And In Other News.....

Well, today I finally got a picture of both of the kids with Santa. Rachel was squirming, not crying and I'll take it!! I hardly can ever take a picture with the two of them in it and looking at the camera, hence the reason why I did a border of photos on the xmas newsletter this year! I simply can not get them to stay still long enough for a picture! Today, oddly enough, I got like 3 pics of them together. One was with Santa and the other was them watching cartoons together in the chair.
Our Santa experience was a little different. We didn't get to the mall, it is so crazy and waiting in line with Rachel for anything is torture for all involved. Our little local zoo had Santa and 2 reindeer visiting from the North Pole. We decided to give it a try (after I called first to make sure it was a hokey Santa. They assured me he was very authentic, round, jolly and merry!!) And, they were right. Mrs. Claus was there too, they both looked great and there were probably 5 kids at the zoo, so no line!! Actually we went right up to Santa and started talking, I think we could have toured the zoo with him and the Mrs. - there just weren't a lot of kids there. A surprisingly enjoyable Santa experience. Russ was a little in awe, it was pretty cute. But, I think he thought it was weird to stand there and talk a lot to him, rather than say what you want and be shoed away for the next kid.

In other news... Rachel got her first haircut. My stylist, Ashley, did it and it looks great. She just snipped off the ends so they weren't so scraggly looking and all one length. It looks healthier and is still full of curls! Rachel loved it because she got a bag of Cheetos while the whole thing was happening.

Let's see... well in my world - I refinished a desk for Russell. I had found it during my desk obsession, but it was too high. I went back on a whim b/c it was still on my mind and it was there for the right price. I stripped it and painted it red, 6 coats of red thank you very much! Russ wanted a red desk and that's what he got, but please, everyone, don't let me paint anything red again. I have no patience for it!

I also have found some time to read a couple of books. I read "The Devil Wears Prada" - a fun read and the book is better than the movie. I also read a Phillipa Gregory book, "The Constant Princess" a historical fiction novel about Queen Katherine. It was very good. She also wrote "The Other Boleyn Girl" which is fromt he same time period. Both are great reads.

And in our final bit of news..... this is our last week of fantasy football. Adam has 2 teams playing in the "superbowl" this weekend and I have 1 team (named Vintage Crushers) playing for 3rd place and another team (named Martha's Monsters) playing against Adam for a championship. Martha truly has some monsters on her team, wish me luck creaming Adam again!!!

Whole New Adventure of Naked Babies

Well, Rachel has a new thing with being naked. It started after Thanksgiving. She will just all of a sudden take off all of her clothes, diaper included. So, we got her a potty thinking it is time and she is bothered by the diaper. Well, nothing happened except a lot of wiping. Then a few nights ago, she took off her jammies and diaper, threw them out of the crib, along with her blankets, stuffed animals, etc. Poor little thing was very naked and very cold by the time we checked on her in the morning. Then, in Michaels, she took off her shirt and tried to take everything else off while we were waiting in line. The little boy in front of me asked what she was doing and why. All I could say was, well, she's two??? And then, on Saturday, she went down for nap, was very quiet and when I checked on her, she had taken everything off, POOPY diaper included and had poop smeared all over her. It was pretty gross and smelly. So, you'd think she be interested in any potty, but no, just interested in being naked.

We don't remember Russell wanting to be so naked, especially in public!! Ha! But, he was naked a lot while potty training. In fact, when our friends, the Boyntons, would come over, it just became our joke that "it wasn't an evening at the Brights unless Russell was naked". (I should have Jess post some funny naked Russell stories) I guess now it isn't an evening at our house unless Rachel is naked. Good times!!!!

Here is Rachel loooking fabulous in her white coat with matching hat and signature sunglasses. She is all attitude when looking this cute!!!!

Here is our Student of the Month!! The bumper sticker is on "his" side of the car. Way to go, Russell!!!

My New Bumper Sticker

I am really not one to put bumper stickers on my car, but ...... Russell was Student of the Month in his class in November and along with all the hoopla, the bumper sticker came home. Russell was so excited that he wanted to put the bumper sticker on my car before we left school that day!! Of course, we made a BIG deal out of this, especially since he is the first boy in his class to earn SOM. (Russ's class is mostly boys and they are very rambucious!) With all this excitement, I realized that not all parents rush to put the semi-onbnoxious bumper stickers on their cars. I usually sort of cringe at the thought of all these school stickers. However, there was NO way I wasn't going to put it on. He is so proud and so are we! ( I tried to post a picture of Russ and his sticker on the car, but Blogger isn't going to let me do that at the moment...)

Now, if I had a bumper sticker for Rachel, what would it say??? "I do headstands in my crib" ? Or, "I took off my pjs and diaper in the middle of the night last night, plus I threw out my blanket so I was freezing cold, huddled in a butt naked ball in my crib this morning" ? Or maybe it would say "I am completely fabulous in my white coat, white hat and pink sunglasses" ? (picture to come when it will post) Or, "Cushions and pillows don't belong on the couch" ? Or, last but not least, "I like to climb the kitchen drawers like a ladder" ? All of these would be a perfect bumper sticker for our headstanding, naked, couch destroying, super climbing, fabulous little gal!!!

Ode to Joy

Adam fixed the garage door opener this past weekend!!! Ever since we have moved from CA, I have this thing about parking in the garage. It is a simple pleasure and necessity in my mind. Certainly with kids, it makes life easier in the heat, rain, sleet, snow, etc. I can't remember how long it has been broken, but it is as good as new and Aim is a happy camper!!! Joy! No wait, make that JOY!!!!!!!
Russell was "Top Exerciser" in his gym class yesterday. That's twice he's earned that award. Apparently his gym class picks a boy and a girl every day for the award and there are like 100+ students in his gym class. He's pretty funny about it; he makes a goal to get it one day and it is done. So, he is thrilled with himself and we are, of course, so proud. It is really cool to see him set a goal and achieve it.
We've got the Christmas tree up. It is such a pain to get it our fake tree ready every year, but it is so pretty once it is up. Adam is an excellent tree branch 'fluffer'. Rachel is loving the tree and all the ornaments. She'll swing an ornmament back and forth on the tree and exclaim "Wheeeeeeee!!!!" The picture ornaments seem to be her favorites. Russell is eagerly awaiting Santa's arrival and wishing everyone a "Happy Merry Christmas".
I have created a link that will let you subscribe to my blog. You just type in your email and it will email you when I have posted something new. In fact, it will just email you the new post from my blog. If you look on the right side of this page and scroll down a bit, you will find a box in which you can type your email. This blogging thing is so fancy!!! Thanks, Schell, for that tidbit of info!!!

Did you just call me the DVR Queen????

I have to admit my new obsession. We got a new computer and it has a TV tuner AND you can record TV programs AND burn them to DVD. My motivation is completely selfish. I am tired of listening and half watching the same 3 Little Einstein episodes and the same 4 Backyardigan episodes, and well basically all the DVDs that the kids have. And now I can choose which ones to record, burn them and presto - variety for my ears!!! I am so thrilled with myself! VCR???? What's THAT? Ha!
I seem to have a daily obsession these days. One was finding a used desk that I could refinish for Russell. Haven't found that yet. One was deciding what to wear for Adam's squadron xmas party. (The answer to that in short story terms a 'pre-Rachel' dress hanging in my closet that fits, thank you very much!!) Another was our annual holiday rhyme and adding a new twist, you'll have to wait for the result on that obsession.
What will be today's obsession? I think it may be making ice cream to take to Thanksgiving dinner at the Boynton's tomorrow. But, it could end up being what to do about the squirrels in our backyard. As our neighbor Ray commented the other day - the squirrels are thick this year. They have managed to outsmart the 'squirrel proof' bird feeder and are eating all the birdseed. They also come right up to the sliding glass doors and taunt the cats. How do you get rid of the squirrels???? Stop feeding them? Feed them something else so they don't eat the bird food? Let the cats out to hunt/chase them away??? Hmmm.... Ice cream, definitely focusing on ice cream today....

The Unlucky Tent

Our first Christmas as a married couple, we bought a tent. Brewster's, the local outdoors store in Napa, was going out of business so it seemed like the time to invest in a good tent. And that we did! A great little 4 person tent, not too big, not too small - a tent to last a lifetime!!! So, we've had this great tent for 8 years and this weekend was only the 2nd time we've used it.

The first time we used the tent, I went camping with Adam's mom and brothers at Tahoe. The entire drive the weather was fabulous, we got the campsite set up, the boys (who were like 6 & 8 yrs old) were excited, we were ready to camp. And then came the rain. It poured!!! We made a mad dash to the minivan, drove around and around as it continued to pour. So after several hours of constant rain and knowing that everything that wasn't in our great tent was soaked, we made the decision to pack up, (in the rain), and go home. Big fat bummer.

Between moving and having babies, we have never had the opportunity to really camp since the Tahoe Rainout of '99. But now Russell is of the age where he'd really love camping. He is so fun to do anything with, the kid loves everything! So, we make reservations for the boys only campout for this past Saturday at a local state park. We go there a lot to just use the beach; it's a popular park, with beautiful campsites on the bay. The boys pack up, get the trusty, waterproof tent ready, s'mores makings, hot dogs - they are ready for the one night trip. Check the weather - 20% chance of rain, not too bad. (You know where this going!!) They get to camp, find their perfect site, beautiful waterfront property!!! Russell has a blast playing while Adam sets up camp. Then a few drops. No big deal, right? Then the downpour!!!! So, refer to the above camping trip - drive around and around, still raining, everything is wet, except everything inside the tent!!! After seeing rivers of water race through the campgrounds and the fire pit filled with its own mini lake, the boys came home. But, since we only live about 20 min. from the park and it was pouring, they left the tent and Adam went back this morning to get it!! Another big fat bummer!!!

Next weekend the plan is to get out the tent and campout in the backyard. Well, we do need the rain....

So Bow-tiful!!

On Saturday, Rachel picked out her entire outfit from head to toe! After she got dressed, she really wanted a bow. We put one in and she said"cuuuuute!" And then she wanted another bow. We put in on and she said "prrrrrreeeeettyyyyy!" We repeated this over and over again until there were no bows left. She was so thrilled with herself. We thought - we'll see how long this lasts. Well, it lasted all day. We ran errands all over town, we played outside, we took a nap and kept all our bows on our head!

(This picture posting is a little weird on blogger. I wish you had more control on placement, size, etc. My only complaint about Blogger thus far!)

Treats and Tricks...

Well, it is no secret, the kids (Dora and pirate) had a great Halloween. And, I actually was able to take a picture of them together! Usually I can't seem to get them facing forward or close enough together. Rachel visited about 5 houses with Russ and then she headed home with Adam to hand out candy. Russell and I took on the rest of the neighborhood. Rachel could have cared less about getting candy - she just wanted to run after Russell and go inside the neighbors' houses. Russ was all about the candy, and what 5 yr old isn't??? This year he had a hard time saying "Trick or Treat". Instead he would say something like "I like treats.... I don't like tricks." The neighbors loved it!! Handfuls of candy were given to the gracious pirate. After saying thank you, he'd tell me somehting like "Oh, I love that woman" or "I LOVED that house" or "That was a nice woman / man". Too funny! He was such a treat to take out and about! Just his running commentary and observations while walking the neighborhood was so fun to listen to. He was so genuine in his excitement and joy, trick or treating might have been more fun for me.

And the winner of the most original costume goes to...

Come on vamanos! Everybody let's go..... Dora and Boots (oo-oo-EE-EE)!!!! Ha! Well, what can we say, we're inspired by our current surroundings!!

On Saturday, Adam and I went to a "groan-up" costume party and had a great time! Needless to say, we were the only Dora and Boots there. After we had secured a babysitter, Adam suggested that he might go as Dora. After some thought, it seemed easy enough - a wig, red shorts, pink shirt, yellow socks and Rachel's Dora Backpack (and excellent idea - it saved me from carrying a purse!!). Now, Boots was a little harder to put together. That tail is really loneg - I almost ran out of hot glue sticks!! And the boots, ugh! You have to understand how limited the shopping is here. I had found a pair of rain boots that were black and I had thought I could spray paint them red. Yes, a logical idea. I started on the project, it seemed to be working, the paint was drying; Boots would not be barefoot! Then, the humidity came and the paint on the boots became un-dry so to speak. Since, I didn't want to track red paint all over the carpets of one of Adam's bosses, I made a mad dash around town and (insert Dora's da da da da daaaaa) I found some red suede boots at Payless.
We all got to vote on best costume, etc. Adam got a vote for scariest costume, which he does look like a transvestite Dora. We won "Most Original" costumes. There was a great couple (btw from Santa Rosa, CA) and they were dressed as Jack and Jill after they tumbled down the hill. They had make up on that looked like they had tumbled down the hill, she had twigs and leaves in her hair and he wore a paper crown that was broken. Too funny! Bat girl made an appearance too - although she was like 45 years old (but looked like 60+, let's just say sun damage!!) and her gigantic boobs came down to her crotch! Remember the old campfire song "Do your ears hang low?" Well, we used to insert "boobs" instetad of "ears" and every time I looked at bat girl, I couldn't help but think of that song. Someone voted her for "Best Pair" costume. hahaha....

Just in case you don't know the song -
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder like a Continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?

I think hers hung low enough to throw over her shoulder....

The first entry - I caught a lizard!!

Well, here it is, the first blog, how exciting!

Okay, so I caught a lizard last week - phew! It was the 3rd lizard (that I know about) that was in the house. We have a lot of little gecko type lizard things in our yard, on the house, and on the screens. So when Russ was saying he saw a lizard on the wall I really didn't think much of it. Then I realized he was looking behind the couch and the lizard on the wall was actually inside, on the wall. Now, I don't do bugs in the house and consequently I don't do critters either! So, we watched the lizard run under the couch. I looked for him, tried to scare him out, but that didn't work. So, I thought this can wait for Adam to get home and he can catch the lizard. But then I started imagining sitting on the couch and the lizard coming out and crawling on me, near me, ON ME!!! Needless to say, this was not going to wait for Adam to come home. To make a long story short - it took about 30 minutes, a shoebox, a piece of turkey meat and a broomstick, but I caught that lizard!! (Yea me!!) By the way, the lizard had no interest in the turkey, but the cats did and were more interested in that than the lizard, (lizard #2 apparently lost its life to the cats - totally gross but thankfully stayed on the tile and not the carpet!). So, once the lizard was secure in the box, (sheer luck, I assure you!), I caught my breath and we released the lizard into the flower bed where he found refuge in a blooming mum. Did I say PHEW!!!????