Baseball Birthday for Addie

Last Tuesday Lauren's friend Addie turned four and all of the families celebrated her party with a baseball game and pizza. It was mostly for the kids at first and Jon helped Lauren hit the ball and run from base to base. Sometimes I caught a glimpse of Lauren dangling in the air by her arm as her competitive daddy ran the bases for her (the arm thankfully stayed in socket). Then in the out field if it was a kids turn to bat, Lauren would get to run the ball to first base for an out. She thought it was pretty fun and especially loved playing with Daddy. Rissie and Mommy cheered, but we weren't very good cheerleaders. I didn't see Jon bat once. I would turn my head to chat or get Rissie and look up and he would already be on base. Apparently, he was quite the hitter that night - surprising even himself. Go Jon! Later the kids smacked the princess pinata, which Lauren has been trying to do onehanded lately (?), and finished with some cake. What a fun night.
(I didn't mention KAS's (4yr) birthday party - probably cuz I forgot the camera :) but we had a lot of fun at Peter Piper's the week before. Lots of kids getting older around here!

I FINISHED - NEED MORE!

So I finished my book list yesterday, (Horray!) and am taking suggestions for what I should read in 2008 from anyone willing to give them. I've heard A LOT about the Twilight Series, so that will certainly join my list, but I'm sure there are plenty of other great ones out there. Just post me a comment if you have a suggestion or two! :) Thanks.

I've been attacked by a cockroach

So winter is pretty much a dead season for cockroaches and naturally I've had my radar off. Well, last night as I was all but naked as I hadn't put my PJ's on yet I reached into my nightstand drawer and grabbed something out. Immediately the giant critter ran across the side of my palm sending me into instant and uncontrollable hysterics. My arms started flailing and I was completely unaware of where my jumping legs were taking me, not to mention whatever I had in my hand was now flung across the room. Still frantically screaming I found that IT WAS STILL ON ME dangerously on my left hip ready to scurry up under my garment top. I had to gain enough control of my limbs to fling it off. So with what remaining consciousness I had left I swiped it off. I hopped onto my bed and burried my face into my hands trying to catch my breath while I watched Jon terminate my attacker with a shoe. I listened for the girls as I was certain that my screams had woken the entire neighborhood, but to my amazed relief they hadn't stirred. Still in a bit of a shock of this disruptive episode I half laughed half cried knowing I wasn't going to get a wink of sleep...I tell you this story this morning with the report of accurate predictions and a sleepless headache.

The image you see here is considerably larger than the actual perp.

Downtown Excersion....and beyond.

Jon didn't have school on Friday, so we finally made our way downtown to visit the sites and market. The old churches there are fascinating, and the grounds are very pretty. Minus the skyscrapers, it reminds me a lot of Boston with the open plazas and tall iron lampposts.

We stopped at San Juan de Dios, which is a big "fancy" market. There are three or four floors filled with jewelry or materials to make jewelry that are built with hundreds of booths made of brass, marble and glass. The cases are lit up to make the diamonds and gems sparkle and shine. It's quite different from most of the "markets" we have seen here. Especially compared to the Black Market that we found just after leavning there. This was quite an experience! It was three stories of a dark PACKED market filled to the rim of one little tienda after the next with nothing more than a two by four dividing them. The bottom level was mostly souvenire trinkets and dried beans, the next level up was filled with watches, jewelry, sunglasses, pirated DVD's, toys, and taco huts. Each level up seemed to get darker, dirtier, tighter, and scarier. By the time we reached the top I had permanently fixed Lauren's hand in mine probably leaving an imprint. Jon could barely push the stroller through some of the isles. It reaked of smoke and the floors were FILTHY!! We didn't finish looking. Jon and I looked at each other and agreed that we had better get the girls out of there. The girls get a lot of attention most places we go but here it's like they were being eyed as future murchandise!

Notice the lamp posts?This fountain would shoot in the air and stop, then fall while the next spray errupted.

Complete with pigeons.

Lauren helps with pie dough.

Cuz Daddy loves me.

We were all heading out the door and I quickly added some eyeliner and mascara. Lauren, was watching and asked, "Mom, you draw on youself?" then continued, "Oh no, Mom! - you don't draw on your eyeball!"
We took care of a couple of errands then on our way to McDonald's I asked Lauren if she knew where we were, hoping to see if she recognized her surroundings. She nodded her head and smiling said, "We're going to the SLIDE!" I was impressed, but just to be sure I asked how she knew. She confidently replied, "Cuz Daddy loves me!"

Days with my girls

Louski loves to help Mommy clean up, especially mopping.
When Rissie is done eating she cleans her hands with her hair.
Her favorite part of mopping.
Rissie LOVES sweet potato casserole! (and getting her pic. taken.)

Hoping you are all this happy. SMILE

Thanks Bean