JCPenney

Around the beginning of the year JCPenney sent me tons of fliers about their new change in pricing.  I paid little attention since I wasn't going to the mall.  Since then I get monthly updates in the mail.  They are expensive mini-catalogs that tell me about certain prices that month.  Is everyone getting those?  I'm not getting any coupons though.  Is anyone else?  On Saturday I went to Penney's for the first time since they changed their marketing. 

I am not sure what to think about the New Penney's.  There were no sale signs in any department we went in.  I did think most of their prices were lower than they had been.  It also seemed that they had fewer racks of clothing.  It was easier to walk through the teen area, for sure.  But mostly I felt like the whole place was disorganized and not really shopper-friendly.

I'm curious to know if any of my MANY readers have shopped their lately and what kind of experience you had.  We did not spend any money there this weekend, and that's very odd for us!  (We also didn't find anything at Kohl's--for the second time in a row but had much better luck at Vanity, Wet Seal, and American Eagle.  Go figure.)

Super Moon

Did you see the moon the last few nights?  Saturday night it was at it's brightest, but we had cloud cover.  This was taken about 40 miles north of us.  Pretty amazing.  Apparently this happens once a year--that it gets this close--but it'll be several years before it's a full moon again when it gets this close!

Robin Egg Update

Day 3 of the "Great Robin Egg Watch" brought 3 eggs.  The neighbor installed this mirror so they could watch the progress without falling off ladders or freaking out the mama bird.  Stay tuned...

UPDATE:  As of this evening there are 4 eggs in the nest.  It looks quite full!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Chuck

Today is another grandpa's birthday! 

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Don't let the chickens work you too hard!

Maybe a little golf is in order, and patio time!

Have a great day.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

If Grandpa were still with us, he'd be 80 today!  Here he is in Glacier National Park with two of his favorite chuckle heads...and I don't think the princess caused those wet spots on him...he was prone to spilling!  Happy Birthday, Grandpa.  We miss you!

High Maintenance Strawberries

Are you familiar with Bountiful Baskets?  They are all the rage in our area.  It's like a veggie/fruit co-op.  Produce is shipped in from the west coast for delivery on Saturday.  You order online and pick up Saturday.  They sell out every week.  You can also get bread/tortillas, and this week you could get a flat of strawberries for $10.  I don't participate in Bountiful Baskets, because though the price is right, you don't know what's in your basket until you pick it up.  We are far too picky of eaters to take the risk of brussel sprouts and rutabaga!  MB participated asked if I wanted to split the flat of strawberries.  Thinking the prince and I would eat some and the rest could be used in smoothies, I agreed.  $5 for 4 boxes of strawberries is a good deal in my area!  Before I decided to slice them up MB warned me that the strawberries were organic and as such, might mold more quickly.  She recommended rinsing them in 5 cups of water mixed with a 1/2 cup of vinegar.  So I did.  These are some high maintenance strawberries, but I'm betting they're delicious!  And full of antioxidants.  And only 50 calories for 1 cups of strawberries sliced in half! 

Not sure why this photo is "foggy". 

Silly phone camera.

Mangos

Apparently this week's Bountiful Baskets contained mangos.  I've never purchased a mango, but MB gave us 2 of hers.  Last night our neighbor also brought one over for us.  I had to check online to see how to know if they are ripe and how to cut them.  They should be slightly soft to the touch.  Don't eat the skin!  There is a pit in the center like a peach pit.

 Three ripe mangos.

 I cut the first one, which might have been over ripe.

It was very soft inside.

That part on the right seems to be the pit.

 Cut it into section and peal from the skin.

I used my thumb nail.

 I scraped some of the mushy mango from the pit,

and this is sort of what the pit looks like.

 Here's the second mango, looking a little less mushy.

 Here's a better photo of what the pit looks like.

After slicing all 3 mangos I had this much mango.

It's probably about enough to make 2 smoothies.

Seems like a lot of work for 2 smoothies.

But thanks to my friends for the mangos!!!



Yikes! A BEAR!

Yesterday morning this guy was found in our part of town.  He was tranquilized and safely returned to the mountains some 60+ miles away.  The Fish and Game said this happens about once a year here, but this is the first time I was aware of it.  Yikes!

Ice Cream Truck Revisited

As I suspected, there were perks to helping in the ice cream truck!  I also found out that Mel (the friend) owns the truck--not her family.  Her parents financed this venture (she found it on Criag's List), but she is paying them back.  She is in the process of getting a business license and health code clearance.  She will pay her parents back and then save money college with this "job".  Pretty sweet!  (No pun intended--well, maybe just a little punny!)

Robin's Nest

Our neighbors are lucky.  They have a nest in one of their trees.  (Our neighborhood is young, and most trees aren't strong enough to support a nest.)  Now a robin has even laid an egg in the nest.  Isn't it pretty?  Soon there will be a baby...  :)

Spring Ball

You thought I meant baseball, didn't you?  Cousin Jajuan plays spring football (He's number 12.)  There are many reasons why Colorado turns out more professional athletes than Montana, but this has to be one of them...they run many of their sports twice a year and some of them year round.  If you find something you're good at, there's a good chance you can hone your skill year-round.  I'm not saying that's good or bad; they probably have a much higher rate of youth injury too.  And football in the spring, I'd be all over that--beats the snow!

Old Man Work-out Clothing Line

As I was traveling in the car with the princess and a friend, we saw two different, older gentlemen out jogging.  Both were wearing shorts (though not athletic shorts), t-shirts, tennis shoes, and white sock pulled up to mid-calf.

Princess:  I hate it when people don't wear work-out clothes to work out.

Friend:  Don't judge.  Maybe that's the Old Man line of work-out clothes.

Hysterical???  I think so!

Adversity

The princess was given the assignment to write about an adversity she had faced and how she over-came it.  This would be easy enough for most of us with plenty of adversity to go around.  When she said she was having a hard time coming up with an adversity I jokingly suggested she write about being a little sister.  She didn't think that was too funny.  Shelley and I racked our brains, trying to come up with something, but the fact is, the girl has lead a charmed life.  This assignment helped her realize that.  Eventually she came up with an idea, and it was pretty spectacular--if I do say so.  She ended up writing about how sometimes she lets what she fears others will think of her get in the way of doing what she really wants to do.  You go girl!  Gotta love those life lessons.

Prom

Mariah went to prom last weekend, looking her usual, beautiful self. 

Stunning!

Check it out.

In those heals she's taller than her brother!

Final Dance Competition

The princess had her final dance competition this weekend.  We were lucky to have Shelley and Becky here to watch, but do I have any photos to prove it?  NOOOOO!  Hopefully Becky will send me the photos of her doing the princess' hair.   

Still it was a great weekend of dance with all of the princess' dances taking 1st place in their categories.  Her solo scored 2nd in her age group (over 60 dances in that group!).  Their dance studio did a production number (a longer dance combining several songs/dance styles) featuring music from West Side Story, which was awesome!  I can't wait to see it again at the recital.  And all the dances from the studio did very well.  It was great fun!

She's wrapping up her dance year.  She'll have her competitive studio recital in 2 weeks and her ballet recital in 3 weeks.  She's looking forward to the break from dance too.  There's cheer to focus on now!  :)

First place solo trophy!

 Award mania!

We call this the "Wonder Woman" pose...complete with gold bra.

With Grandma!

Happy May Day!

Happy May Day. 

My May goal:  50 posts.

April was 44, so 50 seems quite do-able, given all of our up-coming activities!

One down, 49 to go.

Say What?

I was just checking out facebook.  One of the kids I'm "friends" with (she's 16) was having a conversation with a friend via status posts.  They were talking about getting to heaven, and she wrote,"no dude, i'm meating jesus at the golden gates".  It was all I could do not to post:  You're throwing meat at Jesus in San Fransisco?  I crack myself up! 

Good-bye Old Friend

The prince has had this piggy bank since he was a baby.  Grandma bought it for him.  She also bought a cute pink one just like it for the princess, and I know Mark and Amanda also each got one.  Last week the prince brought home 2 HUGE stereo speakers he found at a garage sale.  (Yep.  They work!)  But there was no room in his bedroom for 2 HUGE stereo speakers.  After some prompting from the king, the prince agreed to clear out some things to make room for the speakers.  The piggy bank rested on the night stand, which was a casualty of the room overhaul.  Everything in/on the night stand had to go...including the piggy bank.  So the prince emptied it out, put his change in another container that wasn't going and quickly passed it on to our neighbor boy, Conner, who was thrilled by this cool piggy bank.  As an added bonus, the princess gave her pink piggy bank to Conner's little sister.  The piggy banks will live to save more pennies!  But it true-princely fashion, it was hard for him to let go.

"Snarky"

For Shelley:

Snarky:  Adjective (of a person, words, or a mood) Critical, cutting, testy.

See photo below:

(WAIT!  Did I really just post this?  I look like I have had a stroke!)

Suspicious

Call me suspicious, but I have my reasons, and I think this one is valid.  

First the back story--which is sort of funny in a sad way:

Someone sees one of our 7th graders smoking cigarettes before school and reports it to the principal.  He calls the boy into the office and says, "I know what you did.  Give it up."  So the boy takes off his right shoe and pulls out a bag of marijuana from the toe of the shoe.  Before the principal can say a word the kid takes off his other shoe and pulls a pipe out of that toe.  The boy thinks he's done because that's why he thinks he was called in.  The principal says, "Now the cigarettes."  The kid was really bummed to have to give those up too!  (And yes, he was expelled.)

But here's where I'm suspicious.  Now every time I see a kid limping down the hall I wonder if he/she has a pot pipe in his/her toe!

Limericks

Each year the 8th graders are required to write a poem about leaving our K-8 school. The students vote on the best poems to narrow it down, and then faculty vote on two poems to be read at graduation. My 8th graders were whining about this assignment.  I told them that writing poetry was EASY! They suggested I do the assignment myself, and so I did! I busted out 4 poems in no time. I'm posting the 2 limericks because they were the "best" (funniest). I hope the Nobel laureate people don't come calling. I'm too busy mocking 8th graders to go on a poetry tour.

Limerick #1  

We are done with school at Lockwood

Please don't mistake it for "the Hood"

Books and pens we had

Now we leave feeling sad

We're proud to say we're from "the Wood"

Limerick #2

There once was a girl in the 8th grade

In leaving Lockwood she had it made

But high school was a fright

Her old teachers were right

To go back she would gladly trade

I've become "Snarky"

"Snarky" is my new, favorite word.  I'm living it.

Yesterday the school counselor called my room asking me to send one of my 8th graders down to the office.  I told the boy to head down there, and he asked, "Where's her office."  I have no idea why she requested a visit with him, but the fact that he doesn't even know where her office is tells me a lot.  (She's tucked back behind the main office so if you aren't looking for her, you'll never find her.)  None of this is blog worthy except for the next part of the story.  When he asked where her office was one overly-eager student's hand shot up, and he practically jumped out of his seat yelling, "Can I show him?  Can I?  Can I show him?"  I'd expect that from a 1st grader, but an 8th grader???  Being my usual "snarky" self, I told him no.  I was pretty sure he could find his way to the office all by himself! 

While we're on the topic of the office, I got to work the other day and headed to the lounge to drop off my lunch.  The lounge is also tucked back behind the office and next door to the counselor's office.  Kids aren't usually allowed back there, but staff kids are often back there with parents for a minute or two.  As I came out of there, a 6th grade boy was standing in the doorway with his mouth hanging open.  He wasn't a staff kid, and I have no idea why he was back there, though I'm pretty sure he wasn't supposed to be.  He looked at me and said, "Wow.  It's really nice in there!"  It's a small room with a frig, a sink, a table, and a computer desk.  But he'd never seen it before so I guess it was impressive!  I often tell kids we have a hot tub in there.  Some even believe me until they see for themselves!  Is that "snarky"?

The Longest Day

Today is the longest day as we wait for Shelley and Becky to arrive.  The house is clean, the frig is full--oh wait, no it's not.  Not sure what they'll eat most of the time they are here, but I do have a plan for dinner tonight!  And so we wait...for them to get here.  It's much worse to wait in the summer when we're sitting around the house waiting.  Today we'll be at work/school so the wait will go more quickly...I hope!  Hurry up and get here, but drive carefully!

Who Wants Ice Cream?

The prince has a friend whose family owns an ice cream truck.  Today he helped her out.  The weather was great, and I'm sure he got a free sample or two!

"Hunger Games" Movie Review

Karen asked me to review this movie before she forks over $10!  Do it!  Fork it over.  In much the same way that "The Help" movie followed the book as well as a movie can, so does this movie.  Peeta is not a great actor, but Gale is BEAUTIFUL!!!  And I found the "behind the scenes at the games" fascinating.  The book doesn't really touch on it, but the movie did a good job of adding it in and making it true to the story.  It's a good movie.

Then and Now

The princess has to submit 2 photos of herself for a graduation video.  She chose these two.  I ask you, could that toddler be any cuter?  Minnie hat askew, pinwheel in her hand, waiting in line for Splash Mountain at Disneyland (not knowing she's too short for Splash Mountain).  Holy cow, she's a cutie!

And she's still pretty cute!

Gotta Love

Gotta love a 90* day in April.  It was so nice yesterday...until the wind picked up in the evening.  But even then, after it calmed down again, it was 77* at 8:00.  The best part about 90* in April is that it still cools down in the evening enough that no air conditioner was needed.  The bad thing about 90* in April is that it means watering the grass.  Still, I'll take it.  And it'll be back in the 50*s by the weekend, which I'll also take.  It is only April, after all!

True Dat!

Double Birthday Delight!

Two awesome nephews--one great birthday!

Happy Birthday Matt!

Happy Birthday Jared!

Enjoy your day, and Matt, it's always been so nice

of you to share your birthday with Jared!

Jared, say "thanks" to your brother.

Love you both!

Go Falcons!

What's better than having one cheerleader in the house?

Having TWO!

Congratulations beautiful children!