Leap Year

Please pause other music and click "play" here to create the proper ambiance for this post.

So, this is leap year. A very, very special year. This year has one more day than the old "common year". I felt it would be very important for me to write something to commemorate this special day. Regrettably I can think of nothing important. I keep pressuring myself, "Come on, mush brain, think of something. This day won't come around for another FOUR more years. THINK OF SOMETHING!" Nada. I even tried to start to read an article describing the complex process in which a leap year is calculated using the Gregorian, Julian, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindu, and Iranian calendars. BOOORING. So, forget it. All I can think about are two of my favorite photos.

The first is in honor of one of my jib lurkers. Kelly, if you read this, you better leave a comment. Kelly and I have been friends for approximately 28 years. We don't smoke and never have. We don't fight, but sometimes did. These photos were taken, along with some others that could easily be used as blackmail about 13 years ago with our friend, Anthony. They were taken at the Haunted Mansion on 25th Street where two of my brothers forced their wives to live and where one nearly lost his life when a ghost did some painting in the house which caused an allergic reaction in his brain resulting in headaches and a CRAZY note he left for his wife when we took him to the ER. (Megan, don't bother telling me to take a look at those orbs in the photo. Yeah, I noticed. But its called the reflection of the flash in the window.) And also, speaking of the haunted paint incident, just ask Meg about paint allergies in our family. Oh, I feel SO sad for you. You can't be around certain wet paint smells. That is just awful. What a terrible allergy to have. I'M ALLERGIC TO MY HAIR.

The second photo was taken at a birthday party in Meg's backyard about 5 years ago. She got out the slip and slide. My nephew, Carson, loved it. He is just about as relaxed on the slip and slide as he is playing basketball. And if you are wondering, neither of these photos was taken on leap year.

Oh man. I'm cracking myself up with all of my wise cracks. Good night and happy leap year.

New Dinner Rules

I was in the kitchen finishing up dinner when this conversation took place.
String Cheese: What are you making?
Me: Turkey and mashed potatoes.
Deedle and SC: Ew! Gross! Yuck!
Me: What are you talking about?
Deedle: (in a very accusatory tone) You NEVER make Ramen Noodles any more!!!

I had ambivalent feelings towards this comment. I have set a goal to make a sit-down family dinner more often (rather than scrambling through out the day, then when the kids are exhausted, quickly making them some Ramen noodles and having Jason fend for himself while I eat a Balance Bar). So, no recent Ramen memories meant that I had been doing well with my goal! Yet, the disrespect was not something to be happy about. So, we sat down to eat and after the prayer I began a discussion about mealtime etiquette.
1. You may NOT say that anything I make is yucky or gross. That hurts my feelings and is also disrespectful.
2. AFTER a food has been tasted, if you don't like it you may say, "This is not my favorite thing. Is it okay if I don't eat all of it?"

We continued with the discussion, with some good input from the girls and only one comment from Loumy, "I always like it, Mom." Which I am so grateful for, because he does. He was starved for the first 9 months of his life and he continues to make up for lost time. I also pointed out that my rules are good ones because the smoothie I made (my wonderful discovery of how to get my kids to eat fruit and veggies at dinner) was actually very delicious to Deedle, even though she was sure it was going to be disgusting because it had Orange Juice in it. (what???)

As the conversation began to die down, Loumy, who had mostly just been shoveling turkey into his face as quickly as he could, says, "I hab a woowoh."
Me: What did you say?
Loumy: I hab a woowoh.
String Cheese interprets: He says he has a rule.
Chancho: Okay, let's hear your rule.
Loumy (completely serious): No wooking at peopo's bums.

So, it is settled. No complaining about Mom's cooking, try everything, and no looking at people's bums. Pretty good meal etiquette and successful family dinner, if you ask me.