A Spectacle

Us and the Overfelts - 10/13

Ever wonder how many people you can fit on a surrey?

It wasn't the relaxing beachfront bike ride I had imagined.

It was more of a workout.

But it was a fun/ny workout.

I want to buy me one of these...forget the running.

It Felt Like a Sunday

Family, food, and games.

even though I stayed home from church w/sick Drew...it still felt like Sunday with these 3 things:

The Family - my sis Tami & bro-in-law Jay were visiting Jay's parents in Oakland...they carpooled here w/cousins Chad & Cherisse's family. Our first family visitors to our house!

The Food - My favorite version of the so popular Cafe Rio style sweet pork burritos.

The Game - Settlers. None of our guests had ever played before! And Justin couldn't be nice and let one of them win.

At this Rate

Her baby blanket will be finished when she's 16.

King Benjamin Style

There was the cutest idea in The Friend about watching conference from tents like the people of King Benjamin (here's the simple version of that story).

We couldn't get conference to work on the TV so we watched off the Internet in our room and the bed was our pretend tent. Next time we'll have real ones.

So many good talks but I especially loved L. Tom Perry's in the Sat AM session. Who else wants to go to Walden Pond, live the simple life, and read some Thoreau?

We took
so-we-don't-go-stir-crazy
breaks
in-between sessions

Saturday break:
Visiting the lollipop tree and doing other carnival games at the
Butterfly Bazaar
(a carnival following the annual butterfly parade
welcoming the migrating monarchs...we missed the parade)

Sunday break:

Photo Nature Hunt

We only had Owen & Drew watch this morning's session.
I was the one needing the stir crazy breaks.

Teethies

10/2

Why is it that I've had 30+ cavities (+ 1 root canal) in my life and Justin's had 2?

Lucky him got some good teeth genes (cause I have better hygiene so we can rule that out).

But just in case Justin didn't pass those genes on to Drew I took him in young to get checked out.

So far so good.

I thought we were good with Owen, too but unlucky him gets his first 2 cavities filled next week.

Do we really have to fix his baby teeth that are going to fall out anyway?

Thanks Again Lady

Here's Lindsey, the header maker (with 1/2 of Cohen).

This shot was taken by her 3-year-old Sophie.

Here's the photographer herself
demonstrating how I feel about her mama's header-making skills.

Retired:

So Lindsey...how much do you like it when I post your pictures w/out permission?

Buzz's Buzz

This one was necessary thanks to Owen applying a generous dose of spray adhesive to the back of Drew's head.

Lunch

Today's Lunch Menu

Breaded Tilapia

Pasta w/Alfredo Sauce

Pasta w/Organic Tomato Sauce

Chicken Stuffed Ravioli

Trail Mix

Sun Chips

Uncrustables

Ice Cream w/Hershey's Syrup

Blueberry Pomegranate Juice

Sparkling Lemonade


Ya, I went all out.

Too bad they were all sample sizes at

Basting

not my picture

A couple weeks ago I made this Baked Teriyaki Chicken.

It was good.

(if you make it make extra sauce to go over rice
and line your pan with foil;
that pan was a beast to clean)

Except Justin found a hair from
the basting brush I used on his piece.

That's not good.

So I threw that brush out.


The next day I attempted to color my hair.

Karen, my hairdresser sister,
gave me a pep-talk before I started.

Use Vasoline around your hairline so you won't get color stains.

I didn't have Vasoline so I used Desitin.

I made Justin put the color on my roots and the back of my hair.

Hey, he was raised by a painter.

When it was my turn to take over, it just went downhill.

I should've put Desitin all over me and the bathroom.

So messy.

And for all that, I was somehow left with roots
that are slightly lighter than the rest of my hair
and a clump of singed off hair.

I'll fly Karen here before I try that again.

I almost threw that hair color brush out with everything else.

But I was thinking...

You know what would make a really good basting brush?

K I forgot to add the part about using a magic eraser to get the color off my skin. Ya, don't do that. I felt like I had a sunburn for a couple days...it did work, though!

Oh and I was just coloring my hair my same color to cover all my GREY HAIR. Now those grey hairs are more golden brown. I obviously didn't mix it right.

Game Day

Team: Sharks
Player: Owen
Number: 11

Times left field crying: 1
Times kicked the ball: 0

Strong points: Great runner

Now if he knew the purpose of all his running that might help.

The crying was at the beginning of the game... his first time on the field. I think he just felt overwhelmed. So Justin got him back in with his friend Jack and he did some good running while we lost probably 15-1 thanks to some freakishly good kid on the other team. But hey he had fun and he got a jersey!

And a cool Scottish coach.

My Hot Date

He sat pretty much mesmerized by the entire 2 1/2 hours of this play last night. When the real life Dorothy came out his face just lit up. She's his favorite.

Yes, my boy likes Dorothy and my girl likes tractors. Maybe one day they'll switch.

The place we went to was an Outdoor Theatre in Carmel...it's surrounded by trees in the middle of a neighborhood.

I had FUN with Drew. He was so cute the whole night and even when I was a little bored with the play I liked watching him watch it.

K now I'm getting too mushy but I loved spending 1 on 1 time with him, seeing him so happy, and letting him have a break from being the middle child...just for a night.

The Girl Needs a Doll

Cheesy

What? Not Owen's school picture!

It's the book he brought home from his weekly trip to the library that IS:


I laughed so hard at how bad this book was but Owen was totally into it.

He wants a dog. Well, most of the time he wants a dog. Until I remind him he'd have to pick up the poop. Then he forgets about it for a little while.

But the thing is I don't like pets. Other people's are fine but I would be so happy if we never have one of our own. The puffer fish for Owen's last birthday (that we kept alive 11 days) was enough.

So I tell Owen when he's 8 (you know, the age of accountability) he can get a dog. That's only a little over 3 years away...I need to get a back-up plan in case he really wants to take me up on the offer.

Take 2

We have fire!

Take 1 was last week

We had fun, but no fire.
(found out too late that Asilomar doesn't allow bonfires)

But they do allow cupcakes.

The Doctor

Sept 12 - 6 months old
15 1/2 pounds; 26 1/2 inches

Sometimes we wait a long time for the doctor to come back.

So we get bored and start taking pictures.

And go a little sticker crazy.


Then the doctor asks me for a urine sample.

That's asking a lot with 3 kids (Owen was out of school with a cold).

I'm used to not having privacy at home but it's embarrassing in public.

Especially when Drew yells, "Bring your pee! Bring your pee!" as we're walking out of the bathroom.


Post Script: That whole day Sally was so fussy, even the Motrin wasn't helping. I thought it was the shots (which was probably part of it) but the next day her bottom 2 teeth cut through. Poor girl had to deal w/shots and teeth at the same time.

Who's the Proud Dad?

Justin loves soccer.

Owen had his first soccer practice yesterday and I think he liked it.

A) Last night he slept with his shin guards.

B) Today he brought his ball in for show & tell.

4-year-old soccer is so funny.

Can't Take the Credit

Lindsey makes my pretty headers. She drew the birdie on the new one herself and then turned it into clip art. Fancy! I Love it.

PS Do you sometimes wonder why I post the header I'm retiring? It's because when I ever get around to printing my blog each year I want to remember them all. Especially this one.

Shauna Gets Political

Sally and I joined a group of Proposition 8 supporters this morning. We went door to door in our precinct hoping to find more supporters in hiding.

We found...
- A man that was undecided (and also undressed so we couldn't have a conversation)
- A man that takes pride in the private ballot (wouldn't share his opinion)
- A woman that can support Prop 8 in NO way
- An old woman that will support Prop 8 (and probably also won't support it...depending on who gets the last word before the election)
- A man that supports (and said w/Sally strapped to my front, "Let me guess...YOU married a man?!")

And more.

Most people were nice enough, even those that didn't agree.

But mostly I found that people didn't really know the details (even though they had strong opinions). And they didn't want us to explain.

Usually I just sit back more and let people do what they may. But if this doesn't pass, Owen will be taught in school that marriage can be between any 2 people regardless of gender. I'm not okay with that.

The official Prop 8 website is protectmarriage.com

I especially like the MYTHS


If you don't agree, just be as nice about it as the people we ran into yesterday. Pretty please.

The Girl Likes to Swing

Carmel River Beach

You'll never guess where we went for Labor Day...




Another beach!

We went to Carmel River Beach for the first time. It's crazy to me how different the landscaping at every beach is. They can be like 5 minutes apart and look totally different. This one had a river inlet that was perfect for playing.

And scaring birds.



Umm and being cute.