Tulip Festival

On Friday we (Molly, CK, Leon and Sylvie) went to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Though I have seen hundreds of these photos at other people's houses over the years, I had never been myself. I have to say: 'you had to be there'. A sea of tulip fields with different colored waves makes a lovely visual impression.

Passover

We had two lovely Seders again this year - one with almost 30 Hassons and then a smaller one at our home with 12. We are surviving Passover by eating Matzoh with fresh Chevre and Tapenade - THANKS to my friends at DeLaurentis!

Christie and Randy Announced their ENGAGEMENT at the Seder!

Late Night

Ever since I started taking flonase I can't go to bed until 1:30. I am only taking flonase because I "snore" according to someone who TOTALLY snores and won't admit it. Whatever, I am still snoring probably because it is one of those things that you have to take everyday or it doesn't work - it has to be "in your system". Again, whatever. I can't remember to take it even though it literally sits next to the coffee maker that I use every morning, without fail. I think it might be because I feel like it is keeping me awake. Although it probably all stems from when my mom said "don't take it at night cause you won't be able to sleep" and even though, when I have taken it, I do it first thing in the morning, I still think its keeping me awake.

I made $11,000 dollars last year which is probably what I made working at costco when I was 16 working on the weekends. I love having a job cause I really like the work I am doing but unfortunately, it doesn't cover the cost of the babysitter/housekeeper. Bad times. I don't want to "go back to work" because I want to be around my kids for more than a few hours at night. Also, I don't think it would be so easy to just get a great job.

I am also having a creative burst of energy where everywhere I look I see a project. I decided to paint the two front window's trim black. I always loved the Bernbaum's beige house with white and black trim - so elegant. They also had fabulous pussy willow wallpaper in their guest bathroom which was also beige and black and white. Other ideas I had tonight include:

1. painting the mailbox with a pink, white and black paisley pattern

2. hanging family photos on the walls - Joey's family on one and mine on another - like old photos - is that strange?

3. Major gardening projects all aimed at covering up the unsightly chain link fence that we have to keep until we can trust that our kids won't run off into the road (another 6 years?): building a trellis for a climbing rose around the gate on the south west corner, planting fruit trees, in pots for a few years and then in the ground on the random notch of grass between the neighbor's house and ours, deciding which vegetables to plant next to the carrots and peas. I also want to put forget me nots everywhere. Favorite flower.

4. There is currently a sanded down 4-drawer file cabinet in the shed waiting for me to paint it white with spray paint. Joey totally does not think it will work!

I just co-wrote a grant with two other neighbors to the Department of Neighborhoods for the planning of a water-spray park in the new Jefferson Park playground. It felt good to be involved in this way and I decided I much prefer working on a smaller team than being at the bigger meetings. I wrote the sections on neighborhood involvement and community building and basically had to persuade that just the planning of the water feature would build bonds in the neighborhood between diverse cultures and would develop a shared sense of responsibility between neighbors and business owners, etc. Alot of B.S. but exactly what they asked for. Writing a grant is like writing a college application including the financial aid form. It is stressful and hard to keep track of where the cuts and pastes are. I think we did a great job though and I make two new almost friends who I would never have even met though they live within 1/2 mile of me.

I am planning the Bush 1987 class reunion with Jacqueline which should be easier than it has been. It's hard to track down the only 40 people that were in my class but we have found most. Most unfortunately, we cannot find most of the members of our class who made up the diversity quotient. Though they would probably be the most interesting to see. I was surprised by this and hope it's not for the obvious reasons of class and race divisions in our society. I love to think that it has to be more complicated and individual and fascinating. Most likely not. Still, there has been some great reconnecting as well as a full dose of 1986 drama revisited. OY! It stands to be perfect cause it is a party at Phil's manse in Seward park in the day and a alum only soiree at night at Ried's market condo's rooftop. Lovely.

Passover is coming on Monday and Tuesday and I will be making ridiculous amounts of Matzoh Roca which is just matzah covered with toffee (butter and sugar) and chocolate. Phew Then the second night we are hosting and my Mother-in-law is making most of the food. So, not so bad but a little hectic. I am looking forward to it. Last year with just my parents on the second night, we added an orange to the seder plate to represent the matriarchs. We will see if Joey goes for that again with his parents and the Bernstiens present. The Bernstiein's are making gifelte fish. hm. I thought it came from a jar. I really love the tastes of passover the hillel sandwich is the best: haroset with chunks of apples and nuts dressed with wine and cinnamon topped with cream style horseradish barely held together by two pieces of crumbling matzoh. YUM! Topped off with a sprig of parsley dipped in a bowl of saltwater. It doesn't get better than that!

Here is a photo of Pete getting his butt kicked by his daughter at their AMAZING new house in Yakima!

Love Mew

1 and a half and 3 and a half

Once again, we ventured down to Southcenter for the bi-annual kiddie Kandid photo session. Leo didn't quite get it and I was sitting just out of frame constantly pulling his hand out of his mouth. Sylvie HAMMED it up and has pemanently adopted the head-tilt and smile move - not sure where she gets that!?!? It's the shoes that barely rescue them from looking like young republicans, I am a sucker for classic children's clothes but I love a different shoe. I can't take credit for either of these pairs however, Kimberly gave us the boots and Jen gave us the Orange sneakers. THANKS! Leo's hairdo makes him look like someone named GLEN.

Taking a Meeting

We get some hand-me-downs once in a while, but this little number beats anything we have ever gotten...hands down!

three and a half

We did it. I couldn't help it. It was such a big deal to Sylvie and the winter is so dreary..we needed a bright orange cake, some decorations and some friends and family to celebrate with us.

Sylvie got 1/2 presents like three and a half - half dollars from my mother and three half pairs of socks from Noni. (to be joined by their partners in another box, of course) Not such a bad tradition to start.

Sylvie's Class Led Shabbat

The teachers were singing quietly so that the kids could be heard but the kids take that as their que to sing quietly. The whole thing was wispered. We went to Goldbergs for Ruebens and pickles to celebrate afterward.

Blessing over the candles.

In case you didn't know...she's the one in pink

Snow Day

Backyard Snow on one tree hill.

Joey's Birthday

Joey wanted his birthday dinner at a Tatami room at Busch Garden's. My parents ate there FORTY years ago when it was probably much um, better. Don't bring a one year old to a tatami room - everything is at their level including hot tea, soysauce, sticky rice and pokey chopsticks. Duh. At least Sylvie was dressed in her WINTER kimono.

New Year Surprise

Kris and I went to Sam Clams Disco for a little New Year's Eve getaway.

Highlights:

• The look on Boyd's face when we surprised him.
• Funnest Party I've been to in a long time.
• Two hour Ginger Rub Massage at Bliss Spa.
• Staying at the W.

Oh, and some real life carni's got in the fridge...

I love Sting

Still. Even though I am 37. Since I was 13. What is that 24 years?! From Roxanne to Synchronicity to Desert Rose. On my Senior page in my yearbook I had a photo of Sting next to a tear from GQ that said "There are Men Who Know" So 80's yet so hopefull. From Saving the Rain forest to Tantric Sex. Think Globally act locally, yknow what I mean!?! What more could you ask for? Sting, I'll be wrapped around YOUR finger, ok? All I want is to be next to YOU!I don't like that fields of gold song though - it sucks.

Macabee Video

Here is Sylvie's Class singing their special hanukah performance!

First Night of Hanukah

There was a black out during the first night of Hanukah because of the HUGE WINDSTORM OF 2006 - DRAMA!! Anyway, we all gathered at the Hassons who had their electricity and celebrated together. Later that night, around 8pm, our neighbors called to say that our power had been restored - PHEW. Check out the tree that fell down one block away...

San Diego

The day after leo's party we left for a weekend trip to San Diego for a party celebrating Joey's cousin Josh's wedding. The wedding was last summer and none of us could make it so they had a west coast party. We stayed at the fabulous Rancho Bernardo inn and got massages (the girls) and then partied at night. It was fun to get away with only grown-ups. Of course I don't have any photos of Josh and Katherine because they were schmoozing all night while we had fun. Joey even got called up to make a fool of himself and do a dance.

Melissa and Lindsay

Papou and Noni

Leo's First Birthday

Not familiar with winter birthdays - I wasn't sure how to have a party for Leo's first birthday but we managed a small one with very familiar faces for him. Cambria said it was the best one-year-old reaction to the cake she had seen. He was smiling ear to ear like "All this for me?!" and loved the attention! This year changed my life for good. Leo has made my busier and probably permanently increase my heart rate a bit. I now have another person to worry about - and all those crazy mom worries like will he drown in the ocean when he is 17 are still there - and another person to adore. He is so cute and especially cuddly. Today he walked across the house just to kiss me and lay his head on my shoulder - then he walked away to keep playing. Love a little boy!

Noni made a Jelly Bean cake that said LEO 1!

Leo's first car!

Leo Kap

Can't resist posting this darling photo of Leo Kap - the other leo in Sylvie's life

ECS a gogo

November started off with a bang. I helped plan a disco party at the JCC benefitting Sylvie's school. Joey and I had the outfits from Rachel and Pete's disco glam wedding so we were comfortable (joey especially in those stretchy pants) and ready to dance. IN fact, we were the only ones who danced for the first 3 hours. We were ready to go by the time the party started which was fine with my mom who was watching the kids.

Why can you see every tooth in my mouth when I smile - count em!

Here is Joey gettin' down

But my favorite photo from the night is this one of Rob Wolf which I think would make a great cover of HEEB magazine - the HAIR issue. Don't have a CHAI that big!

Enchanted Bitterness

The first trick or treating outing for our family was so many things but mostly ridiculous. Start with the weather - 22 degrees and dark at around 4:30.
Add the get up - The Cinderella costume was not so well thought out. All I was concerned about was the layering and Sylvie ended up with a turtleneck, a down vest and two white sweaters on the top and track pants and sneakers on the bottom. She could barely move her arms and was constantly tripping on the skirt/pant/shoe combo.
Then, add the wig which was technically a Sleeping Beauty wig and, had I tried it on before we actually were walking out the door, I would have shorn to a more manageable size. It had to be held to her poor little head with at least 10 bobby pins. The first time you experience bobby pins should not be to hold on a 12 pound wig to your three year old head.
Mix in the totally illogical idea of ringing doorbells, saying a new phrase and collecting candy in a bag to be eaten later. WHAT?!?
Sylvie, Max and Gracie - three three year olds on their first Halloween. As we were leaving the house, another group of trick or treaters showed up with a Dad dressed in a HUGE bull costume that literally had a battery powered airblower. His bull head was close to 8 feet tall. This freaked everyone else out. A few steps past our house, our neighbor was having a haunted garage. Gracie was so freaked out by the bull that she wanted to be carried, Sylvie was so psyched to be Cinderella outside that she ran and did twirls down the street while Max headed straight for the haunted garage. We were already split up.
Did I mention that we had two dressed up babies in adorable costumes TOTALLY covered by the snuglis that they had to wear in order to make the 3 block trek. All you could see of them was two sets of eyes, some random fur and a couple pacis.
Our neighborhood had sparsely Halloween friendly houses which made the trek even longer. At every house, one or the other kid tried to make their way past the candy into the warm, well lit house of a stranger. "I wanna go to go home" started after one block. At one house, we rang the doorbell and were greeted by a pre-recorded THUNDERCLAP which literally made ALL of us jump and, as the three sets of parents shook their heads in disbelief, the three children turned to run down the 20 steps. Don't try to run down 20 steps in a costume, especially not a ball length gown or a unicorn rider get up.
Back to the candy. It wasn't worth it. Every bowl of mixed treats that was presented to the three year olds was so mind-boggling it took 5 minutes of encouragement and rule presentation to get to the turn-around: "say trick or treat!" "only take one!" "say thankyou!" "put it in the bag!" "say thankyou!" "let's go!" "don't go in the house!" "do you want m&ms or skittles?" WHAT!?!
Put it this way, at each house, Sylvie grabbed at least two pieces of whatever she could, tightened her fist around them, hugged them into her chest and said "I am going to hide this from you and eat it right now" The whole time continuum was busted.
I made the mistake of planning dinner AFTER the trick or treating so I kept saying "You can have candy after you eat some macaroni and cheese and hamburger" Please.
Best part: There is an entire bag of candy on top of the fridge that Sylvie has totally forgotten about. I don't even think she thought about it for one second after leaving the last house. It never existed.

First Trick or Treating!

Unicorn Rider and Princess Bittercup

Smile DAMMIT!

The wig!

Luca and Leon - cute little animals!

Beacon Hill's idea of scary - the childmolester frugal gourmet!

That Bull I was talking about