Inventions

M3 had to come up with an invention for a program she's doing at school. To me, an invention isn't something you can just come up with when someone tells you to. But I think she came up with something good: heated monkey bars! She is a monkey bar enthusiast, but they get way too cold to touch in winter. And mittens don't provide much traction. She will take this to an "Invention Convention" in March. Of course, Daddy helped her bring the idea to life:
They will have warm water pumping through them. Pretty cool!

Cat games

This has become Rumpus' gorilla. He carries it around and meows very loudly, usually at 2 a.m., then brings it to us wherever we are. So Mark has taken to hiding it all over the house to see if the Rump can find it. He has found it everywhere so far. This is today's hiding place...he hasn't found it yet.

Groundhog Day

M4 is sick again...but not too sick. Not too sick to play with M3 as soon as she got home. Really, it's just a cold so I let him stay home for extra rest. Of course, I had to drag him to work with me.

And just to be contrary, the groundhog saw his shadow. This means six more weeks of winter. As if I didn't already know that!!

Grinnell 23 degrees, windchill 17. And falling. Tucson 76; LA 82. Harumph.

M3's response

M3's To Do List

1. Do my homework (if I have any).
2. Talk to Cody.
3. Listen to my IPod.
4. Do that typing thing on the computer.
5. Spy on M4 and drive him kookoo.
6. Be weird.

M4's To Do List

M4 (just before bed this evening): I have a lot of things to do tomorrow!

Mom: Oh yeah, like what?

M4: Feed my pets.
Spy on M3.
Build a train track.
Maybe feed my Webkinz.
Go swordfighting.
And veterinarian.

Thank you, Leonard Pitts...

...for calling Rush on his hate-mongering tactics: http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard-pitts/story/870238.html

Uh oh

M4 has what appears to be a small case of the pukes. He seems to be much better now...at least he's running around making explosion noises and talking about "Dark" Vader. He spent the morning playing at friend's. Hope he doesn't pass the germs along!

M3 and I left at 7:15 a.m. for the second-to-last swim meet. It was an hour away in Knoxville. She scorched the competition in the medley relay! Her team was quite behind. She anchored with the freestyle and just blew past everyone! It was so cool to see. I think they came in second. She seemed kind of tired in her individual events, and then they did well in their freestyle relay, too.

I really just want her to have fun and not feel pressured. The kids I knew who started getting too serious about ballet at a young age burned out young, too. I hope this is something she can have fun with for a long time. Winning helps with the fun factor, of course, but I don't want her to feel too serious about it.

On a separate note, it was definitely the HOTTEST pool room I've been. I thought I was going to pass out...