Fun with Courtney

Courtney came to visit!  And it was fab.  Mostly we hung out and visited.  But we did take her to see Tahoe:

 Looking forward to spending time at this beach this summer:

 We forced her to make whoopie pies.  We even bought a whoopie pie pan for the occasion:

We went and saw the super awesome lights on Tanea street.  This house is nuts.  The lights are synced to music.  Unreal:

 While the kids were in school and at a party we went up to the Tahoe meadows.  Can I tell you how happy it makes my heart to be in the west again???  Very very happy:

 Court came along when I dropped the kids off for their art class and she got to see downtown and the billboard for Rob's work:

 We went to Arthur Christmas and ate sushi after:

 And we adhered to our yearly tradition of making Christmas goodies which I have eaten a lot of and am thoroughly tired of.  Seriously, it hasn't been good:

Thanks for coming and come again soon.

The Outtakes

Lately my kids have had quite a thing for awkward family photos.  When we were in Provo, Katy took pictures of the kids for us.  My kids insisted on several awkward poses, and some occurred naturally.  Here are the outtakes from the shoot.

 Can you spot the stalker?:

 This whole series Anders really had the Aloha spirit:

 And these seemed to work out really well:

It's Christmas Y'all!

It looks like Christmas around here.  We got the tree(s) up a couple of weeks ago and adhered to tradition.  A decorating party and the annual lighting of Lucy.  Clara got to be lit up this year as well, and posed very nicely for her photo (with no prompting of course).  I just love Christmas. At least some of it.  This year the stress is killing me turning me into old Ebeneezer himself.  But in theory I love Christmas.

The Atlantis Casino

Clara is obsessed with the Atlantis casino and has been since we moved here.  Anytime she sees it (which is quite often since we live up on the bench and the view of the city is before us at all times) she points it out with awe and excitement.  I don't know why, but she thinks this is a magical mecca.  She believes that dolphins and all things of great beauty reside in glorious luxury at the Atlantis casino.  It has been this way since the first time she saw it.  I think it must be horrifically ugly stripes that have made her feel such a fascination with it.  Anyway the other day I was running errands and we drove by it.  "Mom, can we pleeeeeease eat dinner there tonight?  Please?"  Sick and tired of the adoration I decided to set her straight.  "Clara, you know what?  It is a gross place where people gamble, smoke, and get drunk.  It's not nice and there aren't dolphins." (How is that for letting her down easy?)  In a voice full of rage and righteous indignation she says, "Do you see those elevators mom?"  I look and see the elevators that are on the outside of the building, and are all lit up at night, going up and down.  "Yes."  "Well that is how I know that what you are saying is a lie."  Okay, then.  Point taken.  Maybe for her birthday we will take  her there for a nice steak dinner and rent out the penthouse suite or something.

Another One Bites The Dust...

Clara is pretty sure this is the greatest thing that has ever happened to her.  I'm not so sure.

Pinewood Derby

Last night was the pinewood derby.  Both boys did great and they were very excited.  Anders won 2nd overall.  Thank goodness for an awesome Dad who helped them in his non-existent spare time.

Never Was There A Tale Of More Woe...

than not that of Juliet and her Romeo, but of my kids and their 1-day pets Peach and Clementine.  Seriously.  It's really sad.  We promised the kids they could get a pet when we moved.  Promised.  And they wanted something cute and cuddly.  And we couldn't get a dog.  So, going against my repulsion caused by rodents, I caved and got them guiniea pigs.  Peach and Clementine.  And they were so excited.  And I was freaked out.  Rodents living in our house.  They smelled bad to me.  And they looked like rodents.  And I couldn't handle it.  I couldn't.  And I made Rob take them back.  It was horrible.  The kids were shattered, crushed, devastated, etc.  They were bawling.  Sobbing.  Grief stricken, one and all.   It was a parenting low, for sure.  But I now know that if there is one pet I can stomach, it's a dog.  I don't mind touching a dog.  I like dogs.  Fish are pointless.  Turtles are boring.  Even cats creep me out.  So someday....

Sorry kids.