dogs that wear tiaras.

This morning I was on a roll:
I got a bunch of laundry done,
I made progress on a gallery wall I'm working on,
made a loaf of bread,
and did other miscellaneous stuff.

And then we went to a FOUR HOUR LONG SWIM MEET.
Holy cow.
How did I not know they were that long?

But before swim, the kids had one of those mornings that I love.
They played together nicely, they read, the didn't ask to watch tv.
I love those mornings.

I'm not sure Lucy loves those mornings.
I think she'd prefer the kids just watch tv,
because then they're not playing with her.
Specifically, Avery's not playing with her.
Lucy is Avery's favorite dress-up partner.
Let's just saw Lucy has worn a lot of tiaras in her lifetime.





Aaaaand...she's not a fan.
I'm such a bad doggy mom.
She's clearly pleading with her eyes for me to make it stop.

And finally...the face of resignation.
Poor, overly loved dog.



Before we headed to the swim meet the kids had a little snack picnic.



It's weird to me that one day they won't want anything to do
with picnics outside and colorful ikea bowls.
I hate that thought.

I think tomorrow we'll continue the chlorine overload and head to the water park.
We'll bring a lunch and hang with friends until we're just totally sun fried.
{with sun screen, of course.}
I'm really enjoying this summer so far.
This is a good one.

sick days.

One trip to the pediatrician and one co-pay later,
I've got one confirmed an ear infection.
{i feel pretty confident i can diagnose these things myself by now, but whatev.}
It's a "gross" ear infection, to quote our pediatrician.

So yesterday and today he's been home...drugged up on Motrin and an antibiotic,
and {i think} enjoying these required days off of school.

On the agenda: movies, legos, and snacks.
Not too shabby for a rainy Tuesday.



And someone else is enjoying having one of her brothers home.
She gets bored on these days when she's not in preschool.
She asks for a playdate every day.
Her first question every morning is, "where are we going today?".
I think this girl is ready for kindergarten to start in August.
{me...notsomuch.}



And here's a very accurate snapshot of Lucy's entire day.
She has the easiest life of anyone I know.



The agenda for the evening is homework,
dinner {beans, rice, tortillas, and salsa...and cholula, for the two addicts in the house}
and the season premiere of a certain Real Housewives of the OC.

I know it's trash but seriously...I'm not drinking diet coke anymore.
I'm allowed this ONE VICE, right?!!??

insta friday - the '11.11.11' edition.

Here's a little of our week.

One lazy, lazy dog
who appreciates the fireplace.

The guacamole kit from Trader Joe's
was my lunch two days this week.
I'm a big fan.

Riley had a piano recital last weekend.
I love love love the inside of this church.

A afternoon chat with friends.

Forever 21 is Forever Overwhelming to me.
There is so much going on in that store!
But you cannot beat their $2.80 earrings.
These are mine now.

The kids were getting along so well this morning.
They made a massive fort in the living room
{which they are now complaining about having to clean up}.
This was their lookout scout.

I am in full-on Christmas music mode.
{but only when my husband isn't around.  he's not as big a fan as i.}
I do love some Charlie Brown Christmas music.

Happy weekend, friends.
And thank you, veterans and servicemen and women, for all you do and have done.

 

saturday

This is my current favorite breakfast.

It's like a pb & j, but better.
On the days I don't have this
I usually have greek yogurt + berries + the lemon omega-3 stuff from costco.

Very exciting stuff, I know.

And did you see my little watermark there?
I'm goofing around, don't mind me.

Someone decided that bike-riding is a whole lot of fun.
That was one item on our summer list:
practice riding her big bike.

Check!

Do you think dogs can have thyroid issues?
Poor Lucy.
She's just so large.

Colin grew this sunflower, all by himself.
He planted it,
he watered it,
and it's now taller than him.

And little green ladybug-looking bugs are eating it.
Not cool.

Otter pops are not my favorite things.
I think I was traumatized by them as a kid.
Remember how the plastic could cut
the sides of your mouth?
I hated that.

But they are good for a kid with a summer cold
and a sore throat.

And did you see it?  There's that color again....
I like it more and more every day.
Kitchen walls, get ready.

It has been a dark twelve days...

...since we've last talked.


We bought a house.
We moved 25 days later.
We sold our old house.
All of which has been {overall} great.


But...
we've been without internet for the last 9 days.


I KNOW.


But today Comcast came and saved the day
and all is right with the world again.


{Seriously.  No internet or tv for 9 days.  I felt like I was living under a rock.}


I am slowly beginning to emerge from the sea of boxes
and packing material I've been buried under.


I am considering joining a support group for hoarders.
{WHY, exactly, was I holding on to a paper I wrote in 7th grade about plant cells?}

The kids are beginning to love the new house
{after a few tears the first night}.
It's only a half mile away from our old house.
Same friends...same school...
but sleeping in different rooms, which was tough in the beginning.

Lucy was not impressed with the new house either at first.
Major attitude.

Oh, and Riley discovered centipedes in the backyard last week.
Yay!  
{not}

So how are you?!
What have I missed?
Is anyone even out there anymore?

Anybody?
Please don't tell me I've been talking to myself this whole time.

Rainy day blogging

So.
I hear that it's almost summer.
Memorial Day weekend is coming up, right?
I bet that some of you are already swimming and sweating and wearing flip-flops.

So why are we still getting rain?
Why am I still wearing wool socks to bed
and turning on my heater?
{Really. The heater came on today. Crazy.}

We're expecting more rain tomorrow and Friday,
then (supposedly) the sun is making an appearance.
It would be really super great if I didn't have to turn
the heater on over Memorial Day weekend.

And if the rain doesn't stop I just may look as pitiful as this:


Frolicking in a creek + piece of glass = cut paw, staples, and the cone of shame.
She is feeling very sad for herself.
She's supposed to wear it for two weeks {!}.
Hopefully she won't still be running into everything by then.
{We try not to laugh at her to her face.}

And I just had to show you my latest obsession.
Fat-free Greek yogurt.
*SO* good.


Costco sells a big container of the fat-free Fage brand
(which is so delish sweetened with agave nectar & a little granola)
but the Trader Joe's pomegranate, blueberry, and honey are yummy, too.
Don't you just love Trader Joe's?

And while listening to the rain outside,
we're working on our 2010 summer list.
It doesn't mention umbrellas anywhere, so the sun had better hurry up.

February Sun.

The past few days here have been glorious.


Sunny.
Blue skies.
High sixties.
(sorry, my snowed-in friends.)

(I didn't eat it all.)

I've tried to enjoy this weather as much as possible, because the rain is coming back Friday. (boo)

(We got to babysit my favorite 8 month old today. She has the best cheeks. And thighs. And she fell asleep and let me rock her and smell her head for 20 minutes. Loved it.)

Spring is coming. I can feel it.

(Lucy has been sleeping in the sun all day. I'm trying not to be jealous of her lifestyle.)

I think if I buy these it may encourage spring to come more quickly.
Yes, I definitely think spring needs a little more encouragement.

The Dog Days of December.

When a less-than frigid day comes along in December...


you've got to take advantage of it.
Run, run, run.


{Isn't that shirt the cutest? Old Navy.}


Lucy was very appreciative of all the attention the boys were giving her.
And she is now snoring on the floor by my feet.
They totally wore her out.


Hopefully we'll get some more mild days when the kids are off the next two weeks.
Can you imagine two weeks of rain while the kids are on vacation?
Aack - a Christmas nightmare!

T-minus 8 days until the big day.
Are you ready??

Happies.

That's probably not a word, is it? Oh well.
Here are a few things that are making me happy anyway.

This blanket from Costco. If you see it you *must* buy it.
{$18.99. The kids fight over it. Comfiest blanket ever.}
Santa might bring a couple more.


Listening to my kindergartner read.


Watching my second grader do homework.


The new O.P.I. holiday nail colors.
This is "Dear Santa". It's red and sparkly and currently on Avery's toes.
{She gives it two thumbs - or 10 toes - up.}


My most favorite tree ever.
The Chinese Pistache.
These are at the park, but we planted two in our backyard this fall.
I will be so happy if they look like this in a few years.


A yellow lab that stealthily sneaks into the house and then gives you that look that makes it impossible to kick her back out.


Colorful stripes that don't match, paired with messy hair.


What's making you happy these days?

How to Make Your Dog Crazy.

Take one tennis ball.

Place it in front of ball-crazy dog.

Force dog to look at ball while taking many photos and experimenting with aperture settings.



Enjoy.