play by play of a summer day

Oh summer you have been so good to us.

We had a great Monday. I slipped out of bed at 8:45 this morning and the girls were still snoozing. What?! Yes! They are usually elbow deep in a pint of ice cream (they have short fore arms, don't mock them) with two episodes of the Cosby Show under their belt by the time I roll out, so today, I woke up feeling like a truly successful parent. I got ready in a flash and was nothing but smiles when our neighbor-gem-of-a-babysitter Clara showed up at 9 to feed, discipline and play tag with the girls while I went to work for a bit and lunch with Tom at an upscale Subway by the juvenile detention center. When I got home the girls and our beloved Clara surprised me with a clean living room and kitchen and a bundt cake decorated with blue sprinkles and candles arranged in the shape of a 4 and a 1. I was slightly confused and hurt that they thought it was my birthday and more importantly that they thought I was 41--but hey, it's cake, so I was over it and ready for my slice when Tess explained that it was a Mavs cake and the 41 was in honor of Dirk. So we had cake and ice cream for lunch (my second lunch) and the girls detailed the fun they had without me; Skyping with Granda, Eva and Ben, working the surprise, math workbooks, candyland marathons etc... We walked Clara home and took some cake over to our other much loved neighbor Rodney and relished in the flow of an easy summer day. So good.

The rest of the afternoon was spent swimming and at music lessons. Tess learned a new song, Separate Ways by Journey. Adelle and Tess spent the evening dramatically dancing to that very same song on repeat as Tom and I cooked up some burgers and my new favorite salad copied from a restaurant we went to last Saturday (arugula, beets, oranges, and goat cheese all tossed with a lemon vinaigrette--yum). For family night, we watched God in America while playing Set. When the girls went off to bed Tom and I caught a little Daily Show and then Tom finally dozed off while I made it my mission to end the Frida Kahlo eyebrow thing I've had going on this last week.

The days are so full and so good.

summer morns

Summer is on.

So happy to have relaxed mornings and random cuddles in pjs till noon.

The girls woke me up this morning begging to watch the 25th anniversary special of Les Miserable. I told them they could watch it if they made breakfast for me.

Deal.

Don't forget the bon bons!

Ms. Tess

Oh today I'm a weepy mess. Tonight is Tess's "Moving On Ceremony" which is a little event for the 19 third graders leaving her school this year. She, along with all her third grade friends, will give a little speech (see Tess's speech below) and sing a little song and say goodbye to their friends and teachers and their happy little sheltered lives in this school with stained glass windows in an idyllic park setting and move on to schools with lockers and cafeterias and where there are kids going through puberty.

Tess is soo ready and I am sooo not.

Tess gets to accompany the elementary kids singing on this massive grand piano tonight. She has been busy making sweet notes for her teachers and classmates, some she has been in same class with for the last five years. It's hard to express how completely grateful I am to my little village of friends, parents and teachers that have all contributed to the growth and development of my sweet girl. I am so happy with the beautiful person she is, the respect and love she can so easily show to others because she has received that type of care from these good people. My keyboard is all soggy.

Good evening. My name is Tess. I came to Lindsley Park Community School when I was four years old. Now I am nine years old. When I was in primary, my teachers – Mrs. Maria and Mrs. Brenda – were very helpful to me when it came to math work. My favorite material in Mrs. Maria’s class was the taster. I liked it because I got to taste a lot of different things and I had to tell which one was bitter, sweet, sour, etc. I felt terrible when I had to leave Mrs. Maria’s class but my sorrows were soon to be cleared up. I was six years old when I met the wonderful teachers Mrs. Brisbon and Ms. Gabby. My first year in their class my friends were Skyla French, Wilary Ramos Lugo, Nitai Naidu, Justin Arellano, Robert Gonzalez, and Oscar Cepeda. My favorite work was the stamp game. I liked it because I got to move some stamps. One of my favorite memories from first grade was a field day we had. It was only Mrs. Brisbon’s class. We walked to a park with our lunches and we played some games. My favorite was the egg toss even though I dropped the egg. When I was in second grade all my classmates were my friends. My teachers were still Mrs. Brisbon and Mrs. Gabby. My favorite work was the grammar boxes because I had to choose which one was the adjective or the pronoun or the preposition, etc. Mrs. Brisbon gave me lots of new lessons and so did Mrs. Gabby. Some field trips I remember were the red court house, the museum of nature and science, the trinity river, and the planetarium. Then something absolutely terrible happened. Mrs. Brisbon told us that she was leaving the school. It sounded terrible. Eventually, I stopped crying but I never got over it. When I moved on to third grade my teachers were Mrs. Toni and Mrs. Gabby. I had all my classmates as my friends. My favorite work was the Racks and Tubes because I could pretend like I was a scientist. My favorite memories from third grade were the holiday parties. I would like to show my appreciation to Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Gwen, Mrs. Toni, Mrs. Gabby, my parents, my sister, my friends, and Mrs. Brisbon. Thank you very much and once again, good evening.

girl and her bike

Adelle learned to ride her bike in about 5 minutes without her parents while playing at a friends house.

Since then it is hard to keep her off her two wheeler. She prefers to ride bare foot and helmetless so she feel the wind in her hair. I usually do force her to wear a helmet but not when the sun is setting on her beautiful blonde hair.

Just being around this girl makes me feel free.

good saturdays

The best part about this performance was when Tess dedicated her song to her Dad.

She was the first one to perform that evening and feeling a little nervous so Tom was trying some of his very Tom-esque way of calming her pre-performance nerves (a little gentle reverse psychology/sarcasm)

Tess: I'm nervous. I don't think I can do this. Can we just go?

Tom: Really? You're nervous? I guess we don't really know if you can sing well or not so that makes sense that you are nervous. We know that I sing well, but you're right we aren't sure if you do.

Tess: eyes roll, annoyance peaks, she is called up to sing

Tess had never dedicated a song before that night and gave us no indication that she was planning on it. We then heard..."testing, testing, 1, 2...Okay, I'd like to dedicate this song, to my Dad...because he can't sing."

Oh snap.

Tom was so proud.

My brothers, one in particular, provided me with a healthy dose of sarcasm my whole life which I think actually served me well (although painful at times). I am grateful to them and love them for it. Somehow in the moment of Tess's unsolicited dedication I feel extremely comforted that she was well on her way, at the early age of 9, of holding her own in any setting. She is beautifully sensitive and sharp.

today

At this point, I'm not sure I even remember how to blog...regardless, I want to type a word or two for today.

It's spring break in Texas and I am savoring this extra time with my little ladies; lounging around the house and riding bikes up and down our street and on the newly finished trail to the lake. I worked on some origami with Adelle this afternoon--so happy that my girls are still in the phase where they looked at me with awe and appreciation when I presented them with my rather sad, mutilated version of the classic origami crane.

Tonight at the grocery store Tess randomly hugged me and looking up at me, smiling, she softly told me she loved me and asked if I was doing okay. Later, as we were settling down for the night, I could hear her laughing to herself as she read Shel Silverstein's "Falling Up" out loud. Adelle has mastered biking on her two wheeler in the last few days and she is rarely seen without a helmet. I love that she still wants me to read with her each night and I can never get over how easily she picks up on sarcasm or irony and how quickly and beautifully she laughs.

It's been a good day. Simple and so good.

father's day

month-o-may

beachy friends trip


mothers day--a lazy pj morning full of creme brulee french toast, the nyt and Young Victoria viewing.



bike riding and crashing

and of course, the eternal begging for her own room

my friend linney

As the saying goes... everybody loves Linney. And on this fine day of her birth I would like to share my love for Lindsay Waters the III by posting some of my favorite pics of this good person, dear friend and "sports buddy."



Remarkably, young Linnah was able to stay humble and real despite bring raised in the upper echelons of Mapleton society...

although an occasional stylish portrait was allowed for posterity sake.

Winston served as a loyal companion. You are missed Winston.

During high school, Lindsay was able to balance the rigors of SHS's fiercely demanding academic classes and an active social calendar with ease.

Also during high school I flirted with her boyfriends (except the italian gangster) and she later kissed my would be hubby (or so he claims). Remember these offensive shirts?

There was a short hermit-ish time at USU as roommates.

Then the European motley crew.


We even tried to end all our woes with a Nutella suicide. I'm so glad we didn't succeed and I can be here to wish you a fabulous 33.

Happy Birthday good buddy!

roo

wants to...

o

listen exclusively to David Bowie tunes

o

be home schooled so she can properly focus on her writing, costume designing, composing & singing

o

be a vegetarian (except for bacon, pepperoni and steak)

little boo

thankful for...
hand-me-down cowgirl boots from good friends
bellies
dancey little girls

my valentines

This weekend we celebrated...

a record amount of Dallas snow


Tess's b-day (a month and a half after the date)

6 layers of love cake

Some people have birthday cake because they have kids but I have kids so I have more excuses for birthday cake. Heidi helped me with this one, she made the two strawberry layers and the delish fresh strawberry-butter-cream-cheese frosting. I made the dark chocolate and vanilla layers and polished off a large jar of Nutella lathering between each layer.

& a valentiney-Beatles-luv-themed concert in Deep Ellum

Tess as the vocals and playing the keyboard for "She's a Woman" by the Beatles. She was especially awesome.

The final valentine's note, this weekend Tom and I were playing Catch Phrase with some friends, (boys against girls) when his teammate gave the clue "this is what your wife does to you." Tom immediately rattled off "belittle, berate, humiliate." I'm still laughing over this as his intial reaction to what I do to him...but despite the belittlement I think Tom is hot and he is my favorite valentine.

sisterly affection

Nearly every evening, when it is time to turn out the lights, Tess becomes very chatty and begins reciting her reflections on the day as well as any latent fears of natural disasters, future travel plans and declarations of well know facts (e.g., jets are faster than passenger planes). While Tess lists her worries out loud, Adelle is always shouting out from across the room the unsolicited solution to whatever is vexing Tess. Last night, Tess was telling me how much she misses me in the middle of the school day and how hard it is to wait four whole hours once she is feeling that way.

me--"Ahhh I miss you too honey, but I'm so proud of how well you are doing in school and we can be together and read a book or play the wii right when school is out okay."

Tess--"Can you get a job at the school and be my teacher? Then you could be there when I need you, the other kids wouldn't make fun of me or bother me if you were there.

Adelle--(laying in her bed, causally) "Tess just tell 'em to go to hell...(turning over on her side, back towards me and Tess, yawning) that's where they're going anyways if they make fun of you."

me-- (mouth open staring at the back of Adelle's head)

Tess--(continues, as usual, ignores her little sister's advice) I've tried to be friends with everyone they just don't like me.

Adelle--(sits up in her bed, one hand gesturing towards Tess) Teeeessssss! There is always hope Tess...there is always hope.


They wanted their own beds sooo much but most nights I find them cuddled up in one

chocolate

Adelle's been making a lot of potions lately, which means she gets in the cupboard and spice jars and mixes whatever with whatever until her potion bottle is good and muddy. Yesterday I found her shoulder deep in the unsweetened cocoa powder rubbing it all over her arms and legs...

me--"Adelle! What are you doing?!"

Deli-- "Mom, don't you looove how chocolate feels on your skin?! It's sooo soft. I know I made a mess but I love it, it feels sooo good!"

I teared up realizing just how mother-and-daugthery we are.

whatz up

Here is a photo list of what's been happening in our lives...

the pLaY

both the girls are in the play of the Best Christmas Pageant Ever

at Dallas Children's Theatre

with 18 performances and separate cast call times, it's confirmed, I am truly nuts

and even though you might find Adelle looking bored and picking her nose on stage they both seem to love it

the girls with their thespian buddy Ava

also we've been...

drinking loads of hot chocolate (it's been so cold lately)

swimming

posing

loosing multiple teeth

receiving annoying letters from the tooth fairy who is conveniently on our side of the I-want-my-own-room debate

welcoming long awaited grandma visits

rockin' out at Tess's piano concert... she was pretty totally awesome

and yes I have ridiculous over-scheduling issues