Our life and stuff

Shooby Dooby down to Ruby's

School is out for THREE WEEKS - we needed to celebrate!

The kids chose Ruby's Diner

We had:  BBQ chicken, French fries & an Asian Salad

We saved room for: Apple pie, Ice cream & Chocolate Shakes

  

 

 

We all shared...

  

 

The food was great, thank you Ruby.

Speaking of Miss Ruby,  she is down-right sexy...

 

 
 

~ thanks babe!

  

I've been busy in the kitchen lately

~ following our weekly menu

~ trying out new recipes

~ baking muffins with the kids

 

  

 to:  show his appreciation

and:  celebrate my tireless efforts in the kitchen....

 

Check out what my husband bought especially for me ~

(he just doesn't know it yet)

cutest apron ever

 
   

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 ) 

It's my Blogiversary

This picture sums up why I started a blog...

 

We save these little scraps, jot down funny things they say, tuck away bits of their first haircut or the stubs from their first flight - all in efforts to remember.

Then, if you're like me, you buy tons of cute stickers, eyelets, papers, vellum, fancy scissors, diecut punches etc - to dress up my memories. 

And then they sit. 

I used to be okay with it because I knew I had everything to get the pages together, someday.  That photo above has my little scrap saved from 2005.  My kids were teething at the time (Sydney getting hers and Luke just starting to loose his). 

That picture was taken TODAY.  STILL undone.  I can't recall anything about those days, how we felt, looked or what we said. 

Two years ago I said 'enough', and I started this blog.  It has made me take more pictures, even if it's inappropriate.  It's helped me remember the everyday stuff, the little things - and I love that.

It also reminded us it's time to take...  a new family picture

2005 

2006 

 2007 

2008 

 
 

We are going to attempt the 2009 photo ourselves a'la tripod, we'll see.

Oh ya, coincidentally - this is post #300.

   

In the backyard

 

I always forget that we have a HAAS tree in the backyard.  In fact, I had avocados on my grocery list for this week.  Now, I have some from my tree in a brown bag in the kitchen.  I hope they ripen quickly.

And just today while out back, I noticed that we have little peppers ~

 

I think my gardners found them before I did...

  

and helped themselves.

   

Shared Secrets

Sydney begged me ALL Sunday to play Dora cards with her.  I brushed her off... as I was busy, busy, busy, organizing and shredding. 

Later that night as I tip-toed around turning down the lights I stopped in the hallway.  I peek in.  There she was sound asleep in her bed.  

Then I see them, the Dora memory cards.  Still out, ready to play ~

Secret:  My heart sunk and I felt like the worst Mom ever.  She even laid them all facing the same direction, love her.  You know we played today. I couldn't wait for her to ask me.  When she did I enthusiastically agreed.

   

She is very competive and a bit of a cheater. 

'Oh no Mom I didn't mean that one, I was going to try this one or this one, or I mean this one...  Oh, found it!  I got a match!!  Woo hoo, I'm the best!', and a bit of a show-off.

She does have a good memory though.  I was seriously trying to get a few matches and she'd butt into my turn...

'That one's over here!'

After lunch I painted her nails, we picked up Luke from school and they played restaurant.  Dinner was great, a no-brainer from my pre-planned and prepared menu. 

(Besides the fact that this planning is less stressful I discovered there is WAY LESS CLEAN UP.  The dishes that pile up with prep do not exist - an added bonus.)

She sobbed later tonight as I shampooed her hair.  Whining about how Luke didn't help clean the restaurant and how her room is all a mess.  Then she stops mid sentence as if she suddenly remembered something she was dying to share with me...

'And Mom I don't want to tell you this but OK I will.  I'm sorry but when I was biting my nails it's just so gross I don't know.'

'That's weird.  You know you shouldn't be biting your nails though'.

Secret: I wanted to laugh out loud and raise my hands in victory.  You see earlier, when I pampered her and painted her nubs nails there was a hidden agenda...

Her nasty nibbling and biting was getting out of control.  There is practically no nail left so she's taken onto biting and picking at her cuticles.  She might as well lick the bottoms of her shoes, the rug squares at pre-school and the playground equipment while she's at it.  

Drastic measures were taken and thankfully appear to be working.  Do you have a nail biter?  Here is what I tried - Mavala STOP   

   

... Go Go Go

Really?? 

Next weekend is August? 

When did that happen? 

Let's see...

We had special guests in town :

 

So we went here :

 

Became BFF with a Princess :

 

The adults had a CRAZY night out :

 

She learned how to swim (with no swimmies) :

 

 

and how to ride with no training wheels :

 

and yes....

the *All-Stars* are STILL playing baseball :

 

Much to cover... I will try to catch up.

Soon ~ very soon.

Maybe nobody will notice...

 

The cards were delivered last night, finally. 

I breathed a sigh of relief until... I got the news. 

(read on)

*     *     *     *     *

 

This 'little' project has been weeks/months in the making.  We first took pictures in February.  I got nothing.  Back for more in March and once AGAIN in April.

Amazing how quickly she changed...

 

 

( Do you see the cute swirly cowlick? ) 

 

 

    

I worked up a few 'looks' for her and we narrowed it down.

We proof-checked everything.

We finalized the font/picture selection/colors etc.

We finally placed an order...  thrilled to complete them. 

Last night the package came. 

I opened it, holding my breath...

THEY.WERE.PERFECT

Even the back is cutsie...

 

I dropped them off this morning. 

I was sad she wasn't there in person to smile, stare and boast in our accomplishment.  I drove off and left a message on her cell...

'hey it's me- I left them, I love them, call me'.

An eternity hour later the phone rings.

(hesitantly) 'They are cute,  (long awkward pause)  you're gonna kill me...'

'What???', I ask.

'Um, just the last name.  It's spelled wrong.'

Can you believe it!  After all that... 'just' the last name.  Like no big deal.

Ugh-  that's life I guess.   

UPDATE:  She was going to put a sticker over the last name-  I couldn't have it. 

1 edit + 1 reorder + 2day air should fix everything, fingers crossed.    

    

(insert laughter)

she keeps me entertained...

   

Another one gone...

and another one gone.

Another one bites the dust

hey hey hey hey...

(You would think that I know better by now) 

This is twisted up as much as it will go.

I snatched it up from her hands.  I wiped it off of her legs and her mouth.  She honestly looked shocked. 

'Why did you take it off of my lips?'

'because when you don't ask or use it properly YOU GET NONE.  Besides, now I don't get any either.  It's all gone.'

'No Mom.  You could use your tiny little finger and get it.  There's some left.'