Our life and stuff

Kids rule

It's Tuesday night... we left the plans up to the kids. 

They both agreed instantly on what to do...

 

   

                                                        ... and the view down below (my next stop)

Then we went to the movies and ate a big tub of popcorn.

And kept our kids out until midnight.

 

 

Do we even own gloves?

We're just not used to this sorta thing. 

like...  Car doors frozen shut with morning ice:

 

Layering like never before - the CHILL in the air was numbing:

    

The sight of snow dusting our local foothills :

(at the far end of this street, to the right is Luke's school)

So while trying to decide on how to spend a Saturday night we all agreed on...  'something warm' 

 

Afterwards, Luke took turns providing transportation for the frozen little ones:

 

With little else planned - a scenic drive thru Old Town with the heater on, completes our cold nights in Southern California.

 

 

Stuck on Pancakes

Since returning with a fresh supply of pancakes capable of putting me in a carb-comma...  I've had the opportunity to get creative.  

Today we had cinnamon pancakes for lunch.

Why Yes - those are real bursts of cinnamon goodness

 

The Ultimate Combo:

Flaky Cinnamon Cakes - Whipped Cream - Real Maple Syrup - Fresh Sliced Banana

Wouldn't it be yummy to layer different fruit in each layer - banana, kiwi etc.  

Oh goodness - just thought about the Criminal Chocolate Chip ones layered with strawberries... that may be dinner.  

*   *   *   *   *

ALSO:  See this cutesy girly princess hair thing-

- Instructions are posted over HERE if interested.          

        

Box of Fun

 

A surprise arrived for Sydney on Friday...   isn't Daddy the best! 

Well, she wasted no time and got right into character:

 

 

The next morning-  the kids and I spent time at my sisters.

The boys played cars and football and other boy stuff... 

 

You know Sydney brought that whole treasure chest of fancy pretty things.  They appeared within minutes in their first of many costume changes:    

 

 

 

 

I then allowed and even encouraged them to leap from the couch...

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Aunt Melanie for the fancy hairstyles, good eats and good times

 

And a special thank you to  Miss Elle  for being such a sweetie, sharing your toys and your room.

 

 

In ONE word

 

I was tagged recently...  as in many days ago but I'm just now participating.

 

 

The rules are simple:

        

   Your answer has to be your first thought and only one word.

   Enjoy-

 

 

1. Where is your cell phone? Sydney

2. Your significant other? Working

3. Your hair? Messy

4. Your mother? Sleeping?

5. Your father? Busy

6. Your favorite thing(s)? Kids

 

 

7. Your dream last night? Nothing

8. Your favorite drink? Coffee

9. Your dream/goal? Happiness

10. The room you’re in? Familiar

11. Your fear? Loss

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here

13. Where were you last night? Shopping

14. What you’re not? Caught-up

15. Muffins/donuts? Neither

16. One of your wish list items? Camera

17. Where you grew up? Australia

18. The last thing you did? Dishes

19. What are you wearing? Pajamas

20. Your TV? Off

21. Your pet? Cement

22. Your computer? Necessary

23. Your life? Busy

24. Your mood? Excited

25. Missing someone? Always

26. Favorite pastime? Sewing

 

27. Something you’re not wearing? Makeup

28. Favorite Store? Online

29. Your summer? Awesome

 

30. Your favorite color? Redishaqualimepink

31. When is the last time you laughed? This morning

32. Last time you cried?

33. Who will re-post this? No-one

34. Four places I go over and over? Panorama, Trader Joes, Practice, Crazy

35. Four people who e-mail me? Al, Work, Sisters and eBay

36. Four of my favorite foods? Soup, Brownies, Grape Nuts and Fruit

37. Four places I would like to be right now? Vacation, NY, FL and Together

38. Four people I tag? Melanie, Candice, Kim and Deanna

 

 

(the rules said nothing about excluding pictures)

 

 

 

FF.21

About 3 years ago we took our first cruise. 

I get motion-sickness and it is NOT pretty.   So I never dared tempt fate at being on a boat out in the big shark infested sea for DAYS on end.

Finally I was convinced that the boats are HUGE and you rarely feel much - especially when heavily medicated. 

The other plus side was having a drooling teething infant on your hip 24/7.  She will just about distract you from any ailments that present themselves.  

We cruised by here...

   (We didn't get off the ship but rather zoomed in for the scenic photo)

 

 

 

I'm glad we gave it a try... it's awfully addicting.

                                                        ~Oct 2005

 

Life Lesson

        

        Just in case

            at any point

                in her young life...

                    

                        She should happen to forget

                            just how wonderful

                                and important...   I am

 

I provide tender reminders

 

  

FYI:  The activity section includes certificates for the the BEST MOTHER award 

 

What?    A subtle notion never hurt anyone.

    

Let's take a tour...

    It's not everyday....  you visit a pancake warehouse.

I brought this sassy girl with me.  I threw up the camera to see if it was charged - she struck that pose in all of .02 seconds :

   

 

I pulled up, relieved to see a big familiar sign to let me know I'm in the right place:

We've exchanged a few e-mails.  I had shared our experiences with their product and they were always SO super nice.  

I spoke about ideas - how I think they would make for an awesome fund-raiser.  Who wouln't want to buy a wholesome, organic, reasonable product.  Something you will actually USE and even better - ENJOY. 

I mean, it's a redi-made family experience...  just add water.   

 

So here we are meeting... I think he understood me and what I envisioned.  Typically my mind is racing and I stumble over my thoughts, leaving important stuff out. 

(It doesn't help that I must be mindful of my 3 year old as she is about to scale the warehouse rolling ladder or stuff her face with courtesy cupcakes. ) 

I was SUPER IMPRESSED.  I am a sucker for a fresh and fun presentation.  Oh- did I mention the space... it was tidy, bright and orderly. 

It's obvious they take great pride in their dreams -

 

How cute are their baskets and tins! 

Much better than some Costco salami/cheese/wine thing that people will NEVER eat. 

We were fortunate to leave with some goodies - I'm excited to try the Vivacious Vanilla.  Thank you SO very much DAN for your time, the treats and listening to me ramble on and on.   

 

 

Bittersweet

Our last tournament was this weekend.  I think we all had that same Bittersweet feeling.  It had been a long few months and I think we're all ready for a break, to catch up with life.    

On Saturday we won both games.  We finished the #1 seed allowing only 5 runs total.  That night we had our end of the season team party.  The kids (and parents) all had a blast! 

We watched a little slide show of the season.  Pictures of the kids, coaches, fans, siblings... remembering the fun times, great plays and the relentless heat of a summer playing in Chino Hills.  

Ironically I think we all froze this weekend.  It was maybe 50* but the chilling wind would go right through you.  (no comments from Kim on this one- I know 50* is not cold to you over in NY but we're not used to this sorta thing- K)  We still sat outside, cheered them on and chattered our teeth for them. 

Great hit AJ!                          

                      

Our Sunday morning game finished mid-inning, courtesy of the mercy rule.  We advanced to the Championship- undefeated thus far.  We seem to repeatedly crack on Sunday's - like last weekend and the tournament before that and the tournament before that one etc.  We've been to so many championship games, get so close and then it slips away.

Signs of a repeat were apparent.  We had faith in them but that sinking feeling was there... we were struggling early on.  Finally down 1-6 in the last inning... but we were HOME and had our last ups. 

 

This is the bittersweet part...

 

They battled back...  our last tournament and they finish 1st place! 

This is when we all started thinking 'let's do this every weekend'.

No better way to go out.

     

Presenting:  The 10&U SoCal Mavericks

(I can not believe we kept their award plaques in those terrible cardboard boxes for the picture.  And don't even get me started on why we sat there for the worst possible shadows EVER.)      

- I love these crazy kids -  

 

 

 

 

 

 

We left the park to pick up our girl... 

 

The storm is rolling in and I can't resist a sunset picture.

 

:: A picture perfect ending to our weekend :: 

Dinner & a Show

Friday night we met up with my Mom & StepDad for dinner. 

They offered to keep Sydney for the weekend.  

So naturally, dinner...  was on us.

 

If you happen to have a Teppan restaurant nearby  - you have got to give them a try! 

The kids love to go, sit by the fire, see the volcanos and we all throw down on some DEE-licious food. 

((Thank you both SOOOOO much for having her as your guest!))