Halloween ideas

Today on the way to school Miranda was telling me all the ideas she had for Halloween.

Her first was a VaCatPir.  Which is a Vampire, Cat and Pirate all together. (duh) She would have a tail with a hook arm and fangs and cape.

Another idea was an old man. She thought that would be hilarious to walk around with a cane. (She's been doing this at home from time to time.)

Then she said she would be chopsticks and Elizabeth could be sushi.

Then Parker said he wanted to be a pumpkin. He was kidding. Then he suggested he be Cinderella. I told him that would be awesome if he went as a princess. He laughed.

Miranda also suggested Parker be Harry Potter and she be his mom. Which is totally strange since his mom is dead at the beginning of the first book.

Elizabeth had nothing to add to any of this.

Enrichment poster

Michael made this pretty banner for me for my after school enrichment program.  Its the one on the right.  I got lots of compliments on it since it's very design-y.  Registration opened Saturday and today there are 283 kids enrolled in 20 classes.

This year's stuff

Here is how this year is shaping up for the kids...

Miranda: Guitar and girl scouts on Monday, Art and Ballet on Wednesday, Theatre on Friday

Elizabeth: Chess and girl scouts on Monday, Gymnastics on Tuesday, Piano on Wednesday, Gymnastics on Thursday, Theatre on Friday, Gymnastics on Saturday.

Parker:  Chess and Swimming Monday, Engineering and Swimming Tuesday, Swimming (am!), Piano and Soccer on Wednesday and Swimming on Thursday,  Chess on Friday nights, Math Team on Sunday evenings

Plus soccer games, swim meets, chess tournaments and gymnastics meets on the weekend.

Despite all evidence to the contrary, we did try to cut back. At least Parker isn't doing Fall Ball. Tried to talk Elizabeth out of Theatre, but after seeing Miranda in Peter Pan, she really wants in.  Also tried to talk Miranda out of Ballet but she gets to be in the nutcracker this year so she wasn't giving it up.

First Day of School

First three days of school were good. Let's hope the next 177 are just as good.

Moondust

Latest foster. Going to her home this weekend.

Reading

We stopped at a book store after dinner last night. This is how I found the kids when I was ready to go.

Modern play date

Parker's Latest

Cooking and baking

I rarely want to cook or bake anymore because the kids eat so fast and so limitedly and there is so much clean up that it doesn't seem worth it. But today, when I knew I would be home most of the day, I decided to make two things.  I first did stuffed green peppers because Miranda had actually been asking for them and I love them.  She helped make them.  She had one for lunch and they turned out great.

Then I made this cake:

Which is a chocolate cake with peanut butter cream cheese frosting with a chocolate peanut butter ganache. It was three steps which was kinda of a pain but Miranda helped again with the cakes and I just finished it:

Much thicker than the one above, without the fancy stand and my ganache got a little crazy but I bet it tastes good. We shall see after dinner!

The End of Summer

All in all I think it was a good summer. I learned some things (that I probably should have known by now) and I think the kids had a good time overall.

As a recap, after 2 days of August Mini Camp for the girls, they all did 2 weeks of 9-12pm APCP summer school which they all really enjoyed but was probably not necessary.

Then Parker did his week at Camp August while we went to Santa Cruz to stay on the beach. (Also probably unnecessary.  Santa Cruz...not the camp.)

Then Parker had skateboard camp while Miranda had Theatre Camp while Elizabeth had a gymnastics clinic. Parker loved skateboarding and wants to do it again next summerand Miranda definitely has the theatre bug.

Then Parker did Chess Camp while Miranda continued her Theatre camp.

Then a day of fun at the water park with some kids and we were off on our road trip. 4 states (yes, we were in Arizona for a tiny bit!), over 2400 miles and lots of sunscreen. Overall a very good trip but could have used more days at Zion and spent less money in Vegas.

Back in time for Elizabeth's team camp and a visit with Julia and Oliver where much minecraft was played.

Then I did a quick trip with the kids to KOA which had too many wasps.

Today, tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday we are just going to hang out. Maybe hit one last water park or not. We'll see.

I'm looking forward to getting a regular routine back, pushing up bedtimes, stopping the daily ice cream treats and going back to the gym.  But...a good summer nonetheless.

Campfire

Fleas

When we got home from our road trip, we noticed that the house was full of fleas. We first noticed when Julia said, "I have all these mosquito bites on my ankles" but then also saw them everywhere. We first tried just the carpet duster, but that was not sufficient so Saturday, we cleaned, bagged up clothes and linens, put up plastic tarps and then bombed the hell out of the house while we went to a hotel. We got back this morning, dried everything that we had bagged up (in case there were fleas in them) and vacuumed and wiped down the whole house. I hope we got them all, but my guess is we'll have to do it again at some point.

It's strange that in 16 years, we've never had a flea problem even thought Zeke has always gone in and out. I think the drop-on medication isn't working for him anymore since he was covered in them too.

It was all very gross.

High Pony Tail

My old cat

Antioch water park

Took the kids, minus elizabeth who has gymnastics all day, to the Antioch water park. Emma joined us and she got along great with Julia. Everyone had fun on slides and goofing off on lily pads.

I had no idea

That someone slower and messier than Miranda existed.

Realization

Over lunch today the kids were discussing heart beats and how to find them. Then it moved on to what an acceptable heart beat is and Oliver said, "You could die if your heart beat is too fast."  Then Miranda said, "My grandfather had a heart attack."  Then Julia said, "Mine too!"

Then they all paused and laughed for a good long time.

Road Trip 2014: Day 11...The End.

We ended our road trip today with a drive back from LA.  We had Oliver and Julia with us and it all went pretty smoothly. They played car games and other such nonsense like silent contests.  We only had to rearrange seating once when Parker and Elizabeth were annoying each other.  We got home about 3:30 due to some heavy traffic in Livermore and Dublin.

All in we did about 2400 miles in 11 days.  We were pleased with each stop on the trip and really our only regret is that we didn't do one more day at Arches and Zion.  But Michaels' work and Elizabeth's gymnastics team camp did not allow that. We agree that we need to return to Zion when the kids are older and that we probably don't ever need to go back to Las Vegas, despite Parker asking, "When we come back here, will we stay in this same hotel?"

We have two weeks and two days before school starts and plan to do a lot of hanging around the house, a couple days at the KOA with Ebba as well as a water park with the cousins.

Not a bad summer.

Road Trip 2014: Day 10

This morning we asked the kids if they wanted to swim, have breakfast, or get going and they all chose get going. So we packed up the stuff, walked through the casino one last time to our car and got going. We stopped at the nevada/California border for "breakfast" and then drove straight through to culver city with only a quick stop for a bathroom and del taco. 

The kids were happy to see the cousins so we left them there and drove to my parent's house. We hung out until dinner and then had delicious Thai food at some hip Santa Monica place.

David showed up after dinner and he and Michael gabbed for a bit before everyone hit the hay.

This was one of the least scenic drives, only slightly better than the drive back home.

Road Trip 2014: Day 9

Today was a day of hanging around the hotel. Michael woke up early to go running and when he returned we all went to the buffet breakfast.   Lots of choices but with the exception of Parker's four bowls of cereal, the kids didn't eat much.

Then we went down to the pool about 10. It was very hot already and although we contemplated renting some shade (the only way to get some), it was just too expensive. We went from wave pool where the kids did some excellent body surfing to the lazy river which was more rapid than lazy.  No one got burned which I considered a major success. About 1, we went up to the room. We played Yahtzee (Parker won) before Michael took the kids to lunch and I got a massage. After that, more pool time before a fancy sushi dinner for michael and the girls and Criss Angel magic show for me and Parker. It was way too loud and more of a commercial for his tv programs, but Parker enjoyed it nonetheless.  Then we had dinner and returned to the room where we both feel asleep fast.

Enjoying the robe and the view.

Watching minecraft videos.

The view of the pools from our room.

Going to breakfast.

$14 for a bowl of oatmeal.

Buffet strawberry.

Parker had a lot of froot loops.

Wave pool.

Intertubes 

Elizabeth got annoyed at something.

But then was ok.

Enough of that.

Miranda trying to figure out the hotel key.

Cross Angel show.