Tennis . . .

Our in-house runner wasn't interested in joining track  for the spring sports season so I suggested she take a stab at tennis, and she agreed! Tomorrow's her first meet. She's on JV naturally, since she's never actually played a match before, but I thought it'd be a fun way to meet some new people (she came from a class of 11 in 8th grade to a class of 359 in 9th!), get some fresh air and I just happen have a special proclivity for tennis having played myself back in the day. So, tonight, she got the line up . . . 

#1 dbls: Deana/Jessica

#2 dbls: Princess/Halla

#3 dbls: Sana/Sumrah

#4 dbls: Miela/Anly

#5 dbls: Nia/Josie

#6 dbls: Lydia/Ashley

Singles: Lara

Talk about a little stress!

(-:

She's had maybe five practices at most outside, with gloves on and snow banks lining the courts, ha!  Six gals caved on playing tomorrow, saying they have appointments, so there could have been more playing singles I'd imagine, but as it stands, it'll just be our gal covering the court by herself, wow!

Seems a little futile . . .

Yet, sweet.

Two-thirds of the way through second grade our fourth is learning cursive.  This is the second time I've seen his name written this way.  I'm not sure yet, since it's so new and I haven't asked, if they're officially learning it or just being made aware of it.  Haven't seen any cursive worksheets coming home, I think that's third grade.  Yet, part of me wonders about the futility of it all really.  I mean, everything they turn in is typed and beyond maybe fourth grade no teachers seem to require cursive writing (I think I'm old school with the term "cursive" but I'm cool with that (-:), or even very neat printing, so...what's the point really?  

PS, that's kinda how I feel about that Spanish on the paper too, shouldn't they be learning Indian (you know...India) or Mandarin Chinese?  I personally think those would be much more productive languages for the tech world to come. Although, I was corrected recently when talking about my questioning of learning Spanish, that in fact the auto industry works a lot with Spanish speaking folks, so it's beneficial in that field...anyhoo...

This lucky girl . . .

Was handed-down a fabulous dollhouse set recently.

And, since she's #5, she was allowed to play with it until almost midnight the first night.  I mean, hey, we're up, she's being quite and keeping the bunny company, so why not? (-:

Guess which one . . .

I opened on my way home from the store . . . 

Yup!

Been one of those weeks, my friends.  Running all over town all day and night with that never ending chill in the air, so, dog gone it, I had myself an ice cream bar on my way home from the grocery!

And, boy, was it good!!

We're getting there though. Day by day

That wide swath is where I encouraged Ben to snow blow a path to the shed so I could drag stuff out for our sleeping bear dunes trip this winter.  It as a great idea until he got it stuck somehow and we couldn't get it unstuck for the life of us.  Thank goodness, SP figured it out no problem, anyhoo...

My mom's a painter . . .

And, since I couldn't post this picture in my friend's blog comment line I decided to post it here and see if she'll be notified of the link to check it out...I love technology! (-:

That's all.

It's snow-sleeting again today after getting about an inch or so on Monday, and it's gray.

Enough said!

(-:

This is what I get . . . (-:

When I try to post from my phone.

Couldn't technology just help me out for once?

My blogging would be absolutely spectacular if it wasn't for the whole uploading picture issue.

I tried uploading pictures from my phone to post today, while on my phone and these goofy boy pics are the only ones my phone says I've taken in March.

Then, since someone out there is super cool, they thought they should put the pics running together like some kinds of freakish cartoon.

I didn't do that.

Anyway, here ya go...today's post,

OY!

The ol' Pine Wood Derby . . .

Here is our happy cub scout before the races began.

I've learned one thing over the years...

Be sure to take their picture BEFORE the races begin.

This year was another one of those years.  Just about broke my heart to watch such a sweetie go from pure and raw excitement and hope to utter despair, fighting back tears with slumped shoulders and head aimed to the ground so no one will see.  His car lost ev.er.y. race it was in, every single one, dead last...dead, dead last.  Before his car raced his good friend's car was last every time.  Harrison was the one who soon voiced the obvious, "Good thing William was here so Will could feel better." Um, Thanks Harris!

He didn't walk away completely empty handed though, somehow "W" Dubya, was deemed "Most Aerodynamic" (I'm no engineer but it sure seems if one was "most aerodynamic" they'd probably sail down that track a little faster...I don't think it consoled William much either, certificate is laying, ignored somewhere around the house).  A little later in the day, the final word from William was, "At least I got this year out of the way." Great perspective, buddy!  Onward and upward!!

I'm going to try really hard to show him THIS tomorrow!

And for fun, here's 2011 (no PW.D. in 2012 I guess).

2010.

2009.

Oh my goodness, hold the phone...we interrupt this pinewood derby flashback with this startling notion.  On this very day, March 23rd in 2009 things like THIS were happening in my yard.  Oh, how very, very far away that seems this year as I stare out the window to still a foot of snow all over the yard and more to come this week as well as temps going back down into the 10's/20's. )-:

Ok, last one (first one?), 2008.

I've had a long relationship with red . . .

It is my favorite color after all, always has been.

So, here's the story.  During last year's Gettysburg trip I dropped my black camera and it broke.  Since then, I've only had my phone camera. Well, Lara is taking a pretty major trip soon and I wanted her to have a nice camera so I called Canon to find a solution for my broken camera.  Answer was, fix mine for a reasonable amount or get the exact camera, refurbished, plus a new case, memory card, battery, free shipping and a one year warranty, for $26.00 more than the reasonable amount for the fix, and it would "ship today!" Whoo-hoo, sounded like a no-brainer to me.

While the fine chap and I were chatting about the plans he did say, "Hmm, there doesn't seem to be any black or blue cameras in stock, would you like red?" To which I replied, "Hmm, it sounds as if red isn't a very popular color in that it's the only camera left, don't you think it should be cheaper." To which he replied..."No." To which I replied again (because I have some kind of thick head problem),"Um, are you sure, I mean, all the black and blues have sold, this red one is still hanging on, can't you just reduce it a bit?" To which he replied..."No." . . . "Fine," I said, "I'll take it."

Three days passed, I spied a box on the doorstep as I arrived home from my afternoon chauffeuring jobs, parked the car and instantly forgot about the box.  As I was about to turn my beside light off that night, Lara came prancing in with a very cold box and we proceeded to have a great bit of commotion tearing through packaging tape and bubble wrap to find my new,

Fuchsia Camera!

I know red my friends and that is NOT Red.

Boy do I feel like giving Canon a call, kinda.

I mean, I'll deal with it but I thought if the boys ever need a camera to borrow isn't this going to be a bit of an issue? To which one of them replied, "I don't see a problem, it's a cool color." . . . yeah, they eat quiche too.  Real men!

POSTSCRIPT:  I showed Harrison his school recital video taped on this camera and his reply, "Wow, I didn't think Livia's camera would be able to do that."  Argggg!!!! (-:

With boys . . .

You've gotta be quick!

 Yesterday, as the boys fell into the house after school while ripping off their coats, I noticed they were all dressed exactly the same.  Why yes, they were dressed exactly the same that morning as they left for school, but I am no where near functional in the morning to notice such things, heehee.  Anywho, the two older had a choir and band festival to sing/play for yesterday, thus their clothes, but the youngest just fell into the same by chance (I think...maybe he wanted to feel part of the day, not sure).  So, yes, I begged and pleaded for a picture, with the iPhone, poor lighting,  closet door backdrop and wiggly, jiggly boys.  But I still love the results!

Let's Play . . .

Flashback Monday!

Check here...

And at the very end of my post mentally insert these words,

"And then I never looked at the recipes again!"

"For Real!"

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

(Yes, that is maniacal laughter)

Awwww . . .

Here's Benny resting in the crook of my arm late one night as I sat on the couch.  Granted, if I recall correctly, he was probably only staying there because I was giving him head rubs in between his eyes.  If I stop he doesn't really sit around docile and calm like a kitty or anything.  He is a young, male bunny after all, lots of hopping around and exploring to do, even late at night! (-:

I have to say, a bunny was the perfect first warm blooded pet for our family (i.e., me...'cause of course it would be me taking care of said pet, and I just haven't been ready for the dog route yet).  Benny is super easy to care for and interactive and responsive enough that it's not like dealing with a lizard or something. 

When it's mid-March, 20 degrees and snowing again . . .

Then you finally get to watching the Video Bread Machines DVD (made in 1997) that you checked out at the library about two months ago. 

About 30 seconds after this picture of my computer screen was taken, I heard, "and these are my honey buns!" (-:

So far, I've actually sat through this guy enthusiastically showing me how to make white bread, wheat bread, rye bread (I think, I was looking up hockey stuff then), pizza crust and finally, his honey buns!

Last night, in preparation for the "big" storm today (our tally was actually in the 4 inches range, although, it tipped us over into our "most snowy winter ever" record for the entire season...and got us a snow day for the kids)...anyway, last night we watched, "Oprah, The Past, The Present and Future" dvd from the library.  About three minutes into it, after watching someone "play the role of Oprah" we looked at the case to see..."unauthorized documentary." Haha, it was really funny watching these "unauthorized" people supposing and wondering and implying things about Oprah's life.  Not funny enough to watch more than 10 minutes though. Ha!

It was really beautiful out there today with yet another fresh layer of white all over everything.  I'm at the 50/50 point with the long winter now.  50% of me is still enjoying it and 50% would like to start gardening already.  And boy, those lakes are probably going to be pretty chilly a good bit into the summer this year, wow!

 A day late, but not a dollar short . . . 

Aww...what a kind friend.

In addition, Harrison came to learn from his sweet friend, that the $15 dollars taped all over the inside of the card was his very own, hard earned allowance money, wow!

What a friend.

Blowing out all eleven candles!

Humoring his sassy little sister!

 One of my favorite pieces of his art from last year.

(just happened to be on my phone, he's done cool art this year too. (-:)

If you can't see it, it's his name in cursive and mirror image, then tilt your head or computer sideways and it's a bug of some sort!

It's probably warm somewhere . . .

O.K., my out take of our long, polar vortex winter still holds...I've enjoyed it. We even had a sledding birthday party yesterday because we still have loads of snow and 30 degree temps.

But, while it's not bringing me down like it could be...yesterday I thought, "OK, maybe it's been cold just about long enough." (-: Then, today...for the first time this season, while shifting boots around in our teeny, tiny mud/laundry/coat room, I though, "Hmmmm, maybe it should be getting time to be done with boots..." And, for the past few weeks, even my sunshine drawing four year old has been asking, "When is spring coming?"

Yes, we're starting to get a little antsy for some serious snow melting, but in the mean time, everyone had another hurrah at the sledding hill today!!

(-:

Now...what was I saying again? . . .

Wild, Wacky and Extreme?

Sorry, folks. I really must apologize, this is not a political blog. I'm sorry.

(-:

Just the same old story on my end, phone's in another room with pics on it, too tired to get up and fiddle with the process, I'm realizing it is March 5th and I've not posted any cute 4 yr old pics or fuzzy bunnies so I thought I'd see what was hanging out on the desktop again.

Yikes!

Haha.  You see, one of my "friends" on Facebook has posted a couple times about his aspirations or hopes for a Hillary presidency next time around.  Well, I have to admit, I knew if I googled some Hillary pics I'd come up with some dandies, and boy did I, never passed any on to him though, tempted as I was.  Nevertheless, she's still hanging out on my desktop. So, this'll be it then for tonight.

Chow!