Refreshing!

So we got some more snow recently.

Gavin thought it was delicious.

Chloe's Dance "Recital"

Chloe just finished a dance class with the city here. I thought it was a lot of work for me and the kids to make it happen considering it was on the other side of town and I had to have her get out of school 10 min. early so we could get there on time and then her class was an hour and 15 min. long which is quite a while to entertain the other kids and then it was pretty much dinner time when we were done, but after watching her in the class, I have determined that I was surprisingly impressed at what she was able to get out of it and we would probably do it again. (Eek, did I just say that?)

There was some rule about not being allowed to do video so I just had to go crazy with taking pictures. Unfortunately, I had the camera on some random settings I was playing with in my photography class so I didn't realize it until too late so most of my shots are blurry and horrible lighting but that is life and I still found some that I really like like this (she looks so grown up and pretty):

and these:

She forgot her shoes so we started definitely with some trials but by the time her teacher reassured her that it was ok to dance in her tights, she was able to relax and enjoy herself. I was surprised and impressed that she had the entire routine memorized and she knew the names of all the dance positions and moves. I could tell that she gained a lot of confidence in her body and I already noticed that her control of her body improved quite a bit. It was really fun to watch. There was an unexpected portion when they did this like "interpretive" dance and she was just supposed to move however the music made her feel and she was just so into it and smiling and it made me smile too. She wasn't embarrassed at all and just let it all go. That's how she is at home, but it was nice to see her be able to be that way in public too because sometimes she can be quite shy. It made me so happy that she was just so confident and having fun. She still is awkward and her feet are so big for her right now but going into this experience, that was all I wanted: confidence and improved control. So now that means, heaven help us on Wednesdays. I'll just have to re-read this post to remember all the good that came from it.

Guess What Everybody!

The sad part is that I wasn't home. But let the record show that I was the one who had been training him for his big debut. I guess he is just Daddy's boy. We're so excited! (And scared because now nothing is safe!)

Freaking Satan

(photo courtesy of my awesome sister and brother in law on Halloween. Used w/o permission and stolen off FB. he he)

So I'm pretty sure Satan doesn't want me to exercise. Why else could there be so many obstacles to getting my fit on? Like this morning:

I told myself to get up at 7:00 but then I also told myself to sleep just a few more minutes because I was so tired.

I told myself to get up at 7:30 but the I told myself to sleep just a few more minutes again.

I got all my exercise clothes on and started to go downstairs. I even tried to pass Gavin off to Greg so he could start breakfast for the chillins while me and Cindy (Crawford) did some squats together but Gavin refused to have me let go of him. I finally got him to Greg who had to change poor Gavin's clothes because his pee diaper overflowed.

So I load the dvd into the machine but I can't find the dumb remote to get the dvd to play.

Then I start doing some warm up and even start the leg sequence. Then Chloe needs me to help her with her hair.

Then Chloe is crying because I pulled out yesterday's rubber band too hard and I hurt her feelings by brushing her hair too hard.

Then Gavin finishes breakfast and throws up on the couch pillow and all over his hoodie.

Then I have to scrounge some more dirty clothes because a puke pillow and a hoodie aren't enough to make a full load.

Then I have to drive Chloe to school.

Then Tati decides to put a battery in her mouth and she has another time out.

Then Tati decides to get a puzzle out and then Gavin changes all the settings on my dvd player while the cabinet is open.

Then I decide that my exercise attempt is over.

Then I feel sorry for myself because I really want to get in shape.

Then I want to eat some Oreos to make it all better.

Dumb Satan. Just to spite you, I'm going to do that dvd again on Sat. morning and tomorrow I'm going to do my exercise walk around the valley even if it is snowing.

And I didn' t eat any Oreos.

Hide & Seek

Well most of you all know how coo-koo Tati is so you can appreciate this story. She came up to me and told me she hid something for me to find. What you might be asking yourself?

Her: "Mom, I hid a pantiliner and you have to find it."

Me: "Ok."

FOUND IT!

(he he)

She is a real piece of work that one. FYI, we'll do the lesson on the differences between feminine products later in life. I was also reminded of this one. Apparently there is a fascination.

Dear Toy Makers,

Here is a great idea that I'm sure you haven't thought of yet.

You're welcome.

Love, Tati

Sweet Genius

Have you seen this show? It is kind of like Chopped but with dessert items and a hilarious host. I think, sadly, it was a good idea killed by weird and bad ideas thrown in. Mostly I like the host and his voice and the things that he says. I told my little brother that he reminds me of him if Stephan were talking with a gay, foreign accent and saying funny culinary things. So that might be a stretch. Anyway, I had a total sweet genius moment this week.

I bought some strawberries. I bought them mostly because they were from Oxnard and it is hard for me to pass up berries from my home town. I also found out my tomatoes are from Camarillo.


It lifts up my winter spirits to buy produce from California. It is like a gift of love and deliciousness from nature. But I digress. I was also craving some real fruit and thinking maybe it would a good excuse to whip up some heavy cream because I'm always looking for an excuse to do that. ;-)

Instead we made chocolate dipped berries. I was inspired by my friend Rebecca who did chocolate berries as an after school snack and she let her kids dip them in sprinkles. So I did her one better.
Ok, so maybe I would have failed the chocolate round of this show because I clearly have clumpy chocolate and I also didn't use a double boiler, BUT I made the most delicious discovery. Roasted almonds and chocolate not only are delicious on just about anything, but on a strawberry are DIVINE or what one might call GENIUS!