Today at the grocery store Isaac was just about to meltdown when a gal who was restocking intervened and offered him a cookie. Isaac quickly responded and we were back to shopping in no time. He still wasn't thrilled about finishing the trip but we eventually made it to the checkout. As I was loading up the checkstand Martin called to remind me we were out of jelly. I decided that we'd just finish checking out then go back and get the jelly. Isaac wasn't so thrilled. By the time we made it to the back of the store I was carry him and pushing the cart with his butt. The same gal who gave him the cookie took my cart from me, helped me find my jelly bargain, pushed the cart to the front of the store and got a cashier to sneak my transaction in between customers. I left with that amazing feeling that people are so wonderful, then as I finished loading my car, another customer kindly took my cart back to the coral. Wow. What amazing people I encountered today! I kept thinking about them as I drove home, how I should blog about it, how I should write a note to the manager telling them that Lorena Z. really made my day. Then just as I was turning down my street, the passenger in the SUV I was following threw an empty liquor bottle out of his window and onto the neighbor's yard. What's that all about?

All in all it was a mellow day here at Casa Diggs. We went to a big shindig yesterday so we were all pretty tired. The big kids were outside painting a cardboard box and Martin & I were inside with Audrey. She was practicing standing up. Over and over. She was very excited about it. Then she did this...

It couldn't have been three days ago that Isaac emphatically requested new "light shoes." For those of you who don't know, he's asking for those annoying shoes that light up each time a step is taken. He had a pair of hand-me-downs from Emily several months ago but had grown out of them (only one shoe lit up, but it didn't seem to bother him). Now, the boy is not barefoot. He's got three or four perfectly good pair of shoes plus rainboots that he likes to wear when he rides his bike. I patiently told him that next time he needed shoes, we'd look for some.

Today at my regular Thursday playgroup in blustery Burbank (there was NO wind here in Pasadena) one of the gals brought a bag of clothes her kids had outgrown for Isaac and Audrey. I thankfully accepted the goodies knowing she's adept at thrift shopping and wouldn't pass along junk. When we got to the car I lifted a layer of clothes to discover a pair of tennis shoes that would fit Isaac. I gleefully showed them to him as he likes to wear "speed shoes" but the true joy was only known once we arrived at home. You guessed it -- they light up. He couldn't be happier. I couldn't either. Sometimes the simplest gestures mean so very much.

I'm feeling over-tired and under-witty so I'll keep this short.

Kids are well. Martin is recovering nicely. I'd still like a nap.

Done.

Happy Birthday Eli!
Eli & Audrey were supposed to have their first birthday parties together. But Eli moved 3000 miles away. We miss you Eli. And your dear parents too.

So Martin is my hero once again. I'll let him tell you why.

And that's really all. A busy weekend is upon us. I'm very very tired so I think I'll do what tired mommies do best: sleep for two hours at a time.

I'm feeling a bit better now. I think I'm going out with the girls tonight for a bit of chatter and whatnot. I caught some sunshine while Audrey played happily in the grass. We kept school at a minimum today and it seems the whole family has returned to a state of balance. So I thought I'd show you the one year old with one of her new toys.

We're at war. I'm not going to make any political comment. I'm just saying, you know, we're at war.

I've been edgy these last few days. Don't quite know why. Geez, I can't even type this morning. I'm having to retype every single word. Audrey has a snotty nose. That's always fun times. The house is in a state of disarray. I wish someone would just unload the dishwasher. Someone other than me. Just once? Not coping today. I should make an early morning visit to See's. That would most certainly fix everything. I guess what I'm saying is "steer clear" 'cause I'm not sure where else I might be going here.

Perhaps a shower. Perhaps a nap. And a winning lottery ticket would certainly help.

In case you were wondering, yes, Audrey is chewing on a Barbie. Isaac specifically wanted to give her a Barbie. We've only had one other Barbie here at casa Diggs. Emily requested a "Pet Shop" or "Dog Lovin'" or something like that Barbie for Christmas several years ago. She only played with the dog and eventually pulled the head off the doll. Now, Isaac had the choice of traditional blonde, brunette or the dark skinned with amazingly straight hair (I have to assume she's from India). He quickly chose the blonde as you can see. Hours in front of commercial tv have influenced my boy. I'm so proud. Anyhoo . . . Audrey loves this doll. Well, she loves to chew on her at the very least. But where is this leading? I know families who have well over a dozen of these freakishly slender dolls. I can't go there. We've already seen a Beanie Baby invasion. I must devise a plan.

Interestingly, Emily was examining this new doll one evening. Her first comment was, "Her legs are so skinny!" Then she added, "They're really long too." I was so proud that she could see that there was nothing natural or physically normal about dear Barbie. I think we're moving in the right direction.

Last night at exactly 10:40 pm Audrey woke up. That's the time she was born. I thought it was kinda spooky.

Happy Birthday Audrey!

Are you noticing the recent birthday trend? I didn't realize how many pisces I knew (not that I know anything about the zodiac, but it seemed like a cool way to group my last several posts). I'm not making chocolate cake. Just thought you should know.

Wednesday was a long day. The longest part was the 2 1/2 hours I spent with all three kids at a Beverly Hills allergist. It was maddening and wacky but we came away knowing that Isaac, in addition to all of the hay-fever-type allergies we suspected, is allergic to pecans (we also knew that from the holiday nightmare), walnuts and eggs. Yup. Eggs. Actually egg whites, but the dr. said that cooking with just egg yolks isn't good enough. So I've got to make some changes in my baking ways. Maybe I'll stick with pies from now on.

And on the subject of Beverly Hills. . .I'm so completely out of place there. I don't understand how someone could spend $500 on a pair of pumps, or a purse, or a hat. But they do. That's all. That's all I have to say about "them."

Happy Birthday Melissa!

We had a "family" audition today. The whole bunch of us in a busy casting office along with a whole bunch of other crazy actor folk. I've said this before and I'll say it again, I could never be an LA actor.

We've done this once before for a McDonald's commercial. I don't know why they even bother. We don't look like a "family" that America wants to see on their tvs. You can argue with me until you turn blue, but commercials won't portray the family as a multi-cultural unit for many years to come.

It was an adventure though. I'm fascinated and appalled at the world that Martin works in. I can't believe he does it on a regular basis and is exhilarated by it. It seems trite and demeaning and blah blah blah. I'm probably going on and on this way because I felt like I did so poorly pretending to be a mom entertaining guests. I guess I need to practice. Entertaining or acting? I'll stick with entertaining (my friends, not the world). My acting days in the Rengade Theatre were fun, but I was much younger and had three fewer children then. And LA acting is a whole different world.

So I made brownies. Because I bought butter. And very soon I'll feel better. And I'll leave the acting to Martin.

Happy Birthday Bucky!

Looks like my weekend is done. I didn't do much fancy stuff. I'm out of butter so baking was out of the question. Martin & I have been sharing my car (still no mice) and he's been busy this weekend so I've been home a lot. I spent two hours -- yes, two hours -- cleaning the kids' room yesterday. And it's not even spanking clean, but it's no longer a dangerous place to walk. And I folded laundry. No dollar for you. Then put up an Ikea spice rack today. Anything to free up a little more cupboard space. I got one empty shelf out of the deal. Well, it's not empty anymore. And I folded more laundry. Again, you're missing out on some sweet cash. I've got my coffee set to brew in the morning so I guess I'm ready for bed.

But Martin will be home soon and we have Six Feet Under on TiVo, so maybe just another hour. And another Caffeine Free Diet Coke. Mmmmm. Life is good.

So the other day, after I mentioned my high school buddy Sam, I started typing about how he and my best friend's mom were the only people from that era with whom I still had contact. Then I realized I wasn't really going anywhere with it so I deleted it. Then last night I got an email from "Just Me" titled "A Ghost from the Past." Now, I've gotten some spam in my time, and this seemed like a prime candidate, but I opened it anyway. What harm can it do, right? It was my best friend from high school who'd had a dream that I had a website so she did a search. Voila. There I was. It was so great to hear from her. Her mom hadn't told her that I had a site or that I'd had a third child (we'd not spoken in several years obviously). So I'm just tickled to have her back in my life. (and if any of you need an optometrist in Tennessee, she's your gal) But then this morning I checked my email and another voice from high school had written me. My good friend whose shoulder I cried on after being dumped by Steve Norman (I immediately left town for college. Really. Within 24 hours. And I got over him. Really) So now I'm wondering if the stars are drawing me back "home" or something (home in quotation marks because I've never really felt like I had one). Anyway, we'll see what tomorrow's email brings.

Other happenings about the Diggs house. . . well, I'll give you a dollar if you'll fold my laundry.

My Trivial Pursuit buddy from high school, Sam, wrote in with this suggestion for keeping the rodents away: "I've had those problems, too. Now I keep a few cats around my vehicle all the time. They tend to get chomped by the engines, too, so keep a few spares on hand. But I haven't seen mice in quite a while . . . ." Thanks Sam. I like your idea, but as I'm queasy around mice, I also don't care for dead cats. I'm just quirky that way.

And if any of you were wondering, we have had no new mice sightings.

I had a good thrift store day. I went in to find my friend a mixer. I have a friend who turned 40 today who did not own a mixer. And she really likes to bake. And she did not have a mixer. She was holding out for the master of all kitchen appliances, the KitchenAid Ultra Power. But she didn't even have a hand mixer. So I found her one (in a lovely shade of avacado) for $2.99. So now she doesn't have to wait for her KitchenAid in agony. But my really great find was a $20 lawn mower. A mulching mower that really works. Martin zipped through the yard in no time. I love a bargain. I love a bargain.