She's Electric

 She's electric 
She's in a family full of eccentrics
She done things I never expected
And I need more time

And I want you to know
I've got my mind made up now
But I need more time
And I want you to say
Do you know what I'm saying?
But I need more ....
Cause I'll be you and you'll be me
There's lots and lots for us to see
There's lots and lots for us to do
She is electric, can I be electric too? 

--Oasis

We Like To (Dinner) Party

September 27th and 28th are busy days in my family.
Five people mark their birthdays on those days.
So we like to party.

My grandmother, my uncle, and my brother shared their birthdays 

at a dinner party at our new house.

Unfortunately, because we were hosting a soiree we couldn't make it to our nephew or cousin's birthday festivities. 

Usually we're hitting several parties in one day!

My uncle and aunt made ribs (that were insanely good) and Mark made The Pioneer Woman's Brown Sugar Bourbon Pork Skewers & Dirty Rice (yum!) 

The food was finger-lickin' good!

I made chocolate chocolate chip cake with homemade whipped cream frosting - at my brother's request.

Rio was not thrilled with anything on the menu except for the whipped cream, which my brother handed her by the spoonful. Nice.

Then we played Sedarahc otherwise known as reverse charades. The whole team has to act out a difficult word while one person tries to guess. The teammates cannot communicate with one another.

I believe they were trying to act out "Diaper Change" in this picture.

It was a riot.

I think everyone worked off all the food we consumed.

It was a lot of fun and lasted until midnight.

We like to party to celebrate.

But for all these people to be born at the same time

it is apparent that a lot of people in my family like to party 

around Christmas...

if you catch my drift. {wink, wink}

I Will Walk 500 Miles

Let's go out!

The Rhythm Of The Saints

Every sunday people gather at the beach to watch the setting sun.

It's one of the best things about living on the west coast of Florida -

amazing sunsets.

Drummers (and other musicians) enter into the most incredible jam session

and they continue non-stop for hours.

The center of the circle is filled with dancers.

The rhythm of the drums seems to take over their bodies.

There are plenty of kids

women who can dance while hula-hooping

men of varying ages 

and the belly dancers...

serious belly dancers.

Someone gave Rio a feather.

She had a feather in one hand and her princess wand in the other.

She danced until the sand became much more interesting

to throw around.

That's about the time we left. {wink}

The Obvious Child

I met my cousin's girlfriend last night.

She was a wonderful conversationalist.

I love talkative people.

She loved Rio.

She was fascinated by her adoption story.

And her take on everything was eerily similar to mine.

But we always come back to the one thing that remains the most remarkable:

She was the obvious child.

She is the obvious child.

And will forever be.

She was meant to be folded into my arms.

I'm so thankful

to be her mother.

Car Fiction

We have to go.

Go where?

Somewhere cool, air-conditioned to be sure.

Some place fun and exciting.

That doesn't involve water.

Is there such a place?

I don't think so.

Oh yeah, I forgot.

The toy store fits the bill.

Right, Baby Doll?

Money For Nothing

There is an auction house in town that holds mid century modern auctions every couple of months.
My mom babysits and we make a day of it with our friends, Mike and Joey.
We've gotten some awesome deals and we usually make out like bandits.
Plus it's super fun (and a little nerve-wracking) to throw your hand up in the air with your number card to bid!
We have fun guessing what things will sell for
and checking out who's buying what.
You can tell a lot about a person from the things they purchase.
Especially things they work hard to outbid someone else on.
Take this item for example:

I feel weird even posting this picture - 

and that's after I added the Conch Shell!

Now, I'm no art expert but....

(Mike is a graduate of The Ringling College of Art and Design and his mouth was agape in shock and horror from the moment he saw this piece. Who better to judge art than an artist, right?)

what is up with this painting?? 

Maybe it's the wide-eyed look of the guy, maybe it's the awkward placement of the arms, maybe it's the bizarre head on the bird - is that a bird?

And to top it off there were 3 of these things - different subjects 

but all nudes.

And would you believe that each one sold for over $200!!!

To three different buyers!!!

I'm still laughing about it.

But anyway, to each his own. 

Now on to my thrilling purchase:

I got this mod pendant lamp. I love it!

It was in a lot of two identical lamps but I only needed one.

Fortunately, Joey and I have similar taste and he wanted the other one.

We bid for the lot and split the cost - win/win!

Good friends, cool crap to buy, and watching people make interesting purchases - what a day!

The Swimming Song

We bought Rio a new pool to brighten her spirits.
To take her mind off of those pesky teeth.
And to satisfy the part of her that asks every day,
" I go in da beach? I go in da pool? Gammy's pool? I go in da beach?"
Thankfully, the Targets here in Florida get rid of their summer stuff as if it turns cold in September.
Silly, Target...this is Florida!
Every year I scoop up all the summer goodies at 75% off. Score!
I'm just glad Rio enjoyed it.
Of course, she kept telling the neighbors she was in the tub.
Go figure.

Chiquitita

Dancing has all but ceased.

Laughing has been replaced by crying.

The thumb is free as the finger is on the scene.

The molars are breaking through.

"Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong?

How I hate to see you like this

There is no way you can deny it

I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

You'll be dancing once again

and the pain will end 

Let me hear you sing once more like you did before

Sing a new song, Chiquitita"

--Abba

Dear {Rio}

Dear {Rio,} won't you come out to play

Dear {Rio,} greet the brand new day

The sun is up, the sky is blue

It's beautiful and so are you

Dear {Rio} won't you come out to play

Dear {Rio} open up your eyes
Dear {Rio} see the sunny skies
The wind is low the birds will sing
That you are part of everything
Dear {Rio} won't you open up your eyes?

Look around round round
Look around round round
Oh look around

Dear {Rio} let me see you smile
Dear {Rio} like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see you smile again
Dear {Rio} won't you let me see you smile?

Dear {Rio,} won't you come out to play
Dear {Rio,} greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear {Rio} won't you come out to play 

--The Beatles

I Know I Know I Know

Disclaimer: Photo was taken in a parked car in a driveway

In my futile attempts to discipline this wild little child, I can't help but laugh most of the time.
Definitely not when someone is collapsing her body weight onto the floor in a public place however
But I find the responses I get are pretty funny.
I don't really know what I'm doing
and I love to read how other people have handled situations.
I'm all about learning as I go
but I do have consistency going for me.
If I'm nothing else, I'm consistent.
I always have the same instructions and tactics.
And while she doesn't always listen, at least she knows what I'm going to say.
When Rio is climbing on something, she says "be careful!" as she's climbing...
When she is standing on an object that is obviously too far off the ground, she says, "sit down!"
And when I guess I have exasperated her,
she says, "I know I know I know, Mom."
I hear that one a lot.

Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye

The view from my outside shower.

I've mentioned our outside shower before - see here.

I think I miss this the most.

I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for taking showers outside, but those who questioned were quickly converted once they tried it.

Not that I forced guests to strip and go take showers outside...that'd just be weird.

But there is nothing like enjoying the fresh air and sunshine while getting clean.

And it made getting ready easier with a toddler.

Rio loved to play in the water.

It was great to come home from the beach and not drag sand

all through the house.

It was even fun to take a hot shower on a cold evening under the stars.

And I won't even go into how romantic a night shower can be with candles all around.

So yes, I miss this.

I'm already plotting a way to build one at the new house.

But for now, I'll just say my final goodbye.

But I'm taking her with me.