Audience of Strangers

All My Love

2010-11-29T16:33:00.000-08:00

The kids have been getting more and more picky with their eating. They seem to think I am a short order cook. Dante decided he wanted egg and bacon sandwiches for dinner and I complied. While I was making them, Jonah protested. "But I want pizza!" he whined. I told him I was already making dinner.

"And besides," I said, "I'm putting all my love into these eggs."

Jonah humphed at me " I don't see why you can't put your love into pizza."

Bilingual

2010-08-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

The kids have been going to the babysitter all summer. She's the same women we've had for the past 5 years and she's like family. She's from Oaxaca, Mexico and speaks primarily Spanish at home with her husband and daughter. On my day off last week, I told Jonah to turn off the TV and come to lunch. He didn't say anything and ignored my request. I told him once again: "JONAH! Turn OFF the TV and come to lunch."

He didn't move but rather said to me, "No comprendo, mommy."

Maybe he's learning a little too much Spanish.

Mt Whitney Part 1

2010-07-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

I've been training since January to summit Mt. Whitney. I got a wild hair last year when I turned 30 that I needed to something amazing to usher in my 40th year. So I decided climbing th the contiguous United States highest mountain to be a good goal. I have never had a desire to climb a mountain before and had no idea why I wanted to climb one now. But it was a goal-a lofty one- and one that proved 40 isn't so old after all.

So about 8 other women showed some interest in the endeavor. 6 ended up training with me on a regular basis. We hiked every weekend starting with about 3 miles and working our way up to 12 miles in a day. We spent lots of time and money at REI. I sent in for permits. (Inyo National Forest allows hikers on the mountain on a daily quota basis. It helps keep track of lost or injured hikers as well as acts as crowd control, for although Mt. Whitney is atall mountain, the front side requires no mountaineering skills and has a well maintained trail.) We waited with baited breath for a month before we found out whether we were 'in' or not. In March we found out we got our permits! It was much earlier in the season than we anticipated, and not nearly close to my birthday; but it was America's birthday, so that counted for something. Our permit was for July 1-4th. We stepped up our training in May and June by carrying our backpacks and hiking upwards of 10 miles a day. We thought we were pretty well prepared. Except we live at sea level. And there's no training for altitude except altitude.

Altitude sickness can be annoying or it can be deadly. It affects some and not others. It can affect world class athletes and strike those who have never experienced it in the past. I lived for many years in Montana. I figured I wouldn't really be affected, so when we did a practice hike out on San Gorgonio Mountain with a summit of 11.000 feet, I was surprised at how sick I got the higher we went. We had to turn around at 10,000 feet because I was so dizzy. It was a good warm up of what was to come.

The plan was for all of us to leave on June 30th to acclimate to altitude. Mt. Whitney lies above the small town of Lone Pine in the eastern Sierra Nevadas in Southern California. 100 miles to the east Death Valley glimmers in the distance. Last minute schedule issues did not allow 3 of our group to go on the 30th. 1 of us had to cancel because of family illness. Because I experienced vertigo and lethargy two weeks before on our big rehearsal hike, I knew I needed that extra day to acclimate. My friend Ouane (pronounced Wahn.) and I drove up together to relax, acclimate and get our bearings. The rest of the group followed the next day.

We were quite overwhelmed by the beauty that surrounded us. Every turn, every switchback, every thing I tried to soak in made me swoon. I had moments where all I could do was simply stop walking and be still because I was overcome by the vast and exquisite scenery.

Most of the hike was surreal. Our packs were heavy. (Way too heavy. If I ever do this hike again I'm bringing a sleeping bag, food and first aide kit. Everything else is extraneous.) It's ironic how much we think we need to survive on the grid, but when you have to carry all your belongings with you, what is necessary and what isn't becomes clear very quickly. Weight also matters. The difference between a 3 lb tent and a 5 lb tent didn't seem worth the 200 dollar difference at REI a month before. I was cursing those 2 lbs on the mountain!

I was not only struck by awe on the trail, but also once again by altitude. At 9000 feet I got nauseous and at one point had to quickly throw off my pack so I could go find a boulder to vomit behind. Luckily my backpack was still full with 3 L of water (which weighs 8 lbs, in case anyone was wondering.)so I was able to wash up a bit after the Grand Puke. But from that moment I never again regained appetite nor did I cease having constant mild to moderate nausea. We camped at 10,000 feet that first night in Whitney Wilderness. We set up at Outpost camp, a beautiful green clearing next to glacial cold stream that was fed by a thundering waterfall. The falls, coupled with the light of a full moon and the urge to vomit kept me up all night.

We met other backpackers at Outpost camp. 1 man was feeling altitude worse than me. He was slurring his speech and also felt lethargic. Because his symptoms were worse than mine and because being a nurse is not just my job but my nature, I spent the rest of the early evening keeping an eye on him and basically using the 'I'm a nurse" as an excuse to be bossy. Sunset in the mountains is called the hikers midnight, so as the full moon rose, we all said goodnight and attempted to get some sleep.

Day 2 on the mountain. We woke before the sun came over the ridge-or around 5 am. It was cold but at this elevation not freezing. (That would change.) I still had no appetite but attempted to eat only to throw it up again. I was more annoyed than worried. Our gentleman from the night before, however, was feeling much better. He said his symptoms had subsided and wondered if he could tag along with us for a few miles to see how he felt. We said sure thing-the more the merrier! Ouane, ever friendly and the only one of us to not feel sick the entire climb, had made more friends as well.

Day 2 proved harder than day 1. I'm sure most of it was because of elevation and because I had little sleep the night before. (Oh yea, and I also got my monthly that morning. Which is usually no big deal and very un-symptomatic. Except for now. And the rule on the mountain is...pack out all your trash-including your poop and everything else.) I now say PMS stands for Period on the Mountain Sucks. (more than normal.) At 11 000 feet and above timberline I started getting dizzy. Barf number 3 was not far behind. The man who was hiking with us, and who Ouane and I had watched and nursed the night before, was gracious and insisted he take my pack. He was only carrying a day pack because he intended on going back to Outpost later in the day. He certainly was the first of many angels on this journey. I was quite fatigued and anxious at that point and just hiking through the snowfields and up the granite switchbacks without the added weight of my pack made a huge difference in both my morale and my physical ability. He hiked with me up to Trail Camp at 12 000 feet. Outpost was a much prettier camp because it was surrounded by trees. Trail camp is nothing but granite. It's windy and cold and actually kind of crowded as all overnighters stay here. You have to schlepp down the hill a long way to try to find any potty privacy. We arrived mid afternoon, set up camp and napped. All of us were sick at this point. (Except for Ouane. She was out making lots of friends!) There was a keen sense of camaraderie at camp. Everyone was there for the same purpose. Everyone was friendly and shared stories of the climb or tips on how to summit. We met many groups both coming up, as we had, and going back down from ascending that day. Again, sunset equals hikers midnight and we had a long, long day ahead of us. The peak of Whitney was now visible from camp and stood sentinel above us-either keeping watch or taunting-I wasn't quite sure which.

Day 3. Sunrise. We had prepped our packs the day before. The best part of today, besides the hope of summitting, was the fact that we were only taking our day packs filled with water, first aid kit, head lamp and emergency blanket. Our tents and big packs were staying behind. My fear and apprehension were heavy already, I was happy to be free of the physical constraint. We had had a tense hike up. Our team was not as cohesive as I had hoped. We had a blow out as we made camp the afternoon before, and although we made amends quickly, 3 of our group did not attempt summit. They broke camp and headed back down the mountain as Ouane and I headed up. I was sick and scared, but I was on a mission and was focused solely on summit. We wore false smiles as we waved good by to our teammates, but quickly took to the task at hand of making it to summit and back by dark. Ouane and I are not fast hikers. We like to stop and take in all the journey has to offer. We stop and take lots of pictures. We also stopped a lot because I was sick; and since the air was so thin we both needed to stop simply because we needed to BREATHE.

All the books I have read about Mt Whitney talk about the unrelenting 99 switchbacks. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I DIDNT hate them. First of all, they were on solid ground. I didn't have to scrabble over loose rock or try not to look down at sheer drops while trying to maneuver lost trails. I'm notoriously clumsy-which makes me nervous whenever I'm on a ledge. Take clumsy and add vertigo and you have a disaster waiting to happen! Halfway through the switchbacks however, come the Cables. The cables are just that...a cable 'fence' of sorts on a narrow 2 foot wide ledge that bridges the hiker up to the rest of the switchbacks.. So when we heard they were covered with packed snow and the safety of the handrail unavailable, I was worried. Luckily we did not need crampons (or we would have had to turn back)-our trekking poles sufficed. It was scary, but I did it! I got back on dry stable ground with a pounding heart, shaking hands and shaking legs. I call it my Come to Jesus Moment number 1.

Trailcrest is where the eastern Whitney trail meets up with the John Muir trail about 1.9 miles from the summit. It is at this point you must hike the ridge behind the face. Instead of seeing Death Valley below, we now are privy to the beauty of the Sequoia National Park and the full mountain ranges in the western Sierras. The views are stunning. And the trail becomes much more precarious. It was at Trail Crest/13,000 feet, I began to lose my peripheral vision.

When we left Trail Camp,(3000 feet below) I began to get tingling hands and face and especially annoying, tingly nose. I felt as if my arms and head had 'fallen asleep.' Being a nurse, and having already experienced various symptoms of AMS (acute mountain sickness) I just chalked the annoyance up to more pesky symptoms. At Trail Crest, when I started getting tunnel vision, I started to get more worried. The summit was tantalizingly close-visable and 'only' 1.9 miles away. I didn't know that it would take us another 5 hours to get there. The closer I got to summit, the more symptomatic I became, the more exhausted I became, and the stubborn I was to finish my quest. Nothing short of passing out or an injury would have gotten me to turn around.

I also was hiking for a reason outside of myself. I met a friend on Facebook, (I call her my cousin because she has the same married last name as I had as a maiden name. I joined a family name group and we hit it off from there. If she is a cousin, she's a cousin by marriage and probably at least 3 times removed. But we share that one commonality, and because of it have bonded like sisters.) During the course of our online social networking friendship, I found out she was pregnant with a son with Trisomy 18. It is a devestating birth defect with very little chance of survival. If the babies do survive, it is usually for a few hours or at the most, a few days.

When I was pregnant with my firstborn, I was told he had a good chance of having Downs Syndrome. It was terrible blow to us, and although we were councilled and were told we could chose to abort, we refused. We stopped all further 'diagnostic' tests and chose instead to try salvage what was left of our experience of 1st time expectant parents, tried to stop worrying, and to just love our boy. So when I heard that Annamaries diagnosis was not a 'possible' or a 'whatif' but a true tragedy, I felt very tied to her and her family's pain.

A few months before her due date, and when her pain and anxiety was obvious and acute, so many of felt utterly helpless and words just couldn't bring comfort. She's in Ireland, I'm in California. If I could have hugged I would have. I wrote her and offered to put a trinket and a box on the summit for her son, Cathal. It seemed such a small gesture-I was almost embarrassed to tell her my idea and request permission for a little memorial. I had no idea the impact my request would have.

We Love Shamu!

2010-06-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

I must admit, as much as I am opposed to mass consumerism, blind spending and keeping up with the Joneses, I love kitchy tourist traps, cheesy diners and sappy love songs. I adore side walk cafe's and Farmers Market Vendors and Garage Sales. I also like Carnivals and Fairs and Theme Parks. Although we live in San Diego County and withing an hour of at least 6 theme parks, we rarely go. They are very, very, expensive. (60 dollars per ticket plus parking costs in the double digits...you can see why we go to the local fishing hole for fun! We don't have a handful of hundreds to drop for an afternoon of fun!) So when my very good friend Chris told me he had tickets to SeaWorld, I was just as-if not more-excited as the kids! Shamu! Ray feeding! Overpriced french fries! I could hardly sleep. Here are some pictures of our fun filled day. PS. Note to Self. If you bring extra clothes for the KIDS because of the water rides, it would probably be smart to bring clothes for YOURSELF since you have to ride along with the kids...Thank you Chris-for the use of sweats when we had dinner at your place! WE LOVE SHAMU!

The sad thing about the 'new' Shamu show is that the trainers are no longer allowed in the water. Last year a trainer was killed by a rogue whale and since then the bann has been in place. I think it's unfortunate all around. Sad that the trainer died and sad that now the rest of the trainers cant do what they love. Im sure the trainer who was killed would not be happy with this decision either. To me, the rationale makes as much sense as saying we can no longer drive cars because there have been fatal car accidents.

The Shark Encounter is always exciting. I don't care how many times I've seen this exhibit-I still get a delicious little chill down my spine whenever I see these guys. JAWS, anyone?

The skyride: The gondola's that run over Mission Bay and give a spectacular view of our city. I love living in San Diego County! Chris sure was a good sport...he didn't tell me he was terrified of heights until we were ON the ride. I guess he decided staying behind and being a purse holder was worse than facing his fears!

The batrays are my favorite!

You can just tell those boys are up to something!

Before the water ride...and after! The best part was Chris, not having children and forgetting to censor the cuss words,let a few choice words fly as our 'boat' of 8 people was about ready to go under the waterfall. I did the best mommy shushing that I could while laughing my butt off -but it sure was less than believable... When we got off, soaked and cold, the little girl who sat next to Chris got off, wiped the water that was dripping off of her nose with the back of her hand, put her hand on her hip, looked him up and down and said "I heard what you said!" She tossed her head and marched off. Gee-I could learn some pointers from that 7 year old girl! Aren't all girls that age deliciously bossy?!

Birdie

2010-06-02T17:11:00.000-07:00

Our neighbors had a baby bird fall into their lawn last week. He was totally naked and unprotected. They scooped him up, but him is a shoe box and brought him over to our house. We researched orphaned birds on the internet and learned that they must be fed every 20 minutes with a canned dogfood or catfood mixed with a little water. (So it looks and feels like vomit. Yea, yummy! Good thing I'm a nurse and not squeamish...cuz I got lots of bird poop on me too.)

The poor little thing cowered in the corner of the box and shivered. I remembered reading about the monkey experiement in a sociology class. In the experiment, orphaned monkeys had two platforms to choose from: 1 with a bottle of warm milk, 1 with a cozy fuzzy stuffed animal. (It may even have been justa cat scratcher now that I think of it.) Every monkey, without fail, chose the 'mommy' plateform. They were willing to starve but not be without the comfort of something to cling to. I had the boys find a little stuffed animal. (Ironic that it turned out to be a monkey.) They put it in the small shoe box and the baby bird crawled over to it, settled between its feet and promptly fell asleep. Dante and Jonah named the bird Lucky.

We fed Lucky every 20 minutes for two days-dawn to dusk. The 3rd day he cried for food every 45 min to an hour. His feather grew more every day and he was able to balance on his long skinny sticks of legs. Day 4 he was less active and eating less. We had no idea what we were doing wrong as we were following all the directions to a tee.

So the evening of day 4 we took Lucky to our vet where we signed a Good Samaratian form and relinquished him and his monkey momma to the front clerk. Project Wildlife, a local wildlife volunteer organiziation picked him up. Maybe we should have called them from the beginning, but I hope we did some good, and go him to the vet before it was too late. It was such a great experience for the boys, and for me. I've always known I've loved dogs more than most people;now I'm thinking it may extend to all animals, not just dogs.

I think I draw the line at spiders.

Viva La Mexico

2010-05-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

We took a 7 day cruise with Princess Cruise lines for our 10 wedding anniversary. We have never been away from the kids or been on an extensive vacation outside of trips to visit the family. My mom was so gracious as to come and stay with the boys so we could go really relax. I knew I would enjoy cruising, I just didn't think I'd be head over heels in LOVE with cruising. I'm not really a hotel person. I have a bit of a phobia about it actually (the nurse and germophobe in me) so I was a bit apprehensive about how I would feel spending 7 days on a giant floating hotel. Turned out my giant spray can of Lysol and cavi-wipes did not need to be put to good use! (Okay, so two sprays of the Lysol and three cavi wipes. But it was only the one time-not everyday!) There were daily activities, wondrous food-sparkling clean pools and the most fantabulous service I have ever received. Mucho Bueno! We went to the Mexican Riviera cruising out of San Pedro, Ca and stopping in Puerto Villarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. The only downside? Having to come home. Here are a few of the hundreds of pictures I took. More will follow over the next few days.

The main pool on the upper deck of the Sapphire Princess

Relaxing before we even leave port!

Adios, California...Hola Mexico! Leaving the San Pedro Harbor. 2 days at sea before we reach Puerto Villara.

Dawn in Mazatlan. I got all these shots from my balcony.

Mexican Sunrise. Mazatlan, MX.

Caterpillar Bush

2010-04-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about taking a walk around the neighborhood with children is that they point out so many things we adults miss because we are busy thinking of how busy we are. Without our children to continually point out the wonder of the natural world and to quiet our adult 'to do' list, we 'grown-ups' would miss so much of the true beauty of life. I am grateful today, for Jonah's insistance and bold tug of my hand. For without his eye and his wisdom-this is what I would have missed.

An 8 year old 's musings

2010-04-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

Dante has become very astute at noticing the differences in girls and boys as well as ethnic features in his family and friends. He is a very cerebral boy and does a lot of dreaming and thinking. This is what he asked me yesterday.

"Mommy, was Daddy made in China? "

Iron Mountain

2010-04-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

A few women from work and I have formed a hiking group. W.O.W (Women of Whitney) hikes almost every weekend and has 4 overnighters planned to prepare for summit ting Mt. Whitney in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the contiguous US at 14,497 feet.-being beat out by Mt. McKinley in Alaska at 20,3230 feet. From 'Base Camp'(aka Whitney Portal) the elevation gain is over 6000 feet. So we are planning and hiking, hiking and planning. We are eating sleeping thinking Mt. Whitney. We have been approved for our permits, we are buying our gear and mostly, just getting out there and burning up the trails! We have blisters and callouses and injuries already, but we are enjoying our comradary and the journey. Elevation will be our biggest obstacle I think. We know it isn't a race though-we don't care how long it takes for us to summit. We have permits for two nights on the mountain. And reservations for a hot spring spa once we get back to the Portal! Here are pictures of some of our training.

View from the staging area. We hiked Iron Mountain in Poway, CA this weekend. We staged at the Ellie Lane park n hike. It added 6 miles to loop trail. We hike 9.6 miles in 5 hours with an elevation change of 3100 feet. We had a few detours, breaks for snacks and injury repair. All in all it was a fabulous day!

Pasture at the trail head. AKA suburban farming...

Sharon, taking a break and admiring the views.

Hotties on the trail.

Springtime in San Diego. February-May is springtime here. The yearly average rainfall of 10 inches produces stellar wildflowers and emerald green grasses. The landscape is awash with color for a few months before going wheaten and dry for the rest of the year.

We are supposed to go this way, right?

...uh...guys? I'm pretty sure we were supposed to go to THAT peak...

refueling before heading on our way back to the main trail.

Iron Mountain Summit!

Injury on the trail...it's Nicoles Karma for laughing at ME for falling last week. Haha! She does like to show me up, though. She actually had blood and everything...

Short cut via the 67 hwy. We found out quickly that walking on asphalt sux! We were exhausted and were 9.0 miles into the hike, Nicole was injured, we were hungry, and thumbing it looked like a good idea at the time...

God

2010-04-02T22:58:00.001-07:00

Jonah is 5 now, and has lots of wisdom regarding his Faith. He goes to Parochial pre-K and will continue on at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School just like his 2nd grade brother. Because it is almost Easter, Jonah was telling me all about the lineage of our Christian Traditon. He said," Mary is the Mother of God, and Jesus is His Son. I feel sorry for God. He doesn't get to have a Grandma."

Maybe that's why Grandma's are so special. God made them extra good because He didn't get to have one...

Homework

2010-03-29T22:22:00.001-07:00

Getting frustrated with his homework, Dante sighs and says, " I don't see why I have to write all this down. I'm pretty sure my teachers knows all this stuff already."

1st Reconciliation

2010-03-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Dante's 1st Reconciliation.(Old School Translation-confession.) This whole year in second grade has been working towards this point-as well as 1st Communion-which takes place in May. Everyone was very excited and a bit apprehensive. The boys were all spiffed up in button-down shirts and ties and shiny shoes. The girls had on colorful dresses and ribbons in their hair. They all looked and acted so grown up. Our church has a special Saturday Mass just for the occasion. The priests, the second grade teacher and principal all took Saturday to be with our children.

I'm a Catholic Convert, I never went to confession until I converted over 10 years ago. I never got to wear the pretty white 1st Communion Dresses I so coveted as a child. I didn't participate in CCD or get to complain about the annoyances of twice a week catechism. I just have vague pleasant memories of going to a Catholic Church with a girlfriend and being in awe of the litergy, the genuflection, the incense and the pagantry of the Mass. I remember walking through the snow as a child, oblivious to winter's biting winds, in anticipation of the Mardi Gras celebrations held yearly at Trinity Catholic High School about two blocks from my house in North Dakota. Catholicism was a foreign but not unpleasant, concept and place. I have learned as much these days about my 'new found' faith, as my 8 year old son. As our children filed into the sanctuary yesterday, I felt the tears begin to come. I felt so embarrassed by this. I'm only 1 of 3 converted parents in our class. Everyone else are Cradle Catholics and have the liturgy in their blood. They know it's there but, like all things familiar, don't notice it. So I was embarassed by my sentimentality.

I can still be moved to tears when entering our Church. But then again, I am easily moved by secular things as well. A beautiful sunset, a solitary flower growing up through the rocks. Doggy kisses. So I was feeling uncomfortable with the profound lump in my throat and quickly filling eyes. I was trying to understate this Sacrament, tried to tell myself I was being sentimental-until I looked at my best friend from St. Francis and a life long Catholic. Her eyes were filling too. Our eyes met and then both our tears began to fall. We squeezed each others hands and just let the water works begin. Our husbands looked at us, as uncomfortable with our tears as we were before we started crying in earnest. Once the tears started, they could not be stopped. Tracy and I were the crying pioneers because as soon as we started blowing our noses, we heard lots of sniffling all around us. (Allan says I started all the Mommy's crying. ) Once I stopped trying to supress them, I was able to understand what they were about.

Reconciliation is, to me, probably the most important Sacrament of all. We live in a world that is full of judgement. Many Christian sermons are based on judgement, too. It is so easy to focus on our faults and the faults of others. When we do this, however, we are not open to God's mercy. We are not open to the healing, creative, loving forces of the universe. If we aren't focusing on LOVE, we miss it's subtleties. Reconciliation is about LOVE. It is about God's mercy, about us being able to put aside our pride and defensiveness and speak OUT LOUD our failings. The power of words, and speech in particular, has been known for centuries. The ancient Jews didn't even SPEAK God's name. It was too powerful. So to say aloud, our failings and our true intent to do better, is a strong show of faith. Faith that God HEARS us. Faith that we CAN and WILL do better because we are made in His Image. When we confess our sins (what we have done, and what we have failed to do) we are seeing ourselves more clearly so we can then be our True selves for God.

And then there's the part of my 1st born growing up....

More Adventures with Mike

2010-03-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

Jonah still has his Invisible Friend Mike. His latest adventures with Mike:
"Hey! Mommy! Guess what!! I just check- mated Mike in Chess!! And Mike's a TEENAGER. I guess he's not learning much in HIGH SCHOOL."

Mike

2010-03-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Jonah is 5. He is smart and precocious and now has an Invisible Friend named Mike. He just arrived a week or so ago. Jonah announced his presence by saying, "You know I have a new Invisible Friend, right? His name is Mike. He's 17, so he can play the "M" for Mature Video games. He says he wants to go to Game Stop."

Confession

2010-03-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

Dante's first reconcilliation is on Saturday. We have been having discussions regarding the difference between a 'sin' and and 'accident' or 'mistake.' I want him to have solid sense of accountablity, but not an over active sense of guilt. So, while driving home from school, I asked him to give me an example of a mistake/accident. He thought hard and then stated," A mistake is if I accidently hit my brother with a light saber while playing Star Wars." I then asked him for an example of a 'sin.' He thought again for a moment and then emphatically said, "A SIN is if i hit him, kick him in the nuts, and slap him upside the head."

Oh yea...he's got the concept!

Rain

2009-11-29T21:25:00.001-08:00

It hasn't rained in months. We awoke Saturday morning to the booming sound of thunder and pouring rain. It pummeled the roof and blasted the windows. We were all happy to stay piled in bed most of the morning as we listened to the wind and rain wage their fury. By afternoon the rain subsided some, so we adventured out to our favorite park and fishing hole, Guajome Lake. It's a short bike ride from the house but the few hours of rain caused much runoff and Spring Creek-the creek that runs through our subdivion and feeds Guajome Lake, always swells after even the smallest rainstorm and becomes impossible to pass with our beach cruisers. So we piled in the car with the fishing poles- Dante was convinced that the rain would land him a world class catfish-and drove around the bend to the lake/pond. We haven't caught anything here all year, but Dante refuses to give up hope. Here are some pics of our rainy day outing. And no, we didn't catch anything.

Halloween Party 2009

2009-11-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

So the party was a blast! It was a big hit for adults and kids alike. All my prepwork this week paid off and I wasn't too overwhelmed the day of the party. (Even with the mandatory Sacrament meeting with Fr. Bud at 9 am at the church. Halloween, Fr. Bud?!? )
The menu included chili and baked potatoes with all the trimmings for the grown ups along with a fruit platter and my spinach bacon rice salad. The kids had 'bloody fingers' (hotdogs cut to look like fingers) and eyeballs (grapes.) I made the kids Worm Pie made with pudding and oreo cookies and gummy worms, and and ice cream candy cake for the grown ups. The kids started arriving at 3 pm and we had crafts and the jumpy until everyone arrived. We had games for an hour, then dinner then the mingling outside watching the sky and having purely scientific debates about whether it was dark enough to start trick or treating. Finally, finally, with kids about ready to lose their minds from excitement, they were allowed to join the small trickle of zoombies, ladybugs, princesses and knights that were beginning to fill the sidewalks. The boys went with our party goers, Allan and I and my friend Jen stayed behind to stoke the fire in the firepit that we had set up in the driveway and to give out the candy. (30 lbs of candy, by the way. Doled out a peice and a time and still gone in 2 hours...) Our neighborhood has got to be one of the best neighborhoods around for trick or treating. Going door to door has become a lost art-neighbors no longer knowing one another has led to fear and suspicion and many churches have begun having festivals in their halls. So for us Halloween Purists, my neighborhood is coveted nostalgia of our own fond childhood memories. The sidewalks were packed with kids-the streets filled with costumed grown ups and dogs. We even had a ghost on a trailer being driven around by a ghoul in a golf cart. The haunted house behind us was stellar this year. Dante came out crying (so I'm told) but can't stop talking about how scarey it was. I asked him HOW scarey and he thought about it for awhile and said this: 'Well, at first it was TERRIFYINGLY scarey, but now, when I talk about it, it's DELICIOUSLY scarey." May ALL your Halloween's be Delicious!

Worm Pie: chocolate pudding mixed with crushed oreo cookies and gummy worms Disgustingly yummy!

Bloody Fingers: a hotdog cut in 1/2, fingernail and knuckle cut out before baking. The end is wrapped in crescent roll dough and then dipped in ketchup. The results are suprisingly real looking...

The Pinata Fights Back!

Me as a Flapper, Allan in his 'Sexy Husband' Costume

Patricia

All the Ladies!

Me and Erin

Kristina and the balloon game-she very gracefully put the balloon between her knees, then covered herself back up with her hoop skirt and very princess like, slowly walked back to the starting line. It was so cute!!

Jonah, fast as lightning, winning the balloon game.

Justin and the Silly String War!!!

Jack

Jack o Lantern Jump

Dante/Obi Wan...commanding the FORCE.

More Silly String

Michael/Batman...Jonah's best friend from Pre K.

Quincy and Kristina-butterfly and Princess Belle

Jack, the youngest, won the Jar O Spiders for guessing exactly 100.

Eyeball balloons

decorations-Black cat and all

The skull pumpkin...done at Jonah's direction. (It was his pumpkin, after all.)

At the Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

Halloween is my favorite holiday. It's pure fun without the stress and expectations of typical religious holidays like Christmas. There is no commercialized "gimmeee's" for toys or other big ticket items, either. It's dress up, it's pretend, it free candy! What could be more fun?

Here are some pictures of our time at the pumpkin patch in Temecula. We usually go to Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center, but today was too hot and we didn't want to drive that far and face the crowds. Allan and I also managed to get in a dinner by ourselves-we dropped the kids off at his brother's house for a couple of hours. What a great day!

2009-09-09T22:45:00.000-07:00

Mommy to Jonah while snuggling before bed: You're getting so big... I remember when I could hold you with one arm.

Jonah: Yea. You're lucky I'm growing cuz now you get to hold me with BOTH your arms.

Sigh. I love my boys!

Mind Reader?

2009-07-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

Jonah has an aptitude of saying or doing something at the same time I am thinking it. It has happened more than once and after about the third time in one day, I exclaimed "Wow! Jonah! You must be a mind reader!!"

He looked up from playing and very seriously said " There is NO WAY I can read your mind. I don't even know how to read books yet."

The Joy of Boys

2009-07-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

We went to San Diego yesterday to spend some time with friends. They have boys close to the same age as Dante and Jonah and they always have a good time together. Here are some shots of them.

Dante's Eighth Birthday

2009-07-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

So along with Dante's deep sea fishing adventure, we also had the quintessesntial kids birthdy party-with a pinata, hot dogs, hamburgers, bounce house and party games. It's so easy to make kids happy at this age. May we all learn a lesson from the glee of children....all we really need are family, friends, hot dogs, and cake!

This is like "duck duck goose", but we re-named "Worm, Worm, FISH!"

This was our version of "Go Fish." I made a Target with numbers on it. The kids got to pick three fish I printed from the internet and cut out. The stood on a chair and dropped the fish onto the target. Whoever got the most points with their three, won.

Good old musical chairs-no special fishy music...trust me-if I had found some, I would have used it!

A twist on "pin the tail on the donkey." This was a homemade version called "pin the worm on the hook." We have to keep within the 'fishing' theme, afte all! (Dante now has this game taped to his bedroom wall as a rememberance of his 'super awesome birthday!')

The candy grab-after the pinata first broke from the string, than got whacked to death on the ground.

The CAKE! I get all excited at the prospect of making kid's cakes, but when the day comes to actually do it, I get all nervous and overwhelmed and crabby. This was actually pretty easy once I took a deep breath and got all the pieces cut out and attached and frosted. I was smart and frosted the tail and fins before I attached them. I also froze the cake first so it didn't get all crumbly and fall apart as i frosted. Two day before the boys helped me to separate out all the M and M's by color. The tail and fins are covered in Swedish fish. The scales on the body are M and M's. The eye is a mint lifesaver and an M and M. The sides of the fish are covered in gummy worms- the mouth is a gummy worm, too. The 'sea shells' underneath it are from those candy molds that you can get at Michaels. Easy, Peasy. The boys were very impressed with my 'hard work.' Just don't ask me to do a wedding cake....I can do kitchy, but not fancyschmancy.

Apparently we sing too loud and off-key...

Deep Sea Fishing

2009-06-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

Dante's birthday theme is 'fishing'. So for his birthday we thought it would be appropriate to actually GO deep sea fishing since his luck on the freshwater hasn't been so stellar lately. He and I were both pretty excited. Allan and Jonah stayed home while Dante and I went out to 'try our luck.' We chartered "Oceanside 95" and were there with about 10 other avid fisherman-and one little girl. (who caught all the big fish.) We cruised out about 2 miles off shore and about 20 miles south of Oceanside. Dante received Dramamine the night before and the day of. I also got him those wristband pressure point thingamabobs. He was a bit lethargic and bleary eyed-until we got out into the sea. Then he really perked up and was intensely observing and listening to everything the REAL fishermen/boathands were telling us.

We learned not to walk around with the fishing poles-less someone gets an eye out by the big hooks or knocked in the head by the big weights on the end of the line. We learned to hook the bait (live anchovies) through the nose because if you 'brain' them, they won't swim accurately and the fish won't bite. We learned to change out your bait every 2-3 minutes-again, because the bait stop swimming normally. We learned that picking the biggest bait isn't always the best way to catch the biggest fish. We learned that seagulls will happily eat the bait the fish don't like. We learned that the boathands know exactly what's on your line just by the way the fish is fighting. And we learned that the REAL fishermen love teaching us greenhorns to fish. Dante was handed many a pole to reel in the 'big one' by many a grown man out there looking for their own big fish.

It was five hours of fresh air, new friends, and the open sea. The sound of the waves lulled me to sleep in my own bed last night and although it is now 24 hours later, and I still feel the sea rocking beneath me. Dante's right: deep sea fishing IS better than Disneyland. He's even suggesting we all go fishing again on MY birthday. I may just take him up on it....

At the slip the Oceanside 95 is docked. We chartered with Helgren's Fishing based out of the harbor in Oceanside. They were fantastic. Here's a link to their website:
www.helgrensportfishing.com

Rods and Reels

Rods

The Helm-leaving Oceanside Harbor after picking up our bait.

Cruising

Our bait. They picked it up at the "bait station" on the way out of the harbor. We got to hand pick our own anchovies to sacrifice on the hook. I sacrificed just as many to the seagulls and many got away just as I tried to hook them and they flopped out of my hand...and fell overboard or onto the deck. I was covered in flecks of rainbow glinting scales by the end of the day. Sorry little anchovy dudes!!

Dante's first few catches. First was a mackrel-too small to eat but perfect for bait. The other is a bass that we were able to take home.

My first catch. Baracuda. Mean little guys. But SOOOO fun to reel in!!!

Odds and ends of our day. The sacks were our fish sacks- our fish that we could keep went in them. We could participate in pool where we put in 10 bucks a piece and at the end of the day, who's ever sack was the heaviest, got to take home the fish AND the money. The little girl on the boat won. Yay for girl power!!

Lake Casitas, CA

2009-06-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of our first camping trip of the season! We drove up to Lake Casitas in Ventura, CA. When I first came to CA I lived in Ventura-I can't believe I never knew about this place! Then again, I was 21 and running from the country and wanting the big city life of L.A. Now I hate L.A. If it weren't for the constant traffic and construction, we could have been there in two and a half hours, instead of four. Oh well. We have a portable DVD player for the kids. And books. Here are some pictures of our long weekend. We had a great time and have put this place on our list for repeat visits. The campsites were pretty close together but we got lucky and got a great site. When our 'neighbor's' showed up Friday night they turned out to be pretty nice, too. So if it's 'get away from the people' type camping you're looking for- this is NOT the place for you, but if you are looking to get away from it all and meet new friends-then by all means-make reservations! But make them early-they book up fast. There are some record bass and trout in this reservoir-we saw them jump tantalizingly close to our boat. But they didn't want to bite. We still had fun and the scenery was amazing. The eucalyptus tree in front of our campsite was a roosting tree for turkey vultures-which we had never seen before. They left feathers for us-and other parting gifts for the poor soul who parked under the tree. All and all we had a wonderful time (minus that @#%%^ L.A. traffic.) Seriously. You can't get anywhere trying to get through L.A....

What Little Boys are Made of

2009-06-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

How does that saying go? ".....snails and puppy dog tails, that's what little boys are made of?" Here's my boy and the snail part of it!

Queens of the Campground

2009-06-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to go camping for a few months now. I have some friends at work who also camp, or want to learn to camp and viola! -the first annual all girls camping trip is born! The closer the date came, the more nervous I got because, as the 'organizer' I wanted to insure that everyone had fun and that the trip didn't bomb. I needn't have worried-the six of us got along wonderfully and the weekend was more fun than I could have even imagined! My belly still hurts from two days of nonstop laughing. I bought everyone 'princess tiaras' to wear-we had them on in the car driving up to Idyllwild-about and hour and half northeast of Oceanside. Withing five minutes of arriving at our campsites, the whole campground knew who we were. Who else wears crowns while camping?! We got our sites set up in no time, had our fire roaring, popped open some beer and Mike's hard lemonade and the party began! It was really non-stop laughing and good natured ribbing the whole weekend. We ate well, hiked, told ghost stories and had the most fabulous time! We even pranked other campers with our whoppee cushion. (I don't care how old you are-fart humor is always funny!) Here are some pictures of our weekend. Next all girls trip-TBA!!!!

Queens of the Campground! Idyllwild, CA

Nicole "Martha/McGuivre" Moran

Alexis "Cherry" Drake -our first time camper!

Melissa "Grandma" Clark and Tonya "Queen Bee" Saliba

We know what we are doing! REALLY!

Camp Chow-my shrimp and sausage jumbalaya,corn on the cob on the grill, salad and Nicole's homemade Thousand Island dressing.

The Queens in the flowers.

Jen "chipmunk" Whiting. She laughs like a chipmunk which sets us all off, which makes her even more chipmunky. It's partly her fault I laughed until I cried.

Thistle. The wild flowers in the desert and at the coast are dried up already-it was a pleasant suprise to see so many wild flowers up in the forest.

Rocket-the only boy allowed on this trip.

View from the top of our two hour hike. It was awesome! The first thirty minutes kicked our butts-but it was worth it.

Me- surrounded by Manzanita trees.

Girls hiking through the boulder trail. Notice how Jen is holding up the rock for us. :)

Banana boats-heaven for your mouth. Slit open a banana, add little marshmallows, chocolate chips, wrap in foil and put in the campfire. When warmed, add whipped cream and crushed graham crackers. YUMMMMY!!!!

Nikki and the awesome bananas. We actually went into town to get more bananas so we could eat more.

Grunion Run

2009-04-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

I've heard about grunions ever since I moved to California 17 years ago. But I've never really paid them much mind. How exciting can little sardine like fish be, anyway? Pretty exciting, it turns out!! Grunions are unique to Southern California and northern Baja, California, They spawn out of the water, on the beach, during high tide during a full and new moon. They spawn so regularly that their habits can be predicted up to a year in advance. They usually make their appearance on the California beaches from March through September. April and May are 'observe only' months- no fishing/hunting of them is allowed. But June through September, with a fishing license, you can fish. But you have to use your bare hands. No digging, trapping or netting allowed. Hands only, and only as much as you will use. (What a funny sight THAT must be!!) Dante and I went out two weeks ago for our first grunion experience.

Grunion spawn by burying their dorsal side into the sand and release their eggs. They bury themselves up to their necks and then wiggle back out of the sand and are carried back out to sea with the high tide. They come out to lay eggs on the full and new moon, during high tide at night. It is quite exciting to see the sand covered in shivering silver fish. Just watch your step! I had a few flop on my feet and Dante stepped on a head as it was buried. (No fish were harmed!) Next grunion run for us TBA-but we're definitely going again- maybe next time we'll even have a grunion party!

Dante is still sleepy in this picture. He didn't really wake up until the first waves hit his feet. He was so excited to be woken up in the 'middle of the night' to go to the beach! It was really only 1030-and we stopped for hot chocolate at 7-11 on the way.

Yes- you have to get your feet wet when grunion hunting. I was amazed at how warm the water was at 1130 at night. We didn't get cold at all!

Other crazy grunion hunters. Allan was convinced I was nuts and didn't want to go with us because he had to work in the morning and thought we would be up too late. But he was nervous about us being out so late, and sure we were going to be abducted or arrested or something. He called me about every 15 minutes- he might as well have come with us!! We met some students who were watching the grunions, too- from Pepperdine University in Malibu. They were marine biology majors.

First sighting!

Notice the squiggle lines on the sand where they 'side wind' to bury themselves, and get back to the water.

My dork light. I wasn't the only one out there with it- AND I've decided to embrace my inner nerd, anyway.

Early Summer

2009-03-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

We've had some unseasonably warm days, even by San Diego standards. We have been frantically gardening and doing other outdoor activities and fooling ourselves into thinking it is summer. Here are some pictures of a summertime activity we are happy we can partake of in March. Honestly, I don't miss the snow days of my youth in North Dakota and Montana. So my apologies to all my northern and midwestern friends who are still digging out from March blizzards; maybe these pictures will help remind you that summer will come to you, too. (Eventually!) And as a reminder that if you need a break from your own bad weather, you can always come to San Diego-I love to play tour guide!

Boy, Dirt, Sunshine

2009-03-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

To start a garden in the latter part of March is considered late in Southern California. My friends have already been reaping harvests of snap peas and asparagus, lettuce and spinach while I have been daydreaming of revamping my garden spot. I finally decided that it doesn't matter if the spot is they way I really want it-if the dirt is amended, I have compost and seeds, then it's time to plant. And because I am late this year, I have a sense of urgency to get it all in!! I am also in need of dirt on my hands. It's not enough for me to have my sweet boys to raise-I need to nurture some seedlings. I wonder if the sense of satisfaction I feel from growing our food and nurturing not just the plants but then my family as well, is the same sense of satisfaction God has in seeing His own creation flourish. There is something primally satisfying with the notion of being self suffient. Of knowing where my food comes from, that it is because of my tending the seeds become plants and the plants then bear fruit. And because I am actually a very impatient person, gardening fits my personality. I can watch my progess and within a few months finish what I have started.

Jonah, age 4, was thrilled with our plan for the day. We live exactly one mile from Home Depot so we decided to walk. Jonah loaded up the wagon with snacks and drinks and doggy treats. I got the leash and the dog and we were off! Jonah sang as I pulled. Rocket the dog was just as thrilled as Jonah to be on an all morning outing. So thrilled in fact, that he pranced the whole way there. He tried to walk 'normal' but his tail was wagging so fast it caused his backside to move horizontally and try to catch up with his front.

When we got to Home Depot, we left the wagon and the dog outside the garden area. We found out that dogs are welcome inside Home Depot- or maybe it was just because Rocket was having an anxiety attack being left 'alone' that, rather than deal with his freak out, they let me take him with me! Jonah was insistant of getting his OWN flowers and seeds. He also picked out our tomatoes and squash plants. His seeds include spinach and pumpkin. He took his job of 'flower picker outer' very seriously. He wandered the aisles and picked out a flower, smelled it, put it back, picked out another, put it back. He finally settled on a large container of pink Gerbera Daisies. He said he liked them because they looked "friendly." Little does he know that Gerberas are indeed my favorite flower for the exact same reason!

So we loaded our prizes back into the wagon-Jonah complaining of being 'squished'. He suggested I hold the dog, the wagon AND the plants while I pull him. I asked him how I would do that with only two hands. He shrugged. "I dunno- you're the mommy..." We finally settled on him holding his Gerbera and setting some of the other plants on top of each other.

One the mile walk back home, Jonah decided I was going too slow. "Tie Rocket to the wagon, Mommy! He's super fast!" He finally got so disgusted with my lack of speed that he climbed out to pull it himself. After going past about three driveways, he decided that I was indeed right-the wagon is heavy and I can't go any faster.

He had a renewed sense of energy once we got home and was very helpful with digging. He even gently planted the tomatoes and back filled the dirt around them. We spent the whole morning and some of the afternoon planting. We now have purple string beans, bell peppers, tomatoes, chives, cilantro. We still have our zucchini to plant but I have another area of ground to till and prepare before they can go in. We also have our pumpkin seeds. They will wait until summer to be planted. I also have a row of spinach and lettuch that need to be planted. I am hoping to still have room for carrots and radishes. I am sure that Jonah will be happy to help. I only hope that he is as thrilled to eat the veggies as he is to plant them.

Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve

2009-03-10T09:19:00.000-07:00

The Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve is located West of Muiretta and Wildomar, CA. It is home to some of the continent's last vernal pools. Urban sprawl has caused much of the extinction of these small yet important eco systems. Located in the plateaus of the southern Santa Ana Mountains, the topography is a rolling range of native grassland, chaparral, scrub oak and rangesup to 2000 feet in elevation. The wildlife in this nearly 4000 acre reseve is vast. There are lizards, snakes owl, rodents-including the badger, cougar, coyote, muledeer and more. And of course, in the spring, the vernal pools. (Vernal, in Greek, means Spring.) The pools also have a vast ecosystem in and of themselves. Of the most curious is the fairy shrimp. The eggs can lie dormant for centuries-buried in the dirt and then, when the conditions are right, can hatch 100's of years after they have been deposited. The water is brachish, even though it is miles from the ocean. You can smell the salty organic scent of decomposing plantlife, shrimp and algae. You will also hear the constant drone of crickets as you walk through the grassland and over the boardwalk that will take you over the biggest of the vernal pools. Watch you kids! Don't let them fall in or even stick their fingers in the water. Our very skin can affect the growth and demise of these precious resources. Remind them to 'look with your eyes, not your hands..." Here are some pictures of our family enjoying our day at the reserve.

And the Winner Is....

2009-01-16T22:08:00.001-08:00

Lava Man

So the Boy Scouts had a cake contest. The theme was 'super heroes.' Since I told Dante that Star Wars characters were not technically super heroes, he decided to make up his own....Lava Man and his arch nemesis, Poison Krys. (because he throws poisoned crystals...) I made him write out who the characters were, what they did and how they got their powers. I was suprised at how many of the boys at the pack meeting actually took the time to READ his 'report' and thought it was very cool. He is currently a well respected 'little kid,' and a hero in his own den. Yay Dante!

Note Lava Man victorious on top of the volcano and Poison Krys defeated in the middle left of the picture. Note ,too, the desecrated cars-pummelled by the explosion and covered in ash (cocoa powder...)

The crowning moments! Dry Ice is so very impressive!

Dante winning first prize! ! The boys each voted on a private ballot for their favorite- He won by a landslide. Get it?! Landslide?! Hahaha....

The proud and victorious Dante. A few moments later he was in tears-he didn't know they were going to auction off his cake and also didn't know we didn't have enough money to bid as high as the cake went for. We had 16 bucks-and his cake went for 23 to a third grader. (not bad since they all start out at a fifty cent initial bid. Not so hot considering how much I spent for us to make it!) After he realized that it was the most expensive cake going AND that an older kid liked it enough to buy it, he was happier and not so upset that he got 'stuck' with an Incredible Hulk cake, instead. Ah. The hard earned lessons of childhood....

Promises, Promises

2009-01-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

We have all been sick this winter. We keep passing it around. Jonah and I are the latest victims of the 'crud', again. I am getting cabin fever and Jonah is just crabby. Period. I thought that getting outdoors would cheer us both up. On the thirty minute drive to the Nature Preserve, Jonah complained and whined the whole time. After trying all the mommy tricks of music, conversation and other forms of distraction, I resorted to good old fashioned begging.

"Jonah-PLEASE! STOP whining and complaining!"

Silence--------------------------------

"Well, I can try, but I'm not making any promises!"

At the very least we've taught him honesty!

Friday

2009-01-09T19:39:00.000-08:00

Jonah is getting very proficient on the scooter. He is very coordinated-it is obvious he didn't get it from ME! (Sorry Dante! Someone has to pass on the Klumsy Gene!) We had a very fun day today. I worked in the nurses office at school and since this is First Friday, school is only half day. It is our tradition to go to lunch on Frist Friday and afterwards we came home, Jonah napped and Dante played Wii Star Wars. (Is there anything else besides Star Wars? Dante would say NO.) After nap we took a stroll around the neighborhood. Dante, ever vigilant with his Star Wars Blaster, kept us safe from harm. Here are some pictures:

My Nutballs

2009-01-06T21:56:00.001-08:00

So I decided I needed to intervine on one of the boys arguements a few days ago. I usually let them fight it out unless blood is part of the equation. This was really a Daddy moment, but since Allan was at work, I did the best I could. What else is a girl to do? The arguement went something like this:

Dante: They're NUTS, Jonah!
Jonah: No they aren't, they're BAllS!
Dante: NUTS!
Jonah: BALLS!
Dante: NUH UH! NUTS!
Jonah: Nope. BALLS!

I thought I better intervene before one of them got punched there. OR decided to bring out the evidence.

Mommy: Hey! Boys! Knock it off! They're called 'testicles.' (aren't I ever the nurse?)

Silence..........................

Dante: Well, Justin calles them NUTS!
Jonah: Well, Michael calles them BALLS!
Dante: NUTS!
Jonah: BALLS!

Mommy: shaking head, leaving room, and locking herself in her own room to laugh her head off. AND call Daddy to let him know what he is going to be talking about to the boys at bedtime....

Christmas and New Year

2009-01-04T17:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year~ Not a lot to report, just a few pictures. Our New Year's Resolution? Get all our bills, except for the mortgage, payed off by June! That means extra shifts for me. (And probably less blogging as well.) Wishing you all a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Allan and Dante at Tante Omi and Onkel Opa's house in Sun City, CA on New Year's Day. We spent the afternoon with them, their son David, his wife Leslie and their daughter, Kayla.

Me and the boys being silly New Year's Eve. I worked all day and came home around 8 pm. We put on our glasses, danced around, toasted the New Year with some juice and went to bed. I guess I already sowed my wild oats...

Jonah and Dante showing off their 'Star Wars' Christmas gifts. Between the Star Wars stuff and Grandma and BoBo's helicopters, they were in heaven!

Me and the boys on Christmas Eve, after Mass. They each opened one gift, we sat around the tree, listened to music and enjoyed each other. (and the prospect of Santa coming was pretty thrilling, too!)

Dante and Jonah Christmas morning. They were so excited! For me and Allan, the best part was watching them each pick presents for each other to open and to generally be excited for each other when opening gifts. It wasn't just a mad dash of strewn paper and screams-they very carefully opened gifts and enjoyed the process, not just the present inside.

Rocket getting in the spirit. Or just being so shaggy he couldn't see the hat to notice it...we got him groomed about a week after this picture. He looks much more dignified when shaggy...he looks pretty prissy after getting groomed. I think he feels pretty silly, too. Poor guy.

The boys at Scripps Encinita's Hospital's annual Children's Christmas Party. It's really a fun time for the kids. Carl Etter, our chief executive officer plays Santa every year. He's a great guy. The boys favorite part besides Santa? Cookies, of course!

Roght before leaving for Church-Christmas Eve Children's Mass at 4:30. I love the Midnight Mass but will have to wait a few more years before the boys will be able to handle it.

Jonah making his own gingerbread house. He was very indignant that Dante got to make one at school with all his friends and he didn't. (well, the DID make one little in preschool, but apparently that wasn't enough...) This was a left over faux gingerbread house (aka-graham cracker...) from Dante's school Gingerbread party.

This is a Christmas Star made out of capiz shells. It is a Filipino tradition, called a Parol. I love it! I think it is so beautiful. Allan's mom brought it with her as a gift the last time she visited. It can be 'programmed' to flash at different intervals. It is really very pretty. And because they are all made out of the shells, there are no two that are ever alike. Lovely!

The Real Santa

2008-12-19T18:49:00.001-08:00

It takes a child to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas:

While driving home in the car today, I was telling the boys about our plans these last few days before Christmas. I exictedly told them that SANTA was coming to mommy's WORK and there was going to be a children's party!
My ever cynical 4 year old asked suspiciously, "Is it the REAL Santa, or a FAKE Santa?"

I was shocked. We never talked about a real vs. fake Santa? Crap! What do I do?!

My wise 7 year old came to the rescue.

"Well, you know, it might be the FAKE Santa. But that's okay, the FAKE Santa's are here to remind us to keep the REAL Santa in our heart. "

Merry Christmas. May you always have the REAL Santa in your heart!

Christmas at St. Francis School

2008-12-19T16:29:00.000-08:00

Today was a busy day and a perfect example of a mother's multi-tasking skills. We were up at 6:20 am-breakfast for the boys, get them ready for school (thank God for school uniforms!) and then-oh yea! I have to get ready, too! (I wish I was in a uniform today...I hate regular clothes.)

Christmas presents for the teachers? Check!
Backpacks and lunches? Check!
Homework. library books,and signed forms? Check!
Payments for whatever is going on at school this month? Check!
Kids in car? Check!

Finally! On the road-

Kids have their jackets and schoolwork and backpacks? Check!
Mom has camera, gifts, and school nurse stuff? Check!

Now-run to the classrooms. Dante gives me a kiss at the threshold, Jonah pulls on my arm to get him to preschool. I drop him off, stay a few minutes to chat up the teachers and give them their giftsand then off to Mass with Dante.

After Mass-unlock the nurses office, take attendance and then run to St. Clare's hall have breakfast with Jonah and Santa and the rest of the preschoolers, pre-k kids and their parents.

Back to the nurses office for recess boo-boo-s and owies and general hugs from and to the kids.

To Dante's class with gifts for the teachers.

Back to the nurse's office to orient a new volunteer and clean up the space for the Christmas break. (No Christmas mice in the Health Office!)

Lock up, wish everyone a Merry Christmas and pick up Dante. I was hoping to leave with empty arms but I received back as many Christmas goodies as I gave! Trudge up the hill to preschool to pick up Jonah and then to lunch with the kids. (We always go out to lunch when it's half day at school. Our tradition...) Home for nap and then some down time! Yay! I think my days at the school are just as exhausting as my 12 hour shifts at the hospital. I can't quite figure out why...

Here are some pictures of the past two days at school. Merry Christmas to all of you!

Ladies Man

2008-12-01T20:40:00.000-08:00

After a week off for Thanksgiving break, Jonah was very excited to go back to school. He hung up his backpack and raced inside the classroom. He opened his arms out wide and announced, "Good Morning, Ladies. I'm HEEEERE. "

Lord Have Mercy.

Christmas

2008-11-28T20:07:00.000-08:00

Yea- What He Said:

BuyNothingChristmas.org is a great link to a frugal and meaningful Christmas. Celebrate the REAL reason for the Season-Hope and the birth of a new world in the midst of a dark one, the blessing of family and the spirit of giving our Time, Talent, and Treasure to those who need it most. May we always remember the hope and expectations of the Holy Family as they witness the miracle of Life. Merry Christmas!

Jack's Pond-San Marcos, CA

2008-11-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

Well, we all have this Thanksgiving week off! It seems we have been so busy lately we haven't had any good family time or day trips together. So after Jonah's nap, we packed some snacks and drove over to Jack's Pond. I've heard about this little park with a trail system through San Marcos, but have never been out there. It is a cute little park! There is a Nature Center/Barn which is open on Saturdays with activities for the kids. There is a trail that takes you to the pond, about a 1/4 mile away. Jonah brought his Indiana Jones hat, Dante his light saber and Captain Rex Blaster (Star Wars is still big in our house!) and we were on an adventure! Here are some pictures:

A Day in the Park

2008-11-20T16:46:00.000-08:00

Jonah and I had a nice morning while Dante was in school. We met Ana, who used to be our nanny, at the park. (Now that both boys are in school, I don't need her anymore. We sure do miss her, though!) I always forget about Libby Lake Park. It's probably one of Oceanside best parks. It has a very large pond in the middle of it with a fountain and lots and lots of ducks. A nice trail skirts its periphery and there are also many benches around the lake for sitting, relaxing, and enjoying the view. I guess I forget to come here because it is in the middle of a not so great neighborhood. Actually, it's a BAD neighborhood. I would never want to be here at night. NEVER. Yet as I looked around, I didn't see any graffiti, trash or any truant kids posturing on the playground. It was quite peaceful. Maybe the neighborhood is turning itself around. They have build a preschool across the street from the park, and the community center around the corner is recently remodelled. It would be great if this little corner of Oceanside starts cleaning up. It would be good for it's residents, it's children, it's schools, and the city in general. Even though times are unstable for all of us, the winds of change are coming. Even to a poor neighborhood in a small suburb in Southern California. I can feel it. And for the first time in a long time, I am hopeful.

Unending Summer

2008-11-17T19:30:00.000-08:00

It's the middle of November for Cripes Sake. And it's hot. Africa Hot. Dry, crunchy, gritty hot. The Santa Ana's blow in from the northeast bleaching the already beige landscape. It billows up dust like dancing petticoats as the trees nod their approval. It fills the air with grit and every part of my body that sees the outdoors feels like sandpaper. My eyes are dry and scratchy. My lips feel bruised and chapped. The boy's skin is ashey and Jonah's lips and nose peeling and cracked and red. And we are crabby. Not just us, but everyone. The whold town is in edge. We watch the horizon for the telltale signs of smoke. It's too damn hot! But the wind doesn't care. It continues to howl through the valley, oblivious to the the fire tail it most often leaves behind. Maybe not here, but soon. And near. We will just continue to scan the sky with worried faces, watch for smoke and pray for rain.

We did manage to take a few hours to go to the beach. It just seems wrong though, to really sunbathe in November. We didn't bring the sand toys or an umbrella. We didn't even bring bathing suites. We thought the water would be too cold for swimming. Apparently we were misinformed. It doesn't matter what the calender says, if it FEELS like July, well then-it's a beach day! The sand was dotted with umbrella and blankets as if it were a summer weekend. They boys were quite disgusted with our lack of knowledge. Okay fine. The clothes will dry. Especially in this windy heat.

At the Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-25T21:49:00.000-07:00

We spent the afternoon in Valley Center. We haven't been to Bates Nut Farm the past two years and thought it was high time we took another trip out there. Bates is a working farm and seasonal tourist attraction. It's always very popular in October for the pumpking patch. They also have a hay ride, corn/hay maze, petting zoo, pony rides, jump houses and various food vendors. It's very festive and family friendly. We were amazed at how quickly the afternoon escaped us. It was hot-typical for southern california this time of year-but the breezes kept it tolerable. The boys were so excited for this day, it felt like Christmas! We hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed spending the day at Bates Nut Farm.
(www.batesnutfarm.biz)

Palomar Mountain Day Trip Oct. 11 2008

2008-10-20T03:52:00.000-07:00

We took a leisurely drive up to Palomar Mountain last weekend. I don't think the boys have ever been up there, and it was nice cool and crisp Autumn day. It was only 58 degrees and windy and to us spoiled Southern Californians, that was nippy! We had a lovely picnic in the day use picnic area. We climbed Boulder lookout, planted a letterbox (see the clues at Atlasquest.com for 'Old Man and the Sea.') and walked around Doane Pond. We checked out the camp sites (for next summer) and had some hot drinks at the only cafe in town. Allan didn't feel like going to the Observatory, so we will save that for next time! Here are some pictures of our day.

Tiger Scouts

2008-10-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

So Dante is now a Tiger Scout. I've sort of been on the fence about Scouting. Before I had kids I said my sons would NEVER be in scouts because of their anti homosexual standing. (As if gays are pedophiles! The best sat re on this is a South Park episode. If you can find it, watch it!) But now I have kids and with parenting comes new thoughts and beliefs. My children have in some ways made me more pragmatic then idealistic. Oh sure-I still have my lofty notions of world peace, clean environments and all that, but my world has become a smaller stage in many ways as I now have two ACTUAL lives to think about. So, is Scouting anti-gay? Maybe. Does it matter? Maybe. But it also matters that my son wants to join to be with his friends. They learn good citizenship, cool McGuiver type stuff and self confidence. And it takes all of that for the next generation to change our world. And God knows it needs changing! So I have decided that Scouting's one bad policy does not outweigh the other good stuff it produces. I'm still a little freaked out about the salute and the color guard (maybe my German roots have made me Uber sensitive to the whole 'Hitler Youth' ideas as well as our country's own 'Guns, God and Country" ideas.) I guess the point is, not everything has to be political. Some stuff is just fun. And for now, Scouting is fun. Here are some pictures of Dante's first Pack meeting and getting his first badge-the bobcat badge. They had to learn the Scouting motto: "Do My Best." The Scout Salute and Handshake, and the Pledge of Allegiance. (He already learned that in Preschool.) He is looking forward to the Rain gutter Regatta next month. More pictures of that to follow!

Ode to a Dog

2008-10-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

I was born in the Chinese Year of the Dog so it makes sense that I am a dog lover. Ever since I was a little girl I have been crazy about dogs. Even after having been bitten by a little yappy poodly thing at a neighbor's house, my love for the canine did not diminsh. (However,that may be the reason that toys sized dogs aren't my favorite.) I can't remember not having dog growing up. There was Ginni, a black Standard Poodle who was my pillow and my horse until I was 6. Shortly there after we got Barry, another Standard Poodle that had a little too much inbreeding for my parent's taste. He wasn't like Ginni at all, and I was the only one who didn't care that he raced around the dining room table a thousand times, OCD style, whenever my dad stepped foot in the house. I also didn't care that he pee'd on my dad's side of the bed and generally freaked whenever there was a man around. When I got wind that my parents were going to give him away, I packed my turqoise green bag that smelled like plastic and had a cracked strap and a broken zipper with some underwear, a pair of socks, a sweater and some shorts and was ready to run away with him. I got as far as our camper trailer stored on the side of the house. Barry and I hid out until dinner. They gave him away the next day, and the next week his new owners brought him back. I thought it was divine intervention, my parents thought it was proof he was a whack job. They found someone else to take him. We found out later that he died after jumping out of a pickup and got hit by a car. He was dumb dog, but I loved him.

After a year of begging and crying and moping, and hanging out in our neighbor's garage everyday with their dog Martha, my parents brought me home a beagle mix from the pound. She was the most beautiful creature in the universe. And she loved me as much as I loved her. We played in the backyard, she sat under our neighbor's apple tree as I climbed it to pick apples or just sit in and think. I drew pictures of her in school and worried about her when I was away. Even my grandparents from Germany loved her, and they weren't animal people. I had her until I was seventeen. She became diabetic and blind and miserable. I had to put her down after school on the Thursday. I still have her collar some twenty years later.

When we moved to Portland after I graduated high school, I was very depressed and lost. I had always dreamed of moving out of Montana when I lived there. I hated Montana, and my life. I wanted to move to the Oregon coast, wear a fisheman knit sweater and have a red dog. But when we did move I didn't want to leave my boyfriend, was stuggling with bulemia and was generally miserable. On my first birthday in Oregon-a particularily grey and rainy day- a red Golden Retriever showed up on our doorstep. We put up fliers and tried to find his owner, but no one claimed him. So we named him Max and he was mine. He was my angel dog and we took lots of walks along Lake Oswego and romps on Cannon Beach. He alone helped heal my broken heart of moving and general teenaged angst. When I moved to California with a Sailor two years later, my parents gave him to a boy in wheelchair so he could again be an angel for someone else.

When I finally settled down in my late twenties, my now husband and I got a dog. Allan, I must admit, agreed under duress. I moped and cried and pouted like those many years ago when I was eight. I finally got my way and once again got a sweet girl from the pound. Allan named was Maya and she was my first 'baby.' We hiked and walked on the beach. She was a frisby kinda girl and would chase it for hours. She also liked ice cream and when I was pregnant with my eldest we would go through the drive through at McDonald's and get vanilla cones. One for me and one for her. I held hers as she licked it. We always got a good laugh from passersby. She was a great babysitter when the babies came. She was as proud a mama as I was. Just as neurotic, too. She barked at them if they wandered a little too far away. I had to put her down two years ago in October. It was another difficut time as I had her longer than I had my boys. I have her collar still, too.

Six months later, unable to take the silence of clinking nails on the floor or being greated at the door by a wriggling four legged friend, we adopted another dog. Dante picked him out this time. We found him on Petfinders.com- online dating for dogs, basically. He was a mess of matted hair and darting eyes. I wasn't so sure, but Dante was adamant that he was the one. He named him Rocket. And it was a great choice. Rocket has proven that the dog you have at the moment is the best dog you have every had. After a shave and a wash, he cleaned up well. He learned his name in a day and was sorry after the first poop and pee in the house. He is a handsome fellow and settled into our family nicely. He loves the car and the kids and I once again have a four legged shadow.

Lake Elsinore

2008-09-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

I get antsy easily. As much as I like being at home, I also get cabin fever on a regular basis and need to get out and explore. So we took a day trip up to Riverside County and the little town of Lake Elsinore. We are only 40 minutes away but have never really stopped to look around. We at lunch at home and then took off in the Scion for a little jaunt north. The boys napped which gave Allan and I a chance to 'catch up' and talk without being interrupted for a change. It was an easy drive-no traffic to speak of. The city of Lake Elsinore is a sleepy little town with an old fashioned downtown and lots of antique stores. (Most were closed-I guess they still observe the 'blue laws' of stores being closed on Sundays. I thought that only happened in the midwest!) Lake Elsinore has grown from about 12 thousand to almost 50 thousand in the last decade. The lake almost dried up in the 1930's and was refilled in the 1960's. It flooded its banks in 1980 and destroyed many homes around her shore. Since then the city has made provisions for flood banks and although the past decade has been plagued with drought, there are now a marsh and canal which has been created to hold back the waters should it try to flood again. We did find a master planned shopping area (but somehow missed the outlet stores. We forgot about those! Guess I am not the shopper I once was...) east of old downtown, and stopped for a much needed Starbucks. With the smell of roasted coffee, the boys woke up and were ready for their own chocolate milks and madeline's. We drank and talked in the shade of the umbrella provided by Starbucks. We noticed the heat, too. It was 92 degrees. The wind helped to make it comfortable. We found our way to the shore of the lake. It is a large lake with lots of room for motor boats, kayaks and jetskis. The boys changed their minds about fishing and decided to take a dip in their undies, instead. We are used to the shocking coldness of the Pacific ocean, followed by a numbing chill so the warm fresh water of the lake felt like bath water to us!. Here are some pictures of the boys enjoying Lake Elsinore.

Happy Birthday to Me

2008-09-01T17:24:00.000-07:00

I had a great birthday. It started with dinner at my favorite restaurant, Macaroni Grill last night. I broadened my palette by ordering something new: Chicken with artichoke, mushrooms capers and procuttio...YUM! It may replace my old standby favorite: pasta rustica. Today we all went to San Diego-first to Seaport Village where we enjoyed the Embarcadaro, the shops and Ben and Jerry ice cream. Then we went to Balboa Park and the Natural History Museum. The boys enjoyed the dinosaur exhibit and the we all learned a lot about water in the H20 exhibit. The boys had a blast jumping around in the giant fountain in front of the museum. I planted a letterbox in the park, as well.(www.atlasquest.com) It was a lovely happy family day. Here are some pictures of the celebration of the 9th anniversary of my 29th birthday. Check out the picture of the old ladies-I want to be like them when my time comes! You go, girls!!

Fire!

2008-08-31T08:15:00.000-07:00

Our next door neighbor's house burned down Friday night. Dante discovered it, really. Allan and Jonah were already sleeping and since it was a Friday Dante was 'staying up late.' We were upstairs playing when Dante asked me, 'What's that funny noise?" It sounded like the cat knocking down a glass or two in the kitchen. I hate it when she does that! So I ran downstairs to yell at her but when I got to the stairwell I realized she wasn't downstairs because I didn't hear the familiar thump as she jumps down from where she isn't suppose to be. Now I smelled smoke and heared a noise from next door, like someone was shoveling up broken tile. Why in the world would the neighbors be doing construction work at 9 pm? I went into the backyard to see if maybe they were having a bonfire-we all firepits in the neighborhood and use them often. The flickering light that usually comes from a small fire in a firepit didn't seem right, and the smokey smell was starting to smell more chemical then wood. When I looked over the fence I saw four foot flames coming out of our neighbor's living room!! I have never ever screamed so loud in my life. I sent Dante upstairs to get Allan, grabbed the phone to call 911 and ran out to the front lawn to see if Mike and Becky's cars were in their driveway. It appeared that they were not at home. Allan in the mean time dragged the hose to that side of the house to try to do something, anything, to stop the flames. 911 dispatched, I ran screaming out into the street, sending Dante to our good friend's house to arouse Rich and Gina to come and help while I knocked on doors and rang doorbells trying to get fire extinguishers and any other kind of help. It seems kind of silly in retrospect. The house was engulfed by the time the fire department arrived. Watering down the flames with a hose was pretty much the equivalent of peeing on it in a blind attempt of saving property. I was also screaming because sparks were landing on our roof. I was horrified that the house next door was on fire and terrified that ours would catch as well. By the time the four fire engines arrived with the three police cars a good crowd had gathered. Allan was still using the hose, but was smart and started wetting our fence and side of the house facing the fire. Rich attempted to put out a blaze in the garage with a fire extinguisher. When the police arrived they stood at our front door and told us to get our pets and get out of the house. We had two minutes to evacuate. We grabbed Jonah, who was still sleeping, and Rocket the dog, Allan moved the car up the street and I grabbed as many pictures off the wall as I could carry and the officer would allow. He was not kidding. Two minutes to GET OUT. We stood across the street in our sleep clothes along with the rest of the neighbors as we watched the firemen at work. It took 45 minutes for the house to be totalled. Flames roared out all the windows and roof.Smoke rolled out of every opening. Every time embers landed on my house I just cried. Good friends and strong German beer calmed my nerves as we all stood barefoot and in our pajamas for the next three hours as the fire was squealched. My house was saved. The neighbor's is a total loss. Here are some grainy and dark pictures. I don't have any pics of the actual flames. I was too hysterical to even rememeber my camera. Luckily it was in my purse in the car and I could retrieve it as we were banned from the house for four hours. Before we were allowed back home the firemen used a giant fan to blow out all the smoke from our house. It still smells a bit, but more like campfire than housefire. Jonah is pretty traumatized by the whole thing. He keeps talking about it, which is a good thing. He also says he will never ever touch fire because he doesn't want our house to burn down. That, too, is a good thing. It will take a while for all of us to get over it. God bless the firemen and police officers. They were amazing. The kids want to bring them cookies and thank you cards. I think that is a great idea.

The singed page was in our backyard...

First Day of School

2008-08-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I made it through the day dry eyed! I guess I cried it all out before the 'Big Day.' Wednesday I actually have to LEAVE Jonah; today was just an 'open house' to help ease the transition for the three year olds (and their parents) into seperating for a few hours. Jonah had no problems. In fact he asked me a few times, "why you still here?" He is very excited and proud to be going to school like his big brother, Dante. He was so excited in fact, that he woke up two times asking if it was time for school, then got up at 5:30, dragging his backpack upstairs to our room and telling us to get up. I hope his enthusiasm lasts throughout the year. Dante could have cared less one way or the other. When asked if he was excited to start 1st grade he shrugged and nodded at the same time. That is ambivialance at its best! He came home happy but tired. The next two weeks are half days only: a good transition for everyone.

Head Gear

2008-08-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

I had no idea that head gear even still existed. My seven yo Dante was born with a large underbite. When his first teeth came in on the bottom, he looked like a cute little bulldog. Now the cute puppy teeth are turning into a bite problem. (HE isn't biting, but rather his teeth aren't lining up properly.) So along with our oppressive mortgage, we have now invested a good 10 grand into orthodontia work. He started out with a bar like spacer across the back of his bottom teeth to prevent them from tilting backwards and to spread the bottom mandible to accomodate his larger upper jaw. Last month he got a another spacer that attaches to his top molars and form fits the roof of his mouth. A metal wire hook lies agains his canines. Stage III: rubber bands attach to those hooks and also to his new head gear. It is a mask like contraption that fits around his face to keep his chin from moving more forward and to pull his top jaw out more. The goal: Stop the projection of his chin and improve his bite and have his teeth line up.

This whole 10 plus year committment was hard for me to make. I kept thinking about my older sister stuck in a Milwaukie Brace for scoliosis and 6 years of braces that didn't work and then she ended up having to have oral surgery, anyway. What a nightmare social life she must have had. (Not that she ever once complained about it-at least not that I remember. But then she is seven years older than me and we didn't really run in the same circles. I do remember trying on that Milwaukie Brace a few times when whe wasn't looking thinking she was so cool. I tried the retainers a few times too but they never fit.) I also remember my own social hell growing up and was giving myself anxiety attacks trying to decide what to do. Allan and I decided to go ahead and do it. I consciously made an effort to present it all in a fun way. All this dental work has become JEDI TRAINING. (who knew that 30 years after Star Wars originally came out, we would become official Star Wars geeks. I get it from my kids, not the other way around!) The spacers equal youngling training, the head gear has become initiation to becoming a Paduwan. (For you non-Starwarians, it is 1st and 2nd stages in becoming a Jedi Knight. ) I think we may be overdoing it though. While at the beach (Dante's 'favorite place in the whole wide world,') he kept asking me when we were leaving to go and get his head gear. He bugged me ALL DAY about wanting to go to the orthodontist. He wants to wear his 'droid face' to school, too. I draw the line at wearing it to school. I am all for personal identity and being strong emotionally I have learned from personal experience that the 'FREAK' label never goes away. He may be in a nice small protected Catholic school, but kids are still evil no matter how hard you pound love and Jesus and religion into their heads. I would rather he learn about mean kids later than sooner. So instead I will be the mean mommy and NOT allow the head gear at school. I am continually reminded that times DO change....it used to be that children were forced to endure huge social injustices, real or perceived. (Pimples and a drinking age of 21...life ain't fair!) Having a sister who lived through head gear hell, and my living through mean kids taunts, I hope to shield my own from the same. (I'll just post picutes online for the whole adult world to see instead!) He is really disappointed that he in banned from the device during school hours. Between that and forcing him to brush those thousand dollar teeth and making him eat anything green and that grew on a plant, I really AM the meanest mommy ever.

Last Days of Summer

2008-08-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

How can school be starting already next week? I am so not ready to send my boys back to school. We have had such a great summer and we have such fun together. I am really sad to see these carefree summer days end. Jonah starts preschool MWF and I am already trying hard not to tear up just thinking about it. I think I need to take a "mommy's little helper" (aka xanax...the milliniums version of Valium. All the fun without the addiction!) before leaving him at the school's gates. Dante's preK teacher, Ms. Mary is going to be his teacher. All the faces and the facilities will be familiar, yet because another chapter is turning in our lives and the reminder that someday my kids will leave for good makes me want to go to bed with a pillow over my head and cry my eyes out. But no time for that! My kids are growing up and I need to squeeze every moment that they still think I hung the moon out of them. Soon enough they will think I am an idiot and during those years I want to cherish the memories of these. Here are some of the Summer of 2008's parting shots...

Hunting for letterboxes: Helping mommy with the clues. We were in San Diego here at Presidio Park overlooking the bay. The Old Mission and Museum is closed now for renovation but the grounds are still open and beautiful. I haven't been here since I was in my friend's wedding on the lawn here almost ten years ago.

Father Junipero Serra. All of the California Missions from San Diego to San Fransisco are here because of Father Serra. He was a Fransciscan and legend has it that he walked from each Mission to oversee their completion barefoot. That is over 1000 miles one way. Barefoot and in his brown Friar's robe. If you are ever in Southern California you will find many landmarks named after this holy man.

Serra's blessing of the site of Mission San Diego de Alcala on July 16, 1769, marked the beginning of the European settlement of California. To read more about Fr. Serra click here: http://www.catholic-church.org/serra-beth/serra-4.htm

I have no pictures as of yet of the Mission SD de Alcala because it is currently surrounded in scaffolding. It will reopen as a museum run by the San Diego Historical society on October, 1 2008.

Mommy's group Pool Party at Suzanne P.'s house. Our mommy group has been together 6 years. When we started Dante was just a baby and half the kids in that picture weren't even born yet. We still meet once a week-they are my sanity break! (the mommy's, not the kids!) It was a fun day-Suzanne grilled us hot dogs and hamburgers and Suzanne C. brought her Amish friendship bread. When's the next party, ladies?

Well the tourists are gone and we have our beaches back, hooray! We love our little cove in Oceanside. We call it Dante's beach, but it is really Buccaneer Beach. We love it here. And all the more now that we aren't rubbing sunscreen sticky elbows with the tourists from Arizona....

We hope you all enjoyed your summer as much as we did! May your days trasitioning back to school be smooth...and not too teary!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2008-08-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

This was our third year attending "Scripps Night at the Ballpark," an event that has been taking place over the past seven years and sponsered by the Padres and my employer. For 12 bucks per person you get: a t-shirt, entry to the Padres game, and 'tailgating' fun before hand which includes live music, at least a dozen differnt inflatable jumpy's, clowns, balloon hats and swords, hotdogs, chips, drinks and ice cream. Oh yeah-and cracker jacks and peanuts to take over to the stadium. Our kids love it. We took Tante Omi and Onkel Opa with us this year and have decided to make it an annual event for all of us. They are both from the East coast and love baseball. (We tried to get Onkel Opa to remove his Angel's hat...no luck!) Last year we made it to the 5th inning before Jonah was ready to go home, this year we made it to the 7th inning stretch! Maybe next year we will finish the whole game. The Padres were still on their losing streak last weekend, anyway. We lost, 2 -zip. It ends up being a long day for the boys-the pre party starts at 3 pm and the game doesn't start until 7 pm. Their usual bedtime is 8 o clock. Both boys were fast asleep before we even pulled out of the parking lot. Nothin' like a good day of baseball fun to make little boys sleep well. Even with kinked necks in the back of a minivan...

Mistaken Identity

2008-07-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

Jonah, who is three, is already quite the philosopher. I've been to college and can usually hold up my end of a conversation. If I don't know the answeres, I can useally BS my way to a conclusion. BS doesn't work with a three year old. In fact, he asks such intrugiing questions I am left speechless.

He asked me last week, Do you have toes? Does everybody have toes? Why do we have toes?"

My logical answers don't impress him. "We need toes to balance and walk. Without toes we would not be able to walk."

It was not the answer he was looking for.

Last night during our snuggle time he said " Who built me?"
I said" Well, you grew in my tummy, but God built you."

He sat up in bed and looked at me and adamantly shook his head, "NU UH! God doesn't build PEOPLE! He lives at Church and builds TOYS."

"No, honey, God doesn't build toys."

Silence.....'Oh YEAH! Santa builds toys!

Silence.....'so why did God build people? Why did God build me? Why do we have toes?'

I have been searching the internet for classes that teach Preschool Philosophy. I haven't had any luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Tourists in Our Own Town

2008-07-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

Our guests are almost ready to go home. My 2nd cousin, Moritz (from here on out referred to as MoMo) and his girlfriend, Sarine, have come to America from Germany for a month. They stayed two weeks in the PNW with my parents and flew down to San Diego almost two weeks ago. We have been having such a wonderful time! It is nice to have family and friends visit. It is nice to 'revisit' all the tourist areas and see all the beauty that I have taken for granted while living the last 15 years in San Diego. The awe has always remained in the back of my head, along with old phone numbers, names of childhood friends and memories like that. As with all reminiscing, it is good to re experience the joy of this wonderful area we live in.

Sarine. Her first day at the beach in California. I took them to our favorite little beach in Oceanside, Buccaneer Beach. There is a little 'hole in wall' galley across the street that serves the best 'heart attack in a bun' on the planet. But in our case it was a 'heart attack in a tortilla.' The best breakfast burritos on the planet come from Buccaneer Beach Galley. The coffee isn't bad, either.

Jonah enjoying his half of a breakfast burrito. He is like the squirrels that like to beg for food at the beach. He hordes the food in his cheeks while asking for more! He is a good eater and even likes to dip his burrito in the salsa verde that comes with the meal. Notice you won't see any pictures of Dante eating anything but PLAIN standard kids fare...burgers, nuggets, spaghetti.

Dante enjoying his birthday present from Grandma. I think this boy may end up a California surfer dude. He love to ride the waves! The first day we went to the beach with Sarine and MoMo he was hit in the face with a large wave (probably the same wave that gave Sarine a nasal lavage!) and ended up with a small rock in his orthodontia. (we ended up having to have it removed and replaced during his dental visit...it came loose.) A few days later he was again hit in the face with a big wave and ended up puking. He still 'wants to boogie.' Every day if he could. Next year he will be old enough to go to surf camp.

MoMo and Sarine and the kids enjoying the Oceanside Pier. It is the longest wooden pier on the west coast. It is a common sight to see fisherman fishing off the sides. The usual catch is herring, yellow tail and the ocassional leopard shark, sand shark or stingray. We witnessed a man catch a duck one day. Luckily he was able to cut the line, pull the hook and set it free. The boys love to watch the fishermen. Today was not a good fishing day, the only thing caught by a few was small herring for bait. Even the resident pelican wasn't around. He must have been fishing elsewhere. We did witness a regatta in progress. I have never actually observed a sailboat race so it was quite interesting to watch.

We spent one full day in La Jolla. We swam at the cove, near the children's pool. The ongoing controversy with the children's pool seems silly to me. Many years ago the citizens of La Jolla decided to dredge part of the coasline, build an observation deck and make a quiet little shallow cove for the children to play and wade. Well it ended being a perfect shelter for seals to pup in the spring and to take refuge the rest of the year. This infuriates some because the children's pool becomes off limits during pupping season and the rest of the year the area is to be used with cation, as the seals are 'off limits' to the human population. And I would think the water should be off limits too, with all the seals and their poop. I think the fight over the pool-should we 'get rid of' the seals so the human pups can use it-vs. co-exisit with the animals is silly. We messed with nature and are now mad that the natural world has taken advantage of our supposed ingenuity? Seems like we have lots of coastline to take our own pups. Leave the seals alone. They end up shark bait soon enough. We swam within viewind distance of the children's pool, about 1000 feet up the coast in another cove called 'shell beach.' I was amazed at the difference just from our own little beachy area we frequent in Oceanside. Our sand is fine and regular 'run of the mill' sandy quality. The beaches are wide and an occasional shell found is pretty rare. The waves hit the shoreline at regular intervals and the coastline from Encinitas, about 20 miles away, to Oceanside is long and straight. La Jolla is cliff-y with lots of little coves and caves to be explored. It isn't as windy as the coast is protected by the cliffs. The sand is different, too. At Shell Beach, it was like brown sugar. Carmel colored and large fluffy grains. The water was warmer by at least 5 degrees than in Oceanside, and there were shells at the waterline that had been pummeled into fine jewels. The water was so clear and when looking down at yoru feet, it appeared as if the bottom of the sea was carved out of stained glass. The purples and greens and pinks and blues that filtered the light through the waves was beautiful. I also found at least 30 peices of beach glass....old bottles or jars that have somehow ended up in the ocean to be crushes and rolled until the small peices end up on shore and appear to be prizes of amber, diamond or emerald. The swimming was not as good as at home, but the beach combing couldn't have been nicer anywhere!

Oh so EEEEVIL

2008-07-05T15:13:00.005-07:00

Jonah came up to me while we were eating breakfast at my parents. He is three, mind you. He says to me "I am feeling kind of EVIL."
Through nervous laughter, (am i raising an axe murderer?) I ask, "why are you feeling evil? "

He answers brightly with his little boy lisp "Oh! Cuz we're playing Star Wars and I am Darth Vader...and I am EEEVIL."

Whew! Society is safe!

We all know what happens to Darth Vader in the end. He repents, becomes good again and is saved. Kind of like all humanity, don't you think? Since I have become a Catholic over a decade ago, I am always so amazed and pleased at how our culture is infused into the secular world. Star Wars espeically has so many Catholic inferences. Whenever I hear "May the Force Be With You" I want to respond with arms wide open "And also with you." George Lucas is Catholic, isn't he? Anyway- I love how secular culture can be intertwined with our faith, and vice versa. The boys ask me frequently, 'what is the Force?" Our answer, "It is like God." And my boys get that.

Happy 7th Birthday, Dante

2008-07-05T15:13:00.004-07:00

Off With Your Head!

Dante celebrated his birthday both yesterday and today-yesterday at my sister in law's Independence Day BBQ and today by spending a few hours at the beach with his new boogie board from Grandma and Bobo. I guess age 7 is too big to allow for a 'birthday cake request.' He really has a lot of faith in me. He wanted a 'Lego Star Wars, Indiana Jones cake." Oh Cripes...how exactly do I pull that off? I was pretty impressed with Jonah's firetruck cake last year, but this? What to do, what to do? I decided to make a sheet cake and three loaf pans, plus muffins and mini muffins. I sprayed the pans AS INSTRUCTED and even used non-stick pans...but of course, they have to stick for me. (and yes, I let them cool. I even put them in the fridge overnight.) Dang it!!! Well, I do have toothpicks and spackal like frosting... I cut the tops off of the muffins and placed them on the cake to look like the round raised bumps on the legos. I used two loaves next to each other at the other end and frosted the same color to look like lego peices attached to the big lego. I used mini muffins with the tops cut off for those bumps. Then I used one last loaf and mini muffin for the top lego in a different color. TaDa! But how do i intergrate the Star Wars and Indiana Jones theme? Just ask the birthday boy! The legos are his final touch. I don't find it my best work, but I guess it is all in the eyes of the beholder. Dante said "this is the best cake, ever!' It is good to be Mommy.

Next week we 'finish up' the celebrations when MoMo and his girlfriend Sarine arrive-2nd cousins from Germany who arrived in Portland, OR at my parents the evening we left for home. It will be so fun to play tour guide again, and the kids were spoiled rotten by their....3rd cousins? (Is this where the term cousins twice removed comes from?) No matter! Family is family and we will be sure to have lots of fun and lots of pictures to share!

High School Musical....Nat Nat

2008-07-05T15:13:00.001-07:00

Well-Natalie (the only girl offspring on our side of the family. She covets that title.) did it! She graduated with honors from CAM high school in Vancouver, WA. She has a lovely group of friends and a great head on her shoulders. She got through the years unscathed...Smokin' maybe, but definitely not singed! :) As always her family, my sister Bettina and her family, put together a lovely feast and of cours, the band. Oh, yes, the band. Both Bettina and Tino have their masters degree's in music (well, I think Bettina' BA is in Music, Masters in Education, but still....) and have always taught music or performed in one thing or another. The whole family is quite talented...Natalie sings along with my sister, Tino sings and plays the keyboard, and the boys, Nick and Alex play drums. Nick is also quite the rock star on guitar. Which is why we just HAD to do what we did. Don't look at me. Kaylene was my partner in crime, but is too much of a DIVA to admit it. And Mom/Grandma? Well, even with out being liquored up, she definitely got into the groupy mentality. And everyone wonders exactly HOW I got backstage to so many concerts? I can't wait to tell all the sordid details to my grandkids...
I guess they say pictures speak louder than words....so i will just shut my mouth and let you have a look....

My favorite pictures from Ocean Shores

2008-06-28T00:52:00.003-07:00

I guess my pixel count must be high because I had a hard time getting these pictures to work with the last entry. Rather than spend another hour trying to make it work, I will just add them here! Coming soon...Natalie's high school graduation party!

Ocean Shores, WA

2008-06-28T00:52:00.002-07:00

We spent two nights at a condo on the beach in Ocean Shores, WA, about a three hour drive from Portland. Here are some views from our patio.

It's a sleepy little beach town on a 2 mile wide and 6 mile long penninsula. I find it particularily interesting there because on the western pacific side, the land is flat, sandy and wind blown. The dune grasses and petrified wood are a beach combers delight. I love how the sand is blown into waves themselves and wood is half buried in it. The shoreline here has little distinction between sea and land.

At the jetty's southern most point and east, the terrain changes to rainforest. The trees are covered in moss and lush ferns grow over and under everything. The wind dies down and at times the only sound that can be heard is the birds singing among the vines.

There are only two main thoroughfares running north and south down the penninsula-Pt. Brown and Ocean Shores Blvds. There are no stop lights in town, just four way stops. The only ones who really have a right of way are the deer. Hundreds of them. And they are practically tame. They just look you in the eye, and continue on their way.

There are also 23 miles of canals that all lead into Duck Lake a lake that is 3 miles long and about 1/2 wide. The canals are all fresh water and are useable for watercraft. We didn't have a chance to try our luck, but apparently the fishing is good, too. If you ever venture out that way, be sure to stop at the visitors center at Pt. Brown Blvd and Discovery Way. The docents are friendly and there is lots to do. Dante even enjoyed the full 90 minutes we spent there. Oh yea-and lots of good letterboxes in the area, too!

These are pictures from the western pacific side of Ocean Shores. The beaches are so much wilder and wider than ours in Southern California. The people are cationed to never turn their backs to the water as sneaker waves can come up the shoreline at any time without warning. The rip currents are vicious and the water is always frigid. The storms are a sight to see and the dunes and wildness of it are a wonder.

Some views from the Bell Canal-one of many canals that run through the town.

View from the community club on the Eastern bayside of town. It really is amazing to me the microclimate of this little finger of land that juts out into the sea.

Some parting images of our time at the shore in Washington.

Last stop: Santa Cruz KOA

2008-06-28T00:52:00.001-07:00

Last stop before our trek becomes just another memory! We had a great time relaxing and watching the kids have fun at our 'camp' site. . The KOA's are a great organization. They are family oriented, have lots of kids activities and have great customer service! If you haven't been to one since the 1970's (along with those Up with People concerts...) I highly recommend them. Especially if you have small children. And you're a city girl/guy at heart. They are usually within minutes of local tourist attractions.

The kids having fun and relaxing at the Santa Cruz KOA. We stopped here and stayed for two nights to get a bit of a 'vacation' from our vacation. The boys loved it and made fast friendships.

The boys rode the KOA train around the campground about 1/2 a dozen times. Both boys love trains, but especially Jonah. He talked about that train most the the way home.

The jumping pillow was a big hit with the boys...with all the kids at the campground, really. As long as it was inflated, there were gaggles of kids jumping all over it!

The boys had a great time on the mechanical bull at the KOA in Santa Cruz. Since they weren't offering beer and there wasn't a country band in sight, I declined.

YUM! After two summers of camping out, we finally got the boys to roast the marshmallows AND eat them!

The boys loved staying in the Kamping Kabins at KOA. I can't really call it camping, but we did sleep in sleeping bags, roast marshmallows,and walk to the bathrooms. However, we did have electricity in the cabins, and a space heater. Ahhh, the comforts of home withouth the square footage...And aren't those hanging plants and front porch swing just adorable?

Kindergarten Graduation June 10th 2008

2008-06-08T18:49:00.006-07:00

Wow! So big he has a mustache already!

the family

with ana and emily

getting his certificate from Mrs. Witowitch

Dante walking to Pomp and Circumstance

proud dante

tante omi, onkle opa and jonah with the proud graduate

Dante is offically a "Big Boy" now. He graduated from Kindergarten at St. Francis of Assisi Parch School yesterday. It was a lovely ceremony. The childern marched into the church two by two to "Pomp and Circumstance." They assembled on the alter steps and sang a few songs, read from the podium (yes READ! in Kindergarten!) sang some more, received their certificates, and then filed back out to the hall for some cake. I was so proud of myself....no tears! I was sure I would cry, I even brought kleenex with me. But Dante had such a proud look on his face the whole day that all I could do was smile. After we had cake and punch, we invited some of his friends to join us at Chuck E Cheese to continue the celebration. After all, even Big Boys are never too old for Chuck E's!.

Alaska: The Last Frontier

2008-06-08T18:49:00.005-07:00

Pictures of my trip to Alaska May 2008

The Cartmill Curse

2008-06-08T18:49:00.004-07:00

Everytime we went somewhere on vacation our car would inevidably break down-usually in the middle of the night outside some podunk town in the middle of nowhere. The last time I spent any amount of time with the Johnson clan in New England, the rental car broke down in Portland, ME. The Johnson men were irritable, but my sis and I couldn't stop giggling because we KNEW the curse at struck again. Apparently I am it's carrier. After flight seeing with Todd I was to meet some fellow letterboxers in Anchorage. Except the Subaru wouldn't start. Lucky for me my nephew Mark showed up at the airport and had jumper cables. (The ones my dad had given him. Thanks, Dad!) It only took a few seconds to jump the car, but it was a funny reminder of our family's car troubles.

A Horse of Course

2008-06-08T18:49:00.003-07:00

My mom and sisters are all horse crazy. I had riding lessons in jr. high and high school-my mom was at the stable every spare moment she had. I never had the heart to tell any of them that horses were never my cup of tea. It's not that I don't like them. They are very gentle creatures-especially for animals big enough to stomp you to death. It's just that they scare me. Not terrify me. But scare me enough that I have never been totally comfortable around them. Being thrown a time or two probably added to that sentiment. It's not like they are dogs that can curl up in your lap or snuggle you when you are feeling blue. I have always been more of a dog person than a horse person. But since I was the youngest in the family, and had the opportunity to be around horses more than my horse crazy sisters, I just smiled and nodded when I was repeatedly told how lucky I was to have horses growing up. Now my oldest sister has horses of her own and she just swoons over them. I think she would live in the barn if she could. So we went riding one day for a few hours. Ember is the horse I rode. And she knew I was nervous and took full advantage! We stayed in the corral for about 45 minutes before we both felt comfortable enough to go out on the trail. Just as I started to get my confidence up, she decided to pretend she was a Hunter Jumper and clear a pile of sticks on the trail. That screaming you heard? That was me... And the whinney? That was Ember laughing...

Mush!

2008-06-08T18:49:00.002-07:00

This was my favorite spot while visiting Kaylene in Alaska. (well, one of them.) We found our first Alaskan letterbox at the Ididarod trail in Wasilla. The visitor center is very informative and shows a film about dog racing and the Ididarod. What an amazing race! We took a little 'sled ride' with only eight dogs pulling us (I think the number for the actual race is 16) and we were flying! I can only imagine the speed over ice and snow with 16 dogs running as fast as they can. Here's to the love of dogs everywhere!

Eklutna Waterfall

2008-06-08T18:49:00.001-07:00

Another letterboxing adventure with my sister. What a beautiful hike with the birch trees in full spring plumage! No luck with this box, though. The stump in which it hides was still covered in ice...and being guarded by Devil's Thumb. I can't imagine how the sting feels in summer when in full bloom. I touched it on accident without much of it's foilage. Ouch!

Powerbox in Arctic Beauty

2008-06-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

I did some power letterboxing while in AK. My sister was a good sport and hunted fourwith me. The others I found with AnyaKosta and Alaska Homeschool Mommy. It is ironic that I live in San Diego county, in the most populated state in the county, and have never once bumped into another letterboxer, yet while in Alaska, the LEAST populated state, I should find another boxer looking for the same box in Eagle River. My sister was impressed, too. She thought letterboxing was just a 'little hobby' that I found out about, not an international pasttime. After getting AnyaKosta's info, and contacting AK Homeschool Mommy, the three of us met up in Anchorage to do some power boxing. My favorite? The box at 'sleeping moose' coffee kiosk-where one must order an 'eggplant latte' to receive the elusive prize! Thanks AKHSM and AnyaKosta, for showing me around Anchorage. If it hadn't been for our meeting place at Cold Stone on Northern Lights Blvd and Muldoon, I would never had risked my life for the close-ups of the moose grazing in town. Next big letterboxing adventure: Road Trip 2008. San Diego to Vancouver, WA. Again. Only this time our 1st stop will be in Eureka instead of Redding. And I am keeping my fingers crossed no giant spider finds its way near my body!

Flight Seeing

2008-06-05T11:10:00.001-07:00

Todd, my brother-in-law, is a pilot. He was so gracious to take me out flightseeing the day before I went back home to San Diego. There are pictures of the glacier we flew around.

Mountain Biking

2008-06-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

These are pictues of Kay and I biking at Eklutna Lake, Alaska. It was a beautiful day for it-a bit cool and a little wind. The lake is beautiful and serves as a resevoir for Anchorage's water supply. There were a few kayakers on the shore-but no motorboats allowed. We biked about 11 miles and had a nice picnic on the rocky shoreline. AND I got to find a letterbox! 11 all together on my week long visit with my sister. Not bad, not bad. It was actually my first time to mountain bike good rocky, hilly and muddy trails. It was greatly satisfying to get splattered with mud. Oh yeah-and I injured my knee trying not to fall. It ended up about twice it's size. It's a good day out in the woods when you get dirty and injured!

Moose on the Loose or: You Ain't from Around Here, are Ya?

2008-05-28T17:50:00.001-07:00

Alright, I know we California's sometimes have a bad reputation for being, well, you know, Californian. I truly added to the stereotype while in Anchorage. On the main street going through town, a moose was grazing on the side of the road. He was practically in someone's backyard. He probably walked through that backyard to get to the delicious new grass and dandilions growing next to the sidewalk. I almost wrecked my sisters subaru because I was rubbernecking instead of driving. And the natives are obviously used to it as I was the only one squealing my brakes and doing an illegal u-turn to get a closer look. After I got out of the car with my camera other cars started slowing, too. But they were pointing at the dumb tourist taking pictures of the wildlife. Or taking bets on how dangerously close I will get before being rushed by the bull. Then again, I may have just figured how to use my California Zen to allow the animal to know I meant it no harm. But I doubt it-I was close enough that he could easily have smelled the moose meat bratwurst on my breath from lunch.

Puppies!

2008-05-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

Puppies!! Puppies everywhere- Kay's lab, LC, had eight pups her first litter. They are seven weeks old in these pictures and were all picked up by their new 'owners' while I was at her house. These little chubby furballs are easy to love so I can see how Kay and Todd got quickly attached. They had a hard time letting them go and have them leave the farm. What's wrong with having nine dogs, anyhow?

Napalm: AKA Flaming Marshmallows on a Stick

2008-05-20T16:40:00.001-07:00

The boys had their first sleep over this weekend. We decided to make it a camping theme, and set up the tent and fire pit in the backyard. We bought stuff for s'mores and roasted hotdogs. All the fun of camping without the hassle!. Our friend's kids have never been camping before and their parent's were a bit apprehensive about them actually making it through the night outside. We figured we would probably be woken up at 2 am with someone crying to come inside or go home, so Allan slept in the tent with the boys while I slept on the couch in case one of the boys made it out of the tent before Allan woke up. We worried about the wrong things. While roasting marshmallows-let me rephrase-while setting marshmallows on fire- Jonah, age 3, kept waving around his marshmallow sparkler as the Milo boys were walking around the firepit. Ryan, the youngest, got hit. He didn't cry much, and when I brought him in to assess the damage and wash the site, I was horrified to see pink skin under his dark complection. His left forearm had a two inch burn. I washed it, tried to ice it through 5 yo screaming protests, then gave him the bandaide he asked for. I figured the burn was a deep 2nd degree. I called his parents but they didn't call back and he seemed okay. It looked okay the next morning too. I put triple antibiotic cream on it as well. He didn't appear to even notice it the next morning. I learned Monday morning when I called to check up on Ryan our friends took him the pediatrican and the burn is actually a third degree. And he needs dressing changes twice a day. And antibiotics. I feel so shitty about it!!! First, I feel bad that he got injured under our watch, and 2nd, feel stupid that I didn't realize it was a third degree burn. I am a nurse after all. I should KNOW these things. It doesn't matter that I don't work with kids or burns, I should still know this, shouldn't I?! Maybe I need my parent card AND my nursing license revoked.....
I am glad he will be okay, and relieved that our friends aren't upset (I think I would be) and have not banned the boys from our care. No more open flames should they be allowed to spend the night again!

Send in the Clowns

2008-05-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

Dante has been happily practicing for St. Francis' annual spring variety show. It is his first, as last year we missed it because we were camping in Sequioa. He has been singing soulfully and practicing his dance moves for a month now. The kindergarteners were to wear clown costumes. We decided to make ours, and it turned out very cute! We did buy a pink clown wig-his choice. I glued pompoms to an old colorful shirt, bought some red suspenders, had him wear a pair of Daddy's shorts, some of my silly socks and his pink snow boots. I also did his face with face paint per his specifications. When we arrived for the show, all his classmates looked darling; all were decked out in various clown outfits. We couldn't even recognize some of them. The show was outside and the parents all brought camp chairs or blankets. It was catered by Pat and Oscar's with pizza and chicken. (If you wanted to pay for food.) We brought our own picnic and set up on the grass. Jonah wanted to be part of the action, too. Luckily I brought some of the clown makeup with me, in case I needed to do a touch up or two before Dante was to go 'on stage.' Jonah was happy with a ring around his eye and a heart on cheek. I dread the day he will come home with a ring in his nose and tattoo on his chest. Although since mommy has a tattoo, he probably won't want one-it will be too 'old school.' The production was great. The kindergarteners and their 8th grade buddies performed 3 songs. Dante was a ham. And what a DANCER! I had no idea he could put such great moves together. Most of the other kids were just bobbing up and down, Dante had some hip hop stuff going on I had no idea he could do. (He hasn't even watched Napoleon Dynamite, yet. Or MTV. ) It was great! Perhaps I have 'produced' my own little thespian! (Because we all know the DRAMA comes from my side of the family. Ha! Ha!)

Legoland

2008-05-04T09:16:00.002-07:00

Good night, Gym Boy

2008-05-04T09:16:00.001-07:00

When Jonah knows he has gym class in the morning, he has a hard time sleeping at night. He is very proud that he gets to go to 'school' like his big brother. He wakes up at the crack of dawn and asks me every 5 minutes when it is time to go. He wakes up at 6 am, his class is at 10:30. It is easy to see why those mornings are quite annoying for me! (Especially after working until midnight the night before.) :) He loves his mornings going to class with his friend, Jared. They have a great time running all over the place- jumping, sliding and wacking each other with squishy toys. The last five minutes they get to play with the parachute and get stickers. He is very proud showing his big brother his stickers and stamped hand. Fun times!

Rat Pack

2008-05-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

Jonah loves his new furry friends. He wants to hold the poor dears every waking moment. When I see the two furballs in their cage, paws on the glass and their beady eyes following me as i walk around the room, I imagine them pleading with me, 'Please! No more kids! We can't take anymore squeezing and kissing. We cannot tolerate being stuffed into pants pockets or shoes anymore!Please! No more half eaten taffy in our cage, no more gum shoved in our faces. We would much rather be harrassed by the dog and cat. We've had it!'