It's a "cake for breakfast" morning. Proving once again that dad is more fun than mom.
*The only way mom serves cake for breakfast is when she doesn't stealthily eat it herself and forces the kids to eat it (so she won't be tempted by those delicious cakey calories).*
And just for you stay-at-home moms who are feeling like Super-Pops is putting you to shame, let it be known that *occasionally* I will come home and find Tadpole at the bottom of a sugar crash with the offending empty Koolaid bottle and stained chin and belly.
...but I should mention it is only because Pops is engrossed in some major home repair project instead of yacking away on the phone with his sister (as I have been known to do).
This school year marks the 20th anniversary of the day Pops and I met back at the Granite High School pool. I remember the day pretty well. It was first period of the first day of my sophomore year in high school (which is the first year of high school where I hail). I was all decked out for the occasion in a pair of olive green pleated shorts, a shapeless t-shirt, big white bow and poofy bangs. Coach Goffe sat us on the tile bleachers next to the pool and proceeded to pump up his swim team for the upcoming season in his drab, monotone, lovable way. I, of course, wasn’t really paying attention to him anyway. I was scoping out the scene. Not a huge swim team. I knew a few of the kids from the age group team I had been swimming with, my older brother included. There were only a few of us sophomores, and Pops, who was a hunk-of-hunk burning love 15 year old dreamboat, certainly caught my attention.
Over the next 3 years of high school, Pops and I both swam on the swim team (which was pretty much our life), worked as lifeguards and swim lesson instructors, and (because we couldn’t get enough of the pool scene) also swam on an age group team up near the university. All of the above activities we carpooled to either in the styling (gas hog) Dodge not-mini-van I drove or the sleek 1970 brown Nova (that once claimed half of my brown tresses when the seat belt retracted) that Pops drove.
My Young Women’s (youth group) leader was the first to call it. She was a regular early morning lap swimmer. She asked me, “What about that cute lifeguard I always see you chatting with? Why don’t you date him?” I can’t tell you how many hours Pops and I sat on the deck of the pool together just chatting as we “life guarded” the handful of lap swimmers. We were great friends, probably because no one else had any interest listening to Summer Sanders stories.
We never dated in high school, although it was kind of the elephant in the room. I remember on several occasions Pops driving me home from swim practice singing to his one and only CD the Violent Femmes. You know the song I am talking about, “American Music” and you know that line that goes, “I want a date to the prom, would you like to come along? Nobody go to the prom with me? Baby.” Ya. The only way to make it seem like we weren’t desperate and that we had absolutely no interest in going to the prom was to crank it up and sing it at the top of our lungs. No we never went to the prom. It is a good thing too; otherwise my Dad wouldn’t have had the fine opportunity of paying one of his co-worker’s sons to take me. Nice.
But we did hang out a lot together in the same group of friends. Some of my blog base will remember a certain concert we all went to about 17 years ago. I believe the B-52s were opening for the Violent Femmes. Great Concert. And a great occasion to “shake my honey buns”. I woke up the next morning to whip lash from all those fancy moves.
Are you still with me? You know how I love to tell a good long story… well for our 12th Anniversary, Pops took me to a B-52s concert on the Cape! Nothing can hurl you back 20 years in time like “shaking your honey buns”.We all have packed on a few pounds in the last 20 years, but the concert was magic. All of you who couldn’t make it this time, enjoy the footage! We were thinking about you and all those good times! ...and if you listen closely you can hear us on back-up vocals. Just like being there yourselves. (my apologies for the quality of the video... I wanted to include a longer video, but I think I have found the file limit of blogger...and it may be a little shakey because I can't do my favorite dance move, "the spanker" without Pops (who was holding the camera))
It is fun to re-live those good old days, but even nicer to hop in the mini van (“it’s as big as a whale”) and head back to the “Love Shack”.
Before we started our party-hopping the kids had time for quick ride on the dinosaur train. I love how Tadpole lined Little chief up as the caboose... First off was our friend Emmy's 3 year old birthday party. How can you beat a bounce house? ...oh, maybe a bounce house with a slide?! Sensational! Next off was our friend's annual BBQ, but since they were also loading all of their possessions into moving containers so they can move to "Majersey", as Abz calls it, we just grabbed their kids and took them back to our house to play ON OUR NEW AIRPLANE TEETER TATER! Are you kidding me! Thank-you Grandma and Grandpa! Life is GOOD. We were happy to have one last play date with our good friends. Honestly, all day long these boys only had one scuffle over a certain toy Sheriff. Oh how these boys love to play together. These girls always have a fantastic time! Abz is always plotting ways to get our family to move to "Majersey" with them. We're not too worried. We think they will be back! ...or maybe we are just in denial. We just love them so. Oh, and let's not forget that August 15th marks our 12th wedding anniversary! We marked the occasion this weekend with a trip with the kids to a fancy restaurant. We even made it through with our best manners. Abz insisted on keeping her fancy goblet. Well done kids! ...as much fun as it was to celebrate with you, we're getting a sitter next weekend and do it again with a table for two.
The celebrations abound! Tadpole is BIG number 3. This kid has been talking about what he wants for his birthday since Christmas. I had to catch myself at Costco when he was begging for a "Scoop" back ho toy. My standard line is, "Certainly you can have it, let's add it to your birthday list!" Guess who came home with us (thanks for sending the birthday money Glama!)? Superkid suggested we kick off the festivities with a game of "Pin the Tender on the Train" which he created. Superkid and Abizella were caught up in the excitement of the festivities too... Tadpole took the birthday present opening very seriously and continues to tell us about it. This kid never forgets where he picks up a good toy. Just ask Grandma and Grandpa about a certain fire engine that resides at their house. This kid never forgets. And here comes Thomas chugging down the track... Tadpole has been known to steal the thunder from other birthday kids by puffing out their candles out from under them. He was happy to FINALLY have his own candles to blow out. Yes, that is a ridiculous birthday cake hat with 3 candles that I made him wear. He didn't seem to mind as long as he had a toy in his hand. Tadpole, you are simply the best. You make us laugh every day. Thank-you for brightening our lives!
Now THAT is a good knock knock joke! It is good everyday, but ESPECIALLY on this girl's 5th birthday!
We celebrated with some friends by having a beachy Pony Party with PINK PINK PINK cupcakes! In the birthday girl's words, "This is the most perfect party!"
The birthday girl designed her own, "pin the tail on the unicorn" game for the event. And whenever there is a party, this little lady comes in style. Nothing but her purple party dress will do! Here are some of the other pony enthusiasts that celebrated with us... Cousin Boo! Miss Jordan! Miss Sara! ...there were some boys there too, but they liked to play it cool when it came to the pony stuff. ...then there were some pony un-enthusiasts... Give Tiney a couple of years and she will join the enthusiast camp too, I'm sure. There was even a little time for some sand... Well, that all took place a week before the actual big day! Of course we had to mark the actual day as well. Abizella has been talking about a "Rainbow Dash" birthday cake forever. On the "My Little Pony" web site you can take a personality quiz to see which pony you are most like. Abz has been nutso over Rainbow Dash for a very long time, but I admit I was shocked when her personality quiz actually came out as Rainbow Dash (I'm Scootaloo)! So a Rainbow Dash cake it was, with Abz personally in charge of the color scheme... Here is the finished work, with our model Rainbow Dash looking on in approval... The BIG moment! More Pony Fun! Hey, Rainbow Dash DOES need somewhere to live! And some much adored ballet clothes! Happy Birthday Abizella! You are loved by all Toads! Nobody quite like you... well, except for maybe Rainbow Dash.
It's pretty crazy trying to shove a week's worth of activities/errands/chores into 2 days, but we did the best we can.
After a sunrise walk on the beach and some girl chat time with my buddy Chris, it was off to the races. First off were the errands. 5 Stops with 4 kids in 3 hours, including this stop to get our filthy supervan cleaned by the spit-clean youth group raising money for an Eagle project.
We knew this guy has a nationwide fan-base, so I couldn't resist snapping a wet T-shirt pic for everyone... And this is where I had to admit to the group of car-washees that yes, I did purposely dress the Toads alike. It was not just some happy accident, but a well orchestrated scheme to be seen with this perfectly coordinated crew of cute Toadies. After the errands, a triple batch of chocolate chip cookies, and burgers and dogs, the kids and I hit the beach. Always enough time for the tide. Plus, I wanted to update the sidebar pics of the kiddos (take a peek and be impressed that I did that all with the help of 3 kids and a baby strapped to my midsection). Tadpole built himself a "nest" to sit upon and tend to in his tidepool... I wish all nights were like this (even if sometimes we leave with sand in our eyes and dead-dog tired). But the fun didn't end Saturday. I am determined to cram Little Chief in all of my favorite 0-3 month outfits one last time... And we even squeezed in a playdate with one of our favorites before she moves far far away (sniff). Pops joked that I would be so exhausted from the weekend that I would be happy to get back to work so I could rest. I think I am going to check out now so I can get a little shut-eye on the train before it pulls into the station...
*The only way mom serves cake for breakfast is when she doesn't stealthily eat it herself and forces the kids to eat it (so she won't be tempted by those delicious cakey calories).*
And just for you stay-at-home moms who are feeling like Super-Pops is putting you to shame, let it be known that *occasionally* I will come home and find Tadpole at the bottom of a sugar crash with the offending empty Koolaid bottle and stained chin and belly.
...but I should mention it is only because Pops is engrossed in some major home repair project instead of yacking away on the phone with his sister (as I have been known to do).
