Hail to the Cheeks

I've already mentioned how much I love Jack's buns, but I'm just going to say it again. We let him have some diaper-free time at my Mom's house last night before he got in the bathtub, and we were both in hysterics at the sight of that tiny little tushie walking around. It is the cutest thing! (Yes, he's going to hate me when he's older.)

Today I met a friend at the mall for a playdate with her niece, Elizabeth, and I just have to say that little girl has the sweetest face. I could just kiss her cheeks all day, and I don't know how her Mommy hasn't eaten them right off her face, but she's definitely exercised some serious self-control in that area. Jack has his Daddy's metabolism, fortunately for him, so there's just not a lot of extra chub there for me to munch....not that I don't still kiss his face like it's my job. (It is.)

Anyway, today being Presidents' Day, I thought I'd talk about cheeks and chiefs. I find it interesting that we only celebrate the birthdays of two of our nation's presidents. Actually, it's interesting that we celebrate any of their birthdays at all, but that we just chose two is curious to me. Not that they weren't great Presidents who changed the course of our country dramatically and for the better, but I'm just saying. My sister sent me an e-card this morning that said it was a good day to learn which presidents are on our currency, and it reminded me of my promise to myself just to learn the presidents. In chronological order. I'm ashamed to say that I would fail that portion of the U.S. citizenship test. I've told myself several times that I would do it. Oprah would tell me that I'm lying to myself each time I do, but does Oprah know the presidents? That's what I'd like to know.

I probably shouldn't tell you, but I also can't label all 48 contiguous states on a map of the U.S. either. I can get the majority of them, but it's all those rectangular midwestern states that get me. Am I a prime example of the failure of our American public school system? Perhaps, but I can tell you how lightning bugs reproduce, how to say "leave me alone" in French, and a thing or two about Newton's laws of motion. And when you're skidding out of control on an icy road, would you rather know where Kansas is, or how to avoid that oncoming telephone pole? I ask you.

What things do you wish you'd learned?