Lasagna, Cannoli, Peroni, OhMy!

This past Friday marked our annual pilgrimage to my favorite summer festival: Holy Rosary's Italian Street Festival!!!

This year we ate: lasagna, spaghetti & meat balls, bread sticks, salad, a meatball sub, more bread sticks, chocolate cake, cannoli and many, many, many Peroni.

We danced. A Lot. In fact I don't think Sophie held still once all night. She DID manage to pour half a bottle of water all over both my mom and my dad in two separate flooding incidents, but due to the 90+ degree heat, everyone dried pretty quickly...

All the usual suspects were there, sans Sr.Rita who was off recovering from hip surgery, so my menu was sadly lacking in Kojacks. Other than that? A perfect night...

And this year...because our evening out landed on Mr. Man's actual sixth birthday...we even rode the teacups. So I'm practically mom of the year. Because I really hate those things.

 

 

 

+1 to a Groomsman

+1 Twitter Jag.

 

I was a 'plus one' at the wedding of a very good friend of Mr. Handsome's this weekend.

 

And, rather than wax poetic about the beautiful evening or the absolutely gorgeous bride, I instead submit for your approval the various tweets and texts and half-blurred phone-camera shots I indulged in all evening (and the following day)... Because, frankly, that's much more fun when you're flying solo for half the evening...

 

 

 

Mr. Handsome's 'roll dog' is getting married today. He's a groomsman. I'm a #plus1

 

Outdoor wedding...and my dress is already sticking to me. #plus1

 

My dress? It has pockets. Why yes. yes I am rather badass.

 

I've got an empty seat on either side of me. I must have cooties.

 

Annnnd I just got my first pity smile. #plus1

 

I love little old men in suspenders... #plus1 

 

Why don't I own more teal shoes and get more pedicures? I feel like I own the world right now. And I don't even LIKE feet.

 

God they're so young. Was I ever this young? #plus1

 

Groomsmen just rolled up to the ceremony in golfcarts. Love it. My boyfriend is dead sexy in aviators. 

 

Groomsmen+aviators+golf carts. Sharp dressed man? Yes please. #plus1

Walking into a room full of people is never harder than when you don't know a single oneof them #plus1

 

Vodka tonic is my best friend #plus1

 

What is it about wedding receptions that make it socially acceptable to go to the bar before saying hello to anyone? That IS socially acceptable right? shit. 

It was not difficult to pick out the soldiers at the reception. It was difficult to say hello. I'm such a weenie. #plus1

 

 

Buffets ARE my friend... #plus1

 

Do you think it would be wrong to drag my date into the coat closet and take advantage of him at a wedding where he's a groomsman? They wouldn't miss him would they?

 

The toilet seat...after several drinks...is MUCH lower than expected. #plus1

 

I think I've run gouges into my head from stupid bobbypins. WHY did I think putting my hair up for a wedding was a good idea? Lazy hair is so much more comfortable. How long do I wait to take my hair down? 15 mins? Too soon?

Bride has one of those fantastically frothy princess-skirts on. I wonder how you pee with any less than three attendants in one of those? #plus1

 

I think there are elephants line dancing in the ballroom above us. No lie. If I die from falling ceiling tiles tonight tell everyone I want balloons at my funeral, k? 

 

Photo booths are fun! #plus1 

 

Oh dancefloor...you can be so cruel to the uninitiated... #plus1

 

Okay. If I ever get married again (yeah I'm giggling at that too. s'ok) remind me that I thought photo booths at the reception were awesome. because I may not remember that tomrrow...

Mr. Handsome has MOOOOOVES! Who knew? #plus1

 

 

And the party's moved on...pool tables here we come #plus1

 

@aaimers do share, sweets... how's the Piper tonight?

There's something immensely satisfying about watching two guys play pool. #plus1

 

@davedbythebell: duh. Did Roadhouse teach us nothing but how to jump from an open barn loft?

 

Silver Lining: I've learned how to do pull tabs one handed... #plus1

 

 

There's something sweet & exhausting about watching a couple share a smoke... #plus1 

Taco Bell drive thrus... how did we ever survive without them? #plus1

 

Instant coffee single serve packets are NOT real coffee...it's a conspiracy

They have grape Nehi AND cheerwine?! ♥

Warm sun + bbq + full belly = food coma... Perfect day to be a #plus1

 

Mr. Man Grows Up.

Mr. Man lost BOTH his bottom front teeth this weekend.
One in a somersault incident and the other mysteriously at his Dad's...possibly in his sleep?
Regardless he know has a brand new, hastily constructed Monster Tooth Pillow. And apparently the Tooth Fairy doesn't make change at dad's house...so two bottom teeth = $5.00.
Crap. The Tooth Fairy here needs to step up her game I guess?

Also, he turned SIX.
And that's quite old enough, thankyouverymuch. He can stop growing up any time now.

Rivers and Roads...Rivers and Roads...Rivers til I reach you

Sometimes I lie awake at night

And you feel oceans away

And I'm so calloused over and criss-crossed in scar tissue I don't know how to reach out my hand when I want you...next to me...

 

Tater-Tot Playlist

An open letter to the music staff at Daily Candy:
Thank you.
Because Radio Disney and the Justin Beiberpalooza 24/7 has made me grind my teeth to the point where i have staggering headaches. And because I'm starting to fear that the stubborn streak in my daughter extends to automatically disliking any music that I queue up...but these tunes seem to have gained her general nod of approval. Not only do you offer me crazy tips and shopping spurs, but now you offer me kidstuff like crazy cool toys & gifts and download-me playlists. I thank my lucky stars I found you.
Rock On, IttyBitties. Rock. On.

Sincerely,

The one staunching the bleeding in her ears.

Thao and the Get Down - "Bag of Hammers"

sounds like... Feist


The Devil Makes Three - "The Plank"

sounds like...an early, cleaner Tom Waits


Kimya Dawson - "I Like Giants"

sounds like...Ani DiFranco, They Might Be Giants, and the entire movie 'Juno'


The Apples in Stereo - "Energy"

sounds like...John Lennon, Pavement, The Kinks

[see also "Dance Floor" feat: Elijah Wood. Pretty cute]

 
Vampire Weekend - "Holiday"

sounds like...The Clash, Paul Simon, The Police

*caveat - I already KNEW my kids adored Vampire Weekend. We've been having living room dance parties to their stuff for years.


The Dino 5 - " I May Be Big and Scary (but I Am Really Pretty Nice)"

sounds like...Prince Paul, Digable Planets
*One of the few on this list that's actually a kids-music-band; I wouldn't mind if this hip-hop supergroup got stuck on repeat for a few times.

Flobots - "Handlebars"
If you like: The Roots, Eminem
*caveat - I'm not actually sure anyone but Mr. Man would actually like this...but it balances out the playlist nicely. It can't all be sunshine & puppies, kids.



Passion Pit - "Sleepyhead"
sounds like...The Flaming Lips-ish. It's kid-friendly electronic indie-pop.

Zee Avi - "Bitter Heart"
sounds like...Brett Dennen, Jack Johnson
Caveat: we've had this one for a while too...but only because it was a freebie from Starbucks at one point. See? Big Corporate Coffee is good for something because my caffeine fix. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.

Daniel Martin Moore - "The Hour of Sleep"
sounds like...Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley lite
*I wouldn't mind falling asleep to this myself...

Camp Log: Day One

Summer Camp Log :: Day 1

Drop off Day

Last Night we laid out shorts and Tshirts and socks and tiny cartooned undies in little clothing people on the floors of their rooms. Like the red dust came and swept them away.

We put pool towels and bathing suits in backpacks, and I put water bottles in the freezer. We labeled EVERY freaking thing they could find with black sharpie. Monkey even brought me a few random toys and tags to label with her name just so she didn't feel left out.

Today was the first day of Summer Camp. And, despite our pre-first-day-prepwork, we were late.

Awesome.

Isabelle quite literally bounded out the car door this morning, eager to see which of her friends returned to camp this year. Mr. Man, though, looked like he swallowed something sour. He looked up at me and we made eye contact in the rear view mirror for a second as he started to open his car door. It was like a kick in the gut, the flash of stark fear I saw there for a split second.

"Mom?" he asks

"Yeah, sweets?"

"It's gonna be a good day, don't worry." And then he smiled and hopped out of the car.

Like I'M the one freaking out? Okay. Yeah. Maybe.
I feel like we've hit so many "firsts" this year with that guy. And despite the crazy attitude and angry outbursts from time to time; He's maturing into someone that, even at five years old, keeps one eye trained on his sisters at all times, stands up for them fiercely to the neighborhood kids, and reassures ME when he's worried about something.

 

Now, don't be fooled, there are times I very literally quake in terror at the thought of The Munchkins as teenagers; Little Adults. But this side of him? The protective side? It makes me look forward to meeting an adult version of this little man...

New Music Monday...er...Wednesday

so good. so very very good.

The Head and the Heart

(out of  Seattle)