The Most I Can Fit Into One Day

On Thursday, we really did the most I think anyone can be expected to do in one day. At least the most I can be expected to do. I'm tired just thinking about it!

In the morning, we had pancakes and said goodbye to my mom (but not before we did a photoshoot with my mom and the girls right after I'd woken up after being up all night with Ginger). I am not posting the photos because there are limits to what I'll show on the internet, and what I look like first thing in the morning is not something I want to dwell on today!

After my mom headed to the airport, we had the rest of the day in front of us. Mr. Mustard had the whole day off, so we decided to make the most of it.

First, we went to the playground, fed the ducks, and flew kites.



As you can see, the kites were a big hit.



Paprika is getting really good flying her own kite.



So, we were having a great time flying kites and then I looked over and right beside our car, a truck pulled up to service the Port-A-Potties (yes, we parked right next to the Port-A-Potties). Live and learn!



I didn't want wait to see what happened when they drained the Port-A-Potties, so we threw everyone into the car and decided where to adventure to next. We thought about a few options and then said, "Why not go to Disneyland?"

So, we did it. We headed to Disneyland to take advantage of our status as Annual Passholders. I think at this point those passes have paid for themselves, and then some!

It was a pretty great day to go to Disneyland. Paprika rode her very first rollercoaster (twice!) and loved every second of it. I made sure we rode in the front car, because if you're going to ride a rollercoaster, the front car is the only way to go!



Paprika wanted to wait in line to see every character, but when we got up to them, she was terrified. Terrified.

We waited in line to see Mickey (for um...about 45 minutes) because she insisted she wanted to see him. But when we got in the room to have our special time with Mickey, she started crying and would not go within 10 feet of him. Mickey had to turn away while Paprika bolted by him and out the door.

Then, afterwards she said, "Can we go back to Mickey's House?" Okay....

This picture below is Paprika after she begged to wait in line to see Pooh. Ginger is napping in the Ergo under that big white thing (my nursing cover). She slept through the whole Pooh experience!



But then she was fine and we rode all the favorite rides, and Paprika even rode Pirates of the Carribean, which she hasn't ridden in a year...and she loved it.

By the time we got home, I was kinda tired (understatement)...but I'd say it was a pretty a-okay day, and one that we really didn't miss a moment of!

The Premiere!

On Tuesday we went to the Los Angeles Opening of Behind The Burly Q, a feature documentary that Mr. Mustard edited. I joked with him that after four seasons of editing Dancing With The Stars, and now this documentary, he is quickly forming a niche as the go-to guy for dance editing! Ha!

It was my first time seeing the film that he worked so hard on for months and months. I was so excited to watch his work up on the big screen!

Since my mom was in town, we went shopping together earlier in the day and I got a new dress and shoes...how long has it been since that happened? Anyway, I was lookin' pretty darn good (for me...) and yet there is no photographic proof, as no one took a picture of me! I know, I know...next time...



On the way to the theater, we drove by my old apartment building right off Melrose Place in West Hollywood- the first place I lived in Los Angeles...the one I lived in when I was in film school at USC...the one where I shared a wall with Amy Adams and lived across the courtyard from a few stars of the CW - except back then it was called the WB! ;-)

When we passed by the old stomping grounds, I started singing The Way We Were...

Memories like the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were...

Mr. Mustard thought I was nuts and said he had never heard that song. What?! Am I the only one who knows this song? I thought everyone did!

The film opening was a big success! We had a great time and I was just so incredibly proud of Mr. Mustard. I am proud of him all the time, including every week when 21 million people watch his work. But in that theater (which had far fewer people), I was also so proud of him. Proud of the work he did, of the movie that he was a part of, and just proud to be part of his life!

It was a good night!

Here are some reviews of the film, if you're interested in knowing more about it!

LA Times Review

NPR Article

Official Website

My Mom Was Here!

My mom went to a painting workshop in Laguna Beach, and afterwards came to stay with us from Sunday until yesterday (Thursday). It was great having her here!

The first day she was here, we went to the beach. It was a gorgeous day for it (the weather has been picture-perfect all week)...and we had a great time while Paprika ran around and made friends.



Paprika made friends with a little girl her age and her older sister. They were BFFs for a few hours until the sun went down and it was time to head home!



Anyhoo, we mostly hung out at home while my mom was here. We spent a lot of time in the backyard lounging and soaking up the sunshine.



My mom stayed home with Ginger when Paprika had her ballet class (I found a class that actually has other students- she is loving it!). Ginger isn't napping at all (except in the Ergo), so it was nice to get out and have that special time with Paprika.

Paprika is really into ballet lately. She loves everything ballet and everything having to do with the color purple. Such a girly-girl!



So, when my mom was here, we spent lots of quality time together, and just enjoyed eachother's company. The girls kept us really busy, of course!



On Tuesday night, a film Mr. Mustard edited had its Los Angeles Premiere, and we went to it while my mom watched the girls. It was a great night and I am super proud of Mr. Mustard and everyone involved with the film. It was so fun to get dressed up and be at a Hollywood thing- I don't get to do it as often as I used to! Anyway, Mr. Mustard's Premiere deserves another post of its own. More later when I can catch a few moments to blog!

Two Things

1) Ginger learned how to clap and she is so very pleased with herself. She can clap in appreciation, as if to say, "Yea!!!" She showed off her clapping skills when Paprika did her impromptu dance recital in our living room. Ginger can also clap in time to the music- which of course made me think she's incredibly advanced...it was impressive (not that I'm biased or anything)!

2) Teething is for the birds. As you can see, I am writing this post at 2am, and well...Ginger is still not asleep (after not taking any naps today). Poor baby!

It's May!

10 months old and still just ONE lonely tooth in there! I am happy to say that Ginger is starting to love people food, real people food. She will now try anything (at least one small bite) and lets us know whether it's a hit or miss. Most things are a hit, and she especially loves hummus...even the spicy hummus!

I feel like I've crammed a lot into the past few days since my last post. I've done a lot of house stuff at our new house, including pretty much finishing Paprika's bedroom and almost finishing Ginger's bedroom. Maybe I'm trying to keep my mind off our albatross old house?

Anyhoo, I need to take some pics of everything I've done and post them. I'm pretty proud of the girls' rooms, even if it did take me two months to complete them! We also hired someone on Craigslist to move our King mattress over from our old house. So, the Master Bedroom at our new house is no longer an empty room. Yea! (Even though now it's a room with a mattress on the floor- oh well). Small steps.



Paprika has been having fun helping me with my little house projects. She's also been spending her days dancing, dancing, and more dancing. One of her favorite things to do is watch DWTS (she calls it "her Daddy's show")- I let her watch it on Hulu, and we watch the performance parts over and over and over again...and then she performs them for me. This picture is of Paprika doing one of the dances wearing my nursing cover and dancing with her Pooh bear. She had the dance down pat! I think she has a future on the show. We do have some connections, after all. Haha. Just kidding! ;-)

My mom came into town today and that has been fun- she hasn't seen the girls since last August, so she's been taking in how much they've changed. They really are growing up so very fast!