Age Limit 4

While getting my hair done 2 weeks ago, a mom and her 3 boys were getting their hair cut. Mark looked over at me and said, "That's gonna be you in a few years". So, this mom and I got to talking and I learned that her boys all love soccer. One of her sons came over and told me the exact AYSO division # Finn would be in. I googled it and registration is now, for this coming fall. I think Finn would love playing and would look so darling in a soccer uniform, but starting in the dead heat of August? I'm not so sure. I asked Finn if he would like to play soccer with all the other kids and he said "Yah, sure. I could bring my drums out on the field and everyone else could bring their instruments..." I'm not entirely sure he heard me.

I decided to go for it anyway. To register, you need a copy of their birth certificate. I searched everywhere, but could only find the commemorative birth certificate they give you at the hospital. Finn is only 4 and I'm already falling behind on the paperwork. All this organized activity is making my head spin. I walked onto the soccer field with a copy of Finn's fake birth certificate, and I felt like I was 5 years old again--like they were going to say "no, go home". Of course when I got there, they barely glanced at the certificate and were pretty nice folks. So, AYSO, here we come!

In the meanwhile, I have been trying to teach the boys soccer in our backyard. Omigoodness. Now I know why they have a 4-year-old age limit. Our sessions go something like this:

• Finn dribbles the ball and starts heading toward the goal.
• I say "Calvin, it's your turn, get the ball!"
• Calvin grabs the ball with his hands and cries hysterically if Finn comes near him.
• Coach Davi shouts to Calvin to kick the ball.
• Calvin kicks the ball and Finn goes for it.
• Calvin cries hysterically, "Finn is grabbing the ball...Waaaaaaa" and so on.

Our neighbors probably think we are a train wreck. I finally realized that Calvin was too young to grasp the concept of competetive sports, and I came up with a solution.

2 balls, duh:)

gotta love our fancy pvc-pipe goal, compliments of John

Can you see it now? Finn's soccer pose?

(minus rainboots and volleyball)

If you want to come over and play with us, it's BYOB(bring your own ball, of course).

Gretchen's house-of-fun

A few days ago, the boys and I went over to Gretchen's place, and boy did we have fun. First of all, her place is from another era, so it has all the architectural charm that I dream of--wood floors, fun sinks and cool tiles backsplashing here and there...and the widest, most incredilbe arch over her dining room. And then you have all of Gretchen's touches sprinkled on top...I could have moved right in.

!Hi Gretchen!

Lijah and I playing in the beaded doorway.

She also has a real live cotton candy machine in her kitchen. And you know how I feel about candy machines! She was super sweet to my boys and let them play with her African drums. The boys were in HEAVEN and could have played them all day--I eventually made them stop, for fear that no one would ever let me and my noisy boys over again:)

As if these drums were not exciting enough, Gretchen had one more trick up her sleeve. The boys were allowed to play with Mike's beloved Tony Hawk tech dech finger boards, complete with ramp and grind rail.

Aren't these the cutest toys ever?

Growing up in a house full of girls, I never imagined I'd have a house full of boys one day. I liked the Tony Hawk set so much, that I looked all over for them yesterday and today. They must be very popular, because they are sold out everywhere. Even Jessica was out of luck, looking for them in her neck of the woods. I did happen to find a little yellow VW bus for Calvin's Easter basket though.

Who knew shopping for boys could be such fun?

Then, later on today, Mike and Gretch stopped by with a "surprise" for the boys. I almost fainted when they handed over Mike's tech decks. Isn't that just about the sweetest thing ever????

The boys and I had a BLAST playing with them tonight.

Thanks so much Gretch and Mike!!!! We love you guys!

beanie babies

I see pictures of beautiful winter wonderlands on some of your blogs, and sometimes I feel a little wishful. Then I come to my senses, remembering that I have the wimpiest thermostat ever. In the summer, I prefer my house to be at 78.5 degrees(78 is too cold, 79 too hot). In the winter, I'm good if my house is 73 or so. The other day we were playing outside and it actually felt downright chilly. Could this be winter? When I checked the thermostat, it read a whopping 52 degrees, in the shade. Well, I decided we could at least bundle up and pretend that it was winter, with beanies for all to enjoy.

me and my beanie babies

me and beanie baby #3

And yes, that is my snowboarding jacket I'm wearing. Perhaps I'm a little more wishful than I had thought. John has a little snow trip in the works, and perhaps that will be just what I need.

Maestra Ellie

I told Ellie to bring her guitar over the other night, thinking we could practice together. She claimed that she was not very good and that she needed lessons. I figured we could play a duet of 'row your boat' or 'twinkle little star'...or at the very least, we could toughen up our fingers a bit. Turns out, she plays beautifully, but then again, Ellie does everything beautifully. Though I did not think I was ready, she insisted on teaching me Amazing Grace.

She showed me how to play the chords and wrote down some notes.

(and yes, that is D minor and G suspended)

During all this, Lorie was drowning her sorrows in the ukulele

It wasn't long before Ellie convinced Lorie to join us and try her hand at the guitar too. Lorie did a great job strumming her chords and it was funny to see her concentrating so hard.

the seriousness only lasted so long though.

Oh but my fingers are sore today. So, Jenn claims she was a rockin "wannabe" in college...that's the best kind, if you ask me! Anybody else got any hidden talents out there? Harmonica anyone?

"there's a snake mommy"

Calvin was playing outside in the dirt today when, all of a sudden, he came running up to me urgently saying "I saw a snake mommy...dere's a snake". Multiple thoughts ran through my head.

No.1 being: "I'm such a terrible mother. How could I have not scanned my yard for snakes today?"
No.2: horror at the thought of a snake biting Calvin.
No.3: absolute curiosity to see a colorful snake in my very own backyard(at least in my mind it was colorful).

I grabbed Calvin's hand, told Finn to stand back, and asked Calvin to show me where the snake was. We rounded the corner of the deck and I fully expected that this "colorful" snake had slithered away. But lo and behold, Calvin pointed his finger and said "see it right dere?"

A close-up of Calvin's *snake*

In case you could not tell, it was a worm. Oh Calvin, can't you stay 2 forever? Well, that was the excitement of our day.

like tommy

Remember Tommy, the virtual drum instructor from a few posts ago? Little did I know what an impression he would make on my little boys. Finn intently studies his every move. Since Tommy wears jeans and a t-shirt, Finn now wants to wear jeans and a t-shirt(mind you me, it used to be a fight to get Finn to wear pants). No detail in the DVD is lost on Finn, down to the black background and the spotlights. Finn turned off all the lights in the house and convinced me to hang a flashlight from the armoir. Somehow, my guitar buddy Calvin has also been swept away by the world of drummers(how did I not see that coming?). Tommy wears a watch therefore Finn and Calvin made some watches.

Tommy wears a bracelet, hence Calvin wears a bracelet.

Tommy's drum pedal

Calvin raids the kitchen for his drum pedal

Tommy's drum brush(I've never heard of a drum brush either)

Finn's drum brush(also from a kitchen raid)

I went shopping at the mall the other day and the salesman was showing me a little shirt that had an authentic fender guitar pick on it, and we got to talking about instruments. Turns out he's a drummer, with lots of beautiful, colorful tatoos. I'm glad the boys weren't with me. Knowing how impressionable they are right now, they would quickly be drawing tatoos on each other with permanent markers and pens. I bet you Calvin's would be a bright yellow sunshine smiley face. I can just see it now, the two of them with their tatoos, walking their little stuffed kitties down the street.

It's on the House!

John got an extra side job teaching at CSUN on monday nights. Since I was stuck at home all night, Lorie and Ellie were kind enough to keep me company. I decided to make a knock-off of my favorite Starbucks iced coffe mocha slush...or whatever they call it. I always have to explain it to them in great detail, lest they botch my exquisite $3.50 order.

I got out my blender and filled it 3/4 of the way with coffee and some ice, with Ellie and Lorie scoffing my apparent ignorance. I guess my coffee ratio was disproportionately high, and so they made me dump most of it out. I had no clue that blended drinks had only a few shots of coffee. I then added coffeemate creamer and lots of hershey's syrup, with Lorie egging me on to put in vanilla ice cream. Lots of it. At one point, Ellie handed me a brownie to throw in and it actually gave it a nice speckly gourmet appearance. Add some whip cream and voila!

Did I mention the mocking of Lorie and Ellie the whole time?

It came out surprisingly good. Ellie said so.

As if this mocha concoction did not have quite enough calories:

only the finest for my customers

We stayed up till midnight and I never ever wanted them to leave. The next morning I think we were all positively ill. Perhaps a curfew is in order?

Next time you are at hotel Davi, order the mocha slush--I won't even charge you $3.50. It's on the house! And I will try not to keep you up so late:)