more cousins

Cousinland

We have been busy in cousin-land. It's a place my kids wish they could live and experience everyday. The past three weeks we have been busy playing with all kinds of cousins. Here are the cousins we got to spend a week with in Tahoe. Then we continued on to Utah for a another few weeks of cousin joy. I feel like my kids are so lucky that they have so many cousins their age. Good times good memories!

Who said it was okay for you to turn 12?

I am not sure who, but I guess it happaned anyway. I am slowly learning to embrace the fact that as he gets older it means I am getting older (even though I feel young inside?) I remember my mom saying that when I was a kid and my thoughts were....'what do you mean you still feel young, because you totally act and look old to me'....sorry mom, but those were my adolescent thoughts. So now I know what she was talking about. Even though my body is getting older, perhaps inside I can still feel young at heart. Don't you always hear those songs about being young at heart? So I guess it's not all that bad to be young at heart. I know that I definitely look my age, because there is no way of trickin that mirror of mine, but that doesn't mean I always have to act my age, right? Okay enough about me, now on to the fabulous birthday boy.

12 facts about this boy

1. He has got a heart of Gold, really he does.

2. He is good with math & numbers (fathers gene)

3. He wakes up happy every morning (not sure whose gene)

4. He is a great example to his 3 younger brothers.

5. He has a quiet confidence about him that you just have to admire.

6. He wants to make good choices in his life

7. He gets along with most everyone.

8. He remembers the most peculiar facts and is a collector of random information.

9. I feel so lucky to be his mom

10. For the most part he has made parenting pretty easy. Just the normal bumps and bruises along the way.

11. He considers his brothers and cousins to be his best friends.

12. And he is so undemanding when it comes to giving him presents, which of course makes me just want to spoil him, but I try not to.

Love you, my favorite 12 year old!

I Owe U

This is how I think I am going to start paying my taxes and bills going forward. I figure if the state of California can do it why can't I? I loved reading in the newspaper today that starting today the State of California will start paying the bills with I owe yous. Seriously?! I almost laughed out loud, because it really does sound so funny.

I am a proud resident of this state, but frankly I am tired of giving my money to them and having them mismanage it and then they want to raise our sales tax...which they did, and then they want to have us pay more taxes, which they will. Just because they can't do their job of balancing the budget. I know there are many things that contributed to this disaster, but a lot of it has to do with mismanagement.

Here is one more awesome idea that they have, all incoming elected politicians will have a reduced salary. What about those that are currently in office that helped mismanage the funds and got us into this predicament they don't get reduced salaries? So let's punish those that haven't even done any work yet? What kind of incentive is that? So now I will kindly step off of my soap box, sorry hope I didn't get anyone too sudsy.

Food therapy

It's true there really is such a thing and after visiting the Dr. today we discussed some of the options. Go figure the boy will eat limes, but he gags on anything that isn't pureed (baby food). We've tried all the introduction foods that help them transition to solids. Every meal we make attempts, and yet he still gags on watermelon, yoghurt's that have chunky fruits, cheerios, Gerber puffs, it's a little ridiculous. We even tried the little mesh things....that are frankly are a mess.

Momma called the Dr. and the Dr. said if by next month he can't eat big boy food we will be going to an occupational therapist to help him with his issues. Poor boy already has issues. Sorry hope it wasn't anything I passed down to you through the womb.

Anyone have any ideas, suggestions or stories.

Ever think you need food therapy?I do. Like why do I eat healthy all day and then come about 8:00 at night it's pure sabotage. It's like my body kicks into self-pilot and I pilot myself over to the cupboard and think I need to whatever is in there even if it's kids snack food. Then after I eat it I just beat myself up about it. Or how about those so undelicious (is that word, I think not) corn dogs that I made for the kids for lunch today and then decided I really need to eat one. Why, oh why, it's just doesn't feel right after you eat one of those things. Do they have food therapy for adults, cause maybe I need to attend.

keeping us laughing

Last night we were watching a show about the rain forest. The narrator gave us eye opening facts about the rain forest. We listened intently. Every second one acre of the rain forest is being burned, and the hundreds of species that will become extinct each day unless we do something to help it. After the show was coming to an end, we all felt a little more informed about the rain forest and it's environment, my clever little blue eyed 9 year old says...."Wow, I knew the economy was in bad shape, but I didn't' realize how bad it really is." Mark and I busted up laughing. And then we explained to him the difference between the word environment and economy. The thing about kids is they have the funniest things to say, not even realizing it. You can't make these things up. I try to remember the funny thoughts and saying., but I know I will forget so many of them.

My old man

40 is the new 30

enough said