Site Title

Not too long ago, Henry was invited to a birthday party in the Hollywood Hills. It was held at a home-slash-castle complete with moat-slash-swimming pool. It was crazy & gorgeous up there and had really amazing views of the city and the Hollywood sign:
 It was a really clear day, which is a rarity here in L.A.,  and we could see  all the way to the coast. 
AND we found out  that the little tunnel thing on the left hand side of the picture below is the bat cave from the original Batman T.V. series. I know. It was a super-hero themed party so we made a super-hero cape for the birthday boy: 
 
 Happy Birthday B! We love seeing you at Kindergarten every morning!!

 After a brief resurrection, our camera has yet again bit the dust- this time, I don't think it's coming back.  This is from our phone. I miss having a camera.  Not sure what to do with ours- get it fixed or what. It qualifies for an upgrade through Canon, but eek- what to do….. Anyway- it's FALL! My favorite time of year. We have been talking Halloween costumes for over a month now. I'm going to give it a few weeks before I start sewing any costumes as the decision of what to be constantly changes. 

I'm thinking of putting together a Halloween Craft Night at my place in early-mid October. Thought it would be fun to have some friends (old & new) over to eat & make fun Halloween decorations, etc.,. I'm still finalizing the details but think it would be a hoot. So- if you think you might want to come & join in the fun- check back in this space. I'm still organizing projects, etc.,. but will announce it here.

Here's to nights by the fireplace, hot cocoa, pumpkin patches & sweaters!

Happy Fall!

 I was scrolling through some old photo's and remembered my computer was in the shop when we were picking figs from Grandma's tree. 
The tree was packed. We picked as many as I thought we would use (and then some.) 
I am not sure what kind of fig tree she has other than the fact that these are not of the black mission variety. Last year we made jam, this year we picked these just before our trip to San Francisco, and so they were just pulled open and eaten.
Aren't they gorgeous inside? 
I think we'll have to call Grandma and see if there are any left on her tree. Maybe, just maybe there might be and maybe just maybe we'll have to make the trek out there and maybe just maybe there will be fig jam in our future. That would be pure bliss!

 I was so excited for the first day of school this morning that I slept through both my alarms. After several gentle nudges, I was able to wake up the sleepy 5 year old who slept the whole night snuggled up to me (I'm so lucky!) I threw my hair in a pony, got dressed, we got Kate & Charlie up, buckled them in the stroller and walked the 1 mile to Henry's new school. 
Henry was armed with his new lunch bag & thermos, apple for his new teacher and #10 hoodie. His navy blue converse were tied tight and he was ready to go. He was so excited. The morning was chaotic as I imagine the first day of school usually is. We took pictures, got him in his line and he was off to his class. I didn't shed a tear. I was so proud. I was just so thrilled for him. I knew he would love it. We never met his teacher in advance or saw his classroom so I wondered about him all day and what he was doing. At 2:00 parents were invited to come to the classroom, meet their children's new teacher and pick up their child. 
 When I walked in his room, our eyes met and with all the excitement a 5 year old could muster he said, "MOM!! I drew this school bus and there is you and Pops and Kate and Grandma and Charlie and Uncle Matt! And look at this, it sits on my desk! There is glue, a glue stick, scissors, pencil and my own box of crayons!!! And see these papers here on my desk? Maybe I don't want them on my desk- maybe I just want to put them UNDER my desk (he inserts the papers into the cubby under his desk) but DON'T let me forget to bring my papers home!!!" He loved it. He loved his first day. We were so relieved. 
 We promised ice-cream to celebrate the first day of school and he chose Yogurtland. I love having a 5 year old- the world is their oyster. Such curiosity and excitement. Mostly I love 5 year old conversations:

"Mom….I think I am allergic to stores. Did you know that "stink" is the funniest word in the entire galaxy?" 

He's tucked in bed and fast asleep (2 hours earlier than last night-must have been the excitement.) I was really worried about how long Kindergarten was: a full day (7 1/2 hours.) It seemed like too much for a 5 year old but he did it and I think it will be okay. We are thrilled to be able to do it all again tomorrow, however, this having to be somewhere at 8:00 on.the.dot. is FOR THE BIRDS!

 His first organized sport: AYSO. All the boys looked like they had so much fun, although, I think Henry was most excited about all his new gear. He's one of the tallest on his team. I loved watching his gangly legs running back & forth across the field. 

We found out a few weeks ago that his new kindergarten classroom is also #10 and he's planning on wearing his black jedi hooded sweatshirt, which also has a #10 on the front, to his first day of school.

First. Day. Of. SCHOOL! I packed my first ever school lunch tonight: 2 peanut butter & honey sandwiches, string cheese, crackers & some fruity bits. He wanted his star wars thermos filled with milk. And a note telling him how much we love him.

I can't believe the day is almost here. He's so ready. I know he will have such a great time. 

Me? I am going to be crying in my nacho's.

My camera bit the dust on Friday (royally bumming me out- what awful timing!) so this was taken with my iPhone which I was originally not so jazzed about until I saw Tara's iPhone pic's and immediately downloaded the ShakeItPhoto app. You should, too. It's pretty clever. Oh and CrossProcess is pretty good, too. 

 There was a lot happening this week as we make final preparations for the next few days, which involve a lot of "firsts" for our little family (and mostly for that oldest boy of mine!) A range of emotions, but mostly excitement as we enter this next phase of our lives. Be back soon to share it all with you.

xo

Well this third child of mine is just over 9 months. My computer was in the shop when that big milestone happened. People always say he looks, "just like a Moore!" I'm starting to see it. He's looking more & more like Henry & Kate. He's a good-natured, sweet baby. No teeth or crawling for this one, but it feels like we are close (not that I am in any rush!) He's mastered the army crawl & can get where he needs to go. I officially declare 9 months to be one of my favorite phases. 
 

Remember National Waffle Day? August the 24th? I was all sorts of excited to talk about waffles and stuff and then my mac bit the dust. Now, I'm still thinking about ooey ggooey waffles. You should be, too. My mac has been given a new life, if you will. So I'm pretty much going to give you an 11-month notice to prepare you for National Waffle Day 2011! You're welcome. I simmered some frozen blackberries & strawberries in orange juice (reducing it by half) until it got all sorts of saucy. Added a little syrup and a dollop of whipped cream and my head nearly exploded. It was good to the very last drop.  So if you feel so inclined, there's really no need to wait until next years National Waffle Day. Here's the recipe:

Waffles 

2 eggs

3 cups flour

1 3/4 cups milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 Tbsp. white sugar

4 tsps. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Pre-heat waffle iron. Beat eggs in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in flour, milk, oil, sugar, baking powder, salt & vanilla until smooth. Spray pre-heated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mix onto hot waffle iron. Cook until golden brown. 

Enjoy!!

I packed up the children last week (blowing kisses & waving goodbye to our Pops) and headed north to Berkeley & San Francisco. Our good friends moved there in June and we have all have been missing them.  AND we haven't gone anywhere this Summer. I mean anywhere. We hadn't even left LA County. A major change of scenery was needed and it did us lots of good. In San Francisco we shopped:Went to Japantown for lunch and to an amazing, gigantic Japanese bookstore (4x the size of my local Japanese bookstore):
I bought the third book on the top row. There is a shirt pattern in there that I absolutely must make for Kate (I am not going to even think about the fact that all the directions are written in Japanese…nope not going to think about it.) In Berkeley we went to an incredible bakery:  
I stopped again on our way home to pick up a chocolate croissant for Chris, but by 11 a.m. they were already sold out. Sad. We also went grocery shopping at  the Berkeley Bowl which I absolutely cannot stop thinking about. That place is ridiculous. As one Yelp reviewer said; "When I die, I want to be buried in the produce section." If you live 50 miles within that place–it is worth the drive. I did not take my camera into the grocery store. I'm sure you understand. 
I also have to admit that I ate more ice-cream in a 72 hour period than I have in the last year. Have you ever heard of the show Man vs. Food? The host goes across the country taking on  food challenges. At The Olde San Francisco Creamery Co. he was challenged to eat "The Kitchen Sink" which is the equivalent of 2 gallons of ice-cream (or 8 gigantic scoops) in under an hour (You can see the video clip here.) "The Kitchen Sink" is an actual mini-kitchen sink that is chock full of ice-cream. We took the kids, all 6 of them. On more than one occasion Henry tried to convince me to order "The Kitchen Sink" for him & Jake, that they could eat it. They are 5. We didn't buy it. We settled on a brownie sundae instead. I think the milk chocolate flavor was the favorite. It tasted a lot like malt, which I really love. And last but not least:
A tour of the Jelly Belly Factory where our cameras were not permitted. This is all I got. It was great–the kids loved it. 

It felt so much like Fall up in San Fran. We can't wait to go back.

Thanks again Tim &  Michelle and especially Annabelle, Jake & Kate for letting us sleep in your room!