September 20, 2008
Changing over....
Thought I might change over to this new blog hoster and give 'im a try. It's free! So why not?!?
July 14, 2008
We Moved
We moved!! Amazing how you forget how hard, dirty and horrible moving is!! Holy moly. I have never seen John work so hard in his life. Of course I helped a lot but i give him most of the credit. Such an amazing husband. And he never complained once!!
The plan:
We moved back into my parents house. We have finally mustered up the strength to do what we originally planned a few years back and build an addition on their house. I am really excited about it and so is John. When it's done our portion of the house will be between 2500 and 3000sf so we won't be hurting for space - have to allow for family expansion (not in the near future though). The next step is to have our drafter/architect contact LA City and see how far out we can build, that is, now close to property line we can come (that will tell us a lot) and then we will have a geological inspection and find out how far down we have to dig to hit bedrock. Those two pieces of info will be make/break points - but we are planning on "make" as this allows us to achieve our dream.
If anyone has tips or ideas on creating a house that is easy to clean and virtually indestructible, please pass them on!! I know there are ways to create that, and that is my #1 goal, right up there with budget and beauty. :)
The plan:
We moved back into my parents house. We have finally mustered up the strength to do what we originally planned a few years back and build an addition on their house. I am really excited about it and so is John. When it's done our portion of the house will be between 2500 and 3000sf so we won't be hurting for space - have to allow for family expansion (not in the near future though). The next step is to have our drafter/architect contact LA City and see how far out we can build, that is, now close to property line we can come (that will tell us a lot) and then we will have a geological inspection and find out how far down we have to dig to hit bedrock. Those two pieces of info will be make/break points - but we are planning on "make" as this allows us to achieve our dream.
If anyone has tips or ideas on creating a house that is easy to clean and virtually indestructible, please pass them on!! I know there are ways to create that, and that is my #1 goal, right up there with budget and beauty. :)
Charlotte has a baby in her tummy
Today and every day for the past week Charlotte has declared rather dramatically "Mommy, I have a baby in my tummy and she REALLY wants to come out"
She's so serious about it too. Freaking hysterical.
Oh and Lucas asked the question I have been waiting for with baited breath "Mom, HOW do you make babies? I know they grow in the mommy's tummy, but HOW do you MAKE them?"
Oi vey!!
She's so serious about it too. Freaking hysterical.
Oh and Lucas asked the question I have been waiting for with baited breath "Mom, HOW do you make babies? I know they grow in the mommy's tummy, but HOW do you MAKE them?"
Oi vey!!
July 8, 2008
I take it personally
Excerpt from Charlotte's Journal:
July 21 08
Ya know, for some strange reason I seem to take it personally when you grow out of clothes. I mean seriously, who gave you permission to grow up so fast?!?
There is a funny process of denial: continuing to stuff your buns into underwear too small, declaring "pants can become capris, no problem!" and attempting to stretch shirts down over your cute tum-tum. While it is sort of funny there is a tiny bit of sadness in this last ditch attempt to keep you small.
After denial comes the wake up moment that you are borderlining on looking unkempt and unloved and that it's time to pack up the too-small clothes and move on.
Then there is the "last wash" where you wash the clothes one last time and fold them nicer than you ever have before and do a quick sigh while you flash through some good times you had in them and quickly pack them away for hand-me-downs before anyone sees reminiscent tears in your eyes.
And then there is the exciting "have to buy bigger clothes" shopping trip. And while that is fun, the whole thing is hard!!!
The letting go process starts way earlier than I dreamed. Boohoo! (I'll be over it in a half hour, don't worry about me)
July 21 08
Ya know, for some strange reason I seem to take it personally when you grow out of clothes. I mean seriously, who gave you permission to grow up so fast?!?
There is a funny process of denial: continuing to stuff your buns into underwear too small, declaring "pants can become capris, no problem!" and attempting to stretch shirts down over your cute tum-tum. While it is sort of funny there is a tiny bit of sadness in this last ditch attempt to keep you small.
After denial comes the wake up moment that you are borderlining on looking unkempt and unloved and that it's time to pack up the too-small clothes and move on.
Then there is the "last wash" where you wash the clothes one last time and fold them nicer than you ever have before and do a quick sigh while you flash through some good times you had in them and quickly pack them away for hand-me-downs before anyone sees reminiscent tears in your eyes.
And then there is the exciting "have to buy bigger clothes" shopping trip. And while that is fun, the whole thing is hard!!!
The letting go process starts way earlier than I dreamed. Boohoo! (I'll be over it in a half hour, don't worry about me)
June 15, 2008
Lucas's Wish List
Here's Luke's wish list from his 5th Birthday, in his words:
1) New Transformer "Bumblebee"
2) Clay (not playdoh)
3) New Transformer "Freakout"
4) Gun that shoots bullets
5) Dinosaur gun that shoots out something dinosaur
6) Dinosaur robot
1) New Transformer "Bumblebee"
2) Clay (not playdoh)
3) New Transformer "Freakout"
4) Gun that shoots bullets
5) Dinosaur gun that shoots out something dinosaur
6) Dinosaur robot
April 9, 2008
Easter Extravaganza
Well, we had the most amazing Easter ever this year!!!!!!!!!! We had the LeBaron clan there, the Pace clan and the Johnson clan (my grandparents on my mom's side) and my little sister there with her parents, so much fun!!! I have a few pictures (300!!) documenting the weekend. We keep calling it the perfect weekend. And it was. The food was amazing, having everyone together was the best, and the kids were perfect all weekend, I couldn't believe it.
Here's a pic of the cuties all dressed up. And then a few more, one with my niece Isabella and one with all the grandmas. Click on the photo to see it larger.
The sailor outfits were my mom's idea. The salescleak at the store was so cute, it's as if my mom called ahead and clued her in...she said "You know, no American childhood is complete without a sailor outfit" :) It was well worth it!!
Here's a pic of the cuties all dressed up. And then a few more, one with my niece Isabella and one with all the grandmas. Click on the photo to see it larger.
The sailor outfits were my mom's idea. The salescleak at the store was so cute, it's as if my mom called ahead and clued her in...she said "You know, no American childhood is complete without a sailor outfit" :) It was well worth it!!
February 27, 2008
World Without End
I must say, with the writers strike going on (at least I think it's still going on - shows how in the loop I am) I have been doing a lot more reading. I'm not a big TV watcher to begin with, I was doing 2-3 hours a week. But man, am I thrilled to be unglued and released from the chains of TV slavery. I despised (and loved, I'll admit it) having a weekly date with my TV that I refused to miss. Yes, yes there's TiVo - but TiVo is not a necessity with two kids in private school.
I'm rambling but the point is.......I have been doing A LOT more reading these past several months having nixed my TV watching rituals. Once I had absorbed every last morsel of the 2nd season of Big Love on DVD I went through about two weeks of TV withdrawal (it was pretty painful) and now I am incredibly content, I dare say happy with just my book(s). Those of you that know me know i always have about 3-7 books on my nightstand waiting to be read or ones I dabble with.
Anyway, the whole point is that if you read and loved The Pillars of the Earth (read it right now if you have never heard of it) there is a quasi-sequel that is pretty darn fantastic. It doesn't quite have the ________ (insert perfect adjective) as the first book but it's a close second, it's called World Without End and that's how it feels let-me-tell-you, because it's also a whopping 1000 pages or so.
In closing, I highly recommend kicking the TV habit and visiting the library. It's free and you might just learn something. :) Nighty night.
I'm rambling but the point is.......I have been doing A LOT more reading these past several months having nixed my TV watching rituals. Once I had absorbed every last morsel of the 2nd season of Big Love on DVD I went through about two weeks of TV withdrawal (it was pretty painful) and now I am incredibly content, I dare say happy with just my book(s). Those of you that know me know i always have about 3-7 books on my nightstand waiting to be read or ones I dabble with.
Anyway, the whole point is that if you read and loved The Pillars of the Earth (read it right now if you have never heard of it) there is a quasi-sequel that is pretty darn fantastic. It doesn't quite have the ________ (insert perfect adjective) as the first book but it's a close second, it's called World Without End and that's how it feels let-me-tell-you, because it's also a whopping 1000 pages or so.
In closing, I highly recommend kicking the TV habit and visiting the library. It's free and you might just learn something. :) Nighty night.
Storyteller
While driving home from John's sister's house tonight Charlotte starts telling me this story. In the beginning I totally thought she was telling me something that actually happened. But when she got the the part with my mom picking up a frog and fixing it with tape, I was on the her! :) The complete story is below, keep in mind I was asking her questions as she told it, it didn't come out all in one line like this.
Charlotte's story:
(Note: one thing you have to know to get th beginning is that Uncle Robert had given her a carpenter's pencil, you know those orange flat pencils)
"Grammy has a pencil like this one (carpenter pencil) at her house but she lost it. And I was helping her look for it. Then I found it! Under her table! Grammy was tired and she wanted to lay down. In her bed. But there was a froggy. In her bed. Grammy picked it up by one of it's hand. (At this point I asked if the frog said "Rrrribit, help me, Rrrribit, help me!" And she said yes). Then Grammy picked it up by both of it's hands. But it broke. Then she 'fitzed' (this means 'fixed') it with tape. It was all better. Grammy was tired and laid down in her bed for night-night."
Pretty darn cute if you ask me
Charlotte's story:
(Note: one thing you have to know to get th beginning is that Uncle Robert had given her a carpenter's pencil, you know those orange flat pencils)
"Grammy has a pencil like this one (carpenter pencil) at her house but she lost it. And I was helping her look for it. Then I found it! Under her table! Grammy was tired and she wanted to lay down. In her bed. But there was a froggy. In her bed. Grammy picked it up by one of it's hand. (At this point I asked if the frog said "Rrrribit, help me, Rrrribit, help me!" And she said yes). Then Grammy picked it up by both of it's hands. But it broke. Then she 'fitzed' (this means 'fixed') it with tape. It was all better. Grammy was tired and laid down in her bed for night-night."
Pretty darn cute if you ask me
Friend of Foe?
It all started with the LeapFrog Leapster. It's this educational video game but in reality I am starting to think it's a glorified game boy (hand held video game system). I must admit it has pretty cool games on it, but is it really necessary? Is this tool more friend than foe? Might it make kids and parents alike lazy and shirk their duties as students and teachers?
Don't get me wrong, it is not a product without merit. I am just thinking that like most things it needs limits and an educated and caring parent to help make those. I was introduced to one of these last year by a family member. His kids were playing this art game and one other game (no violent games, a DEFINITE upside) and Luke fell in love.
I hemmed and hawed back and forth about writing Santa and asking him to bring Luke one but decided that for pete's sake - why rush things??? But now his buddies are starting to have them and play them and I didn't want my kid being the freak......so.... I started letting him play a few video games on my phone and computer and the addiction has begun.....
My days are now peppered with "when can I play it?" questions. These same questions have never crossed his lips until I started the whole thing a few weeks back. I am cursing myself. Let this be a lesson to me. Don't get me wrong, I am not 100% against video games, they are fun, I loved them as a kid, all things in moderation right?
My problem is that my kids (and most I know) spend way too much time indoors already, and their life is so fast paced and for darn sake why do kids need "educating" all day long anyway?? Plus I noticed that kids lives today are all choreographed for them. The toys, TV shows and movies, videos games, etc. have taken all the "creation" out of childhood. What happened to mud pies and invisible friends? I personally feel that if things keep going the way they are kids won't know how to "play" because they have never been forced to use their imagination.
In closing, I vow to not make my kid a freak, however I do plan to get dirty and make mud pies tomorrow. Here's to using your imagination!
Don't get me wrong, it is not a product without merit. I am just thinking that like most things it needs limits and an educated and caring parent to help make those. I was introduced to one of these last year by a family member. His kids were playing this art game and one other game (no violent games, a DEFINITE upside) and Luke fell in love.
I hemmed and hawed back and forth about writing Santa and asking him to bring Luke one but decided that for pete's sake - why rush things??? But now his buddies are starting to have them and play them and I didn't want my kid being the freak......so.... I started letting him play a few video games on my phone and computer and the addiction has begun.....
My days are now peppered with "when can I play it?" questions. These same questions have never crossed his lips until I started the whole thing a few weeks back. I am cursing myself. Let this be a lesson to me. Don't get me wrong, I am not 100% against video games, they are fun, I loved them as a kid, all things in moderation right?
My problem is that my kids (and most I know) spend way too much time indoors already, and their life is so fast paced and for darn sake why do kids need "educating" all day long anyway?? Plus I noticed that kids lives today are all choreographed for them. The toys, TV shows and movies, videos games, etc. have taken all the "creation" out of childhood. What happened to mud pies and invisible friends? I personally feel that if things keep going the way they are kids won't know how to "play" because they have never been forced to use their imagination.
In closing, I vow to not make my kid a freak, however I do plan to get dirty and make mud pies tomorrow. Here's to using your imagination!
February 12, 2008
Nothings ever simple
Nothin's ever simple with that girl. Which girl you ask?? Who do you think?!?!!! Yah that's right...Charlotte!!!
Today she asked for cereal as a snack. Not any cereal, the blue boxed one. Okay, I can hang with that. But don't put the milk in before she's found a spoon and sat down in her spot at the table. And don't put in the milk in the green box, the blue box. Oh but wait, she doesn't want maple syrup on it today, why would it be like any other day?? She's wants honey, but don't put it all over, swirl it just so. Oh but wait, now she needs to go to peepee, but not in the toilet, outside on the lawn. That's right, sometimes my daughter does her peepee like a puppy. Oi vey!!!
Long ago I got super flat on change. You have one baby and think that all other babies and definitely all of YOUR subsequent babies will be the same or at least very similar. No siree. There are as many personalities as their are people I have learned.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.... :) The upshot is we are NEVER bored around here.
Today she asked for cereal as a snack. Not any cereal, the blue boxed one. Okay, I can hang with that. But don't put the milk in before she's found a spoon and sat down in her spot at the table. And don't put in the milk in the green box, the blue box. Oh but wait, she doesn't want maple syrup on it today, why would it be like any other day?? She's wants honey, but don't put it all over, swirl it just so. Oh but wait, now she needs to go to peepee, but not in the toilet, outside on the lawn. That's right, sometimes my daughter does her peepee like a puppy. Oi vey!!!
Long ago I got super flat on change. You have one baby and think that all other babies and definitely all of YOUR subsequent babies will be the same or at least very similar. No siree. There are as many personalities as their are people I have learned.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.... :) The upshot is we are NEVER bored around here.
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