celebrating songer

43.

for posterity's sake

Mo's answers from end of 4th grade

rough night

hot dog

Working from home has its perks. 

Except for when it's hot and you have no air conditioning.  It has been uncomfortably warm for almost 3 weeks now. When it's hot consecutive days like this, the house never gets an opportunity to cool down.  

Today I wrote a press release about a mushroom knife while a fan blew hot air at me.  

I'll be honest, it was probably not the best work I have ever produced.

But then, at least I'm not wearing a fur coat.  

Poor puppy has been laying on the floor next to me all day -- switching sides every so often (presumably when the floor gets too warm underneath him.)

On the right side of me...

And, later on the left...

The only place he is really happy when it's this hot is here:

But, unfortunately it's a less conducive place to write and work.

As Songer said: It's hard being big and hairy.

the state of things

Summer can be hard when you work from home and kids have to stay busy (and quiet) while mom writes and conducts phone calls.  This is especially difficult for my non-homebody KT who itches to get out and "do something."  The days she is not in a camp/clinic during the day is seemingly torture for her.  She is always sure to let me know about her agonizing state -- repeatedly.

But, she sure is cute.

Mo on the other hand is fairly content playing with slime and watching YouTube slime videos in between doing her mom-mandated-stop-your-brain-from-going-to-mush curriculum.

Part of this "curriculum" is doing music daily.  For KT, I never had to employ any type of requirement so I was a little worried about doing so for Mo this summer.  To my relief she has taken to it beautifully -- and, has progressed immensely as a result.  I can't tell you how much I love hearing  both of them play and sing...

Dog, and dog-cat have been well, lazy as usual, mostly in part because it has been hot!

If not sleeping, this guy just looks at me with sad eyes throughout the day. 

Dog-cat sleeps in his perch in Mo's room through most of the morning, and then sneaks onto dog's bed in the afternoon for some rays.

Have to say though, would way rather be with these characters than in an office any day.

the calm before the storm

This weekend is going to be a bear.

8 a.m. soccer match for Mo
10 a.m. Relay for Life event for Mo's teacher
1 p.m. soccer match for Mo (in Goleta)
3:30 p.m. soccer match for KT
6:30 p.m. soccer match for KT
8 p.m. Cyrus de Mayo party

And, that's just Saturday.  There are more games on tap for Sunday!

Maybe someday I'll look back, my life a little slower and think -- wow, we were busy then.  But, for now, I'm going to grab a gulp of air and head into the weekend!

dreaming of bread

Simply put, we need to find time to make bread at home soon.

Katie and I took a cooking class when we were in Paris last October.  We made amazingly delicious bread.

No, seriously ... really. good. bread.

 

We walked back to our apartment and bought two rotisserie cornish hens, an Orangina for KT, red wine for me and ... well, this might have been the best meal we had that trip.

she just looks grown up

I know it's such a motherly thing to say, but Katie is getting so grown up.

No, she doesn't wear makeup.  Her, D and Lia were just messing around at a mom's makeup event.

Love their "gentle" technique of palming each other's head when applying makeup.

We watched The Bourne Identity with her recently, and I feel like we have more and more "adult" conversations with Katie.  Often I feel like I'm talking with a friend rather than a kid.

Then something like this happens:

Song:  Fitz's tongue just went into my mouth.  He Frenched me!

Katie:  That's not how French people kiss.

... and then, I remember she's still a little girl.

because she's boss like that

I still contend she's the one we are going to have to look out for. 

One word:  Trouble. 

Twenty-two years ago today...

Songer and I went on our first date.  We were in college and we ate at Tony Romas, and watched the movie Waterworld.  Five years later we got engaged in Paris at the restaurant pictured above. 

Now, every year we eat ribs on March 1st.  Tonight we were eating ribs ...

Me:  Hey Katie, 22 years ago today your dad and I kissed for the first time.
KT: You kissed on the first date!?  Ewwww....

Vintage Rugs and Yellow Labs

I keep thinking I'm going to "catch up" with my blogging.  I haven't chronicled my adventures in Paris with Katie, the holidays, Mo on a rip-stick, Katie playing the bass, and now clarinet, Mo joining a club soccer team ... none of it.  It's just so daunting when I think about it.

So, I'm just going to post when I can and it will probably be more simple things -- you, know how I wish things were.

Today my new kitchen rug arrived.  I had to lock the dog and cat up in another room while I was trying to get the rug situated on top of the rug pad because they kept laying on it.

I like it.  Fitz seems to like it.  I hope everyone else does too, although, it's from Turkey so more than likely I will not be returning it even if they have objections...

These American Girls are Heartbroken

RIP Tom Petty.

Dog Cat

Yes, we have a dog and a cat.  But, that isn't a typo in the heading.  Toby is a "Dog-Cat."  

What I mean by this, is he comes to the door to greet people, like a dog.  

He likes his belly rubbed...

He lays on the bed and chews on Fitz's bone...

And, he's a rascal...

We did go on an amazing vacation, which I will post about later when I have more time!

mo versus fitz

Mo has been playing soccer with a new team the last few months.

Today she tried some of her moves out on the Fitz.

Yellow card on the Yellow Lab in the 35th minute!

the breakup

Mo officially moved out of The Purple Room this weekend leaving KT behind, and a little saddened. KT likes company.  KT likes action.  KT likes to be around people.

Mo likes her space and solitude, and is more than ecstatic about the move.  The Purple Room looked like this before the move ...

Mo takes after her dad -- neat, fastidious, organized.  

KT and I are, well ... none of those things. 

All of this leaves me out in the cold office-wise.  I'm currently working on the dining room table which provides for a terrible ergonomic situation for me (I'm short, the table is too high, etc., etc.).  However, we do have some plans in the works which we'll hopefully get completed sooner rather than later!

yeh, a pine tree is strange mascot, but we'll take it in a heartbeat

So last night at 5th grade promotion, the principal read each student's statement as they crossed the stage.  Some quoted the likes of Shakespeare, Einstein, even Dr. Seuss.  Others kids thanked their teachers or mom and dad.

Here's KT's statement.

People now assume either her dad or I went to Stanford.  Nope.

Love that she has her sights set high.  I would gladly take on that massive tuition bill.

Later in the car on the way to dinner Katie said, "Mom, I'm wearing a dress, my soul is slowly dying."

That should have been her statement when she crossed the stage.

Hair Model

And, it grows super fast too.  

Sorry, I'm her mom.  I have to brag.

Her hair like mine, though would be stick straight within the hour -- even after having been in a bun all. night. long.

She consistently bemoans (that's putting it mildly) having knotted hair.  I keep telling her people would love to have her hair.  She doesn't believe me, which is about par for the course these days.  

Fitz Impersonating Me

Four words: Ready. For. The. Weekend.

Times Are a Changin'

That's not a reference to the throwback outfits the girls wore to the Sock Hop Dance at school.  I'm referring to the girl/boy behavior at the dance itself.

According to my girls here is a recap of events by grade level:

• Kinder/1 & 2nd graders -- danced their booties off.  
• 3rd graders -- this is the year they get more apprehensive and worried about how they look in front of others.  Apparently, Mo and her friends walked around most of the dance, you know, just scoping the scene.
• 4th graders -- limited intel gathered on 4th graders.
• 5th graders -- Lots of standing around in small groups.  There was some "daring" of dancing with boys and vice versa.  Katie apparently danced with a boy.

I've been hearing lots of stories about 5h grade boys and girls, and frankly, it's got me a little worried.  I do remember people having crushes and starting to pair off nearing middle school, but geez, when you have a kid that age, it changes the game!

I keep telling the girls "boys are bad, stay away from them," and "boys are gross, stay away from them."  

I'm only half joking.  

I guess Song has it worse.  While I definitely want to protect them, there is something about a daddy and his daughters.  I mean, he tears up when he sees anything having to do with a dad and his daughter -- television show, a commercial, I swear even a "touching" print ad will get him. 

Days Like These

Facts:  Song is out of town.  We scheduled the furnace to be replaced this week.

Presumptions:  The furnace company was supposed to come on Tuesday and replace the furnace and ducts in one day, starting at 8 a.m. and finishing at approximately 2 p.m.

Reality:

• It takes two full days.  They end up leaving at 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday.
• A City inspector shows up on day 2, and writes our project up for not having a permit.
• When I ask about the "ticket" Robert from the furnace company replies he doesn't think it's in the contract that they pull the permit.  Songer says he was told by Ben a permit would be pulled.  *plot twist*  Ben no longer works for the company!  

More Reality:

• I take Fitz for an outing in the orchard after dinner because the dog has been on leash when inside for 2 days because the furnace guys were working.  He runs around like a happy maniac.

• They are watering some of the trees, and his paws get muddy.  I rinse them off when we return, and find....
• KT is trying to take a shower but there is no hot water! Apparently, when they turned the gas off yesterday, the pilot light went out, and hence our water heater was not... well, heating water.
• I try to light the pilot with no avail. I follow the directions, I google how to do it -- no go.  I have to call Ray.
• I get off the phone and the kids are screaming.  I go and find Fitz rolling in the now small mud puddle that was created when I rinsed his paws off.  He's now covered in mud.

• Ray who seems a little annoyed graciously lights my pilot light -- in like, 2 seconds -- making me feel like a stereotypical completely incompetent woman.

To add insult to injury, we have apparently lost the wine opener, and I am forced to drink beer utilizing the opener screwed into the trellis.  Nothing like having to go outside every time I want to open a beverage.

Calling it a night.