Lordy, lordy, Brian is 40!

Birthday time!!  Brian turned 40 today.  We started out with tons of friends and a BBQ at a nearby park yesterday.  Here is the rainbow unicorn cake (unicorn was not yet put in place) that was partially smashed by Robin reaching into the back seat to grab the unicorn:

We got the sports package from parks and rec.  All the kids - and many adults - had fun!

Our friend, Patrick, helped indoctrinate B to his 5th decade with some prune juice…. to keep things "running smooth."  Sage advice. 

Of course there was BBQ!

Then today celebrated with multiple soccer games and a dinner at B's parent's house. 

And one challenging game of "Sorry":

Nothing says "40" like a delicious homemade super chocolate cake:

And because his lungs are, well, 40 years old, he had help blowing out the candles. 

Happy 40th Brian*!!!!

* and David!

"Take 10 Interesting Pictures"

We have an "I'm Bored" jar - a jar with about 50 little slips of paper with different activities on them.  If any kid says, "Mom, I'm bored." she gets to pick out a slip and has to do the thing on that.  Some are chores, like "help fold laundry" some are fun like "do hopscotch outside".

This morning Erin was bored and got the "Take 10 Interesting Pictures" assignment.  Here they are:

Girls Day!

1. Erin sewed two dresses for her barbie dolls. 

2. We took a bike ride and found an awesome leaf pile. 

3. We went to the trampoline place and jumped for an hour.

4. We went to the Orinda Community Park and played. 

5. We watched a wood-working show. 

Can't wait for the next Girls Day. 

Princess castle

Free princess castle being given away on the side of the road? Sold.
 

Call the manager!

Quick Visit from Dalia and Zoey

Zoey and Dalia were in town with their Mom and Dad.  We went to the SF Zoo.

All the girls had a nice time, they were troopers in tromping around the entire zoo.  Only at the end did we convince them to pile into the wagon.

Fancy nails

A little while ago, we took Grandma to get a pedicure to celebrate her birthday.  Erin came and got a polish change. 

Selecting their colors:

Pink sparkles, of course! 

All done, now to read Brides magazine while it dries.

Fancy nails!  The lady actually painted a flower on each of Erin's big toes.  Oh, and only charged me $5!  Fun and happy belated birthday Grandma! 

Jellyfish!!!!!

Yesterday, Erin and Robin received a "Make Your Own Jellyfish" kit in the mail from their dear friend Henry.  This was awesome.  Super awesome.  

The kit: 1 balloon, 8-9 pieces of string, 10 or so pieces of tape (stuck on a laminate sheet, ingenious I tell you!) 

So simple, right.*  

Instructions: 

1. You blow up the balloon. 

2. You tape on the tentacles. 

3. You bloop bloop the jellyfish. 

Oh, was there bloop blooping!  Blooping all over the house.  Blooping at each other.  Blooping in the bath.  Such a great activity!  Thanks, Ms. Christie, and Henry.


*OK, simple yes.  But still, like most Julia Child recipes there's lots of room for interpretation.  One: I did not blow up the balloons nearly as much as Ms. Christie Illustrated.  2. I taped the tentacles on in the middle so they would be more numerous but not as long as intended.  I chalk it up to a lesson in "it was fun so it was OK." 

National Marshmallow Day

We decided we needed a new holiday, so yesterday was National Marshmallow Day* at Casa de McMiller.  Armed with a pack of mini-marshmallows, a pack of star shaped marshmallows, and an armload of toothpicks, we set to work.

Robin mostly made ate a handful, made some triangles and sticks, then ate another handful.

Erin was totally focused.  She spent a good 20 minutes constructing.  She built mostly churches.  We worked on how to made a 2-D triangle into a pyramid to stabilize her spire.  And when the construction was finished:

What should be our next holiday?


*There is a National Toasted Marshmallow day on August 30, but who needs to wait for that? 

Fishing for snacks

I found this on a blog I started following via Pinterest.

Snack Fishing:

Take a pretzel stick
Dip in peanut butter
Fish for Goldfish
Eat the bounty.

We'll try this with other dip/fish combos!

Drive-ins

We went to the drive in movies tonight.  Woot! There are not too many drive-ins left, yet we have on practically in our back yard.  On top of that, it was customer/family appreciation night.  Free entry, rockabilly band, $1 nachos, and a huge inflatable slide.  There also were hot dogs, popcorn, slushies, and a small playground.




We had tons of fun playing as the sun went down.  The plan was to leave once it got to dusk, but the kids were so excited we tried to stay for the movie.  Yeah.  That lasted about 15 minutes, then came the frantic, panic screaming when the onslaught of intense, negative, and stressful scenes began.  Really, these are kids movies?  We high-tailed it out of there and listened to peaceful quiet jazz all the way home.

All in all a good night.

Robin and Calliope

Play Invitation

A tray full of shaving cream, with various small toys buried in it.  In the bath tub, to make it a Yes activity. 

Invitation accepted!  No clothes, yes diaper/undies for full play.

Wheeeeee!

Brian installed a swing in our front yard yesterday evening.  Erin woke up and was on it first thing this morning.

San Diego Day 2

Another fun day with the beach, sidewalk chalk, and the park.  We drive home tonight.  A quick trip, but packed with lots of fun.  Thanks for the great visit, S, M and M!

Babysitters!

Just to report: the girls have had their first official non-family, non-friend babysitter experience.  Twice.  In two nights.  Both nights went well, with the first night resulting in two sleeping children, and the second night a little sadness just before Mom and Dad returned.  Thank you to the Smithstanzas and the Brinkley's for setting it up!!  We had fun as adults two nights in a row.

February 5th