Our life and stuff

Homemade Fun

The last few years we've bought a gingerbread house kit from Costco.  It's a mess and a waste of money but the kids love it.  This year we couldn't find one, and they wouldn't quit asking...

I had to improvise

 

I went to Ralph's and bought:  2 small cartons of OJ, 1 box of graham crackers, pretzel sticks, 1 box of lemon wafers and 1 large tub of creamy vanilla frosting.  In the candy section I bought gum drops and tiny 25cent boxes of red hots, lemon heads and jaw breakers.  (Since it was New Years Eve they had Sparkling Cider on sale.  I love that stuff so I grabbed a bottle.)

Things I had on hand:  mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut, gummi bears, licorice and mini marshmellows.

Ginger Bread House

This is more like a Graham Cracker Condo

• Drain the juice from the bottom of the carton and rinse them out. 
• Cover each tiny Condo with a layer of graham cracker (glued down with frosting)
• Glue down the Condo (again with frosting) to an empty cracker boxes, include a little path if you'd like.
• Have your toddler divide the gum drops by color to keep them busy while you do the above.

• Fill 2 sandwich baggies 3/4 full with frosting... trim a small opening from the bottom corner.
• Divide the candy and little decorations into muffin tins.
• Finally, place the large box and tin on a large tray to ease clean up.
• Step back and let them do it ALL BY THEMSELF

 

They spent over an hour decorating their little Condos.  It was a creative and easy way to pass the time as we awaiting the ball drop for a new decade.

 

Neither one of them made it to MIDNIGHT - they both fell asleep on the couch.

 

 

 

 

But, it was FUN trying. 

 

Forget Costco - these will be a new tradition...

 

 

 

 

From pancakes to portraits

 

HOLD ON

Allow me to start from the beginning.

So, we are all eating breakfast at the (Original) Original Pancake House in Anaheim.  We all eat too much and I drank one too many cups of coffee. 

As we are leaving I find myself with a car full of children... how did this happen?

 

They are giggling and silly as we drive home. 

RIGHT THEN  - I knew I had to take pictures of them - ALL TOGETHER

(passing up cute shopping spots to take pictures)
 

I'm pretty sure this is not the playdate they planned over their pancakes.  It probably included the trampoline, tearing up Sydney's room and running in circles through the kitchen. 

Instantly as we walk in the door I plug in the curling iron and start dressing children, rummaging thru my children's closets.  They were all ready in 15 minutes, I was a maniac. 

We just drove down the street.  

I let them out with simple instructions...  DON'T RUN AWAY

 

[they were pretty cute]

 

 
 
 

 [ Jake said :  'look, take a picture of me holding this big orange' ]

 

 

I did stop to reward them half way through with a kids cocoa...

just don't tell them - they think we are ALL DONE

'Hooray the photoshoot is over' (silly, silly kids)

 

 

 
  

 

  

I think they actually had FUN

 ... but they will never admit it.

 {Cousins Dec2009}

Just because

I was working, working, working... busy away in the office. 

'Bouquet delivery'  she shouts-

I guess she noticed I haven't had much time to gather fresh roses for the house.

The other day I told her she isn't allowed to turn five...

I have to Mom.

No, I need you to stay four and tiny and be my little girl.

I just can't.  I'm getting big and I'm gonna have babies too.

{gasp}

{slow down... stay little} I think.

She does cute little things sometimes that reminds me how big she's getting, like my bouquet.  Then last night she wanted to do the dishes after dinner.  I gave her a bit of silverware and the bowls from our soup to wash. 

She complained how her sleeves got all wet as she used her arm to wipe back the hair from her eyes.  And after ice cream, she grabbed my bowl and told me she'd wash these too... but in the morning, I don't want my pajama sleeves to get all wet.

(What a practical girl)

 

I love the big girl she's turning into. 

And I'm sure she'll even be a wonderful Mother... in about 30 years. 

The other day...

 

She wanted to paint all morning

There was a snack break - we had leftover Minestrone soup.

(which was fantastic by the way)

 

... her attention to detail = loving that eyeshadow. 

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

The other day she was sitting on my lap - looking at me and listening as I talked about whatever.  Suddenly she started smiling, very pleased about something...

Curious about her change in demeanor I ask what made her so happy?  

"I could see me in your eyeballs."

 

* * * * * * * * * * 

 

I rarely ever buy these fried onion pieces even though they are awesome.  

That's because I'm not crazy about green bean casserole.

Who ever said they belong to green beans anyway?

This week I noticed I had them in the cupboard & they were FABULOUS on shepherd's pie.

I'll be throwing them on meatloaf too.  YUM  

   

Saying Goodbye

The last few weeks I could tell something was wrong with our fishy Ariel.  I gave her fresh water, fed her but she was never herself.  Today she was so still, Sydney said she was just hungry.  We fed her and Syd tapped on her bowl, 'eat Arial - come on girl - eat your food and get better'.

But she didn't eat her food.  Sydney asked to keep her on the dining room table with her today.  In the time it took to do the dishes tonight, we noticed she sunk. 

We decided to get Sydney out of bed to let her know that Ariel was just too sick and died.  She was strong until the toilet flushed.  Then she cried.  We didn't want her to wake up to find Ariel gone, this way she got to say goodbye. 

We let her know that we could get a new fish if she wanted.  Then Luke jumped in...

'yeah we could get a new fish or I could finally get a turtle'.

 

Miss Ariel   June-Dec '09

Appreciation

on Saturday it was beautiful . too bad I felt awful

 

I was awoken invited (shhh, don't tell her that the phone woke me up - I already pretended it didn't.) to go see some quilts with my Mother.

I don't feel good... 

I've got this, that and the other thing to do...

I just woke up and plan on staying in my PJ's all day...

I have the two kids with me...   

She wasn't buying any of my excuses.  Begrudgingly I got ready, made beds, fed the kids - grabbed camera, stroller and snacks and we finally left.  On the way to pick up my Mom, Luke warned me for the third time that he didn't like shopping.  

'Not to worry my dear.  These quilts are on display with awards so we're not really shopping.'

This was a small scale quilt show, in the gym of a local university.  These women were so sweet and friendly.  They approached us and told the kids pleasant stories behind their beautiful projects.

 

 

We voted for a few BEST OF SHOW pieces.

Each of us took a turn at writing our name with a long-arm quilting machine. 

 

So many different styles and interpretations.

This is the first year that I saw bedazzled quilts with crystals.

They were machine quilted and hand quilted

To see them up close and think of the YEARS that they took to make... it was worth it.
 

 (Standing right up close - it took the quilter's description to notice the black netting that she pieced to create the illusion of smoke from her never-ending candles.)

 

 

 
  

• Mom always walks away inspired.  She is a truly a dedicated fan of the Arts.    
• Luke gained a new understanding for the amount of thought, effort and love that goes into every project. 
• Sydney appreciated all the candy that the vendors were passing out - so perfectly timed following Halloween.
• I like to see the quilts, believe me.  But the neatest thing was just being there and sharing this experience with my Mom.  I know how much she loves it.  A long time ago she taught me so patiently and I watched her do that today with my kids.  Something I don't do enough of. 

 

 

Thank you Mom.

We had SEW much fun.

     

Lunch date

 

I picked up Syd from school today and decided that the girls needed to go out to lunch. 

I knew exactly where to go and I knew exactly what we would order. 

On the drive there all I could do was think about THAT meal.  It's like you can almost smell it and taste it and you can't get there fast enough (can you tell I was starving). 

 

We pull up and as soon as we enter the driveway I notice the neon OPEN sign is dim.

Getting closer, I see the butcher paper covering all the windows.

No way.  This is not happening.

 

Closer now and I read the sign.

CLOSED FOR REMODELING  (reopening in about 2 months)

Suddenly I don't care where we go because nothing else will taste as good.

 

We settle on Rubio's.  Because it is close.

I ordered a Healthtex chicken burrito (or something like that) and it was gross. 

Even starving, I couldn't finish 1/2 of it.

 

Sydney LOVED her taquitos and rice. 

She finished every bite.

 

 

I had no intention of taking pictures at lunch.  I did it totally as a coverup. 

You see...

As were eating our lunch, a 'person' was at the salsa bar next to us carrying their tray.  Before they proceeded to the table behind us, they passed right by our table. 

At that exact moment Sydney asks...

'Is that a boy or a girl?'

 

Instantly I look up, I felt bad but I don't think they heard. 

Then, I pulled out my camera and had Syd pose with her lunch.  

 

I said- 'Sydney smile' and proceeded to zoom clear over her head and focus in on the table behind us -

 

( in Sydney's defense - she really couldn't tell ) 

USC sidelines

This summer Luke went up to USC with some friends to watch their football practice.  They were up close and personal while they ran scrimmage plays. 

After a LONG - HOT practice the players hung around to take pictures.  They got one with Taylor Mays, Pete Caroll and of course... 

Mr. Matt (I'm so cute) Barkley

Thanks Chris & Cori for taking the kids and taking pictures!

I love them~

[ at the park - oct 09 ]
   

Tired Babies

Tonight, Luke was sleeping before 8pm. 

THAT.NEVER.HAPPENS

Little Syd had a long night on Friday.  Up several times, unable to sleep and stuffed up.  All day, the cough got worse and she lazed around.  Daddy ran out to buy Snow White & Pinnochio for her watch in a pile of pillows.  

By dinner she had a fever of 102 with no appetite. 

She ate a few bites of white rice but lost all that an hour or so later. 

Poor baby

 

 

We put her back in her room with Kleenex, a water bottle and bowl (just in case). I hope they both get a good night's rest and wake up feeling better. 

p.s.  Do you see Luke's room?  We finally re-did it.  I'll post better pictures soon.