Nanny nanny boo boo

A shout out to Auntie Joyce. After sending this photo via e-mail to a few people, I got a great caption to use from Auntie Joyce in the great state of Pennsylvania. Here it is....

"WE ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING WE WANT, SANTA !!!!!!!"

Yes, this is their Santa photo for 2009. The photographer took 4 poses, but the other 3 were just too traditional and well behaved for my two devils, errrr, angels. I had to post this one. I'll post the others another day.

Happenings here

Our house is decked out with Christmas decorations. It is totally unlike me to have not had the kids posing next to the Christmas tree for adorable photos. Nope, not yet. Jason is leaving for his biggest project of the year tomorrow, so I'll be sure to kill a few minutes of time with the kids and the dog in front of the tree looking mighty adorable.

http://www.californiamuseum.org/event/california-hall-fame

This is what Jason is up to for the next few days. He only has his business hat on, so I took it upon myself to find out who he will be rubbing noses with this week. Obviously Gov. Arnie and First Lady Maria since they are the hosts of the event, but this years inductees to the California Hall of Fame are George Lucas, Carol Burnett, John Madden, Harvey Milk, etc. Check out the link. I am so proud of him, as this is a HUGE deal and he is the sole person in charge for televising it and the video for the archives.

******PICTURE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE IS FROM LAST YEAR!**********

Thanksgiving with a bit o' drama

Our Thanksgiving was a good one. We went to my brother/sister-in-law's house. There were 17 of us, although it was an eclectic group. There was my mom, my dad, my stepmom, the four of us, my sister, brother-in-law, niece Taylore, nephew Trace, my brother-in-law's brother Kelly, girlfriend Liz, and my brother-in-law's other brother Kasey, and his wife Wendy and children Haley and Caden. I have to admit, my brother cooked a fabulous turkey. It took two hours longer than anticipated, but it was worth it. He got a 30 lbs turkey, what do ya expect, right?! Stay tuned at the end of the pictures for a little drama story at the end of the night. And no, I won't go into family drama... well, at least in this post. :)

Juliana and Grandpa. Even though Juliana rarely sees my dad, she has a great fascination with him. I think I foster that relationship a lot because I never had a grandfather to wrap my arms around.

My brother Patrick just as the turkey came out of the oven.

My sister Stephanie, my brother Patrick, and me.

The "Kids table". That is Kasey in the picture trying to entertain the kids.

Taylore and Juliana... GIRL COUSINS STICK TOGETHER!

So here is the drama. We leave my brother's house which is about 2.5 hours away. We left about 8:30pm. The kids fall asleep in the car about 10 minutes into the ride. About 30 minutes later, Juliana began to stir in her car seat. Usually she is the one to sleep the entire ride. After a few more minutes she said, "Mommy, I need your help, I tied my pony around my thumb and I can't get it off." So, I reached behind me to try to get it off, and it is sooooo tight. She began to shake really badly and was scared, so Jason pulled off at the next exit and found a parking lot with many empty restaurants. He gets out of the car and without trying to get it off, I yell, "RUN INTO CVS, HER THUMB IS PURPLE!" So, he runs into CVS and from a distance, I see employees running around the store. I stayed outside with Kevin since the car wasn't at the CVS parking lot, it was in a parking lot for Olive Garden or something like that. ANYWAY, apparently employees took one look at her finger and ran in different directions for something to cut off the plastic pony holder. Jason ended up to be the winner and got standard HUGE office scissors to cut it off. He proceeded to cut her thumb since he was in a hurry, but her thumb turned normal color within about 30 seconds and is fine now. Ughhh, that was scary. Good thing CVS was open.

Turkey laughs

DELETED.

I thought the pictures were pretty darn funny, but they were doing weird things to my screen, and it was annoying me. Not sure if it happened to anyone else. So no more turkey laughs for now. Maybe I'll come up with something else.

Thanksgiving blessing

November 22, 2007, this little man was finally released from the hospital. I can't believe it was 2 years ago. We packed up at the hospital that Thanksgiving Day afternoon watching multiple other families walk into the hospital with coolers and tears running down their faces. Some were just smiling that they could spend another Thanksgiving with their child. It was a surreal experience for me.

When we came home that afternoon, not expecting to have turkey at home, my mom was busy cooking alone in our kitchen so we could have some sort of Thanksgiving meal that night. Unfortunately the hard part was that Kevin was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and at the time, we had NO idea what he could eat and what he couldn't. I think he ended up having gluten free bread and peanut butter and ate absolutely nothing. Can ya blame him?

So, our thanksgiving two years ago was a pure blessing, and I intend on every Thanksgiving and I try for every day to be just as much of a blessing. Poor Kev has been in the hospital three times since this, but nothing quite as bad.

Right now, I'm watching Kevin run around as a four year old kid in his blue car and truck pajamas waiting for daddy to make a sunday family breakfast. That's what I call a BLESSING. Happy Thanksgiving week everyone!

Girlfriends

Rainy friday's remind me of my best friend Tory. I am not really sure why. I guess because when we were doing our 40 minute (each way) commute each day in high school, I remember being tuckered out from homework, time in the car, high school drama, parental drama, and so much more, and rainy fridays were an excuse to go to her house and drink hot cocoa and watch a movie. Boy that was a loooong sentence. :)

Today is a dark, windy, rainy, and for our neck of the woods, chilly friday. I am sooooo in love with weather like this, and thinking of people that love me. Its been a bit of a rough week around here, along with bits of joy mixed in there somewhere. I am so lucky to have such loyal and warm friends in my life. This week, Tory called a couple times to ask what Juliana would want for her birthday, Kerri called a couple times just to say hello, my Salve girls text me, e-mail me, and make me laugh. Even the mom's at school that I am not particularly close to are so good to me. Then there is facebook. Call me nutty, but facebook is a great place to go to vent, spread news, encourage friends, play games, and just be goofy, WHILE having the kids running around. It gives me a feeling of being out, even when I can't be. Ughhh, maybe the person was right, I really do need a life. :)

Soooo, today's post is pointing out my very best friends and times that have made me laugh, cry, and much in between.

I hear November is the time to be thankful. I guess I'll go along with that, and say, THANKS GIRLS! I know I'll be just as thankful for you in the middle of May as I am in November. xoxo... miss you all... well, except for Meara who is only a 2 hour car ride. As I write this, it makes it appear that I have no local friends. Haaaa, that is so far from the truth. I have to say, unfortunately, my true and real friends are not in my area. Friendship means a lot to me. It takes a lot for me to get close to someone. After only living here for 2 years, I haven't found that yet, and when I have, they've moved elsewhere. I won't hold that against them though. :)

Full o' smiles

2 months old. Ok, this isn't so wordless... if this is how I spend all the time on my hands, I will die a happy woman. Look at this face. Off to take more pictures so I can post them four years from now. :)

Frustrated

I am kind of stuck between two worlds. Help me understand if you can. Today, while picking Juliana up from school, a couple parents started giggling and said to me, "Ok Karen, we have half days until Thanksgiving, what will you be up to now?" They know I keep a pretty busy schedule and hate to stay still (contrary to my facebook schedule). I just laughed and said, "Nothing yet. Don't get my mind going!" Then, later in the day I was told by someone that I have too much time on my hands because I blog and do too much with the kids. If the person that told me this is reading, yes, I was a bit offended. In one day, I hear both ends of the spectrum.

Yes, much of our days are pathetically boring and mundane day-to-day stuff. I have to say, in a rather defensive way, that I do keep myself and the kids busy. 99 percent of my busy-ness comes from school and community activities, and not getting drunk with my friends, or getting my nails done, but I do stay busy with PTA meetings, commitments, girl scouts, volunteering in both classrooms, and random other small things.

I am not sure why I am offended or the least bit hurt. Perhaps I should get my booty off of the computer and go pick up Juliana from Brownies since I have to drop off the fall sales for the rest of the troop. Oh wait, I have too much time on my hands to do that kind of stuff. (Sarcasm at its best, what can I say?)

-Frustrated in CA

WINNER!

Juliana won her first award today! She won 2nd place in the PHOTOGRAPHY category of the art program. The photos above were the winning photos. She created a watercolor matte for both of the photos, and entered them into the contest.

Yup, I blurred out her info, but her face tells it all! I'm so proud of her! We'll see how well she does in the district judging, and hopefully she'll move on to state and national judging. We'll see.

Anyone have a PARENTING MANUAL????

I am having a bit of an issue. I have tried so hard to find the PARENTING MANUAL at local bookstores, online, box stores, and for some reason nobody has one. I need it for the chapter on childhood eating.

Thank goodness Kevin has a doctor appointment coming up in two weeks. I am absolutely convinced that the poor boy's eating issues have very little to do with behavioral issues, and much more to do with physiological issues. Tonight, we had roasted chicken, baked potatoes, and green beans. We told him that if he ate a green bean, he could have "pumpkin Christmas milk" for dessert (aka pumpkin egg nog). He wanted that egg nog so badly, so he put the teeny green bean in his mouth, and up up up came his dinner all over his plate. Great visual, I know. He was so angry at himself and frustrated.

He does the gagging every meal with certain textures and colored food. Getting him to eat a green m&m can be just as difficult as eating a green bean. Or getting him to try a gummy bear is just as frustrating as getting him to eat chicken. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to shove candy down his throat, I'm merely trying to get him to try more colorful foods.

Most people that see him do this or hear his protest for foods are convinced that he is just being a pain-in-the-butt. Yes, sometimes he is. Aren't all kids with food occasionally? After tonights latest episode, I am convinced that he has an issue that goes waaaaay beyond being a pain during meal time. I feel sorry for the poor kiddo. It will be interesting what the doctor will say in a couple weeks. I wish it was as simple as disguising fruits and veggies in foods. I have to admit, I am really tired of people telling us to do that, as if we haven't thought of it. It is definitely a texture issue, or a swallowing issue, not taste or defiance. Ughhhh, I WANT MY PARENTING MANUAL!

This was the ONLY time he has EVER put a fruit into his mouth in his 4 short years. Every bit of that apple ended up on the floor. So don't be fooled by the bites taken out of it. There were apple scraps all over the floor from him spitting it out. I had to capture this picture to send Daddy at work since I knew he wouldn't believe me. Do you see what I mean? I swear he wants to try foods, but simply can't get it down or something. This picture was taken in July I think. He had not put a fruit in his mouth before this picture and not after either. UGHH!

I've been hit!

I think I've been hit, or maybe run over is a more suitable term. I officially feel like crap for the first time in two years. My noggin feels like it is ready to explode, my stomach is in knots, and my throat is horribly painful. Yesterday while we were in Tahoe, I took a sip of water and immediately felt like I drank gasoline. My throat hurt so badly and didn't hurt at all before. Well, I guess it does hit ya quick. So after my meeting today, I am going to turn into a withered puppy dog and sleep if I can. I've been a single parent all week, so I'm hoping the kids understand. I think they will.

Off to hiding for a little bit until the day picks up again. Can't wait for this to be over.

I thought since you couldn't join us on our Tahoe adventure yesterday, that I'd throw in some pictures that I took while driving. Yup, that's right. This state has a law against texting and using cell phones, but cameras.... well not yet. :)

Excuse ME!

Perhaps this is completely inappropriate, but I have to say, since he's 4, and not 44, I can laugh at him using the whoopie cushion. This has been entertainment for about an hour now. HILARIOUS! I'm sorry, but any 4 year old boy this cute while farting deserves a video. :)

Boston Slugger

Apparently STELLAN flatlined earlier this morning while at Children's Hospital Boston. His surgery was pushed up to this afternoon and the best news is... he is doing fantastic at the moment. The surgery was a big success! According to his mommy, the surgery was a HOME RUN! I hear MckMama did a television interview, so all of you family and friends in Mass and Rhode Island, check for Stellan stories on the news. He is a little fighter and, these days, a celebrity too.

Birthday pact

My birthday was one of the best EVER! For a few years I thought my birthdays would fade in the darkness and no longer be important. The last two years have proven to be quite different. I woke up on saturday morning to the smell of cinnamon rolls in the oven, two pink roses on the table, and a bouquet of balloons on my chair. Wonderful morning!

After our wonderful breakfast, I fulfilled a promise that I made to Juliana. We headed out the door to get her ears pierced. We started at one Claire's location, but the manager was late opening the store and then told me that the person that pierces ears would be there in 4 hours and to come back. Ummm, NO. So we left and got Daddy and Kevin to go somewhere else. We ended up at Claire's in another city. My mom was there for the big event too.

After ear piercing, we just came home and enjoyed each other's company. We even snuck in a 30 minute nap while trying to watch Batman. Oh yeah, Juliana and I snuck outside for a short walk too.

We ended the night with dinner and FULLLLL tummies. I thought my birthday was complete even without a present to unwrap or a birthday cake. Jason then surprised me with a birthday cake this morning, and we are about to enjoy our first bites. I'll let you know how it tastes! As for presents, Jason and I do not exchange birthday gifts. We made a pact years ago that birthdays are only for memories, not for giving gifts. Same with Christmas, although we usually give each other one gift for Christmas these days. As this weekend comes to an end the pact that we made years ago is staying true. I've had a lot of memories this year.

Birthday Girls

I spent much of the afternoon, or maybe I should say ALL of the afternoon, with a friend of mine and the kids. A perfect last day of being 31. Tomorrow is my birthday! November 7th must be important to the rest of the world too, right?! Yeah, just agree with me. :)

Funny story. 11/7/77, 32 years ago, my mom and another expecting mom Ginger, were laying in a double hospital room awaiting the birth of their babies. They gabbed to pass the time in between contractions and labor pains. After hours of pain, my mom was wheeled in for her c-section and not too much longer, Ginger had her baby too. Both women that day were blessed with baby girls. Amazingly enough, baby Karen (me) and baby Kelly have been lifelong friends, LITERALLY since the minute we were born. Kelly has 2 daughters and 1 son, and well, we all know my lovely kiddos. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY (tomorrow, of course)! Hugs....

Heart docs

Gosh, I keep reading about MckMama going to Boston tomorrow. She keeps talking about the cardiologists at Children's Hospital Boston and how wonderful they are. She mentions that they are amongst the top in the world. I remember those days, uhhh I mean years, when Juliana was in the hands of those cardiologists. They are a fabulous team of doctors. I am praying little Stellan does well with his flight to Boston and his upcoming heart surgery. He is in good hands.

FALLin' for u

Lil' photographer

Pictures Juliana took yesterday. She took more, but I thought these were the best.

Our 11-1

Much of this morning consisted of sitting around, staring at the walls, and counting Halloween candy. So Jason and I looked at each other around 2:30 and said, "Ok, let's go somewhere." From that statement, kids got their socks and shoes on, I grabbed my camera, and off we went. We ended up in Half Moon Bay. Jason had golfed at this amazing golf course not too long ago, so he was familiar with the place. It is one of the most gorgeous places on earth.

While we were there, I gave Juliana the camera to take some pictures for the art program that I am chairperson for her school. She loves photography, and since photography is a category for the art program, I let her snap away at the camera. She did not take any photos that I have posted today. Maybe I'll post the pictures that she actually took later. They were pretty good actually.

OUR NOVEMBER 1st, 2009: