mini-martha

Guess who is learning how to cook and really, really likes it?  Not me! I'm still learning how to cook and I absolutely DON'T like it, but Sophie is in a culinary arts class at school and is becoming quite impressive running around our kitchen.  She's made chocolate cake cookies at least 4 times, french toast one day after school and will make spaghetti tonight for dinner.  Oh, heaven, I couldn't be more excited.  At least someone in this house will bring something delicious to our bellies.  

Some SNL Pics

 Sadly, this post will be a little disappointing in the picture department.  Doug's camera ran out of batteries saturday afternoon so we plugged it in only to find out as we were sitting at dinner that the outlet we used wasn't working and the camera died before we could even get to NBC studios. (so much for sneaky pics.) I stole most of these from our friend Vince's Facebook.  
The trip was pretty amazing, though. Will do a quick wrap up of everything in the morning. Right now...so tired.

P.s. doug met and exchanged emails with Jorma. He's a tiny guy.

The Pre-SNL Dinner at The Eatery. We may be a little too excited. 
 The whole gang
Doug keeping an eye on Ahna
The SNL stage

Looking at the audience from the stage.  We were the second row, seat 3 and 4. 
Doug with Jason from SNL and Vince.  

Two fun bits before the week ends.

First, My sister kelly had a new baby boy on the 12th. She named him Elliot David and he's so very cute with a full head of medium blond hair. She has a little video on her blog of him getting cleaned up and that newborn cry makes me almost wish Penny was still that small. almost.  Congrats to the Ortons. He's just so yummy....

And Second, Doug and I are going to New York for the weekend. Well, for about 36 hours anyway. He got tickets to a taping of Saturday Night Live so we're taking the Red Eye friday night and will turn around and come back Sunday night. Not a ton of time, but i'll take it. Plus, i think our tickets include the after party so i'll try and get some sneaky pics of any note worthy celebs. Anyone remember Jorma from Awesometown?  I think he's going be there. Rock on! 

Anyway, Grandma Chamberlain just happened to be available this weekend so she's here holding down the fort.  Thanks, Grandma!

Great Quote of the Day

I like this. Too many folks in Hollywood just DON'T (ha ha) see things this way.

From Artist Kiki Smith:
"You always have to be shifting what your idea of beauty is to make your life wonderful. Like your skin starts hanging off your arms and stuff, and then you have to think, well that’s really beautiful too. It just isn’t beautiful in a way that I knew it was beautiful before."

via evajorgensen

Bring on the Fall Weather

I love good weather! It has been about 80 degrees the last few days with a nice breeze and it just makes me want to sit on our front lawn all day. The grass itself is patchy and weird but it doesn't even matter. At least we now have a place to plunk down and let the sun soak into our skins. This is after school yesterday and even though i look mad in this photo, I'm actually really, really happy it's not hot anymore.

This is the letter Owen left for the tooth fairy after he lost his last two teeth. It says: Dear Tooth Fairy, I love you so much. You're the best. I lost two teeth this week but i can only find one. Please give me double the money. Love, Owen (The picture at the bottom is the tooth fairy coming while Owen is asleep with his tooth under his pillow. Don't you love the wings?)


It's not surprising that Sophie had a hand in this one and when the tooth fairy came that night he got a total of 3 dollars. 1.50 for each tooth. But I guess the tooth fairy didn't have time to go to the bank before she hit our house because he got 2 dollars and 10 dimes and that didn't even remotely make sense to him that he got 1.50 each. There weren't any quarters!! Anyway, it was all crazy and funny and i think from now on T. Fairy should take the tooth and leave 25 cents, just like the old days.

And these are just some penny pics. She got a new crib and we finally got to put up the bedding that Jessica sent to my house, like, 2 years ago. (It was meant for her baby but i sort of comandeered it. Doesn't she look so happy?

And this is just Penny eating her foot. she's been doing that a lot lately.

Party Pics

Coupla mob bosses in the cab en route.

Sassy Bart and Robyn whooping it up

Michael Buble was the musical guest. Apparently he just finished his performance.

Dougy looking super cute with some dude I don't know

I know, nice cleave shot. But it's sort of the only one of the Birthday girl.

Some sassy ladies watching a bday tribute and a little dude picking his nose in the bottom left corner.

Last to Jump On the Bandwagon

I've got to be. Across the Universe came out in 07 and i'm not sure what i was doing but I totally missed this movie during it's high time. It's even a musical which is right up my alley! I watched it on Starz last night and absolutely loved it. Might not be a movie recommendation for the Grandmas, but the fresh faces on the screen and all the reworked Beatles music was just incredible. I made the kids listen to this version of "I want to hold your hand" probably 5 times yesterday. Love it. Ok, so she's singing to another girl but I didn't tell them that.

Roaring 20's

Doug has been gone all week. I still hate being here by myself but i'm getting used to it. He was shooting a commercial in Maryland and then got a last minute invite to his friend's 21st birthday party in New York. So he took the train last night and is now trying to figure out what to wear. It's Black Tie Formal, Roaring 20's! How much fun is that going to be. I'll have to post pics when he gets back.

Tell me you were watching...

when Sarah Palin blew the roof off of the convention center last night! Woo hoo, Go Sarah. I actually cried when she was talking about her new baby and the message to families of kids with special needs. That little dude is YOUNGER than Penny.

Anyway, she's rad. A great face for feminism and a huge burst of energy for politics.

A weekend with Grandma

What a surprise. We needed a visitor and Grandma Terrie happened to be available. Sweet! She came and took over the kitchen making Rice Pudding, Cinnamon rolls, Sunday dinner, everything. She even won over Penny on the first day, not first meeting, but first day. Not bad.  

Check out these sweet pics of Gma on the trampoline. She showed Sophie tricks she learned in middle school.  Doug was kind enough to continually remind her how long ago she was in middle school and just how old that makes her now.  She took him down in the front yard in response.  Old.  pfffpfpf!  

After grandma left on Monday we took off to the beach with Bart and Robyn and all the ninos.  We ate some incredible fish and chips and marveled at how there are 10 of us now when we all get together.  After that we took doug to the airport and then finally headed home where we all crashed in the same bed, Penny included.   This meant that I was up at 5:40 without a real place to sleep, but I wouldn't have it any other way when it's just the 4 of us.

Other than that, I finally decided to watch the news again.  Sarah Palin brought me back from my summer long hiatus and I can't wait to see how she affects the presidential race.  pregnant teenage daughter and all.  Although, i do agree that kids of nominees should be off limits.    

Just some pics of Owen and our cute neighbor, Chloe. 

OH!! Check out the new hole in Owen's smile.  It was seriously dangling by a thread for DAYS and Sophie finally got it out. 

Look at our pretty Penny. She's sitting up! (well, for a few short minutes anyway)