{ a swoop and a dart }

Poem in Your Pocket Day

Yesterday was Poem in Your Pocket Day, part of the National Poetry Month celebration. I had something specific in mind that I wanted to post but couldn't find part of what I wanted to include; while tearing through boxes looking for it, I came across a "Poetry and Pictures" portfolio that I'd forgotten I had in my possession, which I think must be from third grade. I think my third grade teacher must have been using poetry to make us practice handwriting; there are about 25 poems with accompanying artwork inside. It seems that old wallpaper scraps were a primary art supply in my third grade classroom. And glitter.

Anyway. The point of the story is that one of the things inside the portfolio was this poem, which makes me giggle. More appropriate (and cheesier) than anything else I had in mind to help celebrate yesterday, that's for sure!

Pink Moon

Jill pointed out recently that April's full moon is known as the pink full moon. As I was going to bed last night, I happened to notice that it was especially bright through the skylight so quickly grabbed my camera. Happy pink moon month!

Ten on Tuesday

1. My friend Sara recently posted a collection of flash mob video clips on her blog. I don't know why, but flash mobs make me teary. Weird, I know. But there you have it. My chances of being surprised by a flash mob in Cheyenne are approximately 0.000%.

2. I recently read an article I saw posted over at Design Mom about why some people love cilantro and some people hate it. Finally! An explanation for Matt's vehement stance that cilantro tastes like soap! Confession: sometimes I order things in restaurants just because they have cilantro in them. MMMMMMMMMM. We got a kick out of that article indeed.

3. Are you familiar with Elizabeth & the Catapult? That dastardly Grady Kirkpatrick (DJ) over at Morning Music on Wyoming Public Radio played it yesterday, and both Matt and I happened to be in our cars listening at the same time and heard it. He beat me to buying it last night. Grady Kirkpatrick = less money in our pockets. Repeatedly. Perfectly Perfect might be my new favorite song. And, as I was listening to the album last night, I realized that this group had covered a Concrete Blonde song from the 1990 Pump Up the Volume soundtrack. Three things about this:

3a. Concrete Blonde was a band I loved intensely for a few years, but it is one of the few bands that I've loved intensely that didn't really hold up for me years later.

3b. I loved the soundtrack to Pump Up the Volume so much that I nearly wore it out. I loved the movie just as much. Don't judge.

3c. That's pretty good music memory, to identify a 20 year old song from an obscure movie soundtrack you can't even get on iTunes!

4. It was made clear to me yesterday how backwards I've become in the day and age of texting. Someone needed to get some information to me and he texted me three times with updates; I was dumbly waiting around by the phone for a phone call to get this same information. Only later in the day did I realize he had tried to contact me on my Little Tracfone That Could. Oops.

5. Maddie is panning for gold today.

6. I've recently freaked two people out with the information that Maddie is almost 8 years old. The first—a former student I had in my American History class the year I taught at Central HS in 2001-2002. She was at gymnastics with her two kids, and I finally had to go up and ask her if she was who I thought she was. She was one of the group of people who saw me everyday as a pregnant lady, so the big "here's Maddie" reveal kind of startled her. The second—last night at Gracie's kindergarten screening appointment I thought one of the teachers looked familiar, but she was out of context; she finally asked me if I was who she thought I was. She was the permanent sub who taught the last three weeks of school for me at Central when Maddie was born. Of course! I immediately remembered her (and her name!) and we had a nice conversation, even if she was a little startled by the "here's Maddie" reveal. The heartbreaking news: she had been teaching in the program Maddie is in up until two years ago, when she transferred to teach kindergarten instead. I wish she had been able to teach Maddie this year!

7. May is fast approaching. I'm kind of nervous.

8.

When we went to get the mail after lunch today (it's way up the street, so if it's reasonably good weather the girls ride their bikes) we came back to see this deer hanging out in our circle. My trusty old long lens still takes decent shots! We actually got pretty close before she ran off. There have also been multiple red fox sightings this month, and we're starting to feel like we're living in a nature preserve.

9.

Something is growing! It's actually a plant I don't really care for (bleeding heart), but at this point—I DON'T CARE. Something is growing!

10.

Gracie brought home these caterpillars (or, as she says, calerpittars) from school today. They'll grow green grass. Very cute.

The Father-Daughter Dinner & Dance

A few months ago it was announced that there would be a Father-Daughter dinner and dance held at The Plains Hotel in downtown Cheyenne. The last time I went to a fancy formal Air Force event was in college (ahem) and Matt hadn't worn his formal military uniform (mess dress) since we got married. Nearly 15 years ago. This family doesn't get out enough!

Bridget and I selected and bought the dresses back in February at Target. They were folded up on a shelf of the closet for a long time, and we surprised them with their dresses a few weeks ago. Apparently Bridget has opinions about clothes (she definitely helped choose) but no long-term memory yet. 

The night before the ball, it snowed four inches. Thankfully it warmed up a little (in the 40s, the girls were freezing here) so the snow melted quite a bit. I took a picture of the three of them where they're all looking at the camera, but I like this one better. We almost weren't going to have Bridget go—until I got to thinking about how the repercussions of that decision would far outweigh any trouble she might cause at the actual event. And look how excited she is here! She was (mostly) a perfect angel.

The corsages Matt picked out had velcro wrist attachments but we had to do a last-minute addition of more velcro for little wrists. Bridget couldn't get over the fact that she was wearing flowers. That smelled pretty. On her wrist!

The night—especially the dancing part—was a definite success. And now that Matt has a functioning mess dress again... well, perhaps I'll have a chance to get dressed up properly one of these days, too : )

Ten on Tuesday: Gracie in Ohio Edition

Matt and Gracie went to Ohio for a short visit from Saturday-Tuesday; it had been planned for a while, so Matt did end up taking back-to-back weekend trips to Ohio. We decided we could only send two people this time, so Gracie—who will live most of her life getting to do everything second—was the one that got to go. It's unfortunate that we live so far away right now, because one of the greatest joys in life has to be having your grandparents to yourself for a visit without having to share with anyone else. Maddie and Bridget are already plotting trips of their own. I asked Gracie what her ten favorite things about the trip were, and here is what she said, in no particular order.

outside on Wednesday, playing Mary Poppins in the rain

1. Cookover* at Nana and Papa's house

Her flash was accidentally turned off on her camera, but they're still great pictures. Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, and Papa live within a mile of each other. Or as we like to refer to them sometimes: Sis, Whitey, Buzz, and Skeeter. Oh, to have grown up in the 1940s and 1950s. People don't nickname their kids like that as much anymore : ) 

*Gracie calls BBQs "cookovers." We like it.

2. Shopping at Chapel Hill Mall with Nana and Papa

It takes no great powers of deduction to determine why this was a favorite.

3. Riding the merry-go-round at the mall

4. Shopping at Target with Grandma and Grandpa

Someone clearly has her grandparents wrapped right around her little finger. A Fancy Nancy book was also purchased; we hear it was great fun to work on the vocabulary words in the back.

5. Visiting the Akron Zoo with Nana

Can you even imagine the joy of getting the zoo all to yourself with your Nana?

6. Painting at Nana and Papa's house

7. "Signs of Spring" walk with Grandma and Grandpa

She was so looking forward to this walk, since in Cheyenne we don't have leaves on trees or flowers blooming yet. (At press time, it is alternating between snow and freezing rain here. Ugh.) The hyacinths were moving past their prime, but they are a favorite. Matt was on a geneaology adventure with his great-uncle Clif on this day. We hear they also had a wonderful time!

8. Hula-hoops and frisbee with Grandma

If you want to learn how to hula-hoop, throw a football, toss a frisbee, or twirl a baton, Grandma is your girl.

9. Swimming at the Natatorium with Grandma and Grandpa

Picture found online at a Cuyahoga Falls site. Easy to tell why this was a favorite! The Natatorium sure didn't look like this when I lived in Ohio.

10. Riding on the plane with Daddy

It was a much more enjoyable experience than last time Gracie and her Daddy rode on a plane from Denver to Canton-Akron together : )

Winners, At Long Last!

We're announcing this one the old-fashioned way.

Someone had a rough morning transitioning back to reality (the one where four grandparents aren't fanning her and feeding her grapes throughout the day) but is feeling better now, and ready to play pick-the-winners.

Gracie's trusty assistant, showing off the Easter basket of names.

All folded and ready to go.

and the winners are....

Congratulations! Email me with your address and I'll send your new Sky Ball to you! They aren't really that expensive, so if you didn't win, stick one in your cart next time you're at Target (and I saw an end cap at Albertson's, too, so they're out there in more than one place!) and we promise you won't be disappointed!

You know Bridget had to pick one, though. Little sisters demand equal treatment and all that.

Not even making that up—we made her pick with her eyes closed, even though she can't read. She has a box of clothes she's sending you, Juliette, so maybe you'll find your own Sky Ball tucked inside!

Ten on Tuesday will be posted later today.... I had my morning bowl of cereal at 2:10 pm—I didn't even go on the trip and the trains aren't running on time around here.

Winners announced in the a.m.

We decided that Gracie should get to pick the Sky Ball winners out of a hat (er, Easter basket) since she didn't get to participate in the giveaway pictures. She flew into Denver with Matt on the late flight tonight and promptly conked out, so we'll draw in the morning!

New Red Sky Balls + A Giveaway!

The Easter Bunny put together a fun basket this year—one of the highlights was the red ball tucked inside. The Easter Bunny might have found those balls at Target (near his warren, of course) but didn't realize just how fun they would be. Their labels claimed they could bounce 75 ft; better the red balls than the children hopped up on Easter candy.

We've played with those balls (Sky Balls, to be exact) more since Easter than just about anything else. They're fun. No, really fun. They seem to bounce better above 50º (it's been easy to test this in Cheyenne this "spring") but that hasn't stopped us from taking them outside as much as possible. These pictures are from yesterday, when it was above 50º... well, in the direct sunshine, at least.

 

They're made by a company in Youngstown, OH named Maui Toys. As it turns out, Sky Balls are just one of their many products. The Easter Bunny should really check out their entire catalog!

Maddie likes to bounce them as high as she can and run every which way after them. It appears she is playing catch with a bird in this photo, doesn't it?

I like that Bridget can hold it in one hand easily. She's getting pretty good at throwing overhand.

And, because they have such a high bounce factor, she's getting the hang of bouncing and catching, too, because the ball bounces up to her hand level so easily. Less chasing after a ball = less frustrated Bee.

Gratuitous picture of pigtailed cutie two-and-a-half year old jumping. She has little Addie Cooper to thank for her fixed-up hair; enough with this tinker-chic she's been getting away with lately.

So here is the point of this story: we're having so much fun with these Sky Balls that I decided to ask Maui Toys if they'd be willing to sponsor a little giveaway here and donate one to three lucky winners. They said yes! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post to be entered. Comments will be closed around 12 pm MT on Tuesday, and I'll post the three winners shortly thereafter. Thanks to Maui Toys for their generosity and willingness to answer emails from crazy bloggers in Wyoming! : )

Why Frontier Days 2010 Will Be Awkward for the Dillows, Part VI

Tonight I took Bridget and Maddie to Culver's for dinner, a small consolation when considering that their sister is currently in Ohio with their father for a few days.

As soon as we walked in, I saw a man with his teen-aged daughter ordering at the counter and could sense the scene moving into slow motion, because he wore full cowboy regalia: white cowboy shirt and black vest, silver/turquoise + leather wallet sticking out of his cowboy Wranglers, boots, big tall cowboy hat, and handlebar mustache. Before I could distract her, Bridget gleefully yelled at the top of her lungs while pointing her suddenly giant index finger:

COOOOOWWWWWWWBBBBBBBOOOOOOYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

He laughed. I tried very hard to find a secret Culver's trap door in the floor to fall through, with no luck. It's going to be a long Frontier Days. Remember, this is the same child who hardly talked last summer. She has some people-watching to make up for this year :P

Sisters