She makes the grade

You - my little heartthrob have finished yet another grade.

2nd grade.

Yes, you just turned 7.

Yes, that puts you 18 months ahead.

Yes, we are super proud.

Yes, that makes me $80 poorer.

Backstory: I promised you kids a while back that for every month you finish your grade early I would reward you $20. And true to your style you shocked and wowed us and finished 4 months early.

These monetary deals always seem to find a way to slap me around a little.

Remember the "fill a Trader Joe bag" deal of 2011? Eeeewwweee that was a crazy one. I offered you each $5 for every paper Trader Joe bag you could fill of toys to donate. (I had had enough of the toy overwhelm). Well...I was thinking maybe 2-4 bags per child. You came out of your room 20 minutes later with 11 bags. What the what?!?

But I digress - the true meaning of my post is to say:

You are SO AWESOME!!! 

Go smarty pants!!!!!!

I can't believe you are a 3rd grader now!!!

Itchy

What an allergic reaction to Amoxicillian looks like for us LeBarons.

I'm allergic.

Luke's allergic.

And now we know you are too.

It was an interesting week.
And rash and all you are still stunningly cute!

3rd trimester

I am making a t-shirt for myself that will read:


 "Unless you are offering to rub my feet, make me dinner, or clean my house - Please save all chitter chatter until after the baby is born - you are bothering me!"


Oh lordy....Third trimester - please speed up and be over. The inability to bend properly, carry things I want to carry, do jumping jacks, run after my kids, roll on the floor, sleep on my stomach and the 1,000 other things I am restricted from doing now is driving me a tad batty. But that's ok - I am super excited about baby Savannah.............

What will you remember?

Dear Children,

What will you remember when you look back on your childhood?
Will you remember the good? Will you remember the bad?
This has been rolling around my mind these past few weeks........thought I should jot it down. At least this way you know that I fully acknowledge there is (was) some bad. It is unfortunate that the bad things in life can so easily wash away hundreds of good.

But please try to stretch those mental muscles and keep the good in front. I promise there really is more of it.

Will you remember that we made hot cross buns in the fall of 2007 at our little blue house in La Crescenta?
Will you remember when we went to Disneyland the day after Christmas in 2006 because I thought that would be their least busy day? (oops)
Will you remember all the pancake breakfasts we did on the weekend or the "two eggs for everyone" rule that your dad insists upon every morning?
Will you remember all the evenings of your childhood (almost every one to date) that we spend cuddling with you in our bed, reading, or playing "concentration, elimination" until you fall asleep?
Will you remember that we did what it took to send you to schools we felt would enhance you the most?

Will you remember when we sat and held you during a tantrum, showing you compassion even though  every cell in our body screamed for corporal punishment?

Will you remember - or maybe you never even knew - that we chose financial sacrifices so I could be home with you as much as possible?
Will you remember the dance, ceramics, piano and other classes we drove you to so you could be all that you wanted to be?
Will you remember when your dad dressed up as Rambo and ambushed us when we came home from the library?

or

Will you remember the times I fly off the handle and yell, or say harsh things?
Will you remember the bizarre rules I have made over the years to then have your dad tell me I need to tone things down? (the reason God gave children two parents).

I don't want to make you forget anything that has happened. But my hope is that you do remember the good. There is so much good. I am so blessed by you children. And the more children I have the more I love you all. Thank YOU for making my dreams a reality.

Love, Mom

Birthday - Juan style

While I must admit I was a doubter...

John's birthday was a lot of fun.

He wanted to treat all his peeps to Starbucks

and then walk over for fresh Kripy Kreme Doughnuts.

Indulgent? Yes

Caloric nightmare? Yes

Childish? Yes

Fantastic? YES!

Oh and I love this picture our friend Chris took. His wife saves my marriage. She and John can be their true gross selves around each other and I don't have to take part.

She is also one of my best friends.

But the point is - dear husband - I love you. I love your style.

And I loved your birthday. xoxo

Donkey Kong

WARNING: This illustration may induce unstoppable laughter that results in stomach cramps, rolling on the floor and possibly wetting yourself. Or maybe that was just me.

Please click on the below picture to get a better close-up view.

This was posted on a Facebook group I am part of and when I saw it I was lying in bed minding my own business. Next to me John was watching a movie or some such thing. As I started to read the headings and really look at the details of each sleep position I started to chuckle, then full out belly laugh, then I was sob-laughing so hard I could barely breath and was worried for the safety of my belly baby. I could NOT stop laughing for a full 5 or more minutes. I can't remember laughing that hard. I am laughing now just glancing up. Seriously people?!? This is good parent humor!

My absolute favorite is Donkey Kong. Why?? John and I have slept too many nights this way sacrificing what is rightfully our bed for the sake of a good night sleep for our precious babe. Oh lordy. LOL LOL Ok and how much do you love "Stalker" OH MY GOD! Ok I am off in crazy sob/laugh land again.

My dearest children, if you EVER question if we love you - please stare at the above drawing and KNOW we do and did.

xo, Mom

Breeder

(taken from an email I sent a relative August 2010)

Funny story: John comes into the bedroom as I am putting away yet another laundry basket full of kid's clothes and starts: 

J: "So after this baby (William) we are having ONE MORE and that's it."

A: "I think that's a good plan" 

J: "But you know, if something happened and we had 5 it wouldn't be that big of a deal, you know we would love it" 

A: "So the whole point of this conversation was....what?" 

He laughed and walked out. 

For a guy who swore he wouldn't have any kids he's turning into quite the breeder.

My baby girl - 7 Years Old

Dearest Lovely girl,

You turned seven years old today. Sniff, sniff. While I have moments of always feeling you've been around I seriously can't believe you are seven. SEVEN. S-E-V-E-N. It's the strangest thing ever. You are growing up so quickly. Your very face has changed tremendously since last year. Longer, leaner, more and more like a lady - with a little teenage 'tude thrown in for good measure now and then. I love you my darling girl. 

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Keeping it real

I would like you to take a long hard look at this picture - specifically the baby.

Now look again.

Does it get more white trash?!?!?!????

Haahahaaahahaahaaaa

Let's start at the top shall we??

1) Needs a hair cut

2) Chipped tooth

3) Snot coming down face

4) No clothes

5) Holding FLY SWATTERS! Not one - because that is surely not disgusting enough - but TWO!

(They are clean BTW - and reserved specifically for your play as you LOVE them. But still.....)

5) No shoes

6) If you could see the back of his diaper he was just sitting in the dirt - so there's a nice brown spot.

Oh man - I would usually never in a million years post something like this but for the love of all things classy - this one takes the cake. :)

I love you little one. White trash and all.

(My son - please note - just in case whilst reading this you thought it was a snapshot at everyday life. I assure you tis not!)

Rambo Greeting

 If I ever get too serious or need things spiced up a bit in our daily routine - there's always John.

Oh Juan - how I love your sense of humor. I love that you will always be forever and eternally a 17 year old boy - kinda like Edward Cullen (LOL!)

Exhibit A: Rambo Greeting

The kids and I just pulled into the driveway from the library. As we got out of the car I noticed the door was open in front. Hmmm....odd. John's car was in the driveway but front door open was not like him. This is where I was slightly tipped off.

Next thing I know we are ALL being assaulted. No one is spared. Even the baby.

As he keeps shooting us and as we are all running around looking for cover we just can't stop laughing. I am laughing so hard I might fall over. More and more guns keep being pulled from places. And oh the sound effects. Glorious.

The likeness is uncanny (not) but the effect was awesome. I especially love your neck tie headband. Nice touch. I am so happy I married you. xoxo