Babes for Obama

 It started one day last spring while driving Aria home from school. She and I were talking about the state of Washington and how some of her cousins lived there when she said, "Hey Mom, George Washington was our first president." "That's right" I replied very impressed that my 4-year-old knew such facts. She continued, "..and George Bush is our president now. And, Barack Obama is our next president." Now, I'm reeaallly impressed.

 Fast forward to today. While driving in the car Michelle Obama is being interviewed on NPR about her upcoming introduction of her husband at the convention tonight. Aria and I get to talking about him and his family (she's very excited that he has 2 little girls and is wondering when she can go to their house and play with them) when she asks what does the president do and why does he want to be president. After my brief explanation I tell her that both Barack Obama and John McCain are trying to be our next president then ask her who she would like to win. She answers, "I want Barack Obama, not Bruce Wayne!" (I promise we did NOT let her see The Dark Knight) 

Azur's a big supporter and bought a lot of cookies at the bake sale for Obama!

Tea Anyone?

What do two little girls do with only an hour playdate? They have a tea party of course. If Aria had had her way, it would have been an animal tea party and Sara Jewel would have worn the Tigger costume in the 90+ degree heat. Aria was immune to the heat or just a slave to fashion and held true to her animal theme by wearing a pink poodle one. Sara had her own mind and made it clear that this is not what she wanted to wear and chose the pink and yellow tutu instead.  Mom took 5 minutes to prepare the proper foods with what was on hand while Aria rounded up a blanket for a tablecloth, picked flowers, and set the table. Viola! a tea party set for a queen (or at least a poodle).

Gee, Diapers

as in "g" diapers which are flushable (although I haven't tried that yet), biodegradable, compostable.

Who knew I could get so excited about diapers!

Check it out at gdiapers.com and watch one break down at http://www.gdiapers.com/happy-planet/watch-them-break-down

and, see how cute they are on my kid!

Mommy Daughter Date

I have the most amazing daughter. She never ceases to make me laugh or amaze me. Like today, when John was telling her all about some kind of hornet (I've forgotten the name, I'm sure Aria has not) anyway, mid explanation she said, "Dad, we're not talking about that now. Now, there's a mysterious problem of a spider in my room and it's not a hobo spider."

 On to our date. Yesterday she decided that she wanted to go on a date with mom and this is what we would do and in this order:

 1- get our fingers and toes painted (Hers were to be pink with sparkles and hearts)

    2-have dinner at noodles and company

  3-go to Starbucks

          4-go see WALL-E

Before we left she said, "Mom, you have to wear something more beautiful." (How do you like that, my 4-year-old is already embarrassed by my choice of clothes). She found my shiny brown Audrey Hepburn flats, got my black skirt and brown knit shirt and helped me dress, she chose earrings, necklace, and bracelet, then put make-up on me and brushed my hair, then told me how beautiful I looked. She did the same for herself complete with beads and lipgloss. We had a wonderful evening and made it through the first three events. After Starbucks, she got in the car and said that she'd take a little rest on the way to the movie. Next thing I know, she's snoring and can't hold her head up. Needless to say, I couldn't wake her for the movie. At 1:00 a.m. she came into my room crying, "We didn't get to see WALL-E. Can we go now?"

 Next day, we plan the rest of our date. Again, I'm told I can't wear what I have on and she chooses a dress and shoes. We were in a bit of a hurry so I didn't get the make-up, jewelry, and hair treatment. She did pack a purse for me though. 

 I loved the movie. Just as Eve makes her grand entrance into the story, Aria leans over and whispers, "That's Eve. Isn't she beautiful." As the credits start to roll, we stay true to our family tradition of going to the front and dancing to the music until the theater goes dark and silent. I was informed that the date couldn't end yet and we finished the evening off with games in the arcade, buying a new outfit for school, and of course a milkbox at Starbucks.

Tres Francais Deja Vu

 Maybe it's something about the angle of the light, or the time in the morning but at 7:50 a.m. out of nowhere I'm taken back to 1986 Lacoste France. Every morning Anne and I would meet on the cobbled stone hill outside my abode. The sun would have just come up over Bonnieux and the village was still in that early morning shade broken up by the long lines of light through the trees. We would set off on our trek for the next village, Lumiere, where we stopped for our routine cafe au lait and croissant - pronounced cwa-saunn as the girl in one of the many French bakerys informed me. She wouldn't give it to me until I pronounced it correctly. I am grateful for her persistence because I've never forgotten the proper pronounciation since. 

  I loved those morning walks. We were two young girls trying to find our place in the world as well as the meaning of art and life. I was there after an eye opening divorce (yes, I have been married before...when I was what now seems very young) and my first year of college in a study abroad at the Lacoste School of the Arts. My world and fantasy of how my life should be had just been shaken up to say the least. Anne and Chris (who was at the time attending school in

 the neighboring town of Aix-en-Provence) were in the beginnings of what would become a very long, long distance relationship which I'm happy to say finally ended (or should I say began) in marriage 5 years ago after 18 years of dating. Anne and I discussed relationships, food addictions, dreams, hopes, struggles and art as we walked every weekday morning. It was my favorite part (along with the U2 concert in Marsailles-another story altogether) of the six week studies I did in this little village below the chateau de Marquis de Sade.  How wonderful it is to wake up in Salt Lake City and for a brief moment be back on the road to Lumiere...