Beyond Done

I think I'm past the point of exhaustion. Seriously. I'm not sure why other than I've been busy busy busy the past week and not sleeping well. I feel like I have an infant in the house once again.

As you know, I've lamented not having any snow days this year and, with the weather warming up as it is, I don't see any on my horizon. Today, however, I learned this made no difference as we will be having a day off tomorrow. You know those schools that have been closing due to flu? We're now officially one of them. I had three children out today and lost another two by the end of the day, meaning I had a quarter of my students out sick. There were close to eighty missing in our building and another 100 across the green. Yes, you read that right, 100 students out sick today. Oh my.

As such, school will be closed tomorrow so the custodial staff can sanitize both buildings. Additionally, it's difficult to teach when you have a large number of students absent. You hesitate to introduce new material since so many children will miss it and you'll have to reteach it. Yet, you don't want to waste valuable class time.

I was also unfortunate enough to see a terrible accident today. I must have come upon the scene only moments after it occurred as cars were only just trying to get into my lane (the one farthest from the scene) and I saw cars with hazard lights on. I couldn't figure out quite what was going on and then I looked ahead and saw car tires--in the air! My brain had a difficult time comprehending exactly what I was seeing as it was so out of place. Eventually, I realized there was a car on it's roof(!) in the median. I saw a woman walking, cradling an infant/toddler and a few others. Then, it was my turn to drive (I had let people in in front of me) and as I passed the scene (I really tried hard to NOT look) I saw blonde hair spilling out of an open window on the median and a baby paraphernalia and before I knew it I was shaking and sobbing. I was really shaken by the entire incident.

It was still so fresh there were no emergency responders present. I must have been more shaken than I realized because Shari took one look at me when I walked in to get Lil and asked, "Oh my gosh, what happened?" at which point I heard the emergency responders heading towards the accident. I'm honestly not sure what happened. I saw the white SUV on its roof, and there was a blue minivan in the intersection with NY plates and a ripped off front bumper. My only guess is someone ran a red light but I couldn't begin to tell you which one was responsible. All I can say for sure is I prayed my heart out on the way to Shari's. I find I'm saying a quick one now, even as I type, that everyone is safe and sound and in one piece.

Also today, Mom and Dad finally closed on their new beautiful home. They are staying on an inflatable mattress this evening, lol! Mason will be staying with us through tomorrow as he will most likely not only be underfoot, but also unsettled by all the buzz of activity tomorrow as the movers begin unloading boxes and furniture. The house is so beautiful and they're both SO happy. Hooray! :o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1. The sun glorious sun was out and about today while I had recess duty. Oh it was beautiful. I've given up on the stinkin' snow. I figure if it's not comin', I'll just take spring then, thankyouverymuch.
2. A day off tomorrow, even if the reason is awful. I plan on catching up on the grading. :fingers crossed:
3. Shari dropped her daughter off at school this morning, and since it's close to our house, she dropped by to pick Miss Bit up. Nice, huh?
4. Mom and Dad's closing and new house. Hannah would have approved. :o)
5. Dinner at Francesco's. That's some GOOD Italian food. Mmmmm.
6. I get to see Dani TOMORROW!!!!!!!!! :o)

Milestones:

Well, Nan and Pop have a new house and no Monkey to pronounce it wonderful, no Monkey to give the grand tour, no Monkey to play in the backyard, no Monkey at all. :sigh:

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So, my Hokies finally pulled it off last night, beating Clemson which was sorely needed. Whew. However, I was up later than I had intended, compounding that whole "I'm tired" thing. To that end, I'm off to answer a couple of quick emails and hit the hay.

B has a test tomorrow so send him some positive vibes, if you would. This college thing whilst working full time can sometimes be a tough gig.

Busy Tonight

I've got company this evening AND, I need to grade a mile-high stack of papers so I won't be typing long this evening.

Quickly noted, though:

Today is Ash Wednesday which leads me to once again try to figure out what I'm going to "sacrifice". I want my sacrifice to be meaningful and something that will not be easy for me, but at the same time, not something I'll quickly give up on. I'm thinking I'll once again look at cutting WAY back on my on-line time. I had done well after the new year but lost it again sometime this month. It's time to cut back. I love all my on-line friends and catching up on their lives, but I need to step back for a while. So, if you have blog I typically frequent and you haven't heard from me in a while, chances are I'm still reading, just not commenting.

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Today's Sparklies:

1. Ash Wednesday service. This is such a time of renewal and cleansing and it is wonderful. God's grace is an amazing thing!
2. Lil in her pigtails never fails to make me smile.
3. Cake Batter Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Oh. My. Goodness.
4. My students are such dolls, they really are. :o)
5. Our "company" while Mom and Dad are here. Dinner is fun with more. :o)

No milestones tonight.

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Okay, off to tackle that grading, work on my Lenten sacrifice and watch my Hokies play some b-ball.

******EDITED******

Melissa, just to clarify, I'm still planning on MY journaling, just not putzing around the 'net quite as much. :o)

Catching Up

First off, I posted this photo of Lil just because. What a sweetie!

Lil had a late late night last night, an early morning and no nap today. The child flat-out refused to nap. I don't get it, I really don't. As such, I've already put her to bed in the hopes she'll get decent sleep tonight.

I came home and cleaned some bathrooms and made dinner only to not finish it. You see, B went to help his parents with the last minute odds and ends of moving. You know, those smudgy details that couldn't be boxed up but need to be dealt with nonetheless. So, the empanadas sit upon the stove top, awaiting the oven and browning.

He, Mom and Dad should be here soon and I'll pop 'em in for a quick dinner. The guacamole I made to go with them is heaven. It's been a while since I've had good avocados so I've enjoyed the guac this evening. :o)

In other news, I had a child leave this afternoon, diagnosed with flu. Great. Kelsey and Lydia have both had influenza B and it is moving its way through our building. Keep your fingers crossed that flu shot I got works...

Meanwhile, I only just got off the phone with Dani--she's stateside once again!!! Woo hoo! She's in for a brief visit and will be down this weekend into next week. YES! Friday we're going to do dinner and see "Slum Dog Millionaire", Saturday we'll shop (she was my shopping buddy well before Han entered the scene) and Sunday she'll go hiking with us. :o) I'm pretty stoked, I have to tell you! There's nothing like one of your best friends coming for a visit, no matter how short. Man. Dan and I have been friends for almost 15 years (yes, Rob and I beat that with 24 years, but who's counting? ;oP), were college friends, then roommates, then, well, just everything. I have missed her so much and been envious at the same time. Man. The girl lives in Germany for goodness sake and travels all over Europe. :sigh: At least I can live vicariously through her, LOL. ;o)

(So, here I sit on the couch, wedged between Mason and Waylen, listening to Lil's feet pounding on the bridge. Why oh why is she still awake? )

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Today's Sparklies:

1. Here you go, Laurie! See, I remembered I was tagged. :o) The fourth photo in the fourth folder in the fourth folder. :o) Brien at the Cascades on Hannah's birthday 2007.

2. Today was Mardi Gras and it was FUN! There's something nifty about being in a Catholic school during Christian holidays.
3. I'm getting a new student Thursday. :o)
4. Sitting snuggled with two dogs.
5. Good friends. Hooray for good girlfriends!
6. Nan and Pop are almost almost almost moved. Whew!
7. Pandora. It's just such a fun way to listen to music. There's a Pandora Ap for iPhones if you have one. We've docked the phone on the iPod dock and can listen to Pandora through the good speakers. Pretty darn cool. :o)


No milestones, really. However, last night, as I was lying in bed almost asleep, I had such a clear vision of Han the day she died. She was on the beach, turning her head and saying something to me. I could hear her little voice so clearly, yet I couldn't make out what she was saying. Then, the anxiety and panic of the day hit and I shook myself out of it. It's been so long, so very long since I've seen, held and conversed with my Monkey. A lifetime to live without her feels like an eternity some days.

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Well, I still haven't heard from my boy and I'm becoming a wee bit peckish so I'm going to give him a ring and get my dinner in the oven. Ya'll have a great night and fun day tomorrow! :o)

P.S. My cousin Laura has a new baby on her husband's side. This little kiddo is having some difficulties. If ya'll could please say a quick prayer for this little baby it would be appreciated. Thanks! :o)

Pooped

Helped Nana and Pop get ready for the movers tomorrow. Packed boxes and loaded boxes and loaded car and took items to storage. Just getting home. Pooped beyond belief.

'Night all.

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure, it lasted no longer than five minutes, ten at the most, but we finally had a bit of the white stuff fall from the sky. :o) YAYAYAYAYAYYAY!!!!!!
And now, the sky is just as sunny as you've ever seen. See?

Wow!

So, the wintery mix has finally found us. Too bad it's 45 degrees outside and nothing will stick so we'll still be in school tomorrow. Really, that's the only reason I want snow at this point--to have a snow day. ;o) The snow/sleet/rain mix is coming down horizontally at the moment and obviously, the wind is HOWLING.

This has been a busy and yet lazy weekend. Yesterday, Lil and I took Cricket (Nana and Pop's cat) to the vet while Pop and B worked on fixing a couple of things at N and P's house and Nan did a little "shopping" at a model sale at their new neighborhood. Then, Lil and I went grocery shopping, leaving B to still help while Nana and Pop packed boxes. I made bread and cleaned the kitchen while Lil took a MASSIVE (four hours!!) nap.

We had planned on hiking today, but I feel nasty (tummy thing that seems to be going around), the weather was rainy and cold and Nana and Pop needed more help. They close on their current house Tuesday so are surrying to get the rest of the packing finished. Brien had made a few trips out for them (storage building, our house) and is on his way home.

****************Small ten minute break***********

Lil and I just spent time out in the GIANT snowflakes (that have since departed--they lasted maybe five minutes...) and now I'm trying to warm up a bit. Brilliant girl I am, I was out with only a hat and shoes--no coat, no gloves, no socks. ;o)

Ah, but it was SNOW and it was glorious for the five minutes it lasted. :o)

Brien will be home any moment, I'll get off my lazy duff and clean the living room, put away dishes, get another two loaves of bread made (so we'll have enough for the week) and help B make the carne adovada and the rest of dinner (I'm thinking corn bread and something green).

For now, I'm off to get the photos off the camera so you can see we did indeed get some snow. :o)

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Sparklies:

1. SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. Lazy days feel so good sometimes (if you can get past the guilt).
3. It's nice to have B cook the dinner. I so love it when we're all home and the house is cozy warm. :o)
4. Did I mention we had SNOW?????
5. Helping out

Milestones:
Yet another snowy day and no Monkey to share it with. Her love and enthusiasm for snow far surpassed mine. She would take samples of snow from around the yard to see if it all tasted the same. She would wallow in it. Oh how she loved it. :o)

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A final prayer/thoughts request. My friend Melissa's friend, Andrea, lost her battle with cancer. I'm not sure how many of you remember my asking for prayers but to refresh your memory, she's the young woman who had just finished treatment for breast cancer and was then diagnosed with brain cancer. You can find out more about this beautiful woman here. Her family and friends are going to need as many prayers and positive thoughts as we can give them. I'm so very sorry for her parents, especially.

Miss Bit

Well, here she is. That silly silly Lily of mine. :o) I never realized this photo existed until I happened to see it sitting on Brien's desktop last night. Huh. I had to have it as it is SO stinkin' cute. ;o)

As such, this evening's post is the Bit herself. :o)


Things Lily does that I love:

• Turns her nose up at the camera nine times out of ten
• Has a killer imagination and is always some animal or princess, complete with voices and references to herself in the third person
• Her little brain is taking in so much so quickly and she's beginning to put things together
• She's quite the puzzle worker
• She will converse with me and has a fantastic sense of humor
• She knows how to stand up for herself...;oP
• Her silly turns of phrase--"I've got creepies on my teeth", "This keeps the bright light from getting my eyes"<--said whilst pulling her hat over her eyes
• She's such a neat combination of princess and tomboy
• The way she sleeps with Bear over her eyes and her nose uncovered
• The amazing varieties of food she will devour
  

There are TONS more, these are but a few. :o)


I love the way she puts down papers and paintbrushes for Waylen and Holly so they can paint with her.


I love how developed her fine motor control is becoming.

See?
I love how she throws herself into everything she does full-tilt ahead.

I love how engrossed she is while using her "paintings". (Lissie, she was going to send this to you in the mail but forgot and instead shredded it like confetti with scissors).

I love her cheesy grin (when she chooses to use it) and how enthusiastic she is about the smallest things, like soft fuzzy mittens and hats.

I love how she uses all the space on a piece of paper, filling it from one edge to the other.

I love how she takes her gifts and truly makes them her own. This box is truly well loved. :o)

I love love love my Lily Bug and am eternally grateful every day for her existence. :o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1. Dinner was "rice with the pink sauce" otherwise known as chicken tikka masala. Lil just LOVES it.
2. Once Upon a Win is a trip down memory lane. Speaking of which, a recent submission was "Back to the Future" which I just adore. If I remember I'll have to share the story of our trip to that movie in 1985. It involves Lissie, Jessie, me and the Clemson Tigers football team. ;o)
3. October Sky. We're watching it even as I type. We haven't watched it in a while but every time I do, I remember how much I love it. It reminds me of home in so many ways.
4. Living close enough to work and daycare that I have time to run home to pick up Bear and blankie (which I forgot this morning) and drop them at Shari's and get back to work, all during one religion period. Whew!
5. I graded two sets of quizzes and a test today. 37x3=111 papers, not too bad. :oP


No milestones
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Amy, I had to laugh about no food photo from last night. ;o) I've posted it and the recipe over on Follow Your Bliss. :o)

Memories

It's always so interesting the things that will trigger Hannah memories. This evening I was inundated of reminders of my sweet Monkey. It began with Lil's bath, or more accurately, after Lil's bath this evening. I was drying her looking at her sweet little body and realizing yet again how very different it is from her sister's. Hannah had the cutest dimples on either side of her spine at the small of her back. She had loooooooong legs and the sweetest flat tummy and the inniest of the innies belly button. When she was Lil's age, though, she was quite plump. Ah, heck, she was a little jelly roll with with the cutest chipmunk cheeks and rolls upon rolls on her tummy and thighs. She was just delicious.

At this age, Hannah also seemed so much older somehow. I always felt there was a miniature adult trapped inside Han's sweet brain and I was always forgetting she was only her age and not so much older. I had a difficult time remembering Hannah was only four or only five and that my expectations for her were beyond unreasonable at times. I honestly had to say aloud, "She's ONLY five, Rach, give it a rest!" Ultimately, though, Hannah just didn't seem to be a young child, she seemed to be a young adult.

And yet, she was such a kid. She loved kid things: imaginative play, playing outside, coloring, drawing, dancing, exploring the world around her. And, she was just as sensitive as any child could be. Her poor feelings were continually being hurt. She wanted EVERYONE to love her and be her friend because, well, she was everyone's friend and loved everyone. What a HUGE heart my sweet baby had. Ah, my sweet, first born angel. I always told her no one could ever take her place. EVER.

Later this evening, as Lil and I were singing/caterwauling in bed, I began sining "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and I had to chuckle remembering Han's "Ipsy Dipsy Spider". :o) I also remembered the day (when she was only just two) she turned to her Daddy, looked at him with all seriousness and said, "It wouldn't be good to eat poo poo." Um, yeah, it wouldn't, but what brought that on? There were days when we just didn't want to know how her little brain worked. ;o)

I'm frustrated because I just can't seem to capture the essence of this sweet little girl. No matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to convey all she was, all she embodied, all she encompassed. I can't seem to put into words just how effervescent her personality was, how compelling she was, how people just seemed drawn to her. Sure, many adults are drawn to cute kids, but somehow it was different with the Monkey. She was so precocious and would frequently catch people off-guard as they would say something to her and would soon find themself engaged in a conversation. She seemed to enchant them.

This isn't to say I think my Monkey was perfect, because goodness knows, she wasn't. She was, after all, human. She had quirks and traits that drove me batty. She talked incessantly (wonder where she got it...:oP), was overly dramatic and was quite in love with herself and her appearance. She would look at herself in any reflective surface she could find. Oy! She was a piddler of the worst sort and a non-morning person to boot. Mornings could be a real nightmare. I know I've shared this story before, but well, it's just so typically Hannah I have to repeat it. Han, like any normal kid out there, cleaned her room by shoving things into any available space without thought to where items might actually belong. One Monday morning I was rushing around, trying to get her ready to go to Melanie's and I could only find one shoe. ONE SHOE! ACK! I knew we had had two the day before, so where oh where was that shoe??? I gave up and Han wore other shoes that day. Later that evening, as I was going through Han's desk drawers, I found that stinkin' shoe. DESK DRAWER! "Hannah, what was your shoe doing in the desk drawer?!?!"
"OH, that's where it is." Arrrrrrggggghhhhhh!! ;o)

I'm not trying to run my child down, I'm just pointing out, I'm realistic, I know my Monkey better than anyone and I know she was far from perfect. But, you see, that's the thing, those imperfections made her perfect for me, just as Lil's perfect for me. I still desperately long for that imperfect perfection, for my life to be what it was, drama, bickering girls and all.

I'm so afraid the memories are going to continue to fade, that more and more of Han will slip through my fingers like water, impossible to grasp, impossible to stop. I'm terrified one day all that will be left is this vague feeling that once upon a time there was a princess monkey named Hannah and she was a sweet girl, but ultimately she never really existed.

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Today's Sparklies:

1. I discovered I have an "insider" at CW and I'm desperate to take shameless advantage of the connection. ;o)
2. Jessie. It's so lovely to have someone you can speak with candidly about anything, someone who has a shared history and knows you. Thanks, Jess, I love you! :o)
3. Waxing poetic about Macs with Paul this evening. Ahhhhhh.
4. Dinner tonight (garlic shrimp--10 cloves!!) and watching Miss Bit enjoy it. I so love it when my girls take the time to appreciate that which I prepare for them. Lil is in fact, quite the salmon junkie. This kid has good taste, I tell ya.
5. Dani will be here in just another week or so! Woo hoo!!!!!!! :o)


No milestones. I just have a missing/longing this evening; not a down yo so much as a low-key sadness.

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I find I'm starting to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzone out so I had best be off. To all of you who left such lovely comments last night and today, thank you. You know I wasn't seaking of any of you and it is so lovely to know you are all out there. Thank you thank you thank you.

Pondering

The internet is truly an incredible tool. It allows friends and family to keep in touch from miles away. It allows for connections and friendships with people we might never have met otherwise. I know I've got readers from points the world over and am amazed and humbled by that. I've got a support network of other mommies who have angels and I've got friends I've not had the opportunity to meet in real life. In many ways, the internet has helped shrink the world as it continues to expand it. Through the internet, we are able to connect with people with similar interests and activities, receive almost instant comfort when things are bad and celebrations when things go well.

I have the most amazing chains and "six degrees of separations" through this blog. I've been a link-er and a link-ee and feel delighted so many of my blogging buddies have found one another as I have found others through their blogs. One of the things that is always front and foremost in my mind as I read their blogs is that I'm only glimpsing a snapshot of the sum-total of their lives, I'm only seeing what they put out there. Ultimately, unless these people are actual members of my family or friends to whom I speak with any regularity, I don't truly know them or what really happens in their lives.

As such, who am I to judge these people and the information they put out there? The same holds true for me. Yes, I'm up front and open and honest, but it's only a small part of who I am and what is happening in my life. It's truly not fair or just for anyone to make any judgments about anyone based on the minuscule pieces of information that can be gleaned from what is written and put out there.

Additionally, I don't like snark. I don't like meanness for the sake of being mean, I don't like negativity, I don't like the nastiness that can be found in comments throughout the blogosphere. I'm afraid the anonymity of the web has left some people with a feeling of power. People will say the meanest, nastiest things in comments, things they would NEVER think of saying to that same person if they were face-to-face. Why is that? The nastiness leaves me with a sick, shaky, quivery feeling so I do all in my power to avoid it. If I happen upon a site that seems to encourage meanness, I'll leave, and chances are I won't return. What happened to common courtesy and actually taking a moment to think about a situation before spouting off about something? Let's remember, you only see what people put out there--this goes for us the bloggers and news media alike. It's unfair to make any assumptions until you know the entire story. And, chances are, you never will.

I bring all this up because I was "gifted" with a rather snide, judgmental, anonymous comment a few days ago and, being the person I am, it rattled me, even though it wasn't true. I took umbrage with the fact someone would judge me without knowing my entire situation. How can you possibly know what is in my head and my heart?

I don't mind sharing my life with you, truly. I'm not trying to garner your sympathy or play on your emotions, I am, as always, just putting out there what I'm feeling and experiencing. You have been a godsend of love and support when I needed (and still do) it and have been, most of the time nothing but lovely. It's funny how the saying is so true, one rotten apple can indeed spoil the barrel.

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Today's Sparklies:

1. It was lovely to be back at work and see all my sweet faces.
2. I received Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots today and can't wait to dig in.
3. Lil is such a fun companion on the way to and from Shari's. You should hear some of our converstions--that is, when she's not someone else and referring to herself in third person, lol.
4. I took a coworker's outside carline today. The sun was shining and it was just lovely.
5. Girlfriends who are there for you no matter what. :o)
6. Husbands who take on onerous tasks. Thanks, Honey.

No milestones.

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I think my stack of grading is multiplying--without my consent. I'm off to see what I can do about tackling it once again...

Looky What I Did Today!

Yes, folks, I made bread--with yeast and kneading and everything! Now then, this may not seem like such a big deal to all ya'll bread makers out there, but to me, the girl terrified of yeast, this is a BIG thing! Yes, I was scared of yeast and sort of afeared of all the steps involved in making bread. I think I had some sort of block, if you will. Yeast just seemed so intimidating. If you didn't get the water warm enough, the yeast wouldn't activate. Conversely, if you got the water too warm, it would kill the little yeasties. Eek!

Today, whilst flipping through a recipe book, I found a recipe for basic white bread, and well, it looked SOO delicious, I had to take the bull by the horns and try it. It helped enormously that I have a KitchenAid mixer with a dough hook, thereby taking much of the work off my shoulders.

Here are the end results:

Yes, simple to those of you who do this sort of thing all the time. Yet, for me, simply incredible! I don't believe there is anything better smelling than the yeasty aroma of fresh baked bread (okay, maybe the necks of newborn babies smell better, but that's about all I can think of). I could hardly wait to slice into a loaf and slather it with butter. Is there a better treat than a slice of fresh-from-the-oven bread smeared in butter?

I'm over the yeast hump at this point and plan on trying my hand a whole wheat bread next week. :o)

I didn't spend all my time today making bread. In fact, there were two hours to kill as I allowed the dough to rise. Sooooo, I did laundry, put in grades, cleaned and straightened the house and played with Lil. She is such a schmoo. Even when she's driving me batty, she is still such a lovey.

Last night, she popped out of bed no fewer than four times because, "I have to go potty. My pee pee is coming out! I don't want to go in my Pull-Up." Yes, this is a wonderful, even admirable thing to occur if it were say, over a period of four or five hours. I can safely say this did NOT happen over such a long period of time. Noooo, it happened in the space of thirty minutes. Yes, thirty minutes. Frustrated out of my gourd, I finally went upstairs to have a little chat with my sweet snuggle bug. I explained to my sweet little dumplin' that I was very worried about her if she had to go potty so much over such a short space of time. I briefly explained about her bladder and how I was worried it might be sick if she needed to go so much and if so, I needed to take her to the doctor to get medicine. She looked me in the face and said, "I don't hafta go pee pee."

"Oh, really? Then why were you getting out of bed?"
"I just wanted to get out of bed."

Ahhhh. And we came to the crux of the problem. Miss Bit knew the only way I would accept her getting out of bed was to go to the bathroom and she would use this desperate little hitch to her voice to make me understand just how urgent her need was...little actress.

I got her back in bed and explained that I didn't think she really needed to go any more, but if she did, I would call the doctor in the morning. She didn't get out of bed again last night. ;oP This morning, I was greeted with, "Mommy, may I go to the potty now?" Oy. Vey. :eye roll: I'm not sure she got it. :sigh:

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Today's Sparklies:

1. The day off. :o)
2. Working puzzles with Miss Bit. She's getting quite good at them.
3. Getting those grades in and off my back. Whew.
4. We watched a couple of movies today--"About a Boy" and "Mama Mia". Yes, I made poor Brien watch it. I'm so sorry, Honey. But, I thoroughly enjoyed it and laughed my hiney off. Random aside: I used to just sit and watch movies. Now, I can't stand to just sit there, I have to multitask. How odd.
5. Dinner tonight:
Glazed, grilled salmon. Recipe here. We had a fresh tossed salad and bread with it. Yum!
6. My silly Little Bit:
She bathed in my tub this evening and I couldn't resist taking her picture. She smelled so fresh and sweet and clean. Ahhh. Here she was squatting, "betending" to be a puppy (I think--you never can tell with this girl).

No milestones.

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Hm, I just discovered some "emmies" from Christmas time, the mint chocolate variety. I think I'll go indulge and read more Kingsolver. Wow, what a book!

Massive Numbers of Photos Ahead

We drove to Chesterfield County and the Dutch Gap Conservation Area today. We got an earlier start that last week and headed down our favorite back roads towards Richmond. The Beacon Theater photo up there is one of the reasons I so love driving off the beaten path--you never know what you may find. :o)


We arrived and discovered the conservation area wasn't just the walking trail itself, but also was the site of Citie of Henricus founded in 1611, just four years after Jamestown. I appeared to be similar to Jamestown so we skipped paying the ticketed admission price and instead headed up the trail to the bluffs overlooking the James River.


The bluffs were the site of a lighthouse keepers cottage and the lights themself, although neither were in existence any longer. We were able to see the chimney of the cottage and the foundation of some buildings and that was about it.

However, the view of the Varina-Enon bridge spanning the James River was beautiful. If you click on the photo you can see the elegant support/guy wires. (Okay, so my enginerd husband just informed me they aren't guy wires as this is a "cable stay bridge" so those are in fact "stays".)


I also found this surveyor's mark interesting.


This is a detail of the fort's fence. Cool, huh?


We stopped by the van to pick up Lil's walking stick and began our four mile trek.


If you look at the map, the interior area was once a quarry where they mined sand and gravel. They cut a channel in to bring in barges to get the last of the sand and gravel out, allowing the pit to fill with water. When they were finished with the mining, they abandoned many of the barges, allowing them to rot and they have since become mini-islands in this body of water.


This trail was much more clearly marked then our Wahrani hike of last week. ;o)


It even provided mile markers to mark your progress.

However, it really wasn't much of a "hike" in the usual sense as it instead was a wide, level trail that appears to have once been a road. It also isn't much in the "wilderness" as Brien and I are used. VA Dominion Power has a coal plant literally next door to the trail so we were constantly inundated with industrial noises.

That said, if one stood still and listened carefully, you could hear the sweet sounds of the birds calling to one another. And, boy howdy were there birds! Brien saw about five or six bluebirds, we saw cardinals, chickadees, titmice, black vultures, Canada geese, ducks, blue herons, a flicker, and a few others we didn't know. This is quite the ornithologists' dream trail.

Here Lil points out a particular aspect of the trail. ;o)






If you enlarge this photo, you will see a blue heron off to the left of center.



Look at the blue sky and flowering trees(!!). It's February, for Pete's sake!



This skull was hanging off the trail. B and I were pondering it. Fox, maybe?





LOL! This sign was too funny. :o) They amended it using masking tape! Hee hee.

Beautification fail? ;oP

Okay, you have to enlarge this one. In the middle of the photo there is a rusted out ship listing to one side.

I loved all the gulls just chillin' on the water. This is the site of the old quarry.


Lil walked for about a mile and a half and that was all she had in her. She was more than ready for the back pack and had been using B's hood to keep her hands warm. Apparently her head got cold too. ;o)


This was the opposite side of the trail from the quarry. The mud created such an interesting lighting effect.


Ah, the power plant. We were as far from it as possible and could still hear the industrial droning.

Check out this crazy tree! It looks like an elephant's trunk.

We made it back to the parking lot by 2:30 and were on our way home. We took Rt. 10 home (I wanted to fill in more of my mental map of the area) and took the "pixie boat" back across the water.

The car in front of us committed a HUGE no-no to anyone who is a frequent pixie boat traveler--they fed the seagulls. Now, this may seem like harmless fun, but I liken seagulls to flying rats--they are dirty and icky and poop on everything (like your car, people standing under them) the moment they are fed. They are the biggest beggars and immediately swarmed the car in front of us and then our car. I figured since there was nothing we could do about the fact they were now hovering like mini-UFOs, we might as well take advantage of the photo-op:

They were EVERYWHERE I tell you. If you are someone who doesn't like/is afraid of birds, well this was certainly NOT the place to be. Brien rolled down the window and snapped a photo or ten and at one point, a gull tried to get in the car with us! Eek! ;o)

We're now trying to decide where to head next week. I suggested driving west on Rt. 5 and hitting the first Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail we pass. :o)

*************************************

Sparklies:

1. See above. :o)
2. A grand day out with my family in the glorious winter sun.
3. My husband, with whom I have SO very much in common. We both prefer the roads less traveled, we love to be outdoors, we compliment each other so beautifully. :o)
4. Tomorrow is President's Day and as such, a day off which means I get to sleep in. :o)
5. The trail was covered in mica and other such igneous rocks, all of which caught the sun and glittered and sparkled for us, leading our way. Hannah was with us. :o)

No milestones.