One Slammin' Summer - In 23 mins, 17 secs

Well, Spring sprang right on by.  Then summer just poofed it's way on in under a cloud of smoke.  Man, it has been smokey.  It finally cleared, but tonight the CA wild fires smoke oozed it's way back in to the neighborhood.  Endless days of unhealthy air quality.  We even had to escape to Los Angeles to get away from the bad air. Scary! 

Earlier in the summer we headed to San Francisco and hit the Exploratorium.  What a blast!  It was the boys' first trip there, and after a full day of exploring science, I was wiped OUT.  We had so much fun with Papi and Nanny.  Papi was evil and gave the boys stop watches when we arrived.  From then on, I've been screwed!  It started immediately with how fast can we get up to Papi's apartment... by stairs... 11th floor.  Need I say more?  

It continues with how long can I hold my breath under water?  How fast does it take me to ride my bike to the stop sign and back?  How long does it take to get to the grocery store?  Time me on how fast I can tie my shoes.  Mom it took me two minutes and 15 seconds to poop.  (Mom - Did you wipe?  Did you wash your hands?)  

See, even his mask is EVIL

On the same trip, we also went to the Zeum.  Another great SF treat. We made a claymation movie of an Octopus eating a fish.  The boys filmed in a green room, and added backgrounds to their flicks. 

Then we ate some great pizza with a few alien friends.  Funny how we haaaaaadd to get these friends before dinner.  Funny because I don't think I have seen them since we returned home, they just got thrown in a toy box, where they sit craving olives and pizza.

All in all it has been a productive summer.  

1. I got a small promotion, which is great, but I'll reporting to someone new.  I love the new team, but I'm totally sad to be leaving my boss.  He is such the bomb.  
2. I cleaned out a couple closets and the pantry.  
3. I worked, and worked and still working.  
4. I've been reading A LOT.  The Harry Potters.. again; The Sookies..again;  The Fablehavens, 1st timer; The 1st Charlie Bone, 1st timer; Started the Carpe Demon series, on book 2; and lots of magazines - pool side.
5. Lovin' the pool and swimming, almost daily.  When it's too smokey, we stay in.
   
6. Lots of visiting with family and friends.  Here and there.
7. Zoo Camp starts next week.  Science - Mad Lab camp starts a couple weeks after that.  
8. This weekend.. fishing. 
9. Updated blog :)  FINALLY
10. Some teeth lost, some loose.

So, what have you all been up to?  

Hey, Austin!  How long did it take me to update my blog?

Feeling Ducky

It's Spring!  Time for a renaissance of my little silly blog.  Lots of fun has been had.  Lots of life has been lived.  Lots of love has been shared.  Life is ducky!

fall is in the air

It's definately fall in California. I know it, by just looking around me.

Wow, don't blink!

I blinked and summer was over.

I blinked and the 1st day of school was over.

I blinked and the 1st trimester of school was over.

I blinked and I now can order some Yankee Pot Roast at senior citizen discount night at Denny's.

Well, ok, maybe not that last one, but I'm afraid to blink again, that's for sure.

To catch up:

We now have a pool.

1 kid can tie his shoes, the other just likes to be pampered.

Mohawk down, Mohawk back, Mohawk down.

Um, 20th reunion happened.

Getaways galore. Yummy, most awesome french toast EVAH, at Foreign Cinema in San Francisco. mmmmmmm. Melt in your mouth!

Freezer full of Venison.

Austin jams on the guitar. Hunter quit. I plan on the no pressure approach, but he still likes to pick it up and play around the house sometimes.

Austin decided he wanted to climb a rock wall, although he is afraid of heights. About 1/2 way up he looked down, and was not happy. Little dude kept on going, and would not quit until he got to the top. What a guy, to face that fear head on and claim his life. No fear was going to keep him from having fun and trying new things. Austin, I so want to be you when I grow up!

Hunter was still not ready for 2-wheeling, but he made some improvement and then asked to wait a while longer. It's all good. In your time, little man, you will rule the world.

1st grade happening, boys separated for the 1st time. AJ told me that everyday after their lunch recess they say good-bye to eachother (although they play separately) and they tell each other "you're always in my heart". What a way to melt mom's heart, huh?

Halloween is this week, and Hunter still wears last year's costume, just for fun. This year I have Jack Sparrow and Darth Vader in my home for Halloween. We did a Pumpkin Patch field trip with the school. And today we went again, the boys, Mike and I. Gotta love shorts weather at the pumpkin patch.

This week I took Halloween off to play with the boys at their class parties. DeeDee and Charlie will be coming over to trick or treat with us and the Zanotti's. Then this weekend, flying solo to LA to hang with the Stering clan for yet another of Ancient Audrey's birthdays.

Happy Halloween!

Good Golly Miss Molly

I have another canine daughter.
Molly is 2 and a half.
Molly loves the boys.
Molly is a princess.
Molly is a good girl.
Molly is here to stay.

And, us?
We couldn't be happier.

a few of my current obsessions

So, this year is my 20th high school reunion. I'm feeling a little ancient, but yet, I still feel like I'm not really old. I mean, I have these total school girl crushes on movie stars, I like rockin' out in the car, I play video games and skateboard with the kids, I even still watch the Brady Bunch. 40's right around the corner, but I'm still having a good time. Here are some of my grown-up obsessions:

Ummm, Johnny Depp. Can't get much better than that. I got a little frustrated on the photomerging in Photoshop, but whatever.

Yes, the Brady Bunch. I have this. The complete series in a Green Shag carpet box. The boys and I watch it all the time. Some great life lessons in it. You can buy it here.

Guitar Hero. Yes, Austin playing at 10pm in his tube socks and swim trunks. It's a family obsession. I was the 1st of the family to master Freebird, but little man now kicks my butt. He plays the game on Hard, and if you've ever played this, then you know that is amazing! Check it out here. We have 1 and 2, but I hear there's a new 80's one. Must go track it down!

And ofcourse:

Love how they did this movie. Different than the book, but it holds up on it's own and keeps the story on the right track. Have you seen his topless picture for Equss? Is it bad to lust after a then 17, finally 18 year old? Don't answer that!

And this book! Magical! Amazing! (did you catch the magical...LOL). I cried when it was over, not just because of what happens, but because it was over. JK Rowling sure has a way of story telling. Loved it, re-reading the series for the 2nd time this summer. In between the Brady Bunch and Guitar Hero, ofcourse.

And finally:

Back to Johnny. But can you get more kick-ass than Elizabeth Swann? And is it me or is Orlando Bloom getting hotter every film? But that Johnny..... MMMM

So what are you obsessing over?

Feed Jake

Jake Ray Marcoccia

03/04/1995-07/07/07

Rest In Peace

Tag, you're it!

Renee and Jen tagged so...These are the rules…. each player starts with 7 random facts about themselves on their Blog. People who are tagged need to blog 7 facts about themselves and post the rules as well. At the end of their blog list 7 people you are tagging. Let them know that they are tagged by leaving them a comment. So, time for my 7 random facts:

1. In my dreams I am still my highschool weight. For reals, every dream, even the ones in Spanish. I'm talking less than 100 pounds skinny.

2. I am a complete and total nerd, and I’m ok with that.

3. My name is Bat Bogey Hexer on the Leaky Cauldron, a Harry Potter message board. (back to the nerd thing)... Oh, and I still feel Snape has to be good, but I'll be finding out for sure later this month. yeah!

4. I never let my kids go to bed without hearing at least one good belly laugh a day. I figure that when they grow up, no matter how crazy times could be, we could always find laughter.

5. I’m a cat person with no cats, but 2 dogs.

6. I took 6 years of French, but Je ne parle Francais. (I don’t speak French) Maybe because 4 years of those lessons were taught by Mr. Fong.

7. I wish I could that dance where girls make their butts jiggle up and down without moving the rest much. I know it’s a knee thing, but whatever, wish I could do it.

So if your read this, consider yourself tagged. Just about all the bloggers I know have already been tagged because I took so long to do this.