It's a good thing LJ is here to remind me of birthdays.  Apparently my husband, prisoncitybear , has a birthday tomorrow.  He's turning 45, I was thinking about trading him in for a younger model, but it has taken be so long to get him broken in just the way I like him, so I better not press my luck.  He's an amazing man, inredible husband, outstanding father, and just all round great guy. 

Tags: tom's birthday
Current Mood: happy

Actual conversation early today:

Anna: I’ve got to go potty.

Tom: Okay, go and come right back.

[Bells ring as front door is opened]

Tom: Where did Anna just go?

Me: Apparently out on the front porch.

[Tom running to front door]

Tom: Anna, why did you just pee on the front porch? That was very naughty, you are in time out.

[Five minutes later while feeding Anna dinner]

Tom: Why did you go out on the front porch to pee?

Anna: [Arms crossed in front of her chest] Because I’m mad at you.

Tom: Why are you mad at me?

Anna: Because you ruined my life!

Tom and Tod: [Hysterical laughing, unable to talk]

Tags: anna, proud parenting moment, therapy
Current Mood: amused

This was my welcome to school this morning:



First of all my last name is McMillen-Oakley, not McMillir.   Secondly is this a directive to someone else suggestion sexual realations with me or did the person just run out of time to write "you" making it a popular phrase.

This was in Dawn's room, the room next to mine:



Him, how do I dissect this one.  First of all what is Fucy?  Was the word "you" too difficult to spell that you needed to shorten it?  Shouldn't there be some kind of punctuation in here somewhere?

Tags: students, swearing, vandelism
Current Mood: cranky

I was able to sit through about 90% of the right half without a break, but that is when my pain tolerance ran out.  I had to take about 6 or 7 breaks while getting the left half done.  All in all it took about 4 hours to get the outline done.  There are some spots that will get more leaves, but I had reached my limit, so they will be added when I go back for shading.

And, because I know some of you will ask:
The tree is a representation of the tree of life, adapted from the original round shape to fit with my existing tattoo.
Anna was born in the year of the rooster.
I was born in the year of the monkey.
Tom was born in the year of the dragon.
The empty branches on the upper left side are a shout out to my grandparents who were a part of my life well into my mid-30's.
The empty spot above the dragon or to the right of the dragon are incase we adopt another kid.
 

Tags: anna, dragon, family, grandparents, monkey, rooster, tattoo, tom
Current Mood: exhausted

I received this email today and wanted to share it with all of you out there in LJ land that are from Michigan.

It is with great pleasure to announce that HB 4131, the 2nd parent adoption bill, passed the House Judiciary Committee today, with all Democrats present voting yes and all Republicans on the committee voting no.  We had eloquent, intelligent, and dynamic speakers present testimony along with many families there showing their support. 
A special thanks goes out to Representative Mark Meadows, Chair of the committee, Representative Alma Wheeler Smith, sponsor of the bill, and to Representative Rebekah Warren for her unyielding support and assistance in championing 2nd parent adoption.
 
Below are to the House Judiciary committee members and how they voted. 
 
Committee Members:
Mark S. Meadows (D), Committee Chair, 69th District -YES
Ellen Cogen Lipton (D), Majority Vice-Chair, 27th District -YES
Lisa Brown (D), 39th District -YES
Bob Constan (D), 16th District - YES
Marc R. Corriveau (D), 20th District - ABSENT
Andy Coulouris (D), 95th District -YES
Andrew J. Kandrevas (D), 13th District - YES
Bettie Cook Scott (D), 3rd District - YES
Rebekah Warren (D), 53rd District - YES
Tonya Schuitmaker (R), Minority Vice-Chair, 80th District - NO
Justin Amash (R), 72nd District - NO
Joseph Haveman (R), 90th District - NO
Rick Jones (R), 71st District - NO
Eileen Kowall (R), 44th District - NO
Tory Rocca (R), 30th District - NO

 
Our next goal is to have this bill brought before the full House of Representatives for a vote.  We will keep you informed of any hearing dates and movement on this legislation.  Please if you have family or friends throughout Michigan, ask them to contact their representatives to support this legislation!
 
Thanks to all!

Tags: second parent adoption
Current Mood: hopeful

Okay watching “On Demand” with Anna we stumbled across a 8 minute program called Shushybye. A real mellow show meant to calm babies/toddlers  down before wandering off to bed. The Shushies grant your dream wishes so you can decide what you want to dream. One of the segments asks  you, the viewer what you want to dream about. I asked Anna what she wanted to dream about. She responded, “An accordion and maracas and lots of peoples and monsters.” I said, “Monsters? You want to dream about monsters?” She responded and accidently knocked an autographed picture of Vincent Price off the wall. Coincidence? You decide. All I can say is that when she wakes up screaming after having a Vincent Price monster nightmare, I’m sending Tom in to comfort her.

Tags: accorion, dreams, nightmares, shushybye, vincent price
Current Location: Attic
Current Mood: amused

All winter long we had talked about building a snowman, but never actually did it. On our extra day of “Spring” break Anna and I actually went outside and built a snowman.

Tags: anna, snowman, spring break
Current Location: Michigan in Springtime
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "Springtime" Wonderland

Tom and I have always been amazed when random people we don’t know stop us on the street to tell us how cute Anna is. Last night was the topper. We were in the second row to see Stomp in NYC. Apparently the whole time Tom and I were checking out one of the incredibly hot performers he was checking out our daughter. After the final bow he leaned over the edge of the stage, looked Anna right in the eye, and said, “you are too cute.” I would have to agree, during the show she was “too cute.” She was sitting on the edge of her seat, clapping, patting her legs, and bouncing up and down.

Tags: broadway show, nyc, stomp, too cute
Current Location: Jersey
Current Mood: amused

Apparently I’m a photographer. I didn’t know I was a photographer, I thought I just took pictures. First it started with one of my pictures being to top selling items in a silent auction to raise money for the art museum in Jackson, and then it sold again in a silent auction to raise money for the Back to Back program at my school. Then about a month ago I got an email on my Flickr account saying that one of my photos was being considered for inclusion on a tourism website. I just got this email this morning: is:

Hi Tod,

I am delighted to let you know that your submitted photo has been selected for inclusion in the newly released sixth edition of our Schmap San Francisco Guide:

Golden Gate Bridge http://www.schmap.com/sanfrancisco/entertainment_thepresidio/p=26630/i=26630_65.jpg

If you use an iPhone or iPod touch, then this same link will take you directly to your photo in the iPhone version of our guide. On a desktop computer, you can still see exactly how your photo is displayed and credited in the iPhone version of our guide at:

Golden Gate Bridge http://www.schmap.com/?m=iphone#uid=sanfrancisco&sid=entertainment_thepresidio&p=26630&i=26630_65  

Finally, if you have a blog, you might also like to check out the customizable widgetized version of our Schmap San Francisco Guide, complete with your published photo:

http://www.schmap.com/guidewidgets/p=37352741N00/c=SJ20011906

Thanks so much for letting us include your photo – please enjoy the guide!

Best regards,

Emma Williams,

Managing Editor, Schmap Guides

www.schmap.me/emma.williams

We were driving through Ann Arbor yesterday after a visit with Anna’s mom. Tom and I were talking to one another when Anna started telling a story. It took us a few minutes to figure out what she was talking about.

Anna: And the doctor needs to sit in the chair so I can put conditioner and jello in his hair.

Me: The doctor needs to sit in the chair so you can put conditioner and jello in his hair?

Anna: Yes, then I’ll hook him up and he can watch TV for a little bit and then he needs to go to sleep.

Tom: Do you mean put jelly in his hair so you can do a sleep study?

Anna: Yes, he needs to do a sleep study.

She went on from there for about 10 minutes, not really talking to us, just retelling the events of the sleep study two weeks ago. This was the first time she has mentioned it, apparently being back in Ann Arbor triggered the memory. We haven’t heard anything from the doctor yet, but after listening to her story we did make a note to give him a call this week.

Tags: anna, sleep study, story
Current Location: Ann Arbor
Current Mood: amused