She's Some Neat Freak, Isn't She??

Today the wild woman wanted to play with her Playdoh (yippy-skippy). She said, "I pomise (no r sound) I clean it up mama. I called B.S. on this of course, and told her it was ok she could play with it and I'd help her clean when she was done. Whatever right, what's one more mess to clean up around here I got my maid outfit on today anyway.

Well, this was Aubree's idea of "cleaned up".




She was so proud of herself!!















I even asked her, "Are you sure you are all cleaned up?"





Aubree: "Yep!"

Me: "What about that stuff on the floor?

Aubree: "Well, it didn't fit in the bucket."

Me: "So, that's it? It doesn't fit so it stays on the floor?"

Aubree: "Yep"





Well...what can I expect? Not too much I guess since this is mom's idea of a clean kid.

It's summer time for goodness sake!! If you can't walk around with uncombed hair, peanut butter smeared all over your face, and in your "babing suit" at 11 o'clock in the afternoon, when can you????

I've got a lot of catching up to do...

Since the Lady Ga Ga post I have gone to Vegas, floated down the river in a boat, had a tree fall on me, and threw a BBQ for Liam's b-day. Did you catch that part about the tree? Well, in case there is one person left who knows me but does NOT know this already, a big #%$ tree fell on my SUV...while I was inside last Thursday.
I know BIG GASP, but no worries, I came out unscathed (Chuck Norris better watch out...Facebookers should get this). Sorry, but I have had to retell "the story" in person more than several times, I posted pictures and explanations on Facebook, so this blog is getting the abridged version. In fact, all I'm going to write is that one minute I had my foot on the brake and my hand on the gear shifter in Drive when a rather large tree fell on top of my 'burb collapsing the passenger side and smashing the windshield in. I'm okay, but my poor 'burb didn't make it out so well. Insurance guy is coming out tomorrow to give it a "look 'n see". Is the fact that I give every tree I drive by the stink eye a sign of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?


We celebrated Liam turning the big Sev-en last Sunday. His birthday is July 1st but we did not get anything put together until last weekend. It was just the neighbors and family. They played outside and we BBQ'd hamburgers and hot dogs (the good Costco ones). I didn't have time to make a big 'ol cake so I made "ice cream cone" cupcakes. It's cake batter baked in a cake cone, then frosted to look like soft serve ice cream. They are super easy and the kids really liked them. Liam got a new bike. Not just any bike, but a John Deere bike. He was VERY happy.


After the party I asked Will if he could take some pictures of the birthday boy and me. I am never in the pictures because I am always the one TAKING them. Anyway, getting dorkfish boy to smile nicely (key word) is like trying to get him to relinquish his claim on my living room as "his field"...not gonna happen. Between Liam's inability to smile like a "normal boy", Will's dee-dee-dee handling of the camera, and my quitting attitude we turned out some LOVELY shots. I'm talking front cover of Vanity Fair, BAY-BEE!!!!

We begin with the open mouth pose (at least there wasn't food in his mouth)

Ok, let's change background and try the "sit in lap" pose, Uh No...looking a little "strained" there
buddy.

Maybe if I move in closer and give him the "squishy, wishy mommy hug" pose...apparently, he is sour on that idea as evident by the pucker on his face.

Time to change pose..let's try the stand by and look at each other adoringly...no, no Liam you look at me, and what's with that "strained" look again...you need more fish oil son???

I give up...Will just take the flippin' pictures and I'll just pose Liam style too, what the heck if you can't beat 'em...right??

And Finally....I think a semi-decent picture (at least of me anyway)

Gotta love that Lady Ga Ga

Aubree and Liam are both smitten with two of Lady Ga Ga's songs, Just Dance and Pokerface. I have to admit, to a kid (who obviously doesn't understand the lyrics) the beat of the songs are fun to get your freak on. They just rock out when they hear these songs. Well, Miss Aubree has picked up more than just the beat and rhythm of the song Pokerface. She, apparently, has learned the words or at least some of them. It's just a little weird (and funny because I can be immature like that) to hear your 3 yr. old sing out, "I'm bluffing with my muffin". Even funnier to then hear Liam say, "Oh I love muffins. Mommy always gets me the apple cranberry muffin at Starbucks." See, you're laughing right now aren't you? I swear, where do these wacky kids come from?

A Graduate, a Spelling Whiz, and a Daredevil

Let's start with the Graduate: First of all, it is not really called a Graduation. It's a Promotion, but "The Graduate" sounds better than "The Promoted". Anyway, Sydney completed middle school and has been officially "promoted" to high school. I guess that makes Will and I (mostly Will) officially old. She was recognized along with others for being in the top 10 percent in her class. She worked very hard and we are proud of everything she has accomplished both in and out of school. Let's hope this strong work ethic continues through high school.




The Spelling Whiz: Liam has a knack for spelling. The kid can spell almost any word you throw at him. I think I shared in the last post that he was in the top three for first grade to compete at the school spelling bee. Well, after a very long day of track and field (which is not his cup of tea), swim practice, and a lovely rash that made him itch like crazy (from the chlorine in the pool), he managed to pull himself together and win first place. It was funny because one of his words to spell was "rash". It was a good ending to a not so good day for him.


The Daredevil: Aubree took swimming lessons the last two weeks and I can report that she is VERY comfortable in the water. While other kids were crying (some hysterically) into their mother's legs, mine was wading through the water with no regard as to whether mom was around or not. Everyday she walked by herself and checked in with the lifeguards, and jumped in the water. Last Friday they let the kids jump off the diving boards. Liam of course did not want to do it. It didn't even occur to me that they would let the little ones jump. So there I sat reading my book when one of the moms said, "Uh, you're daughter is about to jump off the diving board." WHAT!!! Sure enough, there she was, with a life jacket on of course jumping off into 12 feet deep water. She did it twice. Apparently she saw the older kids doing it and asked the lifeguards if she could too. Today they opened up the water slide for them. Liam loves the water slide (go figure). Aubree went down the slide as well, over and over again. In fact, the lifeguard going down with her finally got tired and took her back to the kiddie pool. She's an adventure seeker that one. I'm just not used to it, having the other two timid ones. Stinkin' Sydney won't even go out to the garage when it's dark out without turning on every porch light, the dog, one of the kids (Aubree usually cause she's so tough), and she leaves the door open (so she can get in quicker I guess when that monster is chasing her).

**I didn't get a picture of the Aub-ster because my camera was not charged, but I'm sure she'll be on that slide again and I'll be ready.

A Little Bit of This...A Little Bit Of That

Well, Liam lost the other front tooth. Yeah, he's looking a little goofy lately. We put his tooth under the pillow, then he wanted me to turn off his radio (which is like a big deal). He always has his radio on at night and it plays Spanish music after 7 p.m. He thinks he will learn Spanish....hey, you never know. Anyway, he said he wanted his radio off because he was afraid the tooth fairy wouldn't like Spanish music. I told him not to worry she's into all kinds of music. However, the "tooth fairy" feel asleep and forgot to put a dollar under the pillow last night. Liam was convinced it was the Spanish music that scared her off. I had to come up with an excuse real fast that a lot of kids had lost their teeth and she was just "backed up" and would be by tonight. Phew!!


Liam is like a freakin' human dictionary and can practically spell any word you ask him to spell. This little talent has earned him a spot at the Del Rey Spelling Bee next Thursday. We did a first grade spell down today and he was in the final three. Way to Go Liam!!!


Sydney will be graduating from 8th grade this year. Graduation is next Wednesday. She has been able to maintain a 4.0 grade point average this year. Way to Go Sydney!!!


Liam and Sydney will both be freezing their butts off everyday during swim practice this summer. Yes, I know this is summer, but this is also King City, you know...where you need a parka to watch fireworks during 4th of July. They went to their first practice today and so far so good.


Let's see...oh, Aubree. Well, Aubree is just Aubree. Still sassy as ever. She is very much into shopping and wearing her new clothes and telling everyone where she got them. It's funny because she tells people where she got her clothes as if they are couture or something right off the designer runways of Paris. Someone will say, "Oh, I like your dress." She will say (flinging her hair back quite haughty) "Yeeees, I got it at Target" then she'll do a little sigh or some other added dramatic flare like that. She is going to a gymnastics class every Friday and is doing really well. She made need acting or dance lessons considering her flair for the theatrics.

That's it for now. Will and I are just working, working. I'm waiting for the last day of school, just eight more days (school days).

Kayaking Fun

I have always wanted to go kayaking. I know, some may be thinking that doesn't sound like me. However, trust me kayaking is nothing like trying to ride the silver bullet at Lake Havasu (mom and Melissa). At first, I thought it would be scary being out on the open ocean in a little boat...Jaws came to mind. However, when we got to Morro Bay and saw the tame little harbor we were going to be in I was instantly relieved. Aubree, Sydney, and I went with a group from 4-H. Jennifer, Brooke, and Zach came too. Everybody doubled up and off we went. Aubree went with Jennifer and me. She loved it and of course was not afraid at all. It was really neat. We saw jelly fish, a seal and a sea otter. Some of the others saw a sting ray up close and personal. We just saw it splashing, I saw a part of it come out of the water. It was gone, though, by the time we paddled to the where it was.





Paddling wasn't exactly easy. I wouldn't say it was hard either...we just couldn't seem to keep the dang kayak in a straight line. So we did a little zig-zag pattern where ever we went. Plus, we were always behind because we had to stop from time to time to get something for Aubree or take a picture. We were like Sunday drivers. We were the last ones to get to the private beach. Jennifer and I were making jokes about being the "special" kayak, like the "special" bus. I pointed out that the kayak was in fact yellow like a school bus.

When on the beach, Aubree had to go pee, of course. There were no bathrooms so she was going to have to pull up some drift wood and squat. This did not please HRH (Her Royal Highness). She finally conceded to the squatting on the beach, however was then not too sure about putting sandy feet through panty holes for fear of getting sand in panties, thus getting sand in her "coo-coo". So, I shook, shook those panties out and put them on as carefully as I could to avoid the whole "sand in the coo-coo" scenario that she did not want to play out. Operation No Sand In The Coo-Coo was a success.





After the beach, we got back in the kayaks and paddled around some more. The current picked up and our zig-zag pattern got even more zig-zaggier. It seemed like no matter how hard we tried that stinkin' kayak kept heading the opposite direction, back to the dock where we started. It was like a horse going back to the barn or something. So, we decided to go with it and let the current take us back. It was a good time to take in the sights around us and the jelly fish. There were so many of them. The water was too dark to get a good picture of them however.

We had a really good time. I'm glad we went and how lucky for Aubree she's only 3 and already been kayaking!!!

A Little Bit of This...A Little Bit Of That

Well, let's see...

Liam lost his front tooth. Now the gap (thanks to some messed up maternal genetics) is GI-NORMOUS. He is really looking like Billy Bob. Oh well, the best I can hope for is that one BIG front tooth will grow and fill in most of the gaping hole. We'll see






We had a THRILLING time at the dedication of the new tractor barn at the San Lorenzo Museum. "WE" meaning Liam and Dad because the rest of us were there out of sheer obligation. But hey, we got free food and cake so I'm not complaining.






Finally, we just spent the last part of last week at the fair. Sydney showed a pig again. This was her fifth year in the project. There was some good fair drama of course and it was Africa Hot, of course!! Poor kids, the average price for a hog was somewhere around $5-$6 a pound. Please imagine me saying that with the ut-most amount of sarcasm you can possibly fathom.









All in all it was yet again a busy couple of weeks. I am certainly looking forward to the last day of school and my summer vacation, which will turn into a fall vacation, then a winter vacation and so on.

I Think We Moms Can All Relate

I love this commercial! It was originally posted in May 2008. Well it's back! I don't know about you but this is sooo my family. Plus, I think it is especially appropriate since I am spending my Mother's Day shaving a pig. What! you say? Yes, the Salinas Valley Fair begins on Wednesday and the little piggies have to be "show ready" before they go to market. Man, all I have to say is, Will better be waiting at home with 12 dozen long stem roses, chocolate dipped strawberries, and massage oil. Wait...who am I kidding? How 'bout he AND the kids just NOT be there when I get home. Then I can just quietly sit and read a book or write silly stories about them on the computer, or better yet, lay on my bed and just stare at the ceiling without hearing, "MOOOMM, I NEEEEDD YOU." because you know what that means. If you don't, scroll down some and read the post What Happened To Me?...I Used To Be Kind of Cool!
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! Be sure to pause my music before you play it.

Such A Good Helper

So, Will had stopped by the store for me on the way home to buy some brownie mix. I had to make brownies for my students because they earned their stars for good classroom behavior. Yes, good ol' fashioned bribery still works. Anyway, after dinner Aubree decided she was going to "help" clean up and put groceries away. I wasn't really paying attention because I was talking to Will. Later, Will had to pick up Sydney from one of her meetings and he took Aubree with him. I decided to bake the brownies, so I went to get a box of brownie mix out of the pantry. I open the pantry and look and...no brownies. Hmmmm, I look and look and think where did that wild woman put the brownie mix? I can't find it and I start looking in all the cupboards that are at her level...no brownie mix. Then, a light bulb goes off in my head and I found them. Can you guess where? Scroll down...








Too funny! Notice the little powder sugar container on top of the pickles too.

What Happened to Me?....I used to be kind of cool??!!

Did you ever hear or see the Bill Engvall act where he talks about the things he has to do for his kids and he gets left wondering what happened to himself and then he says, "I used to be kind of cool!!" Well that's me today. I had just finished dinner with the fam' when both Aubree and Liam disappeared. First, I hear Liam, "MOOOMMM, I NEEEED YOU!" I go in there and yup he needs help completing "the wipe". I know, I know, he is six years old, but sometimes he needs "ass"istance (lucky me). So, I let out a big sigh and commenced with the dirty task. Yuck, all I have to say is that boy ate way too many strawberries the night before...not pretty. No sooner had I finished with that butt did I hear Aubree, "MOOOMMM, I NEEEED YOU PEAS! Well at least she said please (sort of). I walked from my master bathroom to the guest bathroom down the hall where my little curly haired cherub awaited me. This time it was not near as a dramatic cleanup...thank God for rabbit turds, not near as much poop matter is left "behind". Sorry about the puns, butt I couldn't help myself.

A Day In Monterey

This weekend I took Aubree and Liam to the MY Museum in Monterey. Sydney was gone on a camping trip with her youth group. This was actually a good thing because she got to have her fun with her youth group and I could take the kids to this museum which is designed specifically for children 9 and under (obviously NOT Sydney's age range). Everyone wins. I had never been to this museum and always wanted to take the kids. It is newly remodeled and located in downtown Monterey. At first, Liam was unhappy that he was not going with Dad to work, which is what normally happens on weekends. After a little convincing we finally headed out to Monterey. Our first stop was California Pizza Kitchen for lunch-YUM. When the kids had their fill of pizza and soda we were off to the museum. The museum was pretty cool. There was a special kid entrance, and everything inside was interactive. There was a giant tree house, dollhouse, theater, fire truck, ambulance, golf course, and of course the greatest feature of all (according to Liam) was the farming exhibit. It was actually quite an impressive maze of "conveyor" belts that distributed little plastic balls (meant to represent produce) being packed in a packing plant. The only thing that stopped Liam from staying and cranking those belts round and round all day was the fact that I was parked in a 2 hour parking zone. They both had a lot of fun. I think the coolest thing was a butterfly display in which the kids stood on a mark and there was a metal hoop around them setting in soapy water. The hoop was attached to ropes and when you pulled the rope the hoop went up and made a giant bubble all the way up and around the kids. How cool is that?? What kid doesn't want to be inside a giant bubble? By the way, in case you are wondering what a giant bubble has to do with butterflies?...it was supposed to imitate a cocoon. We went down to Fisherman's Wharf after for some ice cream and of course look at the ocean and some boats. Aubree was very impressed and wanted badly to get on a boat, any boat. She saw some guys kayaking and said she wanted to go on those too. Liam being the old crotchety man he is deep down inside told her she couldn't do that because she was too little, the boats were too dangerous because they can flip...what happens if a big wave comes?, there are no motors in them, blah, blah, blah. That kid cracks me up. I can see it now...he's going to be Mr. Safety, you know don't go outside without sunblock, and she is going to go base jumping for her 21st birthday or something. So, besides the fact that I had to listen to Kidz Bop, (which by the way, is like listening to bad karaoke singers with a bunch of kids as back up singers,) to Monterey and back we had a really good time.

My JD Man

Boys and their Toys

Back in February Will took Liam for some father-son time to the World Ag Expo (formerly known as the Tulare Farm Show). This place is like mecca for these boys. It's the "Promised Land". They got to explore about 2.6 million square feet of tractor exhibit after tractor exhibit. Needless to say, Will ended up purchasing a nice wagon while they were there. Liam had a wonderful day, but was very disappointed that the keys were not in any of the tractors. During the beginning of the day he kept asking Will where the keys were. Will explained that he wouldn't be finding any keys in these tractors today because little boys like Liam might take off in them. This answer seemed to satisfy Liam and they proceeded through the rest of their day looking at the latest and greatest tractors and other farming equipment. At the end of the day they ended up at a Kubota exhibit. Will was talking to the Kubota guy, while Liam climbed in and out of the tractors. All of a sudden, Will heard, "Hey dad this one has the key in it!!!" Will said it was like one of those slow motion moments as he was yelling NOOOOOOOO running towards the tractor. Luckily he made it in time to stop his curious son from firing that baby up!!! Good times!

All About Aubree

After a little conversation with the Wild Woman aka Curlytop aka Miss Paige aka Aub (Will hates that one) aka Aubree, I decided that I would dedicate a post to her. Since she was born, Aubree has had the ability to make me laugh. I used to say she must sprinkle some kind of fairy dust on me that makes it hard to be mad at her. I know...this is not always a good thing because she has a bit of a wild streak (hence the nickname "Wild Woman". However, she is vivacious, independent, funny, smart, and is completely fearless. She is sugar with a LOT of spice! This morning Aubree says to me, "Mom you can watch the news now because I am going upstairs to play in my room." I said (dripping with sarcasm), "Well geez, thanks Aub, how nice of you to give me permission to watch something other than Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends." She laughed and said, "Your welcome". Then I said, "I think I am going to just put some music on." Aubree, "Yeah, turn it up so I can shake my booty and make you laugh!" I find the music channel and turn it up. Aubree jumps around and starts shaking her "money maker". I of course start busting out laughing because you just can't watch this wild woman dance without doing so. She stops when the song is over and says quite triumphantly, "See I told you I can make you laugh!" Oh, how she makes me laugh.