Happiness is

a big ol' bag of marathon treats.



I don't know why this bag of loot makes me so happy, it just does. On my way to the expo to pick up the race packet today, I overheard several women talking about this being their first marathon. The first one is so exciting! This will be the first marathon in a long time that I will run all by myself. I've always had Mr. Bickerson and/or my friend, Andrea with me for entertainment and motivation. So, although I know it's uncool to wear headphones during a race, I'm going to take along my shuffle just in case I need my own brand of musical inspiration to make up for the lack of a running buddy.

Five days to go

to the Twin Cities Marathon! Remind me next time to not take up a weight-lifting class six days before a marathon. Every muscle in my body is sore, as well as some bones. Why does it hurt when I touch my clavicle?

Kindergarten and preschool kinks are shaking out. There's napping happening today!

Best lawyer's name ever

Bob Loblaw

*One grecian urn...

Mr. Bickerson reports to me this evening that his premature exit from the sanctuary balcony during this morning's anthem was not in fact due to Hope's misbehavior as I had assumed. With great flair, Hank began conducting the choir from his seat, waving his arms around dramatically. Gary started laughing because he thought he looked a lot like Pee Wee Herman. We recently rented the first season of Pee Wee's Playhouse and both Hank and Hope have been perfecting their versions of Pee Wee's dance moves and facial expressions. So Hank saw that his dad was shaking with laughter in church and that just gave him inspiration.

Hope was completely surprised by having to leave the sanctuary for reasons unrelated to HER behavior. She's the one making a big fuss most of the time. But today she was asking her dad on the way out, "Why are we leaving? The songs not over yet, Daddy! WHAT'S SO FUNNY, DADDY??"

* Reference fron The Music Man; liturgical dance scene.

Soccer

Hank. Fourth kid from the right.

Tears for Spongebob

The new rule in our family is one half-hour of television allowed after a successful quiet time (formerly known as nap time). After a busy morning and afternoon both kids complied with quiet time and rested in their rooms. Hope actually slept. So they earned one television show and today they picked Spongebob on Nickelodeon.

They were hypnotized by the show and I was minding my own business reading the paper and enjoying some coffee when I heard Hank say to his sister, "It's okay Hope. Don't cry." I turned and looked at my daughter. Her eyes were filled with tears and her cheeks were all red.

"What's wrong Hope?"

She's totally sobbing now, "I don't want Spongebob's horsey to LEAVE!!" Sobbing and sobbing.

I had no clue what had transpired on the show so I hit the rewind button on the Tivo. It appeared that Spongebob brought home a stray seahorse and his friend encouraged him to set him free. So that's what he did and he was all crying and sobbing about giving up his new pet. The seahorse was thrilled to go. It was very funny with lots of visual gags and sarcasm, but apparently your three year-olds don't appreciate the subtleties of Spongebob comedy. Hope was beside herself with sorrow.

I was going to snap a picture of her crying and post it here but I decided to hug her for awhile instead.

Race report

Somebody needs to tell the director of The Des Moines Marathon and Half Marathon that if you are going to invite several thousand very anal retentive people to run a marathon in your city, you should definitely include a general instruction booklet in the runner's packet at the expo. There was a very nice map of the course but there was no booklet that gave basic information about start time, place, spectator information, etc. My top three marathon necessities:

1. Information packet with written race instructions.
2. Quality t-shirt given at the finish, not before the race!
3. Sufficient post-race snacks at the finish line.

The Des Moines race was really nice. Very scenic course and excellent water stops with the exception of mile number two, where they had mysteriously run out of cups. The best part of the race was seeing my mom with Hank and Hope at miles 7 and 10, and the drum group that played on the course at miles 5-ish and 12-13.

Note to Mr. Bickerson: No jumping around like a crazy nut at a Jump it Up facility birthday party the day before races.

Bloggy block

How has a week passed by with nothing new to say? I'm sorta out of ideas for writing. I would invite my bro or dear husband to chime in, if they happen to read this. They can be pretty funny from time to time. In the meantime, I can ramble a little bit:

1. I am really, really glad I don't live in Texas and Louisiana. I am glad, also, that I don't live in Fridley. There were tornados there last night.
2. My husband is talking crazy talk. He just suggested that he thinks it would be fun to drive to Texas for vacation next year. With the kids in the car.
3. If I'm ever on Survivor I am not eating a pile of ants the 6th day into the game. Go ahead and vote me out.
4. Peggy is a lot of work.
5. I don't seem to enjoy David Letterman like I used to.
6. I haven't run since Sunday. I am a loser.
7. I love autumn and I love it that Hope has a new friend who calls her "Pope" and sometimes, "Poke."
8. My favorite part of kindergarten so far is how happy Hank looks bouncing on and off the school bus each day.

Whoppers

There is some gigantic fib telling going on in the Bickerson household. The tall tales started this summer but their frequency, and the amount of detail, has increased exponetially since kindergarten started. We've heard tales of police pulling over the school bus driver, kids having arms broken by holding them out the bus windows, first grade teachers hospitalized so that first graders have to attend class with the kindergarteners, and so on. When Hank tells me these tales I just look at him calmly. He knows I know he's fibbing but he persists with a lot of It's true! It really is true!

Today I decided to tell the kids the story about The Boy Who Cried Wolf. I didn't tell them why I was telling it. I just did it. In the version I told I asked rhetorically, wasn't it too bad that, because the boy had fibbed to everyone, when he really needed help fighting off the wolf, nobody believed the wolf was there? Midway through the story Hank was all ears, very attentive and eager to find out what happens in the end. By the end of the story he looked like a kid who realized he's been tricked into enjoying a story that turned out to have a parental purpose. He was mad about it! And then he informed me that if HE had been the boy he would have just fought the wolf all by himself.

La crapolla

I followed the recipe on page 171 in the Southbeach diet book for Surprise Southbeach Mashed 'Potatoes' that substitutes cauliflower for potato.

Are you wondering what the surprise is? Wonder no more. The surprise is really no surprise and that it tastes like crap, unless of course you are a fan of pureed, steamed cauliflower doused with fake butter oil and no-fat half and half.

I would rather gain five pounds from eating real mashed potatoes next time.

Preschool at last

Hope, along with her friend PJ, has been waiting for this day for at least one year. She followed her big brother through these doors for the last two years and now he's off to bigger and better things in kindergarten. Rarely does Hope want to take a doll or stuffed animal friend with her when she goes places but this morning she was adamant about bringing along "Baby Hope."

Keeping the dog busy

Tip: Your dog will leave you alone for a long time if you give her a frozen beef bone tied up inside an old sock.

Perhaps I could tie up some Jolly Rancher candies inside another old sock and toss it to the kids. Hmm. Just might work!

Pretty

I was reading about solar flare activity on the web and found this picture of the aurora borealis taken in North Dakota last night.



Almost makes you wish you lived there! I said almost.

Little drummer girl

Oh, I wish you all could have been there.

There was a 9-11 Tribute Concert at Lake Harriet tonight. I talked my multi-talented friend, Jean Ann, into joining me in the choir. I told her that last year they had a parade for the kids in the crowd and that she should tell her daughter about it. Last year they asked the audience for a child to play the drum and lead the parade. I could think of none more capable and in search of the limelight, than Jean Ann's charasmatic daughter, Jessica.

So there I was standing with Jean Ann and the rest of the choir waiting to go on stage when Amelia Santaniello made the kiddie parade announcement. Then Amelia said, "Is there any child in the audience who would like to --" And VOILA. Jessica was already standing at Amelia's side, on stage, before she finished the request for a drummer/leader. That girl was ready to go!

I've asked Jean Ann to send me a picture of her daughter from the event. When she does I will post it and I want you all to take a close look because this kid is going to be a star some day.

She cooks and she sings!

She cooks and she sings!
Originally uploaded by Mrs. Bickerson.

Swimming

Hope went nuts in the swimming pool last night. She finally decided that it was okay to dog paddle without mom or dad holding on to her. She wears a vest to stay afloat. I was swimming with Hank for awhile and when we made our way over to Hope and Gary she shouted at us, "Look Mom! I can swim AND I can turn LEFT!" Indeed she could.

Mini me

It's becoming clear that Hank has inherited his dad's way with words and interpersonal communication style. I had a Pampered Chef party here at my house recently and in order for it to be a success, I had Mr. Bickerson remove the children from the premises. The party consultant is my good friend who has also provided live music for my daughter's birthday parties. Mr. Bickerson and the kids showed up at the end of the party.

Cut to two weeks later when my friend and I were at a choir rehearsal. She asked me if I knew what Hank had said to her at the party. No I didn't so she informed me.

Hank (5) walked over to her and said, "So let me get this straight; you sing AND you cook?"

Kindergarten

Assignment #2

There he goes

He wouldn't let me take his picture in front of all the other kids but I was able to snap a picture as he climbed the steps into the bus. I didn't cry. I thought I would but he kind of surprised me with the speed with which he raced onto the bus. I hope he didn't mind me yelling I LOVE YOU HANK as he ran.

He was all smiles getting off the bus at home after school. He pulled out the contents of his backpack. There was a napkin left over from snack and his first assignment: big A and little a, of course! That's when I cried.

Labor Day

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