The Day I Was Born

Lili was talking to Jeff last night at bedtime.
She started talking about when she was born. She said she remembered when she was born and Jeff told her there's no way she could remember that, nobody could.
She was adamant about it, so Jeff listened to her story.
She said that she remembered lots of people standing around looking at her. hmmm...
She also said that she cried. hmmm.....maybe she's onto something.
Then she asked Jeff if he remembered how she tried to run away out the door.
Oh, I get it.
Jeff asked her if she thought we were mean that day, and she said "Yes". (So then Jeff asked if she still thought we were mean, and I'm happy to report that she said "No"!)
She was talking about remembering how she had her candy and she was afraid and she was shy and she didn't want to come with us.
What a kid.
We've all heard that line about "the day I met you was the day I was born", but I guess with her, she really means it!

I give up

Yesterday at dinner Brett mentioned that it was Ash Wednesday, mostly in response because he asked why, oh why, we didn't celebrate Mardi Gras with a king cake. (oops, maybe because it was snowing and blowing and I didn't feel like looking out the window let alone actually going anywhere)
Anyway, we started talking about Lent and things we would give up. We decided to give it a try this year. Only for one week, mind you.
Brett made lots of helpful suggestions for things Lili could give up. He also made lots of wonderful, selfless suggestions for himself, such as: homework, chores, showers and school.
Lili was very concerned about what she would give up. Snacks were suggested. Um, yeah, no go. She said "I GOT TO GIVE UP FOOOOOOOOD ?!?!?!" We reassured her that she did not have to give up food, it was her decision. She said she absolutely would NOT give up any food at all period. Okee dokee.
So, here's our list of what we've decided to give up for a week. Just ONE week, mind you:
Jeff and Brett are giving up after dinner snacks.
I'm giving up chocolate. CHOCOLATE !!!
Lili's giving up Barbies. Wow. That's a pretty steep commitment for her, but so far so good. We'll see how she does today after school since that's the first thing (well, after her snack of course) that she goes for after walking in the door.

Mid-February, amidst all this snow and cold AND I'm giving up chocolate. C-R-A-Z-Y!

Valentine's Day

Lili had her Valentine's Party, or "Friendship Party" at school last Friday. I was kind of surprised to see that she brought home some candy from some of the kids since they have some kind of 'healthy eating policy' which means you can't bring cupcakes or anything sweet even for their birthday. They have a suggestion list of foods to bring: carrot sticks, crackers, nothing with peanut butter though, please, since someone might be allergic.

Ugh. What happened to FUN?

Anyway, isn't this bag she made the cutest? She was so proud that she made big, big lips.

I think we failed at the whole Valentine's Day-slash-Chinese New Year thing. Just too much in one day. We did eat Chinese food, but everything felt kind of rushed. I don't know. Maybe I'm just going stir crazy with this weather. We haven't seen the ground in months and I swear, every time I look out the window it's snowing. Don't even get me started on the 10 to 20 degree below average temperatures every day. argh. I really don't know why we stay around here.

Can you tell I DESPISE this time of year? blah.
Only about 6 more months till we get summer weather for a week then it's fall again. As I said, blah.

Snow Day 2010

We had our first snow day last Wednesday.

Brett could barely sleep last Tuesday night, waiting to hear that school was canceled the next day.

We got about 6" or so, blowing and drifting, the whole shebang.

(which, it seems to be doing again as I just glanced out the window...I HATE freaking Lake Michigan!)

Anyway, Brett and Lili entertained themselves for most of the day in Brett's "hole" (and don't think we don't have fun with that !!)

Under the stairwell in the basement is the tiniest little space you could possibly find which is just absolute heaven for our boy. I think our realtor thought we all were a bit loopy because every time she'd show us a house, we'd go crazy over little secluded spots under stairs, in closets, attics, etc. squealing about how Brett would just LOVE it...and we were right. If he wasn't able go out during the day without screaming and turning to ash, we'd swear he's a vampire.

So, enjoy pictures of Brett's Hole (hee hee hee!)

They watched several movies and played games. They even ate lunch in there.

Other than the umpteen times Lili hit her head, (THUD!) I didn't hear them at all :)

This is the FIRST time in history that February actually feels like a short month

Superbowl Sunday!!

What a fantastic game!!

You'll see our house was mostly decorated with Colts stuff (for Jeff), while I did have a small homage to the Saints (for Brett and me!)---I didn't want to push it though!

Speaking of Brett, he got a LOT of practice on his trumpet before the game Sunday, playing "When the saints go marching in"! hee hee.

Our mantle is decorated for Valentine's Day.
Which is THIS Sunday...I can't believe it.

I have some vintage Valentines. The backs of them are dated from 1910 to 1930, all from the same girl to and from her dad, mom and sister.

I bought them at an auction more than 10 years ago. The best part of the story is that I bought a steamer trunk that nobody wanted. The auctioneer's wife put in a pity bid of $5, and just to bid against her, I put in $10. Well, I won. It was locked and the auctioneer opened it and gave me the keys after the auction. When he opened it he put his head in his hands and almost cried because this trunk that no one wanted was crammed full of STUFF! Fabric, pillows, ephemera, old glasses and paperwork and hundreds of letters, shaving razors, years and years of memories from this one family. He looked at me and said "Honey, you got the deal of a lifetime". He said he could've sold all that stuff for hundreds of dollars.

Yeah, well, maybe next time you should unlock your trunks before you sell them :)
(I'm sure he did!)

Sunday is also Chinese New Year!
THIS Sunday...I can't believe it!

Since the mantle is all "Valentine's Day", CNY was relegated to the kitchen, which to be honest, is where most of the CNY festivities take place (yum!)

I got a 'Cricut Expression' for my birthday, so I whipped up these little signs for the windows.

Right on the heels of Valentine's Day and CNY comes Mardi Gras....what an amazing time to be in New Orleans right now, from the Superbowl to Mardi Gras, wow.

Hopefully all these festivities will make February and winter FLY BY!

Why is it that the month with the shortest number of days lasts the longest?!

yuck.

Funny. In a scary way.

sniff...doesn't she look angelic?

So, Friday I asked Lili what she played at recess.

WRONG QUESTION.

You will never in a million years guess what she played.

No, not hopscotch.

Not tag.

Not even football, rugby or chess.

My sweet little girl played...















"Hot Girl"!







I choked and stammered and asked how one plays "hot girl".

WRONG QUESTION (again)



She put her hand on her hip, sashayed around swinging her hips and giggling and proceeded to tell me that she and another 'hot girl' walk around and talk and giggle and say "Hi" to boys.

"We don't kiss them, Mama, we just say Hiiiiiii" (giggle, giggle, giggle like a Geisha).

Oh boy.

Jeff and I knew Lili would be a real heart breaker one day, but FIRST GRADE ?

So, lock up your boys, the 'Hot girls' are in town.



double-geesh.