I need a mirror!

I returned home from book club Thursday night and Clay took a picture of me so that I can see what others see when I go out in public. If you look closely, you can spot traces of George's lunch, Milo's drool and Goldie's fingerprints all on one canvas.



I don't want to mention names but someone else in my family may need a mirror as well. Hint: It's not Roomba.



And while I'm on the subject of family, I just learned tonight that Clay knows how to Moonwalk! I laughed, I cried, I ate the whole thing. (Not sure what I ate but that sounds funny.) You think you know someone, and then...

I'm still shocked that Michael Jackson is no longer with us. When I was a kid I was a dedicated fan. I remember the day his hair caught fire while filming a Pepsi commercial in the way people of another generation remember where they were when Kennedy was shot. It was a dark and overcast January 27th, 1984. I was in the shag carpeted basement of Sharon Kiss watching Cannonball Run when the unfortunate news came over the wires.

I was also lucky enough to travel to Vancouver and see one of his shows, during which, I remarked to my friend that I couldn't believe we were breathing the same air as him. At the tender age of 11, I was already deeply profound.

Momma say momma saw ma ma cu saw, indeed...

Valomilk

This is a Valomilk. Today we discovered it's a bad idea to give them to your children to eat in the back of the car. They are very, very messy and far too yummy for children. Consider yourself warned!



Tonight we went swimming and George wore an old wet suit we found in my mom and dad's garage. It's padded so he keeps afloat and he looked like Violet from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after she's blown up like a blueberry. He also wore one flipper and goggles. He was the "eccentric" kid.

Milo still keeps his fists closed tightly most of the day and when unfurled there is always a great collection of lint waiting to be removed. I should show George, since he loves to clean the lint out of the dryer.

Goldie melts my heart by drinking her milk so vigorously that she gets out of breath. Not sure why I love this, it just makes me smile.

George is attending Pirate Camp and thinks it is fabulous. Tomorrow is day four! Yar!

Goldie and I are writing a book on Seattle's Best Playgrounds. Today we reviewed Cowen Park and fell in love with their swings and old fashioned merry-go-round. Nothing delights her more than swings and slides. George has mastered the fire poll.

Milo smiles!

Last night I cooked my second worst meal, ever! Unfortunately it was for friends who had dined at a famous Seattle chefs house the previous night. I made overcooked, stringy halibut, which I can't even talk about. Gulp. I beg for a redo!

(Since you must know, my first worst meal was lemon pasta and I can't talk about that one either. The memory is too painful... It was also for company.)

Milo slept through the night once this week. He's a dream.

Goldie still says "o-tay" instead of "okay."

Clay has ruined four pair of pants, 8 t-shirts, one wallet, one belt from Barney's and a baseball cap by getting paint all over them. If you know of anyone who wants to rent an apartment in Madrona and finish the painting themselves, let us know. We don't have it in our budget for Clay to ruin any more clothing.

They can have $100 off the first month's rent.

Camano

We like to spend a lot of time on Camano Island in the summer. We also like to bring along our own professional photographer. Check out the images Peyman took on our last visit there. (Clay took the last photo, the one with Everest and Peyman in it.)







Peyman's wife tells her side of the story on her blog. Read it here.

http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/2009/jun/18/photo-friday-babys-first-road-trip/

Constructive Vandalism

Tonight we had dinner with our friends Jack, Sharon, Todd and Chris. Todd and Chris went to high school together and told us the funniest stories about their form of adolescent rebellion called "constructive vandalism".

The concept is that you do a random secret and illegal good deed for someone. Todd and Chris would break into someone's garage, mow their yard and then put the lawn mower back. Or perhaps they'd take someone's car and return it all tuned up. Other examples are breaking into someone's house and doing the their dishes and tidying up. The examples were endless. They told us of one instance of getting caught while mowing a lawn at 2 a.m. (after drinking a few) and trying to run from the lawn owner while pushing a mower down the street. When the owner, who knew Chris, caught up with him, he was simply confused and suggested they discuss it in the morning.

Well, we've had a little constructive vandalism here this week.

Someone stole one of our plates and returned it with a lovely batch of oatmeal cookies. I thought it was Nancy or Allie, but both said no. And I can't seem to remember anyone else who makes such yummy cookies in our area.

Fess up you constructive vandal!

Toot!

Milo is a baby and has gas.
Milo's toots are loud.
I'm holding Milo and Milo toots.
Goldie yells "Mommy tooted."
Mommy's face turns red.
I decide that Goldie isn't fit to visit public places.
Neither is Milo.

Cupcakes for lunch and dinner

What if you were two and your mom bought you a fancy pink frosted cupcake for lunch? And you got to eat your frosting and the frosting off your mom's red velvet cupcake?

And

What if you were four and you went to your crazy cousin Rita's house for dinner to show her your new brother and she gave you a chocolate cupcake and planted you in front of Scooby Doo cartoons?

You'd be a member of my family. That is what.

Highlights of My Week

George and Goldie are creating the most tolerant baby ever. They squish him, touch his face, lay on top of him and pretty much smother him with love. And he doesn't seem to mind.


If you ever wish to purchase a gift for one of my children, don't. Plus, I really dislike writing thank you notes. If you must get us something, a cardboard box is the preferred gift. See G and G in their "boat"?


Clay is busy, busy, busy remodeling an apartment unit. It smells like old lady and I wish him luck getting the smell out. George and Goldie call him a "worker man," which cracks me up. Check out the dirty light switch. Imagine what the toilet looked like. Yum.





Goldie intentionally eats her boogers. (Take binky out of mouth, insert booger from finger and quickly replace binky.) She thinks no one notices. Doesn't she look like a booger eater?

I baked the yummiest chocolate crinkle cookies, which I'm thinking of adding to my bakery menu. That will make four items on the menu. http://theirishjewishbakery.blogspot.com/
We are already taking orders for Groundhog Day.

George gave me his list of things he wants to be when he grows up today, one of them was a robber. Yay. Maybe he'll hook me up with some jewels.

Goldie colored on her face today with a marker and when I asked who did it she blamed Milo. I believe her direct quote was "Um... MyYo." MyYo is how she pronounces his name, which is closer than what she used to say, which was "Mason." and later "Not Mason."

I'm sick of the ice cream man. Wish he'd never darken our door step again.

I've taken all three kids out alone multiple times. Even to restaurants! I had to leave very big tips 'cause we are a disater without worker man Clay. He better finish that stinky apartment soon.

Dr. Pepper?

What is the flavoring in Dr. Pepper?


Today I saw a bus with an ad for new Cherry Dr. Pepper. I always thought it was cherry to begin with. To me, it's always tasted like cherry flavored lipstick.
(I wish they'd make pepper flavor. I actually might drink soda if they did.)

Anyway, after pondering this most of the day, I went to Mr. Pepper's (that's Dr. Pepper to you, mister) website to verify and serendipitously learned that you can win a Camaro on their site.

This really made me laugh equating Dr. Pepper drinkers and Camaro drivers. (Who knew they still made Camaros?) And I laughed even harder reminiscing about my friend Kristen and I crashing her mom's Camaro when we were 16 while driving over the 520 bridge at 4am.

Kristen, you could totally win this for your mom and all will be forgiven!

http://www.drpepper.com

Sister? No, brother.

This is Goldie in the car eating a bagel wearing a bikini.

And this is what she said:

"Where's my sister?
No, I'm sister!
Where's my brother?"

Thing one and Thing two

At Camano Island in another pair of matching pjs.

Milo received a pair as a gift and I had to get G and G a pair in their size.
Trust me, I'd make fun of me too if I wasn't me. But come on. It's a little cute, isn't it?