Wordless Wednesday

My tiny coworker.

Five year old on wheels

A five year old rollerskating for the first time is about the equivalent of a dog on skates. Just picture it.

Athena and I went to a birthday party at the local Rollerama this afternoon. Ah my youth was spent at such a place. It is just the same. I debated taking Zoe too, because she really really wanted to go*, and siblings were allowed. But Chris was staying home with the Dude and I didn't think I could manage both of them on skates. I'm so glad it was just Athena because I was basically holding her up with all my strength while she flailed about. No balance, no instinct, no ability to stop.

It was super fun meeting all the parent in her class while sweating profusely having just walked her, bent over and simultaneously holding her up and catching her, around the rink. I was not wearing skates. Although I did see a Mom, older than me, wearing legwarmers and skating her baby in a stroller around the ring. I wanted to give her the big thumbs up and ask to have a playdate, but I didn't.

A whole new world opened up to Athena today. She loved it. The party room had carpeting and she was able to skate on her own from the table to me a few times. Finding her skating legs, figuring it out. By the last go-round she was only holding my hand, although hanging on for dear life, but she had gotten it. It was amazing to see her learn so quickly. And she can't wait to go back. This time with the whole family and me on roller skates rolling John Patrick in a stroller.

Maybe we'll do it for our anniversary. After all this is the exact Rollerama that Chris and I had one of our first dates. But that's another story...

(* Don't feel too bad for Zoe she had just come back from a birthday party. This was the second party of our day.)

Meanwhile...

While the men were indulging in all sorts of nefarious activities (including blog hacking - seriously he change my password!) the women were enjoying many wholesome pursuits with our friends in the Bay area. Including...

having "tea" outdoorsand hula hooping and feeding farm animalsand making funny faces and going for long walks on a beautiful day and tree climbing and park playingand spending time with our BFFs.

It was fun visiting the big city that we used to call home. Although it became very apparent that we are now total suburbanites when I locked the car doors at first sight of a disheveled person talking to themselves and when Athena saw a parking meter and said "Mommy what is this?"

The reason for the trip was to see some people very special to me who were on our coast for a few short days. Anytime spent with you guys is just not enough - but I'm grateful for it and can't wait until the next time we can all be together.

Although I don't think I'll be leaving my boys alone anytime soon.

***

P.S. if anyone notices the beauty and quality of the pictures above its because they were all taken from Alaine's new Nikon SLR - *sigh* - I have serious camera envy, it is hard going back to my old point-and-click.

The Unattended Men

The women have gone walkabout this weekend, abandoning their only men.

They packed their bags with a plethora of various girly accoutrement.

Suspiciously, the women did rise at weekend’s early morning light.

Then quickly occupied their car, and on the road took flight.

So the men did find themselves alone – on St. Valentine’s Day no less!

And proceeded to do the things that unattended men do best.

Oh how fortunate those women were to avoid such a scandalous affair

Of unshaven men watching Sports Center – clad only in underwear!

The men then watched Kentucky Wildcats beat those Tennessee Volunteers

While eating peperoncinis and drinking fine imported beers.

And if the women thought their men would starve, they’d be undoubtedly mistaken.

For the men enjoyed a variety of meats – like pork chops, sausage, ham and bacon.

On the whole, the men’s behavior would surely not come recommended.

But it is most certain that such things will happen, when men are left unattended.

This hijacked blog has been brought to you by the Liebel men - left all alone on Valentine's Day weekend.

My Constant Companion

The other morning, after dropping the girls off at school*, I tried out a new yoga class at the gym. Upon returning home I laid the Dude down for a nap and immediately took a conference call. The call lasting the duration of Dude's morning nap and when he woke up I was still in my yoga clothes. He didn't seem to mind playing our the big bathtub while I rinsed off in the adjoining shower. We giggled at each other through the glass, until he figured out how to turn the water on.

* The girls are now going to school full-time, that's Monday through Friday. They started last week and I have mixed feeling about it. But I have finally admitted that I'm not a stay at home Mom that works, rather a working Mom that stays at home. It stings knowing they are just down the street when I working and snuggling the Dude. But the girls are thriving and the level of activity and stimulation they are experiencing can never be duplicated at home. It's all about finding balance and this feels like the right choice, for now.

The Dude is Bipedal

Not walking yet...
but standing solidly on his own two feet.

Princess For a Day

Yesterday Athena went to a fantasy tea party birthday for her BFF Amelia.

First they picked their dresses.

Then got their nails and hair done. Chose jewelry and tiaras.
Posed for photos by the myriad of paparazzi.
And had a fashion show.
Seriously, how girly can you get?
The princesses waited patiently as Princess Amelia opened alllll her presents, the trifecta of what little five year old girls want: Barbies and Build-A-Bear and Littlest Pet Shop, oh my!

Then they sat down and had tea, actual tea, with tiny little sandwiches and pink cake.

She looks a little bored in all the photos, but she seriously was floating on a cloud. Her expression and demeanor completely changed and she was living her absolute dream and soaking it all in. She was quiet, almost regal, not her usual goofy all-over-the place self, but she loved every second of her transformation and claimed it the best day of her life. I think it may only be comparable to Disney Princesses on Ice.

Sadly siblings were not invited and Athena and I breezed out of the house with John Patrick's car seat in my car so even a conciliatory trip to Chuck E's wasn't possible. This little cutie got to spend a rainy day at home with her Daddy (almost) all to herself.

Forty Three Across

43. The only family member born in KY, soon to be five years old.

At first we were quite proud of how Athena had carefully written her name in the boxes of Mimi's found crossword then we laughed at the appropriateness of the topic.

Blah blah blog

If I hadn't posted something yesterday, Chris was going to hijack the blog and post something himself ("in typical 'Julie' format") to help me get over my writer's block.

Apparently it would have gone something like this...

"Blah blah blah something cute.
Here's a picture.Blah blah blah something funny.
Here's a picture.Blah blah blah something sweet.
Here's a picture.

Now that wasn't too hard was it?"

To love Chris is to love his snarkiness, he teases because he loves.

Welcome February

January didn't exist for me.

It started with a debilitating sickness that zapped all my energy and refused to go away. "You need to rest" everyone said or "Just do the bare minimum." Well there isn't any rest with three little ones and even "the bare minimum" is still pretty exhausting most days. So my sickness went on and on. Even after all of the kids got it and felt better, I still felt awful.

After nearly two weeks of ick, I caved and went to the doctor. A nice prescription of antibiotics and codeine cough syrup did the trick and I was finally back to normal, except with heaps of work to do, piles of mess and a massive NEA deadline looming.

The rest of the month was scrambling to get back on top of things and the poor blog lay silent. Now I'm not really sure how to get started again, so I'm just going to get started.

So far February has been lovely. The rain clouds have dissipated, the sun is shining and there is lots to catch up on.

Yay for February, the love month.

(and January, good riddance, I never liked you anyway)