Moolahism of the night

But I wanted an ice cream come, not just rocks :(

Our visit with the Zukos was lovely. Details later... And the purple dress picture.

Danny Zuko is Coming to Town!

Last night my phone rang during dinner. Caller ID said "Snowy State Gov". That's odd, I thought. I let the machine answer and the voice said "This is [Danny Zuko] and I'm looking for an old high school friend."

Zuko was one of my best friends in high school. After school, he went on a mission to Scotland. Soon after his return, I went to his wedding, which has to date still given me my best wedding stories. Mitch's and Mary's come close, but DZ's wedding was simply unforgettable and sweet. After that, I lost him. Just before Ace was born, I tried to find him and couldn't. I am simply estatic that he found me.

He, Mrs. Zuko, and 4 Zukinis will be having dinner at Strider's House on Friday. I can't wait!

Oh... and for those who are looking for Mama, I'm the fuzzy one in the red sweater on the right.

More conbrasation ...

At breakfast time, Moolah requested a pear. I told her that we didn't have any pears, only apples. There was some confusion about colors since we usually have red apples and green pears, but there were green apples in the bowl. Eventually, we settled on a banana.

Several hours later, Daddy reminded me that he was going to the soccer game that night. I was in the kitchen and asked if he would get some milk on the way home. He said yes. Moolah looked up and said "Daddy, would you get some pears on the way home, too?" He said yes.

Several hours later still, Daddy kissed everyone goodbye and walked out the front door. Moolah jumped up and ran after him.

"Daddy... don't forget to get pears on your way home!"

Daddy remembered the milk and the pears. What a nice Daddy we have!

Weekend Update

The Royal Children came for a sleepover Saturday. There was a carpet picnic, ice cream cones, and even pipe cleaners & hot glue. The picnic & ice cream was planned. The pipe cleaners & hot glue were requested by Prince 5.

Everyone but Ace & Daddy camped out downstairs. There was a big thunder & lightning storm (actually rare for the Rainy City) during the bedtime story. It was scary. I've gotta get curtains for those windows!

Ace is working hard on his walking skills. He can now start & stop, stoop to pick things up, stand without pulling up on something, and even turn a corner.

Moolah saw a Ferris Wheel a month ago or so and has wanted to go on one. On Friday, I saw that they put one up downtown near the river. I told her that we would go. Unfortunately, they apparently were putting it up for this upcoming weekend (who puts a Ferris Wheel downtown on a holiday weekend and doesn't open it!). So, we had to improvise. We went to Oaks Park and rode a few rides, including these. Moolah says that the roller coaster was too scary and she doesn't want to go on it again until she gets a little bigger... maybe.

Monday, Mama did a lot of laundry and cleared out the last of the leftover consignment stuff. Daddy got to go to a soccer game with Mama's lawyer.

Fairy Festival Pictures

Making Fairy Wings

Wearing Fairy Wings

Grumpy Fairies

Scary Stilts Guy

Bits & pieces

Mothers Day
Mothers Day was perfect. I got to sleep until 9, and then Daddy made breakfast. Quiche and fruit and these, outside in the sunshine. Moolah made me 3 pair of earrings (red, blue & green). I wish I could have seen her make them. Oosje and Daddy helped and said she was very focused on her task (putting the beads on the wire). She says "they sparkle in the sun." She is very proud of them, and I love them. She also got me some flowers and herbs and strawberries, and she helped me plant them in the boxes on our deck. Then we planted a new crop of mushrooms that Oosje brought last year when Ace was born.

Business Planning
I am making good progress on launching my business. Yesterday I met with "my" lawyer. I've never had a lawyer before. I picked a good one. He bought me lunch and paid for my parking, like a real client. He discussed client confidentiality and used big lawyer words. He took notes and promised to follow up. He also said that I could pay him in family barbecue, which is a very good price, and means that we get to see Miss A. and Mr. J. Altogether a pleasant experience.

What Not to Wear
Today I went to a regular lunchtime meeting and someone there said "you are always dressed so well! We always talk about your outfit when you leave." No one has ever said this to me before in my whole life. It felt great.

Moolah's Morning
There are still some birthday treats in our kitchen. This morning, Moolah asked:

"Can I have a cupcake for breakfast?"

"No, Moolah... cupcakes aren't for breakfast. Maybe you can have one tonight if you eat your dinner."

"Can I have birthday cake for breakfast?"

"No."

"Why?"

(some answer about cake not being a healthy breakfast)

"Well, then, can I have a chocolate breakfast muffin?"

Question to readers: Reward creative intelligence, or support healthy eating habits?

Gimme Three Steps

Thanks to Daddy for putting together the birthday walking video!

Happy Birthday, Ace!

Birth week milestones:

• First steps last Friday. Has been practicing lots since then!


• 8th tooth (bottom left) yesterday or today

Tonight we're having spaghetti (Ace's favorite) and chocolate cake. Moolah says that chocolate is his favorite, and that he will share with her, because she likes chocolate too. Moolah also wants to make him a crown.

Singing with Moolah

Puff the magic dragon

lived by the sea

and fall him in the odd um miss

in a land called on a leaf

Strider & His Kids

Do they sell "parents are coming to visit" insurance?

I need some.

I'm not the world's worst driver, but I'm definitely not the best, either. I'm careful and try to accommodate for my deficiencies (poor depth perception, poor sense of spatial relations). And, sometimes, accidents happen.

For the past several years, mine always happen just a few days prior to a scheduled visit from Oosje and Bampa.

Thanksgiving, 2005: I visit the B's house to pick up a dress that will fit Moolah for the holidays (and, Lil for the 2007 holiday season when she will wear it for her Christmas photos). The B's live on a busy street. So, pulling out of their driveway, I gun the engine to merge with traffic, sideswiping a fire hydrant and cutting open three panels along Sabi's side like a bad can opener. Oosje and Bampa arrive in a couple of days. This one is totally my fault. I admit that. Fire hydrant versus pickup, fire hydrant wins.

Thanksgiving, 2007: I'm on my way to a conference on a dark night and I take the exit I need just a tiny bit too late. There's a little ridge in the road, and I go bump, bump over it. Not CRASH BANG BUMP. Just bump, bump. However, the little bump tears a giant hole in the oil pan, and it, along with several other pieces, need to be replaced. Oosje and Bampa show up just in time to hold Moolah while I direct the tow truck guy. This one, also my fault sort of, but the extent of the damage from a little ridge in the road is totally unforseeable.

Ace's Birthday, May 2008: I'm driving home from Boot Camp and a little chunk of 4-by-4 wood comes off a truck in front of me. It bounces straight under my tire. We go BUMP. A big bump, but no CRASH BANG. I have Daddy look the car over as soon as I get home, everything looks fine. The next day, no air in the tire. Les Schwab shows me a big chunk in the wheel, which needs to be replaced. They can get a wheel for my fancy european car on Monday. Oosje and Bampa will be here on Saturday. This one is totally not my fault.

I blame Oosje and Bampa. Not that it will help. I tried to blame them (or the car, or the other drivers, or anything other than me) when I was learning to drive. Bampa never bought it. Maybe there's some kind of car karma playing out here. Maybe it's that I didn't take responsibility for my own mistakes back when I was learning to drive. ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT... I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. NOW LEAVE THE PEPPAR WAGON ALONE, PLEASE!!!

Conversations

Daddy went to Houston from Thursday morning until Sunday night, making me a very busy Mama.

When he got back, he claims that he had his first conversation with Ace:
Daddy: "Hi, Ace. I missed you."
Ace: "Hi."

Moolah is also working on the art of conversation. She has been wanting me to feed her all her meals. Sometimes I do, having learned that she is more likely to eat anything that does not qualify in her mind as a "treat", and really more likely to eat what I have served her, if I just play the game. Other times, I choose not to feed her. I explained at some point that I would sit at the table, and we could have a nice conversation, but she has to eat like a big girl. So, now when I decline to feed her, she says "Well, can we have a conbrasation?"

Some pictures from tonight

After dinner, Moolah asked nicely and got ice cream (Dreyers Chocolate Chip Mint Brownie) with chocolate sauce (Hershey's Special Dark) and animal crackers and M&M's. You got pictures. These are NOT the results of Daddy's new super extra groovy cool lens. It was tucked safely away downstairs and Mama's PhD (push here, dummy) camera was nearby.

Also, Mama couldn't figure out how to fix the red eye on the fancy software. I'm sure Daddy will give me a lesson ASAP. He has already given me a lesson... I must not have been paying close attention to some of the details.

"I am holding still"

Open Message to A

While you're exercising your considerable google skills, Moolah and Ace both need new Vans. Don't buy them, just post your suggestions :)

We miss you!

Strider's Family

When I get big ...

I can use chopsticks.
-- Moolah

I know the blog has been low on pictures. I'll get some up soon. Daddy just got a new lens and he is very eager to use it... lots.

Diaper Rodeo Champion

I love Google. I typed in "diaper changing restraint" or something like that and found my new favorite tool. Ace isn't a huge fan, but there's not much he can do about it. 21 of the best dollars I ever spent in my life.

Another recent purchase that Ace likes better... dippers. Easier to hold and easier to operate than a spoon. Gets yogurt, applesauce, and other thick stuff to his mouth. Yay!

Fairy Festival A Bust

Today was the fairy festival. We had a fabulous time last year. It was one of the last girls outings before Ace was born. I was really looking forward to it this year.

Ace came along in his backpack. He enjoyed looking around. Moolah made him some wings.

Moolah wore her purple fairy dress from Nanna's christmas-dress up box. We met Miss A., in her own fairy garb.

Moolah went to play in the fairy gazebo, and was having a good time dancing to a live celtic band with lots of pretty scarves. Ace and I were watching from a little ways away, giving her some space to play. I've learned she is more likely to engage in a situation like th at when I'm not hovering over her. Suddenly she wasn't in the gazebo. I told some of the Mama's I'd been talking to and set out on expanding circles around the gazebo. I found her on my third circuit, standing perfectly still staring at a guy on stilts. She had apparently wandered toward some shiny fairy bauble and caught sight of the "big guy" who was very scary. She climbed into my arms and would not let me put her down.

Miss A. was jetlagged from a trip to Disneyland, and a little bit cranky. I was carrying 50+ pounds of kids after having already finished Boot Camping them and their 30 pound stroller up and down around Rainy Town's hilliest park. It started to rain. We cut our losses and went for a "hot dog on a stick" and some broccoli at Chili's.

I'm hoping for spunkier fairies next year.

Thursday's Pictures

Moolah was looking at Daddy's book again. She now likes to imagine the pictures regularly. Last night ...

• Daddy's car
• Mama's car
• Mama's old green truck
• (repeat several pictures of the above vehicles)
• Fred and Moolah
• A. and Moolah
• Fred and A and Moolah making muffins. Chocolate. My favorite.

Things Boys Teach You

I don't have any stories of my own today. Here's an email I got from another mom of boys...

Daddy's response upon reading this. "# 25 is true.. I was already planning it."

Things Boys Teach You

1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late

8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old boy.

11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12. Super glue is forever.

13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15. VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20. The fire department in Austin , TX has a 5-minute response time.

21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24. 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.

25. 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.