tifi

Friday, ZB had a field trip. I was a little worried as he had been nervous riding that far away on a schoolbus (an hour), but he wound up having a great time. Reesie asked me out for coffee Friday morning, so we went to our usual spot for baked goods and sweet warm drinks. Mmmm.

Saturday was another wonderful day as I did two new things for the first time. The first, and most important thing was meeting Yolanda! We met online about six years ago, but Saturday was our first time meeting in person. She came down to help me with my open house (she’s a member of the same group) and I was so thankful! I had been quite nervous about the event beforehand, but having her there really helped. It turned out a lot better than I thought it would. Granted, I thought no one would show up, lol, so my hopes weren’t very high. But it was nice. Afterwards, the two of us went to my favorite BBQ spot, Rudy’s. More mmmm. She’s just as wonderful in person as online and over the phone. But I already knew that she would be.

Izzie

Luke, whose house we stopped at yesterday to pick up cookies. Mmmm.

A few day before the new year at the “train park” as the kids call it. They got to see their first big passenger train (that they’ll remember, lol), and the conductor and passengers waved as the train passed. We all wish this playground was in our town.

• Girlie upset the Advent box yesterday and since I didn’t have the envelopes numbered, I’m going to have to guess what activities went where.
• Went to Reesie’s house to drop off Tristan’s present and she has a beeyotiful tree. I was trying to permanently borrow quite a few of her ornaments. She also inspired me to rearrange my trees. And so now the family ornaments are on the big tree where we can see them all the time.
• I decided I’m going to have a book page here. Maybe with reviews, maybe not. OK, more like a book log, I guess.
• I’m the world’s worst pancake maker. Really. Girlie can make better ones than me.
• Speaking of Girlie, she doesn’t like syrup on pancakes or waffles, and comes home on Fridays singing songs in Spanish or telling me how to say random phrases in Spanish. She spends part of every Friday in the ESL kindy class. Hehe.

Darlin’: Friday was Crazy Hat Day at the kids’ school. Bebe got wind of it and of course, wanted to don his own “crazy hat”.

Dancing: We went to our favorite local park Saturday night and there was a concert going on! A little bit of country, a little kids music, a little R&B. It was cool.

Dots on my dress: I spent a good part of Saturday watching the kids ride, skate, and run on our block. They even let me sit down sometimes. This is me sitting.

Daring: I challenged myself to spend less time online this weekend so I could get more done around the house. And I did it!

Dana Milena: That’s the name of Girlie’s first (new) cabbage patch doll. (A gift from her god/dess mother)

Dragged her: That’s what Teresa claimed I did in order to get her to go to the little old lady thrift shop last week. I didn’t see her complaining when she got 5 books for Tristan for 50 cents. (Oh, we must organize game night Reesie, the kids are asking.)

Dream: I had the strangest one. I wanted to participate in some kind of highbrow art show and went to audition with my friend who was a painter. IRL, this friend doesn’t paint…and died two years ago. Anyway, her art was accepted into the show and all I had with me were some hokey embroidered onesies. The girls giving the audition tried to let me down gently by telling me that maybe I should sell my stuff at a craft bazaar. Ouch. I think I know why I had this dream though. I’d really like to step my handbag sewing up and make more structured bags. Learn proper handbag construction, etc. BUT, I am also afraid to try something new and fail. It’s kind of silly as it’s only fabric, thread and handwork, but there you have it. :-/

I taught ZB how to ride his bike without training wheels!

I have more clean laundry than dirty!

I wanted to give Anna a hug, and I am not a hugger.

I wished I had a serger.

I started watching Season 6 of the Sopranos.

I encouraged my salsa (I hope!)

I wished I could afford to put Bebe in preschool. :-/

I read fairy tales everyday…to myself! (I love fairy tales.)

I found Strictly Ballroom at the library and checked it out. (Reesie!)

I did not try to keep up with my google reader and instead, marked all as read.

What did you do this week?

We kicked it off with the Sock Hop on Friday night.

I look awful in this picture, but whatever. I’m not sure you can tell, but I’m wearing leopard print ballet flats. Hope I make the school year book!

Saturday was spent with Reesie and Tristan at a local festival which included a car show, scary horses, us “hiking”, and a garage sale at the senior citizen center!

It was a 16th de Septiembre festival, so of course, there was Mexican food. Reesie’s about to enjoy some in this pic.

T & ZB

Goodies from the Senior Center garage sale. I was diving under tables checking out the fabric, lol. I think I paid about $1 total for everything pictured.

And here’s a shot I took in front of Reesie’s house. Aren’t these whatever they are pretty?

Yesterday, we rode bikes, had a picnic under a shady tree, and then went to visit the ducks at the college (where we were eventually kindly asked to leave by the campus police, didn’t we know the pond closed at xyz 0′clock? oops)

We had cake and drinks at a local coffeehouse with T&T this morning. T bossed Girlie around while they played chess. She didn’t mind, heh.

I was forced to go to the maul today to shop for a bathing suit. I shop online before going to a store (does anyone else do that?) and so thought I found the perfect suit on oldnavy.com. It was a one piece halterneck that looked like it would hold in splooge and prevent the dreaded muffin top I was sure to get by wearing a tankini!

I ran into (ok, semi arranged to stalk) Teresa at the mall and as we passed by Steve and Barry’s, I saw a huge poster for SJP’s new clothing line. We went in to check it out and I have three things to say: cute, cute, cute! Most of the clothing was stuff that actual adults could wear and there were even pieces that wouldn’t just look good on skinny chicks! My favorite items were an adorable green tee with shoulder detailing for 8 bucks and a nautical inspired bag with rope handles and tons of cargo pockets. I left the shirt (I’m trying to do the dress thing only this summer) and took the bag. For $10, I couldn’t leave it as cargo pocket canvas bags are pretty much my favorite style. Like my salsa said, I’m going to try not to think about the sweatshop factor, and enjoy my new purchase.

Next, it was off to Old Navy where the one pieces were slim pickins’. I picked up one of the last two black halternecks and made some snarky comment about all the metallic gold ones hanging on the rack. I tried convincing Teresa that even though she wore the look in 1995 just like I did, she could definitely still rock a babydoll dress…and even wear leggings (she hates leggings) with it! That was a no go, so I took me and my pouty self to the dressing room. I tried on the suit and then stifled a scream when I saw myself in it! For one thing, the cleavage factor was ridiculous! I mean, chances are, if a woman wears a size large, teeny tiny cups are not gonna cut it and neither is the shoelace posing as neckstrap. The back was also odd, the elastic wasn’t wide enough to hold it up. Funny the things one starts to notice when one sews!

If it was up to my daughter, I would’ve come home with a bikini (bless her sparkly little heart, she thinks her mommy can wear a bikini!), but unfortunately, they don’t come is size post partum two and a half years later with a touch of cellulite. Reesie suggested we go to Sears and check out the Land’s End selection. I protested at first saying that the suits there would be too frumpy mom (as if I’m not one!) but we were only a few steps away, so what the heck. So, we went in and asked at the counter. No more Land’s End at Sears! Wow, is this how infrequently I shop? Whole sections of stores dissappear…and I don’t know about it? I’m kind of proud of that then, truth be told. The cashier did tell us that they had bathing suits in the junior’s department though. Hah, maybe she thought I was shopping for my kid…sister (I hope), but I haven’t fit anything in the junior’s department since I was a junior, lol.

I had another hot date with Reesie and I took along my boytoy*. We went to Starbucks, a local bookshop and the library. Aren’t we cute and nerdy? Good times!

*Bebe