2 Clever Blog

Invitation

Dear Think::

Happy Memorial Day Eve.  Last night we went to the dress rehearsal of the National Memorial Day Concert.  (the dress rehearsal is much less crowded and other don't mind my squirmy little pinks running around)  It is on the lawn right in front of the Capitol.  There are many famous faces who come out along with tears from almost everyone watching
I seriously thought Mr. Pink (the non cryer) was going to start crying when

 

Colm Wilkinson came out to sing, "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables.  It was incredible.

The amazing part of the concert was at the end when they play each song from each branch of the military and have those who have served or are serving stand up.  With Mr. Pink serving in the Army I always get a little teary when this happens.

The concert also tells stories and has photos from Walther Reed Army medical center that are touching and great for my girls to see more about where their Dad works.

So click here to check your locals listings to tape or watch the memorial concert.  (I think it will be on a few times over the next few days on PBS)

Off to watch the sun set at the  Iwo Jima memorial and overlook at the flags at Arlington.  How much am I going to miss this city when we move?

Pink::

The Cartoon Carrots

Think::

Every year we stick a bunch of carrots with the root and greenery on our doorstep on the night before Easter to attract any bunnies in the area.  I only ever see these in the grocery store during Easter time, but I am sure it is because that is the only time I ever look for them. 
My kids go nuts when I buy them, they think are straight out of a cartoon.  I have realized it is because they only ever see carrots in a bag cut and shaved ready to eat.  It makes me feel old to tell them, "When I was a kid we had to cut the green off and shave them ourselves"  Interesting huh.

Anyway put the cartoon carrots on your radar next time you are at the grocery store so you can attract any bunnies that may come your way.

Pink::

Leprechaun List

Dear Think::

Here is my Leprechaun list for the day.

• Go to the Grocery store and buy anything that is green, celery, green peppers, green jello, green grapes, snap peas, heads of cabbage, etc.
  
• Box of Lucky Charms for Breakfast
• Skittles to make my rainbow cake (i am trying something new this year, I hope it works so I can show you)
• make sure i have green food coloring to dye the milk and all the toilet water
• turn over all the furniture tonight 
• short sheet the kids bed
• pick up gold dollar coins from the bank to leave for the girls in the morning
• make leprechaun trap
  
  
• make the girls green lunch
• put the gold confetti in all the girls pockets for them to find during the day at school
•  
• make Leprechaun kisses for my neighbors
• find the "Shamrockin" shirt I mad a few years ago to see if it fits any of the girls.

A busy day, it almost feels like Christmas Eve at my house

Start thinking Green!

Pink::

Did I ever show you this little leprechaun outfit that my oldest pink sewed for the little green guy when she was 6 years old.  darling huh?

Don't Forget Me!

Dear Think::

We made it home from our fast and very last minute trip to Hickory North Carolina (Furniture Mecca).  We didn't got there for furniture but if I did that would be the place to go.

With all of our traveling we really should compare notes on creative ways to make travel not so painful - I bet we could make a great list. 

Anywho - I will share one more reason why I love having a camera on my phone.  I took a photo of our parking level at the airport and would never have found the car today without it.  I do have that great iphone app the uses the GPS to find your car - but this seemed a bit easier.

I am sure that every time I leave my car in a large parking lot it is secretly saying "Don't forget me!"  I am not very good an remembering where I park.

also it seemed fate that there was mass confusion when getting on the plane today so me and the girls had to wait outside the plane until they figured it out.  I looked down and there were all three of my littles rubbing the plane and I was able to snap this photo.  It kind of gets me teary just looking at it again.  The simplicity of little family traditions - I think are my way of telling my girls "Don't forget me!"

Now onto getting ready for the leprechaun!
Pink::

 

Think::

Today I made some special pencils for the girls to write with when doing their workbooks.  Oh it made it so much fun for them.

I bought some large flowers (50% off at the craft store- score) and wrapped them on a pencil with white floral tape - I had always seen these made with Green but loved the way the white looked. 

I am hoping it makes paying bills and doing homework more fun. (Even though 99% of our bills are paid online for that one bill I will use the new flower pen)

Pink::

I also have to say how much I love these books!  We have them for all ages in hour house and they are great.  I found them at the book store.

No empty chairs

Think::
Only one more day and Mr. Pink comes home from his 10 day trip.  (and yes I am going crazy!)
I thought I would share with you a new family tradition we started.  One of the littles drew a portrait of him (seriously you got to love the gray hair and braces) and taped it to his chair at the dinner table.  Every night that we have eaten take out Pizza and Ramen noodles we have laughed and thought about him (Ok, I did cook vegetables one night)
I just thought it would be a fun thing to share to do when any family member goes out of town for a few days.

Here is the up close view.

Counting the hours
Pink::

Good Luck Rub

Dear Think::

I am home from Arizona.  It was an incredible trip.  I got to watch my brother graduate from ASU with his Masters degree and scream my lungs out when he walked across the stage all while sitting outside (I know in December) getting a tan.   I knew my loud voice was good for something.

Anyway I thought I would share one of my family traditions that we do when we fly.
Before we ever get on the plane we give it a good luck rub.  All my little girls one by one give the plane a good luck rub right before they get on.
I often try to think of new family traditions that I can start or teach my kids to pass on to their kids and selfishly always remember me.  I had thought of this one about 5 years ago.  I figure that that first time one of my girls fly away from home for the first time, they will walk down that run way (hopefully not running and crying their eyes out because they will miss me so bad) and as they get to the plane they will give it a little good luck rub and feel like I am right there with them.
This has always been a fun thing to do.  We have enjoyed this tradition when we fly on the C-5 military flights in the summer, as getting on those flights are a little less formal and literally "hopping on".

Thought this might be fun tradition for you to start with your family too.

Happy Last minute shopping and wrapping!
Pink::
is it just me or do my fingers look like 5 little sausages.  (photo taken with my new iphone... woo hoo!)

Tight like soap

Dear Think::

So you have got my wife thinking she is just 2clever and she is having a blast with sharing her constant flow of ideas with you.
While I not sure if I am allowed to share anything on your space, I will just risk it.

The other night while saying prayers at dinner with the littles I noticed they don't often shut their eyes and if they do they open after the first few words.
So I came up with the saying of "close your eyes tight like you have soap in them"  Instantly the littles knew exactly what that felt like and they were sealed shut.
Now each night before our prayers we say "tight like soap" and it seems to work. 
Thought you might like me thinking I am 2clever2!  Get it too clever too.  I am too clever too!!!  Use that on your sidebar.

From Mr. Pink::