"Will you go out with me?"

It was fourth grade.  I was ten years old.  Double digits--I was so mature.  I even had a friend in sixth grade, so I must have been mature beyond my years.  And lucky for me, the boy I thought was cute was her neighbor.  We played often.  He may not have been the first boy I thought was cute ( I had a crush on Nate Howard in first grade and Chad Wallinga in second grade. . . and Zeb Craig thought I was something special in third grade--I know because his fourth grade brother told me. . .daily.) but he was the first to reciprocate the emotion.

Danny Hielman was the first boy to "ask me out".  Of course I said yes!  Which gave me lots of privileges. . . like sitting with him on the bus. . . and getting followed around the playground at recess. . . and of course he only threw the ball at me during dodge ball.  

But I was a shy little thing and all the attention embarrassed me.  So after two days I called it all off.  I broke up with him on the bus and beat a hasty retreat.  It nearly killed me to do it--he was pretty cute, but I didn't want people to KNOW I thought he was cute.  That was just embarrassing!  

Not long after that he moved away without even telling me he was going.  I was crushed.  I blamed myself.  Why else would he move away, unless due to his broken heart and inability to see me every day on the bus and not be my "boyfriend"?  

But this story isn't about me.  It's about fourth grade. . . and crushes.  

My daughter is in fourth grade.  And while she doesn't have a crush, it seems these days it is cool to have a boyfriend/girlfriend.  A club has been formed.  Many of her friends have joined.  It's the "Boyfriend/Girlfriend Club".  And you only get to join if you have one.  

Hannah, not wanting to be left out, quickly said, "Oh, I have a boyfriend.  He lives out of state.  His name is Tanner."  She is so in the club now, that quick thinker.  

As a parent I really wanted to say, "Who cares what they think!  You are waaay too young to have a boyfriend.  Tell them you don't care about their silly club."  But of course I remember fourth grade.  These are her friends--she cares.  

Plus, it's fourth grade.  Things can't have changed that much since I was there, right?  So, as a curious parent, I asked, "What do they do, you know, as 'girlfriend/boyfriend'?"

"They hang out together at recess.  The whole group of them."  She answers.

Sounds innocent enough.  At this point, Rob (Who was also present) asks her, "Do they hold hands?"

To which she quickly replies, "Why would they do that!?"  With shock and confusion on her face.

We tried not to laugh out loud.  And we were almost successful.  With relief we had our answers.  Things hadn't changed that much.  

And neither had Rob.  He immediately threatened to call Tanner--her "out of state boyfriend," who was our neighbor and her good friend were we used to live--and tell him all about his upgraded status.  

Because really, what kind of parent are you if you don't harass you kids a little now and then?

Do you remember your first crush--or your child's?

Tea Party

Hannah and I were invited to a tea party on Saturday.  I have never been to an adult tea party, but it was really cute and the ceremony of the tea was really fun. . . even though I don't drink tea!  I asked when my friend invited me if it was rude to go to a tea party and not drink tea--luckily they had water. . . and really fabulous little tarts and scones and flower shaped sandwiches and cake and. . . clearly I ate enough to make up for the lack of tea.  I wish I had taken pictures of all the food, but perhaps that would have been rude.

Hannah and her friend Emily were the only two young girls there.  Their favorite part was picking out hats and jewelry.  The lady hosting the tea had a table filled with her grandmother's hats, broaches and earrings, and everyone had to pick out a hat to wear.  

Her dainty china and lovely teapots were so cute.  The only thing that would have made it more quaint and fun was to have had it in an English garden!  

Double Duty

What would be worth the work of getting ahead an entire week with you your homework. . . forcing you to forgo folding laundry, ignore the sunny outdoors, neglect your blogs, and feel your backside grow while sitting before a computer for more hours than most full time jobs?

1.  A vacation?

2. Family obligations?

3. An actual job?

4. The pure bliss of being ahead a week and getting to relax?

OR

5. The pleasure of ripping our your old kitchen in preparation for the new one?!

I'm going with number 5. . . although number 1 is looking pretty appealing too.  

We have a date for our cabinet install and there is a lot to be done before then.  Here is what we have now:

But not for long.  I will post the end result after we finish (which won't be until mid March--we are getting am early head start due to Rob's busy schedule).  The install is scheduled for the week of my spring vacation, so there really is no vacation for me.  Unless you count the vacation from cooking! But I okay with that.  

If you want to see the process I will post it on my Home and Garden Blog in detail.

Happy Valentine's Day

Husband bearing red tulips and raspberry filled dark chocolate. . .  I'll keep him!

Happy Valentine's Day

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things. . .

Writer's Workshop with Mama Kat.

Prompt of Choice:  3.) List your five most recent favorite things.

This is a good prompt for this week.  I have been in school a month and have been plowing through school work like a good little school girl to the detriment of all my other obsessions--I mean hobbies.  But this week I have been finding too many excuses to avoid my homework, (I have allowed myself this because last week was a killer and this week is pretty light--that being said I still have homework I MUST get to at some point) which has given me time to find other things to get really excited about. . . 

1.)  Turquoise Fire King dishes.  

These are always one of my favorite things.  I have just had a resurgence lately due to my kitchen remodel.  I have written about my decorating around these dishes before.  But I have decided I need more of them and have been watching for good deals on ebay.  Seriously, these watery blue dishes are gorgeous.  I think it is kind of funny that they were cheap in the fifties--my dad claims they were their everyday dishes--and now they are often ridiculously high priced. . . which is why I don't have a ton of them--I keep watching for deals.  

2.) White Sundresses.

 I LOVE white things.  Read all about my obsession with White HERE. . . and with white sundresses HERE.  We have had a lot of sun this week and I have been thinking of where I am going to buy the girls their white Easter dresses this year.  They get white dresses every year because really, what is cuter than a little blondie in a clean, crisp white dress?  They look all innocent. . . Who cares if they get dirty five minutes after putting them on--I just get pictures really fast and then they are forever clean in my memory.  

3.) My New Chocolate Mold.  

Actually it is a brownie pan I bought at Williams Sonoma last week.  But I had an itch to make chocolate bars to go with my new recipe for homemade graham crackers and homemade marshmallows for. . . Homemade S'mores!  On the downside, I have consumed far too many chocolates this week--dark chocolate. . .milk chocolate. . .dark chocolate filled with raspberry filling. . . milk chocolate filled with peanut butter. . .  NOT good when combined with hours of sitting in front of a computer!  Hopefully it will be a passing fancy.

4.) Hypertufa Pots.  

I discovered these last year and have been dying to make one of my own.  Since we have been working in the yard this week I started thinking about it again.  It needs to cure for a couple weeks after you make them, so I want to do one--or five--soon. . . two rectangular ones for the front walk. . . a round one filled with succulents for my back patio--and maybe my family room!  I can't wait. (When I make them I will post the instructions on my home and garden blog for anyone interested in trying it out.)

5.) These three people.  I couldn't live without them!  

Rob has been so helpful since I have gone back to school.  He cooks, he cleans, he drives me to school.  I think I will keep him. . . despite his sudden attraction for college girls (well, 'girl' anyway)--or maybe because of it!  

Hannah has really been growing up and being very helpful recently.  The first thing she did this morning was bring me a mountain dew--without me asking for it!  Oh, and she clean and helps her sister out from time to time.  

And Signe. . .that girl.  She is so darn cute and HILarious!  Her infectious giggle keeps me smiling. . .and her comments like:

 "My valentines party is not "tomorrow".  I know my days of the week--'Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and then we start again!' (sung to the tune of 'Alouette')--See!  There is no 'tomorrow'!"  After stating this she couldn't quite keep a straight face.  That girl is one smart cookie!

Since the list said "5" I will refrain from listing my favorite coat, my new floors, or my new painting;)!

What's on your top five list of favorites?

My Baby No More

I have been rather preoccupied lately--you might have noticed.  While I was sitting at the computer--where I am glued these days doing homework--I was trying not to get distracted by my giggling five year old doing pirouettes in the family room.  

I failed.

And do you know what I noticed?  She's not a baby anymore.  She has been sprouting up like a weed and I doubt she has gained a pound.  She is all skinny and lean--no more baby fat.  

It made me kind of sad.  

She is still adorable, of course.  And she will always be my baby.  But still. . . it's not the same.