Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday: A Family Lives Here - Exhibit 8

I'll be posting each Friday with the same theme of "A Family Lives Here". Hope you like it. Hope you join in on the fun.



Exhibit 8:


What are these kids up to?




Looks like we're in the middle of class...



Yep, we're definitely in school. Shhhhh....




Look - they even have a class schedule. 





Cheers!


What do your kids like to play at home?




Photobucket




We're like detectives, scouting out evidence that a family lives here.
Join me by posting a proof of family, with your commentary.
Then, tack on my button and include it in your post. 
Remember to add your link via Mr. Linky.
Ready, set, go!


Thursday, May 26, 2011

Aw.... yeah!




I am letting my girls stay up tonight to watch... SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE? (#SYTYCD)


We're going to pop popcorn over the stove, break open some Limonata San Pellegrino...and move and groove to the music. 


SUMMER is officially here. 


I've missed you, you crazy judges, choreographers... creative geniuses and kooky kids. 


Let's get it on... aw, yeah, yeah!




Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Graduation

Tonight my little one graduates preschool.


They're having a whole little ceremony with caps and gowns. It'll be sweet. I hope it stops raining by then, as it is being held outside.

 



She'll start kindergarten this fall... I'm trying not to think about it.







Oh, and I made these cupcakes for my first grader's kindergarten teacher. It was for her daughter's birthday party. I loved my little painter palettes. 

lemon chiffon cake with strawberry filling, and strawberry/lemon curd frosting.


Cheers!

ps. May is kicking my badunkadunk - I am exhaustapooped. The month's been non-stop things to do, places to go, items to remember... I can't wait until May is over. Also, I have senioritis baaaaad. And I'm the mom.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Happiness Post:: Post 25

I have a love/hate relationship with exercise. It's the same love/hate thing I have with cleaning. Maybe it's why I enjoy cooking/baking.


With cooking/baking - there's a finish. You create a beautiful, tasty something - and then it's complete. It gets eaten. You don't have to repeat the dish - you can make something different. It's never boring.



Meanwhile, with cleaning and exercising - it's never, ever complete. It's an ongoing Sisyphus kind of a battle. It is infuriating. Yet, I love having a clean house, even if it lasts just two minutes after its been cleaned. I love feeling strong after a workout, even though I have to agonize over it again the next day.


So... being healthy makes me happy.


So do fruit parfaits.


So do... my pink boden heels - they're like a little party on my feet.


And... shoes don't care how jiggly you are. They always fit.


Cheers!





ps. Dude... I look like a different person w/out glasses. Is that totally weird? It's a bit jarring for me. I could totally be a superhero w/my glasses as a disguise.



Monday, May 23, 2011

Anatomy lesson

***If you are easily offended - close your browser and wash your eyes out with soap. Potty words and accurate anatomy names ahead.***


We still get to cotonelle wipe my 4YO's bum after she makes a poopy. I know, I know. It's time she did it herself. I like to think that because I've done it for her this long, when I'm old, and can't reach that area, she'll be willing to help me out like I did for her. 

Hey, don't ruin my dream. On second thoughts, that's a weird dream - please ruin it.


Several Saturdays ago I was downstairs sounding the five-minute mark to get out of the house for the egg hunt when she shouted, "someone wipe me! someone wipe me! someone wipe me!" in a really cute, sing-song kind of a way. Since Daddy was upstairs, and all dressed, mind you, he went to wipe her.


4YO: Daddy, why is your v@gina so big?

Phantom: What are you talking about? I don't have a v@gina.

4YO: Yes, you do. It's right there. *points* in general direction.

Phantom: It's not a v@gina.

4YO: Well, it looks like a big poopy.




My husband relayed the above conversation to me as we waited for our table before brunch. I could not stop laughing. Then we were both reminded of this bit from John Oliver's NY Stand-up show. ***if you are easily offended by the accurate name of the male organ - you won't like this clip***


Jokes.com
John Oliver - A Footballer's Penis
comedians.comedycentral.com
JokesJoke of the DayFunny Jokes



ps. We believe in teaching our girls the proper names of our body. Also, nakedness at home is not a big deal here. So yeah, we're part hippie. In case you are a busybody worried about our daughters - we're not complete morons, the girls did not watch this clip. But, you could watch it, and then pretend you didn't, and then become so offended you need to go tattle. Enjoy!

pps. In case you were wondering if I have. No, I haven't - thank goodness - or I can't remember. My husband, has. ...and I guess, so have my daughters.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Friday: A Family Lives Here - Exhibit 7

I'll be posting each Friday with the same theme of "A Family Lives Here". Hope you like it. Hope you join in on the fun.




Exhibit 7:


It's the middle of the day... why are these girls still in bed?



Room Service! Of course!

One of many things my daughters love about vacation... is room service.


In fact, even at home, we'll occasionally use my cell phone to call the house, to get the daddy, to bring up various snacks, if the girls are hanging out upstairs.







This particular weekend our youngest requested room service, just like at a hotel. She insisted it be served in their room.






My hubby made tapsilog - something he loved while serving a mission in the Philippines, Cebu mission. He still speaks Cebuano and some Tagalog.


watching despicable me


Then, daddy set up some DVD players with a movie of their choice. 




watching a tigger and pooh movie...because there aren't any bad guys
This was nice. Hubby and I got to flip on our own movie and have a bit of us time.




Cheers!

What's your policy on places to munch?


Photobucket




We're like detectives, scouting out evidence that a family lives here.
Join me by posting a proof of family, with your commentary.
Then, tack on my button and include it in your post. 
Remember to add your link via Mr. Linky.
Ready, set, go!


Thursday, May 19, 2011

Time That Frippery Thing...




My daughter's first grade class is putting together time capsules. The capsules are small boxes with five photos, and they specified, "short handwritten" letters from mom, dad...and I snuck one in from little sister. The idea is that they keep them closed and then open them on their graduation day from high school.


Just the mere mention of high school leaves me in tears. Because... it's high school. It's... it's... it's my baby. My sensitive, creative, expressive, happy, thoughtful, forgiving, unconditional loving baby.


 8 months old - may 2005 - my first mother's day


I wrote the note. It is only on a page of stationary. I wrote really small, and filled up all the white space on both sides. So technically, it is short, as it's only one page. I could've written a book, just for her. I started blogging because of her. She is my star.


Yes, of course I shed tears over this letter. I wrote about the girl she is now. How much I adore her, how grateful I am for her, how she is the teacher in so many ways - she is my example. I wrote about my future hopes for her. How I hope we're still buddies. I hope that we still have fun together. I hope, that she is happy, that she knows I love her just as she is.


13 months - october 2005


I didn't write how excited I am to meet the woman she'll become, because I love the girl she is now. I didn't write how scared I am of the unknown future, because I want her to be brave as she faces each new experience. I didn't write any tangible expectations of her when she turns eighteen, because I want her to be free to choose her life.


I did ask her to forgive the mistakes I will make, have made and will likely always make along the way as I try to be the mother she needs.


Now, as the letters are written, the photos are put together I sit and wonder. I wonder what changes life will bring each of us in eleven years. I wonder how our family will change. I wonder what my daughter will remember. I wonder if I will be able to be the mother she deserves.


14 months - november 2005


My heart is overflowing with tender emotion for my oldest as she continues her life journey. I hope the journey brings her joy. I hope she finds comfort in the storms. I hope she knows that no matter what choices she makes, no matter what successes and failures come her way, I love her. She has made me a better woman. She has made me a woman of purpose. She has made life fun and filled with happiness. I will be forever grateful I was chosen to be her mom.


I guess for now, I'll just enjoy the ride. 


Please, pass the tissues.


ps. My dear - in case you read this...  Guess what? 










I love you. 




Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Grandma Hands



While helping my girls practice piano my 6YO and I had this lovely conversation...




6YO: Wow mom. Your hands look old.

QS: Uh, gee, thanks.

6YO: What? They do. They look like Grandma's hands.

QS: Okay....

6YO: They look really, really old. 

QS: I think I get it.

6YO: Look at my hands. They look new. Are you 47?

QS: I'M NOT FORTY-SEVEN!!!

6YO: Your hands look like they're forty-seven.

QS: They are JUST DRY. I need to put lotion on them. Now leave me alone.



Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Happiness Post:: Post 24



Sometimes... being both silly and sassy... makes me uproariously happy.

Cups and Ice



You know the FRIENDS episode where Rachel smokes? In that episode Monica throws a party and puts Phoebe in charge of only cups and ice, because Monica is ... well, Monica. So Phoebe, knowing she's being slighted and side-lined, does what Phoebe would do - goes overboard with the cups and ice. There was shaved ice, pebbled ice, crushed ice, dry ice... then cup hats, cup garlands, sculptures, you name it.

snowmen cupcakes... 

In our first grade class it seems that the mom with the adorable kid, who is allergic to peanuts - is the only one allowed to make cupcakes for the class. I don't know why, or how it was decided, but there it is. However, these aren't from scratch cupcakes - these are the from a packaged, processed frosting kind of cupcakes. 

carrot cake... one of my all-time favorites minus the nuts - I like mine nut free

(side note - I also found it weird that at the beginning of the year we got a list of approved food - all of which were pre-packaged, chemically messed with "food" er...garbage. Even the apple slices were requested to be the chemically preserved apples to keep them from browning... FYI you can use a quick salt water soak to do that - wouldn't it be better to serve a kid with allergies whole, fresh food?)




applesauce spice cupcakes with roasted apple pear sauce topped with brown sugar cream cheese frosting

If you know me... I love, love, love making cupcakes - have been playing with them for several years now. Simply because, they're easy, peasy from scratch, taste better and... oh, yes I love to eat them, so does my family. I love sharing with good friends as well ... if you love it, share!




dark chocolate cupcake with dark/milk filling and ganache frosting sitting next to the applesauce spice one from above.

So it actually pains my soul when I'm not allowed to bring them to class.


kiwi cupcake with whipped cream frosting

My 6YO center - is an Egret... a beautiful, animated, happy egret.

For my 6YO's recent class play they asked for packaged rice krispie treats and oreo cookies. I first offered to bring cupcakes - but was immediately shot down. So then I said I would bring rice krispie treats - but I'd make them - I had to alert the mom with the kid with the allergy... who swallowed a fly - that sentence just had to go there... rhythm and all.


 M&M rice krispies... with a few skittles sprinkled in for a surprise.

So since I got clearance to make rice krispie treats, let's just say I was giddy as I decided to add a touch of Phoebe to my rice krispie endeavor.

 
cinnamon rice krispie treats...extra cinnamon...mmm



 pink rice krispie treats...because my girls got a kick out of the pink marshmallows



 this is only half what I made... I saved some for friends, classes, family... I had rice krispies coming out the seams.

It makes me happy when I find myself hilarious, with a touch of smart a$$ dolloped in... it must be the 12 year old boy in my head who is giggling his head off.


Cheers!



 






Monday, May 16, 2011

What's Old is New

On the way home from school pick up I heard this conversation.








6YO: You know what? You're lucky to be the little sister. You get to have all my old clothes.


4YO: No. You get all the new clothes.


6YO: Yeah, but my old clothes are your new clothes! See! You're lucky.


4YO: *silence*

Friday, May 13, 2011

Friday: A Family Lives Here - Exhibit 6

I'll be posting each Friday with the same theme of "A Family Lives Here". Hope you like it. Hope you join in on the fun.


This post is a bit late this morning, as blogger was down for maintenance, bugs, or donuts.



Exhibit 6:



Where is the inhabitant of this bed? I know I put her here last night.


Her big sister is still here.









Oh, of course. This is where she ends up each morning.






I better go serve breakfast.



Cheers!

What's sleepy time like in your home?


Photobucket




We're like detectives, scouting out evidence that a family lives here.
Join me by posting a proof of family, with your commentary.
Then, tack on my button and include it in your post. 
Remember to add your link via Mr. Linky.
Ready, set, go!

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Time-out

...for intentional grabbing.


In an effort to get us all out the door fast one morning a couple weeks ago, I threw my 6YO and 4YO in the shower with me.




They are taking a performing arts class - 6YO is a fairy godmother

6YO: Hey, don't touch my butt!

4YO: *silence* 

QS: Sweetie, I'm sure your sister didn't mean too. There's not a lot of room in a shower with three people.

6YO: I know she did it on purpose.

QS: How do you know?

6YO: Because! She grabbed it.

It was very hard to keep a straight face while my 4YO looked at me sly-like.  

4YO chose the Alice in Wonderland outfit to be her "princess" costume for her performance

I love to hear them sing







By the way, what are you doing on Friday?

I'll be posting "Friday: A Family Lives Here"

Will you join me?


Here's the button.

Photobucket








Here are some previous posts. I hope you join in on my weekly carnival. I love visiting and discovering what you're all doing as you gather evidence in your own homes.
 


Wednesday, May 11, 2011

What it's like



On a recent car ride home from the mall, after there was an argument between sisters.


6YO: Do you want to know what it's like to have a little sister?


4YO: Okay.


6YO: It's mostly fun.


4YO: Uh huh.


6YO: It's often fun. It's usually fun.


4YO: Yeah.


6YO: It's just sometimes awful because we fight.


4YO: Well, it's sometimes awful to have a big sister too.

Children's Book Week - Winners Part 2




This is it! The last three giveaways from Children's Book Week.



 

3. Can You Hear It? by William Lach/Metroplitan Museum of Art goes to...


Congrats Erin!


4. Big Sister, Little Sister by LeUyen Pham goes to....


Congrats LaYen!


5. Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems goes to...




Congrats Nestle!


Now... a little story about the winning copy of Big Sister, Little Sister.





I posted my giveaway on LeUyen's fan page on facebook. She promptly asked me if I wanted a signed copy to giveaway. Is that really a question when it comes to me? Heck yes I wanted a signed copy and could I get three more signed for me and my girls? She agreed.  
 



She mentioned that it was too bad I couldn't be in San Francisco for her signing at Books, Inc at the Marina on Saturday May 7th. I explained my daughters had a performance that day, but we'd be in San Francisco on Sunday for Mother's Day. So, I called ahead and had the bookstore save four copies for Uyen to sign, and for me to pick up the next day. Timing worked out great... and now LaYen - you have a very special copy.




A big thank you to Uyen for her willingness to offer her time and enthusiasm for my giveaway. A big thank you to all who participated. You made my first ever giveaway, my sixth blogaversary and first ever Children's Book Week funtastic! I can't wait for next year!


Cheers!

ps. Ladies, send me a quick email with your mailing address to queenscarlett at gmail dot com - thanks!