Just a "few" pics to entertain you...

My three boys!

Logan and his favorite baby "Cameron"

Seth and his favorite t-shirt

All's well here...

What a stressful few days here in San Diego.

Instead of sending out multiple e-mails to family and friends I decided to just post here.

First off, we are fine. We were "thisclose" to being evacuated though, just a few miles south (as the crow flies). We did pack the cars - just in case. We went thru this exactly (and I mean EXACTLY) four years ago.

We experienced lots and lots of falling ash and debris. The fires here were huge. About one million people were displaced but San Diego is an awesome city and they all pulled together to get thru this. I can't think of another city as well prepared as we are. We've (and I mean the collective "we" the county "we") have been preparing for situations just like this since the Cedar Fires 4 years ago. We get regular "Disaster Training" at work.

Foster is off school this entire week due to the fires. This means I get to play "stay at home mom" tomorrow. If we get all our home chores done, I have an outing planned. The outside air quality is really unhealthy though.

So, for now, things look good for us. But, in reality, the county suffered greatly. The fire that affected us mostly where Laura and I live (the Witch fire) is still only 20% contained. For those of you who slept thru math, that means a considerable amount, 80% of it, is still NOT contained and remains burning. They don't expect full containment of all the fires (there are multiple ones still burning in the county) for another few weeks. Then, all the rebuilding takes place.

I work for the county and therefore I am a "public servant" (that really is what we are called) and can therefore be called out to help out at any shelter or at any office in the future. But, since the courts are closed this week, my jury duty was postponed 'til next week. I plan to return to jury duty on Monday if all is still well.

Thanks to all who took the time to send a quick e-mail to check on us (and those who kept us in their thoughts - you know who you are) - we really appreciated it.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Yup, again, but this time the whole thing.

I posted this video before but I realize some of the beginning was missing - almost a minute. I'm sure you've all heard this mom "tell it like it is" and here's the whole thing - again. If you're like me, you can easily listen to this again.

The lyrics are under the video.




Get up now,
get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepy head
Here’s your clothes
And your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now
Get up and make your bed
Are you hot?
Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where’s your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hat
Don’t forget you gotta to feed the cat
Eat your breakfast
The experts tell us it’s the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today?
Don’t forget your piano lesson is this afternoon
So you must play
Don’t shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside
Don’t play rough
Would you just play fair?
Be polite
Make a friend
Don’t forget to share
Work it out
Wait your turn
Never take a dare
Get along
Don’t make me come down there
Clean your room
Fold your clothes
Put your stuff away
Make your bed
Do it now
Do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn?
Would you like some hay
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone
Get Off the phone
Don’t sit so close
Turn it down
No texting at the table
No more computer time tonight
Your iPod’s my iPod if you don’t listen up
Where you going and with whom and what time do you think you’re coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me
Makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You’ll appreciate my wisdom
Someday when you’re older and you’re grown
Can’t wait ‘til you have a couple little children of your own
You’ll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now
I thank you NOT to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew
Would appreciate
Take a bite
Maybe two
Of the stuff you hate
Use your fork
Do not you burp
Or I’ll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A,
Get the door
Don’t get smart with me
Get a Grip
Get up here or I’ll count to 3
Get a job
Get a life
Get a PhD
Get a dose of…
I don’t care who started it
You’re grounded until you're 36
Get your story straight
And tell the truth for once for heaven’s sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff
Would you jump too?
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said at least a thousand times before that
You’re too old to act this way
It must be your father’s DNA
Look at me when I am talking
Stand up straighter when you walk
A place for everything
And everything must be in place
Stop crying or I’ll give you something real to cry about
Oh!
Brush your teeth
Wash your face
Get your PJs on
Get in bed
Get a hug
Say a prayer with Mom
Don’t forget
I love you
**KISS**
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom’s work never ends
You don’t need the reason why
Because
Because
Because
Because
I said so
I said so
I said so
I said so
I’m the Mom
The mom
The mom
The mom
The mom
Ta-da


Written and performed by Anita Renfroe (copyright 2007 BluebonnetHills Music/BMI)http://www.anitarenfroe.com/

New addition to my sidebar

I keep thinking of things I want to do with the kids so I went thru my online list and added them over there, off to the right, on the sidebar.

As we complete them, I'll remove them.

I hope one day to have a whole new list (meaning we did everything on the old list).

I'm in, Laura's not...

I got selected for jury duty, Laura didn't. After I had gotten there and got into the court-room, I actually 'wanted' to get picked. Once I heard what the case is about (no, I'm not telling...yet) I wanted to get picked so I could find out how it ended up. Well, I got my wish, I'm in, and the case is expected to last thru Wednesday.

Laura didn't get selected. She never even left the Jury Lounge (her name never came up). Here in San Diego, the law is "One Day, One Trial". So you show up one day, if you get selected for a trial, you finish up that trial. If you don't get selected and you sit in the jury lounge for the day, you're done. The difference is that if I finish this trial, I can be excused from jury duty for 3 years. Laura can be summoned again in as little as one year.

The best part of the day was lunch. We met and walked over to a wonderful nearby hotel where we had a wonderful (read, quite pricy) lunch together. Kinda like we actually had a date! It was very fun indeed.

So, I report in tomorrow at 9am and I hope to end the days by 4:30 or so.

How romantic is this?

Tomorrow...


Laura and I....


are going to go....




TO JURY DUTY TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!

Heeheehee - yeah, ain't it the truth?

“I mean, think about it. Other than the war in Iraq, the Katrina disaster, the deficit, the CIA leak, torture, stopping stem cell research, homeland security, global warming, and undercutting science, we’ve yet to really feel the negative effects of the Bush administration.”
~ Bill Moyers

The Run-Down on Palm Springs and Picture link

Palm Springs was FUN! We left San Diego just after 1:00pm on Friday, picking up Foster from school early. All 3 kids conked out early on in the drive so it was nice and quiet. We arrived at our hotel just after 3:30 and checked in. We met up with some cyber-friends and settled into our room which was in a perfect location just next to the pool. Unfortunately that afternoon and evening, Palm Springs was hit by some pretty strong wind. We did go into the pool but with the wind, it was quite chilly. Dinner (family-style with all the families there) was fun as well. We ended the day with me sleeping in one bed with Seth and Laura sleeping in the other bed with Logan because they couldn’t seem to NOT bug each other in the same bed. Foster slept on a cot. I didn’t sleep well that night as I would wake up every time Seth rolled over panicked that he’d fall out of the bed – which I might add was very NOT low to the ground and the floor was tile. I think I caught him no less than a dozen times during the night “thisclose” to the edge of the bed.

Saturday morning brought us to breakfast in the hotel lobby. We then decided to forgo some of the activities and we went to the Palm Springs Ariel Tramway. We took the kids to the top where it was a chilly 38 degrees. Seth (AKA: Mr. No Body Fat) got chilled within a few minutes of being outside. We did have fun letting the kids crawl over the rocks and explore the area. We knew we wouldn’t make it back to the hotel in time for lunch so we ate “at the top of the mountain”. Damn, they are expensive up there but the view is breath-taking ---- literally. I felt it a bit harder to catch my breath being so far up but felt much better when we took the tram back down. We got back to the hotel just in time for “Family Tie-Dying” – that was super-fun. We “tie-dyed” shirts and socks. It was fun to know that we can do that and NOT be responsible for cleaning up the mess afterwards. We then spent some time in the pool and got to relax for about 10 minutes.

On Saturday evening two large “cruise” buses arrived at the hotel to take everyone to a private house a few miles away. Well, “house” doesn’t do justice. It was an estate. The couple (Tom Bombadier and John Fowler) who own the house hosted an amazing event for the families that evening. They actually rolled out the “red carpet” (you can see it in the pictures) for us when we arrived. They set up tables upon tables on the tennis courts. Around the perimeter were the food stations and they thought of everything – including an OPEN BAR. They had all kid-friendly food – mini pizzas, chicken fingers, hot dogs and burgers. They had a “Make your own Sundae bar” and a “Candy Bar” where they had all these huge glass jars filled to the top with various candies and you got to fill as many bags as you wanted with whatever candy you wanted to take with you. The President of Family Pride gave a speech and they had a fund-raiser and the hosts were going to donate $25,000.00 if all the rest of us donated that much. Within 15 minutes of fund-raising (filling out promise cards) they raised close to $70,000.00!!!! Excellent. Then they handed out glow sticks to all the kids and showed a private screening of “Shrek II”. Foster, Logan and Seth did really well and we all enjoyed the movie. Then the buses came back and shuttled us all back to the hotel where we crashed – but best part yet, Logan and Seth slept in the same bed! Yay!

Sunday morning we went to the hotel lobby again to have breakfast and then a dip in the pool and then Laura packed the room while I tried to entice the kids to go for a walk – they did. We were supposed to meet back up with some of our cyber-buds but time ran out as we had to check-out by noon. We made even better time back to San Diego, less than 2 hours, and again, all 3 kids slept most of the way. We arrived home just in time to put in 3 loads of laundry.

Fun trip – we can’t wait to do it again next year!!!!!

Enjoy the pictures here:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZs2bNu0ZNGaq&emid=sharshar&linkid=link3

Yes, the pictures are coming...

We had an awesome time in Palm Springs. Wait 'til you see the pictures of the private house that hosted a party for us. It was probably one of the biggest high-lights of the weekend. Well, that and meeting up with my cyber-friends...sorry we didn't have more time...didn't the weekend just fly by?

Anyway, I promise pic's are coming and a run-down of the weekend.

But first, I'm oddly attracted to "Kid Nation" - both on a personal level and a professional one. Hmmm, it starts now, so I'm gonna watch it and then concentrate on getting the pic's up on Shutterfly.

Mini-Vacation --- HERE we come!

This weekend we're joining lots and lots of other GLBT families for the 5th Annual Family Pride in the Desert. Both Laura and I are taking off work on Friday and we'll be sneaking in to pick up Foster early from school (probably right after lunch) and Logan and Seth from Gina's to "get the show on the road" early. Dinner is served at 6.

The weekend looks like so much fun! Lots of activities - swimming, family games, movies, tye-dyeing, a little sight-seeing and best of all --- all the food is included! Yay!

They sold out the hotel we're staying at - this is the main hotel for all the activities so I was very happy to get us a suite. We'll be here - the Shilo Inn has two swimming pools and from what I understand, all the rooms kind of face the middle courtyard and the pools.

We'll be meeting up with some friends we've met before and some we only know via the internet.

Foster is beyond excited about his "vacation" and sleeping for two nights in a HOTEL.

I really am looking forward to it - we need a mini-break!

P.S. keep reading, more below

So why CAN’T the kids come with a parenting manual?

Sheesh, I ask myself that several times per week. Now, being the good little readers that Laura and I are, I know that the parenting books, videos, magazines, etc. out there are plentiful – and believe me, we’ve read many. But, I usually think to myself “Well, who made Dr. Sears or the “Love and Logic” people the experts – better yet, the experts on MY kids”. Sure, maybe their parenting tips worked for THEM but are they working for me? It would just be easier if I intuitively knew what to do in any given situation.

Let me paint you a picture of a typical dinnertime meal:
There’s child #1, Foster, stating he’s “starving, when’s dinner?” Children #2 and #3 Logan and Seth are typically getting in each other’s things and someone is usually screeching at this point. Laura is busy preparing the meal (after basically just walking in 20 minutes prior) and I’m trying to make sure nobody gets a limb caught in something, breaking up a squabble, or cleaning up kids preparing them for dinner.

Foster is still whining that he’s starving and the twins are still fighting over a piece of lint they found under the sofa.

Finally we all sit down to dinner and automatically Foster doesn’t want whatever is in front of him – well, sometimes he does.

Logan is climbing onto his chair all the while making sure his favorite baby doll is right next to him (or some other item).

Seth is dragging his heels coming into the dining room, and typically dragging some toy or truck or book or free McDonald’s toy to the table and then immediately starts removing anything green from his plate.

About 45 seconds later, and the precise moment Laura and I sit down, someone needs something – water, ketchup, a spoon or fork (‘cause they just tossed theirs on the floor). So we get that. Then about 2 minutes later Foster is done eating and asking for dessert (he usually gets to pick out 2 pieces of candy from the candy bowl). Of course then Logan demands to be done, followed by Seth who has eaten nothing. Logan’s chair and the surrounding floor are covered in crumbs, Foster is trying to pick out a Spongebob episode off of TiVo and Seth is wandering into the living room.

Then we eat – quickly because soon it’s time for bath, shower and bed for three kids. All the while Laura and I look at each other and wonder – what have we done wrong, why aren’t our kids all sitting quietly, elbows off the table, napkin tucked neatly on their lap eating their food WITH utensils (what a concept), proudly exclaiming “Mum, this food is absolutely delicious, you both are the best mums in the world and we love you – thank you for providing us with the most nutritious meal and taking such good care of us!” Then, I am quickly snapped back to reality when I hear the water running in the bathroom (WHO is in there?), see Logan running around stark nekkid wanting his bath NOW and hearing the kids yell at each other to “Move, you’re standing right in front of the TV – MOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!”

Well, okay, sometimes it isn’t that bad but really, a manual designed for our kids, for our family would be greatly appreciated.

Sometimes when we’re out and about I watch other parents and their kids – and sometimes I think “Hey, they’re dealing with the same crap we are” and sometimes I see parents deftly handle any issue that crops up. I sure hope sometimes WE are the parents that other parents wonder “How do they handle those 3 adorable boys?” because yes, sometimes they are very well-behaved in public, even in restaurants (!!) and I feel very lucky indeed. Well, I always feel very lucky and blessed, but sometimes I just want the parenting answers inserted into my brain. Either that or Super Nanny – please come for a visit – we’ll feed you!

Why can’t I just get a job selling mattresses?

So here I am, totally exhausted on Tuesday nights after working a full day at my job and then taking my evening class (for my School Social Work Credential). This past Tuesday, I was driving home after the class at about 9:50pm with a monster headache that started at 1pm that day after a 2.5 hour Union Meeting.

Off the side of the freeway there is a mattress store. As I’m driving home, one hand on the wheel, one hand on my head, I think to myself, “Self, what are you doing?” Is it all worth it? The FT job, the class at night, missing my kids, etc.

I pass by the mattress store and think, how hard could that job be? I mean really, nobody’s life is at stake, angry parents aren’t clogging up your voice-mail with their messages that they need you to call them back AT THAT INSTANT, co-workers who haven’t got a clue wouldn’t be bugging you for information, supervisors wouldn’t have much to complain about, you’d do your job and then go home – ON-TIME --- so then it hit me. Why can’t I just have a job like that??? Huh?? Is that asking too much?

Okay, seriously, then about 2 miles down the freeway I come to my senses. NO, I didn’t go to graduate school and get my Master’s Degree in Social Work to sell mattresses. I haven’t worked my butt off for the past 12+ years in the public sector to sell you a mattress making a fifth of what I make now (plus excellent benefits). I know I’m a capable social worker, and hopefully after this class is done (this December) I’ll have a credential that will open more doors for me – and hopefully will lead to even bigger and better things. That will give me more options to teach my children that yeah, if you work hard, you can make it too.

So, if you DO sell mattresses and you’re reading this – I salute you. Your job sounds like a fine way to spend the day, and maybe you do deal with lots of crap and “tired” (no pun intended) customers, but after considering it, I think I’ll stick with my current job – at least for now…

Because I needed to know...

It's fun working for the county. We get answers to all kinds of things that people ask.

Check this out:


6) Is it true that California is going to fall into the Pacific Ocean?


No. The portion of California west of the San Andreas Fault is firmly attached to the Pacific Plate and the portion east is firmly attached to the North American Plate. San Diego is moving north towards Los Angeles at the rate of about 2 inches per year and is in no danger of falling into the ocean. The Los Angeles City Hall is 10 feet closer to San Francisco than when it was built in 1924. In about 500,000 years San Diego could be an island off the coast of San Francisco.


***You know you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.
****It's a good thing we're looking to buy property here in San Diego, I've always wanted a beach-front home.
*****Keep reading, more fun posts below!

Coming up next...

...why can't I work selling mattresses?

...why CAN'T the kids come with a parenting manual?

...I've had a headache now for 3 days, why?

...Also, my allergies (or whatever you want to call it) has kicked into high-gear, why?

Stay tuned! Fun times ahead!!!

My 3 boys (and Seth the toothless wonder)

I couldn't resist posting this picture. I never realized how hard it would be to get 3 boys to all smile on cue. I think Logan was looking at my wildly waving hand vs. the camera, but it's still cute. At least I think so... ;-)

Lost a tooth, and not who you would think!

No, not Foster. He doesn't even have ONE loose tooth - perhaps because he was a toothless yearling (we felt his first tooth starting to pop in just a day after his first birthday). He started getting teeth late so I assume he'll start to loose them late.

Anyway, Sunday night as we were getting the kids ready for a shower, Seth lets out a piercing scream. He said Logan hit him with his head like this (he shows me). It was completely an accident - the kids were jumping all over the couch and each other. I cautiously peer into his mouth and there is lots of blood. We put ice on it. I keep thinking - I sure hope he didn't knock a tooth loose. I look again. The bleeding is slowing down and I gently touch the top front tooth that looks, well, a little different now. Sure enough, it moved when I touched it. My stomach dropped into the floor. This is the kid that doesn't eat enough as it is! I thought at that moment that this will make his eating worse! AND, this isn't the first tooth gone. At about a 18 mos. or so, he had an "extra" tooth removed, one that was growing in between those top two teeth.

Damn. We called the doctor and dentist Sunday night and made an appt. for first thing Monday morning. We went to the dentist and sure enough, the root was snapped in half and the tooth had to be removed. My poor baby! Laura stayed with him this time (I did the first tooth removal at 18 mos.), I couldn't do it.

They gave him Valium, nitrous oxide and Novocaine. They said he'd probably conk out the minute he got in the car to go home. Obviously they don't know my Seth. He feel asleep about half a mile from the house, for about 2 minutes. He pretty much cried all the way home. We gave him some Motrin and about 20 minutes later you wouldn't have known anything was wrong. The boy who doesn't eat, suddenly inhaled two scrambled eggs with cheese, two pieces of very soft toast and then another hard-boiled egg. Then after 3 episodes of "Caillou", I couldn't take it anymore and asked him if he wanted to go to the store (99 cent store) to pick out a toy (not counting the three goodie bags the dentist gave him) just to get out of the house. He eagerly agreed.

My mother and I drove for a while to the 99-cent store where he proceeded to demand to walk thru the store and NOT sit in his stroller. Okaaaaaaaaay. He was cleaning up the aisles as we walked around. He picked out a toy calculator and two dinosaurs that were "just the bones". He did sit in his stroller when we went into another store and then was wide awake all the way home.

He did tell Logan that he wasn't mad at him. Whew! I'm sure there will be more bumps, bruises, and broken body parts but man, I wasn't planning on this yesterday.

Now, we will probably get him a partial because it will be another good 3 years before his permanent tooth comes in and I bet he'd want that front tooth there for school. But honestly, he sure is cute with that missing tooth and it just makes him look so much older than his 3 years.

Our two minutes of "fame"...

Recently, we (mostly me) were interviewed by a student journalist taking part in the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Convention which was here in San Diego. "Our" journalist focused on being Lesbian and Jewish. Here is our family's showcase presentation!!!

While all the stories are quite interesting (there's only about 8 minutes of footage total), if you want to jump to "our" family we are the last story (HEY, save the best for last right?) at about the 6:01 minute mark.

Enjoy!

Oh sure, nothing going on here...

Why oh why can't I find any time to post?

Let's see...

Changed jobs.

Started "new" old job - again.

Started new graduate school class on Tuesday nights for two hours and 40 long minutes (to get my credential to apply to be a school social worker - just need that one class).

All 3 kids started swim lessons - if you were at the "Y" last weekend, nope, that wasn't me with the 3 screaming kids (a cute blonde 6 year old and adorable 3 year old twins) that I seriously thought should be sold to the highest bidder - nope, that wasn't me, really, nope.

Oldest started first grade - let's just say it didn't go as well as I had hoped but things are looking better and now they are afraid of us 'cause we are "THOSE" parents (more another time).

House is on the market and every day we have to make sure it's "Ready to Sell".

Looking, looking, looking for a new place to call home.

Oldest also re-started Hebrew School on Sundays.

Big 'ole garage sale happing at our place this Saturday and holy sh*t we have lots to get rid of (and that means getting it all out of storage and priced and out the door by 7am Saturday morning).

I get to take those adorably, cute 3 kids to swim class again ALONE (okay so my mother is coming with me, but it ain't the same w/o Laura) this Saturday because said garage sale is happening at about the same time - help!

Did I mention our house is on the market and we're looking for another?

So, nope, nothing at all going on here - nada.

If you're looking for an e-mail from me, it's coming, don't worry...I still have yours in my "Mail to Answer" inbox.

I feel ill...

The pictures don't lie...

Top picture is of Foster's first day of first grade. Happy guy eh?
Bottom picture is of Foster's first day of Kindergarten last year.

Methinks he doesn't appreciate photos on the first day.

More later!

Yeah, well, so, it WAS my last day

Whew! But working for the county - they (read: CPS) can still find me - that's what they do best eh?

I started my new, old job today. Same old, same old. Same office, same desk, heck, even some of my same files were still there!

Got me a brand, spankin' new 'puter though - so that helps.

Oh well, gotta remember that I do have a method to my madness. Class every Tuesday nite 'til December. Then I'll be on the look-out. Good thing is that I don't "HAVE TO" find another job right away, I'll be looking while working.

But yeah, you know, administration is the same B.S. no matter where you go. There will always be "those people" who seem to exist to make your life difficult. Altho, I do have to admit, I did receive a very nice welcome from all my old co-workers and my supervisor. That was nice.

Other news placeholder:

***a journalist from ABC news interviewed us last night in our home (in regards to being an LGBT family and me being Jewish) - link will be posted soon if it's not 'too' embarrasing.

***Laura will start her new job/promotion as a program manager (supervisor) - it's a good thing.

***Foster turns 6 on Sunday. That means 6 years ago tomorrow, I went into labor - how did my baby boy become a first grader.

***Speaking of which, Foster starts first grade on Tuesday but we have NO idea who his teacher will be, what classroom he'll be in, etc. because the school will have it ready - on Tuesday, the first day of school. Ummmm, yeah, that makes perfect sense. Okay - we did receive a recorded msg. at home "welcoming us back to school" - oh how personal is that? (smirk).