Monday, August 31, 2009

Why I Love Summer!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

She Did Come From Me

Some call it the witching hour...hmmm...I think of the time between 5-7pm as my own personal parenting test. If I am honest with myself, I am averaging a C right now. Okay, maybe I am not being totally truthful and it is about a C- right now.

Tonight, at around 5:30 our neighbors were having a little dinner party in their backyard. I, on the other hand, had Keller screaming at the top of his lungs because of a diaper rash and no afternoon nap. Vera, being the fantastic big sister, squeezed her little bro's head...just because. And, to quote my dad, "I AM NOT YELLING!" Now, what was I worried about? Maybe I should take care of Keller or somehow make big sis be nice to little bro. Nope. I was just concerned that the neighbors were listening to my kids and thinking I am a bad parent. My priorities need to be straightened!

But, there are some moments that just make up for everything. You know how I know that Vera is our daughter. She was talking in her sleep tonight..."mumble, mumble, mumble...is so gnarly!"

Giraffe Feeding

My favorite thing to do at the SB Zoo is to feed the giraffes...such a cool experience. It is fully worth the entire $4 that it costs. What can I say, love it!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Running with Scissors



I know Keller is trying to tell me something with all of his antics, but I just can't think what! Oh, that is right, he is a nutball and makes me laugh at least 20 times a day. AND, I realize that the Augusten Burroughs book is a bit deep and just a tiny wee bit depressing for a comparison. But, come on, Keller looks exactly like the picture!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Good Dad!


Thursday, August 27, 2009

Make like a Farmer

Atlas wasn't sure about his new mode of transportation, but he stuck with it like the best of them. Of course, it could be that we gave him no choice.


Don't ask why cilantro stalks in the mouth = a look like a farmer moment, but it does! Well, the stalk in the mouth and the pink cowboy boots.



Atlas and Am are gone and so the furry one will be missing from our photos from now on...Vera is so sad!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Keller's new game = putting on hats and looking funny...LOVE IT! Okay, okay, have to admit that we may have dressed him up in the swim cap and goggles. Come on, ridiculously cute.




SB Sprint Tri

This being the second time I competed in the SB Sprint Triathlon, I fully thought I was prepared and that the nerves would be less. HA! The butterflies in my stomach were eating each other AND the walls of my stomach. It took hours to fall asleep the night before the race and I might have been a bit twitchy the entire week leading up to the big event.

While participating, if I caught my breath once, I don't remember. It all went by in a blur and you truly feel like you are "racing" from one event to the next.

Of course, looking back, I loved it! The adrenaline rush, feeling of success (that I finished), and just being a part of an organized sporting event again. I will do another one...in a couple of years.

You get a gold star if you can find me in the mob!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Atlas + The Dog Beach = Vera Heaven


Having Atlas here has been the best for Vera. But, it doesn't seem to have eased her obsession with pups at all. All day, for each and every day that he has been here, she wants to spend every minute brushing, walking, or ordering him around. Is she trying to wear us down with pure annoyance? If I ask to walk this dog 900 times, will you buy me one of my own?



What is it with boys? And yes, I am sure that plenty of little girls do it as well, but for me it is all about the boy doing it. No matter where we are, or what is around us, Keller finds objects to stand on. Oh a pot, you can turn that over and hop right on. Is the object wobbling and barely balanced, the better to practice my standing and clapping skills. Yep, as soon as he is able to stand on the object he gives himself a little round of applause.


Keller Monster, get it? He has a monster sweatshirt.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Best Buds

Stow House Concert


Free concerts at Stow House have been our Tuesday night routine. It is good music, picnicking with friends, and chilling out mid-week. Unfortunately, these pics were taken at the last concert of the season. Hot Lava played and my high school bf Am was in town for the fun.

This is how Keller rolls at the concert...shirtless and shoeless. He can't get any service, but at least he can eat without all of his clothing being stained for life.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Edible Lawn

Our friends put an edible garden where their front yard used to be and it has been fun watching it grow. They now have monstrous sunflowers that tower and are taller than me. It is very, very impressive. I can just imagine what they look like to the kiddos.



Monday, August 17, 2009

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Sleepover at Ta-Ta's House

Sleepover time and my "baby" was a champ! How far behind am I on my posts? Well, the sleepover was two weeks ago and I am finally getting around to telling the story. I am going to blame this one on the sis, she was holding this photo hostage or at least it took a couple of days to email it to me. And, I wouldn't want to post without a picture, that would require too many descriptive words.

We prepped Vera for staying the night at her aunt's house for about a week beforehand. What sealed the deal, Vera was going to get to stay the night with Leroy and George (the pugs). If lucky, she would get to walk them and maybe order them around a bit. Yeah, our little mama is quite a bossy bee when it comes to things smaller than her, younger, or any of her friends. All that prepping = me having to explain each and every day leading up to the night that, "No, you still have 7 days left before your sleepover." Now, repeat that same phrase 10 times a day decreasing the number by one each day for a week and you can feel my pain.

The day arrived and I was a little misty, my baby was growing up and all that good stuff. She had no such reservations, hopped in the car, and sped away for a night of fun. The fact that my sister recorded a couple of dog shows for her helped speed up the process. They ate Gouda Mac 'n Cheese, played with the pups, and knitted. Plus, she got to sleep in, for her, a really big bed...can you see how much she loves it?

Friday, August 14, 2009

A Collection





Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Rodeo Time!

Last weekend was Fiesta in Santa Barbara. Viva La Fiesta! This means different things to different SB folks. For some, it is a chance to hibernate in their houses until all festivities are over and the town returns to normal. Yes sis, I am talking about you and the b-i-l. Love you!

For others, there is new stuff to explore and let's be honest...lots and lots of traffic to deal with on the streets. Our new stuff this year included the rodeo. I think I have mentioned, but Vera is now sharing her obsession time equally between dogs and horses. This means she still begs to watch "Dogs 101," but also runs around the house pretending to be a barrel racer. I have to post a picture of her horse as my description of it is in no way going to detail what it actually looks like. It is a floaty/horse ring made for the pool that I found at Ralph's. Got that? I just asked it's name and she said "Horsey" with a look on her face that said I was kind of an idiot for not remembering that one.

But, back to the rodeo. Like most things, it took Vera 20 or so minutes to warm up to the events and to face forward in her seat so that she could see what was happening. The bucking broncos and calf tying were the first two competitions. So, it is not surprising that at first V was a little nervous...even I during the calf tying cringe a little bit. But, the barrel riding, the herding, and the Rainbow Riders all made up for the initial impressions. The Rainbow Riders carried sponsor flags around the arena, with glitter on their horses arses. Yep, that glitter was a major hit with the girls.

On a fully random note, I chose sepia for the photos...it screams country to me! :)









Mom's Night Out

Wow! How long has it been since I posted? The days are getting away from me a bit right now.

On Monday a group us packed into my car, met some friends at the Ventura Fair, and rocked out to Gretchen Wilson. She is country and for those that don't know she sings, "Redneck Woman."

Thoughts on the night. If I could wear really big Texas hair all of the time, I would. No question about it, I love my hair curled and towering. When I say BIG, my hair can reach Miss America, Texas in the 80s big. I actually have to control myself to tame it a bit so that I am not 7 feet tall and looming over my friends.

We took these pictures and then the battery on my camera died. Thinking back, maybe in the long run that was a good thing. It was fun times for sure, again makes me so thankful for the friends that we have in SB and all that gushy stuff.


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Summer Fun!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Invaders


Remember the post about my mom and the firefighters...well, now it is my dad's turn. We weren't the family that was parked in front of the tv all night. In fact, I can only remember two shows that we watched religiously. The first, "The Cosby Show" where everything was always right with the world. Or, if something went wrong it was easily fixed by a discussion with Bill. Our other show was "Square One." Do you remember it? It was really geeky in a good educational way.

But, there was something other than tv that we were addicted to as a family and that is Atari! Atari was the original video game system. We would spend hours playing River Raid, Breakout, and Space Invaders. They are still fun to play, but "WOW!" the graphics are repetitive after the first 10 minutes and I struggle to remember why we loved it so much. But man we did, my sis and I would spend hours watching my dad shoot the boats and avoid the dreaded flying birds in River Raid. He was a god at that game.

All this leads to the fact that a Space Invaders ice cube tray (thanks Sis!) is right up my alley.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Craft Project

This dress has it all, a knit top and a flannel/comfy skirt. Oh yes, and a beautiful hem at the bottom. The hem really makes the dress. Can you even see it in this picture? :)

Two-ish weeks ago my sister walks in for our normal breakfast with this wee dress under her arm. She has knit the top and sewed the skirt to said cute halter. Then, here is the big kicker. She wants me to pull out my new sewing machine to hem the bottom. Hmmm...what, does she think I haven't used my machine yet? That I am not sewing away at all hours of the day and night.

For a first project EVER, a hem was not a bad way to start. Not only was I able to make it realitively straight, I chose a different style of stitch and was pleased that all around the bottom it looks like little stars have landed on the skirt. I have to send out a big thank-you to her for forcing/encouraging me to take the first step.

The only funny fact, which sis fully admits, is that the skirt is what can only be described as pencil. Watching Vera try to run, jump, and climb into her booster chair with a pencil skirt on is amusing and impossible. The next dress will need to be an A-line.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

New and Improved

It has been almost exactly a year since J and I have started saying that we needed to redo the pictures in our house. You know how I know it has been a year...Keller was still missing from our photos. People would ask us about the baby photos on the wall and we would have to admit that they were Vera...no Keller and Vera was forever suspended at the age of one.

This weekend we attacked this project head-on and love the results. We also had that weird moment where we realized that we disliked many of the pictures that were in the before collage, but were just living with them to not have to do the work to change them.

What do you think?

Before:


After: