We have a little visitor at our house that showed up at the same time as the 100,000 cake I’m just polishing off right now. It’s a caterpillar that my little one happened to notice on one of the oaks in our front yard while I was pitching the softball to big brother. Well, my husband didn’t want it on the tree, siting a past caterpillar appearance that had single-handedly been responsible for stunting the growth of a backyard tree, and my little one wanted it as a pet.

So we placed it in a Trader Joe’s ginger cookie container, poked in some air holes, tossed in some oak leaves, a little branch, and watched for a while. Well, the little bugger ate all the leaves and left a monstrous number of little brown acorn-like pellets all over the container. So the next day, we started again with new leaves and a fresh, tidy living space. The little guy was getting HUGE….

Well then he started spinning, and shrinking. And I was sort of in awe, because I’ve never witnessed any cocoon formation, so I kept checking in on the progress. Well then I started getting discouraged, wondering if our little guy was having trouble, would be able to manage the task of covering himself up in self-created sleeping bag. The webbing was getting spread all over the place, getting wadded up in balls, and it lacked efficiency. I couldn’t tell if he even knew what he was doing. But last night, finally, it looked like maybe he was on the right track.

This morning I came out to check on him and he was totally covered. I was so proud… Now I suppose we’ll wait for the transformation into moth (my husband assures me this is no butterfly caterpiller, but we shall see).

In other news, we are currently auditioning early reader chapter books for boys. We’ve exhausted Junie B. Jones and Mercy Watson and are trying to find something else with plenty of books in the series. My first grader loves working his way through lists… I checked out the first in The Zak Files series, The Time Warp Trio, and The Cam Jansen Mysteries. So far…inconclusive. Any suggestions would be delightful…

Yesterday my husband came home with a bakery cake–a chocolate cake with buttercream icing, decorated with the words ‘100,000 October 6, 2006’. I was simultaneously thrilled and exasperated. My husband has admitted to having a little list of numerical milestones that celebrate out life together.

When I was working, I was called down to the lobby for a bouquet of flowers, sure they weren’t for me, but willing to check anyway. The card read, ‘For a thousand incredible days and nights’… (Whoa! Had to hope the security guard hadn’t snooped.) There’s been another milestone marked as well, but shockingly, I can’t remember it. (And last time it took me forever to figure it out. I’m not sure I ever did…I think he had to tell me.)

So this time, I’m already guessing out loud–way off, just spouting things–like ‘days we’ve been together’. Well, after a few of these, he gives me a hint. The cake is actually celebrating two milestones within a few days of each other. Now I’m really confused, thinking back, trying to mentally calculate, giving up finally, and using a calculator… Really I should have figured this out right away, but somehow it got lost in all the other silly guesses: We’ve been married 100,000 hours.

My hint for our second reason to celebrate pertains to the kids. Well, we’ve been married for almost twelve years, and our kids are young, so I jokingly ask, ‘Do you have an eleven year old I don’t know about?’ Let me tell you, it’s a little disturbing that he answers with ‘You’re getting close’ (!) Anyway…turns out I’ve accumulated 100,000 hours taking care of my children. I scored double for the time I’ve dealt with them–I mean enjoyed them–both together.

Wow! Talk about your unexpected surprises and celebrating the little things…
I wonder what else is on my husband’s little list…are we limited to powers of ten, or will a quarter million somethings be marked in some way? Only one way to find out….

1. The Lord of the Rings–any or all of them.

I was originally a Legolas fan, but I’ve since switched to Aragorn. Although Eomer is a close second. Funny story: my mother-in-law had taken to wearing those hair pieces (like ponytails) when she had short hair. Well, my husband thought they were ridiculous and looked like the horse hair helmets of the Rohirrin from the movie. So, one day she’s wearing it, and he says to her, “How fare things in the Riddermark?” She totally didn’t get it, but I couldn’t stop laughing.

2. Star Wars–the original trilogy

Somehow, I just can’t relate to any of the new characters.

3. Serendipity

4. Ghostbusters
My dad laughs uproariously at “That’s a big Twinkie,” but I’ve never really gotten it.

5. Meet the Parents
Gotta love Ben Stiller.

6. Simon Burch
I cry everytime. Perfect cast.

7. Gigi
A favorite since my junior high days. I still occasionally quote the movie.

8. Freaky Friday
I have the new version with Lyndsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis.

9. Rear Window
I could almost fill the whole list with Hitchcock movies…

10. North by Northwest

11. Gladiator

12. The Saint
Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue
One day I’ll need to watch the original TV episodes with Roger Moore.

13. Emma
So many good lines! Loved Gwenyth Paltrow as Emma.

Blogger’s not uploading my photos, so I’ll post without ’em.