A Quickie

I have a book recommendation for you, my readers (both of you). haha. Just kidding. I have five readers!

I know you are like, "Say, whaaaaat?!"  Yes, there is a dragon on the cover. But I'm telling you, this book is incredible.  George R.R. Martin must have some crazy dreams and sleep with pen and paper by his bed, because this isn't stuff you think of while day dreaming.  No, not even boys can day dream this sort of adventure.  I'm on book 3, "A Storm of Swords" - which puts me about 3000 pages into this epic saga. If you are okay with an R rating, go pick this up.

Now, on to matters of children.

Last week I had some pretty rough posts if I remember correctly.  Being a mom is a messy business.  I am happy to report that we have implemented some "Kid-Free Mom Time" and I am feeling much, much better.  I think Bret's okay with it, too.  Thank heavens for this blog, I think he took my whining more seriously since I did it on the internets.

Also, our family is incredible.  They all have really, really demanding jobs and still take the time to make sure my girls have totally awesome memories when we visit on the weekends.

Here is a photo of Julianne after putting on some of Auntie Katie's expensive lipstick that she left out.  She was *so* tickled with her make-up job - until I lifted her to the mirror so she could see her handy work.  It clearly didn't look the way she thought it would:

This is Prince(ss).  My dad thinks it's a boy and Juji thinks it's a girl.  Poor Prince(ss) is the focus of Julianne's attention during most of our visits!

My most favorite shot!  I heard maniacal laughter outside and this is what I found: 

Seriously, I've never seen Kasiah laugh like that!

Here is Mom and her replacement children, Minnie Pearl (the food thief!) and Prince(ss):

Katie has become an expert at drawing Minnie.  I was way more impressed before I learned she took an art class at Chapman.

I know, they're cute.

What a Difference Six Months Makes!

This past spring, we tried putting Julianne into dance class.  It was a complete failure.  I suffered the thirty minute (plus!) drive (each way!!!) to the studio at the far end of Palm Springs every week for two months.  It was miserable. Julianne didn't want to be in the room without me.  Clearly she wasn't ready, but I thought she just needed to keep trying until she got comfortable (I swear, I need a damn parent manual).  Serious Mommy fail. She would start off in the class and run to the door to get me every.single.time.  I tried talking to her about on the way to class, on the way home (we always left early in a huff, it was a nightmare) and during the week.  Still, she cried and ran to Mama.

I didn't think it was supposed to be so terrible for both parent and child, so we pulled her from the class.  Wouldn't you know that seeing a video of a friend in a dance recital this summer sparked her interest in dance?  It was a month before classes resumed, and for that month she talked of little else besides ballet.  I took her to a different teacher who had some great reviews and prest-o, change-o - we have ourselves a little dancer!!!

I think activities for kids is like potty training - they'll let you know when they are ready. Poor Julianne, it's rough being the first born. I take comfort in the fact that I was first born and don't remember being the guinea pig as much as I let my parents think I do. heehee.

Tinker Belle

We were 30 minutes early to her first class.  She had her ballet slippers on at 5am!!!  My darling baby was so excited!

Kasiah, being forced to play with a boy.

Juji is second from the right.  I am getting really fancy with her hair.  This past week I totally upped the ante...I need to post those pictures!

And here is a quick video, for you viewing pleasure:

Glamour Shots!

So, in case you missed it, I live in the desert.  This summer has seen 115 degree heat - it's incredibly oppressive!  Of course, you can't play outside in that kind of swelter, so we are stuck being creative with how we entertain our children.

One day we dressed them up in their Sunday best and took them to Wal-Mart. This is what we have to show for it:

This child looks *so* much like her Daddy.  If I had a scanner, I would post a picture I have of him as a little one.

We have this hat photo poster-sized in a frame in their room.

I love Kasiah so much!  She is so strong!

Oh how I wish the quilt photos had come out better!  My bff Sarah made Siah that gorgeous quilt.

David's Golden Birthday!

This year was baby brother's Golden Birthday - he was 24 on the 24th of August!

Uncle Daisy Doodle *just* moved to the Bay Area, so it was especially lovely to spend his birthday with him before he left.

Juji and Doodle are great buddies!

A quick shot of nap time at the Farm.

Nana and Juji

Siah

Moomaw and Kasiah before Steer N Stein

Juji will rue the day she intentionally shut her eyes.

Dinner at Daisy's most favorite Hemet restaurant! Doesn't he look cute in salmon?

Can you see the the cake Juji made on the table in that last picture?  It's in the ugly metal dish.  It has yellow frosting and is green on the inside - Juji thought David would like those colors the best.  The only candle mom had was a big "7", and David wasn't too keen on us singing to him in the middle of Steer N Stein.  Juji, however, would have none of that:

Happy (Belated!) Birthday, Uncle Daisy!  You are so loved!  Just this morning Juji was saying, "David wants to throw me into the water and I said NO! NO DA-VID! THAT'S RUDE!"  See how you are teaching our daughter to assert herself??? Thank you for being such a positive force in our lives - you are our sweet, handsome, witty, bright, snarky baby Doodle!

I'm just so.far.behind

Sometime last month (must have been late August) we had a play date at Anya's.  It was great - our buddy Nikki was there with her cuties Gracie and Brando.  Brando was born 6 days after Kasiah.  Here are the two Christmas babies:

Here is Brando, he is such a love!

It's been so long since that play date, but I remember talking to my girlfriends about the challenges parenting presents.  Specifically, admitting that it can be super hard.  I told a story about swatting Julianne's behind and then totally regretting it...and then laying awake at night praying for patience and for the strength to be a better Mommy the next day.  One of my dear friends had the wisdom to chime in, "And then you plan this totally fantastic project that promptly blows up in your face, testing your patience and resolve all over again."  So true.  I need more play dates with these ladies.

Here is Kasiah with her Poopaw.  Before we came for our visit I had to stop at the dollar store and the clerk thought my girls were so cute they needed an Elmo balloon.  Neither girl objected.

Our cute little family:

We took J-Bones to the Hemet Farmer's Market near the Library.  For her first time getting face paint she chose a Princess theme.  Surprise, surprise.

Mom and I went and saw "The Help" during this visit. It was incredible. Isn't my date adorable???

Sometimes I think the hardest part about being a Mommy isn't dealing with the kids - it's piping up when you need a break.  I remember this day with my mom...if she hadn't had come with me I would have gone by myself - that's how bad I wanted to get away.  Even tonight, as I sit here typing, my husband keeps coming to me with an upset baby and chatty toddler and as much as I want to help - to calm Kasiah and hear Julianne's opinions on the various books she's toting around - I've already been at it for....let me see....11 hours.  I'm a basket case right now.  In fact, when I finish this blog I'm going to shower and it's about 90% certain I will have a good cry.

I know anyone reading this has been there, whether or not you have kids.  I remember being much younger and thinking "you have to hold it together" when really, I've learned, you have to "break" in order to put it all together. Start new.  Gather your strength from the new sets of lessons you've learned.

The good news is it's Tuesday.  On Tuesday, I do "Maleficient" - which is a charcoal mask.

Peace out, friends.  My bath awaits.

Newport, BABY!

Let the record show that I began this post TWO WEEKS AGO.

I am suffering some serious FAIL right now with this blog - but I recognize the problem and am rectifying it by updating now rather than playing the "I'll do it tomorrow during nap time" game.  Also, I just bit into a really hard red vine and think I may have just upset another one of my molars.  Are you kidding me, world?  I need a distraction.  So.  Stop thinking about that, Laura.

Newport.

At the beginning of the summer I found a terrific Groupon deal for a cruise in the Newport Harbor.  Wisely, I snatched it up and threw it in my back pocket so we had an excuse to get out of this hellhole I call home.  It turned out being even more brilliant when we all had major dental catastrophes and our summer budget was blown on crowns.  Did you see how that happened?  I am dwelling on teeth again.

I need a glass of wine.

Okay.  Back with a glass of Barefoot Sweet Red.  Have you tried this?  It's delightful.  I prefer my wine chilled, and this is a red one that is recommended to serve chilled.  Also, it's mighty inexpensive.  But I digress.

So, Auntie Katie, Uncle Daisy, See-Ra (Sierra, David's girly girl) were all in town so we decided to take the harbor cruise.  Well, first we played around at the farm.

My sister Katie is quite the artist.

Sierra and Kasiah

Sierra and Boo Boo Chicken 

We packed all sorts of delicacies for our trip: fancy bread, cheeses, fruit, and almond champagne.  The drive was easy and before we knew it we were on the water!

Surprisingly, this one did not fight the life vest.

Did I mention mom and Sierra picked up a pizza and some hot dogs, too?  It was a feast!

Mom, after one glass of champagne.

Poopaw thoroughly enjoying the girls.

Go ahead, you can say it.  She looks like ME!

I get nervous over water.  I mean, it's so deep.  Does anyone else feel this way???

David and Juji disappeared, and this is where we found them.

I think it is much better to be the second baby.  Bret would *never* have done this with Julianne.

The day after our totally rad boat trip, we had a play date which was really a mini high school reunion.  Here is a picture of Ray and Julianne.  Ray was trying to show Jules how to throw a ball back and forth, but the concept was foreign to Julianne.  Julianne told Ray, "Let's go sit in the grass and think" and like a good little husband, he followed...although it was clear he didn't see the point in the exercise.  Boys and girls are so different, people!

Here is a picture of Nicole, Kelly and Andi.  I went to middle school with these people!

Brooke, her baby Mckenna (6 days older than Kasiah!) and her twin Bridget

Andi and her fellow, Ben:

Nicole, Jeff, Taylor and Josh

Amy and Tauna!:

It was such a lovely get-together!!!