accident prone?

I thought it was a nice idea to take the kids bowling after school today. Gage was in his own little world bowling set after set. Zuzu was having a blast too (in her own weird way). She would sit quietly coloring for a bit... then get up and run a lap around the computer... then go right back to coloring.

Grandma and I were actually enjoying ourselves too. I had one strike and several impressive looking 9's on the screen. Until. Until I walked up to the line with the ball, swung my arm aggressively with my eight pound ball, nailed Zuzu who had unsuspectingly run up behind me, and knocked her to the ground. She was hysterical. It was a dramatic few minutes while we tried to assess the damage.

We tried everything, even chocolate ice cream but nothing would console her. All she wanted to do was "go night-night mommy". This was not good. So we called for help...literally.

Sirens roaring, a fire truck and ambulance were at the bowling alley within minutes. Of course, when they arrived, Zuzu was in my arms scarfing down the now melting all over me chocolate ice cream. She was on the mend. We put down the ice-cream and the medics gave her a quick once-over anyway. They then let the little monkey and her star-struck older brother explore the ambulance.

Fortunately, I had my camera with me as the kids lounged in the ambulance. Unfortunately, I was far too embarrassed to actually set up a good shot.

Gage throws a spare:


Zuzu keeps score:


Checking out the buttons in the ambulance:


Following the ambulance out - fortunately none of us were in it:


I asked Zuzu if she wanted to go bowling again and she confidently told me no but Gage is hooked so we'll definitely be going back. There is no doubt in my mind that when we return Gage will reiterate a version of what he told me several times on the way home. It will go something like this, "Mommy, do you remember when we came here and you hit Zuzu in the head with a bowling ball?"

lego mechanic for hire

Last night while driving up highway 101 to dinner, Gage inquired about bus drivers, who are they and why someone would want to be a bus driver. Grandma Pat was there and she began to tell Gage how important bus drivers are because they make people happy, which she followed up with a personal experience to prove her point. She then explained to Gage that bus drivers have to take special classes and get special licenses to do their job.

This led to a frequent conversation that we have about high school, college, picking a trade and becoming an expert, getting a job & going to work. Gage has an insane preoccupation with growing up. I'm assuming this is normal for a 4 1/2 year old?!

This conversation really lasted no longer than 3 minutes but then got into how and when Daddy picked his job and how and when Mommy picked hers. Of course, Mommy no longer has a job which is still a novel concept so I joked, "I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up." (Actually not so much a joke).

To which Gage replied something like this, "but Mommy, you already have a job. You are the best lego builder ever. You should go around to all the kids houses that get legos and help build them." I cried. Dammit, I am appreciated!

So if you've got a problem with your legos...apparently I'm an expert.

a room fit for a princess

It's finally (almost) done. Done enough to share photos. There are things I would change (of course) but all in all Zuzu is quite pleased.

The wall graphic from blik was definitely frustrating to hang but was well worth the effort. Great option for California kids that can't have anything heavy hanging over their heads. Zuzu loves her big girl bed from PB Teen with her Dwell bedding however she likes it best when mom is in the bed too. The storage cubes from Via Toy Box are so easy to keep up and worked perfectly in the small space. Love the dress prints that Annie special ordered me at Goodnite Moon (new website coming soon) even though the one on the left is not the right pattern (who would know but me?). The vintage mirror, Saarinen tulip table from DWR & "zuzu" letters from Anthropologie help to break up the slightly overdone brown and pink (I got a little carried away). Shaggy Raggy rug & metal buckets are from Goodnite Moon as well. Thanks Annie!

Now we just need to get the little princess to actually sleep in her new room...

happy half birthday to you...

That's right. Half birthday. Four and a half to be exact. And boy did we celebrate. We started bright and early with presents. That's Gage's new 4 1/2 year old bike. (in all fairness he hasn't had a new bike in two years and was well overdue 1/2 birthday or not) This was followed by tennis lessons, popsicles in the park, lunch...various afternoon activities...dinner and cake. Yes, a special power ranger cake that read, "Happy 4 1/2 Birthday Gage!". I can only imagine what the cake decorator at Safeway was thinking...

stepping up

How cute is this? I pulled the image from Design Public but saw it on a few other sites tonight as well.

stuffed

I am not a fan of those family stickers on the back of the SUV's all over town but somehow these custom made pillows from Branch are different. Silly expensive but oh so cute.

social butterflies

That's the title of the new CB2 catalog that came in the mail today. I have to say, it's a good thing their corporate office is not here with the rest of the retail giants because this catalog almost inspires me to want to get back in the biz. Nicely done Crate.

Here are some of my fav's from the latest book:

lilies of the nile

Isn't this sweet? It's a series of six 20" x 20" x 4" metal etchings by San Francisco artist Beth Weintraub. She's making one just like it for our dining room. I'm in love.

I'm just sayin'...

The kids are making pictures to welcome Grandma to the house tomorrow. Something about this one made me giggle.

laughter is the best medicine

I'm pretty sure that when your kid has a fever, and stays home from school, you are not supposed to take them to the mall to buy shoes and ride simulated roller coaster rides. Oh well, at least I admit it when I'm being a negligent parent. They didn't seem to mind!

lefty

Gage's first official tennis lesson was a big hit.

blabla

I bought Gage one of these cuddly cat dolls about four years ago when he latched on to it at Mill Valley Baby & Kids. I didn't know anything about it but he loved it and that's just the way it works. He loves. I buy.



Lately I've been seeing more and more of them around town. Tonight, I noticed them in an article on cool mom picks, one of the inspirational blogs on my sidebar. Apparently, these darling dolls are made in Peru by a company called blabla kids. The collection is irresistible. They even have a giant size doll that's 3 feet tall. Dolls are not cheap but did I mention irresistible? I bought three for Zuzu:





Don't you just want to take one to bed yourself? I just might!

out with the old?

Zuzu has a new favorite song. She's only heard it once but she was riveted by the video and begged for more. I just don't know if "more mushaboom" is going to be as easy to whine as "more no one"!

It's by Feist and you can watch it here on youtube.

Gage got a Bionicle for Passover

The evening started quite well considering there were eight young children joining us at Seder. They drank some wine, ate some matzoh and surprisingly enough, were quite participatory.
See exhibit A.



Somehow we managed to make it through the Haggadah with very little distraction and the children then settled, kicking and screaming, in front of the television.
See exhibit B.



Did I once stop to think...is this going too smoothly? Nope. Maybe I should have. Therein lies exhibit C.



No, our friends do not have a funny medical room at their lovely home. This shot was taken at Marin General Hospital after Gage got bored with the movie, climbed on a chair, fell and drove one of his front teeth directly through his chin.

Fortunately, Scott and I had consumed the obligatory four glasses of wine (I jest...sort of) and both remained quite calm. And fortunately, the doctor seemed to think that stitching it up could cause more harm than good in terms of preventing infection so we got out of there (90 minutes later) with a prescription for penicillin and one relieved kid.

Might I add that our day tomorrow will entail following through with all of the promises that we made tonight under duress. Which is the sheer irony of the whole event because Passover is probably one of the only holidays that we have avoided giving gifts (the $.25 for the afikoman doesn't count). Leave it to Gage to find a way.

speaking of shoes

I got these pretty little flats at anthropologie yesterday. They bring out the ballerina in me.

bargain hunter

I suppose there are some perks to a failing economy.



Use the coupon code FRIEND2008 at checkout when you shop on line at babystyle. Valid this Thursday through Sunday only. Plus, they are now offering free shipping on $125 or more.

I got these adorable morgan and milo shoes there for Zuzu a few months ago. She wore them today and got sooooo... many compliments. I love them so much I might buy the next size up so they can live on all summer.

spring is in the air

...and under the highway. This doesn't look like much, but that's the sheer beauty of it. This is a shot of the flowers... taken from out the window of my car...from my phone...as I exited the highway. I thought it was pretty. I love Spring. (ha-chu!)

better late than never?

I read this in an article on yahoo tonight. "Wal-Mart, the nation's largest seller of firearms, announced Monday it will toughen rules for gun sales, from storing video of purchases to creating an internal log of which guns they sell that are later used in crimes."

My initial reaction was pure shock that this concept somehow appears to be an epiphany. Then I read on and learned that this might actually upset some folks but that Wal-Mart is taking a stance and doing it anyway. Heroes that they are.

This moved me quickly from shock to bitter disgust. I get it, people like guns. I don't, but people do. But, if you're not a criminal buying a gun why in the world should you care?

Help me out people. What am I missing?

got dirty kids?

Found this product in Dwell magazine today. It's available on the CleanWell website, at a variety of local pharmacies and kid's stores and apparently at my favorite weekly haunt... Target.

It was developed by a husband and wife to allow their son with an immune disorder to function in every day activities. Packaged in a cool, counter friendly bottle, their product cleans and sanitizes without the common (and toxic) ingredient triclosan.

Dwell recommends the Lavender Absolute flavor.

oh the drama

This morning Gage closed himself off in his room and was singing, presumably in front of the mirror, for a good 20 minutes. All original music. It was lovely. When he emerged, I told him how much I'd enjoyed it. He thanked me and told me that his classmates liked his performances as well. That led him into a "Gage rant" in which he compared his pre-school to High School Musical and left him seriously wondering which school he would rather attend. He finally spun on one foot and turned away from me with both hands on his forehead and a very dramatic, "oh, this is getting so hard!".

I am so NOT looking forward to the teenage years.

gas prices hit all time high

I've been thinking lately that Gage was outgrowing his Batman bike that we got him nearly two years ago...until I saw this.



Poppy, if you're checking in...I'm sorry for exploiting you, and I know you still have issues with giving up that convertible Caddy, but it's time to give Zach his bike back. You're far too big and overdressed.

some things just never change

I don't know if all parents feel this way but I get this awesome sense of accomplishment when one of our childhood favorites becomes a hit with the next generation. Like this one. It doesn't play obnoxious tv show tunes, it doesn't shoot, it doesn't laugh and roll over, it doesn't need batteries and (with the exception of a few cheesy licensing deals) the guys at wham-o haven't really changed it in nearly 50 years (yup, 50).

The slip n' slide. Every kid should have at least one.

if life hands you lemons...

(or the most prolific lemon tree on the block)...
make lemonade!

It never fails. Every year when the weather turns and a grandmother visits we pull out the juicer and begin working our way through the over abundance of lemons in the back yard. We aimlessly add sugar and water...make a huge mess...take a sip...say "yummy!" (for the kids benefit)...and then pour it down the sink.

But not this year. This year we actually took two minutes to google lemonade recipes where we learned about simple syrup. Simple it is. But, oh what a difference it made to our lemonade!

Here are the simple steps to simple syrup and truly yummy lemonade straight from busy cooks.com.

Blend 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar well in small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves completely. Let cool and refrigerate. (This is the simple syrup.)

Mix the simple syrup well with the juice from 4-6 lemons (strained or not, as you like) and stir well. Add 4 cups cold water and mix.

Simple as that.
Now if you happen to find yourself in a lemon shortage come on over...we've got you covered!

cheap child labor

The kids were so excited to see daddy's new office today. They actually got to hang out in the "game room" and play guitar hero. Dad played the drums, Gage was on bass and Zuzu covered the vocals. Here they are rocking out to Boston. (pictures are pretty crummy due to the fact that I left the camera at home and was forced to capture an awesome day on my phone...never again.)



What the kids didn't know was that daddy had some other things in mind for them. After a quick trip to the roof to unwind from the video games the kids were put to work. The two lefties quickly got started jotting down their ideas. Brown nosers.

T.G.I.F & N.E.R.D

It's been a busy week of school, play dates, a haircut, a movie, music, gymnastics, karate, soccer and everything in between. Did I forget to mention that Scott has been out of town so these busy days all started at 5:30 am with one parent? Did I also forget to mention that Scott has been in NYC shooting a music video?

Yup, you read right, a music video. For Pharrell Williams and his group N.E.R.D. The song is called "Everybody Nose". And no, I didn't confuse "knows" with "nose". You can find out why the odd title if you listen to a few sound bites here on youtube. Oh, and if shooting a music video with hot chicks and talented musicians wasn't exciting enough...they were surprised with visits by Lindsay Lohan AND Kanye West both of which ended up with cameos in the video.

Impressed? Not done yet. Apparently there was a huge fight on set the last night of shooting and the crew walked off. They managed to finish the video but the incident garnered press by the likes of MTV. Unreal.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still super excited to be here with my two adorable kids changing diapers, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry...

creative costuming

Gage is either a very creative child or slightly confused. Or maybe both. In case you ever wondered, this is what happens when Optimus Prime meets Cowboy Gage.

where's waldo?

Can you spot Zuzu among the headless Baby Gap mannequins? Of course you can, silly, but it's still cute! (Too bad she's dressed in high fashion by Target.)

siblings without rivalry? really?

Based on the advice of one of my super mom friends, I picked up my copy of this book today at Book Passages.



Now I just need them to stop fighting long enough to read it.
Wish me luck!

a brilliant buck

Please tell me that I am not the only loser that had absolutely no idea that the "dollar" store concept generates billions of dollars? Billions. What got me started on this one you might ask? Short story long...

Gage and I went to the movies at a mall that houses a variety of discount stores including Macy's, Mervyn's and Applebee's. Not one of my favorite haunts. We spent about 10 minutes and $7.00 plus tax and left with 2 power ranger coloring books, a bag of plastic green army men and a sheet of temporary tattoos. Now if you're a math whiz like me (not) you may wonder why we paid $7.00 for 4 items at a "dollar" store. I was curious too, especially after the tattoos ended up a bust and were stuck to the paper. So, I opened the laptop and hit google.

What I found ASTOUNDED me. Now, I admit I did a little too much research but I just couldn't stop. Look at these numbers...

1. Dollar General has over 8200 stores in 35 states. They generated $9.5 Billion dollars in 2007 and comp store sales were +3.5%

2. Dollar Tree sells everything at $1.00 or less (they were the only company to say this) and reported sales of $4.24 Billion in 2007

3. Family Dollar Store advertises that most items are under $10.00, has 6500 stores in 44 states and generated $6.8 Billion last year.

4. My Dollar Store is a franchise concept that didn't overtly advertise sales or number of sales.

The store we visited was a "Dollar Plus" however I have not been able to find any credible corporate information on them. Based on what I did see on line however, my guess is that it's a random franchise group trying to cash in. Smart. But I'm still bummed about the tattoos.

zuzu's wedding dress

It's a rare occasion that I pay full price for ANYTHING at Baby Gap because it ends up on the sale rack a week later. It's a rule. Today, however, while strolling aimlessly through the mall during my much needed three hours off, I found this dress. Even on a hanger it had the perfect amount flounce and came in THE most delightful shade of pink for a brown skinned summer babe.

It was time to negotiate with myself. So, I bought it, with the rationale that she will be wearing it to James & Emmilee's beach wedding this summer. If, of course, I can stand to wait that long.