This is Just a Test

Honey, I'm home!

2011-08-08T07:22:00.000-07:00

I've come to realize I need to empower myself, take control in many more areas. I have to stop being shit upon...move, weave, duck. I must accept myself, embrace myself, and if someone cannot love the true me, then -- fuck -- them. Carpe carpa!

Elephant on my Chest

2011-08-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

You can't see her, but there is an elephant on my chest. She's rather heavy, her weight pressing down with careful precision. I cannot get her off. I cannot find the strength to do much more than simply breathe.

Breathing does not come easy. I must concentrate to get my lungs to inflate fully, to feel myself expanding with life. My mind is solely occupied with this one goal. Everything else is a distraction.

Distractions upset the process, upsets me. I snarl in response. I can only do one thing. Breath. Concentrate. Deep breathe in. Deep breathe out. Just breathe, until I get this elephant off my chest.

Her name is Sorrow.

South Coast Botanic Garden: Dragonflies

2009-07-27T07:34:00.000-07:00

Dragonfly nymph's last molt

We spotted the adult dragonfly.

Jinkies!

2009-07-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

My son loves my new haircut. He says I look like Velma (from Scooby doo). I'm not so sure I should feel flattered.

The Best Mom

2009-07-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

"You're the best mom I ever had."

Our Dinosaur

2009-07-17T07:00:00.001-07:00

Well, we grew a Triops. We had more, but well, they turned out to be a lesson in survival of the fittest. Dad and I have enjoyed them most. These guys are voracious eaters! Look up triops in wikipedia for more info. We got ours at a hobby store. You can also find them at Toys 'R Us under the name Aquasaur.

Advertising works

2009-07-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

"Mom, did you know that last year millions of people went to Progressive.com? And Elvis was there, too."

Screwed!

2009-07-17T06:56:00.000-07:00

"Mom, I'm screwed."

The Promise

2009-03-18T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hope springs eternal in the human breast:

Man never is, but always To be Blest.

Alexander Pope

While there's life, there's hope.

Cicero

The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers,

but for the wide world's joy.
Henry Ward Beecher

Keep your face to the sunshine

and you cannot see the shadow.

It's what sunflowers do.
Helen Keller

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me,

an invincible summer.

Albert Camus

Still Life?

2009-03-10T06:38:00.000-07:00

The Y's

2009-03-05T05:49:00.000-08:00

"Mmmmm. The tire smells good!"

"Mom, you should eat only carrots. Then you'll be skinny like me."

The Y's will:

Lift butt cheek up to expel gas
Not hear you calling
Zone in front of a television
Recite from commercials and movies but be unable to recall what you just said
Prefer to wait in the car than go in the craft store with you

Teach me to look like a Queen B

2009-02-12T08:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got a bit ticked off. Okay, I'm still ticked off. Very.

I think I must look very approachable, because I seem to get random strangers coming up to me and feeling comfortable in giving me their unrequested 2 cents. This time we were at the Salvation Army store. EZ was thrilled to find an Easy Bake oven and showed it off to me.

An old European lady comes up and says it's not for boys. Um, excuse me?! WTF?! I wanted to give her a piece of my mind (not to mention my fist and my foot)!

I buy my son things like strollers and dolls to play with. I tell him pink is not only for girls, that there are no "boy" toys or "girl" toys. Here I am trying to teach my son to be fair and open-minded, teach him not to be biased, and this stranger comes up and just is unthinkingly undoing it all.

Can someone teach me how to have that "if you come up to me I may bite" look?? This really bugs me. I'm thinking of getting a sign that reads "No trespassers. Beware of Mom." *sigh* Really, how does one perfect that "talk to me and die" look?

The one thing I am grateful for is that she did not greatly impact Z. It took him less than a second to brush off her comment. What a confident, bright child he is!

I did set him straight on the subject, and I made sure his dad reinforced the facts and how wrong this lady was. WRONG!

So, if you have any tips for me, post them. I really need to look mean and (b)itchy. I want to be a Queen B.

Starlight, Starbright

2009-02-11T07:11:00.000-08:00

Last week Monday Z began his first "acting" class, called Let's Pretend. Before going, I asked him if he knew what we were going to do that day. He replied "I'm going to be a star!" Talk about over-acting!

The kid makes me laugh. Hilarious drama king!

And after the class, he informed me that the curtain is not called the curtain. It's called the wing.

I'd better catch up on the lingo before I get upstaged!

ClickSchooling

2009-02-10T06:28:00.000-08:00

We take a moment for a brief PSA. (In this case, PSA stands for Public Service Announcement, not to be confused with Professional Sports Authenticator or Professional Squash Association).

If you are looking for a free way to help enrich your child's education, may I suggest ClickSchooling? Created and maintained by Diane Flynn Keith, it offers

excellent information delivered in a student-friendly, multi-media format, and often contain free interactive games as well as printable lessons and materials that can be tweaked to your needs and interests whether you are homeschooling, unschooling, or after-schooling. Many teachers use these recommended resources in the classroom as well. Most of the sites are suitable for a wide age range. The free reviews are sent in a daily email, Monday through Saturday, that are focused on a specific subject as follows:
* Monday = Math
* Tuesday = Science
* Wednesday = Language Arts
* Thursday = Social Sciences
* Friday = Virtual Field Trip
*Saturday = Electives: Music, Art, & Languages

My son is 5, so some of the material is above his level of comprehension at this time. Many of those, I have bookmarked for later. That's how great the sites are that Diane leads you to!

You will have to sign up to have the emails, but it's free. I don't laud often, so take note here. Truly, I've found ClickSchooling to be a wonderful asset. Check it out. You won't be sorry. Heck, your child may even thank you for it. And it's only a click away. (*hee hee* I couldn't resist!)

Did I mention? It's free!

Smooth Operator

2009-02-09T06:40:00.000-08:00

Yes! I'm actually blogging again! Now get off my back!! ^_^

We are sitting at Sam's Club having lunch. Z is not a shy one and loves any opportunity to chat someone up. Luckily for him, there is a little girl at the next table.

He leans over and says, "I like your dress."

(I'm thinking, smooth kid...where on earth did you learn that from?)

Then he adds, pointing to his long flannel shirt, "do you like my dress?"

Smooooth.

Week of the Spiders

2008-09-28T06:46:00.000-07:00

Both the South Coast Botanic Garden and the Natural History Museum had spider events. We hooked up with Z's friend Chloe and checked out the Spider Pavilion at Exposition Park. While we were there, we also visited the California Science center and the Air & Space Museum. Having a friend along can make learning fun.

Flying made slime
lovely spiders

At the botanic garden, the kids went to the botanic garden. We actually were there for twice. Once for spiders and once for mice. The kids get to do a craft and hear a story or two. Another of Z's friends attend the gardens lessons. Their parents work at REI, so after we go on a hike together. A fountain of knowledge, the daddy points out lots of cool things. I learn as much as I can, my ears wide open as he explains things to his girls and Z. Yup. More girls. What can I say?! Girls are cool.

sheet web
pretending to film

milkweed
milkweed
making spider web
viewing spiders
watering plants

old fashion water pump fun

gw = grey (or reclaimed) water

raccoon tracks
bubble fun
great road
sprinkler and frien

We also joined Patches for another day of tennis and one of soccer. You'd think with all this exercise I would have lost some weight. Oh well, there's still hope.

Visualize

2008-09-25T05:34:00.000-07:00

Z is sitting on the toilet and just thought he'd share with me (I guess in case I didn't know)...

"Mom, when I close my butt, the poop just lets go. Like a knife, it cuts."

The wheels are a turnin'!

I wonder what he would say if I told him about another little boy who thought there was a little man living in his butt with a pair of scissors.

(Kim, I do dares!)

Discoveries

2008-09-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

I know I have been lax, so I'm going to make an effort to post at least a weekly update. If I don't, you have my permission to kick my big, flat butt.

I can hardly believe we've only been home 1 week. It seems much longer but in a very good way. It was a week of firsts and a week of discovery.

Saturday, the day after we got back, we went to daddy's working place for their open house. We stayed for a little bit and had some fun. Z and I went on the big slide. It was our first time. We each had a blanket and slid down. Whee! He rode a kiddie roller coaster and had some ice cream. The rest of the weekend was for relaxing, catching up on mail and shopping.

On Monday, we joined Patches and had a tennis lession. Z tended to "batter up" with the racquet. The coaches, Miss Suzanne and her husband did a great job with the kids. Z had some good hits and got some running in when they had relay games. He loves to vroom his engines!

Tuesday was a bit busy. I had an early doctor's appointment. Then I snuck in a trip to Joann's and found some containers for Z's toys. (We moved most of his toys up to his bedroom. His daddy wanted to reclaim the living room. I guess he got tired of stepping on cars and over train tracks. The bins I found are clear, stackable, and easy access.) Superkids gymnastic started again, so we headed off to class. Then we jetted home. I packed a lunch, and we had a picnic and some play time at the park. Next was Z's 5 year old appointment (mentioned briefly in the last post). Everything went well. Z is in the 20-25 percentile. I guess he has genes from my side of the family. I'm hoping he makes it over 5'6". If not, thank goodness he's got that great personality! The doctor just mentioned he needs to work on his one-legged balance. He got to a 8-9 count. They wanted him to get to 10. He does very well with the one-legged hopping, though.

Wednesday was just awesome! One of the Patches' parents arranged for the kids to do a rock climb at REI. The beginning was a bit rocky (sorry, I couldn't resist!). Z made it about half way up before throwing in the towel. The second time, he needed tons of encouragement. Everyone started cheering for him, chanting his name. This kid is hilarious. He told the kids "louder!" I'm glad I was filming that part. With a slight tug of the rope to help him over a difficult area, he was able to make it to the top to ring the bell. He was pretty stoked and eagerly did a few more climbs and lots of bell ringing! I even got a chance to climb! I have to admit, I think I did a great job myself for my first climb. You know I rang that bell!

On Thursday, we went to the South Coast Botanic Garden. They were having a kids session on spiders. The kids got to water the plants, getting the water from an "old" water pump. Then they had a craft making a spider web from string, paper plates, and a spider ring for the center. They also had storytime and got to hear 2 stories. The instructors had some cool spiders to show, and one egg sack had hatched so we saw lots of little spiderlings. Spider webs were also discussed, and we went web hunting. The kids also got to plant a spider plant to take home. After the class, we hooked up with another family from Patches and wandered around the gardens. I love hanging out with other parents. I get some good ideas by watching and listening.

Friday was a day for me to get some errands and housework done. We sent some photo discs to the grandparents and went to Costco. We did some laundry. Daddy had a successful day at work after a long week and 16 hours of overtime, so we celebrated dinner at the Lazy Dog Cafe. If you've never been there, I highly recommend a trip. The hummus trio is great. Daddy does not like hummus, but he loves this. Plus the pita they make is so yummy! You can't go wrong with their burgers. This place knows how to cook the meat so that it stays moist and retains the burger flavor, without getting overpowered by the other ingredients. I had the Bleu Cheese New York for the first time. Oh. My. God. D-e-lish! Hubby totally agreed. He had the Gaucho Flatiron Steak and thought mine was way better. It was.

Saturday, I had my first sewing class. Daddy had to go into work, so Z went with him. Z was very excited and dressed like daddy does to go to work. Jeans and a polo shirt. Unfortunately for daddy, daddy needs to concentrate and zone out. Daddy learned that it's nearly impossible to do so with a 5 year old in the room. hee hee. My class went okay. We started making a simple potholder that we made a bias for and had to hand sew. The only problem is the class might get cancelled. We may not have enough students for the class to continue. I'll find out later this week. I hate when my classes get cancelled. I seem to be interested in things that most people aren't. *sigh*

Sunday was laundry and more shopping. I also got to go to my knitting group and the after knitting dinner for one of the ladies. We went to the House of Vege. While the taste was good, some of the textures took some getting used to. Like cubed "chicken" had the consistency of tofu or fish cake. The best dishes were the lettuce cups and the eggplant. Maybe since they weren't trying to be something they weren't, know what I mean? Some of the guests were friends the birthday girl had from work, teachers. Listening to them chat made me so grateful I have the opportunity to homeschool. One of the knitters next to me said if she was pregnant, she'd talk to her husband about moving to avoid raising her kids here. School sounds like a scary place.

Well, that's it for now. Hopefully I'll get some vacation photos up soon. Don't hold your breath.

Anoxia

2008-09-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

At Z's 5 year old check up yesterday:

The doctor was listening to his lungs and had Z taking breaths.

The doctor says to Z that he is very good at breathing and asks if Z has been doing it often.

Z replies, "no, not too much."

*His appointment went well. He is in the 20-25 percentile. He is currently 41 inches tall and 38 pounds. Hearing and vision was fine. No anemia. And he even peed in a cup. Had 2 shots and no crying. The brave boy got a Wall-E sticker and a toy mama had stashed away at home for just the right moment.

Wassup!

2008-09-16T05:48:00.000-07:00

Where has the time gone?! Florida, of course!

We took a much needed and long overdue family vacation to Orlando. For 2 weeks, we were worry free (except for the threats of Hurricane Hanna and Hurricane Ike).

Going to a state that has seasons means SALE! I'm almost embarassed to say I bought socks and bras. No shoes. No bags. 90% was undies. It was too hard to resist Victoria's Secrets sports bras... $3.99 each! And I found a pair of Easy Spirit house slippers (lovely cushioning) for 50 cents! You know I'm all about the great deals!

But, that's not why we went to Florida, so back to the main topic. We used VRBO (vacation rentals by owner). It was our first time, and we were a bit nervous about not staying at a traditional hotel. We had a 2 bedroom condo at Vista Cay which was a few miles from Walt Disney World. Having a full kitchen was great. Plus, there was a grocery store (Publix) nearby that we frequented.

Z was in love... with "his room." There was a bunk bed and a twin bed. Plus a television with dvd player and a Playstation 2. No games, though, for which I am grateful! The room had a Disney "Cars" theme which was the icing on his cake. He had so much fun climbing to the top bunk (and coming down), but we made him sleep on the bottom. I did not want a trip to a Florida ER to add on my itinerary.

We went to Walt Disney World, Gatorland, Green Meadows, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens. I would recommend the first three, especially if you have a young child. Of course, if your child is really into animals, then you may want to add Busch Gardens to the list.

Disney World has so much to offer the younger set. Rides they can ride! Z loved the Toy Story rides. He loves Toy story. We finally outgrew our fireman costume. It was our one and only costume and served us well for 3 years! This year Z will be Buzz Lightyear. "To infinity and beyond!"

Of the DW parks, Z enjoyed the Magic Kingdom the most. Although we went during "hurricane season", the weather was bearable and the crowds were down. The few times it actually rained made the temperature nice and cool, and my guys had a blast jumping in puddles and kicking water at each other. We stayed up 2 nights to see the "Wishes" fireworks display. By the end of the trip, I was getting kind of tired of DW. It reminded me of a Vegas casino. You know how you walk through one, and it's all lights and noise? That's DW. Loud. I had my fingers in my ears because I was getting overstimulated (and not in a good way).

Z also enjoyed DW Hollywood Studios. That was where the second Toy Story ride was located. And they had an awesome stunt car show! Z totally loved it! It was exciting and educational since they showed a few of their "movie tricks."

We also enjoyed Epcot. Z liked "the ball" which was a bit of a history tour of technology and communication. At the end, it had a cute personalized show with your faces in it and you could email a picture of yourself "in the future." We visited the other "countries", but the best part was eating at the Japanese restaurant. Mmmmm, real rice! Not cheap but totally worth it. I am now a fan of ponzu. Weird that I have never tried it before. We went twice! Outside was a booth selling shaved ice. We had that both times too. Passed on the funnel cakes.

Gatorland had a fun water area. We didn't know about it prior to going. If we had, we would have dressed appropriately. But, we couldn't resist. So we all got soaking wet. That was the best fun! Z did get to touch a year old gator, and we all tried gator nuggets and gator ribs. I'm not a convert. Gator is a bit tough, much like eating way over done chicken. The shows were cute, and you can ride a train around the area. There are some paths that take you into the swamp. I can't imagine living in a swamp. There is something so eerie about it. Although you have a wooden walkway, you are completely alone, surrounded by murky water, trees with spanish moss hanging from its limbs. Spooky.

Green Meadows is a petting farm. Located in Kissimmee, it's something us city folks enjoy, or at least I did. Why? I got to milk a friggin' cow! It was much easier than I thought and totally cool! You go with a guide on a 2 hour walking tour. You learn about the different farm animals and get to try your hand at farm things. Like...I caught a goose! I was stoked! They had the sweetest goats that wanted to be touched and pigs that loved to untie your shoe laces. We got to feed some of the animals. Fun! We rode a train and had a wagon ride. We even saw a water buffalo and a zorse! For your edjamacation, a zorse is a sterile offspring of a zebra stallion and a horse mare.

Since we were in Florida, I figured I had to have key lime pie. It was alright, but not my thing. My sweet tooth had a craving for apple pie... which I had too much of. Ice cream added to my problems and I found myself up 6 pounds after Florida, despite all the walking we did. I enjoy food way too much. Crap. Back to the exercising and eating healthy.

I'll post some photos later. Right now, I need more coffee, and I need to play some games on Facebook.

Why BOYS Rule!

2008-08-19T05:58:00.000-07:00

...yesterday, outside...
"Mom, you're lucky I'm a boy!"
...we are cleaning the front steps...
"Why? Because boys are great sweepers?"
"Yeah!"
Give the boy another broom!

What TO wear (or DUH, Mama!)

2008-08-18T05:41:00.000-07:00

Z decided he wanted to wear his yellow t-shirt.
He grabbed a pair of shorts to go along.
I had to ask, "Why are you going to wear that?"
Z responded with, "It's Orange day."
Sometimes it takes me a while.
"But that's red."
"Red and yellow makes orange."
Oh.
Okay. Good enough for me.

Say what?!

2008-08-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, we don't always say what we mean.

Last night we had dinner at the Lazy Dog Cafe.
As we ended the dessert portion, Z screams, "I need a wheelchair!"
As dad puzzles "wheelchair?"...
Supermom uses her powers of observation and deduction and replies appropriately, "You need a refill?"

Scary isn't it how my mind works?!

Praenomen

2008-08-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

Are you bored? Are you wondering what "praenomen" means? Leave your boredom behind! Join me. Come over to the green side.
Play a game. Learn. And donate for free! I'll even let you choose between two games!
Plant a tree
Give Rice

It's only 6:30 am, and I've planted 4 trees today and gave 1600 grains of rice. How about you?
I hope I don 't have to use your praenomen. You know who you are (I hope).
Just do it.

6:54 am donated 4000 grains.

My guys

2008-08-07T06:17:00.001-07:00

Z and dadBefore a swim class, we stopped at a hardware store. Z is dressed for the water. Complete with rubber boots.

The New Addition

2008-08-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

Congratulate me. Yup, we've got a new addition. It's been tested (by Z) and relegated to the garage (by dad, not me).

Meet our Nascar Tire:

Z's apparently got connections. This tire comes from a Beringer car. I believe it is the #32 driven by Kyle Busch.

Can you tell he loves it?

He insisted it needed cleaning.

The boy only volunteers to clean something if it's got wheels... or is a wheel.

The Remix Bag

2008-08-04T06:36:00.001-07:00

Meet the Remix Bag, so named since I took a little of this and a little of that from different things I've done in the past and wove them together to get this. I don't have a pattern per se. You've heard it from me before. I wing. But, here's a brief description.

The Remix Bag
Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Yarn (2 complimenting yarns)
crochet hook E
needle, ribbon, drawstring toggle (and I embellished a smidge with beads)

Base
Chain 62. SC in 2nd CH from hook and in each CH across. CH 1 and turn(turning chain counts as 1 SC).
SC approximately for 10 rows.
From here you are continuing the base following the technique from NO ASSEMBLY REQUIRED MARKET BAG. SC around the entire piece, making sure that the opposing sides have the same number of sc. Follow instructions from NO ASSEMBLY REQUIRED MARKET BAG starting with Row 11. Keep in mind that I am using SC and not HDC and chaining 1 instead of 2. Continue with Row 12.
Next row, SC all around. Change color yarn. You will be weaving in ends as you go. SC around (ending with SL ST for each round) for 4 rows. Switch to primary color. SC 1 row. Now onto the mesh.
**CH 2. Skip one SC space and SC in next.** Repeat ** to end. Mark the starting chain.
Continue for about 8 rows. SL ST to join. Then 2 sc in each 2 chain space around. SL ST to join. SC in each SC for 1 row. Change yarn and SC for 4 rows. Switch yarn and SC around. Repeat process from ** until desired height of bag. SL ST to finish.
Mark on both sides of bag where handles will go. Insert hook and start handles. I did width of 5 SC. SC rows to desired handle length. Attach end with SC.
I found 2 nice ribbons to use as accent and as a drawstring closure. The ribbons were just weaved into the mesh part. I slipped the ends through a drawstring toggle, added beads and tied off ends. Weave in any loose yarn ends.
Hope this was enough of a tutorial to get you through. If you are trying to make this and get stuck...do what I do ...do whatever you want!

Tadpole

2008-07-31T07:36:00.001-07:00

Look ma! No floaties!

Want some candy?

2008-07-31T06:58:00.000-07:00

I'm old. I'm married.

I've learned to enjoy the simple pleasures in life...

Eye candy.

Free and yummy.

Oh...um...and a great swim teacher.

In Automotive History

2008-07-30T06:18:00.000-07:00

1863 - Henry Ford, Automobile manufacturer, is born (d. 1947)

1985 - Saturn announces first plant

1990 - The first Saturn automobile rolls off the assembly line.

2003 - In Mexico, the last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line.

2003 – Zorro is born.

Easy come

2008-07-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

You can demolish a house and give it an Extreme Makeover but stupid is as stupid does. And that's all I have to say about that.

We love the Oldies

2008-07-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Old Toons
You know how one thing leads to another? Well, we started off the morning doing "paperwork." Z did a dot-to-dot of Dino from the Flintstones. Of course he had no clue who the Flintstones were much less Dino... Thank goodness for YouTube!

Soon we found ourselves in front of the screen watching the intro to 2 Flintstones episodes. Which made me think. How cool are the Flintstones to a 4 going on 5 (in one day!) year old kid! It's got dinosaurs, construction, foot pedaled cars and one really strong kid that likes to bam.

The right bar on the screen gave me more ideas.

I clicked on shows I remembered: Speed Buggy, Speed Racer, Captain Caveman, and the Jetson's. Anyone remember these gems? I watched his face light up as he watched George jet around in space, the awe when his vehicle turned into a briefcase.

Now, I realize the content may not be appropriate for all the little ones. Hey, that's what parents are for! But, the one thing the old toons offer are stimulating imagination and lots of laughs. And, they fit the interest of little boys.

It would be nice to see these in reruns... on regular television. I think kids get enough of the real world.

Old Tunes
I introduced my son to songs from the past. He has latched on to one with the intensity of a croc in a death roll. He calls it "Peter of the Pack."

He insisted it was "Peter" and not "Leader."

Catchy tune, cool motorcycle engine roars, and a terrible crash. What's not to love?!

How about the repeat function on your car cd? Thank goodness for short car rides!

Yesterday I found a tape cassette of the song so he could listen to it in his room on his Fisher Price cassette player. Just before bed, he began to sing along for the first time. I can't begin to tell you how cute it is to see him singing

"My folks were always putting him down (down down)
They said he came from the wrong side of town
(Whatcha mean when you say that he came from the wrong side of
town?)
They told me he was bad
But I knew he was sad
That's why I fell for the leader of the pack."

Sometimes men are from Venus

2008-07-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

My husband is from Mars. At least that far out there. I strongly suspect he is from a plutoid. Most times he baffles me and we've gotten into some weird power struggles. But every once in a while, I see a glimmer of hope.

This weekend, he said the magic words. You know, those words, the kind that gets a girl's heart racing and the blood pumping. I'm starting to think, maybe he does understand me a little.

Guys, try this one:

"Do you want to go to Michaels?"

By the way, this only works if you've ever seen your significant other knit, crochet, hot glue, stamp, bake or sew.

Three Guesses

2008-07-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Guess what my husband did this weekend?
Guess what I did after?
Guess who had the most fun?

Answers to these questions can be found below:

We have a new toilet.

Lots of boxes

View from rooftop

The first visitor (or peeping pup)

The King and boxes for the throne equals his new castle.

Moms rock!

Adventures in San Pedro

2008-07-16T14:54:00.001-07:00

There's a lot to see and do. You just need to search and make time.

We finally went to San Pedro. Our first stop was Ports 'O Call where we could walk along and look at boats as well as visit the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and see the Fire Boat #2. So much great history and learning to be found here. I loved it! I had two wishes:
One: The Trolley running on a Thursday. (I was a day early!)
Two: Z would stop asking to go to a car museum (we came to look at boats, dern it!)

This is a bird I saw that I thought was cool. I found out from people at the Aquarium that it was an adult Black Crowned Night Heron.

And things that Z found really cool are things that didn't have admission prices... like watching the construction crew and feeding the sea birds.

The Hunt

2008-07-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

Z wanted to check out crayola.com. I found this scavenger hunt.

I thought it would be fun. And it was.

We found them all as I got the errands done.

My main stops were Trader Joe's and Vons and everywhere in between.

Here are a few images of what we found.

something red

a bench

a feather

a blue string

This was a great way to keep Z entertained. Make your own scavenger hunt page, work on some reading or counting skills, and above all, have fun.

Saturday and Monday

2008-07-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

Made Dune Buggy at Lowe's

Ran into Sue and her zoo

high school science

entomology, bilateral symmetry, segmented arthropods

are words I learned

silk worms, cocoons and moths

all very cool

If you build it...They will too!

2008-07-10T07:29:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday we went to Santa Ana to visit the Discovery Science Center.

Bob was there.

It was a great exhibit, encouraging imagination and creativity. The kids loved "building." They could fix pipes, construct a rock wall, push a wheelbarrow, and build a wooden wall.

Aside from Bob, they had tons of cool science displays that had adults and children enthralled. There was a green screen and costumes so you could see yourself on television swimming with dolphins. You could sit in a shake shack and experience an earthquake. Wind tunnels, smoke, sound... and let's not forget the dinosaurs. Ahh, the wonders of learning and discovery...

But I have to say, one of my favorites was the Animal Grossology exhibit. Scents, parasites, poop and history... all the makings for good entertainment in my book. They don't call me "Cliffette" for nothing, ya know?

Add one to the "zorro-isms"

2008-07-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

We decided a hop in the pool would be fun so we changed our clothes. I realized Z forgot about the differences between boys and girls when he said, “Mom! Where’s your penis?!”

I should have said it fell off when I was not listening to my mom.

4th of July

2008-07-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

Patches was amazing yesterday. The topic was Independence Day. We learned a little about why we celebrate the 4th of July and about colonial life. We made dolls from corn husk with hair of corn silk.

I learned about hornbooks. This description is an excerpt from the Blackwell Museum:

Paper was pretty expensive once and hornbooks were made so children could learn to read without using a lot of paper. A hornbook was usually a small, wooden paddle with just one sheet of paper glued to it. But because that paper was so expensive, parents and teachers wanted to protect it. So they covered the paper with a very thin piece of cow's horn. The piece of cow's horn was so thin, you could see right through it. That's why these odd books were called "hornbooks."

We made our own version of a hornbook that could be used with a dry erase marker.

The kids colored their American Flags and marched to some of our nations tunes. Some were equiped with musical instruments, and the parents were serenaded with a cacophony of drums, xylophones, and bells.

What a great start to America's birthday!

The Heart of the Mater

2008-07-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as we stood in the parking lot, Z noticed a discarded paper bag rolling on the asphalt. He turned to me and said, "Mom, I want to help the environment." He wanted to pick up the trash that littered the ground.

Today we are going to the beach to do just that.

He amazes me.

What we did in June 2008

2008-06-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

This month has sure zipped by. Keeping him busy has kept me busy. Between Patches, gymnastics, soccer, playdates, trips to the library, and other things, it's a wonder I've had time to knit.

Hat for the newest arrival!

In Patches we covered Pet Care with visits from a therapy dog, a family of rats, and some tadpoles. We traveled to the Rainforest and made a felt tree frog and blue morpho butterfly.

The Sixties found us dancing with streamers and rapping paper plate tambourines. Innovative little boys found that their tambourines made better racing objects as they flung them along the floor.

Our bulbs that we planted in March finally bloomed! Cool.

Soccer season for us ended. We had only winners, and Z got his trophy for participation from Coach Rosa.

The City yard had it's open house. We enjoy seeing (and getting into) the many vehicles and learning about ways to help the environment. The freebies are always a plus... a polo shirt, a bag made from recycled plastic bottles, a rubber duckie and toy trash truck, and lady bugs for the garden.

My suggestion to new parents. Save money on toys. Get boxes.

Kids love to explore them, hide in them, and create with them. You can shape them, color them, and build with them. Boxes don't cost much (often you get them for free), and remain a favorite for many years. I learned that I've been spending way too much money on toys. We've made bridges for trucks, used them as cars, and made them into spaceships.
(And apparently they can be used to ambush the enemy...)
Our boxes have even become sleds for zooming downstairs (the strongest are the ones that once held melons). Invest in a box.

We also went to our first ball game.

The Angels were playing the Tampa Bay Rays. Between the food and the fireworks, it held our interest for about an hour.

Whew! I think that's it. I'm starting to learn how to use dpn's (double pointed needles). Hopefully for July I'll have made a pair of leg warmers with my dpn's.

It's all Good!!

2008-06-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Z got a treat last night...he got to play a video game with his dad! I was downstairs cleaning after dinner and I hear his excited call:

Z: "Mom! I won!"

Me: "Woohoo!"

Z proudly: "I came in 3rd place."

Gotta love it!

The Best Things come in Little Packages

2008-06-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world, little one.
Your presence has been long awaited.
Such a blessing you are,
and blessed to have such incredible people to call mom and dad.
I can not wait to meet you.
What happiness you bring to us all.
Welcome.

May happened

2008-06-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

Despite Lucy's traumatic experience, there were some great things that happened in May... Armed Forces Day

Story teller at the Library

Golden Spike Day (Transcontinental Railroad celebration)

Fire Service Day with a friend

South Coast Botanic Garden with preschool
earthworms
picking up dropped corn to feed ducks

building with marshmallows
sound experiment
gas experiment

and Mother's Day Tea at preschool

Can you hear me now?

A hand to treasure.

For My Favorite Uncle Reading My Blog

2008-06-04T08:29:00.001-07:00

Lucy sick...Lucy now...
The only one in the family we try to fatten up.

Glad she's eating again!!

My Lessons

2008-05-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

I must remember that although Lucy is an adult, she is a canine adult. I am told I must not give her the benefit of the doubt. I must treat her as if she had the mind of a 2 year old child.

DO NOT LEAVE HER UNATTENDED!

Which means I cannot trust her to stay downstairs while I am fixing lunch. Although upstairs is off limits (and she knows this), she cannot resist the lure of exploration and the hunt for treasure. Remember the last time led to the discovery of daddy's stash of donuts.

Yesterday, she joyfully found the opened bag of dark chocolate Hersey Kisses. That joy was quickly dispelled (in more ways than one) with having to drink hydrogen peroxide and throwing it all up. Misery followed with an eventual trip to the ER about 7 hours later.

The diagnosis: Too much acid, dehydrated, low fever, and another expensive lesson for me.

Present for Mother

2008-04-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

I was at Sam's yesterday and came across this book.

It's written by Alison McGhee.

I read it.

My eyes welled up.

I had to buy a copy for myself, an early Mother's Day present.

If you are a mother, know a mother, and are looking for a great gift...

this is it.

Go read it.

Pentel Arts Freebie

2008-04-22T15:38:00.001-07:00

This expires April 30:Pentel Arts is giving away a free 12 color oil pastel set per household address. Go to http://www.pentelarts.com/offer.php & enter the promotionalcode SA2008.

Earth Day 2008

2008-04-22T08:39:00.001-07:00

In honor of Earth Day, our homeschool class, "Patches", participated in the Earth Day Groceries Project. Whole Foods Markets helped by loaning us 100 paper grocery bags. With some paint, the kids got to work putting their mark and their messages on the bags.

Reuse. Reduce. Rebuy. Recycle.

The World Wildlife Foundation has a blog too. I chanced upon it looking for Earth Day events. People are pledging their goals to help out. Here are a few that caught my eye...

i will not use 25 pieces of toilet paper because of my weight issue, i will also try to shed weight by eating more organic foods unlike eclairs

kirsten ~albany, ny usa - Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 07:57:00 (CDT)

I did not use my electric fun machine :)

Sarah ~Burlington, CT USA - Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 07:56:51 (CDT)

Today, I am putting the finishing touches on my oxygen making machines. Sadly, it needs trees to fuel it. Maybe this is a bit pointless but it's the thought that counts.

Zach ~Allliston, on canada - Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 07:16:14 (CDT)

I remember now

2008-04-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

The last blog photo made me remember.

"And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world it is best to hold hands and stick together."
--Robert Fulghum

3 Beautiful Things that Whoo

2008-04-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

1. A real live working steam engine

2. Riding on a real live steam engine
3. Having a friend to share it with
Pure sweetness!!

Minzoku Daiko

2008-04-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

Last night we got to see Minzoku Daiko, a Taiko drumming ensemble, play at our library. It was free and educational, two things that go well together.

We learned about how Taiko orignated, it's migration to the U.S., and the instruments themselves. This group was pretty eclectic...utilizing instruments from all over the world. Aside from the taiko, we also heard a drum from Korean and the didjeridoo from Australia.

The photo below is a summary of the sounds the taiko makes and how the group uses those sounds to create their own original pieces.

Geared up!

2008-04-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

I was never much into jocks...till I had my own.
He is so stinking cute!
GO NUMBER 5!

Whoo! Whoo! Woohoo!

2008-04-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I finally took Z to our local train museum. It was pretty cool to be able to stand where an engineer once stood and see the controls. The caboose was also interesting. I found out what the caboose was actually for, including the little windows way at the top. It's apparently much more than the visually identifiable compartment at the back of the train. Duh!

Looking at the coupling of the caboose

Walking on the rails at the free area

the tracks go nowhere

so I am not a bad mommy letting her kid walk on the train tracks

Guys like looking at the engine

and under it

Faggot Stitch Scarf

2008-04-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

I've reconnected with the crafty side of me. It's been good. I'm not good, but the activity has been good for me. Here is my first knitted FO. Well, still UFO since I plan to add some crocheted flowers to it. But, the knitted part is done. If you can't tell, it's a scarf.

It is made with a faggot stitch. (Don't ask me about the name. I have no clue. I'm assuming it meant something else once upon a time. British origin maybe? Perhaps it was a smoking scarf...as in a smoking jacket?) I used this pattern. The yarn was an acrylic 4 ply ww, variegated. The needles were size 9.

I'll post the finished finished finished piece later...when it's finished. Right now I have two more knitted things I'm working on. Plus all the other crocheted thing. *sigh* So many projects...so little time.

Patches (installment 2)

2008-04-10T06:53:00.001-07:00

Right after planting, Z decided the pot needed a little something.

A few weeks later, the plants are doing great.
Crab artwork
Touching at Sea Lab
Found on rocks at pier

Patches (installment 1)

2008-04-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, we've been attending a class called "Patches". It is organized by a homeschool mom through Yahoo Groups. The kids attending are all homeschoolers under the age of 5. The classes are once a week for 12 weeks. Each class meeting has a theme. After the activities for the day are done, the children "earn" a patch.
Patches earned so far:

Sewing - made a banner to put patches on
Gardening - planted bulbs
Insects - made artwork of bees and butterflies
Seasons - made artwork representing seasons
Ocean Life - made crab and octopus, went to eat at Captain Kidd's, visited Sea Laboratory

And some photos:

Yep! He had on his boots!

When NOT to go Green

2008-04-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

I was surfing the net looking for instructions on how to make a back pack or a drawstring bag. It led me to this. That is where I draw the line. And not in red either. There are some things I refuse to give up...even for the sake of going green. Some things MUST be DISPOSABLE!

Soccer Tryouts

2008-04-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we had soccer tryouts. I thought the tryouts (for the 4-5 year olds) were to divide the children into even teams based on skill level. The hubby, a bit more cynical than I, thought they might use it to rig the teams...more skilled on one team, our son on the other.

This was his first time having to actually kick the ball with some controlled direction. Kick and run and kick towards a goal. Kick and run and kick around the cones. I think he did excellent for his first time. Am I stressing "first time"?

I am so proud of him. He was very excited. He thought he would be the winning player. I told him that I would be proud if he won or lost...and that the important part was that he tried his best and had fun!

None of us know the actual rules of soccer, so I guess we'll all learn together. Today is the first day of practice. We will get to meet our coach and the other players who have been selected to be on this team. More to come later. For now...some pictures of tryouts:

Kicking towards goal

Jumping with excitement as I wait my turn

Wonder what soccer players have under their shorts

"March"ing on

2008-04-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

I guess I have been slacking here. Bad me! Here's a quick review.

Z rigged this on his own. Guess he knows the importance of seat belts.

Even for bears in tonka trucks.
3/9/2008

3/13/2008

Parents discovered bald spot.

Upon questioning...it is revealed Z decided to have fun with scissors.

cute bears we enjoyed at the store

3/18/2008

We went to Mountain High to go sledding.

Moss does grow on the North Side.

3/21/2008

We found a paw print on a hill. We didn't go much further. Not sure it belonged to a dog. And didn't want to find out.

Fun with Easter Grass

3/14/2008

Zorro-isms

2008-03-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile, but we've had some doozies that I just had to write down.

I needed to get the capsule form of Nyquil. My trip to Sam's was futile since they had the liquid and the capsules of Day and Night together (we don't use day). At checkout (I bought milk), Z tells the clerk that she needs to make sure to have the other medicine in stock next time. And to "tell your parents". I think he meant her bosses.
A neighbor asked Z what he was doing as he approached them to say hello. He responded with a casual, "Still learning."
At a restaurant we frequent, the waitress asked us how many in our party. Z replied, "Still three."

Mother Bear

2008-03-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took Z to the park to join families for a day of fun. It was our first homeschool park day. I had high hopes of connecting with other mothers with similar aged kids as well as gleaning knowledge from the more experienced ones. Yesterday, I was taught a lesson. Several, in fact.

Homeschoolers are not all nice. Yes, there are bullies everywhere. You can imagine my ire, as I see my little 4 year old coming to me in tears. I had been watching 2 older boys interact with him. From my vantage point, it appeared they found him funny, perhaps even mocking him and his mannerisms. My sweet friendly son came to me pouring his eyes out, and I scooped him up and took off after those boys.

The Mother Bear was unleashed.

I confronted the boys, wanting to know their ages and names. They were 9 and 11. The older was more forthcoming and even a bit more apologetic. The younger was not. Smug. Smirking. It was all a big joke to him. Unremorseful. Even lied to me about his name when it was perfectly obvious I knew he was a homeschooler and that his mother was one of the circle of women about 150 feet away.

How dare they ruin his first park day! Older boys picking on a small 4 year old! It burns me. It burns me that they would do this to such a tender soul who tries to make friends wherever he goes. I worry about what lesson he has unfortunately learned from this and how it will shape him. My only consolation is his resiliency and that sunny nature and generous heart.

The last person to look for a fight, I was not about to let the boys' deeds go unnoticed. I made sure to find out who their mothers were and let them know what had happened. One mother acted with dismay. The other first pointed out that my son had been throwing sand early when her baby was around. Then seemed to collect herself to say her older boy should not have acted as he had. Guess which son was hers?

A little girl came up to me later to tell Z and I that the boys were "bullies". Her words. She explained to my son that they didn't like little boys and that Z should stay away from them. How sad that this girl should know this. Apparently Z wasn't the first to suffer at their hands.

Now, I'm not idealistic enough to believe the boys will have mended their ways. Especially not the dumb smirking smart ass. But they know I will be watching them and they know that any false move on their part will be addressed, if only by me.

My Z does not want to go back to that park. He now associates that park with the boys. It doesn't matter that he played another hour there with a much nicer child. That negative experience has marred him.

We are going to try another park day at another park. I don't know if those boys will be there. If we do run into more bullies, I will ashew the homeschool park days. It's not worth my son's spirit.

My job is to protect him. And I failed him.

I Found it!

2008-03-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

I found it! Now, the question is...What the hell is it?

No, it's not a noodle.

It's about 5 inches long.

It is kind of squishy.

You hold it in your hand with your fingers.

It is a must have if you have cramping.

GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER!

Does this image give you a better clue?

I found this at the Marukai Superstore which is similar to the 99c stores (except items may cost more). This was $1.50. I don't read (or speak) Japanese, but I can see. This is used to help add bulk to whatever you are gripping so you can hold things easier (and it's non-slip). Great for people with arthritis or other fine motor problems. Me being me, I'm always on the lookout for stuff like this. I find it especially great for crochet hooks. It works so much better than the puny things they sell in the craft stores and pencil grippers. Just thought I'd share.

Unfinished and Finished

2008-03-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

So, I finally got around to taking photos of my current FO's and UFO's. Finally got around to uploading those photos. Let me preface by saying I suck at following patterns. Most of what you see (and will see) starts with a pattern and takes a left at Albuquerque. Why? Because I can't figure out the instructions so I wing it from there. So, that being said, here we go!

Baby Bucket (or Sun) Hat

I used the Cross Bucket Hat pattern to get me started (using a smaller hook for the smaller head and 4 ply cotton). Then I took flight.

Crochet String Bag

bag in mid work looked like a shawl or rug

finished

If you make this and it doesn't look like mine, that's because it's been altered slightly from the original pattern. I did warn you!

Burst of Spring Square

I think it will be part of a bag. Just haven't finalized that thought yet. I used cotton 4 ply and I hook.

No Assembly Required Market Bag

This is the same pattern I used on my trip to Hawaii. I do love it! It's great to start a tote off with. Once I get to the mesh section, I kinda do my own thing. This one is finished with 6 rows of hdc white and 6 of yellow. Then the handles are about 48 rows of hdc.

Okay. That's it for now. I am STILL working on a knit scarf. It's too ugly to post now but when I am done and have doctored it up, I will.

Big Britches and Little Butts

2008-03-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

Z's gotten such an attitude lately. Yes, we are talking about the same kid here! He thinks he knows it all and tries to correct EVERYONE!! Even perfect strangers. It sounds funny, but it is soooo not. Especially when he asks a question and as you are telling him the answer, he is telling you that you are wrong and he doesn't even know the right answer!! It drives me batty, although I have yet to go grey or pull my hair out.

The kid began recently to regress. Doing all the stuff kids do when they are much younger. Like taking the marker while we are in the car and drawing on his bag (and getting it on his lips). The blue lips we notice just as we are pulling into the parking lot of a restaurant. (So hard not to laugh.) Like opening the paint container on my desk (which he knows better not to touch) which is next to my computer. (I know. Dumb me...but I didn't think he would open it!) Like picking off the googly eyes that we just glued on and saying he did not know picking at them would make them fall off. And while I may have accepted that explanation if only one eye came off, but the kid took off two eyes! That one was not flying.

I had to drag him off during Patches today to have a conversation. He was in such a snotty mood. I asked him if he wanted me to cut his bumble bee wings out for him or if he would like to do it. He just stared at me and had no reply. Then gets in a tizzy about how he has to do the gluing and painting and getting all huffy if I tried to help.

Part of the problem is I'm a softee. I'm not a hitter or a yeller. I'm an occasional time-outter. And I try not to make threats. In my husband's eyes, I am way too soft. And I'd disagree, but Hell, even the dog knows that. Lucy will lick me crazy when she wants a treat. She has trained me well. And now Z is trying too. Thank goodness it's all subconscious. I would be a goner if he really put his mind to it.

I can't tell you how glad I am he is a boy. I don't think I could handle a girl's attitude. At 4 he's got the skills to make my world spin and smoke rise from my ears. The thought of him in 11 years and the battles ahead are enough to make me grab a glass of wine, nevermind the time of day.

Cheers. Here's to parenthood and the neverending battle for dominance. May I win.

March (so far)

2008-03-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

Wow! Where have the days gone? It's the middle of March and my first blog for this month.

I've been actively reading all the pertinent posts from my homeschooling groups. An earlier case court had a negative outcome geared towards homeschoolers. For all you not in the know, the judge basically ruled that kids should not be homeschooled unless their parent was a qualified teacher. Now, this has many of us up in arms and ready to do battle. No offense to teachers, but I am edjumacated to teach my kid. Just because I don't have a teaching degree does not mean I am not qualified. And there are a multitude of things I would rather my child not learn from other children in "school". So, I've been busy reading, taking notes, and doing what I can to support the right to homeschool (although we have yet to officially homeschool).

We also added a class to our normal routine. It's called "Patches". It's a homeschooling "class" for the preschool aged. We've meet twice now (every Thursday for 12 weeks). The classes are approximately 1 1/2 hours long. We have a story and do some activity. The first class involved sewing a banner. We earned a sewing patch for that and attached it to the banner. The second class involved planting gladiola bulbs, which earned us a gardening patch. So for each class we earn a patch...hence the name "Patches" (but I didn't have to explain that part, now did I?!). Tomorrow's topic is insects. I've been asked to read a story so I am thinking Eric Carle. It will either be "The very hungry caterpillar" or "The very quiet Cricket".

March seems to be the month for births. Aside from a very special little boy being born a few days ago...we're attended 2 birthday parties and sent a gift to Z's cousin for his birthday. And come to think about it...all were boys! Anyhoo, somewhere along the way Z caught a cold. I was hoping all the hacking and coughing and snot was allergy related since I had similar symptoms and neither one of us had a fever. A trip to the doctor yesterday just to check proved me wrong. Z had a virus. Apparently, so did I. It hit me later that day. It must have hit the hubby too since he came home feeling like crap. (I think it was more psychosomatic since his all occurred after finding out from me that Z was sick and him having shared a drink the day before.) Daddy went to work yesterday and came home early. Sick daddy's get wiped out and had to stay in bed and rest. Z and I are on the mend. Dad went to work today but still feels like crap.

I kept Z out of preschool today. He was still coughing a little and had a sneezy snot so I felt it best to go infect strangers. I took him to the aquarium instead. There were hoards of kids and adults, but it actually wasn't too bad. I picked up a travel guide and found out we could ride the shuttle bus for free. We got on the Passport and rode to the Queen Mary. We walked over to see the Russian submarine. Inside the gift shop you could sit down and watch a short movie simulating events which might have taken place with the 300 foot sub. We even got a souvenir penny that cost me $0.51, but Z lost it when he got distracted by ants. The bus took us back to the aquarium, where we had our lunch, fed the birds, and went back to look at more sea life. It was a pretty nice day.

What else has been going on? Hmm...water pipe had a leak one Saturday that needed fixing ASAP. The plumber cut a nice hole on the outside of my house to fix it. At least it's somewhat discrete. It's on the ceiling as you go up the stairs to my home. We also had a homeowners association meeting the following Sunday. That usually lasts about 2 hours.

I've been going to my knitting meetings too on Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoon in Torrance when time permits. I've been doing my crocheting and knitting here and there. I promise to post more UFO's later (wish I had some FO's to post but that's my problem...too many great projects and not enough hands to finish them all!).

My house is looking trashed. I've got piles of stuff everywhere. Piles of educational material. Piles of crafts for Z. Piles of crafts for me. Regular old housekeeping piles...the bills and ads. Toys. Gifts for Easter. Eeeeek! At least the clothes are clean and the toilets and sink are too!! Small favors.

Get to Higher Ground

2008-02-28T14:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, while someone was supposed to be resting in his room...someone snuck out and went into my bedroom (I was downstairs)

...and...got into...

his daddy's stash...

of donuts!

I found the evidence, a mess of crumbs...and a closed box (which means this time) the dog didn't do it.

Though I tried, I couldn't help smiling as I confronted the sneak who tried to look repentant as the tell-tale white powder clung to the corner of his mouth.

Tip: If you want to keep something out of little hands, store it somewhere safe. Get it up off the ground. Put it on the highest shelf. Lock it up if you need to. When it comes to sugar, it's hard control the beast...even the best of us succumb.

I love video games!

2008-02-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

Z is playing VSmile...the Finding Nemo game.

"Mom, did you know octopi can open a jar?"
"Mom, did you know octopi can change colors?"
"Mom, did you know dolphins rescue people?"

I love video games!

Nature's Beauty

2008-02-26T07:42:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday, I took Z to trek through the marsh. Since it is considered to be the last vernal marsh in Los Angeles, I thought it would be fun and educational. A plus was that it was also free.

First I had to look up the word "vernal." (Did you need to?) It didn't mean much until I tried looking up "vernal marsh" which led to "vernal pool." Ah so!

Spring was just around the corner. The plants were caught in that awkard in between stage. The pools were filled, complete with ducks and sea gulls and other birds.

I even bought binoculars so we could have a closer look at the different fowl. (Yes, those binoculars!)

Z wasn't much moved by the wondrous sights of nature preserved in the middle of a bustling city. But, there was something that he enjoyed immensely. So what did float his boat and got his interest?

Dirt. Yes, the dirt path and the holes in the dirt. Well, it is a part of nature, right?

Stitching and Bitching

2008-02-21T07:57:00.000-08:00

*whimper* No one told me I needed to lift weights before my knitting meeting. My left forearm is sore and I smell like an old person. *groan* Crafting is making me feel old and weak. The other night I bandaged my fingers to protect myself from getting burns from the plastic twine I was crocheting with. This morning I'm putting Bengay on the arm to ease the ache from knitting. *sob*

On the positive side, I learned how to do k1,p1. And I learned I have been doing my knit wrong. It only took 2 months to learn that one. *grimace*

I'm hoping to have something knitted by the end of the year. Something that resembles something. I know. How ambitious of me! Maybe a potholder. Or a wash cloth. I wouldn't hold your breath though. I suck.

Note to self: I cannot knit for 2 hours straight.

Hawaiian Vacation FO's

2008-02-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

While I was on vacation, I managed to complete some projects and hand out gifts.
I made 2 bags using this pattern as a quide.

My nephew had a blanket that he loved. A little too much?

I made him a new blankie, so his parents could throw the old one away.

My Mother's thumb

2008-02-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

Her Water Lilies

She got potted tulips for Valentine's day.

It bloomed.

Her Orchids...

The green thumb missed a generation.

Hawaii Scenery Pictures

2008-02-18T09:12:00.000-08:00

The Leeward side

Our front yard

during a rain

We did have sunny moments.

The Windward side

I loved the sky.

Hurling and Curling

2008-02-15T07:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I felt like hurling. No...not preggo. I think it was the glasses and binoculars combo as I looked at an inch worm we found. The feeling lasted hours and hours. Ugh. But...

Z just gives me the warm fuzzies.

As I lay on the floor trying to keep my head from spinning, I hear his sweet voice:

"Now it's my turn to take care of you."
"Why don't you go upstairs and rest?"
"I think you are 'home' sick. If you rest, you'll feel better."
"Just try to smile, honey."

I must be doing something right.

Why Hawaii is the best

2008-02-14T07:53:00.000-08:00

Although it rained every day,

the rainbows made it all worthwhile.

Just for Fun

2008-02-12T08:01:00.001-08:00

Take the Quiz

On Parenting

2008-02-01T08:42:00.000-08:00

I'm a professional parent. I get paid in hugs and kisses and tears and the occasional tantrum. Having been the child too, I've learned a few "truths." Right or wrong, these are my views on parenting:

Be consistent.
Be honest.
Teach your child that what you say is what you mean. If your child cannot put faith in your words and actions, how will they be able to do so with anyone else?
Remember to give praise. It's so easy to reprimand...we sometimes forget that praise is just as important.
Be your child's greatest fan. Let them know you love them unconditionally even if you may not agree with the choices they make in life.
Teach your child to be their own individuals. It's okay to beat to a different drum. It's okay to think for yourself.
Teach your child to be self-reliant. Having friends and family to rely on is wonderful, but knowing you have the inner strength to carry you through adversity is a powerful thing.
Television is not a good babysitter.
Play. Play. Play.
Don't compare your child. Not even to another sibling. Remember...individuals! They are who they are and should not suffer or be made to feel any less because they are not a carbon copy.
Don't put undue pressures on your child. "Set a good example for your sister/brother since you are the oldest." BAH! PTOOEY!! That is a load of crap. Your child should behave simply because that's what they should be doing. NOT because they must set an example. If anyone should set any example, it should be YOU!
All children are good. They have the potential to be well-behaved. If they aren't, then...sorry to say...you need to take a look at what you might be doing wrong. Yes...YOU!
All children will screw up. It's called learning. If they don't, they never figure out what is right. Expect it to happen. Unfortunately, we are not perfect. It is not a sin. It's a learning experience. Use the opportunity to teach your child.
Let silly-ness be. Silly is good. Not all the time. Yes, there is a time and a place. Make sure to make the time.
Hugs and kisses are good. Give often.
Love, always.

Tangerine Bag

2008-01-25T04:29:00.000-08:00

Finally completed another bag. This one is also "winged." Sorry, no pattern to share. It's unlined, intended for use as a shopping bag or beach bag. I haven't learned to do the lining yet. Sewing...ugh! Let me tackle knitting first! I will be sending it to my SIL so I hope she likes it. Now to start a project to give to my other SIL. And on my way to Hawaii so no picture blogs till I get back home.

About Last Night

2008-01-24T06:29:00.000-08:00

I baked a cake. Chocolate. No raw eggs.

For the first time, Z got to...enjoy!

Someone else enjoys yarn as much as I do.

So, being a good momma, I shared...

some Pound of Love

Oh yeah, it was fun untangling it all.

Totally worth it.

Once around the park

2008-01-24T06:18:00.000-08:00

I found an awesome blog called "Once around the park." Each blog is 30 words, and in those 30 words, the author, Clare Grant, paints such a vivid picture! It's like reading haiku but better! I love reading her words and the images and feelings she evokes. Check it out!

Knitting in Air

2008-01-23T14:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, knitting needles are supposedly allowed in your carry-on according to the TSA, but note there is a caveat. Copied from their website:

"However, there is a possibility that the needles can be perceived as a possible weapon by one of our Security Officers. Our Security Officers have the authority to determine if an item could be used as a weapon and may not allow said item to pass through security."

I'm not going to risk it. I'll just hook on the plane.

Playing House

2008-01-23T13:44:00.000-08:00

I buy my son toys that interest and enrich him. He has monster trucks and he has a baby doll. He has trains and he has a doll house. He has a r/c car and he has a pink doll stroller. It's all good.

So today he was playing with his doll house, albiet a little differently than before...

Photo 1: Note the ambulance and fire truck parked outside the house. Note the "girl" lying in the bushes.

Photo 2: Note the fire truck inside the house.

I think my husband needs to stop watching AFV with the boy.

Some UFOs

2008-01-23T13:31:00.001-08:00

"Z" Bears: different crochet patterns

...no faces to protect their identities...
*hee hee*

knitting project...
keeping it easy so garter stitch
let's say it will be a scarf...

KK piece...long loom
maybe a bathmat or mat for Lucy...
any ideas??

What's the Weather?

2008-01-23T08:20:00.000-08:00

S is for Snowman

R is for Rainbow

M is for more art from a preschooler

UFOs and FOs

2008-01-22T06:25:00.001-08:00

Apparently there is a whole 'nother language I have to learn. The hooker language. No, I don't mean that kind of hooker! Hooker as in crocheting!

I had quite a few Beavis and Butthead moments giggling as I read through some crochet forums. If you get your mind in the gutter, anything can be funny! For example, did you know some women are tight hookers?! Got you giggling too, huh? You Beavis!!

So to my non-hooking friends, I may educate you as I learn a few things. (Even hookers from L.A. can learn something new!) For future references: UFO's are unfinished objects (I think). FO's, therefore, are finished objects. Also, if you see KK it refers to Knifty Knitting. Here are a few of my FO's!

2 Knifty Knitted hats (to be donated to charity)

5 golf club socks/covers (going to my mom)

the 2 on the left are crocheted and the other 3 on the right are KK

another KK doggy sweater for Lucy

My yarn stash is growing at an alarming rate as my interest blossoms in this area. They are like Tribbles! (Who's a Trekkie?)

I am currently learning to knit. I think I figured out I do better with smaller needles, and I am working my first garter stitch scarf. It gained a stitch somewhere, but I'm not frogging! (I think frogging is the correct term. Tanya? A little help?) I'm just going to press on...unless you look carefully, you can't tell. And that is what I am banking on or I will never finish!!

I'm trying to keep my UFO's to a minimum. I've got two small stuffed crocheted animals that need faces, and a crocheted beach bag to finish. Then I get to start something else. Yaaay!!

I'm still deciding what to bring with me on my trip to Hawaii. Knitting needles go in the checked baggage. I'm not risking having to mail them back in case they don't allow me to carry it on. Yes, that means I'll be hooking on the plane.

Important issues

2008-01-20T05:24:00.000-08:00

It's happening all over again.
New generation of homeless vets emerge
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080120/ap_on_re_us/homeless_on_the_homefront;_ylt=ApE2FHizYjlAn5HG8lqPVQVH2ocA

Another Good Word

2008-01-15T06:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the first day of this year's Fun & Friends Preschool Program. The letter of the day was "S". Miss Kim asked the group (of 18 kids!) what starts with the letter "S". I clearly heard Z.

"Slither."

The words he knows never fails to amaze me.

Outta his mouth again!

2008-01-11T06:41:00.000-08:00

We went out to dinner last night. Instead of bringing a toy for Z to play with, I brought Brain Quest. It consists of a stack of cards with questions...covering areas like story logic, picture matches, and alphabet recognition.

Z constantly amazes me with his answers.

There is a picture of a house with a chimeny.
The question: What comes out of a chimney?
His answer: Santa Claus

I asked: What starts with the letter "H"?
His answer: I don't know.
I say: Think. "H".
His answer: *he sounds it out* "H" huh. huh. Hummus!
DH thinks: huh?!
I think: That's my boy!

And the other night, Z stops playing with his trains and tells us, "My neck is a little tight." So he got a massage and some attention with it! The things they learn from us!!

**Due to the confusion of my adult readers please note: The answer to the first question is not related to the second. The answer to the first is "smoke."

Freebies

2008-01-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

As you all know, I'm big on helping others. Especially if it's not going to cost me a dime.

I recently found Good Search. It's a search engine...like Yahoo and Google...but it also donates money for searches you do on it. You can designated where to send the monies to. There are the popular nonprofit sites and schools such as World Wildlife Fund - WWF, Red Cross, and Salvation Army. There are also smaller nonprofits. If you search, you may find one close to you...I'm donating to Harbor Interfaith Services. So far I've raised $1.11 for them. Wanna see what good you can do for free?

Also, on my side bar to the left, you'll see some sites to visit and click for free donations to help with issues like breast cancer, literacy. Hey, with one click you could help plant a tree. And did I mention it's free?!

Pupsicles and Hot Dogs

2008-01-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

What has Lucy so enthralled?

What stops this girl in her tracks?

What makes her calm?

What does she beg for (aside from treats)?

What warms her from inside out (or outside in)?

Fire.

She loves a good roaring fire.

A tutorial on your blog page set up

2008-01-09T08:04:00.001-08:00

How to add those side thingys to your blog (for you know who)

After you sign in, you are directed to your “dashboard”. You would have already selected a template for your blog (the way it looks aka color and overall framework). From the dashboard, click onto “layout”. Then click on “page elements”. From here you can add links, pictures, slideshow, labels etc… depending on which you choose.

That should point you in the right direction. Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help with more.

A pooped pup pouch

2008-01-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a bag a crocheted a few months ago. I styled it after those sling/tote bags. It all evolved from laziness. Lucy would get tired from walking, so I would end up carrying her. I got tired of carrying her in my arms.
I walk till she is tired or I see a store I want to go in. I pop her in and we are in business.
Note: Not recommended for dogs named Baxter or Roscoe (or those over 10 pounds)!

Move over Sally Field

2008-01-05T11:21:00.001-08:00

Z gets a kick out of seeing his name in print.

Today while in the car, I pointed out a store that had "Z's" name.
It read "Z's Upholstery".

He commented, "They must like me."

We all agreed.

Knifty Knitter Dog Sweater

2008-01-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

Using my blue round loom, I knifty knitted these sweaters for my girl. The first one was just a bit too snug. I think she did the whole "gasping for breath 'cause my pants are too tight" thing. So, I made another...same loom but made the stitches as loose as I could. Looks much better.
For those who are curious as to how I made mine, I used regular acrylic yarn, 4-ply, 2 colors, blue loom. I started out making the neck part. This was done as you would for a hat, making the brim. Then I continued on. The leg holes were done using the technique I found here. At Off the Loom Linda discusses how she made her's. I haven't tried the stretchy bind off but if you are better at this than I am, it probably makes dressing your baby easier.

My Snow Angel

2008-01-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

After Christmas we went up to Big Bear for a few days. It snowed just a little bit but enough for us to have some fun!

Please Remember

2007-12-17T14:01:00.000-08:00

I'm going to nag you all again. Gently.

Troops far from home. Some in the midst of battle.

No matter your views on war, could you send them some kindness from home?

It takes a minute of your time. It's free and you can maintain your anonymity. Please check out these sites and send an online message to someone in the military.

Let's Say Thanks

Forgotten Soldiers

Letters to Soldiers

And if you'd like to send more, like a care package, visit Any Soldier for details.

Make someone feel good. Show your holiday spirit and goodwill towards mankind.

Thank you.

Another Zorro-ism

2007-12-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

Zorro: "Mom, why is Eeyore so slow?"

Me: "Well, everyone is different. Eeyore is sad and slow. You know how Rabbit is rushing and grouchy?"

Zorro: "You mean like daddy?"

I haven't stopped laughing. Out of the mouth of babe indeed!

Rare but There

2007-12-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

My tip for you (free and unwarranted ~ but also harmless):

Get a box of mini candy canes. You can get about 40 for $0.99 (plus tax). Or if you are feeling more generous ~ some small Snickers bars or bags of M&M's, the kind you'd give out at Halloween.

Here's the important part, put it in your purse or backpack. Then as you go about your day... you will invariably encounter the crying, whining babies and their parents, the disgruntled store clerk, the pained at customer service department... It might be the season to be merry and jolly, but it sure doesn't feel like it sometimes.

Do your part to help out...hand out a candy to someone. It's a small gesture of goodwill but I guarantee it will brighten someone's day and maybe they will pay it forward. One ripple...

Seeing a smile where there wasn't one before, definitely makes your own steps just a bit lighter. And don't we all want to be lighter this Christmas?!

My Husband, My Husband, My Husband

2007-11-27T06:08:00.000-08:00

Three Beautiful Things:

My husband coming home from work (and not grouchy)
My husband putting food on the dinner table (dinner he cooked)
My husband standing in front of the kitchen sink (actually washing dishes)

OMG! Is it my birthday? Is he cheating? Am I dying?
Who cares? I'm just taking it all in and enjoying.
It's a beautiful thing.