Tutu- Tucson!

Last weekend the Du Toit family escaped to Tucson!! It was a fun filled weekend literally!

Thursday night we drove down to Los Angeles and hit horrible traffic on the Grapevine. A THREE HOUR DELAY!! All because they were doing something to the road. That was NOT fun. :( Camille was irritable and we were ALL getting tired.

Once at the hotel our room key didn't work. Luckily the bellhop was able to let us in regardless. Izak and Beatrice went to go park the car but there was NO parking! They drove around forever trying to find a spot. They went back to the front desk and they told them to park somewhere else which was a cluster... The front desk supposedly fixed the key to the room but when they got up to the room it STILL didn't work! Izak was furious and went down AGAIN to get it fixed. Millie was getting into everything and I just wanted to take a quick shower. By the time we got into bed it was practically midnight, the girls didn't want to sleep. I was thinking: this is a disaster. I managed to get some sleep and then the alarm went off. We got ready and went to go get breakfast. Beatrice wanted to go to Arizona right then! She did not want to get breakfast.

We get to the airport and I get a text from our animal sitter, Brandy, that our garage door opener doesn't work - her only means of getting into the house! I was freaking out! I knew Rugby would survive, but GusGus and the fish?? Luckily she bought a new battery and it worked! (Sorry about that Brandy!)

Beatrice walked away from me twice while in the airports. I was so pissed! But I couldn't really do anything about it but just look meanly at her.

We got on to the plane and everyone was great up until the very end. Camille started to freak out - she was tired and ready to run around.

Tutu met us at the airport and we were off to get Eegees(!), then home. Once we ate we struggled but got the girls down for a nap eventually. Then Auntie Stacey and Lisa came!! And the rest of the cousins shortly after. The girls went out to a fabulous place called 'The Melting Pot.' It was SO good! The dessert was excellent- whats not to love about melted chocolate?!!

Stacey and I were supposed to go pick up Uncle David from the airport but his flight got canceled. :(

Tutu and I drove back home where the driver behind us repeatedly flashed his lights at her. He was finally able to move over in to the other lane and once we were both stopped at the stop light he rolled down his window to cuss at us. I couldn't hear anything over Tutu's air conditioning AND she was like a mile back from the line... hehe... then I just cussed at him, rather calmly through the window. HAHA! I was SO not in the mood for other people's lame shit!!

Once home we broke the news that David wasn't coming and everyone was sad and upset.

Then we went to bed. (Still hoping that David would make it Saturday. He didn't.)

Saturday we had Eegees(!) again!! And then had the war!!! We were trying to be cool and spray perfume on our water balloons but the balloons started popping. Stacey's original idea was to put the perfume in the guns! D'oh! We had a ton of guns thanks to Lisa!! The war was fun and Beatrice was hilarious! She would shoot her gun but as soon as someone would shoot at her she'd stop and say: 'No! You're not allowed to shoot me!' I was holding Camille so I couldn't really get into it. She started crying. I think she was upset that everyone was shooting each other! Baby Lauren on the other hand was cool, calm and collected in Tina's arms!

Sunday we had crunchie peanut butter french toast! And a GIANT spider tried to attack me!! Then we had to leave... :( Beatrice didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay in Arizona forever! And it was so cute hearing Camille say: Lee-la, Jayden, Tutu in her little voice. Bea fell asleep on the plane and Camille was fine up until the end again. Once in the car she fell right asleep. Even when we got home she just kept sleeping!

It was such a fun trip! Beatrice said her favorite part was when she got to see Gracie's room. I think she had a lot of fun with her cousins. Especially Grace.

There was talk of going out there for Thanksgiving... We'll see if I can gather everyone up to do that. :)

More Pictures

Beatrice actually took this picture! (Below)

Beatrice in mid-twirl!

Park pictures - some of them

All pictures were taken by: Danelle Evangelho Photography

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Danelle-Evangelho-Photography/112035978811227

Photos in the park

Yesterday afternoon I took the girls to have their pictures taken at a local park. A friend of mine that I recently reconnected with is a photographer and has her own little business. I thought I'd give it a try. Especially because it's normally around this time of year I start to think about fall pictures and Christmas cards.

It was a little hot yesterday, but there was a breeze that would kick up now and then which made being in the shade really nice! The girls got to play with bubbles and then they tried to play on the playground but the equipment was too hot! The whole time I was at the park I noticed an older Mexican guy probably in his 40's watching us. I tried to just rationalize that he was probably just one of those people that like to people watch and was just watching us take pictures. But every time I glanced over at him he was looking at my girls. It made me really uncomfortable. Once we were on the play ground for a little bit he moved from his spot lounging on the grass across from the playground to sitting on one of the benches that flanked the playground. We then moved back to the bubbles in the shade which was behind the playground.

At this time two Mexican young ladies walked up to us to call my attention to that guy. I told them that I had in fact noticed him watching and I thanked them for letting me know. I guess they were having a children's party and had pulled all the kids off of the playground because they'd noticed that creeper watching the kids. Shortly after that we wrapped up the photo session. I gathered the girls up in the car and was getting them situated with their snacks and juice boxes. I was standing outside of the car on the passenger side with the passenger door open. Bea's door was open as was the driver's side door was open. (Bea sits behind the driver.) The car was on and the air was running.

I was getting Millie's juice and handing it to her and had just closed her door when I heard: 'Mam? Uh, Mam?' I look up to see the creeper approaching. 'Shit!' I think to myself. I say: 'Oh, hi...' He says: 'Your friend left her bubbles...' He hands it out to me with his left hand. I notice his right hand is in his pocket and I suddenly think about what if he tries to grab me and cut me or something and then jumps in my running car and steals my girls!? I kind of lean back - prepared to run for the other side of my car - and grab the end of the bubble container. I'm watching his pocketed arm and somehow in one movement grab the bubbles and sort of back up/turn and just jump in the car. I lock the doors and just drive away. Beatrice hadn't been properly buckled in but I just wanted to get away. I later drove down the street and pulled over and buckled her in and just took a little breather. I kind of felt silly because it was broad day light, but where I was standing the nearest party was further down. And maybe consumed with their own activities... uh! Oh well. We're safe, that's all that matters.

Steinbeck and Noises

Well. The Ice House had auditions for Of Mice and Men. I didn't get a part. :( But! COS is having auditions for Grapes of Wrath AND Noises Off. I would LOVE to be in Noises Off! It is a hilarious show! And I can only imagine what fun it would be. Unfortunately the week that Noises Off opens I'll be out of town for a couple of days. The week that a show opens is called tech week. That is the week where you run the show like you're going to run the show. With the lights, sounds, scene changes, costume changes etc. You cannot miss any days during tech week. It's just not done! So that basically takes me out of the running for that... not to mention the director wanted to start rehearsals at 4! Ha! I wish I got of work at 4!

Grapes of Wrath is maybe do-able. I'm going to be here tech week... but the first and second week of rehearsals will be tricky. One week my parents AND Izak will be gone... and another week Izak will be gone. So that means quite possibly I won't have anyone to watch the girls. I was trying to work it out in my head... if I drop Izak off at the airport I could take his truck to rehearsals and whoever I can find to watch the girls can take the girls to cheer practice twice a week... but then I was thinking... I'd have to super plan stuff and have dinners ready for everyone... then what about bath time?? And getting the girls to bed?? The rehearsals would be from 6-9... I can't expect my parents to watch them for a week from 6-9! And just the thought of trying to find someone to pay... and then I was thinking I'd have to pay to be in this show since it's at the college I'd have to pay for the units like $72 or something... and then I was thinking: since it IS at the college does that mean I'd have to buy a parking permit? Coz' everyone knows there's no parking on campus without a permit. I mean yeah, you can risk it and park there and hope you don't get a ticket.... UGH! It just sucks because I'd LOVE to get a chance to work with the director. I've seen the shows that he's directed AND seen him on stage and he's AMAZINGLY talented... sigh. Hopefully some day. It just doesn't look like it will be this day. :( And of course this is all just pre-planned thought out stuff... I could go to auditions and not even get a part and all this worrying and planning would be for nothing. But I have to have at least some kind of back up plan BEFORE I commit to something.

I just can't see it working out. It all seems way too complicated.

Saving Money

In an effort to save money (yes, even like $2) I've switched using my normal branded eye make-up remover to the store brand eye make-up remover. So far it's working well. I haven't noticed any change... it smells a little sweeter than the branded one. But I don't have big pink rash ridden eyes so it can't be bad right? What else can I switch out and save more on??

My Crazy Morning revisited...

Plan failed miserably. Maybe I just shouldn't go to sleep any more. Maybe just sleep on the weekends? Maybe I shouldn't try to look presentable myself and just get the girls looking presentable?

I wish my response to everyone today (well at least this morning) could be: Suck it!

My Crazy Mornings...

I need to be out of the house at 7:15. Like loading up the car and driving down the street. I've been working really hard to get to this point. Testing out what times are best to wake up the girls. Then if it's a rare day that Bea actually wants and lets me do her hair. Not to mention if Bea even likes what I pick out.... and then there's the whole feeding Bea breakfast. Her new school doesn't feed her. So I have to supply breakfast and lunch. Yes, that means I have to make her lunch the night before if I want to have more time to get ready in the mornings. I haven't figured breakfast out yet. Sometimes she's up early enough where she can have a bowl of cereal. Other times she's eating a poptart or dry cereal on the road. I was thinking this morning, I know they make those cereal plastic bowls - where you just rip of the lid and pour milk in, but do they make individual milk containers? You know like juice boxes?? But milk boxes? They must right? I want to cut down on what she brings to school as far as stuff we'll need to remember to gather up when we pick her up... Yes, I know. We're not very green. I'm thinking I'll have to try this approach. That way since we'll be out of the house earlier, at her school earlier, she'll have time to sit and eat her breakfast before outside play time! Perfect right?

Anyways. School starts tomorrow for the rest of the city. I've got to get this down or I'm gonna be stuck in traffic and NOT a happy camper. Tomorrow I'm going to get the girls up at 6. I really hope this helps! Ugh, but I don't have any cereal bowls... nor do I have any time to go to the store this afternoon.... Geez this evening is booked up for me! :/

Halloween

This year Beatrice wants us all to dress up as "Peter Pan guys." Of course she'll be Wendy as you can see by my previous post. She's decided Camille will be Tinkerbell, Izak will be Peter Pan, Grandpy will be Captain Hook, and Gigi and I will be mermaids. My parents most likely won't dress up. But I LOVE Halloween and I will take any chance I have to dress up! But of course I'm not a big fan of spending loads of money on a costume I'll wear once. Hence why I used just a regular black shirt dress for the Wicked Witch of the West last year. I was talking to Beatrice about me being a mermaid and asked her if I could be Tiger Lilly instead. I mean, come on! I'm not going to walk around my neighborhood with a bikini top on and some glittery shiny fabric as a tale. I thought about wearing a mermaid shirt and just doing cool make-up. But even that doesn't satisfy my hunger to dress up!! Beatrice said I could be Tiger Lilly! Now that is something I could probably pull off right? Just find a tan-ish, brownish dress or jumper add some feathers and braids and I'm ready to go right?? We'll see what I can find.

I figured for Izak I could find him some green sweats and cut off the sleeves and legs. I'd have to buy him a hat though... I wonder if he'd wear it. And no, I wouldn't make him wear tights!

For Tiger Lilly... here are my ideas...
I really like this jumper it looks like something I could wear again. And it's on sale online! But they didn't have my size... :( I could check in stores but...
This dress looks like something I could wear to work. I sent this picture to my mom who is (was) currently at Kohls and she found it! I hope it looks just as good in person!
This one is the right color and look... I just had mediocre feelings about this one plus the 'sale' price wasn't much of a sale price...
Tinkerbell for Millie!
I found this costume on the Disney website! All I need to do is add a wand (which we already have) and some glittery shoes and she's good to go!

Wendy

Beatrice said she wanted to be Wendy for Halloween. So that's my challenge. I found this super cute Wendy costume on etsy.com but it's like $50! (Not including shipping.) I just feel that's super pricey for something I can't even see and feel in person. I guess I could return it if I didn't like it.




I found this dress (below) on oldnavy.com. It could be a Wendy dress couldn't it?? It's on sale for $10.00! I figured why not try it! I'll see if it's possible to remove the rosettes and add a thick satin ribbon right under the rouching (sp?). Do Bea's hair the way Wendy wears it and add a satin ribbon to her hair and voila! Right? It could work! So it might not be as long as the real Wendy's but it will look pretty close... (Have I convinced you or myself yet??) :)As soon as I get this dress and work my magic I will post pictures... fingers crossed that it looks passable and Beatrice loves it!!

A sneak peak...

Here is a sneak peak of Camille's invitation! And the theme I've chosen! Isn't she the cutest little mermaid?

Birthday Party Planning...

Yes, I'm planning Camille's 2nd birthday party already. When I get bored I can't just be content and be bored I have to be doing something. So now I'm planning for Millie's birthday. Already have the date set, emailed the friends a 'save the date.' I know! I'm silly. But I get really excited about creating something!! I've got the theme... now I'm just figuring out how to execute it. I wish I could be a party planner and actually make money doing it... ssssiiiiigggghhhh.....

GusGus

We've named the cat GusGus, thanks to Auntie Stacey's suggestion. As you can see the girls just love him! It hasn't been a week yet but this cat is amazing. He is so good with the girls. He lets them carry him around all wonky, put him in their baby crib, jump up and down with him, or just swing him around and he just lets them. Occasionally he'll scratch a little bit to get away, but really who can blame him! When you have little kids pulling on your tail and then picking you up just to drop you again. (Bea does this a lot.)

I moved his food and litter box out into the garage Friday afternoon and he's taken to the change just fine. So far it's worked out where I'll feed him just before I get into bed and he doesn't bug us the whole night! He likes to sleep underneath the sofa. I'm glad and surprised that he doesn't try to bug us more like he did the first night. Maybe he knows that if he does anything wrong he'll be outside in a heartbeat. And he's seen Rugs through the window and does not like him!

Speaking of Ruggers, I had him in the house yesterday just to get them used to each other. GusGus stayed far away. And Rugs was wary of me and kept his distance too. Hopefully they can learn to like each other and hopefully Rugs won't eat Gus!

All in all I'm pretty impressed with this cat. I just hope he stays this good!

Millie racing off with GusGus in her arms! She loves trying to hold him.

It's time for baby to eat!

And we're off again...

Siamese

Our new kitty- who's not yet named. Names we're considering: GusGus, Sushi, and Buzz. Bea loves him. Camille loves him. She's always saying: 'Cat!' and holding her arms out for him to come to her.

I gave him a bath right away. Shampooing him twice with my flea and tick shampoo. A handful of fleas died during that bath, but I know there is more on him. :( I also put some flea solution stuff on him too. I just really hope he doesn't have anything else, like worms, or ringworm or whatever gross stuff animals can get.

The first night he sort of slept with Izak and I. He mainly just crawled around us and purred in our ears and tried to play.

I was worried about his first day home alone. I've limited his space to just the main room and the guest bathroom. He did fine. (I went home and checked on him at lunch.)

I plan on making him and inside/outside cat. With emphasis on the outside. We'll see how things work out.

His litter box has been in the guest bathroom but I will be moving it out today into the garage. I hope he'll take to the change alright. I'm hoping that giving him the garage to explore and play in will help keep him occupied so we can all sleep at night.

Bea holding the new kitty.
Millie trying to play with the kitty.

Beatrice holding the kitty Thursday morning.

Millie!

Camille has been able to crawl up on to her bed from the side and by pulling herself up by holding on to the sheets. This morning she decided to go crawl onto her bed from the foot of the bed. Standing on part of the bottom of the bed and then holding on to the rail that runs across then swinging her leg up and over. She did this a couple of times this morning. Just climbing up and over then getting down off the bed and doing it again. She is so funny. This morning she also crawled on to the coffee table... (see above. Bea is in the background cuddling with her new kitty.)

Lessons and then some...

Last night I had my first piano and voice lesson in a long time!

Why am I taking piano and voice lessons you ask?

I've always wanted to be able to play the piano. I took lessons with my brother long ago and I really enjoyed playing. I've since borrowed his old keyboard and I plan to practice every night this week!

I'm taking voice lessons - not to learn how to sing - but to help me sing better. I want to be in more musicals and I want to be able to control my voice better... like I used to.

I guess I'm just being selfish and wanted to do something for myself. Something that I enjoy doing... (not like getting up at the butt-crack of dawn to work out - which I should get back to.)

In other news....

Beatrice is continuing cheer. She has her first football game to cheer at this month, but we'll miss it. :(

I'm hoping to enroll Camille in 'fun with a friend' (after she turns 2) at the gymnastics place here - she's such a climber and she's always trying to do a somersault, and hanging off of things. She's so fearless! I think she'd really enjoy it.

I'm just waiting around for auditions to start. I'd love to be in another show again and I have two on the immediate horizon that I'm interested in so we'll see. I'm also just looking forward to the fall, and decorating for Halloween! I can't wait to bake and do crafty things. I guess if I don't get a part in any of the shows I will just make some time to be crafty! I've been keeping in touch with the Taffeta Wedding crew and we've been hanging out - going to see movies, and shows together. I'm really excited to have those people in my life. (That sounds lame huh?) I'm even kind of looking forward to trying out the Barlow's church again and they've been talking about doing a bible study at their house for the young married crowd. I know! I know! Sam going to a bible study!?!? I figured I'd just try it... geez.... I'm not getting all church-y on you! ;) So we'll see.

Izak has been working out like crazy and loosing a lot of weight. He plays golf whenever he gets a chance - mainly whenever I'm NOT out and about (which isn't often.) Sorry Izak! He helped clean out the garage and reorganize it and I think it looks so much better now! As well as just functions better. We've still got some crap in there that we've got to go through but it looks a LOT better! You can actually see the floor!