Tidbits

Good news: Steve has been offered a contract position with -- who else -- the company who recently laid him off! They need someone for roughly 100 hours to write content for the Iams account, and Steve is happy to do it. I think it's a great testimony to his ability that, although the company had to make cuts, they think enough of his work to have him back for a short-term gig. It'll be at least a couple of weeks worth of work; although the contract position comes without benefits, it does come with a higher hourly rate than he was making before, so we'll call it even for now. Either way, it's more than the government pays!

Friday is the last day of school with students. I'm so glad to be almost through my first year as an administrator. Some of you have heard me say that I'm definitely ready for my "re-do" year to start (although not before I enjoy some summer).

The picture below is of the gifts Sara will be giving to her teachers at school (you can imagine her excitement). I found the pots at Michael's for $2.99 and picked up some begonias at Home Depot for the bargain price of $1.28 each. I think they turned out pretty cute!

Tonight I experimented with a new dessert recipe: Lemon Cake Balls. If you are a 12-year-old boy or if any part of your brain sometimes behaves like one, you may laugh at that name. Apparently cake balls are sort of a new trend ... have you heard that? Anyway, I had wanted to make Red Velvet Cake Balls, but Kroger had no Red Velvet cake mix, if you can believe that. Here's what I discovered about cake balls: they are time consuming and messy and a little tricky for a non-baking-expert like me, but a fun treat nonetheless. All in all, I think they turned out well. The real test will be when my co-workers taste-test them tomorrow at the event that is requiring me to bring a dessert in the first place. I may or may not claim to having made them, depending on the reaction. Yes, the sprinkles are ISU colors (thanks, Leigh ... yep, I still have them. Do sprinkles go bad?).

And this is for those of you who check this blog for no other reason than to see Sara's sweet face. I just L-O-V-E her to pieces!

Sara's First Swim

Ready to go! Until recently, I didn't understand the concept of the long-sleeved swimsuit, especially in the Texas heat. But my mom picked this one up for Sara, and apparently the suit is made of material with built-in SPF. Genius!

When we dipped her toes for the first time, she quickly pulled them up out of the cold water. After the initial dunk, though, Sara was all about the water. She enjoyed her starfish float very much.

Sara swam a few laps with Dad. She kicked her legs and everything! Sara really enjoyed watching all of the big kids splash around. Before we know it, she'll be diving for rings, too. Here's an attempt at the backstroke. Maybe she'll be a swimmer like her Grandma W.

Sara's first swim was a huge success! She didn't shed a single tear (for which I'd readily prepared myself), and she squealed with excitement multiple times (which makes my heart leap over and over). This summer is looking more and more fun by the moment! Now it's nap time for Sara and cold-refreshment-with-lemon-time for mom and dad. Hey, it's a holiday!

Finale Week

Desperate Housewives
Did you watch the season finale of Desperate Housewives? OMG. It was, without a doubt, the best finale to date. To be totally fair, I don't really remember any of the others, and in a year I probably won't remember this one. Still, today, I declare it the best ever. There were twists and turns and answered questions and unanswered questions and tears and laughter and surprises. What else could one possibly want? All that's left to say is this: let it be Susan, let it be Susan.

The Office
Is Pam pregnant? It seems like the obvious answer ... is it too obvious? If she is knocked up, I'll be so happy for her, although I currently fail to see how the writers will throw it into the mix with all of the other humorous subtleties of the show (I guess that's why I'm not a writer in Tinseltown). But I'll also be a little irritated that she and Jim went Hollywood on us and decided to put the horse before the cart. Call me old fashioned.

Dancing with the Stars
I don't plan to vote, but in my head and in my heart I vote for Shawn Johnson. Talk about America's Sweetheart.

American Idol
The top two should have been Danny and Adam. I don't see Kris with a career. Do you? He just doesn't seem cut out for it, whatever that means. Either way, Adam has my vote (which I won't really cast -- see above). He is unique and confident and representative of many teens today (it is what it is). As someone who was blessed with neither the ability to sing nor the confidence to wear crazy clothes and hair and piercings and such, but who claims -- for the moment -- to be an expert on all things cool, I predict a seriously successful career in his future.

The Hills
It's the definition of "train-wreck" -- we don't really want to watch, but we can't look away. I need it to end already so I don't have to waste anymore of my life worrying about how Lauren will work up the courage to fire Stephanie or whether Audrina will start caring enough about herself to realize she doesn't need losers like J.B. and Brody. Thanks to the tabloids, we already know that Spencer and Heidi tied that knot and that Lauren attended even though she said she wouldn't. So hurry up and end, Hills, before US Weekly gives away the rest of your secrets.

Also, just for the record, I will not be watching The Bachelorette this season. I've outgrown that phase. Although ... it couldn't hurt to watch just the opening episode tonight, right?

Class Picture

My kid is the one with her fist in her mouth.

Weekend "Rap"-Up

It all started
Thursday night

When my parents did arrive

On a flight.

We caught up that evenin'

Over Chinese and cold drinks;

I had to wake for work in the mornin'

That really did stink.
***

On Friday with Sara

The grandparents did play.

A walk, floor time, and a trip to Target

Made for a busy day.

For dinner that night

We grilled steak and shrimp.

Eating like kings --

Yeah, we're down with it.

***

Saturday we awoke

To more gray skies

Which meant I wouldn't have to

Expose my thighs (at the pool).

Instead my parents offered

To buy a Mother's Day tree

And plant it in the backyard

In honor of me.

I chose a Crape Myrtal

That soon will bloom

With many little flowers

In a bright pink hue.

Later that day,

We watched the Mavs lose

Because of an ignored foul

That garnered many boo's.

Thanks to the ref

Who made the bad call,

This is probably the end

Of this season's Dallas basketball.

***

Today our celebration

Was quite a treat:

For before we lost an income,

We had purchased seats ...

... To the House of Blues'

World Famous Gospel Brunch.

As I'd predicted,

We all ate too much.

Those folks sure can worship;

Yeah, I'm talkin' 'bout soul.

Some time with their praise music

Left me feeling whole.

It was then time for G & G

To get on the jet airplane;

Saying goodbye

Is always a pain.

Their visit was fun,

But - as usual - too quick.

At least they spent quality time

With the lil' chick.

Tomorrow Sara will be

A mighty 5 months old.

I'll ask it again:

Where does the time go?

To all the mothers:

Hope your day was blessed.

I'm sure you'll all agree,

This job is the best.

Yes, I wrote a "rap";

Does that make me a nerd?

It'll be the first and last,

You can rest assured.

I'm out.

My Pantry Runneth Over

These pictures may not be exciting to anyone else, but they are to us. This weekend my in-laws surprised us with massive amounts of formula, baby food, diapers, toilet paper, and groceries. You name it, we now have it. Although we haven't completely hopped on the needy bus yet, that could be the direction we're headed, and this takes a huge load off. So much for my new diet plan, which included being too broke to eat. Thank you, thank you, G & G B!

A Forecast

It's another gray, cloudy, muggy, rainy day in North Texas.

How about a little sunshine?