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

Simple pleasures, Guilty Pleasures, and Other News

Simple Pleasures of the past few weeks:

1. Crock pot

*I love the crockpot. I think I will send it a Valentine.

2. Steamed milk

*I just discovered this when at a cafe with a friend. This particular cup of steamed milk was flavored with pumpkin spice. Yum.

3. Hot chocolate with milk

*This is for Lucas. He really enjoys hot chocolate, but I always make it with water. We were at Adam and Marie Wride's house, and Marie made some with milk. Lucas was immediately converted.

4. A good book

*Since last summer, I have begun reading again. Sadly, I could've counted on 1 hand the number of books I'd read -- for pleasure -- since college. I am happy to announce that I have renewed my love of reading; I am currently reading "Davita's Harp" by Chaim Potok.

5. Big boys don't wear diapers

*See also "News"

Guilty Pleasures:

1. Ghost Hunters

*This is a show on SciFi that Cory and I watch together every Wednesday night. I can hear your snickers but, before you mock, check it out...

2. I watched the Miss America Pageant

*I have always liked watching pageants and I don't really know why. I was disappointed Miss Utah didn't make it farther...they probably thought she was trying to hide something in her one-piece swimsuit.

Other News:

1. Gabriel announced to me last week as I was getting him dressed that "Big boys don't wear diapers!" How right he is. Ever since then, he's been sporting Diego, Thomas, or Bob the Builder underoos...hoorah!

2. Went on an outing to DC with the Evans's to the National Geographic Museum. They had a frog exhibit, which was really cool! The kids (and moms) loved it. I've never seen so many different kinds of frogs. They even had a computer screen to virtually dissect a frog. Lucas thought it was awesome. Turns out, there's a website you can go to -- http://www.froguts.com/flash_content/index.html -- (which Lucas wanted to do immediately when we got home) to do it. So, once we got home, we virtually dissected the frog...again. Just the kind of moment I dreamed of sharing with my 5-year old.

3. I drove in DC. Are you impressed? I am. We drove in to meet Cory at work for lunch, then I took the kids to the National Postal Museum. I didn't know mail could be so interesting and entertaining. We spent about 2 hours there! Who knew?!

Did I mentioned I drove into DC?

Happy Birthday Lucas!

As a mother, I look at birthdays very differently than I used to. You see, I don't remember my own birth. BUT, I DO vividly remember my childrens' and how special they were. So, at each birthday, I see my tiny babies growing up.

This beautiful baby turned 5 yesterday (January 10)! It's hard to believe (I think I will be saying that each year for each of my children from now on). Lucas has been SO excited for his birthday.

We started off with a trip to Toys R Us to spend some money from Great Grandpa and Grandma Rasmussen (my grandparents are amazing at remembering everyone's birthdays -- grandchildren, spouses of grandchildren, great grandchildren...). After that, it was lunch at "Old McDonald's" (all in the name of love for my child, my friends). I declined eating my lunch there, and Gabriel had his own lunch, but Lucas savored his chicken nuggets and chocolate milk. I got him the apples instead of fries, but then decided, "What the heck? It's his birthday!", so I got a small fry...which I couldn't let him eat alone.

That night, we had Diana and Dave Evans over for dinner with their kids Emmet (3) and Gabe (1). Lucas chose breakfast for dinner; waffles and eggs. It was good, but none of us were in the mood for cake when the time came (except Lucas). Dinner was followed by a pinata, presents, and the ceremonial blowing out of candles...although Lucas was the only one who actually ate a piece of cake.

That's a happy looking 5-year old (and the Optimus Prime cake -- from my own brilliant brain and hands -- isn't too shabby, is it?)!!

Today was, as Lucas informed me, the first day he went to preschool as a 5-year old. He can also run and walk faster with his extra year. We love you Lucas!