tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209407962024-03-13T04:45:20.131-07:00Nikki NoodleHey...it's a ride.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-41867975871169873152013-04-24T19:36:00.001-07:002013-04-24T19:39:25.385-07:00My Little Lady<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Somebody mentioned my blog the other day and I thought to myself, "Oh, yeah! I still have that blog thing!" And when I visited my ever-neglected blog, I saw my lovely children and noticed how I chronicled the heck out of Cooper's early life! <br />
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But as far as Ruby...well, I have not said enough about my Ruby Zuzu. Second child syndrome...less pics, less video and less hilarious blog stories. Apologies to my little dynamo of a gal!<br />
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Dear Ruby, <br />
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Let me take a moment to talk about a few fantastic things about YOU! <br />
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PRINCESS! You love dressing like a princess. You love watching movies about princesses. You keep changing which Disney princess is your favorite. You used to love Arial from 'The Little Mermaid.' Then it was Jasmine from 'Alladin.' Now it's Merida from 'Brave.' That's probably because she has stunning (and difficult) curly hair just like you. She also has a wild way about her. Just like you!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KCIS8LVWfWM/UXh5mFh0qvI/AAAAAAAACT8/3pmFHWzL8lo/s1600/pout.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KCIS8LVWfWM/UXh5mFh0qvI/AAAAAAAACT8/3pmFHWzL8lo/s320/pout.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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You love to color. You love bubbles. You love hiding and being chased and laughing a huge laugh that shocks people when they hear it..."Was that a trucker? Nope. It was that adorable pre-schooler!"<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-75K3X5sZM5I/UXh5fWrO5nI/AAAAAAAACTs/sAYZPu7j8Yk/s1600/asleepundertable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-75K3X5sZM5I/UXh5fWrO5nI/AAAAAAAACTs/sAYZPu7j8Yk/s320/asleepundertable.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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You are starting to refuse naps and so you pass out when it gets to finally be too much. I just had to take a picture. Please refrain from being the girl who passes out at parties when you're older. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYMUh6qFQMs/UXh5eKMpbEI/AAAAAAAACTk/DOv-ahLAM8w/s1600/flyingruby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYMUh6qFQMs/UXh5eKMpbEI/AAAAAAAACTk/DOv-ahLAM8w/s320/flyingruby.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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When we took you to Disneyland, you wanted to fly. Cooper's never been into rides at amusement parks. He's like your dad that way. We walked by a ride at the 'A Bugs Life' attraction where you got to sit in a snack cup and be lifted in the air and spin around. You looked at it and said, "Mommy, I want to fly!" I was thrilled. Finally! Someone who wants to go for a ride!<br />
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You liked the merry-go-round, too. Look at you in your fur hat with a proud Memere next to you! Everyone in the park smiled when they saw you. And always the same comments, "What a doll!" and "Oh, my! Look at that beautiful hair!" <br />
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And your best friend in the whole world is Cooper. <br />
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You play so well together. You're the Wonder Woman to his Batman. You like dressing up in sheets and pretending to be ghosts together. You both walk about moaning, "boooooooooo," like something out of Scooby Doo. <br />
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When I first heard I was having a girl, I didn't believe the doc. I was certain I was going to have two boys. Then, when there was no denying it, I was scared. A girl in the harsh world...how would I protect you? How would I ensure you would hold your head up high? How would I make sure that you treated yourself with respect and loved yourself? <br />
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At nearly 3 years old, I already see the person you are. You are STRONG. You don't take any bs. You work it. You are funny and lovely, but you are not going to let anyone push you around. You, little girl, kick major ass. You may look like a princess, but you march around like a warrior and I am so incredibly proud of you. <br />
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Now that we get to talk to each other and you tell me all about your day and all about Jacob and Moses at daycare and about going poo poo on the potty and about how you love milk and lollipops...I just adore the person you are. <br />
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And I'm sorry there's not more pictures or postings, but you should know I love you so much. I'm so glad I was given a daughter like you. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-55726474809040233542012-11-15T15:06:00.001-08:002012-11-15T15:06:17.030-08:00Autumnal TimesFall rolls around and although I have loads of work on my desk and lots of stressful things I'm supposed to be dealing with at my job, I decide to shirk it for something I just haven't done enough of this year...blogging!<br />
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We'll start with our annual trip to the pumpkin patch.<br />
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It's the first time Miss Ruby Zuzu has the strength to pick up (and run off with) her own gourd. Growing up fast and faster every darn second. <br />
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My little fashionista. She throws a fit whenever I try to put pants on her.<br />
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"No! Mommy!" she screams as I try with all my might to get her legs into some jeans, "I'm a princess!" That reminds me...gotta write a tale where the princess wears pants.<br />
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This pumpkin patch was quite the harrowing experience. They had a petting zoo. $5 admission per person. Jakob didn't have enough cash on hand for the whole family to enter, so he let the kids and I proceed as he hopped across to the Gulf station to use the ATM.<br />
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I wish the toothless redneck farmer that was running this petty zoo had been a little more forthright with certain information before I handed over my $15. If you look below, you'll see a fat piggy hanging out at the rear of the cage. Ruby went to feed the pig and toothless farmer yells through the chain link, "Careful, now. That pig bites!" <br />
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Seriously? My cherub's sweet little face is mere inches away from a moody biter pig? Just great. Then the alpaca in the cage started bucking it's hind legs like crazy. "Stand back!" Mr. No Teeth says, "That alpackie kicks hard. Could knock the kids down."<br />
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That's when I decided to leave the petting zoo asap so that "The Trip to the Pumpkin Patch" did not become "The Trip to the ER after being Mauled by a Pig and Kicked by an Alpaca." But it was hard to get Ruby to leave. She liked the goat. <br />
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After the patch, we headed to the local diner for grub. Ruby loves Daddy. </div>
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And root beer floats!</div>
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Then came my favorite day of the year...HALLOWEEN!<br />
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Cooper's Frankenstein was very impressive. He did the stomping and the groaning. True commitment to character.</div>
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Ruby LOVED her Cinderella outfit. The dress even lit up and sparkled! So did the wand! These kids and there fancy high tech costumes. Long gone are the days of "I'm wearing a sheet as a ghost."<br />
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After a quick pose with Frank and Cindy in the front yard, we all headed to Cooper's Halloween parade at Dunsmore Elementary school. <br />
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What fun! The Halloween Spirit was in the air. Many superheros, ninja turtles and princesses. <br />
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Cooper carved this pumpkin featuring, well, Frankenstein, of course! He wanted the carving tools sticking out of the head for added creepiness. <br />
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My pumpkin had a great stem, so I used it as a nose and went with a witch motif. I also did this stacked Tiki. <br />
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Night came and it was finally trick or treat time. Here's the front yard all a glow. We had near 40 trick or treaters! I think that's because I was passing out the big bars at the start of the evening and one little zombie yelled, "THEY HAVE KING SIZED!" After that, we had many visitors. Word got around. <br />
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Here are the paper mache zombie heads Cooper and I made for our art show. They greeted folks by the door.<br />
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School has specifically asked that kids refrain from any gore or bloody make-up...but for trick or treating, we bloodied it up.</div>
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Jakob took them door to door. He said they were perfect. Ruby took big bro's lead, knocking and waiting patiently. They both chimed, "trick or treat" and once the candy dropped in their bags, "THANK YOU!" Now...if I can just get Ruby to wearing anything else besides the princess gown...</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-7624703702979114942012-01-03T12:24:00.000-08:002012-01-03T13:22:08.445-08:00Ushering in the New Year with Mr. BrainwashHappy 2012 everyone! Enjoy each day as if it were your last, because the Mayans were right about chocolate, so they just might be right about the apocalypse, too.<br /><br />Cooper and Ruby are magnificent. They are my favorite humans. Jakob's in that category, too, but I met him when he was already 21 and I've know these two little cherubs their whole lives!<br /><br />I took Cooper to his first art show--Mr. Brainwash's ARTSHOW 2011 exhibit on La Brea Ave in Hollywood. He had a blast running around several floors of the humongous warehouse.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQulO1F8g8w/TwNnwVDMOII/AAAAAAAACNI/nip7zzzjqsI/s1600/stuffd%2Banimal%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQulO1F8g8w/TwNnwVDMOII/AAAAAAAACNI/nip7zzzjqsI/s320/stuffd%2Banimal%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693508433908349058" border="0" /></a><br />There was a floor covered in old stuffed animals. Despite the fact that I said that we were not allowed to touch the art, the guard told Coop he could jump on in. Well, nobody has to tell Cooper twice to launch himself into objects, so he jumped in! Other mothers were freaked out about germs. They wouldn't let their children frolic. I feel bad for those kids. Their lives are healthier and more boring.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wZUX5ikxJSw/TwNnv6s1M0I/AAAAAAAACNA/ZGgzmpIgfv4/s1600/snoopy%2Bbangs%2Bwall.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wZUX5ikxJSw/TwNnv6s1M0I/AAAAAAAACNA/ZGgzmpIgfv4/s320/snoopy%2Bbangs%2Bwall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693508426835243842" border="0" /></a>Cooper saw several images he recognized, such as this Snoopy dog made out of tires. Coop was really into the fact that Snoopy was banging the wall apart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MHvOCxBMpWA/TwNnvo-ebAI/AAAAAAAACMw/9ST4ZASTT04/s1600/painted%2Bhorses.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MHvOCxBMpWA/TwNnvo-ebAI/AAAAAAAACMw/9ST4ZASTT04/s320/painted%2Bhorses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693508422077410306" border="0" /></a>There were lots of animals covered in paint.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTroa016qGc/TwNnGYU7m4I/AAAAAAAACLY/mmCfeKuW9Yo/s1600/cop%2Ba%2Bsquat.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTroa016qGc/TwNnGYU7m4I/AAAAAAAACLY/mmCfeKuW9Yo/s320/cop%2Ba%2Bsquat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693507713233558402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5m92-eMk05A/TwNngx8HFRI/AAAAAAAACMk/fryugI8wyZw/s1600/never%2Bgive%2Bup.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5m92-eMk05A/TwNngx8HFRI/AAAAAAAACMk/fryugI8wyZw/s320/never%2Bgive%2Bup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693508166785373458" border="0" /></a>I really like this picture. Coop told me at the show that he was going to be an artist and make even more art than all the stuff we were looking at. Something inside me is sure that he will. And I knew the artist inside him was really impressed by one piece in particular:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-QH_Lrqw44/TwNngF9kvbI/AAAAAAAACMc/1DcXdeahfmM/s1600/mr%2Bpotato%2Bhead.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-QH_Lrqw44/TwNngF9kvbI/AAAAAAAACMc/1DcXdeahfmM/s320/mr%2Bpotato%2Bhead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693508154980351410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oksvuSDNYmw/TwNnGiMPtNI/AAAAAAAACLk/pDFsYK8s_sw/s1600/darth.jpg"><br /></a>He ran up and screamed, "It's Mr. Potato Head! He's GIANT!" There were a few giant items...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTroa016qGc/TwNnGYU7m4I/AAAAAAAACLY/mmCfeKuW9Yo/s1600/cop%2Ba%2Bsquat.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y23KU4amObA/TwNnF5DaAXI/AAAAAAAACLM/tVJSIc1qDNc/s1600/cooper%2Bwants%2Bthe%2Bbig%2Bbrush.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y23KU4amObA/TwNnF5DaAXI/AAAAAAAACLM/tVJSIc1qDNc/s320/cooper%2Bwants%2Bthe%2Bbig%2Bbrush.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693507704838553970" border="0" /></a>Cooper said he wished he could paint with this brush.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ct21ajtLwhc/TwNmxfh08RI/AAAAAAAACKA/5Ukx2HFfA-k/s1600/big%2Bpicture.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ct21ajtLwhc/TwNmxfh08RI/AAAAAAAACKA/5Ukx2HFfA-k/s320/big%2Bpicture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693507354389442834" border="0" /></a><br />There was also a giant Polaroid camera and a giant boom box that took up a whole wall.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3eJrg296zuo/TwNmzMA2toI/AAAAAAAACKo/QdHPawgxLn8/s1600/big%2Bradio%2Brock%2Bout%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3eJrg296zuo/TwNmzMA2toI/AAAAAAAACKo/QdHPawgxLn8/s320/big%2Bradio%2Brock%2Bout%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693507383510611586" border="0" /></a><br />Coop rocked out.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n3YwI9OgR7A/TwNmxkOHC_I/AAAAAAAACKQ/aeoxWtTqkpw/s1600/big%2Bradio.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n3YwI9OgR7A/TwNmxkOHC_I/AAAAAAAACKQ/aeoxWtTqkpw/s320/big%2Bradio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693507355648920562" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VR3rYABUs1k/TwNnFoaiS4I/AAAAAAAACK0/17S7ogqEa08/s1600/chair.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VR3rYABUs1k/TwNnFoaiS4I/AAAAAAAACK0/17S7ogqEa08/s320/chair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693507700372163458" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ew-BxbjJMn4/TwNnFuiGZ2I/AAAAAAAACK8/qD7auLnTEJ4/s1600/coop%2527s%2Bpic%2Bof%2Bme.jpg"><br /></a>Cooper really liked this chair and wanted to take a picture of me sitting in it. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VR3rYABUs1k/TwNnFoaiS4I/AAAAAAAACK0/17S7ogqEa08/s1600/chair.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VR3rYABUs1k/TwNnFoaiS4I/AAAAAAAACK0/17S7ogqEa08/s1600/chair.jpg"> </a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ew-BxbjJMn4/TwNnFuiGZ2I/AAAAAAAACK8/qD7auLnTEJ4/s1600/coop%2527s%2Bpic%2Bof%2Bme.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ew-BxbjJMn4/TwNnFuiGZ2I/AAAAAAAACK8/qD7auLnTEJ4/s320/coop%2527s%2Bpic%2Bof%2Bme.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693507702014502754" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VR3rYABUs1k/TwNnFoaiS4I/AAAAAAAACK0/17S7ogqEa08/s1600/chair.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ct21ajtLwhc/TwNmxfh08RI/AAAAAAAACKA/5Ukx2HFfA-k/s1600/big%2Bpicture.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><br />Since the guards were being so lax, I had Cooper jump into the driver's seat of one of the art cars. He was so excited to a.) be touching the art that I originally said we couldn't touch and b.) sit in the front seat of a car! and touch the wheel!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z0UY1_d3Xw/TwNmxU9quKI/AAAAAAAACJ4/8N0DDiK85ZU/s1600/art%2Bcar.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z0UY1_d3Xw/TwNmxU9quKI/AAAAAAAACJ4/8N0DDiK85ZU/s320/art%2Bcar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693507351553423522" border="0" /></a><br />It was a spectacular, spectacular day and the end was the best part. We saw Mr. Brainwash as we were leaving the show. There were some guys ushering him past the people in line and I should have snagged a pic, but it all happened so quick. I told Cooper that Mr. Brainwash was the artist and he went up to him and said, "Thanks for the art!" and MBW shook his hand and said, "Thanks for coming!" and then went inside.<br /><br />So...when Cooper Kingsley White prints start selling at $2K a pop, let's hope he remembers this day and thanks his mom with lots of original pieces :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-49944132632271419922011-10-15T17:12:00.001-07:002011-10-15T17:44:06.467-07:00It's The Most Wonderful Time of the YearEven if you only know me a little, you know that I love October. <br /><br />I miss the brilliant foliage show that the trees back in New England throw every autumn, but I like fall here in California, too. <br /><br />And Halloween is the craziest holiday which makes it the best. We spent some of this weekend making the front yard a bit more spooktacular. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0hb-gBChDm8/TpoiAQlkTDI/AAAAAAAACIU/NN4WwpzQXx4/s1600/bat_hairpiece.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0hb-gBChDm8/TpoiAQlkTDI/AAAAAAAACIU/NN4WwpzQXx4/s320/bat_hairpiece.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663876869219699762" /></a><br /><br />Someone placed the bat on this skull like a hair piece. It's the new, all natural Rabies Toupee...now for bone heads!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2TDTvD6CWs/TpoiAntglRI/AAAAAAAACIg/VkoKGxzA-F0/s1600/evil_scarecrow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2TDTvD6CWs/TpoiAntglRI/AAAAAAAACIg/VkoKGxzA-F0/s320/evil_scarecrow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663876875427026194" /></a><br /><br />It's Memere's last weekend here in Tujunga. For the past to Octobers, my mother has flown 3,000 miles to help me juggle it all. This year she came out to save my sanity whilst hubby was in India. I can't even begin to thank her enough. I'm going to miss her so much. <br /><br />She's the grandmother anyone would want. She's always in the mood to play or color or do puzzles or cook or read a book. That's what a grandma should be; someone who treasure you non-stop. And she fosters Coop's creative side. We all put together this twisted scarecrow for the front yard using Daddy's old clothes and a burlap mask and some paint. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eWTVFoI4shQ/TpoiBYLAilI/AAAAAAAACI4/KdvYM6HBgfw/s1600/hats_change_persona.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eWTVFoI4shQ/TpoiBYLAilI/AAAAAAAACI4/KdvYM6HBgfw/s320/hats_change_persona.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663876888435657298" /></a><br /><br />We noticed that our frightening monster scarecrow lost a lot of his evil swagger when we put a hat on him. Now he looked more,"festive." More like Truman Capote. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0PFzmWFpjUA/TpoiBiJ7a4I/AAAAAAAACJE/7HVZIFcBYqU/s1600/lil_buddy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0PFzmWFpjUA/TpoiBiJ7a4I/AAAAAAAACJE/7HVZIFcBYqU/s320/lil_buddy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663876891115481986" /></a><br /><br />Put a smaller, more cutesy scarecrow next to him and now he's a ventriloquist!<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />"Hey folks, it's great to be here. I wasn't sure if I was going to perform tonight but then I thought, 'What the hay?' Get it? What the hay! HAY-ohhhhh."</span><br /><br />Three weeks ago, Cooper wanted to dress up as The Joke for Halloween. Two weeks ago, he changed his mind and wanted to be Darth Vader. Last week he switched it up again and said he wanted to be a pirate. This morning, he says he has made his final decision...he'll be Batman. <br /><br />Remember when the hardest decision you had to make was what you were going to be for Halloween?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-14786010886401101152011-08-18T12:20:00.000-07:002011-08-18T12:46:27.337-07:00Ruby's Dance!I don't need to buy another light bulb again, because this lil' lady lights up a room!
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<br />Ruby's been a little under the weather with a yucky cold. Never in my whole life did I imagine that I'd have so much snot to deal with. I thought maybe she might be mutating into one of the X-Men and her power was massive booger production.
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<br />But it looks like she's on the mend and Cooper has been such a big help. He looks out for his little sister all the time.
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<br />He makes her laugh. They play. They get silly and THEY DANCE!
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<br />You think you can dance? Not like my toddler. Take it away Ruby Girl!
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwhSJJer3C0eoCeSuq1Jfq6weCQIZ1j9QD5XMnlFtkrHHpw0f9ToVPwIjLgpLEssAd4pONbiVIIw7Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-9815085592437079972011-06-13T15:36:00.000-07:002011-06-13T16:08:29.047-07:00Ruby's Birthday!Ruby is a year old. Yup...ain't that a kick in the head. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_jSEZqsAcJs/TfaRY97wxPI/AAAAAAAACHk/kB0U1RAjtlQ/s1600/cake.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_jSEZqsAcJs/TfaRY97wxPI/AAAAAAAACHk/kB0U1RAjtlQ/s320/cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617837443319383282" border="0"></a><br /><br />The theme for the party was WONDER WOMAN! We encouraged everyone to wear super hero apparel. Ruby was outfitted in a Wonder Woman onesie. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TgIhTMQbCM4/TfaRYrI6D_I/AAAAAAAACHc/MBHiMMQi8yY/s1600/mom%2Band%2Bdad%2Band%2Bcake.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TgIhTMQbCM4/TfaRYrI6D_I/AAAAAAAACHc/MBHiMMQi8yY/s320/mom%2Band%2Bdad%2Band%2Bcake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617837438274244594" border="0"></a><br /><br />She ate cake for the first time. That's the prize for surviving 12 months...you get to ingest cake!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxNsmd-fap2BAQwBA5x8w54WEEe0qpTzDSZp48sq5OsxLhaSumHnc92phXbpHitT16bzAnMQD0Puz0' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxrad-sM0Bk_17fEpVh2iL3C-_PQEVIYbIZyMTee_OIUpLEhqtskTKhSIeRxUSKmF6qxPyvC8vZzFU' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />She was more cautious about it than Cooper was. She took a little taste on the tip of her finger. Then she chomped on some crumbs. After about ten minutes, she started digging her hand in and going for it. <br /><br />It just goes to show you, girls = careful. Boys = dive right in. <br /><br />Ruby is now walking everywhere. You can't stop her. She's a powerhouse forged in steel! My baby gal is heard as nails. Ruby Zu don't take no mess.<br /><br />Happy Birthday, Ruby. You are my wonder woman.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-63591500472782056532011-06-12T20:53:00.000-07:002011-06-12T21:06:48.689-07:00Now THAT's Sadness...Hey Mom...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9GRMgTdXuVY/TfWKZv9I3TI/AAAAAAAACHU/j08vO99ZHes/s1600/saddest%2Bpicture%2Bevah.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9GRMgTdXuVY/TfWKZv9I3TI/AAAAAAAACHU/j08vO99ZHes/s320/saddest%2Bpicture%2Bevah.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617548285188824370" /></a><br /><br />Yeah, I'm crying! Why you ask...well, let's see...<br /><br />Cooper's major milestones appear to be typed out for all the blogosphere to read and relish. <br /><br />What about me, Ma? I turned one year old back in May. Where's my post? <br /><br />I also have gas from the garden vegetable puree.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Ruby<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"></span><br />Dear Ruby,<br /><br />Life is full of waiting for others to hurray up and do! I'll try my best not to make you wait, but I'll tell you right now, it's gonna happen. I'm a super busy lady with way too much on my plate. It runs in the family. I'm sure you'll be a super busy lady with no time one day, too. With a purse. And a phone. <br /><br />I'll get a birthday post up soon with video. Will that dry those tears?<br /><br />No? Well, that must be some strong gas. Fart it out, sister. Better out than in. <br /><br />Please forgive your procrastinating parental figure. <br /><br />I love you,<br /><br />-MomUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-52227008486087441392011-03-28T11:18:00.001-07:002011-03-28T14:51:03.849-07:00Winter for the Westerners<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_2zesI9wBg/TZDRMgykCsI/AAAAAAAACFo/QdYHWz8uODw/s1600/all%2Bbundled%2Bup.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_2zesI9wBg/TZDRMgykCsI/AAAAAAAACFo/QdYHWz8uODw/s320/all%2Bbundled%2Bup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589197150457432770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The second we stepped off the plane in Boston, both kiddies looked different. They were excited, but shocked at the temperature. Yes, children, this is the east coast and things here are a wee bit more freezing. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6EQUk4jkouA/TZDz9cG8PzI/AAAAAAAACHI/EUNxsiRUSZQ/s1600/sledding%2Bwith%2Bgrampy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6EQUk4jkouA/TZDz9cG8PzI/AAAAAAAACHI/EUNxsiRUSZQ/s320/sledding%2Bwith%2Bgrampy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589235374409662258" /></a><br /><br />Cooper got to experience snow for the very first time. He wasn't sure about the sled contraption. He watched Grampy do it and then simply said, "No thanks."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mIGmp9lGIU/TZDRNeKf7GI/AAAAAAAACF4/Zzz7vlLSU_U/s1600/building%2Bsnowman.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mIGmp9lGIU/TZDRNeKf7GI/AAAAAAAACF4/Zzz7vlLSU_U/s320/building%2Bsnowman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589197166932388962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He did LOVE building a snowman. It was all he could talk about and as luck would have it, Mother Nature kept some snow on the ground for us in New Hampshire so snowman building could commence. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2-fFa0SS6k/TZDRMwTyi6I/AAAAAAAACFw/0kWbsNGtI10/s1600/building%2Bsnowman%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2-fFa0SS6k/TZDRMwTyi6I/AAAAAAAACFw/0kWbsNGtI10/s320/building%2Bsnowman%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589197154623327138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The snow was very dry...not the best for construction. But they managed. Cooper named him Frosty, naturally. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EyJkyfKxMxE/TZDRmxOJUPI/AAAAAAAACGY/EGyGl90L5J4/s1600/finished%2Bsnowman.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EyJkyfKxMxE/TZDRmxOJUPI/AAAAAAAACGY/EGyGl90L5J4/s320/finished%2Bsnowman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589197601544687858" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We spent three days in New Hampshire and four on Cape Cod. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oeL59-s-l3o/TZDRn99iFqI/AAAAAAAACGw/C7ZSmFuYLlg/s1600/memere%2Band%2Bruby.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oeL59-s-l3o/TZDRn99iFqI/AAAAAAAACGw/C7ZSmFuYLlg/s320/memere%2Band%2Bruby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589197622144538274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ruby had some stomach issues (hey, we all get "travel tummy" from time to time) but she was a bundle of joy. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4NGxUhaikBY/TZDz8ozR05I/AAAAAAAACHA/YipuUmFuquA/s1600/pepere%2Band%2Bruby.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4NGxUhaikBY/TZDz8ozR05I/AAAAAAAACHA/YipuUmFuquA/s320/pepere%2Band%2Bruby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589235360636982162" /></a><br /><br />Both grandfathers got to meet Miss Ruby Zuzu for the very first time. She was immediately smitten with both of them. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDApMxkaNkw/TZDz8DHO7gI/AAAAAAAACG4/liK_gC1R7mI/s1600/pepere%2Band%2Bcoop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDApMxkaNkw/TZDz8DHO7gI/AAAAAAAACG4/liK_gC1R7mI/s320/pepere%2Band%2Bcoop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589235350520131074" /></a><br /><br />Coop convinced Memere that he had to build a snowman at her place, too. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hOdLFaJ-86Q/TZDRnq6fUUI/AAAAAAAACGo/OHXZv5G5j94/s1600/memere%2Band%2Bcoop%2Bin%2Bsnow.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hOdLFaJ-86Q/TZDRnq6fUUI/AAAAAAAACGo/OHXZv5G5j94/s320/memere%2Band%2Bcoop%2Bin%2Bsnow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589197617031500098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But this snow was also hard to manage, so they built a mini snowman on a picnic table. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-3wt4DqgVc/TZDRnEqNY5I/AAAAAAAACGg/75E7iDZh-C4/s1600/memere%2Band%2Bcoop%2Bbuild%2Bsnowmen.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-3wt4DqgVc/TZDRnEqNY5I/AAAAAAAACGg/75E7iDZh-C4/s320/memere%2Band%2Bcoop%2Bbuild%2Bsnowmen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589197606762668946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And Mr. Potato Head's parts added the perfect finishing touches. VOILA!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ofHxvZIen4/TZDRmvfh4KI/AAAAAAAACGQ/pIQOms1q2_4/s1600/finished%2Bmini%2Bsnow%2Bman.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ofHxvZIen4/TZDRmvfh4KI/AAAAAAAACGQ/pIQOms1q2_4/s320/finished%2Bmini%2Bsnow%2Bman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589197601080729762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We even took Cooper to a clown show at a local theater. At first, he tried to play all "too cool for school." I guess that's what happens when you put your kid in a punk skull beanie hat. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lOPzpo_jlKg/TZDRNmQKdII/AAAAAAAACGA/I-S7heK8W4c/s1600/clown%2Bshow.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lOPzpo_jlKg/TZDRNmQKdII/AAAAAAAACGA/I-S7heK8W4c/s320/clown%2Bshow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589197169103631490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />By the end he was laughing and clapping. He enjoyed the juggling and pie-throwing. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qm05_6o0Vt8/TZDRNxOcUvI/AAAAAAAACGI/0KKLWQ8LWAI/s1600/fampic.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qm05_6o0Vt8/TZDRNxOcUvI/AAAAAAAACGI/0KKLWQ8LWAI/s320/fampic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589197172049203954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was a lovely vacation. It was hard to leave. Part of our hearts remain back in New England.<br /><br />But our cold butts were happy to return to the land of sun and fun :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-16922889097425147512011-03-15T00:15:00.000-07:002011-03-15T00:37:49.318-07:00Going to Bed with a Good BookI don't eat enough vegetables. I don't exercise enough. And worst of all...I don't blog enough.<br /><br />It's 12:19am. Believe me when I say that it is the first free moment I've had in 11 and a half weeks. True story. <br /><br />I should sleep. But before I pass out, I'll leave you with a promise to post more and this photo of Cooper:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ja8X4GGNyto/TX8T3aTm73I/AAAAAAAACFg/B5Q312CkaC0/s1600/goodbook.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ja8X4GGNyto/TX8T3aTm73I/AAAAAAAACFg/B5Q312CkaC0/s320/goodbook.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584203905638002546" /></a><br /><br />Jakob found him asleep like this and called me in. <br /><br />The open book...the little flashlight...the delightfully sleepy expression...the glowing purple hippo with goofy eyes. Perfect moment of childlike whimsy. <br /><br />I'll post again. You'll hear all about our trip and Ruby and Cooper and Jakob and a little bit about how I'm doing. <br /><br />But first things first. Snores galore. Good night.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-83373622195985331752010-12-18T20:54:00.000-08:002010-12-18T23:25:32.123-08:00Who Wants a Silent Night? I Wanna Rock.I did make it to Cooper's recital on Friday. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TQ2QhuJQDBI/AAAAAAAACFQ/221qXpSTMTU/s1600/PC170829.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TQ2QhuJQDBI/AAAAAAAACFQ/221qXpSTMTU/s320/PC170829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552252824614603794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was thirty-one minutes late thanks to traffic caused by the rain. <br /><br />Hear me, people of Los Angeles...consider staying in when the big, bad water falls from the sky. Driving here is Hades.<br /><br />There were no spots left anywhere near the school. I parked several blocks away and ran as fast as a gal my size can run in heels. Rain spat all over my hair, my dress and my camera. I came into the kids' school swearing. Then I saw my Ruby and I had to smile.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TQ2QhYXqCDI/AAAAAAAACFI/ctAs5LTR4vs/s1600/PC170820.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TQ2QhYXqCDI/AAAAAAAACFI/ctAs5LTR4vs/s320/PC170820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552252818769446962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And there was my Cooper performing in his elfin garb. <br /><br />When they told us via school memo that the kids would be dressing up as elves for the holiday concert, I thought, "This is a racket orchestrated by The Oriental Trading Co. to get me to buy a costume." But it was $12 well spent. The goofy pictures of my one and only boy in that get up are well worth the twelve-hundred cents.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyqbVqfyNvZWxpTfiFBo6OjuxFamgd5mIM5BQxJqiwik-TNLBxrn2l9ptsDYcyCILDvyRzVRdNK3IY' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />He didn't see me at first. I was dancing with Ruby in my arms and beaming at him with unabashed holiday cheer. All the tension from the drizzly, accident strewn freeway disappeared and I enjoyed watching my kid.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dycztYXNhqheAAhSpNYpBIV109Yx4lFsfTbByyR1UF2kau5cB8Y954pvjWsWbMutVU1CDYIYzG4kjE' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw3mhKHvvA_H1TPyeIM0CCb63V-7OsgxzjOrMnjSpQtxG4p9_qMX7JB0P1h1_jSddWCAP2kYxauCkE' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />WHAM's immortal 'Wake Me Up Before Yo9u Go Go." No holiday celebration is complete with it. <br /><br />Check out the way Coop plays that bass. Oh, did you think that was a guitar? Well, you would be wrong. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwxwKRITbiB8JTJKtZGHh6gutazHq1s4iiIqZtctk4jIt_aGZ5UJB83E3uulhn2OauRgbIoWjJjdfE' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />After the show, I told Cooper that I liked his guitar playing. He gave an exasperated sigh and said, "No, that's not a guitar. That's a bass!" Oh, a thousand apologies, Mr. Entwistle. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyDu9PWGuDiMfRHiPZZDZ4hy96c82baXQ7AZ6kobcZvNxog4PiWMi8z16kqOjrtvLGwcYCJTwKShvc' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />The evening concluded with this festive folk dance. I wanted to ask the meaning behind the dance, but I didn't want to seem ignorant and my entire family is still sick with a cold that's been clingy on for the past eleven days. I thought it best that we do quick waves goodbye and head home for rest. But if anyone knows what this dance signifies besides, "Behold the young gents dancing with napkins and the lovely lady with a parasol," I'd love any info. <br /><br />Cooper and I ran to the car in the rain. We talked all about the show. I told him I was so proud of him. He told me Christmas was his favorite holiday. I took him home the long way so we could see all the houses decorated with Christmas lights. And each time I heard him say with excitement from the backseat, "Oooo! There's more Christmas lights, Mommy!" I felt true Christmas magic.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-8570435593707851992010-10-31T20:18:00.000-07:002010-10-31T20:30:30.394-07:00Halloween is done and done!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4yCT8j7pI/AAAAAAAACEw/c_wGu6cxdmw/s1600/ruby+and+i+halloween.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4yCT8j7pI/AAAAAAAACEw/c_wGu6cxdmw/s320/ruby+and+i+halloween.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416007380332178" /></a><br /><br />Ruby was a little bat this year. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4x6CBNsAI/AAAAAAAACEI/BottGkWM1W0/s1600/batgirl!.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4x6CBNsAI/AAAAAAAACEI/BottGkWM1W0/s320/batgirl!.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534415865129054210" /></a><br /><br />She was really using her upper register this evening, too, so it was like she was perfecting her bat screech!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4x6YFCjfI/AAAAAAAACEQ/mmzZhrhpFe8/s1600/batgirl2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4x6YFCjfI/AAAAAAAACEQ/mmzZhrhpFe8/s320/batgirl2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534415871050681842" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4x6s06k4I/AAAAAAAACEY/kEVspXj4XkE/s1600/batgirl3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4x6s06k4I/AAAAAAAACEY/kEVspXj4XkE/s320/batgirl3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534415876620194690" /></a><br /><br />She and I stayed behind in case we got any trick-or-treaters and daddy took Coop out through the neighborhood. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4yCgCfWfI/AAAAAAAACFA/56RdB7AUfQE/s1600/walle2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4yCgCfWfI/AAAAAAAACFA/56RdB7AUfQE/s320/walle2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416010626423282" /></a><br /><br />Cooper was Wall-E the robot. The whole family pitched in to make his costume. Well, Ruby didn't help much. She was more of a supervisor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4yCt0vAfI/AAAAAAAACE4/zxktKBYK5C8/s1600/walle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4yCt0vAfI/AAAAAAAACE4/zxktKBYK5C8/s320/walle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534416014326825458" /></a><br /><br />Daddy brought him to the UPS store to be fitted for a box.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4x7o3wZhI/AAAAAAAACEo/2BeFGba-R4Q/s1600/othermother.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 308px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4x7o3wZhI/AAAAAAAACEo/2BeFGba-R4Q/s320/othermother.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534415892738237970" /></a><br /><br />When Cooper gets real mad at me, he screams, "I want my other mother!' So, I dressed up as The Other Mother from the film Coraline. Buttons for eyes. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4x6yr2chI/AAAAAAAACEg/u6U7IScdS0M/s1600/family+portrait.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM4x6yr2chI/AAAAAAAACEg/u6U7IScdS0M/s320/family+portrait.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534415878192787986" /></a><br /><br />Cooper got the candy he wanted (lollipops and fruit chews) and he gave me the chocolate candy rejects (Almond Joy and Butterfingers.) It was a happy, happy Halloween. Now I'm going to wash this black spray out of my hair and call it a night.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-36695402133736371142010-10-31T13:05:00.000-07:002010-10-31T17:34:07.533-07:00HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!I've been working so hard at the new job that I nearly missed the month of October. I blinked and it was my birthday. I coughed and it was Halloween.<br /><br />The pumpkin patch game has changed. Used to be just pumpkins and some places offered cider. Maybe some face painting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gI0TNj3I/AAAAAAAACDQ/JWa_7HTuu8M/s1600/hover+t.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gI0TNj3I/AAAAAAAACDQ/JWa_7HTuu8M/s320/hover+t.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534325959191007090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The place we went to had Hover Tee Ball, a bounce house, a petting zoo and ponies!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gIDFPcnI/AAAAAAAACC4/7IQMKEYqeFo/s1600/coop+on+pony.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gIDFPcnI/AAAAAAAACC4/7IQMKEYqeFo/s320/coop+on+pony.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534325945979073138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I asked Cooper what his pony's name was. He say, "Boinkers. Boinkers the pony."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gli0S3wI/AAAAAAAACDg/n91-4af9zAs/s1600/oy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gli0S3wI/AAAAAAAACDg/n91-4af9zAs/s320/oy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534326452714135298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The crazy number of activities! The crazy number of kids! The crazy number of dollars these people were charging for pumpkins! It was all a bit much. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gmdnbK6I/AAAAAAAACEA/qzTM-xJjvn4/s1600/ruby+in+the+pumpkin+patch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gmdnbK6I/AAAAAAAACEA/qzTM-xJjvn4/s320/ruby+in+the+pumpkin+patch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534326468497845154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ruby was less than impressed. It was damp and there was a chill in the air. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gJNePI0I/AAAAAAAACDY/gmpwq-_ODl4/s1600/mommy+and+ruby+in+the+pumpkin+patch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gJNePI0I/AAAAAAAACDY/gmpwq-_ODl4/s320/mommy+and+ruby+in+the+pumpkin+patch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534325965948134210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My girl prefers sunshine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gISNPCuI/AAAAAAAACDA/o95BbeDvPbo/s1600/daddy+and+ruby+amongst+pumpkins.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gISNPCuI/AAAAAAAACDA/o95BbeDvPbo/s320/daddy+and+ruby+amongst+pumpkins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534325950039132898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But no matter how gray a day, her daddy always makes her smile. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3glyKztNI/AAAAAAAACDo/yyoRMFuwju4/s1600/ruby+and+daddy+in+the+patch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3glyKztNI/AAAAAAAACDo/yyoRMFuwju4/s320/ruby+and+daddy+in+the+patch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534326456835093714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ruby, Cooper and I decorated the front yard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gmAftDfI/AAAAAAAACD4/Qoxr3TgyOsA/s1600/ruby+chills+with+pumpkins.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gmAftDfI/AAAAAAAACD4/Qoxr3TgyOsA/s320/ruby+chills+with+pumpkins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534326460680834546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We added a cheesy Wolf Dude to our pumpkin display. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gmFJGnlI/AAAAAAAACDw/obPcEnbNAK8/s1600/ruby+and+the+wolfman.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gmFJGnlI/AAAAAAAACDw/obPcEnbNAK8/s320/ruby+and+the+wolfman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534326461928218194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Look at Wolf Dude's tense expression. Must have been driving on the 405. <br /><br />We also hung ghosts and put up spider webs.<br /><br />Cooper really wanted me to cut holes in a sheet so her could be a ghost. He saw It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown on tv and it stuck in his mind. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gIgyabWI/AAAAAAAACDI/4keJahZR6YY/s1600/ghosts+in+the+front+yard.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TM3gIgyabWI/AAAAAAAACDI/4keJahZR6YY/s320/ghosts+in+the+front+yard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534325953953164642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I quickly cut the hole without any real measuring. He played in the costume for a good long while, but he couldn't see. Watching him try to navigate the backyard in fitted sheet was pretty hilarious. I caught some video.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyTixtIc7pcatjhUNboxYj906DqtIRYBUf9J5R28DB799xqiEjM0nkmMw-iaEJadJAcxDCItIWLKkY' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Tonight is Trick-Or-Treating. I know Cooper will come back and hold up each piece of candy and ask, "Is this chocolate?" He hates chocolate. He only wants fruity candy. And then we'll watch Scooby Doo. And then we'll read the book Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. And then another October will be over, done with and gone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-29846909701852854772010-08-26T13:20:00.000-07:002010-08-26T18:16:17.443-07:00A Valuable Piece<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/THbMqhhrUsI/AAAAAAAACCo/7jYnyMbeNNk/s1600/beadboy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 291px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/THbMqhhrUsI/AAAAAAAACCo/7jYnyMbeNNk/s320/beadboy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509816225060573890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Like the necklace? Well, my friends, soak up the tale of this treasure hanging 'round my neck. You'll find a suitable moral at the end. <br /><br />(In an attempt to be delicate, the words "yummy candy," will be substituted for the word 'vomit.')<br /><br />Cooper was supposed to get a haircut today, but he woke up this morning covered in yummy candy. There was yummy candy in his bed, yummy candy on the floor, and yummy candy in the hallway. <br /><br />I washed off all the yummy candy and put Coop on the couch with a blanket. He was a bit warm. I pushed fluids and made him rest. We watched cartoons. He eventually fell asleep watching Phineas and Ferb--a new favorite in this house.<br /><br />Then, Ruby started to fuss. I fed her and played with her as I watched over Cooper. There are moments when nothing else matters but being a mom to your kids. This was one of those.<br /><br />By the afternoon, Cooper was awake and trying to convince me that he was fit as a fiddle. I made him drink water and eat plain macaroni. <br /><br />"What are we going to do?" he asked. <br /><br />"Rest," I said. <br /><br />"Can we rest outside?" he pleaded. <br /><br />"No,"I said.<br /><br />"Oh, rats!" he complained, "I want to DO something!" <br /><br />His eyes scanned the room. <br /><br />"Hey, we could make something with those," he said pointing to the newly opened box of macaroni. A grin filled his face. He was in love with his suggestion.<br /><br />"You want to make a necklace?" I asked.<br /><br />"Yes! Yes!" he rejoiced.<br /><br />I handed him the box of pasta (a mistake) and went to get string. Next to the string was a bag of beads so I snagged those, too. That's when I heard the entire box of macaroni being dumped onto the table.<br /><br />"I'm ready to make the necklace, Mommy," he cheered. I was annoyed with the mess, but I couldn't yell a him because he was a.) sick and b.) so thrilled to be doing an activity with me.<br /><br />"Here," I said, "We can use these beads, too."<br /><br />"OOOOoooooooo," he cooed with approval.<br /><br />He was stringing beads and macaroni and talking about colors.<br /><br />"I like orange. I like pink. You know what red and white make? They make pink! And you know what happens when you mix all the colors together, Mommy? It turns black!"<br /><br />While we were discussing color theory, Ruby started to cry. She needed to be changed. I guess that's why she was complaining earlier. Something was brewing. <br /><br />"Coop, I'll be right back. I gotta changed your sister," I said leaving the table. (second mistake.)<br /><br />I finished changing Ruby and was singing the alphabet song. I was at "K" when I heard Cooper scream. He ran into my room in a panic. He cried out, "MY NOSE!"<br /><br />I rushed to him. I looked in his nose and saw a green bead stuck in the right nostril. I pressed on the outside of his nose to tried and free the bead.<br /><br />"Blow out, Cooper!" I commanded. It wasn't moving. <br /><br />He was hysterical. "It's stuck! It's staaaaaa-haaaaaa-huuuuuck!" he cried.<br /><br />I could feel where it was. It wasn't past the point of no return, but I thought I might have to load both kids in the car and head for the emergency room. <br /><br />"Cooper, look at me. Calm down. Mommy's gonna try and fix it."<br /><br />I gently pushed down until the bead emerged like a turtle from his nostril and fell on the floor. <br /><br />"Mommy got it!"<br /><br />We hugged. I teared up thinking about how he had come to me immediately. What if he had decided to try and fish it out on his own? This could have gone way worse.<br /><br />"Cooper. Don't ever put anything up your nose again! Ok?"<br /><br />His sickly face held onto the fear that was just coursing through him.<br /><br />"Ok, Mommy."<br /><br />I saw my chance to nip something in the bud.<br /><br />"That goes for fingers, too. NOTHING up the nose. Got it?"<br /><br />"Got it," he whined. Perhaps this near tragedy will put an end to his rampant nose-picking.<br /><br />I asked if his nose hurt. He shook his head. I asked if he was ok. He nodded. Crisis averted.<br /><br />After a beat, I asked him to come and help me pick up.<br /><br />"No, Mommy. I want to finish the necklace for you!" <br /><br />I could see that this was very important to him. We scooped up Ruby and headed back to the table to finish the necklace. I will wear it with pride. It's a valuable gift from my son. And I just love jewelry that comes with a story.<br /><br />What have we learned, kids? <br /><br />Don't stick stuff up your nose!!!<br /><br />What have we learned, adults? <br /><br />Moms do it all. They change dipes. They clean up yummy candies. They cook hundreds of meals. They even remove foreign objects from your body from time to time. Show your mom some love today. It will mean the world to her.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-21584311817469062232010-08-08T15:07:00.000-07:002010-08-08T15:17:33.890-07:00No Matter What's Happening...One look at Ruby and my attitude goes from Wha Whaaaa to TA DAH!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TF8qsk9zH6I/AAAAAAAACCY/DLPToqNYG28/s1600/flirtruby2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TF8qsk9zH6I/AAAAAAAACCY/DLPToqNYG28/s320/flirtruby2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503164214995525538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hey Ruby, we have a few minutes to ourselves today. Do you wanna watch Classical Baby and be lulled by the sweet sounds of Bach while mommy cleans? Or would you rather say blow to housework and watch Kill Bill Vol. 1?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TF8qsePffDI/AAAAAAAACCQ/ZJ5k8N1tKfk/s1600/flirtyruby.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TF8qsePffDI/AAAAAAAACCQ/ZJ5k8N1tKfk/s320/flirtyruby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503164213190687794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yeah. Beatrix Kiddo does kick butt.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-30544708126725227832010-08-05T22:02:00.000-07:002010-08-05T22:22:22.776-07:00Let's Go RED SOX (clap-clap-clapclapclap)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TFuaMhi8syI/AAAAAAAACB4/oB7qdTr7sRU/s1600/baseball_game3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TFuaMhi8syI/AAAAAAAACB4/oB7qdTr7sRU/s320/baseball_game3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502160909717254946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was an outing for the boys, so I don't have much to write about the game.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TFuaLYezvPI/AAAAAAAACBo/6lsuyNr7qnM/s1600/baseball_game.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TFuaLYezvPI/AAAAAAAACBo/6lsuyNr7qnM/s320/baseball_game.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502160890104102130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TFuaMaaIukI/AAAAAAAACBw/vYNDOLwWr70/s1600/baseball_game2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TFuaMaaIukI/AAAAAAAACBw/vYNDOLwWr70/s320/baseball_game2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502160907801246274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I do know that Cooper was REALLY excited to eat peanuts and throw the shells on the ground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TFuaNHIkQCI/AAAAAAAACCA/aLfELOHfPjA/s1600/baseball_game4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TFuaNHIkQCI/AAAAAAAACCA/aLfELOHfPjA/s320/baseball_game4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502160919807148066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He looked at me, smiled and said, "When you eat peanuts at the ballgame, the GROUND is the TRASH!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TFuaNQMZaEI/AAAAAAAACCI/divnPBlDEDc/s1600/baseball_game5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TFuaNQMZaEI/AAAAAAAACCI/divnPBlDEDc/s320/baseball_game5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502160922239133762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I asked him who won the game and he just kept talking about the food. He ate a hot dog and had ice cream. Those were the highlights for him.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-66064123678367464992010-07-20T14:04:00.000-07:002010-07-20T14:07:28.990-07:00Owl Hat + Cupcake Pillow + Ruby = ADORABLE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPyM2OqGI/AAAAAAAACBg/xusu5grvjhE/s1600/rubycutie7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPyM2OqGI/AAAAAAAACBg/xusu5grvjhE/s320/rubycutie7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496097750368823394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPxmAE8PI/AAAAAAAACBY/SEFeWU95fDI/s1600/rubycutie6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPxmAE8PI/AAAAAAAACBY/SEFeWU95fDI/s320/rubycutie6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496097739941146866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPqh6aJlI/AAAAAAAACBQ/Dg9yifRWQZg/s1600/rubycutire5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPqh6aJlI/AAAAAAAACBQ/Dg9yifRWQZg/s320/rubycutire5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496097618584544850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPqVDND4I/AAAAAAAACBI/_5sZV-f4U1o/s1600/rubycutie4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPqVDND4I/AAAAAAAACBI/_5sZV-f4U1o/s320/rubycutie4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496097615131774850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPqI8259I/AAAAAAAACBA/UltF7kUb66U/s1600/rubycutie3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPqI8259I/AAAAAAAACBA/UltF7kUb66U/s320/rubycutie3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496097611883931602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPpzOrUkI/AAAAAAAACA4/9wpzUTLxOOk/s1600/rubycutir2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPpzOrUkI/AAAAAAAACA4/9wpzUTLxOOk/s320/rubycutir2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496097606053089858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPpYr4jFI/AAAAAAAACAw/2aGBPqMIvwc/s1600/rubycutie1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEYPpYr4jFI/AAAAAAAACAw/2aGBPqMIvwc/s320/rubycutie1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496097598927834194" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-22221725303962011582010-07-19T20:33:00.000-07:002010-07-19T20:56:32.401-07:00Conversation From the Future<span style="font-style:italic;">Ruby: "I like that picture of me lying on the poop-colored carpet from the Tujunga house."<br /><br />Cooper: "Yep. I'm looking down at you and I'm wearing my French Fry shirt. I love that picture."</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEUZVucGE9I/AAAAAAAACAo/hW1LEU3K8sE/s1600/rememberthatpic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEUZVucGE9I/AAAAAAAACAo/hW1LEU3K8sE/s320/rememberthatpic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495826781309375442" /></a><br /><br />That's a conversation I imagined them having in 2021. Just for fun, You can vote on what the next line might end up being:<br /><br />a. "That's back when dad had a beard."<br />b. "The Tujunga house had lizards, fruit trees and a fireplace!"<br />c. "I don't even remember the Tujunga house. <br />d. "Mom's a cuckoo."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-69864758987357225922010-07-17T16:34:00.000-07:002010-07-17T20:28:23.109-07:00Ruby Rawk Gurl at Two MonthsDear Ruby Zuzu,<br /><br />First things first...rawk is actually spelled R-O-C-K and gurl is actually spelled G-I-R-L. Sorry. It's a habit I picked up last decade. I wonder how your generation will talk and spell. I wonder how the language will adapt/erode. I'm sure I won't "get it," because I'll be, "elderlier." (That's how kids in the future say "old.")<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEJBI6qIRSI/AAAAAAAACAg/x0nws8acMu0/s1600/rockgurl4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEJBI6qIRSI/AAAAAAAACAg/x0nws8acMu0/s320/rockgurl4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495026116786144546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The other day I was looking at you and I thought to myself, "My goodness...she's beautiful." In fact I started singing, "You Are So Beautiful (To Me)."<br /><br />It wasn't so much the Joe Cocker version. It was more like the version from The Simpsons when Homer has hair and an assistant named Carl voiced by Harvey Fierstein and he hires a guy to sing it to Marge on her anniversary. Remember? Yes, everything CAN be categorized in Simpsonese!<br /><br />And then my next thought was, "My goodness...before I know it she'll have a purse and a phone."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEJBId5Ay3I/AAAAAAAACAQ/4uxZonjaXnc/s1600/rockgurl2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEJBId5Ay3I/AAAAAAAACAQ/4uxZonjaXnc/s320/rockgurl2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495026109063940978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You see, now that your brother is four, I realize how fast this all goes by. You'll be talking, walking, eating real food, and zipping around in L.A. traffic before I can say, "I don't care that nobody else on the planet has a curfew, YOU HAVE A CURFEW."<br /><br />I'm trying to enjoy these little moment while you're still little. After all, you'll never be this small again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEJBImYFX0I/AAAAAAAACAY/K8mhxidS-CI/s1600/rockgurl3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEJBImYFX0I/AAAAAAAACAY/K8mhxidS-CI/s320/rockgurl3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495026111341748034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You've made it through month number two! You're smiling. You're sleeping through the night. You're growing. You're moving all around. I can see how eager you are to get up and run. Honestly, it fills me with both joy and worry. I always want to keep you safe.<br /><br />And yes, you still have cranky fits and atrocious gas. But every now and then you look at me with this expression that seems to say, "It's ok, Mom."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEJBHzKf3DI/AAAAAAAACAI/bC-beyz9MQ0/s1600/RawkGurl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TEJBHzKf3DI/AAAAAAAACAI/bC-beyz9MQ0/s320/RawkGurl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495026097594555442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And that makes me feel better.<br /><br />And so thank you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-58395218621615114152010-07-12T14:32:00.000-07:002010-07-12T14:40:14.357-07:00Artist CKW...the early years<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDuLRa4APrI/AAAAAAAACAA/96Xa3WIYrzs/s1600/coop_turtle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDuLRa4APrI/AAAAAAAACAA/96Xa3WIYrzs/s320/coop_turtle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493137301896707762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />"Turtle" by Cooper Kingsley WhiteUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-77047276613987428212010-07-11T16:48:00.001-07:002010-07-11T17:13:26.089-07:00TOY STORY FUN ZONE!!!Cooper has been waiting for Toy Story 3 to come out since he started seeing the billboards in late April. It was his first, "I-can't-wait-for-that-to-be-released-in-the-theater!" cinema anticipation experience.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpYoLUEgeI/AAAAAAAAB-o/oH4J2J-6rzo/s1600/coop_glasses.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpYoLUEgeI/AAAAAAAAB-o/oH4J2J-6rzo/s320/coop_glasses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800142786724322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So...why not do it right and go to the INSANE SUPER CRAZY FUN ZONE area that they have constructed by the El Capitain in Hollywood.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpY2IoF_HI/AAAAAAAAB-w/uRpRazPqkXI/s1600/funzone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpY2IoF_HI/AAAAAAAAB-w/uRpRazPqkXI/s320/funzone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800382583569522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Disney took over the football field of Hollywood High and turned it into a hyperactive preschooler's paradise.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpY2VZEM4I/AAAAAAAAB-4/MsAFZ0BqMs0/s1600/hanging.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpY2VZEM4I/AAAAAAAAB-4/MsAFZ0BqMs0/s320/hanging.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800386010198914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpZJ81mNSI/AAAAAAAAB_w/XJlhWaeFDJ4/s1600/slide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpZJ81mNSI/AAAAAAAAB_w/XJlhWaeFDJ4/s320/slide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800723016365346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpYm4Ajf6I/AAAAAAAAB-I/sO0mPNMstw4/s1600/alien.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpYm4Ajf6I/AAAAAAAAB-I/sO0mPNMstw4/s320/alien.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800120424726434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There was a playground, a bounce house and games.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpYn-KnQsI/AAAAAAAAB-g/x5OcrRaKa00/s1600/bounce+house.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpYn-KnQsI/AAAAAAAAB-g/x5OcrRaKa00/s320/bounce+house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800139257397954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpZKMtom9I/AAAAAAAAB_4/PlMKOP31ntY/s1600/sunnyside.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpZKMtom9I/AAAAAAAAB_4/PlMKOP31ntY/s320/sunnyside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800727277935570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpY3TGTH6I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/Damsam0sA5E/s1600/play+station.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpY3TGTH6I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/Damsam0sA5E/s320/play+station.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800402574483362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpZIwsBU-I/AAAAAAAAB_Y/KOmSgSCe6Eo/s1600/purple+crayon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpZIwsBU-I/AAAAAAAAB_Y/KOmSgSCe6Eo/s320/purple+crayon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800702575104994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There was also a LIVE SHOW!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpZJAFe6lI/AAAAAAAAB_g/_LKyRyRRj00/s1600/show.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpZJAFe6lI/AAAAAAAAB_g/_LKyRyRRj00/s320/show.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800706708433490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Coop made himself very comfortable in a bean bag chair and watched the "Dancing with the Toys" program in its entirety.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpY2v5FFPI/AAAAAAAAB_A/HJPkrAZUVZ0/s1600/lounge+bean.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpY2v5FFPI/AAAAAAAAB_A/HJPkrAZUVZ0/s320/lounge+bean.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800393123796210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpYnZuqRrI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/I_1ifoGysio/s1600/bean+lounge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpYnZuqRrI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/I_1ifoGysio/s320/bean+lounge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800129476478642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpZJWZ51zI/AAAAAAAAB_o/Es4CKqxHmEY/s1600/show2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpZJWZ51zI/AAAAAAAAB_o/Es4CKqxHmEY/s320/show2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800712699664178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpYnlRvjiI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/dQTdCB51iVs/s1600/bean+watch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpYnlRvjiI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/dQTdCB51iVs/s320/bean+watch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800132576415266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And got to MEET THE STARS THEMSELVES.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpY3Pc1yYI/AAAAAAAAB_I/dqVtU55rWUc/s1600/meetandgreet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDpY3Pc1yYI/AAAAAAAAB_I/dqVtU55rWUc/s320/meetandgreet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492800401595287938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Can you believe it? He met THE Woody and THE Buzz.<br /><br />I wish I could go to a fun zone and meet my heroes. Please tell me if David Lynch, Tim Burton and Julie Taymor come together to make a fun zone. I'm there! I'm a little terrified, but I'm there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-2689041588431546712010-07-04T12:42:00.000-07:002010-07-04T13:14:00.370-07:00Violet's BirthdayAll Cooper wanted for his birthday was a play date with Violet. And in return, Violet was kind enough to invite Coop to her birthday last weekend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDnMPBq4AI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/u3KZ7mbg5JU/s1600/P6260254.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDnMPBq4AI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/u3KZ7mbg5JU/s320/P6260254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490142143142617090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDnMirh0hI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/-6CQeedYeYE/s1600/P6260256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDnMirh0hI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/-6CQeedYeYE/s320/P6260256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490142148418458130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDnNNG6JrI/AAAAAAAAB8g/DVN-o-ZzX3w/s1600/P6260259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDnNNG6JrI/AAAAAAAAB8g/DVN-o-ZzX3w/s320/P6260259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490142159807588018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDnOL8Fv_I/AAAAAAAAB8o/eGXYCCD3uSk/s1600/P6260261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDnOL8Fv_I/AAAAAAAAB8o/eGXYCCD3uSk/s320/P6260261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490142176673644530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was a lovely tea party complete with yummy cupcake fun!<br /><br />At first the kids ran around screaming and laughing wildly, as kids do. Then when tea time began, each child sat in their seat and sipped tea like the most civilized of civilians. You could practically hear the classical music in the background!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDnOrBmhzI/AAAAAAAAB8w/eh8JAEdZGWY/s1600/P6260263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDnOrBmhzI/AAAAAAAAB8w/eh8JAEdZGWY/s320/P6260263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490142185018263346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDn_JGf3xI/AAAAAAAAB84/U4F238u_WBA/s1600/P6260269.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDn_JGf3xI/AAAAAAAAB84/U4F238u_WBA/s320/P6260269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490143017725583122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDn_67lRtI/AAAAAAAAB9A/e9TojSVt4Gc/s1600/P6260275.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDn_67lRtI/AAAAAAAAB9A/e9TojSVt4Gc/s320/P6260275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490143031101572818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDoAwP5XhI/AAAAAAAAB9I/DX7L0NlY7UU/s1600/P6260276.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDoAwP5XhI/AAAAAAAAB9I/DX7L0NlY7UU/s320/P6260276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490143045413854738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDoBdfDQ4I/AAAAAAAAB9Q/aN5sNF1KM-Y/s1600/P6260278.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDoBdfDQ4I/AAAAAAAAB9Q/aN5sNF1KM-Y/s320/P6260278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490143057557013378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDoBl1ExuI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/zWcNV6VFzfA/s1600/P6260284.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDoBl1ExuI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/zWcNV6VFzfA/s320/P6260284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490143059796870882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDo-cUnmSI/AAAAAAAAB9g/H0hxoz3VKt8/s1600/P6260285.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDo-cUnmSI/AAAAAAAAB9g/H0hxoz3VKt8/s320/P6260285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490144105216842018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDo_EBmveI/AAAAAAAAB9o/4fkIU1rZUmw/s1600/P6260292.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDo_EBmveI/AAAAAAAAB9o/4fkIU1rZUmw/s320/P6260292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490144115874512354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDo_vKWQ_I/AAAAAAAAB9w/v58TRZSeWPA/s1600/P6260330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDo_vKWQ_I/AAAAAAAAB9w/v58TRZSeWPA/s320/P6260330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490144127453905906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDpAINp3EI/AAAAAAAAB94/rdCPxmdtvII/s1600/P6260329.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDpAINp3EI/AAAAAAAAB94/rdCPxmdtvII/s320/P6260329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490144134178659394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDpBJkjWWI/AAAAAAAAB-A/5jrZoSYkmlw/s1600/P6260293.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TDDpBJkjWWI/AAAAAAAAB-A/5jrZoSYkmlw/s320/P6260293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490144151723006306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They were perfect ladies and gentlemen. Well, gentleman. I had to say it was a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-10819692826131627932010-07-03T19:22:00.000-07:002010-07-03T19:50:55.787-07:00So You Think You Can Dance, Pre-School EditionCooper had a dance recital at his school.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyGTJ3Eclvj4PXKpmAj_oJL3eF4OlXm2HNK2LnAibA-HAxBfcMlqp0iZ_3oL0DEc1_0h_HYtsUZcQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />There are three girls and three boys in dance class. One boy jumped off the stage, too scared to participate. The other little boy stayed on stage, but cried the whole time. Cooper was the only boy to perform...and perform with GUSTO!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzO0ARyE1RGnWLvdeniM6lgzKolahieuZAlPBYq-NFC6bXUT-6yuswT0zDSGdAOCFn65-mYCsQKWfA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Did you hear that, "YEE HAW"? That's showmanship, people!<br /><br />I love when he takes the crying boy's hands and forces him to do-si-do. If not for Coop, I doubt he would've moved at all.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwmMTiXSkPfPeW09SVOVqBWpusTgYWmKAmBq-BulbVuxTl63tISN6nSQURJD1oHCRap07B7B8nhaXs' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Here he is running off the stage. Hey, I understand. I always want a bigger<br />stage. I enjoy the space I take.<br /><br />Like how he tosses those pom poms?<br /><br />Now...I will admit that at one point, Cooper and another little boy started fighting on stage. He was NOT a boy from dance class. For some strange reason, the dance teacher invited ALL the kids to come on stage and join in dancing. Odd, in my humble opinion, since this was a RECITAL and as much as I'm all for the "everyone can be part of the club" mentality, I was cringing when she put this boy right next to Cooper. It was someone he has been having issues with. <br /><br />It was not a proud moment. It was me yelling from the audience, "Cooper, STOP! NO HITTING!" No one, not the teacher or the director or anyone interceded to stop the violence. I was embarrassed. I didn't tape that part.<br /><br />But I'm still proud of how Cooper did at the show. Let them look at me and shake their heads. I'll just stick my head up high and say, "Well, at least my son gave you a show, people!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-3989492875507541632010-06-20T11:49:00.000-07:002010-06-20T11:55:52.075-07:00Happy Father's DayWhen I was 15, a guy who could play guitar was sexy.<br /><br />When I was 20, a guy who could make me laugh was sexy.<br /><br />Now that I'm 32...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TB5jQNfQJRI/AAAAAAAAB8I/n8yukZZCR2w/s1600/multitasking.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TB5jQNfQJRI/AAAAAAAAB8I/n8yukZZCR2w/s320/multitasking.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484930526333642002" /></a><br /><br />a guy who can multitask is the sexiest man alive!!!<br /><br />Happy Father's Day, Jakob.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-15134406875700296632010-06-19T18:45:00.000-07:002010-06-19T19:29:01.376-07:00Ruby Zuzu - One Month OldDear Ruby,<br /><br />You made it through the first month. Congrats to both of us.<br /><br />You're a healthy gal, but you spit up a lot. You also fart quite a bit, too. We dress you up like a pretty, pretty princess and then witness you puking and barfing on everyone as they talk about how gorgeous you are.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TB1zGHEx4MI/AAAAAAAAB7w/5B8tGtfJHFU/s1600/Library+-+3635.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TB1zGHEx4MI/AAAAAAAAB7w/5B8tGtfJHFU/s320/Library+-+3635.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484666470022635714" /></a><br /><br />You fooled me. I thought you were quiet. Not so. Three weeks on the planet and you decided to show your true colors. Now I know that the day I pushed you out, I released the Kraken. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TB1zEzpePJI/AAAAAAAAB7g/MdIkrB7Fig4/s1600/Library+-+3621.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TB1zEzpePJI/AAAAAAAAB7g/MdIkrB7Fig4/s320/Library+-+3621.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484666447627959442" /></a><br /><br />You stick out your tongue. You're very strong. You're already holding your head up. You grab onto my hair and clench your fist with the tenacity of a pit bull with lockjaw. Momma's precious angel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TB1zGUkYTvI/AAAAAAAAB74/CA8hyNnY0zs/s1600/owls.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TB1zGUkYTvI/AAAAAAAAB74/CA8hyNnY0zs/s320/owls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484666473644838642" /></a><br /><br />You're an amazing human being. I'm going to say that to you every day of your life.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TB1zGtTPFWI/AAAAAAAAB8A/0bplgFw1PyQ/s1600/prettyinpink.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TB1zGtTPFWI/AAAAAAAAB8A/0bplgFw1PyQ/s320/prettyinpink.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484666480283817314" /></a><br /><br />I love you, Ruby Zuzu. <br /><br />Xoxo,<br /><br />MomUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20940796.post-2488963772341535792010-06-16T19:42:00.000-07:002010-06-16T21:55:27.479-07:00Birthday BuzzThis past Sunday we had a birthday party for Cooper.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmNAUtpx6I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/myAzNBXjgYE/s1600/presents.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmNAUtpx6I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/myAzNBXjgYE/s320/presents.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483569057999996834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The theme: Toy Story. Of course. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmNA9hL3PI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/sOwyb27tFPM/s1600/playarmymen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmNA9hL3PI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/sOwyb27tFPM/s320/playarmymen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483569068953558258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmM_qihDiI/AAAAAAAAB7A/O_Tv-kR_Fa8/s1600/toysonconcrete.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmM_qihDiI/AAAAAAAAB7A/O_Tv-kR_Fa8/s320/toysonconcrete.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483569046678998562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since Coop is always running around in his Buzz Lightyear wings, I thought it would be fun to have Jakob come out as Evil Emperor Zurg (Buzz Lightyear's arch nemesis).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmL-l3ogPI/AAAAAAAAB5I/Pm3PBNgIah0/s1600/buzz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmL-l3ogPI/AAAAAAAAB5I/Pm3PBNgIah0/s320/buzz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483567928733892850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />To make Zurg's appearance all the more exciting, I filled up 50 water balloons and distributed them among the party guests. This way we could all thwart Zurg together!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmM--nhLmI/AAAAAAAAB64/iMOGTED7fbo/s1600/zurgarrives.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmM--nhLmI/AAAAAAAAB64/iMOGTED7fbo/s320/zurgarrives.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483569034888818274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />NOTE: I constructed Zurg's costume entirely out of whatever I found around the home (file folders, trash bags, tin foil). Having a newborn to care for did not leave a tremendous amount of prep time. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmL919x-iI/AAAAAAAAB5A/7lXbWijUx4M/s1600/blindzurg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmL919x-iI/AAAAAAAAB5A/7lXbWijUx4M/s320/blindzurg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483567915874777634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Check out the video of Cooper and friends defeating Zurg:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzH_23wZPDnPCWmrxv2uu7974iyug3nS2NEfZAf_WjeAbKbTCZWnQIMwqTNBETX45pMw0LwJZ4cXq4' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmMpX2ZSpI/AAAAAAAAB6w/vQZpjyMRMDs/s1600/ontheground.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmMpX2ZSpI/AAAAAAAAB6w/vQZpjyMRMDs/s320/ontheground.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483568663704980114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love when Cooper gets the hose. He's a man of action!<br /><br />I also love my husband. Thanks, Jakob, for participating in my "Parenthood," inspired vision. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmL_KsbkaI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/p97bPFjxGE0/s1600/cake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmL_KsbkaI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/p97bPFjxGE0/s320/cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483567938619019682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's the cake I stayed up way too late making the night before. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmL_V06cqI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/TbbhQ0ko-NY/s1600/cakewithmemere.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmL_V06cqI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/TbbhQ0ko-NY/s320/cakewithmemere.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483567941607387810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cooper saw it and said, "Yay! Now I want a Slinky the Dog cake and a Rex the Dinosaur cake and a Mr. Potato Head cake and, and, and..." I kindly said, "This ain't Ace of Cakes, kid. This is what ya got. Eat it. And like it."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmNAAVtmNI/AAAAAAAAB7I/0c6UFGSP98A/s1600/vdayhipsters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 287px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmNAAVtmNI/AAAAAAAAB7I/0c6UFGSP98A/s320/vdayhipsters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483569052530874578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm not sure who had more fun, Cooper or all us aged hipster thirty-somethingers. Give people water balloons and cake and you will inspire smiles. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmMo1i9nhI/AAAAAAAAB6o/SDUVYiGuf3k/s1600/momrubyandme.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJGZZId--Ic/TBmMo1i9nhI/AAAAAAAAB6o/SDUVYiGuf3k/s320/momrubyandme.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483568654496669202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was a spectacular celebration and a great end to Memere's stay with us. <br /><br />Happy Birthday, Cooper White!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4