Gato en Botas

I took the girls tonight to see an opera.

Yes, a real opera. Well, except the queen talked a few times.

We saw a version of "Gato en Botas" (Puss in Boots) that was performed by St. Mary's College. All ladies put on this production, and it was really cute and fun. My favorite part was when the parrots (the Ogre who looked more like the Ice Queen turned herself into a pair of parrots) sang "Le Jasmine", my favorite operatic female duet. Zoë kinda enjoyed the production. Megan sat on the edge of her seat the entire show. Miranda squirmed and hid her face and talked throughout: was freaked out by the cat, but loved the bunnies and the Ogre (Ice Princess, remember?)

I only wish I'd had a camera to take pictures of the girls with some of the cast who were in the lobby after the production.

It was a really great experience. I'm glad that I was able to take my daughters, that they were able to enjoy an opera. Although, I really had to laugh at three things:

1. Miranda said, after she saw the girl dressed up as a cat, "I HATE cats! Well, except for real cats like Calico-Kitty-Cat"
2. The girls all agreed that they would like to come back and see "Spy Kids" as an opera at that theater. Or, better,yet as just a performance.
3. None of the girls liked Vibrato. The also enjoyed the duet, but they were annoyed/irritated/pained by the "too loud!" and "high" notes.

I'm still chuckling over that one.

Thank you, St. Mary's College, for putting on a production my little daughters could attend at a cost that fit my budget. Thank you, girls, for being such good sports and for having fun. Thank you, Travis, for watching 'Nica so I could go with the other girls.

Wacky Weather

Don't get me wrong. I Love it when, in February or any other month, I can walk outside without a jacket on and feel comfortable. I love letting the girls run around in the neighborhood (especially now that 'Nica is getting older and I'm not as worried about her running around, too). I love hearing neighbor kids shouts and laughter mixed in with my daughters' voices.

BUT (you knew that was coming, right?), this winter has been exaspterating. Why? Because I keep expecting the COLD to set it, and the SNOW to stick around. It hasn't. We've had a few days of cold and snow, but then we get (yucky!) rain that melts it all away, and days in the 40s (which is blistering warm for Midwest Winters!).

So, as I enjoyed the Sunshine warming my face in the cool afternoon, as I loved hearing the joy of laughter and play outside, as I swept mud from my floors 10x, I was enjoying the moment, but then I start thinking:

Will April be in the single digits like it was a few years back?
Will March be a lion all month?
Is this too good to be true?
If only this were in the South, we'd be calling this a COLD day, and then looking forward to warmer beach weather in a matter of weeks (days?).

It has been a crazy winter. I'm grateful that I haven't had too many mornings of shoveling or scraping snow/ice off my windshield (especially since it's at 6 am when I'm already late leaving for Seminary). I haven't been sad that the roads have been clear. I haven't missed the days so cold and gloomy you begin to wonder if there will ever be a break.

But, I have missed sledding, snow angels, snowmen, and school closures from a HUGE load of snow overnight. I have missed the ruddy cold cheeks and cold-runny noses with bright eyes and smiles and petitions for hot chocolate.

Still, I will GLADLY take the warm weather! (but I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop...)

Valetines for School Parties

Wanted: inexpensive (about $0.10/kid) creative, healthy, prepackaged food product Valentine treat.

Does it exist? I haven't found it. There are TONS of ideas out there for utilizing suckers, all sorts of candies (especially suckers and kisses), but have you seen anything for fruit gummies (and are they really "healthy"? even if they are made with concentrated fruit juices instead of high-fructose corn syrup? does it matter where the sugar comes from, if it's just sugar?)

So, when I found some play-dough in a little plastic container with a lid that had a "stamp" for the play-dough at the dollar spot at Target, I snatched up every last one that they had. 5/$1. That's still more than little paper cards would cost, but still a fun "treat" (even if it isn't edible). Then I struggled with what to say on the valentine labels I  made. These are what I came up with:

Valentine...
After they made you, they broke the mould.
You've left your mark

You are creative and colorful
You form great friendships
You make a great impression!

Got any other play-dough related Valentine sayings?
Got any other inexpensive, but cute/creative non-candy Valentine suggestions?

Oh, and why do schools now have to call Valentine's Day "Friendship Parties"? Seriously? We all know the only reason we're giving any of these little cards is because it's a Pagan day conscripted by commerce to be a big-spending day for gift-giving. Even so, I still love giving/getting Valentines!