Czarnota & Daughters meet Mumford & Sons

Still recuperating from the weekend I can finally take a sec to post a few pics of this awesomest moment of all moments of our summer.

On Friday evening we took a drive down to Monterey (Budster went to the Doggie Resort where we could watch him via puppy cam :), took occupancy at the Hilton (thanks to our time share points) and after a good nights sleep and a round of swimming in the am (napping for Mama) we took off to watch the best band ever LIVE.

LONG, LONG awaited!!!
This surely was the most anticipated moment of the year.
I had bought the tickets seconds after they went on sale (rightfully so since they were sold out within hours).
The "Gentlemen of the Road"show had a Stopover in Monterey at the Fairgrounds and our beloved Mumfords were the front runners.

We entered the fairgrounds around 1:00 pm just to realize that Marcus Mumford would not show up until 8:50 PM!!! and of course there were no in-and-out privileges.

So we were in for the LONG haul!!
Luckily they opened the fair rides for the festival and this was plenty to occupy the Ls for a while.
And plenty of interesting outfits to keep me busy for forever!!!

Banjo playing on the side lines ... just for fun!

Lots of wild rides for L and Papa.

Oh how I wanted you, you GIANT chicken!!!

Oh well ... I ended up with the small one but still a good companion for my Chicken Little (since Rupi moved back to his old coop (due to his Buddy anxiety!).

Dressed to ROCK!

Every festival "goer" must take a nap on the lawn!!

Or in Mama's arms while loud rock music is roaring through the air. These noise reduction head phones really did work :)

We took seat at 3:00 pm at the right side of the stage, as close as one could get to the main stage, and guarded that spot with our lives until 8:50PM!!!

While one would walk off with one of the kiddos to entertain or get food the other one would hold down the fort and inhale the "lovely" smells provided by our (already very happy) neighbors.
I kept staring at them, with Lulu sleeping in my arms, hoping they would get the hint BUT clearly child-safety and/or drug exposure was not on their minds at that point (doubtfully ever will be).

I suddenly felt VERY old, looking at all these young kiddos, dressed up in very questionable outfits or the lack there of while I was standing there, holding my bebe in my arms while the other one would play some game on my iPhone.

Gogol Bordello was the last show before our boys took charge of the stage and boy-oh-boy did they ever wake up the crowd.
We had never heard of this Gypsy punk band who are something to be seen AND heard for sure and while I am not so sure that this was suitable music for a 5 year old I have to say WE LIKED THEM!!!

Especially the song "Start wearing purple" ... guess who rocked out BIG TIME to that one :)
Click here to hear/see

... and then it was time for MUMFORD & SONS to come and enlighten us with their sheer presence,  according to the almost fainting girls to the left of us who apparently wanted nothing more in the world than to be impregnated by Marcus (lead singer) and they kept  telling SCREAMING it out loud.
The guy to the right of me, who still had a big grin on his face after watching that 20 year old girl flashing the Gypsies with her training bra size jewels, had also taken note of the somewhat infatuated, stoned and a wee bit drunk wannabe-single mothers to a child of a married super star, and screamed "HE SAID HELLO" while fluttering his hands when Mr. Mumford did so.

I almost peed my pants!

These "girls" where pretty close to our age, their very NOT impressed boy friends of the night stood right next to them while they balled their eyes out and day dreamed about having intercourse with a complete stranger.
Granted, the boy/MAN CAN SING and very beautifully at it and his band mates are not bad either nor is their ability to play so many different instruments BUT come-on ... "Marcus, I want to have your baby" goes a little too far!
A) One always asks first about the phone number, even if just to call to claim the alimony and
B) The dude just got married to a very pretty girl, I doubt he'd even look at you ... half waisted, dirty and stinky, reeking like a Marijuana farm girl.
Sorry to break the news to you!
Should have done what I did when Bono didn't give me his number (in the good-old days) I married the nice guy next to me :P

All one could see was masses and masses of people, who ALL SANG EVERY SONG .... which clearly defeats the purpose of going to a concert to LISTEN to the guys with the GOOD voices sing the songs.
Thankfully, they played some of the new songs of their new record and since nobody had heard the songs before we were actually able to just listen to the band without everybody around us roaring the lyrics to the song.
YES, I am getting OLD!!!
I used to be one of those roaring but now I much rather sit and listen to these amazing artists sing songs just for me :)

The group ended with pulling all the other bands on stage and improvised a group-song "The Weight", which was complete AWESOMENESS!!!

We went home, our ears ringing, our legs tired and our hearts full of good-awesome-great music-family-fun!

The best time we have had in a LONG time!!!

Thanks guys for the Stopover ... we'll be back to hear your tunes over and over again!!

We L-O-V-E us some good'old Mumford!!!

{this moment}

"... every day I'm shuffling"

{this moment}

First homework ever!

The Night Before Kindergarten - Part II

(with a 24 hour delay due to a little back-to-school-kitchen-table-party with GP until 1:00 AM ...)

In the morning it came --
School starts today!
Would the teacher be nice?
Would they still get to play?

Faces were washed,
And teeth were brushed white;
Kids posed for pictures
With eyes sparkling bright.

Parents packed snacks,
And kids hopped in cars
As if they were boarding
A spaceship to Mars.

The first time both walk together to school, attending school at the same place and the same time.

BIG smiles.

Hello Mr. Crossing-guard!

Big L was off to find her new room line while I stayed back to wait with Lulu.

But not to worry, she had per personal bodyguard GP with her to make sure she made it safely to class.

Some kids brought blankets
Or their favorite stuffed bear,
In hopes they could nap
Like they did in day care.

(it's been a while since Lulu took a nap ... hahah ... she skipped that wonderful time of the day about three years ago :)

Mrs. O: "Good morning Lillie! I mean Lucy! I will get confused all year, Lillie, Lucy ... oh my"
Me: "Just call her L or Lulu :)"

L had been so shy on her first day but not Lulu, she came and conquered.
Bright smile and off she was ... a new adventure begins :)

One last BIG hug from Mama, telling her I'd miss her all morning and holding on tight ... for a LONG time!

Bye-Bye parents.
See you at noon!

Meanwhile the BIG ONE was waiting to be presented to they newest CZ school kiddo at home.

Good bye Lucy. See you tomorrow.

And then the anxiously awaited moment had arrived!
Zuckertueten time!!!

"WOW, thats a BIG one! I'll have to share this with Lillie!"
Awww ...

Papa and his Lulu :)

Lulu and her Nick, all smiles those two!

We searched and searched and found big sis on the playground.
Reluctantly she came and joined her sis for a quick pic but then was off to be with her buddies again.
Apparently hanging out with your parents at the playground is NOT COOL anymore :(

Lulu and I shared a quiet moment on the swing chatting about her first day.
Me: "How was your first day?"
Lulu: "You should have asked me earlier now I forgot!"
Me: ???

Lulu bringing L her little sister-tuete (which we completely covered with Star Wars paper since she would NEVER take a princess tuete in her hands!)

Little did I know, because even a Star Warts Zuckertuete is NOT COOL and she would only hold it to take one quick picture before her friends would see her.
I had the honor of dragging the thing back home just to have it ripped out of my hands as soon as the front door closed.
Apparently getting gifts on your first day of school (once you are out of the public eye) IS COOL after all.

Wow, I have a whole lot of learning to do about this second grade thing.
No kisses or hugs anywhere near school, no visiting at lunch time and NO holding hands!
:(

The evening was spent celebrating by going out to supper with GP, an early bed for the school kids (they were out within seconds) and a LONG and HARD celebration and VERY deep conversations with GP until VERY early.

And now we have officially two kids in school.
Three hours of HOME ALONE!
WOW ... what will I ever do???