February 29

Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November;
All the rest have thirty-one,
Save February, with twenty-eight days clear,
And twenty-nine each leap year.

It's been a dreary, rainy day here with not much going on, but I could not resist having a post stamped with today's special date.

Hmmm...I wonder...if you were born on this day would you celebrate on the 28th or March 1? I don't think I would like it so much as a child, but there is something to be said for only growing older once every four years once reach a certain age.

Happy Leap Year Day, my friends!

Image via

A Realization

If I had five bucks for each and every time my daughter has made it known that she can’t wait to be out of this house I would be a millionaire. Well, maybe not a millionaire, but I definitely could have paid cash for her braces.

Like all teens she is very public about looking forward to growing up and gaining independence and, behind the rose-colored glasses of youth, she can get a little cocky about it at times, too.

A few nights ago, a day after registering for her final year of high school, I think the reality of growing up and what it means to be independent finally began to hit home, and my daughter, who can be a pretty relaxed, why-worry-about-it kind of girl, was scared.

Sitting in complete safety and comfort between her dad and me in bed, the questions, accompanied by very wet eyes, started…What if I don’t know for certain what I want to do? What if the job I think I would like to do takes me out of state? What if you change your mind once you’ve already taken several college classes? How do you even start going to college?

For each of us there is always that first time our glasses get a little cloudy. For Ren, it was Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 9:00 p.m.

A Boy Named Tommy

I normally don't post twice in one day but I just remembered this and wanted to write it down before it's forgotten forever. I thought you might enjoy it, too.

This morning, upon putting on the shirt I had laid out for him John-Heath says, "Mom, I don't think I should wear this shirt. What if Tommy thinks it's his?" Evidently, there is a boy in his room/grade with that name, and he became quite insistent on not wearing it - you know in that whiney, first-grade kind of tone that went something like this...but mahhhhhhm...Tommy will get mad.

Finally, and slightly frustrated I might add, I had to say, "John-Heath, is your friend's last name Hilfiger? No? Then you can wear that shirt...because that shirt belonged to a boy name Tommy Hilfiger... and he doesn't go to your school."

A Hint of Spring

Today, the weather in my neck of the woods has been absolutely fabulous, like 73 or so. It's a good thing I had my back to the window during a librarians' meeting at our district's central office or else I'm sure I would have been busy daydreaming instead of concentrating on the topics at hand - common core, research, summer reading and internet safety.

This afternoon, John and I took a little walk around our yard, Ren took a little run around the farm and John-Heath took a little walk upstairs for more conquests, via his computer game "Age of Empires". Even though I love snowy winter days it's obvious Snow Bird has overlooked us this year, so I'm ready for spring and summer to go ahead and get started. Speaking of summer, wouldn't it be nice if the temps would float around the mid-seventies during J, J, and A?

Of course, the downside to such a lovely February day is the possibility of storms when a cold front inevitably moves in. Here's hoping for a peaceful night.

Countdown to Prom

My how things can change. Only a month or so ago Ren was absolutely dead set against going to her prom. Words like stupid, ridiculous, and should be just for seniors were commonplace anytime I approached the subject of it with her. But let a girl find a nice guy to go with and just the right dress and she's now singing a different tune, albeit in her normal laid back way.

Now the hair appointment is made and the "make-up artist" (cousin Meg) is lined up and today we will return to The White Room to pick up her dress, which was purchased a couple weeks ago but had to be ordered to get a size that is a better fit (plus, it'll be new and not one that was tried on by two hundred other girls and their deodorants).

After trying on about a gazillion dresses, Ren, along with her entourage of three, decided upon a Sherri Hill. You can see a bit of it above. It is a lovely dress, and one just a little different than the others she's owned. I have to say, and forgive me while I brag a bit, I thought my daughter was absolutely beautiful in it, even if she wasn't wearing any makeup that day and had her hair just thrown up in a messy bun.

Another great thing about this dress...she already has the shoes and earrings to match, which made her dad very happy.

A Close Call or Two

Last night turned out to be an evening of close calls.

First, our boys basketball team won an exciting game over a private school I have long detested by one point with a last second shot in the first round of the district tournament. Now, I'm just a fan and I really know next to nothing about the game, but I think it's the best I've seen our guys play all year. Oh, I do know one thing, though...Bye Bye, Cougars!

While at the game, John-Heath, returning from one of his many trips to the bathroom, lobby, and/or hospitality room (being the kid of an AP has its perks), shows up with a box of popcorn from the concession stand (he had no money) and proclaims (in a tone reminiscent of Delmar at his baptism in O, Brother Where Art Thou), "The concession stand is closed and the popcorn is free."

Turns out, there were free boxes of popcorn on a table as we left. So, John-Heath grabbed another to take to Ma-Ma and Pa Gene.

Now, my mother is very impressed with how well John-Heath is reading to be only six and while at her house (dropping off the free popcorn) she wanted him to demonstrate for my sister who had arrived shortly after us.

"He can read anything. Just listen. John-Heath, read this to Sissy." At which point, she picks up a local paper that she had not yet read herself and hands it to him to read, pointing at the headline.

He begins..."Man accused of watching wife have..." and that was all he got out before, luckily, my mother realized the error of her way and snatched it away from him. She was mortified, John-Heath was intrigued by the commotion and tried to get the paper back, and the rest of had a good laugh at mom's expense.

Considering what the headline turned out to be, it was a very close call, indeed.

Chocolate Dump Cake

I found this recipe over at Eat, Live, Run and thought, despite what it’s called and the images one could conjure up from such a name, I would give it a whirl. I would have taken pictures but that would have taken time away from the actual eating process. Besides, ELR has photos on her page. Why re-invent the wheel, right?

Chocolate Pudding Dump Cake

Ingredients:

1 chocolate boxed cake mix

(I used Duncan Hines Chocolate Fudge)

1 small package chocolate pudding

(again, I used the chocolate fudge flavor)

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups (large handful) chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare the pudding with the milk according to package directions. Add the cake mix and stir well to combine

(the batter will be thick. I had to pull out my mixer for a bit on this one).

Smooth batter into a greased 9 x 13-inch pan. Scatter chocolate chips on top.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until edges pull away from sides.

Time: 40 minutes

Folks, this was one easy little cake, and good too. It was all puddiny (not a real word, but somehow it fits). And the best part to me, at least, is that it included no eggs or oil. With no eggs I was free to fearlessly enjoy bites of the batter scraped from the sides of the bowl. My dad got in on the action, too, and told of how Mammy Sophia would let him lick the spoon when he was little.

Now, be sure to eat it while it’s still all warm and gooey, and a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice-cream on the side doesn’t take anything away from it either. I packed the one piece that was left over in my lunch for the next day and, while it was still good, it just wasn’t as good. This is a something that is definitely best right out of the oven.

That Man Does Make Me Swoon

If you are a close, personal friend or even a Facebook friend then you probably already know what an awesome, romantic fool I’m married to but if you’re not, let me tell you…HE ROCKS!

Do you remember the getting-my-car-stuck-in-the-mud-because-of-the-stupid-pool-cover fiasco of just a few weeks ago? Well, after months (and months and months) of nagging humble beseeching, my husband went outside on a cold, drizzly Valentine’s Day, hooked up an uber-masculine chain to the pool cover and hauled that sucker to the trash pickup point, and then came inside the house and lovingly proclaimed, “Happy Valentine’s Day”. He knows just how to make a girl go weak in the knees, doesn’t he?

The grandparents with the kiddos.

Now, even though that’s a true story I shouldn’t give him too much grief about it. After all, because it was a school night, we had already decided to stay in anyway, so I wasn’t expecting a night on the town. He has promised a date night soon and I intend to hold him to it.

Ren with her gift from John and me.

Our night consisted of a big pot of homemade vegetable beef soup shared with my parents, who came bearing gifts, and a pretty darn good, warm chocolate cake topped off with some vanilla bean ice-cream for dessert. I’ll get you that recipe tomorrow.

John-Heath reading the Valentines he received from classmates to Ma-Ma.

In hindsight, it was the best kind of Valentine’s Day, spent with those I love unconditionally and those who unconditionally love me.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

School kids everywhere will be passing out their Valentines to friends today.

There will be the cartoon cards…

the sport cards…

the princess cards…

the modes of transportation cards…

the awww, isn’t it cute? cards…

and even cards picturing food.

And in some corners of the world there may even be scary cards…

Ahhh, nothing says I love you in Hungarian quite like “Welcome to the devil’s playground”.

Here’s hoping my kid, and yours, will come home with a backpack full of Barbie, monster trucks, and asparagus!

Valentine Cards

Last year, we did store bought (gasp!) Toy Story valentine cards. This year, thanks to Pinterest and Google, John-Heath will be giving out photo Valentines to his classmates and family. I don’t remember where I first saw this but I have since seen it A LOT! I wish I were creative and could be the originator of such ideas, but I’m nothing if not a great imitator. Really, though, is this not just one of the cutest ideas you’ve ever seen? Simple and fast. Two of my favorite features of any idea.

I actually took the picture in our front yard yesterday after church while he was in his festive red sweater vest. It was cold so we had to act fast, no time for retakes. After a little editing on Picasa, I just saved it to a flash drive and developed it while shopping in Wal-Mart late yesterday afternoon. By the by, there are times I really hate Wal-Mart, but that’s another story and will have to wait its turn.

John-Heath’s class has been learning about letter writing lately and each student has his/her own little box in which mail can be delivered. So, on each envelope he wrote a friend’s name and box number. I hope he can read his own writing well enough to get the cards into their correct places tomorrow. I hate to say it but my son has horrible handwriting. He is a lefty (and this is a right-handed person’s world), plus he has little to no patience, which means he will not slow down long enough to write neatly. My only consolation is that most doctors also have horrible penmanship. Fingers crossed.

Lucille

I thought I would show you a corner of Ren's room. If you'll remember, we're almost finished redecorating it. This shows you her new wall color. We got rid of the Chocolate Mousse and opted for a shade or purple, Ren's favorite color. I can't remember off-hand the exact color, but it's from Lowe's. You can't see it in the picture but her ceiling is also a very, very light shade of the color.

This dress form was one of the first things we purchased to go in her room after we finished building the house. Ren's older cousin/childhood idol had one and you know how that goes. I think I found this one at Home Goods, but as it's been almost five years ago, I can't remember.

I have heard that, especially in Canada, dress forms are nicknamed "Judy". Ren calls hers "Lucille". Can you take a wild guess as to one of her favorite old television series? Here's a hint...if she had a male dress form she would call him Desi.


As you can see, Lucille's main job, other than occupying the the corner between the third and fourth window (yes, that fourth window, the very one), is chief necklace holder. Doesn't she look like she's ready for Mardi Gras?

Linking up to

The Polka Dot Closet's Dress Form Ball.

It’s a Gift…and a Curse.

I’m talking about my son’s iPod. Santa brought him one for Christmas to bring peace to the family. Ren has had one for a while -she’s a teen and uses hers mostly for music and texting/messaging/emailing/whatever you want to call it – and for the past couple years John-Heath has thought he should be entitled to one, too.

Truthfully, car trips had become stressful. Ren would brings hers. John-Heath would want hers. Now, I’m a teacher and, as such, a fairly educated person. I knooooow there are better ways to handle situations like this but, frankly, it was just easier to say, “let him play with it for a while, Ren.” Well, actually, more times than not I was probably shouting something like FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY, REN, JUST GIVE IT TO HIM! Yeah, that sounds more like it.

Anyway, Santa came to our rescue and now my son has one of his very own. I can see right now he has the makings to be the “gamer” of the family. He always outscores me in Temple Run.

The bad thing about my six-year-old having his own is that on some days there are long chunks of time when the device becomes glued to his hand. When this happens all else in his life seemingly ceases to exist. Dinner? Who needs to eat. Mommy’s kisses? Too busy for that. SpongeBob? SpongeBob who?

The good thing about him having his own is that it can be a wonderful leveraging tool. Wanna play with your iPod… do your homework/clean your room/get in the shower/eat your dinner/watch SpongeBob for old time’s sake/or just give your mommy a kiss.

Yes, as Monk use to say, “It’s a gift…and a curse.”

29 Days, 29 Photos

First of all, can someone please tell me where January went? One day we’re celebrating the new year, the next shopping for Valentine cards. Did we take a shortcut somewhere?

So, lately I have seen several blogs, Facebook posts, etc. which mention some type of photo-a-day challenge and thought I might get in on the action. Now, you know me, the moment it begins to feel too much like a resolution I’ll probably throw in the towel, but I would like to at least attempt it.

The one I like best I think is over at the Nest of Posies. Each month she hosts a link party where you can share your monthly photos. It’s actually a yearly challenge but, as usual, I am in a day late, dollar short situation.

Truthfully, I’m kind of excited about it. It puts me in mind a bit of a scavenger hunt and I lovvvve scavenger hunts. Want to join in? If so, take a look at the list for February and grab your camera or, if you’re really artsy, I guess you could grab your sketch pad and pencil.

Even though I’ll be taking a picture a day I think I’ll post them once a week, maybe each Saturday.

Okay, I’m off to grab my camera and snap a picture of “my view today”, which is going to be gloomy because the weather here stinks!