Everything I Learned I Learned from my Kids

I resolve in 2007...
...to enjoy my meals with loved ones

...to dance like no one is watching

(and pants are so 2006)

...to eat my deserts with complete and utter abandon


May you have a happy and chocolate cupcake filled New Year!

Soon It will be Christmas Day

The boy is still sick, not as bad, but its so that I want to put the diapers back on. I get worried evertime he starts rubbing his tummy. He'll have none of that 'baby stuff' though.
And so I have mountains of laundry before I sleep...(that was for you W).
But I will keep the Christmas spirit, nothing goin' bring me down. So its delivery of presents today(after work), maybe some city lights tonight and hot cocoa (not for the boy though, Pedialite anyone?).

These are the last Christmas scenes from my home (I promise). Tomorrow I will be working in the morning, then I just want to concentrate on spending precious time with my family.
May you have as much joy in your heart as I do in mine and have a beautiful, wonderous Christmas!

And when you do, you know how it was meant to be, see the signs and know their meaning

Well, so much for all better. Now C-boy has the stomach flu. Bright side is that at least its not Christmas. The bad side is that it was W and my 7th anniversary tonight. And we spent it doing homework with C-girl - she had a ton of it since she missed ONE day of school, isn't that crazy, she's just in first grade? Okay, I won't even go there. And the other half of the night babying the sick boy, while I did like, 4 loads of germy laundry. Lots of hot water needed, at least we have solar heating. See, silver lining. Or something to that effect.

Anyway, since it is my anniversary I will post a pic of... yikes, the two of us in our 'younger years'. And yikes is right. I put this in because we do not look anything like that anymore - I think.

I tried not to get too close up to the picture as not to scare me(or anyone who looks at it). W looks like he's 12 years old there. How's my circa 1989 perm? Hindsight sure is 20/20(I haven't permed since and I never plan to again). I think we were about 18 in that one, so I chalk it up to experience.

We have such a great relationship, and always have. Even when there was a point that we weren't in each others lives, way before we got together again, I always knew he was there and there was always something special between us. Sounds funny, but W knows. Life's a wild ride, and I wouldn't trade mine for the world.

Anyway, I just need to say that W, you and the kids are my everything. Life is just a box of chocolates, and you are the awesome truffle one with the sweetest-best-filling inside. Happy Anniversary W.

You Take the Good, You Take the Bad...

We had an awesome / horrible weekend-

The awesome part- Friday nite annual Christmas dinner with friends - my sis, her husband, Nonnahs, her sister and W. Everything was excellent and no kids to scream at the dinner table. Then, Saturday, lunch with high school friends, our annual secret angel exchange, yummy Italian food then some power shopping. Then, that nite, the most incredible Billy Joel concert. And then some clubbing since my sis in law had the kids.

Now the bummer part. We get home at 4:30 am (we tend to milk it when we dont have the kids) and at a very early 6:00 am - which felt like 5 minutes after I fell asleep on the count of too much wine and a sore tummy- my SIL calls and says C-girl has been throwing up ALL nite. Needless to say my Sunday was not that great. And the sore tummy I thought was from the wine, well lets just say I had a touch of the same that C-girl had. Uck. So it was a very unproductive Sunday, and all I could think as I lied there clutching my evil stomach was, that I had a ton of presents still to wrap and that those gingerbread men for C-boys class were NEVER going to be done (I hardly think the parents would want me baking with a flu). Thankfully my husband took care of the kids all afternoon and nite, I hardly heard a peep from my darkened bedroom. Thank you W, you rock.

Well, today is a much better day, although I think I'll be skipping any cabernet for the next few nights, let me tell you. I'll just end with a pic I took last week, it was a slight bit chilly - still shorts weather but a nice cozy hoodie would work too. And I told C-girl to take a pic of her in the pretty pink shawl that Aunty Nonnahs made for her a while back, she decided her demure look was the way to go with this one.




This, I'm not sure what she's doing, but you can see our yard is finally getting some attention. Yay! Not sure how its going to end up, but anything is better than the horrid barren area that it was.

Gingies!!!

I love making gingerbread men, I'm not being sexist, I would make women too if I had the cutter for it.

One of my favorite friends and blogger Nonnahs came over for a visit and helped us- shes here to spend the week back in her hometown, Yay!

We did only a couple as I my allergies got the best of me today, the rest (when we get around to doing them, will go to C-boys preschool for each child, won't they be impressed by the amount of sugar the kids put on. My goodness, cavity starters if I ever saw one.


Although baking in the kitchen with the monsters is a fun treat(in other words nuts), most times I try to get around doing the prep part (measuring, sifting and mixing) without them by quietly doing it myself and then telling them when its time to decorate, which is what I did this time...the decorating is the fun part anyway. The dog enjoyed the bits that inevitably fell to the floor. And there was LOTS.

I used Martha Stewarts basic gingerbread recipe but cut back on the ginger and eliminated the pepper then added about three tablespoons more sugar, since the last time I made it the kids said it was too spicy. It turned out much better and kid friendly. Sorry Martha(I'm sure she'll get over it).

Aunty Nonnahs also brought these adorable ornaments from Crate and Barrel, one for each of the 12 days of Christmas, so cute! Perfect for our mini tree by the front door.

Thank you! Thank you! Love it!

Crafts by the Kids

Some first grade crafting...

And some Preschool style crafting...

(Its a reindeer)
I give those Preschool teachers credit for that one, all the painting of the feet and hands then cleaning up those rascal kids. I don't even want to think about it.

But I think the shirt came out pretty cute!

Maybe we'll do it again at home. Just kidding.

Blue Christmas

Yay! The tree is finally up...

This was taken early in the morning and its very, very dark and with the new LED lights the tree looks a bit blue...not sad just literally, blue. I know, it needs more lights, but its just going to get bluer...


And there was a bit of crafting, here's some garland made with scrapbook paper...

And stockings for the kids made from stripey thrifted sweaters. They are a bit plain, I meant to embellish with buttons but I wanted it up before the tree was decorated-

Happy Friday everyone!!

The Gingerbread Story

The M family went to the Annual Gingerbread Festival this past weekend to make Gingerbread houses. This is the Daddy doing only the 'construction phase'. Thats all the Gingerbread he wants to do. And Mommy is down with that.


Then Mommmy and children go ape with the frosting and pretty candy. Mommy is instructed to not get upset with messy decorations, because according to the girl, "Daddy said there's no wrong way to decorate it, Mom." Whatever. Although an Aunty gave both children gummy bloodshot EYEBALLS to decorate. That's not going on the house or anywhere near it, Mommy has to put her foot down on disgusting decorations.

Then the wrapped house gets left in the car for hours in the sun while the family goes shopping and the poor peppermint candy (the favorite part according to Mommy, of the decorations) gets runny and melted. Mommy won't cry.

She brought home extra frosting and candy to fix it.

Pats on the back for Mommy.

A Mishmash of Thoughts

Its finally a little cooler! yay! I wore a jacket outside for the first time yesterday, granted it was just a hoodie but its better than tank top weather. I know it probably won't last but its a welcome change from the hot we've been having...
Case in point, beach this past sunday. sunny and hot.


Anyway, its in the 70's which might not sound like winter to mainlanders but I'll take what I can get. More cool weather please, please.

On a totally unrelated note, I just wanted to show my Edna Eicke prints (purchased via ebay)that I finally framed in some thrift shop finds and hung near the book reading area. I love the way they turned out, I have some more to frame so I'm on the hunt for more vintage frames.




Sorry the framed ones are so glare-y I should have taken the pics before it was framed.

And finally a a crazy huge 'thank you! thank you!' to Nonnahs for this Sarah M. 'Wintersong' CD, I love it and have been listening to it everynite since I got it! Just what the Christmas doctor ordered!

Trying to Stay Green

If you didn't catch Treehugger's Simran Sethi on Martha Stewart last month here's a clip she has info on recyled and bamboo materials. We just got a bamboo sheet set from Bath and Beyond and it was worth every penny(it was many pennies). You would never think bamboo could be that soft.

Also if you don't already read Danny Seo's Blog I highly recommend it. Very cool and inspiring ideas for every day and the Holidays.

This year I'm going to try to buy as many eco-friendly gifts as possible but it proves to be hard here since most of it has to be mail ordered, which in turn causes CO2 concerns as well. Hmmph. Anyway, I found some nice bamboo items from Crate and Barrel as well as from Vivaterra, maybe I will scope out the local wood vendors here too and see if anything turns up. I'll also be checking out the thrift shops, this is a good way to recycle as most of you know, there are a couple people on my list that would appreciate a really good vintage item (which I love, sometimes the fact that it has a history adds to the charm). Trust me, I am no green saint, so I will be getting what I think people want, I know my brother will never appreciate second hand items no matter how much I nag him!

When it comes to the kids though, I am sorry to say I will be getting the standard stuff, clothes and toys that will hopefully last and/or be handed down, I will try to wrap more consciously and maybe give itunes to the older ones. I am only human and I still want the kids to like to me...

Did you know that over 600 tons of CO2 will be generated in America on SHIPPING alone? More than Canada uses ANNUALLY. Something to think about. I believe those afar might be getting emailed gift cards this year. Just as well, not too many people appreciate recycled can top tote bags like I do...Nonnahs suggested this site, it would actually make a cool gift, the gift of no junk mail, who wouldn't like that?

Here's some other sobering Holiday facts from Treehugger:

1. 25: percent increase in the trash generated during the holiday season.

2. 86: percent of TreeHugger readers who say their kids have too much stuff.

3. 97: percent of restaurant gift certificate receivers who say they would like to receive a restaurant gift certificate again.

4. 83,000,000: square meters of gift wrap which winds up on the UK rubbish heaps after the holiday season.

5. 300 million: dollars spent in the USA on mass market women’s bath gift sets.

If anyone has any green shopping tips to share I would greatly appreciate them...

Now - lets go shopping!

More Christmas

A couple of Christmas favorites -

I found this at the thrift shop to add to my collection, it was still in its box, and for only $1.50-

This is one of my all time favorites, my great grandmothers Nativity scene. Its a bit chipped on account of her letting us play with it when we were little, the angels took a good beating (I think one has its head glued back on)and baby Jesus has a mean shiner, they were the most loved out of the bunch. Somehow no one wanted to be the animals or the Three Wise Men.

I have it up on top of my hutch, no way my kids could keep their paws away from that.

Obsession

I do this annoying thing whenever I see something I really like in a magazine. I imagine my house like that, then I obsess about changing things around to make it look like the picture. Its a doomed project from the get go, I know this but I can't seem to stop. My new obsession is in the new Mary Engelbreit Home Companion. Its a Illinois family that decorates in lots of creams, blues and whites and beautiful fabrics, very Dutch inspired. Okay, so I'm not Dutch. Not even close. I have as much Dutch as Jackie Chan. But its so pretty and I do have some Royal Copenhagen lace china so I figure, why not? Maybe 'cause I've redone my kitchen and living room colors about 20 times this year. And apparently blue and white is now what is really needed to make it all perfect. Until I see something else I like.

Anyway, W's friend comes over and says,
"How come every time I come over your house looks different?"
I think,
'Cause I'm Dutch now, duh'
I say,
"I like to move things around"

I really would like to leave things as they are, you know it takes a great deal of time to obsess about stuff that mean nothing to anyone but me but I can't get it out of my head. It also means that I have a lot of stuff I store in our limited closet space. I could be playing with my kids or reading a great novel.


But no. Maybe its a Dutch thing.

Thanksgiving Top Ten

My Top Ten Reasons to *Heart* Thanksgiving...

10. Mashed potatoes and stuffing, yum. Two favorite starches.

9. No work.

8. Macy's parade.

7. An official start to the Holidays. Yee-haw!

6. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin mochi, pumpkin bread, did I say pumpkin? Love it.

5. After Thanksgiving online sales...I usually work Friday people, online is almost as good without the grouchy, crazy 5 am lines.

4. Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Popcorn for dinner, how fun was that?

3. After its over I get to play and hear Christmas music! And look for a tree...

2. Turkey, turkey and more turkey.

1. Being with the fams - you know I had to do that, but really thats what its all about. I'm a mushball when it comes to family.

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

Minty

I have been doing more furniture shopping. Bad, bad. Not supposed to be buying for me, its almost Christmas and I have done about 1/20 th of my shopping so far. Anyway, I bought this side table plus two matching big dressers with mirrors from my mom's friend, known as Lucy, 'the Sunnyside pie lady' in this neck of the woods. Her family's restaurant makes amazing pies that people from all over the island come to take out. Wahiawa is not known for much, but pies we got. Anyway, Lucy also is an avid collector of shabby cottage furniture and collectibles so she had an estate sale of furniture that she collected and refinished. She also has a little shop here, with really cute stuff in it.


I really wasn't sure of this color, hard to tell from the picture but its a really light mint green, kind of the same color as my kitchen, but its starting to grow on me.

So is this little one who just got a haircut...

Cookie Monsters

W left for Vegas last night for a 'conference'. Whatever. Anyway, its the first time I'm in charge of Oliver and frankly I don't think he's real jazzed about it. W works from home so theres usually company all day, so he's on his own for the next few days. Hopefully I won't go home to eaten baseboards or pee on his bed. That would be ew.

Anyway, we might make some chocolate chip cookies tonight. The dough is made by Wally Amos - the original Famous Amos. He had the company until he sold the rights, now he has a small store here on the Windward side, Chip and Cookie, that sells his cookies as well as dough that you can take home. He also has an area set aside for reading, as he is a big promoter of literacy nationally and in the islands. The cookies are awesome, packed with macadamia nuts and chips, and lowfat too...okay not lowfat but wouldn't that be great?

Low Threshold

I am a wimp for pain. Especially when it happens to my kids. I will absolutely attest to this. C-boy had a 'procedure' done to him and lets just say its in a delicate place. So last night after when we got home I tried to sponge bath him and get him into new clothes and put the medicine on the affected area as he screamed. So sad. Needless to say he didn't go to school today, when he walks it looks like he just got off a horse. It hurts me to see that. Anyway, of course I make things worse when I get emotional, as W has informed me. I know this in my heart but its hard not to show it. All I know is that in a couple of days he will be all better.

Anyway, on a happier note...

...okay I can't think of one. I tried really. Maybe I'll think of one tomorrow.

Marshmellow World

I've started Christmas-y things around the house. I can't wait, too bad it doesn't get cold here but no sense grumbling again. Anyway, I've put some stuff up outside.

The neighbors must be confused, since their little Thanksgiving decorations are out...

See someone peeking?

And in this corner...



I'm also so happy about the sb peppermint lattes being available again. Its the little things you know.

yay, for fuzzy snommen and peeking dogs!

Christmas Shopping

So yesterday we go out to breakfast with our friends and then shopping as they needed to buy some stuff. WE end up buying a whole set of furniture - ahem, there was a sale - and about 200.00 worth of other stuff that we probably didn't need. Whats that about? It was supposed to be pancakes then some harmless window shopping. Maybe its that we are getting older and I feel like I should spend if the mood strikes and live life in the moment. No, probably not. Good sales though.

Hey, isn't Christmas around the corner? Merry Christmas to me.

The next round is for gifts, I promise.

Fun Friday

Houston?? Another fine outfit courtesy of Costco.



Happiness is a warm pillow, er... puppy. Oliver gets a lot of attention around here, not that he enjoys all of it. But he's well loved.

Happy Friday!

OMG! no more cocktails in the morning... just kidding - HAPPY THURSDAY!

Play Day

C-girls friend came over yesterday to play. I truly enjoy those times when I get to see her in action with her friends, its like a whole different side to her. When her friend came they went straight to her room and tried to decide what they wanted to do first.

C-girl: "You want to play Barbie?" (very tentatively, not trying to sound enthusiastic)
friend: "No. I don't really play Barbie anymore."
C-girl: (laughing) "Oh, yeah. Me too."
Me: Huh? Little liar.
Me: "How about a craft project, we can make turkeys?"

Okay, I was 'that mom' and had a whole craft thing set up so they could make some turkeys with paper plates, feathers and construction paper. Shut up. It was fun. They even put rhinestone crowns and necklaces on the turkeys, so there.

After the craft stuff, and a long set of playdoh and puzzles they ended up playing with the Disney Cinderella Palace set which to me is just like Barbie but with different dolls so that made me feel better about the Barbie comment.

Anyway, whats up with the Barbie? I remember playing Barbie until I was like ten or eleven years old. And it was actually cool. My niece gave it up when she was about 6 or 7 too and gave all her dolls away. I was so confused. I think maybe girls at a younger age are feeling like they need to do stuff that older kids do, otherwise they feel embarrased and childish. So the Barbies and Tonkas are put away and the X-boxes and Ipods start much sooner. That makes me sad.

I think I'll go home today and play Barbies with her.

My Other Car is a Broom...

It was Halloween. And a tradition in our household here to gather up the kiddies and their cousins and send them out to forage for candies for us...

We gathered in my (just cleaned at the last moment) garage and ate - and this is what we eat every year - vegetarian chili, hot dogs (my sis shaped them like octopus this year, um yum?)


There was also chicken and whatever chocolate the kids brought back for us.

I also did the Jello mold...


This year me and W got in on the dressing up. Thanks to C-boy's insistance.


Hope you guys had a great one!

Stay Doggie Stay!

Okay, so Oliver is a sweetie. We got a call last night asking if we want to come see a girl cockapoo that will be available in a couple of weeks. Humph. I think I'm getting attached to the little bugger, and I almost felt offended we got the phone call. As if someone was trying to take my Mr. McPoodles away. Leave him alone, he's a friend of mine.

I think he's staying, what do you think?

In the meantime I'll be doing this...
Pumpkin Carving anyone???

And I may have to make this for Halloween night...


Vampire blood-orange gelatin

Preparation time: 1 minute
Cooking time: 3 minutes
Chilling time: 10 hours
Servings: 12

--Executive chef Heather Terhune of Atwood Cafe and South Water Kitchen developed this recipe. Use one large mold or individual-sized 8-ounce ramekins.

Ingredients:
3 cups water
2 cups sugar
7 envelopes (1/4-ounce each) unflavored gelatin
4 1/2 cups blood orange or regular orange juice
2 Tbsps. orange-flavored liqueur

1. Combine 2 cups of the water and the sugar in a medium saucepan; sprinkle with gelatin. Set aside 1 minute to soften gelatin. Cook, stirring, over medium heat, until sugar and gelatin dissolve, about 3 minutes. Stir in orange juice, liqueur and remaining 1 cup of water. Pour into a lightly oiled 10-cup mold; cover. Refrigerate until firm, at least 10 hours.

2. To unmold, dip mold briefly in hot water; invert a plate over gelatin. Flip gelatin onto the plate. Decorate with plastic spiders or other Halloween-like creatures

Happy Friday!!

Dog Day

Well I was a bit skeptical of posting this but we did get the new fur baby yesterday.
Alas, it may be short-lived since we had really wanted a girl, if one becomes available soon we may sell this sweet thing and get a female instead. I know that sounds cold and unmotherly but its the facts, people. I wanted a girl. Anyway, whatever the case here is(for now anyway) Mr. Oliver McPoodle.

He's a Malti-poo, I hate that, it sounds like a gross dessert. But he's cute, no? The kids LOVE him, so if there's going to be a switcharoo it better be soon before they get attached to him. I wouldn't mind a boy except I keep hearing that girls are much easier, training wise, and I want to be sure if I'm roped in with a dog for the next 15 or so years it better be something I absolutely want.

Little Doggie Froufrou

W is on a quest for a dog. Ever since I said 'Okay, but I won't feed it, clean it, clean up after it or train it' he has been on the prowl for a puppy like nobody's business. So there are phone calls, emails and constant checking in the paper.

In Hawaii, there's a demand for little froufrou dogs so its hard to find a really good one, even if you're willing to pay premium for it. Our kids are allergic to most pets so it has to be a hypo-allergenic dog like a poodle or maltese. We saw some maltese and lahsa ahpso(sp?) dogs yesterday at the pet store, only 1699.00, what a bargain. I know we'll keep looking, but all I want is to be able to do is name it and put frilly outfits on it(and maybe paint its toenails. Lets hope its a girl.

We used to have a poodle but when I got pregnant with the boy the smell absolutely made me heave, and since we had only had it for about 6 months we decided we needed to give it to someone who wouldn't despise it. Now I regret it a bit, the couple that took her treat her like a queen and take her wherever they go. She got a better life and now we are looking at buying the same kind of dog - but at double the price since there is such a demand. Go figure.


Regardless, I'm buying the dog(that we will eventually get)one of these...

So there.

48 things you could care less about

I pinched this meme from Nonnahs...

48 THINGS YOU COULD CARE LESS ABOUT

1. FIRST NAME? Cinnamondee.

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? no. not that I know of.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? I am pretty emotional. Last time was on the airplane coming home from Vegas, I was so excited to see my family.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Not really, it actually changes all the time.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Okay, no thanks.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I hope so.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Yes, its completely empty. I have trouble remembering things so I hope the blog will help me with this.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No, they came out at age 7.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Absolutely not. This is why W and I would never last on Amazing race as a couple. That along with my absolutely crazy bad sense of direction and my fear of weird looking food. Plus I'd also never shave my head.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I love me some granola. If W doesn't eat it all first.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Usually not(what for if you can kick them off?), but my only tie-ups are my running shoes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically, pretty below average. Funny, because my mom is nuts strong.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Chocolate mint. Tiny mint chips though, not the big honking pieces some ice creams have.

14. SHOE SIZE? Usually 6.5 sometimes 7 depending on the brand.

15. RED OR PINK? Pink, definitely.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Physically, my thighs. And I'm sure W would mention that I have very large big toes in comparison to the rest of my toes. He has nicknamed them the 'hitchhikers'.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My Aunty Yoshi, and my Aunty Linda. And Clinton.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Whoever would like to.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Pinstriped brown cropped pants, white tank top, black leather ballet flats.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? chocolate chip scone and sb mocha.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Big Apple Trio.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Carnation pink(cause I'm sweet like that)

23. FAVORITE SMELL? The back of C-boys neck, c-girls freshly washed hair, coffee when you first wake up, cinnamon anything, the smell of cold mornings when you first step outside, vanilla and lavender.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? my sister.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Eyes and teeth.
And for W, honestly I noticed his back(when I met him his shirt was off, I promise).

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Absolutely.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Hands down, sb mocha. Then a good chardonnay(not in the morning though, :)).

28. FAVORITE SPORT? To watch, none. To do, swimming and running(although since the trip I've been chronically absent from any exercize).

29. EYE COLOR? Dark brown.

30. HAT SIZE? Hmmmm, I guess a medium.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No. I got lasik's right before I got pregnant with the boy.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Italian, Mexican, Thai and Japanese.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Definitely happy endings. I can't stand scary movies.

34. SENSE OR SENSIBILITY? Depends on the situation.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter, I love the cold and love, love Christmas.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? both

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? strawberry shortcake, dense chocolate cakes, and pumpkin pie.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? 'The Time Travelers Wife', and 'Conversations with God'.

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? Its one of those Jelly pads, in aqua.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Nothing. Oh wait, about 15 minutes of 'Caillou', C-boys favorite whiney kid.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The giggles of kids.'Mommy I love you'. Rain.

44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Japan.

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Don't know if I have one. Drinking an amazing amount of Mocha??

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Hawaii

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Stole it from Nonnahs

If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lay with me, and just forget the world

Today is W's birthday. We had turkey bacon, eggs and scones for breakfast. It was nice, we don't usually have breakfast together on weekdays. Its usually just the kids at the table, while W works in his office and I get my breakfast at work. Funny how the really simple things can mean the most to you as you get older.

Anyway, here's to you W. Its been 17 years since that fateful day since we first met, who knew we were going to be where we are now? Every year it seems life couldn't get any better and every year I get proven wrong. You make me laugh when I'm down and make me smile when I can't find anything to smile about. You are my rock.

Happy Birthday W!

Crowns Rock

Yesterday we made crowns. c-boy wanted brown and plain. c-girl wanted red with decorations - only drawings though. In the end she also wanted to put 'rock on' on it. I was just picturing a long haired guy with his hand up in the air with three fingers up and perhaps a black faded 'AC/DC' shirt on.

Then she wanted to know how to spell 'dude'. Scary.


We did another 'girls nite out' tonight. Some shopping for overdue birthday gifts and sushi then the required Starbucks. It was so nice to get our giggle on. I love this age, she still wants to be with me and hold my hand.

Rock on.

Happy Birthday Boy

Wow, that was a weird experience yesterday.

It would have been fine too if it weren't for C-boys birthday. Poor little man, no party for you. He kept reminding me that it was his third birthday. And he wanted candles and sprinkles. Sorry baby, your cake is trapped at the closed Safeway and I can't bake you one in the oven that doesn't work.

We spent the day at my sisters, at least the kids had each other to play with. But every once in a while I got a reminder. "Mommy sprinkles and candles, yes?" I evaded the question, and he went on his merry way.

Luckily the power went on at 5 pm and my sister had cake mix, sprinkles and candles. Good thing he wasn't picky about what it looked like.

Love you C-boy, Happy Birthday.

whats up buttercup?

There are some things that have been happening since we got back.

- I can't get enough Starbucks Grande Pumpkin Latte (2 pumps flavor, non-fat, no whip please - and decaf if its after 2pm), its like yuppie crack, and all that great jazz music and velour comfortable chairs in Fall colors to lure me in. Or maybe because I know its seasonal and I will be sad when its gone. And such is my exciting life.

- My ear is huge and hurting, only the left side. W took me to the doctor yesterday, the poor soul knows how bad I am driving in town and then he had to wait about an hour and a half before I was done. Bless his heart. Anyway, the Dr doesnt know why its swollen and sore, no infection on the inside of my ear. Heh? He said it might have been anything, a blow to the head (wouldn't I have remembered that?)just a swollen gland, or infection somewhere near the lobe. Regardless, it hurts and the antibiotics have not kicked in yet if its an infection. It felt even better after c-boy grabbed my ears when I was dancing with him last night. I saw stars. Maybe it was that kind of blow to the head, I get those frequently.

- My kids have been behaving. Apparently, according to W, if we are calm all the time and firm and I stop saying 'ok?' after every suggestion I make of them the kids will be better behaved(e.g. "c-boy don't grab my ears like that, ok?" or "C-girl stop your whining, ok?"). I have to admit it seems to be working. I thought it was what I was doing all along but I'm surprised at how many times I have to supress my "ok?" There seems to be less whining and negotiating around here and less stress. Lets hope we(or I, anyway) can keep it up. The only thing there seems to be the same amount of is the fighting between the two angels. I'm thinking that will probably last the next 20 or so years anyway.

- C-girl walked from the car to her class by herself for the first time yesterday. W always drops her off and for some reason he asked if she wanted to walk in by herself, and she didn't even look back. Why would you facilitate the growing up process? It all happens so fast, for goodness sake don't help it along. When he told me I was at my desk at work and I started to tear up like a goon. The next customer who walked in to the office would be very uncomfortable, I can tell you that much. Anyway, I don't need my girl getting any older, thank you very much. All I could think about was her locking herself in her room tying up the phone line, rolling her eyes when she talks about her uncool parents and wanting to go to out without the likes of dorky us. Then come boys, and peer pressure, oh crap, I'm getting ahead of myself I know, but, ok I'm tearing again. Shut up.

So thats whats happening around here. This weekend it will be c-boy's 3rd b-day. Yay! Nothing really planned yet! Bad, bad procrastinating mommy.

Ship Hunting

I finally got around to getting the Halloween costumes for the kids. The boy wanted to be a pirate (pirate ship to be exact, but we knew what he meant anyway) and the girl wanted to be a witch (and she specified not the 'nice' kind). So I get the witch costume and wouldn't you know it there is apparently no such thing as a size 2 year pirate costume. Great.

Anyway, now I have to improvise at the thrift store, which would be fine if I had all the time in the world. I find a big oversize white button down (with little flower buttons, as c-girl quietly pointed out)a black oversize vest (which is wedding apparel, I suppose) and some black running pants which I will zig-zag cut to look torn at the bottom. Then a black pirate hat, eyepatch, required plastic sword (which will be used to torment everyone from now until Halloween) a red sash and black boots. Good grief, that took like an hour. Why can't he be a witch like his sister?

So all this comes home with me and of course they have to try all the clothes on, and play pirates until dinner. And during dinner. And when bathtime comes and goes they want to put it back on and perhaps sleep in it. Halloween is how many days away?


W: You like your Halloween costume c-boy?
C-boy: yes, I like being pirate ship, you be pirate ship with me daddy?
W: okay, and mommy can be witch too.
C-boy: yay, daddy be pirate ship and mommy be witch!

Good luck daddy. Find your own pirate ship costume.
And by the way, thanks for signing me up there.

Vacation Part 2 (or is it 3?)

Okay, so here are some of the pictures I wanted to add but not all, apparently blogger knows that I will bore everyone to death if I put them all in...

this is c-boy day we left, he had to stay on this 2x a day during the trip, what a trooper-


water play at Seattle Childrens Center-


cafe that 'Sleepless in Seattle' was filmed, love that movie


fleurs at Whidbey Island, Langley WA



walking down to the main town in Langley

more fleurs-

the gazebo and view from the cottage-

chasing the poor, clueless birdies in Granville Island, Vancouver


and this is where blogger had enough of me, so I won't keep trying for another hour like last nite. I won't even put in the cheesy pics of me in the first Starbucks, though I'm tempted. I figure I had to get a picture of the empire that I helped build with my hard earned funds.