Zoo

Yesterday I was a chaperon at Kimberly's field trip to the zoo. I use 'chaperon' lightly because in our school, parent involvement is very high. There were about 14 parents that volunteered to keep track of 23 or so kids. Because that's how we roll in the land of suburban bliss.

I was only in charge of Kimberly and one of her little friends. I must say that is was so much fun! The child I was assigned to was such a sweetie and I'm so glad that Kimmy and I got to spend the day with her. I made the girls hold hands because it was easier to keep track of one moving target versus two. They were so darn cute! They held hands and skipped everywhere. I'm proud to say that it worked because I didn't lose a kid. :D

I am proud of myself for actually letting her get on the bus and drive across town...on 3 different freeways...in a bus...with no seatbelt. I can't imagine not being there to chaperon though. I trust the teachers, I mostly trust the bus drivers, but I wouldn't trust another parent to make sure she didn't get lost. Is that awful? I know i have issues and irrational fears that the big bad world is going to swallow up my loved ones. My poor kids! They are going to have a crazy lady hovering over them until they are 18...or more like as long as I am breathing.

You're beautiful baby...

Kimberly is growing up into a little lady. Every day she is a little longer, a little smarter and more lovely with every breath she takes. Jeff always asks her, "How did you get to be so beautiful/smart/funny/cool?"

Her answer? "Because my Mommy made me that way!"

I took some great pictures of her last week during Spring Break. Have a look-see:


Even with self cut bangs and 2 missing teeth, isn't she sweet?

Oh, and yes she's rollerblading in the house...I gave her the job of distressing our wood floors.

what a big girl!

How did she get such beauty and grace?

Why from her mother of course!
Damn I'm hawt! :D

Easter doggy

Hannah has been pacing in circles for the last few minutes. She wants to go outside but normally she will look at me directly and give me a 'come hither and open the door' look. Today though she kept rubbing on my legs like a cat but wouldn't directly look at me. She had shifty eyes.

Here, look for yourself...

Notice the lowered head:

Looking toward me, but not at me:

I moved in closer and she gave me the cold shoulder:

Ah-ha! Miss thang was trying to smuggle an easter egg out of the house.

hey you can't blame a girl for trying!

Party time! Excellent!

Yesterday was Kennens birthday party! We had around 15 kids here and Kennen had so much fun playing with everyone. He is such a little hunny. We didn't to the kiddy pool like we had planned because it was a little chilly out but the kids ran and played and didn't fight...success!

Jeff cooked fajitas and our neighbor Mr. Brazil spent the time fervently crushing limes and ice for capirhinas (or however the fuck you spell it!). Those are d.a.n.g.e.r.o.u.s. I had half of one and I could feel myself getting inappropriately buzzed for my sons 3rd birthday party. I put it down and switched to wine. :D

Wine is much better for my image as a stay at home suburban Mom. Wine is the drink of choice amongst the ladies of master planned community's. It is our indulgence. Our dirty little secret. Our soft place to fall at the end of the day. Is 2 o'clock too early to drink wine? Yes, too early. How about 4 o'clock. Probably still too early. No, 6 o'clock is an appropriate hour...while cooking dinner...splashing a little into the beef gravy like Julia Child. She was a classy drunk.

pictures of the party coming later! :D

Picture time!

Here is a quick ode to Kennen:

Oh.
My.
Gawd.
Daddy and Kennen in their matching outfits!
Happy 3rd birthday buddy!

My baby is 3!

My sweet boy is 3 today. I feel like my heart is in a vice. Ugh that boy does something to me, I tell you. His party is going to be on Friday so today we are keeping it low key. Kimberly could never grasp that yes, today is her birthday but the big party will be on a weekend. This means that for the last 2 years, I have had a sullen and disappointed little girl on her actualy birthday. I'm not knocking my child, don't get me wrong. Her strength and her hunger to have the best and be the best will get her far in this world. She is so much like her Dad and I can see her being successful like him too.

Kennen has a different outlook though. Anything he gets he appreciates. This morning when he came downstairs, Kimberly and I were waiting to show him the gift and the cake sitting on the table. He had a huge smile on his face and pointed to his little chest and said, 'Me? For me Mommy?'

Kim and I sang to him and cheered him on while he blew out his candles. He opened his present, which was a set of walkie talkies in the shape of Spiderman. As I was struggling to get the two Spideys out of the grip of plastic, tape, and twist ties Kimberly said, 'Cool, we can share. Kennen can have the first one and then the other one will be for me.' Then Kennen said, 'yeah, You Kimmy then the other one for ME!'

Kim asked why he wanted her to hold the first one and I said because he is a good boy and likes to share. Kennen nodded and smiled. What a little honey.

After all the unwrapping and unscrewing of Spiderman's rear end to put the batteries in, I realized that I needed AAA's. I have about 50 AA's and one AAA battery. Damnit. Why do they even make AAA's anymore? I told the kids we had to go buy batteries and Kennen said, "Put Spidermans pants back on Mommy." Kimberly threw back her head and whined, "How are we even going to PLAY with them?" I sent her to her room.

No whining before Mommy has her coffee. And no being ungrateful on your baby brothers birthday.

la di dah

I have this problem. It usually isn't a problem for me, but my husband complains about it a lot. When I am cleaning, I tuck everything out of sight. Like I'll clean at night after Jeff goes to sleep and he will wake up in the morning and have no idea where his keys and his wallet are. Then he asks me and I will show him which basket/drawer/niche I've squirreled his stuff into.


The problem is that I designate new hiding places all the time, so sometimes things get lost.
Sometimes things like my camera upload usb cable. And then sometimes I have nothing to blog about because a picture says 1000 words, and since I dont seem to have any words lately...I could definetly use all the help I can get. I have extremely cute pictures of Kennen, great pics of Kim zooming down the sidewalk in the Plasma car and even picture of Jeff all crossed out and singing 'Jump' during our night of musical nostalgia at Bung Chows house this weekend. Oh yes, Patty busted out her cassette tapes.

But instead I am searching the archives of my own old photos. I had a dream about my Grandma last night, so here are some pics of a visit with them a few years ago. In my dream my grandma told me she hasn't left the house in a few weeks, and I was trying to convince her to take a cab and go eat dinner at Lubys. I told her that maybe she could meet another widow there to be her friend. I'm not sure why, but I can imagine a lot of of ladies eating alone at Lubys that would appreciate a new friend. Aaaaaaanyway, here are pictures of me, Kimberly when she was 1, my brother Steve, my grandpa that just died in January, and of course my grandmother.

Me and Grandma...I love to think that 1/4 of my grandma's genes are me!

Steve, Kimmy-girl, Me (why can't I find a shirt that fits?) and my amazing Grandpa. I miss him.

And random cuteness of my Kimmy-girl: