"It's not a tu-mah!"

No one can say it better than Arnold, but in my case, surprise, it was a tumor!  A little fatty one on the side of my head that was pretending to be cyst.  It's gone now, a short outpatient surgery took care of that.  And Paige isn't scared of me anymore.  Let's just say that when you have surgery on your head, you can't wash your hair for over 24 hours and a little girl with sensitive sensitivities doesn't like to see her mom's matted hair chunky with blood, surgical goo, and other really gross stuff. 

Honestly, if I was going to have fat surgically removed from my body, I wouldn't have chosen 0.1 ounces off my right temporal lobe, but I am happy to be tumor-free!

A Tale of Two Cities

It was my turn to host Book Group.  Our book selection for this month was "A Tale of Two Cities."  I read this in high school and did remember the story, but really appreciated Dickens more this time.  It was harder reading than I remembered, but once I settled into the rhythm and style of the book it was easy to finish.  I love the imagery and symbolism in this book, it's so powerful. 

Oh, Sydney!

We had some very good discussion about revolution, oppression, poverty, redemption, etc.

We also had some thematic treats:  French (Parisian) bread with assorted cheeses and spreads and red wine (okay, sparkling grape juice.)  Sorry, but red wine was one of the main symbols in the book---had to have it! 

(Also thanks to Dave who worked from home, but who basically was my "right-hand" on this super busy day taking the girls to the dentist appts., soccer games, school activities, etc. and then made himself scarce during book group!  Love ya!)

Busy weekend

What happened to the weekend?  It just blew by. 

First thing Saturday morning I co-taught a couponing class to some of the ladies from church.  I can't believe I forgot to get a picture.  We had power point presentation, with a projector, a lace tablecloth, donuts and everything:)  I am not really an expert on couponing and probably should not be teaching a class on how-to do it, but hey I'm good at pretending!  Thank goodness I had an excellent teaching partner, who was very organized, wise and happens to be married to a tech guy---thanks Angela!

After the class, Ashley had the girls in her Primary class come over to work on a scrapbook present for their teacher.  They have been working on it for over month and just needed to put the finishing touches on.  We also made and packaged heart-shaped brownies to give along with the scrapbook.

What a good group of girls.  They are all different in personalities, but are so kind and accepting of each other.  It is a very good peer group, I'm glad they get along so well.

While Ashley was hanging out at our house, Paige went over to a friend's and spent the whole day sledding.  She had a blast and didn't even have to play the role of pesty little sister with Ashley.

On Sunday, we all enjoyed our church meetings and then headed home to settle in for the Super Bowl.  We filled out our annual prediction sheet.  (Ashley and I tied for the most points, but I was the only one to pick the Packers to win.)  Honestly, it was a little anti-climatic without the Bears to root for.  We did however, have some yummy treats:  sliders (with guacamole), sweet potato fries, and fresh fruit.  I even got to pull out my cute restaurant-style baskets to use.

Sock Hop

The annual Sock Hop at our elementary school is becoming a favorite event around our house.  This year, it was all just for Paige, as she is the only elementary student we have.

The cutest first grade friends!

She was very happy to meet up with her friends, run, dance, jump and slide all over the dance floor.

At first Paige was little shy and timid dancing:

But after a little while, she really started to let loose:

Another Hula Performance

Paige is continuing her hula lessons.  Along with other performances, the hula dance company will perform every other month at a retirement home.  This month the kids did a few dances and then helped the residents to make flower leis.  The next time the kids come to dance, all the residents should have their very own leis to wear.

Paige and I helped a sweet lady named Lola make a lei.  Paige was a little shy and Lola was a little forgetful, but by the end they were hugging each other.  It was very sweet.

Overheard...

Sometimes I just don't know where they get this stuff:

1-Near Halloween, the topic of zombies came up between the girls.  (I know, what?)  Anyways, Ashley says, "how can they walk around if they are dead?"

To which Paige replies, in her best I can't believe you don't know this tone, "it's because they are the LIVING dead, Ashley."

2-Paige said, "I don't want to live in Utah, I'll get dry skin."

3-Paige said, "I will only watch Hoarders if there are no dead cats in it."

4-Ashley said, "I miss it sooo bad," referring to real bacon after I made the switch to turkey bacon.

5-Dave told Ashley, "we aren't going to freak out if the Bears don't win."
   Ashley replies, "Okay Dad, I'm going to try not to, but I probably will."

6-Dave took a double whammy from the girls on the night of Paige's dance recital:
Dave reminded Paige that she was performing at an "old folks home" to which Paige seriously replied, "Dad it's not an old folks home!  It's an INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY!"

Later while at the said Independent Living Facility, some of the dads who were a little bored after the dancing was finished, moved to the corner of the room and turned to their Star Wars Light Saber app on their iPhones for entertainment.  Seeing this Ashley came up to me and said, "mom, look at dad: he's in the nerd gang."

2011 Blizzard

High and swirling wind, thundersnow, freezing temperatures, and about 20 inches of snow was the Blizzard of 2011.  Schools were closed, businesses closed, roads closed, just about anything that could be cancelled or closed was.

Fortunately for us, Dave has worked from home all week so we were all in the house, safe and sound as the worst of the storm hit.  By morning, this is what we woke up to:

This is our backdoor.  Our backyard took the brunt of the drifting snow--4 ft.



The snow is up to the top of the fence and in some places you can't even see the fence.

Fortunately for us we only had about 2-3 feet to shovel off our driveway.  It took us a while to dig out.

 I started shoveling in the morning while Dave was on conference calls he couldn't reschedule for work.  About halfway through, our kind neighbor came over and helped me finish with his snowblower.  Besides, being a good person, I figured that he helped me because of my charming good looks or because I looked so pathetically sad out there shoveling by myself.

About two hours later the snowplows came by to clear the streets.  This left about a three foot wall of snow blocking our driveway.  This time it was Dave's turn.  It was like a block party as everyone was out trying to clear driveways. 

Our neighbor across the street got the worst of the snow drifts in his front yard.  By the time he finished clearing his driveway he was surrounded by huge walls of snow over his head.



While Dave was working on our driveway, one of the trucks with a snowplow stopped and cleared about three-quarters of the huge mound of snow for him.  Funny thing was that there were about 10 other people doing the same thing and the snowplow guy only stopped to help Dave.  So did this guy help because of Dave's charming good looks or because Dave looked so pathetic?  I guess I got my answer and I sure am thankful for such good people willing to help others!