Holy Moly - The Motherload of All Scoop

Sit down, peeps.  This is going to take a while.

Rylee and fam came over to celebrate her 1/2 birthday.  These two are such a mess.

Pa came to visit one night while Blake and I were in town and then also while we were in L.A.  We ate dinner on the Oceanside Pier.

Always, always dancing.

The pier was buzzing with activity.  Several sting rays caught!

And, a leopard shark.

Widespread Panic arrived and we headed to L.A.

Spotted this bumper sticker.  Love.  I love my chickens. 

(I'm talking about our kids, although, I would enjoy raising the poultry variety, too.)

We stayed in Korea Town.  And, picked the hands-down worst hotel ever.

Not because it was in Korea Town.  There are nice places, there.

Not sure this is one of them.

This one is.  I love a good venue.

"Hollywood and Vine" for the Panic fans reading.

Went down to Hollywood Blvd and checked out the chaos.

Grauman's Chinese Theater.  Legendary.

This swanky little bar was attached to our hotel.  No idea how that was made possible.

23 pounds lost!

Blake finally found the shirt I've been looking for since Puerto Rico in 2007.

Bliss......

Thank you, random dude with your rock-n-roll hands up, for making this picture awesome.

It was a total blast.

A few quotes:

(all from Blake)

*Please speed up.  You're going to get us killed.  If there is no traffic, you floor it.  Go 80.  And, get out of the left lane.

*Pick up your camera before we make this quick stop.  This car will be up on blocks in 5 minutes and it will probably be done by that Pepsi guy making his delivery.  It doesn't take long.  Bring everything in.

And, my favorite:

*Last night included many severe flashbacks to high school.  It was like watching someone drink for the first time and making sure they don't do any stupid sh*t.

Thank you, Blake! 

We seriously had so much fun.  Even sitting in our heinous hotel room having pre-show cocktails.  Blake makes me laugh like no other.

OK, so my friend, Kelly, is in town.  Had a great visit and will see her Wednesday, too!

We ate at Islands and then shopped at the Carlsbad Outlets.

Later that evening, we cooked out and relaxed in the back yard.

Kelly taught the kids some Hammer Time moves.  Carter was horrified.

Finally, surf camp!

Today was day 1 and it was super fun.

Our shy little guy was front and center, first in line to get in the water.  Such a cool kid.

Rather than gliding above the incoming wave like most kids, he now dips and crashes through to avoid more delay getting out and more paddling.

He even falls with a smile on his face!

Summer is full speed ahead and there are several vendors set up we don't see year round.

Our little pro......after 3 hours of non-stop work.

I treated Carter to a double scoop of home made ice cream and then we headed home to see the little punks after Vacation Bible School.

Lots to do this week.

Lainey has a fever.  Of course she does!  Because we have flights booked cross country on Saturday.  I'd rather have it now than then......keep your fingers crossed for me, please.

3 kids + mom have dentist appointments tomorrow.  I love getting my teeth cleaned.  LOVE.  I wish I could do it weekly.  (seriously)

Work on Wednesday for me.

Hair cut and color on Thursday.

Los Angeles on Friday!

I'm starting to pack and get things organized.  Batman is covered.  Mail has been held.  Keys are being made for house sitters.  Etc, etc.

Off to finish The Bachelorette.  Back soon!

Five

Twas 5 years ago today when this wee little blog started.

2006

My first post is here.

Check out the comments.  We taught Pa what a blog was.

We had 2 kids.

They looked like this:

As a family, we looked like this:

Lainey Caroline was still a dream in my head.  We had no clue that not 1/2 a year after I started this blog.....I'd be pregnant again.  With this little punkin pie:

My 7th post was about Widespread Panic.  Some things never change.

Except I can't fit in that top anymore.  Damn. 

Working on it!

We've lived in 4 states in the 5 years of my writing.

 What a strange trip it's been.

At first I kept to myself.....for a couple of years.  When  Blake moved to KC from Colorado, I branched out and started networking.  I needed the companionship. I needed to reach other people. And, I'm so glad I did.

I've met countless amazing friends - you all know who you are - and I'm beyond grateful for each and every one of you.  Blogland is a powerful thing.  I'm so glad I jumped in 5 years ago. 

Lots to update you on.  Widespread, Pa's visit, sharks on the Pier, Lainey's feathered hair, my most recent affliction (Vertigo), and more.

Soon!

Aint Life Grand, Yall?

We're on the road to Los Angeles.

I'm going to be touring Hollywood Blvd, Grauman's Chinese Theater and the Walk of Fame (seeking out Diane Keaton, Benecio del Toro, and James Franco, naturally) while Blake tends to some bizness.

Then, we are on our way here:

The Wiltern.

To see:

Widespread Panic.

With a few of these:

Martinis.



And, just to clarify:

We will be without offspring.

Here are the guys at their induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

They never dress like this, btw.



I love them.

Blake loves them.

It's gonna be good, peeps.

Back soon!

Caroline Wrap Up + Scoop = Lots Going On, Folks

On Thursday, Caroline and I met our California fam at the beach.  It was Donna's birthday, so we celebrated in style with Key Lime cupcakes.  I didn't even know they were her favorite. 

Damn, I'm good.

My sweet Aunt Donna:

Her son and my cousin, Cam.  Love this kid.  Erin, his sister, is wreaking havoc in Europe at the moment, so we missed her company.  Uncle Bob, too.

Home for naps and then a visit to the pier. 

I love sunsets over the water.

It was busy, folks.  Summer time in California.

I want this bike.

Love Jackie holding hands with Caroline via the stroller.

We are obviously down with laziness in this house.

Oh, save it. 

Our kids are on the go more than most.

Let them ride in strollers, I say.

We watched fisher men people fishing.

And, took in all the beauty of the Oceanside Pier.  I love it.  Love that we live so close to something so completely foreign to us.

While Caroline and I ordered (my first no-carb burger, btw.....20 pounds lost!)......the punks put together these cardboard kits provided by Ruby's.  And, they all recognized the Griswold car. 

I raised them right, yo!

Ruby's Diner as been around for a while.

Carter fit the bill with his hipster hat and trendy specs.

Our return walk was in the dark and we stopped to see some of the old photos on the pier.  Super cool.

Visited the Sunset Market as it was closing and then returned home.

This critter came by for a visit.  He's a hungry guy.  I was tempted to make him dinner. 

At some point during Caroline's trip, we assembled one of our new gardens.....pics in a previous post.

And, a few days later.....we can already see a sprout!

We took more naps.  Everyone wants to be next to Carowine.

On her last night here, we had the neighborhood kids over for s'mores and friendship bracelets. 

Caroline made her own version as I taught the kids mine.

Oh, how I coveted these tiny wraps of thread.  I was pretty much a bad ass in middle school.....making bracelets galore.

Jack took it upon himself to create the largest marshmallow possible.....by burning it to a crisp.

Saturday morning arrived too soon.

And, we had to say goodbye to "Caro-slime".

In our usual routine.......we stopped by Fashion Valley to shop a bit.

I am in love with the Sun Diego store.

Why?

Maui Babe lotion

Toms

Sanuks

Billabong

Quicksilver

..............and more.............

Must buy this yellow shirt before Florida for Blake.

Went into the Disney store for the first time in a long time.  I never understood why I didn't like this store.......it was fun when it first arrived (even though they wouldn't hire me - I was DYING to wear the Minnie cheerleader uniform).  Then, a few years later, it seemed to go downhill.

Well, it's back, people. The magic is back.  I asked the associate how the store had changed and she said it was bought back by Disney.  The Children's Place owned it for a while.

Interesting.

Not all Disney stores are transformed yet.......but the one we went in was a flagship version of things to come.

Fabulous.

So, what's next?

A mound of to-do lists on my desk.  Staring me in the face as I write this.

"To Do before Los Angeles"

"To Do before Destin"

"To Do before Phish in August"

"To Do before school starts"

Kids are in Vacation Bible School this evening and for the remainder of this week.  It's a nice little summer break for all of us.

I have to do the following in the next 2 days:

*make dentist appts

*confirm surf camp schedule and registration

*laundry

*pack for the punks

*pack for me

*get Blake to pack for himself

2 nights/3 days in L.A. kid-less. 

I can't freaking wait.

(We're not allowed to say 'freaking' in our house, so I have to here.)

Later!

How Is Summer Treating Ya?

In 40 days, our youngest will start Pre-K, our middle will start Kindergarten and our oldest will rule the school as a 5th grader. 

Summer is going by quickly!

And, it's been a fabulous one.

Lots more to do, though, as you can see in the picture above.

How about you?

*****What's left for you? 

******What do you wish you could be doing?

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.

- John Lubbock