More pictures

Uncle Dave and Monique at the SMP:


Auntie "ni" Michele with the kids in the pool:
Sam got to ride in Uncle Mike's cool car:
Michele and sweet baby girl:
Dad and Holly (self-explanatory):
Happy sisters:
Miss you guys!

Are you ready for the summer?

Sorry if I just got the song from Meatballs stuck in your head...HA!

What a month! Make that two months...Family from Massachusetts left today and as far as we know, they will be the last visitors we have for a long while. It was so much fun to have family and friends here over the past few weeks but now it's time to chill.

We had a nice Saturday planting flowers and a few vegetables followed by a delicious dinner made by Mike and our favorite movie, WALL-E. (for about the 30th time)

Tomorrow begins the food detox again (thank goodness for Whole Foods and farmer's markets). Mike is beginning his two year sentence-he is actually very excited for it and doesn't mind all the hours he will be clocking in *yet*. Those INR's work their behinds off but they seem to like it. Elise will resume normal playground activity and possibly swimming lessons and Holly will throw herself into her writing. The collaborative screenplay is coming along nicely but deserves some much needed time and effort.

As a side note-some of Elise's favorite things are now tuna sashimi (big points for us), using the word "wicked" as in, this food is wicked hot (I think mom loses points for that one but oh well) and the song That's Not My Name by the Ting-Tings. Jazz when she rides with Mike; Fun when she rides with Holly;-)

Hope everyone is having a nice start to their summer!

Dusk

R.I.P.

Michael Jackson passed away this afternoon at UCLA medical center. Dr. Mike was in house as the events unfolded but has, so far, not been implicated in the death.,,Rumor has it that paparazzi are currently climbing up poles and scaling walls to try and get a glimpse-people really are evil.

Mike may now hang up the glove and break dancing attire forever. so sad.

two ways

There are two easy ways to assure you have a less-than-perfect week: 1)root canal; 2)Disneyland
Yes, Holly had to endure both of those divine pleasures this week. But she's a trooper and got through both with remarkably little pain.

I'm happy my tooth is fixed-I nearly kissed and hugged my dentist when it was over yesterday. We celebrated by going to Mastros in Beverly Hills with my family (sans kids). Two glasses of pink champagne later and I was nearly ready to hug everyone in the place because I could finally eat and drink again!!

I think mom has had her share of Disney for a year (forever). A few years back I swore I would never go there. Everything that Disney has to offer-crowds, lines, bad food, commercialized junk, PEOPLE EVERYWHERE-are things our family generally tries to avoid. (at least Holly, anyway) Yet I have found myself there four times in the last few years. What gives? When you live 1 hour or less from the theme park you are required to take guests with children there. This time we went with Michele, her family and dad and it was almost tolerable..we actually got to go on some grown up rides.

We have so many more great pictures that are being held hostage on Michele's camera. Once I figure out how to upload albums to the blog they will be posted but I leave you with Elise and the lightsaber:

current mood: foux da du fa fa

Girl Power

Elise is delighted to have a new playmate, Maria. Mommy is delighted as well. Mike has been away this week and we have had the pleasure of her company. They played together while I was at the dentist and Elise's sitter came over while the older girls had a lovely afternoon of pedicures and hair salon. I also had the pleasure of cooking for Maria which included butternut squash ravioli with sage and walnut butter sauce and Holly's famous roasted garlic and red pepper sauce which is delish!

Our evenings have consisted of lounging on the patio with some wine and skyping with each other from 2 feet away while we work on our summer project: a screenplay called xxxxxx. The name is a secret but it's SO GOOD.

Anyway, Massachusetts is descending on us Saturday for a fun-filled week-I have lots more flowers to plant but my hydrangeas are doing quite well:

Citrus Limon

It's getting there...

Made out of fancy

This is one of Elise's favorite expressions when referring to things mom and dad are wearing/liking etc. Last night mommy was made out of fancy all dressed up for a nerd banquet. UCLA had their neurology fellow/resident farewell banquet. As usual Mike was acknowledged for his achievements...the list is daunting. He is happy to be finished with endovascular fellowship and ready to tackle interventional-the real reason he is at UCLA. As he said "on to greener pastures" or angio suites as the case may be.
He fits in perfectly with the formidable interventional team as he has been described as "authoritative" and "salty". I have heard many of his late night conversations when on call and I can positively concur with these statements.

We got home early enough to have a drink on the patio which would have been relaxing and pleasant had it not been for the rat that scurried by. yes, I said *rat*. You can imagine how horrified I was and how relaxed Mike was about the situation. He chased it off and tried to calm me down by saying things like, "like there are no rats in the celebrities' backyards" and "it's outside, that's where they live" "at least it's an upscale rat, it lives in Brentwood"
It did not appease me. I can handle many pests but I have never been able to stomach mice or rats or any rodent, really. The mere thought just grosses me out-they are so much worse than insects.

and finally the clouds part

Today was a beautiful sunny day-what it should be like in SoCal. Unfortunately we didn't stray from home due to Elise being sick. Poor thing has a fever. She is a trooper and refuses to admit that she feels sick: "no mommy I'm not sick can I please have more ice cream?"

On another note, I am terrifically excited that one of my best friends from childhood and beyond will be living a few blocks from me for the summer:-) This coincides nicely with Mike leaving for Fresno this week and also when he's working hard in fellowship-she is my partner in crime!

Now why would you want to leave our yard when we have a lovely set-up complete with this yellow rose bush:

When your blog becomes a Twitter feed..

OUCH!!!
must. call. dentist.
I have always had "good teeth" but I fear the worst. Not like I haven't had cavities. But I officially have a toothache. Mike says it's time. It's been one year since I saw my dentist in MD. Shame on me for waiting that long...

June Gloom

sigh...

Hostess with the Mostess

Elise seems to be taking after her mom in the entertainment department. She loves having visitors and providing freely flowing food and beverage. She often puts on her best pink attire. She is also silly and can be quite fresh...She loved having her buddy Benjamin in town this week. They were so sweet together and got along famously even if the hug seems forced:-)

LA women

We had our friend Courtney and her son Benjamin in town this week (pics to come) After they departed we picked up Maria, went to the park, beach, dented Holly's car and ate sushi. and took pictures.

Maria

Holly

sunflowers

5 years

happy anniversary to the most beautiful and charming woman I know. and the love of my life. love, m

Happy Anniversary to us

5 years and still kickin'

well, if you consider we met in 1995 you could say 14 years and still kickin' :-) 

Feel free to cheers us with your best bottle of Dom, Veuve, Cristal, "Asti Spumante" whatever your thrill.

Backyard

took this picture with my phone as I was lounging on the patio. Rather than a dining set, we opted for a sectional sofa with ottomans and umbrella. It's so much better for hanging out and I added some colorful touches from Crate and Barrel.  We managed to get a short break yesterday from june gloom and it was a perfectly beautiful afternoon!

Heard around the house

Mike:  "Hey! where the heck is my Boz Scaggs cd?"