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    And the award goes to…

    August 31st, 2012

    S2 wins the award for first child to require physician-assisted re-assembly.

    He got staples in his head… for falling off a step-stool and splitting his head open. Hooray, S2! This doesn’t surprise me. I was betting he would be the first. He’s good though, and there are no traces of concussion at this point, and apparently he handled the doctor stapling his little head like a champ.

    …and all this because he needed to stay home today. I blame day-care ;p


    Foto Friday

    August 31st, 2012

    We did a trip up to Sonoma for Train Town two week-ends ago. Kids did pretty great on the ride there, even though it’s LOOOOONG. They did, for the most part, pretty good at the park… until G decided to have a melt-down. All in all, we spent more time driving that day than we stayed at the park, but still a decent trip. It was highlighted by a train ride, feeding goats, first rides on a carousel (for S2), first rides on a ferris wheel (for both G and S2), G piloting his own plane, and S got a ride on the swings: something he hadn’t done in quite some time. I brought my camera and learned that lest I want to spent the rest of my visit hugging a trash can, I should NOT take any photos while on the ferris wheel. But here ya’ go:


    G, today, you are 4!

    August 29th, 2012

    Oh, boy! No, really… you are a real boy. I watched you dress yourself the other day, and I tried to remember that 4 years ago, to that day, you lived inside me. Could it really have only been only 4 years ago? These last 4 years have felt both like an eternity and a blink of an eye all at once. How is that possible?

    You are growing up to be so proud of your accomplishments. Your face beams when you realize you’ve finally got something that brings you to the next stage of “big kid-dom” like going to the potty all by yourself, or getting your jammies on, all on your own.

    That pride, however, has not come at a cost: while you love to recognize your new accomplishments you are unhappy with failure. This would normally be a good thing, as it strives to make some people only work harder, but for you, these last few months, the fear of failure and not being the best has been crippling. So much so, that you refuse to try because you know you won’t be the best. I am so hoping that this is a short-lived phase, because it hurts my heart to see you sit out on activities I know you love. Activities that you could be the best at if you dedicate the time and effort.

    You are stubborn. Boy, are you stubborn. Sometimes I can cojole you into doing what I need you to, but I know with you I never know what I’m going to get. You’re becoming easier to reason with, at least, and I’m hoping over time we can have some more productive debates rather than calling it a draw (although let’s face it, me calling something a “draw” is my way of making myself feel better)

    You continue being funny, and silly. There’s a lightness you bring to those around you. I sincerely hope you continue to hold onto this, because it’s a great trait to have in life. I just hope it doesn’t get you into trouble in your teens! You’re learning to tell jokes, although the stuff you come up with on your own is 100x better than any Knock Knock joke out there. With that said, I’m eager for you to outgrow the toilet humor… although who am I kidding — you’re a boy — you’ll never outgrow toilet humor.

    So what do you have to say about yourself?

    • What’s your name? Poo poo
    • Do you know your full name? Poo poo diarhhea (Yeah, we talked about the toilet humor, right?)
    • How old are you? 4!!!!
    • What’s your favorite color? Purple
    • Who are your best friends? Torrey
    • What is your favorite book? Octopus (must be a school book, because I don’t know this one)
    • What is your favorite song? Rock-a-bye Baby.
    • What is your favorite movie? Penguins
    • What is your favorite TV show? The fire… uhmn…Thomas (I don’t buy it, since he never asks for it, but it’s what he said)
    • What is your favorite animal? Shark. Wait do it again. (Ok, what’s your favorite animal?) Squid. (Squid? Why do you like the squid?) Because he/she/he shoots out of his arms
    • What’s your favorite food? Peanuts (In reality, I think it’s pasta, but that’s me)
    • Do you have a favorite shirt? No
    • What’s your greatest word of wisdom at age 3? [silence]
    • What makes you mad? Uhmn… playing the jungle game. Because I don’t want to play it. (I have no idea what that game is)
    • What’s your favorite toy? Borris Tyrannosaurus
    • What do you want to do when you grow up? [silence] (Do you want to be a doctor? A zoo keeper? A kitty doctor? What do you want to do?) I want to do nothing! (You want to do nothing? You want to be a louse?) Yes, a mouse! (I said a louse, but a mouse would be better… although some people would think they’re the same thing)

    You have grown to be 38″ and ~34lb of pure boy awesomeness (and terror). Here is a glimpse at your last year:

    Click to see the slideshow on Vimeo (if YouTube doesn’t work) or

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHQ8cQ-qIow]


    Reunited and it feels so goooood

    August 28th, 2012

    Guess who we got reunited with yesterday? TADA… Moonka the Second!

    Last year (the original) Moonka #2 went MIA. I searched all over our house, our cars, but she was gone. Alas! I ordered a replacement, but G knew that wasn’t his Moonka. We had been so diligent in using two Moonkas so that they were equally loved, that he knew the difference. Observe the tags. Both my kids, for some inexplicable reason, are tag munchers. Moonka #1 and Moonka #2’s tags were munched down to little stubs. Moonka #3, the imposter, was since dubbed “Long Tag” and has been reserved for exclusive Mommy and Daddy cuddling, while G only held onto the original (aka “short tag”). So sad! I tried sucking on the tag myself, but I gotta tell you, I do not have the time, patience, or lack of gag reflex to get “long tag” to the degree of use to have her pass off. Cutting the tag just doesn’t seem like it would’ve worked, either.

    But yesterday? Ah, yesterday, G and S2 went to an in-home daycare that we use whenever our regular school is closed. My a miracle, or should I say destiny, I had forgotten to bring G’s friend in the car. By the end of the day, G comes running to me with Moonka (#2), excited, and Miss M. told me how she found Moonka #2 when she was packing up for her move. She had held onto her, knowing that some day we’ll call again. I don’t know how/why I never thought that there’s a possibility Moonka #2 was left there. I swear I take good accounts on where all lovies are located and tracked.

    Still, our family friend is back, and G’s a happy clam.

    As a side note… tomorrow we will have a 4 yr old that still loves his lovies dearly.

    Just for that… here we go again ;p

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmYO5V4WDjA]


    Movie Monday

    August 27th, 2012

    This is what you can likely be treated with, while driving around with G:

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFtlz7xOQ5A]


    I’m in trouble!

    August 25th, 2012

    G: Mommy, where are you going?
    Me: I’m going to get my hair cut
    G: Why?
    Me: Because it’s time
    G: But I think you always look pretty! [grin]

    In about 12 years, that will be followed by ‘Can I have your car keys?’ and I’m still going to be in my melty-heart shock that I will be handing them right over.

    Trouble ahead!


    Mamma’s little product manager

    August 24th, 2012

    G was sitting on the stairs this morning, next to his brother, putting on shoes. I realized I had forgotten something upstairs, but couldn’t get up there because I had to kids in my way. I asked:

    Me: G, would you mind getting up?
    G: Why?
    Me: I need to go upstairs to get something.
    G: Oh, ok… here, now you have room

    as he scooted his bootie closer to S2, creating just enough room for me to be able to pass (albeit extremely narrowly). But he didn’t have to get up.

    He gave a perfectly good example of what I do at work. Rather than simply obliging my demand, he asked me what the root of my problem was, and figured out a different solution that still got me what I asked for. That’s ma boy 🙂


    Foto Friday

    August 23rd, 2012


    There’s no sea-shells on this sea-shore

    August 23rd, 2012

    G and I stopped by the beach on our way back home following a strawberry picking excursion. We got out of the car and watched some surfers get ready. We then headed to the sand where G froze. He didn’t want to go any further. I asked him why, and he said he was scared… because of how loud the ocean was. Well, he’s not wrong — it’s loud, but given the fact that he slept to a sound machine turned onto ocean sound (loud) for 2 years, I didn’t think that would be much different. But then he got the hang of it, and off we went. He was enticed by looking for shiny shells (thank you Shiny Pteranadon). However, somehow we managed to be on the only beach known to man where shells were no-where to be found. Crab carcasses though? As far as the eye could see. And from a distance, crab shells, do look like sea shells.

    Oh… and we left just as it started to drizzle. Rain? In summer? Out here?

    PS. These are pics from my iPhone, so don’t judge 🙂


    Movie Monday

    August 20th, 2012

    Today? A double feature 🙂

    On Friday I had some jazz going on the radio. S2 decided that it was time to rock out, by head-banging side to side. You know jazz, it brings the animal out in you???

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usjpJUA2Kqo&feature=youtu.be]

    S2 wearing the dinosaur train S made. Complete with chasing your tail (unplanned) spinning.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHoo0c774Gk&feature=youtu.be]