July 8, 2013

Things Explode When You Keep Toddlers Up Way Past Bedtime (or Fourth of July Fireworks)

Fireworks_07-04-13

Fireworks had the potential to start long before dark. The fourth of July is my parents wedding anniversary. 2013 marks 35 years.

And over this long holiday weekend, the muppets and I decided to grandmother’s house we go. Actually, we made the trek to the San Bernardino Mountains for some lake patrol fun in the sun. My family has been coming here for years – it was one of G.G’s favorite places as a little girl, and GrammaJ and Papa have had the mountain house since I was about 7. Continue reading →

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July 4, 2013

Celebrating Independence Day

Fireworks_07-04-13

 Hope your holiday was patriotic, inspiring and relaxing. I’ll fill you in on the details of ours next week 🙂

Boating Brothers

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July 3, 2013

Summer Music in the Park

BBQ Championship

The 2013 Silicon Valley BBQ Championships were coming to Santa Clara. It sounded entertaining. It also sounded tasty.

More importantly, the city was putting it on within walking distance of our house. So when the boys announced they wanted to go to the park at 10 a.m., I decided we were going on an adventure. Continue reading →

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July 1, 2013

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Lunch

5 Red Robin Mountain High Mudd Pie

The mercury was rising. The natives were getting restless. Which usually means impending crankiness. Which is our typical signal for lunch.

What better time to take advantage of a lazy summer Sunday? We threw on some sandals and 20 minutes of whining, bargaining and begging later, we were ready to head out. Time for a gourmet mid-day meal. (As the following tale could happen anywhere, I’ll refer to our dining destination by a pseudonym – Yellow Canary.) Continue reading →

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June 28, 2013

The Last Summer on Earth with Barenaked Ladies

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Music takes me places. And I have a history of taking myself to the places where Barenaked Ladies are performing.

I’ve seen them eight times. But I am not a groupie. “Groupies sleep with rockstars because they want to be near someone famous. We are here because of the music, we inspire the music.” (Just call me Penny Lane.) Continue reading →

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June 26, 2013

Putting up with Pullups

Huggies

Destroy marched proudly into his classroom with a new pack of pull-ups for summer session at school. Search followed clutching the brown paper bag with breakfast – bananas and yogurt.

His teacher laughed at me when I arrived later for pickup. Search wants nothing to do with this potty training gig. Continue reading →

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June 24, 2013

Twinsanity

Twin painting

I thought my little angels were upstairs sleeping peacefully. And then I heard stirring through the monitor.

Destroy: RAWR
Search: Noooo. No rawr, Destroy. We need to sleep now, k?
Destroy: rawr.
Search: MOMMMEEEEEE!
Destroy: Argh!!! He bite me!!! Continue reading →

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June 21, 2013

Energy of Little Monsters

MU_compositionBook_main

June 21, 2013

Victoria Gross
President
Monsters University
Monstropolis

Dear President Gross: Continue reading →

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June 19, 2013

Chowdown at Five Guys

FiveGuys Saloon

Like an old western television serial, we pushed open the doors to the burger joint. It was lunch for the taking.

The clock was about to chime high noon. The countdown was upon us to feed small people and get them to nap before meltdown. Every man (or mom) for himself. Continue reading →

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June 17, 2013

Lost in Translation

Translation

Recently the wildfires that seem to be an annual occurrence in the hills and valleys around my childhood home once again reared their ugly head. I messaged my mom over chat. Continue reading →

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