39 Times Around the Sun

Today I have been around the sun 39 times. I don't want to seem like an "ole fart", but where have the last 15 gone?


This is a picture of me when I was about 4. I'm the blond with the big hair in the back- the brunette in the front is my cousin. It was her birthday.

In celebration of my birthday this year, I decided to write 39 "things" that I have learned so far in my life. They are in completely random order. Here goes.....

1. Icicles are meant to be eaten.
   
2. The feeling of mud squishing between my toes is luscious.
3. A boot kicked in the basement is likely to go through a window.
4. The smell of baby poop isn't really that bad (when it is your baby).
5. Fresh is almost always better.
6. Read a little bit everyday.
7. It's ok to have guilty pleasures (reading People, listening to 80's big hair music).
8. Eat outside as much as possible in the summer. The food tastes so much better.
9. People watch. You'll learn a lot about what is going on around you.
10. Say Hi to at least 3 people you don't know everyday - advice from Ma Kelly a really cool prof. at UW-FdL. You'll feel better and more connected.
    
11. Chocolate - dark chocolate - do I need to say more?
12. Try this. Take some spearmint lifesavers outside at night and crunch them between your teeth with another person watching for the sparks. Too cool!
13. Catch lightening bugs with your kids.
    
14. Read everyday to your kids. It makes a difference.
15. I have never stopped learning from my Mom and Dad.
16. It's nice to have snoring on the other side of the bed (most nights).
17. Fresh strawberries right from the field, still warm from the sun are delicious.
    
18. Don't eat too many of those fresh strawberries from the field - yucky stuff happens.
19. Be open to new experiences.
20. Friends arrive in your life when you really need them.
    
21. People say mean words that really hurt sometimes.
22. People say words that warm your heart and make your soul soar!
23. Apologize, even if it kills you and try not to have the last word.
    
24. Hot pizza, right out of the oven, will ALWAYS burn your mouth. Ditto on a nice hot cup of coffee.
25. Hair grows.
26. Choose your words wisely in a "discussion" or you will be doing #23.
27. In-laws really aren't that bad.
28. Take 5 minutes for yourself everyday - even if it means locking the bathroom door with the kids on the other side, knocking and saying "Mom.....Mom.....Mom.....".
    
29. My Mom still makes the best grill-cheese sandwich. Actually my mom makes the best of quite a few foods.
30. Jeans that fit are hard to find when you don't want to deal with your body image. Ditto for swimsuits, bras.....
31. Big water (the ocean, Great Lakes) is energizing for me.
    
32. I love the beach.
    
33. Listen, really listen when people are talking and when they aren't.
    
34. Gardening (playing in the dirt) is important to me.
    
35. Wear your seat belt. You never know what is going to happen when you are in a vehicle.
36. Sitting under a hair dryer is one of the most relaxing things on Earth. When I was little my mom had a dryer with a cap that I got to wear when my hair got "set". I still love sitting under the dryer at the salon when I get my hair "done". It's quiet and warm.
    
37. The smell of babies is best for me right in the crook of the neck. Hmmmm.
    
38. I try to appreciate my husband for who he is (even though he drives me insane at times).
39. Get a hobby. Doesn't matter what it is. Just get one so that you have something that makes you feel good about yourself and fills in some of your "empty" time with happiness.

So that's that. I'm going to go play games with my students and eat out with my family tonight because on my birthday everyone celebrates!

SNOW DAY!!!!

I woke up at 4:50 this morning and looked outside. It had snowed a little bit - at least, I thought it was a little bit. It was very dark and I didn't have my glasses on, so I turned on the t.v. Several of the schools that I was supposed to go to were closed already. I waited for 30 minutes for my last school to close and turned off the t.v.

Ah a day off! I actually have had two days off, but that's another story.

The deck is cleared off . The laundry is folded. Now it is time to play.

Yummy, Yummy fiber.

Another hint. I've wanted one - not necessarily this one, but the Craftacular was very good to me and with the rest I had saved.....

I bought this. Yesterday, I went to Susan's Fiber Shop. I tried out several and finally decided on the Sonata. I had it working yesterday while I was there, but when I tried it last night. I couldn't get the bobbin to load the yarn. I just need to keep trying. I'm excited!!

A little bit of snow

My helper has been outside for about 30 minutes sweeping snow from the deck. He was outside throwing the ball for the dog and decided to help out because we are supposed to get more snow tonight. He wanted to make it easier for me tomorrow morning. Check out the socks peeking out of the boots. Do you have any idea what they might be? He found some "Christmas stockings" downstairs. They are stockings that you would hang on a hearth, if you had one. I guess they are the right fit and thickness for snow boots and sweeping.

A Nice Long Weekend

We had a wonderful, long weekend. We seemed to pack a lot into 4 days.

Simon's birthday was on Thanksgiving this year. He had an airplane cake and his favorite - home-made mac and cheese. There was also turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, beans, and sweet potato souffle. BUT the mac and cheese was the best - according to him.

The boys played with some birthday gifts under the food table while the adults digested -I mean rested after eating.
We went to Capaul's Tree Farm to get our tree on Friday. We had it cut and decorated by noon! Ian got to video the process this year. It will be interesting to watch what he took.


We went to the Christmas Parade in Beloit. We had tons of fun. The boys were in the front row when Santa got off the fire truck. Their eyes got as big as saucers. Then, Santa turned on the downtown Christmas tree and the parade started. There were some wonderful floats decorated with lights and people.

I have most of my Craftacular items finished, priced and in the "box". I'm going to continue to work on the little socks. If only big socks went this fast!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Class Reunion

Last Saturday night was my 20th class reunion. Did I go? Naw... Did I send pictures for the "20th Reunion" DVD? Nah, who wants to see me 20 years later? Well, I just viewed the video somewhere on the internet and I'm feeling......It's hard to describe.

High school was not the best part of my life. I am not one of "those" people who believe that nothing better would come after I graduated from school (Here were lots of pic's of those people on the video). It was the next step after junior high and the last step before college. But I feel.....

In high school, I was quiet, kind of dorky, but had a passion for fairness and what it right, big picture right, morally right. I was a fairly good student and had few friends. I am still friends with one person from that time in my life. I was a "good kid". I had a drive, but was afraid, of what? Life? What other people thought? What my parents thought? Failure?

Ok, so I'm still quiet in new situations, and I'm still dorky -I admit it. I like to dance to music on the radio or tv by myself or infront of other people. I like music, movies, books and stuff that very few others like. I still fight for what is fair and push people to think about uncomfortable "things" in different ways - too see the situation from a different view point. Some would even say I am opinionated. I have a few friends who I love to spend time with doing whatever it is that we do to amuse ourselves.

I like who I have become - most days I am very comfortable in the skin I'm in. I am I'm a work in progress, hopefully getting better every day. I'm cool with that.

So why do I feel this way?

Little Pleasures

Quiet after a day of too much fun.
I heart these little stockings. They have been so much fun to make and a part of the Craftacular "booty".

Simon got a new haircut. It is really, really short. We are hoping it will keep him from pulling out the little bits that he has been doing for a while. He also has to watch any tv or movies in his underwear. When I went out to the living room, he was laying on the couch Fred Garvin style watching Wallace and Gromit.

Now it's time to get some clothes on "Fred" and go outside for awhile.