Fridays

Doesn't it feel like you should do something on Friday to make it really feel like Friday? A couple days ago Anne and I were shopping at Bloomingdale's and I looked down by her feet and someone had dropped a twenty dollar bill. Confession: We picked it up, she had ten dollars in her wallet, so we split it. I mean, we looked around and the place was empty. Everyone who shops in Bloomingdale's has way more money than we do. So this is how we justified it. Well, since then I've been wondering what to spend my $10 on, and today - because it's Friday - Tyler, Audrey and I stopped at 7-11 for treats after our morning music class. I love 7-11. I missed it when I lived in New York City. Since moving out here we've had one on the corner of every street we've lived on, and when we first moved to Encino I think I got a Slurpee every day - not good. Today Tyler got a Cherry Slurpee, Audrey a string cheese (the girl loves cheese), and I picked up a Coke Zero and a copy of OK! Magazine (trashy). We even picked up an extra Coke for Adam. Just a couple treats to help get us through the morning. We might even end the day with popcorn and a movie night, because that's how we roll on Fridays. What are your favorite ways to spend a Friday?

They're Home

Adam and Tyler are back. Boy, Adam took a bunch of great pictures that I'll try to post over the next few days. They had so much fun, but I'm happy to have them home. Not so sure about Audrey. She was fussy and complaining all night. I think she's been adequately spoiled. She knows that Tyler is home and it's back to sharing. Plus she toddled around the house saying, "Mine. Mine. Mine." I didn't even know she knew how to say that! Poor thing. It's hard being number two, but she has no problem letting us know she's around, that's for sure. For now I'm gonna cuddle up to Adam and watch a movie, Audrey is finally settling to sleep, and Tyler pretty much looks like this:

More camping photos to come.

When the boys are away...

Well, Audrey and I are playing as hard as a one year old will play. The boys have gone camping, so it's girl time over here. Last night we did some shoe shopping, and stopped at Target. I let Audrey out of her stroller to roam the isles (something I rarely let her do because she has the reputation of being a destroyer of things). I think she enjoyed herself. The funniest thing was walking through the toy isles. She would pick up a baby doll and literally run away from me toward the front door of the store like she was attempting to shoplift. I let her bring this guy home. Last night she played in Tyler's room, and at the water table outside - all by herself. No one to close the door on her or steal toys away. Today we're looking forward to some more girl time with Anne, and later with Adam's mom. I look at Audrey sometimes and feel like I don't know her that well. Maybe that sounds strange. I think it's because she is number 2 and life didn't slow down when she got here, like it did when Tyler arrived. I'm trying to take advantage of this time, just the two of us... playing baby dolls, making messes, taking time to walk up and down the stairs over and over and over. That's the stuff she likes to do. Throw in a shopping trip or two and we're both happy. I'm sure the boys are having just as much fun.

First Trim - After

That little face.... perfect.

First Trim - Before

This little girl is getting her first haircut this morning. Hopefully it turns out okay. I don't want a lot of length off... just for her to be able to see. Every hair band or barrette I try to pull her bangs back with ends up in her mouth. Even when I think I'm outsmarting her with distractions, I look down even an hour later and she's eating the barrette or rubber band, and a huge chunk of hair. Ewww. I'm hoping for some side swept bangs and maybe a few layers to help her look a little less like a muppet. Pictures to come...

Playing Bridesmaid

This week I've been busy being a full-time bridesmaid to my wonderful best friend (soon to be ex-wife - who am I kidding she will always be my wife), Adriana. Jen and I have been mad awesome co-bridesmaids (along with our other cohorts). But I've been on the computer so much I haven't wanted to blog. I'll update this weekend. For now, planning Adriana's bridal shower has done nothing but pump me up for an amazing weekend in New York City, coming soon. Adam and I haven't gone away overnight together since Audrey was born. I know, so sad. Thanks to my dad we got hooked up with a great hotel in Columbus Circle. I am ready to perform all of my bridesmaid duties, party all weekend, and stay up 'til all hours. All of our plans have come together this week. Nothing to look forward to but lots of fun. 

In other news today we got an invitation to the preschool back to school night. It told us who Tyler's teacher is. Made me a little emotional. Sounds lame, I know. But it's the beginning of school for our little family. I'm really excited for him. We have some pretty cool stuff to look forward to these next couple months.

Virginia Trip: The Girls

Well here is my last trip post - are they getting old yet? I grew up in a house of (mostly) girls. I love these girls. It is always a great time when we all get together. There is a lot of chatting, laughing, movie watching, taking walks around the neighborhood and to the nearby shops. Now there is obviously a lot of baby wrangling. This time I subjected my poor mom to an episode of The Bachelorette, too, which I don't think she appreciated. I am so happy to be home with Adam, but miss all of these ladies already. See you next time girls. And thanks for a wonderful trip! PS - Lauren is responsible for most of the photos from this trip, of course.

Me and my sisters. Next to me is my adorable sister-in-law, Melinda. She is amazing. We are so lucky that she's a part of our family. Melinda is from Transylvania, has the cutest accent, and already has Audrey speaking a little Hungarian.

I love this photo - Sisters and Mom.

Virginia Trip: The Food

At home everyone looks forward to Vernon's cooking. Everyone. Grilled salmon, bean soup, mac and cheese, chili, greens. Whatever he cooks, it is delicious. And he does a lot of it by taste. I told him to try to write down a recipe a week and I will make it into a cookbook (with a disclaimer that all measurements are approximations.) We'll see if he does it. (Here's prodding him in that direction.) Tonight I'm making the following dish, a recreation of what Vernon made for us last Sunday. I'm sure it won't come out half as good, but I'm hoping Adam will be impressed.

4 Pork Loin Chops
Sauerkraut
Chopped onion and bell pepper
Apples
Brown Sugar
Sweet Potatoes

Sear the pork on both sides and set aside. Brown some onion and pepper in the same pan you seared the meat. Place sauerkraut in the bottom of a baking dish with the onion and peppers, and the pork on top. Slice and peel an apple or two and put that in the baking dish as well. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake at 350 until pork is cooked through. About 30-45 minutes depending on how thick the cut is - just keep an eye on it. Throw a few sweet potatoes wrapped in foil in the oven as well, and serve baked sweet potatoes as a side. Vernon also made a little pork gravy (I picked mine up from the store). Add more brown sugar, or season to taste. Enjoy. It's so yummy. And PS - if you have any sauerkraut left over you can make my mom's yummy grilled reubens.

Virginia Trip: Grandpa Faust

We had a lot of fun with my dad on our trip. Dinner at our favorite spot Arties with Aunt Joyce, Uncle Jack, and Liz. We barbecued and my dad put on one of his classic firework displays in the driveway. Toys R Us shopping spree. I think the kids most loved running around his house (he has trains, too), and playing in the back yard (he has a swing, sandbox, bird bath to splash in, trees to climb). It's all pretty nice. One of my favorite nights with him was taking Tyler and Audrey to Van Dyke Park. I used to play there with my sisters and friends when I was little. Then we went to McDonald's for ice-cream. My dad always likes to end the night with a treat. At the park I was taken by how pretty Virginia is. I think I'm used to west coast landscapes now (beautiful, too, of course). There is just something so lush and green about being back east. Here are some photos from the park.

Virginia Trip: Yard Work

It's not a trip back East without helping Pop-Pop with some chores around the house. Tyler likes to channel his inner Bob the Builder. This time it was raking the front yard.

Virginia Trip: Tyler + Clara

For Tyler, I think the highlight of our vacation was playing with Clara all week long. These two were best buddies. Running around in the backyard, playing trains, taking over Toys R Us... they were pretty inseparable. I'm sure Audrey will better join in the fun next time.

Sensibly Styled

I am kinda into this new site I discovered on Design Mom a few weeks ago. Just browsing today and already found a few pieces to possibly pick up for my NYC trip. Here's a bit from their homepage:

"Sensibly Styled helps you find modest clothes by pulling together all the modest styles, from all the clothing brands you like, all in one place."

It might be a cool site to stop by every once in a while, and at least I know I'll be able to wear whatever they feature on their page. Thought I'd give a little shout out for fellow modest shoppers out there.

Home Again

We're back. Spending the day catching up on sleep, cleaning, unpacking, adjusting to the time zone, apartment manager junk. Kids are crying and cranky. Tyler has thrown several tantrums (I think he saved them up since there wasn't a single one in Virginia - more evidence we should move back east). Earlier he was playing so quietly (I thought) and I came to find him in the bathroom spraying stain remover all over the place, throwing some toilet paper into the mix to make a nice mess. Audrey walks around the house after me whining when I don't pick her up. We have watched a lot of Thomas the Tank. And Barney. I avoided Barney for quite some time. He kinda bugs me. So do the kids who sing with him. But my kids watched an episode in Virginia and today Tyler asks me, "Do we have Barney On Demand?". Fine. They were both glued to the TV. Even Audrey who doesn't really sit and watch yet. So I guess Barney has crept his way into my life. It sounds like I'm having a bad day, but not really. Just an in-between, getting back to life day. Photos of last week coming soon. I'm off to do a little on line shopping for next month's New York City trip while the kids sleep.

Quote of the Day

Tyler didn't seem bothered one bit, but came to me before naptime and said, matter-of-factly:

"Mommy, we need to get this little toy out of my ear."

That's right. We're out of town and spent the afternoon in the ER. Everything is out, and back to normal. Needless to say Tyler and I had a long talk in the car about not putting anything in your ears, or nose for that matter (might as well cover all the bases). I remember being five or six and having to go to the ER because I had put paper in my ear. I guess what goes around, comes around. Today I really felt like a mom.

Happy Fourth!

I always feel like Fourth of July begins with all these good intentions to do fun family stuff, and ends with everyone feeling hot, sweaty, a little bit grumpy, and craving air conditioning. We hadn't planned much for this holiday, but found out our neighborhood has a parade (thank you LA, for sometimes feeling small town-ish). We walked over to check it out with Michelle, Jonah, and baby Ashton. Emily and Doug and their kids were there, too. It was actually really cute. There was tons of:

Watermelon

Snowcones

Firetrucks....

All the stuff you want from a Fourth of July party. Michelle and I strolled with the kids in the parade.

Tonight we're heading over to the Barty's for a BBQ. You can see the CBS fireworks from our street, so maybe I'll take Tyler down there later. Adam is sick, and I have a lot to do for Monday's trip back east. Organizing, packing, laundry, plan my primary lesson for Sunday. This might be my last post until we come back, with possibly the occasional photo to keep Adam up-to-date on our adventures. Happy Independence Day, and wish me luck flying cross country with my two crazies. See you in about a week with plenty of stories to share and pictures to post!

Zuma

Kickin' off Fourth of July Weekend in Malibu. It was a perfect beach day, that ended with a date night for me and Adam. Couldn't ask for a better day.