Pro Nails

Rachel and I decided to get our nails done professionally (well, as professionally as the Pro Nails in the mall can do!). This was our first time and we giggled at each other as we realized that we had trouble understanding the workers' English and didn't know what to do with our fingers and toes.

We also laughed as we noticed that we were the least-tattooed and most fully dressed of the Monday evening clients. If we ever do this again, we may have to wear toe rings to better fit in with the crowd!

Hmmm... I wonder if they were speaking Mandarin Chinese? If so, I may call on my friend Mrs. Bickerson's daughter to help sort it all out.

Smooth Move

While walking out of a department store yesterday, I reached into my purse to slip on my sunglasses. As I put them on, I turned to smile at the person holding the door for me. To my absolute horror I noticed a liner had gotten stuck to the side of the glasses!

I vow to buy a purse with zipper compartments this week.

Planets

While inspecting a mobile of the planets in our solar system, Quinn found one to be missing. From across the library, I heard him ask loudly, "Hey, Do you know where Uranus is? I can't find Uranus."

There was nothing to do but laugh. There's no pretty way to pronounce the name of that planet.

Can't post pictures

This is annoying.

Mexican Songs

Quinn told me he learned about a new song today. He was trying to sing La Cucaracha song. You know? The one where ya no puede caminar por que se falta (you know what) para fumar? As if that isn't bad enough, he didn't understand the words and gestured to me his interpretation of the song. It went something like, "la crotcha . . ." You can probably guess where he was pointing.

Get a Grip!

Quinn unintentionally bonked Rachel in the head this evening with the van back hatch. You'd have thought she was going to die - right there in the County Market parking lot. Rachel climbed into the van and Quinn got in next to her to make sure she was alright. His apology was received with venom and soon words were flying, including this remark: "Rachel, you have no idea what it's like to break your arm or get tubes or have seven surgeries! I've had way more injuries than you and so you had better get a grip!!"

Pro-Life Point

The pro-abortion contingent would like us to believe that the issue is one
of CHOICE. Choice is not the issue we are debating. The issue at point is
whether or not our country is going to give preborn children the same
protection that all humans have under law and under our Declaration of
Independence - that all persons are ENDOWED BY OUR CREATOR (not man) certain
unalienable rights. And guess what that first right ENDOWED BY OUR CREATOR
(not man) happens to be? The RIGHT TO LIFE.

A baby is not a CHOICE. A baby is a privilege and a gift.

Oops! He did it again!

Quinn threw away his retainer in the public trash bin at the nature center. He remembered when we were about 3 miles down the road. I stopped, turned around and dropped him off at the front door of the place to go a-hunting for it. About 2 minutes later, Quinn re-appeared, wiping off the retainer on the front of his shirt. To my absolute horror, he quickly popped it back in his mouth as I screamed, "No-o-o-o-o-o!!!" and ran toward him in what seemed like slow motion to attempt grabbing it out of his mouth before he could close his lips.

Happy Earth Day!

We spent the morning at the nature center enjoying the trails and participating in the scavenger hunt, mural painting and cupcake eating. Several of the trees along the trails are identified with wooden markers, giving their common names and their Latin names. Quinn's friend said, "Yeah, that's how you say 'em in Spanish."

Later on, this friend shared that he was born in Arizona. Quinn said, "Wow! So you know French then?"

Betsy Ross

Yeah, I knew that the 5th grade was doing a play about the Revolutionary War. Yeah, I knew that Rachel has been talking about it for about six weeks. Yeah, I knew that they were rounding up costumes and that Rachel had been practicing lines at night instead of going to sleep. I knew that she was portraying Betsy Ross in her "Laura Ingalls" Halloween costume.

But I DIDN'T know that Rachel had the LEAD in the musical and that it was an hour-long production complete with song and dance. You can imagine my surprise and pride as I watched her sing and stitch and dance at the performance on Wednesday night!

This is a picture of her and her fifth grade teachers who directed the musical. Bravo! Very well done.

Mema is Fifty-ish

Quinn decided his grandmother must be about 50 years old. She thought that sounded about right.

Quinn's Spring Photo

The photographers rushed my pocketbook again. I'm such a sucker.

Speaking of suckers, Quinn showed me a couple of small bites on his arm this morning. I told him they were probably spider bites and he proceeded to attempt webs from his fingers and wrist all morning. So far . . . nothing.

Things Moms Don't Really Want to Hear

I left the house with (who I thought was) the more difficult to manage child. While running errands I received a phone call from the other child (who, apparently needs some extra supervision) explaining:

"Don't worry. The house is a little smoky from the fire on the stove, but I was able to put it out myself by throwing a pan of water in it."

Upon my quick return, I heard screaming from the garage: "The gerbil is stuck!! The gerbil is stuck!!!"

It's Snowing!

On April 14th! In Illinois!! On the day of the 4H BBQ with tables set up outside!!

Tree Frog

Quinn "won" the class pet - a tree frog. He was so excited as he carefully carried the amphibian home in the empty sherbet container. As we exited the school building, Quinn gasped and shouted, "The lid is off!" I shouted, "Put it on! Put it on!" The little hopper escaped and we both screamed and screamed. His teacher quickly came out with a small net and the tree frog was again placed in the container.

I'm sure that his teacher is now questioning the animal's summer home placement.

And Still, The Camry

Why did Mr. Rellim not want to send the Camry to the salvage yard? Why did he insist on driving it 100 miles to the farm? Why did he start his drive at 9:00 pm? Maybe he likes to watch engine fires best at night? Or maybe it was a good chance for him to catch a few winks 40 miles down the road as he waited for a tow?

Seriously, I still do not know where the car is. I just hope my name is not on the title of an abandoned vehicle.

Omelet

On Easter morning, Mr. Rellim made omelets. I commented that Quinn's three-egg omelet looked much too big. He said, "I like 'em that way!" Today he told me that he's trying to put on some weight so he can play football in college. I think there is such a thing as starting too early.

Happy Easter!

The egg hunt was a success, despite 29 degree temperatures. Some of us even scored eggs containing money!

Don't Like the Weather?

Hang around for a few more minutes in Illinois - it'll change.

These are a couple snapshots from last night when it was about 75 degrees. Tonight the weather changed to rainy and 40 degrees. We aren't gonna break 50 for the next six days.

Chicks

I talked the kids into going to Rural King by enticing them with the possibility of seeing the ducks and chicks. Somehow on the 3 minute ride, the possibility of seeing chicks was contorted into the idea that I had made a PROMISE to BUY chicks.

Never have you heard such complaining! Yeah, I know we did buy the chicks one year and raise them in the bottom of a Fisher-Price toy box in the garage under a heat lamp. But, I'm not sure that was completely OK with city ordinances. Plus, we had to move them to the farm as soon as the toy box became too crowded.

I've been told that when I die, the house will become full of pets. No worries here. I know I'll be safe inside the Camry, parked in the old barn on the farm, right?