Last Names

On the way to KinderCare yesterday, Maggie was going through the names of everyone in her class (She likes to take pretend attendance - with a fake clipboard and a pen.) So, we went through everyone in her class and her family. She knows everyone's last names. But Ellie's name is special. Whenever we ask her what Ellie's full name is, she says it's Ellie Sweetie Pie. I think she is just being loving when she says that, but there's also the very real possibility that she is pretending that Ellie has different parents who live off with the Care Bears or something and that our family is just kindly watching after the poor child until her real parents come and get her. No, that can't be what she's thinking...

So much time and so little to do... Strike that. Reverse it.

It's just one of those weeks where everything is converging, and even the approach of the long weekend holds little relief since somehow through a cruel twist of fate, I'm teaching Jazzercise both Sunday and on Memorial Day. (Yeah, those'll be big classes...) At least one of them is up here and one is in Gresham so I can do the same set and nobody will be the wiser. I am due to be monitored, which has me constantly on edge and spending extra time making sure each set is well-balanced and yada, yada... I also have a meeting with a client tomorrow to show them this new project I've been working on for Radclyffe. It has involved learning a new application, which actually is pretty fun - but they don't know I only work 2 days a week, so they're wondering what's taking so long. And, well, then there are the kids - They have this pesky way of needing things like FOOD and CLOTHING and yeah, sometimes that just pushes things right over the edge. Even the cat is getting in on the action - sitting in front of my monitor at this very moment, staring into my face and willing me to fill his little bowl with kitty kibble.

Laurelwood Public House

On Friday, the girls and I had lunch with Jay near his work at the Laurelwood Public House on NW Kearney. It was one of the best dining out experiences I have had since having children, and the food had very little to do with it. It was hot on Friday, and we had walked up to the restaurant, driven by the desire to have a cold one in the middle of the day. We have been there with the girls before and sat outside, which is lovely, but Jay wanted A/C and it didn't take much convincing. So, we went inside and the server said the most lovely words I have heard in eons: "Do you want to sit upstairs near the play area so the kids can entertain themselves?" Whaaaat?!?! A place where I can drink a beer and my kids can play right next to me? I don't have to tie them to the table leg? And - NOBODY else was up there. It was as if we had rented the top floor, complete with balcony, for ourselves - or like we were sitting at our kitchen table having a beer - except SOMEONE WAS WAITING ON US. Yes, the food was fine. The beer was icy cold. The kids ate. The sun was shining. Aaaahhh.... This is how Fridays should be.

Lupine and Douglas Iris

All of the sudden it is almost 100 degrees and it's like, "Hey Spring - Move your ass, I'm Summer and I'm coming in!" As if they'd been out late last night and woken up bleary-eyed realizing their final exam started in 10 minutes, the lupine and Douglas iris have finally dragged themselves out of bed and shown up for class.

Animal Talk

Hey, Ellie... What does the DOG say?

What does the CAT say?

What does the HORSE say?

What does the COW say?

Make a squishy fishy face...

Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher's Pet? Sure, why not?

Bring Rocks and My Kids Will Be Happy

...and a dozen beers works pretty well with my husband.

Chris stopped by with both on his way from Hawaii to Alaska to the San Juans to Portland to the gorge to Eugene to New Jersey to Florida to Hawaii... He had just driven down the Alcan and had gathered some rocks along the way (no, really?) Ellie is a sucker for a good rock - Mags needs a little more convincing, but a little bowl of water to dip them in to bring out their colors and she was on board.

When you tell a Jazzercise class that you've just left your former boyfriend and your husband at your house drinking beer, there is an audible gasp, but really, it's fun when Chris blows through town. And blow through he did... He's off now to the next stop, but not until we had some fun last night at the house and this morning at Starbucks. Maybe we'll see him again over the summer... Hey, Chris - nice beard.