Feel the Love

Have you seen the thermometer at the right? We have one proposal that is fully funded (how exciting!) and are really feeling the love. But we need a wee bit more love!

The deadline for the challenge is coming up fast and we really want to succeed! If you have not, please consider making a tax deductible donation to some very deserving school kids. Every little bit helps! You can make a donation in honor of someone if you like, which is what I did because I happen to have the strongest grandaddy on the face of the planet!

(Because I'm shameless, I'm going to plug the TIME magazine proposal because it's the one I chose!)

Just ease your mouse right over here. It's good stuff.

E is getting sassy, looking for a few more donors!

Book Fair

Today in my little mailbox at preschool I was given a flyer for Scholastic books. I don't know if they are having a book fair but it was the exact thing that we used to get in elementary school when we had a book fair.

I went home at lunch and perused it for good deals or just great books in general. I had the best time looking through it with much the same excitement that I did in elementary school. I loved book fair day! (Except for the time that a book called 'Megan the Klutz' was popular and everyone called me that, but I digress...)

Way back when, Mom would give us a dollar limit of how much we could spend and I struggled with deciding which book to get. But here's the thing: I'm a big girl now and I can buy whatever I damn well please! Yea for the book fair and new books! Just as long as none of them are called 'Ella the Klutz'.

I'm It

I have been tagged.

It's a sneaky game in the blogger world where your *friends* or fellow bloggers call you out to post about a certain subject. Now I'm it, thanks to Andria, and I've got to spill 5 things about myself that y'all might not know or just quirks in general. Yippee!

1) I have to set the alarm clock to go off at a time that ends with a three or seven. Definitely no zeros or fives. Two, four, six, eight and nine are iffy because I think they are too close to zeros or fives.

2) I don't let the microwave get down to zero and go off if I'm in the room. I think it has something to do with hearing the beep because if I'm not in the room, it's OK.

3) I am quite possibly the world's worst 'history' person. I don't know what happened to who, when and where. I can't seem to keep it all straight. It could have something to do with cheating my way through Mr. Page's US History class... hmmm. I always end up asking David about historical events because he's like a history textbook, which leads me to #4.

4) I have a serious need to prove my intelligence to David. Not that he thinks I am unintelligent but because he is soooo smart. Poor Angie and Scott had to witness this as we played Fact or Crap one night. It was NOT pretty!

5) I absolutely can not leave drawers or cabinets open. Can not. If I notice that someone else has left them open, I'll go close them. It just seems so messy and wrong to me!

(Here I go, going past 5. Who knew I had more than 5 quirks?!)

6) When I take a shower I do everything in the exact same order. Shampoo, wash, rinse shampoo, conditioner, shave, rinse conditioner. I've thought about changing the order, just to say that I don't always do it the same, but I won't. Any other way is inefficient to me.

7) In most situations where numbers are involved I find myself doing unnecessary calculations. For example, if we were to go out to a restaurant where there was a 45 minute wait with six people ahead of us, I would calculate how many minutes should be between each person getting seated. Many times the numbers aren't quite that easy to crunch but I try to do it anyway.

8) I'll eat food that's cold. Not just luke warm, but straight out of the fridge. And not just pizza either. Mashed potatoes, casseroles, mac and cheese. Yum!

I swear that I am not as crazy as I sound! Right?! In an effort to make myself feel better, I am going to spread the goodness and officially tag Marisa, Laura and Karen. Here it is, girls. Hop to it.

Ella displays her own little OCD quirk and puts all of her horses in a line.

Lookie Lookie Lookie!

YEA!! Ella wrote her name for the first time! I am SO excited!

(Don't forget to Share the Love on Valentine's Day and donate! Don't know what I'm talking about but wish you did? Click here.)

Mermaid

Ella got some bath water color tablets for her birthday and the flavor for last night was blue. I thought it made a nice contrast with the white tub.

Share the Love on Valentine's Day!

What are you giving/getting for Valentine's Day? "Ugh", you say, "I don't even want to think about it". Yes, I know. Women really only want a heart felt "I love you" and to be relieved of supper duty (assuming that there is no hope for jewelry - we always want jewelry!). Men really only want one thing and it doesn't cost anything... ahem.

Don't let the traditional Valentine's Day fare trap you. Flowers, while beautiful, have a definite, very brief life span. Chocolate, yum... chocolate, only adds minutes to your workout. You might be best to give/get an aloe plant and a box of oatmeal. Handy, yes. Romantic, no.

That's why four of the most intelligent, good looking bloggers I know and I have partnered to promote a super duper special Valentine's Day project. Instead of buying gifts that are a mere motion, how about involving some emotion?

We (Niki, Andria, Ashley, Jeff and I) have chosen four proposals from DonorsChoose.org and we are asking you to help fund them. DonorsChoose is a website specifically set up for teachers across the country to request help for classroom projects, books, supplies, etc. What a wonderful way to put your money to good use!

We have a blogger challenge set up to see if we can get these proposals funded before Valentine's Day. Take a look.

Writing with 'Bare' Books

Capture Learning with a Digital Camera

TIME Magazine for Kids

Dramatic Reading Needs Props

If you are interested in contributing to one of these (and I hope that you are!) please do so via the challege website. That way we will know what funding we are bringing in rather than someone else.

Blog Challenge

As a little incentive: If you decide to contribute to these very worthy causes, let me know. There just might be a construction paper Valentine's Day card colored by a 3 year old in it for you! And maybe even a homemade delish cookie!

If you are a fab blogger and are not included in the challege but want to be, feel free to link to me or post your own plea!

Surely you can't deny this plea?!

Second verse, same as the first

And the snow came down. Again. And will probably be back on Friday. The great thing is that the steam lines run under some of the sidewalks on campus and keep the snow melted!

Outside the Animal Science building

Report

It seems that preschool is a real hit. I haven't been able to get Ella to tell me a whole lot of stuff, but she's really excited whenever she does! The teachers tell me that she is doing well making friends, listening, following directions and not being shy. One of them mentioned that she was very talkative... you think?!

This morning when I dropped her off, Ella showed me some of the art work she did yesterday with the letters of her name and some glitter. That's what I like to see! The teacher mentioned that today they are making Valentines for the troops and I thought that was fantastic. I think we're going to like it there!

In honor of Ella doing all kinds of art, I'm posting this picture of Ella in her kids apron from one home impovement store. She has an apron from the other one but just so happened to put this one on. I don't want to get in an orange/blue war, so I'm remaining neutral! (FYI: Jim is a store manager for HD and Marisa is a long time, die hard Lowe's HR manager.)

First Day of School

Today was the first day of preschool for Ella!! She was so charged up about being a big school girl! I made sure that we got there early enough for her to adjust before I had to leave... I shouldn't have worried. She lit a blue streak when we got into the classroom and I had to ask her to come give me a hug!

All bundled up and ready for school!

Weekend

This weekend has been fairly uneventful, which is A-OK with me! Hopefully I can get inspired to use the rest of the day to do some cleaning (ah, the never ending task of cleaning!). We'll see.

One thing that we did do was go to a bullriding last night. Ella just loves to watch rodeos and cowboys so she was pretty excited to go. Once she was dressed, I caught her stiking a pose telling me "This is how cowboys stand". Right she was. (The boots she's wearing are a pair that she got for her birthday and Christmas from Andria and the fam at Andria's Random Thoughts. So cute!)

Notice the buckin' bull in her hand? He's a favorite toy of hers.

OH! One other thing that happened this weekend (that I almost forgot!) went like this:

7:45 am Saturday I think I hear Ella's footsteps.

7:46 am No more footsteps. Go back to sleep.

8:00 am I think I hear footsteps.

8:00:30 am Ella's standing by my side of the bed.

Her: "Feel my cold hands, Mommy!"

Me: "Wow. Your hands are cold. Why?"

Her: "Because I just washed them... and my face."

Me (suspiciously): "Why did you need to wash your hands and face?"

Her: "Because there was chocolate all over them."

Me: "Were you eating chocolate (the Tobelerone pieces in a bowl on the counter)?"

Her: "Yes, Mommy. Two pieces. I left you one."

Weeeell, how about that?!

I learned two things. 1) If you think you hear footsteps, you probably do and 2) Get up.

I also found four good things to be said about this little episode. 1) Ella had sense enough to wash up 2) She was honest enough to tell me 3) She was kind enough to leave me a piece and 4) Her breakfast was already taken care of!

Dressed Up Girls

Litte Miss in her Cinderella dress and slippers. Look at those toes!

And then Maggie got in on the show, whether she knew it or not!

R & R

Yea! Grandaddy went home today! There's nothing quite like being home when you need to get some rest and recuperation. I'm sure he will be back to jump roping in no time!

Blue Eyed Girl

Even More Snow, canine ed.

David, Ella and I aren't the only ones who got to enjoy the snow this weekend. Maggie and Lily got drug out into it with us. Maggie seemed to really like it and even rooted up her tennis ball wanting David to throw it! Lily, not so much. I think Lil' is a seasoned veteran of the white stuff and knows better!

Mags with said tennis ball.

Poor Maggie, getting coated in snow

Even More Snow

Oh boy, y'all. We got 6 inches of snow this weekend! As you can imagine, Ella was ecstatic!

That outfit is something else, isn't it?!

Building the snowman...

... using the kit from Grandma

Ella and I aren't afraid of getting a little snowy!

Ella really isn't afraid. She made about 10 more!

Preschool

Ella will soon be a big girl preschooler! We have been a little (ok, a lot) unhappy with the amount of TV that she is watching at her current in home daycare. After going to observe the class and talk with the teacher, we were finally able made the decision to move. Ella is pretty excited about being a 'big girl' and going to school. She even asked if she could go this morning!

I be kneading

This weekend I got a wild hair and decided to make some bread. From scratch. Fo' real! I have no idea why, but I did. I found a recipe for Oatmeal Toasting Bread that sounded good and relatively easy. Pretty darn nice if I do say so myself (for a novice...)!

And it tastes as good as it looks! I actually enjoyed the kneading part. It was kind of theraputic and a good work out too!

Snow Bunny

One little bit of snow + one little girl = one excited cold little girl!

So sweet and innocent... and then throwing snow on her dear, loving mother.

Eating a little (white) snow.

Mmmm. Hot chocolate.

Once in a blue moon

It doesn't happen very often, but eeevery few years David and I get all dressed up and surprise people with how nice we can look! This past weekend was the wedding of Tony and Janet and I seized the opportunity to get all dolled up. David agreed to wear something other than starched jeans as a birthday present to me. Woo hoo!

Unfortunately, the batteries in my camera died after the first picture of me with Tony. Ugh. Not to be deterred, I had Kristina take our picture once we got home!

Friday Funnies

I got these cartoons in an email that I couldn't resist sharing. Some are a little risquee, but damn funny, none-the-less! Tee hee hee!

Happy Birthday!

My good friend Andria, mother to little Dellaina (who is the cutest one year old I know), from over at Andrias Random Thoughts is celebrating her 28th birthday today!

Happy Birthday to my fellow capricorn! Aren't we just great?! And so humble!

Two of my favorite girls

Chief

My Grandaddy, aka the chief, underwent some major surgery today. He is recovering now and I would love it if everyone sent their well wishes and good thoughts his way.

He is the Cham-peen of most things and this was no exception. I hear he battled through not only like a chief but a real warrior as well!

RC Cola and a Moon Pie

Look what I got for my birthday from one of the guys at work!

I just laughed and laughed! I thought it was very creative and appropriate (in the eyes of a Kansan). He said he looked for a RC Cola but to no avail. Turns out it was the closest thing to cake that I would get, but that's OK. We are going to a fancy schmancy wedding this weekend and I will just have my cake there!

I'm so ashamed

Normally I would refrain from posting this because it exposes my inner nerd, but today is special and y'all will have to forgive me for it. In true Stacey Blomquist (English teacher from 9th grade) fashion, I present to you:

ALL PUNS INTENDED

1. Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The
ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.

2. A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve
you, but don't start anything."

3. Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted.

4. A dyslexic man walks into a bra.

5. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm, and
says: "A beer please, and one for the road."

6. Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this
taste funny to you?"

7. "Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home."
"That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome."
"Is it common?"
"Well, It's Not Unusual."

8. Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to
Dolly, "I was artificially inseminated this morning." "I don't believe
you," says Dolly. "It's true; no bull!" exclaims Daisy.

9. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing
to look at either.

10. Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

11. I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day, but I
couldn't find any.

12. A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted,
"Doctor,doctor, I can't feel my legs!" The doctor replied, "I know you
can't - I've cut off your arms!"

13. I went to a seafood disco last week...and pulled a mussel.

14 What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

15. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and
says,"Dam!"

16. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in
the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't
have your kayak and heat it too.

17. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel, and were
standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories.
After about an hour, the manager came out of the office, and asked them
to disperse. "But why," they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he
said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."

18. A woman has twins, and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes
to a family in Egypt, and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family
in Spain ; they name him "Juan". Years later, Juan sends a picture of
himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her
husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband
responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."

19. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time,
which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate
very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he
suffered from bad breath...This made him.... (Oh, man, this is so bad,
it's good).... A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

20. And finally, there was the person who sent twenty different puns to
his friends, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make them
laugh. No pun in ten did.

Ceeeelebrate Good Times!

Happy Birthday to me!

Big 2-8! Good grief, I'm on the downhill slide to 30. Eeek! It is yet to be determined if I will feast on cake today (although, it is my personal philosophy that everyone should have cake on their birthday). I have been know to purchase my own cake before and I just might do it today because, well, it's my birthday and I can do whatever I want!

Here's a little birthday proof, Grandaddy style, that goes to show that this year will be a great one!

01/10/1979 the big day

0+1+1+0+1+9+7+9= 28 (how old I am!)

2+8= 10 (10th!)

1+0=1 (January!)

And so it is. Do I smell cake?!

Higher Education

OMG y'all! I have just discovered this in the course catalog here at K-State.

ENGL 440 Harry Potter's Library

Section A: T 7:05-9:55--K. Westman

This course examines the Harry Potter phenomenon by reading the Potter novels themselves and the works of J. K. Rowling's antecedents (such as Thomas Hughes), influences (E. Nesbit, C. S. Lewis, Roald Dahl), and contemporaries (Philip Pullman). We will approach these works from a variety of critical perspectives, and we will also consult selected secondary sources. Before the first class, you must have read the first two Harry Potter novels: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Success in this course depends upon careful reading and participation in our discussions. Quizzes, postings to an electronic bulletin board, a paper, a mid-term exam, and a final exam. English 440 is a General Education course.

How do I enroll?!?!

Chomp

The SEC did it, ladies and gentlemen! We watched every minute of the rout and were so pleased! Where in the world did the Ohio State defense go? Do I care?

I'm sure that the next GA/FL game will be insufferable. Just as my dear friend Nik, a Gator fan from way back, will be. (She was insufferable at times when we were roommates, fresh off Florida's last Championship!) I was true to my pledge to keep it in the family and cheered for the SEC and thus Gators. I even sent Niki a congratulatory text at halftime!

We have several graduate students and faculty who are alums of Ohio State. I've gotta go see if I can find any of them and casually mention the game... Maybe I'm the insufferable one over here in Big XII land!