Happy Birthday Little Flower!

The early morning rain and the threat of more to come didn't stop about 30+ guests coming to celebrate Addie's 2nd Birthday in the park. The weather ended up working in our favor as we had the entire park to ourselves. Thanks to everyone who attended and to those who were there in spirit.

Happy Birthday Addie!


Addie ate only the frosting off her (2) cupcakes.

Picking the candy stars off each cupcake

Save Yourself

Last Sunday we attended Miss Clara's baptism down in Orange County and the after party at her grandparent's house. Nothing like a dousing of holy water followed by a sangria chaser to celebrate the beginning of Clara's spiritual journey.

Addie decided to take her salvation into her own hands. All gussied up in her Sunday School best (thanks Nana and Pop Pop!), she dunked her head in the backyard fountain after the ceremony. Amen!

Tomorrow is Miss A's birthday. My oh my! Thunderstorms in the forecast for our outdoor party in the park. If it rains, I'll be eating 50 pink and orange frosted cupcakes. She's excited and we've been practicing singing Happy Birthday. Happy Byoodday Dear Addie!


Grooming the Hedge

Addie and Clara

Addie and Jake

My American Idol

I am not embarrassed. I shall not hide. I LOVE AMERICAN IDOL.

And this year I love David Cook, the underdog contestant to child prodigy David Archuleta. For the first time since I started watching the show severals season ago, I actually voted. Yup, I texted "vote" to 5701 on Tuesday night. I care.

Cap called me yesterday afternoon at 4:15 and told me to get ready, he's on his way to pick me up. He snagged two tickets to the season 7 finale of American Idol about 50 minutes before the show started. Good thing I showered that morning! I had been enjoying a refill of a mimosa on the back deck of my neighbor's house and darn it if i didn't even get to finish my second glass before I was whisked off to the Nokia theater.

When David Cook won I went berserk - possibly equal to or more so than the 8 year old girls one row in front of us. I bet this is how NY Giants fans felt at the Super Bowl.

What next? Season premier of So You Think You Can Dance starts tonight. Phew. Just in time so I don't go into withdrawal.

aaaaaaa-ooooooooooh!

This video is dedicated to GranJanne on her birthday. Happy Birthday to the best dog howler this side of the Mississippi! I think your granddaughter has your gift.

Today is also my last at work. I've been with my firm for 8 years and am moving on to a new position as marketing manager in the same industry. I'll be taking a few days off in between gigs which will probably be spent packing up our apartment. It would be just like me to get a new job and a new apartment all at the same time. On to new and better things. Excelsior!

Fun for Addie, Pretty for Mama?

For Addie's birthday at the end of the month, Cap and I want to get her a tricycle. Of course I am immediately struggling with the my own on-going issue of Form vs. Function. The bike I like is the classic red flyer - sleek and nostalgic (although I don't remember ever having a tricyle.) I did, however, have The Most Awesome Bike Ever when I was little. It was a pink Hello Kitty bike complete with pink wheels and a star shaped electric horn that we got straight from Hello Kitty's homeland when we lived in Japan. I so wish we still had it as I've never seen one exactly like it since. But back to Addie.

So I like the red flyer (wins the Form contest) but I think we want one with a push handle which probably means we have to go with this one (wins the function contest). Now, why can't red flyer make the same red tricyle just with a push handle? Or what is it with me and primary colors?

I googled "modern tricycle" and I'm sorry but I have to draw the line at this. It just screams, "Look at me! My Kid is a Total Pretentious Jerk!"

Anyone else have a suggestion on a cool kid tricyle?

Happy Mother's Day!

One Mama, One Addie, One Chocolate Soft Serve Cone.






We celebrated Mother's day on Saturday with a delicious, 4 mom salute brunch as Cap had to fly to the antithesis of mother's day-land (Vegas) today. Addie and I partied at the zoo and then went apartment hunting in the afternoon. Best part of the zoo? The ice cream.

Happy Mother's Day to All (for being one or having one)!

Thanks Princess Genevieve!

How cute are these little knitted socks?

I think these socks came from Brussels to LA, got returned to sender, sent back to Brussels, delivered back home to Genevieve's in Washington, DC and then resent to us in LA. These are some well travelled socks!

Addie got to meet Genevieve while we were in DC. She ransacked Genevieve's crayons, and bookshelves before we all went to our favorite mexican restaurant in Adams Morgan (at 5:00 pm). Geneveive graciously watched us wolf down enchiladas even though she had another dinner engagement 2 hours later.

Thanks Princess Genevieve!

Happy Birthday Cap!

Addie and I surprised Cap this morning with a hand-painted banner wishing Dada a Happy 29+6. Addie however gave Cap just what he asked for: she slept in.

Happy Birthday Po!

Big Kids

While in Virginia, I also got to hang out with my other Madeira friend, Jen and her posse. Jen and Reid were bridesmaids at my wedding and between the 3 of us we have 6 kids - a hoard. We had a fabulous girls night out while Reid's husband tackled Addie, Sawyer and Arden on his own. I think that deserves Sainthood.


Addie was super duper into hanging out with Jen's older kids Wyatt (6) and Charlotte (4). They were also both gracious entertaining her and she was overwhelmed with delight. They taught Addie how to play Ring around the Rosy and fall down on purpose. You mean you want me to fling myself to the floor deliberately? They played with the ball, chased each other on the back deck at the Armstrong's house, and made a giant Kid Sandwich.

Addie also met her OCD kindred spirit in Charlotte. The two of them went through a small fortune in baby wipes cleaning the seats, walls and windows of the Metro. Wipes are one of Addie's favorite toys, and I think she purposely draws with crayons on the coffee table just so she can wipe it off. This does work rather well when we use the back door as a chalk drawing palette. Chalk On. Wipe Off. Chalk On. Wipe Off.

I loved hanging out with all the kiddos. I actually find it energizing so long as naps are in the agenda at some point. Sometimes I think it would be great to have a giant family. Then again I think maybe I'll just spend more time with other people's children on occasion.