My White Knight

It's really, really nice to have one of them there husbands.

Especially one who can fix things.

This morning we were running a bit late due to some extra laziness and extra snuggling so I helped my husband and kids get out the door and went back in the house to finish getting ready myself. Curt always takes the girls in the morning and I pick them up after work. This morning (and most mornings) it seemed easier to get them out of the house and on their way before me.

Except that I wasn't going anywhere. After getting dressed, making the bed, watering a nearly dead plant outside, washing the dishes and doing whatever other stalling techniques I do in the morning, I finally gathered my stuff to leave for the day. I got in my car and it was dead, dead, dead. Ugh.

What was my first reaction? Call Curt. Although he was looong gone at this point. "See if Buzz can help you" No luck - he's not home. "Okay, let me drop of the girls and head back home." Oh wait! Buzz is pulling in his driveway right now! Yay! Someone else's husband is going to get me on my way. Whew. Travesty diverted.

I arrive at work about an hour late and get slammed with conference calls, emails and a shitload of stress. I almost forgot about my car. Until my dear friend, Caitlin, called to confirm our lunch plans. Oh. yeah. What time is it??

I check on my car . . . it's totally dead again. Damn. Guess who I call? But this time he was prepared. "I'll be right there."

So my incredible husband spends his entire lunch hour (and then some) driving all over hell and back (cuz there's not a car part store anywhere near my office) to take care of poor little me. It was quite a turn-on to see him pull-up in his car, grab his tools out of his trunk and go to work.

"My White Knight . . . him I could love 'til I die."

(Marian from The Music Man)

Home, sweet home

Hey there --

I have nothing of major importance to write about. But I figured you'd all miss me if I didn't get in here once in awhile. You would. Admit it.

I think the girls were a little confused by several business trips that Curt and I went on. I was gone for a few days last week, Curt went camping with his guy friends over the weekend and then we BOTH left on business this week. Our trips so barely scraped by each other that we had to call in our good friend, Caitlin, to watch the girls for the four-hour time span when both of us were gone at the same time.

Audrey, usually very happy-go-lucky, seemed to struggle a bit when I left on my last trip. She had some tears in her eyes and kept begging me not to go. Gee, thanks kid. As if I didn't feel bad enough already.

I'm home again and couldn't be happier. What's funny is that even Audrey has been saying, "Ahhh . . . it feels good to be home." And she didn't go anywhere!

She must be reading my mind.

Christmas is partly taken care of

It finally happened! Audrey finally lost her front tooth. It's so darn cute!! As luck would have it, I was on a business trip when the event took place. But Mr. ToothFairy handled it smoothly.

Audrey likes to keep her tooth, so she always writes a note. "Toothfairy, I would like to keep my tooth. But I still want money."

She received two dollars and a return note from the Toothfairy, "Nice tooth."

Art fair musings

I went downtown on my lunch hour to poke around the Art Fair a bit today.

I thought it was absolutely fantastic that the Catholic booth was right next to the Democrat booth in the non-profit section.

I got a free rosary and paid $1.00 for an "Obama 2008" button.

Rollin' rollin' rollin' (as in Rolling Hills and the Rawhide song lyrics -- get it? Nah? Eh shudup!)

I'm STILL catching up on last weekend, dammit. I'm not sure I'm even going to bother mentioning our crazy weekend THIS weekend. Other than, "we had a party." It was our 10th annual Crab Party. Our bestest friends were there. We love them. They're messy and break things. We still love them.

And now . . . here are the FINAL (I promise) scenes from the previous weekend. Audrey's birthday party at Rolling Hills Water Park. More good times with our friends that we love.

I'm sorry if you got missed in these photos -- I was a little kooky that day. I failed to get a group shot. Doh. I am NOT sorry that I got missed in the photos -- since I was wearing a bathing suit and all. Whew. Good thing I was in charge of the camera.

The Bugalas having lunch

January looking FAB in her big hat and cool glasses talking to Amy, Ava, and Jonathan (also FAB!)

James, Dana and Gerry just chillin'

Katie and Jayme rescuing Vivian from running off

Vivian and Daddy in the water

Katie, James and Jayme heading for the big slide

Here's where we camped out when we weren't swimming

(And where January and Amy chatted all afternoon.)

Vivian and Jayme eating cupcakes

Curt taking a break from busting his balls all afternoon.

Timo making a comment.

Nicolas licking his fingers.

Audrey opening gifts amidst the cupcakes.

Opening her books from the Rowe's.

(She took those with her to camp, by the way)

Love the look, Sophie!

Anthony being cheesy.

6 going on 16

On Monday, Audrey turned six. I can hardly believe I have a six year old. It sounds cliche, but she's growing right in front of my eyes.

On Monday, I also drove her to her first-ever week away at summer camp. I sent a big cake with some candles taped to the top of the box. I heard they didn't even wait until dinner to break it out. That makes me happy. Especially since we both had a few tears as my car pulled away from their cabin on Monday.

Today is Friday and I leave in about an hour to go pick her up.

I wonder how much she's grown since Monday.

Because I don't go to bed with curlers?

I'm digressing from discussions of the kids for a second to concentrate on Marriage. Turns out I would be a very poor wife in the 1930's.

What about you?

Go Blue! errr . . . . and Red and White!

I'm finally getting around to mentioning our weekend. Whew. Time sure flies. I'm about to embark on another busy weekend and I haven't written about last week's busy weekend.

So, they say a picture is worth a thousand words. A bunch of us watched the 79th Annual Ypsilanti 4th of July parade just a few blocks from our house. The weather was perfect and the kids were decked out in as much red, white and blue as their parents could find.

Vivian Reads!

Okay, this still has nothing to do with our crazy busy weekend but I'm feeling a little disorganized (can you say hormonal?) this week. So, forgive me if I'm hopping around a bit. Just go with it.

Audrey has been at camp since I dropped her off Monday morning. Tears . . . both from Audrey and then me later in the day when I realized how sad her tears made me feel. Ugh. (I did mention I was hormonal, right??) But, on a positive note, I talked to her yesterday and she's doing well. She said she made me some earrings. I can't wait to see them. And by "can't wait" I mean I'm hoping they're something wear-able. If not, perhaps we can hang them on the Christmas tree in a few months. [oh . . . there I go again . . . living my entire life in one split second. Curt simply loves that feature.]

Anyway, this has been a week of bonding time with Vivian. She has been completely stuck on two books lately and we read them every night: Five Little Ducks and The Three Little Pigs. I guess she's big on counting right now.

By the third reading of Five Little Ducks, I figured I should videotape her for posterity's sake. My favorite part is when she accidentally flips two pages and I don't realize it at first. She's trying to figure out why the words she wants to say aren't matching the page. SO cute. You'll note at the end of this video she asks to read The Three Little Pigs "again."

Good NIGHT, Vivian!

Happy to be here

There are so many things that happened this weekend! Between the parades and parties for the 4th, Audrey's 6th birthday and Audrey heading to camp for the first time, I've got a lot of blogging catch-up to do.

However, I wanted to start with one of my favorite quotes of the weekend.

During one of the 4th of July parties we attended, Vivian was holding a small yellow ball with a smiley face on it.

Her comment:

"Mommy, I have a ball. It's very happy."