the dark ages

This morning I flipped on the TV for the kids so I could spend 10 minutes getting ready in peace. (HA!) For whatever reason, Lassie was on. I briefly explained the premise to the kids... that the dog was named Lassie and that she was a rescue dog. As I scooted away I mentioned that it was a show from when I was a little girl. Gage shouts back, "then why isn't it in black and white?" Nice.

happily ever after

Well, we finally did it. Disney on Ice. Never thought it would happen. Never really wanted it to. And then something unexplainable took over and I was online purchasing tickets. The things we do for our beloved children.

This was not just Disney on Ice. This was Disney Princesses on Ice. And it was adorable. They told six princess stories, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Little Mermaid, Mulan, Snow White & Beauty and the Beast. Most of the stories left out the scary factor with the exception of Ursula the Sea Witch who had quite a presence. They gave us the majority of the story, minus the ending one after the other. Then, as Zuzu is screaming "Where is Cinderella??!!", they all rejoined us on the ice for simultaneous happy endings. It was very sweet yet also so very ridiculous as, one after another, all of the beautiful girl gets kissed by their prince and awake from a deep sleep to skate off in his arms. Just a slight enhancement of the lack of creativity present in these fairy tales.

They then announced an intermission. That kind of sucked. We'd been there 90 minutes already, we all had to pee (but not bad enough to brave the crowds), it was lunch time, the only act left was Cinderella and Gage was done by Mulan. But I suppose they needed to sell some more $20 wands and $15 programs so we went with it.

Fortunately, the Cinderella story was actually quite beautiful. They opened with a troop of skating soldiers, most of them kids, as they waited for everyone to re-enter the room. Cinderella had three costume changes and both the step-sisters and the mice were quite entertaining. There was a lousy lesson in arithmetic as the fairy godmother announces the coach with four white horses...and then only three horses appear...but I'm quite sure neither of our children noticed.

All in all, I would recommend the show. But I have a few words of wisdom. Bring cash if you want to spoil your kids. There are loads of vendors trolling the aisles with trinkets (much easier than waiting in line for them outside) but they are terribly expensive and they only take cash. Fortunately Gage didn't want anything and we had just enough for a light up wand for Zuzu. Phew.

And most of all, pick your date and time carefully. The show is over two hours long. I can't imagine bringing kids to a 7pm show. We made the mistake of going to a Sunday morning show, at a venue that shares a parking lot with the Oakland Raiders Football Stadium. On game day. Yeah, not good.

This is what your typical Disney on Ice ticket holders looks like...



And your typical Oakland Raider fans...



Made for a very interesting combination in the parking lot. And far more traffic than anyone should endure. Ever.

Here are just a few of our favorite moments from the show for your viewing pleasure...

love note

Today was stressful. Not sure why it was more stressful that usual. Maybe it had something to do with the typhoon that hit at 4am and pounded us for twelve straight hours. Maybe.

Anyway, on the way home I had a mom moment in the car. You know, one of those moments where everyone is whining and complaining and asking you for something all at once and you just lose it and scream, "What about me? Does anyone care what I want?" Of course they don't. But I said it. I couldn't help it.

Everyone was pretty quiet for the next few minutes. Then Gage told me that he had something to tell me but he wanted to write it down when we got home because he was too shy to tell me in person.

So we went home. By the time I had all the wet raincoats, rain boots, umbrellas, backpacks, lunchboxes & karate gear unloaded from the car I stepped inside and he handed me this.

In Gage speak it reads, "I will only get presents when it is my birthday or christmas or hanukah."

My sweet boy. My sweet, sweet boy.

oink?

Yesterday for breakfast, Zuzu tried bacon for the very fist time. She devoured an entire strip.

Eight hours later we went through our nightly ritual over dinner. Each night we answer the same three questions. These were her responses:

The best part of my day was Cooper's party.
The worst part of my day was Willem coming over.
(Zuzu still hasn't grasped the definition of the word "worst" as she adored having Willem over)
What I am thankful for is all of us eating dinner.
(pause)
And I love bacon.

P.S. Twenty-four hours later we are once again sitting at dinner. Since beginning this post she has eaten at least 7 pieces of salami. We clearly have issues.

super fly guy

It's official. Gage is reading. And not just memorizing books we read over and over, or looking at the pictures to determine what is going on in the story...really reading. So many people have told me that it just clicks on. One day they are reading by memorizing and the next day they are looking at new words, in new books and the bulb just goes on. And it's true. That's exactly how it works.

But you know what's more amazing than the fact that he is reading? The fact that he LOVES it. Like face in book while walking to school, loves it. Like doesn't want to do much else, loves it. And I love that.

He checked out the book pictured above, Super Fly Guy, from the school library on Monday and has read it over and over and over again. The author has done something really special here (must be because he's a Florida Gator that he's so smart) by creating a clever character that evolves throughout a series of beginning reader chapter books. Did you find the key phrase in that sentence? Yup, chapter books. Do you know how proud a first grader is to finally be reading a "chapter book" even though the 30 page large print story hardly warrants chapters? Wow, now that is grown up.

Gage got two of his very own Fly Guy books at the book store today. Hooray for Fly Guy & There was an Old Lady that Swallowed a Fly Guy. But he does have a birthday coming up so if you're a Grandparent (or a random stranger that feels like giving Gage a gift for his 6th birthday) there's an idea for you...

birthday girl

It's October 3rd again. My Grandma's birthday. This was my post on her birthday last year. Isn't she simply lovely?

Tonight I am sitting here, alone, eating frozen pizza (she loved pizza) and thinking of how much I wish she were still with us. I think I miss her more every year. That's not supposed to happen. Maybe it has something to do with the growing reality of my own mortality. But maybe I just miss her.

For the few of you that aren't related to me and reading this blog, I'm the little blonde girl in the three shots. The third photo is four generations of moms. Mine, hers and hers.

So, on October 3rd, 2009 I once again remember & celebrate. Here's to all the wonderful women in my life. I love you and miss you!

devil dog

project runway?

It was hard not to laugh at Zuzu and one of her best little friends as they modeled three fabulous wigs for us during a play date this week. Of course, they both already donned pink princess costumes, princess heels & spoke confidently into their plastic mobile phones. While holding my roaring laughter to a mere chuckle, I couldn't help but to think of all those poor little girls that participate in beauty pageants and this age, and look somewhat like Zuzu here, with more makeup of course. And I couldn't help but to wonder how their parents find this endearing when it's just plain outrageous. Cute but absolutely outrageous.

Oh, and did you ever wonder what Zuzu's favorite part of our grand three day trip cross country to Disney World was? You'll never guess...