Quick! before midnight!

So yeah, again a month between blog posts. What can I say, I've become addicted to Facebook. Gah. And nail polish. I have decided to grow my nails. It's been, what, since I moved to Colorado? That's 13 years. What the heck, why not? I'm not rock climbing right now. And I can't afford tips at a salon, and that's so unhealthy anyway. A manicure is easy enough, more affordable, and longer lasting when done at home than in a salon. Or so that's been my experience. Really, this is an experiment to see if I can do it, how long can they be, kind of thing. So far, so good. After 3 weeks, no breaks. I have had to wrap 3 or 4 nails to keep them from ripping off at the tips. Forgot all about that little trick. So I've taken to checking out nail polish blogs. There are some good ones out there. My personal favorite is Nail Juice from New Zealand. Dang it, I've found a new something to "collect". And collect I have. How to describe this? Nail polish is so colorful now. It's like a rainbow in little bottles. oooooooh so many pretty colors. And all at my fingertips, pun intended :P

Tomorrow is the start of what used to be called "Turn Off the TV Week". It's one of my favorite weeks of the year. So I'm getting this post in before midnight. Get it? Because people are spending more time in front of all types of "screens" -not just t.v.- they've changed the name to "Mental Detox Week". Sounds good to me. So I won't be online, I won't be watching movies or tv, and I'm even including playing Bookworm on my cellphone (yes, when I'm not reading to fall asleep, I'm playing Bookworm to doze off!) The girls won't be playing on their DSs or the computer, nor will they be watching t.v. & movies. Can't vouch for Garrett. I'm guessing he won't be participating. I plan on getting alot of sewing & knitting done. And finishing that puzzle that's been under the futon the past year. Gardening. Crafting with the girls. Reading. Unplugged unplugged unplugged. Of course now I feel like I want to blog. Because I can't.

Tomorrow is also 4.20. I think I'm heading downtown to check out the happenings. I haven't been, so it'll be a first for me. Don't worry, I'm going as an observer. I shall photograph what I see & blog all about it...next week :P

Things are moving right along for the girls. Fi got her glasses -for reading & writing only, and only the left eye needs corrected.

Mad has a piece of art hanging in the Denver Public Library central branch downtown. It's the Denver Public School K-8 Art Exhibition, so it's a fairly big honor. She didn't win, but her piece is hanging in a case at the entrance to the children's section on the main floor as apposed to up on the 5th floor with the rest of the show. So I imagine it's getting a lot more looks. Also the science fair is tomorrow. And yes, she did finish her project, albeit today, but she did all the work herself! That always makes me happy.

Lib is cute as ever. She's afraid the snowman we built yesterday is coming closer to the house & she won't go downstairs by herself. Bizarre.

I took the girls to the Hannah Montana movie yesterday evening. It was actually kind of good. Humorous & not awful. You can wait for the DVD, though.

We went to a school dance on Thursday. The theme was "disco". Everyone had a blast. Some good looking outfits.

Next week Maddie gets to go to outdoor ed. She's been looking forward to this for over a year. Seriously. She's also counting down the days 'til her birthday when she gets a cellphone. Another thing she's been looking forward to - yeah, since 2nd grade. I kid you not. It's been a near constant barrage of inquiry for 3 years. Maddening, really, and annoying. Will the next big thing be a car? Well, maybe not. It's not something that she can come home tomorrow whinging that "so & so has a car. Can I have a car? I neeeeeeeed a car! When can I have a car? Can I have a car next year? What about when I'm 14? Can I? Why not? You don't understand. EVERYONE has a car. I'm the only one without a car. Mom, you're so mean. Ya know, I was looking around today & my whole class has cars. PLEEEEEEEEZE! Please Please Please!?! What if I keep my room clean every day for a month? Then can I have a car?...." THANK GOD KIDS UNDER 16 CAN'T DRIVE!!!!! Remember that t-shirt from the 80's "Insanity is hereditary...you get it from your kids". Exactly.

Easter was enjoyable -other than the fact that I spent most part of the day & evening in the kitchen. Maddie wanted to help with the baskets & help hide the eggs. I let her help put the grass in the baskets but convinced her to not help further...stay a little kid for a while longer, please. Speaking of eggs, the Easter Bunny has to hide them better next year. I think the girls found 3 dozen eggs in 5 minutes flat. Yes, I'm not even kidding. Nikki came down for dinner & stayed way late -Jeremy & Garrett were sucked into the XBox playing Guitar Hero World Tour until 1:30am! Don't ask; I don't get it either. But it was superb hanging out with Nikki & Jamey, so I won't complain.

Dress up is almost every day at our house:

fresh dye about a month ago

alrighty then

I haven't been here in over a month!!! It's not that I haven't been online at all. Au contraire, mon ami! I've been busy contacting old school mates on Facebook (very addicting), watching YouTube makeup tutorials (equally addicting), watching Hulu (movies & t.v.) while knitting (both addicting). See a pattern here? And none of the above entails physical activity. Sad but true.

(only read the following paragraph if you aren't weak of stomach) So today I awoke with the reminder from Garrett that I wanted to roll out of bed & go running. Mere seconds later, I could feel that my nose was bleeding -back into my throat- so I proceeded with the typical nosebleed actions: tissue, pinch nose, etc. Only to have blood from BOTH nostrils. A bit alarming, to be sure. Started panicking a bit & hollered for G to come back upstairs from his recently reclined position in front of some FoxSports soccer game. Yeah, it was a good half hour or more of non-stop profuse bleeding. That was 9:30. So what to do now? I can't tell if the "post-nasal drip" I'm feeling is blood or mucus. And my head hurts. Blech. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my Saturday!

What else?? Fi started soccer last week. She really likes it & is always asking when is the next practice. She won't play with G because "Daddy's mean. He won't let me have the ball".

Maddie is tentatively starting lacrosse. She went to one practice. She really needs a physical activity & swim team doesn't work out right now for her school schedule. I hope this one sticks.

Lib tested in to the advanced kindergarten. Next year she'll have the same teacher as Fi has now. Fi also got into the 1st grade at our current school of "choice". Yay! Now we only have to worry about where Maddie will go to middle school next year. I think any of the three schools we're hoping for will be fine. If the 2 choice schools don't work out, our neighborhood school is good too.

Fi lost her first tooth! The adult tooth was already through behind it, so she never had that gap between the two teeth that's so cute.

Maddie's hair is fading; we're going to dye it burgundy...maybe today!

I have a job interview on Monday!!! Yay! I can't wait! I went to the ARC to find work clothes & scored 2 pairs of black trousers, 2 black skirts, 2 shirts(& two books for the girls)...for $33! I love thrift shopping!

Madster lost her last baby tooth :( She's growing up so quickly! I'll be calling the orthodontist this week to make an appointment.

It's spring break!!! We have a couple play dates planned, a few lunch dates, maybe a day snowboarding/skiing. Sadly, the weather is supposed to turn after the weekend, so I may not get any gardening in next week.

Fi had her birthday party at the gymnastics studio. Good times for all the little kids. She has FINALLY finished her thank you cards so she can FINALLY play with her gifts. (Now mom has to remember to send them out to everyone!)

Lib had her 5th (& only) birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. Another fab time for all the littles involved. Lib's working her way through her thank-you's so she can play with her gifts too.

We have rhubarb coming up! So exciting, even if we can't harvest it until next year.

I got a new phone. An LG Incite! I absolutely love it!! I think that all phones should be touchscreen: it is virtually impossible to dial while driving -and that's not a bad thing! Well, then again, unless one goes ahead & continues to drive while attempting to dial despite the difficulty, then the probability of causing an accident would increase, in which case, one would be an idiot for being a slave to one's phone in an adverse and dangerous manner & probably shouldn't have a driver's license anyway.

Lib was a vampire in a former life, I think. She has told me on a few occasions that she used to drink blood. And liked it.

I could go on, but my headache is getting worse.

to be continued...

hang in there...

I'll be back this week :)

the reasoning of a 6 year old

Overheard last night, Fi speaking to Lib, "If you hiccup while blowing a bubble, your brain will explode." (Lib was chewing gum & had the hiccups)

'cause I missed Hump Day last week

How can you not smile while watching this?

our front door & front window...

as decorated by Mad & Fi. I love how Fi can't spell "Let's" but she sure knows how to spell "Steelers"!!!

etc

So the interview went well. I'm sure she made a memorable impression thanks to the blue hair. We then went to breakfast at Tom's Diner -excellent homemade green chile to smother my omelet.

Later we went to The Arc to score those cloisonne bracelets I've had my eye on. Half price sale day is always a good thing...exactly how I scored Fi's dresser last weekend!

Then we went to Babysitter's Nightmare & Fashion Nation so Maddie could check out the clothes. Of course I got to reminiscing & wondering what happened to some of my old clothes. Well, I know I gave my old Docs away. Not that they would fit me or Maddie now. Those last two kids ruined my perfect size 6 feet, you know. And Mad's feet are nearly as big as mine are now. (Did I tell you that humorous story about trying to pass down my old snowboarding boots to her?) I do have my leather jacket...it still smells like patchouli :) But my spiked leather belt? No clue. And don't forget that moment of lunacy when I gave away all of my concert t-shirts. Yeah, don't remind me.

We also drove over to Lakewood to check out Gimme Gimme Pillow Toast 'cause you know how we are with kawaii! And Maddie's become enamored with the gothic lolita style. She so badly wants to dress differently than everyone else in her school, but right now only feels comfortable having different hair colors. She's such an interesting kid & it's exciting watching her grow & change.

Good luck, Maddie!

Maddie has her middle school interview tomorrow morning! She feels this school is a really good fit for her -and I have to agree. She's excited, and if she's nervous she's not showing it. I'll keep you posted!

In the meantime, here are a few snaps from two weeks ago. We started on the Sunday night & finished on the Monday morning before school. Last night we retouched the blue so that it looks vibrant again. Makes me want to do something more radical than just highlights & lowlights.

It's a beautiful week in the neighborhood

You know some of it: the freaking awesome, nail-biting, down to the last minute Steeler Superbowl win on Sunday!

Then Groundhog Day on Monday -near & dear to my heart. Plus I was the "mystery reader" in Feefer's kindie class that day. Then the next day was Feefer's birthday. AND Nikki made her way down from Bo Co to be the "surprise mystery reader" for Feef's class; she stayed for dinner & then some too! Oh yeah, finally got the insurance check so I can get my car back from the shop. Found a dresser at ARC to replace Feef's 40+ year old dresser that is finally giving up the ghost.

What else? Hmmm, Madster had her allergy tests today so we can finally get that mess sorted out. Poor thing is HIGHLY allergic to cottonwood & various other tree, weed, & grass pollen. More tests needed for some of the food allergies. Thankfully, no reaction to cats & dogs (no surprise there, really).

Let's not forget the 70 degree weather we're enjoying during the next couple days. And you know a new SModcast (link in the sidebar. Go there. Now.) always puts a big ol' smile on my face.

Oh, and did I tell you I found this incredible webstore for nail polish? It's calledHead 2 Toe Beauty & I swear I may never buy polish at Ulta or Sally's ever again!

Hope your week goes equally well!