Ten Years Later

Today marks the tenth anniversary of our San Francisco wedding. Ten years ago we were just a couple of twenty somethings living large in the big city about to move into that tiny basement apartment on Washington street. I worked for the theater, you had just gotten an entry level job at your current company and we barely made the rent each month - however also thought nothing of dropping $100 for dinner! You were still a writer/performer for your gorilla theater comedy company with dreams of working for Conan O'Brien some day and I did alot of Bikram yoga.

We spent a few nights a week hanging out at our local haunt or meeting friends for drinks and dinner (and then more drinks) getting to bed by 2am was an early evening for us. We had no kids or plans for kids just two beloved and overly indulged cats. What did we do with our time besides see every movie we wanted the first week, eat out every other night and attend Giants games at PacBell park?

And now flash forward to the present: happily married, three kids, no cats, two cars and a mortgage on a big house in Bakersfield. If someone had told that couple this is where they would be in ten years time they would have laughed.

But, ten years and a million wonderful life moments later, I wouldn't change one second of our journey that got us here.

Love you more than words,

Me

88 and Sunny

Every morning after breakfast the girls and I check the computer for the day's weather. I point to the icons and they tell me if it's going to be sunny or cloudy, rainy or sunny with clouds. We look at the temperature and they tell me which number of the week is the largest. And then we choose our outfits accordingly.

Well, today we found a forecast of 88 degrees and sunny. So, of course, sundresses were in order. And if you have a sundress, why not wear a matching flower in your hair? And since you are already accessorizing, throw in a necklace too. Sunglasses are a must for a day like today.

I slathered them in sunscreen and they couldn't wait to get outside to welcome summer. It hasn't been this warm since October. It never gets too cold here, it is California after all, but just a few short weeks ago going to school looked like this.

Baby Steps

He did it! Three steps towards a soccer ball held by Mimi and then three or four to his Mama holding the digital camera. He's been soooo close for the last two weeks and finally let go and walked.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Dinner Al Fresco

We dined in the open air last night with family and friends. It was a perfect evening, warm and breezy, kids running around the table, the smell of roses everywhere. Chris and Yiayia created a sumptuous BBQ dinner of salmon and steak, chicken and salads with lots and lots of wine (or sparkling lemonade for the drivers). When twilight came, we put candles on the table, and continued on with raspberry tart and cappuccinos. A truly, delicious evening.

Mariana and Mimi, Lorraine and Luca came over the mountains to visit with Yiayia and our family in the 'burbs.
YiaYia and Lorraine catching up.

Chris and Athena sporting that same smile.
The Dude looks around checking out his unfamiliar surroundings.
Predinner Twister was hilarious.
Even the Dude was an enthusiastic participant.
Mariana and the girls spun the wheel for the grownups round, but there are NO flattering pictures of that so I will refrain from posting any!

The Elusive Ice Cream Man

Ever since this post, YiaYia has been on me about why I didn't buy her grandchildren ice cream, and how could I just let them stare at the neighbor kids getting ice cream and not give the girls anything. But it was right before dinner, I protested. So, why didn't you buy it and keep it in the freezer until dessert?. Frankly, it never occurred to me (stupid ice cream truck).

Yiayia promised my poor neglected children that while she was visiting she would buy them ice cream anytime they heard the truck in our neighborhood. That was a week ago and nearly everyday since then when we've heard the gentle peels of the ice cream truck's song, the house goes into a frenzy. The girls jump up and race to the front door, YiaYia runs to get her wallet, only to reach the edge of our front lawn and see the ice cream truck disappearing around the corner going too fast to see us and never looking back.

Finally, tonight we caught up with him. Actually, the same thing happened again but some neighborhood preteens on their bikes offered to chase after him and tell him to double back around.
Luca was visiting and we did so want him to experience one of the summertime joys of the suburbs, ice cream delivered to your door.

The girls' first choice was some kind of SpongeBob popsicle, but they were denied. A traditional ice cream sandwich was an acceptable second choice.

Zoe did a spontaneous victory dance lost in the pure joy of the moment.

Yiayia did not hesitate to give him a piece of her mind about how every time we saw him he was tearing around the corner, driving too fast to notice us and never looking back.

And they ate the whole thing, with a few stolen Daddy bites. Sticky and covered in chocolate we made them go snuggle up to Yiayia so she could see what she had done.

I think she looks pretty pleased with herself.

Carwash for a Cause

Athena and Zoe's preschool had a carwash for Relay for Life today. The whole school participated, Athena's class of "big kids" dressed in purple and washed the cars. And Zoe's class were "Anastasia's Angels" who prayed for a little girl who is battling for her life.

Athena took her role very seriously.

and was, of course, inseparable from her bestie Amelia.

It was darn cute seeing a pack of little people washing and scrubbing our car.

Serious cuteness for a great cause.

Nocturnal Activities

Maybe it's because they sense the void and want to fill it. Maybe its because they feel our family is out of balance with Daddy away and they need extra comforting. But every night this week I have gone to sleep alone and woken up with two little people in my bed.

They come in at different times in the night, usually I hear their little feet padding down the hallway alerting me of their imminent presence. Sometimes they surprise me and I'm startled awake with a little face peering over my bed very close. Usually I mumble something totally incoherent, the remnants of a dream, and scoop up their warm bodies.

There is always kicking and elbowing, snoring and wiggling, but I love the company. And the bed that felt so big and empty when I went to sleep is quite snug by morning.

When Chris is Away

Chris told Athena he would miss her so much while he was at his week-long conference because who would he read to and tuck in at night? She thought about it for a minute, then said "You could take Max?" Max is Chris' well known favorite of the girls' stuffed friends. So, here's Max, resting on Chris' hotel bed, a little piece of home.

When Chris is away, he needs tons of pictures of his minis to help bridge the distance.

Here you go, my love:
Yiayia is here taking great care of us while you are away, but we miss you. Zoe said it was "taking a long time" for Friday to get here. We're counting the days, come home soon and give us squeezes!

Wordless Wednesday

Postcard from the Desert

Dear Family,

We are having a lovely time in the desert visiting Granddaddio and Grandma Andree. It's Easter weekend and we are relaxing and spending our time scootering...

and swimming...
and golfing...
or, more like, 'golf carting'!
On Easter morning, we woke up to find the Easter bunny had left us chocolate bunnies and hidden Easter eggs all over the house.We found them all and then even got to eat jelly beans for breakfast!
Afterwards, the whole family got dressed up and went to church with Grandma and Granddaddio.
...and, back at the house, Mommy made us pose for more photos (as usual).
It was a wonderful trip and we didn't want to leave but agreed only if we were allowed to bring all our chocolate with us.

Love you and miss you,

Athena and Zoe