WE ROCK NAKED!

Or at least some of us do. We are a family that likes music and we have our own music room to jam naked anytime we want to.

See that awesome blue piano in the background? That's mine. All mine. I turn all Tori Amos and shit when I'm playing on it. I know you wish you had my talents.

We are the family musicians that may someday end up on The Gong Show spewing our talents.(maybe even naked if Izzy continues his quest for enlightenment through birthday suit)

Speaking of Birthdays.....Christian threw us for a loop this year on his request....

For Christian's birthday this year (turning 12), he only wanted one thing.

XFest Concert tickets.

For those of you not in the know, this is an outdoor concert featuring five or six bands. These are not ordinary bands. These are metal bands. Music that makes your ears bleed kind of bands.

Please, take a listen to the video below. This is one of the bands that played at XFest.....

Charming aren't they?

We honored Christian's request to attend XFest with a friend, however, there was no way he was going by himself. There are mosh pits that kill people at these kind of events. So off Bubby and I go with kid in tow to rock out. See?

This is the first time I have worn eyeliner since 1986. Scary huh?
And check out this head-banger choker man? When Christian saw me he said, "Wow Mom! Umm....you look kinda hot." I thanked him and then told him that was kind of a creepy statement and in the future he should just say, "Mom, you look pretty."

The concert should have been called XXXFest. They had a girl come out on stage in just pasties and a g-string and swallow 18" swords. Then they had another girl with pasties, a g-string and some pom-poms dance to several of one of the bands songs.

I think Christian got an eye-opener.

When we arrived, I tried to count how many times the announcer/band said "fuck" but I lost track after 36. That was the first three minutes we were there.

And so we try to keep an open mind.....we let our kids explore music. We allow our kids to run around naked. And from time to time, we get together as a family and shake the walls.

What kind of things do you do as a family?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTIAN!

A STORY ABOUT THE ONES WE LOVE

Shortly after we purchased our first home, we wanted to fill it with children. We couldn't afford for me to stay home at the time so we waited to start our family. Instead, we filled it with our animal children.

I quickly picked out a dog from the shelter. A 9 month old big, brindled Australian Shepherd/Pit Bull mix with a brain the size of a peanut. I named him Ben.

Bubby took his time. He wanted a German Shepherd and wasn't sure about the one they had at the shelter. I encouraged him to go back the next day and take a look at the dog again. He brought her out of the kennel and took her for a walk around the grass enclosure. A woman who was walking out in to the enclosure got a little to close to Bubby for the dogs comfort, and she started growling at the woman.

Bubby knew that this was the dog for him. The dog already was ready to protect Bubby from anyone. Their bond was instant. She already had a name.....Mistie.

Bubby called the previous owners and asked questions about Mistie. They told him that she was born on Halloween and that she had been in a kennel for most of her 9 months since she was born. They had no time for her.

Bubby made up for those nine months. He ran and ran with Mistie. And when Mistie couldn't run anymore, Bubby did this. Along the way we acquired five children, three more dogs and five cats. Mistie was pack leader to them all. She would walk the house at night, checking in all the bedrooms to make sure the kids were sleeping before she would come to bed.

Sadly, Mistie could no longer stay with us. Her love for our family never faltered.

We will miss you.......

Mistie

1992 - 2009

SUMMER BUZZZZZZZ

Lots and lots of swimming......

Roasting marshmallows in the backyard and gorging on smores.......

Weekly organic produce from our community farm and a bowl full of fresh herbs from our neighbor (chives, tarragon, pineapple sage, tangerine sage, rosemary & basil).....

Summer concerts eating shaved ice and grilling anything I can possibly get my hands on........

Lazy afternoon naps on the porch.......

I couldn't have imagined a life for myself this sweet, this good. I am living my dream with my husband and my beautiful children.

I am grateful.