A thunk in the night..

turns out to be J, who has rolled out of bed. Good thing he is in the bottom bunk.



(picture taken in July at Mystic Springs Resort in Utah)

30 hours in LA

What can 1 mommy with 4 little kids do at grandmas house with 30 hours in LA?

Well for me it started with reminiscing about how much times have changed, and how things look differently and the demographics have changed. The schools I have attended are still there, but different somehow. The houses? Almost all torn down and McMansions put up in their places; except for a few holdouts that have not jumped on the remodeling bandwagon. I am glad I have left, and I miss it all at the same time.

What do I miss about it? I miss the way things were, my childhood, and the certainty of life. Things that are still in my memories but are no longer the reality of my little town.
What don't I miss? The traffic, and graffiti (2 words I got the joy of teaching my children Mommy why aren't we moving? It is called traffic honey where there are too many cars and we all slowly crawl by, or turn the freeway into a parking lot. Mommy, look a circus train!!! Where ??(looking around while sitting in traffic) Over there!!! Oh, that is not a circus train (chuckling) that is graffiti.(on the wall next to the traffic on the freeway) What is graffiti? Graffiti is where some very bad people paint where they are not supposed to, because there parents didn't teach them not to. Ooh, they need to clean up there mess and get a spanking. Yep they sure do....

We visited the Zimmer children's museum, and the kids had a great time, N played Rabbi, and J visited the wailing wall. We went shopping and I got new clothes (thank you Mom!!) and we saw Hairspray, you know the new one in theatres??? Apparently I am the only one in the Universe that did not know that John Travolta was playing the part of Edna Turnblatt; It was great, B was dancing the whole time, trying to mimic the dance moves and bopping around.

And of coarse we went to my favorite place to eat, Pachanga, the chicken quesadilla is still as good as ever. As we were leaving and made a pit stop at In-n-out I realized another reason I am glad we have left, I saw 2 girls I went to school with, 1 single and living at home with mom, because it's the only way she can afford to stay, and the other old and haggard looking overweight; unloved and used. As I glanced around at my little family I knew I had the best life and just what I always dreamed of having.

Surprisingly it was the best trip to see my mom I think we have ever had; we got our argument s out of the way before we drove up, and stayed a brief enough time that it was enjoyable by all.

The biggest slide ever!!!

For the past 2 summers I have had endless requests to visit the big slide whenever we visit Estes Park, and we have never been. We have gone on the family bicycle ( Pedal cycle), to the movies, festivals, fishing, camping, walking down town and eaten all over the place.But Aba and I always found a reason why we couldn't go to the slide. Well , not any more!

We finally went, well Me and the 3 little ones B, J, and Baby B went, while Aba and N were fishing. Our other option - to go to the Scandinavian festival, which I think we went to last year, and honestly with temperatures hovering near 100, with over tired kids from the night befores BBQ, I was not in the mood to push the stroller over bumpy grass amid throngs of people to look at handmade crafts that are too expensive, and that I don't want anyways. So, we went to the slide.

B was the one who was originally clamoring for it, and I agreed for her and J to take a go, but being that they have a credit card minimum (and I was fresh out of cash, and didn't know Aba's pin number) we had to buy 5 rides, which was fine, as B and J could go twice and Baby B and I could go once.

The first time up we all went. and even though B was the first ready J took off as soon as he could, deciding to roll over half way down looking up for the rest of us. At the bottom he promptly exclaimed "again!!!" which is amazing for one who hates to talk. B on the other hand had to be slightly convinced, but again they went and both had a blast. I think J would have gone again and again and again given the chance. Given it was only a buck a ride? I will bring them back whenever they request, and be sure to get an extra turn for myself!

before 7 am

Hysterical laughing from B
"Wow, an explosion of blood!!!" uttered by N
a clingy koala baby B
and gibberish "a hana mu nee, hi MAMA!" from J

what on earth am I in for today???

My summer plan

Okay since summer is a week old today at our house, of course I have already had to rethink how to tackle it twice. My first attempt of everyone sleeping in and lounging around the house lasted a whole 3 days before it got out of control, so Monday morning I started a daily chart to try and real in the kids. Everyday we leave the house, and go 3 places; 2 errands (necessary items) and one thing for fun (after said errands) that I can use as a bargaining chip for misbehavior. – which I already had to do on Monday, our trip to the pool was cancelled.

So far the chart thing seems to be working, I wrote down what dinner will be, our three outings, and the chores the kids are expected to do (the same ones they have always been expected to do, but somehow now they seem to need them written down now in order to do them!

Yesterdays plan for the day was to head over to Target get B and I some shorts, and get myself a new swimsuit. Then to Ballet class, before heading over to Miss C’s where I was going to weed the patio (you know those pesky weeds that grow between the bricks) and till up a little garden area so she could plant some flowers, but did I get that done? nope But I did clean a wheelbarrow full of rocks off of the side walk, reclaim a planting bed from encroaching grass, fix the dog door platform, heavily trim 2 trees, and adjust the sprinklers. Next week I will be going back to do it again and hopefully this time I will actually do what I need to do, it was sooo hot yesterday I was trying to work in the shade.

But back to target I was able to get a swimsuit with out much worry ( I always seem to lose half of my two piece suits, and get stuck wearing this extremely unflattering red once piece, it always happens, I even had to wear it on my honeymoon because I somehow forgot to pack half of my 2 piece suit it never fails). But the shorts were problem. Apparently Target thinks summer is over and is clearance the $3.99 basic little girls shorts. I have gone every week for the past 2 months and they are always out of size 4. All I wanted was a pair of plain little girls jean shorts for B to be rough and tumble in, and every week they store has been out of size 4’s. If that wasn’t bad enough all of the adult shorts were either low-rise, skintight, or had a 1 inch inseam. Hello!?!?! Not all of us have twig thighs, Not all of us want to show the world our butts every time we bend over and some of us have some extra tummy loving and can’t wear low rise, or .extra low rise with any kind of self dignity flair.. So needless to say I am still short less, at least till next week, when I will try again!

34 days left!!!

I am trying to get all of our ducks in a row for the kids and my annual haul to California. This year I am blessed relieved to have a road trip buddy for each leg of the trip. Auntie LaLa will be joining me and the 4 kiddos from our house to Bampas, and we have a trip planned to a H, not quite to a T. We are making a stop over at Mystic Springs and another in Viva Las Vegas. We are planning to make many pit stops along the way, the Hoover dam, Ethel M’s chocolate factory , and Arches national park for sure.

Grandma with the fishies is accompany us on the way home (lucky her!) and our trip is sorely lacking, not for trying though. We are staying at the landmark Wigwam hotel one night, but are hotel less for the other 2! Cimarron sounds good, but Grandma is not to sure… We have nixed Phoenix, flagstaff, Yuma, and Tucson, as well as Santa Fe… and we are getting close. This is a toughie I need to keep working on some more. One thing we do know is we will be stopping at fridge hinge for sure! Well, if we can find it we will be!