Spiderman

I made some fun mittens for Tyler's birthday. They don't fit :-(

5 years ago today....

I looked like this: and then after a lot of effort, I had 9 pounds, 8 ounces of this:

In the process, I created 2 very happy grandmas:

One Papa who went AWOL:

Another who popped over "On his way to the Bank":
4 years ago he looked like this:

and was walking like a champ!

3 years ago he looked like this:

2 years ago he looked like this:

Last year he looked like this:

and this year he started KINDERGARTEN!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!

Who the heck cries at their own party? I know I didn't. So, for those of you who did NOT keep up with the countdown (shame of you!), yesterday was my actual birthday. It was the seventh anniversary of my 21st birthday! I was lucky enough to have people who love me enough to make me fantastic food...(I'm not sure what the meat market guy's name was, but...) It was a joint effort. Tri-tip, mashed potatoes, sweet corn and fruit...It just doesn't get any better...UNTIL the chocolate cake came out! I also was gifted an amazing bike and there is an add-on bike for Ty to ride along with me.

Thank you to Mom, Dad, Doug, Dale, Carol and Erin for their contributions to this awesome gift!

I also got another thing that I LOVE! Kim gave me an awesome granny squares afgan...I love blankets and don't think I could ever have enough.

Don't the colors just make you happy? They are so cheery!

Also, in a move guaranteed to age a person at least 30 years in one day, I learned to knit yesterday! Jessie came by the office yesterday to drop off some knitting books for Kim and me to peruse, but we roped her into actually teaching us right then and there! (poor Jessie never even knew what hit her). There is no photographic evidence of my first ever knittin, but how about my second attempt? Not too bad for a 45 minute lesson, huh? (keep in mind, this took me a couple hours to complete)

In defense of August

It has been rumored that August is a month in which nothing happens:

"August is the Mississippi of the calendar.

It's beastly hot and muggy. It has a dismal history.

Nothing good ever happens in it.

And the United States would be

better off without it."

This particular (uninspired) source goes on to talk about all of the bad things to happen in August...Atomic bombs, the start of income tax, WWI, etc. ...and about how August is the only month without a real holiday so "Instead, the other months have shunted onto this weak sister all the lame celebrations they didn't want. Air Conditioning Appreciation Week, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Week, National Religious Software Week, Carpenter Ant Awareness Week." (just a small side note...When I read this, I read "Registered Nurse Atheists Week" and I could only think, "Why the heck would they have a holiday week for that???" Guess that shows how prejudiced I am...why shouldn't atheistic Nurses have their own week? )

I would like to speak in the defense of August; many GREAT things happen in August.

World Breastfeeding Awareness Week is in August for starters...

The 2008 Summer Olympics are in August...

Many great people are born in August: Neil Armstrong, Elizabeth (Britain's Queen Mum), William Clark and Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark fame), Mata Hari, Tanya Blomgren, Eric Bana, Annie Oakley, Maggie Harper, Gary Larson, Bill Clinton, Kenny Rogers, Sean Connery, Leo Tolstoy, Barrack Obama and John McCain...

The misguided author who claims that NOTHING good happens in August and that it should clearly be redistributed obviously did not know that my birthday is in August or else he would not have suggested that my birth date be given to September. What a dork!

And besides, who thinks that a week for Air Conditioning Appreciation is less deserving of celebration than a week for National Week of the Young Child/Family/Dog/Prayer/Hope/Wildlife/Health/Police/Firefighters/Veterans/etc...???

It's that time again!!!

Time to start the countdown! Pretty much as long as I can remember, I have kept countdowns...To the first day of school (yes, even into college...someday, ask me about my back to school clothes), the first day of Christmas break, the first day of spring break, the LAST day of school...(as a student and then as a teacher) and also, special events....like this one! Today is July 21...when I asked my mom and sister if that day meant anything to them, all I got was a blank stare. Hmmm...OK, maybe I need to be more obvious. My birthday is in 1 month!!! Now, I know that a woman of my advancing age is often times ashamed of her age and doesn't want to celebrate or even acknowledge her birthday...That's not me! I plan to count down the days until I turn 28. I plan to eat cake on my birthday (NOT Carrot, thank you!) and it will have 28 candles! I once read a motivational quote (command?) that said, "Enjoy this moment...for this moment is your life." I plan to live the life I love and that includes a birthday countdown...August 21, here we come!