Random thoughts

Whew! C turned six on Thursday and had a birthday party with 7 friends (plus his sister) at the bowling alley on Saturday!

Saturday was also my parents' 39th anniversary! Congratulations again, Mom and Dad!

The "for sale" sign went in the yard a few weeks ago but the house officially goes onthe market, MLS, etc. Thursday! So I'm trying to finish cleaning, keep the house clean--while the kids are begging to have friends over.

I did not get enough cleaning today because I kept myself and the kids outside--where it hit SEVENTY degrees!!! It was lovely!

We had to take advantage of spring weather on the last day of February! We are supposed to get snow after midnight tonight.

More surprises and news coming soon--stay tuned!

Little devils

C was worried the other night at bedtime. Apparently, he had learned at school that "devils can suck your spirit out of you" and wanted me to be aware of this. He was worried because he believes devils to be invisible--so how can you watch out for them?

Tonight, my daughter asked us again what we'd all given up for Lent. My husband and I have both given up wine. I made a comment about finishing it on Tuesday so there would not be any in the house--which she thinks is cheating. After dining out tonight, she asked if we could stop by the "wine store" (liquor store)!

I could tell my son a devil might look a little like his sister but the poor kid would never sleep again!

(In my daughter's defense: she has given up gum but she knows there is plenty in the cupboard. Maybe I'll offer to pitch it for her!) ;)

The F word

I've asked many of you when the thrill of saying "poop" wears off. Of course, when you find a word that is a noun, a verb (or even an adjective if you add "y") it is hard to give up!

Unless you can find a better one.

My son brought friends home from school today. One had no idea of the implications when he asked, "who farted?"

Laissez les bon temps roulet!

I hope you all are enjoying Fat Tuesday, wherever you are! Some of you may be enjoying king cakes or paczki or pancakes. I did not plan ahead (surprise!) so I've got regular coffee. Maybe I'll add sugar today! ;)

However you are celebrating--enjoy Fat Tuesday! (Of course, for those really celebrating and attending the parades--I don't expect reading my blog to be on your list of activities today! With the exception of my sister-in-law in Metairie, we don't have any friends left living in New Orleans but maybe some of you decided to visit for Carnival!)

I let my kids wear beads to school today. I'm sure N is behaving but C's teacher is probably cursing my name right about now. It's only for one day!

Laissez les bon temps roulet!

By the skin of my teeth

My daughter lost another tooth Saturday night. We made a big fuss, of course, but then--the Tooth Fairy got busy.

Sunday morning, I was grateful that my husband got up with my son and was just falling asleep again when it occured to me that the TF had not made the swap.

So I bolted out of bed, found the funds and made it to her room just in time. As I slid my hand under her pillow, she opened her eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

My quick, lame response was that her covers had been covering her head and I wanted to make sure we hadn't lost her!

She nodded like that made perfect sense. (Luckily for me she was still half-asleep!)

I walked out, realizing that I'd left the tooth where it was. (The Tooth Fairy usually absconds with them!) It has been almost a year since she questioned the TF's existence, so I was sure that my latest mistake would bring back the doubt.

Instead, it restored her faith.

"She got it! She read it! She let me keep it!"

"What?" (It was my turn to sound half-awake).

"Look! The Tooth Fairy left my tooth, just like I asked!"

"You left a note?"

"Yep! After you tucked me in last night, before I turned the light off, I wrote a note to the Tooth Fairy, asking if she could leave the tooth--and she did!"

She left a note after we'd said goodnight--knowing I either would not look or would not see it in the dark. She's good!

I am not. (Someone is! I don't know whether to thank my Guardian Angel or hers but someone got me out of bed just in time--but without enough time to steal that tooth!)

Warm heart, cold hands!

I hope you are having a happy, warm day!

How does the saying go? Cold hands, warm heart? My heart must be red hot -- my hands are cold!

We used to live in Fairbanks, Alaska so we've seen two degrees Farenheit before. However, it is currently 2 degrees here and 2 degrees in Fairbanks. With wind chills factored in, it feels like 2 in Alaska but -10 here! That's just wrong.

Snow Day

It's a snow day! I have "helpers!"

Cupid misfired

It's my week to drive carpool so I had another boy and girl in the backseat next to my son, who kept yelling "Hey! I'm Cupid!" *thwap!* (He pretended to shoot arrows at both of them).

"You didn't hit me!"

*thwap*

"Ow! OK, I love you!"

*thwap*

"Actually, I am going to be Cupid's girlfriend," says the girl.

"OK," he says. *thwap*

"I am Cupid's girlfriend," she repeats.

"Yeah, I know," my son replies. *thwap*

"That means I will make YOU love ME," she explains.

"What?! Get away from me, woman!"

Celebrating WMD

Yesterday was World Marriage Day and our priest invited all married couples to stand and renew their vows during Mass.

So we stood; we held hands and looked at the priest while trying to stifle giggles. We looked like two six-year-olds who had been made to hold hands. You'd think, after 13 years of marriage, we could have taken it a bit more seriously. However, when it came time to say "I do," it only took one look into each other's eyes to see that we were both thinking the same thing.

We are really close to the front of church. Don't you dare say "No!"

Purging

No, it's not my latest diet plan! It's more like spring cleaning--a little early. We may have potential homebuyers coming to see our house this week and we're getting the place in shape.

I should not be surprised and yet, it is always amazing how much stuff one family can accumulate! We bring bags of items to Salvation Army throughout the year, every year -- yet we always have more to donate and large amounts of junk to trash when we start considering what we'll move to the next house.

Fixed for Friday

The vibration in the car's wheel is fixed and tires are rotated. The hatch/back door has to wait for a part so that will be another 2-hour drive to the dealership but I wrote over 1,900 words while I waited there yesterday!

The hubbie has caulked in the bathroom and filled the crack that was causing the stain on our ceiling; the window that would not open has been fixed and the toilets have all been "toggled" correctly. The gas fireplace has been checked and no one can find the miniature leak now!

The hubbie even fixed my cell phone! (Somehow I cracked it and the top was dangling from the bottom when I used it! The piece finally came completely off and we didn't think we could glue plastic but he found a way!)

So the house is getting in shape and the realtor is sitting down with us tomorrow evening to go over paperwork and help us set the price. If the cell phone can just hang in there until we move, I'll be happy!

It is time for a pet

"If I could be a big brother, I'd clean up the poop."

"You mean you would change the baby's diapers?" I ask.

"Yes! I would wipe the poop off of the baby."

"It's real poop, C!" N adds.

"I know."

"Yeah, I'd change the diapers too if we could have a baby," she agrees.

While I appreciate the team effort, it seems it's time for a puppy--and a shovel.