MusicMonday—Que Lio

Hey, I have a new favorite song.  It’s been our cool down song at Zumba lately and every time I’ve been hearing it, it has just got under my skin more and more.  Last week, I tried to find what it even was called using Sound Hound on my phone, but it couldn’t pick it up well enough in the huge room, I guess, so no success.  Then out in the van, I actually sang in the one phrase I knew from it ~“ayudame”~ and SoundHound right away produced a song title.  Cool!  The resulting song was called “Corazon” and immediately I found it and played it, and quickly realized, nope, it was not the right song.  Apparently, ayudame, Spanish for help me as all of us age-of-Dora parents would know, is not that rare of a lyric.  So then last Friday I simply walked up to the best Zumba teacher in the world, Heather, to ask what it was called and she said some phrase in Spanish that I didn’t quite catch, but it helped that she added the song was a remake by Marc Anthony and from the soundtrack of El Cantante.  With that info, I found my song.  The movie came out in 2007 with Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez as the main characters in a life story of Hector Lavoe, then man who started the salsa movement in 1975 and brought it to the United States.

This is all so déjà vu.  Even more, it is almost exactly a year ago that it happened last time. 

I am not a fan of Marc Anthony and, not to sound judgmental, but I could never quite understand JLo’s attraction to him or figure just who would buy his line at Kohl’s, but this song…well, it like it a bunch.  I listened to the original by Hector, also, and yeah, Marc’s version of “Que Lio” is the one.  

Good Morning

Yea today

First off, I started my day with a new pair of contacts in, so that made it already a special day.  I didn't realize just how much I needed to swap them out until I noticed how great the leaves were looking on the way to the bus stop.  New contacts make the overall day so much brighter.

Then, since today was a free day for me--finally-- I got into town this morning and got a hair cut; the last time was in July so I was def overdue.  And the thing is, it's pretty much the same length as when I went in (so no need to panic, Gar), only now it's shaped up and a far better color, pretty much a match to my natural color all over. Such a relief to get my summer beachy-bleachy highlights covered and the old ends off.  Then I popped into Kohls to do a return, got a Philly at Arby's, and am now about to go mow the pasture which crazily enough makes me really happy. Gotta say, it's a great day!

And btw, everything's cool with us.  I just haven't had a chance to blog and besides that, we are out of bandwidth for the month so that's why the phone post today.  Come this weekend, though, we will be back to fully charged on the home 'puter so I'll post what all's been happening at our house.

MusicMonday--Eskimo

It’s Monday and I’m thinking of my favorite song, at least my favorite at this point in time, say for the past two weeks.  It’s a great one because it’s older Chilis (w/ John and that equals musical genius) and kinda mysterious because you can not buy it on iTunes and it is definitely not in the popular rotation on the radio.  It was a b-side to Fortune Faded (2003).  B-side, now that’s something you don’t much hear anymore.   

I love it and my only way of hearing it is on YouTube. Here, I’ll share with you.

Fun Day

Yesterday I woke up with a plan to go do something fun, just the littles and me, since the big boys were off camping.  Some of us had to be convinced it would be more fun than they were already having on Saturday morning:

Once convinced, we hopped in the:

It was a beautiful, perfect day weather-wise, but still some dressed like:

 

Along the way, we were amused by:

Until we sat in gridlock with our final destination in sight:

 

But first, we were hungry for lunch, so we went here on The Landing where they specialize in aged pasta production:

And I learned I do not specialize in phone photography:

And Caroline was looking all:

And by now, Sam was a happier camper, um, biker:

Then we made it to the:

 

It was the first time for these two, that they could remember anyway:

 

Seems as though Sam lost his neck while looking up:

And this is what happens when you are under it at 1:20 p.m.:

 

Sam was hesitant about the ride up, but did fine and we looked for our house on this side:

Excitement included seeing this, don’t know what it was—some building, but it was a big, unusual thing to be seeing on the river:

We did not, however, catch the elephant show.

[Back story:  For years, Gary has had (or at least has tried to have) Caroline thinking helicopters drop elephants down to the top of the Arch.]

Then we were walking around on the beautiful Arch grounds when I asked Caroline to stop for a picture and she instantly posed like this high school senior:

 

Girl likes the camera, for sure.  More playing around:

  

And then they walked on hand-in-hand like the sweetest brother/sister duo in the world and it totally melted this mom’s heart:

Great day, St. Louis!

A boy and his new bike

Sam gets up early just to have time for his bike riding before school. And look, the tiger helmet homemade stripes still survive, Ross and Gary, you doubters you.   It's been a year.

Sam—A Real Piece of Art

 

Sam, the first grader, recently brought this interesting exercise home.  He said they listened to music and each student created a picture that he thought represented what they were hearing.  Sam told me the songs he heard were like:

 

1)  a ghost in a cage

2)  a ballerina

3) a floating lollipop

4) a piano floating on water with coconuts falling from the sky.

I like that!  Pretty perceptive, I thought.

----------------------------------------

And this self-portrait was apparently from the start of school as the kids introduced themselves and provided info to get to know each other.  Not saying he has body dysmorphic disorder, but maybe some slight inaccuracy in his body image?  Read on.

My favorite color:  Green

I love to:  play Lego Indyana Jonse

My favorite animal is a:  dog

My friends like me because I:  donte now

I think I am a:  TAN  PERSON  (????!!!!)

I am pretty good at:  Lego Indyana Jonse.

A tan person.  Really?  Look at this skin tone.

This is his “tan” at the end of summer.  Those arms and legs, the face-- I’d say he is a GLOWING person.  

And yikes, not sure just what that’s all about, wearing the headband to school, but he does make a statement.  I’m afraid it’s probably “Yes, please, pick on me.”  

And the little yellow sticker on the STOP sign?  The print is so fine from this distance. I’ll read it for you.  It says:

bad headbands now!

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Honestly, raising four kids is exhausting, and expensive, not to mention how you have four times the guilt when you ruin their lives, but in my opinion, the real advantage of having all these kids…. you get at least one full-fledged laugh out loud crack up on a daily basis and that keeps life pretty fun. 

MovieMonday—Dumb & Dumber

Guess what we watched yesterday, a movie within my Top 5 All Time Faves!  If I had more time to think on it, I might even move it up into the Top 3, but I don’t think I want to get that bold on a Monday morning without pondering it thoroughly.  Here are just a few reasons why I love it and it makes me laugh so hard.

 

Sorry if you are not a fan.  This will seem like a big waste of space to you, but au contraire.

I think it means you need to watch it again and catch all of these.

Harry: Hi, Lloyd.
Lloyd: Hi, Harry.
Harry: How was your day?
Lloyd: Not bad. Fell off the jet way again.

 

Harry: It gets worse. My parakeet, Petey.
Lloyd: Yeah?
Harry: He's dead.
Lloyd: Oh, man, I'm sorry. What happened?
Harry: His head fell off.
Lloyd: His head fell off?
Harry: Yeah. He was pretty old.

Harry: Skis, huh?
Beth: That's right!
Harry: Great! They yours?
Beth: Uh-huh.
Harry: Both of 'em?
Beth: Yes.
Harry: Ah... cool

 

Harry: I don't know, Lloyd. These places always seem to bring back a lot of bad memories.
Lloyd: What's the matter, Har? Some little filly break your heart?
Harry: No, it was a girl.

 

Harry: Yeah, I called her up. She gave me a bunch of crap about me not listening to her, or something. I don't know, I wasn't really paying attention.

 

Harry: According to the map, we've only gone 4 inches.

State Trooper: Pull over! Harry: No, it's a cardigan but thanks for noticing.

Harry: What's her last name? I'll look it up.
Lloyd: You know, I don't really recall. Starts with an S! Let's see. Swim? Swammi? Slippy? Slappy? Swenson? Swanson?
Harry: Maybe it's on the briefcase.
Lloyd: Oh, yeah! It's right here.
Lloyd: Samsonite! I was way off! I knew it started with an S, though.

 

Man: They're driving an '84... Sheepdog.

Lloyd: Wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world?

^^Gary’s favorite line and sound to imitate and it is truly the most annoying sound in the world, probably universe.  Thanks, Jim Carrey.

Lloyd: [to motorcycle cop] Tic-Tac, sir?

 

Harry: (learning Lloyd traded the van for a minibike) Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!

 

Lloyd: I get 70 miles to the gallon on this hog.

Lloyd: [after getting off the minibike with Harry frozen to his back] Got a little nippy going through the pass, huh, Har?

Harry: [shivering] Lloyd, I can't feel my fingers, they're numb!
Lloyd: Oh well here, take this extra pair of gloves, my hands are starting to get a little sweaty.
Harry: Extra gloves? You've had extra gloves this whole time?
Lloyd: Uh yeah, we are in the Rockies. Jeez!

Lloyd: [Harry is choking him barehanded on a picnic table in Aspen] Harry, your hands are freezing.

  

Lloyd: I want to ask you a question... straight out, flat out... and I want you to give me an honest answer. What do you think the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?
Mary: Well Lloyd... that's difficult to say... you really don't...
Lloyd: Hit me! Just give it to me straight! I came a long way just to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?
Mary: Not good.
Lloyd: [Gulps] You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?
Mary: I'd say more like... one out of a million.
Lloyd: So you're telling me there's a chance. Yeah!

 

 

Lloyd: Listen, Mr. Samsonite, about the briefcase, my friend Harry and I have every intention of fully reimbursing you.
Nicholas Andre: Open it up. Open it up!
Lloyd: [Motioning to Mary] Go ahead, open it up. Do what he says. Hurry.
Nicholas Andre: What is this? What is this? Where's all the money?
Lloyd: That's as good as money, sir. Those are I.O.U.'s. Go ahead and add it up, every cent's accounted for. Look, see this? That's a car. 275 thou. Might wanna hang onto that one.

Lloyd: [a large bus full of gorgeous women in bikinis pull up beside them and three step out]
Bikini Girl: Hi guys. We're going on a national bikini tour, and we're looking for two oil boys who can grease us up before each competition.
Harry: You are in luck! There's a town about three miles that way. I'm sure you'll find a couple guys there.
Bikini Girl: [baffled] Okay, thanks.
[the doors close and the bus drives off. After a second, Lloyd turns to Harry]
Lloyd: Do you realize what you've done?!!
[they run after the bus]
Lloyd: HEY! HEY!
Harry: Lloyd! Lloyd!
[the bus stops and opens the doors]
Lloyd: [panting] You'll have to excuse my friend. He's a little slow. The town is back *that* way.

THE END

P.S.Honestly, I can’t even discuss this scene because I can’t actually stand to watch it.  Notice you see no actual painful-looking tongue/frost/sticking situation in this thoughtfully selected photo.  I’m sure it’s an equally hilarious scene as the rest of this spectacular film, but it’s just too gut wrenching for me. 

       

P.S.S.  BTW, we’re ones who sit in the theatre and watch until the last credit rolls, no matter what kind of movie.  Well, on this one, it’s especially a shame if you don’t and you miss the extra funnies.

For Constitution Day

You can see more pictures on the school website linked below and there is also a video, mostly wind noise and a view from afar but... still it’s my Jack doing something big.

http://www.ecusd7.org/liberty/ 

http://www.ecusd7.org/liberty/panther-videos/index.asp

Breaking and Entering

Gary and I went to a few Open Houses last Sunday to scope out some ideas, some do’s and don’t’s for our house addition.  Let me tell you, it is so nice that the kids are now at an age that he and I can spontaneously hop in the car, well, yeah, it is still a stinky minivan, but hey, we can go do something on our own without dragging the breast pump, the diaper bag, the unenthused kids.  It’s nice and feels like it has been a long time coming.  I think the kids are enjoying it, just being left on their own.  I know we’re enjoying it. 

Maybe getting a little too crazy with it. 

Engaging in criminal behavior, in fact. 

I had a list of addresses for ten Open Houses we could hit in a three hour span.  That sounds plenty generous but you know, real life always manages to creep in. 

Unfortunately, between getting called to return back home to settle with the roofing business and me being the navigator (read: gets confused at times and does not chose most efficient routes of travel), we did not have a full three hours to look at houses.  We made it to three and a quarter houses, I think, in the first two hours.  The quarter being when we had gotten in the front door and saw basically two rooms of the house before being summoned home to see the roofing guy.

We went into a couple others, one new construction and the other a typical, like every other subdivision house built around here.  I did learn its interesting (aka bad) lot is called a flag lot.  Longish driveway with the main part of the lot on the backside of the lots in front of it. In other words, your front yard is the neighbors’ back yards.  I didn’t like that at all, but they had a huge in-ground pool, so I probably could have just stayed there forever.  Well, until swimming season was over.  Then I would’ve remembered the horrible lot and said I’m outta there.  

We drove out of town a few miles to get the chance to see the fanciest of the ones listed, it’s on the golf course, but of course when we pulled up at 3:01, the open house had ended at 3:00.  That was annoying.

There were three others that were going until 4:00 so we headed towards those.  I, being navigator still, met some confusion at finding just the right address but coincidentally, this newish neighborhood had multiple open houses that day, not just the one on my list, judging by the balloons and signs.  We parked and walked up to the door.  It was locked, even though it had all this realty signage and balloons going on.  We figured maybe one realtor was manning the multiple open houses since they were all within one block and s/he’d just probably walk us through them all. 

We walked up to the next house with balloons in the yard, approached the front porch while commenting on its notable stonework, and walked on in.  Again, no realtor there so s/he must be at the next one.  This seemed like a nice house, very personal with many family photos but done so tastefully.  It had the most interesting fireplace we’d ever seen.  It was two-sided and totally see-through from inside the living room to the deck.  (If you click the fireplace link, also click the little pics on the link so you can see the whole effect.)  Cool.

Besides the funky fireplace, I noticed there were a few ladies’ purses sitting right there on the kitchen island.  A little risky I thought, considering anyone could walk right in since it was an open house. 

Hmm, weird, though.  No other people were there. 

That is, until  two ladies came in and said,  “This is NOT an Open House!” 

OMG, we had walked right into someone’s house and was looking all over.   I felt so horrible; I got sick to my stomach immediately.  We apologized profusely in the few seconds it took for us to bolt out the front door.  I did throw in a quick “We loved your fireplace!”  Not sure if that helped at all.