Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy birthday to my mom - with her 5th child (me) and her 11th grand child (Lorelei) - this was a great day. Just one, of more than 16,000 days I have been blessed by having Anne Marie Hansen for my mom. I love you mom.

Where did Ground Hogs Day Come From?

Some history about Ground Hogs Day.

Today we celebrate three holidays, all of them from the same source.

February 2nd is a "cross-quarter" day in the solar calendar, which means that it falls exactly between a solstice and an equinox.

It's the ancient Celtic celebration of Imbolc, in honor of Brigit, the goddess of fire, poetry, healing, and childbirth. Brigit brings the healing power of the sun back to the world on Imbolc, a day that carries the first promise of spring. Imbolc comes from the Old Irish i mbolg, meaning "in the belly," because this is the time when ewes became pregnant to deliver spring lambs.

The Christians took over the Celtic celebration and made February 2nd into a Christian holiday, Candlemas Day. Candlemas Day celebrates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple exactly 40 days after Christmas.

There are many old sayings about today — about the emergence of animals from their winter dens and omens that predict the season ahead. One English saying goes:

If Candlemas day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight.
But if Candlemas day bring clouds and rain,
Winter is gone and won't come again.

There was a tradition in many European countries of watching animals — especially badgers — to see how they acted on this day. If they returned to their dens, it meant that there was still a long winter ahead.

German immigrants in Pennsylvania found that there weren't a lot of badgers in America, but there were a lot of groundhogs, so the holiday evolved into Groundhog Day. The first reference to Groundhog Day is from 1841, in the diary of a storekeeper in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. He wrote: "Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks' nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."

hat tip: The writer's almanac by Garrison Keeler

Play with Wordle

This is a sweet website called Wordle. It will take any words you type and turn them into a cloud, a picture, a piece of art. Here is another:

Rise and Shine

Happy New Year!!

Helen Peterson Day!

Happy Holidays

Click this picture to play a matching game. Have a beautiful snowy day!

Happy Birthday Dad

How the time flies - huh Dad? Now that I am older and wiser I know that this picture of you and mom must seem like it was taken just a moment ago. How fast a lifetime goes by. Here are things that make me think of you today.

• the smell of sawdust
  
• pecans
  
• bucket trucks of any kind
  
• fly swatters (from an odd memory of listening to a Twins game on the radio at Grandpa Schmitd's driveway)
• horseradish
  
• rice pudding
• fancy flippy dives
• night shirts
• Vicks and white socks to cure a sore throat
• Camp Isabella - hats from Aunt Julia (where are those?)

There is so much more - my head and heart are full of all you are for me - in memories and for real everyday. I love you Dad - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Hey Jenny - Today is your BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Sister! I decided not to put a picture of you in the bathtub this time. I hope you have a great great day!

Here are words that make me think of you today, you are my most loyal blog reader, consistent, perfect mom to John, hard worker, pragmatic, fun loving, puzzle making, movie watching, book reading, smart, money managing, always willing to help, sister, near sister, big sister.

Here is a funny video - it is called Jenny, not really birthday related but this is a group you will enjoy seeing more of: Flight of the Conchords.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Love
Helen

Baby Brain Map

Visit this site (right away) to see an amazing tool about your baby's brain. The zero to three foundation has put up this program. Select your baby's age, click the part of the brain you would like to learn about and choose from a list of FAQ. The answer appears magically in the box below and gives ideas about what you can do at home.

I believe in singing

Brian Eno

Listen to THIS I BELIEVE essay by Brian Eno.
an excerpt: "

So I believe in singing to such an extent that if I were asked to redesign the British educational system, I would start by insisting that group singing become a central part of the daily routine. I believe it builds character and, more than anything else, encourages a taste for co-operation with others. This seems to be about the most important thing a school could do for you."

Thank you to Merry Sawdey for sending this to me.

needed: One Holiday Obsessed Preschooler

Here are two wonderful projects for the holidays

from our dependable crafty friends at Kiddley



Toblerone stamp star of Davids and a Recycled Advent calendar.

thanks to Kiddley and Craftastica

Super Women!

Thanksgiving Painting Project

Have fun painting a turkey like this or 3 other cute Thanksgiving pictures.

Our First Recital

Happy Birthday Claude Monet

Camille Monet and Child in the Garden. I love the impressionistic work of Claude Monet and his French friends. The work of this one person is a gift to the world that will endure forever.

We are clothes in the Washing Machine!

If doing the laundry was this beautiful and relaxing . . . I would do it.

Hat tip: Amy Ludwig for the cool video

Chip-ty is Fifty!

Oh no! November 3rd slid by me - but not my brother in law Chip who turned one half of a century yesterday!! Hey Chip Happy Birthday, this one is for you~

Vote!

Kindermusik of the Valley on TV

Check this link to see our studio and River Ridge Arts on TV!

Where have I been?

Kindermusik of the Valley is up and dancing! Now I hope to get back to some blogging. I am putting up a video of my children for your viewing pleasure. The Burnsville High School drum line is where they spend most of their "free" time.

This is a rough afternoon performance for the Sophomore football team (arn't they nice?)
Enjoy!