Productive, despite...

Yesterday I cleaned the kitchen and my room. Did our taxes (not good). Did 4 loads of laundry. Made a yummy pot of chicken corn chowder.

Oh, and read The Sea of Monsters, book two in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Finished it at 11:51 p.m. It was quite good.

It was all I could do to not sneak book 3 into my bag and take it to work today.

Guilty Pleasure

I'm a busy person. I'm not trying to make excuses for myself, just stating the facts. But I do have a guilty pleasure that I need to share- kiddy lit. I'm hooked on good books for kids. Those who know me well know I have a freakish obsession with Laura Ingalls Wilder that started back in the 3rd grade. I even dragged Emily and our friends Patty and Abby to the Ozark home of Laura and Almanzo on our first dance trip to Branson. (Ok, they came willingly). I read all the Narnia books as a kids, and again as an adult. I've devoured all the Harry Potter books.

When Emily recommended a series based on Greek Mythology in the modern world I had to check it out. I read The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan yesterday.

Yes, yesterday. I did have to finish the last couple chapters this morning, but the bulk of the 375 pages was yesterday. Which is why my poor husband cringes when he sees me pick up a new book.

Anyway, if you are like me and appreciate good books for kids that may actually help them get excited about that mythology unit in middle school, you should check them out. I'm going to start book 2 today - The Sea of Monsters.

Don't tell Rick.

Preview

It was stage rehearsal day. All the larger groups practice on the big stage so they can get their spacing, entrances and exits down.


Maggie's two large groups are hip-hop and tap.

Check out this sick freeze!

That's her above, looking off to your left.

She was very exited that she got to try out her stage make-up, complete with false eyelashes. She said to write "Maggie likes it!"

Emily's large groups are hip-hop, tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical.

Maybe I'm just a proud mom, but I think she has really improved since last year.

Check out her arabesque in the center below. Great form, eh?

Here's a closer look.

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

2008 is Emily's year, the year of the rat

Super Bowl Sunday

Rick was off to the annual Super Bowl party he goes to, so the girls and I decided to have a fondue dinner before we sent Katie back to school. I made a chicken broth for the meat (beef and chicken) and the veggies, with asian sesame and dijon mustard dipping sauces.
And of course we had chocolate for dessert, with apples, pears, strawberries and pound cake for dipping.
We just don't get to see this smiling face often enough.
It was sure nice to have her home, even if it was only for one night.

Bittersweet

Actually, there was nothing Bittersweet about it except the name of the place. Emily and Katie Livingston planned a ski outing for the Girl Scout troop. The rest of the Livingston girls came along. Our Katie was home for the weekend and said she'd help Maggie on the bunny hill, so they joined us as well.

I was a bit nervous about taking Maggie. I wanted to make sure I could be attentive to the Girl Scouts that were new to skiing. But I didn't need to worry. After a trip up the magic carpet (picture a conveyor belt that you stand on) and helping her up the tow rope once, she was off! I think next time we go I'll try to get her on a chair lift.

I hardly saw Emily all night. She was off with the Girl Scouts who had skied before. I did manage to catch her once at the top of a lift before she took off again.Katie decided that since she was on the bunny hill most of the night with Maggie she might just as well try snowboarding. She had gone with a friend once last year. She did get more comfortable and went up one of the chair lifts before the end of the night, but it seemed like every time I saw her she was on her butt!

Here's a picture of her coming down Creeping Myrtle.

I'll have to talk to our friend Holmes about getting the girls properly equipped for next season so we can do this a lot more!

Giddy up!

This past weekend was also the Park Elementary Daddy-Daughter Round-up!
Maggie wore the pink cowboy boots and jean dress that Alicia picked out for her last birthday. Rick even picked up a 'cowgirl hat' for her to wear.

They had a great time.