Jen's Predictions for 2011---World Famous, World Class A Plus Predictions

Welcome back to your future. Chris and I have put our heads together to see what visions we could make out for 2011. After a little bickering and a lot of "Chris, that's just stupid." and "Jen, stop insulting my predictions!" we have the following to reveal:

1.  First for the deathlist:  Hugh Hefner, Joan Rivers, Queen Elizabeth AND Prince Charles (in a shocking car accident that harkens our memories back to Lady Di----perhaps Lady Di's revenge?) before the marriage of William and Kate.
2.  Comebacks:  Val Kilmer and Stephanie Powers of Hart 2 Hart fame.
3. There will be talk of a Wonder Woman movie, with Katy Perry starring.
4. Speaking of Katy Perry, she and Russell will break up towards the end of '11.
5. Joran, according to Chris's vision, will get help for his rage issues while in prison.  According to my vision, he will get "worn out" and then sliced and diced while in prison. Vision and prison rhyme. Hee hee.
6. We will find out what happened to Natalee.
7.  Someone will name their baby Twitter.
8. Kathy Lee will be hurt and will have to be replaced by someone on the Hoda and Kathy Lee part of the Today Show. Bad feelings will emerge when Hoda connects with her replacement.
9.  Lindsay Lohan---I'm sensing a limb will be either mangled or amputated this year. Sorry.
10.  According to Chris, Eminem will not die, but will get diarrhea for six months straight and will have to cancel his world tour. Millions will rejoice.
11.  Will.i.am will become simply William---Chris's vision.
12. Chris sees that Beyonce will break a hip.  I sense a baby in Rhiannon's future.
13.  Jesse James will get married again.
14.  Steve Gutenburg (sp?) will be arrested.
15.  A beautiful drop dead gorgeous actress will....drop dead.  She will be in her thirties and there will be speculation over drugs.  A red dress, tv, and a white dog will be somehow involved.
16.  Golden Gate Bridge---something happens to it.
17.  A key political figure will be crushed by something falling from space.
18.  Leanne Rimes and that cute man will have a baby.
19.  Kevin Smith and Michael Moore will each have a heart attack. One will not make it.
20.  Numerous heroes will emerge from a failed terrorist plot.


Thoughts? Do you have a 2011 prediction to share?

Last Year's Predictions Reviewed

It's that time again. Let's review last year's predictions, shall we?


Jen’s Amazing Predictions for 2010 (Twenty-ten)


Chaz Bono will become a father. Somehow.-----I was wrong. Didn't happen.

Jamie Lynn Spears will get pregnant by a different baby daddy this year.---Wrong. Although there were rumors.

The penny will begin to phase out of existence. In a weird twist of fate, penny loafers will become stylish again, but with something else in the loafer.---So wrong.


Lindsey Lohan will get married.--Nope.

Khloe and Lamar will separate, to no one’s surprise.--Nope

An actor will be “outed” and everyone will be shocked. Scandalous pictures may be involved here. --WHO? Surely someone will help me with this one.

Another actor or actress will out himself/herself and no one will be shocked in the least.--SEAN HAYES. See, I can get it right!

Osama Bin Laden will be captured. He will not be amused.---Nope.

I'm sensing double tornadoes will take out an area near Memphis.---WRONG. HOWEVER....double means TWO and I know TWO people who are going to move to Memphis.  I was so close!
Saturn (the planet) will cause trouble.---Not to my knowledge.

Martha Stewart and Paris Hilton will collaborate on something.---Nope.

A famous comedian with curly hair will bite the dust. It will be sad.---Greg Giraldo?

A book concerning a butterfly, a vacuum, and a dog will become famous.---No.

Mudslides will abound.  YEP! I was RIGHT! See?

A red head will entertain us, then anger us.

Jay Leno will finally retire cuz nobody watches him anymore and he knows it.---No.

Steve-O will die.---No.

Eminem will die. (Chris)*He says this every year.---NO.

Rhianna will die. (Chris)---No.

Dave Matthews will die. (Chris)  ---No.


I think this is the worst job I've done of predicting yet. Perhaps I will be better at this in 2011.  Coming later today...

Surely You Touched Mine...*

"Mom, where are our souls?"---Luke asked me in bed tonight.
"Well, I think they are like, just PART of us. Like our shadows. You can't really HOLD your own shadow, but it's there."--Me

"Yeah. I think every part of me is my soul. It's like our skin."--Luke

******
Luke just asked, "Why are you writing about me?" (I forget he can READ pretty well now...)

He also added, "Mom, you know old people...you know what I'm about to say...old people will be in the ground soon."

NOW he just said, "Mom, don't write that! Nanny will see it!!!"
(HOW CAN HE READ SO WELL?????)
Craziness.
*Can anyone guess why I chose that blog title? Winner gets a cookie. Homemade.

Reg

Long time no post.  I just had to write about Reggie.  Aka the Reginator, Regabooboo, Regster, Reginald Dwight.

I miss him so much. I've had that cat around me since 1999. I watched his birth when his "mom" Mittens hid herself in my closet on Annalue Avenue in Auburn and pushed out Reg and two others.
He lived on Ross Street with me, then in a tiny apartment in Evansville, Indiana. Then my parents' house for a few months in Montgomery, at 2707 Festival Lane, at the Copperfield house, Sumter house, and now here.
I about choked up when I went down the pet food aisle at Publix. It was an accident--they are rearranging and I was halfway down before I realized that cat food was staring me in the face.
I keep hearing his meow and looking outside on the patio to see if he wants in.

I know he was "just a cat" but damn. My heart hurts.

Luke at Church

So as many of you know, my little family and I joined First Baptist
recently and we've been going pretty regularly.  However, last week Jake was sick so we missed it, and this week Chris was sick with probably the same thing that Jake had.  I didn't want to miss two weeks straight (especially right after joining!) so I got the kids dressed this morning and we took off for the 8:00 service.  Dropped Jake off at pre-Sunday school daycare and Luke and I headed to the sanctuary.  We heard singing.
"I know this song," Luke said, "It's that one that lasts forever."
He was right, I had to admit. It does last forever. :)
I like the contemporary service, but I do miss the old hymnal standards that I could sing in the "blue haired" service at 9:00. :)  When the old pastor got up (whom I love), Luke said, "That is that funny guy." (Luke liked a joke he told last time.)

Luke made the funniest face when an older woman got up to sing "People Need the Lord" and honestly, she wasn't that great at singing.  He gestured like, "get a load of this."  I had to quickly shush him up and put his finger pointing hand down.
For the rest of the service, he looked around and got out his Lego figurines. I was okay with the latter until he started flying them around in front of him, above pew level.
They went in my purse.
After the service was over, we visited Nanny in her older people Sunday School class. She seemed proud to show Luke off to her pals in there.

I really love the new friends in my Sunday School class. I never knew church could actually feel this good.  Seriously.

Last Summer Saturday...

Good grief, it's hot.
Jakey is spending the weekend with my parents, so Luke is getting a break from being beaten up on a daily basis and I got to sleep without making room for both the beagle and a 3 year old. :)

Missed my little yardsale buddy this morning though. Had a good run. Lots of great frames I'm gonna spraypaint, a cool magazine holder, a lot of clothes (surprisingly!), and a few things for the boys. Oh, and a chair! For five bucks. I am gonna put it in my Jen Den (aka my office).

Luke and I got our hair cut today, just in time for school.  He's about to head out here in a few minutes to do his first Cub Scout activity---bottle rocket things in the park. Chris is going with him and I'm gonna take a .....wait for it......a NAP!

I'm very excited.

Jakers Update

Jake: Know what?
Me: What?
Jake: Choo choos airplanes.

Me: Of course.

Pic is of Jake and his Nanny. He loves his Nanny. He kept looking at her when it was time to wipe his nose and chin. She obliged.

He is still not pottytrained.  He's three.  He shows more interest in it than Luke did at 3 though. I'll give him that.  I ask him if he has to pee before we take a bath together.  He says no. He would rather wait until he's in the bath with me before he pees. Yeah, that's a scream.

The boy love planes, trains, and cars. He's a big fan of transportation.  He likes Clifford the big red dogger.  Loves chocolate milk and Wipeout.

Loves jumping on beds and couches.

Loves turning off the TV when you are in the middle of something.

Wants to dress himself even if he tries to smoosh his head in the arm hole of a shirt.  Still doesn't want help.

My little man.

Should've All Over Myself

This is the part of summer where I feel regret---what should I have done differently this summer? Should we have gone to the beach instead of being financially responsible? Should I have gotten a tan like I wanted? I should have gone walking/worked out...should have spent more time with the kids...etc. 
Seems like laundry, kitchen, etc. gets in the way of playing with the kids sometimes. Lately I've left everything where it is and have gone outside to throw the wiffle ball with the boys and heard the sound of the huge Fred Flintstone-y plastic bat knock that ball within an inch of my face.  It's been nice. Even when it's a hundred degrees outside.

I DID get a lot done this summer...let me think:
1.  Did a little ebaying before I folded.
2.  Did more projects that brought me needed furniture/a sense of peace.
3. Got my JEN DEN office better organized.
4. Decorated the house/fluffed my nest.
5. About to get Luke into Cub Scouts.
6. Read a million books to the boys, especially to Jake, who loves books and comes up to me asking "Mama, read a book to me?" in his darling voice.
7.  Had a great new family (new old friends!) over twice for dinner, about to go to their house for dinner.
8. Found a church home.
9. Discovered Mad Men.
10. Put on two birthday parties for two little boys...Star Wars and Airplane themed...
11. Celebrated my 7th wedding anniversary.
12. Tried out new restaurants in the area.
13. Painted the trim around here that looked crappy.
Surely there is more.....hmmm

***********************************************************

Luke was watching Toddlers and Tiaras halfheartedly with me while he played on his DS. He looked up at one point and instead of expressing his usual disdain, he said, "She's hot."
I was stunned.
"Huh? Did you say she's hot?"
"Yeah.  That means her skin is skinny."

The indoctrination of "hotness" vs. "nonhotness" begins. EYEROLL.
He went back to his DS and I thought how I can make sure he gets a more "well rounded" view of what makes people "hot". Sigh. He's young. He has time to learn that beauty is skin deep...and asshattery goes all the way to the bone.

Sowin'

So in two weeks I have the freshmen orientation to deal with and I'm not even ready at all.  I can't get access to my classroom because it's blocked off for waxing the floors. Ugh.
Debate meetings have been held in other teachers' rooms and that creeps me out and I hope I haven't done anything in there to make any one upset.

Excited about my new hobby with spraypaint/furniture/knick knacks.  Now that I have the coffee table done, I need a desk.  Chris used my normal desk for one of his rooms in his work office.  Speaking of that, I love his office. I love the girl he has working there now, who you know, does her job and doesn't embezzle money.  There is still a warrant out for that gal.  One of these days we'll get a call that she got picked up...


Might go scrapbook with some ladies at my new church tonight. Don't make fun.

I was looking through Proverbs last night and found this:
"A wicked man walks with a perverse mouth...he devises evil continually, he sows discord."  Prov. 6:14   See ya, Discord Sowers! :)

Sorry for the heightened security.  A weird email prompted it. Say hello so I know you are on board.

July Modge Podge of Stuff On My Mind...

I've been in a funk for the past week.  I'm not really sure why. I think part of it is the heat.  Visiting Montgomery was nice because I got to see some friends and my parents, but it also left me with a real sense of loss.  Couldn't drive my kids to see where I grew up because it's too dangerous over there now...wouldn't want to anyway, because I'd end up seeing Hope's old house and that would be depressing as hell. 
Eastdale Mall is on the way down. Empty ice rink? Man.
The mall, neighborhood, and town where I came of age is gone. What is left? Scraps and places I don't know.

Got aggravated with the boys earlier this week because Jake has been very aggressive lately and always gets in fights with Luke, who sometimes deserves it but usually doesn't.

I'm in a creative mood here at the house, painting (lovin' the spray paint) and just discovered Modge Podge. Where has it been all my life? Clearly I haven't been paying attention. 

My goal is to find a coffee table at a yard sale or at the awesome thrift stores around here and I can repaint it and make it look shabby chic or something.  I want that and I want to do something to my light fixtures in the kitchen and dining room.

I added some awesome links to the right---these are creative gals who have really inspired me.

I'm done with ebay for a while. Feels good not to have that weight on my shoulders. Plan to have a yard sale with a lot of the crap I accumulated to sell on ebay...and realized it wasn't worth the trouble. :)

I'm trying to find my faith again and I think I'm walking in the right direction.

Got a facial this morning. Microderm or something. Scraped my face up and made my nose smooth.  Glad I have a healthy self esteem. The lady was real blunt, "I need to extract some blackheads next trip. Oh, and I could use my lasers to get rid of these busted capillaries..."  She obviously thought I was made of money. Lasers. OMG. Uh huh.

Last week I got a massage at this place (Chris got a deal on a promotional gift certificate) and it was awesome. I wanted to stay there forever when she was done.

Well, think that is about it for now...

They Notice More Than You Think...

Was flipping through the channels with the boys on either side of me last night when I came across Nancy Grace and stopped for a minute when I saw Breaking News: DNA Found Under Flores' Fingernails.  I watched for a second and Luke said, "That guy killed two people."
I was surprised.  "How do you know?"
"I've seen this guy."
"Oh."
"Why did he kill those people?"
I thought for a second..."I guess because the girls said something to him he didn't like."
"What if he comes here and kills you because you are a girl?"
"He's in prison far far away."
"For how long?"
"Forever."
"Forever?"  That gave him a sense of relief.
I need to make sure I turn the channel more when he comes around Nancy Grace and JVS stuff. 
Bless his heart.
On Michael Jackson's death anniversary, he said: "I wish he was still alive and dancing."

Smell This, Not That.

Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.
John Betjeman

Childhood smells of perfume and brownies.
David Leavitt

 
I've been "into" smells lately. Noticing them...more.

Thought about my Grandmother D the other night and couldn't figure out why she was in my head so much. She passed away in 2000? I think that's right. I finally realized that why she came to mind was because the pillow I was sleeping on was dried out on the line and that's what she used to do---dry clothes out on a line, as those of her generation did.  It was cool realizing that and capturing that part of my childhood that was lost way back in my brain.

Also felt peaceful when I was driving on the interstate from "Hoovah" to our exit and smelled grass being cut along the road.
That is a very peaceful smell to me. Childhood=safe from the world. Daddy cutting the grass...

Quality Television

Luke, while watching Toddlers and Tiaras with me:
"Omigosh, Mom! That girl has a lady's head and a kid's body!"
******
I asked Jake if he wanted to be in a pageant. He said yes. We practiced his "pageant walk". It's awesome. I will video it soon.  We showed it to Chris when he got home.
*****
I want there to be a Van Der Sloot cam. Inside his cell. 24/7.  How awesome would that be?
****
I've been using my retractable clothesline for the sheets and pillowcases.  Somehow it's not as exciting as I thought it would be.

Everybody Loves the Sound of a Train in the Distance

Swing.



Night.


Fireflies.


Sweaty boys chasing a ball.

Sound of train in distance.

Thinking of two girls who should still be here on earth.

Someone likes my spaghetti.

And yes, those are empty RX bottles he was playing with. :) I took the caps off so he wouldn't figure out the trick to child proof medicine bottles.

From Couch to Armchair

Chris: You okay?
Jen: Yeah, why?
Chris: You have looked flushed all day.
Jen: Yeah, cuz I have a sunburn.

Heat

Tired of bad news on TV, around me, etc.  Anybody got any GOOD NEWS???

Hello...

New things:
South Beach Diet
Ebayin'
Really into genealogy right now due to Who Do You Think You Are? 
Friday Night Lights & Wipeout=Yay
Seems like there is a lot of bad news locally lately and unexpected deaths to young people. Really makes me feel like it's the end of time.

Got my retractable clothesline rigged up but haven't used yet....
And I'll admit it...the Lost finale helped me with my faith. Go ahead and sneer. :)




JACK: Dad?
CHRISTIAN: Hello, Jack.
JACK: I don't understand...you died.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah. Yes I did...
JACK: Then how are you here right now?
CHRISTIAN: How are you here?
JACK: I died too...
[Jack begins to cry as he remembers.]
CHRISTIAN: It's okay...it's okay. It's okay son.
[Christian approaches Jack and they hug each other.]
JACK: I love you, dad.
CHRISTIAN: I love you too, son.
JACK: You...are you real?
CHRISTIAN: I should hope so. Yeah, I'm real. You're real, everything that's ever happened to you is real. All those people in the church...they're real too.
JACK: They're all...they're all dead?
CHRISTIAN: Everyone dies sometime, kiddo. Some of them before you, some...long after you.
JACK: But why are they all here now?
CHRISTIAN: Well there is no "now" here.
JACK: Where are we, dad?
CHRISTIAN: This is the place that you...that you all made together, so that you could find one another. The most...important part of your life, was the time that you spent with these people. That's why all of you are here. Nobody does it alone Jack. You needed all of them, and they needed you.

I really hate it when I type a long post and my computer jacks it up and then erases it JUST LIKE THAT.
FU Blogpot.

April 1, 2010 Photo

When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become.--Louis Pasteur

This Song Just Melts Me.

I'm fifteen for a moment
Caught in between ten and twenty
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

I'm twenty-two for a moment
And she feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from my house

Fifteen.... There's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
Fifteen.... There's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live

I'm thirty-three for a moment
Still the man, but you see, I'm a they
A kid on the way, babe
A family on my mind

I'm forty-five for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life

Fifteen.... There's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose yourself
Within a morning star

Fifteen.... I'm all right with you
Fifteen.... There's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live

Half time goes by
Suddenly you're wise
Another blink of an eye
Sixty-seven is gone
The sun is getting high
We're moving on...

I'm ninety-nine for a moment
And time for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

Fifteen.... There's still time for you
Twenty-two.... I feel her too
Thirty-three.... You're on your way
Every day's a new day

Oooo oooo oooooooo oooo oooo oooo
Oooo oooo oooooooo oooo oooo oooo
Oooo oooo oooooooo oooo oooo oooo oooo oooo oooo
Oooooooooooooooo

Fifteen.... There's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose, hey
Fifteen.... There's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live 

Yogurt Treat

Got tired of work, HWY 31, home with laundry, work, HWY 31, home with laundry....so after I got the kids this afternoon I took them to TCBY and then to a nearby park, where Miss Crystal came by to say hey.  It was good to get out of my rut.

Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo

So it's already Thursday? Of my week long break? Shoot. 
I've caught up with the laundry, cleaned house (as much as I could...only so much one woman can do while keeping two kids from falling down stairs), found one lost dog (Bailey...of course), took two trips to Chic-fil-a with two different family members and kids, and mainly...just breathed.

Today I had the chance to spend some one on one time with Jakers. Luke spent time with Mercy at her house on Grinch Hill. Jake and I hit the local library and I just love the smell of libraries...I hope Jake had a good time. He sat at a little desk and played with beads and balls for a while.  I thought it was cool that these two little kids were running ahead of their dad on their way in the library. I was thinking, "Ahhh how awesome that kids today are excited about the library!  Turns out they ran in to the DVD section. Boooo...

Christmas Flashback...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Almost March!

Now that I'm 37 and have had two kids, I can definitely see that how I used to eat doesn't work for me anymore.  I'm kind of disgusted with myself this morning, after seeing some pics of myself from last week. Can I lose the weight? I better. I don't like what I'm seeing in the mirror.

Enjoying my new ride. It's an older model mom van, but I'm tickled at the stuff I'm discovering about it (fold down table thing between the two boys, for example) that makes my life easier.

Got my tag/title at DMV yesterday.  Have to go back next month (!) to renew my new tag. Joy.  At least I'm 100 percent legal! :)

Jake is still calling me Maw Maw and has switched from hitting people to trying to spit at them. Nice.
Luke is getting better at reading every day and amazes me with his thought process all the time...still obsessed with Star Wars legos....
Looking forward to spring break in 2 weeks...maybe I can make my fat ass move some.

Hoping for a quiet weekend...

Cheesy Goodness

When I used to visit my Aunt Shirl and her family, I used to love listening to cousin Tammy's records. This was one of them that I loved.

Tales from Maw Maw

What a berserko week it's been. By berserko, I mean just "a lot of stuff--both good and bad" happened.  Thursday I had a professional development day so that is always weird---having lunch outside of school, being around adults all day. After my PD, I had to go to the dentist to get my crown "whittled down"---oh yeahhh...that was hysterical. Then Thursday night, Papa Vandersloot dies, which made Chris and I perk up, thinking maybe something good will come out of this---in the NH case...

Then I go back to school on Friday to see what all happened while I was gone to PD, and the kids were all atwitter, thinking that it might snow. On I marched with my modifier lesson (exciting!) and an optional "make a Valentine card from one Great Expectations character to another" activity (that, my friends, was high entertainment...I'll share soon) and then it started to snow. And snow and snow...So we are all released at noon and it was cool---haha--cool.  It seemed like everyone in town was on 31 trying to get home to enjoy the snow with their families. The boys were so thrilled and sincerely, the snow day on Friday was like a gift from God. "Here, take this Alabama. Y'all deserve a break."  "Why, thank you God!" Jake really enjoyed his first snow. Last year when it snowed, he was so little I didn't get him out in it, but he had a blast this time.  When it started falling on his head, he was so confused---"Rain, Maw Maw?" (For some reason he is calling me Maw Maw lately. Fun.) The whole "guy who died on the luge thing" creeped me out. Chris made his comforting stew/soup Friday night and I enjoyed watching the opening ceremonies with him while the boys destroyed the house. That is, I enjoyed watching the ceremonies until it put me to sleep, my stomach full of warm stew/soup.
*******
Saturday was a family day---had Chris's parents (and an always exuberant Dylan)  over to celebrate Nanny's bday. More stew/soup, then rich chocolate cake, then Olympics...then I fell asleep on the couch again...Later Chris "was allowed" haha out of the house to have some guy time with his cousin Dave while the boys and I popped some popcorn the old fashioned way (y'all know what I mean--the trusty popcorn popper!) and cuddled on the couch under a blanket while we watched Cars.  Well, until Jake started jumping from the ottoman to all the other chairs. Saturday was also memorable because Tanner proposed to Amber.

Then Valentine's Day, Chris, the boys, and I went to IHOP (boy that was an adventure) then had a Valentine's Shopping Trip 4 Jen experience. :)  Good times.  However, the sad news was that we found out that Lilly, Casey and Meg's bulldog died AND they had plumbing issues.. Sending good vibes your way, guys.

And now, today, I'm sick. I finally got the stuff that's been going around.

More on the Alligator

Luke talked to Mom and Dad tonight on the phone.
Luke:  You know what happens when an alligator eats you?
M&D: What?
Luke: You turn into POOP and then you go with Jesus.

He's been asking me a lot of questions about death/God/Jesus lately. It's been interesting.  We passed a cemetery today and he had a boatload of questions about that...

Jen the Ninja

Chris and I passed a sign that read "NINJA TRAINING" outside a karate place.
"I wish I could take that class," I told him.
"Ha."
"I really do. I wish I had the time, energy, and money to take Ninja Training. I'd like to learn...what larks that would be."
"You realize how clumsy you are, right?" Chris asked.
"Well, yeah, that's why it would be useful. I'd become stealthy and non clumsy. Plus I could wear that suit."
We started laughing and pictured my first day---showing up in a Halloween Ninja outfit with nun chucks and a star.
"You'd be jumping in and out of bushes..." Chris added.

This is marriage. Talking about ninjas while you drive home from work and smell poop from your child's diaper as it wafts from the backseat.

Disjointed Ramble

February. Cold.  Coffee.  Watching movies, DVRed Toddlers and Tiaras, etc.
Luke lost his second tooth right next to the other one he lost a while back.  Tooth fairy came last night. Left him a baggie of dimes. Heh.

Don't like opening the blinds--nothing but dead trees/lawn/gray skies out.

Teaching Great Expectations and discovering more about it every day.  Also teaching Animal Farm for the billionth time to my regular class.

Back has been killing me.

Trying to unhoard the closets.

Luke has started really impressing me with his reading skills---I'm so proud.
Jake likes sitting in my lap and having me read books to him. Such a cuddly bunny.

Saw this in a local shopping center (below).  Buddha Jesus?

Feel sluggish, creaky.  I'm ready for spring.

Anybody still check this?  I'll be back soon.

Be a Little Bit Braver...

The title is the main refrain from the 101 Dalmatians musical that came through town Friday night.  My good college buds Tre and Shelly offered up some free tickets and we all went together.  After a scary nighttime drive trying to locate their house, getting lost on OLD Rocky Ridge, I finally figured out their casa's location.

It was so good getting out and being social, even if it was to a "children's show". Luke was happy to get some alone time with Mom and enjoyed hanging out with Tre and Shelly's kids, Kaitlyn and Christopher. He liked the real dogs that popped out for a quick bit every now and then.

Tre, Shelly and I shuddered at the creepy stilts the actors wore who were the HUMANS. "This is like a nightmare!" we kept joking to each other.  I told S. that they walked like I walked when I was in my final month of pregnancy.  I thought the kids who played the puppies were pretty amazing, even though the POP and LOCK dance moves were sometimes laughable.  I loved the lady who played Cruella.  I wonder what Luke will remember about this night...hopefully not that he got sick towards the end and had a fever.  And that he claimed he had swallowed a leaf. (He kept trying to rid his throat of a scratchy object.)  Poor baby. 

I liked riding through B'ham (while T drove) staring up at the Vulcan and his reassuring light...still totally confused about directions in this town. It's still so confusing.

Cold Weekend

Sunday morning.  All is quiet.  So unusual.  Jake didn't take a nap yesterday so he is sleeping longer this morning.  Listening to CNN argue about Brit Hume and his Tiger Woods/Christianity/Buddhism issue.  Interesting topic, I think.
***
I'm excited about the new semester at school. I'll be spending less time on poetry this 9 weeks, and more on Great Expectations. Last year it was the opposite...I think the kids last year needed more GE time.  :) I know some of you hated that book, but I love it.  Speaking of Great Expectations and Charles Dickens, I'm reading John Irving's latest right now, Last Night in Twisted River.  (John Irving is a hugeeeeee fan of Dickens and the way he writes has been compared to Dickens.)
So far it is awesome---it's been so nice reading a good book again. I've been in a rut for awhile, where I haven't been reading non-teaching stuff...

Luke is still obsessed with Star Wars and Star Wars Legos, specifically.  Chris and I are kind of tired of having new creations shoved in our faces every five minutes, "See it, Dad? See it?"  "Here, take a look at this!"

Jake is getting taller and is all about throwing stuff---usually a ball or two---at our heads.  He's learning more words every day and you can see the wheels turnin' when you ask him a question. So sweet.  His latest "prank" is calling me "Mimi" or "Bobbi" or even "Paw Paw", then he grins, because he knows I'm not them.  I call him "Paw Paw" and he laughs and says, "No, Mama, No! I Jake!"
I love my little guys so much.