Something New Everyday

We had a fun Valentines - Mike got roses that made me so happy! Aren't they beautiful?! We had a low key valentines. Stayed in for the night, had a casual dinner of Mahi Mahi sandwiches and artichokes. I don't know why it's been so long since we had artichokes but it totally reminded us of how Mike had never had one until he met me. Now that's love.

Mariah and I are doing Atkins together Donuts, cookies and chocolate were the temptations of the day for both of us. It is not fair when your diet starts the day before Valentines. At work, there were treats everywhere and TWO boxes of doughnuts - from Krispy Kreme which I don't like; and Dunkin' Donuts which I do like. I resisted and gave Gib all my treats from preschool. He broke into a heart shaped box of chocolates on the way home from a much needed haircut (he had a total Johnny Bravo thing going on and we were making jokes about it and other potential styles he could pull off, and how it had only been 6 weeks but his hair grew 3"). I will admit I seriously considered snatching a chocolate out of Gib's hands. I hoped they would all be fruit filled ones, because those are gross, and then I wouldn't feel deprived! The first one he bit into was the orange filled one. I was secretly thrilled to make a disgusted face as Gib remarked how good it was. I guessed the next would be pink or white inside trying to convince myself I was fortunate to have my taster taking care of all those gross chocolates filled with sugar and carbs. It WAS pink. I was so happy to say YUCK!  Gib remarked that he liked that one too. So I'm thinking I will get out of this without feeling deprived at all. I guessed that the rest would be chocolate filled  (probably crappy chocolate too so I wasn't missing out - now if it had been See's I woulda cried) and whimpered inside that there would also probably be a caramel one. THOSE I like even if surrounded by waxy chocolate! Sure enough the next 2 were chocolate filled and the last was caramel. I just gripped the steering wheel and kept on talking about something else. Luckily, Gib eats pretty fast so my window of opportunity to grab candy from my baby was rather short lived.

Gib got to stay after school yesterday - to learn the Waltz. He is going to the military ball on Saturday with a gal named Maya. She asked him.  He also announced yesterday that he is going to the Prom with another girl. Who asked him. I am working on getting the wrist corsage ordered today for Maya.  Meanwhile, Gib took pink roses and some Spiderman stuff and silly string for an after school surprise - I think for the Prom girl whose name also starts with M. I cautioned Gib on not mixing them up. As one of his friends remarked, shared with us by another mom, "I do all right; but I'm no Gib!" I think I need to print out some etiquette tips for my son. If he is willing to learn the Waltz surely he will read two paragraphs about how to behave like a gentleman.

Gib also decided to apply to University of Tennessee Knoxville. That is where the majority of students go. We didn't apply there (sadly because 12/1 is the deadline and I am doubtful for scholarship money now) because he didn't want such a large school and to go where everyone else is. He said he wanted it as an option now due to the fact that so many of his friends are going there. The application is all but done now, just need the recommendations. Gib wanted to email them first before submitting the electronic request from the application. I chomp at the bit over the delay but he is probably right. I think I will blame this unexpected stress for why I forgot my Valentines dessert. I was working on editing his personal statement a good portion of the evening. Now I get to have anxiety about another college, admission and price tag.

Mariah has been busy with two big assignments due this week. The baby scrapbook for Chad Damien was turned in yesterday. It looked fab, and Mariah said would be proud of it until she saw the professional scrapbookers results the other students turned in. She'll still be happy it's done and has the satisfaction of doing it all herself. I think it looks great! The worst part of this assignment is that now the best scrapbook in the house is for an imaginary child. The best part was the supplies were all on hand from the wedding album!

The other assignment was the English essay on the fashion differences and influences of the 1920's v. 1930's. It was due today. I reviewed it last night from 10:30-11:30 pm.  Mariah did a great job on that too but she has a crick in her neck from working on the laptop in bed... guess she didn't want to work around all the scrapbooking debris littered throughout the house. Thankfully, she'll get it cleaned up tonight. Or tomorrow. Definitely by Sunday!

And the countdown continues for Mariah's 15th birthday in 4 days. She thinks she'll be driving around on a learner's permit right away. I'm not so sure about that. If she's lucky I will take her for a spin in the high school parking lot on the 18th when we have a school holiday. But I'm not promising anything more than that.