Birthday

I had a great birthday!

John and Nick surprised me with balloons at breakfast. The sun was shining (it was supposed to rain all day). Nick made me "chocolates" (really just his K'NEX pieces in a treat bag from a party he went to on Monday). And, John & Nick both took me out to dinner. Yes, Nick took "Mommy" to dinner!


Nick told Daddy he wanted to pay for dinner -- too cute! So, we let him open his giraffe bank and he brought some of his coins to the restaurant. After dinner, Nick put 3 quarters (one for each of us) in the check folder. Granted, he was a little unsure about parting with his coins, but Daddy explained that's what "paying for dinner" meant. I was very proud of my little man. Then, I thanked Nick for buying me dinner and told him I loved him. As I gave him a big hug, he hugged me back and said, "Me, too!"

It really was a GREAT birthday!

Lunar Eclipse

Not only did the sun come out this week, but we had a beautiful
clear night to view the full lunar eclipse. Unfortunately, most of it happened behind our tall fir trees. But, once it got high enough,
we could go across the street to view it out front.

While the full moon was beautiful, its effects on a toddler aren't quite as impressive. Yes, . . . for most of the week, I have been subjected to the FMC (Full Moon Child). This is the child who wreaks havoc all day, climbs upstairs for nap time, rubs his eyes during story time, and then crawls under the covers to go to sleep. However . . . 10 minutes later, I will hear him singing, jumping in the crib, and kicking the crib just for the "fun" of it. He might go
to sleep for a few minutes after completing exhausting himself.

This is what I've found every day this week, when I've gone in to get him up (shirt and socks are always behind the crib).

Haircut

On Monday, I decided that Nick's hair was just too long. It was getting in his eyes and tickling his ears.

So, off to the Barbers we went.

The haircut started OK, with Nick sitting on my lap. But, it ended with full on kicking, screaming, tears, and, I swore, child services was in the wings ready to pounce as soon as we were done.

The good part . . . our hair cutter was very patient/calm . . . the sad part . . . his hair isn't short enough over his ears :-(

Sunshine

Something NEW happened this week . . . the SUN came out!

OK . . . it has made an appearance before. But, this time, the wood chips weren't "floating" at the park anymore. So, we took a long walk around the neighborhood with my friend Shelley and detoured past the park on our way home. Although the sun was out, it was still chilly.


Nick is NOT quite tall enough to get on the swing by himself.






BUT, once he's on . . .

he's a DAREDEVIL!

February Celebrations

February has definitely been a month of celebrations. Here are some of the highlights from our gatherings.

Chinese New Year
On Sunday the 10th, we hosted this year's Chinese New Year dinner. We hung up some red and gold decorations (gold symbolizes power; red symbolizes happiness) and our zodiac banners from China
(Hare = John; Horse = Sheri; Monkey = Nicholas).

Click on the image to see a LARGER view.

We tried to include several foods that held symbolic significance. What gives a certain food symbolic significance? Sometimes it is based on appearance. For example:

Noodles - A long life; it's bad luck to cut them.
Spring Rolls - Wealth (because their shape is similar to gold bars)
Tangerines - Luck (the Chinese word for tangerine sounds like luck)
Chicken - Happiness and marriage
Peanuts - A long life

Our dinner consisted of tangerines, Longevity Noodles, spring rolls, Sheri's Chinese Chicken Salad (with peanuts), Sheri's Kung Pao Chicken (more peanuts), Janet's Ginger-Honey Chicken, and steamed rice. It was a wonderful feast.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!
(Peace and Prosperity!)


Pat's Birthday
In addition to our Chinese New Year celebration, we also celebrated Pat's birthday. Nicholas was very excited about "Uncle Pat's" birthday, so we practiced the Happy Birthday song over & over so he could sing it for him. And, Nicholas did a great job--too cute! I'm not sure if Pat heard him, but I hope so.
















Valentine's Day
What more could a girl really want on Valentine's Day . . .
I got my 2 favorite guys!

And, I got some pretty purple mums that look great on the kitchen sink, but will be able to live on in my garden, too.






















Jim's Birthday
On Sunday the 17th, we celebrated Jim's birthday with dinner at a local German restaurant. Everyone enjoyed the cheese fondue appetizers, which was good because it was a very long wait until our dinners finally arrived. But, as a surprise, the waitstaff brought out a "treat" for the birthday boy. Then, it was back to the parent's house for cake and presents.

My Aura is Yellow

You're a deeply happy and content person, and you enjoy sharing your cheer with others. While you may seem like a simple optimist, there is a lot of thinking going on inside you. The purpose of your life: bringing joy and a better life to others

Famous yellows include: Conan O'Brien, Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carrey

Careers for you to try: Athlete, Actor, Yoga Instructor

What Color Is Your Aura?

Tumble Tots Finale

This was our last week of Tumble Tots.

The kids started learning how to get into a hand stand and how to do the beginning steps for a cartwheel. They also practiced (with the instructor, Diane, carefully assisting) how to do a backwards roll. Nicholas has the basic idea but he forgets to stay curled up as
he rolls over.



Today was our final class -- a Tumble Party! Diane set up an obstacle course all around the classroom. Before the kids began, she sat them down and reviewed the "rules." We were missing a few students today, so she let the sister & brother of Katelyn (girl in gray) join the fun, since they've been there for every class.

^^ WATCH ^^ this forward roll.



All the kids got a certificate for completing the class. Nicholas was extremely
proud of his!

Game Time

Nicholas discovered one of his Christmas presents on the bookshelf today -- the game, CANDY LAND.

















It's been updated a bit since I played it as a child. The game board folds up into a case that stands up like a book (thus, why it was on the bookshelf). And, the characters and food images have been revised (e.g., the ice cream float is now an ice cream cone watched over by "Princess Frostine").

Nicholas picked up the "how-to's" of the game very quickly. He would jump up and down and cheer for each card he drew . . . "YAY, I got two REDS!"

And, in case you were wondering . . . no, I didn't rig the game
and he still beat the GUM DROPS out of me.

Ode to the Snow Gods

I closed my blog at almost eleven,
And hoped the gentle fall of white snowflakes
Would soon be drifting down from heaven
Creating a sea of powder white lakes;
Could the Snow Gods have heard my call for white?
Only a half hour later there they were
Floating effortlessly down to the ground;
I stood at the window watching the sight
As flakes touched the grass and the Douglas Fir
Creating music without any sound.







This is pretty much the same smile that was on my face when I awoke to the sight of snow in our yard. Granted, it wasn't as much as I was hoping for . . . but it made for a fun morning. Well, once I got Nicholas out the door.

He was just as excited as I was to see snow in our yard, and asked if he could go outside and "crunch" it. We told him he had to eat breakfast first. However, once he finished breakfast, it was a mini kick and scream fest to get him to put his boots on. Once we were outside . . . everything changed! SNOW BOOTS make very funny footprints -- that is . . . if you are 3 years old (LOL).

Snow Fix

My trusty weatherman AND internet weather site have been "teasing" me with the chance for snow since Thursday. Each day, the forecast gets altered and the promise moves forward to the next day. It's like the ever-elusive chase for the end of the rainbow--only I WANT SNOW!

In general, I try not to ask for much and feel very grateful for what I have. But, all I really want is a nice snow day in my own yard, and the chance to make snowballs and snowmen with my family.
(Maybe the Snow Gods will hear me if I post it in my blog.)

That being said, tonight as we drove 10 miles up the hill to Pat & Janet's house, a few snowflakes began to fall. Pat & Janet's house is up around the 1200ft elevation. So, as we climbed the hill, more snow began to appear on the ground. And, while I didn't get to make snowballs or snowmen at dinner tonight . . . I did get a small snow fix until the snow decides to visit our house.