Princesses

Like many three year old girls, my daughter is crazy for princesses:  Cinderella, Belle, Princess and the Pea, Snow White, Jasmine...and now the Seven Nasty Princesses.  We went to a play put on by some local 7th-9th graders all about some pretty vain sister princesses.  I think the idea of naughty princesses (aren't they usually perfect?) was a bit confusing for little Maari.  Also, the ladies ended up learning their lessons from two witches and instead of living happily ever after with the prince, he fled from the whole lot of them.  None of this follows proper fairytale protocol.  However, I think she kind of got the gist of it.

The "real life" princesses were not at all nasty and were kind enough to pose with their most adoring fan.

And even share their beautiful head pieces.

Making our Maari the 8th princess (although not at all a nasty one!)

At the Beach

As September creeps up upon us, this is probably one of our last days at the beach. Well maybe not our last day at the beach, but perhaps our last day in the water. That water is already chillier and as dark seems to come earlier and earlier each day we feel fall coming on. With school starting next week we thought we better enjoy ourselves!











Sandcastles, fish chasing (Connor trying to catch one for his moat, Maari just not understanding why they kept darting away from her), swimming, splashing, and just plain soaking in the warmth. With a seven year age gap between my children, I have found that this is one outing that they both really love (oh me too!)



(By the way, even though there is a seven year age gap they still manage to have their little spats...see Connor's smirk and Maari's little attitude - that was him splashing her, her not liking that one bit, her screeching, him splashing her again...)

B-Ball

Saturday we were lucky to have courtside seats to the Harlem Globetrotters. You know who was so very excited (still is)! Yes, we all felt like "important people" in our prime spot.


Papa and Nana treated us to the game/show, in which the Globetrotters won their twenty-some-thousandth game against the Generals. Of course it was a very close game, with the top player injured right before halftime. Luckily though he made a miraculous comeback and led the team to victory!


So now Connor would like to be a Globetrotter when he grows up. Immediately after the game, autographed ball in hand, he bolted from the car toward his basketball hoop. And, pretty much all day Sunday was spent shooting hoops. That evening, in an exhausted tone he said, "All I did today was play basketball."

Monday and Tuesday Connor took a little break from his basketball training.

Weekend Recap

Friday

We went to see Justin's brother Brian play at a coffee shop. I have been such a hermit lately - the February blues I suppose. It felt good to get out. I guess I figured coffee shop music would be appropriate for Connor's age, i.e. some nice acoustic guitar. Well, I was wrong - it was so loud!! All of the tables and chairs were cleared away so it was more of a crazy college party with coffee instead of beer. I am definitely not a prude and would have stayed and enjoyed it all thoroughly, but I do not want to be responsible for my child going hard of hearing. I read somewhere that children's eardrums are much more susceptible to loud noise - I am sure that by the time he hits his teenage years he will be doing plenty of damage to those ears without any help from mom and dad.

Instead, Connor and I walked down the street to a quieter coffee house and had a piece of carrot cake by candlelight.

Saturday

We were supposed to go to a 30th birthday party on Saturday evening, but it did not work out. So Justin says, "since we are not going out I am giving the cat a bath." What an exciting alternative! He has had this whole bath thing in his head for awhile now. Being allergic to cats - I had the cat long before the husband - he thought a bath might help out a little. Polk actually did much better than expected. I thought it would be more traumatic. I was picturing drenched cat clawing frantically, hissing - even though he never hisses, having some kind of spastic outburst, but this was not the case. Polk was a little frightened at first but I think toward the end he actually enjoyed the warm water being sprayed on this back.

After his bath he took a long rest - lots of commotion for an old kitty.

He is so soft now!! We spent a good portion of the rest of the evening stroking his shiny clean coat - and he smells like "tropical breeze."

Busy Fun

This week has been a bit hectic. Saturday morning was Connor's last soccer game. He was quite proud of his four goals and medal. Later that evening I had a lovely dinner out with my husband followed by a cocktail with my oldest friend, whom I tend to loose contact with for months at a time (yeah I know - bad friend - but she is to blame too jet setting all over the country with her new beau!).

And last night we attended a concert, the Gabe Dixon Band. The band formed at the University of Miami while I was studying there and I always enjoyed hearing them. So naturally when I heard they were coming to Minneapolis I was ecstatic. They played at the Varsity Theater which is right in the neighborhood I lived in when I attended the University of Minnesota. It all brought back good memories - both Midwest and East Coast. Anyway, very talented, fun, high energy band. Too bad they only played the opening. Next time I'm hoping for a full show.

Yes, these days most of the live music I am graced with comes from "The One Mand Band." And just like the band mentioned above this one is very talented, fun, and always full of energy.

Oh but I am not used to going out two times in the span of three days. Yes, I am not a young college student anymore, just an old mom! I am tired and desperately need to clean my house (but I had lots of fun!!).