Post-Dinner Coma (Foster still holding the remote)

Playing "school"

Foster reading his new solar system book to Logan and Seth

And, in case I'm not on here 'til "next year" - Happy New Year to you all, and no, my resolutions will so NOT be shared!

In Da House

High School Musical is here. All well and good but they are just 6 and 3 (and 3). Hey, it's better than SpongeBob!

Happy Holidays!!!

We had fun (minus the ugly colds we all seem to have) - the kids really got into the holidays this year. We celebrated Hanukkah first - and Foster proudly used his menorah he made at Hebrew School.

We celebrated Christmas today and that was also very fun. And as seen below, our tree runneth over. Every year we say we need to scale back, and we do, but family and friends don't help "the situation". Yeah, the kids woke up at 6:30 this morning and were totally excited to see that among all the gifts and stockings, the big Red Guy also left the twins new "big boy" bikes and Foster got a telescope.

Both Laura and I (and Bubbe too) scored in the gift department (you mean that isn't what it's all about - just kidding) and we had lots of fun opening our gifts from our family - seems like we need some babysitters on stand-by so we can go out and enjoy all our restaurant gift cards.

And now, BEHOLD, our newest Christmas tradition - introducing, the Turducken - for those of you who don't know what it is, it's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken. And may I say - I can now claim the best cook as my very own partner. Laura out-did herself, it was excellent!!!














And now, after being off work for 5 days - tomorrow I go back - at my new (earlier) hours of 7:30 - 4:00 - yeah, great planning on my part.


Happy Everything to you all!

Our holiday card - Happy Holidays!

Blast from the past...

Okay, not sure if you'll admit to it, but who remembers this fine product??

I do.

And the sucker in me bought it tonite at our local Filipino store - just because

What else do you all remember?

Joke from a 3-year old - you gotta laugh...

Logan: Knock-knock

Me: Who's there?

Logan: Banana

Me: Banana who?

Logan: Banana shirt!!!!!

And then he falls down laughing hysterically...honestly, I didn't get the joke but I just had to laugh 'cause he was just so damn funny - oh - and very proud of himself.

Busy, busy - but always time for some pictures...

Foster wins an award at school for "Excellent Citizenship"

Foster is learning how to knit with Bubbe - he already made a scarf!
Seth at swim lessons
Logan at swim lessons
Logan jumping in

Seth going for a dive!

Is anyone else tired of recalls?

I don’t know about you but I’m so “done” with toys being recalled. I belong to a list sent out by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and not a day goes by that I don’t receive an e-mail about a toy or some other children’s item being recalled – and mostly because of lead paint. Perhaps if my kids were younger and mouthing all their toys would I worry more. The lead paint ones don’t bother me as much as some of the other ones. Like the Bumbo seat – oh come on people! Puh-leeze. Parents, wake up! If you’re gonna stick your kid in a seat up on a table you had better be right there to catch them. And if you’re not, is it the fault of the seat? But noooooooooooooooooooo, instead, order a massive recall on an item that millions of parents love (okay so maybe not a true recall but a sticker to put on your Bumbo seat) and use CORRECTLY. And if you place that sticker on your seat will it suddenly be okay to use it on a table, or a chair or some other equally inappropriate place?

Uggggg.

But yeah, the lead paint issue – I don’t believe for one second that all the major toy manufacturers didn’t know that lead paint was being used. I think they knew but didn’t do anything about it until it became a “health issue”. Then it’s like “Oops, sorry, let’s blame China”, yeah right.

I’m sorry but I have other things to worry about, like mad cow disease and bird flu.

How did December get here already?

Good grief, I blink and the month goes by.

I'm done with my one class, just have to wait for my grade and then proceed to get my certification. I'm gonna do it this time. Then of course, I have to look around for a job. Good news is that I'm solid in my current position, so I don't "have to" find another position RIGHT NOW. I can take my time and look.

I've already looked and the market seems a bit saturated - either that or school social work positions are scarce. Regardless, eventually, I'm sure, a position will open up for me - and from what I can tell, salaries are GREAT...really!

So, it's December and the official "stressing out" is in full swing. It seems lately I've been stressing about, well, just about everything. Like, I'm behind on my programs I've TiVo'd; I haven't finished my holiday shopping (well, except for Hanukkah, I'm done with that); I haven't been keeping up in my reading of the various magazines I get (don't look beside my bed); my "To Do" list is so not "T'done" - it's huge; and so on. You get the idea. I was just talking with my office-mate about how really stressed we are this year - what is it? I dunno. I just know I am.

Gotta remember to breathe!

Speaking of said office-mate, I just remembered a funny thing she told me. She has two kids, the oldest being the same age as my twins (age 3). She told me she can no longer go to Hillcrest - Hillcrest is our predominately gay part of town. And rightly so, there are tons of rainbow flags all over. She was there with her kids (she's not gay) and her 3 year old stated "Look mommy, FAGS" (meaning he couldn't quite say FLAG). Well, yeah, it's true, she was totally embarrassed, I thought it was totally funny - and NO, I was so not offended.

Out of the mouth of babes and all that...

Drumroll please...

The answer to where these 3 objects were found:

one matchbox car
one mickey mouse magnet
one tube of chapstick

was in the VCR tape slot.

Not quite as interesting as a floor vent (!) - we don't have any of those, but nonetheless still odd. Yes, we got all the items out and of course Foster blamed it one his little brothers (but honestly, I do believe him...).

Quiz - still open for answers...

Thanks so far for everyone's guess.

So far, nobody got it correct - there's still time though.

I will post the correct answer in the next day or so.

Good Luck - Oh, and BTW, we did the toilet-thing a few years ago when Foster dropped a plastic ice-cream cone down the toilet causing us to call the plumber which cost us over $50.00.

Yup, boys!!!!

Quiz for parents of kids aged 7 and under...

Q: The following 3 items were found together where (someplace they shouldn't be)?
(hint: no, NOT in a bodily cavity - ick):

one matchbox car
one mickey mouse magnet
one tube of chapstick

Please answer with your best guess.

Good Luck!

Research Time!

Somehow, and I’m not sure exactly how – we received a postcard announcing a new clinical research study currently being conducted by our local Children’s Hospital for kids with eczema. One of the twins, Logan has had a touch of eczema for quite a long time. We’ve used mostly OTC creams and such, never anything that was an Rx. Sometimes the creams worked, sometimes not. And, Logan’s case of eczema isn’t at all as bad as some other cases I’ve seen.

Regardless, he was selected to take part in a 4-week double-blind (meaning we don’t know and the doctor doesn’t know) study for a new eczema cream.

There are 4 visits he has to go to and we have to apply this cream two times per day. And then he (we!) will receive $200.00 in compensation. But, best would be if the cream really works and his eczema improves. Too bad we probably won’t find out which cream he is using.

And no, there will be no blood-draws, injections or any other painful procedures done (otherwise I probably wouldn’t have done it).

Let the testing begin!

P.S. KEEP READING - MORE NEW POSTINGS BELOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Tag-Time

I was tagged by Casey.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself
4. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog.

Okay then, here we go:

Thank you Casey for tagging me – here goes!

Hmmmm, 7 things about me – lets’ see.

1. I freely admit to being totally directionally challenged. I mean honestly, I get lost everywhere – in my own neighborhood, at work – anywhere. I’ve given up beating myself up about it. That’s the way my brain works – it doesn’t get North, South, East and West – mostly when I’m driving. Thank goodness for Mapquest – before this wonderful invention, I studied my Thomas Guide and had to hand-write out my exact directions, including going and returning with turns and I had to list the street before my turn – oh it was not fun. Laura and I joke that I couldn’t find my way out of a paper bag…with the light on…and a GPS…and the end of the bag open… It’s sad really.

2. I also freely admit to being a collector of pens, pencils, note pads, clips – well, in general…all office supplies. Long Live Staples!!! I must always buy a pen whenever we travel someplace – hey, it’s functional and cheap. Are you going on vacation to some exotic locale and wondering what to bring me back? A pen (even the free hotel ones) would make me very happy.

3. I’m a gadget hoarder. I love ‘em. My newest “toy” is a hand-held label-making machine. I’m dangerous with that. Laura may come home one day to a house full of labeled power cords, kitchen items, folders, etc.

4. Speaking of kitchen items, I hate cooking. Honestly, I don’t like it. I don’t find much enjoyment in making meals. I’ve done it and can follow a recipe but it takes me too long to figure out everything and that just makes me frustrated. See #1, I can’t find my way around a kitchen for “no money”. In fact, when I moved into my own apartment many moons ago by myself, I was forced to buy myself a basic cookbook – the title was “Help, my apartment has a kitchen!”

5. I’m in love with my TiVo. We've had one now for about 2 years. I resisted it for a while but man, once we got that thing hooked up – I realized how easy it was to really make “watching TV easier” – as if it needed to be easy. More like less frustrating to figure out programming my VCR. Now when I watch something “TiVo’d” I watch it faster and easier. I’m sold.

6. Going along with #2, I love trying out new “bath and body” type things. I’ve been a member of the “Bath and Body Works Research Team” and have tested so many new scents I couldn’t count them all. Every few months they send me a batch of “new” scents I need to use and comment on. It’s kinda fun to be in on the new stuff and to experience it before it reaches the stores. I’ve also tested coffee, laundry detergent, fabric softener, toilet paper, etc.

7. Guilt. I feel it every time I look at my digital pictures on my computer. I had every intention to create digital scrapbooks of the kids. I have the computer program and the books but with the amount of pictures I have stored on the computer and discs it’s overwhelming to think about how to start. Well, maybe one day – hey, maybe I can use that as my New Year’s Resolution? I just need the extra time in the day to do it. Perhaps I should stop my TiVo watching and start scrap booking!

Okay, this was hard to decide but I’m tagging:
Veronica
Laura
Sonya
Anita
Gabrielle
Wendy
Holly

Have fun!

Spa-ahhhhhhh

I forgot to mention our wonderful day on Monday - holiday for Laura and I. Foster went to his before and after-school program (all day) and the twins' daycare was open. So, Laura and I took advantage of a "free" day together without kidlets and went to this local Spa and we each had an 80 minute Swedish massage.

We used the Jacuzzi and steam room and sauna. What a great day! We also went out to lunch and to Costco (again, without kids).

What I want to know is this:
How can an 80 minute massage go by in the blink of an eye...BUT, just an hour-long meeting at work seems to drag on, and on, and on, and on, and on.........

Going Global?

Every once in a while I check my stats to see "who" is visiting me and from where. In the beginning of my blogging experience I used to check regularly but now I don't. I decided to check today and in just the past 3 days, I've gotten my usual hits...but these as well:



Oceania/Australasia (Guam)

Pakistan

Moscow City, Moscow

Vitria, Brazil

Jawa Barat, Jakarta (Indonesia)

Campania, Naples and Verona - Italy

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Helsinki, Finland



I only went back a few days - it's like the "Amazing Race" - (Heck, YES, I'm rooting for Kate and Pat you go girls! and I'm also oddly attracted to Kynt and Vyxsin (the Goth couple)) on my blog. Interesting.

You know you're a true San Diegan if....

1. Your high school had a surf team

2. You know who Biff and Skippy were

3. You can correctly pronounce Tierrasanta, La Jolla , Rancho Penasquitos, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Jamacha, Jamul, Cuyamaca, and El Cajon

4. There are four distinct seasons: Summer, Not Quite Summer, Almost Summer, and Oh Hey Look Its Summer Again

5. Your house is worth more than some small countries

6. You know what MB, OB, and PB stand for

7. Every street name is either in Spanish or Spanish related, and you're surprised when other areas don't have this

8. You see weather forecasts for four different climate zones in the same county, and aren't remotely surprised. The Micro Climate Weather

9. You've gone to Mt. Helix in July and known you still need a jacket

10. You've tailgated at Qualcomm Stadium, and for bonus points, also tailgated when it was Jack Murphy Stadium

11. You have a favorite- the WAP or the Zoo

12. You been on a MB/PB pub crawl on St. Patrick's Day (you think)

13. You've been on a field trip to see an Imax movie at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

14. You still call it the Del Mar Fair

15. You say "I'm going to the track" and people know what you mean

16. You understand what May-Gray and June-Gloom are

17. A famous skateboarder/surfer lives in your town

18. There's a North County, a South County, and an East County but no Central County

19. You know what it means when a girl in a short skirt is walking on El Cajon Blvd

20. You've gotten stuck in the Horton Plaza parking structure traffic after a Padres game

21. You know what "The Merge" is, and will plan your entire day around not being on it during rush hour

22. You've been to Belmont Park

23. You remember when the roller coaster was a dilapidated piece of junk that didn't run for years

24. You've taken the Coaster and laughed at people sitting in traffic on the I-5

25. You know the difference between Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and Mira Mesa and maybe you remember Serra Mesa, too!

26. You've gone to Sea World on a warm day and sat in the first few rows at the Shamu Show to get cooled off

27. You've been delayed at the Border Checkpoints on the 5 & 15

28. Your house doesn't have air conditioning, and doesn't need it

29. You know it's San Diegan, not San Diegoan, or San Diegoite

30. Everyone has their favorite beach

31. No matter what the weather is, there is always someone walking around in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops

32. You have family and or friends that have moved to Arizona

33. You used to, and sometimes still do ride the carousel at Seaport Village

34. You know someone who doesn't own pants, and have a neighbor who doesn't seem to own a shirt

35. You know what Santa Ana's are, and that they have literally nothing to do with the city of Santa Ana

36. If the menu doesn't have California burritos on it, forget it, its not real Mexican food

37. You remember when the admission to the fair included the headlining band!


**Since I'm not a "native" San Diegan, I will grade myself on this and say that since I can relate to just about every single one of these, then I'm a true San Diegan!

Happy Halloween!!!

Logan as Skeleton, Seth the "race car driver" (with an attitude) and Foster, the "dark" Spiderman.

First stop, Gina's house!!!

We enjoyed the suger rush!

NOT...

the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Well, almost. You know the days.......let's see.

Since the fires here in Southern CA, the school's have been closed. They were also closed today. That meant that Foster's before and after-school pgm. was closed today, BUT, another pgm. at a nearby school was open and taking kids from all the other schools that had closed programs. So, we decided that since I'm still on jury duty and Laura needed to go to work, we'd enroll him for the day at the nearby day program. Well, Foster was onboard with the change in his schedule until we (meaning ME) got there. As I was signing him in he was getting more and more hysterical. He didn't want to stay, he didn't know anybody he said (not true), he didn't like it, why couldn't he come with me, he didn't want to stay, etc. I helped him hang-up his backpack, all the while he was saying he didn't want to stay - note, this is his M.O., he gets really upset with big changes like this and I guess when you're six, this is a big change.

So, as I'm peeling him off me as I try to leave (already running a bit late to drive downtown to park for jury duty) he grabs onto the back of my shirt and wouldn't you know it? He rips the bottom of it - about 6 inches or so. Damn. I'm not a happy camper. I calmly tell him to "have a good day and I'll see you later" and I left. I get to my car and try to decide if I have enough time to go home to change before court. I decided I couldn't go the whole day with a torn shirt so I drive home and change.

Get on the freeway, eat my bagel and cream cheese (pay attention, this is an important point). Get to my usual parking lot only to be greeted by a big blue sign politely informing me that the lot is full. Double Damn. There is no parking here for jurors, you either take public transportation or pay $10/day (or more) to park. Many people take the trolley or bus but I don't. I roll down my window and ask the lot attendant if it's "really, really full or just 'maybe' possibly full". I need a damn spot. He lets me in "at my own risk". I realize that the two HUGE Carnival Cruise ships sitting at the docks are the main reason the lot is full. All those lucky people are relaxing on the ships (having already been parked and loaded onto the ship) and now I have to find a spot among their parked cars. Eventually I do find a spot but not without a million scenes running thru my brain (namely a bench warrant for my arrest since I didn't make jury duty).

Then - were you paying attention? I go to take my backpack out of the passenger side door only to find the straps are covered with cream cheese. So, then I have to dig around to find a baby wipe and proceed to clean those. Quickly, because I don't have much time.

Walking to the courthouse, I thought that yeah, my day isn't turning out so great - better watch where I cross the street, wouldn't want to get hit by the trolley - 'cause ya know, that would REALLY ruin my day.

Get to the courthouse entrance and stand in line to go thru the metal detectors. I put my backpack up on the conveyor belt only for the Sheriff demand I put it back thru again. She asks me "do I have a pocket knife in there"? Ummmm - no I don't lady. She puts it back thru again. They open it, search it and sure enough, in a little tiny pouch I threw in at the last moment (had some Tums in there) there WAS a pocket knife. Okay, running late now. I decided to just give them the knife but miraculously it was "okay for me to bring in since it was so small". Ahhhh. Good thing to know that mad jurors runing late are allowed to bring pocket knives in, but of course, only if they are really, really tiny.

Get up to the fourth floor with a few moments to spare.

We started deliberations today to my surprise. But in a room that at noon was freezing. Now, anyone that knows me, knows that if I'm actually uncomfortably cold, it's really cold in there. I'm wearing short-sleeves - the "new" shirt I put on when I returned home this morning after dropping Foster off.

We break for lunch so I decide to go to Horton Plaza which is a mall about 4 blocks away to buy a jacket or sweater. So I run there and buy a jacket. Scarf down some lunch I picked up at the Starbucks and run back up to the deliberation room. Yeah, guess what I found out? They upped the heat, it's hot in there. Good thing I didn't rip off the price tags! I will return it tomorrow (one good thing - I bought myself a nice watch while I was at Macy*s - gotta feed my watch addiction you know).

We ended at 4:00. I picked up Foster from the day program, only to find out he had a great day afterall and calmed down within 5 minutes of me leaving this morning. Okay - well, at least that's good.

Then of course, the usual dinner chaos which I won't get into now but trust me, same old, same old.

Things were going a bit better - Laura was getting ready to go return my video to the store at 9:00 pm that was due today, only to find out that yeah, it WAS due... at NOON (I highly dislike Blockbuster).

I'd call for a do-over for today, but frankly, I don't want to.

It can only get better from here, right??