Nine new books over at the the other book blog I kind of think about every now and then.

Hey Molly-

My friend in nursing school at YALE!! Ms. Single Smarty Pants. Love you and miss you and have been trying to get a hold of you. Please call us. Please. I have a box of crazy fabulous gifts only you could care about. And I want to hear about school- and Connecticut. And to bore you with stories about the boys and hear updates on the sisters (yours- but I can give you updates on Susie and the little sisters- unfortunately no great boobie stories- but I can go feel Anna up if you need one of those- call Becky if you want an update on her). See what a good friend I am for you- I am willing to horrify an innocent for a good boobie story for you. Have I convinced you to call me yet?

Sincerely,

Polly

Ms. Married Smarty Pants (which doesn't really leave a great title for Becky- but who cares about her anyways?)

So I am Looking For a New Project

I am trying to decide on a gift for a little precious one coming soon. This baby will live in Arizona- just a thought for weather appropriate choices.

Now this is my all time favorite- I actually want to make on for Charlie but they don't have her size in the pattern and I don't have that much yarn in my stash (remember I am on a craft supply moratorium until I make headway into the huge amounts of stuff in my craft room?) The only problem is I think it is a little hot for an AZ baby.

I think this one might be more appropriate- but I don't know if I am thinking that because this is the color of yarn I have already chose. (it is a great merino, or maybe cashmere I can't remember now- remember I only like to work with nice yarn.)

And this one is stylish and I just love it.

The rest are just ideas for future babies, or maybe just babies that made me cry a little bit. Isn't this the most darling thing ever! I must knit it.

And these little pants- couldn't you just die!I love the giant rib- I just love them they make the babies look especially yummy and edible.

Darling boots- Makes me want to try some felting.

And this is just the most stylish baby- but do you know any baby that would keep it on?

Day 6

Your Favorite Superhero

Well- I am not a big fan of superheros. Maybe it come from growing up in a girl centered universe. And the girl superheros all seem to be lame versions of the boy ones along the lines of bat girl. But the question did make me think about a couple of things.

The first is I am glad that I have come to the knowledge that the superwoman American mother who can have it all is a myth. You know the woman who unfailingly has a pleasant and cheerful demeanor in front of her children except when she is firm but kind when they need reprimand. The lady whose home is always spotless and yet has time to do crafts with the children, volunteer in the community, and work at a fulfilling job. You know the women who never forgets what she needs at the grocery store or remembers that this Friday it is her turn to take eggs and yogurt to the homeless shelter before Saturday. She is the woman who has a lovely garden that produces bushels of tomatoes, cans those tomatoes, and that night is lovely and pleasant when her husband comes home and cuddles with him on the couch. She is mother, wife, career women, volunteer and complete fiction. I know she is about as real as Superman. And I have no interest in being her or even attempting it. I know that the great learning moments in life take place in the messy imperfect home filled with love. That in our weaknesses we find our humanity, our charity, and the love and support of those who carry us through. That in our humility and knowledge of our failings and righteous intentions we are made more loving, patient, and empathetic. I know that our power and growth comes from our constant struggle to be better, do better; not in the impossible, demeaning, self-abusive judgement of our failures.

And if forced to name a super hero the best I could come up with is Abigail Adams- or one on the other countless real women who achieved miraculous things. I could go on and on with this list.

And as a side note I once attended a talk by Marianne Nieffert about the myth of the superwoman that was brilliant. From one of the women lauded by the press of the eighties as a superwomen (Mother Wife Doctor!)- she talked about all the areas she compromised and as she sees her children have children all the things she wished they knew were not important. Ask me to tell you about it some time when we are chatting.

Day 5

Sorry for the break. I am just copying Becky- so when she took a break I didn't know what to post. I know I could have looked it up or even call her and ask- but it was just easier to sit and wait. So I am back for now.

Day 5- A Travel Photo

Well I have been mostly posting travel photos. That is mostly what I took this year. Apparently when I am not feeling great I don't whip out my camera that often. But on trips I have it with me all the time. I also have the added bonus of a husband who loves photography but doesn't like taking pictures. So he is happy to assist me. He carries heavy camera bags, entertains children, and never minds when I putter behind the family changing f-stops and ISO and just fidgeting around with the camera. It is actually a great combination. So I get to play with my camera on vacation unlike any other time (the boys are less patient with my hobby). Therefore piles and piles of vacation photos. But I knew just what photo I wanted to use when I read this. I had one taken at Chambord that epitomized a dream I have had for years (am I old enough to even say decades?).

Whenever I am traveling and see little old ladies together I smile. Ahhh I think there is my future. You see I assume I will be a widow for a while. Not because I think Alma is going anytime soon. I just think men die younger- I always have (because they do). And plan on spending these golden solitary years traveling around with my friends. I automatically assume it will be Emily- but anyone will do. So when I saw these two emerging from the grounds I thought -oh yes Emily and I would enjoy a stroll here in our orthopedic shoes. So this is dedicated to Emily's and my future travel plans. And if Josh and Alma far outlive our expectations they can come too. Good thing I like their company- it is one of the convenient things when friends get married.

Day 4

One of your bad habits.

I stay up too late at night, I blame it on being on call but I have done it all my life. I read or watch on the stuff on my DVR none of the men in my life appreciate. And then I am a zombie the next morning. Sometimes I am productive but that is really the exception. I am not sure if this is my worst bad habit or the one I should be working on first- but it is the one I am aware of now as I have been laying on the couch waiting for my flexeril/vicoden cocktail to kick in. Not working. So maybe I will just go to bed in pain. Because that works so well. sigh.

Day 3

A Picture of You and Your Best Friend

I think I am a friendly person- and I have moved a lot so I think I have many many friends scattered all over the country. So many friends that I wish lived closer so we could stay close and have good times together.

But a best friend- those are a little more rare. I have a dark insecure side- I have just recently learned to show to others. And for year I hid it this friendly over the top sociality. And I think only a few have really seen the ugly and good and loved me even more for it.

First- this poor man didn't have a clue what he was getting into when he married me. I didn't know what I was going to be blessed with. I had no idea how much he would make me laugh or how he would stun me with his kindness. Every marriage has the ups and downs and I am glad I am on this ride with Alma. I couldn't ask for someone better for me.

The next group is my sisters. I have written about our relationship before- but it can be said again. They are the reason I survived, they are my everything. The are my joy.

And also the little sisters- they are my joys now. One of my favorite things in the world is our girls nights. I loved them as babies and I loved them as teenagers and I love them even more as they become women.

My sister-cousins are next. We have shared childhood memories- many many good times in college. Some of them convienently married our guy friends from college- so they could be family. And I don't think that I have any pictures of us on the computer. So Close your eyes and just picture a passel of strong, smart, fabulous Conley cousins.

Molly- When you have sisters who are close in age your friends overlap quite a bit. Molly was first Becky's friend. When we first met she could tell from my first actions that I would be her buddy and continue to shock her for the rest of our lives. She is our adopted sister. We love you Molly. You need to finish school and come home to California. I think this is one of my favorite pictures of her- but I also love all the pictures of her and Coen loving on each other and I have millions of those.

And lastly I will add Andrea. Unofficial sister-cousin. The only roommate who lived with all of us strong opinionated Conleys and could withstand the natural force that we are. Who else would have cap gun fights, or do water opera with no concern about what others would think. And well how could I not be kindred spirits with some one with red spiky hair and a deep love of John Wayne. And I don't have a picture of her hot body and gorgeous hair- but I know she will love this picture of the fruit of her loins.

Day 2

Tell us about your blogs name.

Well- I don't remember where this came from. I think it was during some get to know you game in college where you had to come up with a word describes you that starts with the same letter as your name- and like Mary Poppins I was Practically Perfect. And it kind of stuck. You see I have many of these self given grandiose titles. For years my little sisters acknowledged I was Empress of the Universe (it is a funny story the day Anna realized I wasn't the actual Empress of the Universe) and at work my official title is Prettiest Girl in the Office.

It is a little of my tongue in cheek sarcastic humor- full of self deprecation. Even those who know me I am sure think of me as practically perfect- or as Miss Adelaide leader of the Hot Fox Chick Chick Chickies.

Christmas Decorations

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is decorating the tree and getting

all of my favorite little treasures out.

And I promised Becky I would post pictures so here they are.

The Tree

The Mantle and Other Treasures

(only I just noticed the Joy had slipped a little so it is a little catty wampus)

The Candy Village

(with an Eiffel Tower for Coen)

I had a lot of fun collecting all of the different pictures of the Madonna with child- some from many different time periods and styles. I loved it when it was lit by the tree and candles- but of course that wasn't great for taking pictures. I wish you all had been able to come and drink some cider and sing a few carols in our home this holiday season.

Day 1

Becky is doing some kind of challenge about blogging about yourself- and I thought gee I can do that too. So I don't know where she got the idea- I am just copying what she does.

A Recent Picture of Yourself

I have been working on putting more pictures of myself on the blog- and there are actually some of me after our trip this summer- and thanks to Alma's iphone. I just tripped of across this one and I liked it. The only reason I picked it.

15 Interesting Things About You

I love writing to do lists.

I am a strange combination of being extremely outgoing and chatty but at the same time have crippling social anxieties- I know a strange combination- that is getting better.

My childhood nicknames were either wog or pc.

My best friends in the world are my sisters.

I am trying to work the 12 steps- but there are a sad lack of 12 step meetings in our area- only 2 a week that fit my needs.

Beckett's middle name is Dieter. I think that is unusual.

I don't really get twitter and have never even tried.

There is a little reef in the South Pacific named Polly's Point.

On that same trip I helped sew a finger back on a young man- while villagers kept pulling hairs out of my head.

Someday I hope to work for the Department of Health and Human Services in an area related to pediatric health care.

I think I am going to get my PhD from Harvard when the boys are grown to do that- as you can tell I have a large second career planned.

If that never happens I would be fine because I love my job- I love it. I would still do it if I had hundreds of millions of dollars.

I am constantly wondering how to balance spending enough time with the boys and just keeping the house running. What is more important dishes or doing puzzles another 15 min?

I am not good at finishing things- be it crafts or chores I always avoid the last step.

I think my life is pretty amazing- but being married to a grumpy old man pessimist sometimes is a downer in my outlook. Not HIM- just his pessimism.

So I always make things and never get around to taking pictures until right before I mail them or wrap them- hence the bad lighting and no make-up or hair in these photos.

I actually posted some books from the last year over at the book blog- Good for me. I hope to start it up again as I was reading through it tonight and reminded of some great books- and thought oh yeah that is why I started to write this thing to begin with!

And I wrote over a year ago about my love for Betty Neels and who knew there is a whole blog devoted to her. It is great. And just for the record my favorite Betty Neels book is Polly- no surprise there. I used to own it but in a fit of insanity I purged it many years ago and haven't run across another copy. Sigh. Polly is a mousy blond/brown haired curvy yet sensible nurse with a wacky family who finds true love with her Dutch surgeon. (All of Betty Neels heroes are Dutch surgeons working in England- What you say all of them- yes all 134 of them.)

Do you have a favorite memory? A little bit of your childhood that seems to encapsulate the joy and fun of youth? For me those are the times playing with my cousins at my Grandparents ranch. The happy times of running around the farm and playing imaginary games and just mucking around with my sisters and cousins. One of my favorite photos is all of us sitting on the cover to the stairs to the cellar. It seemed quite the fun slide when we were little and once grandma caught us all making a train going down it. I was tickled when I went outside to check on the children and found all of the little cousins doing the same as their parents.

And that strange piece of walnut on the slide, that was Beckett's gun. You see Marshall and Coen had swords and shields and Luke had the blaster, so Beckett went digging in the wood pile on the side of the house to find his own weapon. Which I think weighed almost as much as he does.

I didn't make many gifts this year. I think all my craftiness was used up for RS Christmas Craft day. I am gathering the photos to post about those crafts. These were the only two gifts I really made. One of my favorite gifts I remember getting as a little girl was a set of pens. I loved to color detailed books with my case full of pens. So when I saw this set of pens I thought they were just perfect for my niece. Of course I had to embellish the case a little bit. I think it turned out darling. The other thing is just a little basket I made for Sunnie. It turned out just darling. I loved the measuring cups I found. I just kept trying to keep them for myself.