the · front · porch

Today is Bennett's fourth birthday. My inlaws are coming up from San Diego today and we're going to Chuck E Cheese for lunch. I've never ever been to one before. Ever since B spied the place (across from the glasses store in the mall) he has been asking to go. So..... today's the day. The things we do for our kids.

In other exciting news: Adam's kickstarter campaign went live and we're spamming the entire internet about it. I'm hoping that it's just today and then maybe once a week or something? But I promised him I'd put it out every where I can!

If you like tarot and/or Japanese-style pop art, please check it out! The Chibi Tarot

I'm really proud of him and so excited about this deck! Plus, be sure to watch the video for glimpses of Bennett and myself. I am an excellent infomercial actress, if I do say so myself!

I just finished watching The Help, spread out over two days. I thought I could watch it with the kids, but trying to explain dialog and racism to Bennett *and* watch a movie... not worth it.

It is really problematic on several levels, mainly in that a white lady swoops in and saves the day (mostly) and several endings are too neatly wound up in the end. It's rather thin in several sections. There's a lot you can read on the internet about this.

And yet.... the acting was great and, you know what? It was a movie entirely about women's lives. It was an entirely female ensemble cast, with more than one woman of color. Sure, those women are all maids and it's sad that in this day and age a movie about women of color is still set in the south in the days of such overt racism. (Yes, there are Tyler Perry movies, and I cannot and do not want to comment on those.) It is not a chick flick. It is a movie about the complexities (though not particularly complex in the telling) of women's lives, privileges and lack of.

And it made me so glad that I get to raise and love on my babies myself. So.... I liked it and was moved by it. More than I was expecting to.

This week starts 3 months of awesome/crazy.

This Thursday, 5.24 = Bennett turns 4 and my inlaws arrive
5.26 = A wee birthday party, robot themed of course
5.27-5.30 = A trip to Sonoma, CA for a bachellorette girls' weekend thing. I tell ya, I am going to feel like a freaking hippy lefty weirdo in this crowd. And yet: I appreciate the chance to get away and hang out with great ladies. It'll be my first night/s away from Astrid!

6.5 = My birthday
6.9-6.17 = My sister and my eldest niece, who will be 13, in July are visiting. I haven't seen them since before I went to Wales, nearly 3 years ago now. Last time they saw Bennett he was as old as Astrid is now - and they've obviously not met Astrid yet.
6.16 = Evening in Seattle

6.30-7.7 = I take the kids to Alaska, haven't been there in nearly 3 years, which means I haven't seen my father in that long either.
7.7 = 5th wedding anniversary
7.14-16 = Back to CA for the wedding
7.21 = Evening in Seattle
7.22-7.30 = Whole family goes to CO and KS for Adam's mother's family's gathering. It's a Big Fucking Deal.

8.4 - 8.12 = Sometime in here Keypike and family come to visit and we meet up with Miss Swamp and Livingdeadpan and their family and we go to the WA coast and spend a few days all together
8.21 = Evening in Seattle

It's all really, really great stuff. On nearly every trip I'll get to see wonderful people and meet up with friends and acquaintances I've not seen in a long time. My cup is very full.