Independence Day

I love the 4th of July.  Love it.  I still always say it is far and away my favorite holiday, though with all of us being separated such a distance Thanksgiving and Christmas are catching up since that is when we all see each other.  Anyway, my memories growing up of the 4th are of big block parties, tons of kids running around way past our bedtimes, feeling pretty independent while closing the night with spectacular fireworks.  Then I spent several summers at camp CGA and learned to associate the day with lawn games, dressing up in as much red, white, and blue as possible, and finally jumping in the lake for a bath after shoving watermelon in the face of every person I came across in the great watermelon wash.

Boy have things changed.... not necessarily better, not worse, just different.  I'm the PARENT now!  Weird.  My boy stayed up way past HIS bedtime and while he had a blast, BML and I were exhausted!!  We started our day off with some good old fashioned crafting...I'm pretty sure this was an idea on pinterest.  P and I painted our hands and feet and made flags, he thought it was so much fun to be able to paint "mamu's" feet and made that request several times that day.  We both had paint all over us for the bulk of our celebratory day.

*side note: I'm attaching pictures at the end because they are just on my phone and its easier that way, so scroll down for the cuteness.

About 20 minutes later, Aunt T and Yay Yay came in from their 6am bike ride and watermelon 5k ( T will tell you all about that I am sure).  P showed off our drawings and we all got cleaned up to head out to brunch at KeKe's.  Have those of you who live here been to KeKe's???? It is incredible.  SO delicious, so clean, so fast, and kid friendly.   P loves to sit outside on the little chairs built especially for him and sweet L.  I think pancakes were the order of the day.  Aunt T is in the photo, not Mamu...some people get confused. :)

Next activity!  Make your own ice cream in a bag.  This one once again took about 10 minutes - 20 total if you count eating and clean up time.  Since P is constantly moving I do not know how he refuses a nap, its only 1pm and I can't wait for bed.  The ice cream turned out pretty great, just mix half and half, sugar, and vanilla in a small ziploc, then place it inside a large ziploc, layer with ice and rock salt, toss around for 10 minutes and magic!  Ice cream.  I was pretty impressed with us, it was delicious.  P had to wear oven mitts to throw the bags around, it got pretty cold.  Then, I melted some chocolate chips in some coconut oil for our very own homemade magic shell.  I know.  Amazing.

Next up - the neighborhood parade.  The only people who were definitely counting on were Grandad (Geendad, the Judge), LTD, Aunt T (FTD), P man, little L, LDL, BML, and Captain and Pax.  Thats a parade in itself!  We decorated L's radio flyer and put silly bows on the dogs, and dressed the family in their color appropriate outfits and went to set out around the lake....when the tv started screaming about a thunderstorm brewing that would spew hail and thunder and lightning and everyone should stay indoors.  Not us!  We amended our parade plans to just around the creek - there would be no rain on our parade! (Are you so proud of me Mom??)  Some of our new friends met us with their baby and 2 yr old and our neighbors came along too with their newborn with his precious 4th of July ballooned stroller and off we went.  It was quite a parade.  Watch out next year for an evite...or I'll class it up with a paperless post.

Are you tired yet?  I am.  Wrap up our parade with a delicious flag cake made by LTD and BML, FTD, me, and P man were off to the neighborhood 4th of July party!!! No pictures, it was incredible.  So fun to see all of our new friends in the area and all of their kiddos.  Our family left a little early so we could make it back to 1127 to watch fireworks with LTD and the Judge and so little L could go to sleep.  They were  amazing, but the most fun was watching the wonder in P mans eyes as each firework exploded above him.  Maybe that was why the 4th has always been my favorite, that at the end of the day, you are a hot, sticky, sweaty mess, but each moment was full of wonder, and independence, and a little bit of magic.  P finally had enough and put fingers in both ears saying "all done! all done!"  And we all passed out about the same time.  Happy.

* second side note: I have no pictures of our parade, the party, or fireworks.  But I bet someone else does...or I'll get them from yay yay and post soon.

baby, you can drive my car

I am going to blog backward since who knows how much time I will have and yesterday NEEDS to be blogged about.

After lunch yay yay (LTD) went out to the garage to gather some things and PDL followed immediately after her.  I went out with L to gather him up since he was just in his socks and it was almost nap time.  I put L in P's radio flyer car just to see his reaction which I was sure was going to be no no no no no! up! up! up! but instead he grabbed the handle and took off running down the driveway.  hilarious.

P drove L all the way down to the lake so that she could look at the ducks - we saw in P's words, baby ducks, a mamu duck, and a yay yay duck.  He even turned the car toward the lake so L could see the ducks.  He was also intent that she listen to the radio as she was riding so he stopped every 30 seconds to turn it back on.

Be sure to stay tuned for the video shot by LTD ( yay yay) while she was walking backward toward the lake...

yep, thats yay yay....falling off a ledge and almost into the lake.  P thought it was hysterical.  It was.  :)

Silent House

This past weekend, little l, LDL, LTD, and I went up and over to Pensacola Beach, FL. That beach is definitely a home a way from home (even though I've had a million plus "homes" in the last decade). LTD went to high school at Gulf Breeze High and her side of the family has lived there since. We've been vacationing there every August to celebrate our grandmother's birthday. It's always a time of great joy, high drama, and general shenanigans associated with a fun loving family that enjoys each others company.  The view from that condo is spectacular and every time we get out of the car, after 7 hours, we sigh and say "It was worth it".

This visit was a little different and was for two primary reasons. The first was to visit the wonderful J&M Treesh family and celebrate the baptism of their youngest. The second reason we were there was to visit and check in on our grandmother, who is in a giant battle with Alzheimer's. I remember her so young and vivacious. She was always happy, well groomed and bragging on one of her 13 grandchildren. Purple is her favorite color; the color of royalty. She's a queen and a child of God. I'm trying hard to use the present tense here when describing purple grandmother, but the truth of the matter is she is not the woman I remember. Alzheimer's is a terribly mean disease. So LDL and I go to pay a visit, introduce a great-granddaughter (who shares a name with purple grandmother), breathe in the salt air, and do our best to love our own mom in every way we know how.

Truthfully, it's still too difficult for me to really talk about the drastic change in my grandmother. I love her. I miss her. This new person makes me nervous. And yet, somehow, despite being completely uncomfortable, I managed to convince myself she knew exactly who I was, where I had been, and all the stories we've shared. But when the day was done, she looked at me and said "Are you the lady who does my hair?".

Guess what's for dinner?

Silent House - The Dixie Chicks

Everyday that will pass you by
Every name that you won't recall
Everything that you made by hand
Everything that you know by heart

And I will try to connect
All the pieces you left
I will carry it on
And let you forget
And I'll remember the years
When your mind was clear
How the laughter and life
Filled up this silent house

More upbeat stories to come! A scavenger hunt for a lost phone; multiple trips to the Plant City Strawberry Festival; making p a tee-ball set from a tennis ball and tights; swimming in February; passionate conversations about politics; Fawning over The Ellen Show; D family happy hours; learning, adventuring, and loving. Be kind to one another.

Long Time Gone

This post may not be a whole lot of fun, but it has been a long time coming.  Every time I sit down to write someone (P man) wakes up, or the internet is working, or the internet is working but I can't access my computer with my pictures on it.  Forgive me.  It's true, living at 1127 definitely has its perks, but it also has its fair share of trouble too.  I mean, what do you expect when there are 5 adults, 2 kids, & 2 dogs all living under the same roof?  Not to mention the bazillion people in and out and around of the house all day every day.  Throw in a toddler who won't sleep, dogs who are sick sick sick with the rest of the crazy that surrounds us and you can imagine that life is a little hectic here.  In a good kind of way.  Most of the time.

Milestones of our family that I may or may not have already told you all about:

P man: no longer uses a pacifier, and demands to sleep in a big boy bed.  I have two major goals to accomplish with him before this summer, potty training and riding his balance bike.  I haven't concluded yet which adventure will be easier to accomplish - depends on the day.

MLL:  almost 6 months old.  I probably won't be writing again until she actually is 6 months old, so I'm updating you now :)  She's a happy, easy going baby who rarely cries and is always smiling.  She especially smiles at her brother and when no one is looking he can be caught making funny faces in her direction.  Though he really hates it when she grabs a hold of his hair (who can resist!?) Speaking of P's hair - I have yet to go ANYWHERE since that kid was 9 months old without someone commenting on his hair.  And as far as I can tell, everyone had white blonde hair like his when they were young.  Thats the word on the street anyway.

We spend most of our days in the back yard or taking a very slow stroll around the lake close to my parents house.  Sometimes we only make it around the creek but it takes P an hour to do that and its mostly nice to get out in the sunshine.  We are also still swimming at least 3 times a week so I am thinking of putting the kids in swimming lessons (amend my goals to potty training, bike riding, and swimming).

Everyone is still busy adjusting and making friends.  We'll be church hopping soon to find a church home (suggestions??), I'm going to a Bible study, an occasional girls group, date nights, exploring parks with different friends and trying to be somewhat helpful in maintaining the house hold. Its a full time job.  P still loves to bake so we try to do that on occasion but he is less than helpful now that he has discovered that cookie dough tastes delicious.

I'm starting to get a bit anxious living in transition mode since most of my things are still packed away in storage.  BML saved some of my sanity by setting up a small little office space just for me that is far enough away from the action that it takes someone at least 3 minutes for someone to find me - so that's some good quiet time :)  I think we'll start to move our stuff into different storage with more access soon since it is on average 77 degrees here each day and I still have Annapolis winter clothe hanging in my closet.

Aunt T, LTD, MLL, and I are headed up to Pensacola Beach / Gulf Breeze this weekend for our cousins baptism and to see family.  We're looking forward to the time together, but we all will miss the boys!  Especially P...we'll miss everyone, but especially P. :)

I'm attaching some pictures of everyone from LTD's computer - is anyone out there on instagram?  we just started - i put pictures on there fairly often and would love to see some of yours!  Leave your name in the comments (ha, like anyone ever comments :) ) or search for us!


p.s.  how awesome is CMD for doing IMPROV!!??  I about wet my pants just thinking about it.  i could never do what he is doing....we're pretty proud!

p.s.  attaching pictures is frustrating me.  i will try again later.  maybe.

All the way Back

After six months in Afghanistan and an odyssey home that included locations like Tarin Kowt, Kandahar, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Ireland, Canada, Louisville and Chicago I made it home just in time to enjoy Christmas with all the family in Orlando, Florida.

Minus the L's who arrived later in the week.

Captain was happy to see me.

I enjoyed spending time with the boy king P and meeting our new addition L. Despite being sick during the first part of our time L was perfect. Her demeanor must have come from BML's side.

L's boat ride in the Bear Suit.

Yay Yay worked really hard for that P smile.

We spent time at Gilchrist, took in a Magic game and played some golf, but our most fun time was spent in the kitchen preparing meals and readying the house for our many guests. P showed me his love for flying machines and even invented a new game called copter, which both exhilarates and frightens him, and I know it worries LDL, but he always wanted "more."

I got to see the judge at work in Jacksonville, hearing some exciting testimony on patent infringement and rounded out the Florida sweep with a trip to Pensacola where I saw some of our family there.

Now I'm all the way back in San Diego, enjoying a house filled with new furniture and new roommates. We've enjoyed the MLK weekend preparing dinner for friends and a cousin new to the area. Now it is back to the grind where all the problems I left behind still remain. I guess there truly never is any rest for the weary!

and so it begins...

1127 is quieter today.  BML is back to work, CMD left a week ago, RBD III just walked out the door, FTD has officially started full time school again, and RBD Jr. is back and forth from Jacksonville.  But it was so so so good while it lasted.  P man coined a new word in our family, dobie.  He usually used it when he was really, really happy.  P would walk around the house, most of the time in just a diaper, singing "dobie, dobie, dobie, dobie."  I think it is safe to say that we have all been "dobie" for the past 10 days or so.  But we have to go back.  Back to finding work negotiating contracts, finding work as an actor (know anyone???), providing blankets of freedom, learning, judging, and little person raising, and of course I can't neglect to mention LTD who does all the work holding us together.  We are a thankful bunch, we have many blessings. 

Over the holidays I have loved watching the aunts and uncles play and cuddle with my babies.  I don't know why, but there is something different about watching all of them interact than when someone else is with them.  They each have their own special things they do with the babies, and they are all so so loved and cherished.  So much that I have to tell P most of the day today that they are gone, but they will be back soon to play.  Back soon to watch him try to ride his bike, back soon for tickle fests, and copter, back soon for impromptu trips into the pool, they'll be back soon.  But we'll miss them while they are gone.

Here's a picture of us, minus the judge and BML (busy working.)  We're dobie. (it's about 60 degrees, P made us wear hats.)

Did we fail to mention RBD III is back!!??  He is, safe and sound.  We were too busy being dobie.

Baby girl....too big already for the bear suit.

Baking.  A favorite activity.  P makes great cookies! (apologies to Auntie Tess, who also loves to bake with P, I can't access pictures from NC yet...)

Tee ball.  Keep your hands and face clear!

Boating around sunset.

Copter!!  Uncle RBD III has perfected 2 full rotations of flying high...awesome, and heart pounding.  P always wants "more!"



 I love the uncles with the babies.  Adjusting hats, important piece of outer wear on our walk.

Thanks for keeping up with us during our hiatus!  In other news, both P man and sweet L have been sleeping at the same time for an HOUR!!! I wish they would have told me their plans, I would have taken a nap myself.  But then, you wouldn't get this post and we would lose all 16 of our faithful followers.

Hail to the Chief Part II

I am fairly certain that

O Captain, my Captain,

told us that the specific words were...

"Hail to the Chief cause he's the chief and he needs hailing..."

and so, to this day, those are the lyrics

I sing when I hear the tune.

Dads are never wrong,

right?

FTD captured the event pretty perfectly,

and the only real thing to add

is my adoration and admiration of

His Honor.

dear ole dad.

sweet little p thinks pretty highly of his Granddad too,

and insisted he be held while the new Judge

was taking his oath.

pretty sure Granddad didn't mind

(translation, loved every second of it, could hardly contain his joy).

p almost stole the show with his antics up front

which consisted of -

running away from his parents (a favorite new activity),

twirling his sweater over his head,

and throwing raisins all over the floor.

all of this was invisible to most of the crowd,

except the judicial bench.

awesome.

they really didn't seem to mind.

p got plenty of compliments,

but the real accolades were saved for RBD Jr.

much deserved, after a long wait.

i've said it before, but it deserves saying again,

we're proud of you dad,

we love you.

congratulations on your new title -

but to us, you'll always be:

dad

mr. skipper

granddad

pop pop

pops

mentor

friend

hero.

i'll leave the rest of you with some quotes that describe

the event, the family, etc.

from UF

"in all kinds of weather we all stick together"

and Psalm 16

 “Lord, you have assigned me my portion
and my cup. You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen
for me in pleasant places.”

we are blessed indeed.

we missed you RBD III.

stay safe.

Hail to the Chief

Did you know that "Hail to the Chief" actually has lyrics? Two versions are on wikipedia (and therefore, must be truth). The words written by Sir Walter Scott go like this: 

Hail to the chief, who in triumph advances,

Honour'd and blest be the evergreen pine!

Long may the tree in his banner that glances,

Flourish the shelter and grace of our line.

Heaven send it happy dew,

Earth lend it sap anew,

Gaily to bourgeon and broadly to grow;

While every highland glen,

Sends our shout back agen,

"Roderigh Vich Alpine Dhu, ho! i-e-roe!"

No wonder the words are never sung. So, we didn't elect a new President, but we did participate in a formal ceremony which bestows RBD Jr., the captain of our ship, as "His Honor". To be honest, I wasn't giving the investiture as much respect as it deserved (outside of the total thrill and excitement of RBD Jr. and the family) until I discovered how many people took time to come down to the courthouse and participate. We had district judges, magistrate judges, a judge from Louisiana. There were former law partners of RBD Jr, lawyers from the bar association, practically every person in the neighborhood and half the population of his hometown. It was such an honor to see the love and respect the community has for what he has achieved and their desire to participate in our celebration. 

It's kind of fun to participate in all the pomp and circumstance once in a while. There were moments of sobriety, as we acknowledged the absence of RBD III. Moments of adoration, as speakers praised the intelligence, commitment, and passion of the new judge. Moments of hilarity in old stories and really old pictures. Most of all it was pure celebration of a difficult and long journey.

The Oath

It is not often children get to see the dreams of a parent come true and the magnitude of the day was not lost on us. We're so proud of him. And I'll tell you what, the judge can write a good speech. Any one who needs to bestow kind words upon their family in public should hire him as a speech writer. I think we all held back a few tears. Either that or focused on hilarious little p, who entertained us as always.

Proud of Dad and Pop Pop



Missing RBD III



My initial reaction to the whole thing is pretty much summed up in the following email:
1. I would like to say that I called Dad taking the oath with p on his hip in advance of it actually happening. 

2. I was surprised that p didn't give Judge B a "high-five", though I suspect he would have had he met big P before.

3. LDL, you looked really good in that shirt.

4. RBD Jr, you looked just as good in the judge's robe as you did in the bath robe. 

5. RBD III, we really missed you!!

Hopefully the rest of the blogging posse will share their stories too. It was a great day for family, friends, and parties.

At the request of my personal blog manager, LTD, this is a post of something I wrote not too long ago while in the friendly skies. I'm sure it had something to do with reading the lovely, well written post from LDL. So, faithful readers, here you are, some writing stylings from yours truly.


As the sun sets over the wall of hydrangaes, casting a golden sheen over the lush St. Augustine grass, sparkling off the pool, here S. sits with a smile who's radiance matches that of the setting sun. Looking over the backyard as he reflects on his life, his lifelong companion L. sipping elixer alongside. Captain patrolling the ground dutifully. Contentment has never known such a home.

There is nothing left. He has overcome all, and his children carry on his legacy of love.

Little does he know, across the country, his legacies are desperately trying to continue on the path he has forged. But, of course, they will succeed. How could they not? For they are their parents children.

The sun dips out of sight and the light begins to turn from orange to blue. As he heads inside for the night, he wonders about that last milestone of his illustrious career. So much has been accomplished, but this, this one last achievement which has been desired, and deserved, for so long - if it's to be, it will be.

...

All rise, the honorable RBD Jr is presiding.

Truer words have never been spoken.


Hope you enjoyed. Maybe they'll be some more writing tid-bits from me in the future.