Hair con Melissa

Today our very pregnant friend Melissa came by to do our hair. I think she's nesting, but in a hairy way. I think she may be on a one woman mission to give all of her clients great hair before she gives birth to her son. Melissa is a true artist, and that's not an exaggeration. Her cuts usually take about an hour, and she makes you feel like going out to dance afterward. How nice not to have to go far for a coiffure, and how nice to sit in a pretty space like Sassy Pea Market and not under ugly fluorescent lights!

Thanks, Melissa!

(Oh, and we're trying to convince her to be available to other ladies at Sassy Pea during school hours so that maybe you could drop the kiddos off, have your hair done, and zip away for a marvelous lunch date before you have to pick up your little ones.)

~Leslie

My Morning Commute

I am thankful for my mere seven minute commute to work. I leave my suburban neighborhood, pass Home Depot, Whataburger, HEB, Bank of America, then make a left at the light and burst into the countryside. In the spring and summer, the sky is beautiful as I arrive at the farm. In the fall and winter, it's still pretty dark. Since public school resumed in August, I judge my tardiness by where I pass my daughters' principal on the road. She is headed to the girls' school adjacent to our neighborhood, and must live near our farm school. We're opposites. She's early for work no matter where I meet her, and I am usually late! I call it the "Adcock Clock" in her honor.

I have added another clock to my morning self-evaluation--the "Reindeer Clock". Each morning for the last several weeks, if I am on time, I meet a cherubic lady in a mini-van at the light just before my big left turn. She has antlers on her van. While we sit side by side in turn lanes, I hope she doesn't notice me reading my email or checking facebook on my iphone while we wait for green. She looks too responsible, and I feel guilty. Thank God I don't have our school signs on my van anymore! When the light turns green, we zip along together like synchronized swimmers down the four lane for about a mile before she turns right.

Do I want antlers on my van? I had a Jack Ball once and I felt like a joke. Maybe my kids would like it, but to be honest, they'd probably end up embarrassed when the antlers were still on our van on the Fourth of July.

Anyway, I knew I wanted to capture a picture of super-mom's antlers for you, so yesterday I slyly held my iphone out from my right ear. I was sure I looked like I was talking hands-free, and I snapped a picture, JUST AS SHE TURNED TO ME AND SMILED. What a doofus--"how will I face her tomorrow?", I thought. Sadly, the picture didn't even turn out. Today I was so late I missed antler girl, but I wonder how she'll look at me tomorrow?

~Leslie

The commuting deer van has antlers like these!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

By the end of the day tomorrow, each child in the Twos and PreK class will have a folder for their artwork. The Twos' folders are in the kitchen, and the PreK folders are above the cubbies in the downstairs PreK room. We hope you enjoy all of the drawings and artwork you'll find in the folders!

Today was "bread" day! The kids all enjoy the process of kneading bread, then eating lots of it with lunch. We amused ourselves with the infant class . . .Emma Grace wore cowgirl boot tights, and she and Porter dawned Wacy's mock coon skin cap this afternoon. Gage had his hair done by Jennifer after his nap. Thank goodness for short chubby people with funny teeth (or no teeth at all).

Jennifer traced each of the infants' hands, then made butterflies by putting them all together. (look against the tie-dye sheet) She's so creative!

PreK did some gross motor work before lunch--you'll see them featured as deer with antlers.

What should a 37 year old mother of 3 wear on her feet? The answer alludes me . . .

I have needed new shoes for a couple of months now. My daughters received their two requisite pairs of shoes to start the school year in August, and a couple of weeks ago they needed fashionable winter boots or they were going to die. My husband just purchased two pairs of shoes for my son (which we have to return because he has decided he will never wear them). He finally outgrew a couple of great pairs of hand-me-downs. Since I last purchased shoes, my husband has had two new pairs of tennis shoes and an expensive pair of work boots. I begrudge no one their podiatrical loot. But, I NEED SHOES. My tennis shoes are about four years old and out of date. I can't wear flip flops any more due to the cold and animal poop at the farm, and a pair of Target canvas hybrid ballet flats are just not me anymore, and they are worn out, too. Crocs--someone left a pair at school and I cabbaged them, but I am tired of looking like my feet belong to a clown.

I have done this to myself--placed myself at the end of the budget for too long. Admittedly, shoe shopping isn't as fun as it used to be . . .who knew that your feet would grow a half size with each child you bear? That, my friends, is in no girlfriend's guide to anything. The thought of wearing heels on a daily basis is not only laughably impractical in my chosen field, but also sounds just miserable. So, what are the cool moms out there wearing? I have walked in and out of stores for over a month. This quest for shoes has taken on a ridiculousness. Who am I? What do I want my feet to say to the world? Am I prepared for the maintenance of suede?

These are some shoes that caught my eye(s) this weekend--some made me want to gouge those eyes out. None of them are for "day to day" me . . . I should probably be wearing the shoes in the last two pictures (slip on tennis shoes and faux fleece lined Crocs), or maybe the smart black flats with just the suggestion of a heel. Buying Jessica Simpson boots in Texas seems like blasphemy. The search continues, wish me luck. Oh, and I won't stare at your feet, I promise.

~Leslie

Burro Tails

Leilani and Catherine donned their aprons and helped Janie make "burro tails" for lunch . . .

First, start with warmed flour tortillas, nitrate/nitrite free ham, and shredded cheddar cheese. Cover a sheet pan with foil, then coat with a little olive oil. Lay two thin slices of ham on a warmed tortilla, top with about 1/4 cup of cheese, roll up jelly roll style, and lay seam-side down on the cookie sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes in a 400 degree oven until crisped and lightly browned.

Substitutions: turkey, Swiss, pepperoni/mozzarella
Dips: ranch (we are in Texas, ya'll), ketchup, mustard, salsa, marinara
Parent Modifications: salami/provolone/minced peppocini peppers, ham/Monterrey Jack cheese/diced green chiles

Tuesday, December 11, 2009

Today we enjoyed homemade banana bread for morning snack--nice and warm out of the oven on a blustery day in Texas! PreK stopped by Sassy Pea Market to warm up and play with some of the new toys on our way to the the petting farm. Thanks to our pal Sarah Justice, we had a bon voyage party for Queso on the petting farm field. (Queso you will be missed very, very much!) Sarah, Auggie, and Wacy made Queso gourmet applesauce for his special snack! He loved it. All the kids posed for a picture with Queso's name spelled out in giant letters. Inside, we busied ourselves drawing what brings us joy, playing in dry rice, and using animals and cars in "evergreens" that we picked yesterday in the "forest". Despite the cold, it was a fun and productive day on the farm!