Not much new around here

Michael has been out since Sunday morning and despite that, all has been well.

We didn't do much on Sunday except attend a impromptu oscar party at a friend's house. 3 sets of twins and parker. Good times.

Then back to school this week. Nothing to report there.

I'm in single parent mode which is easier than you might think. Since you just have to do everything, you just do it. No negotiating. No getting annoyed that laundry baskets sat around for days. No wondering who is cleaning up dinner. It's all me.

Kids are doing well too. They miss Michael a lot, especially Elizabeth, but are acting fine and generally being decent little human beings.

I haven't been able to go to boot camp this week, which has also been easier that I thought it would be. Sleeping in every day until 6:30 or 7 is nice. I've probably gained 5 pounds already, but whatever.

I let the kids each sleep with me one night and Elizabeth is up tonight. I don't mind sleeping with Parker or Miranda, but Elizabeth is a nightmare. She turns, twists, signs, coughs, and generally is completely annoying. I'm gonna take a nap tomorrow.

Michael gets home Friday and it sounds like he is having a nice time, considering. Aunt Kathleen seems to be doing better every day, god only knows how and the kids like talking to them both on skype.

Anyway, sorry for the boring post. I'll try to think of something more exciting to report tomorrow.

How about them apples???

I saw the biggest apple at Berkeley bowl today. I had to buy some.

Firewood

I'm up in Seattle with my sister Kathleen, hanging out and generally trying to be helpful. Today I moved a cord of wood from her driveway to the side of her house. It took me about an hour, and I considered it a full days work.

A horse of course.

Miranda took a horse riding lesson today. She's been crazy for horses for a while now and I would have dismissed it as a typical five year old girl crazy thing but Elizabeth is not so I put more weight into Miranda's obsession. I was looking into camps for the summer and the cut off for horse camp was 6 so I asked them if she could do it at five and a half. They suggested she do some classes first. So we did one today. She loved it so we'll be doing a few more since sometimes love is fleeting. Just as with Piano and Chess, I don't know much about horses so I'll have to learn along with her since I'm the one that will need to get the horse ready for the lesson. Today she rode Snowy. She even trotted.

Skyping with Dad.

Words with Friends

Parker has been playing words with friends (the game that alec baldwin got kicked off the plane for) with Michael and then recently I started playing him too. Like Chess, I'm not very good at it, so we are a well-matched pair. The game is like scrabble except that if you play a word that isn't a word it doesn't allow the play. It also allows you to "check" words by trying to play them and if they aren't rejected you can play words you don't know. And Parker takes advantage of this all the time. So much so that I downloaded a dictionary for him and now I make him look up words he plays but doesn't know.

His latest was FER but he also had AY, JOT, BAN, COY, and QI.

Then again, I had ROIL.

Spelling

While lying in my bed today relaxing from an exhausting day of doing nothing, I heard Elizabeth say,"Miranda do you know how to spell pity?"

I was super confused until Elizabeth spelled k-I-t-t-y.

Impromptu Garage Sale and Lemonade Stand

Sometime during the drive home on Tuesday the kids decided they wanted to have a garage sale. So when they got home, they started gathering up the toys and games they wanted to sell. I said we'd do it one weekend.

It is 70 degrees here today and we had no plans so we decided to do it today. After a stop for some lemonade and price stickers, the kids labeled everything and then took it all outside. I made the lemonade and Elizabeth and Miranda set up shop.

We got one neighbor who came by early on who bought a cup of lemonade and a fake spider, but then only two other lemonade purchases by guys putting out the new phone books ("the new phone books are here! the new phone books are here!").

I told the kids we could do it again another time, with more planning. They didn't seen nearly as bummed as I thought they would be.

Another good trip to LA

Back from LA today. Drive home was fine, no real issues except Elizabeth being a pain in the butt.

Kids always have a good time with their cousins and I think 3+ days is the right amount of time. They don't start bugging each other and I don't feel like I'm taking over the Marcus house for too long.

I was able to do my long run there which was nice because if I wasn't able to, I was going to cancel the marathon that is in 5 weeks. It was hard but with a little walking I got through it...all 18 miles.

Spent time with mom and dad too. Kids like going there to climb in trees, spin around in chairs, play basket ball and generally cause havoc. David joined this time and even took some pics of me and the kids.

The kids are off school this week, but we have some playdates scheduled, we'll also just hang out a bunch.

Experiment

Peter had to do an experiment for a science class. He made several batches of muffins leaving out specific ingredients each time. I was a subject and it was disgusting. Yuck.

My magic

When Parker was little he had a hard time settling down at night. He would toss and turn and was unable to relax. Michael would go lie with him and then come out of his room saying, "I can't do it, you try. You've got the magic sleep mojo" Then I would go in and wrap him up in my arms and hold him tight to me and he would almost immediately fall asleep.

This technique still works today even though he usually doesn't need much help relaxing at night anymore. Although he still loves to be held this way, he usually just crashes.

Climbing trees is fun

Genetics in action

Swinging

Open house

We went to open house last night at the kids school, and it another slightly obnoxious reminder of just how good we have it here in piedmont. Both classes had preprinted agendas for the kids I take us through, so each kid showed their parent a piece of artwork, read them a story, and so on. The kids were beyond excited, and it was super fun.

Parker insisted on wearing his angry bird hat, so he looked like a little goofball, but presumably his peers are all accustomed to that. Here he is with an awesome picture he drew of his shoe.

Here a chart Parker made in computer lab. I'm glad he has quantified his peer-group's love for Angry Birds.

Bringing diversity to Piedmont

It was open house at the school last, and one item of note in Parker's room were the self-portraits on the walls that the kids had all done. See if you can spot Parker.

Apparently he had some kind of paint malfunction. He's the one in the top middle below.

Snakes

Girls went to bday party which had a visit from some reptiles. Miranda was "the bravest girl in the city."

Reading

The girls were both reading today. They each selected a few of these BOB books at the library and then sat down to read them. Miranda was a tad better than Eli but they were both really impressive.

Elizabeth plays with her hair

When she is nervous.

Pod People

Something is wrong with me. I'm not sure what, but something is definitely wrong. I've been exceptionally tired even though I've been sleeping tons, listless and blah for a little over a week. I've also had some strange pains for about the same time. I had a biopsy about 2 weeks ago but it came back clear except for some polyps which have to be removed. Doctor doesn't think they are related and he's gonna test my thyroid again. I hope it's just that, but it's a drag for sure to feel like this. Not me at all.

Tonight Michael and I both knew something was up when I didn't even want to have a piece of the cake that I made. He said that if he ever had to do "was rachel replaced with a pod person" test, he would offer the 'rachel' some cake and if she didn't take it, he would think it is a pod person.

Parker's Cake

Miranda wanted Chocolate
Elizabeth wanted Lemon
Michael wanted Pineapple
I wanted Banana
Parker wanted Vanilla, but I threw in some Strawberries (on top and in the middle) for good measure. And whip cream frosting.

I think I'm gonna like this one the best.

Indian war chant

Parker has been working on this for a couple of weeks, one hand at a time, and tonight after dinner he decided it was time to put the whole thing together. He was so pleased with himself he came upstairs and had me come down to watch him. Which of course I got on video.

Monkey love

Parker's project

Parker decided to make a giant track today. He's been working on it all day. Hopefully when he finishes this he will resume work on his roman numeral scroll, where is stalled at 500. I mean D.

Today's Baked Item

I made these chocolate cookies today. Which isn't a big deal because I've been making chocolate chip cookies since I was 13 years old. I can make them with one hand tied behind my back in about 10 minutes without referring to a recipe. But today, I tried a new recipe...one that was suppose to make chewy cookies. The main difference appeared to be the ratio of sugar to brown sugar. There was much more brown sugar in this recipe.

They were, as if there was any question, delicious. Might be the best ones I've ever made.

Love is....

Did it.

Thanks to aunt Kathleen and my mom who both told how to make a pineapple upside down cake, I made one. I followed my moms recipe and although I haven't tasted it yet it looks good. Michael will be very happy.

Old Clothes

A million years ago, I was interviewing a guy for a job at the SPCA. He was a good looking, strapping lad who ended up not taking the job or not getting it...I can't remember which one. He left his navy blue pull-over at the SPCA at the interview and I took it home thinking that I would contact him to return it. I didn't. I just started wearing it. And I'm still wearing it. One of the sleeves is sort of falling apart; the lining that covers the end of the sleeve is coming off so it falls over my thumb regularly. I have no idea why I continue to wear it or how I've possibly kept it this long when other items of clothing that I care more about and enjoy more have been lost or ruined by baby spit up, other such stains or bad laundering. It's a mystery.

I'm a mom.

Sometimes it cracks me up that I'm a mom. The feeling usually comes up with Parker.

For example, the other day, he had a friend over and wanted to play with his iPod so he came downstairs looking to see how many poker chips he has (currency in our house that he can exchange for privileges like playing with his iPod). He had none so started scanning the list to see how to earn some quickly (like taking out recycling or cleaning room). I saw him and said, "You can have free screen time with Aidan." He said, "Really?!" and then ran upstairs yelling, "My mom said we could have free screen time!"

Another example happened today when the girls and I were walking back to our car after pick up. One of Parker's friends saw me from the lunch patio and said, "Hey Parker, your mom is right there. I see her. Your mom!" Parker was oblivious, but it still cracked me up.

Eating

When Elizabeth eats something she likes, she nods her head up and down as if saying 'yes, yes, this is yummy.' I thought she only did it when people were watching to see her reaction (like, "do you like it???") but then I realized she does it even if she is alone and thinks no one is watching.

Delish

There is another big fundraising party tomorrow night in Piedmont. I can't go (darn) because I am baby sitting for Susan, but I was suppose to help set up, clean up and bring food, so I said I would still bring food. They asked for finger food desserts. Cookies didn't seem fancy enough, so I asked my friend Sara for ideas. Not only did she give me a great one, but she let me borrow her Chocolate edition of the Food Network magazine. Who knew melting chocolate was so complicated. I had to heat to 100 then cool to 82 and then heat to 90. I hope they are yummy.

The horse.

My friend Jessie has twins plus one. (Twins are in girls' kindergarten class.)
She also has a horse.
I took Miranda to see the horse.
The horse was big.
She brushed the horse.
She watched the horse.
She liked the horse.

Davis

Ran my 5th half marathon today in Davis. Sara and Leigh did it with me and in general it felt pretty good. Miles 6 through 11 were good, but then I got a little tired for the last two miles and couldn't quite keep the pace. I missed my personal best by 2 minutes and had I not stopped to get water at the last time available, I would have beat it. Nevertheless, it was a good training run for my marathon in late March and at the same time wondered how the hell I'm gonna run 26 miles. Another nice bonus was that Val, who lives in Davis now, came to see us finish which was great.

Little Grey Donkey

More roman numerals

Parker is keen on roman numerals these days, and is working on a scroll up to 1,000. I also looked up at his request how to write 5,000. Turns out a horizontal line over any number multiplies it by a thousand. This had never come up before I met Parker.

Banana Cake

I'm a cake making fool lately. After the chocolate and lemon, I did a banana cake. I didn't have any butter, so I specifically picked this one since it called for shortening which I had. But I forgot that the frosting called for butter. So I substituted some shortening and water for the butter. The result? Disgusting.

The cake was good, but the frosting was slippery and tasted strange. Unfortunately, I didn't figure that out until after I frosted it. Waste of a cake.

Michael has requested a pineapple upside down cake, but I'm thinking that is above my skill level. If this keeps up, I'll need to get one of the cake stands that spins and something to cover the cake in fridge. Fancy!

Ballet

The girls had costume fittings in ballet class today which I found odd for a whole host of reasons. The recital isn't until June, so I'm not sure why they would want to show the girls the costumes let alone let them try them on 4 months in advance. They also haven't learned any actual ballet which I would think would be necessary before being able to do a recital. I did find out they will be dancing a segment from Cinderalla at the recital. I didn't wear a tutu until I was about 12 or 13 and it definitely wasn't the carrot I needed to continue dancing.