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!!
April 9, 2008
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.
January 30, 2008
Deceptive Cooking
Have you heard of the books Deceptively Delicious and Sneaky Chef?? I have both and they are very similar. Both are based on the concept of sneaking veges into your kids foods through the use of vegetable purees. At first I was a little against this concept because I want my kids to eat veges and know it. But then I read that just because you are learning to sneak more veges in doesn't mean you stop offering visible veges at lunch and dinner. Now I am completely on board. I was reading Deceptively Delicious last night while sitting in bed (with pink eye!!!) and it's great! I love the little tips that are peppered throughout the book. I bought all the stuff to do my purees. That's how it works. You make vege (and fruit) purees and then add them to the recipes in the book (or your own) as long as the colors seem to match or the vege won't show. That way the kids won't know! Pretty cool............stay tuned as to how they react (hopefully no reaction).
Current Charlotte-isms
(Excerpt from Charlotte's Journal)
Current phrases & sayings:
“I want somebody to ______” The request might be one of a hundred things like “get me a snack” or “come cuddle with me” or “find my Cinderella. ” And who is the “somebody” you ask? We aren’t 100% sure but I can tell you the person she’s directing this order to will do just fine. Why she doesn’t just ask the person in front of her directly we’ll never know. Or she might just say “I want som-ping” (something). This usually means food but not always. And then you might make the fatal error of asking “What som-ping do you want?” This is usually met with ferocious scorn where she will give you a HUGE stink eye and then just reiterate but about 10x louder “I WANT SOMPING!!!!!!!”
So it will go something like this:
C: “I want somebody to come cuddle with me.” Or “I want somebody to get me a snack” or our favorite “I want som-ping”
A: “Who somebody?” Or “What som-ping do you want?”
C: SOMEBODY!!!!!!!!!! Or “I just want SOMPING!”
A: You mean me? Or “How about _____? (suggested food)
C: Ya
A: (sigh) okay (wondering WHY she is not more specific)
Another cute one “Somebody needs to buy me boy toys!” She said this because for the past 3 or 4 mornings she had been waking early and John sets her up playing with Luke’s cars before he leaves. When Luke and I wake up we find her happily playing and of course Luke can’t have any of that so takes away the toys. She exasperatedly said the after one of those episodes.
Other cute things she says….she will randomly blurt out a question or a scene from a movie she saw recently - I mean random and with no warning. Just now Charlotte said “Her father blew away” I guessed (and was miraculously right) that it was the prince’s father who was blowing away in Cinderella III. When I said my guess she said “Yah and the father is four.” LOL Because I said “Cinderella III” she figured since the father was older he was four! LOVE those cute kid mix ups and would never dream of correcting them. LOL
Or recently she has said A LOT “Why does the mother die?” I guessed this one to mean ‘why does the mother die in Bambi.’ Apparently that guess was right too. I’m the bomb.
Current phrases & sayings:
“I want somebody to ______” The request might be one of a hundred things like “get me a snack” or “come cuddle with me” or “find my Cinderella. ” And who is the “somebody” you ask? We aren’t 100% sure but I can tell you the person she’s directing this order to will do just fine. Why she doesn’t just ask the person in front of her directly we’ll never know. Or she might just say “I want som-ping” (something). This usually means food but not always. And then you might make the fatal error of asking “What som-ping do you want?” This is usually met with ferocious scorn where she will give you a HUGE stink eye and then just reiterate but about 10x louder “I WANT SOMPING!!!!!!!”
So it will go something like this:
C: “I want somebody to come cuddle with me.” Or “I want somebody to get me a snack” or our favorite “I want som-ping”
A: “Who somebody?” Or “What som-ping do you want?”
C: SOMEBODY!!!!!!!!!! Or “I just want SOMPING!”
A: You mean me? Or “How about _____? (suggested food)
C: Ya
A: (sigh) okay (wondering WHY she is not more specific)
Another cute one “Somebody needs to buy me boy toys!” She said this because for the past 3 or 4 mornings she had been waking early and John sets her up playing with Luke’s cars before he leaves. When Luke and I wake up we find her happily playing and of course Luke can’t have any of that so takes away the toys. She exasperatedly said the after one of those episodes.
Other cute things she says….she will randomly blurt out a question or a scene from a movie she saw recently - I mean random and with no warning. Just now Charlotte said “Her father blew away” I guessed (and was miraculously right) that it was the prince’s father who was blowing away in Cinderella III. When I said my guess she said “Yah and the father is four.” LOL Because I said “Cinderella III” she figured since the father was older he was four! LOVE those cute kid mix ups and would never dream of correcting them. LOL
Or recently she has said A LOT “Why does the mother die?” I guessed this one to mean ‘why does the mother die in Bambi.’ Apparently that guess was right too. I’m the bomb.
January 12, 2008
Current everyone
What can I say. The time just got away from me. But now that I am back on track, more organized, and have more energy, I see good things for my blogging self again.
Luke update: He is now 41/2 and in preschool. He is reading simple sentences (most consisting of 3 letter words) and is very proud of that. He just acquired a new Black Spiderman costume and is OBSESSED. Goes to bed at a decent hour, about 8pm and wakes about 6:30 (much to my chagrin). He would eat hotdogs all day if I let him (don't forget the bun and a straight line of yellow mustard) and anything sugar floats his boat. Here is a recent conversation I had with him:
December 2, 2007
Allie: “Luke, I don’t want you to take the advent calendar out of the kitchen”
Luke: “But mooooom! I want to cuddle with it!”
Allie: (laughing my butt off) “Luke, you can’t cuddle with it, I am sorry. I know you are just going to try and sneak another chocolate.”
Luke: (Leaves kitchen looking dejected and has head hanging)
Charlotte update:
Well Charlotte is quite the talker, my goodness! That girl not only talks A LOT but has a great vocab. People who haven't seen her in a while gasp when they hear the things she says and the length with which she will entertain you. Her favorite game right now is to pull out her doll crib (thank you Grammy) and her washcloths and tiny dolls (thank you Nana) and play and play and play and play. Nana saw how much she loved using washcloths as blankets for her tiny dolls and got her several ones of her own in girly colors, it's such a treat for her. I swear she never tires of playing with those toys. She is a girl through and through. She graduated to the 3 and 4 year old class last week at school. Very exciting! She is really proud of herself and double checks with me each school morning to make sure she's going to her new classroom. Her and Luke are together now in the same room, it's very cute.
Allie update:
Gosh, I am just loving life right now, every aspect. I recently finished reading Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, and by god it's the best book I have ever read to date, one that has had the biggest impact on my life so far. I can't wait to read the sequel. We are still reeling from an incredible Christmas. Thank so so much to all our family who gave so generously, it was amazing. I hope to donate more money to Charity next year to battle the slight guilt I feel in how blessed we are! Jeez!
John update:
John is doing so well! He too is reading a version of Dianetics, one called the Original Theseus. I can't tell you what fun it is when he comes home at night from our church and we talk all about Dianetics. Not only have we both gain a greater understanding of people and mankind it has helped our marriage because we have more to talk about and more in common. John seems to have a renewed zest for life and our business and is working in ways I have never seen him work before. He seems to have conquered the daily routines and is now working fervently on expansion of our business. Wow what a change.
Well, that's it for now. More to come on a more regular basis (I hope!)
Luke update: He is now 41/2 and in preschool. He is reading simple sentences (most consisting of 3 letter words) and is very proud of that. He just acquired a new Black Spiderman costume and is OBSESSED. Goes to bed at a decent hour, about 8pm and wakes about 6:30 (much to my chagrin). He would eat hotdogs all day if I let him (don't forget the bun and a straight line of yellow mustard) and anything sugar floats his boat. Here is a recent conversation I had with him:
December 2, 2007
Allie: “Luke, I don’t want you to take the advent calendar out of the kitchen”
Luke: “But mooooom! I want to cuddle with it!”
Allie: (laughing my butt off) “Luke, you can’t cuddle with it, I am sorry. I know you are just going to try and sneak another chocolate.”
Luke: (Leaves kitchen looking dejected and has head hanging)
Charlotte update:
Well Charlotte is quite the talker, my goodness! That girl not only talks A LOT but has a great vocab. People who haven't seen her in a while gasp when they hear the things she says and the length with which she will entertain you. Her favorite game right now is to pull out her doll crib (thank you Grammy) and her washcloths and tiny dolls (thank you Nana) and play and play and play and play. Nana saw how much she loved using washcloths as blankets for her tiny dolls and got her several ones of her own in girly colors, it's such a treat for her. I swear she never tires of playing with those toys. She is a girl through and through. She graduated to the 3 and 4 year old class last week at school. Very exciting! She is really proud of herself and double checks with me each school morning to make sure she's going to her new classroom. Her and Luke are together now in the same room, it's very cute.
Allie update:
Gosh, I am just loving life right now, every aspect. I recently finished reading Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, and by god it's the best book I have ever read to date, one that has had the biggest impact on my life so far. I can't wait to read the sequel. We are still reeling from an incredible Christmas. Thank so so much to all our family who gave so generously, it was amazing. I hope to donate more money to Charity next year to battle the slight guilt I feel in how blessed we are! Jeez!
John update:
John is doing so well! He too is reading a version of Dianetics, one called the Original Theseus. I can't tell you what fun it is when he comes home at night from our church and we talk all about Dianetics. Not only have we both gain a greater understanding of people and mankind it has helped our marriage because we have more to talk about and more in common. John seems to have a renewed zest for life and our business and is working in ways I have never seen him work before. He seems to have conquered the daily routines and is now working fervently on expansion of our business. Wow what a change.
Well, that's it for now. More to come on a more regular basis (I hope!)
May 8, 2007
Where has the time gone?
Well I am the worst, worst, WORST blogger EVER!!!!!!! Sorry for the little vacation I took. Sheesh! :)
A lot has happened over the past several months. Charlotte talks in full and complete sentences and says please even when she's REALLY pissed at me. Like today she was crying her little baby eyes out and said "puuulease mama come with me!" LOL How can you resist that?
And Luke.......(sigh) he is just a gift from god that boy. Such a sweet, cuddly bear. Every single morning he comes into my bed and wakes me up whispering "mommy....let's cuddle, okay?" Even when it's painfully early you have to smile and accept. How can you not?
Here's a little picture of what we have been up to.
I am one lucky duck and don't I know it. Just look at them!!!!! Don't you want to eat 'em? My monsters play so well together (hold on...finding wood to knock on) I can't recommend enough having your kids close together. It's wild at first, but then you have a built in playmate.
What else....oh funny story. We were looking at a zoo magazine or newsletter and Luke was looking at pictures of the flamingos and said to me "Mommy......what do you think that maflingo is doing?" LOL
Another big news story.....Luke is playing permanent hooky these days. That's right, he's sworn off preschool and trying the hole homebody thing. And it's going well! That's the big news. I was a little scared at first......okay, okay I was shaking in my boots (never had them both home all day every day) and now we have our rhythm and I hired an awesome nanny to come like 12 hours a week to help out and things are groovin' right along. I LOVE it, I really love it. I miss preschool and all the teachers and kids and my friends.....maybe he'll want to go next year (crossing fingers).
Well, I am signing off good and tired. Hope you enjoyed the update!
A lot has happened over the past several months. Charlotte talks in full and complete sentences and says please even when she's REALLY pissed at me. Like today she was crying her little baby eyes out and said "puuulease mama come with me!" LOL How can you resist that?
And Luke.......(sigh) he is just a gift from god that boy. Such a sweet, cuddly bear. Every single morning he comes into my bed and wakes me up whispering "mommy....let's cuddle, okay?" Even when it's painfully early you have to smile and accept. How can you not?
Here's a little picture of what we have been up to.
I am one lucky duck and don't I know it. Just look at them!!!!! Don't you want to eat 'em? My monsters play so well together (hold on...finding wood to knock on) I can't recommend enough having your kids close together. It's wild at first, but then you have a built in playmate.
What else....oh funny story. We were looking at a zoo magazine or newsletter and Luke was looking at pictures of the flamingos and said to me "Mommy......what do you think that maflingo is doing?" LOL
Another big news story.....Luke is playing permanent hooky these days. That's right, he's sworn off preschool and trying the hole homebody thing. And it's going well! That's the big news. I was a little scared at first......okay, okay I was shaking in my boots (never had them both home all day every day) and now we have our rhythm and I hired an awesome nanny to come like 12 hours a week to help out and things are groovin' right along. I LOVE it, I really love it. I miss preschool and all the teachers and kids and my friends.....maybe he'll want to go next year (crossing fingers).
Well, I am signing off good and tired. Hope you enjoyed the update!
December 6, 2006
Nest? Wreath?
We were at Descanso Gardens on Sunday eating at their cafe and Luke looks over to the table next to us and sees a wreath they have that is laying flat on the table, used as a table arrangment.
I watch him looking at it and then he leans over to me and says "Mom, I want a nest too!"
Nest? Wreath? Who cares right?
Needless to say I bought one for him the next day! :) How can you resist that?
I watch him looking at it and then he leans over to me and says "Mom, I want a nest too!"
Nest? Wreath? Who cares right?
Needless to say I bought one for him the next day! :) How can you resist that?
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