Meltdown ... 48::365

It's 53 degrees outside right now. Hard to believe that we were buried in two feet of snow two weeks ago, and then battling subzero temps a week later. And while I'm wearing my windbreaker today, I'm not packing away my winter coat just yet. This is Chicago, you know.

Uh Oh Spaghetti-O ... 47::365

Sean is very much a peanut butter & jelly kid. He would eat it eagerly for lunch every day if he could. But every day I give him a choice of two things -- PB&J or something else. Today I offered ravioli, knowing we had a handful of the { very healthy! } Chef Boyardee in the pantry. Much to my surprise he chose ravioli. So I asked again... this time saying PB&J last because I think most of the time he just chooses the last thing I say. Oh wow, he chose ravioli again. And then he added all-excited-like, Dora ravioli!

Spaghetti-O's. And he ate almost the whole can. Dora does it again.

Pen Pals ... 46::365

In the third grade I had the opportunity to get a foreign pen pal for $1. It was the best dollar I ever spent.

Ute and I have been friends now for 33 years. We've met in person on a number of occassions, and she even came to my wedding. But the letters are at the heart of our friendship. We have written to each other about friendship, boy crushes, struggles at school, marriage proposals, pregnancy news, and losing our fathers. There have been many a letter received where I've cried... and plenty more where I've laughed out loud. Oh, the lost art of writing letters. In the new age of technology our written letters are few and far between. We're now friends on facebook, and Ute follows my blog regularly.

But today. Oh today, I received a letter. And these scrumptious chocolates Ute picked up for me while she and her family were on ski holiday in Austria (doesn't that sound divine?). Sean promptly dug into the chocolate, but I sat and devoured the letter. There's just something about reading the written words of my dear old friend that make my world seem more peaceful and lovely.

The chocolates are (definitely) an added bonus.

Child's Play at Heart ... 45::365

Happy Valentine's Day!

We don't do a whole lot around here to celebrate Valentine's Day except for lots of hugs & kisses and zinging lovey sentiments to each other all day long. This year I decided to pick up a little gift for Sean -- Learning Resource's Hide 'n' Peek Chocolates. He's in love. And while I like little gifts and sentiments of love on Valentine's Day from my sweetie, seeing the pure joy in Sean's face while playing with this new, simple toy makes my heart bubble with happiness. I'm in love.

Photo edited with Coffeeshop's Orton Effect action.

Happy Valentine's Day

Goodbye Reports ... 44::365

Yes, this is a boring.

It's not a creative photograph in the least. And yes, it is of my computer screen. But this is what I worked on for the better part of my day... while Sean destroyed the house to the point where I can't walk out of the office/playroom without stepping on something.

For 10 years I have generated these catalog circulation reports for Learning Resources every month along with various sales summary reports. This was one of a handful of projects they asked me to continue doing after I quit working full time, and it's the last. I decided not to do them in 2011. I need to focus more on my teaching and being a SAHM. So this weekend I'm finishing up 2010, and then I'm done. Finished. Goodbye reports.

Happy Birthday to me! ... 43::365 { One Photo a Day }

This is what 41 looks like today...

A work at home mom who can grade papers and sing Down By the Bay at the same time. Slightly weathered. Confident, yet a tiny bit reluctant. Wife. Mother. Daughter. Sister. Friend to many. Loving. Patient. Known to be a bit emotional at times. Talkative. Perfectionist to a fault, but working on it. Creative. Flexible. Fluffier than I'd like. Loyal. Faithful. Child of God. Blessed... oh so blessed.

I decided to go with a self portrait for today. Being behind the camera all the time means there are very few photos of me. Which is pretty much A-OK since I don't normally like the way I look in pictures. But I realize that some day Sean will appreciate seeing me, and sharing photos of me with his grandkids.

So here I am. In all of my 41st birthday splendor.

And now I have a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting calling my name. It is my birthday. Just one slice. I promise.