On no? Oh yes.

Can you believe that this is the very same grill we used to make scrumptious hamburgers yesterday, a la a summer freakin' barbecue? I know this is pointing out the obvious but look at Peggy's face. That face is saying, "People, it is time to seriously consider Gary's idea about moving to Arizona. I don't care if I have to pee on cacti for the rest of my life."

NOOOOOOOOOOO!

A HEAVY SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CDT TUESDAY.

SNOW HAS BEGUN IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WILL SPREAD EASTWARD THROUGH LATE MORNING...REACHING THE TWIN CITIES BY 8 TO 10 AM AND COMMUNITIES OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN BY 9 TO 11 AM. THE WET SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES BETWEEN 11 AM AND 10 PM...WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING BEFORE DIMINISHING SIGNIFICANTLY IN INTENSITY OVERNIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FROM SIX TO EIGHT INCHES ARE LIKELY IN THE WARNING AREA...WITH SOME NINE INCH AMOUNTS POSSIBLE NEAR THE U.S. HIGHWAY 8 CORRIDOR OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. IN ADDITION...BREEZY LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING NORTHEAST WINDS...WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH POSSIBLE...MAY LEAD TO SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN OPEN AREAS.

A HEAVY SNOW WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS...INCLUDING ON INTERSTATES 35...90...AND 94. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Here's to a happy week with more of this sun!

Oh wait, yes it does!

Exciting Saturday at the Hansons, Part 2 from hanksmom on Vimeo.

It doesn't get much more exciting than this

Exciting Saturday at the Hansons, Part 1 from hanksmom on Vimeo.

Movie rec

My mom says this is a good one:

Run Fat Boy Run

Funny or no?

Dana Carvey as Bill Clinton

I think it was a crime that "The Taco Bell Dana Carvey Show" didn't make it past three or so episodes? Next to St. Elswhere and Northern Exposure it was one of my all-time favorite three-episode shows.

Gary thinks I'm demented because this is the kind of humor that helps me make it through another day. Gross? Funny? All I know is as long as there is an internet where I can find this kind of funny gold there will a reason for me to wake up every morning.

The hair

Hank is "Star of the "Week" in his classroom this week. Every kid gets one week where they read to the class, share family traditions, bring favorite things from home, and so on. In addition to taking 75 stuffed animals to introduce to the class today, Hank wanted to take Peggy. That plan fell through when Hope came home sick from school yesterday and is home this morning. So Plan B was put into action and we snapped and printed a picture of Peggy and Hank (and her friend, Sami the Labradoodle, whom we are dog-sitting this week). I sent Hank off on his bus with his Costco grocery bag-full of stuff and when I got home and saw the picture still on the computer screen it occurred to me that the explanation for the hair must be that Hank is Sami's half-brother.

Geneology

Do you know about Geni? My family and I have been having a great time using it!

A typical Tuesday morning

She might have decent expressive and receptive Mandarin Chinese language skills but she can't remember what she did a week ago. (She and her mother have hired the same contractor to build their Memory Palace™. {He's saving money by using popsicle sticks.} Hank and his dad, on the other hand, are building theirs out of kevlar, concrete, and self-righteousness.)

Untitled from hanksmom on Vimeo.

My new swimsuit

My new swimsuit
Originally uploaded by Mrs. Bickerson.

I'm on spring break and so relaxing and really taking the time to find the most flattering swimsuit for my body type this season. I've narrowed it down to a few choices and this one is at the top of the list. I'm not sure about the football-shaped purse on the hip. Seems impractical but then again if it's waterproof, it might be a good idea to have my cell phone with me (with my psychiatrist's number on speed-dial).

(I almost forgot to show you what Gary will be wearing this summer.)

If they don't come down from their sugar high

...in the next two hours, I will be heading to the bookstore:

New Kid by Friday

Happy Easter

Here's a heartwarming story to start your day:

Marine and Iraq Dog Reunited

Cables

Cables
Originally uploaded by Mrs. Bickerson.

And halfway down the next row I had to rip it up and start over.

I will be busy tonight

I will be busy looking around the house for objects in the shape of the state of Illinois.

Corn flake in the news

Overheard on a playdate

"How 'bout we dance together and WE'RE NICE TO EACH OTHER!"

(Sounds good to me.)

Mr. Rogers Sweater Day is today

Was there, will there ever be a kinder person on the planet?

Thank you to Cathryn and shyestviolet for sharing their love of Mr. Rogers with me.

I heard part of an ad on the radio today

"...There's really nothing more satisfying than changing your own oil..."

What about mowing the yard? Or balancing your checkbook?

Yogurt

Ever since my friend Fizzy Lizzy waxed rhapsodically about Greek yogurt, it's been in the back of my mind to branch out from Dannon and Yoplait and maybe try a Greek brand some day so I did. Such deliciousness! This brand is a little like eating a stick of delicious, honey-sweetened yogurt butter. I think you could safely frost a chocolate cupcake with it. Or serve it with cornbread.

Your TMI for the day

When I wear disposable contact lenses I sometimes forget that I have them in. I always remember to take them out at night but last night I forgot. Then I dreamt that my upper right front tooth was rotting and falling out. I think there must be a connection, don't you?

Your video for the day

One of the main reasons I like to read www.dooce.com everyday is because the author is such a dog-lover. She links to all the great dog-related stuff on the web.

Like this:

Birthday boy turns 8

Dad loses what's left of his hearing. Story at 10.

Why do I love these games?

Because the little characters are adorable.

Questionaut: an educational Samorost.

But we have to wait until September

I get to learn a lot as a speech pathologist in a junior high school. One of my students has me (and now Hank) all excited about this:

Spore

Attention: Bacon-lovers

I have been made aware of the existence of maple-bacon lollipops. I may need CPR if I think about this heavenly combination of flavors for more than one minute.

In case you're looking for me today

I will be out back, ridding the yard of one winter's worth of dog poo. It's going to be a long day.

UPDATE: She eats way too much...and she knows it.

Time for bragging

The Y swim banquet was held last Sunday at a local restaurant where much fun was had by all the parents and kids. Last year Hank won "most improved swimmer" for boys 8 and under and this year his sister took that title. The competition was a fierce batch of determined, little, peanut-sized girls who swam their tiny hearts out in each meet. Hope really surprised us with her determination. It certainly helped that the little ones had a pack of older girls cheering them on at every meet.

And then there's Hank who won the "top times" for boys 8 and under. Who knew a year and a half ago that the little boy who had to hang on to the side of the pool to complete one length of the pool would be plowing through the water in the freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly?

We are so proud of both of you!

Crazy people

If you think some people who knit might be crazy you might be right.

Crazy people did this

And this

And there's lots more. More than you would think.

Homeschool

"Dad, what does homeschool mean?"

"It means you stay at home and I teach you what you need to learn."

"Would it be all day? You know, like six and a half hours a day?"

"No, it would probably be more like 12... Are you thinking about being homeschooled? Because I'll stay home and homeschool you but I've got to warn you, there will probably be a lot of yelling."

Long distance playdate

This is how you play with a friend who lives on the other side of the world.

Friday randomness

1. Best license plate seen on 35W today:

NOSUP4U

2. Best idea heard on the Dennis Miller show today most likely to give hope to a family of rage-a-holics:

The concept of The Raging Savant: "Rage in a youngster is often misguided genius." Gives hope to parents everywhere.

Blog about Chinese language

Beijing Sounds

Eagles

The second grade (bald) eagle project has us searching for eagle stuff on the web. Although the golden eagle is not the same as the bald eagle this is a cool story worth sharing:

Caged eagle learns to fly

Screen time

After homework, snack, and chores, Hank likes to relax by saving the lives of a few car accident victims and replacing a little girl's malfunctioning pacemaker. He specializes in blood draining and suturing while I like to remove shards of glass and apply antibiotic gel.

They need to use the defibrillator!

Lolcat Bible Translation Project

Start your Monday off right.

Don't miss the 23rd Psalm.

The dishcloth that kicked my @**

After ripping up dishcloth pattern #2 three times (and the last time I was five rows from finished) I am switching to pattern #12 and hoping for better luck. I never used to start over if there was a mistake but this one had a distinct heart pattern that showed the mistakes quite clearly. And I don't know how to pick up dropped stitches in anything outside of plain garter stitch. But I like knitting with this yarn (Sugar and Cream) so it's not a totally awful experience.

Special Note to Mrs. Rellim: Your slippers are 3/4 finished. I need to obtain one more skein of yarn for the top (I ran out of the color I was using) and I'm ready to felt.