Oh yes it's 80s night....

...Oh what a night!

So, in my effort to immerse myself into my new community and of course, do so on a budget, I thought it would be fun to try out the Wednesday night concert in the park. Being that it was 80s night made it even more appealing and somehow, after a lazy day at home, motivating to get dressed and go enjoy some music. The first plan was to go to the store and get stuff for sandwiches, some healthy fruits and all the fixins for an old-fashioned picnic in the park. But I've made peace with who I am and how I plan and at 6:40 (5 minutes before showtime), I found myself sitting in the drive thru line at El Pollo Loco with my disgruntled offspring in the backseat making sure I knew how starving they were. Of course, what child who just snacked on yogurt and a granola bar is truly starving? This is why I can make light of their unattended "needs". 15 minutes, three BRC's and 1 spilled lemonade later, we were making our way through the Chino Hills concert crowd.

Thank goodness for cell phones because as it turned out, just about everybody in Chino Hills was apparently jonesin' for some Bon Jovi and there was no way I was going to find my the Buhacs and Tinsleys, who managed to get to the event I invited them to, on time. Oh and did I mention that Jason had to work a late night checking extras in on a set in North Hollywood, so I was single mom in a park full of dogs (for Lily, this is equivalent to strangers with candy), two kids and no leash? It's amazing the three of us made it to our group.

I spread out my quilt, passed out the BRC's.....no one was interested in food even though minutes earlier they were too famished to lift their heads, and enjoyed the music and the company. The kids were dancing and playing, the adults were reliving our teen years with songs that reminded us of our first dance, our first kiss and our first....well, you get the idea.

It was so much fun, we all agreed to meet next Wednesday, even though next week is (gasp) Country Music week! Jennifer offered that just maybe she and John could recruit me over to their side of the music scene. As long as they throw in some Dixie Chicks or Faith Hill....hey I'm game. Does this mean I have to fish out my black and silver glittery cowboy hat? The one Jennifer told me I could never wear to a real cowboy place like Montana's unless I wanted a cowboy boot shoved up my a$$? Stay tuned....

Dahling - I'm catching up on my beauty sleep...

So we are about two days into summer vacation and both days have consisted of backyard, kiddie pool, fun sprinkler and long naps. Today, Taylor and Austin came over to partake in the fun and I think that tired my little divas out even more. Afterall, it's one thing to be running around in the hot sun, it's another thing to have to entertain guests on top of it. What is a poor girl to do?......

After several trips downstairs to tell me she was "not sleepy" or she "forgot how to rest" or, didn't "need a nap", I told her that quiet playtime in her room was fine but that she needed to rest her body. An hour later, I went upstairs to check on the quiet playtime and this is how I found sleeping beauty.....sleeping mask and all. Oh life as a princess.....it can be so utterly exhausting!

We love our teachers!!!

FOND FAREWELL TO A FUN YEAR OF PRESCHOOL!

Lily and Miss Lissett or "missette" or "my lissett" Lily calls her

Madeleine, Miss Debbie and her Pre-K Pals

Marcella, Madeleine and Caitlyn

Madeleine and Lily with Miss Lissett

Madeleine and Miss Debbie

What time is it?

SUMMER TIME! Okay how lame am I, quoting some HSM 2? I can't help it though, nobody says it...or sings it better than that dreamy Troy.



So it's officially summertime her in Rupe Corner. I had my last day of work and the girls had their last day of preschool today (sniff). I am so EMO about them ending preschool, I don't know what's wrong with me - especially because I'm using terms like EMO. They love their teachers and they've made so many friends, I'm so sad for them that a chapter is ending yet excited for new beginnings. I just get so hung up on daily routines and when they end, I freak out. Like yesterday for example. I'm sitting on the 210 freeway, in traffic, in 90 degree heat. I'm running the air and watching my gas light come on....as it does every other day now. I think about how I take my usual route, exit Irwindale, left on Arrow (sometimes I stop for Jack's 2 taco deal), right on Vincent...this is where my cell phone usually goes out if I'm talking to someone, which I usually am. I HATE this part of my day and yet yesterday, I'm crying because it's the last time I'll go through that routine.



Next I pick up the girls. Maddy's friends see me coming and always yell out "Maddy, your mom's here". Maddy greets me with a big hug but then tells me to go get Lily. I go get Lily who runs screaming towards me..."mommy!!!!" or sometimes it's "I want daddy!" We go get Maddy, I promise them snacks in the car and then we head out to the car where the fighting begins.



Lily doesn't want to sit in her seat. She sits in Maddy's and won't move, then she wants to wave to the cars driving by, then she doesn't like the snack choices. I end up pinning her down in her seat to get her buckled in and then she'll scream "I don't like you!" Everyone buckled in, I'll pass out snacks, Lily will try to direct me and if I don't turn where she wants me to, she'll scream. Maddy doesn't want the freeway even if the roads are blocked off and there is no other choice. We fight over the radio. Lily wants "come on" (Janis Joplin), Maddy wants "chair" (dancing through life). We settle on Wicked and we all sing. Lily says "Mommy don't sing", Maddy says "Lily's looking at me", Lily says "Maddy's not my friend," I want to jump out the window....on the freeway.



We get to Chino Hills and I say, "girls were almost home" and Lily responds "no we're not!" I say, "yes we're in Chino Hills"



Lily: "NO Gino Mills"



Me: "Yes Lily, look at the sign, it says Chino Hills" I'm seriously trying to reason with her?



This goes on as long as Lily wants it to because even if I don't say anything, Lily will demand I say things. She'll feed me line by line of illogical toddler script that runs through her head. And if you know Lily, you just humor her and do it. She's not the quiet and delicate flower that her name suggests.



We arrive home and I am not allowed to open Lily's door without yelling "Boo.....raaaaaar (like a lion)". She has to get out herself and although I always have to pee very badly, she's not quick about exiting the car.



Both girls will then go over to the next door neighbor's fountain and proceed to soak themselves before going in the house.



Doesn't all of this sound lovely? And I'm sad it's ending?

Lazy Days with Lily

So it is official....Madeleine has my sleep disorder. I don't experience the joys of trying to get her up in the morning on a school day. Jason says it takes at least five trips into her room and by trip six you just have to pull her pajamas off of her and dress her while she sleeps. That is totally me. In fact, if I could be, I'd still be asleep right now at 8:23pm. So while Madeleine took a marathon - and by marathon I mean about 4 hour - nap today, Jason, Lily and I had some fun in the sun. We planted flowers; foxglove (where the flower fairies live), delphinium, hollyhocks and pansies.....I looked for lillies at the store but no luck.



After gardening we had some strawberries and then I sat down to enjoy a magazine. Lily picked up some light reading material as well. Could it be that she may follow in my footsteps?

A little light reading...
....and a little nap...
...and being silly with mommy...

Kindergarten here she comes!!!!

Oh where do I begin? What a year it has been! Madeleine started pre-kindergarten and has showed us every day how bright and talented and fun-loving she is. Some days were very long days at school but Miss Debbie has been her mom away from home and I don't know who is more upset about leaving Miss Debbie, Madeleine...or me! Madeleine and her best friends, Jadie, Caitlyn, and Bailey Rose were like the four musketeers all year long. Aside from all the fun, Madeleine learned so much this year and we know Kindergarten is going to be a breeze. Oak Ridge Bobcats, get ready for Madeleine!