Devon's Party

Well I think I'm officially partied out. Today my home was invaded by little boys. They played pirates, ate, yelled a lot, and ran around like maniacs. It was pretty fun. Devon had a great time with his buddies, showing them around his place, and seeing some of his friends on his own turf for the first time.
We had a pirate themed party, since that is one of Devon's current passions.


I tried my hand at some pirate cake pops.




We played a treasure hunt puzzle game and musical chairs to pirate songs. Kennedy and Julia built a pirate ship out of a huge cardboard box and the boys had a great time messing around in that.


I had to include this picture because it kind of captures the perpetual commotion of house full of boys.

All of his little friends were very well-behaved and polite.
That is the look of joy that makes the work worthwhile!


Everybody is ready for cake and ice cream!




Devon's gift from us- a bigger bike. This is the year to get rid of the training wheels!

Devon did great, but I could tell he had met his social interaction limit by the time the last few guests were leaving. Overall, I would say it was a success. The next birthday in the family is mine, so I get a breather until Father's Day!

Another Blast of Winter...

This is what our world looks like today:

Girls' Dance Performance

Today was the last day of this session of dance for the girls. At the end of class they performed the dance they've been working on. They both did a great job. I was especially proud of Julia just because she was in a group with much older girls, but she really held her own. They really enjoy these classes and i love seeing them get out there and do their thing!

Why I Love Craigslist...

This cute bedding set is for sale in the current Land Of Nod catalog. The twin size quilt goes for $159. The quilted sham is $32. I just purchased TWO quilts and TWO shams in new condition for $45 from a lady in Madison. They match perfectly with my boys' bedroom. We just set up a big boy bed for Jesse. Once I get the crib down I'll take a picture. Score!

Devon is Five!

My handsome little man is five years old. Five is a big age. Even though he certainly has been one of the "big kids" for a while, turning five makes it official. He was lucky enough to have his birthday fall on a day when he has Creative Play class at Lands End, AND 4-K at school. So he gets to be honored all day long, then have a friend birthday party on Saturday. (Our kids get friend parties on 5, 8, 12, 16). So here are some photos from LE class this morning. I made a big batch of cake pops for his classes today.


Renie is in the class too. Here she is enjoying the cake pops with Tiago and Megan


Devon and his new best bud Xan


Renie and Megan

Ballroom Dancing

Lincoln and I have taken ballroom dance classes this month at Lands End. Only three classes, but we've enjoyed them immensely and are very sad they are at an end. My friend Kym taught the classes and did a fantastic job. We learned the waltz, the foxtrot, the country two-step, the polka, and the cha-cha-cha. The waltz and polka weren't new to me, but I've always wanted to learn the foxtrot, so that was fun. Mostly, it was fun to be there with my husband, dancing together and learning together. I really like that guy.

Feel The Love

After years of hinting, months of begging, and weeks of saving my pennies, my husband kicked in the remainder of the cash I needed (most of it- I don't have a lot of pennies) and on Valentine's Day I brought home my new baby!

Our Little Comedian

Valentine's Day Fun

Cookies I made for the kids' Lands End class



Renie with some Valentine's Party spoils


Jesse with a red valentine balloon


Renie with her box of goodies and Valentines (and yummy popcorn my friend Michelle made. It's popped in coconut oil and it tastes fantastic.)

Valentine's Day

Friday night we had our annual Valentine's Party. Each year we invite a bunch of couples over for a fun evening of desserts, poetry, and a guess that couple game. We ask everyone to write a poem for or about their spouse, then each person reads theirs aloud and we vote for our favorite. It is so much fun to hear what everyone comes up with. It's a unique way to get a glimpse into the different personalities. I'm afraid I gave a less than stellar outing this year, but as usual, my dear husband did not disappoint. Here is his entry:

I could tell that we were gonna be friends
No If, Ands, Buts, or Depends

From the moment i took my first look at you
My days of chatting online with babes was through

For your love I would give my last dang quesadilla
Go to Alaska with a freaking 12 gauge just to kill a

Wolverine or a Liger which is bred for its skills and magic
Its pretty much my favorite animal but i would let YOU have it

I would build you a cake or even give you some of my tots
Or take you to the mall for some glamour shots

Yes I do love technology but i do not love it as much as I love thee
Aside from the bow staff I have no good skills yet still you love me

Two seasons fighting in the Octagon could not prepare
A man to handle a woman so flippin fair

Your words are like a lullaby, and I'm just flying by
Oh so high like a kite in the sky

Cast your vote of love for me and I promise this to you
That all of your wildest dreams will come true

To me you will always and forever be my delicious bass
From the tip of your head to your well-rounded...toes



If you're not a Napoleon Dynamite fan, you probably won't get it.
He didn't win the contest, but he came in a close second. I wish I had a copy of each of them. They were fantastic. Two were put to music, three were haiku, one was a sonnet, and we even had a stream of consciousness. I do remember Kevin's poem for his wife Jo:

Jo. Jo. Jo.

It was beautiful.

Thanks to everyone for coming and being good sports!

February Thaw

Can you believe this? A day in the 50s? In February? In Wisconsin? We didn't get a January thaw but we got a blessedly welcome February respite. A whole week of above freezing temps, with snow melting quickly and sun shining brightly. Of course, we had sickies here all week long. It started with Jesse throwing up last weekend, then Renie on Monday and Devon on Tuesday. By Wednesday I was getting a sore throat thing, then Lincoln and then Julia. Kennedy seems to be the only one to escape this round of illness. Really, though, we've been remarkably well all winter long. I really can't complain. Poor Julia's nose has been wiped raw. She literally had scab rings around each nostril. I've never seen a nose look that bad. We all seem to be mostly recovered now, though us colds people are still a bit drippy and congested.

Did H*ll Freeze Over?

You know when you get busy doing something- say, folding laundry, checking email, cleaning the bathroom- and suddenly it registers that the house is very very quiet? Way too quiet? And you quickly go walking through the house looking for your little charges, taking along a rag and broom just so you won't have to make a trip back to get them after you discover the naughty fun that is occupying them? Uh-huh. You know what I'm talking about. Well, how often does it turn out like this? (See post title.) What the...?!









And no, I did not knock them unconscious. They were just all tuckered out I guess. (OK, maybe it was a sugar crash after their parties at Lands End. Maybe. I mean, guessing from the layer of sticky sweetness on Jesse's face, I'd say the odds are good.)

My Tarot Card

My SIL Ginny just did this and I'm always a sucker for things like this because I'm intrigued to see how well they "get" me after a few brief questions. So here it is:

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

What do you think? Does it sound like me or not? I want to hear what you think before I give my opinion.

Again with my nose...

So you know how scent is a huge memory trigger? Well, apparently my Grandmother used Palmolive dish soap. I just bought a bottle of it in a "new" scent, but I swear that scent is at least 25 years old. The first time I squirted some out, and every time since, I have been swallowed up by memories of my grandmother. I love it. I am transported back to her little kitchen in her trailer, the dish pan full of hot soapy water. You know also how you enjoy helping more as a kid when you're not in your own home? I remember enjoying helping with the dishes at Grandma's house, looking out the window over the sink to the shady side yard bordered by the stone wall. And when I think of that side yard, I think of Grandma sitting out there in a lawn chair, flyswatter at her side, visiting with company and giving them a tour of her flowerbeds. I miss Grandma.

Cheerleaders in Training

On Saturday Kennedy and Julia attended a cheerleading clinic at the high school. It's a fun thing the cheerleaders do every year as a fundraiser. They offer four hours of training, teaching the kids a few cheers and a dance (1st-3rd graders in one group, 4th-8th in another), feeding them pizza and juice for lunch. Then during half-time of the next girls basketball game the cheerleaders in training perform the dances they learned. (This also helps the girls basketball team with all the extra ticket sales that night!) The girls love doing this and it's lots of fun to watch.