Celebrate Mississippi Cactus style

Recently my friend Kim turned 40. We all celebrated this FUN FUN time at the Red Devil Lounge listening to Mississippi Cactus - her brothers's band. They flew in from Milwaukee as did her parents to party party party!

It was a great time to catch up with friends that I hadn't seen in awhile. Margaret and BZ live in the east bay and I never get to see them at all anymore. My friend Michelle was also here whom I haven't seen in 7 years. She was my triathlon coach eons ago when I had time to dedicate to various extra curricular activities.

Happy birthday Kim, thanks for including us - and "maaaaaaannnnny mooooooore!!!!"

Fleeting moments

When Kiira was younger, she liked to come everywhere with me. It didn't matter if I was going to the grocery store or the drug store. All that mattered was that she was with me. Admittedly, there were days I wanted more alone time but I tried to keep in mind that this phase wouldn't last forever. In fact, as time has gone by, many other things have become more appealing than mommy. Friends, staying home to play, drawing, you name it. Who can blame her? I wouldn't go grocery shopping if I didn't have to.

When I steal a moment back in time, I am learning to treasure those Wobegon days. Not long ago, I went to put on my bathrobe and when I came out, who had their bathrobe on too? My big girl Kiira. She even vocalized, "I want to be just like mommy!"

A glimpse at their sweet little hearts makes your whole being melt and the sassy looks and smart alack remarks seem light years away. Again, they are your sweet innocence child who can do no wrong and thinks mommy is the center of their lives.

Treasured moments are fleeting. Etch them in your memory. Savor them when you need to.

Annual Ice Skating

The day after Thanksgiving we did our 3rd annual ice skating adventure. Each year we go down to Yerba Buena with Nancy and Gideon and kids and go ice skating. Last year was the first year Ginger and Evan skated and this year, they grabbed their cones and were off. They were pros. These "little kids" didn't even need to hang onto a grown ups hand! Kiira and June picked up where they left off and didn't want to get off the ice.

We topped off the fun activity with a play on the playground and then the merry go round. What's better than a trip into the city and fun adventures!!?

Il Senor

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving at Nancy and Gideon's house. Their new neighbors are Barb and Sean, Alan's good friend from college. So, Barb and Sean and their 3 kids came over to make for 6 adults, 8 kids and 2 dogs. We had plenty of food and a special bird brought by Barb - a free range, all organic, happy, big 'ole gobble gobble turkey.

Despite Nancy having swine flu (she didn't know it at the time!) she was the hostess with the mostess and everyone had a great time! Thanks Nancy and Gideon!

Mountain School visiting day

For a year and a half now, Kiira has been begging to go back to the Mountain School for a visiting day. She loved that school so much. There are days now when she says, "I wish I were at the Mountain School again". That just breaks my heart. While our public school is excellent and she is getting a wonderful education, it lacks wholeheartedly the magic and creative spark of our Waldorf inspired friend.

There are days I am torn whether we have done the right thing sending her to the public school. Am I making her grow up too fast? Am I exposing her to enough creative outlets? The answers, I am afraid, to these questions are "Yes" and "No" given the path in a public school. Is she reading beyond her age? Probably yes. Is she spelling and counting beyond her age? Probably so. But what is more valuable? She will eventually do the latter well no matter what but will she ever get a chance to do the former again?

I suppose time will tell and a parent's guilt never goes away for the "what ifs". We do our best, cross our fingers and try to compensate in the areas we feel our children's lives are lacking. Somehow that baggage just never goes away I am guessing......

Rascal

The only way to describe Lulu is with the word "rascal". Usually it is in a sentence like, "Lulu, get off the counter you rascal" or "Lulu, get your paw out of the fishtank you rascal".

She is constantly trying to get out the door and her latest favorite is to play the piano at about 2 am while we are sleeping.

Yes, that rascal!

Brown Bird down

The kids and I love to watch the birds off of our deck. We are lucky enough to be right on the edge of a green field with trees that butt up to our deck. We hang our birdfeeders and admire the bluejays, finch and morning doves that come to snack on our delicacies. We have wonderful viewing because the part of the house that faces the deck in nearly all windows. That is good for us but we are finding not so good for the birds. The birds see the reflection of the green trees in the window, think they are flying towards shrubbery and instead bounce off of the hard window.

Despite the fact that I have put Audobon society decals on the windows to prevent this, it still happens. On this particular day, we did have a happy ending. The bird must have just stunned itself for as we gave it some time, it started blinking again and finally got up. Come to find out after a worried call to the Marin Humane Society (not my first call) it can take up to 45 minutes for them to come out of their stupor. As you can see, Lulu was quite (worried?) about the bird as well. :-)

In the box, in the bag, in the cradle

Hawkeye is constantly amusing us by fitting into small spaces that we would never expect to find her in. Lately, a few of her favorites have been baskets, doll cribs and drawers. It's like constant hide and go seek in our house!

Fun Friday

Kiira's school has "Fun Friday". At recess, they turn on the music and the kids do their hula hooping, jump roping, running and ball playing to fun music. We grown ups took a cue and decided to have a fun Friday ourselves.

We got together with our friends from Kiira's kindergarten class for some dinner and drinks on a chilly Friday eve. As my mom would say, "What fun!".

High in the Sky

There is not alot of activity in the suburbs so when something goes on, it is noteworthy. On this particular day, our neighbor down the hill was cutting down a huge eucalyptus tree. It was actually fascinating to watch someone scale the tree and cut down each piece, slowly lowering it to the ground with a rope. I can say for certain that I will never be a tree trimmer. Despite the fact that my name does have the sound "high" in it, I have no desire to go higher than a ladder takes me.

Cold season

Yes, it is cold season. And the first one to get the cold in our house has been Lulu. Who knew that kitties were prone to colds as well? Poor thing had antibiotics and had to have eye drops for her runny eye.

For such a sassy kitty, she sure is the sensitive one to get sick more easily than her sister. She is peeking out of her carrier in this photo. NOT her favorite part - riding to the vet......

Relaxing Sunday

'Nuff said.

Trick or Treat?

Nancy and Gideon's (or should I say Olive Oil and Popeye's) annual Halloween party was last night. It goes without saying that it was a blast. We decided that it was the best one yet. Why - we asked ourselves? I have been racking my brain since then. As usual, Nancy was super organized with GREAT goodie bags for the kids (including a trick or treat flashlight and a toothbrush) and delicious food. But what else? We hadn't turned the clocks back yet so it was nice to trick or treat in the light. The kids were older so it was a bit easier. All these did make for a nice night but I felt I just hadn't hit on why it was so good. Then it occurred to me that the people that I got to see at this party every year were friends that we used to see every week. These women and their families were my mommy's group when Kiira was born. Now because of different schedules, kids being older, work for some, we don't see each other as much. Alot of the women I hadn't seen in almost 4-6 months.

There is something about your first mommy's group. Maybe it is all the firsts you go through together. Maybe it is the companionship you so crave when you are an isolated first time mother. Maybe it is the encouragement you need when you are so unsure of yourself in that new phase of life.





As life goes on, we meet other friends, other dear friends. But there is just a special place inside of me for my first time mommy friends. I don't get to see them nearly often enough so when I do, it becomes even more special.

Highlights of the night:

Seeing old friends:





Enjoying our costumes:




Sprinting (literally!) from house to house for trick or treating:



Tired cowboy, ready to go home.