No Posts?

I was going to post last night, but that just didn't happen. Actually, I was going to work out last night and that just didn't happen either. Why? Sleep happens. I decided that instead of posting or working out I would go to bed! At, get this, 9:20! As most of you know, I am a night person, so going to bed at 9:20 is very strange for me, like about 3 hours before my normal bedtime. It turns out that getting only five hours of sleep a night tends to wear on me after a while and I just need to crash early every once in a while.

It was glorious! Now I'm awake and refreshed and ready for my day...

More Raelea Stories

Okay, it's been kind of a Raelea sort of day. For whatever reason she's been quite humorous today. I think she's making up for the time she lost while she was sick with the flu. Anyway, I was going to get Raelea a snack this morning and the conversation went like this...

Me: Raelea, do you want a snack?
Raelea: Yes!
Me:Would you like some pretzels?
Raelea: No, I want something with protein. Can I have some cashews?

Okay, since when did my four year old become a dietitian? And what does she know about protein? Apparently enough to know that cashews have it. She then went on to quiz Chris tonight at the dinner table about which foods had protein in them.

Okay, here's another Raelea conversation which occurred while she and Evan were on the couch watching a movie -

Evan: Dang it.
Raelea: You can't say, "Dang it."
Evan: Oh, sorry, can I say darn it?
Raelea: You probably shouldn't, but you can.

24 Years Old

When I got dressed this morning I pulled a sweatshirt out of my closet and realized that it was 24 years old! I think that makes it the oldest clothing item in my closet that I still wear. It predates my college degree, it predates my even knowing my husband let alone getting married.

When I received this sweater as a birthday gift from my sister, Kathy and her husband, Doug, I was a sophomore in college, working at registration at the University, taking such classes as dynamics, physics, calculus, etc. I was living in a corner dorm room with my best friend, Joan, enjoying the carefree days of college life. Studying physics at the Big 10 with my friend Lisa.

Wow, this sweater has been with me longer than most people (outside of my family).

So, all this reminiscing got me to wondering if any of my Facebook friends or blog buddies wear clothes that are that old or am I the only one. (It wouldn't be the first time)

Jingles

So, sweet little Raelea is sitting at the breakfast table this morning and bursts into song. What song erupted from her four year old lips?

"Save big money at Menards."

Hmmm. I find this particularly interesting since we don't really watch TV - as in, not at all at home. Up until last weekend, we didn't even get any TV stations on our TV. How is it then that my four year old is running around today singing Menard's jingle? Well, we did have the TV on for a couple hours last night to watch the football game. Apparently, during that time a Menard's commercial came on and the jingle is so incredibly catchy that she picked up on it. Now it is her favorite song.

Disturbing. I guess those advertising execs know what they are doing. When I was a kid I would go around singing herbicide jingles - no lie! For whatever reason, in the late 70's or early 80's the herbicide people decided that the best way to sell their products was through a catchy jingle. I don't know if that strategy worked or not. I certainly knew the songs, but never, not once, did I run out and purchase some herbicide.

Now Dr. Pepper, that's a whole 'nother subject. I STILL go around singing the Dr. Pepper song AND I buy my fair share of it as well. It didn't hurt that I had a crush on the Dr. Pepper guy....

She Just Couldn't Do It

Stay awake, that is. Apparently, getting her hair done and watching Vikings/Packers football was just TOO much for Zoe. Well, it was too much for her on a day she didn't nap. I have now discovered that it is MUCH easier to do her hair when she is asleep. This might have to be my new modus operandi :-)

I'm sure she is having sweet dreams now that it's over, but I think they were probably quite disturbing while I was yanking on her hair.

Sad Night

For my oldie goldie blog readers, you know what this lovely flannel shirt means. For my newer readers, I will explain. We have a hamster by the name of Blackberry, but who has earned the name Houdini because of his numerous escapes. As a matter of fact, Blackberry escaped so many times that I had a little sidebar item in my blog. If the flannel shirt was on the sidebar that meant Blackberry was NOT in his cage (meaning he was hiding out somewhere in the walls of the house), if he was in the picture on the sidebar that meant he had been safely returned to his real home.

Sometimes, he would only show up in the pocket on the sidebar for a day before he was gone again exploring. We got good use out of that live animal trap we used to catch him.

Well, now you see the empty flannel shirt, but Blackberry is gone for good this time. Our sweet, good-natured little hamster passed away peacefully this evening. There are lots and lots of tears around here as we remember our funny and ever-so-smart Houdini.
We'll miss you, Blackberry!

Well, That Was___________

Let's see if I can fill in the blank. And then you can guess what event I'm talking about.

Exciting? No, that's not quite it.

Scary? Well, maybe a little.

Fulfilling? In a strange sort of way, I guess.

Anxiety producing? Yes, that's pretty close.

A relief? In a way, as in, well, I finally did it.

Blood-pressure raising? Mmm hmm!

Something I'll need to do more of in the coming weeks and months? Yes.

Okay, any guesses on the event that is so described and occurred yesterday?

Wait, that is probably too hard. Let me give you a couple hints:

Hint 1) Said event lasted about 10 minutes.

Hint 2) Event did NOT take place inside my house.

Hint 3) Event involved an activity with one of my kids

There. That should be enough. Let the guessing begin.