grumpy

Everyone has been talking about it...the fact that it was 80 on Saturday and then promptly turns to 45 and rainy the very next day. It is driving me bananas! I can't even plan what to wear for each day because who knows, it may start out sunny and then turn into a thunder storm. I did manage to take Tank to the dog park during the one hour of sun we were blessed with today...

Yesterday it began to hail in the evening. Tank needed to go out back so he rang the bells on the back door. So what usually happens is that I'll open the door and he'll leap out to see if any of our dog neighbors are out, then he'll sniff around for the exact spot to unload on, then he'll run around and then he'll lean on the door to come back inside. Not this night. This dark and stormy night caused Tank much distress. I opened the door, he walked outside and stood on the little entry step and listened to the hail. Then, he began to inform the whole neighborhood just how pissed he was that it was hailing. He barked and barked and barked and the hair on his neck stood up and he bounced around with stiff legs. It was such a great way to end the night because I felt the exact same way. Stinking Weather!

200

Well, this is my 200th post. I started the blog in December of 2006 as a way to keep all the grandparents abreast of what my family is doing. It's grown from a family journal into a way to keep up with friends and family all over the U.S. and NZ!
I'm pretty happy with the way things have evolved and think perhaps things might get a bit more personal as the months wear on. Spring is here (although our weather forecast is calling for SNOW on Thursday!!) and it's time to clean house...who knows what will be uncovered!

The other day I made note of that beautiful bird necklace...guess what I got?Isn't it lovely?!

Hazel and I spent some time playing Jenga after school today. This isn't something we usually do but with the days getting longer and longer I'm finding the need to fill the space between homework and dinner. August wasn't interested, he just wanted to read in his room (he reminds me so much of what Scott was like as a child).
Thanks for reading!

Snow

August came home from school yesterday with an idea. He was told by a friend that if you sleep with a spoon under your pillow it will snow the next day. He mentioned this to me at dinner with a shy voice and asked if he could have a spoon before bed. I told him that I wasn't sure it would work. He then quietly mentioned that he already had the spoon in his room and couldn't he just try? When I agreed Hazel ran to the kitchen and opened the silverware drawer and ran back to her room.
Somewhere around 11:30 I heard a spoon drop to the floor in Hazel's room.
This morning both kids woke up pretty easily, they both had snow on their minds. Hazel was the first one to run to the window, sadly disappointed that the streets were dry. August was next, his eyes were sparkling, he just knew the spoon had worked. His shoulders slumped as the curtains parted...no snow. I felt as though I had let my children down and talked about how it may still snow today...there are 24 hours in a day and we should not give up hope.
Hazel sadly announced that she found her spoon on the floor this morning so it's probably her fault its not snowing. I reassured her that it was not her fault because the spoon was still under her pillow which was on the floor too.
Right before we left for school I checked the local weather. August was excited to see that there is a chance for snow both today and tomorrow. All is not lost. If he can believe in the power of a spoon I'm pretty sure we've got at least 2 more years of Santa left.

running hot and cold

believe it or not it has been very warm in these parts lately. today, however, is rainy and c-o-l-d.
gone are my iced white mocha's with my little star coffee ice cubes:(

i've been getting a bit more involved at the school and oh boy-it's not my idea of a good time. lessons learned:
1. always ask for help from the person who took on the project in the past.
2. always ask for help from said person BEFORE you begin the project.
3. when placing an order for t-shirts based on order forms filled out by parents always order extra shirts.
4. when placing an order for t-shirts based on order forms filled out by parents always assume that they ordered the wrong size and order the next size up.
5. when thinking that a family talent show would be a good idea, STOP! assure yourself that it is not a good idea.
6. when ignoring your inner voice that is yelling at you to STOP! accept the fact that you will not please everyone and that there will be the occasional person who is offended by the fact that you allowed a student duo to play Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer on the piano while they *gasp* sing the words! i mean, come on! it's not Silent Night! they're not singing a PRAISE SONG. they're singing about a fictitious reindeer! LORD!

let's take a break and look at the kids. we all know that's why you came.
august on Ann-Kresten's front porch.


hazel at the ballgame on sunday (three rows from the very last row!)