Deep thoughts

So far today:

1. What is going on with this apocalyptic weather? It must be the apocalypse.
2. I did a pretty good job trimming Claire's hair with safety scissors.
3. I can never drink carrot juice without thinking of my dad, who makes his own and is always glad to share. Carrot juice is delicious and disgusting at the same time - just like some other things my dad enjoys: near beer, buttermilk, plain yogurt, etc. I bought some carrot juice today because it sounded so good and it was good. I gave some to Claire and she loved it but didn't want seconds. I think she understands.
4. I was phoning in my parental duties this morning and got called on it (good pun there) by my 3 year old. She was trying to show me something and I was saying "Yes," "Uhm hum," and "I see," whenever needed but not really paying attention. So she said to me "I didn't know you could see without looking." Quite profound.

Me and Claire

It's quiet around here with Audrey in school. Claire is getting used to it again, but they make up for it when Audrey gets home, either playing or fighting and making lots of noise. I give her a bath some mornings because it's easier than rushing it in at night. One of these days she will be too big to take nekkid pictures so I have to get them while I can. The other picture is Claire hiding behind the laundry mountain (it's clean - someday I will put it away). I walked right past her and didn't see her until she started talking. Claire often disappears that way during the day. Once in awhile she's getting into trouble, but usually she's just playing happily.

Soccer is starting

We had soccer picture day and carnival and a few others activities over the weekend. My mom was here to help me out while Mark was in Idaho. There was so much going on I couldn't have done it alone. We made the most of it talking, shopping and eating out nonstop. Lots of girl time and many bitter tears when nanie had to leave. But we got to pick up Daddy at the airport and were very glad to have him home.

Audrey's first day in first grade

(Those are shorts, not her underwear.)





First grade is definitely an easier transition than kindergarten. There was much less crying this year. We walked to school with Audrey's best little friend Angelina, who is, sadly, not in our class again but, they made a plan to meet at the monkey bars.





Audrey was nervous, for sure, but felt a lot better when she saw so many kids she knew in her class. Her teachers, Mrs. Amin-Smith and Mrs. Bagley (team teachers) did not give us more than 10 minutes to take pictures and say goodbye and then we were dismissed. Audrey still looked nervous, but she waved and went back to her drawing.

Claire cried then because she wanted to go to school like Audrey. She was out of sorts most of the day, missing her sister. I wasn't sure what to do myself, but it's all coming back to me.

After school Audrey was happy to see us, asked if I could homeschool her, (NO!) and then told me how great her day had been. I'm not sure what was going on in her head, but I think she thinks if I homeschool her she just gets to stay home from school. She said "The playground is awesome!" and that recess, lunch and her teacher were all fine. We are 5 days in now and it's going well.

Disneyland redeemed

If you saw my last post about Disneyland, I must seem like quite a grouch. I am pretty grouchy, often completely overwhelmed by my children and other responsibilities. That's life, right? I have spoken to mothers who do not take their children to the Disneyland by themselves, and I think they are the smart ones. But you can't blame me for trying. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.

We snuck in a last visit before school started and it was a terrific day. Maybe our scars will heal after all. We packed light - just food, money, sweaters and lots of hand sanitizer. We arrived in style and even got to park on the bottom level and bypass the elevator. Once inside we immediately met up with Mary Poppins (the first of 4 times we would see her that day) and then proceeded to go on three rides without waiting: carousel, teacups, and the whale's mouth boat ride - who knows what it is called? Then to Small World, and the purchase of a new toy apiece, Audrey's funded my the tooth fairy and Claire's by grandma Renae. They were in heaven and could have gone home then. Hot and hungry, we found a shady spot and at the entrance to the castle. Ran into Cinderella and her fairy godmother and then Mary Poppins again. She informed us that her show would begin in a few minutes so we stayed there and had great seats. After that the jungle cruise, hot dogs, and we were done. It was a good day. Everybody used the bathroom as needed and maybe because we were eating the entire time, everybody seemed happy. Phew.

Cloudy beaches

We went to the beach during our last week of summer break. We usually go more often, but it was a cold summer. This day was no different, but we had a good time anyway. The kids were not so cold the way they run around like crazy. I was cold parked in my beach chair chatting with friends and snacking, but still burning calories by shivering. The girls played with their friends, ate all the food I brought and begged quite a bit from the other mothers there, dug in the sand, chased birds and all that. Claire drug somebody's surboard around for 20 minutes. Audrey came home with a cup of sand in the crotch of her suit - something she says is the worst part of the beach and I totally agree - sand in the nether regions is very uncomfortable. She doesn't know that some of us had to drive for an hour to get to and from the beach when we were children and those sand pockets were torturous.



We saw an amazing thing that day. There are usually dolphins going back and forth along our beach, so it is no surprise to see them, but they actually came in so close we could have touched them. They were playing in the break and that day it was breaking about 3 yards out. Everyone around us started yelling and running to get a better look - I love that kind of reaction - we were all so stunned and excited. Maybe they saw us because they took off and didn't get that close again. It was spectacular. I was too excited to take a picture.

Mark's grandma

We were very fortunate to have gone to Idaho when we did because Mark's grandma passed away Sunday. When we were there we saw her several times and she gave Mark her sweet smile and seemed happy to see him. We are so glad he got to say goodbye. She was a great lady - widowed very young - who raised her family with strong values and a lot of dignity. We are going to miss her, but have no doubt she is well - surrounded by loved ones and enjoying renewed health - watching over her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was 99. Mark is going to Idaho for the service.

After we saw Grandma Erma in Idaho I was telling Audrey about heaven and how great-grandma was very old and her body was tired and pretty soon she'd go to heaven and be so happy there. Audrey asked why she would be so happy and I told her how when you get to heaven there are people you love waiting there for you and you feel so good and your body can do anything again. Of course Audrey could not stop there so she asked what kinds of things great-grandma would be able to do, and we listed as many things as we could think of. When we told Audrey great-grandma had died she was very quiet and after a few minutes she smiled wide and said "Do you think she is already doing cartwheels?" I know that Erma's death is not as difficult for me as for her more immediate family, and that my explanation to Audrey was very simplistic, but the way she said it comforted me and made me feel like the way I described it to her might really be true - not just something we tell ourselves.



Hydrangea from our garden.

Sweet girls

I love my girls so much - and I love it when they are enjoying each other. I took these at the end of August.

It can't be September!

First of all, it was the summer of no summer here in our microclimate. Not saying we didn't have any fun - we had lots, but it never really got warm here and we had to go to more inland locations to enjoy the hot sun. And now I am just not ready for it to end! We have played and played and slept in and been totally aimless.



OK, it was warm for a couple of days...



During the last few weeks of summer we made a couple more visits to Hemet - once to meet up with Adam and Joli (Joli is expecting and therefore the most important person in the family, according to Audrey, and we are all pretty excited about it, another Bean baby) and second time to spend a few days with Josh who is getting so tall and so mature.



We've been in the pool all day and we are starved and eating Top Ramen like wild animals.



Not all of us, but the best we could do, and not so bad at all.



Yes, I told my kids to stand next to the rattlesnake sign for a picture that makes me laugh my head off - the three of us posing on the edge of a snake-infested cliff overlooking Diamond Valley Reservoir. Anyway, you can hear a rattler coming so I was not concerned.

We had a awesome block party - spent the whole day out on the street with no idea where our kids were. There were water slides, bouncers, barbecue and hilariuos cherry-pit-spitting contests. Mark and I went to see Harry Connick Jr. at the Hollywood Bowl. Maybe not Mark's favorite kind of music but the ambiance was terrific. Harry Connick was quite the comedian.



Claire just fooling around.



Audrey at the first day of soccer practice.

We also spent a few days in Idaho Falls to see Mark's mom and grandma, aunt and uncle, dad and Nancy, and a few friends. We went on a great little hike with the kids and there was a stream and we ate huckleberries right off the bush "like bears." Both grandmas spoiled our girls with fun toys and they had a blast playing on Bonnie and Francis' swing set.

We have been running around buying school supplies and first-day outfits, going to soccer practice - Audrey's team is the Purple Ponies this year - and trying to spend every minute doing something fun, relaxing or rewarding. We spent a lot of time on the mundane stuff, too, housework, work, sleeping and watching TV.



Claire took a ballet class this summer. She did so well the first day and then refused to participate again until the last day.



One of the fun games at Nanie and Papa's is peekaboo through the kitchen nook.



Audrey and our good friend Chad who is also toothless.



Me, Tia, Janet and Andrea at our annual girl's weekend.

We crashed a friend's block party last Saturday and camped in our backyard Sunday night. Made scones Monday morning, weeded the backyard and tried to clean up the house. School started today, but that is another post altogether.