National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

I am usually on top of this, but spaced it this year for some reason. But, I did get my reminder email from the National Eating Disorder Awareness Association that this week (Feb. 24-March 1) is Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
If you want to find events in your area, visit
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=550

You can also wear a purple ribbon to show your support. It's a conversation starter/stopper for strangers.
Ex:
"What's the purple ribbon for?"
"Eating disorder awareness week."
"Oh......"
:)

Happy Birthday President Washington!

What better place to celebrate President's Day than in Alexandria, VA where George Washington lived.

Cory had to work (bleh), so the kids and I joined our friends the Evans's for the George Washington birthday parade in Old Town Alexandria. The day couldn't have been better for a winter parade. It was near 60 and dry, until near the end of the parade when it started raining. And, truth be told, we were paraded out by that point anyway (seriously, how many boy scout troops have to be in a parade?).

Diana and Emmet Evans with me and the boys waiting for the parade to start. You all probably thought Diana was my imaginary friend, since I talk about her a lot but have never had a picture, but she exists! Incidentally, we were sitting right in front of Gadsby's Tavern, which is a historic place. It's a museum and a restaurant. George Washington spent time there doing...uh....whatever it is you do at a tavern.

Gabey taking a break from running around Market Square in Old Town.

I had to take this picture because it is the TC Williams Marching Band. And, Remember the Titans (a story about TC Williams High School) is one of my favorite movies. It also happens to be Diana's alma mater. That's why we're friends. :)

This was taken just before all hades broke loose. I would've taken a picture of the mini Revolutionarry War reenactment that followed, but I was busy cradling my screaming child and keeping my arm around the other. They just kept shooting back and forth and firing the cannons while Gabriel is screaming, "I want to go home right now!" It was so traumatic. I wanted to yell, "Stop the madness! The kids aren't diggin' it!" (mine was not the only one screaming). Anyway, it eventually ended, and Lucas, who had handled it better than I thought (he was just covering his ears) said, "I was brave. I'm 5." Thank goodness for turning 5!

I love the guy in the sunglasses. Did the Secret Service exist even when Washington was President?

Finally!

ALL-NEW episodes of The Office return starting April 10th!

Valentine's Day Past, Present, and Future

I like Valentine's Day. Even if you don't have a "Valentine", you do have family or friends you love, right? How fun to celebrate it! Put on your walking shoes and join me on a trip down memory lane of Valentine's Past...

* I remember the excitement of preparing for the class party at school. I'd sit down with my candy, Valentine's and envelopes (insert dislike for current Valentine's sans envelopes here), and class list. I carefully picked which Valentine went to which person, because I couldn't have Jo Blo getting the wrong message that I liked him...you get the picture.

*On Valentine's night, I took Valentine's to my friends; put them on the doorstep, knocked, and ran. Cory says that was just a Utah thing, because he never did that. Can anyone back me on this?

*We'd have Valentine's by our places at dinner.

*Middle school Valentine's dances...ha! What kind of cruel punishment are middle school dances?

*The first Valentine's Day -- and only until I was married -- I got anything from a boy. I was 16 in my junior year of high school. There was this boy -- we'll call him Scott (because that was his name) -- who I liked (don't worry; Cory is finally coming to grips with the fact that I liked other boys before we met). It's safe to say the feeling was mutual, as he had asked me on a couple of dates. I'm standing at my locker between classes and he comes up with a vase of flowers, "Happy Valentine's Day, Janna!" I'm shocked. Completely. I've always thought the expression "jaw dropped" was an exaggeration...but mine was on the floor.

*My first Valentine's Day with Cory, which was when we'd been married 2 months. He came to meet me on campus for some banquet I had and his eyes were all bloodshot and puffy. Weird, I thought. When we got home that night, I found our bedroom filled with balloons and chocolates strewn on the bed. Very sweet. I will end this narrative here, (ooh la la) except to say that this was when we found out Cory is allergic to latex. He has never blown up a balloon since.

Valentine's Present

The Monday before V-DAy, we made sugar cookies to give to Primary and pre-school teachers.

We started the big day off with pink heart-shaped pancakes.

The kids and I spent the day with Diana, Emmet, and Baby Gabe at the Kennedy Center. It was Japan week and, as part of that, they had some neat-o robots. We all had a good time.

That evening, my Valentine had to work late, so I fed the kids a candlelight dinner with special Valentine's punch (pink lemonade). Hmmm...thought I had a picture of that, but I guess not. Let your imaginations run wild.

Then, when my Valentine did get home, the kids were in bed and we had a quiet dinner: chicken parmiginia (I would hyperlink you to my delish recipe here if I knew how), asparagus, rolls, Valentine's punch, and a chocolate pudding cake (as a side note, I'm not a huge chocolate dessert fan, but I figured I had to make chocolate for Valentine's). Then, we settled in to watch a romantic Gilmore Girls epsiode...the one where Luke and Lorelai finally hook up (at the end of season 4). If you don't love that show, you should.

We continued our Valentine's celebrating Friday night when we went to a restaurant in DC. All in all, it was a fun Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Future

Lots o' lovin'

Our Weather is Better Than Your Weather

Today's high: 66
Tomorrow's high: 70