RUTH JUST POINTED OUT THAT TODAY IS WEDNESDAY AND I JUST WROTE A POST THINKING IT IS THURSDAY!!!

That's how out of it I am.  

Thanks, Ruth

Thursday Early Morning Freak Out (In a Thursday Afternoon Perspective)

I have 20 minutes of beautiful quietude (if you don't count the neighbor's lawn service's power tools).  I've been rushing about non-stop and have an unwritten to-do list (item number one, write the list down).

I woke up at 5 am this morning and sat right up in bed.  I figure these are the moments that prove your brain is actively working during your sleep (even if that's not the case when you are awake). Questions were rolling through my brain with a panic. 

• Did I have enough snack for the Walk to School Program today?  
  
• Did I have too much snack?
  
• Would the parents approve of Kellogg's Mini Wheats and cut oranges as a snack?
  
• Would parents be upset that the whole snack wasn't organic?
  
• With the Swine Flu going around, should all of these little fingers be reaching into a bowl of any kind of snack without hand sanitizer?
  
• What time do I have to get up in order to cut up all of the oranges, arrange the snack on serving dishes and get to school by 7:45? 

Looking back, it's hard to realize why this made me feel so stressed.  It's all behind me now, except for writing that list.  Someday I will smile and think, "Those were the days."  (Then again, maybe not).

Queen of Awe-Summm Award

Jamie from Kids...Me & Raw III, has just bestowed upon me the honor of the Queen of Alll Things Awe-Summm Award.  She is truly the Queen of Awe-summm, she has honest, witty, well written posts that are always an interesting read.  She also is always changing her blog design in some fabulous way.  Make sure to stop by and check her blog out and give THE Queen a curtsy!

Here are the award rules:

List 7 things that make you Awe-Summm and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers you love.
Make sure to tag the recipients and let them know they have won!
Also link back tot he Queen that tagged you.

My 7

1. I thrive on chaos.  It drives some people that I'm married to crazy (and some of my friends, too), but I can orchestrate something our of most anything.
   
2. I like to be spur of the moment, but I can't plan to be spur of the moment.  It just happens and comes together magically.
   
3. I like to laugh and go places where people laugh:  bad teenage humor movies, open mic at the comedy club, little girls ballet recitals...etc. 
   
4. I can see the half-full glass in the worst of situations--I'm good at taking lemons and making lemonade.
   
5. I'm also good at taking those very same lemons and making a mean margarita, for that matter. 
   
6. I will pretty much help anyone that needs it (you have to be nice, though).
   
7. I love spending time with my kids and feel that summer is not meant for summer camp so that I can send them away--I like to be with them!
   

My 7 Queens:

• Terri's The Four Scarbarys
  
• Veronica Lee's OF MICE AND raMEN
  
• Harriet's Harriet
  
• Suzanne's Shabby Chicks
  
• Staci's Playing House
  
• Can I Taste It Now?
  
• Helene's I'm Living Proof That God Has A Sense Of Humor
  

Now grab this Awe-summm, sparkly award and get reigning!

What's That Thing On Your Header?

I've been asked what that thing on my header is.  If you look closely, it's a footprint in the cement on our sidewalk.  I don't know who made this print or when, but we pass it every day.

In the spring, it is often filled with water after a rain.  In the summer, sometimes we find little blossoms that have dropped off the trees into the print.  In the fall, little crispy leaves fill it's shape. There is hardly a time we fail to notice this little impression.

We've been in our home 5 years now.  All three of my kids have measured their feet in this print.  Last summer, Birk finally put her foot in and like Cinderella, "It fits!"  She was so excited, but I felt a little sad.

All three kids have grown out of the print.  It kind of marks the passage of an era.  It seems like every day used to be full of firsts, but more often than not, I'm having a lot of days marked by lasts.  I know it's one of the  bittersweet qualities of life, but I sure am going to miss the pitter patter of little feet.

From the Mouths of Babes...

"I like Thursday, mommy, it's like the sister of Friday."

Quote from Birk, Thursday morning on our way to school.

Birk's Buying Us A Ski House In Tahoe

Birk had such a fantastic time skiing in Tahoe with her daddy, that she wants to quit regular school, and go to ski school full time.  She realizes that this requires a house in Tahoe.

She first asked daddy to buy her a ski house.  He said,  "Get good grades in school, get a really good job and you can buy a ski house."

Later, our savvy seven year old called us to the computer, very excited. Unbeknownst to us, she had googled Squaw Ski House.  She chose a very excellent and beautiful ski chalet for the nifty price of $1,200,000.00.

Birk was quiet for a long time after dinner.  She asked me how to scan a picture that she had drawn.  A few minutes later, she handed me a stack of papers advertising dogwalking...for $18.00.  She put on her shoes and was ready to go post her flyers around the neighborhood.

Then she asked me, almost jumping up and down with merriment, how many dogs she would have to walk at $18.00 to afford her dream home.

You've got to love kids.

John informed her that it would take approximately 66, 667 dogs. 

You've really got to love kids.

10 Year Old Guest Post: Ode To Recycling

Ode to Recycling

by Ruth

Recycling, you are more than the Sun, the Moon, and the stars.

Without you, pollution would take over the Earth,

cloaking it in black smog,

but we have hope.

because of you,

we have hope.

*This guest post was written by Ruth for Earth Day.  Happy Earth Day, everyone!