Saturday, February 27, 2010

futbol

Mommy & Katie's cleats

Katie played soccer for the first time today.

It rained, so she didn't have a chance to wear her new cleats as they played inside instead.

(Should have bought her some Sambas!)

She has been wanting to sign up for soccer for some time now.

You'd think I wouldn't have hesitated.

But, I did.
I wanted to make sure she wasn't too young, the program she was the best fit for her, etc. so she would be set up to have the most positive experience possible.

Because deep down inside I want her to love soccer like I do.

I usually try to get her excited about whatever activity she's going to start.

This time, I found myself being cautious, trying not to build it up too much in the weeks leading up to the first day.

Yes, her penny is on upside down (Papa).

She ended up really liking it.

Basically she just ran back and forth and sometimes in circles trying to kick the ball.

Just like mom does.


Friday, February 26, 2010

and don't forget to hydrate

Katie and I were watching the Olympic ski cross competition where four skiers were racing down an insanely steep and winding course.

“They are going too fast Mama.”

“That’s the point honey, to win the race.”

“They are going too fast to stop to get a drink. What if they get thirsty?"

And, then...

"I don’t see any drink places to stop for them.”

Still later:

“That guy in the front is not being nice. He’s not letting anyone else be in the front.”









Side notes: who else wishes they were in Milan this week?! Loved the Versace finale, just looked like Valley of the Dolls to me. Also really liked some of the apron dresses and silk stuff from Fendi and Ferretti. They looked like they came out of The Great Gatsby.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

10/90

Is about the percentage ratio spent on the inside versus outside of the La Brea Tar Pits last week.
We saw a short movie (really a slide show) about the tar pits which included how the animals got caught in the tar. The scene was much like the one above with a saber tooth growling and shown atop a horse.

Katie straight freaked out and was cowering behind me. Maddie sat by me and roared along with the saber tooth.

As I said, outside was the big attraction of the day.

The kids rolled down the big hills.

And, ran down them.
And, ran down them some more.

Maddie even climbed to the top.

But, she just sat up there and later had to be carried down.

I've known Carrie since I was five. I love that our kids seem to genuinely like each other (like they'd have a choice we always joke).



Jake and Katie play great together and Lauren seems to think that Maddie is "hers" which cracks us up.

Katie talks about her "boy best friend" Jake all the time.

I don't know how else to say it but it makes my heart smile to see them together.

Monday, February 22, 2010

taking flight

Katie loves making things with construction paper. She figures out how to make something and the next thing we know -- she goes into mass production -- and we have dozens upon dozens of that widget.

Recently she has been making airplanes.

And, she has been unstoppable. They become daily "gifts" to family members and friends. She even put them inside choice valentines this year.

I feel so bad throwing away Katie's art. So last week I surprised her by taking five of my favorite airplanes that complimented her green and purple room and did this.

She was very excited.

This one is my favorite because it has flames coming out the back.

Now at bedtime we lie down and look up, blow some "wind" at the fleet and watch them glide around.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

snow days

As promised, follows is a recap of our recent trip to the mountains.
This is a long post because well, we don't really go on vacation so this is a big thing for us.

Katie was enamored by the snow, and perhaps even more so, by icicles which the girls plucked one after another.

On day two the big girls tried skiing.
There weren't any kiddie slopes at this particular mountain (we figured this all out too late of course) so we headed to the most remedial section they had.

After undergoing an extremely brief trial run on the flat surface at the bottom of the slopes, the girls insisted on going on the chair lift.

Papa who hadn't been on skis (only a snowboard) since he was 10-years old was not supportive of the idea, but Katie was adament.

So, up they went.

And, eventually... down they came.

The girls pretty much quit after that.

They did have fun hanging out at the house.

Ray even built our own snowman on the deck.

As you can see our view was gorgeous, this picture only showing a portion of the panoramic view we were treated to.


We all played a little Wii.

There were two sets of double bunk beds in a room where the girls slept.

The kids enjoyed eating, bathing and sleeping together. That is, until they hated each other like the frienemies (friend + enemy) they are.

All the while outside it snowed.

And snowed.

The next morning we awoke to this...

Over a foot of powder.

We headed out with our sleds.













At this point you're probably thinking, "did they bring Maddie?"

Yes.

And, she deplored the snow.

Every time I tried to put her down she cried. So for the most part there are no pictures of her, because I'm generally carrying her while taking these photos.

(me trying to take a picture of the two of us.)

The dads watched the kids one afternoon while Miyo and I headed out to do some skiing which was fun.
On our last day we tried to take the girls tubing in the snow.

But, when we got there they both balked saying it looked too scary.

So, we made snowmen near the entrance instead (hence the fencing and barbed wire in the background).

Our friends, hailing from back east quickly made a respectable snowman.

And us, well... ours looked more like Jabba the Hutt.


Literally ten minutes before we are going to get in the car to head home Maddie starts yelling "doooowww" which means "down."

She scrambles down and begins to play in the snow.

Seriously, girl?!

Being the mamarazzi I am, I quickly snapped a semi-decent shot of the girls in the snow together -- the only one I got the whole trip.

Next time Maddie, next time.

(oh, and thank you Stasia, Kati and everyone we borrowed clothes from!)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

year of the tiger

Chinese New Year was on Sunday.

We headed out to dinner that night with some friends to celebrate.

It's traditional to give money to the younger set in little red envelopes.

These envelopes are not readily sold in my neck of the woods. I would have had to order these online in advance -- which means I didn't have any hours before dinner.

So, we made some out of red construction paper.

Tucked some money in them.


Added some festive decorations on the front -- and voila!

Monday, February 15, 2010

in the words of a great rapper

today was a good day.

We drove traffic-free into L.A. this morning to have dim sum with some family.

Then, this afternoon we hit the beach.

It has been a couple of months since we've been and Katie was pretty fired up.

The water was too cold for all of us except Katie.

We played games.

Maddie surfed on Papa taking the term "toes on the nose" to an all too literal level.

Some friends happened to show up.

Malia kindly shared her snacks with Mo.

While Katie and Olivia set to work filling up a hole Papa dug with water.

Over a dinner of baked taquitos and guac Katie proclaimed, "Today was an excellent day."

Agreed.