Mr. Christmas Cheer

Somebody is obsessed with Christmas decorations at our house. He can be seen wearing Santa hats and actual Christmas stockings. Everyday since Halloween he has been asking to put up our decorations. He couldn't understand why all the stores are decorated, but our house isn't. But now that it is officially a month before Christmas I can finally appease him with Christmas cheer around the house.

Carson and Santa bonding together getting ready for the Holidays.

I laughed so hard and ran to get my camera when I saw him outside playing wearing the Christmas stockings on his feet.

This is a picture he drew to show Mark and I how he wants the Christmas lights to look on our house. He did mention that we didn't have to use blue and yellow lights, any color would do. So now Mark has a job to do this Saturday. Don't disappoint us, Mark!!!!

Mom, I'm not popular

The other day we are driving in the car listening to the Wicked soundtrack (I know my poor boys, at least when they drive with their dad they can listen to cool music) Anyway, there's a song about being popular. When the song was over my oldest, Christian who was sitting in the front seat turned to me and said, "Mom, I'm not popular." My heart did a little jump and I could feel a slight bit of sadness. Right as I was about to tell him that being popular isn't important and tell him all his great qualities and how fantastic he is. He continues by saying. "I don't sit at the popular table at lunch I sit at the cool table". He preceedes to tell me about all the cool kids at lunch and what they do and how much fun they have etc. Then he says something interesting about the so called popular table. He says "those boys are usually getting into a lot of trouble, they like a lot of attention and sometimes they have to go to the prinicples office." Finally he says, "and mom, they don't even like school." After that explaination of the popular boys I told him don't aspire to be popular just cool and he agreed.

The Wonder of boys

I love how boys can be entertained with dirt, rocks, sticks, and water. This was not a posed picture, but rather a moment I was able to catch.

Characteristics of a frienemy

Here are some things a frienemy might say to you:

1. " I don't know why those jeans look so bad on you and so cute on me. It must be because your butt is bigger then mine."

2. "You think you have a pear shape body, check out that lady." (oh, I didn't realize I had a pear body)

3. They don't really like it when good things happen to you. (they are jealous) But they secretly delight when something bad comes your way. (that would be called schadefreude=a german word that explains that perfectly.)

4. They share your secrets with other people. They don't know how to keep a story to themselves, especially the ones you tell them not to tell anyone.

5. Anything you can do they think they can do better and tell people that. For example: "Oh she's not a very fast runner, I can run faster then her." Although she doesn't run and knows that you run 4-5 times a week. So now you are obsessed with racing her in a 5K and seeing if she can beat your 24:30 race time.

The worst part is when you think they are your friend and then turn out to be your frienemy. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out which one someone will be. Luckily I am blessed with many great friends and along the way have only come across just a few of those so called "frienemies."

Frienemy

Have you ever heard the word frienemy?? It's two words combined together Friend and enemy. It's something I learned about this week on the Today show. Frienemies are those who you think are your friends but they don't always have your best interest in mind and sometimes stab you in the back and do things to hurt you. It is the best term. I think we've all had people we thought were our friends and then unfortunately turned out to be not such a good friend. So it got me thinking about my friends, and my frienemies. But mostly I got to thinking about my friends. Moving has it's advantages you get to make friends in many places and I am grateful for that.
Here is a picture with two girls I have known for the past 8 years. We met when we lived in Walnut Creek and our husbands were starting out their careers. We each had one child and we dragged those little babies sightseeing all over the Bay area. Now 8 years later and 12, almost 13 children later we still keep in touch.

They are so not Frienemies they are the opposite of that. They encourage, love and inspire. They see the best and want the best. I love to spend time with them and although I don't get to see them because they both abandoned me and moved to Texas. I look forward to girls weekends and couples' trips. I love to see them and laugh and enjoy their company. Thanks for being friends and not a frienemy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carpool Etiquette

I have an awesome carpool, which makes my life so much easier. Some of you might be familiar with the drop off and pick up nightmare. (that should be saved for another blog) I am grateful that I don't have to go to the school 3 times a day. I have 3 other neighbors that we rotate the schedule with and for the most part it runs smoothly. There is one problem and that is one of the neighbors doesn't understand the whole idea of carpool. So let me vent for a moment to say the things I've tried to say to her, but of course I said them in a much gentler kinder tone. I don't think she will ever come across my blog and therefore I can unleash my true thoughts.

1. I am not your after school day care provider. School dismissal has not changed!!! It is still the same time every day. (althougth I think your kids are adorable and so I don't want to leave them on your porch I also have a life and can't be expected to "hold on to them" whenever you need me to.)

2. Please don't call me two minutes before you should be picking up the children to tell me that you are late and will send one of your friends (whom my children don't know) to pick up all the kids. So then one of us other moms have to run to the school to get them.

3. Please don't call me 1 minute before you should be picking up the children to explain to me why you need to trade days with me. Didn't you know your work schedule earlier in the day?

4. Please don't ever ever ever forget to pick up my kids again. They are not use to such flakiness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5. Please don't be 15 minutes late to picking them up so that they have to sit in the office with tears welling up in the backs of their eyes thinking they have been forgotten.

6. Please don't bring me baked goods and other gifts from Pottery Barn to blow over your flakiness.

7. Please let us take a vote and kick you out of our otherwise perfect carpool. (I'm not the only one with feelings about this)

8. Remember last year when I said "I'm just not sure this is working out?" I guess I should have been more clear and said. "You have been kicked out of the carpool."

Look what's coming our way!!!!!

We've got some news and we just started sharing it with our family and friends. Deputing the first week of May. It's a little difficult to decipher what that is a picture of but yes it is actually a little fetus at 12 weeks. I think you can use your imagination and figure out what you are looking at. Jacob thought it looked like the baby was blowing out smoke. I assured him that the baby is not smoking. We are so excited and the boys are even more excited. Which made telling them the news the best day ever. They were ecstatic, literally jumping for joy. Christian said he thought he was going to cry because he was so happy. Carson is not sure of being demoted from favorite baby of the family. I am sure he will adjust fine. So now at almost 14 weeks we are officially making it public knowledge. Of course everyone is telling me I have to have a girl, which would be nice but definitely not necessary. I'll just take one that is healthy. The way these boys love and take care of me, I'll take another boy any day. Then we could almost have our own basketball team. Although you know if it's a girl there is going to be a serious pink invasion at this house of blue.

Halloween 2007

The Crocodile Hunter
(even though that is a snake on his shoulder, I think he also wrestled snakes and crocs) Christian had a hard time choosing his costume. He didn't want anything that seemed to little kiddish, but then he didn't want to be something gruesome. After many suggestions and trips to different stores he agreed upon this. Not his best costume, but he was satisfied.

The Pirate King

Jacob usually puts a lot of thought and planning into his costume, but this year was more challenging for him. So I just went to the store while he was at school found something I thought he might be satisfied with and it turns out he was very excited to be a pirate. Although he didn't want to wear the eye patch, the earring and the scruffy goatee

My Knight in Shining Armour
This was a costume he has been wearing the entire month of October since the day I bought it. He loved it and as I was helping him get it on this morning I noticed it had holes in the knees. Oops, I guess costumes aren't made to be worn more then a few times. I love when my kids get super excited about their costumes and they want to wear them all the time.

This is them right before they left to go trick or treating. They have always gone all together. Although, I thought this year might be different and Christian would want to go with his "older" friends, but he ended up going with his 2 brothers. I hope they always stay this close.

This Halloween was much more relaxing then last year and I realized why. It's because I didn't sign up to be in charge of any classroom parties. It was a first time in almost 5 years. And I very much enjoyed stopping in on the parties and then leaving. What a liberating feeling and I didn't feel guilty because I've been there, done that and went out to lunch instead.

Introducing the cutest baby!!

Jacob and I got to take an airplane ride and meet his newest baby cousin. Isn't he the cutest baby ever? I thought my babies were pretty cute, but this guy wins the prize. It was so much fun seeing my baby sister with her baby. We fell in love and couldn't get enough of holding his chubby round little hobbit body. He's doubled his birth weight at only 6 weeks old. (although he did start out pretty scrawny at 5 pounds.)

Oktoberfest 2007

Saturday night we had our 2nd annual Oktoberfest at our house. It included delicious German bratwurst and Bockwurst + my mom's secret recipe for Sauerkraut + German Potato salad + Apple Streudel + Linzer Torte + Good friends + fun games - the German beer - the children + our friend who dressed up as a German (notice the picture below as he is wearing dark socks with birkenstocks and bavarian sweater. He got the costume just perfect) = a really great night!!!!

Here is our special german visitor.

Is that Mark in the Kitchen? I had to take a photo since it's always a memorable moment when he is doing the dishes. He has many wonderful qualities and talents but cleaning the kitchen just isn't one of them.

Some of the fun friends that came to share in the festivities.

The husbands hanging out while the girls giggle and talk

Meet Jacob

Meet Jacob, he is sweet, kind hearted and loves dogs

He is adventureous, will try new things, very artistic, happy and feels the need for speed when he skis

He has a love for life and likes to make us laugh. Sometimes he makes us laugh even when he doesn't mean to. He asks lots of questions and informed me the other day "Mom I am a curious kid and have lots of questions." Oh, I can't wait for when he is a teenager. Any advice???

And the best part is he loves his family, especially his brothers and tells people they are his best friends.

Kudos to good friends

Sick Day

Thank you to the neighbor friends who took care of the carpool so I didn't have to leave the house. Thanks to a friend Celia who brought me what I needed when I was to sick to think straight. (tylenol sinus medication, special magic pills and Jamba Juice) Thanks to another friend Denae who took Carson most of the day. Thanks to my sweet children who were perfectly good all day so that I could get better. They even offered to massage my head and tried everything they could to help me feel better. Thanks to a husband that although he was 3,000 miles away in the middle of business meetings all day, he sent me countless text messages hoping to help me feel better. I woke up with a killer sinus migraine/headache. Sometimes I just get these terrible headaches and I become completely useless, which I hate. It's hard for me to ask people for help, but luckily all they had to do was look at me and know I wasn't feeling well. Thank goodness for gracious people who will help you when you are down. Here's hoping that tomorrow is a better day.

What's your season?

The other day at the park a bunch of mom's were talking about their season and what colors they can and cannot wear. Well I've heard this before, but honestly have never known my true "season." My mom always told me when I was little that I should wear blue and green because those were the colors that look good on me. So I spent most of my youth with many blue and green outfits. As I got older and out of the house I started realizing there were other outfits besides blue and green. It's like a whole new world opened up to me. So I dabbled with all kinds of colors and realized that some colors you just can't pull off with my coloring.

So at the park we were trying to decide what season I was, I think the consensus was Spring which makes sense because I have green eyes, fair skin and blond (with a little help from the salon) hair. I actually tend to like those colors and even decorate my house in those colors. So what does that mean, do I really need to stick to my season.? And how about different shades of the same color? And being spring means I shouldn't wear white or black and I love wearing white and actually think it looks good on me, apprently not and so now I am on the look out for beige to replace my white shirts. And what about black can't everyone wear black??? And suddenly getting dress is so confusing. One of the moms at the park sticks to her season colors and then even if she is wearing a non season color she will make sure she has her season color somewhere on her wardrobe. Wow, I was impressed!!! Okay, tell me what your season is!!! And how do I actually find out what my season is? Is there some kind of test I can take?

Legoland

Legoland with the cousins

My boys couldn't have been more excited then to spend 5 days with their cousins who are boys and happen to be their ages.

My sister in law, and my brother with their sweet daughter Eva.

Mark with the boys on one of those rides that spin and make you barf, that's why I am taking the picture and not on the ride.

Is that San Francisco or just an amazing replica at legoland?

Wow, now we are in NYC, funny how quickly that happened.

Legoland was fun. Although I imagined that literally the whole place was going to be made of legos. I was a little disappointed when the sidewalks and structures weren't all made from legos. So of couse we joked around about how the trees and flowers looked so real you couldn't even tell they were made from legos. We were also able to squeeze in Disneyland one day and a beautiful day at a San Diego beach. The weather was perfect and the company even better. In fact as soon as the cousins left Sunday morning my boys looked at me and said "okay let's go home now," they were done with the vacation when their cousins had left. We hope we can take another vacation with the cousins soon.

Donuts with Dad

Donuts with Dad

For the past few years Mark and the boys have a tradition of getting donuts Saturday morning. It's an awesome tradition, it provides them with boy bonding time and plus I don't have to make breakfast. Although I know donuts aren't the most nutritious breakfast, at least it makes them happy, even if their teeth rot out. This morning we were excited because they just opened up a bagel shop close to our house that serves donuts. Usually they have to go to the bakery at the grocery store, which is fine, but not the whole experience of sitting at a donut shop listening to the town gossip. When we lived in CT all they had were dunkin donut shops (which were everywhere) the donuts were okay, but didn't have the homemade taste. Other places we've lived they had those old timer donut shops where old people hang out all morning and then your 2 your old can say to the nice old men sitting close by "Why is your nose so big?" Yes, that was our middle child Jacob that said that a few years ago. Mark and I just sat there as the old man explained to him why his nose was so big. So, naturally we are excited that now we will have our own special donut spot. However, we learned this morning that we've got to come early because the donuts go really fast!!!!!

Stuck on a deserted Island

The other day one of my boys asked me if I was stuck on a deserted island who would I want to have with me. I hesitated thinking that I should tell him that of course it would be him, but then what about the other 2 boys listening, how will they feel? So I told him that I would want our whole family to be together on the deserted island. But that wasn't good enough for him he insisted that I need to pick just one person. I hate these kinds of questions, because It's too hard and unrealistice to pick just one. So then I explained to him how I would want to be with daddy. And his one word response to me was "why?" So then I had to give him all the reasons of why I would want to be with daddy. Well I hope he is happy with my response and not damaged that I didn't pick him, because how could a mommy pick one of her children and not the others. I think his four year old mind should be happy that his mommy and daddy like each other enough that they would want to be stuck together on a deserted island!!!!!!!

True love?

A Boy and his Lion

When is it time for me to make him give up this ratty old lion? I've never been a big fan of kids and their attachments. My other boys never had real attachments to anything. (except for me, but can you blame them?) I loathed it when other children would come to our house with worn out blankies and weird attachment things like sippy cups or toys. But this boy has a serious attachment to his "baby". I haven't had the heart to tell him he can't take him everywhere, because he is so cute with his baby lion. He talks to him and takes him to preschool everyday in his backpack and he even makes sure that the zipper is partially open so baby can breathe while he's in the backpack. He's so nurturing and cute with it that it's hard for me to be the big bad witch and tell him that thing is no longer going everywhere with us. I'm a little over it and just wondering if I should cut their umbilical cord that they share? Is there a way that baby can be in our lives but not everywhere with us?

Killers were pretty Killer

Highlight of my weekend:

Going to Tahoe to see the Killers in Concert

Okay, what kind of band calls themselves the Killers? The name makes them sound like some evil band, but they aren't. They are a pretty light hearted band with good lyrics and a nice beat. They were a lot of fun to watch and put on a great show. So next time you want to explore some new music take a listen on itunes and hear some of their songs you might recognize a few. Plus an added bonus the lead singer was raised in a Mormon home. He grew up in Nephi,Utah and Las Vegas (where all good mormons live) He started the show with "Good evening Brothers and Sisters" and then of course Mark and I instantly felt right at home.

It's always fun to go to a concert and bond with people who have the same taste in music, but then you look around and think what do I have in common with these people? Then you start to panic and think I hope I don't have anything in common with these people as the girl behind me is ready to barf and can barely hold herself up. And two guys are over in the corner having a fight over something really important I am sure. Oh and the smell of pot is always refreshing. You would think at an indoor venue people wouldn't have the gumption to light up, but they do and then we all get a little high from our concert friends.

Anyway lots of fun and well worth the trip to Tahoe and of course we got to enjoy the beauty of the Sierra's.

Sledding in September??

Did you know that you could go sledding in California in the month of September?


Well, my boys think you can and they found a way to use their sleds

Although, Jacob prefers snowboarding

Fashion cents!

I am in Love

I am in love with my latest purchase from TJMaxx, which got me thinking about how fashion just doesn't have to be expensive. Where else can you buy BCBG shoes for $39.99. Not at Nordstroms, which reminds me that the last pair of shoes I bought at Nordstroms hurt my feet so much I can't even look at them without my feet wanting to cry. Then I have to feel bad about how much I paid for those worthless shoes and why didn't I just get them at TJMaxx, because then I wouldn't feel guilty if I only wore them once.

We all know and love those great stores (Target, H&M, TJMaxx, Ross etc) that bring the fashion to us at reasonable prices. Which brings me to my other point. It is just not necessary for people to be dressed so horribly, when there are countless stores with up to date fashions at great prices. Come on, we all know those ladies who are in need of a fashion intervention. You know those people you see and think wouldn't they be fun to nominate for the show "What not to wear"? I always think that would make a great Enrichment activity!

So there you have my 2 cents on Fashion.

We have a new baby!!!

We meaning my little sister Meta. (not me) There is something special when the baby of the family has her first baby. This is obviously not her newborn baby that she is holding in the picture (it's our little niece Willa). Meta is a terrific aunt who plays with the kids, swims with them and does endless crafts that mommies don't like to do. So we must mourn our lost, because now she will have her own babies to babysit and play with and we no longer can send our children to camp Meta.

Not sure of the babies official name, but he was a little peanut weighing in at 5 pounds 13 ounces. When I told Christian the baby was little he said "that makes sense because Meta is small" (aka super skinny) And I hear the baby looks a lot like his daddy. Can't wait to see him. Congratulations Meta and Nick!!!

Bobsledding

This is what happens when parents take too long of a Sunday nap

Children find ways to keep themselves entertained

And they come up with very interesting activities when left to their own devices. Especially since they can't do anything electronic on Sunday and therefore they must use their creative little minds to entertain themselves.

I wake up from a very delicious Sunday nap in search of something yummy to eat like a bear after hibernation. It's the kind of nap that's painful to wake up from and then when I finally rouse myself from my deep sleep all I want to do is eat something decadent like chocolate. I walk out of my bedroom door, to find my 3 boys bobsledding down the stairs. They have their ski helmets on with goggles and they are using their sleeping bags as their bobsled car. They are even using timers to track their times and award winners. I couldn't resist they were too funny and of course I had to blog it.

I guess they are getting ready for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Legoland

Legoland---I hear it's an awesome amusement park in So. Cal, but I think it's more like my house everyday. We have legos everywhere!!!! And I mean everywhere!

I am constantly stepping on legos, moving them away or oops, vacuuming them up. (shh don't tell the boys). They are even with me when I my sleep (last night I found a pile of legos on my bed). Carson likes to sleep with his little lego creations that he makes and I guess he thought I would also like to sleep with his lego ship. I go to clean the car and there are so many legos throughout the car, under the floor mats and squished between carseats that I am actually a little embarrassed. Then yesterday my purse falls to the ground and things are flying out of my bag and sure enough a bunch of legos come flying out.

Besides them being everywhere, they really are an awesome toy. Kudos to the Danish inventor of the legos. They entertain my boys for hours and I feel like they are learning engineering skills along the way. At least I hope so. We are looking forward to our first real trip to Legoland later this fall. I am sure it will be more impressive then the piles of legos at my house.