Pre Friday Photo Dump

I haven't posted in a long time, and I apologize. Regular life is breathtakingly overwhelming.

Here's what the bloggers call a Friday Photo Dump, for the past couple weeks. The photos are out of order but still fun.

 Spring in Burbank. I took this photo on the way home from school today. When 80% of the trees stay green and lush during the "winter" here, little spots of spring -- green buds! -- are a welcome sight.

 PLAAAAY-grounnnnd. Every-one HATES MAAAAAAMA!

 But not all the time.

 Burger King. God help me.

 My herb garden did not survive. I decided to have a succulent garden instead and ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNO TOAD.

 Oscar went to a birthday party for a school friend and the entertainment was the Reptile Family. They were awesome. Had we not decided as a family (okay, just Evan and I) that this year, a birthday celebration will be the birthday kid and a parent at Disneyland, I would be all over them.

 Here's your Humble Narrator trying to be a good sport and holding up a yucky snake.

 It's early March. It's 93 degrees out.

 My new crafty household thing. I bought six chalkboards for two bucks each, and used a two-dollar paint pen to write the days of the week on them. Someday I will put pretty beads on brass tacks to replace the thumbtacks, and restring the hangers with a pretty ribbon. Someday. But until then, my guys (well, the ones who can read) like having a visual reminder of what lies ahead for the week.

 I AM ANGRY AT MAMA.

 I am adorable at tap dance class.

 I made a kick ass tostada.

 I was lurking about in the garage and found this picture. It's from the summer of 2010, the last time we visited Seattle and the houseboat of Gretta and Papa Jim. On Sundays, we walk over the active drawbridge and visit the tag sale in Fremont. After years and years of buying flowers and the odd vinyl album, we happened upon a photographer who had a simple set up: fabric backdrop, chair, and a good camera. He'd arrange the people in the photo, snap a couple of shots, and print on out and set it into a frame. Ten bucks. Seriously, this is probably in my top three of my favorite photos of my guys. Oscar is totally happy in his body. The Goose is all teeth and cheeks and smashed between the two people who she loves more than anyone in the world. And Arlo is growing out his shaved head and all LOOK IN MY SOULFUL EYES.

Plus. Froggy Friend.

Sigh.

 In lesser emotional news, I bought a package of kiwi fruit that came with a kiwi knife/spoon. Kiwi is Arlo's favorite. He will eat 3-5 a day if we supply them. This genius packaging came with a half-dozen kiwi, plus this tool, which he can use to saw a kiwi in half, and then use the spoon to scoop out and eat. Genius. My poor Middle Child is thrilled to have a gadget that is all his (his brother won/t do fruit, and his sister only eats crackers. But they are both dismayed and vocally upset that Arlo has a special tool and they don't).

 Here's the Goose at dance class. They are doing The Bunny Hop for their recital. The Goose spends 90% of the time looking lost and confused, and 10% of the time going HOP HOP HOP REALLY LOUD in her tap shoes.

Also: watching a passel of four year olds trying to tap dance will turn around every frown you could imagine.

 Oscar made me a ring. Also, I've been chewing my nails right down to the angry quick for 30 years. I stopped. I am hoping that I can look at my nice, conservatively-short-yet-sexy nails, and realize that if I broke that bad habit, I can break others. Wish me luck.

 I tried, on and off, to teach The Goose how to write her name. It didn't stick. So I told Oscar that it was his job. Arlo got into it too. After two days of badgering by her brothers, The Goose is writing her name everywhere. DELEGATION. That's parenting, people.

Also, my boys. I am so grateful for them, And The Goose. Mark my words, she will be reading by the end of the summer. Before her brother. Life stinks and is amazing at the same time.

 We had a lovely Friday afternoon at Stella's house. My friend Trish has designed one of those classic tiny SoCal backyards which is a tiny, gorgeous hidden jewel. With a trampoline and multiple seating areas and tiny hidden treasures sunk in the cement.

Plus, Frieda. I might get into trouble here in SoCal, but I don't like small dogs. Arlo is the same way. He loves Purl Marie Redwine more than any creature on the earth. But Stella's dog Frieda is so patient, so cuddly, and so awesome with grubby little boys. She is Arlo's favorite local dog, and we are really lucky that her owners are very gracious and great friends. They might actually turn us over to, if not loving small dogs, not making fun of them all the time. I'm still not so sure about small dogs, but I love Frieda, and I hope we get to dog sit for her sometime.

(Sidenote: our elementary school had a little "beetique" -- bee boutique -- that had lots of gifts for the kids to buy at Christmastime. We sent in the kids with $20 and a list -- mom, dad, brother, sister, and he grandparents that were going to be with us on Christmas. True to form, poor Oscar lost his $20 while he was in line to pay. Sigh. Arlo bought lovely gifts for all of us --- and also a gift for Purl, an animal he hadn't seen in six months. I look forward to delivering Purl's gift next month since I never got around to mailing it.)

 Ice cream! Lucy is photobombing Oscar's bestie, Connor. Connor has a 14yo sister and is frankly confused at our household, which is 4 to 8, instead of his, which is 9 to 14. After a few visits, he has been a total peach. He deals with the embarrassing hugs from the younger kids and isn't mortified  when Arlo and The Goose yell "COOOONNNNOOR!" and flatten him with hugs when we pick him up in front of all the cool 3rd graders.

 Oscar wanted to use the internet computers at the library, so he needed his own library card. He asked me to write his name in cursive so he could properly sign his application.

 Here's my guy, getting his library card. Worlds are open to him now. And he is now in charge of his own late fees.

 Here's the Goose, checking out the chalkboard calendar.

 One day, Oscar and Evan dressed the same. And I took this picture and it sent my Facebook on fire. They are this cute in real life every day.

 Push a button...

 Water squirts out...

...in the amazing playground at the amazing Children's Hospital on Los Angeles. The boys and I were there for some bloodwork (nothing worrisome!) and I was astounded at this fabulous hospital, where every nook and cranny was considered for a child patient and their crazed parents. I am grateful that this place is so close to us, and in our network to boot.

 Homework. Those kindergarten book reports are killing us. For those of you with preschool ages kiddos that think I am kidding, I'm not. They are brutal.






More tomorrow. I have lots of pictures from a great hike, plus, our beloved Sophie is visiting tomorrow. We hang in there every day, and every so often there are bright flashes of awesomeness.