Shorted again

Last week I was one can of spray paint short when trying to finish my patio furniture. I frustratingly had to trudge back to Home Depot to get another can.

This week when I was staining the fence I was once again one can short -- arg!

What was most annoying was if I had about a 1/2 cup more of stain I would have been able to finish all the cutting in which would have left only rolling to do -- oh well.

Guess I'll be heading back to Lowes this week.

before...

after...

If I could only sew

The green patio furniture I bought at the flea market last month is now officially turquoise.

We've already started to have our snacks -- and today, our lunch -- on it. I'm finding the whole not-needing-to-sweep-afterwards a big plus.

Now I need seat cushions. I'm thinking yellow or orange -- or maybe I'll just find the perfect print somewhere.

Any ideas? Know any good tutorials on easy-to-make pillows? (Stress on the easy-to-make part.)

Home James!

I've started to feel like a soccer mom/chauffeur lately.

I know my girls are so young and the number of activities will only grow and hence their schedules will only get more packed as the years progress.

I just feel like I'm always waking someone up -- who doesn't want to be woken up -- to get to ballet in the afternoon, rushing to pack things to get to swim class on time or trying to tweak Maddie's schedule so she won't have a breakdown in the middle of Katie's gymnastics class.

Today, Katie started tap class with her partner in crime.

And I was reminded that I chose to do this -- that I want to do this, because I love seeing her excited to try new things and I love that smile.

In all forms

Some people have a thing for cupcakes. For me, it's chocolate in just about any form.

I think I have some patentable ideas -- the chocodilla being a prime example.

Tonight it was dessert pizza. Sometimes we make it a smores pizza with chocolate and marshmallow. Tonight was cinnamon sugar, chocolate and icing.

Katie asked if we could make the icing pink.

Shocking I can't get to my pre-baby weight isn't it?

We love you Papa

For a great Father's Day weekend:

Add trucks to one part lobster, two parts water (beach and water park) and friends. Mix well.

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p.s. thanks for all the kind words regarding our unfortunate week. Nice to know people care.

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Long week

The Good
Checked out hundreds of butterflies at the exhibit in Santa Barbara.

Played at the park with friends.

Went over to the Adkins house and the girls did dinner and bath time with Lauren and Jake.

Got some planting done.


The Bad
Lonely week. Papa was out of town since Sunday and just got back today.

The Ugly
House got broken into. We were lucky. We weren't home and they didn't take much, just emptied out virtually every drawer in the house.

Thank you Ray for coming over so quickly and putting a new door in. Gave me peace of mind.

Could I be wearing any more clothes?

Katie's "dress up" keeps getting more and more extreme.

The other day she comes out looking like this...

...telling me that "a big snow storm is coming."

It reminded me of that Friends episode where Joey puts all of Chandler's clothes on and says "Look at me, I'm Chandler -- could I be wearing any more clothes?"

We start peeling layer after layer off of her to find multiple sweaters, a dress, a ballet leotard, tights, bloomers and two bathing suits -- because who doesn't grab a bathing suit when it starts to snow?!

What cracked us up was -- much like Joey -- Katie was indeed "going commando" under all that.

The Laugh Factory

Our friend Roberto taught Katie to put ice down people's pants this past weekend.

Katie thought it was hilarious.

She actually fell down laughing -- pretty funny.

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Katie-ism for the day: As she is packing up play butter in her backpack to go to on her trip, “Mama, dem ran out of butter in “In-ga-lind.” (That's how she pronounces England)

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A Berry Fun Day

It's blueberry season so we headed out to the farm.

It's amazing the amount of stamina the kids have developed in one short year.

The kids picked for about an hour, which was a lot longer than last year.

I've been nibbling on them and they are so sweet.

And, the cost is cheap, especially when you have some decent three-year old laborers to pick them!

Wyatt and Maddie who were strapped into Ergos and Baby Bjorns kept reaching out to grab at the plants.

Maybe next year guys.

Our bounty

In the city with the girls

I know I've said it before, but I miss the City.

On Sunday I met two of my best friends Lyndsay and Laura in the City to see a play and to do dinner.

I took the train in. I rode BART to work for years and years which made it a bit nostalgic for me.

I just love all the hidden alleys and old advertising and random things you see in the City.

We saw the Broadway musical Spamalot -- which was hilarious. I'm not always into Monty Python/Benny Hill-type humor, but it really worked for me on stage.

After, we headed over to Belden Alley, an old haunt from the days I worked in the Financial District. We shared some really fun and yummy plates at B44.

I love my life in our little beach town, but sometimes (and, I'll only say it one more time) I really miss the City.

The Big Debut

As Katie keeps telling everyone she danced on a "real" stage for the first time on Friday.


There were about 40 people in the audience. I thought she might get a scared.

Yeh, no.

"Why was my show not so long?" was her question when I got her after her performance was over.

"I want to be in that show too," pointing the the group that was currently on stage.

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Headed up to the Bay Area after the show.

Great grandma Beth recently had cataract surgery and is now sans glasses so you can see her baby blues again.

The girls visiting with her...

Dress up part deux

I've seen this, this, this and this.

So, I shouldn't be surprised when she comes out of her room looking like this...

Later, I found this picture on my camera. Papa must have snapped it during the subsequent swimming adventure in her room.

And, yes we have a no-jumping off furniture rule in our house. Like many rules, they apparently don't apply when Papa is around.

The Magnificient Seven

Happy to report all seven of our tadpoles remained alive throughout their residency with the Little Wickies.


We hiked back out to return them only to find the water completely dried up.

Papa had to hike up the rocky riverbed to find some water while Katie, Maddie and I waited.Katie was obsessed with writing her name on the trail on the way back. We must have stopped at least 10 times to perform this task.

Highlight of the trip: seeing some horses . Katie was a little intimidated at their size up close.

Later we wished our friends Ellie, Lara and baby Luca well before their extended trip to Italy.

And what better to share with friends but some cupcakes.

Miyo and I also hit up the Flea Market at the fairgrounds.

One of my finds...

I think I'm going to paint it either a soft yellow or a bright light maybe even turquoise blue.

Can't decide. What do you think?