We Are Family

I got a very, very excited call early this afternoon from a good friend of mine. Proposition 8 had just been overturned and the world got a little more secure for my friend's family. Obviously, there will be an appeal -- that was clear as soon as the judge put pen to paper (well, probably long before that) -- but this judge systematically destroyed proponents' of the ban arguments. Now, I don't mean for this to be a political blog (and I honor the fact that others disagree with me on this topic) but it's another one of those landmark moments that I feel should be singled out as significant in my children's early lives.

My closest friend here is a lesbian and a fantastic parent to her son. Her wife is also a wonderful mom and he's a great kid with lots of "stability" and "responsibility" in his family and he lives within an "enduring family structure". Trying to argue that these characteristics are universally more present in opposite-sex couples versus same-sex couples is, to me, confusing and a case of erroneous logic (not to mention without legal merit, according to Judge Walker). Molly's buddy is a lucky kid no matter how you slice it. One of the big reasons that the former Midwesterners live on this side of the border is because they get to be a family no matter where they go. They don't have to worry about going from one state to another and suddenly losing the rights that they just had 20 seconds ago. They're not confronted with the legal and emotional ramifications of being denied equal rights. They don't have to worry that their son's non-biological mom may not have a claim to her own child should something happen to his biological mom. They are simply a family doing family things and they do it with lots of love for not only their own kids but my two kids as well.

This was a big day for them, as I'm sure it was for bazillions of other couples throughout the country. I was honored to be able to share in their happiness and hear the relief in my friend's voice. She's a mom, her wife is a mom and today they got one step closer to simply being a family wherever they walk.

Smoky Eyes

Seriously? I thought it was Jack that I had to worry about getting his mitts on stuff he shouldn't. I guess Molly just decided to "help" me work through my existing make-up inventory so that I can get new stuff...

For anyone who might be horrified by the off-the-shoulder look, please know that her shirt is actually very cute and just slipped off her shoulders. I'm not looking for a spot on Toddlers and Tiaras or anything. 

On Top Of The World

AH! Jack says I'm falling behind again. This is very unlike me...

More stuff from our Banff ba Banff Banff Banff trip. It's a hard place to sum up and we managed to pack in a lot in a short amount of time. In addition to marveling over and over at how blue the water is, we did other cool things like...

walk on a glacier

 

glaciers are big and bad and this puppy goes back a lo-ong ways. 

These are the big rigs that you ride to get out the glacier. If you have kids who like trucks and cars and things that go, they would like this thing and the fact-delivering drivers. 

We also took a gondola ride up to the top of one of the giant mountains. You get some nice views from 7400 ft in the air...

A couple of you asked how the potty training on the road went... overall, it went fine (although, note to future visitors, avoid the seat in the middle of bus #47 up to the glacier...). I did do something I vowed I would never do, which was carry a potty in the car with us (why do I ever say never about anything?). It did, however, give Molly one royal throne to sit on as needed. Since we've been home, she's been doing great. I think I'm officially down to one diaper wearer again.

Rocky Mountain High

How much have we been up to? SO MUCH... 

I'll do better updates soon but in the meantime, Banff was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. I used to think that the Tetons were a little slice of heaven (and still do) but I think the Canadian Rockies might be a little bit bigger piece of heaven pie. They are simply stunning and no words could do them justice.

Since the kids will never remember being there, we might as well prove that they were...

Our stupendous travel mates. 

Would you want to sign up for endless hours in the car with a potty-training two and a half year old and a nine month old? Me neither... 

Lake Louise... not a bad lunch backdrop (sorry Greg and Meg, we had to do it). 

I'm not climbing that. Ever. 

What's the mountain air doing to this guy?

Your Smiling Face

I think summer makes people around here very happy. I've got some grinny mcgrinny kids lately. I do realize that many of these pictures were taken while sitting at the table and I think it's because it's one of the only times that I have a captive audience. While not every day is cheery and rosy, sunny (and not muggy, sorry easterners) days are some cause for minor celebration.

She's chanting "teach Jack to clap. Teach Jack to clap..."

You can glimpse Jack's snaggle-tooth grin here. One of his front teeth broke through over the weekend so this look is about to be officially retired. 

I guess the camping bug hasn't worn off yet.

Nothing wakes you up in the morning like a big laugh attack. 

"Will this look get me out of trouble because I'm about to touch your phone?" For the record, no.

Once again, if I need Jack to cheer up, I just trot Molly out. 

Hot, sweaty, and happy after playing and swimming.

Ain't Life Grand

We've seen one half of our grandparental unit out here this summer and are awaiting visits from the other half. Really, I'm not sure who loves to have the visitors more -- me or the small ones. It was great to have my parents here to explore some stuff that requires more than just my two hands, not to mention having the opportunity to do some adult sized activities (have I mentioned how many wineries are around us?). Having daytime company was a real treat, not that I don't love the topics that Molly comes up with for us to discuss. The kids... well, who wouldn't be in heaven to have extra people to tickle, love, giggle, chase, make laugh, sing to, ask questions of (and we're at the point where some of the questions are more than G rated), get pushes from, and everything in between that grandparents are willing to do?

I don't know if you've noticed but Molly looks and acts almost nothing like me. The things she did inherit, however, are my short fuse (unfortunately) and my memory. She holds onto to EV-ER-Y-THING and long after my parents left is she remembering things that they say or do or did... whether it was on this visit or many moons ago. Whenever I say "sound like a plan?", she adds "Stan... that's what Grammy says!" or if she's done some stinky business she says "WOOO-WEEE... that's what Grampy says!" So, for all upcoming visitors, you may want to think ahead of time what you'd like your legacy to be.

Reading together.

Geeking out together.

Hugging together.

Standing tall together.

Acting silly together. Please note that the mastermind of this situation was not caught dead with a silly hat on her head. Those are for the other suckers. 

Sticker Shock

Does this seem like a good idea to you? NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I think it went a little something like "hold still Jack Jack. I have to get this thing just right."