Life when you're seven

Admit it, the life of a 7 year-old is pretty darn good. You are naturally cute. You color and play with Barbies. You might have a pink Nintendo DS.

And a loving older sister.

But sometimes the days are dark, like when you have to eat a green bean.

But mostly, yes mostly, the days are sunshiney bright. And when you are seven, some of the things that come out of your mouth are hysterical because you are just so little still.

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Like the other day, Brooke and a friend were discussing how "chatty" some girls in their class are (something about pots and kettles comes to mind), and how Katie and Reilly were talking and talking while Miss Davis was trying to teach, and Miss Davis asked them to please be quiet and then, instead of talking they...

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began "silent dialogue-ing".

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Ummm. I think back in the dark ages we called that "passing notes".

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He said whaaat???

Dennis' feedback on last Sunday's show, as told to August by Tim, the manager:

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I just spoke with his mgr (Tim) for about 30min, and he said Dennis really enjoys my “child-like enthusiasm”..he told Tim that at the show, he kept looking over at me and seeing how much fun I was having, but also picked up on the fact that behind my perpetual grin was the thought bubble “HOW did I get here!?! Is this really happening to ME?!”

Tim also said Dennis told him “I sang really well tonight, for Tony (LaRussa, his longtime friend and show host)…and for August”…he wanted to impress me on the first show. Me!? Haha…this IS priceless J

SO thankful!!!!!

And so it begins...August's fantastic adventure

January 17, 2010 - St. Louis, Missouri - Stars to the Rescue, a benefit concert for ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation). Dennis was scheduled to perform a 6 song acoustic set with his guitar player, Jimmy Leahey.

But he insisted that August come, too.

August met Jimmy and they had an instant rapport. His first show was a success...


Obviously I better come to a show and get some close-up pictures, eh?

Here is Dennis with Jonathan Cain from Journey. (Styx, Journey...two out of three tributes bands are represented right here!)

Jimmy, Suzanne (Dennis' wife of 40 years), Tony LaRussa (manages/owns? St Louis Cardinals), Dennis, and my happy, happy husband.

Did I mention happy, happy husband? And so...the journey begins....

He will be rockin' the paradise...stay tuned!

Welcome 2010

I am proud of my husband.

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2010 will be a big year for him musically. Playing music is his passion, it's been his paying hobby, but certainly he has always wished for it to be his livelihood.

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He's not quitting his day job, but he finally got a project where he can showcase his talents in a BIG way!

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He will be touring. He will be seeing cities he's never seen. He will be singing and playing guitar. (With a VERY accomplished singer/songwriter...I am in awe of the magnitude of this.)

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He will be awesome.

Ummm...it's almost Christmas and stuff

Each year, it's the same thing.

I swear I'l l be more on top of "it". Whatever "it" is. I'll buy presents earlier and smarter, I'll mail things earlier and smarter. I'll do more enjoyable things during the month to really soak in the season.

Yeah right.

I mailed two things today. Hope they get there by Thursday. I ordered my Christmas cards on Saturday morning. They won't get anywhere by Thursday. Good thing I said "Happy New Year" on them, too.

Working late the week before Christmas didn't help, either, and I've still got some shopping to do. My job sure did pick an inconvenient time to get all busy and stressful.

But we have enjoyed some things this season...Brooke was in a holiday show at school and August did sound for the performance AND played guitar on one song. She had a holiday party in her classroom. August flew to Chicago for his company party AND double-dipped by taking me to the LA office's party last Saturday. Kennedy baked cookies with Samantha yesterday, and hung snowflakes all over the living room last night to surprise me when I got home after working a little side gig taking pictures at a dance party (which I refuse to get into at this moment for fear of scaring you all. Let's just say...Hollywood is full of whackadoodles...and really super old whackadoodles make for quite an interesting dance party, although I will say that the woman who hosted the party is very lovely).

Ah, and the girls got to attend Kennedy's friend's ice skating holiday show, which they enjoyed!

But our tree has been up for weeks, presents are wrapped, the stereo is filled with Christmas CDs, Kennedy loves to light all the candles so the house glows....

We are ready for Christmas. (Almost...how late does Target stay open?)

Are you comfortable??

Clearly, at some point at the beginning of our relationship, the dog was misinformed.

Ahem.

Note the new Christmas-y blog background.

I was looking for a little blinky to replace the harvest leaf that had been on the right. I was looking for something to go with the Christmas-y.

But instead, I found that ===============^

Sometimes we need no words

That's all I have to say about that.

Halloween...and Disney Halloween Part III!

Good golly, it seems as if we are closer to Christmas than Halloween now! Yet, I still have lots to share.

And I miss October.

It was so fleeting, and it is my favorite.

We went to Disneyland TWICE...the second time, we park hopped from Disneyland...


...over to California Adventure, which was decorated with candy corns. Their decorations were beyond cute, I can barely stand it.

Ooooooh, churros....my favorite!

Guess what Brookie got THIS time!?

And then it came.

Halloween was here, and it was on a Saturday!

After our school's carnival, I brought home the fabric we use to decorate the pop-up tents so that I could wash it for next year.

Kennedy had the wise idea to use it to spruce up the house.

It was cool.

This is our newest dude. We usually like to add one thing per year!

Shai came over from across the street and helped us carve pumpkins in the yard.

They turned out cool!!

Brooke was a dead ballerina. Very scary indeed!

Kennedy was a fairy princess. Very beautiful indeed!

After going through our neighborhood, we headed over to our friend's. Josh was super scary. Brooke doesn't appear to be scared, actually.

Then we trick or treated Sydney's house at around 10 p.m.

And that, my friends, was that. Halloween 2009...out!

A Disney Halloween Part II

So, of COURSE the main reason for visiting Disneyland last month was to use our annual passes before they expired.

We went twice. The first time we went was just for the afternoon, and the primary purpose was to visit a part of the park I'd never ventured to.

Tom Sawyer's Island.


However, I think Disney feels that kids these days have no clue who Tom Sawyer is, so they covered his name with this...

It was way cool!!!!

There was lots to explore.

The girls climbed tree houses, and we went into caves.

Not sure what this thing was.

We found dead pirates along the way!

And treasure too!!

Walking along this path, one would never know one was at Disneyland.

Right across the water from the Haunted Mansion!

Halloween at Disneyland is the coolest.


Brooke really wanted one of these. The answer was no.

I love Disneyland!

Flying Fairies

Happy Halloween!

A Disney Halloween Part I

We went to Disneyland two weekends ago to enjoy the Halloween decor! (And to use our annual passes before they expired.)

It did not disappoint!



I couldn't have planned better fall pictures if I tried!!!