HOT....HOT.....HOT

It's going to be a hot one this weekend in SoCal. The temperature has been rising all week and looks like tomorrow is going to be the hottest yet. Time to shave the dog, especially if they are black. This is Paddie, my parents Bouvier........wouldn't want to tackle shaving him, he's like a big California Black Bear.

Instead of shaving my parents dog or my own for that matter, I will try and stay cool this weekend by reading poolside under the shade of my backyard palm trees, drink a few Margarita's (low-carb version of course) with tons of ice and share a frozen yogurt with Finn....yum!

Or......I could follow in Finn's footsteps and just recline on Paddie while laying on my parents cool Mexican Saltillo tile.

Enjoy your weekend, it has arrived!!

My Very Own Gateway

Before entering my domicile, you will now approach custom hand forged iron gates, installed by my husband and father on Saturday. My husband is also responsible for the stucco/cement columns the gates are attached to, built by him and a mason friend a few weeks ago. I am coming to the realization that I am surrounded by men of greatness, better yet.....ones that I am related to and live with.

As I watched them throughout the installation, I was impressed at how well my father and husband worked together. Not a typical scenario when Todd and I do a project together, much more yelling and screaming involved. I figured out the secret to their success, my father told Todd what to do and Todd did it, no questions asked.

Are they not gorgeous? I find myself wandering outside just to walk back and forth through my lovely new gates. They still catch me off guard, can they possibly be in my very own front yard? I can see them from my kitchen and living room windows and instantly I feel like Daisy in the Great Gatsby, they seem so grand!!

Door hardware and fencing is next on the list, back to putting money in the piggy bank to save up for Phase II.

If you are in the neighborhood, feel free to drive by and come walk through my new gates. You will instantly feel better as you walk through, I may even have a glass of Chardonnay waiting for you.

DRIVE IN ENTOURAGE

Saturday night we returned to the Santee Drive-In, this time with an entourage. The new editions to our group were Vi & Gus, Angie and Mary's family (Madeline, Will and Trevor). I'm learning with each new experience at the drive-in, you can never have too many in your entourage. The children played well together and even had a "silly string" experience with fellow drive-in attendees before the movie began.

Are we there yet?

Please don't be alarmed, we weren't driving like this, we had just parked.

Vi and Gus - Let the tailgating begin
Notice Gus has his ever ready waterproof flashlight.

Kayla - Angie - Kirra - Mary


Cousins
Trevor & Will


Kayla - Finn - Will - Madeline
All set up and ready for the movie to begin.........


Angie & Kirra
Watching from the back of Vi & Gus's truck



Favorite Photo of the Night
Madeline - Finn - Kayla


Uncle Todd & Kayla
Comfortable in the back of our SUV


Me and Mary


Grandma Violet & Kayla

Trevor & Will

They moved from lawn chairs, to the much more comfy SUV

As the evening approached the witching hour (12am), eyes started closing....first with the boys...........

Then Finn and Kayla dropped off.......

Want to know who fell asleep next?!?!?!?!?!

Mary and Violet

They look so peaceful!

Judging by the amount of empty food wrappers and empty cooler, they just had too much fun to stay awake!!! Fun was had by all, I loved the company and conversation under the stars of Santee....much better than the movie "Shorts", I was totally confused (could be because I was too busy talking...shhhhh).

BACK TO SCHOOL

It can't possibly be "Back to School" time already, I was just getting into the full swing of Summer and here we are buying ruled paper, binders and new shoes.

Today we woke up bright and early to see Kirra and Kayla off to their first day of school at Roosevelt Middle School. Kirra will be a 7th grader, her second year at Roosevelt, for Kayla this is her first year as a 6th grader. I was so excited for her, she finally gets to be at the same school again with her older sister.

I missed out having siblings in Jr High and High School, family can never be overrated....why didn't I realize this when I was younger?

Don't you remember how important it was on the first day of school to have the perfect outfit, new backpack and a new hair style? Here are the girls making sure teeth are clean, skin moisturized and hair in place. You only get to make a first impression once (this goes for teachers and boys).

Aunt Angie & Finn

Kayla & Kirra

Starbucks complements of Grandma Violet



Finn taking it all in.......
I think he was relieved he wasn't going to school today,
but hanging out with Grandma Violet all day.


Kayla & Grandma


Me and The Girls




First Day of School Photo

This photo taken every year,
in the same spot, 8 years and counting.
Kirra - Angie - Kayla

Angie, your girls are truly amazing. Their spirits are pure and bright, their inner and outer beauty is a sight to behold. Todd and I are so proud of them!!!! Thanks for letting us share this special day with you and the girls.

Memphis Turns 3

On August 15th at 11am we all gathered at the Oceanside Pier/Beach Picnic Area to celebrate Memphis's 3rd birthday. For all of you that don't keep up with my blog, this is Finn's BFF (Best Friend Forever).

Memphis 3 - Go Diego Cake

Ebony and Ivory,

live to together in perfect harmony.

(words by Paul McCartney)

Finn and Memphis enjoying their lunch


Todd with Beach Babes
Jennifer & Angie

One of the activities planned by Memphis's Grandmother (Chris), Ocean Foam Decoration for sand buckets, filled with wonderful surprises. Check out Kirra's masterpiece below.

Kirra's Bucket

Presents, presents and more presents.

This was a great place to have the party, picnic tables, sun cover and beach all provided at no cost, just have to get there before the crack of dawn to reserve your spot.

Finn waiting, patiently, waiting........for the cake to be cut.

Kayla and Beach Hot Dog

What a lovely couple,

wonder who they were, party crashers?!?!?!?

Memphis's party coincided with the Supergirl/Longboard Contest, it was going on directly in front of us, tons of sponsors were giving out promotional items, even had WB celebrities with camera crew, very exciting for the tweens and teenagers in the group.

Happy Birthday Memphis!!!

C.H.P. IN THE HOUSE

Let it be known far and wide, we have a C.H.P. Officer in the family. Don't know what C.H.P. stands for?!?!?!? California Highway Patrol. After many grueling months at the academy, away from his wife and children, Caleb graduated from the CHP Academy in Sacramento, CA. I can't tell you how proud I am of him, I wouldn't have lasted 5 seconds.

Saturday night Patty hosted a Graduation Party for Caleb, they have an amazing group of friends and family who have always believed in Caleb, no matter what he chose to do......and boy did he choose. I feel safer already knowing he will be patrolling our freeways.

Finn- The Badge - The Super Hero

Finn has a new Super Hero, Officer Caleb. To my little boy nothing rates higher than a job with a gun, driving a car with flashing lights...oh and lets not forget a shiny, star shaped badge!!!

Cousins

Caleb & Lorenzo

And yes ladies, they are both happily married!!

Brother & Sister - Sister & Sister

Family

This looks like Happiness to me

Ella, Caitlin, Caley, Ted, Cherryl

Love all Around

2nd Generation Cousins

Ella - Finn - Caitlin - Caley

Finn is one lucky boy.

Caley had the most popular toy of the evening.....
C.H.P. Cruiser

I regret I don't have any pictures of Caleb and Patty together. Her father took some amazing photos at the Graduation, one specifically stands out in my mind, her pinning the CHP Badge on her husband. I hope to borrow a few to post on my blog, with permission first of course. She deserves a badge of her own, but in 18k solid gold with lettering in diamonds.

I close this post with the following warning................

Next time you drive down my culd-de-sac you better

watch your speed

or I am sending

my cousin after you!!!!

OBSESSION

I became obsessed, my mind and body totally focused on completing a LEGO Building Kit. Even now as I write about it I am not fully recovered from the desire to push plastic pieces together and have them lock into place. I never played with LEGO's as a child. I honestly never understood their popularity or children's fascination with them, until now.

Let me transgress a little bit, one of Finn's birthday gifts this year was a "Limited Edition" Star Wars Lego" Spider Droid . The box said it was designed for children 7 to 12 years old and it came with over 500 individual pieces, it was instantly put away for a future time. I definitely didn't want to open this box with a 3 year old no matter how much he loved Star Wars.

Limited Edition "Star Wars Spider Droid"

Friday afternoon Finn spotted it on the shelf in the garage (Note:need to talk to Todd about hiding skills). We didn't have any plans until swim practice at 5pm so I took it down and headed to the kitchen table to see how hard it would be to assemble on my own. I put together the little troopers and battle droids first, this gave Finn something to play with while I concentrated on figuring out the Spider Droid.

It only took 4 gray pieces and I was hooked, I vaguely remember Todd coming in to talk to me, I think the phone rang.....not really sure, didn't really care just had to finish the Spider Droid. During this crazed fixation, Finn sat beside me shooting battle droids with his storm trooper. He offered encouragement along the way, he told me "I was doing a good job". We both became overly excited when I attached the hydraulic hose to the laser. We could sense the end was near.

At some point 5 o'clock must have arrived because Todd took Finn to Swim Practice, I promised I would meet them there (I think), I only had about 20 pieces left and I just had to finish it before leaving the table.

Tiffiney's Spider Droid

I finished, all movable parts worked. I couldn't believe I actually finished a Lego Building Set, and that I enjoyed it. I even had enough time to get to Finn's lesson with one minute to spare. When he set eyes on me at the swim complex, his first question was if I had finished the Droid. I victoriously said "YES".

My question to myself...

"When are we going to Legoland?"

NEW HAIRCUT

I have never been in a hurry to cut Finn's hair. I wonder if subconsciously I relate to Samson in the Bible Story, he was never to cut his hair or he would lose his great strength. Instead of losing strength I am losing a part of Finn's babyhood/childhood, removed from me forever.

Am I becoming a neurotic mother, or just a mother not ready to let even the littlest part of Finn leave me? This being said, Finn's hair was getting in the way, during swim lessons he was always having to brush it aside, at times I noticed he looked unkempt, even after a thorough brushing . I put aside my neurotic feelings and let his grandparents take him to get a hair cut

.

Finn's New Look - I love it!!

Many positives have come about due to this haircut. No more hair in the eyes during swim practice, you can see his lovely lashes and eyes without intrusion of hair, but most importantly...........

I get to style his hair with gel/wax, spike it up!!!

As Finn will tell you, just like Ethan's at school. He sits very still and let's me style it, he couldn't wait to get to school to show off his new hair.

Moral of this story, the locks may be gone but Finn and I have a new experience to share together.........

Hair Sculpting!

DRIVE IN THEATRE - A PIECE OF AMERICANA

It is truly astonishing how many people have their own personal experiences at Drive In theatres. When I told friends/family/co-workers we were taking the children to the Santee Drive-In, many came forward and shared their stories......some so scandalous I dare not repeat ever.

Sadly, there are only two Drive In Theatre's left in San Diego County, Santee being one of them. I could barely contain my excitement over sharing this new experience with Finn, Kirra and Kayla on Saturday night.

Santee Drive In

Kids under 5 Free, 5 to 13 $4.00, Adults $8.00

For a Double Feature!!!

Twilight at the Movies


Kayla, Finn, Kirra and Me


Family Fun

Snuggled Down

Sometimes I wonder if the world we live in would be a better place if Drive In's made a re-appearance. If you looked around, it was 90% families, there was even a Mini Cooper Club in attendance, one row of vintage 1950's, 2nd row of modern models. Two cars down in our row Kayla actually ran into a friend from her school, he was there with his family.

As Americans in trouble we need to revisit the past, learn from our parents, grandparents...slow down, enjoy, simplify...........

Lets all go to the DRIVE IN!!