Am I Invited or Inviting?

We are merely days (18, or something) away from HP6 and I haven't heard anything about anything.

Why are there not:

Parties being planned?
Dinners being hosted?
Premier tickets being sold to me?

Come on, people. Am I going to have to organize this?

Fine.

Who wants to come?

I'll need to know numbers if I have to rent out an entire theater before the 15th.

Is it weird that I want to be her?

It's Been Real...Weird

I know he's been a bit of a freak for the past few, but seriously he was amazing.

I'm listening to Thriller and it's making it all better.

Cheer Camp

I teach a cheer camp every summer to little girls for an entire week.

Times 3.

While I won't admit to you whether or not I was a rah-rah ('cause most of you already know), I will say it's all the more hilarious to see 4-6 year olds being rah-rahs. (In case you didn't know, rah-rah - a.k.a cheerleader - was dubbed after the ever-famous: rah, rah, sis, boom, bah).

They discuss who has the best outfit (though they explain their best ones are usually at home for some reason). They discuss what moves they can do. Then they show me. Awesome. They tell me stories about their family - that I'm pretty sure their family wouldn't want told. Awesomer.

Did I mention:

I teach them in a squash court? Which echos like you wouldn't believe.

And rah-rahs YELL. A. LOT?

And 4-6 year olds have REALLY high-pitched yells?

And I can't hear anything except an obnoxious ringing?

They're really good at wearing me out. I'm ready for be at 7 every night. They're are 8 or 9 signed up for the class but only 5 have been showing up.

God's watching out for me.

Why won't anyone answer that phone?

It's Beginning

I'm already receiving money.

You in?

Texas Baseball

Three of his four coaches on Closing Ceremonies Day

Baseball was fun. Especially when we realized we hadn't gone over the fundamental rules of the game with Bradley. During his first game he tagged someone out with his glove as they ran by him heading for 3rd base.

Bradley didn't have the ball.

He seemed sincerely confused at why his "out" didn't count.

Ultimate Nursery

Just after the lesson and snack,


and right before singing time,


there's no-rules wrestling now in nursery.


Olivia's still learning to keep her fists up.

I'm just waiting for CPS to show up on my front door.
Thank goodness there were witnesses.

I'm not sure what the other kid looks like.
Really there was no wrestling, just a nasty collision.

Angela's Local Event

Isn't she beautiful (especially next to that freak
with the fake red hair impersonating Victoria)?

Angela is teaching yoga Monday and Thursday mornings at the M* Ranch Community Pool.

It's at 6 am.

You can pay her whatever you think she's worth (like a million bucks).

It's at 6 am.

I've taken her class. She's amazing.

Oh ya, it's at 6 am.

I can't afford a million bucks, so I'm bringing the change I find in my couch.

Did I mention it's at 6 [IN THE freaking MORNING!] am?

Well it is at 6. And I'll see you there (like in two days - mkay?).

Sorry to those who aren't local and can't take part
in such an amazing - though early - event.

Pre-K Graduation

Backtracking a bit.

Emmy "graduated" from preschool.

Now while it was all really adorable and everything, I kept hearing Craig Nelson's character saying, "They keep inventing new ways to celebrate mediocrity!"

I don't think you mediocre, Em. You're really special and stuff.

But they had real gowns for them all to wear, they called their names one by one, and there were musical numbers. Did I mention she's moving from one unnecessary school level to another (as far as I know Kinder is still not required, right?).

As I move onto the bigger picture here, I can't help but think of the kids' soccer team last season in which they all received trophies for.... winning? nope. trying hard? nope. showing up to the games/practices? nope.

paying the fee up front? yup.

What are we teaching these children?
That it's not necessary to try your hardest.
That winning isn't important (I know, "as long as you have fun..." blah blah)
That things like sportsmanship, grades, and effort don't really matter.
That you don't even have to cross the finish line to get something.
That as long as ma & pa pay the way, we can get the shiny gold thing at the end.

Not to shy away from Emmy's BIG moment. It was ... ahem ... neat. But I don't think every kid deserves that medal/trophy/diploma.

Am I just mean?
Give it to me. I can take it.

San Diego

Was ever so relaxing.

Steven had his annual PA conference in San Diego (it's a new city every year). And since his company pays for him to go, we decided to make a vacation out of it and trick his parents into watching the kids.

It worked like a charm. (We're so sneaky!)

Steven and I had never been to San Diego together. So, besides making time for his classes, we made time for other stuffs, too.

Such as:

We made it to this place the night we got in. The first time for both of us to be inside this amazing building. Though this picture makes it look like it belongs on the set of Dark Crystal. Not that I know what that movie is.

Did a little surfing. Well, he did. I tried and failed once a long time ago.
Not ready for that again.
Maybe after I train for that triathlon I'm doing never.


We got to hang out with cool people like this.


I had to save Eli from a rabid parrot.

Us on one of the balconies at the conference center in the gas lamp district.

We made time to attend an ever-so important Padres vs Cubs game.


Hotel del Coronado


Our hotel had these awesome fire pits our on the pool deck.

We had breakfast right on the shore.

I pretended like I missed work and all of my piano students.
(It's a treble clef for you music illiterate)

And for kicks, we wrastled a giant squid for Bradley. It won.

So here's a shout out to Dwight & Ruth for making this happen.
You guys rock more than you know!