LEAP DAY

By definition Leap Year is:

In the Gregorian calendar, the calendar used by most modern countries, the following three criteria determine which years will be leap years:

Every year that is divisible by four is a leap year;
of those years, if it can be divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless
the year is divisible by 400. Then it is a leap year.

For me it is entirely something else...

It all started 20 years ago in Phoenix Arizona where a tall skinny young man named Brad was going to church and hanging out in the same group as I was. I have always been a fan of piano music, even when I was 20 and clubbing every night. I had tickets to see George Winston

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Winston on LEAP DAY

and I was going with a girlfriend and her boyfriend, so I needed a date! I knew that the guys that I went dancing with would not appreciate this kind of music, and someone suggested Brad. Well at the time I thought he was dating "some Blond chick", but I asked anyway. Whew, I had a date!!

The concert was great, and we went to a church dance after, all in all it was a fun date. Brad was secretly wondering if I had a crush on him or if I just needed a date, all I really needed was a date. The next week Brad called and asked me out, so he could see if I liked him. We had a fun time and I thought, hmm this could be fun again. He always made me laugh!! Of course after the 3rd or 4th date we both agreed that neither one of us wanted a "serious" relationship, however we dated only each other from that day on... We were married August 5th 1988!!

Now, no laughing at the skinny Brad and BIG hair on me!! It was the 80's, I was hip and cool and Brad needed me to cook and love him to get him to be the big boy he is today!!

It's a SEATTLE thing...

This so so funny to me, it's a big deal here. It's on the news, people are really feeling some stress here...

February 26, 2008

Starbucks suggests customers start their spring cleaning while stores are closed for barista training
Starbucks' press release about stores being closed tonight between 5:30 and 9 p.m. suggests "5 Great Things to Do in Just 3 1/2 Hours." They are....

1. Thinking of a change in hair color? A full color with highlights takes just about 3 hours.
2. Watch almost all of the nominated short films.
3. When was the last time you made a home cooked meal? You can roast an 8lb - 12lb turkey in 3 1/2 hours.
4. What better time to organize those closets; it's a jump start on spring cleaning.
5. After patiently waiting 12,601 seconds, head to Starbucks to get that espresso!

Trivia:

There are 52 Starbucks locations within a square mile of downtown Seattle.

Starbucks is named after the first mate in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.
First Starbucks was opened in Seattle in 1971 across form Pike Place Market.

Pilks

I am so happy today to see that one of our families favorite family is back in the BLOG world!!

John, Amy and Penny are some of the cutest, creative, most fun people we know!We met them in Bountiful when we lived next door and went to church together. They were the "cute little newly wed" couple. Lizzy was crazy about them and did everything she could to get them over to have dinner with us. Not knowing that Amy is a vegetarian, we had them over, with about 20 minute notice. Amy had to take a phone call or leave for something, we ate with out her. It was a pathetic excuse for dinner, roast beef, potatoes, and not much else if I remember correctly. When she returned, I remember thinking "All she will get to eat is potatoes? I am such a loser hostess!" We had them over many times after that to prove we could do it properly. Lizzy even has a cool baking dish with "from Elizabeth's kitchen" on to remember her hostess days. The funniest party Lizzy had was a tea party, complete with dress up's required AND the British accent! John really did a great job with that one! What a trooper! Amy served in the Young Women's program at church with myself and girls, we learned so much from her, and have so many good memories!Anyway, through the last few years with them, they have become such good friends, we appreciate them in our lives.

~Valentine's Day~

February 14, Valentine's Day, the day for Love...

Some people love it.
Some people hate it.

Is it a day for the diamond, floral, Hallmark and chocolate industry?

Valentine's Day of the past were all about cutting out red and pink hearts for your sweetheart.

I love this day now as an adult. As a child, it was great to get candy and valentines from classroom friends. I loved going to the store and choosing the box of Valentines that I would give out at school. The next best part was deciding which ones in the box would I give to my "crush". After the Valentines were made up, we would usually have an art project in class to make a "mailbox" of sorts. Pink, Red, White and Black are the classic colors. After they are given out, the girls would no doubt wonder what boy would send them a "special" Valentine. We would read into every single card whatever we could just to be sure that we had a secret admirer.

As an adult I love it because I love to love my family! Pink oatmeal for b-fast, yes I have done it! Heart shaped pasta for dinner, done that too. Some years I have even made a special candle light dinner complete with the crystal and china, just for my girls and hubby.

As a teenager, I had a different opinion every year. If i had a boyfriend, it was great. If I didn't, well then it was a "stupid waste of time". I have daughters who are expressing the full range...

Jessica has written a poem about the Salt Lake City temple, and framed a picture of the temple to give to her boyfriend. She loves this holiday! Cat on the other hand, is the hater of the day. She "heart attatcked" her boyfriends car and felt very sappy about it. Although she was the only one who was given flowers! Lizzy hasn't said much, which is not like her. Sarah sent a secret admirer school sponsored "soda gram". She greeted me first thing this morning with a beautifully wrapped box of chocolate.

Jessica and I went to Brad's office and gave him a "heart attack" on his desk. He leaves early on Wednesday, so we got there right after he left to leave the evidence... We also heart attacked my dad's door!

Have a great Valentine's Day!! Love your family!!