Christmas Choir at the Tree Lighting

Lea's Choir preformed at the Casa Linda Tree Lighting at the shopping center at the corner of Garland and Buckner. There were several schools that preformed, but of course we were the best (Ok I didn't see any of the others, but who could argue with these cutie pies!)

Lea and Zoe on their way to preform. Lea had that bell in her mouth several times too. Crazy kids.

The quality is not great, the thing you need to listen for is... I have a jingle in my left hand (no the other left), a jingle in my right. And then near the end... what's that? a jingle in my bottom, a jingle overhead. Too cute!

The whole choir that showed up for the performance. They sang 3 songs and did an awesome job. They sounded great!

Next song: What ever happened to Christmas? 

Lea participated in all the songs, had all the hand gestures and actions down. She did great! They all sang and looked spectacular. And you know I'm not biased!

Summer Catch up 2 - Lea's Birthday

Our theme this year was S'Winter wonderland. At first I thought Lea was just being brilliant putting the words summer and winter together, but then I learned that Phineas & Ferb (our new favorite cartoon) had introduced Lea to the word & idea. None the less it was a fun idea and a challenge in the middle of July and the hottest summer on record. We substitued

Waterballoons & shaving cream instead of snowball fight

Goggle so we didn't have any teary disasters - I think it helped mosly.

Daddy made an excellent waterballoon target.

Mommy took the hits in the shaving cream war.

And mounds of suds as snow drifts for the winter wonderland visitors who were not too excited about the shaving cream & water balloons. 

 Snow princess Barbie for Lea's cake.

Our S'winter S'wonderland was loads of fun. We had two rave reviews from school mates, both proclaiming later to their parents "Best party EVER." It certainly was for us. Thanks to all those who came and made it a great party! 

Summer 2011 catch up 1 - Myrtle Beach

Its been a long dry year for the blog. So I'll just pick up any old place. Unfortunately its just not in my nature to skip all the great photos and things that happened, but I'll try to be brief and get back in the habit.

We had a fantastic summer that included a great trip to Myrtle Beach right after Lea's birthday.

Same ol' same ol'... beach, pool, lunch, beach, pool, dinner. Lea was swimming like a champ all across the deep end! Diving in all by herself and swimming to the ladder.

Although I guess we did have a few different events. We played Miniature golf. It was very hot, but very fun.

Then to cool off we had ice cream at Friendly's!

And since it was so close to Lea's birthday this year, we threw her a surprise party (which she'd been asking for. She was truly surprised... maybe a little scared or shy when she first walked walked in, but it was fun.

Dan got to go fishing and caught some fish, but others on the boat did not want what they caught after cleaning so Dan brought home extra fish. The Spanish Mackerel was delicious! But Dan also got the shark fins from the sharks that were already caught and cleaned. He brought home a bag to make shark fin soup. Nothing inhumane since they were already caught and were being eaten. The inhumane parrt comes when the cut the fin off and throw the rest of the shark back to die a torturous death. Not us... we ate all the parts. 

So when Dan made shark fin soup (after several months since he caught some bug on vacation that he could not shake for the longest time.) So Dan makes soup and Lea comes home and says: 

"Ewww it smells like shark fin in here"

The Hamster Tree

A week ago or so Lea and I visited Uncle Scumfy's house (Michael's) where he was doing some yard work. He had put a border and some plants around one tree, but not the other. He said, "Its my guinea pig tree." Then Sherry helped by saying, "Oh those are the worst, they come down in little balls and if you stand under one you get pooped on!"

Lea laughed and laughed. Then looked at her, cocked her head and said, "really?"

So as we left for our errands with Sherry. Lea said "There's Michael's hamster tree," remembering things in her wonderful little girl way.

As we left we explained that it was because he was testing something out, but when we went to visit yesterday Lea pointed to the tree with the new border and said "There's the guinea pig tree and over THERE is his hamster tree."

"Yes, dear."

Spring Break as told by Lea

Lea made a book about her Spring Break. I couldn't have told it better myself.

"My Mommy had a birthday party"

"Two of my friends slept over"

"I went to Chuck E. Cheese with my Grandma (although she may from here on out be Gramu cause I love that new name!)

And then she drew her favorite things. We don't own a cat. She's only been ice skating once and she bruised her face and we don't have perfume in the house because of Dan's allergies. What terrible parents we are not allowing her to have any of her favorite things. What a sad life filled only with Barbies, bubbles, bikes and candy!

Spring Break by Mommy

Ok so I maybe I can't tell it better, but I can add a few details.

I turned 40 and had a party. It was my Fo'ty party and we had 40oz beers with specially designed (by me) labels. Oh, and I cut 17" off my hair.

On party day, we started at the St. Pat's parade.



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Hey that's Bret Hull behind me! Grand Marshall of the parade.



 Then it was back to the house for bbq, beers and loads of great company.


Great shirts with my invitation logo. Dan and his dad conspired to surprise me with shirts!



Loads of food and hand labeled 40 oz.




Michael, Teddy & Andrew sporting some awesome party shirts.





Again Lea said it best!



Oh and as my mid life crisis I dyed my hair pink. Sadly it didn't take on my first try so it wasn't pink for the party. My mom tried to help me dye it, but even with my beautiful light blonde, I had to bleach it to hold the color. Dan helped me bleach and dye it on Sunday.

Lea stayed with Grandmu for the first couple days of Spring Break after the big birthday party. We met up at Chuck E. Cheese to play a bit and then take off and do a bit of birthday shopping. Lea had a blast at the Cheese. I think we spent 20 bucks and Lea walked out with a pencil and eraser - woo hoo. 

On the tail end of Spring Break we did a kid exchange. We had two little girls stay over at our house. They couldn't wait to play restaurant where one girl is the customer with a menu, one the waitress and other is the cook and cashier. It was fun for about 15 minutes and then interest started to wane, but they were great and had a great time. Then the next night Lea packed her bag and went off to her first sleep over (other than family). We tried to prepare her with her blankie, kitty (who turns into a tiger to protect Lea at night) and Uni (Pillow Pet Unicorn who turns into a dragon to protect Lea). But when it came time to sleep at their house, the other girls sacked out right away (surprise they didn't sleep much at the first sleep over), but not Lea. The mom & dad came in to find a wide eyed Lea clutching Uni & Kitty. She was holding it together until they asked if she was ok and then the dam burst. So at 8:30 we got a call. Fortunately we were so stuffed with sushi that we bailed on our plans to go to a movie so Dan dashed over and picked her up. We'll try again when she's a little older. She said she wasn't scared, it was just "... too different." 

And that was our Spring Break.

Class photo

Look at this group of cuties!

A Poems for the ages

These are two of my favorite poems. I just found them on my computer and thought I'd share it.

I saw Jack Lemmon read this one on the Smother Brother's show when I was a kid.

Box, The

Once upon a time, in the land of Hush-A-Bye,

Around about the wondrous days of yore,

They came across a kind of box

Bound up with chains and locked with locks

And labeled "Kindly do not touch; it's war."

A decree was issued round about, and all with a flourish and a shout

And a gaily colored mascot tripping lightly on before.

Don't fiddle with this deadly box,Or break the chains, or pick the locks.

And please don't ever play about with war.

The children understood. Children happen to be good

And they were just as good around the time of yore.

They didn't try to pick the locksOr break into that deadly box.

They never tried to play about with war.

Mommies didn't either; sisters, aunts, grannies neither

'Cause they were quiet, and sweet, and pretty

In those wondrous days of yore.

Well, very much the same as now,

And not the ones to blame somehow

For opening up that deadly box of war.

But someone did. Someone battered in the lid

And spilled the insides out across the floor.

A kind of bouncy, bumpy ball made up of guns and flags

And all the tears, and horror, and death that comes with war.

It bounced right out and went bashing all about,

Bumping into everything in store.And what was sad and most unfair

Was that it didn't really seem to care

Much who it bumped, or why, or what, or for.

It bumped the children mainly. And I'll tell you this quite plainly,

It bumps them every day and more, and more,

And leaves them dead, and burned, and dying

Thousands of them sick and crying.

'Cause when it bumps, it's really very sore.

Now there's a way to stop the ball. It isn't difficult at all.

All it takes is wisdom, and I'm absolutely sure

That we can get it back into the box,And bind the chains, and lock the locks.

But no one seems to want to save the children anymore.

Well, that's the way it all appears, 'cause it's been bouncing round

for years and years

In spite of all the wisdom wizzed since those wondrous days of yore

And the time they came across the box,

Bound up with chains and locked with locks,

And labeled "Kindly do not touch; it's war."

Lascelles Abercrombie

And I love almost anything by Kippling, but this is especially good.

If —

IF YOU can keep your head when all about you

     Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

 If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

     But make allowance for their doubting too;

 If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

     Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

 Or being hated don’t give way to hating,

     And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

 If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

     If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,

 If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

     And treat those two impostors just the same;

 If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

     Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

 Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

     And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

 If you can make one heap of all your winnings

     And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

 And lose, and start again at your beginnings

     And never breathe a word about your loss;

 If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

     To serve your turn long after they are gone,

 And so hold on when there is nothing in you

     Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

 If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

     Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

 If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

     If all men count with you, but none too much;

 If you can fill the unforgiving minute

     With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

 Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

     And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!