Library Love

I love the Library!!!!  I am like a kid in a candy shop there.  So many books.  We went from carrying them to putting them in grocery bags and graduated to a  luggage like backpack on wheels that opens up on top, perfect for carting all our books home.  When I saw the bag at Ross' I knew it would make the perfect library bag, except it is neon green with polka dots, but it works so well I just love it.

Right now Ethan's favorites are the Berenstein Bears, Arthur, Franklin, Clifford and Little Critter books.  Lila loves Nancy Drew, Cam Jansen and anything with cute girly drawings.  Emry loves the always fascinating Harry Potter, Lightening Thief series and basically any good mystery she can sink her teeth into.  I am reading a few food related books and just completed  2 books from an author I just discovered, Anna Quindlen.  Her subject matter is a little deep and dark (death, abuse) but her writing is extraordinary.  There are about 8 of her books on the library shelf right now and I can't wait to carve out some time to to start in on another one.

Every trip Ethan says he wants to check out 5 movies because he's 5.  He always goes for Arthur and some sort of superman/spiderman show.  It was quite funny a few months ago he was watching a superman cartoon from the library circa 1960 and many of the characters were smoking and they made reference to a Jap.  I had to rewind it because I thought I heard wrong.  Cut to today when there are books on the shelf titled "My mom gets angry sometimes", real title.

Just when I thought we had read all the childrens section had to offer ( the neon bag gets 60 books every 2 weeks)  I stumbled upon the "new" section with all the just released books, Score!  New Fancy Nancy, the latest Biscuit, how had I never seen this section.  I enjoy nothing more than reading to the kids, it's the best.  Especially with subject matter like this..............

My children are obviously very cultured.

Accidentally in Love

It was inevitable.  Brutus deserves his own post gosh darn it.  A few years ago when Emry first started asking for a dog (she was probably around 4 but assured me she was plenty responsible) there was nothing that sweet cherubic girl could have said or done to convince me.  With 3 little ones at my heels I couldn't imagine why anyone would subject themselves to one more mess maker.


As the children grew in height and responsibility we figured we'd be cool parents and grant them their pet wish.  Snickers the fish was brought into our home and was loved, but must have not made that great of an impression because I am not sure how long we had him (her?) or how he/she died.


Then came Ron the hamster who the kids adored.  The children were good with him save one experience involving Glenn sawing out a corner of our cupboard and us setting up a trap with fresh cherries and keeping a 2 hour vigil to retrieve him.


When Aaron offered us a puppy Emry was thrilled and we reluctantly agreed.  I know pets are a lot of work, but also a lot of fun and I thought it would be so great for the kids.

Little did I know how smitten I would become with him, how much we all adore him, and how we can't imagine life without him.

this is Brutus when he was just a pup, awwww

He's one of us now and as much as Glenn made fun of people when they had dogs in their Christmas pictures, you better believe he'll be in ours!!!

Cool

Why Glenn & I are the coolest parents on the block.

We have the best Halloween costumes.

We totally know how to take off temporary tattoos.

We take nap time very seriously.

We encourage creative bday parties.  Free Sephora makovers for all!

We brainwash them into thinking all kids read Gourmet magazine.

We say we won't pull out their tooth..................and then.....you know......do.

 Clothing is always optional

I mean just look at us.........we SCREAM cool!!!!

Our kids are so lucky.

Water Babies

 Just a typical Saturday flipping through the air with all the crazies.  Our city pool (not to be confused with our neighborhood pool, because every SoCal resident needs access to a variety of pools and beaches) is awesome. Being that there was a slight wind factor, I guess it was technically classified as "fall weather" and kept everyone home that couldn't brave weather below 90 degrees.  The pool was practically empty, but this is what the lifeguards saw....................

Yes, we pretty much live in our swimsuits.  The best picture (the one I erased) was Ethan doing push-ups before every turn on the diving board.  When it was his turn he would climb the few steps, wait for every one to watch and proceed to bust out about 5 or 6 push-ups, hysterical & sadly- typical.

After watching Glenn do so many amazing dives I got to thinking about computers, haircuts, woodworking,  all sports, along with a whole list of other things and realized there's pretty much nothing he can't do.

Well, maybe not this............................

This is where I come in.  Good thing a way to Glenn's heart really is through his stomach.  His mother taught him well.

Labor Day Party

So the swim wasn't the only Labor Day fun, Oh No, No, NO!!!  I present the best of Opus One Courts Labor Day Extravaganza.  

          
           

                                                                        

Okay, this picture is the best!  Glenn telling some fascinating story with, if memory serves me correct, a bunch of women surrounding him.  This same scene happens every get together, every time.  Oh he is too cute, I love this Man!!

And you all didn't think Brutus would miss out on all the fun.  He "loved" going down the water slide and being hugged, kissed and carted around by all the little girls.  GT's, GT's!!!

I know there are no pics of me but I was there.  I ate, I saw, I played, & I can't wait until next year.  I am getting better and better at taking photos, I just need to work on my speed as I missed Glenn in his speedo going down the slide.  I was the only one who didn't take a picture as everyone raced to grab their cameras and swarmed around the slide.  Good ol' Glenn, he can always be counted on to add excitement to any party.

Pier Swim

Up at 6am sharp for Emry's quarter mile and Glenn's 1 mile ocean swim.  Once we all had hot chocolates in hand we were good to go cheer on our swimmers.

High-Tech Timer

                                                                                                 

                                                                  

Emry loved it, Glenn did not vomit and we all enjoyed watching them work so hard to accomplish their goal.
We talked with the children about how lucky we are to have healthy bodies and all that they enable us to do.  Emry is an athlete like her dad and she has my competitive nature so I am sure she has many races in her future.