Happy Birthday Caitlin
We all went to Kid Concepts tonight to celebrate Caitlin's 6th birthday. I'd never been to a party on a week night. It was pretty mellow. The party host was a crack-up. I think the kids had a nice time, and they were exhausted when we got home at 8:30.

We heard from both kids' soccer coaches. Looks like each of them will have two practices a week. On top of that, Fluffy will have weekly basketball practice. And Scooter wants to start taking Japanese classes. Yikes! How are we going to swing all that?

Scooter has another swim meet this Saturday. Once again, I have to get up early on a weekend morning to get us to the pool by 7:15 a.m. *Yawn* I guess that'll be good practice, since starting next week I need to leave the house extra early in order to get Scooter to Science Camp in El Segundo, Fluffy to regular camp in Torrance, and me to work by 8:30. *Yawn*Yawn*

Now don't think I'm complaining. I am enjoying every bit of my children's childhood. When I signed on as a parent, I pretty much gave up all my personal time, which I don't regret one bit. I am already dreading the day when they go off on their own and don't need/want me as much anymore. My biggest complaint right now is this catch-22: in order to give them the experiences and opportunities I want them to have, I have to work; but because I work, I don't have the time to enjoy all those activities with them. Everything I do in my life has something to do with my children. I am going to be so lonely when they leave me!

BTW, Scooter no longer wants to be a scientist when he grows up. Now he wants to be a professional soccer player. I'm actually a bit relieved (although I really did like the idea of him being a scientist). He never wanted to be the typical fireman or cowboy. No, he wanted to be an engineer, then a scientist. A professional soccer player, now that seems a little more normal for a boy, know what I mean? So I told him he has to get me tickets to all his games!

Good Living
A friend sent this to me this morning...

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real!

When the door of happiness closes, another opens; but oftentimes we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Serendipity
Rented the movie this weekend and I think I have to add it to my list of favorites. Something is going to have to get bumped off the list to make room for this one.

I absolutely love that John Cusack. Almost as much as Andrew McCarthy. sigh... I'm not usually big on romantic comedies...okay, I guess I do like them...When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle (do you see a pattern here? Meg Ryan?) I'm always hoping that someday it will happen like that for me. That guy who makes my heart go pitter-patter. Will he travel across the continent years from now just to find me? Oh wait, I'm already married. Damn. I am such a dreamer. I am seriously going to go crazy in my old age. And while I procrastinate on just about everything in my life, this is one thing I'm starting on early!

Soulmates. Is there such a thing, and how do you know when you've found him/her? A series of coincidences might be just that - coincidences. And if I have to ask, does that mean I still haven't found mine? That guy who picks his nose and flosses his teeth in front of me, farts in bed and waves the covers over me, is that my soulmate? For better or worse. Ick.

I used to imagine having one of those TV families, where we would sit around in the evenings and play board games and talk openly about sex and relationships, and we'd all be best friends. Then I started to see that we were more like the Conors (Roseanne) than the Cleavers. Now I know we are the Bundys.

The Cheese Lady
We were sitting around Saturday afternoon, just hanging out, and somehow we ended up watching a PBS show about cheese. Did you know there is such a thing as fudge cheese? Anyway, the host had a weird accent, kind of a cross between British and, I guess, Norwegian (since they were in Norway). Fluffy started imitating him, and she really sounded like him, talking about goat cheese, fudge cheese, "mawshing the rawsp-berries" (mashing the raspberries), and adding a "tad of vinegar." Then Scooter covered himself with a light brown blanket and pretended to be a lump of fudge cheese while Fluffy walked us through the recipe. They're nuts.

Belated Weekend Update
We dumped Guido off at the airport early Friday morning and headed straight for Nordstrom. Bought some awesomely cute clothes for Fluffy (I wish I were six and my mommy bought stuff like that for me). Dropped the kids off at summer school and still made it to work on time (hawaiian time at least). Whew!

After work, Scooter had his usual swim practice, then we grabbed a quick dinner at Wahoo's, and went back to Nordstrom to get shoes for Scooter.

Dental appointments for all of us on Sat morning. Like I said, both weird kids were fighting over who got to go first.

That afternoon we went to the Kid City thing across from USC. We only spent a couple of hours there, which was okay, because it was kind of hot. Fluffy built a rocket. Both kids made slime. We saw snakes and all kinds of lizards.

From there, we headed to Little Tokyo to meet Kevin & Ryan for the tofu festival. We sampled all kinds of tofu dishes - poke tofu, curried tofu, jerk tofu, salmon-wrapped tofu, tofu jerky, tofu mochi, tofu ice cream sandwiches, tofu mousse (I think?), and green tea soy lattes. Yummy!

And what a great night for a concert! We sat outside, under the stars, and enjoyed the live music by Hiroshima. Okay, I'm lying. I really need to get out more. I didn't REALLY see any stars, just a police helicopter and a few airplanes, but those flashing lights could be mistaken for stars, right? And though the grown-ups seemed to have a nice time, the kids couldn't wait to leave. Funny how they didn't want to leave once we got to the parking lot.

We got home kind of late (don't tell Guido, or he'll yell at me) and had to get up EARLY on Sunday for Scooter's swim meet in El Segundo. I had to get up extra early to make spam musubis and pack everything up.

At the first meet, all we brought were a couple of chairs, sunscreen and a towel for Scooter. It was freaking hot out there in the sun in Carson! So THIS TIME I went prepared: a cooler filled with snacks and drinks, towels for all of us to sit on, spray water bottle with battery-powered fan, hats, shades...and the meet was INDOORS! Felt kinda stupid, you know...

Scooter did a great job. This was one of those qualifying things, and kids were getting disqualified all over the place. Scooter didn't get disqualified (which to me says at least he's swimming correctly), but he wasn't very fast. I don't know if he qualified to go on to the next meet (SCMAF). Don't tell him I said this...Yay!!! That's one less Sunday I have to get up at 5:00 to get ready!!!

Anyways...

Happy Birthday to Fluffy
Fluffy turns six today! She's been very excited about her upcoming birthday and it's finally here! When she got up, she started teasing me, "Now what day is it today? I think it's someone's birthday! Whose birthday could it be?" And she kept saying things like, "The birthday girl is going to school," and "The birthday girl is going on a field trip." She's so funny.

She's getting all kinds of Legos and Clikits (which are also Lego products). She doesn't know how to get onto the internet yet, so I can say things like this. However, by next year, I'm sure I'll have to be very careful. She's already sneaking up on me and trying to read what I type.

Mine Are Weirder Than Yours
When I told Fluffy we had a dentist appointment on Sat, she said, "Yippee!!!" and danced around a bit. In the car, she and Scooter were fighting over who got to go first. Now whose kids are weird?

Actually, we have a very nice dentist and I am glad my kids aren't afraid of going to see him, but still...they're kind of weird. In a good way!

My Devoted Fans
Wow! I know at least one person reads this! Thanks VW!!

Pretty Ribbons
Scooter got FOUR ribbons from last weekend's swim meet. If I figure out how to put a link in here, I will. Otherwise, check out Bunnies & Friends.

Procrastinator
Hmmm...I'm not doing a very good job of updating this thing. I keep thinking, I can do it tomorrow...

Anyway, this weekend Guido is in S.F., so Scooter, Fluffy & I are going to party, party, party! That is, if it doesn't rain. If it does, we need to make alternate plans. But for now, the plan is to go to the Nordstrom sale after work (already went at 7:00 this morning, but only got things for the kids); tomorrow we'll go to the dentist, then the tofu festival. Sunday, Scooter swims again, and after that we'll either go to another pool for some FUN swimming or to a friend's house-warming party. We'll eat junk food, sleep late, let the dishes pile up. I can always take care of it...tomorrow...

Love-Love
Saturday was a great night for a tennis exhibition. It was warm and there was a full moon and clear sky. Scooter and Fluffy actually enjoyed watching the games and were much better behaved than I was expecting. Fluffy kept score. Scooter fell asleep before it was over (exhausted from the morning's swim meet). Both kids got comp tennis racquets, so I guess it's time to take them to the tennis court.

Glub Glub Glub
This morning Scooter had his very first swim meet. We had to be at the pool in Carson by 7:30 to check in and warm up. Races started at 9:00. I guess you call them "heats?"

Anyway, Scooter participated in five events: individual freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke, a relay medley, and freestyle medley. In the individual breaststroke, he accidentally swam the first half freestyle and everyone was yelling, "Breaststroke!!" to him. He won that race. Ha ha!

So he survived his first meet. And he did a great job! And by the end of this summer, he's going to be a great swimmer! I'm so proud of my little Scooter!

World Team Tennis
I guess there are some perks to working in Marketing. We get to attend the World Team Tennis exhibition in Newport this weekend. I got enough tickets for all of us, but I don't really want to take the kids. I cracked up Belinda when I told her, "Ten minutes into the game, Scooter will probably ask for a churro." I can probably keep Scooter occupied with a gameboy. Now what to do with Fluffy? Grandparents would really come in handy now...

Spiders
Scooter moved the tricycle out of the garage this morning and all these spiders came crawling out. Scooter: Those daddy-long-legs were huge! I think they were UNCLE-long-legs!

Tooth Fairy Notification
Well, Fluffy's tooth fell out during lunch today. Hey, Tooth Fairy, don't forget to come to our house tonight (don't forget, like last time).

Tooth Fairy
Fluffy has a loose tooth. She was afraid it would fall out, and she would end up eating it or something and have nothing to give the Tooth Fairy. She said we would have to "write the Tooth Fairy a sad note explaining what happened." She's so funny.

Weekend Update
Well, so much for "daily" updates. Anyways...

This weekend was huge fun! Drove down to Legoland on the fourth. It wasn't that crowded, and we didn't really have to wait in line for anything. Rode the Dragon and Technic roller coasters four times each! And surprise, surprise, Fluffy really enjoyed them! This opens up huge possibilities for future amusement park adventures!

Met up with Lauren & Co. about halfway through the day, and Fluffy & Scooter convinced Lauren to ride Technic. She liked it, too! What's the deal? I was TWELVE when I rode my first roller coaster, and these kids are FIVE.

Watched the holiday fireworks wearing these cool glasses that gave all the lights a prismatic effect. Cool... Scooter liked it a little too much. Hope he never discovers LSD.

The next day we headed for our favorite place - Sea World! Fluffy & I rode Shipwreck Rapids a bunch of times, and then we sat in the soak zone at the Shamu show! I have to admit, Fluffy was pretty gutsy this weekend, not her usual timid self. Even Scooter chickened out at the last minute and went to sit higher up so he wouldn't get wet.

Finally got to check out the Carlsbad outlet mall on the way home Sunday. I think that's my fave outlet mall now. Much nicer than Camarillo and way cooler (temp-wise). Spent way too much money and didn't get anything for myself, unless you count things for the house, which I don't, because I don't see getting much enjoyment from cereal bowls and a floor mat. Hmm, now that I think about it, Fluffy was the only one who really scored. Didn't get anything for Scooter. This was definitely Fluffy's weekend.

No more long weekends for a while...

Blind Leading the Blind
Yesterday Scooter handed me a list of things he needs for his elective class - Scrapbooking. Caught me totally off-guard. So last night we ran over to Michael's and spent a small fortune. It's kind of hard to know what to buy, because I'm not a scrapbooker myself. It'll be interesting to see what Scooter puts together. Maybe I can get him to work on all those boxes of pictures that have been waiting to be put into photo albums since...1994!

Friends Forever
Fluffy whispered a secret to me yesterday: She wishes we were sisters, because I'm her best friend and we'll be best friends forever!

I love Fluffy!

A First Attempt
Yikes! I just created my very first web page last week, and here I am, creating a blog? How exciting!

Not exactly sure what I should start with...

Kids just started summer school yesterday. Scooter likes his teacher, but Fluffy said her teacher is mean (which I'm sure is not true). They both go to the Y when school lets out, just like during the school year. Poor little puppies. I guess it will be like that until I win Lotto (when, not if!).

Well, let's see how this thing looks...