Birthday? What birthday?

Seriously, how weird do you have to be to have a Leap Year Day birthday? I mean, I figured out I was really odd around age 4 or 5, but now at age 38 (as of today, or tomorrow, depending on how you calculate it), I think I am exhibiting the essence of strange and unusual.

People always ask me, "What is it like to be born on a Leap Year?" Well, first of all, it is correctly called Leap Year Day. Everyone born in a year with a Leap Year Day is, technically speaking, a Leap Year Baby. Only those of us blessed to be born on the 29th day of February are actually Leap Year Day babies, named such because we were born on that day (duh) - and because the lack of annual birthdays means we will be forever young.

Well the answer to this question is - that when when I was younger, my parents always (and still do) make February 28th my birthday. I never felt left out, less special, or anything. On the years when I had a "real birthday" as we call it, my parents and family did something extra-special. There may have been a time from approximately ages 6-13 when I would become annoyed upon getting a new calendar and was unable to mark my actual brithday. I got over that and, like everyone else, my birthdays quickly lost appeal and gave way to the normal daily grind after passing such milestones as 16 (my 4th birthday) and 21 (which was not a big deal to me, because I don't really do that birthday-specific activity very much anyway).

Now, as I inch closer to the big 1-0, which will mark 40 years for me, I feel like we Leap Year Day people are unique in that as adults, we still have a special day that, because of its rarity, does not ever get lost in the redundancy of everyday life. I always have another birthday to which I can look forward. Even though the next time I have a real birthday I will be 40, I am really excited about it coming again in two years. It is sort of like the age thing takes a backseat to the Leap Year thing and I don't care that I am going to be 40.

The most important reason why aging does not bother me at all is because I am a mommy now, and the day I became a mommy is the most special day in my life. I think most mothers would say that their children's birthdays are more celebratory occasions than even the biggest milestone birthdays of their own. The only time I have ever been sad about, on, or before a birthday is the night before my oldest child turned 3 years old. He was praying with me and singing songs and saying his ABC's before he went to bed. I was overwhelmed with how fast the three years had passed since he was still in utero. I could not fathom the miracle that God performs everytime a child is concieved, carried, and born. On top of that, how precious and bright and intelligent he was just made me feel like the most blessed mother in the world. I cried out of exhaustion, because this precious 2-turning-3 year-old had a 1-turning-2 year-old brother, and out of gratitude for my adorable boys.

This morning, that now 10-year-old child made me waffles, leftover fried cheese cubes, leftover fried gizzards, and some sliced brie for breakfast. He can only operate the toaster and the microwave, so I got foods that reflected his current culinary abilities. Surely, much like the first three years show logrithmic development rates, the next 10 years will show equally impressive improvements in his cooking skills. My appreciation is immeasurable.

So, when my friends are celebrating their oldest child's birthday, I tell them, "Happy day-you-became-a-mommy Day," because we know that this is the day when we mothers truly celebrate in our hearts.

Oh, and when I turn 40, I am so having a 10th birthday party, complete with bowling, junk food, presents, maybe even a sleepover.

Another tat, Ripa, for real?

Okay, everyone knows I am obsessed with KR and want to look just like her. The one and only tattoo that I have I got when I was 22 and I was trying to be just like her, who has a tat on her inside left ankle. Hers is a rose and a snake (I think) and mine is a dove with an olive branch in its mouth. I was completely sober, was told several times that it would be permanent, and still regretted getting it about 5 minutes after it was done. I have often wanted to get it taken off, but did not want the expense or the pain that it entails....I'm kind of waiting for some technological advance in lasers or creams or something that will be an inexpensive and fast removal process.

Anyway, this weekend, I read where Kelly got a new tattoo on her inside left wrist. I will not be getting a matching one. I still love her and want her figure, but I draw the line at drawing on myself (anymore).

P90X is kicking my X

Okay - not focusing on the weight, just focusing on getting more toned. Sure, that sounds good- I'll keep telling myself that until I believe it. I am giving up the scale for Lent I decided. I still am in the biggest loser contest at school, although I totally need to be voted off the island. I can weigh with my back to the scale and have someone else record it and then I can look when Easter is over. I think I might do better if we had a PARTNER rather than a group/team. John has a partner and it is his boss, so he is extra dedicated. I can't even remember who is on my team!

I am loving the Olympics - I thought the opening ceremonies in Vancouver were amazing and moving. K.D. Lange was the best I had ever seen her and that performance was moving and beautiful. Also loved the dancers and the projectors - it was so artistic and creative! Hated that their fire thing messed up a little at the end, but it didn't take anything away from it for me. I still thought it was incredibly beautiful. Absolutely LOVED the United States' outfits. The hats, coats, sweaters, pants - everything about them!!! I want one of those hats so bad - I am going to look for one today online (since we don't have school). I think Lindsey Vonn is one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen. If this whole Olympic skiiing thing doesn't work out, I feel certain she could make it as a supermodel. She is gorgeous. End of story.

I knitted the cutest purse yesterday - I used recycled silk yarn from saris in India and made a bucket bag. I haven't put the handles on it yet, but I can't wait to use it! I absolutley adore the silk yarn - can't get enough of it!

Currently arguing with my 9-year-old about reading Harry Potter - he says he reads everyday, yet he is way behind on his points.....go figure. He is giving me the evil eye right now and pouting but he looks adorable because he has on a red sock cap and red shorts and, in typical Tretter style, he has a navy Under Armour shirt with a black t-shirt over it from the Outer Banks. gotta love it!

I don't know what time we are doing our exercising today, but I know that I seriously might not make it...yesterday I was horizontal on the floor when we got finished and I could barely get back up.

Sunday night and I am annoyed

I am always annoyed on Sunday night because school looms over me for Monday morning. Tonight I am especially annoyed for the following reasons:

• I have been doing P-90X for 5 days and I now weigh the same as I did when I started.
• My youngest child is stressed about his AR points, and I think AR is silly and can be counter-productive in getting kids to read
• My husband needs me to painstakingly help him go through a tape of a pitiful game from his even more pitiful season - TONIGHT (and it is 9:40 already)
• I have a huge stack of papers to grade and no motivation to grade them
• I am tired of the snow and cold and there is supposed to be more coming for tonight
• John keeps losing weight and he is annoying me with his dedication and water-drinking and his condescending attitude about my diet sodas

I am trying to be positive, so let's look at this in the glass-is-half-full sort of way:

• I have finally started exercising again and making better choices (yay! because this is long overdue)
• We still have plenty of time for me to help Tretter read the gargantuan book he has chosen in time for the deadline
• I actually like helping John with basketball things when he needs it because it makes me feel supportive and needed
• I have to get through the stack of papers this week because mid-terms go out Friday so everything must be graded and recorded before then. Deadline=forced motivation
• Any significant snowfall tonight might result in a snow day or a delay tomorrow. :-) (which of course I will use to exercise, eat healthy, do laundry and tackle that huge stack of papers!)
• John's success is motivating me to increase my water intake (a fact that my aesthitician will rejoice over) and contemplate giving up diet sodas for Lent (or for good) (gasp!) (insert silent sobs here)

Two more positive results of this weekend: we are going to Cancun in 34 days and I have decided to suck it up and go to my reunion on April 24 in Jacksonville, Florida. I am working so hard to get in shape for Cancun so I might as well go.

Tomorrow's list includes: taking a class for CPR certification, delivering 3 wedding gifts to people who have gotten married within the last year, washing the basketball uniforms for a 5 pm game, and drinking lots of water. :-) Wow, this blogging thing is great.

Three of my favorite things: hugs, cupcakes, electric blankets

Snow days, go days

Okay, so most people think that Snow Days are AWESOME! myself included. Tomorrow will be our third snow day in a row. Today, my wonderful husband and two precious children all went to school, but I did not. This resulted in some much-needed down time for momma!

Yesterday we scheduled a trip to Cancun, Mexico for spring break. This kind of thing is totally out of character for us boring folks who rarely go anywhere unless the destination has significant educational potential. We also are relatively frugal, although I am sure my conservative in-laws (whom I love very much) would argue that point. :-) Therefore, the last two days have been spent running around making arrangements for expedited passports and beginning an understandably-mandatory-if-you-saw-me-in-a-bathing-suit workout program. Luckily, two of the other moms going on the trip wanted to work-out too. Consequently, last night three moms and one young 'un got together at the local high school and did the first day of P90-X.

I hope I make it through tonight's effort staying upright the whole 50 minutes. If you have never done this workout, it totally kicks your butt. Of course, I don't have ninety days, but I do have 42 days, I think. I figure I am going to look better in 42 days if I do P90-X everyday between now and then than if I do nothing. Of course, eating ice cream with my lunch and a whole bag of barbecue potato chips for snack this afternoon is not going to help me move in the right direction. Yesterday I weighed 128 and today I weighed 126, which is the first time all year I have gone down instead of up after a snow day. A small victory is still a victory! Tomorrow I am going to walk on the treadmill while everyone else is at school and still do P90-X tomorrow night. That is, provided I can get out of bed tomorrow.

Gran Caribe Real Resort and Spa Cancún, Gran Caribe Real Cancun All Inclusive Hotel

Gran Caribe Real Resort and Spa Cancún, Gran Caribe Real Cancun All Inclusive Hotel