Leap Day

Today is leap day! If we have to add a day to the calendar, I'd prefer it not be in February. Today, however, was gorgeous. B left for his walk to school then opened the door and tossed his coat on the chair. Too warm to wear, he said. That may have been pushing it at 8:30 in the morning. I went to Target to do some shopping and it was so windy the trunk almost closed on my head twice while I was putting bags in it. Temperatures rose to 60, according to some thermometers around town. L scooted over to a friend's house to play after school. By time I picked her up at 5 p.m., the temperatures were already dropping.

Progress

E's plants are back in the water and growing pretty quickly. She took Girl Scout cookies to the neighbor yesterday and ended up staying and chatting for over a half-hour (not surprising for E!). Anyway, the neighbor recently went out and bought equipment to try some hydroponic growing of her own. I'm sure E and her will be sharing tips along the way.

Proud of her

Going through L's homework papers today, I found this sheet, "My name is L and I am proud to be me!"

She had to fill in five things she likes about herself: "I'm musical, I'm nice, I'm unique, I'm talented at everything and I'm myself cool." Forgot to list conceited and confident, I guess. :)

She also listed five things she's grateful for: "My family, a good home, good money, good clothes and food, water, life."

B's back

B returned from confirmation camp this afternoon. He said it was boring. I expected that response. Dinner Saturday night was tacos, which he won't eat, so he dug into the emergency Pop-Tarts I sent along.

Fun Fair!

Today's the day. E was there at the start of the fair to man a carnival game. She worked a two-hour shift then stayed for the entire day. L was pretty much on her own - armed with tickets. She brought home a lot of trinkets so that counts as a successful fair in L's eyes.

The highlight of the fair is always the end when the pie in the face contest is held in the auditorium. This year, two teams of teachers danced. Though L was rooting for the women, the men won the dance contest and the pie in the face. Andy was there to get some pictures for the yearbook.

Proof that the teachers at Irving rock:


And the "winners" get a pie in the face:

Have fun, B!

This afternoon I drove B to church right after school. He's headed to Pilgrim Park with his confirmation class for a confirmation weekend. He'll be there until Sunday morning. It's his first time at Pilgrim Park and although he thinks confirmation class is boring, I'm hoping he has a good time at camp.

Last night on our way home from the museum, L called my cell phone to ask if she could color on a white shirt that's too small for her. The Irving Fun Fair is Saturday and she wanted to make a shirt supporting the "New Beats." It's a team of eight female teachers who are new to Irving this year (or last) and they're competing against a group of men teachers ("Frankie D. (the custodian) and The Cuyler Street Boys") to see which team gets a pie in the face at the end of the Fun Fair. The team that raises the most money wins the pie in the face. Kids have been filling jars with change and bills all week. The money will be counted tomorrow afternoon. The teams also compete for a trophy by doing a dance. The kids love it. Last year, the women's team won the dance trophy, but not the pie in the face. For some reason, L said, the women want both this year. They really want to get hit in the face with a pie. Why? I don't know. When the women teachers saw her shirt at school today, they took pictures of her and are planning of taking a picture of her with all the New Beats after the Fun Fair Saturday.

My new stove

It's here! I can finally use an oven again. It also has a convection oven I'll try out tomorrow when I bake cupcakes for Irving's Fun Fair. I knew there would be some bits of food under the stove when they took the old one out. Sure enough, there was. Funny though, the guy who removed the oven said, "It's only dirt. You should see everything we've found behind stoves. We've seen it all." Ewww. At least I was able to sweep it up before they put the new stove in.

Genghis Kahn

Tonight Andy and I went to the Field Museum for the opening of its latest exhibit, Genghis Kahn. We met up with a couple from church and feasted on a variety of Asian foods. Almond cookies and green-tea infused cupcakes were dessert. Pretty yummy.

The description of the exhibit from the museum's website: "Explore the life and times of the ruthless warrior who grew from a poor, illiterate boy into one of the world’s greatest leaders—Genghis Khan, February 24 – September 3, 2012, only at The Field Museum.

Born in 1162, the would-be emperor endured a brutal childhood, eventually rising to earn the title of Genghis Khan (meaning “Oceanic Ruler”) after successfully uniting the many Mongol tribes. In just 25 years, his army conquered more lands and people than the Romans did during their entire 400-year rule!

Animated maps, engaging videos, and immersive environments help capture the essence of Genghis Khan’s extensive empire and reveal his dual role as both feared conqueror and revered statesman. Examine the largest single collection of 13th-century Mongolian artifacts ever assembled—including gold jewelry, weaponry, silk robes, religious relics, and the newly discovered mummy of a Mongolian noble woman."

After we walked through the exhibit, Andy and I got a drink and sat down, waiting for our friends to finish the exhibit. We noticed that people were taking the centerpieces off the tables and hoarding them. One table sitting next to us had three centerpieces. Finally, our friends came by and commented on it too. However, they said an employee told them the centerpieces could be taken home. I offered her the one on our table, but she said she was parked too far away to take it. After watching people walk out with them, we took ours too. Maybe E will take it to her Japanese teacher. It does have a nice Asian feel to it. Or we'll just set it on the dining room table.

Ash Wednesday

Tonight we headed to church for the Ash Wednesday service. Andy and L were among the bell ringers who opened the service. Here's L giving her "gansta" bell ringer pose. Fierce, eh?

Afterward, we headed to the basement kitchen to make a meals for the local homeless shelter. B has to do two "missions" this year as part of his confirmation class. One has to be with a parent and the other has to be with his sponsor. At least we got the parent one out of the way. We seasoned chicken thighs and legs, made green beans, garlic mashed potatoes and a lettuce salad. Tomorrow's group will take the food to the church that serves as the overnight shelter and cook it.

Tickets!

L bought her tickets today for Irving's Fun Fair on Saturday. She claims she was the first in line after school. I don't doubt it. She bought $15 worth of tickets. Today the PTO was selling tickets six for $1. They go up to five for $1 later in the week, then four for $1 at the Fun Fair. B will be at confirmation camp this weekend and has to miss the Fun Fair. E is working a two-hour shift as an alum, and will get to use some of L's tickets. Tickets at the Fun Fair can be used on carnival games, raffles, bingo games and food.