wordless wednesday...again.

wordless wednesday

Zuzu jams to Barbie Island Princess on her new CD player.

but I'm allergic to mangos

Every year, in charming Coconut Grove, Miami, people gather for a satirical parade of sorts that pokes fun at current events and political figure heads. And yes, this year was full of people to poke fun at. The King Mango Strut originated 27 years ago when two men were denied participation in the Orange Bowl Parade. Instead of feeling bitter about it, they concocted quite an amusing display of talent. Nothing is sacred here. This year there was a Joe the Plumber Drill Team, a moose hunting Sarah Palin, a Foreclosure Fairy & of course, a barrage of shoe throwers. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see any of this because somehow I managed to get the honor of riding on the Little Miss Mango float with my little Miss & Little Mr and THE most annoying man in the world. I cringe even typing about it.

Talk about doing damage to a child with words. My sister in law was with me and I think we came to the conclusion that the man in question was NOT the father of the Little Miss Mango he accompanied. That is the only good news I can provide. See this little girl was dressed to the nines. Princess costume, wand, jewels, ballet slippers. The works. He was on that float for over an hour before it started to move to secure the best possible seat. (OK, this float, as you can see from the pix below, is a junky flat bed truck. There are no good seats.)

Anyway, the premise of this float is to judge the best Little Miss Mango. Each kid gets a crown, a wand and a sash. And then there is no judging and everybody wins. Even their five year old brothers. It's a joke. Like everything else in the damn parade.

Needless to say this man thought his little lady was the best thing since sliced bread. Really, he was as bad as that analogy. He was telling her things like.... "Oh, baby, everybody is here to see you. You are making everyone here so happy. You are definitely going to be on TV...look, you are on TV again. What do you want to wear when this is over?..I'll buy you anything you want so you can look pretty all day. Next year we'll bring my Mercedes and we'll lead the parade." Yeah. He did. And did I mention that she was about four and a half years old? Talk about the damage parents can do to their kids. It was like watching a really bad movie. Really bad.

tweet tweet

Seriously, twitter is way cool.

I joined twitter in an attempt to market zuzu girl handmade but I'm in a weird place there now that the business may be forced to close on 2/10/09 (thanks to the genius of the cpsc and their new cpsia). Nevertheless, I continue to be captivated by the marketing potential of social networking sites like twitter.

Sunday I posted a tweet about my stress with american airlines (to which I will not provide a link because I am still pissed off). Bam. An american airlines ticket agent contacts me with advice. Tonight I inquire about abandoning blogger and moving to wordpress. Bam. An Internet Marketing Consultant is right there tweeting back and offering his services.

Truly, I can only imagine what I might be able to do with this type of networking tool. And I will continue to imagine that success until I figure out what I want to be when I grow up...

not me monday

I am not not writing not me monday tonight because I didn't just write the longest blog post ever about our horrific travel experience. (wait, is that right? you tell me, I'm too sleepy!)
Night, night.

airline reservations for dummies

Assuming you are all caught up by now, (and if you are not please proceed promptly to last night's post before going any further), "airline reservations for dummies" is NOT a book I am currently reading, nor do I believe it exists. But quite frankly, it should.

I truly did not want to have to do this tonight. One, because American Airlines has stolen far too much time and sleep from my family in the past 36 hours and two, because I really didn't need any more aggravation from them. But, no, they go and force me into another late night rant. Grab a glass of something strong and take a seat. This, my friends, is good.

When I left you Sunday night we were preparing for bed. Scott & Gage were to arise the next morning at 6:10 and depart out of Miami, via LA and arrive safely back home by 1:00 in time for Scott to make his conference call and presumably ensuring their ability to catch their 10:30am flight back out of here tomorrow morning. Zuzu & myself would leave three hours later and travel the same route, our arrival not quite as dire as we're not leaving again tomorrow.

Now, I left a few minor details out of the story last night because at the time they were really just clutter and I was trying to make a simple point. Some of them, however, now become more relevant and this post is full of clutter.

There were actually six people involved in this mess as Grammy & Poppy were also booked on our original flight. Fortunately, Poppy is the executive platinum member that I mentioned earlier and received far more information from the airlines than we did. When we re-booked our flights through LA Poppy was to fly with Scott & Gage and Grammy was coming with us girls on the later flight.

After I blogged last night Scott & I went to bed. It was about midnight. The one room that we were all sleeping in was actually a carriage house that sits behind Grammy & Poppy's house. The kids were towards the front of the structure. Our bed sits directly adjacent to a small kitchen which sits at the far rear of the property. There is a back door in the kitchen that exits into the yard. No one EVER uses this door. Ever.

Out of a sound sleep I was awakened by the sound of someone coming through this kitchen door. So, what do I do? Do I wake Scott? Do I grab a sharp object? Nope. I swiftly roll out of bed, throw on my specs, and approach my intruder crawling in through the bottom half of the barn door face to face and half asleep.

In hindsight I am blown away that I didn't even consider what I was doing. I was terrified but I just charged. Thankfully, it was only Grammy. Now, what in the world was Grammy doing waking me up at 1am, not to mention scaring the you-know-what out of me? You'll never, ever guess.

Poppy had received an e-mail from American Airlines and was on the phone with them upstairs. I have no idea how it was worded but it was promptly explained to me that our original flight, yes, the one that we booked three months ago, paid full fare for and were callously booted from 8 hours earlier, had been reinstated. But not only that. It had been reinstated ONE HOUR after it had been canceled.

Now this is not hard math. It took us at least 90 minutes to re-book our tickets. This means that our original flight was back in the system before we were ever re-ticketed on the new flights. Not only that, but if the flight was reinstated at 4pm then it makes perfect sense that they notify him at midnight. Um, not. And, the only reason he even gets notified is because he is a preferred customer. Me, I get nothing. Nada. Oh, but wait, it gets better.

When Poppy calls to get us back on that flight he gets something like this, "I'm sorry, Mr. Executive Platinum, flies with us at least once a week dude, but you and your family simply can not get back on this flight. You already re-booked. We have no seats left."

I can only imagine what when on during that call. Fortunately, I was getting my only hour of sleep in the carriage house at the time. And fortunately, Poppy was able to get all six of us back on the flight (that departed in 6 hours). And, understandably, Scott & I gave away our two rows of A & B seats together for separated center seats. Because that makes sense.

But does this? Not so sure. I'm sleepy. Will need to go back and read tomorrow.

Needless to say, when we arrive at the airport ticket counter we request seat changes so that Scott & I can each sit with one child. Not asking for all four together (LIKE WE HAD IN THE FIRST DAMN PLACE), just for two and two. The woman looks at us like we're crazy and after we both nearly lose it she obliges but we are each stuck with a center and aisle and Scott's is the last row of the plane next to the bathroom. Yum.

Oh, and did I mention that the flight is oversold, there is a standby list AND they are taking volunteers to be bumped for cash vouchers. I'm sorry, why would you pay to bump people just to pick up new people who could just fly on the flight that you're bumping the first people to? What am I missing?

But, there's more.

We proceed on board and take our seats. The doors close and the last four passengers straggle on. I recognize the woman in the group. She was ahead of us in line at the ticket counter. Yeah, ahead of us. She and I both know it but I'm sitting with my 2 year old and guess where she's supposed to be sitting? Uh-huh. So she throws a fit that someone is in her seats but my baby girl and I ain't goin' nowhere. And we don't. They happen to find four seats scattered throughout the plane. Yeah, the overbooked, bumping people from the plane, plane has four open seats. She complains at little more that her family (of four capable adults mind you) can't sit together but finally they take their seats.

We take off, land, and here I sit. Wondering how we've allowed people to treat us like this. Truly. My mom says I should write a letter to the CEO. She says it in jest but I know she's serious. The sad thing is, I know the effort would be futile. These nightmare travel experiences happen to people every day. How many, I don't know. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands? And many I'm sure much worse than ours. The question is how did we get to this point, where the airlines have such control that is just expected that they will act with stupidity and disrespect?

Will I fly American again? Do I really have a choice? Therein, lies the problem. And it's still not OK.

dear american airlines

You are rude, inconsiderate and mean....and if those are all synonyms, well that's just ok because you are all of them. I still cannot fathom how you have the power to send a cheesy automated recording to my cell phone just 15 hours before our return flight home telling us that our flight had been canceled. Oh, and by the way, if I wanted to reschedule I could say the word "agent" and get put on hold for ten thousand hours. Really?

And you can't possibly be serious when you offer us absolutely no realistic alternatives for a family of four with two young children and executive platinum status. Did you actually expect us to fly from miami to dallas, arrive at midnight, spend the night at dallas (for which we would have to find and pay for the hotel room on our own), fly to southern california bright and early and then catch a third flight back home? When we paid good money for a round-trip, direct flight? The Monday after a holiday weekend you do this? Really?

Please note that this is my simple, tired and pissed off version of "dear american airlines". There is an actual book Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles which was written far more eloquently. I'm ironically about half-way through and it's sitting bedside back in San Francisco. Sadly, my pitiful tale is fact...and his million dollar novel is mere fiction. Well, sort of.

Wish us luck. We fly in pairs on two separate flights through LA tomorrow. Hopefully I won't be writing any more hate mail to american airlines tomorrow night.

did I really say that?

I admit, I have quite a few parenting pet peeves, most of which I normally keep very well to myself. One, for instance, I hear a lot. It sounds something like this, "Just wait until I tell your father" or "Your father is not going to be happy". You know. You've heard it too.

This one always really irked me. I mean, why does mom not have enough clout to discipline on her own? What power does dad have that mom doesn't? I swear, I've never said anything close. Until last night.

See, we're on vacation and the four of us are staying in one large room. Scott was out with some friends and it was time to go to sleep. Gage was exhausted and comfortable in his bed, but Zuzu was sitting up in hers whining repeatedly, "But I don't want to sleep". You know, that drawn out "waaaannnntttt"? So annoying.

I tried bribing her. I tried threatening her. I stayed calm. I got mad. Nothing. I felt so badly for Gage who didn't say a word but I knew was trying to get to sleep. Finally it just came out. I honestly have no idea exactly what I said but in effect it was, "I'm going to tell Daddy that you wouldn't go to sleep and he's going to be mad."

And then. She went to sleep. Just like that. It worked. Talk about bittersweet.

and on the seventh night of hanukkah...

...things started to get a little outta hand.
Please feel free to vote for your favorite Hannah Montana look-a-like now.
zuzu...

dad...

poppy...

grammy...

mom...

or prego...

the santa chronicles continue...

Five year old inquiring minds need to know. How is it that our family gets so many presents for Christmas when less fortunate families get only a few? He's wondering because it's unjust, yes, but also because that would make Santa partial to some families over others and even I can't explain that one. Anyone?

four friends...three decades later.

I don't usually post boring pictures of myself here but I after doing a little math this afternoon, and consequently feeling a little old this evening, I've decided this cool enough to share with everyone.

I have known two of these women for 33 years, and the other a mere 27. We now hail from California, New York, New Jersey & Miami but today we gathered at my mom's house to celebrate Christmas together. We reminisced about R movies we used to watch after my mom went to sleep, giggled at the glasses in my mom's cupboards that have yet to be upgraded (but you can bet will now) & divulged names of old classmates we've "ignored" on facebook. We compared teaching strategies in our kid's schools, made suggestions for what I may actually do for a living some day & made far too many plans to get together in the future.

I just wanted to acknowledge these awesome women and I wanted to thank them. Not just for the overflowing bags of gifts that they arrived with for my entire family, but for their unrelenting friendship. Fact is, we go months, and even years without connecting but I know they will appear on my doorstep (or my mom's which is a heck of a lot closer) and I will feel like not a day, or a month, or two dozen years have come between us.
And that's a good feeling.

you know your day is a success when...

...your child passes out cold while sitting at the dinner table...at 6:30. She just closed her eyes and started falling forward. Classic Christmas dinner.

Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night!

santa rocks

Oh, to be five again on "Christmas morning".
You think he liked the gift?

wordless wednesday

well almost wordless...

I'm pretty sure neither manufacturer would recommend this particular use for their product but it was definitely as much fun as it looks!

twas the night before christmas...

Well, sort of. We're celebrating Christmas tomorrow at Grandma's house due to the fact that we have to leave on the 26th. This gives the kids an extra day to enjoy their gifts before we travel on. So tonight, in our house & as far as our children are concerned, is the night before Christmas.

Grandma just tucked Gage into bed and the conversation went something like this...

Gage: is it going to be a short night?
Grandma: you are not getting up while we are still sleeping or you are going to have some cranky grown-ups tomorrow!
Gage: but why would anyone be cranky when they are getting all those toys?!

Now I must go and hang the stockings with care...
So, Merry Christmas to all...
And to all a good night!

on the second night of hanukkah...

my true love gave to me,
two happy kids...
and some crazy christmas lights...


It's a family tradition to walk over to this house in Grandma's neighborhood which is dressed to the nines every Christmas...


Even Santa came out to join in the festivities this year.
When Santa asked Gage what he wanted for Christmas Gage immediately turned to me and said, "Where's that list?"
"Oh, I have it, 'Santa' replied...I just wanted to see if you remembered what you put on it!" Phew. Thanks, Santa.


The decorations are truly over the top...


Our little soldiers covet their goody bags provided by local high school students...


Even Frosty made it to the Florida wonderland...


Zuzu danced the night away...


People from all over the community come to gather at this well lit and welcoming home...


Not to be outdone, two of the neighbors made a feeble attempt to keep up...



Only in Florida.
I'm glad it's not my block but I wouldn't have it any other way.

not me monday

I did not begin composing today's "not me monday" in my head while lying sleeplessly in bed late last night and I have not completely forgotten all of the grand ideas I had then.

This is quite possibly because...I did not spend 10 hours in bed last night while the kids spent the night with their grandparents. Nope, not me. There are far too many other productive things I could have been doing.

This is quite possibly because the previous night...I did not go out with 9 girlfriends, drink far too much wine and end up in my pajamas all day yesterday.

I DO NOT sound like a stressed-out mom on a much needed vacation, do I?

happy hanukkah!

As we begin the festival of lights (and a week of presents) tonight I thought you might enjoy being reminded of this classic by Adam Sandler...

daddy's girl

This is my daddy, today is his birthday & we were lucky enough to be with him tonight to celebrate. Isn't that cool?
Notice the mickey mouse t-shirt he's sporting. Wonder where he got that?
I love my daddy and he is kind enough to read my blog every day.
He's gone to bed already and so should I but not before...
Happy Birthday Daddy!

disney diary

Still in a Disney haze and fresh out of the park, I figured I'd jot down a few musings while my 295 photos upload into kodak gallery. However, since it's 11pm on Friday night, I'm three hours off my time zone, I've just spent three days at an amusement park and "slept" with two kids in the same hotel room I am going to work in bullet format. Brain power limited. Must conserve.

1. Disney World is run like a freakin' machine. Not only are there people ushering you into the parking lot...but there is another pointing out the aisle...and as everyone gracefully & compliantly pulls into one parking space after another like a scene from a movie, there is another making sure you're parked just right in that space...and oops, no sooner are you out of the car and someone else tells you just where to walk.

Seriously, they appear out of nowhere like a computer graphics trick. Zuzu spills the popcorn and there is a broom under my feet cleaning it up before I can even grab the pail out of her hand. Was this just luck? I think not. This place, my friends, is a well oiled machine.

Sure there are lines but not because they are understaffed or inefficient. (Although it was quite fun to watch the three overly-friendly attendants at the Dumbo ride try to figure out what to do with the two empty elephants in the group ahead of us. Huddle. What to do? Do we run the ride with two empty cars? How could this have happened? Did someone run off with two of our orange color coded "boarding passes" that we use to herd people like cattle? Couldn't be! Or should we pull more people from the red "boarding pass" group to fill the empty seats? But that will lead to a chain reaction. What to do, what to do???) Truly. It was hysterical.

Needless to say, the whole experience started me thinking. There are some people that need to take a field trip to this magical land, pronto. The US government for one. All member of Congress. Yeah, they could learn a thing or two about efficiency and um, customer service maybe? In fact, I think all companies driven by customer service should ditch the August money-saving but still utterly expensive retreats to Scottsdale, Arizona and send all of upper management to a weekend at Disney World instead. Show them a little bit about how things are done in a seemingly recession proof fantasy land. Send 'em home happy, inspired, and with a pair of mickey ears to boot.

2. We are in a recession, right? Our family alone has lost about 40% of a portfolio that has taken us 40% of our lives to build. Retail sales are down everywhere even with all the additional markdowns and promotions thrown at us. People are fearful. So what do we do?...go to Disney World! Why not, it only costs $500 a DAY for a family of four in admission alone. And apparently we are not alone in our thinking. The place was mobbed. Kids are supposed to be in school (hey, we pulled ours of kindergarten, what's he really going to miss in four days?) & there are only 5 days of shopping & preparation before Christmas. Priorities people!

3. OK. This one is not so funny. But damn if it isn't true. Americans are really getting fat. It's one thing when you see an adult that has let it go a little but when you see little kids hefting all this weight around at age 5 it's terribly frightening. And I'm not talking just a few pounds or just a few people.

The fact that for three days straight my children ate nothing but chicken nuggets, french fries, chips & ice cream does not help the matter. And Scott and I did not fair much better. Of course, we were on vacation so we were pretty lax about the kids diet but I was truly horrified by the lack of healthy food options anywhere in the park. Horrified. This, of course, does not excuse the fact that some other parents can not control their children's diet and exercise outside the park but it just helped to amplify the epidemic. Or maybe they all just live there.

4. The Magic Kingdom is scary. Really. Even the rides you think are safe have somehow found a way to morph into a thrill ride. I get it, we were wrong to take a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 year old in the Haunted Mansion but Winnie the Pooh? Scared our five year old. He's still talking about it. Peter Pan? Why does it have to be so damn dark in there? Scary. The kids started to lose trust in us and we started to doubt our own judgment. But not before the Haunted Mansion, I'm afraid. We'll never live that one down.

Well, 156 of 295 photos have uploaded but I think that's it for me tonight. Plus, I really abhor bloggers that just ramble on and on and on...

not me monday

I have not been on the computer standing up for the last twenty minutes so that I do not get comfortable and perhaps um, stay here?...because I have not neglected to pack MY suitcase for our trip that begins in 13 hours. (of course I've packed everyone else's) And I certainly don't want to try to catch a few zzz's tonight before a 10 hour travel day with two lively children.

I did not have a fresh, pre-vacation mani & pedi today in a new color called "caviar dreams" expecting that it would be a lovely shade of blackish, blueish, grayish (sounds lovely, right?) only to have it look blackish greenish... which would actually make more sense...and is not lovely.

I did not wake up to a power-less house on Sunday morning, and without land lines or mobile phone functioning, proceed to confidently turn on the computer expecting to get internet access from our comcast wireless internet service. No way in hell. That would be so dumb.

And finally (I think), but most importantly, I am definitely NOT, in an attempt to spend some quality time with the family and enjoy a much needed vacation, going do my best to appear only in-frequently on my blog, your blog, facebook, twitter, etsy forums and all those other places I tend to roam for the next TWO weeks.

And, oops, one more. I do not, nope, do not, wish everyone a most joyous holiday and happy new year!

ho ho ho

What better way to welcome in the holiday season than to hang out at yup, you guessed it, the mall. Taking pictures with Santa...(please note that according to my five year old, this is not the "real" Santa, he is just some guy dressed up in a costume at the mall who reports back to the "real" Santa).


High fiving Santa because the hug that she wanted to give him turned out to be just a little too scary once they were actually face to face.


Sipping hot cocoa with whipped cream at Peet's. Zuzu's first hot cocoa experience which she actually had to be coaxed into...and certainly not the last. (Don't they really look alike here?)


Frog jumping at the mall playground. This is actually when the most entertaining part happened but I was too busy laughing out loud to capture it on film.

Zuzu kept getting in Gage's way as he was trying to jump the frog. Why wouldn't she? Her mission in life is to annoy him, right?

Anyway, he went over and tried to push her off the frog, while yelling at her, "Zuzu, get out of my way!" When from out of no where Santa appeared outside the gate (presumably taking a potty break) and shouted at Gage, (swear this is true) "Hey, be nice to your sister. Remember I told you that? Or I'll move you from the nice list to the naughty list."

He then turned and walked around the corner (towards the restroom). All the kids on the playground stared, the parents giggled and what did Gage do? He turned to me and said, "But Mommy, I want Santa to see me jump over the frog!". Nice.


What do you think? Is this advertisement alluring or what? My kids couldn't tell you what it was selling but doesn't it look like they want to climb in? It was more difficult to pull them away from this than Santa, the hot cocoa, or the playground. Go figure.

the big fat & jolly lie

If you've been keeping up this month you are aware that I struggle every time the subject of Santa Claus comes up in our house. I blogged about it here and here.

We tend to be very open and honest and my children speak their minds almost to a fault (like when Gage announced at a friend's dinner table last night that he really hadn't wanted to go there because the friend is no longer one of his classmates...and how was sad that his mom made him anyway...but that once he arrived and started playing he was very happy and thankful to be there).

But I digress. I was talking about Santa and the fact that HE IS NOT REAL. Anyway, today we spent hours playing with our magna tiles both with friends and after they left. Magna tiles are one of our single most favorite activities. The kids got two sets for Hanukkah last year. (Yes, we go both ways). Did I digress again?

Now, not only are magna tiles super fun...but the kids inevitably end up arguing about who has more and there are NEVER enough to go around. Reason being...they are also super expensive.

So, at the end of the night as we are brushing our teeth Gage starts in...
gage: maybe we could add more magna tiles to our Christmas list
mom: well sweetie, we already have magna tiles and they are very, very...
gage: I know, expensive (swear - he did this)
mom: yes, they are very expensive
gage: but they don't cost money for Santa
mom: (thinking, ok, he's got a point. theoretically)
mom: true, but Santa can't give you everything you want and we've already asked for quite a bit so let's just leave it at that

He was satisfied.
I, again, felt like a big fat liar.

stick to burgers mickey d's

A few lines from the Seattle Post article that accompanied this photo and that you can read here in it's entirety...

McDonald's has erected a billboard in sight of Starbucks headquarters declaring, "four bucks is dumb."

If Dunkin' Donuts' taste test commercials were the schoolyard equivalent of blowing spitballs at the coffee giant from afar, then the latest from McDonald's is like pulling a wedgie. Starbucks employees driving northbound can see the billboard on their way into the city.

Another billboard slogan jabs, "large is the new grande." The two phrases are displayed on 140 billboards in Western Washington, some of them near Starbucks cafes.

Hah. Done laughing. Just what I want from McDonald's, a limp salad & bad espresso. Stick to what you do best Mickey D's. Burgers, fries and free stuff for kids.

Now back to my $4.00 triple venti non-fat latte with one shot of mocha.

too many questions!

Tonight Gage asked me why it's called a "babysitter" if there are not any babies. Anyone? For lack of a good, on the spot answer, we have temporarily renamed Miss Amy a "zuzu-sitter".

admission of a facebook junkie

Do you facebook? Did you ever send or accept a facebook request to/from someone and then regret it later? Well if you answered yes to the first question then I imagine you answered yes to the second.

For the past few weeks I've really been getting annoyed by one of my facebook "friends". Their status updates were crude, rude and just plain ignorant. Every time I would open my page and see what they had posted it would make me crazy. There are enough relevant things in my life that make me crazy...I didn't need another one.

So, I'm proud to say that I did it. I un-friended someone today. Yup. Apparently they won't be informed. Unless, of course they look for me. Or, oh gasp, read my blog. Chances are slim.

If you are feeling the same way about a facebook "friend" I highly recommend the action. All you have to do is click the "x" next to their name. And poof. They're gone. Them and their stupid status updates.

not me monday

Can you believe it's Monday again? December 8th. Wow.

I did not choose do my grocery shopping at Safeway this morning for two reasons and two reasons only. 1. There is a Starbucks on the premises which means one less stop. 2. Zuzu really wanted to drive the car. You know, those unruly shopping carts dressed up like cars. Yeah, that one.

Nope. Not me.

While shopping at Safeway, I did not pay so little attention to my daughter, driving the obnoxious car, that when we finally ended up back at our car she had altered her outfit like this:




Yes, she has her socks on her hands, her boots are on the floor and her feet are bare...cold...and dirty. I suppose the only benefit here, in hindsight, is that her hands were protected from the germy steering wheel!

Nope. Not me.

What did you NOT do today?

victory is sweet

The Gators pulled it off in the fourth quarter and went on to beat Alabama 31 to 20, winning themselves the SEC Championship title and buying them a ticket to the National Championship game in Miami on January 8th. If you hadn't noticed, we bleed orange and blue in our house. Here the kids celebrate what ended up being the final touchdown of the game, securing our win. Sweet.

tgif

So here I sit. Friday night. Kids tucked safely in bed. Just finished up one of those true story football movies that inevitably makes you cry. Dunking my fake oreos in my fake (ok, skim) milk. Thinking about what in the world I can blog about before I go work into the wee hours of the night. Um, I mean before I get a good night's sleep. Unfortunately, no one thing is striking me as terribly entertaining, so let's try this approach...


Yes. I bought more snow gear. Today Gage received a hat, scarf and two turtlenecks from Gap Kids. Now I'm quite biased but really...How freakin' cute does this kid look?

Speaking of cute. Tonight while looking at picture books in bed with Zuzu I was completely blown away by the memory on this little girl.

We see a picture of a wheel barrow...
zuzu: wheelbarrow from Grandma's house...that was fun!
Ok, that was last December and she was not even 18 months old (right, mom?)

We see a picture of a watering can...
zuzu: we have that at my school...
mom: you have that at your school?
zuzu: yes, we water the carrots
mom: you used a watering can to water the carrots at school?
zuzu: yes, with maggie's mama
Um, ok? Apparently they are growing carrots.

We see a picture of a bee...
zuzu: Gage got stung by a bee
(pulls left foot out from under covers and points to exact spot on second toe where the stinger went in)
zuzu continues: He needed a penny
Ok, this was only a few months back but still. She knew which toe...and WHERE on the toe. And she remembered the penny that we used to try to neutralize the sting. I don't even remember her paying attention that day!

So I just went back and re-read those three paragraphs and realize they might not seem all that impressive to you. I think it might be one of those "you had to be there" moments but I'm in no mood to edit so we move on...

Funny story from a week or so back (my mom may not find it funny but)...
I was in the garage doing laundry when I return to Scott and Gage on the sofa half laughing at and half scolding Zuzu who is sitting alone at the kids table in front of the TV, peacefully coloring and chanting, "holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, holy shit". You get the picture. Could have been me. I won't deny it. But it certainly hadn't been that day. Or even that week probably. She just randomly pulled it out of her vocabulary bank and decided to say it over, and over, and over...

One last story and I'll shut up. Every Friday night we have pizza delivered. (Yes if you're an avid reader you will know that we had it Monday this week too but we're not going there). Every week the kids fight over the "thingy" as soon as the pizza arrives. The "thingy" is the plastic white thing in the middle of the pie that presumably stops the cheese from gushing around. Anyway, it can get ugly. But tonight, after a good 6 months of this ritual I open the door and the delivery guy says to me, "I brought you two thingys!" Now THAT is customer service. We got an extra thingy. For free.

And here's something to send you off with tonight. One of my facebook "friends" posted this tonight. Apparently it was just released three days ago. Yes, about 5-6 weeks LATE but quite entertaining still.

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Wishing you a happy and healthy weekend.
tgif!

should I dare say it?

Are my children approaching independence? Am I really sitting on the computer with four children playing happily in this house...alone? How long can this last? Can I finish this post?.......yup.

treasure hunt

As most families with young children do I suppose, we have two toy drawers in our kitchen. They are filled with small whimsical items that don't seem to have any other sensible home, party favors & fast food restaurant prizes. (Yes, we enjoy our occasional McDonald's. Well, not "we" but you know what I mean.)

Tonight, as I was making cupcakes , see here the kids amused themselves for nearly an hour with the various junk we have accumulated over the years. Zuzu accessorized and Gage started a "treasure chest" for his amazing finds. And then I cleaned it all up when they got bored. Such is life.

I forgot to tell you...

Yesterday, after dropping off the husband at the bus and both kids at school I hopped on the 101 north and headed for Target. Oh yes, you knew that. Anyway, I drove an entire SEVEN minutes listening to the Backyardigans. Alone. Clueless. And mind you, their songs are only a minute or two long...which means I listened to at least three.

I happen to know that it was seven minutes because I looked at the clock when I left the pre-school. 9:06. Then, when I found myself jamming with Tasha, Tyrone, Austin, Uniqua & Pablo, I looked at the clock again. 9:13. Yes, that's what it takes for me to notice that I've forgotten to put on grown-up music. Singing along with the Backyardigans. Out loud. Alone.

This is not the first time this has happened. Oye.

hello, my name is kristi...

...and I am a target-aholic.

I went to target (and old navy) today to get a few items for Gage's upcoming snow boarding trip with dad. I left with this:



OK, not really. I actually bought the jacket and bib on the left two weeks ago.

Here is a shot a took from my phone the day I brought the jacket and bib home. He's pretending to be sledding on the wall-to-wall carpet.



I did, however, manage to bring home two fleece pullovers, two sweaters, two boots (a pair, ok?), a matching sporty jacket & pants, two t-shirts (not shown as they are not officially ski gear) one vest, two pairs of mittens, one pair of gloves...and a partridge in a pear tree.

Here's Zuzu modeling Gage's new boots. For some reason she is a far more cooperative model when it doesn't really count.