Our life and stuff

FF.24

Sydney was only 2 weeks old at Luke's first T-ball practice.

A tiny little thing

Sometimes family would come to watch the game.

And hold the cutest baby ever

This is David, my oldest brother holding her one day at a game.

Just 11 at the time

 

-April '05

 

He is going to kill me for putting this picture on here.

But that's ok.

Because the other day, when I passed by their house...

I saw this in the driveway:

  Just sitting... waiting for him to get his license.

 

What's Up With That -

 

I'm glad the parents finally made it physically obvious that they play favorites.

Without getting all 'I walked up hill both ways' on you... just hear me out.  I drove a VW bug.  An OLD VW bug (they tried to pass it off as 'a classic'). 

Just a few highlights:

• When it rained I had to drive faster so it would rush off the windshield since the wipers did not work. 
• There was no AC... (p.s. just because it was a convertible,  does not = air conditioning)
• No amount of Beautiful or Tresor can mask the fragrent fumes of ARCO regular.
• What you say?  Power-steering?    Never heard of it.

And all this was allowed once I was in college.  I was never allowed to drive to high school. 

But now I've realized something about this little brother of mine... (actually, he's not so little anymore - he towers over us)

 

 

: : :  I love a babysitter with a license and his own set of wheels  : : :

 

A trip to Paris

A sweet local boutique  ~  in Old Town Orange

 

I don't think I could ever have a bad day here.  There is a touch of sparkle, charming merchandise - the sort you buy just because... 

 

 

 

Oh it gets better. 

There is even an array of fine chocolates, Hot coffee, English teas and scrumptious little bites to dine upon...

an escape to Paris for lunch... sounds lovely

 

p.s.  This is post #200 on this blog.  

 

To the Extreme

My daughter likes to One-Up the situation...

For example:

I recently took scissors away from her  (punishment explainable when you scroll down and see those blasted bangs in front that she hacked into). 

'No scissors... can I use tape?'

Consequently, we now have NO tape left.  No staples either and you bet I've hid my last bit of post-it notes.

This afternoon she was out using her side-walk chalk. 

It was cute. 

She drew a little purple girl with her arms out 'like this'

Then she drew another one...

'they are bestest friends and hold hands'

 

She was like 'awww'

and I was like 'awww' 

and it was so cute

(Not one to leave well-enough alone)

Later, she decided to do some more coloring. 

This time on her face.

With my makeup... not so cute.

'I was trying to be in Luke's band'.  (he was playing RockBand)

When their response makes you laugh like an automatic reaction - it's hard for them to take your disappointment seriously. 

Loving Alix...

 

This is Alix, my niece.

She's a girly girl and motherly to boot. 

They moved totally far away and live in a very small town. 

(to give you a visual, this is us riding down her street) 

(Syd and I were visiting for her special occassion)  

 

She knows how to have fun...

  

 

and loves her family...

 

 

Today they are missing her, we all are.

She checked into boot camp today.

 

Can you believe that?  Boot camp

This little young thing...

She reported for duty today - for the next SIX years!

 

FF.23

I thought this was appropriate today. 

 

Luke's new baseball team for Little League this season will be none other than the New York Yankees.  They were desperate for managers (so my dear hubby stepped up and will take a team) AND it was the only team available (translation: NObody wanted to be the Yankees).

Kids will be lucky to have my husband as their coach. 

On the flip side, they may not be so thrilled to be a Yankee.

No disrespect- I think they are awesome (probably why they are so hated by the West Coast).  BUT there's this whole rival thing so it's cool to hate on the Yankees.

With that: 

These two boys are NOT Yankee lovers (Luke= Angel fan, cousin Nick= Mets fan). 

While we were in NY visiting my sis and her family, my Yankee-loving brother inlaw took the two of them to a Yankee game. 

And made them wear Yankee stuff too... 

they look so cute and little with their tiny baby teeth - '06

Princesses + Popcorn

Sydney only really cared about 2 simple things on our trip to Disneyland.

However, as soon as we walked thru the gates she became distracted.  

The characters were out... not just the fascinating ones as we 'people watch', but also - the real-deal Disney Characters.

 

(I think Donald heard me mutter to myself 'could they pick a worst location for lighting?' because he instantly decided to smother shade her.)

She would not pose until I agreed that these were Alvin's Chipmunks and not Chip & Dale - but hey, whadda I know?

 

    - A quick pose with Pluto -

 

 

Sure enough, just as we got to the front of the line to meet Goofy, he ran off - whatever.   

 

We decided we'd start to head down Main Street.  

but 

then we saw...   Miss Minnie

 

 

 

Expressions : upon MEETING  & the other SAYING GOODBYE

 

They looked so cute together...

 

Moving on

 

She had her 'magazine' (AKA park Map) and a bit of attitude as she strutted down Main Street:

 

First stop:  meet more Characters (seriously)

 

We went on a few rides, including the coaster in Toontown.  Not scared a bit!  Then we ate a late lunch and walked around. 

 

 

While about, she stopped to get pretty...

 

Is Lipstick ok Mame?

(Lady she will cry all this paint off if you DON'T put on lipstick)

 

Yes- she'd love some, thanks

 

now... for the reveal

 

and... the reaction

 

 

 

When we saw Jasmine she told Sydney 'you have got to show Minnie your outfit'

"Oh it's ok Jasmine - I showed her - and she just loved it and I said I know."

(she talks big when she's 4)

 

 

 

The lights were coming on. 

It was getting a bit chilly and we needed snacks...

We got our popcorn, I got a latte and we sat all cozy on our preferred bench.  Parked right in line with the castle for a great view :

 

A few minutes in, I leaned over to the barista near by...

'what time will the fireworks start?'

'No fireworks tonight Dear - only Friday and Saturdays this time of year.'

{fabulous}

With that heartbreaking news we decided to hit up the final ride of the night - the tram.  The way out of Main Street is equally as beautiful:

 

Where she finally spotted...  Ariel

'hello, knock knock.   Ariel- it's me Sydney.  remember?'

Her face melted in the bathtub as soon as we got home.

'Why do we have to wash it?  I could sleep careful... '

She didn't give me hassle about the fireworks. 

Maybe that is what I was looking forward to.  She got to see the princesses and eat the whole cup of salty buttery Disneyland popcorn.  All was good.

 

Tonight

 

Disneyland is so magical at night... especially the castle

It was a long day.  I will post a recap and pictures later.

Sleep is calling.

 

(You see... I'm mother helper this week at her school and will need to be able to function.  I must get at least a few hours of sleep tonight following a ridiculous all-night sewing extravaganza last night.  She looked and felt adorable but now I'm a zombie.) 

To remember...

 

 

This afternoon -

I stopped what I was doing and picked up my camera 

Anxious and determined...

to take in every last second of her fleeting toddler-hood 

 

     

To say I'm in love with her is an understatement  

I am seriously addicted to her...   

  

 

Today, Daddy bought her a new who-da-hoop. 

It's pink and it's awesome.

 

  

She has this strength about her.  A determined spirit for sure.  A trait that many times over has caused me to cringe while I breathe deeply and count to 10. 

Needless to say...

she has taught me patience and made me a better Mother   

  

 

( This is what '3'  looked like... )

 

4 days until '4'

A day of anticipation and hope and excitement is before us. 

I'm talking about January 20th 2009

 

We have a countdown calendar and all.

For some (well OK, maybe most) it's about this -  

'At 9:00 p.m. Friday, the highest-level staffers will turn in their gear; and the West Wing will become a ghost town.

Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, Counselor Ed Gillespie, and Press Secy Dana Perino are the senior staffers who will remain here, on standby.  Monday is a federal holiday so the White House would be closed anyway.

On Tuesday, Special Agent Donald White of the U.S. Secret Service will shadow President Bush, sit in the customary front 'shotgun' seat of the limousine, and guard the President until noon.

At 12:01, Agent White steps over to a position behind Barack Obama.'

 

*    *    *    *    *

 

BUT... to a certain someone it's all about something else...

 

   

(Original entrance - 1950's)

 

When you tell a little girl that we will go next week - that equals an ETERNITY

'That is a lot of whiles' ,  (compared to-  in a little while I suppose) 

 

In fact, yesturday while driving we happened to come beside this bus...  

Oh the tears when she discovered we were not following them.  

 

 

She has been before... she even met the One & Only:

 

 

I sense it will be ALL NEW to her.  I guess since she will be a big '4' year old, she'll remember more stuff.  So tonight we will X out another day.

Countdown to Disneyland. 

Getting closer.

 

Ready or not...  it's a new year of her life.

 

 

A little extra fiber.

 

This morning Sydney was helping herself to some Cheerios. 

No problem, right.

Well, then I got to thinking...

She can't reach the Cheerios.

I didn't get the Cheerios down for her.

hmm?

 

Then I looked closer, they look a little - dirty.

That is when I realized...

She is eating her school project.

Awesome.

Would you like some milk with that?