More Heavy Duty News

This weekend we have been adjusting to some pretty rough news. J's older brother is losing his eyesight. He is 36, will be graduating from Kansas State next spring, is a Navy-turned Air Force reserve. (Was in the Navy for many years, even was part of the Gulf War stuff during his West Pac). He has Pigmentary Distrophy. His night vision is shot and so is his small detail (ie golf balls and baseballs). We don't know how long it will be for it to go completely and we are obviously hoping for the longer window.

Makes us realize just how important it is to enjoy our lives for the moment-not to live wastefully in the moment, just to thoroughly appreciate every little thing-be it good or bad.

Gymnastics No More...

This past Tuesday was our last Gymnastics Class. It didn't necesarily end, but I decided we were done. Given that it is summer and we are socially in demand (ha ha) it was beginning to be difficult juggling playdates, fieldtrips and beachdaze. Besides, it was very informal-which is good, but it moved slowly and I think Elly was bored. I was hoping to see some typical gymnastics skills. She tumbled and wasn't really getting the various jumps (straddle and tuck predominately) and there wasn't much else. I did see many positives-the somersault, some following direction and staying focused on the teacher, some movement refinement, awareness of other kids (ie kids outside of our mommy group), and of course, energy blasting from all that play. Here are some pics from our last class. As you can see, Bri was just starting to enjoy it-guess we can pick up at the other place in town and let her play too after the summer.

Tuesdays

Tuesdays in our home means Mommy and Me (an HUGE weekly outing since Elly was 4 months old. Bri started at 2 weeks....). It has been for me an outlet for social stuff and new mommy stuff as well as socializing the kids. For some other people, Tuesdays have a deeper meaning.

For a lady name Trisha, it means chemo. I just learned about a month ago that Trisha has breast cancer.

I have known Trish since I was in 2nd grade. We went to elementary school, middle school and high school together. We also were on several soccer teams-many with her mom coaching. At some point, her mom watched my brother and me after school. We lost touch over the years.
Because we share common friends, I received an email regarding Trish. A group has formed on Trish's behalf to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

Trisha's story has really touched me because she is the first person I've known to battle this grueling disease. I often think of her as I parent my own two girls. I wonder how she can stay "normal" for her small son?! I am amazed at the strength she and her family and friends show. I short circuit on my girls in frustration over small trivial things. I am pulling for her to beat this monster down and to move forward in life to enjoy all that she has ahead of her.

Please take a minute to visit her blog, and her team's page on the Avon site. If you are able to, please donate to her team's efforts to raise money for Breast Cancer research.

READER AWARDS

I have been blogging for 50 posts now and I need to thank some people.

I have a program that tells me who has been on my blog and where the come from. Sometimes I can sleuth it out and determine that my friends and family are reading, and sometimes I see strangers. I would like to honor all my readers with a big thank you but especially I would like to single a few people out.

1.) Lia: My introduction to blogging. The first blog I read religiously! I will give her the TRAILBLAZER AWARD.

2.) Lizzie: She is my co-conspirator, and my editor, and once she jumped into blogging, well I was in too! I will give her VIRTUAL BFF AWARD (and 10% of my profits!)

3.) Andi: My one and only commentator. Not only does she leave me comments, but often they are so sweet and encouraging! AND bonus-her ISP address keeps moving around the world! At one point she was writing from Bangladesh....while her physical body remained in the US....so cool! I will give her the OMNIPRESENCE AWARD.

4.) Leigh: I see you! lol... I think her award is being one of my consistant readers. She checks daily-sometimes more....makes me feel important! I will give her the EGO-STROKER AWARD

5.) Mystery reading in Rhode Island: This person is following my blog from a comment I left on another blog. Not only did he/she click on my blog id to see who/what I was, but he/she KEEPS coming back lol! Must be a good sign.... I will give this person the PROOF THAT I AM DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND EVEN STRANGERS WILL APPRECIATE IT AWARD.

To all-Thanks for supporting me! I will hand out more Awards when there are people to honorably mention! Stick your heads out! Shout something at me! Come back and read again...or even tell me to shut the hell up....I appreciate it all!

Beach Bums

Sunday we spent the day as a Family-well as a happy to be the 4 of us Family. Not that it was difficult with the Parents here. It really wasn't. It is just different. A different feeling, where we (Jose and I) felt we were constantly in charge of how his parents were feeling, eating, doing, visiting, doing, etc. Saturday night we sent them off on their way home, and then came home. Sunday was to be a stay at home and kick back and get some shizzle done day. However, the girls were crankpots and we were a bit restless. So we decided at midday, to pack us up and take an impromptu trip to our fabulous Pacific Ocean. Didn't even care that the 2 hour trip in the Gas Guzzling Truck would be harsh. Didn't care that it meant at least one meal out and naps goofed up. Didn't care that it meant coming home and having a screwy Sunday night with bedtimes and meals having to be corrected. And we had a great time! The weather was great-for Half Moon Bay in June. Typically a cold and foggy time, our later arrival was perfect for a few hours of mostly sun and warmth. I kept the girls in sweatshirts simply because they are both working on colds and I was too lazy to sunscreen them all the way (BAD mommy!). It was breezy so while the would have been on the cooler side of ok without the extra clothes, they weren't hot and sweaty by any means.

9 Years and Counting!

Yesterday Jose and I celebrated 9 years married. It also is the same day we started "going out". So the date marks 7 years together before marriage (we were engaged on our 6th anniversary and married on the 7th) and 9 years married to be a total of 16 years as a couple. We were babies. We started dating in High School and "grew up" together. We have had the teeny-bop boyfriend/girlfriend days, the after high school fun days, the pre babies married days and now are in the throes of the family days.

WOW~!

I would like to share that I am so very lucky to have married this man. He is a wonderful husband, friend, father, and partner. We laugh, we love, we deal with our problems and we are making our future. I hope that our daughters see our relationship as a positive model and that they seek out partners where they too can have love and laughter and friendship. I have enjoyed all the moments of our love to this day and lok forward to many many more in the long years to come.

Happy Anniversary my love!

Invasion of the In Laws.....

Really, it isn't so bad.

BUT I am feeling a bit trapped.

My mother-in-law is with me even when the hubby and father-in-law are off doing MANLY (aka fishing or home improvement stores) things. She's not bad, and when we are out and about, I am in charge, in command, and a-ok. At home, I am feeling like I am ON all the time. Let's just state this here and now: I suck at housecleaning-and have no real interest in improving this skill. I have piles, I leave dishes, I don't sweep daily, I wash clothes and dry them but getting them folded is damn hard. My mother-in-law (MIL for short) is of the generation that women do all the housework, have food cooked and served for the man of the house, and never ever sit and do nothing (or play computer while watching soap operas like I do). When the girls are content, and I might be happy setting down for a few, she is up doing THINGS.

• My laundry is being completely attended to-kinda odd having MIL fold my thongs and other unmentionables.
• My kitchen sparkles....ok so that is good, I am being peer pressured (probably totally in my own head) to deal with dishes as soon as the occur.
• My floor is swept-heck my PATIO-is swept daily
• This morning I found her cleaning UNDER the couch cushions....ack!

I know she is eyeballing my room-I keep trying to close the door behind me so that she can't SEE the horrors beyond the doorway...and draw her conclusions....and plan an attack!

Anyway, it is probably a good thing that I am being led to up my game. But I hate the feeling that I have to because someone else is looking around my house and thinking about how incompetent I am as a wife (to her beloved son) and as a woman. I know she loves me, it has been 16 years today that I have been part of her family. I have since been welcomed. But still....

This visit has been a trial run. My IL's have retired and are spending lots of time at their home in Mexico. We are the choosen one's (well, we did volunteer) to house them when they are here visiting. At first it was expected that they would come for a month or so....they opted for a week. It's probably a good thing. They girls are getting used to them as part of our household. We are all adjusting to "roles" here at the house.

Anywho, there are definite benefits (the girls get a very intense grandparents doseage with Spanish lessons, we get to visit, etc etc....). I am ready for my routine back, and thankful that it doesn't have to be changed again for a long while. We'll see what lasting effects will remain on after they head out Saturday. Any bet takers that the house will return to it's previous messy state?

Hernias-Snot Noses-Teeth What's the link?

HERNIA
I went to the doctor today...I have been having this pain in my stomach and recently a wierd pain in my groin (same side) that stops me from walking sometimes. I finally went to the doctor (my mommy made me...), I was told that most likely it is a hiatal hernia. The probable hernia could be putting stress on my nerves and joints hence the groin issues. My next step is to wait. I am waiting for a call from the clinic that runs the tests (Upper GI series). Then in the words of my doctor "we go from there".



SNOT NOSES
B is just starting another head cold...Isn't the cycle of ilnesses and germs and sucky sleep nights and nasty noses supposed to be over when the summer temperatures reach 100 degrees? My inlaws -a whole 'nother blog topic-were telling me that it is because we put her in the pool water on a hot day and that made her get sick. Uhmmmm, yeah, I will stick with modern medicine on this one. I am betting that she picked up something at Gymnastics. We hadn't been in a month and upon starting back again we joined a new group. There were at least 10 other kids with a new set of germs each that we hadn't ever encountered before. So...we endeavor through yet another icky sickness. Let's hope it contains itself to the one little kiddo. I am not sure thought that is to be the case. E has had a few sneezes here and there, not yet yucky but happening nonetheless.

TEETH
Seems like we may be seeing 4 new teeth on the little one's gum line pretty soon. After 3 horrible nights (cold plus teeth equal bad combination), there are 3 of the 4 poking through. Perhaps we can have a break before the next round will be torturing us (because it is a family issue of course, lol). I am thinking negatively, and I am willing to bet that there are other teeth ready enough to pop out (there should be as we have only the bottom 2 plus these new 4 at 14 months). why do my kids have so many problems teething?


The In-laws.... Are here... (nuff said for now...)

Crazy Lil Monkey!

Just thought I would share what I found this morning:

I guess this is what happens when I turn my back and play internet while I am supposed to be cleaning house. I am all for free exploration...but isn't this a tad extreme?

What an ODD way to eat lunch...

We had errands to run today-stock up at Target and Costco.....Of course, it went right up to lunchtime (because I can't plan right, and both stores are so FUN to dawdle through.). E requested Costco pizza. Of course, being such a bargain I said yes. She really wanted to eat there. I tried to accomodate, but circumstances were such that it was impossible.

1. The pizza has DAMN hot-fresh out of the oven. I burnt my fingers trying to keep E from burning herself invher frenetic zeal to bite in.
2. B was a total monkey and there wasn't nearby parking for the cart (we ate after shopping because I could order my food with my total bill on mt ATM card without paying cash-which is sparse in my wallet.
3. I had no silver(plastic)ware to divy out the pizza and hotdogs and the line was long to return and ask for some.

So we packed our food (1 slice, 1 hotdog, 1 chicken bake-my newest find...and oh so damn good/dangerous, and 1 drink) up in our cart and headed to the truck. My sweets were so hungry...not like they didn't have appetizers from all the samplers. As we started to drive home I was ripping pieces off the pizza, hotdog bun and taking bites of hotdog for myself. Can you see it? Mama driving big blue truck full of carseat bound babies, groceries, reaching behind to send bits of food in saucy fingers to waiting little birdies.

LOL...must be FRIDAY the 13th! They say odd things happen on those days....

The Start of Summer

I have been meaning to write about our summer time fun! Last Saturday we went to a birthday party that was at a playground with water features. This wasn't E's first time in something like this but it was the 1st year she really enjoyed it. It was obviously B's first time and she wasn't so sure....

There was a creek too for exploration:

Sunday we had some sprinkler fun in the front yard....

WHALE SIGHTING (and 2 tadpoles)

Today was HOT, 94 degrees HOT. The girls and I made good use of the day though. We started out with a long walk with some friends. Left the house at 9:10, met them at 9:15 at Starbucks for a Shaken Iced Tea (YUMMMMMMMMMY). We walked another hour to a local park where we let the kids play a bit. Then we worked our way home to our respective homes. I got home at 11:00. It was already pretty warm so I got B down to her dipe and E into a swim suit. They played in the kiddie pool for a 1/2 hour. B is not so sure about the 3 inch deep water so she followed me while I got rid of weeds and checked on the garden. We played outside for a bit more and then lunch and naps. The snoozing occurred for almost 3 hours (YAY me!). After naps and snacks, out we went for some more water fun. This time, I joined them. (Hence the whale.....). Good thing I have been working on my weight! I was able to put on a bathing suit that I wore before E (it wasn't a public thing...and that's a good thing). This evening I was trying to hold out on the AC. I hate the start of the hot season, in that it means I succumb to energy wasting and money sucking comfort. I always try to push it out as far as possible because once we start, it is the way it is for at least 3 more months.

Ah, such is life....at least I have an excuse to be IN the kiddie pool....before kids, it was a thing of shame.

We survived...Picture Highlights

We had FUN! (B's 1st game, E's 1st A's game, E's 1st soda--Mug Rootbeer, 1st train ride for B, 1st BART train ride for E etc) Here are some of the pics I took. You can get a glimpse of our day

1)We got to the BART station, and loaded onto the train with our friends.

*below is Denise with B, Brandi, Brooke, and E

2.) We had to stand in line to enter the stadium

*Denise, her kids, Dee, her son Lyman, Shaylee and my E

3) The view from our seats (bleachers)

4.) Our section (shared with a 5th grade field trip)

5.) My super cool camera has awesome ZOOM!

6.) Entertainment (the water bottle ended up down her front and eventually over her head)

7.) E and her Lollypop

8.) Mom and her girls

9.) The crew (minus baby Dmitri, Joshy and baby Kaylla)

10.) Last chance for energy burning! After the 7th Inning Stretch we headed to the little playground. The kids had a blast! E and B did their 1st Slide Train ever! And you can see that B is thrilled to be inlcuded!

11.) Crossing the catwalk with EVERYONE in the stadium....

12.) On the BART platform...soooo tired and just waiting for a not-so-packed return train home.

13.) SUPER MAMA!

14.) One tired kid---I had to really roust her awake at 6pm...who knows how long she would have slept for! (But I wasn't ready to test it and be awake for the day at 4am the next day).

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

Today we are taking a trip to the ballpark. It is $2 bleacher seats at the Oakland Coliseum. We will be taking the BART train to the game. It's a 2fer! E has been so interested in the train so today she gets two experiences out of 1 day. I am both nervous and excited. I worry that we will get all the way there and the kids will flip. Although, for the price of the game plus the dollar hotdogs for lunch and travel fare (about 7 roundtrip and a dollar to park), if we have to come home midgame, then so be it. Not a big loss. I am sure that the kids (3- 3 year olds, 3-2 year olds, 1-1year old and 2 under 1) will be squirrely but hey it's the bleachers at a midday, midweek game.

I will be back later with pictures to prove we survived and enjoyed the fun day. GO A'S! (I am a Giant's fan, and threatened to wear my black and orange....but I will behave-and conform...just a little bit.)

Help a Mama Out

In the interest of helping my fellow mamas I am showcasing what they are doing in their Stay at Home Businesses. These mamas are using sleep time, and whatevr energy they have available to handmake products to sell. If I wasn't a stay at home mama and had more cash, I would be ALL over these cute and innovative products!

1.) Country Baby Cloth Diapers is a new startup that Andrea has begun. She is using her knowledge of cloth diapers to create her very own line. Having used them by more commercially known companies, she was inspired to make some of her very own. Please check her out and if you like, Help a Mama Out!

2.) Lula Bugs is Kellie's newest baby. A mom to 2 kids, she decided to use her creative skills to supplement her stay at home income. She makes the most adorable shirts, onesies, and burp cloths. We are proud to say we sport a few of her Toddler shirts. She has so many designs, I can't decide what to pick for our next set (of course I need matching for my girls). Cruise her site, and if you like what you see, Help a Mama Out!

Sissy Games

We are seeing the girls play more and more together. It is so nice. They get so into the game that they get silly. Sunday night they were playing with a soft ball. E somehow got the idea that she could put the ball in her mouth and shows B what she is doing. For whatever reason this produced the most fun ever! Here is a video showing some of the goofiness (including Fishdaddy's version of a Tecate commercial in the background).


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books