Rawlings Scrawlings

I know what you're thinking. I come up with clever titles? I know. Actually, it was going to be Rawlings "Drawlings" in honor of the 2, 000,000 second-graders I've had that say "drawling" instead of "drawing." Okay, maybe I haven't taught 2,000,000, but it feels like I have.

Now to the matter at hand--I've been very proud of the fact that the girls know all of their letters, as well as letter sounds. They can count to 20, identify shapes and colors, and make some rhyming pairs. Rachel is even beginning to blend CVC words. However, they've been pretty reluctant writers. Many times I've offered to sit down and form letters with them, and they just haven't been interested. I didn't want to force the issue, as I didn't want them to think of it as work or something they were forced to do. However, Adrian came up with something that they DO like to do. Using our trusty IKEA whiteboard, he's been having them follow his pen (which is actually all dried up). They think of it as a fun game.

Still not used to this lens, but don't you love how Adrian's hand and Charlotte's shoulder are in such nice focus? Bet you didn't know she had a freckle there, did you? Now you do. You're welcome.

Blending a word that they've written. Look, there's my laundry basket. I'm the consummate housekeeper. ....Yes I am!

Stay tuned for Rachel's turn....

Bubbles, Bubbles, Everywhere...

Grammy Terri came by this evening and gifted us with these, and the girls had a ball.

Oh, someone spies their Daddy.

He needs bubbles!

Fight, Daddy, fight! Don't let the bubbles win!

I love movies.

And I always have to checkout any Top 10 or Top 20, 50, 100 lists about movies. Currently, Yahoo has "The Top 10 Buddy Movies," which just happens to include 3 of my favorite movies. Ever. Actually, it has quite a few that I really like, but these have to be my favorites:

I've been known to like a Western or two, but Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is so much more. It has some of the sharpest, funniest dialogue (thank you William Goldman of Princess Bride fame), and it's just FUN! I can't wipe the grin on my face the entire time I'm watching it. And Paul Newman and Robert Redford in their prime. Yes, please! By the way, this photo is depicting the best scene, with the best line in the movie.

Some Like it Hot

Another comedic gem with classic dialogue. In fact, the last line in this movie is rated as one of the best last lines EVER. Jack Lemmon was one of our best actors and definitely one of the funniest. I'm not normally a Marilyn Monroe fan, but she's perfect as Sugar Cane. It's part musical, part mobster movie, part romance...all good!

Two words--"Vegas, baby!"

Swingers

Salads {or How I Haven't Quite Got the Hang of My New Lens Yet}

I decided to take pictures of the yummy salads that I made tonight. We here at Rawlings Manor are still making a concerted effort not only to waste less, but to live better! We've been hitting the gym in the evenings, and we're trying to eat more healthfully. Personally, I have begun to follow The South Beach Diet. It's not in an effort to lose weight (although I could probably stand to lose about 5 lbs, according to my clothes), but rather an effort to cut down tremendously on my intake of processed foods and sugar. I know every individual is very different, but I just don't think my body handles sugar very well. I just feel so much better when I avoid it. My skin clears up, my moods are very even, my head is clearer, and I have more energy--and this is only after a few days on the diet! I've always been a huge "grazer," because my reliance on processed food has left me hungry most of the time. I'm not hungry when I eat this way. I'm satisfied. There was a time when I really didn't get near most vegetables, and now I eat them all the time. Plus, it's just such a wonderful feeling knowing that you're putting good fuel into your body! The girls are big salad-eaters, as well. They'll eat raw spinach! ...and then they'll have cookies. But hey--raw spinach! It's a Superfood, you guys!

And yes, I'm still getting the hang of this lens. I'm not sure my goal was to have ONLY the bleu cheese in focus.

My salad.

One of the girls' salads. They get extra fruit.
The sliced chicken is left over from last night's Chicken Parmesan w/out breadcrumbs...so good!

Charlotte was done w/ the photo session. She wanted dinner to start.

Full Social Calendars

Last week, I had to go back to work for 4 days. The girls already had many events on their social calendar. For instance, last Tuesday...


Breakfast at Paul's with Torhild:

Lunch with Charlie for his birthday:

Busy, busy girls.

It just makes me happy, okay?

I just love this little song by Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town. It comes on in between shows on Noggin, and I always have to stop and dance around with the girls. We were even singing it as we put our jammies on tonight.

Cootie Meeting

Last Friday of every month.

Supervising

Every job needs a supervisor.

...and sipping every last bit, as well.

The girls also got yummy smoothies on the very same day. They live well, these two.

Nibbling up every last bit of vacation...

We went to lunch at La Hacienda II with Aunt Judy last week--something the girls do regularly while I'm at work. Charlotte is a chips and salsa kind of girl.

Artists at Work

After a bit of a dry spell, the girls have become more interested in painting and drawing once again. I think we may have Becca to thank for that. A few days back, we spent some quality time with our watercolors in the kitchen.

Rachel, hard at work on her latest abstract. Okay, they're all abstract, but whatever.

Getting more intense.

As we move in closer, we note the stern concentration as the artist...

Oh. Apparently too close. Sorry.

These paintings pretty much are the girls, in a nutshell. Top--Rachel uses every color imaginable, everywhere. Bottom--Charlotte is a very deliberate, precise little minimalist.

New number, new haircut, new stuff...

I turned 34 today. Since I took a self-portrait in the mirror for 33, I thought I might as well do the same this year. This is my new haircut. It's sassy. I had been letting my hair get pretty long (for me), and going short again is quite liberating. I even got some special hair paste from my mom, which I keep referring to as my 'pomade.' Last night, I kept telling Adrian, "I'm a Dapper Dan man!"







Adrian got me a new lens for my camera, which I LOVE. It's such a great lens, for an awesome price (as lenses go).





Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens

I got some FitFlops from my folks:

They're supposed to make your legs very toned and fit, just by walking around! I'm not sure if they're doing that, but I know they're super-comfortable and I feel like they make me stand up straighter. My mom also took me for a kids-free shopping trip to Gilroy. Thanks Mom!

Another great gift I got was an online subscription to Body and Soul from Jen! How very sweet (and green) of her! To anyone who is considering this, I really like it. The reader that you use to read the magazine makes it very easy to zoom and move pages around. I really should start switching over to digital. I'm a bit of a magazine junkie, and my recycle bin knows it. You can get digital subscriptions at Barnes and Noble.

Thank to everyone who has sent cards and birthday wishes!

Ya Like Nectarines?

We have about a ton of them. Back when I was pregnant with the girls, Adrian ordered what was advertised in our Gurney's catalog as a Baby Girl Nectarine tree to plant in the corner of our yard. He thought it would be good luck for our baby girls. Little by little, it grew. But it had to mature a bit before bearing edible fruit. Well, that time has come! There is nothing better than fresh summer fruit off the tree, when it's still warmed by the sun. Unless you count watching your baby girls eat the nectarines from the tree planted in their honor.

Latest obsession: puzzles

I'm trying, Amy!

I've been inspired by Amy. I've always said that I'm going to try and live a greener life, but I've always been more talk than action. So I'm taking baby steps.

I've joined the Gorgeously Green website so that I can participate in the forum discussions and get ideas from others who have read the book.

Quite a while ago, we switched most of the bulbs in our house to CFLs, and we've become more mindful of the items in our house that draw unnecessary power. My husband loves to wander about with his Kill-a-Watt.

About a month or so ago, I purchased Ecos laundry detergent at Costco and Clorox Green Works cleaners. I really like both of them, but I'd also like to try Mrs. Meyer's products, or try and make some of my own cleaners. I'm also finding that Citrus Magic is a great, safer alternative to traditional air fresheners. It lasts forever and makes our house smell nice and fresh (and with preschoolers, fresh isn't always happening on its own!).

I really want to switch the girls over to products like California Baby, but I'm going to use up all of our old shampoos and lotions first. I already use a sulfate-free shampoo, but I need to scrutinize the ingredients list to see if it passes muster.

I'm going to try and get books from the library more often vs. buying them. I already try to buy second-hand when I can. I really don't need a shiny new book!

I've begun recording Sara Snow on FitTv (she used to be on Discovery Health). She has great ideas for living green. My favorite idea this week was a swap party. Rather than going on and buying new things all the time, everyone gets together and brings a batch of things they aren't currently using to see if anyone else needs it or would like to use it, then you donate whatever is left over.

And this is a very good hand-sanitizer. A must for little girls who are determined to see every public bathroom they can.


So, what are your baby steps?

Toys in Peril! (Not for the faint of heart)

The girls used to love to play with their 'little guys' on the windowsills. But they've moved on to bigger and better things. Their new favorite thing has become standing on their chairs and playing on the dresser behind the couch. A few posts back, I mentioned how my fake Pier 1 flower arrangement has fallen prey to the curious hands of the girls. Well, this is pretty much how it got that way.

It didn't take the girls long to discover that they could trap, suspend, and entangle their guys pretty easily in this arrangement. Thus began The Perilous Adventures of PaPa, Grammy, Grammy Terri, and Mommy.

Grammy, Grammy Terri, and Papa--in happier times.

Mommy--dangling.

Grammy--ooooh. Not good.

Sorry Papa, it was bound to happen.

Don't worry guys. I'm sure those hands will rescue us soon.

Bougainvillea--a plant in my yard that I DIDN'T kill!

Come every Spring, I hop in my ginormous possessed mini-van (HAL 9000), and head to Lowe's. I merrily load up my cart with blooms of all sorts and bags of soil. I then con my mother into coming over and helping me arrange the blooms in an artful fashion in my assorted pots and containers. This is after we've dumped out the carcases of the plants who came before. You see, I have a bit of ADD when it comes to, well...everything. Gardening included. I start off with good intentions, but then find myself far too busy surfing the internet, watching bad TV, or reading cookbooks I rarely use. As a result, the plants often go the way of their ancestors. WELL. I am here to tell you that not only is this bougainvillea thriving, but it has survived a harsh winter and various snail attacks! The harsh winter it managed on its own merits. I didn't cover it or do anything special. However, I dutifully busted out with the snail bait when the situation called for it--thus saving the day! So now my friend here, along with his counterpart on the other side of the patio, is thoroughly enjoying his summer! The other plants on the patio--different story.

Little known fact--little girls with chocolate faces love Bougainvillea too.

And they love to blow bubbles.

With sleepy eyes.

And snarly hair in the back.

This is your brain on twins...

This evening, as my girls drifted off to dreamland, I snuggled up on the couch with my laptop only to find this article waiting for me at MSNBC. So, just a heads-up. We may be losin' it soon. You probably won't even notice the difference.