Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Blog Order

"Cookie drew the cutest pic of elephant u have 2 blog it" - text from hubby

Running Elephant
pencil

These also came home today.  I love them all and can't pick a favorite... 
Although hubby clearly has...

Trees with Sunset
pastels, pencil, ink and cardboard

Party with Shapes
markers

On the Hills
marker and pastels

The Splits
marker

Caitlin Medina
artist

Monday, May 30, 2011

Graffiti Haiku

heart with love for you
a spring graffiti display
until the rain comes



Lazy day today... unless you call a Numb3rs marathon hard work.  Hubby took the girlies to see Kung Fu Panda.  I played with my new camera a little.  Love the manual focus!


Sunday, May 29, 2011

To sleep or not to sleep...

That is the question... that I'm afraid to ask.  She's 12.  The allure of staying up all night is at it's peak. I hope it passes quickly...

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Gangsta Barbie

Caitlin is finally having a play-date with Kyla.  Her favorite friend moved to a different school this past year and we have only gotten together a few times.  I feel horrible about this because Caitlin is always asking about her.

So hurray! Caitlin could not wait... all week long was a countdown to Saturday.  All morning long was a countdown to 10:00 (I did not know 2 hours could be so long!)

With Siobain away with a friend the girlies had the house to themselves.  It has been Barbies and Polly Pockets all. day. long.  Even when we ran an errand, the Polly dolls came along and continued their adventure in the car.


I captured the girlies playing at the doll house.  The besties are in heaven.


And then both these charming little girls break out with "gangsta."  Technically I think Kyla is doing a "hook-em-horns" sign but my little Caitlin could not be displaying more gangsta attitude.  Where does this come from?  Not from playing Barbies. Not from our neighborhood.  Is Wizards of Waverly Place putting secret gangster plots that I don't see?

Or is this just the new norm to a new generation?  Turning something of an older generation into an innocent mockery?

Well, I can hear the crooning of High School Musical coming from the bedroom... so I guess my girlies not all gangsta yet.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Curtain Call

Tonight was Eleanor's debut as Gretl Von Trapp in The Sound of Music...  And clearly the beginning of a wonderful career if she chooses. I'll first start with the end.  The flush of a job well done; a portrait of hard work, passion, sweat, and talent.


Eleanor with a beautiful bouquet from Gorgeous.  
Purple Gerber daisies in Eleanor's favorite color.


Before the show.
We have been hearing about the rehearsals with envy.
Anticipating the show with eager impatience.
***
It exceeded all our hopes and expectations.
Eleanor was fantastic and stole many scenes with her charm and talent.

As with all first nights there were some technical difficulties. Eleanor's mic did not always work, but I am sure that will be corrected before the next show we attend. There was also a very amusing set dressing fiasco, which the main character handle with grace and humor.


The post show picture with her biggest fans (my cute girlies.)


Eleanor's unofficial understudy. Mia has learned all the songs.

A wonderful night.
Filled with fantastic performances.

"I wish I could shout out 'GO ELEANOR" - Caitlin

I was honored to be mentioned in her bio... Eleanor would like to thank Aunt Kathleen, Gorgeous, and her Grandparents for taking her to so many plays and musicals...

Can't wait to see the performance again.  I'll attend again with hubby, who was out of town.  And then I'd like to see the last show too. So proud of my girlie Eleanor.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Pick-up Artist

Vacay today, AWESOME!
Much needed rest... so that I can spring clean tomorrow.

But as the clock ticked ticked ticked towards 2:45 my nightmare began... school pick-up. Let me just say... drop off is pretty rough, but pick-up sends chills down my spine.

I queried the husband on what his standard procedure is...
 I reviewed the school rules...  
I decided to take backup.


Spartacus was super supportive "you can do this" he kept panting. Plus, hubby gave me the tip not to leave the house until 2:45 and most of the crazies would have already cleared out.
(not counting myself of coarse...)


SCORE! One child picked up.  THIS school is much easier in the afternoon.  It's unfortunate that I put deadly spells on so many parents in the morning as they drop their children off IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC!

Groan! Now on to the elementary school. 
So many rules. 
So many lines. 
So many parent's I'd like to share my meds with! 



Sparticus is trying to keep me calm.  Hubby's suggestion at Caitlin's school was "send Siobain to retrieve Caitlin." But it is taking longer than we thought..


Here they come!  Thank GOD!


Look! She's so excited to see me she starts to run... 
AWKWARD
 Apparently the running excitement was for Spartacus.

Well, we survived today... another pick-up tomorrow...

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Green Belt

A young apprentice no more.
He has received the green belt.

Kung Fu Mow Master


The grass never had a chance against The Master!

Now, for your enjoyment, 2 versions of Kung Fu Fighting.

1st
The original with Carl Douglas, 1974...
The year I was born, and apparently where I got all my dance skills.



2nd
Update... but not by much.. with Cee Lo Green

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The "fun" in Fungus

I LOVE this time of year.  When mushrooms pop up overnight.  When I got to work this morning the lawn company was mowing... I saw these mushrooms and had to stop and take pictures before the were gone.


Gorgeous makes the best mushrooms. "Don't crowd the mushrooms..." she always quotes from Julia Child.  We always use store-bought mushrooms... I may love them, but have no idea which ones are safe to eat.


So, here's the deal... these always look phallic to me...


... and then I am always innocently reminded of a storybook from childhood.  I don't know if it was The Borrowers or The Littles... anyway both of those series featured characters that were 6 inches tall or LESS... and one of the covers had a mushroom... I'm taken to fantasy world when I see mushrooms.

Anywho... a look into my psyche... beware!

(LOL that the beware is at the end of the post.)

Monday, May 23, 2011

On being 12

"You're going to scratch the door with your horns!" - Hubby

So, today was "exciting."  
I sprang a leak... which is awkward and funny... and I am reminded of being 12...

- Sweet Valley High (and SO grown up)
- Boys... yeah, I was going to marry River Phoenix
- My parents were so embarrassing
- Little sisters... liked to torture me
- Backward suspenders (just like Alyssa Milano in Teen Magazine)
- Sea captains hat (from Pier 1... I begged for this hat)


So far... 12 year old Siobain's... 
parents are so embarrassing... 
little sister likes to torture her... 

and... She wears THIS hat. all. the. time.


(The 12th year has just begun...Please please please... no backward suspenders!)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Hokey Pokey

One of my worst fears... skating birthday parties...


I believe my girlies have inherited their grace from me... which is to say that they "ain't got much."

So skates strike fear in my heart, but boy do my girlies like to try!


So far, so good.  We are GREAT in the seated position!


My girlie is super flexible.  Her body twisted and turned like a rubber band man!


She is having so much fun!


Falling down is a sweaty job!
I expect her body will hurt all over tomorrow...

And now... the Hokey Pokey!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Clueless

Me: "ug, I don't have anything to take a picture of today."
Hubby: "You should take a picture of the TV..."

Here are the signs my husband missed right before I shot him... with the camera.

pajamas
heating pad
pamprin

Clean shot, right in the eye....

Friday, May 20, 2011

Cat and Mouse

Sooo... there was a little mischief in my life today.  I arrived to work, after missing a day to stay home with my sick girlie, to find this under my computer mouse:

artist unknown

There are several things I love about this sticky note...
1. it is a great sketch of a cat's ass.
2. it was UNDER my computer mouse.  Leading to the assumption that:
     i. my computer mouse had been eaten by said cat; and
     ii. my computer mouse had been digested by said cat; and
     iii. my computer mouse had been defecated by said cat
3. I have no idea who this artist is.
4. Artist returned to my office at some point today and added "again" to the sticky note

Conclusion: I love this person.

I also love my real cat, Kitty.  Who is very hard to photograph.  She lives in our bathroom and comes out only at night to cuddle with my hubby (my Kitty has excellent taste.)


The story of Kitty

When I was a young girl... oh so long ago... I was working on my very first movie, Detention. It was so exciting to work on this movie.  For several reasons: it's a movie; it's a good movie; it was written, produced and directed by my hero Andy Anderson; I fell in love with my husband; made my father proud; and found my cat, Kitty.

So, I stopped for gas on the way to work and there was this cute little "kitten" sitting at the door of the gas station.  I had to move the cat in order to go in and pay (this pre-dates "pay at the pump.")

"Is that your cat?" I asked of the attendant.
"No, it's just a stray" they said.

So, I took the cat to work.  And named her Bob, after the producer of the movie.

Dad flipped (I was living at home) but he loved me.  It was just a cat.

Well, "Bob's" stomach started moving like crazy.  Turned out "bob" was a girl... a pregnant one!

We soon welcomed six kittens into the world. Many wonderful people adopted these cats.

Kitty is at least 14 years old.  Anti-social. Fat as can be. And part of the family.

Through the years my children have tried to change her name to Mrs Cravets, Clarissa, and Meany. Her official name is Kitty.

Hubby has wanted to put her on a "diet"... I say she's got to put up with two kids and a dog, let her eat whatever she wants.

She's a very fat cat.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

New House Rule

She who vomits most... gets "dibs" on Mommy's computer...

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Field Day

Hubby captured the best of 2011 Field Day.


RUN!


JUMP!


HIDE!


PULL!


BOUNCE!


SLIDE!


CAN'T WAIT 'TILL NEXT YEAR!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Best Seat in the House

My husband has wooed me today. Not with diamonds or pearls. Not with roses and poems.  But with a new toilet... And I love it!

This is my first, brand-new toilet ever! The first flush-able seat we have purchased. Sure we've spent money on sofa sets and kitchen sets, even two patio sets.  But my heart is all a-flutter over a brand new flusher.

The pristine siphon connected to a pristine bowl...


It may be years before I have to put my hand in this tank... instead of daily...


This shiny new handle, no jiggling required...


Behold! 
this is not the toilet of old

this one will flush
and I will get a big rush

when the water goes round
spinning into the ground

and the tank is refilled
without the handle jingled and drilled

oh porcelain made from a mold
the whole world must be told

this is a throne
of my very very own 

Monday, May 16, 2011

Bump and Grab

What NOT to do when first meeting someone.

First, as the introducer, do NOT knock the hell out of someone's hooter (left) when gesturing towards them.

Second, as one of the introducees, do not grab the offending introducer's hooter (right) in retaliation.

Just sayin.


My only hope, was that Miss Amy was making this face distracting anyone from the action going on below the neck.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Drama of New Glasses

I l-o-v-e glasses.  They are my "thing."  Siobain... not so much.

She has new glasses, that come with plenty of drama. Here is her glamour shot...


She likes her bangs long... and she likes them in her eyes. 

Someone might accidentally cut them in her sleep tonight.

...And blame it on the tooth fairy.


Hubby was wisecracking... so he was captured in this shot.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Disk Reader

A disk reader is important if you have a digital camera.  Without one, all the pictures taken of a beautiful and fun day are not post-able...

So until tomorrow, I can only provide a picture of my sunburn... but I will update THIS post tomorrow, with pictures of today.


Note the "close encounters" style sunburn.

*************

5/16 UPDATE... have my card reader, so here are the pictures of Saturday.

1st, I woke  up very early to finish the soccer ball cake for my friend Kelli.  I had to run out to the car to get the cake box and this leaf was all dewy in my path.


I LOVE THE CANON 7D


My cake... meh.  Siobain said "Do you want the real truth Mommy? ... Something went wrong with the icing."  Gotta love my girlie's honesty.


Kelli and her handsome boy!

***
The rest of the photos are a study of my two girlies.
Both fabulous and amazing.
But different as can be.

Feet off the ground!

Really good book... and a little chilly.

Feet way off the ground.

Still a really good book... and still little chilly.

Swing like a monkey!

Smile like a cat.

I rule this playground...

I rock the reading.

LOVE MY GIRLIES!
***
We also flew kites. A perfect day... except for the sunburn...