Milo's 4th

Look what Auntie Kelly made!

Look what I made! Being a school night, I made easier cupcakes with toothpick designs. He loved them.
Milo's friends and teachers at his preschool are so generous. They celebrate each child's birthday to whatever level they choose. We are mild. Cupcakes, gift bags and that's it. We save the other activities for our friend party on the weekend. No matter what level you are, gifts come home. Milo loved all his stuff. Some things were great, and others caused melt downs out of frustration. One such meltdown came from a mighty morphin power ranger. Those are made by the devil. Don't bring them into you home or give them to your worse enemy. It honestly made me think I was someones worst enemy, but of course I don't know these moms and dads and my son is not a biter or hitter. Most likely they just wanted to get it out their home, but the trash is a better resting place. Thankfully, Milo has agreed that is does have a lot of pieces and he cannot have it until he is 8. You may think he won't remember, but that kid has a hell of a memory. He really does have amazing interpersonal skills for remembering people. I'm so proud of this skill/talent/intelligence. Until then, we love the new Thomas Ferris wheel!

4!

This morning, when Milo woke up I asked him, "Milo do you know what you are today?" Puzzled he asked, "What?" I replied, "You're four." He jumped up from bed, went over to the mirror and said, "Let's see." After giving himself a hard look he said, "No mommy. You're still bigger."

We had a fun party at an indoor play room with great friends.

Boys and a Baby

This is Milo's best buddy from school.

There were seven little guys and one baby girl- Sofia was so calm next to these yelling, bouncing, chasing boys.

Cake!

Yes, I made these cakes. I did use a box mix for the cake because I have yet to find a mix that didn't taste like sawdust. I tried an organic box mix, and it was sawdust too! So, I used Duncan Hines, yum. However, the icing, stress and anxiety were all natural homemade. That's the thing about making something really special like this, it comes at a price. Milo watched a lot of extra TV and Lyman got more than my usual dose of nagging resentment. He was trying to make snacks, I was icing like a maniac and it was nutty. At one point Lyman said, "It's Kitchen Stadium in here!" And it was. That will be a funny memory. BTW his hummus, salsa and guacamole were excellent!


After he blew out the candles, he was so proud of himself. He told a friends, "I did it myself this time!" Milo kept reminding us that he wanted to eat Spiderman's head. He ate the whole head.

Friends

Carrie and Jenny

Sofia perked up with her Daddy Ivan, after a little nap.

Sofia with Lesli

The party assistants packed up all Milo's gifts in a large trash bag (rain? ready trash bag after opening? either way, very nice idea) but it made Milo very anxious. He kept asking over and over as we said goodbye to our guests where his gifts had gone. He got so many lovely new things to wear and play with. Thanks everyone!

crazy kids

February is always tough to judge weather wise. You saw my post last week at the sunny park, well this weekend was the opposite with cold drizzling rain. I was so happy to have the party indoors where the kids could run, play and be dry.

Jumper

This video was taken about 10 minutes before the party ended. Obviously, no one lost steam! Our friend Steve is really tall, and we were all raptly watching to see his head go through the ceiling tiles! One kid got bounced too much of course and tears followed (most moms I know hate these things) all the kids were quick to point to Steve and say he did it. Nice.

Goodbye

After 10 years of Los Angeles living, Jenny and her family are moving back to the east coast. I'm really happy for her, but also selfish in my own sadness of loss. I have known this was coming for a long time, but that didn't make the job resignation, house sell and moving van booking easier. I'm ok now, all cried out. Maybe. They don't leave for a few more days. However, those days will be full for her, so we have had our hugs. Last weekend, we had a girls night. Very fun. Wish we'd had more.
And today we had out last play date- at least for now. Another favorite Jenny came with her two boys, and they had a blast chasing one another. Lyman came to chase and be chased; we let him while we hung out and chatted. I'm going to miss them so much. I love her. I love those girls. I love that they love me and Milo. I can't imagine anyone else who can or will fill this hole. I guess I'm not all cried out.

Finale

After the group photo session, things kind of fell apart. There was an attempt at silly faces, but mostly kids just wanted to go home and have dinner and promised ice cream.

Asthma Sucks

Look at little Milo; isn't he a trooper? The new year brought the Santa Anna winds, pollen, pollution and whatever shit in the air that makes poor Milo cough and loose oxygen from wheezing. So, now we have this nebulizer for stronger, faster acting meds. We were giving it 4x a day and are down to once; a huge improvement. It terrifies me, but I am ever vigilant. We thought about having the "official" allergy tests- blood or pin pricks, but aren't going to. At his age, it's traumatic and most likely will read only a false negative. What would we do anyway? Move? Can't. Kick out old, failing health dog? Won't. I am already doing the recommendations for asthma sufferers, except take away his teddy bear. I can't bear that. How many dust mites do you think live in his teddy bear?

January Book Review

I just finished "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" this week. It's next month's book club selection, and I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time now that school is in full crazy swing. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, as I could not put this book down. It's the story of this girl who can taste the feelings of the people who prepared the food she eats. Turns out to be a real curse since most food preparation people, like me, are not super warm and loving when making food. When I told Lyman about this plot element, he called it a total rip off of this comic book "Chew"
I have not read "Chew" yet, but Lyman says it's a futuristic story where chicken is illegal and the FDA is now the CIA, or vice versa. There do seem to be some similarities with the food idea, but my novel is really not about her food abilities, but about the family. The story very thoughtful about the abilities we are given and what we choose to do with them.
Cake was obviously a connector in book selection. This book was a book club suggestion (we have books to discuss and others just as recommendations/suggestions). Another super quick read by a sharp, snarky young writer. At first I thought her essays would only appeal to 30ish women as there is a lot of mention of scrunchies and caboodles, but the final essays get better and for a more general audience, of snarky, smart asses that is. A few sections were right from my heart...
"(He) is the worst kind of asshole they make- the kind who is completely oblivious to how he sounds, the kind who is impossible to argue with because he doesn't allow for a worldview outside of his own." (p. 195)
Right? Right.
also...
"I had given blood before, but never to a nurse at a blood doctor's office. It was like having that first sip of good vodka and tasking hints of what it is all the crappy vodkas are trying for. They painlessly filled four different vials..." (p. 220)
Amen. There is no one more amazing to me in the health field than a skilled phlebotomist. The first great one I met was actually named Velvet. She make my life so much better. Thankfully, I am off my meds and have no more monthly blood tests, but I will never forget her. No pain, no bruises. Sweet.
Finally, if you have some free time, you may want to check out "Freedom." A lot has been said about this book last year. It's environmental, political, social- whatever. It's about a family. In the more than 550 pages, not one character is likable but he keeps you turning the pages to see if it could possibly get worse or if it could possibly get better after all the harm they have done to one another.
What are you reading? Any suggestions for my book club?