Playdates....

It seems that our play dates have evolved...

The days of changing our princess dress-up costumes 5 times in an hour seem to have passed.

Although we still have our days where playing princess is a viable alternative, for the most part this is what we do now.....
Have a great day!

Back to School....

SO, We are officially into week two and I am just now sitting down to blog.....

It seems that the PTA is a full-time job!

The good news is that M loves her teacher and is thrilled to be back at school. The great news is, at first glance, it appears that our homework will actually be less and easier than Kindergarten. This is a big deal for all of us, as the amount of homework last year had me a little alarmed that "my" second attempt at Elementary school might not be a smashing success....

I am also loving the PTA. It is a bit overwhelming. I have to keep reminding our Ways and Means VP (Chief Tech Geek...) that my last computer class was in 1992. Thankfully, I had fabulous tech support teams for the 10 years I worked. It's amazing how much they could clean up my well-intentioned messes.... Apparently, there is no tech support in the volunteer world... I keep fearing that I am going to shut down the whole school system with one wayward keystroke. Other than my technical difficulties, and my inability to be multiple places at once (with toddler in tow, of course) it is a great unpaid job!

So, because I have dinner to cook, a playdate to supervise, and 30some volunteer interest forms to enter, I will close with a couple of shots of Princess M's triumphant return to the halls of education.


All dressed in the new Back to School clothes from Grandma and Papa....
Thrilled to share a desk with one of her best buddies from last year. Who doesn't love new school supplies?

Summer Fun....

I can't believe how quickly this summer has flown by.

Princess M starts 1st grade in a week and a half, and I already have $40 worth of school supplies to prove it. We don't even have the individual teacher request list yet, I can hardly wait.

We have covered so much ground and fun in the last month, I hardly know where to start.... I think I'll just show you a few of the highlights and save the in depth anecdotes for future posts.

We spent a very busy week with my folks doing Disneyland, a 4 day Mexican Riviera cruise, and Knott's Berry Farm all while carrying and spreading pinkeye....(right Papa?) We had a blast and definitely were unanimous in our wish that time would stop somewhere around Catalina Island.

The only good thing about vacation coming to an end was the impending arrival one day later of our dear friends the Sides. We had two whole weeks of fun, fellowship, Wii Mario Kart battles, and tons of food (not to mention a fairly obscene amount of drinks and desserts....) It's amazing how you can fit 8 people into a 1250sf townhouse when it's the right people!!!!! Before they even left, it was back to work for C, but we squeezed every possible second of fun out of our two weeks and wouldn't trade a second of it for the world. Boy, it was hard to drop them off at the airport....

We also had a very important birthday celebration for a certain Princess L....

In the last 4 days, C and I have devoted a total of 17 hours to the PTA and I have another meeting this evening, so I guess we know how our "spare" time will be spent from here on out...

We Need a Vacation....

Hellooooo, anyone still out there?

Yes, we are still here. A little tired, and a lot ready for our upcoming cruise, but here none the less.

In the last two weeks we have....

starred as a Golden Hen in Jack and the Beanstalk....You must here 4 of the shyest girls ever sing "We lay, we lay, golden eggs...." to the tune of We Will Rock You. Definitely one not to be missed. Freddie Mercury would be so proud!

We have graduated from Kindergarten.

We have had a wonderful but all too short visit from Granny and Gramps.


Played Buckethead???


Showed Granny and Gramps beautiful Pfeiffer Beach during a sandstorm.....
Yes, that's my awesome Mother-in-Law wrapped up like a burrito in that towel trying to avoid the pelting sand....


We hosted a gourmet meal on the lawn for their visit. Happy Meals for everyone.

Never let it be said that we don't show our guests a good time!


We had our 3rd annual Ballet and Tap recital...


And note the left eye, our first annual recital with pinkeye.... Good Times!

Welcome to the PTA.....

NO, I haven't been devoured by some rare West Coast disease...

I have taken a position with the PTA.

My new title for the upcoming year is Volunteer Coordinator. Translation: Chief Cook and Bottle Washer. It's my job to get already overextended parents to VOLUNTEER their precious time for the good of our school. And when they don't show up, I get..... to do the work.

All jokes aside, it's a perfect job for me. In spite of the fact I am already exhausted, and my term hasn't yet officially started, I am loving every minute of getting to use my brain and big mouth for something so very worthwhile. Funny side story, I actually volunteered to be the treasurer, because I thought it would be painless. Oddly enough, when an accountant stepped up for that job, they didn't want to let me off the hook. For some strange reason, they thought I would be better suited to a job that involves repeatedly approaching complete strangers and politely talking (browbeating) them into donating their precious time for the good of the school. I cannot imagine what possessed them to think I would be well-suited to this position. It's funny, those of you who have known me since before children know my last professional job was in PR for a non-profit blood center. I am fearful it was easier to talk people out of their blood than it will be to get their time....

Anyway, I am already loving every minute of it! C may not be quite so thrilled as he is suddenly getting LOTS of "quality" time with a certain toddler angel.

Yesterday's 7 hour shift included prepping, serving, and cleaning up after we served 450 grilled hot dogs, and 400 grilled hamburgers to the entire student body and their families. In theory, I should have been walking around greeting parents and schmoozing them into positions for next year. In reality, I never want to handle another hamburger or hot dog, and my hair still smells suspiciously of charcoal. Also, never wear Target rubber flip flops to stand for many hours on blacktop...... And still, I loved it all! Maybe I have a future as a professional volunteer, sounds incredibly lucrative.

Here are a couple of recent shots of the girls who have especially bonded recently. They really are two peas in a pod. Of course, there is no shortage of shrieking and squalling but neither can stay out of the other's business for 5 seconds, so all is GOOD!

Party Time!

Last week was a GREAT week!

Thursday, C and I went out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary, sans kids, WOOOOHOOOO.

We got to eat Japanese food and finish entire sentences without interruption. Does it get any better than that?

Friday, Princess M and I got to spend the whole day together, without our favorite tagalong. She's stinking cute...but sometimes it's hard for my big girl and I to get any togetherness time with "little jealousy" along.

I chaperoned M's class field trip to see my favorite things.....NOT!!!!!

Later in the day, M's favorite boy, you remember the one, had his Bday party at the pool. Fun was had by all. They got to swim, I got to take pictures, and not wear a swimsuit....

What a Day.....

So, here's how we spent last Saturday. It was a much appreciated family day of fun in an absolutely gorgeous place.

Check out Pfeiffer Beach, just down Big Sur Highway from us.

There's a freshwater stream that runs down the beach to the Pacific and the girls had a blast playing in the water and catching tadpoles by hand. My, how things have changed for Princess M.....


Things have also changed for this one, who, when we first arrived did not care for sand....

Trying to get the sand out of her bum after this day made Mom not so crazy about it either....