Bunny Cakes

When my sister and I were young girls, our Aunt Eva would make us a bunny cake for Easter. I continued the tradition once Katie was born all though my bunny cakes are a poor imitation of my Aunt Eva's. One box of cake mix actually makes two bunnies, so I give the second cake to our neighbor's girls. This year is the first year that I remembered to take a picture before the bunnies were cut and forked.

Today I had so many problems building the bunnies. The cakes fell apart when I attempted to frost them. I don't know if I mixed the batter too long or if that is just the way the cake mix is. The bunny on the red platter is the one I gave to our neighbors. The one on the green plate I kept because there were too many crumbs in the frosting.

Well, that's if for now. I'm going to slice into a bunny.

Two Concerns

Today I have two concerns.

1. Lately, Cody will not eat out of his bowl. I have changed bowls, but he still refused to eat from a bowl. He used to eat out of a bowl, but something has happened that makes him rather starve than eat out of a bowl. I have also tried sprinkling kibble around his bowl and it worked for a few meals, but not always. I wish I knew of what he is afraid.
2. Yesterday when we registered Katie for kindergarten, we learned that kindergarteners at Stamford go for a full day. Class hours are 8 am to 3:20 pm. The school is about 15 minutes north of us so to get her to Taekwondo we would have to leave Stamford at 3:00. When we spoke with a kindergarten teacher about Taekwondo's start time she advised us it was up to the individual teacher to allow Katie to leave early. When we spoke to the principal we forgot to bring up the time problem. Katie attends Taekwondo 3-4 times a week. I don't think that the school is going to be that flexible to let Katie leave class 20 minutes early almost every day. When I read the Stamford handbook, it states that they do not allow children to leave early except when it is a one time appointment. Rick spoke with Team Chip and they will be keeping the current class time, which is 3:55 pm, for Advanced Dragons. If Katie has to stay in school until 3:20 she will miss about 15 minutes of Taekwondo, which is a lot considering the class is only a 1/2 hour long. I don't know what we are going to do.

Those are my dilemmas. If you have any ideas, let me know. 

A Bittersweet Day

This morning Katie and I picked up her prizes for the coloring contest. She won a large, filled Easter basket and a $20 gift certificate to The Jump Around. Katie was so excited when she was presented with her basket that she hugged the newspaper's editor and repeatedly said, "Thank you." I bet the editor wasn't expecting hugs. While at the newspaper office, the editor took a picture of Katie with her prizes. I also took pictures when we arrived home.

Today we registered Katie for kindergarten over in Stamford. It's hard to believe that our little Doodlebug will be heading off to school in four months. Yes, the days are long but the years are short. Registering her was a bittersweet event. I am so proud of who she is and what she knows, but I am also sad that the preschool years are winding down. Up to this point Rick and I have been the main and almost only influence on Katie. From classmates she will learn from experience about bigotry, racism and being bullied. For example, Katie has never asked me why some people have darker skin than others. She does not see the color of a person as so many people do. I have made a point not to describe somebody by their race.  I wish I could preserve that inability to judge people by the color of their skin, but in she will have bad influences in her life each school day. Kids that will expose her to aspects and attitudes that we have diligently tried to keep away from Katie. However, her world will change and she will lose that innocence I cherish. We can only pray that she gravitates to the good influences.

While I was filling out paperwork, Katie decided she would request to attend Stamford. She drew a picture of our family and wrote Katie, Mommy and Daddy. She then gave it to the principal. Katie was excited about being in the school and I pray the enthusiasm for school and learning stays with her throughout her life.

As a side note, our home is actually in Anson school district but our mailbox, which is across the road, is in Stamford. We filled out transfer paper work because we prefer Stamford to Anson. We will still be touring Anson's elementary school just to make sure we are making the most informed and best decision.

Well that's it for now. It is late and I am so tired. I want to wake up bright and early tomorrow so Katie and I can make our Easter bunny cakes. Til something else happens, ciao!

Prizes and Pictures

I have the first coloring book page that Katie ever colored. She was 13 months old and her coloring technique at the time was scribbling. Coloring is one of the activities that Katie and I do together and one I really enjoy. Because of this she has had a lot of practice perfecting her technique. Today I am proud to announce it has paid off. Katie got 1st place in her age group (4-5 year olds) in a local coloring contest. Yippee! She is so excited because she won a gift certificate to the Jump Around and a large Easter basket. Her picture will be in next week's Western Observer, our county's newspaper. Below is the announcement from today's paper.

I have been remiss for Katie got her Easter picture taken a few weeks ago and I didn't post it. Here she is with the Mall's Easter Bunny.

In other news, my in-laws had to postpone their trip to our home. My mother-in-law has pneumonia. She has a show in Dallas next weekend and they will drive over to our place after the show. I was looking forward to spending Easter with them and Katie was looking forward to them in general. When I told Katie that GaGa was sick and had to postpone their trip, Katie started to cry. Through her tears she told me, "GaGa needs to come here. I'll take care of her." She is a very compassionate child.

The Green Belt

Saturday, our little family attended the Belt Ceremony at Team Chip Taekwondo. Katie tested for her green belt the previous Saturday and passed. Below are a few pictures from the ceremony.

 Each student who is getting a new belt is paired up with a black belt.

 They then sit down across from each other with the certificate of achievement between them.

The new belt person then removes their belt and folds it.

The belt is place before the student.

 The student then slides their old belt behind them with their right hand signifying that that level of taekwondo is behind them.

 The student and black belt bow.

 They stand and the black belt helps the student put on the new belt which in Katie's case is a green belt. They bow and then the ceremony is over.

Now the process for obtaining her next belt begins today which means driving Katie into Abilene at least four times a week for her lesson. Yes, and me with my 450 hp, gas connoisseur car that only takes premium plus at $4 a gallon. However, I refuse to not do it because of the price of gas and/or the amount of time it takes to get her back and forth to Abilene. Rick and I chose to live out in the boonies but I don't want that to limit Katie's possibilities.

Katie's Question of the Day

Scene:  Lunch time. Talking about heaven.

 "What happens if Jesus doesn't have a potty and I have to poop or pee?"

Katie and "Her Husband"

One of my memories of the day Katie was born was of a huge teddy bear. I was being wheeled back from the operating room and I remember seeing my father-in-law standing outside of the nursery looking at his new granddaughter while holding this huge stuffed bear. My father-in-law is a thin man and he seemed to be the same width of the bear. If I could have laughed I would have, but the pain meds were wearing off and they won't give me any more because I was forgetting to breath and when I did it was too shallow. Anyway, the gigantic bear was christened Mr. Ricky Bear and Katie requests quite often that I perform a marriage ceremony between her and Mr. Ricky Bear. At her age, Katie strives to be like me--I should enjoy it while it lasts because when she is a teen she will probably try her mightiest not to be a replica of me--and she named her bear Ricky because she wanted a husband just like I have named Ricky. So, today she was hugging and kissing "her husband" and I could not resist to snap a few pictures.

Please ignore the very messy room. Note the raised foot. It resembles that famous picture from Times Square at the end of WWII.

 Katie's eyes were blue then changed to a gray-blue and now they seem to be changing to green.

Per Rick's request I'd like to say "Hi" to Rick's friends at Dollar Bank. Rick told me that they read this blog. So, "Hi. Thanks for stopping by."

Thursday Round Up

Rick made it home from St. Louis and we didn't have any severe weather. However, the wind was really, and still is, whipping up something fierce. Because there are no crops in the fields and we haven't had rain, the soil in the fields is taking flight. It actually looked foggy this afternoon from all of the dirt in the air.

Tonight Katie and I were playing with Cody in the front yard. I threw his ball and when he was bringing it back to me at break neck speed he ran right into my legs. I think he did it on purpose. Cody was not fazed by the collision but I now have a bruise on my shin where his hard little head made contact.

Katie was dolling up before Taekwondo so I brought out the camera.

 Here she is putting on some lipstick.

 Once her lips were colored the posing began.

 I don't particularly like this picture of Katie copying Gene Simmons. I opted to share it because the photo behind Katie is her namesake, my grandmother Kate.

Gotta go.

St. Louis Phenomenon and Cody

Rick is in St. Louis for a few days which makes me nervous. When we got hit by the tornado a few years ago Rick was in St. Louis. Then two weeks after that another bad storm came along and did a little more damage to the house. Guess where Rick was? That's right, in St. Louis. There seems to be a connection with St. Louis and weather back here in Corinth West. I'm crossing my fingers that another damaging storm doesn't roll over us.

My bruise (click to see pic) by my eye is no longer purple and green; however, it is red and it won't go away. I'll give it a few more days and then I will go see my doctor. I have a feeling that the red streak across my face could be permanent.

Now for something totally different, Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Cody. (Cue The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson theme music.)

"Hi, I think I am Cody. My confusion stems from the fact that the lady with the red thing under her eye sometimes calls me Cody, but she also calls me Coco, Coatsie, Cody Patotey, Scrappy Do, Scoopy Do and Meatball. You would be confused too. I am twelve weeks old and I am told that I am growing like a weed; however, the weeds aren't growing around here in this rain forsaken county, so I am confused again. The weeds are turning brown. I wonder if she thinks I am turning brown?"

 "This is my pathetic look. I use this when I am craving a dog treat or have been yelled at. I sat like this the other day when I ate a small piece of the linoleum off of the kitchen floor. I wish I could have resisted that little corner that had curled up, but it called my name--well, one of my names--'Meatball. Meatball."

The lady with the red thing under her eye installed a gate to keep me in the kitchen. I don't mind having a whole room to myself, but that black cat that lives here really takes advantage of the fact that I cannot get to it. Sometimes he sits on the other side of the gate and sticks his tongue out at me and says "Na-na-na-na-na na". He's only does that when the lady is not looking. I decided to try to bite my way through the gate. Here I am gnawing away."

"Now my teeth hurt. Good night."

St. Louis Phenomenon and A Few Thoughts From Cody

Rick is in St. Louis for a few days which makes me nervous. When we got hit by the tornado a few years ago Rick was in St. Louis. Then two weeks after that another bad storm came along and did a little more damage to the house. Guess where Rick was? That's right, in St. Louis. There seemed to be a connection with St. Louis and tornado back here on Corinth West. I'm crossing my fingers that another one does not roll over us again.

My bruise (click to see pic) by my eye is no longer purple and green; however, it is red and it won't go away. I'll give it a few more days and then I will go see my doctor. I have a feeling that the red streak across my face could be permanent.

Now heeeeeeeeeeeere's Cody. (cue The Tonight Show with Johnny Carsom opening music.)

 "Hi, I think I am Cody. My confusion stems from the fact that the lady with the red thing under her eye sometimes calls me Cody, but she also calls me Coco, Coatsie, Cody Patotey, Scrappy Do, Scoopy Do and Meatball. You would be unsure too. I am twelve weeks old and I am told that I am growing like a weed; however, the weeds aren't growing around here so I am confused. The weeds are turning brown. I wonder if she thinks I am turning brown?"

 "This is my pathetic look. I use this when I am craving a dog treat. I have found that sitting with my back legs all messy gets me two dog treats and a hug. The lady with the red thing under her eye is easily manipulated."

"The lady with the red thing under her eye--I really should shorten that to TLWTRTUHE--installed a gate to keep me in the kitchen. I don't mind having a whole room to myself, but that black cat that lives here really takes advantage of the fact that I cannot get to him. Sometimes he sits on the other side of the gate and sticks his tongue out at me and says "Na-na-na-na-na na". He's only does that when the lady is not looking. I decided to try to bite my way through the gate. Here I am gnawing away."

"Now my teeth hurt. Good night."

The Sad Little Cowboy Does Taekwondo

I was experimenting with my camera this evening. I was trying to mute my camera's pop up flash. In the picture below I put my hand a few inches in front of the flash.  It's too toned down, but I like it.

A sad, pensive little girl

Katie tested for her green belt in Taekwondo on Saturday. Rick took this picture of Katie as she took down her partner.

Check out Katie's game face in this picture. Sparring is serious business.

Leave it to a native Texan to wear a cowboy hat while running through the sprinkler.

Today Chip, one of the owners of the taekwondo studio, taught the Advanced Little Dragons class. Chip typically doesn't teach the Little Dragons so it was a real treat for the kids to have a multiple times world champion leading their class. Katie really likes Mr. Chip. Actually let me rephrase that in Katie's own words. "I love Mr. Chip. He is so nice." One of their exercises today was to do simultaneous tuck jumps with their partner. This picture cracks me up. It looks like a bunch of baby birds taking flight.

Well, I'll sign off now. Rick is nagging me to finish the post so he can read it.

My Puppy

My puppy is afraid of the dark. When I take him outside in the early morning hours, he will not move out of the light cast by the porch light. When I bring a flash light with me, he stays with the flash light beam. It is not a coincidence. I have tested him by moving the flashlight quickly and he runs to the new location of the beam. I don't think it is normal for a dog to be afraid of the dark.

My puppy has difficulty figuring out physical obstacles. The door on our puppy gate between our kitchen and dining opens both ways. Today I opened the door so it swung into the dining room and I ended up behind the door. The puppy could not figure out how to get to me. He didn't bother to look to his left to see there was nothing stopping him from walking around the door. I had to help him by taking hold of his collar. Also today, he was underneath the dining room table and got stressed because he could not get out from underneath a chair. He kept on trying to go forward where he won't fit. All he had to do was back up. I eventually had to pick up the chair.

My puppy likes to ride in my golf cart. He sits next to me and enjoys the breeze that lifts his ears. When Rick takes him in the golf cart, Rick puts him in the elevated basket behind the seat back. He just sits there and goes for a ride. First time I saw it, I cracked up laughing. I have got to get a picture of that.

My puppy cannot find the way out of a blanket. I was playing with him and I tossed his blanket over his head. You would have thought I had wrapped it around him numerous times by the length of time it took him to finally get his head out..

Labs are supposed to be very intelligent dogs, but my puppy reminds me of the proverbial dumb blonde. Perhaps wisdom will come with age. Below are pictures of my puppy.

Do you remember the commercial for bath tissue where the yellow lab puppy runs with the end of the toilet paper in his mouth and the other end is on the spindle? My puppy can do that. He is in the dining room and the toilet paper ribbon snakes back to the master bedroom.

 I posted this picture more for the spring colors than my puppy. In the spring mesquite leaves are a neon lime green. The road in the picture goes down to the shop/Quonset hut. Because mesquite closely lines the road when you walk to the shop in spring it is like you are in a technicolor movie with the saturation turned up. It is quite beautiful and soothing.

 Here is my puppy's graduation picture. I'm not sure from what he graduated, but he has The Pose that was quite common in graduation pictures of the 80s.

Ms. Thing and The Gate

Rick made it home last night, but he was exhausted from the stress. I think he was asleep by 9 pm. He's home for two days before flying out on Sunday in the wee hours. He will have to leave the house at 3:30 am to catch the 5:50 am.

I have a few new pictures that I want to share. Yesterday I put some make-up on Katie and let her wear my fake ponytail. Gosh it is amazing how the way she carries herself transforms when she is dolled up. She starts striking poses and turns and spins between shots so you can get an action shot. She was so proud of her make-up and do that I had a hard time pulling her away from the mirror.

Before this picture, she told me that now she was going to do a serious pose. She also tells me when to push the shutter release button.

Pardon the junk in the picture. We are rearranging artwork and still on the big reorganization project, so the living room looks room like a storage locker. Regardless, this picture makes me laugh because how big and bouffant-like her hair appears. The dress has that 50s flair to it also.

The puppy gate is up and Cody prefers it to the board since he can now see what is going on in the house.

The new gate successfully contains the puppy.

Look! It contains the kid too! Bonus!

"Nobody knows the troubles I've seen. Nobody knows my sorrows . . ." (Most of you may not get the caption but I know my sister Maryel will.)