Update

1. We're back! We had a good time in Santa Barbara. It was a quick trip, but we covered the bases, I think. The zoo, beach, and State Street. We tried a few restaurants and also hung out at the pool. I didn't really know our hosts well at the beginning of the trip (the husband is a retired colleague of E's), but I felt I did at the end. They were really easy to talk to, and had a bunch in common with us, despite the differences in our ages (they are in their sixties). Basically, most of the goals I have for our family are things they have achieved. I first noticed this when they mentioned in a story that their children had attended a preschool I was dying to get P into last year. We finally got in, and then I had to dis-enroll her, as our circumstances changed and I need her in an all day class three days in a row. I really admire the level of involvment this family had and continue to have with their children, from those days at the co-op preschool, to the game room they added onto their house so they could lure the neighborhood kids over to play, the summertime trips across country, to the fact that they are now dedicated to spending one week a month with each of their grown sons and families, helping to take care of the grandkids. It inspired me to re-apply myself to my goals. The first step to realizing your goals is to visualize them.

2) Last night was part 1 of the So You Think You Can Dance finale. I didn't love the choreography and the camerawork left something to be desired (although I'm sure its tough to capture everything when the dancers are spread out on the stage and our TV is about 27 inches!) We are very excited to find out who the winner is tonight. We've already picked out a bottle of wine for the occasion. Are considering trying to go to the tour, although seats left aren't so hot, but are p-r-i-c-e-y! Would love for Katee to win, but adore them all.

3) Currently agonizing over what extracurricular activities to enroll P in this Fall. Riduculous problem, I know. We've been doing swim lessons once a week forever, and have observed
s-l-o-w progress. She's only just turning four in two weeks, but has been in the same swim group the whole time she's been in her YMCA lessons. Thought about taking a break in favor of trying dance, which we added this summer and she loves. However, hate to lose what little we have gained with swimming, so thinking of going the other direction instead and increasing the swim lessons to twice a week. And doing dance.

Will post later about plans for P's birthday party - we are doing a 'Pajama Party' this year.

Are you signing up your kids for activities right now?