* The White Family *

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Osaka Steakhouse

My BFF's daugther, Ainslie, turned 10 last weekend. She is an 1/8 Japanese and celebrated her birthday and heritage with a party at Osaka steakhouse. The girls each wore a kimon o and some were even brave enough to try the sushi! We had a great time!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Stuff

I typically only blog about my children, but today I must tell you about STUFF. Yes, the all-inclusive, non-specific STUFF that makes us the crazy individuals that we are. Let me begin with the crazy individual I call my "husband." I love this man. He is my favorite. BUT, David has an unhealthy love for big vehicles, big tires, and big shiny wheels. I do not understand this. I do not REMOTELY understand this. Yet, I choose to tolerate this obsession.

Meet Samson. (Yes, his Chevy Suburban has a name.)
Samson consumes over half of my driveway. Samson sits almost 3 feet off the ground!

Here is my van.

I do not care about what I drive, other than the fact that my kids can climb in without my help, and that I have ample room for groceries and the occasional extra cousin passenger. It doesn't have to have big tires, tinted windows, or shiny wheels. This kind of stuff does not excite me.

Backing out of the garage in my van without hitting Samson is a challenge. I TRY to be careful. (I am a woman driver, you know) I occasionally nudge the passenger side mirror against the side wall of the garage in an attempt not to harm Samson.
This is what happened on nudge number 3.

Now, I typically don't drive Samson, (you can only image what I would hit driving a bigger vehicle than my van.) but every Wednesday morning, I fire up the V6 engine, toss (yes, literally toss) my kids up in the suburban and roll out to 3 schools with a load of cousins aboard.
Here is, as I affectionately call it, the "Cousin Caravan."

Man, do I love the "stuff" inside this tricked-out and ridiculous suburban today!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Soccer for Devon

Devon will be playing soccer for the first time this season. He watched Ella play last spring and although I didn't think he was paying much attention, he was. He is pumped to play soccer! Tuesday we took him to buy new soccer shoes, shorts, and his own ball to prepare for his 1st practice on Thursday. The boy never takes a nap, but on Thursday after I told him he would run faster and have more energy at practice, he crawled up in his bed after lunch and went to sleep. He was more than ready! Practice went well and he keeps asking when he gets to play in a real game! What an exciting new adventure for a 4 year old boy!

Cafeteria Food

My mom made me eat in the school cafeteria when I was a kid. It didn't kill me.

Now that Ella is in elementary school, she's going to eat in the cafeteria too. Let's just say, it's a family tradition! :)

She was quite excited the first couple days to pick up a tray of hot food and a carton of cold chocolate milk. That was, until she saw her friends bringing their lunches and peer pressure set in. Where did the notion of, "it's cooler to bring your lunch than eat in the cafeteria" come from anyway? It makes no logical sense. I say, "BOO" to you parents who pack your kids lunch everyday! What are you thinking? School lunches are only $1/plate. Now, that's a bargain! Of course that's not the only reason I make her eat in the cafeteria, it's convenient for me, it helps the environment (less trash), I'm providing jobs for our community, it's convenient for me...

Bring on the nachos and pineapple ring! Bring on the spaghetti and pears! Eat it up and remember, there are some kids starving in Africa!!! Be thankful for your hot plate of school lunch!

THAT SAID...
Here is what the other side of this parenting duo thinks:

Do not subject your child to eating "Turkey ala King" or as David calls it, "Turkey ala Poop"

Instead, bring a Happy Meal to school that day and eat with your baby girl!