in-car picnic

Yesterday was rainy and cold for the most part, mixed with times when the sun would come out and heat up the world- especially our car on the highway. We drove to San Luis again for our 2nd Face to Face meeting with Isabella's CAVA "teacher". She wouldn't even speak with her- let alone do a music lesson sample. She can be so shy sometimes! The meeting was fine- lasted all of 5 minutes. Afterwards, we looked around Borders, got a couple of new coloring books (and I found a really cute little purse/bag- 5.99!!) Then we drove down to Pismo to have a car picnic by the beach. McDonald's! Yummy. (note sarcasm!!)

reminder!

A few years ago, a friend of mine had a dream. In the dream, she was walking through the woods on a path towards my daughters. As she was walking, she looked to her left and to her right where she saw 2 giant hummingbirds. She said they were flying still in the air, and watching her. She said in the dream, she knew they were there protecting the girls, their guardian angels.

I know it is a dream, but I have remembered it these past few years. It is amazing whenever I see a hummingbird- because it reminds me that God is protecting us, that He is watching us. It reminds me that He commands His angels concerning us- and that we have them guarding us at all times. Like, once when we went camping. We were just sitting in our little camping chairs, when really, out of nowhere, a little hummingbird flew right above us, hovered there for a few seconds, and then went on his way. Just a little reminder!

Outside my kitchen window, every single day I see hummingbirds!! (Well, we are in California!) They love the plants- especially the lavender that is growing there. So everyday, I look out and see God's reminder that He is with us. I was finally able to catch one today with the great new mega-zoom on my sister's canon! He tried to elude me once, but I caught him resting on this branch!! So here he is for you all to see. He has a green body and a bright red head, but it was too dark and foggy to pick it up!

CAVA

Today we had a "CAVA Fun Day"!!! We went up to San Luis where CAVA had set up an activity day for our local students. Bella loved it and Abigail and Emma got to participate too. Isabella really enjoyed the craft table (duh!) where she got to make a penguin thermometer and a snowflake bead keychain. Abigail's favorite was the game table. They had "Topple" and she loved it! Emma's favorite was, of course, the snack table!! She just wandered around with snacks in hand!

It was nice to meet other students and parents. It is always a little awkward to go to these things. We don't know each other, we're just all in the same program. We've seen each other at other outings, but don't know each other well at all. But it was fun to push through it and make conversation with the other moms. We even got to give some encouragement to a mom who is considering using the program next fall. And we got phone numbers! Yay, new friends!

Now we are home and exhausted from our day out. the girls are taking a break by watching Ice Age 2, which is the current favorite. It's so funny!! That's all really. All for today. :)

the latest

Another holiday! A nice 3 day weekend for most of America. But Todd had to work. And I think we'll still do some school. Even though it is almost 10 and everyone is still in their pajamas!

We have been busy- to explain the lack-of-blog. :) Last Thursday Todd and I got a babysitter and joined some friends for a show at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez!! We went to see Kathy Griffin! She is so funny. Todd and I have been hooked on her since we started watching her show on Bravo "My Life on the D-List". It is hilarious! So we went to the Chumash, met some friends, had some buffet and delicious chocolate desserts, and saw the comedy show. As we were standing in line, we saw signs everywhere that said "You are being photographed!" They were taping for "D-List"!!!! So we kept trying to find the cameras!!! :) It was pretty fun.

Now that all the birthdays and holidays are over, we are trying to get back to normal life. The house is like a tornado hit it and the laundry is in piles!! I need to get out of holiday mode and get in to gear!! (But today is a holiday.....so.........)

And Emma is getting to be such a character! I realized that she will be 2 in 6 months! How is that possible? It seems like she was just born. And she has been such a funny stinker the past couple of months. It is really funny. She makes these faces and does the cutest stuff. Like last night. She kept saying "what's that?" and pointing to Todd's soda. "What's that?" I'd say "Daddy's" and she'd make this sad face and say "ohhhhhhhh" and then it would all play out again. We did it about 4 times before she just walked over and started drinking it- with the "I'll just go over and drink it face" to go with it. Funny. And she loves this giant pink headband I brought home for Bella and Abi. She puts it on everyday and walks around the house. She takes it in the car. It is really cute- I'll have to take a pic and post it. (Notice how I spelled Abi. She has started writing her name- but she can only get to ABI- which is pronounced like Abby, according to her. I guess that's how we'll spell it!! :) )

quick

When I woke up this morning the floor was covered with candy wrappers!! Apparently the girls decided they could have all the candy from their party bags from Ab's party. And Todd said- well, they should be happy today, they had candy for breakfast! grand!! And Emma is totally chewing gum. She'd been chewing on something for a while and I thought it was a tootsie roll candy the girls gave her. No big deal, one piece of candy, right? Well then I looked and she was still chewing. And still chewing. She has had it in her mouth for about an hour!! I know I should take it away, but I am kinda proud of her! She is chewing gum!! I know!! Anyway- just thought you'd like to hear about it :)

4!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think I ever posted the cute kitchen the girls got for Christmas. Isn't it sweet? And they absolutely love it. And of course, Happy B-day to Ab! She is 4 years old. I can hardly believe it. I was remembering when I realized I was pregnant with Ab. The day we packed all our belongings in a truck and moved out of our house on Fulton Street!! Crazy what a difference 4 years makes!

Well, she had a great birthday. We woke up to Christmas-style excitement and opening of presents. She got a ton of cool stuff, including a mp3 style Barbie radio. We didn't even realize it came as a bonus with another toy we got her- but I think it might be her favorite gift!

We went to the park for a picnic lunch. Bella and Ab picked tiny flowers for me while Emma and I fed the ducks our leftovers. I had a huge pile of flowers next to me, which Emma kept picking through, to the girls dismay. We finally decided they would be good for a Barbie wedding- so we threw them all up in the air like confetti. As soon as we did, all the ducks started quacking and swimming over as fast as they could. All of a sudden we were surrounded by hungry ducks! We threw the flowers up again and all the ducks were so excited! It was kind of funny until these three giant geese swam over and stood 3 feet away from us. They are aggressive! So we threw them all the flowers and ran away! It was fun! :)

And tonight Abigail had her strawberry shortcake birthday party. We played throw-marshmallows-in-the-buckets and who-can-eat-2 marshmallows-the-fastest. Pretty fun. We had strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting and strawberries on top. With bubble gum ice cream. And we sent the kids hom with bags full of candy! Yeah, their parents love LOVE us!!! :)

So no more birthdays for a while! Tomorrow we will open all these new toys and play play PLAY!!

my bday, part 2

Today was like my birthday all over again! My friend and I left our kids with their daddies and headed south. We went to Santa Barbara for my bday, part 2! We hit downtown- urban outfitters where they had some great craftivity books and other fun and mindless items. Then we walked passed restoration hardware over to the Paseo Nuevo mall. Aveda, Gap, California Pizza Kitchen. It was so fun. And I even got an ice cream sundae with a candle on top!! And we went to La Cumbre Plaza to....yes! Forever21!! (Mom, they had a J Jill there too- next time you come, we'll go!) I had a blast spending my gift cards on shirts and earrings and headbands. We tried on so many things. And we found some great stuff! I love shopping with a good friend- such bonding! :)

While I was out, the girls and Todd had a lazy day of sleeping and pizza getting. Now, we'll prepare for Abigail's birthday party on Tuesday!! Birthdays birthdays BIRTHDAYS!

Back

Today we officially got back to the grind. School is what I'm talking about. And it rained all day. So poor Bella has been finger-stretching words and sounding them out, finding the ones that rhyme and tackling her readers. All afternoon. She appreciated our break for some art lessons. Hans Holbein inspired a portrait, Goya a family portrait. In it we were having a picnic, we had sandwiches.

And that's it for today. School school and yet more school. We are behind and playing catch up. We have a long way to go. So, Abigail painted some watercolors...watched some wonderpets...dora...blues clues. hmmmm...She might have gotten the raw end of the deal today! And they are napping now. And everything is quiet. This is a nice time of the day. (Yes, a nice time for some OtR) :)

Happy Birthday, me!

Yes, yes. 31. I can hardly believe. I am not just 30....I am in my thirties. Ouch! It hurts to even say it! I am going to Forever 21 to spend my gift cards in protest! Forever 21! ;) Just kidding. I am glad I am not 21....I am 31. 10 years wiser, 10 years happier!! (but I will still buy clothes at forever21!!)

Anyway. Have you heard enough from me about Over the Rhine lately? I know. I told you, it comes in waves. I will LOVE love (love) them for a while. And then I will put their music aside for a while. Waves. Well, I am about to make some OtR blend and listen to their xmas album some more ( and read my new bible Todd got me, and maybe write in my new journals from sis). It is just too good to put away for another year. So I'm not! And by the way, in the 3 disc changer are: Snow Angels, OtR; Live from Nowhere, Volume One, OtR; and I Don't Think There's No Need To Bring Nothin, by Linford (of OtR). And they have a new new one coming out in Feb. It will be a compilation of 15 years of music. Here's a description in their own very beautiful words from the OtR myspace:

DISCOUNT FIREWORKS: A COLLECTION The music of Over the Rhine has survived for 15 years. Maybe it’s time for a little mile-marker. For years our fans have told us how much they like to go through our recordings and pick and choose and put their own collections together to introduce friends to the songs. Maybe it’s our turn to put together a little collection. Not a “Best Of” or anything definitive, but a good taste. A birthday cake baked from fifteen years of musical chicken scratch. The longer we’ve toured and recorded, the deeper we’ve been able to feel what an honor and privilege it is to be an American band, to have these songs occasionally rub shoulders with the songs of our musical heroes. Early on in our career, we got to open a handful of shows for Bob Dylan. He was in a fairly dark period of his life, but still, there he was in the dinner line with us backstage in Madison, Wisconsin, spooning food onto his plate as if we were all at a church carry-in dinner. We’re fans first and are always thrilled when artists like Leo Kottke, or Jane Siberry, or Buddy and Julie Miller, or Ron Sexsmith, or Amy Rigby come to Cincinnati to join us in front of our hometown crowd. This is Ohio after all. We’re a little off the beaten path. But what a connecting force music is. Inevitably we gather the musicians on stage and sing a few songs together at the end of the night, and it’s obvious that a few thousand people wander out into the dark feeling something really good that’s hard to put into words. American music is one of the few deeply communal enterprises left in this country. The first time we performed in Italy we were dumbstruck by the beauty of Tuscany, those little tucked away towns. I scribbled this line: Italy is a leather bound book. We walk on marbled endpapers beneath the glass blown night. Should we drop everything and move here? What artist doesn’t wonder? But no, Italy could never have given the world Johnny Cash. It’s the great contradictions of America that interest us, the wealth and poverty, the generosity and greed, the naivety and brutality, the optimism and superstition. So much music in the world that could only have happened in America! Our jazz and blues musicians, our songwriters, black gospel, bluegrass and soul – American music – this is some of the best, most enduring stuff we’ve given the world as a nation, period. Who knows anything about the future of the recording industry? I would argue that after 15 years in the trenches on and off labels, 15 years of hanging out with people who bought tickets to our shows, bought the CD’s and taped or burned copies to pass out to their friends, and then came back next time we came to town with new people who seemed to know every word to every song, and then e-mailed us to tell us they fell in love to this music, or walked down the aisle to it, or danced their first dance to it, or conceived to it, or took it to the hospital and gave birth to it, or underwent cancer treatments to it, or took it to Iraq so they could have some connection to home during a war they couldn’t believe they’d somehow signed up for, or yes, some even buried their loved ones to this music – I would argue that I know as much or as little as anyone. A good song that matters to somebody will always matter. So back to these songs, back to the basics… They were the songs that we needed to write at the time. If we hadn’t written them, they wouldn’t exist. If you inspire someone, it doesn’t matter if you’re John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, or a married couple from Southern Ohio: the world got bigger, the lungs hold more air. Everyone who has truly lived has their great adventure: this music has an awful lot to do with ours so far. Happy listening, Linford Detweiler for Over the Rhine October, 2006

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everybody! I hope you had a great first day of 2007. We ate sauerkraut. Not because of the luck thing. Mostly because it's tradition and I like traditions sometimes. And because it's the only day of the year we ever think of having it!!

We spent our day getting some projects out of the way, trying to get organized for the New Year! Well, school starts up again tomorrow, so I wanted to get it together before then. We're almost there, as always :) But seriously, Todd cleaned out the garage- it had been piled with boxes and package remains since the beginning of December when the first parcels started arriving for Bella's b-day. We're almost out of gift season. It is like a windfall from Dec 9 thru Jan 9 around here. All these birthdays! So the mail-trash was piling high. He got rid of all of it and now the garage is all clean, I am actually sitting out here now on our old computer that we set up to strip down. Fun, fun.

The girls spent the day riding their bike/scooter/wagons and played and played. Bella is NOT looking forward to school starting up tomorrow!! But it will be good for us to get back to normal! And it doesn't even take long so she will still have plenty of time for playing!

Well, well- I better get back to burning pictures to CD so I can delete them from the hard drive. So exciting! 2.5 GB of pictures from 2005. I know it is 2007. I know, believe me- I know! ;)