Gotta Take The Bad With The Good

We went to a restaurant tonight.  And it was insanity. We left before finishing our meal, cutting the grilled-cheese dinner short and nearly threatening to never take the kids out to dinner again.

Later that evening I went my monthly Mom's evening get together.  There were 6 moms.  This is what everyone brought:

Yup.  Perspective. Again. 

Outsmarted by a 2.5 year old - again

I caught Robin picking off an entire bunch of grapes, throwing them on the ground, then stomping on them.  OK, I know it's really fun for a toddler/preschooler because (1) the grapes bounce and (2) they feel really interesting and squishy under the feet.  But c'mon.

So I asked her to clean them up with me and got a grin and another grape stomp.  Rather than totally loose it, I sent her to her room for a minute.  I told her to stay there for a minute, and I shut the door so I could gather my thoughts.

A few seconds later I hear crying, fake crying, and "Help, help!  There's a fire in here!  Help!  There's a fire!"

Robin 1, Mommy 0.

Car-Free Day One

I had an action packed day planned for taking bus/bart/bus to go pick up my glasses (the kids were not thrilled) then taking the bike trailer to the pool.  The kids, after having a super-packed weekend, were content to stay at home all morning in their jammies listening to Pirate Rock, reading books, and working on art projects.  Fine by me!

I did take one bike trip to the grocery store and took the kids to the pool in the trailer.

Then. We went shopping.

Granted we sandwiched 4 destinations into one car trip but that means we technically only have one left for the week.

Full disclosure: we're headed for a week-long camping trip to Yosemite on Sunday, and Brian is gone Thurs-Sat for a conference.  So we have to get all those last-minute packing/gear/food details done before Wed.  So.... realistically we're gonna surpass the 2-car-trip rule this week, but I think today started out well. Erin even commented tonight, 'Hey Mom!  This was supposed to be a car-free day!"

Moustache!

Robin loves to have a moustache.  She makes this funny, pucker face and says in a low, gravely voice, "mooooooouuuustache!"  She's a total ham.

Oh, and like that shiner?  This was a few days before the Christmas madness.  Girls and I went to the zoo with another mom and one of Erin's classmates.  We had *just* gotten there and were waiting to show our pass when Robin decided to get out of the stroller.  By herself.  Sideways.  Yeah, you could hear the smack on the pavement from 100 yards.  The other mom was nearly beside herself with worry, and wanted to scour the park for ice.  Turns out, the zoo had a water main break the night before and there was no water, much less ice, to be had.  I knew Robin wasn't that bad off, even though the purply-red goose egg was ginormous.  She's quite the roller-derby queen and was being her normal silly self in about 30 seconds.

Scott Horsley Bakes You a Pie

Blast from the past here.  For those of you who don't know, the guy in the photo was once a San Diego NPR reporter before he went to Washington.  This is from 2002.

We were living in this tiny 500 square foot apartment in Ocean Beach.   The local NPR station had an online fundraising auction and we bid on item that I swear was entitled "Scott Horsley Bakes You a Pie": a homemade pie from Scott Horsley that included hand delivery.

This cherry pie, made by the man in the apron, set us back $40.  Total bargain.  Unfortunately for him, we goofed on the date and he knocked on our door a week before we had expected.  B and I had just finished a rare argument and I was just out of the shower when he knocked on the door.  B and I were still pissed at each other, so undoubtedly it was rather awkward for Scott (Sorry, Scott!).  The pie was delicious. I still have the tin.

Scott Horsley, if you're reading this, my husband and I have felt terrible about this incident for the last eight years.  

P.S. you're awesome.  We cheer for you every time we hear you on the radio.