Interception

Yes, he caught it and ran. That's the Big O, playing flag football on a golden evening in Los Angeles. I've said it before, but despite my own complete and utter lack of expertise in anything athletic (and interest, I'd add), I've grown and raised two athletes, boys who love to talk and play sports and who get their ya-yas out on the field. And I'll add that it doesn't inspire me to be good at anything athletic, either. I'm happy sitting in one of those chairs that fold up like an umbrella, my face turned toward the sun, grateful for their health and exuberance and abilities.

Flag Football and Coconut Cake

1. Watch as the other team slips from your grasp, again.
2. Do a little glaring
3. Get THREE flags in stunning feats of agility.
4. Lose 34-0 and still muster enthusiasm for Doritos and Gatorade.

1. Cream an inordinate amount of butter and sugar together.
2. Add four large eggs and four large egg whites.
3. Pour one cup of unsweetened coconut milk into creamed mixture.
4. Etc.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately one hour.

To be continued.

Monday, Monday

can't trust that day.

I actually trust Mondays, love Mondays. And I'm looking forward to this one. Here's a cheerful weekend wrap-up, probably a welcome respite from the doom and gloom around here of late.

Our neighbor K made this beautiful swing frame for Sophie. She is in heaven under the tangerine tree once again.

I made this butterfly cake for a little girl's birthday:

Vanilla Cake with White Frosting

and I made this ladybug cake for the little girl's sister's birthday:

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Red Fondant

I sat on two blazing hot ball fields:

That's Henry playing catcher

and I didn't take a photo of Oliver playing flag football, but it was hot:

We saw the movie Moneyball, which I highly recommend. Brad Pitt did such a great job in the movie that I actually loved learning about baseball and statistics. I'm not kidding. And I'm not crazy for Brad Pitt or anything (right now it's Ryan Gosling that I'm a tad obsessed with):

So here's a photo of Ryan Gosling, because that's really where I've been heading this entire post:

Oh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn't guarantee
That Monday evening you would still be here with me.

Quote of the Day

Because I barely had a chance to speak with him yesterday about his school flag football game, I asked Henry this morning how it went. He's twelve and in sixth grade.

We lost again, Mom, he replied. We got creamed, 45 to nothing.


Remember that you're a new middle school and an even newer team, Henry. You're probably the youngest team playing, I answered.

Mom, it's so unfair. Those guys had beards.