did she send girls into the hall?" Att says, "No, just boys,... well, not just boys, just me." Mom says" Wait... you are the ONLY person that ever got sent in the hall?" Att... "Yep" Mom: "Did you get sent into the hall alot?" Att... "Yep...(and then slaps leg repeatedly) But we can laugh about it now!!" It was such a funny conversation, and Jord and I are still laughing about the things that he will "reveal" later... Hmmmm.

My nasty case of Mom-nesia

I think that each child I've had has slowly sucked away a portion of my short term memory. With four kids in six years I think it is safe to say that memory lapses are at least a daily occurrence. The other day we drove to church and there was a faint smell of dead carcass in the van. I wish I could say that this was an unusual experience, but our van is no stranger to curious smells. You'd think I would notice when my child sneaks a string cheese into the van and then decides that the best place to store it is under their carseat. Anyway, on this particular occasion, I remembered that Jordan had made a trip to costco the day before. For Jor, this means that he walked away from the store with a box of baby wipes and an obscene amount of raw meat. After smelling the faint nastiness in the van I was confident that it was Jordan's fault. I was pretty sure that he had absentmindedly left a chicken brest under the stroller or something, and I was quick to let him know that the smell was his fault. (In hind sight I should have realized that Jordan is not a person that misplaces his meat) Anyway, after a long three hours of baking in the hot sun in the church parking lot we opened the van door to the most odiferous grotesqueness. We could hardly even climb inside, in fact four out of the six of us chose to walk home instead of enduring the stench. When we got home Jor was determined to find the source. After a few minutes of gagging and shifting, he picked up a plastic bag of dripping blood and said "UUuuuuug. DEER MEAT? Did you put DEER MEAT in the van?" Um, yes... Yes I did. "You FORGOT that you put DEER MEAT in the van?" Um, yes... Yes I did. FOUR days earlier I stopped in on a friend that was moving and she was cleanining out her freezer. She didn't want to throw the meat away, so she gave it to me. I popped it in the van and went on with my day... chores, wiping bums, carpool duty, dinner, bedtime, etc. And, promply forgot about the deer meat. You'd think I'd remember it once it started to stink and decay, but no, I naturally assumed that it was Jordan's fault instead. Soooo Gross. So friends, if you'd ever like me to keep a secret, never fear, there's a really good chance that I won't remember it anyway.

Guarding Stance, Meditation Stance, and Mr. Orange belt

Here's our Attman demonstrating his dynamite meditation stance. I think I ought to try this myself. It is really fun to watch his "serious" face when he practices. I think it would be terrifying to meet him in a dark alley.

First days of school

I remember when the first day of school was a magical experience. Fresh school supplies, new shoes, and a brand new set of rules. This year Attman started second grade, June started kindergarten, and Mr.T started preschool. It was a momentous occasion for all. Junie had absolutely no fear... I walked away teary-eyed and she waved goodbye confidently. So far everyone loves their new teachers, and we haven't even had any calls from the front office... knock on wood.

Not so super-heroes

I'm not sure why, but Indigo is simply smitten with underwear... probably because she is the only one that doesn't wear any. She loves to steal it from drawers and wear it around, usually slung on her arm like it's a handbag. On this particular day she and Talmage were pretending to be superheroes, a game which she loved at first, and then she found the underwear to be a bit... restricting!