momstothreeboys

No longer here...

2010-05-13T08:56:00.001-07:00

No time to blog...full time job, full time mom.

But always time for Facebook...find me there if you dare.

Confusion...

2009-12-16T23:22:00.000-08:00

That's how my brain feels...I told Laura that I both love and hate this time of year. I love the excitement, the kids and their excitement, the hunt for the perfect gift (okay, and getting gifts too), the weather, the lights - both Hanukkah and Christmas, and so on. But I hate the total chaos of our house that is wrapping paper, bags, stocking stuffers, boxes, and tons of things on our list of "Things to Do and See Only During This Time of Year" and it's making me nervous!

The kids are also over-the-moon excited about the holidays and that just sometimes makes them a bit...ummm...over-excited!

Anyway, it's late and this is rambling...I just take one look at my desk, my "To Do" list and I just panic...because from now until at least mid-Jan., we have so much planned...time to take a deep breath and enjoy the day to day stuff...

Wish me luck...

Bad, bad blogger...

2009-12-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

One word...
Facebook.

That's all.

Obviously I'm not giving up my blog...I'll still post here (got some good ones in the works) but Facebook is fun...if you know me, and want to keep up with me...come find me there!

Foster wins first place...

2009-11-25T08:52:00.001-08:00

Running club at school...Foster ran over 75 miles since school started. Cool kid.

Happy Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T22:51:00.000-08:00

Just some pictures to tide you all over...and just for the record...yes, Foster was there, he was just so fast and so into "getting all the candy you can" that I never snapped a picture of him....but he was a zombie, just like last year.

We went Trick or Treating in our friend's neighborhood...these people go all out.

So much to post, so little time...

2009-10-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

There have been LOTS of stuff going on here...so much that I haven't wrapped my brain around it all...sorry to be so cryptic but if you need to know right away, e-mail me. Otherwise, eventually when I have some free time (ha!) I'll post!

We went to Bates Nut Farm...

2009-10-15T23:04:00.000-07:00

Too true not to post...

2009-09-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by socialist electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the US Department of Energy. I then took a shower in the socialist clean water provided by the municipal water utility. After that, I turned on the socialist radio to one of the FCC regulated channels to hear what the socialist National Weather Service of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration determined the weather was going to be like using socialist satellites designed, built, and launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I watched this while eating my breakfast of socialist US Department of Agriculture inspected food and taking the socialist drugs which have been determined as safe by the Food and Drug Administration.

At the appropriate time as kept accurate by the socialist National Institute of Standards and Technology and the US Naval Observatory, I get into my socialist National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved automobile and set out to work on the socialist roads build by the socialist local, state, and federal departments of transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level determined by the socialist Environmental Protection Agency, using socialist legal tender issued by the Federal Reserve Bank. On the way out the door I deposit any mail I have to be sent out via the socialist US Postal Service and drop the kids off at the socialist public school. If I get lost, I can use my socialist GPS navigation technology developed by the United States Department of Defense and made available to the public in 1996 by President Bill Clinton who issued a policy directive declaring socialist GPS to be a dual-use military/civilian system to be managed as a national socialist asset.

After spending another day not being maimed or killed at work thanks to the socialist workplace regulations imposed by the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, enjoying another two meals which again do not kill me because of the socialist USDA, I drive my socialist NHTSA car back home on the socialist DOT roads, to my house which has not burned down in my absence because of the socialist state and local building codes and socialist fire marshal's inspection, and which has not been plundered of all it's valuables thanks to the socialist local police department.

I then get on my computer and use the socialist Internet which was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration and browse the socialist World Wide Web using my graphical web browser, both made possible by Al Gore's socialist High Performance Computing and Communication Act of 1991. I then post on freerepublic.com and fox news forums about how SOCIALISM in medicine is BAD because the government can't do anything right.

Last Day of the cruise - Seattle

2009-09-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

This last day we arrived in Seattle early morning. We were in no rush to leave as our flight to San Diego didn't leave until late afternoon. So we took our time, had breakfast, walked around and when we left the ship we decided to rent a car and use it to drive around Seattle and see the sights for the day. We went to Pike Place Market and then to the Space Needle. We didn't go up in the needle as we were all kind of "toured out" but they were having a fair near the grounds so we walked around there a bit and got the kids some ice cream. Soon it was time to head to the airport for our flight home. We were both sad and happy...sad to leave beautiful Alaska behind (and the freedom of the ship - no dishes to clean or beds to make...) but happy to be going home to our new house.

Pulling into Seattle

Space Needle

On the grounds of the Space Needle...boys found a climbing structure

Laura

Ivy

Finishing up Alaska - Day 7

2009-09-25T21:23:00.001-07:00

This last full day on the cruise was a "Sea Day" - heading down thru the inside passage, the weather was cool and windy. But that didn't stop the boys from begging to go to the pool. Honestly, we hadn't yet gone so this was our last chance. Laura and I opted to not go into the pool because it really was "that" cold. The hot tubs were a logical choice but they were all full to capacity. So we just sat and enjoyed watching the boys have a great time...and the ENTIRE pool to themselves.

Logan and Seth waiting to go swimming

Foster has his shoes off...
Up the winding staircase...

And down the slide (Logan)!
Foster running to the slide
Seth on the slide
We saw pods of whales from our balcony...very cool
Whale fin

We're # 37

2009-09-23T21:20:00.000-07:00

The Next American Idol - LOGAN

2009-09-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

OMG...is this too cute???

First Day of School - 2009

2009-09-08T23:02:00.001-07:00

All 3 ready for their big day

Walking into the school

Front of the school

Logan's classroom - he's at "10:00" with the mohawk (the only way to get him to NOT wear a ballcap is to put his hair in a mohawk)

Seth's class, he's sitting with his arm over the back of the bench

School library - cool!

Foster's classroom is the one with the birdhouses hanging from the roof

Foster's class' backpacks

Taken through the window of Foster's class, got it!

Now Day 6

2009-09-02T23:14:00.000-07:00

Day 6 was fun! The actress Sharon Gless was on-board to promote her new movie "Hannah Free", feel free to check it out. She had a packed audience to view the movie which was by the way, excellent!!! Laura and I came across Sharon in the casino right before her movie-showing nervously smoking and pacing. She was very, very nice in person!

Laura and I took some time to walk around the ship while the kids were in camp. We enjoyed a coffee and some time alone. The thing about cruises is that there is ALWAYS something to do, so if you don't actually force yourself to take a break and relax you can easily get over-stimulated. Anyway, that was fun...I also enjoyed "people-watching".

This day was actually really a low-key day. Our port stop was Prince Rupert, British Columbia. We decided against taking any tours in this quaint, sleepy town and instead the boys remained on the ship with Bubbe and Laura and I walked into town. Not too much to see, some shops, some fishing boats, people. We walked around for a couple of hours and then it started raining so we went back on board where we prepared for the final evening of entertainment. The entertainment was excellent...it was a traveling troupe from China - acrobats, dancers, etc. The kids loved it and sat glued to their seats.

It was a fun, relaxing day.

Kelli O'donnell introducing Sharon Gless

Sharon Gless during the "Q & A" following the movie

Main area of the ship

Main area of the ship

R Family Vacations Welcomes YOU

Ivy enjoying some quiet time

Twins having fun in the cabin with balloons

Exiting at Prince Rupert Island

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Evening entertainment

Docked at Prince Rupert

Foster turns 8 tomorrow!

2009-09-01T23:41:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe but my "baby" is turning 8 whole years old tomorrow.

We had a little party at home tonight as his Godmom Amy brought over some balloons (that he doesn't know are in his room until he wakes up tomorrow), decorations for his bedroom door, and a cake. Tomorrow we get to go to McDonald's for his choice of birthday dinner. Just have to remember that McDonald's is a proud supporter of Gay Rights...so there!

Anyway, a few quick shots from tonight.

And really, I promise to finish my Alaska trip.

Blowing out the candles

My sweet boy

A night-time swim was so much fun

Day 6 - Coming Soon!

2009-08-26T00:12:00.000-07:00

No fears, I shall continue! Just busy, busy.
Tomorrow we're going to enroll the boys in our new school district...now that I have ALL the forms. Taking the day off tomorrow with Laura and my mom to do that and to do a bit more "back to school/new house/get ready for housewarming party" shopping!

Oh, and I'm finally setting up my new aquarium! I have a gift card to Petco that I'll use tomorrow as well...have to decide on an aquarium theme...very fun! It's been soooo long since I had an aquarium (think COLLEGE) that I'm really looking forward to it. Hey, it's a nice introduction to the care of animals (okay, fishies) for the kids before we adopt our dog (maybe October - at a local "Adopt-A-Thon").

Big 'ole housewarming coming up Sept. 5th...lots to do. Foster turns 8 on Sept. 2nd...Laura and I will be taking him and his BFF to Soak City for the day...just the two of them - no twin brothers!

Work is going well...I love it still - it will be a year in October...hard to believe...until I get my memo to re-take my CPR class...ewwww.

Laura and I saw "Julie and Julia" - very good movie, I really enjoyed it. Next up "District 9"...and "Wicked" this Sunday night.

Guess that's about it for this mini-update. Oh, tonite, I went to lay down with Seth - he is my "cuddle boy" for sure...that kid loves to cuddle. Anyway, we lay down on his bed (thankfully the bottom bunk!) and I say "I love you" and he replies "I REALLY love you mommy". So sweet that kid (okay all of them are but this was especially sweet tonite).

Day 5 - Skagway, Birthdays and ship shots

2009-08-19T21:43:00.000-07:00

On this day we "landed" in Skagway, Alaska. What a quiet, sleepy, cool town. Loved it. I sense a theme here...needless to say, I really loved Alaska. On this day, Logan and Seth turned 5 years old. They were so proud of themselves to be able to cross off the "4" on their camp wristband and write a "5". Too cute! We had a party in the cabin with a cake and decorations that was ordered for them by their Godmom, Amy. We also did promise them a trip when we got home to Toys R Us to get Guitar Hero for the boys - and yes, they did eventually get it (and I admit, it's fun!).

Now the pictures!

Downtown Skagway

More of downtown...fun shopping!

Us in front of a totem pole, not sure why Seth is frowning...oh well. And I do love all my kids but good grief, that shot of Foster is just too perfect. Looks like he's modeling or something...he's a keeper (okay, they ALL are).

We took the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

which was a 3-hour train trip for about 20 miles that actually went into Canada. Amazing opportunities for pictures.

Foster on the train.

Logan

Bubbe

Seth

Mommy Laura (I was there too, I just always forget to have a picture taken of me...)

Climbing some 3000 feet

Beautiful Alaska

Going into the tunnel (the boys favorite part)

At the international border

Various flags at the border

Happy Birthday Logan and Seth!

Before the cruise, rFamily sent out a request for ideas for "Theme Nights" - hundreds entered and my idea - "Dress as your Favorite Cereal Character" came in #2! I won! For my "efforts" we all won rFamily t-shirts...at the prices they charged for them, for all 6, we saved over $200 than if we purchased them ourselves!

Leaving Skagway

Deck 10...our home away from home for the week...we got lots of exercise walking up and down these hallways multiple times per day. The kids thought they were so much fun to RUN up and down...multiple times per day

Day 4 - Juneau and Sawyer Glacier

2009-08-10T21:42:00.000-07:00

This was our 4th day. We started to feel a bit more comfortable in knowing our way around the ship altho with our (Laura and I) really poor sense of direction (don't ever let us join "The Amazing Race") we still got lost. Speaking of "The Amazing Race", one of the past season's contestants Kynt and Vyxsin were on our cruise as well and it was a blast seeing them around the ship hanging out...actually there were a number of "stars" on the cruise...

Anyway, on this day we arrived in Juneau...loved it!!! We also went on an excursion to see Mendenhall Glacier...what an opportunity...

Arriving in Juneau

First stop, a salmon hatchery...those are thousands of salmon

They all make their way "upstream" here (see pictures for them to follow) to spawn and die...oh well, such is the life of a salmon

Arriving at Mendenhall Glacier and the Visitor Center

Boys getting the chance to touch a "real live" piece of glacier ice

Explanation of Glacial Ice - WOW, that's some old ice there!

Picture Review

Mendenhall Glacier - it's bigger than you can imagine...goes on for miles and miles

A bit closer...

This is one big glacier but they did explain that it is melting faster than it can freeze...damn global warming....

At the Visitor's Center - Laura and boys pretending to be "Bears on the Wall"

View from our room after we left Juneau

On our balcony, coming up to icebergs...

Check out that water color...that is nature in it's pure form

Seals on icebergs as we float on by...it was so amazing to glide past the icebergs...so quiet...all you heard was the crackling of the ice...sounds like ice in a glass of water

More seal families...they appeared to be quite interested in our ship

A larger view

And that concludes day 4. This was also the day that unfortunately, at some time during "turn down time" (when the cabin stewards come in to turn down your beds) that Laura's wallet was stolen out of our cabin. We discovered it when we came back to our cabin after dinner. We usually were quite careful to put everything away in the safe when we left but for whatever reason (namely 3 boys)...that didn't happen and her wallet was mistakenly left out on the desk. Of course we notified security and they searched the cabin but nothing was found...nor was it EVER found. We truly believe it now lives at the bottom of the ocean and some cabin steward pocketed our cash. As distressing at this event was, we were determined not to let it ruin our vacation. We pulled it together and figured that we would take it up with the cruise line after we returned home...and we are in the process of doing that now. We have since sent letters to NCL (cruise line), rFamily Vacations, and about 4 or 5 other governmental agencies that track these things. We asked for some money back and hope to see something positive come out of this.

Next stop...Skagway...and Logan and Seth's 5 Birthday!

Ketchikan - Day 3

2009-08-04T22:13:00.000-07:00

First port-stop is Ketchikan...LOVED IT!!! I figured out that I really love Alaska. I'm someone who really prefers the cooler weather and this was just perfect. Now, I'm not saying I'd love it in the middle of the winter but for the summer it was just perfect. The kids by this point were pretty comfortable with "boat-living" and were just as excited to be able to get off the boat. We all did a tour on a "Bus that turns into a boat". The boys thought it was the coolest thing ever (well, and so did the moms).

Logan and Seth sleeping on sofa bed in the cabin

Arriving in downtown Ketchikan

Twins!

rFamily Boat decorations

Pool Area

"Bears Rule"

"Give a Bear a Hug"

The boat (well, half of it) from the dock

Typical Alaskan homes, I for one wouldn't want the daily trip up that staircase to the yellow door

We spotted a bald eagle on our "Duck Tour" from the water

The Bus/Boat

What a view...

Fun nightly Towel Animals

We concluded this day-trip with some awesome shopping in Ketchikan. I actually picked up a few pieces of jewelry "Made in Alaska" - really!

Next stop, Juneau and Sawyer Glacier...

Second Full Day - at sea

2009-08-02T22:42:00.000-07:00

We spent July 12th cruising the "Inside Passage"

I think this was the day Laura and I attended an art auction. After a few glasses of champagne, we bid on (and won) an original Peter Max painting of the Statue of Liberty, it should arrive at our doorstep in a month or so. We have a very special place in our new house reserved just for the painting - right over the fireplace.

*ETA: the link above is an example of one in the series that we bought, not the exact same painting. Oh, and heck no, we didn't pay that much but it's nice to see an increase in value of his paintings.

This is also the first day we enrolled the boys in "Kids Camp at Sea". Well, I take that back, the first day we enrolled them Foster protested and screamed and cried so badly we had to take him back out. After a few hours alone with Bubbe and a day to calm down we tried again the next day...the boys were all hooked! They actually requested, and begged to go. Logan and Seth were in the younger kids camp and Foster enjoyed his time with the "older" kids. The camps were very well run and they always were doing fun stuff with the kids. They went almost every day and towards the end of the cruise we got smart and fed them dinner beforehand and then dropped them off at camp and we (the adults) got to eat in peace. Don't get me wrong, we spent so much family time together that I think the kids really wanted to go to camp to "escape us" and be with pint-sized people.

Tomorrow, we're off to Ketchikan!

Just a start...(but keep reading below for more)

2009-07-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

July 10th - we left our house and arrived at the San Diego Airport, met my mom (who just flew into San Diego from New York) and boarded an early afternoon flight to Seattle, WA. We stayed overnight at the Embassy Suites in Seattle. Foster and Logan loved the indoor pool and hot tub and Seth was overjoyed at the "in-room Nintendo".

Seattle Airport

Logan at airport

Seth at airport

Foster at airport

We left after breakfast on Saturday the 11th via shuttle to go to the pier to board the NCL Star to Alaska!!! Upon check-in at the pier we were notified that we received a complimentary upgrade to two balcony suites (previously our cabins just had windows, not balconies) and we were so happy!!!

Check-in at the Pier

Bubbe at check-in

Seth at check-in

Laura at check-in

Logan (and monster hat) at check-in

Foster at check-in
NCL Star

Boarding the "Big Gay Boat"

View from our balcony of Space Needle and Seattle

Another view from balcony

And still another...

Okay, one more

Foster at lifeboat drill

Laura helping Logan put on his life jacket

Listening...

Bubbe at drill

Seth at drill

And much, MUCH more to come.

Time to get busy...

2009-07-29T22:33:00.000-07:00

Now that we're back from vacation and mostly moved into our new home, I want to tackle the first thing on my "virtual" list. That is to get some pictures updated from our trip to Alaska. I've been putting it off because the task seemed too huge...but I've decided to break it down into the days we were on vacation and post pictures that way.

My ulterior motive is that I also need to put together 3 photo books of all the pictures - one for a gift and the two others for family. I'll be posting the pictures here at the same time as I start to put together the photo book.

Whew...I'm off to organize the pictures on the computer and then will start my postings. Well, I have to or I will soon start to forget all the little details!!!

Other than that we're doing well...some of you know about the low-point of the cruise, and if you don't you soon well...but rest assured we're "so not done" with the cruise line and we're back on track. We will NOT let that incident spoil our T.O.A.L. (Trip Of A Lifetime)...and so it won't.

Summer is going well, we're enjoying our new backyard and the pool. Logan and Seth start swimming lessons this weekend (I hope) in our pool...just easier that way and much more personalized. Foster is a true fish...executing near-perfect dives...I'm way impressed. All 3 are currently attending a summer program on the school grounds of Foster's old school. Unfortunately it's the only one open during the hours we need (after all, we don't get a summer break) and it's in the "old 'hood" so we're driving about 20 - 30 minutes 2x day. Perhaps we'll do some more research next year here in our "new 'hood" for a summer program that's a bit closer to home. But regardless, they are all having a great time. And for Logan and Seth, that also means a structured pre-K program from 8 to noon each day. Both have just grown so much since starting pre-K - Seth is doing math (real math, like addition and subtraction) and Logan is really enjoying working on his worksheets. Both had their Kindergarten physicals this week and Logan is still holding steady as the bigger "twin" at 38 pounds and Seth is so slim at 32 pounds. But both are healthy and no worries to be had - it's totally their nature and both have been following the same growth curve for 5 years.

Okay, off to organize my pictures and hopefully begin my posting soon!

Yes, we're still alive.......

2009-07-23T21:14:00.001-07:00

We're back from Alaska - what a beautiful state. I really enjoyed it (minus some things which I'll get to another time) and the kids had a blast! The weather was absolutely perfect - I loved the cool, crisp Alaskan air.

We were all upgraded the day of boarding to balcony suites (complimentary) so we spent lots of time hanging out on our balcony watching the seals, the whales (!), the glaciers, etc.

Pictures and stories to come soon - I snapped over 300 shots so I have to pare down...or you'll be totally bored.

Just be patient...

It's "VACATION TIME" finally...

2009-07-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Whew...we worked so hard moving over the past few months that it seemed like vacation would NEVER get here...but here it is. Today was my last day of work until I go back on 7/21. Whohoo!

We're set to fly up to Seattle on Friday (meeting my mom at the San Diego airport on Friday to all fly up together), staying over at a great looking Embassy Suites hotel (with indoor pool for my 3 little fishies) and then Saturday at noon we'll be boarding the B-O-A-T.

We're going on NCL on the Star. A week sailing to Alaska. Can't wait. The kids are so excited...but I really don't think they quite get the magnitude of the ship...they've never seen a real cruise ship up close before. I know they will be totally thrilled. Foster is even more thrilled that he gets to miss a week of school (yup, still in school until 7/21) - but lucky kid that he is, his teacher made sure to supply him with a week's worth of school work! But it's more "fun" stuff than not...like a weather report each day; reading the next day's activity list; etc.

Anyway, tomorrow is a "free" day for us...the boy is in school and Logan and Seth are going to Pre-K...so we'll pack (hey, laundry is all done) and I need to get a haircut too...go out for lunch...go to a b-day party...and do some last minute things around the house...then it's a 3pm flight on Friday (so I guess we have some time on Friday morning too) and the vacation begins!

First Paint in the playroom

2009-07-05T14:56:00.001-07:00

Okay, let's just barter

2009-07-02T22:57:00.000-07:00

So, we have stuff to get rid of (the carpet we took up in the living room, an old tv (we bought some new flat screen ones that we mounted on the walls, a really old VCR, etc.) and our landscaping guy always has new ideas...so we decided to just barter some stuff and get another set of sprinklers (in a planter box near the pool), a security door hung, and a bit more landscaping...AND best of all, we get to get rid of stuff that we were just going to put on Craigslist for cheap. And he gets stuff that he can sell, use or donate.

It works for everyone involved and I think it's a good system...if used correctly. Yeah, like in the "good 'ole days".

Whohoo! 3-day weekend ahead! And our exciting plans include...what else...but...unpacking the garage now...aren't you jealous?

But see...at least our books are put away...

Before and After...

2009-06-30T22:42:00.001-07:00

Before: Ugly sliding glass door - oh and still carpet in living room

After: beautiful new door (I think it's called a "4-panel door" or something like that) and a peek at the wood (laminate) floors...so happy we decided to go with the laminate.

I hope to be done soon with all the landscaping we're having done. We're having a retaining wall put in on one side of the house (complete with laying of rebar, concrete, and all that jazz) and a few fixes on the fence. Our new grass looks so inviting...ahhhh.... And I must add that I adore our landscaping guy...he's really, REALLY good and really, REALLY afordable...there's more about why but I can't post that here...but I would totally recommend his company.

Okay, off to bed...well soon...have work to do first...(oh, and keep reading below...)

My funny boys...

2009-06-30T22:36:00.001-07:00

At Logan and Seth's pre-K class they were discussing birthdates. Their birthday is July 15 (and may I add they were born an HOUR and a HALF apart...Seth!!!!) and it just so happens that they will be turning 5 right smack in the middle of the cruise. So, when their teacher exclaimed that her birthday is also July 15th, they responded with "Oh, so are you going on a cruise too"???

Oh, my sweet boys...thinking this whole cruise is for their birthday...hope they don't expect the same "present" next year!

Next week baby!

Front View of the house with grass...

2009-06-28T00:33:00.001-07:00

And then, we got lots of unpacking done today...so we took a few hours out of our day to do this:

The water was perfect, the solar blanket really does it's job well. Lots of exercise was had by all.

And we're finally finishing up our landscaping. Phew! These guys work so hard, they start before 8am and are still working at 7pm. I highly recommend them to anyone in the area. They are NOT a big-name company...just a cool guy with lots of busy hands to help...and they do a really good job.

Time for bed...more tomorrow...

Got Grass?

2009-06-22T21:40:00.001-07:00

No, not that kind...

This kind...

Before:

After:

And altho you can't see it, the grass continues behind the shade structure. Isn't sod wonderful? Instant backyard. We had some of the concrete slabs taken up since there is so much more area to the left of the picture (around the pool) and we wanted more grassy areas. We also had our front lawn done (I have to remember to snap a picture during the day and post it later on) and sadly we had our palm tree taken out as well - for various reasons. One, it was a date-producing palm and dropped hundreds of dates all over the front lawn, another reason was it was really too close to the house and roots and slabs don't like each other, and finally, the flowers it produces for the dates attract bees. So, bye-bye palm tree.

We had an underground sprinkler system installed as well - both front and backyards...so no more forgetting to water it! And because here in Southern CA we are in such a restricted area as to how much water can be used for landscaping, the sprinkler system is developed so that after the first 10 days of our sod being put down, the sprinklers will go off for just ONE minute every other day. That's it, just one minute. They were developed for just this type of region where water restrictions exist.

Everything else is coming along. We sold Logan and Seth's toddler beds and now they sleep in Foster's old bunk beds. They transitioned really well. I'm loving the front-loading washer and dryer...not loving putting anyway everything. I love our french door fridge, not loving the fact that it's counter-depth (makes it 5 cubic feet smaller than a "normal" fridge) but it is what it is. Totally loving the pool and our solar cover - ahhhhh - not loving having to get out! ;-) I'm also loving having Cox cable TV - I've totally been missing out on "Movies on Demand"... Oh, we also put down laminate (wood) in the living room/dining room...totally loving that especially after ONE dinner of pasta with red sauce...'nuf said.

Our goal is to have the house totally put away by the time we leave for vacation. We fly up to Seattle on July 10th and the cruise leaves on the 11th. I really think we can meet our goal. I really did not want to come home to a house that is still in chaos.

Now, chores are done, time to catch up on some TiVo'd crap.

This is much better than the chaos that is our new home!

2009-06-17T22:06:00.001-07:00

We made it...

2009-06-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

We have moved and I am so tired. Internet and tv to be hooked up Monday...

First Day of Kinder-Readiness

2009-06-08T07:52:00.001-07:00

Moving Right Along...

2009-06-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

So, we now have a water supply to our soon-to-be-delivered fridge...we HAD to get a counter-depth fridge (don't ask) which if you don't know is about 5 cubic feet smaller than a "standard" fridge but $500 MORE. Yeah, makes sense I know! Anyway, because of the way our kitchen is laid out we have a door (which BTW, I LOVE having a door in the kitchen - so breezy) and the spot for the fridge is next to that, so we needed a counter-depth to fit. Oh well, it is what it is...and what it is, is a fantastic stainless french-door LG fridge....ahhhhh...

Pool handle in and pool-cleaning person coming today. Installation of pool fence and solar cover happening (hopefully) today or early next week. LOVE the pool!

Patio furniture has been purchased and assembled by Laura (thanks sweetie!) - yay!

Blinds are up (no longer living in a fishbowl)and home alarm has been installed.

We're already getting mail at our new place (which we don't move into until the 13th) and we're getting some awesome "Welcome to the Neighborhood" coupons for all kinds of free stuff...gotta love free stuff.

Met our neighbors - they are so nice. Apparently our neighbor to the left - Chris has a few kids (seems like one may be Foster's age) and a dog (something mean-ish looking like a pit-bull or something? but they do have a few kids so it seems like a nice dog - tail wagging at me - the whole bit) but still we've told the kids that by NO means do you stick your fingers thru the fence at the dog. After our cruise and after we settle in we'll be getting our pooch at the pound...Laura knows what she wants so we'll be on the lookout.

Also met Stefan (sp?) he lives 2 doors down and has a BIG 'ole German Shepard that is VERY scary looking but OMG, the nicest dog EVER! He claims that the dog is the block's "warning alarm" - good to know! On our other side to the right is _______ (forgot his name) but when he walked over to us the first words out of his mouth were "Oh good, NORMAL neighbors!!!" LOL, we asked him how he knew we were normal! He gave us a brief run-down of the block and it's history. Also, he let us know about the short-cut to the hiking trails about 3 blocks away!

Met our mailman - Gary - he's a really nice guy. He welcomed us to the 'hood. He did let us know that we made a great decision to move there!!! Yay!

So there we are, "moving" right along (no pun intended). Tomorrow is also delivery of our washer and dryer (high-efficiency and both are front-loaders) and pedestals to put them on.

Oh and we now have phone jacks and a new phone #. Cable tv and internet to be installed on the 15th, after we move in the tv's and computer.

Move Date = Saturday June 13th 8:00am. Wish us luck!

New TOY!!!!!

2009-05-29T20:10:00.000-07:00

News to be coming soon:

2009-05-26T23:26:00.000-07:00

Lots going on, so therefore little time to post:

-getting furniture delivered and set up in the new house
-putting together said furniture (PITA!!)
-taking time out to take a swim in our pool!
-getting kids enrolled in schools
-realizing that older house = no water line for fridge (water and ice in the door) and therefore NEED handy person ASAP
-front loader high efficiency washer/dryer to be delivered in 2 weeks
-window blinds being installed this weekend
-packing, packing, packing (and bringing over stuff every visit)
-ACK, bad news house has BEES...good news = seller to remove said bees
-ceiling fans to be purchased and installed in 7 rooms (there's 6 bedrooms and living room)
-bad news = 3 boys discovered that Styrofoam breaks up into millions of tiny pieces to make "SNOW" on.the.carpet. HELLLOOOOO DYSON!
-did I mention swimming in our pool? OMG, the boys LOVED IT!
-MUST decide on phone/cable/Internet installation in the house, bad news = for some insane reason the house does not have ONE phone jack - uggggg...good news, we get to place/install said phone jacks anywhere we want
-getting home alarm installed AFTER we figure out phone situation
-good news = having a separate playroom and a separate office means NO TOYS IN THE LIVING ROOM
-new everything inside the house means really, nothing needs to be changed/updated...I love the paint colors, the moulding, the carpet, the tile, the granite counter tops, the stainless dishwasher, brand new sinks, toilets...
-This is our CHANCE to make this house our HOME...we're doing what we want and how we want to
-not a penny in HOA fees...that is so great, no matter the amount, we hated sending that off every month (they can raise it at will and there is no limit) and now we don't have to pay it anymore!
-oh yeah, pool party!

That's it for now...move date set for Saturday June 13th 8am. We hope to have already moved lots of stuff before then.

Stay tuned!

Sneeze, cough, sneeze, cough - repeat

2009-05-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

Ugggg, it started yesterday, I felt it. That annoying scratchy throat, the few sneezes...then I woke up with it. Seriously bad cold. I feel like I'm walking thru quicksand with a wet blanket on my back.

Ick.

I'm sorry universe, I have no time to be sick. My patients today were literally scared of me. I had to leave a home visit before I was really done as the patient had a comprised immune system and I didn't want to get him sick. I pushed thru 3 more patients (that I saw from afar) and called the office to let them know I'd be working from home for the afternoon. I got home, made some calls, did some paperwork and texting and took a nap for an hour. I still feel like crap.

Laura's on her way home, she went to the new house after work to do a few things and I'm currently microwaving some kids' frozen dinners.

Bedtime can't come soon enough.

See the photo below...

2009-05-19T20:56:00.001-07:00

We're getting ready....projected move-in date - June 13th. Pool cover/fence ordered; window coverings ordered; two bedrooms with new furniture ordered and delivered; ceiling fans planned for order next week; schools researched; carpet vacuumed - Yay!!!!!

Real Estate and estate of being real...

2009-05-13T23:22:00.000-07:00

How does anyone make it thru escrow???!!!???

I swear...every time we turn around another paper needs to be signed or faxed or delivered or looked at or called about or or or or or

Friday.

Friday the domino of real estate happens. Our place gets sold to Mr. L. and in turn the proceeds get dumped (okay, gently placed) into our new house!!!!! Then we get the keys and prepare to move. Yup, we "get" a month to move! The buyer of our current house made a deal with us...if we signed an agreement to move out of here no later than June 15th (well, I guess regardless if we actually found another house...but we were already solidly sure of our new home) he'd pay our mortgage for the MONTH and we can move slowly and hopefully without too much stress. Whew!

The new house - altho it was COMPLETELY remodeled and fixed inside, still needs a bit of work. We MUST have a pool cover installed before we move in - and we MUST get window coverings, a brand new fridge (stainless) and h.e. washing machine and dryer. Well, the W & D are, I guess, not a MUST but I really don't want to be going to a laundromat 3x/week so we moved those up to the "MUST HAVE" list! Can't wait to get a front-loader W & D!! Whohoo!!! (esp. since laundry is "my job" vs. cooking which is Laura's "job"). But yeah, since I don't really want to live in a fish-bowl, window-coverings are a MUST. We're also getting an alarm system since it really cut down our insurance...almost pays for itself.

But, brand new carpet, paint, kitchen, bathrooms, etc. is a wonderful, fresh feeling.

Oh, get this! We ordered Foster some new furniture - a captain's style bed (one with 8 drawers underneath) and we will be moving the twins into Foster's bunk beds. At the store we went to, we really liked the floor model of the furniture set (bed, bedside table and desk), it was marked down and then 25% off of that, but only for the floor model. It was in really good condition considering it's been sitting in the showroom for 6 mos., and knowing our boys (!!) we could handle a dent or two in some furniture. So we bought the whole thing....Get a call today that they found a BRAND NEW set (same furniture) at their other showroom and since it's BRAND NEW they will be delivering that set at the SAME PRICE that we paid for the "lovingly dented" floor model!!!!!!! SCORE!! I mean, really, that's really cool news!!

On that note, better get to bed, my alarm (read: Seth) gets me up too early!

More news to come!

To all my fellow Social Workers!

2009-05-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

You know You're a Social Worker when...

1. You think $40,000 a year is "really making it".
2. You don't really know what it's like to work with men.
3. You know all the latest lingo for drugs, where to get them, and how much they cost..
4. You've started a sentence with 'So what I hear you saying is...'
5. You've had 2 or more jobs at one time just to pay the bills.
6. You tell people what you do and they say "that's so noble".
7. You have had to explain to people that not all social workers take away kids.
8. You use the words 'validate,' 'appropriate' and 'intervention' daily.
9. You spend more than half your day documenting and doing paperwork.
10. You think nothing of discussing child abuse over dinner.
11. People have said to you "I don't know how you do what you do".
12. You've never been on a business trip or had an expense account.
13. You know a lot of other social workers who have left the profession for another.
14. You've very familiar with the concept of entitlement.
15. Staying at a job for 2 years is 'a long time'.
16. Your phone number is unlisted for good reason.
17. Your professional newsletters always have articles about raising salaries...but you still haven't seen it.
18. You've very familiar with the term 'budget cut'.
19.. You can't imagine working at a bank or crunching numbers all day.
20. You've had clients who liked you just a little too much.
21. Having lunch is a luxury many days.
22. You've been cursed at or threatened...and it doesn't bother you.
23. Your job orientation has included self defense.
24. You have the best stories at any cocktail party.
25. Your parents don't know half of the stuff that you've dealt with at your job.
26. You know all the excuses clients use for a failed a drug test by heart.
27. You repeat to yourself "you work to live not live to work."
28. You find it hard to get babysitters as you don't trust anyone with your children..
29. You're exhausted but you keep smiling!!
30. You dream of stacking shelves at a Supermarket!!
31. You enter strangers houses to talk about their children and not one ever asks for an ID (in 10 years never! Have frequently offered though!)
32. You tell your hairdresser the truth of what you do to only to then find out she is a)adopted b)tracing her long lost father or c)victim of some terrible abuse which she then discusses in a packed salon over the noise of the hair dryer!
33. You assess your date (in your head) while out on a date just to see if they meet criteria for any DSM IV diagnosis.
34. Your significant other has learned that when someone greets you in public not to ask "who was that?"
35. You ever had to put a client on hold before you began laughing uncontrollably.
36. You believe the government should require a permit to reproduce.

Hope this makes you smile, it's a tough job but someone's got to do it!

The Great Purge of 2009 has begun...

2009-05-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

And now, with escrow set to close THIS Friday...we have started purging crap from the house.

Garage sale in 2 weeks and moving (hopefully) 2 weeks after that. We're already getting furniture delivered on Monday (to the new house) as we (again...hopefully) are supposed to get the keys on Friday.

HELLLLLLLPPPP!!!!! Have I mentioned how much I hate moving??

Maybe one of the good things is that we are getting rid of so much stuff. You know how much "stuff" multiplies in your house? Yeah, that's us...and now...with 3 wee boys and their "stuff" too. Ack....

House coming along...

2009-05-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

We went to the 'new' house today to do our final walk-thru and were extremely pleased to find out that the seller sent over (and obviously is paying for) a couple of guys to remove the unsightly plywood that covered a side of fencing! Yay! Less for us to do. The remaining fence on that side is in good condition too - double yay!

Everytime we visit our 'new' home-to-be we get a little bit more excited! Today we drove around the area for a bit and within a mile or so radius we have all our "regular" haunts - restaurants, movie rental place, haircuts, grocery, bookstore, etc. Whohoo!

I still hate moving but this is a good move. We're moving into OUR home. This current house is one that Laura bought and I moved into later on...this one is OURS.

We are also looking forward to changing/adding a few things. One is ceiling fans in EVERY room...a must for the summer. Especially since they will be our primary lighting source...7 ceiling fans (and installing them) coming up! I think we're also going to check into replacing the sliding glass doors (I really don't like sliding doors) with double french doors - and include a 'pet door' for our future pooch!

So much still to do and just over a month to do it!

THE BIRDS!!! and Summertime Picnic in the Backyard

2009-04-28T15:34:00.001-07:00

Mama Bird - anyone have ANY idea what kind of bird this is? This is the 4th year in a row, she has selected our carport for her nest (and it's taken me FOUR years to snap a photo of her).

Babies - I counted at least 5

Picnic in the backyard (this is the "adult" table)

And this would be the "Kids Table" heeheehee...

The cutest Home Depot helpers EVER!

2009-04-24T23:22:00.000-07:00

On the house front...

2009-04-20T22:47:00.000-07:00

We had our new house inspection today and (knock on wood) all went well. Now, on to the termite inspection.

Here's a sneak-peek at our (hopefully) soon-to-be-new-home.

Do I have a problem???

2009-04-19T09:37:00.001-07:00

The scene in our kitchen the other day....I admit....they're all mine...

Two Thumbs Up!

2009-04-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

I give Progressive Auto Insurance two thumbs up for their awesome ad.

Guess they really do live up to their name.

Click below for a larger copy.

Last Day...

2009-04-12T00:56:00.001-07:00

It's officially Sunday - so that means this is my very, VERY last day of me being able to say "I'm in my 30's". Come Monday, I will have hit the big one...okay, "my" big one - for now...

I'm taking the day off...don't wanna work on my birthday...but watch...work will probably still call and page me all day long...just as they did this past Friday (Good Friday) when I had that off as a holiday...oh well...can't complain.

Surprise Birthday Party pic's coming soon...I'm just too lazy to do it right now and my bed is calling me...night all.

Happy Passover!!!

2009-04-08T23:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of our seder meal tonite. I will soon be posting the pictures from my surprise early birthday Laura threw for me (I turn the big one on Monday).

Anyway, on to the pictures!

Mommy Laura reading the Passover story

Seth and our Passover Haggadah

Reading for Passover (Haggadahs)

Foster opening the door for the Prophet Elijah

Combat the H8 - I liked this saying and just wanted to remember it

2009-04-05T22:36:00.000-07:00

"Using religion, kids or family to disguise your own hatred and bigotry is like adding sugar to rat poison. It may make it more palatable but no less harmful."

Offers, counter-offers and bids

2009-04-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

We placed a counter-offer on our place (that they accepted) and today we placed a bid on a house that would be just perfect. I'm not giving out details here (address, MLS #), you know, don't want to jinx it...but the new house is just about move-in ready. No, it IS move-in ready, things like new flooring and some kitchen refacing can wait...so if we're lucky enough to get it...I can live with those things that we can work on in time - even though I know we'll be itching to make changes.

The best features are the walk-in closets both in the master bedrooms and the kid's rooms! One full bath and bedroom on the first floor...living room, family room, dining room and kitchen. Oh yes, and the pool...ahhhhhh...our pool. Also, the back gate in the backyard behind the pool goes up a slope that actually has some (what looks like) hiking trails behind it...that would be left up to the kids to explore.

Fingers crossed...I hate this part.

Bring on the stress....

2009-04-02T19:44:00.001-07:00

Our house is up for sale, we've had over 15 visits in 3 days and 2 offers. We're reviewing the offers and meeting again tomorrow.

We're speeding up our search for our new home...I can't wait to swim in my very own pool and soak in my spa ASAP...

More details to come...

WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-28T22:49:00.001-07:00

DO NOT GO TO "PASSPORT SATURDAY" AT THE POST OFFICE...

OR YOU TOO WILL COME OUT OF IT A BIT NUTTIER THAN GOING IN...

JUST SAYING...

DETAILS TO COME...

KFTD

2009-03-26T22:26:00.001-07:00

"Vegetarians make up 4 percent of the U.S. population".

((yummy, vegetarians, wonder if they taste like chicken?))

Where's my damn bailout???

2009-03-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

Huh? Where is it? Uggggg, I'm so disgusted by people who think that the government should bail them out just because they made really bad financial decisions.

This all came to a head recently when Laura told me about someone at work who was just thrilled to announce they were able to declare bankruptcy. Their slate will be swept clean and they get to keep their house, no debt, etc. NOW, don't get me wrong, these are not people who suddenly found themselves jobless or having severe medical problems...NOOOOOOOOO...this is a couple who both partners are working (making good incomes actually) but were fiscally irresponsible, they bought a house that they couldn't afford, ran up their credit cards, took out a second mortgage and then decided they'd rather NOT pay their bills and start again. So, they declare bankruptcy and gleefully go on their way. In fact, after declaring such bankruptcy what do they do? Do they shamefully admit their foolish spending ways and commit to relearning how to live within their means?????????? Oh hell no, they go on a Target spending spree.

Give.Me.A.Break.

No, this is not meant for the people who lost jobs due to the economy or have huge unexpected medical bills, I believe help should be available to them...it's the ones who bought the big-ass screen tv's, the cars, went on vacations, went to Target and bought something from every aisle...it's those people who I have ZERO sympathy for. Cut up your credit cards, don't buy fast food, pay your bills and - get HELP.

Laura and I have always, ALWAYS been fiscally responsible. We're looking for a new bigger house now just for that reason....we can. We are responsible and will not buy beyond our means. We don't spend money on lavish items...our cruise this year is our first "real" vacation in close to 7 years (last vacation with Foster was to Oregon for a week using our timeshare) and without kids, over 10 years. It's my big "4-0" this year and our 10th anniversary. We deserve it.

Just had to get that out of my mind...it just pisses me off to NO end.

Thanks.

Radio Silence...

2009-03-15T22:09:00.001-07:00

Hush...

Weekend Fun

2009-03-08T23:56:00.000-07:00

We did lots and LOTS this weekend, even though Laura is pretty run down with a nasty cough (thanks Foster - he has a croupy-cough)...and I really hope NOT to get it.

Friday was super-busy at work and when I finally got home, I was wiped...anyway, Saturday we looked at the calendar and lo and behold - this never happens - but there was not ONE thing on it that we had to do. So the kids were pretty well-behaved and entertained themselves for quite a long time. Long enough for Laura and I to bag up 5 huge, black, trash bags full of *crap*. We wanted/needed to do this since our house will soon be back on the market. We got rid of soooo much stuff, mainly kids books and toys...it felt really good to purge all that out. I also stripped all the beds and washed everything - including all the clothes. Yay!

On Sunday, the cleaning and "getting rid of" continued. But first, Foster went to Hebrew School and Laura (still not feeling so well) took Logan and Seth to Target while Foster was in school. We did our usual damage there and then picked up Foster and guess what? Went BACK to Target for lunch. Actually it was pretty good...so much cheaper and better for us than fast food. We did this because after lunch time we were meeting Foster's Hebrew School class at a Jewish HealthCare Center to help hand out Purim baskets.

After we got home, major "quiet time" was in order. On their beds, tv okay, but quiet. I napped for an hour and a half, Laura napped as well. After waking up, some more "purging" and then outside time for the boys while Laura made dinner. After dinner and kids to bed - we cleaned out our bookshelf. Wow, it looks great.

Now, my next task, I promised I would clean out this computer area. It's in the dining room so it needs to be neater. That's next on my "To Do" list...but not today....this time change is killing me. Tomorrow...I promise!

We're hoping for a great result...

2009-03-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, March 4 is the day before the California Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the validity of Prop 8. That evening, we’ll stand together and send a unified message to our fellow Californians, including the Supreme Court Justices, that individual liberties like the right to marry are guaranteed by the Constitution to everyone and cannot be stripped away at the ballot box by a bare majority. Just as important, we will give our love and support to all the families headed by same-sex couples who are threatened by the recent electoral outcome, as well as same-sex couples whose hopes and dreams of marriage and family have been frustrated by enactment of Prop 8.

To read the parties' filings and the dozens of amicus 'friend of the court' briefs filed on behalf of Civil Rights Organizations, Bar Associations, Academics, Women's Groups, Faith and Religious Groups, and many others go to http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8.htm

March 5th - Supreme Court Oral Argument Hearing 9am to noon.
Television viewing: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8viewing.htm

Local Public Viewings: Check your local city for viewing locations as they become available.
Equality should not be put up for a popular vote.
• Prop 8 is a radical and unprecedented change to the California Constitution that puts all Californians at risk.
• Prop 8 defeats the very purpose of our constitution, which is to protect minorities and to make sure the law treats everyone equally.
• This is the first time the initiative process has successfully been used to change the California Constitution to take away a fundamental freedom from a particular group and to mandate government discrimination against a minority.
• If prop 8 is upheld, the courts will no longer have a meaningful role in protecting minority groups or women, since any decision prohibiting discrimination could be reversed by a simple majority.

KFTD

2009-03-02T07:32:00.000-08:00

From Anita:

Is there a GPS (gopher protective services)?

Here's your (not so) totally useless fact of the day:

Mother prairie dogs will nurse their young only while underground in the safety of the burrow. If an infant tries to suckle above ground, the mother will slap it.

Logan...

2009-03-01T22:47:00.000-08:00

This kid loves his "babies". Here he is explaining the virtues of taking care of his babies to Mommy Laura - this seemed to be a weekend where he was constantly playing with them - his new favorite activity is pretending to give them all a bath. I played "babies" with him for about an hour yesterday...we fed them, bathed them, cut their nails, put on their pj's, took them for a walk in the stroller (well all 4 or 5 babies in one stroller) and put them all to bed.

My sweet boy...he's gonna make such a great dad one day.

We're three for three...

2009-02-28T21:59:00.000-08:00

Foster and Seth got their glasses today. And I must say, the experience was 1000% better than the last time we went (the day we found out both would need glasses). Both boys did great! I'm so proud of them...not one complaint...well, other than Seth stating he wouldn't wear them, never ever. But he did, as long as he saw me clean them, then he said he'd wear them. Sure! He doesn't know yet that we'll soon start patching for 6 hours a day (YIKES)...we thought it would be best to do one step at a time with this...

Foster and new glasses

Seth and new glasses

Logan with glasses (not new) - but just as cute

Fun with root canals...

2009-02-25T23:32:00.001-08:00

...NOT!

Well, let's see...it all started yesterday at 2pm. Went into the dentist because I called on Sunday and left a message that my tooth was starting to wake me up at night, bother me during the day, etc. Dentist called Monday morning and had me come in yesterday.

This is a tooth that the dentist has been watching for about a year. See, previous to this dentist - Dr. G_______, I went to a very crappy dentist. One that I even had to report to the dental board she was that bad. Unfortunately at the time, my dental coverage didn't cover Dr. G. so I had to see inferior dentists. Skip forward a few years...I'm back with my wonderful dentist again and now he has to repair all the damage the crappy dentists did for years - and thank goodness, we're almost there!

Anyway, went in yesterday, emergency appointment. X-rays, cold ice thing, dental picks - diagnosis (no, not murder) = root canal - pronto.

He opened the tooth and took out as much of the dead stuff (sorry, not being technical now) he could, put a temp. on and sent me to the front to make another appointment for the next day (today).

What he explained to me was this...apparently, the canals in the tooth had started to close up on the ends and therefore there was very little blood supply to the tooth and therefore the nerves were dying a slow, painful death. This is in part due to aging (damn birthdays), genetics (thanks mom!), bad luck and well, just something that happens.

Go in today...I really expected it to be a fairly quick appointment, I mean after all, he did most of the work yesterday. Sat in the chair (on-time thankyouverymuch), got my first series of shots (I think there were 3) and waited 10 minutes. He re-opened the tooth and started cleaning out the canals. Now here's where it got tricky. I guess that particular tooth had canals so very thin that he had to go dig up a type of file that they haven't used in years. The tiniest and thinnest one they make. He used that and I practically jumped thru the ceiling, I still had some stray nerve fibers hanging around in there so I had to get (stop reading here if you're soon scheduled for a root canal) a shot DIRECTLY into the middle of the canal. Oy.

In the end, the tooth was so involved and was messed around with so much he didn't even want to completely close it up. So I got me some anti-biotics, some strong pain killers (they work!) and a temporary cap...until next week...when we get to do it all over again to finish it up.

Ow.

Pictures from our Snow Day

2009-02-21T21:14:00.001-08:00

Click on the link "View Album at Shutterfly" beneath the picture! Oh, and in the 3rd and 4th pictures, the "brown stuff" in the background is the desert - where shorts and t-shirts are the norm. We love it here...within one hour we can go see the snow, the desert, the ocean and a foreign country!

18 pictures
View Album at Shutterfly

KFTD

2009-02-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

"Behram, an Indian thug, holds the record for most murders by a single individual. He strangled 931 people between 1790 and 1840 with a piece of yellow and white cloth called a ruhmal."

(glad I didn't meet this guy...way back when...)

The good news and the bad news...

2009-02-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

Today we had eye doctor appt's for all 3 boys. Now that we're back at Kaiser (yay!!!) we were able to get them all in to see our favorite eye doctor.

The good news: no more patching for Logan!

The bad news: both Seth AND Foster need glasses and now we need to start patching Seth when he gets his glasses....................oy..................no.....................triple oy......................

I truly wasn't expecting both Seth and Foster to need glasses....Foster is so not thrilled - not at all. In fact, in the eye glass shop he had an embarrassing meltdown/temper tantrum. One to rival any 3 year olds. He promptly earned himself a nap on his bed and no overnight at his friends house, oh, and no Wii time today.

At least now, all 5 of us will be in glasses. Good thing Laura and I decided (during open enrollment) to enroll all 3 kids in EACH of our vision plans...'cause now, we really need it!

Prop. 8 Maps!

2009-02-10T07:57:00.001-08:00

See if someone you know - or a business you go to was a monetary supporter of Prop. 8. Click HERE.

KFTD

2009-02-09T22:10:00.000-08:00

If you attempted to count the stars in the galaxy at a rate of one every second, it would take around 3,000 years to count them all.

((WHEW!!))

2009-02-06T00:25:00.000-08:00

(("Fidelity" used with permission from Regina Spektor and EMI Records))

Read and then watch the short video - my favorite is the two women kissing in front of a "Yes on 8" bumper sticker - CLASSIC!! Love IT!

We, the undersigned, share President Barack Obama's view that "for too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect."

Yet, on December 19, 2008, Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and seeking to nullify the 18,000 same-sex marriages conducted between May and November of 2008.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, 2009, with a decision expected within the next 90 days. We, the undersigned, ask that the Court invalidate Prop 8 and recognize the marriage rights of these 18,000 couples -- and all loving, committed couples in California -- under our state's constitution.

As Americans who believe in the rule of law and fundamental civil rights, we know that Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund's shameful attempt to nullify these unions will not be vindicated in the eyes of history. We know that, ultimately, love will prevail, no matter how hard they try to fight it.

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

KFTD

2009-02-06T00:15:00.000-08:00

In 1898 (fourteen years prior to the Titanic tragedy), Morgan Robertson wrote a novel called Futility. The plot of the novel was about the largest ship ever built hitting an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean on a cold April night.

((is there a way I can link this coincidence to the TV show Lost??))

KFTD

2009-02-05T08:16:00.000-08:00

ABBA got its name by taking the first letter from each of the band member's names (Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny, and Anni-frid).

You "Dancing Queen" you...

KFTD "2fer"

2009-02-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

Dogs that do not tolerate small children well include the Saint Bernanrd, the Old English sheepdog, the Alaskan malamute, the bull terrier, and the toy poodle.

((I would like to add that the pit bull that was at a house I went to yesterday for work was, ummm, not particularly fond of me - I would certainly add that to my "NO WAY" list of possible breeds of dogs when we move and can get one...just saying...))

And from my very smart friend Anita -
"The Penny is the only coin currently minted in the United States with a profile that faces to the right. All other coins - the silver dollar, half dollar, quarter, dime, and nickel - all feature profiles that face to the left."

Why we live in Southern CA...

2009-01-31T14:44:00.000-08:00

Temperature outside on our paito at 2:30 in the afternoon...75 and beautiful...

Our peach tree in full bloom, it doesn't know it's still winter...

25 Things...

2009-01-29T22:09:00.000-08:00

I’ve been tagged multiple times to do this so I thought I should oblige!
25 Random Things About Me:

1. I have my Master’s Degree in Social Work but every once in a while I dream of going back to school for more…
2. I love secretly watching my two youngest boys play with their dollhouse, something that sweet really does me in…
3. I love all different kinds of tea drinks, I love to try odd flavors and such…I’m also pretty territorial about them which my S.O. doesn’t quite get…
4. I’m really thrilled that Laura and I were able to get legally married (here in CA) and remain so…but I’m so disappointed in some family members that just don’t “get it yet”…
5. I stay up waaaaay too late most nights and I’m rarely ever in bed before 11:30, thus my new addiction to Starbucks DoubleShots…
6. I love to read almost anything…
7. I love to watch Supernanny and then let out a big sigh that at least “my kids don’t do that”…
8. I love to buy watches, jackets and shoes…
9. I have too many watches, jackets and shoes…
10. I want to try out all new gadgets and such…
11. I really love my mini-van…kids trash in it and all…it’s so comfy…
12. Altho I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, I’ve been told I do not have any kind of “New York” accent at all…I tried hard to NOT have an accent…
13. I’ve been living in Southern CA now for 13 years and altho I really enjoy it, I do miss the snow…
14. I’m really nervous about putting our house on the market and looking for a new one even though I know we need more space…I just hate always having the house “show ready”…too much stress…
15. I cried during Obama’s inauguration…
16. I enjoy blogging and channel surfing…a lot…
17. I love to travel and can’t wait for our cruise to Alaska this summer…
18. I love all things scented - candles, perfume, scented lotions, etc.
19. I never knew being a mom would be so stressful sometimes…I worry constantly…
20. I also collect pens and pencils from wherever we travel - useful items…I also love office supply stores…
21. I can’t wait to set up my fish tank…
22. I can’t wait to get the kids a dog (when we move into our new house)…
23. I love TiVo…
24. I hate traffic and see NO reason for it - after all, if everyone followed the rules of the road, there should never be traffic…
25. I love my new glasses…

KFTD

2009-01-29T20:27:00.000-08:00

In Puritan times, to be born on a Sunday was considered a sin.

(well Foster was born on a Sunday but Logan and Seth were born on a Thursday (an hour and a half APART may I add) so that's good, at least one out of three are safe...)

What's up with doctors?? Rude, rude, rude...

2009-01-28T23:46:00.000-08:00

Today I was at a local hospital doing a psycho-social intake on a new hospice patient. Then, per my usual M.O., I sat at the nurse's station to do my paperwork. This totally annoying doctor kept pushing her chair into mine making me have to re-do my paperwork. And this wasn't like the first time, she did it multiple times...almost as if to say "you're in my space and I'll make you realize it". Sheesh, sorry for breathing "Ms. I am holier than thou attitude doctor". I don't know, perhaps I reminded her of some long-lost relative she has a grudge against. OH, and excuse ME for asking for a paper clip to clip YOUR papers together, and YES, I think you should know where they are without asking a nurse to get one FOR you - you aren't THAT much above everyone.

Every once in a while I find a really good, informative doctor that really takes the time to talk with me about THEIR patient. But for the past few months it seems that all the doctors care about it getting the information to you in the shortest amount of time available. Now, I totally realize that they are probably busier than they need to be but when you sit down to look up crap on Google (yes, I can see it) then you have the time to be nicer to me.

I'm not your servant, and no, I don't have all the answers but I will work my hardest to find out what you need to know.

Anyway, that was my rant of the day...I still prefer to talk with the nurses, they seem to know what's going on way more than the doctors (who usually defer to the nurses anyway). After all, I'm just there trying to help a family and patient, trying to make YOUR job easier...it would nice to be treated with a bit more respect.

KFTD

2009-01-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

Dr. Suess coined the word nerd in his 1950 book If I Ran the Zoo.

Betcha didn't know that...

KFTD

2009-01-26T20:02:00.000-08:00

China's Beijing Duck Restaurant can seat 9,000 people at one time.

KFTD

2009-01-25T20:59:00.000-08:00

Guinness World Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from public libraries.

(lesson learned: don't steal from the library, duh...or at least make it something interesting if you do...)

This is why drinking a Café Américano at dinnertime is a very bad idea...

2009-01-25T01:18:00.000-08:00

...oh, and not to mention it had an extra shot in it...
...it's now 1:20am...nope, not a good idea at all...

A new president, a new fight...

2009-01-22T00:44:00.000-08:00

This issue has NOT been forgotten - and definitely not forgotten here in our family. It's just one reason why we just can't support a jewelry store owned by our family members...and luckily friends of ours agree...

Marriage Equality Update

Last week, COLAGE and Our Family Coalition filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the California Supreme Court in Strauss v. Horton, the case seeking to invalidate Proposition 8. A coalition of LGBT legal advocacy groups filed the case, asking the Supreme Court to strike down Proposition 8. The case argues that a simple majority of voters cannot legally approve a measure that radically changes the principle of equality guaranteed in the California Constitution-the same principle of equality that the Court relied on in the Marriage Cases when it recognized that all people have the fundamental right to marry, regardless of sexual orientation. Proposition 8 would corrupt this equality guarantee by taking away a fundamental right from a minority group that is supposed to receive the highest level of protection under the law.

The Supreme Court also asked the parties in the case to answer the question of whether Proposition 8, if held to be valid, is retroactive and whether the marriages of the more than 18,000 same-sex couples who married between June and November are valid. COLAGE and Our Family Coalition filed a brief specifically arguing that Proposition 8 is not retroactive, and that the rights of the couples who married and their families must be protected.

The court's docket as of Friday evening showed that 60 friend-of-the-court briefs had been filed by the Jan. 15 deadline, including 17 supporting Proposition 8 and 43 arguing it should be overturned.

Some 75 civil rights groups and local bar associations joined in two briefs and more than 50 labor groups in a third brief asking the court to strike down Proposition 8. Religious organizations, law professors and state legislators filed arguments on both sides.

A group of 65 present and former legislators headed by Democratic Assembly and Senate leaders supported the plaintiffs' argument that Proposition 8 is a constitutional revision that would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature before being submitted to voters. They wrote, "Proposition 8 is void because it seeks to make far-reaching changes to our system of government and its underlying principles without first having undergone the constitutionally required scrutiny of legislative debate, deliberation and approval."

KFTD

2009-01-22T00:18:00.000-08:00

The most common set of initials for Superman's friends and enemies is L.L.

('cause you never know when this little tidbit may come in handy)

KFTD

2009-01-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

Approximately sixty circus performers have been shot from cannons. At last report, thirty-one of them have been killed.

(edited to add: our country seems to be in such a better place now, thank goodness...can't you feel it?)

CHANGE...

2009-01-19T23:48:00.001-08:00

Finally, change is coming...

This man, this year, this lifetime.

Thank you...

KFTD

2009-01-19T00:19:00.001-08:00

"In 1801, 20 percent of the people in the United States were slaves."

Appropriate for today, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

P.S. keep reading below for more newness

We were in the "Top 10"

2009-01-18T23:05:00.001-08:00

For those of you new to our scene, our family was in a very amazing music video last year. I entered a "casting call" and we were selected as one of the families in a hip-hop video.

Seems I didn't realize it but the video made it to the "Top 10" in the LOGOonline video selection (LOGO is part of MTV).

Anyway, click here to view us again if you wish, it's Melange Lavonne's video "Gay Parenting: AKA "I've Got You". Latest word is that the video is still going strong, gaining popularity and "we" are being shown all over the world.

Totally fun...memories for a lifetime and a message for our kids that they are the best blessings we have ever received.

Highlights from our day

2009-01-17T22:12:00.001-08:00

Seth

Logan holding up "Mommy Ivy" and "Mommy Laura"
Playing
Taking care of his babies
Seth as Iron Man
FORTS in the living room

Foster, looking very pre-teen-ish lounging at his fort

KFTD

2009-01-17T00:03:00.000-08:00

"In Egypt around 1500 BCE, a shaved head was considered the ultimate in feminine beauty. Egyptian women removed every hair from their heads with special gold tweezers and polished their scalps to a high sheen with buffing cloths."

(OWWWWW)

KFTD

2009-01-16T00:09:00.001-08:00

Couples who marry in January, February, and March have the highest divorce rates.

((Whew, Laura and I got married in September - guess we're safe!!:-))

Knowledge For The Day (KFTD)

2009-01-15T09:22:00.000-08:00

All snow crystals are hexagonal.

Your useless knowledge for the day...

2009-01-14T08:40:00.000-08:00

The University of Alaska stretches across four time zones.

Another one tomorrow, and the day after, the day after, etc.

Almost forgot!...

2009-01-13T23:54:00.001-08:00

The "Walking with Dinosaurs" show was excellent. The boys really had a good time, they were all so enthralled. It was pretty amazing how they did it, I was very impressed. I did snap some pictures which I'll post below (even though it was recommended that we do NOT take pictures, it upsets the dinosaurs...).

I recommend the show if it comes to your town!

Boys anxiously awaiting (and Logan and Seth wearing their "Dinosaur" sweatshirts)

Pterodactyl

Fighting Dinos

Prehistoric plants, very colorful

Triceratops

Ankylosaurus

Mama T-Rex and baby

ROAR!

Countdown - SIX months from today!

2009-01-11T20:15:00.000-08:00

In six months time...July 11th, we will all (Laura, myself, the 3 boys, my mom) be on the Norwegian Cruise Line on the rFamily Vacation Cruise to Alaska!!!

I'm beyond excited...this is a total T.O.A.L. (Trip Of A Lifetime) for us. We'll be celebrating our 10th anniversary (which is July 4th) and my 40th b-day (April 13) this year so why not go all out and celebrate?!?

Anyway, as I speak, my mom is making all the flight arrangements. We are flying into Seattle, WA the day before the cruise departs - we want to be all rested and ready to board on the 11th of July.

I've always wanted to see Alaska...that's one of my top 3 places I want to visit in my lifetime, this is our chance. Foster is very excited - we've told him we're "going on a BIG boat to Alaska", I don't think he really understands it just yet. I'll have to order some videos/books in preparation.

And best of all, this is a cruise that I've been wanting to go on since it's inception. I can't think of a better way to celebrate being with "family" than an rFamily cruise!!!!!!!!!!

Whohoo!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to You!

2009-01-08T21:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to YOU.

Happy Birthday dear (mommy) Laura....

Happy Birthday to YOU!

And many, MANY more.

Love you,

-me

confidential:

YKIWALYFEAEAE. IMTRD, TIK.

Signs I'm tired and need a break...and message to ANITA!

2009-01-06T15:41:00.001-08:00

Got home from work early but I was doing work still, and more work...

So, I thought about a mini-break and started folding laundry - I know I'm tired because I just spent 7 minutes (okay, I was watching Ellen as I folded, and I timed it) trying to unbutton a SNAP.

You just can't unbutton a SNAP, I think it goes against the laws of physics.

Oh, and Anita my dear friend - I did call my Dr. and no, I don't have a brain tumor!!! ;-) My optic nerves are fine - both the eye Dr. and my G.P. stated the same thing - just so happens that at the magic age of 40, it's actually common (per my G.P.) for people's near-sightedness to get better as the far-sightedness stays the same or gets worse (that's what happened to me). I'm sure my dr. has now stuck a bright, neon orange label on my chart which reads "HYPOCHONDRIAC - PROCEED WITH CAUTION".

But you know I love ya!

I have found the Fountain of Youth...somehow...

2009-01-05T22:50:00.000-08:00

I went for an eye exam today (thankfully back with Kaiser - I really love those folks - didn't like Scripps). Anyway, the last time I had an exam was in June of 2007. I got new glasses at that time as my Rx changed - for the worse. My left eye is pretty bad but my right is semi-okay.

Anyway, about 6 to 8 mos. ago I noticed that every time I wore my glasses I started to not feel well, got dizzy, felt "unwell". So, over the past 6 to 8 mos. I started to wear my glasses less and less until I really only wore my Rx sunglasses which are about 2 years old - okay, I did NOT wear them inside...

So, at today's appt. I explained my above symptoms to the dr. thinking that in a year and a half since my last appt., my eyesight has probably gotten progressively worse, hence why my current glasses make me feel dizzy, etc. I told her I actually feel better when I'm NOT wearing my glasses.

Afer a few tests...and re-tests...and then a re-test of the re-test, she remarked that my eyesight is actually better now than it has been in about 5 years! My current glasses are more than twice as strong as I need and I feel ill wearing them because my eyes are trying to over-compensate the over-compensation - constantly. When I wear them and read, my focus changes rapidly. AHA! My right eye is about 20/20 now and my left has improved greatly. So much that my new Rx is more than half the strength of my old glasses. In fact, she recommended that if I don't want to, I can leave my glasses off for reading!

Weird.

She said that she hasn't seen it happen many times but it CAN happen.

HA! Better eyesight with age. This year I hit the BIG "4-0" so I was convinced bi-focals were on my horizon - looks like I get to pick out a really cute pair of single-vision glasses!!!

NYE Pic's - a few days late...

2009-01-05T00:45:00.000-08:00

BTW, Seth is fine (wee boy who was throwing up the eve of new years eve) - whatever it was I'm glad it went somewhere else. I seriously thought our washing machine and dryer was going to bite the proverbial dust in the middle of a puke-load. Ewwwww.

Onto the pic's:

FOOD

Wii

BINGO

CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN

DREIDELS

PLAYING "EXPRESS YOURSELF"

WATCHING THE "BALL" DROP

CLIMBING THE WALLS
MORE CLIMBING
AND SOME MORE
PASSED OUT JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT

LOGAN AND HAT

FRIENDS

'Tis the SEASON...

2008-12-31T10:01:00.000-08:00

One wee boy that is throwing up - and awake until 1:30am...

Two complete changes on the bed...

Three spots on the carpet to clean (at 1:40am)

Four baths of wee child...

Five loads of laundry...

Oh, and altho backwards ---

A partridge in a pear treeeeeeeee...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Busy..............bullets...

2008-12-21T23:45:00.001-08:00

Too.Many.Blogs.Too.Much.To.Do.

That says it all huh?

Hanukkah - first night tonite - presents, Wii... ;-)

Need.To.Wrap.For.Christmas.

My work holiday party - FUN!!! I won a $15.00 GC to Wendy's and one of our medical directors picked 20 names out of a hat to take out to dinner! I was one of the lucky ones! YAY ME! Can't wait for a 'free' dinner out!

Our tree is still standing, that's a good thing.

Work is so busy now. On-call this past week, no calls - also a good thing.

Going to a play next Saturday night for Laura's birthday - we're sitting FRONT ROW CENTER. I've never sat so ummm, perfectly before. Not sure how I scored those tickets but I logged on at exactly the right time...

Getting over my cold - that's also...a good thing.

Just checked my work v-mail (Sunday night at 11:45pm) and I had 20 NEW messages including 3 or 4 (I lost count) new admits - okay, not such a good thing...

Better shower and sleep - tomorrow is gonna be a busy day - not to mention I wanna get home early - you know, to play the Wii with Foster...

We're going to ROAR with the dinosaurs and sail to the glaciers!

2008-12-16T21:59:00.000-08:00

We bought tickets a little while ago to see Walking with Dinosaurs and I can't wait .

Perhaps I'm even a bit more excited than the kids? Not sure...

We're going in Jan., when they roar into San Diego. I showed Foster a clip on YouTube but I don't think he got the enormity of it from that. I think they'll be as fascinated as I am.

Can't wait!

Okay, now I need to seriously plan for our "T.O.A.L." - Trip of a Lifetime. Looks like we're going to Alaska next summer on the Rosie (rFamily) cruise!!!!! Whohoo!!! Now THAT'S totally exciting!

Oops, the "I forgot post" - but keep reading after this one...

2008-12-07T23:13:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a while. Let's see. Where were we? Oh yeah, we got our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. It looks great next to the Hanukkah menorah! It's just so fun being an interfaith family, we get to celebrate double the times!!

Anyway, see, this is what happened.

We went to a tree farm about 40 minutes from where we live. We thought we'd continue our tradition of cutting down (or selecting a tree and then having someone cut one down) our tree.

On the way to the tree farm is when Foster lost his first tooth! A day to certainly remember. It gets good though. So we get to the farm and select our tree (after searching 3938478 trees). It looks perfect. We ~~shove~~ place it carefully into the back of the van and head off to lunch. After getting home we put it up in the corner in the stand. The kids are having a great time decorating it, we put all the lights on, etc. After that we decide to go outside and let the kids run around. Seth wanted nothing to do with that and elected to stay inside and watch tv (he is my NON-outside kid). Laura goes in the house to do something and I hear her scream my name - uh oh...I run inside only to find Seth all tangled up in the tree lights and the tree on top of him. He apparently was sitting quietly on the couch and the tree just toppled over.

After getting him all untangled and quieted down we decide to head to Target to get a new and improved (read: STURDY) tree stand. So we got it home and proceeded to put it back into the new stand. We had to take off all the lights and ornaments (we only surprisingly lost one ornamnet and no, Seth had no injuries from his "encounter" with the tree).

After the kids went to bed, Laura and I set to the task of re-decorating the tree...only to have it fall over...again. Okaaaaaaaaaaay, we right it back up and make sure it's in properly. Good. We stand across the room to observe and the damn thing fell over again. Ummm, and it happened again after that, for good measure you know. Finally, being convinced the tree was either possessed or a "closeted "Yes on 8"" tree (gotta have some humor here guys) we decide to tie it to some screws in the wall. And thankfully, it has remained upright for the past week.

During all this I reminded Laura that an artificial tree would (probably) not have fallen over, would not have gotten water all over our new carpet, and no pine needles would need to be vacuumed up. Prior to this "tree incident" this was going to be an argument that I would not win. However, I think I've swayed her over to the artificial side. Yes, a fresh tree smells great and it is fun to select it and bring it home - but an artificial one is cleaner, sturdier, and well, easier to decorate (especially when pre-lit). So, we have decided to get our tree at the "after Christmas sales" on December 26th.

Here are the photos.

The Family

Watching the guy cut down our tree

My future poll vaulters?

Logan is "helping" cut down the tree