passing the torch.

There are two things that Jeff and I have made sure our kids have grown up with. #1 is the Price is Right. Where would we be without that show? Growing up, I would always look forward to watching Bob Barker on a day home sick from school. I even remember waking up at the crack of dawn with my husband, my mother in law, and two very dear friends to drive to Hollywood and stand in line for hours at a chance of winning cash and prizes. (We were sure Pete was going to get called up when they corrected his name tag.) Sadly, we left empty handed (and raspy voiced to boot) and consoled our spirits with a round of burgers at Tommy's.

I remember my grandma scheduling the days activities and outings around Bob and the Price is Right and laying in my nightgown watching contestants spin the wheel. I remember trying to guess, with my little inexperienced school girl heart, the bids for the prices of the products and gadgets.

Josh is totally addicted, and loves the numbers, flashing lights, and buzzers and sirens. We only watch it about once a week, but he soaks in every minute of it. He says he wants to spin the wheel someday, I don't tell him how close to death that Bob is. I think it would break his little game playin' heart!
n

I knew I met a true kindred spirit when I was dating Jeff and he threw out a line from Pee Wee's Big Adventure. (That, and quoted Zach from saved by the bell, but thats a whole other story) All that talk about Pee Wee made us anxious to go rent the cult classic and watch it in his apartment that afternoon. I think his roommate thought we were completely nuts when he caught us (it was more weird than the time he caught us making out).

When my sister (another Pee Wee fan) sent me the DVD for my birthday last year, I thought she was a little nuts and set it up on my shelf for a few months. I guess I forgot how fun a little Pee Wee can be. (and I'm sure YOU, dear reader, are thinking I am nuts) Finally one rainy day, out of sheer desperation I popped it in the player and let the kids wrap their little minds around the comedic craziness of Pee Wee and his friends. Now, it's one of our favorites and I still make Jeff recite that line from all those years ago.

"Is that something that you can share with the rest of us Amazing Larry?"

How many people can credit a movie to a calming thought that comes over them when they are moving to a new town?

"Texas can't be too bad, all those people looked so nice on Pee Wee."

I know you are laughing, rolling your eyes even. But, it gets worse--I promise. One of these days, when I scrape up enough courage-- I will find myself in a thick Texas crowd and sing out the oh so infamous line "The stars at night, are big and bright!" just waiting to see what happens. And don't you worry, I will let you know what happens.

euphoria

Today was an ideal day filled with thick, dark rainclouds and fat raindrops. We watched the sky turn a lovely shade of pewter grey and burst. We delighted in another afternoon filled with the intoxicating scent of rain as we toasted with ice cream at our favorite summer oasis, Braums.

Later in the afternoon, I ran (not walked)

to Michael's to check out the new Martha Stewart crafting supplies which was worth every penny in overpriced gas.

Her collection of glassine paper alone made me stop and drool-- (What do you use glassine paper for? I have no idea, but I wanted some.)

Of course I left the store with a bag full of new supplies and a head full of ideas.

Rain, ice cream, shopping, and my boys-- a totally rad day.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom! Hope you have a great one!

Love,

Jeff, Emily, Josh and Ben.

memorial day + 1

Signing my name on the X as a pilots wife makes for a schedule that most people don't particularly understand. On the "real" Memorial day, Jeff opted to take a little OT. We spent a good part of yesterday cleaning house, and for good reason. So today, as all the working folks headed back to their offices-- we headed out for a day of fun. I like it better that way, it keeps the crowds down.

You can't have a patriotic holiday without a little BBQ, so we headed to a real BBQ restaurant, one that has a roll of paper towels on the table, checkered tablecloths, and bbq sauce by the kettleful.

We rocked out to country music while Ben clensed his palate with lemon slices stolen from my water glass.

(I know, I know...poor Ben is rockin' a totally horrible scratch on his face, again, we have no idea how it happened. Every time I look at it--it reminds me of that time when my family and I went on a trip to Disneyland and stopped in that Pizza Hut in Compton. Our server had a little tear shaped tattoo exactly in that same spot.)

Afterward, we headed out to see Shrek 3.

Of course, a movie isn't a movie without a little candy and the thrill of sneaking it past the ticket takers in a large, ugly purse. The trick is getting the kids to stay hushed until we get to our dimly lit seats to divvy up our booty. Josh- a ginormous box of hot tamales. Ben- an even more ginormous box of jelly bellies. Jeff and I- split a box of juju bees which are so gross, they're good--but sticky as crazy. Half the jokes I couldn't even open my mouth to laugh because my teeth were stuck together.

We also snuck in a Coke Zero and a regular Coke to do a taste test in the dark of the theatre and see if we could tell the difference. While I never actually did get to taste both, I left wearing both, and as far as I can tell--they both feel the same. Sticky.

excuses, excuses.

Sheet changing day?

Or just an excuse to play?

I'll choose the latter.

The Preschool Playhouse presents:

The Little Red Hen:

Starring:

Janelle-Little Red Hen

Tyler- Little White Chick

Joshua- Little Yellow Duck

Jeffrey- Little Orange Cat

Benjamin- Little Black Dog

In true thespian spirit, our little students left us clamoring for more. This is one performance that even Shakespeare would have been proud of. They pulled out all the stops to deliver a true masterpiece that brought down the house!

Ben was ecstatic to wear dog ears. (Even if they were a pair of recycled black knee highs.)
Josh was so comfortable in his duck outfit, that his beak became an extension of his own face. He sure loved to flap his wings and see if he could really fly! Jeff pulled him up by his overall straps and helped him out a little.
Ben held his achievement high! He won the "Class Comedian" award for his quick wit and sense of humor in the classroom. Why am I not surprised.

Josh is very serious when it comes to his education. He won the "Speedy Gonzalez" award for always being first to finish his writing assignments. With Josh, everything is a race!

Afterward we celebrated with finger foods and cake. I loved peeking at the progress of each of the kids on the wonderful work display. What a great school year, I can't wait to continue the learning in the fall!

Happy Summer Break!

queen for a day.

Today, my little Joshua followed me around the house like I was the pied piper.

Chattering, asking questions, showing me his manly stunts (like jumping high, somersaults, and jumping jacks) and calling me "Your Majesty" of all things.


"Can I have a drink of water, Your Majesty?"

"Will you play a game with me, Your Majesty?"

"Here you go, Your Majesty!" (as he handed me a used tissue.)



I have no idea where he picked this little catch phrase up from. I'm sure he will wake up tomorrow and have forgotten about it.

Well, at least I could be queen for one day.

snip and dip

I don't know if it was between the chaos of our bloggers get together, or when we were relaxing to the sounds of an afternoon storm-- but sometime yesterday I noted that the kids needed a haircut ASAP before their mop tops got too out of control. So, guess what we were doing bright and early this morning. Forget your thigh master--with a squirrily 3 year old getting a trim, I was using all my muscle groups squatting-stretching- and lifting. I feel energized breaking a sweat, and it's not even 8:30.

blog n' blab.

Today was the day of our anticipated bloggers get together. What a group of gals! We took up most of the picnic tables under the veranda while our kids ran through the splash pad. It was so much fun to finally meet some of the girls whose blogs I have been checking for months now.

None of them knew (except Laura) that the night before I accidentally smashed my face into our bathroom door frame (trying to do too many things at once I guess ) and am suffering what feels like a fracture to my nose. I was so paranoid last night that I would wake up with two black eyes. Gratefully, I don't have anything a little makeup couldn't fix. I put up a good front.

So back to our bloggers get together, it was a strange feeling to be at a table with girls that you know... but you have never met. I'm sure most of them are disappointed to see that in real life, I am a bit dull. (blame it on the throbbing nose.)

So, imagine my surprise, when I finally make it home and plug in my camera and find out that this is the best picture I got.

I'm embarrassed to say the least. It's blurry, off center, and no one is looking at the camera. (pathetic!) Here's to hoping that someone did better than I did. I failed miserably. At least I have the memories.

But, I did however, get a crisp cracker jack shot of Ben eating a sandwich.

Thanks goes out to all the bloggin' gals. Hope we can do it again. {soon!}

umbrella {dance}

Spring showers inspire an impromptu

umbrella dance on our front lawn.

Bravo!

And then the lightening came,

and we ran for cover. But,

we still enjoyed the downpour

from the window.

the cold, hard facts

Dear Blue Bell Ice Cream People,

I am an avid fan of many of your delectable ice cream flavors. Our family favorite has to be Birthday Cake, and we eat it as often as we can find it. We always like to scan the different choices we have at the grocery store each week. We buy it, we eat it, we love it. That is why I am writing you today.

You have to do something about your Ice Cream pop boxes.

Truth be told, they freak us out.

Not long ago, I was on a trip to the grocery store for our weekly shopping. I asked Jeff if he wanted anything special, as he had to stay home and mow the lawn. After a few seconds of thoughtful deliberation, he said "Bring home some Blue Bell... but don't bring home the box with that gross little girl with the false eyelashes, or that dirty construction worker. I don't want their cheesy mugs smiling at me every time I open my freezer." I heeded his advice and brought home something other than the dreaded creepy girl or freaky construction man. Good advice.

Now, every time (it never fails) we pass your well stocked shelves in the frozen section of our grocery store, we laugh at those weird boxes. What are you thinking? Please change your design staff as I would love to try your ice cream sandwiches someday.

Your loyal customer,

Emily

whaddyah get...

when you add a little boy +
a Blue Bell cookies and cream ice cream cone +

99 cent store bottle pop streamers?

Sticky streamer hands,

and tears.

(don't fret my pet, after much coaxing, he

washed

them

off

in

the

sprinkler

and miraculously, lived to see another day.)

6:04

What were you doing at 6:04? Catching up on your beauty sleep? Dreaming a little dream? Catching some Z's? I was rousted out of bed by the Josh and Ben Brothers and using a heavy duty blending device to whip up these little concoctions for them and Jeff...

we call them "morning drinks" and they are a family tradition. I remember my mother making them for me. They are reserved only for mornings.

They are simple too, so a mother without her wits about her can toss one together with only one eye open and hair in her face.

Good morning.

2 ligit 2 quit.

So, titled with a Hammer song, I write to you today absolutely pleased as punch and just waiting for an excuse to use

these.

Last night at my class, we received our color decks. I kid you not when I tell you that I cradled those precious decks like a newborn babe as I walked out to my car and oh-so-lovingly placed them on my front seat for the ride home. I kid you not when I tell you that later that night as I was skimming all the color selections that my mouth was actually watering. (how could you not with names like honeydew, cucumber, and nacho cheese?) I kid you not when I tell you that that was one of the best gifts I have received in my life (and I have received some whoppers!) Thank you Benjamin Moore, from the bottom of my little color lovin' heart.

We had a faux finish painting field trip at a local paint store. Can I tell you that one of the techniques that I did actually made my teacher ohh and ahh? I was so proud.

I also learned that to slap paint on someones wall and then use the "smooshing" technique (which is just plastic smooshed right on top and then pulled off to make a texture) you can charge $3 a square foot? Genius!

Seriously folks, this little momma can hardly contain her giddy laughter. (What do you expect from someone who Tivo's every episode of HGTV's Get Color?) From Analogous, to primary, and complementary too... I've got em'. They are all right here in my hot little hands!