Bret's Girlfriend

Ella was happy to come alog to my friends Kate and Kevin's baby shower today. She was excited that Livy was coming along too, who is a friend that used to work with Bret at the Clearinghouse many years ago. Ella was wondering where she lived when we were headed to pick her up. She asked me where we were going to find daddy's girlfriend. I laughed and told her that she is just a friend. Ella with all seriousness, said, no mommy she is a girl and daddy calls her so she is daddy's girlfriend. Ella even introduced her as such later. So if you hear Bret has a girlfriend, he does. Just not in the way we think of it!

Birthday Party Coming Soon!!

I am having a hard time believing that Lars' birthday is just around the corner. He will be three March 2nd. I decided to ask Nora if we could join forces to have a birthday extravaganza for her two February birthday girls and Lars. We have a lot of the same friends so it works well! The party will be on Valentine's Day so we have a theme that is fun and easy. Valentine treats are so easy this time of year! We also will have a craft table where kids can make their own valentines. Nora and I are renting out a gymnasium which provides toys for playing and jumpy air houses which the kids love!

This party fits all my requirements; fun, safe and cheap! I am really glad that we found a way for the kids to play and celebrate and still to save money. The other options I checked into were outrageous and overpriced! This will make several birthday children very very happy!

Best of all we are forgoing gifts for donations to the crisis center. Our kids have too much stuff! They will still get stuff from us and from grandparents which is plenty! If the kids wear pink or red, we will have a prize for them to choose from. We are still working out all the details and I am sure it will be a great party! I can't wait!

Ice

outside, ice I breathe
crunching overhead I see
crust through trees shine

25 Things About Me

1. I love to do crafts and sew.
2. In a prior life I was a waitress and used to have nightmares about burning down the restaurant and rolling silverwear (not at the same time!)
3. I love being a mom.
4. I did not think I was going to have kids for a long time. It was not a goal.
5. I am pretty good at fixing electrical things and repairing house stuff in general.
6. I have been to traffic school for speeding. (13 years ago!)
7. I have been to more than 15 Phish show concerts. And I would like to see them this summer. Dream!
8. I love movies in general! But I really love well written and directed movies. They are often ones I can't watch til the kids are asleep.
9. I am slightly obsessed with my children's closets. I love to bargain shop at Stuff & Goodwill. Garage sales are just around the corner.
10. I worry about my mom - a lot. But not sure how I can help.
11. I am thankful to have my mother in law be one of my best friends.
12. I'm sad a close friend may move away this year. I am in denial.
13. I cannot wait to get my own classroom next year. Not having a room SUCKS! No matter how many times I smile and say I can deal, I still hate not having my own space.
14. I hated gardening as a kid but now I can't have a summer without one.
15. I love living in Iowa City. I think it is a great place to raise my kids.
16. I used to go by Jeni.
17. Clothing is meant to be dried outside. Best smell ever!
18. I really think crocs are the ugliest thing ever invented! (though cute on kids!)
19. When I met Bret, we had a "Shot of the month" club. Wild turkey for November.
20. I am a good skier. I even taught a blind student to ski!
21. I don't get people who are mean. Perhaps I am too nice.
22. I used to be a ravenous reader. Now I am lucky to read one book a month.
23. It is a great thing that my husband is also the one who knows what I am trying to say when I can't say it.
24. I think religion and politics should bring people together not polarize neighbors against one another.
25. I love my daughter's smile and son's dimples, and absolutely everything about them!

Dreamcakes

This is the best tradition I am planning on stealing for my own! At book club the other night, Quenby shared a family tradition with the group which I think is adorable. She proceeded to tell us that her mother had made her cupcakes for MLK Day. I thought it was sweet but when she proceeded to explain how the cupcakes were symbolic of what he did for the civil rights movement. You see they are made with white and chocolate cake batter and it is about how they "go together" to make the cupcake. I cannot wait to make these for my kids at some point! Perhaps next year..then I can actually spend more time explaining who MLK is.

Hail to the O!

I am proud to be an American today! This was a moving ceremony and I can't wait to see what the next 4 years brings my family as well as my country. We watched the inauguration at school today and I am not sure all the kids understood everything, but they knew this was a moment of history and they were all witness to it!


This is a "wordle" that takes all the words from his speech and extracts most commony used words and displays most common by increasing their size.

• Today
• People
• America
• new
• nation
• must
• work

Ten Things in my Fridge

Ten things in my fridge:

1. Two containers of Dora and Diego yogurt
2. Gallon of skim milk- we are never without this!
3. Leftover chicken tetrazini (yummy)
4. Leftover spaghettio's
5. Pears that my dad picked and they are still good!
6. Ten bottles of various salad dressings
7. Four half empty bottles of BBQ sauce
8. Shredded cheese- various kinds, we love cheese
9. Two containers of "pulp free" OJ (Bret loves the pulp, I hate it!) Thanks Bret! He does the shopping!
10. One bottle of Corona Light

Please feel free to do your own fridge post! CHALLENGE!