Sprinkle Glutton

In the past week, I've received two sprinkle-oriented gifts.
Oh, the delight!

My friend Kara gave me this apron for my birthday, the most perfectly Me Item I now own. And another friend, Christine, gave me this adorable shaker of sprinkles as a present for her birthday. (Yes. The girl gives presents for her birthday. Love her.)

This afternoon, I hauled the kids and some of their pals to "Up" and was pleasantly surprised. I'd heard it was sad and thus had a bad attitude. I mean really--who wants to see a sad, depressing cartoon? But I loved it! It wasn't sad, it was meaningful. I was taken in by the symbolism throughout and also the hilarious dogs! The dogs reminded me of something straight out of The Far Side.



I kept wanting to hear Puddy (Seinfeld) to be a dog-voice, though. Anyway, I was thoroughly charmed. And I loved the ending. Strangely enough, I found myself thinking deep thoughts of...life's transience, the overall journey of mortality, aims to enjoy more fully those I love, and how to just be more of a fun person myself for those who are stuck with me.

I've also been watching North & South at night when the kids go to bed. Ohhhh, it's a goodie.

Oh boy, that man can smolder.

Mike's been working long hours and I've been alone at home into the wee hours. The other night I was settling in for a long night of watching the special features of the, ahem, above smoldering-hot movie when I heard the CREEPIEST SOUND downstairs! The kind of sound that makes your neck-hairs prickle and your heart take a great bound in your chest. I proceeded to self-talk myself and pry my fingers out of the couch cushions and JUST when I had re-settled myself I heard that dang noise again. I actually began to make mental exit plans from the house. I kept thinking it sounded like a toy whose batteries were dying but the creepy part was...it that wasn't a sound which belonged to any toy WE own. I was so creeped out.

The 5th time I heard it I began frantically texting all my fellow insomniac friends--the ones who it wouldn't humiliate me too much to text at 2:37am--so at least someone would know what happened to me when I disappeared due to the killer in my house. I even called Mike and woke him up (he didn't laugh at me 'til morning) and he talked me through the house as I checked locks and every little room. I kept thinking that this is what the stupid people do in scary movies; they go investigating, talking themselves out of their fear, while we watch in the audience and go bonkers, knowing there's a killer waiting behind the shower curtain, and scoffing at their stupidity for not just running out of the (scary) house as fast as they can go!!!

After repeated attempts, Cecily texted me back with some mood-lightening jokes and Kate answered with an immediate, "I'll be right over." I didn't even equivocate. I was that scared. As Cecily said, everyone needs a Kate. She stayed 'til the dawn's early light & I love her forever.

Click here to feel my pain.

...(raising my Diet Coke in a good-luck toast)...Here's to hoping Mr. Marbles doesn't scare the CRAP out of me tonight!

(and if he does--will you come over, Kate?)

I Don't Care if I Never Get Back

(back row, 2nd kid from the left)

Last night was Max's last tournament game, due to a 14-2 loss--ouch. He plays center field and had a beauty of a catch--a pop fly that looked sure to sail past him on the right. He reached across to catch it with a backhand catch (i'm positive that's not the correct terminology), then threw a rocket in to homeplate. It was so exciting! I could hear some crazed fan screaming and jumping, only to realize it was me. Ahem. He was out there, beaming in the field for the duration of the inning. That happy, proud smile made the entire season worth it. But I really am sad to see the end of baseball, I love it so. Best sport there is.

Isabelle has tournament games next week--stay tuned. I really must post a photo of her in her uniform and pink socks. Between watching a wiggly, busy baby and my love (fervor?) of the game, I don't stop for photos like I should.

Here is a glimpse of what my van looked like this spring, every day after school. Oftentimes one or both of them was changing into uniforms in the car right after I picked them up from school. I must say, I was very organized with the car packed on most days.
With the games being right after school and going through dinnertime, I tried to have picnic dinners but honestly many nights it was cold cereal, grilled hot dogs or pb&j's. Ugh.

Look at me, even remembering to feed the baby. Yes, I set the bar high. Try to keep up.

This is an everyday view of my drinkholder: survival food for both me and Jack.

So with baseball wrapping up, I feel like our nights can have some normalcy again. I have seriously felt on the run since April. Is it just me? Am I a lightweight?

I have loved the first week of summer: sleeping in, relaxed pace, setting my own schedule. I find it is taking some adjusting, though, to work the big kids back into our morning routine; When they were in school this year, Mimi & I had a great morning routine going: we'd get them out the door and immediately do her school...

(About a month ago we began this great book, which I also used with Max & Isabelle with great success. Mimi is resisting, so I am breaking the lessons up into smaller bits. We'll see. And we've been working on sight words.)

...and while we did school, Jack had Scruffle Time. He is so energetic in the morning and just swims (not crawls) all over the house.

Each day, after finishing Mimi's schooltime and we'd then go upstairs to do the whisk-through-the-house tidy up from the morning chaos. Mimi helped me whisk while Jack had Upstairs Scruffle Time. He love, love, LOVES the girls' room and all the exciting, non-babyish toys.


Our Summertime Morning Routine is off to a slow start, mostly because I have been sleeping in like Rip Van Crystal. We did make our job charts, though! Finally! I've been planning for an entire YEAR to do these. I got the idea here from Stie, one of my favorite bloggers. I'd meant to do them before Jack was born, ahem, last year, but nope. Just couldn't summon the energy. And I'm finding myself approaching somewhat back to normal energy levels now that Jack is almost at his 1st year birthday.


In other news, I have been exercising again. Sporadically. I need a personal trainer. Actually, make that a personal drill sergeant; someone who'll boot my butt out the door and onto the trail, whether I feel like it or NOT. The chub factor around here needs to change. This view on my fav flat trail (i am back to beginning-level running. sigh.) was so idyllic the other day!

Also, we have been visiting the new library. Every time I am in there I want to do the Maria Von Trapp Sound of Music Meadow Twirl. Every single book is brand new. Brand! New! They smell good, they feel clean, they're all new and up-to-date, and I am usually the first to check out any book I lay hands on. Such a treat.

On the last day of school, Mike & Max went on the Father/Son campout. I think they had fun. Hard to tell. They came back the next day, both answered in mono-syllabic undertones when I asked if they had fun and then both power-napped. No comment. (although, beforehand, Max asked me privately if I would pack his stuff because he didn't want "to be Man-Packed." Looks like he's learned the hard way.)

He hiked up the mountain today and brought me back a bouquet.
I love this kid.

(and please, no comments on the chub factor.)

Tomorrow is Another Day, a la Scarlett O'Hara

Today is the official First Day of Summer not on the Lunar Calendar (summer solstice), but on the Crystal Calendar: it's the first day the kids DON'T go to school. I think I feel more giddy about summer as an adult than I did even as a kid. I relish the freedom from schedules so much more now that I am in charge of all those schedules.

So. I had big plans of morningtime structure before the kids disseminated throughout the neighborhood, but today it just didn't happen. Why? Because I slept in until 10:30am. Oh, sweet bliss. When the mom is snoozing away in her bed, her Big Plan of a morning routine kind of goes awry.

It was totally worth it.

We'll begin anew tomorrow.

So rewinding a bit to the last day of school (last Friday): For teacher gifts, I framed these wordles for Max's & Isabelle's teachers. I loved doing it! The kids typed in the text at this site and we printed them out, framed them and sent them off to school be-ribboned and with a sugar cookie in cellophane. (oh, I've learned a thing or two from this cellophane-loving, ribbon-licious girl) I had plans to have the wordles printed at costco in poster size, which would've been so much more fun, but there were issues with the printing. Next time I'm using iPhoto. Harumph.

Isabelle & her beloved Mr. Felt, who integrates music into his curriculum (go HERE and see!) and who held a "Wednesday Jam" every week after school for his guitar students.
Hands down, the best teacher we've ever had.

After school was the 2nd Annual Neighborhood Waterfight Party, which was so much fun this year! Instead of surprise-pelting the kids with water balloons at the bus stop, we met at the park about 1/2 hour after they got home and had the waterfight there. It lasted much longer and was much more of a block party instead of a quick waterfight. My friend Emily, the genius party planner, brought a huge tarp, greased it down with crisco and set the hose going. Wa-la! Giant slip-n-slide! Here is a view from the top. Looks a little steep.

And here we have the ensuing mayhem. I wish I'd had my camera with video, because the unfiltered sounds of kid-delight were priceless.

We tried to form 2 lines and have them go down two at a time, but there was a mutiny.

I spent the time 50/50, laughing one moment and cringing the next. Laugh, cringe. Laugh, wince. The kids were fearless and after getting a foot crammed into their solar plexus or a knee in the neck, they bounced right up and scampered to the top for another go. I watched in fascinated horror.

Max.

Isabelle, all nice & dry, who never did go down. Smart girl.

Mimi unleashed.
This photo says it all.

Me & Emily's self portrait.
Emily=fun and in a swimsuit, getting wet.
Me=curmudgeon in clothes, snarling, "don't squirt me!"

Afterwards, we party-hopped to my friend Ali's, where the other 2nd Annual Last Day of School party was underway. Ali began this tradition last year of getting together and chilling (chillin'? I am so uncool) in her back yard while kids of all ages run amok. This year she rented a huge blowup waterslide, which was a hit. I love this party because it's the perfect end to the hectic pace of the last two weeks of school. Everybody brings something to share and we just...sit and relax, chatting while the kids run wild. Everybody wins.

Jack tested out his first popsicle. I think it felt good on his gums, where SEVEN teeth are coming in. Poor tyke.

And this was how the afternoon ended. Laid out flat. All of us were in similar shape.

...more later on the fun & frolic that was the last week of school.