Out of Sorts

Ever have one of those days?

...and I don't even LIKE ice cream.

Though there is something to be said for eating it right out of the carton, standing at the kitchen counter.

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Cooking, Cooking, Cooking

I feel like I have been going all day.

Maybe because I have.

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M had to leave really early this morning and head to a neighboring city where he was doing a clinic. Turns out they gave him the wrong day, so he turned around and drove the 9 miles to work. An HOUR later, he made it.

Not worth a bigger house, I tell ya.

Meanwhile, I've cooked. And cooked. And cooked.

Which makes me happy.

Let's see: escarole soup, foccacia and molasses cookies for lunch. I had a few women over for a committee I am serving on at one of the schools.

Beef Stew...was supposed to be dinner, but will be for another night this week because M called and was not feeling well...lo and behold, he didn't run fast enough and the flu caught up to him. Poor guy. Leftover escarole soup for him.

Plan B...pancakes and bacon for the boys. Tonights choices were banana and chocolate chip. I wanted blueberry, but had one very sad banana that had to used up.

Not that I ate them...I had a margarita and chips and salsa with a friend this afternoon.

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Brian made it through the day, though he looks awful. Matthew is on the mend and is currently raiding his dad's closet. Turns out he thinks those nice Banana Republic dress shirts are pretty cool. Alex is working on a big project, which he has spread out all over the floor. Not sure how much he is getting done because the Clippers and the Lakers are playing.

Tonight...after my hot soak with my new bath stuff, I am going to drink a hot cup of tea and watch American Idol. Gotta get my Simon fix!

Boo-Bear

Playing in the fountain in Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy.

20 months old.

My little redhead, who is no longer little. Or a redhead.

He's feeling all better but is hanging with me one more day. Together we finished the attic and he is currently emptying the hot water tank in the longest shower ever. Not a luxury when you are the youngest behind 2 teenage brothers.

But they are at school, so I told him to take as long as he wants. And play Moon Tycoon as long as he wants.

Gotta love being the baby.

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No News

It's a rather slow news day, and you know what that means.

Pictures of my cats. Or cat (singular) this time.

Up a tree. Yes, she came down without me having to call the fire department.

• Matthew is feeling better. No school (high school only) today, so he and Jen hung around here and made breakfast. And lunch. And cookies.
• Brian's fever is just under 100. He was a sick little guy. Tomorrow he gets another day at home with me.
• I, though, had to go work recess duty for 30 minutes at his school. Matthew was here, so I snuck out.
• Sadly, my subscription to People magazine expired. On purpose. After 14 years. I am trying to not cry, but a budget is a budget. Sigh. I am going to miss it.
• The attic is 75% done. One mom went up and 28...yes, that is 28! rather large trash bags came down.
• Two cats went up with me and I am pretty sure that sound was a mouse. Or bigger.
• The fries in the last post had cheese, thousand island dressing (called 'spread' at In n Out), and grilled onions on them. Don't knock it until you try them. And yes, Holly, they do look like barf.
• I had a few emails about our neighborhood lake. I'll write a post about it soon.
• Supper tonight was chicken pot pie. Ina's recipe. Tweaked.
• Today, Brian and I watched The Minutemen on Disney, National Treasure and The Empire Strikes Back. I fell asleep during all 3, which means I will be up all night. =0)
• I also cleaned the hall closet during movie #1, the pantry during movie #2, and the refrigerator during movie #3. So I guess I can justify the naps.
• Alex is doing amazingly well in school. Now THAT was a good phone call.
• I drove the crew to practice tonight and was serenaded with 'Hey Jude'. Except they sang "Hey Dude". Priceless.

In the Middle

They are dropping like flies around here.

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By late afternoon, Brian's fever was 102; Matthew's was 101. We got them both comfy and Alex was off to the HS basketball game. I ended up making a pot of risotto and M made me 3 variations of the same cocktail...an appletini.
For the record, the one in front one was the only one I drank, though I was tempted to down all 3.

Quickly.

The cats have adjusted to life outside and beg to go out 1st thing in the morning. Mollie is a tom-boy.

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This morning, M left at the crack of down (actually way before the crack of dawn) and is on the road with his choir. I did find out that they are in La Mesa, one of his favorites because it is the church his great -Grandmother helped found. Kinda cool.

Alex and I went to church and confirmation. It's always fun to get some alone time with him and he managed to talk me into In n Out on the way home. Nothing like some animal fries in the car.

The oldest and youngest are feeling miserable and the middle one is feeling great. Kind of like a pinball machine where the ball keeps bouncing off the bumpers. Let's see...Alex just walked into Matthew's room, stood there with his hand on his chin and said, "I can't wait until this is my room. I'm going to paint and...." Not sure how much more he said before something was thrown at his head.

Happiness and harmony.

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Lagoon

In the summer...the lagoon at the end of our street looks like this:

In the winter, it's drained and becomes a skate park! At least in the eyes of a 9 year old...

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When you get tired of skateboarding, you can always build a fort out of chairs.
We took a walk this morning and fed the ducks. Brian really wanted to go on a boat, but the docks are closed at our lake on Saturdays. Turned out to be a good thing...we're home now and he's feeling crummy. 12 kids were absent from his class on Friday with the flu and it looks like he has the beginnings of it.

Alex has been out shooting hoops and Matthew (after spending yesterday at Disneyland and coming home late) was up early for the local cars and coffee. M has auditions for soloists this afternoon and an extremely early call time tomorrow...I think he said 4:30am.

Supper? Hmmm...probably chicken noodle soup!

Friday Fun

Long Week

The rains have come and for the 1st time in 2 years, so has the green on the hills surrounding the university. I was up there this morning because a fountain was being dedicated in memory of my girlfriends father, who died 1 year ago tomorrow and was one of the founders of the school.

Life is a little calmer today following a really, really rough week. One of my Meals on Wheels ladies died, on top of a health scare of my own, and I am finding that life seems so fragile right now. Matthew is struggling with college stuff...who would've thought that being recruited for schools would be so stressful? He is confused about where he should go and being the old soul that he is, he worries. M is having his own struggles with some work things as well as preparing for big concerts and 2 upcoming tours. It's going to be a long semester for him.

So for tonight, following the basketball driving, I am going to make a huge pot of chicken cacciatore and curl up with my family in my little house on my little street.

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Keys

I am seriously loving our new lock system at home.

Not.

It's been not only great at keeping out burglars, but it has been equally great at keeping us out, too.

Yesterday, after a long appointment, I arrived home and was locked out.

Again.

Fortunately, I was on the phone with M and he ran home to let me in.

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So this morning, I've dropped off the dry cleaning, watered the garden, picked up some paperwork and had keys made.
Lots and lots of keys.

I've also spent a chunk of time working on PTA stuff and in a few, I am running out to meet Katharine for lunch. A very much needed girls only lunch.

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A Win!

Yesterday's basketball games had us on the edge of our seats...or in M's case...pacing.

Lots of pacing.

They beat the team that has beat them the last 4 or 5 times they've played, so it was a sweet victory.

Especially since our top 2 players spent the last half of the 4th doing this. Alex wasn't thrilled that he fouled out so early (4 minutes left) but he played an awesome game.

Another meal out? Yep...this time to celebrate at In n Out. We'll be eating in for the next month!

Today M was off and we did a massive Costco stock-up. It's nice to have a guy you like unloading the car for you.

It was an off and on rainy day...perfect for bread baking. That was supper...focaccia! I did cut up some fruit for the boys but everyone kinda snacked all day (we had also done a Claros run), so no one was really hungry. Alex is at practice and will come home starving, so I am sure he'll eat bowl after bowl of cereal. We then spent the rest of the day catching up on recorded TV shows...we've made it through all the December ones now! We also watched The Truman Show, so I am feeling like everyone is watching me...

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Weekend

Basketball last night, basketball this morning and basketball this afternoon...then home so the plethora can watch the Chargers and the Packers.

The only girl has a really good book she's reading.

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Back to my #5...an off game for him yesterday, so he was upset. We'll be heading out in a bit for the 1st of today's games, which is being played (just like last night) at Concordia.

Pretty cool.

Last night all the players and the families and the coaches went to Ameci's, which is owned by one of the dad's.

Yum.

He graciously feeds all of us...great food PLUS sports on TV!

This morning, in my clean house.

Big boys + big feet = big shoes.

Lotsa shoes.

Growing Up

Outside, for the very 1st time!

(and only in the backyard for now...)

WONDER-ful!

Last weekend we received a call from a colleague of M's inviting us to a concert. This weekend. With John Legend. Checked the calendar, juggled a few boys and said, "Ummmm....YES!"

Getting out the door tonight was not easy. Matthew was already at Disneyland, where he performed earlier in the day. Alex had practice and then was supposed to go to a dance, but that plan was changed to an impromptu movie and dinner with some friends of ours. Brian went to a neighbors until Matthew could get home and it wasn't until we were half-way to Anaheim that we realized that the new lock was locked...and we had the only keys.

No worries...the kitchen window is broken.

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So, frazzled after sitting in tons of lovely SoCal traffic, we met up with Jeff and Holly and had a great dinner at the Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney.

We then walk into California Adventure with our special tickets and head to the Hyperion...usually home to the Aladdin show. This theater is small...2,000 seats, so every seat is a great seat. And so we have great seats.

Craig Ferguson (from the late, late show with Craig Ferguson) comes out and while every other word rhymed with duck (this is a kid friendly blog, after all), he was awesome. F-U-N-N-Y! Love him!

OK...here is where it gets even more fun. Tons of people performed, and I won't bore you with all the way blurry pictures, but we saw Gabe Dixon (LOVE his song...All Will Be Well...youtube it!!!), Jon Anderson of YES fame, Jamie Cullum and then....and then...and then...

Isaac Slade...from The Fray.

Yummy!

By this time I am looking around and cracking up. The concert is sponsored by Yamaha and the crowd was made up of older-than-me music industry people. No one moved for the 1st part of the concert. No bobbing heads. No swaying to the beat. Except for my husband...of course.

Me?

I'm having trouble sitting still in my seat and I'm thinking, quite seriously about dancing in the aisle. With my Bic flicked.

But alas, I am trying to be on my best behavior.

And then John Legend comes out. Wow...5 Grammy's and a really great suit. Oh, and he can sing, too.

So, John finishes performing and I am thinking it's over. Craig Ferguson comes out and stalls...saying there is a mystery guest.

Are you sitting down?

It's...

STEVIE WONDER!!!

By now, we're standing. Music industry people are impressed by Stevie, too, and are now dancing in the aisles. FYI...the years have been good to him...he's better than ever!
It was a fun, fun night! Thanks J and H...you guys are wonder-ful!

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Door Knobs For Dummies

In the midst of yesterday afternoon's craziness. I got locked out of my house.

Not exactly locked out, but the door knob, once and for all...broke.

It stopped turning and nothing would make it ever turn again.

Stubborn. Must be related to me.

Brian was invited to a friends after school, which later turned into an all night-er...but more on that later, so off I went to the hardware store.

I get excited just at the thought of it...me certainly loves me some power tools.

So, we bought the house with the current door on.

(OK, so just follow me on this one...)

There is the door knob, a keyed deadbolt, and a regular deadbolt.

And get this...a peephole.
Which is located next to the 9 panes of glass. I'm thinking some paranoid people once lived in this itty bitty little house!
Well, I bought a new lock and lower deadbolt...and yes, folks...I fixed it myself! No more waiting for new doors to be keyed alike..I gave up and replaced it all by myself.

(And thanks to Dave my contractor neighbor, who helped me get the door open after it became stuck shut...)

Now I've just gotta paint!

So, after a small break for wrestling (and I'm holding out that that's what this was), we took off for Nick's (where we did NOT go the night before) minus one cute 9 yr old.

We started with a bowl of mussels...

...and ended with a pizza!

Brian ended up 'sleeping' over at his friend's house (found out they were up almost all night!) and then they went bowling this morning. He has no school today, but Alex and Matthew do. Well, really only Alex because Matthew is with his choir at Disneyland, singing at 1:30pm.

I was planning on taking Brian and going to watch, but baby Bear is currently sound asleep on my bed.

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However, I will be at Disneyland tonight...well, actually California Adventure. We've got tickets to some big benefit concert at the Hyperian theatre inside the park. We're going with new friends (and 1,996 other 'even newer friends'), meeting for dinner first and hopefully a pre-concert cocktail. I'm excited...I even bought really cute new girl shoes for it!

Want to see?

OK!

My House...

...is clean!

I've scoured.

scrubbed.

soaked.

bleached.

washed.

and sanitized.

In order to see it first hand, you need to come over now.

RIGHT NOW.

Once 2:30pm comes, it won't look this way again.

~sigh~

This morning I was up and out of the house early for a conference regarding a certain son who shall remain nameless...but has blond hair. All is well and he has turned things around. I will be so sad to leave this school at the end of the year...the people who work there are truly amazing. So, we'll continue what we've been doing and they'll continue what they've been doing and he'll continue what he's been doing.

It's working.

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Came home and cleaned, then ran out to do Meals on Wheels. It was a fast one today and I was home in a little over an hour, so I grabbed Maggie and took her to have her stitches removed.

Oh, and stopped for gas...and paid $2.99/gallon. Wow. Maggie and I talked about that allll the way home.

She wasn't nearly as excited as I was.

Friends

Sometimes you just need someone to freak out when you are too stunned to do it yourself.

To cry for you.

To laugh at you.

To worry about you.

I am blessed.

Sunny Day

It's a beautiful day today...sunny and warm. Not Santa Ana warm, just regular warm.

So, my morning was spent in the garden, where I smiled and talked to my little tiny plants. There's red onions, broccoli and cauliflower growing...oh my!

And I whacked and weeded the rest.

After, I met a girlfriend for a cup of tea...or three.

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I then ran errands...which basically means that there are now some groceries in the house and the moods of some nameless people should improve.

Came home and spent over an hour in the attic.

Shovel, drag, throw, drive, donate, repeat.

Feel sorry for me yet? Brian just got home with a gaggle (word of the week) of friends and they are raiding the pantry. Alex is staying at school to do homework with his gaggle of friends and Matthew is somewhere around town (probably Chipotle) with his gaggle of friends.

gag·gle
an often noisy or disorderly group or gathering

Just in case you were wondering.

Supper? Well, we are going out Friday night so we really shouldn't go out tonight. I have the stuff for pepper steak that I could throw in the oven, but doesn't Nick's sound so, so good?

Job

Well, I got me-self a job today.

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After spending my morning volunteering at Brian's school, I had an offer I couldn't refuse.

Or back out of.

I'll be working recess duty at the school 3 mornings a week from 9:55-10:30am.

I'm there anyway, but now I am an employee, making me-self some big bucks.

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Today was quiet. Blissfully quiet.

I spent some time in the attic shoveling...I mean, sorting through things. Junk, I tell ya. All junk. But, in an effort to surprise my husband, I bagged and tossed and loaded and drove and dropped.

Repeat.

But it was quiet.

The Santa Ana's are blowing through, so the house was opened up today and airing out. Unfortunately, the fighting amongst siblings is still in the house. I am ready to put the 2 oldest on time out. Anyone want them?

Sigh.

It's the 1st day of classes for M, and he has auditions tonight. I'm not sure exactly when he'll be home. Brian is at a birthday party until 6pm, so I'll pick him up and then drop off Alex and his crew at basketball. Matthew is already home...maybe I'll send him for Brian. I made chicken and dumplings for supper and everyone can eat when they need to.

If they are all nice to each other, I might just share the chocolate chip cookies I made this afternoon.

Maybe.

Sunday

For starters...baked eggs.

Then off to church, separately. Alex had to be there an hour before the rest of us, so he and dad left early and we met them there, but followed them home.

Home to a cat who thinks it is fun to wash herself in her water dish. Which led M to pick a lime off his very own tree...
...and smoosh it with some sugar and Cachaca.

Wham-O...you've got a Caipirinhia!

(and they pack a punch, I tell ya!)

A summer drink because it is like summer...it was 81 today!

Gussied Up

Dance ditch-ers.

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OK...I just have to comment on the 2 kids on the end, and I forgot to ask their names.

HILARIOUS.

I've always liked the ones who march to their own drum, you know?

All dressed up and going to Nick's for dinner.
(And thanks for coming here for pictures. Makes me happy.)

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