Halloween!!!

Another busy day at Casa Espy. But are we different than any other urban family? I think not. We are living in a city of industrious and connected folk. They have plans, obligations, families, friends. They get around, and so do we.

We had two parties today. Both were lovely. We had a good time. The kids came home late, so we'll see how they fare in the morning. I skipped out on the trick-or-treating this year because I had some work to do. I went with the kids the last two years in a row without Richard, so I figured it was his turn. I missed out on HaHa's first trick-or-treating, though.

Oh well, I guess that's life in the big city!

Also, I promise to write about my writing class soon!

Outfit:

When I looked at my photos, I realized that I unconsciously dressed like a bumble bee, I think. I guess I was inspired by HaHa!

Shirt: Goodwill. Anne Klein II.

Sweater: Thrift store.

Pants: Big Sunday. Bu by Malibu jeans. I am going to have to get rid of these when this project is over. They really don't fit well.

Shoes: These were a hand-me -down from my friend's mom! Lucky me!

Robin-Woman!

Today when I arrived home I unloaded the car, went upstairs, got undressed, and crawled into bed. It was only 9:00 p.m., but it's been a long week. And, I did not sleep very much the past two nights...

Anyway, Richard woke me up in order for me to post, and finally I made it downstairs to my computer. When I uploaded my pictures, they were overexposed, and I was going to try to re-take them. However, I decided that over-exposure is fine for today.

At the park the kids and I played "Robin-Boy (Charlie), Robin-Baby(Leo), Robin-Girl(Ha-Ha), and Robin-Woman(me). It was a lot of fun and a good reminder to play. We also got to play at my lovely friend Wendy's house, and a good time was had by all!!!

Outfit:

I was in a rush to get out this morning, so I just made sure I was wearing something I hadn't worn together yet... Not my most favorite outfit.

Black Shirt: Goodwill. Anne Klein.

Purple shirt: Emma &Sam.

Jeans: Big Sunday. Bu by Malibu Jeans.

Shoes: American Eagle.

Leo's favorite pose!

The Swap!

We had a clothing swap today. The amount of very cute and nice things was amazing.There were piles and piles, and then more piles... I guess we women really love to collect clothes! There were skirts and jackets, shirts and pants. Lingerie. Work out clothes. Roller skates. Hats. Winter coats and shoes. Many cute and very small shoes. It really was amazing.

What I loved were the stories that went with each item. Friends remembered where they had seen another friend rockin' an article of clothing. People told tales of where they found an item.  There were fond, fond memories for many of the items, and, even so, it was time to let go.

I got rid of 9 items! Even with 166 days left in my project, I realized that there were some items I was keeping for all the wrong reasons.

After the swap Pollyanna and I drove out to Malibu to see Josh and Brady. They made us a delicious dinner, and a delightful time was had by all!

Outfit:

Pink Shirt: Forever 21. I got this when I was pregnant with HaHa. I needed something to wear to a graduation.

Jeans: Big Sunday. Bu from Malibu Jeans.

Shoes: Fit Flops.

The Powerhouse!

I got invited to a reading at The Powerhouse tonight. The writers were all very entertaining and captivating, and the theme was "endings". Hearing stories about death, cancer, prison and the world ending (Cuban Missile Crisis), kind of puts things in perspective. I walked to my car feeling grateful, melancholy, and contemplative. The night was clear, and crisp, and as I walked I remembered what it felt like before, when I was just me, on my own. It's weird to feel the same, and yet not the same. I guess that's life, eh?

Outfit:

Blue Shirt: Walmart. No Boundaries. I got this when I was visiting my mom in her tiny Massachusetts town. I feel like I always have to say this, because I have Walmart guilt. Seen in Comments!

Sweater: Hand me down from friend. H&M. Still fighting the summer chill here in LaLa Land!

Jeans: Big Sunday. Bu from Malibu Jeans.

Shoes: Predictions. Today while I was waiting at carpool on of my students told me I need to wear socks with these shoes or my feet will stink! I love the candor of children!

HaHa Bear and her new baby!

Back To Class!

Today I had to go to school to get ready for the summer session. We had meetings and greetings. I found out that I will have an assistant who is a college senior. Man, that makes me feel old! As I was talking to her and some of the other college students, my cheeks started turning red. I felt like the old person trying to be down with the cool kids. What can I say? I am a middle aged woman with four children. To college age people, I am old.

I remember when I was in high school that I thought my teachers were so ancient. When I moved back to L.A. at the ripe old age of 28, I remember seeing some of my teachers and thinking that they were so young! The decade or so between us seemed inconsequential now that we were all adults. It really tickled me. How our perception changes as we grow more mature is fascinating. When I was 10 I thought that 40 was close to death, now I'm pretty sure it's 90.

Outfit:

Camisole: I've been wanting to wear this for a while, but just never got around to it. I found it at Goodwill. I decided to pair it with black, so that it is not overly sweet. I feel like this is an homage to The Pink Ladies. Grease was one of my favorite films when I was younger. I still love it to this day!

Tank: (Underneath) Old Navy.

Black Crop Cardigan: Clothing swap. Gap.

Jeans: I got these from a Big Sunday fundraiser. Bu from Malibu.

Shoes: Airwalk.

This outfit HaHa is wearing was put together by Richard. It is all handed down clothing. When I came home she greeted me at the door in this and I thought she looked so adorable!

After Midnight!

This is the first time I have ever posted after midnight! I'm slipping, I'm tripping... I'm exhausted. I was going to write a poem or just put up all of the horrific photos I took today, but instead I will explain why it is that I am in this position.

Leo has a fever, so instead of driving up north to camp with his entire class today, he was home with me on the couch or in his bed all day. He did get a 40 minute car ride when I had to deliver something to Charlie's school. Fun, fun, fun! Because Leo was out of sorts, HaHa was doubly clingy and demanding. Fun. Fun. Fun. And, poor Leo is missing all of the fun his entire class will have this weekend before they all go off to different schools next year. They've been together 3 years. I feel very bad for him.

It's been a long week. The whole end-of-the-school year business is truly, down to the marrow, fatiguing. Especially when you have kids at different schools. Perhaps it will be better next year when the boys are at the same school. I hope so.

Outfit:

Since I was getting dressed in a pinch, I opted for a fool-proof way of not repeating: An unworn item! I did not get to photo taking until 6:15, so the light was not great. I came inside and did a few with flash, but I always hate the way those look. At any rate, this is what I wore:

Black shirt: Goodwill. Forever 21. This shirt still had the tags on when I found it at the good 'ol GW.

Green shirt: Old Navy. This is a maternity shirt that I still wear.

Jeans: Big Sunday. Bu from Malibu Jeans.

Shoes: Predictions.



Last night, when I brought the sleeping pad in for our camping trip, Char-Char proceeded to turn it into a character!

Goodwill!

This morning, as I drove Leo and HaHa to the beach for a field trip, I happened to end up behind a Goodwill truck. There it was in the gray, gray light, telling me to carry on with my ridiculous project.  "Do not be discouraged", it said. "Keep on Trucking!" I love little signs from the universe like this.

When I woke up to get ready for the beach it was cold and overcast and I thought I might have a message on my cell phone saying "trip canceled." I did not. So we headed West. Much to my surprise, many of the kids were in their bathing suits, and they got wet! I, of course, was freezing, and I was happy I had a jacket and a scarf to throw over my sweater and "beachy" top. We had a great time, and the sun came out just when it was time for the children to go home!

I took the long way home. As we drove we passed a shop I had never seen before called Essential Chocolate. At the same exact moment on NPR's Bookworm a writer said the words "Essential, existential loneliness." My brain immediately linked essential-chocolate-loneliness. Could this be another sign?

Outfit:

Orange Sweater: From cousin. Mossimo.

Shirt: Old Navy. I got this in MA, a couple of summers ago when I was visiting my mom. I was pregnant which seems to have been a fertile shopping time for me!

Jeans: Big Sunday. Bu from Malibu Jeans.

Shoes: Fit Flops.

HaHa loved being with the older kids! Even in the freezing cold!

Double Duty!

As I was crawling into bed this morning at 5:50, my friend Erin was enjoying the very wee hours with her little ones. She got up at 5:20, to be exact. So there we were, two ships passing in the dawn. The night owl and the early bird, both inspired not only by our own natures, but by our little chickies. I won't go into the whole story of why I was up so late, but I will say that HaHa was up for two hours in the middle of the night. I comforted her, gave her water, rubbed her back, and put on music, but after about an hour I left her crying in her crib and went back downstairs to finish up some work. Imagine my surprise when I heard cries of "Mah-mah... mah-mah" approaching! Haha was apparently lifted out of her crib by her 5 year old brother. I had thrown in the towel, but her brother said, "H to the N mom. You're not gonna' leave this cryin' child in my room!"

So I held her, and she slowed me down. I waited a while then I gingerly placed her back in her crib. I finished my work, made lunches, sent a few emails, brushed my teeth, then lay my heavy head down at 5:50 a.m! The phone rang 10 minutes later, but I couldn't sub today because I had an appointment. Part of me wondered if I could have gone to work without sleeping at all. Probably not a good idea. It does make me wonder. I guess this is part of getting old. I can't do all-nighters anymore.

HaHa called me from her crib at 8:30. My outfit today reflects my fatigue and lack of inspiration. It also had two lives. My original creation ended up getting changed back to a more subdued outfit, because I was cold, and didn't feel up to whimsy. Blame it on the lack of zzz's!

Oh! The highlight of my day was getting to meet my amazing friend's new baby girl! She is beautiful and sweet and she had that new baby smell!

Outfit:

Embroidered Shirt: Thrift store. This is actually the bottom half of a dress I cut in two. I tied the ends to create the "top".

Grey sweater: From cousin. A comfy staple for me. I've worn it quite a bit, so I decided to wear it in a "new" way.

Jeans: Big Sunday. Bu from Malibu.

Shoes: Predictions.

See the double bags under the eye?!