Snap

One of melody's "curse" words is SNAP. This morning when she forgot her basketball on the way to her game she declares, "OH SNAP" and the mom finishes with, "crackle, pop, (in a singing voice) into the morning".

She than says to me, "oh that's old. Funny I saw that on the Disney Channel. Now its - Snap, crackle, pop (in a much better singing voice) rice crispies".

Happy Birthday Clark

And Happy anniversary Megan and Joe :)

Do you see what I see?

Here's to thte coolest 9th grader I know, who has more musical talent, is so darn funny and has the obscure talent of being able to write "blood' with his fingers.

Go Cardinals

Because they are the home team

Because they are the underdog

Because I couldn't tell you one player's name

Because somehow I care

Go Cardinals

Before I was your Mother

To my oldest daughter (and my beautiful friends and family),

Before I was your mother I was so much like you. A young lady growing up discovering the world. I too tried softball with Jenny (hated it), played Barbies with Kara, fought with Tami over sharing clothes, chased boys with Angie, played dress up with Leslie, tried to win a Guiness World record with Paula, took pictures of Alice, cut Tammy's hair, had Ruth teach me how to do make up, shared a common boyfriend (or two) with Chris and dreamed about the furture with Amy.

I would look in the mirror and deliver the best speech and then talk way too fast in front of a crowd. I would snowboard and feel free as I came down the mountain and then think about the wind that was in my hair as I laid down to sleep. I would secretly fantasize about the man I would marry and what I would name my children. Your name was picked long before you came into my arms.

On my 24th birthday I was planning a meal at Matta's. Having my family sing to me and overindulging in chips and salsa (nevermind the great ice cream cake to follow). But you had other plans. It was your day to come into this world.

I learned more about me that day. I could see my hopes and fears in your eyes, and was overwhelmed with the thought of being your mom. You are such a beautiful young lady, keep being true to you and kind to your sisters. Keep building relationships with righteous and true friends. These are the people who when you are a mom you will realize how much their influence affects how you raise your children.

Happy Birthday to you (and me) I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

MOM

Guest Spot: Happy Birthday Laura!

God gave a gift to the world when you were born

a person who loves, who cares,

who sees a person’s need and fills it,

who encourages and lifts people up,

who spends energy on others

rather than herself,

someone who touches each life she enters,

and makes a difference in the world,

because ripples of kindness flow outward

as each person you have touched, touches others.

Your birthday deserves to be a national holiday,

because you are a special treasure

for all that you’ve done.

May the love you have shown to others

return to you, multiplied.

I wish you the happiest of birthdays,

and many, many more,

so that others have time to appreciate you

as much as I do.

I love you, me :-)

Grandma's doppleganger

Last weekend the girls and I went to the wax museum in Hollywood. We walked around the corner and Lynda Carter in full Wonder Woman gear was looking down at us. All 4 of us looked up and it was unanimous, "Wow, that looks like Grandma Rae".

Am I old?

Jessica says I am not.

However: I don't like weather changes, I like big hair, my high heels are killing my feet, my attempt to cover my gray hair resulted in the burgundy experience.

It's a good thing I am young at heart.

Action required: Kim you have an assignment

Heck yes: how many times has that hair color changed?
3 (37%)

No this pic is only from 11/07!
1 (12%)

Ahh too much effort it can wait!
0 (0%)

Have Kim do it.
4 (50%)

Weekend Epiphanies

1. Green is Good
2. While 2009 is Divine and the year of conception. Having a 20 year high school reunion is less of a commitment than conceiving (and require less change to your body).
3. Politics aside, West Coast Andrea and East Coast Andrea have more in common than their names (I am dying to do a quilt with the two of you)
4. Facebook status changes are a great way to find out what the person next to you is thinking
5. Sara is blog royalty (and Jessica's new best friend)
6. I would use all of these women as my lifeline on "Who wants to be a millionare"
7. Everyone's personalities matches their blogs
8. When taking a picture in front of the Disney castle, it should be done before you get wet and your hair looks like hell
9. Jenn Ann needs to frequent more parks
10. Next time we need 100% attendance (we missed you all!)

For Andrea

The B is for Blackberry

What you missed

HCBC West Coast Executive Summary Day 2

The parlimentarian will provide the Cliff Notes version later

4th folder/4th picture

I was tagged by Kim

This is the fourth picture in my fourth folder

This picture was taken on Thanksgiving 2008 at the fountain by my parents house. The fountain is the reason the kids love going to their grandparents house. They spend hours and hours there. Junping from rock to rock, running on the pier, and climbing the hill to the top of the water fall.

Side note: while it appears that Larissa is on her way in the water, it was Jessica who fell in shortly after this picture was taken.

I tag Brittney, Melody and Jessica (it could happen)

It's how far to Kim's house??

345 15 minute warning to children we are headed to California
352 Call from Deena, work crisis
416 In the car happy to be leaving only 16 minutes late
422 At mom's office to use fax machine
446 Get gas
500 On freeway realizing we are now in rush hour traffic
515 First "Are we there yet"
550 Child needs to pee
551 Second "Are we there yet"
625 Second child need to pee
628 Potty break at Rest Stop
645 Child who already pee'ed needs to poop
702 Potty break at Burger King
706 Twentieth "Are we there yet"
Time change
658 Discussing resolved crisis with Deena
701 Hang up (throw phone) and discuss driving with officer (no ticket issued)
712 Child who already pee'ed and pooped needs to pee
714 Child who already pee'ed and pooped crying because she cant wait
715 Potty Break on the side of the road
756 Text from child who already pee'ed and pooped and pee'ed
"Im sorry but i have to go agian"
812 Thirty third, "Are we there yet - combined with, I don't have room - with a little bit of my sister is bugging me"
827 Potty break at McDonalds
828 The entire car's luggage is reconfigured so that no child is sitting by each other
922 Stop for gas
939 Sixty second "Are we there yet"
1016 Children fall asleep
1035 Arrive safely in Pasadena

First grade fashion

When 6 year olds have an opinion on style

13 shoppings days left until my birthday

Happy Birthday Dad

No one is funnier than my dad.

This post started out as a birthday trribute about "The Look". "The Look" is the smirk behind the eyes when he is getting ready to amuse someone (in this case he was giving the photographer a hard time).



Before I had a chance to write the tribute, I was clearing out old email and was distracted by the following:

FROM: Dad

TO: All his children and some close friends

SUBJECT LINE: Suggestions for Birthday Gift Certificate

The following link was the only thing in the body of the email

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4632991n

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

BTW Anyone over 350 pounds eats free..... All Day - Every Day Unlimited
The following limitations apply:

*Must weigh in with doctor or nurse before each burger
*No taking food to go
*No sharing with others
*Does NOT include beverages
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, no one is funnier than my dad.

Happy Birthday!!

Another happy customer

Did you know that no American leader (not even Bush or Clinton) utilized email while in office?
According to the this great news story, Obama likes his blackberry, "because it keeps him connected to friends and family, as well as stay up on his email". During the election their are several pictures of him on the move with blackberry in hand.Obama also states, "I love my blackberry"Secret Service are concerned, "this little devices have GPS, even one innocent email sent could be a great American security risk"

Maybe there is hope. Either that or this was just one great advertisement disguised as news for Blackberry.

Jane, The Street Worker

No, not that kind of street worker. I was in Pasadena the other day and noticed that the street was in desperate need of repair. Since I had 1/2 hour before my meeting and since I am a can-do type of girl I decided to do the necessary repair work myself.

I did keep a souvenir so that I could always remember my time as a California street worker. And check out the finished product!

Hand Eye Coordination

Playing games on your cell phone while traveling for work is a brainless activity. The universe has to be perfectly aligned to actually make the decision to click on the games icon in instead of the another brainless activity like perhaps email.

My criteria usually includes at least one of the following:
Not to tired to sleep on plane
Not too thirsty or hungry on plane(you don't want to be in the middle of a game and get interrupted with peanuts)
Clear brain so hand eye coordination is not affected
Less than 80 emails in your inbox
No need to shop skymall
No lotion on your hands
No crazy distracting child 2 seats over on the plane.
An old uninteresting airline specific magazine

Yesterday the universe was aligned . I played brick breaker. The last time the universe was aligned (about a year ago) my high score was 9160. Today my measly top score was 7480. Damn hand eye coordination. And instead of getting better with each game the score just kept deteriorating.

(this is where the post should change titles to something like - I am turning into my mother)

Sudoko. The universe alignment is even trickier on this one. Do I use the hard copy one in the boring airline specific magazine (which btw may have already been started by some other weary traveler) or do I slowly and deliberately press this icon on my phone. Do I pick easy, medium or hard.

So, I picked the medium phone sudoko. 11 min and 46 seconds later and I don't care about the hand eye coordination and I am thrilled that I am turning into my mother. Winning the electronic wizard this quickly is so much more satisfying then stopping your stopwatch (if you even took the time to time it) and looking at random numbers scratched and erased for completion of a written puzzle.

(wait maybe the name of this post should be: In case you don't know it I am incredibly competitive, and look how good I am mom at sudoko)

I trust Gerber

For months (since Sydney has been eating real food) I have been telling her mother to try out the food she is feeding her. I am aware that baby food is not the best tasting, however it is important to at least try a little bite of each to 1. understand your baby's palate and 2. decide for yourself if it is is good or not 3. wear the badge of honor that you did.

Last night Sydney had Vegetable Puffs (not bad tasting, a little salty) and Pin wheels (terrible tasted like corrugated cardboard) and squash (not warm enough, awful texture). I finally got her mother to try the Puffs and the squash.

The discussion at dinner was around trying baby food. Still not something she is going to buy into.

Fast forward to discussion after dinner. Apparently Sydney has been chewing on the blackberry cord. As a concern for her safety Kim decided to to bite into the cord. It gave her a slight buzz.

Jane: You will eat the cord but not the food
Kim: Well I am concerned for her safety
Jane: And you are not concerned about the safety of food going into her mouth?
Kim: Well I trust Gerber

Exclusive (BTW I am down 14 pounds)

Is there any girl that was not cursed by Oprah's big reveal in 1988? Those super tight jeans (look awful highwaisted now) following weeks of a liquid diet. Millions followed with little long term success.

No different than her book club, women follow her advice and I am sure there is a large (words used strategicall) group of women that wants to know what is Oprah's diet. I laughed so hard I cried when I saw this article in People. HOW WILL OPRAH LOSE WEIGHT IN 2009. Please do share, did eating healthy with your personal chef and working out with your personal trainer not work?

How Tall is a Six year old

Only 4 boxes

Happy Birthday Jessica, I love you!!!!!!

Jessica's guest spot

thats the cutest six year old suns fan I ever seen. Happy birthday to Jessica.

As Seen at Tempe Market Place

This could easily be the picture of the year!

Happy Belated Birthday Ethan!

Twister

The competition was on!!!! Young versus Old and Girls versus Boys. There has not been such a tangeled mess since 1989 (when Amy always won).

.

Good times! Happy New to All!!!