How Do You Spell "R-E-L-I-E-F?"

Chad came home after a week away on a business trip. Can you tell where he was from the "treasures" he brought home? We were all SO excited to have him back with us...safe...

An Olive Wood Nativity Set - definitely hand carved.

An Olive Wood Chess Set. The boys were really excited to have a chess set with "Big" pieces. Although the horse all gave us a laugh. They all took turns playing. Chad was surprised how good Trevor is--they haven't played for awhile. I guess Trevor has learned a lot at Chess Club.

Jenna knew right what to do with her "treasure." Hopefully, the video will load and you can see it. (I didn't load, so a picture will have to do. It was a scarf with "jingles" on it. She put it on and immediately began to shake her hips.) She took it off, only to sleep. At least I can hear where she is...

We all just didn't feel "complete" with Chad not here. It was a grand adventure for him--once in a lifetime. Gratefully, he took pictures as I don't think I'll ever travel there. It's in a area of unrest. Kinda scary for me to have him there. However, he said he was safe. He's got a nice case of jet lag now, but we're glad to have him...HOME.

If you didn't guess already...he was in Israel.

Who Needs Spellcheck when You Have Trevor?

Thank heavens for Trevor, the spelling genius. My apologies to any who have read my blog and found my many spelling mistakes. I really should spellcheck my "blahing," since I can.

Don't worry though. Trevor is coming to my aid. Solving my spelling errors - especially when it comes to Star Wars characters. ("Vader" is apparently not spelled like "radar.")

He really does have a knack for spelling. He's my walking/breathing spellchecker. It comes in handy.

Cereal (or maybe it should be "Serial") Reader

I read my brilliant niece's blog and it got me to thinking...(Her blog often does that.)

Anyway, she mentioned the need to read while eating cereal. I have that same problem and so does my oldest son. Cereal just doesn't taste the same unless you have a little "reading" to go along with it.

Why is that?

Have we been conditioned by the cereal box makers? There's always SOMETHING to read on the cereal box. (Course, the "healthy" cereal readings were never as engaging as the "less healthy" cereals.)

Was it years of reading cereal boxes that has conditioned me to think that I must read if I'm eating cereal?

Trevor doesn't have the "years of conditioning." He just has the poor example of his mother.

Chad, on the other hand, was taught NEVER to read at the table during meals. The cereal boxes were to be left on the counter...not on the table. He still tries to enforce that rule at our house. I'm afraid it's me that says "ah, crumb" (silently, of course) when he reminds us of this rule.

It's funny. I don't seem to feel the need to read when I eat other breakfasts foods...

So, this leads to a big first in our blog: a poll. Trevor is going to help me set it up. Make sure to vote in our cereal reading poll.

Versatile

One thing I enjoy about Jenna is her ability to play with ANYTHING. She can take any two inanimate objects and make them come alive. Once, in the car, two pretzels conversed and played for about an hour. Beautiful!

Today I found Jenna playing with her brother's castle and Star Wars guys. She had added two princesses to the mix (to the horror to her brothers!). I listened in on her "play." The Mom announced that she had to go on a trip and she wouldn't be gone long. Then the "kid" (one of the Star Wars guys) said, "I'll go see Dad." Then the Dad enters with the sounds of Darth Vader.

At this point, I think to myself, "Wow, my daughter knows the sound that Darth Vader makes and apparently, Darth Vader is the Dad." Funny! Gave me a little giggle. AND I think, "What a versatile girl...she can play with 'girl toys' or 'boy toys' and have a grand time!"

Later, I asked her who the Dad was (expecting to see Darth Vader). She holds up Obi Won Kenobi. I asked why he was making Darth Vader noises. She explained that he wasn't; he was snoring. Apparently, all Dads snore. . .like Darth Vader.

Trevor is Published

Hopefully you can see his article in the paper through this picture. Trevor is an avid reader of our local newspaper--he reads the Sports section cover to cover and then reads the comics. He'll occasionally dabble into an interesting article here and there.

His school teacher turned in Trevor's article into our small local newspaper and it made the page. Pretty cool! Several of his classmates' articles were in the paper as well.

Loving So Deeply

Apparently, it's a good thing I snagged Chad Hancock when I did. At Matt's basketball practice last week, Chad was proposed to . . . by a 3 year old (a little friend of Jenna's whose brother plays ball with Matt).

At the game this week, she proposed again. I stepped in to let her know I had beat her to the punch. Sorry Sister! She wanted details . . . "When did you marry him?" "Where did you marry him?" She wasn't going down without a fight. Chad and I got a giggle out of the whole thing. She kept patting Chad on the shoulder.

Miss Jenna, on the other hand, has long wanted to marry her Dad. She's had a hard time accepting that I got to him first AND that it's illegal to marry your Dad. However, if she can find someone LIKE him, she'll be in good hands.

Jenna does have a cute little bond with her Dad. It is devasting to her if she sleeps "too long" and misses saying "goodbye" to her Dad before he goes to work. Last night, she was really worried about missing him in the morning. It was almost more than her little heart could bare. I think he liked the extra hugs and kisses she delivered. (I think she enjoyed the extra bedtime stories that Dad's sympathy delivered!)

Simple Hope; Simple Joy

Every spring, I get a smile on my face when I see this:

My soul starts to sing when I see this: (for I know that Spring is just around the corner!!!)
My "HOPE" is restored when the spring flowers appear. If they can make it through the winter and push through the ground, then I can endure until spring FINALLY appears. I think that Oregon has the BEST Spring flowers . . . I love the rhododendrons, azaleas, roses, tulips, crocus, daffodils, etc. They definitely put a smile on my face and a spring in my step!

Artist or Architect?

Jenna's interest in coloring has really piqued this week. She is coloring pictures inside the lines now. Her coloring has purpose instead of just scribbling. This is the picture that she worked HOURS on. She would draw a shape and then outline it in a color. She would choose a new color and color inside the shape again and again.

I thought this was a curious form of art for a 3 1/2 year old. However, then I remembered she attended 3 sessions of the Art Lit Class I taught at school. We did a project similiar to this. . . could this be how she learned it?

She added a few more shapes to her picture. The final project was pretty cool. She wanted to give it away to her friend. I couldn't part with it, so I made a color copy for her to give to her friend.

If Jason Can Do It, So Can I

Trevor and Matt still prefer NOT to climb the fence in our backyard. Jason, he's fearless, and has done it on many occasions. Jenna had Jason teach her how... now she is of the opinion that if Jason does something, she should do it as well. Oh, the joy of an older brother.

Arrow of Light

The theme for Pack Meeting Blue & Gold Banquet was Native Americans. A perfect theme for Trevor to receive his Arrow of Light. If you heard the HUGE sigh at the end of February, it was probably Julie. Getting the Arrow of Light in Cub Scouts is a big thing. I was so excited and relieved that Trevor got it done!! However, I now understand why Moms get a pin whenever their Cub Scout gets advanced...it's because the Mom typically takes the roll of nagger. Nag to get it done, Nag to remind, Nag to get them to memorize things, etc.

It was a special evening. The "Order of the Arrow" came to help Trevor cross over between Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. The Cub Master made him an actual arrow (the arrowhead was made of obsidian with real feathers attached at the other end). Gratefully, he gave Trevor the reminder to NOT use the arrow on his siblings.

Way to Go, Trevor!!! I can't believe you are old enough to be a Boy Scout!!!

Sparkler Show

Since living in our house, we have eventually replaced all the light fixtures except the kitchen fan. It wasn't pretty, but it worked. It's really valuable in the summer when we are playing games with a group of people.

Chad was attempting to change the lightbulb and it wouldn't come out. When the lights were turned back on, sparks started flying . . .

We decided to get a new light fixture. I think the new one looks much nicer than the old one (plus, it doesn't put on a sparkler show!)

I'm glad that Chad is the handyman around our house. Playing with electricity just ain't my thing!

American Idol

Okay, I love the show. Always have enjoyed it, but so far this has been a great season.

I'm watching the top 13 sing right now...I'm 4 people in and I'm lovin' it. I just might have to call in and vote. Incredible talent! (Could it be that the Michael Jackson songs are helping out the night??)

I'm so excited. Who knew you could be so invested in a show?!? Silly me.

Straight vs. Curly

I recently was introduced to a magic potion. Hair Product is essential for curly-haired people. Without it, a frizz ball (imagine an abused q-tip times 1000) appears. In my 72-hour emergency kit and food storage, I really should have some emergency mousse. Even in an emergency, no one should have to witness my hair without "product." It really is frightening.

Straightening my hair in the past has been a complicated process. It required a straightening shampoo, conditioner, straightening gel, and finally a straigtening spray. Then you had to blow dry it in a particular way to dimish the possibility of frizz. Finally, a flat iron was applied to finish the job. The whole process took an hour to 1 1/2 hours. Who has that kind of time?!? THEN, if I went out in the Oregon "mist," my hair would begin to "grow." (Frizzy Fluff, I call it.)

Last month, I FINALLY got my hair cut (after waiting a year and a half!). I saw a new hairstylist who happens to love straightening curly hair. She blowed dried my hair (without any special product in it). I was sure this was going to end in something ugly as I had been here before with other stylists. (Just see my hooker-like-hair I had at the Prom my senior year!) My hair was a bundle of frizz and fluff when it was dry...frankly, it was HUGE!! (Worse than the 80's, people!) There was no hope, in my opinion (and experience!)

Then, the magic potion I referred to came into play. She sectioned my hair, applied the potion, ran the ceramic flat iron through it, and Poof! I had silky "straight hair peopled hair." I didn't think it was possible. My chin was on the floor of the salon. It was incredible. So soft, so silky, so stinkin' straight. The impossible was possible? It was a curly-haired dream come true. I invested in the product and a flat iron to do myself.

The best part: it doesn't "grow" in the rain/mist of Oregon. Now that's something! It must chemically alter my hair somehow.

I think I surprise people when I have my hair straight. It looks so different, but it's kinda fun for a change. Plus, I can make it happen in about a half-hour. When I blow dry it (without product) and it is frizzy poofy to the max, I just pray that nobody knocks on my door or that a kid doesn't have an emergency. Seriously, it's worse than being seen without makeup. (Although, it would be perfect for Halloween!)

The potential for straight or curly is a beautiful thing. Thank you technology and the makers of hair product.

(BTW, in the curly hair picture, my hands are showing how long my hair was when the curl was pulled out. I cut off about 5-6 inches.)

Ode to Dr Seuss

The coming of March means the coming of Dr. Seuss' birthday. Our school celebrates with an "I Love a Book" Parade. Each class makes a float about a book. The school band and the floats make their way down the hall of the school for the parade.

I'm a fan of Dr. Seuss books for the most part. Really, I'm a book lover in general. Something about collecting/reading books puts a smile on my face. Dr. Seuss books are quirky, yet easy to read. I can't tell you how many Dr. Seuss books I have memorized. Mostly, because I have read them a thousand times (no exaggeration there). Their simple rhyming patterns with not too many words on a page make them an endurable read for parent and child.

One of our most quoteable Dr. Seuss books is "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" As a young one, Trevor had us read that over and over. Now 10+ years later it still runs through my brain.

Jason came home with this cute Dr. Seuss hat from school. He wrote rhyming words on the hat. He was pretty proud of the hat and wore it to the school parade.

Pie-fection

More catch-ups for the blog:

The last weekend of February, Chad's parents came to visit. The many pie-loving Oregon Hancocks always beg for Grandpa to make his famous apple pie. Poor Guy! He comes to visit and we put him to work making pie in between tickle sessions with the grandkids.

I must admit, I'm not an apple pie lover, but I can't resist Grandpa's apple pie. The apples are cooked to perfection with just the right thickness of sauce. Then the crust...my favorite part of pie is thick, yet flakey. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Seriously, after you have one slice of Grandpa's Apple Pie, no other apple pie can compete.

Thanks Grandpa for your Perfect Pies!

Tooth Trouble

Wonder what happens when your knee collides with your very loose tooth? If you answered, it comes out...you are wrong. (By the way, that's YOUR OWN knee, not someone else's. I'm not sure if my knee can even touch my teeth.) In Jason's case, it went up into his gums. It was a tiny, little tooth anyway, but I could only see about a centimeter of it. I tried to get floss up around it and was able to bring it back down another centimeter. The tough little guy never cried. (I wanted to! )

Anyway, a call to the dentist landed us an emergency appointment just to make sure all was well. It also landed us an expensive bill that we wonder if the tooth fairy will take care of. The tooth came out with MUCH effort as the dentist said it was like a slippery pig. However, Jason the tough one, never fussed. He had to have a couple of shots. I asked if it hurt to which he replied, "Nah...well, I thought about crying, but then I got used to it." We were all pretty impressed with how little he fussed during the appointment. I think he's a better dental patient than me!

February: Month of Science Fair Projects

We spent an ample amount of time in February doing science fair projects...all involving soda pop.

Trevor did his on the effect of mentos in different types of pop (sprite, sprite zero, coke and diet coke). That was quite the experiment in the cold. A bit costly as well as we had to by 2-liter bottles of each pop and several packs of mentos. Then, if you do the experiment wrong, you have to buy more 2 liter bottles of pop.

It was quite comical to watch the video of Trevor, Chad, and I doing the experiments (nope, it's not making the blog...sorry!) and trying to collect the data. Trevor kept forgetting to turn off the camera and got some pretty funny conversations between Chad and I...when we thought the camera was off...and someone forgot to hold the ruler at the point where the soda pop had exploded to so the other person could measure it. Obviously, there was a reason that neither Chad nor I are scientists by profession.

Matt explored soda pop through sight and taste. He colored sprite with food coloring to see if what people saw effected how they tasted. We were so shocked that for the most part...it worked. We had a few people that had keen taste buds and figured out what we were up to.

A Few Funny and Non-Funny Things

Jenna has been saying some things that have really tickled my funny bone lately.

For instance, she called the hood of her jacket "a hook." No matter how many times we correct her, she would just correct us with "It's a hook." One day, she finally said, "Mom, I call it a 'hook' because you hang it on a hook." So true.

At Preschool, Jenna had learned all about Fire Safety. That night as I cooked dinner, I accidently touched the pan. My quick outburst led to questions to which I replied that I burned my finger. Jenna quickly stopped what she was doing and said, "Mom, you need to 'Stop, Drop, and Roll.'" Thank you, Preschool!! (She's learning!)

She is really into writing letters and has surprised us her abilities. Maybe it's a girl thing or maybe it's just her...but she writes her letters in a straight organized line (all the same height!). My boys NEVER did that at this age. The other day she did all the letters in her name with a few other "important" letters. She also is asking how to "spell" words (just like Jason does).

She is quite the imitator. She is very attentive to others' display of emotions and quite likes imitating them if she feels it will further her cause.

Life Gets Busy...Blog Gets Notes on Cupboards, but No Written Blog

It always seems that I "just wrote" on the blog when I look at the date to confirm that I have been procrastinating for almost 3 weeks. Wow, how time flies.

I need to find my Cupboard Notes (with my list of things to blog about) and then I can update this...maybe tomorrow. We have family here tonight.