Happy Birthday to my girls

July is a great month. Many of my favorite people in the world were born this month. (And it's been fun to celebrate with many of you!)

Here are two golden girls, who are priceless to me. I can't imagine my life without my sister, Allie, or my sweet daughter, Alex. They are both my first go-to girls, and I treasure my relationships with each. Thank you both for being both my therapists and my best friends! Happy, happy birthday!

Show Business

(that's my swash buckler on the far left)
Last week and through the weekend, our starlets Alex and Gavin performed in several children's theatre productions of "The Little Mermaid." They were adorable, and the shows were really great.

As Alex finished her hair and makeup on Friday afternoon, Blake walked in and saw her and gasped, "You look...famous!"


(Alex is mermaid in red.)

There are few things more rewarding as a mother than to see your kids shine on stage. Both Alex and Gavin glowed as they really got into character (Alex as "Aquata", Ariel's sister; Gavin as a sailor and "Baby Flounder" in a flashback scene.) They were just so dang cute up there. All those evil thoughts of enrolling them into show business ran through my head, and I finally settled upon just living through them again.

I also had an epiphany that I AM Ariel! I've got my Eric and my legs, but lately, I've been having this unsettling itch to travel, travel, travel and see "part of that world." Ariel, I get it, babe, I'm right there with you! What would I give...

On Saturday, I reclaimed my title as Mother of the Year when I delivered Gavin to his matinee show at 4:15pm. His call time was 3, the show started at 4, and he was in the first scene. Great idea, huh? I'm just a firm believer in arriving fashionably late. I like to keep everyone on their toes.

That's not exactly true and I now have an ulcer to prove it. Michael will emphatically agree that his Mrs. does NOT like to be late for things that matter. After spending 5 hours on the freeway in traffic that day, we learned to NEVER attempt Burbank on a Saturday if you have any intention of doing anything else that day. Though little cousin Kate's birthday was worth the trip. Always fun to see the L.A. cousins. But I don't think the show's director would agree. Sorry!

The Greatest Game Ever

I have witnessed with a smile over the years as my kids have played school, house, and pet store. But Alex has a new game that is so great I'm playing along, too: Restaurant!

The game has taken place for the past two nights around dinner time when Alex (along with the rest of us) notices there is nothing in the works for that final evening meal. I blame my apathy on the new book I'm reading and the dawning of spring break--hey, don't I get a break, too?

So Alex the Great suddenly twirls into the kitchen with her computer paper and magic marker in hand and draws up a fabulous menu taken from whatever leftovers and quick-and-easy items she can find in the freezer. She sets the table and leads us to it and proceeds to take our drink orders. We then review our menus (and hear any specials of newly discovered leftovers that still lack mold). And then we place our order. And wait. And wait, and wait. Luckily, the kids' menus come with the standard tic tac toe and coloring pages while Michael and I catch up on our "Words with Friends" app, so it's not too painful.

Alex is a WHIZ at reheating previous nights' dinners and arranging them oh-so-prettily on our dinnerware, but is still learning the hijinks of "timing" dinner. Of course, most restaurants would come with a prep chef and industrial sized microwave to make it easier. Regardless, we're not complaining!

I LOOOOVE this game! Can we please play tonight, Alex, pleeease?

Bob Saget's in My Living Room

and that's never a good thing.

Unless it's because your KIDS, your YOUNG ONES have discovered the joys of 80's television. Alex and Gavin are waking up at dawn to sneak in a few morality lessons from Deej, hair advice from Jesse, and aw shucks Michelle moments. They so easily forgive the stonewash for the corny laugh track of Full House. What's next? Saved by the Bell? Fresh Prince?

Family Togetherness 2010

Here's our daughter, playing her first season of basketball!

And here's her cheering squad, watching from the sidelines.
At least we all drove together.

Ode to Alex

I realize I rarely write about my beloved eldest, sweet child Alex. It's probably because she's out of sight, out of mind doing the dishes, cleaning her room, or pulling Gracie out of the crib. Alex is the mini of our mama team, but I reckon she's doing a better job at it than I am. She's even a better wife than me! When I occasionally ask her to text her daddy a message for me while I'm driving that goes something like this, "WHERE ARE YOU? Why aren't you home yet!?!", she edits it to a much kinder, "Can't wait to see you. Are you almost here?"

Well today, we decided to play hooky and go to Disneyland. Since my kids are on Day 47 of The Neverending Cough, I didn't feel too bad calling in sick. We had a fabulous getaway, just the five of us. And throughout the day as comments of fellow tram and train passengers fluttered my way, "Are you here by yourself?" "Are they ALL yours?", I realized I would NOT have been there by myself if it weren't for Alex.

Because of Alex, I was able to pull off four kids in a public restroom. Because of Alex, we were able to climb 396 stairs to see the Aladdin show. Because of Alex, each little one had a responsible ride partner to cover their eyes during the "scowy" parts of Pirates and the Haunted Mansion. And at the end of the day, because of Alex, we were able to figure out which floor, row, and aisle we parked on because I had absolutely no recollection of even driving into the parking garage by that point.

On the way home, I gratefully asked, "Alex, where would I be without you?"

She said, "Probably still wandering the parking lot."