avalicious

I still remember you like this, in your Little Mermaid swim suit, following me around, absorbing all the sophistication a 10 year old had to offer. We watched Dirty Dancing for three days straight, which I never figured out why your parents allowed. (I'm smooth like that. You're welcome if I corrupted you!)

But Miss Kristin, I am so proud and thrilled to welcome Baby Ava! Gorgeous and perfect, just like her sister. I was on pins and needles all day yesterday as Bob was texting me updates, even as she drove to the hospital!

Seven pounds, ten ounces of perfection, and we are on our way. (Reilly is determined to come smuggle Natalie home in her suitcase, lol.)


Three beautiful ladies:



Now in the midst of all this bliss, I must caution both you Bobs: If someone doesn't have a boy soon, the population will cease to exist, lol.

I'm so proud of you kiddo, and so glad she's here. You are a rockstar, and all your bandmates are girls. :)

Welcome home Ava:

I'll keep my eye out for Little Mermaid swim suits...
♥♥♥

mahavelous

Man, you have to call pretty early to wake me up. It helps if you're from Egypt. It just so happens that my dear friend Maha is, and thus, awakened me the other day with an invitation to dine at the Otis Cafe the following afternoon. It's still a little surreal that she comes all the way from Egypt, eager to dine at our mutual favourite restaurant, in a town you can currently buy for like $800 I think.

I met Maha in Newport when we were 17. She was with her American host family and I served them a pizza. She was so lovely, so ambitious, spoke perfect English, and was interested in everything. We exchanged info and have been in touch off and on ever since.

"Yes! Otis Cafe tomorrow!"

She hasn't aged a day:


Not exactly a boon to the ego to pose with her, but ah well:


Maha and her sister Heba, whom I'd not previously met. Such wonderful women:


There is even less seating inside:


Long goodbyes in Otis = climb on your mom's car:


Too bad we couldn't all sit like this on the way home:


Somewhere, over that rainbow...

...just wait and see.

Thank you for the fabulous lunch dear friends, can't wait for to hear your voice again.

i ♥:

Tiramisu.
Eye glitter.
People who understand tonal nuance in text.
Hot hot hot washcloths at 4am, after taking a friend to the ER.
♥ZANE!♥
Urban Outfitters.
Todd's snap peas.
Reserved Redbox movies thankyouverymuch.
Chelsea Handler live!
Bypassing policies. ;)
Manic Cleaning Saturdays.
"Pass-me-downs." --Reilly.
Quinn's legs being exactly as long as mine. (!!!)
Iced tall Americanos in a Venti cup with extra ice and milk.
Hugging my mom.
The best compilation in the world.
Finding Law & Order: SVU marathons at 3am.
"ish"
Fall risks, and painting with them.
New coasters from Whole Foods.
Playing Wiffle ball in Target, knocking down a patio umbrella/getting it on video.
Finally getting into the shower.
Wire caddies.
"Red makes the world happen!"--Dyan.
Khloe.
Unexpected care packages that kick ass.
Quinn dancing. (Boy has skills!)
New tattoos.
"He's right behind you."
Manic Cleaning Saturdays.
Wifi.
Bashing the Pearls on facebook to a group of Texans, being cheered.
Realizing it's okay to say fuck around someone.
Darvocet.
Karma.
Feisty Gail.
Garage sales.
The KROC Center ate my kids.
Giving gifts.
Being vegan.
"I KNOW. !" When it was my blood, not yours!

Haiti Hope:

My new Starbucks Mason-like jars:

My kids' keys. (They've got serious places to go.):

My Gerbera, in the yellow pot Quinn bought me for Mothers Day:

Reilly clipping coupons every weekend:

Ha:


Yayse.
Jerk.
"I has da drugs." --Sumu.
Being the dare queen, making yous laugh, with minimal bone breakage. Taylor's got NOTHING!
SLAB soap with poppy seeds.
My new baby red ottoman for my room.
Reading four books at once.
The Gosselins. Shut it.
Having a high pain threshold.
Friday night dinners with Keagan.
Knowing what I know.
And this:

remembering

fox and hounds and sharks and gnomes

Pool night at the Fox and Hounds is educational. I learned there is absolutely no way to pretend you're good at pool. (I was hoping everyone was drunk.) Lesson #2: Turns out I got skills like that, so instead, Jess and I won. And I mean we killed.

The game is called Cutthroat.

They're a little lot conservative with their prawns, and will touch your cash and then your straw. I mean, a person notices this stuff prior to drinking.

Kyle is so cute I get extra credit for every ball I sank. He's no Maurice, but he is Scott. I'm sorry I keep calling him Justin. KyleKyleKyle...


KyleScottJustin cleaning up the table:


Ya think?


Somewhere in the haze: Jenna, Jess, and KyleScottJustin:


Debe and Jenna talking Mimi, parking, and the best way to get two blocks away:


Hoo.Fucking.Ray. Two blocks away turned out to be VooDoo Donuts, arguably the most hyped and undeserving donut haven anywhere. I realize that it's social suicide to admit that you don't love Elmer's Glue or whatever in your donuts, and the vegans are all doing back flips, but I'm not impressed. I require the sweet/savory experience to be in separate bites. Nyquil? Puh-leeze, omg. This place is basically The Emperor's New Clothes. Or the Segway. Or iPhone cameras for that matter. But Jennifer, this shot's for you:


Luckily there was a plain-ish one, with just a bit of cat litter or something similar to scrape off. Unluckily I left my $6.00 bottle of water behind. While we were saying our goodbyes, and Debe was holding the awkwardly huge box of a dozen let-me-downs, a gnome-looking guy came over as if we'd been waiting for him all night. Fortunately for my memoirs, though it sucked in the moment, he was a really loud close-talker. He gave a schpiel about how he's sure we've had bad experiences with homeless people, which personally, I have not, and that he's sorry for that. He's 63, and has never hurt anyone, and he's just hungry. Now, if we could spare even a dollar, he'd be much obliged, and if not, he'll walk away and won't bother us again. I mean, he was really close.

"So what's it gonna be?" He asked. I felt like he was trying to close a deal.

"Sorry man, all I have is a debit card." I replied.

(Pause for his face to turn bright red, at which point he punched the box of donuts as hard as he could, right in Debe's hands.)

"YOU HAVE A DOZEN DONUTS!"

I gulped for a second, because Debe is my most highly-trained spy, and I thought her Oakland reflexes might kick in. Alas, she was wearing a skirt, and had really good bangs, and was still holding the smashed donut box. So he got away.

Maybe we'll see him next time. (Turns out Todd liked the blueberry ones.) Whatever, as long as Kyle's there.