danse gooshers

I don't know how Zach does it, but he seems to find the funniest and most bizarre videos out there. I found this one in my mailbox this morning.

Oh Zach...I love you!!

And lovie...don't forget your sunshine today. I have spies...

Happy Friday to all!

shades

Getting a little bit tired and going a little bit crazy wearing sunglasses that were seriously scratched and chewed on by Ollie, I found myself a new pair at Society of the Spectacle in HIghland Park. I drive by this shop often and have always wanted to pop in. We did one afternoon and were greeted by two of the chubbiest and oldest pugs I have ever seen. They waddled to us with great excitement and kept the kids busy while I shopped. They had some of the coolest frames I have ever seen. I cursed my 20/20 vision. Vintage frames too. I settled on these. I'm happy with them. I really wanted the $350 pair but could simply not justify such a purchase.

Greta kept trying to borrow mine so we found her a pair of her own a week later.
And Hen, well he just likes to borrow everyone else's.

Pug Blossom.

thank goodness for the i phone

How else could I take a self portrait in a paper robe while I wait wait wait wait to see the dermatologist? 30 minutes later that red bump on my right cheek (your left, my right) was

replaced by a flat red dot. Yes, I endured an unexpected lancing to the face. All moles still in tact, doc was willing to take off any I didn't like. I said maybe next time. I said I have to keep the one on my neck because it makes me look like Charlize Theron. Not even close to being true, but you will notice we do have the same mole. Here's Charlize looking slightly more glamourous with hers.

molly

The other day Greta had her first outing without Zach or myself. It was a last minute invite from a friend and her two young daughters to drive to a local park. I was shocked when Greta accepted. This was huge! She is approaching 5 and is acquiring a new sense of independence and confidence that I am so very happy to see. While she was away, Henry was sleeping, Julien was with Aunt Kate, so I had a nice quiet house all to myself. This felt like such a big day for her that I decided she deserved a little special gift. I made Molly this dress in Greta's favorite style, Hawaiian.

When she returned it was reported that she had a great time, was a big help with the babies, and chatted the whole time. That's my girl! After she gave me the highlights of her afternoon we continued to talk about this and that. She said things like, "Oh, that would be swell!" and "What a glorious idea."

My girl was feeling very proud of herself I could see, and of course so was I.

And she loved the dress!

i'm crafty!

I'm almost done with the top of Greta's quilt. It has been sitting a while. With the heat...I just can't pick it up. Because I insisted on using pieces that were a bit smaller than the others, the squares don't all line up perfectly. I thought it might bother me, but it doesn't. I kind of like the irregularity. I don't think Greta minds either.

And oh look, here's Henry sleeping on his baby quilt...

haiku for max

sweet baby boy max

solar eclipse it was time

born at home in peace

Love and congratulations to Sam, Jess, and little big sister Maddie.

We can't wait to meet the lil bugger!

It's been too hot for words lately.

More water, more life.

Kuroshio Sea - 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world - (song is Please don't go by Barcelona) from Jon Rawlinson on Vimeo.

wish i was there

On the Beach by Richard Misrach.

so cool so cool

(int) Factor Films presents THEY CAME FROM... from factor films on Vimeo.

This evening just before dusk Henry and I headed to the market at the bottom of the hill to pick up a few groceries. The fridge was empty. Funny how that happens so quickly with a teenage boy in the house.

So we headed out just the two of us. Henry in his blue and white striped jammies, me in a grandma looking house dress. I moved slowly through the store, enjoying every minute of that glorious AC, meandering down the refrigerated isles. Henry as usual was his quiet self and of course someone commented on his lovely red hair, (a day doesn't go by).

After we shopped, heading home in the car I rolled the windows down, the air was starting to cool. Listening to Flume by Bon Iver, driving slowly home I had a few minutes of great calm and peace. I felt very present, I wasn't thinking of all the things I need to do at the house, all the errands and phone calls, and appointments I need to make this week. I didn't think about how Im going to keep a 14 , 4 , and 1 year old occupied and happy this week. It all felt lifted from me. I just enjoyed the music and felt so happy and thankful to be alive and for my kids and my sweet husband who works like a dog every day. I reached back and held on to Henry's soft bare foot. He seemed so content with the music and the breeze too. I cried for a minute, maybe a little out of exhaustion, but mostly for the overwhelming gratitude I feel for the simple things, for my life.

that's me in the blue.

Click to enlarge this one, it's a classic.

Happy weekend.

oh how i love my boy!

so funny and so wrong

For all the new parents out there, this might be handy.

the toaster oven fairy does exist!

and she reads my blog!

Thank you , Mumsie!

Henry threw down some serious yoga poses this evening, and actually held them for quite a few seconds. Greta said, "I can do that!"
Straighten those legs, Hen!!

for aunt evie,

the good version

wonderful.

My friend Kelli, (amazing mother of two beautiful girls who just gave birth to second daughter at home all natural) shared this with me today. Now, I must share with you. It's just plain cool, all the way around. Cool and wonderful.

SOUR / 日々の音色 (Hibi no Neiro) MV from Magico Nakamura on Vimeo.

lil this, lil that

When I was pregnant with Greta my friend Kendell ( always full of motherly wisdom having 2 kids of her own) told me that there are two things you must have when you have kids that will make life easier. One of them I can't remember and the other was a dishwasher. Many a night, just like tonight when I stand before a mountain of dirty dishes, kids asleep, feet aching, eyes heavy, I hear my friends words echo in my ears and those words ring so true, so true.

Another friend, let's just call her Zila, told me how she once threw out a toaster oven rather than cleaning it. It had gotten that bad. Well, let's just say every time I use my toaster oven I hear her words. I am almost there...so ready to just chuck that greasy old toaster oven and run down and buy a new one. I know, it's terrible, wasteful, and bad for the environment, but I'm tired of hiding it under a pretty dishcloth when friends come over and I just do not have the time or energy to sit and clean that thing.

In other news, lately Greta is less than enthused to eat her veggies, so I make her smoothies with vanilla yogurt, frozen mango, banana, blue berries, and a chunk of frozen spinach! She is none the wiser.

Happy Wednesday.

palm springs was really hot

Really, really hot. Like 105 degrees at night hot. We stayed at the ultra hip Ace Hotel. Slathered in sunscreen we spent our days in the pool. I forwent any spa treatments (primarily because nothing compares to the Korean saunas) and put that money towards the photo booth in the hotel lobby. It became addictive. I will have to post some of those in the future.

Fun was had by all. We returned home sunburn free and refreshed. Will definitely return in the spring when we can spend some time exploring the beautiful rocky landscape.

palm springs, baby

We are squeezing into the wagon tomorrow and heading to Palm Springs. It will be a first for me. I am not a fan of the hot weather, but I have sworn to myself not once to complain of the 110 degree heat expected this weekend. I wont even say anything like, 'Wow, it's really hot! Because I have totally prepared myself mentally for this weather and I will thus spend most of my time in the pool or in our air conditioned room.

My Grandma Betty had several photo albums that I used to love to look through. Many of those were devoted soeley to her Palm Springs getaways. Photos of her by the pool, her friends by the pool, no one without a cigarette in hand.

So this is the Palm Springs that I expect to find. Our hotel has a retro feel to it and I plan on donning my yukata poolside, sans cigarette, maybe find the theater where my dad saw Rock Around the Clock when he was 8 and all the kids were dancing in the isles.

Well, even if it doesn't feel like 1955, I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time getting out of town and the kids will be loving the pool!

To everyone out there on the internets...have a splendidly loooooong weekend.

henry love papa

red